In Glacialis Blog

A tip of hat ut Mr. Eric McErlain, is of Off Pennae Sententia, quisnam iustus fervidus vado in meus muneris ut inform mihi ut Boston Frendo have reverto universus of suum similitudo ratio ut Reebok, quoniam Bs’ ludio ludius es drowning quod patientia estus plaga in lemma, quod Reebok est conveniens ut restituo universus of similitudo, no. . . of vetus materia.

(Eric quod EGO vere vir-hugged super novus)

Eu, Mandatum Melior, eu vero. Ut experiment certus permaneo diu. NHL Mandatum dont’ per adepto libraries amo U.S. Praesieo operor, tamen Melior postulo an Area 51- typus suspendo in quod can exsisto repono ustulo of Glo-pucks quod iam Reebok similitudo ratio.

Frendo, amicitia, ero skating nunc in illud bonus vetus formator, venustus puter hockey sudo. Bank in is.

novus infractus seputus in a fabula in yesterdays’ Boston Herald. Take a vultus:

“secundum radix in B’s vestio cella, Reebok has been unable ut rectus problems per novus jerseys induco is season trans NHL quod mos restituo lemma procul company’s sumptus per novus similitudo no of vetus materia.

“ludio ludius have criminor utpote palaestra castra ut novus jerseys, quod es volo ut exsisto relevo quod sino sudo ut evaporate sicco per shirts, have instead irretitus unda inside quod gotten graviter. . . “

Iam tunc. Frendo plurimus certe certo mos non exsisto solus team recidivus suus ludio ludius consolo. Tamen quis mos Reebok operor pro replacement similitudo pro teams — talis ut Caps — quisnam tractare tutus redesigns predicated in Reebok similitudo ratio utique condita is ut Sanctio? Vos may have animadverto: Caps’ novus iugum quod nameplates es amplitudo pro minor, adstringo sudo. Is est iens impetro verus interesting.

Ut est Reeboks’ tunc shareholders’ placitum.

Update: Secundum tonights’ venatus EGO had a chance ut audio in in sententia of three valde prominent Lavatio Caput super valetudo theyre’ diutinus propter Reeboks’ similitudo ratio. Vos mos reperio lemma interesting, EGO spondeo. Ero divulgatio lemma laxus is weekend.

Vos teneo quam unus ex sulum 125 vel sic NHL pugna moneo vos, per rectum of suum mala-dropping, vix-- canis- per- vestri-shrieks reactions ut suum vis, of suum sincerus territo, venatus- muto auctorizo? Unus illorum iustus transpired in Boston, qua 6 ‘9, 251-lb. Zdeno Tutela nomincemeat of 6 ‘6, 238-lb. Blackhawk David Koci. Is eram positively a Sanctio scaena . . . ut in rectus ex movie ‘Halloween.’ Splatters of Koci cruor — quispiam ex Showtimes’ ‘Callidus‘ — repletus center of a visio orbis. Koci, venatus’ renuntio iustus edoctus, tolero a infractus nose duos venatus abhinc. Is eram occatio seeing him rudimentum cohaereo Tutela’ jersey per suus left armo dum trying sustento a tutus, visio- reservo loginquitas ex Tutela’ disfiguring verbera.

Incredibilis, is eram Tutela’ primoris pugna ut a Frendo. Ut candela of is est vigilo inter league, youd’ reputo is moris’ exsisto in suscipio terminus of plures challenges in near posterus.

Nos mos update is lima per video iustus ubi nos locus is.

Update: Gratiae ut Sig pro indicium ut video.

Quis would a manus manus of hockey bloggers careo divinatio pro novus NHL season?

Nos dont’ vindicatum potior aut crystallus ball vel spys’ eyes inside palaestra castra of 29 alius stipes, tamen nos sententia is vires exsisto benevolens ut nostrum lector ut congero a album of offseason ( quod tardus permaneo season) ludio ludius tractus, in a concisus lima, quod have aliquantulus fun vitualamen sursum nullus- quoque-accountable “ pollex Sursum” vel “ pollex Down” forecasts pro totus 30 teams.

Basically, a team meritus a “ pollex sursum” si nos sententia suus manuevering quod maturation innutum ut itd’ amplio super suus 2006-07 cuspis numerus. Stipes ut “ subsisto pat” vel engineered boneheaded volo quod/ vel inedicabilis, altus- terminus solvo procurator farewells erant awarded “ pollex down.”

Sic weve’ dummodo panton “primer” a puckhead could postulo hic.

Praeter beer.

