Kingdom of Fear

No matter who they nominate.. Grammy to Lupe Fiasco

2007-02-10T04:09:00.000-07:00

I've been pushing this guy forever. He's a weaker version of Canibus but got the production behind him to suit his style.
Unlike Canibus in 98 when he had Wyclef strum on a guitar to the greatest battle rapper of all time.

Either way, if Lupe Fiasco does not win Best Rap Album + Best Rap Song (Kick, Push) - the rap world ignored the hip hop world again.

Not that they didn't already - as Nas would have taken every catagory in Rap. But to the white critics minds - it best be Lupe Fiasco.

And to the morons out there - he's the one that can actually rap in Kanye West's "Touch the Sky" single and video.

Most exciting team in North America... NBA. NHL. NFL. MLB. MLS...

2007-02-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

It has nothing to do with Canada and our beloved hockey. Changing channels back to NHL games is just brutal for atmosphere and excitement.... and of course Americans could care less. But they do care about Football - and again, it's not an NFL team. Although it does kick some gears to watch Michael Vick run around and be wild on any play, win or lose.

And it's not baseball, We all know that, even me as a lifelong Yankees fan will never say any baseball team is the most exciting. Or MLS - Beckham or not.

It is the Toronto Raptors of the NBA. They play every game with that lunchpail attitude the world loves; that underdog atmosphere. When they play in Toronto - they get the crowd roaring with every blocked shot, steal, free point shot, etc.... It's the Toronto crowd that cannot afford the Maple Leaf tickets.

And prove that Toronto isn't as stupid as their media makes them look. Or the suits in the ACC for Leaf games make them seem timid. This is a city I thought would never survive the Vince Carter trade - his showtime "Air Canada" moves were made of legend. He was my favorite player, and it was my mistake to think once he left Toronto - they'd be lost.

But The RAPTORS have Chris Bosh - CB4.. and he's 22 years old, starting in the Las Vegas All Star Game. And every game the Raptors play, he's proving he's MVP material. He made Kobe his bitch tonight.

Let alone Bargnani, who is the next Dirk. God bless Colangelo, he saved this team.

Bosh for MVP. And the Raptors are going to make noise in the playoffs. If not, they're the most fast paced and exciting team in sports today. Check it out.

Indianapolis Colts win the SuperBowl.... the MVP was all wrong.... Bears forfeit

2007-02-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

So the Indy Colts won the SuperBowl, and yes Peyton Manning figuratively gave the middle finger to all the critics who said he can't win a big game. But so what? He was not the MVP of that game, by any stretch. Yet, they gave it to him.

What I like about hockey is no matter who you are, if you played great - you win the playoff MVP. Ron Hextall stripped it from Wayne Gretzky in 87, Mike Vernon stripped it from Steve Yzerman in 96 and so on. Not to say hockey is perfect - because Cam Ward taking it home over Chris Pronger last year is a story for another day.

Manning went 25 for 38, which is a good amount for a regular season game MVP. 1Td, and 1 interception. He was better than Rex Grossman, for sure.... but who isn't? Rex Grossman could make Jason Maas look like Joe Montana. No, the MVP of the game was - at least to anyone watching the entire game... Joseph Addai.

Addai was the Colts tonight. He won them the Superbowl, because any QB could have handed him the ball. Except Rex, but again.....

No sense arguing over the specifics of MVP. All that matters is that the Colts won, and the Bears lost. No worries Chicago, wait another 20 years and they might get back to the big game. At least they're not the Cubs right?

All the Bears fans with their broken hearts. It's a most pleasant thing to think about.

SuperBowl - Go Colts

2007-01-23T04:21:00.000-07:00

And it'll be a blowout. Who the fuck are the Bears? They never mattered since 1988 at the lastest.

Grow up Bears fans. Seriously.It's Peyton's year.
Deal with it chumps.

Mike Ditka is dead? No? Oh well, as relevant as the Bears are today.

Colts 38 Bears 0.

Dig it.

Vote Barack Obama.... Don't be a retard IN 08

2007-01-17T05:18:00.000-07:00

Get on board now, otherwise that stupid bitch Hillary who nobody trusted in 1992 will put in her woman vote for President. And it will all go to hell. Jeb Bush will toss his hat in the ring. So will Dick Cheney. And fuck them both. The only problem is that they will win over any woman president. As fucked up as the US is.... There's a time to call on a Bush, or a Cheney, or a dirt sniffing pig in both of them. And now what? Besides another Bush in Jeb, a President Cheney...or a Democrat President in H. Clinton, Al Gore, or some other drooling retard.... The Dems have lose to the Republicans handily ever since Nixon looked like a used car salesman in 62 and Kennedy looked like a movie star. How did that end up? Kennedy dead. And Nixon, like a snake would not give until he was President and forced out. A lifelong criminal. And so be it. Now the second greatest criminal since Nixon is in office. Actually a worse one. He had Hussein hanged, Hussein's brother decapitated. And Bush still spends most his time in Texas. Unfortunate for him. The Americans are getting their asses kicked in Iraq. And if the tide really swings. he might be the next to have the floor kicked out of him before he finishes his prayer. Only his daughters wouldn't have been murdered 2 years earlier, and his brother ub Jeb wouldn't face the same fate weeks latrer - with Jeb's head ripping off and shown to journalists 7 meters from his head. Who cares right? Bush is white. All those hung are crazy fuckers from the middle east. Where's Osama Bin Laden? Who cares?

Barack Obama would find him. And be more likely to negotiate a treaty with Osama, then solve the genocide in Darfur. All in one week. Then after his inaugeration - he'd just give the green light for the Palestine to bomb the fuck out of Israel. He'd deprt mel Gibson. Make the ghost of Malcolm X his Secretary of State (By All Means Necessary).... Take all troops out of Iraq. Make Putin his best friend

Oh Yeah. JAROMIR JAGR IS NOT IN THE NHL ALL STAR GAME

2007-01-14T05:01:00.000-07:00

Dig that.

The NHL is a joke.... Especially the All Star Game.... Vote for Rory

2007-01-14T04:49:00.000-07:00

There was a time that Rory Fitzpatrick making it to the Allstar game was the biggest controversy around the NHL. Little did they know, that if Rory made it.... Vote for Rory Fitzpatrick would be the smallest story of it all.

The NHL pulled a Rory of it's own. Get this... Jaromir Jagr. Is NOT in the Allstar game. Justin Williams of the Carolina Hurricanes is. Jarome Iginla is NOT in the Allstar game, Yannic Perreault (a quarter season free agent signing to Phoenix) Is.

And we can go on and on. Ilya Kovalchuk, is not in the Allstar Game. Chris Pronger, is not in the Allstar Game, and did I mention... Jaromir Jagr, is not in the Allstar game. I did. But Justin Williams is in the Game. Rod BrindAmour of the same Hurricanes is not in the game, but Justin Williams is.

Jarome Iginla, Sergei Zubov, Ilya Kovalchuk, Chris Pronger, and Jaromir Jagr are not in the NHL All Star Game. Yanic Perreault is.

And the NHL, their stupid pundits around the media were worried that Rory Fitzpatrick would be in there? He was going to taint the game, and take a spot away from people that deserved it?

The NHL just proved they're the most idiotic league in North America. AGAIN. Someone please send me the scheduele of MLS.

Restart Later... The Oilers Blew Another One... And Welcome to Edmonton.

2007-01-14T04:27:00.000-07:00

The Oilers lost again. Unfortunetely to the filthy Calgary Flames. And why is my cousin skating around with long hair like he's a 60s hippie?

The Flames are lucky. And I'm not just saying that due to living in Edmonton. I hate the Oileres, as much as I love them. The Oilers piss me off daily. Monthly and Yearly. There's a time where you don't shower enough, and things start to itch. Shaving is the most horrible of it all.

Tonight, the Oilers combined it all, and packaged it up into one giant mess. Roloson got beat repeatedly in the 5 hole. And Patrick Roy is rolling in his prepaid grave.

I bet 10 bucks on the game - my friend ordered a chicken burger, a poutine with it along with a beer.... threw down 20 bucks after I won saying Calgary won. I got fucked over. It's 4:30 AM, but I cant stand for this shit. Even if I did only toss down a 4 dollar tip.

Whoops, Duke, I got far off topic. And the Oil blew another night for us.

Regardless of the rest of the world.... Yes, we do hate the Maple Leafs.... and that's why you'll always suck.... Catch 22 in Toronto... We love it

2007-01-14T01:05:00.000-07:00

I shouldn't even say this. There's a reason the Toronto Maple Leafs continually suck. And I have the answer.

I gives me much fear to let this known, in case it ever gets message to the powers in charge of the Leafs. I loath the idea of Toronto making the playoffs, let alone being a contender.... but here it is.

Memo to the Toronto area media: This is for you, and anyone that isn't, turn away. I'm selling us out:

Your problem is that you constantly brag up any and every Maple Leaf player like he's some sort of savant of hockey that's going to save the Toronto Maple Leafs. You talk about every player on that team incessantly, and never shut up. What is the random Toronto fan to believe? That this team will suck?

Of course not. You sign shit heads out of Tampa Bay, that is expendable to their plans (as Stanley Cup defenders), you offer big contracts to players that could have been Jerry Rice on ice for Edmonton, but fuck, they almost won the Cup - let's sign Mikey Peca... he breaks his leg...

You brag up idiots like Carlo Coliacovo, Andrew Raycroft, Kyle Wellwood - all AHL players on other teams in the NHL. But the fact that every NHL GM holds over your head, the people of Toronto believe it. And they better pay up to trade with you.

Instead, they fire you washed up players, and you talk them up on SportsCentre all day, all night until they combust and go into the firey hell of washed up NHL players that the rest of the league knew.

The Leafs are absolutely fucked. Deal with it now, and you'll have something to talk about later. Regardless. Do continually to talk about Kubina, Peca, Travis Green, and whoever wears that tainted jersey due to Toronto media. The rest of the hockey world will keep laughing, you pump players up to be something they arent.

Mikey Landsberg is your biggest enemy. Not JFJ. Test him for steroids, immediately.

Inre: Top Shelf Message Board Ban....

2007-01-13T23:18:00.000-07:00

I've been sent emails, and a couple of people have checked in on me here, Mannella and OA83 and others....

So fuck it, I'll just say my piece about this here.

STAZE is a good man, no matter what happened, I know he and I would always get along in real life. If he wanted to go for a beer, I'm always up for it. And that goes for about 98% of every other poster on that board. I had issue with someone and I broke all forum rules to go after him. That's just how I roll, or something like that.

My own paranoia and being told to keep quiet is a sure fire recipe for me to do the complete opposite and blow up. Like kids mixing vinegar and baking soda in a paper mache volcano - those are my toxic mixes.

There's no blame to be laid anywhere. My personality did never mix with their philosophy for a message board. We all gave it our best shot, and in the end, it was a train wreck. I don't blame them for banning me, like I don't blame them for awarding me the first "Stanley Cup - as Administrators Award of Excellence". The only issue I do blame, is in their saying I was unprovoked. Only a complete lunatic would run around like I did without being prodded like a wild bear in a cage. And I'm not that crazy.... yet.

It was never meant to work out, I suppose. But for anyone else that doesn't have my freak of nature disposition - it is a great message board. And I'll recommend it to you, and anyone that wants to discuss hockey. They're fair people.

http://nhltopshelf.com/

I'm sorry I couldn't give some sensational story of going out in a blaze of glory.
P.S. - I'm a free agent in the world of hockey message boards, people on edmontonoilers.com are usually retarded - and I still fiend to talk with random people about the game. Send your links.

RaoulDuke

David Beckham comes to North America.... The NHL is dead.... and Sid the Kid can kiss LA goodbye. One strange day.

2007-01-12T00:18:00.000-07:00

Out of nowhere MLS - Major League Soccer. Yeah, soccer, not futbol - or whoever it's spelled in a nation that cares, has once again stolen the world's biggest star to play in their league. David Beckham will join the Los Angeles Galaxy in August, and the media will go wild. Like they did with Pele when he joined that New York Cosmos team in the 70s.

Unlike Pele, Beckham won't be playing in fields with jimmied up bleachers outside of garbage dumps or the best other location on Stratan Island in NYC. Beckham will gather crowds, no matter where he is. Major league crowds, duke, and that's the problem.

Do I want to watch a bunch of euros kick a ball around for 2.5 hours until one randomly boots it into a gaping mouth of a net? I doubt you do either. But this is David Beckham, and we've been told to like him. He's an athlete duke, and in Europe, he means more than you or I. We better watch.

This officially ends any chance of the NHL in the United States. At least for the next 5 years, because Iman Beckham will be there, along with Posh Spice at every turn. Sean Avery and Elisha Cuthbert are the new.... well Sean Avery and Elisha Cuthbert. Nobody cared then, and they certainly won't know. It's Derek Jeter that needs to watch his back.

There was a time, not too long ago, maybe 24 hours ago, that it seemed ideal that Sidney Crosby should appear his face more in the Hollywood area. For his own good and for the NHL. He's already sported a LA Kings jersey before he was drafted, and spent most of his time working out there. He wanted it, the hockey world wanted it. But fuck it now, duke.

Sid is a skinny, acne ridden, buck toothed kid with no personality. David Beckham is a style magnet with his wife and mother of his kids being a star culture all of her own. Unless Crosby commits a Kobe style rape, which would be horrible, because it would only hit tsn.ca.... this is the death of hockey in the United States.

Premiere the skin tight jerseys at the Allstar Game, NHL. The only one wearing them will be Posh Spice at a MLS game, and that will be the news of that day. On Access Hollywood.

Welcome David Beckham, Goodbye Gary Bettman. Relevance is the idea of 2007, you missed it.

No Rory in Allstar Game

2007-01-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

Conspiracy? Maybe, but who cares right now? The fact is he won't be there - and I won't be watching like usual.

For a fiend of hockey like I am, it's hard not to watch an NHL allstar game. But there's only so much of that pond hockey millionaire showcase a person can stomach. I think the last time I watched a game beginning to end was when Ray Bourque potted that winner in the Boston game. And right then, I knew the thing was rigged.

Maybe not rigged, but bullshit. How did he pull that off? That sort of shit is not normal. Either they let him score, like Colorado let him win the Cup. Or the entire charade is scripted. The time it was backed up was Owen Nolan's "Babe Ruth" point at Hasek. Conviniently in San Jose, where Nolan played at the time. Against Hasek in his prime who was like a fucking alien, he didn't need Nolan to point. Hasek could read minds back then.

Got off topic. But the Allstar game is a pile of shit. The only reason I would have tuned in is to watch Rory Fitzpatrick. Instead, I'll pass. Skills competition and Young Stars game, I'm in. After that, have fun with the ratings NHL.

