Yeah, here's what I think. While it's unlikely any of us has a clue about what's inside Darcy's head, and things like the salary cap, NTCs/NMCs, and the declining economy's impact on future revenues make it nearly impossible to trade anyone of any significance, it's not inconceivable that the Sabres could make a mid-season move.

Vanek, Roy, Miller, Pommer are probably not on the block since they represent the young core of this team and are all locked up long-term. We all know Vanek's contract is insane, but given the length and amount of the others, it seems unlikely to me there's a better deal out there. Remember Larry Quinn is a numbers guy, and 5 mil 6 years from now will be looking pretty good. Roy's deal is an especially favorable one for the club. You might even be able to throw Goose into this category b/c his value to the Sabres is high given his hustle and toughness.

Max, Kotalik, and Connolly are popular choices for a change of venue, but their UFA status would mean they'd need to go to a contender for the receiving team to be willing to assume the risk. That said, what's the likelihood of a contender sending the Sabres something worthy of a blockbuster? That's not even taking into account Max sucking for the last 2 years, Kotalik getting a reputation of being lazy, and (Tin) Connolly being more fragile than the leg lamp in A Christmas Story. This, coming from the guy who actually owns a Connolly jersey.

As far as young talent at forward goes, Stafford, MacArthur, Paille are the only roster players in that category. They're all tradable, but not enough to bring in an impact player. To me, the Sabres would need to include one of Mancari, Gerbe, or Kennedy to get another team interested. Possible, though Gerbe seems like he's got a future here.

Lastly, if they're really trying to fix the recent injury problem at defense, they're not going to trade any defensemen. Even still, it's more likely they'll do what they did last year and bring in a veteran like Nolan Pratt to temporarily fill the gap until Weber and Sekera are healthy again (a few weeks?). I haven't looked to see who like that is available, but they found someone last year and could probably do it again.

We Sabres fans have gotten used to the fact that Darcy rarely makes any moves. In fact, who really does anymore? I'd love to be wrong, but not at the expense of 26 / 9 / 30 / 29. You can have Peters. Twice.

YES

Post the allcaps schizo Wild fan rant, that one's my favorite

WELL WILD FANS, THE TIME IS SHORT. THE WILD ARE OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS, AND HAVE BEEN SINCE THE BEGINING OF FEBRUARY. IF THE BOARD NAZI HAD NOT DELETED MY POSTS, I STATED IN EARLY FEBRUARY THAT THE WILD WAS HEADED FOR THE MID-80S IN TERMS OF POINTS, AND AT BEST WOULD GET 92 IF SOMEHOW MIRACLES LIKE THE USA WIN OVER THE SOVIET UNION IN 1980 OCCURRED.

RECENTLY I RENEWED 2 OF THE 4 SEASON TICKETS I HAVE HAD SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING, BUT DECIDED THIS WEEK WHY BOTHER ON THE OTHER TWO. NO MORE TICKETS MEANS NO MORE INSIGHTS COMING FROM ME ON THIS BOARD!

HOCKEY IS ENTERTAINMENT, AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU PERSONALLY MAY THINK, I FEEL I AM NOT GETTING MY ENTERTAINMENT VALUE FOR WHAT I HAVE BEEN PAYING THE LAST 8-10 YEARS. THE MINNESOTA WILD REMIND ME OF MOVIES. THE FIRST ROCKY, OR SAY JAWS WAS GOOD, BUT AFTER THE FIRST ONE, THE REST ARE LAME IN COMPARISON. YOU KNOW THE ENDING BEFORE THE MOVIE EVEN BEGINS. AND UNLIKE THE GODFATHER SERIES, THE SECOND MOVIE HAS NOT BEEN AS GOOD AS THE FIRST.

NOW ITS EASY FOR YOU WHO HAVE NOTHING INVESTED IN THE WILD, IN TERMS OF HAVING SEASONS TICKETS, TO ATTACK THOSE THAT DO IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT I OR ANYONE ELSE HAVE SAID. BUT THOSE ARE HOLLOW ATTACKS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOTHING ON THE LINE. REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU WAKE UP TOMORROW MORNING, AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL FEEL LIKE A SCHMUCK. IF NOT, THEN YOU ARE A LOSER LIKE I HAVE PROBABLY SAID YOU ARE. YOUR LIFE IF PRETTY PATHETIC BECAUSE YOU SPOUT OFF AGAINST SOMEONE'S OPINION WITHOUT ACTUALLY STANDING IN THERE SHOES AS THEY SAY.

SO AS I BEGIN MY FINAL DAYS ON THIS BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS CHALLENGE TO THE SUPPOSED HOCKEY FANATIC CRAIG LIEPOLD. FROM ONE HOCKEY LOVER TO ANOTHER.

CRAIG, THE SEASON IS OVER REGARDLESS OF HOW ONE PAINTS THE PICTURE. ITS BEEN OVER FOR SOMETIME. THE ONLY SPLASH THAT I HAVE SEEN FROM YOU THUS FAR IS THAT YOU PURCHASED NAGELE'S POSITION IN THE WILD. AT THIS JUNCTURE, I WOULD SAY NAGELE MUST HAVE KNOWN SOMETHING ABOUT THE WILD THAT YOU ARE CLUELESS ABOUT, AND HE TOOK YOU FOR A RIDE. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU LIKELY ENJOY THE MONETARY REWARD GIVEN TO YOU THROUGH OWNERSHIP OF THE MINNESOTA WILD, COMPARED TO THAT WHICH YOU HAD IN NASHVILLE. HOWEVER, BEING THE BUSINESS MAN THAT YOUR ARE, YOU KNOW THAT PUTTING OUT THE SAME PRODUCT YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH NO IMPROVEMENTS EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN A DECLINE IN DEMAND FOR THAT PRODUCT. THE PRODUCT IS THE MINNESOTA WILD. REGARDLESS AS TO HOW YOUR MINIONS TRY TO DRESS-UP THE PRODUCT AS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SOLD IN MID-TOWN MANHATTAN FOR HIGH PRICES, THE QUALITY IS VERY WALMART LIKE. NOTHING WRONG WITH WALMART, BUT IF YOUR STH'S CAN AFFORD THE TICKETS, THEY LIKELY WOULD GO TO TARGET BEFORE WALMART.

