The Skin of Our Teeth

And the most lack luster draft in recent memory comes to an end with out a hitch. Honestly, I don't even remember 1995's draft being this boring. Few shockers but the weekend was highlighted mostly by John Muckler doing some pretty smart moves that wound up being crapped on by fans around the league.

ANAHEIM, I like what they did here. Their first three picks went towards replenishing their defense. [b]Ladislav Smid[/b] isn't expected in uniform next season but don't be surprised if we see him on the fast track to Anaheim after that. [b]Jordan Smith [/b]still has a bit to grow and is reminding some of a shutdown [b]Adam Foote[/b], while [b]Kyle Kubertanz[/b] will be allowed to grow three or four years at the University of Wisconsin - his offensive upside is the best of the three. The Ducks also picked up Kubertanz's future Badger teammate in [b]Matt Auffrey[/b] - his defense is raw and he takes dumb penalties but his offensive talent is first or second round potential. Ducks also added some desperately needed goalie depth with [b]Gabriel Bouthillette[/b], who has some great size and flexibility but has been a back-up most of his junior career - he'll be no.1 this year. Ducks also picked up [b]Tim Brent [/b]again - this time he'll have no contract leverage. We could even see him in the starting night line-up if the salary purge continues.

ATLANTA went completely away from my first round plan and went with the hulking [b]Boris Valabik[/b]. It's a gamble but the Thrashers still have time they can wait on him. Should anchor the defense with [b]Braydon Coburn[/b] if all goes well but they did skip out on some of the sliding prospects - means they wanted and are commited to Valabik. They also picked up Grant Lewis - one of my skyrocketting picks in the weeks leading up to the draft. I love him and he should be the Power-play QB down south in a couple years. But they didn't stop on defense, taking [b]Scott Lehman[/b] with their next selection. Needs to get bigger quick. [b]Chad Painchaud[/b] is a quick little bug but he's about as big as a bug. [b]Juraj Gracik[/b] was a steal that late - give him a couple years to get his hands. Team needed goalie depth so that's where drafting 6-5 [b]Dan Turple[/b] and trading for Denver hero [b]Adam Berkheol[/b] comes into play. [b]Miikka Tuomainen[/b] was in my top 30 for his position, grabbing him in round seven I applaud.

BOSTON probably didn't have the greatest draft but they did well for picking so late. [b]David Krejci[/b] helps replenish their forward prospects which are about to take a hit this off-season. [b]Martins Karsums[/b] was a guy that was rocketting up the charts the week before the draft but I was hesistent on - many people think he can pull a 'Patrice Bergeron' and may the Bruins line-up out of camp - I'll reserve judgement until camp but the instincts are great.

BUFFALO sticking to their game plan as always. I knew [b]Drew Stafford[/b] would be too good for them to pass up. I just wanted him to fall to Atlanta. Stafford has untapped offensive potential so this could wind up being an amazing pick. Michael Funk is 6-4 and has a frame that could put on a good weight - he looks like a Sabres d-man and should get every opporunity in this organization - I felt they would pick him up in the third round but second round is safe as well. [b]Andrej Sekera[/b] is a long ways off from making the NHL but he looks to be strictly a QB for the power-play. They also took Memorial Cup winning [b]Mike Card[/b] - WHL fans wondered why this guy wasn't hyped - sadly he's a project and needs to show more in his third WHL season. [b]Michal Valent[/b] was one of my favorite goalies in this draft but I had only seen him twice. Goes to a system where he's in no rush behind four or five other goalies. They also took [b]Dale Hunter [/b]'s son - [b]Dylan Hunter[/b] in the 9th round.

CALGARY probably pulled off the biggest shocker of the day taking [b]Kris Chucko[/b] in the first round but surprise, surprise - Sutter keeps to his stragety taking only one American (goalie [b]James Spratt[/b]) and one European ([b]Fred Winker[/b] of Frolunda's Jr program) - [b]Aki Seitsonen[/b] is technically Finnish, just developed in the WHL, Sutter's playground. It's not so much the shock that Sutter took Chucko because it does fit and it was in my mind but its a shock that he took him that early. To each their own but Sutter might want to look to add offensive help - [b]Jarome Iginla[/b] can't carry the team offensively forever. I thought he'd at least take a roll of the dice for offense late. Chucko will probably one day be a captain (though Iginla will probably be wearing that for a while) but don't expect in in the Canadian Rockies for another three or four years. [b]Brandon Prust[/b] is the Sutter model player as he never stops working and never shuts up - he gets under people's skin and he sticks up for teammates. Too bad his talent level will limit him to the fourth line at best. Seitseson was one of my favorite players coming into the draft and how he slipped to round four baffles me. He'll be a nice shadow third liner who's going to shut down the top offensive stars of the game. [b]Dustin Boyd[/b]? More of the same as Prust and Seitseson - he's smal but Boyd never stops working - I'm sure if you'd let him, he'd work the corners of the bench when not on his shift. Calgary fans will love this guy.

The Kings and the Habs weren't done trading after last night's trade that saw [b]Radek Bonk[/b] and [b]Cristobal Huet[/b] wind up in Montreal and [b]Mathieu Garon[/b] in Los Angeles. The Habs flipped the rights to defensemen [b]Stephane Quintal [/b]to the Kings for future considerations. Quintal is headed towards UFA status on July 1st and the Habs were not expected to re-sign the no.5 dman. LA now gets the chance to "re-sign" Quintal before July 1st and I assume that they will or they'll just reap the compenstation later down the road (though I'm not sure that's going to be worth much.) He'll be in LA's top six next season.

The second deal involved the Blues and the Senators with [b]Patrick Lalime[/b] going to the Blues in exchange for a conditional fourth round selection. Of course, Senator fans are outraged - despite most of these same Senator fans were the one's calling for Lalime's head in the playoffs. With [b]Dominik Hasek[/b] on the way, Ottawa wasn't going to qualify Lalime's contract making him a UFA - meaning the Senators would have lost him for free. [b]John Muckler[/b] was lucky enough to get a fourth round pick out of someone without a contract but no, Ottawa's fanbase seems to think they needed to get a king's ransom for Lalime or at the very least a roster player - what planet do some of you live on?

Lalime has been dominate at times and Larry Pleau is banking on him regaining his form next season for slightly less money than it would be to keep [b]Chris Osgood[/b] around for another season or two. Lalime, when on, is one of the top echleon goalies in the NHL. Even when he's not on, he's still pretty decent. Osgood's expected to walk and could either find a job as back-up or try his luck overseas. If [b]Olaf Kolzig[/b] is dealt from Washington, would Osgood really want to join the frying pan down there as Washington's starter? I have the odd feeling that the answer is no and we'll see Ozzie across the pond. Sad but true.

I'll comment on the draft on Monday but we did have a couple of trades occur today as the first day of the draft came to a close.

First a three-way deal landed [b]Rob Bonk[/b] in a Montreal jersey and [b]Mathieu Garon[/b] in Hollywood. First the Senators dealt Bonk to the Kings in exchange for the 77th pick of the draft used to select [b]Shawn Weller[/b] (a distant, distant cousin of mine) out of Capital District of the EJHL. Then the Kings used Bonk, an upcoming restrict free agent, and back-up [b]Cristobal Huet[/b] to the Habs in exchange for back-up [b]Mathieu Garon[/b] and the 95th pick (originally San Jose) for dman [b]Paul Baier [/b]out of Deerfield High School.

A decent deal all around. Ottawa wasn't planning on re-signing Bonk and probably were going to let him walk without a qualifing offer. Bonk had a nasty habbit of dissapearing during his stay in Ottawa but it happens when you take a second line center and make him your number one center. They were able to use the pick to grab someone they liked with some decent speed to him. Something for nothing is always good.

LA winds up with a dman with some potential as a 5 or a 6 and will benefit in the LA system by having time to grow and develop. They also land a pretty nice back-up goalie in Garon. Garon's been living on potential for a long time (he's already 26) but it's kind of hard to push for time when you're in a system that produces good goalies of late and you're stuck behind them ([b]Jose Theodore[/b] being the big name to keep the list short). Garon has strong poise and one of the best glove hands bar none even at the NHL level but he'll behind [b]Roman Cechmanek[/b] in LA. Though Cechmanek is up there in age and his contract doesn't run much longer so we'll see Garon take over LA's net at 28 or so, in his prime and he should give them 2-5 good years in the net, maybe more. That certainly gives the Kings time to find and develop another goalie. They don't have to do it this year or even next and that's good because I don't think they expect [b]Lauri Tukonen[/b] to fall to them at 11.

Montreal also trades a goalie that needs to get out of the shadows of their starter for a realible back-up who knows his role. Oddly enough, people seem to believe Huet has a future as an NHL starter. Folks, he doesn't have enough talent and oh - he's 30!!! He's not going to be growing his talent much more. What you see right now is what you get. A back-up capable of 30 games and not complain or cost you too much. There is no 'future' for Cristobal. You also pick up a second line center and more offense in Bonk. With [b]Saku Koivu[/b] and [b]Mike Ribeiro[/b] already at center, Bonk won't have the pressure he had in Ottawa or he may even be moved to the left flank. Remember he's scored 70 points before. I believe he'll be at center - you really don't want [b]Christopher Higgins[/b] or [b]Steve Begin[/b] elevated onto the third line do you?

Another trade saw the Oilers deal speedy [b]Jason Chimera[/b] to the Phoenix Coyotes. They packaged Chimera with the 80th selection for the 57th selection and selection 112 (yet to be selected). At 57, the Oilers took [b]Geoff Paukovich[/b]. The 80th pick wound up with the Rangers who took [b]Billy Ryan[/b]. Chimera's a speedster and a great penalty killer - probably won't translate into a big time scorer but as a fourth or third liner, should be an excellent add for the Coyotes. Paukovich should have went higher but he has a legal record which knocked him down into the third round. People whisper character issues but I watched Paukovich play this year a handful of times. He's a good kid who made a stupid mistake at 16. Let's not fry him before his life even begins. He'll prove himself on the ice and I hope every thing is behind him after this day.

The Anaheim Mighty Ducks have started their salary purge (which is also supposed to include [b]Vaclav Prospal[/b], [b]Ruslan Salei[/b] and maybe even [b]Petr Sykora[/b] by the time it's all done) by dealing [b]Niklas Havelid[/b] to the Atlanta Thrashers for [b]Kurtis Foster[/b]. Havelid did an amazing job for the Ducks two years ago but started to run out of gas mid-way through the season leading to the aquiring of [b]Sandis Ozolinsh[/b]. In Atlanta he'll be counted on as a top four dman and I'm a bit worried there. He's a great skater and should help on the powerplay - [b]Yannick Tremblay[/b] is Atlanta's only dman capable of handling the point and he's been with the club since the inception. Good move but I don't want to see Havelid try to handle a whole lot of minutes.

Foster on the other hand, has been a pretty good dman for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. He's 6-5 with some more room on his frame for weight and he won the AHL's Yannik Dupre award for charitable work off the ice. So you're getting a character guy originally drafted by Calgary. He's got a booming shot from the point but I don't think he'll be a QB on the powerplay - he's skating is piss poor but he's getting a lot better. If he keeps working on that skating, he should become a top-four dman. He's only 22 (compared to Havelid's 31) so there's time. Good trade for the Ducks if they really do have to slash payroll but with Salei also expected to be moved, you wonder who they're going to have on defense next year - I expect them to maybe pick up a European over-ager on day 2 to fill the void.

I'm actually surprised I didn't see more comments on the mock draft and else but that's alright. I was going to type it out this year as I always do. Hope you enjoy the draft tomorrow and I wish the best for each one of those kids and their families and the organizations that draft them. Sadly if you look at the odds, well over half of them will never see the NHL or even a pay day for their hard work and trouble. That's the painful fact of drafts - there is always so much promise and hope on draft day and you wish every kid makes it but not every one of them will make it. It's a shame but that's how it works.

Couple of small notes - I hope you're all enjoying rain delay tennis, God I haven't sat down to watch a full match yet because of it. I just haven't gotten into the Wimbeldon mood despite the fact that I play Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournment 2 for Playstation2 almost non-stop right now. It's going to get rained on every year and I'll probably start watching now that they are going down to the round of 32 but I'm usually into the matches by now. I don't know if it's other stuff is going on in my life or something but yeah - I don't know.

I was also asked for my comments on the US Open of Golf. Two words - It sucked. I couldn't watch it. I watched a little bit here and there but it's god awful when the course dictates the scores and the shots. The heads of the US Opens just let this course get out of hand. I have no problems in making a challenging course and have it as part of the Majors but the course shouldn't decide who wins on sheer luck. A well-built and proper course should reward golfers for making good shots and playing the course. It was evident (painfully) that the US Open didn't do that and the whole thing was a joke. Tiger's black eye over the weekend just didn't help and right now I'm a little bit bitter on the subject of golf. Bring on the British Open - damnit, I know the BO is basically the same thing and the same thing will happen and the weather and the course will decide who wins but I can keep hope and pray that it doesn't right? I want to see some good golf.

Ok NHL news

Two coaches received good news over the past couple days. [b]Claude Julien[/b] of Montreal was granted a long-term extension (we don't know how long and it would depend on the work stoppage) and I can't say I'm more happy for the guy. He was my outside pick for Coach of the Year but I think you can make strong arguements for the other three finalists, including eventual winner, [b]John Tortorella[/b]. What Julien did was just show he can win at any level and he took a team I had finishing 10th in the East and pushed them hard into the playoffs and got great preformances out of players that really previously had no right to preform that well.

[b]Gerard Gallant[/b] had the 'interim' removed from his position in Columbus. It's about time and I thank God he didn't lose his spot to some one like [b]Jacques Martin[/b] or [b]Joel Quenneville[/b]. He didn't do anything to deserve losing his job and I hope he's there for a while. He's a player's coach but he's not going to take shit and he knows the league - he knows his stuff, just need to get him the personnel to win. North Dakota coach [b]Dean Blais[/b] will become an assistant to Gallant and [b]Gord Murphy[/b] will return in the same capacity. [b]Rick Wamsley[/b] should be the goalie coach next year working with [b]Marc Denis[/b] - good luck trying to figure out what the hell went wrong with [b]Arturs Irbe[/b].

One quick NHL trade to mention - the Blues traded top prospect [b]Shawn Belle[/b] to the Dallas Stars for goalie [b]Jason Bacashihua[/b]. That's right - we traded our top propsect, one of oh the only skater prospect we have with any real top notch upside to for Dallas's third best goalie prospect - yeah that's right - not Dallas's third best goalie but their third best prospect at the position and not something that will actually help the position right away despite the desperate need for it.

Don't get me wrong - I love Cash-Money and I've been a fan of him every since I first saw him play at 16. I've supported him since then and through two straight years of regression. Dallas was just trying to give him away at the deadline yet they land the only good thing in our prospect cabinet. And seeing as Bacashihua won't be helping the big club right away - why would you not pick up one of the goalies in a deep crop of goalies in the 2004 draft tomorrow or I don't know - let the two really good goalies you have in Europe develop for pete's sake! Hell I'm right now going to take Tuomas Nissinen over Bacashihua and he's a year young. Konstantin Barulin is one of the most solid young goalies out there and he's two years younger that Bacashihua. Sure he needs to learn the game some more, mature and make more of an adjustment to the North American style of play than Nissinen but he's younger. Both were steals by the Blues and yet we trade our homerun for Bacashihua.

I honestly never thought I would be so bitter to obtain a kid I've watched and tracked for so long from his beginings. But I'm next to livid. They better make some homeruns with their picks tomorrow.

And finally, [b]Dominik Hasek[/b] and the Ottawa Senators have argeed to a two-year contract. It's unknown whether or not the Senators will send Detroit a draft pick in a trade for Hasek's rights and attempt to sign him early or just wait until July 1st and sign him then. Just be safe and send them a low round pick on the second day. Two year deal (don't ask me if it's one year plus option or what because of course, it hasn't and can't be announced in a press confeerence so there hasn't been a contract signed) probably means he bridges the gap to [b]Ray Emery[/b] (or [b]Martin Prusek[/b]) and that [b]Patrick Lalime[/b] is indeed a goner. Lalime will land on his feet though, I promise you that. Might not get a prime choice of slots to go to but I think he could be starter on a couple teams - a couple of those have starters currently under contract but yeah. I'll wait to speculate on Lalime because I feel something will go down tomorrow at the draft invovling goalies.

There's more news but I'm tired and I haven't seen sleep in over a day, I'll hit on it Sunday and Monday - as well as the draft. God tomorrow's going to be sweet - don't miss it.

1. WASHINGTON - [b]Alexander Ovechkin LW[/b]

The Capitals will flirt around with selecting Yevgeni Malkin or trading the pick but I just don't see them passing up Ovechkin. It'd be the biggest mistake of George McPhee's career to do (and he has some really bad black marks on his record in Washington). Simply there have been few no.1 picks that have generated more buzz than what Ovechkin has. He'll probably find himself lining up on either one of the Washington's scoring lines next season and instantly becomes their best forward.

2. PITTSBURGH - [b]Yevgeni Malkin C[/b]

There's that slim chance that Washington will allow them to trade up and take Ovechkin but Malkin is Pittsburgh guy at this point. Could spend another year in Russia or find himself on Pittsburgh's third or fourth line next year.

3. CHICAGO - [b]Cameron Barker D[/b]

If Barker is indeed Tallon's guy and he's not putting up any smoke, they'll take him here. I've gone over a ton of different scenarios to see if they could trade down for the Medicine Hat d-man but it's probably safe to take him here. He could find himself in Chicago when the season starts up but how many 18 year-old defensemen stay their entire first year with the big club? I'd leave him in the WHL for another season.

4. COLUMUBS - [b]Andrew Ladd LW[/b]

They could go Tukonen here but I think Ladd is their guy and I don't think they could trade down past the Rangers and land him. If they do, they could wind up with Olesz though. Some see Ladd in the NHL right away, I say let him grow another season in Calgary.

5. PHOENIX - [b]Lauri Tukonen RW[/b]

They'll flirt with taking Montoya or Schwarz here but Tukonen's too good to pass up and should look good with Sjostrom. Tukonen will most likely spend next year over seaseas trying to break Espoon's line-up.

