The "Salty Daug!"

Caspers, the Salty Daug, is just getting a new bite, a fresh bark in Binghamton, New York.

The "Daug" is not the problem, his wisdom teeth are, he'll be back before you can say the Habs @ Scotia Bank.

But our MGMT Team is having a problem with #21; #16 and #24. Bob Butler will get Alfie's days off and that's it. DaCosta better get back in between his two big horses with some draw help (#28) in his own end and play lights out.

Alfie ain't goin' to Boston, no "Daug", so now ya got a daug's breakfast.

14, 19, 9

71, 24, 21

22, 15, 25

18, 28,16,

7 defencemen maybe...I'd play the Quarterback on the wing,  just for the Boston game...

2, 55

17, 65

5, 4

Our man #41 between the pipes.

"Hey Shanny, the non-call on Alfie's assailant, smells like a Colie Campbell veto...throw that old fart over the rail before you and Rob lose all your status!"

"We're playin' with nine guys!"

Bryan, I know we just won six (6) in row but you can only play with nine guys up front for so long until your knees buckle...John Paddock showed us that one...

Alfie makes ten but the coaches have no confidence in #21; #24 or #16...

As we knew all along we still need a first string center in sheep's clothing to play second line center because we are not satisfied  with just anyone. We have two expendable national league Defencemen...

How many times do you "whiff" on the clearing pass before the coach takes you off the "Kill Team"?

Lehner looks ready...he looked ready last year...

EriK wants to play 30 minutes every game and he should...

Jason was feeling the heat...we shall give him a pass for one game...

9 MM skating miles on his new wheels...

Rundblad looks like "Tom Brady", then the next shift he looks like "Tony Romo!"

Greening was ready for the NHL...really ready...

Zack just keeps on giving...

The "Dawg" is here to stay...shoot the puck...

Number ONE Power Plays scare the other guys...

Neil is on pace for 20 goals...

Foligno is having so much fun he thinks he is playing road hockey, but the coaches know his worth...

When Alfie comes back, Winchester gets a shot between Foligno and the Captain on the strength of his draws alone...

Just my thought "Don't start to OVER COACH Jared!"

"It's not weather you win or lose"...

"It's not weather you win or lose, it's how Robin plays the game!"

Robin Lehner is a first shot goalie so let us make the Leafs a one shot team. Needed is lots of rebound support.

Things to watch out for...the "National Hockey League" wrap around...it comes from nowhere!

Nick Foligno shall earn his money tonight, he will either make or break one or both the NHL careers of #16 & #24.

They got the "Dawg" playing with Zack and Neil, I think that should be Condra.

ZK 28 gets all the second line draws in our own end...face offs, face offs, face offs...it's the PP...it's the PK...it's puck possession...

Note: The Leafs have been practicing draws also...

Note 2: Tranna has had seven (7) more PPs and eight (8) fewer PKs than us in ten (10) games. Ya don't think that don't add up in the point standings...and they get this advantage every year "AJ". I gather you didn't play the Power Play or the Penalty Kill...

Note 3: Coach Paul is an NHL INSIDER, they will take of advantage of him early but this may pay dividends in the long run...it better...

Note 4: Something to watch for...on the road that puck flipping Lineman, the one who puts the puck on it's edge for TV Time outs, if Jason sets up well left of the dot, stick and body, this guy drops the puck on the (to Jason's far right) right side of the dot...this is the same guy that bounces one in three so hard they come back up 3 - 4 inches off the ice...

We look like sittin' ducks but the Leaf DEFENCE is not that good, they are very frail confidence wise.

Stay close until the third and then give 'em the big finish!

Trouble ahead...

Note: The Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team in the league that can go into MSG for the home opener after the renovation pick up two disallowed goals and the only two minor penalty power plays in the third period to defeat the Blue Shirts of New York...

There shall be a "Home Call" coming Saturday afternoon...

