Melrose: Stamkos a "beautiful" skater

Lightning coach Barry Melrose liked so much what he saw of Steven Stamkos at the team's prospect camp in Victoria, British Columbia, Melrose spoke in terms uncharacteristic of the rough-and-tumble NHL.

"He's one of the most beautiful skaters I've ever seen," Melrose said Wednesday. "I hate to use the word beautiful in hockey, but skating ability like that, you're eyes are drawn to him on the ice. I know he was with kids and stuff, and it's not a fair comparison, but a great skater is a great skater."

The camp that ended at the beginning of the month is still fresh in Stamkos' mind. He said it was great for him to meet the other prospects and coaches, and putting on a Lightning jersey, even a practice jersey "was a whole new level for me."

"But as far as people watching me and the pressure, I try not to let that affect me," Stamkos said. "I just went out there and my main objective was to just work hard and have fun."

If Stamkos did nothing else, the draft's No. 1 overall pick created even more anticipation for his first NHL training camp. Beyond Melrose's critique about Stamkos' skating, he also praised his wrist shot.

"It's real quick," Melrose said. "It's the shot you want to have in today's game."

Melrose agreed Stamkos, at 6-foot-1, 184 pounds, has to keep working on his size and strength.

"He's cut," Melrose said. "He'd be a male model if he wasn't a hockey player. But he's slim. He's 18 years old. He's not a man yet. Vinny (Lecavalier) looked like a beanpole with shoulder pads on, too. Matter of fact, Stamkos is thicker than Vinny when Vinny came in."

Still, Melrose continued, "He's got to realize that's his biggest weakness right now is his size. He's going to be playing against men now, and that's his biggest adjustment, playing against guys who are as fast as he is and bigger than he is. That's what he's got to work on. We've got people talking to him every week, got him on nutritional programs, and we have strength and conditioning coaches talking to him every week, so he's going to get bigger fast and heavier fast, but he's sill a boy right now, so it's going to take time."

Having said that, Melrose said he can't wait to see Stamkos in an NHL setting.

"What happens with guys like that is he plays better with better people," Melrose said. "If you watch him play with the kids, he gives them the puck and goes to an area and he expects it back, and doesn't get it back. But if he's playing with (Ryan) Malone or a (Radim) Vrbata, he'll get the puck back. I think it's a case where the better people he plays with, the better he'll look."

"It's going to be a different atmosphere, and the competition will be at a whole new level for me," Stamkos said. "So I'm going to try to prepare myself as well as I can the next couple of weeks here, and go in there and try to make a good first impression."

Oh, and by the way, Stamkos made it clear he wants to be called Steven, not Steve. Never mind that I asked him that question before he was even drafted and said he liked Steve. No matter ...

"That's what it says on my birth certificate," he said of the name Steven. "For me, it's not a big deal. Lots of people call me Steve. But I go by the official word and that's with an N on the end, so I'll stick with it."                

Comments

[léo]

"Placing my hopes on Kovy"?
I'm sorry, did I say that? I never said that.
I'm placing my hopes on the 2009 version of the Mtl Canadiens TEAM. TEAM, baby.
I never said Kovy was EVERYTHING. I WILL say that Kovy CAN BE everything...when he wants to be.
Don't tell ME about Kovy; I'll tell you.
Up until the END of the 2006-2007 seasons, I TOTALLY agree with you about Kovy.
Played 1 game in 4. THAT was his thing. Don't ask me why but Bob has ALWAYS loved this guy. I DON'T know how that came to be.
If you woulda asked me THEN if I wanted Kovy on my team, I woulda said "Get bent" for the VERY knocks you have against him.
Thing is,
That ONE game out've every four he played? It was enough for Us to BELEIVE in him. We started Loving him for what he COULD do.
Then he had his terrible year, year before last. He knew it. This reason or that reason does NOT matter to Us. We were p.oed at him. He FELT Our disappointment. It piqued his Pride (you know russkies, c'mon).
And then you know the story: He went back home bla-bla-bla, duh out his tapes of when he was 20 and asked himself"What was I doing THEN to be successful?"
What was it? He SAID it. Passion. Fury. SPEED.
The "one game in four"?
2007-2008, it turned into 80 in 82. MAY GOSH strike me dead if I lie. Whole year, he gave Us TWO! "yucky Kovy" games. Two. Out've 82. May gosh strike me dead.
He was so CONSISTENTLY dominating that yes, forgive Us, We honestly believe that Kovy is back from the netherworlds. And he has the Talisman with him.
The Kovy YOU knew, We think, is GONE. He can't have played so good and then now, in the HYPE of Our 100th AND in his CONTRACT YEAR to boot, he's gonna disappear?
Maybe.
But We don't think so. The Nyr Kovy is GONE. The Pit Kovy is GONE. The REAL Kovy is in Mtl. Where he ALWAYS shoulda been.
Again I say: In Gainey We trust.
So yes, Kovy is the Prime offensive Horror on Our team. There's NO ONE who can Join, Sundin included, that will surpass the Horror that the Artiste can create. We NEED him. He's the Man.
But I certainly don't place my hopes on HIM, unequivocally.
Hard-pressed to name one, I woulda say the Kid first.
Starts in net, mate.
P.

