North Guy

Friday: Buffalo @ New Jersey Boston @ Carolina Montreal @ Florida San Jose @ St Louis Saturday: Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay Los Angeles @ Colorado NY Rangers @ Toronto Washington @ Ottawa New Jersey @ NY Islanders Boston @ Atlanta Carolina @ Columbus Buffalo @ Pittsburgh San Jose @ Nashville Edmonton @ Minnesota Detroit @ Phoenix St Louis @ Dallas Anaheim @ Calgary Sunday: Philadelphia @ Florida Los Angeles @ Chicago Montreal @ NY Rangers Anaheim @ Vancouver

Friday: Los Angeles @ Columbus Philadelphia @ Buffalo NY Islanders @ Pittsburgh NY Rangers @ Colorado New Jersey @ Edmonton Dallas @ Calgary Saturday: St Louis @ Boston Chicago @ Ottawa Washington @ NY Islanders Buffalo @ Philadelphia Montreal @ Atlanta Toronto @ Florida Carolina @ Tampa Bay Los Angeles @ Nashville Detroit @ Minnesota Vancouver @ Phoenix Anaheim @ San Jose Sunday: Boston @ Pittsburgh Nashville @ Columbus Atlanta @ St Louis Edmonton @ Chicago Ottawa @ NY Rangers Vancouver @ Colorado New Jersey @ Calgary Montreal @ Dallas

Friday: Buffalo @ Washington Calgary @ Carolina Toronto @ Atlanta Minnesota @ Anaheim Saturday: Phoenix @ New Jersey Dallas @ San Jose Columbus @ Boston Chicago @ Buffalo Toronto @ Montreal Atlanta @ Ottawa Pittsburgh @ NY Islanders Carolina @ Philadelphia Florida @ Detroit Washington @ Tampa Bay Nashville @ Colorado Vancouver @ Edmonton Minnesota @ Los Angeles Sunday: Philadelphia @ New Jersey Phoenix @ NY Rangers Calgary @ St Louis Florida @ Chicago San Jose @ Anaheim

Friday: Washington @ New Jersey NY Rangers @ Atlanta NY Islanders @ Florida Minnesota @ Detroit Anaheim @ Chicago Ottawa @ Dallas Philadelphia @ Colorado St Louis @ Edmonton San Jose @ Phoenix Saturday: Boston @ Toronto Carolina @ Montreal Atlanta @ Washington Minnesota @ Columbus NY Islanders @ Tampa Bay Anaheim @ Nashville Pittsburgh @ Vancouver Phoenix @ Los Angeles Buffalo @ San Jose Sunday: New Jersey @ NY Rangers Carolina @ Detroit Calgary @ Chicago St Louis @ Colorado

Big deal! I got 7 for 7 on this Friday night!!!! I picked all of the home teams to win tonight and they came through.

Friday: Montreal @ New Jersey Washington @ Carolina Dallas @ Pittsburgh St Louis @ Minnesota Phoenix @ Chicago Anaheim @ Edmonton Colorado @ San Jose Saturday: NY Rangers @ Ottawa Carolina @ Buffalo Pittsburgh @ Toronto Nashville @ Montreal Atlanta @ NY Islanders Dallas @ Philadelphia Washington @ Florida Phoenix @ Detroit Boston @ Tampa Bay Chicago @ St Louis Columbus @ Calgary Colorado @ Los Angeles Sunday: Atlanta @ New Jersey Vancouver @ Minnesota Edmonton @ Anaheim

Friday: NY Islanders @ Boston Washington @ Philadelphia Columbus @ Minnesota Phoenix @ Anaheim Tampa Bay @ Carolina Montreal @ Buffalo New Jersey @ Atlanta NY Rangers @ Florida Vancouver @ St Louis Toronto @ Dallas Saturday: Toronto @ Phoenix Calgary @ Colorado Buffalo @ Montreal Philadelphia @ Ottawa Boston @ NY Islanders Carolina @ Washington Detroit @ Columbus Atlanta @ Pittsburgh New Jersey @ Tampa Bay Minnesota @ Nashville Chicago @ Edmonton Los Angeles @ San Jose Sunday: Dallas @ NY Rangers Calgary @ St Louis Los Angeles @ Anaheim Chicago @ Vancouver

