Will Crosby be the next Daige

[monokolopo]

Does anyone remeber all the hype around Alexander Daige how he dominated europe but then bombed in the NHL.


As well as the sedins for Vancover defenitly didnt live up to their hype.


So my question is does anybody think thar Crosby will not live up to the hype and because of that become a player like the sedins or gratton, or dagie?

[uh...mikefromcanada]

Does anyone remeber all the hype around Alexander Daige how he dominated europe but then bombed in the NHL.


As well as the sedins for Vancover defenitly didnt live up to their hype.


So my question is does anybody think thar Crosby will not live up to the hype and because of that become a player like the sedins or gratton, or dagie?



If he doesn't, pittsburgh is going to be pissed.

[Red Stripe]

I hope he bombs, and laugh at Mario.

[The Clash]

Crosby might not live up to the hype of Mario and Wanyne, But he will be a good hockey player, at least a consistent 30 goal + scorer.

[ThePatient]

I know you're all happy to have hockey back, but do we really need so many NHL threads?

If this guy Crosby fails, the NHL will be in a world of trouble. The NHL needs a new face to bring some news fans into the mix.

[The Clash]

I know you're all happy to have hockey back, but do we really need so many NHL threads?

If this guy Crosby fails, the NHL will be in a world of trouble. The NHL needs a new face to bring some news fans into the mix.

Dont get your hopes up on this guy. Comparing a 17 year old to Wayne and Mario, Come on, thats alot of pressure and im not sure he can handle it right away.

[humbucking fool]

Dominated Europe? The Quebec junior league, yes, but he's never played pro outside of north america. 51 points 3 separate times isn't bad...and yeah he didn't live up to his hype but hey, he's still an NHL regular.

I think Crosby will be fine...maybe not a big goal scorer his first few years but his vision and skating are so good I think he'll have plenty plenty of assists to help out his point totals.

[Red Stripe]

I wonder if Mario is gonna teach Crosby to fall and slam his stick on the ice to draw penalties.

17 is kinda yound for the NHL, and Crosby definetly has a target on him. All the big guys in the league are going to completely unload on him. And this aint the juniors anymore. Hits are gonna be harder by anybody not just the big guys. Zdeno Chara is 6'9", Crosby is 5'11"?. I don't know the weight difference, but I'm sure it's big.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1700 Chara
http://mckeenshockey.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=4&pr_key=17275 Crosby

You compare the weight, height differential

I know one is Wing, and the other is Defence, but he better be really quick or he's in trouble

[ThePatient]

Hahaha, I didn't know he was 17. That'd be like telling a guy right out of high school to go start at WR in the NFL. I wish the kid good luck, and I hope he's tough.

[Red Stripe]

^ For a real wake up call, put him at kick returner

[ThePatient]

Oh man, that too. I was just thinking about the position where you're the most vulnerable to blind side hits. *cringes*

17! Wow...

Is this kid a real pretty boy, or is he already missing some teeth?

[humbucking fool]

...Well he'll be 18 at the start of the year.

The Penguins have Ryan Vandenbussche on the roster who isn't huge but is the best shot they have at enforcer -- he's going to need to step up his game to protect Crosby. Crosby didn't shy away from rough stuff in juniors, but there's no Peter Worrell or Zedeno Chara in the Q. Certainly guys will be taking runs at him most normal players don't get. So I guess we'll see how tough he really is.

[Red Stripe]

That could be their next move in Free Agency or make a trade, none of the hard-nose hockey players play for huge money, it shouldn't be that hard to get.

[3074326]

I wonder if Mario is gonna teach Crosby to fall and slam his stick on the ice to draw penalties.


Lay off Mario, you're making him sound like he's not one of the top five players of all time.

All players do that, anyways.

I could make the argument that Gretzky was dumb for standing in front of the net and scoring all those goals, but that would be silly. What's wrong with drawing penalties? That's a skill in itself.

[humbucking fool]

That could be their next move in Free Agency or make a trade, none of the hard-nose hockey players play for huge money, it shouldn't be that hard to get.


I know they have Ryan Vandenbusshe already...he has potential for that spot. He'll go with anyone (including Worrell) and can actually skate too.

[Steve DeBerg]

Alexander Daigle

:thumb:

[nitzguy]

i think comparing them(crosby,wayne an mario) is kinda pointless. do it in 5 years ad see where he stands.