[PD]

Ditto that Don

[Steve R]

Which is the real Kovy? The Kovy who was +18 last season, or the Kovy who was -19 the year prior? He's minus for his career.

If you're pinning your hopes on Kovy leo, you might want to come up with a plan B.

[léo]

Then you've got nothing to worry about, Don...
Steve,
Compared to TB.
Ajax,
I agree. No credibility whatsoever.
The Kid's UNTRADEABLE.
Secondly, it's not the "artist"; it's the "Artiste".
We can think what we want about him, but MONTREAL knows the Artiste better than you do, agreed? And try as ANYONE might, NO ONE can tell him HE'S second fiddle.
Try it. Go on and try it: "Mr. Kovy, sir? You're gonna be second fiddle this year, ok?"
SMACKO!
"I am Russian Bear! I decide who plays what fiddle. Broskitvoski, I cannot believe you have TEMERITY to speak to Russian Bear this way!"
Kovalev is second fiddle to NO ONE. This is EXACTLY what Nyr and Pit NEVER understood. Give Kovy the lead. Give Kovy ALL of the Love and Glory.
And watch him rip the league apart.
But hey, whaddoo I know, right?
Peace.

[Don in St. Pete]

Leo, You said it. ANYONE can make it, including the Bolts. I don't buy the line of horsecrap you spew. You've got an overated defense, and unproven goalie and a bunch of one hit wonders. I don't see hope that makes you superior at every position except first line center. Believe all you want Leo, just don't let the truth get in the way.

Ajax on further review, my only comment is that you are nothing if not not just bitchy about Sundin.

The column you referenced was written by Scott Cullen who recently rated Sundin #5 at center last year.

His premise in your posted article link was top 50 tradable contracts and since Sundin has no contract he can't be there now can he?

Get it?
Sad yet again Ajax.

Sundin played 700 hockey vs you lifetime, I get your bitchiness and pain.

[ajax]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! You've made me start drinking the hard stuff again!!!

[PD]

#13 's value is set..20M

[ajax]

Nice article, TSN's top 50 players for trade value.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=247112
Big Vinny Lecavalier came in at numero 7. My mind could only wonder of the mother lode we might of got, but let's not ruin the mood.
Carey Price made the list which of course means the list lost all credibility. Kaberle was the only Toronto player on the list(which means you know who didn't make the top 50 of another "best" list) But like I said, why ruin the mood. Stamkos was like #35. By the way, on the record. His size really REALLY concerns this chap.
Melrose said something that I tried to read between the lines. He said he was a fantastic skater, and he knows it was against inferior competition, BUT. BUT nothing, At this level there are a gazillion fantastic skaters. Time will tell, but I think he is going to have a tough time adjusting, just me.
Is everyone getting ready to put their money where their mouth is and make a prediction for the year. All resident geniuses need to put it out their. I already know which way I am leaning but will wait to see them in camp. Can't wait.
I was looking up the stats of the "artiste" last night. In 2006-2007 season Vinny had as many even strength points as the "artiste" had in the last "TWO" years. Maybe the "artiste" should be called "Houdini" as he is a disappearing act 5/5. Imagine Vinny down low on the Montreal PP?? He might ring up 120 points, and the "artiste" would be second fiddle.
Go Bolts Go. Bolts RULE. I am getting pumped for the new season, hate all teams from Canada and have rosies in hand!!!

[PD]

Just a soft reminder Ajax , I said clearly Leafs are not a plyoff team this year.

Part 2 was they wouldn't suck ie Tampa last year.

Fletcher has a ton of good young bodies in there. They will bve fun to watch on the ole satellite.

[Steve R]

leo, superior at every other position? When compared to whom?

