Somehow we've made it to week 2 ...

... and I'm not sure what's making me so tired? Staying up for the 4OT classic between the Stars and Sharks this past Sunday? Or the fact that the Leafs tossed poor Paul Maurice aside earlier today and my head is spinning from all the spin from the Leafs front office:

http://www.fan590.com/news/sports/more.jsp?content=s050741A

Maurice, who probably went a season or two too long in Carolina, really wasn't given much of a chance, either in tenure or in terms of the talent he was provided by management. Maurice is a stand up guy, one of the few coaches who'll stay above the fray, is honest to a fault, and sticks to his guns, even when things aren't going smoothly.

He'll hopefully end up somewhere else as a head coach, preferrably with a team that has a strong GM, like his time in Carolina.

With that being said, Toronto is now without a GM AND Coach. I'll defer any further analysis to my colleague JP, Toronto fan and Ontario native, who has his theories on what direction the Leafs may go.

Other interesting news throughout the league, the Wal-Mart of sports, ESPN, has decided to sign Hockey Icon Don Cherry to help provide analysis for the Eastern and Western Conference Finals through the end of the Stanley Cup finals.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080506.TRUTH06/TPStory/Sports/columnists
You know, as a hockey fan, the NHL and ESPN both have frustrated me (and the many other hockey fans) with their obstinate attitudes and arrogance with regards to their product (NHL) and medium (ESPN). ESPN, the unofficial network of poker, Duke basketball and OK, UNC basketball, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and NBA, seem to indirectly admit, by getting Cherry, that there is a nice little swell of interest during the NHL playoffs. Hell, watch the NBA playoffs or whatever other crap is on TV and you'll see why the NHL playoffs are substantially better TV viewing than anything else on the boob tube. With that being said, the NHL's decision to turn it's back to the home of World's Strongest Man and the Sklar brothers doing inane brackets, instead using Versus, has arguably set the league back to pre-80's recognition.

Cherry and Melrose will probably blind a good number of people (good Lord, especially in HD!!!) with their wardrobe choices, but the hockey banter will be excellent, and frankly, better than hearing numbskulls like Screamin' A. Smith and Skip Bayless take personal shots at players who refused them interviews.

Another tidbit that was fascinating, was this little blurb about third jerseys - including one from YOUR Carolina Hurricanes:

http://nhllogos.blogspot.com/



Do you like it? Well, it's honestly the only possible third jersey design, sans a gigantic Stormy head as the front crest. Perhaps they were going to use a enormous picture of Peter Karamanos?











Next topic - little men
http://sabres.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=362645

Nathan Gerbe, Boston College centerman and Hobey Baker finalist, was signed to a contract by the Buffalo Sabres. This is noteworthy not just because Buffalo actually inked someone to a contract (I know, surprising, eh?), but because the BC standout (and National Champion) would become the NHL's smallest player, at just 5'6" and 150 lbs., passing New Jersey Devil, and Rochester, NY native Brian Gionta. In this supposed new era of hockey, where little guys like Gionta, Martin St. Louis, Daniel Briere, and others found massive success, it'll be interesting to see if Gerbe with his blazing speed and quick hands can make an impact at the top level. Considering the Sabres potential lack of depth at the Center position, he'll at least get a shot in training camp.

I forgot to expound on my theory about the Sharks playing for Ron Wilson's job. They put up a heck of a fight, especially coming 1 goal away from forcing a Game 7 in their series with Dallas. While I don't agree with Barry Melrose's assessment, calling them the most talented team in the Western Conference (that'd be Detroit), I do think that there is something slightly off about the team when it comes to playoff time, and perhaps it's time to shake the team up a bit, either with moving some key veterans like Patrick Marleau or perhaps giving Wilson the boot for a more laid back, less abrasive coach.

Finally, the big NHL news, the Conference finals. I'll give my predictions first, then follow-up with a more indepth analysis tomorrow.

Detroit over Dallas in 5.
Philadelphia over Pittsburgh in 7.

I inserted a picture in my blog. Celebrations shall ensue.