The Skin of Our Teeth

Missed Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals because we had to celebrate Memorial Day a couple days early because of people's work schedule. Seriously, who celebrates Memorial Day? Only holidays I thought we were required to be together as the whole big extended family and all was Christmas, Thanksgiving and sometime during the Fourth of July weekend. Maybe Labor Day - it always seems we're together on Labor Day.

I caught the last couple of minutes and the post game on the radio coming home. Came in right about the part where [b]Ruslan Fedotenko[/b] got hurt. Fedotenko's having one heck of a playoffs. I knew he was good back from his days in the USHL but I would have never picked him to explode in these playoffs. Yet [b]Vincent Lecavalier[/b] and [b]Brad Richards[/b] have definitely overshadowed him this playoff year. And don't forget [b]Martin St. Louis[/b] isn't doing too badly on the score sheet either. Tampa Bay just has too many weapons - once again the reason why [b]Jarome Iginla[/b] is my MVP and not St. Louis. But give Fedotenko some credit, he is leading the team in scoring. He definitely was flying just under my radar before the Philadelphia series. I feel shamed. BTW check out his English during the game 2 interview, coming over at 17 really helped him there.

So much for the Flames powerplay not being able to score. Yeesh. They're finally adjusting to [b]Toni Lydman[/b] 's absence. Something I really never counted on them doing but I threw predictions out the window after the first round. Especially with this team which has found ways to get timely scoring from not just Iginla. Good thing [b]Jordan Leopold[/b] stepped up but that's what you do when your coach publically calls you out in the playoffs. Getting Lydman or [b]Denis Gauthier[/b] back would be grand but man do they really need it the way [b]Andrew Ference[/b] has elevated his game? I expected 6-10 minutes out of him but he's constantly giving 20+. Why can't the Penguins find guys like that? Why do people remark that [b]Steve Montador[/b] shoots the puck? Look at his NHL debut, didn't he have like double digit shots that night? Fact remains, Montador loves to shoot.

And I had to miss Lecavalier and Iginla fighting? Man I can't wait to get the tape on that one. I busted out in a hoot after hearing about that one on the post-game. It may have taken him longer than a lot of people wanted but Lecavalier has definitely just begun to arrive after being the first overall pick in 1998. Remember it took [b]Joe Thornton[/b] a couple of seasons to arrive too (not to mention time to put weight and muscle on his Big Bird frame). [b]Patrick Marleau[/b], the pick after Thornton, also has become a force to contend with (though maybe not on the same scale) so all eyes should turn to 1998 2nd overall pick [b]David Legwand[/b] down in Nashville. He keeps taking steps towards getting better and better but its about time he makes a larger leap now that he has a playoff round under his belt. We keep predicting a Legwand break-out, could it happen in 2004-05?

After a rough season, one that saw Leskands be demoted from the SEL, goalie [b]Mike Bales[/b] will be moving on to EHC Straubing. Not exactly top of the German food chain but an .898 save percentage will do that to you.

HC Vítkovice has once again added Buffalo property [b]David Moravec[/b] to their roster. Moravec has played exclusively for Vitkovice his entire career (sans 1 game in 2000 for Buffalo) until last year when he signed with the RSL's Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. 28 points in 58 games including 7 goals isn't a bad effort for the Russian league but I guess he prefers the Czech league instead. Always wanted to see what he could do on an NHL rink but I don't foresee that ever happening now at 31 years of age.

Remember [b]Stephane Richer[/b]? Of course you do. He's accepted an assistant coaching position with Adler Mannheim. He had held that position with DEL playoff champs Frankfurt. Really don't know much about his coaching talents over there as an assistant. I'll try and get someone's opinion from Germany.

Offensive (but small) defenseman [b]Curtis Murphy[/b] will be playing for RSL playoff champions Metallurg Magnitogorsk leaving the Calder Cup bound Milwaukee Admirals after the season.

Good news for Leaf fans - they signed [b]Dominic D'Amour[/b] their 3rd round pick in 2002 after a great season with the Gatineau Olympiques. The offensive defenseman should start his pro career in the AHL next season. Leafs also added AHL rookie [b]Ben Ondus[/b] to their club and freshly graduated [b]Andy Wozniewski[/b] from the University of Wisconsin. Nice pick up.

Good and Bad news for the Oilers. 2002 pick [b]Jeff Deslauriers[/b] wants to get a deal done with the Oilers. But they have until Tuesday to do so and he's looking for a deal similar to that of [b]Cam Ward[/b] or [b]Josh Harding[/b]. Oilers are probably going to have to cough up $2.2-2.5 million over the next three years to keep Deslauriers in the fold. Doing so should advert the Oilers from taking a goalie in the first round this year as many people have predicted - though stranger things have happened in the draft.

Lots of little things to touch on today.

The Lightning were able to do what they've been able to do all playoffs and bounce back strong after a loss in Game 2 of the Finals. Calgary played just alright in Game 1 and got away with it because Tampa didn't look ready and [b]Nik Khabibulin[/b] was jittery and couldn't keep a rebound to himself. This time around, defensive lasps and a much better Lightning team turned around the score board. Flames thrive off of taking chances but so do the Lightning and it burned the Flames this time. I don't think they need to change their game and go into a defensive shell. Just play your game and make smarter decisions - as simple as that sounds. Game 3 should be a nice test for the Flames and the Lightning.

As many of you know - I have a little grudge against [b]Jacques Martin[/b]. I have any sort of grudge against a coach people laud as one of the bests yet he has yet to get it done in the playoffs. An impressive Eastern Conference Finals run a couple seasons ago almost had Martin's fortunes changing but he wasn't able to build on it. A first round exit at the hands of the Maple Leafs led to Martin's dismissal and not even 24 hours after landing in Florida Martin, who everyone claims has class, was taking cheap shots at his former goalie [b]Patrick Lalime[/b]. The same guy he supported when no one else would. The same guy that was responsible for your run to the Eastern Conference Final. And NOT the guy responsible for your loss to the Leafs this year or in previous. Too much crap has been dumped on Lalime of late. Ok, he didn't play well. He really did need to be better but so did the whole team. You whine about his preformance in game 7? Why did you let it get to game 7? You want to gripe about going home in game 7 well you should have won it before then. It's a cliche but one man doesn't lose a game or especially a series.

"The biggest difference is that we have one of the better goaltenders in the league here. We didn't have that in Ottawa." True [b]Roberto Luongo[/b] is almost in a class by himself down in Florida but that was a pretty classless saying by Martin.

On the Ottawa front, the rumours that John Muckler will bring in [b]Dominik Hasek[/b] continue. Hasek's agent, Rick Winters, claims his client's groing surgery went well and he's feeling great right now.

Penguins sign [b]Maxime Talbot[/b] so he won't be re-entering the draft after his amazing career in the QMJHL. Nice steal by the Penguins. However, the Sabres and [b]Tomas Vanek[/b] have been flirting but according to Vanek there has been no deal even offered by the Sabres and Vanek is preparing to be back in Minnesota for his junior season. If the Sabres are able to put an offer on the table for next season, Vanek is said to be garuenteed of taking it. With the potential loss of Miroslav Satan, their best scoring player, the Sabres could desperately need Vanek in the line-up. He's ready and he would be my odds-on favorite to win the Calder Trophy next year.

NHL fringe player [b]Dallas Eakins[/b] has announced his retirement from professional hockey leaving the Manitoba Moose even more short on defense for next season.

The Russian National team has announced that [b]Zinetula Bilyaletdinov[/b] will take over the helm of the National program heading into the World Cup of Hockey. "Coach Bill" had been coaching Dynamo Moscow and has had past coaching jobs in Switzerland and even as an assistant in Winnipeg/Phoenix and Chicago. He's also a former National team defenseman. He'll replace the legendary [b]Viktor Tikhonov[/b] (pushing 80 years old) as coach after Tikhonov decided to return to the program for a year. He'll remain as a senior consultant. [b]Igor Tuzik[/b], the vice-president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation will be the GM.

Bill's contract runs only through the World Cup but can be extended if Russia has a good showing (i.e. a medal). Bill will also announce his coaching staff at a later date so there is still some chance that Igor Larionov could still be part of the World Cup team. For now, [b]Vladimir Yurzinov[/b] and [b]Valeri Belousov[/b] have been named senior coach advisors and probably will wind up as Bill's assistants. Yurzinov coaches the Kloten Flyers in Switzerland and Belousov helmed the regular season RSL champion Avangard Omsk.

Why do I have the strange feeling that if Bill doesn't medal Belousov will be almost immediately named National coach? Just a hunch.

It's also been ruled that Lithuanian center [b]Danius Zubrus[/b] will be eligble to play for the Russian squad in the World Cup. Becuase the World Cup is governed by different eligiblity rules than the IIHF rules, Zubrus's participation for Russia at the World Cup will not ruin his eligibility for Lithuanian in any other international competition. The rest of the Russian roster is expected to be announced on May 31. Funny seeing as I thought they only had until May 25th.

Most people hope to be able to peacefully die in their sleep but when it comes at the age of 17 its a tragic event. [b]Mike Fogolin[/b], son of former NHLer Lee Fogolin was found dead in his bed this morning at his parents house in Edmonton. Cause of death won't be known exactly for another couple of months but its being blamed on a heart condition Fogolin might have had.

Fogolin wasn't a huge hulking defenseman for the Prince George Cougars, the kind of defenseman I like but he had one thing that was sure to see him make the NHL - heart and desire. For any one who saw him play in the WHL, you know he would have been able to make it on those. He had tools to boot but he knew what he wanted and he was willing to work hard for it.

I don't know much about him in his personal life but my heart does go out to the Fogolins and the community of Prince George who have been watching this kid since they Cougars drafted him as a 14 year-old. 17 is way too young to pass away.

EURO MOVEMENT

[b]Mikeal Renberg[/b] won't be back with the Toronto Maple Leafs in a move that really didn't surprise any one. Renberg signed a three year deal with the SEL's Lulea HF. The Washington Capitals keep losing depth from Portland as AHL star goalie [b]Rostislav Stana[/b] has left for Södertälje SK of the SEL.

[b]Andrei Mezin[/b], the Belarussian National goaltender will be in a SKA Petersberg RSL uniform next season after two years in the Czech Republic.

[b]Richard Linter[/b] 's SEL stop is over after a year - he'll be playing in Switzerland for HC Fribourg-Gottéron. [b]Alan LeTang[/b] has left the Islanders organization and will join the Hamburg Freezers blueline for next year. Bridgeport fans know what type of solid play and leadership their former captain will bring to Hamburg.

As a fan of sports and a fan of [b]Rick Dudley[/b], I'm not shocked or upset over his dismissal in Florida. It was going to happen some time. General Managers and coaches are hired to be fired - unless you're [b]Mike Milbury[/b] and you've formed some sort of pact with the Devil and Charles Wong. And good coaches and general managers always land right on their feet. Rick Dudley will have another job elsewhere, it just may take a while with the clouded future in front of the league. It's a shame he won't be around to see the team he put together in Florida have some success but you got to admit, they are paying [b]Mike Keenan[/b] all these millions of dollars to sit at home when Dudley fired him earlier this season. In fact that may have been where Dudley lost the power struggle in the end.

Dudley has been offered another position in the organization as his contract does run through the 2004-05 season and he is very good friends with both Keenan and [b]Jacques Martin[/b]. But you would have to think this ultimately stings. His built a young, strong team capable of taking the eighth spot out East as soon as next year as well as a team not saddled by large contracts to under-acheiving stars like so many of the other teams in the league. With the possibility of a huge free agent market this off-season, Keenan will have the ability to pick and choose the veteran leadership he wants to surround the young core with. I know everyone's said it but look at what [b]Martin Gelinas[/b], [b]Dave Lowry [/b]and [b]Dave Andreychuk[/b] have meant to their respective teams - teams that are overall very young. And the Panthers are the youngest team in the league.

Star goalie - [b]Roberto Luongo[/b] - check. Strong captain - [b]Olli Jokinen[/b] - check. Stud defenseman (in a few years) - [b]Jay Bouwmeester[/b] - check. Coach that turned around a laughing stock franchise - [b]Jacques Martin[/b] - check.