[léo]

Don,
Just because you don't understand what I'm saying doesn't make it "incomprehensible".
The truth is, V4 is a better 1st line center than what We have. After that, WE are Superior in EVERY other position. Wake up.
That certainly doesn't mean you can't beat Us. Anyone can beat anyone on ANY given Sunday.
Columbus beat Us, Toranna beat Us, YOU beat Us; but none'a'yehs made the Dance. Why? Because after 82 games, your TEAM was nowhere near as good as Ours. Hate me all you want but the fact remains. As "incomprehensible" as that may seem to you.
Ajax,
You also fall into the PD trap. NOBODY cares about the past. I'm not bragging about the past. I'm bragging about the present.
Now don't be tellin' people Mtl has NO chance to go all the way, like you're the wise'ole man of who can make it or not.
Did you call the Car/Edm final? Gimme a break. ANYONE can make it. And if anyone can make it, then not only can WE but We have a step up, to boot. Gimme a break.
Compared to the REST of the Conf.? We got a DANG good chance, thank you very much. I don't see WHO can stop Us on Our way to Detroit City.
No one is telling you where to place your bets, Ajax. You won't bet? So don't bet.
Hockey isn't about betting.
It's about BELIEVING, baby!
P.

[ajax]

If you are under the age 20 you probably learned alot more about winning hockey growing up in Edmonton or Calgary than Toronto or Montreal. Should I support PD(Toronto) or Leo the lip(Montreal)? Talk about a lose/lose scenario!! PD bruised me deep, DEEP, with his Sundin routine. Leo has given me a chronic rash after listening for a year about the "artiste"(Mr. Invisible 5/5), so I guess the winner is...........I think suicide sounds good over either one!!!
Sad reality is that none of the three teams have much of a chance in winning the cup this year. Montreal might have a decent chance to advance thru the playoffs but how could you put down a 20.00 spot at 18/1 with "swiss cheese" as goalie??
Looking at various websites:
http://www.thespread.com/nhl/futures-betting-odds-to-win-the-2008-nhl-stanley-cup.html
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=frei_terry&id=3334169
http://www.docsports.com/current/stanley-cup-odds.html
Three different "odds" sites, and TB Montreal and Toronto are the best odds (of these three) on one site each. That might be called parity. That also might be called, "none of them have a real shot to win it all"
The people who put their money where their mouth is, are not to impressed with the Shabs or the Leafs, or the Bolts sad to say.
Go WIngs!!! Did I ever mention I have always been a Wings fan??

[PD]

Typing in the dark. I'll give Nick his R back.

[PD]

For Leafs lets assume the obvious, Mats returns with Antropov and Steen.

Sundin Gets solid 2's
Antopov 1.5s with 2 for size
Steen 1.5 across the board.

[PD]

Don way too high for Lecav for physical presence and defence.

[Don in St. Pete]

Steve, I'll do my critique of the Bolts 1st line versus CrAPS in the morning, but with the huge + for Ovie, what your saying makes sense.

[Steve R]

Don, I typed up a lengthy side by side of Bolts vs Caps first line and it got flagged as possible spam.... The short version I had Bolts by a hair to start the season, with a shift to the Caps once Ov and Nicky get more games together. Nick was first line center for maybe half the year.

[Don in St. Pete]

Okay, Since none of the peanut gallery seem to want to get their feet wet, I'll throw out the first critique based upon what I believe the lines will be during the season. Bolt's first line versus sHABS. Lecavalier, I give him +2 for scoring ( even though he had an off year last year ), +1.5 for defense, +2 for physical presense, +2 for special teams and +1.5 for intangibles. Total score +9. Pleckanec, I give +1.5 for scoring, +1.5 for defense, +1 for physical presence, +2 for special teams and +1 for intangibles. Advantage Lecavalier +9 to +7 or +2 overall. St. Louis +1.5 for scoring ( because of a major drop off last season ), +2 for defense, +2 for special teams, +1 for physical, and +2 for intangibles. *.5 total for St. Louis. Kovalev, +1.5 for scoring, +1.5 for defense, +1.5 for special teams, +1.5 for physical presence and +1.5 for intangibles. Total +7.5 advantage St. Louis by +1. Prospal, +1.5 scoring, +1 defense, +1.5 physical, +1 special teams and +1.5 intangibles. Tanguay +1 for scoring ( the -23 point drop was startling )+2 for defense ( he seems to have gotten better defensively over the years )+1 for physical, +1.5 for special teams and +1 for intangibles. Tanguay +6.5 = a wash with Prospal. Lightning +3 based upon my judgement of the first forward lines of both clubs.

