A light links-oriented filing today, as we tape our ankles for tonight's live text commentary of Leafs at Thrashers -- and if you'd like to get in on that, and help me stagger through wittily assemble the preamble with some of your thoughts, predictions, and streams of consciousness, by all means the comments are open below (afraid this is the first regular-season broadcast for Leafs on Leafs TV, and for more on that, Chris Zelkovich takes a profiling look here):
This just in ... yet another primer on the new rules.
Let's start off with a couple of our favourite blogs:
Japers' Rink takes a biting look at the state of rivalries in this postmodern NHL (no more of this "new NHL" nonsense here, sir!) and finds himself pining for "something similar to the old playoff format" (JP, I remember the Wales vs. the Campbells. I wore the bell-bottoms and the platforms. I am not going back there.)
And Jes Golbez has a good catch on Patrick Sharp, now wearing a -- wait for it -- visor. And here's an afternoon addition from Chris Corrigan of the excellent Hockey Pundits -- why visors matter from a fan's perspective.
From the treeware people:
Damien Cox gives us your threatened, your overworked, your bullied -- awww, give it up for the lot of the goalie in the postmodern NHL.
Marius Czerkawski talks! (and no louder than he's played, at that).
Mats Sundin is healing, but it's a slow process (and Jes, have a lookee -- L.A. Kings voted against mandatory visors). Jason Allison, meantime, is not thrilled about his own start.
From the tonight's game file: Paul Hunter weighs in on the Thrashers, and the Sun has this one on Marion Hossa.
And here's a little something from an e-mail received yesterday:
"Giants & Theo Fleury go live on the Net
CP PHOTO Theo Fleury, Canada's little big man. For the first time this weekend the Coors Belfast Giants will broadcast live on the Internet full commentary on the Elite League clash with the Edinburgh Capitals. The game at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast will mark the debut of former NHL superstar Theo Fleury, as Canada's "little big man" officially becomes a Giant.
Calgary based software millionaire, Jim Yaworski, has inspired the initiative. He wants to make sure that all worldwide hockey fans can listen to the latest chapter in Fleury's career and hear the Giants light up the Elite League.
You will be able to log on to the Giants Web site www.belfastgiants.com and go to the live commentary box. Click on then sit back and enjoy the action."
Belfast-Edinburgh at the Odyssey, and Fleury in the lineup. Does it get any better? It's audio only, at 6:55 p.m. GMT, or 1:55 pm in Toronto. (C.Y.)
What a surprise - Czerkawski isn't too upset about being benched. Maybe he's used to it by now, since Montreal did it 11 times, and sent him down for a stint in the minors.
Remind me why the Leafs needed this guy again? It's remarkable that he's wearing 21 - it could be Robert Reichel floating around out there in a Czerkawski mask, for all the similarities I've noticed. At least Reichel was a centre.
Too bad the Leafs couldn't get Bondra instead. Almost the same money, better track record.
Czerkawski should be outraged at being benched, not shrugging about it. With the challenges the Leafs face this season, they need all the hustle and enthusiasm they can get.
They don't need this guy. At least he's "earning" chump change.
Posted by: Aaron | October 14, 2005 at 11:47 AM