the max

The Bruins defense is a lot worse than 13 shots allowed. Martin Havlat was suspended for five games for kicking Hal Gill during the game on saturday. As far as I'm concerned, everyone can kick Hal Gill.

And if you don't have respect for it? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Move.

Oh the hilarity.

Your best bet is to go to a live game. Hockey's disadvantage is that it's the best sport that I've ever seen live, but it doesn't transition onto television for some people. http://www.nhl.com/nhlhq/cba/rules_changes072205.html That's a list of rule and other changes made in the offseason with the new CBA.

I'm going to say St. Louis Blues. Even though he didn't win anything there, he compiled most of his stats as a Blue and won an MVP there.

If people are going to hop on A-Rod for choking, better start hopping on Vladdy Daddy. He laid a fucking egg. His only hit was an infield single. Start piling on!

Congrats to the White Sox. It's actually refreshing to watch baseball and not be pacing around the room, smoking or otherwise being too emotionally involved in the outcomes. This game was good, this series was good. Congrats to the White Sox.

I was going more for the "What team will you remember him playing for the most".

I'm bored this morning, so Keltner list: Brett Hull. 1. Was he ever regarded as the best player in hockey? Did anybody, while he was active, ever suggest that he was the best player in hockey? I'd say that during his 1990-91 season, he was the best player in the NHL. 2. Was he the best player on his team? For a period of time, yes. With the Blues, he was the best player until 1994-95 when Al MacInnis joined the team. He also shared ice with Brendan Shanahan and Adam Oates. 3. Was he the best player in at his position? Was he the best player in the league at his position? Yes and yes. Hull is one of the greatest right-wingers in recent history. 4. Did he have an impact on a number of pennant races? Hull was better than a point-per-game player in the postseason with the Blues (117p [67 & 50] in 102 games). His problem is that the Blues never won anything. They didn't so much as make the conference finals once in his stint with them. 5. Was he good enough that he could play regularly after passing his prime? Hull is retiring at the age of 41, but has struggled mightily this season (1a in 5 games). However, he was very good in his final year with Detroit. 6. Is he the very best player in history who is not in the Hall of Fame? No. 7. Are most players who have comparable statistics in the Hall of Fame? Yes. Hull is third all time in goals with 741. Only Gretzky and Howe are ahead of him in that regard. His 650 assists rank him 49th all-time. He's 18th all-time with 1351 points. Almost everyone ahead of him in points is either in or deserves to be in. 8. Do the player's numbers meet Hall of Fame standards? Absolutely. Hull's assists may not get him recognition, but being third all-time in goals certainly will. 9. Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics? Playing with Adam Oates (one of the greatest passers in the last 30 years) certainly helped his numbers in St. Louis. Hull had good talent around him for a good part of his career. 10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame? Yes. Hawerchuk and Kurri have been inducted. 11. How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close? Hull had three MVP type seasons, 1989-90 when his line went 72-41-113 and in 1991-92, his line went 70-39-109. He lost the MVP both years to Messier. In 1990-91, Hull went on a tear, going for 86 goals 45 assists for 131 points, finishing with a +23 (the best of his career). He won the MVP that year, for his first and only Hart trophy. 12. How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the players who played in this many All-Star games go into the Hall of Fame? Hull made 10 All-Star teams. 13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win the pennant? No. Simply put, his defense wasn't good enough to carry a team, he needed LOTS of help. 14. What impact did the player have on history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way? Hull will go down as one of the most dominant right wingers ever. 15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider? Hull, simply put, is an cocky asshole. But he's always been good for a soundbite and isn't afraid to speak his mind. He'll be in the game for a long time as an analyst.

Ottawa may have the best offense in the league, while the Bruins may have the worst defense. No real surprises.

Does Hull go in as a Red Wing? Blue? Star? He won a Cup with the Wings, scored 207 points for them (92 g, 115 a), and was on the 2001-02 team widely considered to be one of the greatest teams ever. With the Blues, he had four 100 point seasons. He tallied 936 points with the Blues (527 g, 409 a). He never even won the conference with the Blues however. With the Stars, Hull scored the much debated 1999-00 Cup winning goal against the Buffalo Sabres. He scored 196 points in Dallas (101 g, 95 a).

Ulf practically ended Cam Neely's career. For that, he will never be forgiven. I'm willing to bet that's why nl5 hates him so much as well.

Ulf Samuelsson is the one player that I'd like to see checked from behind by a steamroller.

Claude may be a dirty player, but has he ever fired off slurs at black players? And why hate Stevens?

I liked a lot of the one-liners in this season and a few of the episodes were well written. I'll probably get it, but after that, I'm done.

My favorite was in the 8th of the Astros/Cards game, they had a "gamebreak" and showed highlights of the Angels/White Sox game that happened 24 hours ago.

Joe's stature is why I don't like him more than Gill/PJ. Joe is supposed to be the guy who leads the team, Gill is a lumbering goof, PJ is a loser. Joe was drafted for the specific purpose of being a franchise cornerstone and he's looked/acted like one for exactly one season.

Just root for the team. Joe Thornton is probably my least favorite Bruin, but I still love the team despite his attitude.

Claude's an asshole, but he's an extremely dangerous player when it matters, which is what the Bruins need more of. Sometimes his game can be too dirty, but I think things would change if he were doing that in a black and gold sweater.

Avery's not being a villian the right way. There are a few ways to do it: 1- Be a Claude Lemieux-esque villian. Score timely goals against hated rivals, start blood feuds, be a total bastard on the ice...but be someone that as a fan, you'd want on your team. If Lemieux were ever on the Bruins, I'd cheer for him. 2- Be a Scott Stevens-esque villian. Get huge hits that determine outcomes of series, not just games. Be one of the most feared physical players in the NHL. But insulting a black player with slurs isn't the way to do anything but get your ass handed to you. I don't know if Avery is just trying to act like a badass, but I know one thing. Sean Avery is listed as 5'10", 185. I'm barely bigger than he is. Georges Laraque goes at 6'3", 240. If I were Sean Avery, I'd try to stick to someone within my weight class.

Are you talking what happened between he and Georges Laroque? Or his "French hockey players are gutless" quip? I'd pay real money to watch Laroque fuck him up.

Bruins win 5-2. Joe didn't play tonight, as he's having back spasms or something. I like their speed, despite what people have been saying about them being slow. Their core players are all skilled, but some are just faster than others. Raycroft looks good. The defense is still kind of...bleh. Dallman is kind of frustrating me, as is Andy Alberts. Bergeron looks very impressive thus far, however.

Disappointing for an excellent game to be flushed over some crappy umpiring. He called AJ out, AJ ran to first anyway. Paul heard/saw that AJ was called out and tossed the ball to the mound. Scioscia has every right to be pissed about this.

All I saw from the main page was "Arkansas Mother Gives Birth..." and I knew it'd be entertaining. It wasn't, but hey.

Crapitals @ Canes Habs @ Thrashers Nucks @ Wild Preds @ Avs Jackets @ Sharks The girlfriend's favorite team is Vancouver, so with the absence of a Bruins game tonight, we'll be watching Nucks @ Wild. Gaborik was to make his return tonight, but has been sidelined by his groin injury. We'll probably check out Habs @ Thrashers to see Kovalchuk's return tonight, which should be a good game.