The Notable Defensemen Set to Hit the Market

ESPN.com recently released the list of notable defensemen that are set to hit the market. I've just looked at this list and it seems like they are some pretty worthy defensemen that are worth taking when the July 1st period comes. So here's the list and my guess of teams that could possibly take these guys.

Christian Ehrhoff, New York Islanders
Even though Christian Ehrhoff was traded from the Canucks to the Islanders, it was surprising to me that the Canucks couldn't offer a long-term contract to one of the best defensemen the team had in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Now, whether or not the Islanders try to sign him to something before July 1st is completely up in the air. If he decides not to stay with the Islanders, teams like the Stars or Senators might try to make a move on getting Ehrhoff.

Tomas Kaberle, Boston Bruins
This guy was a factor in proving that Boston was the Stanley Cup Champion. The question is: Where will he go so he can get another chance at the Cup? He's probably not going to Vancouver, the team that he beat, but teams like Tampa Bay or Detroit would be happy to have this guy providing the defense they need to succeed.

Bryan McCabe, New York Rangers
I wouldn't be sure which teams would want Bryan McCabe. In fact, I didn't even know he was traded to the Rangers from the Panthers until I saw the article on ESPN.com. He's a very reliable defenseman with the ability to make pokechecks when they are needed. Teams like Los Angeles, Colorado, or Chicago need some help out on defense, so look for one of them to go after Bryan McCabe. Fans probably who watch McCabe know better about which teams want McCabe then I probably would know.

James Wisniewski, Montreal Canadiens
I like Wisniewski because he has proven to be both a superb defenseman as well as a threat on offense. I would look for Anaheim to try to get him back after trading him away, because they have the talent now to ask for a player that can play at both positions. If not, Montreal might resign him, or he could go to Vancouver, where they could use his skills.

Ed Jovanovski, Phoenix Coyotes
It's hard to believe Jovanovski would leave Phoenix after spending such a long career there. Now will he find another place to take his talents to? I would say teams like Vancouver and Winnipeg would be willing to take a chance on bringing a veteran defenseman to help out with their defensive needs.

Jonathan Ericsson, Detroit Red Wings
It hurts me to hear that Jonathan Ericsson is now an unrestricted free agent. But if Nick Lidstrom is to come back, the Red Wings have to let some people go. But will Ericsson? Perhaps. Teams like Tampa Bay, Boston, or San Jose need some defensive help and Ericsson would help provide that.

These are the list of other defensemen that are worthy of note. They don't necessarily have the biggest impact as those that I have listed above.
Andy Greene, New Jersey Devils
Roman Hamrlik, Montreal Canadiens
Scott Hannah, Washington Capitals
Niclas Wallin, San Jose Sharks
Sami Salo, Vancouver Canucks
Brent Sopel, Montreal Canadiens
Steve Montador, Buffalo Sabres
Andreas Lilja, Anaheim Ducks
Steve Eminger, New York Rangers

We will be seeing some big changes going on during the free agent period. Will defensemen leave to take bigger roles with different organizations? Or will old clubs find ways to keep defensemen on their team? We'll see July 1st, when the free-agent period opens. Until then, cross your fingers, puckheads, to see which defensemen end up on your team.

Are the Flyers Making the Right Moves?

More trades and more questions can be made now for the Philadelphia Flyers. With Jeff Carter gone to Columbus and Mike Richards being shipped west to LA, the Flyers' trade drama was not done.

The Flyers acquired a draft pick from Minnesota in exchange for Darroll Powe. Not only that, but the Flyers signed Andreas Nodl and Tom Sestito to contract extensions. But one man believes that the Flyers are heading in the right direction and that one man is hockey legend Bobby Clarke.

All right, so let's think here for a moment. Two quality players for the Flyers are gone and it seems like the Flyers gave up another quality player to Minnesota. Now while Powe is not as great as Richards or Carter, it would seem like a necessary idea to keep Powe together so that van Riemsdyk, Briere, or Pronger have something to work with. But now, do I agree with Bobby Clarke?

In a way, yes I do. The Flyers have to make these pieces in order to fit Ilya Bryzgalov for the future and acquire some needs for their team down the road. However, this'll take time to fully integrate and if the Flyers do make the playoffs, then congratulations to the reformation of the team. If they miss it, then it wouldn't surprise me, because the offense needs retooling.

Now I've heard two things from Flyers fans: they're glad to see Jeff Carter gone and van Riemsdyk might take the captaincy since former captain Mike Richards is out. I fully agree with fans on van Riemsdyk since he sounds like a huge part of the offense and he has the leadership. But Briere and Pronger are also reasonable choices to lead this team. I think I partily agree with them on Jeff Carter, since most of Flyers fans felt he should've walked away a long time ago. But I still think he was one of the reasons the Flyers have been so successful. Now they'll have some offensive problems on their hands. Will they go for Brad Richards to help get some offense going? Or will they play it out and see what happens?

The Flyers are somewhat heading in the right direction, but will it be enough to help them win the Stanley Cup? Right now, the Stanley Cup seems unlikely, but if the Flyers front office makes some moves and tries to get Brad Richards, they'll probably be in a good spot to get a playoff position and compete for that elusive Stanley Cup.



Hey Flyers fans, get back into the mix and support those Flyers next season with this orange primary logo t-shirt. Support your Flyer pride throughout the summer and into next summer. Get yours at amazon.com today.

Edmonton Gets Ryan Smyth; Future of the LA Kings

The Edmonton Oilers got Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as the first pick of the NHL Entry Draft, but another player is making his way back onto the team that he first started from.

The LA Kings dealt Smyth back to his old team in exchange for Colin Fraser and a seventh-round draft pick in next year's draft, allowing for the Oilers to possibly contend for a playoff spot again. This trade comes on the heels that Smyth wanted out of LA and be traded back to his old team because of family reasons.

The Kings acquired him from Colorado and had immediate success with the Kings, racking up 47 points in all 82 games of the regular season with them this past season. But that didn't affect his decision, as he felt family was the sole reason he wanted a trade out of LA and go back to Edmonton. I don't exactly applaud him for this, but I understand his reasoning behind wanting to be near his family.

Ryan Smyth is one of the great players in Oilers history and was one of the reasons that they were so successful in the first few years that he was with them. Unfortunately, since he left, the team has fallen down the Western Conference standings and landed in the worse spot of the entire league: dead last. But now that Smyth is back with the team, there should be no doubt that his presence, as well as Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and the return of Taylor Hall, should spark this team to do better next season. They might not be as good as Tampa became, but perhaps they'll get their chance for a playoff spot this time around.