Problems: 1) King Henrik "stunk", that will not happen again.
2) Gaborik demoted to Christenson and Wolski...watch out. Big test for our #17/#65 combo.
3) Richards gets Calahan, who thinks he is owed two and Dubinski...the front of the net is where they hang out.
4) Tortorella will say the wrong thing to or about Coach Paul.
5) The ice is/looks like/could be fake ice, it doesn't even sweat right.
6) If we get the Linesman, who puts the puck down on it's edge for the TV Break, the Rangers are playing for the bounce.
Lucky 7) the Ranger DEFENCE is staggering...

Improving...

Coach Paul...old fashioned Bench Jockey

Have to admit when I saw the "Big" hit on our 2nd line center ice man after a pretty flashy T-camp  I thought this is the end of his bounce and aggression until next year...Don't know how long this will last but hats off to our man DaCOSTA...

Andy...composure under the gun

Davd Rundblad...superb

Alfie...clutch

Jason...ordinary tonight as in Ordinary Super Star

Nick...extraordinary effort

Greening...make one, give one

Condra...vision

Sergei...steady

Jared...2 solid hits

Mach 9...skated miles

EriK...trying to do too much

ZK 28...83% @ the dot!

Zack & Neil...power 3rds

"Just win, baby!"

Too many...Not enough...

Ottawa Senator's Center Ice Men...

Spezza

DaCOSTA

Smith

Konopka

Winchester

Condra

Greening

Foligno

O'Brien

Locke

As we see, all good men but it takes a special guy to play 2nd Line Offensive Center in the National Hockey League. Actually, he is really a first line center in sheep's clothing playing with the next best set of wingers!

There is no one out there (available from another team) that fits our team/roster right now so give DaCASTA  the job by acclamation, tell him to play high in the zone if it feels comfortable, relax, enjoy, feel the speed, learn...contribute!

We'd play it...

14,19,9

71,24,11

22,15,25

23,28,18

It's all we got...

Tranna...Colie...et al!

TSN guy says we are 3 - 5 - 1 when we have 4 wins...

TSN guy says Philly has best PP in the East when we have the best PP 31.2% by 2 or 3 points. Note: Tranna is 15% but have had 7 more chances than us this early in the season about one a game...

Colie's rules...'"his" finish your check bull sh*t...the puck is long gone, Simmons for Philly just keeps on coming, charging, late. AK 46 has enough time to watch his pass, turn back get his stick and gloves out first, then his elbow up to defend himself...two for defending against a late hit, charge...Shanny's got to look at this again...

Philly...Detroit...Washington..."the elites!" are allowed open season on obstruction and interference while Ottawa and teams of our ilk get chintzy stick fouls for nothing...Tranna are some where in the middle but just seem to be able to get the extra PP each and every game...

Game 10.

One in one out!

14,19,9

71,24,11

22,15,25

18,28,23

#93 sits for one game with #5.

Bryan and the Coaches get one more look @ #24 between Nick and Alfie and they get one more game to think about Mika.

Money talks...

Mika makes $1.775 mill. DaCOSTA makes $1.325 mill. That is $3.1 mill of Eugene's money (Like we usta say playing golf, that is not "Air Money!")

They don't talk about or publish depth charts very often anymore but believe me it's the number one sheet on top of Bryan Murray's clip board.

Monday Night!

Habs lose. Leafs lose. We gotta find our way back in here...

There is a lot of speed out there...Colorado...Florida...Washington et al...it's going to be tough...

Rookie linesman (maybe from the Texas League) calls an off side against Florida that wasn't (a scoring chance), then let's a Montreal off side go, then for the TV time out he puts the puck on it's edge in the face off circle (holy Indian Rubber Balls)...Colie, this is the NHL, I did one game on the Blue Line in my whole life and I'm better than this guy...

Ya don't think the Tranna guys don't know...Colour Man Jimmy Ralph: "Jeeze, I hope Tranna don't score on this PP because the Ref will have to spend the rest of the night trying to make it up to the Flyers!" After Tranna get another total "Phantom Call" to start a road game in Philly.

