1.30.2007

Hot Start after All-Star break

Well, the NHL is back to it's unpredictability now that the All-Star break is over. Not a whole lot significant happened (not).
Tim Connolly is skating with the Sabres and should return in 3 months unless he falls down and gives himself another concussion, because he can't remember how to skate after staying out for so long. If he comes back, the Sabres will have so much scoring depth not only would they have to lose Daniel Briere and/or Chris Drury, they wouldn't be able to trade them. Or they just send Jiri Novotny to the minors, give Maxim Afineganov and Thomas Vanek a killer third line center, and still have the most scoring depth in the NHL. Now if only James Patrick could stand the new NHL...
The Los Angeles Kings have now officially rid themselves of any good veteran who can play center, except for Derek Armstrong. They traded Craig Conroy back to his old Calgary Flames for Jamie Lundmark. Oops. Watch out Los Angeles, because if Anze Kopitar and Derek Armstrong can't shoulder the load, you guys are headed for dead last behind the Phoenix Coyotes. As for the Flames, Conroy and Jarome Iginla have clicked well forever, and with Alex Tanguay essentially replacing Dean McAmmond for the former 100 goal line, they could receive that title once again, though this time Conroy will probably be the lowest scorer...
Name one person who has gone through severe highs and lows this season. Quick, who is it? Well, my answer would not be any of the following; Steven Reinprecht, Jeremy Roenick, Craig Conroy, or even Jarome Iginla. I say, Vincent Lecavalier. Why? No reason to ask that question. Lecavalier is on his way to another great season, already just 10 points below last seasons total in 51 games. But also, he realizes he is the only one of the Lightning's Big Three without a no-trade clause. That means Tampa can trade him any time if they have to. He also has seen his crowds go from overflowing, to quiet as a rock. He started the season as if he was a 36-year-old veteran coming from the lockout, and then exploded for a huge points increase. He was in the All-Star game, and even got a point, but only got there as a reserve. I hope he gets his deserved first line time, and takes the captaincy away from Tim Taylor instead of Brad Richards...
Mike Modano should return tonight, and the sound you're hearing is Patrik Stefan saying, "Darn, no more first line ice time."...
If the Canadiens win the cup this year, it will be at least the 7th decade in a row that Montreal has won the cup. Their last win came in 1993. As far as I know, it will also be the 9th decade overall, maybe the 10th. The first win came in 1916, they had a few in the 20's, I'm not sure about the 30's, they had 2 in the 40's, around 5 in the 50's, 3-5 in the 60's, 6 in the 70's, one in the 80's, and one in the 90's. Chronologically, the decade that started in the year 2000 is not yet over, so they still have a chance to make it the 9th or 10th decade.
That's all for now. Later!
P.S. I just remembered that one of my trade predictions came half-way true. I said that Craig Conroy would be traded, but I thought Minnesota, not Calgary. Oh well, I was sort of right.
Powered By Blogger