redwing77

Post was fixed.

Speaking of whiners and cheapskates, Burke (GM of Vancouver) was fired today. Now we won't have to hear his incessant whining everytime one of his players gets called for running the goaltender. I say this knowing that Burke was a decent evaluator of talent on draft day and that he'd probably find another job (Rangers? If they wisen up, make Sather President and seperate all the other duties to people who are more capable). One player doesn't make a team, Goon. Ribiero and maybe Kovalev has had moments, but there ARE quality players on Montreal (Theodore, Ryder, etc.) just like there are good players on Boston (Raycroft, Samsonov, Bergeron, Thornton, etc.)

Maine and BC will be trouble, but Northeaster and Mankato shouldn't be that hard. Northeastern has some talent, but we're more so than they are.

Since it's just a social event, the music doesn't matter. So I suggest elevator music

Yeah, I noticed, but I'm still in shock over the Yzerman injury. Wow. Just in case anyone was wondering if he'd come back next year if there was hockey, I think that injury just sealed the lid on that one. :Sigh: and so passes one of the greatest hockey players ever to wear the "C" on his jersey. With Yzerman out, I am still rooting for the Wings, but it's going to be a mountain to climb now that their heart and soul leadership has been shaken with the loss of Yzerman. No, Yzerman isn't the greatest hockey player on the team this year, but his leadership is unsurpassed in the NHL and he has been known in the past to be clutch with scoring. He's for sure Hall of Fame first ballot. And to whomever posted that picture of Commie: Nice hit on Hatcher! Philly's next game is going to determine who goes on and who doesn't. If Philly wins, they'll advance, but if Burke blows it, the Leafs come from behind to take the series.

Dahl's lucky he has Kurtz. And as for your claim, there has been great coaches who have never played the game, at least professionally. Case in point: Scotty Bowman, Lou Holtz...

Don't confuse the Leafs with Quinn. Quinn is notorious for whining. He did that with his last team (didn't he come from Vancouver?). TommieJo- Thanks for agreeing with me on several points, but I wasn't talking about DI down south. A Detroit Lightening SC final would be exciting, but they're having so much trouble with Calgary it isn't funny. Esche IS beatable and it's not about the Flyers leaving him out to dry. I watched one of the games the Flyers lost and the commentators were all over the fact that this was the Esche we saw "during the regular season." Therefore, if he reverts back to how he was the entire season, Philly will have trouble. Belfour is Belfour. And no goaltender can withstand a ton of shots without giving up goals here and there. If your defense leaves you out to dry, even the best can get burned.

Uh, let's correct that a bit, sagard. Put Michigan Tech's coach and Dahl together in the same tier. That's better. MTU can win games and be productive in a season but still fall faster than Wily Coyote off a cliff. Although the fall is more gradual, Dahl's teams are no better. People are saying that the WCHA is becoming more and more like the NHL with the way it is being run and expectations on the coaches. Well, if this is true, Dahl would be fired. A parallelism with baseball: Mike Hargrove got the Indians to or to the cusp of the World Series several times but he never won. The result? He got fired. Dahl has gotten SCSU on the map for several straight seasons but has failed to make it past the first round of the NCAAs...ever. End result? Who knows, but it should be his dismissal. For this, he's among the worst coaches in the WCHA.

I agree, there are far dirtier teams in the playoffs than the Habs. However, the rivalry between Montreal and Boston goes back to the earliest days of the NHL, as those are two of the six original teams. And on a side note: Did I not say Esche was beatable? I think I did. Up 2 games to none, Philadelphia has found a way to let Toronto get back into the series drawing up the question: GOT CHOKE? Maybe. The question will be answered as soon as either team reaches 4 wins in the series. Of course, if Philly still wins the series, the answer will be no, but if the Leafs should win....

The Morelands are an interesting problem. With older brother going to SCSU, I would think that Dahl has the inside track (incredible as that may seem). I am not sure if Blais will recruit Matt, but he does look good. It is hard to say whether or not Blais will make a run for him just because he's a home town boy. He usually goes for who will fit with the organization, its tradition, and the style of play Blais endorses. If anyone doesn't fit to that, they don't get recruited. I have faith that whatever he decides will be the right decision, even if that means Matt becoming a star at Swoon State Community College.

Oooh Dinner with Charles Kupchella. That will sell well among members of this board

Sydney may have bounced around the idea of going college at one point, or a rumor of such was started, but Sydney would still either be at Shattuck's right now or in some junior league (Can only assume USHL) if he had decided to do that. Instead he is now playing for Rimouiski Oceanic of the QMJHL. It is the fast track to the NHL and it gave him an opportunity to play with the "big boys" earlier. Either he can stall out and drop or he can steadily rise in skill and be a far and away #1 overall pick. Chances are, he'll be a #1 overall pick.

