I was told once there was this funny nut on Bloguin that made me laugh hysterically.  Kevin has assembled a fine team in that never ending quest to blow up the Death Star.  Seriously, Kevin and his merry band of friend continue to make us laugh, think, drink plenty, and get a little angry every so often.  There are so many ways to go here but I still swear the Devils post is just wrong on so many levels.  I had my own list and here it goes:

The Islanders should be moved to a third world hockey country so they never make those cupcakes.

Neil Smith was their best GM in the last 15 years and he lasted less than a month and a half.

I am still waiting for Alexei Yashin to come off the books.

The Isles should have been allowed to go to China...and stay there.

Garth Snow is the sidekick from Wayne's World that no one knew about.

Only the Isles can drag out the DiPietro mess longer than the amount of F-bombs he uses on Versus.

Lastly, the Isles have had more man games lost to injury than anyone else in the last decade...you would think the basement would be its own hospital.

Okay enough on that kind of humor.  I will have to leave that to the experts.  The NHL Draft Kegs, the real interviews with actual people, and A Handy Guide For Beginners are just a few of my favorite columns.  If you have not read them, go do so now.  Simply I have known Kevin and company for the past 3 to almost 4 years and honestly there are few blogs quite like his out there.  Kevin knows a lot about the serious side of hockey as well.

The fact that The Enforcer, Loser Domi, and Ryan are along for the ride just shows how much BMR has grown.  Everyone remembers the mullet that Kevin worships to.  It is that mullet that clearly drives the humor that makes BMR what it has become today.  If you want to laugh and you want your hockey mixed in like a hard alcoholic cocktail, then Barry Melrose Rocks is for you.  Go try it today...you will not be disappointed...I guarantee it!

Speculation is flowing that a representative for the Los Angeles Kings has or will be asked to testify early next week during the Ilya Kovalchuk arbitration case.  This was the reaction from the Kings camp........and your hockey moment of zen.....

Ian Gooding is one of the best fantasy hockey guys out there that I know.  Just go to fantasyhockey.com and be amazed at what is there.  Besides host of the Weekly Slapshot on BTR's Fantasy Sports Channel, Ian runs the site and backs up his predictions with top notch fantasy information.

This roundtable is from Ian's mind and consists of 11 questions.  Some of the fantasy pundits from his mock draft have weighed in already....it would be great if everyone could toss a few in themselves.  Here goes something.....

I think Taylor Hall and Eberle are going to cause quite a stir in Edmonton similiar to what Kane and Teows did in Chicago their rookie seasons. For Seguin, I agree that the depth in Boston could slow him down, but the Bruins roster is loaded with injury-prone forwards. He should emerge quickly and should compete for the team scoring title...and he has a much better chance than Hall of getting some playoff experience this year. So I'd say more points for Hall, but more success for Seguin. (Evan Reynar)

Taylor Hall will be better than Tyler Seguin in 10-11 simply because he will be a top line player in Edmonton. I disagree that Hall and Eberle will match Kane and Toews this year, or ever. Hall's talent is less than Kane's and Eberle's is less than Toews'. But that is not to say that Hall and Eberle will not be a fantastic tandem for years to come. (Steve Ives)

I wouldn't guarantee that Hall OR Seguin play anything resembling top line minutes. Just because Hall is (apparently) ready for the NHL doesn't mean that they're going to throw him in there and play him 20 minutes a game. Edmonton has absolutely no reason to rush Hall along, because despite the young talent that's beginning to stack up in their system, they're still 2-3 years away from being a playoff team. As with 90% of rookies, you should never draft them too high - look at how badly Tavares dropped off in the second half last year. Buyer Beware on both Hall and Seguin this year. (BIGG)

As July winds down, there are just a couple more moments.  Tonight after firing the computer back up from the dead, we have a nice little moment from just seven years ago.  I almost forgot this player did play for the Detroit Red Wings.  Oops!

Good morning to all of our readers.....

Two years of The Program is a pretty amazing thing.  I wanted to thank our audience and readers most wholeheartedly.  Rest assured, there will be much more coming down the road.  This has been more than any one of us on this journey could ever expect.  That journey is far from over.  So we keep on trying to make it better.

On the show last night, there was simply a ton going on.  Go listen to the archive everyone.  It was a priceless show.  Leahy, Proteau, Compton...just to name a few.  Here is a toast to everyone.  Get ready for a fun ride and thanks again.

Sincerely,

Chris Wassel

Director Of The Program

Much apologies for the lack of posting but as always we try to improvise on The Program. Today on this moment, we type from a stormy ocean. Today a gem from 25 years ago.

July 29, 1985

Jean Perron replaced Jacques Lemaire as Head Coach of the Montreal Canadiens. Lemaire resigned to became an Assistant to Managing Director Serge Savard and Director of Hockey Personnel.

