HOCKEY NIGHT in DSP 07-08

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:15 pm

It really was a great video. Hextall was such an angry dude!

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:52 am

Forsberg signing could happen in the next few days.

Amid speculation that his signing with the Philadelphia Flyers may be imminent or at least getting closer, all we know for sure about Peter Forsberg is that he has now conveyed to many NHL teams that he's not interested in signing with them.

That list of rejected suitors, so far, now includes: Calgary, Dallas, Detroit, Nashville, Pittsburgh and San Jose.

Philadelphia seems to be the most presumed landing spot for Forsberg but interested teams that still haven't been told 'No thanks' include Colorado, Chicago, Anaheim, Ottawa and Vancouver.

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/mckenzie/?id=229017

I was talking to a friend last night, and we both agreed signing Forsberg on the flyers is a questionable idea. The Flyers right now look excellent at center with Richards, Briere and Carter, and once Lupul comes back will have 10 forwards who deserve to be in the top 9. Signing Forsberg makes that 11. This teams real needs are one, preferably two defensemen. Maybe signing Forsberg leads to a trade for defensemen?

Even outside the flyers organization, a forsberg signing could be the spark that leads to some pre-deadline deals league-wide.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:13 am

Signing Foppa is a big risk for any team. Who knows if his ankle will hold up more than a month? Any deal for Forsberg must have a low base salary, with a ton of incentives based on games played and production.

That said, he's welcome in Edmonton.

Speaking of the Oil, another nice win last night, this time against Chicago. The Oil is inexplicably 2-0 with Scorcoff and Souray in the lineup. Souray also may be gone for the season, as he is flying to New Jersey for an examination of his injured shoulder.

Maybe the Oil could be buyers at the deadline if this final push for the playoffs continues. The team also has a few assets to include in possible deals. Rumored Oilers on the block at the deadline include Pitkanen, Staios, Stoll and Roloson.

I think losing Staios for a first-round pick or prospects would be a worthy deal. Staios is a warrior, but he has lost a step this season and looks slow regardless with whom he is partnered. Plus the emergence of Tom Gilbert and the newfound toughness of Laddy Smid has reduced the Oil's reliance on Staios on the back line.

Pitkanen's situation is interesting. He's a UFA after this season, I believe, and will command a fat deal. He has been a very good player for the Oil, a guy who is good on the power play and dependable with that first pass out of the defensive zone. And his skating, ah, his skating. Smooth as butter frosting.

But the Oil needs to sign Gilbert to a long-term deal after this season. He's the best young defenseman in the organization for at least the last decade. Plus Horcoff is going to command, and deserve, big money after this season.

So if moving Pitkanen can land a high first-round draft pick, it might be worth it, especially since Anaheim has the Oil's first-round pick this season due to the Penner RFA signing.

Moving Roloson is a no-brainer. He is a shell of the goalie he was during the 2005-06 playoff run. He has lost his job to Garon, who is playing great and is six or seven years younger. But what team wants a 38-year-old goalie making $3.5 million per season? Few, I would think.

Stollie poses another interesting scenario. He's nowhere near the emerging star he was last year before the two concussions put him on the shelf for the season. But his play is improving, and he's a valuable two-way player and leader with two skills that every team covets -- great in the faceoff circle and a forward who can play point on the PP with his fantastic one-time shot.

Plus Stollie still is young, around 23 or 24. So I don't want to give up on him as damaged goods. I'm biased, as he's my favorite player. But remember, Horcoff had a crap year last season, and the organization didn't forsake him. He responded by becoming an All-Star this season.

Interesting times in Edmonton. Kevin Lowe has many decisions to make in the next three weeks, most of them tough. I don't envy his job right now.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:16 am

Anyone who considers a player other than Ovechkin for the Hart Trophy this season is nuts. The guy is doing everything for the Caps right now -- scoring big goals, passing and hitting like a locomotive.

Here's a look at AO's great season from James Mirtle:

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/02/ovec ... -goal.html

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:36 am

AO is top two material easily with S. Crosby on the sidelines. Scored his 46th yesterday, who knows how many more before the season is over. And he's no pushover either, besides scoring he can hit and won't back down when other players try to intimidate him. Worth all the mula he just signed for.

Regarding P. Forsberg, I think he may end up in COL with Sakic and Smitty out, NAS is playing well lately and may end up with his services as well. But the biggest fish to catch in the next couple of weeks is M. Sundin if he wawes his NTC.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:50 am

With all of this talk about Foppa and Sundin, who are the elite players not eligible for senior-citizen discounts who could move at the deadline?

