Saku Gone

Well my other team, the Montreal Canadains, sure will have a different look this year. Lots of new faces and skill sets with the new aquistions. Just hope Jacques Martin can put them together as a cohesive group. The one constant for the last many years there has been Saku Koivu. He is the first European to really be accepted as a true Montreal Canadain in their prestigious history. He was the second longest serving captain in their history with 9 years. Only Jean Beliveau with 10 was captain longer. And now he is gone. Gone to a team who was put together because of a movie. With a logo that is more cartoonish than anything sports has seen on any jersey. The only consulation that I find in this is that he will be playing along side of Teemu Selanne. With the type of goal scorer Teemu is, Saku will certainly help him score many more beautiful goals. They have teamed up on the Finnish National team on numerous occassions, and if it wasn't for these 2, Finland may not have done as well as they have internationally over the last 10 years. They are magical together, and it will be exciting and enjoyable to see they work it again, even if it is only for one more year. Both players are getting older, and Teemu has already said that this would be his last season. But the one thing I know from playing against older skilled guys, the hockey skills aren't lost as quick as the skating speed. I don't know about you, but I am glad for both of them that they get this opportunity to entertain us one last time. Saku, I am not happy to see you go, but can't wait for the hockey season to begin.

Free Agent Time

Well this certainly has been an exciting free agent time. I love watching the movement of the players and what they are expecting to do for their new teams. Calgary picking up Boumeester certainly gives them the best defensive corp in the NHL. What other team can even get 2 D-men invited to the Olympic camp and the Flames have 3 D-men who will most likely play. When you look at Kipper and Jokinen making the Finnish team, that is 6 players who won't get a rest in February. Beside Boumeester, the next biggest thing to happen, but it wasn't a free agent signing, is Pronger going to the Flyers. He will fit in perfect with that team and the way they play the game. His toughness and dirty play suits Philadelphia well. Also Philly picked up another gritty player who suits them well, Ian Laperriere. I have always liked the way he has played. Beauchemin and Komesarik going to Toronto will bring stability to the backend of their new franchise. Other that these, even though some really good players have moved, but they won't have the impact to the team like the above mentioned will.

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