2009-2010 NHL Season

[The_Admiral]

That's really impressive and I respect you for it. I barely groped my way through the trig questions on the ACT.

[HedleyLamarr]

That's really impressive and I respect you for it. I barely groped my way through the trig questions on the ACT.

I wish I could have groped my way through 11th-grade Spanish. The hottest teacher I've ever had....too bad teacher-student grabass didn't become a fad until this decade.

Back to hockey, the Thrashers have now lost 9 in a row. Looks like they're continuing the tradition of having January swoons and snags on contract negociations with star players.....just lovely.

[BrianVlietDesign]

I can tell you one thing, I'm definitely not getting excited about the Ducks chances the rest of the way. I mean, we're usually a late bloomer anyways in terms of earning a playoff spot. But, with Hiller playing pretty much as terrible as I expected and much of our team being injured and/or traded, I see nothing good the rest of the way.

[NEW.ERA]

So it's time for the Sharks to ante up Joe Pavelski, Devin Setoguchi and a 1st Round Draft Pick for Ilya Kovalchuk. Because I know for the top contenders in the West will do just about anything in there power to grab him for the playoffs.

Just a harmless prediction.

[BrianVlietDesign]

So it's time for the Sharks to ante up Joe Pavelski, Devin Setoguchi and a 1st Round Draft Pick for Ilya Kovalchuk. Because I know for the top contenders in the West will do just about anything in there power to grab him for the playoffs.

Just a harmless prediction.

It is a possibility.

[capn89]

My avatar says it all.

[The_Admiral]

Thrashers are still just three points behind the Habs with three games in hand. They're not going to give up the ghost till they know for sure that they're not getting in. Trading the franchise player at the deadline while sitting in 8th place (or even a very close 9th) wouldn't be a knockout blow to the fanbase, but it certainly wouldn't help matters.

[Brass]

Ovechkin is wearing the C tonight against Montreal. He is the first European-born Captain in Capitals history and 14th overall.

Well deserved.

How so? And please don't say it's because he's talented. That's never a reason to give someone the captaincy.

[Eye]

Ovechkin is wearing the C tonight against Montreal. He is the first European-born Captain in Capitals history and 14th overall.

Well deserved.

How so? And please don't say it's because he's talented. That's never a reason to give someone the captaincy.

True, but if I am on a team, I respect the captain that much more if he is talented. If some scrub is the captain, I wouldn't respect him as much. It may not sound good, but who would most people listen to, a guy who does his job really well, or someone who doesn't? The captain is the team leader, yes, but talent should be a factor (just not the be all end all factor) into the naming of the captain.

[Lee.]

Ovechkin is wearing the C tonight against Montreal. He is the first European-born Captain in Capitals history and 14th overall.

Well deserved.

How so? And please don't say it's because he's talented. That's never a reason to give someone the captaincy.

Pfft. If Ovie were a Bruin, you'd have been calling for him getting the "C" long ago.

If talent really wasn't a factor, then you guys can take the "C" off of Chara and give it to Bitz, 'cuz he looks like he'd be a good locker-room guy.

[Brass]

Ovechkin is wearing the C tonight against Montreal. He is the first European-born Captain in Capitals history and 14th overall.

Well deserved.

How so? And please don't say it's because he's talented. That's never a reason to give someone the captaincy.

Pfft. If Ovie were a Bruin, you'd have been calling for him getting the "C" long ago.

If talent really wasn't a factor, then you guys can take the "C" off of Chara and give it to Bitz, 'cuz he looks like he'd be a good locker-room guy.

Eye, I understand your point, but personally, I respect the captain no matter if he's talented or not. In my opinion, he's an extension of the coaches and if I disrespect him, I'm disrespecting the coaches. I know where you're coming from, though.

The biggest thing here is that none of us on this board know who exactly should be the captain for any team in the NHL. We're not in the lockerroom, on the bench, etc., where the biggest attributes of being a captain appear. I was simple saying that talent alone is a lame excuse to give someone the captaincy.

And Lee, actually I can't take the "C" off of Chara. That's the Bruins job. I'm simply a fan.

[Don]

Ovie did deserve the C, cause the whole team follows his lead. He plays hard, the team plays hard. He may march to the beat of his own drum, but the team marches right with him. The players actually stood up and cheered when Ovie was named captain. He is the heart and soul of the team, he will run through a brick wall for them, and theyll follow him. Simple as that.

Having said that, I wouldve chosen Brooks Laich, hes a great leader on the team too. But thats why the fans are the fans right?

[BrySmalls]

Ovie did deserve the C, cause the whole team follows his lead. He plays hard, the team plays hard. He may march to the beat of his own drum, but the team marches right with him. The players actually stood up and cheered when Ovie was named captain. He is the heart and soul of the team, he will run through a brick wall for them, and theyll follow him. Simple as that.

