Author Archives: Jaden Teja

Warriors historic season comes to an end with loss to Bandits

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The Vancouver Warriors fell 11-9 to the two-time defending NLL champion Buffalo Bandits in the semi-finals Sunday. It was a hard-fought game all the way until the very end. Vancouver was down 5-4 heading into halftime but came out strong to start the third quarter, taking an 8-7 lead heading into the final frame. The Bandits scored three unanswered in the fourth quarter. Marcus Klarich brought the Warriors back within one. Chase Fraser of the Bandits put Buffalo back up by two with 5:45 left in the game, which ultimately was the dagger for Vancouver.

Head coach and general manager Curt Malawsky says if a few bounces went a different way, the outcome could have been different. “What I say the turning point in the game was (when) we’re at 8-6 and we hit two (posts)… If we put those two (in) that go off the (post) we’re at 10-6 and then we’re looking pretty good.”

This was a historic season for the Warriors. They won 11 games, which was a franchise best. They hosted their first-ever playoff game and won their first-ever playoff game. They were also 5-7 before the trade for Christian Del Bianco changed the trajectory of the team. The Warriors had already beaten the Bandits on the road earlier this season. But Buffalo is the toughest environment to play in, so having to win another game there is a tough ask for any team. Malawsky mentioned that his team can learn from this experience moving forward, but it doesn’t guarantee anything in the NLL.

“I think the next time we’re in Buffalo we’ll know what to do. I’ve been around this league for a long time, and this year’s success doesn’t guarantee next year’s success, so we have to keep that in mind. But I think the ability to play in pressure-packed games with massive stakes on the line is big.”

There’s a theme in professional sports where teams have to lose before they learn how to win. Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls lost to the Detroit Pistons three consecutive years before winning their first of six championships in eight seasons. Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals before beating them the following season. So for the Warriors, there’s no shame in losing to the two-time defending champions.

Captain Brett Mydske says this playoff experience will be vital for the group moving forward, especially for the younger players.

“(The) big thing about the playoffs is you need experience.. We’ve got a lot of veteran guys that have won championships and played in (the) playoffs. So having a young guy go through these big playoff games in front of big crowds, they gain experience from that and it’s going to help them in the long run.”

Mydske reflected on the playoff run, but he knows this is just the start for the Warriors and they will be back in the postseason.

“You play for the playoffs. You play to hold the cup above your head at the end of the day. As much as it sucks to lose, I think we are going to benefit from this.”

It wasn’t the result the Warriors wanted, but it’s the start of something special. They have a great young core, veteran leaders, and the best goalie in the NLL. Even though it was a historic season, there’s room for growth and improvement. I have no doubt that the Warriors will be back, and I expect them to be one of the top contenders in the NLL next season.

Keegan Bal embraces the warrior mentality

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The Vancouver Warriors shocked the lacrosse world when they traded for 2023 National Lacrosse League MVP Christian Del Bianco at this year’s trade deadline. The trade sparked a six-game winning streak for the Warriors to close out their regular season and make the playoffs for the first time since 2017. At that time, they were known as the Vancouver Stealth. They lost to the Colorado Mammoth in the first round, 13–12. Only two players on this current Warriors squad were on that team, veteran defenceman Matt Beers and Keegan Bal. Bal only played three minutes in that game. It’s safe to say he’s come a long way since then.

Bal is the leader and focal point of the Warriors’ offence and is one of the biggest reasons the club won their first playoff game in franchise history. Growing up in Coquitlam, lacrosse was rooted in Bal since he was a kid. He says going to Coquitlam Adanacs games and being able to meet his lacrosse idols helped solidify his passion for the game.

“I grew up watching the Adanacs, and they had players like John Grant Jr, Josh Sanderson, Colin Doyle, that I idolized and being able to go to those games every Friday or Saturday night, and how accessible lacrosse is, being able to go in their dressing room, meet them, get autographs that was a big pull for me.”

Head coach and general manager Curt Malawsky often praises Bal’s incredible work ethic, and rightfully so. Bal starts training at five o’clock in the morning and credits his idol NBA legend Kobe Bryant, for where he got his training regimen from.

“I watched (Kobe’s) documentary growing up, Kobe Bryant’s Muse and I read his book that he wrote himself, and I think that had a big effect on how I approached the game in terms of the work.”

