My Choice for our #13 Pick

by Anne

David Rundblad.

Why? Because he seems a decent young Swede and he already lists the Sabres as his favorite team.

I KNOW! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT EITHER!

The truth is he probably accidentally left that part blank and they just tossed in the team with the least representation on the list.

Think of all the time that'll be saved wondering if he's going to bolt the second he can!

He's ranked 6th among European skaters, according to Central Scouting. He's a right-handed shot and draws comparisons to Mike Green. I'm down. Also, he and my dog (now deceased) have the same birthday. So far birthdays seem to be the thing drawing me to prospects. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Ryan Miller share a b-day. Now David Rundblad and my long deceased cocker spaniel. Good GOD, I have such great GM skillz.

He's supposedly snappy offensively and most mock drafts have him going in the mid-teens. I formerly had my heart set on Simon Despres, but I suppose David Rundblad will be just as bad-ass, if he can be more physical. Lord knows we need tougher d-men, Henrik Tallinder. Toni and Craigory can't do it all, and Sir Christopher is still testing out his wobbly newborn NHL legs. Besides, Simon Despres lists his favorite website as "Fulltiltpoker.com." Please, Simon, everyone knows the NHL poker website of choice is Pokerstars.net.

Hold up, Rundblad has a teammate named Tim Erixon who's a "European" skater but he was born in Portchester, NY. He's got an American flag next to his name but he's listed as a European skater. How often does that happen?

Expect serious OUTRAGE if we don't draft one of these gents. Oh, but if we get another "He's a small, speedy scorer," I'm going to punch something.

ETA… thanks to Alix at Canuck's Hockey Blog for bringing David to my attention

Who To Cheer For Come Playoff Time?

by Anne

My Western Conference playoff team to follow is clearly the Vancouver Canucks, that's all taken care of. Also the Kings if they pull off the surprise of the century and miraculously make the playoffs. This seems unlikely but not completely beyond the realm of possibility.

However, for whom do I cheer in the East? (Yes, yes, I know the Sabres aren't eliminated yet but in my mind they are so I can spare myself the April 11th heartbreak).

Unlike my affection for the Sabres, I require that my playoff mistress team actually be poised to make a strong push toward the finals. Last season with the Pens was pretty exciting. Therefore, I look to the top three teams. Not that finishing in the top three necessarily guarantees success, but its a good place to start for the casual bandwaggon playoff fan.

I immediately eliminated the Bruins because I just can't cheer for them. I love Tim Tom and Andrew Ference was one of our All-Star defensemen this season, but I just can't cheer for a divisional rival. Sorry Beantown. I know my Grandpa was raised in Boston and he went to games at the Boston Garden all the time with Eddie Shore and all that but its not going to happen. You need fans who don't enjoy watching you lose and I need a team that doesn't have Phil Kessel on it, unless that team is Team USA.

That leaves the Caps and the Devils.

Last year I enjoyed the Caps Cinderella story immensely. Nicklas Backstrom, Ovie, Mike Green, Brooks Laich, Matt Bradley, Coach Boudreau coming up from the minors to win the Jack Adams? It was all good and warm fuzzies and happy times.

However, it seems sooo trendy to like the Caps now. I suppose it was trendy to like the Pens last season but that affiliation comes from my parental units' hometown pride and not necessarily from the media telling me to like them. Although, the media lovin' them up didn't hurt their case to be my playoff mistress while Jason Pominville was wearing the red, white and blue in Nova Scotia.

Its hard to ignore the swagger of a record-setting Brodeur-backstopped Devils team with Zach Parise having a career goal scoring year. David Clarkson, Travis Zajac, Paul Martin? Good times to be had by all.

How to choose, how to choose.

The Caps have "Scarlet Caps" which is, in my opinion a check mark in the "Cons" column. Although they boast Ovie and his Eastern Motors commercial which is worth about five checks in the "Pros" column. BUT if there happens to be a Caps/Pens playoff series I will be forced to boycott it. I refuse to be subjected to anymore overblown hype about rivalries between Semin/Ovechkin and Crosby/Malkin. These rivalries and "hatreds" do not exist. They were a few comments made in passing that writers, desperate for a story have jumped on and blown up. Frankly, I blame it all on Alexander Semin running his Russian mouth earlier in the season. I hate you, Alexander Semin. However, it will not be known until playoff time if there will be such a match up, so I can't totally hand the Caps an early playoff rose. They are still in the running to become Anne's Next Top Playoff Team.

Then there's the Devils. Apparently, according to the email I received the other day about the Pirates' 6-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils' AHL team in Lowell, the Lowell Devils are the Pirates "bitter rivals." I would definitely mark that in the "Cons" column. Also, the possibility of a Rangers/Devils playoff series makes my head hurt almost as much as a Caps/Pens matchup. One of the other "BIGGEST STORIES EVER" of the season was, of course, dearly beloved Sean Avery.

I'm sure we all remember what Sean did last year in the playoffs with Marty Brodeur and that awkward fat-joke-laced rivalry. I don't think I can handle any more of that. But, like the possible Caps/Pens match-up it will not be known to the Devils will face in the playoffs so I still have love for New York Jersey. Can Jame Langenbrunner wear a clock around his neck? That would really push things in the Devils' favor.

I don't have enough of an emotional investment in either the Caps or the Devils to be able to put up with their crap is basically what I've concluded.

