Hey Honolulu_Blue ...

WTF? How in the hell did that kid steal my patented "Honolulu_Blue's Andreas Lilja Face"?

Does anyone know any good Canadian lawyers?

P.S. Maple Leafs, thanks. This picture is hands down going to be the best birthday present I receive all day.

OMG - HB is Abraham Lincoln!

Happy birthday, HB. :D

SI

Thanks!

This picture is still making me laugh...

not a huge shocker:

Forsberg isn't coming back this year.

Any thoughts from other markets about where Marian Hossa is going to end up? (and what Atlanta might get in return)

You've probably heard it now, but there are pretty big rumours with Montreal. Atlanta scouts have been watching Habs games for the last two weeks and Don Waddell has apparently met with Gainey at least twice. No confirmation that it is about Hossa, but it would certainly make sense.

Names that come up regularly are Chris Higgins, Michael Ryder, Kyle Chipchura, Matt D'Agostini, David Fischer, Alexei Emelin and obviously first round picks.

That said, there have been speculations that Atlanta could simply be watching available veterans like Ryder or Dandenault.

And the Sundin sweepstakes can officially begin...

The Flyers called up Claude Giroux from Juniors since they have had a ton of injuries lately. He has had 100 points in each of the past two season in Juniors. This season he has 88 points in 47 games.

Claude Giroux was also known for being the midget wrestler that portrayed Dink The Clown.

Heads up to those with Center Ice packages. Tonight's Flyers/Sens game is the first time the teams are meeting in Ottawa since the Downie/McAmmond hit.

The teams have already played in Philly, but the recent trend is that the team on the wrong end of a dirty play usually waits until they're at home before they look for payback. Could be some fireworks.

At the very least, Brian McGratton should play and get his usual pointless fight out of the way on his first shift and then sit on the bench looking mean for the rest of the game.

Thanks for the head's up. I will try to get home in time to watch it.

If I would've seen this early I would have told you that Downie will be scratched. He is out with a concussion.

I just witnessed the greatest hockey game of all time! :eek:

Watch the highlights for yourself

Just realised... I was offered tickets for 35$ to go to the Bell Centre tonight and declined because I had to study for a Math exam coming up on Friday night... :mad:

Flyers pick up Jaroslav Modry from LA for a 3rd round pick.

Next Tuesday will be a good time...trade deadline day is a day for no work and lots of internet surfing.

haha. the rangers.

signed,

a devils fan

So you finally caught a replay of the Wings vs. Avs march 26, 1997 game?

Ping Honolulu_Blue...



Any truth? Possible Hossa deal?

Ariel Hans Fors-Klein is probably slammin.

Hahaha.

His name keeps popping up around here along with the usual suspects, such as Sundin and even Jagr, but I haven't heard anything substantial beyond mere speculation. The most Hossa-to-Wings chatter I heard was a few weeks back after the Trashers thumped the Wings soundly in Detroit.

The thought is that Holland will try to land a top six forward (which Hossa would certainly fit the bill) and a depth defenseman (someone a step or two above Cory Cross, but not quite Rob Blake).

I would think that other teams would have more ammo than the Wings to make a deal for Hossa, especially since there is pretty zero chance that Wings would re-sign him after this year. Among Lidstrom ($7.5M), Datsyuk ($6.7M), and the need to clear space for Zetterberg's eventual rise to the ($7M range), there's just no way the Wings would keep Hossa.

I doubt any team who would trade for him would do so under the impression that he'd be anything more than a rental, but I have a feeling that Holland may be a little more cautious than before after getting burned a bit last year, especially on the Bertuzzi deal.

Since the Trashers are still in the thick of things, they would probably want a roster player or two. The Wings may be willing to part with a player or two. It's possible, if not likely, that the Wings will sign Darren McCarty to a contract before next Tuesday. He's been playing with Wings' AHL squad and has 4 goals and 3 assists in 7 games. That may give them a little more flexibility to move current players.

Tight race at the top of the East now.

Ottawa with 76 points, Montreal, New Jersey and Pittsburgh all at 75, after the Pens come from ahead victory vs. the Habs last night.

Oh yeah, and they'll get that Crosby guy back in another week or so. Until then Geno Malkin will just widen his lead in the scoring race.