Still a couple holes to fill and being from St Louis (and people in Vancouver and Boston can sympathize) I'm a bit skepitcal of Keenan as the GM in this case but he can't go too nuts. All I can say is - [b]Kristian Huselius[/b], start packing your bags by draft day. [b]Stephen Weiss [/b]might want to watch his back too. Keenan's bubblely lauding of Martin as the greatest coach in the NHL right now was down right sickening. What a slap to the face of [b]Ron Wilson[/b], [b]Darryl Sutter[/b], [b]John Tortorella[/b] and a good number of other coaches. Winning the title with Guleph is impressive but that was a little while back and his NHL post season track record still stands as unimpressive. I'm not happy with the move but time will tell if its a step in the right direction or not. Martin will definitely help in the standings and if you can curb Iron Mike a little, he'll bring in players that can help but until Martin shows he can win in the playoffs, it's still a whole hell of a lot of hype to me.

Al Cohen still is not sure what he'll do with the current coaching staff who are all under contract still. I believe [b]John Torchetti[/b] deserves a shot to coach but probably the best situation for him now is to stick as an assistant to Martin if they offer it to him. He'll get his shot some day but that day isn't today with names like [b]Paul Maurice[/b], [b]Bob Francis,[/b] [b]Joel Quenneville[/b] and [b]Robbie Ftorek[/b] still out there. [b]Dave Lewis[/b] and [b]Barry Smith[/b] could be set to join them in a couple days after [b]Ken Holland[/b] is done evaluating the season and conducting his player interviews.

You know, with a labor disagreement on the horizon (well its more than past the horizon already) you'd think the NHL would be hyping this Stanley Cup more but I don't think I've heard a word about it anywhere since the Lightning polished off Philadelphia. Virtually no one's talking about this series and while I can't blame them, this doesn't bode well. Last year's series only turned in a 2.9 rating and that was the lowest in history. I'm looking at a 2.1 or even worse. Truly a sad time when the WNBA draft could do better ratings than a game of the Stanley Cup finals. It has potential to be a great series but that doesn't seem to count towards anything anymore. Too many people are stuck up saying that Tampa doesn't deserve this and they don't have any real fans or that Calgary fans are fair weather fans and don't deserve this. Blah blah blah. Tampa's still a joke to you guys. How many Cups are they going to have to win to get any creditablity? They don't have any real fans? You've must never been to Florida. No one's really born in Florida - every one has migrated there from some where else - mainly Michigan, Ontario, Montreal and other places up North. And you can't expect an area to really embrace a team until they make the community proud. Obviously if you've never been to Florida, you wouldn't know that there is a lot of other things to do in Tampa (Clearwater and St Petersberg along with it) other than a hockey game and at the prices they charge, really why should they pay for an inferior product? Now they're getting a good product and coming out in groves, lets see how it works before you start whining up there in Canada. Attendance is generally down every where in the league, it's not just these cities. Honestly, I don't blame people in these cities for not going to watch the NHL product - it's overall not that good any more. Nor is it easy to understand and get into as appearent from trying to get my girlfriend interested in it over the past year. But who are you people to come in and claim that a fan base doesn't deserve it? Who gave you the right? Who died and made you King Asshole? The Calgary Flames are coming off seven straight seasons of utter trite. Again with prices the way they are, isn't it their right not to pay the prices for inferior hockey? Maybe you don't understand how capitalism works here. As the buyer we have one power (you can argue how much power it gives us but there's like a 352-page college text book just on that subject alone) against the producer - if we don't like the product, we can stop buying it. It's the only way we can send the message that we don't like what's going on any more and you need to fix your product. The WHL's Calgary Hitmen have given the Calgary people an alternative and they've choosen it. They can still watch the Flames on TV but why pay your hard earned cash for the crap the Flames put on the ice after 1995? Now they're coming back and they're paying for a product they enjoy. What makes them all bastards? Oh wait, they're not the Maple Leafs, is that it? Why do you think I don't to Blackhawks games anymore unless its via a corporate sponser such as Nextel and their sweet company box? Shit, the food really isn't that good up there any more.

I'm going to catch flak for that from 'traditionalists' and people that say 'support your team no matter what' but either you're stupid or a rich spoiled brat or a doctor. I still get to about a half-dozen to a dozen Blues games but by God if I had to pay for every one of those games, there's no way. Traditionalists are stuck in the past and can't even see what's being taken out of their wallet for inferior product full of pariety and crap. Calgary and Tampa deserve this, let it go and shut the fuck up. Go watch the Maple Leafs (or Flyers) charity golf tourney coming up.

The host Kelwona Rockets won the Memorial Tourney behind "the outstanding play of goalie [b]Kelly Guard[/b]." Outstanding? I like Guard a lot but crap that kid has to only face about 12 shots a night. The Rockets play one of the most staggering traps of any league at any level. Guard gave up three goals in four games and took home MVP honours, good for him. He should be an ECHL starter next season but I'm going to wait on his progress for a season or two. Is he a product of a trapping system or is he a solid goalie? He looks to have all the fundementals down. Bad news, he shares the same goalie coach as [b]Daniel Cloutier[/b]. More bad news, last goalie to pick up MVP honours at the Memorial Cup was Guelph's [b]Chris Madden[/b] in 1998. He's behind so many second-class goalies in Carolina it's not funny.

Will this Memorial Cup be enough to convince [b]Marc Habscheid[/b] to stay on as coach? I hope not because I've been reporting him as the main canididate for the Coyotes job for so long that I need that one to come true. [b]Shane Doan[/b] is a former Memorial Cup MVP back in 1995 with Kamloops Blazers. How is he going to respond to Habscheid's defensive system? Now that [b]Jacques Martin[/b] has officially visited Arizona does Habscheid even stand a chance? Depends on what the Rangers and the Panthers offer Martin. Expect his decision soon after the Finals.

Former 42nd picks were signed over the weekend. The Devils signed [b]Petr Vrana[/b], 42nd overall in 2003 to a multi-year deal. Vrana floated under a lot of people's radar because of his size. I had him as easily a top 15-selection last year but even I pushed him down to the top 25 because of his size. It completely shocked me that he fell to the 42nd pick and I feel the Devils got a deal. He missed a lot of time this season with a shoulder injury but it looks to be fine and didn't bother the Devils. Vrana should be with their AHL affiliate next season but at the moment, who that will be is still up in the air.

Then Dallas signed [b]Marius Holtet[/b], the 42nd pick of the 2002 draft to a multi-year deal. He's the highest drafted Norwegian born player and I even had to look him up to remember who the hell he was. He put up fine numbers in juniors over in Sweden and has a scoring touch. He's also very aggressive - actually hyper-aggressive and he'll need to curve his play slightly to stick in the NHL. Aggression is a good thing but too much of a good thing can be a bad thing in this case. He hits pretty well but could use some size. All the reports I could find seem to be glowing about his offensive play and his coaches and teammates seem to have nothing but great things to say for him but looks like Dallas will have to hone his defensive play in Houston. He sounds almost clueless without the puck and really lacks any awareness. He sounds like a great steal if Dallas can make him even slightly responsible in his own end. He's NHL calibre already on offense so, here's to hoping he gets even better. Always could use another exciting sniper in the league.

[b]Dany Heatley[/b] has ultimately turned down a Swiss offer to play for HC Luango for the time being. He had been talking to them but has decided to wait this one out a bit which is a good sign for the NHL. He could still wind up in Switzerland but for now, pencil him in for Atlanta.

I promised this column but I'll be editting it over the next couple days so check back. Now that season 3 of Smallville is finally under wraps its time to take look at the five best episodes, five worst episodes, and the five ugly things of this year. I'll lend support later but I figured I'd just throw the list out there. You're welcomed to comment on your favorite (or least favorite) episodes of season 3.

[b]THE GOOD[/b]

1. [b]Shattered (3.08)[/b] - The first 'mini-cliff hanger' of Season 3. Lex goes spiraling further and further into his paranoia. Even to this point we don't exactly know if Lex is nuts or not but I'll be damn if he doesn't have a couple cracks. Oh and Lex finds out about Clark's powers making this episode one of the coolest. Too bad Lex's memory gets wiped by Lionel. Starts the gears turning towards the main climax of season 3.

[b]2. Relic (3.06)[/b] - Jor-El visited Earth 40 years ago? Appears so in this classic love tale take. When I heard the premise of this episode I thought it was going to be utter garbage, instead it turned out to be one of my favorite episodes in the series first three years. It starts to paint doubt that Jor-El is completely evil.

[b]3. Hereafter (3.12)[/b] - First appearance of the cape!! Somewhat like [b]Hourglass (1.06)[/b] but I can forgive the writters for that. Jordan is so far one my favorite guest appearances probably behind Ryan (from [b]Stray (1.16)[/b] and [b]Ryan (2.08) [/b]). Clark learns the valuable lesson that he can't save everyone and his actions do have consequences. Maybe some people deserve to die? (I also broke this episode down in my blog, check the first week of Feburary for a pretty long entry on it.)

[b]4. Legacy (3.17) [/b]- Christopher Reeves returns as Virgil Swann. Felt a bit out of place after the end of the Adam Knight saga in [b]Crisis (3.16)[/b] but after multiple viewings this was a great episode. Lionel's intentions are revealed but what the hell is Swann's agenda? What does he want? How does he wind up with the key out of this? I was completely trustworthy of Swann in [b]Rosetta (2.17)[/b] but this episode truly has me perplexed. Could they turn THE Superman into a villian????!

[b]5. Phoenix (3.02)[/b] - John Kent with powers - Nuff Said. Wait, that's the wrong company. The events of this episode reverberate throughout the entire third season and probably will for some time to come (at least until the mess of the season finale is sorted out.)

[b]THE BAD[/b]

1. Velocity (3.13) - This just seemed to be a complete throw away episode. The main point here is that Pete is having troubles keeping Clark's secret. His moments of weakness in this episode should have helped flesh out a character that had been mainly absent in season three but the writers really just chose to forget about the development here especially when in [b]Foresaken (3.21)[/b] when Pete decides to leave Smallville with his mother and he again tells Clark about the frustrations and difficulties in keeping his secret, Clark actually answers "You never said anything, you should have told me." Hey Clark, he did in Velocity. If the writers are going to ignore this dud of an episode, then I guess we should too. If I want boosting and drag racing, I'll hit myself in the head with a tack hammer until I'm fucking retarded enough to watch [b]the Fast and the Furious[/b]. This episode fails miserably.

[b]2. Ressurection (3.15)[/b] - Could quite possibly be the worst ending of any Smallville episode with a hole you could drive a truck through. Hell you could put an elephant on top of the truck and still fit through - you get the point. Clark again realizes that he can't save every one but we already have episodes such as Ryan (2.08) that show us that lesson. My main gripe with this episode is the sheriff isn't that damn stupid (which means she's probably going to have to be killed off sometime) so why the hell would she order a sniper to take out someone with a Krypto-bomb strapped to his chest when doing so would cause said someone to release the trigger setting off the bomb? And when they go to pick up Garrett's body, wouldn't someone note that the bomb strapped to his chest was no longer there? Clark snatched the bomb off Garrett's body in his little super-speed matrix-time and rushed it out to safety. Wouldn't the sniper kinda wonder where Clark dissapeared off - after all Clark would have been in his sights too. Just the fact that they didn't even bother to touch on any of these unresolved questions and tied it up in a couple minutes after that just really seemed shoddy. Maybe the sheriff really has put it together and knew Clark would save the day. There's just not enough evidence to support that and seeing as the sheriff is almost completely dumped after this episode, good bet the writters realized their mistakes in involving the sheriff in every episode.

[b]3. Magnetic (3.07)[/b] - Lana falling for the wrong guy? Again? What makes it worse is she'll do the same thing a couple episodes later igniting the whole Adam Knight Saga. It was an entertaining episode and its the real start of the Lex and Chloe team-up that continues all the way through [b]Covanent (3.22)[/b]. But it just felt like over an hour no real lessons were made, the overall plot moved maybe a centimeter and the teenage angst theme reached a choking level.