The LA Kings got Colin Fraser and a draft pick, but the future already looks good for the Kings, considering the fact that they got Mike Richards, a huge scorer and a big factors in games when he was with the Flyers. But without Smyth, will the Kings continue to contend for a playoff spot and possibly a Pacific Division title?

I would say absolutely. Even if they lost Smyth, Richards is a better player than Smyth because of his work ethic and his abilities with the puck. He can skate and he can score almost all the time, something Smyth has troubled with most of his career, even though he is a great player as well. I would tell Kings fans not to lose sleep over it, because they already got the piece they need to fill the void left by Smyth. Fraser is a great player too and was part of the Stanley Cup winning team. He'll provide some of the offense the Kings are looking for.

I wouldn't expect the Kings to win the Cup, but it wouldn't surprise me if they do. They're starting to get the offense they need in order to compete in a tough Western Conference that includes San Jose, Detroit, and Vancouver. They'll have to work around these new offensive pieces, but I think they have a reasonable chance to actually make it to the Stanley Cup. I said they would last season, but never made it past San Jose.

The future looks bright for both the Edmonton Oilers and the LA Kings. Both teams are getting the pieces they need to make it work. Question is: Come the regular season, will it actually work? And can they both make to the playoffs or the Conference Finals? We'll have to wait and see, puckheads, but so far, it looks like both teams are heading in the right direction.



Oilers fans, get back into the Ryan Smyth fan-crazy attitude with this genuine one-of-a-kind Ryan Smyth autographed hockey card. Add a piece of old history and returning history to your collection. Get yours today.



Also for Oilers fans, get another historical hockey card with this 2006-07 Ryan Smyth prospect card. You'll want to have a piece of history with you when Ryan Smyth finally makes his return next season on the ice for the Oilers.

The Gold Cup Recap: Mexico Takes the Crown

While it may seem just like a soccer game, the cold-blooded battle between the US and Mexico just got a little more heated just in time for Saturday's Gold Cup Finals. At the end of the day, the heat went the way of Mexico and made US wait for another chance to get a shot at the Gold Cup.

Mexico continued its strong dominance in the Finals over the US with a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over a US team that had Landon Donovan start a game since two games ago versus Jamaica. And while everything was sort of fun and games, I kindly considered this a game that was Mexico's to win.

I mean, sure, I picked the US to win it, but somehow I just had that feeling that perhaps Mexico could give the US a run for its money. After all, Mexico was missing five important players and yet they continued to be remarkable in their dominant play.

The US was up 2-0 in the first twenty minutes of the goal, with goals coming from Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan, but Mexico got itself into position again to overrun an all-impressive US team, with two goals from Pablo Barrera and one goal apiece from Andres Guardado and Giovani Dos Santos. They won it 4-2 and that's because of their ever-impressive ways on defense and on offense.

To be completely honest, this was kind of a game that was probably home-field advantage from Mexico since it was played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which has tons of fans who root for the Mexico team each year. And while I applaud how the Mexico team did, you can't overlook how the US could have fallen flat in the final half of the game. Sure, it looked like a team that had an offense that could overcome a deficit, but all in all, the offense of Mexico really pounded down on that US defense and made them second-guess and that haunted them as Mexico managed to get four goals past Tim Howard.

The next question I have for the US team is this: Could this be the end of Bob Bradley's coaching tenure with the US team? I don't so, because he managed to get past Panama a second time, and Mexico has a star-studded team, whom has players who are playing for many teams throughout the MLS. Bob Bradley is a great coach and I think he deserves the chance to stay, even after the Gold Cup Finals loss. Down the road, however, could this be the time where the US team says goodbye to its long-time coach. He'll stay for now, but plans change down the road, and we'll see what happens.

Overall, congratulations to Mexico for another Gold Cup win. The US showed heart and it showed pride in trying to win that elusive Gold Cup, but sometimes you can't always win them all. I applaud the US team for their grace and their effort and hopefully they'll be able to learn from a close loss to Mexico.

CONCACAF Gold Cup: USA vs. Mexico

It's a rematch, kicksters, and surely we've got a really good rematch going down tonight. The USA returned here after avenging a Round Robin loss to Panama by beating Panama in the semifinals 2-0. Meanwhile, Mexico put itself back in the Final by getting a 2-0 overtime victory over the surprising Honduras team that made it this far.

This rematch has all that it is. A fierce rivalry between two big soccer nations and what could be a bragging rights game. However, the US will have to show that they want it and that means making sure to avenge last Gold Cup's loss to Mexico.

I haven't really been watching the Gold Cup as of lately because of all the NHL news circling around these days, but I hear that the US team is showing that they have the promise to actually win it this year. Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey are proving themselves in this Gold Cup, as well as providing the offense they need to get by certain teams. Perhaps that Panama loss in the Round Robin was just an overlook, but now I think this USA team really has what it needs to win it this year.

If the US expects to be successful, they'll need to dim down the bright offense that is Javier Hernandez and Mexico. Hernandez has seven goals so far in the Gold Cup and it looks like he's power-hungry to get some more and get his team to another Gold Cup win. A defense will have to be good against a team like Mexico and if the US has a great defense, they'll show Mexico what they're made of.

What is my prediction? I think the US has a chance to win it, in fact, I think they'll find a way to smoothe out that Mexico offense and give themselves the edge. US is more encouraged and they know what's at stake. Plus, if they want Bob Bradley to stay as the US coach, they'll need to show the promise and poise of the USA team we always knew them to be.

We'll see what happens tonight. Will the US take it? Or will Mexico spoil the party? Gear up, soccer studs, the Gold Cup is just around the corner and I look forward to seeing if the US can pull it off.

Time to Return to the Winnipeg Jets

It never occurred to me how long this name debate was going to last, but after weeks and weeks of debate, the new Winnipeg team has finally chosen a name to represent its city.

The team in Winnipeg will go with the name that its city has been originally called -- the Winnipeg Jets. It is expected to make its announcement tonight at the NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minnesota. Although it seems like an unlikely choice since teams don't usually go with the old names they originally had, this sounds like an outstanding choice.