It’s safe to say Bal takes lacrosse pretty seriously. But like every other player in the NLL, he works a full-time job. So how does Bal maintain a career and play at an elite level?

“I think you choose your focuses in life, and you decide what you’re willing to give up and what you’re not. So for me, my life is lacrosse, my work and my family. I don’t really do anything else. I don’t have any hobbies. So from that standpoint, I choose to go all in on the things that I really love.”

Bal recorded back-to-back 100-point seasons, the first time that’s been done in Warriors history. He also recorded his 200th career goal and was named team MVP in back-to-back seasons as well. Across the league, he’s known as one of the most humble superstars. You can tell from his post-game interviews — he means all business, all the time. He still acknowledges his individual accomplishments but has a team-first attitude.

“I think (the accolades) are special because it’s proof of the countless hours and hard work you put in, but it’s not why you play the game. Obviously it’s a team sport and we are focused on winning.”

Keegan Bal is the longest-tenured Warrior. He has been through all the tough sledding this organization has endured and is now an integral part of this team in pursuit of a championship. Bal says it’s a special thing to play for only one franchise his whole career.

“As an athlete you might dream of playing for one franchise your whole career, but rarely is that a thing. For myself to be trusted by the Aquilini family and then this franchise for a long time that’s a really special feeling.”

Bal’s success over the course of his career shouldn’t come as a surprise with his work ethic and passion for lacrosse. The Warriors are going to need him to continue his stellar play if they hope to end this season with championship rings on their fingers.

Warriors advance to NLL semifinals with first playoff win in franchise history

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The Vancouver Warriors knocked off the Rochester Knighthawks 15–10 Saturday night to win their first home playoff game in franchise history. Vancouver extends its winning streak to seven games, carrying over from the regular season. The Warriors remain undefeated in the Christian Del Bianco era as well.

In the second half of the season, the Warriors’ recipe for success was to build a solid lead going into halftime, limit the opposition’s runs, and help Del Bianco shut the door. That remained the same in the postseason. Vancouver got out to a 9–3 lead heading into halftime. Even though Rochester cut its deficit to three in the fourth quarter, Vancouver didn’t break and got a pair of insurance markers from Keegan Bal. The Warriors’ roster is built with a mix of young players, some making their playoff debut Saturday, and veterans who have won NLL championships before. Head coach and general manager Curt Malawsky feels it’s important to have players with playoff experience on his roster.

“You can’t buy (experience), our guys have been through the grind, they know what it takes to be successful in the National Lacrosse League. I think we can lean on that experience. I think that ‘calm is contagious’ attitude comes from our veterans and how hard they compete. Our young guys just follow their lead, but it’s a group effort.”

“Everyone’s got to be pulling on the rope. We can’t just rely on a group of veterans. This is a team effort, and I think that’s what has made us successful. Everybody, every given night, everyone’s going to step up,” added Malawsky.

One of those veterans is defenceman Ryan Dilks, who has built quite the résumé for himself over his 13-year career. He’s won three championships with the Saskatchewan Rush and two NLL Defensive Player of the Year awards, including one with Vancouver last season. The first round of the NLL playoffs is single elimination, and Dilks knows how nerve-wracking single elimination games are.

Related: The Warriors anchor – Ryan Dilks

“Those one-and-done games are so scary. Anything can happen, their goalie can get hot, we could hit five or six posts, you just never know. I’ve been on the wrong side of these games and it sucks. (Tonight) was the first playoff game for a lot of guys in this room. To come out and (play) like we’ve been (in the playoffs) for five (or) six years, it was really impressive and fun to watch.”

The Warriors’ reward for winning their first playoff game is a matchup with the first seed and two-time defending champion Buffalo Bandits. In the NLL, Buffalo is arguably the most hostile environment to play in. However, the Warriors beat the Bandits 13–12 on Mar. 29 in Buffalo. Dilks thinks that already beating the Bandits this season provides a huge mental advantage.

“It’s probably one of the toughest places to play in the league, and knowing that we can go in there and compete and not only make a game out of it, but we can win in that building. So right now, that season win is looking pretty good for us.”

Bal was the Warriors’ best forward all season, and that continued in the playoffs. Bal had a team-high 11 points and was making jaw-dropping plays all night, including an impressive pass without his helmet to set up Dylan Macintosh for a goal. Bal is the longest-tenured Warrior and has been with the club through some tough times. He explains how much the culture changed when the franchise hired Malawsky.