6. NY RANGERS - [b]Rostislav Olesz C[/b]

Again they may flirt with Montoya but Olesz shouldn't even drop this far. He's fallen because of a concussion and some scouts thought he didn't progress enough - well no shit, he was out a lot of the year. Here's the dominating number one center the Rangers desperately need. Will probably find himself on Broadway next year but on the third or fourth line until they can move some space.

7. FLORIDA - [b]Marek Schwarz G[/b]

Florida taking a goalie?!?! They will later in the draft but this spot probably won't be occupied by the Panthers come Saturday. If anyone trades up for the Czech goalie, it'll be here and it'll cost you a vet to Keenan's liking. The Islanders or Predators could also deal up here to strike Chipchura before they other one can but I see this being Schwarz's spot.

8. CAROLINA - [b]Robbie Schremp C[/b]

For so long I thought Wolski would be their pick and if Florida keeps the 7th pick, Schremp will probably be their selection. IF Robbie falls, this franchise needs to make a splash at this draft and what better way than by grabbing argueably the fourth best offensive talent here.

9. ANAHEIM - Andrej Meszaros D

This could also be Valabik but I'm hoping Anaheim's smart and goes with Meszaros. They need to start planning for the depatures of Carney and Ozolinsh soon. They could also trade down.

10. NY ISLANDERS via ATLANTA - [b]Kyle Chipchura C[/b]

The Islanders with the 10th pick? IT hasn't happened yet so don't panic that you missed it - it's my own trade. I want the Thrashers to take Stafford and they can drop down and still grab him later but the Islanders need to move up to grab Chipchura and this seems to be the most logical place to do it. If Atlanta keeps the pick, they could still go with Stafford or even go Valabik or Smid on defense.

11. LOS ANGELES - [b]Alvaro Montoya G [/b]

The slide stops here as the Kings nail their heir to the goalie throne. Could surprise us all and drop down passing on Montoya, who would certainly go in the next couple picks but I think LA would be comfortable with Montoya here.

12. MINNESOTA - [b]Alexander Radulov RW[/b]

How many Russians will actually bowl over a defenseman to get the puck? I have Stafford rated higher and could be the pick here but if Atlanta moves down as I suspect - Minneosta can be presuaded to skip over Stafford.

13. BUFFALO - [b]AJ Thelan D[/b]

The college dman fits their profile. He should develop quite nicely over the next couple seasons at MSU. Sabres will be in no hurry to sign him to a contract there.

14. EDMONTON - [b]Alexandre Picard LW[/b]

Wolski is hard to pass up here but Picard adds skill and scoring up front to the Oilers. His work ethic and defense could see him in Edmonton right away - only probably is they would have to sign him before them. I see another year in Lewiston for him.

15. NASHVILLE - [b]Wojtek Wolski LW[/b]

Valabik has got to be tempting here as does Bruce Graham but who expect Wolski, a top-ten pick until the end of the season, to be here? I can't see him falling much more. If Nashville doesn't take him, someone's trading in a couple spots from here to grab him.

16. ATLANTA via NY ISLANDERS - [b]Drew Stafford RW[/b]

If the Islanders can't move up, Nashville takes Chipchura and Milbury drafts Valabik. I think Drew would be a great fit in Atlanta who already has the top wingers and now needs to add the third-line guys that do everything needed to win. Stafford's that guy.

17. St LOUIS - [b]Ladislav Smid D[/b]

Smid falls the most from my rankings to the draft. Should join Belle, Walker, Backman and Jonsson some day on the back-line - after all MacInnis isn't going to be there much longer (if any this season.) There's other options I like more but it's hard to pass up Smid falling this far.

18. MONTREAL - [b]Lauri Korpikoski LW[/b]

Again Valabik will be tempting here as will Johan Fransson - especially since the Habs don't own a second round pick. I could see them trading down with someone to acquire a second pick, that team would select Valabik and Montreal would get someone like Korpikoski later and pick up Fransson in the second. Fransson is worthy of a first round pick, don't get me wrong but I think they could get some value out of this pick and grab what they want later.

19. CALGARY - [b]Viktor Alexandrov RW[/b]

Sorry but there's no good ole Western Canadian boys left for Sutter to take here. This team desperately needs another offensive weapon and Sutter's kept around most of Button's draft staff and they had a nice touch for taking Russians (a few who should be over soon making an impact). Alexandrov is a roll of the dice but what pick isn't? Dubynk is an option here but I don't think the Flames table will look at a goalie until day 2.

20. DALLAS - [b]Petteri Nokelainen C[/b]

Everyone knows I've been crazy about the Finns for the past three or four years. The trend has come around with Miikka Kiprusoff's success and now three Finns in the first round and four Finns for sure in the first 45 picks. Dallas could take a gamble looking for top end talent in someone like a Lisin or Kaspar but Nokelainen is they're type of choice.

21. COLORADO - [b]David Bolland C[/b]

Another spot for trade downs if Valabik does fall this far but Bolland has good skills and projects to be a second line center some day. Sakic won't be around forever, Nikolishin already left and Forsberg's about to sail so Bolland would be a nice investment here.

22. NEW JERSEY - [b]Boris Valabik D[/b]

Will they take him? No, I garuentee he'll go higher than this and if he does in fact fall this far, they'll trade down to select someone else. Who do I see the Devils wanting? Either Graham or a long shot in Ryan Garlock - similar to how they shocked us with Adrian Foster.

23. OTTAWA - [b]Jeff Schlutz D[/b]

He's not Valabik but he could work just fine in Ottawa. Could also trade down for someone interested in the second teir of goalies but Schlutz is their guy if I'm not trying to predict trades this far down.

24. NY RANGERS - [b]Mike Green D[/b]

Could go higher. The Rangers could use help in every area so choices like Salmonsson, Sindel, Lisin, Dubynk or Shantz could be here but the Rangers sorely need a defenseman that can naturally play the right side and Green's the best available. There's honestly a good chance he'll be gone by here but the Rangers should be happy with any decision they make at 24.

25. EDMONTON - [b]Bruce Graham C[/b]

What?! No Dubynk? With Jeff Deslauriers under contract, there's less pressure to take a goalie until the third round. Also they're in no need for a dman right now so let's go get a gritty, huge center who can skate. Will Graham be here? There's a good chance the 6-6 center could be gone as high as 15 but let's cross our fingers.

26. VANCOUVER - [b]Corey Scheinder G[/b]

Does anyone see Auld leading a team any where? And Scheinder over Dubynk? Just call it a hunch. Scheinder has some weaknesses in his game but those all look to be easily corrected over in Boston College.

27. WASHINGTON - [b]Johan Fransson D[/b]

Sorry Montreal but Fransson as a Capital looks good. They could use an extra prospect on defense. If Mike Green some how slips this far - I'd be shocked if they don't grab him.

28. SAN JOSE - [b]Wes O'Neill D[/b]

Brain doesn't work quite on the same level as his skills but his skills are there. Should go higher but this is my mock draft and I'm not high on him.

29. WASHINGTON - [b]Jakub Sindel C[/b]

Caps could stand to add another scoring prospect to their line-up and can take a gamble on someone like Sindel, Lisin or Kaspar. I like Sindel the best of the group.

30. TAMPA BAY - [b]Devan Dubynk G[/b]

Why not? Boutin and Coleman are long shots, Konstantinov has fallen off the face of the earth, Norrena is 30 and without a contract, and Eklund still has not proven himself at the AHL level. Khabibulin is getting up there and Grahame's starting to pout about not starting all the time so when you're secure at every other postion, how can you avoid adding a goalie who shouldn't have fallen this far?

31. PITTSBURGH - [b]Johannes Salmonsson C[/b]

Do I believe he's going to fall this far? No but if he does, how can the Penguins skip this guy? They add two of the top 10 centers available in the draft.

32. CHICAGO - [b]Lukas Kaspar RW[/b]

They want to trade up and grab a second pick in the first round to add some speed - Kaspar could fall to them here.

33. WASHINGTON - [b]Kirill Lyamin D[/b]

He's going to be a top 3 dman in this league. Too bad he'll slip into the second round (if Tampa Bay doesn't go with him).

34. DALLAS - [b]Sami Lepisto D[/b]

Probably a top four dman but not a guy you'll hear too much about during his career. Solid pick-up.

35. PHOENIX - [b]Oscar Hedman D[/b]

I'm not huge on him but there's potential enough there. Most of Phoenix's young d-men are no better than no.6 on a depth chart.

36. NY RANGERS - [b]Enver Lisin RW[/b]

The guy can't fall forever right? All the speed in the world but hands of stone. With back-to-back picks, Rangers can take the risk.

37. NY RANGERS - [b]Adam Pineault RW[/b]

Again with back-to-back picks, time to take a risk. ONce considered a sure-fire first rounder, we've got to figure out what went wrong with him.

38. CAROLINA - [b]Adam Berti LW[/b]

OHL-bias snaps in. Could be a huge pick if he wakes up.

39. ANAHEIM - [b]Carl Soderberg LW [/b]

Be surprised if he's around here to take.

40. ATLANTA - [b]Roman Voloshenko LW[/b]

I think they can take a risk pick here for more top notch offense. If they see a dman they like here, they'll probably go that route - Rogers?

41. CHICAGO -[b] Travis Zajac C[/b]

Could they be the guys that take the wild-card?

42. MINNESOTA - [b]Blake Wheeler RW[/b]

Minnesota boy still on the board at the time, I think they'll take him. Wheeler could be an interesting project

43. BUFFALO - [b]Juraj Gracik RW[/b]

Kid just needs a couple years before he'll start putting them in the back of the net on a regualr basis. I'm starting to think of him as a potential first rounder but I'm not going to stretch that far yet.

44. EDMONTON - [b]David Shantz G[/b]

He's not Dubynk or Scheinder but he's shown what he can do while under pressure and can carry a team. Dave Brown is intriguing but I like Shantz here.

45. CHICAGO - [b]Bryan Bickell LW[/b]

Boom-or-bust player, I think Chicago can take the dice.

46. NY RANGERS - [b]Aki Seitsonen C[/b]

One of my favorite players in the whole draft. Might not last this long - reminds me of the Energizer Bunny.

47. NY ISLANDERS - [b]Alexei Yemelin D[/b]

Probably better than what I give him credit for.

48. NY RANGERS - [b]Jon Sigalet D[/b]

Here's a guy I'm really high on but he's another guy that's going to take some time to develop. You'll forget about him and then in a couple years, I think teams will be scratching their heads on where he came from.

49. ST LOUIS - [b]Ryan Garlock C[/b]

Not sure why I have him fall this far. First round talent, just bad luck with injuries. Could be a surprise first rounder. With some work on his skating could be a second line center.

50. FLORIDA - [b]David Booth LW[/b]

They can afford to wait on a College kid.

51. NY RANGERS - [b]Karel Hromas LW[/b]

There's no way the Rangers keep all these picks but another boom-or-bust guy for their 2004 collection.

52. SAN JOSE - [b]Alexander Plyushev C[/b]

Are their better players out there? Yes but are there better defensive forwards out there? Ricci won't be around forever.

53. FLORIDA - [b]Sergei Ogordnikov C[/b]

Could he fall this far? Seems unlikely.

54. CHICAGO - [b]Kyle Wharton D[/b]

Character guy added to the defense. Do they already have enough d-men in their system? Yes but Wharton's a leader and a good guy.

55. COLORADO - [b]Martins Karsums RW[/b]

My highest rated skater left on the board.

56. DALLAS - [b]Mark Fistric D[/b]

Stay-at-home dman. Dallas needs a lot of re-stocking there to do - could go European forward though.

57. PHOENIX - [b]Vaclav Meidl C[/b]

They need size up the middle. Should be snagged earlier but he's here now.

58. OTTAWA - [b]Jordan Smith D[/b]

Again one of those that could go higher, I just have him slightly lower than most people. Dave Brown could be given a shot here if the Sens aren't comfortable with Emery and Prusek.

59. CAROLINA - [b]Evan McGarth C[/b]

The talent is hidden some-where deep inside of him. How do you get it out?

60. PHOENIX - [b]Grant Lewis D[/b]

I absolutely love this guy and the more I see of him, the more I like.

61. PITTSBURGH - [b]Zdenek Bahensky RW[/b]

Another wild-card IMO. I think he could be a pretty good NHLer in time.

62. WASHINGTON - [b]Mikhail Yunkov C[/b]

Has the tools to be a second line center. Nothing flashy but probably the best set-up man in the draft. Should be setting up Ovechkin for a decade once he comes over.

63. SAN JOSE - [b]Roman Tesliuk D[/b]

The Sharks could use a future QB for their power play and Tesliuk could be it.

64. BOSTON - [b]Tim Brent C[/b]

The draft re-entry probably isnt' the best pick but I have a hard time seeing him slip out of the second round. With Boyes aboard the Bruins could be locked on the second line but this is a team that could be decimated by Free Agency - he could either make the Bruins or at least replenish Providence for a couple seasons.

65. TAMPA BAY - [b]Dave Schlutz D[/b]

6-6 but a ball of fluff when it comes to physical play. Can Tortorella do his magic with Schlutz? I think the Stanley Cup champions have some room to find out.

Enjoy, see you all after the draft.

CENTERS

1. Yevgeni MALKIN
2. Rostislav OLESZ
3. Robbie SCHREMP
4. Kyle CHIPCHURA
5. Petteri NOKELAINEN
6. David BOLLAND
7. Bruce GRAHAM
8. Jakub SINDEL
9. Johannes SALMONSSON
10. Sergei OGORDNIKOV
11. Travis ZAJAC
12. Ryan GARLOCK
13. Aki SEITSONEN
14. Tim BRENT
15. Mikhail YUNKOV
16. Vaclav MEIDL
17. Alex PLYUSHEV
18. Evan McGARTH
19. Peter TSIMIKALIS
20. Brian IHNACAK
21. Fredrik CABANA
22. Paul STASTNY
23. Peter REGIN
24. David KREJCI
25. Mattias HELLSTROM
26. Kevin PORTER
27. Brandon DUBINSKY
28. Jaroslav MARKOVIC
29. Blair YAWORSKI
30. Alexander NIKULIN

LEFT WINGS

1. Alexander OVECHKIN
2. Andrew LADD
3. Wojotek WOLSKI
4. Alexandre PICARD
5. Lauri KORPIKOSKI
6. Roman VOLOSHENKO
7. Carl SODERBERG
8. Adam BERTI
9. David BOOTH
10. Dennis PARSHIN
11. Karel HROMAS
12. Sergei SHIROKOV
13. Bryan BICKELL
14. Mark TOBIN
15. Dane BYERS
16. Kris CHUCKO
17. Shawn WELLER
18. Geoff PAUKOVICH
19. Chad PAINCHAUD
20. Roman PSURNY
21. Scott McCULLOUGH
22. Justin KELLER
23. Nick FUGERE
24. John LAMMERS
25. Jordan FOOTE
26. Robbie EARL
27. Miikka TUOMAINEN
28. Patrick BORDELEAU
29. Daniel WINNIK
30. Liam REDDOCK

RIGHT WINGS

1. Lauri TUKONEN
2. Drew STAFFORD
3. Alexander RADULOV
4. Viktor ALEXANDROV
5. Adam PINEAULT
6. Lukas KASPAR
7. Blake WHEELER
8. Enver LISIN
9. Martin KARSUMS
10. Juraj GRACIK
11. Zdenek BAHENSKY
12. Julien SPRANGER
13. Roman TOMANEK
14. David LALIBERTE
15. Viktor ORESKOVICH
16. Jannik HANSEN
17. Ryan CALLAHAN
18. Jan STEBER
19. Blake COMEAU
20. Roman WICK
21. Fredrick NASLUND
22. Matt AUFFREY
23. Raymond SAWADA
24. Dmitri SHITIKOV
25. Peter POHL
26. JT WYMAN
27. Gennady STOLYAROV
28. Craig VOAKES
29. Michal PSURNY
30. Janne KOLEHMAINEN

DEFENSE

1. Cameron BARKER
2. Andrej MESZAROS
3. Ladislav SMID
4. AJ THELAN
5. Boris VALABIK
6. Jeff SCHLUTZ
7. Kirill LYAMIN
8. Mike GREEN
9. Johan FRANSSON
10. Wes O'NEILL
11. Sami LEPISTO
12. Mark FISTRIC
13. Jon SIGALET
14. Grant LEWIS
15. Andy ROGERS
16. Kyle WHARTON
17. Oscar HEDMAN
18. Alexei YEMELIN
19. Roman TESLIUK
20. Dave SCHLUTZ
21. Jordan SMITH
22. Richard DEMEN-WILLIAMS
23. Logan STEPHENSON
24. Dmitri VOROBIEV
25. Brett CARSON
26. Michal SERSEN
27. Michael FUNK
28. Emil AXELSSON
29. Alex MIKHAILISHIN
30. Roman POLAK

GOALIES

1. Marek SCHWARZ
2. Alvaro MONTOYA
3. Devan DUBYNK
4. Cory SCHEINDER
5. David SHANTZ
6. Dave BROWN
7. Jason CHURCHILL
8. Magnus AKERLUND
9. Philippe ROBARGE
10. Michal VALENT
11. Justin PETERS
12. Justin ROGGE
13. Jeff GLASS
14. Daniel LACOSTA
15. Julien ELLIS-PLANTE

[b]NHL SOUTHEAST DIVISION[/b]

[b]ATLANTA THRASHERS[/b]

This is the highest the franchise has ever drafted but not to worry, at 10th overall, they should still be able to find a nice prospect. Once it was believed that Andrew Ladd LW would be able to fall to them but now that looks like a pipe dream for [b]Don Waddell[/b], who will be working the phones and running the draft table. He'll be going stricly BPA early on but Waddell has been quoting as saying that if every thing were equal, he'd draft a defenseman over a winger.

And there are sure to be pelenty of defensemen available to Waddell at 10, most I've already mentioned here before - [b]Boris Valabik D[/b], [b]Andrej Meszaros D[/b], [b]AJ Thelan D[/b], [b]Ladislav Smid D[/b]. But there's a distinct chance that Atlanta will trade their pick. Waddell has been very vocal about it and I feel if what he wants isn't there at 10, he'll be content to move down and pick up more assests. If he's able to obtain a center for [b]Ilya Kovalchuk[/b], then I believe that pick is as good as gone.

