al48

This is joke, yes?

There's no way Lombardi takes a trade unless high draft picks or high prospects are factored in. He'll want, and most likely get, a first rounder plus for him.

If defensemen are all victims of the team they're playing on, then why is Modry, someone who you'd expect to suck under a bad team, playing well in LA this year? Modry is flat even on the season...playing on the Kings. So, what's with Blake?

Oh, and for the physical game. Lilja: 75 hits Blake: 43 hits Lilja: 19 giveaways Blake:20 giveaways Lilja:10 takeaways Blake: 9 takeaways Lilja: 57 blocked shots Blake:79 blocked shots (hey, he's beating Lilja in a stat)

Have you not watched a single Kings game this year? Go watch one, watch Blake's slow ass let forwards walk in on him, watch Blake stand around while forwards chip away at loose pucks around the goalie time and time again...two, three, four pokes. A washed up Blake is not better than Lilja...sorry. Lilja may make mistakes at times, but he's more solid defensively than Blake is right now.

That raises and interesting question. Is Datsook better than Datsyuk? Is Hasek better than Hassick? Is Flipewla better than Filpulla? And is Hoodler a better scorer than Hudler? How about that guy Kopecki...I hear he's dominant.

I can't say I would. First, it's not going to happen, because Lombardi wants prospects and/or draft picks. The guy is all about building for the "future". Who are you going to give up for a worthless Blake considering that this team is winning? Are you going to give up picks? You gonna give up a Hudler for a washed up Blake? Seriously. He's not good anymore. His offensive output sucks, his defense sucks, and the Wings are winning. EDIT: also, Blake is ranked 16th on the Kings in Plus/Minus with a minus 8

I don't know...Have you watched him play much this year? He's pretty damn bad. I watch the Kings a lot, because I live in LA and my gf is a huge Kings fan. He's just so terrible around his own net this past couple years. It seems like he just stands there. There's a reason the Kings suck, and it starts with their terrible defense, led by Blake. EDIT: all that said, he did lay out Corey Perry pretty good this year.

The Irate One

Eh, nobody is as bad as the Ducks announcers. They take the homer cake. The other night, I learned that Pronger actually invented defense.

Listen, I can't stand Jackman as much as the next person, but I don't think it's appropriate to be cheering or be excited to see potentially career ending injuries. Now, Jackman's concussion most likely isn't career threatening, but it's just not right. You'd all be crying bloody hell if this happened to someone on the Wings.

Speaking of Festivus. Did anyone catch the Kings-Columbus game with that easily 400lb man dancing with his shirt off with the words "Happy Festivus" written on his bellay? Disturbing.

Yet, there have only been about 3 local hockey games in the LA area broadcast in HD this year. A leap in the Slow Motion arena, but it just must have sent them over-budget for those HD cameras.....

Here

This should explain everything you need to know. And this should shed some light on where we stand league wide. It's foolish to overlook how these stats stand out. Oh, and who says we don't need an enforcer? Look at where we stand on hits

It's very easy to not blame a goalie for things a defenseman should have prevented. But great goalies, who are on top of their game, make the saves that bail their defensemen out of those situations. It goes both ways.

This organization needs more dumb-dumbs to go to games....the type that scream every time the puck is brought in over the blue line.

Mostly correct, but after November 1st it goes by current rankings in the league and the team that claims the player is responsible for the full amount of the contract minus salary already paid.

Yeah, it sucks and doesn't suck. I mean, it would be nice to have a good, solid goaltender like him, but I don't know if it's entirely necessary. Hasek/Osgood is pretty seasoned. Plus, Bryzgalov is a FA after this year anyway and will probably get a good raise if he shows he's worthy But, on the trading terms. I don't know if I'm entirely correct in what I said. The CBA is a little vague on this "13.20 (b) A Player who has been acquired by Waiver claim shall not be Traded to another Club until the termination of the Playoffs of the season in which he was acquired unless he is first offered on the same terms to the Club(s) that entered a claim when Waivers were requested originally and the offer has been refused." I don't know if that means terms as in the trade terms or the waiver terms. But, I can't imagine two clubs could ever offer the same trade terms, so that doesn't make sense. I need a CBA expert to clarify it.

Unfortunately it's not that simple. A team can't trade a player they claimed off waivers without first having him pass, unclaimed, through every other club that files a claim for him. That would leave us in the same position we're in now. It's senseless talking about it really, because it's just not going to happen.

I don't think people are saying it's a bad move so much as people are kind of surprised he let him go for nothing.

Agreed, though he did need him at the beginning of the season with Giguere out. I'm just surprised he's in such a "hurry" to take care of this that he'd let him go to waivers. Seems like he could have gotten something/anything in return if he just waited it out a little longer. Hell, take a second, third, or fourth pick if you have to. Anything equals more "value" than nothing. If this is a move to get SN back in the lineup, why couldn't he have just waited a week or two until any offer came in? Something's just odd (maybe stupid) about him doing it this way. It goes in order of last place up. As of now, the Kings would be ninth in order if every team below them tried to claim him.

That seems like a bigger slap in the face to him. That's essentially saying "You're not of value so we're going to let you go to the worst team in the bidding to claim you off waivers". It's just Burke's way of making sure he doesn't go to a decent team he could help improve come playoff time.

I can't imagine that the Wings would stand a chance in hell of claiming him. My feeling is there are going to be many clubs interested, and with the Wings record, they'd be way out of the running.

? Not even going to try to get a pick for him? Sounds like they're planning on a big salary coming back.