While we wait for Blake Wheeler's arbitration decision...who knows what he will ultimately be awarded with.  That being said, we have a recipe for hockey players that is both enjoyable and helpful to the hockey player from a nutritional point of view.

This one for the hockey guy or lady out there.....is simply called.....

Black Cherry Chicken

2 packages of chicken breast...(butterfly if needed)

2/3 can of Black Cherry Soda

1 tbsp sesame ginger marinade

4 ounces Hawaiian marinade

4 ounces Teriyaki marinade

2-3 ounces Maple Syrup

2 tsp cinnamon sugar

2 tsp lemon and herb seasoning

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 really big grill

1 meat mallet

To make a good marinade...wash the chicken extremely vigorously...to avoid any contamination and to take any of the salty taste out...or at least most of it. Put the first few breasts in.....pour 4 ounces of the soda on top of the chicken...then season with half of the marinades and seasonings. Then stir a plenty! After stirring, add the remainder of the ingredients...soda first of course.

Why the meat mallet you may ask?  Simple...you want the chicken breasts just flat enough to cook evenly and retain the marinade.  You can also use black cherries (take pits out) and blend in with a little sprite as well.

Now comes the fun part...if you don't have time...get the grill up to about 350 to 400...and grill about 4-6 minutes on each side...less if you have a 3 or 4 burner grill (about 3-5 minutes). Use a direct cooking method (cooking with all burners). Use the discard marinade and spoon it slowly on top of the chicken. If you have time....sear the chicken for about 90 seconds to 2 minutes on each side...and then cook with the left and right burners on...make sure the middle burner is off (where you put the chicken)...then spoon marinade slowly every so often. Then check the chicken to see if its done...usually when the juices run clear or the chicken has no more pink means it is done. Drizzle the chicken with any leftover marinade...sprinkle with lemon juice..and EAT!!! YUM!!!!

This is a recipe that will pack on the calories without killing you.  Also, you can add a simple rice with applesauce on the side that will make the chicken taste that much better.  Enjoy.

Before we exit Stage Right for a few hours....I wanted to say go check out RLD Hockey Talk tonight at 8pm ET on Blog Talk Radio as Ryan and Anthony talk to Lany Schwartz and the incomparable Kevin Allen of USA Today.  This promises to be a great show.

That being said, we will also leave you with a hockey moment of zen.....

This one is kind of important in a sense for this player.  Alex Frolov is at a crossroads of sorts.  He did sign a 1 year, 3 million dollar contract and that now has been confirmed by many sources.  Here is today's question.

Just how many points will Alex Frolov get this year playing with Marian Gaborik?

A. Less than 40

B. 41-50

C. 51-60

D. 61-70

E. over 70

Keep in mind, the Rangers do not set the world on fire scoring wise and the health of Gaborik is always a question.  Fire away on twitter, facebook, or here on Bloguin.

TELEVISED!

To be honest and I may irk some Penguin and Caps fans here but frankly I do not care.  I am not interested in the "Versus Classic" between the Penguins and Capitals on January 1st.  Yes this presser is going on live on the NHL Network but I would much rather watch some of the more entertaining arbitration hearings on TV.

Could you have imagined Sean Avery sitting across from Glen Sather or Lou Lamoriello sitting across from any player?  By the way, Alex Frolov has signed with the Rangers as well.  Frolov, by the way, would be a great player to go to an arbitration hearing to see.  However, the one that has caught my eye is the Blake Wheeler hearing.  Let's face it.  Boston has a bit to lose here and they have been known to walk away from awards though most say they will not here.  However, you never know.

Is this an idea that should be pitched to NHL Network execs.  I think it may be a time to start a campaign as far as getting arbitration hearings on television.  Sure there are not that many but come on, there are quite a few memorable ones.  By the way, we had one walkaway this year as the Thrashers walked away from Clarke MacArthur's 2.4 million dollar award.

Plus there is the added bonus of potential tears not shed by us or the angst of some fans who do not care about Gary Bettman's wet dreams.  To some, that may be too much information but this video from last year is still a gem and should have more views somehow.

Though most teams avoid arbitration hearings like the Isles did with Matt Moulson signing him to a 1 yr, 2.45 million dollar deal, some teams and players almost feel destined to go to arbitration.  Like I said before, NHL arbitration hearings on TV would be must see TV even for the few we actually get this time of year.

The analysts would have to be the team's TV guys simply to add to the homerism with one neutral party as an additional commentator.  The whole hearing could be televised or parts that are nonconsequential could be edited out.  I figure a 2 hour slot for one hearing should be enough with post analysis after.  So hockey fans, lend me your ears.  What do you think of this?