yzerman19

Then you have to factor in role playing now and potential as a future role player. Many scorers in junior are pegged for role player jobs in the show, and you can even go in the first round if you are projected to be an excellent checker. I've heard from a number of guys who were 40 goal guys in junior and 20 goal guys in college how quickly you realize who the Ovechkins and Stamkoses are when you get to camp. Look at a Dave Bolland for example, he had 57 goals and 130 points in the O, but he's never had 20 in the show.

I can't keep the rules straight- I'm simply an advocate of allowing two-line passes. They've been in and out and college is different than pro

4 X 4, no red-line, 10 minutes would be awesome

Mark would be a force if he were 6'2 210...unfortunately he's 5'11 165. O'Donnell has to produce early and often or he could find himself as odd-man out of the top 9

But Drake and Rocco were out together often at the end of last year...

I'm curious if you split Rocco and Cags for a reason? I felt like Cags was a different player when he was out with Grimaldi last year

So...upfront I like: Mark Mac with Parks and Tambellini Rocco with Cags and Murphy Johnson with St. Clair and Chyzyk/O'Donnell Pattyn with Rodwell and Mitch Mac/Gaarder/Jim I think those top two lines will produce...chemistry with the center and one winger already exists, then add two frosh BCHLers On D Simpson and Schmaltz Mattson and Thompson LaDue and Ausmus/Panzo I'm a little worried about how we'll play in our own end...not a real big/strong dcorps...

The range and the like is not where the current big divide is...they've been Blue Dog since before the term was popular. For generations republicans and democrats disagreed only on a few issues. The chasm that exists now is truly about urban collectivism vs rural individualism

The division isn't ND vs MN it truly is rural vs urban. The conflict between urban values and mindset and rural values and mindset is manifest everywhere- from this article, to the presidential election and politics in general.

More like a Gibson's porterhouse!

It is more than a pile of metal, but I get what you mean. It is about what the cup symbolizes for those who've earned the right to have their name enscribed.

Here's the best part: The captain of the 2013 NHL champs and the captain of the 2013 NCAA champs have something very much in common: THEY ARE THE SAME BIRTH YEAR!!!!! Jonny Toews April 1988, Andrew MIller September 1988

So, not to be a jerk, but pot and kettle occurs in your post as well: you're not your...sorry, couldn't help myself

I agree that Wayne wouldn't score 90 goals in the current NHL, but I firmly believe in his prime he would be 50-60 goal 80-90 assist guy in today's NHL. That blows everyone away...remember, only Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Bernie Nichols and Phil Esposito ever scored 150 points in an NHL season. Jagr and Lafontaine each came really close...Wayne did it 9 times.

I've never heard anyone say Wayne is overrated. Wow- that's just crazy. Not only was he the most prolific scorer in terms of both finishing and playmaking, but also his teams won championships.

Yup, Wayne wasn't drafted...he was actually playing pro at 16 in the WHA. Think about that... Also think about the fact that his worst season, the last one in his storied career, he still scored 62 points. A highly regarded center like say, Jordan Staal, has never scored more than 50 points in a season.

There is some real competition at that #3 spot...Toewser has 1000 point and multiple cup potential, Pat LaFontaine was highly skilled, Scott Neidermeyer among the best dmen...

Anybody been watching the choices pop up on NHL.com? Criteria is that the player had to be drafted, in the first round, at a certain number. Example, Ken Dryden was a dominant goalie and was selected 14th overall, but in 1964, that was the third round...NHL.com has been doing it in reverse order and has made it to #21 and Kevin Lowe. Here are my picks for #1-#20...clearly there is interpretation here, so we can have a fun little discussion. 1 Mario Lemieux 2 Marcel Dionne 3 Denis Savard 4 Steve Yzerman 5 Scott Stevens 6 Paul Coffey 7 Bernie Federko 8 Ray Bourque 9 Brian Leetch 10 Teemu Selanne 11 Jerome Iginila 12 Marian Hossa 13 JS Giguere 14 Brian Propp 15 Mike Bossy 16 Dave Andrychuk 17 Zach Parise 18 Ken Daneyko 19 Keith Tkachuk 20 Martin Brodeur I debated hard between Scott Stevens and Jaromir Jagr at #5...tough to call that one in my opinion. I also debated Mike Bossy vs Joe Sakic at #15, but the Islanders dominance with a healthy Bossy and his 50 goals every year put him in.

That's pretty bold...even for a kid as highly regarded as Jones...although I could very easily see a year that looks like this: Avs, Portland, Avs

I'd love to play with a kid like Evander Kane. You have to give him credit for sticking up for himself- a very young first round pick at the time. Expected to score some goals and grow into an elite level power forward- no fear, no hesitation- straight up honest fight. You have to believe he scored mega bonus points in his own locker room and around the league (regardless of how you feel about Cooke) for standing up for himself and showing that he can throw the mittens. Fully within the code, he just rocked him.

You hit it on the head. It is about respect. The hockey code has always been about respect. I absolutely detest fights that erupt from good, hard, clean hits. I completely condone a player defending themself...if I'm getting cross checked in the back of the neck and I turn around and tell a guy to do it to my face, and he skates away, he is a punk. If I do that and he says "let's go"...well...so be it. I take every chance I can to de-escalate any situation I'm in- its just not worth it. That said however, I would defend my family, myself, and their and my honor. That said, I haven't been in a scrap since a drunken college brawl in the 90's...I'm also not a pro athlete competing at a very high level of emotion with lots of physicality... Fighting would be unnecessary if everyone treated everyone with respect, but we know that doesn't happen. Back to the questions about lawyers...is disrespecting someone using the power of the law or the power of money any different than disrespecting someone with words or fists? I'd actually advocate that words and fists are much more honest, with less detrimental impact (99.9% of the time).

not a lawyer, but stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night...a couple business law classes in B school, but that was mostly contract law. A single shot to the chin or snout of an idiot shooting there mouth off will never be charged or prosecuted. I do not support or condone pugilism in most cases, but in some cases...people need to be informed that certain things will not be tolerated. sometimes a right cross speaks most loudly.

Libel, slander, sedition, terroristic threats...there are laws against words. Assault by definition is verbal. If it becomes physical it is battery.

People must be accountable for all of their actions, including their words. Morality is not subject only to actual physical action...Nurembourg anyone?? To me, the morality issue is simply whether or not the response is commensurate with the stimulus...call me ugly, and I am licensed to give you a black eye. Quid pro quo. Threaten the safety of my wife and children- different response.

I also played, and the minute I could go half shield, I did...and as described, not for any kind of machismo...because I could see better. I have never put the full mask back on. Not in intramurals, not in men's league...I have a couple scars from some sticks, but nothing that is disfiguring (I wasn't going to be a model anyway). I make a very good living with my brain, so there wasn't any cognitive damage. As for playing with the full shield your whole life...yes, you do team practice and games in a full mask, but we spent way more hours on the outdoor in nothing but a stocking cap. Again, nothing life threatening. I certainly got a bloody nose and a black eye or two. Here's my analogy- its like having sex with your wife of ten years with a condom even though you're fixed...why???