YOU MISSION SHOULD BE TO TRY TO CAPTURE AS MUCH OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S DISCRETIONARY INCOME AS POSSIBLE. BUT THE CURRENT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT MAKES EVEN THAT DIFFICULT TO DO. FOR EXAMPLE, TAKE ME. IF I REALLY LIKED THE PRODUCT I WAS SEEING ON THE ICE, I COULD CONTINUE TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE SEASON TICKETS I CURRENTLY HAVE, NEXT YEAR. I WOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE FROM THE WESTERN SUBURBS TO ST PAUL FOR THE GAMES. BUT I HAVE FOUND MYSELF LOOKING FOR REASONS NOT TO GO TO THE GAME, NOT ONLY THIS YEAR, BUT LAST AS WELL. HAVING GROWN UP IN MICHIGAN, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A MINNESOTA WILD ORGANIZATION IN THE PAST CALLED THE DETROIT LIONS! NEVER AGAIN.

AT THIS TIME OF THE MESSAGE I AM SURE THERE ARE THE USUAL GROUP OF MISFITS WHO WILL SAY I AM NOT A TRUE HOCKEY FAN AND THAT I NEED TO TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO THAT, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF, THEN TELL ME IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED 4 SEASONS TICKETS OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKETS SINCE DAY 1 OF THE WILD. THIS IS NOT A BRAG TYPE OF THING, JUST A FACT. IF YOU CAN MATCH OR EXCEED MY INVESTMENT INTO THIS WEAKASS FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT, I WILL GLADLY LISTEN. IF NOT, THEN STPU UNTIL YOU DO. AND NOT FOR JUST 1 YEAR.

SO CRAIG, I WILL GIVE YOU TO THE OFFICIAL END OF THE CURRENT SEASON TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING SPLASH: SIGN MARIAN GABORIK FOR AT LEAST ONE MORE YEAR, LIKELY LONGER. NOT THIS SUMMER, NOW. DR BROKE THE "WAIT TILL THE END OF THE YEAR MOLD" WITH BACKSTROM, SO THERE IS NO REASON TO SAY IT CAN'T BE BROKEN AGAIN. I KNOW THE CHANCES ARE SLIM TO NONE THAT GABBY WILL BE RE-SIGNED BECAUSE OF THE WAY RISEBROUGH HAS TREATED HIM IN THE PAST. BUT RISEBROUGH IS GENERALLY VIEWED AMONG THE WORST GM'S IN HOCKEY, SO THAT WILL BE A BIG TASK TO OVERCOME. BUT JUST THINK OF IF THIS WAY. THE MINNESOTA WILD HAVE HELD ME HOSTAGE AS A STH UNDER THE HOPES THAT NEXT YEAR WILL BE A BETTER THAN THIS. CONVERSELY, I HAVE NEVER HELD THE WILD HOSTAGE UNTIL NOW. I KNOW ITS A MEANINGLESS, SYMBOLIC GESTURE ON MY PART. BUT ITS THE PRINCIPAL INVOLVED. BESIDES, IF YOU THINK I AM AN ISOLATED CASE, PARTICULARLY IN THIS CURRENT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN .

AT THE END OF WRITING THIS MEMO, THE CLOCK STARTS TICKING. SO ITS TIME TO STEP-UP, AND GET OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE REPUTATION OF YOUR WIFE AND HER FAMILY, AND ESTABLISH YOUR OWN IDENTITY IF YOU TRULY ARE A HOCKEY FAN.

I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO RESPOND THROUGH THE END OF THIS SEASON TO ANYTHING ON THIS BOARD. I BELIEVE BEING A STH GIVES ME THAT RIGHT, LET ALONE 4 OF THEM.

IF ANYONE REALLY IS THAT INTERESTED IN WHO I AM, LET ME KNOW. I MAY OR MAY NOT GO TO ANY REMAINING GAMES (I DIDN'T GO TONIGHT), BUT IF I DO AND YOU WANT TO STOP BY AND SAY HELLO, I HAVE GOT NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. IF NOT, NO WORRIES EITHER. I NEVER HAVE ASKED ANYONE TO LIKE ME, NOR DO I NEED THE APPROVAL OF ANYONE SUCH THAT I WILL HOLD BACK ON WHAT I HAVE SAID.

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL, GOOD HEALTH, AND HAPPINESS.

