The All Star Game was moderately interesting. Did anyone else detect the rather catty tone of ESPN’s article on how low the ratings for this year’s game versus ABC’s coverage of it in 2004? The game was played on a Wednesday night on Versus, a cable network that’s available in less than 10 million US households. Ah the genius of Gary Bettmann. I think he put more thought into those mediocre Reebok uniforms like Lucas did on merchandising his prequels instead of the plots.
For now, my interest in watching the Flyers stink on the rink is waning right now. The soap opera known as the February 27 trade deadline has my attention. Since my team will limp along to the 82nd game, the suspenseful question is how many players will remain for the 2007 rebuild? Forsberg is gone as far as I’m concerned. The skinny is that no one is safe, including Knuble with his new two-year deal. They did win over Atlanta this weekend, yawn. Then lost in the shootout last night with the Lightning, triple yawn. I’ll probably watch a game here and there since I would rather have the space reserved on the DVR for all those reruns of Enterprise courtesy of the SciFi Channel.
Phoenix is still the more optimistic story. Contrary to the crank pundits on ESPN.com, I believe they will appear in the playoffs without ditching any of the major players they signed. They’re so close right now that they will even keep Nagy and trade him for cap room over the Summer instead. All the Coyotes need to do is be more consistent in their performance and not get humiliated against teams that will unfortunately beat them; Red Wings, Sharks, Ducks and Predators. This still leaves 10 teams in the West I feel they can consistently defeat to gain those 10 or more points needed for the number eight spot.
Brodeur still amazes and continues to close in on Sawchuk and Roy. Hitchcock motivated the Bluejackets again to pull ahead of the Blackhawks and close in on the Blues. Finally, the Penguins will give the mayor of Pittsburgh a decision. I guess it’s between them and Kansas City (the battle of the Has-Beens) because I couldn’t find any scoop on the Houston proposal. Personally, as much as I would like to see an NHL franchise there, I have my doubts due to the turn out for the Aeros. I’ve read how Nashville is in first place for the Central Division yet the attendence is poor while the owner isn’t a jerk like Chicago’s infamous tightwad (some have to ask, which one?). No one wants a return of the problems the NHL faced in the Seventies with franchises jumping from city to city every couple seasons until they fold; the fate of half the WHA, the Scouts-Rockies-Devils or Seals-Barons.