Thanks for the kind words Jeremy! That's very gracious of you. I was always taught to win (or lose) with class. Sure, I'm happy when my team wins and I'm devastated when they lose but in the end it's only a game and games are supposed to be fun. Even when I played sports (I still compete in frisbee golf!) I would always congratulate the other side no matter the outcome.

Sports to me are like a bridge. I can strike up a conversation with just about anybody, someone who otherwise would have nothing in common with me, and talk about sports. When I worked in restaurants I got to know the delivery guys who were mostly Mexican or Central American by talking about soccer.

There's no need to rub anything in anybody's face (except for Cowboys fans ), heck I could be in the reverse position next!

Good luck to your Preds next year. My brother married a Tennessee girl and they have lived in Nashville for several years and are season ticket holders so hopefully I will get to come down for a game at some point.

As far as cheering during the National Anthem goes I can tell you that I am uncomfortable with it. I've never been to a game in Chicago and was unaware that that happened. It was explained to me that it started after 9/11 maybe? That's one "tradition" that I wouldn't mind seeing retired. We used to have a minor league hockey team here in Richmond and when the line "O, say can you see?" was sung about half of the fans shouted "OH!" which I thought was completely inappropriate and disrespectful although some thought it was "cute".

Anyways, thanks to all for contributing to this thread. It is the longest one I have started (15 pages!). Who knew that there were so many pucks fans among the comic book nerds!

Good luck to all of your teams next year (with the exception of the Red Wings! ). Seriously though, that would be one heck of a Stanley Cup Finals.

Someone will have to start a College Football thread this Fall. Go Virginia Cavaliers! Wa-Hoo-Wah!!

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I have surpassed 700 Hero Ratings and have my sights set on 800!
Thanks to all of my outstanding customers!
I am now in the top 20 Stores by inventory and have started to consistently appear in the top 10 for volume of sales.
I am always striving to improve my store and will continue to provide the high level of customer service that you are all used to.
Hang on, it's going to be a great year!

Hall Liquidations

Odd draft last night. I didn't think that Seth Jones would fall to the Preds at number four. Though they needed some offence, hopefully Jones develops into the guy that all the "experts" say he is and helps to fill the void left when Suter left for Minnesota.

Preds then selected another defenceman with their second pick. Jonathan Diaby is huge at 6'5" 223 lbs but I am not sure about not addressing the lack of scoring concerns, hopefully they get someone in free agency that can help them there. They also went after two goalies and a third defenceman. Overall, 3-D, 2-C, 2-RW, 1-LW, 2-G. The NHL draft, as with the MLB draft is one of those things that you have to wait a few years to see if how successful your draft truly was, so we just have to wait and see. The Preds have been pretty good in the past in developing talent and finding gems in late rounds (Pekka was 248th overall in 2004 and Hornqvist was 230th in 2005).

Everyone here in Vancouver is shocked that Schneider was traded. Luongo's bags were packed, but he's staying. However, it makes sense if you do the math.

Personally, I like Lu. The problem with the Canucks isn't the goal tending. If anything the rest of the team depended too much on Schneider and Luongo to save their bacon. Trading Schneider for a first round centre man is a smart move.

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MY FAVOURITE FUNNIES

Had to do this. Make free cap room to sign Bickell and to make place for young guns who are NHL ready. See Pirri, LeBlanc or Danault. Also, it's imperative that Chicago sign Nick Leddy ASAP.

It's sad to see Bolland go, but he wasn't a #2C and his salary made him impossible to be a #3C. Sad, but he had to go. His contract was horrible. I loved the guy, he gave us a second Cup in four years, but he didn't deserve a 3.375mil AAV for 5 years.

I'm disapointed in Frolik's departure more than Bolland's. Fro was a PK beast, he knew his role and accepted it a while ago. However, 2.5mil for a 4th line guy is a bit too much.

I'm also glad Emery should resign with Chicago! Antti Raanta will be ready pretty soon... one season in the AHL and he's fine!

You're kidding right??

Gillis got f*****d really hard by Lamoriello to trade a NHL ready goaltender, younger, and wayyyyy better than Luongo. Also, Luongo wanted out of Vancouver, why the hell did they keep him?

LA got a way better deal when they traded Bernier - a non-proven NHL goaltender by the way. Gillis waited way too long to deal Schneider and he got raped... badly.

He could have got much more by trading him, at the deadline for example.

Also, he fired Vigneault to sign... Tortorella? Are you f*****g kidding me?

Vancouver need to fire his ass... he's messing up the Canucks (and I don't care 'cause I hate the Canucks and Sedins sisters).

No, I'm not kidding.

Yes, Gillis could have probably gotten more at the deadline - but he didn't. So that was no longer an option. No one - not even the Flyers who are goalie desperate - want to touch Luongo's contract, so Gillis is backed even further into the corner. He's got two goalies and can't move one - kinda has no choice since a buyout would've been an absolute killer.

He had no choice but to move Schneider and make the best of it. A 9th overall pick in a solid draft AND send him to an Eastern Conference team so Schneider can't really hurt the Canucks? Probably the best he could've done. Moving him to a Western Conf team? Not going to happen.

It solved problems for both teams - and both got something they needed out of the deal. So, yeah, I think it was a good deal. Was it the best for Canucks fans? Nope - but Gillis put himself and the team in that position with RoLo's contract.

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I am very exicted with what the Predators have done so far with the draft and free agent signings. The Preds seem to have caught whatever bug it was that caused the Titans to make so many signings in the offseason. I don't remember a time that the Predators, or Titans, have been so active in the free agent market. Things are looking up for professional sports in Nashville.

You know way more about the farm system then I do, my friend! I liked Stalberg but you are right, losing Frolik was definitely worse.

---

I have surpassed 700 Hero Ratings and have my sights set on 800!
Thanks to all of my outstanding customers!
I am now in the top 20 Stores by inventory and have started to consistently appear in the top 10 for volume of sales.
I am always striving to improve my store and will continue to provide the high level of customer service that you are all used to.
Hang on, it's going to be a great year!

Hall Liquidations