Commandant

The History of NHL Offer Sheets http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/19/the-history-of-nhl-offer-sheets/

Our buddies do an MMA Radio show... you can check them out. In the past they've even interviewed guys like BJ Penn, and Mark Coleman. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/18/hammer-radio-ufc-149-preview-strikeforce-review/

Thats fair enough. Good thing is that given his production last year at the World Juniors, he's a lock to make Sweden this year (as long as he's healthy). So you'll get to see him then for sure.

We'd actually have 3 of the top 6, unfortunately one of those guys plays for the rangers. (no particular order) Patrick Kane Jamie Benn Logan Couture Ryan McDonagh PK Subban Max Pacioretty David Perron are the top 7 guys in that draft. Agree on Holland, only thing I'll say is that Bournival is a little grittier, and Holland is a better passer.... but other than that, comparable. I still have to pinch myself when I remember we also got Collberg in this draft. WTF? Available at 33rd overall? UNBELIEVABLE to walk out of a draft with 2 of the top 10 players IMO, without making a trade for a 2nd first round pick.

DD is an incredibly intelligent player, whose greatest asset is his hockey sense and ability to produce while adapting to new situations. I fully believe he can adapt to wing and continue to produce there. Offensively he has tenacity and good anticipation which helps him dig out loose pucks and make plays along the boards offensively. At Centre DD’s biggest liability is that he has the defensive responsibility to help out with the three forwards down low. He is outmuscled and beaten by bigger guys on the cycle game. This led to a difference of +17 at home for DD and -7 on the road for him last season. When our coaches were unable to linematch DD’s line, it became a problem. They would cycle the puck and as soon as DD was trying to contain a big forward he would be able to push past DD and drive the net. Defensively he is actually pretty good on the PK, as he was used there in the AHL, and in the 2010-11 season. The reason for this is his smarts and anticipation. He plays up high, covering the point on the PP and is not working to defend down low. This means less battles in a cycle game and more using his smart play and anticipation to cover the point. This is similar to the defensive role he would be put in at ES if made a full time winger. Most players DD’s size (5’9 and under) come up as Centres and are eventually moved to wing for the defensive reasons I outlined. They include, Jiri Hudler, Mike Cammalleri, Nathan Gerbe, Tyler Ennis, and Theo Fleury, not to mention guys who were already wings like Brian Gionta and Martin St. Louis. This might not happen this season, but its where I think this team is headed when Galchenyuk is ready to be a centre in the NHL.

Subban is the only guy on this team with true #1 potential. You dont move him

Modano and Hasek want comebacks http://lastwordonspo...se-just-say-no/

Luke Schenn is at 3.6

Off Topic but I thought some might like seeing that we have a new MLS writer and his second article is Montreal themed as he looks at Saputo Stadium and the Impact http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/17/whats-wrong-with-saputo-stadium/

Subban at 3.83 million for 6 years including free agent seasons is a joke. His agent would hang up the phone and laugh in your face.

I had to get all of them that year. And hey the Barber poll doesn't look so bad on its own. When added to the pants and socks the players wore, it looked like shit, but just a jersey with jeans its not so bad. Not good, but not so bad.

Shea Weber, his status in Nashville, and the impact CBA negotiations are having on his next deal. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/17/in-limbo-shea-weber-and-the-impact-of-a-new-nhl-cba-on-contract-negotiations/

Lets also remember the Leafs had home ice advantage in that game 7.

Jonathan Bernier demanded a trade, where would he fit in? http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/16/wanted-goaltending-jonathan-bernier-looking-for-a-net-to-mind/

I agree with that, they keep him up until the trade is made. I just think that we're not done this off-season, and even if we go into camp and the season with gomer, if he doesn't look like a 55-60 point player, a trade to bring in a top 6 and sending Gomez to the minors will be done at some point. Even if hes on the 23 man roster, I don't see them forcing him into the top 6 if he's not producing like it. He'll stick around... on the third or 4th line spot until they can make a deal for a legit guy.

Unless Gomez shows up and has a very good training camp... he is not a top 6 guy even on this team that has a weak spot in the top six with one of the prospects or Rene Bourque there.

One of the young kids... either Leblanc, Palushaj, Geoffrion, Gallagher, or Galchenyuk should start the season in the top 9 if no other changes are made. Whoever does best at Training Camp.

Most CBA negotiations in all businesses are settled in the last week before the deadline, or after it. Waiting this long is not that big a deal. The problem with this proposal is that while yes, you ask for the moon initially... you also have to be somewhat realistic. This is like walking into a car dealership and seeing a new porsche and offering $50 for it. The dealer is gonna laugh at you and not even want to continue negotiations to meet in the middle.

Yup, its crazy extreme. I just wrote a full examination of the terms of this proposal, and why its a ridiculous way to start a CBA negotiation. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/13/nhl-cba-leagues-first-offer-to-the-players-is-an-insult/ Yes, you ask for the moon to start, and then settle for lower amounts later in any negotiation. But this is an extreme lowball, and the type of offer is concerning for all fans who hope to see the season start on time.

He played a bit of wing on a line with Pleks and Bourque last year. Yeah, that didn't work out so well.

The SEL is pretty close to the AHL in terms of quality of players, but the style of play is so different. People think the big ice would create more offence, but just the opposite is true. Teams play even more defensive, clogging the middle and forcing all the play to the outside where the shots come from far away at bad angles and it makes for very low scoring.

Did the people who said this see Jack "MAB" Johnson play defence?

I've got the following Home (Price) Away (Beliveau.... #4 and a Captain's C... no name as names weren't introduced til after he retired). The White jersey with the Blue Stripe (Richard #9... same setup as Beliveau). The Barber Poll (Markov Alternate's A on front) The Red/Green one (Gionta A on front, was only worn in 2009-10 season). The Blue jersey with the C (Plekanec) The "CA" jersey (Cammalleri) Team Canada 2010 Olympics Red; official on ice jersey, not a replica like all my others... (Drew Doughty) 2009 World Juniors Third Jersey #5 Alternate A, PK Subban 2002 Olympics (the black jersey) - no name Thats it for hockey but i've got some Football (Bills and Ticats), Soccer (Italy, Portugal, TFC, AC Milan) and Baseball Jerseys (Cardinals).

A system that is more suited to him? The right linemates? His old numbers on PP in Carolina were decent, but his numbers in 2010-11 werent. Perhaps its part of having a down year on the PP followed by an up year the next and he settles somewhere in the middle?

Terms to come soon, but good for getting another guy locked up for one of his UFA years.