“When we got Curt last year, you just saw a momentous change within the organization, top down. From that (point), I don’t think there’s been a moment where things clicked, it’s been a gradual progression. I think that (getting Curt) was the moment you started to see things had changed — drastically changed. We know we’re on a trajectory to be a franchise that should do well long term, and that’s all you can hope for.”

Vancouver has a tough task ahead of it, but the Warriors are playing confidently, and no team wants to play a team as hot as they currently are, even the two-time defending champs. Game one is Friday night in Buffalo.

Warriors clinch franchise-first home playoff game after historic regular season

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The Vancouver Warriors defeated the Philadelphia Wings 11-5 in their regular season finale. The Warriors clinched a playoff berth last week with a win against the Toronto Rock. But with the Rock defeating the Rochester Knighthawks Saturday, the Warriors finish the season 11-7 as the fourth seed. They host their first home playoff game in franchise history next Saturday against the Knighthawks.

Vancouver was 5-7 heading into the trade deadline. They sent shockwaves across the lacrosse world at the deadline by acquiring superstar goaltender Christian Del Bianco from the Calgary Roughnecks. Since the trade, the Warriors head into the postseason having won six games in a row, the longest win streak in franchise history. As for Del Bianco, he has the best goals against average in the National Lacrosse League with 8.77 and the best save percentage at 82 per cent.

Marcus Klarich was in a three-way tie with Adam Charalambides and Riley Loewen for the Warriors’ leading scorer Saturday night, with all three of them having five points. Klarich mentioned postgame how his team has grown the most throughout the season. “Playing confident and trusting each other, we’re not overthinking things (and) we’re playing quick. We like to play quick now, but we know when to slow it down.”

Klarich added how important the defence and goaltending have been this season. “Our defence (and) goalie have been phenomenal. All year they’ve been phenomenal, but we have so much more confidence now, we’re moving the ball and trusting each other on offence, and defensively we have guys back there that are going to get the job done.”

The Warriors got out to a 10-3 lead at halftime and then shut the door in the second half. The big story out of Saturday night’s game was the fact that the Warriors will host their first-ever playoff game. This has been a historic season for Vancouver – it finished the season with a franchise-best 11 wins and set a franchise record by allowing only four goals in a game, which they did twice this season. Head coach and general manager Curt Malawsky knows the significance of hosting a playoff game.

“It means a lot to me in the respect that it means a lot to the fans from Vancouver. That’s what it’s all about for us. When I came here, I wanted to grow the game and we have a really good team around us, our office staff is phenomenal and we’ve got all the support from the Aquilini group, I’ve said that time and time again, they take away the intangibles that we don’t have to worry about.”

Malawsky always emphasizes growing lacrosse in the Lower Mainland. Saturday was the first time the Warriors opened the upper bowl to fans. Malawsky says that special to him and the organization. “I’m just proud and appreciative of the fans that came, (I’m) excited they were here and got to enjoy the game, and even more excited that they’re going to come next week. I think it’s great for the organization, I know there’s been tough sledding here, and it’s not an easy market to get lacrosse going, especially when we weren’t winning.”

The Warriors are playing the best lacrosse the franchise has ever seen and will be heading into the playoffs with a ton of confidence. Rogers Arena is expected to be rocking next weekend with playoff lacrosse making its debut in Vancouver.

Grading The Last 5 First Overall Picks

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If you’re one of those people who loves to quickly label draft picks, then this article is for you. I’m going to be looking back at the first overall picks from the last five NHL drafts. All of these players are at different stages of their careers. Some have solidified themselves as stars in the league, while others are still trying to find their footing.

If you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum and don’t like to grade draft picks because you think for some players it’s too small of a sample size, I don’t disagree. But this is for fun. So let’s get after it.

2024 – Macklin Celebrini Grade: A

Celebrini has had a terrific rookie season so far in San Jose. Even though he missed 12 games, Celebrini never hit the rookie wall that most rookies do. At just 18 years old, he’s shown that he can take over games and play with some of the best players in the world. He is second in rookie scoring with 62 points, but first in points per game. He has some of the best hands in the league and is an elite passer.

