http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=243405&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main

Well that was a surprise.  Luckily for the Islanders there are some decent coaches available.  But I'm sure they'll find a way to screw it up.

HKY-Jagr-Russia
    MOSCOW - Russian club Avangard Omsk says it has signed Jaromir Jagr, a day after the New York Rangers parted ways with the star winger.
    Avangard announced the signing on its website today but did not disclose the terms of the contract.
    Jagr had long been reported to be considering lucrative offers from Russia. Rangers general manager Glen Sather said Thursday the club could not wait any longer for Jagr to decide where he wanted to play.
    Jagr played for Avangard during the NHL's lockout season in 2004-05.
    On Thursday, the Rangers signed former Vancouver captain Markus Naslund to replace Jagr.
(The Associated Press)

Now I'm not discounting the threat of the Russian league trying to land someone big from the NHL, but this ain't it.  This is more of a hockey equivalent of landing Pele or Bekham.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242261&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main

I don't understand why Detroit does this.  They have all the major pieces from their Championship team.  But it is only 1 year.

Anyways, that takes them out of the Sundin chase.

If you're as suspicious of the NHL as I was when they did everything they could to stop Jim Balsillie from buying a team; you should be getting a kick out of this.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/447764

What it implies is that Kings owner Phillip Anschutz along with former Preds owner Craig Leipold,  lent bankrpted Boots Del Biaggio the money to buy his stake in the Predators.  Why would they make such a bad loan?  Well Anschutz owns an arena in Kansas City and Del Baggio wanted to move there.  I also find it pretty odd that Craig Leopold would lend someone the money to buy his former team.

But...but...I thought the NHL said no to Balsillie because they wanted to keep the Preds in Nashville!

This looks like an attempt by two owners to install a puppet that will further their interests; a way to indirectly own more than one team.  If that's true this is a serious breakdown in the integrity of the league.

Ok, I figured I'd start a 2008 Jays thread that doesn't call for horrible things to happen to JP.  You'll have to read my posts for that.

Thanks to beating up a AAA club named the Royals, they've clawed their way over .500.  Now it's a 9 game road trip in 10 days. Going in, I want them to take 5.  I'll be pretty happy with that.  Win two series, lose one against 3 tough team.

Of course, one game in and it's the same story: bats go silent and waste AJ's 10K night. 

At least we didn't hit into a double play. Again.

This team is so upsetting.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/World/2008/04/07/5220221-cp.html

Now I know we shouldn't be talking new coaches in playoffs but whenever the discussion comes up, Pat Burns is a pretty popular choice (mine included) but there's always doubt about his health.  Well he's getting behind Team Canada's bench so I'd say things are looking a little better. 

Pat's quotes from the article:
"Coaching is in your blood," he said Monday. "I like the terms that Hitch used the other day saying, 'It's a caffeine for us.' And it is.  "You miss it when you're not there."

"To get back into coaching is something I'm going to look at," said Burns. "This is like taking baby steps back into it but I'm certainly excited about it."

"I feel fine now. I've had some great treatments. I've had some great doctors that were following me."


Make the call at season's end Bryan!

http://dirtygames.wordpress.com/2008/02/27/nhl-trade-deadline-haikus/

So Roberto Luongo doesn't feel like playing the All-Star Game.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=226854&hubname=

I think it's arrogant and disgraceful.  But it does shine a light on what a low opinion a lot of people have of the All-Star game.  Obviously a lot of players have contempt for it, and fans do too (I don't see many Canuck fans all that upset, some are happy their goalie doesn't get hurt in a pointless game).

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=221429&hubname=nhl

"This early in the season, we'll give him a few days off here and, hopefully, the rest will help.

"We don't think this is anything major. Dom says it just doesn't feel right."

Yeah, well we've heard that before.  Somebody may be entering the goalie market soon under "Buyer".

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/Junior/2007/05/02/4147887-cp.html

72 goals as a 16 year old. Wow.  2009 and we'll already be talkking about the "next Sidney Crosby".