P/S: BY THE WAY I DID RECENTLY CREATE AN ALTER-EGO CALLED MR ANALYST. KIND OF A MR NICE-GUY, NEWBIE ON THE BOARD BECAUSE I HOPED TO EVENTUALLY GET BACK TO THE LEVEL WHERE I WOULD BE ABLE TO CREATE A TOPIC AGAIN. UNDER EMIREID, IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE I COULDN'T WAIT TO CALL KF THE BOARD NAZI. KF, I EQUATE THE BOARD NAZI TO THE SOUP NAZI ON SEINFELD, NOT ACTUALLY EQUATING SOMEONE TO HITLER AND HIS COHORTS. SOME OF YOU SUSPECTED I MAY BE SOMEONE ELSE ON THE BOARD TRYING TO MAKE A JOKE. YOU WERE RIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THOSE WHO DID, I MADE YOU FEEL SO BAD ABOUT ATTACKING ME BECAUSE I WAS A NEWBIE, THAT YOU SAID YOU WERE SORRY. SOMETHING THE EVIL EMIREID WOULD NEVER SEEK OUT. MY GOAL AS EMIREID WAS TO GET YOU LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY WHICH ADMITTEDLY WAS A CHALLENGE.

IF MY SELF-IMPOSED TIMELINE EXPIRES, BE AWARE PEOPLE ON THE MESSAGE BOARD MY FOUR SEATS ARE IN SECTION 123, WHICH IS BEHIND THE WILD'S GOALIE FOR TWO PERIODS. ABOVE THE ZAMBONI GATE. GREAT SEATS WHICH WOULD BE EVEN GREATER HAS THAT FREAKING PUCK RESTRAINT NETTING WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ADDED YEARS AGO.

LATER!

The KING shall be honored here.

The KING shall be honored here.
- Hyata74

Lol ur (frank)ed in the head random poop is so (frank)ing stupid, im gonna give you some pointers
1. Big is not necessaraly funny
2.insults are wat make the opponet cry making the individual insulting smile
3.Acting black will get you shot,sure in the end its gonna be pretty funny a shotem up white boy shot execution style by local gangbanngers.
4.Comedy is a hard to to succed at excpesially ur a (frank)in loser who cant make any one laugh
5.Insulting me is only gonna make your situation worse as soon as someone says somthin to me theres no line i would merly be telling jokes in an attempt to hurt your feelings.
6.There always one 40 year old virgin type whos trapped in the closet that you can expose there easy targets as soon as many people get involed the more likely he will
a)commit suicide
B)leave the forum
c)Turn to emo slit your slef music and and masturbation
d)Take out your anger on society and become a serial killing rapist
7.There are many ways to tell a joke sugar coating is not an option
8.You want your enemy to belive that he is getting under your skin
9.Jokes about family members is not appropriate inividual jokes and attacks are what we are here for
10) Most of you guys are little someone who is attracted to the opposite sex female doges that masturbate in the dark, its weird also most of you are probably that outcast type with no friends who internet date and meet friends in chat rooms and yeah society call them pedafiles and i think its (frank)ed up so you know maby dialing down the hole bad boy tough poop thing is a little clitche and wont work and will eventually get you made fun of sooner or later, thats my warning take it in i suggest you do cause theres nothing more that id rather then make you cry and quite and leave theis forum and eventually turn to a life of violence and incompatence and unable to succed when with a woman or like most of you little female doges turn to men. Homosexuality is very weird and frowned upon and 3/4 of the worldwill rezent you and make fun of you so you gotta ask you self if its really worth it?

The KING shall be honored here.
- Hyata74

The craziest thing ive ever did. I kidnapped rapped and killed a teenag girl, then ate her body and drank her blood, then i stole her ticket, pretty akward sitting next to her dad, he was all like ur not my daughter and i was all like ya i kno.



have a (frank)ing sense of humor u stupid female dog, wow take the tampoon outta ur ass and grow some balls


Great ideas just come to you, its in the spur of the moment


Whats with aviater? its like your biting down with that Richard in your mouth



Gonna cry ...

Try and grow some balls and not be some emotional pms female dog, like its frustrating having to witness a man embarrese a gender based on his homosexuality, baby steps maby u (frank) you boyfriend for a change and i dunno gain some manlyness if thats how u fags see it, but ur kinda deppressing like i dont even wanna make fun of u incase u get to emotional and slit ur wrist vertically


I have such a gift


Trying to get on my good side? well my good sides ment for woman so get your homesexual thoughts and get rid of them, i kno im awsome as (frank) but theres somthing abouth the way u tlk and the way u portray u self that makes me very uncomfortable, -this is you after you boyfriend blows his load in your eyes... -and this is wear youd rather have im shoot it off...


thxs its a real honour i kno all you look up to me and think im like a god and so on but its who i am



youve made me proud son


(frank) you someone who is attracted to the opposite sex boy you speak when you spoken too


(frank) you julien


Reasons why eklund wont ban me...
1.too big of a female dog
2. my saveyness and creativity is getting numerous of hits
3.I keep the posters happy and laughing
4.Im awsome
5. Eklund need me to have a succesfull website
6. i give buisness to the suicide hotlines
7. Ive made it clear that being gay is not okay
7.ive never disrespected a woman
8. Most of the fags i made fun of have learned a life lesson
9.Im an oiler fan
10. Double female dog

The craziest thing ive ever did. I kidnapped rapped and killed a teenag girl, then ate her body and drank her blood, then i stole her ticket, pretty akward sitting next to her dad, he was all like ur not my daughter and i was all like ya i kno.



have a (frank)ing sense of humor u stupid female dog, wow take the tampoon outta ur ass and grow some balls


Great ideas just come to you, its in the spur of the moment


Whats with aviater? its like your biting down with that Richard in your mouth



Gonna cry ...

