Iron Crotch

I really wish they'd call interference once in a while. It is just so blatant on many of the dump in plays.

This guy might be available.

He goes to the box once or twice a game for snapping an opposing player's stick in half. It's as predictable as the sunrise. See ya Mess. Take Balls with you.

We have the Isles second round pick too. Thanks, Garth. :D

Realistically, I think it'll be 20th or 21st. We also have pick #31. I think we also have the Isles' second round pick too. Time for our scouts to earn their pay.

I think Minnesota has a chance. IMHO, we have a reasonable shot at the 20th pick.

Game 7's are fun. I wish I was at one tonight. :(

Bickell is the least productive player of the above, but he has size and is younger than the others. Sharp and Hossa are older, but still productive, although Sharp fell off this year. I think Sharp relies on talented linemates whereas Hossa has the talent to create on his own (e.g. screaming down the right wing then cutting into the slot). On another note, Brad Richards has been unimpressive with the Hawks. I think he'll be elsewhere next year.

They'll let Sharp go. Saad is a future star. Hossa is still playing at a very high level on the first line with Toews. Bickell is another guy they might send packing.

Losing their best defenseman and best center for much of the series didn't help the Preds any. Most Preds fans are pissed at David Poille for trading for Mike Santorelli and Cody Franson at the deadline instead of someone more physical (e.g., Chris Stewart). Both were terrible down the stretch and didn't help the team during the playoffs. Stupid David Poille gave up a 1st round pick for two guys who made the team worse.

The Preds love handing away 2 goal leads. Frustrating. I want a game 7 so I can attend it.

Phil has been great this year with the Preds. He coaches defense (highest scoring group in the league) and the power play (average). I think he is ready for a head coaching job, but Murray will want a veteran coach. Babcock's situation is interesting. He is either working the Wings for a huge raise or he legitimately wants a change of scenery. I tend to think it is the former.

The only penalties I'm seeing regularly called in the playoffs are the mandatory ones: (1) accidentally flipping the puck over the glass from your own zone, (2) chopping a guy's stick in half when trying to prevent him from playing the puck.

The game was great. The arena was absolutely rocking - as loud as I've ever heard it. You are correct in that Broadway was a zoo last night with the playoff hockey game, the first game at our new AAA stadium, and a big convention in town. Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) was sitting behind me at the game. I'm a big fan from back in the day, so I thought that was pretty cool.

Some folks are forgetting Murray made a blockbuster trade pre-deadline to get Evander Kane.

All things considered, it is best for McDavid to go out West if he isn't in Buffalo. I'm fine with the Oilers getting him instead of the Leaves or Carolina.

The Oilers pick 1st overall every year. Why are people so surprised? :D ....it won't matter. they'll still suck.

Watching him live, it is obvious that Weber has been playing hurt for a while now - maybe a month or more. I think it'll be one of those cases where after the season they'll reveal an injury. Mike Fisher made the trip to Chicago after missing Game 2.

Shea Weber will be out for a while. He isn't making the trip to Chicago. Volchenkov in for him. Shea hasn't been right for about the past month or so.

Season ticket holder use a Smashville Passport card to get into games already. All games/tickets are loaded onto the card. So there is no change at all. When you get to the entry point they swipe your card and your ticket stub prints out. The same system works with credit cards (i.e. ticketless). Hawks fans are usually more than 1/2 of the fans for regular season games here. So they're trying to abate that. The problem is about 1/3 of Nashville is transplanted Chicagoans, so I doubt it'll work. Too many locals with Chicago ties. I'll be there tonight and Friday. Front row club level just to the right of the cameras and just to the left of the Mandrell family (Barbara's husband Ken is a huge hockey fan).

:D I'm going (and have been) naulter for the time being. I think Bio pretty much did the same. And, yes I used "naulter" as a verb.

It's like groundhog day on this board. Every thread is exactly the same.

Nobody will want a diarrhea bear avatar. They'll be forced to change it.

What did I do?

Nashville does the same. Guys normally get 2-4 seasons in Milwaukee before getting a full time spot on the big club. Same system in both places (which I think most teams do now). So rookies play at a high level from the get-go. Contrast that with the Edmonton philosophy, which has been a disaster. That's why I cringe when everyone wants to rush our kids into the lineup. Personally, I'd like to see Reinhart get time down on the farm in Rochester before playing in Buffalo. Kid needs to learn the physical side of the game before being ready for the NHL. That was obvious in his 9 game stint this year.