The OFFICIAL 2008-09 NHL Offseason Thread

[Travis]

Well, at this point, pretty much anybody could be a top 4 defensemen in Tampa. Who in the hell is left?

Assuming this trade goes down as listed, according to NHLnumbers.com, here's Tampa's blueline:

Carle
Paul Ranger
Alexandre Picard
Filip Kuba
Shane O'Brien
Mike Lundin (I have no idea who this is)
Matt Smaby
Doug Janik (see, Lundin, Mike, above)

I'm just figuring out my references then sending my application in, figure what the hell given that group of names.

[Honolulu_Blue]

ML any info on the Swede D-man the Leafs signed today?

You mean Jonas Frogren? I believe that's just Swedish for Jeff Finger.

[Maple Leafs]

Well, at this point, pretty much anybody could be a top 4 defensemen in Tampa. Who in the hell is left?
I know a team that has some extra defencemen available cheap...

[Maple Leafs]

I'm just figuring out my references then sending my application in, figure what the hell given that group of names.
Not really, other than that he's the mystery defenceman that Fletcher and Jackson were talking about earlier this week.

I'm sure he's decent, but I won't really worry about him unless he makes the team.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Penguins sign Janne Pesonen from Finland. Apparently led the SM-LIga in scoring last year.

I think the Penguins are just trying to Detroit one better-- rather than finding Swedish players in the late rounds who become stars, they are picking up Finnish players as free agents.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Dola

The prospect in the TB/SJ deal turns out to be former 1st round pick Ty Wishart

Stever Bernier to Vancouver, 2nd (2010) and 3rd (2009) round picks to Buffalo

Craig Rivet to Buffalo, for two 2nd round picks (2009 and 2010).

Fedor Fedorov to NJ. (Some tell Lou he signed the wrong Federov)

Paul Mara back to Rangers, 1 year $1.95M

And two rumored items-

Jason Smith to Ottawa for 2 years
Vancouver preparing offersheet for Val Filppula

[GMO]

Has Ray Emery been signed yet?

I'm waiting for that one.

[Galaxy]

I was pissed that the Sabres dealt Bernier, but then they pick up Rivet. I like it a lot. They just need to trade Max, and lock up our four RFA/last-year of contract guys (Miller, Paille, MacArthur, and Pominville).

[Honolulu_Blue]

Penguins sign Janne Pesonen from Finland. Apparently led the SM-LIga in scoring last year.

I think the Penguins are just trying to Detroit one better-- rather than finding Swedish players in the late rounds who become stars, they are picking up Finnish players as free agents.

Been there. Done that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ville_Leino

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/15945-Detroit-Red-Wings-sign-Ville-Leino-of-Finnish-Elite-League.html
Detroit Red Wings sign Ville Leino of Finnish Elite League


2008-05-11 00:30:00


DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Ville Leino to a one-year entry level contract on Saturday.
The 24-year-old played for Jokerit of Finnish Elite League in 2007-08, leading the team in scoring with 77 points (28 goals and 49 assists) in 55 games.


Leino recently received the Oskanen Award, given annually to the league's best player in the regular season. He finished second in league scoring (77 points), second in plus-minus rating (plus-34) and third in goals scored (28).

[Honolulu_Blue]

Vancouver preparing offersheet for Val Filppula

This really was the only potential negative coming out of the Hossa deal. The Wings are a bit up against it. They really should work on getting Filppula signed before some desperate team with a lot of cap space (like, say, Vancouver) signs him to some massive deal the Wings can't realistically match.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I have enjoyed the Burke-Lowe war. Burke recently lashed out, again, after signing Corey Perry.

Here is Lowe's retort, which is quite excellent:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242532&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl

After a year of enduring the wrath of Brian Burke, Edmonton Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe finally fired back at the Anaheim Ducks' executive on Friday.

In a candid interview with Edmonton's Team 1260, Lowe - who stayed relatively quiet each time Burke went after him over the last 12 months - finally let it all out.

"Where do I begin?," started Lowe. "He's a moron, first of all. Secondly, he really believes that any news for the NHL is good news. Thirdly, he loves the limelight and I don't think anyone in hockey will dispute that. Lastly, he's in a pathetic hockey market where they can't get on any page of the newspaper let alone the front page of the sports, so any of this stuff carries on."

Burke and Lowe have been at odds since the Oilers put forth a five-year, $21.25 million offer sheet to Group II restricted free agent Dustin Penner (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=4412) last summer - a contract that the Ducks did not match and sent Penner to Edmonton.

At the time, Burke explained he had no problem with a team putting an offer sheet forward offer sheets but the money involved was the issue. Lowe's responded in kind on Friday, saying the standard for such contracts was set long before the Penner signing.

"I mean, if he wants to debate what our offer sheet did to them or to the salaries, anytime," he explained to Team 1260. "The reality is, Rick Nash (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2288)'s contract a number of years ago, (Patrice) Bergeron's and (Ilya) Kovalchuk's; that sets the standard - that's been going on for decades. I'm sick and tired of it. I know everybody in hockey is. I know our peers are like, 'well, that's Burkie.' This guy is an absolute media junkie and I guess he's achieving what he wants because he gets his name in the headlines. But I hate the fact that my name is linked to his. He's an underachieving wanna-be in terms of success in the NHL. He won a Stanley Cup? Great. I've won six Stanley Cups, you want to count rings? Who cares, it's just a little pathetic that he carries on."

The latest chapter in the feud came on Wednesday, after the Ducks signed restricted free agent forward Corey Perry (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2809) to a five-year extension worth $26.63 million. Burke had some choice words about the new salary climate in the NHL after this week's high-profile signings, and blamed Lowe for eliminating the 'second contract' from team-player negotiations.
The long-standing rivalry between Lowe and Burke has also brought up whispers of a conspiracy theory that the two men are hamming it up for added exposure for the league.

"I remember Dean Lombardi last summer saying to me, 'You guys are (just) putting this on, you're not really feeling this way. The NHL likes this stuff, they want to create a little angst in the media and stuff and get some headlines?'" recalled Lowe.

"I said, 'No Dean, this is real.' He was shocked that this was going on but Burkie loves the limelight. He's all bluff and loud and Mac T (head coach Craig MacTavish) said it best - he's like the Wizard of Oz, you pull the curtains away and there's not much substance."

Burke, who joined the Ducks as general manager in 2005, helped build a championship contender in Anaheim that eventually won the Stanley Cup in 2007. That achievement didn't score too high with Lowe, who was quick to point out the other ups and downs of his time with the Ducks, along with the shortcomings of Burke's former team, the Vancouver Canucks.

"Here's a fact - he left (former Canucks GM) Dave Nonis nothing in Vancouver," he explained. "Nothing. He destroyed that team. If it wasn't for Nonis' incredible deals - to con Mike Keenan to get Luongo in Vancouver - that team was taking a nose dive two years ago."

"I mean, that's his M.O., but no one says anything. He goes into Anaheim and he inherits an incredible team. He gets Chris Pronger (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=681) - not because of our relationship, it just so happened we had five or six teams and targeted their assets. We had Florida, Anaheim, Philadelphia, San Jose and Los Angeles. He just happened to throw enough assets our way to get the player. Kudos to him. He recognizes that at the end of the day, you throw enough assets, you get the best player and you get a good deal. You never know in this business if you're going to win at the end of the day. He could have just decimated the franchise forever. I'll tell you this, they have not much coming. Bobby Ryan (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=4985) has been a questionable pick at No. 2 (overall in 2005), and up until this draft, they tried to move down and did a nice job of trying to replenish their depth chart. They had nothing coming, and that appears to be his M.O."

Lowe even left an intriguing cliffhanger for the radio station's listeners.
"Don't even ask me about Scott Niedermayer (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=253), I've already lowered myself in terms of (talking about) how they acquired him," he said. "That's a story for another day, but they were able to bring Niedermayer and Pronger in and they won a Stanley Cup."

In closing, Lowe went so far as to send out a tongue-in-cheek message to his front office nemesis.

"Anaheim has decent players - Corey Perry (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2809) is a hell of a player," he said. "What I really want to say about his bickering about parity and the salary cap is if you're unhappy about them, then trade him (Perry) our way, we'll be glad to have him."

[Pyser]

whats the niedermayer story??? give him back!!

[Suburban Rhythm]

This really was the only potential negative coming out of the Hossa deal. The Wings are a bit up against it. They really should work on getting Filppula signed before some desperate team with a lot of cap space (like, say, Vancouver) signs him to some massive deal the Wings can't realistically match.

I believe the threshold is around $3.9M, for 1st and 3rd compensation. Above that is 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

I could see Vancouver going about 4 years/$15.6. Last I've seen, Holland said the Wings have about $4M of space left. This season, I don't know if it would hurt-- Datsyuk, Z, Hossa, Franzen and Holmstrom definitely in the top 6, one guy (Cleary?) slides up. But the following season, assuming they give Z and Franzen long term deals, Hossa is gone, and two spots open in the top 6. Of course, there is probably a 9th rounder from 2 years ago from Kazhakstan who will slide right in! :mad:

[johnnyshaka]

I have enjoyed the Burke-Lowe war. Burke recently lashed out, again, after signing Corey Perry.

Here is Lowe's retort, which is quite excellent:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242532&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl


I was listening to the interview on the way to baseball tonight and I was howling the whole time. Great to hear somebody give it back to Burke although calling him a "moron" probably isn't what I would've said but that's not to say that Burke didn't have it coming.

"You want to count rings?"

I was almost crying after hearing that.

Can't wait for Burke's reaction.

[Chief Rum]

I see this two ways.

Much of what Lowe says about Burke is true, and I think we all know it. That's the first way.

The second way I see it is that Lowe, regardless of what he says, is generally low class and a bad GM who shows his true colors in this article once again.

In other words, Burke may be no saint--but this coming from Lowe is like Bryan Marchment criticizing Chris Simon for being a head hunter.

At least Burke does his job good enough to win Cups and be targeted as a GM to hire by other franchises.

I feel for Oilers fans who continue to have to deal with the results of Lowe's handiwork.

I have enjoyed the Burke-Lowe war. Burke recently lashed out, again, after signing Corey Perry.

Here is Lowe's retort, which is quite excellent:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242532&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl

After a year of enduring the wrath of Brian Burke, Edmonton Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe finally fired back at the Anaheim Ducks' executive on Friday.

In a candid interview with Edmonton's Team 1260, Lowe - who stayed relatively quiet each time Burke went after him over the last 12 months - finally let it all out.

"Where do I begin?," started Lowe. "He's a moron, first of all. Secondly, he really believes that any news for the NHL is good news. Thirdly, he loves the limelight and I don't think anyone in hockey will dispute that. Lastly, he's in a pathetic hockey market where they can't get on any page of the newspaper let alone the front page of the sports, so any of this stuff carries on."

Burke and Lowe have been at odds since the Oilers put forth a five-year, $21.25 million offer sheet to Group II restricted free agent Dustin Penner (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=4412) last summer - a contract that the Ducks did not match and sent Penner to Edmonton.

At the time, Burke explained he had no problem with a team putting an offer sheet forward offer sheets but the money involved was the issue. Lowe's responded in kind on Friday, saying the standard for such contracts was set long before the Penner signing.

"I mean, if he wants to debate what our offer sheet did to them or to the salaries, anytime," he explained to Team 1260. "The reality is, Rick Nash (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2288)'s contract a number of years ago, (Patrice) Bergeron's and (Ilya) Kovalchuk's; that sets the standard - that's been going on for decades. I'm sick and tired of it. I know everybody in hockey is. I know our peers are like, 'well, that's Burkie.' This guy is an absolute media junkie and I guess he's achieving what he wants because he gets his name in the headlines. But I hate the fact that my name is linked to his. He's an underachieving wanna-be in terms of success in the NHL. He won a Stanley Cup? Great. I've won six Stanley Cups, you want to count rings? Who cares, it's just a little pathetic that he carries on."

The latest chapter in the feud came on Wednesday, after the Ducks signed restricted free agent forward Corey Perry (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2809) to a five-year extension worth $26.63 million. Burke had some choice words about the new salary climate in the NHL after this week's high-profile signings, and blamed Lowe for eliminating the 'second contract' from team-player negotiations.
The long-standing rivalry between Lowe and Burke has also brought up whispers of a conspiracy theory that the two men are hamming it up for added exposure for the league.