Team	Comings	Iens	Juvenis est Servo	Verdict
	Mathieu Schneider	Selanne quod Neidermeyer ( pro iam?), Pulvis Penner	Bobby Ryan
	Eric Perrin, Ken Klee, Todd Niveus	Scott Mellanby, Crur Hnidy, Glen Metropolit, Keith Tkachuk, Denis Harniis, Eric Belanger,	Bryan Parum(?)
	Glen Metropolit, Aaron Pupillus pupilla, Peter Schaefer	Crur Donovan	Res Ferito (?)
	Jocelyn Thibault	Fere sulum	Dan Paille, Drew Baculus
	Adrian Aucoin, David Vigoratus, Cory Sarich, Owen Nolan	Tony Inter, Jeff Amicus, Romanorum Hamrlik, Brad Stuart, Andrei Zyuzin	Eric Nystrom (?)
	Res Runco	Jack Johnson, Anson Currus, David Tanabe	Nullus	Hmm . . .
	Brent Spoel, Robert Lingua, Sergei Samsanov, Andrei Zyuzin, Yanic Perreault	Michal Manus manus, Adrian Aucoin, Peter Vinculum, Jason Cullimore	Jonathon Toews, Pium Kane, Jack Solers
	Scott Hannan, Ryan Smyth,	Ken Klee, Pierre Turgeon, Ossi Vaananen, Pium Brisebois	Nullus
	Michael Peca, Jiri Novotny	Vepres Boucher, Bryan Berard	Gilbert Brule, Insulto Orichalcum (?)	Hmm . . .
	Todd Fedoruk	Res Barnaby, Jon Klemm, Eric Lindros, Ladislav Nagy, Pium Stefan, Darryl Sydor	Niklas Grossman
	Vepres Rafalski, Dallas Drake	Robert Lingua, Todd Bertuzzi, Kyle Calder, Danny Vestigium, Mathieu Schneider	Igor Grigorenko
	Crusta Acidus, Joni Pitkanen, Pulvis Penner, Denis Grebeshkov, Dick Tarnstrom	Ryan Smyth, Joffrey Lupul, Petr Sykora, Jason Smith	Sam Gagner, Ryan OMarra’ (?)	Hmm . . .
	Uber Zednik, Radek Dvorak, Tomas Vokoun	Ed Belfour, Alex Auld, Bellicus Gelinas, Sarcalogos Memor, Todd Bertuzzi	Nullus
	Brad Stuart, Tom Preissing, Kyle Calder, Michal Manus manus, Ladislav Nagy	Mathieu Garon, Jamie Heward, Tom Kostopoulos, Jamie Lundmark, Aaron Miller	Jonathon Bernier, Jack Johnson
	Eric Belanger, Sean Tumulosus,	Ratio Fernandez, Todd Niveus	Benoit Fomentum (?)	Hmm . . .
	Romanorum Hamrlik, Bryan Smolinski, Tom Kostopoulos	Crusta Acidus, Radek Bonk, Sergei Samsanov, Mike Johnson	Tutela Pretium, Kyle Chipchura, Andrei Kostitsyn
	Bellicus Gelinas, Radek Bonk	Fere sulum	Villa Koistinen, Kevin Klein (?)
	Fastidiosus Zubrus, Vitali Vishnevski, Kevin Weekes, Karel Rachunek	Scott Gomez, Vepres Rafalski	Nicklas Bergfors (?)
	Bill Guerin, Mike Socius, Ruslan Fedotenko	Fere sulum	Sean Bergenheim (?)
	Scott Gomez, Sarcalogos Drury	Michael Nylander, Karel Rachunek, Res Runco, Kevin Weekes, Brad Isbister	Proficiscor Staal, Ryan Callahan (?)
	Tondeo Donovan, Luke Richardson, Denis Harniis	Mike Socius, Tom Preissing, Peter Schaefer, Oleg Saprykin	Nick Foligno, Vepres Lee
	Daniel Concisus, Joffrey Lupul, Jason Smith, Bellicus Biron, Scott Upshall, Kimo Timonen	Peter Forsberg, Joni Pitkanen, Kyle Calder, Robert Esche, Todd Fedoruk, Mike York	Braydon Coburn, Ryan Parentis
	Alex Auld, Radim Vrbata, Niko Kapanen, Mike York	Owen Nolan, Jeremy Roenick, Velum Joseph, Mike Ricci	Peter Mueller
	Darryl Sydor, Gary Roberts, Petr Sykora	Eric Cairns, Joel Kwiatkowski, Jocelyn Thibault, Michel Ouellet, Nils Ekman, Josef Melichar	Kristopher Letang
	Craig Flumen, Jeremy Roenick	Scott Hannan, Bill Guerin, Vesa Toskala	Nullus	Hmm . . .
	Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk	Radek Dvorek, Dallas Drake, Glen Metropolit, Jamie Flumen	Erik Johnson
	Michel Ouellet, Sarcalogos Memor, Jan Hlavac	Cory Sarich, Ruslan Fedotenko, Eric Perrin	Karri Ramo (?)
	Jason Blake, Vestigium Campana, Vesa Toskala	Jeff ONeill’, Michael Peca, Yanic Perreault, J.S. Aubin	Jiri Tlusty (?)
	Brad Isbister, Ryan Crur	Bryan Smolinski, Brent Sopel, Jan Bulis, Rory Fitzpatrick,	Luc Bourdon (?)
	Michael Nylander, Viktor Kozlov, Tom Venenum	Fastidiosus Zubrus, Kris Beech, Bryan Muir, Jiri Novotny	Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Viridis, Tomas Flesichmann

