All-Purpose Hockey Thread II

Ray Shero has a huge decision to make this weekend: whether or not to send Jordan Staal back to junior.

On merit, Staal deserves to stay. But, by sending him back before he plays 10 regular-season games, the Penguins will prevent the first year of his contract from kicking in. This will be an interesting test for the new ownership, because the major reason for not keeping Staal right now is that it will prevent them from the hassle of extending both him and Malkin in the same summer.

If Staal goes back, the schedule for extensions is this: Crosby 2008, Malkin 2009, Staal 2010.

But, if you watched last night, while Crosby & Malkin were running over/around/through the Devils, Staal was centering the second line -- and scoring a goal of his own.

 

Speaking as a Battalion season ticketholder, I'd be happy if he stuck with the big club.

 

I'll second that. You'll see two of the other Staals on Sunday.

 

Forgot that Jared's with the Wolves now

Maybe the brothers will put a few extra bums in the seats.

 

This brings up a question then, who should be considered the most dominant hockey family?

A) The Howes (Father – one of the best to begin with – plays with both his sons who are pretty good in their own right)
B) The Sutters (The best of them never actually did play in the NHL, took over the family farm when their dad passed. no other family has produced more NHLers in one generation)
C) The Staals (Jury is still out on them, but all have the potential to be first line players and cornerstones of their franchices, at least the first three to make it so far anyways)

 

Big match on Saturday:

Atlanta (7-1-1, best start in franchise history)
at
Buffalo (9-0-0)

This game will show if the Thrashers can hang with the Eastern's best.
They've already proven they are the class of the Southeast (6-1-1 so far).
With Kovalchuk back to his usual self and Hossa absolutely on fire, it should be a great game.
Hopefully Hartley will give Lehtonen a game off (probably tomorrow at Philly) before Saturday. He needs it - the kid's played all but two seconds so far.

 

You forgot that Gordie Howe had a brother who played briefly in the NHL, I think with the Rangers.

My vote goes to the Sutters, for now, due to numbers and longetivity. The Staals may get my vote eventually.

I'd also like to throw out a shout for the Conachers - the only family with three brothers (Lionel, Charlie and Roy) in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Two others (Pete and Brian) also made the NHL.

 

What about the Patricks?

 

You're right. How could anyone forget the Patricks. Brothers Frank and Lester, Lester's sons Lynn and Muzz, Lynn's sons Craig and Glenn, Muzz's son Dick. Five members of the family have their names on the Stanley Cup and four of them are in the Hall of Fame.

 

Anyone else having trouble starting up the Sharks-Red Wings game on Yahoo?

 

Dude
Just tried Yahoo. No go.

But it's on TSN. I'll watch it after L&O is over.

 

It came available at 7:40. Time to get me some good Canadian commercials.