the max

I think it's safe to say that Brad Richards is not long for the team, and he's probably the most consistant.

My original post read: "Forwards that I would currently take before Peter Forsberg". Sorry for any confusion. Pads only protect you so much when you face almost 2500 shots over 72 games. Simple division says that's almost 35 a GAME. Pads can only stop so many of these shots, after a while you have to admit that he's got some of the best reflexes in the league. Raycroft's AHL GAA and sv%: 2.71/.911. I'd say that's pretty damn good. I'd still take Vokoun over Khabibulin, since Vokoun got to the playoffs with a lot less and played excellently. That describes Heatley moreso than Hossa. The difference between them is Hossa has better defensive awareness and is more capable/willing to help out in his end. Heatley is an unquestioned offensive juggernaut, but he needs a lot of work in the defensive zone. Hossa IS a playoff performer, witnessed by his 34 points in 51 games. I've always hated this comment. Are there NHL players who don't come to every game ready to play? Arnott mails in half the fucking season and only shows up in the playoffs. Arnott is/was capable of far more than he's done in the NHL. Overachievers in their rookie season tend to drop off, but Arnott wasn't overachieving. He was playing to his potential. Regardless, this argument isn't about your love of Jason Arnott.

So if you were starting a team RIGHT NOW, you'd take Forsberg over Lecavalier, St. Louis, Hejduk, Crosby, etc.? You'd be stupid. Peter's best years are behind him. I'll agree that Crosby could crash and burn, but I highly doubt it. And I'd take him over Forsberg right now. Louie's pads were still under league restrictions and he put up a sv% of .931 with no defense in front of him. Again, if you were starting a franchise, you'd only take Marty over Khabibulin? I find that hard to believe. Except that he's excelled at every level he's played at and is one of the best positionally sound goaltenders in the league. Again, if I were starting a team, I'd take Denis over Khabibulin. Maybe you missed when Vokoun dragged the Nashville fucking Predators into the playoffs on his back? As far as underrated goaltenders, he's arguably the best in the league.

Fish sticks and a pepsi.

Somehow I missed this gem. Forwards that I would currently take before Peter Forsberg: 1- Iginla 2- Lecavalier 3- Sakic 4- Crosby 5- Hejduk 6- St. Louis 7- Naslund 8- Heatley 9- Bergeron 10- Tanguay If it were a few years ago, I'd look at Forsberg as the best in the game, however due to his injuries, he's likely going to take a step back this year and next. I wouldn't be surprised to see him leave the NHL after this contract is up with the Flyers. Goalies I'd take over Khabibulin: 1- Brodeur 2- Luongo 3- Raycroft 4- Turco 5- Denis 6- Vokoun Khabibulin might have won a Cup and had good numbers in the playoffs, but he's going to an unproven team in Chicago where he has to prove that he can be successful without one of the best offenses putting up good numbers for him. We'll see about Khabibulin. Regardless, he's far from the best goaltender in the NHL.

If the Bruins could have swung the trade with Atlanta for Heatley in exchange for Joe, I would have LOVED to have seen them make it.

nl5 and I have argued about Joe in the past. I want him out. I hate his attitude, I hate that he almost refuses to live up to his potential he only teases us with flashes of brilliance.

Joe's disappearing acts are legendary, but Hossa has actually produced in the postseason. He's gone for 34 points in 51 games, which isn't too terrible and while he's a -3 in the postseason, that comes with playing important minutes.

The argument can be made that Heatley is more complete than Hossa because he has better size and knows how to throw his weight around, rather than Hossa who can disappear when it starts getting rough. It all depends on the franchise, however. I'm surprised that Atlanta got rid of him, even though I think I made note in the 2003-04 season thread that he'll probably be gone from Atlanta sooner rather than later. I'm surprised because it seems like he fits what they're doing now: keeping young talent together while they mature. He seems to fit easier into that, rather than going to a team seemingly ready for the next step without knowing if he himself is ready for the big step into superstardom. Hossa leaving really floored me, considering that he's done fairly well for them. But, Ottawa is deep in wing talent and Havlat can easily step in for Hossa and certainly benefit from the added ice-time. For Ottawa to trade one of its best for a player yet to prove himself really surprises me though.

