Take Note Oiler Fans

I watched the Hawks-Sharks game with a good friend last night. As we watched the game, he suddenly blurted out that you have to think if all is done right, the Oilers will look like the Hawks of today in just a few years. Its hard to think this team had the first overall pick just three years ago when you look at them today. However, if you are an Oilers fan like me, you have to hope the turnaround is as quick and successful as Chicago's has been.

Could Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall be Edmonton's version of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Does Ales Hemsky fit the role of Marian Hossa? Will Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano be the next Patrick Sharp and Troy Brouwer. Yes, Edmonton will need a couple of shut-down defenceman like Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook as I don't think Tom Gilbert and Taylor Chorney are the answers, but you never know.
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As for the Hawks of today, it looks as if their speed is just too much for San Jose. That was evident in their 4-2 win to take a 2-0 lead back to Chicago. I would like to think the Sharks may bite back before this series is over yet, but I'm starting to wonder if this could be a very short West final. It might be a short East final as well. The Canadiens have lost their goal scoring touch and Jaroslav Halak is playing like a mere mortal. That's not a good combination for all the Montreal fans out there. The big Flyers defence is making life rough for all those small Canadiens forwards. If Montreal doesn't win Game 3, they won't be going to the Stanley Cup. That being said, Philly knows what can happen when a team is up 3-0 in this year's playoffs. Wouldn't that be ironic to see Montreal go down 3-zip and come back to win against a team that just did that. I can't see it happening.
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I believe last night's game was the last we will see with TSN announcers this year. I think Sunday's game from Chicago will see TSN pick up the NBC feed. With that being the case, I found it interesting that Chris Cuthbert did the game with Pierre McGuire and not Gord Miller. Cuthbert called the gold medal game in Vancouver too. Is TSN sending Miller a message. Nothing against Gord, but I'd rather hear Chris. I think a lot of you agree.
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They are down to three in Brandon. The Quebec league champs from Moncton are done after getting beat in overtime by Windsor. It means Calgary will play the Wheat Kings tomorrow with the winner being the home team for the semi-final between the two WHL teams on Friday. The winner of that game will take on Windsor Sunday night.
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Canada will face Russia in quarter-final play at the Worlds. The Russians have Ovechkin and Malkin while the Canadians have Stamkos and Perry. GULP!
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I already thought he was in the Warriors hall of fame, but he's in there for sure now. At least he will be come this summer. The Warriors announcing today Theoren Fleury will be inducted into the team's hall of fame this August. What can't you say about Fleury's career in Moose Jaw. He's arguably the best player the WHL saw in the 80's, although fans of Joe Sakic and Mike Modano might argue that. In fact, if someone asked me about those three, I might lean towards Sakic---but not by much.
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Its been a lot of fun helping Rod Pedersen launch "The Sportscage" over the past two days. It was just the two of us on Tuesday, and I found working with Rod in studio a helluva lot easier than working with Drew Remenda then my days at CJME. That's not a shot either. The fact is most nights I was trying to have a conversation with someone I could not see as he was doing his thing in California or wherever the Sharks were playing. It was either that or he was in Saskatoon on a TV monitor where neither one of us could hear the other. It is SO much easier when you can make eye-to-eye contact with your co-host and go through hand signals as to what to do next. I know its not easy for Jamie Nye either, but he does a good job of it.
A lot of you have texted in or e-mailed Rod or I with your positive reviews of the show. As I said today, this is our rookie camp. We will be in mid-season form by the time the CFL season opens. By the way, thanks for the kind words for yours truly. Did you really miss me that much? As I've said before, I don't know if this is going to grow into something bigger and better, but I am having fun, and that's the key. To help a good friend get something off the ground by providing some advice and ideas is OK with me too.

One thing we did discuss today was "the 13th man" and whether or not its important if that player is identified. My take is no its not. What good would it do? After seeing what happened to Paul McCallum and his family, I shudder to think what might have happened had the referee said the infamous penalty was on this player or that player. What if had been on a Chris Szarka or a Neal Hughes or a Tamon George? Can you say with absolute certainty that some fan wouldn't have gone off the deep end and done something stupid the way a fan did with McCallum's family. Ken Miller and his staff have said they won't identify the player and that is the right approach to take.
Some said we should stop talking about the way last year's Grey Cup ended. You can't. The Riders will be bothered about last year's game all season long. It will carry right into next year's Grey Cup if they get there. Fans of other teams will also heap abuse on the team--that's a given. Admit it, if Calgary, Edmonton or BC was in the situation the Riders are in, you would be working out your lungs reminding the western foes of what happened. Sorry guys, its not going away. You are going to have to grin and bear it. It won't be easy.
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Getting back to the Stanley Cup playoffs, did anyone see the interview Elliotte Friedman did with Bernie Parent at the Old Spectrum last night. The two reminisced about Philly's first Cup and Parent admitted he was so busy looking at the clock that he never saw Bobby Orr shoot the puck at him with about 5 seconds left. The puck just went wide. Parent admitting that had that shot been on goal, Orr would have scored to tie the game at 1. Can you imagine how Bernie would have had to explain that had Boston won in overtime. Talk about a gaffe for all mankind boys and girls.
Still with the Flyers, HBO in the US is running a documentary on those tough Flyer teams. Its called "The Broad Street Bullies". Has anyone seen this yet? If so, what channel is it on. I was hoping HBO Canada would pick it up, but they haven't.
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Watching Monday Night Raw, I see Bret Hart has won the US championship. Why is Bret in the ring? I didn't think he was supposed to do anything that strenous. He shouldn't be winning a belt. Don't get me wrong, I love "The Hitman", but I don't want to see his health fail because of his entry into the ring. Meanwhile is it just me or is Natalya getting better and better looking each week.
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The Sahawks have signed quarterback JP Losman. Why? I don't want him as a backup to the injury prone of late Mat Hasselbeck.
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Time to hit the pillow. Have a good one! As you go into your Wednesday, I say this. If caught sleeping at your desk today, just say you were testing your keyboard for drool resistance!