[b]Drew Stafford RW[/b] would be my pick as he'd be an excellent compliment to the big guns of Kovalchuk, [b]Marc Savard[/b] and [b]Dany Heatley[/b]. He's not Ladd and he's not going to ever score 40 goals - hell 25 might be pushing it - but he's going to be a guy that every team would love to have. The Thrashers can pick up their high-end scoring talent in the later rounds. Dont' be surprised if the Thrashers do take some chances and risks on some players with red marks by them because of size. They're not going to take anyone with character issues but I don't think they'll shy away from small players with a bit of grit to them because they're looking for scoring talent that will slip - [b]Lukas Kaspar RW[/b]for example. [b]Robbie Schremp C[/b] could be one of those who slips in the first round but we'll see.

[b]CAROLINA HURRICANES[/b]

The hosts of this draft will look to make a splash with the number 8 pick for sure and will use their two second rounds, three third rounders and two fourth rounders to replenish their defensive system and look for ways to add scoring. Because it's painfully obvious that the Hurricanes need scoring behind [b]Jeff O'Neill[/b] and [b]Justin Williams[/b]. [b]Eric Staal[/b], last year's first choice, should produce more but you always have to watch for a sophomore slump. Though it's about time for [b]Radim Vrbata[/b] to finally break out. With newly acquired [b]Martin Gerber[/b] in net, next season could be a big one for the Hurricanes and the year starts this weekend.

But the draft record of [b]Sheldon Ferguson[/b] makes you cringe at times. I believe [b]Jim Rutherford[/b] is one of the best GMs in the entire league but Ferguson tends to waste first round picks ([b]Jeff Heerema[/b] anyone?) So where are they going to go with this first rounder? Most likely the OHL. [b]Peter Karamos[/b], owner of the Hurricanes, also owns the OHL's Plymouth Whalers so they get to see the OHL prospects much closer and have shown no hesitation towards the league. They'll take a WHLer or a college player here and there but definitely not a European or QMJHLer - since 1997 the Canes have only drafted one QMJHLer and no Europeans (those playing overseas at least) in the past two drafts (and only three total in the past four draft years).

So OHL leaves us with two very obvious choices at eight. Brampton's [b]Wojotek Wolski LW[/b] or London's [b]Robbie Schremp C[/b]. Honestly, you all know I'm crazy about Wolski - he's been inconsistent and this once concenous top-five pick has fallen into some people's 15-20 range but I'm sure he hasn't fallen in everyone's eyes. He'll take a little bit longer to develop than most of his fellow first round picks but with a little bit of patience with him, I see him being one of the better players to come out of this draft. He also fits the style that Carolina plays and I'd love to see them pick him up but there is that little thing I mentioned earlier - this team needs to score goals. Two years removed now from a trip to the Stanley Cup finals, this team may not be able to afford to wait around for Wolski's huge potential and may elect to go with one of the better goal scorers in this draft - Robbie Schremp, if he's still available. If he's not, the decision because that much easier but if Schremp is there at 8 - I would not hesistate to pick him up given what the Hurricanes need.

Another OHL guy that they could pick up with one of their two second round picks is [b]Adam Berti LW[/b] of Oshawa. When Berti wants to play, he's easily a top-20 pick in this draft. I think the physical play of the NHL could be the thing that wakes him up because he needs to get pissed off before he comes to play. If his second half hadn't have been so poor, I think we would be talking about him as a top-20. And he still may go late first round because there's a lot of scouts that love him - if he's around when the Hurricanes pick again, I wouldn't doubt them selecting Berti. On defense, a [b]Kyle Wharton D[/b] or [b]Jordan Smith D[/b] could be sitting in the second four for them as well. [b]Peter Tsimikalis C[/b] is a guy I'd like to see them take a flyer on early in the third round.

[b]FLORIDA PANTHERS[/b]

I was a big [b]Rick Dudley[/b] fan but I'm not really all that knowledgable on [b]Mike Keenan[/b] 's draft startegies. Hopefully he'll do what Dudley was planning on doing and letting [b]Scott Luce[/b] and [b]Darwin Bennett[/b] head the draft for a second year in a row as Florida's 2003 draft was hands down one of the best overal drafts I've seen in my watching of the draft (though time will only tell if it all pans out.)

The 7th overall pick could be bait in the hands of Trader Mike, who has a reputation in being quick on the trade finger - just look what he did here in St. Louis - he set the franchise back five years (though [b]Larry Pleau[/b] has done little to even get into this century.) Panthers do have a solid prospect base and two second round picks so it's possible for this one to be dealt but I can't imagine not finding something to enjoy at 7. But then again I'm more inclined to Europeans that Keenan. I'm sure a team with [b]Marek Schwarz G[/b] or [b]Alvaro Montoya G[/b] high on their draft will be calling Mike as soon as New York is making their pick. There's a possiblity of [b]Robbie Schremp C[/b] or another North American but I expect one of the goalies to be taken here and not by Florida. Though expect Florida to pick up a goalie on day two - after [b]Roberto Luongo[/b], there's not much else in their system.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Stanley Cup = Pick no. 30. I despise this rule and think its unfair punishment but Tampa Bay will be picking 30th in the first round. The champs have a lot of young talent piled up so there's a chance that 30 could be moved but I doubt it. The Lightning really don't have too many selections in this draft and would rather fill in the holes with more ready players to help defend their championship.

At 30 I can see [b]Jay Feaster[/b] and [b]Jake Goertzen[/b] taking either [b]Karill Lyamin D[/b] or one of the second teir goalies, most people thinking [b]Cory Scheinder G[/b]. Goaltending seems to be a need because [b]Nikolai Khabibulin[/b] is heading towards the tail end of his career in most people's minds (nevermind the fact that he just played the best hockey he's ever played in his life), [b]John Grahame [/b]probably will be on the outs (Colorado possibly?) and [b]Evgeny Konstantiov[/b] has put together back-to-back puke-worthy seasons leaving his NHL career in doubt. However some do tend to forget, [b]Brian Eklund[/b] has been elevated to number three and with one more year, I believe he could be a capable NHL back-up with a possiblity of starting. [b]Gerald Coleman[/b] and [b]Jon Boutin[/b] also have outside shots of being decent goalies. I like Coleman a lot and with time I think he can be an NHL starter - maybe not in the highest tier though. [b]Fredrik Norrena[/b], the Finnish goalie drafted in 2002, looks like he's a good bet to be an NHL calibre starter but getting him over to North America could be a problem - oh and he's just a tad bit older at 30 years of age. No one's holding their breath for any of their goalie prospects. If Norrena does come over, all the better but it might be healthy to add a center piece goalie prospect. If [b]Devan Dubynk G[/b] is there at 30, I wouldn't be shocked if they added him - goaltending coach [b]Jeff Reese[/b] is a sucker for big goalies.

[b]WASHINGTON CAPITALS[/b]

[b]George McPhee[/b] has possibly the easiest pick to make but he has yet to make his decision...? He's going to talk to [b]Yevgeni Malkin C[/b] before settling on his decision but he'll wind up with [b]Alexander Ovechkin LW[/b]. It'll throw most of us for a loop if he goes with Malkin and there's actually a better probablity in that happening than we all think but I still can't see any one not being shocked if they pass on Ovechkin or trade down with Pittsburgh for Malkin. How to spend the other two first round picks and the two second rounders is another question entirely. But they dont' have picks in the third or fourth rounds so they could move one or even two of their picks to pick up more. They own their selection only in rounds 5 through 9.

[b]Ross Mahoney[/b] and McPhee like WHL kids and they should go there again - [b]Mike Green D[/b] anyone?

[b]NHL NORTHEAST DIVISION

BOSTON BRUINS[/b]

It will be a fairly uneventful first day at the draft table for [b]Jeff Gorton[/b] and [b]Scott Bradley[/b]. GM [b]Mike O'Connell[/b] spent Boston's first round pick in a trade for [b]Sergei Gonchar[/b]. They do have a second round pick but its the last one of the round belonging to Detroit. They have Phoenix's fifth round pick but no pick in the sixth round as well. So Gorton is going to have to make his picks count but the Bruins have been decent at finding European gems (if you take away some of the first round busts like [b]Evgeny Ryabchikov[/b]).

Sadly the Bruins could lose four forwards to unrestricted free agency and will need to replace the holes with high-end scoring talent - unfortunately only [b]Brad Boyes[/b] looks to be able to fill in one of the holes. [b]Ivan Huml [/b]and [b]Andy Hilbert[/b] will be getting chances but they've blown previous chances. Too bad they probably won't find any help for next season in the draft unless Gorton wants to go with a couple over-agers. So I expect for them to try and grab a high-end risk with Detroit's second round pick. [b]Roman Wick RW[/b] has all the talent and speed to fit into [b]Mike Sullivan[/b] 's system but honestly, he plays so passive in the pyshical department can he survive in the NHL. Could Mikhail Yunkov C be the second-line center the Bruins desperately need down the road? He's not flashy but he's probably one of the top (if not top) play-makers in this draft. He doesn't look like a star but could be a great pick-up. Again I'll mention [b]Juraj Gracik RW[/b] who only needs time to develop his scoring touch but he should be long gone by the time the Bruins pick. Despite his falling out with Boston College, [b]Adam Pineault RW[/b] might be worth jumping up in the second round to get.

Could [b]Chris Bourque C [/b]see his father's old team pick him up on the second day?

[b]BUFFALO SABRES[/b]

Everyone thinks the Sabres will go with a d-man and there's some good ones available in this draft. [b]Darcy Regier[/b] controls the draft room but [b]Don Luce[/b] puts in his say and [b]Jim Benning[/b] is usually in Luce's ear. They tend to go college or European with their first selection and it will probably be that way again with [b]AJ Thelan D[/b], [b]Alexander Radulov RW[/b], [b]Kirill Lyamin D[/b], [b]Wes O'Neill D[/b] and others available at 13. Do I hate O'Neill? Yes but he does have high-end talent and if Benning is high on him, he could go at 13 easily. [b]Drew Stafford RW[/b] could be still around at 13 but I'm doubting it. While I have [b]Andrej Meszaros D[/b] as the second best dman in the draft, some teams are sure not to think so and so Meszaros could also be a viable pick and in my opinion, the best one if available.

They don't own a pick in the fourth round and only own Phoenix's selection in the third, other than that, they'll pick at the same slot each round. They'll probably continue looking at Europeans and college players mostly because of the extended time allowed by the NHL in signing such prospects. They'll have a pretty interesting group to choose from in the second round as I've mentioned with other teams previously. But they would like to get bigger - [b]Vlacav Meidl C[/b] could be an answer.

[b]MONTREAL CANADIENS[/b]

Montreal's draft is headed by [b]Trevor Timmons[/b] with [b]Pierre Dorion[/b] helping him. Timmons is real big on work ethic (who isn't) so expect for them to go with a character guy at the 18th selection. They're in no real rush for any more high end talent so they'll probably add the grinders and hard workers needed to win a Cup in this draft. They may be missing a pick in the second round but they do have two in the third to add depth.

Would they add [b]Boris Valabik D[/b] at 18? It's possible if the hulk falls that far but his skating and his smarts might be huge deterants to Timmons. A better choice may come with [b]Johan Fransson D[/b] out of Sweden, he may just fit in well with the Habs. [b]Enver Lisin RW[/b] can skate I've mentioned but can he score? [b]Bruce Graham C[/b] is pretty good at everything but not excellent in anything - could the QMJHLer be it for the Habs? He can skate but play with grit but he's still a bit inconsistent. Some believe he might be good enough defensively to play in the NHL at 18 and comparing him to [b]Patrice Bergeron[/b] of Boston - I don't think so but he's still 6-6 and good. [b]Johaness Salmonsson C[/b] could also get a look see because of his speed.

[b]OTTAWA SENATORS[/b]

They have Colorado's 3rd but no sixth or ninth. Still it should be a team to watch on Saturday. Will they land their goalie? The rights to [b]Dominik Hasek[/b] and [b]Kevin Weekes[/b] should be out there for a low draft pick. Or will [b]John Muckler[/b] announce the re-signing of [b]Patrick Lalime[/b]? The [b]Olaf Kolzig[/b] rumours still presist. Oh, and I guess there's a draft too. Anders Hedberg will run the draft but you have to wonder how much say [b]Bryan Murray[/b] will have on his new team. He'll be at the draft table along with [b]Frank Jay[/b] but Hedberg makes all decisions regarding the draft giving Muckler most of the weekend to secure his goalie plans.

With the 23rd pick the Senators could secure a goalie - fiery [b]Ray Emery[/b] and [b]Martin Prusek[/b] could both be future starters but there's a possiblity in seeing [b]Devan Dubynk G[/b], [b]David Shantz G[/b] or even [b]Corey Scheinder G[/b] being picked up. They'll add a goalie during the draft but most likely later or even on the second day.

A nice big center could be used in Ottawa so expect [b]Bruce Graham C[/b] to get a look-see if he falls. In a couple of my scratch mocks, I have the Sens taking him but there are rumblings that the Sens could trade this pick and pick up lower picks in exchange.

Expect them to spend most of the later portions of the draft in Europe - they probably have the best track record of any team in uncovering European kids. [b]Jannik Hansen LW[/b] is another speedy player that could be available to the Sens in the third round.

[b]TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS[/b]

The Leafs need youth. Any one under 30 would be good. But unfortunately, the price you pay for competing is having a low number of draft picks and none of those draft picks very high. [b]Barry Trapp[/b] in his second draft won't be calling the shots until Toronto's pick in the third round. On the second day, he's missing a fourth rounder and has only Toronto's picks in round five through nine. Do the Maple Leafs move up? It's possible but regardless, I don't see Trapp having a busy weekend.

Without a pick until round 3, it's kind of hard to predict where the Maple Leafs will go but Trapp seems to be a fan of North Americans and that should be the way to go for his second year - the Maple Leaf European drafting has been spotty but they've uncovered a couple late players like [b]Tomas Kaberle[/b], [b]Danny Markov[/b], [b]Alexei Ponikarovsky[/b] and even [b]Sergei Berezin[/b]. Alexander Steen, albeit not a low pick, was a pretty decent first round pick from Europe as was [b]Nik Antropov[/b].

Before getting back to the draft preview, I'm going to recap only one transaction. Once again Jim Rutherford fleeces someone. That makes two teams that JR's screwed over in less than 48-hours. Too bad this franchise can't really draft and develop well because Rutherford is one shrewd GM and this franchise would be contenders every year - instead of the blip on the radar they were in 2002.

First Rutherford sent third string goalie [b]Arturs Irbe[/b] and his merciless $2.5 million salary due next year to Columbus for future considerations (believed to be one of Columbus's low picks either this year or next draft). Any time you can get a GM to pick up your 2.5 million mistakes, that's a good day. Columbus then allowed [b]Fred Brathwaite[/b], last year's back-up go and he quickly signed with AK Bars Kazan of the Russian Super League.

But it gets better as Rutherford then sends [b]Tomas Malec[/b] and their third round choice (Carolina also holds Washington's third rounder) to Anaheim for [b]Martin Gerber[/b], making [b]Al Coates[/b] first trade as GM of the Ducks look horrible. What does Rutherford give up? A third round pick? Boo-hoo, they have Washington's pick and they're not the best drafters in the first place. They'll be getting a low pick for Irbe and I'm sure they can pick up another along the way. They also lose a 6-0 prospect on defense who in my opinion needs a lot of work in pretty much all areas and with Danny Richmond and others in the system (as well as an up-coming draft) the Hurricanes can afford to let a prospect go. Don't forget that they won't be paying [b]Danny Markov[/b], [b]Ron Francis[/b] or Irbe next season (and if Rutherford is on a roll, he can find someone stupid enough to take [b]Rod Brind'Amour [/b]off his hands). With that money saved, the Hurricanes can re-sign [b]Sean Hill[/b] or [b]Glen Wesley[/b] or even both fairly easily and still have money left over to re-up [b]Jeff O'Neill[/b] to a short-term deal. So defense isn't a concern next season.

But in Gerber they get themselves a starter who will cost them less than a million but who is capable enough. What? Yes, Martin Gerber deserves to be a starter and that's the whole thing that led Anaheim to trade one of the best back-ups in the league. Remember, Gerber was always better than [b]David Aebischer[/b]. Granted Aebischer has 3 years on Gerber and just had his first break-through season but with Aebischer's success, isn't it time that Gerber does get his shot to prove it? And here's that shot. Gerber will be the starter in Carolina next season - Kevin Weekes you say? To qualify Weekes, Rutherford would have to put up around $2.5 million compared to an equal, if not better, goalie who will be paid a little under a million. What would you do? Weekes is probably not going to be qualified making him a UFA but if someone is interested in him, I wouldn't be too shocked if Rutherford moved his RFA rights at the draft letting another team qualify him - St. Louis, Vancouver (would a second stint be better), Ottawa? If the [b]Dominik Hasek[/b] picture settles quickly, we should be able to guess. Wouldn't be shocked to see Weekes just go Europe. Who will the back-up be? [b]Jamie Storr[/b] (who's rights Carolina so far retains) probably won't be using the out-clause on his Alder Mannheim contract this year and [b]Patrick DesRochers[/b] was horrid in training camp last year (prompting the signing of Storr in the first place). Let's hope DesRochers makes the best out of his third chance.

For the Ducks, as much as I doubt the 6-0 Malec, he has shown some development and promise and they do get an early third round pick out of this for a guy they really don't need. It's not as much of a fleecing as I make it out to be but I don't think it's fair value for Gerber. The Ducks do add a needed shot in the arm to their defensive prospect list and can keep doing so with the draft pick. I don't see Malec breaking the line-up next year but [b]Keith Carney[/b] is getting up there in years.

[b]DRAFT PREVIEW ATLANTIC

NEW JERSEY DEVILS[/b]

Every year we hear, "oh the Devils always go off the board." Blah, blah, blah. [b]Zach Praise[/b] was "off-the-board?" [b]Ari Ahonen[/b] was "off-the-board?" Even with [b]Adrian Foster[/b], he really wasn't "off-the-board." I had him slipping into the third round after going undrafted the previous year because of injuries. But Foster was high on their list and listening around the floor, they had a pretty good idea that he wouldn't fall to them when they picked again in the late second round. Could they have traded down? Possibly but it's not always that easy to do and you're not sure sometimes how far to fall down. He was the guy they wanted and it wasn't going to be there 30+ picks from then so they snatched him. Obviously he wasn't just on their board only.