The only reason anyone talked about the Allstar Game is because Rory Fitzpatrick almost made it. You won't hear another thing about it now. Kudos to the NHL - you fucked up again.

Balsillie screwed by the NHL

2006-12-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

Billionaire creator of the Blackberry, and passionate hockey fan Jim Balsillie purchased the Pittsburgh Penguins, saving them from eventual doom. The NHL should be happy a franchise was saved, and by an owner with such a belief in the game.

Instead, word comes today, that Balsillie withdrew his bid to buy the Penguins. At first listen it sounded like he was just backing out because he thought twice. But as details emerged, it's all due to the NHL making absurd demands for him to accept if he wanted the team.

To wit: The NHL says he cannot move the Penguins, no matter how bleak it got financially for him. Then, if it does get financially fucked for him, then the NHL will assume ownership from him - and he can kiss his 170+ million dollars goodbye.

Sign on the dotted line Mr. Balsillie ..............................................

Well, the guy didn't become a billionaire for being a retard. And the NHL becomes a laughing stock once again for thinking so. This isn't Charles Wang.

Why would the NHL make such absurd conditions? Even if you had to buy a house, would you buy one in an undisclosed city - and you must keep them there according to Remax? Would you buy it in a ghetto stricken area, and if the house depreciates in value - agree to just hand it all over at a loss to you for full price whenever Remax decides it's gone too far down in value?

Of course not. And that's a 150,000 dollar investment. Now make that 150 million plus. Why would the NHL do this? A few reasons come to mind:

- The NHL is afraid that Balsillie would move the Penguins to Canada. Like he said he would consider. Why is this so wrong? A guy owns a team, and wants to move it to a feasible area, where people will guarantee to show up. Where were these absurd conditions when the Nordiques were bought and moved to the US? The NHL still holds this idea that teams should move to random US markets, despite past teams blowing it by doing so.

- The NHL wants Sidney Crosby in the Eastern seaboard, especially the NE division so he plays in NYC 8 times a year. Which is somewhat understandable, the game's biggest star and the NHL wanting him in the area. But, it will not matter how often a star plays there - it's the competive aspect that keeps fans around. The Rangers and the US had their biggest ratings when the Rangers won the Cup in 1994. Even Sports Illustrated had a cover story saying "Why the NHL is more popular than the NBA".

But it was the Rangers winning the Cup, not when Gretzky played his last years in NYC, not when Pavel Bure joined the Rangers, and today, not when Jagr is a Ranger. Sidney Crosby is not the key to boosting ratings by being in the area. Market the guy, no matter where he is, and presto... ratings all over. Not just in NYC.

If the Penguins didn't have Crosby, Malkin or Lemieux playing, do you really think the NHL would make such conditions on the new owner? Never.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The amazing thing of all this is that the NHL had a high bidder, from a passionate owner, and they nixed it because he didn't want to roll the dice on a new arena.

But the real reason why is underlined in the condition they made that if the Penguins start to fail and don't have a new arena - that the NHL can take control of the team. It's nothing but greedy bullshit that made them do this. They know the team cannot survive in Pittsburgh without an arena - and if that falls through, the NHL wants control of where this team goes. Balsillie would move them to a proven market, the NHL would move them to an untested market for their own idea that the NHL will one day thrive if it moves to random US markets.

So the Penguins don't get the deal they want with the arena/casino. The NHL takes over and moves them to Houston, Kansas City, Portland or Seattle. If Balsillie owns them - the team goes to Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, or Winnipeg.

That's why this went down. Believe that.

The Oilers need grit

2006-12-15T21:35:00.000-07:00

While I'm sure this is not a revelation, it's something that has been bothering me for a couple weeks or more now. Edmonton tends to play a passive game, and if they're behind by 2 goals, they pack it in, saying. If the other team starts to forecheck on them, they buckle.

If it wasn't for Roloson, the Oilers would be battling for dead last in the division.

There is nobody that turns the tide anymore. Stoll did it single handidly last night, but that'll be the last time he does all season. Winchester tries, but continually gets his ass kicked in the process - and is now in the press box. JF Jacques might as well just fuck off, he doesn't understand why he's on the team at all. Combine Laraque with Debrusk and you got JF Jacques, minus 71 career goals. Oh yeah, and the whole fighting aspect.

Torres can change the tide when he decides he wants to play. Which is never.

So where are the Oil at now? Someone needs to kick this team in the ass when they're slacking. It's not a popular idea, but I want Todd Harvey back. The guy would die on the ice to save a goal, or defend a team mate. He would never think twice about throwing a hit to change the momentum. He is still the same guy that captained the 93 World Junior Canadian Team to a gold medal. The guy wears his heart on his sleeve.

And he'd sign for the minimum amount of money, which at this point is less than 250k against the Oilers salary cap for the year.

The Oilers have no tough guys, Horcoff has had to step in when Liles kneed Smyth. Even the mighty Ducks have that mustachioed hero George Parros in the lineup. I say mighty in the sense they're unbeatable, not to disregard their name change.

Another area to look into. Oiler players are dropping like flies, and nobody is standing up for them. It's unfortunate that Barnaby is already employed by the Stars, he'd be a fit in Edmonton to cover both grit and enforcer.

Something needs to be done, soon. The defense might be a concern come trade deadline. The grit is a concern right now.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-15T21:33:00.000-07:00

I'm heading home for the holidays, won't be updating until the new year. Be safe, and have a good one you scurvy bastards. Don't drink and drive, it's devastating to know someone who was killed by a drunk driver. I don't, but I assume that might suck.

But I'll leave a couple thoughts before I go.

Hatred runs wild on Rory Fitzpatrick

2006-12-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

Since the Associated Press has run their story about the Vote For Rory campaign, all of a sudden the pundits covering the NHL have picked up on it. (Minus Michael Landsberg, he's always more focused on how tight his shirt is, or like today "What's wrong with the Leafs, let me ask you - random Toronto Argonaut")....

Beside that, it's been run in every major Canadian newpaper today of the number of votes Rory Fitzpatrick has gathered, and if he will make the Allstar game.

The Score - Steve Ludzik says "No." A surprise from the one guy that usually speaks of all the toilers to make it to the NHL. Either Ludzik was out in the dark before this got to his ear piece, or he well, was caught off guard again... For a former player that always brags about how the regular player that toils in the minors and the NHL - he suddenly turned his back on this recognition for that type of player. The question boils to if he actually understands the reason, or if he was just caught off guard "What? Fitzpatrick in the All Star game? No.... of course not".

Team 1040 VAN/ Sportsnet News - Don Taylor - who I've mentioned before as being a complete moron, and one of Canada's worst sports broadcasters. Even though he uses most of his air time on TV to grunt and moan for his commentaries of game highlights, he figures Rory Fitzpatrick is a joke. Then he spends most his time talking about it, interviewing Rory, and Steve Schmid about it.

Sportsnet - Ray Ferraro - just bitter he never made it, and cutting it down. There's only one Ray Ferraro, and 100,000 hits to www.voteforrory.com
Sorry Ray, you're as relevant as ever.

The disconnect of pundits, the NHL, from the fans and even the players that have supported this is amazing. it becomes more obvious every day that these radio or TV personalities don't do any research before they get on the air. They just decide to read NHL press releases and leave it at that.

The media is so far disconnected from fans, the Rory Fitzpatrick campaign, that was intended to prove the flaw in the NHL's voting system - has exposed a lot more in the process. The fact that sports, and NHL media only write things when the Associated Press sends out their mass stories. The fact that the media will take on a three week old story, and always use their "negative campaigns" trying to boost ratings.....

Rory gained 110,000 votes in 7 days. That's a fact. It's not a few random people trying to make a joke in their basements like the media tends to believe.

What's been shown is that the media on TV, radio and even the internet are that much slower and uninformed than your regular fan. This would never happen in the NFL, NBA, or MLB.

Regardless, their misunderstanding is our gain. Step up and prove them wrong.

www.voteforrory.com

Vote for Rory Fitzpatrick - NHL All Star Game

2006-12-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

A movement was started on HFboards by a member lecherous, and it has taken off since. As of last Wednesday Rory Fitzpatrick was 13th in NHL voting, all by write in votes - and surpassed Matthieu Schneider, who was on the regular ballot.

You might ask why you should contribute to this campaign.... Rory Fitzpatrick is your every day "Joe Lunchpail" that toiled in the minors for years before making it to the NHL. With a depleted Sabres blueline last year in the Eastern Conference Finals, that "Joe" stepped his game up to become one of the most reliable players in the playoffs last season.

It's a reflection of every player who worked their asses off, no matter the hardships, to finally play in the NHL. The journeyman is often forgotten in their quests to make it. This vote is to reflect the fan's appreciation of a player like Rory Fitzpatrick.

If you're still not convinced, take the time to watch a couple youtube videos made about this campaign, sometimes pictures speak louder than words:

http://youtube.com/results?search_query=Rory+Fitzpatrick&search=Search

And if that doesn't satisfy you. Well, too late. Team Rory has already submitted another thousand votes while you watched that.

Vote for Rory. Official website, which will give you all the info you need, including Rory's reaction to the movement:
www.voteforrory.com

Ric Jackman headed to Edmonton?

2006-12-05T00:23:00.000-07:00

From all accounts, the Oilers will pick up Ric Jackman off waivers from the Florida Panthers this week. They have already submitted their claim on Jackman's "re-entry waiver". If the NHL approves, it will cost the Oilers around 600,000 of his salary for the rest of the year.

Jackman will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.

Reporting what was heard on WQAM - the official Florida Panthers radio station.

5 Players that will be moved by the trade deadline

2006-12-05T00:08:00.000-07:00

1. Ladislav Nagy - Mike Barnett is already itchy with his trade trigger finger. Nagy will be a UFA at the end of the year, and both Barnett and Gretzky don't play the guy the way he should be played. They rely on him too much, and come down on him too hard if he doesn't produce. Nagy will be gone by the start of February. Look for Ottawa, NYI, or Anaheim to acquire him.

2. Todd White - Minnesota is a deep team for defensive forwards. For no other reason than that, look for the Wild to trade him, trying to get prospective depth, or a 2nd round pick.

3. Eric Brewer - he hasn't been happy in St. Louis, and Joel Quenville doesn't much care for Brewer. The unhappy matchup will result in Brewer being shipped out by mid February. The Edmonton Oilers will be the top bidder - offering up someone like Deslauriers, or one of the 1st round picks they have stored up.

4. Richard Zednik - With the emergence of Alex Semin, the Caps have no more use for this guy. They're trying to rebuild a team, and Zednik helped, but won't in the future. Detroit is the most likely destination.

5. Josef Stumpel, Jeremy Roenick, Patrice Brisebois, John Leclair - all moved to the retirement list.

5 Biggest Douchbags covering the NHL

2006-11-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

5. Don Taylor - Sportsnet News - This idiot who covers the highlights of the NHL nightly on Sportsnet, decided to make his trademark to be looking and sounding like a retard. Every highlight he calls goes a little like "E fays e shuuuu e.... gores". He attempts to mock announcers of games, which may have been humourous the first time, but instead he does it EVERY time, and it's become less and less of mocking, to more of a retard grunt through entire highlights. He has the face of a muppet, and every attempt he has of being funny backfires.

4. Nick Kypreos - HockeyCentral - A mediocre player who fought middleweights is somehow an expert on all things hockey. Every prediction he makes around playoff time is dead wrong, everything he says is dead wrong - but he yells it at people like he has a point. The arrogance of someone who so off the mark is incredible. He's always praising tough players and acting like he would have done exactly what they did, yet everyone that remembers him playing knows he was a fucking coward, who did nothing but take cheap shots he condemns.

3. Darren Dreger - NHL on TSN - He's decently intelligent, he makes good comments, but the way he is more robotic than Al Gore drives me nuts. There's something plastic and entirely fake about the way he says what he does. Also, who the hell is he to take away from Bob McKenzie's role as the exclusive TSN Hockey Insider? Bob is a legend.

2. Glenn Healy - NHL on TSN - He served as Brian Burke's whipping boy during the lockout, and got his ass kicked in every debate he had sticking up for the NHLPA. Burke of course was right, and Healy was wrong - the NHL is better for the outcome. Where is Brian Burke now? Where is Healy, oh yeah, still serving on the panels, with NO sense of humour about himself at all. You can always see when James Duthie makes a crack about Healy, how Healy takes himself so seriously it makes him boil. Always bringing up his Stanley Cup, and how his Rangers won the Cup in 94. Well Healy - keep in mind you didn't play a single fucking moment of that playoff run. YOU WERE A GOD DAMN BACKUP GOALIE. I did as much as Healy did that postseason, so did you. Nothing. Where's our rings?

1. Michael Landsberg - Off the Record - Here's the show formula.... Wear a skin tight shirt, do your Up Front with a Leaf/Argo, then make the panel argue forever all season long about the Senators and the Maple Leafs. Be completely biased towards Toronto, praise all things Leafs, jump on all negative things Senators. Have a panel of distinguished athletes/celebrities, but only answer emails from viewers about yourself. Then do a "Next Question" asking stupid things like "Jessica Simpson or Ashlee Simpson?" Always have a smug look on your face. There is nothing likeable about this chump.

Quarter Season Awards

2006-11-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

No need to explain, just my choices and honorable mentions to the major NHL awards at this 1/4 mark of the NHL season.

Jack Adams - Paul Maurice (TOR) - The Maple Leafs under Pat Quinn, would not only be mediocre, but dwelling near the bottom of the league. Quinn would continually put out the wrong players at the wrong time, and just continue his misunderstanding of the need to change. Paul Maurice has taken this team and converted them into a hard working consistant squad. Complete 180 of years past. Honorable Mention - Dave Tippet (DAL).