Friday: NY Islanders @ New Jersey Atlanta @ Carolina Montreal @ Buffalo Washington @ Tampa Bay Columbus @ St Louis Colorado @ Dallas Minnesota @ Vancouver Saturday: Phoenix @ Los Angeles Ottawa @ Toronto Boston @ Montreal New Jersey @ Philadelphia Florida @ Carolina Chicago @ Detroit NY Rangers @ Pittsburgh St Louis @ Nashville Calgary @ Edmonton Anaheim @ San Jose Sunday: Detroit @ Columbus Colorado @ Minnesota Calgary @ Vancouver

Friday: Toronto @ Buffalo Atlanta @ Florida Columbus @ Detroit St Louis @ Chicago Colorado @ Vancouver San Jose @ Anaheim Saturday: Montreal @ Ottawa Buffalo @ Boston NY Rangers @ Toronto New Jersey @ NY Islanders Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia Tampa Bay @ Washington Carolina @ Atlanta Columbus @ Nashville Edmonton @ Calgary Dallas @ Los Angeles Phoenix @ San Jose Sunday: Detroit @ Chicago Minnesota @ Colorado

Friday: Toronto @ New Jersey Philadelphia @ Washington Florida @ Buffalo Phoenix @ Dallas Nashville @ Edmonton Los Angeles @ San Jose Saturday: Toronto @ Montreal Boston @ Ottawa Pittsburgh @ NY Islanders New Jersey @ NY Rangers Florida @ Carolina Atlanta @ Tampa Bay Calgary @ Minnesota Chicago @ St Louis Anaheim @ Phoenix Vancouver @ Colorado San Jose @ Los Angeles Sunday: St Louis @ Columbus Nashville @ Chicago Ottawa @ Boston

Friday: Vancouver @ Washington Montreal @ Carolina Buffalo @ Florida San Jose @ Detroit Colorado @ Calgary Saturday: Philadelphia @ Boston San Jose @ Columbus Ottawa @ New Jersey Carolina @ NY Islanders Toronto @ NY Rangers Montreal @ Pittsburgh Buffalo @ Tampa Bay Florida @ Nashville Atlanta @ Chicago Washington @ St Louis Dallas @ Phoenix Edmonton @ Los Angeles Sunday: Minnesota @ Colorado Edmonton @ Anaheim Detroit @ Vancouver

Friday: Columbus @ Buffalo Carolina @ Pittsburgh Colorado @ Chicago Los Angeles @ Vancouver Saturday: NY Rangers @ Boston Chicago @ Toronto Buffalo @ Montreal Florida @ Ottawa New Jersey @ NY Islanders Carolina @ Philadelphia Pittsburgh @ Washington Atlanta @ Tampa Bay Anaheim @ Dallas Minnesota @ St Louis Detroit @ Phoenix Edmonton @ Calgary Nashville @ San Jose Sunday: Vancouver @ Columbus Colorado @ Minnesota

Did any of you hear about the Avalanche vs. Flames game last night? Ryan Smyth scored two goals in regulation time. Then he scored one in the shootout, which eventually ended up being the winner. When Smyth scored the shootout goal the Colorado fans threw hats on the ice. So there was a delay to clear the ice since there were more shooters. Roger Millions & John Garrett were doing the Flames TV ply-by-play. Garrett & Millions used this to insinuate that the fans in this American market obviously didn't know that this is not a "real" hat trick and that it is "no wonder hockey is struggling in the US". The Dumb Avalanche Fans Hat Trick = Two goals in regulation and one goal in the shootout

Friday: Washington @ NY Rangers Chicago @ Detroit Colorado @ St Louis Calgary @ Dallas Vancouver @ Edmonton Boston @ Los Angeles Saturday: Washington @ Buffalo Pittsburgh @ Toronto Carolina @ Montreal Ottawa @ NY Rangers NY Islanders @ Philadelphia New Jersey @ Atlanta Tampa Bay @ Florida Calgary @ Nashville Dallas @ Chicago Columbus @ Colorado Edmonton @ Vancouver Minnesota @ Phoenix Boston @ San Jose Sunday: Minnesota @ Anaheim Detroit @ Los Angeles