But one thing about his game that I feel isn’t getting enough recognition is his shot. He can absolutely snipe. He has 24 goals and it shouldn’t come as a surprise. I’ve seen him pick corners like nothing, trust me, this kid is a goalie’s worst nightmare. Remember, he’s just getting started. I expect him to take an even bigger jump next season. He should make Team Canada’s Olympic team and continue to put up points. As the Sharks continue to improve, so will Celebrini and he’ll be one of the best players in the NHL.

 

2023 – Connor Bedard Grade: B+

Going into his draft year, Bedard was the most hyped-up prospect since Connor McDavid. He had two outstanding seasons in the WHL with the Regina Pats, winning WHL and CHL Player of the Year in 2023. Bedard scored in his first career NHL game, and that set the tone for the rest of the season. He finished his rookie season with 61 points in 68 games and won the Calder Trophy.

However, his production dipped slightly in his sophomore season. But I don’t think Bedard is completely at fault. There was a point this season where, statistically speaking, Bedard was playing with the worst linemates in the NHL. That’s on management—they need to put him in the best possible situation to succeed, and they haven’t done that. He has a lethal shot and will be a 50-goal scorer in this league. I have no doubt in my mind that Bedard will live up to all the hype and expectations around him. But after this season, I have to give him a B+. Trust me, when it’s all said and done, I expect that to change to an A.

 

2022 – Juraj Slafkovsky Grade: B

Slafkovsky’s first year and a half in the NHL was nothing to write home about. But we knew why the Montreal Canadiens invested the first overall pick in him. He has everything you want in a great hockey player. He brings physicality and toughness, he can skate really well, and he has a great shot. It was just a matter of time before he settled into being a full-time NHLer.

That’s what he did in the middle of his second season. Slafkovsky finished that year with 20 goals and 50 points. This year was a similar story, his production started to come in the second half of the season. But he’s playing on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, and Montreal is on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. Slafkovsky has been a key part of that and will only continue to get better.

 

2021 – Owen Power Grade: C+

Power might be the toughest draft pick here to grade, largely because he plays in Buffalo. The Sabres haven’t had much success, and a lot of their star players don’t produce. Power is a 35–40 point player, which isn’t bad for a defenceman. He wasn’t drafted for his offence, but instead for his steady defensive game. His defence has been up and down the last couple of years. He’s taken some strides, but I was hoping he would’ve made Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off.

He’s only 22 and still has tons of time to grow, but I’m hoping to see him take a leap next season.

 

2020 – Alexis Lafrenière Grade: C

CHL Rookie of the Year, QMJHL Player of the Year (twice), CHL Player of the Year (twice), World Junior Gold—these were the accolades Lafrenière had won before even being drafted. So yeah, you expected elite production in the NHL. But for some reason, that hasn’t been the case.

He struggled mightily in his first two seasons and has slowly started to get better. His career high in points is 57, and that came last season. This season, he only has 45 points with two games remaining. He has all the talent in the world and showed it in junior—but that hasn’t translated to the NHL. Not what you want in a first overall pick.

 

These were my grades for the last five first overall picks. Let me know what you would change in the comments below.

 

 

 

Vancouvers’ Offseason Outlook

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With the Canucks not making the playoffs, it’s time we shift our focus to the offseason. Usually, when teams miss the playoffs, there’s a lot that needs to get fixed. You could argue that’s the case with the Canucks, but I don’t think there’s a need for a complete overhaul. Don’t forget, this team has Quinn Hughes, who is the best defenceman in the league, and he’s only 25. Elias Pettersson is only 26. These are two elite pieces. Yeah, missing the playoffs this season sucks, but it could be so much worse. That being said, there still need to be a couple of things figured out.

The trade deadline was a colossal failure. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. The Canucks were in a weird spot at the deadline because, at the time, they were still playoff hopefuls. They shipped Carson Soucy to the New York Rangers for a third-round pick. But the big fish was Brock Boeser. He’s a UFA, and the team hasn’t agreed to a contract extension with him. Boeser is a proven goal scorer and playoff performer, so you would think the Canucks would trade him and get a solid return back for him. Right? … They didn’t. And in case you forgot, this is what general manager Patrick Allvin said about the offers he was receiving for Boeser:

“If I told you what I was offered for Brock Boeser, I think I would have to run out of here because you would not believe me.”

So according to Allvin, we weren’t getting anything good for a player who scored 40 goals last year. The worst part is, the Canucks still haven’t signed Boeser to an extension—and it isn’t looking like they will. Boeser was recently asked about his future in Vancouver and getting an extension done. His response was something no Canucks fan wanted to hear:

“Honestly, it’s unlikely at this point, It sucks, it’s unfortunate. I’m just trying to play good hockey, and then I’ll worry about everything after that. We all know it’s been a roller coaster of a year. There’s been a lot of different things.”