Selke - Eric Lindros (DAL) - Not only has the Big E reinvented his game in the Big D, he's become one of the NHL's elite defensive forwards. Blocking shots, playing the point on the PP, backchecking and shadowing elite players in his own end, Lindros has been impeccible in his skill to do this job given to him by Tippet. Honorable Mention - Derek Roy (BUF)

Norris - Sheldon Souray (MTL) - Souray has been a fucking force on the Montreal blueline. Without Souray, the Habs would be completely lost. He's slapping home goals at clutch moments, overtime included - he's their most offensive threatening player, not to mention the cornerstone of their defense. He pummels people out of the crease with ease. Honorable Mention - Niklas Lidstrom (DET)

Vezina - Ryan Miller (BUF) - Is there any doubt? I'm not wasting my time explaining why. Honorable Mention - Dwayne Roloson (EDM)

Calder - Evgeni Malkin (PIT) - Living up to all the hype, he began his NHL career with 6 goals in his first 6 games. The knock on this guy is he's a fragile pussy that can be easily scared out of not playing a full 60 minutes. In fact, he better watch out or his Calder will be stripped by - Honorable Mention - Wojtek Wolski (COL)

Hart - Sidney Crosby (PIT) - The Penguins live and die by what Crosby does. The kid has 30 points in 19 games, and has turned a shitty Penguin team into a squad to be reckoned with (if he's playing). Crosby once healthy will win the Art Ross, and push the Penguins from last place to a playoff team in just 2 years. Malkin can also thank Crosby for the Calder should he win it, and scratch Sid's name in with his keys beside his nameplate. Simply unstoppable. Honorable Mention: Rod BrindAmour (CAR)

Mountain Crest Beer is Bullshit

2006-11-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Not that it's unexpected that a 15 pack of beer that costs under 20 bucks is supposed to be anything worthwhile. My problem is this Ravinder Minhas guy would have you believe otherwise, through lying.

The biggest crock of shit they say is right on the can of Mountain Crest itself. "Brewing Tradition Since 1855". What the fuck is this all about? If you go to their website "damngoodbeer.ca" (another lie in of itself) and click on the biography of Ravinder Minhas - it says he is 24 years old and started Mountain Crest right out of highschool.

Now not all of us are petroleum engineers like Mr. Minhas, but the math speaks for itself. What the hell kind of tradition has been brewing 145 years before the company was started? Also a petroleum engineer that crafts your drinks for you?

Jack Daniels knew what was up - he was a heavy drinker that created his whisky out of his own barrels. Tried and tested himself he created a delicious whisky that only a true alcoholic genius like JD could do. Minhas while studying how to design pipelines for oil created the most disgusting piss around.

Do not trust this guy. He also claims you won't catch a sasquatch, but I wonder if he has ever sat down with a 15 pack of his own beer and tested that out? I have, and it'll fuck with your head pretty severly, it's not that far out of reach.

Fuck Mountain Crest. Now back to my 15 pack of it. What can I say? It's bitchin affordable.

Retire.... Please

2006-11-24T23:57:00.000-07:00

1. Jeremy Roenick.
I put him first on my list solely due to the fact I personally love the guy, and all he's done in the NHL. There comes a time in every player's career that it's time to fold the cards, and leave the game with their reputation intact.

Jeremy Roenick isn't doing that. If the lockout year affected anyone more, please let me know. My boy Roenick went from being a dominant force in Philly, capped off by sending the Leafs home with that OT goal, to becoming a useless player in the NHL.

He went to LA and scored 9 goals in 58 games, in a campaign he admits was horrible. Then he went on to promise that he'd be the comeback player of the year. Yet he didn't back that sentiment up when he had a chance to pick himself as a wildcard on TSN's NHL panel fantasy draft.

Apparently he was as smart as the rest of the panel, because he's now on track for 4 goals this year.

Roenick was a great player that used to slap home 40-50 goals every year for 4 years. Now he's not even a shell of his former self - people forget he even existed. The best highlights of JR are in his commentary on sports shows. Hang up the blades man, and get on to broadcasting. Even Brett Hull knew when he was starting to suck, and called it quits after 9 games.

JR has a great future in broadcasting, a new Don Cherry. So, stop playing, people are more interested these days in hearing Roenick speak than play.

2. Chris Chelios
Another great player, another certain Hall of Famer. I would love to hate the guy like years past, but he's being pushed around like a child. This is embarrassing to such a force, he's either getting smoked by a hit, or coughing up the puck on any pressure.

I almost feel sorry for him.

3. Derian Hatcher
Costing the Flyers millions of dollars to be turned inside out on a nightly basis. For the integrity of the league, and the Flyers organization - take a buyout.

4. Mike Rathje
See above

5. Petr Nedved
Another Flyer that is taking a paycheck for no effort. The guy is spending time in the minors, has earned millions in his life - so take your money and go with your Sports Illustrated model wife. Enjoy a life we all dream of, don't delay it.

Darcy Tucker is a pussy

2006-11-04T04:28:00.000-07:00

Do I need to add more? He picked a fight with a young player that had never had a fight in his junior or NHL career. Then Chris Neil invited a fight - and Tucker said "I'm a scorer".

All he did was back out like the bitch he is. Tucker can only pick fights with people he tried to hit and got knocked on his ass. His pride runs as far as his hitting ability, which is none.

Backing down on Chris Neil - he proved he's the NHL's biggest pussy. That excuse of being a scorer - and then getting blown out by Ottawa... where's your scoring touch now bitch?

He can say what he wants, and the Toronto media can ignore the fact later, but Tucker proved himself to be the league's biggest pussy.

Hyped up by the Toronto media - and who backs down? Darcy "faggot" Tucker. The most cowardly player in the NHL.

The Oilers Suck - namely due to their coach

2006-11-04T03:52:00.000-07:00

Mactavish is a retard. And I'm the creator, star, and writer of this blog.

Winchester spends most of his time acting like he's a pedophiliac retard, possibly with downs syndrome playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

He may have scored an assist earlier tonight - and I hope someone has a clip of it, being 12 games in, someone must have won a thousand bucks on a 2 dollar bet.

I put my word out that Eric Lindros should be the Oiler signing, and regardless of Sykora's points in Edmonton, Lindros has more clutch points in Dallas. Look at tonight, Lindros interefered with Roloson like any allstar would do - and Dallas scored.

What the fuck are you going to to otherwise? Fight the refs? As the end of the game shown, a refs call, as moronic and stupid as they may be.... they stand. So who are you really tossing 900 grand a year at? Marty Reasoner, or Eric Lindros?

Dallas made their choice, and Dallas won the game.

We all might hate Mick McGeough tonight in Edmonton. But same price, same offer. Who really lost out?

Edmonton.

Worst case scenario for the NHL Finals

2006-05-21T03:16:00.000-06:00

Anaheim/Carolina... I'll turn off the TV, and go on with my life. I'll hope the Ducks win, I'll tune in to a Andy MacDonald triple deke to win it all... I hate Carolina, like I hate Phoenix, and Colorado for stealing other cities teams and jumping on the bandwagon. It should be the Hartford Whalers, then I might give a shit.

Buffalo has been around since the invention of the calculator was along the lines of science fiction. They may deserve it.
Edmonton has a storied tradition of Cups, win, lose, another banner goes up, and the fanatical fans continue.

Hartford vs. the Ducks?

Maybe in 1993 this was a story line. The NHL could kiss their viewer ratings down to less than 1.7, less than 0.7, less than 0.0007 households. Because nobody would give a shit. Canada would go golfing, Buffalo fans would retreat to their real homes in Toronto, and bandwagon season would begin.

Funny how a change of names can do that. And how Quebec will never forgive Gary Bettman for it (1995 Avalanche were really 1979-1994-95 Quebec Nordiques)

Imagine having to watch another city celebrate almost 20 years of effort?

That's the reason the Hartford Whalers might win the cup this year. Will it be because of former Whaler Chris Pronger pumping that bitch around? Or former Oilers - Doug Weight (CAR), Mike Grier (BUF), Jochen Hecht (BUF), Todd Marchant (ANA)....... or Ryan Smyth, Georges Laraque, Ethan Moreau, Ales Hemsky, Jason Smith, Rem Murray... (EDMONTON OILERS).

One former Oiler of those years of Dallas smoking Edmonton out each and every year, will hold the Stanley Cup. Who?

New NHL Message Board

2006-05-20T23:58:00.000-06:00

It's in a primal stage, as upstart as possible at the moment I write this. But there seems to be only one "hockey's future" that covers all teams, sections for all the NHL. And they do their job, it's just compact full, and hard as hell to register there - as they are so busy to keep up.

In the meantime, the new upstart one is at this address. Every team in the NHL, all hockey all the time. Nothing away from hfboards, but I'm sure they'd be sick of the monopoly they have too and the hassle of millions of NHL fans looking for a place to talk.

http://staze.forumup.com/index.php?mforum=staze

The Edmonton Oilers

2006-05-20T21:38:00.000-06:00

What a fucking run, I don't want to dig deep into this because I'm a big person on karma and starting to get too excited on a team. Always a huge let down to be followed.

But amazing shit, Detroit, San Jose and no end in sight. Shit, shouldn't have said that, because as a long time fan of the team - I know at any split moment with these boys the wheels can fall off.

Case in point my mini pack tickets this year, and watching them lose horribly to St. Louis. The Dallas Stars flashbacks come to mind, it isn't over any time soon. Just hang on as long as possible.

Wanted to give the old "I told you so" about my boy Mike Peca.
Game day reviews to follow for both series, I watch it all.

Sabres are deadly.

Kings Hire Marc Crawford as Head Coach

2006-05-20T21:34:00.000-06:00

So the Canucks let the two best things that happened to them since Pavel Bure leave with no compensation, or regard. Brian Burke, biggest mistake in franchise history - Anaheim anyone? And now Marc Crawford, one of the NHL's brightest coaches.

Congrats to the LA Kings, on the hire of a young Stanley Cup winning coach that can whip that piss poor team into shape.

I guess the Canucks got tired of "contending" for the Cup, and figured they may as well contend for the lottery draft every year. Who were they kidding anyway? They'll never win the Stanley Cup, why try?

Barry Bonds Ties Babe Ruth

2006-05-20T21:28:00.000-06:00

Non-hockey but sports worthy.

Barry finally hit #714 of his illustrious career. A great feat by any stretch, by any player. The steroid thing might get in the way, but roids alone cannot make up for the ability to hit inside curve balls, changeups, cutters, 100 mph fastballs so close to the knuckles, the rest of us would have hooks for the rest of our lives.

Barry Bonds is a great player. Of course, I put up the Pirates picture, because if that skinny freak can do it. So can you. And who knows how many thousand of homeruns his Pirates HR buddy Bobby Bonilla would be at now if he was on the junk?

It's still Hank Aaron, who won't be touched without Barry on the roids. The forgotten man in all this, and the greatest HR hitter of all time.

Fuck Babe Ruth, Fuck Barry Bonds.

Nothing to do so, I'm back.

2006-05-20T21:24:00.000-06:00

Of course, now there is nobody that checks this shit anymore. But half the reason to start it was because I didn't care for that. Just to kill time.

Now, again, I have time to kill. Long weekend in Alberta, and it was time for the usual May Long get together with the boys from highschool and have our annual drinkdown-hit on women-fight random people campout weekend.

Arrived, the shit was a muddy mess, freezing cold and ready to rain more. A day of that and the contemplation had to set in, a few of them decided to try another area of Alberta, a few decided to stick it out... and I being the genius of them all, headed back to the City of Champions in time for Game 2. Nothing, not even the wilderness hippie parties of 2000 people can beat Whyte Ave about now.

So I have a cooler full of beer for 4 days, nowhere to go yet, and things to bitch about.

The blog returns.

You know who said it first

2006-03-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

Just a guy pulling shit out of his ass at 75% accuracy. Noronen to VAN, Samsonov to EDM, Witt to NSH.....

I don't have any sources. All just a facade, like other "credible" trade bloggers like Eklund, Code etc. that have no sources either and can't even make up trades with half a mind or reason.

RaoulDuke... the source for all your trade rumours, because when I make them up - at least it's a 75% likelyhood.

Bertuzzi to Philadelphia, Esche the other way

2006-03-09T01:39:00.000-07:00

Make that a Raoul Duke 1... aka (RD1)

Oilers targeting Samsonov others

2006-03-08T22:49:00.000-07:00

In wake of the trade of Mark Parrish to LA, the Oilers have turned their sites on Sergei Samsonov out of Boston and are pressing hard. If the return is too high, insiders say they've also contacted the Penguins about John Leclair as a rental player, and the Capitals about Jeff Friesen.

Scott Young is the most credible buzz. 60% he'll be an Oiler by the end of the day.

Witt is heading to Nashville 88%

2006-03-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

Sources tell me it's done deal, draft picks in return.

Trade updates and thoughts

2006-03-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

To: COL - Jose Theodore
To MTL - David Aebisher

Winner: Colorado, will they'll pay dearly for it this year and drop heavily in the standings riding on backups, Theodore will regain his Hart form in Colorado for years to come.

To LA: Mark Parrish, Brent Sopel
To NYI: Denis Grebeshkov and Jeff Tambellini

Winner: LA. They're the sleeper team in the west this year and prospects aren't going to win a round or two in the playoffs. The Kings aren't done yet - you heard it here first.

Noronen to Vancouver?

2006-03-08T22:35:00.000-07:00

The Canucks have been burning the phones all night trying to get Noronen. (RD 4)

Sportsnet reports two more trades

2006-03-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

To TOR: Luke Richardson
To CBJ: 5th Round pick

To SJ: Ville Niemenen
To NYR: 3rd round pick

Roloson to Edmonton, other news and rumours

2006-03-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

Well the Oilers pulled the trigger and added another backup goalie to their mix:

to Min: 1st round pick, conditional 3rd if Roloson resigns in Edmonton

Mariusz Czerkawski off to Boston, which suggests a winger out of Boston may be moved soon. Be on the lookout for Samsonov to the Oilers later today or tommorrow.

Mike Morisson placed on waivers by the Oilers. Don't count on him being picked up, he'll play the rest of the year in the minors. Conklin will be backup to Roloson and Markannen is out the door. I would expect to be involved in a minor deal for a 5th or 6th round pick. Possibly NYI, or in a package that would see Parrish off to Edmonton.

Belfour is willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the Canucks. Whether they want him is another question, I wouldn't expect they would.

Biron and Noronen will more than likely stay put in Buffalo, much to the chagrin of Noronen. But Regier is asking far too much, and nobody is willing to pay. Buffalo fans should be livid.

Stay tuned for more action as the next 22 hours unfold.

RaoulDuke

Alexandre Daigle back to Ottawa?

2006-03-06T03:02:00.000-07:00

Minnesota just put their best player on waivers, word has it he'll be picked up nice and quick by a number of teams, but no more urgent than the Ottawa Senators that want to snag up their former #1 pick and franchise player to come back 13 years later to help their struggling PP and help their lack of depth at centre.

Other teams ready to snatch up Daigle by the morning: LA, Nashville, Philadelphia, Boston and Edmonton.

One of the leagues most underrated players and boggling that the Wild didn't try to trade him before handing him away on 1/3 a years salary at 800,000 dollars, or round about 175,000 for the rest of the year for anyone to pick up Alex Daigle (the last leading scorer of the Wild)..

Barnaby, Arnason headed to Edmonton?

