MadMan Mark

lost the feed. . . is it back up?

holy s***! the refs called one on NYR

and another minor call against Detroit. 6-0 now?

this is ugly

looks like the PK picked up where it left off last year, ugh

NYR looks quicker than the Wings so far

I have no audio, why didn't the goal count for NYR?

I'll take an inconsistent Osgood in the reg season and solid in the post-season than an early out in the playoffs year in/year out from Nabokov. Enlighten me, please tell me the great things about Greiss. I can tell you about Howard, I'm not sold on him. I would love to see Larsson compete and win the backup job. Who knows, maybe Cloutier outplays them all and earns the back-up position. . . doubtful. I will tell you this, you will see a much more defensive-minded Wings team this year. Not as many quality shots will be coming at Osgood. Sharks will be good, but until they get to the top of the hill, they are just another wannabe team looking up at Detroit.

And I'm thinking Nashville brings up the rear of the Central this year, yet they project 48 wins?

One final point. . . I'm confused why so many think that Heatley will shine in SJ with Marleau and Thornton. Didn't he have excellent players in Ottawa in the likes of Spezza and Alfredsson?

Thanks for the backup. . . all the points I stated lead to a Sharks team focused on the wrong thing. If people want to call me out on why I question giving an aging defender $4M, fine. I think the Sharks could have better spent the money but what do I care. I'm counting on another early playoff exit from the Sharks. Yes, the Wings let Conklin go because they could not afford what he would command on the open market. I feel the situation in SJ is different than in Detroit. The Sharks dumped in Round 1 (again), Wilson gets on his soapbox and screams he's going to clean house, and then does very little. IMO, Thornton or Marleau should have been dealt. They are perennial choke artists in April/May (hell, neither knows anything about playing hockey in June). If SJ had dumped one or the other, Boucher maybe gets signed, Nabokov doesn't have to play as much and is ready for the playoffs. Instead, Sharks get to rely on Greiss (?) to backup Nabby. . . in addition, Sharks part company with quality players (Ehrhoff, Michalek, Cheechoo (not so much)) and bring in headcase Heatley. Now think to the future, Sharks fans. . . who do you get to sign in the near future? If Sharks dump again early in the playoffs (almost as much a guarantee as the sun rising in the East), Thornton, Marleau, etc won't command much in trade value. Sharks are stuck with this high payroll. If they don't produce, what are their options? I do understand that Marleau is UFA after this year, but it doesn't get easier for the Sharks. . . Pavelski and Setoguichi are RFA and will defintely deserve a raise = money saved by losing Marleau goes to Pavelski and Setoguichi. Money frees up from Blake not coming back next year. But, the Sharks need to re-sign Nabokov who is UFA after 2010. Aaah the feeling of CAP HELL in SJ.

No doubt the Sharks have a dangerous line. . . but I think this team is in trouble. 1. No quality backup for Nabokov meaning he either plays 60+ in the reg season or they sacrifice wins to "give him a rest" 2. Overpaid, IMO, for Blake 3. No depth 4. Probably the most expensive line in the NHL ($20M+) Don't get me wrong, they will probably have a wondefful reg season, but this team's Achilles heal is and still remains the post-season. A team like Anaheim or Detroit can wear that top line down and then your left with a very tired, non-productive, expensive line hitting the golf course in late April This situation mirrors Chicago's. . . they didn't need more offensive power. Chicago risked their future on a one year shot by signing Hossa and his ***** Kopecky. Same D and downgrade in goal. SJ has a great top line on paper, but it cost them cap space in the future and depth and development. Too many careers will now be rushed because Wilson has a hard-on about getting over the hump but I think he went looking int he wrong place. SJ needs a quality backup to Nabokov so he doesn't run out of gas. They had it and let it get away in Boucher. Blake at $4M is a real head-scratcher to me. Sharks have about $37M tied up in 6 guys (Heatley, Marleau, Thornton, Boyle, Blake, Nabokov). One injury to any of the above and the Sharks will have major issues. Go Wings!

I read this crap from Goldstein yesterday and it really pissed me off. Cap and Father Time. Wes must be still factoring in Cheli's age because the only over 35 players to start the season will be Lidstrom, Holmstrom, Draper, Maltby, and Osgood. Oh s***, the end is near!!! Reporters just can't accept the fact that year in, year out, the Wings are there competing for the Cup. The Stars and Avs have come and gone. The Sharks are on their way down. And the Hawks have a one year window before cap hell settles on that team. I think the Wings did a damn good job regarding the cap. . . Hossa and his bum shoulder are gone along with Kopecky. Sammy and his radar shot at a goalie's chest are gone. Hudler has his own situation to deal with. I like the Bertuzzi signing, but am still scratching my head on Williams. Ozzie will be fine this year, Wings will be a #1 or #2 seed. We ought to send this article back following each win to Goldstein adding a team photo with the Cup in June. I'm surprised Goldstein hasn't released his Power Rankings and have Detroit something like 10th, remeber, they're too old. . . what a moron!

The excuse why the Pens don't return to the Finals is in place. . . Fleury was too spent following the Olympics. . . screw that!

I feel the same. . . if Wings win a Cup this year, Lidstrom goes out on top.

