I just wanted to wish everyone a great holiday and very Happy New Year! Hopefully the season is finding you all well (especially if you have recently signed with the New York Yankees)!

I just wanted to give a shout out to a buddy of mine who runs a site called GoaliePost.com. For those of you unfamiliar with this amazing resource, Jeff compiles a daily list of what goaltenders will be starting in net for that particular evening. This information is incredibly valuable for all of us fantasy hockey owners as we prepare our rosters for their matchups. Definitely drop by and check GoaliePost.comand bookmark it!

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 08:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Unrestricted Free Agent forward Mats Sundin agreed to a one year deal with the Vancouver Canucks this evening.

After months of speculation, and nearly a dozen suitors, Sundin chose to sign with Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks originally offered Sundin a 2 year deal worth $20 million in July, but Sundin waited till just a week before Christmas to make his final decision.

Sundin put up career numbers last year posting 78 points (32 goals, 46 assists) in 74 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Sundin's decision to join the Canucks makes the road to the Stanley Cup Finals that much more difficult in the West .

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 07:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Barely six months ago, the free agency period began and the unrestricted, restricted, and soon-to-be unrestricted were courted by open checkbooks and vast sums of monies that most of us will never see in our lifetimes. This is when athletes become business men, or more accurately financial analysts and begin to dissect themselves like a stock investment. They compare their current value to their future value, and make their decisions based on that and the supply and demand of teams that are pursuing their services. Usually the risk is on the teams who sign them as they are betting that their new free agent acquisition will provide a level of play that equals or surpasses the contract they agreed too.

Last summer two players chose to assume more of that risk... and it may have been a decision they will regret in the future... financially.

Since July 1st, the economy has been ridden into the boards and stomped on like a Pronger 8 game special. Both the United States and Canada are facing some tough times and because of the that, the NHL may need to tighten it's belt and teams will most certainly be less generous with their wallets.

Marian Hossa, last summers prize unrestricted free-agent, who split time between the Atlanta Thrashers and Pittsburgh Penguins the season prior, was due a big pay day. The forward who helped the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals was offered 'kill people and get away with it' type money (reportedly the Edmonton Oilers offered him a nine year deal worth $81 million), but rather than chase the dollar, Hossa chose to chase his dream of winning a Stanley Cup. Hossa went on to sign a one-year deal for $7 million with the Detroit Red Wings, the very same team that dispatched him and the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Hossa gambled a long-term deal and huge dollars for the chance to play for and win the Stanley Cup in Detroit. The new Red Wing leads his club with 29 points, 15 goals and a +10 rating... and has them on top in the Central and just four points behind the San Jose Sharks... who perhaps should have been the club he signed with instead?

In fairness to Hossa, I do think that regardless of the economy he will have plenty of suitors, and will probably still find a club willing to shell out big time money for him. Will it be in the same range as last summers contracts? We will see.

Marion Gaborik. The Minnesota Wild's premier forward... or is he? Desperate to sign him prior to the start of the season, the Wild pulled out all of the stops, but rumors that Gaborik was seeking $10 million per year forever were abound. The Wild were rumored to be looking to sign him long-term (probably 6-7 years) in the $8 - $9 miilion range.... not too bad right? Not good enough for Gaborik. Talks broke down, and the Wild switched gears from signing him to trading him. The Wild's asking price was too high, and most teams were cautious after watching the Pens trade the farm to get Hossa, and watch him float away after July 1st. Why not wait to sign him next summer as well? Since that contract negotiations broke down, Gaborik has put together a season of Havlatian proportions. Injured early in the season, Gaborik has played just two games and collected 1 goal. He in a sense has not only screwed his team out of any trade scenario, but also screwed himself. See, Gaborik's skills are definitely worth millions of dollars... his groin however isn't worth $5. Aside from last year, when he played 77 games (almost a full season) and collected 83 points (42 goals, 41 assists) Gaborik's career has been consistently interrupted by injury... most notably his groin... with a solid honorable mention to the hip.

Gaborik will most certainly be dealt sometime this year, presumably by the February deadline, but the Wild will not get the lucrative return for him they feel they deserve. Likewise, Marian Gaborik may find that clubs will not be eager to break the bank on a player who makes his living on the Injured Reserved list.

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 01:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The Tampa Bay Lightning ended their nine game losing streak against one of the hotter teams in the league last night by defeating the Montreal Canadiens 3-1.

The Lightning got scoring from captain Vincent Lecavalier and a pair from Martin St. Louis. The Lightning answered the bell after their former coach Barry Melrose sounded off on his old club with a harsh critique. The players responded prior to the game and then again on the ice. The Lightning organization is also looking into legal grounds for withholding the remainder of Barry Melrose's contract based on his assessment of rookie forward and first overall pick Steven Stamkos.

That seems to be an on-going theme this season.

Quick Shave:
The Carolina Hurricanes whooped the Philadelphia Flyers this evening 5-1... oh no wait they didn't did they? Yeah I wouldn't know cuz I gave up on the game... and in my absence the Flyers battled back on the legs of a Scott Hartnell hat trick and Simon Gagne potted the game winner during the shootout to complete the 6-5 comeback. The Pittsburgh Penguins were hammering the New York Islanders 4-1 when I decided to shut that game off as well ... and wouldnt' you know it, the Isles battled back to win their game too!

Just kidding, the Penguins slammed them 9-2. Pascal Dupuis and Petr Sykora picked up hat tricks in that game.

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 10:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The NHL came down hard on Sean Avery... so says TSN and just about every other new organization. The Dallas Stars forward who has pretty much earned the title of League Ass recieved a 6 game suspension for inappropriate remarks directed towards Dion Phaneuf's girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert, whom Avery once dated. He will also recieve anger management counseling as part of his suspension.

Sloppy Seconds.

I don't think I've ever heard such harsh words come from an NHL player.

Or have I?
(by the way if you were offended by Avery's comments... DO NOT watch any of the videos below!)

If you couldn't tell, Bosh is definitely taking to the 'lighten up' side of the street here. Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for Ms. Cuthbert, and do empahtize with Dion Phaneuf. However I don't think Avery's comments warranted a suspension. In time, Avery will have to face the music and he will recieve more than his share of punishment for his words and most likely receive little to no protection from his team mates.

Anger Management. Are you guys kidding? This guy is not angry. If anything he's brilliant. I haven't seen such brilliant self-promotion since Dennis Rodman. Every thing Sean Avery does, and says on or off the ice is calculated. This week he is the most famous player in the NHL.

The Dallas Stars are apparently less than pleased with their newly acquired player... and I wouldn't be surprised if they ship him off to a minor league club. Really the only way to hurt this guy is to remove him from the spotlight... and if you do that, you will more than likely be able to bring him in line... like a controlled explosion of sorts.

Much to Avery's happiness... I'm sure this will not be the last we here of this!

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 02:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)