2006-03-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

Since last time nobody believed any source I mentioned until later, I'll just say I got it from a reliable source that a deal is brewing between the Blackhawks and Oilers which goes along these lines:

To Edm:
Matthew Barnaby
Tyler Arnason

To Chi:
Georges Laraque
Marty Reasoner
Dick Tarnstrom

The deal in hand closes up the shit disturbing energy guy the Oilers are looking for, and the potential scoring winger.

Take it for what it's worth.

Team "Canada"

2006-02-24T23:35:00.000-07:00

I put that in quotes because that wasn't a Canadian team on the ice. True Canadians have heart, determination and the will to win at any cost. This squad that we sent to Torino had none of this.

What a disgusting output. We used to look at Nagano and the fact we lost a bronze medal game as the lowest moment in Canadian hockey. At the end of the day, that bronze medal game playing team at least made it past the quarter finals.

This team on the other hand, lost before this miserably. What's fucked in the world when a team of all NHL "All stars" loses 2-0 to Switzerland while their sniper for that game was Paul Dipietro of 1993 4th line Montreal Canadiens fame? Shut out?

Pat Quinn should not be coach, this is not a revelation but a fact. He never knew what to do with this team (á la the Leafs, Canucks, Flyers...) why is this guy the head coach to have? He hasn't won shit in his life.. But hey, he's a Maple Leaf and we need to have a token Leaf on every team Canada - McCabe for example. Fuck if Dipietro can beat Team Canada, maybe we should look into 1994 McLlwyain for Canada 2010... At least that token Leaf won't be such a faggot.

Kris Draper.... Why? I never understood this shit. The guy is supposed to be a backchecker, but he's on the 1st line. Ends the tourny at -4. OK. Good call brass. You want a two way forward play him like that, and if you actually want one (and somehow expect him to star like Rob Zamuner in 98... oh wait, he fucked up too)... go for someone like Peca who can understand his role. Or take the young route of Mike Richards, that kid will play with some fucking heart.

Crosby, Staal, Tanguay, Phaneuf, Richards, etc, etc.... Sorry kids, you're too fucking young. We want old vets, they know how to win. You don't, too young. Hey wait, what the hell is that Ovechkin doing to us? Shit. - Signed, Wayne Gretzky.

I remember Brendan Shanahan crying and apologizing after 98 Nagano to the people of Canada. This time, we get these old cunts smiling and telling reporters "It was a learning experience, we can learn from this in Vancouver".

Learning experience? Where are you taking this lesson in 4 more years? 4 years from now there'll be another US president, hundreds of thousands of high school kids will have a 4 year degree under their belt. And more importantly the idiots that took it as a learning experience - WON'T BE THERE.

Shake up Team Canada. From players to the foundation. This shit was embarrasing.

When I look back at this Olympics I'm going to remember those goddamn Nike commercials of St. Louis and Iginla:

St. Louis : "The only thing that fires me up, all the people that said I was too small to make it" - OK, how about the people like myself that say you're a fucking one hit wonder? Take that motivation and use it for the Tampa Bay Lightning. See you in the lottery draft.

Iginla: "I don't believe in luck" - Yeah, you're the same guy that was on the Calgary Flames in 2004. You think that happened due to enormous skill or heart? Get over yourself and score a goal. Thanks for nothing, chump.

Go Finland. I have a enormous hate for Sweden. I met a Swedish kid once, and I've hated life ever since.

I can admit when I'm wrong.. to a point: Ales Hemsky

2006-02-02T00:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, I've hated the guy for years because of the "yeah, he'll live to his potential one day" shit that went on for so many years in Edmonton.

He was always that idiot on Edmonton that figured he could stickhandle for 20 minutes until he found a perfect pass. Run down the wing, cut inside, deke the goalie out of position and have an empty net to shoot at... but keep going until he ran into the boards.

First 20 games this season he did the same shit, expect he found the art of randomly shooting, so I held hope for him.

Come December, Hemsky realized, why pass to Smyth when he'll just fuck it up? Might as well do it myself and if I'm about to run into the boards - hand it to Horcoff..

So Ales Hemsky started going to score himself, and alas... he does. He's got defensemen freaking out on what he's going to do on them. On a PP, people actually back off expecting a pass, but positioning for a random shot on net. This isn't the Hemsky of old, where the PK would just rush at him, force a turnover and clear it down....

My big problem these days with the guy, is that he's cutting in and out of traffic so fast, he's going to pay the price sooner than later. Bure used to do it - he's retired well before his prime. Lindros did it, Stevens put an end to that. Cam Neely did it, he's in Dumb and Dumber, Bobby Orr did it, etc. etc.... they all paid the price dearly.

Hemsky will one day. Mark my words, I fear the day, but even idiot Smyth himself almost gave Hemsky the Stevens business the other night.

He needs to learn this, and quick, or he'll have a short career. I don't see him as an elite player in the NHL right now - but I see where he can be in the future, given he stops this shit of running around. Unless that happens, I apologize for my negativity on the kid, and agree he has the tools to be a star in the NHL.

Whether or not he doesn't suffer a career ending injury - another fucking question. I put it at 2-1 odds right now.

Oilers acquire Tarnstrom, Spacek

2006-01-26T18:21:00.000-07:00

Deal One: Edmonton trades Jani Rita and Cory Cross to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Dick Tarnstrom.

- Excellent deal by Lowe. Rita for all intents and purposes has been a bust in Edmonton since 99. Maybe due to not being in the MacT style of play, maybe laziness, whatever... he hasn't done shit in Edmonton and time to move him. He may discover himself in Pittsburgh, probably not.

Cory Cross is the worst defenseman in the NHL. Period. I don't know how Edmonton handed him to Pittsburgh after being stuck with this guy like the Old Maid card for years since Toronto laughed hysterically after losing him. This day has been on my wish list for years. Cory Cross is gone.

Dick Tarnstrom I'm a little skeptical of, this is a guy that was waived by the Islanders and had one decent year in Pittsburgh probably due to the fact Pittsburgh's defense blew so much that year he got that much ice time. Who knows, I'm looking forward to seeing him in Edmonton and I'll reserve my judgment until then. Another powerplay anchor and you can never have enough.

Deal Two: Edmonton trades Tony Salmelainen to Chicago for defenseman Jaroslav Spacek.

- This deal was robbery. Tony was a decent prospect but couldn't convert his AHL success to the NHL. Nothing against the guy, but he was never going to play for the Oilers again - and will remain in Finland for this season anyways. Spacek is a player how can also anchor the PP, giving Pronger and Bergeron much needed rest, and help the team out in all aspects of the defending zone. The defense is shored up for this season, and I'm excited to see how this turns out.

Both Spacek and Tarnstrom are UFA's at the end of the season so even if they don't amount to a fucking thing, no real loss. I would have rather they took a shot at Brendan Witt, but it doesn’t matter. This is a chance well worth taking and I applaud Kevin Lowe today.

The Oilers now have the ability to focus on a goalie and a goal scorer. I expect these to be addressed sooner than later with the news the ownership has given Lowe the green light to go over the team imposed salary cap of $35 million. With the trades today, the Oilers are sitting at $34.3 million, so there is room to spare.
Hopefully moves are made and the team can get itself together for the stretch and deeper in the playoffs than we've seen since 1997.

Good day for Oiler fans. More to come.

The score of the night.

2006-01-23T22:22:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I could talk about the 3-1 loss Edmonton got from Calgary. Or how Ryan Smyth kept ripping down the Left Wing and getting denied with his patented and expected slap shot from the top of the circles. Or talk about how Iginla on the Right Wing scored at will on the Oilers.

But just like the Oilers/Flames tonight. The Right Wing won and the Left Win lost. The Conservatives have knocked out the Liberals in our federal election.

Finally, change has come to Canada; and Ontario has awoken from their slumber. Stephen Harper is the new Prime Minister of Canada.

I didn't vote for him personally, I went NDP, but I'm happy to see the Liberals go down and be held responsible for their corrupt ways.

Congratulations Harper and the Conservative Party. Bring on the new era in Canadian politics. Could be ominous for the future, could be hopeful, we'll see in the end.

Petr Nedved to Philadelphia

2006-01-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

I know I'm late with this one, but being an avid watcher of the great Philly Flyers - I have to comment on this.

Or do I? Edmonton fans know how Nedved can control a PP, the struggle in Philadelphia lately. Or was until today.

If the Cup had a smell, and it might due to Dan Boyle's ugly hands molesting it all summer - it reeks in the city of Philadelphia.

To all the people with "hate" comments

2006-01-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

You act like you hate me, and my blog. Yet, I know my only link to this place has been disabled along with all other sigs on edmontonoilers.com for the last week.

Which means, you either wrote the address down, or have it in your favorites. I know. It sucks doesn't it?

But you can pretend to hate all you want, I just pasted an autograph for you. ^^^See above. Print it off and put it in your scrapbook.

Thanks for dropping by.

RaoulDuke

Quick message

2006-01-20T03:56:00.000-07:00

I don't know why advertising started to show up here. I can only swear on the life of Eric Lindros - I never did it myself. Ignore it, never click on it, and hopefully it'll go away.

My views on potential Oiler goalies via trade

2006-01-20T00:05:00.000-07:00

and before "Smyth2Hemsky" steps in and starts crying like a bitch that I'm not a fly on the wall and "how dare I say anyone is on the trading block".... we'll go with assume they are on the block, due to all word out of any NHL news.

And before the same clown cries about "assuming" let's just clear the air for the bitch and give him a dictionary definition:

as·sume ( P ) Pronunciation Key (-sm)tr.v. as·sumed, as·sum·ing, as·sumes
To take upon oneself: assume responsibility; assume another's debts.
To undertake the duties of (an office): assumed the presidency.
To take on; adopt: “The god assumes a human form” (John Ruskin).
To put on; don: The queen assumed a velvet robe.
To affect the appearance or possession of; feign.
To take for granted; suppose: assumed that prices would rise. See Synonyms at presume.
To take over without justification; seize: assume control.
To take up or receive into heaven.

OK?

Good. Goalies to supposedly available and my take on their validity on the Oilers:

Jose Theodore [MTL] - great goalie, fell out of favour in Montreal management. Former Hart winner having a tough year under the most intense scrutiny of any NHL city. He has great positioning, great awareness, and proven NHL allstar, I have no problem with Theodore in Edmonton. The rumour holds Shremp would have to go, but small price to pay for a goalie that can not only steal you a game, but a playoff series.

Andrew Raycroft [BOS] - 03/04 Calder Winner. Another Jim Carey? Why assume this shit? Because he's a Bruin? He's on the most brutal team in the NHL for letting shots on net, only since Stuart came into play they've tightened up. Chicago's Anderson was picked up today by the Bruins, so if anyone - expect this guy. And for Raffi Torres, who gives a shit? We have other prospects coming up and Raffi can disappear for months on end. Better to trade him to the East than West

Marc Andre Fluery [PIT] - Pipe dream, but Craig Patrick has shown his man love for all players "proven". Hell this muthafucka signed Thibault, a continual loser in his career, instead of handing the reigns to Fleury. He'll trade anyone, anywhere. The NHL's new Milbury. Rumour of Laraque, Bergeron and a 1st... take it, but they just got Cairns, lost the salary of Palffy... so this will never happen.

Marc Denis [CBJ] - there's a lot of hype around this kid. But there has been for how many years? And if he's not the #1 in Columbus, a shitty team by anyones standards - why would he fit in here, and not be their #1?

Dwayne Roloson [MIN] - A nobody who plays behind the trap. His numbers speak to this.

Manny Fernandez [MIN] - See above.

Martin Biron [BUF] - A quality goalie who should by all means be Buffalo's #1 guy by now. Backup to Hasek, but due to spectacular play by Ryan Miller on the #2 spot again. Teams are bidding big for him, and the Oilers would give up too much. Pass.

Miika Noronen [BUF] - Another 1st round pick goalie by the Sabres riding the pine... or rather the comfy press box. He wants out, he's a great goalie with great potential. The Sabres have no use for him and he wants out - take this fucking guy. Cheap and ready to play. Edmonton's answer to Kiprusoff? Probably not, but worth that shot.

Patrick Lalime [Waivers] - Yeah he sucked in St. Louis, but who wouldn't? Worst team in the NHL giving up the most shots a game. This is still the same guy who carried the Sens to #1 in the East Conference on a worse team than they have ahead of Hasek.... and #1 in the NHL in the same situation. What ever happened to second chances? I say if Lowe wants to be a cheap prick - this is it.

Felix Potvin [Free Agent] - desperate move.

Mike Morrison [Edmonton Oilers] - what? We don't have to make a move for this guy? Well... fuck it's time to let him play as a real #1 goalie and see what happens. 6 and 1. Single handed win over San Jose tonight. Why not give this kid a chance and say "he's our #1 guy"? He earned it.

"buddy's" view on Ryan Smyth

2006-01-19T23:43:00.000-07:00

The problem is that it HAS happened. A lot of people have said relevant things here, but you haven't been interested in giving any meaningful replies.But let's try again, and I really hope you're willing to read this, because this time I'm really taking time to respond:First, you've emphasized that this isn't about comparing Smyth with Ovechkin (or Crosby). I've re-read your entry a few times, and for the most part I STILL have trouble interpreting it as a commentary on Smyth's decline rather than as a comparison of the two players. If nothing else, the sheer number or responses on this entry suggest that your intended point in this entry was unclear. But I don't expect you to concede even that.Nonetheless, to your 'point', i.e. that this is about Smyth, and the fact that he hasn't been effective since he scored 39 goals. I sincerely doubt that ANY NHL coach/gm etc. would say that the 39-goal Smyth is a better player than the 25-30 goal Smyth we've seen in many of the past several seasons. Why? Partly because of this: when he got 39 goals, he was a horrible defensive player and he finished -7. I remember thinking "39 goals but such a bad +/-, what gives? Thing is, 20 of those were on the pp so had no impact on +/- (incidentally his 20 pp goals tied a record held by Gretzky).So really, he's not a 39 goal player. The problem is that his 39 goal season has been imposed by some as an idea of what he should have been since. I'll take the 25-30 goal Smyth who has a defensive conscience. The first 4 years of his career he was a minus player. Since then, he's been a minus player once in 6 seasons (I admit he's -3 as I write this, however). Nonetheless, the point: he's generally a more well-rounded player, and he's a consistent 25-30 goal scorer. When he plays a full season, he's been a LOCK for 25-30 goals (2003-04 was an exception with 23). I'll take that consistency in a second.This says nothing of his 'leadership' qualities. Yeah, we all know he's not the brightest guy in terms of eloquence, but winning so much with various Canadian teams isn't just a fluke. He has an extraordinary work ethic, and is the prototypical 'leading by example' player.Finally, I want to just drag in a couple of other guys you mentioned (while I know you keep saying this is about Smyth, the comparison here is worthwhile). You mentioned a couple other 'real NHL All-Stars', Guerin and Weight. I like them both, and this is not meant to criticize them, but lets consider what they've done lately in terms of points, and for how much:Games Goals Assists Points SalaryGuerin:2003-04 82 34 35 69 $8.8 million2005-06 45 8 16 24 $6.7 millionWeight: 2003-04 75 14 51 65 $8.5 million2005-06 42 10 29 39 $5.7 millionSmyth:2003-04 82 23 36 59 $3.45 million2005-06 40 19 18 37 $3.5millionAgain, don't get me wrong, I like Guerin and Weight (even more), but who is the better deal here?

