mikejm

I knew an old man who'd fought in WWI and been gassed by the Germans. He never fully recovered from it. I am praying that my bro will pull through. Will all of you here please say a little prayer for Triouxper tonight before you lay your heads down on the pillow?

Dear God, I hope it is in a pedal car.

This always happens this time of year... nothing to talk about. We need a countdown timer 'til the puck drops again. Or, I've just got to quit stoping by here. Either way we're looking at a bad case of withdrawls.

I'm thinkin' he probably didn't marry the homecoming queen.........

PLUS, the almost certainty that Hak will never be a whiny, pencil-necked little geek like York. I'd forgotten how much that man bothers me.

Goldie's! Thanks. And the River Bend. Man I got so drunk there one night I ended up on stage with the band playing guitar. And I don't play guitar! Yeah, okay party poopers... back to the OT: Jon's gone. I hate to say that, but I don't think even the allure of Dakota Divas, Judy's beer and whatever else we can pile in front of young Mr. Toews is going to stack up against skating on at least the second line in the NHL. He won't spend a day in the AHL, and the Hawks will load his contract up with attainable incentives so he'll be the highest paid rookie in the league.

Might have to. Or just run the other team off the ice with speed and average 6 or 7 goals a game! Maybe the Circus is coming back to town this fall.

I like the lines yzerman's put together, but there is a real "problem" on defense beyond the logjam that is apparent. Even if Lee leaves and LaPoint plugs into his slot, I see a bunch of smooth puck-handling Dmen who can carry the puck from end to end and score like crazy. So we go from a d-corps with one guy who people bad-mouth cause he "won't hit anyone" to a group with at least two more "finesse" dmen, and no big hitters coming in. The nay-sayers aren't going to have enough wind in their lungs to bad-mouth the whole bunch of defensemen. Second problem: we'll have to get used to 8-6 and 7-5 games all year. Ain't nobody there to knock any opponents off the puck.

Oh man, all these bar names from my past! There was a place out on the highway, maybe east and south of EGF that I think was a golf course at one time. Can't remember the name. Any help? And a little dive downtown EGF that had a beautiful old juke box with the colored bubbly lights. The old man that ran the place used to make a heckuva ham sandwich. Can't remember the name of that place either. The Level 7 and Spud were great places 'til I got my fake IDs, at which time the more "mature" bars of Grand Forks became available. Seems to me a guy could get high just walking in the River Queen.

Brian is also one of the shyest kids you'll ever meet, so I don't know that I'd read a lot into how much conversation anyone had with him. Really, I don't think he's even comfortable talking to himself.

nm

No, probably not. EVERYONE HERE WANTS FLORIDA TO SIGN HIM! (and yes, I know I'm yelling.)

In all seriousness, I CAN vouch for thetriouxper on this one. Honest man. Opinionated, but honest and straightforward.

I think the only thing missing from this list is: The CHECK is in the mailbox!

I can vouch for this. He doesn't even pretend to like me anymore. And I'm his freakin' bro!

Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?

Stay in my seat? Heck no. I rose to my feet to accept the thunderous applause from my adoring fans.

Hmmmmmmm....... Wait 'til the "fans" hear about this!

Heck, when I was a student, I smuggled a live chicken into the Winter Sports Building.

Well, not to shatter anyone's illusions here, but a buddy of mine and I did visit Hak's office and tell him that in spite of my season tickets going up in price AGAIN, I am coming back next season.

I agree wholeheartedly Whistler. I think Chorney, Duncs and TJ stayings changes the dynamic. Now Jon is weighing staying here with his homeboys against going to get the money that will be there (and the exact same amount!) whether he goes now or a year from now. I'm moving JT staying into the "maybe" column; it's been in the "color him gone" ledger for months.

Yeah, Like Pamela Anderson!