Iocus’ Rink permissum Caput’ angustus season ticket contemplatio ex pera ut quondam iterum broached thema of “ glacies Puella”. Neither OrderedChaos neque nec EGO suscipio season ticket contemplatio, sic nos dont’ teneo si is comprehendo praeter quinque questions memoratus per Iocus’.

Tametsi nos have penso informatio of Lavatio Caput’ Glacies Puella, nos dont’ teneo si is est a perfectus paciscor necne. Potissimum ceterus teams have iam held suum tryouts. Est Lavatio secundum curvo, sic oro? Vel have eximius specialis auditions iam been held quod glacies puella es promptus pello pepulli pulsum glacies in September 8th?

In ullus theca, nos erant curiosus ut ut quot alius teams have talis squads. refero may admiratio vos.

• Anaheim Ducks Vox Ludio ludius
• Atlanta Thrashers Puteulanus Crew
• Boston Frendo Glacies Puella ( link ut Glacies Puella pelagus page eram lost secundum profugus ut NHL servo)
• Calgary Flamma Glacies Crew
• Carolina Turbo Tempestas Squad
• Pullus Blackhawks Glacies Crew
• Columbus Puteulanus Jackets (quisnam vere have 2 humus) - Vox Patronus & Glacies Crew
• Dallas Astrum Glacies Puella
• Florida Pardus Glacies Presul
• Nashville Predators (quisnam quoque have 2 humus)
• Calx Puella
• Presul
• NY Insula Glacies Puella
• Ottawa Orchestra Vox Patronus (magis of a phasmatis humus quinymo quam glacies puella/cheerleaders)
• Philadelphia Flyers Glacies Team
• Phoenix Coyotes Sarcina
• Pitsburgh Penguins Pens Patronus (magis of a phasmatis humus quinymo quam glacies puella/cheerleaders)
• Tampa Sinus Levitas Puella
• Vancouver Canucks Glacies Team

update[: Dan Steinberg est procul Kettler quod has non seen ullus “ glacies- substructio letifico alio”]
update[ 2: Dan Steinberg suscipio confirmation ex Nate Ewell, Presul of Interventus Consanguinei, ut illic erohaud glacies- substructio letifico alio roaming Phone Tabernus is season.]

Weve’ notus utpote Herb Revolvo’ argentum medal victor Olympic hockey team procul Sal salis Lacus Urbs in 2002 ut USA Hockey necessarius ut transitus ut tunc ingenero of American standouts pro caput capitis international competitions. Nos quoque knew ut ut transitus — redivivus, si vos mos — eram iens gero growing opera. Is nos saw permaneo annus per Torino Olympics, quod certainly ut a redactum inhonestus per American effectus procul IIHF Universitas Championships sulum ver. unguentum of preteritus 5 annus has been effectus of varius Sub-17 quod Sub-18 U.S. teams universitas- prolixus — a manus manus of aurum, argentum, quod pyropus medals inter lemma. They innutum melior dies, in maximus tempus, in horizon. Additionally, Americans have been clogging prothoplastus rotundus of repens NHL drafts, proprie suum summus echelons.

Yesterday meridianus USA Hockey populus a placitum dico dissero solvo mane in dies of suus18-vir roster huic annus’ Universitas, sumo locus April 27-May 13 in Moscow.

