dom

BTW - all jokes aside. I've completely given up and stopped watching the Leaves. These idiots on the radio and in the media keep talking about them and I just change the channel. There is truly no hope whatsoever. I can't recall it ever being this bad. And from what I can tell, many people have stopped caring as well. Until they strip it down to the bones I could care less what happens.

black label

Not that Boston is the same as Toronto as a market but we do love our bruins. Even when the celtics were winning championships with regularity, the bruins were the favorite team at the garden. It took some real crap teams before the fans had enough and stopped showing up. That's the key to fixing it. Spend no money. The nutjobs in Toronto buy a $200 jersey a $300 ticket and proceed to throw the jersey on the ice. That's not going to make them care, it just help them sell more jerseys and tickets.

Yumcha

This "win" philosophy is what Edmonton has wholly embraced for the last several years. Kinda like what parents teach very small kids to take the sting away from a loss.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

dom

I think its finally starting to happen, but its going to take a real long time for it to start effecting the bottom line. Like more than 50 years. The people on this city are far to insane about the Leaves to stop buying tickets and Jerseys unfortunately.

black label

The other part was changing the culture of the team. Will Toronto have the balls to trade away their Joe Thornton? As much as that trade made Boston look crazy at the time it was a starting point towards righting the ship.

Yumcha

Who wants Phil the Thrill and his contract? Well, as crazy as it sounds, his talents at wing would be darn useful to a team like the Pens who could use more sniping at winger...and has the leadership in place to whip Phil into shape...literally.



But, otherwise, dunno who'd want him. Where's Burke again? Calgary? Maybe they'll trade for him.

black label

Letang for Kessel?

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

The Pens don't want him, or his contract

Yumcha

Well, good to play arm-chair GM, that's all. Wasn't trying to be snarky...but, seriously...Phil and his uncoachable reputation needs to go somewhere with a VERY established locker room and winning culture.

Not many teams have it. I mean, Bruins had it but they shipped him out to Toronto obviously...but, maybe Sid, Geno, et al have what it takes to get this guy back to planet Earth. Otherwise, trading Phil to a team like say, the Habs? Probably not going to work.

black label's idea of Letang for Phil is not terrible. Similar contracts and given Pittsburgh's D-men in their pipeline...?



Still, I would not trade a good D-man for a winger straight up ever.

#1/#2 D-men do not grow on trees...lots of wingers. Look at the stupid Oilers...drafted nearly all wingers with their big picks and look at where are they now.

Yumcha

OR...maybe...(hoping to draw Moog out to tell me how horridly wrong I am)...Phil the Thrill to the KINGS for Mike AHL-Richards and some picks? Richards going back into a starring role (i.e. top line) may help his career big-time and get him back to his Flyers days?

black label

Hmm, alright, how about Kessel for Letang

Fibonacci

I'll take the balance of Richards contract to fail at pro hockey...

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Yumcha

Hawks are slumping.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Playing Edmonton tonight... If they win, I'm done

Yumcha

It's a trap game!

black label

So Toronto is telling the other teams to get their trade offers together...

Blog Central

Yumcha

Dion would not be horrid as a #4 D-man somewhere. He's not horrid...just not a #1 D...and definitely not captain-material.

black label

Its official, PK Subban is a card carrying member of the NHL dive team.

Canadiens' Subban fined for diving/embellishment - NHL.com - News

Sacrebleu

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Yumcha

Even the jerseys!

...hence why they are tossed away!

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Oilers top scorer has 31 pts... Kris Letang has more points than anyone on the Oilers...

Yumcha

Which...makes tonight being a trap game even more a trap.

And I'll say this, my Hawks were spanked up and down the ice by these darned Oilers a couple weeks ago...so, if Sid and the Pens show up half-asleep, SOMEBODY'S GONNA A GET A HURT REAL BAD. SOMEBODY.

Yumcha

So, the top teams picked to contend are slumping lately? Pens...Kings...Hawks...Isles...


Although, if trends would have it...I wonder even if the Kings will get into the playoffs.

They are 12th in the Western Conference!

Of course, *in Moog voice* Deano meant to do that.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

This is the time of year where they start playing better

Yumcha

Yeah, maybe rock bottom was getting zipped by the Caps last night...we'll see.

So, snarking aside about team D, look at the Kings though: Slapya Titsov's stupidity in beating women has left a giant void in the Kings squad...don't tell me missing a #3/#4 d-man doesn't hurt. And does it reflect on OMG-GODLY-Quick's numbers? It's quite possible...

Not sure if the void there is ever going to be lifted unless the Kings can trade for another D-man...hence my theory Richards for Phaneuf?

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

There's a definite void there, plus the cap issues they struggled with because of it, definitely hurt them

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

This just in, the leaves have lost 10 games in a row...

Let the jerseys hit the floor, let the jerseys hit the floor, let the jerseys hit the floor, let the jerseys hit the.... FLOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

Yumcha

NO. LA Kings do NOT get into cap ISSUES. There is no such thing as that for Deano who is the Lord Sauron of cap management.

It's only our teams that are in cap hell. Told you. Gosh, why do I have to repeat myself, Ack?

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Must be all the hits to the head

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Matt Cooke possibly out for the season with a knee injury... That's the definition of irony after all his knee on knee hits...

Yumcha

Kar. Ma.




And sorry, but... @ Cooke. Don't feel bad. AT ALL.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

After watching him knee Ehrhoff long after the puck was gone, I agree, Karma

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

SH!T!

Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist will not play Wednesday against Bruins



New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist will not be available for team on Wednesday night for its game against the Boston Bruins because of an issue with his throat according to coach Alain Vigneault. Officially he is out with an "upper body injury" but Vigneault admitted it is related to a recent incident involving a puck hitting him in the throat.

Two games ago Lundqvist was hit in the throat by a shot from Carolina's Brad Malone.

As the puck approached the net, the stick of Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh came up and lifted Lundqvist's goalie mask and throat protector just enough to allow the shot to sneak underneath and hit him.

Lundqvist immediately dropped to the ice and remained there in what appeared to be significant pain for several minutes. He remained in the game and admitted afterwards that he had some trouble breathing and was briefly lightheaded. He started the Rangers' most recent game, a 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

^First thing I thought of when I heard that, was that I thought he used a throat protector. Amazing that the puck got up under it, you just can't protect all the time.

black label

He does use a throat protector, McDonagh lifted it with his stick just in time for Lundquist to get a puck in the throat.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

Shocked teh Rangers have gotten 3 by Rask.

Yumcha

So far, the Pens look to not have made the same dumb@$$ mistake the Hawks and Kings did when they played the Failboat Oilers.