The reason I post this - is so his relevent views can be heard, and not buried into some deep comments of people who reply to me as "Your dead".
People that have actual comments, I can respect that, and I'm not trying to ignore them. Therefore, I'll let buddy's views on Ryan Smyth take the front stage and I'll post my response reply in the comments section. Only fair.

I apologize for it being one long ass paragraph, but the copy and paste wouldn't allow it another way, and I hope you don't blame me for not wanting to sit and do all the paragraph breaks like a newspaper editor. This isn't buddy's writing style... just a computer thing. His original comments can be read, in normal paragraph style in the deal with Ryan Smyth comment I made earlier.

Blue Jackets Berard tests positive for steroids

2006-01-19T17:17:00.000-07:00

During the summer's US Olympic team evaluation Berard tested positive for the substance nandrolone, an anabolic steroid which is on the IOC banned substance list.

Makes you wonder how much more of a pussy he'd be clean.

But in all seriousness it has horrible implications for the NHL. It may not just be the guys you'd put money on - the Scott Stevens' (pre-retirement), the Paul Laus, Eric Cairns, etc. It could be any random player including skilled offensive defensemen.

I can't see this turning out very well for the NHL. Testing will probably go through the roof and shocking revalations to follow.

I could be wrong.

Jose Theodore to Edmonton?

2006-01-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

Now that other people have seen this shit flying around - I can safely put up a rumour without getting my car bombed.

To EDM: Jose Theodore
To MTL: Georges Laraque, Robbie Shremp, Ty Conklin

Other rumours have it with Shremp being replaced by Pouliot or Deslauriers (without Conklin), Dvorak, MA Bergeron being tossed in the mix - etc. etc.

The point is the rumour mill is flying and the word seems to be that they're talking. I'm not a big fan of losing Shremp or Bergeron, but this team needs something done immediately. And for an NHL MVP goaltender, shit, who cares? He can bring the Hells Angels with him from Montreal and I would still be dancing in the aisles of Rexall.

Enough losing games when the Oilers could really be a top tier NHL team. Get this shit done Lowe.

At any cost. Or hopefully the cost is your job at the end of the season.

The deal with Ryan Smyth

2006-01-17T01:28:00.000-07:00

Yeah, everyone still remembers his 39 goal campaign for some reason. Not to mention his linemates were Doug Weight and Bill Guerin, real NHL allstars that commanded bigger salaries as soon as they could get it.

This is the thing to ponder.

When Ryan Smyth was a 39 goal scorer... not a 40 or 50 goal scorer in the NHL... Alexander Ovechkin was a 10 year old kid in Russia, but at the half way point of this year, he's sitting at 32 goals. 7 less than Smyth in 96/97.

OK, well, Smyth had 61 points that year (his third in the NHL). Ovechkin is at 58, three less at the half way point.

I know what you're thinking. "Fuck you RaoulDuke, you're comparing a star to Ryan Smyth". But this is stats at Smyth's third year - his best ever stats... vs. a 20 year old kid...

Who WAS 10 YEARS OLD WHEN SMYTH DID THIS. Think about that. Ovechkin was a child running around playing Pogs or Pokemon or whatever was cool at the time. But when Smyth was last effective, Alexander Ovechkin was 10 years old.

Again, you're second train of thought - "Yeah, well fuck you RaoulDuke, Smyth pumped home 31 goals and 70 points in 2000/2001... Half a decade ago.

OK, Ovechkin was 15. Crosby was 13.

Tell me what he's done lately. Oh yeah, at that time of the hockey card picture... Ovechkin was 9, Sidney Crosby was 7.

Game: Edmonton Oilers at Pittsburgh Penguins - Jan 10/06

2006-01-10T20:37:00.000-07:00

Well, the Oilers won. As they should have, but it's a slight shock considering they usually lose to the perrenial bottom feeders of the league, while kicking the living shit out of contenders. The Oilers are the weirdest and most frustrating team in the league for it.

Although, I figure if Conklin was in net, the score may have resulted in a different decision. Like a 18-3 loss.

I'm not going to review the entire game, that's a tedious process and probably bores anyone to read it. I'll just point form my thoughts:

- MA Bergeron looked like a complete jackass at the hands of Crosby. That sort of "where is he?" pirouette spinning is usually reserved to the likes of Kurt Browning in Canada.

- Peca looked like a pussy at the hands of Crosby. Being shoved off the puck as a great vetern of this game that Peca is by an 18 year old kid has to be demoralizing. Crosby pushed Peca off the puck the way Lindros would on the likes of Haley Wickenheiser.

- Hemsky... I don't know if this is just a result of playing the Penguins defense, but he was on an equal dominance par with Sid. If only he had the vision to see past 1 second - he would have scored the greatest goal for the Oilers since Dvorak's vs. the Dallas Stars in the playoffs a lifetime ago.

- Horcoff - about fucking time buddy. He needed a breakout game on the sniper side, we all know he can pile the points up like a banshee without ever scoring a goal. Nice to see him breakout on the goal side, this is why games against shitty teams are needed - morality.

- MA Fleury - poor bastard. What a prodigy except in the worst position for an upcoming superstar. No wonder his mind frame is as frazzled as Dave Lewis looked as a Redwings coach.

Oilers win. Good enough.

Better than a 1st round pick heading into 06/07

2006-01-08T01:09:00.000-07:00

The Edmonton Oilers... obviously need a real goaltender, but the fact shitty sieves are being played over Morrison and Markannen (not much better their damn selves) - figure out the missing link... is squarely on the coach.

This is a team that continually sits Rita, a skilled RWer with 3 goals in the minimal amount of playing time he gets.... Yet Laraque dresses every god damn game and doesn't hit, fight, score or do anything. Raffi Torres is the new enforcer of the Oilers, and he himself sits too much fucking time on the bench. Regardless of his scoring ability.

A team that has Pisani out for what seems like 40 minutes of every game. A clutch player like Peca gets 10. Cross is still on the team, Syvret is in the minors and Schremp is on pace for what? 20,000 goals in the OHL this season?

Fire MacTavish... his only coaching ability or resume came when he was assistant coach in Philadelphia when the Flyers were run into the ground during the 1998 playoffs. That ill advised playoff run, take a trivia question on who on the team amounted the most penalty minutes? - McGillis? Lindros? Nope. The team bench. They committed probably the most bench penalties in NHL history in a short playoff run, consistantly putting too many men on the ice.

Yet, he was worthy of head coach in Edmonton.. while the Flyers cleaned house. Go fucking figure.

Brent Sutter is the answer to the Oilers. He runs a small market CHL team (small market in the CHL is small) and consistantly takes them to playoff runs and Memorial Cup championships. He's undefeated as a coach in Canada junior history - the winningest coach in Canadian junior history...

He will be an NHL coach next year. Time to make him an Oiler coach, and keep Alberta boys in our city. It'll be the only time since Messier that plan has worked.

I encourage every fan of the Oilers attending games for the rest of this season to start/or continue the chant "BRENT SUT-TER".

Time for a change.

Canada Wins Gold

2006-01-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

My prediction was wrong, but I could care less - my country wins and that's all that matters.

For all the anonymous dipshits stepping up trying to rub it in my face - OK... I'm happy about being wrong. And you're still gay.

Peace out bitches.

Ok... people want an entry...

2006-01-05T03:16:00.000-07:00

I'm all for Team Canada... I love the team, Steve Downie will be a Philly Flyer...

Russia/Canada.

Russia will win, for good or ill. This is the outcome, and I apologize for saying it.

They kicked the shit out of the Americans, who we barely beat... so honestly prepare yourself for the Star Spangled Banner being played in such a weird way, like American born - but Vancouver raised Jimi Hendrix playing the US national anthem at Woodstock. Oh wait, we beat them only by an empty net goal... My apology, Team USA should really have given us a royal asskicking earlier.

It's just the weird sort of trip we should deal with... and if they never pulled their goalie we wouldn't be in this cocky situation. Russia will win.

Selah.

Merry Christmas

2005-12-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

I'm heading home for the holidays, won't be updating until the new year.

Be safe, and have a good one you scurvy bastards. Don't drink and drive, it's devastating to know someone who was killed by a drunk driver. I don't, but I assume that might suck.

After Christmas Special?

2005-12-20T03:27:00.000-07:00

Fuck you.

People are asking for an update now, now that I've recieved death threats, random retard replies, and a constant flooding of my email?

Now they want a "Christmas Update"?

Now that some Ottawa Sun and CBS "sources" backed what I broke 2 days earlier? Never recieved a real apology from any of you fucking backstabbing swine.

Eat shit you fucking pricks. You won't hear another rumour or rumour update from me again.

To clarify

2005-12-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

I notice a lot of words around other message boards that say I'm still just looking for hits - even when the rumour is now being dropped by CBS and the Ottawa Sun.

To wit: I don't need hits, I don't make money in anyway, no advertisers.... All I do is ramble my thoughts around on news in the NHL. It's more for my own shit to do when I'm bored and if people read fine, if not, I don't fucking care anyways.

So this whole Afinogenov fiasco isn't something I wanted called upon myself. I could do without the headaches of random people bitching at me 24/7 and flooding my god damned email with their annoying fucking comments.

To this point it's still a fucking rumour - and all I did was post what I heard. It's been reiterated by other sources so fuck off and attack them for a while. Don't shoot the messanger retards.

But next time I get wind of a news story... I'm just keeping that shit to myself. I don't even get this much hate when I'm calling Laraque a pussy.

But if you want, I will make up a story and you can beat on me for a reason... let me know.

Ohh... another link on CBS, guess the rumour is breaking now

2005-12-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/NHL_SC-RUMOR

Maybe next time you guys should shut the fuck up. Wahahaha.

Here's your Afinogenov source

2005-12-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, and thank you to Oilers web guy Marc for the link verifying I didn't just make shit up:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Garrioch/2005/12/18/1358769-sun.html

Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Now, fuck off losers. Not that I expect to see you under these circumstances and your tail between your legs.

Notice that question mark

2005-12-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

Or the liberal usage of the word "IF". That means something may or may not be true. Questioning the statement if you will.

Apparently nothing happened. Too bad. Shit like that happens, now you can get on with your faggy little lives and kick and scream over someone else.

Deal done on phone... Sabres/Oilers Trade?

2005-12-17T01:41:00.000-07:00

From all accounts this deal has been agreed on, and awaiting NHL approval.

To Buffalo: Ty Conklin Radek Dvorak Marty Reasoner Cory Cross 3rd round pick

To Edmonton Miika Noronen Rory Fitzpatrick Maxim Afinogenov

All I can say, is if this is truth, the Sabres fans just got jacked, Afinogenov jerseys are the top selling sweaters in the Buffalo region.

But from all word, it's been done. and the trade will be official by Tuesday when the NHL offices re-open.

Stanley "Tookie" Williams Executed

2005-12-13T01:44:00.000-07:00

A man was just murdered "legally" over political gain. Do I have anything more to say? The world is a fucking mess when we're lethal injecting Nobel Peace Prize winning authors.

The only reason he died was because that fucking son of a bitch Arnold Schwartzenegger decided a man dying is in his best political gain.

They took 10 minutes to try and kill him.... kept delaying it because they couldn't fix the injection right. He took deep breaths unconsciously, because those fucking needles wouldn't work. All he could do was try and die... but he couldn't do it, they fucked his injection. He finally said "are you doing that right?" - while he was expecting to go out.

His last official words: "Mom, I'm sorry. I've done awful things, but this was not me. You know me, I love you"

Finally, they got his vein and murdered him. On the way out 3 people cried out "An innocent man has died!" Including the mother of one of his "victims".

So we've murdered a Nobel Prize Winning Author. What a civilized world. 22 minutes to die.

Why?

Kingdom of Fear

2005-12-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

Kingdom of Fear

Patrick Lalime placed on waivers

2005-12-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

On possibly the shittiest team in the league with the shittiest defense, the St. Louis Blues have placed the blame on their starting goalie Patrick Lalime and put him on waivers.

In my opinon Lalime is an honest goalie who works hard every night. He has the talent to be the #1 man, hell he was last season on the Senators and they finished what? 2nd in their conference?

So he had a shaky start to the year on the worst team in the NHL. Oh well, probably for the best for Lalime to get out of STL. At 2.3 million a year, I just wonder if he'll go anywhere.

Maybe on re-entry waivers, if the Blues decide to call him back up. 1.15 million is worth a shot on a two time allstar and I would advise the Oilers to take that chance. Or maybe not, what do I know?

Stanley Williams to be executed

2005-12-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

Gov. Schwartzenegger has just announced he will not grant clemency for Tookie Williams, and he will be executed tommorrow.

While I despise the notion that he did kill three people in cold blood and started a street gang that has left thousands dead, I don't believe in capital punishment for anyone.

Not to mention a man who, while incarcerated has written literature denouncing gang activities, and is regretful for everything he has done. The Nobel Peace Prize committee saw his work as worthy enough to give him one of the most presitious honours that can be bestowed on a human being. Yet, the Terminator gets to play God and feels this man is more valuable dead than alive.

It's complete fucking bullshit. Arnold is now no less a murderer than the man he is putting out like he's a sick dog. Why not let him live the rest of his life in prison and continue his activities in trying to fix the problem he helped create?

Fuck you Schwartzenegger. RIP Tookie Williams.

My Team Canada

2005-12-10T21:20:00.000-07:00

In case you care. And no, Smyth isn't here, so if you have mad love for the guy hit that classic X on the top right of your screen and shelter your eyes. Like Al Stafford hits the hang up button before anyone is on the brink of making looking stupid.

Line 1: Heatley - Spezza - Iginla
Line 2: Gagne - Richards - Lecavalier
Line 3: Bertuzzi - Sakic - Staal
Line 4: Tanguay - Thornton - St.Louis

- bubble players to be invited: Sidney Crosby, Rick Nash and Brendan Shanahan

Otherwise this will do. Selah.

