Packer487

It's times like this that I really wish the NHL cap was more like the NFL's. It'd be really nice to front-load the hell out of a deal and take the cap hit this year (like Green Bay did with Woodson).

I'd like to see Howard get a shot too, but Ozzie is getting up there in years and he's had a few injuries since he's been back in Detroit. It's not at the point of being a concern (he was healthy all year this year) but I have to believe Detroit didn't want to get into a situation where they're one pulled groin away from having a guy with 5 NHL decisions leading this Cup contender. At some point they do need to find out what they've got in Howard, but this signing was fantastic. Good goalie, bargain price. I'd take Conklin over every goalie that has signed today apart from Huet. He's better than Kolzig, Theodore, Auld, and Raycroft and cheaper than all of them except Auld.

Yet another guy I'd take over Andrew Raycroft, making less money than Andrew Raycroft. Nice job Colorado.

I don't get Washington. Why downgrade from Huet to Theodore over a million bucks a year? Especially since you're letting Kolzig go too. That's a great signing for Chicago.

Wow. That's a really great signing. The Avs paid more for Andrew Raycroft and his GAA last year was almost FOUR! I'm shocked that Conklin didn't a) Get more money than that; b) Go to a team like Tampa (I know they got Kolzig), or Colorado where he could compete for a starting job. Why the hell would a team like Colorado not offer Conklin $1.5 or something, rather than sign Raycroft for 800k? That's really weird. Great, great signing, even though I really want to see Howard play at some point. I'm mixed on the money/term we gave Stuart, but this Conklin signing is AMAZING.

There was a pen in that picture? Sorry, couldn't resist

Did I just hear Gretzky thank "our nine or ten fans watching at the sports bar"? That was hilarious!

I would be perfectly happy if we nabbed another defenseman out of St. Mike's this year

I love the road courses. I'm hoping for a breakout week for the 29. They had a top 5 in the bag until that last caution came out at MIS...they needed a good run. It should be a good race. Stewart, both Gordons, Harvick, Montoya, and the road course ringers should all be pretty good. BTW, the day is drawing ever-closer when someone re-arraigns Shrub's face, and it's going to be awesome. Also, Stewart deserves some more credit for donating his winnings from MIS to help the Red Cross deal with the situation in Indiana and Iowa (and for raising $1 million for the Victory Junction Gang with that Eldora race). If he wasn't such a jackass at the track, he'd be downright likable!

Someone on another board said that he was showing the "V" for "Victory".

I don't like a great coach like McLellan going to a team that has under-achieved as much as San Jose has. They're going to be a dangerous squad. It was only a matter of time before we lost him, and what an opportunity! Jobs don't usually open up on a team with that much talent. Best of luck to him, but not against us. He probably said "Eff this, I'm going to a team that will spell my name correctly!"

Thanks for this!

Wow. I'm one of the biggest Hasek fans around and even I wouldn't suggest that.

I'll second Ozzy318's comments about Great Lakes Brewing Company, particularly the Edmund Fitzgerald. I'm a huge dark beer fan, and that one is probably my favorite. I've had a couple others (usually in the hockey locker room) but I don't remember what they're called. Maybe Burning River?? I loves me some porters though. During Wings games, it's only Honey Brown. Don't know why, but it's lucky and I'll go with it. Yet another reason that Good Time Charley's in Ann Arbor is amazing. They've got it on tap. I'm also a big fan of Spotted Cow (one of the Wisconsin microbrews that I've come to love so, so much). I also really like the Scottish beer Tennent's, but I haven't been able to find it since I moved away from Ann Arbor (Conor O'Neil's has it on tap, Whole Foods has the bottles). Someone mentioned blueberry beer. I had some in Bar Harbor up in Maine and it was amazing. I picked up a six pack of a different kind (also from Maine) and I can't drink it...it's too sweet. That stuff from Bar Harbor was great though. If I want piss beer, it's gonna be Coors Light more than likely. I took the brewery tour when I was out in Denver for the Frozen Four. Good stuff! They gave us a sample of beer that was freshly brewed (yum) and then at the end of the tour, you could have 3 beers of whatever kind you want that they brew.

I'm 99% sure that the Red Wings petitioned (successfully) to get Konstantinov's name on the Cup for the 97-98 season. That said, there's really no reason to do the same for Fischer at this point.

I missed the part of the thread where you guys were discussing him before. I honestly can't think of a player that would have been a worse fit on a Larry Brown-coached team, so I can't say I'm unhappy that we passed on drafting him. Even if Darko was a complete bust, we got Stuckey for him and he looks like he's going to be a player. Now with Anthony on the block, the issue comes up again. I still don't see him as a fit for the team. Great offensive player, but he's a me-first guy, doesn't play defense, and he's pretty much the opposite of everything this team has embodied (he seems like a complete ******). Then again, maybe they're looking for someone completely outside the mold of what they've had to shake things up a little bit. If they're going to make a blockbuster, however, I'd probably look in a different direction. I'd feel better about breaking the bank for Elton Brand in a sign-and-trade, even if he is coming off an achilles injury. We've got a lot of tradeable pieces here...no need to rush into anything. Personally, I think a guy who will get down on the block and can score should be priority #1 and a backup for Prince should be #2 (probably with the MLE).

When I was watching, I was like "Did he have a mild stroke and I just never heard about it?" Somethin' was up for sure.

This guy says it's well worth it, too:

Hey Reem? Enjoy the s*** outta this when Ozzie holds the Cup up, will ya?

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOO!!!!

WE'RE SO CLOSE! C'MON GUYS!!! Lidstrom, you are just nasty.

"Jiri Hudler? What kind of name is that?" "Uhh...your name is Jarkko Ruutu." "Eat a dick!"

We could've scored on one of those goal-mouth scrambles where they were calling goalie interference! What kind of let down would THAT have been? Then again, the NHL proved in 1999 that they don't have the balls to call back a Cup-winning goal. We're celebrating tomorrow night

When was the last time a team gave up a goal with half a minute left to win the Cup and DIDN'T win the Cup later on in the series? :-D To say it's 50-50 at this point means that you think Pittsburgh is like 75% to win each of the next two games. Or that they're 90% to win Game 6 and like 55% to win Game 7 at the Joe. Somehow I don't think either of those percentages are accurate. It's still probably 75-25 (at worst) that we win this series. We're fine.

Alright, I'm out for the night. Keep the faith everyone! Pitt would still have to beat us back to back, including a game 7 at the Joe. I like our chances just fine. Fleury won't keep playing like that, Stuart and Kronwall will be "up" in their cycle, and Ozzie will put up the wall. It's all good. I just feel bad for NFM and Mrs. NFM that they didn't get to see the Cup. We're still winning this s*** though. By the way, almost 3800 posts in this thread? Seriously?