The Skin of Our Teeth

I guess its time to stop bitching about my problems (see last entry) and get back to the NHL season previews.

The Chicago Blackhawks are the next team to be looked at. If anyone believes GM [b]Bob Pulford[/b] that the team is really going to look to land all the free agents he says they will, then you must be the most guillable person in the world. After years of chasing stars out of town (see [b]Ed Belfour[/b], [b]Jeremy Roenick[/b], [b]Chris Chelios[/b], [b]Tony Amonte[/b] and most recently, [b]Alexei Zhamnov [/b]and [b]Steve Sullivan[/b]) and skimping on free agents, it's hard to see this franchise changing its ways with the same reigime in power. It might be easy to get excited that they sprung the money for a couple free agents in [b]Matthew Barnaby[/b], [b]Jassen Cullimore[/b] and [b]Curtis Brown[/b] and while all three players will help this club, a 3rd line right winger, a third pairing dman and a fourth line center really aren't going to turn around the fortunes of this club right now. Ultimately, the Hawks will be battling to stay out of the cellar and may even be looking to stay in the cellar with [b]Sidney Crosby[/b] being the prize.

According to Pulford, [b]Kyle Calder[/b] is the Hawks only top line player. The 25 year old winger is definitely one of the Hawks top players but I question that he'd be on the top line on most teams. I like Calder a lot because he is always in your face but as we saw with the broken leg in the last part of the season, sometimes that style of play leads to injuries. I'd also like to see him hit the 50 point plateau again. He had his first 20 goal season with 21 in 66 games but I'm not entirely sure there's much more in the way of ceiling for him to grow. But its nice to see management has confidence in the young forward.

Pulford identified his second line as the trio of [b]Eric Daze[/b], [b]Tyler Arnason[/b] and [b]Tuomo Ruutu[/b]. Daze overcame his thrid surgery on his back and played well coming back for the final couple of games. One has to wonder how much he has left in the tank even at 29. If he's fit, he'll at least pop in 20 goals - if he gets back to the 30 goal mark, the old Daze has returned. Arnason's sophomore season was a lot stronger than his freshman year but reportedly coach Brian Sutter and his center bumped heads during the season over Arnason's inconsistent play. He has yet to overcome it and I'm sure Sutter was trying to push his buttons but the challenge wasn't really the best way to go about it and Sutter lost a lot of respect around the league and in fans eyes due to the incident. Sutter was awarded a one year contract extension but he could find himself on the hot seat quickly. After two and a half years in the league, next year can go a long way in establishing what type of player Arnason is in the league - let's hope he can match or better his 55 point outburst. Though playing with Daze and Ruutu for the whole season should help - Ruutu will be much better next year. The young Finn took a while to get going but came on strong late in the year to post 23 goals and 21 assists. He'll be a top line player soon and I don't see him dropping off from last year, only getting stronger. That -31 really needs to get better this year.

Along with those four, four others have their spots secure on the forward lines. [b]Mark Bell[/b] played in all 82 games last year with the Hawks and posted 21 goals and 24 assists with 106 PIMS. Bell still needs more time but he's starting to look like the power forward we thought he would be in 1999 when he was drafted out of the OHL. Much like Arnason, this next season is a very important one for Bell. Barnaby was picked-up to provide punch for the third line. He pretty much takes over for [b]Ville Nieminen[/b], who the Hawks dealt to Calgary at the deadline. As long as Barnaby doesn't get too crazy, he's a valuable player defensively and can chip in on offense. He'll have times where he can brain fart and find himself stuck in the penalty box at the absolute wrong times but Barnaby usually can take someone to the box with him. The other free agent forward, Brown, will either center the third line or hold on to a spot on the fourth line. Brown, I felt was mistreated in Buffalo where he was given only fourth line minutes, killed penalties, did everything coach Lindy Ruff ever asked of him and still never got the team's captaincy or any credit. For as much as the Hawks paid Brown, he'll most likely be centering the third line. He'll give the Hawks a great player who rarely makes a mistake and can win face-offs at a above .500 clip. The final player with a garuenteed forward spot is [b]Scott Nichol[/b], expected to center the fourth line. A free agent pick-up from Calgary last off-season, Nichol was forced to do much more than he was capable of and it was a bad season all around. As a fourth line guy, he's an energy guy that never stops moving or hitting and he can win a fair amount of face-offs.

[b]Travis Moen[/b] played in all 82 games last year and could see his role increased. Another Sutter player with an engine that doesn't stop working but talent wise, Moen is easily a dime-a-dozen player and could find himself out of the NHL fairly quickly. [b]Shawn Thornton [/b]has seem some NHL action from time to time and could see some time this season if the Hawks don't move to replace [b]Ryan Vandenbussche[/b] but I would hope the Hawks will look towards the other options in the free agent market because Thornton is far from an NHL heavyweight. [b]Eric Nickulas[/b], claimed off waivers from St Louis late in the year, also has a shot at the roster if a couple of the youngster aren't able to step up but it's an awfully bad sign if Nickulas winds up with a regular shift.

One rookie that needs to step up to the plate is [b]Mikhail Yakubov[/b]. Yakubov picked up 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) in his 30 game trial last year and a -12 rating. He's got a great frame and has the potential to be a very good two-way player with a lot of tricks up his sleeve but sometimes it's like he's sleep-walking out there. He could be centering one of the top two lines if the Hawks don't acquire another center. [b]Pavel Vorobiev[/b], drafted in 2000 with Yakubov, was a guy the Hawks were counting on last year but he was assigned to Norfolk in early November and except for a four day call-up, he spent the entire season in Norfolk with 29 points in 57 games. He's got a package of skills and doesn't shy away from getting hit but he just needs some bulk and more pro expierence - which might mean at least half a year at Norfolk again. Another 2000 draft pick, [b]Igor Radulov[/b] will also have a chance of grabbing a forward spot on one of the scoring lines. 4 goals and 7 assists in 36 games and he's got a lot more goal scoring potential in him but like so many players out there, if he's not scoring goals - he's basically a liability on the ice so Vorobiev has ultimately more upside as a potential second line player.

A trio of potential grinders saw call-ups late last year and could work towards securing a full-time spot in Chicago with strong camps. [b]Matt Ellison[/b], only 20, can be used at any forward spot giving him a slight edge over the other two but could use some muscle. [b]Matthew Keith[/b] has better size at 6-2, 194 but probably not the same offensive skills that Ellison holds. Keith's hands though are good enough that he could find himself as a second unit powerplay guy. [b]Quintin Laing[/b], the "grandpa" of the trio at 25, probably won't be much more than a fourth liner. He has hands of stone but without the puck, he won't hurt you.

Career minor leaguer [b]Jason Morgan[/b] was brought back by the Hawks, nixing his deal to go to Germany so the Hawks must have some plans for him. He'll most likely center the top line in Norfolk but there's a possibility of him making the line-up for a couple of games. Four year AHL vet, [b]Ajay Baines [/b]will get another chance at camp but don't expect much out of him. College free agent [b]Rene Bourque[/b] out of Wisconsin will also be there at camp but is mostly looking at Norfolk next year.

On defense, the Hawks still have an arbitration case to work out with [b]Bryan Berard[/b] as well as group II free agent [b]Steve McCarthy[/b] to sign. Berad is probably Chicago best NHL calibre defenseman but that won't stop the Hawks from potentially walking away from the decision much like the Bruins did last offseason. Berard's offensive skills are still good but he's not as sharp and dominate as he was before the eye injury and the injury really has hindered him defensively. He's not the worst liability out there on defense but but his -24 was a big ouch. This will be a big year for McCarthy as he looks for his first full year in the NHL and the powerplay unit is most likely his if Berard isn't brough back. He missed most of last year due to a groin injury but he should be fine and ready to go.

Cullimore, last seen winning a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay, should add maturity, leadership and grit to the blue line. Normally I'd consider him a third pairing guy but in Chicago, he may have to play bigger and better than he has ever done before. He's a great pick up at 6-5, 244 but he should be a dominate physical force and he's not. Expect the grit to come from [b]Jim Vandermeer[/b], a piece of the puzzle from the Zhamnov trade. He played fairly big after coming to Chicago and has been slightly overrated by the fans of the Windy City - he's a 3rd pairing guy and while there could be a higher ceiling that I dont' see, I just warn about believing he could carry fourth dman minutes. He'll be solid and Chicago could even try him on the second powerplay - he did net 5 goals last year. [b]Stephane Robidas[/b], resigned only a couple days ago avoiding arbitration. He's a right handed dman meaning he'll always have a spot in the NHL but he could find himself out of Chicago fairly easily if they decide to go with youth on the blueline. I like Robidas for his poise and his skill - jus too bad his skill has yet to translate into success on the powerplay. Remember he was the only Hawks defenseman with a plus-rating (+4, [b]Burke Henry[/b] now with Florida posted an even rating).

The last two spots (unless the Hawks grab some free agents - yeah) could be hotly contested. Most likely 2004 top pick, [b]Cam Barker[/b] will find himself back in Medicine Hat unless he has an unreal camp. [b]Steve Poapst[/b], who I thought the Hawks wouldn't bring back at 35 years old, has the inside track at the seventh dman spot and it all depends how the Hawks go - if they go for youth, he's probably not going to be there much longer but if they want to win a couple games, the simple and safe Poapst could be a steady addition to eat up minutes on the blueline. On the side of youth, [b]Anton Babchuk[/b], [b]Michal Barinka[/b], [b]Lasse Kukkonen[/b] and [b]Duncan Keith [/b]will all be competing for spots. Kukkonen made the roster last year out of camp but 10 games later, he was down in Norfolk for the season. He's solid and moves well and for 22, doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He just doesn't have an NHL frame nor does he have any top-end skills to run the power-play to keep him in the NHL. He'll have to work hard and then will only be looking at the 6th or 7th spot on the defense. Barinka's got the best chance of the youngsters and has 2nd pairing upside with his size and passing. Personally he could use one more year mostly in Norfolk but Chicago could elect to give him on-the-job training now - he saw 9 games last year. Babchuk, 2002's top pick, still needs a lot of time for polish. I've seen few rearguard's as rough as him but he could be a beauty if Chicago works with him correctly. That shot of his could translate to offensive numbers. I'd like to see him stay in the AHL for at least one more year. Keith could make the club just because a power-play guy will be needed if Berard is cut and McCarthy struggles. Keith is sound defensively and in his positioning - just too he's 6-0 and as skinny as a pencil. If he were a bit bigger, I'm sure we'd be talking about him as one of the top prospects. He struggles against bigger forwards and that may make him a bit of a liability. Again - he may only see time in the NHL if Chicago exhausts options.

Chicago used quite a few goalies last year in [b]Jocelyn Thibault[/b] 's absence due to hip surgery. Thibault instantly makes the Hawks a better team and if he was healthy, would have added a couple more wins to their total. [b]Michael Leighton[/b] played admirablely at times as the number one but could stand to put on more weight. He's a hard worker and understands his position very well. He has a nice shot of being a future number one in the league and could even force Thibault out and the Cheaphawks cut corners. Chicago native [b]Craig Anderson[/b], I've been watching since he was 15 and he has grown in talent (as well as size) by leaps and bounds. I would have never thought he would be in the NHL when he left the NAHL for the OHL so there's a possiblity that he could be a number one some day but I think he's probably looking at a career back-up role. [b]Adam Munro [/b]was a surprise 1st round pick in 2001 and has done little to prove that he was worth the selection but he does play his angles treffic which gains him major points in my book. Never got a lot of page time in juniors because his team was horrible defensively and he saw a ton of shots. There's something there someone in the Chicago organization liked at one point in time but he's yet to show that he can be a full-time NHL goalie. [b]Cory Crawford[/b] waits in juniors and personally I believe has starting ability but he's a couple years away.

One postive thing about Chicago's offseason is they can't really get much worse than this past season and none of their losses will have a negetive effect on the team. [b]Jason Strudwick[/b] was taking up space on the blueline and now he'll do the same with the Rangers. [b]Igor Korolev[/b] has headed home to Russia and will play for Yaroslavl. [b]Jonathan Aitken [/b]was a minor-league depth pick-up for the Vancouver Canucks and [b]Burke Henry[/b] will try and crack the Florida blueline but will most likely find himself in San Antonio. [b]Brett McLean[/b] played well at the start of his call-up for the Hawks but faded down the stretch - he's signed a two-way deal with Colorado and will probably see most of his time in Hershey. Defenseman [b]Deron Quint[/b] could be brought back but that seems unlikely and he'll have to catch on with another club. [b]Matt Underhill [/b]saw a couple games in net for the Hawks but he's been cut loose along with minor league winger [b]Yorick Treille[/b]. Goalie [b]Steve Passmore[/b] is no longer needed and could be heading for the WHA if he can't find an AHL offer laying around. Finland is also another possibility. And finally the Hawks are rid of [b]Theoron Fleury[/b] 's contract. The biggest loss may come from Ryan Vandenbussche going to Pittsburgh, leaving the Hawks without a viable enforcer.

[b]1st LINE[/b] -
[b]2nd LINE [/b]- Daze, Calder, Arnason, Ruutu
[b]3rd LINE[/b] - Bell, Barnaby, Brown, Yakubov, Vorobeiv, Ellison, Keith, Radulov
[b]4th LINE[/b] - Nichol, Moen, Laing, Nickulas, Morgan, Thornton, Baines

[b]1/2[/b] -
[b]3/4[/b] - McCarthy
[b]5/6[/b] - Cullimore, Vandermeer, Robidas, Poapst
[b]7s[/b] - Barinka, Babchuk, Kukkonen, Keith

Daze-Arnason-Ruutu
Calder-Yakubov-Vorobiev
Bell-Brown-Barnaby
Moen-Nichol-Keith

McCarthy-Poapst
Cullimore-Robidas
Vandermeer-Barinka

Thibault-Leighton

[b]THINGS CHICAGO NEEDS TO DO FOR THE REST OF THE OFFSEASON[/b]
1. Possibly acquire another right handed dman to play 2nd pairing minutes
2. Add a second line center - is Yakubov ready?
3. Challenge the youth at camp. Vorobeiv and Yakubov need big camps, Radulov must decide if he wants to make the NHL, Babchuk, Barinka, Kukkonen and Keith all need to show something on the blue line
4. Add a NHL enforcer to the mix
5. Decide whether Leighton is the future no.1 goalie

Yeah usually my BLOGs have something to do with sports but I'm going to go with a very personal one right now and I know there's people I know in my life that read this and they don't know the half of anything going on right now in my life but here I can lay it all on the line - who I am and what's been happening in my life for the past month and really, unbeingknowest to me - the past 13 months. And for those who don't know, this will be done in full annoymity but if there's one thing I've learned in my life - no matter what problem you're going through, other people have gone through the same problem or something similar and have advice to offer and I'm leaving myself at your mercy of judgement of me and the people involved in this story. This BLOG may find itself sloppy from time to time but I really hope someone reads this and can help me out. I'm forever thankful to everyone who hears me out here. This is extremely long and takes a while to set up so please bear through it. I'll answer any questions I can if you have them and think you can help

I'm 21 right now but when I was 19, through a couple of people I knew from work, I met this girl named Amanda. She was 16 at the time and while there is the stereotype on me that I only date young girls (I've had only one girlfriend that was my age or older and that was it) but 3 and a half years is where I was going to draw the line. And plus, I met her online technically, she was talking on an acquintance of mine's screen name and we hit it off but when I found out her age, I freaked. And we're not talking about 'freaking out' like freaking out. I put her on block, and when I talked to her in other means - such as the phone or other screen names - I was extraordinarily rude to her. I'm not really a bad person but when I want to, I can say some of the meanest things.

I rushed into two relationships during this time and those failed miserably because they were in fact rushed. But then again I've had other rushed relationships and they've all failed miserably so I knew what was coming but sometimes I'm a sucker for pain. But Amanda kept persisting no matter how crappy I treated her so after I self destructed yet another relationship (if you call a couple months a relationship) I decided to meet Amanda finally - just for an hour or so. I chickened out once and she chickened out once but third times are the charm and I met her and her friend in-town and we went to the park for a while until I had to leave. I thought that was going to be it but then she kissed me first. It wasn't exactly love at first sight but it was pretty darn close. So after a couple weeks of flirting around with the Cons of the relationship with someone that much younger than me - I decided why not? I asked her out the day after my 20th birthday and her age did bother me for the longest time but finally I got over myself and what other people had to think. We lied to her parents for so long and to mine for like three seconds (but we hid it from them for about a month before it came out.)

She took to my parents immediately and my parents took immediately to her. It took her only a few weeks for her to start calling my father "dad." Yeah I still live with my parents but going to school full time less than 10 miles away, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to leave and struggle with insurance so really I have no problems or quams about it. But back to her parents - I just felt uncomfortable over there and we'd spend maybe no more than a half hour over at her house. For the longest time I felt I was just concious about the age factor but after I got over that, the uneasy feelings still continued. 99.8% of the time, we'd hang out at my house or the lake but only once or twice did we ever stay at her house. I never complained because I never felt right there. No matter - we went our first eight or so months without having a fight or a disagreement even though all her friends and everyone else gave it only weeks to last.

Well we beat all those odds but she'd worship the ground I walked on and I'm far from Zeus or even Adonis. I have more flaws than most people. We were (and are) crazy, truly, madly, deeply in love with each other but at this point in time, I really couldn't figure it out. But I've ruined relationships before by worrying too much about why someone wants to be with me and always being paranoid in relationships and I decided that I would not question it and go paranoid. I'd rather get burned or taken rather than possibly ruin another possibly geniune relationship. But her attatchment grew and grew as did the attatchment to my family. She'd refer to my dad as dad but never my mom as mom. And there were some small signs of question but I dismissed them because as I said, I'd rather get burned for once than be defensive. That and they were so subtle, I can't really even mention them because I just threw them out of my mind.

This summer, she got herself a job as a camp counseler a couple towns over from the time school got out until mid-July. The pay wasn't great, she hated the place to some extent (dealing with kids will do that) and she hated the fact that she had to stay there and only got to see me on the weekends. She'd come straight from the camp to my place, not going home unless she absolutely needed to. I couldn't understand it - go home, you havent' seen your family for the whole week so why not at least spend an hour with them. I only questioned once but that was it.

Well she got the fourth of July week off - unfortunately, I already had a trip planned to go with my dad down to Florida for my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married July 3rd, 1954 and while I really didn't know anyone on that side of the family, I went just so my dad didn't have to go alone. My mom had to work and we really couldn't afford to take Amanda with us, no matter how much we wanted to. My parents absolutely adore this girl and they've welcomed her so much into 'the family' - our 'Ohana.' "Ohana means family and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten." I just never thought to introduce her to the Ohana down in Florida because honestly, I rarely had seen them - my dad said that this was the first time since 1976 that the six children had been even in the same room together. It was touching like you wouldn't believe. However, with the good comes the bad - on our way back from Florida on July 6th, my other grandfather passed away in his sleep.

It was a long time coming with his sickness and it didn't come as a shock but it crushed me. It crushed everyone. See my grandfather was one of those few wonderful people in the world that never judged anyone, treated everyone with the same respect he wished to be treated with, he accepted everyone who came into his life and never said a bad thing about anyone. He always saw the good in everyone, no matter how hard it was. Family truly was the most important thing in his life and just thinking about how truly great he was makes me feel ten times worse about the way I treat people - strangers I don't know, family, friends, everyone. But no matter how highly regarded I hold him, he remained humble and loving. He'd even accept the boyfriends and girlfriends of the grandchildren into the family - no matter how much the rest of the family was against letting them in. He'd have none of it if we didn't welcome a person into the house. I've never been afraid to cry and at the visitation and the funeral, I refused to wipe my tears away because I felt it wrong to hide how much I truly loved that man - no matter how selfish I had acted in the past and the rarity that I went to see him even though he was just an hour away. I cry at a lot of things but you know when I'm devestated because my lower lip starts curling in - much like it's doing right now as I write this or when I occasionally catch a glance of his picture on the wall.

