mjlegend

I had no idea.

In a related note, can you imagine David Stern talking to a media conference and using the tone that Bettman did? Roger Goodell? Even Bud Selig woulnd't be a pretentious jackass. I can see the Sochi games being a complete flop on the men's hockey front if every team is filled with 23 Todd Hlushkos. Absolutely no one new will watch the NHL if that's what they see.

The term is curious also, given that they'll need to commit money to Doughty and Johnson starting next year, and already have Scuderi and Greene inked to significant contracts past the next season.

Replace the shootout with a punch-out.

If you're Burke, you could probably sell that as a good deal in Toronto if the Leafs ended up getting a first round pick the other way, even if you had to give up a third rounder to get it. I guess he thinks the other GMs are as dumb as Sutters when it comes to giving up assets.

Now I'm beginning to think he's not the UK's biggest Wings supporter. No, I'm pretty sure they're stickers.

The Charks losing Blake will hurt more than the psychological damage of losing once again before the Final. They lose their captain and top two defenceman and replace him with... what? The hope that Vlasic responds better than he did last year? Dog Murray? Huskins? Nic Wallin and his baffling $2.5 million re-signing? They have a tiny bit of cap room but they don't appear all that willing to spend up to get there at this point. They should really have been in the Paul Martin sweepstakes, or at least had a Plan B if the Hjalmarsson signing was matched.

That is a fantastically attired bridal party.

Mount "Franchises That Never Were"-More Saskatoon Blues Kansas City Islanders Winnipeg Coyotes Hamilton Coyotes

She's an Oilers fan, bless her soul. Not one of those who need to watch every game, but enough to know where they are in the standings and who the top couple of players are. Most of the last 13 years with her have been fun, but that one year... EDIT: I should also mention she hates Crosby almost as much as I do. HATES the commercials with him, etc.

The disease has made him a shadow of his former self. He was a good pest and plucky winger in his day, but that day is long gone. Kind of sad for both parties that this is what the Hawks are reduced to signing with all their cap troubles. My prediction on his line at the end of the year: 35 games, two goals, four assists, seven points, 12 PIM. At least he'll get to take part in the Cup banner raising. When you're part of a team, you have to take part of the blame for a team's failure as you would credit for its success. The Oilers were a bad team because they had no chemistry in their top six and no grit and desire in their bottom six. Their defence was laughable and their goaltending atrocious, aside from a few good early games from Khabby.

And Brouwer on the first line! Now, I love me some Troy Brouwer, but as a third-liner, max. You can't expect a Stanley Cup repeat with him riding shotgun on the first line.

I'm going to get minuses for this, but does that decision remind us in any way of:

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! I may be alone but I actually didn't mind Darren Millard. He was better than the assorted guest hosts they'd bring in like Gord Stellick or RJ Broadhead. A lot more interesting than Pravda on the NHL Network in the same time slot. Is Millard staying in the Hockeycentral television shows (not that I watch them a lot)? I have to admit I've never heard Brady before.

This protracted saga is the number one reason I thank God the Burke isn't our GM. Imagine Kenny pulling this kind of crap with, say, Franzen? Never happen in a million years. Kaberle doesn't deserve the soap opera Burke and the Toronto media are putting him through. Worst porno ever.

Too many teams are locked into too many "marginal top-line" players to take some of these guys on. Some guys are getting four year contracts that don't deserve four year contracts, simply because GMs are afraid to take the risk that they might lose them as RFAs just as they hit their prime. The Flipper, Olesz and Matt Greene contracts are good examples of this idea. I like the idea to change the rosters to 24 players, but I think you should really only have three players, maximum, signed for a minimum four years. For now, don't we think that if some of these UFAs really wanted to be in the KHL, they'd be there already? It's a month and a half after the free agent window opened. I think someone with a lot of cap room like LA or Atlanta is going to get a good deal on these guys.

Excellent thread idea. Bill Cook over Messier with the Rangers. (led them in 1933, one of the top 50 players of all time who spent most of his career with the Rangers). Mess just led a bunch of overpaid plugs to the win, didn't even get the Conn Smythe that year. Dit Clapper over Bourque with the Bruins. Number was retired upon retirement and was immediately (that night) enshrined in the Hall of Fame. I might be in the minority, but I'd argue Rod Langway over Hunter for longevity and individual accomplishment, within the parameters here. Last pure shutdown guy to wint he Norris, led them to their first lengthy playoff appearance... For defunct/moved teams: Original Ottawa Senators: Cy Dennehy Montreal Maroons: Hooley Smith New York Americans: Red Dutton California/Oakland Golden Seals: Ted Hampson Kansas City Scouts: Simon Nolet Cleveland Barons: Jim Nielson/Bob Stewart Atlanta Flames: Tom Lysiak Colorado Rockies: Wilf Paiemont Minnesota North Stars: Paul Shmyr Quebec Nordiques: Joe Sakic Winnipeg Jets: Dale Hawerchuk The Mighty Whale: Ron Francis

McCarty ended his career in GR and I don't think any less of him. I'd be surprised if Maltby got five games with the Wings this year, and I'd be equally surprised if he played top six in GR. The AHL is where you go if you don't want to stop playing hockey and that competitive fire still burns. I could see him assuming a role as an ass't coach of some sort with the Griffins. I don't see him wearing a suit every day and punching the clock as the fifteenth "assistant GM" in Detroit to get up into NHL management somewhere else. I see him as a junior coach in a couple of years and moving his way up to an NHl assistant's position a few years after that. I think he scored 50 in junior one year, didn't he?

Ewww. Pronger touched it.

FYP. Edmonton was woefully thin in goaltending last year. IMO this is just a pre-emptive strike in case Khabibulin goes to jail or gets hurt again.

Osgood's playoff numbers and regular season numbers, combined with two Cup wins as a starter, make it awfully hard to keep him out. If Cujo gets in, and I surmise he will on the second or third ballot, Osgood has to be a lock. Of the players who have actually stopped playing last year, Niedermayer is a lock and Blake is a probable. Tkachuk and Brind'Amour may eventually get in, but I'd take Brind'Amour first.

Great news. This kid's going to be amazing once he gets his strength and skating up. I trust my Swedish scouting to Hakan Andersson. You should too.

What about if we signed Fedorov?

Wings road attendance in 2009-10: 98.4 per cent capacity Laffs road attendance in 2009-10: 92.5 per cent capacity http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance Toronto was the 14th best road draw in the NHL last year - a factor which had to bear a not-insignificant amount of consideration.

Ermm... I'm being picky here, but.... Howe Yzerman Lindsay Lidstrom Sawchuk Delvecchio Kelly Abel Then Fedo-traitor. Feds held out half the year one time and then a few years later, rejected a $50 million/five year deal to sign with the Ducks. Don't know any retired number-type players who would do that. That said, 91 should probably not be worn for a long time. When he was on, he was the best two-way player in the game.