Try and grow some balls and not be some emotional pms female dog, like its frustrating having to witness a man embarrese a gender based on his homosexuality, baby steps maby u (frank) you boyfriend for a change and i dunno gain some manlyness if thats how u fags see it, but ur kinda deppressing like i dont even wanna make fun of u incase u get to emotional and slit ur wrist vertically


I have such a gift


Trying to get on my good side? well my good sides ment for woman so get your homesexual thoughts and get rid of them, i kno im awsome as (frank) but theres somthing abouth the way u tlk and the way u portray u self that makes me very uncomfortable, -this is you after you boyfriend blows his load in your eyes... -and this is wear youd rather have im shoot it off...


thxs its a real honour i kno all you look up to me and think im like a god and so on but its who i am



youve made me proud son


(frank) you someone who is attracted to the opposite sex boy you speak when you spoken too


(frank) you julien


Reasons why eklund wont ban me...
1.too big of a female dog
2. my saveyness and creativity is getting numerous of hits
3.I keep the posters happy and laughing
4.Im awsome
5. Eklund need me to have a succesfull website
6. i give buisness to the suicide hotlines
7. Ive made it clear that being gay is not okay
7.ive never disrespected a woman
8. Most of the fags i made fun of have learned a life lesson
9.Im an oiler fan
10. Double female dog
- Crimsoninja

Reasons why eklund wont ban me...
1.too big of a female dog
2. my saveyness and creativity is getting numerous of hits
3.I keep the posters happy and laughing
4.Im awsome
5. Eklund need me to have a succesfull website
6. i give buisness to the suicide hotlines
7. Ive made it clear that being gay is not okay
7.ive never disrespected a woman
8. Most of the fags i made fun of have learned a life lesson
9.Im an oiler fan
10. Double female dog
- Crimsoninja

Lol ur (frank)ed in the head random poop is so (frank)ing stupid, im gonna give you some pointers
1. Big is not necessaraly funny
2.insults are wat make the opponet cry making the individual insulting smile
3.Acting black will get you shot,sure in the end its gonna be pretty funny a shotem up white boy shot execution style by local gangbanngers.
4.Comedy is a hard to to succed at excpesially ur a (frank)in loser who cant make any one laugh
5.Insulting me is only gonna make your situation worse as soon as someone says somthin to me theres no line i would merly be telling jokes in an attempt to hurt your feelings.
6.There always one 40 year old virgin type whos trapped in the closet that you can expose there easy targets as soon as many people get involed the more likely he will
a)commit suicide
B)leave the forum
c)Turn to emo slit your slef music and and masturbation
d)Take out your anger on society and become a serial killing rapist
7.There are many ways to tell a joke sugar coating is not an option
8.You want your enemy to belive that he is getting under your skin
9.Jokes about family members is not appropriate inividual jokes and attacks are what we are here for
10) Most of you guys are little someone who is attracted to the opposite sex female doges that masturbate in the dark, its weird also most of you are probably that outcast type with no friends who internet date and meet friends in chat rooms and yeah society call them pedafiles and i think its (frank)ed up so you know maby dialing down the hole bad boy tough poop thing is a little clitche and wont work and will eventually get you made fun of sooner or later, thats my warning take it in i suggest you do cause theres nothing more that id rather then make you cry and quite and leave theis forum and eventually turn to a life of violence and incompatence and unable to succed when with a woman or like most of you little female doges turn to men. Homosexuality is very weird and frowned upon and 3/4 of the worldwill rezent you and make fun of you so you gotta ask you self if its really worth it?
- RPM03

This is the greatest post in HB history.

The craziest thing ive ever did. I kidnapped rapped and killed a teenag girl, then ate her body and drank her blood, then i stole her ticket, pretty akward sitting next to her dad, he was all like ur not my daughter and i was all like ya i kno.

- Crimsoninja

This puts a smile on my face every time I read it.

all I will say is this. It has nothing to do with this blog. this is not the thread. anything off-topic is subject to deletion

people can be cruel without knowing ANY of the facts because people can be sheep led my a sensationalistic world. Julie's life outside of hockeybuzz has ZERO to do with her work on hockeybuzz. I did not "make" Julie. I gave her an opportunity and she has worked amazingly hard to get to where she is.

Some people here can be gossiping little grandmothers who LOVE to hate. Julie is not that kind of person and yet it makes you all feel like big men because you can go at her from a distance based on something that you know NOTHING about. May someone never come into your world with one of your family members and slander them.

again in the rules. ANYONE who responds to this with any kind of disrespect towards myself, any blogger, or any poster is subject to being banned. This is my house and a few of you who think you own it do not.

It is more important to me that we stay on topic in threads than repeat false crap about my friends so you can feel good about yourself. I get complaints everyday that people are not even reading the comments anymore because I let too much go when some of you go at me blindly. I can take it. But I won't allow you to do it to my employees. and my friends.

