Steve Yzerman and the Tampa Bay Lightning make the right moves before NHL trade deadline

It isn't a question of whether the Lightning made a good move. It's the simple idea of proven commodities versus potential.

And the Bolts received instant help at a fair price.

On Monday, General Manager Steve Yzerman traded center Vladislav Namestnikov, two prospects, a first rounder in 2018, and a conditional first rounder in 2019 to the New York Rangers for defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller.

The price appears steep, but the Lightning gain a cerebral, veteran defender in McDonagh to shore up a lagging blue-line defense. McDonagh has been known to utilize his athleticism and intelligence to keep offenses at bay, and pairing him with his former Rangers teammate, defenseman Dan Girardi, might rejuvenate the 33-year-old Girardi, who's already having a monster year.

McDonagh has been in the Norris Trophy discussion in the past; most notably during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The former New York captain is currently a +7 on the season with 26 assists and two goals.

Miller is a bit of an underrated player and galvanizes a glaring weakness - face-offs.

Steven Stamkos is currently Tampa Bay's best face-off option, winning 51.6% of his face-offs, good enough for 48th in the NHL. Miller is 22nd, winning 54.3% of his face-offs. It seems like a simple facet of the game, but becomes crucial down the stretch, in the 3rd period, and could be the difference in preserving a one-goal lead or staving off a fierce rally.

He's also a sneaky scorer, hitting the back of the net 22 times in both 2016 and 2017. Miller is the type of player Yzerman and Jon Cooper love: a two-way grinder that'll mix it up on the penalty kill.

New York is getting a good deal, receiving the youngsters it needs to rebuild a stagnant program.

Namestnikov's roll will increase and he'll become even more of a goal scorer and all-around facilitator for the Rangers, and there's no telling whether the Lightning could've re-signed the center considering he'll be a restricted free agent this summer and will garner a hefty pay raise due to a career season.

The Rangers also gain two young and potentially excellent prospects in forward Brett Howden and defenseman Libor Hajek.

Key word: potential. While Howden and Hajek may become staples for the Rangers, the Lightning are loaded with talented forwards and defensemen in its farm system allowing Yzerman to trade away the prospects.

Proven NHLers far outweigh minor leaguers who have yet to see NHL action, and this move makes Tampa Bay heavy contenders.

It's a win-win for both teams. Tampa gets to go on a Stanley Cup run, while the Rangers get to rebuild a once proud organization.

It was the right move at the right time for both organizations.

The University of Central Florida Knights epitomize everything wrong with competitive sports

Comedian Demetri Martin has a great rant on sports and championships. "I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I'm good at everything."

This is how the University of Central Florida Knights will be remembered in 2018.

Not for sending shockwaves throughout the college football landscape by upsetting perennial power, and former No. 1 team in the country, Auburn in the Peach Bowl New Year's Day.

It won't be for going undefeated with an epic overtime win against Memphis in the AAC Championship Game.

Or not for defeating rival USF in what many consider to be one of the best games of the college football season.

Nope. Instead, UCF will be remembered for its persistent whining and blubbering about how the program deserves to be National Champions because it went 13-0 with a win against the Tigers.

So...give it to them.

Yes. Seriously. Why not?

Society has begrudgingly accepted the "Everyone-Gets-a-Trophy" culture and UCF is the quintessential definition of the insufferable juvenile stomping their feet until they get what they want without deserving the rewards.

The Knights defeated a very good Auburn team. An Auburn team that defeated both Georgia and Alabama - both of whom are playing for the National Championship.

But that's where the argument ends.

Even the little brother gets a win against his big brother in a game of hoops once in a while.

According to TeamRankings.com, UCF has the 54th toughest schedule in the nation and Sagarin, who is universally respected in the college football world, has the Knights at 72nd.

Before its New Year's Day victory, UCF has two wins against a Top-25 College Football Playoff ranked team (Memphis twice).

None of this inspires champion, but give it to them anyway. They deserved to be called National Champions, just like 1998 Tulane or 1999 Marshall deserve it.

UCF did itself a disservice and painted a huge target on its back for next season with this abomination. LaVar Ball thinks the Knights complain too much.

