Blog Ticker: - Whats BrewinStock coming 3/20 in Jersey City...Michelle Kenneth has a new challenge for you. - Bruins and Rangers in dogfight for 8 spot in East. - Brian Campbell out up to 8 weeks after Grade 2 concussion and multiple injuries. (report and hat tip to Hendrick's Hockey). - Ovechkin gets 2 games for being a repeat offender...I guess Matt Cooke was not one? Hmmmm. - Want to make some money with some cool fantasy hockey skills? Try 365 Fantasy Hockey! - Some of the top blogs....enjoy! - The Odd Woman Rush from Cycle Like The Sedins in parts...1...2...3...and 4. - Thanks to PuckCentral...this list of beat writers who have blogs all right HERE! - Cider's up!!!!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Videos Before Bedtime!!!

BallHype: hype it up!


Sorry for the messed up lineups today. Thanks to Ryan who covered for me while Time Warner was playing its usual upgrade fest. Hopefully by Wednesday...all of their bugs will be out of the system and life will return to sort of normal or as normal as could be expected. We have some videos that have been taking up space....time to let them out.




Edina Today....




NHL 2k10 cover guy AO!




John Tavares with Upper Deck.



Have a great night!!!!

My Draft Thoughts

The biggest surprise for me during the first round was how far Jordan Schroeder fell. I felt like he was a top 15 pick but looking at the draft as a whole, size matter this year. Coming out of the lockout size hasn't been an issue before the lockout.

This weekend, I felt like teams were drafting on size. I was surprised how high Nick Leddy went. In my mock draft, I had him as a later first rounder. The Wild did the right thing by drafting down. I believed they could have picked up a few more extra picks by trading down even more.

It brings me to my next point, I had no idea who would be selected next after the first seven picks went. Teams had different opinions then the mock drafts and rankings I had seen before the draft.

I was surprised Ryan Ellis went to the Nashville Predators because I think they are all set on defense. At the sametime, we are in the salary cap age now, so it will be tough to keep Weber, Suter, Ellis, Blum, and Franson three years down the road.

I liked the Islanders being aggressive and getting Calvin de Haan. I was hoping he would be at 25 for the Bruins to select him.

I think the new trend from now on is goalies aren't going to be selected in the first round unless they are elite. Goalies who I thought were late 1st round or second round players went in the third round or later. Goalies I thought were late round picks went earlier then I expected.

I felt bad for Olivier Roy who I thought could have been one of the first goalies taken went in the fifth round. He has the skills but lack size which made him fall.

That's My Take

BallHype: hype it up!

Why Ellis is a good fit with Nashville

BallHype: hype it up!
The reaction at the Predators’ draft party at O’Charley’s in Franklin, TN wasn’t kind to the Predators’ pick of Ryan Ellis. Boos filled the restaurant and disgruntled fans started to make their way to the exits. The popular pick with the fans would have been forward Jordan Schroeder, who fell to the Canucks at #22. And yes, I feel the pain of Preds fans that disagreed with GM David Poile’s decision… flashy/exciting forwards are always nice to have. But it’s also nice to have a premier puck-moving defenseman in your organization.

Ellis, at 5’9” and 173, has a wicked slap shot from the point and is very reliable in his own end. He racked up 89 points in 57 games for Windsor of the OHL this season, who won the Memorial Cup. He’s also not afraid to show a gritty side to his game, and lay a big hit on his opponent. Ellis projects to be a premier power play quarterback when he arrives to the NHL.

Poile’s philosophy has always been on the defensive side of the puck… it seems like he always picks more d-men than forwards! But after Blum, Franson, and Sulzer, there are not many defensemen in the Preds’ system that is a guarantee to come to Nashville. Those 3 will eventually make it to the NHL in the next 1-2 years. Sulzer & Franson could step in this season. Ellis offers more depth to the defense in the system that the team needed, whether the fans like it or not. Poile also picked up a solid forward in Zach Budish with the 41st pick. Budish was supposed to be a 1st round pick, but missed most of last season with a knee injury suffered playing high school football. He'll surely fully recover from the injury, and is a big power forward that the Preds will be lucky to have in the lineup in 2-3 years.