[b]4. Slumber (3.04)[/b] - I hate to put this on the list just because of the opening scene with Lana skinny dipping. Too bad it wasn't really Lana but that sequence was great. The dialogue really resonated and well yeah KK skin. Questions about Lex's mental health come out and God I really can't trash this episode all that much but after season three hit the ground running with three great and relevent episodes, this one felt like they pulled the punches. Not really a bad episode, just if you need to skip an episode in the season, this may be one to cut.

[b]5. Obession (3.14)[/b] - Some hilarous moments but the pyscho stalker girlfriend thing I find annoying when it comes to any television show. Alicia sort of paves the way for Kara in [b]Covanent (3.22)[/b] but he does choose to share his powers with Alicia where as Kara already knows and well doesn't help that she's a flat character (for reasons though.) Lead - its one powerful element isn't it? Again wouldn't have been a bad episode if you lightened up the whole stalker angle. She's a quick foil to Lana and it may have been wise to stretch it out for a couple episodes instead of making her a complete freak.

[b][i]Please note that even the worst of Smallville is still pretty darn good or has some scenes are did truly rock[/i]. [/b]

[b]THE UGLY[/b]

[b]1. Kara appearance [/b] - While I'm thankful that it's not THE Kara of the comics, man was that a flat character or what? Jor-El shows that there's not much differenct between Kryptonian men and human men when he sends this naked blonde to bring Clark back home. Geez did Smallville need ratings? It pulls solid 4s after all and it was the season finale to boot so it should do better on its own. Does Clark follow her too quickly? I'm still debating personally but her appearance registered as one of the biggest sore spots to the major fan base in season 3.

2. Adam Knight saga - While he could be used as a great foil to Clark, they never touched on it as much as I would have liked. That's not to say they didn't though. The Adam Knight saga provided some of the biggest shock moments of season 3 including the revelation of Lionel's terminal illness and what Lionel was using Clark's blood for but after six episodes I was ready to see Adam out the door. [b]Crisis (3.16)[/b] gave me chills down my spine as Adam met his demise but deep down I was hoping for an up and down brawl between Clark and Adam. After all Clark's blood had been injected into Adam - couldn't you have given him at least Clark's strength? I just got too hyped up on an idea in my head so I set myself up in a way to be dissapointed - no fault to the writers. Sadly after Adam's passing, mention of his character is completely dropped after another episode. What an impact.

[b]3. Pete Ross - the most misused character EVER[/b] - The only friend to know Clark's secret is turned from a major character into a bit part. He was sparingly used in season 3 and when he made an appearance it wasn't for very long. [b]Velocity (3.13)[/b] was a Pete-centric episode but as I mention above, it falls on its face. None of the family problems in Pete's life are touched upon until Foresaken (3.21) and well that just happens to be Pete's last episode on the show (sans any guest appearances in later episodes). It's sad when writers can't figure out how to use a character any longer so they just sweep them under a rug and write them off the show. I don't know if [b]Sam Jones III[/b] had really any say in this and that he was leaving any way but I don't blame him if he left due of lack of screen time in season 3. Good luck to him in his future endeavors and maybe he'll be back in Smallville sometime in season 4.

[b]4. The resolution to Ressurection[/b] - Read above for the details. I'm not even touching on how sore I am over the ending of that episode. Just ask my girlfriend if you really want to know how pissed I was.

[b]5. Lionel Luthor (but its such an evil ugly)[/b] - My oh my. Every time I start to garner any sympathy for Lionel Luthor (see [b]Memoria (3.19)[/b]) they do every thing to crush that sympathy and make you completly despise this character. One thing I do have to give the writers their props on is they've created an amazing villian here and the perfect catalyst for the future evil Lex Luthor. They've gone farther then any one has previously gone to flesh out how Lex became Lex and Lionel's the number one cause. Just watch the last five minutes of [b]Convanent (3.22) [/b] to see Lionel at his worst. Those are probably the most chilling five minutes I've ever seen in a television show as Mozart rang through the speakers and Lionel ordered the hit on Lex and Chloe a la [i]The Godfather[/i]. Even behind bars, no matter where you go - he will find you and he will get his revenge served cold. He's terminally ill with nothing to lose, so he's dangerous and dare we say it, probably more powerful than Clark at this point. This kind of ugly isn't the bad ugly, it's the frigthening and chilling. Thank you Smallville writers and [b]John Glover[/b] for such a wonderful character.

Damn sinus problems. I thought I'd be over them today but no this thing has lingered now for five days and I'm getting kind of worried (as well as pissed off.) This head cold has done it all - clogged up my nose, my ears and even my tear ducts, given me a sore throat, swollen every thing, made every joint ache (for the first two days), given me countless pressure headaches and everything has been draining to the back of my throat. Yeah I don't go to doctors too often but this time I may have to suck it up and go. Only thing I really have still bugging me is clogged ears and the tear duct thing. I've never had a cold do this before. Thanks for giving it to me Matt - though I think mine's worse than yours.

On to the hockey. Philadelphia and Tampa Bay just keep trading blows and its now to game 7. If you follow the way the series has gone so far, its Tampa Bay's turn to win. Momentum hasn't meant squat in this series but I think the Flyers could have a nice chance to build on their game 6 win.

Hey, folks, [b]Keith Primeau[/b] just didn't appear out of thin air. He's been around the block for a while. Sure his numbers have gone through the roof in this series but too many people are acting like he's the second coming of God and that he has just arrived. The things Primeau does rarely put him on the score sheet, he's just getting the breaks for now. Take nothing away from him because he is certainly one of the better players in the league but he's been doing the same things he's doing now for a couple years now. Poor Carolina - you wound up with [b]Rod Brind'Amour[/b]. Ouch. So where are those people dogging Primeau and saying that he shouldn't have been on the All-star team? That's what I thought - they're behind Primeau now.

It just amazes me that people (mostly announcers) act like players such as Primeau, [b]Pavel Datsyuk[/b], [b]Scott Hannan[/b], ect just sprouted out of no where. The only real players in this playoffs that have taken their game where I could never have imagined have been [b]Mattias Timander[/b], [b]Sami Kapanen [/b]and [b]Ville Nieminen[/b]. I've been impressed by Timander's mobility and poise. He's had to step up and for the most part he has. Before the playoffs I did mention Kapanen's career revival as a defensive forward but to go switching back and forth between defense and forward without making too many noticable mistakes (he's made them but you can't blame him) and Nieminen could be good if he only would keep his stick (his hockey stick you prevs) to himself. During the regular season add Atlanta's [b]Andy Sutton[/b] to the list - he came from somewhere off my radar I guess. And who would have thought [b]Miikka Kiprusoff[/b] would be on this sort of ride after losing his job to [b]Vesa Toskala[/b]?

Former Blackhawks coach[b] Lorne Molleken[/b] will be leaving his post with the Pittsburgh Penguins to be the coach and GM of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades. This will be his second stint as coach. Molleken did a lot in helping ease the transistion of first time coach [b]Ed Olczyk[/b] behind the Penguins bench. I don't think its time to cut Eddie O's cord yet so I wouldn't be surprised if former Habs coach [b]Michael Therrien[/b] is added to the bench. Therrien is currently the head coach of the AHL Penguins.

Stars notes - [b]Mike Modano[/b] wants [b]Brett Hull[/b] back on his wing and is pushing real hard for Hullie's return. Too bad Modano has drawn the mighty ire of owner Tom Hicks. Hull's going to have to come at a discounted price. Also note that the Dallas Stars could be in a vicious legal battle with their former AHL team the Utah Grizzlies. Grizzlies don't want to pay the money owed to the Stars because the Grizzlies claim their agreement said the Stars must provide them with a Calder-cup calibre team. The Grizzlies finished with a horrid 63 points out West. Just shut up and pay - it's not talent that matters but what you do with it.

Stars are said to be only sending six players to the Houston Aeroes, who still are Minnesota's main affiliate for one more year. Word is they'll strike a deal with Montreal to use the Hamilton Bulldogs to keep the rest of their players.

Howard Baldwin wants to bring NHL hockey back to Hartford after a new CBA is struck? Aren't you the stupid fuck who mismanged and bumbled up the Penguins? Yeah I thought so. You're the most hated man in Pittsburgh, don't make it two cities in a row. I'm all for bringing back the Whalers and they're mid-90s jerseys but if the deal comes with Baldwin then I'll leave it. He wants to buy and move a team to Hartford. You had your chance and went bankrupt so go away.

If the NHL only made $120 million this year on his TV deal and you spread that out over the 30 teams, then each team only received $4million - not enough to pay a top line star. Terms of the new TV deal haven't been announced but it's expected to be a 30 to 50% decrease in TV revenue. Even if you avoid a lock-out next season, the sport could still lose some teams with this deal. It's better than no deal but man it looks horrible. No money up front and an even harder dependence on gate reciepts for revenue could crush teams. I've always been the single optomist that there will be a full NHL season next year but even my confidence is starting to be sucked down the drain this week.

If I needed anymore signs to worry about - European movement continues to be fast, furious and strong. Players are trying to secure themselves jobs before an influx of NHL players come in and take the jobs away. When a top defensive prospect like [b]JD Forrest[/b] passes up on Carolina's training camp and signs a two-year deal with SaiPa of the SM-Liiga after leaving Boston College, then I start to worry.

[b]Phillipe Audet[/b] who played four games for the Detroit Red Wings a couple years back will be playing for Moskitos Essen next year. Not even a top german club? Yeah it's time to put the former 1995 second rounder on the bust pile.

[b]David Koci[/b], say hello to HC Sparta Praha - again. After playing his youth hockey there, Koci came to the WHL as an import and played three seasons in the minors with Pittsburgh, now he's returning back to his original club. He really had no chance of making the Pittsburgh blueline next year. But [b]Robert Schnabel[/b] I thought would have a spot on the blue line in Nashville. Instead he's secured a deal with Sparta as well.

Well last night the final episode of Season 3 of Smallville aired and so far the general opinion has been negitive. Clark was "out of character" and too whiny. And obviously you can't pull off such a stunt that comes in the last five minutes of the show without pissing people off. Is Clark written out of character in this episode? Was he way too whiny? I'm close to saying - "when wasn't he whiny in season 3?" The teenage angst card seemed to find its way into play way too often this year. But also I think people also fail to realize Clark's emotional state. It's not every day that the Last Son of Krypton finds another like him and it's not every day that the finds another like him that wants to take him home and says the things the Kara imposter says. Is he too quick to turn on Lex after defending Lex for 3 years when everything else pointed against Lex? I don't know how people could even say this. Clark has given so much leeway to Lex over the past three years and Lex has always let him down ultimately. There's only so much dissapointment a person can take (and its funny Lana hasn't taken enough but that's another story) and must we already forget the end of Tailsman (3.20) - for the first time, Clark really does have doubts about his future with Lex. If Clark IS "Naman" then either Lionel Luthor or Lex Luthor is his gr3eatest enemy. They both touched the tailsmen at the same time so Clark doesn't know but it messes with his mind pretty good. We have the benifit of knowing who it is and Clark's got this growing feeling and the divide can only widen from Tailsman on. Season four can only end with Lex stepping in to replace his father. We're going to see "Darth Lex" ascend in 22 more episodes (if not sooner but Lionel is supposed to be the central point in almost every episode of season four according to Annette O'Toole.)

*SPOILERS*

If you're worried about the cliffhangers, I can provide no real support for Clark or Lana's cliffhangers. I really have no clue what Jor-El has in store for his only son and if he really did kill Johnathan Ken. While all things point to them writing Jor-El as a benevolent figure, I don't think he'd break his word ("Come forward or he dies" more or less) nor could he really do that to John after Relic (3.06) shows us Jor-El in another light. Jor-El in forever in graditude to the Kents through Hyriam (John's father.) He owes them big for helping him escape his stay on Earth and now for stowing away Clark until he reaches close to maturity. John's only knocked out.

My best guess on what Jor-El wants is this is another rites of passage. I mean Clark's 17 now, about to start his senior year of high school. In all culturals and religions there is some sort of rites of passage from adolsecence to adulthood. While we know Clark won't exactly age the same way normal humans do, he has at least up to this point physically and mentally matured on about the same curve. Actually he's even more mature at times because of his parents and the responsibility he burdens on his back. Its helped him to make his mistakes early and Clark's growth is one of the major highlights of the show. It's one of the major reasons Season 1 and Season 2 were so successful and it feels like Clark's growth as a human (and the funny this is, he's probably more human than anyone in Smallville without even being human) has taken a backseat to the advancement of the Luthor plot. It's something they had to do but late season 3 compared to seasons 1, 2 and early 3 has been some what of a drag full of 'shock value' and 'plot twists.' Sadly these moments of shock and twists don't make for a full hour of television.

