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06/26/2010 -
LOS ANGELES (AP) -Although the Edmonton Oilers agonized over their decision until a few hours before the NHL draft, they eventually decided Taylor Hall was just a bit more irresistible than Tyler Seguin.
Both 18-year-old prospects realize this debate could go on for two more decades.
The Oilers selected Hall with the No. 1 pick Friday night, going with the Windsor Spitfires star's toughness and potential over the smooth skating and skill of Seguin, his fellow Ontario Hockey League forward.
The league-worst Oilers had the toughest call at the top of a draft in several years, but general manager Steve Tambellini couldn't resist Hall's potential. He believes Hall has the physical gifts and work ethic to be a mainstay in the middle for a club that has lacked an elite front-line talent.
``He's such an imposing young man,'' Tambellini said. ``I don't think I've ever met a more focused, competitive athlete. He was the best player on a good team for a long time.''
The first round was completed at Staples Center on Friday, with the final six rounds set for Saturday. The assembled executives pulled off relatively few trades, with defensemen Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis the only significant names changing places.
Many NHL scouts and executives couldn't choose a favorite between Hall, a physical left wing who scored 106 points in 57 games for Windsor, and Seguin, the league MVP for the Plymouth Whalers. Hall's Spitfires knocked Seguin out of the playoffs on the way to their second straight Memorial Cup title.
Hall wasn't worried about the Oilers' recent struggles, instead focusing on their heritage in the City of Champions.
``They're such a great franchise with so much history behind them,'' Hall said after pulling on his blue-and-orange jersey. ``With the five (Stanley) Cups they won, it will mean a lot to me to join their organization and hopefully bring another one up there.''
The Boston Bruins eagerly grabbed Seguin moments later with the No. 2 pick. Hall and Seguin both intend to be on NHL rosters this fall, and they realize their careers are likely to run on parallel tracks for many years.
``I don't think it matters who goes first overall,'' Seguin said. ``I'm just excited to be here and to be going to Boston. I'm sure the rivalry will continue if we're both in the NHL next year, but we both respect each other. We're good buddies, and that isn't going to change.''
Hall and Seguin spent much of the past three days hanging out together at various tours and events - everything from batting practice at Angel Stadium to a red-carpet Hollywood movie premiere - in the NHL draft's first trip to Los Angeles.
Hall is the fourth straight OHL player chosen No. 1, following Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos and John Tavares. Those three picks are working out quite well - and Hall believes he can join the Oilers' young core to return some respectability to the team.
``I feel honored with all the players that have gone No. 1,'' Hall said. ``When I came into this year, that was one of my goals, was to go No. 1. In saying that, there's still a lot of work to do out here.''
While the Los Angeles Kings hosted the draft, the Anaheim Ducks made bigger splashes. Anaheim picked defenseman Cam Fowler with the 12th pick, grabbing a top prospect expected to go much higher, and then drew a huge cheer from the crowd when they picked Long Beach native Emerson Etem with the 29th pick.
Earlier, Florida selected Kingston defenseman Erik Gudbranson with the third pick.
``I did my research on their team,'' said Gudbranson, a physical defenseman with a big shot. ``(With) Dmitry Kulikov there, I feel like I could be a good complement to him on the back end. The real attraction was having (new Panthers general manager) Dale Tallon there, seeing what he did with the Chicago Blackhawks and winning the Stanley Cup and building that team from scratch.''
Columbus grabbed WHL center Ryan Johansen with the fourth pick. Forward Nino Niederreiter, Johansen's teammate in Portland, became the highest-drafted Swiss player in NHL history when he went to the Islanders with the fifth pick. The Islanders already have defenseman Mark Streit, the only NHL All-Star from Switzerland.
``I'm trying to be a scorer one day,'' said Niederreiter, who believes he can make the Islanders roster this fall. ``At the moment, I think I'm a two-way player with some skills and also defensively. At the end, I just want to be a goal-scorer.''
Forward Brett Connolly went sixth to Tampa Bay, which wasn't worried by his recent injury problems. Carolina pulled a mild surprise at No. 7, grabbing Kitchener center Jeff Skinner, a former figure skater.
Atlanta took Russian forward Alex Burmistrov with the eighth pick, and Minnesota grabbed Finland's Mikael Granlund at No. 9. The New York Rangers used the 10th pick on tough Moose Jaw defenseman Dylan McIlrath, who was rated much lower than still-available defensemen Fowler and Brandon Gormley by most scouting services.