And you give me a hard time for trying to inject logic and reason into threads. This, my boy, is the answer. We need to get this to the GF City Attorney's office immediately. Can you imagine the phone conversation? JToews: Um, Mr. Tallon? This is Jonathan. Toews, sir. From North Dakota. (Blackhawk's GM) Dale Tallon: Yes, Jon. I remember who you are. Ready to sign young man? We're ready to make you the rookie max. And we found some incentives we can include that will knock your socks off Jon. JToews: Um, yes sir. Well, you see, um, there's something that's come up sir. Here in Grand Forks. Tallon: What is it Jon? Do we have to put off the press conference for a couple of days? That's fine. We can set it up for next week sometime. Make sure we have enough time to get the Gulfstream there and to Winnipeg to pick up your folks. JToews: Well sir, it's a bit more complicated than that. Tallon: Complicated? What's going on son? What's this about? JToews: Well sir, you recall that little, um, incident? You know, me and Robbie and TJ. At the bar, sir. You do recall that, don't you? Tallon: Yes, yes, yes Jon. Don't worry about that. Boys will be boys and all that. But what's that got to do with anything Jon? JToews: Well sir. Its all rather strange. In fact, no one seems to recall this ever happening here before, but it seems I can't leave college for a year, sir. Tallon: What's that Jon? I missed that last part. JToews: Sir, it seems I can't leave Grand Forks County except to go to amateur hockey games, sir. Tallon: WHAT!?! WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT JON?!? JToews: Sorry sir. You don't need to yell. I can hear you very well. I'm sorry about this. But the law's the law. I can't play for you next year. Not without breaking the law sir. Tallon: What are you saying Jon? What do you mean? JToews: Well, sir. The judge found us guilty sir. Of being minors on the premises sir. And she sentenced TJ and I to one-year of community service, sir. Tallon: So you come down here and give some speeches Jon. We'll parade you through the schools and the youth rinks. You can still sign with us. We'll have the plane there Friday in fact. Tell you folks we'll put you all up on Lakeshore for the weekend. JToews: Well, yes, Mr. Tallon, that'd be nice and all, but this judge sir. She says I can't leave town except to go to an amateur hockey game. You know, like a college game, or a World Juniors game. It's just happened sir. Mr. Tallon. Tallon: You are kidding me, right Jon? This is some kind of late April Fools joke. Do they have April Fools in Canada Jon? Is it on a different day there. You know, like your Thanksgiving is different, right? So this is a joke, right? JToews: Um, well, no sir. It isn't a joke at all. You see the judge, sir. Its all right here in the sentencing order sir. It is official and everything. Tallon: WTF is going on here Jon? Get me the name of that judge young man. I'll get on the phone and get this straightened out RF now. What's the name? You got the phone number there? JToews: Welll sir. I don't know about that. I think I just want to follow the order sir. No disrespect, sir. But this is a judge and all, and well, you know. Its the law, sir. I'll just stay here for next season, and we'll see what happens then. I still am very excited about putting on a Blackhawks sweater sir. I think they're really awesome looking. I'll be there, but just not til next year, sir. Tallon: Jon, we're going to get to the bottom of this. This is utter horses***! Who is this judge? I'll get legal on it, Jon. We'll get this all straightened out real quick. JToews: Well, yes sir. You do what you have to do. But I think I'll just stay here like the judge ordered, sir. Look, Mr. Tallon. I've got to get going here. I've got an Algebra test in the morning and I really have to study for it. I'll talk to you later, sir. And Mr. Tallon? I'm really sorry about this. Tallon: Okay Jon. Like I said, we'll get legal on it. We'll get this fixed up. Don't worry about anything. JToews: Um, yes sir. I'll see you in a year or so. Good bye sir. And good luck in the draft. I can't wait to see who you pick first. I'll talk to you later sir. (Hangs up) JToews (to room full of Fighting Sioux team mates): I think he bought it guys! I'm back!

We all have our jobs to do here Triouxper; your's is to get us back to the Frozen Four. Mine is to turn joyous bubbles of celebration into lead balloons of logic. BTW, welcome back. St. Louis called. They want their freaking arch back.

I don't mean to go all sentimental here, but aren't the announcements these three (and with luck four or five) young men have made this week marvelous indications of the type of people Hak et al have recruited?