Maniwaki Canuck

Horvat makes the cut- no surprise. Would love to see him play some with Shinkaruk, but doubt that will happen due to different roles on the team.

I hear you and totally agree, but the problem is what the CBC, HNIC in particular, became. It didn't act like a national institution, didn't reflect mainstream Canadian values, so I'm not going to miss it, even though I first started watching it in 1964. If it had acted differently than all the corporate crooks you rightly mention, I would feel differently about it.

Exactly right.

Let's just say that Hodgson who is getting first line minutes in Buffalo has the same number of points as Santorelli who is getting second and third line minutes in Vancouver. Santorelli is playing in the position Hodgson would be occupying in some people's minds if he hadn't been traded, so that's why I make the comparison. He also wins draws and plays defense, unlike Coho. Don't get me wrong, I liked Hodgson and was upset about the trade for some time, but as of now, he hasn't become a difference-making player. Neither, of course, has Kassian.

Looks like Mr. Hardening of the Arteries may finally be out of a job. Maybe he can go try to kill people in Afghanistan, felate Rob Ford, or whatever gets him off.

At the right price, of course we should re-sign him. I'm thinking 1 to 1.5 million for a few years. Anything higher, maybe not. He could be a great chip at the trading deadline with his cap hit and numbers this year. So depending on whether we stand to make the playoffs or not, he could help us by staying or going. That's a pretty mercenary attitude towards someone who's done a lot for us and has his heart in Vancouver, so I should probably take that back, but it's probably the reality of the situation given who we have coming up through the system.

Kassian is what he is: a work in progress that could go either way. Yes, maybe we could have got more for Coho at the time, so I tend to agree with those who are critical of the trade for that reason. But right now, Hodgson is 8 goals, 9 assists 17 points and minus 8 at a $4,25 million cap hit. To put that in perspective, Santorelli is 6 goals 11 assists 17 points and plus 7 at a $.55 million cap hit. Turns out that Hodgson was replaceable at a bargain rate. I think we can afford to be patient with Kassian even if he does turn out to be the next Bernier or Pyatt because Hodgson isn't such a big deal at this point. I think we all remember Hodgson's January 2012 goal against Boston as if that was the whole story about him. It's not.

This is a terrible analogy. The major difference is that in a NTC situation, both parties have a veto over any possible move, whereas in a crumbling marriage, either party can act unilaterally. It's in the nature of a NTC that we don't often know when a player invokes it, but Luongo may well have done so (despite denials) in the last 2-3 years and is obviously still here even though he was subjected to pretty much the scenario you portray.

The NHL is a complete joke.

Is Millbury back in charge? This is beyond stupid.

His repaired shoulder is going to help his shot, faceoffs, and physical play. Apparently it affected him for 3 years, so now we're finally going to see the player we thought we had when he was drafted. I'm excited to see what he will bring this year.

I'd like to see Gaunce make the cut, maybe Lain too, and force Sestito into the pressbox. If we could have a decent 4th line, we'd be a contender. If it doesn't happen this year it will next.