They showed a great stat during the game, the Pens have had 4 players in the Art Ross in the past 11 years. Conversely, some members of the Original 6 haven't had one for, in some cases, like 70 years.

And bsak-- who is that bringing up the rear in the Atlantic?? :D

Ugh the Flyers are playing horrible. It's like watching a monkey fucking a football out there.

You know, this post takes on quite a different meaning when you can actually see the link.

Damn firewall...

Pics plz k thks

Flyers grab Patrick Thoresen off of waivers from the Oilers.

Nothing earth shattering as he's a borderline 3rd/4th line player who has a nose for the puck but isn't terribly physical. Never stuck with us because we have an entire team of guys like him.

ditto for me. I believe Filpulla's eyebrow has a no movement clause.

big win for the Avs last night against the Coyotes. The two teams were tied in 9th going into the game, 4 out of 8th place. The game itself was mostly a dud, with the Avs looking like they'd skate out with a 2-1 win until Derek Morris scored with 2.8 seconds left. That set the Avs up for yet another 1-goal loss. After a scoreless overtime (the futile Avs PP could not score when the Coyotes were caught with 5 men on the ice - not in a shift change, but just 5 guys playing as if it was totally normal), and it went to a shootout.

Each team went 12 deep, with lumbering Cody McLeod scoring the game winner. Both teams went pretty deep - 4 defensemen were used and at least half the 24 shooters had never scored a SO goal before (many were taking their first career attept). Crazy stuff, and a big win for the Avs, a team that got Smyth back last week, Stastny last night and, hopefully, will see Sakic return on Sunday.

Why the hell is Pierre McGuire doing color commentary for the Pens for this game against Ottawa? Paul Steigerwald is one of the most annoying play by play guys and now with Pierre in the booth, it sounds like two ass clowns.

If things couldnt get worse for the Flyers, they lost Mike Richards for 2 to 4 weeks with a torn hamstring.

The Bruins totally outplayed Tampa Bay last night. I was really impressed with the Bruins and how well they came back after Tampa opened the scoring and responded to each Tampa goal. The Bruins never stopped fighting and it looked like Tampa just let up.

Good weekend for the Canes as they won two pivotal SE division games over Atlanta and Washington and the Caps lost one of their games-in-hand today against Ottawa in OT. Carolina is now up five on Washington which nullfies the two-games-in-hand advantage the Caps have.

Interestingly, since the big trade with Ottawa Carolina is 5-1-1, though the regulation L was another whipping doled out by the Devils. Ottawa is 2-2-2 since the trade. It may have been something of a rip-off for Ottawa, but clearly it sparked something for Carolina.

Various sources reporting Sundin has refused to waive his no trade clause.Mccabe on the other hand has waived his NTC.

I just read that. Good on him, really. I had a hard time seeing Sundin in another uniform.

The price for Marian Hossa just sky rocketed...

Hat trick for Teemu tonight. He now has 11 points in 10 games, which is closer to his top form self last year, and he said tonight he no longer feels as winded or sore from playing as when he started and is approaching his normal level fitness.

And the Ducks have only lost once in those 10 games.

This is not good news for the rest of the Western Conference's Cup hopes. :)

Trading deadline should be interesting (although I don't expect the Ducks will do anything except perhaps a minor deal or two, or trade away some of that defense depth to clear up more cap room for next year).

Yeah, I would like Sundin to remain a Leaf for life.

Absolutely bizarre game tonight, capped off by some of the worst officiating I have seen in quite a while. Lalime being replaced by a rookie who couldn't even stop a soft rolling puck on net, leading to Lalime being put back in and going bat shit crazy on Bertuzzi twice leading to a perfectly clean goal being disallowed for no reason. Not to mention Sharp scoring and then breaking Prongers jaw with the follow through, or Perry getting knocked silly by Wisniewski out of the play during Lalime's second hissy fit. All in all a fun game to watch, and very relieved that the Ducks got the win.

I feel really sorry for the rookie goalie the Hawks put in for the last 10 minutes of the period (#50?) He was clearly way, way out of his depth and I hope it's not the last chance he gets. Not a good goaltending situation in Chicago right now with Lalime letting in 11 in the last 2 games.

