This And That

--Regina Pats GM Chad Lang is being criticized by some for giving up too much to land defenceman Martin Marincin. I am not one of them. I think Chad has taken a gamble by trading a 1st and 2nd round bantam pick to Prince George to get someone who may be here for just a couple of months, but I have no problems with him rolling the dice because this hockey team has become a good one under Pat Conacher and there is no reason to think that the first playoff appearance by the club in a number of years will be an extended one. With Marincin joining Brandon Davidson, Art Bidlevskii, Colton Jobke and Brandon Underwood, Regina may have the best blueline group in the WHL. Don't forget he also got a 2nd round pick from Kelowna when he made the trade for Jobke so the impact isn't as great as one might think. 

--While Lang did a good job at the WHL trade deadline, it was his old team that won the day as far as I'm concerned. The Moose Jaw Warriors picked up two very good players in Cam Braes and James Henry. These two will provide a lot of leadership down the stretch and when you add them to Quinton Howden, Dylan McIlrath and Cody Beach, this team may have what it takes to get to the WHL final.

--Dion Phaneuf was named as the NHL's most over-rated player in a poll of NHL'ers done by Sports Illustrated. I won't argue with him being on the list, but number one? How about Ilya Kovalchuk or Scott Gomez or Roberto Luongo. All three of those players did make the list by the way. I wonder who NHL'ers think is the dirtiest player in the league and I wonder how many different guys would make the list. I would still put Jordin Tootoo atop that list.

--I highly realize the Oilers have been hit hard with injury this year with Hall, Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, Whitney and Gilbert missing significant time, but I thought this team would challenge for a playoff spot this year. Instead, they are in the running for the number one pick again. I don't think they will pick first again, but they will be a top 10 pick and if they can, they need to take either Ryan Murray or Morgan Rielly in my mind. If those two are gone, I'd be happy with Derrick Pouliot being chosen as well.

--Speaking of the Oilers, the New Jersey Devils visited last night for only the 3rd time since 2003. The Devils marquee player is arguably goalie Martin Brodeur, but he was on the bench last night with Johan Hedberg taking his place. This is a perfect reason why NHL teams should be playing in each center each and every year. Fans in each NHL city whether it be Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg or Montreal deserve to see the stars of the game each and every year.  With Brodeur's age, he may never play a game in Edmonton again and that's too bad for Brodeur fans in northern Alberta. Hopefully, Winnipeg fans get to see him on Saturday afternoon.



--The Denver Broncos won't play another game at home this year, but I have to wonder if they pipe through "I Saw God Today" by George Strait through the sound system. Think about it!!!

--There are some cocky Green Bay Packers fans out there that think the New York Giants won't provide a problem for them and that the New Orleans Saints won't be the team they are on the frozen turf of Lambeau Field. Those Packer fans should have watched the 2007 NFC Championship game on the NFL Network yesterday. That was the one where the Giants won in overtime and one that they could have won in regulation had Lawrence Tynes not missed a field goal on the last play of the game.

--Thumbs up to Premier Brad Wall for releasing his election commercials blooper video. Some politicians don't give that "I'd go for a beer with that guy" vibe, but Wall constantly does and its one of the reasons why he and his government are so popular these days.

--Congrats to a couple of good guys who have become fathers for the first time. CJME's Jamie Nye is now the proud papa of a baby girl named Edith while THE WOLF's Evan Baran is smiling from ear-to-ear after his Mrs. gave birth to a baby boy named Holden. Enjoy each and every moment with your new additions gentlemen.

--The biggest trainwreck in sports these days has to be the New York Jets. That team crumbled before the season was over when Santonio Holmes quit on them and it has spiralled since with several players spouting off. The target of the abuse is quarterback Mark Sanchez as some players say he is the problem. The Jets got to the past two AFC Championships and I believe Sanchez was the quarterback of those teams so he has to be doing something right. If the Jets feel they have to get rid of him, I would have no problems in Sanchez being reunited with his old coach at USC--Pete Carroll.

--I wonder what those in Montreal were thinking when Jaro Halak came back to the Bell Centre for the first time since being traded after that splendid playoff run a couple of years ago and blanked the Habs. Its just not getting easier for that team is it?

--Bumpersticker seen in Moose Jaw this week on a truck ---- Boobs -- a great reason to wear sunglasses.

--Have a good Wednesday.