"I remember Dean Lombardi last summer saying to me, 'You guys are (just) putting this on, you're not really feeling this way. The NHL likes this stuff, they want to create a little angst in the media and stuff and get some headlines?'" recalled Lowe.

"I said, 'No Dean, this is real.' He was shocked that this was going on but Burkie loves the limelight. He's all bluff and loud and Mac T (head coach Craig MacTavish) said it best - he's like the Wizard of Oz, you pull the curtains away and there's not much substance."

Burke, who joined the Ducks as general manager in 2005, helped build a championship contender in Anaheim that eventually won the Stanley Cup in 2007. That achievement didn't score too high with Lowe, who was quick to point out the other ups and downs of his time with the Ducks, along with the shortcomings of Burke's former team, the Vancouver Canucks.

"Here's a fact - he left (former Canucks GM) Dave Nonis nothing in Vancouver," he explained. "Nothing. He destroyed that team. If it wasn't for Nonis' incredible deals - to con Mike Keenan to get Luongo in Vancouver - that team was taking a nose dive two years ago."

"I mean, that's his M.O., but no one says anything. He goes into Anaheim and he inherits an incredible team. He gets Chris Pronger (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=681) - not because of our relationship, it just so happened we had five or six teams and targeted their assets. We had Florida, Anaheim, Philadelphia, San Jose and Los Angeles. He just happened to throw enough assets our way to get the player. Kudos to him. He recognizes that at the end of the day, you throw enough assets, you get the best player and you get a good deal. You never know in this business if you're going to win at the end of the day. He could have just decimated the franchise forever. I'll tell you this, they have not much coming. Bobby Ryan (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=4985) has been a questionable pick at No. 2 (overall in 2005), and up until this draft, they tried to move down and did a nice job of trying to replenish their depth chart. They had nothing coming, and that appears to be his M.O."

Lowe even left an intriguing cliffhanger for the radio station's listeners.
"Don't even ask me about Scott Niedermayer (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=253), I've already lowered myself in terms of (talking about) how they acquired him," he said. "That's a story for another day, but they were able to bring Niedermayer and Pronger in and they won a Stanley Cup."

In closing, Lowe went so far as to send out a tongue-in-cheek message to his front office nemesis.

"Anaheim has decent players - Corey Perry (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2809) is a hell of a player," he said. "What I really want to say about his bickering about parity and the salary cap is if you're unhappy about them, then trade him (Perry) our way, we'll be glad to have him."

[Chief Rum]

Oh, and BTW, Nonis so hated being left with nothing in Vancouver that he is now working with the Ducks under Burke. :rolleyes:

[Chief Rum]

Can't wait for Burke's reaction.

True. That should be fun.

[Chief Rum]

Oh, and quad-dola, FTR, I was disappointed to see Burke hash this up again the other day. I think it was enough to get it out last summer. There was really no reason to bring it up again. So Lowe's media whore charge certainly rings true there.

[johnnyshaka]

I see this two ways.

Much of what Lowe says about Burke is true, and I think we all know it. That's the first way.

The second way I see it is that Lowe, regardless of what he says, is generally low class and a bad GM who shows his true colors in this article once again.

In other words, Burke may be no saint--but this coming from Lowe is like Bryan Marchment criticizing Chris Simon for being a head hunter.

If Lowe is "low class" for reacting to Burke's numerous attacks, what does that make Burke, the guy who continues to pout over something that happened over a year ago and that has happened numerous times over the years to several other teams?

At least Burke does his job good enough to win Cups and be targeted as a GM to hire by other franchises.

Burke has one Cup, no "s".

How many times has Lowe been fired from a GM job? Burke?

Mike Milbury and Mike Keenan have been targeted GMs in the past, I'm not sure I'd be using that as a "pro". And when the franchise targeting Burke is one that handed over the reigns to a rookie GM who literally ran the team into the ground, again, I'd think twice about using something like that as a "pro".

I don't agree with everything Lowe's done during his time as GM but that can be said by any fan of any GM.

[Chief Rum]

If Lowe is "low class" for reacting to Burke's numerous attacks, what does that make Burke, the guy who continues to pout over something that happened over a year ago and that has happened numerous times over the years to several other teams?

You must have missed the part where I said I disapproved of what Burke has done as well. Plus, Lowe essentially said Burke was being low class, and I said I agreed with Lowe's assessment of Burke. Please review the previous posts if you have any questions.

And at least Burke never ripped the city and region and fans of Edmonton like Lowe did with Anaheim. Nor did Burke ever call out any Edmonton player, the way Lowe did Ryan. Honestly, quit while you're ahead, johnny. I don't think you're going to win many arguments battling for the quality of Lowe, as GM or human being.

Burke has one Cup, no "s".

How many times has Lowe been fired from a GM job? Burke?

Mike Milbury and Mike Keenan have been targeted GMs in the past, I'm not sure I'd be using that as a "pro". And when the franchise targeting Burke is one that handed over the reigns to a rookie GM who literally ran the team into the ground, again, I'd think twice about using something like that as a "pro".

I don't agree with everything Lowe's done during his time as GM but that can be said by any fan of any GM.

Lowe is an icon in Edmonton. He would have been fired a couple times over in any other city. And, okay, it's one Cup. One more than Edmonton has with Lowe as GM. Soooo sorry to have added the 's'. :rolleyes:

I understand interest from Toronto is hardly some clear indication of high quality as a GM, but, really, are you saying Burke isn't a good GM? For all his character flaws, the man did indeed build a consistent winner in Vancouver from a franchise that was never too successful before that, and then he goes to Anaheim and wins a Cup. What exactly is the point at which he becomes a good GM to you?

And if your standards are so high for GM, it is even more amazing to me that you can stand by Lowe.

[Fidatelo]

I'd love Burke as my GM. I'd put him in the top 5 in the league.

Kevin Lowe? Not so much.

That said, this whole thing is stupid and makes them both look bad.

[Maple Leafs]

whats the niedermayer story??? give him back!!
I've never heard much about this one. But I do remember that right around the time they signed him, they also signed his brother Rob to a contract that seemed a little generous. At the time, a few folks wondered if that was part of a side deal to sign Scott. "We can only pay you the maximum, like any other team, but sign with us and we can send some extra cash your brother's way too..."

Maybe a little shady but not really a big deal. And still better than the Lightning hiring their targeted free agents' fathers to front office jobs.

[Pyser]

it was no secret scott wanted to play with his brother. the devils had been trying for a while to get rob on their team.

if you are saying the team paid rob more so he could give money to scott to get around the cap, thats shady. just paying rob more to get scott there is fine.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Maybe a little shady but not really a big deal. And still better than the Lightning hiring their targeted free agents' fathers to front office jobs.

Look at some of the Penguins drafts while he was head scout. This might hurt them more than it helps them.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Dola

Pens add another piece, replacing Ruutu with Matt Cooke.

PG reporting $1.2M/year for 2 seasons, which would be slightly less than Ruutu got from Ottawa, and a paycut from the $1.5M he made last season.

15 players file for arbitration:

Dennis Wideman - BOS
Chad LaRose - CAR
Marek Svatos - COL
Val Filppula - DET
Jay Bouwmeester - FLA
PM Bouchard - MIN
Stepahne Villeux - MIN
Ville Koistenen - NAS
Sean Bergenheim - NYI
Dan Fristche - NYR
Antoine Vermette - OTT
Jay McClement - STL
Marcel Goc - SJ
Brooks Laich - WAS
Shaone Morrison - WAS

[Chief Rum]

Look at some of the Penguins drafts while he was head scout. This might hurt them more than it helps them.

Who are you talking about here?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Who are you talking about here?

Greg Malone. Ryan Malone's father.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Dola

Pens add another piece, replacing Ruutu with Matt Cooke.

Not a bad pick-up. I think Cooke's an upgrade.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Not a bad pick-up. I think Cooke's an upgrade.

Only place I think it's a drop is willingness to fight. I know Cooke isn't going to drop the gloves, where Ruutu would every so often. And with losing Malone, Roberts and Ruutu, Pittsburgh has no one, for the 50+ games Eric Godard doesn't dress, who will fight, outside of Max Talbot (5'11" 190) and Tyler Kennedy (5'10" 180).

Also Ruutu was surprisingly good in the shootout, something like 3 for 6.

But, skating wise and hands, Cooke is far ahead of Ruutu. And Cooke will probably take a regular shift on the PK.

I will give Ruutu he was more entertaining.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Greg Malone. Ryan Malone's father.

They hit on some late round guys (Max Talbot, Rob Scuderi), and had the slam dunk 1st round picks recently.

I don't think they've had a 2nd round pick player more than a handful of games in the NHL since Richard Park, 1994.

[Chief Rum]

Greg Malone. Ryan Malone's father.

Ah okay. Threw me there. It seemed more like you were responding in the context of Burke, and I couldn't find anywhere in Burke's bio where he had served as head of scouting for the Pens. :)

[Suburban Rhythm]

Wings- Hawks, New Years Day, Wrigley Field.

[sterlingice]

Wings- Hawks, New Years Day, Wrigley Field.

Interesting choice for a venue. Would not have been my first pick for outdoors in Chicago

SI

[Suburban Rhythm]

Another reason to hate ESPN too....they were scrolling it on the bottom line of ESPN News as the "2nd outdoor game". I guess the first game in Edmonton doesn't count because it was in Canada? Or because it happened all the way back in 2003?

[sachmo71]

Tom Hicks is amazing. Sean Avery will now disappear from everyone's radar. :(

[Honolulu_Blue]

Another reason to hate ESPN too....they were scrolling it on the bottom line of ESPN News as the "2nd outdoor game". I guess the first game in Edmonton doesn't count because it was in Canada? Or because it happened all the way back in 2003?

I am sure they just got confused, since many a referring to it as the second "Winter Classic", since the first was called, what, the "Heritage Classic" or something like that?

Well, considering it's likely that Michigan wont be in a Jan 1 bowl game, this gives me something else to watch.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Calgary signed Todd Bertuzzi to a one year deal at $1.95M.

I guess he's replacing Owen Nolan who signed with the Wild.

Based on what we've seen thus far, Calgary's already woeful offense has just become a little more woeful. Losing Huselius, Tanguay, and Nolan and replacing them with Camarelli and Bertuzzi is not much of a step up.

Iginal will have to score 60 goals and Phaneuf another 20.

[Pyser]

seems like nolan got paid WAY too much. good deal on bertuzzi though, if he clicks there.

[Draft Dodger]

Bertizzi and Phaneuf on the same team? and coached by Mike Keenan? wow, the douche meter might just explode at some point.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Bertizzi and Phaneuf on the same team? and coached by Mike Keenan? wow, the douche meter might just explode at some point.

Well, if it didn't explode while Burke, Pronger, and Bertuzzi were all with the Ducks, I think we may be safe, but it may take us constantly blowing liquid nitrogen on the douche meter like that bomb on the boat on "Lost".

[Maple Leafs]

Bertizzi and Phaneuf on the same team? and coached by Mike Keenan? wow, the douche meter might just explode at some point.
You root for a team with Darcy Tucker.

[Draft Dodger]

You root for a team with Darcy Tucker.

oh how quickly we move on...

[Suburban Rhythm]

Asham to Philly (making his way through the Atlantic)

Penguins OFFICIALLY sign Janne Pesonen from Finnish League

RJ Umberger signed to 4 year/$15M deal in Columbus.

Carolina- Dennis Seidenberg 1 year, $1.2M

Toronto - Matt Stajan 2 years/$3.5M

[Suburban Rhythm]

Dola

And one more, Michael Peca back to Columbus.

[Pyser]

stevenson - dowd - asham

the ex-devils, all-mighty 4th line of the flyers.

[Suburban Rhythm]

stevenson - dowd - asham

the ex-devils, all-mighty 4th line of the flyers.

I guess this means Cote dresses only to get beat up like 30 times this year?

And Steve Downie?!

[Suburban Rhythm]

Dola

Brendan Morrison to Anaheim.

No matter the terms, I think the Ducks have to be over the cap. Someone (Schneider?) is on their way out.

[Dr. Sak]

I guess this means Cote dresses only to get beat up like 30 times this year?

And Steve Downie?!