Sincerely, Ek

I love how this has somehow turned into an AO vs. Crosby debate.
Fans need to realize how lucky we are to be able to witness two guys with such great talents. Without AO, Malkin, AND Crosby there wouldn't even be a debate over who is the best in the game. These 3 guys are the best talents to play this game in a long long time. Yeah are guys like Datsyuk Iggy Vinny Thonton whoever as good or close to AO Malkin and Crosby? MAYBE. But they are also grown men, AO Malkin and Crosby are phenoms, and won't hit their primes until 6 years from now.
The whole crosby is a cry baby thing is getting very old and very lame. The guy is the hardest worker on the ice in almost every game, and is one of the most classy and respected guys in the league. BE thankful to be able to witness someone who has the talent (along with AO and Malkin) to perhaps one day reach or come closs to the greatness that hasn't been seen in the NHL since Mario and Gretzky. I am not comparing them, because it would be unfair to do so, but 21 year old 120 point year old scorers don't come along every year. Does the guy have some growing up to do? Yes. So do I, and I am older than he is by 2 years. So does ovechkin, so does Malkin. They all have their faults, but Crosby is plastered as public enemy number 2 behind Avery, perhaps because then NHL brass tries to jam him down our throats. But put all of that aside for once, and just enjoy watching the kid play, mature, and one day elevate his game. His potential is scary.
Now for Ovechkin, I think for the most part fans love the goofy electrifying kid. DId he cross the line against TB? Debateable. Did he make himself look like an idiot. Probably. Should he be penalized? NO. But does he also have some growing up to do, and maturing to become MORE like crosby, and a bit of a better role model? Yes. They are 2 different players, AO In my opinion, needs to play with emotion to play the way he does. But pre-determined dance routines? You're better than that Alex.
One day all of us will look back and laugh at all this "controversy", and realize we are critisizing two guys that bring us way more joy and excitement then anguish. Two guys that are just old enough to drink their first beer in the states. 10 years from now hopefully both players will have matured into someone we ALL can respect (like Iggy). 10 years from now perhpas we as fans will also mature and accept the new kids comming into the league for who they are, instead of looking for the smallest faults to bash them with. 10 years from now perhaps Malkin will be better than both of them? Who knows? I'm just THANKFUL that I will be here for the ride.

Bettman doesn't even know where Canada is!

If you think it's about something else your a fool!

he moved teams out of decent markets where there were thousands upon thousands protesting the move as compared to a couple hundred people who might I add most were in there 60's and 70's. It's good to know Bettman's demographic is a bunch of people that let's face it are approaching the average age of 75 and we know what that means.

When you get a so called "Hockey President" saying he needs to do a study to see if its viable to have another team in southern Ontario then he is either kissing the Leafs a$$ or the Sabre's or he is completely incompetent. He is a prik out to stop at all cost any move to southern Ontario and Canada for that matter. He keeps on changing the target. This time the idiot is fighting a 250 million offer to a 130 million offer and he is setting up an anti trust suit that will relieve him of his job in a year or two once it's done.

Those of you who think he wants another team in Canada think of this the city's on his radar include Kansas City which failed in the 70s as Atlanta did and will again. Las Vegas which doesn't have a decent arena but they are a viable locale .Hamilton he has said isn't a well known city. I guess Columbus and Carolina are better names. I'm sure that if the team were called Ontario Coyotes you'd have the familiarity of Ontario at least to the North East North America and the name Cayotes but I'd rather see Jets utilized as it was named after Bobby Hull who was from Ontario it only makes sense to hook on to the history of the team.

Bettman should be sued not only by Balsillie but also those of us who feel he has be blowing smoke up our butts when it comes to adding a new team to Canada.

Isn't it about time that we had a Canadian as the president of the NHL?

Just think about it the CBC, TSN and Sportsnet are the major TV contracts the NHL has which also give the NHL very good exposure as opposed to Versus who treat like a bush league game. Doesn't anyone else see this?

Had they established 5 -10 more teams in Canada HNIC would never be the same again and the gate at those locales would be fantastic.

I could see at least 6 teams currently in the NHL locating in Canada as the gate the TV would make it very viable!!

But that will happen after the Bettman years are over. The old boys club of the NHL just makes me gag. People a Billionaire who loves hockey wants to own a team in Canada why is that being repelled for shady investors who are getting charged with fraud and embezzlement.

Bettman is even considering Europe. So if you think this isn't against Canada then he is pro US, Europe, Asia and Mars!

What does Dinner with a source consist of?

It's not like they're talking about Mergers and Acquisitions like real people who go for dinner as professionals...

Hilarious.

Has one rumour he has said come true in the last 365 days??

Seriously? Looking back, I dont think it has....not one...I mean, a rumour site is bound to get one here or there, but nothing.

I remember speaking to a few REAL reporters that are friends of mine and who actually get 'scoops' on teams and real rumours - they really have a genuine dislike for people (Ek) who make money off total BS....Why do you think Ek kisses the ass of Dreger, McKenzie and others when he always says "I have the highest regard for their work"....because he feels bad that he plagerizes them and gets away with it AND MAKES A FORTUNE IN THE PROCESS.

Wonder if Ek will bomb on Sportsnet TRADE DEALINE SPECIAL this year - not likely because it was the worst move Sportsnet ever made....if he didn't 'hear about' (not break) the Smyth trade before TSN they might have asked for a refund.

I guess I am just jealous because I didn't make up a site filled with B.S. and lies then go on to make an absolute fortune off it.


I guess I will get banned now for only stating the truth and really calling it like it is....another joke!

I was in Detroit for the finals last year. It is an area that has gone through some tough times. I just praised the Red Wings fans who have shown up in bigger numbers this year than

Certainly not holding the country's economic hard times against the hockey fans.

Listen, as I see it: Hockey is our escape from life. Not life. Real life can be very difficult and is full of real issues that take precedence. I have had a rough year. I know this. I almost died this past October.

If the worst people can do is say I am too positive about this sport, the players who play it, and the organizations that welcome me in....then I'll take that. anyday.

What does bother me is all the emails I get from people who are no longer coming to the forums because of the negative haters...a few people are monopolizing the forums and aren't talking hockey- just flexing muscles and picking fights. I try my best not to ban people. I don't want to ban people. I know this is a fun place to be and the community that has sprung up around the site is something I am most proud of.