I honestly thought that week, I was going to need Amanda more than she was going to need me but at the vistation, we found a nice quiet corner away from everyone else at the funeral home just to get away from the kids. I couldn't believe she wanted to even go - I figured she wouldn't want to wake up at 6 in the morning to go to the prep for a funeral but she did. And in that small nook away from everyone, she just started to break down and sob more than I even had. I let her go for a bit then I asked what was the matter - dumbly. And she spilt a good deal on me. For one, both of her grandfathers died before she was born - one of them just two days before her birth - so she never had someone to call grandfather. When I first brought Amanda to meet my grandfather, she tried to refer to him as Mr. McGlofflin but he'd have none of that. He wouldn't even take Thomas. He got that look in his eyes like you are going to do what I say - and what he said is - you call me grandpa too and that's that. At Christmas, he has this tradition of giving out $50 bills to everyone. Well we told Amanda if this happened, just accept it but she couldn't. And there at the funeral home, she admited to me that she tried to return the $50 when we weren't around but she said he'd have none that. That she was part of this family and that money was hers. She was touched and she said something that I'll never forget and has forever cemented in my mind that she's the one in my life no matter what - "I wish I could have known him. I wanted to see him more."

And all the real crap came out. I'm not even sure how but it did. This might shock some people and I probably shouldn't even be saying it but if I really knew where to go with advice, I wouldn't be here. Her dad beats her and has since she was 10. He'll go on alcoholic rages and throw her up against walls, towl racks - once even through the glass of the back door. He's called her her a failure, a mistake that no one wanted, that she'd never graduate from high school because she's stupid. Every dirty name in the book - bitch, slut, cunt. He's called her that and even then some. When I called her about my grandfather's death, she hung up the phone and just started sobbing. Not only has she never had a grandfather, she's apprently never had a father either. That's why she's taken to mine so well and that's why she wanted to go to Florida with me - not just to get out of that "home" for that week she wasn't at camp but to meet my other grandparents because she knew that they would accept her and treat her like a part of a family. I always wondered why her father was never at her softball games or why she never called him dad but she'd do it to my dad. I'm almost ashamed that I didn't see it sooner and that she had to finally break down and tell me after a year of being together. I care for this girl so much and I don't want anything bad to happen to her. If one single once of harm that I could prevent ever came to her, I'd feel guilty forever.

We came back from the funeral and my parents were worried about coming back so late and not calling her parents. I was mad at the suggestion but her mom called - not to wonder where she was at but to warn her that her "father" was in one of his "moods" again. She got to my house and was scared for her life I could see but I let her get back into her car and go back there. It was too late for her to go over to her grandmother's (her mom's mother) who Amanda told me she was moving in with because grandma couldn't get around well and she was going to keep grandma company. I bought it because that's sweet but in all reality, she's "moving" over there to stay away from her father. It was too late to go over there so she was going to sleep in her car. Well she left, I went back into the house and I was upset, so I finally caught my mom, dragged her in a room and told her what was going on. And that was it - you go get into your car, you go and get her and you bring her back here and she's staying with us.

Her mom's filing for the divorce once Amanda turns 18 and never did before because of her job - she didn't make enough and the dad would have won custody easily and if he didn't want Amanda, she would have gone to his grandmother - who can be somewhat blamed for all this because she beat her children. And frankly, I'm still mad at her mom for keeping her in such a situation. And I guess she has tried to before but her father's called the police and reported her as a run-away. And when she calls the cops on her dad, the police have failed every time to do anything about it. I one that still believes in our law enforcement and our legal system but it's getting harder to believe in it with this. And there's times when I just feel like her mom doesn't even want her either because she would have put an end to this a long time ago if she did and she wouldnt' drink either and she doesn't but the past couple weeks her mom's started to do it and has been just as abusive.

The abuse some times falls on her older brother but its a lot less frequent. But here's the kicker, her brother dropped out of High School and then a year later had a kid with his 'girlfriend' who also never finished high school. And ever since this 'bitch' has come into the family, the abuse has gotten worse. Because Ashley, she hates Amanda and see she's how the dad treats Amanda and I guess believes its ok to treat someone like that. She's called Amanda a bitch and finally a week ago Amanda finally slapped Ashley for calling her a stupid bitch and her brother tried coming after her until she escaped and came over to my house. They treat her like absolute shit even though she babysits their kid for free. Or I should say - did babysit their kid. Now Ashley doesn't want that "skank" to be within fifty feet of her 10 month old kid. But she still wants to be in her 'nephew's life. Personally, I'm saying give it up because they're going to raise that kid to hate you.

But since this all came out, she's spent her time either at work, her grandmother's or here - pretty much living out of her car. Once she turns 18 and her father can't call the police on her as a runaway, she's going to move in with us as long as she goes to school full-time or if she's not - she's working full-time. We've made her part of the Ohana. But her mom gets pissed that she's never home when her dad is home - well fucking duh, he's now drinking all the time. Shit the night I went to pick her up, he left to go to work before I got there to go to work - he's a goddamn truck driver and he went to work drunk. That bastard. And I'm not allowed to go over there because I know I can't behave myself. I will flat out do something that will make things worse.

I've been 'upset' or 'peeved' before and I may have said in half-heart that I wanted to kill a person before but never have I EVER been this seething angry at someone before. I've never wanted to kill a man before in my life. I absolutely hate death - I can't wish it upon another person or animal - I don't even kill spiders. Death breaks me up but I want to harm this man, his son and the son's girlfriend like never before. It's the scariest feeling in the world to me that I would get pleasure out of someone's death. Even if I could never do it, I just want to give him a big piece of my mind and the two of those twits I would just love to straighten them out. And god, her mother I know has her reasons but I question her too. I just wish they wouldn't give all the bullshit when I'm there because when I'm there - everyone's happy and hunky-dorey. The minute I'm out the door, it's a broken home. I hate when people try to bullshit me like that. But I've promised to be good because Amanda says, he'll call the cops on me and tell them my age and his daughter's age and have me arrested in a flash if I laid a hand on him. I would gladly go to jail for this. I'm out of shape and I'm not very big but very few people messed with me in school because when I got angry, I can fight teeth and nail and I'm not afraid to do anything to come out on top. But no one ever saw me as angry as I am now.

But ever since this whole thing has come out, me and Amanda have been bickering. Not the whole day but we have little skirmishes because for one, we see each other pretty much all day but she keeps saying that she's not part of my Ohana - my family. I won't accept this. She is and always will be welcomed as part of our family and she doesn't have to be afraid of anything at our house. My family is a family of good people and we've accepted her as part but she still won't accept it. How do I get her to accept that she's part of this family? I'm going to marry this girl and she's going to marry this guy. But while that's a ways down the road, she still won't accept that people really do care about her and never want to see harm done on her. She's always afraid in the back of her mind that I'm going to raise my hand to her. I tell her not to be but she's damaged. Could she be damaged beyond repair? The longer she stays in that enviroment, the more the damage continues but she won't let me take her away from the house. How can a person hate his offspring that much? It's scared her and I know its going to take time for her to heal but it's been stressful. Just imagine what that would do to a person - she's "A fuck-up" but she's going to graduate where her father and her brother and the prized girlfriend haven't. But no she's the slut and she doesn't have a kid before she's old enough to drink. She's afraid of me drinking and while I don't do it often, I have done it with my friends and she's afraid my friends are going to hate her because she doesn't want me to drink. She already has it in her mind that they don't like her. I'm the only real guy that she's ever trusted - now probably because I'm the only guy ever to care or give a rat's ass about her. But she's always afraid of being a wet blanket to my friends. She wants me to go out and have fun with them but how can I when I know what happens when she goes home because she can't stay out as late as we do and if she's late to her grandmothers she has to go home and if she comes in late there, its almost a garuenteed fight. Only one of my friends actually knows whats going on - and hell I have to tell them, she's going to be living here in less than three months. Three months that come soon enough.

But what can I do? What do I do to her father? Her brother and Ashley? What can I do about the stress level because no matter how many times I tell her that every thing is fine and that she can stay here and she's part of the family - she doesn't seem to believe me or accept it. And it frustrates me - like she doesn't trust me when I say, my parents don't mine - and they don't. They want to see her safe and healthy and smiling because when she smiles, I believe its the greatest thing in the world and I'm the only person that can get her to smile. She use to put on a happy face but now that every thing's come out, its harder and harder to get her to smile again and she's "sorry for everything." I know it's a product of being hit any time she did anything "wrong" but she's always sorry for things out of her control and it annoys me. She's getting better and I understand why she's like that but that just makes me angerier because I know why she does it. And it's not one or two sorries a day - it's like over a hundred. Ever had a teacher that repeated a favorite word over and over in class - thats the same here.

I don't know what to do about anything. Her "father" needs to pay for this injustice but nothing can be done. And once she leaves her house and comes here, she'll have to drive a half hour round trip to school and work in-town and with gas as much as it is. That's rediculous but she's going to graduate from her high school because everything's already paid for. And work - well they now have cheaper workers so her hours are getting cut and the owner is friends of her father's and I just get the feeling that he's involved in her hours getting cut almost in half. She'd work constantly just not to go home - she dreaded hitting 40 hours in a week because she couldn't work over that. And car insurance - it takes up almost all of her first check of the month now and if her hours get worse - no more insurance. Health insurance? Her dad's kicking her off that when she turns 18 no matter what. She can't get on her mother's and she sure as hell can't afford benefits where she works and really - out of high school, she isnt' going to find a job that will give her benefits. I haven't worked in a year because my grades I felt could be better and it was alright with my parents. I'm looking but I'm not finding anything that can fit with my major at the moment and I really don't have connection in my field. My parents don't want me to quit school but I might have to. But Amanda's afriad of being a burden on me and my parents and me quiting school definitely wouldn't fly with her or my parents. But I can't sit around and do nothing. I want to save her - I know I've talked about it on this blog but I have a Superman complex in a way and I have to help people when and where I can and not being able to only reminds me that I'm not a superhero and I am mortal and I have my limits. But I really want to deliever her from all this and never have her worry ever again.

I want to have children with her and I want to grow old with her. But man, this whole month has complicated things and changed the dynamic of our relationship and I'm just throwing this out there - maybe someone's gone through or going through the same thing that I am and can offer some advise. I feel so helpless even though I know that I am helping - I want to do more. I thought I use to have stress - I didn't know what stress was in all reality. Did I really get myself into something too deep? I doubt anyone's going to ever read all of this but if you've got to this part - I thank you and I appericate any words you can give me. I just need ideas on what to do. I love you all and may God bless you. May the he, the shephard, lead me through this and through your problems too. Again I thank you.

[b]REBUT ON LANCE[/b]

Looks like I did offend some of my friends on my claim that [b]Lance Armstrong[/b] wasn't the greatest cyclist of all-time (see last entry). I really don't apology because he's really not. When it comes to the Tour de France, he's been the most dominate in decades but Merchx would have won six or more if he wasn't a victum of sports violence and even then, in Merchx's five Tour victories, he statistically has Lance dominated. Merchx had pretty good competition then too. Lance has a lot of competition but no one's really come close to touching him. A lot of that can be favored towards one of the best cycling teams put together and put together for one thing - to help Lance win the Tour.

I wasn't trying to take anything away from Lance. What he's done to come back from cancer is inspirational to all. He's a hero in a lot of people's books. What he did to his (ex)wife after she stuck by him through his cancer treatment still doesn't sit well with me but no one knows the whole story and I'm sure both sides were partially at fault in one way or another. And if he goes for number seven - I'll be cheering him on. If he goes to Giro D'italian to race - I'll be cheering him on. Because deep down inside I would love to crown him the greatest cyclist of all-time. I would love to see him win all three major events in a single year and I'd love for him to soar past Merchx in the record books because then, yes I can tell my children, I watched the greatest cyclist of all-time in his prime, obiliterate the Tour de France field for an unprecedented number of years and win the three major races by just as much. But I just can't ignore Merchx's place in the history books - not just yet.

[b]X GAMES TURNS X[/b]

Maybe I'll offend somebody again but does anyone honestly feel excited about the the X-Games anymore? At one point in time (ok, a decade ago) it was cool and something new and different from the tired old sports we'd seen a thousand times over. But now, it's really not that interesting to see some body on a skateboard or luge down a street. I'll watch some of the flat land course if its on for bikes or boards but I no longer go out of my way to watch it like I did the first couple of years the X Games were on. One year (I believe X-4) I watched the entire coverage - if not at the moment, on tape. I was hooked but the novelity and cool factor is over with. X-Sports have its stars and personalities (see my last rant on Bass fishing's upcoming popularity) and honestly, people like [b]Danny Way[/b], [b]Dennis McCoy[/b], [b]Bucky Lasek[/b], [b]Matt Buyten[/b], [b]Emily Copeland[/b], and yes, the best at marketing himself - [b]Tony Hawk[/b] - are enough reason to tune in at least to the highlights and follow along, it just doesn't seem to have the same impact anymore. The letter 'X' has been overused one too many times and as we turn towards X-Games X - I don't think the letter X will see a decline in its use. Ooooh they're X-treme, X-citing, X-mazing. X-Games X. X Marks the Spot! XXX. It's fun to watch occasionally and it deserves its spot on ESPN and in history but let's ditch the gimmicky X. I think that's the thing I'm having problems with. The letter X worked so well in the early 90s - it was the prefect era in history to unleash it but now a man can ride his skateboard on a flat land track and get people to watch without a gimmick - stop trying to act all X-treme all the time because its no longer a 'back-yard' sport. It's got a long way to go to be a major one but ditch the X.

This is a new era where a man can stuff his face with 60 some odd hotdogs (though not all the hotdog actually gets in his mouth because he's shoving so fast) and be considered a sports hero or where a guy can gain fame on Sportscenter for winning Jeopordy for over a month straight. Believe me, the skate boarding and street luge are now legit folks. Remember, it's just my opinion, I hope if you plan on watching the X-Game X, I hope they're the best of the ten. Might teach me for turning away.

[b]NHL NEWS[/b]

Phoenix has reportedly has offered [b]Brett Hull[/b] a two-year deal, throwing their hat into the ring with St Louis and Dallas. It's considered a "generous" offer by Hull's agent - his brother, Bobby Hull Jr. I don't see Hull making a commitment until later because what's his hurry? He doesn't have one so expect him to take his time in weighing Phoenix's offer.

Former NHL Dman [b]Drew Bannister[/b] will join the Nurnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL next year. Carolina may choosen not to re-sign [b]Craig Adams[/b] but he continues to search for an NHL job as a fourth liner but just case there's no job for him next year, he's signed with the Milan Vipers of the Italian league as a safety net. [b]Kristian Huselius[/b], also searching for a new team has agreed to terms with Linkopings in Sweden if there's a lock-out. Huselius could have a big NHL season deep inside of him because I still wouldn't mind seeing him shore up defensively because if he's not scoring goals (he had only 10 last year) he's not really helping his team. And continueing the lock-out theme, [b]Ivan Novoseltsev [/b]signed with Lada Togliatti of the RSL just in case of a lock-out. And again - in case of lock-up the Oilers [b]Alexei Semenov[/b] will go to St Petersberg.

[b]Tomi Pettinen[/b] is a rare one - he's actually coming back over to the NHL from Finland, signing a new one year deal with the New York Islanders - most likely to be a seventh dman or a big part of Bridgeport's defense which is looking to fill a hole with the earlier depature of [b]Alan LeTang[/b].

The Lightning have lost a lot of their minor league depth and to help out with them finally getting their own minor league system, they've signed career minor-leaguer, [b]Jarrod Skalde[/b] to a multi-year deal.

While there's an out clause, [b]Denis Arkhipov[/b] has left Nashville for Ak Bars Kazan. You either love or hate Arkhipov - and there's a lot of people that hate Arkhipov but he's show flashes of being a pretty solid player at the NHL level. He just needs to get his confidence back - too bad that could mean a chance of venue - either Europe or another NHL club. Another Nashville property, [b]Greg Classen[/b] has signed with Assat Pori in Finland.

[b]Hugo Boisvert [/b]leaves for Duisberg of the Oberliga and [b]Steve Brule[/b] leaves Colorado for Krefeld of the DEL.

Chicago finally announced the re-signing of [b]Jocelyn Thibault[/b] to a one-year deal. The deal has been argeed to for a couple days now and honestly, I didn't know they hadn't released it yet. Carolina re-upped on [b]Kevyn Adams[/b] for a year. Buffalo re-upped [b]Taylor Pyatt[/b], [b]Jeff Jilsson[/b] and [b]Henrik Tallinder [/b]as expected. And [b]Patrik Stefan[/b] will be returning to Atlanta for another year.

[b]Tom Fitzgerland[/b] adds his services to the Boston Bruins. He'll probably add his services to the fourth line as a checker. He'll also add leadership to a team that could be potentially young next season. His short-handed goal scoring is starting to fade but for a team with only one real penalty killer ([b]PJ Axelsson[/b]) he was a needed signing. They still don't have a shut-down, physical checker but Fitz is a step in the right direction.

[b]LAST COMIC STANDING FINALS THRUSDAY[/b]

While we don't know who's going to be the sixth wildcard finalist is going to be - I say, they've already been elminated once for a reason so what chance do they have of winning? [b]Cory Holcomb[/b] got as far as he did by not pissing off anyone in the house and getting an immunity early on. Quite frankly, he was probably the weakest of the final 10 comics by far and while his Wildcard set was significantly stronger than his pervious set at the three-way challenge the previous week, Cory was far from any good. I can't see him holding a whole stand-up routine and his pitch for a sit-com I felt would only work on UPN. [b]Bonnie McFarland[/b] was even worse. Nothing that woman said was remotely funny and she was a complete bitch to boot. None of her routines throughout the running of the show have worked with me. If she can take solace in one thing, the make-over she got after being bumped from the house did wonders for her. I absolutely adored her hair and getting rid of that trashy skirt, at least some good came out of this. [b]Ant [/b]- I've got to applaud him on being who he is on stage. Trying to be something your not and making up comedy just doesn't work in stand-up. Just be yourself. Too bad Ant being himself entails him being a vindictive little bitch. I don't think there's one person I hated more on this show than him - he's not a guy you want to have around you because he's not your friend even if he pretends to be. Plus he also ripped a couple jokes we've all heard before and have heard many times before. [b]Jay London[/b] - a man with a heart of gold and he's a great guy. He deserves just being recognized for that. His stand-up routine harkens back to the days of one liners - too bad it just isn't understood that easily by a lot of people. He didn't exactly nail his set but it was improved and you just can't vote against that guy at all. [b]Todd Glass [/b]- you were an obnoxious ass hole most of the times on the show but you made me laugh most of the time. While I gave Jay London two of my three votes, I couldn't pass up giving Todd a vote. I think he could work in a sitcom setting but we never got to see his idea for a show so I don't know.

As for the five with spots in there. [b]Kathleen Madigan[/b] - she's not 'hot' persay but for some reason I'm going to admit I had sexual fantasies about Ms. Madigan. Too bad those all turned to nightmares a couple of weeks ago when she did that creepy Leperchaun routine in front of the kids. I don't know if Leperchauns really scare me or if it's just Irish people but my desire to get loose with her just dissappeared after that. Her pitch for a sit-com really sucked and she really had no hook unfortunately. Let's see what she can do on the stage in the finals. [b]Alonzo Bodden[/b] - no one wanted to challenge him until the end and I think we found out why. I had no clue he'd do so good but while he stayed himself, he also has this great ability to tap into things that everyone understands and can relate to. Corey talked about being a ghetto player and Ant centered his routine of being a fag "You don't need Scooby Doo to solve this mystery." - Alonzo can connect to the crowd and maybe his sitcom idea will work but the pitch was horrible and there wasn't a hook (well only one of them had a real hook and it was horrible).