But back to the rites of passage idea, nothing says that there is only one rites of passage. Some indian tribes had multiple layers of rites. In America, our rites are just subtle. You've got the driver's licesnce. Later you'll be able to vote. Later drink. These are responsibilities to burden as you mature. My guess is Jor-El has one lesson for Clark. Will it be another ability? Will it be more about what happened to his homeworld? Who knows but it won't be the final piece of the puzzle. It will be something Clark can only learn from. If you buy into the theory that Jor-El sent Clark to earth to rule (or it CAN be interupted as 'watch over' as the Big Blue Boy Scout does from the Watch Tower and sky once his full power manifests itself. Words in translation can go different ways, try translating Japanese sometime) then why would he want Clark back premenantly? He set Clark to Earth for a reason and he has yet to forefil his purpose. Will Jor-El tell him his purpose? I sure hope not. Clark's purpose and dystany is and should be his choice ultimately and over the past three years, he's been subtly forging that dystany. It just needs one final catalyst. In the movie it's Johnathan Kent's death. If you kill off John here and give Clark his full purpose, why are we coming back for season four? That'd be the end of Smallville. Once he leaves Smallville - that's the end of the show. The world would be at his disposal and he would be Superman finally. So if it is a rite of passage, I don't believe its the final step for Clark. Though the whole "It's time for you to be re-born" statement of Jor-El may just totally bunk that theory.

Is this even Jor-El truly? How can he say that everyone will betray Clark in the end? Lana never betrayed him (though he may feel as if she did) nor Martha (who granted has lost her importance since Clark remember his mother's name in Memoria (3.19)) and even John's sins can be forgiven. And who really betrayed Jor-El? He had his fair share of betrayals on his short stay on Earth but the woman he fell in love with and Hyriam (later embodied by Johnathan) did nothing to betray him. Is Jor-El just short sided? The events of Relic happened almost 40 years prior, if he was jaded about the events that occured to him on Earth, he still chose to send his only son there. He found compassion for human beings once, I don't think he'd magically lose that. Either this is not truly Jor-El or Jor-El is going to be reminded of his compassion by Clark's compassion for Lana, Chloe, Pete and his parents. Allowing Clark to stay as the watcher of this planet (guess Hal hasn't found his ring yet.) and set things right.

Number one of those things is Chloe and Gabe. Watch the video again. The house is completely gone and Chloe is the one who closes the door before the bomb goes off. They've written themselves into a nice hole. Allison Mack earlier in the week claimed her character would be back but I have my doubts. A 7 year deal doesn't mean all that much just look at Sam Jones. He had a seven year deal too. IF Clark can change time and the planet's rotation ala Superman the Movie, then he obviously has reached the pinnacle of his powers. That took all the force Superman had to do it in the movie. What would there be left for Clark to do if he pulls that one off? So it's up to Jor-El to repair her but why repair her and not Gabe Sullivan, her father. Many speculate he'll eat the bullet and mess up Chloe's character, who survives the blast. And since when did Jor-El have healing powers? He gave them to Johnathan in Tailsman to fix Clark. I thought maybe he could repair (magically, althought Superman "doesn't like magic") only Kryptonian psyhiology but putting Chloe back together would bunk that idea. Again supporting my tiny inkling that this is not really Jor-El but someone else, maybe more powerful than Clark will ever be. Superman has never once in any form (to my knowledge) developed healing powers. Repairing Clark's wound seems fishy to me. And we're not sure that's even how Chloe gets out of that one. Jor-El could just slip Clark back into time a couple seconds to make the rescue - either giving him another akward situation to lie about or coming clean with Chloe for good. Though honestly I can't say given what we've seen of Chloe in such episodes as Truth (3.18) that she'll ever be able to fully handle the secret. One secret has already put her life on the line multiple times and now it appears as she's finally been burnt. Chloe's an entertaining character and your sympathy with her is strong if you watched season 1 and most of season 2. But Clark loves Lana and ultimately both relationships are doomed but you had to pull for Chloe at least for Vortex (2.01).

Pros for keeping her dead - it shows, even in prison, Lionel Luthor is a force to be reckoned with. His reach and his grasp is all encompassing. Even the Witness Protection Program cannot save you from his Godfather like wrath. It would give Clark a reason to go after Lionel, allowing Lex to drop off the radar for a bit and develop away from Clark. This also supports the theory that season 4 will center around Lionel and his eventual downfall. He's a man with nothing to lose when his kidney's go out so he'll go out with a bang and with the smite of a god.

Cons, Lionel doing this to Chloe not only would send Clark off the deep end, he might even kill Lionel and it wouldn't take him an entire season 4 to do it. While I have a feeling that lesser writers would go this route, I'm in full confidence that they realize that they can NEVER have Clark kill in cold blood. That's just not the Clark we know in any form. If people want to bitch about 'out of character' then that certainly would be one. But I'm not sure he'd ever be able to stop himself if Chloe dies right here. Even this attempt on her life might be enough. And with Pete gone (though expected to make guest appearances we hope) no Chloe would leave Clark as the only member of the Smallville Torch. But if they want to revolve the story around Clark and Lionel then where would he have the time to fit in the Torch work? The Torch runs through Chloe almost exclusively. Pete and Clark were only her hands (sorry for going psuedo-Victorian there) when she needed them. The journalism aspect of the show would cease to exist without her and Clark's a far way away from working at the Daily Planet. You can't just drop the angle and pick it up again when you choose. The Torch needs to remain and the only way to do that is by keeping Chloe (or Lois Lane if you want to speculate down THAT route.) She'll be back and they'll introduce another Torch member to take over Pete's job I can only assume.

It was an amazingly powerful ending with Lionel ordering the hit ala Michael (and remember, the writers are big fans of The Godfather, the quotes have appeared many times before and even sparked a funny dialogue between Lana and Clark though I forget the episode off the top of my head.) I just wish we got to see the kiss of death for Lex.

As for Lex. How will he get out of this one? Rule number one for good writing - every idea and line must have a purpose. There can be no truly "throw away" lines. When there happens to be a throw away line in Smallville its a Superman allusion - like "Clark Kent, Man of Tomorrow" or "Clark Kent, Man of Steel" or in Rosetta (2.17) when Chloe mentions that Virgil Swann was once labled the Man of Tomorrow in a passing of the torch - oddly enough while they're in the Torch. But they've been teasing this idea that Lex has this knack for escaping death - albeit sometimes because of Clark. He has an abnormally high white blood-cell count and after the meteor shower his asthma magically disappeared and he was never sick again a day in his life. After being such a sickly kid growing up, its no coincendence that the meteor shower and his uncanny health started on the same day. They've been pushing this since the Pilot (1.01). Now remember that rule - you don't bring ANYTHING up unless you plan on using it. One of my mom's biggest gripes if she watches the show when I'm around is that it seems like every one in the town got powers from "those stupid rocks" and that Pete will show up next season with his own powers. Well obviously, she's right in one thing - the meteor rocks have affected a lot of people in the town so why would it be far fetched to say they would have given Lex the ability to well, escape death? I don't think a little poison is going to be enough to take out Lex Luthor. He'll choke for a bit and his white blood cells will kick in and cure him proving his theory correct and probably wrapping his mind. We don't know if an above average dose of poison would kill him but I'm sure Lionel only spiked it with the amount to kill a normal person. I'm sure Lex will be testing his limits through out season 4. He can be cut open obviously but can he be killed? You can only imagine what effect that will have on his already warpping mind (remember Lionel is right if only slightly, Lex does have mental fissures. Just watch early season 3 and Memoria as well as pick up Smallville the comic book issue 6.) His discovery will only further his downturned path. His father is going to die of liver disease and he's all mighty invicible Alexander the Great.

Now on to the flaming symbol Jor-El put in the Kent's farm yard. Does any one read Kryptonian? I can't personally so what does the symbol mean? What do crop circles usually mean to people? Some people believe they are markers for either landing or invasion. Jor-El is either telling someone that Clark er Kal-El is here (or will be here) or if you take the approach that Jor-El is evil, he's signaling for someone to land here to start the invasion that Clark will lead. It'll be interesting and its the one thing I can't really think of a decent answer for. Anyone else have an idea on the symbols?

Did Lana leave? We never saw her get on the plane folks. Last we saw of her, she was picking up the white rose (awwwe) that Clark dropped in utter shock. Remember she was living with Chloe and Gabe. Too bad we never got a real good look at it as the writers really never focused on the aspect for too long. Her best friend and the father figure she'd been living with just were killed, I don't think she's going to stay in Paris if she did get on the plane. Wouldn't be right for her to miss the funerals - even if there's only one for Gabe. Wouldn't feel right if she didn't help Chloe in the rehab and dealing with the scars if she does survive and Gabe doesn't. If any of the cliffhangers in this season finale were underdeveloped it was Lana's. Its like they just threw her to the wayside as if Kristen Kruek will never do another episode again. Which we know pretty well is not the case. Even if she goes to Paris, we have a pretty good idea (as most of the cast has remarked on this) that just because the characters aren't together, doesn't mean they won't have their own screen time starting multiple plot threads to jump to and from. They have a great collection of writers working on the show but doing such a balancing act can only be a mistake. They couldn't spread enough screen time around (*cough*Peteross*cough*) as it was with them all together in Smallville. Doing a juggling act with Lana in Paris, Clark in Smallville, Lionel's diabolical plan, Lex on his lonesome (I don't believe things will patch up again) and well Chloe living on her own (can you say Metropolis for her again) ...there's just too many characters to juggle if they have their own seperate plots. One of the benifits of the earlier Smallville episodes having the cast all near each other was a tightness of plot. Sure sometimes it was funny and akward that it was always Lex or Lana running into Clark or that Clark would just happen to be in the same place as Lex was exiting but in all reality, its straight forward story telling that didn't mess around with the limited screen time they had each week. It's unfortunate they misused Pete so badly. Go watch Duplicity (2.03) again now that Smallville Season 2 is on DVD and you can't help but realize how wrong it is for them to write Pete off the show. I do realize what they're trying to do plot wise. I mean Pete is the one who knows his story and its put him in trouble. Now look at what happened to Chloe. How much danger would he put Lana (or anyone else for that matter) in if he came clean? It's just another dynamic to pop up to keep the gap between Clark ever obtaining Lana. For she is the unobtainable object, she is the Holy Grail to Clark. Opening himself up to her and telling her the truth is just not an option. He loves her and he has already put her in harm's way enough. He was about to come clean and they just needed something else to make such a confession impossible and Pete (and maybe Chloe) are the scarifical lambs to this plot point.

But characters are going to leave and are going to die and it makes you realize that the show cannot and will not go on forever. It does send a pain to my heart because it is such an endearing show (no matter how much I critize the second half of season 3) that puts a certain charm in its spin of an icon that's been around since 1937. This is our generation's Superman. Reimagined and reinvented for this time. They want to make a new Superman movie? I say they don't need to because THIS is our Superman now. Any movie would have to wait until this show is done and finished. I want to be selfish but I know there will be a time to come (and during my lifetime no less) where Superman will need to be reinvented and reintroduced to a new audience. No version of Superman ever fails to connect with the hearts of people - that's why he's an icon - but the next generation will need its Superman. I don't blame people that grew up with Christopher Reeves version of Superman for being upset at times but the Superman and Clark Kent Reeves played is a totally different Superman not in just invention but in just the point of Clark's life. Clark Kent is the costume that Superman plays to fit in. Here there's only Clark Kent with Superman being the dystany and it works and it connects. But the next generation is going to need a Superman. Be that another movie or a cartoon show or a show like [i]Lois and Clark: The Adventures of Superman[/i] or maybe even another reinvention like the [i]Adventures of Superboy[/i] or [i]Smallville[/i]. As much as I love Smallville, the icon will be pasted on one day again. On the same night as the season finale, we saw the series Finale of [i]Angel[/i] (which was treffic even though I've previously only watched five episodes of Angel total) as the series ended after five seasons. Let's enjoy Smallville while we have it and be thankful to have seen it when it ends and the next Superman starts. It's been a pleasure to watch it unfold from start to finish folks. No shame in losing it. I'll probably shed a tear or three thousand (shuddup I cry easy, I'm sorry) but then I'll be writing a letter to Miles Miller and Alfred Gough thanking them for what they've done. I hope other fans of the show will do the same - it'd be a generous gesture.

