We Love Goalie Fights

Brent Johnson vs Rick Dipietro, Tim Thomas vs Carey Price, the list could go on, but the bottom line is that goalie fights are amazing, and the recent trend of padded battles is good for the game on all fronts (unless you are dipietros face of course). Also going down in the last week was the wild 8-6 Boston win over Montreal on Tuesday, which could be the best hockey game I have ever seen. The plethora of goals and 3 line brawls should be mandatory at every NHL game for the rest of the year. The trade front has also been blown open in the past week, with Toronto, Anaheim, Florida, and Chicago all getting into the act. So here's what we are saying:

- Francois Beauchemin dealt to Anaheim for Joffrey Lupul, prospect Jake Gardiner, and a conditional 4th rounder. Fairly even deal as the Leafs get younger, a potential 20 goal man, while Anaheim gets a decent 3rd/4th defender in their western playoff push.

- Michael Frolik plus others to Chicago for Jack Skille and a collection of prospects. The deal may jump start the offense for the defending champs, but I really don't see this deal working out.

- Mike Fisher to Nashville for a 1st Rounder and coniditional 2nd. Ottawa get's a crappy pick, and Nashville is now a contender in the West. Does Bryan Murray really want to get fired?

- Who's the next piece to fall? Pittsburgh is hunting, with names like Versteeg, Arnott, and Kovalev circulating.

-Speaking of Versteeg, where will he end up? Rumours have him discussed in places like Vancouver, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta. Sticking with the Toronto Maple Leafs, what does Brian Burke do with Kaberle and Komisarek? Sources say that Komi could be dealt to Carolina for a 2nd rounder and a prospect, while Kaberle's future is much murkier.

- The Brent Seabrook rumours are back. I say he stays in Chicago. Now along the the topic of defenders, the acquisition of Mike Fisher might give Shea Weber to stay in Nashville.

- Don't look now, but the Leafs are only 7 points back of the playoffs now.

17 days til the trade deadline, let's see what craziness happens in the next week.

Ok we are back, but really this time!

So I know it's been 6 months, but the life of a university student has taken over, but now, almost two thirds into the 2010-11 NHL season, we are here for the long haul. All but one NHL squad has now played 50 games, so needless to say, we are getting into the stretch run. We are also 24 days from the trade deadline, so rumors will be the main stay over the next 3 weeks of this blog. But for now, just to get back into the swing of things, here is what we are seeing, and see coming in the next month.

- The Western Conference is stupid, as in stupid competitive if you didn't know already. If Colorado wins their next 3 games, they could literally go from 12th to 4th in one week.

- Speaking of the West, both Chicago and Los Angeles are currently out of the playoffs. I pegged both of them as second round playoff teams. The blow up of the Blackhawks was as serious as everyone suspected and Drew Doughty has looked normal for the first time in his career.

- Tim Thomas is not human, or at least his numbers aren't. He has carried the Bruins this year, and without him, the playoffs would be a tough sell. My boy Milan Lucic started hot, but has cooled down to the temperature of Ilya Kovalchuk.

- Sleeper Alert: The Dallas Stars are good! Even though I hate Mike Ribeiro with every piece of my being.

- The Capitals are overrated, and without Crosby, the Pens are average. What's new?

- The Islanders are BAD. The Devils are WORSE. The Oilers are THE worst. At least the Oilers have a future, 2 years in a row with the #1 pick. They take Sweden's Adam Larsson #1 overall, I'm calling it now.

- Big names moving over the next month? I'm saying Zach Parise, Mike Fisher, and Jakub Voracek all changing jerseys.

- All important Leaf update: Don't look now, but the Leafs are only 10 points out, with 3 games in hand. The next 5 games will make or break their season. Games against Buffalo, Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, and Montreal are all winnable games. Optimus Reim is here to save the day.

It's gunna be a wild February, get up for it!