Don't know if you've been but last time I was in Napa, a couple of the better places i went for tastings were Swanson and Cade. If you haven't would definitely recommend them.

*makes a note to never invite D and US over*

*makes a note to never invite D and US over*
- Elbows15

beware "friends" baring gifts of wine....

Since this is a hockey blog...has anyone tried Valeri Bure's wine?

Yeah. Also the matter I don't know how, but hey who is counting.

But its rare when it happens, but the very fist word in that rambling was the key word.

EDIT: First not fist. Though she does have the kind of face one would like to drive a fist into.
- Elbows15

Is the inaugural pseudo hockeybuzz intellectuals meeting in session????

beware "friends" baring gifts of wine....
- wizardofi

I got a bottle of sutter home picked out.....just for you.

Is the inaugural pseudo hockeybuzz intellectuals meeting in session????
- UnnamedSource

I will part of no group that would have me for a member to paraphrase Groucho.

Since this is a hockey blog...has anyone tried Valeri Bure's wine?
- Hawks82

Is it called full house? Be sweet if it was.

I will part of no group that would have me for a member to paraphrase Groucho.
- Elbows15

well....geez....you're no fun.

I got a bottle of sutter home picked out.....just for you.
- UnnamedSource

I may have to buy a 4 week DIY wine kit for ya. It's like turpentine with an oak finish.

I will part of no group that would have me for a member to paraphrase Groucho.
- Elbows15

I've always thought that was a Woody Allen quote...

I may have to buy a 4 week DIY wine kit for ya. It's like turpentine with an oak finish.
- wizardofi

One time I gave a friend a bottle of Curtis.....very underrated wine...nice finish, etc....

He and his wife are not big wine drinkers but whatever it's always good to have a bottle or two in the house just in case...

Well, the next year I'm having a party at my house and they give me the same bottle I gave them.....they forgot who gave them the bottle.......(frank)ers......

One time I gave a friend a bottle of Curtis.....very underrated wine...nice finish, etc....

He and his wife are not big wine drinkers but whatever it's always good to have a bottle or two in the house just in case...

Well, the next year I'm having a party at my house and they give me the same bottle I gave them.....they forgot who gave them the bottle.......(frank)ers......
- UnnamedSource

Regifting wine. I though that was only for fruitcakes at Christmas. I usually bring a good bottle over and we drink it together.

I've always thought that was a Woody Allen quote...
- Hawks82

Nope. Groucho.

Have we signed Steve Ott yet?

I think everyone has to question his playoff performance (and has a right to).

Not sure this locker room cancer stuff has ever made sense. Someone posted something about Sharp punching Kane at the end of the RS and it seems to have spread since.

IMO one of the reasons Sharp should be shopped is he has value to other teams because of his leadership. I just think it makes sense because of his age, time on his deal, and cap benefits. Couple those with the team's needs at C and for cap space and he is the logical fit.

I think the chances of Sharp being part of a Kesler package are slim but I would not eliminate the possibility. Benning would get a player he can move to other teams with less difficulty (if Kesler has limited him to 2 teams). If he gets enough with Sharp (like TT) and then turns Sharp and a package into Reinhart (whom they supposedly want) why wouldn't he do the deal?

But, unlike Vantel, I do not have a bat phone to Benning, Linden, Kesler and apparently Bob Murray in Anaheim as well.


- tredbrta

Sharp did punch Kane out in a well known bar in the Lakeview neighborhood in early April. I know a bartender there who saw it happen.

Everyone is forgetting the elephant in the room. If you don't bring in someone that #88 wants to play with, like it or not, you run the risk of him ending up in Buffalo next season.

The easiest way to get a long term commitment, and probably a home town discount, from #88 is to bring in #17 from the Canucks. Without that, Kane either gets full boat money and then you really have cap issues or possibly ends up an ex-IndianHead.
- DMCsPulledHammy

DING, DING, DING!!!