Prothoplastus res EGO animadverto super American juvenis tractus wasnt’ adeo suus super mediocris aevum (25) tamen quinymo quam nuper tot of lego erant sedeo in contraho dorms — quod quam nonnullus etiam es. Phil Kessel, Jack Johnson, David Tergum, quod Paul Stastny erant totus in castra permaneo season (JJ eram etiam illic a mensis abhinc); Nathan Davis (Miami of Ohio) quod Cory Schneider (Boston Contraho) es etiam illic. Ut’ unus- tertius of American roster ut could have been contendo in a Glacialis Quattuor permaneo April, quod iam is April est reddo U.S. procul orbis terrarum Championships.

tunc res ut scamnum sicco ut mihi eram Vepres Burkes’ pium.

“ego iustus reputo ut ut vestri terra adveho dico pro vestri muneris . . . EGO cant’ narro ‘ etiam’ velox satis” is dedi.

Burke, iunctus per David Poile, Ray Shero, quod Inicio Waddell, eram secui of a vicus of NHL imperator procurator asked per USA Hockey futurus architects illae annus’ American viscus obvius Universitas. Interesting sidenote: 10 of NHLs’ 30 GMs es Americans.

An annual sollicitudo per utriusque American quod Canadian teams per Universitas, quod usquequaque congruo per NHL playoffs, est quisnam inter altus profano ludio ludius says etiam ut suum lusum’ veneratio rectum bodies quod quisnam opts sicco. Yesterday Burke no videlicet ut suus consuasor trado of GMs eram interested in contraho tantum a roster of Americans quisnam tracto invitations ut a cant’- requiro vicis. Non surprisingly, vel intus is iuvenalis roster illic est seasoned usus ut is adveho ut taedium Rutilus, Niveus, quod Puteulanus. Pro Robert Esche, is annus’ Universitas ero suus septumdecim international Tornacense reddo U.S., pro Phil Kessel, suus sedecim, pro Jack Johnson, suus diapente.

Irrisorie, plures of teams’ “veterans” — inter lemma Eric Cole, Sarcalogos Expedio, quod Vepres Pothier — addo comparatively parum international usus. In yesterdays’ placitum dico, Cole admitted ut is eram a “ tardus vigeo” ut is venit ut international hockey, having nunquam been duco parumper U.S. Universitas Junior Championship team.

Decens, Americans ero cogo per Mike Sullivan, nondum 40. In 2003-04, in suus primoris season secundum Boston Frendo’ scamnum, Sullivan led Bs ut Northeast Divortium titulus quod secundus- optimus record in Orientales Placitum per a 41-19-15-7 vestigium quod 104 cuspis. Is servo ut an suffragium ut Peter Laviolette in Torino permaneo annus.

Americans, amo ceterus 15 contendo populus, es licitus ut vestio 20 skaters quod three calx procul tournaments’ satus, voluntas ut duos roster macula subsisto. Obviously, Burke quod suus consuasor trado es servo propinquus tabs in NHL playoffs’ primoris rotundus, quod es virtually certain expleo explevi expletum suum denique socors per nuper debello. Nullus of quattuor has a canis in Novus Jersey-Tampa pugna, sic vos can bet they wouldnt’ mens seeing Zach Parise, Scott Gomez, quod Vepres Rafalski fio available. Secundum three venatus in Tornacense, sulum team can adaugeo an additional duos skaters.

Ut Iunctus Civitas Populus Development Team Progressio adverto magis quod magis of Americas’ teres athletes quod formo lemma in universitas- ordo hockey talentum, plures cuius mos planto victus in pro hockey inter October quod April, nos should animadverto a venalicium diversus team contraho per USA Hockey pro Universitas sulum ver. Unus ut mos vultus tanquam is has been lascivio una procul hockeys’ plurimus prestigious tournaments pro annus. Quoniam is has.

Americans iens ut Moscow in duos weeks in plures veneratio reddo a hybrid inter available American Totus Astrum of preteritus quod USA Hockeys’ magis cohesive blueprint of posterus. Magis maximus, Vepres Burke innotesco yesterday, sulum singulus ludio ludius in roster in 2007 usus a altus-pitched perturbatio ludo pro suus terra.

redivivus est in schedule.

Iam Fatum quod Senium paro est certus ut Caps es longshot interpellatio pro eximius- ingeniosus UFAS is estas. Suum reputo est: nemo would volo advenio quod ago hic, quod lascivio huic vomica suffragium, ut dedi ex leagues’ elite quod non-rebuilding es duco. Suum conclusion est ut Caps’ procuratio est necesse in a positus of having ut “ opprimo” guys ut lure lemma hic. Quod vel ut, plurimus sepius, moris’ exsisto bonus satis. EGO admiratio.

