Originally Posted by Proshares
LOL I can't for the life of me remember Dan Boyle fighting. Of course he was going to back down.
Ovie taking the Sid route and picking on small fries
Don't forget the Jets/Cowboys as well...Originally Posted by Proshares
You're a Met and Knick fan too right? Might as well get a trifecta of those
Originally Posted by AddictedToFreshKicks
Originally Posted by Proshares
Blackhawks smacked the Devils up tonight
[h3]Burke wants Ryan?[/h3]
10:35AM ET
[h5]Bobby Ryan | Ducks[/h5]
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Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke may be hoping Anaheim Ducks RW Bobby Ryan ends up on the Leafs by the beginning of next season.
It was already rumored that the Leafs would be eying the restricted free agent, after talks between Ryan and the Ducks stalled.
Burke, who is also Team USA's GM, picked Ryan up for the Olympic team. He told the Orange County Register, "He brings a big body with a small man's hands, and has the ability to singlehandedly change a game."
But before Burke can sign Ryan in the offseason, he needs to attain a 2011 first round draft pick to give the Ducks in compensation for signing an RFA. The Leafs traded their next two first rounders for Phil Kessel.
http:// [h3]Can Pens use loophole for Gonchar?[/h3]
10:35AM ET
[h5]Sergei Gonchar | Penguins[/h5]
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The Pittsburgh Penguins will let Sergei Gonchar become a free agent this offseason, because they can't afford to keep him, the Edmonton Journal reported.
But the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that they could use a loophole in the CBA to sign Gonchar to a long-term deal. However, the Pens don't want to commit money to a 35-year-old player.
Gonchar wants his $5 million a season, while the Penguins want to make sure they can pay Kris Letang, who is a restricted free agent and will probably demand between $3 million and $4 million a season, the Buffalo News reports.
There are other option on the table, though. The Penguins could offer Gonchar a contract with performances bonuses, which might appease both sides. Or Gonchar could give the Pens a hometown discount -- but don't count on it.
Also, rumors have been floating around that Gonchar may get big offers from the KHL. ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun writes, "KHL money is big and tax-free, so that's an option Gonchar can't completely ignore, even if his heart is very much in Pittsburgh."
[h5]Puck Prospectus[/h5]
Health vs. Skill
http:// [h3]New Blues coach hired for youngsters?[/h3]
10:29AM ET
[h5]St. Louis Blues[/h5]
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St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray was fired this morning in the midst of a four-game losing streak, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The Blues hired their AHL coach, Davis Payne, as his replacement.
There were rumors that Murray clashed with his young players, particularly Patrik Berglund and David Perron. There was also a story about one of him sliding a scouting report under a player's hotel door, only to have it slid back at him.
So bringing in Payne might have to do with finding a guy who can not only develop young talent, but get along with them, too.
[h5]Puck Prospectus[/h5]
The talent is there
"St. Louis has a wealth of talented offensive forwards who score above that 2.0 threshold of even-strength points per 60 minutes, like Paul Kariya, Andy McDonald, David Perron, the slumping David Backes and -- if they bounce back -- Brad Boyes and Keith Tkachuk. They also get reliable secondary scoring from youngsters like Patrik Berglund (1.and T. J. Oshie (1.9). Coach Andy Murray has a wealth of talent, it's up to his staff to leverage it." -Robert Vollman
http:// [h3]Why Byfuglien was left off Team USA[/h3]
10:20AM ET
[h5]Dustin Byfuglien | Blackhawks[/h5]
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Dustin Byfuglien was left of the Team USA roster, and the Chicago Daily Herald writes that it is because of his inconsistency.
"One night Byfuglien looks great, and the next you don't even notice he's on the ice," the Daily Herald's Tim Sassone writes. "U.S. general manager Brian Burke and his staff probably simply didn't know which Byfuglien they were going to have show up in Vancouver."
However, Byfuglien was told by Burke that he may still end up on the squad as an injury replacement.
http:// [h3]Will Lukowich make it to Canucks?[/h3]
9:51AM ET
[h5]Vancouver Canucks[/h5]
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The Vancouver Canucks recalled AHL defenseman Brad Lukowich, but he has to pass through re-entry waivers so the 33-year-old could be claimed by other teams.
And it's not a clear path, because a team needing a defenseman might feel he would be a cheap addition to the blueline. Since this is re-entry waivers, Lukowich's $1.567 million salary would be split between the Canucks and the claiming team.
Meanwhile, this spells the end for D Mathieu Schneider, who demanded a trade then waived. He may retire soon if he doesn't report to the Manitoba Moose.
http:// [h3]Fehr's in the doghouse[/h3]
9:45AM ET
[h5]Eric Fehr | Capitals[/h5]
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Eric Fehr appears to have found his way into coach Bruce Boudreau's doghouse.
He was demoted to the fourth line with Quintin Laing, David Steckel and Boyd Gordon, and one of those guys will likely be a healthy scratch in today's game.
Boudreau told the Washington Post that, on San Jose's first scoring chance, "Fehr was out to lunch on it. On those kind of things, it's the gaps between our forwards and their defense or our forwards and their forwards. When the [gaps are] good, we're good and we allow 18 to 25 shots. When they're not good, they get over 30 shots."
http:// [h3]Boston's plan with Satan[/h3]
9:39AM ET
[h5]Boston Bruins[/h5]
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Miroslav Satan may be the forward the Boston Bruins have been looking for, as he is likely signing with the Bruins.
The Boston Globe writes that he will play on one of the top two lines when he arrives, and that will be coupled with the return of Milan Lucic.
In addition, Boston is expected to be a big player in the trade market because they hold several top draft picks. Rumor is that they're looking for a top-six forward in exchange for a package of picks.
http:// [h3]Team USA's injury replacement?[/h3]
8:56AM ET
[h5]Kyle Okposo | Islanders[/h5]
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Kyle Okposo might be one of Team USA's top injury replacement players, after he was left off the 23-man roster.
He told Islanders Point Blank that he was told he didn't make it because of experience, not skill. "I was happy to hear it was not about my play because I've tried hard to give my best to the Islanders. No regrets."
He was certainly not a sure thing to make the roster, so it wasn't a huge surprise. Other potential injury replacements at forward could be Dustin Byfuglien and Scott Gomez.
http:// [h3]Oilers owe restaurant on bill?[/h3]
8:47AM ET
[h5]Edmonton Oilers[/h5]
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A Calgary restaurant is claiming that the Edmonton Oilers players came in and refused to pay the full bill -- of $16,796.39.
Oilers players thought the bill was outrageous so they got it adjusted by $7,000, an Oiler spokesman told TSN. But the restaurant owner claims the Oilers players threatened the restaurant, adding that their bill included over $8,000 over alcohol.
Whatever actually happened, it can't be good for the Oilers, who are the second worst team in the league right now. Attendance in Edmonton is the same as it was last year despite the team's poor play. If the Oilers do try to trade some of their vets in a rebuilding effort, it will be interesting to see if any of the guys go to Calgary, where the reception will likely be anything but warm.
