Some Nostalgia

nostalgia - noun

a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time

...

I know it's been a slow month, but I'm sure you've been surviving. However, if it's been a battle to stay alive, here's a little something for you.

Recently, I've been listening to a lot of older music. Try to keep in mind that the term "older" is relative to my age: some of the tracks I'm about to mention go back as far as, well, wow, 2003. But seriously, some go back further.

The focus here is that this is some music of my earlier years. It revives memories, brings out emotions, and creates an atmosphere that current music just can't do. And it's not a matter of the quality of music. I happen to think LFO's "Summer Girls" is a terrible song. But its on the list, because the point is that it brings back memories.

I'll try to embed most of the videos, but record companies are tools, so embedding for some is disabled. If so, I'll just post a link, and embed either a live version or a video with just the song.

And I don't care if I repeat bands.

Everclear: "Father of Mine"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8uamNDLEA0



Wallflowers: "One Headlight"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLqOwiZ8n5I



Third Eye Blind: "Semi-Charmed Life"



Blink-182: "All the Small Things"



Everclear: "Wonderful"



Green Day: "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"



Dr. Dre: "Forgot About Dre"



Blink-182: "What's My Age Again?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCjbphQH2iE



Creed: "One Last Breath"



The Verve Pipe: "The Freshman"



Vitamin C: "Graduation (Friends Forever)"



This will probably not be my last session of these. I will gradually inch towards more recent music that still provides the same nostalgic feelings.

It's likely I've forgotten plenty of songs I'd like to put in, so if I you think of any, please place it in the comments section. When we're older, the hardest thing will be to remember. Seems like I need a hand already.

But hell, the music helps.

And this next one is, for lack of two better words, especially special:



-brett

Lyrics to Live By...

So I've decided that my contribution to this blog will be to post lyrics to songs that I find interesting, meaningful, or just simply amazing (in my opinion, of course.) Feel free to agree, disagree, or just react to whatever lyrics I post. I'm excited to see how this goes!

Time by Billy Porter 

What is time?

Is it the autumn leaves that change?

Or the snow that floats from the sky?

What is time?

Is it the air we breathe?

Or the wings that teach 

The new born bird to fly?

Who can tell?

I don't know

Will we change?

Will we grow?

What is time?

Is it eternity

In heaven

Or just a hope for peace on earth?

Where's the time

Gone in a blink of an eye

But with every blink

a birth

We live

We learn

We love

In time

We give

We yearn

We grow 

In time

Time for change

It's time to care

It's not too late

Don't despair

Reach inside your heart 

To find the joy and love 

To share with all mankind

For all we know

All we have 

Is time

Movie review: "Watchmen"

Zach Snyder's recent film "Watchmen" has attracted both praise and criticism from movie reviewers. The media can't seem to decide if "Watchmen" is a classic or a bomb--some reviewers denounced it as senseless, while others lauded it, calling it "visionary." Personally, I loved the film, but I can see why other people did not like it. Today I will break down a few aspects of the movie, and you can decide for yourself if you want to go see it. 

The first thing you notice about Watchmen is that it is brutally violent. This isn't a criticism, just a statement of fact. If you are looking for an action movie, look no further--Watchmen is packed full of with intense and realistic fight scenes, which is mostly why it earns its 'R' rating. If you aren't looking for that kind of movie, though, it may be hard to sit through the whole thing. 

Secondly, Watchmen has a very involved plot and very complex characters. Though the opening credits provide some background for the unfamiliar viewer, it helps to get a general idea of what the movie is about before seeing it. Here is a basic background to the setting and characters (don't read the rest of this paragraph if you don't want to read it): The film is set in 1985 in a alternate history--the US has won the Vietnam war, but the Cold War is worse than ever. Nixon is in his fifth President, and the threat of nuclear war is ever-present. The "watchmen" of the title are a group of retired superheroes, most of whom have no superpowers whatsoever. Each character has his/her own radical viewpoint, which will become apparent very early as the characters are introduced. 

Next, the movie is not very linear, and it has a postmodern tone. The first half consists mostly of flashbacks, and is very fragmented. (It is still very captivating, but not too straightforward.) The overall tone is very dark and gloomy, which may affect your opinion of it. I find the gritty, postmodern style to be very fitting and necessary, but if you don't like dark movies you may have a hard time getting into Watchmen. The camerawork helps to create this postmodern effect, making the film appear very much like a graphic novel. However, the CGI is flawless, and Watchmen is not lacking as far as special effects goes.  

