Opie

HAHAHAHA you think 2.5 gets it done. LOL

You are not sure it is misplaced? People were calling for Holland's head because he was not getting Brunner signed. When in fact Brunner turned down 2 Wings' offers before noon the day free agency began. BTW: the free agency period didn't start until noon!

What you are missing is that before noon on the first day of free agency, Brunner told the Wing's management he was testing the waters and turned down their offers. That means before the free agency period even began, he told Holland he was going to entertain other offers. So in your opinion, should Holland have waited to see what Brunner was going to do while other players signed with other teams? So now instead of being pissed at him for not signing Brunner you are changing your tune to, well he shouldn't have offered Alfredsson the one 1 deal? A guy who would have been tied with Brunner last season in points, a mere two goals behind him. Unless Holland came out and absolutely WOWED Brunner's agent with a 5 year 4 mil offer Brunner was going to test the market. There are reports out there that he is looking for 4 mil a year. For a guy with a half of a season in the NHL who didn't even get a sniff of the NHL until he was 27!

So all of you with your misplaced rage on Holland about not getting Brunner signed, where are you now???

Bergeron is the heart and soul of that team. Chara is the leader, Thornton as well is a vet leader. Bergeron is the identity of the team though, his defense first approach is exactly what Julien preaches, he is probably Claude's ideal forward. His post season play was spectacular, he deserves all of this especially playing through the punctured lung! He will be 36 when the contract ends, he is in his prime, has been with the team since he was 18. I am not a fan of 8 year deals, but if their is a max contract player in that group of forwards it is Patrice. IMO

In case you cannot get to the Boston Globe: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/patrice-bergeron-signs-8-52-million-extension-bruins-150840624.html

Watch, this circumvention will be the new sticking point for the next lockout!

Same expectations as every year, playoffs and at least the second round. That would be good, a great year would be ECF. Anything after ECF is gravy and I cannot complain! I have always maintained that conference finals in any sport is a fantastic year for the teams I root for!

I am at work and couldn't finish that article, my eyes began to water and I had to stop!

Decent article on puck daddy. After losing his wife Katie to Liver Cancer he took some time to regroup mentally and physically. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/months-wife-passing-dominic-moore-returns-rangers-clear-160107368.html He may not be the best player ever but it is good to see him make it back.

+1

Fantastic reference!

It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.

Good point, since he retired he will not be getting paid. Brain fart on my part!

Well then that is not as bad as I would have thought. What if he pulls a Hudler and wants back in two years? I know a weird question, but can he come back as a free agent while NJD pays him until 2025?

Due to the new CBA I believe they have to eat that salary. WOW what s***ty timing. I wonder if he gave them a heads up about this? I would think if they new he would have been a compliance buy out! http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=427507 Sounds like he is off to KHL.

No, quite the opposite, I am batting out of my league without a doubt!

I agree if anything I think he was in over his head trying to learn the NHL game while playing big minutes, I think he was trying too hard. Indifferent, no way in hell!

If he is half the player Todd was before the Moore incident he will be a very good NHLer!

Just like almost everyone else I have been hit close with loses to cancer. I watched my cousin deal with losing his wife, and his 5 year old son lose his mother. It has been nearly 3 years and my cousin just is not the same man he was. He has become distant with his son, and family. I believe this happened to him because he never took the time to decompress, or to deal with the emotions of it all. Our family is one in which men are not allowed have emotions, one of the reasons I moved nearly 4 hours away. I could not imagine the shape I would be in if I lost my wife, she is truly my best friend. I say all of this not to have people say "oh poor Opie", but to say that I really hope Dom has taken the time to decompress. As I am found of saying you only get to choose one member of your family, and that is your spouse, everyone else is handed to you. I wish him the best, but as many of us have seen first hand, it is very hard to go about your day when the person you choose to spend the rest of your life with has passed away. Best of luck Dominic!

I always find it amazing his impact in the short term any where he goes is unbelievable, then a few years go by and he is quite possibly the most ineffective coach in the league. He gets fired. He gets picked up by another team and it is rinse and repeat!

I don't think Q is the long term option for the #3 though. I think Kronwall, Ericsson, Smith, and Dekeyser will all be ahead of him in the lineup. Maybe He gives you a chance to play Smith as 5 or 6 while he gets comfortable this coming season, but after that I assume (I know dangerous) Smith will be 4, Dekeyser and Ericsson will fight for #2 and #3. All of this of course could change in a NHL season, but I truly think the top four for many years to come with consist of Kronwall, Ericsson, Dekeyser, and Smith.

Bergereon fought this post season didn't he?

People forget about how shaky Rask has been at times. Even this playoff run he let in some bad goals due solely to a lack of focus. His first chance at control of the net for the team, he gets blamed (media and fans not team) for the collapse to the flyers!

I think the biggest issue with Smith last year was that he was paired with an offensive defenseman, I think Smith and Dekeyser would be an awesome pairing and help the both of them very much. Dekeyser is so smooth, his outlet passes are great,