It is for that reason that we are going to put a rule in that flaming anyone personally or getting off topic in a thread will result in first deletion of comment, then if ignored banning. If you have been banned more than 5 times you will be considered for IP banning. There are currently people who have been banned 10-15 times for anything from a day to 3 months. These people we can survive without, but I have tried to be fair.

This is the only way to give back these boards to the people who want to truly discuss the topics mentioned. I will soon be sending out an email announcing these changes in an attempt to welcome back the majority of great hockey people.

wingz4life, this isn't directed at you specifically. For the most part you a disagreeable yet respectful. So I do apologize for posting it as a response to you.

OK guys. I have no problem with someone pointing out to me that this was onb TSN and I am taking the e5 down as I do when TSN beats me by a few minutes.

But honestly, here's how this works. Tsn, Sportsnet, CBC , your next door neighbor, the guy who changes your oil, etc....we are all out ther trying to find the same information..and we all will gt it from sources.

When I was told of this trade I asked the source if he had seen it anywhere yet and he said that he had just checked TSN and it wasn't on there. So I put up the e5. Obviously in the time that it took from him getting the info, looking on tsn, calling me, me getting to my computer and entering the info...TSN got it up.

GOOD FOR THEM. It doesn't really matter, its a matter of seconds.

However, if you think so little of my work that you are going to sit there are write crap like "way to go ek" or the actually the (admittedly funny) TSN5 just please go to TSN or start your own website, because it wont be the first time that TSN beats me to an e5. Understand that I am simply getting the information up as fast as I can so that you my readers are getting the information as fast as you can.

If it is your belief that I am simply sitting on my ass and refreshing TSN and then posting e5 I will do you the favor of helping you out of your problem. If you are coming here as often as you are to read the rumblings of someone you disrespect this much than YOU have a problem and are simply addicted to hockeybuzz.com.

We can help you go cold turkey. It'll be ok.

If you are coming here simply because you love the forums, then either go spend time in the forums or go to HFBoards. They have a great forum.

In other words respect. Either show it of Leave.

Thanks

Ek

Good night last night at the garden, and then the game started and it all wentdown hill form there. Too bad "The Cat" wasn't in attendence, maybe he could have given his assesment of the current team from the podium.

I'm telling you, Renney knows the axe has already been swung, it just has not made contact yet. The look on his eyes behind the bench said it all last night. The group of degenerates in front him have completely abandoned him. I think that he will be better for this experience down the road. He will undoubtedly land another coaching position in the NHL fairly quickly. But he will be a wiser fellow. Gone will be the Renney of nurture and coddle. He will be born again a fire & brimstone coach, mark my words, the transoformation is nearly complete. For now though he is stuck waiting for the death knell.

After the game last night, I looked over at my wife and said "I hope the plane crashes on their way to Toronto"

I am just so fed up with this team on soo many levels it is hard to know where to start or if it is even worth it to stay emotionally involved at all. I may just sell the remainer of my seson tickets and stop going to games all together.

Drury wants it to start with him... well here you go Dru... YOU SUCK BALLS, YOU COCK SUCKING KNOB GOBBLER!!! PLEASE KILL YOUSELF AT CENTER ICE FOR OUR ENJOYMENT!!!

Redden is a P-U-S-S-Y!! I AM SURE THAT HE IS A WIDE RECIEVER AT HEART!! (Think about it, you'll get it)

Zherdev, need to go as I have been saying for quite some time now. He should have been traded back in December, when we could have gotten some serious draft picks for him. But...

SATHER IS A DOUCHNOZZLE WHO NEED TO DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH!!!

SATHER IS A DOUCHNOZZLE WHO NEED TO DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH!!!
- schuter82

always been fond of this one

I have to laugh when people say stupid things like "all Sid does is stand in front of the net and put in weak shots"

I guess those same people don't notice the countless times he wins battles for the pucks along the boards.

Or how he cycles in the offensive zone and controls the play.

Or how he BACKCHECKS (maybe Ovie can learn something from that) and is often times behind his own net getting pucks out of harms way.

When Crosby didn't score as many goals, people said he wasn't as good as Ovie because of the goal scoring difference. Now that he scored more than Ovie in the playoffs (and Ovie had two HUGE gifts from Fleury in the series) the problem is that he doesn't score goals the RIGHT way.

Earlier this year Ek posted a question...WHO WOULD YOU BUILD A TEAM AROUND? And the main options were Sid and Ovie.

You tell me who is the better team player?

You tell me who, when the series is on the line, comes up with the big effort?

Ovie wants to win...but he's too concerned about doing it with style and flash. Going for the big goal or the huge hit (love that hit he put on Backstrom tonight...BEST OF THE SERIES).

Playoff series and Stanley Cups are won with grit and determination.

Ask anybody that has won the cup.

I'll take the guy that wears 87 and doesn't care how it looks...he just cares about winning.

I boo Gary Bettman with a passion because I flat out HATE him. There are very few people in sports (Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, and Albert Pujols basically being the extent of the list) who I despise and Gary Bettman is on that list.

You may think he's been great for the sport but he's actually destroyed it. Other than saving the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins with that lockout, that lockout was worthless except to prematurely end the careers of such great superstars like Messier, Stevens, Francis, MacInnis, Leetch, etc.

If I was in that arena last night, I would have booed Gary Bettman with all my heart and soul. It was readily apparent that his and the NHL officials (off and on ice) mission this year was for him to hand the Cup to his boy Crosby on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Wings got totally hosed in this series with the officiating calls and the Wings fans were the one group of non-Penguins fans that had the chance to voice the opinions of 29 other groups of fans.

