Esquire

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of Wings gear available. Although, the Winter Classic jersey's were those "Vintage" ones and were very disappointing. And to be honest, just about every team was well represented at Pro Hockey Life. I've never seen any store like it.

Yep! And the icing on the cake...all 1-year contracts that can be moved at the deadline if needed.

I'm also interested in what kinda prices I'd be looking at for tickets to these games. According to StubHub, mezzanine level tickets at MSG are $70??? Ughh.

Being from Sudbury as well, I approve this! Get it done Kenny!

Because, statistically, our highest goals per game in the NHL saved our asses. Now that Hossa, Sammy, and Huds are gone...not so much.

Oh look, Burke made another deal with the Ducks. Amazing.

2009 Blackhawks = 2008 Canadiens

I think eveyone should take it easy on Kane. After all, he probably just read all the reports of the Blackhawks salary cap issues for next season and is looking to save money wherever he can.

Thanks, but my handsomeness is really just an optical illusion caused by light reflecting off the bubbles floating around me.

Me. Going to the store for some bread and milk.

Thanks for the link! This will be the perfect end to my birthday weekend. Wings vs. Leafs on Saturday, Legends game on Sunday. Life is goooood!

Here in lies the biggest dilemma for the Hawks I think. Next season is the season every GM in the league is supposed to be fearing/preparing for already. Maybe in a previous season it would have been a mid-high level hassle finding a taker, but if everything goes the way people are saying and the cap drops big time, then this goes from mid-high level hassle to outright ridiculousness.

To quote someone already on LGW: "He makes Lidstrom money. Say that again to yourself"

Havlat was a big part of that "other" catagory. However, using the LGW "Hossa's Lost Points" theory, they've replaced Havlat (29 Goals, 48 assists, 77 points) with a two month injury.

I think I understand what you're trying to say, but if you ask me, how can you conclude that ANY two months are the "least" important. Maybe if you're actually playing them that would make them less important. However, that's a quarter of your teams schedule and that's assuming he recovers on time. And especially for a new player, those two months are the time when you start learning to gel with your new team, learning their system, and adapting to your new role should it not? And what will happen if he returns and doesn't start producing immediately? We ALL know how well Hossa deals with the spotlight. Also, nobody but Wings fans KNOWS that their team will be in the playoffs at the season's end.

Correction. He'll miss 2 of the most important 8 months in the Blackhawks recent history. This is the Hawks biggest and best window for taking a shot at the Cup and they'll be without their biggest off-season signing.

One word... Kopecky You can relax now Blackhawks fans.

Datsyuk never stood a chance.

I don't have to watch either of these to know that the best Yzerman goal was the double OT winner against the Blues. That goal is more vivid in my mind than the first time i got laid.

Pics?

My sister works at an arena in the Toronto area and told me over a couple of beers that John Tavares has been taking part in "high level shinny" games at her arena. Naturally I was a little skeptical, but still asked if she could score me an autograph to which she told me that I could probably meet him and get it myself. So, I headed across town after work and when I got to the arena he sure enough he was there. My sister brought me to the managers office and it was just me, my sister, the manager, and my buddy there when John came into the office before suiting up. He was kind enough to sign a few pictures I took of him at his last Oshawa Generals home game last season as well as my Team Canada flag I got at the Canada/Sweden exhibition game this winter. After he was done I thanked him for taking time to sign some autographs, wished him luck for next season, and shook his hand. It was only about a total of 5 minutes but I just laughed when I thought of the scenario when it was done: meeting the number one draft pick in a community arena office with my sister and a buddy. We stuck around with about 5-10 other people to see what the "high level shinny" was all about and turns out JT wasn't the only OHL'er there. Judging by the numbers on the respective team helmets they were wearing, also on the ice were John Kurtz (Sudbury Wolves), Mitch Fillman (Saginaw Spirit), Matt Russo (St.Mike's Majors), someone from the Brampton Battalion, someone from Western, and a whole bunch of others I didn't have time to check out because I had to leave. And according to an arena attendant, P.K. Subban also plays there but couldn't make it out last night. All in all, it was pretty damn sweet. Like I said, there were only about 5-10 people watching this game and there were no refs, no whistles, and no scoreboard. Just pure hockey talents flying up and down the ice. What a country!!!

Ya, but how pissed is Matt Duchene right now? Thanks Joe!

I hear ya. Of all the people in this year's draft that I'd peg to be the most approachable it would have to be Matt Duchene. They ran a "Day in the life" kinda thing during the draft and came off as very vocal and funny. Like I said, I'm not expecting much from an 18-year-old kid who's been under the hockey spotlight for most of his life. Some people are talkers, some aren't. During the trade deadline, the Fan 590 were talking about Bouwmeester and how he used to physically shake during interviews and how to this day, he's still a shy guy.

Nice! My experience with Tavares was exactly like I had expected meeting an 18 year old hockey player would be: shy, quiet, strong hand shake. I assume that the older a player gets, the more comfortable they become with interacting with fans.

...and hilarity ensues.