Aussie_Wing

I’ve always liked Fedotenko and I would love having him on this team. He’s still young, and as ARice said he’s got good size and is fine goal scorer.

Another Lebda perhaps?

And an opinion letter, written by Gerry Hartman. Link That's shocking. Lets hope it doesn't affect his play too much.

Zherdev was described by many scouts as the most skilled offensive player in his draft. So you would have to be crazy not to be interested. He’s only 22, has great size and can put the puck in the net. I would love to have him in Detroit but you would suspect he wouldn’t come too cheaply. We would have to give up a fair bit.

Give him time; he's only just turned 21. Plenty of offensive potential, he just needs to add consistency.

The first Grand Slam of the year gets underway in a few days and I will be attending the first week! As usual Roger Federer will be the man to beat as he aims to record his 10th Grand Slam title. Both Marat Safin and Andy Roddick are two of his biggest threats however they are due to face each other in the 3rd Round in what will surely be an enthralling encounter. Other major chances are last year’s finalist Marcos Baghdatis however he has a tough draw and if he progresses through to the QF he will meet Federer. Then of course there is World No.2 Rafael Nadal who had a winning record against Federer, however it remains to be seen whether he can overcome an injury he suffered during a lead-up event. One to keep an eye on is Tomas Berdych who is extremely talented and on his day can beat anyone. On the women’s side Kim Clijsters is my tip to win. She just recorded another title in Sydney in a terrific final against the in form Jelena Jankovic. Maria Sharapova will aim for back-to-back Grand Slams and she has a relatively easy draw. One to watch is talented youngster Shahar Peer who could cause some upsets. I will be gone for the next week and when I return home I expect a couple of posts. I don’t want to return home to see this post the only one in the thread.

Here are some pics I took... 1. Show Court 3. 2. Azarenka arguing with the umpire. (Azarenka is a very promising 17 y/o.) 3. Lucie Safarova (Beat Mauresmo in the 4th Round) 4. "Super" Mario Ancic! 5. Sharapova. 6. My favourite player, Ana Ivanovic. 7. Maria Kirilenko. 8. Tomas Berdych (Future World No.1 IMO)

WOW, what a surprise! Federer wins the final in straight sets! Who would have thought? Absolutely beyond a joke. After playing exceptional tennis for the past two weeks Gonzalez played so average tonight. His massive forehand was nowhere to be seen, his serve was weak and he had all but given up in the third set. Bring on the Clay season where Federer doesn’t always get his way.

Exactly, there were so many great rivalries a decade or two ago. I remember the anticipation everyone had whenever Sampras was to play Agassi. Just fantastic battles and there was nothing better to watch. These days there’s nothing, it’s just who will lose to Federer in the final.

It was without doubt the most one-sided game I have ever seen. Roddick won 6 points in the second set, 6 measly points. Federer was hitting winner after winner after winner, from every position on the court and with shots that just shouldn’t be played. Make no mistake, Roddick didn’t play that poorly. The only things I could fault were perhaps his serve and despite the talk about his improved volleying skills, they were nowhere to be seen tonight. In fact, Federer often drew him into the net so he could just pass him. The gap between Federer and the rest of the tour is huge, and it makes for such a predictable, dull tour.

Game over. Well that was awesome, certainly lived up to the hype. This is becoming a farce, a Semi Final match-up between the best and one of the best players in the world, and the match is over in 83 minutes. 83 freaking minutes. They should give the crowd a refund. I am so incredibly sick of Federer. Poor Andy.

Well Williams is into the final. I have to say that wasn’t the result I was after. At least I had one result go my way; Sharapova beat Clijsters in straight sets in a terrific performance. So it's Williams v Sharapova in the final, I would have to say Maria is the favourite. And in a few minutes Roddick is up against Federer. Cmon Andy!!!

Men's Semi Finals: Federer v Roddick Gonzalez v Haas Women's Semi Finals: Sharapova v Clijsters Williams v Vaidisova Well it's Semi Final time and there are 4 great matches to be played. The match everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived as Roddick will try to take down Roger Federer tonight. Roddick is playing terrific tennis and I honestly believe he has a big chance to win. Last night Gonzalaz beat Nadal in straight sets which came as a massive shock to me as I was expecting Nadal to reach the final. I think the women’s final will be Clijsters v Williams, but I do admit I will be supporting the other two women.