First of all, I didn't understand why the first Jets team decided to abandon a Canadien city and move to Phoenix, because Phoenix virtually has no interest in hockey to this point. But now that the Jets are back, this is a team that should stay in the NHL for many, many years to come. Also, the Jets were a proud franchise at one point, heralding players like Teemu Selanne and Shane Doan. So now the new Winnipeg Jets will be getting the old Atlanta Thrashers players, like Nik Antropov and Ondrej Pavelec, two stars who have been unable to provide the offense Atlanta needed to get into the playoffs. Now that they have returned to Canada, it seems like they'll find a way to get that offense going again.

All in all, the new Winnipeg Jets should be able to get the job done this time around. Atlanta couldn't keep it and now the Winnipeg team is called the Jets. Hopefully, they'll be able to make a playoff run and hopefully earn themselves a place atop the standings this year. However, they are in the Eastern Conference and it might be harder with teams like Boston who will stand in the way of the Jets' chances. Hopefully, this Jets team can prove that back in Canada, it still has the magic it was before the first Jets team left.



Hey Jets fan, celebrate the return of your team to Winnipeg with his vintage t-shirt. Get back into the Jet spirit by showing your pride for the city's greatest team. Get yours at Amazon.com today.

Time for Toss Up

Hey puckheads, time for the best segment the NHL and MLS Insight. It's the Toss-Up! Five debate questions are headed your way. I got my answers. You agree or disagree with me? Comment on any decision you disagree with and why you think differently. All right, I assure you, these are some of the best debate questions I've had in a while.

What'll happen to the Flyers next season? Improve or fall down?
Without Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, the Flyers are going to have a harder time getting into the playoffs. Yes, I know that Ilya Bryzgalov is there and I know that Flyer fans are happy for that. But these two guys are what created the Flyers. Without these two, I doubt they'll have a solid chance of making it into the playoffs next season. They'll probably fall down unless they get a Brad Richards come free agency.

Better signee? Andrei Markov or Devin Setoguchi?
This is too easy. I don't care what anyone in Montreal thinks about Andrei Markov. He's not that great of a player compared to Setoguchi. The Sharks need Setoguchi because if they release him, that offense will have a harder time getting pucks into the net. Markov can just hang around and be an assist-maker and while we're speaking of it, the Canadiens couldn't count much on Markov come playoff time and he completely screwed it up when they lost to the Bruins. Setoguchi is the better signee.

How do you think of next season's tripleheader? Good marketing or bad television?
Please. Don't tell me this is bad television. The more people watch hockey, the more they figure out that if there is a football lockout during the season, they'll come crying over to hockey for their sports. A tripleheader is a slam dunk win-win situation. I would love to watch all these games on television because I don't have teleportation powers. Yes, this is good marketing. I don't know why it should be bad television.

Where will Jaromir Jagr end up? Detroit or Pittsburgh?
Jagr met with Lemieux today on possibly going to the Penguins, but Jagr is getting old, close to his 40's. Why do you take a chance on Pittsburgh when Detroit is known to bring in those aging veterans and make it work? Pittsburgh is not known to have an aging veteran team, they are more known as a younger, hungrier team. Jagr should go to Detroit because he'll have a chance to play with Datsyuk and Lidstrom. I think he will end up in Detroit, even though Pittsburgh seems likelier.

Salary cap raise? Good idea or bad idea?
Why can't they just get rid of the salary cap? Is this all about the Kovalchuk deal? The salary cap is probably just bad money from as far as I can see. It got the Devils in trouble, it could get the Flyers in trouble if the NHL decides to investigate the deal with Bryzgalov. I don't think getting rid of the salary cap, however, helps teams. I just think it gets into even more trouble when they sign somebody and there's something more suspicious behind it. To keep it is a good idea. To make a big deal out of it is a bad idea.

Well, that was a great toss-up. Plenty of debates for you guys to have on your own. Disagree or agree with my assessments? Comment here or on Facebook on why you think it's different. Check back often as more toss-ups come up your way and also check out my blog column on the Flyers' moves. See you later, puckheads!

What Do You Think of the Flyers Now?

I didn't take two and two to figure out what happened to the Philadelphia Flyers at this point in time. At one point, they were one step away from hoisting the Stanley Cup. The next, they fall completely off the face of the earth by trading away their two biggest players.

In what is considered a big shocker, the Philadelphia Flyers traded Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets and traded Mike Richards to the LA Kings for Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn, both players of which didn't really have that much of an impact in LA last year.

The Flyers made these trades in order to save some cap room in order to sign Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year contract, possibly solving their goaltending problems. However, with Jeff Carter and Mike Richards both gone, there are now going to be bigger concerns at the forward positions. Who is their new captain going to be? How is the offense going to cope with the new and sudden changes?

I think the Flyers are going to have a harder time getting back to the postseason next season. Yes, they have Bryzgalov, one of the best goaltenders in the league, but with the high-flying offensive pieces gone, it looks like Bryzgalov is going to have to do his fair share of making sure the Flyers win. I know, it seems bad, but the truth of the matter is is that the Flyers will need to find their offensive pieces. Where will they look?

I'd say look at Brad Richards this offseason. The Stars are probably not going to bring him back and you've got one of the best offensive players on the market. But the real question is: Can he provide a spark? Can he give them the offense? I'm not sure that offense can cope with Brad Richards, so where else do you turn? Do you go out and try to make a trade, maybe like Jamal Mayers or Scott Nichol, whom San Jose released. They may not be the best offense but they certainly can help a team that will struggle to find the back of the net next season.

Here is the video from ESPN about the two trades as well as the Bryzgalov signing. Pierre LeBrun provides some background Unfortunately, ESPN Youtube has disabled the embedding so the link is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZzhVPksaK8



The work has been cut out for the Flyers. They might not look as great as the start of the season, but then again, I could only be wrong. One thing's for sure, the goaltending situation's shaped up, but now it looks like there'll be other ways to turn and it won't surprise me if the Flyers already struggle out of the gate.

Hey Flyer fans, make sure to support your Flyers next season with this primary logo Flyers T-Shirt. The best way to support the Flyers, even if they already seem out of it. The Flyers T-Shirt, get it today.

Introducing Reid's Poetry

Attention: This is not a hockey post. It is rather a promotion for a new blogging site I have set up for people who are interested in the topic of choice that I will list below. Hope you enjoy the information I have provided for the new blog site.

When I was younger, I was only six years old when I witnessed something that would change my life forever. It molded me into someone that I am today. Now many of you already know me as a hockey guy or a hockey person, but that's not entirely true. Of course my love for hockey will always stand and so will soccer. But this new site will indulge my other topic of choice.