Because the players were fucking exhausted. They didn't make any big trades outside of getting Heatley back from injury and the same players had been playing every game for them because they had absolutely no depth. Ilya's season was VERY impressive, considering that he had practically nothing to work with and was basically counted on to be a finisher AND a set-up man (which he's not as good at). And while Heatley didn't dominate the league in his 87 point season, he still put up better than a point a game, which for a 22 year old with no offense around him is pretty impressive considering the defense that he played against being completely different than years past.

Except for that little 41 goal season that he put up as a 22 year old. And the fact that he was almost a point a game player with little to no offensive help in 03-04.

I'll give you Savard. Kozlov can run hot-and-cold to an extreme and can't be trusted to carry a bulk of the offensive load. Varada is a fourth line grinder. He uses his size to wear down other teams and I can't really remember when he was on the same line as Hossa, who usually saw time with any combination of Bonk (who is one of the most overrated and maddeningly inconsistant players in recent memory), Havlat, Alfredsson, Spezza, Fisher or White, all depending on Martin's mood. Hossa has taken a huge step-down in terms of offensive ability to go from a team like Ottawa, very deep in terms of young, skilled talent to Atlanta where the talent is either too young to make a difference yet, or getting on in age.

This trade on paper seems like a mismatch...for Atlanta. See, I agree with everyone saying that Heatley was || that close to arriving in the league prior to his accident. He was better than a point per game player before that happened. However, the accident and subsequent injury are the kinds of things that can effect a player long-term. To his credit, Heatley returned and put up 25 points in 31 games. But I'd like to see him do that long term. He's unselfish and ready to take on the world it seems which is exactly what Ottawa needs. Hossa is not a physical player. He shies away from contact for the most part, preferring to focus on offense and sometimes his defense (which is underrated and I feel that he's better than Heatley in that respect.) He's gotten it done in the playoffs, he's been a go-to guy. Now, he's going to be tested though, as he and Kovalchuk are pretty much IT as far as the offense goes. Now he's without all of the other weapons that Ottawa has, so we'll see what he's really made of. For Atlanta to get Greg deVries in this trade makes me give them the "edge" so to speak, since he has size and that's something Atlanta needed. Short term "edge": Atlanta. Acquiring a top line wing to help them, as well as an above-average defenseman. Long Term "edge": Ottawa. Getting a 24 year old player ready to enter his prime and be a franchise cornerstone.

Frank (narrating while walking): "The attempt on Nordberg's life left me shaken and disturbed, and all the questions kept coming up over and over again, like bubbles in a case of club soda. Who was this character in the hospital? And why was he trying to kill Nordberg? And for whom? Did Ludwig lie to me? I didn't have any proof, but, somehow, I didn't entirely trust him, either. Why was the I Luv You not listed in Ludwig's records? And if it was, did he know about it? And if he didn't, who did? And where the hell was I?"

I think it was Lovely and Amazing when she boffed Jake Gyllenhaal.

I'm guessing an aneurysm.

We've had the Scary Movie series and Kung Pow over the last several years. Spoofs can't be made too often. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Please don't compare the Scary Movie series to The Naked Gun series. It'd make Leslie Nielson roll over in his grave if he were dead.

Must have been an area that wasn't near stairs.

I see a lot of ads for Valiant during SVU reruns on USA. Probably two or three per show.

In both as the Charlestown Chiefs.

I've never done fantasy sports. What's a roto league. [/incredibly naive internetter]

Huzzah for the Charlestown Chiefs. If only I could sign me a Reg Dunlop.

Hollow numbers, al. And that two-run double was luck.

If we're going to do a fantasy hockey league, yahoo sports doesn't have one anymore. Unless I looked right at it (which is possible, since I'm pretty out of it right now) I didn't see anything on fantasy hockey.

Dontrelle's not an ace. Don't be stupid.