Downie will be a 3rd liner I bet. He has a scoring touch but he is just a little loose upstairs.

And make fun of Cote all you want, but he won't back down to anyone.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Downie will be a 3rd liner I bet. He has a scoring touch but he is just a little loose upstairs.

And make fun of Cote all you want, but he won't back down to anyone.

Aren't there a ton of forwards ahead of Downie?

Richards, Carter, Knuble, Gagne (if healthy), Upshall, Lupul, Hartnell, Briere off the top of my head. Metropolit, assuming at center I think would trump him too. Just my guess though.

And Cote...Laraque did say he was, pound for pound, the toughest guy in the NHL.

[Chief Rum]

Well, if it didn't explode while Burke, Pronger, and Bertuzzi were all with the Ducks, I think we may be safe, but it may take us constantly blowing liquid nitrogen on the douche meter like that bomb on the boat on "Lost".

Oh come on, the Avs had Roy and Lemieux (the ass one) and that bitch Forsberg all at once; how can you pick on the Ducks? And you call yourself a Wings fan?

Come to think of it, Chelios represents all sorts of douche by himself. :)

[Chief Rum]

oh how quickly we move on...

As a fan of neither Tucker owning team, I can call you both knobs for having Tucker on your team. :)

[Chief Rum]

Dola

Brendan Morrison to Anaheim.

No matter the terms, I think the Ducks have to be over the cap. Someone (Schneider?) is on their way out.

Pretty sure Schneider is going to be traded. It has been rumored for some time. He'll probably go to a low salary team for a draft pick, or a veteran team will try to squeeze him in to up their blueline(again for a draft pick).

[Dr. Sak]

Aren't there a ton of forwards ahead of Downie?

Richards, Carter, Knuble, Gagne (if healthy), Upshall, Lupul, Hartnell, Briere off the top of my head. Metropolit, assuming at center I think would trump him too. Just my guess though.

And Cote...Laraque did say he was, pound for pound, the toughest guy in the NHL.

If I were to guess the lines would look like this...

Hartnell - Richards - Lupul
Gagne - Briere - Giroux
Upshall - Carter - Knuble
Cote - Metropolit - Downie

On 610WIP there are some pretty substantial rumors that the Flyers are going after Bouwmeester.

[Pyser]

can bouwmeester be traded now that hes filed for arbitration?

similarly, why would florida trade him now that they are guaranteed to sign him for another year? aside from total ineptitude, that is

and man, philly really does seem to have 18 forwards on their team, dont they?

[Dr. Sak]

can bouwmeester be traded now that hes filed for arbitration?

similarly, why would florida trade him now that they are guaranteed to sign him for another year? aside from total ineptitude, that is

and man, philly really does seem to have 18 forwards on their team, dont they?

Yeah they can trade him even though he's filed for arbitration. They'll probably wait till the judge makes his decision. That's what the Flyers did with Pitkanen last year.

I'd trade someone like Lupul or Upshall to get a decent defenseman in return.

[Chief Rum]

Yeah they can trade him even though he's filed for arbitration. They'll probably wait till the judge makes his decision. That's what the Flyers did with Pitkanen last year.

I'd trade someone like Lupul or Upshall to get a decent defenseman in return.

Eklund says Philly is in the mix for Schneider. If we don't deal him to you for a pick, though, I am not sure what we would go for. We need centers, and last I checked, yours were either too good for an aging D'man like Schneider, or not good enough for our needs (second line center, no, Morrison is not the answer). That's why I figure a pick is more likely.

[Chief Rum]

Oh and P.S. we still love Lupes out here in Anaheim, even if he hasn't taken the world by storm, but we have too many top six wingers, and Teemu may still come back.

[Dr. Sak]

Eklund says Philly is in the mix for Schneider. If we don't deal him to you for a pick, though, I am not sure what we would go for. We need centers, and last I checked, yours were either too good for an aging D'man like Schneider, or not good enough for our needs (second line center, no, Morrison is not the answer). That's why I figure a pick is more likely.

The Flyers are over the cap so I doubt the send just picks for Schneider. Because getting him alone would put them too far over the cap.

I'd love the keep Lupul but he is a RFA after this year and I'd expect he'd want a hefty raise.

[Dr. Sak]

Recchi signs with Tampa.

I just hope the Tampa announcer doesnt say on opening night...

And now for your Pittsburgh Penguins!!!

[Suburban Rhythm]

If I were to guess the lines would look like this...

Hartnell - Richards - Lupul
Gagne - Briere - Giroux
Upshall - Carter - Knuble
Cote - Metropolit - Downie

On 610WIP there are some pretty substantial rumors that the Flyers are going after Bouwmeester.

No Asham??

Isn't part of the reason Florida would look to deal him because of the price tag? Just not sure how it would work, if Philly is over the cap now, and then would be adding a $6M (?) salary.

[Suburban Rhythm]

similarly, why would florida trade him now that they are guaranteed to sign him for another year? aside from total ineptitude, that is


My guess is, if the Panthers are certain JBo wants out, they'd lose him next year for nothing after this contract-- if I am adding correctly, he's got 5 years of service. Since he filed for arbitration, the team has the right to choose 1 or 2 years for the contract term (should they choose to accept the arbiters ruling). I assume they keep him for 2.

At the end of the 2 years, he walks with no compensation.

[Pyser]

My guess is, if the Panthers are certain JBo wants out, they'd lose him next year for nothing after this contract-- if I am adding correctly, he's got 5 years of service. Since he filed for arbitration, the team has the right to choose 1 or 2 years for the contract term (should they choose to accept the arbiters ruling). I assume they keep him for 2.

At the end of the 2 years, he walks with no compensation.

i guess i should have been more specific. why trade him now instead of right before the deadline when hed probably have more value in a bidding war

[Dr. Sak]

No Asham??

Isn't part of the reason Florida would look to deal him because of the price tag? Just not sure how it would work, if Philly is over the cap now, and then would be adding a $6M (?) salary.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Asham on the Phantoms to start the season, or be the extra forward they bring in and scratch Cote when he's not needed.

If the Flyers trade for Bouwmeester, Hatcher would probably have to be involved in that deal as well as someone like Knuble and/or Randy Jones. It took them awhile to finally lock up Jones and it wouldn't surprise me to see the Flyers ship him out. I find it very unlikely that they will get him just because of all the salary they'd have to dump to get him.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Asham on the Phantoms to start the season, or be the extra forward they bring in and scratch Cote when he's not needed.

If the Flyers trade for Bouwmeester, Hatcher would probably have to be involved in that deal as well as someone like Knuble and/or Randy Jones. It took them awhile to finally lock up Jones and it wouldn't surprise me to see the Flyers ship him out. I find it very unlikely that they will get him just because of all the salary they'd have to dump to get him.

Exactly where is the incentive for Florida in that!? :eek:

Maybe I am overstating, but if JBo is coming in, I'd be shocked if Parent isn't part of the deal, and possibly Giroux.

[Dr. Sak]

Exactly where is the incentive for Florida in that!? :eek:

Maybe I am overstating, but if JBo is coming in, I'd be shocked if Parent isn't part of the deal, and possibly Giroux.

Oh I'm sure one of those two would have to be involved or even James Van Riemsdyk.

[Suburban Rhythm]

If you really want a defenseman, Darryl Sydor is still available

[Suburban Rhythm]

Recchi signs with Tampa.

I just hope the Tampa announcer doesnt say on opening night...

And now for your Pittsburgh Penguins!!!


If Recchi doesn't make it official, I believe the latest signing of Brandon Bochenski does...that's right, another winger to Tampa.

All that time at ESPN, Melrose devised a system to be played at all times by 5 forwards.

If you count Stamkos (draft) and Prospal (deadline deal, brought back), the Lightning have 8 forwards on the roster now who were not there 3 months ago when their season ended.

[Honolulu_Blue]

If Recchi doesn't make it official, I believe the latest signing of Brandon Bochenski does...that's right, another winger to Tampa.

All that time at ESPN, Melrose devised a system to be played at all times by 5 forwards.

If you count Stamkos (draft) and Prospal (deadline deal, brought back), the Lightning have 8 forwards on the roster now who were not there 3 months ago when their season ended.

I saw Tampa play Washington in what, I think, was the second to last game of the season for both teams. Tampa was awful. Granted they'd been out of it for a long time, but they had absolutely no spark. I could barely recognize half the players on the team.

They certainly needed an upgrade in forwards and they've accomplished that. But I have no idea how they expect to get very far with nobody, at all, on defense and a goaltender who's past his prime.

Well, it will be interesting to watch at least...

[cartman]

I didn't see this posted yet. Here's a really cool story from the NHL draft:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=joyce/080707&sportCat=nhl%22


Hockey isn't going to forget about David Carle

David Carle had booked his ticket to the National Hockey League draft weeks in advance. His bags were packed, but he never made it.

Carle had been a certain third-round pick as a defenseman, maybe a second-rounder. But just hours before the draft, he sent out a letter to all 30 teams, advising them not to pick him.

Two months before, at the end of his senior season at Shattuck-St. Mary's prep school in Minnesota, Carle led his team to a national championship, scoring a goal in a victory over Team Illinois in the USA Hockey 18-and-under Tier I final. He never suspected it would be the last game he would ever play.

David Carle helped lead Shattuck-St. Mary's to a national title, but a medical condition has forced him to stop playing hockey.
"It could have turned out worse," Carle said. "The way I was brought up by my parents and the values I took from Shattuck, it's just understood that one day hockey was going to come to an end."

The news came just a day before the draft in a diagnosis from doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Following up on some irregularities first detected at the NHL combine, doctors discovered Carle has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart that puts him at risk of sudden death in the heat of physical activity. Hockey had been his life. Now it threatened his life. He was out of the game for good.

Stick around for the happy ending. No miracle. No reprieve. No unforeseen plot twist. Just hockey people stepping up to let Carle know that they weren't going to forget him. That he had to abandon the game, but the game wasn't going to abandon him.

Back in January, on the coldest weekend of a long, cold winter, I made a trip out to Faribault, Minn., an hour from Minneapolis. ESPN The Magazine had assigned me a story on Shattuck-St. Mary's, a school that over the past decade has churned out a dozen NHL players. Sidney Crosby played one season there before heading off to play junior. Others, like Kings defenseman Jack Johnson, went on to play for the national team development program in Ann Arbor, Mich. But many, like Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews, stayed through their senior years before heading off to play NCAA hockey and then turning pro.

Funny thing: I talked to a few of the top pro prospects on this year's Shattuck team, but Carle wasn't one of them. I knew his name because his brother is Matt Carle, the former Hobey Baker Award winner with Denver University who was in his second season as a defenseman with the San Jose Sharks. Still, I didn't chase down David Carle. The usual drill is that you ask someone around the team about the most outgoing kids, the best stories, the liveliest quotes. That wasn't David Carle.

"A soft-spoken, confident guy, maybe our hardest-working player, a leader more by example than someone who'll stand up in the room and say something," Shattuck assistant coach Ben Johnson told me.

It sounded like getting a quote out of him would be about as tough as getting around him on the ice, so I didn't go down that road. Mea culpa for not trying.

Other players told me how their years at Shattuck made them better players and better people. How all that time together on the ice made them a better team. How all that time together off the ice made them better friends for life.

"I loved the atmosphere," Sidney Crosby said. "You can have friendships wherever you play, but at Shattuck, you lived together, went to class together, traveled and played together. You get to know each other like you didn't anywhere else."

I heard the same thing every time. No one, though, can talk about those friendships today with more authority than David Carle. "I've heard from everybody since I got the news," he said.

"Crazier things have happened, but expecting things to change now is a false hope," Carle said.

Before he sent out that letter advising teams of his condition, Carle posted a message to his friends on Facebook. Almost half of them are Shattuck students. So about a quarter of the student body knew about Carle's condition before the NHL did.

"I wanted to be the one to tell my friends and the coaches," he said.

Text messages and calls started to come in, not just from his teammates, but also from alumni, including Toews. It was a time of mixed emotions.

"I thank our lucky stars that David didn't have an episode with us, and that I'm not ever going to have to field some awful call about something happening to him," Shattuck coach Tom Ward said. "It's too bad that his hockey dream is most likely over, because I never coached a boy who had the sort of metamorphosis that David did in his three years here. Overnight, he went from a very nonchalant kid to somebody who just decided to be a player and dedicated himself as much as anybody ever has."