That's right. The thing I witnessed when I was younger was the world of writing, the feeling of putting descriptions on paper and expressing yourself to the world. At first, I couldn't understand what it meant. Then I had some explanation and found that writing was a life force, a thing that brought people together sometimes or tore them apart. Many young writers out might have felt the same way but for me, writing was something more than just something to do with my life: It is what defines my life.

Poetry was one form of writing I became blended with. It helps create stories that sometimes I don't like to tell in front of people's faces. In fact, poetry is what you'll find on this new site.

"Reid's Poetry" is my new blogging site, where I'll be posting some of my works of poetry that I've created over the years. In fact, one piece of my work is already on the new site and there'll be more to come in the future.

So if you're interested in poetry or just like to hear a good poem, head on over to my other blogging site "Reid's Poetry" to kick back with some good ol' poetry. If you want to submit your own piece of work, send me your name and your poem to hoodenterprise@yahoo.com and I will be sure to post it up for viewers to see.

There will be no Facebook page for Reid's Poetry anytime soon, unless popular demand asks for me to do it. In the meantime, keep enjoying the NHL and MLS insight, but if you want to look for something new, head over to "Reid's Poetry." Just a note: It was once called "Reid's Take on the World" but that didn't come to fruition. Hope you enjoy my new site. The URL is below.


reidspoetry.blogspot.com

Plus, if you want find some great poetry, here's an Amazon link to a great book by Christopher Burns and many of his famous works of poetry.

The Awards Went Like This...

...There were some upsets and some expectants and there were some people that completely went off by surprise with tonight's Awards. Some of the biggest names included Corey Perry, Nick Lidstrom, plus others. But who really won and did they really deserve it? Well, right now, I'll be looking through each category and see if I got this right or wrong.

Hart Trophy
I saw this coming but plenty of other people didn't. Corey Perry won the Hart, as I thought he would. Unfortunately, it came as a surprise, as many thought he didn't produce as much as Daniel Sedin or Martin St. Louis. I'll get this straight: Corey Perry is the most important thing the Ducks have. He has been able to help the Ducks get into a playoff berth. That is why he has this trophy.

Vezina Trophy
Tim Thomas won it and it was deserved. Yes, the others had superb years but it was Tim Thomas that meant whatever could be meant to the Bruins. He was the exceptional player in goal and he was what drove this team to win the Stanley Cup. No doubt in my mind that Tim is the best goaltender right now. Sorry, Luongo fans, wait until next year, then convince me.

James Norris Trophy
It seems like Nick Lidstrom is the only winner of this trophy. But again, he is the best defenseman so far in the game. Of course you can make a case for others, but Lidstrom's defensive talent right now is why he's winning it again. He is a solid defenseman who plays to the point and provides some offense as well. I like this guy and I like the fact that next year, he'll have the same thing to play for in what could be his final season before retirement.

Jack Adams Trophy
Dan Bylsma kind of earned this one because he was able to keep the Penguins in the playoffs, despite losing Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby for most of the season. I think those factors plus effort to stay within the race helped Dan Bylsma win this. I thought Barry Trotz would win it, but then again, Pittsburgh had a better year.

Ted Lindsay Award
Outstanding players in the league and there are plenty of them. But Daniel Sedin was the outstanding player this season for Vancouver. Sure they didn't win the Cup, but without the help of the other Sedin, I'm not sure where the Canucks would be. And in the regular season, Daniel Sedin proved he is that outstanding player that deserves the Ted Lindsay award.

Calder Memorial Trophy
I didn't have a pick on this one, but Jeff Skinner was kind of on my list for the potential winner. Of course Cam Fowler's a defensemen who wasn't going to win this, but I don't know why Jeff Skinner is the trophy winner and not Logan Couture. He helped the Sharks, while the Hurricanes missed the playoffs. You're telling me that Couture is not worthy of rookie of the year? I have doubts about why the GMs picked Skinner over Couture, but I guess they know more than I do.

Frank J. Selke Trophy
If you give this trophy to Ryan Kesler, you might have been right about this. This forward knows the defensive aspect of the game and I think he's a talent that really provides both the offense and defense that the Canucks needed to win. Let's just hope that keeps up, because everyone knows they'll have to beat Vancouver next season and this guy seems destined to get the Canucks that elusive Stanley Cup next year.

Masterton Trophy
Come on, Ian Laperriere? I don't know much about this guy, except the fact that he stayed completely out of my way while I was looking at the Flyers' problem in their semifinal battle with the Bruins. I think Emery had a tougher road to go, and you're saying he's not deserving? Sure, Laperriere might have gotten himself back into the hockey shape, but he didn't exactly help the goaltending or other problems when the Flyers needed it. Some things just get thrown out at you.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Martin St. Louis was expected to win something and I'm guessing the Lady Byng is probably the best choice. His sportsmanship on the ice proves it all. He's a player who has great abilities and knows how to be that great all-around player the Lightning needed to be successful in the regular season. We should look for him next season when we're thinking about who should go to the Stanley Cup Finals next season.

King Clancy Trophy
I didn't pick this one either because I didn't know there was one up until a few weeks ago but I still didn't make a pick. But Doug Weight is one of those players whose has great leadership abilities, especially on the ice. And when the New York Islanders were going down, it seems Doug Weight was the only ice holding them up. Now that he's retiring, what'll happen to this team? Only time will tell.

General Manager of the Year
Steve Yzerman did a great job and I thought he would win. I was also going to pick Mike Gillis because he helped create the franchise that went to the Stanley Cup Finals this season. Now the question is: Can he do it again? He'll have to get the right players to make it, but this season, he showed that and that's why he's our GM of the player.

That's it for all the Awards. Some of you might have been disappointed and some of you may have been distraught over what you saw. Well, next season is a new season, and we'll see what happens. What players will stand out? What coaches will make changes to help promote the team? And finally, who will win it all next season? And who will win the Awards next season? We'll see you around, puckheads. I'll be blogging on Draft Day, puckheads. Keep checking back for more.



Hey fans, Steven Stamkos is going to be on the new NHL 12 cover. Don't want hockey to end? Do you have a Playstation 3? Well, if you haven't got it yet, NHL 11 is the right video game for you. Manage a team and get them to the Stanley Cup Finals, or create your own team and see how far you go. Create a player and see how they progress or trade to get players that you want. NHL 11, the video game that keeps playing hockey. Hey, it might be summer, but in NHL 11, the hockey lives on. Get yours today before the new NHL 12 comes out.