[b]Gary Gullman[/b] - what is it about him that people don't like? Ok, he was rude at the Friar's and he should have kept his routine clean but I don't think he's a mean spirited person really. You heard the woman at the test audience - she hated him when she saw him. So did my mom. Him and Jon Heffron were the only people to win two comic battles and he was able to show that his B material is about as strong as his A material. I completely despise 'doctor' comedies but it was a great title, he's cute, he projects himself more than most. He's from Boston so he's probably use to coming so close and loosing. Let's hope he can reverse the recent fortunes of the city. He could be stronger I'll admit. [b]John Heffron[/b] - much like Alonzo, he can tap into something we all can relate to. I'm an only child and his routine at the three-way had stuff I could relate to even though it centered on sibling rivalry. His stuttery sort of voice might hurt him but I thought he also had the best sitcom pitch. Sadly, even though it was the strongest, it seemed to have no real lasting punch. Honestly would "The State I'm In" last more than a season or two before it was stale and canceled? I really like Heffron but someone needs to help him with his ideas. They're inside him deep down, just got to find them. [b]Tammy Pescatelli [/b]- again how'd she win the final immunity? She was the only one to have a real hook but I don't think that one girl in the test audience got that. She won because mainly the guys in the audience and being the last to run her pitch. If I'm sick of doctor comedies, I'm even more sick stereotypical mobster shows and comedies. I like her, she's a strong woman - she doesn't resort to men-bashing, feminism or girly stereotypes (much like Kathleen, who insipred Tammy actually) and she has a couple of good ideas and a show that could have some shelf life (four or five seasons could be pulled out of it) and I guess if John Gotti's daughter can get her own reality TV show, the whole revitalization of the mobster obbession isn't over yet. It's just not something I'd watch.

Who's going to win? I really don't know. I'm rooting for Heffron and Gary but Alonzo showed me a lot last week - I hope he's got some B material to throw down because if he does, he can walk away with this thing. But there's Tammy, who has the looks, the idea and a fresh female routine. But Kathy's a vet compared to most of these guys. And then there's always the wildcard - which soundsl ike its going to be either Jay or Todd. Other words - it's wide open.

[b]BASS FISHING THE NEXT NASCAR? PERSONALITY AND SPORTS[/b]

Bass Fishing has been annointed the next 'Nascar.' What the hell does that even mean? Wasn't black the next pink or some garbage like that? Honestly, what the hell does that even mean? Aren't they both colors and havent' they really been both around for about the same time? And with enough fashion sense, you can make pretty much any color work, right? I digress.

ESPN has been running commericals to promote their coverage of bass fishing using the highly personable [b]Mike Iaconelli[/b]. He's a good guy, easy to like and it shines through in the commericals. They're marketing him as a star - come see Mike Iaconelli. Much like NASCAR promotes their drivers through funny little commercials, ads and such. They put their drivers out there in the spotlight. It's a team sport but the drivers at least have personalities and we get to see that. Everyone in the world has the one driver they love and the one driver they absolutely despise. That right there is one of the greatest things about NASCAR and why debating it can be so much fun. Sure stats come into play but a lot of arguing about NASCAR comes down to just being bullheaded. The arguement is never going to be solved - you just argue. But there's the glory in the sport - the personalities drag you in.

I'm not here to debate whether NASCAR is a hick sport or not (and it's not) and I'm not here to debate whether fishing is a sport or not. I honestly couldn't give a rat's ass about anoyone's opinion on what consitutes a sport or not because I've never understood why I've always had to defend and legitimize watch I watch and enjoy. Same for anyone else. Don't like cards on ESPN? Then don't watch it but there's some of us who do. I'm one who doesn't but I know someone who occasionally reads this and he does. But again, I degress as I get off subject. My point is - Nascar and now bass fishing have stars. People talk about the Tour de France because of Lance Armstrong. The NFL loves to market its stars such as [b]Michael Vick[/b] or [b]Brett Farve[/b], ect al. They have a commerical campaign with their players in it and the NFL charities commericals (sadly, I can't remember what the charity is - United Way?). The NBA prompts their stars. Kobe may be a slight black eye on the league but you can't tell me deep down some where inside the NBA execs they aren't happy that Kobe's been made out as a villian - people are talking about him now and paying attention to the league. [b]LeBron James[/b], [b]Michael Jordan[/b], [b]Allen Iverson[/b], ect. House hold names to people who don't even watch a lick of basketball. My mom could tell you who LeBron is.

It's hard to promote a single star in a team sport - NASCAR has done it better than anyone and maybe because most of the team is behind the scenes or in the pits but leagues have been able to do it. The NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, they've all been able to some how or another create stars by using those stars and their natural personalities. If you need another example, look at men's tennis. A while back we had [b]John McEnroe[/b] and [b]Jimmie Conners[/b] (as well as others) at the top of the chain. People would tune in to watch these guys and they would sit on the edge of their seats when these two actually met in a match. Then you had Borg and Sampras and Andre. Even with Sampras being a huge wet blanket most of the times, people loved lovable Pete- besides, Andre had enough personality for the both of them. But now take a look at men's tennis. Andy Roddick at 21 has his fast serve and his pop-star girlfriend and he's got a cute smile but honestly, who is [b]Andy Roddick[/b]? The personality doesn't shine through as much as it did with Conners and McEnroe. I don't get a sense of who A-Rod is. And don't get me started on [b]Roger Ferderer[/b] - he makes Pete look like a frat boy. He's the most complete tennis player today and if he keeps it up could rank up near the all-time greats when he's all said and done (though that is quite a ways off from now.) But the guy is a snooze out there and in interviews. I almost crapped my pants when he just barely cracked a smile at Wimbeldon. C'mon guy, you were on your way to winning your second straight Wimbeldon title and you have the incredibly beautiful [b]Martina Hingis[/b] in the crowd rooting you on - live it up a little man! Even [b]Lleyton Heweitt[/b] 's stupid "Come On" would have been welcomed then. The Men's game right now sucks though. It's hard to watch in its current state. The guys are hitting the ball so hard and so fast, that even if your opponent gets a racquet on the ball, the vollys rarely last too long. Doesn't help that your two top guys have nothing in the way of personality. And it's not even a rivalry - Roddick's game is no where close to Federer's and until Roddick can beat Federer, it's not engaging enough. Men's tennis rest in the arms of [b]Andre Aggassi[/b] still. What happens when he's gone? Will [b]Brad Gilbert[/b] be able to raise Roddick's game enough to make him a match against Roger on grass? Three years ago when Hewitt won Wimbeldon, I thought he was going to be THE MAN in tennis but here he is at 23 and he hasn't taken his game to the next level and maybe he's even taken a step back. He's still one hell of a tennis player but I had annointed him as a possible savior to the men's game. He still could be but he's got some work to do.

The women have at least personality and much more exciting matches but they're also afforded more opportunities to show their personality compared to the men. [b]Maria Sharapova[/b] became an instant icon in the American media after her dominating win at Wimbeldon. Her amazing looks can contribute to that but what sucked most of America in was her fantastic story about her leaving Russia and coming to America poor. What sucked us in she's a young woman with aspirations and talents and joys other than tennis. She's young and full of life and she wants to go on and do things with her life other than tennis. She's got an unbelievable personality and an infectious smile that makes you feel good about yourself. Unlike the Anna craze, there's a lot more to Sharapova than her looks. The Williams sisters have been amazingly good for women's tennis and they've been tremendous rolemodels not just for african-american girls but for all girls from every part of the globe. There's a lot of 'top line' names in women's tennis and most of them ooze personality as they play. They even star in commericals (the Williams sisters most of all) and they're recognizable names.

I know the ATP is just a body and not really a league and it has a butt-load of die-hard fans all around the world. Tennis is the like the most popular sport that most people don't think about around here. But what about the NHL? Yes, the dying league that can't seem to attract viewers no matter how well they try to package and sell the sport itself. Ok, sure you've got a great sport - a sport I passionately love but the things that matter in sports today are storylines and personalities. The sport really doesn't lend itself well to Sportscenter highlights - at least basketball has the game winning bucket at the buzzer and NFL has amazing TD drives. What do you show in hockey? A couple good saves and if there is a game winner, you show it but there's not always a lot of suspense behind it. But does the NBA try to sell basketball? Heck no - they sell names.

Don't think that hockey players don't have personalities. There are some potential mega-star marketing names out there. If Michael Jordan can sell batteries and McDonalds - why can't someone like Ilya Kovalchuk or Rick DiPietro sell MP3 players or Hardees or anything else? If the league survives without a lock-out, it really needs to look into grabbing some cheap endorsements for its players. Be pro-active Mr. Bettman. Instead of waiting for the companies to come to the players, why don't you come to the companies and provide them with the players? Because at the rate the sport of hockey is going, companies aren't going to come looking for your players. Let the personalities shine through and show America and the World who these gentlemen really are and I'm sure you'll build a bigger fan base than if you try to sell the sport of hockey with its nasty stigma of "a bunch of drunken Canadiens with all their teeth missing fighting and occasionally knocking a tiny rubber disc with a weird looking stick" to everyone. It won't work and it hasn't worked.

Remember a couple of years ago the ESPN commericials that featured the NHL players in them? Yeah those were funny and brillent but most of importantly, they were semi-successful. Why did anyone think to get rid of those and replace them with those incredibly ignorant "Hockey Inc" commericals? If commericials and stars are able to take bass fishing to the next level - then why can't they do the same for the NHL?

[b]LANCE WINS NUMBER SIX[/b]

I've been a fan of [b]Lance Armstrong[/b] since he won his first Tour de France in 1999. What he's done to overcome the cancer that had him on his deathbed only a short while ago to winning six straight Tour de France is simply amazing and I don't believe I need to tell you that. Armstrong has been claimed by many as the best athlete in the sporting world today and I have to agree wit that but along with his sixth Tour de France, fans and the US media have been tossing around the term "The greatest cyclist of all-time." He's been by far the most successful man at Le Tour and this is not meant to take away from Lance but he's no where near the greatest cyclist of all-time. Wouldn't that title go to the Legendary [b]Eddy Merchx[/b]? The Belgian was one of the three men that Armstrong passed when he won his sixth title. But the list of Merchx's accomplishments completely drawfs Armstrong.

His first Tour de France win came in 1969 at the tender age of 24 - his first attempt at the race and no easy feat. He would have won his sixth Tour de France or maybe even more if he hadn't suffered fractures from an attack by a fan in 1975. He would have to retire from cycling only three years later. He held the yellow jersey 95 days - the most of all time and he has 50% more stage wins than Lance. He's also one of four men to win all three major cycling events and he did it all in one calender year. How many wins at the Giro D'Italian does Lance have?? Zero. How many wins at the Veulta a Espana does Lance have?? Zero. Merchx won the Giro five times and the Veulta once to go along with his five Tour victories. Merchx also owns a rainbow jersey going to the World Champion of cycling. Where's Lance's world championship?

Lance rides for the Tour de France's yellow jersey. It's the most famous cycling race in the world and fame and money comes with it and certainly Lance deserves his place in history as a great rider at the Tour but the claim that Lance is the greatest cyclist of all time just doesn't sit well with me. Merchx will always hold that title.

[b]RICKY WILLIAMS RETIRES[/b]

The only thing any one can talk about on the NFL page is the retirement of [b]Ricky Williams [/b]from professional football at age 27. Williams leaves the Dolphins on the eve of training camp and now everyone's dooming the Dolphins to a 4-12 season and [b]Travis Minor[/b] at runningback. Let's give Minor his due though - he's an explosive back that has big game potential - he's just never had the chance to show it at the NFL level yet. Let's face it - the Dolphins have bigger problems on offense, mainly having [b]Jay Fiedler[/b] or [b]AJ Feeley[/b] at QB. But nevermind the fact that the Dolphins still boast a world-class secondary and one of the better defenses in the AFC. With the parity that is in the NFL football right now, I wouldn't be surprised if the Dolphins do better than 4-12, however, I don't see them taking the division away from the Patroits though. Let's see what Minor can do first before dooming the entire team because last time I checked, Ricky Williams wasn't the only guy on the team.

Was it wrong of Williams to announce this now? Is he walking out on his team mates, the fans and the franchise? Sadly yes but honestly, all parties will get over it once the season starts. Ricky's rejection may sting but the guys on the Dolphins are professionals - once the season starts, they'll be looking to what they can do to win football games - not hoping that Ricky comes back to lead them to the promise land. They know what they have to do and Ricky Williams will be the furthest thing from any of their minds. Ricky's gone - forget him. It's not like he was a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer like [b]Barry Sanders[/b] was when he retired from the game. If Ricky felt like the NFL was putting chains on him and feels that he's now free - let him be happy. People can't believe he's walking away from all this money? Uhm aren't you the same people that whine when someone holds out for more millions - stating the question, "how much more can one guy need to live off of?" Ricky's already made enough millions in his first five years to let him live comfrotably and travel. Ricky didn't want to be in the spotlight any more - after all he does have Social Anexity Disorder, a condition that would make being an NFL star running back a real challenge. And being a running back has been something that Ricky's been doing for most of his life. It's a punishing position because you're going to be hit almost every single play and people are looking to take you out. It's a position that Ricky's been at since grade school through high school football through his record-setting college career and now five NFL seasons. It's a lot of wear and tear on the body before the age of 30. Look at the wear and tear has done to [b]Eddie George[/b] or [b]Terrell Davis[/b] or [b]Jamal Anderson[/b]. NFL running back careers aren't very long for a reason.

Ricky just needs a break or a change of pace and he'll get that now. Was the timing of his decision poor? It was. Is he walking out of his teammates? That's for them to decide. For Fin Fans, I'm sorry - I am. It's a devesating loss but keep your chin up because your team just might surprise you. Have some faith.

[b]NHL FREE AGENCY NEWS[/b]

My Carolina Hurricanes preview focused on the Hurricanes having to re-sign [b]Erik Cole[/b] and well today, they did it signing him to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million - tripling his pay from last season. They also signed AHL center [b]Jim Henkel[/b] to a two-way contract.

Predators continue to stock up for next season, re-signing [b]Scott Hartnell [/b]and then adding [b]Andreas Lilja[/b], cut by the Panthers. They also retain former first rounder goalie [b]Brian Finley[/b] and defenseman [b]Andrew Hutchinson[/b]. Lilja was an intriguing import two years ago but at 29, the intrigue is gone. He's probably going to play on the third pairing and may find himself in Milwaukee if he doesn't out play the kids (Hutchinson being one). I always felt like there was offensive potential in Lilja but now he'll have to make his living as a stay-at-home type but he's just not physical enough for that.

Flyers received some potentially good news. [b] Mattias Timander[/b] 's contract with Swedish club MoDo Hockey has fallen through for the moment and Timander is without a club. No word on why the deal failed. But Timander's spot on MoDo might already be filled as they announced the signing of [b]Bryan Muir[/b] to a deal.

[b]Al Montoya[/b], as expected, will remain at Michigan for his junior season and won't turn pro. Good decision seeing the Ranger's mishandling of former top prospect [b]Daniel Blackburn[/b].

[b]Jason Allison[/b] has been working out real hard this off-season and has been attracting interest from at least 10 teams. Allison missed all of last year with post-concussion syndrome and the Kings cut him on July 1st. His agent claims that Allison will not return to the ice unless he's 100%, and if he gets there expect the other 20 teams to be interested. Allison is a top line center under 30 and those are rare free agent finds indeed. I hope to see Allison in an NHL uniform next year because there are few better set-up men in the NHL right now than Allison was when he was healthy. No word on how his fellow Kings teammate and concussion sufferer [b]Adam Deadmarsh[/b] is doing but it looks like Deadmarsh's career is over.

Flames signed spare defenseman [b]Mike Commodore[/b] to a two year deal today. Colorado re-signed their spare dman in [b]DJ Smith[/b] and also added tough-guy [b]Mathieu Darche[/b] from Nashville.

Back in 2002 I found the Carolina Hurricanes to be slightly overrated as they marched into the Finals, only to be dealt with very soundly by the Detroit Red Wings. The 2002-2003 ended badly as the team failed to make the playoffs and wound up selecting second in the NHL entry draft tagging Peterborough Petes center [b]Eric Staal[/b] with that pick. I felt the 2003-04 Hurricanes would be on the rise again with Staal in the line-up and a pretty nice defensive core. Sadly, the offense wasn't enough and the goaltending, while solid, left something to be desired. The 2004-05 season looks to be much of the same of the past two years - too little offense and out of the playoffs before the end of March. But the Hurricanes have put together two really good drafts in a row as the Hurricanes look to once again move out of the cellar - too bad the Florida Panthers and the Atlanta Thrashers are both looking to do the same.

The big challenges of the off-season are over for GM Jim Rutherford and his crew. Goaltender Kevin Weekes has been discarded for cheaper (and better) Martin Gerber, sniper Jeff O'Neill has be re-signed and he was able to retain one of his departing veteran dmen in Glen Wesley. Niclas Wallin has also been retained and he'll probably find himself in the line-up for good finally. Tough guy Jesse Boulerice has also been kept. Not coming back to Carolina sadly is Sean Hill (signed with Florida) and back-up goalie Jamie Storr, who will try to get back on track in Germany for Mannheim of the DEL. The aforementioned Weekes was cut lose as well as former first round pick Patrick DesRochers leaving the Hurricanes thin in NHL capable netminders (though some would argue DesRochers and Storr's "capability"). Fourth liner Craig Adams has also been let go along with minor leaguers Brett Lysak, Peter Reynolds and Damian Surma. Brad Defauw, Randy Petruk and tough-guy Joey Tetarenko also could be leaving via free agency. Checking center Kevyn Adams and goal scoring Erik Cole have taken the Hurricanes to arbitration for next season.

Cole's 42 points (18 goals) was good for third best on the team. For a team that only scored 172 goals, they'll need Cole under contract and cracking the 20 goal mark for the first time in his career. He's the top ranked left winger by default but he's capable of netting 20-25 goals a year. Though he could be an injury threat, the type of game he plays doesn't bode well for a long career. He'll be joined on the top line with O'Neill, who had a tough year last year trying to do everything by himself. If he stays healthy, he should be good for 30 goals and is capable of hitting the 40 goal mark again if other weapons step up around him.

After one season, Staal is well on his way to establishing himself as a top line center. No offense to first overall pick Marc-Andre Fleury but Staal was quite impressive last year and should continue to grow this year. He only missed one game and netted 10 goals with only a -6. The "Ronnie Francis clone" might not have the same goal scoring ability as Ronnie Franchise had but again, 10 goals is encouraging. And Staal isn't the only young gun to watch out for in Carolina as Rutherford was able to swing a deal at the draft to allow his draft team select Andrew Ladd fourth overall. A lot has been made of Ladd only playing one major junior season and coming out of no where - phoey - at this age, kids do a lot of growing and development in a matter of months. I'm certainly not worried about his track record and he'll be given every chance in camp to win a left wing spot on the third line. I don't expect 30 goals - more like 5 to 10 - but Ladd can play in the NHL right now with little problem.

Justin Williams pretty much is a lock for the second line's right side. He's an impressive player as he's entering his fifth NHL season and only at the age of 22. He's defensively responsible, has a pretty good set of gears and I'm hoping for a break out year from Williams. He'll be counted on as one of Carolina's top offensive weapons. He'll be joined by another kid entering his fifth season but at the age of 23 - Josef Vasicek. Vasicek more than doubled his point production last year and was one goal shy of the 20 plateau. While I've always seen Vasicek as more of a defensive center, if he can add 20 goal production to his repatoire next year, he'll be one hot ticket in Carolina. He'll either play center or left wing on the second line.

23 year old Radim Vrbata, acquired from Colorado for checking winger Bates Battaglia was pegged by a lot of people to have a break out year last season. He only put up 25 points in 80 games but the slick winger will benefit by the presence of more offensive weapons around him. He'll probably wind up as a second line player in a couple years but his defense might see him out the NHL door if he can't break onto one of the scoring lines soon.
Oddly, the same could go for another 23 year old on the Carolina right side - Pavel Brendl. The fourth overall pick in the 1999 draft can sure score some beautiful goals - the kind that will make you stand out of your seat, drop your drink and shit your pants. Too bad his work ethic is non-exsistent and his defensive play is enough to make you puke. Few players are lazier than Brendl and its a shame because few players have the natural talent that he does. I don't expect him to be great on defense but he really needs to start working or he'll be pumping gas back home soon.