Dallas chose the draft's first goalie with the 11th pick, selecting Jack Campbell from the U.S. national development team.
Fowler was projected as a top-five talent by most observers, yet he fell all the way to No. 12, where the Ducks eagerly added him to a roster badly in need of talented defensemen. Fowler accepted his new jersey from Scott Niedermayer, the recently retired defensive star and Fowler's model for his game.
``It's hard when you're projected as a top pick and you slide, but it's something to use as motivation,'' Fowler said. ``Who knows why it happened? I'm just glad I landed where I did.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Uribe and Giants slip past Red Sox
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Juan Uribe blasted a solo home run and
Buster Posey added three hits with an RBI to help San Francisco beat Boston,
5-4, in the opener of a three-game interleague series at AT&T Park.
San Franci
<< Pennington, A's hammer Pirates
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cliff Pennington went 3-for-4 with three RBI
and a run scored as the Oakland Athletics pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates,
14-4, in the opener of a three-game interleague set.
Ryan Sweeney went 3-for-5 wi
<< Unhappy Reunion: Yanks down Dodgers in first game against Torre
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Rodriguez hit the eventual game-
winning homer in the sixth inning to back CC Sabathia's solid pitching
performance, as the New York Yankees snuck past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1,
in the
<< Coyotes draft defenseman, goalie in 1st round
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -The Phoenix Coyotes picked 18-year-old defenseman Brandon Gormley and 17-year-old goaltender Mark Visentin in the first round of Friday's NHL draft.Phoenix took Gormley with the 13th overall selection and Visentin at No. 27 aft
Timberwolves introduce Wesley Johnson >>
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -In one of the longest and most difficult seasons in franchise history, one thing became painfully obvious to David Kahn and Kurt Rambis above all others - the Minnesota Timberwolves needed a star.Both acknowledge it is much easier
Pacers' George, Granger are similar >>
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Ron Artest was one of the best players in the NBA when the Pacers drafted Danny Granger for him to mentor.Artest saw something in Granger, prompting him to proclaim that the versatile forward would become a star. Granger made good
Herrera lifts Rockies over Angels in extras >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jonathan Herrera had three hits and drove in
the game-winning run in the 11th inning, as the Colorado Rockies rallied to
beat the LA Angels, 4-3, in the first of three games at Angel Stadium.
Chris Ianne
Twins set to face Santana for first time since trade to Mets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For eight seasons with Minnesota, Johan Santana was one of
the top pitchers in baseball. Luckily for the Twins, who face Santana for the
first time since trading the left-hander to the Mets before the 2008 season,
the former
New York, NY – October 3, 2007 – The dress rehearsal is over! The NHL preseason has ended and now that fans have had a glimpse of what is to come it is time to hit the book! Stanley Cup odds are live at MySportsbook.com, the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino.
The Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings remain on top of the odds charts after an impressive start in the preseason. Betting lines opened for both teams at 6-1 in June. Since then the Sens have fallen to 7-1 and the Red Wings are now caught in a pack including the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes, the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks, all at 10-1.
MySportsbook.com has also posted props on each team’s point total for the regular season. The Senators lead the charge at 108.5 followed by the Ducks at 106.5. Detroit will attempt a repeat for the prize as the Red Wings are deadlocked with the Predators at 104.5 a piece. The temporary loss of highly touted rookie Evgeni Malkin puts a lot of pressure on the stick of assistant captain Sidney Crosby - his lowly Pittsburgh Penguins are listed at 71.5.
Even if bettors are not brave enough to put their money on the underdog, an early bet on the favorites at sportsbook.com tends to produce bigger payouts than a mid-season wager. Placing a $1,000 bet last summer on the Detroit Red Wings or Ottawa Senators would have paid out to $8,000 and $10,000 respectively, opposed to a $2,500 or $3,000 payout at the beginning of the playoffs.