Ward added that there was no need to pity David Carle.

"He can take the stuff that he learned here and apply it to whatever he chooses," Ward said. "He's gonna be just fine."

It looked like the nearest thing to a happy ending came with the news that Denver University was going to honor the hockey scholarship it offered Carle last season. It wasn't a snap decision, just an easy one.

"David kept us informed of his medical situation when he came back from the combine," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "We looked at the possibilities and the possible outcomes. We knew that he might not be able to play for us. We still wanted him, even if he couldn't. It's not a symbolic gesture -- we'll expect him to be part of the program on a daily basis. We'll just have to figure out the right role for him."

The story didn't end there, though. The NHL draft was winding down, teams were packing up and many in the arena in Ottawa were heading for the exits when the Tampa Bay Lightning were on the clock in the seventh and last round, with the No. 203 overall pick.

"The Tampa Bay Lightning select, from Shattuck-St. Mary's, David Carle."

Carle wasn't there, which is too bad. He could have walked out of the stands down to the floor and shaken hands with Lightning executives and donned a Tampa Bay sweater. Still, his name went up on the board behind the stage where the names were being announced.

It wasn't a mistake. Tampa Bay had received the notice of Carle's condition. It wasn't a long-shot move by the team. Nobody was banking on a reversal, a cure or a misdiagnosis that would net the team a top talent late in the draft. No, it was a call made by one of the Lightning's new owners, Oren Koules, who bounced around hockey's minor leagues before going on to become a successful Hollywood producer. Koules' son, Miles, is a student at Shattuck-St. Mary's. In a couple of years, he wants to play on the varsity team for which Carle starred.

"That school has meant so much to me and my family," Oren Koules said. "My son is a better person for going there. I met a bunch of the players when I was up there. They were all gentlemen, really respectful. I didn't think David should miss out on an opportunity he should have had. It was an honor to select him."

There will even be Lighning sweaters with the name Carle sewn on the back next season. On Friday, San Jose traded Matt Carle to Tampa Bay in a deal that sent All-Star defenseman Dan Boyle to the Sharks. That's a nice finishing touch, a nice bit of symmetry, a good excuse for David to make a trip down to the Gulf Coast. When he's watching games at Denver University this winter, David Carle might think about how much his life has changed since he got that call from the Mayo Clinic. But a couple of things will never change. He'll always be an alumnus of Shattuck and property of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

[Pyser]

apparently jersey jim dowd retired. so the flyers dont have 18 forwards anymore.

[Dr. Sak]

apparently jersey jim dowd retired. so the flyers dont have 18 forwards anymore.

And Thoreson is going to play in Europe. Dowd was a UFA and Thor was a RFA.

[bbor]

Niewendyk signs with the Leafs.He will center their third line....opp's wait......no he is going to their front office.

[MikeVic]

Niewendyk signs with the Leafs.He will center their third line....opp's wait......no he is going to their front office.

Link? Because I honestly don't know which to believe.

[Draft Dodger]

Jason Smith has signed with the Senators. I've always liked him.
Pavol Demitra has reportedly signed with the desperate Canucks for $4 million a year or so. To which I say: "ha ha"

[bbor]

Link? Because I honestly don't know which to believe.

:D


http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242841&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_main

[bbor]

dola...i guess if his job is special assistant to the GM Brian Burke had to o.k this hire?

[Pyser]

wow, how did smith get $5.2 out of ott for only 2 years? bizarre.

[Honolulu_Blue]

wow, how did smith get $5.2 out of ott for only 2 years? bizarre.

You're telling me. That puts Jason Smith just inside $1M of almost making Jeff Finger-type money.

That makes me wonder if Smith talked to Fletcher about coming back to the Leafs and Fletcher informed him that they made a promise to Finger that they wouldn't sign another defensemen within $1M of him, so Murray swooped in with the $2.6M a year offer to steal Smith from the rival Leafs. I bet that's how it all went down.

[Honolulu_Blue]

St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced today that the club has signed Group II free agent forward Steve Bernier to an offer sheet worth $2.5 million for next season. The Canucks will have seven days to match the offer or receive St. Louis’ 2nd round draft choice in 2009.


Heh. I love how mature NHL GMs act among one another. All the power to JD for going after a RFA, but this is not too surprising.

Hopefully Gillis will just match the offer and not say anything else about it. GMs have to stop whining about other teams making offers to the RFAs. It's part of the program. Deal.

[Suburban Rhythm]

St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced today that the club has signed Group II free agent forward Steve Bernier to an offer sheet worth $2.5 million for next season. The Canucks will have seven days to match the offer or receive St. Louis’ 2nd round draft choice in 2009.


Heh. I love how mature NHL GMs act among one another. All the power to JD for going after a RFA, but this is not too surprising.

Hopefully Gillis will just match the offer and not say anything else about it. GMs have to stop whining about other teams making offers to the RFAs. It's part of the program. Deal.

What makes it so terrible is Vancouver has about $2 billion in cap space. Everyone knows this, and knew that they would match any reasonable offer. I am surprised it was even announced-- that when word got to Vancouver, they just said "We are matching" right then.

I blame Kevin Lowe.

[Pyser]

i bet vancouver wishes the deal paid more. arent they way below the cap floor?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Probably over the floor now, with $4M to Demitra and $2.5M to Bernier.

But still plenty of room to give Sundin his $10M

[RomaGoth]

Probably over the floor now, with $4M to Demitra and $2.5M to Bernier.

But still plenty of room to give Sundin his $10M

If Sundin wants to win he won't go to Vancouver. If he wants the money, however...........

[Maple Leafs]

If Sundin wants to win he won't go to Vancouver. If he wants the money, however...........
c.) None of the above.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Mr. Federov back to Washington, 1 year $4M

Isles extend Bredan Witt, 2 years/$6M

Tampa signs a defenseman!!! But it's Andrew Hutchinson.

And Ray Emery to... Russia, for $2+ mil

[Honolulu_Blue]

Mr. Federov back to Washington, 1 year $4M

Isles extend Bredan Witt, 2 years/$6M

Tampa signs a defenseman!!! But it's Andrew Hutchinson.

And Ray Emery to... Russia, for $2+ mil

That seems to be a lot of cash for Federov, but, the Caps can afford it and he played pretty well there. I've always liked Federov, so I'm glad he's still in the league.

If Jason Smith is worth $2.6 million, I guess Witt is worth $3 million.

Andrew Hutchinson is clearly the answer to Tampa's blueline. They're set.

Emery gets bannished to Siberia. Well, I guess that's what happens when your assholic tendencies finally overshadow your skill level.

[Dr. Sak]

I liked Jason Smith I hope he does well in Ottawa. He played the entire postseason with two separated shoulders.

[RomaGoth]

I liked Jason Smith I hope he does well in Ottawa. He played the entire postseason with two separated shoulders.

There was a time not too long ago when I was hoping the Wings would pick him up. Don't need him now, but he should help Ottawa (they always seem to be in need of toughness).

[Suburban Rhythm]

Erhoff re-signs with SJ, 3 years/$9.3M

That leaves the Sharks with a little more than $2M is cap space, with two RFAs- Ryan Clowe and Marcel Goc- to sign.

Kyle McClaren should start packing his bags.

Josh Georges returning to Montreal, 3 years/$3.3M

[RomaGoth]

Erhoff re-signs with SJ, 3 years/$9.3M

That leaves the Sharks with a little more than $2M is cap space, with two RFAs- Ryan Clowe and Marcel Goc- to sign.

Kyle McClaren should start packing his bags.

Josh Georges returning to Montreal, 3 years/$3.3M

I have not followed his career since he was traded from Boston, but what the hell happened to him? Wasn't he being touted as the next Ray Bourque up there before he went to San Jose? :confused:

[Suburban Rhythm]

I have not followed his career since he was traded from Boston, but what the hell happened to him? Wasn't he being touted as the next Ray Bourque up there before he went to San Jose? :confused:

Don't think he was ever compared to Ray Bourque. Or maybe you are thinking of Hal Gill? ;)

[Chief Rum]

Don't think he was ever compared to Ray Bourque. Or maybe you are thinking of Hal Gill? ;)

Come on, I am certain that in Boston he was touted as the next Ray Bourque. Every pitcher is the next Clemens. Every draft pick is the next Paul Pierce. Every QB is the next Tom Brady. :)

Chistov is being crushed by the Cam Neely comparisons right now.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Come on, I am certain that in Boston he was touted as the next Ray Bourque. Every pitcher is the next Clemens. Every draft pick is the next Paul Pierce. Every QB is the next Tom Brady. :)

Chistov is being crushed by the Cam Neely comparisons right now.

Milan Lucic FTW

I already pointed out he's probably mixed up. If any defensemen was being called the next Bourque, it was Hal Gill. Nearly identical skating style.

[RomaGoth]

Milan Lucic FTW

I already pointed out he's probably mixed up. If any defensemen was being called the next Bourque, it was Hal Gill. Nearly identical skating style.

Bourque skated like he had a semi attached to his arse? :confused:

[Dr. Sak]

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jveAsInkxPOdXDcBBtj1fckF9hNA

MOSCOW (AFP) — Russian international ice hockey forward Alexander Radulov on Thursday signed for reigning national champions Ufa.

The financial details of Radulov's contract were not disclosed.

The 22-year-old, who is still under contract with NHL side Nashville Predators where he collected 62 points in 87 matches last season, said he had warned his club management that he wanted to play in Russia.

"I told my bosses in Nashville that I wanted to play at home and some Russian clubs were offering me much better conditions than I had in Nashville," Radulov told the Russian press.

"They said they would call me back but never phoned. It seems that they were either not really interested in me or just did not believe I could return home. One way or another, I'm happy to come home."

Radulov added it was unlikely that Nashville would be able to demand his return to North America as the NHL had no transfer agreement in force with either the Russian Superleague or the new Continental Hockey League (CHL).

This year 20 clubs of the Russian Superleague will play in the newly-established Continental Hockey League along with promoted Yekaterinburg and the three best sides of the former Soviet republics.

Dynamo Minsk of Belarus, Dynamo Riga of Latvia and Barys Astana from Kazakhstan will play in the CHL, which starts its first season on September 2.

[samifan24]

I thought the NHL and Russian Leagues just signed a contract yesterday which stated that they would honor each other's contracts and would only sign out-of-contract players. If so, what is this Radulov business? He's still Predators property. It sounds more like the Predators had no way to stop him. Still, shouldn't Nashville receive something in return since the NHL and the Russians just signed that pact yesterday?

[Dr. Sak]

I didn't hear anything about a signed pact...I thought it was just a verbal agreement of sorts.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Radulov will be missed. He was a pretty talented player. He also played a key cog in the Wings' march to the Cup this year when he injured Jason Arnott in a celebration after Arnott scored that game winning goal in Game 3 or 4 of the first round.

[Tekneek]

If the Russian leagues keep Radulov, despite the agreement, then that means the agreement is off. Really deflates the whole press release then. In this situation, that Russian league holds all the cards and can just decide to not negotiate with the NHL. Then the IIHF has to decide to not allow players in that league to compete in international tournaments if they want to really get tough.

[Honolulu_Blue]

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jLQsrY_ab8O1lk0tvEjRHWmYVf6w

Ex-NHL enforcer VandenBussche to learn verdict Friday in police assault charge

SIMCOE, Ont. — A former NHL enforcer is expected to find out Friday whether he'll be jailed in connection with a brawl outside a southern Ontario hotel in 2006 that resulted in him being Tasered three times and pepper sprayed.

Ryan VandenBussche faces three charges of assaulting police and one charge of uttering a death threat.

His lawyer claimed he could not be held responsible for his actions because of a head injury that legally rendered him a "non-insane automaton."

VandenBussche is also facing a civil suit for allegedly leaving a police officer with a broken nose and orbital bone.

VandenBussche played 310 games in the NHL and suited up for the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins.

He only scored 10 goals while racking up 702 penalty minutes.

He made his NHL debut in the 1996-97 season with the Rangers and last played in 2005-06 with the Penguins.

He now lives in nearby Port Ryerse, Ont., and sells real estate.

----------------------

While I feel bad that VendenBussche may have suffered some type of head injuries during his career, I really do like the phrase "non-insane automaton."

