Thomas wins Vezina, Backstrom finishes third; Koivu just misses being Selke finalist
Posted on June 18th, 2009 – 7:29 PMBy Michael Russo
Boston’s Tim Thomas won the Vezina as the NHL’s best goaltender.
“I’ve been more worried about getting my name on a roster than I’ve been about winning a Vezina Trophy,” Thomas said during his speech.
Thomas won the award, as voted by the GM’s, in a landslide with 22 first-place votes. Backstrom finished third behind Thomas and Steve Mason with one first-place vote, eight second-place votes and two third-place votes.
Mikko Koivu tied Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg for fourth in Selke voting (best defensive forward) with one first-place vote, three second-place votes, 13 third-place votes, 17 fourth-place votes and seven fifth-place votes. Antti Miettinen finished 50th in Selke voting and Eric Belanger 64th.
Martin Skoula finished 28th in Lady Byng (most gentlemanly) voting with one first-place vote. Andrew Brunette finished 39th in Lady Byng with a third-place vote and two fifths.
In First Team, Second Team All-Star voting, for centers, Mikko Koivu finished seventh in the NHL. For goalies, Backstrom finished fourth behind First Team All-Star Tim Thomas, Second Team All-Star Steve Mason and Roberto Luongo. Backstrom got 14 second-place votes and 18 third-place votes.
For results of the awards, go to NHL.com.
134 Responses to "Thomas wins Vezina, Backstrom finishes third; Koivu just misses being Selke finalist"
darn for Backs. So what else did you tell Nik to do in Vegas. Oh yeah - what happens in….
M 03, since posting from cell didn’t notice new post right away, see bottom of last for re: Backstrom and the awards up though Lifetime Achievement, don’t feel like retyping & can’t copy & paste well from the phone.
Ovi gets the Hart
kg: awesome. Thanks.
You are welcome
Awe… too bad for Backs.
at least a certain canuck didn’t get recognized for his sportmanshi* (cough, cough) sportsmanship
No Masterton for Chris Chelios? Well there is always next year 
Skoula finished 28th in the Lady Byng voting? I guess when you think about it, he is gentlemanly almost every time an opposing forward tries to make their way to the Wild’s net. In fact, if there were a door on the way to the Wild’s net, he would probably hold it open for said opposing forwards.
Do we need to start this again BF. Many of us disagree with you bozos who always harp on Skoula but many will immediately jump back and claim Skoula is the worst D in the history of the NHL and we have discussed this ad nauseam. And, by the way we probably wouldn’t want any of the top 3 Byng vote-getters as they are too gentlemanly also–Datsyuk, St. Louis and Parise.
I’m sharing Back’s disappointment…He shoulda gotten it!
Bozo is kind of harsh don’t you think.
I will agree that Skoula played his best hockey as a member of the Wild towards the end of last year, unfortunately the three years leading up to that point were awful. I’m sure that there are “many of us” that feel that way.
Either way, I was just going for a cheap laugh with that one. No need to take offense and start name calling.
BF, It’s just that the Skoula-bashing has gotten old and beaten to death here but my apologies to you. I just get tired of the hyperbolic invectives aimed at him. Even at his worst he made a couple of egregious gaffes but was generally decent. This year he was very solid but vastly underappreciaated.
It’s okay. I actually kind of felt bad after I wrote that one. He was playing his best hockey since arriving here at the end the season IMO.
With Belanger and Skoula getting votes…who let Sid vote?
I’m not hating, but when Mason proves to be a one-hit wonder, you heard it here first. That kid benefitted from the system as much as any other goalie in the league. Yes, he’s big and he’s somewhat mobile. But a lot of the goals I saw scored on him were not just “goal-scorer’s goals.”
Oh snap. Nick is bringin’ it goalie-style. I like it.
I’d have an opinion on that but that would require watching… the Blue Jackets. Nuh.
Kind of had me raising my eyebrows when Columbus traded Leclaire. Kid play ONE season! Jim Carey anyone?
But, wasn’t Leclaire injured a lot, too?
Wow, hanging out with the husband’s coworkers is very different from hanging out with mine….