Nice win for the Oilers over the the Avs (sorry, DD) but Ethan Moreau is done for the season...yet again...with a broken ankle. Nice. Guess that means that Sanderson will figure back into the lineup for the remainder of the season...if he's here after tomorrow.

One of these days our luck is going to turn from worse to bad...I'm eagerly anticipating that day.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have most of their salary cap space tied up in a core group of players who are, apparently, complacent losers who have no problem playing for a last-place team that doesn't want them as long as they're comfortable and well-paid. No doubt this group of veterans is doing a fine job passing these important values on to the next generation of young players, thus ensuring that things will stay the same in Toronto for a long time.

Holy fuck I am depressed right now.

yeah, we're pretty much in a tailspin - 1-5-1 in the last 7, with 3 regulation losses by 1 goal (that's killed us all year - only Florida has more 1-goal regulation losses).

Our special teams suck and our defense is really hurting without Brett Clark and Jeff Finger (on all 3 Edmonton goals, the Avs had just 1 D in position in front of the net). And we have a tough schedule the rest of the way - 14 of the final 19 games are against teams we're chasing. Not that we can beat teams below is either.

even if we did get in, we'd just be looking at getting swept by Detroit anyway.

Sorry, ML. I thought I read that at least Bryan McCabe was willing to consider waving his no trade clause... So that's gotta be, uh, something?

Maybe you could just try to think about how much wearing that Maple Leaf means to all these guys. What an honor it is to play for great fans in the world and all that. These guys bleed Maple Leaf blue and white. If they aren't going to win a Cup for Toronto, they dont' want to win a Cup for anyone!

FREEEEEEDOOOOM!!!!

I'm with you! At least we can battle it out again come playoff time and be #1 and #2 in predicting the results.

McCabe was willing to consider a move but that seems to be off the table. He asked his wife if he was allowed, and she said no. It's well known that Roberta wears the pants in the McCabe household.

I remember something about McCabe's wife pulling the strings in the past...

So, what do the Leafs do now? Waive everyone after the end of the season, hope some team claims them. If not, call them back up and hope some claims them at 50% of their salary? Then try to use that money to re-build?

Oh my...

Doesn't help when one of your best goal scorers can't get the handle on the puck with a wide open net with a few minutes to go. When I saw Statsny at the side of the net and Garon nowhere to be found I was already rolling my eyes waiting for the momentum-shifting late goal that we are accustomed to seeing late in just about every Oiler game.

They do nothing. There's nothing they can do. They're stuck with the Loser Brigade for three more years. Then they can start the rebuilding process, which should take another three or four years. It will be 2015 before this team is back in the playoffs.

Abadon all hope, ye who enter here...

yeah, that was a deflating play. My hands were already halfway in the air when I saw the puck bounce to him. If that had just gone to his forehand....sigh.

I'm wondering if the Sabres will move Brain Campbell. After talks shut down, and news he rejected a three-deal deal just under $6 million (not even worth $5 million imo), I hope they can get something for him. It will be tough between balancing a playoff run and letting a valuable asset go without getting anything in return.

Sens fire John Paddock.

From coaching the all-star game to fired, in less than a month. Has anyone ever managed that before, in any sport?

The Devils had to have done this before.

I reckon Brad Stuart fits nicely in the above Cory Cross and not quite Rob Blake range.

Mr. Holland, I am still awaiting your call to become a member of the Braintrust.

Don't soccer clubs do this quite often?

That's funny...yet the Leafs don't have the balls to fire Maurice...what gives??

No point. He'll be gone as soon as the new GM comes in. And besides, a new guy might coax a few extra wins out of the team and that's not what we need right now.

They waited too long to fire Junior and they've done the same with Maurice. The Leafs have been disinterested since before Christmas and whether that is Maurice's fault or not, he should've been canned simply because every Leaf has a no-trade clause and they aren't moving...proving yet again why Junior should've been done prior to this season...at the very least!!

we wait until the last possible moment, thank you very much

Bernier scored two goals (first two of the game in the first period) and one assist in his day-view as a Sabre. Still one more period to go.

Including tonight, Leafs sort-of prospect Jeremy Williams has played three games, spread over three seasons, and has scored three goals.

That makes him the only player in NHL history with the at least three games in the NHL who has scored in every game he's ever played. You can probably win a few bar bets with that trivia question, at least until the next Leafs game.