So who's going to be the "Devil's Dare" this year? [b]Lou Lamoriello[/b] and [b]David Conte[/b] don't have any extra picks yet and are missing picks in the 2nd and 4th rounds but I expect them to pick up a couple more and move around a bit. I also expect them to comment on their defense a little bit. [b]Scott Stevens[/b] isn't getting younger and [b]Scott Niedermayer[/b] didn't automatically jump at his new mega-bucks deal. I doubt Boris Valabik D will drop to them but they would defintely be interested in a couple of other options such as [b]Kirill Lyamin D[/b], [b]Johan Fransson D[/b] and [b]Sami Lepisto D[/b]. Lyamin will probably be the best bet as I see him as a no.3 d-man and Lepisto as a no.4 but the Devils don't go for the best bet but rather the best player. [b]Mike Green D[/b] could slip here and be a guy the Devils like.

If they go forward, will one of the Finns still be around? Could they be looking at [b]Ryan Garlock C[/b]? Garlock had a hard season last year with injuries but everyone liked what they saw from him and could be made a first round pick by a team with some balls. [b]Adam Berti LW[/b] has often been refered to as a "sleeping giant." Will they go with potential over results? Karel Hromas LW as a first round selection? With no second round pick, it could happen in New Jersey. [b]Juraj Gracik RW[/b] is a guy I like but he may slip into the third round and I really don't see him getting into the first round. We just know Conte's draft overall will be a good one. [b]Evan McGarth C[/b] has hidden talent some where inside him, it's just been so long since he let it out for us. Could the Devils be the ones to motivate that talent out of there?

Another interesting fact is Chicago wanting to pick up another first round selection. Without a second round selection and Chicago with three such picks, could Lou have a trading partern?

[b]NEW YORK ISLANDERS[/b]

Don't be surprised if they move up. [b]Mike Milbury[/b] wants [b]Kyle Chipchura C[/b] and Nashville could take him with the pick before Milbury. It'd be a nice pick-up for Milbury who has a pretty nice drafting record in nine years with the Islanders. Sadly most of that nice drafting record is playing for other teams. Maybe he should head the draft table with [b]Tony Feltrin[/b] and leave the GMing to someone else. But right now the Islanders really don't need to shore up anything immediately with this draft so after Chipchura, they could go any where but Europe looks to be a place where they've uncovered gems before. The only extra pick Milbury holds is Tampa's seventh rounder but he still has all of his nine original selections. [b]Juraj Gracik RW[/b] is a guy I like for the Islanders as well as a [b]Roman Tesliuk D[/b] or a [b]Emil Axelsson D[/b].

[b]NEW YORK RANGERS[/b]

Holy draft picks. Two first rounders, 5 second rounders, Edmonton's fourth and their own picks in the fifth, sixth and ninth. [b]Glen Sather[/b] and [b]Don Maloney[/b] (in his first draft as the main man) will be very busy early and odds are they're going to find at least two, maybe three NHLers in the first two rounds. I don't expect them going over-seas for over-agers despite the severe need for NHL ready players but they've got enough unsigned kids over the pond that could come over - [b]Petr Prucha[/b] being one of the better ones. With the sixth pick in the draft, the Rangers can't lose. Sure they'd like [b]Andrew Ladd LW[/b] but if he's not there that means either [b]Lauri Tukonen RW[/b] or [b]Rostislav Olesz C[/b] will fall to them. And if two or even all three fall to them (unlikely but possible) then they're going to have to flip a coin but it's heads-you-win, tails-you-win on draft day. With their later first round pick, some people have the Rangers grabbing a goalie - why? Ok, Daniel Blackburn may never be the same and Mike Dunham is in the middle-teir of NHL goaltending but will a [b]Devan Dubynk G[/b] or [b]David Shantz G[/b] be able to step in next year? No. Do you forget they also own [b]Henrik Lundqvist[/b]? Dunham can bridge between this reclaimation project and serious contending with Lundqivst in net.

The prospect cupboard is no longer bare but the Rangers still have work to do - I see them maybe moving some of their picks for more picks in the future but no serious movement unless they really find somethign left over in the first round that they can't do without. You're guess is as good as mine for what they'll take in the second round but they can add a goalie in [b]Dave Brown G[/b] if they feel they need to. Maybe [b]Wes O'Neill D[/b] will slip into the second round - all the talent is there but the brain doesn't work. [b]Jon Sigalet D [/b]is a guy I'm high on but he's going to need some work - with this many picks, I think they can afford to take a college project on. Hard shooting [b]Andy Rogers D [/b]would also be a fine pick as well as hulking [b]Dave Schultz D[/b] - too bad Schultz is afraid of a mouse on the ice. Maybe a guy like [b]Denis Parshin LW[/b] with all the talent in the world but the intangibles are questionable could be a pick there. I could see [b]Adam Pineault RW[/b] in Ranger blue or even USHS's [b]Blake Wheeler RW[/b]. Gracik anyone? And Maloney would be wise to land [b]Aki Seitsonen C[/b] while they've got a clear shot to. [b]Tim Brent C[/b] is re-entering the draft so he is two years closer to the NHL but [b]Vaclav Meidl C[/b] is bigger.

Rangers are going to be a fun team to watch that's for sure.

[b]PHILADELPHIA FLYERS[/b]

While the Rangers may be one of the more fun teams to watch on draft day, the Flyers are going to rank up there on the boring side. [b]Bobby Clarke[/b] may have stockpiled 15 draft picks but none of them are before their own pick late in the third round of the draft. Clarke will move some of his fourth rounders to move up into the second round. They've done pretty well for themselves of late in the draft so it's not like they should feel pressured to make a bold move though it would be wise to get some depth into their defensive system after watching this year. European scout [b]Inge Hammarstrom[/b] better have some late round defensive gems on his list.

With so many late picks, could this be the team that takes the gamble on the Psurny twins? [b]Michal [/b]and [b]Roman Prusny[/b] are twin wingers available in this draft. They're not on the same level as the Sedin Twins of course but it should be interesting to see if anyone with back-to-back picks on the second day of the draft chances on these two. Roman's probably the better of the two and capable of playing by himself. I expect him to possibly go in the top 100 picks. Either way, remember, the Flyers draft well no matter what picks they have - this year should be no exception.

[b]PITTSBURGH PENGUINS[/b]

Greg Malone (father to Ryan Malone) probably has the easiest pick to make on this day. While it seems the Washington Capitals are now looking at [b]Yvegeni Malkin C[/b] in comparasion to [b]Alexander Ovechkin LW[/b], the Penguins will wind up with whomever they don't take first overall. It should be Malkin that falls to the Penguins but I've seen stranger things - wait, no I haven't and that's why Malkin will be a Penguin. Looks like the Steel City has the Russian version of [b]Joe Thornton[/b] on their hands. But it's going to be a big day at the Penguins draft table as they still have all their own picks as well as extra picks in the second, third and seventh rounds. Could some of that be moved for cheap but NHL ready talent? They could definitely use a second line center right now. [b]Mario Lemiuex[/b] probably won't be able to stay in the line-up for the entire season and no one wants to see [b]Ben Eaves[/b] have to carry the boat. Not too sure we'll see Malkin step in right away but rather eased in on the third or fourth lines - maybe even another year in Russia.

Set in net (Marc-Andre Fleury) and on defense (Ryan Whitney, Brooks Orpik, Richard Jackman, ect) the Penguins would love to find someone who can put the puck in the back of the net - would they be willing to take the risks on [b]Lukas Kaspar RW[/b] or [b]Denis Parshin LW[/b] in the second round? I'd be trying to hit a home-run with some body at the 31st pick.

Our first trade of the off-season comes as a bit of a shock but not any real hype. Carolina deals former starter [b]Arturs Irbe[/b], due $2.5 million next year, to Columbus for future considerations (assumed to be a late round pick in this draft or next year's). Irbe is expected to be the back-up to [b]Marc Denis[/b], meaning [b]Fred Brathwaite[/b] (UFA) will not be retained.

Honest opinion here but for the $2.5 million due to Irbe next season, I'd rather keep Brathwaite around to play 20-30 games behind Denis. Sure Brathwaite was absolutely brutal last year but I sure hope Carolina is picking up some of the tab in all of this. Look for Brathwaite to look aboard in Europe, there's not too many back-up jobs open in the NHL and given his preformance last year, he should look for job secruity in Europe.

Mid-way through my draft preview, I think you have noticed how its going to work. One division a day, five teams a day, throwing out what I think they could do and what picks they could use and I've thrown out a lot of names - maybe not as many as I would like but at least I'm not concentrating on the the first round only.

Expect Part 4 to deal with the Atlantic division so fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers, you're next. I'll also share my current list of the top 20 left wings in the draft.

Part 5 will deal with the Northeast division (Ottawa, Boston, Montreal, Toronto and Buffal) and the draft's top 20 centers.

Part 6 will deal with the final division and home of the Stanley Cup champions (Tampa Bay) and 4 of the top 10 selections (Washington 1, Florida 7, Carolina 8 and Altanta 10). Part 6 will also look at my top 10 boom or bust players who will find their name called on the first day.

I've also decided to add a Part 7 - that will include my mock draft for the first two rounds (as they stand right) as well as a new revised top lists for goalies, defensemen, wingers and centers as well as my revised top 100. I really haven't enjoyed how my lists have gone together so far so I figured I'd give you my old lists now and revise them in time for the draft.

And remember, outsiders can leave comments and I'd appriceate any and all feedback on this. You could even influence my final list if you make a good enough case, expect my top 100 final list to be done sometime by Monday night.

[b]NORTHWEST DIVISION

CALGARY FLAMES[/b]

What a difference a year makes - oh and a GM. [b]Darryl Sutter [/b]comes aboard, takes [b]Dion Phaneuf [/b]with their first round selection and then leads them to game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals after 15 years of heart ache (including seven straight post-seasonless years.) I think this year the Flames go to the draft table with some confidence because lets face it - before taking Phaneuf, the Flames don't do very well in the first round. Sutter has kept most of the scouting staff around but Phaneuf was his pick - wonder if he'll target someone this year and go for them just the same. Too bad they don't hold picks in the second or third rounds but they do have Carolina's pick in the fourth and the Rangers choice in the seventh nor is there much in the organization that can move for more picks. [b]Denis Gauthier[/b] could be on the outs but I don't think Sutter will be dealing him on draft day.

[b]Petteri Nokelainen C[/b] is a guy I think a lot of teams are looking at and could find his way to Calgary. Or could they take a risk on the "sleeping giant" [b]Adam Berti LW[/b]? I think 19 could be a reach for him. Everyone's favorite 6-7 Slovak [b]Boris Valabik D[/b] could still be around. How about [b]Devan Dubynk G[/b]? I know, I know - [b]Brent Krahn[/b] and [b]Andrei Medvedev[/b] but Calgary is going to have to evaluate really quickly whether they can count on either one at the NHL level in the future. Craig Button picked up a lot of Russians, Medvedev being one of them - is he who Sutter wants? Is Krahn the same goalie they took in the first round a while back? Plus with the Oilers looking at Dubynk, wouldn't it be fun to steal away their second pick?

Though the first pick is up to Sutter, I don't see him going away from [b]Miikka Kiprusoff[/b] just yet. I expect him to go with one of the Finns in the draft. [b]Tod Button[/b] and [b]Mike Sands [/b]will handle most of day two of the draft, I expect them to go back to Russia again at least once in day two. 6-4 [b]Alexander Mikhailishin D[/b] or [b]Pavel Apalikov C[/b] could fit - Apalikov could use some weight though, he's 6-2.5 but only 180.

[b]COLORADO AVALANCHE[/b]

I don't think the Colorado prospect pile is as horrible as people think. Sure its not great but the Avalanche do boast two goalies who could go on to be top flight starters in [b]Philippe Suave[/b] and [b]Peter Budaj[/b]. [b]Marek Svatos[/b] has become the next darling child for Denver, [b]Cody McCormick[/b] should be a nice fourth or third line center and the defense does have [b]Johnny Boychuk[/b], [b]Mikko Kalteva[/b], [b]Tomas Slovak[/b] and [b]Agris Saviels[/b]. Beyond the goalies, none of these guys are going to be top flight players but I think they're in better shape than the Blues by far. Colorado has their first round pick this year for once. They also hold the NY Rangers pick in the third but not their own nor their fourth round selection. Other than that, they have all their picks and Minnesota's eight round choice. Can the restocking be accomplished here? Well the trio of [b]Yvon Gendron[/b], [b]Jim Hammett[/b] and [b]Pierre Lacroix[/b] have made a name for themselves in unearthing little gems over in Europe. I don't see why they can't continue that here.

They sit currently at 21st and I don't think its out of the question to see them move up - they've certainly never really had the chance to do something like that for a long time. But unless Lacroix can move up into the top 10, I think they'll just stick. Is it time to draft a center because really - [b]Joe Sakic[/b] has been the last one Quebec's drafted (and kept) that's turned out any good. [b]Dave Bolland C[/b] could be around, he's a player you don't notice too often (especially in high-powered London) but he's got all the tools to be a second line center in the NHL and really - that's the best the Avalanche can hope for at this point in the draft without taking a huge roll of the dice with a [b]Jakub Sindel C[/b], [b]Lukas Kaspar RW[/b] or [b]Enver Lisin RW[/b]. If [b]Lauri Korpikoski LW[/b] falls, he has the potential to look good here. If they decide to stock up on defense [b]Mike Green D[/b] could be their man. Green played on a horrible team last year but shined and some people see him as a future captain. Some people see him as a top 10 pick, I obviously don't see him there but what matters is if the Avalanche see him as one. [b]Kirill Lyamin D[/b] should also be available but not much longer after the Avalanche pick. Could Swede [b]Johannes Salmonsson C[/b] be a dark horse - he's definitely the best prospect out of Sweden this year. He's a project player and Lacroix's got lots of time.

In the later rounds, I expect them to stick up front. [b]Vaclav Meidl C[/b] or a [b]Carl Soderberg C[/b] if they're around in the second round. Could guys like [b]Karel Hromas LW[/b] or [b]Sergei Karetin D[/b] also be suiting up for the Avalanche in the future?

[b]EDMONTON OILERS[/b]

With two picks in the first round, the Oilers can afford to gamble a bit. Though they're pickless in the second and fourth rounds - could they move one of their picks down for more selections? Anything is possible but I expect they hold on to their two first rounds - 14th and 25th. [b]Devan Dubynk G[/b] looks to be the target at 25 and I could see them moving up from there if they get the feeling he might not be there by the time they pick. [b]Kyle Chipchura C[/b] and [b]Alex Picard C[/b] will be targeted with the 14th slot. Chipchura might be one of the most contested for players at this point in the draft so if they want him, they may have to flip up. Personally, I'd just let someone slide to me at 14 - they'll get good value just by sitting. It's even possible (but unlikely) that [b]Robbie Schremp C[/b] could fall to the Oilers. Either way the Oilers are going to do very well with their two picks.

One surprise pick could be Enver Lisin RW. As mentioned above with Calgary, he's all wheels and no hands. He's the fastest skater bar none in this draft and he's got gears very few players in the NHL have but problem is he may just be too fast for his own brain and hands. He's a cherry picker and has never seen the defensive zone in his entire life and he'll be a headache for coaches early but that speed is just something you can't find every day. If he does succeed to make it to the NHL in a couple years, I'd like to see him at the All-Star game's fastest skater event. I can't say enough about his speed. Now do the Oilers want to put up with the rest of the package? They do have some of the best ice in the NHL so he could be worth a flyer. He could also slide down into the second round - he's a guy I'm not touching with a ten foot pole.

[b]MINNESOTA WILD[/b]

One thing is for sure with the Wild - I have no real clear clue where they could go at 11. Sitting right outside the top 10, someone is going to fall to them and I doubt [b]Doug Risebrough[/b] will jump up or move down here. [b]Tom Thompson[/b] will head the draft and he made a great splash last year grabbing not only [b]Brent Burns[/b] but [b]Patrick O'Sullivan[/b] and [b]Danny Irmen[/b]. He got O'Sullivan, listed as my fourth best player, in the second round. I had Burns in the late second round to mid-third but Burns worked out for them and has since been converted from right wing to right-defense.

Will Thompson tell Risebrough to go off the board again? Will they pick a faller in the second round again? They do have two picks in the third round and three picks in the fourth but they'll take the eighth round off. Maybe they can move up in the second round if they find something they like but Risebrough hasn't been one to trade picks over his career. Could they pick up a couple vets this way? Risebourgh is looking at one of the youngest teams in the league to start out next season.

Now comes down to who their pick is going to be. Thompson is one who never tips his hand at all and it bugs me to read an interview with him because he's so vague. [b]Alex Picard C[/b] seems to be a player they maybe intrested in. He's a blue-collar player from the QMJHL who's drawing comparasions to [b]Ryan Smyth[/b] of the Oilers mostly because of his hard-work and odd skating style. It hurts the eyes to watch him skate but fact is, it doesn't slow him down as much as people think - though someone might want to work with him on it. Though unlike Burns, his defensive positioning needs a bit of polish so I don't expect him to be with the Wild next season if they do in fact pick him.

Another choice could be [b]Marek Schwarz G[/b] - remember [b]Dwayne Roloson[/b] and [b]Manny Fernandez[/b] are already in their 30s and won't be around for much longer. [b]Josh Harding[/b] has impressed the Wild brass since they picked him up and some in the organization see him as the goalie of the future but Schwarz just might be too good to pass up at this point. [b]Drew Stafford RW[/b] skates a lot better than Picard but he probably needs a lot more polish. Yet don't expect that to deter the Wild, who now are starting to have time to wait for draft picks to develop. But if the Wild are looking for someone closer to the NHL and with more skill, [b]Alexander Radulov RW[/b] should still be around. Wouldn't [b]Jacques Demers[/b] just love to have a Russian with the skills of a Pavel Bure but who's willing to bowl someone over to get the puck. Demers could be the right coach to control the usually hot-headed Radulov. Then there's Minnesota boy [b]AJ Thelan D[/b] if they're willing to wait three years while he finishes up at Michigan State.

