I'm currently recouping from surgery, can't sleep, my head feels three times its intended size and am running out of Tylenol 3s. Not the happiest camper right now but meh, what's one to do! Still some hockey to talk about and here area few odds and ends that have caught my eyes over the past few narcotic-infused days!


1) How is Kovalchuk anything like LeBron? Ilya is taking his time, weighing offers, countering offers and seemingly trying to make an informed decision. All the time he has not once personally invited us to join in the dance, rather choosing to go at it at his own speed. Sure, his agent said the morning of the 5th that something would be tied up that day, but something obviously happened following that which had Ilya reconsidering where he stood. When unsure the step back, re-evaluate then move forward. Choosing just for the sake of choosing is inherently dangerous.


LeBron, on the other hand, orchestrated just a PR circus around a decision that he put a date on and had televised, nevermind doing it in a way that was akin to breaking up with a partner in front of an audience without forewarning. His motives were more about ego than choice in the grand scheme of things, making numerous parties dance like puppets for his services when it now appears he, Wade and Bosh, as suspected, knew months in advance where they were going.


To put Kovy in that context is not a fair representation, and seems more like spectator impatience that is leading to the comparisons between the two guys. In terms of the latter, the blame lies at our feet, not his.



2) Which is wose: The signing of Derek Boogaard to the Rangers for $6.6 million over 4 years in a Glen Sather "Maybe THIS square peg will fit in this round hole" move or that Steve Tambellini potentially tabelled a 4 year, $7.0 million offer for Boogaard to join the Oilers, a deal either pulled by the Oilers or passed on by the Boogieman depending on who one believes?


Count me in the latter given that it would involve bringing someone into your locker room who put out one of your guys for a month (Ryan Jones) this past March with a knee on knee hit, laid out Hemsky two seasons back and is generally viewed as a dirty "player". Also somewhat mindboggling when you had controlled toughness amongst some value role players on the roster already (i.e., Sortini) and were able to pick up straight ahead toughness at significantly shorter term and contract cost the following day (MacIntyre, 1 year, $500,000).



3) So Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood got hitched over the weekend. It was announced that Carrie would be taking Mike's name except in professional contexts.


So Carrie Fisher, eh? Any bets a gold Jabba the Hutt slave outfit makes its way into the home some evening? Good luck kid! You've got an in on this like no one else does!



4) What might an appropriate slogan for the 2010-11 Chicago Blackhawks be?


"Winning Every Year Takes The Fun Away!!!"


"Each 49 Year Journey Begins With A Single Step..."


"Giving You The Good And Bad Of The New NHL Economic System In Back-To-Back Seasons!!!"


"Welcome Your 2010-11 Chicago Marlins!!!"


Yeah, she's not gonna be pretty. Ladd, Versteeg, Buff, Eager and Sopel have been dealt, Burish signed in Dallas as a UFA, RFA Niemi has filed for arbitration and RFA Hjalmarsson has been signed to an offer sheet by San Jose. A lot of those guys were key in this years run! Of course, core guys like Kane, Toews and Keith are locked up at a total of $105 million over 5, 5 and 13 years, respectively, which bodes well moving forward. Unfortunately for Hawks fans, guys like Hossa, Campbell and Huet have a combined $108.1 million due to them over 11, 6 and 2 years, respectively, making it difficult to maintain a strong supporting cast with UFAs and RFAs! If they cannot buy out or find someone to take on those Campbell and/or Huet contract(s), the latter of which could be done easily enough by a team needing goaltending AND help hitting the cap floor (I'm talking to you Islanders!!!), Chicago is going to be hard pressed to achieve anywheres near the level of this championship season.



5) So, 86 days until we hit October 7th, eh? First night of the season! This is when the good folks of Helsinki, Finland get treated to the "2010 Compuware NHL Premier Game" of Minnesota vs Carolina. Damn Finns and their big fancy "Premier Game"!!! Here I am stuck in North America and while "They" get their "Premier Game" I'm stuck watching either Montreal @ Toronto, Philly @ Pittsburgh (crappy new arena opener), Chicago @ Colorado or Calgary @ Edmonton (where's the fun in that one?!?!).


Thinly veiled? No? I tried. Look advertising execs, I'm sure the Compuware folks are great, but even the hockey fans amongst them had to be shaking their heads at this Premier Game label! Not a shot at Carolina or Minny fans either as if they were being honest about the general consensus around these matchups they'd surely admit it is the least "Premier" among them!


NHL: Not everyone is going to like us! If I call the litter box a rose garden Mrs Gates will still be on my butt to change it! Call it something that it IS. An "International Game" or something more realistic. This spin has surpassed embarassing...



Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
BBM: 311A4F7D
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#1, #2, #3, #4, #5


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#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?

#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?

#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE

#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?

#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?

#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?

#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?

#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?

#9 What If The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game??

#10 What If Henderson Had Missed The Net In Game 8?

#11 What If You Could Sneak Into A Stanley Cup Celebration?

#12 What If The NHL Returned To Quebec City?

#13 What if Toronto and Edmonton Had Traded Teams in 1981?

#14 What if You Could Create Your Own Hockey Dream Team?

#15 What if An Active Player in the NHL “Came Out” as Gay?

#16 You Could Assemble Your Own Fantasy Pick-up Hockey Team?

#17 Hockey Had A Champions League Tournament?

#18 Team "X" Did NOT Make Trade "Y" At The Deadline?

#19 Gretzky Had Been Called For he High Stick?

#20 Star Players Hadn't Had Their Careers Cut Short?


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