He's started to warble

Nasty!!!

This is a great read - thanks for it.

Dare I say it, SK74 has a little Ovechkin in him!

Not only does the man dress his dog,he talks to his dog and really worrying!!!...the dog is now talking back.

I'm sorry, anyone who honestly believes that "conversation" actually occured, well...I don't even know what to say. It's embarrassingly fabricated.

"He's a Ranger or a Canadien. about 50/50. And Gomez will be moved."

I just can't see the Rangers, who already have cap issues, moving Gomez to make room for Sundin, who'll likely make even more than Gomez does. Plus they'll have to pay whoever they get for Gomez, unless they're nutty enough to deal him for picks and prospects.

And as for this:

"Sources this morning have informed me that Schneider may be a Canadien as early as "this evening or tomorrow morning." There is much speculation surrounding this move as it may be a trigger move that comes from the Canadiens being officially "out of the Sundin Sweepstakes."

I can't possibly believe that. Why would we deal for an ancient defenseman? I really don't think he's an upgrade over Bouillon or O'Byrne -- not anymore -- and he likely makes a lot more cash than they do...

1. www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat
2. Josh Gorges on Montreal's attack: "They're comin', they're comin' and they keep comin'. Just line after line, wave after wave..."

Robert L., the story has been on the web for several years, and I'm a bit surprised you hadn't seen it before given your voracious consumption of all things Canadien.

I vividly remember buying this issue of Sport Illustrated--even down to the drugstore where I got it--and I still have the cover. It was quite something; the portrait was striking, and it was very rare for Sports Illustrated to put any hockey player on its cover, much less one who played for the Canadiens. So on one level I was thrilled.

But the fact that Maurice made the magazine cover at this particular time plainly indicated that Sports Illustrated was marking the end of his career, by then a prospect I had dreaded every summer for several years. We who loved Maurice knew he was fading, of course, that he was finding the game increasingly difficult, that the end was near, but this kind of confirmation was deeply distressing. And I was even more depressed after reading the story, not because it told of anything new, but because there in black and white, indeed, in Maurice's own words, was confirmation of what we knew to be true and feared but did not want to accept.

A few months later, in September, 1960, the Rocket announced his retirement. It was one of the saddest days of my life; I was in despair and went into mourning of sorts. Maurice had scored four goals against Jacques Plante in a practice game that day, but he said in his retirement announcement that he had decided to leave the game because he wanted to make way for the younger players. That was the version that appeared in the media at the time, including the Hockey News, and, a year or so later, in Andy O'Brien's biography.

I don't know when it first became publicly known, but I did not discover the truth until decades later when I read a Red Fisher piece on Maurice that was part of his series on the 10 greatest Canadiens he saw play. General Manager Frank Selke had called Maurice into his office, noted how many games he had missed through injury in recent seasons and "suggested" he retire. Maurice, ever the team player, went along, although he was furious and felt he still had a year or two left in him.

Frank Selke, who in the Sports Illustrated article indicated that he would not oppose Maurice playing for another season if he so chose, was a great general manager, but I can't forgive him that singularly cruel ambush of a magnificent player who gave his all to the club for 18 seasons. After giving the club he loved everything he had for so long, Maurice deserved to leave the game on his own terms, or at the very least on terms discussed and mutually agreed upon in advance. Yet the player who symbolized dedication and loyalty to the club more than any other in its history was, at the end, discarded in as shabby an act of disloyalty as the game has seen.

__________________

Edited to correct grammatical error in first sentence of third paragraph--deleted "editors" after "Sports Illustrated."

As always Robert ,very good.The other night Ian had asked about another good coach that competed against Toe Blake.While confirming my info came upon a story that in 1955 ,Doug Harvey had scored against himself giving Detroit the Cup.What is the story there?

That was amazing...thanks for sharing.

I'm hoping for the old one.

If L.A. can pick up a goalie, it won't repeat its basement performance from last year. They may not make the playoffs, but then nobody thought Washington would last year either. And I think Chicago will surprise a lot of people.

My guess, for what it's worth:

1 - Detroit
2 - Dallas
3 - Anaheim
4 - San Jose
5 - Calgary
6 - Chicago
7 - Minnesota
8 - Edmonton

1. www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat
2. Josh Gorges on Montreal's attack: "They're comin', they're comin' and they keep comin'. Just line after line, wave after wave..."

I don't think Minnesota will be near as good this year. I also think Vancouver, with the Luongo factor, and Chicago could sneak in. I wouldn't count out Colorado either.

I just read that article too ... I really like that Paul Kelly fella. He's gonna be real good for the NHLPA.