While I’m sure that Steve Sullivan is a very nice man, can anyone explain to me why missing many games due to back spasms (many, many games, sure, and back to back games at that, 2 years I think, but not 2 full seasons) should win the Masterson?
I’m just really unclear on this. Does that mean that IGOW should have won for missing a season and coming back? How about Gaby missing over half a season for a groin injury? What if it wasn’t just a half a season, but spread over 2 seasons?
Again, not that he doesn’t deserve it, I just don’t understand it. Then again, Burrows WAS a finalist for this one….
So really what is going on is this… we looked online fo info on “how” Sullivan got injured… but all we came up with was “back spasms”. How did this guy “hurt” his back? And why was he out so long? I mean, Boogie has back spasms… Zednick gets his neck chopped open, Foster comes back from a shattered Femur….. wtf makes Sullivan so special? The Wife and I are equally in the dark on this guy. Please help.
Backs looking very good. Wowsers!
The Backuum put those other mutts to shame in the sartorial category. He’s going to end up in GQ one way or another. You would think with the money these guys make they could show up not looking like they just came out of the locker room late for a plane.
Does anyone really care about these awards? The only reason I watched it last night was that nothing else was on TV until “Deadliest Catch” was rerun on the Discovery Channel at 9:00. It was a dull, plodding awards show, like the one at a corporate lunch.
JMO, but this could have been done better. Even the house band in the background looked kind of lost at times. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about who won what, just that the presentation could have been a lot sharper.
Highlight: Jean Beliveau.
Lowlight: Zdeno Chara’s acceptance speech. (Where’s a hook when you need it?)
So, any guesses as to which player owns the following stats?
games played/goals/assists/pts/pim/pts per game
05-06 80games 17g 42a 59pts 28pim .74pts/game
06-07 82games 20g 37a 57pts 14pim .70pts/game
07-08 81games 13g 50a 63pts 34pim .78pts/game
08-09 71games 16g 30a 46pts 20pim .65pts/game
Is that a player you’d want on the Wild?
Backstrom did win something:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/gallerylanding.htm?id=7563
Lookin’ good, Backs!
Never get involved in a land war in Asia. Check.
Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line. Check.
Never go in against a Finn in a fashion contest. Check.
Is that a player you’d want on the Wild?
they are very close to s koivu but not his
G*, would you want him on the Wild though?
Since NiNY is throwing out bold goalie predictions I would like to pile on:
Backstrom will not be a Vezina finalist at any point during the remainder of his contract. He will make a lot of coin though.
I might, Goody, but it’s really not such a fair question. There’s more to it than merely stats.
Is that a player you’d want on the Wild?
Depends if the player has other baggage, his age, position, and what role he plays. Example: if that’s a 41 year old with a history of suspensions and is a power forward winger, no. If it’s a 29 year old stand-up player, goal scoring center, then maybe. What’s the asking price?
Looking at stats in a vacuum is sort of pointless.
Alright, I’ll elaborate, he’s a mid 20’s winger. The penalty minutes should give an indication that’s he’s relatively well behaved - no suspensions. Not a head case. As far as price, I’m leaving that out intentionally as I’m not asking if you’d sign him, but if you’d want him. Feel free to throw out what you’d be willing to pay for him if you so desire.
OK, I’ll take the bait …. sure, I’d take him on the Wild.
Is that Butch? Kinda an assist machine whoever it is. Do we need another guy who doesn’t finish?
So, any guesses as to which player owns the following stats?
games played/goals/assists/pts/pim/pts per game
05-06 80games 17g 42a 59pts 28pim .74pts/game
06-07 82games 20g 37a 57pts 14pim .70pts/game
07-08 81games 13g 50a 63pts 34pim .78pts/game
08-09 71games 16g 30a 46pts 20pim .65pts/game
Is that a player you’d want on the Wild?
That looks like Bouchard’s stats, if I’m not mistaken. I must spend too much time on this hockey nonsense to know that without looking it up. :-\
Looks like PMB’s numbers
And yes, I would want a player like that on my team in theory.
AiH…I am sure Bandgeek has placed that statement into the Russoville archives. Speaking of ‘Band’geek, are you coming to the Minnesota Music Cafe on the 26th?
I hear MKVN will be there.
WRT…those awards were for the people involved, not us. Versus should know that award shows = bad TV.
