Habs Collectibles

I thought I'd give a little peak into NHL.com and check out some team collectibles and memorabilia. I was suprised to see how much stuff (read junk) that was on display and up for sale. Not much of it is cheap either. Cruising throught the Habs section I found some 212 items. These pictured pieces are the high and lowpoints of the set.

From left to right, top to bottom:
1-The atrocious pink womens replica jerseys - you'll never see these on a guy, ever!
2-Habs dynasty banner - you won't find these at BuffaloSabres.com.
3-Montreal Canadiens bucket - there's a joke here I don't get.
4-Autographed Henri Richard photo - fifty bucks, divided by eleven Cups
5-Doug Gilmour Habs card set - 20 in all - too bad he didn't get here earlier!
6-Gold Habs watch - how much time left till the next Cup?
7-Numbered T Shirts - way cool and cheaper than a jersey. I'll take three!
8-Habs Poker Chips / Card set - If Doug Harvey was still alive he'd own these and get them signed by Tocchet
9-Jose Theodore action figure - same pose as plain clothes version that has him wiping out on his front steps.
10-Pete Mahovlich action figure - why the Little M, where's Frank?
11-Habs Bendo - Looks just like Ribeiro and whines if squeezed.
12-Guy Carbonneau RC - $14.99 in Montreal, $5.99 in Dallas, $1.99 everywhere else.

I imagine each teams site has a whack of these items for sale. My search for Leafs crying towels white screened my comp before it crashed, so I'm not going there again! I did find a nifty Pat Quinn windup doll that spewed excuses with each crank and some Mighty Duck balloons that claimed to be "Unprickable by Brian Burke!"

Tickets to Leafs 2007 Stanley Cup Final Just A Rumour.

A recent snafu at a Toronto radio station almost ended in tragedy this week when a life long Toronto Maple Leafs supporter took to the QEW in a mad rush to beat what was in essense a non existant ticket line.

A DJ at Toronto's Q 107 inadvertantly cued up the wrong file tape during a morning show this past Thursday. DJ Craven Morehead now says he feels terrible that his slip up almost ended the life of a Leaf Nation die hard.

During the morning show's sports segment, Moorehead was about to air an interview with newly signed Matt Stajan when he accidently ran an archived commercial from 1993 announcing a Friday morning on sale date for Leaf tickets to the 1993 Stanley Cup final.

As we all know, the Leafs just missed out on the historic date, but their appearance in the seventh game of that years quarter final necessitated the on sale date announcement. The unfortunate slip of the archived advertisement was immediatly corrected on air, but not before one Basil McDowell ran out the door in haste.

McDowell, who suffers from a bevy of mental disabilities, including Terret Syndrome - brought on by that very same '93 final, burst out the door of his mothers basement apartment where he resides. Anxious to be the first in line for the precious tickets, an armed with 6 jars worth of small change, the Leafs die hard hit the highway pointing his Prozak enlightened gaze at the CN Tower in the distance.

Within minutes, McDowell, who also suffers from dementia, was clipped slightly by a passing SUV and shoved off to the roadside.

The driver of the SUV stopped to assist but not before a Toronto Sun media type snapped this pic and got McDowell's story and comment.

"I'm okay. I'm alright", said the rider of the 1967 Zelco Speedster Special.

"Bastard, cocksucker ran me off the motherfucking, godamn road. I won't get my frigging, motherfucking Leafs tickets now cause of that fuckfaced cuntlicking asshole whore of a son of a bitch bastard asshole. I'm shitfucked and reamed now. I almost hope they lose lose to those prima donna skankeating bastard L.A. faggot fucking whoremastering jerkoff jizz swallowing Kings".

"Is this gonna be in the fucking nightly cocksucking shitass news....Hi Mom!"

Moorehead will apparently make a donation to the charity of McDowell choice.

Nonis Gets Even!

Bobby Clarke's Audi suffered the wrath of Dave Nonis' anger Friday afternoon.

Before matching the Flyers offer sheet to Ryan Kesler, the Canucks GM hopped a red eye to the city of brotherly love looking to settle the score with the former Flyers captain.

A witness at the scene of this meltdown said Nonis was chasing Clarke all over Philly when he spotted the renegade GM heading into a drug store to buy some Pepto Bismol on the city's outskirts. It is said that Nonis' was practically frothing at the mouth when he spied Clarke, who ran off like the chickenshit he always was whenever fights broke out around him back in the Broad Street Bullies glory days.

While Clarke hid out at a nearly Toys R Us disguised under an Islanders cap, Nonis went balistic and emerged from Home Depot with five pick axes under his arm.

He approached Clarke's Audi and literally went to town on it shouting after each swing of the axe," Don't. Fuck. With. Canucks. Again."

Nonis then walked calmy and nonchalant to his car and scooted off, not to be seen again.

I'd Rather Have a Free Bottle In Front of Me, Than a Pre - Frontal Lobotomy

Philadelphia Flyers outspoken GM Bobby Clarke has had a busy week.

After a long summer of negotiations, the GM basically caved and gave winger Simon Gagne both the dollars and length he was looking for. It surprised many who saw Gagne as a potential training camp holdout. The way the two parties had been talking, the gap between offers was of canyon like proportions.

Within days of the Gagne news, Clarke, who all along had been claiming money was tight, did another pirouette into senselessness and tended an offer sheet to Canucks RFA Ryan Kesler to the tune of 1.9M.
He then spent the following day deflecting criticism he felt was unwarranted. In an interview on TSN, Clarke was in vintage vilifying form. Here are some of the better quotes he unleashed.

"I don't give a fricking excrement (expletive altered) if nobody likes me, I could care less. But they shouldn't be getting mad at me, I didn't put the rule in the collective bargaining agreement. If they're mad, they should call Bettman and complain to him. He's in charge of the rules, not me. I didn't realize there were some rules we're not allowed to use."

"I'm trying to make my team better. There's a rule that says we can put out offer sheets. So I did it. You know, it's funny, they made new rules so we're operating in a system where we all get to spend the same amount of money. Those are the rules. We all live by them. No one can accuse Philadelphia of spending more money than everyone else now. But when I go and use a rule that is there, everybody is all over me about it."

"To me, our thinking is completely backward. I lost Kim Johnsson to free agency because the Minnesota Wild gave him $4.8 million. Well, the Flyers had to give revenue sharing money to Minnesota and other teams and I don't like that but it's the rules. And then Minnesota takes that money and signs my player and there are no rules to say I can keep him if I match. I wish I had all the options with Kim Johnsson that Vancouver has with Kesler. They can match and keep him or they can let him go. It's up to them."