Bloc Quebecois Wants Quebec Hockey Team

2005-12-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

Uhhh..... fuck you. The only people in Quebec that vote to be sovereign are the backwoods rednecks of the rural areas and radical immigrants from Haiti.

Have fun building a team with that. Now back to issues people care about: How about Nick and Jessica? Tragic.

Joey Thornton a Shark

2005-11-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

To San Jose: Joe Thornton
To Boston: Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau

What the fuck just happened? The Boston Bruins who already lack any identity just shipped off the big guy. Apparently 33 points in 23 games with no linemates is subpar to Mike O'Connoll. Well, that's his fucking problem; he didn't have to take it out on the entire team. Franchise player, the Bruins #1 pick in 1997 shipped off like he hasn't lived up to expectations.

I can't say too much about that shit though, who knows what a player's value is these days? The Ducks just shipped off Fedorov for Tyler Wright and Francois Beauchemin. Of course they got Todd Marchant in the ultimate NHLPA-CBA fuckaround but this isn't exactly Brad Stuart an Olympian along with Sturm and Wayne Primeau. The Bruins got a decent pack of players.

I know what you're saying: Fedorov is your typical prick from the soviet bloc that played good but gave up on his career. You might too if your old lady was doing Enrique after your pal Pavel gave her the business. The point is, Boston got fucked, but not in the mouth.

Final Exams

2005-11-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

My lack of any writing is due to these goddamn awful final exams. I always end up leaving myself a week to teach myself a semester full of knowledge straight out of the textbook. So it's a fucking mess around here.
I might get a bottle of Jack Daniels and take off the edge tomorrow night and post random thoughts of a whisky fueled rage and then get back into the mix for another week.
To anyone with exams coming up, best of luck and as pleasant an idea suicide may seem right now; I would advise against it. I've never heard of that turning out too great for any parties involved.

Edmonton Eskimos Win Grey Cup

2005-11-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

What to say? Green and Gold. Take that shit MTL. City of Champions.

Game Review: Edmonton at Calgary November 25/05

2005-11-25T22:39:00.000-07:00

I can't give much of a game review, as I watched this game on a big screen at Kelly's Pub, instead of at home where I could critique any and every move made by the players.... but I'll add one regardless..

Iginla is fucking deadly, hate him or love him the Flames only had a pressure when he was on the ice. But the one thing I noticed is that he handles the puck with the same speed and handle as Ales Hemsky. So what's the difference?

Iginla isn't a pussy, and he has that killer instinct on when to turn the guns on, and when to coast until they see an opening. Hemsky on the other hand guns in the same way.... but alas sees 3 defenders and runs himself into the boards. He has the skill, but not the mind to create a chance or kill a chance. This alone will be the downfall of Hemsky.... it's not a skill you learn, it's something you just know.

Ethan Moreau knows this idea of running for a goal when any opening happens... unfortunetely he doesn't have the skill. If you could combine Moreau and Hemsky into one player.... we'd have an Iginla.

Which goes to show the Oilers need a player that single handidly can turn a game around. Can turn a shift into a threat. We have Pronger on D... but I've never felt defense was the Oil weakness.

A true elite player on offense can make any shift into a scoring opportunity. Iginla does that. The Oilers have nobody like that. People love Ryan Smyth... while he may be the face of the Oilers, he doesn't control a game or shift on his own merit.

Brad Richards is up for grabs, and the Oilers should make every pitch they can to get him before Colorado does.... because mark my words right now... Richards will be in Colorado. Why? I just know.

Morrison played well, but again, he's our 3rd string goalie. Why rely on him as opposed to making a pitch to Florida for Luongo? Give them what they want... a combination of players can be easily obtained, but a true goalie is once every 10 years.

If not Luongo, the Oilers should at least make a pitch to Buffalo's goalie deadlock - not to Biron, but to Noronen - a goalie who can actually steal a game, wasn't overrated, doesn't fail... and can be Edmonton's answer to Kipper in a steal.

Either way, Edmonton won. Can't be beaten in a shootout apparantly by anyone.

The Return of Luis Mendoza to the Ducks

2005-11-22T19:22:00.000-07:00

Remember that muthafucka that could skate like the wind in D2, Luis Mendoza? You know, the kid who could skate like the wind, but had no tangable skill beyond that, and therefore was overhyped and overrated? Well, apparently he's back with the Ducks, this time under the moniker "Todd Marchant".
I hear he's learned the art of stopping, unfortunetely because the Ducks could use some comic relief, but hasn't yet learned the art of using that twig in his hands to hit the disc on the ice. It's a foreign concept I suppose.

Sabres Retire Danny Gare's #18

2005-11-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

In a dramatic ceremony the Sabres will retire Danny Gare's #18. I'm certain this game will be a sellout as fans from the tri state area flock to snatch up tickets to see such a legend have his career memoralized.
I mean, he scored 267 goals for the team for fuck sakes. In the defensive minded late 70s to mid 80s! What an accomplishment from such an outstanding player! He's part of the NHL's elusive 200 goal club, he deserves such a night from a storied franchise such as the Buffalo Sabres.
Next in line: Craig Ramsay? Rene Robert? Maxim Sergeyevich Afinogenov is almost there, retire his fucking #61 right now!

PS. If you don't remember Danny Gare, don't feel bad. Nobody does. But if it helps, he was a utility player on the 1986 Edmonton Oilers. 86, the year the Oilers had their Cup streak cut in half. Coincidence?

Best wishes to Jiri Fischer and the Wings

2005-11-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

While I often speak ill of players around the league, it's in good humour. What happened last night was tragic and scary, and I hope we never see a player in such distress again. I would never wish such a moment on anyone. It reminds us that athletes are human and as vulnerable as the rest of us. My best wishes go to Jiri Fischer, his family and the Detroit RedWings. I eagerly await the day he's manning the blueline in MotorCity again.

A coach in Edmonton stupider than MacTavish?

2005-11-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking. Impossible. But believe it my friend, I couldn't help but admit it myself until I recieved word last night. Eskimos coach Danny Maciocia, in the biggest game of his career has once again decided to start overpaid bum Ricky Ray over Jason Maas.
This boggles any concept of reason to me. I can understand BC's position with constantly starting that pale albino Dickenson over MVP Printers... because the province of British Columbia is in a perennial state of losing. It happens there and they come to expect failure. BC sucks. Wahaha
But this is the goddammed City of Champions Maciocia. We don't accept failure and you better hope that Ray holds us in until you realize you're an idiot for the 3rd fucking game in a row and let Maas clean up your mess. You will be ran out of Edmonton sucka. ¡Que tengas suerte!
Asshole.

Game Review: Redwings at Oilers November 17, 2005

2005-11-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

I suppose I'll write this thing period by period, so I don't overwhelm myself at the end of the game off my notes trying to recall each and every play... making a long tedious process that I give up on anyways.

1st Period:

The Redwings are just dead, they're beat tired. After a hard fought loss to Calgary last night, the last place you want to be in the NHL is the fast ice of the Rexall Place the next evening. Schedualing in a sense can work in the Oilers favor this year, and so can Calgary be a useful ally in wearing teams down before they show in the City of Champions.

The shots reflect this fact, the Wings are taking bad penalties and they seem to have trouble keeping up with the flow so far. A dose of mes. should be the order in between periods from Babcock. Or not, as that would result in a 36 hour drive and they seem to be fine even on dead legs.

Twice in two games I have to hand it to Ales Hemsky making vetern moves that the veterns of the Oilers do not realize. He seems to be the only Oiler that notices on the PP when the ref's arm goes up once again. Twice in two games everyone passed it around on a 5 on 4, and once it got to Hemsky, he passes it into the skates of an opposing player to get the whistle and a longer 5 on 3. I love little things like that.

Hemsky, while a fluky goal on his behalf, he needs to work on that shot and finishing sure goals.. deserved of all players to notch that one, because he earned the original penalty with the stick to the chops. Again with the vet move getting the whistle. Pronger's no look Magic Johnson pass has worked a couple times for the Oilers this season, a little more scouting by other teams would see Pronger doesn't shoot as often as he should, and the goal could have been prevented. No fault on anyone's part though, hell, he's Chris Pronger and if you look for the fake pass he'll bullet it right by your ear leaving you with that god damned whistle sound followed by an obnoxious Oiler crowd cheering and a horn blaring.

But the folly of the Oilers. Hard earned goal, and just as easily lost. Pronger coughs it up like he's Bobby fucking Beers, and we're all tied at one going into round two of this three round middleweight bout.

2nd Period:

"There comes a time when..... when.... " - Wayne Gretzky 1988.
I'll finish that sentence for him. When the Oilers need to suck it up and get a real goalie. A game the Oilers are dominating has been quickly been turned 3-1 Detroit by two quick goals. Raymond Ferraro may feel the defense is to blame, but both shots were stoppable, and able to see by most goalies.
Who are we fooling here? Markannen was a backup goalie for the Rangers. The Oilers gave up on him once, why would he be a #1 goalie now? Osgood was a UFA going into the fall, and he signed to Detroit for CHEAP. Instead he's a Redwing stopping everything the Oilers throw at him, while Jussi keeps trying to soccer kick every shot into the boards. With a clutch goalie, the score would probably be 1-0 still. Alas, it isn't and the Oilers are playing tentatively with fear of letting in another and starting a blow-out.
This isn't right. Lowe, please, do something. If not for the fans, for your legacy as GM.
The New Energy, is a bad energy that dies off extremely quick with horrible goaltending.

3rd Period:

Make it 3-2 Detroit, Oil down by 1 now but...
it just took the Oilers a lot of shots just to bury one. Against Edmonton, it only takes one clear shot (not a single goal tonight vs. Edmonton came on a rebound or tip). That to me is a problem.

Make it 3-3.
Well played Edmonton to keep the momentum after a goal, unlike when the Oilers in the first period and games prior to this have given up cheap ones moments after. It comes down to Osgood/Markannen now.
And the tired legs of Detroit. Will the Oilers capitalize and hand Detroit 2 losses?

4-3 Edmonton.
Beauty by Ethan Moreau, nothing but heart on the PK. Excellent pass by Horcoff, the Oilers are finally capitalizing on the dead legs of Detroit.

5-3 Edmonton.
Nice shot by Ryan Smyth, and despite my feelings about him... congrats on moving into #5 tie with Paul Coffey on the all time Oiler goal scoring list. It's an elite group and nobody can take that away from him. Also Horcoff gets 4 assists in one period, tying an Oiler record, which alone is remarkable considering the legacy of this team. Historical goal.

Detroit is dying on tired legs, and like I said in the first period all praise is due to Calgary for working them down.

5-4 Edmonton.
Detroit scores on the PP, with a man stickless. You could smell it coming. This is the worst position for the Oilers to be in. Confidence on this team is easily shattered. Let's see.

5-5.
Like I said. Choke. That's what they do. How can the Oilers leave that many RedWings to take a slap at a puck in front of the net?

Pre OT Comments:
If the Wings can kill this 4 on 3 PP, they should play for a Shootout win. A shaky Markkanen against the likes of Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Shanahan will mean a guaranteed win. But nothing is harder to defend than a 4on3 in OT, and nothing would be sweeter than to win it on a fuck up by a former Oiler Kirk Maltby sitting in the box.

OT:
Stoll slaps one home early in the 4on3. Game over, go home Detroit. Fuck you Maltby.

My players/retards of the game:

Stars:
EDM - Ales Hemsky. Veteren moves at critical times resulted in critical goals, including the OT winner.
DET - Chris Osgood. This team hung him out to dry, they were tired and let the Oilers fire away. Without Osgood, it would have been a win far before this point.

Retards:
EDM - Jussi Markkanen: One save 90% of the goalies in the league would have had, the Oilers wouldn't have had to play come from behind over and over.
DET - Kirk Maltby: A play at any other time could be overlooked, but running a goalie in the last 10 seconds of a tie game is unforgivable. Ended up costing Detroit a point.

Final thoughts: Streaky win by a streaky team. No wonder Craig MacTavish got so fucking much grey hair in 3 years. Until the goalie issues are solved the players will have to work their asses off all season long just to squeak out extra points. This isn't a good thing in the long run.

My buddy Oswald

2005-11-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share his most recent photo.

Todd Marchant Fiasco

2005-11-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

So the Blue Jackets have put Todd Marchant on waivers after acquiring Sergei Fedorov. With the contract he has at $2.47 million, $2.47 million and $2.66 million for each of the next three seasons, there is no chance he'll be picked up by anyone in the next 24 hours.

Toddy is heading for the minors. I couldn't be happier for him. On re-entry waivers he'll be snagged by some team for half his salary for the next 3 years. But now he knows what it's like to be betrayed.

This is the guy that turned his back on thousands of loyal fans for the almighty dollar, and now that same decision has put his life in turmoil. No trade clause... goodbye. Marchant is headed wherever he's told.

Poetic freaking justice. Punk.

I love puppies

2005-11-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

and stickers. The sun makes my neck warm when it comes out from behind Mr. Cloud, which makes me fuzzy and happy. Everything reminds me of a hug from a warm sweater right out of the dryer. Smelling of Bounty dryer sheets!

Is that more the language my fans would like to read?

If so.... Fuck off. Nobody forced you bitches in.

Non Hockey: The Truth About Walmart

2005-11-10T00:50:00.000-07:00

GET ACTIVE: Wal-Mart: Rolling Back Workers’ Wages, Rights, and the American Dream, a new report by American Rights at Work, offers a comprehensive examination of Wal-Mart’s abysmal labor standards, including its poor compensation, difficult working conditions, and effective strategy to remain union free. To download the full report, please visit www.americanrightsatwork.org. (11/09)

The movie is being screened for free here in Edmonton. Watch those bastards for who they really are:

Wal-Mart:the High Cost of Low Price (Edmonton, AB)
WHEN: November 16, 2005 07:00 PM TICKET PRICE: FREE
DETAILS: Introduction to the film by Dr. Raj Pannu
WHERE:U of A SUB StageEdmonton, AB 0
Online Map

or....

WHEN: November 18, 2005 07:30 PM TICKET PRICE: FREE
DETAILS: Join us for the film and discussion after
WHERE:University of Alberta Department of Education Education south tower room 129Edmonton, AB null
DIRECTIONS: all buses end up at the university or take the Light rail transit to the university stop

Clutch

2005-11-09T01:25:00.000-07:00

Websters defines it as:

adj. Informal
Being or occurring in a tense or critical situation OR
Tending to be successful in tense or critical situations

This is what the Oilers do not possess. and apparently never will.