At least two or three times a week (or day) my wife asks me "What were you thinking?" after I do or fail to do something.

From now on my response will be, "I don't know! It was rendered a non-insane automaton at that moment."

I'm sure it'll go over well.

[Pyser]

we sure are a bunch of hypocrites

when we steal all, ALL of the best russian prospects with no transfer agreement, no one complains.

when one guy leaves to go back to russia, we complain that they broke some kind of agreement.

if that russian league remains stable, and keeps throwing money around, i expect this to become a pretty big issue pretty soon.

maybe the all-star game will end up being nhl all stars vs russian league all stars. thatd be cool.

[Dr. Sak]

The Tampa Bay Lightning and general manager Jay Feaster have parted ways, as the club has negotiated a settlement on the remaining three years of his contract.

Maybe they'll go after Craig Patrick. :)

[Pyser]

montreal traded john locke for stringer bell, or something like that.

[MikeVic]

Isn't Stringer Bell from The Wire?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Isn't Stringer Bell from The Wire?

Yes, and John Locke is from Lost.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Maybe they'll go after Craig Patrick. :)

He was interviewed recently and said he'd love to get back into the NHL.
But the Tampa thing....WHAT THE FUCK?

How do you let a go go through the big part of free agency, spend tons of money, bring in about 12 new players...and then fire him. If you weren't happy with the job he was doing, don't you stop him from making more decisions??

Or, this Koules guy is the Jerry Jones of the NHL, thinking he knows better than the guys hired to do the jobs. Even Jay Feaster knows more than a team owner, doesn't he?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Dola

Sergei Brylin to Russia

Jason Krog, AHL scoring machine, to Vancouver

Craig MacDonald to Columbus

And Chris Gratton to Tampa Bay...cause they needed another foward.

Did Feaster do this on his way out the door?

[Pyser]

i dont think feaster had one thing to do with any of tb's moves this offseason.

[samifan24]

Hasn't Chris Gratton spent almost his entire career with either Tampa or Florida at this point? I know he was in Philly for a little bit but it seems like he's Mr. Hockey down in Florida at this point.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Hasn't Chris Gratton spent almost his entire career with either Tampa or Florida at this point? I know he was in Philly for a little bit but it seems like he's Mr. Hockey down in Florida at this point.

Buffalo and like 10 games in Colorado at a trade deadline somewhere. And probably another team I am missing.

Who is his competition as Mr. Hockey?

[Draft Dodger]

Buffalo and like 10 games in Colorado at a trade deadline somewhere. And probably another team I am missing.

Who is his competition as Mr. Hockey?

yep. we traded Derek Morris AND Keith Ballard for Gratton and Ossi Fucking Vaananen. It would be a completely awful trade if we hadn't also gotten a 2nd round pick that we would use to take Paul Stastny.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Phoenix...that's the team I was missing. Thanks!

[samifan24]

Because I am a dork, I actually looked up Chris Gratton's career numbers with Florida and Tampa Bay on the excellent hockey-reference.com. Here's the answer:

Gratton has played 464 games with Tampa Bay, which is 7th most in franchise history. The six players ahead of Gratton are Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis, Pavel Kubina, Corey Sarich and Rob Zamuner.

Gratton has played 157 games with Florida, which is 46th most in franchise history. The top five are Robert Svehla, Olli Jokinen, Scott Mellanby, Paul Laus and Rob Niedermayer.

Gratton has played a total of 621 career games with Tampa Bay and Florida in his career. I believe this is the highest career total for a player who has played for both teams in his career. It is also the second highest for a player who has played for at least one of the teams in his career. Vincent Lecavalier has played 710 games with Tampa Bay in his career.

[bbor]

montreal traded john locke for stringer bell, or something like that.

I wish the Leafs would pick up Omar.That would be some awesome shit.

[Chief Rum]

Yes, and John Locke is from Lost.

Fucked up world when John Locke, the Lost character, gets first mention over John Locke, one of the more influential thinkers in human history.

[Chief Rum]

we sure are a bunch of hypocrites

when we steal all, ALL of the best russian prospects with no transfer agreement, no one complains.

when one guy leaves to go back to russia, we complain that they broke some kind of agreement.

if that russian league remains stable, and keeps throwing money around, i expect this to become a pretty big issue pretty soon.

maybe the all-star game will end up being nhl all stars vs russian league all stars. thatd be cool.

To be fair, I think if that whole press conference over an agreement didn't happen yesterday, I doubt nayone would raise too much of a stink. I wouldn't call people hypocrites for wondering just what the heck the NHL agreed to yesterday when a top player the very next day leaves for Russia without compensation--just like there would be questions today if a top Russian player were brought over here today--one day after.

I do think it will be interesting to see how this gets, but I wish I knew more about the Russian League finances. They seem to be throwing around crazy money, and I am wondering if things are really so favorable over there to allow this, or if some overspending is going on to try to compete with the NHL right now, and it could come crashing down on them at some point.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Fucked up world when John Locke, the Lost character, gets first mention over John Locke, one of the more influential thinkers in human history.

No, not really. Read the relevant posts again.

It was TV character (Stringer Bell) for TV character (John Locke from Lost) reference, hence I referred to the John Locke tht was being referred to (the TV Character), not John Locke the philosopher.

That said, it wouldn't surprise me that more people than not don't know that there was a John Locke other than on "Lost."

The joker really only works if it was the way I interpreted it. If the joke was TV Character for "great philosopher in human history" it'd be a bit... odd.

[Chief Rum]

No, not really. Read the relevant posts again.

It was TV character (Stringer Bell) for TV character (John Locke from Lost) reference, hence I referred to the John Locke tht was being referred to (the TV Character), not John Locke the philosopher.

That said, it wouldn't surprise me that more people than not don't know that there was a John Locke other than on "Lost."

The joker really only works if it was the way I interpreted it. If the joke was TV Character for "great philosopher in human history" it'd be a bit... odd.

True enough. And you're probably right about more people knowing Locke the Lost rather than Locke the Philosopher. Sad, really.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Vinny Lecavalier signs extension with T, 11 years $85M

Most of you are probably in the same boat as me, thinking this is old news. I guess the prior deal (9 years $77M) was never signed/official.

The structure on this is pretty wild:

Years 1 - 7 : $10M
Year 8: $8M
Year 9: $4.5M
Year 10: $1.5M
Year 11: $1M

Cap hit will remain the same, $7.27, over the length of the deal.

So some team needing to reach the cap floor would be able to get a cap hit of $7+M while only paying $1M.

I am going to bring this thread back up in 2019-2020 season when that happens.

[Maple Leafs]

The structure on this is pretty wild:

Years 1 - 7 : $10M
Year 8: $8M
Year 9: $4.5M
Year 10: $1.5M
Year 11: $1M

Basically this is the retirement loophole. If he retires towards the end of the deal, his cap hit comes off the books completely, so the Lightning will end up paying far less in cap hit than in actual salary.

[Logan]

Get on with it Mothafu-

[Chief Rum]

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jveAsInkxPOdXDcBBtj1fckF9hNA

Hmm...seems this one's going to get interesting...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Ai2a1HEdnPEyXL_.vs6F6rp7vLYF?slug=txradulovrussia&prov=st&type=lgns

As an American hockey fan, I would prefer Radulov play here. That said, the most interesting thing I got from this article had nothing to do with Radulov.

THERE'S GOING TO BE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HOCKEY?!?

Dude, I am SO all over that.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Basically this is the retirement loophole. If he retires towards the end of the deal, his cap hit comes off the books completely, so the Lightning will end up paying far less in cap hit than in actual salary.


If he retires, I think they'd be off the hook entirely, no?

The only deals that I think are still counted are multi-year deals after the age of 35 (Mogilny, Malakhov). Vinny would be 35 (assuming) or older at retirement, but the deal was signed before.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Jason Williams to Atlanta 1 year $2.2M

I think they only need about $10M to reach the cap floor now

[Dr. Sak]

Maybe the Flyers can trade Hatcher for their equivalent of Colburn again.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Maybe the Flyers can trade Hatcher for their equivalent of Colburn again.

You had your turn, we are sending Sydor for future considerations.

Then the future considerations turn out to be the right to swap 2009 1st round picks.

The Pens haven't tanked for 2 seasons now, we need to replenish our farm system.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Islanders have let Ted Nolan go. I really didn't see the one coming, but apparently he had a falling out with Garth Snow.

What an odd organization that is...

[ice4277]

The Islanders have let Ted Nolan go. I really didn't see the one coming, but apparently he had a falling out with Garth Snow.

What an odd organization that is...

The Lions of the NHL.

[Dr. Sak]

Maybe he'll catch on in LA.

[Logan]

Everyone hates Garth Snow.

[RomaGoth]

The Islanders have let Ted Nolan go. I really didn't see the one coming, but apparently he had a falling out with Garth Snow.

What an odd organization that is...

Maybe the Wings can bring him in as an assistant or something - not that he would take an assistant coach position. Too bad though. I always thought he was a good coach. The Isles are a very poorly run organization.

[Dr. Sak]

As per AM 640 in Toronto, Cliff Fletcher has obtained LW Ryan Hollweg from the Rangers for the 5th round pick obtained from the Pens in the Hall Gill trade.

[Logan]

Sweet!

[Suburban Rhythm]

As per AM 640 in Toronto, Cliff Fletcher has obtained LW Ryan Hollweg from the Rangers for the 5th round pick obtained from the Pens in the Hall Gill trade.

Now no matter what the player selected with the 2nd round pick in that trade turns into, the Pens win that trade!

[RomaGoth]

Dallas Drake retires after 16 seasons. Thus goes one of the few remaining Wings from the early 90's....

[RomaGoth]

Dola

I don't usually think much of Scott Burnside, but his article on the Ted Nolan/NY Islanders debacle is right on the mark:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=3487345

[Dr. Sak]

Nolan is a guy the Flyers will take a shot at if Stevens falters early.

He'll become coach and fight with the GM/Owner and make Philly become another spectacle ala the Lindros/Clarke feud. Or when Checkmanic told reporters that his defense stunk and the team quit in front of him.

[RomaGoth]

Nolan is a guy the Flyers will take a shot at if Stevens falters early.

He'll become coach and fight with the GM/Owner and make Philly become another spectacle ala the Lindros/Clarke feud. Or when Checkmanic told reporters that his defense stunk and the team quit in front of him.

NOTHING could be as good as the Lindros/Clarke feud. Those were the days. :D

[Suburban Rhythm]

All sorts of odds and ends

Oilers sign Horcoff to extension. Saw 5 years, no dollar amount.

Lots of RFAs re-signed:

Woywitka - Blues
Dawes - Rangers
O'Byrne - Habs
McCormick - Avs
Paille & MacArthur - Sabres

And...Flames sign Jamie Lundmark!
:jawdrop:

[RomaGoth]

All sorts of odds and ends

Oilers sign Horcoff to extension. Saw 5 years, no dollar amount.

Lots of RFAs re-signed:

Woywitka - Blues
Dawes - Rangers
O'Byrne - Habs
McCormick - Avs
Paille & MacArthur - Sabres

And...Flames sign Jamie Lundmark!
:jawdrop:

The NEXT big thing....errr....ten years ago.

[NoSkillz]

Very, very pleased with the Paille signing in Buffalo at bargain-basement price.

How Regier got him signed for two years at 2.5 million total is beyond me considering the crazy marketplace. I figured he'd get Brooks Laich type money at the very least.

[samifan24]

I read that the NHL schedule was supposed to be released today but I haven't found the schedule online anywhere. Does anyone know when the season schedule will be released?

[Draft Dodger]

I read that the NHL schedule was supposed to be released today but I haven't found the schedule online anywhere. Does anyone know when the season schedule will be released?

tomorrow

[bbor]

I read that the NHL schedule was supposed to be released today but I haven't found the schedule online anywhere. Does anyone know when the season schedule will be released?

Seasons cancelled.Owners want to get rid of the salary cap,it's costing them too much money :D

[Travis]

So not happy with the Horcoff signing.

So not happy.

[Chief Rum]

Kings reported to be hiring Terry Murray as coach.

Also, Spector is reporting three-way trade blockbuster that, frankly, I ain't buying. But here it is:

To Chicago

Kopitar

To Ottawa

The Bulin Wall
Seabrook

To LA

Gerber
Meszaros

If that's true, Lombardi should be fired, but apparently one day too late.

