The Ottawa Canucks

What is with the army of ex-Canucks storming the nations capitol?

Brad Isbister?
Jarkko Ruutu ?
Alex Auld?
Ryan Shannon?

Someone should phone up Bryan Murray and let him know that Byron Ritchie and Aaron Miller are still available.

Note: And doesn't Ryan Shannon just look as pretty as a baby pony with his shiny little trophy.

Rusu for Gerber??

I'm sure by now you've all heard of the heart-warming-est story of the off-season. An Ottawa goaltender, Christian Rusu, who plays Bantam House-League got the hockey experience of a lifetime when he unexpectedly took place in a Senators practice.

"I was undressing and a guy just came running in and said, 'We need a goalie," Rusu said as he removed his goalie mask, revealing his braces and the beginnings of a moustache.

"...... one of the expected goaltenders failed to show on Monday so the call went out for an immediate replacement. Enter Christian."

I love this story. It tickles the cockles of the heart (you'd use that phrase if you could too). A kid gets to play with his heroes.....but it begs the question, why do Senator goaltenders have such a hard time showing up for practice? Ray Emery and the missing goalie from this story, I'm looking at you, you bastards.

All work and no play makes Patrick a dull boy

This is the 1994-95 Pinnacle Sylvain Turgeon hockey card. What is so special about that you ask? Well, you see that dopey looking kid above the the rainbow, in the Sabers Jersey, on his Dad's lap? That's the NHL Rookie of the Year, Patrick Kane.

This is either just a happy cool coincidence, or the precursor to an epic blood bath like in the Shinning, where at the end of the movie the camera slowly pans into that old photograph to reveal that Jack Nicholson was there the whole time. And just to add to the madness, Kane is staring at Dale Hawerchuk, another Calder winner. If I was Doug Bodger, I would get the hell out of there, shits about to get firestarty.

Also, I have to give props to Sean Leahy's Going Five Hole, as when I tried to find a picture of this card, the google search led me to his blog, where he had done this same basic post like a month ago. Why am I always the last to know everything around here?

1 month until hockey starts.

That's right, in 1 months time the Sens and the Rangers will face of in pre-season play. This will of course put an end to what has to be the most anti-climactic off-season ever. Whether it's the shit UFA crop, or the Sundin Bullshit, or the insane amount of trade rumors that seem to almost be completely made up (I'm looking at you HockeyBuzz), this has got to be the worst off-season ever. When a player that came in 67th in scoring last season leaves the NHL to go back home and play, is considered headline news, you know something is wrong.

I think they should make the Juniors play over the summer just so we never have an off-season. 365 hockey? I'm in.