I'd like to think far more college hockey fans would be interested in Tampa because of St. Louis. He's finally giving college hockey some light it needs to grow. Turning GM heads towards colleges is good for the sport. St. Louis was not drafted, wasn't really supposed to make it in the NHL (5'10" is the tallest I've seen him listed, most list him at 5'9") and now he's doing great. The Lightening were down and out for so long it's nice to see them beating everyone up. All I can say is that it was amusing to watch the Avs after scoring last night in OT. It's like they won admittance to the finals. Fact is, they staved off the end of the season for one more game. WOW, I'm happy for them. Needless to say, to have a shutout streak in the playoffs against a perenial powerhouse like Colorado is pretty damn impressive if you ask me. Nabakov IS the goaltender of this year's playoffs. And it looks like the Leafs are temporarily back into this one as Tucker, Kilger, and Domi found the back of the twine against the one known as Esche. I knew he could be beat. Interestly enough, he got beat by two of the cheapest players in the NHL who also aren't known for their scoring. Especially Domi. Way to be a brick wall. Sharks and Lightening win for sure. Detroit/Calgary will be a battle. Leafs/Flyers will simply be a war. If you can get a puck past Esche and keep the Flyers to two goals or less, you can beat them.

I agree with points in this statement. San Jose is VERY good. In fact, they are much better than EVERYONE thought. Can we say Anaheim? No, not really. Giguere is a good goalie, but not as good as Nabakov. For long term goaltending, I'd choose Nabakov over Giguere. They will take out Colorado. I'm not going to predict a sweep though, even if Colorado isn't playing like they belong in the playoffs. Tampa will go to the finals. I still maintain that Esche can be beat. Instead of Nabakov or Aebisher, Esche definitely is the Giguere of 2004, so that's going good for Philly. Tampa has in chemistry what Philly has in star power. Even JR cannot make me root for Philly. Sorry. Detroit and Calgary will be the only series, I feel, that will see more than 5 games this round. Calgary is playing as well as Detroit is, even with a diminished defensive corps. They got under Joseph's skin last night. If they can continue to keep playmakers like Datsyuk, Hull, Yzerman, and Zetterberg off the board, it could mean trouble. Of course, even with all those going scoreless, you still have to worry about Holmstrom, Shanahan, Lang, Lidstrom, and even Draper (24 goals this season! WOW. Not bad for a defensive forward)

Yeah, I noticed that too. It sucks now because I can't point at the NHL and ask the WCHA refs why they can't be more like the NHL.

Better there than here. Maybe WWE and UFC can get together with these guys and have a sort of hillbilly extravaganza weekend?

Interesting note: This game was the Avs best game of the playoffs. Bar none. Aebisher actually played decently and their dfense actually showed up. The goal WAS a fluke. HOWEVER, once again Nabakov was unbelievable. I think Forsberg is getting upset too easily because of recent shady calls and the fact that he's being humiliated nightly by Nabakov. Anyone know Colorado's regular season record vs the Sharks for this season?

The REd Wings are as far as I go for Detroit. The rest sucks. Basketball sucks entirely (but that still won't stop cheering every time the Lakers lose). For me, go to Green Bay for Football and Chicago (North Side I think) for baseball (GO CUBBIES!)

Both have a chance to come back. Being optimistic I think that Toronto can fight their way back. Though the Avs are probably easier to claim comeback rights, I still hope the Sharks embarrass the Avs. And the Sharks have problems with Detroit. For Detroit, it isn't as cut and dry as it was two seasons ago. They're going to have to fight their way to the finals. Tampa looks too damn good not to say they will make the finals.

It matters little how many games the Avs play. They're just trying to extend their season. I gave them the benefit of the doubt by extending as far as I could forsee: to Game 7 of this series. After all, this is an "All Star" Colorado team that lost to Minnesota when they had an even better Colorado team than they do now. No way. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if Salo got some time. I hope Granato doesn't get fired though. It's not his fault that his dmen and goaltenders are overrated.

Well, I forgive the Habs fans for a few reasons: 1. 27 (+ or - 3) Stanley Cups. Gophs fans might have 27 trophies if you count their NCs, Broadmoor, McNaughton, and participation banners. 2. The Habs are one of the original six. They got it all going so they deserve SOME leeway. So do the Bruins, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Rangers, and Maple Leafs. 3. The Habs of yesteryear were devastating. Drydan, Richard, Plante, and all those great hockey players. Wow. 4. Among Avs and Wings fans, one would recall that Montreal was where Scotty Bowman and Patrick Roy began their climb to greathood. 5. (this is unsubstantiated but I believe it is true) Like the Cubs and Packers, Habs fans still go to the games regardless of their team's record. I'd like to see that happen for any Minnesota team.

When in recent history have the Flyers come together at the right time? Esche is more unpredictable than Aebisher is (HAHAHAHA holy cow, could someone tell the Avs that they need to start playing? This isn't last year's Sharks) and the Flyers, when they have made the playoffs, have not made it to the finals yet. I say they won't see the finals this year either. Lightening in 6. Like I said, the Detroit vs Calgary series is the one to watch. Detroit in 7. Sharks in 7 I'll say the Leafs in 7 too

I think Commodore will need it more than Belfour. Pang was giving major props to him in game 7 against Ottawa. Calgary is definitely the dark horse team. They are going to play an excellent Detroit team that may outmatch them. Who knows, though. Stranger things have happened. Of all three series, I'd say the Detroit-Calgary series should be the most interesting. Young-talented vs. Old-talented.