[Don in St. Pete]

Okay, I gotta step in! They're right Leo, your postings are starting to border on incomprehensible. PD, you are intentionally baiting him in the attempt to get the last word. I'd like to suggest that we stick to the 21st century, at least most of the players that were active at the beginning of the decade are still playing. I'd like to throw out a challenge. Lets compare the Bolts, CrAPS, sHABS and Leafs straight up line by line, defensive pairing by defensive pairing and rate who's better and by how many points. For example, we could start with the first lines and go from there. IMO the criteria should be scoring, defense, physicality, special teams and intangibles. Award 2 points in each area or a portion thereof. lets make this a constructive discussion. I think you'd be surprised how close the teams end up if you rate the players line by line head up.

[léo]

I agree, PD. I NEVER disputed that.
The past 15 years, the Mtl Canadiens sucked MORE than Toranna, OVERALL.
Yes. That is ABSOLUTELY true.
But what are we going for here? Records between teams during 15-year spans AS DESIGNATED by leafers?
Or the Stanley Cup?
I can't speak for Toranna. Listen to PD: they think their team is better than Our based on the PAST, a "specifically tailored" past to suit his argument.
We don't CARE about the past. All We want is the Cup. Anything less is absolute failure. Anything less is total surrender.
The past 15 years, OVERALL (cuz obviously, for example, We were better, pt-wise, than Toranna this year and 2 years ago.) Toranna was better than Us. Yes.
Well guess what? I'm not braggin' THEN; I'm braggin' NOW!
If you call a PAST 15-year span, (carefully picked, mind) as "better", ok.
But if you call that "winning", while We called it abject failure?
It further demonstrates the divide between a Nation of champions: Us,
And a Nation of losers: leafs.
We BOTH sucked in those 15 years, PD, wake up. That you sucked LESS is NOT something to rejoice about.
Try winning for REAL for a change and your arguments will dramatically change tone, from hopeless pride, to stoic nobility.
I am NOT contradicting your point. You are RIGHT in what you say.
But what have the leafs done for you lately?
24 Cups, PD. With 25 on the way and phenoms to take the relay.
How are YOU doin'?
P.

[PD]

Simple we were talking about the last 15 years//you lose

[léo]

24 Cups.
Checkmate.
That's the past.
leafs suck. Habs best in the East.
2nd Checkmate.
That's the present.
Spin away.
P.

[Steve R]

Vishnevski just hit the waiver wire. Bolts going to try to pick him up?

[PD]

Leo you got hammered, Im not chasing you around the field again after you move the goal posts.

[léo]

Oh well, PD.
THOSE are relevant sources. Thank you.
Boy, those dictionaries sure are stupid, eh? Can't use THEM as sources, eh?
What do the Oxford Lords Beavis and Butthead say on the matter, for that matter?
I stand corrected and humbly apologize. "Jibbering" is a word.
How quickly PD changed the subject away from the hockey point being discussed. Notice how he does not rebuke my final checkmate but LEAPS to the vocubalary subject, which he NEVER would've done if he hadn't of known that, DEEP DOWN,
I was right.
Cups have more "meaningcitude" than numbers.
(I don't know the word. Forgive my misuse of the language.)
P.

[léo]

"gibbering", Steve, which is used as an adjective and not a verb.
Not "jibbering".
It's okay. I know what PD meant. And linguistically? The word is perfectly acceptable. English is very permissive. Its "easabilty" of "comprehensitude" is what makes it so "adaptive" to the emitter's "intentiveness" of expression.
We're just playin', Steve. PD is strong; he can take it.
Ask'im. Go on and ask'im.
He can take it.
P.

[PD]

Nailed it Steve..

1. jibber-jabber Talking or speaking nonsense.
Shut up all the jibber-jabber, fool.
by Varnell Norman Nov 16, 2003 email it 0 comments
2. jibber-jabber 22 up, 3 down
1. n. Incoherent or unintelligable speech; has it's origins from the word gibberish
2. adj. Word used to describe incoherent speech
3. v. To speak inchoherently
Bob: Did you understand what that theory meant?
Dave: No, I dont understand quantum mechanics, so it all sounded like jibberish me.
by Super Gerbil Jul 11, 2004 email it 0 comments
3. jibber-jabber 7 up, 6 down
A form of speech which makes no sense.
I could not understand that jibber-jabber.

or take it directly from your peer , Mr T.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eisa5AZ20W0

[Steve R]

leo, it is too a word. It's the plural of jibber which means "to spew forth huge volumes of b.s.".