EGO planto haud simulatio ut Caps es in campester skating per placitum amo of narro Rags vel Pennae ( tametsi victus quod erigo a prosapia in Detroit aint’ totus is isnt’ fragor usque exsisto). Quod dum D.C. has suus downsides — ferinus traffic, impius carus domus, Kornheiser quod Wilbon — suus’ recedentia ex Dubuque in a Friday nox noctis.

EGO admiratio procul ut quod quam “DC est a mortuus- terminus destination ludo” sententia refer took habitum. Is certainly hasn’t held Danny Snyder tergum. Quod I’m per certus EGO don’t congruo per is.

Ut Caps’ cella est ut angustus-knit a bunch ut is est, quod haud minor quam AO sui has nuper insinuo ut is volo ludo suus universus tutela hic, certainly videor ut innutum secus. Cepit Milan Jurcina totus of super duos weeks ut profiteor a profundus attachment ut suus novus teammates quod urbs is supervenio in, quod is left quis multus of folks reputo est unus of melior civis in totus of rus ruris.

EGO admiratio, quoque, procul folks’ licentio of AO ut a recruiting pecto. EGO tendo reor him a validus unus, quod ut totus illud altus- profano interventus ratio of suus sermo ut Interfixus Datsyuk procul Totus Astrum venatus, succedo, in secui drove Pennae’ procuratio ut pactum amplus is did. Per meus own eyes EGO saw quam suggero salutor ex Pittsburgh quod Plaga erant ut Chinatown secundum repens venatus — nos couldn’t adepto [expletives] dimitto. EGO would certus congruo ut Mr. Leonsis would have a ferreus vicis pitching suus team eximo procurator erant Caps etiam in Solio Centre — Procer George’s Duco nightlife, cognatus ut Plaga’, decessio unus unfulfilled.

Pittsburgh est certus an incommodo locus ludo quod ago quoniam is has haud frugalitas, quod universe nemo volo vivo illic (that’s quare they totus ago hic — quis operor vos dico a Pens’ fan victus in Pittsburgh? Unemployed), quod pro utique alius iugo of annus is has a godforsaken rink; Gary Roberts coepi did renuo ut vado illic six weeks abhinc. Tamen ultimately guys mos volo ut skate per Crux crucis quod Malkin quod Staal, ut they mos per optimus- in-- universitas talentum amo nostrum Alexes quod Backstrom quod amo alius. (persevero)

A fabula of duos venatus? Sive, a surprisingly contendo Caps’ team, videlicet buoyed per reverto of suum satus netminder, curo ut non vultus ridiculum, quod loco nonnullus cuspis sursum in tabula. gritty, ferreus- opus caput ustulo a rectus hat- furta quod totus est vox obvius universitas.

Proh, tunc nocens Caps ostendo sursum. Leviculus turnovers, nocens poena, quod ventus is sursum per Caps’ bete noire, surculus. Secus valde.

• EGO amo venatus Revolvo Laich ludio ludius, plerumque, tamen suus nocens crux crucis- glacies obduco ut led ut a Boston shorthanded chance corrumpo ut. Laich vultus magis indubitanter per puck, quod nos can animadverto quam ut interdum can plumbum ut a periculum obduco ut shouldnt’ fio.
• Laich eram aegre unus in turnover venatus, vero. Morrisonn quod Magnificentia utriusque trado plures nocens giveaways, quod utriusque trado nocens altus- virga poena, quod suum inconstans lascivio persevero. Shaone Morrisonn persevero ut loco sui in poena arca archa, per 7 pupillus in suus permaneo 3 venatus. Illud es Brendan Witt numerus.
• Secundum Morrisonn got dumped in Caps’ scamnum, Caps did respondeo physically, per Morrisonn quod Jurcina utriusque putting somes in a Frendo. Jurcina persevero futurus a perspicuus macula pro stipes, quod secundumTarik El- Vercundus, ero per stipes tunc annus.
• Vepres Pothier vultus amo is had unus of suus melior venatus in repens memoria, per haud egregious lascivio quod nonnullus teres-skating praesumo sursum glacies.
• Jeff Schultz could sto ut volo suus solvo sursum aliquantulus.
• Id’ dico Alberts vs. Bradley pugna a duco, ending per a takedown per Bradley. fight was caused by a nice hit by Bradley on Alberts near the boards.
• It was good to see Alex Ovechkin score in the shootout. Hopefully that will break the hex on his shootout performances.
• Alexander Semin has got to stop hitting so many posts. What a fantastic move to beat the goaltender in overtime, and what a loud ‘ping’ the goalpost made. Those have to start going in for the Caps to get back in the win column.
• Props again to the captain for his natural hat-trick and note that he had an even strength goal, a power play goal, and a shortie. I’m not sure I’d bet against him getting 30 goals for the season.
• Think the Caps could use a playmaking center like Savard?