"Rocket" Richard in his 39th year, played mostly home games for the Habs and almost always had the energy to score a big goal or make a big play for the fans at the Forum. Maybe Alfie should be looking at a schedule like that...in case you don't remember Richard scored the big overtime goal in the play offs that year.

Put Mika right back in there!

Don't, do not change a winning starting line up.

For what it's worth we seem to be more effective when we start to mix and match later in the game.

Practice Monday put Mika right back in there between Alfie and Nick. This is the whole idea of keeping him with the big team.

Remind the Head Coach (Coach Paul), that Zack Smith should be playing 3rd line center every shift and being always available for 2nd line duty. But put him back with Condra and Neil for practice, it's good for their offensive touch.

Our PK problems were positioning and are now personnel. #17 he just never seems to get it out until one of their guys falls down. Filippé was  -1 and on for every goal against...

Our big guys are (seem to be) more effective when they come out for second minute of our PP.

Put your stick on the ice and leave it there. Part of being a big pro is knowing how to cary and check with your stick. Watch Detroit, dirtiest stickmen in the game...right on the edge, same with the holding but not quite over...

Mika was staying here with us from day one!

Mika Zibanijad is staying and will play second line center until he plays his way out of there.

Petr is done...it's too bad but it was projected right from T-camp that he would either play light and be of no value or he would go"Balls to the Wall" and keep hurting himself...wearing #13 didn't help...

Nikita may not come up right away but is on the way...and start him off with Zack and Neil that's where he feels comfortable right now...

DaCosta will get another shot but he really isn't ready to handle that big opposition center just yet...

Winchester is a big ask...coming out of the press box to be the second line center...

Zack Smith should be played as the third line center, all the time every game, sort of the second line center in waiting...

Frank Selke...Milt Schmidt...Punch Imlach...Peter Charielli...the guys, who had the good young ready rookie player and the space on the roster to place, develop, teach, watch over, direct and pay largely,  always kept the "gem", that one "Diamond in the rough" with the big team...and it always paid off for the team and the player...

No matter how thin things get Bryan can look down @ #93 and get a warm feeling in his heart, then look @ #2 and get another warm feeling...

General Managing is all about warm feelings for the man and his fans...

I understand...

Big win for the guys, Greening might just be able to cary Jason and Michalek.

Jason, with his new Alternate Captain's "A" and being a big time center man trying to play with that bouncing ball, should have been all over the Ref for a NEW FRESH FROZEN PUCK FROM THE FREEZER, that's a home call (request)...

Anderson was big league tonight...

Enough with the "Flamingo" (#4) and #14 if you can't get your body in the way of it don't flag at it, leave it alone, give Andy a chance...

Big goal for Alfie, that's 39 year old hand/eye...that's Alfie's tennis return, I wonder if our other old guys could still play competitive tennis?

I understand that ya have to play Phillips and Gonchar but to saddle EriK with Kuba night after night just doesn't seem fair when you have a Brian Lee sitting in the press box. It would free up David for more of the PP and make EriK the defencive leader of that tandem...

#4 and #55 had one shift early together but then the defenceman changer broke that pair in a hurry, I wonder what was so troubling to the coach?

Torts says #17 usta be one of the best at the offensive blue line...I think he has lost his confidence...ya can't play safe when you are on the ice with EriK...

Worth?

If you are paid $4 mill and two thirds of the time you play like a 550 what are you really worth?

If you are an experienced offensive DEFENCEMEN and you have a goal scored on you...you immediately start to play "Kitty Bar the Door" which you are ill equipped to play...What are you really worth?

Ping Pong, darts, golf, hockey is you play too long at a high level and your hand/eye starts to slip...What are you really worth to the team?

Rest Mr. Gonchar, make Filippé and Phillips as your 5-6 pair...PLAY THE KIDS!

"What doesn't kill me...makes me stronger!"

"What doesn't kill me...makes me stronger!" EriK Carlsson.