At one time, Rod Brind'Amour was one of the most underappreciated forwards in the entire NHL. His career numbers spell it out - 1109 games, 351 goals, 560 assists, 911 points and a -2 rating in 15 years spent between the Blues, Flyers and Hurricanes. He still put up 35 points and is one of the better face-off men in the game but Rutherford has tried desperately to rid himself of Brind'Amour's bloated $5 million contract and hasn't found any takers. A pretty good career is starting to come to a close, Rod's always played through pain and injuries and it's starting to show but Brind'Amour should be able to handle the third line duties as maybe even the captaincy. If Brind'Amour is dealt, Kevyn Adams should be able to take the third line duties even though he might not be ideal for it. I wouldn't mind having coach Peter Laviolette trying Adams on the left wing of Brind'Amour.

Jesse Boulerice will grab one of the fourth line spots but don't be surprised if the Hurricanes move to get another enforcer choice as insurance - last year Joey Tertarenko was the insurance so the combination of Boulerice being re-signed and the release of Tertarenko might signal that Rutherford is no longer worried about potential concussion problems with Jesse. Still, I'd play it safe and pick up another goon. The last forward spot will probably land in the lap of Marty Murray. His versatility gives Laviolette a lot of options and he has a good set of skills on him but at 5-9, he's had some trouble actually getting the ice time in the NHL. Mike Zigomanis could wind up with a spot if Brendl fails to impress (most likely) or Ladd spends another year in juniors. Zigomanis has become an All-star calibre forward at the AHL level so its about time to let him show his stuff on the NHL stage. With the Hurricanes lacking in the scoring department, Zigomanis's creativity makes Hurricane brass drool - too bad Zigomanis is as slow as a sloth. In 36 career NHL games, he has only 2 goals and 4 assists with a -5. If Zigomanis doesn't stick in the NHL someday it'll be because of his skating. Ryan Bayda is a solid player who won't hurt the Hurricanes if they feel Ladd needs another year in Juniors and he'll be one of the first injury call-ups from the minors if he's not on the opening roster.

Last year's opening night defense for the Hurricanes made me drool. This year's set currently has some fairly large holes in it (mainly due to the departures of Danny Markov and Hill). Wesley, potentially the next captain and well deserving after all the years he's put in with the franchise, is another year older and has lost a step from his former no.2 self. At least you know what you're going to get out of Wesley now a days and he should be alright on the Carolina top pairing. He'll be joined by Bret Hedican, who's also getting up in years after 13 seasons. Like Brind'Amour, Hedican has been one of the most underapperiacated players over his career - mainly because Hedican quietly takes out forwards and rarely makes a mistake with his quickness.

Unfortantely, neither Wesley or Hedican can really run a powerplay so Rutherford has added 30 year old Frantisek Kaberle from rival Atlanta. Kaberle doesn't rack up points but at least he knows what he's doing out there on the point. Entering his sixth season, his career high in points is 29 (last year) and it shouldn't be expected that he'll blow that number away. Unfortunately for Carolina, he's the only one on their roster that I'd even use to QB the powerplay. Because of that, expect Brad Fast to find his way onto the roster. He's not very big, nor is he very smart in his own end but he moves the puck and could pot a couple goals on the rush. Even with Kaberle and Fast, Rutherford must address this need before the season starts.

After the first three, Carolina's defense is slim pickings of no.5s, 6s and 7s. Aaron Ward is a very good penalty killer but when he makes $2 million a year, you expect more out of him than just being a PK guy and a third pairing dman. Already 29, I don't see Niclas Wallin being much better than he is now. Picked up his game slightly when the team went to the Finals but even then he made mistakes. He's big and smart but he's also a pussy cat for someone 6-3 and 220 pounds. Few people work harder than Bruno St. Jacques and for that, he'll finally make the third pairing in Carolina. But the reason he has to work so hard is due to the fact that he's really not talented. He'll have trouble with the NHL's quicker forwards but he should be alright on the penalty kill where he can be an absolute beast in front of the net. He's come a long way for a ninth round pick who was never supposed to come close to the NHL but there's not much more ceiling left for him. Allan Rourke will be Carolina's first injury call-up from the blue line next season and might be capable of holding down the seventh dman spot if someone like Wallin or Ward (or both) are traded. 6-4, 230 beast Sean Curry is another option on call up but I just don't see him having enough talent to stick in the NHL.

In net, only Gerber is NHL calibre at the moment and for only $500k, you get a pretty good goalie ready to take the starting reins. He may completely flop as the main man so look for Rutherford to keep other options open. If he brought in a Chris Osgood or a Felix Potvin, it would be for more money than what Gerber makes so they wouldn't be backing him up. If either one of them are around on the market if Gerber struggles early, I could see them landing there. But for now - it's Gerber in net.

Fresh out of juniors, Cam Ward is probably the next best goalie in the organization but he'll need to get some minutes in Lowell of the AHL first before he's ready. Rob Zepp was qualified by the team when DesRochers and Storr were let go so maybe Zepp will find himself as the back-up. He has the ability to steal some games and he's a good guy to have in the locker room. But he's still maybe too young and just doesn't have a good frame at 6-1, 180. He needs to get more ripped at this point of his career. Daniel Boisclair sits in the shadows of the organization. He could be an absolute gem for the Hurricanes but people forget him because he's behind Ward and was a sixth round pick. He had a good junior career and has a projectable frame though he needs to add mass to his 6-2, 180 frame. With the right goalie coach to work with him, Boisclair is a dark horse but that's another three or four seasons down the road at the best and now the Hurricanes have added Magnus Akerlund, Kevin Nastiuk and Justin Peters to the organization. It might be too crowded in Carolina by then.

I feel the Hurricanes can improve and they certainly will offensively but their defense has taken a step backwards and is far from what Anaheim had in front of Gerber when he was there. Rutherford's taking a gamble on Gerber no matter how much I like Gerber. The gamble could pay off big or if it fails, there should be enough options out there to recoup on - it's not like anyone expects the club to make the playoffs this year. They'll more than likely will finish in the bottom eight clubs again this year. A lot hinges on whether Andrew Ladd can make the roster and play effectively. If he doesn't, Vrbata can slide over to the left side on the second line but the Hurricanes really could use another checking forward on that line. The team has a lot of young talent on the way in the next couple years and Danny Richmond will be an absolute steal when he leaves the college ranks. The future looks bright though I would concentrate next year's draft on picking up a couple role players for the third and fourth lines.

[b]1st LINE[/b] - O'Neill
[b]2nd LINE[/b] - Cole, Vasicek, Williams, Staal, Vrbata
[b]3rd LINE[/b] - Brind'Amour, Ladd
[b]4th LINE[/b] - Adams, Murray, Zigomanis, Brendl, Boulerice, Bayda

[b]1/2[/b] - Hedican, Wesley
[b]3/4[/b] - Kaberle
[b]5/6[/b] - Ward, Wallin, Fast, St.Jacques
[b]7s[/b] - Rouke, Curry

Cole-Staal-O'Neill
Ladd-Vasicek-Williams
Adams-Brind'Amour-Vrbata
Boulerice-Murray-Zigomani s

Wesley-Hedican
Kaberle-Ward
Fast-St.Jacques

Gerber-Zepp

[b]THINGS THE HURRICANES NEED TO DO IN THE REST OF THE OFFSEASON[/b]

1. Lock up a defenseman that can handle the PP and play as a fourth dman.
2. Sign an affordable back-up goalie for insurance
3. Sign a decent left winger so there's no pressure for Ladd to make the team
4. Try and add another checking forward for the right side
5. Sign another enforcer for insurance

Sorry I haven't been around the past day or two. A couple things came up as they're having tendency to do this summer and now NFL 2k5 is out so I'll be distracted by it from time to time for a month or two - more like a month with Madden coming soon but then that'll add what - another two or three months.

[b]NHL MOVEMENT[/b]

Nashville secured their depth in Milwaukee today by re-signing [b]Jamie Allison[/b], [b]Jeremy Stevenson[/b] and [b]Wyatt Smith[/b]. They also signed Cam Severson (Anaheim) and Jerred Smithson (Los Angeles) to deals. Allison and Stevenson will have fair shots at making the Preds out of camp but Allison, in all fairness isn't very good and I thought the re-signing of [b]Shane Hnidy[/b] would force Allison to job hunt elsewhere. Stevenson will add muscle to the fourth and a big body out in front for the powerplay. Smith, 27, will be aiming for the fourth line but so will Smithson - most likely one of them will wind up with the job unless Nashville moves to sign another center. [b]David Legwand[/b], [b]Denis Arkhipov[/b] and [b]Greg Johnson[/b] are expected to center the top three lines again in Nashville next year. Severson adds some more toughness to Milwaukee but he's not enough to handle an NHL job as an enforcer. Milwaukee defenseman [b]Ray Schultz[/b] bolted for New Jersey. With the addition of [b]Richard Matvichuk[/b] in New Jersey, Schultz is most likely looking for a job in Albany rather than the Meadowlands.

[b]Dave Andreychuk[/b] says the easy thing to do would be to go out on top. So he's going to be coming back for another season. Doesn't come as much of a surprise to me and I can't wait to see him back in the Black, White and Blue. I also hope Tampa offers him a job on the bench after next year so I can keep rambling about the T&A connection - (Tortorella and Andreychuk - not Test and Albert). Tampa also retains the services of [b]Chris Dingman[/b] (a multi-year deal) as well as [b]Nolan Pratt[/b] and [b]Brian Eklund[/b]. Retaining Dingman was almost a given as his muscle and energy from the fourth line have been vital to Tampa Bay and with [b]Jassen Cullimore[/b] out - signing with Chicago - Pratt was almost assured of a spot coming back. Pratt played exceptional down the stretch and in the playoffs while Cullimore was hurt. Eklund will be given the first shot at starting in Springfield of the AHL next season. His closest competition, the engimatic [b]Evgeny Konstantinov[/b] signed a two-year deal with Dynamo Moskava (Moscow Dynamo) and Jay Feaster did not qualify Konstantinov's NHL rights.

Speaking of Cullimore - great sign by the Chicago Blackhawks. It's not often that we can say something like that. Cullimore can play on one of Chicago's top pairs, add some muscle and teach the young kids a thing or two. Cullimore's addition to the blue line probably spells the end of [b]Bryan Berard[/b] however. Berard's filed for arbitration and the Hawks are supposedly ready to walk away from the sum. Berard would become the first player to have two teams do such a thing as Boston did the same thing last offseason. Watch Berard land on his feet - maybe back in Toronto or in Phoenix. Defensively, he's never going to get back to where he could have been before his eye injury but I'm sure he could bring a lot to a club like Phoenix.

[b]Mike Grier[/b] takes the Sabres qualifying deal for one year. Hopefully he's found a home for good after being bounced around a bit after his six years with the Oilers. He'll continue being a Sabre cog on the third line.

Colorado retains [b]Alex Tangauy[/b] and [b]Dan Hinote[/b]. They also add minor league center [b]Andre Savage[/b] to Hershey from Philadelphia (though he spent most of the season with Providence on loan)

The Panthers add depth to their San Antonio affiliate in the AHL by bringing back center [b]Serge Payer[/b] and defenseman [b]Burke Henry[/b] from Chicago. Payer played all of last year with Ottawa's affiliate in Binghamton. While I think of Payer as an AHL forward, his work ethic and his skill level is similar of that of recently departed [b]Byron Ritchie[/b] (to Calgary). He could very easily replace Ritchie if no other suitable replacement is found. Binghamton not only lost Payer but also [b]Brad Tapper[/b], acquired mid-season from Atlanta for [b]Daniel Corso[/b]. Tapper will suit up next season for the Nurnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL.

[b]Scott Mellanby[/b] has signed a two-year deal (yet to be finalized) with the Atlanta Thrashers. Here's the second line winger I said the Thrashers needed for their offense but at 38, is Mellanby going to be losing a step? He'll have a wealth of knowledge to teach the youngsters on the Thrashers like [b]Dany Heatley[/b]. They might be able to challenge for the eighth and final playoff spot out East but I'm going to play it safe and say it will be another year before they finally grab it. Mellanby has yet to win a championship and he probably won't in Atlanta but I'm not sure that will bother him so much. Scott's a great guy and great player, I hope anyone reading down in Atlanta will enjoy having him as part of your organization as much as we have enjoyed having him the past 4 and a half years in St Louis. I wish him the best of luck and a Stanley Cup.

Boston loses minor league forward [b]Matt Herr[/b] to the DEG Metrostars (Dusseldorf) of the DEL. Carolina retains [b]Jesse Boulerice[/b], their fourth line enforcer. Chicago added Cullimore but they also lost [b]Jason Strudwick[/b] to the New York Rangers - a pretty good trade off for the Hawks if you ask me. Strudwick gives the Rangers a defenseman that can play the right-side and may spell the end of [b]Dale Puriton[/b] on Broadway. Rangers also added big [b]Jeff MacMillan[/b] from the Stars to their blueline. MacMillan has potential but the door is starting to shut. Rangers also were able to re-sign underrated [b]Karel Rachunek[/b] and brought back [b]Lucas Lawson[/b], who has already been through two European clubs already this offseason. Dallas also lost [b]Gavin Morgan[/b] to Montreal but there was little hope of Morgan premenantly breaking into a Dallas Stars line-up that features [b]Mike Modano[/b], [b]Jason Arnott[/b], [b]Pierre Turgeon[/b] and [b]Niko Kapanen[/b] up the middle. Morgan will probably wind up in the AHL's Hamilton but Montreal would be easier to break into. Montreal re-signed promising offensive defesman [b]Ron Hainsey[/b] to a multi-year deal. Toronto minor-leaguer [b]Josh Holden[/b] has left the team for Morges in Switzerland.

[b]CROSBY IMPRESSES AT LA CAMP[/b]

Well, duh. Sidney Crosby attended the LA Kings rookie camp last week and the Kings can't stop raving about the 16 year old who's probably going to go first overall next year in the NHL draft and went first overall in the WHA amatuer draft. Crosby's agent has expressed since that his client has no desire to play in the WHA and that he's looking forward to going first overall in the NHL draft.

If you haven't heard of this kid, start learning the name because you'll be hearing it a lot and any team that does poorly next season will come under acquisations of 'tanking.' Everyone wants their hands on this kid and only one team will get him. Is he better than [b]Alexander Ovechkin[/b], this year's number one and a player I have been raving about for some time? It's possible but they're two very exciting and different players that shouldn't be compared but of course, it's never that simple. We live in a sports culture where everything and everyone must be continuely compared and ranked and rated. Yeah, I do it - we all do it. We want to know who's the best. They're both amazing players that I would kill to have on my roster and will, along with [b]Ilya Kovalchuk[/b], Heatley, [b]Eric Staal[/b], [b]Nikolai Zherdev[/b], [b]Rick Nash[/b], ect al will lead this sport into the next decade or two even. Let's pray that both Ovechkin and Crosby are as good as advertised because it's better for the league if they both succeed. Is Crosby being overrated? Slightly but that's what happens when [b]Wayne Gretzky[/b] himself says that if anyone can break his scoring records - its Crosby. Yeah that just creates unreal hype. Let's hope it doesn't crush him like it has to certain players like [b]Daniel Cleary[/b] and such.

NORFOLK CHANGES COLORS AND UNIFORM

For the Norfolk fans - the Chicago Blackhawks affiliate has decided to change their uniforms making them more like the parent club's uniforms.

The new logo (sweet) can be found here http://www.canoe.ca/AHL/News/...

The "new" jersey can be found here
http://www.blackhawkzone.com/futurehawks/07220402p g.php" title="http://www.blackhawkzone.com/futurehawks/07220402p g.php" target="_blank"http://www.blackhawkzone.com/...

I think it looks nice but I'm not always a fan of minor league clubs mimicing their parents in color schemes - look at the Cleveland Barons and the Hamilton Bulldogs - those two just don't work for me.

Also in AHL news - the AHL will approve the move of the Toronto Roadrunners to Edmonton where they will become the Edmonton Roadrunners and play their games at Rexall Place. They'll also continue to service the Edmonton Oilers. A nice convience to have your minor club in the same city.

TOMORROW

I'll take a look at some movie news that I want to share - as well as some NBA talk and NFL talk. And if anything else happens in the NHL - it'll be there too and if I can make time away from people - the Carolina preview should finally be finished.

Check out my NHL off-season looks. Carolina and Chicago are coming next.

ANAHEIM - http://www.tblog.com/template...
ATLANTA - http://www.tblog.com/template...
BOSTON - http://www.tblog.com/template...
BUFFALO - http://www.tblog.com/template...
CALGARY - http://www.tblog.com/template...

[b]NHL Notes[/b]

Detroit busy today trying to finalize their deal with [b]Brendan Shannahan[/b] and [b]Chris Chelios[/b] as well as signing [b]Bryan Helmer[/b] and [b]Eric Manlow[/b] to solidify the Grand Rapids Griffins. Helmer leaves the Canucks (Manitoba Moose) and Manlow leaves Bridgeport (NY Islanders).

Brian Boucher re-upped with the Coyotes - he'll fight with Brent Johnson for the Coyotes starting net job. But still wondering who the coach down there is going to be. [b]Joel Quenneville[/b], [b]Marc Habscheid [/b]and [b]Jacques Martin[/b] are all gone - will the Yotes actually turn to [b]Barry Melrose[/b]? God let's hope not. Just take the interim tag off of [b]Rick Bowness[/b] already and stop the speculation.

Boston avoids going to arbitration with [b]Hall Gill[/b] by signing him to a one-year deal, one day after signing Sergei Samsonov to a one-year contract. Sergei Gonchar remains in taking the team to arbitration. Another side note for Boston, [b]Andy Delmore[/b] has signed with Alder Mannheim (The Mannheim Eagles) - Boston cut Delmore on July 1st after acquiring him at the trade deadline in March.

Tomorrow Night I'll look at the rest of the sports world but right now ESPN NFL 2k5 beckons.

One game away from winning the Stanley Cup. It's a tough thing to take but the major question is - can the Calgary Flames make it back to the Finals? People have been pointing at the 2002 Carolina Hurricanes and the 2003 Anaheim Mighty Ducks and their failed attempts to even make the playoffs after losing in the finals. All three were lower seeds who rode hot goaltending, hard work and major gutty preformances to the finals and all three lost hard in the finals. So will the Flames have enough to compete in the Western Conference next year?

Calgary's defense of their Campbell Trophy is already clouded by the on-going labor disputes and the question if they can re-sign the stars of the 2004 Flames - [b]Jarome Iginla[/b] and [b]Miika Kiprusoff[/b]. Chris Simon and [b]Marcus Nilson[/b] have already been retained but the Flames also need to figure out if they're going to re-new the contracts of forward [b]Lynn Loyns[/b] and defensemen [b]Mike Commodore[/b], [b]Denis Gauthier [/b]and [b]Jordan Leopold[/b]. Also up for contract decisions are goalie [b]Dany Sabourin[/b], wingers [b]Dave Lowry[/b], [b]Dean McAmmond[/b] and [b]Martin Sonnenberg[/b] and defenseman [b]Jesse Wallin[/b]. Sadly the Flames have already lost two parts of their success last season - [b]Craig Conroy[/b] (to Los Angeles) and [b]Krzysztof Oliwa[/b] (to New Jersey). Other losses have been only to Calgary's minor league depth - [b]Garett Bembridge[/b] (ETC Crimmitschau), [b]Matt Davidson[/b] (Dusseldorf DEG) and [b]Robert Dome[/b] (Sodertalje).

