Vancouver Signs Sundin

Let me first apologize for my "posting" mistakes. While I view myself as a competent writer, I am not quite as capable when it comes to my computer skills. So, that being said, I'll do my best to improve where I need to. Speaking of improving, the Vancouver Canucks just did! By acquiring future Hall of Fame center Mats Sundin. They made another tangible step toward not only making the playoffs, they should now have enough fire power to win the Pacific Division with relative ease. This is a franchise that had the guts and intelligence to reward Roberto Luongo with the "C" that no other NHL goalkeeper has EVER had the responsibility of wearing. Even with the addition of Sundin, Luongo remains the heart and soul of this up and coming team. I still can't understand what Mike Milbury was thinking when he traded Luongo to Vancouver. This is in my mind, as bad a trade as the Boston Bruins made when they dealt league MVP Joe Thorton to the San Jose Sharks. Well, as Forest Gump might say, "stupid is, as stupid does". Sundin could have ended up a Ranger, but as we all understand money talks and you know what walks! Sundin will be paid handsomely for his services. He is to receive a prorated ten million dollar contract. The Canucks' actual offer sheet was a whopping two year deal for twenty million, which was initially put on the table this past August. Either way, Vancouver had the cap space to sign Sundin and the Rangers will have to do without. Whether the addition of Sundin will be the missing ingredient to Vancouver's' cup hopes only time will tell.

Falling Stars

Like most knowledgeable hockey writers, I looked at the preseason rosters and made my predictions. I would be telling a bold face lie if I didn't come clean about where I had pick the Dallas Stars to finish in the Pacific division. That would be first or certainly at worst second and certainly a strong contender for the Stanley Cup. The 2008-2009 Stars seemed to have all the requisite pieces in place to make a cup run. They had acquired Sean Avery to add snarl, speed and offense to an all ready strong skating team. They had reacquired Serge Zubov. Zubov would once again provide not only solid defense, great speed and passing, he would also be the power play "quarterback" that all successful man advantage situations require. That was then. This is now. The wheels have fallen off and the once promising season is now in a state of chaos! First, team captain Brendan Marrow went down with a season-ending knee injury, then Sean Avery opened his big mouth and brought about his banishment, and if that's not enough, Zubov will no longer be available as he will undergo what is sure to be season-ending hip surgery. Woe are the Dallas Stars. They don't deserve this fate. Well, as they say, good luck next year!

Hello Kansas City?

The last time Kansas City had a NHL team, their name was the Scouts and I was quite a bit younger. So, it comes to me, based on information that I have acquired, that the state of Missouri will once again be the proud home of not just one promising NHL franchise, but two! Nassau County Executive, Tom Suozzi and company have made little effort to "make nice" with New York Islanders' principal owner, Computer Associates CEO, Charles Wang. The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a decaying disgrace. The Islanders are an elite franchise if history serves. Not yet forty years old, the Isles have won four Stanley Cups. That stacks up favorably against nearly everyother NHL team with the obvious exceptions (Montreal and Detroit). The NHL will once again be adding two new franchises in the near future, logically one to a former home of a WHL/NHL frnanchise, Winnepeg and the other in all likelyhood Kansas City. Charles Wang is a visionary and an astute bussinessman. He Knows that the economic climate is not conducive to a taxpayer funded arena in the near future. He has all ready sold all but one percent of his share of the AFL New York Dragons, Who play their home games where the Islanders do. Kansas City has a brand-spanking new state of the art arena. The only thing missing is a NHL franchise. Kansas City has a group of investors eager to purchase the Islanders and relocate them. If you were Charles Wang and you knew all these things, what would you do? One last thing, unlike the other three major sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL) the NHL does not have a major television contract. This necessitates, that each franchise must draw well at the gate. The Islanders attendance has been anemic to say the least. You can weigh the facts for yourself, and when you do, I think you'll see my point.