So after all that, it looks like we’re going to lose him for nothing. Awesome…

Here’s the thing—there are some big-time wingers the Canucks can acquire in free agency. Someone I think the Canucks should try to sign is Nikolaj Ehlers. Ehlers might be the perfect Boeser replacement and be a slight bit cheaper.

The Canucks still have another hole to fill, and that’s the second-line center. Pius Suter played incredibly well, but unfortunately, I think he may have priced himself out of Vancouver. Filip Chytil played well before he got injured, but I think he is better suited for the third line. Now hear me out, this might sound crazy. What about Trevor Zegras? But only if they buy low on him. Zegras was taken ninth overall in 2019 and hasn’t quite lived up to the hype. You know how flashy he is, and he has the skill. Next year will be the final year of his contract, and he is only making $5.75 million. I think the Canucks should at the very least kick tires on Zegras, and if the asking price isn’t that high, I would be happy trading for him.

Now the goaltending dilemma. I don’t think the Canucks want to have $9.5 million wrapped up in goaltending. Or do they? Thatcher Demko’s health is the ultimate question mark. In 2024, when he was healthy, he was the Vezina Trophy runner-up. But the thing is, he’s never healthy. Kevin Lankinen was solid this year, and the Canucks made a long-term commitment to him, inking him to a five-year deal. Demko is a UFA after next season. Do the Canucks run the duo of Demko and Lankinen for next season? Or do they move Demko in the offseason because his health is too big of a question mark? Honestly, I think it’s a total 50/50. If they get an offer they can’t refuse, I think they will move Demko at that point.

To me, those are the Canucks’ biggest issues heading into the offseason. What do you think they need to do? Let me know in the comments below.

14 Overtime Losses and a Whole Lot of Pain

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The Vancouver Canucks are officially eliminated from playoff contention. I know it sucks not having playoff hockey, especially after how fun and electric it was last year. If you didn’t have a chance to see a game, I hope you at least got to go to a watch party, because those had a similar atmosphere. That’s a huge reason why this season feels even more disappointing. After the incredible season they had last year, this team seemed destined to get back to the postseason and make a run for the Stanley Cup.

Even though they lost players like Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov, the Canucks still had a pretty solid roster. They added Jake DeBrusk, Kiefer Sherwood, and Kevin Lankinen, and in their home opener, they jumped out to a 4–1 lead against the Calgary Flames. Unfortunately, that was the peak. The Canucks blew that lead and lost 6–5 in overtime on home ice, might I add. Vancouver had one of the best home records in the NHL last season, and it was a key part of their success. This season was the complete opposite, they were near the bottom. The Canucks could never find their groove or consistency in their game. They got extremely unlucky with injuries and couldn’t string wins together when they needed to.

Even though they aren’t going to the playoffs, this season wasn’t as bad as you may think.

However, you and everyone else in this city are tired of excuses, and that’s totally fair. The Canucks have missed the playoffs eight of the last ten seasons. This team hasn’t been a consistent playoff contender since the late 2000s and early 2010s. Those years were some of the best in Canucks history, and they only made it to the third round once when they reached the Final in 2011.

I truly believe this core with Pettersson and Hughes is good enough to make a deep playoff run and, with the right additions, even win the Cup. They can’t afford any more losing seasons. And if this continues, I can see serious changes being made. The thing with this year was that a bunch of things went wrong, but the weirder part is that not all of them had to do with hockey. Let me break down some of the things that went haywire for Vancouver in this chaotic season.

Let’s start with Elias Pettersson. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. Petey had 102 points in 2023 and 89 in 2024. But we all saw the dip in his production last March, right after he signed his 8-year, $92.5 million contract. He was dealing with a knee issue during the second half of last year, and it severely affected his playoff performance. The big question going into this season was his health. Which Petey were we going to see, the one from the beginning of last season, or the one from the playoffs?

Well, our questions were answered, and it was neither, and not in a good way. Pettersson struggled more than he did in the playoffs. Outside of a short stretch in mid-November, he never got going, battled injuries, and had the worst season of his NHL career.