Friday: Pittsburgh @ Carolina Anaheim @ Columbus NY Islanders @ Buffalo Washington @ Atlanta Boston @ Dallas San Jose @ Vancouver Saturday: Montreal @ Toronto NY Rangers @ Ottawa Buffalo @ NY Islanders Carolina @ Washington New Jersey @ Florida Anaheim @ Pittsburgh Atlanta @ Tampa Bay Philadelphia @ Edmonton Dallas @ Nashville Columbus @ Minnesota Detroit @ Chicago Boston @ Phoenix Vancouver @ Calgary St.Louis @ Los Angeles Sunday: San Jose @ Colorado

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...ortsHockey/home Naslund reaches out to old pal Forsberg ERIC DUHATSCHEK From Friday's Globe and Mail August 16, 2007 at 9:04 PM EDT VANCOUVER  First, the good news on the status of Peter Forsberg, the most coveted free agent still on the open market: Forsberg apparently is healing well from the latest round of surgery he had on his problematic ankles back in June. He played two charity exhibition games in early August in Sweden and apparently came through reasonably pleased with how his foot responded. However, Forsberg has been deliberately non-committal about his future, playing his cards close to the vest, even from close friends such as Markus Naslund of the Vancouver Canucks. Naslund yesterday told the Vancouver radio station CKNW that he's trying to coax Forsberg into returning to the NHL and to join the Canucks this season  a move that would reunite the two former junior stars from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. According to Swedish ice hockey sources, a number of NHL teams have made inquiries about Forsberg's health, but have not received any indication as to what he plans to do in the coming season. The most pressing issue remains his health. Forsberg was adamant when the 2006-07 season ended that he would not sign a contract with any team  in Sweden or the NHL  until he could be certain his troublesome ankle would stand up to the rigours of a full season. Forsberg was limited to only 57 games last season, split between the Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators, as he sought a skate that would properly support his surgically repaired ankles, with only fair-to-middling results. Naslund repeated to CKNW what he told reporters in Sweden: that he's lobbying Forsberg to come play in Vancouver, which has a heavy concentration of Swedish players, including the Sedin twins, who are also from his hometown. "I'm sure there is lots of interest in [Forsberg]," Naslund said. "We'll see where he ends up. I think his main focus right now is trying to get healthy with his foot and after that he'll make a decision." Forsberg is an unrestricted free agent and those close to him suggest that a priority, if he decides to play, is the chance to compete for another Stanley Cup. The Canucks represent a possible destination, although they may run into salary-cap issues in trying to get him signed. A more intriguing destination might be his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, which missed the playoffs last season, but were the NHL's hottest team over the final quarter of the season and signed two significant free agents, left winger Ryan Smyth and defenceman Scott Hannan, in the summer. The Avalanche would have less difficulty than the Canucks or the Ottawa Senators, another rumoured suitor, in fitting Forsberg's contract into their payroll. The 12-year NHL veteran has scored 871 points (248 goals) in 697 regular-season games. In addition to two Stanley Cup titles with Colorado, Forsberg has won the 1995 Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie and the 2003 Hart Trophy (league MVP) and 2003 Art Ross Trophy (top scorer).

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...7d-3804b1c127b0 from Friday's Edmonton Journal... But Burke says he knew as soon as the offer sheet was faxed to his office that he probably wouldn't match. He let the week's grace period run to the end, in large part, because he had a few trade offers to try and alleviate his salary-cap problem. ....With the added salaries, plus not knowing if Niedermayer and Selanne were going to return, Burke admitted it left the Ducks open to an offer sheet. Schneider and Bertuzzi were targets for trade requests. "Could I have traded one of those two players and created cap room? Yes. Would that have been an unfair tactic after they agreed to come to our team? Yes. So we didn't do it," Burke said. "We're going to take the three draft picks (first, second and third-rounders) next June and with Kevin's recent record, II expect them to be excellent picks," fired Burke, obviously referring to the Oilers missing the playoffs last spring. So the question arises, who was the subject of trade talks, Bertuzzi or Schneider? And which teams were interested? Perhaps a deal down the road?