Now, if they had Megan Fox (or Marney for Green*) hosting…
I just caught part of the awards show last nite when they presented the Goalie award. Manny was up on stage with Thomas getting a trophy as well. Looks like they shared the award. And Manny in true fashion, looked pissed when Thomas was the first to speak & carried on alittle. Poor Manny only got in a few words. Probably had a hissy fit backstage afterwords. And man, was that a lame awards show! How boring & lifeless the audience was…They should have had a “Applause Light” to use cuz, nobody knew when to clap. Just for fun, I watched alittle more to my own demise,& fell asleep…Glad I did.
Yes, you caught me, it is PMB. I was curious as to what people’s reactions would be to an unknown player with his stats. Lots of people seem to take issue with him and his ’style of play’. Heck, even I’ve said he needs to drop the ’spin-o-turnover’, but when you actually look at his stats, he looks like a pretty good guy to keep around IMO. Maybe not at the $ he’s getting, but S.Koivu (who G* pointed out has similar stats, though is a C, but is older) made 4.75 last year to PMB’s 4.25 due this year. So, is he really that much overpaid?
Just looking at the list of NHL players with mid 60’s to low 70’s for pts…
Vanek, 64
Kovalev, 65
Kopitar, 66
Koivu, M, 67
Lecalvalier, 67
Langenbrunner, 69
Toews, 69
Kane, 70
Marleau, 71
Hossa, 71
Heatley, 72
Ok, disregard that last post with the pts, I was looking in the wrong range - doh! Thought that looked a little good to be comparing PMB to.
Should’ve been the mid 50’s to low 60’s range…
Selanne, 54
Huselius, 56
Drury, 56
Hudler, 57
Gomez, 58
Antropov, 59
Franzen, 59
Gionta, 60
Kessel, 60
Recchi, 61
My point being, would people be yelling to trade those players?
No, but I would gladly trade PMB for a number of them, e.g., Kessel, Hudler, Franzen.
Playmakers are more common and available than scorers. If PMB can take a lesson from Forsberg and learn that it’s ok to shoot the puck, I think he could be a hell of a finisher. Maybe Richards is the guy to get that into PMB’s head.
It all depends on how big their contract is. I’m not that down on what the FSM brings just that it is costing a lot of money. He has not exactly brought us value the last season. He is without doubt a great passer and if he would just be a bit more physical he could potentially score a lot more goals. Now with his concussion last season I doubt we will see that change in his game.
I think any of that list were on our squad, we’d find something to b!tch about and want them traded.
not saying it is right or wrong, just sayin’
G* - very true. I think when you see someone every game it is very easy to get hung up on the negatives of that player. Most of the time when we see players from the other teams it is just a game here and there and of course in games highlight reel.
BDS, I believe the concussion occurred against the Islanders did it not? I seem to recall he had gone back into the D zone along the half boards and got absolutely smoked. Was it during a power play?
butch is a passing machine!!!!
I think we all knew that though….
I will echo the sentiment of good player, but paid too much….
Oh…..if only we could get heatley on a line opposite of butch….. (drools a little)
What would be a fair salary for PMB. Would 3.25 be reasonable for his production? 3.75? Is the 1 million or $500,000 more we are paying him really crippling this franchise that much?
Very interesting award outcomes. But it still taints my Bouchard that Foster got no love for his comeback.
On Sullivan…..here is a small part of a peice with Lebron, that is on espn’s hockey page right now…..
“Sullivan missed 687 days with a back injury that needed two surgeries and almost ended his career. I go back with the guy, both of us being northern Ontario boys. I remember talking to him during his two-year absence, and he was trying to sound brave and confident, but it was clear it was a battle, both physically and mentally. But he kept with it.”
it was also mentioned that he was almost forced to retire….granted I think foster should have gotten it, but this wasn’t that bad of a choice.
1 million more on one or two players can be worked around….but it gets tricky….the problem is DR constantly talked about how this was the place players wanted to play, and yet almost every contract they signed they had to throw in an extra mil….hence making our cap a little too tight….
if butch can break out and score 25 in the next couple years, and continue to pass like crazy, then the contract turns into a good one.