I can't believe we gave Nazr a $30mil contract and within a few months he's trade bait. Our new starting line-up of Billups-Hamilton-Prince-Wallace-Webber is scary good, just as long as Rasheed starts trying again and Wallace can stay fit. McDyess has been awesome off the bench lately, and combined with Delfino, Hunter, Davis, and Maxiell, it is more than adequate. I’m not including Murray because I think he’s a negative.

What an unbelievable match that was, terrific standard of tennis. The best game of the tournament no doubt. Cannot begin to tell you how impressed I was with Murray tonight. He definitely has the tools to be a multiple Grand Slam winner and potential No.1 down the track. His backhand is just brutal and his serve is a very nice weapon. But Nadal, what a legend. How he retrieves all those balls I have no idea. Regardless of where he is on the court he will still chase everything down. His forehand is ridiculously good and especially when down break points. How many did he save with outstanding off forehands? He just has nerves of steel. He’s up against Gonzalez next who dispatched Blake quite easily. That will be another great game. Well my player to watch on the men's side, Tomas Berdych, lost yesterday to Davydenko. However Shahar Peer is still in, but plays Williams tomorrow.

Well Federer won in straight sets last night. James Blake got thrashed today; he played terrible. Tonight is Nadal v Murray which could well be the match of the tournament.

Sounds like a great line to me. Grigorenko's strength and aggressive nature would compliment Hudler and Filppula very well.

Well Andy Roddick beat Mario Ancic in a terrific 5 set match. The score was 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. Fellow American Mardy Fish also won and he will play Roddick in the Quarters. Serena Williams also beat probably the most in-form player on the tour in Jelena Jankovic in straight sets. I actually think she will win the tournament now, or at the very least make the final. The biggest upset came this morning as unseeded Czech Lucie Safarova beat World No.1 Amelie Mauresmo in straight sets. It was a brilliant performance from the talented 19 year old and she will now face 17 year old Nicole Vaidisova. Tonight young Serbian Novak Djokovic will play Federer in what promises to be a very interesting match. Djokovic is extremely talented, has nothing to lose and I expect a very tight affair.

Just back from Melbourne and I had a great week watching the tennis and saw some top notch matches. The Roddick-Safin game was a beauty, probably the match of the tournament to this point. It was far too good for a 3rd Round match that’s for sure. Roddick was extremely impressive as Safin threw all he had at him but Andy just kept responding. He has improved out of sight under the guidance of Connors. Hewitt just lost tonight, as did Alicia Molik so there are no Australians remaining in the tournament. We are in a terrible patch right now and there’s not a lot coming through the ranks. Good to see my predictions of Berdych and Peer are both still alive and looking good. I saw both of Berdych’s matches and he’s in top form. James Blake is also playing exceptionally well and is my tip to reach the final.

Ericsson scored a goal last night and was awarded the 1st Star in the Griffins 3-2 win.

Lost 106-89. Ben Wallace had a huge game. Here's the recent play of Delfino: v NYK: 16 pts, 3 rbs. v IND: 9 pts, 7 rbs. v PHX: 11 pts, 7 rbs v NOK: 13 pts, 5 rbs v CHI: 10 pts, 7 rbs. Last 5 games he's averaging 11.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg.

Not sure unfortunately. In tonight’s game Ericsson had 2 assists and was +1. He assisted on the GWG. He now has 20 points in 35 games.

I was looking at the standings today and I just realised the state of that division. Just appalling; not one team deserves to make the playoffs. Good to see the bench still getting heavy minutes, I wonder what suddenly changed a few weeks back? Maybe Dumars had a word to Saunders because it’s been a complete reversal. Delfino has averaged over 12 points and 5 rebounds over the past 4 games, that’s great stuff off the bench. Hopefully he isn’t traded because I feel he’s a big part of the future.

Another assist to Ericsson tonight and he was also +2. He is a +12 for the season which is outstanding considering the majority of the team has a – rating and the next best is +8. His stats are also a lot more impressive that the much more hyped Kyle Quincey. Ericsson has 18 points and is +12, while Quincey has 13 points and is -9. What a season for the rookie.

Another assist to Ericsson in the Griffins latest outing which makes 17 points in 33 games. Link