Hello? The sentence I highlighted in bold-type is what hockey fans, insiders, and pundits say when describing Ryan Smyth. He is not known for his speed, shot, or playmaking...he is infamous as the guy who does all of his work and receive all of his punishment in front of the goalie, thus Mr. Garbage Goals. Or to put it another way when you watched hockey games how many times have you heard the TV commentator say "Holmstrom is like a Swedish Ryan Smyth" or "Holmstrom's style is like Ryan Smyth"? Have you heard anyone say "Ryan Smyth plays like Holmstrom"? p.s. Nothing against Holmstrom but has Holmstrom gotten three teeth knocked out by an errant puck and came back to set up an overtime goal in the playoffs?

A few of you have mentioned how great is Holmstrom's work ethic. But come on, Smyth is known around the league as one of the hardest workers in the league. He plays every shift like it's his last.

Here is one from Sun Media... MARTIN BRODEUR The New Jersey netminder's record of 48 regular-season wins, set last season, deserves at least a couple of asterisks. First, it was set in an 82-game season -- giving him four more opportunities than Philadelphia's Bernie Parent had when he won 47 games in the 1973-74 campaign. And second, his win total was bolstered by the introduction of the shootout last year, which made ties a thing of the past. Parent was between the pipes for 12 draws during his record season ... his dominant Flyers team would have won at least half of those games if a shootout had been in effect.

If a player files for arbitration, other teams cannot tender an offer sheet. But yeah, I agree with your points about locking up your bright, young players long-term before they become RFAs. One thing for some of you people who dislike Lowe's tactics.... he had the ability to make an offer sheet for Penner. He stockpiled a lot of draft picks so giving up a 1st, 2nd and 3rd Round pick for Penner is peanuts (unless the Oilers finish in the bottom 6 again!). Suppose no offer was made and Burke decided to deal Penner? What do you think Burke would want in return? Probably a 1st round pick and a 2nd or 3rd line forward at the very least. But with the Oilers tendering an offer sheet, they'll still give up a 1st rounder yet not lose anyone off their roster. If you are worried this is open-season for GMs to raid young prospects from other teams just look at the compensation chart: The compensation scale for signing restricted free agents is: $773,442 or below, none; $773,442-$1,171,882, third-round pick $1,171,882-$2,343,765, second-round pick $2,343,765-$3,515,647, first- and third-round picks $3,515,647-$4,687,530, first-, second- and third-round picks $4,687,530-$5,859,412, two first-, one second- and one third-round pick $5,859,412-plus, four first-round picks. So GMs with half a brain would know by the quality of their player what their market value will be in the next 2-4 years. If you have a 20 year old prospect who has not cracked the regular line-up then offer him a 1M/year two year deal. But if you have Jordan Staal then lock him up for 5 years at 3.75M/year. And if for some reason your star, elite player becomes a RFA, how many teams would be willing to give up four 1st Round picks to snag him off your team? p.s. I don't think we will see too many teams offering a 1st Round pick for a rental player (Guerin, Tkachuk) at the trade deadline anymore. Those 1st Round picks are more valuable to get an RFA.

Anyone who knows anything about hockey doesn't look at Howe playing six decades (by signing a one-game contract at age 69) as his legacy. The fact that Gordie Howe played one NHL season at age 51, and still competitively, makes it one of his greatest achievements. If the writer needed a hockey reference for his Tainted List, he should have mentioned the Brett Hull skate-in-the-crease Stanley Cup winning goal for the Dallas Stars.

There are too many variables to make an accurate comparison. Larry Murphy got the bulk of his career points playing for the Penguins in the early 1990s. Back then the scores were 7-5 and he got to play with Lemieux and Jagr. Rafalski could be a late bloomer because he started his professional career playing in Finland. When he made it to the NHL he played for the defence-first New Jersey Devils. The last 6 seasons in NJ, Rafalski scored over 50pts. twice and 40pts three times (he had 36pts. the year he only played 69 games). Remember too that Scott Niedermayer and Scott Stevens ate up most of the ice time for Jersey defencemen during those years. The last two seasons Rafalski played all 82 games, so he is durable (unlike other Detroit defencemen not named Lidstrom). Now just imagine him next season when he no longer has a leash around his skate blades? 65 points career year?

So why are the Dallas Cowboys considered America's Team? They've been crappy since Troy Aikman retired.

But if the New York Rangers become a force (from signing those dudes) then they will become America's team in the NHL.