[b]VANCOUVER CANUCKS[/b]

The season didn't end up the way they wanted it to after winning their first division title in over a decade and [b]Brian Burke [/b]was not brought back as GM - oh and the whole [b]Todd Bertuzzi[/b] fiasco. Hopefully, that will all be forgotten if the Canucks can put together a good draft. They currently hold the 26th selection but are without picks in the second, third and seventh rounds and no extra picks in any other round. [b]Ron Delorme[/b] should call all the shots at the table and he does seem to like speed and skill so when looking at a Vancouver pick, that's probably the best place to start. Or is it? The media seemed to start doubting the toughness of the Vancouver Canucks after losing to the Flames in round one - could Delorme and new GM [b]Dave Nonis[/b] be looking to move their draft philosphy? The Canucks could use a big talent center to give coach Marc Crawford some options other than Brendan Morrison and most people feel an upgrade in goal is needed - could that mean someone like [b]Cory Scheinder G[/b] or [b]Dave Shantz G[/b]? [b]Alex Auld[/b], who came over from Florida, looks to be ready in the minds of the Vancouver brass but is his lateral movement good enough to be a no.1 goalie? With the UFA market on goalies being so crappy this off season, I'd personally bring back [b]Dan Cloutier[/b] and draft a goalie in the first or second round and see how Auld is in another year. If they go goalie in the second round - [b]Dave Brown G[/b] out of Notre Dame could be a good sleeper after being passed over last year in the draft. Though [b]Justin Pogge G[/b] out of Prince George could fall into their hands on the second day - I forgot him on my top 15 goalies list yesterday, he certainly should be considered a wild card.

They could also go defense with [b]Mike Green D[/b] or [b]Wes O'Neill D[/b]. Personally I'm not a fan of O'Neill (as most of you have noticed) because I'm not sure his head works correctly when he's out there. There's soooo much talent in that body but the head isn't there and while some one can teach him the game, I'd feel safer if it came naturally to him. Talent alone makes him a first rounder but can the Canucks take a risk here? If it comes down to the two D-men, I'd hope they go for Green. [b]Travis Zajac C[/b] could also get a look-see here but the BCHL stand-out probably doesn't warrent a first round selection - though there are many who would disagree with me there. If they can pick up a second round pick and he's there, he might be an interesting pick-up. Could the Canucks even trade down from the first round to pick up some second round selections? It'll be interesting to see what Nonis does on the phones.

[b]TOP RIGHT WINGS[/b]

1. Lauri [b]TUKONEN[/b] Espoon Blues Jrs.
2. Drew [b]STAFFORD[/b] U. North Dakota WCHA
2. Alexander [b]RADULOV[/b] Dynamo Moskava RUS2
4. Viktor [b]ALEXANDROV[/b] Novokuz netsk RUS
5. Blake [b]WHEELER[/b] Breck USHSW
6. Adam [b]PINEAULT[/b] Boston College HE
7. Lukas [b]KASPAR[/b] HC Litvinov CZE
8. Enver [b]LISIN[/b] Dynamo Moskava RUS2
9. Martins [b]KARSUMS[/b] Moncton Wildcats QMJHL
10. Juraj [b]GRACIK[/b] TVJ Topolcalny SV1
11. Roman [b]TOMANEK[/b] Povazska Bystrica SV1
12. Zdenek [b]BAHENSKY[/b] HC Litvinov Jrs.
13. Ryan [b]CALLAHAN[/b] Guelph STORM
14. Vicktor [b]ORESKOVICH [/b] Green Bay USHL
15. Jan [b]STEBER[/b] Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL
16. Julien [b]SPRUNGER[/b] HC Fribour-Gotteron SUISSE
17. David [b]LALIBERTE[/b] P.E.I. Rocket QMJHL
18. Blake [b]COMEAU[/b] Kelowna Rockets WHL
19. Miikka [b]TUOMAINEN[/b] TPS Turku Jrs.
20. Roman [b]WICK[/b] EHC Kloten Flyers SUISSE
21. Jannik [b]HANSEN[/b] Rodovre IK DEN
22. Fredrik [b]NASLUND[/b] Vasteras IK SWE1
23. Peter [b]POHL[/b] Gatineau Olympiques QMJHL
24. Raymond [b]SAWADA[/b] Salmon Arm BCHL
25. J.T. [b]WYMAN[/b] Blake USHSW

I'm actually surprised Joe wasn't mad that I didn't have Boris listed as the supreme all defenseman on there. Actually I have him higher than I'd like but he's probably worth a waiver if you have two picks in the first round. Though I could also see someone trading up to get him if they're in love with his size. His brains may come along later - I mean [b]Zdeno Chara[/b] wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed when he was drafted. Too bad Chara had some talent and speed to boot. Also note that [b]Brett Carson [/b]is misisng. He's probably not a lot of people's lists but the guy looks so unsure of himself most nights. His skating is poor and his decision making isn't the strongest. Though he's drawing comparsions to [b]James Patrick[/b]. If he can last 20 years in the NHL as a number 5 or 6 d-man then by all means - nice pick, he's just some one I'm staying away from.

[b]PACIFIC DIVISION LOOK

ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS[/b]

Ducks hold the ninth slot in the draft - a very important draft as they did miss the playoffs this season one year removed from game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. They've also seen their GM depart to coach the Ottawa Senators leaving former Flames GM [b]Al Coates[/b] to work the phones while [b]Alain Chainey [/b]mans the draft. I don't think Coates will be that involved in the draft but that remains to be seen. If you use this season as any indication of what the Ducks need, it's size and grit and they could be looking at some character guys like [b]Kyle Wharton D[/b]. Too bad the Ducks are without a pick in the third and the fourth and no additional picks at the moment. Could back-up goalie [b]Martin Gerber[/b] fetch a decent gain? Gerber feels he's a starter but can the Ducks get starter value from him. [b]Andy McDonald[/b] could also see his way out on draft day as well. I see the Ducks set at forward and goalie at the moment so I hope they concentrate on defense where [b]Keith Carney[/b] and [b]Ruslan Salei[/b] aren't getting any younger, [b]Sandis Ozolinsh[/b] isn't getting any cheaper, and [b]Mark Popovic[/b] isn't getting any better. No defense prospect in Anaheim's system scares me at this point so hopefully they can add there. Would they be willing to take the waiver early on [b]Boris Valabik D[/b]? I have [b]Ladislav Smid D[/b] and [b]Andrej Moszaros D[/b] rated higher and around Anaheim's spot but again Valabik is a wild card - there's teams that love him and there's teams that think nothing of him. Which team is Anaheim? Guess we'll find out on draft day.

If they go forward, [b]Alex Picard C[/b] and [b]Alexander Radulov RW[/b] should be around.

DALLAS STARS

The big thing to watch from the Stars on draft day is if [b]Doug Armstrong[/b] pulls the deal that sends Bill Guerin out of Big-D. The Stars right now sit at 20th and probably will stay there. If you note where the Stars have gone in the past, they seem to like Europeans a deal but go for balanced players with character. They may want to go with high-end talent this year because they lack it. Goal=scoring [b]Marius Holtet [/b](who the Stars just signed and brought over) might help to remedy that and [b]Jussi Jokinen[/b] and [b]Loui Eriksson[/b] rank as two of my favorite prospects. Oh and a little productive guy named [b]Junior Lessard[/b]. But the Stars lack a real game breaker in their crop - that's usually what happens when you pick as late as they do most years. And again they'll probably not find one at 20 unless they want to go gambling on a [b]Viktor Alexandrov LW[/b] or [b]Roman Voloshenko LW[/b]. That being said, I have the Stars taking [b]Petteri Nokelainen C[/b] despite the fact that it seems to be the consenus choice for the Stars on most draft websites meaning it probably won't happen. [b]Carl Soderberg C[/b] may slip to them in the second round or go in the very late first round.

It would also be wise for the Stars to restock their defense as they do only have four defensemen under contract for next season and the younger guys really haven't developed as well as they would have liked. [b]John Erksine[/b] and [b]Jeff MacMillan[/b] don't look like the NHL defensemen we thought they'd be a couple years ago. Good thing the Stars have a compensation pick in the second round and an extra pick in the fourth round (no pick in the seventh). I expect for them to maybe pick up a couple extra picks and re-stock the defensive cabinet in the later rounds. Would [b]Dmitri Vorobiev D[/b] be a guy they're interested in? Vorobiev will play in the NHL but he'll be a number 6 d-man that could play for 10-plus seasons and no one would notice. He's a dime-a-dozen but at least you know what you're going to get from him - nothing flashy. [b]Greg Park D [/b]could see his named called in the fifth round on.

[b]LA KINGS[/b]

Everyone seems sure they'll go with whatever goalie falls to them at the 11th slot. After [b]Cristobal Huet [/b](career back-up) and [b]Roman Cechmanek[/b] (I'll let you fill in the comment) the Kings really don't have a goalie prospect that stunning. Sure [b]Ryan Munce[/b] is there but does any one see Munce as a franchise goalie yet? Yet [b]Alvaro Montoya G,[/b] [b]Marek Schwarez G[/b] and possibly even [b]Deven Dubynk G[/b] have all had that title attached to them already and for good reasons each. Kings used last year to stock pile their system at each position so this year they can more than afford to take a goalie in the first round. I'm still not convinced that means they're going for a goalie at 11 and couldn't either trade down or take another player at 11 and trade up into the late first round or early second to grab one of the second tier goalies. With [b]Jaroslav Modry [/b]not expected back and the main part of the veteran d-corp showing their age, I wouldn't be surprised if they shocked people and took [b]AJ Thelan D[/b] or one of the Eastern Block d-men.

Kings don't have a second round pick and have extras in the seventh and ninth rounds. I fell they'll move them selves up in places and just take the best players available. Remember their European scouting is pretty darn good but that doesn't stop them from going to this side of the pond - [b]Matt Christie RW[/b], [b]Mike Ludin D[/b] or [b]Grant Lewis D[/b] are all good bets for this side of the pond while the Kings are said to be interested in over-aged Swede [b]Karl Fabricius RW[/b] and Finnish Junior [b]Jussi Makkonen LW[/b].

[b]PHOENIX COYOTES[/b]

Could wind up getting the best deal out of the first round if [b]Lauri Tukonen RW[/b] passes through both Chicago and Columbus. All indecations have Chicago passing but the draft is a gambit after all. I wouldn't be shocked that if there's any real danger of Tukonen being snatched up at 3 or 4, they may pull a trade to grab him - they do own three second rounders but no thirds (or fifths or sevenths and could lose their fourth rounder to Carolina if Carolina chooses to take it). Remember Gretzky and Co made a big splash grabbing [b]Fredrik Sjostrom[/b] in 2001. This is their first time in the top 5 since 1991, they better make a big splash.

But could that big splash be [b]Al Montoya G[/b]? Some people think so but I'm sure top prospect [b]Dave LeNeveu[/b] has something to say about that. I'd give LeNeveu one more year before trying to put a cramp on him. If Tukonen is gone, they'll either trade down or take Montoya at five - neither would surprise me. Let's hope the tink tank of [b]Wayne Gretzky[/b], [b]Cliff Fletcher[/b], [b]Mike Barnett[/b], [b]Dave Draper[/b] and [b]Vaughn Karpan[/b] go for BPA because the Coyote system needs a shock. Though like a lot of teams, I think they're in the hunt for a mean defenseman - [b]Ossi Vaananen[/b] just never turned out to be mean. Could Boris Valabik D go this high? You'd hope if they want to go that route, Barnett trades down a lot but there could be a lot of people interested in the fifth selection. Though they could get a mean, nasty dman with one of their three picks in the second round just as easily. Also expect them to look at huge centers - [b]Carl Soderberg[/b], [b]Aki Seitsonen[/b], [b]Vaclav Meidl [/b]could all be targetting (Seitsonen being a favorite of mine) and if [b]Adam Pinneault RW[/b] does slip to the second round, the Coyotes could be one of the first teams to take a waiver on him possibly.

There's a lot of different directions the Coyotes can go at five and with their three second round choices so it makes them hard to predict but they should be one of the most fun teams to watch on draft day.

[b]SAN JOSE SHARKS[/b]

The Sharks hold Boston's fourth rounder but are missing their selections in the third, fifth, sixth and eighth rounds so they might have a rather boring second day. They sit at 28th after winning hte Pacific division and that really leaves them out of the loop for a top prospect. Hopefully they've done their scouting - what am I kidding, the Sharks do their home work. Just look at their defense and net and their right flank. [b]Tim Burke[/b] has done very well for himself and deserves recognition in the building of the Sharks.

Sharks really could go anywhere in this draft but I'd hope they'd look at size for a little bit. Will [b]Kirill Lyamin D[/b] be still around at 28? [b]Sami Lepisto D[/b] could also be a shot but I have him projecting as a number 4 d-man. Could hulking [b]Bruce Graham C[/b] be around as well? I'm not high on Graham but I know he'll go pretty quickly in the middle of the first round. Would they touch [b]Ever Lisin RW[/b]? Wheels but no hands or head - sound frimilar? They took [b]Shean Donovan [/b]28th overall in 1993.

[b]Frenchie's TOP 16-30[/b]

16. A.J. [b]THELAN[/b] D Michigan State
17. Kyle [b]CHIPCHURA[/b] C Prince Albert
18. Devan [b]DUBYNK[/b] G Kamloops
19. Lauri [b]KORPIKOSKI LW[/b] TPS Turku Juniors
20. Jeff [b]SCHLUTZ[/b] D Calgary
21. Petteri [b]NOKELAINEN[/b] C SaiPa
22. Dave [b]BOLLAND[/b] C London
23. Boris [b]VALABIK D[/b] Kitchner
24. Bruce [b]GRAHAM[/b] C Moncton
25. Roman [b]VOLOSHENKO[/b] LW Krylja Sovetov
26. Kirill [b]LYAMIN[/b] D CSKA Moskava
27. Corey [b]SCHIENDER[/b] G USHS/Boston College
28. Jakub [b]SINDEL[/b] C Sparta Praha
29. Johannes [b]SALMONSSON[/b] C Djurgardens IF
30. Mike [b]GREEN[/b] D Saskatoon

[b]TOP 15 GOALIES[/b]

GOALIES

1. Marek SCHWARZ
2. Alvaro MONTOYA
3. Devan DUBNYK
4. Cory SCHNEIDER
5. David SHANTZ
6. Dave BROWN
7. Michal VALENT
8. Jason CHURCHILL
9. Magnus AKERLUND
10. Philippe ROBERGE
11. Justin ROGGE
12. Jeff GLASS
13. Justin PETERS
14. Julien ELLIS-PLANTE
15. Daniel LACOSTA

Tomorrow - the Northwest, Top 31-45 and the top centers in the draft.

I'm done with my time off. Some of the bigger moves while I was out

[b]Marc Lamothe[/b] to Yaroslavl RSL
[b]Benoit Gratton[/b] to HC Lugano SUISSE *
[b]Kirill Safronov[/b] to AK Bars Kazan RSL
[b]Darren Haydar[/b] to Nurnberg DEL

[b]Dan Smith[/b] (EDM), [b]Don Sweeney[/b] and [b]Rob DiMaio[/b] (DAL), and [b]Keith Primeau[/b] (PHI) all re-upped with their clubs.

While it's nice to see teams handing out contracts in wake of the latest CBA misfire, its a bit of distresting signal to see a player like Haydar leave for Europe when he probably had a spot on the Nashville scoring line due to his AHL success in the playoffs (leading scorer) and the fact that some vets like [b]Andreas Johansson[/b] are expected not to return. Nice to see Lamothe find a spot of his own - too bad its not in the NHL. And Safronov shows just how hard it is to project defensemen coming into a draft. The former first round selection just hasn't panned out. Though some of the blame has to go on teams like Phoenix and Atlanta trying to make him something he wasn't - a puck rushing d-man. I pray he finds success back in Europe because I was rather high on him at one point.

* - I originally said he was going to Servette, that was my mistake and error. I did not check up on the source for accuracy.

Also note that the Flyers did sign [b]RJ Umberger[/b] as a free agent. Good luck to them with that as Umberger hasn't played organized hockey in over a year. He left Ohio State a year early in hopes to strike a pro contract with Vancouver, the team that drafted him. Too bad he wanted the max and that was the end of that. After flirting with his home town Penguins with a 'discount', he has signed with the cross-state rival Flyers. So much for the team you grew up with. At least with the Penguins or the Rangers you would have had a shot at the line-up next season. Instead you're looking at at least 2 seasons at the AHL level and then no garuentees. Philadelphia is loaded at center and right wing so tough break buddy - I hope you enjoy riding on buses.

So I'm still working on a mock draft but doesn't mean we can't have some draft fun - here's a look at the central division.

[b]CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS[/b]

A horrible and painfully long season only to wind up third. If it's any consolation, what Chicago does at the 3 slot will affect the entire rest of the first round. [b]Dale Tallon[/b] won't tip his cap but it looks like they're still leaning on [b]Cameron Barker D[/b] out of the WHL. Though Tallon has confirmed the Hawks would like to packaged their four second round picks to pick up another first round pick - I wouldn't be surprised if they were looking at [b]Jakub Snidel C[/b] and if he's around when they can pull the trigger, I'd watch for it. I expect them to stick to North American players in this draft but I don't think Tallon would hesistate to pick up a speedster from Europe. They need speed up front of course and they might not find it on this side of the pond. [b]Rostislav Olesz C[/b] or [b]Lauri Tukonen RW[/b] could be tempting here - Tukonen would seriously help on the speed thing and Olesz would look nice lining-up with Tuomu Ruutu in two years.

[b]COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS[/b]

Blue Jackets have done a decent job drafting in the first rounds but its about time for their first couple of middle drafts to start paying off. [b]Nikolai Zherdev[/b], [b]Rick Nash[/b], [b]Pascal Leclaire[/b], [b]Rostislav Klesla[/b] - Yeah they've hit the jackpot and there's no reason to expect them not to here. Everyone looking for the Blue Jackets to select [b]Lauri Tukonen RW[/b] and keep up with the whole home-run trend but what if they took [b]Andrew Ladd LW[/b]? He looks physically mature enough to step in and he'd be an excellent complement to what they already have going in Columbus. His stock is rising and you have to worry about him only have one major-juior season under his belt but he won me over late in the season. If they don't take the Finnish Tukonen, Ladd might be their answer. However, if Phoenix really wants Tukonen, they could swing a trade - after all Columbus lacks a second round pick and needs to start adding youth to their defense corp - I wouldn't be surprised if they drop down. They do have three picks in the third round yet none in the fourth. If they do trade further down - [b]Robbie Schremp C[/b]? Expect most of their weekend to concentrate on d-men from North America and possibly a surprise goalie pick - [b]Michal Valent[/b] or [b]Jeff Glass[/b]?