But Pettersson wasn’t just dealing with issues on the ice—he was dealing with drama off the ice, with his own teammate. When rumors started surfacing about issues between him and J.T. Miller, most people didn’t know what to believe. But then former players and even former coach Bruce Boudreau chimed in, and it started picking up serious traction. It got to the point where it felt like every day, players were being asked about the Pettersson-Miller relationship.

All of this drama festered in the locker room and clearly affected the team’s play on the ice. Miller took a personal leave from the team on November 17th, and based on everything that followed, it seemed like he wasn’t happy in Vancouver. The Canucks traded Miller to the New York Rangers on January 31st, ending the saga, but confirming there was a rift between him and Pettersson.

It wasn’t just Pettersson dealing with injuries either. Brock Boeser, Filip Hronek, Quinn Hughes, and Thatcher Demko all missed significant time. Demko was injured in Game 1 of last year’s playoffs and didn’t suit up for his first game this season until December 10th. But the biggest injury was easily Quinn Hughes. Hughes was playing at an MVP level before he went down. The problem was Vancouver’s struggling defense forced him to play close to 30 minutes a night, so inevitably, he got hurt, which hindered the Canucks even more.

Until Demko’s injury in the playoffs last year, the Canucks were a healthy team. This season was the complete opposite.

Now for the biggest thing: the overtime and shootout losses. 14 of them. That’s right—14. Cut those in half and we’re talking about which team the Canucks could be playing in the playoffs. But unfortunately, that’s not the case. Vancouver couldn’t get it done when the game went to the extra frame. It started in Game 1 of the season and became the story of the year. The Canucks had a ton of games where they tied it late, only to lose in OT. At the time, you could say, “At least we got a point.” But eventually, they added up, and you need the full two points. Overtime losses to Utah, the Blues, and the Flames stick out like a sore thumb when you look at the standings now.

As they say, that’s how the cookie crumbles. There’s nothing we can do about it now. The Canucks have three games left before they close out the season.

What are your thoughts on the Canucks’ season? Let me know in the comments below.

Breaking Down The 2011 NFL Draft

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When you think about legendary NFL draft classes, the 2011 draft should be the first one that comes to mind. It had everything you could ever want,elite players up and down the board. We even got to see Pro Bowlers being drafted in the later rounds. It has a plethora of future Hall of Famers, regular season and Super Bowl MVPs, and five players with over 100 career sacks. You may think the 1983 draft might be better. I’ll be honest, it has a solid case, but let me break down this historic class for you.

The top six picks were Cam Newton, Von Miller, Marcell Dareus, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, and Julio Jones. Those six players combined for 10 First-Team All-Pro selections and 35 Pro Bowl selections. Yup, that’s right,35 Pro Bowl selections. It’s absolutely mind-boggling. And that’s only the first six players. I’m just getting started. Yeah, this class is that stacked.

Cam Newton was one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in his prime and won MVP in 2015. Von Miller is one of the best pass rushers from the 2010s, he has 129.5 career sacks and beat Newton’s Panthers in Super Bowl 50, where he won Super Bowl MVP. Marcell Dareus was an elite defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills for several years. A.J. Green was one of the top wide receivers of the 2010s, he finished his career with over 10,000 receiving yards and 70 touchdowns. Patrick Peterson was one of the premier cornerbacks during the 2010s; he made eight Pro Bowls and was a three-time All-Pro, racking up 36 interceptions in his career. Julio Jones led the NFL in receiving yards twice and was just an absolute monster. He was a physical specimen and could just do it all. Julio finished his career with 13,703 receiving yards, good for 16th all-time.

If you think those players were good, this draft gets even better. The Dallas Cowboys took left tackle Tyron Smith ninth overall, and he was one of the best tackles in the league for over a decade. He is an eight-time Pro Bowler, even while battling injuries. Two picks later came J.J. Watt. Yup, JJ Watt was in this draft class. Watt may arguably be the best player out of the entire class. Before he was riddled with injuries, Watt was not only the best defensive player in the NFL, he may have been the best overall player in the NFL. He won Defensive Player of the Year three times in his first five seasons and was a First-Team All-Pro in four straight seasons. Perhaps his biggest accomplishment may not even be winning a certain award—Watt was the runner-up for MVP in 2014, and even to this day, many fans think he was robbed. He would have been just the third defensive player to ever win MVP.