I think that if Foster had cracked the lineup earlier, or had returned to the ice earlier even, he’d have gotten more attention and votes for the award. It was a shame that he wasn’t a finalist, but I think the timing was partly at fault.
oops….doubled up on the forced to retire thing…..oh well
I think the trade Butch talk has less to do with Butch than with wanting another player. I would like to see Fletcher make some moves, but there are only a few pieces that I would like to see as bait. Butch has value and isn’t one of the “core” IMO, thus he becomes fodder for trade speculation. Just my take.
I think what’s going to be interesting is Fletcher’s moves with Bruno and Nolan. These guys would be great deadline acquisitions. They also aren’t much use in a time of rebuilding beyond being ballast for the ship. I think we have enough good leadership in the room that they might be redundant. Great players, wrong time. Curious to see what is done with them.
Panthers announcing breaking news coming soon…J-Bo traded? Riser hired? the suspense is literally….barely registering with me.
Agreed, Jake. And it’s not like he came back and was used in every game, which is more of a testament to Big John Scott (take a drink) and other guys playing well at the time.
Jordan, I’d say guys like Nolan and Bruno are REALLY valuable to a rebuilding team because of the leadership and experience they can pass on to the players for whom the team is being rebuilt.
Plus, IMO they’re both still putting up admirable numbers. They aren’t like Carney who was a great teacher but wasn’t an impact player. He was just old.
“hyperbolic invectives aimed at him. Even at his worst he made a couple of egregious gaffes but was generally decent. This year he was very solid but vastly underappreciaated.”
My favorite part of the Gentle Czech’s game is his thousand yard stare. It’s menacing and mezmerizing at the same time. You never know if he’s going to give you his patented poke check or just let you walk around him untouched.
Skoula ripping is so like yesterday. And the MN player debate is like last week. But that doesn’t seem to matter as these topics will live on forever.
Quick! Someone say we need more D to clear players from the crease! We’d be batting for the cycle of dead-horse topics!
wait…was the Cats’ big “breaking news” was trading for Steve Reinprecht?!
MPS15 says:
June 19th, 2009 at 10:30 am
What would be a fair salary for PMB. Would 3.25 be reasonable for his production?
Well, these guys with similar pts…
Player, pts, salary in $xM from last season
Selanne, 54, 3.25
Huselius, 56, 4.75
Drury, 56, 7.10
Hudler, 57, 1.15
Gomez, 58, 8.00
Antropov, 59, 2.15
Franzen, 59, 1.15
Gionta, 60, 4.00
Kessel, 60, .85
Recchi, 61, 1.25
But it is tough to say. Hudler and Franzen are steals but as we know, DET somehow seems to sign players for less than market value. Gomez and Drury are overpaid by the Rangers. Kessel I believe is still in his NHL entry deal and will probably fetch more. Selanne probably took a discount to play with the Ducks - it was either that or retirement for him. Recchi is OLD at 41. So that leaves Antropov and Huselius. Huselius might be the closest in that he’s just undergone FA, a little older than PMB and his G and A numbers are a little more even. Antropov is UFA this summer so he might be due a raise. PMB’s 4.25 compares pretty well with Huselius IMO.
trading for Steve Reinprecht?!
wasn’t he on our wishlist last deadline?
is the NHL going to BF itself again?
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=282276
flames plan to host outdoor game on new years day
“But it still taints my Bouchard that Foster got no love for his comeback.”
shouldn’t that read, “it Bouchard’s my taint”.
I wouldn’t mind 2 outdoor games on New Year’s Day provided they are not scheduled for the same time.
“if butch can break out and score 25 in the next couple years, and continue to pass like crazy, then the contract turns into a good one.”
Tainty Smurf is still only 25 which is relatively young. He should get smarter as he gets longer in the tooth which will allow him to continue to play with the big boys and produce pts. This is one of DR’s contracts I have very little problem with.
I think I have more concerns about Backs contract than PMB’s. At least you can move PMB more easily.
anyone seen the latest mock draft from tsn?
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/26840-The-Straight-Edge-First-round-mock-draft.html
has the wild taking D dmitry kulikov. i’ve never heard him mentioned before as a potential . anyone know anything about him?
oops…looks like that mock draft was actually on the hockey news, not tsn.
