Red rover, red rover, let THAT GUY come over!!

Everyone play fantasy manager at some point in the hockey season. Whether you have a pool (I’m second in mine right now), or play NHL09 for Xbox, or what have you, we always want to have our favourite players, or the BEST players on our team. With the trade deadline a little over a month away, maybe its time to have a little fun of our own. I am going to go through the other 29 teams, and take ONE player who’s OFF the radar as far as hype, and stardom (and more than likely All-Star votes, except for when I get to Montreal, where EVERYONE got All-Star votes). If you’re a hockey fan, you’ll know most of these guys. Remember, this is only my wish list, feel free to add your own. Let’s start in our home conference, the NORTHEAST.

Boston Bruins – Milan Lucic – F

This kid made his name at the 2007 Memorial cup, helping host Vancouver win the title against new rival Medicine Hat. This was his second season with the Giants after helping them to a WHL title in 2006. He was drafted by Boston in 2006, 50^th overall. The kid’s got a pretty deft scoring touch for a guy who could also lead the league in penalty minutes. He’d slap your mother around if he thought it would help the Bruins win. Many liken him to former Boston great Cam Neely. Could Lucic score 50? Doubt it, but can anyone outside of the big three do it either? GRADE: A

Buffalo Sabres – Tim Connolly – F

Second line centre anyone? Tim has proven to be a wizard with the puck, when he’s healthy. He has a pretty good scoring punch, when he’s healthy. He’s a proven vocal leader in the locker room, when he’s healthy. When healthy, he could be a point per game guy, but ever since Pistol Peter Schaefer smoked him coming across centre ice, he’s never been the same. I’d like to see him back at full capacity with the red and black on. GRADE: B-

Montreal Canadiens – Tomas Plekanec – F

He could slide his way onto the first line to provide a little speed, and event things out a little. He’s quick onto the puck, but when there’s contact involved, he’s also quick onto his belly, in that oh-so Marty Havlat kind of way. That being said, you can’t ignore his offensive abilities, now if you could just get him to come back inside his own blue line, all would be dandy in the world. GRADE: B+

Toronto Maple Leafs – Tomas Kaberle – D

I loathe having to make this pick. Yes, I hate the Leafs. Aside from that, despite the standings, this Leaf team is still fucking terrible, and Kaberle is the best they have to offer. Yes he can move the puck, which w could REALLY use right now, but he can be a bit of a liability in his own end (which we already suffer from). Ultimately, he’s the only choice that would make any sense off this team, save a shot at Mikhail Grabovsky, who Montreal is ruing getting rid of. It hurts my teeth to even do this, but… GRADE: C+

So there is one division down, up next, the Atlantic division, where up is down, and where hookers disappear like Leafs from the playoffs.

~G