NHL 2005-06

[DSJ™]

You are fast on the trigger.......

 

 

[Tracy]

I see it didn't take you long to change your Avatar back........

Would you have kept your old one if Edmonton had won?

[DSJ™]

Till I got back from work the next day, I missed Bouncy Bouncy. 

[Jeff]

Not Cup related, but looking forward to next year already...

The Wild announced their 06/07 pre-season games today:

"The Wild opens its preseason schedule with home games against Detroit on Tuesday, September 19 and St. Louis on Thursday, September 21."


See that Jason?  My next chance to see the Red Wings is only 91 days away!   
 

[Holographic Elvis]

NHL Award Show 2nite.  Time to make the predictions.  Here's the list of finalists for the various awards (my picks in bold.)

CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY (outstanding rookie):
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames

FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY (outstanding defensive forward):
Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina Hurricanes
Mike Fisher, Ottawa Senators
Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars

HART MEMORIAL TROPHY (most valuable player to his team):
Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers
Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

JACK ADAMS AWARD (outstanding coach):
Peter Laviolette, Carolina Hurricanes
Tom Renney, New York Rangers
Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres

JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY (outstanding defenseman):
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Sergei Zubov, Dallas Stars

LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY (sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct):
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks
Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning

LESTER B. PEARSON AWARD (most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA):
Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers
Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals
Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

VEZINA TROPHY (outstanding goaltender):
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

[Holographic Elvis]

I only missed one (the Pearson.)  Not bad if I do say so myself.   

[jjks]

Preds offer Shea Weber to Penguins for 2nd pick.

I really hope this doesn't happen. Weber is poised to be a great d-man, and actually has some size. If we do this, AND don't resign Witt, I'm going to be severely bummed. Our team is too small with both of these guys, we can't afford to dump either of them.

[Holographic Elvis]

Preds offer Shea Weber to Penguins for 2nd pick.

I really hope this doesn't happen. Weber is poised to be a great d-man, and actually has some size. If we do this, AND don't resign Witt, I'm going to be severely bummed. Our team is too small with both of these guys, we can't afford to dump either of them.

With the prospect of having Erik Johnson or Phil Kessel, I seriously doubt the Pens pull the trigger on this one.

[Holographic Elvis]

Nothing on the big sites yet but rumor is that Bertuzzi is going to FLA for Luongo.  Others involved.

[Jeff]

Canucks swap Bertuzzi for Luongo in multiplayer trade

"The Vancouver Canucks have acquired goaltender Roberto Luongo, defenseman Lukas Krajicek and a sixth-round pick in Saturday's NHL draft from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alex Auld."


Rats.  I'll miss booing Bertuzzi when the Canucks come to town.  

[Holographic Elvis]

So much for the Wings getting Luongo.

[Jeff]

I love draft day trades!

Pavol Demitra!  I can already see him along side Gaborik!   

(ps.  Yes, I am dorky enough to watch the draft on OLN.   )

[Morgbug]

(ps.  Yes, I am dorky enough to watch the draft on OLN.   )

That's why I love you guys.  You actually care about this game beyond the playoffs.  Thank you. 

I watched a good chunk of it today as well.

Interested to see what happens with Luongo and Bertuzzi in a year when they're both unrestricted free agents.  I think the Canucks gave up a good, young goalie in Auld though I'm not sure he'll ever be a prime time goalie.  Shedding Bertuzzi was a good move though. 

Going back to the draft....

No surprise at #1, good pick by the Blues.

I was surprised to see Kessel drop to #5 though I didn't rate his a number 2.  I think Pittsburgh made an amazingly intelligent pick in getting Staal jr.  Between Crosby, Staal and Malkin they have an incredible young nucleus.  My guess is at some point one guy will be traded to fill a hole (goaltending?  defense?) but they could be an amazing scoring team in a very short time, sort of like we expected out of them this year

The third pick was pretty cool to see - Jonathon Toews, a kid from Winnipeg.  I've never met him, but he grew up in my old neighbourhood and my dad knows his dad.  Not sure how pleased I'd be going to Chicago, but being picked number 3 is fantastic news for him. 

I wonder how many first rounders will stick this year?

[Holographic Elvis]

I had to sleep since I work tonite so I TiVo'd it and I'm watching it now.   

[Jesse James]

I didn't watch the draft past the Pens, I just wanted to see if they went with Staal or Kessel since that's what it was rumored down to here...  I almost sorta wished they had picked Kessel because with Crosby's assists, I think Kessel would've been better than what he'd dropped to...

I think Staal's gonna be a fine choice though too, so I'm not disappointed.  The benefit of having a **** team all year...  I'm actually excited again for a new season now that '05-'06 is done, but yeah the Pens need to work on some other areas first...

Honestly, goaltending isn't so much one of them...  We have goaltenders, it's just a matter of using them instead of trying to cut playing time to avoid bonuses and stuff.  Fleury's a good netminder though...  I think they're gonna look at goalies though, but I just don't think it'll be quite as hard as one might expect.

They'll really need to cover defense...  It was picking up at the end of the season but the fact remains we have a small defensive core with little experienced defensive defensemen out there...

And I'm still pissed they kept Le Claire over Recchi...  Ugh.

But anyway I'm anxious for another season now as a Pen's fan...  I just hope I don't hit a brick wall with my enthusiasm like I did this past year.