| Ottawa Senators Detroit Red Wings Carolina Hurricanes San Jose Sharks Anaheim Ducks Philadelphia Flyers Calgary Flames New Jersey Devils Buffalo Sabres Dallas Stars New York Rangers Nashville Predators Vancouver Canucks Colorado Avalanche Minnesota Wild Tampa Bay Lightning Boston Bruins Florida Panthers Montreal Canadiens Atlanta Thrashers Toronto Maple Leafs Edmonton Oilers Phoenix Coyotes Los Angeles Kings New York Islanders Columbus Blue Jackets St. Louis Blues Pittsburgh Penguins Washington Capitals Chicago Blackhawks |
7-1 10-1 10-1 10-1 10-1 12-1 12-1 12-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 15-1 20-1 20-1 25-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 40-1 40-1 50-1 50-1 80-1 80-1 100-1 100-1 |
NHL Regular Season Points - Team Must Play 82 Games
| Team Ottawa Senators Anaheim Ducks Detroit Red Wings Nashville Predators San Jose Sharks Calgary Flames Philadelphia Flyers New Jersey Devils Buffalo Sabres Carolina Hurricanes Dallas Stars New York Rangers Minnesota Wild Atlanta Thrashers Montreal Canadiens Team Los Angeles Kings Tampa Bay Lightening Vancouver Canucks Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers Phoenix Coyotes Toronto Maple Leafs Florida Panthers Columbus Blue Jackets New York Islanders Chicago Blackhawks St. Louis Blues Washington Capitals Pittsburgh Penguins |
Over/Under 108.5 106.5 104.5 104.5 103.5 101.5 100.5 99.5 97.5 97.5 97.5 95.5 94.5 93.5 92.5 Over/Under 91.5 91.5 91.5 89.5 89.5 88.5 88.5 86.5 84.5 82.5 80.5 72.5 72.5 72.5 71.5 |
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MySportsbook.com: New College Football Clock Rules Examined
Coaches and bettors alike are desperate to make sense of the new time-keeping rules on the NCAA gridiron. One of the big stories to come out of the Ohio State-Texas clash last weekend was Texas coach Mack Brown's criticism of the NCAA's new clock rules that are intended to shorten the duration of college football games, therefore affecting college football betting.
"They scored with six minutes left and the game was over before we had a chance to do anything," Brown told ESPN.com. "I really hope whoever made these changes will go back and look them over."
Sure, it might be sour grapes; the Buckeyes thoroughly trounced the defending national champion Longhorns 24-7. However, Brown isn't alone in giving the changes their due thought. Bettors are also wondering about them, albeit for a completely different reason. Most experts agree that the changes will result in games being shortened by anywhere from 10 to 20 plays. The obvious consequence is lower scores, with more time rolling off the clock during changes of possession. (The Ohio State-Texas game flew well under the total of 52.)
According to research at the online sportsbook MySportsbook.com, more than 18 plays a game disappeared last weekend into thin air. That's a 10-percent reduction. In 2005, a typical game had 168.58 plays. For 2007 already, it's down to 150.26.
As a result, teams combined to gain an average of about 100 fewer yards a game last weekend versus the 2005 openers. Scoring was also down by about 4.5 points (attention Las Vegas sports lines).
Of course, oddsmakers were able to adjust to the changes before the season started. Proof of that came as the over went a balanced 8-9 at My Sportsbook on Saturday.
Other angles to consider:A shorter game should theoretically result in shorter lines. Whereas Team A might have been a 14-point favorite in a 168-play game (last year), if there are 10 percent less snaps in 2007, the line should also be reduced by 10 percent (to 13 or 12.5). Of course, this is an over-simplification of the matter, but something to keep in mind.
Less possessions means a better chance the game will be decided by three or seven points. For example, what might have been a 20-10 final score in 2005 may end at
17-10 in 2007. Granted, a 24-17 game last year might end at 21-17 these days, but the former - a three- or seven-point advantage being preserved as opposed to created - is the most likely scenario.
*UPDATE* - Sept. 25, 2007
New Clock Rules Boon for online bookmakers
By adjusting the time-keeping rules to shorten the duration of college football games, the NCAA hoped to make its product more enjoyable for the fans. While the NCAA's success in this regard is still up for debate, bookmakers couldn't be happier with the results.
"We are seeing a massive jump in college football betting," noted the MySportsbook.com management team. "With all the early Saturday games (12 a.m. ET) ending before the second wave begins (3:30 p.m. ET) - something that didn't always happen before the changes - bettors are now able to re-invest their winnings from the morning session in the afternoon games."
While not all bettors will choose to roll over their winnings, it doesn't take much for an impact to be seen on the bottom line. "Not all of the millions of dollars in morning payouts get re-bet. In fact, it's probably only 10 to 20 percent," noted the sportsbook management team. "Still, the increased football betting lines window will create a ton of growth for us over the course of the season."
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