"Everyone says it's causing salaries to go up. That's crap. We've all got salary caps and if it is true it drives up salaries, well, doesn't Boston signing (Zdeno) Chara to a $7 million deal or Chicago signing (Martin) Havlat to a $6 million deal drive up salaries, too? Give me a break.

Earlier in the day, Clarke met with captain Keith Primeau over beers at Schultzies Bar to discuss the players plans on returning to action. Rosie the Bartender, with a keen ear for gossip, relates the following exchanges between the GM and the captain.

KP: I'm feeling really good.

BC: How many ya had?

KP: No, I mean I feel I can practice now - with the team!

BC: That's not what you said yesterday.

KP: What did I say yesterday?

BC: Just the opposite.That you felt like crap.You were leaning towards retiring. (Shot upside the head by Clarke) Remember?

KP: No, I feel good I never said that! I said...

BC: You think you can practice. Well that's just fucking gr...do you know I'm signing Simon, right?

KP: Simon...? (Another whack to the temple) Oh, that Simon!

BC: Yeah I'm committed now. Face it, you can't play. You're done. We're done with you!

KP: I can so! (Thump) I could beat you at a game of pool.

BC: Okay, for chrissakes! We'll decide it that way then!

KP: Hey, I never said that! (Twack)

BC: Rack 'em up, pussy! Sorry, did I hit you with the cue?

KP: Nice break! Hey, watch it (Crack) with that flipping (Crunch) cue.

BC: Go ahead, you're low.

KP: I'm feeling a tad dizzy, Bobby! (Thump) Three ball in the corner.

BC: Nice try, you shot at the 6, by the way!

KP: Well how many balls are the same color?

BC: All of 'em Keith! We're playing 9 ball, remember?

KP: Am I high or low? (Thwack, Thump)

BC: Keith! It's nine ball, ya doze!

KP: Okay then, why do I count 13 then?

BC: Listen, ( Crack) you hard headed (Thump) sonafabitch! (Crunch) You're gonna quit (Pop) like I told you, (Twack) dammit. Okay?

KP: (Getting off the floor) Did I win?

BC: Yeah Keith, you did. Kicked my ass too. You win. You can retire, I won't stop you now.

KP: That's geat Bobby, thanks man. Hey, got anything for a killer headache?

God Bless You....Charles Wang!

God bless you, Charles Wang! I thank the Lord for you!

No, not for what you've done for the Islanders, but for the service you have provided to the hockey writers establishment - especially us online bloggers. I have nearly 753 questions as to why you pulled off this deal, starting with "Why didn't you do it sooner this summer?"

You have kickstarted a somewhat dormant blogger industry.

"Just when I thought you couldn't get any dumber, you go and do something like this. . . and totally redeem yourself!" - Jeff Daniels to Jim Carrey, Dumb and Dumber

You have done for us what the Clinton/Lewinski scandal did for late nite talk shows and comedians worldwide in one gesture.

Have a cigar!

Everybody's talking about you, man. The blogger traffic will quadruple and newsprint will be eaten up.
You are killing so many trees, you ought to make a donation to rainforest preservation.

Please keep us guessing as to your next move. Where can I buy that ventriloquist doll of you and Garth?

Pretty much every blog I checked out in the past 24 has an analysis of the DiPietro contract. I got a call late yesterday afternoon alerting me to the news.I jumped on my comp faster than Hugh Hefner with a fistful of Viagra on a playmate.

By nighttime, the news was everywhere. Tapeleg at Jerseys and Hockey Love was on you. Zandstrom at Waiting For Stanley was already slicin' and dicin'. Sleek was all over you at Battle of California. Mirtle and Kukla got in on the act within minutes.

I'm dying to hear comments from Neil Smith, Pat Lafontaine, Ted Nolan and Bryan Trottier, not to mention Mad Mike Milbury himself.

Keep up the great work Mr. Wang, our rubber check is in the mail!

I am rewriting the lyrics to the Gilligan's Island theme song in honour of you. I will post it soon as it is complete.

I will be sure to e-mail GM Snow at this address: askgarth@newyorkislanders.com , to further the other 751 questions I have. Hope he's not feeling too deluged these days.

I Read The News Today, Oh Boy! (Or, Spin the Black Circle)

Where to start eh?

Mark down September 12, 2006, down on your NHL history calendars as a twilight zone day for all times.

In no particular order, Mike Keenan crawled out of hiding to throw more twists into an already incomprehensible denoument on the issue of resignation / firing / plank walk. An average goalie was given a contract of never before seen stupity in length and dollars courtesy of the - no surprise here - New York Gilligan's Islanders. A restricted free agent was tendered a contract by a team other than the one holding his rights - a post lockout first. And lo and behold, the Leafs won something.

No this was no pickles before bedtime induced hallucinogenic stroll through the evening sports news - it all happened in actual real time during the last 24 hours.

We'll start with Keenan. The Iron Mike held a press conference to announce that the terms of his supposed willingful but oddly timed resignation had been reached amicably. Usually such a thing needs no negotiating, but this is no usual case involving a dethroned GM. Little mention was made as to why all of this had to come about. No explanation why, that upon a so-called surprise resignation, a successor was prompto announced.

Keenan was esquisitely polite and likely took a week out just to seethe. He swung no hooks, leveled no scores, and belittled what I think of him as a man by falling off the radar of truth in an effort to remain a commodity in the NHL coaching ranks. Jacques Martin was never mentioned and he publicly thanked a man who'd fired him for doing a pretty good job in the given timeframe. For wilting out, I now rename him Ironed Mike!

On Long Island, the magical mystery tour that remains the Islanders, signed goalie Rick DiPietro for the balance of eternity, almost. The maybe one day star will receive a whopping $67.5M over a 15 year spread whether he is dead or alive. This is astronomically absurd for more reasons than there are adjectives for the word idiot. Like my kid enjoys saying, "This is dumber than stupid!"

TSN's Bob McKenzie, put it this way."This contract, outlandish as it may be, won't hamstring the franchise as badly as Alexei Yashin's 10-year deal, but it is symptomatic of an NHL club that is, at best, non-traditonal, and at worst, totally dysfunctional. Make no mistake, this was a Charles Wang production from start to finish. Neophyte GM Garth Snow was only along for the ride".

In my opinion, even if this mess works out, it could be trouble. What happens if, say in five years, DiPietro pans out to become the elite goalie of the league. While earning the roughly 4M per annum, another goalie warrants 8M from his team as it's best player. Does DiPietro hence, become underpaid? For a decade of the deal? Trouble brewing.

