Well - a day after the Isles pulled the win over the Rangers, I wanted to get at Joe - my colleague on the NYHR.  However, he was sick as well and to be honest, I would not do that.  Even though he probably would use the fact that so many guys were out and injured, a loss is still a loss.

The Rangers are an injured and hurting team right now - and better this happens now than in April.  But the one thing that is a major exposure to this team, is the lack of a real #1 or #2 man on the defensive side of the puck.  Michael Rozsival is logging 23 minutes a game.  He is a good D-man, can help on both sides of the game, but he is not the guy that you want to depend on to be your #1 for the whole year.  Marek Malik is injured, and you could have counted on Darius in 1999, not 2006/7.  They are thin, and have to rely on their forwards to help out.  Pock and Tutin are still ‘in the making’ but should not be relied upon to eat major minutes.  This will be their achillies heal.

Weekes has been not helping (10 goals in 54 shots in the last 2 games).  And Lundqvist, and sorry Joe, still has not looked like he is an all-world goalie to me.  He has good numbers, and that helps, but when he struggles, he is not even all pee-wee league.  He gets real soft, and seems to let his skills drop as fast a block of cement in the water.  I think that the second half of the season, if the defense stays the same, he needs to be Sawchuk like, instead of someone else…

Well - back to the Isles.  Welcome Randy R back to the Isles family.  Thanks Garth, for clearing over $5,000,000 in salary off the cap.  Two things will happen here.  One - the ‘bad parts’ of the Ted Nolan system have been removed from the team, and second, there has to be a move in the making once the trade freeze ends on the 27th.  Interesting who may be available.  There are 3 high priced guys in Tampa….  There is a captain in Vancouver playing in a system that does not work for him… There are lots of options to work with.  And c’mon folks, would you have ever thought that in January, we could be making a major potential deal???  Wow!  Also - you figure that some of that money is going to be saved for getting a new deal for Jason Blake.  He has said that he wants to remain an Islander, so sign him up.  I think if you double his pay, he will stay (1.5 to 3.1).

Now my 2 cents about the Pens.  I enjoy the history of the Isles and Pens.  The 4 game comeback in the 75 playoffs.  The win in 93.  Yes, those are the positive ones, but the Isles and Penguins have a history. With this season, and the team that they have, it would make the rivalry even more fun.  Now that the Isle of Capri casino did not get the bid, it could very well mean that the Pens may have to move.  Their lease ends in May with SMG (familiar name, eh?) and without new ownership in place, and no financing on a new building for Pittsburgh, it could mean the end of an era.  It could also be the first time that a team that has won a Stanley Cup will move their team to another city.  Sad situation indeed.

Where will the Pens go?  Kansas City has a new arena and has already sold ALL their skyboxes. Interesting…  Houston, and Portland, are major TV markets with NHL capable arenas with over 17,000 seats that can start immediately.  Winnipeg, a clear choice for Canada, is also capable of starting now.  They do have a new building, but it only has 15,000 seats.  There is talk that they can expand by 2,500 to 3,000 more.  We also know that a Canadian city will virtually sell out the building without blinking an eyelash.  Could make for an interesting spring; crowning a new Cup champ, and seeing where the Pens will go.  And if they move West, who will take their place in the Atlantic Division (or the East).  Will the Wings move over?  Logically, it is a no brainer.  Why should they have to make two trips to the west coast each year.  It is just not logical.

4 days left till Christmas, did you get all your shopping done?  If not - stop reading this and get to the mall!

Talk tomorrow - CHEERS!

Gary