Who Will Win The Trophies Tonight?

It's NHL Awards tonight and there are many good candidates out there for all selections of trophies. The trophies, the nominees, and my thoughts on it are listed below:

Hart Trophy: Corey Perry, ANA; Daniel Sedin, VAN; Martin St. Louis; TB

Even though that Daniel Sedin and Martin St. Louis had spectacular years, I think Corey Perry is the most deserving. The Ducks have struggled in the last bit of the year to get into the playoffs and Corey Perry was one of the reasons that they went from the eigth seed to the fourth seed in just the last month of the season. It's his determination and his help to the Ducks that he should win tonight.

Vezina Trophy: Roberto Luongo, VAN; Pekka Rinne, NSH; Tim Thomas, BOS

The Vezina Trophy is one of the important trophies and I think that Tim Thomas, despite the fact that Pekka Rinne and Roberto Luongo played outstandingly for their teams, I think Thomas is the most deserving team. He helped this team in the regular season and helped them propel into the playoffs (even though playoffs don't count). His determination in goal and his abilities have helped Boston when they needed him the most. Therefore, his name should be on that Vezina Trophy.

Norris Trophy: Zdeno Chara, BOS; Nicklas Lidstrom, DET; Shea Weber, NSH

It seems that Nicklas Lidstrom wins this every year, doesn't he? Well, look no further, but I see him winning it again. Without his leadership and his strong abilities as a defenseman, the Red Wings probably would've missed the playoffs. I'm glad he's coming back another year and I think the Norris Trophy would allow him to keep playing up to that high level. Look for him to win it again.

Masterton Trophy: Ray Emery, ANA; Daymond Langkow, CGY; Ian Laperriere, PHI

It is Ray Emery's because he had a long time to recover from his hip injury and come back into the league. He even helped the Ducks down the stretch when their goaltending situation was in flux. Daymond Langkow and Ian Laperriere are good choices but there's nobody who's more dedicated now than Ray Emery and he's probably glad to be playing again.

Selke Trophy: Pavel Datsyuk, DET; Ryan Kesler, VAN; Jonathan Toews, CHI
Another Red Wing? Not in this case. Ryan Kesler been a solid defenseman who's done marvelous things as a forward defenseman. He's been able to ride these Canucks thanks to his marvelous play as an offensive defensemen. I don't think anyone else came close to this, although Datsyuk had a good year, but not as good as Kesler's.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Loui Eriksson, DAL; Nicklas Lidstrom, DET; Martin St. Louis, TB

I don't know how a Dallas Stars player got in here, but he's not winning this one. This is Lidstrom's trophy as well. His kind of sportsman and skill is the most deserving out of any player I've seen this season. Even though St. Louis was probably a big factor in Tampa's performance this season, no one can overlook how Lidstrom has been a man of skill this entire season.

Jack Adams Award: Dan Bylsma, PIT; Barry Trotz, NSH; Alain Vigneault, VAN

This is my favorite trophy and the one where I get to show real praise to coaches. This goes to Barry Trotz. He has been overlooked as the man who couldn't get past the first round with Nashville. Guess what? This year they did make it past the first round and I think because of that and the way that Nashville has persevered this season, this belongs to Barry.

General manager of the year: Mike Gillis, VAN; David Poile, NSH; Steve Yzerman, TB

This is a tough one between Gillis and Yzerman but I think Yzerman did a terrific job in Tampa Bay. Why? He helped improve the offense and defense that Tampa definitely lacked. It helped them not only make the playoffs, but get as far as the conference finals. That to me, even though playoffs don't count, deserves recognition and I believe that the regular season Tampa had deserves the GM of the year to Stevie Yzerman.

Well, that does it for the trophie nominations and my picks. Tonight, we will all see who wins these trophies. I will not be available to see it but good luck to all the players out there who did get nominated and I'll give my analysis tomorrow morning. See you puckheads later!

Nick Lidstrom to Return for 20th Season

The offseason has already begun and even though it might seem early, big headlines are being thrown around the NHL. Coaching hires, player retirements, all that works. But there is one piece of news that stands out the most at this point. And that is the return of Nicklas Lidstrom.

Agreeing to a one-year, $6.2 million contract, Nick Lidstrom will return for his 20th season and not go into retirement. He is a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy, the Mark Messier trophy, and the Norris Trophy that is expected at the upcoming NHL awards in Las Vegas. But Nick Lidstrom is more than just a man who plays well and gets the trophies. He is such a reliable defensemen.

I'm glad he's coming back with the Wings this season because due to the retirement of Brian Rafalski, I'm not sure if the Red Wings can afford any more losses at defense. Yeah, Nick might be in his 40s but he's got the legs and he's proving that he can skate and put his mind on the ice. He has been working hard all these past couple years, making sure his body is perfectly fit to take on the road ahead.

We'll see in the regular season that he's the great defensemen that everyone should fear and love to play against. I, for one, think he's got the shot to win the Stanley Cup next season. Will it happen? Nobody knows that. But one thing's for sure, he'll be back to provide his leadership to a great all-around hard-working team and I think the Wings are grateful for that.



Celebrate Nick Lidstrom's return with this Nick Lidstrom T-Shirt, courtesy of Reebok. Show up to a Red Wings game providing your support for Lidstrom as he shows his elite power in the NHL next season. Only $19.88, you won't want to miss a chance to wear a piece of Lidstrom. Get yours today.

Analyzing the Riots in Vancouver

When you think of Vancouver, you think of beautiful city, sports, fine restaurants, and the Winter Olympics. But did you ever think that it could also be a city where a big riot broke out in the downtown Vancouver? Well, that is exactly what happened Wednesday night.

Right after the Game 7 between the Canucks and the Bruins in which the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, angry protestors and people filed into the downtown streets and started smashing up department stores and looting around for stuff, turning over cars and setting them on fire, and pouring beer down television screens, effectively killing televisions or leaving them drenched in pouring alcohol. Most of the protestors were non-Canuck fans but if you look closely, there are some Canucks fans that support this kind of violence and then go along with it. It's not only in the downtown but it's also near it as well, such as Rogers Arena or towards the outermost edges, but all of the bigger riots happened in the downtown area.

This was the second time the city of Vancouver has seen riots. The last time was after Game 7 in 1994 between the New York Rangers and the Canucks. The Canucks lost and fans and people immediately took to the streets and started tearing it up, but experts say that this one is far more worse and far more violent. They believe it has a greater damage cost than the one in 94.