The goalie is being quoted in the most polished of spit shined spins as saying something akin to "I always wanted to be an Islander for life!" Really! Like who in their right fisherman's boat has ever said that!

Wang, for the sake of hell, has learned little from the "Cash In By Yashin" that has never given the club an once of dividend.

Obviously, this story cannot be simply contained by one mere blog post. I'll have to save the boiling thrust of adjectives likened to this monstrosity of whiplash common sense for another post sometime soon.

In Philadelphia, the ever clever GM Bob Clarke, who recently back noosed himself into the Simon Gagne, tended a 1.9M offer sheet to Canucks RFA Ryan Kesler. Vancouver will obviously match it, awaiting the day not too far from now when Flyer future stars Jeff Carter and Mike Richards reach RFA status themselves. Canucks GM Dave Nonis can extract a hellish payback by signing either to a larger bait, thus sending Clarke and his Flyers into the upper nether regions of salary cap madness.

Once a twit, always a twit!

Finally, the Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Cup. Okay, not that cup.

In an all-rookie tournament at Toronto's Ricoh Colosseum, the Buds rookies took the Habs hopefuls by a 3-2 margin. They now lay claim to the Rookie Cup cup, thingy...whatever it's called. Who cares?

It is said that the Leafs team averaged something like 15 months of age older per player than the Hab iced team - but that's picking at straws. I've always said, all that matters is Cups. Well now the Leafs have one. Place it next to a cup of Tim Hortons in importance.

I must, for the sake of my own sanity, end this post with a little long overdue common sense. The Montreal Canadiens will finally retire the jersey numbers worn by goalie Ken Dryden (as long as he doesn't win the Liberals leadership nomination) and former GM and legendary defenseman Serge Savard. 'Bout time!

Now where did I put that vice?

Pickles Before Bedtime Great for Inducing Hockey Nightmares

Here's one from the stranger than weird file.

I don't know about anyone else, but I often dream the craziest things. As I spend lots of time thinking about hockey or music, it isn't odd for me to wake up and have dreamy recollections of being onstage, or coaching or playing my favorite game.

Often subtle details of previous days events work their way into my subconcious mind. Bits of a conversation. A thought of old friends I haven't seen in years. An insinuating fear of something totally harmless that has parlayed it's way into my sleeping state.

Upon waking up, if I do so slowly, I can usually recall much of it with vivid fragmentation. And no, I don't do and never did do drugs. I might have enjoyed them too much!

During a period of my life, years ago, I started having violence ridden nightmares that shook me awake in pools of sweat. They were occuring randomly, it seemed at first. One day I put two and two together and realized that each time this was happening, I had eaten pickles before bedtime. It sounded crazy to me, but then one night I tested the theory and woke in a cold shiver at 2 A.M. wondering where the teal coloured cows that were trying to trample me had went. That was it for pickles for me!

At a doctor's checkup a week or so later I dared ask if I was losing my mind. The good Doc replied that it made perfect sense as vinegar in pickles thins out blood. While it flows to the brain still, during the subconscious state, speeding up as it has been thinned, it leads to wild and reckless dreaded thoughts. Okay, gotcha Doc!
Recently my wife began buying these huge dills for the kids - they love 'em it seems. I warned them, scared them pretty good actually, with my tales of what they'd done to me years ago. No pickles after supertime. No problem, they said.

Why I went and ate some the other night was pure foolishness. I knew better and failed to take my own advice.
How my nightmare came about had to do with a random slice of conversation that same day that I shared with a buddy over coffee. I was bringing up some old baseball lore involving Bill Veeck and the Chicago White Sox.

Veeck, (pronounced Veck) was the owner of the Sox from the mid forties until the early eighties, I believe. He was a nutball, master of wacky promotions, and an all out lunatic. In the late seventies he'd engineered the "Disco Demolition" night between games of a doubleheader at the old Comisky Park. It led to a riot in which the astro turf ended being ripped to shreds by overzealous rockers intent on sending disco a message. Did I mention Veeck was a radical thinker.

In the earlier years of his ownership, when baseball rules were lax, he once signed a midget named Eddie Lebel (close enough!) prior to a game with the intent of using him as a pinch hitter in a bases loaded situation. Inevitably, Lebel would leave the bat squarely on his tiny shoulders to allow the winning run to walk across the plate. Lebel's strike zone was the width of the plate times the area between his knees and the letters of his jersey. Pretty much impossible to hit on a midget. Veeck's instruction to Lebel was simply "Swing once and I'll f***ing kill ya!"

When a scenario produced the intended result, fans in the stands went wild with laughter. MLB was not so amused. They fined him, changed the rule overnight, and suspended the reckless owner.

While discussing this with my buddy, the obvious question came up. Had anything like this ever occured in hockey?

A flagrant twisting of a rulebook loophole that led to such a prank being pulled on an unsuspecting league. I recalled to him tales of Roger Neilson's junior days behind the Peterborough Petes bench. Old Roger had stunts a many up his sleeve including paying kids to pelt the ice with raw eggs to delay the game, pulling goalies who would leave their sticks in the crease, and the age old ploy of purposely putting too many men on the ice in a game's dying moments while shorthanded in order to protect a lead without being further penalized. Only two calls can be served at once!

When they say Neilson was a pioneer in the game, they're not kidding!

How this all worked it's way into my thoughts while dreaming is anybody's guess!

The other night, I was quite strung out from a series of long days. I had been up for close to 20 hours and was working on a blog post while having a few beers. I started to get a headache and reached for the always trusty Advil Migraines I keep at my handy disposal. As the ache in my head was taking it's time to fade away, I realized I probably hadn't eaten a bite in almost six hours. I went to the fridge to grab something when I saw those tasty giant dills. I gobbled one down hungrily while chasing away the notion of what could happen without much thought.

About 5 A.M. that morning, I'd been asleep a whole hour maybe, when the nightmare woke me up. This time it wasn't scary by any means, just twisted beyond intelligible logic. I was sweating some, smirking a bit, and wondering where in God's notions do I get such streams of subconciousness.

I couldn't recall each singular detail but my dream originated, it seems, with the idea of a hockey Eddie Lebel. Somehow the Toronto Maple Leafs had secretly signed a player no one knew the slightest detail about. They'd kept his identity a total mystery until the Stanley Cup final against the Canadiens. This of course is so impossible for every reason imaginable, but obviously dreams are that way.