I understand offense is the current need on the roster, but Jordan Schroeder won’t be ready for the NHL for at least 2 more years (like Ellis). He is going to be a good player with the Canucks, but Ellis is going to be a perfect fit for the Predators. I’d understand the displeasure if the Preds were at #4 and picked Jared Cowen over Evander Kane, but this is different. The more I think about this pick, the more I like it for Nashville…

FA Spotlight.... 3 more!!

BallHype: hype it up!

Chris' internet is down again... so I'm here to save the day!!
Here are more UFA previews posted over at the Red Light District.


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MIKE KNUBLE

Height: 6’3”
Weight: 230
Shoots: Right
Age: 36

2008/09 Salary: $2.8 million
Projected 09/10 Salary: $2.5-3.0

2008/09 Stats: 82 GP, 27 G, 20 A, +5
Playoff Stats: 6 GP, 2 G, 1 A

Possible Suitors:
1. Washington
2. Detroit
3. Anaheim
4. Buffalo
5. San Jose
6. Columbus
7. Nashville
8. Minnesota


Favorite: Washington
Dark horse destination: Columbus


At 36, Mike Knuble can still be a very affordable 20-30 goal scorer in this league. He will improve any power play, scoring 36 goals on the man advantage in the last 3 years. Knuble is just a couple years removed from the 30-goal plateau, and could reach it again if given more opportunities on another team. I don’t think he’ll be going back to Philly, even though he wants to. The Chris Pronger acquisition will cap-strap Philly, and Knuble likely won’t be in the plans. I’m sure he wants to win, so Washington, Detroit, and Anaheim are instant fits. But teams that had poor power plays (Nashville, Columbus) could seek his services.

Current Prediction:
Washington Capitals (2 yrs, $5.6 mil)

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ERIK COLE

Height: 6’2”
Weight: 205
Shoots: Left
Age: 30

2008/09 Salary: $4.0 million
Projected 09/10 Salary: $2.75-3.5

2008/09 Stats: 80 GP, 18 G, 24 A
Playoff Stats: 18 GP, 0 G, 5 A, -5

Possible Suitors:
1. Carolina
2. Dallas
3. NY Islanders
4. Ottawa
5. Nashville

Favorite: Carolina
Dark horse destination: Nashville


Cole had an up-and-down campaign with Edmonton & Carolina this past season. He was traded to the Oilers on July 1 last year, and things didn’t quite work out there. Cole was traded back to Carolina at the deadline. His return sparked a huge push by the ‘Canes to lock up a playoff spot. But his success didn’t transfer over to the postseason, where he only tallied 5 assists in 18 games. His market value took a big hit in the playoffs. I think you’re going to see him go on the market on Wednesday, and realize there’s not much interest in him given his past health issues. In the end, I can’t really see him re-signing with the Hurricanes as they’ll be going in a different direction… I think a trip to Big D could be in his sights.

Current Prediction:
Dallas Stars (3 yrs, $10 mil)

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JOHNNY ODUYA

Height: 6’0”
Weight: 200
Shoots: Left
Age: 27

2008/09 Salary: $0.6 million
Projected 09/10 Salary: Around $3 mil

2008/09 Stats: 82 GP, 7 G, 22 A, +21
Playoff Stats: 7 GP, 0 G, 0 A, +3

Possible Suitors:
1. New Jersey
2. San Jose
3. Tampa Bay
4. Atlanta
5. Minnesota

Favorite: New Jersey
Dark horse destination: Minnesota


The ex-7th round pick by the Capitals has developed into a really solid defenseman with the Devils in a matter of 3 seasons. Oduya picked up a career-high 29 points this year in New Jersey, and those numbers can only go up. There will be a lot of suitors for Oduya if he hits the market Wednesday… but I see a return trip to the Devils by then. It’s a good fit for both parties.

Current Prediction:
New Jersey Devils (4 years, $12 million)

This Day In Hockey History (6/29)

BallHype: hype it up!


Back to Monday....and today it gets closer to the Frenzy....just two days away. What is in the vault? A very good question. Time to take a closer look and reveal the video and the moment after the jump.




From the combine last month.....now the moment.



June 29, 1965

Former NHL center Brian Lawton born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Lawton played in the NHL 1983-84 through 1992-93 with Minnesota, the New York Rangers, Hartford, Quebec, Boston and San Jose.