MadMan Mark

Every time I heard the announcer say his name, I couldn't help but picture Derek Zoolander

It will be really interesting to hear how NHL Network spins this into a positive for the other "favorite" team of Gary Bettman. Straight up, Hawks were outskated. The way it looked to me is they played as if they thought all they had to do was show up and win the game. Huet wasn't tested much, maybe 17 or 18 shots. Hawks outshot Zurich 2:1. I sure hope this is a preview of Huet and what he's going to bring to Chi-town. Hell, even Crawford got burned last night. The gaping hole in the net might show up early in Chicago this year. Can't dump the guy, he's too expensive. When they passed out the silver medals to the Hawks, they should have had Kane hold out his hand to receive his 20 cents.

If you go to NHL.com and go to the bottom of the page, there is a "Contact Us" button. Click it and then in Subject highlight NHL Television Broadcasting - US and Canada. I think it's about time fans started ripping on this mediocre approach to getting the product to the fan. I bitched at them about Comcast and the way they are alienating 16 million viewers by asking outrageous pricing from DTV. I plan on sending an e-mail per day until something starts. Yeah, I'm just one person, but if enough people start bitching maybe Bettman will get off of his knees in front of Crosby long enough to do something other than wipe his mouth.

Now there is a D-pairing I would have loved to see

This should tell you how much the NHL wants to "help". . . the e-mail address at the bottom of the letter, (nhltv@nhl.com), didn't even work.

Here's a copy of what I sent to the NHL: I read the letter on the NHL.com website. Unfortunately, you forgot to invite the most important group to the discussion. . . Comcast. Comcast, DirecTV's main competitor, wants to overcharge DirecTV to broadcast their channel. Too bad the NHL got it wrong again and, at this late date, is trying to encourage fans to complain to DirecTV. Maybe when advertisers avoid Versus due to even lower ratings since 16 million DirecTV subscribers won't get to see Versus games, the NHL will take a hard look at Comcast and why the league chooses this tiny tiny outlet for US broadcast. I agree with DirecTV. I wouldn't pay the ridiculous price. I have bought Center Ice through DirecTV and based on their willingness to work with their customers, find their approach right on. Maybe in your next communication to the fans, you should provide contact info for Comcast. Versus cannot make a deal with DirecTV, only Comcast can. We fans put up with a lot of BS that the NHL does but we are not as stupid as you like to think we are. Get involved, NHL. The lack of viewership is now Comcast and your responsibility. That's 16 million less than you had last year. Hopefully, you remember the fans this time.

Three weeks sounds long. In the past, it has usually been for a week, maybe 10 days at most. When talking to the DirecTV guy, I brought up a point that not many are talking about. Comcast may be trying to jack up the price, but when advertisers start avoiding Versus because 16 million viewers have instantly disappeared, the price to get Versus back on DirecTV may drop. It's all about money. If the NHL office has any balls left (doubtful statement) then once they see low ratings dive even further, they may start looking for a new broadcast channel for future seasons. If we're lucky, perhaps they turn the screws on Comcast and tells them to get the deal done or we'll take NHL to a non-Comcast channel. That way you can keep the Tour de France and all that other quality programming. I know, wishful thinking.

I know how unrealistic that sounds, but I'm sure I can convince them to turn on Versus. Good chicken wing place in OC I have gone to before usually puts on what I ask.

Transplant from Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor to OC. . . still searching for somewhere to watch the games with other Wings fans. Definitely will hit up the Ducks games this year.

SJ problem will be like it is every year, using Nabokov too much in the reg season. With Boucher gone, SJ does not have a reliable backup. That will cost them some games they would have otherwise won. Top 2 lines will have to work much harder and if they finish high in the West, it will show in an early round exit. . . AGAIN!

My favorite part is when they start to go down on the ice, Ericsson brings him back up. Perry is a punk and I hope he eats Ericsson's fist this year.

I'll throw my 2 cents in: EAST 1. WASH - top 2 fight it out 2. BOS 3. NJ - Broseur stays focused and healthy 4. PHI - a little tougher 5. PIT - D losses and too much Cup partying 6. NYR - 7. OTT - Heatley circus is gone, still weak in goal 8. CAR - maybe as high as #6, fight it out with NYR, OTT 9. MON - just miss playoffs, Price is not right 10. TOR - same story, different year WEST 1. DET - reigning WC champs, look more like 2008 team 2. SJ - fast start carries them again, but could fade late 3. CAL - toughness carries them by VAN 4. VAN - Luongo is the greatest goalie. . . that has never won anything 5. CHI - 2 words, Joel Quenneville 6. ANA - is Hiller human this year? D got worse 7. EDM - goaltending carries them to the post-season 8. CLB - strong goaltending gets them back 9. DAL - Crawford, enough said 10. STL - last year was a fluke, need this year to develop the young talent further Can't wait for the reg season to start!

