number9

Personally I regard Holland as one of the best. Thinks long term, hires the right people, and keeps us competitive. What about other GMs though? Are there any others out there that you would pick over Holland or just below?

The best pick was LA IMO, Great state to really bring hockey too. Good for the sport. Was meant to be really. Owners sent the message *anyone can be traded* *heres what happens when you chase money* and California grew tremendously as a hockey state

With the superb coaching and dark horse play from the Sens, it amazes they're management can't put together an exceptional team. I understand why he's here. We A+ everything. That many years there was enough

The sad part is they still have a decent roster. Clowe - Zajac - Jagr Olesz - Elias - Ryder Tedenby - Henrique - Loktionov All of those are candidates for a top 6 position. Zajac and the young guys on the 3rd line are due for good years. Defense isn't completely poop, and Larsson will be progressing farther. The funnest part will be watching Schneider and Marty compete for starting time. When was the last time Broduer had real competition? All in all I think they're a bubble team just like us last year. I think they'll weasel they're way into a low seed

That'll happen when you have one of the worst leagues

Games getting bigger, teams gotta keep up to compete

Based on what? Abs had very little "top6 level" impact in his top 6 role. He was there to be a Holmstrom cause all the other big bodies were injuried. If you think Abs is a top 6 power forward you are high my friend. Tuzzi may be old but he's the better option over Abby, if either of them are even considered. I'm assuming if you had your way Zetterberg - "Emdog" - Abby would be your top line lol

Jarnkrok - Zetterberg Mrazek - Hasek Tatar - Hudler (with more grit) Nyquist - Filppula Jurco - Datsyuk Andersson - Malholtra Sheahan - Tinky Winky (JK, Laich) Backman - Lidstrom Ouellet - Kronwall (with a little more grit and a little less wall) Ferraro - Ray Ferraro Frk - Milan Michalek Pulkkinen - Hull (just the slapper) Athanasiou - Filppula Callahan - Tootoo Mckee - Scott Stevens Mantha - Ovechkin (with less grit) Bertuzzi - Tootoo Nastasiuk - Cleary Tvrdon - Hossa Sproul - Letang (with a little more D and a little less O) Hampus Melen - ..... Hampus Melen Obviously comparing anyone to Lidstrom/Datsyuk/Stevens/Ovechkin is a little wishful, but it's more of a style thing

Pretty sure it's 90. Only one that's up in the air is Alfie

Tuzzis a better top line option than Abby. Abs was only there because of injury

yeah you're 100% right. I might have been able to think of those points if I wasn't drinking so much and playing hockey this particular evening!

Of course it's all business, can't blame anyone for that. Just don't understand why ESPN won't complete their move for total sports domination. Someone enlighten me.

Jeez the prospect wave is prime and stacked, no room for brunner on a multi year deal Tatar and Nyquist this year Possible top 6ers coming in the next few years: Jarnkrok, Jurco, Frk, Pulkkinen, Tvrdon, Mantha Possible bottom 6ers coming the next few years: Sheahan, Ferraro, Callahan, Nastasiuk, Bertuzzi, Bodin Possible top D-men next few years: Sproul, Backman, Ouellet, Jensen, Marchenko, Almquist Possible 5-6 D-men nest few years: Nedomlel, De Haas, Wheaton, McNulty, McKee Among many other possible diamonds in the rough I think I can honestly say I have never seen the farm this stacked. It's no surprise the Grifs just won a championship. We may have only drafted one "superstar" prospect in this years draft, but the other guys we got fill the nasty roles that fill out the lineup. Our prospect pool looks complete at this point. Very excited about the next few years. Brunner can suck it, forget about him. Should have got a better agent IMO Brunner was always expendable I love Brunner as much as the next guy, but at his age what we got was probably what we were going to get. I think it was smart to let him walk. I don't think he warrants even 2.5.

It surprises me that ESPN doesn't try to take on hockey. If they did they would monopolize almost all the big sports coverage. And they would have more to talk about through out the year than just repeating the same stories over and over. What scares me, honestly, is soccer. ESPN is increasingly covering soccer and its gaining popularity fast in north america. I just feel like hockey deserves its place in North America before soccer does. I would hate to see that sport on ESPN full time while hockey continues to lurk in the shadows. When it comes down to it, I just dont undertsand why ppl prefer any sport over hockey. dum dums. Also I remember reading a study ESPN did where they found that hockey is the hardest sport to play, based on speed, skill, physicality and other stuff. Best sport ever. End of story.

BOS/MTL

Wasn't being sarcastic. His numbers were good the last few seasons. Just no room for him.

Jagr signs with Devils, not sure where Damien will go now...

218 pts in 252 OHL games. Sucks to let a guy like that go, but really no room right now.

http://thehockeywriters.com/ineffective-headshot-rule-signals-time-to-eliminate-instigator-rule/ If rule 48 isn't going to work, get rid of instigator rule?

I can't wait for little Bertuzzi and Callahan to join the team Bertuzzi - Andersson - Callahan Revive the grindline

Pretty much sums that up

Someone's gotta be that guy. I like it. Very fair price. Agreed before arbitration. IMO shows both sides got what they wanted. Glad to see Smith is dedicated to the cause.

If Pavel and Henrik keep going at this pace their numbers will be retired. Feds 91 will never be retired.

Holland's just playing mind games with them. Makin em think they're after thoughts and not that important so theyll sign for less.

Thank axe, thanks a lot