Also, like many other Alan Moore creations, Watchmen is steeped in philosophy, which is subtly woven into the plot. The characters' philosophical viewpoints range from nihilist to utilitarian to existentialist, and Moore (and Snyder) are clearly commenting on the implications of these beliefs. Watchmen also offers glaring social criticisms, commenting on Reaganism, the Cold War, nuclear deterrence, and American imperialism. Sadly, most people don't notice these subtle messages in the film, but in my opinion this is what makes it so darn interesting. 

The last thing to note about Watchmen is that it is LONG. At almost three hours, the film can be a bit difficult to sit through. Though it is captivating, if you don't like long movies Watchmen probably isn't for you. The length mostly serves to amplify the aspects I discussed above. 

I'm not going to give it an overall grade, since it is very hard to pin down an unusual film like this. My recommendation is to go see it, unless you are against all of the things I listed above. Like "Fight Club" and "2001," Watchmen will continue to be talked about,  so I suggest seeing simply to form your own opinion of it. 

Bloody Knuckles Debut

I figured I'd try to make the most out of the buzz from Matt's post and promote this video.



Hopefully we'll be making some more.

If you're interested in a real song, here's a great one:



-brett

Top 10 Guys You're Allowed to Have a Man Crush On

Alright. I've been on hiatus for a while due to a lack of creative inspiration, until now.

Anyway, the title says it all. First, I want to define a 'man-crush.' A man crush is when you admire a man, but you take it a step further. Maybe you've read someone's entire Wikipedia page. Maybe you closely follow every detail of their life. Maybe you watch every movie, tv show, etc that they are in- this is what I'm talking about. Let's get this party 

started.

[(The criteria to be on the list were a. they have to be alive, b. they have to be males, c. they have to be awesome.) (Fictional characters permitted)]

10. Jack Johnson

Is there anyone more cool and relaxed? How can you not love this guy? He writes mellow music that seems to melt your troubles away. He has a former surfer so that adds to his awesomeness

. Imagine him playing his acoustic guitar on a Hawaiian beach with a fire burning and girls in bikinis surrounding him. You can't help yourself. There's nothing not to like about him.

9. Any Special Forces soldier

Whether he is a member of Delta Force, SEALs, Force Recon, or the Green Berets, you have to respect and admire these guys. The training is harder than everything in your entire life will be. The things they've seen and missions they've successfully completed give them an eery sense of confidence and control. And if you don't love the guys that are protecting your freedom, you're a terrorist. 

8. Les Stroud

For those of you who don't know, Les Stroud is the star of Survivorman on the Discovery Channel. This guy can do it all. He can survive in every environment on earth. And he films it-- by himself. He is also calm and collected even when there are lions surrounding him or he has not had a sip of water in days. Finally, have you ever heard of someone who plays the harmonica who isn't awesome? Guys can't help but love this ultimate survivor/harmonica enthusiast.

7. Mike Rowe

Mike Rowe is the host of the Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs. He has a very rugged, manly voice. His sense of humor is the main reason he's on the list. He is so funny. And he does America's filthiest jobs. As we all know, funny is a powerful attraction tool. Guys can't help but tune in for every episode, claiming to watch for the jobs and not the host. But we all know the real reason. It's okay to admit it, guys.

6. Peter Griffin

Again, the humor gets us. He is a main reason people (particularly guys) are drawn to Family Guy. He would have been higher up if he was real, or had sex with hotter chicks. He doesn't really care about what people think and guys love that. It's fun to watch and dream to be as carefree, funny, and witty as Peter Griffin.

5. Dr. House

Another humorous fellow. But this guy is cocky, witty, confident, smart AND he has a cane. He always has a sassy comment for his boss (who is a woman). He saves lives, which is a plus. House is quite the womanizer as well, having sex with his fellow colleagues quite often. Above all, his nonchalant-ness is the kicker. He is never surprised or phased by anything, a quality that is valued among men. 

4. David Beckham

This guy is perhaps the most well known player in the most well known sport in the world. He had to be on the list. He also has his name on everything, ranging from perfume to clothes. He also has a pretty attractive wife, which makes him more attractive. He makes an absurd amount of money. He dresses like a champ. Beckham is definitely one guy you're allowed to have a man crush on.