Here's my take on this: Who are the idiots that take their anger out on their own city? They cause themselves too much trouble and they get arrested for it. I would like to see them act like Americans when they lose: they don't riot (well, in some cities.) I understand that Canada didn't win the Stanley Cup for years, but that's no reason to take to the streets because rioting isn't going to bring the Cup to Vancouver. It's only going to give you criticism for failing to act like respectable fans in a Canadien society. I'm glad the police took care of it, but now Vancouver has a lot of damage to clear up and I hope that the respectable ones out here give a hand and try to clean up the mess the best they can.

I'm a big Vancouver Whitecaps fan, not a Canucks fan, so I find this rather frightening now that every time I go up to Vancouver, I fear for the safety of myself and the ones around me. I hope that Whitecaps fans don't try something like this. Then again, we're not exactly championship material like the Canucks are. I would advise caution for anyone who is planning on flying to Vancouver for the next few weeks or so. This riot has given us the clue that wherever we go, we must learn to control ourselves until we want to destroy our own city and I'm sure nobody wants that.

People in Vancouver need to learn and maybe even in cities that desperately want a championship. In the US, it's different because we riot when we win. I hope there's a change in this because I don't think we can afford to lose millions of dollars to people who act like idiots and destroy our cities. Puckheads, be warned. Don't try something like this if you don't want to see yourselves in jail or in any other trouble with the law.

ABC's Good Morning America has the highlights of the chaotic riots and like the reporter said, it all started with a hockey game.




If you're planning a trip to Vancouver in the early future, why not read up to see what to expect? The Frommer's Vancouver and Victoria 2011 is your guide to all things to see and do in Vancouver and the rest of the British Columbia. Get yours on Amazon.com new for only $12.23 and used for $9.82 and start your Vancouver trip today.

The Boston Bruins Are Your Stanley Cup Champions!!!

Well, it was a hard fought series, a hard fought battle, and a hard fought fight to win one of the most prestigious trophies in all of sports: The Stanley Cup. Tonight, one team was to take the battle while the others were trying to figure out what went wrong. The people of Boston can celebrate in esteem glory tonight as the Bruins are the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions this year!

I won't go into detail about the overall analysis, but Boston was the team that can on fire IN Vancouver. The Canucks were trying to play catch-up and ultimately lost it as the Bruins scored a Game 7 shutout 4-0, and that means Vancouver will have to wait another year for the trophy to come back to their city.

This is the fourth time in the last four years that the esteemed trophy has been won on the opposition's ice which include Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and now Boston. That is pretty impressive that teams can do that on the opposition ice, which makes me more of a believer that the Bruins have a chance to repeat next year.

But we'll talk about next year in the coming days. Right now, I would like to give some word into the magnificent champions that are the Bruins. They came out and they put pressure on the puck all night. Tim Thomas was remarkable in goal, while Roberto Luongo probably shouldn't have started Game 7, in my opinion. The defense of Vancouver looked slightly out of touch, as they were unable to really get pucks past that goalie that is Tim Thomas and while I respectfully agree that the Vancouver offense didn't look half that bad, let's just say the Boston defense and the goaltending knew how to keep their pucks out of the net.

What happened to Vancouver?! I will say that they did not come to play the last two games. They were outshot, outscored, and it seemed like they didn't have much control of their own zone. The defense was shabby, the offense didn't get any help, and Roberto Luongo looked like swiss cheese in that net. That's pretty bad for a team that played pretty well during the regular season. However, it's not the end of the world. A few pieces have to be put back into place. The offense needs to be spiced up, the goaltending is good but it's not A game, and the defense certainly looks like it could use some help. All in all, signs point to Vancouver trying to build themselves up again.



Anyway, congratulations to the Boston Bruins as 2011 Stanley Cup champions! We look forward to seeing you next year. But this is not the end of the blog. Over the next couple days, I'll be blogging more about news now, such as the hirings in Ottawa and Dallas, and uncertainties within the Maple Leafs organization. I'll have all that for you coming up so stay tuned! Keep on it, puckheads! And by the way, Bruins fans, show your pride with this cool Static Cling Decal. The best way for your team to cling onto something during this offseason. Only $1.99 on Amazon. Get yours today.

Which Way Will Game 7 Flow?

Boston Bruins? Vancouver Canucks? This series is going 7? Apparently for both teams, this could be the beginning of a brand-new rivalry in sports. It might not be as awesome and as flashy as the Celtics-Lakers series, but we're about to see it come down to the wire in the all-important Game 7.

The Bruins took Game 6 in a decisive 5-2 victory. The Canucks pulled Roberto Luongo in this game and will be in net for the (once again) all important Game 7. But this game will be nothing more than a series that has seen its share of lopsided victories from the nail-biting 1-0 wins for Vancouver to the blowouts of 8-1 and 4-0 for Boston.

Advantages can be made either way, but Game 7 is in Vancouver and there is a renewed mission for both teams. The Canucks want to win their first-ever Stanley Cup. The Bruins want to win their first Cup in thirty-nine years and prove to the NHL that they are back.

What do I expect in Game 7 that I probably won't see in Game 6? I expect to see a lot more Vancouver offense because I certainly did not see any in Game 6 and it left it up to the defense to take care of the Bruins, who really put the pressure on net as they swiftly defeated Roberto Luongo by all sides of the net.

For Boston, if they want to win this on the road, they have to keep prying at Luongo and keep that Canucks defense second-guessing about what they plan on doing in the offensive zone. Their defense is already tremendous but they'll need to step it up more since that Canucks crowd will get a pretty loud Game 7 noise level.

I don't expect a lot from both teams in Game 7. Maybe a 3-1 Vancouver win or so, but I think the Canucks are on a mission now. They want that first Cup and I believe that they have that home-ice advantage to really show to the others what they think they could do to drive down the intensity of that Boston Bruins defense and offense. So the Canucks will get that first Cup. Sorry, Boston, but Vancouver has ways to win close at home.



Game 7 is tomorrow night. I will not be watching the game since I'm working at a summer job. Apparently, my blog's links didn't collect enough money for my parents to say that I could hop around the country all summer and watch soccer and such. I wish my summer vacation could be saved, but you got to earn money some way. Hope you guys enjoy the game and we'll be looking to see who comes out of Game 7 with that precious Stanley Cup!

