the hockey thread

[.Walt]

Yeah Jaimoe, I just trying to keep the clubhouse loose.  ;)

But come on, can you think of a more Canadian state?

Than Nova Scotia? Yes I can: Ontario, or Alberta (oil, conservative, Calgary Stampede, home of right-wing PM Stephen Harper). Nova Scotia is pretty Canadian through and through, and a fine place to visit and/or live.

No, I was talking about Minnesota being the most Canadian state there is. I'm proud of that.

It wasn't when Jesse The Body was in charge. I've always thought Maine or Upper New York State was the most Canadian, but then again, I'm from east/central Canada. Northern Michigan gets pretty hoser-like too.

I think having Jesse  in charge was Canadian like. Don't think if one of the Hart's ran for office in Calgary they wouldn't win, because they would. Most fishing, most hockey, most appreciation of winter, the way we talk, Scandinavian heritage, and overall friendly people. You can't go off regions of states, because it's not the whole entire state. No doubt it gets pretty Canadian in the U.P. of Michigan, but that's pretty much it. Detroit has to much of a footprint in American history to be considered. At Bonnaroo some Detroit folks were drinking Labatt Blue, and people from the South never even heard of Labatt. We were shocked, and talked about our love of Canada. They didn't get it.

[Jaimoe]

Yeah Jaimoe, I just trying to keep the clubhouse loose.  ;)

But come on, can you think of a more Canadian state?

Than Nova Scotia? Yes I can: Ontario, or Alberta (oil, conservative, Calgary Stampede, home of right-wing PM Stephen Harper). Nova Scotia is pretty Canadian through and through, and a fine place to visit and/or live.

No, I was talking about Minnesota being the most Canadian state there is. I'm proud of that.

It wasn't when Jesse The Body was in charge. I've always thought Maine or Upper New York State was the most Canadian, but then again, I'm from east/central Canada. Northern Michigan gets pretty hoser-like too.

I think having Jesse  in charge was Canadian like. Don't think if one of the Hart's ran for office in Calgary they wouldn't win, because they would. Most fishing, most hockey, most appreciation of winter, the way we talk, Scandinavian heritage, and overall friendly people. You can't go off regions of states, because it's not the whole entire state. No doubt it gets pretty Canadian in the U.P. of Michigan, but that's pretty much it. Detroit has to much of a footprint in American history to be considered. At Bonnaroo some Detroit folks were drinking Labatt Blue, and people from the South never even heard of Labatt. We were shocked, and talked about our love of Canada. They didn't get it.

I know that in Maine, some towns literally are divided down the middle with the Canda-US border, sometimes right through a house. And there's a BIG difference between the Soo Canada and Sault St. Marie, US. But I've only heard that upper Michigan is fairly Canadian influenced, at least moreso than most US border states - Detroit is a disaster and nothing like Windsor. Yes, I've felt that Minnesota feels the most Canadian of US states - at least the most western Canadian. Many parts of Ontario are similar to Minnesota - we have around 1/4 million lakes, the mid to north of the province gets freezing cold, lots of moose, black bears, wolves, some cougars (both two and four-legged) etc...

[Jbones72]

Congratulations to Brian Leetch making the HOF!!!

[capt. scotty]

The badass, Billy Guerin, signs a 1 year, $2million contract to stay with the Pens, $2.5million less than he was making last year.

I absolutely LOVE this. Its only 1 year, which is what I wanted, and no way you get sign a guy better than Guerin for that price. What a bargain.

[capt. scotty]

Nothing too surprising on Day 1 of FA.

With Chicago adding Hossa, I wouldnt be surprised to see them in the SCF next year, although they did lose the Bulin wall. Washington still has their defensive and goaltending holes, but adding Mike Knuble really bolsters their PP and 1 of their top 2 lines, and if their forwards - besides OV - lacked anything, its grit and ability to play in front of the net.

The most surprising thing to me though was how the F did Gaborik get a bigger contract than Cammalleri?! Cammalleri got 5 for $30 from Montreal, while Gaborik got 5 for $37.5 from NYR. Not only do I think Cammalleri is better at this point, but Gaborik is an injury waiting to happen. He makes Havlat look like an iron bull.

I'd still say Guerin at $2mill is still the biggest steal so far though.

[Jaimoe]

I'm a little sad that none of you wrote anything about the draft. It was a pretty deep one this year, but the first-round had few surprises.