3. James Bond

Girls, guns, spy-skills. Enough said. He gets with sooo many attractive girls. He never dies and always come out on top. His only downfall is the actor who plays him changes every once in a while. The actor who plays him is usually attractive but is not consistent and this fact influenced his spot on the list. Guys can't help but want to be James Bond after every Bond movie they watch. 

2. Michael Weston

For those of who don't know, Michael Weston is

 a character from the tv show, Burn Notice. I highly recommend watching it. It's about a spy who was basically fired and they eliminated every record of him ever being alive. So he has to go around taking private assignments to get mo

ney. He is humble and modest. He is the best dressed spy of all time. He lives in Miami. He has an attractive girlfriend. Weston takes Bond to the next level. He knows so many skills that Bond wishes he knew and uses them to hel

p civilians, all without any help besides his best friend and his girlfriend. He is always calm, quick on his feet, and fast thinking. No situation is too difficult for him. Michael Weston, played by Jeffrey Donovan, is awesome.

1. Brad Pitt

If you're a guy and don't love Brad Pitt, you're either a. insecure about your sexuality b. never seen him in a movie c. never seen him, period d. or forgot he's married to Angelina Jolie. His role in Fight Club is enough proof alone for his awesomeness. He has the ideal body type. His facial structure is nearly perfect. His eyes are cool. You can feel the confidence as he lives. He knows he is the best there is and acts like it. He has acted in so many cool movies (too many to list) that guys love him for. They also admire his relationship with one of the hottest stars in the world, Angelina Jolie. The fact that he can come home to a bed with that woman in it is enough to want to be him. Not to mention he has solid political and social stances. This guy has it all. 

Honorable Mention: Derek Jeter, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jason Bourne, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Brett Favre

By the way, having a man crush does not make you gay. Guys can find other guys attractive without being homosexual. Unless you actually want to have sexual relations with that guy, you're not homosexual. Admitting another guy is attractive shows your secure with your sexuality and you don't care what people think about you. This, in turn, makes you more attractive.  

In conclusion, this was not easy to do. I hope this will stir some debate. I want to hear your thoughts. 

NHL Trade Deadline Grades: Eastern Conference #3

Last group. If you've actually taken the time to read all of these posts, I'm proud of you. If you care about everything I've written, I'm scared of you.

11. Philadelphia Flyers...B-
a. In a slightly puzzling move, the Flyers sent Scottie Upshall to Phoenix for Daniel Carcillo. Don't get me wrong, Carcillo's one of my favorite enforcers. However, Upshall had chemistry with the team, and was starting to contribute more often offensively. Unfortunately, his salary may have had to do with the problem, and he was probably looking for a raise after this season that the team couldn't give him.

b. The team also obtained defenseman Kyle McLaren from San Jose. McLaren can't do much on offense, but he seems to be the replacement for Ossi Vaananen.

12. Pittsburgh Penguins...B+
a. This grade becomes easier, since I've had time to observe the results of the Chris Kunitz-Ryan Whitney swap. Kunitz has produced offensively so far in Pittsburgh, and he likes to hit and get involved as well. Meanwhile, the removal of Whitney creates room in the lineup for young defenseman Kris Letang.


b. The Pens also acquired winger Bill Guerin. Guerin is on the downside of the career, and picking up the aging power forward may seem like a stupid move. However, GM Ray Shero's approach is clear: the team lost plenty of grit after last season when it saw players like Ryan Malone, Adam Hall, Georges Laraque, and Gary Roberts walk out the door. Guerin, along with recent waiver pickup Craig Adams, are the guys Shero is using to try to fill the void.

13. Tampa Bay Lightning...C+
a. The Lightning's biggest trade in terms of a return was shipping Mark Recchi to Boston for defenseman Matt Lashoff and forward Martins Karsums. Lashoff is the true gem, as he has the potential to be a regular defenseman in the NHL, and has some (but not too much) offensive upside. Meanwhile, Karsums has yet to make the NHL jump.

b. The Lightning's biggest trade in terms of players involved was a clear salary dump move. Goalie Olaf Kolzig, defensemen Jamie Heward and Andy Rogers, along with a draft pick, were sent to Toronto for prospect Richard Petiot.