Speaking of Crosby, I don't know what Mario Lemieux has on Gary Bettman but I'm not sure there was anybody I know who didn't think that Pittsburgh was going to win the Crosby lottery. As much as people may think that Ewing to the Knicks was fixed, there was NO DOUBT in my mind that the Penguins were going to wind up with Crosby.

I hate two professional sports franchises - the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, I'm glad that Pittsburgh won last night because now that Bettman has succeeded in handing the Cup to Crosby and given Mario Lemieux his first Cup as a team owner, perhaps the NHL will go back to fair officiating where EVERY team actually has a legitimate chance of winning rather than just the Pittsburgh Penguins. This season's playoffs was more fixed than anything you will ever see in WWE wrestling. Had Detroit won this series, the Wings would have gone down as the all-time greatest team in the history of the sport.

By the way, the salary cap was supposed to keep ticket prices at a fair, affordable level: my Rangers tickets have gone up EVERY year since the lockout. They've increased by about 62.5% since they came back from the lockout. If the person next to me didn't commit to buying at least 10-15 games for the upcoming season, I would have probably given them up after 15 years because they are not very affordable anymore. By the way, the Rangers payroll is still about $20 million less than it was before the lockout.

I see a few good things like the Winter Classic but the game is garbage right now - a player can maim somebody with a head shot with very little if any penalty but get a life sentence for opening his mouth. You can have your Gary Bettman, I can't wait for him to go away! He's the most corrupt commissioner that we've ever had.

In 27 years I've never seen the fans of Edmonton so miserable as I see them today.

Steve Smith scored on our own net in the playoffs which led to us being eliminated...even then fans got over it and put on a positive face the next day.

Oilers lose in Game 7 of the finals in 2006, the fans still were smiling the next day just because they applauded the effort and saw a great future ahead...

Pronger decides to ask for a trade days after Game 7 to eliminate that "great future" feeling, still fans yelled "good riddance" and moved forward with a positive attitude..

We don't sign Sykora, Spacek, Samsanov, we trade Smytty, we get rid of Bergeron, we re-vamp the team and we end up going on a March run in 2007-2008 and we miss the playoffs, but the fans still stay positive because Gagner/Cogliano/Nilsson look like the saviors we needed and would show up in 2008...

This year we have a healthy line up that looked great on paper, our coach comes out and predicts a NW division title, Lowe/Tamby talk about how they are committed to making the necessary deals to improve this team if need be...then we see no trades all season except to get rid of a 3 goalie situation...that didn't yield much....we needed a shut down dman the whole season, never got one. We needed a winger for Hemsky since October and we scrounge up kotalik in March.....our coach plays puliot every freaking game until we're barely surviving...schremp gets 3 points in 3 games and we send him back to the minors...we are in a Do or Die game against the worst team in the western conference and we blow it and eliminate ourselves from the playoff race...all that we needed this year didn't come, all that we hoped for never happened...I can truly say I think a lot of loyal fans have finally lost a piece of their love for the oilers organization....changes are needed.

Here is my take on the whole story:

This La Presse article really is interesting, but not only for its content.

It all started in the Fall. Sophie Cousineau did an interview with Jim Ballsilie and then her and Brault (La Presse photographer) claimed the team was for sale. Balsillie then denied and Gillet was REALLY pissed about that and threatened to sue La Presse. I know that La Presse really followed the story closely.

Gillet even said so publically on a Toronto radio show that he considered legal action, which he didn't do as far as I know. Ever since La Presse has been digging into the Habs because they were embarassed by Gillet who publically said they were not professionals and did not check their info before publishing it.

La Presse management are now trying to embarass the Habs to get back at them. This scoop was really well orchestrated when they leaked that there would be a big news the night before and they sent one of there reporters to TQS (110%) to hype the story (they also made sure it was leaked on RDS).

I have to point out that three, I repeat, three reporters worked on the article. If that is not a clear sign that La Presse was really digging for this, I don't know what is.

The thing is with all the hype, it kind of backfired on them and there was a major backlash from people on La Presse (and TQS, RDS and CKAC) for hyping what is until charges have been laid, a good story with lots of speculation. La Presse even put its own credibility on the line by making this first page on the day Obama visited Canada.

They also obviously tried to take advantage of the Journal de Montréal lockout to try and get their readership through cheap Journal de Montréal style tabloid crap.

Now, with the backfiring yesterday, La Presse had to react, so they, with the help of major networks, launched an offensive to justify their actions and say that there is more to the story. Labbé was back on 110% and they sent both Gagnon and Réjean Tremblay on l'Antichambre to calm people down and continue their "there is more to it" tactic. Even Marc-André Godin (?) was on La Zone, basically saying the same. Four La PResse reporters, three TV shows.

This is not just some random scoop, it's a well orchestrated plan by La Presse. Of course there is a story there, and their might be more, but La Presse made sure they were going all in to embarass the Habs as much as they could, all this going back to the fall.

I find it funny that when the Leafs are supposed to get a good player people bash, when they do get a good player people say that he sucks

Never once can people give the Leafs credit or deal with the fact that the Leafs got a good player.

Like when the Leafs signed Mike Komisarek, he is a good defenceman, not great but good, Habs fans called him their next captain and although the ballot boxes were stuffed by Habs fans I think Komi would have been on the all-star team even if he wasn't named to the starting line-up, thats beside the point once the Leafs got Komisarek and even Beauchemin (who played great in the Leafs 1st Pre-Season game) Habs fans and most of the other teams fans said that they suck and that Leafs fans hpe them up all the time.