[bhlloy]

uh wow. A real NHL GM can't make that deal, can they? Gerber and Meszaros for one of the best young players in the game?

[samifan24]

So not happy with the Horcoff signing.

So not happy.

Yeah, I don't get it. It's Shawn Horcoff. He's not that good.

[Chief Rum]

uh wow. A real NHL GM can't make that deal, can they? Gerber and Meszaros for one of the best young players in the game?

I know, huh? As Ducks fans, we should be ecstatic if the Kings make such a bonehead deal, but I want a good rivalry and competition from up that way. Plus, my brother would be seriously in the dumps over this. We probably wouldn't even be able to talk hockey for weeks; he would just get upset/despondent. As a Clippers fan, I gotta tell ya, that's a sucky place to be as a fan of any professional sports team.

[Travis]

Yeah, I don't get it. It's Shawn Horcoff. He's not that good.

Rumors here are 6 years for $33 million.

I can't even articulate at this point how bad I feel that kind of contract is even if the cap goes up again the next couple of years (and I fully believe the cap will level out quite soon as the Canadian dollar flattens out).

[Draft Dodger]

and a lot of Oiler fans seem ecstatic about the deal.

one blog:
"Horcoff is an in-his-prime, legitimate number one centre, and he contributes nothing but positives in every aspect of the game."

legitimate #1? maybe I'm not watching the right guy.

I'm not saying he's bad, but his 2nd best season in the NHL is 51 points, and he's been doing this for 7 years. I guess this is more a complaint about the cap, because I like Horcoff. That just seems like an awful lot of money.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I like Horcoff too. He works hard. He's a good team player and has some talent. But he doesn't really seem like a true #1 center, though I think a very good and capable #2 center.

That does seem like a lot of money...

[Fidatelo]

Horcoff should be a second line center. That said, the contract doesn't seem that outrageous given what's been going on all month.

[johnnyshaka]

While I agree Horcoff is a 2nd line center, I also think the deal is a fair price especially considering what he'd likely get on the open market at the end of this season...provided he picks up where he left off.

[Travis]

While I agree Horcoff is a 2nd line center, I also think the deal is a fair price especially considering what he'd likely get on the open market at the end of this season...provided he picks up where he left off.

I was just hoping he'd hit the open market. So long as he's with the Oilers and making this kind of coin with MacT at coach pretty much means he's got that #1 spot to himself. I'd like to think we might have somebody on the team who'll surpass him within a season or two for that role or could have shopped for a 2-3 year answer after this season after his current contract (and Roli's) came off the books. I hope to be proven wrong, but if this move contributes to Gagner being held back for the duration of Horcoff's deal that'd be even worse than the money that was thrown Horcoff's way.

But hey, I also thought we should ink Stoll to a one year deal to see if he could bounce back and regain his form on the cheap rather than trading him at a sell low point, so I'm obviously miles away from Lowe's thought process at this point.

[johnnyshaka]

I see where you're coming from, Travis, but if you let Horcoff go at the end of the season who do you replace him with? There isn't going to be much available to replace Horc's 20-25 minutes a night and if you do find somebody comparable you aren't going to get him for less than $7-8 million a season and he likely won't be a guy you can stick on the ice in virtually every situation (ie. PP, shorthanded, big faceoff late in the game, or against the top line).

[Travis]

I see where you're coming from, Travis, but if you let Horcoff go at the end of the season who do you replace him with? There isn't going to be much available to replace Horc's 20-25 minutes a night and if you do find somebody comparable you aren't going to get him for less than $7-8 million a season and he likely won't be a guy you can stick on the ice in virtually every situation (ie. PP, shorthanded, big faceoff late in the game, or against the top line).

A lot comes down to how guys play this year, but when it came to PK/faceoffs, I'd have still rather had Stoll out there than Horcoff. Even removing him from the picture (obviously), you've got Cogliano, Brodziak, Moreau and Pisani who can all play big PK minutes and well. I'd also like to see them use Hemsky more on the PK, whether or not that happens, who knows. I've personally been impressed with how Pouliot plays at both ends of the ice and do not subscribe to the notion of trying to turn him into a power forward (as it seems the organization's biggest knock on him is that he's not physical enough). He's shown solid defensive skills and is one of the few forwards on the team who'll actually cut to the middle in the offensive zone and challenge a defender one on one.

PP wise, we've got a pretty good collection of talent to throw on the ice that should only grow and mature this season. Horcoff's best attribute on the PP is on the dot and then to stand in front of the net.

And really, it's not a huge knock on Horcoff, I think he'd be a very solid #2 center, but given the guys coming through and the fact this contract keeps him here until he's what, 36, just makes me wonder why he got Smyth's contract when we wouldn't give it to him.

I guess I'd just rather take the gamble on the young guys if we couldn't nab a true #1 in free agency or trade next year than to potentially create a roadblock for that young talent for an extra 6 seasons.

[johnnyshaka]

But hey, I also thought we should ink Stoll to a one year deal to see if he could bounce back and regain his form on the cheap rather than trading him at a sell low point, so I'm obviously miles away from Lowe's thought process at this point.

Something tells me that Stoll (and Torres for that matter) were turning into distractions in the dressing room. I don't have any info to back that up, just a vibe I get from those two. It also wouldn't surprise me to hear that Stoll politely asked Lowe to be traded...again, just speculation on my part.

Again, I see your point on selling low on Stoll, but with the way the kids stepped up last season I just don't see where Stoll would've fit into the lineup...especially last year's iteration of Jarret Stoll...the crappy one. We've got lots of guys who can kill penalties and we've also got, knock on wood, a healthy Souray on the point, not to mention Gilbert and Visnovsky who I'm guessing will see a lot of powerplay time. I still think that deal made us better and I don't think we would've gotten much more had we waited.

Besides, I won't miss seeing him break two sticks a game!!!

[johnnyshaka]

I think our top two lines are pretty much plug 'n' play. Especially once the kids get a little more seasoning, I don't think we'll have distinct first and second lines but instead have two good lines that could cause problems for any team.

[Travis]

Something tells me that Stoll (and Torres for that matter) were turning into distractions in the dressing room. I don't have any info to back that up, just a vibe I get from those two. It also wouldn't surprise me to hear that Stoll politely asked Lowe to be traded...again, just speculation on my part.

Again, I see your point on selling low on Stoll, but with the way the kids stepped up last season I just don't see where Stoll would've fit into the lineup...especially last year's iteration of Jarret Stoll...the crappy one. We've got lots of guys who can kill penalties and we've also got, knock on wood, a healthy Souray on the point, not to mention Gilbert and Visnovsky who I'm guessing will see a lot of powerplay time. I still think that deal made us better and I don't think we would've gotten much more had we waited.

Besides, I won't miss seeing him break two sticks a game!!!

Oh, fair enough points on all accounts, I guess my biggest issues so far this offseason is that Lowe is giving up on cheap options (and I knew with Torres it was a matter of time and fully support him being dealt, in Stoll's case I just think that we'd have gotten him signed to a cheap one year deal because of last year and with him still being a RFA after this season could have gotten a better return for him if he showed any semblance of returning to past form, but fully agreed, if there were locker room issues, good on Lowe for getting that taken care of).

In the end, even with Stoll removed from the picture entirely, I just see the Horcoff deal as working against the system of the new NHL. Signing a guy who is a #2 center in his prime to a deal that locks him up until he's 36 will make him near impossible to move and may limit guys with much brighter futures. One can only hope that MacT (or whoever eventually takes over for him) will be fair when it comes to who has earned that #1 role, but given track record, well that faith is pretty thin at best for me.

[johnnyshaka]

I'd be curious to see the details of the contract...is it something like Vinny's where the last year or two are essentially league minimum?? If so, moving him, or whatever, at the end of his deal might not be as tough as it sounds. Although I'm not up to snuff on how contracts are factored into salary cap rules and all that jazz.

I know we'll have to agree to disagree on this and that's fine but I do like the way our team is shaping up this season provided Garon proves to be as good as we think he can be...if not, we could be in a world of hurt especially if we get hit with the injury bug yet again.

Now, with that out of the way...are you sure you don't want to play baseball?? We're going to be in tough over the next week or two for our final couple of games and we need some warm bodies!!!!!

[Travis]

I'd be curious to see the details of the contract...is it something like Vinny's where the last year or two are essentially league minimum?? If so, moving him, or whatever, at the end of his deal might not be as tough as it sounds. Although I'm not up to snuff on how contracts are factored into salary cap rules and all that jazz.

I know we'll have to agree to disagree on this and that's fine but I do like the way our team is shaping up this season provided Garon proves to be as good as we think he can be...if not, we could be in a world of hurt especially if we get hit with the injury bug yet again.

Now, with that out of the way...are you sure you don't want to play baseball?? We're going to be in tough over the next week or two for our final couple of games and we need some warm bodies!!!!!

Not sure of accuracy, but according to nhlnumbers.com, they've got Horcoff making 7, 6.5, 6.5 and 6 for the first 4 years of the extension, so that'd leave 7 million over the final two years (if their information is correct). I'm not sure how it works cap wise for trading, but I'd assume that the receiving team would have to be on the hook for the actual contract portion while their cap would be hit by the average. I think the advantage to front loaded contracts is more if a guy is released/bought out, but I'm not even close to sure on how that works.

As for ball, well, I'd still like to, but I'd definitely need some practice first. I'm hoping to give it a good run next season assuming I don't have any more set backs with my knee and if I can still make contact with a fastball because I never could hit a curve.

[Fidatelo]

I think the advantage to front loaded contracts is more if a guy is released/bought out, but I'm not even close to sure on how that works.

The advantage for trading comes with teams like Atlanta that are cash poor and need to hit the cap floor. They can add 6-7 million towards the cap by only paying 3-4 million in actual cash. So while a team that is up against the cap wants to ditch guys that are under performing their cap number, a team such as Atlanta will be glad to take them off their hands.

[Dr. Sak]

The schedule is out.

Flyers open at home against the Rangers and finish in NY against....the Rangers. Looks like we can start the Rags season out shitty and end it shitty...just like their team :)

[RomaGoth]

The Wings begin the season at Atlanta *meh*.....but follow that up with a home & home with Toronto :D. I love the rivalry games (Chicago and Toronto come to mind).

[MikeVic]

I can't find the Jets' schedule?

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Wings begin the season at Atlanta *meh*.....but follow that up with a home & home with Toronto :D. I love the rivalry games (Chicago and Toronto come to mind).

Are you talking pre-season or regular season?

According to the schedule I saw, the Wings start the regular season at home against Toronto.

It's Game 1 of the Jeff Finger Era.

When it gets closer to game time, I will be sure to post an explanation of what all the pre-game ceremony stuff is about for all our reisdent Leafs fans. They may be confused.

[samifan24]

Has anyone ever met an actual Atlanta Thrashers fan? Like, in real life? A living, breathing Thrashers fan. Do they exist?

[RomaGoth]

Are you talking pre-season or regular season?

According to the schedule I saw, the Wings start the regular season at home against Toronto.

Yeah, I didn't look at it correctly. The Atlanta game is part of the preseason schedule. :redface:

It's Game 1 of the Jeff Finger Era.

When it gets closer to game time, I will be sure to post an explanation of what all the pre-game ceremony stuff is about for all our reisdent Leafs fans. They may be confused.

I actually laughed out loud at this and got some odd looks from co-workers. As it stands, The Toronto "wooden skates" Maple Leafs have 13 Stanley Cups, while the Detroit Red Wings have 11 Stanley Cups. I am wagering that a decade from now, the Maple Leafs will still have 13 Cups. Unfortunately for them and their fans, that will put them in third place behind Montreal and Detroit, respectively. :lol:

[RomaGoth]

Has anyone ever met an actual Atlanta Thrashers fan? Like, in real life? A living, breathing Thrashers fan. Do they exist?

I didn't even know they had a team before now. I always thought they were called the Atlanta Braves/Hawks/Falcons or some such thing.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I actually laughed out loud at this and got some odd looks from co-workers. As it stands, The Toronto "wooden skates" Maple Leafs have 13 Stanley Cups, while the Detroit Red Wings have 11 Stanley Cups. I am wagering that a decade from now, the Maple Leafs will still have 13 Cups. Unfortunately for them and their fans, that will put them in third place behind Montreal and Detroit, respectively. :lol:

Yeah, I can view Toronto's Cups like all those NFL Championships the Lions won back in the day.