So how do you think season 4 will play out? How do you think the cliff hangers will end? What do you think about Joss Wheadon ending to his creation? Will Joss spin-off another show after he's done doing his dream writing for X-Men comics (his first issue goes on sale next Wenesday.) Am I just full of bunk on my cycles of Superman rant? I'm not even sure the point of the rant really, it was never planned - it just came out of the fingers while typing.

Next time I cash in, it'll be on my favorite episodes of season 3. I've been critical this year, so what DID I like about this year? And I may even include my favorites of season 1 and 2.

Until then, take care

Ok TBlog's been down for a day or two so I'm just going to pick up on some of the European movement news you may have not heard. Plus I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on the World Cup teams that have been announced (25th is the last day for teams to do so) and I may comment then. Team Germany I felt was good but might be missing some of the older vets. Then again, maybe a younger, faster team might be the way to go this year.

Mixed mutt [b]Goran Bezina[/b] will be playing for HC Genève-Servette in Switzerland next year leaving the Springfield Falcons and the Phoenix Coyote organization. Bezina spent his time over in North America switching both between defense and right wing. He was always labeled as a "project" player so maybe this move will be good for him. He's also from Croation and Swiss bloodlines.

HC Lausanne in Switzerland reeled in AHL-NHL fringe player [b]Patrick Boileau[/b] to their blueline. Vienna Capitals add former Islander and Blackhawk [b]David Chyzowski[/b] to their lineup. Though HC Lugano may have made the biggest free agent splash of any team. The Swiss club claims they have deal on the table with [b]Dany Heatley[/b] if the NHL lock-out does occur. It seems legit but lets wait until he's in a Lugano uniform first.

[b]Milan Hnilicka[/b] won't be waiting around after signing a two year deal with HC Liberec leaving the Kings short on goalie depth once again. After a strong 2003-04, think [b]Cristobal Huet[/b] has the starting job locked up over [b]Roman Cechmanek[/b]? HC Pardubice adds [b]Jan Lasak[/b] in goal from SKA St Petersburg of the RSL. Nashville technically still owns his rights.HC Karloy Vary added defenseman [b]Zdenek Kultak[/b] from the Bruins. Something tells me Kultak will remain in Europe after a failed attempt to fully adjust to the North American style. He wasn't horrible but was never strong enough to break into the Bruins corps full time. But KV also added a goalie, Ottawa 67s [b]Lukas Mensator[/b], a Vancouver draft pick. Remember Mensator before coming to the CHL played his youth hockey with the Karloy Vary program. He's come back to the fold with a world of CHL expierence now.

[b]Robert Petrovicky[/b] is on the move again. This time to the ZSC Lions from the SCL Tigers, staying in the Swiss league. Back to the SM-Liiga for [b]Tim Thomas[/b], he saw his dream come true in 2002 when he played for the Boston Bruins but with a looming lock-out, he'd rather secure himself a steady paycheck than be left out in the cold. He should fill Jokerit's goaltending hole.

[b]Tony Mårtensson[/b], after two good campaigns in the AHL won't be returning for a third securing himself a job with the SEL's Linköpings HC. Shame if there's NHL hockey next season because I had him penciled in for the Anaheim line-up.

[b]Christian LaFlamme[/b], as expected, signed with the DEL's Kassel Huskies. Good luck to Christian, it's been fun watching you on both sides of the St Louis-Chicago rivalry. Now I'll get to see you on my second favorite DEL team.

I'm stilling compling the 100 Greatest games list. I have about 150 titles and I've started to pare them down slightly with the help of one or two people's input here and there. I have no time table on it but if you're wanting to discuss and debate, I'm up for it.

But no this list is different. I'm sure we've all seen that one Friends episode where Ross and Rachel make up 'The List.' The list of five people that they could sleep with while the other one could not mad for the transgression. Only catch is they had to be 'no chance in hell' types of celebrities. Well me and Amanda have tackled the idea of the list before and we've expanded to ten and so far mine's a living document. It changes about every five seconds so for this nano-moment in time my ten (in no particular order) go

[b]Anna Faris[/b] (I can't believe it took people this long to figure out she's hot)
[b]Lacey Chabert[/b] (So underrated its not funny. One of Hollywood's best dressed)
[b]Christina Aguilera[/b] (Sure she's probably got all sorts of things crawling around in that thing but it'd be a wild, bumpy ride.)
[b]Scarlett Johansson [/b](Lost in Translation with her in her undies, nuff said)
[b]Elisha Cuthbert[/b] ("I'm all wet. Can I come in?")
[b]Josie Maran[/b] (drool)
[b]Mya[/b] (I need a little chocolate in the diet)
[b]Victoria Beckham[/b] (I'm better than Davie right?)
[b]Stacey Kiebler[/b] (And people wondered why I watched WCW when it was dying)
[b]Diana Taruasi[/b] (If you've known me for a while, you know my obession with this nice, tall specimen)

YEah that's the list for now but there's about 10 other girls sitting right on the edge. Sorry, I'm a guy and I'm in my prime years. [b]Kristen Dunst[/b] and [b]Shania Twain[/b] will probably take Vickie and Scarlett's place in another five seconds.

This idea has been done to death but it came to me the other night when my girlfriend asked me what Metroid is. I really couldn't answer. I just was in complete awe, dumbfounded. Now it wouldn't be the first time I've been speechless and blank but its not a good thing to be while driving. I almost slammed into the Dodge pick-up in front of me at the light. So on the remaining portion of the trip (after I regained my composure) I explained the entire story of Metroid from the begining to the end (well at least up to Metroid Fusion) and why Metroid was great back on the NES and it came to me - they (they being EGM) are right - Super Metroid is (if not the greatest) one of the greatest games ever to be made. It's definitely in my top five and today I was going to sit down and make my top ten list of the greatest video games ever. Unfortunately for me, I've been around since the Atari days and video games have always been a part of my life. I've seen the highs and I've seen the lows of the video game industry. I remember Final Fantasy when it was a cult following not as a trendy series that started with the number seven. In fact Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy were the two games that started my life long addiction to video games. I solely blame Square and Enix (now merged together in corporate life as Square-Enix) for ruining my ambitions and my motivation to do much else than play RPGs. I spent the first two years of secondary education wanting to design video games and going to school for that reason. I have thousands of ideas trapped inside my little head (one of which Microsoft just stole for True Fantasy Online) and its my passion (other than hockey). Even though I've switched my major and schooling towards something more attainable, I still get the desire to make games and I know sooner or later I'll be switching again towards that path someday. Sadly the days of Ultima (when only one or two people could sit down and pound out a game) are gone so its not like I'd ever have the chance to do it myself - I would have to break in to the business and actually get someone to give me money and a staff to build a game - frankly, I'd rather just write and teach.

I'm still formulating my list but its grown to a top 50 (maybe even top 100) but I'd figured I'd throw it out to you guys - what are some of your all-time favorite games from Atari, Arcade, console, ect?

I think your locks are Super Mario Brothers 3, Super Metroid, Street Fighter II, Super Mario World, Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Phantasy Star II and Tetris so what else makes your list?

*USELESS PERSONAL RANT*

Man college graduations are boring. I don't remember my High School graduation being so filled with suck. And hell, its not liked I really accomplished anything - I mean it is public education. Then again it really doesn't feel like I accomplished anything here either. I mean I completed this degree work almost a year ago - feels like longer and I'm really not that far away from the next degree at the moment. Eh well - we did have one decent student speaker and the guest speaker was great but the second student speaker loved to insert pauses after every word - maybe she realized her speech was only five minutes long and needed filler, I don't know but it was horrid. Rest of the crud was boring but hey dinner after wards kicked ass. So all that ends well - at least I now have enough money to buy the Last Samuari on DVD.

*END PERSONAL RANT*

Orange Crush? Crush the soda is good but Orange the color is absolutely dreadful. Maybe its because its my alma matar's colors but God, who wears orange? I'll wear yellow - I have a yellow tie, I have a couple yellow shirts from Arrow and Croft & Barrow. I'll even wear a light shade of pink. My closet has become more colorful over the past year (mostly in part to those Fabulous Five gay guys on Bravo) but one color I refuse to add to the rack is orange. I have only one article of orange and that's a shirt from my freshman year of High School celebrating my High School's run to the Sweet Sixteen in basketball. I don't even really know how well if fits - it just sits in the closet to break up the organization of colors. It transfers between the red shirts and the yellow shirts and that's about all it does.

So it was sickening for me to see that sea of orange today during game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. For the longest time I was thinking there were sure a lot of empty seats at the Wachovia Center - until I realized, those weren't empty seats but people in orange seats WEARING orange. Maybe five people in the entire crowd were wearing something other than those orange crush T-shirts. While I applaud Philadelphia for being one of the rare few teams in the NHL that doesn't have red in their uniform colors (or trim) orange and black isn't a whole lot better.

Is it just me or does [b]Mike Commodore[/b] look like a damn hobo? I like what he's doing. It's cool and the charity part is great and all but ugh. More power to him just hope you wash all that hair.

[b]Cam Ward [/b]has been signed by the Carolina Hurricanes. Would have been awfully dumb of Jim Rutherford not to sign his goaltender of the future before the June 1st deadline. Expect him to grab the starting job right away in Lowell. Carolina's system is crowded with goalies but let's just say as much as I had hope for [b]Randy Petruk[/b] and [b]Rob Zepp[/b], Ward's the only one with NHL starting talent in him. Should [b]Kevin Weekes[/b] be watching his back? We'll see after Ward's first year in the AHL. Though will Carolina be in the market for an NHL calibre back-up? [b]Patrick DesRochers[/b] was supposed to handle that job last year but his horrible training camp this year led the Hurricanes to pluck up [b]Jamie Storr[/b]. And we all know how Storr turned out. I hope DesRochers is given one more chance but if he does, next season may be the last chance for the former first round netminder.

Expect [b]Ryan Hogwell[/b] to compete for a spot with the Rangers next season. Hogwell? Didn't the Rangers let his rights go last year? Yes, the Rangers failed to come to terms with Hogwell after selecting him in the 2001 draft. But Hogwell's career was in serious doubt after a serious concussion. Hogwell has had an amazing comeback year with Medicine Hat and he's been rewarded for it by the Rangers. Rangers may have struck a good deal here, I had Hogwell way higher in 2001 - I had him as a third round pick but he slipped into the eight round and I never thought we'd hear from him again after his injury. So here's to Ryan and here's to an NHL career.

Do people seriously think this WHA ressurection is going to work? Everything in my body says its either a hoax or a complete mistake. Heck, even the "minor leagues" the WHA2 has pulled out of the WHA's agreement and changed the name of their league after one season. Bobby (Hull) you're setting yourself up for humilation. I've been wrong before (as many of you have pointed out painfully) but am I the only one who just laughs any time people mention this league as a serious alternative?

Any body remember [b]Ivan Hlinka[/b]? Well he'll be coaching the Czech Republic national team after taking a couple years off. Hlinka will replace [b]Slavomir Lener[/b]. Hopefully he can turn around a national program that's been on a slight down turn since its Gold Medal win at Nagano.

Keeping with the Czechs, [b]Jaroslav Kristek[/b] who left the Buffalo Sabres last offseason to compete on the National Squad will be lending his services to HC Zlin next year.

The Montreal Canadiens have one less free agent to worry about next season. [b]Andreas Dackell[/b] will not be back, opting instead to sign with the SEL's Brynas IF club.