After EriK put OV in the sack the other night his reputation is growing and all the big rushers and puck handlers are going to want a shot to test him, for example, Jagr tonight. But if Carlsson is going to use his speed and finesse 'em he needs more than #17 can provide on the other side. I say give him his old mate Rundblad and throw 'em both in the frying pan and see how they fry. I think we'll be pleasantly surprised.

Note: One thing I know for sure if you are young, talented and interested, the puck bounces for you. If you are old, slow and disinterested the puck bounces through and away from you all night long. Ask Wade Redden.

If while on the ice with our new dynamic duo a forward breaks beyond the dots in his own end or does not come back home far enough before we have the puck or if David is not ready...automatic $100 fine for the Treasury of Lunch Time meetings...

Shoot the works!

It's time, we have been dancing around this issue long enough...

In practice on Monday let us see...

EriK and Rundblad

Jared and Lee

Phillips and Kuba

Play #4 and #17 against Jason and Alfie...now track and watch what is going on...

Note: EriK is the only one fast enough to play against Jagr's line and he needs more help than #17 has been able to provide so far...I think Rundblad playing with EriK will surprise the coaches...

Note 2: Konopke gets the first draw/shift against Philly's PP with Condra's sensible support...Jared and Lee, the first "Kill" defence...

Erik owns OV!

Erik Carlsson owned OV all night...


Alex was very good...


#17 the drifter...

drift it back to the other guys in the corner when we have some offensive pressure in the last few seconds of the PP...

drift off your coverage out to the blue line when you should be holding the off side post for your goalie...

drift back in and not cover the wrap around...

drift back out of position and have to take the tripping penalty...

drift it down for icing when ya got winger breaking into free ice...

drift it wide of the net everytime to the point where everyone in the rink knows you are going there...

drift into the corner and try to stick check some small forward when you should be using your 6'3" 230 lbs body to crush the kid...

drifting left when OV goes through your legs and by you on the right...

drifting the final shot of the night away up on the glace, no chance...

OV and the Caps...

To the Defenceman's coach...ya dress 7 but you play 6, it's an implied threat not a playing strategy...

To Coach Paul...ya got no extras up front, set 4 lines and leave 'em alone...

To the Special Teams Coach...on the PK, the point men are dangerous but so are the three guys standing around your goal tender, collapse to your net, plug the seams, then block the point shot...Buffalo just lost the game because the forward could not get back down to protect the net on the PK.

Greening, Spezza, Zee-bad

Michalek, DeCosta, Alfie

Foligno, Regin, Neil

Condra, Konopka, Smith

Rundblad, Phillips

Jared, Gonchar

Kuba, EriK

Alex

Coach Paul says...

Greening; Spezza; Butler

Michalek; DeCOSTA; Alfredsson

Foligno; Regin; Neil

Z-bad; Smith

Cowen; Gonchar

Kuba; EriK

Phillips; Rundblad/Lee

Anderson


Coach Paul says "Bobby" Butler is ready for "Prime Time"...


7 D this could be interesting...


This could be the start of Rundblad's career as a forward...

Believe it or not Mr. Kypreos other teams are having a tough time matching us when we can roll four lines...


If we can clean up the line changes and the chintzy stick fouls, we are going to have a shot to win most nights...

Line changes are not routine...are not easy anymore...once got benched for staying on the bench, showing up the coach, because ya gotta stay in the game all the time...

EriK is a stud (28 minutes), as I was tellin' ya a year ago, he's the fastest DEFENCEMAN in the league from a standing start, bar none...Mr. Rundblad is good for him, they shall play together as a pair one day...

Jared, it's time...the next guy that pushes you from behind in your own goal crease, take the "five", turn and drop the "Pusher"...let's get territorial...

Jason, you are goin' good, but you are an "Alternate Captain",  it ain't Pee Wee, when the Ref misses a call you do not try to make the correction while the play is going on...as we usta say: "Play the whistle!"