Once the Leafs quickly fell down three games to one, they unveiled their secret weapon - a 700 lb goalie they discovered chowing down donuts at a nearby Tim Horton's during the pre-season. The nameless cellulite sensation enabled the Leafs to tie the series in a short span of four days. The hero was an overnight media sensation and the press wanted to know every detail about him.

His back to back shutouts had made him front page news across the nation. The Habs were stuped for a way to beat him and pourred over every detail looking for a way to slip one by him.

As he became a media darling, corporations rushed to get him to sign endorsement deals in a scurry of behind the scenes activity. The tonage in goalie gear was not that media savvy and let it slip that enjoyed farting before players came near the crease area.

With the seventh game of the final gone into scoreless double OT, the fat stopper let what little concentration he hardly needed slip. On occasion he had developped a tendency to lift his left leg in order to rip a stinker. He noticed it was cracking up fans behing the goal who claimed they could both hear and smell the stenchy rippage from as far back as ten rows.

While entertaining them he was caught unware of a breaking two on one. He lifted the leg ready to let one go again when a shot found it's way to him. The fans screaming and yelling alerted him just in time as he fell to the ice like beached whale. He'd made the save but the puck lay resting unsmothered on the goal line. A referee behind the net, squeezed his nostrils while holding the whistle between his lips, hesistating the call the play dead. As the large man attempted to get up, a loud barking hyena like sound broke the silence. The dormant puck, breezed past the red line, a victim of a not so subtle burst of methane. The ref pointed to puck and as he was about to blow the whistle gaged and fell over.

Damnit, this where I woke up from the dream. I'd assume the Habs went on to win after the goal was declared.

I went to the washroom mirror, smirk still intact on my grin.

Geez, that was a wild dream I thought. The only thing it had to do with anything real was consistancy!

IT'S HOCKEY SEASON, Damnit - Part Two

Well what do you know, my kid made it!

With lots of sweat, hustle and hard work she managed to squeeze her way onto a talent laden squad of young sweathearts. Let the fun begin.

I really mean it!

My winter is going to be a whirlwind for sure. On the team, parents share various responsabilities to the extent that there actually becomes a team off ice keeping it all running smoothly for our girls.

Last season I was handed the task of writing up summaries for games and had quite a blast. This year I will also be filling the teams official site with content. Talk about a juggled portfolio!

The team looks pretty good on paper. We are retaining 8 of the ten girls from last seasons team while adding 7 more who impressed the coaching staff. I don't envy the coaches job of having to choose his players. Especially after the obligatory sleepless night that always follows such things. He had it quite tough this year.

One thing seems clear - we will be a grittier squad. Lots of kids with no quit made an impact on the decisions and i can't wait to see them in action. It all starts tomorrow with the initial team meeting a first practice.

Due to team discretion rules and the David Frost types of the world, I won't ever be mentioning girls names in EOTP, but I will randomly update the odd thing or two as a distraction to the NHL content in here. A nice change of pace from time to time.

What all this activity will do to me is spread my posts in here a little thinner. This might be the editor I've always needed to cut me off when I get those longwinded notions to post essays on the history of the vulcanized rubber puck or something equally trivial.

Gotta go. That bald guy with my straightjacket is calling my name!

RUMOURS, BLOGGERS, BULLSH**

I was recently perusing throught my fave sites, when a post on Habsblog bit my nipple and chewed it.

Yeah, I flew into a rage!

Had it! Enough, I thought!

For some background into my deepest cranium irritations, I'm not a fan of Idols, Canadian or American. Reality TV is the NHL. Gossip columnists eat at my last raw nerve. Blog B.S. is a radar wave to a loser of miniscule insight. Get the drift?

Simply put - I want to talk hockey, without ifs ands or buts. Gimme facts and real reality.

I won't copy the entire post's comments here. Suffice to say that this was the drop that made the bucket over flow.

The blog post title was this:


Jason Woolley Possibly Signing With Habs

Posted on September 7th, 2006.

RDS and La Presse report the Canadiens are in negotiations with Defensemen Jason Woolley.
Woolley would fill the hole left by Francis Bouillon’s injury. At 37 years of age he is no spring chicken but comes with 15 years of NHL experience.His price can’t be too high.

Temporary fix or permanent solution? Or is he just one part of a multiplayer deal that will see more players swapped?

After numerous exchanges, two bloggers exchanged these thoughts.


7 Rob Posted on September 8th, 2006 at 9:59 pm. About 'Jason Woolley possibly signing with Habs'.

Just as a reminder to all those in Montreal who have the audacity to criticize Bob Gainey that it was 7 Stanley Cups that he won as a player (3 more than Wayne Gretzky and 4 more than Patrick Roy), 1 Stanley Cup and a President’s Trophy as a GM, 4 Frank J. Selke Trophies, and 1 Conn Smythe Trophy. He was also given the title of the world’s best all-around player by Viktor Tikhonov, the legendary coach of the Soviet Union who knew a thing or two about hockey; on the other hand, the Soviets never accepted the idea that Wayne Gretzky was ever the greatest hockey player in the world.

Any team of that era would have given just about anything to get Gainey on their team, but he stayed and played his entire career in Montreal (ie. not New York or Los Angeles.) The same is now true with respect to his being General Manager of the Canadiens so give the guy some respect. If Gainey decides to make any moves as a GM, you can be sure that we are only going to hear about it after the papers are signed.

8 jack tornton Posted on September 8th, 2006 at 11:11 pm. About 'Jason Woolley possibly signing with Habs'.

thsi aint goin to happen(PERIOD)

9 Rob Posted on September 9th, 2006 at 12:46 am. About 'Jason Woolley possibly signing with Habs'.
sorry, jack tornton, you are misunderstanding what I am saying. You did manage to spell three words properly, however.

HERE IS WHERE I COME IN: ATTITUDE AND ALL

Ok, Rob - I'm slammin' ya into the boards high stick and all on this one! (No offense meant - my name is also Rob)

I'm not gonna defend Jack T here. He can do that himself quite adequately, I'm sure.

So he mispelled the word "this" ! BFD! His comment of "this ain't gonna happen" was in response to the post question and not to you.

Once you sober up, or get off drugs and rid yourself of paranoia, you'll see that you and Jack actually share the same opinion. You fool!

While you're in therapy, grap a copy of the NHL Guide and Record Book, and look a few things up. Gainey won 5 Cups not 7, Roy won 4 Cups not 3.

While I know of no GM better suited to the Habs than Gainey, it would be of sound knowledge for all to comprehend that past achievements are just that. Bob is working with the same new CBA as 29 other GM's and it takes some getting used to. He can no longer buy up whatever talent is available like he did in Dallas, with deep pocketed owners.

