GHT120

R%&^&(*^&$%(&*)*(%&*$&#%$(^%*^(*)&{(&*^$&%#^*%$&^%*&^(*&)(*^(&%*^$&%#^%$&^%*&^(*&)(&*^$&%#^$%$&^%*&(*

And Rockets re-take the lead ... it is a fun finish

Rockets bombarding TO goalie (not all/many great scoring chances) ... 48 shots less than 5 minutes into the third ... and Rocket have tied the game

Trouble with getting someone like that is that his career earnings were $83,872,600, almost 14 times Parros' earnings ... as I suggested elsewhere, referees and linesmen might be good impartial arbitrators who would have respect for the safety of players

GREAT on the NYRs ... wonder what it costs them for breaking the old boys club rules

Just to refresh folks' memory 9 controversial Tom Wilson hits...in 90 seconds (msn.com)

I wonder if it is the frustration of him "teasing" that he is more than he actually is ... IMO he is a solid 3rd pairing D who can occasionally play up when needed ... but he is not a top 4 defenceman on a good defence

If that happens I would rather put CC back with Evans ... they seemed to have energy and chemistry ... maybe they would spark KK (14 games with one assist, 19 since he scored ... although stats are not the sole measure of a players game)

If they want a "tough guy" for some reason (they seem to) ... maybe John Scott would be better

Assuming he is to be moved, and Seattle won't select him ... after next season it would certainly be easier to trade Weber ... his real dollar salary drops to $3 million, and then three years at $1 million (not that I am certain he plays the last three, maybe not the four) ... taking back a $2-3 million contract for one year might work if the a cap-floor/budget conscious team needs/wants to take on Weber's cap dollars ... if necessary the "new" contract could be moved, retaining up to 50%, with minimal-ish cap impact compared to Weber's contract.

I would expect he needs at least a practice or two taking live action shots to both see how sharp he is and to be certain the concussion is OK (skating and exercise are one thing, live action another) ... a logical return would seem to be Saturday against Toronto and the two against Edmonton ... a good test, both mentally/physically and in terms of performance, to see if he is ready for the playoff grind

Maybe it is because he is a FOO Fighter ... Friend of Ovechkin Or get away from players entirely ... use referees and linesmen ... and make it a three person panel to avoid individual bias

I'd give him 20 to start next season as well ... he is a repeat and repugnant offender

There is always the distinction between "should" and "will" ... I think most (maybe almost all) recognize that Bergevin likely chews his own arm off before exposing, or for that matter trading, Price or Weber ... but there is also the cathartic benefit of expressing the "should" without predicting it is the "will"

Since he can only be exposed with his permission, he would either have to want out (which IMO would mean something is already in his head and the Habs pretty have to find a way to move him) or he is convinced/agrees that keeping Allen is worth the risk of being exposed.

There has been "talk" on some non-Bob-McKenzie-like sites that Drouin may not even be back in the playoffs

Just saying if you keep Weber and DON'T go find a puck-mover with speed/quickness then it is a waste keeping Weber

Which does nothing to support Weber for the next year or two

Thought the name didn't sound familiar

Sounds like an off-season move for whoever is GM might be to throw money/promotions at the Canucks scouting core (e,g., Scouting Director Brett Henning and Chief Amateur Scout Ron Delorme).

But if the habs are looking to IMPROVE their D-corps then that depth wouldn't seem to offer much assistance on the trade market ... it will take first round picks and top prospects OR mucho dinaros

Agree that Petry (IMO) is not elite ... had had a terrific start to the season but elite defencemen are more consistent ... he is in a larger group below elite (which I define as regular Norris contenders). However, short of hitting a Maker/Hughes-like "win fall" ... adding a proven, quality top-pairing who has an offensive flair is unlikely with Weber's contract on the books ... moving Chiarot AND Edmundson would clear up almost as much cap space but they both have some control over where they are traded ... Seattle might take one of them if exposed but that still leaves about $20 million on the books on the blueline ... before adding the dominant defencemen ... and the habs only have about 13.6 million to re-sign/replace Tartar, Danault, Armia, Lehkonen and Kotkaniemi ... and sign/acquire/promote a 12th and 13th forward.

Eliminating loyalty or qualitative evaluation considerations, I think the issue is as much (or more) that moving Weber or Price out at this point would mean that MB is admitting Price's contract and Weber's acquisition has proven to be a long-term mistake by not building a proper supporting cast around them earlier when they were at or net their peak ... thus I see neither going anywhere under Bergevin.

The Habs are currently at a .550 winning percentage ... last season that would have placed them 5th in the Atlantic and 8th in line for one of the two wildcard an Eastern Conference playoff spots .,,

I also agree ... and wonder what could Perry do with non-Jurassic linemates?