[The Jolly Pakistani]

What's wrong with drawing penalties? That's a skill in itself.

Personally I think most games could do without such theatrics. But I guess one could argue it has become an integral part of most major sports...

[humbucking fool]

Personally I think most games could do without such theatrics. But I guess one could argue it has become an integral part of most major sports...

As long as the NHL doesn't become soccer in terms of diving.

The new rules have increased penalties for diving this year, including potential suspensions.

[3074326]

Personally I think most games could do without such theatrics. But I guess one could argue it has become an integral part of most major sports...

I agree that it's lame, but every sport does it, and every player does it. It's ridiculous to think that it takes away from a person's legacy.

[monokolopo]

does anybody think Temmu Sleanne 137 point rookie season is up for grabs.

[Steve DeBerg]

Yes, if Crosby is the real deal. Playing with Mario anything could happen.

[The pet beaver on bass]

I seriously doubt he'll crash and burn. based on playoff/world games he's played, it's apparent that pressure doesn't bother him. So I think he'll be fine, also, daigle was an *** hole, and this guys one of the nicest players I've ever seen.

[headrulz101]

I don't think he's going to have a Daigle like career but I see a Joe Sakic type of career for this kid and that isn't bad at all. I don't understand why they consider him the next "Great One". I don't see him having a Gretzky-like career.

[uh...mikefromcanada]

Dominated Europe? The Quebec junior league, yes, but he's never played pro outside of north america. 51 points 3 separate times isn't bad...and yeah he didn't live up to his hype but hey, he's still an NHL regular.

I think Crosby will be fine...maybe not a big goal scorer his first few years but his vision and skating are so good I think he'll have plenty plenty of assists to help out his point totals.

You are a fool. Ever heard of a little thing called the world juniors? idiot.

[The pet beaver on bass]

I don't think he's going to have a Daigle like career but I see a Joe Sakic type of career for this kid and that isn't bad at all. I don't understand why they consider him the next "Great One". I don't see him having a Gretzky-like career.

they say that because gretzky said crosby would break hsi records.

[morrissey]

Daigle.

And Gretzky was 17 when he started, Lemieux was probably a similar age. Everyone is a kid when they start.

As for comparing him to Daigle, I should hope not. That chav ****ed Ottawa over. But I agree that the NHL needs a new star player. There is a promising young generation coming up though... Kovalchuk, Heatley, Nash, Gaborik, Richards, Spezza etc., so the next few years should be great for hockey.

[3074326]

The Blue Jackets have some nice, young, talent. It's just too bad that Nash is the only one to emerge so far. I look for them to be a Tampa Bay-ish team within the next few years, as long as they get a solid coach.

Daigle was just a huge letdown for every team that he played on. He had a few glimpses of brilliance with Philadelphia, but then again he was playing on the same line as Lindros and LeClair. Anyone could show a glimpse of brilliance with that type of talent around.

[morrissey]

Yeah Columbus has a nice young team, they just need some time to develop and they could be tops.

[monokolopo]

The Blue Jackets have some nice, young, talent. It's just too bad that Nash is the only one to emerge so far. I look for them to be a Tampa Bay-ish team within the next few years, as long as they get a solid coach.





Since Nikioula Knahboulin (sp?) the goalie fot Tampa Bay has not re-signed with them yet, I think that will majorly affect Tampa Bay chances because with the rule changes you need to have a talented goalie.

[3074326]

They need another Geoff Sanderson. Someone who can lead them. They're just a bunch of kids playing terrible at the moment. Well, I guess they were playing terrible the last season.. :rolleyes:

If Khabiboulin doesn't sign with the Lightning, I think it'll somewhat affect the team's chemistry, but I think they'll still be a great team.

[morrissey]

I think a year off will affect every team's chemistry, regardless of lineup shifts. The first few games of the season are going to be pretty rusty.

[3074326]

Yeah, but I can only imagine how cheap tickets will be. You better believe that I'll be right up front for the first 15 Blue Jackets games, since I'll be living about 30 minutes from the place.

I'll get to see Sidney Crosby in action, too, since I love the Penguins and plan on taking advantage of the cheap tickets. :p

[uh...mikefromcanada]

Why can't the leafs just win the cup again :(

[Red Stripe]

Yeah, but I can only imagine how cheap tickets will be. You better believe that I'll be right up front for the first 15 Blue Jackets games, since I'll be living about 30 minutes from the place.