The right move was to have a parade to celebrate an undefeated season, but entitlement created a monster because the Knights defeated the likes of FIU and Austin Peay.

What the Knights don't have is consistency. The program could be avoiding all of this if UCF would've continued the winning wave after its victory against Baylor in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. Instead, the momentum quickly ebbed with a forgettable winless record in 2015.

The Knights have zero clout. No tradition. And no legacy.

Florida State had to schedule games at places like Nebraska and LSU, without a return game, to build its program and prestige.

It won. Proving everyone wrong over and again consistently throughout the '80's to be considered a premier power, even with a down 2017 season.

The Knights lack that consistency.

Want to be respected? Then win in 2018. Win in 2019. And so on.

But who're we kidding. The Knights are having a parade.

Congrats to the 2017 National Champions.

Edco must be having a sale.

Seminoles' Head Coach Jimbo Fisher has burnt too many bridges at Florida State University

There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. - from Julius Caesar

The Jimbo Fisher saga is now a stagnant, mess of an issue at Florida State, and Fisher is largely to blame.

Media outlets have confirmed that the Texas A&M Board of Regents is set to meet on Thursday in order to approve Fisher's potential contract. This has been public knowledge the last day and a half, and it's something Fisher could've easily dispelled or turned down to end all speculation.

Instead, he let it play out.

Considering Fisher is mum on the situation leads administration and boosters to believe Fisher is gone.

If that's the case, Fisher needs to come out and say it one way or the other. It's not exactly fair to the University, its students, its fans, the boosters, and especially recruits who're currently looking elsewhere.

Wanya Morris, a 4-star offensive lineman, has already backed out of his commitment to the Seminoles and more will soon follow.

Even if Fisher decides to get cold feet and return to FSU, he has burnt some powerful bridges. The Auburn drama of 2010, the consecutive years where LSU tried to pull Fisher, and now the TAMU fiasco is creating distrust with the boosters - many of whom would like to see Fisher take the Aggie gig.

Jimmy Sexton, Fisher's long-time agent, has leveraged money every time Fisher has been sought after by other schools. Florida State President John Thrasher isn't budging and won't give Fisher another raise, but is allegedly willing to put more money into finding competent assistant coaches.

Upgraded facilities and a football-only complex is supposed to be in the works, as well.

If Fisher stays, it'll play out again next season where a new SEC team will try and poach Fisher eventually leaving Florida State to scramble for a new coach.

The Seminoles won't be caught off guard.

Rumors are circulating that administration has contacted Oregon Head Coach Willie Taggart about the potential vacancy, and Taggart has expressed interest.

Taggart knows the State of Florida and is a relentless recruiter.

More will be known in the next couple of days, and regardless of how this is played out Fisher has done some serious internal damage within the program.

Florida State is currently a better program than TAMU, but Texas money combined with SEC funds could potentially change that.

Maybe it's time for Fisher to take his money and go.

Love them or hate them, give the Miami Hurricanes props

Wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, but cheerily seek how to redress their harms. - from King Henry VI

"The U is back" is a yearly joke.

The ACC was arrogantly dubbed by fans the "All 'Canes Conference" after Miami joined in 2004.

The Hurricanes have never played in the ACC Championship Game. Miami's last conference title was 2003 and haven't been in a National Championship game since the controversial contest against Ohio State in 2002.

Since then, the U hasn't come close to even resembling the early 2000's teams.

Randy Shannon once had the Hurricanes "back," leading Miami to a 9-4 record in 2009. He did so with a brutal schedule, surpassing all expectations. Prospects were high for 2010.

He was fired the next season after a Sun Bowl loss to Notre Dame and a 7-6 record.

Not back.

Al Golden also had the Hurricanes "back," starting the 2013 season 7-0 and reaching No. 7 in the AP poll. Golden's Hurricanes were soundly beaten by Florida State and finished the year 9-3 - losing to Louisville 36-9 in the Russell Athletics Bowl.

With a couple of solid recruiting classes, expectations were once again rising.

He was fired in 2015 after losing to Clemson 58-0.

Miami was "back?"

Enter Mark Richt.

He had the U back in 2016, beginning the season 4-0 with hated FSU coming to Miami.

A blocked extra point led to a Seminole's victory and the Hurricanes would lose four straight.