Marian Freaking Hossa next to Crosby!!!!!! :D

The Pens are only missing that nasty 3rd line to play against in the playoffs... oh wait, reports of Gary Roberts demise are premature, he skates today alongside Crosby before practice.

Ok, yeah, they are missing more, like a true #1 pairing D to play with Gonchar...and a settled goaltending position between Conklin and Fleury...but they had to vault themselves to, or close to, the top of the East.

Now they just need to hope every series in the West goes 7 games, each into multiple OTs, so that the winner of the West is demolished by the time they arrive in the finals.

What a crazy game! Buffalo-Nashville. It was like a bar brawl.

I was there live...great atmosphere, fun game, lots of fights, goals and even a penalty shot.

Bernier was a stud on day one. Instant crowd favourite in Buffalo.

He was ready to fight at the end. But the Predator guy said no. He looks like he's re-engerized Roy and Vanek. Giving them a big, power player with an offensive game should really open that line up. I wonder how Vanek will be used now.

Bernier seems like he just wants to play hockey and have fun. I think he'll fit well with this team. As much crap as Reiger gets (and I think the higher-ups do handcuff him), he has a great nose for finding talent that fly under the radar or washout. I can't stand the Sabres forum. People don't seem to get the idea of a "salary cap" and being selective in who you have to keep.

quoted for posterity.

Are you surprised that Therrien is pulling Malone off of Malkin's line to put him on with Staal and Hossa?

I agree with you on their defense, they have plenty of offensive defensemen with Whitney, Gonchar, and Letang, but no real shut down defensive guy.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230739&hubname=nhl

Panthers' grant Kilger leave of absence

SUNRISE, Fla. - Chad Kilger, acquired by Florida in a trade with Toronto, was granted a leave of absence by the Panthers on Wednesday due to personal reasons.

Just one day after Kilger was sent to the Panthers by the Maple Leafs, the forward sat out when Florida faced his former team at home.

Kilger flew back to Toronto after meeting with Jacques Martin, the Panthers coach and general manager, and team officials said it wasn't known when he would return.

Martin was expected to talk about Kilger's situation on Thursday. Kilger missed five games earlier this season after being granted a leave of absence by the Maple Leafs.

Kilger, acquired just before the NHL trade deadline for a third-round draft pick, had 10 goals and seven assists in 53 games with Toronto.

---------------------------------

A quick update on this story. Reports now indicate that Kilger has returned to Toronto and is currently negotiating a retroactive no trade clause with Cliff Fletcher. Early indications are that the Leafs will reach an agreement with Kilger, the trade with Florida will be undone with Kilger returning to the Leafs and the Panthers getting their 3rd round pick back, and then Kilger will refuse to waive the clause.

I will keep everyone posted.

Thanks.

Really H_B? Or are you just messing around with the no-trade clause stuff? I really don't know anymore.

I am just messing around with the no-trade clause stuff, because it makes me laugh almost as much as that picture of that Maple Leaf kid giving Andrea Lilja the finger. Almost...

It was believable...

Anthony Smith is guaranteeing a Pens trip to the Finals.


Um, the names Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi obviously mean nothing to you! ;)

Seriously, and this probably through my black and gold glasses, but Gonchar has been solid in his own end, especially during this recent stretch since Crosby's been out. And Scuderi (now hurt) has played out of his cranium (my Myron Cope reference in a time of mouring). He should be, at best, on a 2nd pairining, probably 3rd pairing. He's not going to get confused with Pronger wrecking people, or Lidstrom position-wise, but he's been the biggest surprise in the lineup this season.

As far as Therrien moving Malone...no not surprised at all. Up until Crosby's injury, he had been changing lines on the fly during the game. The fact that line lasted 18 games or something is amazing to me.

There should be a rule against leaving your shield on when you fight.

I used to try that line with my girlfriends, but it never worked.

Hossa left the game in the first period in his first game with the Pens. Early reports say knee injury...mcl sprain.

All right, almost March 1. Isn't time for Lou to fire his coach and take the Devils' reins to their usual second round playoff loss?

