Random FUNHL Thoughts

- How strange is it to see the historically way above average Great Whites sucking wind in the Herbivore position?

- Anze Kopitar won't keep this league leading pace up forever, but he sure looks like FP material moving forward.

- Eric Staal's injury probably takes him out of Team Canada consideration.

- Meanwhile Vincent Lecavalier's indifferent play has all but scratched him off the list. Me thinks he hates Rick Tocchet and is playing for a new coach. Me also thinks he needs a trade elsewhere.

- While I'm with the Bolts, Steve Stamkos is for real - but he still won't make the team.

- Rangers rookie Michael Del Zotto makes Severed Heads mgt. cry. Heads prospect Bobby Sanguinetti was supposed to be the guy lighting it up like this.

- What is wrong with Chris Kunitz? He has the easiest job in the universe - ride shotgun for playmaking wizard Crosby - and yet the guy just doesn't score. I am genuinely mystified that he isn't ripping it for a 30+ pace.

- Ovechkin's injury is now 'week to week', not a good sign.

- Says here that the Shadowmen will regret trading Erik Tangradi. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But some day.

- Once upon a time I thought Guillaume Latendresse looked like a future 30 goal power winger, the next Eric Daze. Not so much anymore. Now he looks like a plodding third liner with a max 20 goal punch.

- Mark Recchi is closing in on 900 assists (899 and counting). Lets hear it for the Recching-Ball!

- Matt Moulson was a one time Pittsburgh prospect (ask me about Pittsburgh prospects, go ahead, I know them all, try me), now finally making his mark on the Islanders. Looks good on him.

- Speaking of the Islanders, there is a milk carton with Rob Schremp's picture on it circulating in the Manhattan area codes.

- Jay Bouwmeester is everything I expected and more. What stands out though is just how fantastic a skater he is. He covers enormous sections of ice with a seemingly effortless stride. He might be the best skating defenseman in the league - period.

- The Bladerunners are at the top of the standings, this is bad. They will get Hossa back soon, which just makes it worse.

- Ollie Jokinen has looked terrible so far. Does he have Gary Leeman disease (where a once fearsome sniper lands on the Flames, loses his confidence and gets so snake-bit he is soon out of the league)? Everybody is saying the right things, but barring a power surge where he goes bananas for the rest of the year, I just don't see him being a Flame next season.

- Everything wrong with the Red Wings can be summed up in two words; 'Todd Bertuzzi'. Or even just one word; 'Geritol'.

- As a Flames fan I love it that Luongo is hurt. As a Canadian hoping for a gold in Vancouver, I hate it that Luongo is hurt. Eggheads call this 'cognitive dissonance'.

- The Av's and goalie retread Craig Anderson? Really? Really? They guy couldn't win a job in Florida or Chicago, and now he's going all Turk Broda on us? I gotta believe the smoke clears and the mirrors crack at some point.

- James Van Riemsdyk got red-hot making himself a solid Calder candidate, played himself on to one of the top lines, subsequently got promoted by the Scourge (who inexplicably refused to trade him to the Heads for two years running - some things just make no sense), and right on cue broke his finger.

- A shortlist of Severed Heads injuries so far; Malkin, Briere (in other words my top two picks), Setoguchi, Kessel (also known as my next two best RW after Briere), Pitkanen, Kuba, Blake, Leino (prospect most ready to contribute after Setoguchi) and now my starting goaltender Ward. To add insult to injury Murphy was sent to the AHL, whereupon he was waived by the Heads, only to return to the Devils and register points. Curse you Murphy, curse you. Of the above, Pitkanen and Kessel are now back. Whew! Just when I was getting worried!