Hawks and Raptors. What do they have in common?

Too much on my mind not to write again. In this chapter; More Blackhawks news, Raptors, current and old, let it rip, youngster's at the X Games, a little gossip on the Kaberle front.

Yet again, we talk about the Chicago Blackhawks. Its pretty hard not to when every other day something is happening to dismantle the team. Antti Niemi took the Hawks to arbitration and won a significant raise, 2.75 million is what was handed down. The Hawks had 2 days to match. The only problem, they were hoping it would be more closer or lower then 2 million. They are over the cap already. This would not help their Cap issues. Looks like the Hawks decided to go in another direction, signing former Dallas Star Marty Turco to a 1 year 1.3 million dollar contract. I can't help but wonder if they would have let Nick Hjalmarsson go, that this would have happened. Its really a travesty, losing so many pieces to their Cup winning team, and now losing, what really could be a very good goaltender for years to come in Niemi. Some team is looking at this going, i'll sign this guy for 2.75 mill, no problem. Now the Hawks are stuck with two extremely underachieving goaltenders in Turco and Huet. Bowman says they are going with Turco and Crawford as their goaltenders this year. Don't like these chances. They are going to burry Huet's contract in the minors and free some cap space that way, except they still have to sign 5 more guys to fill the roster. Lets see what Bowman has up his sleeve to make this team whole. If i was Bowman, now that Niemi is an unrestricted free agent, i would trade his rights for some prospects, try and get depth back in the system. Good Luck, your going to need it.

Toronto Raptors GM, Bryan Colangelo, figured he'd better get his digs in on Chris Bosh. Colangelo called out the former Raps star saying; "Bosh mentally checked out or, you know, just wasn't quite into it down the stretch, he wasn't the same guy. And I think everybody saw that, just no one wanted to acknowledge it." No doubt Bosh was thinking of the off season and the chance to play with Wade and James. I sure don't think he "checked out" as Colangelo states. Now if we are talking about anyone "checking out" LeBron James quit on the Cavs, and i think everyone seen it, it was glaringly obvious. Anyways, I thought this was a bit of a low blow, why come out weeks after he signed with the Heat and express this, who cares, hes gone, and its all in the past. Maybe if you would have put a more competitive team on the court Bosh would have stayed. To make matters more interesting another former disgruntled Rap, Hedo Turkoglu slammed Colangelo and the Raps organization saying; ''People have to realize something is wrong with that organization and nobody wants to go there any more,'' Turkoglu said. ''It's not just the players who see this.'' I would make a case for Hedo, that he "checked out" last season, he didn't play up the standards in which he was capable of. He was extremely lackluster. Either way, i think both are out of line in their comments. Just shut your mouth. Or heck twitter it, everyone is doing it these days.....................

I was watching the X Games this weekend, particularly the street skate event. I was shocked to see two kids competing in the competition. Curren Caples 14 years old and Pedro Barros 15 years old, were competing against guys like Rune Glifberg, Bucky Lasek, and Andy McDonald, seasoned Vets of the sport. What a ride it must have been for these two kids. Both Curren and Pedro were ripping out tricks like nothing on this street course. They were so good they both made it to the final session.I couldn't believe how amazingly talented these kids were. They are doing tricks on the course not even the vets were trying. After it was all said and done, Pedro Barros took home the Gold medal, WOW!!! I bet Andy Mac and Bucky Lasek were like "dude, this kid half my age just spanked me at my own game". I've been watching the X Games the past couple of years, especially the skate and BMX sessions. The young guns are sure re-inventing the street skate thats for sure. The vets are going to have to adapt to the new way of skating the street courses. Andy McDonald who has won Gold i believe 2 or 3 years previous, is most adapted, he seems to be more in tune with these young kids. Where as watching Rune and Bucky they were pretty old school, running lines and doing a few air and rail tricks. I am super excited to see more and more evolution of this event in the years to come as the kids just keep getting better and better and younger and younger. Grats to those two kids! Skaters everywhere are jealous!