The Game Has Changed!

This is not meant as a slander to Gainey's credibility. In the few years he has been in charge, he has turned the team around. Anyone doubting that simply doesn't know the game - point blank.

What is slowly becoming apparent now, is the difference between a good GM and an organization that has limitless dollars to spend. In today's reality, GM's such as Pierre Lacroix (who curiously resigned), Bobby Clarke (over spends then gets tight), John Muckler (underestimates the market), and John Ferguson Jr. (totally clueless) are all in need of conspicuous evaluation. The best GM in the game may well be the patient Gainey or the Ducks Brian Burke. Time will tell, and we are in different times now.

Using past accomplishments as a gauge is of little worth.

While I'm on this rant let me mention that there still is no news on Jason Woolley - surprised anyone?
As goes the motto: If you're hearing about it - it ain't gonna happen!

Trust me, Woolley will likely fall into the same file as Dumont, Gagne, Marleau, Elias, and Lecavalier.
All the names that were banterred about in here in the past never came to fruition!

This site's traffic meter relies heavily on rumour based comment. I'll eventually be censored for stating such truth, but I don't care one iota.

If the regular bloggers here care about such things, I find we would all be best off commenting on fact rather than fiction.

I'm in here to talk about the team the Habs have now.

Anything else is rather irrelevant.

If you are Paris or Britney minded, share your thoughts elsewhere in gossip blogs, and let's keep this a game blog, hockey orientated, and somewhat fact based.

To drill this point home - Gagne to the Habs for Bonk, even up.

Now get a life!

IT'S HOCKEY SEASON, DAMNIT!

( l to r: the kid, Chipchura, Kostitsyn, Latendresse)

Don't call me overanxious, I just wanted to be the first one to declare this:

IT'S HOCKEY SEASON, DAMNIT!

How do I know?

Two things: In today's Journal de Montreal there were six, count 'em, six pages dedicated to hockey - mostly to the Habs rookie camp and mini tournament.

Also, my daughter has survived the first two tryout sessions for the PeeWee BB Typhoons travel team - the final roster may be set tomorrow.

So from my standpoint, it's game on, big time!

Before I get to the Canadiens news, I thought I'd share some of what goes on during the kids camp.

This tryout is a weird one. Our town sits right on the Canada / U.S. border and the region of protected players actually stretches into the States. Why that is, is because each city or town with a team has so many miles of radius from which players are allowed to be culled from. Ours happens to extend over the borderline. Usually, that is of little consequence, as only one or two players may benefit by crossing over each year. This season however, the American age groups have been straddled back one year in order to be in sync with Canadians. This has left a group of 12 year old American girls with no team south of here to play for due to lack of participants. A dozen of them are trying out with us, possibly beating my daughter out for a spot.

Ask me if I'm happy about that?

On the first day, there were 33 girls going through the drills, including four goalies. Tonight we had roughly seven or eight players missing from the first day. I counted 25 skaters who are left to vie for the 4 defense and 9 forward positions remaining.

There are ten girls remaining from my daughters Atom A team that graduated to PeeWee this year and the bulk of the better players seem to be from the younger girls group as opposed to those who have a year of PeeWee house behind them. My daughters coach from last season is the same, and my kid adores playing for him. A likely scenario is that there are 5 openings at the very least and possibly 7 to 8 tops. My girl is far from a shoe-in at this point. This Dad is kinda nervous, worried.

My daughter has been doing well on the ice, and in a funny way, handling the pressure better than I.

Hopefully, it all works out tomorrow.

Now on to the Habs.

The rookie camp has been open for a few days now and tonight is the start of the rookie tournament versus the Leafs, Panthers, and a team from York University. The York squad was a last minute addition as the Ottawa Senators bowed out of this years annual ritual as they were not able to come up with enough North American prospects to ice a team. I know you might be thinking that is a joke - it's not. Most of their prospcts are overseas and not under contract. They are not subject to the same retainment rights as skaters on this side of the ocean, thus there is no hurry to gauge them or get them under contract.

Of the team the Habs are taking to Toronto, 8 of the 25 players are training camp invitees. These teams are difficult to judge as not all of an organizations best prospects are there. As these games are of little benefit to prospects already pencilled into NHL starting lineups, certain players sit it out, making it somewhat hazy as to which teams have better talent on the way.

The articles in today's Journal concentrated on three players given the best shot at making the team. The feature article focused on last seasons training camp sensation Guillaume Latendresse, and that he feels he must put the past behind him and focus on the present. Latendresse clarified the concussion rumours he allegedly suffered during the Junior Team Canada camp two months back. He had created much consternation when he left camp early and the C-word was brought up in the media. The prospect assured the assembled media that he was simply suffering from severe headaches and suffered no concussion-like symptoms. As he had been there before in junior, he was confident he could make the distinction.

Latendresse went on to mention that new coach Guy Carbonneau has often spoken of a roster spot being left open grabs by a rookie. The burly left winger appeared much more mature in dealing with the mass of microphones while he stated his intention to seize his opportunity.

The piece in question went on to mention that it would hardly hurt Latendresse to make the most of his final season of junior eligibility and that Kyle Chipchura and Andrei Kostitsyn were the odds on favorites to make the team. The paper, in typical Quebec media mentality, did not fail to put in a good word for the constant progression made by locals Maxim Lapierre and Jonathan Ferland the past two seasons in the AHL. Both could be called long shots at best, but their stats do testify to an upgraded status. Their burden is that there are so many quality candidates ahead of them.

Carbonneau was asked who he thought may surprise in the coming weeks. The coach brought up Latendresse's name while leaving the door completely open to anyone and everyone. He mentioned how he had once stolen a veterans job and that Mike Keane, in the late '80's, had caught everyone off guard by making the team as a virtual training camp walk on.

Admitting that he knew only what had been told to him about Latendresse, he reiterated that the same challenge awaited Mikhail Grabovski and Chipchura.

The day's best piece concerned Grabovski speed of light adaptation to the Montreal media. The 22 year old who recently signed a three year deal seemed a little shell shocked at the throng of mics pointed his way. The Belarusian blue chip made sure to tell everyone that he felt ready to jump straight in the bigs and that his goal was to win the Stanley Cup. Trouble is, that was the answer to a question Grabovski was not asked. Though his command of the english tongue surprised many, his perception has a way to go apparently.