I'm surprised Buttman didn't think of that. He can watch Cindy skate around, then rub one out to Skinimax while he's thinking of Cindy. If Buttman is really lucky, they'll broadcast reruns of ***** as Folk right after the NHL games.

I would say that just about every American feed had home and away feeds in HD. I noticed the only SD games were usually when it was being broadcast out of Canada, and not on VS. I can't tell you how many times I switched to an Ottawa game and was amazed at how fuzzy the feed was because it was SD. Late games with the Canucks/Flames was the same situation. I've never been a fan of DISH, nothing to back it except my opinion and that I have been with DirecTV since 1995.

Not that big of a story. . . SJ needs cap space and they are not getting Heatley. They have to move more than Heatley's salary to get him on board. Ehrhoff is the upside to the deal, but this doesn't guarantee Luongo seeing less shots. If I recall, SJ dumped in Round 1 (Ehrhoff=6 games, 0 points, -2) and the Hawks made Luongo look very average. Regarding the Schneider signing. . . he should have hung up the skates after last year, old and slow

Watch out. . . DISH does not broadcast as many games in HD as DirecTV. I've had Center Ice for 4 years. When I lived in Vegas, the Detroit feed for Kings-Wings and Ducks-Wings was blacked out, but could get the Kings and Ducks feeds for those games on Fox Sports affiliate. Somehow being 200+ miles constituted Las Vegas as being Kings and Ducks followers. I hate the Ducks announcers. . . ultimate homers who have their kneepads on regardless of whether the Ducks are down by 3 goals or not. Kings announcers are just dull, but then again, the Kings have been dull too. I keep waiting for DirecTV to put together a Superfan pack for the NHL (I've written and asked). They do it for the NFL and on the weekends I work, I can actually sign into my DirecTV account and watch the NFL Sunday Ticket games on the computer. . . excellent quality.

I think it is kind of funny. . . first people bitched that it was no longer on ESPN, then they bitched when it went to obscure OLN (Versus). Now there is an issue of Versus with a satellite provider. . . For some reason, I can't help but think that Versus thinks they are bigger than they really are. Quite frankly, I don't think Buttman wants to lose 18 million homes that could carry NHL, since he has nothing else in place. . . he would be smart to start flexing some NHL muscle on this, but I know he's never been accused of being smart.

I shot them an e-mail today and already have a response. . . Response (Richelle C. - 100184031) - 08/25/2009 12:51 PM Dear Mr. Adamowicz, Thanks for taking the time to write us. I see that you have been a loyal DIRECTV customer for several years. I understand your programming concerns. Our agreement with Versus expires on August 31, 2009. We are working hard to reach an agreement to keep Versus on the air. If we are unable to reach an agreement and must take Versus off the air, we will communicate with you via on-air slides or messaging. We understand how important Versus is to you. It's equally important to us to keep your monthly fees low, so we're doing everything we can to avoid paying exorbitant programming fees. We feel that the terms Versus is asking for from us do not reflect the market or what they are asking of other distributors. Furthermore, I would like to personally assure you that your feedback is very important to us. I've forwarded your email to DIRECTV's Management Team, who review every suggestion, inquiry and complaint for trends from our most important customers to determine what changes should be considered. Thanks again for writing. Sincerely, Richelle C Employee ID 100184031 DIRECTV Customer Service I guess we'll see what becomes of this. I suggested they cut the cost of Center Ice a bit if the Versus agreement is not renewed. . . who knows.

For my service, less than $95 and I have DVR and HD, not factoring in NFL Sunday Ticket and NHL Center Ice, which is separate.

This deal gets done probably even before college football season starts up. If you have DirecTV, start e-mailing or calling. They actually will respond, especially to the e-mails. Until this is resolved, I will be sending an e-mail a day. I've been with DirecTV since 1995 and this is the FIRST programming issue I can recall. Sucks that it happens to be where the national games are, but I doubt they drop the channel. What do I care, I'll get Center Ice and even if a deal doesn't get done, I'll watch it stream on the web. Plus, since I'm a huge NFL fan, that is the only place you can get the Sunday ticket up through 2014. We may not like this one glitch, but it won't make or break my decision to stick with DirecTV. How many games on VS are we really talking about? Power of the complaining consumer, just let them know how pissed you are.

Of the 3 RFA's in Chi next year, I think Kane is who the Hawks should let go bye bye. He has no defensive game and is easily pushed off the puck by bigger players. Sidenote - he only can knock out old cabbies when it's 2 against 1

It's laughable, IMO, that Chicago is above the Wings. The Hawks 2 biggest handicaps in WCF, goaltending and defense. . . and they addressed neither in the offseason other than downgrading in net. I think Flames catch Canucks. I don't see Dallas at a #7. That team is going to flounder with another non-playoff year, plus the Stra didn't do themselves any favors in hiring a re-tread for a coach. Ducks are a question mark for me. . . either they catch the Sharks or they play another distant 2nd. They definitely lost a lot on D this off-season. Here's how I see the West: 1. Wings 2. Sharks/Ducks 3. Flames 4. Canucks/Hawks 5. Hawks/Canucks 6. Sharks/Ducks 7. Blue Jackets 8. Kings - going out on a limb here I think the late run by the Blues last year was a fluke, as was evident in their first round ouster by the Canucks.