I'll get to see Sidney Crosby in action, too, since I love the Penguins and plan on taking advantage of the cheap tickets. :p
Is the first game home or away?

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

Crosby is 5 foot 11, 195 pounds. He's 17 years old. Size is an issue now, but give him 3 years on a pro training regimen, and he's going to have defensemen shaking in their boots. Nobody's going to want to go into a corner with a guy who has his playmaking sense and who's built like a truck.

I saw him play in the world juniors and a few QMJHL games during the playoffs, and he's going to become a bloody good player in a few years. He has the brains, he has the skill, but he's going to need experience first. Too many people think he's going to walk into Pittsburgh and take them to the playoffs this year.

You know who else really excites me for Pittsburgh? Marc-Antoine Fleury. sup next Patrick Roy?

[3074326]

Is the first game home or away?

I'm not sure if you're talking about Columbus or Pittsburgh, but both play away games to start the season. Columbus plays Washington, and Pittsburgh plays New Jersey (:().

Season starts October 5th.

[monokolopo]

does anyone know the price of the program on rogers that you can watch all the games.


its called NHL Center Ice.

[humbucking fool]

^^The price of Center Ice hasn't been announced yet for the upcoming season.

You are a fool. Ever heard of a little thing called the world juniors? idiot.

Like I said, he never played professionally outside of North America. He played world juniors for Canada, but as far as his organized leagues go -- the Q and then North American professional leagues.

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

^^The price of Center Ice hasn't been announced yet for the upcoming season.



Like I said, he never played professionally outside of North America. He played world juniors for Canada, but as far as his organized leagues go -- the Q and then North American professional leagues.

What pro leagues has he played for? I thought he went Midget AAA, QMJHL, and now that he's drafted he'll either spend a season with the Pens' farm team or (more likely) go straight to the NHL.

[3074326]

I'm willing to bet that he'll go straight to the NHL. The Pens lacked talent and ticket sales before the lockout, I can only imagine how bad it'll be now..

[Red Stripe]

I'm not sure if you're talking about Columbus or Pittsburgh, but both play away games to start the season. Columbus plays Washington, and Pittsburgh plays New Jersey (:().

Season starts October 5th.
No, don't let those New Jersey bastards get Crosby's first game. That's BS, man, as much as I hate the Penguins, he should have his first game at home.

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

No, don't let those New Jersey bastards get Crosby's first game. That's BS, man, as much as I hate the Penguins, he should have his first game at home.

Because the league should adapt its schedule to one player's needs, right?


:rolleyes:


It's ****ed up enough that they're starting a bunch of teams off against their rivals, and their "cost-cutting" decision to have teams play others in their division 8 times a year. Any more tampering and it'd take all the seriousness out of hockey. HAY GUYS WHO WANTS TO HAVE A SATURDAY GAME WITH SIDNEY CROSBY????

[3074326]

Yeah, the rule changes are terrible.

I find intense, low scoring playoff games much more exciting than a 12-7 shootout. Those are lame. Keeping the game the way it was would've been the best idea in my opinion. It's going to turn into the XFL and be all about the money..

[MattSharpIsCool]

I think Crosby could have a Dany Heatly-like rookie season. He'll probably end up around 80 points...playing with Mario will definitely help.

[3074326]

Yeah, he'll definitely learn a lot from Mario, especially on the same line.

It's too bad the Pens don't have some of the older vets that they had in recent history (Jagr, Stu Barnes, Alexei Kovalev, Darius Kasparitus, Kevin Hatcher). Oh those were the days..

[MattSharpIsCool]

They got rid of Martin Straka, didnt they?

[Bigbadbob]

Yeah, the rule changes are terrible.

I find intense, low scoring playoff games much more exciting than a 12-7 shootout. Those are lame. Keeping the game the way it was would've been the best idea in my opinion. It's going to turn into the XFL and be all about the money..

Agree...Who says NBA/NASCR fans will watch even if there's 15 goals a game. They did change the offside rule back didnt they? Clear the zone and keep playing? Waiting for the puck to clear the blue line sucked.

[3074326]

Yeah, the offsides thing was the one thing that could've been changed, but even then, that's not going to make people watch/not watch it. Chances are, if a person knows that there are rule changes, they would've been watching hockey anyways. The NHL thinks that die hard hockey fans aren't going to watch it.

