stactum

I have to agree on pretty much everything OP said, however I think Mikko K will be first line center and potentially wearing C. What always scared me about team Finland is they can execute their game plan (as they did against Russians in Torino). They may not have scoring other teams will have, but if they stick to the defensive game and limit the number of shots, they may get some counter-attack breaks and win the game with score 2:1 or so. Their goaltending may be on of the best in Vancouver, D isn't deep, but decent. Again, I think Finland could be one of these teams who will execute on other team's mistakes and will be pain in the a.. to play against. I have a few theories on how teams are matching based on some history and here they are: ...if I'm Canadian - Russia is the team I don't want to play against ...if I'm Finnish - Sweden is the team I don't want to play against ...if I'm American - Canada is the team I don't want to play against ...if I'm Slovakian - Czech Republic is the team I don't want to play against ...if I'm Swedish - Belarus is the team I don't want to play against Just Kidding!

Team USA looks pretty good to me, the only problem I see is RON WILSON. I honestly think if USA was coached by Dan Bylsma they would have much better chance.

I didn't maybe quite understood what were you trying to say, but I kind of felt that Malkin was a bigger reason they won the cup last year, Crosby was more or less a passenger on the team and a lot of goals he scored were set up by Malkin. Crosby showed up during PIT-WAS series, but the rest was Malkin.

Right, and in game with Boston he straight out embarrassed Milan Lucic!

I don't know why people are so low on WAS. I also don't have any doubts that the worst move CHI did was letting Khabi go. Huet is not Khabi at all, so I don't know why some people are so high on CHI. Here is what I think is going to happen: East WAS - they're getting better PHI - got Fronger, getting better BOS - step down, but weak division PIT - cup hangover, but the core is there NYR - Gaborik stays healthy , Lundqvist NJD - gonna be boring to watch OTT - I think they'll be better, some nice additions and cancer is out TBL - getting a bit better, have 2 solid lines of F and some decent D West SJS - Heatley & Thornton, good team DET - nobody gives much of a chance, but everyone will be talking after 18 wins of first 22 games CAL - solid D, new coach VAN - solid team overall CHI - solid team, bad coach and terrible goaltending ANA - solid, but step down from the past STL - on the rise CBJ - on the rise, ton of young talent

When is the draft?

I actually like Buchi's idea of expansion and adding some teams, inlcuding Milwaukee!

Who is hosting the leagues? ESPN, Yahoo or CBSSports?

Hey, I am planning on starting a league on CBSSports.com where I had the most fun playing (compared to ESPN or Yahoo). Does anybody wants to join?

I know it's been talked here a lot but these are official candidates that are invited to combines (Aug 29 - Sep 1) in Moscow. Goaltenders: Bryzgalov Ilya (PHX) Varlamov Simeon (WAS) Eremenko Alexander (Salavat, KHL) Nabokov Evgeny (SJS) Defense: Atyushov Vitaly (Mettalurg, KHL) Vishnevsky Vitaly (Lokomotiv, KHL) Volchenkov Anton (OTT) Gonchar Sergey (PIT) Grebeshkov Denis (EDM) Zhitnik Alexey (Dynamo Moscow, KHL) Zubov Sergey (DAL*) Kalinin Dmitry (Salavat, KHL) Kondratiev Maxim (Salavat, KHL) Korneev Konstantin (CSKA, KHL) Markov Andrey (MTL) Nikulin Ilya (AkBars, KHL) Proshkon Vitaly (Salavat, KHL) Tverdovsky Oleg (Salavat, KHL) Tyutin Fedor (CLS) Forwards: Artyukhin Evgeny (TBL) Afinogenov Maxim (BUF*) Gorovikov Konstanin (SKA, KHL) Datsyuk Pavel (DET) Zaripov Danis (AkBars, KHL) Zinovyev Sergey (Salavat, KHL) Kovalev Alex (OTT) Kovalchuk Ilya (ATL) Kozlov Viktor (Salavat, KHL) Kulemin Nikolay (TOR) Malkin Evgeny (PIT) Morozov Alexey (AkBars, KHL) Ovechkin Alex (WAS) Radulov Alex (Salavat, KHL) Saprykin Oleg (Dynamo Moscow, KHL) Semin Alex (WAS) Tereshenko Alexey (AkBars, KHL) Fedorov Sergey (Metallurg, KHL) Frolov Alex (LAK) Sources: sovsport.ru (ru) gazeta.ru (ru)

That is somewhat true since last time as far as I remember Krikunov was the coach and it made a BIG difference. The whole "chemistry" and team approach changed with Bykov. I do agree that it is probably better to have lines that played together for a while (the old soviet system like), but at the same time Ovechkin-Malkin-Radulov or whoever is a better choice talent-wise. Also don't you remember how much penalties these Superleague players were taking since they used to an absolutely different game. I believe that the team from 2010 won't be anything like team in 2006 and main factors are: team approach and work ethic. PS I also think this is why Kovalev shouldn't be on the team.

