incessant rambling about ice hockey at almost 3 AM

I hope Parise has an awful time in Minnesota with that ninety-million dollar contract. You will never lift a Stanley Cup in that frozen wasteland. You COULD have been a Penguin and y'know, racked up a fifty point season.

Toronto needs to somehow work some necromancy and get Luongo from Vancouver. It's Schneider's time to shine and I think Phil "I fold at the red line faster than a cheap suit" Kessel could use someone to take the media assault for a change.

Let's argue about sports in the off season! Post opinions, frustrations, and general mockery of Calgary and Edmonton. :)

I'm out of the loop regarding Luongo, but it's basically been confirmed that he isn't staying with the Canucks next year, right?

It breaks my heart. I absolutely love Schneider and I'm sure he'll be a blessing consistency wise, but the fans were so quick to turn their back on Luongo. Speaking as a goalie myself, the amount of pressure that comes with it is staggering, and the backlash that Luongo has faced game after game, despite a weak offence by the Canucks, just shows how fickle and downright selfish fans can be.

But still, I have to root for my home team. I do hope that Toronto picks up some slack too! If they do get Luongo, then that would definitely be an interesting change of scenery. :)

there's talks of him going to FLA or TOR. As far as I know if a bag of money is thrown at his direction, he'll glove save it and move on over. Or he'll just quit goaltending and keep up with this World Series of Poker thing. - I like Luongo, but if he lets two goals in, it's game over. Fleury has the same problem! I am hoping Kesler gets off of his ass and starts playing like Kesler again too.

Agreed. Kesler could be my all-time favorite player, but he was just so off during the playoffs this year.

Just to keep this conversation going, what teams are you cheering for come playoffs? Which players and goalies do you think are the most skilled, and who do you think has the best shot at the cup next year? :p

Pittsburgh bias of course - Hoping to god that someone else takes care of Philadelphia come this April; I don't think my heart/mind/liver can handle watching another series like THAT again. It's going to break my heart to see Staal knock pucks past Fleury a few times a year, but good for him. Asham was a very classy fellow off the ice. I'm not thrilled about seeing him go to NYR, but him and Rupp are BROS 4 LIFE and that makes me smile. We need to find a way to give Martin the big boot and just tell Despres to soldier up. Losing the Parise sweepstakes just cements Letang and Malkin sticking around for a while longer, so that's nifty.

As for goaltending, I'm not sure if Washington will be starting Holtby this year after that playoff performance. Five years from now I can see him being a force to be reckoned with. I'd like him even more if he went somewhere in the Western Conference, specifically Chicago. I don't wanna see him blocking everything Neal, Crosby, Malkin and co throw at his general direction once a month. Boston drafting Malcolm Subban was the ultimate troll move of the draft, hands down. Can't WAIT to see that pan out in a few years since I doubt Montreal will be trading PK any time soon.

Playoff wise, I'd love to see some variety in there and a few different teams than the usual bunch.
WCF: Minnesota MIGHT make the first round. San Jose's gonna choke. Vancouver's gonna break my heart. Not sure how Detroit's gonna do without Lidstrom. Nashville will do fine without Suter there.
ECF: If Pittsburgh isn't injury plagued come Spring like 2011 and we fix the glaring defence problem, they'll make the finals. Philadelphia needs to get eliminated by NYR or Boston in the first round. Now that that sack of trout Steve Downie isn't in Tampa anymore, I'm pretty much cool with them again. Realistically, NYR still seems like the strongest team to make the finals. I'd love to see Winnipeg make the playoffs too. They're fun to watch!

Would love for the Rangers to get Bobby Ryan. Not so high on Nash, especially if the asking price is too high. We lacked a scoring punch and while I love our core, I think we need to add to it.

Also, poor Nashville. Looks like they may lose both their top defensemen, and to crazy contracts too.

Take care all.

Right?! Next they'll lose Pekka Rinne and promptly be shipped up to Quebec City.

Go Bears!

er

Bruins!

I can agree with both of those statements, Bert.

I wish I payed more attention to Hockey. I loved it as a child, I was a Hartford Whalers fan. Loved going to their games.

Never too late to start!

No TimTom in goal for Boston this year. I don't care that he's a bat:skull::skull::skull::skull: crazy tea partier, he's an absolute beast.