[b]DETROIT RED WINGS[/b]

Usually the most boring team to root for if you're a draft fan. Sixth time in eight years they're without a first round pick. In fact, don't expect them to pick until the end of the third round. They own their own pick from round 3 to round 9 and that's it. Sadly Ken Holland doesn't have too much he can seriously deal to pick up more picks - unless he can deal picks from next year or so. I think for the most part, we'll see the Red Wings go over-seas. After all that's about the only place you can really find a gem late now a days. Any number of players could still be around for them - [b]Dmitri Vorobiev D[/b]? [b]Roman Wick RW[/b]? [b]Dmitri Shitikov RW[/b] (don't laugh at the name)? Or one of my favorites, [b]Richard Demen-Willaume D[/b]? If the Swedish defenseman falls into the late third round, I may have to scold a couple GMs. Too bad he's going to take a while to develop and you shouldn't expect him on this side of the pond for at least four years but expect a solid all-around top-four dman when he does.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

[b]Kyle Chipchura C[/b]. He's their guy at 15 and if they get any indication that he might not be there when they pick 15th, I wouldn't be surprised to see David Poile make the move up. Could he be ready by the start of the NHL season because the Predators could definitely use someone who can win a face-off when needed - just watch the Detroit series again. He's Nashville's type of player - he does every little thing well - he thinks swiftly, he can keep players off the score sheet, he can win face-offs, he's also a penalty killer. Just won't be a huge scorer - remind you of any one? [b]Scott Hartnell[/b] and [b]Scottie Upshall[/b]? Both out of the WHL much like Chipchura. This is a franchise that has no problem going with the safe pick and grabbing third-line potential players early.

If Chipchura is expected to make the leap or Poile is able to secure himself a big NHL center (who can win face-offs), [b]Denis Arkhipov[/b] could find himself booted out of Nashville. The Predators dont' have a pick in the second round but would Arkhipov be enough to remmedy that problem? Given his recent struggles, I don't see him fetching more than a fourth but the thought isn't out of the question.

For the rest of the draft, note that [b]Paul Fenton[/b] in his first draft as director of player personal last year went defense five times with the team's first seven picks. He also went European in all of his seven final selections. Will this be his trend? Don't be surprised if they stick to Europe but I'd expect for them to concentrate on the center position - a place of glaring weakness. Would they wait on a [b]Travis Zajac[/b] - better yet, would Zajac be around in the third round. The Magic Eight Ball says doubtful. [b]Vaclav Meidl[/b] or [b]Mikhail Yunkov[/b] might just be there though.

[b]ST LOUIS BLUES[/b]

At the 17th selection, the Blues have so many holes to fill in the organization and yet not enough picks to fill them in just this year. They own no extra picks and lost their picks from the 5th and 8th round. They have a couple names they could shop but I don't see them being able to move up with the salary tied-up in [b]Pavol Demtira[/b] or [b]Douglas Weight[/b]. They just might have to turn to free agency again this season - yippie. [b]Larry Pleau[/b] will work the phones trying to move what he can while [b]Jarmo Kekalainen[/b] will control the draft.

The biggest concern for the club comes on the wings were there's absolutely no depth and it hurt the Blues this season. When [b]Erik Nickulas[/b] finds himself playing more than a couple games for your club - you're in trouble. Honestly people say Colorado's prospect system is bad, the Blues are just as bad - if not worse. [b]Alexander Radulov RW[/b] just might be the answer - name the last big time scorer the Blues actually produced. Expect for the Blues to go to Europe for most of the draft and I wouldn't be surprised to see them do something they've done a bit of lately - drafting European over-agers to fill immediate holes.

If the Blues are feeling risky, [b]Roman Voloshenko LW[/b] is out there but it might be a stretch at 17. Honestly, I don't want to be frustrated by him as the guy doesn't show up every night - and the Blues already have enough players like that. [b]Lauri Korpikoski LW[/b] and WJC line-mate [b]Petteri Nokelainen C[/b] would be better choices. Another Finn in [b]Aki Seitsonen[/b] C could be a nice second round choice. [b]Viktor Axelandrov LW[/b] also has me salivating.

[b]Frenchie's TOP 15 [/b]

1. Alexander [b]OVECHKIN[/b] LW Dynamo Moskava
2. Yevgeni [b]MALKIN[/b] C Magnitogorsk Metallurg
3. Lauri [b]TUKONEN[/b] RW Espoon Blues Jrs.
4. Cameron [b]BARKER[/b] D Medicine Hat Tigers
5. Marek [b]SCHWARZ[/b] G Sparta Praha
6. Andrew [b]LADD[/b] LW Calgary Hitmen
7. Rostislav [b]OLESZ[/b] C HC Vitkovice
8. Alvaro [b]MONTOYA [/b]G University of Michigan
9. Wojotek [b]WOLSKI[/b] LW Brampton
10. Andrej [b]MESZAROS[/b] D Trencin Slovakia
11. Robbie [b]SCHREMP[/b] C London
12. Alexander [b]PICARD[/b] LW Lewiston
13. Ladislav [b]SMID[/b] D Liberec HV
14. Drew [b]STAFFORD[/b] RW North Dakota
15. Alexander [b]RADULOV[/b] RW Tver

TOP DEFENSE

1. Cameron [b]BARKER[/b] (Top 5 pick)
2. Andrej [b]MESZAROS[/b] (Needs to be physical)
3. Ladislav [b]SMID[/b] (Needs skating camp)
4. A.J. [b]THELAN[/b] (Could be a wild-card)
5. Jeff [b]SCHULTZ[/b] (Needs to be mean)
6. Boris [b]VALABIK[/b] (Chara but dumber)
7. Kirill [b]LYAMIN[/b] (Defensive-D)
8. Mike [b]GREEN[/b] (Played on a shitty team)
9. Wes [b]O'NEILL[/b] (Needs a brain transplant)
10. Johan [b]FRANSSON[/b] (A year older)
11. Sami [b]LEPISTO[/b] (No.4 D-Man)
12. Roman [b]TESLIUK[/b] (Offensive D-Man)
13. Jon [b]SIGALET[/b] (Still developing)
14. Dave SCHULTZ (Could be meaner)
15. Kyle [b]WHARTON[/b] (Character-guy)
16. Mark [b]FISTRIC[/b] (Stay-at-home)
17. Richard [b]DEMEN-WILLAUME[/b] (Needs time)
18. Grant [b]LEWIS[/b] (More I see, More I like)
19. Oscar [b]HEDMAN[/b] (The next Anders Eriksson?)
20. Andy [b]ROGERS [/b](Heavy Shot)

Tomorrow - My list 16-30, the Pacific Division and my top goalies. As you can see by my defensemen list - yeah, I don't argee with a lot of people. Yes, I know so-and-so isn't on the list - you're going to have to convince so hit me with your best shot.

Correction to make from the last entry and thanks for Dave pointing it out. Indeed I had a brain fart. [b]Keith Ballard[/b] was not drafted by Colorado but rather Buffalo. I apologize.

Colorado ended up re-signing a couple players - [b]Brett Clark[/b], [b]Chris Bala[/b] and [b]Darby Hendrickson[/b]. Los Angeles has probably been the most busy in re-signing their free agents - add [b]Jason Holland[/b] to the list. [b]Kevin Colley[/b] played last year at Bridgeport of the AHL, now has a two-way deal for one year from the New York Islanders.

You all watch the award show? Is it just me, or does his jokes get worse every year? [b]John Tortorella[/b] rightfully claimed the Jack Adams as the Lightning pretty much swept every award they were in. The contraversy seems to be in [b]Martin Brodeur[/b] winning the Vezina and I don't really see where the fuss is. Sub-par season for Brodeur is still a great season for anyone else. He did very well this year and I congradulate him. [b]Miikka Kiprusoff[/b] could have easily won it but I think everyone's holding it against him that he played in only 38 games. What he did in those 38 games is some of the most amazing things I've seen in all my 21 years of hockey. Now he's going to have to deal with everyone looking over his shoulder and whispering the evil words of "fluke" and "drop-off." Of course he's going to drop-off - LOOK AT WHAT HE DID!!! Seriously, if anyone could keep up a preformance like that year in and year out, well I don't know what to say because its impossible. There will be drop-off but I don't feel it will be any where near as bad as people are predicting. Just as long as they don't expect him to start any where near 60 games - good enough reason to keep [b]Roman Turek[/b] around much to the chagrin of - well not just Calgary fans but everyone. Unless [b]Brent Krahn[/b] is magically ready to take over the back-up spot playing 30+ games after spending most of the year in the ECHL. Everyone's predicting Kiprusoff's failure like they're some big shot with a crystal ball and the minute his numbers are just a tad below what they were this year, they'll start with the "told-ya so" crap.

Any way - I'll be taking a break (as I have already) until Monday. On Monday I'll talk about the up coming draft and start looking at the teams for next season. Make sure to wish me a happy birthday damnit.

Check it when I said [b]Chuck Fletcher[/b] would be taking over as the Ducks GM interim in the wake of [b]Bryan Murray[/b] 's depature. Fletcher will still head up the draft but [b]Al Coates[/b] has been named the interim GM in charge of making trades and signing players until a replacement is found. Coates, you might remember was the Calgary Flames GM a couple years back.

Transaction notes - [b]Keith Ballard[/b] will be jumping out of college signing his pro contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. The offensive dynamo was originally drafted by Colorado and came over in the [b]Chris Gratton[/b] trade. Should see exile to Utah next year but could crack the Coyote line-up in a year or two.

Montreal and Dallas have reached an agreement on using the AHL Hamilton club. Dallas will be able to send 6 players, including up to one goalie, to Hamilton. Dallas is already sharing Houston with Minnesota. On the day this was announced, Hamilton took a hit when their captain [b]Benoit Gratton[/b] signed with Swiss club HC Genève-Servette.

[b]Mikko Luoma[/b] after one year over in North America, will leave Edmonton's organization for the MIF Redhawks of the SEL.

[b]Niko Kapanen[/b] and EV Zug of Switzerland have come to a tenative agreement where in case of a lock-out, Kapanen will play for Zug for the duration of the lock-out. I believe there's a pretty lax out clause and Dallas should have no trouble getting him out of the contract after the lock-out ends.

Don't forget - the award ceremony is tonight - too bad pop rock acts really don't do much for me. Give me the highlights and I'm done. Hopefully Smash Court Tennis 2 comes for the PS2 so I won't be forced to watch it in boredum.

[b]Ray Bourque[/b], [b]Larry Murphy[/b] and [b]Paul Coffey[/b] will make the 2004 Player's class of the Hall of Fame. All three defensemen rightfully deserving it. Though [b]Dino Ciccerelli[/b] and some good others are still on the outside. No arguement on the three that made it but of the one's that were passed over - I'd like your thoughts and memories of the players passed over again this year. Just leave them in the comment box below or send me an email on here or at yahoo - dynamitehack91

Check it when I said [b]Chuck Fletcher[/b] would be taking over as the Ducks GM interim in the wake of [b]Bryan Murray[/b] 's depature. Fletcher will still head up the draft but [b]Al Coates[/b] has been named the interim GM in charge of making trades and signing players until a replacement is found. Coates, you might remember was the Calgary Flames GM a couple years back.

Transaction notes - [b]Keith Ballard[/b] will be jumping out of college signing his pro contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. The offensive dynamo was originally drafted by Colorado and came over in the [b]Chris Gratton[/b] trade. Should see exile to Utah next year but could crack the Coyote line-up in a year or two.

Montreal and Dallas have reached an agreement on using the AHL Hamilton club. Dallas will be able to send 6 players, including up to one goalie, to Hamilton. Dallas is already sharing Houston with Minnesota. On the day this was announced, Hamilton took a hit when their captain [b]Benoit Gratton[/b] signed with Swiss club HC Genève-Servette.

[b]Mikko Luoma[/b] after one year over in North America, will leave Edmonton's organization for the MIF Redhawks of the SEL.

[b]Niko Kapanen[/b] and EV Zug of Switzerland have come to a tenative agreement where in case of a lock-out, Kapanen will play for Zug for the duration of the lock-out. I believe there's a pretty lax out clause and Dallas should have no trouble getting him out of the contract after the lock-out ends.

Don't forget - the award ceremony is tonight - too bad pop rock acts really don't do much for me. Give me the highlights and I'm done. Hopefully Smash Court Tennis 2 comes for the PS2 so I won't be forced to watch it in boredum.

[b]Ray Bourque[/b], [b]Larry Murphy[/b] and [b]Paul Coffey[/b] will make the 2004 Player's class of the Hall of Fame. All three defensemen rightfully deserving it. Though [b]Dino Ciccerelli[/b] and some good others are still on the outside. No arguement on the three that made it but of the one's that were passed over - I'd like your thoughts and memories of the players passed over again this year. Just leave them in the comment box below or send me an email on here or at yahoo - dynamitehack91

Again I want to avoid talking about Game 7 at the real length that I could. It'd be a vicious cycle but I guess I should comment on the [b]Andrew Ference[/b] hit on Tampa's [b]Martin St.Louis[/b]. Was it high sticking? No. Was it charging? Not really. But was it a penalty? Yes. I'm sorry but you have to be responsible with your stick and your body out there on the ice. Yes, St.Louis had his head down and that's what caused a lot of the damage but St.Louis was bent over while tied up with another Flames player and was in a prone position. I know you finish your checks in the playoffs a little more but at least show some regard for your fellow man. If Ference couldn't see St.Louis in a prone position there, he needs his eyes checked definitely. He was already tied up, no need to try and plaster his brains against the boards. I would have a harder time debating this if Ference had hit St.Louis with his body or his arm but Ference led with his stick. The buttend cracked St.Louis across the bridge of the nose. Was it really charging? You've got to be more responsible with your stick and show more intellegence on the ice than that. As impressed as I've been with Ference in the playoffs up to that point, that was one of the stupidest plays I've seen in my life.

Should [b]Kerry Fraser[/b] have called it with so little time left to go in the game? While usually I'd agree that things need to be let go in the playoffs in a game 7 like that, I can't agree here. It was honestly a stupid hit that Ference could have avoided. No matter what the game or the situation, stupidity like that needs to be punished with a penalty. The [b]Dave Andreychuk[/b] trip was iffy and probably shouldn't have been called as an equalizer and I'm not sure what Fraser was doing there honestly.

But for the Flames fans whining, I don't hear any mention of the phantom call on [b]Nolan Pratt[/b] that led to the Calgary goal and as someone pointed out on gamefaqs (i.e. Brad) the Flames had bounces go their way during the playoffs. Technically if you switch a couple bad calls and bounces, the Canucks would have knocked off the Flames and all this would be moot. Now when a bounce doesn't go the Flames way, its met with venom. Flames had more breaks go for them than any team in the playoffs. It's hard to keep up that luck - just be proud of what you've done and be happy you got to see this run.

[b]John Muckler[/b] in Ottawa made the big shocker of the night in naming Ducks GM [b]Bryan Murray[/b] the coach of the Ottawa Senators. While Murray blasted [b]Paul Kariya[/b] almost a year ago for Kariya's "lack of loyalty" Murray claims he's leaving the Ducks because of the uncertainity surrounding their future ownership and would rather not be there if the axe where to fall in a change. Many people are looking at Murray's coaching record and laughing - he's never taken a team past the third round of the playoffs, he's only taken a team to the third round once, his Jack Adams Award came in 1984, his track record as a GM is better. He still has over 1000 games coached under his belt along with over 500 wins folks. He's not an idiot behind the bench by far and he's a good judge of talent. He's also a tough coach and we all know the Ottawa Senators have an inferiority complex about their toughness. It won't be a country club atmosphere in the locker room anymore (not that it ever was but it certainly won't be now.) Murray's capable enough of coaching this team. I would have prefered to see [b]Keith Acton[/b] get his shot (something he won't get in Toronto while [b]Pat Quinn[/b] is in good graces - though with [b]Gary Roberts[/b] and others expressing their displeasure with Quinn supposedly - Quinn may now be on the wrong side of a losing battle.) Let's face it - Murray is a better choice than fan choice [b]Joel Quenneville[/b], who would have been absolutely no change over departing [b]Jacques Martin[/b]. Is he the right man for the job in Ottawa? Only next season can tell us that.

Congrats to the Milwaukee Admirals who won the Calder Cup of the AHL playoffs. [b]Wade Flathery[/b], journeyman minor leaguer took home the MVP trophy while [b]Darren Haydar[/b] led the playoffs in scoring. Don't be suprised to see Haydar take the place of a couple departing UFAs next season.

And congrats to [b]Dave Andreychuk[/b] on his first Cup but let us not forget this was probably [b]Dave Lowry[/b] 's last chance at glory too. He gave it his all this year playing for the league min. He gutted it out and added leadership to this Calgary Flames team but injuries and age have caught up with him. If he wants to come back, I'm sure the Flames can easily find a spot for him but this may be the end of the road for Lowry...for now at least. I feel he has the makings of a pretty darn good assistant coach some day. Maybe even a head coach. I expect if he's not back as a player, he'll be back as assistant to [b]Jim Playfair[/b] (or whomever replaces [b]Darryl Sutter[/b]). Andreychuk has the Hall of Fame coming but we'll miss you too Lowry.

Couple notes - [b]Pascal Trepanier[/b] is leaving the Lightning system and signing with Nurnberg of the DEL. [b]Cory Hirsch[/b] former fringe player leaves Tirma of the SEL for Switzerland. The Devils have convinced defenseman [b]Teemu Kesa[/b] to leave Lukko Rauma and come to Albany of the AHL. Like wise, the Columbus Blue Jackets will bring over [b]Raffaele Sannitz[/b] from HC Lugano on a contract to Syracuse.

Looks like [b]Marc Habscheid[/b] 's name has entered another race - head coach of the Manitoba Moose. Right now it seems unlikely that Habscheid will wind up with the Phoenix job. If he doesn't, he may find his best opportunity in the AHL. Recently retired [b]Dallas Eakins[/b] and Sabres assistant coach [b]Scott Arniel[/b] are also in the mention to replace departing coach [b]Stan Smyl[/b]. The Canuck great is set to take over as the new director of player development. Eakins in a minor league journey man who's already in the system and would like a shot at coaching while Arniel is also a young promising looking coach who may get a shot behind an AHL bench soon.

