GMRwings1983

The instigator penalty and the lack of enforcers has made the NHL into a softer league than what it once was. I don't mind them calling inteference penalties, but I wish they'd call less goalie interference penalties, and call more diving by itself, instead of calling a penalty, and then penalizing the other player for diving. This way, diving is not deterred by the league at all. Also, say what you want, but there's a lot more Europeans now than there's ever been, thus there's going to be less hitting and fighting in the game, because that's not the style of hockey they play overseas. However, first thing is first. Get rid of the instigator penalty, and lets see some more enforcers back in the league doing their thing. It's good for physicality and for the entertaiment value.

I still don't know if Cleary is a top 6 guy or a top 9 guy? I guess a lot of that depends on whether we sign any big time free agent forwards this summer.

Right, then we could go after bona fide #1 defenseman with that money. Great idea!

Trade Pavel and Hank for Lang and Williams. Then the Hawks will be stuck with cap trouble, while we'll have plenty of cap space left to sign capable free agents. Ingenious, isn't it?

This is the perfect fit for him, because he's never going to be a decent 1st pairing defenseman. A couple of teams thought he could achieve that potential, and it never worked. However, he's about as good a D-man as you can have as your 4th defenseman, so Holland has to try to bring this guy back. The other guys we have on our defense are nowhere near ready to be paired with Kronwall.

I'd love to have a guy like Malone, but I don't know if he'll want to leave the Pens being a hometown guy. Nolan would be a great choice for a 2nd or 3rd liner, since he's physical, had a solid year last year in Calgary, and has a right handed shot which we don't have much of in our lineup. Oh, and sign Brian McGrattan. Having an enforcer is important for entertainment value, since we know that we'll make the playoffs again, and probably win our division again. Keeping these regular seasons interesting is a challenge, which more fighting might cure. Also, we need to trade those playoff chokers Datsyuk and Zetterberg, and that old man Lidstrom, who clearly doesn't have what it takes anymore.

Should we congratulate Lang also?

You guys are forgetting that Franzen will also want more money. Add that with Hank asking for more, and I don't see how we'll have cash to get Sundin, unless he's willing to take a paycut for the Stanley Cup.

Awesome? Are we talking about the same guy?

I for one was confident all throghout February, and told all you guys that we didn't need to change anything on our team.

Where's Lilja during all this? I know he can outdrink any man in that lockerroom.

The Cup run in 2002 was tougher than this Cup run, so I don't know what all this talk is about how we bought things, and how easy our run was. Back then there were several teams buying all the talent, so we didn't do anything wrong, we just did it better than anyone else did.

Where's that numba-sixty-six poster who was here all last week. I guess we won't be seeing him around much longer.

Watching Mark Hartigan skating the Cup was also a memorable moment. It made the whole run worthwhile.

Grigorenko Baby!

Don't be so hard on Lidstrom. I know that this wasn't his best playoffs, but to suggest that Orpik should replace him is ridiculous.

Funny how last year everyone was saying that Chelli can play until 50. Now everyone wants him gone already for some reason. Puzzling.

As amazing as it is, Trashville was the toughest opponent. Even when we won the first 2 games against them, we barely hung on. The rest of the series was as close as it gets. For some reason, we just struggled agaisnt our division all year.

Other than winning the Cup, beating the divealanche 8-2 to sweep them in their own building was the best thing in the playoffs.

Fleury gives up too many soft goals to be a great goalie.

Eva, take a drink man. We've won the Cup. None of us are capable of making a list right now.

This is my first year here, and I know I am somehow responsible for the good karma.

I wish I could pour champagne on all your guys' heads right now. We've earned it here on LGW for a long season.

I guess there will be a killing spree in Des Moines Iowa now. That's horrible, because I've been blacked out before during tornadoes also. They wouldn't do it for an American sport.

I suddenly feel tired and spent knowing how stressed I've been over this 8 week period of watching the playoffs. What a great ride, and what a way to end it.