Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks Alumnus Radim Vrbata Reportedly Close to deal w/ Arizona With very little action on the hockey front, updates on the contract status of Radim Vrbata, Antoine Vermette and Jimmy Vesey, plus some puppy love courtesy of Sven Baertschi and Jake Virtanen.

not interested in the world cup, just a money grab. i don't even think the players are really into it... probably want to avoid injury more than anything...

RIP Ryper.

Thank you Carol, now watch Vrbata hit all of his contract bonuses...

RIP Rypien #37

Thank you Carol, now watch Vrbata hit all of his contract bonuses...
- Makita

he hits his bonuses on the top line, gets moved to another line and goes into witness protection.

I have been hearing a bit about Friedman getting the American swimmers mixed up and feeling bad about it.

What is the big deal? Wasn't it a Canadian feed, and it isn't like he got 2 Canadians mixed up... and didn't he realize and correct his mistake as soon as the race finished?

I was watching the delay of the 100m on NBC or w/e American network and it was all about Bolt and Gatlin, they never even mentioned who came in 3rd until a minute or two after the race completed. Bolt was so much faster than everyone else.

I knew DeGrasse came in 3rd from hearing the results earlier, but watching the race it wasn't so evident, I wanted to see a replay of how close it was between 3rd and 4th because it looked like De Grasse came from behind.

Anyway, just saying, I don't think there is much difference between reporting the results incorrectly and not reporting them at all...

From the last blog.

Can we please stop with the "only 10 number one d men and 20 number 2 d men" in the nhl talk.

The top 30 are the number ones

Top 60 are all top pair

Top 120 are all top four

Top 180 are all top 6

Yes there are a handful of elite defenceman who can carry a number 3 or 4 and make them look good, but the top 30 defenceman in the league are the number ones, etc....

From the last blog.

Can we please stop with the "only 10 number one d men and 20 number 2 d men" in the nhl talk.

The top 30 are the number ones

Top 60 are all top pair

Top 120 are all top four

Top 180 are all top 6

Yes there are a handful of elite defenceman who can carry a number 3 or 4 and make them look good, but the top 30 defenceman in the league are the number ones, etc....
- Pres.cup

are you fecking with us?

In a perfect world, I think it works out that way, but this isn't a perfect world. You have some clubs like Nashville that have been so deep on D that their #2 or #3 dman would be the #1 on a few other teams...

From the last blog.

Can we please stop with the "only 10 number one d men and 20 number 2 d men" in the nhl talk.

The top 30 are the number ones

Top 60 are all top pair

Top 120 are all top four

Top 180 are all top 6

Yes there are a handful of elite defenceman who can carry a number 3 or 4 and make them look good, but the top 30 defenceman in the league are the number ones, etc....
- Pres.cup

Toronto doesn't have #1 (reilly could be)
Vancouver doesn't have a #1
Edmonton doesn't have a #1 (larsson could be)
Boston doesn't have a #1 (Chara is washed up)
Philly doesn't have a #1 (Ghost could be down the road)
Islanders don't have a #1 (hamonic could be down the road)
Washington doesn't have a #1 (a bunch of #2's thats why they always choke)
Colorado doesn't have a #1 (barrie isn't a #1 as he sucks at defense)
Columbus doesn't have a #1
New Jersey doesn't have a #1
Carolina doesn't have a #1 (faulk could be down the road)

I hope Virtanen got a rescue dog and didn't go the pet-shop route (which sounds like he did, though). Good on Baertschi for bringing attention and funds to the shelter

Hillbilly, one of those Olympic swimmers was Micheal Phelps. Imagine if an American commentator mixed up Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux with Rob Zamuner.

It's all good but I wouldn't say it isn't a big deal.