Cammalleri in LA is a guy who comes to mind immediately, especially since the Kings locked up Dustin Brown on a long-term deal earlier this season.

Brad Richards and Dan Boyle also are tempting targets in Tampa. Marty St. Louis isn't sacred, either. Staying in the Sunshine State, could Jokinen be on the move? What about Bouwmeester?

Is it possible that Hossa could be shipped from Atlanta?

James, what dead wood could be trimmed from Vancouver?

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:01 pm

pk500 wrote:With all of this talk about Foppa and Sundin, who are the elite players not eligible for senior-citizen discounts who could move at the deadline?

Cammalleri in LA is a guy who comes to mind immediately, especially since the Kings locked up Dustin Brown on a long-term deal earlier this season.

Brad Richards and Dan Boyle also are tempting targets in Tampa. Marty St. Louis isn't sacred, either. Staying in the Sunshine State, could Jokinen be on the move? What about Bouwmeester?

Is it possible that Hossa could be shipped from Atlanta?

James, what dead wood could be trimmed from Vancouver?

Take care,
PK

I think Hossa could go.....

LA needs to do something...axing taylor didn't solve anything.

TAMPA is stuck with 3 large contracts and no goalie....turco isn't the answer there...

pittsburgh needs to do something.

vancouver loses naslund to UFA this summer...

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:05 pm

pk500 wrote: James, what dead wood could be trimmed from Vancouver? Take care, PK

The names you mentioned are and probably will be moved. I think FLO is tired of O.Jokinen and he will attract a good package to anyone interested. I think J. Carter could be moved from Philly since they have a good number of forwards. B. Campbell and BUF don't seem to come to any agreement and he's available. P. Marleau has been struggling under the tutelage of D. Wilson and I doubt the Flames will keep A. Tanguay much longer with all the long contracts they've signed recently.

VAN has a good couple of young defensemen that could help any team, but with the rash of injuries lately, they are playing a lot of minutes. We need true scorers and I would love to resuscitate a guy like M. Satan from NYI. We can't rely all the time on the Sedins. But unless the wounded don't come back soon, there's not much the 'Nucks can do.

But you look at the standings and everything is so close that most teams will wait until the very last week to pull a trigger. Best pick up so far was M. Recchi to ATL, when everyone thought he could not play any longer.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:27 pm

Sudz wrote:vancouver loses naslund to UFA this summer...

All the more reason to deal him for assets at the deadline, much like Edmonton did for Ryan Smyth last year.

Nilsson has been a useful young player, O'Marra has potential, and that first-round pick from the Islanders is more important than ever since the Oil shipped its first-rounder to Anaheim as part of the Penner RFA deal.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:50 pm

Naslund will be dealt if the team thinks that the possiblity of getting to the playoffs is nil. Too early at this point to tell, but if there's a deal to be made, Nazzy could be a part of it for sure. With the team struggling lately, and looking for more goals dealing the Captain will not help the team in the short term.

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:45 pm

Players that I think are moveable from the Leafs:

Sundin: for so many obvious reasons, but none of them being that Sundin can't produce. It'll be a sad day for me when they do actually move him.

Kubina or Gill: have to trim the salary fat off of the D-line somehow, but who will take their ridiculous salaries? Might have to work out some kind of deal involving cash.

Wellwood and/or Steen: both have showed flashes of excellence in their young careers but lately they've looked lazy and Wellwood has been ridiculously out of shape since coming back from his injury. A movement of one might be a kick in the ass to the other to start playing.

Raycroft: for obvious reasons, but see the Kubina/Gill situation above.

Blake: for a bag of pucks, perhaps? He plays on a line with Tucker and Stajan for God's sake, and Tlusty has taken his spot on the top line.

Tucker: Has completely lost his game as his body has caught up with his reckless play. He was very lucky to have such a productive year (as far as how many goals/pg at least) or else his contract would've been set where it should be.

Sadly enough, there's probably more that should go. What a sad state when I'm suggesting moving at least eight regular roster players from the team. Desperate times call for desperate measures though, especially when this will be the first time in team history that the Leafs will miss the playoffs for three straight seasons. Pathetic.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:56 pm

Fine story on Caps coach Bruce Boudreau, who must be the leading candidate for the Jack Adams Award:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/s ... d=tab1pos1

Boudreau is a really easy guy to like. I'd like to see the Caps make a deep run in the playoffs, as the NHL would greatly benefit from more exposure for Ovechkin. He's the most exciting player in the league, even when Crosby is healthy.

Take care,
PK

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:55 pm

Luckly for the Leafs, it won't be difficult to make an improvement in tonight's game vs. the Canadiens. For those of you who don't have another game to watch, I'd highly suggest taking this one in. Leafs-Habs games are usually pretty tight and the atmosphere is amazing.