Oh, he's still coaching? Well, then, he's ahead of the game. :)

Incidentally, Barry Melrose said on a local radio show today that he feels the Ducks (as now composed) are still the best in the West, and the team to beat, despite current records (Wings way ahead, Stars a few points ahead). He also said he feels they are better than last year's team.

Hard to argue with the second part actually. Teemu and Niedermayer are fresher, and Getzlaf and Perry have gone from young potential to All Stars. Plus, they added Bertuzzi (replaces Penner) and Schneider.

I still think it's going to be a brutally competitive playoffs in the Western Conference (like the NBA).

sutter will at least last the year

i feel pretty good about the devils right now, but i dont want them to win the #1 seed.

Way to go out on a limb there, Barry...

Getting an endorsement from Barry Melrose is like getting one from Beano Cook...the kiss of death. Nice knowing you Ducks.

Wow, Carol Alt is married to Yashin? She used to be married to Ron Greschner.

Heh...we'll see. If it does, I might fly to Bristol and firebomb his house. :)

Sabres look like crap last night. This team has the talent, they just seem to make a lot of dumb plays and don't show up every night.

Did NHL.com always have those bush league, fake Windows interface type banner ads all over it? Or is that recent?

Carolina wishes to thank a pair of teams tonight. First, a thank you to Toronto for putting down the Caps tonight. Secondly, a hearty thanks to Chicago for Tuomo Ruutu and especially Sergei Samsonov. Ruutu had a goal and an assist while Samsonov bagged a pair of goals in a 5-1 rout of Tampa. Samsonov has tallied 11 goals since coming to Carolina, five coming on this homestand that Carolina went 4-1-1 on.

Carolina's now up five on Washington but the Caps still hold two games in hand.

Sorry, DD, Svatos and Smyth are done for the season.

Granted, all hope is not lost, as they played inspired hockey over the last month without their first line. Can they do it again?

I know that Campbell is not the be-all, end-all, but damned if this wasn't exciting:

well, I don't think Smyth is officially done for the year. No shocker on Svatos - he has yet to play a full NHL season. His career high is 66 games. We can win without both, IMO, but can't really absorb too many more injuries up front.

Interesting article:

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/304287

Crosby is back tonight

All they did while he was out...was go 11-6-4, and move into first in the East.

Also, glad you are here breaking the Pens news bsak. I am never on at work anymore...damn man, holding me down.

that was a great move by Campbell and some terrific passing to set it up...
but what exactly was Price doing there? That looked awful.

Great effort by Campbell to keep himself onside.

Man, I cannot stand Versus.

It was annoying to hear that NHLPA guy in the booth for so long. I think this is the D team as far as announcing crews go.

And the Sidney Crosby lovefest every game (even when he isn't playing that game) annoys the hell out of me.

1) Call the damn game.

2) Show some passion in calling it.

I can finally say I totally agree with a Sabers fan.

Just did it again. You a Flyers or Pens fan?

Flyers....but I live near Pittsburgh so I get to hear everyone fawn all over Crosby.

How many times Crosby is mentioned during an entire game on VS would make for a terrific drinking game.

Hey Pumpy

Toronto announcers just called White a good defenceman....care to cooment?

Yeah, I heard that shit. Funny how they said that when his great defensive play was only necessary to cover up for a turnover that he made himself! He doesn't have to go back and sweep the puck off anybody's stick if he doesn't give the puck away to begin with. Way to go, bundle dick.

I was getting pretty tired of the Toronto commentators arguing over whether Johnny Oduya hit one of the Leafs from behind, too. I mean, if they want to disagree about it, fine, but they continued to argue about it for a full five minutes after it happened. It was like one of the commentators (the one who thought Oduya committed a penalty) wanted to blame the loss on a bad non-call. Could it perhaps have been related to the Leafs being unable to put the puck into the net on one end and being in slow motion on the other end? No? It was just the non-penalty, right?

I only saw the third period of the game, but from the highlights, I guess Brodeur should've gotten the first star. If the Devils had played a competent team, though, Brodeur gives up 3 goals in the third period alone. He put himself out of position, he was falling down behind the net, he was turning the puck over, and so forth. The only reason the Devils were able to hold a lead was because the Leafs couldn't shoot a puck into Lake Ontario if you put them on a boat and sailed them halfway out there.

But, uh, yeah. I wanted to slap the guy who said that Colin White was good.