Toronto doesn't have #1 (reilly could be)
Vancouver doesn't have a #1
Edmonton doesn't have a #1 (larsson could be)
Boston doesn't have a #1 (Chara is washed up)
Philly doesn't have a #1 (Ghost could be down the road)
Islanders don't have a #1 (hamonic could be down the road)
Washington doesn't have a #1 (a bunch of #2's thats why they always choke)
Colorado doesn't have a #1 (barrie isn't a #1 as he sucks at defense)
Columbus doesn't have a #1
New Jersey doesn't have a #1
Carolina doesn't have a #1 (faulk could be down the road)
- classic321

Maybe Hannifin could be as well.

I hope sven timed it so getting locked in a cage didnt coincide with her pms

Toronto doesn't have #1 (reilly could be)
Vancouver doesn't have a #1
Edmonton doesn't have a #1 (larsson could be)
Boston doesn't have a #1 (Chara is washed up)
Philly doesn't have a #1 (Ghost could be down the road)
Islanders don't have a #1 (hamonic could be down the road)
Washington doesn't have a #1 (a bunch of #2's thats why they always choke)
Colorado doesn't have a #1 (barrie isn't a #1 as he sucks at defense)
Columbus doesn't have a #1
New Jersey doesn't have a #1
Carolina doesn't have a #1 (faulk could be down the road)
- classic321

These are my thoughts exactly ...there are many players who play on top pairings or top lines that aren't true top line players ..they are just on bad teams or maybe coaches want a bit more balance with scoring etc

But this arguement will never end as some think playing on a top pairing makes you a top pairing calibre guy and some people only think of players as top line if they have a certain skill set

Rypien

These are my thoughts exactly ...there are many players who play on top pairings or top lines that aren't true top line players ..they are just on bad teams or maybe coaches want a bit more balance with scoring etc

But this arguement will never end as some think playing on a top pairing makes you a top pairing calibre guy and some people only think of players as top line if they have a certain skill set
- Redmile247

But you have to admit that NHL Network list of top 20 was trash.

Seabrook has no business being on anyone's top 20 list.

These are my thoughts exactly ...there are many players who play on top pairings or top lines that aren't true top line players ..they are just on bad teams or maybe coaches want a bit more balance with scoring etc

But this arguement will never end as some think playing on a top pairing makes you a top pairing calibre guy and some people only think of players as top line if they have a certain skill set
- Redmile247

yes and some teams have several top level D (such as say...the hawks) that get pushed further down the line but would top pairing on another team.

I hope sven timed it so getting locked in a cage didnt coincide with her pms
- SMBDragon

But you have to admit that NHL Network list of top 20 was trash.

Seabrook has no business being on anyone's top 20 list.
- classic321

Your right it was garbage ...ghost had no business there as well ...klingberg and buff are question marks too because of their defensive liabilities

yes and some teams have several top level D (such as say...the hawks) that get pushed further down the line but would top pairing on another team.
- SMBDragon

Exactly ....the same arguement can be made for centers as well ...some teams have an excess of top line guys while others not so much

These are my thoughts exactly ...there are many players who play on top pairings or top lines that aren't true top line players ..they are just on bad teams or maybe coaches want a bit more balance with scoring etc

But this arguement will never end as some think playing on a top pairing makes you a top pairing calibre guy and some people only think of players as top line if they have a certain skill set
- Redmile247

agreed.. I think Tanev falls in this category with a lot of people...

Your right it was garbage ...ghost had no business there as well ...klingberg and buff are question marks too because of their defensive liabilities
- Redmile247

who would you replace them with?? ghost is a pretty solid player.

Hillbilly, one of those Olympic swimmers was Micheal Phelps. Imagine if an American commentator mixed up Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux with Rob Zamuner.

It's all good but I wouldn't say it isn't a big deal.
- golfingsince

Friedman was more upset about it than anyone else. I like that he takes pride in his work.

who would you replace them with?? ghost is a pretty solid player.
- kaptaan

I'm biased but I'd rather gio or Brodie on the ice ahead of them ...the list felt more like a flavour of the month thing more than anything