[léo]

Well, "jibbering" isn't a word.
But if it you want me to "give it up" because I've already won?
Cool.
P.

[PD]

Leo you are just jibbering now.
Give it up.

[léo]

In the last 4 years, PD?
The Bolts have won more Cups than Us. A case could therefore be argued that they have SUCCEEDED more than Us, absolutely. It would be correct too. I wouldn't argue that.
But that has NO BEARING on which team is better NOW, cuz TB finished last this year. Agreed?
Right NOW? Which is the time that concerns Us? Which is the time Stanley lives in?
I think We have a better chance to get the Cup than TB does, despite our different successes in the last 4 years.
Cool?
P.

[PD]

Sure Leo , that Makes the Bolts better than the Shabs too.

[léo]

What success, Ajax?!
I admitted We sucked!
I'm SAYING: We don't care about the past!
And that it's PREPOSTEROUS for leafers to BRAG about doing better!
You didn't even read my post, did you?
You're straitaway backing the leafer!
Oh, Ajax...oh no.
P.

[PD]

Ajax I'm buying a lottery ticket. The moon is right.

[léo]

It was inevitable.
What can you do with a spoon against a mountain?
Don't FIGHT Us. You CAN'T win.
We're ALL about the Love. And Love ALWAYS wins; you KNOW this. So why fight? When you fight Us, you're fighting against the very fabric of the universe. You can't win.
We are the best of all time. We can TEACH everybody about hockey. The leafs too! If they wanna listen...which I doubt.
They want numbers and they wanna talk about Johhny Bower and Tim Horton or whoever else has been DEAD for forty years. We don't know anything about that. They wanna talk about better overall records in the past 15 years, without EVER STILL winning themselves, than Us. Why then? Cuz We Crushed them in every other period of time. But still, We don't know anything about that. That's gone. That's over.
Even Our historical crushing victories over them are gone and past. We don't know anything about that, nor do We care.
All that matters is the Now. Eye on the Prize, not whining about almost hads and shoulda dones.
That, I assume, was the starting point of Our greatness.
Let's begin,
Objective 1: Stanley Cup.
Here endeth the lesson.
Don't fight back. Accept it and you'll be better for it.
P.

[Steve R]

Don, thanks. I think.

leo, 15 years? I think the Bolts have us beat in the Cup department there Bubba.

[ajax]

An old BB coach of mine once said, there is a thin line between brilliance and insanity. Leo, when you talk about the Shab success over the past 15 years you have more than crossed the line, you have shattered it. You let one good year(month) sway your already seriously biased opinion. Without alot of research you probably could argue Montreal is the worst Canadian team of the six, the past 15 years. There was talk they were potentially moving and giving Toronto a second team things got so bad(somewhere that rumor was true!!If not, I just started it.)
Does this sound like I am agreeing with PD?? Talk about crossing that imaginary line!! Yikes!!

[PD]

Move the goal post's Leo..thats the trick.
I'm out

[léo]

How about ANY OTHER spread of time, Steve?
If the Cappers start thinking like the leafs, that is, to BRAG about PAST lengths of time bettering that of the Greatest Team in the history of the world, you will become losers just like they are.
PD will have you believe their fatal flaw,
That NUMBERS are more important than the Cup.
That is INCORRECT.
Who's got more CUPS in the last 15 years is THE question. For Us, anyway.
So who's got who, Steve?
Love the leafs at your peril, mate.
Don, whadda YOU think?
Cups or numbers?
P.

[PD]

Heh Donald if you can show me just one blog where I led by being proactive Leafs, please do.

Just not going to take his continuous crap and slandering when in fact the shabs have done far worse over the last 15 years.

I'm a Bolt fan 1st and foremost, just not a koolaider.

[Don in St. Pete]

Leo & PD, You guys ever hear of the Tampa Bay Lightning? See, this is the Bolts blog, not the sHABs or LEAFies. Think maybe either of you could come up with a subject about which us Bolt bloggers might be interested? Getting kind of tired reading Leo toot the SHABs horn and PD slam the sHABs. At least Steve tries to stay on topic.

[Steve R]

leo,

Does the defense have anything to counter the facts as presented by PD? If no, I'd have to say that over that spread of time he's got ya.

