I think it will be educational for the young guns to play with Statsny. You could already see the other nite, Stastny was nodding his head at Laine to move a certain direction so I think these young guns are going to get a crash course education from Stastny. When they interviewed Stastny, not only is this guy a gifted hockey player, he is a well versed and intelligent hockey mind as well.

I think Helle will be in net tonite, you know, get back in the saddle asap after getting bucked off type of scenario, but I do hope that they squeeze Hutch in there as well to give Helle a break and get him really itchin to play.
- CharlieDog

nailed it.

This is where I disagree. Seattle Metropolitans of the PCHA played there. In the 70s (dont remember the exact year) Seattle was in the running for an NHL or WHA franchise. And they came close. Tom Abbey got an NHL expansion bid but turned out to be more of hotshot sweet-talking lawyer than a financial economist.

And since then the only issue has been an area. Key Arena was never adequate and outside of Hansen, there hasn't been a strong leadership group with a vision for renovation. That doesn't mean hockey has died. There are number of well attended WHL franchises in the Seattle area. When I lived there, I had buddies who would go up to see canucklhead games (and you had them coming down to see seahawks). The recent drive just showed that seattle only lacked a strong leadership group - nothing else in terms of fanbase. Sure football will always be king, but even the MLS expansion sounders showed how quickly the sport can be adopted.

If you think in terms of the larger reason, the entire west coast didn't have a team till the Canucks/Kings in the 70s. And given Seattle's numerous attempts, I've always considered them a logical candidate for an NHL team EVEN ABOVE Vegas. Its pretty incredible to think they did in half an hour what it took Vegas a month to do: get up to 10,000 deposits for ST. And it makes sense: as a metro region seattle is far stronger than vegas and also has more of a sports culture.
- DeflatedPucks

That's all good information but this is as close as they have come and it will happen. Yes they have the T-brids and Silvertips nearby it's not a shot at the hockey history in the region. It's more of a support base and while Seattle has always supported it's teams (professional) I've been suspect in the past about whether adding NHL would get support or fall to the wayside of the others. After the last two days I'm pretty happy to be wrong.

As for efforts to get a team it's happened in lots of places- St. Louis nearly was the Saskatoon Blues as well. It's just funny that in the big round of expansion during the 90s there was no real push. Think about that if the Sonics had pushed for an arena too!

Offside Rexy - Denis Beyak is really quite good at his job... it is not his job to analyze and critique - I am sure he has many opinions that never make it to air. He is a pro to be learned from.
- 2.0

I should clarify that I was referring only to the regurgitated “grit” and “character” crap Beyak is always cliche-ing about. On the whole, he’s pretty solid. He’s making a lot more mistakes this year, but he manages to be entertaining even with all the narratives TNSE has him pushing.

That's all good information but this is as close as they have come and it will happen. Yes they have the T-brids and Silvertips nearby it's not a shot at the hockey history in the region. It's more of a support base and while Seattle has always supported it's teams (professional) I've been suspect in the past about whether adding NHL would get support or fall to the wayside of the others. After the last two days I'm pretty happy to be wrong.

As for efforts to get a team it's happened in lots of places- St. Louis nearly was the Saskatoon Blues as well. It's just funny that in the big round of expansion during the 90s there was no real push. Think about that if the Sonics had pushed for an arena too!
- Peter.Tessier

Fair enough. I still have pent up hatred for Clay bennett but hopefully the new leadership core makes both the nhl and nba a possibility. If Vegas gets an nhl team, seattle definitely should.

Laine needs to up his game or risk becoming Ken Hodge Jr. 2.0
Teams have him friggered out.

Laine needs to up his game or risk becoming Ken Hodge Jr. 2.0
Teams have him friggered out.
- DrunkenCanuck

Yes indeed the league has him figured out. Only 99 goals in under 2 seasons and still a teenager. He could have 5-10 more if McCabe didn't take his head off. Jets should send him back to Juniors. He still qualifies.