Trust me, hockey fans are hockey fans. We're watching regardless. But changing the rules isn't going to do anything but piss the die hard fans off.

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

Taking out the red line was definitely a good move, as was reducing goalie pad sizes (not that it'll change every goalie's style of play - Martin Brodeur already uses 11" pads, for instance). I don't like how they're going to create a zone where goalies can handle the puck though - what's the point of that? You're going to end up with a lot more defensemen missing games for sore shoulders now that they have to skate into the corners with a charging forward behind them and have no goalie to dish it around the glass.

What else did they do again? Tag up offsides, I think, which are just going to create more dump and chase (but cut down on whistles), and moving the blue lines out a little? That won't change much, I don't think. Might give teams who play the trap a smaller neutral zone to clog up.

[Red Stripe]

Really, I think the no 2 line-pass rule is awful, you'll have the players who will hang by the other blue line, and get breakaways and score to many goals, when they should be back playing defence, all theyre doing is encouraging that.

I agree with you on the goalies can't cross the goal line, it sucks, but I think goalies should be able to get hit out of the crease.

Tag up offsides is a good rule, speeds up a game, I wonder if they're adding that to the league that i'm in, it is in the High School league, I don't know about my travel league, it wasn't last year.

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

Really, I think the no 2 line-pass rule is awful, you'll have the players who will hang by the other blue line, and get breakaways and score to many goals, when they should be back playing defence, all theyre doing is encouraging that.

I agree with you on the goalies can't cross the goal line, it sucks, but I think goalies should be able to get hit out of the crease.

Tag up offsides is a good rule, speeds up a game, I wonder if they're adding that to the league that i'm in, it is in the High School league, I don't know about my travel league, it wasn't last year.

Taking out the red line is one of the best things they can do to speed up the game. It's a dumb defensive move to cherry pick by the far blue line anyway, so you don't have to worry about that (did you ever see cherry pickers right by the red line before they took it out? Didn't think so. It's not going to start happening, except for on the occasional power play), but the biggest thing it'll do is it'll stop penalizing defensemen who try to pass from a foot in front of their blue line to a foot past the red line. Taking it out will allow forwards to jump the gun a little when going up for the lead pass, forcing the other team's defensemen to back up earlier and opening up the game. It won't kill the trap, but you won't see 9 guys between the blue line and the red line anymore. Ever.

Tag offsides will cause less whistles, but they'll also lead to a more dump and chase style game. It remains to be seen which will outweigh the other.

[Red Stripe]

That will only happen mostly on the Dump and Change, or if the trap is really tough, they have to do away with the trap, it makes the game so boring, neutral zone, dump, retreat, neutral zone, dump, and repeat. I guess you can say that the tag up offsides and no 2 line pass go hand-in-hand though. Like you can't have on without the other.

[Red Stripe]

I just thought of something, I woulda been laughing my *** off if the Penguins traded away their first round pick a few years ago.

And what happened to all the trades for draft picks in the cancelled draft last year.

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

That will only happen mostly on the Dump and Change, or if the trap is really tough, they have to do away with the trap, it makes the game so boring, neutral zone, dump, retreat, neutral zone, dump, and repeat. I guess you can say that the tag up offsides and no 2 line pass go hand-in-hand though. Like you can't have on without the other.

Dumping and changing is completely unaffected by the tag up rule. You dump and change on the rush, not when you have guys set up in the offensive zone.

The tag up rule and 2 line passes are also completely unrelated. If anything, the tag up rule goes against the 2 line pass. If you can't dump and then wait for the tag up, you have no place to go but backwards, and then you would be more inclined to make a 2 line pass back up the ice than if you could just dump it in and then wait.

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

I just thought of something, I woulda been laughing my *** off if the Penguins traded away their first round pick a few years ago.

And what happened to all the trades for draft picks in the cancelled draft last year.

What are you talking about? The Pens didn't have a first overall pick "a few years ago." They won it in the draft lottery for this year, Washington had it last year (got Ovechkin with it, and the Pens got Malkin 2nd overall), traded for it 2 years ago (got Fleury), and haven't had it in a long time before that.

There was no cancelled draft. The CBA expired in October, and the draft took place in the summer.

[MattSharpIsCool]

What are you talking about? The Pens didn't have a first overall pick "a few years ago." They won it in the draft lottery for this year, Washington had it last year (got Ovechkin with it, and the Pens got Malkin 2nd overall), traded for it 2 years ago (got Fleury), and haven't had it in a long time before that.

