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I just added a ton of players the the Rumour Chart...Click on The RUMOUR Chart now to see over 130 Players with real-time updates...
I will be streaming alot of video to from in and around the Mellon Arena tonight.
\
This Box will Go Live When I am streaming Live
To get updates texted to you the second I start to stream live subscribe to my twitter at www.twitter.com/eklund.
Happy Mother's Day!
Driving on the Pa Turnpike, en route to Game 2 tonight in Pittsburgh. Just a Sunday drive. I will be going on XM 204 at 1pmET to discus this evening's game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
I get the impression from talking to many of the people involved in this series that no one expects Game 1 to be at indicative of the rest of this series. The first period of Game 1 was as entertaining as any 20 minutes in these playoffs, as the Penguins showed their speed and skill and the Flyers showed that their depth at forward and size up front can dominate the forecheck at times.
The other factor I sense here that may be underplayed is the home ice advantage. There is little doubt that match-ups matter for both of these teams. It is obvious that the Flyers need to get the right group of players out against Malkin and Crosby, but perhaps what is not being noticed is that the third and fourth lines for Pittsburgh can be taken advantage of. by the deeper and bigger Flyers.
How to stop Malkin? Well. Well.....you obviously aren't going to stop him, but you can hit him and annoy him to no end. That is why I would change the lines up here. You want Hartnell out there against Malkin. You DON'T want Briere out there against Malkin. I would put Richards, Hartnell, and Upshall together in Philly against Malkin and tell them too annoy the hell out of him. (Let's be honest with those three you don't have to tell them to annoy him)
How to stop Crosby....Well...I would put Jeff Carter against Crosby. Jeff Carter is an underrated defensive player with size and great concentration. Plus Carter's offensive abilities will need to be looked at by Crosby...
If you can't beat them distract them...I suppose.
Steve Downey's return to the lineup today is a solid move in my opinion as well, not for his toughness, but for his offensive ability, and again he is a distraction.
We will see how focused these Pens are. From here, they are very focused.
+++++from last night+++
According to a solid source the Leafs have plans on three RFA's they are considering tendering offer sheets to this summer. However I am told they will not "likely" put an offer sheet together for anyone whose compensation would risk the #1 pick that could be John Tavares.
"Likely?" I asked. I cant imagine the Leafs would do that at all, but my source said that certain people in the Leafs organization would possibly consider putting the #1 pick at risk because as he put it, "MLSE does not see the Leafs finishing 30th next year."
Of the three players, the only one I could get "On-The-Record" was Jay Bouwmeester. Jay is an absolute stud of a d-man that would be the perfect fit for the Leafs.
My source told me, "Backroom talks have been ongoing since March to put together a blockbuster deal that would land Jay in Toronto and some VERY good young talent in Florida."
Also, I have
Redden to Buffalo or Edmonton
At one point this would have seen as unlikely as almost any pairing given these teams history in the playoffs, but a source is telling me this morning that the Sabres have interest, while another source tells me the Oilers, who have courted Wade for years, are also very much in the mix...I will keep up with this one today.
The Senators looking at Ellis as well as Theodore
It is pretty obvious that the Senators have interest in bringing in a new number one. Earlier this week it leaked out to me that Theodore was considering Ottawa as a next destination, now I am hearing Dan Ellis may be a target.
Canucks and Devils Talking Again
Vancouver and NJ have been doing this dance for an entire year now. Gionta is the target now and the Devils like a few of the d-men in Vancouver.
Emery in DC?
I continue to say that Huet came far too cheaply to assume that re-signing in Washington was a given. I have heard that Montreal was tipped that Huet's price would be too high for them, and it may be for the Caps as well. And then late last night I was informed that Emery to Washington is a possibility.
I will be streaming alot of video to from in and around the Mellon Arena tonight.
\
This Box will Go Live When I am streaming Live
To get updates texted to you the second I start to stream live subscribe to my twitter at www.twitter.com/eklund.
Happy Mother's Day!
Driving on the Pa Turnpike, en route to Game 2 tonight in Pittsburgh. Just a Sunday drive. I will be going on XM 204 at 1pmET to discus this evening's game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
I get the impression from talking to many of the people involved in this series that no one expects Game 1 to be at indicative of the rest of this series. The first period of Game 1 was as entertaining as any 20 minutes in these playoffs, as the Penguins showed their speed and skill and the Flyers showed that their depth at forward and size up front can dominate the forecheck at times.
The other factor I sense here that may be underplayed is the home ice advantage. There is little doubt that match-ups matter for both of these teams. It is obvious that the Flyers need to get the right group of players out against Malkin and Crosby, but perhaps what is not being noticed is that the third and fourth lines for Pittsburgh can be taken advantage of. by the deeper and bigger Flyers.
How to stop Malkin? Well. Well.....you obviously aren't going to stop him, but you can hit him and annoy him to no end. That is why I would change the lines up here. You want Hartnell out there against Malkin. You DON'T want Briere out there against Malkin. I would put Richards, Hartnell, and Upshall together in Philly against Malkin and tell them too annoy the hell out of him. (Let's be honest with those three you don't have to tell them to annoy him)
How to stop Crosby....Well...I would put Jeff Carter against Crosby. Jeff Carter is an underrated defensive player with size and great concentration. Plus Carter's offensive abilities will need to be looked at by Crosby...
If you can't beat them distract them...I suppose.
Steve Downey's return to the lineup today is a solid move in my opinion as well, not for his toughness, but for his offensive ability, and again he is a distraction.
We will see how focused these Pens are. From here, they are very focused.
+++++from last night+++
According to a solid source the Leafs have plans on three RFA's they are considering tendering offer sheets to this summer. However I am told they will not "likely" put an offer sheet together for anyone whose compensation would risk the #1 pick that could be John Tavares.
"Likely?" I asked. I cant imagine the Leafs would do that at all, but my source said that certain people in the Leafs organization would possibly consider putting the #1 pick at risk because as he put it, "MLSE does not see the Leafs finishing 30th next year."
Of the three players, the only one I could get "On-The-Record" was Jay Bouwmeester. Jay is an absolute stud of a d-man that would be the perfect fit for the Leafs.
My source told me, "Backroom talks have been ongoing since March to put together a blockbuster deal that would land Jay in Toronto and some VERY good young talent in Florida."
Also, I have
Redden to Buffalo or Edmonton
At one point this would have seen as unlikely as almost any pairing given these teams history in the playoffs, but a source is telling me this morning that the Sabres have interest, while another source tells me the Oilers, who have courted Wade for years, are also very much in the mix...I will keep up with this one today.
The Senators looking at Ellis as well as Theodore
It is pretty obvious that the Senators have interest in bringing in a new number one. Earlier this week it leaked out to me that Theodore was considering Ottawa as a next destination, now I am hearing Dan Ellis may be a target.
Canucks and Devils Talking Again
Vancouver and NJ have been doing this dance for an entire year now. Gionta is the target now and the Devils like a few of the d-men in Vancouver.
Emery in DC?
I continue to say that Huet came far too cheaply to assume that re-signing in Washington was a given. I have heard that Montreal was tipped that Huet's price would be too high for them, and it may be for the Caps as well. And then late last night I was informed that Emery to Washington is a possibility.
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