Dean Murdoch

GO LEAFS GO!! Now that I am living in Scotland I am missing the NHL more than ever. Pulling a late one tonight to stay up for the Leafs game. Predicting a convincing victory over those separatist SOB's. As a side note I went to my first Elite League game Sunday to see Edinburgh and Coventry. Was a little underwhelmed, but in the end it proved to be a decent level of hockey. Game was entertaining, and really picked up pace in the third.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Olympic hockey tournament? Given that the Leafs are just terrible (Get Burke and the Americans out!) I have switched my focus to the Olympics. Based on the teams that have been selected it should be a really exciting tournament. Will you guys get olympic hockey games on the TV over there or will you need to use the interweb or go to bars? I imagine the BBC focuses their coverage on British athletes, which would exclude hockey.

Ya I feel bad for the way this hat situation has been handled in the media. Especially the American media. This may be a conspiracy but the US media, which is primarily not orientated toward hockey, is constantly trying to downplay Crosby in favour of Ovechkin. They have made him out to be a whinger when all he was doing was trying to get the game going after a lengthy delay to pick up two waves of hat throwing. I always feel that the US is so concerned with their hockey rivalry with Canada that they are willing to elevate Ovechkin as their favourite star player. Thats not to say that Ovechkin isnt a great player, but so is Crosby, and it should be left at that. The continous references to Ovechkin vs. Crosby over here have become nauseating. This isnt basketball - two players do not hold very much influence over the final outcome of a series. It is a series between the Penguins and Capitals. With all this said, I am tipping Cros to have a blinder tonight, while Ovechkin will be as inconspicuous as he was in some of the Rangers games. I hope my foot is not approaching my mouth as I say this. I am also officially joining the Ducks bandwagon for the remainder of the playoffs. They seem to be the toughest team out there right now. If they get by Detroit I dont think any other team will be able to match them - including Boston, who I will continue to under rate.

Canadian spirit? Everyone hates Toronto, and in turn we hate everyone else (although not as much). As far as Im concerned the rest of this country rides on Toronto's coat-tails and yet they still feel the need to hate the 'big city'. But in all seriousness I dislike all Canadian teams outside of Toronto, and the Alberta teams for some reason. Vancouver I was always indifferent to, but their fans were dicks at the first game Sundin played back in Toronto. Some guy tried to say the Canucks were better because they made the stanley cup final in the mid 90's, forgetting the leafs have won about 12 more cups than Vancouver. Although our drought goes to 67, their's goes back to prior to ww1. There is generally a good bit of friendly banter between the canadian teams, and every spring there is a divide between those who think we should cheer for the Canadian team, and those who dont. Fact is that most Canadian teams dont even have that many Canadian players. I would rather a great canadian player like Crosby or even Jonathan Toews lift the cup than Vancouver. With that said, I would take the Canucks over ottawa or montreal. Mats was always a divisive figure in Toronto. He was a constant let down in clutch games until his last few years in Toronto. Admittedly he was very good in some of the playoff runs, but was always overshadowed by other vets such as Roberts and Nieuwendyk. Many people were and are opposed to a european captain. Most wished he would have waived his no trade clause along with Kaberle. Did you know we could have traded Kaberle for Jeff Carter if Kaberle had waived the clause? I actually just noticed you claimed he was the greatest player in leafs history???????? That is next to blasphemy. Are you forgetting legends such as Dave Keon, Frank Mahovlich, Darryl Sittler, Tim Horton, Johnny Bower etc. The list is endless of players far superior to Sundin. Sundin was a point a game player on a team that was quite good until the last few years of his time here. Those are good numbers, but not the best in leafs history. Ultimately how many cups did he lead toronto to? Zero; making him one of the best leafs to not win a cup, along with Sittler, Gilmour, Wendy, Salming, and probably a few others. This post is getting long winded, but I will say that Vancouver looked impressive at times last night. The collapse in the third doesnt say much about the game as a whole. Should be a good series. Still waiting for Brightside to tell me how I am deluded.

Deluded in what way? Ducks v. Redwings Canucks v Chicago Capitals v Penguins Bruins v Hurricanes Penguins and Capitals will also be a good series. Crosby and the troll going head to head should be intriguing. Might be a bit insane thinking the Ducks can upset detroit, but if there is a team that can do it I would say it is anaheim. Outside of Luongo the Canucks are a pretty average team. I hope chicago can win, but I am pretty unsure with this series as well. Boston should beat Carolina, but then again New Jersey probably should have as well. I am pretty excited about all these series, as they should all be quite good.

Some great game sevens tonight. Eric Staal is a stud. Marty Brodeur again proves he is over rated and an old arrogant p***k. Ive gotta say that I am impressed with Anaheim going into the next round. Think the series with Detroit will be a beauty. Are any of you all following the world championships right now? Best player on the ice tonight. For either team. Avery is a national treasure.

Malkin over Crosby? Have you actually seen them play? Malkin floats around like a fairy for the game and will finish his chance when he gets it. He would not have many of those chances without Crosby doing all the work. I didnt use to rate Crosby that highly but he is quite a special player now that I have seen him for a few seasons. Some might make the argument for Ovechkin, but I will never openly admit that a russian is better than a Canadian. I would actually say that Lidstrom is probably the best player in the league, but I also have a bias towards defencemen.