Having said that, I wouldve chosen Brooks Laich, hes a great leader on the team too. But thats why the fans are the fans right?

I would have chosen Laich as well; but if he did get the C, he would have been the next Chris Clark.

[HedleyLamarr]

Thrashers are still just three points behind the Habs with three games in hand. They're not going to give up the ghost till they know for sure that they're not getting in. Trading the franchise player at the deadline while sitting in 8th place (or even a very close 9th) wouldn't be a knockout blow to the fanbase, but it certainly wouldn't help matters.

Last year at the Casino Night, Kovalchuk was named the Captain. With Casino Night this weekend, there's hope that a deal gets announced that evening. I personally think that a deal is closer than what the two sides are reporting to the media. But I know nothing more than what the press knows...it's pure speculation on my part.

The Thrashers never had a chance at Savard because he wanted to play closer to his family. The Thrashers never had a chance with Hossa because he wanted to play for a team that's contending for the Cup sooner than later. The Thrashers have a shot with Kovalchuk because they've made a pitch to the team...something that never happened with Savard and Hossa. There is a price the Thrashers can reach to sign Kovalchuk. I think a deal will get done, but am less confident in that than I was at the beginning of the season.

I think the Thrashers saw what happened with Florida last year, when the Panthers were trying to negociate a contract with Bouwmeester. Florida took the gamble and lost. The Thrashers are in the same exact spot...on the edge of the playoff bubble.

But if the Thrashers lose Kovalchuk, a lot of the fanbase is going to get turned off to the team. They already aren't happy with the penny-pinching, dysfunctional ownership; they aren't happy with Waddell's track record of signing free agents; and with the Thrashers already on the back-burner of Atlanta sports...losing your longest-tenured and best player will murder ticket sales. Dare I say it, the franchise's hopes of lasting in Atlanta highly depend on the ability to sign Kovalchuk. I think Waddell knows that his job is in serious jeopardy if Kovalchuk doesn't get signed. Honestly, I don't know why the front office is screwing around.....

If Kovalchuk does get traded, the hot rumor involves Chicago. But if Kovalchuk has to be traded, the team is expecting a big return....namely a top-6 forward or two, plus a first-round pick. The team is inclined on trading Kovalchuk only if he's viewed as a rental by the other team...then hope to sign Kovalchuk in the offseason.

[The_Admiral]

Chicago can spare a top 6er, likely Versteeg, and the pick. I don't know if I'm high on messing with a good thing, even though it's plain as day that Ilya Kovalchuk is an upgrade over Kris Versteeg. But if Kovalchuk makes their maddening dithering power play a punishing force, then I can't say no.

[Brass]

Chicago can spare a top 6er, likely Versteeg, and the pick. I don't know if I'm high on messing with a good thing, even though it's plain as day that Ilya Kovalchuk is an upgrade over Kris Versteeg. But if Kovalchuk makes their maddening dithering power play a punishing force, then I can't say no.

Only Versteeg and a first round draft pick for Ilya Kovalchuk? Doesn't sound like much....

[The_Admiral]

I think they'd throw Cam Barker in too. Everyone seems to love him except us, and the pipeline says we can spare a defenseman in progress for an established sniper. Keith and Seabrook make for one of the league's best pairings, Hjalmarsson has been an excellent stay-at-homer, Campbell is a valuable asset by functioning almost as an extra forward, and even Brent Sopel does an admirable job of blocking shots. Jordan Hendry has been decent enough as a #7. Barker is good but the corps won't collapse without him.

Out there proposal: Burish to defense when he gets back? He's a big tough guy who can probably separate the puck from the player well, and with Bolland slated to return after the Olympics and take back second-line center, that clogs up your forward twelve. Burish can't take fourth-line right back because Kopecky is immovable and quite honestly hasn't been all that bad since Q scared him straight with some healthy scratches.

[Sodboy13]

Well, the Blackhawks played like a bunch of girls again tonight, and stomped the Bruins 5-2. I Am A Woman.

[dfwabel]

Mike Ribeiro (DAL) placed on IR. This sounds gross.

Riberio on IR

The Dallas Stars announced today that center Mike Ribeiro has been placed on injured reserve and is expected to be out four-to-six weeks due to a throat contusion suffered on Wednesday night at the New York Rangers.

Ribeiro underwent a procedure at St. Vincent?s Catholic Medical Center in Manhattan last night to repair the contusion, which included a tracheotomy. He is expected to stay in the hospital for a few days before returning to Dallas.

[The_Admiral]

Looking at the highlights of Rangers/Thrashers and wow there are not many people at this game.