[PD]

Happy to Leo cuz you are a BS artiste and total master of the non sequitur logical fantasy land. A whole blog about nothin. Seinfeld would love you.

Canadiens vs Leafs last 15 years:
Montreal Canadiens

453 regular season wins
Qualified for the playoffs seven times
Winners of three playoff rounds
Zero trips past second round of playoffs
Toronto Maple Leafs

498 regular season wins
Qualified for the playoffs nine times
Winners of nine playoff rounds
Appeared in three Conference Finals

I have never once claimed Leafs have done well (your strawman).
I have claimed Canadiens suck.

I'll go with that and let he jury decide.

[léo]

Steve,
Cool.
PD,
Where do you get this "15" years? Since 1993, Our last Cup?
Ok, let's work with that. And let's ALSO forget the leafs haven't SEEN a Cup since the FIRST expansion.
So 15 years. That means the leafs were better than Us in 2008. That's what you're saying?
Every SINGLE year since 1993, leafs were better, I see.
It means that 2 years past, when We made the playoffs (year Saku lost an eye) and the leafs didn't, they were STILL better than Us? That's what you're saying?
That within THAT 15-year window when we BOTH sucked, and not JUST the leafs, you guys sucked LESS? Congratulations.
Like I said, leafers are content to be losers; we aren't.
You see folks,
leafers are prepared to SACRIFICE their intelligence in order to save FACE.
NEVERMIND that in 100 years, We're not in the same LEAGUE. Nevermind that at NO TIME, the leafs have had a team HALF as good as my team is NOW. Nevermind that they will NEVER win, because they don't know HOW to win.
The leafs are losers. That's not MY fault. I didn't INVENT that situation. It was there before I was BORN.
Hire losers to run your club? You will lose. It's just that simple.
So LET'S SAY that they were better than the Habs between the goober equinox and shizzle solstice. Let's say.
Ok. Rejoice then, cuz the leafs can forever relive those old, old, past and outdated memories, which is the only thing losers possess. Congratulations.
But Us champions live in the Present.
Always.
That's where the Cup is.
And I LOVE to hear you come back with "the Habs suck"; it is such a nonsensical statement in ITSELF that I don't really need to rebuke it. Feel free; you only embarass the leafs further.
Peace.

[Pd]

Pitt won the east Leo, tough titty and yeah Montreal has been worse than Toronto for last 15 years..we feel your pain

[Steve R]

Don, I've been trying (without luck so far) to find a more updated grading of prospects. I won't boor you with a long list, but the Caps have a number of youngsters (drafted prior to 2008) who should make the big club one day who weren't shown including:
Neuvirth (G)
Osala (LW)
Godfrey (D)

leo, it's getting to the point where I'm going to have to root for whoever the Habs are playing against every game just cause I'll enjoy busting your balls with every Habs loss. It'll be dog pile on the rabbit time when your guys don't come in 1st in the East.

[léo]

What breakfast?
The "We sucked" breakfast? Ok. Congratulations.
Thing is, while WE realized We sucked, the leafs STILL think they're doing things right.
Hey, 'member how GOOD the leafs were in 1967? Eh? Ehh? That means EVERYTHING, man! Rejoice: the leafs are great. Haaw!
Oh and careful,
Your preposterous leaf pride is showing...
Haw-haw!
"Last you checked"?
Feh. leafers are ALWAYS checking LAST.
That's what you do.
1st in the East, baby. Accept it.
Swearin' and cussin' won't change that at all, mate.
Peace.

[PD]

The Leafs have eaten your breakfast over the last 15 years Leo, Montreal sucks and last I checked, Pitt were champs of the east.

So your wrong or full of sht twice more.

[Don in St. Pete]

Steve, While I appreciate the link, for the most part this is outdated information. Many of these players they listed played the whole season in the NHL, which no longer qualifies them as prospects in my opinion. The Bolts are right about where they desrve to be, though they should jump a couple spots with the addition of guys like Wishart and Szechura. Unfortunately, this is the trademark of the old management team and scouting staff. With the exception of a few no-brainers, V4, Richy, and Hamrlik, they were to organizational depth was the plague was to the population of Europe. Thanks to the adeptness of feaster and Goertzen, et al....we were forced to sign a whole new second and third line as well as an experienced backup goaltender. I'm trusting that new ownership has taken the steps necessary to insure we won't find ourselves in this position for too many years, as witnessed by the significant signings and additions to the front office, coaching staff and scouting ranks.