So, a little rumor mill on the Kaberle front. Toronto still hasn't received an offer worth trading Tomas for. Burke said he was going to pick it up a notch in August to see who was really interested and serious in acquiring Kaberle's services. Anaheim traded Wisenewski to the Isles this past week, a good puck moving defencemen. The Ducks also lost Neidermayer to retirement, Beauchmin to Toronto last year as well as Pronger to Philly. Are they possibly getting ready to make a bid for a top defencemen again? Maybe Kaberle? Could there be a Getzlaf or Ryan for Kaberle trade in the works? This is really just a fantasy for me. Getzlaf is pretty far fetched, but Ryan doesn't want to sign long term in Anaheim and that could be a possible trade. Burke drafted Ryan, so i wouldn't be surprised to see him try to get him. Could you see Kessel, Ryan and Versteeg as the top scorers this year? I could go for that. But its just a dream. I do however think that it is a real possibility for Ryan. We'll see what comes of it.

Thanks for reading!

Oh I heard the best thing the other day. "I wish my lawnmower was emo, so it would cut itself" LMAO!!! :D

Offseason Hockey and other news

This is the first blog i've written in a loooong while. So bare with me.

The one thing i have been dying to talk about is the Calgary Flames off-season pick ups. Olli Jokinen, was a distraction in the locker room and not a team player according to the Flames when they traded him to the Rangers at the deadline last season. I wonder what changed in a handful of games on another team? Apparently a lot, they brought him back. Another former Flame is back as well, Alex Tanguay. Now he did pretty good his last go with the team. Darryl Sutters reasoning for bringing the two back: They were under too much pressure with the big contracts they had playing there the first time around. Lame excuse! I'm still not sure of the thinking on this. Iggy and Jokinen had very little chemistry the whole time they played together, they won't have it this year either. Why they settled for these two guys without going and pursuing some of the other talents, i'm not sure. They are no further ahead then they were last year. In fact i'd have to say they are worse. They have all the crap from the Leafs and Rangers along with the same team (and a few rookies) they did last year. Great job Sutters!!!! Get out of town.

Steve Yzerman is the new GM of the Lightning. I was a little surprised he took this job. I guess though you got Vinny, St. Louis and Steven Stamkos, Hedman. That's a decent core to build around. They now have two potential starters in Ellis and Smith. At least when ones sucking it up the other will hopefully be able to step up. The one move I am very impressed with is the Simon Gagne trade. Get a talented guy for a 5th round draft pick, what a steal of a deal! For the lightnings sake, he'd better stay healthy, even if he plays half the games, a 5th round draft pick!!!!!!!!

Lets talk about the Stanley Cup champs! They had to win it this year or it was over. With in the first week after they won, Stan Bowman was dismantling his team. The problem i see with this is.......he traded away a bunch of the guys who were the big reason they won the cup. Byfuglien and Versteeg were integral parts of the playoff run. Think of Claude Lemieux, he was quiet during the season but during the playoffs that's the guy you wanted on your team. That is the same with these two. Byfuglien had 11 goals, 5 of them were game winners. Every game Versteeg scored the Hawks won. Pierre McGuire seems to think the Hawks will be a dynasty. I have a hard time believing that. Another thing I can't believe is WHY, Bowman matched the offer from the Sharks for Hjalmarsson? REALLY?!?!??! You traded Versteeg at 3 mill a year cuz you couldn't afford his contract, yet you keep a guy who is more then replaceable for over 3 mill a year. COME ON!!!!! Its ok i'm more then ok having Kris on my team!

Serves Devils and Kovalchuck right on the rejection of his 17 year contract! I'm glad the league finally put its foot down. I just wish they would have made a statement with Rick DiPietro's contract a few years ago for 15 years. I understand why they try to stretch it out, i mean if you can manipulate the cap for it to work in your favour why not. But this was just ridiculous, the guy isn't going to play for 17 more years, he'll be 44, its possible, look at Chris Chelios. I just don't believe this guy loves the game to play that long, he loves the money.

That's all i got for now, i'll try to write again at some point :) When something strikes my fancy.