To Kypreos and Maclean...

To both you guys, you were both "cuts", neither of ya could make our Senators team this year even if we paid you  peanuts...

The potential of the Ottawa Senators is the future (contrary to your amateurish analysis) your Leafs are the present @ present and looking directly at about eleventh in the East again...and that's all they will ever be...

So boys, just stop talking about Ottawa, ya can't even pronounce their names correctly.

So Nick take Maclean and your holy water, sit in those expensive, over priced season seats, watch your mediocrity and just shut up about us...

Note: We shall finish ahead of the Habs and Tranna and in a play off spot!

A little psychiatry from yesteryear!

If your young team (with a few old defencemen) is tight and cannot get going 'till the third period, the solution in the old days was to skate 'em until they couldn't think anymore...Coach Paul gets full marks...

Or as Punch usta say to some of his more cerebral Leaf teams..."Don't think, you'll hurt the team!"

Note: there never was a cerebral Leaf team...

Anderson...better...I think he took a page from Alex Auld's book..."When your guys are playing helter skelter, join 'em!"

Big goal for Nick Foligno...big goal for the team...

Jason needs a right winger...give Butts his old job back...

This Greening guy is a player...

Chris Neil was the first star tonight...

We gotta stop booing Gonchar, it doesn't help anything, he's knows and he is workin' on his game.

Don Chery

We all know Don went into the boards head first...that's one serious brain trauma...brain injury...concussion...

When Chery was on the way up with his very tough brother Dick, Don could hold his own in a hockey fight but as time went on he turned into a punching bag...and with no hats ya also got hit in the side of the face and in the back of the head, very hard, very often...on top of taking the odd one directly on the chin...also this was before the era of the big Lines Men and a lot of the fighting continued down onto the ice...


Mr. Chery's head looked like an old Speed Bag...

When the Big Fellas win this law suit, one of the stipulations should be that Don Chery has to donate his brain to science...with the appropriate documentation...

Note: As the fight continued to the ice often if you couldn't punch the guy all you could do was bang the guy's head on the ice and worst of all the smaller lines men were not well co-ordinated or one was chicken(and I don't blame him) ya got the other (Homer) lines man holding you while the big guy throws free shots at your head, a can't miss target...what a time...what an era...

Coach Paul's Home Opener!

Greening; Spezza; Z-bad

Michalek; DaCOSTA; Alfredsson

Foligno; Regin; Neil

Condra; Konopka; Smith

Phillips; Rundblad

Kuba; Karlsson

Cowen; Gonchar

Anderson

5; 21 and Butts sit...it's called 3 head coaches...all old guys...

This could be the end of Filatov and the return of Z-bad accross the water.

The 12 million dollar question (bet)...can 33 (#4), 35 (#17) and 37 (#55) pull our chestnuts out of the fire?  So far it looks like the under.

Andy has got to face reality...in the old days we usta say: "He's gotta stop 'em all!"

Note: My 3rd line would have been Foligno/Zack/Filatov...but they were only the most effective 3rd line in pre-season and when you mention that to the coach (Filatov)...well that's the end of that!

Age!

When ya get a little bit older your nerves go on you a little bit...except for Alfie...

Still love our 30 something DEFENCEMEN but I would make them wear their  age, 33-35-37, in practice for a week or so to remind them that if you're are going to make their kind of money at their age ya got to try harder than the kids and be better than everyone on the ice...at practice and in the games...

Andy, it's time to get pissed off and start to bear down...you take the shooter...nobody is deken ya, you are too center deep, too honest...

DaCOSTA is tougher than I thought...he's good and tough...

Zack has got to play more...Greening, Zack and Neil...

Zee-Bad should watch a couple up top and then go back...don't stunt him at this point...he is going to be a big time player...

Coach Paul, you have only one move left before the home opener, skate the nervousness out of them, PP, PK and then NO PUCK...get 'em mad they are having too much fun...

It's better to be the Head of a Senator than the tail of a Leaf!

