So I had a wonderful blog written for you all... at least I thought it was wonderful. Really...it was some of my finest work. Unfortunately, my damn computer ate it before I could post it for you. I still have no idea what the heck happened to it.

You see, I have been burned like this before. So I have started to write all of my blogs in Word, saving as I go. I did that again tonight. I typed the final line, saved it and copied so that I could paste it into my browser. That worked out fine! I popped to a different window quickly to copy my twitter, facebook and stat coding and when I came back everything was gone!

I quickly returned to my 10-19 word document only to find that it is a blank page!

So, after taking a moment to destroy multiple objects in my vicinity Hulk style... (Metzer CRUSH!), I am back to give you a very Reader's Digest version of the blog.

First of all, Max Talbot returned to practice today. It was the first time that he practiced with his teammates this season. The "superstar" was wearing a red non-contact jersey, but didn't seem to be out of place with his mates.

He is still a ways away from coming back full time, but is making progress and a late November/early December return is not out of the question. In his own words Max said: "Let’s aim for mid-December. Then if I come back sooner it will be a surprise..."

Talbot's situation is not unlike that of Sergei Gonchar's last season...not only does he need to heal, but he needs to get mentally ready for the action that lies ahead.

“I obviously need to be mentally ready, which includes being able to take a faceoff, if Marc gets run over, I want to be able to go in, drop the gloves and do a little pushing and shoving," Talbot said. "You want to be comfortable to do those things because if something happens in front of me and I can’t drop my gloves and be there for my teammates, I am not valuable on the ice.”

The good thing is that the team isn't exactly sputtering without Talbot's "superstar treatment" and they can afford to take their time with him. In fact, you may even ask yourself where he will fit in upon his return. Could he upset the chemistry a bit? Not so much in the dressing room, where he is a great addition, but on the ice. It is going to be very interesting to see where and when Dan Bylsma works him into the line-up.

Moving on...

Have you seen the new commercial for "Saw VI?" They have blatantly ripped off a movie from earlier in the decade by having a group of people walk into a clearing and form the outline of Tobin Bell's face. Bell plays the popular antagonist, Jigsaw, in the Saw films. This same idea was used back in 2001 to advertise "Hannibal." Thomas Harris's follow-up to the "Silence of the Lambs." In the ad, the people moving about a busy clearing form the image of Anthony Hopkin's face...the actor who wonderfully portrayed Hannibal Lecter in the series. I am calling foul on this one... the Saw series has officially run its course and should be shelved...just saying...

When will the Chris Bourque experiment run its course? I just don't see what good he is doing the Penguins or himself by sitting in the press box night after night. Sure, the Washington Capitals would surely re-claim him if he were to be put through waivers, but something has to break soon. The team does have a little time on its hands, but a move will be needed once Talbot returns.

This is starting to smell a lot like the Janne Pesonen situation of last season. This kid is floating around the parent club, but isn't being given a shot in any big situation. He's here, so why not throw him out there for more than one or two shifts with 87 or 71.

On a side note, I was standing next to Bourque in the Penguins room on Saturday night. Let's just say that they guy is a mighty mite! I would be being generous in saying that I am 5'9" and Bourque came up to my shoulder...

Lastly, I noticed a blurb in my colleague Matt Barry's blog regarding the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Frolov. Let me be the first to tell you that it simply will not happen. He is too expensive, especially this early in the season, and Ray Shero isn't going to give up any significant assets to acquire a player that is surely going to leave after the season.

Frolov is always much rumored to be, but very seldomly is traded and it won't be to the Penguins. If he isn't working hard enough to please the brass in LA, he isn't going to be working hard enough to warrant attention here. Shero, like "Homey the Clown," just don't play that...

You may be aware of the fact that Hockey Buzz is again providing content for www.versus.com. This time on nights that they are broadcasting our great game. Unfortunately, I am unable to watch those games based on my foolish decision to invest in a DirecTV receiver... However, I am able to provide my share of the HB content for the channel. My latest, a preview of tomorrow's Pens/Blues match-up, can be read by clicking the Versus tab above.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow...


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