Yes indeed the league has him figured out. Only 99 goals in under 2 seasons and still a teenager. He could have 5-10 more if McCabe didn't take his head off. Jets should send him back to Juniors. He still qualifies.
- ricroc

Lol, and will finish the season at 19. Those two goals were off his stick so fast, upstairs, Howard didn't even know he shot the puck. Just wait till he fills out. You can teach defensive awareness and defensive responsibility (which he is learning and needs to learn) but you can't teach a kid how to release the puck like that. Thats just pure shooter talent.

Lol, and will finish the season at 19. Those two goals were off his stick so fast, upstairs, Howard didn't even know he shot the puck. Just wait till he fills out. You can teach defensive awareness and defensive responsibility (which he is learning and needs to learn) but you can't teach a kid how to release the puck like that. Thats just pure shooter talent.
- CharlieDog

He didn't provide one at all. Fell asleep before it even started!
- CharlieDog

What are you talking about? I said he was awesome.....

What are you talking about? I said he was awesome.....
- TheUltimateJet

Not clear enough. F-.

What are you talking about? I said he was awesome.....
- TheUltimateJet

My first reaction would be "Fake News" but yes, you did say "he was awesome."

A bit lacking in any detail, so I suspect you were sound asleep!

If the playoffs started today, the Preds would matched be up with Anaheim. Vegas would get Dallas, Jets would get Minny.

For the Preds 1st series matchup, which team would be the best matchup first off to cause them grief, a west coast team like Anaheim or another Central team like Dallas? Just wondering what everyone thinks as we know the west coast teams are going to be heavy teams to play against.

If the playoffs started today, the Preds would matched be up with Anaheim. Vegas would get Dallas, Jets would get Minny.

For the Preds 1st series matchup, which team would be the best matchup first off to cause them grief, a west coast team like Anaheim or another Central team like Dallas? Just wondering what everyone thinks as we know the west coast teams are going to be heavy teams to play against.
- CharlieDog

I have had the same thoughts and regularly look at the possible match ups. I actually feel a little guilty looking ahead thinking I might be jinxing things. I would think that the cheap shot Ducks would be the toughest match up for the Preds. Perry, Kesler, Getzlaf, Manson, would run the Preds through the boards into the Pacific. Preds would still beat the Ducks but they could get pretty banged up in the process. The refs of course will put the whistles in storage for the post season.

Yes indeed the league has him figured out. Only 99 goals in under 2 seasons and still a teenager. He could have 5-10 more if McCabe didn't take his head off. Jets should send him back to Juniors. He still qualifies.
- ricroc

who did Toronto get that year?

I have had the same thoughts and regularly look at the possible match ups. I actually feel a little guilty looking ahead thinking I might be jinxing things. I would think that the cheap shot Ducks would be the toughest match up for the Preds. Perry, Kesler, Getzlaf, Manson, would run the Preds through the boards into the Pacific. Preds would still beat the Ducks but they could get pretty banged up in the process. The refs of course will put the whistles in storage for the post season.
- ricroc

Current odds are that Nashville, Vegas and Winnipeg will most likely we face Wild, Stars, and Avs.
http://www.sportsclubstat...ern/Central/Winnipeg.html

Was at game and by chance I was sitting next to a pro scout (from a Western Canadian team). He didn't tell me about his job till the 3rd period, but by that time we had discussed a few of the Jets.
RE: Dano - he should have accepted his demotion to the Moose at the start of the season. Now he is stuck in purgatory. Jets couldn't trade him at deadline, because the consensus is that he has somehow managed to fool 3 teams into thinking that he is more than he is.
Of course, that is one scout's opinion.

who did Toronto get that year?
- 2.0

Dion Phaneuf

I should clarify that I was referring only to the regurgitated “grit” and “character” crap Beyak is always cliche-ing about. On the whole, he’s pretty solid. He’s making a lot more mistakes this year, but he manages to be entertaining even with all the narratives TNSE has him pushing.
- Rexypoo

again - not his job to critique the effectiveness of what a player brings, only to celebrate their strengths. worst in the business is Harry Neal - he speaks with a lot of energy but never quite sure if he is watching the same game as the broadcast.

Dion Phaneuf
- Rexypoo

lol