[johnnyshaka]

Woohoo...Marty Reasoner signed with Atlanta!!

[RomaGoth]

Woohoo...Marty Reasoner signed with Atlanta!!

The Hawks/Falcons/Braves needed someone to replace Dominique Wilkins. This is a good move for them.

[samifan24]

Woohoo...Marty Reasoner signed with Atlanta!!

HOLY CRAP MARTY REASONER OMG!!!!!!111!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!! CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!

[DeToxRox]

I feel for Atlanta. If they finish with the worst record in the NHL they still will not get that #1 pick. Sorry to bring the conspiracy, but come one, does anyone really see Tavares in Atlanta?

[RomaGoth]

I feel for Atlanta. If they finish with the worst record in the NHL they still will not get that #1 pick. Sorry to bring the conspiracy, but come one, does anyone really see Tavares in Atlanta?

Who is Tavares?

[DeToxRox]

Who is Tavares?

The Next, Next One. Been lighting up the O for years, was drafted #1 there as a 14 year old. He's a power forward type with sick hands. Consensus #1 pick already for next season.

[Dr. Sak]

Tavares petition to join this past year's draft. His birthday was only a few days past the deadline, but the NHL denied the request.

[Suburban Rhythm]

The Next, Next One. Been lighting up the O for years, was drafted #1 there as a 14 year old. He's a power forward type with sick hands. Consensus #1 pick already for next season.

Per THN, some scouts are saying they'd take Victor Hedman 1st next year. I think he's like 6'5" 220lbs already, at 17, and playing like 30 mins a night.

Tavares petition to join this past year's draft. His birthday was only a few days past the deadline, but the NHL denied the request.

Didn't they try to claim that due to the number of leap years since his birth, he actually is 18? Or was that when Florida (I think) took Ovechkin in the 8th round in 2003?

[Coder]

Meh.. what a poor week I picked to go to Atlanta... at least for sports.. Falcons have a bye-week and the Thrashers only face the Sabres at home. Buffalo, a team which I despite their success the past few years, never have had any feelings but "Meh" for..

My first trip to the US in 11 years and I don't get to watch any fun stuff :(

[JonInMiddleGA]

My first trip to the US in 11 years and I don't get to watch any fun stuff :(

From the Falcons bye week comment, I'm guessing you're in the ATL the week that includes Sun Oct 19th. While the pro scene is pretty slow, depending upon the exact date of your trip & your transportation situation, etc. you might consider trying to find tickets to the best attended event in the area that weekend: Vanderbilt at Georgia on Sat 10/18, time TBA.

Another option, depending on the length of your visit, would be the NASCAR event at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sun 10/26 (truck series race is the afternoon of the previous day), or Virginia at Georgia Tech on Sat 10/25.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Has anyone ever met an actual Atlanta Thrashers fan? Like, in real life? A living, breathing Thrashers fan. Do they exist?

There really are some, I've sat with/near them at a few games. They're a diehard bunch of season ticket holders/booster club members, mostly older.

Alas, even they've about given up hope after so much Waddell futility.

[Coder]

From the Falcons bye week comment, I'm guessing you're in the ATL the week that includes Sun Oct 19th. While the pro scene is pretty slow, depending upon the exact date of your trip & your transportation situation, etc. you might consider trying to find tickets to the best attended event in the area that weekend: Vanderbilt at Georgia on Sat 10/18, time TBA.

Another option, depending on the length of your visit, would be the NASCAR event at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sun 10/26 (truck series race is the afternoon of the previous day), or Virginia at Georgia Tech on Sat 10/25.

Thanks for the tips Jon, but I probably won't have time to get to Athens, and while I'd love to see the Tech game, I'll be on my flight home by then :(.

I'll still try to get tickets to the Sabres game on Saturday October 18, since the only major sport I haven't seen live in the US is NHL-hockey. Saw a Knights-game once, but no NHL-hockey. Heck, Atlanta didn't have an NHL-team last time I was there.

I'll be arriving Friday the 17th and leaving on Saturday the 25th of October. Short trip, and I'll be spending a few days in Atlanta and a few days "further south" :).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Saw a Knights-game once, but no NHL-hockey.

FWIW, the Knights games were a LOT more fun than I've ever had at an NHL game.

[bbor]

All you Sabres fans can relax now.Miller signed a 5 year extension...havent heard the $$ involved yet though.

[Pyser]

pens extended their coach. too bad for all the players who hate him

[Dr. Sak]

pens extended their coach. too bad for all the players who hate him

I read a quote on another message board that said something to the effect of..."I bet a retarded monkey could've gotten the same results with players like Malkin, Crosby, Hossa, and MAF."

[RomaGoth]

I read a quote on another message board that said something to the effect of..."I bet a retarded monkey could've gotten the same results with players like Malkin, Crosby, Hossa, and MAF."

Didn't the Pens just give that monkey an extension? :lol:

[Chubby]

All you Sabres fans can relax now.Miller signed a 5 year extension...havent heard the $$ involved yet though.
a littler over $6 mil per season. I think the total was $31.25 mil over 5.

We got the most important one extended, now to get Pominville an extension...

[Dr. Sak]

That was important for the Sabers, mainly to keep him away from the Wings.

[Coder]

Interesting turn of events in the Radulov case. IIHF has decided to suspend Radulov pending an investigation, but he's not the only one. Jason Krog, Nikita Filatov, Fedor Fedorov, Viktor Tikhonov all signed with NHL-teams despite having contracts with Russian teams. They're also being suspended.

Now, these suspensions are "only" for international play, which probably doesn't matter very much to would be NHLers, but European leagues take a break a week every now and then for international tournaments throughout the year (European Hockey Tour), so the only actually affected would be Radulov, since he's going to the other way.

The information is interesting, because all of the media concentration is on Radulov breaking his contract with the Predators, but these other guys are doing the exact same thing only they're breaking contracts with Russian teams, but no one is screaming "outrage" about that. Sure, they're lesser players, but the fact remains, no one is "innocent" here. Not the NHL, nor the KHL.

Article at TSN (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=243662&lid=sublink04&lpos=headlines_main)

As far as I'm concerned, there's only one solution.. allow players to be "purchased" out of their contracts. The NHL refuses to let their teams pay cash to a European club as long as their is no transfer agreement in place, but if this thing is going to keep on happening, either you don't care about contracts at all (welcome to chaos, teams won't know who's going to be playing from year to year), or compensation has to be given in an appropriate manner.

[Suburban Rhythm]

a littler over $6 mil per season. I think the total was $31.25 mil over 5.

We got the most important one extended, now to get Pominville an extension...

Maybe it's my black & gold homer glasses, but Fleury's deal looks even better now.

[Dr. Sak]

Maybe it's my black & gold homer glasses, but Fleury's deal looks even better now.

You are a homer.

[Galaxy]

a littler over $6 mil per season. I think the total was $31.25 mil over 5.

We got the most important one extended, now to get Pominville an extension...

Only 5 years? I wonder if they are watching the young Swed in Enroth that is coming over this year. Pominville is key. The good news is he'll only be a RFA and can opt for arbitration.

[bbor]

Pominville won't be a RFA till after next season...No?

[Galaxy]

Pominville won't be a RFA till after next season...No?

Correct. This coming season is the last year of his current contract.

[Chubby]

Maybe it's my black & gold homer glasses, but Fleury's deal looks even better now.

Miller >>>>> Fleury

[Chubby]

Only 5 years? I wonder if they are watching the young Swed in Enroth that is coming over this year. Pominville is key. The good news is he'll only be a RFA and can opt for arbitration.

Nah, I think it's more of the Sabres being the Sabres. They don't give out long contracts, 5 years is the longest one I can think of. Sure I'd love to see him sign a 7-10 year deal but he'll be 33 at the end of this contract (I think) at which point they can sign him to one more contract if they want to.

Shit, they only gava Paille a 2 year deal which is stupid short. I'm sure Pominville will end up with a 2-3 year deal when he should have a longer one.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Miller >>>>> Fleury

When exactly did Miller go on a run like Fleury just had? Not solely the playoffs, but when he returned from injury in March.

And if you are going to point to the defense in front of him, keep in it is the same defense they began the year with (minus Mark Eaton, plus Hal Gill) that everyone questioned.

[Suburban Rhythm]

ping bsa....er Dr. Sak (doctor of what exactly?)

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08201/898137-194.stm


FSN, Steigerwald sign new deal
Network keeps Penguins play-by-play announcer

The article is pretty funny, saying he was kept because of the rating increase in the past 2 seasons with him doing pbp. He at least is quoted saying give credit to Crosby and Malkin.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Paging the Dr again..

TSN reporting Lupul gets 4 year extension. No $ amount though.

[Chubby]

When exactly did Miller go on a run like Fleury just had? Not solely the playoffs, but when he returned from injury in March.

And if you are going to point to the defense in front of him, keep in it is the same defense they began the year with (minus Mark Eaton, plus Hal Gill) that everyone questioned.

back to back conference finals, franchise record games played last year, franchise record wins year before 40...

i stand by my Miller >>>>> Fleury comment

[Chief Rum]

I still believe Miller is better than Fleury...now.

I think in the long run Fleury will improve even more and end up the better goalie. But Miller is also very good, and I would take him over Fleury today if I needed a goalie to win today.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Fleury's post season numbers, across the board, are better than Miller's. Those include 2007's miserable showing against Ottawa.

And they both won 40 games in 2006-07.

I still believe Miller is better than Fleury...now.

I think in the long run Fleury will improve even more and end up the better goalie. But Miller is also very good, and I would take him over Fleury today if I needed a goalie to win today.

I can live with an argument Miller is slightly better. But to make him out to be ">>>>>>>>" as Chubby is, is ridiculous.

I would have agreed with you CR heading into the playoffs this season. But Fleury was excellent through the Eastern Conf and still pretty darn good vs. Detroit.

And my original point, based on the contracts, Fleury's deal looks great now. As you say, if Fleury, only 23, continues to get better, that $5M a year will be a steal. At 28, can we expect Miller to continue to improve?

[samifan24]

Here's a question for fellow hockey fans. If you could go on a mini road trip and see two games in two days in two different cities, which cities would you choose and why?

My buddy and I want to go to Buffalo, then see Niagra Falls and then go to Toronto, the Hall of Fame and a Leafs game the next day. The only problem is that apparently Leafs tickets are nearly impossible to get despite the fact that the team is horrible. Any suggestions? We'd like to stick to the East coast if that helps.

[Dr. Sak]

Staggy sucks! I pity the pens fans that have to deal with his bullshit.

The Flyers have a lot of expiring contracts this year that wont be back...Hatcher (3.5), Nitty (1.1), and Knuble (2.5 ish). I am a little surprised they signed Lupul so early but it is better to do it now.

Check out Colburns cap number...the next two years he is making 1.2 mil each year. What a steal!

[Chief Rum]

Fleury's post season numbers, across the board, are better than Miller's. Those include 2007's miserable showing against Ottawa.

And they both won 40 games in 2006-07.



I can live with an argument Miller is slightly better. But to make him out to be ">>>>>>>>" as Chubby is, is ridiculous.

I would have agreed with you CR heading into the playoffs this season. But Fleury was excellent through the Eastern Conf and still pretty darn good vs. Detroit.

And my original point, based on the contracts, Fleury's deal looks great now. As you say, if Fleury, only 23, continues to get better, that $5M a year will be a steal. At 28, can we expect Miller to continue to improve?

If the only games played were postseason games, I would agree. And I would point out that Guiguere probably rates better than both in the postseason. But it's not postseason, it's all season.

It's not that I am trying to discount postseason play, which is, of course, critical. But there's more to the discussion than postseason play when comparing players. Plus, Miller has done it for longer, and that means something, too. Fleury needs to put in a little more time at this same level of play and maybe improve a little more, and then I would give him the nod over Miller.

As to the contract thing, you abandoned that discussion when you responded to Chubby's straight Miller >>>> Fleury challenge. It was no longer about the contract, but about comparing the two goalies.