Former Chicago Freeze, Univeristy of Princeton, Lexington Man-o-War, Wheeling Nailer, Toledo Storm, Greensboro General and now REV Bremerhaven player [b]David Del Monte[/b] is now looking for a job. Again another case where I was wrong. After he scored 85 points in his final NAHL season back in 1998, I said Del Monte would have a shot at the NHL after Princeton. Well 46 points in 99 games wasn't bad (including a 26 point senior season) but he just hasn't been able to put his talents together any where. If I'm correct, his brother plays in Italy, he could always catch on there but I'd rather him come back to the ECHL, CHL or UHL or something in North America. I'd like to see the LA Kings reunite Del Monte with former teammate and hulking monster George Paros. So how about it Dave Taylor? Sign Del Monte now for Reading or Manchester.

Here's a little interesting tid-bit out of one of the worst rumour mongering newspapers on the continent. Bruce Garroich of the Ottawa Sun believes the Senators could bring in [b]Dominik Hasek[/b] to cure their goalie woes. Rich Winter (Hasek's agent) says his client wants to play again and he wants to do it in Detroit but as you know now that road is blocked. But Hasek and Senators GM John Muckler have been acquainted with each other during their time in Buffalo and barring a strike of lightning Hasek's groin is well on recovery and he's doing great.

Now I know all your eye rolling doubts at the moment. I have reason to believe (in sofar) that Hasek's groin isn't healed and if you're saying 'oh my god the Senators cannot afford him, they're deep poor,' you missed the memo about a year ago that Canadian billionaire (ok technically since picking up the team he has fallen right below the billionaire line according to Forbes) bought the team. If you discount the amazing amount of players they have eligible for new contracts, they don't have money problems any more.

BUT at his age and with the free agents that Muckler will have to re-sign (if [b]Zdeno Chara[/b] isn't looking for a huge pay day I'd be shocked) Hasek is going to have to take a pay cut if he wants to return to any where. And think about the problems Hasek caused coaches in Buffalo. Granted Hasek won [b]Ted Nolan[/b] a Jack Adams trophy (and a legion of fans that believe he's "super coach" despite not coaching now for seven years) but Hasek also led to Nolan's subsequent firing and probable black listing. Would Muckler give his new head coach a potential career killer in net? [b]Dave Lewis[/b] will most likely be losing his job - what if Hasek quits again?

It's best just to wait and see who's cut loose. Right now its shaping up to be one of the worst Free Agent goalie crops in a long time but there could be an extra few surprises in there in the labour agreement forces it. If not just stick with [b]Patrick Lalime[/b] - is anything on the market all that much better? Not really.

Though this rumour is no worse than the Palm Beach Times saying the Florida Panthers have about $10 million left on their budget for next season and will attempt to woo [b]Brendan Shanahan[/b] and[b] Kris Draper[/b] to play in Panther uniforms and provide veteran leadership. Yeah - that would be where I'd like to finish my Hall of Fame career - with a team that won't be going anywhere for 3 or 4 years (which will be after I'm gone) and to baby sit [b]Christian Berglund[/b], [b]Nate Horton[/b] and [b]Olli Jokinen[/b]. Rick Dudley has to set the Free agent aspirations a little lower because the deal just doesn't sound attractive to either guy. Though that's what we said to [b]Dave Andreychuk[/b] when he arrived in Tampa Bay.

On the European front, former NHL goalie [b]Fredric Chabot [/b]will be playing in the Capitol once again...well Vienna at least. He'll leave the DEL's Nurnberg Ice Tigers for the Vienna Capitals next season. The Ice Tigers also released former college prospect [b]Alfie Michaud[/b]. Something tells me that the Ice Tigers won't be handing the reigns over to [b]Lukas Lang[/b] who has only one career start at the DEL level. Look for them to go pick up a goalie.

Following up yesterday's report on Mannheim's goalie situation - the team released [b]Richard Shulmistra[/b]. They also said bye to [b]Todd Hlushko[/b], [b]Steven Junker[/b], and [b]Mike Kennedy[/b]. Berlin released [b]Terry Yake[/b].

Columbus will be without former AHL star [b]Derrick Walser[/b] from now on. Walser decided to leave the Blue Jackets organization and will compete for Berlin next season in the DEL. A favorite of the Syracuse Crunch faithful, I'm truly sorry.

The CSS Final Rankings for the NHL Draft are now out at nhl.com. [b]Andrew Ladd[/b] finds himself in the top North American skaters spot, [b]Adam Pineault[/b] is still considered a first round selection and [b]TJ Hensick[/b], despite a ruling that would allow him to keep his college eligibility will not be opting in to the draft. Alvaro Montoya is still the top ranked North American goalie but everything bellow him is messed up and jumbled. I garuentee the goalies will look a lot different than where CSS has them going. To players that may find themselves in the draft that aren't listed are goalkeeper Ian Harper and defenseman Michael Findorff. Harper I've talked to this week and says he's been in contact with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators. They may take a flyer on him now that he can keep his college eligiblity. The hulking 6-6 Findorff was on the pres-season list but broke his leg in three places early in training camp. He wasn't expected to play at all this year but skated in 11 regular season contests and helped the Springfield Jr Blues to a third place finish in the NAHL National Tournement. The breaks were so bad, some people didn't think he'd really play again well he's proven everyone wrong and it could make him a surprise selection on the second day. I'm going to put my hat on it, you'll see some one select the defenseman on day 2.

May 18th will be the NAHL entry draft.

[b]MORE COACHING WHEEL[/b]

Mike Ramsey will be throwing his name into the hat for the Ottawa coaching job. He's been an NHL assistant since retiring in 1997 and the former 1980 Olympian is finally looking to take over an NHL bench. Personally between him, Barry Smith and Keith Acton (the three assistants looking for bench jobs elsewhere) I find that Acton has the better chance and skills.

[b]OTTAWA SIGNS ANOTHER OVERAGER[/b]

Ottawa signed [b]Kelly Guard[/b] from the Kelwona Rockets yesterday. Guard has had to great seasons in a row in the WHL and is appearing in his second consective Memorial Cup (this time with the home crowd on his side.) He should find himself as a starting goalie in the ECHL next year and with goalie headaches in Ottawa, he may get himself an early chance at the NHL. I still say [b]Ray Emery[/b] is the goalie of the future in Ottawa though.

[b]EURO-MOVEMENT[/b]

EHC Wolfsburg adds former St Louis/Colorado defenseman [b]Dale Clarke[/b] to their blue line after Clarke's decent first season in the SM-Liiga. The newly promoted DEL club is making great strides in improving their blue line for the higher league. They also added [b]Herbert Geisberger[/b] to the forward lines.

After one year in North American, [b]Mika Hannula[/b] is going back home. After spending all year with Houston, Minnesota (and now Dallas) affiliate to the AHL, Hannula decided to return to the MIF Redhawks where he was a SEL All-star in 2002.

The Iserlohn Roosters are cleaning house after their DEL season. Today they annoucned that [b]James Black[/b] (Chicago/Washington), [b]Dave Cooper[/b] (Buffalo/Calgary), [b]Mike Fountain[/b] (Carolina/Vancouver/Ottaw a) and [b]Matt Henderson[/b] (Philadelphia/Chicago) as well as [b]Christopher Strabue [/b](German/Canadian citizen) will not be back next year.

[b]Julien Vauclair[/b], who I always thought would be in the NHL by now if he wasn't stuck in Ottawa will be heading back home and playing for his old club, HC Lugano in Switzerland. I'm not very good at translating but I believe Ottawa does retain Vauclair's rights and this is a loan. I'll have to confrim that however.

Well we knew [b]Jamie Storr [/b]wasn't going to be back in Carolina, we just didn't know he wouldn't be back in the NHL. Storr, after a horrible 2003-04 season will try his luck in Germany with Alder Mannheim. He'll replace [b]Marc Selinger [/b]who earlier signed with EHC Wolfsburg. Its unknown whether [b]Danny Aus den Birken [/b]and former Florida Panthers prospect [b]Richard Shulmistra[/b] will be around next year to back-up Storr.

Yet to be official but University of Maine stand-out, [b]Lucas Lawson[/b] looks like he's going to be signing with Ilves Tampere of the SM-Liiga after spending last year jetting between the ECHL, AHL and a couple games for the Rangers. He wasn't garuenteed a spot on Broadway but he definitely would have had a fighting chance to log ice time there. Instead he'd rather lock up his future now instead of waiting for a lock-out.

[b]*WARNING* Scroll down to the next bold type for the hockey stuff. If you want to skip the personal crap go to the next bold post. *END WARNING*[/b]

**** YEAH!! While that stupid Biotch of a drama professor has yet to post a single grade, I really don't give a damn about what grade I got in her class because she's leaving the University of Illinios and heading to the University of Long Island so I'll never have to deal with her stupid grading on essays again. Ok well I did get a B+ and an A- on two of her essays but that C still pisses me off on the first essay. I don't like having to adapt my style to anyone though as you can see with the other two essays, I did so.

But the other two classes, CHA-CHING!! Victorian Novels is in the bag. I needed to ace the final and the course essay to nab a 94 in the course. Mission accomplished. He has yet to post the grades for the final but I felt pretty GD confident after filling up one and a half of those 12-page blue books. And guess what, 100% on the essay. While I don't believe in such a thing as a prefect essay, Prof D sure does. Though the essay did its purpose and got the idea across in a compact 12 pages so I guess where could he have taken points off of? I was worried because I only used 4 sources but man, talk about worrying for nothing.

Then that horrible horrible Asian studies class I took turned out well. For the past 18 weeks I've despised Tuesdays like no other day. Seriously. I was the only Literature major in there with a bunch of History majors (and one Poly-Sci) who obviously have had background already in Asia. Two extremely brillent grad students to boot who I know will go on and do something great in the history field. But man, trying to follow up on some of their questions was rough. Really I had no clue what the hell to even ask sometimes in that class. Usually when you're confused, you ask questions. Well ever been so confused that you can't even figure out the questions to ask to unconfuse you? Yeah. That was me.

So I worried about those looming participation points. Some how I wound up with 110 points, more than the class average. Go figure. I think I talked maybe twice in that class all year (sans the breaks and before class about baseball.) Maybe he took pity on me because I emailed him once telling him I had no clue what was going on. *shrugs*

But the essay was where I really shined. Still missed 7 points out of the 130 point paper but again better than the class average and it should have been - after all, I am a literature major - I do research essays in my sleep. Plus damn 21 pages when the minimun was 15 and shit I could have gone twice that length if it wasn't for a class I totaly despised. I was smart enough to lock up a topic I knew something about and was interested in. So I'm pretty happy with myself. Hoping he mails it back to me because I'd be interested in adding to it.

All in all I wound up with a 90.6541 in the grade book. Yeah I think that's going to round up to a 91%. So two As and a who cares - I probably bombed the Drama final (I kinda didn't divy up my time on the essays right and the last essay I only had 25 minutes to plan and write.)

[b]*WARNING OVER. HOCKEY POST BELOW*[/b]

Ok "And the wheel Goes Round" is a reference to the coaching wheel that is the NHL. The wheel turns and you just get on only to get off as the wheel rotates. There's a couple vacancies sitting out there in the NHL. I'm just going to take a look at who I think will land where.

[b]PHOENIX COYOTES[/b]

[i]The Canididates[/i] - Jacques Martin, Marc Habscheid, Barry Melrose, Larry Robinson, Rick Bowness

As in the post below, Martin wouldn't mind Phoenix but he's got other offers and Gretzky hasn't even contacted Martin. Robinson seems to have dropped off the list as far as I can tell and that's probably a good thing. Barry's a "big name" but also a "big joke." Habscheid can't be interviewed until the 24th, Martin might not be around by then.

[i]Winner[/i] - Habscheid. He's a pretty solid Xs and Os guy that deserves his shot at the bigs. The host Rockets have a chance to win the CHL's Memorial Cup though. If he wins it, will he make himself open to other jobs? I'd also like to see Bowness keep his job though.

[b]OTTAWA SENATORS[/b]

[i]Canididates[/i] - Keith Acton, Barry Smith, Joel Quenneville, Larry Robinson

Acton is a Toronto assistant who's paid his dues and should be looking at a head coaching job soon. If not this season, next season. Same with Barry Smith, an assistant not only to Scotty Bowman but to Dave Lewis. The fan favorite is Q but honestly, how different is Quenneville coaching wise from Martin? Mike Keenan's name is being whispered but John Muckler wouldn't dare do that to himself while he's already on the hot seat in Ottawa. Kevin Constantine (as you know) is my favorite but no one has (at least publicly) contacted Constantine.

