dteowner

Pulled Dallas Drake out of retirement too, evidently. Perhaps we should thank you for that, eh?

Credit where credit is due. This one is really funny. Chelly-Grave's glove hand is just a little slow and his lateral movement is slightly limited, but he doesn't give any 5 hole.

I'll step up and admit that Lilypad has done well this year. While he was always fairly good as a stay-at-home #5/6, he couldn't resist making the complete bonehead screwup about every other game. Plus, he got used as a #1/2 for a while and was way over his head. This year, he's playing within his ability and he seems to have remembered his brain for most games. Hats off to the Pain Train.

Better to get it patched up now than continue grinding away--there'd be nothing left of Homer by the time the playoffs came. We said all along the kids would eventually get their chance to fill in for injuries. Looks like we were right.

Franzen's going to be pretty busy playing both wings. I assume you reality-checked this on the salary cap. I believe, once Cheli is back, you'll be over.

Don't think it was a deadline deal, but getting Uwe Krupp from the Crapalanche has to be mentioned as a classic bungle.

Seems like he enjoys being a playoff "rental" to me. It certainly would make it easier to look like an all-star when everyone else has taken an 82 game beating and you're on fresh legs. This annual circus has had its run--time for Floppa to dive into the recliner for good.

It used to be easy with the Crapalanche, but with their decline and personnel turnover, it's a little tougher to get a good hate going. The Quacks, on the other hand... Between just Pronger, Burke, and their fans, what's not to hate? I can't really blame the Pens--the Crosby hype machine isn't really their fault. Their coach is a total ******, but that's not enough to really get my hate gland going. Honorable mention to the Flyers, solely for the joy that is Philly sports fans.

Interesting that Lebda is included with "the kids". I like that Lillypad's potentially on the block, though.

Off the top of my head-- Anders Ericksen (grew to be a passable 5/6) Golubovski (washout in Washington, IIRC) Aaron Ward (overachieved to stardom in Carolina but probably no better than a 3/4)

We're just bound and determined not to let any young guys into the lineup. Perhaps we're seeing the invisible hand of Scotty Bowman? Kind of ironic that the Wings are getting stroked for such good drafting but we refuse to play any of them.

For better or worse, Quincey better pack his bags. No room at the inn. This means we've got no spots open this year, and probably only Cheli's #7 spot next year. The kids are going to rot. Happy to have Stuart back, but that makes the Lillypad signing much more shaky in my mind.

As much as I hate the guy, $1.2mil for an experienced #6 is a good deal. Like I've said before, we'll just have to trust Babcock not to drop Lillypad into that #4 spot, where he's clearly over his head. That means Lebda or one of the kids gets thrown in the fire at #4. I think I can live with that. Sure, there will be some growing pains during the season, but by the time the playoffs roll around, the kids will know their way around an NHL rink. Lids-Raffi Kronner-Lebda Meech-Lillypad Cheli/Quincey Ericsson spends most of the year with the Griffins due to his eligibility.

Last year, he swore up and down that he'd be back. Are we to assume that's no longer the case? I'm guessing Holland's loud silence on Grigs is a vote against?

That money for an experienced #6 is a solid deal. I guess we'll have to hope that Babs can resist the temptation to slide Lillypad into that open #4 spot.

Got it. Mercy buckets.

Any takers?

That's OK, but who is your #4? I could deal with Lillypad as a #6 if I had to, but unless you're promoting one of the kids right into the #4 spot, it's Lillypad in that second pairing since Babs seems to like Lebda in the 3rd pairing. I'm surprised how quickly everyone's turned on Stuart. The guy's family can't leave CA. He made the sacrifice as a rental and got his ring. Now he wants to be able to tuck his kids in at night. Yeah, I'd like for him to stay, but I don't see why everyone's got their panties in a twist that his priorities are a little different now that he's got a ring and a new baby.

Quick draft-related question. Anyone know the story on the extra pick in the 2nd round? Who got it and why? Thanks in advance.

It's a big advantage when your team is good enough that you don't need these kids to make the big club in a year. Some teams can't pick a guy that "needs to add muscle" because they need players now. Hakan does a great job for us, but he's got broader options than scouts for crap teams. We can wait 5 years for a kid to find his talent.

Exactly my thoughts. We've got some decent F and D prospects in Grand Rapids already, but the cupboard is pretty empty for goalies. Whether we grabbed the right netminder or not is a crapshoot (this guy seems fine to me but it's not like I know diddly), but seems to me it was the correct position to target.

You'll have to throw in the cardboard center of a roll of stick tape to balance out not adding Lillypad.

Get him a maxi and some Midol. What a whiner. He's obviously trying to politic the refs for game 3. Hopefully the zebras don't fall for such a desperate ploy.

Thanks as always. Much appreciated!

Anyone willing to do a turtle crossing sign (I don't think I need to specify the appropriate picture to work with )?