With the season over, we now turn to the draft - I'm going to leave the floor open - anyone have any questions or comments they want to make about the upcoming NHL draft? I seem to have a different view point on this draft than most people so should be nice.

Tampa Bay wins and Calgary complains. I really don't want to get into this one because it's one big circle. Just congratulations to the Tampa Bay Lightning. There's no conspiracy against the Calgary Flames folks and Kerry Fraser isn't THAT bad of a ref. Congrats to Brad Richards and congrats to everyone in this series and well everyone who played in the NHL this season. You got to live the dream of each and every one of has every night - you were a hockey player in the greatest league on earth. Don't any of you forget that and don't any of you forget what you mean to a nation and the few scattered fans across the United States. You're role models and mostly good people - quite frankly, it would sadden a lot of us if we didn't get to see any of you next September so please don't let it come to that.

I had lost my faith in the sport after last year. It took the movie [i]Miracle[/i] and a tremendous all-star game (the first one I had watched in its entirity in four years) for me to love this league again. Despite the lack of lead changes in this Finals, it was truly one of the most entertaining Finals in history. We had some ups and downs during the regular season that turned into black eyes for the league but I once again realized something I had forgotten during the course of this season - I love this sport and I love this league and I love the heart, sould and grit all 30 NHL teams give night in and night out. I got caught up with the CBA and finiancial crap of the game. I got caught up with over analysing every little thing wrong with the league and forgot what makes it great. It's the players, the personalities, the heart, the soul, the talent and the passion in something as simple as kid's game that's just so wonderous.

Thank you everyone involved in the NHL for making 2003-04 so great and re-affirming my love for this game. Owners - Please don't crush that love with a lock-out.

Just some Euro stuff and more on the Stanley Cup finals.

SM-Liiga's Ives is expected to announce the signing of Jokerit defenseman [b]Sami Helenius[/b]. Again nothing here is official so there's a chance it could fall through. Helenius has formerly seen action over in North America as a Calgary Flame, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Star and Chicago Blackhawk as well as with the Las Vegas Thunder.

Dynamo Moskva has announced coming to terms with [b]Maxim Kuznetsov[/b]. Kuznetsov was one of the keys in the [b]Mathieu Schiender [/b]deal with Detroit but after a hold out from the Los Angeles Kings the hulking former first round defenseman really isn't in the Kings plans any more. It remains to see if the Kings will choose to retain his NHL rights or not.

Speaking of Detroit, looks like the Red Wings will in fact bring back defenseman [b]Chris Chelios[/b] - its just up to Chelios on whether he wants to return for one more go at it in Detroit. Believe it or not, GM [b]Ken Holland[/b] says he has yet to even talk to [b]Brett Hull[/b] or his agent.

[b]Kerry Fraser[/b] is scheduled to work the game 7 tomorrow much to the ire of the Flames faithful. I'm sure we'll hear a ton of bitching on this one but if I hear one Flames fan bitch after game 7 that Fraser cost them the Cup, I just may go off. He's not out to get you. Nor is the league trying to "screw an underdog" as it was with the no-goal by [b]Martin Gelinas[/b] in game 6. Sorry but it wasn't a goal as inconclusive means no goal. While it's no where near the situation, I'm sure a lot of people will compare it to the 1999 Stanley Cup finals. I can only hope this won't happen but if Calgary loses game 7, I'm sure what I hope for won't matter. Too bad I really don't think those fans have a case compared to the Buffalo fans.

Anyway - just looking for some people's comments before Game 7 - who do you want to win? Who gets the Conn Smyth? Who gets the unsung hero? What happened to Lecavalier in the Finals? Tortorella or Sutter? What are you hoping for? Predictions for the next Cup Finals? Any thing at all, just leave them on the comment box. Thanks and I'll be back sometime after Game 7's conclusion.

After six hours of horse racing on Sunday, I've had my fill until they return to Churchhill Downs next year. [b]Smarty Jones [/b]failed to secure the Triple Crown but I don't know how you can be dissapointed - this horse caught the heart of the American public better than any horse in recent memory. Not even [b]Funny Cide[/b] was as close to Smarty in charisma.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - The Triple Crown of horse racing is the hardest trophy/title to win. Some say its the Stanley Cup and its hard to win but its handed out once every year (sans 1919 with the flu epedimic). Doesn't matter the quality of play in the Finals - someone's going to win it. Problem is with the Triple Crown is we haven't seen one in 26 years. Winning the Kentucky Derby is like climbing Mt Everest they say. Well winning the Triple Crown is like climibng Everest three times and the park at Belmont is the most grueling track in North America. Shit I even got winded just watching those horses go all out. It's not just the horse or the jockey but its all the people that give their full attention and full engery in training, rearing and giving that horse the best care possible. It's also the owners able to put up the money backing neccessary. To say horse racing isnt' a team sport is wrong. Those races and that Triple Crown mean a lot to a lot of people.

Don't get your head down Smarty - we still love you and thanks for making 2004 already one of the most memorable years in horse racing. Enjoy retirement soon.

Game 6 of the NHL finals gives way into Game 7 as Martin St.Louis scores at the beginning of double OT. So much for keeping St.Louis quiet - until his shot in 2nd OT, St.Louis had not registered a shot on net. Just goes to show that you can't take your eye off the diminutive winger, not even for a second. It was a bad breakdown early in the period for the Flames. The home team is 10-2 in Finals game 7s so only time will tell if its all for naught.

[b]Jarome Iginla [/b]or [b]Brad Richards[/b]? It's obviously going to depend on who wins game 7 but I don't think you can disagree with either one of them as the Conn Smyth (playoffs MVP) winner. So many people on both teams have stepped it up this year but Iginla has solidified his spot as the best player in the NHL and Richards has shoved it in critics' faces all playoffs with game-winner after game-winner. [b]Miikka Kiprusoff[/b] has an outside shot at winning it if he has a huge game 7.

The Kings have re-upped with [b]Cristobal Huet[/b] after Huet had flirted around with teams in Switzerland for next season. He gets a two year deal and should continue to back-up [b]Roman Cechmanek[/b]. He opened a lot of eyes in his 2199 minutes when Cechmanek went down to injury and he is a late bloomer really but the 28 year-old French-man as an NHL starting goalie? I really don't see him having the tools to do so but he could be one of the very best back-ups in the NHL right now. He got into 41 contests and some of the flaws in his game were revealed so lets try to keep him around 30 or so games next season. Kings also signed Princeton grad [b]George Parros[/b], who had been playing with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. Parros is a former Chicago Freeze wrecking ball - in fact he was on the same team as [b]Jason Bacashihua[/b]. Is he good enough for the NHL? Let's judge after his first year with Manchester.

[b]Ryan McGill[/b] hasn't interviewed for the Rangers coaching job yet but McGill says he's talked to his GM [b]Glen Sather[/b] about the job and looks like he's the top in line to get it. [b]Tom Renney[/b], the interim coach, says he'd like to be in charge but if McGill were to ask him to stay on as an assistant and help, he'd have a hard time saying no. Renney deserves a coaching job folks and he should have had the job after [b]Bryan Trottier[/b] bit the bullet but Sather has lost his mind since leaving Edmonton so go figure. Seeing as there's not to many options in the NHL for Renney, he may want to stay on as McGill's right hand man.

Oilers are said to be mulling over cutting [b]Brad Isbister[/b] but first they'll try and trade his rights at the draft. It's [b]Kevin Lowe[/b] 's on fault. I find that there are few players more overrated than Isbister in the NHL. Remember at last year's trade deadline when everyone thought Isbister was a hot ticket and would fetch a planet? "He's the next [b]Brendan Shanahan[/b]!" At 26, it was a bit late to be labeling him the next anything. He wasn't enough to land [b]Kyle McLaren[/b] as Islanders fans hoped and if the Lightning had offered up [b]Fredrick Modin[/b] for Isbister, the Islanders would have taken that in an instant and [b]Jay Feaster[/b] would have checked himself into the looney bin the next morning. In the end I'm surprised what Isbister fetched over a year ago - now the 6-4 forward is a $1.92 million liability. Someone will pick him up in a draft day trade but don't expect the Oilers to get much more than a mid-draft pick for him. [b]Bobby Allen [/b]and [b]Michael Henrich[/b] are expected to not be tendered as well. No loss.

Lowe's looking at [b]Devan Dubnyk[/b] or [b]Robbie Schremp[/b] at the 14th pick - at least according to "sources." I laugh at it but if Schremp does manage to fall to the Oilers there I can't see them not taking him. Problem is, if they really REALLY want him, they're going to probably have to trade up, possibly flopping with Florida. Dubnyk will go in the first round but 14th may be slightly too high. Oilers could snag him at 23rd, the pick they got from the Flyers in the [b]Mike Comrie[/b] deal or at least move up from the 23rd spot. Again, I would not be surprised one bit to see Dubnyk go in round 1.

Poor [b]Matt Cullen[/b]. The Panthers acquired the underacheiving Cullen from the Ducks in the [b]Sandis Ozolinsh[/b] trade last year. He quickly came under [b]Mike Keenan' [/b]s wrath and landed in the dog house. Cullen showed up for this year's training camp in tip-top shape and with an added 10-20 pounds of muscle but still couldn't play his way out of the doghouse and suffered through another subpar year and probably wasn't going to be qualified. Now with Keenan as GM, you know for sure he's going to be a UFA. Personally, before he showed the desire to put on that much muscle I would have given up on him (in fact I thought [b]Rick Dudley[/b] has lost his marbles picking up both Cullen and [b]Pavel Trnka[/b] in that deal) now I'd be willing to give him an invite to camp to see what he can do. Could be a valuable third line center for a lower class team.

Expect Keenan's house cleaning to involve [b]Kristian Huselius [/b](who needs PP help but someone worthless 5-on-5), Cullen, [b]Mikeal Samuelsson[/b] (Panthers are loaded with players like him), [b]Niklas Hagman[/b] (could be a nice fourth-third line guy for someone willing to part with a pick), and maligned [b]Stephen Weiss[/b] (when Keenan left the first time he started emerging as the one-time future [b]Steve Yzerman[/b]). Speculation has them makign a run at [b]Bill Guerin[/b] now that ownership has given Keenan an extra $10 million to spend but problem is - could that money be spent elsewhere and in better ways? I still say it's the best bet for a Guerin trade. Ready your 45-day stopwatches.

Got to interupt to two other sports for the moment. First the Belmont Stakes and second, the French Open Womens. Honestly, tennis is one of my guilty pleasures. Along with golf, tennis is one of those sports I don't talk about with people but I watch and enjoy up there with hockey. I only watch the majors and well the TPC in golf and I enjoy it. I don't watch the in-between events but the majors I enjoy. I enjoy playing it (though that happens rarely). I enjoy playing golf video games (Links, Tiger Woods and Mario Golf made this past year one of the greatest ever for a golfing video game fan. And Yes, I have Mario Golf Advance on pre-order) And I enjoy talking about it when I can at least find other people to do so.

Tennis is about the same way for me. I use to watch a lot of ATP events and I still will catch the occasional match but it's mostly centered around the Grand Slams and one or two of the more important events. I love playing it but I'm horrible. I love playing the video games (see Top Spin and well not much else). But I just don't talk about it enough with people. Actually my tennis 'knowledge' has dropped in the past two years. Maybe it was the retirement of some of my favorite players - Boris and Pete on the men's side and the Williams mania on the women's side. Maybe it can be blamed on the fact that I don't have as much time in my life to sit down and watch a full tennis match like I use to when I was like 15 and didn't have a car in the summer. But in the past 5 to 6 years I feel like I've drifted away from the sport. I tried to get in as much French Open as possible but I've always hated clay. Mainly because you don't see it here in North America and yes, the Americans are horrible on it. Still it provided a lot of great tennis - it's a shame that once Andy Roddick or Andre Agassi is out of a tourney, people here stop caring - they miss so much that might even turn them further on to tennis. The one thing that really hurts the sport I guess is the length it takes to play a game - if you're not hardcore, I can't blame you for not wanting to spend that huge chunk of time watching a bunch of Europeans you've never heard of.

But there's a group of Europeans you haven't heard of but you will and you will soon - the Russian women coming up. [b]Anastasia Myskina[/b] has added a French Open title today beating fellow Russian babe [b]Elena Dementieva[/b] in a fast paced 59 minutes. Mainly because Dementieva has trouble with her serve. Dementieva is only 22 and already had a 1-4 record at Roland Garros coming in. Both girls are class acts both in the way Myskina accepted the trophy and how Dementieva accepted defeat - speaking in fluent French to the crowd. I could only pick out five words but what she said was that "it was a dream in my life to win at Roland Garros, it was a shame that I lost today. I hope to come back and win next year."

Don't forget those two girls. Don't forget names like Nadia Petrova, Vera Zvonareva, Svetlana Kuznetsova and many more. The Russians are coming and how much longer can Lindsay, Jennifer and the Williams Two keep it up? We have some good up and coming players in this country but no one that looks like a complete game breaker or can take the sport by absolute storm.

Other sport I wanted to talk about - horse racing - I watch the three Triple Crown races every year and I know jack about. If they don't say it on ESPN, I don't know anything about it. Kind of sucks that there are rarely any horses that return year to year so you have to throw all your weight and support into a horse for only three days that maybe total only six minutes of racing. But winning the Triple Crown is one of those feats in sports that is absolutely golden and I want to watch when it happens. I've been dissapointed a lot recently. Funny Cide I loved. War Emblam I cursed after the failure to capture the Belmont and I can't remember the name of the one who broke his leg at Belmont. Is Smarty Jones in a class with Seattle Slue? I didn't see SS but watching the first two legs of the Triple Crown, I do know one thing without the experts telling me - not a damn horse out there is faster than Smarty Jones right now. Now you throw in the light rain and supposedly Purge has a shot at the race but we'll see. I'll be rooting for Smarty Jones. I've only seen him twice previously and on the cover of ESPN the Magazine but I don't know how you can't help but fall in love with him.

Game 6 tonight of the NHL finals. Calgary could win the Cup on their home ice. I won't be here, I'll be going to see Shrek 2 again after the Belmont with a couple people who haven't seen it and then go out. I think it'll go to game 7 - or at least I'm hoping so I can see the Cup awarded. If not thats what VHS and TiVo were created for right? BTW, the color change wasn't for the Flames. I just felt the black on white with that font was hard to look at.

I've thrown a lot of my support into Tampa in this collumn it seems. With the Calgary 'bitching' and how [b]John Tortorella[/b] took a bunch of underacheiving players and started to turn them into something better. Yeah, I'm calling even [b]Nikolai Khabibulin[/b] underacheiving. So many people have put him in the upper echleon of the goalie ranks for so long and time and time again he'd give up bad goals or his teams would go home early. Tortorella challenged him and he's playing some of the best hockey in his entire career as long as I've been watching him since Winnipeg. Honestly I felt the only players worth a darn before they got under Tortorella were [b]Dave Andreychuk[/b], [b]Fredrick Modin[/b], [b]Darryl Sydor[/b] and [b]Tim Taylor[/b]. The rest were either underachievers or foddor or [b]Brad Richards[/b] - just coming into his own when Tortorella came aboard.

Though as much Tortorella ass kissing I've done since he was announced as a finalist for the Jack Adams, its time for Calgary's due. I never thought they would have got this far. I didn't think they'd be able to score enough goals night in and night out. We knew that [b]Jarome Iginla[/b] was going to be good for one goal almost every night for them to win. We knew [b]Miikka Kiprusoff [/b]on average would keep it done to two goals so you'd need three to win on most nights. Where were those other two goals going to come from? Who was going to step up? I had no clue. That's why I feel badly for not putting [b]Matthew Lombardi[/b] higher in the Calder voting - if he hadn't had contributed the goals that he did, where would they have come from in the Calgary line-up? His goals meant a lot more to this team than any one knows. But they've nutted up and been able to do it with some great play by every one and cultch preformances from [b]Martin Gelinas[/b]. Oh and of course [b]Darryl Sutter[/b] instilling this whole 'Us against the world' mentality when really Calgary has an entire nation (sans the cities of Vancouver and Edmonton) on its side. Do I believe the Sutters are overrated - yes. Sutter will win the Jack Adams flat out because the voters will see the name Sutter and vote for that. [b]Ron Wilson[/b] and Tortorella may have done outstanding jobs in the regular season more worthy of the Adams but I can't discredit Sutter one bit for how well he's handled this team once the playoffs start. He's pushed all the right buttons when he's had to. And if you weren't convinced two years ago that Jarome Iginla was the best player in the NHL hands down, you've been convinced now I hope.

One of the unsung Flames that I think you'd be crazy not to want on your team as a GM has been [b]Rhett Warrener[/b]. There's no coincendence that this is the third finals he's been to after all. When Buffalo dealt him to Calgary - even though they got Chris Drury in return - that one made me scratch my head. I felt Warrener's d-pairing mate [b]Jay McKee[/b] would be first to go off that blue line to save money - after all they are few dmen more overrated (though I do aknowledge that injuries have taken their toll since his last good season). Drury has come to mean so much to that Buffalo Sabres organization but I still cringe at the expense of Warrener and this return to the finals just subtly hits on that. I'm hoping that the third time's the charm here for Warrener (though it would be at the expense of Andreychuk). If I'm building a franchise, Warrener may not be the top defenseman I'm looking for and he certainly wouldn't be my top pick but I'd be very please to add him to my blueline if I could.

Well [b]Ville Nieminen[/b] returns to the line-up tonight but who to take out was made pretty easy for Sutter - looks like [b]Shean Donovan [/b]has a leg injury. Sutter joked saying it was honestly a charley horse but it's expected that Donovoan won't be able to go in game 6. And there's another guy I want to take about. Shean Donovan. When he came up with the Sharks I bet there were few players faster than him. He's still fast and his speed has been the only thing that's given him extra chances at the NHL level. Inconsistent but it didn't help that Donovan's hands could never catch up to his speed. Heck, he got to ride shot gun to Joe Sakic in Colorado and still couldn't put the puck in the twine. 12 goals over one and a half years riding with Sakic wasn't what they had hope for Donovan. Off to expansion Atlanta and he failed there despite potting 12 goals in a year (one less than his rookie season, his career high) and then to Pittsburgh where he again just didn't do what he was expected to do. Penguins wound up trading [b]Andrew Ferrence[/b] and Donovan (in seperate deals) to the Flames in exchange for [b]Mattias Johansson[/b] and [b]Micki Dupont[/b]. Ference I've lauded already but Donovan added an unexpected 18 goals (42 points) this season. Johansson, a decent player, returned to Europe last offseason and Dupont played in the DEL this past year so basically the Penguins wound up with nothing. Will Donovan ever reach this totals again? If Fantasy sports have taught us anything, the answer is no but looks like Donovan's at least found somewhere he can stick in the NHL for now. Give some credit to the birth of his first child this year. He's certain matured a lot as a player and obviously a person since then. Maybe he's realizing there's more to life than hockey, I don't know but the child helped it seemed.