For videos, see the links below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-13Skb_Mok&feature=channel_video_title
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EowHtgRhmtc&feature=channel_video_title

Toss Up June 12, 2011

Hey, gang, once again, it's time for a quick few questions located in our Toss-Up today. I've got five questions down for a debate and I'll let you see what I think will happen or what might happen, and if you disagree or agree, then comment below or just say what you feel. All right, let's throw up another few questions on the day.

Chances single tickets are on sale in Winnipeg this season? Unlikely or very highly?
I've heard from sources all around Yahoo! and ESPN and all those sites that Winnipeg has officially sold out all the games in the regular season. So my guess would likely go to unlikely because who the heck goes to Winnipeg? A small town with not very much to do except see a hockey game and go to a few restaurants. What is the big deal here? They're playing in the Southeast. Nobody wants to see teams in the Southeast, except for Tampa and Washington. So no there won't be any single tickets available because nobody's gonna give a care in their first season.

What did you think of Aaron Rome's comment? Fair or Foul?
This was a hit I believe didn't warrant a suspension because it wasn't exactly a blindside hit. He said he wouldn't change anything if he had to do it over again. The Bruins are scorning him because of this. I think that the Bruins need to find ways to stay in this series now and stop thinking about these comments. In terms of Rome's comment, it's fair. I think the hit is justified and I didn't think it required a suspension.

What do you see in the future for young Trevor Gretzky? Impact player or bust?
Gretzky's are no busts. Whether they are playing in the NHL or the MLB, they always find ways to help their teams. I don't think Trevor's going to be much of an impact player with the Cubs because the Cubs have problems with hitting and pitching. He's going to have to go to a good team with a solid manager and ownership situation. I don't understand why the Pirates couldn't get this guy. He'd help that team a lot better. He will be an impact player but probably not for the Cubs.

Where do you think Chris Drury will land? Another team or retirement?
It's not going to be retirement because Drury's got a few years left. I understand the parting between him and the New York Rangers but a good team is going to come along and pick this guy up. Maybe it's the Canadiens or the Kings. Some team out there will give Drury a chance. I think retirement will wait.

What do you think of the Heritage situation? Good or bad idea?
The Heritage Classic started last year in Calgary and it was a success, maybe not for Montreal, but it's a success. If the NHL wants to stage this at some point of the season, it's not a good idea because the teams that are playing are going to get some unexpected words out of Gary Bettman's mouth that they have to play in the Heritage Classic. Announce it now, don't wait until the season starts to tell teams which teams are going to be playing. This is definitely a bad idea; say it before the season starts, not during it.

Well, those are the five questions for the day. Keep checking back for more news and notes around the NHL and watch Game 6 tomorrow in Boston on NBC starting at 5 pm. Enjoy the hockey, puckheads!

Can the Canucks Close It Out?

Not only did the Vancouver Canucks win it, but they're only one win away from getting that very first Stanley Cup.

In case you missed it, the Canucks went back to Vancouver and took Game 5 with a 1-0 victory over Boston, with Maxim Lapierre scoring the only goal in this game. Roberto Luongo was flawless in goal tonight, stopping at 31 shots that were fired at him, but the bigger story coming out of the series was his problems on the road in Boston, with a big 8-1 and 4-0 defeats that almost cost him the starting job tonight at home in Game 5.

Yes, we've seen Roberto Luongo through his up and down times but can he really get himself together going back to Boston with a chance to close it out? The rest of the Canucks are hoping on that, since Boston has not been nice to the Canucks' high-powering offense that has been on all cylinders throughout this entire postseason. Vancouver will have to show up and ultimately prove that they are the team that can win on the road in Boston, and certainly losing by a large margin of goals can only take that dream away.



Their first Stanley Cup is on the line and Vancouver fans are holding on to their dear Canuck jerseys hoping that their team ultimately pulls it off. I don't know how this situation is going to play out. I picked Vancouver to win the entire series, but the Game 6 can be a toss up either way. Vancouver has not proven to me that they can win in Boston in both of the games that they have been there. Meanwhile, Boston's offense at home is more than stellar and they could possibly pull off a Game 6 and a 7 to hoist that cup. Ultimately, though, I still think Vancouver will win.

Game 6 is on Monday. A two days rest could be what is needed for both teams to get their legs together. Vancouver wants to win Game 6 since they don't want the series to go to 7. Meanwhile, Boston is trying to stave off elimination and force it to 7. Will the high-powered Canucks win it? Or will Boston force it to a Game 7? We'll know on Monday, puckheads!

To visit the Game Recap at ESPN.com, visit here:


To visit the ESPN recap by Barry Melrose, visit the YouTube Highlight of the Night on ESPN's channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ESPN?blend=1&ob=5

Return of Reid's Toss-Up

Hey, guess what, puckheads? Due to the increased traffic and productivity I've been putting on my blog, I've decided to bring back the Wednesday Toss-Up. Whoops, sorry. It's not Wednesday Toss-Up anymore. It's called Reid's Toss-Up. I've decided to do my toss-ups on a daily basis from now on. I'll be starting today with five toss-up questions to throw right at you. If you want some of your toss-up questions answered please e-mail me at hoodenterprise@yahoo.com, or write on my page on Facebook (Reid's Hockey Insight). Well, with no further questions, let's get started

Who is more likely to suffer from the Horton hit? Aaron Rome or Alain Vigneault?
Okay, this was a pretty bad hit and I hope Nathan Horton recovers quickly, but he's going to be out for the rest of the playoffs. I think Aaron Rome will face more discipline because this was almost a blindside hit. I don't know if any of the pressure goes on Vigneault because players do this all the time and it's not under the direction of the coach. So I would say Aaron Rome's in hot water right now. He's got four games, basically the rest of the playoffs, but I'm guessing he'll get four for next season as well.



Who deserved to taunt? Milan Lucic or Mark Recchi?
I don't think Mark Recchi is that much of a taunter, is he? All I know is that both of these guys got an earful from Claude Julien after the game because of their taunting. Mark Recchi is too old to taunt. Milan Lucic is younger, he's fiery, he's hungry, and he'll do anything even to the point of taunting to get what he hunts. Who deserves to taunt? Lucic.

Craig Hartsburg landed as an associate coach with the Flames? Good idea or ugly idea?
I don't read into what the Flames do in terms of their coaching. Ever since Mike Keenan left the team, it seems like this team is heading into the dumps. The coach behind the bench is seemingly not caring about how this team operates, so you bring in Craig Hartsburg to help. He came from Ottawa. Ottawa didn't make the playoffs! I don't know if this is a good or ugly idea, but it sounds curious to see if this team actually wins with Hartsburg as an associate coach.

