Tane

Already about halfway done the book. I'm going to HIGHLY recommend this book to Any Red Wing Fan. A lot of inside/behind the scenes stories. I'll throw down a little exerpt from it. Back Story Mike Ilitch's House Party After the 1987 season (Making the Final 4 1 year after finishing last in 86) Jimmy D's Original 4 year contract was up after 1986, so, After finishing dead last, Illitch gave him a 2 year extensionwith a minimal raise. Jimmy D was tahnkful to even have that.... So, At the Party, Ilitch Hands out Cheques to every player for $13,500, matching The League Bonus that the NHL gives out for making the final 4. "NHL owners just didn't do things like that in thise days. This was in an era before escalating salaries, so a $13,500 cheque was a lot of money. So imagine how that went over with the players who got the cheques-and with the rest of the players in the NHL when they heard about it. I got an envelope as well. And I deeply, deeply appreciated it. I thanked Mike, slipped the envelope into my suit pocket. I felt it woulnd't be appropriate to open it just then, and then I'd have a look at it when I got home. Curiosity got the better of me. I headed off to the bathroom at some point and I ripped open the envelope, expecting a nice cheque to thank me for my efforts. It was a Cheque all right, but with a note written on it for me. It was a new 3 year contract promise from Mike and the amount on the cheque was left blank-he had left instructions for me to fill it in. In other words, my "bonus" for my part in taking the team to the final four was a new contract and I could name my Price. Mike was really, really delighted and very proud at what we had accomplished. I know everybody around here already has a Boner for Ilitch, But stories like these give teeth to the statement that he's the greatest owner in sports. Jimmy D's book is a great read so far, and it's pretty cool getting into the inner workings of the Red wings From 1982 on.

Woot woot.....I'm liking What Drew Miller's giving us

It's my New Facebook Profile Pic.

Spezza's a ****** Bag. If anyone deserves to get hurt, it's him.

Your Prize is 1 Brian Lawton.

Yes. I did. Played for Bellevile?

5-3 Edmonton.... Over.... And I started Sending Magic at 3-1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrETzsTO3JY there you go.

That song was in the Soundtrack For NHL 2k9. It's been getting played at all times in every arena.....it's like the new theme song for Hockey.

WOW!!!.....They got that Magic too.. 4-3 Edmonton, 6 Minutes left to play. I didn't know it was that easy to influence a game.

3-3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sending More Magic Over To Edmonton...hope they Can handle it all

HEY!!!! They got it..... 3-2 Brule just got his 2nd goal....I just dropped him Yesterday in Fantasy.

Stlouis up 3-1 in the 3rd. Let's Send Some Magic Over to Edmonton

Snake Bit. We Needed This Point.

45 seconds to play...... (how is that a Full comment?) Anyway, I like How Leino's played tonight.

I'd love it. Cut out 6+ teams. Go Back and Rename Conferences after Hockey people again. I'd like to see a league like this Adams Division Montreal Boston Buffalo Quebec Hartford Ottawa Patrick Division Pittsburgh Philadelphia Washington New York Rangers New York Islanders New Jersey Devils Norris Division Detroit Toronto Chicago St.Louis Minnesota (North Stars) Smythe Edmonton Calgary Vancouver Los Angeles Winnipeg If you want to Balance out the conferences, you Could Add San Jose and Columbus. But I'd Take My NHL Just like that.

