Neech

Aww, no Sundin for us.

Yep, our standards are low for hockey players (and deservedly so).

Yeah, especially Carey, especially come playoff time. He could win us a Cup or cost us a series.

I think we might have 4 in the top 30-35, or something like that.

SUNDIN, SUNDIN!!

I hope you're right, Cucs!!!

Finally, FINALLY we'll see our Habs win a fight. I like many others would dearly love to see Georges pound Chara face in. And hey, now we have Gorges and Georges. Laraque has been my favourite goon in the league for a while now, and I'm really happy to see him in the CH, I think he'll be a great fit.

Bye-bye Mikey. You'll always be our newf, and hopefully you'll wear your Bruin's helmet in the same funny way.

While I would love him to sign here, I don't think he will at this point. After all, he's a classy guy, and he knows that he'd be stabbing the hearts of the people who have been his biggest fans for years. The Leafs are the biggest hockey franchise in the world, and one of the oldest, and we're they're biggest historical rival. I know he kind of got jerked around unfairly at the deadline, but that doesn't change that he's been their longest-serving captain, he's their all-time leading scores, etc. I'm not saying it would be unclassy of him to come here, I would love him for it and it would be a great move career-wise if you look at our roster. But I understand if he doesn't want to do it.

Yeah, something like a 2nd rounder seems like the most reasonable thing to be going back, but I wouldn't be surprised if Fletcher wanted a prospect and Bob consented. Grabovski? It makes sense (although how much would this enrage Don Cherry and the rest of the blowhards of Leafs nation? A small, soft finesse player in exchange for their franchise player). Grabovski is probably the maximum that we'll send back, it might be a package of a lesser prospect with a pick. Don't worry, people, Higgins will not be sent to Toronto. We're ADDING assets at this point, the fact that we traded two high picks for Tanguay (from a group that hates to trade picks) tells us the story.

Yeah, it's more of a man-crush issue than a bias towards a particular team. He is in love with several hockey players, with strong feelings for many more.

Sometimes people are really, REALLY big fans.

It's probably something relatively valuable, Fletcher probably wouldn't give something up for nothing in return. Higgins seems like the guy who would make the most sense from a Toronto stand-point, they seem to be moving towards the Brian Burke - Pierre McGuire school of North American hockey, plus Higs was supposedly on the table before. But, that was at the deadline, and the Leafs are in a squeeze at this point, as there doesn't seem to be much to make Mats want to go back to TO. But I can't imagine the package going the other way being as insignificant as Grabovski-Fischer or something like that. Sportsnet mentioned that the Leafs have offered him one year at 7mil with a no-movement clause, but he could get 1-2 more from us I think. Here's hoping we can get him for nothing! :hlogo:

Of course we didn't back out of trading Ryder for Tanguay, durrrr!!!! That's a completely lop-sided deal, a guy with 530 points in 600 games, a Cup and an all-star game, vs. a two time 30 goal guy having a woefully bad season. A first and second rounder can be big, but we're getting a great player. I guess after the last season you could compare him to Plex in terms of value going into his next season, which is a contract year as well. This guy should score 70 points with us if he stays healthy. Sometimes you just gotta be happy about good things. :hlogo:

Exclusive talking rights. He's definitely gunning to make it happen.

This has made my day. And exclusive rights to Sundin? CAN YOU PICTURE THIS LINEUP? PICTURE IT. Tanguay - Sundin - Kovalev Kost - Plex - Kost Higgins - Koivu - Latendresse That is our top 9! Up there with the best in the East, for sure. Higgins would probably be more of a 2nd-liner than third liner, but Koivu would be fine in a 3rd-line role.

That's a good-looking top 9, I had forgotten about Grabs. You'd see him be switched back down for a Kost or Plex, and we'd easily have a top-tier first line with the equivalent of two quality second lines. We'd be like Philly, but better, with a stronger D and a goalie who can dominate. I think Koivu would assume more of the third centre role, and this may mean him seeing less of Higgins (I remember Higgins and Plex doing good things together a couple of years back). They should really just stick Koivu and Lats together for a whole season, I'm sure we'd see 20-25 from the kid. And if it is indeed Sundin and Kovy on our first line, I could see S Kost moving up there and complimenting them well. GODDAMMIT THAT WOULD KICK SO MUCH ASS!!! I feel like it's in Grabs' own (long-term) interest to stay in the NHL rather than bolt to Russia, but that is a gamble for him.

I would be sad to see Plex go, but that's an intriguing deal.

Not so much at the 25th position, you might as well try to address your needs at that point. That article had basic information, but anything else he could have written at this point would be speculation. Good article, I'm looking forward to seeing what's going to happen!

I disagree, aha! But it might not be a bad thing if you're right.

I'll put Sundin on the roster, because it makes me happy. A. Kost - Sundin - Kovalev S. Kost - Plex - D'Agostini Higgins - Koivu - Latendresse Lapierre - Chipchura - Kostopolous The main question mark, aside from the obvious uncertainty of Sundin, was D'Agostini's spot on the second or third line to round out our top 9. We'd have another lineup with lots of switching around, but that first line looks like it could produce a ton, and following it with two lines centred by Plex and Koivu is not shabby at all. And I'd have high hopes for that fourth line. The defense won't change much: Markov - Komi Hamrlik - O'Byrne Gorges - Bouillon Valentenko I expect a few guys - hopefully Emelin - to get a shot in the 7th spot or to fill in for injuries.

They're much easier to tip, we know that!

Right before that faceoff in the offensive zone in the final minute of regulation, I was thinking, "Damn, Kovalev has not played up to form in the playoffs, and in particular this game (despite decent numbers)." Then BOOM, snipes home the tying goal. Before OT I was thinking, "Markov has played 8 listless games in the postseason, what has become of our top D-man?" Then BOOM, he takes the hit the get a solid shot on net to set up the game-winner. Good job, my Russian friends. This was a fluky game, but overall we got more scoring chances. Price wasn't his best, but he was good enough and probably better than Biron. A. Kosty, I just had so little confidence that he would make that penalty shot. It was a good attempt though. Our grinders were good again, and damn if Smolinski wasn't a shifty old vet getting the job done. Good to win game one that way.

That's the goofiest incarnation of death I've ever seen.

I feel like we match up really well against the Flyers. Both teams have an elite group of forwards. I'd say we probably have the depth advantage, but you could go either way in comparing Briere, Richards, Hartnell, Carter, Prospal vs Kovalev, Koivu, Plekanec, Higgins, Kostitsyn. Actually, you might have to give the slight upper hand to Philly. But defense? We have the clear advantage, and in goal Price has a higher ceiling than Biron. I think we won't be relying quite so much on our grinder line this series, and our skilled guys will step up.