When asked which Habs prospect fans best keep an eye on, the Canadiens director of scouting Trevor Timmins unhesitatingly suggested Grabovski, as the most likely to surprise, before mentioning others. GM Bob Gainey it has been often told, is quite high on Chipchura as being the most NHL ready prospect.

In passing, I must mention that the name of Jason Wooley was nowhere to be seen. Columnist Yvon Pedneault brought up Jason Allison's name in regards to a "Koivu worst case scenario" as a player who is getting cheaper by the day and can produce PP points with ease.

In bringing up the former Leaf, Pedneault cautioned that Allison is a player who is totally oblivious to team concepts. Take that any way you will. He stated that last season, what made Allison attractive to many teams including the Leafs, was that his bonus clauses fell into a salary cap loophole. Players who have 400 games played but spent 100 days on the injury list the season prior are eligible for a particular bonus outside the cap.

Allison does not have the same luxury this time around and that may explain why teams have so far steered clear of him.

Test Your Vision - A Fun Time Out

Time out from hockey for a little silly fun here.

I have a private obsession confession - I was a longtime KISS fanatic. In my youth, they were Gods of thunder to me. I bought all thirtysomething of their albums and saw them in concert over a dozen times. I bought the action figures, dressed like Gene at Halloween, and impregnated my wife while wearing a cheap ass KISS condom.

However deep this obsession was, I could never quite succumb to actually purchasing the KISS My Ass toilet paper. Thought I do own four sets of KISS cards.

Nearing the age of fourty, I guess I finally clued in that it had become more about marketing than music. I been trying to unload the KISS junk I've amassed through three decades for a few years now but have found no takers for my somewhat steep price. I still love most of the tunes, though. The discs aren't going anywhere yet!

For a little fun, I have posted here 7 photos that are Gene Simmons related. Only 4 are actually the current "Family Jewels" star. Three of these may look like different incarnations of Simmons, but are not.

Can you tell which three are Gene wannabe's?

Have fun, and don't be fooled by the chihuahua!

Koivu Tears Up Laval sur le Lac Golf Course

This week marked a return to action for Les Canadiens, as the annual golf tournment was played over the weekend. The entire team minus newcomer Sergei Samsonov, who was having visa issues, were reunited.

Saku Koivu, the cause of much consternation over the summer, due to the injury suffered in last years playoffs, was also on hand.The Canadiens’ captain, still working his way back from an eye injury suffered against the Hurricanes in the opening round of the playoffs, is eager to put his surgically-repaired left eye to the test with the regular season now less than one month away.

"It’s taken a little time, but I really do feel much better," said Koivu upon his arrival.

"Hockey-wise, I’ve been working really hard on the ice since the end of July and it’s been going well.

"I’m still experiencing some problems with my peripheral vision, but as far as day-to-day stuff is concerned, I feel fine," said Koivu. "I did, after all, drive here this morning but the real test will be when I’m back on the ice in a game situation."

No one was happier to see a smiling Koivu in attendance than general manager Bob Gainey, who preached patience concerning his captain’s return to action.

"Following this type of serious injury, there is always a bridge that must be crossed before returning to competition," explained Gainey. "There’s certainly a difference between skating and actual game-type situations.

"Saku has been working out with his former team in Finland and once he is back on the ice with us at training camp, we will all have a much better idea of where we’re at."

Judging by his morning on the links, Koivu appears to be on the right track. While no official points card was obtained to attest to his score on the links, it is said by witnesses that he shot a devastating round of golf. On the front nine, he hit three birdies: a seagull, a sparrow and a chicken in a farmers field - all on purpose! Attempts to take out Radek Bonk were almost as successful, with the Habs leader narrowly grazing his head, but sending an obvious message nonetheless.

"I was aiming for his fat Czechoslovakian arse", said the captain, "It would suit the team best if he started the season sitting on it in the pressbox!"

Also in the foursome was a very paranoid Mike Ribeiro, who was quite hesitant to putt first with Koivu looking on.

"After the haircut he gave Radek I was fearing similar treatment" said Ribeiro, whose english is nowhere this good. Littered somewhere in the comment was a "Tabarnac, watch your backswing Finnface!'

While Koivu showed his competitive game needed no adjustment, others were more concerned about his tactics. Wearing a red shirt a la Tiger Woods, Saku made an enemy or two on the day.

Thomas Plekanec, who does not golf, caddied for Bonk and said "Right before the little bugger shoots, he kicks that litle white thingy closer to the hole soon as he thinks no ones watching. He even butt ended Ribeiro in the gut with his nine iron before his approach shot on the second hole".

Steve Begin, the third member of the Koivu foursome, claimed the captain rolled his ball in goose shit on the walk up from the 7th fairway. "Calice, my ball smell crap when I pull it out of the trou" said Begin.

After the 18th green was completed Koivu lost it a little as he pulled out his driver when he mistakenly took a blue SUV for Jan Bulis' vehicle. Koivu signed the cracked windshield and went on his way.

The "Big Reds"

A small tip of the hat here to Ingmar Bergman Shoots and Scores.

Ingmar has been dabbling with creating some alternate third jersey's for all NHL teams and has now gotten around to the Northeast Division.

He's obviously having tons of fun at this task and doing quite well. A number of his creations are actually looking better than the real thing!

I have posted Ingmar's Habs creation here because I am somewhat floored by it. Mind you, that logo looks great in a lot of different places and here, Mr. Bergman has kept it fairly simple and respectful. The arc arm and waist stripes are actually the outline of the CH logo - a nice touch. I like to call these jersey's the "Big Reds" as they remind me of a combination of practice jersey crossed with nouveau art.

Most of Ingmar's work, in my opinion, has a retro feel balanced by abstract madness. In many cases, his creations are superior to some of the slush currently being worn in sone of hockey's netherlands. I can hardly wait till he gets around to his own teams Blues duds. I see a blue and gold guitar in there somewhere.

Follow the link above and check 'em out. Scroll down some - they are posted sporadically - it's worth the wear and tear on your index finger! Be sure not to miss his over the top Canucks creation - it's either a masterpiece or some tasty looking candy!

Keep up the good work Mr. Bergman, and have fun searching for the wickedest of Ducks!

Lights, Camera, Action! Raise the Cup: Take #24

The Montreal Canadiens are planning to mark their 100th anniversary with a film based on the history of the team according to an article in Le Journal de Montreal on Sunday.

The proposed docudrama would be in theatres in the fall of 2008 - one year before the team's centennial season of 2009-10, and would have a budget of $5 million, the newspaper said, citing anonymous sources.
Club officials are keeping the project secret, but the paper reported the Canadiens have reached a co-production deal with the Cite-Amerique production house.