Sharp did punch Kane out in a well known bar in the Lakeview neighborhood in early April. I know a bartender there who saw it happen.
- Hawksnbears

How does an altercation between two famous athletes in a well known bar not get leaked to the press? Just about every goof on the planet has a phone with a camera.

Luckily, there's good reasons to trade Sharp anyway.

If you look at what it would have cost to replace Bickell, his contract is fine.To truly judge it, I think you have to see what 3rd liners get this off season. The term is only 4 years. I am going to guess 4 million is about what the average will bee for 3rd liners.
- Elbows15

sometimes yoiu have to look at the increase - Bickel went from 500+K to 4mill while you other power forwards that were being compared, went from 2 and 3mil to 5mil. 4mil for a 3rd liner is a little steep, maybe more towards 3mil on average. Lots of teams are cheap.

Since this is a hockey blog...has anyone tried Valeri Bure's wine?
- Hawks82

Nope - Wayne Gretzky's is pretty good though!

It depends on where they envision TT to be...wing or center......there are some who think he will amount to nothing and others see him with a huge ceiling.....no in between
- UnnamedSource

Here, yes, in the Blackhawks organization I disagree.

Hayes is no guarantee to sign. Even if he does, from what I read (mostly here), not one of the guys you mention can or likely will take Bickell's place in the lineup this season.

If Kesler did end up here I'd rather add him to a team with #29. Have said all along, though I like Sharp, he is the core guy you look to move.
- HawkintheD

The issue is Sharp is too old. Bickell is younger and may be more enticing to a team like the Canucks.

The issue is Sharp is too old. Bickell is younger and may be more enticing to a team like the Canucks.
- BearsnHawks

I think that is exactly the point. Many teams, including Vancouver, are trying to get cheaper and younger. In addition, next year is one of the best drafts ever. Perhaps as many as 10 elite picks at the top of the draft. Sharp is too old, too expensive and maybe, too good for some teams in relation to their development cycle.

This kid is ranked as low as 18 in some draft projections for 2015 yet he was named OHL rookie of the year. He is an amazing player.

http://www.ottawa67s.com/...ed-ohl-rookie-of-the-year

Three way trade:

Teuvo Teravainen (0.9) + Nick Leddy (2.7) + 27th Overall Pick

For

Ryan Kesler (5.0)

Chicago is adding 1.4 million to their cap in this deal and losing a defenseman and a forward...

This is where Edmonton comes in, you replace the defenseman you lost with one of Edmontons, and you replace a draft pick with one of Edmontons as well and make Edmonton eat salary to help with your cap, as the Oilers will have a ton of cap space.

Patrick Sharp (5.9)

For

Sam Gagner (4.8) + Martin Marincin (0.73) + 2015 2nd Round Pick
Edmonton will Eat 2 million in salary in this deal, so Gagner is really a 2.8 caphit

Chicago saves 2.37 million in cap space on this deal.

In the end, Chicago has added Sam Gagner who Patrick Sharp is good buddys with (and former London Knight teammates) as well as Ryan Kesler, and replaced their missing defenseman and draft pick with Marincin and the Oilers 2nd rounder. All while saving 1 million in total cap space

I think Edmonton could desperately use a guy like Patrick Sharp who is a good veteran with excellent leadership ability, he would be an awesome mentor for Nugent-Hopkins and whatever center we draft this year.

Everyone goes home happy lol

The good folks at cheertheanthem.com have taken it on themselves, along with someone called HockeyBrunch, to defame me and this blog on Twitter.

Actually taking a screen shot of a comment I made here yesterday here and posting it to Twitter (and of course providing their spin on it, which is exaggerated). I guess because they don't like me. I've never met them. Never dated their daughter. But, there is apparently some issue. Apparently, i am insane. And possibly in league with Satan.

They didn't mention anything about the Winter Classic story breaking here last week though. Shucks. Probably too busy doing the above and working on their own stories.

I sent them a note this morning asking them to engage me on the topics where they have disagreement with me—somewhere more open and direct than the grandstand world of Twitter. Let'e see if they'll do it!