14. Toronto Maple Leafs...B
a. Brian Burke made deals aplenty. Nik Antropov and Dominic Moore were shipped for draft picks. I'm not going to discuss that absurd trade with the lightning again. This team is rebuilding, and Burke needs all the assets he can get in order to put his stamp on the franchise.



Sorry, but I had to use that again.

15. Washington Capitals...C-
a. The Caps did nothing. I'll ignore the question marks that surround goalie Jose Theodore, and assume he'll heat up and have some level of consistency by the time the playoffs show up. The bigger problem is in the defense. There's no intimidating or hard-hitting defenseman, and nobody was brought in at the deadline to fix that.

Fun, eh?

-brett

NHL Trade Deadline Grades: Eastern Conference #2

Exciting, eh?

6. Montreal Canadiens...B+
a. The Canadiens have been on a tear since acquiring Mathieu Schneider from Atlanta. Sure, it's not technically a deadline deal, but it's close enough. Don't look now, though (Montreal is losing 4-0 to Buffalo as I type this).

7. New Jersey Devils...B-
a. The Devils didn't even have to trade anybody away and they got Marty Brodeur. But seriously, the team brought up Niclas Havelid from Atlanta. Havelid doesn't have the best offensive skills, but he's smart defensively and won't take too many stupid penalties. In other words, he's the same as most of the other New Jersey defensemen.


8. New York Islanders...C+
a. The Islanders managed to get ship Bill Guerin to Pittsburgh for a draft pick. Greaaat.

b. Dean McAmmond came in from Ottawa for Mike Comrie and Chris Campoli. However, far more important than McAmmond is the 1st round pick he brought with him. Because this team needs everything it can get in this rebuilding phase.

9. New York Rangers...C+
a. General Manager Glen Sather seems to have screwed this team up so much its beyond repair. But he still tried. And that starts with the arrival of Derek Morris. Morris's contract expires after this season, but he's far better defensively than Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival. Lundqvist should be happy to have him.

b. Nik Antropov came from Toronto in return for a second round pick. Antropov is big (6'6") and has decent hands (46 points in 63 games). He won't be able to carry the offense, but he'll definitely be able to help out.

c. The infamous Sean Avery returned to NY when Sather picked him up off of waivers. We have yet to see how the NHL's premiere agitator will fare under new head coach John Tortorella.



10. Ottawa Senators...B
a. Pascal Leclaire won't be the savior in net this season. However, he's an upgrade over whatever they've got in there now, and he may be apart of this franchise for years to come. Assuming he can remove his injury-prone tag.

b. The Sens received center Mike Comrie and defenseman Chris Campoli from the Islanders. Comrie is a decent second line center who'll help provide some needed secondary scoring. Meanwhile, Campoli still has the potential to become a threat from the point on the powerplay. Campoli is far more important long term.

NHL Trade Deadline Grades: Eastern Conference #1

Now for the East.

1. Atlanta Thrashers...B
a. The Thrashers, one of the worst teams in the league, were able to "dump" Mathieu Schneider on Montreal. Dump is in parentheses because Schneider has rejuvenated a terrible powerplay and is a big reason the Canadiens appear to be a lock for the playoffs again.

b. Anssi Salmela came in from New Jersey in return for Niclas Havelid. Salmela has potential, but not too much. Sure, he led the Finnish elite league in defenseman goals, but he's old for a prospect (24), and his upside may be limited.

2. Boston Bruins...B+
a. The Bruins brought in veteran winger Mark Recchi from Tampa. Recchi has put up decent numbers in a bad environment (45 points in 62 games), and has plenty of experience (41 years old).

b. Steve Montador came in from Anaheim. Montador brings toughness to the defense, as evidenced by his 125 penalty minutes. However, he's not a complete offensive liability, and is a great addition to add to the defensive depth.

3. Buffalo Sabres...B
a. Acquired goalie Mikael Tellqvist from Phoenix. Patrick Lalime has taken all the starts ever since Ryan Miller went down with an injury. Tellqvist gives them a veteran backup and an alternative if Lalime falters.


b. The Sabres also obtained center Dominic Moore from Toronto for a second round pick. Moore is in the midst of the best offensive year of his career. His impact will be limited, but he's a nice tweak.

c. The Sabres must have been upset when they realized that they had traded away their second round pick, because they were quick to send Ales Kotalik to Edmonton for another one.

