dlbalr

I guess the Jays wanted to get most of their offseason shopping done at once. 2 high quality starting pitchers? Check. A lead-off hitter? Check. Move out Escobar? Check. What a monster deal between the Jays and Marlins...I'd post the names involved but after 3 hours, there still are some pieces being changed as reports come in. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/11/blue-jays-close-to-acquiring-josh-johnson.html

I figure this shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone but it appears highly likely that Geoffrion is out for the season. His father suggested to NHL.com that the timetable for him to fully recover is 8-10 months. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=645482 I don't know who all is out there in terms of forwards that could be signed to take his place (even if it's players on PTO's like Boyce) but I would think they have to do something to fill his roster spot sooner than later. Taking one of the top forwards off a team that has troubles scoring without finding some sort of replacement is a recipe for disaster.

It may be a lower league for Collberg but it's still a pro (men's) league. 18 year olds don't routinely dominate that level. If he was back in junior and only had two points in six games, I'd admit there would be a bit of cause for concern but the Allsvenskan is still a decent level of competition. I can't seem to find any icetime data for Collberg with Orebro but I'd imagine he's not seeing premium minutes. Collberg has done well in U-20 competitions this year (5 goals already), it's numbers at that level that I'm most interested in. As for Thrower, he's starting to come around...at least he was until he suffered a lower body injury. His total performance is still below expectations but I'm hopeful that he can carry forward his improved play whenever he gets back from that injury (I don't think it's long-term).

Leblanc did skate today so hopefully he's only going to miss another couple of weeks which would help stem the tide. I noted in the ECHL thread that Fortier is off to a strong start, he'd be my choice for a recall if they go that route.

It can wait a few days now until after I go see him. Some positive notes about Vail in a top-10 OHL Most Improved article: http://ohlprospects....12-2013-at.html On the negative side of things, Bozon has just one assist and is -1 over his past 5 games.

Olivier Fortier (Orlando) is off to a strong start to his year with 11 points in 12 games. With Geoffrion likely out long-term, I wonder if he might get a recall sooner than later. (I say that fully realizing both Hagel and Avtsin are both scratches but Hagel is useless and it appears they have little intention of playing Avtsin.)

Another 2 point day for Galchenyuk, give him 11 in his last 4. Galchenyuk vs Scheifele, I think I'm going to be seeing quite the matchup on Thursday...

Unfortunately this one is well behind the Boston-Montreal matchup. I think the ones that aren't selected go into future polls so you still have a shot. If you don't want to watch that game, TSN has Canada-Slovakia in the Deutschland Cup tonight.

Geoffrion's injury appears to be worse than originally anticipated. He had emergency surgery to repair a depressed skull fracture and remains in intensive care in a Montreal hospital. http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/pressbox/news/?article_id=117

Geoffrion had surgery on his head last night. That can't be good.

4-1 is the final. Some good news is that the attendance, 18,582, set an indoor record for the Bulldogs. http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1010018

4-1 now. The wheels are falling off now.

Now 3-1 Syracuse, this isn't good.

Angelidis scores a late one to restore the Syracuse lead, 2-1 after 2.

Mayer is single handedly keeping Hamilton in this, I never thought I'd type those words but he has been terrific tonight, Tinordi gets into a fight with Gudas, Derek describes it as Tinordi "pounding him like a piece of raw meat."

Per Derek on the broadcast, Geoffrion is hospital-bound.

Quailer scores to tie it up! That's his first AHL goal. Helpers to Nattinen and Dumont.

1-0 after 1. It's been all Syracuse so far.

The NHL is accusing Don Fehr of withholding their last offer from the players. The PA also apparently wants their full salaries even in a shortened season, that too will cause some serious problems. Just when we thought things were getting better... To be fair, the PA is denying both of these and talks may actually continue tomorrow.

1-0 Syracuse on a redirect from Devos from Korobov. Geoffrion also left the game after getting hit by former Bulldog J-P Cote. New lines for tonight too: Holland - Bournival - Gallagher Quailer - Geoffrion - Blunden Dumont - Nattinen - Boyce (not sure who is C on this line, I know Nattinen took one draw) Palushaj - Berger - Stortini

The Bulldogs (4-3-1-1) travel to the Bell Centre in Montreal to try and salvage a split in this homestand vs the Crunch (6-1-1-1). Syracuse won the first game 3-0 on Wednesday, a game in which the Bulldogs were playing extra close attention to the play in the defensive end. Projected Syracuse lines: (These are guesses based on +/- data from previous games which means surely some of these will be wrong) Conacher - Killorn - Connolly Johnson - Palat - Panik Brown - Angelidis - Wyman Devos - Gauthier Cote - Taormina Barberio - Nightengale Korobov - Oberg Gugas Tokarski Projected Hamilton lines: Holland - Bournival - Gallagher Quailer - Geoffrion - Palushaj Dumont - Boyce - Blunden Nattinen - Berger - Stortini Beaulieu - St-Denis Tinordi - Ellis Nash - Corbin Mayer Puck drop is at 7:30 PM, Funny820 as always will have the play-by-play. The game can also be seen on TVA Sports on tape delay.

If the lottery were to follow the same rules as the previous one, the Habs wouldn't be in great shape due to their making the playoffs the past few years prior to 2011-12. Their odds would likely fall around 14th-18th or so.

Today marks the 4th straight day they're meeting although judging from the memo Don Fehr sent to the players last night, things are going at a snail's pace at best. http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/09/exclusive-donald-fehrs-post-meeting-memo-to-players-there-is-still-a-lot-of-work-to-be-done/

Part 2 is now up for your reading enjoyment: http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2938

The roster is certainly full although there are a few DFA candidates in the waiver claims from October. There is an upcoming deadline to add prospects (minor leaguers) to the 40-man to protect them from the Rule 5 draft at the December winter meetings and the Jays do have some guys I think they will add so we're likely to see some roster shuffling. Jeffress is a low risk move, they just paid a bit more cash than they would have on waivers ($20,000) to get him early. Might as well stockpile the depth. In terms of the big names out there, Anibal Sanchez is looking for $15 M per year for 6 years. Sad as it is, I think he might be able to get that (maybe not 6 guaranteed years though) which makes me cringe at the thought of what Zack Greinke could get.