I spent the earlier part of the night watching my Flyers face off against the Bruins. At about the 15 minute mark of the 3rd period in a 2-1 game, the Flyers were mounting a comeback. Pitkanen coughed the puck up and Thornton scored. Less than 5 minutes to go.... most fans would change the channel. But the Flyers under Hitchcock have that one quality:

Clutch.

Pitkanen fed a pass to Simon Gagne, who went in alone and scored. 3-2. Then about a minute later, Forsberg fed Pitkanen in front - goal. 3-3. OT comes on, Gagne and Forsberg feed Pitkanen again in front - goal. 4-3 win. The Flyers have that attitude there is no score they can't overcome.

The Oilers on the otherhand, had a 1-0 lead into period 3, and can't hold it. NOT CLUTCH. Eventually go down 2-1. NOT CLUTCH. But by some miracle score the game tying goal with 60 seconds to go.

At this moment fans should assume we get one point, in OT.... at least. I watched the Flyers down by 2 and never once doubted they could win. Tie game with 30 seconds to go, I never held the same belief, sure enough.... Nashville scores. Edmonton loses without a point.

Where's the blame?

Can you honestly remember the last "CLUTCH" moment in Oiler history? It was 1997, almost 10 years ago, when Marchant scored in OT.

Think about that for a second. Marchant is gone, and so is the coach, since then, the Oilers blow every critical moment. Who's been constant? Craig MacTavish - someone with no experience coaching, yet a former Oiler we appoint.

Disgusting.

Laraque is a pussy

2005-11-09T01:10:00.000-07:00

I know I often mention this, but it's the truth. Oiler fans will be hopping on cocks tonight fantasizing of Laraque's fight against a lesser pussy Darcy Hordichuk.

Thing is Laraque doesn't show up when it's game time or fight the people that ask for it. He leaves that task to Ethan Moreau, Raffi Torres or Jason Smith. Because in his idiot mind, he belives his 5 minutes off the ice is more valuable than the team's leading goal scorer, penalty killer or shot blocker/captain.

Laraque likes to believe he's the star of the team.

Anyone remember his "is Sean Avery even going to make the team?" comment? What a stupid bitch Laraque is. Avery in fact, did make the team, aggravate the Oilers into penalties, and assisted on the game winning goal. Where was Laraque? Avoiding confrontation.

So what does Georges "Pussy" Laraque do? Pulls the race card after the game. I don't know, if it was actually said that Avery called him a "monkey" Donald Brashear would have fought linesmen off to pound his chops in. Not stand back and look like a complete bitch, arms hanging to the side like "I'm just here, someone look at me like I'm relevent".

Fuck you Laraque. The most useless pussy in the NHL.

and people might bring up the fact "oh no, enforcers are obsolete in the NHL now". Well, they're idiots.

If any team doesn't need one, it's Ottawa. Instead, they have Brian McGratten in their nightly lineup for the simple fact, he'll fuck you up bitch. Are you about to touch Heatley or Spezza when you know he's watching your number to kick your face in? Tie Domi the perrenial loser to Bob Probert got his worst ass kicking of all time because he tried to fuck with Ottawa.

Fear their scoring? Fear them all around.

Laraque doesn't understand this. He thinks his rapping of Vanilla Ice and having a love advice radio show in Edmonton makes him immune to getting his face punched in.

I can't wait until the Oilers play the Senators and the world sees him back down like the pussy he is.

I hate to be the one that told you... actually I love it

2005-10-22T00:57:00.000-06:00

Dig back in my posts.... I said the Oilers were fucked.

I said Eric Lindros would return to NHL superstar status.
I said Petr Bondra would find himself in Atlanta....

Check the post of Lindros to Toronto from September, and also the Bondra to Atlanta post in September. I got flooded for it, but Lindros is 2nd in NHL goals, Bondra is 6th in NHL points.

Who's the loser now?

I know my shit. Bow down to the almighty hockey king. Duke.

Game Review: Oct.14/05 - Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers

2005-10-14T21:29:00.000-06:00

Classic battle of foes.

1st period...

A very slow, chippy start between both teams. What was more unimpressive was the usually electric Rexall Place crowd. Somehow on a Friday night in Edmonton, sold out, the crowd sat in their seats and left their voices at home. Very disappointing.

Rookies Winchester and Rita were given their chances. Hell, Syvret and Shremp were sent down to make room for these guys. Let's see.... Winchester sucks. He doesn't fit into the Oiler style. He's slow, has no heart and no finish on his shift. He's like Brad Isbister, but without skill. Like Isbister had it? no. But neither does this fuck up. Rita.... he's got Oiler speed, too bad he never learned to handle a puck, how to pass, how to shoot. For fuck sakes, the Oilers should have drafted Apolo Ono. He can skate faster. Plus he has countless gold medals, give him a stick, he can't do any worse.

To cut away from the game, and part of the game at this point: MIKED REFS is an idiotic idea from the NHL. People in Edmonton already know what the deal is, we saw it happen. It's not the NFL where you wonder why the flag went down. It was clear why the arm went up. Then the ref says the call, and within 2 seconds, so does the PA announcer. I don't know if I've seen such an absurdely stupid thing this year in the NHL. Lose it.

Then Jokinen scores. No fault of Conklin, Staois was running around like a retard and left Conk out to dry on that rebound that should have been easily picked up by Staois. Shit happens. Staois played a horrible game, making moronic shots on the PP, horrible passes...

One thing I notice, the Oiler defense is slightly cramped in the mind, one time they used the 2 line pass during action sent DVO in alone. Why not make that a steady play? He's always ready for it.

I loved the Oilers faceoff formations, I don't know if that's MacT, Simpson, Huddy... but it's something we haven't seen here in years. They don't just line up straight atom 10-11 year old hockey style. Some point this year, that'll get us an extra 5-6 goals total.

From a docile and slow Oiler period, Moreau threw a cheap knee on knee hit to get the puck out front of the net... if it wasn't the Oilers, I know people on the boards around Edmonton would scream foul. Lucky Klemm got up, Moreau would be suspended for 15 games.

2nd Period:
Conklin let in a second goal and this pissed me off.... MacT pulled Conklin. What the fuck does that say to a kid that already is battling a confidence issue? He was left hanging on goal one. Luongo wasn't pulled until he let in 3 in the first period of the Florida game last night. MacT pulls this shit? Trade Conklin right now for his own good, MacT just crushed him mentally. Let him flourish somewhere else, idiotic move and just cost us a prospect.

2nd, 2nd 2nd.... fuck it, let me wrap this shit up, anyone that cares saw the game:

Stoll - this kid needs a reality check, he's not a star in this league. Like a scout asked Terry Jones in LA... "Why does 16 think he's MacInnis"? That's exactly it. He has no timing, and I'd rather him and Pronger pass it back and forth until someone has a clear shot... not just Stoll shoots it every fucking time Pronger gives it to him.

Hemsky - this kid got cocky somewhere along the line. He thinks he can do it all, it's not like Hemsky of the past that passed it off every time he got the puck, now he thinks he can stickhandle in the zone, wait... wait.... wait... and cough it up. Him and Stoll seem like ego maniacs ready to Randy Moss our chemistry into the ground.

Stars of the Game:
EDM - Radek Dvorak - complete hustle from the start of the game to the finish, was on ice for all Edmonton goals, in fact, Smith would have never scored without Dvorak's hustle and shot on net.
DAL - unseen by many but Jon Klemm - he consistently shut down every attack the Oilers had. Blocking shots, perfect breakout passes. The Stars played a great team game, but his in the rough efforts win my respect.

Retards of the Game:
EDM: There was Laraque's ineffectiveness... but no, as much as it pains me to say it: Steve Staois. He fucked up too many times, he hung Conklin out to dry on goal one, he kept getting his outlet passes picked off, he shot on the PP when a shot was unwarrented, and straight into the chest of Hedberg. The entire Oiler team played like shit, but he was the leader of it.

DAL: Hedberg's mask. Anyone get a good look at it? It's hard to explain. People that saw it know. The entire team played a good game, so all I have is his mask.

NHL: Rob Schick: This ref had no idea what he was doing on either side. That crucial puck over the glass penalty to Modano in the final 4 minutes went clearly off Peca's stick. Bad Call. The Oilers didn't score and I'm cool with that, it would have been cheap. But then in the final seconds of the Oiler push, Peca shot the puck on net at exactly 4 seconds left. He didn't blow his whistle until 1.1. Under review the Oilers ended up with 2.5. It don't sound like a lot, but it could have tied the game. His docile whistle makes the wonder of what could have been.

Game Verdict: The Oilers fucked up.

Lindros Moves into top 100 scorers of all time

2005-10-11T23:15:00.000-06:00

With his goal tonight, Eric Lindros just cracked the top 100 goal scorers in NHL history. The man he knocked out of the top 100.... Bobby Clarke.

Against the Flyers, sealed the game. Clarke has to be pissed.

Eric's little strut after he buried it was classic too. First time I ever seen him showboat, he knew what he did.

I love the Flyers and hate the Leafs, but that was all too great of a moment for a guy that got the royal fuck over from Clarke. Payback can be a bitch.

Also nice to see Jeff ONeill score a goal for his recently passed brother and point to the sky. Great moment.

I'd review the Oilers game, but I can sum it up in 4 words:
They fucking blew it.

Warning for Poolsters

2005-10-10T00:16:00.000-06:00

DO NOT, by any circumstances, check out your league while wasted.

I woke up today to see I swung a deal of Rick Nash for Marcel Hossa, because in my state, I thought I was trading for Marian.

That also goes for using email, or talking to people on IMs that you know personally. You'll regret it later.

That's all.

Oct.8/05 Game: Montreal at Toronto

2005-10-08T18:45:00.000-06:00

Hockey Night in Canada.
It doesn't get any better. Ron MacLean, Don Cherry, the complete Toronto bias. I didn't realize I actually missed this.

Pat Quinn is garbage. There's no two ways about it. Why do people act like he's some legendary coach? He's never actually won shit in his career. Here's a guy that can't see a player of incredible talent opening ice up and playing his heart out in Eric Lindros. The guy is sitting on the bench way too much, every time he's on the ice, Toronto is a threat to score. Rang one off the crossbar in the first period, threw some hits, makes awesome passes and makes a horrible PP decent. Play the fucking guy.
... and like Don Cherry said, why the hell isn't Kyle Wellwood playing when you have Alex Ponakarovski or however you spell that Russian word for pussy playing?

Jason Allison: do us all a favor and retire. I hate the Leafs and love watching them fuck up, but you're embarassing even for me. Has this guy ever heard of the concept of "pass"? Why does he think he can stickhandle through three players? EVERYTIME. It never worked the first time moron, it didn't work the second, the third... give it up. Patty Quinn loves him though, he gets ice time.

Exciting 2nd period I got to say. Back and forth action, Alexander Steen's goal was killer for a kid's first NHL snipe. Theodore was flopping like he was in NHL2006. Perezhogin goes 2 up on Crosby, and Sheldon Souray blasted one past Ed Belfour like he wasn't even there. About time, I was about to rant about how Souray somehow got washed up in one year, but he put Montreal ahead, so I can't hate him too much right now.

Anyways, the third is about to start.... I'll award my stars and retard of the game right now, because Edmonton will be on right after.

Stars:
TOR - Eric Lindros - Keep it up man, even if you're playing on a line with people who can't skate, catch a pass or see you open... you're a beast. Toronto's best player bar none.
MTL - Craig Rivet - stiches, blocking shots and refusing to go down. All heart and a rock on the defense. If he didn't play like that, Toronto would be winning right now.

Retards:
TOR - Jason Allison. See above. I hate to think about it again.
MTL - Mike Ribiero. Get some hands, you should have a hat trick right now. This guy is going to be the next Todd Marchant, league leader in goals blown.

Fedor Fedorov traded to Rangers for Balej

2005-10-07T21:38:00.000-06:00

In other news... nobody cares.

Oct.7/05 Game - Calgary vs. Columbus

2005-10-07T19:35:00.000-06:00

Ok, it was the only game on cable tonight. Flames/Bluejackets. Whatever.

First thing I noticed is Calgary is a fucking slow team. Flat footed and boring. Nobody on that team has any hustle except Iginla, Langkow, and Lombardi. Reinprecht showed up for 5 seconds, but besides that I forgot he was even a Flame.

Ok, and God Bless you Iginla, but you got to stop telegraphing that one fucking shot. Go down the right side, and lift the leg up to snap it on net. The moment you lift that leg up the goalie knows you're going to shoot. It's moronic buddy. Kind of like Ryan Smyth's left wing slap shot. Goalies get a book on you man, why do you think Smyth went from sniper to 15 goals a year?

Sportsnet. Come the fuck on. Come on. What's the deal? It's been over 5 years since you got on the air but still haven't learned to turn up the game sound just one octave? You can't hear shit. It's not the boring ass Columbus crowd, it's you. TURN IT UP.

And Roger Millions needs to go. How depressing is a Sportsnet game with that droning on play by play. The guy has no emotion. Jesus Christ, where was Sportsnet when Chris Cuthbert was up for grabs? Most irritating play by play in the media. I'd think the Buffalo, Pittsburgh or Rod Phillips radio announcers would be more than happy to take a pay hike to go on a national broadcast. Anyways Sportsnet sucks, back to the "action".

What a sleeper of a game. Columbus has no PP. I mean David Vyborny is your QB? I thought the Oilers sucked at this, Columbus just put them to shame. They can't pass, their blueline can't shoot, Delmore is a bust..

Finally a goal, Donovan snaps home a cheap one. Still a yawner of a game.

Columbus blew on the PP, Calgary wasn't much better. They had Chris Simon out there on their 2 man advantages, the new rules should dictate he'd be helpful, but with all the ice in the world, he still has hands of stone. Fuck him. Calgary won't score with him on the ice.

Gilbert Brule!! One good shift, one shot..... denied. Never noticed him again. If I was Columbus, send the kid back to Vancouver for another year, he's not ready for the primetime.

Sean Donovan.... sharpen your fucking skates. It's free in the NHL, you have a trainer. There's no excuse for playing 9 out of every ten seconds of your shift lying on your fucking back. You looked like Bambi hitting the ice. Get a fucking brain dude. Seriously.

Anyways, Calgary wins in a boring game. Darren McCarty was garbage in the first 2 periods, all he did was dump the puck in. Over and over. He also needs to cut that stupid chin hair, it's retarded, you're fooling nobody. But in the last 10 minutes he played like McCarty of Detroit, clizzutch. He put the game away. Clutch.