4. Carolina Hurricanes...B
a. The Hurricanes brought back a familiar face in Erik Cole. Cole is a gritty and physical winger, and has had success playing with Eric Staal in the past. His leadership will hopefully give this team a nice jolt.


5. Florida Panthers...C+
a. The Panthers sent a prospect and a pick to Tampa for defenseman Steve Eminger. Eminger has over 20% of his points this season against Florida. Maybe they got tired of playing against him?

b. Florida took a big risk by not trading away Jay Bouwmeester. While his presence means a trip to the playoffs is likely, Bouwmeester will probably leave during free agency, and the team will be forced to watch him leave for nothing.

...

NHL Trade Deadline Grades: Western Conference #3

Final group of Western teams.

11. Nashville Predators...C-
a. This team didn't do anything. While they seem like they can sneak into the playoffs again, there were a few players (Greg Zanon, Ville Koistenen) who should have been show the door in return for some prospects and picks.

12. Phoenix Coyotes...B+
a. After looking great around the All-Star Break, this team hit a wall in a major way. Jokinen went to Calgary for forwards Matthew Lombardi and Brandon Prust, along with a first round pick. Lombardi has plenty of speed, and may be able to find a place on a young Phoenix team. Prust is primarily an enforcer. I'm sure they'll put that pick to good use, though.

b. Backup goalie Mikael Tellqvist was sent to Buffalo for a pick. This team was in a selling mode, and while Tellqvist hasn't been particularly bad, this team is setting itself up for the future.

c. Scottie Upshall came into Phoenix along with a second round pick from Philadelphia in return for Daniel Carcillo. Upshall is a fast, annoying, and hard-working high energy forward. He's yet another nice addition to the youth movement, and has some offensive skill.


d. In return for Derek Morris, the Coyotes received Dimitri Kalinin, Petr Prucha, and Nigel Dawes back from the Rangers. Kalinin is a pylon, and it's likely his stay will be short. Meanwhile, Prucha is an effective energy player with decent offensive skills. A change in scenery may help him out. Dawes is a decent 2nd or 3rd line winger, but he still has some upside.

13. San Jose Sharks...B-
a. Sent veteran defenseman Kyle McLaren to Philadelphia for a 6th round pick. At least they got something for him.

b. Acquired Travis Moen and Kent Huskins from the Ducks. Moen is a quality checking forward, and Huskins gives them some defensive depth.

14. St. Louis Blues...D+
a. The Blues didn't do too much. Perhaps the glaring problem is what they didn't do. Keith Tkachuk stayed put, and the Blues were unable to get something in return for the aging power forward. A playoff spot isn't out of reach, but it's not too likely. This is a rebuilding team. Tkachuk should've been moved for some picks and prospects.

15. Vancouver Canucks...B-
a. The Canucks didn't do anything. However, they managed to extend agitator Alex Burrows for another 4 years. Regardless, the most important move occured a while ago, when they signed Mats Sundin. This team has been on a tear since, and while an addition would have been nice, there isn't anybody out there who can make enough of an impact to be worth it.



Eastern teams coming shortly!

-brett

NHL Trade Deadline Grades: Western Conference #2

More stuff.

6. Dallas Stars...C
a. Forward Steve Bégin came in from Montreal. He's a good energy guy, but not much more. Center Brendan Morrison was picked up on waivers, but they'll just have to ride out the injury storm until Brad Richards comes back.

7. Detroit Red Wings...A-
a. No moves whatsoever. Other than an upgrade in goal, there's not much you can do, and there weren't exactly plenty of top-tier goalies out there to trade for.

8. Edmonton Oilers...B+
a. The Oilers decided that they were buyers, which I feel is a terrible decision. Fortunately, their purchases weren't too bad or pricey. Winger Erik Cole was returned to Carolina in exchange for budding forward Patrick O'Sullivan and a second round pick. O'Sullivan has good potential, and his salary is relatively cheap.

b. Ales Kotalik came in from Buffalo for a 2nd round pick. Kotalik is a depth forward, and while he has some obvious skills, it never comes across too well, when, y'know...he has to play against other people. Still, he's good in the shootout, and could grab them an extra point or two in their battle for a playoff spot.