The proposed two-hour movie is believed to be the first documenting the history of the team affectionately known as the Habs.

The Rocket, a 2005 biopic portraying Canadiens legend Maurice Richard, was received favourably by most critics and audiences across Canada. It earned a nationwide release last April.

Casting agents are currently scanning the globe for the biggest idiot on the face of the planet, to play the role of Rejean Houle.

As part of their centennial celebrations, the Canadiens are planning to retire the sweater numbers of several former players. Names rumoured to be designated for such honour include Larry Robinson, Ken Dryden, Serge Savard, Bob Gainey, and Patrick Roy. The team has entered bids for both the NHL all-star game and entry draft in 2009, to complete a year of festivities.

Winning the Stanley Cup will be high on the teams priority list for 2009 as well. It is in the teams short range plans to build with that goal in mind.

In other NHL related movie news, the Vancouver Canucks are laying plans for a similar documentary to be titled "Up in Smoke", with Cheech Marin taking on the role of Harold Snepsts. Jim Carrey, (the comedian - not the goalie), is rumoured to be reprising his role as a stressed out newscaster, first portrayed in "Bruce Almighty", in which the Buffalo Sabres win the Stanley Cup due to Carrey being God for a week and getting all his wishes.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are said to be scrambling over proposed scripts in order to counter the Habs movie in their own centennial year in 2017. Several drafts have already been turned down due to lack of a plot. One tabled storyline based on the movie "Ground Hog Day" sees a youth Leafs fan waking up each morning for the rest of his life to the news that Wendel Clark has been traded. Another plot outlines the ecapades of an 8 year old boy who schemes to trade a Tim Horton donut up for a pair of tickets to a Stanley Cup final game. The ploy falls short when the boy can't get past a medium double-double and the Leafs fall to the Florida Panthers in the quarter finals.

Not to be outdone, the Ottawa Senators will be producing a series of short film cartoons based on their playoffs futility. To be called "SpongeHead SquarePuck" the series will deal the trials and tribulations of a Peter Puck-ish loser who has great pick up lines, but just cannot seem to score when it matters most. The Senators brass are denying any involvement with the project, saying that it is totally unrelated to them in any way.

Word that Daniel Alfredsson's voiceovers included Swedish curse words could not be confirmed.

All Time Top 50 NHLers

In 1997, the Hockey News celebrated it's 50th anniversary and published a great collectors book entitled "The Top 50 NHL Players Of All Time". It was a massive undertaking and provoked many a heated debate amongst hockey diehards over who are the greatest players ever. Limiting the list to a mere 50 also generated much verbal jousting as to who wasn't included. THN received as many kudos as they did complaints. It was not an easy task given all players compared were great in their own way and their individual eras.

They polled 50 knowledgable hockey experts (meaning folks that know more about the game than you and I) from the most respected long time journalists, to current and former players, all the way back to general managers and coaches from hockey's earliest beginnings through the original six era, up until today.

While comparing eras is one difficulty, evaluating players who had shortened careers is another.

One example of twisted logic involves how Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux are perceived. While Orr's career ended somewhat abruptly, some never mention that it had an effect on his resume of greatness. With Lemieux, on the other hand, injuries and illnesses are always brought up, conspiring to create a "what could have been" scenario. Could Lemieux have been the best ever? Maybe. Was he? Likely not.

What matters most, is what a certain player did do! What any individual could have done, given the best circumstances, is now irrelevant.

This ranking is simply about who is best and not who was / is the most talented of all time. As a point in fact, my listing will tend to concentrate on what the player accomplished, without regard to circumstance, but without disregarding the era they played in.

The ranking below are my picks (RC), followed by The Hockey News 1997 picks denoted by the first set of brackets (HN-12). The ESPN choices are in the third set of brackets (ES-27).

