Bring Back The Bruise Bros

While it isn't nearly as popular as other major sports in the US, the NHL has gotten more popular in recent years. St. Louis' attendance seems to have risen substantially since the lockout of 2005. Chicago has naturally seen a large increase in attendance due to their success the past few years. Nashville even seems to have a good following, from what I remember of their attendance statistics. Weren't ratings for the Finals near record-high this year?

He's one of the league's most consistent embellishers/divers. Along with the rest of their core in Thornton and Couture. f*** the Sharks.

I'm sure Pavelski dove for the pen to sign the contract when he found out he'd make $6 mil/year.

I don't. The person below me has a book that they're currently reading.

-Chris Campoli to Switzerland -Colby Armstrong to Sweden -Kurtis Foster to the KHL -Tim Brent to the KHL

A lot of familiar names on that list. At forward, guys like Hejduk, Prospal, Lombardi, Antropov, Sullivan, Boyes, Ponikarovsky, Fedotenko, Latendresse, Morrow, Raymond, and Miettinen can provide some decent secondary offensive punch. Plenty of solid grinders still out there with guys like Steckel, Knuble, Halpern, Smithson, Kobasew, Mayers, and Begin. On defense, guys like Lydman, Hainsey, Bergeron, Babchuk, Redden, and Whitney have offensive capabilities, although several of those guys play mediocre defensively. Also, plenty of shutdown guys still out there- guys like O'Byrne, Murray, Huskins, Fistric, Martinek, Eminger, Alberts, Vandermeer, and yes, Lilia is available, although he is a shadow of his former self. Add in Brunner and Cleary and there are a lot of interesting names still out there.

If healthy, he's shown he can put up some offense on occasion. He can skate a regular shift and is effective on the forecheck. If he can stay healthy, that is.Also, I highly doubt Chicago regrets letting Scott go. They're just coming off a Stanley Cup victory.

I think the Tigers and the Lions beat out the Wings. I don't think its always been like this. I'd say the Wings were #1 in the mid/late '90s. After the core of the dynasty years faded away, I think fan interest decreased a bit. Folks were so used to guys like Yzerman, Shanahan, and Fedorov. Lidstrom, Holmstrom, Osgood, Maltby, Draper, McCarty, Lapointe, etc are all gone. This team had such a great core and team chemistry and had guys that played very long careers in Detroit. It's tough for many fans that grew up with these players (myself included) to see their childhood favorites move on. Also, I think a lot of people related to guys like Kocur, McCarty, Draper, Maltby, and Lapointe not because of where they were born, but the style of game they played. It's no secret that Detroit is a working class city. People like to see hard work, grit, and snarl that is central to the culture of a beaten up working class city like Detroit. There's a reason Darren Helm got popular so quickly upon his arrival in the NHL. Having players with ties to the area always helps, but its not necessarily compulsory to gaining the team popularity.

Dan Carcillo to Los Angeles. Hopefully he can stay healthy. Would be a decent addition for the Kings.

Desharnais and Gionta could fit in there with him. Lulz.

Minnesota will look quite a bit different next season. Clutterbuck is gone. Bouchard is gone. Gilbert is gone. There have been rumors that they're looking to trade Konopka and Rupp, as well.

I'd rather see Abdelkader in a bottom 6 role banging and crashing. He's got some skill with the puck, but I just don't see him developing into a legitimate top 6 forward. I think he's a more effective grinder.

Henrik Tallinder traded back to Buffalo.

At this point, Ottawa will look something like this: Ryan-Spezza-Michalek Zibanejad-Turris-MacArthur Conacher-Pageau-Condra Greening-Smith-Neil Karlsson-Methot Cowen-Gryba Phillips-Wiercioch

I don't want him back, considering he'll want a 3 or 4 year deal.

Malone would be a good replacement for Cleary. We all know how much Ken likes reclamation project players.

Brad Richardson to Vancouver. Lapierre's replacement. Not much activity today, though.

To Tampa:Mikael Samuelsson Cory Emmerton Sammy somehow waives his NTC.

Tampa's shopping Ryan Malone. To Detroit: Ryan Malone To Tampa: Cory Emmerton Pick

Didn't take long for Mike Komisarek to find a taker. 1-year deal with Carolina.

Prust was a regular in the postseason for Montreal. All players that fight=useless goons

Or we can ship Tootoo out and bring Jason Williams and Brett Lebda back. Plan the parade.

True He is Clutterbuck's replacement. Also, the Wild were/are supposedly looking to move Zenon Konopka and Mike Rupp.

Good move by the Habs. At least they recognize that their plethora of smaller players need protection. Prust and Parros will keep the flies off. Parros had a mediocre season, to be extremely nice. Hopefully he bounces back, considering he'll be facing guys like Orr, McLaren, and Thornton on a regular basis.

Lulz. Hope he gets pounded by McGrattan.