TO Follow Eklund on Twitter CLICK HERE
(Twitter followers get extra updates and can win prizes.)
I did a story that is on Versus.com today, titled "The Unknown Treasures of Watching Playoff Hockey Live in Carolina and Pittsburgh" It can be found HERE
Lots of tweaks to the
NHL UFA RUMOR CHART below in Rumorland....
But first...
ARE THE PENS MIGHTIER THAN....WELL EVERYONE?
Crosby and Malkin have now nearly doubled all other playoff scorers. It is really hard to remember two players so dominant. Right now, if this continues and the Penguins do lift that Cup could we be looking at Co-Conn Smythe Winners? I want to be careful here not to get too far ahead of myself. The Hurricanes have played unbelievably in these playoffs whenever their backs are against the walls. At some point, some team will come back from 3-0, but it seems hard to imagine that that "some team" will do it against these Pittsburgh Penguins. It will be up to Cam Ward to pull another miracle out of his hat to even get to a game 5 on Wednesday.
These Penguins are just outstanding now. If they make it to the Finals against the Wings they will be compared to the Oilers team that first lost to the NY Islanders than returned to the Finals and beat the 4 time Cup Winning Isles. They made that comparison on NHL on the Fly on the NHL Network last night. And that Oilers comparison now for the first time has some teeth behind it. Again, NHL on the Fly put up the following chart...
The All-Time Playoff Leaders in Points per Game
#1 Gretzky 1.84
#2 Lemieux 1.61
#3 Crosby 1.41
#4 Malkin 1.32
#5 Messier 1.25
Wow. Talk about 5 great players who played their greatest when the stakes were the highest.
Welcome to Rumourland.
The following players I tweaked this morning based on discussions since yesterday:
Antropov:
I continue to hear more and more regarding the Blue Jackets
Aucoin:
I am hearing there is a much greater chance that Adrian will now return to Chicago. which while I thought this was a bit counter-intuitive, it has nothing to do with Keenan's departure.
Beauchemin:
The Canadiens still lead the way here, but Anaheim may still be making a push to sign him early.
Biron:
The Avalanche are now looking like a player in the Marty Biron sweeps, as are the Sabres.
Bouwmeester:
The Flames really are leading the way here, and that really means that Dion Phaneuf is going to be on the move I am told. Likely at the Draft.
DeVries:
The Wild are now joining the Flyers and others.
Dubielewicz:
Long Island Dubie, Dubie, Dubie, Do...
Gionta:
More of a Buffalo push, but the Canucks are definitely the team to beat.
Cammalleri:
Ottawa the Fav, but a little more from Montreal.
Knuble:
I now am giving the Flyers more of a chance at bringing him back...Still not the favorite for his services however. He is a VERY valuable UFA, btw.
Koistinen:
Tampa and Buffalo slightly edging out Toronto and Philly. Nashville is also to be considered...
Komisarek: (FREE CHART PLAYER OF THE DAY)
There may be no player that will have more suitors than Mike will. He is a lot of fun to try to predict these percentages...
TO SEE ALL 140+ Players on the Chart
GO HERE
Now as many of you know, The Rumor Chart is a twice-a-year exclusive for Hockeybuzz Season Ticket Holders. So yes it will cost you $20. However, I do update it constantly with information I am hearing and often I can get stuff out faster on the Chart then anywhere else. Especially this year with so many players involved and the league UFA's. The Twenty Bucks you spend will go a long way to helping us here. And you will get other benefits including
*NO AUTO PLAY VIDEO ADS (yes we get the complaint often and we would love to not have the auto-play video ads, but they do pay the bills. If you help us however, for $20 we will kill them for you)
*The HockeyBuzz Chat Room
*Free Entry into all fantasy games with the the biggest prizes
* Season Ticket Q & As with Eklund.
* And more...
I will be updating more later today and adding them to this blog from the train to NY and back. My little girl turns 7 tomorrow and my beautiful wife and I are celebrating our TEN year anniversary today by heading up to New York to take in the Lion King on Broadway with the our little ones. It looks to be a great day. I am looking for dinner recommendations near the the Moskif Theater where I should take a 7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy.
Have a great day!
Join the Discussion:
»