Guys (and Gals) -

I'm going to the Chicago Wolves Game with some friends on Friday.  I selected this game because a.) its on a Friday, and b.) its against Lake Erie.

I'm wondering if you guys would like me to watch out for anything (or anyone) in particular?  Who's the current starting goalie down there? Any particular Forward or D-man that you guys want me to keep an eye on? 

I'll try and snap some photos for everyone.

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

*Update*: Eklund (I know, crap usually) is reporting that we're close to resigning him.

So, I know we just traded Smyth away in a move to dump salary.  But honestly, I refuse to believe that we are done with moves this off-season.  We need offensive help, and maybe a return trip by Alex, a left winger could be in the cards?  What do you guys think?  Is he too expensive?  He doesn't seem to have many takers yet, and he *might* be had for cheaper than Smyth was.

His last season stats:

GP 50 G 16 A 25 Pts 45

But he is only two seasons removed from:

GP 81 G 22 A 59 Pts 81

And that 81 point season was with Iron Mike in Calgary. 

So, MHH readers, what do you think?

We've had a lot of talk going on around here about problems with the Avalanche organization.  The Story linked at the bottom here is a prime example.

To me, it shows that Stan the Man didn't expect his team to get far at all in the playoffs, and as such he was more interested in making money.  I really hope they can get this figured out, so that then the Nuggets can focus on beating Kobe and the evil Lakers - but still this is embarrasing. 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=An0.GPXmDXfuWklJrNSZGdY5nYcB?slug=ap-nba-wweconflict&prov=ap&type=lgns

With mounting injuries - Sakic, Tucker, Willsie, Foote, etc.  Do any of you expect more calls to Lake Erie soon? 

I would be excited to see what Stewart could do here at the NHL level and with all these mounting injuries, he may get his chance.  T.J. Hensick has played pretty well since his call up, providing some spark on an otherwise anemic offensive team, but that seems to have waned a little bit, maybe Stewart - or some other call up, could have a more lasting effect?

What do you guys think?

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.

Foote: 2 years/6 MIL
Liles: 4 years/16 MIL

Yay! I must say that I am very happy about these two signings.  Liles was the one player that I thought would certainly leave during the Free Agency period.  Guess I was wrong.

Here is the TSN story:

Scratch defencemen John-Michael Liles and Adam Foote from the list of available free agents.
 
Sources tell TSN that Liles and the Colorado Avalanche have agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth an average of slightly more than $4 million per year.
 
Liles was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday.  The deal is likely to be formally announced Monday.
It's also expected the Avalanche will announce then that they have also re-signed Foote.
 
Sources tell TSN Foote's deal is believed to be for two years and a total of $6 million, or $3 million per year.