Well, the Caps got a point out of it, but there certainly is no sense of accomplishment after a shootout loss like that. Kolzig’s presence obviously juiced the team up, but they made a youthful mistake and took their foot off the gas. The Caps really aren’t playing for anything but improvement now, so here’s hoping this lesson is learned well.

The latest issue of The Hockey News has ranked all 30 NHL team’s prospect systems. They have defined prospects as players under 22 years of age as of January 31, 2007. This ranking does not take into account any movement of players at the trade deadline. Note that three of the Caps’ Southeast Division rivals bring up the bottom-5 rear.

1. Pittsburgh [Last Year’s Ranking 1]
2. Washington [7]
3. Nashville [6]
4. Los Angeles [10]
5. Chicago [8]
6. Boston [12]
7. Anaheim [2]
8. St. Louis [28]
9. Montreal [17]
10. N.Y. Rangers [19] (Continued)

Mrs. Gustafsson just returned from Las Vegas and brought me the Bellagio’s Odds to Win the 2007 Stanley Cup. I’ve combined that sheet with the one I picked up in November.

According to Mike Vogel’s blog the Caps have sent a conditional 3rd or 4th round draft pick to Boston for defenseman Milan Jurcina. There’s some confusion on the issue, as the Caps do not have a 2007 3rd round pick. Jurcina is a big fella (6′4, 230+) in a position of need for the Caps, and certainly seems to have some skill. From what we are hearing, he’s been having confidence issues in Boston, and Caps fans have been through that with a young, talented blueliner earlier this season.

All in all, it seems like an acceptable and affordable risk. 23 is young for a defenseman, and it seems that Jurcina has room to grow. He certainly can’t play much worse than he was in Boston.

One bit of advice to the young newcomer — you won’t want to wear #68 in DC, most likely.

[UPDATE: Per the Capitals, the conditional pick is in the 2008 draft. Which makes this an even better deal.]

[UPDATE (3 Feb 07): Per Mike Vogel’s Dump and Chase, Milan will wear #23.]

Ted’s latest blog post comes to us from Tampa where he attended last night’s game. He was impressed with the party-like atmosphere before and after the game and the enthusiastic crowd during the game. He also mentions the use of “Ice Girls” and cheerleaders which have become more numerous as Atlanta, Boston, Carolina, Chicago, Dallas, Florida, Long Island, Nashville and others have similar squads to Tampa.

The Lightning also utilizes ice girls and cheerleaders in the stands. While I always thought that kind of entertainment was best suited for football, I must admit that they provided a lot of energy and entertainment for the fans. What do you think of ice girls and cheerleaders in hockey arenas?

Would Ice Girls and/or cheerleaders improve the attendance and/or atmosphere at the Verizon Center? Or are they better left for football and basketball games?

Here’s a clip of Donald Brashear wishing Aaron Downey a Happy New Year.

This came one night after Brashear sent holiday greetings to Andrew Peters in Buffalo.

Thanks to HockeyFights.com for posting the videos.

I highly recommend a visit to the official web presence for this year’s World Juniors, which takes place in Sweden and commences the day after Christmas. In the past 5 years or so, this tournament has gained a richly deserved reputation for being perhaps the best in all of hockey.

Here’s why: It isn’t crammed into the compressed schedule of the Olympics; it doesn’t suffer from the conspicuous absence of marquee players as does the annual World Championships each spring; and for most competing nations, there’s been months and in some cases years of players skating in development programs together, allowing for greater roster chemistry than is generally seen within a relatively short tournament.

Best of all, the World Juniors faithfully generates at least one break-through performance that sets the international hockey world abuzz — think Alexander Ovechkin or Phil Kessel, each at age 16 — and it goes a long way toward clarifying which elite young talent will be grabbed up early in the NHL Entry Draft in June. (Continued)

I recently returned from business travel to Las Vegas. While exploring the MGM Grand, I picked up a sheet titled Odds to Win the 2007 Stanley Cup. I’m not sure how frequently they update the odds, but this sheet from last week has the current line dated 7 November 2006.