Related : Ranking The 5 Best NFL Draft Classes Since 2000

Watt and Miller weren’t the only prominent pass rushers taken in the first round. Ryan Kerrigan, Cameron Jordan, and Robert Quinn also found NFL homes in 2011.

Every draft class has busts. You know this, it’s inevitable, but when a draft class is as stacked as this one, drafting a bust has to hurt a little more. Outside of Newton, the quarterbacks weren’t necessarily superstar caliber, maybe not even star caliber. The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Andy Dalton in the second round, and the San Francisco 49ers also took Colin Kaepernick in the second round. Other than that, the QBs selected were rough. But when it comes to quarterbacks, teams get desperate. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Blaine Gabbert 10th overall. The Minnesota Vikings drafted Christian Ponder 12th. Yikes.

The thing that made this draft class so special was all the talent being taken in the later rounds. The first round is supposed to produce Pro Bowl-caliber players, that’s why they’re drafted so high. The same can’t usually be said for players taken in the fourth, fifth rounds, and beyond. But there’s a reason this draft will go down in history.

Julius Thomas was a key part of the Broncos’ record-setting season in 2013. He had 12 touchdowns in both 2013 and 2014 and was taken in the fourth round. Speaking of that 2013 season, the Seahawks dominated the Broncos 43–8 in the Super Bowl, in large part due to their legendary defense, the “Legion of Boom.” The face of that defense was Richard Sherman, who was taken in the fifth round. Sherman, in my opinion, was the best cornerback of the 2010s. He made five Pro Bowls and was named a First-Team All-Pro three times. You probably know Jason Kelce as the brother of Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, but Kelce is also one of the best centers of all time—and he was taken in the sixth round.

I could keep going on about the amazing talent drafted in 2011, but I think you get the point—the 2011 draft is the best ever.Do you think we’ll see a draft class top this? If so, do you think it’ll happen anytime soon? Let me know in the comments below.

Del Bianco’s outstanding performance propels Warriors past FireWolves

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The Vancouver Warriors moved closer to a playoff spot after a stellar performance by goaltender Christian Del Bianco, beating the Albany FireWolves 10-4. It was the Warriors’ fourth consecutive win and they are undefeated since acquiring Del Bianco at the trade deadline. Del Bianco was the story of the game, making multiple marvelous saves throughout the contest. The Warriors tied a franchise record, allowing only four goals, a record they set earlier this season in January against the Ottawa Black Bears. The Warriors’ penalty kill was perfect Friday night, going four-for-four.

Del Bianco was pleased with how his defence played when they were down a player. “It’s a hard league to be short a man. There are some pretty good offensive players, and we were just disciplined. We kept our shape, we didn’t overextend, and we gave up the shots that we wanted to give up. So, I think as we move on here and find a little more chemistry between me and those four first-liners especially, it’s going to get easier.”

Related: Warriors acquire Christian Del Bianco from Roughnecks

The Warriors’ defence has been great since the beginning of the season and as of this writing, allowed the least amount of goals in the National Lacrosse League. But the addition of Del Bianco has been a game-changer. He won MVP in 2023, so how he’s been playing isn’t a surprise. The Warriors’ offence only scored four goals in the first half, but Del Bianco kept them in the game. Star forward Keegan Bal says the offence was set up for success because the defence kept the FireWolves in check.

“Our defence and Christian just stole a game for us. (It) makes it pretty easy on (the offence) when they (only) score four goals,” explained Bal.

Del Bianco is a world-class goalie, and he’s made an immediate impact. When the Warriors acquired him, they were 5-7, now they are 9-7 and on the cusp of making the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. Head coach and general manager Curt Malawsky has known Del Bianco since he was a teenager. He also coached him when he was with the Calgary Roughnecks, and they won a championship together in 2023. Malawsky was impressed by Del Bianco’s 37-save performance against the FireWolves.

“He was absolutely outstanding. He makes the (saves) when you really need them (and) he made (those saves) all game long. He’s just got that calming influence on the back end and he’s a great leader in the dressing room,” said Malawsky.

Malwasky knows he can count on Del Bianco’s habits in practice translating to his play during games. “He really makes our guys better in practice — they have to compete to score on him. He’s a very competitive guy, he’s not just a gameplay player. He practices like he wants to play in the game, and it makes everyone around him better (and) it makes the team better.”

The Warriors have taken their game to another level since the trade deadline, and they beat the first-place Buffalo Bandits last week. Malawsky says it’s important for his team to stay grounded after that win and stay focused on the task ahead.

