T-minus 1 hour and 48 minutes to free agency...

Free agency is less than 2 hours away. Outside of the playoffs, this is my favorite time for hockey (at least the first couple days anyway).

There are mixed sources that the Bruins are going to make a run after Marian Hossa. The Boston papers are saying that there is absolutely no possibility of the B's nabbing him. However, sources out of NY say the Bruins are putting together a serious offer of 12 years, in the range of $100 million for the most sought after figure on the market.

As much as I would LOVE to see Marian Hossa in a Bruins uniform, and how badly this team needs a player of his statue, I do not think it would be smart for the Bruins to make an offer such as this. Hossa is 29, and to sign a guy for that long, who will turn 30 next season, does not make sense from a long term standpoint, especially for a team who seems to be building from a youth movement (although you never know what management of this team will do). Besides lets face the fact, this team WILL NOT be making a serious run at the cup anytime soon. After watching this Bruin team against the Canadiens in the playoffs this year, I can take the homer route and say that this team is one Marian Hossa type of player away from being a serious contender (I think I was at the time), but from a realistic standpoint, Hossa will not solve this teams problems, and if anything he will only bring on more future problems for this team. I think he is too big of a cap hit for a team that needs a lot more than just a prominent goal scorer.

I love the idea of the Glen Murray for Mathieu Schneider swap. Murray, in my eyes, has seen his better days behind him, and realistically doesn't fit in this team long term. Schneider, I think can be a Chris Chelios type and play well into his 40's. The NHL is set up now for puck moving defensemen to extend the longevity of their careers. Spend the money to pick up a young, puck moving defenseman a la Brian Campell, Wade Redden. The Bruins already have a great player in Patrice Bergeron coming back this season. That's the equivilant of a top freee agent signing itself.

So if Hossa signs with the Hub, I guess that leaves me no choice but to jump on the bandwagon. If he goes somewhere else, I would give kudos to the B's brass for not making that long term commitment. Copy what the the Canadiens are doing. Build from within, then spend the money on the key pieces to put you over the top. I can't believe I just said that...

As a special reward (and consolation prize) to all the participants of this year's pool, I present to you a website I found: Hot Chicks with the Stanley Cup! Hooray!

http://theworldofisaac.blogspot.com/2008/05/hot-chicks-with-lord-stanley.html

It's a Tie-Breaker!

OK, this is a tough call to have to make. Derek and P-stone, after four rounds, have an equal amount of points. I checked on the rules I made for this year, and after considering how many players each person has from the cup-winner (Each of you has one), I said that the person with the most players left overall would win. Well, that's P-stone. Also, he has the Conn Smythe winner.

So, without further delay, I hereby declare P-Stone the winner of this year's Playoff Pool. Congratulations to you sir, and also to Derek for making this such a painful decision to make. I wish I could get two trophies for you guys.


P-Stone: 152 (145)
Zetterberg (Det) G,A,W=4
Malkin (Pit) G,A=3
Fleury (Pit) 0


D-man (Capt. Sparrow): 152 (146)
Datsyuk (Det) 2A,W=3
Hossa, (Pit) G,A=3


Kovalev Jr. (Habsfan1993): 109 (105)
Crosby (Pit) A=1
Rafalski (Det) G,W=3


Go Wings: 95 (93)
Gonchar (Pit) A=1
Hasek (Det) W=1


Michael Corleone: 83 (82)
Lidstrom (Det) W=1


Pittsburgh 2 - Detroit 4


Bride of Kovalev (making some mean leftovers): 80
Whitney (Pit)

The Captain's rant...

This is a short post but I had to get the rant out. Even though the finals have absolutely sucked to watch, along with the rest of the playoffs - the 3rd period of game 5 was probably the most exciting hockey that I have watched post-lockout!!!! The Wings were less than 35 seconds away from hoisting Lord Stanley's cup (yet again) to only have that taken away and possibly (more unlikely) wont get that opportunity with a Penguin wins in game 6 and 7. But as good as the period was, overtime was that much worse, that I actually found myself begging for ANYBODY to score to end it so I could go to bed. I should not feel that way when watching the possible closeout game of the finals in overtime!!!!!

