Slim Pickings

by blurr1974 on Jun 22, 2009 5:00 AM EDT in From The Branches

It's not just the name of my bluegrass alter-ego, it's the dearth of links today. This is the final week. We're in full countdown mode. Plans are in place, and the draft is happening Friday. If all goes according to plan, Mattblack and I will be running this PPP Amalgamated Heavy Industries and Cotton Candy Manufacturing Inc. come Saturday. Or, we'll be taking a collection for the bail money. Haven't really decided yet....

Our very own WAC has more reasons to love Jared Cowen, just in case you needed them.
TSM has the latest on the Monster and wonders, is he anything like 1998's Godzilla?
MLHS tells us a tale from the 1999 draft. A story that could be a prequel to this Friday's draft for our Brian Burke.
and gives us the 411 on MPS.
Norman James has a few ideas for the Leafs come draft day. Step one - piss off Habs fans. Step two...?
In case you're feeling remotely upbeat, the Bleacher Report presents this slideshow of former Leafs who "had to" leave Toronto to get experience "better" hockey. Whatever.

Now, enjoy my favorite ode to Monday...

NOFX - Thank God It's Monday (via septichar)

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My Puck the Media post where I hypothetically fix the NHL Awards.

http://puckthemedia.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/did-you-want-me-to-thank-your-wife/

(843): the red head has a bf
(1-843): just because there's a goalie doesn't mean u can't score

by Wrap Around Curl on Jun 22, 2009 5:33 AM EDT reply actions

NOFX is awesome

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 22, 2009 8:37 AM EDT reply actions

even on monday mornings

Mee-Mee-Meep Meep Go Leafs Go Meep Meep! MEEP!!!

by blindfolded tank driver on Jun 22, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed

LOVE NOFX. best show i ever saw was them at the Koolhaus. good find for a Monday!

I'm at every home game - see you there!

by kessticle on Jun 22, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm shocked

that no one talked more about this yesterday.

Mattblack linked to it in the FTB, and when I was reading it yesterday afternoon, my jaw dropped. The idea of moving up to 4th, and possibly even higher, on top of a deal for Kessel…? Crikey.

If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way. - Homer
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Jun 22, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Enough people are talking about kessel leaving that at this point I’ve moved from “hands off” to “you better be giving us something good in return”

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 22, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

In all honesty

I don’t see this really working for the B’s anyways. If Kaberle is really the player going the other way, then why can’t you just sign Kessel? Is he asking for more than 4 and a quarter…?

If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way. - Homer
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Jun 22, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope not, but he might be. He did score 9 more goals than anyone else on the bruins last season, even with Mono.

But Krejci got a 3.25 cap hit deal, and I don’t see Kessel as necessarily all that much more important than Krejci.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 22, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Are you asking about Kessel being resigned? or signed by the Leafs? He is,I think,RFA so the Leafs cannot without giving up the lifeblood(picks).

by wayne scarlett on Jun 22, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

my point being

supposedly the Bruins can’t resign Kessel and fit him under the cap. If this deal were to happen (Kaberle for Kessel) then Kessel must be looking for some serious coin to not fit under the cap. Kabby’s hit is $4.25M. For this deal to “work” then Kessel must be looking for a contract with a bigger hit.

If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way. - Homer
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Jun 22, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know if anyone would actually give him that kind of contract, though. Especially since everyone and their dog thinks that the cap will go down next year.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 22, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Point taken…I have not read anything about what his contract demands are.He is dealing with one of the tightwads of the league though,in Jacobs.His demands might not be too rich for anyone else other than the Bruins.

by wayne scarlett on Jun 22, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Hellooooooo 2002. How’s it going back there? Cap space is a way bigger (read: only, pretty much) reason Kessel wouldn’t be able to get a deal done in Boston these days than Jacobs holding the purse strings too tight.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 22, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

i for one, would make that trade in a heartbeat.

i ♥ Kessel. Said it before, I like his attitude. I like that he’s dealt with a crap load of adversity at a very young age, and emerged a better player from it. There were a lot of knocks on the guy when he was drafted (no heart, doesn’t compete, me first attitude etc) but he had a hell of a season, and I only see him getting better…

If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way. - Homer
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Jun 22, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I mean, he did get testicular cancer and only miss 11 games.

