So this is like my first contribution to this site in a long long time, but I really want the input from everybody here. I know the team's transactions may not be finished yet, and we have no idea how the team will look in training, but based off of the depth chart, how well do you think the Dolphins will do this year? I think it'll be very interesting, and the play from our quarterback will mean everything. With one of the best O-lines in football (at least in my opinion) I feel like we have a chance to make a big impact. I feel our secondary is a little shaky on defense, but hopefully pressuring the quarterback with our D-line and linebackers can help that out. I feel like the best we can do is 11-5, with loses to NE (x2), NYJ, HOU, and  PHI. This being a very optimistic forecast of the season in my eyes. But as you guys are more die hard than myself, what do you think will happen this year? What area needs the most improvement, and what is our biggest strength moving forward?

Thanks for your input!

My family and I are planning a trip this August to go to Calgary and Edmonton, and check out the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Is there anything that is a must see or must do while we're up there. Obviously people from the area would know of places to eat and see so I figured I'd ask around. Anything to help us out and have a great time would be much appreciated. Thanks guys!

THis is off of hockeybuzz, and wasn't Eklund. It was just a thought. The Panthers really need a #1 center. The proposal was Stats for the #3, and some assets, maybe Bjugstad or Robak? 

Granted this one to me isn't as enticing as the Johnson + Bernier + Stoll deal, but not too shaby. Can you imagine walking away from the draft with a RNH+Heparderp? Landeskog +Larsson? That would be a freakin awesome draft, and a very very bright future.

So NHL.com has recently added the photo store, which is really cool. What they do is they take pictures during the games and sell them online. Unfortunately the February 11th game against Columbus at Columbus is not there. More importantly I can't get a picture of Peter Forsberg from that game. Now I was lucky enough to attend that game, and be the first person to watch him step onto the ice for the first time in years in an Avalanche uniform. It would mean a lot to me to get a photo from that game, and more importantly a poster of it. Do you guys know of anything? 

This is just my interpretation of this upcoming draft after reading the newest article on the NHL's website. This is assuming that we have the 2nd pick of the draft.

Now let's not kid ourselves, Edmonton's biggest weakness is their defense. For them to not take Adam Larsson would be ridiculous to me. Someone here said it prior, Hall, Eberle, Omark, and Paaj can all score, and as we learned as Avalanche fans, centers are easier to come by than a true number one defenseman. You can pretty much put anyone inbetween those wingers and they'll still put up the points. Larsson makes the most sense there.

With that assumption, that Edmonton will select Larsson, that leaves the Avalanche with Nugent-Hopkins, Landeskog, Huberdeau,  and Couturier left for the Avalanche. Everyone here likes Landeskog with great reason. He's a true winger, which we need,  and he has size (6 1/2 foot, 207lbs), and can pretty much do it all in front of the net, behind the net, and from a skill factor. That's a very big asset. But he scares me in the sense that from what I hear he has the lowest ceiling, and may not be as good of an NHL player as Nugent-Hopkins, Huberdeau, and Couturier. So who am I hoping for?

The best player available: Nugent-Hopkins. Hate me now, I understand he brings no size, in fact the dude really needs to put on some weight (6 1/2 foot 164lbs). The kid is a stick. But he will be the best player out of this draft, by far. He's also a center,  which is a position that we don't need. The man has been compared to Sakic on countless occasions, and scouts are all over this kids potential. Peter Sullivan from the NHL's central scouting had this to say in that same article on NHL.com: 

"A couple of people high up in the Oilers' organization -- and I'm not naming names -- said Hopkins has the best vision on the ice since No. 99 (Wayne Gretzky)," Central Scouting's Peter Sullivan, who mainly scouts WHL prospects, told NHL.com. "That's the highest compliment you can get, but also another thing is the way Ryan competes. He never takes a night off and he works as hard in his own end as he does in the offensive zone. It takes a special player with special skills to be able to do that."

Premature? Very, but it is clear that he has the highest ceiling. A team with Hishon, Duchene, Stastny, Nugent-Hopkins, Jones, Flash, and Mueller (hopefully). Thats a bright bright future (Hejduk was left off as I was thinking about 2-3 years down the road and I don't want to assume he'll be there.) Its a small group of forwards in terms of size, yes, and that is an area that can hurt that Avalanche. The talent there is incredible though.  That to me is what makes me so excited to have the opportunity to select Nugent-Hopkins. He can make us a huge offensive power in the league for years. 

In all actuality Larsson is the guy that I want. Teams win with defense, and giving Big Johnson a great partner like Larsson would really help sure up our defense especially with Quincey coming back. I just don't see Edmonton passing him up. If Larsson is gone and Nugent-Hopkins is on the board, I think the decision will be easy for the Avalanche organization.

What are your thoughts?

So I'm an Avalanche fan travelling from Pittsburgh to Columbus for Friday night's game. I have second row tickets, and man am I excited to finally see the Avs. However, I don't really know too much about your city of Columbus, outside of seeing a couple concerts there every once in awhile. I was wondering if you guys could help me find a good place to eat before the game. If there are any good sports bars, or restaurants that I "have to try" that would be fantastic to know. I thank you very much for your input, and I hope for a good game Friday night.

So I've been wondering about next year. What are we going to do at RW? we have Stewart, Hejduk, Yip, Jones, and Svatos. What are we going to do? I can't see Yip or Jones playing third or fourth line duties. Is it possible that we have too much depth?

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I think we're all excited about the draft.  I just want your guys opinions on what to do in the first round. I'm one of those guys that would be happy drafting Rolando McClain from Alabama with the 12th pick. At the same time if we traded up for Dez Bryant, I wouldn't complain either depending on what we give up for it. He's not a problem in the locker room (at least I think), even though some people say he is. Also CJ Spiller, would be great too. What are your thoughts?

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Because of the Olympic break, this season will have 2 trade deadlines as many of you will know. Some teams who know they'll be sellers this season (Toronto, Carolina, Edmonton) will try to trade there players before the Olympic break in fear that if something bad happens during that break where they become injured, they'll be safe with the assets gained from trading that player. The actual trade deadline is then after the Olympics. But what should the Avalanche do?

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I saw this on theforthperiod.com, thought you guys would be interested:

So six games into the season the Avalanche are 4-1-0-1, and do everyones surprise. They're 2-0-0 in Denver, and 2-1-1 away from mile high. They're not even playing bad teams! The Avalanche have beaten some of the best teams from last season (San Jose, Vancouver, and Boston), and the shootout loss to Chicago shouldn't have happened (Hendricks really???), but a loss to Chicago is still respectable. So why have the Avalanche been able to do this so far while being abysmal during the third period being outshot 36-69. How are they winning?

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As we probably have all heard by now, the Avs are apparently in talks with the Montreal Canadians after Andrie Markov hit the IR. Liles has been named to move, but I can honestly see Clark going instead. The Canadians have rumors of looking to trade Sergei Kostitsyn. With Salei being a healthy scratch the last couple games, and Cuminsky starting (although not playing great), I think its only a matter of time before a defenseman is moved. Preissing will eventually come off the IR and give us 8 starting defenseman, so someone has to go soon.