Roy Signs with Flames

Roy, one of the many crazy players in the NHL decided to go to the meccah of Douchery, so he can see what being a REAL douche is about. And don't worry, he'll learn from the best. Where I don't quite understand why the Avs 'tough up' quite a bit since hockey season ended (May 1st), the flames are doing all they can to turn their 'Hockey team' into a fistfight gang.

The only thing I'd like to see is for them to all start kicking each other's face in.

In the link it says they're hiring LW like crazy, because they miss Owen Nolan. I don't believe that. In my book, "Owen Nolan crazy" doesn't compare to "Andre Roy crazy". They must really miss Eric Godard with the signings they made this off-season.

[promoted. thanks Doc! - Joe]

I'm certainly not as qualified or in the know as Jori is about the Avs' system, but I was at the development camp today (Saturday).  Honestly, I was a little disappointed.  There wasn't much actual play occurring, just drills, so it was difficult to really get a feel for some of the players.  Rookie camp is much better in this regard -- they run drills then just scrimmage.  On the other hand, there's no college prospects at rookie camp, so it's your only real chance to see them with the Avs.

- As Jori says, the 2 prospects expected to outshine the others did, for certain.  Hensick was head and shoulders above most of his group on all drills, and Jones made pretty much everyone around him look silly, even though he still can't finish consistently.  They're both ready.  Hensick lost an edge on one drill and went hard into the boards, which clearly hurt him a lot...but he didn't miss a drill.  Good man.

- Two of the guys I most wanted to see were Shattenkirk and Mercier -- I've heard a lot about them various places.  Well, they're both for real.  Shattenkirk is on the smaller side for sure, but he was aggressive and well-positioned on D, and a smooth skater with great puck-handling and passing skills.  He ate up just about everyone on the 1 on 1 drills.  I'd guess he's about 2-3 years out, but he looks like a good bet on the main squad. 

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Over at some Inventor spot website they have named the Top 10 sports logos.

I don't quite know what criteria they used but it seems more based on the team's reputation and history and not about the best logo. The top ten are:

10. Toronto Maple Leafs

9. Green Bay Packers

8. NY Mets

7. Miami Dolphins

6. Chicago Bulls

5. Chicago Bears

4. Montreal Canadiens

3. LA Lakers

2. NY Yankees

1. Detroit Red Wings

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Don't bother going until Friday.  They wont begin the on-ice sessions until the 11th.  I called Family Sports yesterday and the players will be on the ice around 9:30 AM.  I believe the sessions run through Tuesday, but others say it's only through Sunday.  At any rate, I'll be out there Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  So, say hello if you see me (trust me....I'm not that hard to spot :-) )!!!

Henrick Zetterberg spent a lot of time promoting his Easton products. He can do this, because he's so good at Hockey, he doesn't need to practice. Good for him.

He also likes getting payed only 2.9M, working for an evil organization. It's not like he does so, because he has any personal grudge against the Avs, right?

My Name Is Henk

Wait, what now?

We have a goalie that wears No. 31.

I know the Avs haven't showed up, playing against the Wings, this year but now they're poking us with sticks! Thank god this year we finally have a team capable of not only defeating the Wings, but also humiliating them.

Ho$$a? Sakic?

ouch.

While this may not be Avs-based news, I saw earlier how much Joe despised the idea of hosting a Winter Classic on Wrigley Field - so it looks like the NHL is out to spite him once again.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3476329

There hasn't been an official announcement, and I know how much some of you looooove ESPN, so take it as you will, but keep your ears open for a possible announcement next week.

I'm glad they're not putting the Penguins in the game again as some of the mumblings had said.  While I love the Pens, the Winter Classic should use its rather high profile to show off everything the league has to offer, not just the poster child.

The roster seems about set.  Joe is leaving for a week.  So let's talk line/pairing combos, eh?  Reply with your lines and pairings -- with/without Joey, pipe dream lines, lines you think will actually happen -- whatever you want.

I'll start:

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The title says it all.  No word on money yet, just a one year deal. We're gonna see this guy a lot next year, assuming he doesn't get hurt or scratched.  I personally hope parker pounds the crap out him in the first game we play, and injures him for the rest of the year.  And i don't like seeing guys hurt, even phadouche.  Speaking of phadouche, it looks as though he's no longer public enemy no. 1 on the flames.

Burnside on the Cap System

Please read the above article before continuing. 

Done?  Good!  We can have a chat.

I know we all love our Avalanche - seeing Super Joe light the lamp, or Roy make that great save is (or was) always an amazing experience.  We were lucky to have a team that great for that long.  Now, if you follow what people have been saying on MHH, we see the changing of the gaurd - a changing of play style's.  Gone are players like Alex Tanguay, Drury, etc, and in are players like Tucker, Lappy, and Ledin. The cap has changed our team. The cap has changed every team,  unless of course you are Detroit. Bastards. :)

The point I am trying to make is that the cap is fundamentally flawed - I understand that the owners needed a cap to survive, or so they say, but now that the cap continues to rise every season, the lower market teams can't survive.  This situation makes me sad for a couple of reasons:

1.) The teams he mentions - like Atlanta, for example - can't afford to make the minimum salary, and thus can't function under the cap. Why is this bad, you ask?  Because as much as we may not like it, Atlanta (and other cities) have an NHL team and we *should* do everything in our power to make sure they succeed.  If they succeed, then Hockey grows in signifigance, something it seriously lacks right now. Having a cap, where they MUST spend $40+ mil doesn't seem to do this, does it?

2.) If this is what the owners wanted - and since they are the ones spending the money it is obvious they did, why the HELL did I have to loose a season of hockey to get this?  The comment has been made that we are back to the same level of spending as before the lockout, and that is just plain insane.  Where did these GM's get their jobs from?  Do they even understand basic economic theory?

My rant is finished.  Thanks.

Just saw that TSN has a list of players who have filed for salary arbitration with their respective teams.  Of interest to us, of course, is that Svatos is on that list. 

I don't really understand how he can expect to make more money when it seems that he suffers at least one major injury a season. Of course he can score, which is good - but that is about all the guy can do - he's so small and light-weight that he can't actually play quality defense.

What do you all think?  Is this another example of FG trying to low-ball players?  I'm unsure. Liles and Wolski both signed deals at a good value, why can't Svatos do the same thing?

Here is a link to the TSN story: TSN Arbitration Story.