Leafs had only one 5 on 3 for a minute and 8 seconds last game...

The good news...SENs have the best Power Play in the league, 66%...

The bad news, we don't get our first  Power Play until we're down 4-0...

This is the ACC, the Leafs are allowed 3 infractions until 1 penalty is called, conversely, like Detroit, we get 3 or 4 in a row until Tranna scores...

Our old boys, our 30 somethings on D, have knocked the rust off they will be better tonight...

Jared is our best, Carlsson is the worst..."EriK" that's not how you told Hugo it was going to be...

It's time "Andy!"

Interference!

I guess those experienced Red Wings just know how far to go...give me a break...they held everyone and anyone around their net...their offence is designed off a pick...they cheat at the draw all night long...

The Sens stick work is very amateurish...no excuses...

DaCOSTA gets credit from that same old homer high miler stats man for one (1) take away in the first period, the man had at least four (4).

Andy is terrific but he's going to see a ton of break aways with our three high milers on DEFENCE so stop going back so deep and honest...start guessin'...

That first goal...what happened...Detroit has like ten guys on the ice and Bert comes out of nowhere...gentlemen, trust me Gonch is not the one to worry about...

The damage that Jason can do in one period, imagine if he played the full game...

Filatov wants to play with Foligno and Neil, he will end up there...

Alfie looks good but you have to give him someone to play with...

Should be an interesting line up for tomorrow...Coach Paul coaches like Toe Blake, if you're goin' ya get ice...

Brain damage!

Don Chery should have to donate his brain to science...

I think Don should be made to count his concussions and document them...

Don Chery would probably run away from anyone of those guys, I saw him play...

Don, your era, is past...it's over...there is a link between fighting, drugs and  brain damage.

The "Big Fellas" have got to go...it's time...

Note: How about this one, the Doctors told me, it's the second one, the second concussion that is really dangerous and causes more and permanent brain trauma...damage. The drugs cover the effects of the first concussion allowing the player/fighter/person to go out there and get hit again...

"Bar down!"

Bar down an old American League term to describe Dion's goal...he doesn't get that bounce last year.

Steckel 18-7 a Tranna count (I had it about 16-9) but he's big  and strong and that's big in the face off circle. We may have to get Sid to start complaining...

What's with Lupul...20 minutes...4 shots...a helper...this guy was/is an over paid cast off!

They got Kessel thinking DEFENCE first, this is good...

Komisarek, 6 hits and a punch not a man over 150 lbs...his face is all chewed up maybe someone gave it to him in practice...

The goalie, as Toni Montreal says...a 3 shot and a post shut out!

I think this Tranna win works for us...

Enough with the "Speed" bit!

Enough with the speed bit, it's a cover up foisted by the Owners on their broadcaster puppets.

I admit the game is faster but the idea that that covers some very young men acting like very bad boys at the play ground  is false...

Example: First suspension, the slowest guy in the league coming very late and slow and who would not have got there at all if the puck isn't mishandled...vicious...dirty...

Example 2: Clarke MacArthur is gliding because he has the angle, speed has nothing to do with it and he elbows the guy for just going by...for nothing...mean...dirty...

Example 3: The big expensive defenceman just "cold cocks" the guy, the game is over everyone has stopped skating...vicious...mean...sneaky...dirty...


It goes on and on I could sight case after case...

But the ones that really gets me and Shanny let it go...Campoli describing the play...he starts standing at the far boards with the "LURKER" Malone. Campi is pursued behind the net by the center man, in the process of being checked loses the puck and stretches out to retrieve it...the LURKER, who has just followed the play on cruise control must leave his feet to generate enough (speed) momentum to really rattle Campoli`s unprotected head...

Note: that's how Alfie got it last year...this has nothing to do with big speed and bravery...this is the old, one guy holds 'em and the other gutless wonder gets a free shot!!

How about Downie on McAmmond...how about Pronger on McAmmond...speed had nothing to do with it, give me a break...