There was no cancelled draft. The CBA expired in October, and the draft took place in the summer.

He just said first ROUND pick. In which case, would have by chance, become the first overall pick, and they would have lost out on Crosby.

By the way, does anyone know how exactly the lottery worked? Did every single team have the same chance of getting the #1 pick? Or was it weighted like the NBA draft? where the worst teams have the best chance.

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

He just said first ROUND pick. In which case, would have by chance, become the first overall pick, and they would have lost out on Crosby.

Ah, I misread. But still, how would it have affected the Crosby sweepstakes?

By the way, does anyone know how exactly the lottery worked? Did every single team have the same chance of getting the #1 pick? Or was it weighted like the NBA draft? where the worst teams have the best chance.

It was weighted. Every team started off with 3 balls, and lost a ball for stuff like having made the playoffs in the last couple (5?) years or having gotten the first overall pick in previous years. I forget all the things you lost a ball for, but the least you could end up with was 1. There was maybe half the league at 1, a handful at 3 (Pittsburgh, NY and Buffalo come to mind), and the rest at 2.

[Red Stripe]

^ Columbus was the other

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

Ok, but how would Pittsburgh trading away their first round draft pick have changed anything?

[MattSharpIsCool]

Because then they wouldnt have been able to get Crosby...someone else would have.

[Red Stripe]

They get rid of their pick, and then the Penguins win the lottery, the team that has their pick would get the first pick

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

I finally figured out wtf Red Stripe was talking about. He's so incoherent I thought he meant their first round pick from a few years ago.

Teams who finish low in the standings never trade away first round picks. Especially not in years where a guy named Sidney Crosby is going to be eligible. Scouts have had their eyes on him since he was 14, and he's been in the headlines since he was 15.

[3074326]

I'm just trying to imagine what it would be like to have professional scouts checking me out at the age of 18.. I can't imagine what it would be like to be 14. It's also hard to believe that I'm older than Crosby.

Sorry, just kind of throwing my emotions at you. /emo

[MattSharpIsCool]

I have the same birthday as Crosby.....8/7/87

[Silvermedalmafia]

It's a laugh reading about all you guys thinking he's gonna be pounded and killed in the NHL. Haven't any of you seen one game he has played? He gets cross checks like they're goin out of style, and always gets up. I would be more worried about a guy like Brule getting killed in the NHL, because he's a sh*t disturber.

[MattSharpIsCool]

Crosby also seems like he can handle himself.

He had something like 90 penalty minutes last season, didnt he?

[humbucking fool]

84 last season


Whoever mentioned Straka -- he's an unrestricted free agent so I suppose it's not out of the realm of possibility to see him back in Pittsburgh.

[humbucking fool]

It's a laugh reading about all you guys thinking he's gonna be pounded and killed in the NHL. Haven't any of you seen one game he has played? He gets cross checks like they're goin out of style, and always gets up. I would be more worried about a guy like Brule getting killed in the NHL, because he's a sh*t disturber.


Peter Worrell and Darcy Hordichuk, and your average 3rd line checkers are alot bigger than Danny Syvret, Alexandre Picard, etc. I'm tellin' you guys...Ryan Vandenbussche is key...if he can be a top tier enforcer, Crosby will have little to worry about...even if not, he'll be okay, just a little banged up.

[humbucking fool]

What pro leagues has he played for? I thought he went Midget AAA, QMJHL, and now that he's drafted he'll either spend a season with the Pens' farm team or (more likely) go straight to the NHL.


I was referring to Alexander Daigle....sorry for the confusion.


Pittsburgh needs Crosby in Pittsburgh...with all the fan interest they have right know they need to keep it going. If he's anywhere close to ready, he'll never be within smelling distance of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

[MattSharpIsCool]

Peter Worrell and Darcy Hordichuk, and your average 3rd line checkers are alot bigger than Danny Syvret, Alexandre Picard, etc. I'm tellin' you guys...Ryan Vandenbussche is key...if he can be a top tier enforcer, Crosby will have little to worry about...even if not, he'll be okay, just a little banged up.

I wouldnt really call Vandenbusch an "enforcer"....he's a guy who will get in a fight every so often, but he doesnt really strike fear into anyone's heart.