Anyway - other news.

[b]Bob Probert[/b] is in trouble again. Supposedly he was in a fight with serval men down in Florida Friday and was arrested. He was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. So far no drug charges which is good. So much for that come back Bob. While it looks like the substance abuse is curved, the ignorance and the violence obvously hasn't been. Dumbass gave "The Bad One" as one of his aliases to the cops. *groans* At least it wasn't "Tater Salad."

[b]Andrei Nikolishin[/b] won't be returning to the Colorado third line giving Pierre Lacroix a possible hole to fill in the off-season. Personally I say [b]Cody McCormick[/b] is ready for full NHL duty but yes, I do have a Cody-bias. Nikolishin signed with CSKA of the Russian Superleague. It hasn't been officially announced but nearly every major news outlet in Moscow and a lot of internet sites are reporting it as a done deal.

[b]Dave Gosselin[/b] goes from Frankfurt to Kassel today. Former Stars, Devils and Predators property.

First some Euro news - if you want Game 5 ramblings, scroll down a little - they are in this post.

AIK (Stockholm) has been in existance for 66 seasons now and have seven championships from the Swedish top division. They're one of the most storied franchises in Sweden but in 2002 they were demoted to the Allsvenskan (2nd division). Now the Swedish Ice Hockey Association claims that AIK does not meet the finiancal demands for the Allsvenskan and will be further demoted to Division 1 of Swedish hockey, the third level of Sweden - not the top as many people confuse it with. AIK has decided to fight the demotion on appeal but looks like the franchise is in dire straits.

[b]Pat Cortina[/b] was named the head coach of the Hungarian national program. Just in case any one knew they had a program. Cortina has major expierence in the Italian league and led the Italian national program to three World Championship appearances and a couple other international appearances. He had been working as a trainer for an Italian club this season - go figure. Former Hungarian coach [b]Dusan Kapusta[/b] will not return to his club team PHK Presov and instead will be named the coach of the Under-20 National team. [b]Eduard Giblák[/b] will take over the reins of Hungary's Under-18 team after he had pretty good sucess with the Czecho U18s - winning gold in 1988 and 1992 and silver in 1989 at the European Championships. As you'll note, that success was over a decade ago.

Looks like they're not even going to wait until July 1st as the Colorado Avalanche website has decided to announce that [b]Tommy Salo[/b] will be playing for MoDo Hockey today. MoDo also officially announced what we had known for quite some time - a contract with [b]Mattias Timander[/b]. Could the stage really be set for a return of [b]Peter Forsberg[/b] and [b]Markus Naslund[/b]? Would suck for EA Sports NHL 2005 video game seeing as Naslund will be the cover boy.

Sarina Sting's [b]Daniel Sisca[/b] has left the team and gained an Itlian passport and signed with AS Mastini Varese Hockey. ASMVH also re-signed former Lightning draft pick [b]Cory Murphy[/b] to a three year contract.

German team REV Bremerhaven signed [b]Dylan Gyori[/b] to a contract. Gyori, a former undrafted free agent who made the WBS Penguins was a member of the Idaho Steelheads last year. DEL Playoff champions the Frankfurt Lions have added checking forward [b]Sean Pronger[/b] from the Vancouver Canucks. Pronger earned his NHL paycheck every night in Columbus, too bad Vancouver never could find a spot for him other than on the bus to Manitoba. Iserlohn also added defensman [b]Brian White[/b] from the Philadelphia Phantoms.

Ilves of the SM-Liiga finally closed the deal with New York Rangers forward [b]Lucas Lawson[/b]. I brought it up a couple weeks ago but Lawson never put his name on a contract until yesterday. The [b]Tonni Santala[/b] expierement is done in Atlanta. Santala will skate with HIFK Helsinki next season. The talented set-up man just never made the comfrotable transistion to the North American game and its a darn shame that this is it for him because he is a very good passer. Santala had a below average training camp and probably would have went home to Finland after that if it wasn't for the death of [b]Dan Synder[/b] and the injuries sustained by [b]Dany Heatley[/b] in Heatley's single car crash before the open of the season. Santala made the roster before being shipped down to Chicago after he didn't make the most out of his chance.

Looks like my [b]Paul Maurice[/b] to Detroit plug won't happen. [b]Dave Lewis[/b] and his staff will be retained for at least one more season. Maurice should be meeting with Phoenix today about their coaching job.

[b]GAME 5 - CALGARY 3, TAMPA 2 (OT)[/b]

I don't know how the hell I'm going to juggle game 6 on Saturday with all the shit I have to do that day. I hope to God Tampa can win - only because I have Monday free so I can watch it if it goes to game 7. Game 6 is definitely up in the air so I may have to record it.

Game 5 wasn't exactly the best game. Other than the third period, Tampa looked like absolute crap for a majority of the game. They didn't deserve to win this one but they could have and that should sting a lot in that locker room. They need to get over this damn lose-win syndrome or they'll be sent home crying in game 7.

[b]Cory Sarich[/b] nearly found himself with a penalty and definitely a whole amount of irrate Calgary fans on his back for his check from behind early in game 5. That could have made things real ugly if he had connected with more force.

Let's hope John Tortorella's gamble in scratching [b]Cory Stillman[/b] pays off in games 6 and 7. All he may have needed was some rest for his injuries. [b]Martin Cibak[/b] sure did enough to warrent yet another game in the line-up. Guess [b]Ben Clymer[/b] may be out for game 6.

Note from my blog on Sunday the 30th of May -
[i]So much for the Flames powerplay not being able to score. Yeesh. They're finally adjusting to Toni Lydman '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 Jordan Leopold stepped up but that's what you do when your coach publically calls you out in the playoffs. Getting Lydman or Denis Gauthier back would be grand[/i]

[b]Toni Lydman[/b] comes back and first shift helps with a power play assist and plays well throughout the game. Yet ABC's commentating staff (I believe it was JD) made a comment that they couldn't believe Lydman was out there on the powerplay his first shift back after missing all but the first three games of the playoffs. Hello - JD, Gary, Bill - THAT'S WHAT LYDMAN DOES BEST! He moves the puck and works the point. Calgary's powerplay had suffered up until game 1 of the finals without him. Now I'm definitely afraid of it because Lydman's back and they're heating up.

If you're looking for comments on Game 4 and the [b]Ville Nieminen[/b] suspension - scroll down a little to the next post and they should be there. I do appreciate any and all comments. Please keep them intelligent however (one person comes to mind and he drinks Blatz.)

Got to hurry up and do this little blog - best friend of mine turns 21 at midnight tonight so you've got to prepare a little bit for occasions such as these.

While other people have pointed this out, it's something to note that [b]Dmitry Afanasenkov[/b] was Tampa's best player in game 4. It seems like we've been waiting forever for the 24 year old rookie left winger to make an impact. He skated in 71 contests this season potting 6 goals and 11 assists. He's a immense talent and should be an NHL sniper some day. Take one look at his wrist shot and you'll agree but in Game 4 it looks like he's now doing the little things that are going to keep him in an NHL line-up. Just add Afanasenkov to the list of players that [b]John Tortorella[/b] has challenged and made better since he came on board. Now can Tortorella get his hands on [b]Pavel Bure[/b] because I miss the Russian Rocket.

Despite all he's done for so many players on the Lightning, one player isn't happy with Tortorella's tactics. [b]John Grahame[/b] isn't happy playing second string to Khabibulin in net. Tortorella has danced around this situation since Grahame came aboard by saying Tampa doesn't have a back-up or a starter but rather they have two starters. Well can any one remember the last time Grahame has started? I didn't think so. Does Grahame have a point to gripe that he'd like to be the go-to guy? Yeah he does but doing to a paper in Denver during this time of year? For that, John you get this week's Idiot Award. But will it affect Tmpa any? Don't count on it. Is Grahame going to play, hell no and I don't think Tortorella could even give a shit. Though I also don't see Tortorella dressing emergency goalie [b]Brian Eklund[/b] to spite Grahame either. This will blow over like it was nothing. But we'll have to wait until the offseason to find out whether Grahame will get his wish or will he be content once he gets his name on the Stanley Cup? C'mon, name me one team that Grahame could go to where he'd be the undisputed starter?

Speaking of [b]Pavel Bure[/b] above - the Rangers can envoke a buy-out on his contract. Thye'd give him $500k to make him a free agent. IF they keep him, it's $11 million next year that the Rangers will hope that insurance picks up. Supposedly Panthers owner [b]Alan Cohen[/b] would love to bring Bure back. Could be [b]Mike Keenan[/b] 's first move as Panthers GM.

[b]Paul Maurice[/b] is to meet with Phoenix about their coaching job later this week. Still no word from Detroit on the fate of coach [b]Dave Lewis[/b] or assistant coaches [b]Joey Kocur[/b] and [b]Barry Smith[/b]. I still think Maurice will wind up in Detroit but time might be getting short for that. As much I believe[b] Wayne Gretzky[/b] 's man will be [b]Marc Habscheid[/b], I just wonder whether their free floating dmen in [b]Derek Morris[/b] and [b]Dave Tanabe[/b] (a former Maurice player) wouldn't rather have Maurice, allowing them a little more creative freedom than what Habscheid will probably let them.

[b]Sean Burke[/b] has the same injury (and now surgery) that [b]Robert Esche[/b] had? God, what don't these guys share?

Ah yes, the weird clauses in some players contracts. [b]Bill Guerin[/b] 's contract made the news last night. Seems that [b]Doug Armstrong[/b] will have 45 days from the minute the Stanley Cup is lifted to trade Guerin before the no-trade clause kicks back in. Good luck in that. Even if the Stars pick up a chunk of the salary, trying to find anyone with the cash laying around to make the deal happen is going to be hard. Will [b]Glen Sather[/b] bite.

Teams aren't supposed to be talking to impending UFAs yet but speculation has that [b]Sean O'Donnell[/b] will be heading to Phoenix once the free agency season starts up. Take it with a grain of salt. The Bruins also stand to lose [b]Daniel McGillis[/b] from their blueline too. While McGillis won't be a big ticket free agent, I garuntee you he'll be one of the smartest moves the GM who grabs him makes all off-season.

Nashville will cut their rights to [b]Jan Lasak[/b] on July 1st making him a UFA. He's spent the past year in Europe and should spend 2004-05 there as well. The big meaning of this move means after battling injuries prospect [b]Brian Finley[/b] is back in Nashville's future goalie plans for sure now.

Nothing's official but [b]Tommy Salo[/b] is on the verge of signing a long term deal with MoDo Hockey. He just has to wait for the Colorado Avalanche to decline his $4 million contract option for next season making him a free agent. And unless [b]Pierre Lacroix[/b] is replaced by aleins (stupid ones at that) Salo will be let go. Hopefully he can find his game over in Sweden because he's been missing it for a while.

June 1st - deadline for signing junior prospects or they'll re-enter the draft. As expected the Rangers didn't sign [b]RJ Umberger[/b], who they acquired in the [b]Martin Ruchinsky[/b] trade. He won't re-enter the draft (his age makes him a FA) but the former Ohio State forward hasn't played organized hockey in over a year and is demanding the rookie max (the reason why both the Rangers and the Canucks gave up on signing him.) The Rangers should get a second round compensation pick in the draft for him. Good luck to anyone crazy enough to neogotiate with Umberger.

[b]Martin Vanger[/b] couldn't come to terms with the Stars and will re-enter. The Stars should pick up a second round pick around the 56th or 57th spot for letting Vanger go. Vanger's development has some what regressed since the Stars picked him up. Didn't put up points in the QMJHL but he's still a slick skater won is coming off two QMJHL champions with Ganiteau. I feel someone will pick him up but probably not on the first day of the draft. I'd take a chance on him. He once showed first round potential and I do think a lot draft gurus sometimes overlook the importance of winning even at the junior levels. Does he know how to win? It's a valuable thing that doesn't get enough credit.

The Ducks won't gain any compenstation but they let OHL forward [b]Tim Brent[/b] re-enter the draft. The diminutive center looked like he was going to one day be the Duck's second line center but Brent's agent was demanding first round money. Did Brent deserve it? Maybe but the Ducks weren't willing to pay it. Now instead of getting a real good contract, he could wind up with less. I expect him to be a first day pick, he may be a little bit older than the kids in the draft pool but his skills haven't regressed like Vanger's.

Yeah this is a day late. I did this post yesterday and spent some time on it and before I got the chance to hit the publish button, I clicked on something else in another window and it popped up not in a new browser window but in this one and I lost a good chunk of work. So I'm going to have to give the abridged version here.

Was the [b]Ville Nieminen[/b] hit worthy of a suspension? I would have been just fine with the five minute major and the game misconduct. The pain of losing game 4 of the Finals is enough damage. That being said, Calgary fans have no real beef here if you look in the rule book - any player that accesses multiple game misconducts in the playoffs is automatically suspended. Remember Nieminen picked up a misconduct for running into [b]Curtis Joseph [/b]earlier in the playoffs. Regardless of how much you feel the suspension was warrented or not, he was going to be suspend.

Should [b]Cory Stillman[/b] 's hit earlier in the series been a suspension? This is the major Calgary fan's arguement and its moot. What is the league going to do? Retro-actively suspend Stillman? It's over with, get over it. It wasn't the best of hits but Nieminen's hit was worse. Stillman paid for it late in the next game. Isn't that what people say hockey needs? Hockey Justice? If you cheap shot one of our players, expect to drop the gloves and that's what happened. Yet people are still clamoring for the league to do something about it? Give me a break.

Then the desperate Calgary fan starts whining about the amount of time that [b]Vincent Lecavalier[/b] stayed on the ice, that [b]Darryl Sydor[/b] skated over and told Lecavalier to stay down on the ice to draw a penalty. Sorry but no cigar on this one either. You can't prove Sydor said that unless you were a fly on the walls er glass. Wouldn't you think Sydor is checking up on his teammate, seeing if he's ok? And Kerry Fraser (or was it Brad Watsen I can't recall) was in prefect position - the call was going to be made regardless of whether Vinny stayed down a minute or jumped back up and skated to the bench. But was he faking it? This isn't wrestling folks. Are you accusing Lecavalier of cutting himself on a razor blade? That was a pretty mean gash that you're not going to be able to self inflict folks. How the hell do you fake that?

I think a lot of these armchair doctors and coaches need to see how if feels to be knocked into the boards and the glass by a player of NHL calibre size, strength and fitness. Even if you've played Junior hockey, it's a lot different when a full grown man on an NHL weight-program hits you like a freight train. And then next they need to see how it feels to get hit by the same player into the glass, knocking your bare head into the glass. I don't care who you are, you're going to stay down for a minute or more. But he got up and staked (pranced) over to the bench!!! So fucking what? Ever had a coarsing pain that wore off once you regained your composure? Some people need to stop playing armchair doctor and quiet down. Does someone need to be killed or stretchered off to warrent a five minute penalty in some of your books? That's crazy.

Then there are acqusations that [b]John Tortorella[/b] was using underhanded technics to garner sympathy for Lecavalier by keeping him on the bench for the remaing five minutes and change of the game. Boo-hoo, Calgary fans. The penalty had already been called and the automatic suspension was on the way, nothing Tortorella or Lecavalier did after that point was going to change it. Tortorella was doing what any coach would have done - he was making sure his star player was alright. If it happened earlier in the game, I'll argee with you that Lecavalier would have been back out on the ice later but only after Tortorella made sure he was alright. He wouldn't risk the health of his star player if he didn't have to and guess what - he didn't have to. He had the luxery of giving him a rest on the bench for the remainder of the game.

[b]Darryl Sutter [/b]'s whining is just a smoke screen folks. It gets the press and the fans concentrating on something else not on what the Calgary Flames did wrong in Game 4 and what they need to do to win game 5. Good coaches do it all the time and I guess it works because all I keep hearing about is Nieminen and how bad [b]Kerry Fraser[/b] is. Is it just me or does it seem like the fans of every team in the league feel that Fraser has it out for their team? That's stupid. Just shows you that he's been around and reffed a lot of games. Was the [b]Chris Clark[/b] penalty a bit outlandish? Yes, but did you watch the previous three games of the series? Fraser's a veteran ref who's not going to stand for that stuff. Thank God the score remained close or Calgary fans would have more to bitch about. Sure Fraser can be a dick to the players but in these cases the players do need a stern hand to baby sit them and it helped. Other than Nieminen's hit, game 4 was without a major incident. Truth is, bad refs like [b]Blaine Angus[/b] and some of the converted linesmen are sitting at home watching this series on TV like the rest of us while Kerry Fraser is picking up the pay checks in the finals. Is he the best ref in the NHL? That's debatable but he's certainly one of the top ones.

But Tampa Bay wouldn't have scored if Fraser hadn't called the Clark penalty. True but that made the game 1-0 only about three minutes into the game. That gave Calgary almost three full periods to get at least one goal to tie it. They out hustled and out worked Tampa in the high altitudes of the Canadian Rockies for most of the game and still couldn't get a goal - why? [b]Nikolai Khabibulin[/b] played perhaps the best all around game I've ever seen him play throughout his career. You just got beat 1-0 by a goalie who was completely on 150%, what can you do? You can't do anything but move on to the next game and keep playing your game. It's funny how I hear so much whining about Fraser's calls but I hear nothing about how [b]Jarome Iginla[/b], [b]Martin Gelinas[/b], [b]Jordan Leopold[/b] and [b]Oleg Saprykin[/b] all missed the net on quality scoring chances or that Nieminen botched a breakaway. Calgary had chances to win this game and their big guns blew them. Nuff said.

Though I guess I should be glad - Game 4 has probably been the most talked about game in a while.