But it is tough to say. Hudler and Franzen are steals but as we know, DET somehow seems to sign players for less than market value.
To be fair both Franzen and Hudler are at the end of I believe their initial NHL contracts. Franzen signed a new contract and will be at about 4 million cap hit for the next 11(?) years. Hudler is an RFA now and will command much more next season.
Smokey,
That’s one of the few D men I would be cool with us drafting. He’s a talented Russian born player. Most people say he be rated much higher if he was not Russian but he already plays in Canadian Juniors. Don’t really see why he would run back home to the KHL after being drafted.
Another mock draft I saw had us drafting defensemen Desperes. All I can say is DO. NOT. WANT.
Russian player? Do you think our luck with Russian players will change under Fletcher, too? God, I hope so.
GreenStar @ 11:54- is the NHL going to BF itself again?
Is that what people mean when they refer to me as BF? Man, I’m going to have to change my name.
Wallshot, I’d wondered about them being one entry deals, but didn’t look. My statement (about DET signing players for less than market) still holds true to some extent does it not?
Oh absolutely. I was just trying to point out that Franzen, at this point, will have a cap hit very similar to Bouchard’s. However, I would much rather have Franzen if I had to choose between the two, but definitely not for an 11 year contract. I think that is absurd.
I had the same reaction as your 11:36, Nick, when Wysh tweeted it. Um, whooptee.
Just because we’ve had problems in the past sunshine doesn’t mean we should never go near a Russian prospect again. Obviously we should be careful with our picks but I would take a chance on this kid. JMO
Regarding Kessel…he is an RFA this year. Boston signed Krejci (also an RFA) to a new deal for $3.75M. There is speculation that Kessel will get an offer of similar value. However, if he receives an offer sheet it will probably be for much more than that.
Lucky - You just hope that picking a Russian kid doesn’t turn out like Radulov.
Lucky — we need to be careful on who we draft in general be it that they are Russians or Minnesota-born players.
I just hope our luck changes under the Fletcher regime.
Agree with being safe. With our poor record past the first round and our butchering of the 2004 and 2005 draft we are hurting for top end prospects.
Help us Chuck! Show us some draft table magic.
I don’t know that ‘Safe’ and ‘Draft’ are good words when put together. If you always draft safe, I think you miss out on some of the best chances to hit big. Now, if you change ’safe’ to ’smart’, I don’t have a big problem with that. You have to do the right homework to know which kids are worth taking a risk on and which are best left for others to draft.
What worries me about Russian players is that they have the KHL, which could be more appealing if you are a middle of the road player. You might get equal dollars and still be home.
You really can’t say that for some if not most of the European leagues.
I see how it is.. I spend the morning actually doing work and everyone starts talking about my boy PMB. Stop trying to trade the little guy!
G*, I’m waiting for Bettman to schedule a New Year’s Day outdoor game involving the Panthers/Lightning in South Florida, or maybe Dallas/Phoenix in AZ or Ducks/Kings in LA. Maybe even a triple header?
Austin, sorry buddy but you don’t always get to keep the players you love. They are talking about trading Hards too and I want to see him go as much as you want to see Butch go. They traded Manny too. Russoville may have to form a support group for fans recovering from their fav players being traded. I feel for you Mr and Mrs. Austin but you may have to prepare for the worst. Sorry.
Has anyone been trying to trade PMB today? I’ve been trying to point out his value and that he isn’t necessarily overpaid.
According to the Miami Herald, the Panthers will not have a GM hired in time for the draft. My guess is that they will hire DR but want to hold on to picks in rounds 2-4 for one more year
Yeah I hear ya kgopher… it just sucks to think about it. I really think he would fit well with the “new system”. Hopefully Fletch thinks so too and goes out and gets a finisher to play with Butch.
I do like Harding too and I would love to keep him, but IMO he is our most valuable trade asset. Plus, I would love to see him go be a starter someplace instead of sitting behind the bench for 60 games a season.
My guess is that they will hire DR but want to hold on to picks in rounds 2-4 for one more year
Haha, That is good stuff.
I’ve been trying to point out his value and that he isn’t necessarily overpaid.