“We talked about it (Thursday) in practice, that was a nice win. It’s a really tough thing to do, but don’t sit back on (the win). It’s a challenge, (tonight’s) game could have been a catch game, maybe a bit of an adrenaline dump, but our guys stayed with it. They just believe in each other, (and) they trust each other.”

Markus Klarich has had a breakout year for the Warriors. In Friday’s game, he took a hard hit into the boards, resulting in a five-minute power play. He returned to the game and scored in the second quarter. Klarich says confidence is high in the Warriors’ dressing room because of their current win streak.

“We’re even-keeled and aren’t going to get too high. We know where we are, we are comfortable where we are, and we are just going to keep building together.”

Vancouver’s next game is Friday vs. the Toronto Rock. The Warriors beat the Rock 13-8 on Mar. 14. This week is another must-win for Vancouver to keep its playoff push moving strong.

The Best Canucks Of All Time 5-1

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This is the second part of me ranking the top 10 Canucks of all time. If you haven’t read players 6-10, you can check it out HERE. Without further ado, let’s jump right into the five best Canucks of all time.

5. Roberto Luongo

Roberto Luongo is easily the best goalie in franchise history. He might have even been higher on my list if he had played in Vancouver a little longer. Luongo was already one of the top goalies in the league when he was traded to Vancouver. He made a huge impact his first year in Vancouver, finishing second in Vezina and Hart Trophy voting. Luongo finished top five in Vezina voting four times in his eight seasons in Vancouver. He is first in all major goaltending categories in Canuck history. Luongo was durable, playing at least 50 games in seven seasons. You might want to blame Luongo for losing the Cup in 2011, but the truth of the matter is that they wouldn’t have even made it that far if it wasn’t for him. Luongo was a huge reason that the Canucks were an elite team for so many years. He is in the Hall of Fame for a reason and is a top-five Canuck ever.

4. Markus Naslund

To think it only took Alek Stojanov to acquire one of the best players of the 2000s. But that’s the truth. Naslund struggled in Pittsburgh, and they dumped him to Vancouver. I guess it’s true what they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That couldn’t be more true for the Canucks. Naslund had six 30-plus goal years and three years scoring over forty. His best seasons in Vancouver were in 2002 and 2003, where he put up 90 points in 2002 and 104 in 2003. He finished second in the league in scoring and Hart Trophy voting as well. Naslund finished his career second in goals and third in points in franchise history. He was a true superstar and just missed being a top-three Canuck ever.

3. Pavel Bure

The Russian Rocket is the most electrifying and dynamic player the Canucks have ever had. From the moment he arrived, he made an impact, winning the Calder Trophy. But Bure’s impact goes beyond the stats. His speed and stick handling were so unique. I think every defenseman in the NHL saw Bure in their nightmares. Bure made casual Canucks fans into die-hard fans and brought so much light to this team, headlined by the Stanley Cup final run in 1994. Bure had back-to-back 60-goal seasons in Vancouver in 1993 and 1994 and is one of the best pure goal scorers of all time. If Bure had played out his whole career in Vancouver, he may have ended up in my number-one spot. Bure is one of only two Canucks to finish his time in Vancouver with over a point per game.

2. Daniel Sedin

You knew the Sedins were going to be in the top two; you just didn’t know the order. While they both had cases for the number one spot, I settled for Daniel to be second, just like his draft position. It’s hard to even look at the Sedins as two separate players. They were drafted together, they played on the same line together, and they went into the Hall of Fame together. The one thing I could separate them on was their point totals. Daniel is the goal scorer of the two, as he has a franchise-best 393 career goals. Daniel also won the Art Ross Trophy in 2011 as the NHL’s leading scorer with 104 points and the Lester B. Pearson Award (now the Ted Lindsay).

1.Henrik Sedin

The franchise leader in points and assists. Henrik won the Hart and Art Ross Trophy in 2010, which is why he is above his brother in my rankings. Henrik was one of the best playmakers of the 2010s, leading the league in assists from 2010-12. It was tough to rank the Sedins, but I ultimately put Henrik in the top spot because he is the leader in points and won an MVP. They were the face of the franchise and both played huge roles in the organization. They may both be the two most important Canucks ever.

This was a very fun list to make. Is there anything you think I should change? Let me know in the comments below.