Starting in net, will Kiprusoff be the man? He's one of two arbitration cases filed against the Flames (Gauthier, the other) and he'll definitely see an increase on his $880k salary. He played in 38 games last year but poked out 24 wins and a 1.70 GAA and a grand .933 save percentage. As much as fans trashed Kiprusoff's third place finish on the Vezina balloting, he was spot on last year when he played. And like a lot of goalies, when he's spot on - he's unbeatable. His angles are covered and he's not over-commiting to the shooter. He'll still make mistakes as he did in the playoffs but if he can keep opponents to 2 goals or less for the majority of his games, I don't see why he wouldn't be able to start 50 some-odd games. He's got the mental toughness and all the tools. Let's just lay off him for at least the off-season. His back-up, [b]Roman Turek[/b], is one of the much more maligned goalies in the league. One playoff melt down and it's going to forever haunt him. He's probably going to be a back-up for the rest of his NHL career and he seems fine with that notion - as evident by him re-structuring his contract to stay with the Flames behind Kiprusoff. He has a 42 win campaign and normally as a starter floats around the 30 win plateau (though 42 is the only time he's crossed it) so as much as Turek's hated - he's not going to hurt the Flames picking up 25-30 games behind Kiprusoff. The Flames did pick up [b]James Spatt[/b] in the seventh round of the draft but it seems as though Darryl Sutter is confident enough in former first rounder [b]Brent Krahn[/b] and highly touted (But highly fat as well) [b]Andrei Medvedev[/b]. Krahn has seemed to be on his way after some injury problems spelling the end of Sabourin's stint with the Calgary system.

In front of Kipper and Turek, the Flames have a pretty good defensive core. Actually, you're probably all sick on hearing about how good the guys are. The main strength is the crew's depth which might spell the end of Gauthier in Calgary. It's no surprise he filed for arbitration because his name has been in trade rumours for quite some time now especially seeing as he's probably going to tip over the $2 million mark. Sadly, last year's 80 games played is the most in his career - then he misses darn near the entire playoffs. He really needs to get out of Calgary and change his style of play because it's going to end his career early playing with the wreckless abandon that he does. IF the Flames don't try to deal him after the ruling, he'll most certainly be gone after next season.

If he's not in the top seven (though I feel the Flames may carry eight defensemen on the roster next year), no real worry. Robyn Regehr established himself as one of the league's top defensive defense in the finals run and playing every game of the regular season and post-season giving 100%. He had a +14 but he doesn't contribute offensively - if you want to say anything bad against him. Only 24, I think he's found himself and will only get better from here on out. Leopold is another Flames defensemen that can only get better. Sutter challenged him during the finals and he steped up and responded. He's a bit small but I bet the Ducks are kicking themselves for dealing him for [b]Andrei Nazarov[/b] (and the Flames also got the draft selection that turned into [b]Andrei Taratukhin [/b]- double ouch). He might not entirely be ready to run the Calgary power-play but give him a couple years. Until then, [b]Toni Lydman[/b] should handle the job just fine. Lydman is one of those underrated guys in the NHL - even more so as he missed most of the impressive part of the playoff run, coming back in the middle of the Finals. There's a concussion warning on him (missed 10 games this year) but when he's on the ice, the Calgary offense and defense are both so much better because of it. If they hadn't have gotten [b]Chris Drury[/b] in the deal, I would never understood why the Sabres got rid of [b]Rhett Warrener[/b]. Actually, I still don't understand. He may be 0-for-3 but its no coincedence he's been to three finals in 9 seasons in the NHL. You'd wish his career high in games played wasn't 79 (he's done 77 twice, including last year). He's not going to add anything offensively but he's not going to give up anything defensively. He's big, nasty and solid.

While those four have locks on the defense, the remaining spots are up for grabs. [b]Andrew Ference[/b] played out of his mind during the playoffs and Finals. If you had asked me during the season if Ference could be a big part of the Calgary Flames, I would have laughed at you. He maybe able to handle as a no.4 defenseman and carry the second unit of the powerplay. Sutter has done well with this one, its now up to Andrew whether or not he takes the next step up. [b]Mike Commodore[/b] and his goofy hair and bread made him a fan favourite but truth is, Commodore only played when the Flames were up in a game. If they weren't, he'd sit. He'll be given a chance in camp to win a spot but he's probably gunning for the 7th spot if anything. How good would [b]Steve Montador[/b] if he could skate better? He does well with what tools he has and he loves to shoot, I hope he gets a spot on the second power-play unit with Ference but he'll have to have a pretty good camp because there's the X-Factor - [b]Dion Phaneuf[/b]. Have you ever seen Darryl Sutter hug another man? No, you haven't. He loves Phaneuf that much and he's happy to have this guy on his team. Hell, the Calgary forwards are happy to have this guy on their team too - they aren't going to be hit by him. Just ask [b]Rostislav Olesz[/b]. He's good enough to play in the NHL right now and Sutter was even trying to sign him to a contract after his junior season was over so he could make the Finals roster. He's going to make mistakes out there next year but he's surrounding by a pretty good group that will teach him how to play his position to the best of his abilities. He'll be in the line-up on game one and he'll sit there through game eighty-two.
[b]Brennan Evans[/b] will be an injury call-up if need be.

Up front it's [b]Jarome Iginla[/b]...and everyone else. This team will go where Iginla goes. The major problem will be re-signing the best player in the game right now but the two sides will come to a deal. I don't think Iginla wants to leave Calgary and I don't think Calgary wants to leave Jarome. He'll pot another 40-50 goals and be in line for another MVP vote.

For as well as the Flames did last year, they did it without probably their next best player - [b]Seven Reinprecht[/b]. Reinprecht only played in 44 regular season games and none of the postseason due to a nagging shoulder injury he suffered in October that finally shelved him for good in March. He should be fully healthy after surgery - he better be or the loss of Conroy is going to hurt more. For a second line player, he doesn't put up a lot of numbers though. But he should benefit statisically from playing along side Iginla much like Conroy and Dean McAmmond did.

The Flames do have a trio of young players that could form into a formible second line even though they still might be far from handling the load. [b]Oleg Saprykin[/b] showed quite a few flashes and has matured quite a bit lately. If he puts his whole package together, he'll he a decent force for the second line. Much like Saprykin, Chuck Kobasew has all the talent - he just needs to put it together. Right now, if Kobasew doesn't have the puck, he's pretty much a liability but he stuck in Sutter's line-up 70 games (8 he missed with a shoulder injury) and all 26 playoff games so he is improving a lot but that -12 is ugly. The third of the trio is the speedy [b]Matthew Lombardi[/b] - that is if he's not still feeling the concussion caused by a vicious elbow from [b]Derian Hatcher[/b]. His rookie season added 16 goals that I don't think the Flames would have gotten from another source so he was a great help. His defense needs a bit of polish but he was +4. If these three can put together break-out years, the Flames could be a force to reckon with and its possible.

The rest of the Flames forwards are a nice collection of third and fourth liners that Sutter adores so much. [b]Martin Gelinas[/b] quickly became a fan favourite knocking off the Canucks and then the Red Wings as he did. He can score them in buckets and he's going to give 110% every night, that's why he came to Calgary. He's not going to put up much more than 15-20 goals but he's such a positive influence on the young kids in the line-up. And so is [b]Stephane Yelle[/b], who played until he passed out with that hip injury. Hopefully he's rested from all his small and nagging injuries because he's now the best face-off weapon the Flames have now that Conroy's gone - though I can't remember a time when Yelle was ever 100%. He's usually 80% at best, and that's good enough.

[b]Ville Nieminen[/b], hate him...or hate him, he's very good at what he does - pissing people off. And he'll pop in a goal every now and then to rub salt in the wounds. He'll do stupid things that can cost his team in the wrong moments but he's usually good at what he does. [b]Marcus Nilson[/b] will probably either join Yelle's flank or take Yelle's spot if he's not healthy enough to lace them up. He's in the right place for his high energy play and the Flames will benefit from having him for entire season now. [b]Chris Clark[/b] works in the corners - no he's not a whore, he's just good at digging pucks out of the corners and pissing people off in front of the net. He'll either be on the third or fourth line creating chances for his teammates. Tough-guy [b]Chris Simon [/b]will toil on the fourth line and use his size on the powerplay units. He could be suffice enough to play on the second line but honestly, that wouldn't bode well for the Flames.

The spares up front could include [b]Shean Donovan[/b], [b]Byron Ritchie[/b] and [b]Lynn Loyns[/b]. Donovan put up a career season in - believe it or not - every category last year. Still has never scored a game-tying goal in his career but he only has 85 in 618 career games. Let's face it - Donovan has tremendous speed and can work as a checker but the guy has hands of stone. Career year but he's still a spare part or a fourth liner at best. Ritchie is just a stop-gap in case either Yelle or Reinprecht can't go next season. He's meant to center the fourth line and again - his work ethic is next to none. Too bad he just might be one of the slowest skaters on the team. Loyns, acquired from San Jose in a seperate deal than the Kiprusoff trade will wind up being a defensive injury call-up. He plays a lot bigger than he is though and may find himself in the line-up if someone slacks off. Minor leaguers [b]Carsen Germyn[/b] and [b]Patrik Nilson[/b] could possiblely see some time during the regular season.

One thing for sure is the Flames won't be out-worked or out-muscled in games. Some times they may border on cheap-shot artists but they're a team you're not going to want to play. With Iginla, you know you have an MVP canididate in place, now players like Leopold and Regehr have broken-out. If the Flames can get break out seasons from some of the youngster forwards and Kiprusoff and Turek stay strong in net, I don't see why the Flames couldn't defend their Western Conference crown and securely make he playoffs again as the 5th or 6th seed. But who's going to coach the club? Darryl Sutter said he'd love to step down and be just the GM of the club. Could the job finally fall into the hands of [b]Jim Playfair[/b]? I felt Playfair should have gotten the job two years ago but the organization went with Sutter and honestly, that's been the best choice the franchise has made in years. No offense to Playfair but he would have never been able to instill the confidence and identity into the Flames that Sutter has. But now, with Sutter residing over the team as GM, Playfair wouldn't have to do such a thing.

[b]1st LINE[/b] - Iginla
[b]2nd LINE [/b]- Reinprecht
[b]3rd LINE[/b] - Gelinas, Yelle, Nilson, Nieminen, Saprykin, Kobasew, Lombardi, Clark
[b]4th LINE[/b] - Simon, Donovan, Ritchie, Loyns, Germyn

[b]1/2s[/b] - Regehr
[b]3/4s[/b] - Lydman, Gauthier, Leopold
[b]5/6s[/b] - Ference, Warrener, Phaneuf
[b]7 s[/b] - Montador, Commodore

Gelinas-Reinpretch-Iginla
Saprykin-Lombardi-Kobasew
Nieminen-Yelle-Nilson
Simon-Ritchie-Clark

Regehr-Lydman
Leopold-Warrener
Ference-Gauthier

Kiprusoff-Turek

Things the Flames need to do in the offseason
1. Re-sign Iginla long-term
2. Re-sign Iginla long-term (yes, its that important)
3. Maybe add another center if Reinprecht or Yelle aren't healthy enough by camp
4. Find the trade value of Gauthier
5. Re-sign Kiprusoff to long-term

The Sabres missed the playoffs last season but it wasn't for a lack of trying. They actually did better than I thought they would and I had Lindy Ruff marked as the first NHL coach to be axed during the season. Many of you may remember my anti-Ruff comments in the pre-season but he did a lot with this team. But that doesn't get him off the hot seat. A lot of players under his command just haven't progressed as well as they should have and some have even regressed but Ruff currently has my attention.

But the offseason might not be kind to the small-market Sabres despite the team having stable ownership for the first time in recent memory. Buffalo may loose their top defenseman in [b]Alexei Zhitnik[/b] to free agency and have 8 of their group II free agents going to arbitration hearings. Their next best defenseman ([b]Dmitri Kalinin[/b]) has already signed a back-up deal to play in Russia next season and one of their more promising wingers ([b]Maxim Afinogenov[/b]) also has a deal in place for Russia. Even then there are still 9 more Group II free agents to worry about for GM [b]Darcy Reiger[/b]. Already gone are forwards [b]Jason Botterill[/b], [b]Karel Mosovsky[/b], [b]Dominic Pittis [/b](Kloten Flyers in Switzerland), [b]Scott Ricci[/b] and defensemen [b]Brian Chapman[/b], [b]David Cullen[/b] and [b]Rick Mrozik[/b] though beyond the AHL's Rochester club, these subtractions won't have any real impact.

If Regier isn't able to re-sign Zhitnik to the blueline, he'll have to make a decision on [b]James Patrick[/b], the "old man winter" of the NHL. Even at 41 years old and 21 seasons in the NHL, Patrick can still pull his own weight and play a regular NHL shift. He's also a valuable right-handed shot but the Sabres currently carry three of those. Can he provide enough leadership and example for the younger players to warrent taking a spot away from a youngster? If all goes well out of arbitration and they're able to lure Kalinin back from Russia, the Sabres do have all seven defense spots filled theoretically.

Kalinin would be a large hole to fill as he can suck up large minutes and won't hurt you in any situation though he is largely invisible most nights - which in most cases - is a good thing. [b]Jay McKee[/b] use to be one of my favourite dmen but a nagging knee injury has limited his play lately and it didn't help that [b]Rhett Warrener[/b], his defense partner, was dealt to Calgary. Not saying Warrener made McKee look good but he didn't hurt. McKee still makes some mental errors at 26 and you have to wonder if he'll ever get over those. 99 times out of 100, he's fine but he'll make a bone head move every now and then that just kills you to watch. [b]Henrik Tallinder[/b] is a defensemen I'd like to keep an eye on. The guy can move and he can shoot. I don't see him ever being an offensive go-to-guy on the blue line but you can't let him have any open space. I see some untapped potential in him that few people seem to see and he could be a nice minute-eater for the blue line with Kalinin. The top four will be rounded out by [b]Jeff Jillson[/b]. He'll most likely be the guy running the power-play if Zhitnik isn't retained. At 23, he still makes poor decisions in when to pinch in on plays but he's learning.

[b]Brian Campbell[/b] will probably hold down the second powerplay unit and will find himself in the line-up to add creativity but he could also find himself sitting in the press box just as easily as he doesn't add that much. Alternatives come in [b]Rory Fitzpatrick[/b] and [b]Brad Brown[/b]. Fitzpatrick is the grandpa of the group at 29 and won't hurt the team as a 6/7 guy on the blue line but he can't add a whole lot. Brown is a capable sixth dman but as a former 1st round pick (18th in 1994 to Montreal) you have to quince. He could possible replace the blue line leadership void caused by the depature of Patrick. [b]Doug Janik [/b]and [b]Nathan Paetsch[/b] will be he possible injury-call-ups from Rochester - Janik the closest to being able to help, Paetsch with the most potential.

In net, the top two choices - [b]Martin Biron[/b] and [b]Mika Noronen [/b]- are both going to arbitraion and Rochester starter [b]Ryan Miller[/b] is also without a contract for next year. With a 26-18-5 record, Biron has finally established himself as the number one goalie in Buffalo but could use a lot more fat - weighing in at only 168 pounds over a 6-2 frame. Add some weight and stanima and Biron should enter the upper echelon of NHL goalies. But there's Noronen looking over his shoulder and he projects better at 200 pounds over his 6-2 frame and a year younger (as well as almost $1.5 million cheaper - at the moment). He was 11-17-2 in the relief of Biron however. If you improve Noronen's record by just a game or two, this team makes the playoffs. For a Finnish goalie, he could use work on his lateral movement. Noronen's got all the makings of an elite goalie but it will have to be some where else - I think it's Biron's job and not up for grabs now.

Miller, 24, took a small step back last year after impressing in his first pro season. I saw a lot of Miller in Juniors and then in college and I know he's got the stuff be a top line goalie too. What a problem to have - three young goalies that have the stuff to be elite goalies. When Miller's "on" he possesses the power to be better than Biron hands down but if he has an off-night, he's over-commiting, slow on getting down and a tad bit too agressive. Don't get me wrong - his agression against the shooter can be a great thing but when it starts causing him to commit early, he's off for the whole night.

Up front, you can't talk about the Sabres and not talk about [b]Miroslav Satan[/b]. He posseses a wealth of talent and I'd take as one of the top players in the game right now. He does have a tendency to get lazy from time to time on his shifts but he's enough of a scoring threat the other times on the ice that it's worth over looking.

Behind Satan is a glut of potential second line players - namely the two centers [b]Daniel Briere[/b] and [b]Chris Drury[/b]. Briere packs a lot of skill into his 5-10 frame and probably would be a top line star in the NHL if he had a couple more inches. He had 28 goals last year but if he's not scoring or setting up goals, he's a bit clueless in the netural and defensive zones. Drury's developed such a cult following that I'm sure someone will threaten to burn me at the cross for saying that Drury's a second liner but at 5-11, he is. But now that his family has settled a bit, he should be looking to improve on his back-to-back 53 point seasons. He did last year's 53 points in four fewer games and with 17 point increase in +/-. About 20 goals and 30 assists is what should be expeced out of him.

On the wings you have [b]Jochen Hecht[/b], [b]Jean-Pierre Dumont[/b], and [b]Ales Kotalik [/b]are all capable of holding a shift on the second line. I find Hecht extremely underrated offensively and defensively - 64 games, 52 points and a +17. He would have been better if he hadn't missed 17 games with a broken arm and he's going to arbitration with that in mind. Hecht could find himself any where (as he plays all three forward positions) and may even wind up as the third line pivot. Dumont was supposed to be a goal scoring machine - you put him on the ice, pull the crack or whatever and he scores a goal. Well he's pocketed 23 twice and 22 last year but he also has put up some rather ugly minus ratings. At 26, I'm almost afraid to say - what you see is what you get with Dumont. He has yet to learn defense or how to use his body effectively. If he would just use his body, he could be netting 30+ each season and be hands down a top line guy. A shoulder injury brought Kotalik back a little bit but he should be fine in his third season. He's 25, in his third season - it's about time for him to break-out soon. I can see him as a consistent 20 goal scorer who, unlike Dumont, won't hurt the Sabres defensively. He's just not much of a passer though.

Afinogenov should have exploded by now and reached the 50 point plateau at the very least. I'll again call for a break-out season and could give the Sabres yet another weapon on the wings. Pint-sized [b]Derek Roy[/b] should look to build on his 19 points in 49 games season but he could just as easily wind up back in Rochester with Drury and Briere occupying the center position on the top two lines. And don't forget [b]Tim Connolly[/b]. At 23, his career is in doubt, missing all of last season with post-concussion syndrome. To me, Connolly was the best player out of the 1999 draft crop so it would be a shame if he was done but Buffalo did qualify his contract so they must expect him to be back in the line-up. Could he show enough defense to pivot the third line? A year off of hockey probably says no.

[b]Taylor Pyatt[/b], [b]Mike Grier[/b] and [b]Adam Mair [/b]are also locks for the roster. I have to keep reminding myself that Pyatt is only 22 because he's been frustrating to watch at the NHL level. The Islanders rushed him and he might be forever damaged because of it. There's a lot of differing opinions on how good of a player he could be - at one point I saw him as a potential 40 goal man but 40 goals in today's NHL just might be stretching it. He's not going to hurt the Sabres defensively so he'll continue to grow offensively pulling a shift on the third line. Grier, acquired at the deadline, is one of those guys I'd love to have on my third line and he's capable of using his size to chip in about 15 goals a year. Sabres did pretty well to steal him from the Capitals. Mair takes over the all-important fourth line aggitator role. Seems like every team in the league needs somebody like Mair so he'll always have a job at the NHL level. He still isn't the sharpest tool in the shed and will do some dumb things but he'll have a regular spot in the line-up all year.

The remaining spots will be battled over by a group of fourth liners. [b]Andrew Peters[/b] probably took over the enforcing job from [b]Eric Boulton[/b] for good - not that that was a hard job to do. Boulton will have to fight Peters, literally, for his job in camp. If neither Connolly or Roy can hold down the third line center position, [b]Paul Gaustad[/b] might get a crack at it. He needs some more polish but he's an upcoming two-way player. If push comes to shove, there's always career minor leaguer [b]Chris Taylor[/b] - 1 game shy of his 150th NHL game since the 94-95 season. [b]Milan Bartovic[/b] or [b]Norm Milley[/b] could also push their way onto the roster as well. Bartovic is an interesting talent because he's too good to waste as a checker but his hands aren't up to snuff. He might always be a border line NHLer if he doesn't watchout. Milley has been so close to making the NHL roster for the past couple of years, I'm beginning to wonder if he ever will. He's not big on talent but he's like the Energizer Bunny - he never quits. I think he'd be a prefect player for [b]Darryl Sutter[/b] up in Calgary.

