Bring Back The Bruise Bros

Well, we haven't won a Cup without Draper, Maltby, and McCarty since 1955.

Came here to post this. He's quickly become my favorite Sabre, with Cody McCormick coming in a close 2nd place. Cycles the puck down low very well, and hits anything that moves.

If we get Hemsky, I'm boycotting Google.

He's still relatively young (Turns 30 in August). 27 points in 54 games. Knows how to walk the line. I'd welcome him here. He's hungry for a Cup. Additionally, we could likely keep him around a while, unlike older guys like Sammy Pahlsson.

I suspect Holmstrom may hang em up after this year. Weird that Cleary's NTC expired this time of the year. Doubt Ken did that by accident. I wouldn't be heartbroken if we packaged Kindl, Cleary, and Emmerton at the deadline for a grinder and a guy that can play some offense. Someone mentioned Samuel Pahlsson earlier, meh. Ideally, I'd like to get someone we could keep around for a while. Pahlsson is beginning to age. I actually would be open to Steve Ott here. Good to hear Bert is likely coming back next year. I would've liked to see a one-year deal, but oh well. Hopefully he can continue his production for 2 more years.

Read an article suggesting Steve Ott could be on his way out of Dallas. Would that make some noise around here if Ken acquired him.

Currently, Evgeni Malkin leads the league in points with 73 in just 53 games. Steven Stamkos and Claude Giroux are right behind with 70 points each. Its worth noting that Jason Spezza is having a great year after a few sub-par seasons. Both Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul are having career years in Toronto. John Tavares is on pace for a career year, as well. Ilya Kovalchuk has caught fire lately, with 7 points in his last 5 games. Naturally, the Sedin twins are high up, as well. Notable players not in the race are Corey Perry, Patrick Kane, and Alexander Ovechkin, although Kane and Perry have started to pick up their play, lately. Predictions for the Art Ross winner?

Through 56 games, Alexander Ovechkin has scored a total of 45 points. He is easily on pace to have his worst offensive year of his career. Washington got blown out by Carolina 5-0 last night. He is scoreless in his last 2 games, and has scored just 2 points in his last 5. Following Bruce Boudreau's departure from Washington, many (including myself) thought he would thrive under Dale Hunter. What can Washington do with him? He is clearly under-performing, and has a terrible attitude. Many talk about Alex Semin's days in Washington as being numbered. How long until we talk about OV getting wheeled out of DC? How much longer will the GM and coaching staff put up with the mediocre play? For the amount of money he is making, he is definitely not playing at the talent level he is expected to. He's got a ridiculously long contract, which I figured would come back to bite Washington in the ass eventually. However, I'm sure many teams would be willing to inherit it. Would a change of scenery do the trick to get him back on his game, or is he simply not capable of playing at the skill level he used to? Has Alexander Ovechkin passed his prime, LGW?

Had to bump this. Good to see him getting his game back. 10 points in his last 5 games!

Eric Staal is off to an awful slow start to the season. He's scored just 11 points in 25 games so far this season, combined with a -17. Maybe a change of scenery is needed for him? Carolina is off to a less than impressive start, as well. Have to think the Hurricanes are going to make a move, especially if the team continues to fall in the standings. I wouldn't be surprised if Toronto actively went after him. I don't think we'll go after him, but I've always liked him and he is still young (27) and is a legit top 6 forward. In addition to Staal being on the trade block, look for Tuomo Ruutu, and Tomas Kaberle as well. Discuss

Sorry, I meant to say "Didn't think there were a lot of teens on here"

No doubt Cherry makes good points, I just think he takes it a little too far at times. I agree with him in that we need to play grittier to succeed in the playoffs, but the amount of fighting majors a team has does not guarantee anyone the Cup. Cherry takes about Vancouver being "Tough", listing Lapierre and Weise, and Volpatti, who has been hurt all year. They're a bunch of spot-pickers. The only gritty player on Vancouver I respect is Byron Bitz. We've handled them pretty well in the fighting department this year. Abdelkader has smoked Yapierre twice, and Bertuzzi handled Ballard pretty easily.