The memes and jokes were back, but this was different. Miami would rebound, winning five straight including a victory against West Virginia in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Perhaps the weather in South Florida was changing.

The 2017 Hurricanes weren't impressing anyone.

They struggled in the first half against Toledo.

They needed a last-minute touchdown against the worst Florida State team in 40 years.

They needed a last-second field goal against Georgia Tech.

They needed a fourth quarter to seal victories against a pesky Syracuse and stingy North Carolina squad.

There's no reason for the 'Canes to be 8-0 and ranked 7th in the AP poll. Not with late-game heroics. Not against inferior competition.

These were the games they were losing when pundits pegged them as "back."

But here they are. Dismantling a good Virginia Tech team and setting up a potentially epic top-10 match-up against Notre Dame.

This team is resilient, plays hard, doesn't quit, and most importantly they're having fun. Look to the sidelines and watch the players with the "turnover chain" and laughing it up with their team mates. They play for each other. They're a family.

They're the U. It's what has been missing the last 15 seasons. That continuity. That passion.

"The U's back" hasn't been uttered yet. Perhaps ESPN is waiting for Miami's first ACC Championship Game appearance. Maybe FoxSports will wait and see if Miami defeats Notre Dame this Saturday.

Regardless, the joke's over. Put the memes away.

Miami's for real.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev is for real

Be great in act, as you have been thought. - from King John

Tampa Bay Lightning fans didn't know what to expect from defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.

The 19-year-old was traded to Tampa for Jonathan Drouin, who was supposed to be the next Steven Stamkos. Fans knew Drouin had tremendous upside and saw flashes of his speed and brilliance during the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Drouin was also an alleged problem in the locker room - already bumping heads with GM Steve Yzerman about wanting out of Tampa due to the organization sending Drouin down to the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, at the beginning of the 2016 season.

Yzerman saw it as a way for Drouin to get playing time and refine his skills instead of being lost in a shuffle of scorers.

Drouin saw it as disrespect.

Sports really is the ultimate soap opera.

Enter Sergachev.

Sergachev was Montreal's 9th overall pick in the 2016 Entry Level Draft. The scout's praised his fluid skating for a kid that's 6'3", 215 pounds. He's competitive, confident, a true two-way player, but he couldn't break into the Canadiens lineup - spending the majority of his 2016-2017 season with Montreal's OHL affiliate, the Windsor Spitfires.

Enter Drouin.

It seemed like Montreal was getting the better end of this deal. They were inheriting a proven scorer, a playoff veteran, and a presence to increase Montreal's power play.

Tampa didn't know what they were getting. Or did they?

Although Drouin has played one less game, trading for Sergachev is paying huge dividends.

Through nine games, Sergachev has three goals, five assists, and is a plus-three on the early season.

Drouin has two goals, three assists, and is a minus-five through eight.

Sergachev is shoring up a blue-line defense that was porous and a problem a season ago utilizing his speed and athleticism to slow the opposition down.

Yzerman is known as a mad scientist when it comes to situations and trades like these, but even he couldn't have scripted a better start, especially since Montreal is off to a horrendous 1-6-1 record, while the Lightning just dismantled the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champs 7-1 last night where Sergachev blasted in a power play goal.

The Bolts also have the best record and lead the NHL in points.

The season's early and anything can happen between now and May, but there's no denying Sergachev is having a positive impact on the Lightning's success.

For Sergachev and the Bolts, expectations are high.

What's going on with Tampa Bay Buccaneers' cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III?

Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie which we ascribe to heaven. - from All's Well That Ends Well

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' cornerback Vernon Hargreaves is having a bad year statistically.

According to Pro Football Focus, Hargreaves, a first round pick out of the University of Florida, has been targeted 37 times, giving up 404 yards receiving, and is ranked the 108th cornerback in the National Football League.

Dirk Koetter admitted to being concerned over Hargreaves play. "He should be," Hargreaves told PewterReport columnist Scott Reynolds. "I'm not making plays; I'm not producing."

Against the Patriots, Hargreaves allowed 94 yards and a touchdown on all six targets. He had a slight improvement against the Cardinals, allowing 50 yards, but was targeted five times while Carson Palmer connected on all five. He also missed three tackles in the loss to Arizona.

