tnt

Oh, I think you have a pretense of having virtuous character, but in reality it is about what's good for you at the time.

So you're saying 10 years ago you would have felt the same as most of us. Nice that you can admit you're a hypocrite and are only looking out for number one. Guess that is what the University is doing as well.

I don't think that anyone thinks he is going to flop, so I don't see how him getting paid and starting on his first contract is going to be his downfall. He may not be as dominant as he would have been if he waited another year, but I think he'll be just fine.

They haven't found a way to work around it for Major Juniors, but you can bet that it will be a different story for something they deem politically correct.

They should be ashamed that they have made it impossible for women to play in the Olympics and still keep their college eligibility.

They said yesterday that everybody on the Avs was in the minus category, but Jost isn't, so he is more than holding his own so far, even though he hasn't added a lot offensively. Did their complete aversion to college players until recently play a part in their demise?

But if those people weren't Champion Club members, you also get that extra money. Plus I believe they are increasing the money required for each level of the club.

Bruins sign JFK from Boston University.

Agree with Yzerman in having heavy lineups when necessary and more speed and skill when needed. I love the energy and speed when both Yon and Bowen are together, and if Hoff is in with them, that line can fly.

My point was more about people looking at Jones's numbers and assuming he would be the odd man out of the 3 guys coming in. Just saying that there are so many more variables to who will end up playing the most.

It's really tough to say how people adjust to the next level and what their new roles will be. If you went strictly by numbers, Easton Brodzinski should have been playing for St. Cloud before Bowen played at UND, but Bowen fulfilled a role we needed. Jones knows what to expect from college hockey, and even though Kawaguchi put up bigger numbers, they both put up about the same percentage of their teams goals, 35 percent for Kawaguchi, and 33 percent for Jones. The fact that they are both Captains, says a lot about their standing on their current teams. I suspect both will see quite a bit of action, but if they don't, it means some guys stepped up their games a bit from last year. Can't complain if that happens. Bottom line is while the real high end guys might not be here, the competition for ice time is going to lift the level of play for everybody else.

Not saying he will be a great pro, but it seems strange that someone with his college career doesn't get a sniff from them.

Kawaguchi with 6 assists tonight to take over as the playoff scoring leader and Gabe Bast with a goal for Penticton.

What's the scoop?

So, does Will Butcher still entertain signing with Colorado after this year, or does he go elsewhere because of the snub last summer? How do you not try sign him after last year? That's why Colorado is a mess.

Jost misses his shootout attempt, but it was neat they let him do it.

Was she the spokesperson for Standing Rock in the DAPL crisis?

We need to rethink this cutting of Women's Hockey. Apparently we were recruiting a Big-Time prospect from Switzerland!

I thought if he ever came to the U.S. he would be arrested on the spot, so he might be bolting. Just keep him away from the Junior High Schools!

That's what I'm saying, you couldn't find something else to cut that would yield more towards the deficit than the women's hockey team.

... and how many of those salaries topped the $80,000 per player figure that was pointed on some threads?

I know we are talking about replacing goals, but points from the defense should help the overall goals go up. (I guess that is a "duh" statement) Let's face it, as a freshman you are more worried about not getting burned and I'm sure the coaches make sure they are taking care of that end first. As we saw with Stecher, jumping into the play and forcing the other team to defend can pay off big dividends as well because it is hard to account for everybody. We saw guys like Peski and Johnson quite fearless in jumping into the play late in the season, including our loss to BU. If we can add some offensive output there and Bast can add a little as well, that should help our overall output. Add to that equation the better ability to skate the puck out of your own end and make that great outlet pass that can hit your forwards in stride more often than was the case this year, and improvement could come from that alone.

What do we mean by top 6 forwards? Do we mean will they be in the top 6 forwards in production, or will they be thrown out there in certain offensive situations. I can easily see Bowen and Yon thrown out there early and often when you need the energy to get the team and crowd going. I don't necessarily know if either or both of them will be 10 goal scorers, but we didn't have a lot of them this year either. Regardless, I like what they bring to the team, and there is always that potential to take that step to producing in the 10 goal range.

Yeah, that was horrible expecting him to make the lineup on merit.

We usually have one freshman that surprises us. Could use a couple of them next year, as well as no players back sliding in their development, and all of them taking a step forward. Also hoping that the power play improves without the stars. Good old puck movement, taking away the eyes of the goalie, and getting shots to the net. Wind up the grinders like they were against BU, and minimal outings like the home games against Michigan State, and Saturday games against Omaha and Western Michigan. Need players to buy in from the start into the Gaarder, Pattyn, Gornall, Bowen and Smith work ethic, and get the rookies on board with that style from day one. Optimism-- Pass it on!