Germany And Swiss I've found, for the last 20 years have been relevant in International History. Why Not Norway? Because I was unaware of the Popularity of Norweigian Hockey. I've never been To Norway. I don't know anybody From Norway. For all I know, Norway could be Hockey Crazed, and Deserve a Team in My Fictional Global Hockey League. Why Did Ottawa Get Cut? Because I Mis-counted. Out with London, Back in with Ottawa. This was Kind of a Spur of the Moment idea. Why 12 teams in Canada? Because We're Starting with a League that's already Based Partly in Canada. Because We're eliminating the US, and the only other options on this side of the pond is Mexico and under. You could put an NHL team anywhere in Canada, Charge whatever you wabnt for tickets, and they'd sell out. If this league was popular Globally, It would be Huge Profits for Everyone. You'd have to go 12 and 12, or 15 and 15. I wouldn't expect teams to have to Travel Back and Forth From North America to Europe For Regular Season Games. Only the Stanley Cup Championship. That's why Canada gets 12. I dont' know a Ton about Euro Hockey. I see teams During the World Juniors, the Olympics and sometimes I'll watch a World Championship. That's it. If there's someone from Europe that REally cares that Much about this little Fantasy league, and could Restructure the 12 Euro Teams, Go ahead. You'll Notice I didn't name Cities. I don't know that Much about Europe to give out 3-4-5 Different Russian Cities. I don't even know If Hockey Is Huge All the Way Across Russia, the way it is in Canada, or Just certain Pockets of Russia. The Whole Point of this was To counter the statement that Without the US, Hockey/NHL Would Crumble and Die. I think if you reworked the NHL to something like this, It would be Huge globally. If I were To Make a Truely Global League, US included, IT would Look Like this. Gretzky Division Calgary Edmonton Toronto Montreal Vancouver Ottawa Charlie Conway Division Minnesota Detroit Boston New York (Rangers) Chicago Philadelphia Either Way, I'm gonna Start the Global League On yahoo, when Mid season Registration Starts. I'll have the North American League Probably with Canadian and US Divisions. And I'll HAve the Euro League, and if anybody here wants in, If you're European, or just have a Much Better Knowledge of Europe, they Could Restructure the Euro conference.

Imagine Hockey without the US. I actually think it would THRIVE. Gretzky Division Calgary Edmonton Vancouver Victoria Saskatoon Winnipeg Howe Division Toronto Montreal Quebec City Hamilton Halifax London Tretiak Division 3 Teams From Russia (I don't know enough Top cities to make good suggestions) 2 Czech (Prague) 1 Slovak Salming Division 2 Sweden 2 Finland 1 Swiss 1 Germany Players Are Drafted/Signed/Traded Back and Forth, the Only time teams will play against each other Would be in the Stanley Cup Finals. This actually's got me thinking about Fantasy Hockey....... What If I set up 2 leagues of 12, each with the Two Divisions listed above. Would there be enough interest to get a couple leagues going? Maybe in order to keep players Separate, The Euro Teams can only play with Euro Players, and the Canadian Teams can only play with North American players. I would need at least 12 guys (control 1 team in each league) Or If people want to, I could take up to 24 different Managers. We'd Have to wait until Midseason and play a Half Season. The Way the Championship would have to work, is, Since they're 2 Separate Leagues, There would be a final Four weekend. Out Of the Four teams that make it to the championship The Team with the Highest Score, wins the Stanley Cup. The Team that wins the Other League Gets the Gold Medal, Then the next highest Score gets Silver, last place Gets Bronze. Start Full Rosters of 4 C, 4 LW, 4 RW, 6D, 1G with Max Bench spots. Head to Head, Set Rosters Once Per week (Will Simulate playing with a Real Roster in a Real Game) Dynasty League. Your Team is your team. I'd assign "Keeper Costs" to each Player (Reflecting their Actual Salaries) I'll either Commish both leagues, Or if someone else wants to, They Can commish the Other League. I'm liking the Idea, Who's in?

I'm willing to Bet the Curling comment was a joke...... But It's actually Pretty big up here....Especially in The Western Provinces. The biggest Canadian Hockey Cities Are no doubt Toronto and Montreal. But, Really, Every City in Canada Is Hockey Mad.

This is what people around the world think of americans. 1.Canada 2. Russia 3. Sweden 4. Czech REpublic 5. SLovakia 6. Finland 7. USA As a Country, Americans don't care about hockey. I don't even think it's number 4. Football, College Football, Baseball, Basketball, NASCAR, Golf, College Basketball, High School football, High School Track and Field Go Down to Texas. Ask someone the Local high School Football standings. Then ask them the NHL Standings I was Down there, recently. The Good High School teams Have waiting lists for season tickets. you can walk up to any Stars game, and get in just fine. But you've gotta work/get lucky to get tickets to a high school game.