[i]Winner [/i]- Acton. He'll probably get the traitor label but he's a great leader and hard nosed. He'll work the Senators and looks to just be a natural born coach. Full of energy and he'll inject that into the Senators. I don't think Toronto will be able to retain him much longer.

[b]DETROIT RED WINGS[/b]

[i]Canididates[/i] - Barry Smith, Paul Maurice

Well Colorado and Toronto have given their head coaches the kiss-of-death er I mean the vote of confidence and Dallas is wavering on firign Dave Tippett (it would be a dumb move IMO) and Detroit hasn't officially fired Lewis but from what I know and am hearing out of Detroit, Lewis is gone.

When Scotty Bowman retired, the job was between Dave Lewis and Barry Smith. Lewis won out but Smith could have the last laugh. Though neither one could be laughing if Ken Holland doesn't do something about the roster's grit and speed. Smith will probably wind up with one of the bench jobs

Paul Maurice I think is the fit here. He's coached junior hockey in the area and he's too good to be unemployed. I'm sure once Lewis does get the can more canididates will emerge but Maurice I feel has it in the bag.

[i]Winner[/i] - Maurice.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Canididates - Gerard Gallant, Jacques Martin, Brian Skrudland

Skruland you say? Remember how much of a genius he made Doug MacLean look in 1996 when the Florida Panthers went to the Stanley Cup finals? Yeah Douggie owes Brian a favor. Plus Skrudland is a very intelligent player and we also thought he may try his hand in coaching some day. Could this be the place to do it? My thoughts are the Columbus organization wants to make the next leap forward as Nashville and Minnesota already have and Atlanta should join them next year - yes, I'm going on the limb. But would a rookie head coach such as Skrudland be the next step up? Maybe down the road.

Martin would be a decent fit in Columbus but there's more attractive offers out there. Gallant did nothing as the interim coach to be stripped of it. I'd like to see him keep it.

[i]Winner[/i] - Gallant

[b]FLORIDA PANTHERS[/b]

[i]Canididates[/i] - Martin, John Torchetti, Larry Robinson

Robinson's name conintues to float around and I'm sure Rick Dudley wouldn't mind him being an assistant or a specialist but I'm doubting he'll become the bench boss.

Dudley also says that Torchetti so far will keep the job but he has been talking to Martin, a close and personal friend of his from their time in Ottawa. If Martin wants the job, you'd think itd be his.

[i]Winner [/i]- Martin. Personally, I love Torchetti a lot. I think its a good staff there in Florida but really as I said, if Martin wants the job - it's his almost. Torchetti will just have to slide over behind the bench.

[b]WASHINGTON CAPITALS[/b]

[i]Canididates[/i] - Glen Hanlon, Martin (again) Dale Hunter

Hanlon was the guy they should have hired for the job when they decided Bruce Cassidy was ready for the NHL bench job. Hanlon instead became Cassidy's assistant and had to sit through mistake after mistake after grueling mistake as Cassidy struggled his way through coaching the over priced Capitals. Though maybe its best this way because if Hanlon would have had to coach Jagr, we'd probably be talking about him being unemployed right now.

Martin might go for this offer if its given to him. The Capitals should have a nice young and tough line-up for next season as well as one of the top five goalies in the league. No more Patrick Lalime mistakes in Washington. Though I hope Ted Leonias has learned his lesson.

Dale Hunter, the former Capital great is the fan's choice but right now he's the head coach of the London Knights and his contract isn't up. I'm doubting he leaves it but if you watch how the Knights play sometimes, maybe its a good thing for the Capitals.

[i]Winner[/i] - Hanlon. The youngest already on the roster look up to him, approve of him and can communicate with him. He's a likable guy to the media and really this should have been his job two years ago. You can't take it away from him just because George McPhee decided to noise dive.

[b]NEW YORK RANGERS[/b]

[i]Canididates[/i] - Joel Quenneville, Tom Renney, Ryan McGill, Bob Francis

God I hope Reeney keeps the tag. He's not a bad coach. He just had the misfortune of being the Canuck coach during a very low point in the history of the franchise. Again Renney (or Ted Green) should have been the caniddate to replace Bryan Trottier and not Glen Sather himself. It was nuts that he even stepped behind the bench over those two.

But the pull of Quenneville is too strong. You'd think he'd have better job offers out there but unless the Dallas (or another) job opens up, you've got to think Quenneville doesn't have that many real options. He might be forced to take the Rangers job just to coach next year.

The Rangers next year will be very comfrotable next year if Ryan McGill winds up with the job. After all he's coached most of them with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He's done an amazing job down there and deserves the call-up from the minors.

[i]Winner[/i]- McGill. It'll feel like a fresh start for the organization instead of keeping Renney in. I hope Renney finds a spot some where else down the road but even I'd go with McGill. He knows the personal on the bench, he's had success elsewhere and he's not the expensive Quenneville.

So wow, if all goes my way Quenneville and Francis will be coaching in Europe. Then again, they might not be the only ones if the lock-out does happen. Both coaches could use a year off to reflect. Francis could easily find a job in the CHL for a year but I'm not sure they'll wind up any where. Barry Smith is also out there. The other vacancy open at the moment is New Jersey with Pat Burns maybe missing some of next season due to his colan cancer. Doubt the Devils want to bring back Robbie Ftorek - even for a couple games. Though would Lou hire Francis, Quenneville or Smith? Something tells me no.

Well Smith, better luck next offseason.

[b]LEHTONEN DOMINATES[/b]

Need any more proof that [b]Kari Lehtonen[/b] is ready for the NHL? After going 4-0 in his late season debut for the Thrashers, Lehtonen made 54 saves on Saturday to lead the Chicago Wolves over the Milwaukee Admirals 2-1. The Wolves were outshot 55 to 25 and Kari's GAA stands at 1.86 with a 4-2 record in the playoffs. And don't forget the .950 save percentage.

Admirals had 18 powerplays to Chicago's 9 and had two 2-man advantages in the game forcing Lehtonen to have to stand on his head.

Honestly, if you've never seen Lehtonen play in net before, you're in for a treat next season. [b]Pasi Nurminen[/b] is still the starter in Atlanta but he better be looking over his shoulder. Bob Hartley may have himself a nice goalie contraversy soon.

[b]CANADA WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD[/b]

You don't say? That's nice, wake me up in time for the World Cup.

[b]MAX TALBOT AND GATINEAU WIN BIG[/b]

Going into the World Junior Championships I did nothing but question the selection of Maxime Talbot as an assistant captain to team Canada and to some extent his selection to the team over some other players that were cut. Well, it seems to be a theme lately but I was wrong. He has done nothing but prove me wrong again and again and again and again this season. After a terffric WJC, the Gatineau captain has capped off his season with some hardward. First the Guy Lafleur trophy awarded to the OMJHL playoff MVP and the bigger prize, the Presidents Cup given the OMJHL champions. If you're scratching your head and wondering if you've seen this before its because Talbot and Gatineau accomplished the exact same thing last year when the team was the Hull Olympiques. It's the franchise's sixth league title. So again they'll represent the QMJHL in the Memorial Cup.

Guelph Storm (OHL champions), Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL champions) and the Kelwona Rockets (tourney host) will also be competiting in the Memorial Cup tourney starting on the 15th.

Talbot remains unsigned by the Pittsburgh Penguins so they've got some work to do to ink him before June 1st.

[b]WANT TO PISS OFF YOUR AGENT AND YOUR MOM?[/b]

We all know [b]Adam Pineault[/b] struggled for most of his freshman campaign at Boston College but the forward has decided to drop out of school. No reason was officially given and Pineault has yet to make plans for next season. While I know he'll garner a lot of interest from teams I don't see how this move helps Pineault's stock for the 2004 draft. Once seen as a first round pick, Pineault might be saying hello to the second day of the draft.

So he's damaged his stock and walked away from a free education and a chance to develop his game without any haste for three more years. Good job Adam. While we don't know the reason for his depature, if he's going to bitch about ice time (Pineault only saw action in 15 games this year) I'm going to laugh so hard. I didn't realize freshmen were just handed ice time especially at a program like BC. Pineault stunk up the ice most nights he got to see it. Tell me again why he only saw 15 games?

If ice time is not the reason, I apologize but I'm sure with some hard work he would have seen more games as a sophomore and then he would be a key cog in the program as a junior. Tough break for him.

[b]DANNY BOIS INKS WITH OTTAWA[/b]

This happened a week ago but I failed to mention it. The Senators inked [b]Danny Bois[/b], the OHL London Knight's captain. Be warned, if you hate Matthew Barnaby and Bryan Marchment - Bois may take the cake.

The Senators still have this inferiority complex about their team toughness and Bois will certainly deliver there - if he's not suspended. Commonly refered to as the "OHL's most hated man" Bois was suspended a total of 24 games this season for various (as in more than one) cheap shot incidents. He yaps, he hits, he sticks up for teammates and he fights (though some argue how good he really will be at that in the NHL level, he's definitely not a heavyweight IMO) He's certainly alright in positioning but his offensive skills are next to none. He's going to have one job next year in the AHL and later the NHL and that's to pester the hell out of the other team. But he's a powder keg of bad penalties, fines and suspensions waiting to happen. I'm sure you'll hate him too when he comes to an NHL rink near you.

[b]MORE STAALS?[/b]

[b]Jordan Staal[/b] followed his brother's footsteps by going third overall to the Petersborough Petes in the OHL draft last week. The middle Staal brother, Marc, played defense for the Sudbury Wolves last year and you all know that [b]Eric Staal[/b] is now the young budding 19 year old for the Carolina Hurricanes and 2nd overall selection in the 2003 draft. Marc's got a nice shot at the NHL as well but Jordan is said to be even better all around then Eric. Definitely something to keep an eye on.

[b]JACQUES MARTIN AS THE COACHES WHEEL TURNS[/b]

[b]Jacques Martin[/b] today said he wouldn't mind coaching the Phoenix Coyotes next season and he's definitely interested but Wayne Gretzky, Michael Barnett and Co have yet to contact him about filling their head coaching position next season.

But if they want Martin, they may have to hurry because three teams have contacted Martin about positions inside their organization. Two of the clubs remain unknown at this point but Martin has made public his meeting with Florida Panthers GM [b]Rick Dudley[/b]. Dudley was Martin's GM once in Ottawa and they are said to be close. But don't be surprised if [b]John Torchetti[/b] has the interim tag removed from his name. Torchetti is quite capable and inexpensive - at the moment. Martin could come aboard as a scout but I'm sure he's weighing his options and would rather coach.

While [b]Rick Bowness[/b] could have the interim label taken off his name it's rumoured that [b]Marc Habscheid[/b] and [b]Larry Robinson[/b] are the top canididates and [b]Barry Melrose[/b] and yes, [b]Marty McSorely[/b] are the long shots.

Habscheid still has to finish coaching the Kelwona Rockets as the Memorial Cup host team so he won't be ready to interview until the 23rd of May and honestly, Robinson as a full-time head coach again makes me groan. He's a great second fiddle guy and scout but coaching, I'm still not sold on his abilities. But yes, it's better than Barry. I know he's Wayne's friend but does Wayne not listen to Melrose on ESPN and ABC? In a rare moment he'll say something half-way decent but for every time he does that, he says another twenty-or-so stupid things.

McSorely only comes up as the Springfield Falcons are no long affiliated with the Coyotes and its not sure if McSorely will follow them next year. [b]Gord Dineen[/b] and player/coach [b]Gary Shuchuk [/b]are also under McSorley in Springfield.

[b]AND SPEAKING OF COACHES[/b]

Note how far the Everett Silvertips got this year in the WHL as an expansion club. Yeah they lost to the Medicine Hat Tigers but they lost to the Medicine Hat Tigers in the league finals folks. They also beat Kelwona after being down in the series 3-1 to get to the finals.

Note who the coach is in Everett. Yeah [b]Kevin Constantine[/b]. The same Constantine that I think would be a good fit for a season or two in Ottawa. Think Everett's preformance this year will be enough to pick up John Muckler's interest?