Im from a town about an hour and a bit north of Toronto. The guys I was referencing mostly played Jr. A and OHL. A few years ago we were all quite good, but university has seen most of us convert to the school beer league. Still quite competitive, but most guys have lost a step or two from being relatively inactive. Im more just curious as to whether I would be able to play any hockey if I came to live in Scotland for a year or two. Not really interested in playing in a really competitive league, but I also dont know what the options are. That is why I was curious about the Scottish league, as I imagine there might be a few levels within it. Not sure how it works. Burke is convinced that Tavares will be in blue and white next fall. Dont know how he will work that out, but here's hoping. I dont think he will be the best player though. He doesnt seem to have that extra edge that Crosby does. Crosby is alot more of a complete player, and alot stronger. I dont think Tavares has that end to end ability that Crosby does. Hedman is soft and I cant see him going first. He got pushed around in the u20 world championship by the Canadian forwards. If he cant handle a group of good-mediocre 19yr olds then I cant see him handling anybody in the NHL. If we dont get Tavares I would hope we could get Brayden Schenn, and have a bit of a Schenn connection out there. Like the Sedins but better I would imagine. Mtl and Bos was an exciting game. Should be a rough series. I want Lucic to lay out Laraque at some point. Laraque tries to big talk himself all week about how tough he will be and about Lucic not being tough enough. Does he not realize that he cannot play hockey at all, whereas Lucic actually has some skill?

I have always been curious about that. Ive always wondered if I would make a team if I came over there. Most of the guys I know feel that they walk into a British team no problem, but I always suspected the league was a bit better than that. I imagine the Scottish league would be about the equivalent to provincial junior A in Canada, which is the level below the CHL. Where do most British players play their hockey as a kid? Like is minor hockey an entity at all?

Ive actually wondered that as well. What is British hockey like? I remember Wade Belak played in the elite league during the lockout and didnt do much except fight a few guys. He had a few more points than he would have in the NHL, but nothing too exciting. What is the Scottish league like. How is it set up? How do the leagues compare to something like the CHL or AHL? Who was that other Canadian nut job who Belak fought a few times. I remember seeing that on youtube I think. Hate to ask about fighting, but it seems to be huge aspect of the British game as its the only thing that attracts interest (from what I know). Is it really the only reason why the average person will go?

Dont know why the lack of confidence in the Flames. Im calling Flames for the cup, with Bertuzzi getting the Conn Smythe. Maybe...

Sharks vs Ducks Red Wings vs Blue Jackets Canucks vs Blues Blackhawks vs Flames Bruins vs Canadiens Capitals vs Rangers Devils vs Hurricanes Penguins vs Flyers Top 3 from the west should have no problems. I expect CHI and CGY to be a close series, but the Flames are tougher and more experienced, and should edge it. I hope to f**k that the Bruins sweep the frogs, but it would be just my luck for mount royal to go on a playoff run here. Flyers v Penguins will be an awesome series.

Really couldnt have scripted it any better... but then again it doesnt look good if you need a shootout to beat the leafs. Never been a big Sundin fan, although I thought he looked good on Saturday (for an old man). I think Vancouver could be setting themselves up for a good run here, especially if their lower line guys are clicking well. You never know what a team can do when you have the best goalie in the league in your net, especially in playoffs. On a more positive note, I met John Tavares on Saturday at the ACC. Hopefully by this time next year I can see him on the ice at leaf games, instead of in the club section pisser...

Surely you cant compare the Devils to the Sabres. Buffalo is 6+ hours from NYC. Newark is a about 10 km from downtown NYC. I would say it is comparable to saying paisley is a suburb of glasgow. Both New York football teams play in New Jersey. Comparably, Buffalo get about 3000 more people in attendance than the Devils, which is saying alot since Buffalo (as a city) doesnt really have a whole lot going for it currently. The Devils and the Islanders are both in the bottom ten in terms of attendance. Perhaps 3 teams is too many for that area, not to mention New York sucks and doesnt deserve that many teams anyway.

Are you questioning the location? New Jersey is more or less a suburb of NYC, therefore considered a New York team (in my books anyway). Or the choice? The devils get shite attendance despite being one of the better teams in the league. They have a new rink but it is located in a greasy area. Columbus' poor attendance always amazes me as it is pretty far north. Columbus is only about 8 hours drive from Toronto. I always figured that would be a hockey area, but I guess not. I would love to see Nash in action if I was able to. Rumours floating around Toronto is that he will be hotly pursued after next year when I believe he is a free agent. Those ticket prices are incredible. I believe the lowest Leafs ticket is about $50... if you can get one. After our horrific previous few seasons there have been a total of 4 season tickets not renewed. There is a theoretical 'waiting list' however like most other tough to get sports tickets, the only way to get a seat is through scalpers. I think the Coyotes talk is due to the fact that they have a massive operating loss over the past year or so. Jim Balsillie of the Blackberry company has been trying to bring a team to Hamilton for a few years now, starting with his 'purchase' of Nashville which was blocked by the NHL. It has slowly been leaked out that the NHL loaned money to the Nashville ownership to keep the team in Tennessee - apparently violating the league charter. It would seem that the regular season is less physical, but the playoffs always bring a return to hard hitting and fast paced play (although games are usually pretty fast paced anyway). Out of curiosity, what is your opinion on the shoot-out? Sorry to inundate you with hockey questions on a football website, its just interesting to hear opinions on hockey from people who arent from Canada. I really cant be arsed to join a hockey website as my everyday life is saturated with it on the tv, radio etc anyway.