Like Pierre McGuire, Burnside wears his #87 kneepads, 24/7. I like to think I look at things pretty objectively. I refuse to fall into the euphoria the media does regarding the Hawks. IMO, they are worse in net and did not address their D issues (D cost them 2 games in WCF). Hossa will be out 1/3 to 1/2 of the season, but they didn't need more firepower. My Central standings are: 1. Detroit - until they are dethroned, they are the team to beat 2. Chicago - still end up a distant 8-12 points behind Detroit 3. Columbus - slight improvement over last year but end up with a #7 or 8 seed 4. St Louis - late season run last year was a fluke (swept in Round 1), won't make post-season 5. Nashville - where do I start?

I think Toews is the first one signed (and rightly so). Keith should follow. Kane, IMO, should be the odd man out. However, the Hawks have made him their "Face of the Team" and I can see them giving him some obscene contract just to keep him a Hawk. He is one-dimensional and can easily be shut down when the stakes are higher (WCF anyone?) Personally, I hope Kane scores like crazy this year against everyone but the Wings. His stock will be inflated thus forcing the Hawks hands. Yes, he's RFA, but the Hawks just went through their big develpment phase and I doubt they want to start that again. The cap hell that the Sharks experienced this off-season is looming large and dark and headed towards the Windy City. Meanwhile, Wings have retooled and reloaded and have $16M with which to re-sign players and bring in quality UFA's. I think the Wings will be a very appealing team to many a free agent next summer, especially after they hoist another Cup this June.

Just got off of the phone with DirecTV. . . complained a bit more and ultimately received the $50 discount ($10 credit on my bill for the next 5 months) They also threw in 3 months of Showtime. The rep wanted to ONLY give me the Showtime, but I told her I didn't care about Showtime and that I am aware of others receiving discounts up to $50 on their Center Ice purchases. I finally got a supervisor who understood and, based on my longevity with DirecTV, authorized the credit. I guess I'll catch the Sweden games at a local bar or on atdhe.net

A lot of "ifs". . . Wings are going to be fine. We have yet to put a true team on the ice in the preseason. Babs said it best when he gets a full week of practice and exhibition before the Sweden games, they WILL be ready. Tootoo? I hope never!

Chi-town has a one year window. . . that's it. They spent in the wrong areas. They DID NOT need help at the forward position. Their D cost them 2 games in the WCF and they did nothing to improve that area. Huet = downgrade in net from 08-09. If the Hawks are looking to save money, let Kane go. He is small and one-dimensional. Yes, he had a great series against Vancouver, but completely disappeared in the WCF. I will remember him for his punk ass move in one of the WCF games. . . he got checked behind the goal line and a skirmish started near the blue line. Kane skates up and shoves his stick into the group of people from the outside. What a *****! I loved when the Mule took his mouthpiece and threw it on the ice. I hope Ericsson lines this girl up and puts her through the glass this year. If I were the Hawks, I would concentrate on getting Toews and then Keith signed. Kane equals all offense, and no defense. . . and his O can be shut down by a better, two-way forward.

No more Olie the Goalie with a big 5- Holie

Best thing that could happen to Phoenix this year. . . just not a good coach. Kept hearing about the youth movement but then they let the young developed players get away, i.e. Blake Wheeler.

Perhaps when ratings drop even further than where they were (16 million DirecTV subscribers if I recall), a push might happen. Comcast asked for the big money, but I find it hard for Versus (Comcast) to go ask advertisers for a chunk of money when their first argument is, why are you raising my advertising costs when you just lost 16 million viewers? This will all play out, IMO, and a deal will get put in place before the playoffs.

If Sharks top line doesn't produce, this team will have trouble. They have no depth and no money to make significant changes later in the year. Nabokov will be over-used (again). I htink teams go after the Sharks the way the Ducks played them in the playoffs. The more I think about it, I just don't see this team being as dominant in the reg season as last year.

un-*******-believable. . . another minor call against the Wings

of course, somehow, NYR will be on the PP

Cloutier takes NO s***

too many NYR PP's