So stop with blaming everything on the speed of the game already...most times it's BS...

How about this piece of Refereeing, we're playing on the road, I get chased behind the net and out the other side, the checker puts the stick on me to slow me down, not one but two guys, a small forward and big defenceman, (who pinched down) smear me at the same time...I get up to squash the forward and end up fighting with three guys...didn't do too well, took a couple of healthy shots...then got the extra two for being the instigator...LURKERS...that little forward would no more have taken a fair run at me than fly over the moon...

Who knows?

Who knows...certainly not the experts...it hurts my ears to listen to old pros be so wrong and cover themselves by following the other old guy, who doesn't have a clue either.

Note: Even Nick the Greek says he just throwing darts/guessing...

Washington

Boston

Pittsburgh

Tampa Bay

New York Rangers

New Jersey

Buffalo

Ottawa Senators

__CUT LINE_________

Philadelphia

Montreal

Winnipeg

Toronto

Carolina

Islanders

Florida

There are some good teams that are going to miss because the are "NOT" good teams...

Burkie calls in a favour!

We forget Burkie was a League Law-Man, a former Sheriff before Colie even...

So the Back Room Boys (read the Owners) instruct Burkie as ring leader of the Numbskulls (read GMs) to call in a favour of the League Office. Now instead of confronting the "New Sheriff", who is goin' "Balls to Wall!" A super clean up job.  Burkie calls on his former (conspirators) colleagues,  Mike Murphy, Colie Campbell and the old hockey puck who does the Video Goal Review, on the instruction from on High, to start to submit unsolicited opinions and reviews of former and current suspensions. Of course it's all hush hush but it resulted in the Campoli reversal. And the complete absence of anymore "Fighting Talk!"

I think it "stinks!"

I think the Montreal guys should yell "Blue Murder!"

But they have sucessfully defanged Shanny, making him the "Lame Duck" that they really wanted all along.

PS: Just love those brilliant Colie rulings and explanations...Yuk!

Brian Burke has to go...

Burkie has to go...

Brian Burke with his "Old Boy" truculence and tough guy stuff is influencing a lot of the old GMs (the Numbskulls) maybe even Bryan Murray (no) I'm pretty sure he is the ring leader of the "Circle your wagons group", who started the criticism and the rumors that Shanny should be reined in.

Brian Burke is a brutal GM with a terrible team...they are not even tough...the fruit of 4 years...

I don't like two DEFENCEMEN and one forward even if Mathew is with the Player's Association. It's like talking to Galley and York...

NOTE: MOST dangerous play in hockey, when you got the puck and you are being checked and distracted by a forchecker, the LURKER,  you don't see him, it's as if he's hiding behind a post, steps out and rips your unprotected head off!

Actually Shanny never had a chance it was all pre-season window dressing and when Shanahan started talking "fighting" to Peter Mansbridge (CBC) the curtain closed...

I feel sorry for Sid, how do you play in that League, cary the puck as much as he does and not mishandle, over skate or just lose the puck off your stick or recieve the old one-two like Campoli. If I were him I'd get one of those huge oversize concussion helmets (I usta wear a full suspension Riddell) and paint a big yellow 2" wide strip down the middle so the guy that hits Sid will know his career is over!

"Fumble!"

Shanny, ya dropped the ball but I guess it had to end sometime. Now we can declare "Open Season" on heads...we can imagine the pressure must have been enormous...ya gave it a heck of a shot but you came up one call short...

So Sid sit on the IR for a little while longer on Company Time because some hammerhead is goin' try to make a name for himself as you well know...

If Colie had even an opinion on this one the Montreal guys are going to "riot!"

I think it "stinks" ya blew the call!

Goin' in high...

Intent...

Full/flush head shot...

Totally vulnerable puck carrier...

Note: to all puck carriers...do not...I repeat don't misplay the puck or you are dead meat!

You remember the game "Keep away"  it now becomes "Give away and bail out!"

Recommended last second/nanosecond reaction save your brain dive into his legs with your shoulder...

