Arena Hello Out There, We're On the Air: The Hockey Thread (OVIE PASSES GRETZKY!)

Especially in the last two years.

He'll definetly be missed here in San Jose. I'd really like for him to become a full time broadcaster. Those would be some entertaining games, no matter who is playing.

 

Good player.

 

Apparently during the press confrence someone asked if he would be back in the NHL in another capacity. JR said said "Absolutely, a good friend of mine may help me out there," and he looked over at Sharks GM Doug Wilson so it looks like he may be in the San Jose front office at some point.

 

I understand Jim Basillie will be allowed to join the Phoenix Coyotes' auction. Sparks will fly.

 

Well, today San Jose traded Lukowich and Erhoff to Vancouver for Rahimi and White.

Radio guy on Rahimi and White: "These guys have more of future as prospectors than prospects."

Translation: Salary dump. The Sharks are after Heatley or perhaps Kessel.

 

Yes it's a salary dump but no way are the Sharks after Heatley any more. Erhoff was a key piece of the rumored Heatley deal and with him gone I don't see it happening. Doug Wilson was just making the necessary cap room so the Sharks can simply fill a lineup. Before this trade San Jose was like 3 players short with only $500k of cap room left. I would have liked to get a draft pick in this deal but when you're bumping up against the cap you gotta take what you can get.

As a San Jose fan I'm not gonna miss either of these guys too much. Luko was our #7 D-Man on a good day and Vancouver fans should get used to hearing announcers say "Erhoff...just wide!" because they'll be saying it a lot. "Error-hoff" is good on the PK but makes some questionable choices back in his own zone.

 

Glad you warned me. However, rumours are that the Canucks aren't going to keep both of them.

 

Heatley traded to San Jose

Heatley and a fifth round draft pick have been traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a second round pick.

How does this make you feel, Lando?

 

This is *my* take: this team does not need yet another head case.

 

Wow, this whole thing is surreal. Reminds me of the Joe Thornton trade to be honest: San Jose gives up a handful of fan favorite players who can't quite cut it for one of the best players in the league. Doug Wilson does it again! This is a much better deal the the "Marleau to LA, Stoll and Frolov to the Sens and Heatly to SJ" deal that was announced by ESPN on Thursday night. I had actually texted 5 people about it that night in the half hour between when it was announced and when it was debunked by all 3 GMs. I'm actually glad my hockey pride took a hit after that. Giving up Marleau would have been a HUGE mistake IMO.

It's pretty much the exact deal I was hoping for back in early August. I love Cheechoo but he'll never have another season like he did when won the Rocket Richard trophey. Michalek, while a decent player, was just taking way to long to develop into the star that he was supposed to be. It seemed like every year people were saying "this is his year!" and then nothing happened. I'm actually surprised that SJ didn't have to give up a first round pick in this deal. I think a lot of it had to do with Doug Wilson essentially waiting Ottawa out until the last minute. This also helps out SJ's cap issues even more because Cheech and Milan are both WAY overpayed and total more than Heater.

Heatley should be able to help Thornton become 100+ point scorer again. And while I'm happy that Heatley is joining the team, goal scoring hasn't exactly been San Jose's problem. We still need a strong captain and while I have faith in Marleau and would love to see him reinstated I know a lot of fans have been disappointed. (Heatley will probably complain and request to be traded if he isn't made captain )But frankly, when your captain has his best season in his entire career and scores your only game winning goals in the playoffs it's hard to blame him. He's unfairly become the scapegoat for all of the Sharks playoff losses. His biggest issue is when the fans/media loose faith in him, he tends to loose faith in himself.

Final thoughts: The Sharks top two lines look siiiiiick and I can't wait to see them in action. (I'll be there on Friday for some preseason action against Vancouver)
Heatley-Thornton-Setoguchi
Clowe-Pavelski-Marleau

December 1 against Ottawa will be an interesting game. Plus that's the day after my birthday.

Finally, what do I do with my Jonathan Cheechoo action figure now?
[image=http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a105/darthcolin/IMG_0645.jpg]

 

Engrave "2002-2009" next to his name.

 

What do I do with my 50% off Dany Heatley t-shirt, that I bought just to anger Sens fans?

 

Gaborik.

 

I don't see the point of the Kessel trade.

 

He wants too much money and the B's are tight against the cap. Plus there is rumors around Boston that management just doesn't like his attitude and work ethic.

Bruins unveiled their Winter Classic uni's yesterday:

[image=http://cdn.nhl.com/bruins/images/upload/2009/09/WCBergeron-large.jpg]

 

...and a lot of people say the Leafs need scoring. I think they did well offensively last season, but I would gladly take Kessel.

 

TSN is saying the deal is close to being done!

 

I'm goin to see San Jose and Vancouver tonight. Heatly won't be playing though.
At least I'll get to see Lukowich and Erhoff one last time at least.

 

Kessel to the Leafs for two first rounders and a second....signs 5 year/$27 million contract

It's a risky move for sure but I hope it pays off for us.

 

I disagree. I think everyone would agree he's worth at least a 1st and 2nd. The other 1st will hopefully be no better than 8th, 9th, or 10th(worst case scenario). If you look at the list of the 8th, 9th, and 10th picks from 95-2005, they aren't that spectacular.

Terry Ryan
Kyle McLaren
Radek Dvorak
Jonathan Aitken
Ruslan Salei
Lance Ward
Sergei Samsonov
Nick Boynton
Brad Ference
Mark Bell
Michael Rupp
Nikolai Antropov
Taylor Pyatt
Jamie Lundmark
Branislav Mezei
Nikita Alexeev
Brent Krahn
Mikhail Yakubov
Pascal Leclaire
Tuomu Ruutu
Dan Blackburn
Pierre Marc Bouchard
Petr Taticek
Eric Nystrom
Braydon Coburn
Dion Phaneuf
Andrei Kostitsyn
Alexandre Picard
Ladislav Smid
Boris Valabik
Devin Setoguchi
Brian Lee
Luc Bourdon

 

I take the point, and another point is that Burke isn't the best drafter. But those names don't take into account good late first round choices, and there's usually one or two every year.

 

HaHa I love this commercial. Anyone else have any good local commercials for your team?

 

Sundin retires

I think most people saw this coming but it still sucks to actually hear the news.