I think he’s going to light it up next year, whoever ends up with him. I hope it’s boston.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 22, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

The reason I haven’t been that interested is because the deals there just seem too much like common sense so it’s hard to believe.

They are too easy to toss out there and say “Well, I heard this” because logical fans can see it being there.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jun 22, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Anyone think Mats bowing out of the Olympics already is suspicious?

I’m thinking he might be leaning pretty close to retirement…

If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way. - Homer
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Jun 22, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah

I hope so. If he’s going to do the waiting thing again then I’ll go nuts.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jun 22, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

someone on another site,offered this about Sundin.I hope he was joking…Mats pulls a Hossa of sorts and signs with the Hawks.I am a Leaf fan(47 years ) but I also enjoy what the Hawks are doing…it does make a bit of sense,from a leadership point of view..

by wayne scarlett on Jun 22, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

That story has been misrepresented. He didn’t say he wasn’t going to the Olympics, just that he wasn’t going to play for Sweden.

Mats is expected to announce which country he will represent by the end of the round robin tournament. You know, so he can still have the entire journey.

Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.

by Down Goes Brown on Jun 22, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Or, I could have scrolled down on more post to see the exact same joke done better.

Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.

by Down Goes Brown on Jun 22, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually, that part about the entire journey was pretty good.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jun 22, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I would say ‘done differently’.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Jun 22, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Sundin’s ready to play for another country at the Olympics.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jun 22, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

Is he going to wait until the medal round before he makes a decision?

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Jun 22, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I am going to offer this as my desires,prayers,hopes…type in your own word…whatever.

If BB really wants to piss off the Havenot fans? The first trade of the day is for Vinnie.Can you imagine how F’in angry those clowns would be,if that was announced RIGHT at the Bell?

Realistically,the 4th and or 5th,without giving up the 7th,sets this franchise up for years to come.Highly unlikely to happen….but…

Read on this site over the weekend about the Atlanta scenario and the Boston one.
Does BB pull off both,to move to the #2? I think he covets Hedman more than he does Tavares.The precedent was made in 1993….Consider and discuss please.

by wayne scarlett on Jun 22, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

According to WCH he's never been negative to Leafs fans

Who, me? Actually, Peter, I don’t feel the least-bit negative toward the NHL’s most loyal supporters. But, there’s no doubt the addiction to the Maple Leafs is detrimental, because the hockey club frequently chooses to take advantage rather than reward it. That said, you have never heard me suggest Leaf fans should abandon the club in any way. Also, don’t feel, for a moment, that this unconditional reverence began in the current generation. I’ve made the point before, and it’s been largely overlooked in most e-mail correspondence, so I’ll make it again: I was the poster-boy for myopia and delusion as a fan of the club during the Harold Ballard years. Never in the history of the franchise were fans duped to such an extent. So, I feel supremely qualified to point out hopeless addiction, and its effect on the Maple Leafs. Burke makes frequent noises about matching performance to loyalty – a reward that is grossly overdue.

A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.

by furcifer on Jun 22, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

(when asked why he is so negative towards Leafs fans)

A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.

by furcifer on Jun 22, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

At this point when I see Berger’s words I just hear the “wah-wah-wah” plunger mute trombone sound the adults in the charlie brown cartoons have.

by LeafFanInVan on Jun 22, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Really?

What planet is he on? Are there multiple Howard Bergers writing columns about the Leafs? I know we’ve joked about Howard going off of his medication but I think that this is the biggest proof that the guy is actually bi-polar or something because he can’t seriously believe what he just wrote. The post that put us over the top was titled “Most Valuable Losers”!! and didn’t include one single picture of his family.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jun 22, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions