Ouch!On a team coached by defensively-minded Ken Hitchcock, it was this apparent lack of effort in the defensive zone that earned Umberger plenty of fourth line duty for the Flyers as the 2007 season ended.For fantasy hockey owners who selected Umberger in keeper league formats, fear not, as Umberger appears to have turned the corner after an impressive 2007-08 season and an inspiring playoff performance.Playing both center and left wing, Umberger’s all-around game improved last year with an even zero plus minus rating, a respectful 173 shots on goal and 50 points. Umberger saved his best for the playoffs, however, as he scored 15 points in 17 postseason games including 10 goals.Umberger, along with the stellar net minding of Martin Biron, almost single-handedly disposed of the Eastern Conference champion Montreal Canadiens in their semi-final series.Despite the fantastic playoff performance, Umberger was dealt by the Flyers to the Columbus Blue Jackets on the floor of this year’s NHL Entry Draft.In exchange, the Flyers received Colorado’s 2008 first round pick (previously acquired by Columbus) and a 2008 third round pick. Flyers’ GM, Paul Holmgren, described the deal as a necessary evil thanks in large part to pending salary cap issues, which undoubtedly included the Flyers’ desire to sign forward Jeff Carter to a long-term contract.In the end, someone had to go in Philadelphia and Umberger was the odd man out.In Columbus, Umberger joins his old coach in Ken Hitchcock who has already mused openly about using the big forward as a center iceman flanked by goal scoring dynamo, Rick Nash.If this is the case, Umberger’s fantasy value just went through the roof as he will finally have first-line minutes and increased powerplay time on a thin Columbus forward unit.RJ Umberger is a big, strong skilled forward with soft hands and deceptive speed. He excels more as a playmaker than a scorer despite his 2008 playoff heroics, which should make him an excellent linemate for Nash who shoots every time the puck reaches his stick.Umberger should be capable of consistently producing 75-point seasons in future with potential upside of 85-points.For most 10-team fantasy hockey leagues using a minimum 20-man roster, Umberger should serve nicely as a top-five forward but should not be confused with elite producers such as Sydney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Jason Spezza. . Canada Day and baseball used to go hand-in-hand for me.I can remember back in 1997 when I was supposed to see Roger Clemens go up against the Montreal Expos on Canada Day. My dad tore his ACL the week before so we couldn’t go, but the All-Canadian matchup was something that was meaningful to everyone watching game.There weren’t displaced fans of the Cubs, Red Sox, or Yankees there, but fans who wanted to drink in the heritage and enjoy the two clubs who displayed the Maple Leaf so proudly, squaring off in Toronto.The following year, the New York Mets came to town and the fireworks came early. It was a 15-10 Jays win, featuring an offensive explosion against the Mets relievers.

Dan Pleasac picked up the win for the Jays, while the Expos took a trip to Boston.Since then, however, the Jays have only played at home three times (this is since 1999) on Canada’s birthday. Even with all of those away games though, not one was spent in Montreal against the Expos up to 2004 when the team folded and moved to Washington.In the same time frame, the Expos only received three home games on the first as well. They didn’t even get to spend their final Canada Day game in franchise history at home though, as they were in Pittsburgh.You’d think that those who schedule the season would at least let Canada have its lone team on one of the biggest days of the year.By the same account, the only teams to miss playing in America on the Fourth of July were the Florida Marlins in 2001 against the Expos and the 1999 Tampa Bay Devil Rays.Granted it’s easier to schedule 15 American home games on a single day when there are 28 American-based teams. But by all accounts couldn’t it have been easier to schedule two Canadian teams to play each other on the first day of the seventh month each season?And since the Expos have left, it’s become worse.In 2004 the Jays were in Tampa Bay, followed by a trip to Boston in 2005. The next year, the Jays hosted the Philadelphia Phillies in the first Canada Day home game seen in Toronto since 2001.

In the past two years they’ve played the late game in Seattle.More and more it seems like Major League Baseball and Bud Selig care as much about the Jays as I do about Dr. Phil’s crumbling marriage, Oprah Winfrey, and Ken Armer’s Anaheim Duck suspenders?in other words not at all.Would it be so difficult to toss a game Canada’s way on the most historic day in our calendar year?What’s even worse is what the Jays organization has allowed this to become.Years ago, they’d design specific jerseys to be worn on Canada Day. That way British Columbia and the rest of the West wouldn’t feel left out, and Montreal and the East could relive some old baseball memories.It’s just a thought.To be honest, I’d love another Canadian team again?I simply adored the Expos. The problem is that another Canadian team isn’t viable, so we’ve got to live with what we’ve got. Still, that’s hard sometimes.Maybe I just miss the little things like the jerseys, or the feeling of tuning into an afternoon game before heading off to abarbecue and fireworks Maybe I’m just wanting to relive part of my childhood.