Is It Time For Lidstrom To Retire? Was looking at making this a separate thread but, It fits here. He's Gettign old. He's already expressed Desire to return home. It looks like the Red wings are going to need to rebuild/restock in order to make another serious run at the cup. what else does he have left to do over here in the NHL? He's already a 1st Ballot Hall Of famer. He's already considered the 2nd best D-man of all time behind Orr (and there's really nothing he can do at this point to surpass Orr) His Number Is going heading to the Rafters the Year after he's done playing. Not to Mention (From wiki) Awards Won a World Championship gold medal with Sweden in 1991. Named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1992. Won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008. Selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009*. Named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2009. Awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2002. Won an Olympic gold medal with Sweden in 2006. Became member of Triple Gold Club with Olympic win. Named to the Olympic All-Star Team in 2006. Won the Viking Award in 2000 and 2006 *did not attend Records First European player in NHL awarded the Norris Trophy (2000–01). First European player in NHL awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy (2001–02). Fourth defenceman in NHL to win James Norris Memorial Trophy three consecutive times (2001–2003, 2006–2008). Third defenceman in NHL to win James Norris Memorial Trophy six times. Detroit Red Wings' franchise record for points in a season for a defenceman, 2005–06 (80). Detroit Red Wings' franchise record for most post season assists (119). Detroit Red Wings' franchise record for most post season games played (235). NHL's 45th player (9th defenceman) to achieve 700 career assists (2007–08). First captain born and trained in Europe to win the Stanley Cup (2008). First European-born defenceman to reach 1000 points (2009). Seriously. He'll Get one More Tournament in the Olympics this season. What else does he really need to play for? 5 cups instead of 4? a 7th Norris (doesn't look like his play is at that caliber anymore) Not to mention the Knee and Elbow Injuries. I love nik, but, it may be time for him to move on, Take his place in the Hall, in the Rafters, and on the All time NHL Starting Line up next To Orr. Best Foreigner Ever, Player of the Decade. What's left?

Do it.

For some Reason, this idea was running through my Head the other day. What if the New York Yankees (Steinbrenner) Bought the New York Islanders, and Renamed them the New York Yankees? Either Pinstriped Socks, or Whit Socks with A BLue Stripe Blue Pants Pin Striped white Jersey? Or Even A White Jersey With A Modified Yankees Logo Blue Gloves. And then I thought Further, What if They Also Bought the Buffalo Bills? And renamed them The New York Yankees? And why Stop there?. Buy the New Jersey Nets, Move them to the Bronx and Rename them....Get this..... The California Golden Seals. I mean, The New york Yankees? I think It would Work. I think Branding a Name like the Yankees across all 4 sports Would Be a win win win win situation. It works For college teams, Why couldn't it work for the Pros? I don't think Every Team should Do it. Maybe the Maple Leafs could do it in Toronto. The Raptors only have about a 10 year History. The blue Jays are loved, But I think the City would be on board for More Maple Leafs. I'm not sure you could alter the CFL's Argonauts, But the Big 3 could Do it. Definitely Couldn't do it in Detroit. The Lions, Wings and Tigers all have their own Historic Brand. You can't mess with it.

Dont' think he's First Ballot. He might be, it'll depend on the class of candidates. I think he'll make his way into the hall, but If it was a list of candidates like this year, he wouldn't have cracked the top 4. Sundin Will be in that class, I put him in Over Shanny. Forsberg might be up as well. I'd put him in over Shanny. It'll depend on the class.

Gretzky Bourque Howe was Retired by Hartford, But Carolina Has it Back in Circulation Bobby Hull was Retired by Winnipeg and Chicago, I believe, But he was only in Winnepeg in the WHL Roy Messier I really Don't think MacInnis Has Been Retired By the Flames. I'm pretty sure the only numbers from that team Were Lanny McDonald, And Mike Vernon. I could be wrong. But I'd go with the Above list as my final 6 Hey, Does anybody know of a site where I can pay sports bets? Maybe one where I'm given free money and can cash out at 20$ with no strings attached? I mean I think I know sports and everything.....I just wish someone would make this easy for me. Let me know the name of a site, and maybe provide a link. Ah well.