And why the hell is Bob Neumeier hosting this on NBC?

Barry Melrose - please stay where you are on ESPN and DO NOT coach the Lightning. John Tortella got the shaft here. There is no possible justification for firing this guy. In my opinion, he is one of the top 5 coaches in the NHL. He turned that franchisee around to win the cup a few yrs back. I know the Lighting were bad this yr, and last yr, but does anybody remember how bad the Lightning really were before they won the cup a few yrs back? Lightning front office - its not the coach - its you!!!! You will NEVER win another championship if you dont figure out the key to winning like every other successful team has - QUALITY GOALTENDING!!!! Mike Smith is your answer? Give me a break! john Tortella can coach my team anyday...

Scores and Standings

Unfortunately for Derek, the Penguins won last night, prolonging the finals, and setting up yet another nail-biter on wednesday. That's my anniversary, so I'm not sure if I'll get to watch the game...

D-man (Capt. Sparrow): 146 (140)
Datsyuk (Det) G=2
Hossa, (Pit) G,A,W=4


Stoner: 145 (140)
Zetterberg (Det) 2A=2
Malkin (Pit) A,W=2
Fleury (Pit) W=1


Kovalev Jr. (Habsfan1993): 105 (99)
Crosby (Pit) 2A,W=3
Rafalski (Det) G,A=3


Go Wings: 93 (91)
Gonchar (Pit) A,W=2
Hasek (Det)


Michael Corleone: 82
Lidstrom (Det)


Pittsburgh 2 - Detroit 3


Bride of Kovalev (making some mean leftovers): 80 (79)
Whitney (Pit) W=1

Scores and Standings

Whew. Now that I have gotten the snarkiness out of my system, here's the scores and standings.
Not much else can be said ab out the race between P-Stone and Derek. It seems P-stone is suffering from Malkin's lack of production and Fleury's playing for the wrong side. If Stoner does win, it will be on the back of Zetterberg, who is likely to win the Conn Smythe trophy.

D-man (Capt. Sparrow): 140 (136) Datsyuk (Det) A,W=2Hossa, (Pit) G=2


Stoner: 140 (139)
Zetterberg (Det) W=1
Malkin (Pit)
Fleury (Pit)


Kovalev Jr. (Habsfan1993): 99 (96)
Crosby (Pit) A=1
Rafalski (Det) A,W=2


Go Wings: 91 (89)
Gonchar (Pit) A=1
Hasek (Det) W=1


Michael Corleone: 82 (79)
Lidstrom (Det) G,W=3


Pittsburgh 1 - Detroit 3


Bride of Kovalev (making some mean leftovers): 79
Whitney (Pit)

Scores and Standings

Whew. Now that I have gotten the snarkiness out of my system, here's the scores and standings.
Not much else can be said ab out the race between P-Stone and Derek. It seems P-stone is suffering from Malkin's lack of production and Fleury's playing for the wrong side. If Stoner does win, it will be on the back of Zetterberg, who is likely to win the Conn Smythe trophy.

D-man (Capt. Sparrow): 140 (136)
Datsyuk (Det) A,W=2
Hossa, (Pit) G=2


Stoner: 140 (139)
Zetterberg (Det) W=1
Malkin (Pit)
Fleury (Pit)


Kovalev Jr. (Habsfan1993): 99 (96)
Crosby (Pit) A=1
Rafalski (Det) A,W=2


Go Wings: 91 (89)
Gonchar (Pit) A=1
Hasek (Det) W=1


Michael Corleone: 82 (79)
Lidstrom (Det) G,W=3


Pittsburgh 1 - Detroit 3


Bride of Kovalev (making some mean leftovers): 79
Whitney (Pit)