[b]Michael Ryan[/b], [b]Jason Pominville[/b] and [b]Sean McMorrow[/b] all are long shots at the roster but cold find themselves called up during the season. The real longshot could be Minneosta Golden Gopher forward [b]Tomas Vanek[/b]. There's not much more for Vanek to learn at the US College ranks and he believes he is ready for pro hockey but the Sabres and Vanek's agent can't seem to come to terms. The WHA could be a destination if he doesn't want to return to Minnesota for his junior season. Anyone who's seen Vanek through his days in the USHL and the Univerisity of Minnesota knows this kid is a wiz with the puck and should be a first line NHLer giving Satan a little help at the top of the line-up maybe as soon as this year.

I think the Sabres will make the playoffs. They played in a pretty tough division - at one point last year, every team in the Northeast Division was over .500. It'll still be a tough division but Boston probably takes a step back and Ottawa's re-tooling has been questionable. Toronto will be there at the top and Montreal will be gunning for the bottom half of the playoff bracket again so it won't be an easy task but the Sabres I think are good enough up front and this could be the year Biron establishes himself. The defense could use some work but Tallinder and Kalinin can soak up a lot of minutes and a healthy Mckee and an older, better Jillson could gel into two very solid pairings.

[b]1st LINE[/b] - Satan
[b]2nd LINE[/b] - Briere, Drury, Hecht, Dumont, Kotalik
[b]3rd LINE [/b]- Grier, Afinogenov, Pyatt, Roy, Connolly
[b]4th LINE[/b] - Mair, Bartovic, Gaustad, Peters, Milley, Taylor, Boulton, Pominville

[b]1/2 -[/b]
[b]3/4 - [/b]Kalinin, Mckee, Tallinder
[b]5/6 -[/b] Jillson, Brown, Fitzpatrick
[b]7 s - [/b]Campbell, Janik, Paetsch

Kotalik-Briere-Satan
Dumont-Drury-Afinogenov
Pyatt-Hecht-Grier
Peters-Gaustad-Mair

Mckee-Kalinin
Tallinder-Jillson
Brown-Fitzpatrick

Biron-Noronen

Things the Sabres need to do in the offseason
1. Secure Kalinin for next season
2. Secure another defenseman
3. Figure out your options at third line center
4. See the current fetching price of Noronen
5. Just survive all the arbitration cases

Remember to take a look at my NHL off-season previews.

[b]ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS[/b] - http://www.tblog.com/template...
[b]ATLANTA THRASHERS[/b] - http://www.tblog.com/template...
[b]BOSTON BRUINS[/b] - http://www.tblog.com/template...

As well as my previous "column" -
http://www.tblog.com/templates/index.php?bid=TheFrenchie&stati c=233488" title="http://www.tblog.com/templates/index.php?bid=TheFrenchie&stati c=233488" target="_blank"http://www.tblog.com/template...

Expect the Buffalo Sabres to be up next real soon. If anyone wants me to do their team early, I'm all for going out of order.

And Remember to VOTE for me as a Featured BLOG every week.

[b]TAMPA HIRES DIRK GRAHAM[/b]

NHL headlines have been fairly subdued the past couple of days. Today the Tampa Bay Lightning named former Chicago Blackhawks head coach [b]Dirk Graham[/b] the head coach of the AHL's Springfield Falcons, taking over for [b]Marty McSorely[/b]. This season the Falcons become exclusive to the Lightning as the Phoenix Coyotes have severed their relationship with the Falcons. This is a big boost for the Lightning, who can now finally develop their glut of prospects in their own system. Is Graham the right coach? He was one heck of a hard nosed player but his coaching skills needed polishing in Chicago, where he took over the bench job without any prior coaching expierence at any level. With so many eligible canididates out there for [b]Jay Feaster[/b] to choose for this job, he must feel confident enough in letting Graham teach the younger Lightning.

Graham will start off his job with a pretty decent AHL centermen in [b]Craig Darby[/b], signed today to a two-way deal with the Lightning.

[b]WHA STOCKS ITS ROSTER[/b]

The World Hockey Association stocked its rosters by holding a 30 round Free Agent draft and a 30 round 'amatuer' draft over the weekend. The eight team league still went ahead with its draft despite having one franchise without a general manager or staff to make their selections and having one franchise that doesn't even have a city or a name yet. And you're hoping to play by October? I'm trying not to laugh because you're trying to be serious about starting an up-start league but how can any one take you serious with that website?

http://www.worldhockeyassociation.net/" title="http://www.worldhockeyassociation.net/" target="_blank"http://www.worldhockeyassocia...

The Free Agent draft saw [b]Simon Gagne[/b] go first overall to the Quebec Nordiks (Nordiques is trade marked by the NHL) with the Halifax Ice Breakers taking [b]Travis Green[/b] second. The Detroit Cougars followed up with [b]Dany Heatley[/b] third and the Hamilton Tigers took [b]Michael Ryder[/b] fourth. Toronto's franchise took [b]Joe Thornton[/b] fifth and the undecided locale (WHA just broke off talks with Orlando) took [b]Todd Bertuzzi[/b] with the next pick. [b]Eric Lindros [/b]went 7th to Dallas and the Florida franchise took [b]Brad Richards[/b] eighth to close out of the first round.

The amateur draft went a little more predictable with Toronto snagging [b]Sidney Crosby[/b] 1st overall as expected. [b]Tomas Vanek[/b] (Hamilton), [b]Andre Benoit [/b](Detroit), Corey Locke (Hamilton), [b]Dion Phaneuf[/b] (Toronto from Dallas), [b]Steve Bernier [/b](Quebec), [b]Patrick O'Sullivan [/b](Florida) and [b]Brent Seabrooke[/b] (Unknown Franchise) went in the first round.

So is the league a joke? A lot of people are laughing at the draft lists. Well c'mon folks - they only have a $10 million salary cap - it's not like they were going to snag up all the NHL superstars and the ones that they did were either just throw away picks or wild dream picks. Maybe [b]Ilya Kovalchuk[/b] might pick to play for your $5 million salary exception (quite a bit more than he makes in the NHL or would in the RSL) in case of the lock-out - then who looks stupid? And if he doesn't go for it, you've at least got another star you drafted that you can entice. Plus remember, they couldn't draft players with NHL contracts in place - so all of those wondering why [b]JS Aubin[/b] went before [b]Marc-Andre Fleury[/b], who wasn't even drafted in the free agent or amatuer draft, its because MA Fleury has a contract folks. You'd think a name like 'Free Agent draft' would have given the purpose away but it still seems to be a point people are missing.

This draft was more about signability than anything else. It's a dreaded word but there you go. But for a league that berates the NHL for throwing around money to players that don't deserve it, isn't it a bit hypocritical that you're throwing around those eight $5 million salary expections foolishly? Toronto will definitely try to lure soon-to-be 18 year old Crosby out of junior hockey with a big money contract and hope that he's the center piece to the league much the same as [b]Wayne Gretzky[/b] was the center piece to the first WHA. A $5 million contract to [b]Martin St. Louis[/b]? [b]Mike Rebiero[/b]? Of course none of these players have accepted deals but that's what we're talking about.

Why'd Gretzky go to the first WHA over the NHL? At the time, the two leagues were pretty damn equal. It wasn't until the NHL started losing out to the WHA that they turned it into the next gear and smashed them. The WHA would have failed on its own but it would have made one hell of a wound in the NHL if the NHL didn't do what it had to do. This WHA is an opportunistic league that's moving too fast and trying to cash in on the NHL's misfortunates. Sure the league's in a weakened state but the NHL is still the superior league in this case and they have little leverage beyond the lock-on to encourage players to come to the WHA.

The first WHA threw money at players to get them to come over (mind you that it wasn't that much but relative to today, it was a boat load of money) here they can only do that to eight players. The rest have to fit under their team's $10 million cap. But will five million be enough to entice Crosby out of the QMJHL to play "pro" hockey? Everyone says that the WHA will have more talent than the CHL Juniors - sorry but let's see, after the NHL stars drafted say no and a good chunk of the fringe players go over to Europe for job security and a decent paycheck, that leaves you with a whole bunch of garbage players and maybe a couple of "gems" here and there. The WHA expects that a good portion of its rosters will be filled from not the free agent draft but the amatuer draft - the 18, 19, 20 year olds and the level that Crosby is currently playing at. So what you through in some AHLers or a fourth line NHLer? A majority of the players they're going to appeal to are the Junior age players not making squat. A $200k contract is more enticing to them than it is an NHLer. And still, a good chunk of those amatuers are still just going to bide their time and wait for the NHL to start back up again. So we're looking at a league of Crosby and a whole bunch of [b]Jarrod Skaldes[/b], [b]JS Aubins[/b], and [b]Tim Brents[/b].

Will the league work? For how long, I don't know but this reminds me of the time I tried to build an airplane when I was 9 - I put weeks and weeks into that thing but I just couldn't get it off the ground.

[b]BRITISH OPEN[/b]

Congrats to [b]Todd Hamilton[/b], a 38 year old PGA rookie who won his first Major. Some players go their whole lives and not win one of the big ones. A very select few win one in their first year with the tour. Look how long it took Phil to take one. And still [b]Mickelson[/b] and Tiger are almost always the favourites to win these events. And still when Tiger doesn't win its a shame to the media. Oh my God - Tiger's now 0-for-9 in his last nine majors!!!!

PLEASE!!! It happens! A lot of guys are worse. Does Tiger deserve his top spot on the PGA tour rankings? Probably not and right now [b]Earnie Els[/b], Phil and I'll admit it, [b]Reitif Goosen[/b] have pulled ahead of him. While I'm already picking Goosen, Adam Scott and "God-I-hate-him-but" [b]Vijay Singh [/b]for the PGA championship but I hope Tiger wins it just so he doesn't go 0-for-10 marking the apocolypse that ESPN believes will come if he reaches double digits like every other golfer.

I watched a little bit of the Open but the bad taste in my mouth from the US Open is still lingering. The golf looked good but the only golf I'm going close to lately has been [b]Mario Golf: Advanced Tour[/b] for the Gameboy.

[b]DIVAC TO THE LAKERS?[/b]

[b]Vlade Divac[/b] says he's on the verge of leaving the Kings for the rival Lakers, where he started his career all the way back in 1989. I remember when Divac was the MAN in LA but this just doesn't feel right. If you were wanting to join the old guys for a championship run - you're a year too late Vlade. The Kings are really stiffing him by asking him to take almost a $10 million pay cut while the Lakers are offering him almost $5.9 million, double the $2.5 the Kings are offering. I don't blame the Kings as the luxery tax hurt them last year but he's been good to you guys. Where's the love?

[b]KRISTIN DUNST WATCH OUT[/b]

While I believe the Mary Jane role in the Spider-Man franchise is beneath [b]Kristin Dunst[/b] 's acting ability, she may want to keep her mouth shut or she'll garner the wrath of the mighty, mighty fan-boys. In an interview done in Australia found here http://hoyts.ninemsn.com.au/n...

[i]"The next one will be it. I'm only contracted to 3 and don't see myself signing for a 4th or a 5th," says Dunst, emphatically. Asked if she would love to see her Mary Jane character killed off in Spider-Man 3, Dunst laughs. "It would actually be really interesting if SPIDER-MAN died. Why doesn't the superhero ever die? I think if Mary Jane was alone, pregnant and he died, she could give birth to a spider baby and carry on the series with another young boy or something like that. I doubt Tobey Maguire would come back for a 4th or a 5th either." [/i]

While I kinda figured that Spider-Man 3 would be it for Dunst, she should have just said that instead of giving her tale on how she'd rape the source material. Don't give the people making Marvel films (or Warner Brothers and the DCU films) any more ideas, lady. Why don't more super-heroes die? MAYBE BECAUSE THEy'RE SUPER HEROES?!?!?! Kristin, go watch Spider-Man 2 again - I know it's hard to sit through - but listen to Rosemarry Harris's speech on heroes and what they mean. It was probably one of the few great moments in that movie. And that there is why more super heroes don't die. And plus if you do kill off a superhero - say [b]Hal Jordan[/b] or [b]Barry Allan[/b] - good luck geting the fans of that character off your back for the next decade forcing you to bring them back. I'm sure every day there's a group numbering in the 7 digits that curse Marvel and wish for Petoir Rasputin or Betsy to return to the pages of X-Men. The fan base can be very vicious when you mess with their beloved characters. Hell, even the not so beloved characters can rile people up - just look at the backlash towards [b]Halle Berry[/b] starring in [b]Catwoman[/b].

Spider-Baby? Do you actually see that connecting to everyone in the audience? The reason why Peter Parker, Spider-Man is so popular is the character connects to every one at some level or another. A little kid in a red and blue diaper swinging through New York City battling Mini-Goblin, the strange love-child between Harry Osborne and dunt-dunt-da Gwen Stacy, might be cute for like three seconds but who the hell is really going to connect with that or care by the end of the opening credits? Now the Vulture v Spider-Baby would be great with gramps being beat up by a toddler but c'mon.

I'm not saying "don't make stories that aren't in the source material," because that would be boring but Spider-Baby is too far out of the relm for me or anyone else. Do I need to remind you how bad some of the [b]Look Who's Talking[/b] movies were? Adding web-shooters and MJ being a single mom isn't going to make that idea any better.

Funny how there's rumours that Dunst and Tobey MaGuire don't get along. And the only way she'd come back is if they kill off Tobey's character? Hmm, I think there's a lot of truth to that.

But Kristin, remember, there's a lot of hacks writing in Hollywood - if your character was preganent they'd kill you off for shock value and cheap heat because they're hack writers. Ok in all reality the crew that did the first two movies are far from hacks but that's the only possible scenario I see if Mary Jane got knocked up. She's Mary Jane though - almost as important as Spider-Man/Peter Parker (though judging through the first two films, I'm sure you can't tell between her and a contrived plot device) and as long as there is Spider-Man, there will be Mary Jane - be it Kristin Dunst or another actress.

In all reality, fan boys don't have any power but we can sure make a lot of negative comments towards you and make fun you on message boards...or random blogs....or to our imaginary buddies. And you wouldn't want us to do that now, would you?

Where do you begin with the Bruins? This is shaping up to be one horrible off-season for GM Mike O'Connell. His staff put together a pretty solid show at the draft despite not picking until late in the second round. But star [b]Joe Thornton[/b] is reportedly upset at the team and the city of Boston and wants out. And Bruins fans can't figure out why? Maybe because most of the media and a good portion of the Boston 'faithful' trashed Thornton day in and day out during the playoffs? Did he deserve criticism in that first round exit? Yes but Boston seemed ready to run him out of town, and now that he wants out, everyone can't seem to part with him?

Well he's taking the team to arbitration and planning to play in Switzerland (HC Davos) in case of the lock-out. Defensemen [b]Sergei Gonchar[/b] and [b]Hal Gill[/b] will also join him in arbitration. Calder winner [b]Andrew Raycroft[/b] will be due a large raise and there's still [b]Sergei Samsonov[/b] to resign despite coming off a rough year. Fowards [b]Mike Knuble[/b] (Philadelphia) and [b]Brian Rolston[/b] (Minnesota) and defenseman [b]Sean O'Donnell [/b](Phoenix) have all left without so much as even talking to the Bruins and [b]Travis Green[/b] (drafted by the WHA), [b]Glen Murray [/b](maybe Toronto), [b]Michal Nylander[/b] (does Sweden beckon?), [b]Rob Zaumner [/b](would look good on a young team's fourth line), [b]Dan McGillis[/b] (talking to Dallas), [b]Jiri Slegr[/b] (probably back to Russia) and [b]Felix Potvin[/b] (Colorado bound at last?) could all join them on the way out if O'Connell can't re-sign them. [b]Rich Brennan[/b] has already left a possible opening on the Bruins blueline for job secruity in Switzerland (Bern), [b]Zdenek Kutlak[/b] has returned to Karlovy Vary, [b]Tim Thomas[/b] has secured himself a starting gig in Finland (Jokerit Helsinki) and [b]Ted Donato[/b] will start what is sure to be a great head coaching career at the Univerisity of Harvard. We're still not done as [b]Andy Delmore[/b], [b]Mike Gellard[/b], [b]Michal Grosek[/b], [b]Patrick Leahy[/b], [b]Craig MacDonald[/b], [b]Peter Metcalf[/b], [b]Eddy Campbell[/b], [b]Carl Corrazini[/b], [b]Doug Doull,[/b] [b]Matt Herr[/b], [b]Darren Van Oene[/b] and [b]Chris Paradise[/b] have also been giving their full walking papers.

Yeah Mike O'Connell has really cleaned the house - so far the only free agent retained has been [b]Ian Moran[/b] on the blueline. Usually a fringe player or a seventh defensemen, Moran may have a regular spot almost by default next year. If the Bruins don't walk away from Gonchar and Gill's arbitration rulings (something they did last year in the case of [b]Bryan Berard[/b]), the three will be joined by all-star [b]Nick Boynton[/b] and mobile [b]Jonathan Girard[/b]. While only 24, Girard could be a very potent weapon from the blue line - too bad he hasn't played in well over a year due to a fractured pelvis sustained in a car accident. Still Gonchar and Boynton are both capable 1/2 calibre dmen and Gill can work as a 4 and if Girard is healthy that gives them a good top two pairings. Unfortuanately that leaves Moran as their 5th dman and no one capable to fill the 6th spot on the NHL roster. Right handed [b]Milan Jurcina[/b] could fill the void as he made great impressions at Bruins training camp a year ago and had a promising rookie season in the AHL but at 21, he may still need some more bulk and polish. AHL vet and former Tampa Bay draft pick (11th round, 268th in 1994) [b]Brian White[/b] is probably the next best thing under contract. [b]Kevin Dallman[/b] has enjoyed two years with Providence but at 5-11 might be too small for the NHL.

Up front the Bruins look a little bit better but have holes and question marks. I pretty much am going to assume that the Bruins won't walk away from Thronton's one-year arbitration ruling and the two sides kiss and make up. I really don't see Thronton out of a Bruins uniform just yet. He gives them a first line center and a franchise player. Behind him is [b]Patrice Bergeron[/b], entering his sophomore year. He had an amazing run last year as the youngest player in the NHL and he helped stop-gap the Bruins at the second line center postion for a while until the acquistion of Nylander before the deadline. Sure he had a decent rookie year and worked for a little bit in that position but can he do it again? Can he do it for an entire season? The Bruins are praying that he does but I'd feel more comfortable with a back-up solution just in-case.

[b]Kris Vernarsky[/b] looks like he could be ready to step into the third line center role making Rolston expendable but he's only had 17 games at the NHL level - not a good thing. Nor is he going to add the offense and the short-handed threat that Rolston did. Short but fiesty aggitator [b]P.J. Stock[/b] might find himself back at the NHL level as Boston's fourth line center. He may be a fan favourite in a lot of circles but he's not really what's going to help a team win. I really don't see why MacDonald wasn't retained to hold down the fourth line job.

Over on the left side, Samsonov has missed a lot of action over the past two years (8 games and then only 58 games) but he did put up 40 points and a +12 last year and if healthy is a top line winger but much like the center position, the Bruins lack a sure-fire second line guy for the left flank. [b]PJ Axelsson[/b] will hold down the third line and the cheif penalty kill duties. He's not a shut-down checker though and that could be a problem as he might be the best defensive forward the Bruins have at the moment.