Hargreaves has one pass breakup this season.

So what exactly is the issue?

A former Buccaneer player, who requested not to be named, says, "He's still young with a lot to learn, but he's on the right track."

A former University of Florida defensive player, who also requested not to be named, agrees with the sentiment. "It's his second year and he's getting targeted a lot because he's young and still developing."

How can the Buccaneers defense support a young, struggling cornerback and help him develop?

For one, a pass rush would be nice.

The Bucs are last in the NFL in sacks with six and are second-to-last in sacks per pass attempt at 3.6%, according to Football Outsiders. Just to put things in perspective, the Jaguars have 23 sacks and get to the quarterback nearly 11% per pass attempt.

"Yep, that effects every cornerback," says the Bucs' source.

Not coincidentally enough, the Jags also lead the NFL in interceptions (10).

The Bucs? Four. Good for a tie at 18th.

The correlation between a violent pass rush and consistent secondary play is undeniable.

Without a pass rush, corners are left out to dry. It's an impossible task to ask a corner to continually shadow a receiver for long periods of time, but it feels like Hargreaves has had the coverage. Just not the success.

"He's covering the wide receivers pretty tight," explains the Gators' source, "but there have been those plays where he has gotten burnt."

Improvements across the defense need to form quickly, and hopefully Hargreaves gets to stick around long enough to enjoy potential success.

Until then, the bust card is looming.

Florida State's Jimbo Fisher is no different than former LSU coach Les Miles

Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em. - from Twelfth Night

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher is garnering tons of negative attention and justifiably so.

His team was ranked third in the nation before losing to Alabama in a contest where FSU's starting quarterback was knocked out for the year.

The Seminoles never got off of the bus a couple of weeks later against North Carolina State.

FSU squeaked by Wake Forest on a last-minute touchdown, followed by a heart-crunching, last-second defeat at the hands of the hated Miami Hurricanes.

And the 'Noles are now 1-3.

FSU could easily be 3-1, but it's not. Great teams find ways to win. Losers accept ways to lose.

One of Florida State's prestigious websites didn't appreciate a blogger challenging Fisher's coaching choices nor the claim that FSU won't win against anyone except Delaware State the rest of the season because facts weren't utilized.

They were right. The Seminoles beat big, bad Wake.

Barely.

Apparently, facts and stats outweigh old fashioned opinions, so here goes:

Jimbo Fisher is Les Miles.

(In no way shape or form is this a championing for Miles to be FSU's next head coach. It's only for comparison purposes.)

Miles' LSU team lost to Alabama in the 2011 National Title game. In the three years after LSU's defeat, Miles regular-season record gradually declined, from 10-2 the following season to 8-4 by 2014 - a 75% winning percentage during the span.

He posted a 62% SEC winning percentage in the same time period, losing to unranked teams three times.

Miles never sniffed another SEC Championship Game before being fired in 2016

Since losing to Oregon in the inaugural College Football Playoff, Fisher is 20-9 - a 70% winning percentage.

This season hasn't concluded so there is time for Florida State's percentages to go up. Or down.

He has posted a 67% ACC winning percentage since 2015, while losing to three unranked teams.

Fisher hasn't come close to playing in the ACC Championship Game since the Jameis Winston-led, 2014 squad.

The difference is Fisher has been doing all of this with superior talent.

After winning the 2013 National Title, Fisher has never finished below fourth in any of the major recruiting services (ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports).

On the other hand, Miles has never finished better than sixth since losing to 'Bama in 2011 - and even had a class finish 18th (2012, according to Rivals).

So Miles was doing a better job with lesser talent in a tougher conference. Or was it?

Fisher has had to deal with a slightly harder strength of schedule. From 2015 to present, FSU has averaged the 11th hardest strength of schedule, according to Sagarin.

LSU from 2012 to 2014 has had the 13th.

Chalk one up for Jimbo. Sort of...

Facts and data are boring, but are a necessary evil when evaluating coaches. Fisher has clearly been underachieving since 2015. Issues with the offensive line and defense have got to be addressed this off-season or else Fisher shouldn't be Florida State's head coach much longer.

Les is more, and Jimbo has done a lot less with more.