[b]DAVE LEWIS OUT?[/b]

Don't be surprised if [b]Dave Lewis[/b] is axed in Detroit here in the next couple of days. The organization has kept very mum on the subject and are evaluating their options so Lewis still has a prayer but it does not look good for Hitler er Lewis. Hopefully he's given another chance in Detroit or some where else because the reasons Detroit was ousted by Calgary don't rest on the shoulders of Lewis but more the make-up of the roster.

In the next couple days I'm hoping to go over the Detroit roster and what it may be like next season. I don't think they'll be in a radical rebuilding mode as they have enough in the cupboard next season to stock up and still let most of their UFAs walk or retire. Mission number one in the off-season - get tougher. And oh, add some speed for christ sake. [b]Jiri Hudler[/b] and [b]Nathan Robinson[/b] should help the later.

Expect [b]Paul Maurice[/b] to find his way to Detroit very quickly. Just a hunch.

NHL

Damn. I had this really long post about why I'm tired of people discrediting the European leagues and I freaking hit the back button on my browser and lost it. Goes to show, if you're going to be typing a long BLOG post, do it in notepad first.

I'll do it again later after I'm done being pissed at my browser. In its place I thought I'd recap the free agent movement since the season ended.

[b]MOVING TO EUROPE[/b]

Chris Armstrong D ANAHEIM to ERC Ingolstadt DEL
Randy Robitaille C ATLANTA to ZCS Lions SUISSE
Brian Swanson C ATLANTA to EC Kassel DEL
Dominic Pittis C BUFFALO to Kloten Flyers SUISSE
Matt Davidson C CALGARY to DEG Metro Stars DEL
Robert Dome C CALGARY to Sodertalje SK SEL
Jason Morgan C CHICAGO to Alder Mannheim DEL
Pavel Rosa RW LOS ANGELES to Moscow Dynamo RSL
John Tripp RW LOS ANGELES to Alder Mannheim DEL
Steve Kelly C LOS ANGELES to Alder Mannheim DEL
Jonas Anderson RW NASHVILLE to Sodertalje SK SEL
Stephen Guolla C NEW JERSEY to Kloten Flyers SUISSE
Tom Koivisto D PHOENIX to Frolunda Indians SEL
Jame Pollock D/RW ST LOUIS to Kloten Flyers SUISSE
Jimmie Olvestad RW TAMPA BAY to Djurgardens SEL
Nolan Baumgartner D VANCOUVER to Frankfurt DEL
Jaroslav Obsut D VANCOUVER to Lulea SEL
Mikko Jokela D VANCOUVER to HPK Hamelena SM-Liiga
Andrej Podjkonicky C WASHINGTON to HC Liberec CZE
Ivan Ciernik LW WASHINGTON to EHC Wolfsburg DEL

[b]RETIRING[/b]

Adam Oates C EDMONTON
Joe Juneau C MONTREAL
Igor Larionov C NEW JERSEY

[b]RE-SIGNED[/b]

Tomas Holmstrom RW DETROIT
Nik Lidstrom D DETROIT
Igor Ulanov D EDMONTON
Jason Chimera C EDMONTON
Derek Armstrong C LOS ANGELES
Nathan Dempsey D LOS ANGELES
Esa Pirnes C LOS ANGELES
Wes Walz C MINNESOTA
Scott Walker RW NASHVILLE
Daniel Alfredsson RW OTTAWA
Shane Doan RW PHOENIX

Nevermind, his AHL suspension does not carry over to the NHL but the NHL could pressure the Canadiens as an organization to suspend him. But technically he could be on the NHL roster next year.

The suspension IS kind of lengthy though. Perezhogin has no prior record of dirty play where Todd Bertuzzi did ha ve a prior record in his league and Perezhogin gets the book thrown at him. It was a retalitory penalty for Stafford's swing at Perezhogin's head behind the net. Personally Stafford's six game suspension is warrented and Perezhogin is a little excessive. I don't mind the suspension as its not a life time ban as some people were suggesting. I always like to see players get second chances. Especially when it really IS their second chance. Other than that slash in game 5, Alexander has never been a dirty player prior. He was frustrated and he took a mental nap. A large mental nap that he should pay for and well he is.

AHL PEREZHOGIN SUSPENDED

The AHL has suspended Hamilton Bulldog and Montreal Canadian first round pick [b]Alexander Perezhogin [/b]for the remainder of the playoffs and one entire season after Perezhogin was tossed out of Game five of Hamilton's playoff series with the Cleveland Barons.

Perezhogin was accessed a match penalty for attempt to injury when he swung his stick two-handed and caught Cleveland defenseman [b]Drew Stafford[/b] flush in the face while Stafford was on his knees getting up after a whistle. Stafford also received a six game suspension for a vicious slash to Perezhogin. While Stafford did give Perezhogin a vicious slash behind the Cleveland net before the incident, there's little excuse for what Perezhogin did. Stafford was sent into a seizure of convulsions, lost a couple teeths and received a large gash on the side of his face from where the stick blade struck him flush. Stafford is ok and in good spirits, released from the hospital with only a concussion but it could have been a lot worse.

It's undecided whether Perezhogin will face legal ramifications for this incident and his future is in severe doubt. He would have had a nice shot at making the Montreal line-up out of camp next season now we'll have to wait and see. One stupid decision just might have stalled a pretty promising NHL scoring career. Let's be thankful that Stafford's alright.

I assume Perezhogin's suspension comes with full backing from the NHL as well but I wouldn't be surprised to see Perezhogin just return to the Russian Superleague for next year. It'll be interesting if the IIHF will make them honour the suspension. My guess is not and we'll see Perezhogin playing elsewhere.

[b]NHL PROPOSES SCHEDULE CHANGES[/b]

As many of you know by now, the NHL has proposed a plan that would elminate all games in between conferences and would increase inter-divisional play to six games each between divisional rivals.

The first outcry has been by people who feel like the NHL is robbing people on the East coast from seeing the NHL's top talent in the Western Conference and vice versa. We'd loose such match-ups like Vancouver and Toronto!!

Oh dear God how could we all live without Nashville and Florida?!?!!??!?

Honestly, the league officials need to do what is best for the league here. As much as I'm sure fans in Boston would love to see Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Sergei Fedorov, their respective teams and about three other teams that are worth a damn in the other conference, I'm just as sure that they would jump at the chance to see the heated rivalry between their Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens more times during the season. I'm sure they'd love to duke it out with Buffalo, Ottawa, and Toronto more often than they would like to see Dallas, Colorado or Anaheim come to town at least once during the year. Hell and I'm sure some would pay not to see Chicago or Edmonton come to town. Why would those games draw anyone to the arena?

New York would be jumping at the idea of more Rangers-Islanders, Rangers-Devils and Devils-Islanders games I'm sure. Having trouble developing hockey in Atlanta and Florida? Let's give them the ole time rivalry hockey we all grew up on as we'd see Florida-Tampa Bay duke it out in games that mean something to the division title. Calgary and Edmonton anyone? Yeah I could take that match-up.

It'd make the All-Star game and the Finals mean more. Division crowns would actually be won and lost by play between the divisional teams. Think about how much of a point swing divisional records are going to be. I'm just getting excited thinking about it. If I want to actually watch Martin St Louis there's always Center Ice or ESPN.

[b]ALEXANDER STEEN ON HOLD?[/b]

The other day I posted that [b]Alexander Steen[/b] had left the Frolunda Indians and signed with MoDo Hockey for at least one year before coming over to the NHL and joining the Toronto Maple Leafs. Well Frolunda is now threatening legal action against MoDo and the Maple Leafs' first round pick. The Indians believe that he is still their property and there fore MoDo's signing is invalid.

[b]MORE IN EUROPE[/b]

With Washington's AHL team out of the playoffs, [b]Ivan Ciernik[/b] has been cleared to sign with EHC Wolfsburg, the DEL's newly promoted club. It'll be Ciernik's first time playing in Europe since playing for Slovakia in the 1997 World Juniors. [b]Andrei Podkonicky[/b] will also be leaving Portland after signing with the Slovak HC Liberec.

Speaking of Capitals prospects, [b]Curtis Cruikshank[/b] has established himself as one of the top netminders in the English Elite league and has netted himself a nice deal with the Nottingham Panthers after making the All-League team with Basingtoke.

Former Capital and German National team member [b]Jan Benda[/b] will transfer to Khimik Voskresensk for next year.

Mike O'Connell's threats to Leksands finally paid off as the Bruins former top propsect [b]Lars Jonsson[/b] was finally dealt to Timra IK. Leksands will truly look like a new team next year. Rumour has it they're talking to [b]Johan Hedberg[/b] to return home but chances are he'd rather play for an Elite league club instead.

[b]Jonas Elofsson[/b], released by Leksands will wind up playing with Rouen next year in the French league. I figured we may see Elofsson at least attend Chicago's training camp next season but looks like with the looming NHL CBA, Elofsson is looking for job security.

In preparing for the leap to the DEL next year EHC Wolfsberg is loading up. They added [b]Petr Smrek[/b], formerly of the AHL's Senators, to their blue-line for next season. Smrek will join Ciernik (mentioned above), [b]Artjom Kostyrev[/b] (from Kassel) Sebastian Osterloh (fromerly of Nurnberg) and [b]Marc Selinger[/b] (National team goalie from Mannheim) as some of their bulking up moves getting ready for the next level.

Avengrad Omsk will add former Lightning and Star fringe player [b]Sergey Gusev[/b] to their blue line leaving Severstal Cherepovets. And he'll be joined by fellow teammate [b]Aleksei Kalyuzhny[/b], star for many of the Belarusian international teams. Omsk will also be adding Flames prospect [b]Igor Shastin[/b]. Shastin once played for Omsk's minor system. They'll also be adding St. Petersburg defenseman Aleksandr Yudin, considered to be the league's top enforcer and fighter. What makes me think their billionaire owner [i]really[/i] wants the title next year?

Don't be surprised if you hear Alexander Täng's name called in the 2004 NHL draft. But don't expect to see the 19 year-old defenseman on the ice for Frolunda next year. He'll be playing for Rogle BK for at least next year.

I haven't posted in a couple days but I'm not dead. I'm just trying to get myself unburied from underneath my procrastination earlier in the semester as the clock ticks down to grade deadlines on Monday. Twenty-one page term paper? Check. American Drama Final? Check and groan - I don't feel bright and breezy after that one. Victorian Novels final? Tomorrow. Eight page term paper for Victorian Novels? Uhm not check. So I'm plastering something together in haste.

If I get 100% on this paper and 100% on the final, I can wind up with a 94% in the class total. So yeah, I'm aiming for the B+ to be honest. The final shouldn't be hard but then again, you never know. I always prepare for the worst when it comes to grades and it tends to keep me up for some truly ugly nights.

But expect for me to tune back in on Friday afternoon. On the docket for Friday, the NHL's proposed schedule changes, Alexander Perezhogin's future, the Western Conference Finals, the Eastern Conference Finals, MoDo Hockey v Frolunda in court?, McCraw's mistake for not re-hiring Brian Burke, the future of the Maple Leafs and Red Wings, and maybe some more.

So check for that.

MOVEMENT

Yes European movement continues at a nice pace.

Former Vancouver forward prospect [b]Lubomir Vaic[/b] will leave the Russian Super League with a championship under his belt and going home to HC Liberec in Slovakia. Vaic contributed five points during Metallurg Magnitogorsk shocking RSL playoff victory this year.

But the Russian champions probably aren't crying as they announced the signing of the Czech league's "Mini-Hasek." [b]Roman Malek[/b], Philadelphia Flyers property and once compared to Czech great [b]Dominik Hasek[/b], signed with Metallurg effectively leaving HC Plezen, whom he he was traded to during mid-season.

Unconfrimed at the moment but reports say former San Jose Shark [b]Jan Caloun[/b] will shortly be signing a deal with RSL's Severstal Cherepovets and leave the SM-Liiga where the Slovak has played the last five seasons.

And expect for Pardubice center [b]Petr Purcha[/b] to be signed by the New York Rangers real soon and brought over either to Hartford (if there's a lock-out) or to the opening line-up on Broadway. The 21 year-old Purcha has been playing on a line with Jaromir Jagr at the World Championships and has looked really good with the pouty mega-star. He's 5-10 and 160 pounds though so he needs to find himself on a weight program real soon.