Most Fans rub it in our faces that we signed Finger to a 35 mil per year contract, even though we were bashing it first

Leafs management have made some stupid moves and deserve to be bashed for them, but even when they make great moves they still get bashed because since that player is a Leaf, they are terrible

On to the Phil Kessel/Toronto/Nashville thing,

Bob McKenzie said that "Kessel wants to play in Toronto, NOT NASHVILLE" that's basically a quote from him except for the caps on "not nashville"

The Bruins really want Blum, they don't want picks and a believe they wouldn't want Radulov who wants to play basically his entire career in the KHL.

I'm sure if Phil Kessel got traded to Nashville he would sign there, BUT if he gets traded to the Preds and the Maple Leafs say hey, here's an offersheet he would sign that before signing with the Preds

So here's the two morals of my rant

1) Try and give the Leafs some credit, they make good moves like every other team and deserve credit, MOST Leafs Fans do give credit to other teams good transactions, give it back to us

and

2) I'm sure Phil Kessel would play in Nashville, but he would probably much rather play in Toronto more

Cheers

Aha. The perfect representation of the Penguins fanbase. Self righteous, boorish, and bandwagon hopping.

Rangers fans KNOW our GM is an idiot. Rangers fans KNOW that our contracts are awful.

Rangers fans also know that in spite of how awful we were pre-lockout, we were never 5 consecutive lottery picks awful. We know that there is pride in winning - in building a team successfully without having to suck so hard and screw up so bad that you file for Chapter 11 TWICE and nearly end up playing in the Sprint Center. We show up to support our team no matter how bad it gets. That's why even though we didn't make the playoffs for seven years before the lockout, we still supported them endlessly. We didn't vacate the arena to the point where our beloved team was a signature away from another city. THAT, IMO, is pathetic.

Yes, MSG is a toilet. Wait...what? Mellon Arena is OLDER AND CRAPPIER THAN MSG? Oh...new arena? Wait...total renovation of the Garden? Oh. Yeah, about that. The Garden has history. Seasons have been made and broken in that building for over 40 years. Willis Reed hobbled onto that court in 72 and put on the game of a lifetime while hurt. The Garden had 12 consecutive Billy Joel concerts, the Richter ASG MVP show, "MATTEAU! MATTEAU! MATTEAU!", "The waiting is over! The New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup Champions! And this one will last a lifetime!", the scene of Gretzky's last game, Messier's last game, the retirement ceremonies of Leetch, Richter, Messier, Graves, Bathgate, Howell, Gilbert, and Giacomin, and so much more. The Mellon Arena is a true toilet, and the Crosby Energy Center or whatever the (frank) your new stadium will be called is merely a tribute to how he, millions of dollars in NHL aid, and Mario Lemieux (whom I realize that well over half your fanbase probably isn't aware of as a player), saved this pathetic excuse of a fanbase from having to watch their "beloved" Penguins play in KC.

As far as the Rangers/Penguins playoff matchups, yeah, it appears we've actually never beaten you in the playoffs. However, for what it's worth, most years of the Penguins' history, it was hard to find them outside the first round - inclusive of the 18 win "tank season".

We almost ruined hockey. Well then, back that one up, eh? Oh, right, we weren't even the highest spending team in the NHL *wave Detroit*. Sure, we were top 5, easily. Detroit, Philly, Colorado, Toronto, and one or two other franchises were just as high up on that ladder as we were. Of course, we may not have such awful spending issues if other franchises pulled their weight instead of filling Mellon Arena with just under 10k a game and icing a worse product than the Rangers (which in the early naughts is honestly baffling).

Our fan base being represented by Sean Avery? I'm not quite sure what you're saying, to be honest. Most of the Rangers fan base is comprised of blue collar hardworking people, not necessarily wealthy, fashion conscious hockey players. In fact, I'd venture to bet that the latter comprises a rather inconspicuous minority of the Rangers fan base. If you're referring to the general image that Sean Avery is a "joke to the NHL", then I am left with no choice but to call out your inane hypocrisy. Nobody is subject to the rules of the NHL in a more strict interpretation than Sean Avery, and nobody is subject to looser interpretations than the Black and Gold. Right, Evgeni?

My thoughts considering jay Bo;

I don't think he's going to sign an extension in return for a much larger chunk of the tradee's core. Who would want to weaken a team you've committed yourself to for 4-5 seasons?

Trading Jay Bo unsigned means that the package you receive in return is much less specific. This enables more teams to create the vacuum that is an NHL bidding war. This is the smarter move for FLA.

Jay Bo is a much rarer and more sought after commodity than anything available in last year's market. He's very young and very durable. His skill sets say he can be at least a #2 defenceman on most contending teams. He's a franchise-quality player on 70% of NHL teams.

The bidding begins at the forward position. I believe FLA would consider a winger, but they really want a center. This isn't a crap shoot, this is a forward who would have been a major, major building block in the tradee's franchise. Then comes the pick. The pick would need to be sensible. A UFA, Jay Bo nets you a conditional second-to-first rounder, contingent on either re-signing or playoff advancement. FLA loses its best defenceman, meaning you need to cough up a blue-chipper who could play in the NHL in 2009 or 2010. Finally, Florida doesn't want any salary back, so these players need to be in their RFA contract. Think it over. Is your team in the playoff race? Could Jay Bo put you in direct contention in your conference, and do you have said elements to trade?

If he agrees to sign an extension-trade, all bets are off. Then you could see some major names involved, first round picks, hysteria, the tour bus Opeth used in 2006, and perhaps nuclear secrets. What would a contender need to trade to acquire Jay Bouwmeester signed to a contract for say 5 years, $6.5M cap hit?