Good Blog Adam, were those russians rated in terms of skill, or you just named them like that.
- QuebecPride

Leave it to you to be concerned about only how the russians are rated.

He'll get a $2500 fine, which should then go to Ray Whitney for bending over the boards and helping Halischuk back onto his feet.
- Desert_Dog

I agree that he'll likely be fined and that's it. If he had been given 4 or 5 minutes, he probably would have avoided the chat with the Shannahammer.

I think Phoenix is going to win the cup, not joking.

I think Phoenix is going to win the cup, not joking.
- leeroy45

One round at a time

One round at a time
- bruinsbeer69

LA will destroy you...

Would you compare Nikita Gusev to Martin St. Louis. No disrespect to Marty(who is one of my personal favs) To me Nikita is a small winger who is more of a passer than shooter.

LA will destroy you...
- Whiskey-Tango

Just like Chicago destroyed them,

Would you compare Nikita Gusev to Martin St. Louis. No disrespect to Marty(who is one of my personal favs) To me Nikita is a small winger who is more of a passer than shooter.
- Rezvan91

Same kind of game in that sense of a playmaker, but he is a perimeter guy, St. Louis has a tenacity to his game Gusev (And quite frankly 99% of the NHL) doesn't. He's more of a Patrick Kane style player with obviously less skill. A big project player with some serious boom/bust potential.

LA will destroy you...
- Whiskey-Tango

I'm a Bruins fan who lives in Arizona, so, there is no you. My team got bounced last round. But since I live here, and I love Shane Doan and Yandle, I cheer for PHX as my 2nd team.

And you might be right. I think Kopitar is the most underrated 1st line player in the NHL

I rarely post any comments but just want you to know that I absolutely love your blogs on Russian prospects. Thank you for great work!

At the same time, Adam, I'm a little bit surprised with you being angry/sarcastic about all the playoffs predictions! There is nothing wrong with betting on a more "famous", better established team. I'm ok with all the experts' predictions because let's be honest here..NO ONE expected for Phoenix to go that far! And that is the true beauty of hockey!
- Rezvan91

+1, and another +1
Nice to hear someone talking about lesser-heard Russian prospects and equally nice to do so without blathering on about the "Russian non-factor".

However, I'm not sure if you intended to come across as derisive of people for making intelligent choices as to which teams should advance... if you did intend to, it's pretty unfair to criticize someone for putting their money on the faster horse. Granted anything can happen in the playoffs, and granted "good playoff team" is not the same as "good regular season team".... I don't think those who picked, say, Van/Pit/Phi/Det are fools or idiots by any stretch. Nor do I think those who predicted exactly the correct outcomes so far are wise or savvy by any stretch. Betting on the slow horse may get you a big win once in a while, but as business models go... I've seen better. And speaking of bad business models...

I am reluctantly forced to say, "good for the Coyotes" for making it this far. It has angered me for a while that other cities are clamouring for an NHL team yet the Coyotes stay put in spite of the fact that, as a business, they are an abject failure. While they've become a quality hockey team, this is a business and being bailed out $30 mil by the taxpayer.... well, if I paid taxes in Arizona, I would be pissed. I would also be pissed that they violated their own damn constitution to do so (although I don't expect many people to share my outrage there).

But, sour grapes with politicians aside, a sincere "Well done" to the Phoenix Coyotes for totally defying the odds in every way possible. you should be golfing and you should be representing, oh, say, any city with enough of a fan base to pay your freakin bills, yet here you stand, in total defiance of reasonable expectations. Now go win the ****in Cup!

LA will destroy you...
- Whiskey-Tango

If LA does destroy them it means they will have advanced to the Finals. Also, there is no guarantee they would face LA (someone may yet manage to derail the Kings).

Adam, I think if you had seen games 3 & 4 you might have a different perspective. Preds dominated game 3. Coyotes only had a handful of chances where they really threatened to score. In game 4, the Preds had ample scoring chances, one being a wide open net, that they just didn't convert. Preds lost the game, but it wasn't because the two idiots didn't play.

Klesla gets one game

Would you compare Nikita Gusev to Martin St. Louis. No disrespect to Marty(who is one of my personal favs) To me Nikita is a small winger who is more of a passer than shooter.
- Rezvan91

I'd like to see him perform without Kucherov.

Oh and Zlobin is a nice talent, 3rd round bound IMO.

If not somebody's gonna sign him...

Oh and Zlobin is a nice talent, 3rd round bound IMO.

If not somebody's gonna sign him...
- QuebecPride

Heard on the local radio coming home from work this morning that the NHL has agreed with the sale of the Coyotes to Jamison, and an announcement could be made prior to tonight's game.

We've been down this road before but this looks like it's finally happening.

Heard on the local radio coming home from work this morning that the NHL has agreed with the sale of the Coyotes to Jamison, and an announcement could be made prior to tonight's game.

We've been down this road before but this looks like it's finally happening.
- Desert_Dog

I sure as hell hope so.

And will somebody please gagball evey politician in Glendale so they cant screw it up again?

I sure as hell hope so.

And will somebody please gagball evey politician in Glendale so they cant screw it up again?
- bruinsbeer69

Gagball Goldwater while they're at it.

Gagball Goldwater while they're at it.
- Desert_Dog

The tax payers shouldn't be paying for this

They were right.....that deal was awful

Bogdan Yakimov

I want a Bogdan on my team.

The tax payers shouldn't be paying for this

They were right.....that deal was awful
- bruinsbeer69

+1
Glendale's continuing subsidy of the Pheonix Coyotes is actually in violation of the constitution of the state of Arizona. The only way the politicians would ever kibosh this deal is if they were concerned with doing the jobs they were damn well elected to do. Shame on everyone involved. Boo-urns.