9. Los Angeles Kings...B-
a. Keeping with recent trends, the Kings were sellers. I should clear something up about O'Sullivan: it was a three-way trade, and he was sent from L.A. to Carolina, then to Edmonton. In return, the Kings received forward Justin Williams. Williams has had a decent season or two, but lately he's been injured quite a bit. His true value will show next season when he's hopefully both healthy and skating on Anze Kopitar's wing.

10. Minnesota Wild...C-
a. The Wild did nothing. They were unable to find a buyer for Marian Gaborik, and while they were able to extend goalie Niklas Backstrom, that was the only positive thing that happeneed.

Stay tuned...

NHL Trade Deadline Grades: Western Conference #1

Posting has been slow lately, so, naturally, I'll discuss something none of you care about.

As most of you may know by now, I have a disturbing fixation with the NHL.

For those of you who don't know (basically all of you), today was the National Hockey League's trade deadline. While I don't know for sure, I'm willing to guess that there's generally more activity at the hockey deadline than at deadlines for other professional sports.

I'll be doing this in a strange fashion. Rather than grading trades, I'll grade teams based on...well, whatever I deem gradable. If something seems too insignificant, I'll skip it to save time.

Alphabetical order, folks. This will look a lot longer than it really is, so don't be intimidated. Trades dating back to February 3rd will be included, because that's how far the NHL's list of trades goes back.

1. Anaheim Ducks...B-
a. This team, while it may make the playoffs, can't make a deep run. There's not enough scoring and speed. Therefore, forward Travis Moen and defenseman Kent Huskins were shipped to San Jose for prospects and a pick. If they're going to enter reconstruction, they need to start soon: a lot of contracts expire after this season.

b. Samuel Pahlsson, another forward with an expiring contract, was shipped to Chicago for James Wisniewski. Wisniewski is young and has potential, so a quality move.


c. Sent defenseman Steve Montador to Boston for Petteri Nokelainen. Nokelainen was a former first round pick, but right now he's hurt, and his numbers at the NHL level haven't been too good when he's healthy.

d. Shipped Chris Kunitz and a prospect to Pittsburgh for Ryan Whitney. Whitney is a quality offensive defenseman, but he isn't known for his defense. Fortunately, his contract runs for a few more seasons, and his price tag isn't too bad.

2. Calgary Flames...A-
a. Possibly the biggest winners at the deadline, the Flames shipped Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust, and a first round pick to Phoenix for Olli Jokinen. The team finally has a quality center for Jarome Iginla. Sure, Jokinen isn't having a good season (by his standards) and holds the record for most NHL regular season games without a playoff game, but he can still be effective.


b. In less exciting news for the Flames, they acquired Jordan Leopold from Colorado. Leopold has played for the Flames before, and while he's not an outstanding defenseman, he gives the defense some nice depth.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah

3. Chicago Blackhawks...C-
a. Sure, Chicago got Samuel Pahlsson from Anaheim, and while he provides a physical presence along with Stanley Cup experience, he doesn't fill the void at their second line center spot. Furthermore, the team was unable to deal Nikolai Khabibulin, who will now probably leave them for nothing when free agency arrives.

4. Colorado Avalanche-C-
a. Got a decent return on Jordan Leopold in defensemen Lawrence Nycholat and Ryan Wilson to go along with a second round pick. Nycholat, despite having piled up the points in the minors, has been unable to transfer his game to the NHL level. Whether or not Wilson will ever reach the NHL level is in question too. This team won't make the playoffs, but it would've been good to see them sell more. This reconstruction could take quite a while.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets...C+
a. Nabbed Antoine Vermette from Ottawa for Pascal Leclaire and a pick. Leclaire, who seemed to be a great fit in net last season, has put up terrible numbers this year (.867 Sv%, 3.83 GAA). Meanwhile, Steve Mason has put up significantly better numbers (.918 Sv%, 2.20 GAA).

Getting rid of Leclaire's salary was a great job, and Vermette was a decent return. He's one of the best faceoff men in the league, and he's also incredibly fast. Vermette can be useful on the penalty. However, he's most likely not the solution at center for Rick Nash. Sorry, Nash, hopefully you'll get one next year. Either way, this team seems to be set up for the franchise's first ever postseason appearance.




I've decided to split these up in groups of 5. Theoretically, it'll be easier.