I think with that same success they could've chosen Nikita Filatov over Artem Anisimov. Kovalev - WILL NOT BE ON THE TEAM with his primadonna attitude, Bykov (head coach) just doesn't like him so I'll be very very surprised if he makes it. Also I doubt that Khabi will play, he is getting old and after 2002 Olympics said that he won't play for "sbornaya"; so I'd say Bryzgalov will be on his spot. I would say that Zubov would also be an interesting candidature if he is healthy and willing to play. With those players something tells me that there will be an old-soviet style of "all attack" play; "You'll score us how much you can, we'll score how much we want!" But who knows if it materializes.

It funny, I tried to find the source and here what it comes down to: DRW < Swedish Newspaper < allhockey.ru < sovsport.ru < Atlanta Journal & Constitution expressen.se (Swedish) http://hockey.expressen.se/Nyheter/1.16490...lon-85-miljoner allhockey.ru (Russian) http://allhockey.ru/news/57412/ sovsport.ru (Russian) http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/339137 Atlanta Journal & Constitution http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/200...-the-hard-sell/ And this is probably where they picked up this info: It is all very hypothetical

Just so you know, Canada NEVER won a game against Russia/Soviet on Winter Olympics so if I would be Canadian I wouldn't want to face Russia in the medal round. Canada also lost 2 last WCH finals too.

I am pretty sure that is not what he thinks He is a talented player, but his work attitude isn't that great. He might be a good addition to most teams where he won't have to carry the load and play with good center.

I honestly want to see him go. I know many of you may say he is 40 goal scorer, etc, etc. BUT I think he did not add anything to Detroit this season. Unfortunately because of Hossa Babs had to split probably the best duo in the NHL and it didn't work out. Wings were good, but not dominant as the year before, so basically all year coach struggled where to fit him, either first or second line, but he is kind of "on-his-own" player and that showed. Let him go, promote kids.

I can't quite relate when people are mentioning many teams. It's not certainly how I think, I may have my sympathies from season to season for a different team, but here it is: WINGS - DISTANT FIRST CAPS - SECOND, because of OV So Wings - Caps would make a very interesting SCF for me! That is it. This season I sympathized to Panthers and Blues to make play-offs, but I don't really care about them at all.

I can't wait! There for sure will be a line from KHL, guys like Morozov, Radulov lilkely will make it! Russian defense isn't deep as Sweeds or Canadians, but still can be pretty solid and include Gonchar and Markov So here is my roster : Goaltenders Evgeni Nabokov Ilya Bryzgalov Simeon Varlamov I don't think Nikolai Khabibulin will play, but who knows. Defensemen: Andrei Markov, Danny Markov Sergei Gonchar, Denis Grebeshkov Anton Volchenkov, Fedor Tyutin Dmitri Kalinin Sergey Zubov would be nice addition, but I don't know if he will play. Also think about Nikulin Ilya from Ak Bars, he may be a good addition to the team. Forwards: Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Alexander Semin Ilya Kovalchuk, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Frolov Nikolai Zherdev, Sergei Fedorov, Alex Radulov, Morozov Alexey, Mozyakin Sergey, Zaripov Danis I am not sure who play what position on the KHL line, but they all played on 08 WCH in Canada and played quire well. Also there might be: Viktor Kozlov, Teryeschenko Alexey and Alexey Yashin Alex Kovalev will not be called in for obvious reasons.

Here is the hit! Enjoy it!

I am sure it's going to be on XM Satellite radio, channel 204 and 205 (local and away coverages) if you have access to these.

I totally agree with what you've said. And this whole "outshot" thing is plain silly just because we're playing with the lead and they are playing from behind. If that is the other way around and Wings are playing from behind Pit would be hammered with the amount of shots. I remember last playoffs I really liked when Wings played from behind because it was a magnificent hockey at that point. WINGS IN 5.

Just heard on XM NHL Home Ice Radek asked Babs and he told him that Dats will likely be ready for Game 4. He was doing hard drills during the practice.

I heard her too, but you got to give her a break, she is an Avs fan and there are absolutely nothing to cheer about. So think about it as a desperation move.

I was laughing my a.. off reading this! Poor guy doesn't even know so-often-called-word "depth" about the Wings and that Datsyuk didn't even play in this series yet

Wings Will Win!