The Sabres can shill out the same six stories about Ryan Miller and Paul Gaustad and I'll eat it up. Tell me MORE, NHL Network. I need MORE. Pat Kaleta is from Buffalo!?!? Wow! Craig Rivet didn't want to be traded here? Great! However, that is because I'm apparently a semi-sadist. I can't get enough of Adam Mair giggling at the word "motorboat" in that "10 Stupid Questions" segment earlier in the season. Also, watching him yell at Jarkko Ruutu never gets old. Basically, I'll take whatever Adam Mair is serving up seems to be the point I'm trying to make in this paragraph.

So pretty much I'll have to wait until the playoffs actually start to pick a team to root for. Then again, my allegiance might change.

I can't forgive the Flyers for trading Scottie the Hottie to Phoenix (really, that's the ONLY reason you can't cheer for them?) so that rules them out. The Panthers are just not interesting and the Hurricanes make me feel unclean. The Rangers are still the Rangers even if I do adore John Tortorella and the Canadiens are still in our division. Maybe I'll just rule out the Eastern Conference all together this year and watch the World Championships instead.

I think this is blasphemous to say, but I'm even more ok with the Sabres missing the playoffs as long as some of them play in the World Championships. I absolutely love international sports so this is totally fine with me. This is also why D2 is my favorite Mighty Ducks movie. If none of them opt for the WCs then I'll be sad, but I'll watch anyway. That's how I developed my random and inexplicable affection for Matt Greene, who knows who I'll suddenly love this year? Maybe I'll cheer for a random Swede... probably not.

Why, oh Why?

by Anne

I live in what I guess is the equivalent of the Bronze Age of cable TV. I have MSG and Versus, but do not have Center Ice. Therefore, I am at the mercy of the network programmers to determine which playoff series I will endure enjoy.

I can watch Game 1 of Pittsburgh v. Ottawa and Game 5. Games 2-4? Out of luck.

However, between Versus and NBC, I can watch ALL of Philly v. Washington. Great. I sort of like the Caps, and I wanted them to get in, but now that they are, I don't care as much. Can they beat Philly? I'm not sure, but I can't watch Danny Briere be a hero again.

Anyhow, it appears my first-round playoff loyalties will change wildly and hourly:

Wednesday April 9, 2008
Oooo, 2 divisional boyfriends playing in one night! Can my heart take it? Yes.

7:00 Pens for the CUP! Sid! Geno! Ryan!

10:00 Calgary Flames! JAROME, FTW!


Thursday April 10, 2008

7:00 Nashville or BUST! Go Jason Arnott...what? he's cute.

10:00 Go Ducks! RECLAIM YOUR CUP!
(Sorry, I know they're scummy, but I still like them a little)


Friday April 11, 2008
IF THESE TEAMS DON'T WIN IT ALL I'M NEVER WATCHING HOCKEY AGAIN!

7:00 Ovie for the Conn Smythe!

9:00 Go Wild!! Shovel that snow!


Saturday April 12, 2008

2:00 Maybe I'll switch things up and cheer for Detroit.... nahhhhhh.

7:00: Go Les Habitants! WIN IT ALL!


Sunday April 13, 2008

2:00 Go Caps, again?

7:00 Go Devils! BRODEUR THOSE RANGERS!
(Yes, to be "Brodeur'd" is now a verb)

10:00 Go Flames! Burn those Sharks!


Monday April 14, 2008
Ummmmm...

7:00 Go Nashville?
I never thought I'd dedicate so much energy to cheering for the Nashville Predators

10:00 Forget Gaborik! Go Forsbe- ugh, no way. Go Wild!


Tuesday April 15, 2008
ACK! I FORGOT TO FILE MY TAXES

7:00 Ugh, go caps...I guess, just don't let me see Jeff Carter's smug face if he scores a goal.

10:00 Again? I'll know more about the Minnesota Wild after this round than I ever dreamed was possible.


Wednesday April 16, 2008
This is getting ridiculous

7:00 Go Devils. woooooooooo.. Go Zach.
Woo, an early night


Thursday April 17, 2008

7:00 Good GOD, go Caps? I do NOT want to root for the Caps this much.

10:00 Go Flames! Wooo Jarome! I hope I care more then than I do now!


Friday April 18, 2008

7:30 I'm gonna go ahead and assume that if the Nashville/Detroit series isn't over yet, it's about to be

10:30 Go Ducks? Whatevskis, I'll say go STARS


Saturday April 19, 2008

1:00 I absolutely refuse to cheer for the Caps again

7:00 I'll be at a birthday party, but Go Pens!


Sunday April 20, 2008

TBD: I hope the Rangers get Brodeur'd and this series is already over

3:00 If Detroit hasn't already won, then they're just not trying

TBD: I hope Jarome has already eaten his Soup


Monday April 21, 2008
What do you mean we're still in the 1st Round? I'm exhausted.

TBD: I'm gonna go ahead and assume the Washington/ Philly series is over, and even if its not, I'm going to pretend it is.


Tuesday April 22, 2008
The Cup Finals are Here!!....wait, seriously, still Round 1?

Woooo! I can't watch any of the last games!

All of the series are probably over by now.

Good GOD, I got tired from switching loyalties just writing this. Fortunately, the teams are diminished by 1/2 each time so I'll be less schizophrenic. My sister had to convince me not to get Center Ice just to watch the Pens games.