[joey_rogo]

ok guys.

what the hell? the rangers signed brashear.

im a pretty stupid hardcore fan of the true blue and this just pisses me off like nothing else. firstly, we shit on orrs face and send him off to toronto. good for toronto. honestly, they got an awesome fighter and an awesome teammate.  i will miss orr. i hope colton smokes donald the first time tor meets nyr this season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQrTmzr2odQ

this is a video of brash. this is all he was and all he will ever be. sorry, i dont know how to embed. if you dont wanna c/p, its the vid of him cheap shotting blair 'the man' betts during these last playoffs. this is totally undude, dude. i hope msg boos the shit out of this guy this season. i hope they boo him worse than tom poti.

i have a few more paragraphs in me, but before i make a complete ass of myself i wanna hear what some of the other hockey minds here think of this.

in other news, yay gaborik and higgins. :D

[capt. scotty]

not only is Brashear worse than Orr, but he's 10 years older and costs them 400K more  ;D


...in other news, Im very sad to see Rob Scuderi go. I loved Scuds, but no way is he worth the $3.4/yr for 4 years than LA is paying him. He's almost as good of a shutdown defenseman as you get and good on the PK, but he brings no offensive ability whatsoever. I heard we offered him $10mill for 5 seasons, and while I think he wouldve taken a discount to stay, def not that much. Apparently LA wants him to be a leader for them as well, and he was nothing more than a 4th-5th dman with PK time for us. I hope Scuds does well for a LA team that Id expect to see in the playoffs in the next year or 2 if they get a goalie or Quick progresses.

[Jaimoe]

Thoughts on the 2010 US Olympic Team invitees?

Canada has one big omission from camp: Marc Savard (Brian Campbell and Sheldon Souray didn't get invited either, and shouldn't have).

[ManNamedTruth]

I'm a little sad that none of you wrote anything about the draft. It was a pretty deep one this year, but the first-round had few surprises.

I'm not really knowledgeable of prospects in any sport. I think drafts are kind of boring to watch, too.
My two favorite sports are football and hockey. I don't watch college football and cable doesn't show any other hockey leagues or college hockey.

[ManNamedTruth]

Thoughts on the 2010 US Olympic Team invitees?

Canada has one big omission from camp: Marc Savard (Brian Campbell and Sheldon Souray didn't get invited either, and shouldn't have).

It looks like our defense and goaltending is stacked. Not sure about the forwards.

[capt. scotty]

Thoughts on the 2010 US Olympic Team invitees?

Canada has one big omission from camp: Marc Savard (Brian Campbell and Sheldon Souray didn't get invited either, and shouldn't have).

It looks like our defense and goaltending is stacked. Not sure about the forwards.

Really? I kind of thought the opposite. I dont think the goalies are all that bad, I like Miller a lot actually, but I think our defense is not very good. Namely because Rafalski is really the only above average offensive dman. Love seeing Scuderi invited, he should make the team IMO. If the scouts know whats good for them, Whitney wont even sniff the final roster.

I like the forwards a good bit, although they seem very weak at center. They dont stack up with Canada of course, but Brown, Kane, Parise, and Kessel I would expect to be the Top 4 wingers without remembering offhand if 2 are LW and 2 are RW. Bobby Ryan could take 1 of those wings if needed. Stastny's a C right? I guess he'd be the top line C because the only other C's I see there are Modano, Gomez, and Pavelski and I'd say Stastny is better than all of them.

Backes, Oshie, and Okposo should be very good, unheralded, bottom line wingers.

It probably sounds homer of me, but I agree with not inviting all of the old guys they mentioned in the article I read except for Guerin. He'd be a great compliment to a Oshie, Ryan, or David Booth.

[capt. scotty]

Canada has one big omission from camp: Marc Savard (Brian Campbell and Sheldon Souray didn't get invited either, and shouldn't have).

As for Canada, I hope Fleury makes the team. He's gotta stop giving up the softies if thats the case. Id say Brodeur is a lock and the other spot is up for grabs. I didnt see enough of Mason to really comment on him, I just know he put up great numbers last year.

Maybe I thought the USA's D looks bad because I looked at it after seeing Canada's, but I dont think so  ;D.  I think Campbell shouldve at least been invited. I mean, if Marc Staal and Brent Burns got invited, I dont see how Campbell didnt.