Stars of the game:
CGY - Daymond Langkow - solid on the backcheck, excellent passer, one goal, one assist. Him and Iginla are going to be danger. Believe that.

CBJ - Marc Denis - if it wasn't for this bust of a draft pick, Columbus would have gotten their asses handed to them.

Retards of the game:
CBJ - Duvie Westcott - what the hell kind of name is that? You'd think growing up with that name he'd grow some balls to overcompensate. Instead he was like a deer in headlights, scared to touch anyone. Excellent passer though, to the other team. Every breakout pass I saw, he sent it straight on a Flames stick. AHL player only in the league due to expansion.

Fan - that fat bastard that was a reject from "the Biggest Loser" on NBC. Painted "Go Blue Jackets" on his fat stomach, irritating enough to see him flop that around, but even more moronic.... he spelled Blue Jackets wrong. "Go Blue Jakets". Some people need to be put down.

Verdict: Calgary is overrated, Columbus really sucks. Sportsnet is worse than them combined.

The Old Is New Again?

2005-09-22T02:27:00.000-06:00

What is this retro shit? The NHL wants a new look, right. Well, the first thing it should do is actually start this season. SHOOT OUT , I feel it is a good idea and all, but, this is nothing new. The shoot out has been in existence for a long time. It's been used in the Olympics for years not to mmention ALL of the elite leagues in Europe. The NHL NEEDS NEEDS NEEDS NEEDS a new look. This I agree with. First thinbg that should happen is the firing of those who have sat on the voting table for the last 15 to 35 years. NEW BLOOD. How obvious is this. I am NOT a PROPHET. This has to be what you see, no. Gary and his bullshit agenda can going going gone. The MLB can sit in front of the USA go0vernment when it comes to DRUG TRAFFICING and laugh, the NHL can not sit together with it's players and negotiate contracts. BETTMAN is a weasle, a coward, a fool, mthe COMMISIONER OF THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE. Kiack him in the anus, seriously.

The Old Is New Again?

2005-09-22T02:26:00.000-06:00

Edmonton vs. Calgary

2005-09-17T00:06:00.000-06:00

I was lucky enough to snag tickets to the upper colonade of the Rexall Place for the Oilers/Flames game tonight. It was insane, the moment everyone stood up for Oh Canada, you realized how mad Edmonton is for hockey. The place was damn near sold out.... for an exhibition game.

Welcome to Edmonton Pronger.

First period the two teams felt themselves out like a couple of 14 year olds hitting first base. It was awkward and boring.

Second period I managed to sneak down to the Gold section with a few beers, along with my paranoid friend Jay who figured we'd be executed if we got caught. But some smooth talking with the usher and she never knew the difference. Now I had a seat to actually view this shit.

Calgary buried one. Fuck them, Morrison really blew that one. But I suppose Salo would have been 4 down, so one bad goal isn't that bad. Rookie phenom Dion Phaneuf proved he's not just a junior star... he's a major league slugger... when he totally crushed Torres with an open ice hit. I was surprised Torres even got up.

Still a boring game to this point. Then the 3rd period started and shit hit the fan. It was a real game then. Back and forth, intense action. Robbie Shremp again was the best Oiler around, making plays, passing the puck... only Radek Dvorak showed equal skill. Actually DVO proved once again why he's the best Oiler around. Total speed, defensive and offensive skills. He burned an entire Calgary PP on his own ripping around in their end with the puck, stripping the CGY D of the puck. All by himself. I yelled out "Give him a statue" and everyone in my section applauded the idea.

Then finally the crowd yelled for Pronger to shoot, but like the pussy he was all night, he didn't. Instead he passed it off to Stoll, who blasted it past everyone into the net. Finally we got to scream. The game was real now.

OT settled nothing. And the token shootout actually meant something. Everyone got denied for Calgary... somehow. Shremp, Pisani, Pronger all fucked up too.

Then Ryan Smyth, the mulleted retard went in on his shot and by some stroke of God, he sent it between Krahn's legs for the win. The place went nuts. Even if it was Smytty, the Oilers won and that's all that matters.

My only question... where the hell MacT gets off putting Pisani and Pronger out on a shootout when he has Radek Dvorak on the bench.

The Oil won, which is what matters in the end. But the won't keep winning with shitty SO picks.

Good night.

The two most under rated players in the NHL

2005-09-15T04:19:00.000-06:00

1. Daymond Langkow - 21 goals, 31 assists in 81 games. For the fucking Phoenix Coyotes. Sean Doan had 27 41 68 points with the same Phoenix team. Is it a coincidence that Doan became an "allstar" after Langkow became his center?

Will Nedved do the same. Fuck no. Langkow is the same player drafted 5th overall by TB but had to play with a 40 year old John Cullen at 18 years old. Iginla was drafted 7 spots later. Let's not forget that fateful year of Lindros getting corked by Stevens. That was Lindros' 2nd game that year. The center that took Philly that far was Daymond Langkow.

Anyone remember the Massachuteses World Junior Championships? Jarome Iginla and Daymond Langkow were on the same line. They combined to elevate Canada to gold. With Langkow being the star on that line.

Now they're reunited. Watch the fuck out. Langkow for Saprykin... what a rip off. Langkow will get at least 70 points this year on a line with Iginla.

2 - Alexandre Daigle

Yeah, he was the 1st overall pick. Yeah, he was the next one. Yeah, he quit for 2 years.

But what 18 year old kid can step into the league, score 20 goals, 31 assists and 51 points on an expansion team where your representative to the all star game was Brad Marsh?

Apparently that wasn't good enough, if Daigle never got 50 goals, and 50 assists he was a bust that year. On AN EXPANSION TEAM. God help Crosby on the Penguins playing with Mario, Recchi, Leclair, Gonchar, Palffy...etc. The best Daigle had was Brad fucking Marsh.

He outscored Yashin as a rookie, he played as well as anyone could really imagine for an 18 year old on the shittiest team the NHL has ever seen. No wonder he quit. And was relegated to 3rd and 4 th line duties thereafter.

But he came back and led... I repeat... LED the Minnesota Wild in scoring his first year back, and his first chance to play again. Gaborik? No.... Alexandre Daigle.

20 goals, 51 points on the most defensive team in the league. Plus he fucked Pam Anderson. Diagle is owed his due.

He's not a bust, he's been given a shitty hand.

Lindros to Toronto

2005-09-15T02:16:00.000-06:00

I know this is old news...

But this is the best thing to happen to Toronto since Syl Apps was captain of the team in the 40s. Yeah Toronto is shit. There's no doubt about that, who's the only original 6 team to not make the finals since 1967?

Toronto.

And that's because there is a God.

We'd never hear the end of it. Just like Dougie Gilmour, what do you think when you hear his name besides Chunky Soup and an all around failing team in Toronto that made the semi-finals once in his run? Maple Maple Maple Leafs.

Too bad his best year was when he WON the cup in Calgary. But that's Toronto media for you, I mean Tie Domi has a commercial on TV for fuck sakes, and he was expendable as a Winnipeg Jet.

Now, Eric Lindros. Everyone always looks back to one play. Stevens hit him. One concussion, one highlight. But where's the highlights of Lindros beating the hell of out Stevens twice? In a fight nonetheless. Grab a Lindros fight tape, you'll see first hand.

OK, so the Flyers went down after that hit. It did kill the motivation of the team. Lindros soon joined the Rangers and in his years there held a 0.876 points per game average.

Yet, fans would like to have Nedved with his 0.327, Bure with his 0.486, Jagr with his 0.858, or even a 44 year old Messier at 0.2122.

Lindros was the best player in NY. But nobody cared to watch. Damn near a point per game in the Bermuda Triangle NY Rangers.

Lets not forget his last "concussion" 22 months ago (lockout included) he didn't leave the ice, he skated down and beat the shit out of Jason Doig.

Eric Lindros is going to not only win the Masterson Trophy this year, he'll be the best Maple Leaf (and you know what that means a good 10 votes for MVP).

Get over your bias, the 1995 MVP is as back as the 2000 Pronger in Edmonton.

Bondra to Atlanta

2005-09-15T02:01:00.000-06:00

Why this slipped under the radar is beyond me. This guy consistently pops in 30 goals a year on a mediocre Washington team pre and post Jagr. He was a HUGE acquisition to Ottawa, but somehow after they routinely lose in the playoffs (thanks to Lalime and their shaky defense)... Bondra is all of a sudden a liability?

Atlanta just snapped up Hossa, Holik, Bondra.... and gave up Heatley. I don't understand their loss.

They'll have Lehtonen in net, plus 3 extra 20-30 goal scorers up front and said goodbye to a dialated pupiled Heatley that can only see in 2D.

The city of Atlanta might not deserve a team, but they got one now.

oh yeah... Go Braves. Every win just drives a nail into those bitch ass Washington Nationals hearts. Fuck them, and fuck the MLB for the conspiracy to drive them out of Montreal.

Atlanta will win the World Series.... my word is spoken.

Joey Moss Cup

2005-09-14T21:38:00.000-06:00

Tonight the Oilers held their intersquad game between team blue and team white. $2 admission so who can pass that up? First real NHL show of the new rules in a full 3 period game. The red line and smaller neutral zones are very noticable and should make for better hockey. Needless to say the crowd gave their biggest ovations to Chris Pronger, Mike Peca and Ryan Smyth. Some observations:

The two line pass will only work the moment a player on the Oilers besides Dvorak or Shremp can catch a pass. A QB is only as good as his reciever.

Rob Shremp - throw this kid on the team. Better yet, throw him on the first line, he's the best offensive threat the Oilers have. If he doesn't make the team it'll be shenanigans. First two goals of the game snapped home by Robbie. The kid is a fucking all star. His vision, his handle, his passing all top notch. He schooled both Peca and Reasoner on the faceoffs, no easy task. He was like that little weasel Comrie, without the vagina.

Yan Stastney - thanks for showing up. Or did you? I didn't notice. You're cut.

JJ Hunter - tried to intimidate, ended up looking like a pussy. Cut.

Dan Syvret - excellent breakout passes, solid on D. I like him already. These London Knights are ready for the primetime. You're in.

Matheiu Roy - who? Exactly. Cut.

Brad Winchester - what's all the hype about? He's no power forward, he was like an anorexic Isbister. Way to go on the goal, it was more because of a brain fuck by JDD rather than skill.

Zack Stortini - CHL academic player of the year. Captain of the Wolves. Why haven't we heard more about him? He was solid, an excellent two way player. Good vision. AHL for you Zack Attack. Ok, that was gay, but still.

Igor Ulanov - you got burned by Georges Laraque. Need I say more? Cut.

Radek Dvorak - God Bless You. You're the shit and the best thing the Oilers have going. Don't blame yourself buddy, its not your fault the Oilers suck.

Chris Pronger - way to give up the puck twice on one shift right in front of your own net. If you weren't being paid 7 million dollars a year, I'd cut you. Step it up mook.

Ryan Smyth - god, I wish you were traded. Why must you always take a long 3 second wind up and try to slap it in on every half break you have? Everyone knows that's your only move, and you wonder why you can't score like it's 1995 again.

Cory Cross - big albino pussy. Cut.

Toby Peterson - who's dick did you suck to get on the ice? Go home.

Georges Laraque - the new rules are finally going to help this guy avoid the Debrusk syndrome.

Todd Harvey - all heart, only guy looking to fuck someone up with a hit. I'll admit I thought it was a joke they took him on, now I think twice.

Dan Smith, Jean Francois Jacques, Jason Platt, Jani Rita, and Kyle Brodziak..... don't come back. Not even to a training camp. Fuck off, you all suck.

..... and was Ethan Moreau even there? I sincerely hope not, otherwise he was completely useless.

Now for my game day award for retard of the day:

There were a lot of options, Jason Platt losing his stick, gloves and helmet trying to play defense because his arms moved independant of his brain. Those guys on the jumbotron who put on a fake fight, to no laughs. Gene Principe talking into that mic that was clearly off and Ryan Rishaug had to bail him out. That guy that kept yelling out "ehhh ohhh" like it was funny....

But no... the winner, actually winners, are all the people that showed up with 2 minutes until the puck drop and came into the gold section blocking everyone's view trying to find a seat. Hey morons, it's a 2 dollar admission, first come first serve. The people sitting up in the colonade should be a hint that there's no fucking seats right on the red line. Yet, you continue to hover with your ass right beside my face because you're too fucking dumb to realize 5 seats together in the prime area aren't going to magically appear.

Until opening night..... my first Oilers game day review.

NHL2006

2005-09-14T16:39:00.000-06:00

New Rosters, New Rules, New Schedules!!

EA's new tag line for their NHL 2006. What does this mean for you? Rosters are amazingly updated, the schedule is whatever. The rules only apply to you.

This means you can't touch a player, you can't get the puck from them. You better not even try, lest you love penalty killing. The AI on the other hand, is allowed to do whatever they feel like. Watch how you get held from behind on a breakaway to no call. How you mysteriously lose the puck for no reason in front of the net. How you get held against the boards, as they pick it up and bury it past your "goalie".

What about the sliders you say? Well they're there, but again they only apply to you. Lower the penalties... they get none. You still take them easily. Lower the poke effectiveness, you will never touch the puck again, they on the other hand will strip it from you with ease.

I am now half way through my first season with the Chicago Blackhawks on the difficult mode. 17-23-0-2. Not too bad considering I started the season 0 and 15. I expected as such, it takes a while to get a handle on a new game, especially on difficult (any other level is for children).

The skill stick is back. Yippee! You can now deke a goalie out of his panties and then say hello to his friends backchecking obstructing defenseman or his other buddy the apparently 5 foot wide post.

See a man open for a one timer? A great way to score, once out of every 45 attempts, the other 40 are picked off by anyone within 10 feet of its path. 4 are blocked point blank after firing off a giant shot. The defensemen on the other team are notorious for their hand eye coordination blocking a Forsberg slapshot with the shaft of their stick in mid air.

Try to block their shots? Good luck. It'll just deflect off you and past your goalie. Leave them to shoot and your goalie can see it? Watch how the twine expands.

Should your opponent get the puck. Give up. Right then. Just wait until the whistle, kick back, sip on your beer. Whatever you do at this point is futile. You will not get the puck away, you bounce off them with a hit, you poke it but they grab it right back. Slash them, go to the box. Block it, watch it deflect in. And God help you if they get the puck behind your net. It's going in, believe that.

By some miracle you do get the puck away, set up a serious breakout by passing it directly onto their players stick. They have great anticipation. Don't pass, just skate.

Only saving grace for this game NHL 2006 is that NHL 2005 sucked so much balls, this game in comparison seems like the greatest thing to happen for hockey fans since Bertuzzi snapped that dude's neck.