The Mule

How do we find out what's going on?

Interested to see how some of these kids do tonight.

That isn't exactly a low-key mindset. I'm sure the organization feels the same exact way.

Career .899 SV% and 2.77 GAA in regular season competition. He was never a good goaltender.

The defense is definitely weaker, but Whitney and Niedermayer are more than capable puck-movers.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=289156

I picked up a copy of McKeen's new 09-10 NHL Yearbook today, and I figured some of you might be interested in the predictions they've made for our team and its players this year. In case you aren't familiar with McKeen's, in my opinion, it's the best annual pooler's guide available. Here goes nothing: Central Division Standings Chicago Blackhawks (106 points) Detroit Red Wings (102 points) Columbus Blue Jackets (94 points) St. Louis Blues (91 points) Nashville Predators (85 points) Individual Player Stats: Pavel Datsyuk - 82GP 34G 66A 100P Henrik Zetterberg - 77GP 35G 53A 88P Johan Franzen - 76GP 38G 26A 64P Nicklas Lidstrom - 75GP 13G 48A 61P Valtteri Filppula - 80GP 20G 38A 58P Brian Rafalski - 76GP 9G 47A 56P Dan Cleary - 72GP 18A 30G 48P Niklas Kronwall - 78GP 12G 35A 47P Tomas Holmstrom - 60GP 18G 24A 42P Jason Williams - 72GP 15G 19A 34P Darren Helm - 68GP 14G 13A 27P Ville Leino - 55GP 11G 14A 25P Jonathan Ericsson - 4G 18A 22P Brett Lebda - 75GP 5G 15A 20P Brad Stuart - 70GP 3G 16A 19P Kris Draper - 69GP 5G 11A 16P That's all they have listed in the top 475 projected players. Also, I can't seem to find Bertuzzi anywhere in the book. Maybe I'm just missing something, but it looks like it was printed before he had signed with the Wings. With that said, it was also printed before the likes of Tanguay and Prospal signed, and I found their projected numbers as UFAs, so I don't know what's up with Bert. If there's anything else anyone is interested in, feel free to ask.

Here are the complete standings by conference: Eastern Conference 1. Washington Capitals (108 points) 2. Philadelphia Flyers (104 points) 3. Boston Bruins (99 points) 4. Pittsburgh Penguins (102 points) 5. New Jersey Devils (95 points) 6. Montreal Canadiens (95 points) 7. Carolina Hurricanes (94 points) 8. Atlanta Thrashers (94 points) 9. Buffalo Sabres (93 points) 10. New York Rangers (92 points) 11. Ottawa Senators (87 points) 12. Toronto Maple Leafs (87 points) 13. Florida Panthers (85 points) 14. Tampa Bay Lightning (75 points) 15. New York Islanders (68 points) Western Conference 1. Chicago Blackhawks (106 points) 2. San Jose Sharks (100 points) 3. Calgary Flames (98 points) 4. Detroit Red Wings (102 points) 5. Anaheim Ducks (96 points) 6. Vancouver Canucks (95 points) 7. Columbus Blue Jackets (94 points) 8. Edmonton Oilers (92 points) 9. St. Louis Blues (91 points) 10. Minnesota Wild (91 points) 11. Dallas Stars (88 points) 12. Los Angeles Kings (88 points) 13. Nashville Predators (85 points) 14. Phoenix Coyotes (84 points) 15. Colorado Avalanche (62 points) The only thing that really strikes me as odd is the Thrashers slipping into the playoffs with 94 points. That isn't to say it's entirely out of the question, but I'd be much more inclined to think the likes of Buffalo, New York, Ottawa, or even Tampa Bay would be able to power past Atlanta. Anything else?

My mistake. It's supposed to be 18G 30A for 48P. I mixed up the numbers. They only project the top 475 scorers, and they obviously didn't think Maltby or Eaves would make the cut. The players listed are the players they project numbers for. Good question. It's on newsstands everywhere in my area, but I live near Toronto, so I don't know how easy it is to find in Michigan. Here's the website, which may be able to give you more information: http://mckeenshockey.rivals.com/

1. Tanguay > Prospal. 2. Stamkos lit it up at the end of last year. I expect that play to continue. 3. Ohlund, Hedman, Meszaros, Ranger, Walker, and Lashoff is a decent set of d-men. 4. Mike Smith is vastly underrated. If the Lightning improve, so will Smith's numbers.

Great snag for the Bolts. I'm pulling for them this season. I have an infatuation with the state of Florida, so if it weren't for the Red Wings (and Leafs, I suppose), I'd be a Panthers or Lightning fan.

It also says they've inked Schneider, which altogether gives the 'Nucks blue line a lot more depth.

Long live Mac, but f*** the KHL.

UH OH... It looks like Marty just ran into the KRONWALL!

Sources say Dany Heatley has been asked to waive his no-trade clause to go to Edmonton in exchange for Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid. If Heatley agrees to waive, it would appear the Sens and Oilers will have a deal, pending the official trade call with NHL central registry, but that is generally a formality. Heatley informed the Senators in early June that despite having five-years remaining on a six-year contract extension that he recently signed that he wished to be moved. The veteran forward became unhappy with his role in Ottawa last season, especially after the Senators made a coaching change. Heatley discussed his concerns about what he felt was the limiting of his ice time, and his shift from the first power-play unit to the second unit with head coach Cory Clouston in the Senators end of season meetings. The Senators have gone downhill since they appeared in the Stanley Cup Final in 2007. In the 2007-08 season, the Senators had a hot-start, but then had a brutal second-half of the season and held on to seventh place in the Eastern Conference, only to get swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins. This past season, the Senators never really got it going, and missed the playoffs. Heatley notched 39 goals and 33 assists in 82 games last season. The 72 points were his lowest point totals in his four seasons with the Senators. The 28 year-old, had back-to-back 50 goal seasons in 2005-06 and 2006-07. http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283356

If it weren't for the Wings, I'd be a Leafs fan.

Terrible news. Thoughts and prayers are with him and his wife.

******.

I have no gripes with either jersey.

f*** yes. This is very good news for me.

I'd go with: Datsyuk Franzen Williams Hank did not impress me in shootouts last season.

There is no sense in having players like Abdelkader rot on the fourth line here, when their development could be furthered by having them play top line minutes in Grand Rapids. If our prospects earn it (and I'm not saying Abby hasn't, because he has, it's just not the right time), they will get their chances.

Not to take away from the pure idiocy of the post you were quoting, but in no way, shape, or form is Luke Schenn "fighting for a spot in the NHL."

BERT IS BACK!

f*** YEAH!!