redwing77

I really believe that Aebisher is the Giguere of the playoffs. I'm not saying he's going to be a flop in subsequent years, but he's stunk (relatively) as a backup under Roy (meaning that the Avs were beatable with him in net, whereas it was much more difficult to beat the Roy goaled Avs). The Avs are top heavy in scorers but fairly weak in defense (I can't name another Dman other than Blake). That means Aebisher is going to see more shots against better teams that are built on agility and speed, like the Sharks. I feel the Sharks are going to win because they bring that speed and agility with a physical presence as well. They are good in the corners and their defense is gelling very well. Nabakov is underrated as a goaltender (except to the Sharks organization otherwise they wouldn't have traded away Kiprusoff). The Sharks don't have the dynamic finishers like Forsberg, Sakic, Hejduk (sp?), Kariya, or Selanne, but they do have a very cohesive and role-oriented team, which can be dangerous as well (see last year's Anaheim and 1995's NJ Devils).

Wings Sharks Lightening Leafs

Last I checked, there were three: Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary

As much as you frown on buying teams, I'd be very leary of saying that Detroit is buying the Stanley Cup. If that was the case, then Federov, Selanne, and Kariya would be a Red Wing. Here's why: Steinbrenner, has a tendency to buy World Series appearances (if not wins) buy simply buying everyone who may be of value on the market. Why? Because he can. Look at Rondell White/David Justice/ Jose Canseco a few years back. Did he need all three? No, but if he hadn't acted, a team like the Mariners, Red Sox (god forbid ), or the A's would have and you can't take a chance on competition. That's why I dislike the Yankees so much. They buy players, not for need, but because they can. Same thing with the Rangers. And you're right. Sather needs to be fired as GM. It's ok if he assumes the role of Ranger's President or CEO, but GM duties and coaching duties should stay out of his hands. His coaching style and player types do not make a real competitive team day in and day out. The Red Wings are neither the Yankees or the Rangers because they are picky. They choose players to pursue and have backup plans in case they fall through. When Federov went to the Ducks, they got Whitney, Hatcher, and eventually got Lang. Hatcher and Whitney are, the Red Wings feel, what it's going to take to fill Federov's skates. Lang gives them a power forward, something they've been desperate for for a long time now. They do not get because they can. There is a difference.

Nice, but who would be the odd man out? We're so stacked right now I don't know if we could give Martin as much ice time as he deserves. Can't bench the older folks, can't bench Zetterberg or Datsyuk. Zetterberg was a 7th round draft pick!

They did a version of a song that had that phrase in it, but the song I am thinking of isn't by the Eagles.

Go Cubbies! Double Yuck the Yucking Fankees!

I kinda like the song "Get Over It" (can't remember the artist). It'd be neat if they played the song when the opposing players or coaches are talking with the officials.

Hrkac, whether you want to admit it or not, is getting up there in age. For someone with his age, he's lucky to be still in professional hockey at all. And, mind you, he may be in the AHL, but I thought his rights were owned by an NHL team, therefore allowing him to be called up if need be. With the lockout looming, it would not be surprising to see Hrkac retire. A note about that link listed earlier in the thread, it is out of date. But I'm surprised, as I perused the Hockey Database site, that most of those players listed are still playing hockey in some form professionally. Also, did you know that UND had a player drafted #8 overall way back when play for the Sioux? Josh Herper was his name. Didn't know that. Evidentally, he was also a bust as he never made it to the NHL. I think he played with UND in the early 90s and only for a season or two.

I should remind you that there are cheap players on most every NHL team. Here are a few off the top of my head: Tie Domi, Darcy Tucker, Bryan Marchment (Toronto) Chris Phillips (Ottawa) Scott Parker (Anaheim) (*sigh*) Darren McCarty and Kirk Maltby can get cheap sometimes (Detroit) Peter Worrell (Colorado) And that's all I can think of excluding the Vancouver Canucks at present.

Tampa looks solid to me. They have all the ingredients including chemistry. Detroit has experience and goalscorers, but they are not infallible. Just look at the trouble they are having with Nashville.

When was the last time we had a Captain that had, what consensus would call a "Good" season?

Speaking of Commie, he registers an assist on Calgary's first goal!

Of course, if confronted, Dahl would probably say "At least we're not the Minnesota Gophers men's basketball team!"

C: Schneider A: Bochenski A: Jones or Genoway

Personally, I saw BC play that year and apart from Clemmenson, I wasn't impressed with anyone on the BC team. Not saying they were all poor players or even that Mottau didn't deserve the Hobey. I'm saying that they were just a team that gelled well enough to get themselves to the NC game and lost to us. Next year they'd exact revenge on a pretty unbelievable effort by Kobasew (?).

Red Wings are my favorite PRO team, but my #1 team is already done so I'm not crying too much.

Maybe so, but as it was mentioned in previous posts, NJ is one of the FEW teams who actually know how to develop talent from any level. They are not Melrose wannabes who have their eyes squarely set on Major Juniors. Lammoriello is a class act even if he didn't bring Zach in to play right away. Secondly, you gotta love Brodeur. Him and Belfour, with Roy's retirement, are the two best goaltenders in the NHL period. He's exciting to watch. As for Philly, I'm a JR fan because of my father. He's from Chicago and I grew up loving everything (nearly) Chicago. I'm a BIG Cubs fan and my father is a loyal Blackhawks fan, even though he never gets to watch them anymore (Damn Hawks owner blacking them out). JR came through Chicago and so we're sorta loyal. They seem to be the Cubs of the NHL. An original team who can't win the SC anymore no matter how hard they try.

Quite a list there. Congrats to Phil! Oy, there's going to be a mess between the pipes next season. Other notables was that Topher fellow. 5'5" tall. I want Cornell to come in next season. ANOTHER Pittis, but shorter (unbelievably)! He wouldn't leave ND though. Bina would accidentally step on him and then we'd be in a mess....

With Radke's supposed offensive talents, I wonder if he'll spend some time on the PP unit. If you ask me, the two PP D-pairings should be: Jones-Fuher Schneider-Radke Maybe vice versa on Fuher and Radke depending upon whatever happens.

It's nice to have someone on the inside who knows what's going on. Thanks for your insights.

nobody seems to notice that the Flames' coach thinks Commie is going to help them offensively. Was he ever an offensive minded dman? Ever up until now?

If you wish I could start up a few more polls to cheer you up?

Is that due to being on a poor team or did he just choke?

1. Regardless of how everyone yells SIOUX at the end of the Anthem, respect is given for the most part. Those jerks who yell something out before or during the anthem is just as disrespectful as those hockey players who leave the line before the color guard has left the arena. The yell harbors no ill will to either the Sioux or the U.S. because it's only one word. People do a lot worse to disrespect the U.S. these days. Look at Reality TV and politicians (most of them) for examples. 2. And I think it is just as disrespectful to embelish the song as it is to not remove your cap. It isn't a song to draw attention to your singing abilities (or in Hung's case, lack thereof). I don't mind whether you sing it fast or slow, but sing it the way it was written. If you want to be Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, go try out for American Idol. And if you want to be William Hung, keep your mouth shut if ever placed in front of a microphone, even at karaoke night.