Who should be behind the net for Phoenix next season? Ilya Brzgalov or Jason LaBarbera?
I ask this question because LaBarbera just signed a new two-year deal with the team and Brygalov is a free agent come July, and it sounds like Bryzzy is going to jump to Philadelphia. I think LaBarbera is going to be behind the net for Phoenix next season because I don't know where else they can get a good goaltender. No goaltender in the league would probably want to end up in Phoenix, so my guess is Jason LaBarbera will man that net for the Coyotes.



How will the Canes fare with Rod Brind'Amour as a part of the staff? Not too great or better than expected?
The Carolina Hurricanes are the most up-and-down team in the league today because they seemed to make the playoffs one year and then completely fall flat the year afterwards. I don't think they're going to be better than expected right now, because they have some problems all over the place, particularly on offense because there's no such offense on that team. I don't think they'll do too great but Rod knows what to do, Right now, not too great.

So, there's your five questions to get you back into the toss-up of things. Keep checking back for more questions that I throw up into the air. Some concern players, others concern teams, some are just basic questions about hockey in general, and some might be questions that come out of the blue. So keep checking back, puckheads. You never know what I'll toss up at you. (Haha)

My Analysis of the Tampa Bay Lightning

So close is probably close enough, but for Tampa Bay Lightning fans like myself, you can't help but think if they had just gotten two goals in Game 7 versus the Bruins, they would have been playing in the Stanley Cup Finals versus the Canucks and not the Bruins. But unfortunately that didn't happen and now the Lightning are out and Lightning fans are just hoping that Boston loses to the Canucks so that it can be justified, right?

Absolutely. Many Lightning fans are now hoping that the Bruins lose to the Canucks so that they can gloat and boast at the Bruins all day about not winning the Cup. But that's what I'm writing about today. Today, the Lightning need to look towards the future. And today, I'll talk particularly about their goaltending and their free agency, but all in all, I'll talk about the team too.

So what do we learn from the Tampa Bay Lightning going forward? Well, certainly we learned that this team is for real again because of guys like Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier, and Steven Stamkos stepping up during the season and in the playoffs as well. Offense and the power-play units was the key on this team as they have produced most of their goals on that power-play unit.

Steven Stamkos almost had 50 goals and probably the Rocket Richard trophy at the end of the season, but in the end, Corey Perry (on my first favorite team the Anaheim Ducks) won the Rocket and he or St. Louis might win the Hart Trophy.

But going back to the Lightning, I think their offense has dramatically improved this season and I think that will carry over into next season. However, they will be matched again by Pittsburgh and Washington, especially when Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin come by to Pittsburgh, so it might be a bit of a struggle next season.



In terms of free agency, there are reports coming around that Brad Richards might possibly come back to the Lightning for a reunion with Lecavalier. I haven't seen much of Richards this season so I wouldn't know how good of a player he can be for the Lightning or how much of an upgrade it's going to make this team. But my guess is that he'll probably continue his offensive form as he had always done when he was with the Stars and with the Lightning a few seasons ago.

The goaltending situation was tricky in Game 5 as coach Guy Boucher put in Mike Smith instead of Dwayne Roloson. I didn't think it was a great idea, since Roloson had done a pretty fine job in goal in the second half of the regular season and the playoffs. But people all over Tampa kind of speculate sometimes. In fact, some fans are suggesting that the Lightning acquire Ilya Bryzgalov from the Coyotes when he becomes a free agent in July. It would sound like a reasonable acquisition since we don't know if Roloson will retire anytime soon, although he hasn't given us the information and probably won't. As for Bryzgalov, the Flyers are pretty hungry to get a goaltender that can play and definitely the two goaltenders they have in Philly certainly don't add up for this team, so the Lightning might be on the short end of acquire Ilya, but then again, anything is possible.

The Lightning have some work to do if they are to take that next step to the Stanley Cup. Whether it be from the coach, the front office, or the players, there's going to be some changes that are going to be made, and general manager Steve Yzerman knows what to do in order to make this team a Stanley Cup-winning team.

I Give Aaron Rome More Than 4 Games

When the series moved back to Boston for Game 3, what I didn't expect what a big wipeout, or at least a very serious injury that could've cost the Bruins a man-down. Instead, that is exactly what happened.

In the Bruins' 8-1 crushing of the Canucks, Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome laid out a big hit on the Bruins' Nathan Horton, resulting in a concussion for Horton and a big 4-game suspension for Aaron Rome, which will take him out the rest of the playoffs.

While Nathan Horton's concussion is a very serious matter and one that could possibly end the Bruins' hopes of winning the Stanley Cup this year, the Aaron Rome suspension is not really that stuning or surprising. I've seen this guy do this fare share of almost-blindside hits to players, and he still got off with no suspension. This, however, was a complete embarrassment to a player whose career is always hanging in the balance and one that gives off a few red flags.

The 4 game suspension is definitely a good idea, but I would give the suspension a little more than that. I would probably say at least 4 games of next season as well, which would give him a totaly of eight games in total that he would have to miss. You want to talk about taking out big hits that totally ruin a players' career, how about giving a player exactly what they deserve for their checks? That's why he's getting that four-game suspension.

As for the Nathan Horton injury, all condolences are to him and his family, but it might put the Bruins' chances of winning the Cup in peril. he has been a major factor in how the Bruins have gotten up to this point. Heck, he even scored the lone goal in Game 7 vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has been important to a Bruins team that has been putting all of their time on defense and their goaltender Tim Thomas. But with Nathan Horton out, they'll have their work cut out for him, as they'll be without a big offensive star for the rest of the playoffs. This could put their chances of winning the Cup in peril. So they'll have to look for answers quickly.



For Aaron Rome, I would say 'If you want to give a big hit, I'd rather you not.' The Canucks will probably fare well without him, but then again, the Canucks can lose it all together as they can usually tend to do at times, like their big Game 3 disappointment. Game 4 will tell us who's got the advantage now. Will the Bruins come back to even it? Or this is the Canucks' wind to ride? Only Game 4 will tell, puckheads. It's Wednesday at 5 pm (8 pm ET) on Versus. Hope you're watching then.

This is Aaron Rome's big hit on Nathan Horton and this is why he's getting the rest of the playoffs for it.