I do think PMB is overpaid - DR’s Where Players Want to Play marketing program strikes again - but baring a GM that is in love with him or a multi player deal that needs him in it, I think PMB has a lot more value to Wild fans as a center in the new system then in a trade right now.
Goody, I do agree with you on PMB. He just needs a finisher, but other than Hards he may be one of the few pieces we have to trade. I also agree with the comment someone made that we tend to be overly critical of our own players because we see all of their faults (unlike mistakes our opponents make over a long season)and sometimes forget their accomplishments. It is good to have some meaningful comparisons put up like you did. But we all recognize that we did have a lot of 3d and 4th lines on this team and so there are some quite valid criticisms to be made of the team and the apparent lack of prospects in our system.
That is what I hope for him too Austin, a starter job if he gets traded (hopefully we trade him to a team I can like). He is still pretty young though too and may be ok to be a back-up until Backs numbers drop off/no trade clause expires. They make a great tandem.
I think PMB is paid just about right given his production. I also think that his production would go up a bit more (and probably be more consistient) if he is on a line consistiently with a solid finisher. I think he did well on a line with Nolan last season didn’t he? Get him a scorer and throw Nolan out there with him and I think you would see the points pile up.
Jordan, I’d say guys like Nolan and Bruno are REALLY valuable to a rebuilding team because of the leadership and experience they can pass on to the players for whom the team is being rebuilt.
Plus, IMO they’re both still putting up admirable numbers. They aren’t like Carney who was a great teacher but wasn’t an impact player. He was just old.
I agree with both of these points, I just think that they are an asset that might be more valuable to a team looking for that one piece in the playoffs than they would be to us. At that point I’d like to see them traded for something.
What would really chap my taint is if we trade PMB and he does respond to a change of coaching style. I am curious to see where he plays and how he responds to a new system. I think it could be really, really good.
ATX,
I too have Tainty McSmurfington’s back. He has his warts but he is uniquely creative with the puck and I think he’s very fun to watch. (remember his spin-o-shoot-out goal. WTF? I had to see the slo-mo replay to make sense of it). We’ve got our fill of North/South players (Fritche, Belanger, etc.). It’s nice to have a N/S/E/W player.
“You have to do the right homework to know which kids are worth taking a risk on and which are best left for others to draft.”
Bet Smug Doug didn’t think he was taking a big risk with Pouliot in 2005. Ranked 2nd to none other then Sidney Crosby and played in Canadian Juniors. Players don’t always turn out the way people expect them to. Although there were numerous red flags with Benoit.
So Belanger or Sheppard would go to the 4th line if PMB becomes a center?
Maple Leafs just denied a rumor that they would trade Tomas Kaberle for Harding and Zidlicky. (middle of article)
http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2009/06/18/9834676-sun.html
And anyone know what became of the Boogaard/Comp. Committee meeting?
“So Belanger or Sheppard would go to the 4th line…”
And we would no longer be in Bizarro world.
And anyone know what became of the Boogaard/Comp. Committee meeting?
They’re still in a Vegas hospital
Lol, nice responses. My guess is that Belanger has the better chance of ending up there.
And anyone know what became of the Boogaard/Comp. Committee meeting?
They’re still in a Vegas hospital
LMFAO…POTD
Maple Leafs just denied a rumor that they would trade Tomas Kaberle for Harding and Zidlicky. (middle of article)
Haha.
No.
from that TO Sun article:
Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke shot down a trade rumour yesterday and then fired a verbal salvo at Ottawa Senators star Dany Heatley.
Burke said on the NHL Live! broadcast, which airs on the NHL network, that he has no interest in acquiring the all-star forward, mainly because Heatley publicly asked to be traded.
“When you have players come ask you for a trade, I tell the players: ‘Don’t finish that sentence,’ because once you ask, I’m going to move you,” Burke said. “If a player wants out, you’re darn right I’m going to move you. I’m not kissing anyone’s ass to play in my town, so to hell with you, don’t finish the sentence. My second rule is if I hear about this, you’re not going anywhere.”
LOL…I think Burke is awesome.
