MacK_Attack

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=221896&hubName=nhl

The problem is, it isn't fans in most of the seats. It's suits who didn't pay for the tickets or if they did, it's a big, fat tax write-off. Even if there are real fans in the platinums or golds, they got them for free from connections. The problem is that Toronto is such a yuppie town and the Leafs game is "the place to be", so even if they don't give two sh*ts about hockey, they go to be seen there. However, there's a bit of a turn going on. I went to the Atlanta game last week and I was at the Washington blowout, and I'd estimate that there were at least 1.500 seats in the lower bowl (mostly in the golds and reds) that stayed empty for the entire game. (No, I did not pay for tickets for either game) You never used to see that. The seats are sold because 90% are part of a tax write-off. The entire arena could be empty for a game but the seats would be sold. The other 10% are family seats which will never be given up because they've been in the family since 1931 and if they give them up, they'll never get them back.

As far as I know, the Flyers have only retired four numbers.... 1 - Bernie Parent 4 - Barry Ashbee 7 - Bill Barber 16 - Bobby Clarke.

The circumstances of his departure, mainly. That, and Bobby Clarke still has way too much pull in that organization.

(I'll also try to include great players who have yet to reach the rafters of their respective teams) Anaheim 8 - Teemu Selanne Atlanta None Boston None Buffalo 39 - Dominik Hasek Calgary 12 - Jarome Iginla Carolina 17 - Rod Brind'Amour Chicago 7 - Chris Chelios 30 - Ed Belfour Colorado 19 - Joe Sakic 21 - Peter Forsberg Columbus None Dallas 9 - Mike Modano 20 - Ed Belfour Detroit 5 - Nick Lidstrom Edmonton 94 - Ryan Smyth Los Angeles 4 - Rob Blake Minnesota None Montreal 11 - Saku Koivu 19 - Larry Robinson 22 - Steve Shutt 23 - Bob Gainey 33 - Patrick Roy Nashville None New Jersey 27 - Scott Niedermayer 30 - Martin Brodeur NY Islanders None NY Rangers 2 - Brian Leetch* (Will be retired later this year) Ottawa 11 - Daniel Alfredsson Philadelphia 10 - John LeClair Phoenix None Pittsburgh 68 - Jaromir Jagr 87 - Sidney Crosby (Face it, he saved the franchise, even if he left tomorrow, they'd retire his jersey) San Jose None St. Louis 44 - Chris Pronger Tampa Bay 4 - Vincent Lecavalier Toronto* 17 - Wendel Clark 93 - Doug Gilmour 13 - Mats Sundin * Honouring of jersey Vancouver 16 - Trevor Linden 19 - Markus Naslund Washington 12 - Peter Bondra 37 - Olaf Kolzig

They need McCabe? They need McCabe like I need a kick in the groin. Bryan McCabe is not going to fix this team. Neither is Tucker, he's been useless since he signed his extension. Wellwood is a meh, he'll add some decent secondary scoring. Colaiacovo will never be healthy so he's a moot point. Stralman will be good in time, but he's still very much in the adjustment period. You can see flashes of what they say he can be, but that will come with time. To expect this 21-year old kid to come in and prop up this defence is asinine. The problem is that the top-4 defencemen are either 100% offensively minded or ungodly slow or both in the case of McCabe. The last thing the team needs is John Ferguson to make a move because his record in trades speaks for itself. He gets his ass handed to him. They need Ferguson to be fired and they need to start fresh. In order for that to happen, they need to lose more games like this one. So be it.

As per Sportsnet News, Kris Draper has signed a three-year extension. WIll be announced later. http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/hockey_hear...eal_for_draper/

He extension is reportedly worth Iglina-type money.

Kiprusoff is expected to sign an extension with Calgary soon.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...ortsHockey/home

At the NHLPA press conference today to introduce Paul Kelly as the new NHLPA Director, Eric Lindros told reporters that he is done as a player and will be looking to be named the Ombudsman for the NHLPA.

Who's his brother? (If you're referring to Andrei, they aren't related)

Jiri Tlusty scored his first two NHL goals just 35-seconds apart tonight. Who needs Tavares? jk Man, the Leafs are vastly improved without Tucker and McCabe taking up dead space.

Nyet. Doesn't matter when the contract is signed, you can't affect the current cap hit on a contract extension. His new contract and cap hit does not take effect until next season.

TSN confirms: http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=221428&hubname=nhl

Pass. Orr's overrated.

Well....that is the case....he's a Toronto boy.

I'm sure they may look to add some kind of clause to the part of the CBA that deals with the draft, but that's about all they can do. The AHL will never agree to stop things like this because it needs the ticket sales and that's what a kid like Tavares would do, sell tickets. It's kind of a tough spot because you're dealing with non-NHL players playing in leagues outside of the NHL.

Tough to do because it's really more of a loophole between the OHL and AHL. The NHL can't really stop a player from signing a pro contract with another league in their own CBA.

If Fergie actually pulls this off (which I highly doubt he will), I may take back nearly half of the bad things I've said about him.

He did win a Hart Trophy and was the most dominate player in the game in the mid-to-late 90s. I don't think he's in Alexandre Daigle territory.

According to RDS.ca, the Phoenix Coyotes have placed goaltender David Aebischer on waivers after he lost the Coyotes three-way goaltending duel.

He cleared waivers.

Darcy Tucker suffered further damage to an already injured knee on Saturday night and will be out indefinitely. How long he will be out will depend on whether or not he will need surgery. Leafs have recalled defenceman Anton Stralman to take Tucker's roster spot.

I agree that Pittsburgh's best fit is CuJo, as there's not much left in the way of back-up veterans who can push the starter. However, the best fit for CuJo is Ottawa because that's his best Eastern-based chance at a Cup.