Dabura

The Vanek deal probably saved his skin. He wasn't exactly the most popular guy in Montreal for most of the regular season.

Cleary - Glendening - Mantha

I can't believe a Habs team coached by Michele Therrien is this much better than the Red Wings. But, credit where it's due.

I actually like your thinking here.

Dear Kenny, Pretty much anyone in the Freeway Series series would be a good add for the Red Wings. Non pipe dream possibilities include Devante Smith-Pelly and Alec Martinez. Also, because I know you're into this kind of thing, Jonas Hiller will be a free agent on the wrong side of 30 looking for a fresh start because of some meddling kids. Mrazek 1A, Hiller 1B (if he's willing), Howard to Winnipeg?

Gaborik scores less than a minute in! Kings up 1-0.

Danny Bylsma. Danny O'Halloran. Kristopher Letang. Pierre is feelin' it tonight. He's in the zone.

Kristopher Letang. Something something Kristopher Letang. Something something Kristopher Letang. Something something Kristopher Letang. Oh, Crosby just scored.

I don't mean to diss what we've got on the farm. I just want that top-four guy, who we should've added the moment Lids said goodbye but has instead been put off because something something you can't replace Nick Lidstrom something something there's no hockey store something something a trade requires two teams something something we're not going to move top prospects something something Colaiacovo Quincey something something DeKeyser is lost forever with a broken finger something something Ericsson is lost forever with a broken finger something something...

Pens win 3-0. Rangers looked flat, sloppy, tired.

4-1. Blackhawks. Crazy thing is Bryzgalov has actually been really good.

I love him on the Kings. He doesn't have to be The Guy, he can just be himself, play his game, no pressure to Be Great every night.

I just realized we're not getting that awesome top-four defenseman. Certainly not Matt Niskanen. Think about it. Fischer has now gone on record saying we have, like, 107 NHL-level D prospects. That they're all amazing, and, seriously, he just can't begin to tell you how amazing they all are. Holland has gone on record saying the usual stuff he says about everything. Even if we move Kindl and Lashoff and let Quincey walk, that's still only two spots up for grabs. You don't think we're gonna use this year to get a sense of what we really have on the farm? You think we're gonna outbid 25 other teams for Niskanen's services and leave all of one spot open for the kids to fight over? Does that really sound like something that's gonna happen? Not that I like what I'm saying. But I'm trying to be realistic. This also applies to the big scoring winger thing. Who, besides maybe Dustin Penner (because he should come dirt cheap), do we actually have a realistic shot at? None of the better free agents, because we don't do bidding wars. A trade? Well, it'd have to be a big trade, otherwise we'd just go with what we have. But if it's a big trade, that means we're moving a young gun and a top prospect and a pick and probably more. Really? Ken Holland's going to do that? If we can at least sign Benoit Pouliot, I'll be really happy. Such are my expectations.

i c wut u did their

Forgot - Gaborik also fed Martinez for the Kings' first goal. Huuuge night for him.

I want the Kings to advance. Because I like them, but more because I think they'd be the tougher matchup for the Blackhawks, who must. not. repeat.

Gaborik ties it with seven seconds left then scores the OT winner. Ducks were the better team, but Gaborik. Awesome.

I wonder, Does Buffalo have a shot at this? A first pairing of Brian Campbell and Christian Ehrhoff would be pretty sick.

On the other hand, this would be a first overall. Given that we're never coming close to the top eight, and that our scouting and drafting and prospect development are second to none, I think it's absolutely worth considering, even if it means we lose a young gun or two. I love Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, and Jurco, but not one of them is truly untouchable. We need a stud center in the pipeline, so, without thinking too hard about it, I'd probably pick Reinhart. That'd certainly make up for Jarnkrokgate. But would this happen? Would Tallon actually trade the pick, and to a divisional rival? Well, the answer to the latter question is, I have to think, Hell f****** no. But I do think he's going to seriously consider moving the pick, for the reason you gave. My impression is management wants to start winning and is kind of done with building for the future. They could use some star power. Get people excited, put butts in the seats. That's why Tallon got the green light to spend this summer. I bet he moves the pick for a very good return that helps them NOW.

I meant that their team is so skilled (like ours used to be) and it really showed in the third period. Or, at least, Patrick Kane and Ben Smith really showed. Ridiculous top-shelf backhand snipe by Kane, then a ridiculous redirect pass from Smith to Kane. It's awesome, and it sucks. The Wild were absolutely in that game, and they earned the tied score the right way - a garbage goal and a sweet setup, both born of great sustained pressure in the o-zone. But then you have a guy like Kane who can just pull a gorgeous goal out of his ass.

I'd rather let Franzen know that Jurco and Mantha want his job, see if it lights a fire under his ass.

5-2. Chicago comes alive in the third. This is how you kill with skill.

Would they consider taking Weiss back?

People hate Franzen because he's lazy and immensely streaky and way past his prime and he's had several concussions and we're stuck with him until the end of time and he's a huge body but plays like he's 5'4 and we need him to be a leader more than ever but he was completely invisible in the playoffs and if he's not scoring he's really not adding much that someone else couldn't add and he says things like "We need more joy" and Hossa. We need a big, evil, right-handed top-six winger, preferably one in his prime. If we're going to land one of those, it's going to be one with a big red "Buyer beware!" sticker on his forehead (otherwise, we're gonna have to sell the farm). Also, I disagree that a top four of Kronwall, Ericsson, DeKeyser, Smith would be ok moving forward, if winning the Cup is the one and only goal. Even with Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Stuart, we only won one Cup, and that was a closer series than many seem to think it was, and we were ludicrously deep up front. I can see us going with Kronwall, Ericsson, DeKeyser, Smith, and then losing one or two of those for the entire postseason run (because that's how it goes for us) and then losing a series we probably should've won and then thinking, "Y'know what? We really should've added a top-four defenseman." And Z and D are that much closer to done, and blah.

I like Benoit Pouliot. I know no one likes Christ Stewart, but if he could be had for (relatively) cheap, I think you have to seriously consider it. If it doesn't work out, he's a free agent next summer. Making a list, checking it twice...