As a Pittsburgh Penguins fan that once had access to DirecTV's NHL Center Ice package, my new living situation has stripped me of all ability to enthusiastically watch games at my leisure.  I'm now fully employed as a corporate mercenary, and am renting a tiny room in a dysfunctional house far away from home during the week.  My hopes and dreams of watching the Penguins defend their Stanley Cup were logistically crushed.  Except for NHL's Gamecenter Live thingamajig I just found out about while watching the NHL network yesterday.  It looks like an online equivalent of the Center Ice package, and is promoted at the same price point, with similar marketing materials.  I was wondering if anyone else had experience watching Gamecenter, and if it was worth shelling out $159 for it?

Here's a screenshot of the product (and of Crosby scoring an own goal?):

More info here.

Marian Hossa has once again jumped ship and just signed a 12-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.  It has been reported that the deal is worth $5.5M a year.  Kudos to the Hawks for pulling this deal off.  Hossa should fit in well with the Hawk's young talent, and transforms the team from a middle-of-the-pack Western conference team into an instant contender.  But as most Penguins fans will tell you, the Hawks will have to overcome a lot with Hossa on their roster to raise the Cup and have their names engraved on Lord Stanley's jewels.  No team in the history of the NHL has won a Stanley Cup while Hossa has been on their roster.  What most teams realize...

To dethrone Mike Ricci as hockey's most beautiful man?  Both have rugged good looks meticulously cultivated through years of hard work in the NHL.  Ricci might have a slight edge on the long curly locks, but I think Brind'Amour's propensity for black eyes more than makes up for the lack of a mullet.  They both sport the old-school visor-less look, too.  I don't know.  This could be a close one.  I've always been partial to Ricci.  What do you guys think?

The PG is reporting that Jason Botterill has been promoted to Assistant GM.  Evidently, he was a salary cap guru that Shero relied upon.  Considering that this move happened as quick as it did, it sounds like there was a succession plan in place and Botterill has been singled out for quite some time.  As everyone knows, management of the salary cap is what is going to make or break GM's in the new NHL.  Best of luck to ya, Botterill.