kook_10

When I was a kid, a few members of the '86 LA Kings came out to our practice - Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor, Anders Hakansson, and a couple rookies - Steve Duchesne and Luc Robitaille. They all signed our sticks and were really cool. Before Gretzky came the hockey community in LA was so small that wasn't so uncommon. In 2008, before game 2 of the SCF I rode down in the elevator at the MGM Grand with Hal Gill and Kris Letang (I think it was him). I asked them how they slept. Earlier that morning around 2 AM someone had pulled the fire alarm and the building was cleared. They just grumbled "fine".

Just imagine - it's Shanny's first day he sits down at the conference table and some idiot blurts out that idea.

I think Kopecky would have actually been on the ballot for the Fat Balloon, but I'm not so sure he would win it.

You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Sylvester

Do That Stuff - Parliament

It's not so much that he deserves s***, but that he deserves examination like everyone else. He doesn't get a pass. Lids has clearly been struggling on the scoresheet, and Ericsson has exactly 2 assists and has been -5 in his last 16 games. In that same stretch, Brett Lebda has 4A and -2. [stats aren't one dimensional] Comparing him to other struggling players is not doing him a service and to say that he makes only one mistake a game is generous and disingenuous. He just hasn't looked all that strong defensively of late. Yes, the kid has a big burden to carry but he also has a lot to learn. The responsibilities he's been given only go to show management's confidence in his potential, and I too am optimistic about him. That said, he is still very green.

C'mon Drake - you know how short and rosy everyone's memories are around here. At least he hasn't drawn comparisons to St. Lilja or the Norris/Calder Trophy winning Jiri Fischer.

Yea - talk about getting thrown in the deep end! I'm sure it's like drinking from a firehose for the kid. If there was ever a good year for it to happen, this is it -we'd all be calling for his head if we didn't have a million other problems going on.

It's his decision making and situational awareness that I'm worried about, although he could stand to have a little more speed. Last night Parise in particular was showing him absolutely no respect, just going right at him and burning him around the corner. While it's good that he was (in Raffys absence) getting some top pair time with Lids, it became apparent that the Devils knew he couldn't match up so well against their top line. There was also something I saw on the Niedermayer goal that was kind of telling to me. As the play was on Lids side of the ice, Niedermayer caught him watching the puck and just slapped his stick aside and waltzed right into position in front of the net for the goal. It reminded me of my mites coach who used to sneak up and smack the stick out of our hands and yell "two hands". A lot of that stuff should get better with time - he switched to D in his draft year so its reasonable to expect he would still be learning the high level game. Alternatively, I hope he's not just dense, because that would be very bad.

"Classier" indeed. It was like the Island of Dr. Moreau. So many jersey fouls - I wish I had brought a real camera. I tried in vain to take pictures with my phone of a guy wearing a devils jersey #66 URTEAMSUX or of "Johnny Goomba"

Being in attendance last night, the thing that struck me wasn't how bad Lebda or Meech were (although Lebda got caught pinching again), but was how much the Devils picked on Ericsson. They went right at him, and right around him. I get that he was paired with Lids, and given the choice of going down Lids side or Ericsson's side they would almost always go down Ericsson's, but he really did look more like an exposed weakness the Devils were exploiting.

Lord of the Thighs - Aerosmith

High Time We Went - Joe Cocker

My 2nd ticket is still available. I would normally bring my wife, but we have never had a babysitter for our 5 month old. I'm still putting out offers to friends, but have had a tough time finding a taker. Seats are Sec 17 Row 11. Lemme know soon if you're interested.

ZZ Top - Just Got Paid (live)

Great White Buffalo - the Nuge

cool - i'm actually on steuben st in morgan lofts but few people know where that is, so you're like a block away. maybe we will have to hit up o'hara's for a game sometime. if you see this happy smiling face walking his baby girl and/or dogs around the neighborhood or at the game say hi!

I'll be there too. Section 17 too - row 11. i'm a big guy too probably be in my black Shanny practice jersey - seems appropriate enough. I may have an extra ticket as well. Lemme know if anyone needs one. Looks like you live just a few blocks away from me as well - i'm around Columbus/Marin. The beergarden is an option beforehand. You taking the PATH? anyone want to trade an extra devs ticket for a rags?

Friday: Tampa Bay @ New Jersey Boston @ Montreal Anaheim @ Minnesota Nashville @ Chicago Saturday: Vancouver @ Carolina Edmonton @ Dallas St Louis @ Los Angeles Toronto @ Boston NY Rangers @ Buffalo Detroit @ New Jersey Washington @ Philadelphia Atlanta @ Florida Colorado @ Columbus Chicago @ Pittsburgh NY Islanders @ Tampa Bay Minnesota @ Nashville Ottawa @ Phoenix Calgary @ San Jose Sunday: Detroit @ NY Rangers Ottawa @ Anaheim

a very jazzy morning for me Duke Ellington - Diminuendo in Blue and Crescendo in Blue (live feat. Paul Gonsalves) John Coltrane - My Favorite Things http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_n-gRS_wdI...feature=related Bird and Diz - Hot House http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkvCDCOGzGc The Jazz Messengers - A Night In Tunisia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_v7mUGoKDc Cal Tjader - Soul Sauce (Guacha Guaro) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JQMvidVo5Y

Funky Worm - Ohio Players

in that case... James Brown - Brother Rapp/Ain't It Funky (live) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0fn-xyaGHE...feature=related i love the funky jazz too Idris Muhammad - Loran's Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ffQ5VKD3XQ

thanks - i guess i summoned up some sisu! when I checked the scores after the Chicago Wolves game on Friday (where Cheli chased down a breakaway from behind!!??) i was 4/12. 14/15 for Saturday and Sunday ain't too shabby, but I doubt I'll ever do that again.

Friday: New Jersey @ Boston Buffalo @ Philadelphia Pittsburgh @ NY Islanders Colorado @ Minnesota Chicago @ Anaheim Atlanta @ Carolina Calgary @ Detroit NY Rangers @ Tampa Bay Toronto @ Florida St Louis @ Nashville Dallas @ Phoenix San Jose @ Edmonton Saturday: NY Islanders @ New Jersey Ottawa @ Boston Carolina @ Buffalo Washington @ Montreal Philadelphia @ Atlanta Calgary @ Columbus NY Rangers @ Pittsburgh Detroit @ St Louis Florida @ Nashville Tampa Bay @ Dallas Minnesota @ Colorado Edmonton @ Vancouver Chicago @ Los Angeles Sunday: Phoenix @ Anaheim San Jose @ Vancouver