[Chief Rum]

Here's a question for fellow hockey fans. If you could go on a mini road trip and see two games in two days in two different cities, which cities would you choose and why?

My buddy and I want to go to Buffalo, then see Niagra Falls and then go to Toronto, the Hall of Fame and a Leafs game the next day. The only problem is that apparently Leafs tickets are nearly impossible to get despite the fact that the team is horrible. Any suggestions? We'd like to stick to the East coast if that helps.

Too bad. You could come out to LA, and if the schedule is right, see two games in two cities in one day. If you're really lucky, the Kings might even be playing someone good, so you could see both that team and the Ducks. And guaranteed, the weather will be better at any time during the hockey season than it will be in any northeast hockey town. ;)

[samifan24]

Too bad. You could come out to LA, and if the schedule is right, see two games in two cities in one day. If you're really lucky, the Kings might even be playing someone good, so you could see both that team and the Ducks. And guaranteed, the weather will be better at any time during the hockey season than it will be in any northeast hockey town. ;)

Thanks for the invite but there's no way I'd go to LA or Anaheim to watch a hockey game. Give me Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo or Pittsburgh any day. I like it cold when I go to the rink. ;)

[Draft Dodger]

a Swedish paper is saying that Sundin is going to the Canucks, but his agent says he isn't

[Suburban Rhythm]

Jeff Freaking Taffe back to Pittsburgh. No details yet, probably 1 year, about $500K. He was holding out for a one-way deal, not sure if he got it though.

But, honestly, he was solid last season when the Penguins got hit with injuries in February. He's a fine candidate to play on the 4th line the 50 or so games Eric Godard doesn't dress.

[Chief Rum]

Thanks for the invite but there's no way I'd go to LA or Anaheim to watch a hockey game. Give me Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo or Pittsburgh any day. I like it cold when I go to the rink. ;)

Bah! You underestimate the power of our air conditioning units. :)

[Suburban Rhythm]

Some updated signings-

Wild re-sign PM Bouchard 5 years/$20.4M

Avs re-sign Svatos 2 years

Isles re-sign Bruno Gervais

[Draft Dodger]

$4.1 million over 2 years for Svatos, which seems about right. I really wish he could stay healthy...

[Maple Leafs]

Howard Berger has the scoop on most of the new third jerseys:
FAN590 - Blogs - Nothing But Leafs » Blog Archive » No Change In Leafs’ Third Jersey (http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2008/07/27/no-change-in-leafs-third-jersey/)

[Draft Dodger]

Berger is the Malkin to LA guy, no?

[Maple Leafs]

Berger is the Malkin to LA guy, no?
No, that was Garrioch.

Berger is the the guy who said that Avery made fun of Jason Blake's cancer.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Wings took care of their last significant piece of off-season business today, inking RFA Val Filppula to a 5 year, $15 million deal. A useful, relatively affordable piece of the puzzle, with some upside from last year's 19 goals and 36 points. Now the Wings ahve him for the prime of his career. Good signing.

I felt like I should start getting concerned about the impending arbitration hearing (set of Aug 1), but I never did. I just couldn't see Holland letting that happen. It's a horrible process for everyone involved. I am sure the Wings were hoping to get Filpulla at a little less than that, but I think it's a good deal. He's a sound two-way player. He's shown flashes of brilliance offensively (his goal in Game 2 of the finals was one of the prettiest in the playoffs). $3 million is not an outrageous sum of money to paying your #2 center during the prime of his career. Hopefully he'll continue to develop and become more and more of a bargain as each year passes.

The Wings line-up this year should look something along the lines of this:

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom
Franzen - Filppula - Hossa
Cleary - Draper - Matlby
Samuelsson - Hulder - Helm

McCarty, Kopecky, Downey

Lidstrom - Rafalski
Kronwall - Stuart
Lilja - Lebda

Chelios, Quincey, Meech, Ericsson

Osgood
Conklin

Howard

I am not sure how the 3rd and 4th lines will shake out or what the 3rd D-pairing will look like, but the top two lines and top 4 D look very, very solid.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Welp, can we just let the Red Wings keep the Cup? Why even bother making the other teams try to compete for it? Let's just skip this season, age everyone's contracts one year and start the 2009-2010 season already. Detroit has this year locked up. :(

[Draft Dodger]

$15 million would buy a lot of eyebrow dye.

just sayin'...

http://www.kiekko-vantaa.fi/k-vantaa/www/fi/hotin_kuva-arkisto/Valtteri_Filppula.jpg

[henry296]

HB,

Can you add the cap numbers of each player, I'm curious how Detroit allocates their money.

[Dr. Sak]

HB,

Can you add the cap numbers of each player, I'm curious how Detroit allocates their money.

nhlnumbers.com » Team Overview (http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=DET&season=0809)

[Honolulu_Blue]

nhlnumbers.com » Team Overview (http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=DET&season=0809)

Thanks for that, Doc. I am horrible with numbers.

I can summarize. The Wings are a bit up against as things stand. They have around $1 or so left under the cap and still need to sign both Quincey and Chelios.

I think the plan is to go into camp above the cap and see how things shake out. They just need to be under the cap by October 8.

[Hurst2112]

Thanks for that, Doc. I am horrible with numbers.

I can summarize. The Wings are a bit up against as things stand. They have around $1 or so left under the cap and still need to sign both Quincey and Chelios.

I think the plan is to go into camp above the cap and see how things shake out. They just need to be under the cap by October 8.

Doesn't this mean about 600K below the cap?

Cap Space 0.610

[RomaGoth]

$15 million would buy a lot of eyebrow dye.

just sayin'...

http://www.kiekko-vantaa.fi/k-vantaa/www/fi/hotin_kuva-arkisto/Valtteri_Filppula.jpg

...or not as much hair dye, but either way something needs to be done here.

[RomaGoth]

Thanks for that, Doc. I am horrible with numbers.

I can summarize. The Wings are a bit up against as things stand. They have around $1 or so left under the cap and still need to sign both Quincey and Chelios.

I think the plan is to go into camp above the cap and see how things shake out. They just need to be under the cap by October 8.

Can't they get away with signing Quincey for league minimum with a 2-way contract, then send him to GR for the season? Or is he past that point now? Also, I thought Chelios was planning on retiring...?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Reports indicate that Chicago has hired Scotty Bowman to work as an advisor or in some type of capacity like that.

[Dr. Sak]

The Edmonton Oilers have named Steve Tambellini as their new general manager, moving Kevin Lowe into the role of President of Hockey Operations for Rexall sports.

[DeToxRox]

Wings will look to deal Lilja and if they do, there is a mil off the books. Considering he can be top 5 somewhere, I am sure it won't be hard.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Sens re-sign Vermette, 2 years / $5.525M

Sharks re-sign Ryane Clowe. No idea on # of years, but will make $1.6M next year. I can see him emerging as a Ryan Malone type player if he can stay healthy-- probably more in the mold of a 3rd liner, but can play and score when paired properly with other skill players.

And from a couple days ago-- Pascal Leclaire, 3 years /$11.8M staying in Columbus.

[samifan24]

Pascal Leclaire has the best headshot in NHL2K8. <br> http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/72102871.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193875DCB1DD8387ABBBBA8B09AB936ABF7A40A659CEC4C8CB6

[sterlingice]

Welp, can we just let the Red Wings keep the Cup? Why even bother making the other teams try to compete for it? Let's just skip this season, age everyone's contracts one year and start the 2009-2010 season already. Detroit has this year locked up. :(

You all excited about the netminder situation there?

SI

[Honolulu_Blue]

You all excited about the netminder situation there?

SI

Well, that's the big question. Always has been in Detroit. If the goaltending can hold up, then...

At this point, how can you really complaint about the netminder situation? There aren't too many other teams who have a two time Stanley Cup Winner (as a starter) between the pipes.

Osgood's numbers the last two years have been outstanding. He will never get the credit he deserves. Besides that, Conklin was pretty sound last year in Pittsburgh.

So, so long as the team stays healthy, they should be all right.

[RomaGoth]

Pascal Leclaire has the best headshot in NHL2K8.
http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/72102871.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193875DCB1DD8387ABBBBA8B09AB936ABF7A40A659CEC4C8CB6

Is he a beaver? Those are some NASTY front teeth.....:eek:

[samifan24]

Is he a beaver? Those are some NASTY front teeth.....:eek:

Haha, I never even noticed his front teeth before. I always noticed his crazy hair and wondered what happened there. "Oh, time for my headshot? Hang on a sec, I have to crazy up my hair" or "What? Headshot now? Like, right now?"

[Maple Leafs]

It's funny because it's true.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VcXNtWlxkG8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VcXNtWlxkG8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[samifan24]

Can any Leafs fans or Toronto area natives help me out here? I'm looking for some advice on where to buy cheap or face value tickets to a Leafs-Habs game in early November. My buddy and I want to do a Buffalo-Toronto-Hockey Hall road trip but I've heard that Leafs tixs are really hard to buy. Any advice you guys can offer beyond the usual eBay / StubHub stuff?

[Dr. Sak]

Hey Maple Leafs...just so you know

August 9th 7pm on the NHL Network...Leafs vs LA...Where Gretzky has a hat trick and leads the Kings to the Finals.

I hear that Kerry Frazier was the ref in that game...is that true?

[samifan24]

Hey Maple Leafs...just so you know

August 9th 7pm on the NHL Network...Leafs vs LA...Where Gretzky has a hat trick and leads the Kings to the Finals.

I hear that Kerry Frazier was the ref in that game...is that true?

I tried to look this up on Hockey-Reference but discovered that they don't have individual game box scores that go back that far. Too bad.

[Maple Leafs]

That's actually not the Fraser game. That was game six.

[Dr. Sak]

I still wanted to bring up the pain that festers inside.

[Dr. Sak]

Hey SR...I was listening to Stan and Guy today and they said that tomorrow is Cindy's 21st birthday. If you tune in tomorrow and call...you can be the lucky fan who gets to call and wish him a happy birthday.

[BishopMVP]

I have a picture of the first face-off between Lindros and Gretzky, with Kerry Fraser dropping the puck, signed by all 3. How much would ML pay to burn it?

[Maple Leafs]

I have a picture of the first face-off between Lindros and Gretzky, with Kerry Fraser dropping the puck, signed by all 3. How much would ML pay to burn it?
Wow.

Bsak, you want to kick in 1/3 of the price on this?

[Dr. Sak]

Let's do it!

[Maple Leafs]

My only concern is that it will be hard to burn once I'm done peeing on it.

[NoSkillz]

Can any Leafs fans or Toronto area natives help me out here? I'm looking for some advice on where to buy cheap or face value tickets to a Leafs-Habs game in early November. My buddy and I want to do a Buffalo-Toronto-Hockey Hall road trip but I've heard that Leafs tixs are really hard to buy. Any advice you guys can offer beyond the usual eBay / StubHub stuff?

No offense, but good luck finding cheap Leafs tickets. Cheap and Leafs tickets just don't go together in the same sentence. That's why so many of their fans invade Buffalo three or four times a year to see their team in action.

And that's why I'm able to get a king's ransom when I sell off my Sabres/Leafs games in Buffalo...even charging two-times the face value is a deal for Toronto fans.

You should be able to find tickets at a reasonable price for your stop in Buffalo...they will be completely sold out most likely this year but you can usually comb the net or get a reasonable rate from a scalper in front of the arena.

If not, drop me a line. I have season tix for the Sabres so I can probably sell you a game...among the teams visiting Buffalo in early November are Washington (1st), Atlanta (7th), St. Louis (12th) and Columbus (14th). Philly is in on the 21st.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Hey SR...I was listening to Stan and Guy today and they said that tomorrow is Cindy's 21st birthday. If you tune in tomorrow and call...you can be the lucky fan who gets to call and wish him a happy birthday.

So now he can go drinking...how soon until we see a picture like this
http://photos-882.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v248/164/45/32100882/n32100882_31229871_654.jpg


...only it's Richards trying to cop a feel of Sid instead.

[Dr. Sak]

Sid could only wish he could pull ass like Richards can. Plus there is a bigger pool of women for Richards too. You have the Philly girls and the NJ sluts. Here you just have yinzers.

[Dr. Sak]

My only concern is that it will be hard to burn once I'm done peeing on it.

How about we stuff it in a bag...crap in it...light it on fire and leave it on Bobby Clarke's steps.