The right wing position is even worse - if that's possible. The only NHL calibre answer the Bruins have is [b]Martin Lapointe[/b] and his bloated $5.5 million-a-year contract. Some people see Lapointe as a guy who, if not first line duties, could carry second line duties. As much as I like Lapointe - he's only broken 50 points once and will never be the goal scorer he was in the QMJHL. That kind of money for a third line guy is just egg on the face of O'Connell as he tries to re-sign his free agents this offseason. At 30 years of age, he's in his prime and there could be a monster year in there some where but it's unlikely. He adds leadership, grit and about 15 goals a year though. If you get over the fact that he makes $5.5 million, he's a good third line winger.

Former 1st rounder (27th in 2000) [b]Martin Samuelsson [/b]could finally stick in the NHL. A lot of people questioned his drafting but the guy has wheels on him. The mighty goal scoring machine the Bruins thought he would come into has yet to happen but he's only 22. With a strong camp he could find himself on the second line but I feel more comfortable with him grabbing minutes on the fourth line and penalty kill. Second line might be too much to ask for him. Tough guy [b]Colton Orr[/b] might find his way onto the fourth line if [b]Doug Doull [/b]isn't brought back next season. 257 PIMs in 64 games with Providence.

Not a very impressive line-up but there are four players who could be wildcards next season. [b]Ivan Huml [/b]had a nice start to the 2002-03 season but faded, finishing up the season in Providence and only seeing a 7 game in December last year. Huml can't tell the defensive zone from his ass but he's good sized, can play either flank and has goal scoring potential. But if he isn't scoring goals, he's not helping out any where else. [b]Andy Hilbert[/b] was drafted in 2000 (2nd round, 37th overall) but it seems like we've been waiting forever for Hilbert to come around. He saw action in five playoff games and could have turned the corner. Hurt at times last year, he figures to be a big part of the Bruins second line next season. He can dish the puck and that's good because with his foot speed, he's going to get robbed a lot. Another former 2000 draft pick [b]Brad Boyes[/b] (24th to Toronto) has put together two good AHL seasons and is ready to challenge for an NHL spot. While he could use a lot more muscle, he could be a tremendous steal for the Bruins (who acquired him at the deadline from San Jose) and a potential Calder canididate if he shows he can handle the second line center position. The fourth card could be moody [b]Sergei Zinovjev[/b], another 2000 draft pick (73rd overall). While Zinovjev is slated to play in the Russian Superleague, and incident at the World Championships could mean his list of friends in Russia is growing small. Could he be enticed to give the Bruins another chance? He was in camp last year as a potential solution to fill the second line center hole but the adjustment took too long and he went back to Russia. Bruins might be desperate enough.

Net looks as strong as ever for the Bruins who went through a horrible stretch of netminders in the 1990s. Raycroft took his game to a whole other level last season and while he could stand to gain a little more consistency, he's the man in nets this season with veteran back-up Felix Potvin gone. He played in 57 games last year and I wouldn't want to increase his work load any more than that. So the Bruins could be in line for a (cheap) back-up. [b]Hannu Toivonen[/b], the Bruins first round choice in 2003 (29th overall) has the potential to be even better than Raycroft but would be better served as the go-to-guy in Providence rather than sitting on the NHL bench behind Raycroft. [b]Peter Hamerlik[/b] hasn't really been tested past the ECHL level (only 3 games with Providence last year) and none of [b]Mike Brown[/b], [b]Matti Kaltiainen[/b], [b]Kevin Regan[/b] or [b]Jordan Sigalet[/b] are even on the radar at this moment.

If the "Kids" give the Bruins a capable and sneaky second line, Raycroft holds the fort behind this questionable defense, then this team could find itself again in the playoff hunt. They probably won't be staring at the second seed out East again but few people thought they'd be second seed last year either (I had them third :op) but a lot could go wrong with this team. Too many ifs and O'Connell could be fishing for the [b]Sidney Crosby[/b] prize. IF (there's that evil word again) Thornton does find his way out of town ([b]Mike Keenan[/b] down in Florida is very interested in trading away his franchise assests for Big Bird) they just might be that bad. Crystal ball says they'll be better than people think.

[b]1st LINE[/b] - Thornton, Samsonov
[b]2nd LINE[/b] - Hilbert
[b]3rd LINE[/b] - Lapointe, Bergeron, Axelsson, Boyes, Huml, Samuelsson, Vernarsky, Zinovjev
[b]4th LINE[/b] - Stock, Orr, Nowak

[b]1/2[/b] - Gonchar, Boynton
[b]3/4 [/b]- Gill
[b]5/6 [/b]- Girard
[b]7 s [/b]- Moran, Jurcina, White, Dallman

Samsonov-Thornton-Huml
Hilbert-Boyes-Bergeron
Axelsson-Vernarsky-Lapoin te
Orr-Stock-Samuelsson

Gonchar-Boynton
Gill-Girard
White-Jurcina

Raycroft-????

Things the Bruins need to do the remainder of the off-season
1. Kiss up to Joe and get him back again
2. Pray arbitration doesn't kill them
3. Find affordable alternatives just in case the kids can't step up to the second line
4. For God's sake get a 5/6 dman
5. Find Raycroft a back-up

See last entry for my view of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and my previous entry for a nice recap of the past couple events of the week. This entry is on the Atlanta Thrashers off-season.

I thought the Thrashers were on the verge of their franchise's first playoff berth last summer but a car accident and a lack of defense ruined that. They started off hot but fizzled down the stretch to miss the playoffs by a bunch but they gave it their all. Sadly, this year's version of the Thrashers looks worse despite the fact that they'll have star [b]Dany Heatley[/b] around for the whole season.

The major changes come on defense where long-time Thrashers [b]Yannick Tremblay[/b] and [b]Frankistek Kaberle[/b] (Carolina) were cut loose and given their walking papers out-right. Another long time vet, [b]Chris Tamer[/b] had his option declined but could come back for less than the $1.1 million he would have been due if the Thrashers had used the option. That $1.1 million will be better used in paying [b]Niklas Havelid[/b], acquired from the Ducks for [b]Kurtis Foster[/b]. [b]Shawn Heins[/b] (Berlin of the DEL), [b]Mike Weaver[/b] (Los Angeles) and [b]Joseph DiPenta[/b] (unsigned at the moment) are all cuts from the organization. Neither one being a great big loss however. So far only [b]Jaroslav Modry [/b]has been brought in from the Kings. The 33 year old Modry might just be the best dman in Atlanta right now but the team really has a glut of 3/4 and 5/6 dmen but no one that I would consider a 1/2 or a top pairing defenseman. [b]Don Waddell [/b]and [b]Bob Hartley[/b] can only hope that [b]Braydon Coburn[/b] (and this year's top pick, [b]Boris Valabik[/b]) can fill that hole in a couple of years. Hartley doesn' want to rush Coburn and has no need to with the glut of medicore talent they have but he could very well be on the third pairing next year and be their top dman by the end of the season if all goes right. The additions of Modry and Havelid give the Thrashers point men for the powerplay - prior to this season, Tremblay had been the only capable of occuping that role for each of the franchise's first five seasons. At 31, one has to wonder how much more Havelid can improve - he's been getting better but his ceiling has to be approaching and I don't see him being able to log a lot of minutes in Atlanta though it seems Hartley feels he can. Maybe the confidence boost will help.

[b]Andy Sutton[/b] might be one of the most underrated defenders in the conference right now but at best, he's a no. 3 and he'll get in trouble if he needs to start moving laterally. [b]Ivan Majesky[/b] gives the Thrashers a nice and steady defenseman for the right-side. Some worry that he's already reached his ceiling. He won't provide any offense but I've never seen him rattled or feel pressure. [b]Garnet Exelby[/b] will enter his sophomore year as a fan favourite. Hits anything that moves but much like Majesky and Sutton - don't expect any offense. He'll find his way onto one of the top two pairings.

[b]Daniel Tjarnqvist[/b] just has never been as good as we've wanted him to be has he? He can play the right side and that's about the only thing that keeps him in the NHL I believe. He's a smart player but he's never hit anyone and if he has - it was him accidently running into them. With defensemen like Coburn, Exelby, Sutton and Valabik in the Atlanta system - Tjarnqvist doesn't really fit in. He's on the bubble. Also on the bubble is injury-proned [b]Tomas Kloucek[/b]. He hits and he hits and that fits into the Atlanta scheme but beyond hitting, I'm not sure he understands much else about the game - defensively or offensively. [b]Kyle Rossiter[/b], acquired late last year from Florida, has a good track line to land the seventh defensemen spot. The 24 year old keeps improving and deserves a shot. But like a lot of Atlanta dmen - no offense and can be beaten laterally if you can get them moving. If Atlanta grabs another mobile offensive dman, Rossiter can see himself sitting in the AHL. [b]Travis Roche[/b] (signed from Minnesota) could be that guy. However, he's weak defensively and he might not produce that much. He'll have to work to make a run at the Atlanta roster.

In net the major question is - will [b]Kari Lehtonen[/b] be the starter or will he back-up [b]Pasi Nurminen[/b] until he's ready? Lehtonen had a tremendous 4-0-0 trail late last season and an even better run in the AHL playoffs but he's only 20. He'll be the franchise goalie but I don't see it being right away. Nurminen has a problem with consistency and he can get flustered but he can also play spectacular at times and his team mates will do all they can for him. I see him beginning as the starter and then having Lehtonen phase in as the season is lost. Depth after these two is hard to find though. [b]Jani Hurme [/b]missed all of last season due to a back injury and [b]Michael Garnett[/b] hasn't been proven past the ECHL.

Up front this team has probably the best young one-two duos in [b]Ilya Kovalchuk[/b] and [b]Dany Heatley [/b] and they're joined by the highly underrated [b]Vyacheslav Kozlov[/b] - though he's prone to go long stretches without scoring. [b]Marc Savard[/b] is a border line top line/second line player and would greatly benefit from the Thrashers adding another center to carry the offensive load. [b]Patrik Stefan[/b], the first overall pick in 1999 is getting better but 40 points and a -7 just isn't enough as a second line center. I hope for a 50 point season out of him this year.

After this group, the Thrashers are littered with fourth liners and a few third liners. 35 year old Shawn McEachern had a great season last year with 82 games, 55 points and a +5 and he maybe able to cover the second line again this year but he's bound to start dropping off soon. His leadership will keep him around. If all things go well, [b]Tommi Santala [/b]will find himself centering the third line. He has NHL calibre talent but the adjustment has been hard away from his native Finland. While [b]Karl Stewart[/b] will never score goals in buckets for anyone, he gives 130% every shift - he has to with his talent level but he may just wind up on the third line in Atlanta.

The glut of fourth liners starts with [b]Serge Aubin[/b], who will probably center the line and [b]Ben Simon[/b], who is pretty sound defensively. They'll most likely be joined by aggitator [b]Ronald Petrovicky[/b], if he's not on the third line out of neccessity. [b]Brad Larsen[/b] could find his way on to the roster with his leadership but the guy can't skate well enough to survive in the NHL. [b]Kip Brennan[/b] and [b]Francis Lessard[/b] can be added to the line-up if the Thrashers need some muscles. Brennan's impressive as a goon but he can't hold down a regular shift I'm sure.[b] JP Vigier [/b]could also find his way onto the roster if he could score more - the right side in Atlanta is weak enough for him to push his way there. [b]Derek MacKenzie [/b]and [b]Cory LaRose[/b] (acquired from NY Rangers) also have an outside shot at the fourth line if they work hard enough. [b]Anthony Aquino[/b] could fill in the second line job on the right flank some day but that's a couple years away.

Cut loose by the Thrashers up front - [b]Zdenek Blatny[/b], [b]Daniel Corso[/b], [b]Randy Robitaille[/b] (ZSC Lions Switzerland), [b]Bill Lindsay[/b] (probably will retire due to a throat injury), [b]Eric Healey [/b](Mannheim DEL) and [b]Brian Swanson[/b] (Kassel DEL).

While the Thrashers could certainly use second line players and a top flight defensemen - it's not like they're the only ones and it's going to cost them. They also have to re-sign the young guns in Kovalchuk and Heatley as well as Savard and Stefan. Most of the remaining budget will go towards them.

[b]1st liners[/b] - Heatley, Kovalchuk, Kozlov
[b]2nd liners[/b] - Savard, Stefan
[b]3rd liners [/b]- McEachren, Santala
[b]4th liners[/b] - Aubin, Petrovicky, Simon, Stewart, Larsen, Vigier, MacKenzie, Lessard, Brennan, LaRose

[b]1/2s[/b] - none
[b]3/4s[/b] - Modry, Sutton, Majesky, Havelid, Exelby
[b]5/6s [/b]- Coburn, Tjarnqvist
[b]7s [/b]- Rossiter, Kloucek, Roche

I like splitting up the big two, personally - though they do play together a lot too.

Kovalchuk-Savard-Kozlov
McEachren-Stefan-Heatley
Stewart-Santala-Petrovick y
Simon-Aubin-Vigier/Lessar d

Modry-Majesky
Sutton-Havelid
Exelby-Tjarnqvist
Nurminen-Lehtonen

Things for Atlanta to do the rest of the off-season
1. Resign Kovalchuk, Savard and Heatley
2. Add a second line forward
3. Pray they can land a no.1 or even no.2 dman
4. Add some goalie depth
5. Just keep developing talent

Today I'm going to take a quick look at the off-season for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. I always have a hard time grading teams that are looking to shed payroll and that's exactly Anaheim's goal going into this off-season. The job has fallen on the shoulder of [b]Al Coates[/b] and you have to feel pitty for him. He takes over a team only a year removed from almost winning the Stanley Cup, a team up for sale and a team that just lost its 'general' in [b]Bryan Murray[/b] (who left the GM position to accept the head coaching position with Ottawa) and a team that needs to cut away payroll to make it more attractive to prospective buyers.

Starting in net, the Ducks have moved [b]Martin Gerber [/b](the back-up now takes over starting duties in Carolina) to make room for uber-prospect [b]Ilya Bryzgalov[/b]. Bryzgalov has the size and talent to be a number one keeper but right now he'll have to back-up [b]Jean-Sebastien Giguere[/b], the hero of a year ago. He has a slight falling to earth last season but expect Giguere to bounce back up much like [b]Jose Theodore[/b] did this season. If Giguere continues to struggle, Bryzgalov could even swoop in and take the job. If Bryzgalov struggles in camp, Coates may be forced to go to the free agent market for a back-up but chances of him finding one for less than Gerber would have made is slim. My money is on Giguere returning to form and Bryzgalov holding the fort behind him though. Anaheim's goaltending looks straight.

The blue line could be where the Ducks see the most change. Already out is [b]Niklas Havelid[/b] (pared off the payroll to Atlanta) and the current additions are [b]Tomas Malec[/b] (from Carolina) and [b]Kurtis Foster[/b] (from Atlanta). While I've made my dislike for Malec known, he does add some mobility to the Ducks blue-line that previously wasn't there and won't be added by the 6-5 Foster. Malec with a bit of work and some bulk could be a good 5th dman in the future but unless the Ducks plan to make any more moves, he'll start next season in Cincinatti. But there's a chance that RFA [b]Ruslan Salei[/b] could find himself gone if the Ducks don't like the results of his arbitration case. The Ducks have only about four million on their budget for contracts toward Salei and forward [b]Rob Niedermayer[/b] as well as any other free agents they're looking at.

Foster is far from mobile but at 6-5 he doesn't have to be. He's also got an advantage over Malec in that he's a right-handed shot, something the Ducks lack on the blue-line and have for some time. I wouldn't be surprised to see Foster on the opening night roster.

[b]Keith Carney[/b], [b]Vitaly Vishnevski[/b], [b]Martin Skoula[/b] and [b]Sandis Ozolinsh[/b] are all locks for the blueline. Ozolinsh's $5.5 million salary would be something you'd think they'd like to move but it will be next to impossible to do any thing of the sort. [b]Lance Ward[/b] is probably in line to once again be the spare utility player, playing both defense and the fourth line wing. [b]Chris Armstrong[/b] (to Ingolstadt Panthers) and [b]Mike Mottau[/b] (rumoured close to signing with St. Louis) are on the depature list.

Up front the Ducks basically lose fringe players. [b]Daniel Bylsma[/b] the team's only Group III free agent, has retired due to knee problems and will most likely be an assistant coach for Cincinatti next season. Fringe goon [b]Cam Severson[/b] has been let go in favor of tough guy [b]Garrett Burnett[/b]. Fourth liner and former Hobey Baker award winner [b]Jason Krog[/b] was also given his walking papers in favor of some of the younger kids in Cincy and the [b]Petr Schastlivy [/b]expierement is over and it looks like the young sniper may never stick at the NHL level. In addition, [b]Keith Aucoin[/b], [b]Brian Gornick[/b], [b]Casey Hankinson[/b], and [b]Nick Smith[/b] are all gone for the moment.

If you look at the forwards that are locks to return next season, the Ducks are strongest up the middle for once. They lost [b]Tony Martnesson[/b] (to Linkopig but he does have an "out" clause) but they'll be fine without him. Sergei Fedorov gives the Ducks their first ever franchise center and despite his early season struggles, he came on late in the year and should look to continue that flow. [b]Steve Rucchin[/b] is finally where he belongs, as a second line center and captain of this club. For the second straight season, Rucchin played in all 82 games and posted eeriely exact numbers - 20 goals, -14 and 12 PIMs. He had less assists this year - 23 compared to 38 but both seasons were close. If the concussion problems are finally over, expect him to again post around 20 goals (23 is his high however so don't expect more than 20) and 40-50 points while providing leadership. If he's healthy, I say the Ducks have a nice shot at the eighth or even seventh seed out West.

[b]Sami Pahlsson[/b] put together a career year last season playing in all 82 games as the third line center. He's only 26 years old so I expect for him to slightly build on it. Expect 20-30 points and if someone can teach him to shoot more often, he could develop nicely into one of the better unknown third-line pivots out there.

The fourth line pivot position is open. The door for Martensson is still open. He improved vastly in his time over in North America, hopefully he doesn't take all that improvement to Europe for too long. [b]Mikael Holmqvist[/b] may win the job by default but he has a two-way contract and still has to earn it. He would have probably been well on his way to winning last year if he hadn't missed the majority of the year with an abdominal injury. Could also sneak up into the third line if he learns to drive to the net as he's still incredibly soft for a guy so big (6-3). The darkhorse could be [b]Ryan Getzlaf[/b], who partically made the Ducks out of camp last season, however they chose to let him develop for another year in the WHL along side [b]Andrew Ladd[/b]. But if Getzlaf makes the Ducks this year, it'll most likely be as a scoring wing and not to pivot the fourth line.

On the left flank, the Ducks pretty much have Burnett locked on the fourth line and that's about it. Niedermayer has opted not to go to arbitration after an injury-plagued year (groin) and should be signed easy enough for the third line. The top two line spots are up in the air. [b]Valcav Prospal[/b] was far from a dissapointment netting 54 points and I suspect after a year he could be better but his contract makes him a rumour target if 'the powers that be' pressure Coates to cut more payroll. [b]Stanislav Chistov[/b] is a possibility but it's time to take Chistov slow after rushing him slightly and seeing him crash and burn last year. He needs a lot of work learning systematic hockey but I wouldn't write him off as a bust yet. If he comes into camp and shows that he wants to work and learn, he could have the second line wing all to himself.

Dark horse should be [b]Mike Leclerc[/b] (who can also play the right side but I prefer him on the left side while taking a shift) he missed all but 10 games in the middle of the season due to knee injuries. He's also been a very poor skater so let's hope the knee injury doesn't hurt him too much. If healthy he should challenge for the second line. I prefer him as a third line guy, chipping in goals where he can, providing leadership and killing penalties. Ducks might not have a choice but to put him in the top-six. Also don't forget [b]Chris Kunitz[/b] - much like Leclerc, his skating isn't great and he's smaller than Leclerc but he's got offensive pop in him. He registered 6 assists and a +1 in his 21 game trail this season. No goals however. Over-age draftee [b]Janne Pesonen[/b] is another possibility if he comes over.

