norrisnick

He missed out on giving away a lot of assets. Guys that were in Cross' price range (mid pick) either had too big of a cap impact (Lukowich, Carney, O'Donnell) or are right on par with him in ability anyway (Brown, Simpson, Richarson, etc...). peace

Vancouver's 4th rounder is better than ours. A 3rd for Brown is worse than a 4th for Cross. peace

What jersey number are you going to give that 4th rounder if Cheli were to go down in the playoffs? peace

He's as good as you'd expect from a guy not expected to be playing regularly with the Wings. peace

Only because Jamie is more experienced at watching from the press box. I'm sure Cory will catch on before too long. peace

Already rumored up in the deadline thread. peace

Patrick O'Sullivan is an AHL lifer? He just turned 21 and is the AHL's leading rookie scorer. He'll be with the Wild for good before too long. peace

Ovechkin for me. Sure he's two years older and more mature as a player, but he's also dominating while adjusting to a whole new style of play here in North American, not to mention adjusting to living a whole new lifestyle. Yet here he is, within striking distance of the goalscoring lead and firmly planted in the league's top 10 scorers. But the thing that astounds me most of all... he has more goals AND more assists than anyone else on his team has points. I'm not sure how that is even possible. peace

Yeah, let's keep the minor/scrub swappings to the stickied thread. Bigger moves that will warrant more than a post or two in response will warrant their own thread. Just to keep things tidy. Thanks. peace

Draper has one. peace

I hope not. He's a less talented Tucker or Avery. peace

He's certainly closer than Howard. Liv has been a pro for seven seasons now (including an SEL championship in '03-'04 where he recorded 4 shutouts in the 7 game final to clinch it). He's also 25 and will turn 26 next season. There isn't much he has left to learn other than can he or can't he hang with the big boys of the NHL. peace

Makes sense. Howard would get more out of starting in the AHL and playing a long season than backup duty in the NHL. Liv's developmental stage is all but over and now he just needs to see if he can hack it in the best league. I can't envision a scenario (barring major injuries) where Jimmy is in the NHL rather than the AHL next season. peace

The cap is going up and with that so will the individual limit. That said I don't think Lidstrom is going to demand to max out his contract. He could if he wanted to seeing as he's well on his way to winning a 4th Norris, but I'm going on a hunch. I hope it isn't wishful thinking. peace

Detroit has no need for a guy like Tucker. We don't need to start s**t, if anything we need a guy that'll keep other teams from starting s**t. While Tucker will go with anyone he's not what I'd call a policeman. Are there no big, skilled, calm, tough guys out there? Guys that go about their game, skate, hit, score, but don't get caught up in the extracurriculars until it is needed. Not some clown that flies around boarding, charging, diving, yapping until some guy latches on and beats him silly. peace

I would not give up on Hudler just yet. Hudler has the potential to be as good if not better than Datsyuk (who might be hard to hang on to in two years). Hudler is further along and has shown more than Pavel had at the same age (2000). We may have other skilled prospects but Hudler is at the top of the heap with regards to offensive vision. peace

A good offensive player, which I don't want to give to the Flames. peace

It's a stretch but he could have been watching their opponents. The Nucks are in need of a move with their injuries and just plain slumping all year long, the Blues are known sellers, and the Sharks have yet to get themselves into playoff position. IMO the Wings are far more likely to trade with one of these three than to trade with the Flames in any meaningful way. Conference frontrunners don't make big trading partners (especially with both GMs saying they're essentially tapped out with regards to a big move, could be a ruse but I wouldn't envision Kenny and Darryl swapping key players). peace

Nothing will ever, and I mean EVER, top this dubbed gem. "YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS, LARRY! YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS?! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MEET A STRANGER IN THE ALPS! HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS, LARRY! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MEET A STRANGER IN THE ALPS!" (As Walter begins to smash a red Corvette outside Larry's house with Larry watching out the window; suddenly Larry's next door neighbour rushes out, screaming and crying) Clearly "meeting a stranger in the Alps" wasn't the original version of that particular exclamation. peace You're kidding. They serioiusly used that phrase as a replacement for f*cking a stranger in the ass?!?!?!?!?! I s**t you not. I almost died when I first heard it. peace

Nothing will ever, and I mean EVER, top this dubbed gem. "YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS, LARRY! YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS?! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MEET A STRANGER IN THE ALPS! HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS, LARRY! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MEET A STRANGER IN THE ALPS!" (As Walter begins to smash a red Corvette outside Larry's house with Larry watching out the window; suddenly Larry's next door neighbour rushes out, screaming and crying) Clearly "meeting a stranger in the Alps" wasn't the original version of that particular exclamation. peace

When Russia had to dip into their taxi squad when Korolyuk went down it was a tossup between Igor and another forward to take that spot. The other guy was already in Switzerland practicing with his team for something so he got the call. Expect Grigorenko to be at the World Championships at Riga later in the spring. He may not reach the potential he had prior to his accident (which was huge by the way) but he still ought to be a quality second line scorer at the very least. peace

I'm not sure if I want to direct the trashtalking towards the Olympic Hockey thread, BUT there is an Olympic Hockey thread. peace

already know how Then I'll see you down in Arizona Bay. peace

Learn to swim... peace

Already being discussed in the stickied Olympic Hockey thread. peace