RC-HN-SP


1 - (HN-1) (ES-1) Wayne Gretzky: The single most dominant player in all of pro sports, bar none.
2 - (HN-2) (ES-2) Bobby Orr: Revolutionized the game more than any one player I've had the pleasure to witness.
3 - (HN-3) (ES-4) Gordie Howe: Most complete of complete players. Unreal longetivity makes Mr. Hockey a role model for all time.
4 - (HN-5) (ES-6) Maurice Richard: The epitome of heart, desire, and goal scoring prowess.
5 - (HN-4) (ES-3) Mario Lemieux: Had ridiculous amounts of talent in a never before seen package.
6 - (HN-8) (ES-6) Bobby Hull: A consistantly wicked and wild sniper. Raised the bar for goalscoring with attitude and style.
7 - (HN-6) (ES-9) Doug Harvey: The prototype of the offensive rearguard. Without him, Orr, Bourque, and Coffey never happen.
8 - (HN-7) (ES-10) Jean Beliveau: Class, leadership, integrity and talent. Hockey's greatest superstar gentleman.
9 - (HN-9) (ES-20) Terry Sawchuk: The best and bravest goalie of all time
10 - (HN-10) (ES-7) Eddie Shore: Tougher than a junkyard dog, Shore was the most feared of stay at home defenseman of his time.
11 - (HN-11) (ES-13) Guy Lafleur: Personified excitement and drama with speed and agility that had few peers.
12 - (HN-12) (ES-11) Mark Messier: Molded in Howe's image, Messier is a case study in leadership, toughness and bravado.
13 - (HN-13) (ES-15) Jacques Plante: Most successful of goalies introduced mask. The truest of pioneers.
14 - (HN-14) (ES-12) Ray Bourque: May well be the most complete defenseman of all time.
15 - (HN-15) (ES-39) Howie Morenz: Died way too soon with the best goals per game average many would never top.
16 - (HN-35) (ES-8) Patrick Roy: Leader in wins by a goalie, Roy lifted teams beyond expectation while winning 3 Smythe Trophies
17 - (HN-16) (ES-24) Glenn Hall: What balls! 502 consecutive games by a goalie. Hockey's most unatainable record!
18 - (HN-17) (ES-18) Stan Mikita: Mr. Blackhawk managed to epitomize both Lindsay and Beliveau in a long prolific career.
19 - (HN-18) (ES-26) Phil Esposito:Raised goal scoring bar to ridiculous height. Delivered the loudest Canadian battle cry ever heard.
20 - (HN-20) (ES-14) Mike Bossy: Most consistant goal scorer in the games history. The ultimate opportunist.
21 - (HN-21) (ES-19) Ted Lindsay: Hockey's first badass rebel with talent, attitude and desire to spare.
22 - (HN-19) (ES-23) Denis Potvin: Did what Bourque managed with added nastiness minus the longetivity.
23 - (HN-29) (ES-37) Henri Richard: Ultimate role player won a record 11 Stanley Cups with dogged determination and fearlessnes.
24 - (HN-30) (ES-XX) Bryan Trottier: Big piece of Islanders dynasty, Trots excelled in every inch of the rink.
25 - (HN-22) (ES-35) Red Kelly: Boxing champion won Lady Byng, led D's in goals 8 straight seasons, captured the first ever Norris.
26 - (HN-23) (ES-41) Bobby Clarke: Pestiest of captains had grit and determination few could rival.
27 - (HN-31) (ES-61) Dickie Moore: In the shadows of greater Gods, Moore raised the Art Ross bar with determination unequaled.
28 - (NH-XX) (ES-22) Dominik Hasek: Acrobatic enigma owns greatest regualer season stats of all time.
29 - (HN-24) (ES-25) Larry Robinson: A general on D few dared challenge. He could score, pass and hit with equal bombast.
30 - (HN-XX) (ES-31) Steve Yzerman: Model superstar. Mayor of Hockeytown. Molded himself into total package lifting team.
31 - (HN-37) (ES-21) Jaromir Jagr: Five time scoring champion stands as the NHL's most exilerating import of all time.
32 - (HN-28) (ES-33) Paul Coffey: Orr's heir apparent, Coffee was pure offensive attack. Skated faster, smoother than anyone since.
33 - (HN-27) (ES-47) Milt Schmidt: Great Bruins captain was a battler who put up points in along career.
34 - (HN-25) (ES-43) Ken Dryden: Intimidating in size, Dryden's calm and composure masked a different breed of goalie.
35 - (HN-26) (ES-40) Frank Mahovlich: The purest of large sized talents, the Big M's greatness was a paradox of show and tell.
36 - (HN-32) (ES-60) Newsy Lalonde: The game's earliest rambunctious star, Cornwall's Lalonde tallied 124 goals in 99 games.
37 - (HN-34) (ES-55) Bill Durnan: Six time first team All Star practically invented goaltender mobility with ambidextrous poise.
38 - (HN-36) (ES-36) Charlie Conacher: Five time goal scoring leader was Leafs prime threat in the 1940's.
39 - (HN-33) (ES-XX) Syl Apps: Precursor to Beliveau mould, Apps class and talent paved way for three Leafs Cups in the 1940's.
40 - (HN-39) (ES-79) Joe Malone: 146 goals in 125 games, including seven in a game inthe era when players never left the ice.
41 - (HN-XX) (ES-38) Ron Francis: Diminutive but tenacious.NHL's 4th all time scoring leader personifies second effort.
42 - (HN-XX) (ES-27) Brett Hull: Greatest pure goal scorer of modern era. A character who embodied the fun of the game.
43 - (HN-XX) (ES-56) Yvan Cournoyer: Overlooked on original list. The speedy "Roadrunner" personified the term "Flying Frenchmen".
44 - (NH-38) (ES-32) Marcel Dionne: NHL's first west coast star vaulted into NHL's all time scoring list. Did everything but win a Cup.
45 - (HN-XX) (ES-28) Martin Brodeur: Solid, consistant, and the backbone of the franchise. May one day top Roy's acheivements.
46 - (NH-42) (ES-51) Bernie Geoffrion: Charismatic and hilarious, Boomer perfected the slap shot, equaled Rocket's 50 goals.
47 - (HN-50) (ES-29) Jari Kurri: Perfect foil rode shotgun to the Great One's gift's. Few finishers of such talent in the game.
48 - (HN-XX) (ES-16) Joe Sakic: Consistantly great. Another hockey gentleman with leadership, skill and desire
49 - (HN-40) (ES-71) Chris Chelios: Defying him's an ordeal. Remains a warrior. Oldest of 5 active players on the list at 44 years old.
50 - (HN-XX) (ES-65) Pavel Bure: Most exciting player of his decade. Puck control at highest of speeds and highlight reel regular.

Close but no cigar radar:

THN

These nine players were bumped from the list simply due to the stars who overtook them.

(HN-33) (ES-XX) Syl Apps: Precursor to Beliveau mould, Apps class and talent paved way for three Leafs Cups in the 1940's.
(HN-41) (ES-50) Dit Clapper: At 6'2'', 200lbs, bridged the gap from Morenz and the Rocket as the game's premier star attraction.
(NH-43) (ES-45) Tim Horton: In Shore's mould, Horton's bull-like strength made him legendary long before donuts made him a household name.
(HN-44) (ES-53) Bill Cook: Rangers RW was the game's premier power forward until the arrival of the Rocket.
(HN-45) (ES-59) Johnny Bucyk: Retired as the games fourth best goal scorer in 1976. Played 21 of his 23 seasons as a Bruin.
(HN-46) (ES-97) George Hainsworth: At 5' 5", this goalie used all techniques to make up for his size. 22 shutouts in a 44 game season remain his testament to greatness.
(HN-47) (ES-46) Gilbert Perrault: Leader of the Sabres "French Connection", this swift center brought the Sabres to lofty heights faster than any expansion team could dream of.
(HN-48) (ES-49) Max Bentley: In the 1940's and early fifties, Bentley was the NHL's assist king. An early Gretzky comparison likened him him to Max in vision and ability.
(HN-49) (ES-54) Brad Park: Played his career in the shadow of Orr. Park was a complete defender, obscured, but often as effective.

ESPN

The ESPN list was dubious at best. How else do you forget Bryan Trottier completely? These names below either have not yet put in their time, or simply do not measure up.

(HN-XX) (ES-17) Peter Forsberg: Tempting, but time may be running out on this fiercest of competitiors.
(HN-XX) (ES-30) Nicklas Lidstrom: Very close. Lidstrom needs only to add one more touch to his resume as Wings captain.
(HN-XX) (ES-42) Sergei Fedorov: Great in peak years. Has been a passenger ever since. Pre-mature over-evaluation.
(HN-XX) (ES-44) Tony Esposito: A great goalie with no Cup to his resume has no home in top 50.
(HN-XX) (ES-48) Peter Stastny: Steady performer had great career, but nothing of note to make a place for him here.

To view the complete ESPN top 100 list, follow this link.

http://www.hockeytraderumors.com/article4573.html

For a current list of todays 50 best courtesy of The Hockey News via the Puck Stops Here blog, click this link

http://puckstopshere.blogspot.com/2006/08/hockey-news-top-50-players.html