On the right side it's more clear for the Ducks who have one of the better right wingers in the game in [b]Petr Sykora[/b]. He should put up 50+ points again and draf a lot of attention from checkers because sadly, you can soften up Skyora enough to make him less effective. Still there are few faster and who release the wrister better. The Ducks can follow up Sykora with sophomore-to-be [b]Joffrey Lupul[/b]. He might have a second year drop off because of his skating but he shows a lot of creativity and could be one of the best goal scorers in the league some day. Once again - if only he had another gear or something to help him get around defenders - then we'd be looking at a mega-star in the making.

Puny [b]Andy McDonald[/b] I didn't think the Ducks would re-sign but they did to a two-year contract. McDonald can be valuable because of his playmaking ability and the fact that he can play the pivots and both flanks. Sadly because of his size, he has battled concussions and his offensive output has been limited. But with every bad comes a good (at least we hope) and McDonald is just capable on defense allowing him to line-up in a checking role and an occasional spot duty on the second powerplay unit.

The fourth line right wing is up for grabs but with Severson's depature, it might be in the hands of former first rounder [b]Alexei Smirnov[/b]. He's struggled lately and hasn't looked at all like the future power forward we thought he'd be in 2000 but he's got size and skates very well - two facets the Ducks lack. He won't do much harm in a fourth line role but he could stand more time to mature in Cincinatti for another year. However, PA Parenteau and Tim Brent are really the only other options on the right side and they're younger than Smirnov and could also use time in the AHL. If Getzlaf does make the team out of camp, I suspect that he may just play the right flank or at least allow Leclerc to move over.

Al Coates and his staff had a great draft and have got the payroll right about where they want it. The decision on Salei will prove to be probably the biggest moment in the Anaheim offseason. While they could use some help on the second line and more physical and mobile defenders, the players that had off-years should be expected to bounce back and a strong season from Giguere should put the Ducks back into the playoff hunt for 2004-05. This also is a make-or-break year for [b]Mike Babcock[/b] as the coach. Entering his third year in the league and behind the Anaheim bench, he needs to help motivate this group and make them forget last year. And he'll have to do it with bare bones depth almost. A major injury for an extended amount of time could be hazardous to the Ducks playoff chances. His coaching savvy will have to be on display.

[b]First liners[/b] - Fedorov, Prospal, Sykora
[b]Second liners[/b] - Rucchin, Lupul
[b]Third liners[/b]- Pahlsson, Leclerc, McDonald, Niedermayer, Kunitz, Getzlaf
[b]Fourth liners[/b] - Chistov, Holmqvist, Smirnov, Burnett, Ward, Parenteau

On defense

[b]1/2s[/b] - Carney, Ozolinsh
[b]3/4s[/b] - Salei, Vishnevski
[b]5/6s[/b] - Skoula
[b]7s[/b] - Ward, Foster, Malec, Popovic

So I expect the lines to look something like

Prospal-Fedorov-Sykora
Leclerc-Rucchin-Lupul
Niedermayer-Pahlsson-McDo nald
Burnett-Holmqvist-????/Sm irnov

Skoula-Carney
Ozolinsh-Salei
Vishnevski-Foster

Giguere-Bryzgalov

Things I see the Ducks doing for the rest of the offseason?

1. Figuring out what to do with Salei's arbitration ruling (how much of the remaining $4 million will it take?)
2. Re-signing Niedermayer
3. Finding a veteran goalie either to back-up Giguere or start for Cincinatti.
4. Add another option at the fourth line right wing
5. Some AHL depth would be nice but the payroll is already tight

I figure the best way to get back to writing is to just write - not try to recap everything I missed. Just to take it from the top and forget all that I've missed. So here it goes.

VH-1's "[b]I Love the 90s[/b]" - sorry but too early for this cash cow show. Yeah I've seen all the damn years. I think I've watched more TV this week because of it than I have in a really long time but christ I was ultimately let down. The first couple of years they did very well because it did feel like a different time and it was a different time but 1997? 1998? 1999? Why bother? Because right now that feels like I'm wearing that hangover off this morning. Honestly did anything happen in the 90s? I swear, after the Berlin Wall fell - the only thing that happened was [b]Jerry Springer[/b], SFX movies, Clinton and Beanie Babies in the 90s. What a worthless decade overall but yeah it was sure fun. Just let's look back over it in another five or ten, alright?

And 1998? I must have slept right through that year because I could remember damn near everything in the I Love the 80s but 1998 just went over my head. I picked up on a couple things but man, what did I go in some dark cave? Was I a social outcast? I know I wasn't popular at all in high school - far from it - and maybe that's why but you'd think some of it would have worn off on me. What the hell? Sure I tried a couple things that year for the first time in my life but not enough to forget the entire damn year.

[b]Mike Danton[/b] pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire charges on his agent and cult leader [b]David Frost[/b] today. Guilty? No fucking shit - we have about five conversations of you trying to hire a hitman and they're all recorded. Moron. I really have a hard time faulting Mike as getting rid of Frost would do a lot of good in his life but yeesh. He got one charge dropped because of his guilty plea - using a telephone in a murder-for-hire? So you're telling me if I want someone killed - don't call them? Go find them on the street? Shit I don't even go into the ghettos in broad daylight for some good delicous chicken (thank God for the new Popeye's on the West side of town) I sure as hell ain't going there for no sleazy hitman. And get this - if you hire a hitman in-state to kill someone else in-state - you get even LESS time because if it's intersate murder-for-hire it calls in the FBI or something. Just remember that before you hire a hitman folks. Geez. The real criminal here is Frost - lock him up. Better yet, shoot him.

And [b]Dany Heatley[/b] was indicted for vehicular homicide in the crash that killed teammate [b]Daniel Synder[/b] right before the open of last season. And everyone's wondering what this means for Heatley's career. He got indicted - not convicted. It doesn't mean anything yet. He's not [b]Martha Stewart[/b] yet. Poor Martha - five months locked away playing bandmiton and spurcing up the country club. And a fine? Her stocks alone made $96 million today. In the words of [b]Robin Williams[/b] - "Oh no. Martha's going to be somebody's bitch? SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!"

Call me fatherly but as much as I'm dissapointed in Heatley - I fogive him. Hell if the Snyder family can come out and forgive and embrace Dany - then who am I to cruxify him? Sure I had this 'holier than thou art' attitude when I first heard the news and this is probably crossing the line of 'brain fart' into inexcusable stupidity and wrecklessness but I'm just about hoping he becomes a better person out of all this. If he doesn't, then Daniel Synder died for absolutely no reason. He shouldn't have - it was way too soon - but let's just pray there's a silver lining in someone's life because of this tradegy.

Hey if he has to miss time for the trail - he might not be missing any games. The NHLPA and the owners have decided to start talks again on July 21st. So next week? Nothing like wasting valuable time on - I don't know - talking maybe? If you guys are so far apart why do you dick around like this? I've never seen a bigger group of children in my life - sticking their tongues out at each other and throwing their apples at each other like a food fight. I can see it now on July 21st, Goodenow and Bettman come out of the building - "Yes we've reached a decision - we're in agreement that we'll try talking again in late August - when they take a bath." Something real childish. I think the best we can hope for on the 21st is they come out and say "our decision is for Pizza Hut pizza for lunch." Dear god, these people are going to kill the league.

[b]Kobe [/b]stays a Laker? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NO SHIT there's again. Hmm Lakers or Clippers? $30 million more to play for the Lakers or less money to play for the red-headed step-child of the entire damn NBA? What would you choose? It's all about power and ego for Kobe. He just wanted to see how far the other teams would bend over backwards and lick his nuts for him. He was never going to leave the Lakers - he just wanted the ego boost. I've always liked Kobe but honestly if you were really all about winning like you say you were - you would have shut your mouth and not ran Shaq and Phil Jackson out of town. I hate Jackson's BS and I love Rudy T (no one takes a punch better - sorry for going there) sure but it pissed off O'Neill right? It's about power and ego for the guy isn't it? Not about winning, he just cares if its his team or not. If he's the go-to guy. And hey, he usually is but from where I'm sitting, you didn't come through this time around. And no offense to [b]Brian Grant[/b] or [b]Caron Butler[/b] but Kobe's probably not seeing a Finals any time soon. Though I'm sure we'll all be paying to see the Lakers and Heat in the 2005 Finals. Everyone talks about how David Stern supposedly 'sets-up' the NBA (and personally that's a load of bunk) but if the Heat-Lakers finals happens next season - I may start believing in it.

Word to [b]Carlos Boozer[/b] - shutup. You know you're not worth that kind of money in the first place. Just be happy two teams even want you. You could have gone undrafted and be playing over in Europe right now. He said-she said garbage has no place in professional sports. [b]Derrick Fisher[/b] leaves the Lakers for the Warriors. Go D-Fish. Get out of that horrible situation while you can but the Warriors? They still have a team? Yes, yes they do. And they also have [b]Nick Van Exel[/b] and [b]Speedy Claxton[/b]. Oh well - guess they can move.

[b]Miguel Tejada[/b] wins the Home Run derby? Who would have thunk? I just love how former league MVP's are considered "unknowns." Thanks [b]Chris Berman[/b] - you're worthless. Though I did enjoy "Miguel Tejada they are Tejada they fall." Forgive me but that one was great. Just putting Tejada and 'unknown' in the same sentance is stupid. Baseball fans really are far from ignorant you know. I know there's a casual following that turns in just for the home run derby and a couple other games through-out the year or they only follow their home town team and Miguel's far from the house hold name that both [b]Sammy Sosa[/b] or [b]Barry Bonds[/b] are but the guy has an MVP award for christ's sakes. Glad to see him hit them out - he's always had a nice pop. I had [b]Lance Berkman[/b] but he just ran out of gas. If there was another person I wanted to win it - it probably was Tejada there.

The tribute to the living members of the 500 homeruns club was great. Maybe could have been better - spending time looking at some of the great moments in each one of their careers but I believe each one of us had the highlight reel churning in the back of their head as their favorite Pual Buynunesque hero stepped (or in the case of McCovy, wheeled) onto the field. It's a nice little thing that baseball does so well. Other sports need to maybe try it at their all-star games just for kicks.

I usually point out when I'm wrong but I'd like to point out where I was right - [b]Sean O'Donnell[/b] did wind up in a Coyotes uniform as the Coyotes have done a great job so far in the NHL off-season. O'Donnell joins [b]Sheldon Keefe[/b], [b]Boyd Devereaux[/b] and [b]Mike Ricci [/b]as Phoenix's additions. [b]Radoslav Suchy[/b] leaves in a trade with Columbus but as I thought - no one in Phoenix cares.

Stepping away from sports - I think I've lost all faith in Warner Brothers. They did some good in canning [b]McG[/b] as the director of the next [b]Superman[/b] (that's now two directors in a year) movie but they still have the blood that is [b]Catwoman[/b] on their hands and now [b]Jack Black[/b] is rumoured to be in line for a 'comedic' Green Lantern movie on lines of 1994's hit comic-book-to-movie [b]The Mask[/b]? Ok the changes that were made in the Mask were for the better. [b]Jim Carrey[/b] 's version worked a lot better than the Dark Horse comic book character in my opinion. The Dark Horse version was, well - too dark. Carrey and now soon [b]Alan Cumming[/b] and [b]Jamie Kennedy[/b] took the character and did a delightful spin to it. I'm sorry to all fans of the 'demented' Mask from the early 1990s. It was a cool character but it did nothing for me. But now I feel your pain as they try to do it the Green Lantern now. Ok - I get it - people hate [b]Kyle Rayner[/b] - I'm one of the few that doesn't but dear god - Black as Rayner or heaven-forbid, Hal Jordan - is just too far. It's too late for an April's fools joke so hopefully this is just dumb news but after seeing the raping they're about to commit on Catwoman - then is any character in the DCU safe? How about we make a G[b]reen Arrow[/b] musical? A [b]Wally West [/b]centered [b]Flash[/b] movie could use a bit of wise-cracking but none of the horrid slapstick and crud Jack Black is known for. About the only DCU hero that could benefit from a complete origin overhaul for the bigscreen is [b]Aquaman[/b] - but there's still the stigma that's attatched to the name of Aquaman. Heck - how about an [b]Elongated Man[/b] movie? (Yes that was an moment.)

A lot of people worry about my sexuality - including Amanda - and here's another moment to worry but [b]Ioan Gruffudd[/b] has been tagged as [b]Reed Richards[/b] for the upcoming [b]Fantasic Four [/b]movie. Rawrr. Now if he could only erase the horrible [b]102 Dalmations[/b] off his resume. I think he's an actor on his way up finally and working with the rugged [b]Clive Owen[/b] in [b]King Arthur[/b] can only help.

Am I the only person in the world that really didn't like Spider-Man 2 and found a lot to be wrong with it? Just curious. Though certainly not the worst movie during this stretch of summer. I was dragged to [b]Two Brothers[/b] last night. Actually I suggested it because it was the last night it was playing - at the "dollar show." Why we call it the dollar show when after 5 p.m. it's two dollars a person, I don't know but we do. It's a wallet saver on films we want to see but are probably not worth the $7.50 a ticket for during their first run. Sure the popcorn's stale and the threatre smell like uhm...I really don't know but they smell - but it's four bucks for a date and at the 9 p.m. showings of movies on their last night there, you get the whole room to yourself basically (total attendance was 7 including us two.) But back to Two Brothers - it's a film about two little cute cuddly tigers and it "stars" [b]Guy Pearce[/b]. I have all the respect in the world for Pearce after [b]Memento[/b] (btw thank you Mike for suggesting that movie a while back) but I say "stars" because really you could have cut him and well every other actor in this movie out and just had the two tigers frolicking throught out the film, getting into trouble with badgers and other rodents and it would have been enjoyable. Everyone in the room was like 'awe' during the tiger parts but when the humans were speaking and trying to act their dribble and their "meaningful" lines, we were all checking our watches. Honestly, I think they could put out a two hour movie of tigers frolicking through the landscape and people would pay to see it and not mind that there's nothing more to it. Structurally the movie had problems, it had little point to it and Pearce's closing lines really had little impact. Sorry but Pearce - fire your agent. This is why you never do movies with animals because they're going to always steal the show. Sometimes I can't believe that [b]Tom Hanks [/b]survived Hooch. I think Hanks deserves another flowery speech of praise because of that movie. Sure it was fun and you can't help but love the movie but it sure wasn't because of Hanks. Do you see him doing animal movies now? Heck no. So why the hell did [b]Cuba Gooding Jr [/b]do [b]Snow Dogs[/b]? Fire your agent too Cuba.

I guess the better question is why'd Cuba do [b]Boat Trip[/b]? Ouch.

Well I can ramble on forever but until next time - which is probably tomorrow - take care and remember, any comments are welcome.

It's been a bad, bad week to say the least. I think actually one of the hardest weeks I've had in a while but I think everyone's going to be able to move on from this week better than worse in the long run. The funeral is over (see last entry) and some of the family has been disowned now that he's gone, there's bills to pay and the ohana is fragile at the moment. But in a testiment to how much my grandfather was loved and loved back, there were well over 350+ people at the visitation (according to the book) and about 100 people at the actual funeral and most of those even came out to the burial site in sweltering heat and humidity to pay one last good-bye. Full military honours with a 21-gun sulute - truly a touching honour to be proud of. It was a hard day but also a day to be proud of for the most part.

But as the ohana takes a couple of blows, it also grows. My girlfriend of the past 13 months not only has been fully accepted by the family, but she'll also be moving into our guest bedroom fairly soon due to circumstances I rather not mention nor do I find it my place to speak. It's all very confusing but its for the best. It's strange and sad but also wonderful at the same time - its not every day you can save someone and welcome them into your home and ohana like this.

As for sports - this is usually a hockey blog and while free agency has been faster than I predicted, I've been away since its opened so here's so far the list of moves that have happened.

http://hockeyfaqs.proboards15.com/index.cgi?board=trade&action=di splay&num=1088470348&star t=0" title="http://hockeyfaqs.proboards15.com/index.cgi?board=trade&action=di splay&num=1088470348&star t=0" target="_blank"http://hockeyfaqs.proboards15...

Enjoy and if you want, sign up and post. It's a small community but some good people reside there. I shall be updating that list all season long.

Any deals that have happened that you want broken down? What do I see your team doing in the rest of the off-season? Just leave a comment and I hopefully can take my column from there.

Wow NHL Free Agency has started up, Coach K almost became a Laker, Rudy T is going to the bright lights of Hollywood (as is Craig Conroy), Wimbeldon ended with a bang and such and yet I haven't updated in a week - why?

Well I had to jet down to Florida for my grandparent's 50th wedding aniversary in Ocala, Florida. 50 years - I've been with my girlfriend now close to 13 months, I can't imagine 50 years - what an accomplishment. I'm not too frimilar with this side of the family because we're spread out across the lower 48 states (and Germany even) so it took me a while to get comfrotable around them and by day 2, the uneasiness was gone and I met some great people I had no idea I was related to. One of the biggest problems came from most of them believing I was 16 or so years old when I'm in fact 21 - guess it had been a while since I'd seen any of them. Good thing I hadn't picked up a beer before that little gaff came out. But it was good - I guess that was the first time since 1976 that all six children of my grandparents were under one roof and together and while I was one of four (out of a total of fifteen) grandchildren to make it down to Florida, I'm glad I went with my dad to keep him company. This weekend meant a lot to him. And for a family that is so spread apart, we were actually making plans and such to visit each other in a little bit. It was great finding a new part of my family I really didn't know a whole lot about.

Though all good news is followed by bad news. This morning (actually during the night) my other grandfather passed away during his sedated sleep. It was nothing we didn't see coming - in fact, we all thought it would have happened sooner - this guy has survived at least 4 strokes and about the same number of heart attacks. I think if it wasn't for the grandchildren having kids of their own, he would have left us a lot sooner. Great grandchildren - Jade, Kenny, Chase, Hayley - I think their joy saved his life for so long. I'm the youngest of the grandchildren on this side but it is a regret - not sure if that's even the right word - of mine that he won't be able to see my children. He's been pretty much drugged up and sedated the past four months, and still the reality that it finally happened just wow ...we were about an hour outside Nashville, one of my favorite cities in the world when we got the "phone call." I had planned to stop at Nashville or a battle site down there. I love Nashville, you wouldn't believe how much - I rank it up there with London as one of my favorite places in the world (Memphis is up there too) but in the end we didn't stop. I didn't feel like it. Not like rushing home was going to change any thing but ...you know I'm starting to ramble.

On to the news - first Spider-Man 2. Everyone is going nuts for it and I saw it on opening night before hitting the road for Florida. I've seen people give it 4 stars, glowing reviews - what the hell? I thought the first Spider-Man was one of the top movies of all time. I know some people will scoff at that but you got to admit - Spider-Man kicked ass. Spider-Man 2 didn't. I give it at most a C rating. There's a lot of elements I really enjoyed here but none of them outweigh the negatives. If anyone disagrees or wants me to go further into how I felt about it - I still have to take my girlfriend to it so I'm giving it a second viewing - you know where to get ahold of me for discussion.

Rudy T-Coach K. Rudy T should have been the guy from the start. Good going Coach K for making the right move by you - nothing we can criticize. He feels comfrotable in Duke after a quarter-century, he's raised his family there. Like John Olerud telling Seattle that he wishes not to be traded at the deadline, who are we to say he has to go? This job would have set him for life but it was a lose-lose situation when he's set comfrotably as a God in the Carolinas as it is. I wish Rudy T the best of luck. Ditto to Coach K. Ditto to Mike Montgomery. I never want to see anyone fail - I wish everyone could succeed in what they love to do. Fact of the matter is not every thing is going to go right. Only one team wins (not that you have to win to be successful in a year but for the Lakers that's the case) and some one's got to finish deadlast. But I don't want to see any one of them fail and best to luck to them all. Duke's I think is the 5th best team in their conference next season - I'd love to see Coach K prove me wrong as he's done so many times before.

I'm going to go for now - later on I'll talk about the moves in NHL free agency, Eric Gagne and what Tennis needs to do to become popular once again. Any thing you guys want me to comment on - just leave a comment or a discussion.