Hopefully he gets back soon. Don't wanna rush him back in, though.

We must have been looking at someone though, right? Edit: Extremely minor news, but news nonetheless: Brandon Segal to Tampa Bay. My link Yzerman is like a kid in a Pokemon card shop.

Glad to have Quincey back! Wasn't too confident Piche was gonna make it anyway, however, a 1st rounder? 23 points in 54 games is a plus. He is -1, but that doesn't worry me too much, considering it was with Colorado. I had a feeling Downie was available. I'm jealous of the Avs a little Now, it sounds like he is here to stay a while. Stuart's replacement? Likely, but I don't think it would be wise for Ken to deal Stuart at the deadline. He's an important component of our defense. In addition, I don't think Commodore is gonna attract much interest. That leaves Kindl. He will draw interest, but do we wanna get rid of him at the deadline? Well, I don't think we're gonna roll with 8 defensemen. I think Stuart will likely be dealt after the season is over, so we can at least get something for him. It is clear Ken is not done. I'm excited to see what he can do. I heard scouts were at the Sharks/Jackets game.

If it wasn't for Jimmy, this one could have easily been 5-1. Its one game. Oh well. We definitely need to start playing consistently on the road, though. Ericsson looked like absolute s***. Hopefully he can bounce back on Thursday.

Some sources are saying Montreal isn't going to trade Moen, others are. I don't know much about Ouellet.

No, it has technically been illegal to stream games online for a whwile. Big business whines to the government enough, and now these bills have been introduced to increase surveillance of everything online, not just websites like frw.tv. They needed an excuse to watch our every move online, and with broadcast companies or whoever bitching about copyright infringement, they have found their excuse.

aMonster's neg count is getting quite high. -20 Fans of other teams are really intimidated by us, aren't they? Anyhow, I could care less if we drop a game to Vancouver. The streak has to end eventually, although if given the choice, I'd lose it to someone other than San Jose or Vancouver. I care a lot more about the playoffs. Hopefully Abdelkader kicks Lapierre's ass again on Thursday!

How have I never seen this video? Almost as funny as Ray Ferraro's impersonation of Dion Phaneuf, lol.

I love the Detroit area. As much hate as it gets, I'd really rather be nowhere else. Hopefully one day I can call Detroit home again. Its been unseasonably warm throughout the entire Eastern US, basically.

Spezza is having a fantastic year, as well.

Looks so much fun. Its been too mild over here to get outside

Why isn't he ripping the beloved Habs, who are tied with us for lowest in the NHL in the fighting category? Guys like this are what make guys like me look bad. Its not the amount of fighting majors that counts. More fights does not equal more Stanley Cups automatically. While I do think a minor move or two to get us a little grittier would help us in the long run, I don't think acquiring Steve MacIntyre is gonna do us much good in the postseason. Personally, I think he is sick of hearing about 1)European players altogether and 2)American NHL teams. If Don Cherry was running the league, it would look like this: Atlantic Division: Halifax Fredericton Charlottetown Prince Edward Island Newfoundland Southeast Division: Toronto Ottawa Montreal Mississauga Quebec City Northeast Division: Iqaluit Amherst New Glasgow Cambridge Bay Rankin Inlet Central Division: Winnipeg Thunder Bay Regina Saskatoon Nanavut Southwest Division: Vancouver Calgary Edmonton Victoria Medicine Hat Northwest Divsion: Whitehorse Northwest Territories Yellowknife Queen Elizabeth Islands Banks Island And no European or American players allowed. Because that is the spirit of hockey. Now, I don't like seeing NHL teams fail on Long Island either, but he acts as if Canada invented and trademarked hockey, and nobody else can even think about liking it, or its copyright infringement. He makes decent points here and there, but then completely goes off road with some other close minded s***. In conclusion, I think a little added grit will help us a lot in the playoffs, but not a goon. End rant.