I dont understand inviting Sakic or Smyth. No way they make the team, so why not use those spots for Savard and Spezza who very well could make it?

Either way, Canada is ridiculously stacked. I'd like to see Canada vs. World  ;D

[Jaimoe]

Sakic was invited for leadership and Smyth is a proven great international player.

Inviting young players such as Staal and Burns is a great strategy for future teams.

[capt. scotty]

Sakic was invited for leadership and Smyth is a proven great international player.

Inviting young players such as Staal and Burns is a great strategy for future teams.

Do you expect him to actually make the team though?

I dont get it, just because if he's not on the team, how much leadership can he give the youngins during the 3 day camp?!

Crosby, Iginla, and Getzlaf are all great leaders, even if 2 of them are pretty young. Niedermayer and Pronger arent too shabby either.

If Sakic or Smyth make the team, someone's crazy. Yeah, that team probably has more talent than experience, but its not like no one there has any experience.

[Jaimoe]

Sakic was invited for leadership and Smyth is a proven great international player.

Inviting young players such as Staal and Burns is a great strategy for future teams.

Do you expect him to actually make the team though?

I dont get it, just because if he's not on the team, how much leadership can he give the youngins during the 3 day camp?!

Crosby, Iginla, and Getzlaf are all great leaders, even if 2 of them are pretty young. Niedermayer and Pronger arent too shabby either.

If Sakic or Smyth make the team, someone's crazy. Yeah, that team probably has more talent than experience, but its not like no one there has any experience.

Guys such as Spezza, Stamkos and Campbell can still make the team even if they weren't initially invited, but Yzerman wanted Sakic to be part of the initial invitee roster; whether he's there next February remains to be determined, but if he's healthy, I bet he'll be a forth-liner on a stacked team.

[.Walt]

I'm a little sad that none of you wrote anything about the draft. It was a pretty deep one this year, but the first-round had few surprises.

I was going to, but never did.

Two words, MISTER HOCKEY! Very pleased we went with a Minnesotan, finally. I know we've tried once before, but this kid is the real deal. This was always the problem with the pro hockey team, they never go after their own. Which is a huge deal here, we want ours!

[capt. scotty]

Like True said, I dont really know enough about draft picks in hockey to really comment. Now football and basketball, thats another story. I know we got Ulf Samuelsson's son though!

Glad we were able to re-sign Fedotenko, I cant believe he went from taking $2.5 in a 1 year deal last year down to $1.8 for a year this year considering I heard he had multiple other teams interested and it was most likely we werent going to be able to re-sign him/afford him as of yesterday.

I dont know what are cap hit is right now, but considering We paid Guerin and Fedo less than I expected, and couldnt re-sign Scuderi, I would think we still have $3 mill or so left for a d-man. Well see. All I know is I dont want Phillippe Boucher as an everyday starter.

[.Walt]

Nothing too surprising on Day 1 of FA.

With Chicago adding Hossa, I wouldnt be surprised to see them in the SCF next year, although they did lose the Bulin wall. Washington still has their defensive and goaltending holes, but adding Mike Knuble really bolsters their PP and 1 of their top 2 lines, and if their forwards - besides OV - lacked anything, its grit and ability to play in front of the net.

The most surprising thing to me though was how the F did Gaborik get a bigger contract than Cammalleri?! Cammalleri got 5 for $30 from Montreal, while Gaborik got 5 for $37.5 from NYR. Not only do I think Cammalleri is better at this point,[highlight] but Gaborik is an injury waiting to happen.[/highlight] He makes Havlat look like an iron bull.

I'd still say Guerin at $2mill is still the biggest steal so far though.

umm that did, has, and will happen.

Jaimoe should remember I wasn't much a Gabby fan. I liked how the new GM didn't even offer him anything. Such a baby, more like a bitch. I dislike him, but he was the first Wild player, and for that I thank him. One playoff run in that time is not enough. Still hoping we can score Saku Koivu.

[capt. scotty]

I actually read something yesterday that said Gaborik has only played less than 65 games in a season twice, this past year and in 06-07. That surprised me, it's seemed like he's missed a lot more time than that.

I wouldnt want Koivu if I was you, unless he ends up making much, much less than the 4.5 he was making last year. His skills aren't near what they were 5 years ago. If I wanted a Hab, I'd definitely go for Kovalev or Tanguay over him.