You also get to take in one of the league's rising stars between the pipes (Price) and see one o fthe game's most storied franchises go up in smoke. As an aside, the iron grip-like hold that the Sens have had on the Eastern conference might be broken.

It's also presented as a Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, so that's a nice bonus.

Go Leafs... I guess.

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:41 pm

So, the Leafs win 4-2 in an amazing game to watch. It was pretty much end-to-end hockey all night long, with not a whole lot of iffy penalties called. There was a couple, but nohing too bad.

It's pretty funny how a lot of the guys that I called out before the game played well. Kubina, Tucker, Blake, and Wellwood all had good games, with Tucker getting two goals and Wellwood getting another. Blake was great at moving the puck forward and creating chances at the net, and Kubina was pretty solid in his own end. I noticed that he does a lot of good puckwork with his feet.

With the Ott-Florida game so close, this was a huge game for Montreal. At least the Leafs have some bearing on the playoffs.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:22 pm

The Habs loss on sunday to the rangers was course changing...

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:04 am

The Habs-Leafs' game was riveting -- had the intensity of a Game 7 in the playoffs. Even my 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son were glued to the set with me.

There were some monster hits in the game. But the craziest one had to be when Colaiacovo went to check Koivu against the end boards in the third, Koivu ducked, and Colaiacovo stapled his own face into the boards, knocking himself into 1979!

Take care,
PK

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 9:10 am

Is there any way to see what games are going to be televised on the NHL Network in the U.S.? They used to have some games listed at NHL.com but now when you sort by NHL-US it is blank. I'm in a "dead zone" for the Penguins because I can't get Fox Sports Pittsburgh on cable and they are blacked out on Center Ice. The only time I get to see the Pens are national broadcasts and when they play the Flyers and I don't want to miss any. I've been fortunate to see them on the NHL Network a few times (I'm pretty sure these should be blacked out but I'm not calling Comcast...LOL...NBATV games with teams in my market are blacked out), but I never know until the game because sometimes the DVR guide isn't even accurate for the NHL Network or it will just say "NHL Hockey."

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 9:47 am

Leebo:

http://www.nhlnetwork.com/en_US

The upcoming broadcast always is promoted on the home page, and there's a link for program listings. Unfortunately, the listings are only for the next 24 hours, but it's better than nothing.

Take care,
PK

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:06 am

How 'BOUT that Alex Burrows, getting the game-winner last night?!?!?

That's my guy!

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:13 pm

pk500 wrote:Leebo:

http://www.nhlnetwork.com/en_US

The upcoming broadcast always is promoted on the home page, and there's a link for program listings. Unfortunately, the listings are only for the next 24 hours, but it's better than nothing.

Take care,
PK

Thanks, PK. It looks like under the "Games" tab there is a listing up until 2/20.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:47 pm

lexbur wrote:How 'BOUT that Alex Burrows, getting the game-winner last night?!?!?

That's my guy!

He's been the most consistent agitator for the 'Nucks this season and it was nice to see him rewarded with a goal. A hard worker, kills penalties, just needed to see him score some goals as he's been getting his chances.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:53 pm

Naples39 wrote:I was talking to a friend last night, and we both agreed signing Forsberg on the flyers is a questionable idea. The Flyers right now look excellent at center with Richards, Briere and Carter, and once Lupul comes back will have 10 forwards who deserve to be in the top 9. Signing Forsberg makes that 11. This teams real needs are one, preferably two defensemen. Maybe signing Forsberg leads to a trade for defensemen?

I don't want Forsberg back on the Flyers, either. Every time he played I would be nervous that his dodgy foot was about to give out, subjecting Flyers fans to the "As The Ankle Turns" soap opera we endured last season.

I don't blame Forsberg for anything that happened, it was just unfortunate, but I don't want to take the risk of it happening again while the Flyers trade away a young forward thinking that Forsberg can take their place.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:11 pm

The Flyers don't need Forsberg. That's a very solid hockey club right now, playing with good chemistry.

You're right, Feanor: The Flyers don't need "As the Ankle Turns," and they don't need Foppa.

Take care,
PK

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:45 pm

So the Leafs beat the Red Wings (and an admittedly shaky Dominik Hasek) today in Toronto, which means that they beat three of the top teams in the league in the span of a week, but also lost to one of the worst (Florida) 8-0. That's just about enough to give me a tiny bit of hope for the playoffs but unless they go on some kind of tear where they win nine of ten they're just about out.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:56 pm

I dsilike the wings but what a garbage call...