Brendan, you have made the Numbskulls and their back room boys (the Owners), the Neanderthals and their groupies very relieved and happy...you may now move the studio to Tranna.

The Habs are a caricature!

Tony...your Hab Super Heroes...Max Pac, Pleks, AK46, PK, Go Go Gomez, "Old King Cole", Mighty Mouse, your little Captain are, in realty, cartoon characters.

The League has it in for the Montreal Canadiens ha, ha, ha! Shanny decided to use Campoli as an example of where he made a mistake...maybe "we" get a break this year...

You guys are going 0 and 2 to start, no three pointer in Tranna to start either.

Canadians need to get tougher. Not fighter, "Big Fella" tough, gutsy go hit 'em back tough...Hal Gill is too gentlemanly, Price for a big Goal Tender does not defend himself well, it goes on and on through out your line up...

Your prognostication of a Division Title is so far off the mark that I submitted your name to THN (Tranna Hockey News) for a top job with them.

"Dish Pan Hands!"

It was a different era, because I was the youngest, my mother made me wash the dishes every night with out fail. So I had beautiful,"soft", sensitive, wide receiver type hands that got mashed between helmet and ball running back a punt. I could catch that big old J5V @ 40 yards with one hand.

Hockey practise we're on the same team and the bully (a big guy) picks the fight and then doesn't want to go. So a week later, at the corner of Lisgar and Elgin, 5pm on a Friday afternoon,  4000 on hand (not an exaggeration) because the whole down town core is thrown into grid lock, the Police and the Police Station are only three blocks away and cannot get to the scene because the Laurier Bridge is jammed, it turns into a major hockey/street fight. When your hand and his face are half frozen it doesn't take much of a bare knuckle punch to close the eye and cut a guy bad, 9 maybe 10 stitches. I was accused of wearing a ring on my poor old broken right hand (I don't wear a ring on either hand.). More re-broken small bones. The big guy was never the same, turned into Mendel Meek, I often wonder how badly concussed he was? Now this incident I have to admit was the exception! But the Doctor or often just the Nurse would stitch the cut and not embarrass you by asking if your head hurt...I'd like to say those days are long over but...

Note:  Breezly Bruin, that big x Mountie in Morrisburg and of course "Black Bart" ya can't win 'em all!

PS: And those guys with the little gloves on...that's not bare knuckle fighting!

PPS: Fans don't realize how violent life is at that level.

We like Shanny in New York!

Imagine a Leaf, a good player, getting a two game suspension (one vs Ottawa) to start the season.

In the circle the wagons, old boys club of Tranna, where a behind the scenes power play of leaked threats and innuendo for the first time in hockey history didn't work...(the Smith on Smith hit.) What are the Leafs going to do without the extra PP and the odd free goal!

Brendan, you stay in your studio, fortress New York with the Big Boss, them Tranna guys have trouble with those E-mails to Gotham City.

In fairness to the GMs (the Numbskulls), some of them are phasing out the "Big Fellas". Man that looks bad when you have a one punch KO like that shot a night ago.

 A recollection...a  kid from Hawkesbury, a fairly big defenceman, challenges me to a fight at center ice for no good reason, then dances around and prances right into a full right cross...I broke all of the  small bones in my right hand...went to the training room and was sick to my stomach...he was out before he hit the ice...nose completely smashed...it's a terrible feeling both ways!

How soon we forget...that's how it all ended for Joe Palooka...

Sharp!

Sharp...tradition...excellence...

Jared's sweater looks like a night dress...the dress of the "Grim Reaper!"

The white bib at the bottom, haven't seen that since the "54 Royals!" We shall see how the guys wear 'em...tucked...up...or reguler...

Of course mine had to go back to the tailor, an error of omission, I usta sell custom built golf clubs, I should have known better.

The design was done on and for Alfie which it should but by the time ya get to Carks and those guys it shows...

Andy with the perfect matching pads...well projected...well done...