I know some of us don’t like him, but I don’t have any issues with him. There can be no argument that he holds the interests of the team by which he is employed first and foremost in his heart all the time - and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Nick, I respectfully submit this as competition for Ms.C’s POTD
Five Forward System says:
June 19th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
According to the Miami Herald, the Panthers will not have a GM hired in time for the draft. My guess is that they will hire DR but want to hold on to picks in rounds 2-4 for one more year
No offense intended Ms.C, just a pretty strong contender.
Our options at center have really opened up haven’t they?
Before: M. Koivu, Shep, Bela, ???
After: M. Koivu, Shep, Bela, Pouliot (yes, I know), PMB, Fritsche (didn’t he play some C), S.Koivu?, ???
LOL…I think Burke is awesome.
He’s the guy that traded Peter Zezel from Vancouver to Anaheim when Zezel specifically asked to go to an eastern conference team to be near his terminally-ill-from-cancer niece.
You ask me, the guy’s a sack of horsepucky.
Wafe: yeah, that’s a pretty rough move…but lesson number one is “don’t F with the boss” when he’s your GM. DR only wishes he could pull that off.
Goody: hmmm…I can’t argue your choice…to each his own?
Oh man! FFS and Ms.C battling it out for PotD! I just can’t decide. I hate disappointing people–can I split my vote?
*whacks FFS in the nuts with her goalie stick and runs off with POTD*
Uh… I think Ms.C wins it - sorry FFS, I didn’t intend to get you nutted!
That should decide that battle, in fittingly Hextal fashion. 
Sorry. I can only do it virtually anymore, so I have to get an occasional nutting in when I can.
Just listened to the draft preview. Buncha nothing. Except TT called Justin Falk “not a sexy pick”… I beg to differ.
NiNY - It was a dick move. Couldn’t he have sent him somewhere equally awful like Florida? At least he tried 
So is this the “calm before the storm” time prior to the draft?
You know that time… when no one wants to say anything to Russo, so he has, in turn, little to update us on?
I hate this time!
…oh wait… It’s been so long. I remember what that feeling is now…
anticipation.
No. More. Funny. Posts. Today. Need Ice.
Hoo boy, just agreed to go to a stick and puck at 4:45 tomorrow morning. I’m gonna feel like a real dumbazz when the alarm goes off at 3:45. Do I even bother going to bed? Should I just go to bed now? Hmm.
Wafer: no doubt. He was younger then. That’s what I’m going with so I can keep him in my ivory tower.
/sarcasm
Sorry FFS. Here’s a bag of frozen peas.
ms.c: youch. That’s brutal. The rink is full the rest of the day?
In the final analysis, the difference is that some GMs beg for forgiveness with pleas like “managing expectations” while others just say “it’s go time.”
I can’t stand Burke, frankly. His goon hockey is just not my brand of hockey. Glad it was the Wings-Pens in the finals.
Well, it’s good because it’s not busy enough to bring on a pick-up game, so skaters can work with coaches and stuff. Also, it costs half what S&P normally cost around here, and it’s the only rink that isn’t way out in the ‘burbs, so it’s quick to get to. And it’s their only S&P all week.
My knee is still hurting but I’m just going to be a target for Scott and his kids. Won’t push too hard. Just want to test my knees out for Sunday night.
With you on Burke, BTW. I love the guy. There’s NO question where you stand with a guy like that. And he’s smart and calculating. I like to watch him work but wouldn’t want to deal with him. I’d always think I was getting out smarted (and probably would be).
“There’s NO question where you stand with a guy like that.” That reminds of the folks who said in the election between Humphrey and Nixon-well at least with George Wallace there’s no question where he stands. As to Burke there is no question also–thuggery and constant interference. Not for me. But then I don’t have to worry–we have Fletch.
Has anyone heard anything about who might make a good Assistant GM? I expect whoever he is, his phiolosophy will be on the same page as Fletch. I hope so, anyway, so that we can call him Fletch Lives.
One week from today we’ll be adding some life to the prospect pool!
Everyone know who they want with our first round selection?
Not a clue. Someone who can score goals, that’s all I know. I don’t give a crap whether they do it with pizazz though.
food
Martin Skoula finished 28th in Lady Byng (most gentlemanly)—LOL thats is just great. He is first in everyones eyes here for the pu44y ways he plays. “You need the puck-go right ahead there guy because i wont hit you and ill let you carry the puck to the net”
That was not me WC.