[humbucking fool]

I wouldnt really call Vandenbusch an "enforcer"....he's a guy who will get in a fight every so often, but he doesnt really strike fear into anyone's heart.

Yeah, but he'll fight anyone...BRashear Worrell and Hordichuk (He gave the last 2 a good run too) in 03-04, and in any event, he's the best they got.

[sadisticmonkey]

im a die hard leafs fan (lol, a team that is facing some major problems unless they can sign some decent talent) but I'm glad Crosby ended up on a team that needs him. Pittsburgh is a troubled franchise who hasn't seen a good season lately...I'm glad he ended up with Mario, a guy who can show him the ropes... All in all, I think it was meant to be that he ended up in Pittsburgh, and i hope he does a decent job and brings that team back up top...

[jpoop]

Crosby can't live up to the hype. He's expected to be the next Gretzky and there won;t be a next Gretzky. I think he will be good but not as good as Pittsbirgh hopes.

[Red Stripe]

Yeah, it's pretty high expectations if your expected to be as good as Gretzky was.

[3074326]

People who expect him to be Gretzky should be shot.

Nobody should have those expectations and that kind of pressure placed upon them. If he flops, it could be because the media is putting so much pressure on a 17 year old kid.

[Red Stripe]

If he can't preform to expectations, he'll be the next Danica.

[MattSharpIsCool]

And god dammit Danica pisses me off.

[Red Stripe]

123

She's done so much of nothing, and she's all of a sudden the biggest thing, and she's not that hot.

[free_thinkers_are_dangerous]

People who expect him to be Gretzky should be shot.

Nobody should have those expectations and that kind of pressure placed upon them. If he flops, it could be because the media is putting so much pressure on a 17 year old kid.

I think he has the talent, but he definitely needs to mature. It might even be a good thing for him to spend a year playing in the AHL or something. Ed Jovanovski is a good example of a rookie who decided to spend a year in the minors instead of going pro as soon as he could, and he credited that year with making him a crapload more comfortable once he made it to the NHL.

Seems to me that the media pressure shouldn't be that bad. He knows that everyone who has a head on their shoulders doesn't expect him to bring back Jesus for at least a few years, so he'll be able to brush off the bull for a while.

[3074326]

If he can't preform to expectations, he'll be the next Danica.

Danica is going to win Rookie of the Year. That's not bad.

She's somewhat competitive, too.

And to FTAD, I pretty much agree with you, but even still, he's under a great deal of pressure from the media, whether or not the people with heads on their shoulders believe in his abilities.

[humbucking fool]

I think he has the talent, but he definitely needs to mature. It might even be a good thing for him to spend a year playing in the AHL or something. Ed Jovanovski is a good example of a rookie who decided to spend a year in the minors instead of going pro as soon as he could, and he credited that year with making him a crapload more comfortable once he made it to the NHL.

Seems to me that the media pressure shouldn't be that bad. He knows that everyone who has a head on their shoulders doesn't expect him to bring back Jesus for at least a few years, so he'll be able to brush off the bull for a while.


NO WAY will Crosby see any time in W-B/Scranton....the franchise needs him waaaayyyy too much from a PR standpoint. All that merch and all those season tickets they've sold recently...it all points to Crosby.

Watch out too -- Pitt may be in the process of assembling a very competitive team.

[3074326]

A lot of teams that have been bad in the recent NHL years look like they're signing some nice players. The Blue Jackets might actually have a team..

[MattSharpIsCool]

All of the expansion teams are looking pretty good....

Minnesota already made a long playoff run, Nashville made the playoffs, Atlanta has Stefan, Heatley, and Kovalchuk, and Columbus is making a team.

[humbucking fool]

And the teams you mentioned other than Atlanta fill their buildings every night. Go Hawks?

[3074326]

The Blue Jackets' fans deserve a good team. They already have some die-hard fans, and they have the best facility I've ever been in. That includes all sports. Nationwide Arena simply kicks ***.

They'll be good. They just signed Adam Foote, they have Zherdev, Luke Richardson, Marc Denis, Klesla, Rick Nash, and some other talented players whose names end with ov.

Haha, I forgot to mention Geoff Sanderson..

[humbucking fool]

They do have a beautiful facility. It's my favorite to go to in the league. and mongolian barbeque afterwards is always money. (Ex lived in Columbus so I was there alot).

Lots of names ending with ov....It's Mike Smith's perfect team!