Can Owen Hargreaves Resurrect His Soccer Career in MLS?

Back in 2007, Owen Hargreaves was living the dream and things were going right for him. In his first seven years with Bayern Munich, Hargreaves had successfully become one of the best Canadian stars of the game. In his time in Germany, he was a contributor of four Bundesliga titles and a Champions League trophy [...]


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On the move again, De Rosario hopes to stick in D.C., push United to next level

Photo by ISIphotos.com By AVI CREDITOR WASHINGTON -- The shock of Monday's trade that forced Dwayne De Rosario to change addresses for a second time this season hit just about everybody involved. De Rosario seemed blindsided by the deal. D.C. coach Ben Olsen seemed surprised that the Canadian international was up for grabs. United players didn't know what to think at first. "It was a total surprise. I had no idea," De Rosario said. "I got a call, and that's the unfortunate part of MLS is that you can just be moved at any given second without any indication. As...

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Florida GM: Brian Campbell gives Panthers credibility

ST. PAUL ? It's easy to forget what the Chicago Blackhawks looked like in Summer 2008. Names like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp didn't carry championship heft. Denis Savard was the head coach. They were in a five-season playoff drought. The fan bandwagon still had plenty of empty seats.

Brian Campbell helped change the perception of how close they were to contention. The 8-year, $57.1 million free-agent contract given to him by GM Dale Tallon exhibited a commitment to winning and to spending, two things the Blackhawks weren't exactly known for under the late Bill Wirtz. It signaled a new day for the franchise.

Three years later, now-Florida Panthers GM Tallon is making an example out of Campbell again.

"It's very similar to why we brought him into Chicago. It gives us credibility," he said after the 2011 NHL Draft, where the Panthers acquired Campbell for forward Rostislav Olesz.

"I brought Soupy into Chicago. He's willing to come down and help us turn our franchise around and that speaks volumes."

The Chicago Blackhawks sought to deal Campbell because of his $7,142,875 cap hit.

"The biggest thing was with our salary cap situation; it's not a big secret. The last year or two we haven't had much cap space and we were looking for flexibility," said Chicago GM Stan Bowman.

"It's tough from that perspective to make a trade because he's an important part of our team. But you saw our cap situation over the past couple years and that's the way it's going to be for a while," he said. "When you kind of see you've got players coming up that are going to be earning more money in years to come, you've got to figure out where the money is going to come from and obviously Brian's contract was one of the largest ones on the books for us. That was really the main thing. He was a really effective player for us. Just in our team structure, the contract made it difficult."

The catch was getting Campbell to waive his no-trade clause for a deal to Florida.

"He had eight teams he could select to go to. We weren't one of those teams," said Tallon.

"I got calls from Chicago and then his agent [saying] he'd like to talk to you. We talked a couple of times. I explained the blueprint, similar to what we did in Chicago, and he was able to convince his family and his fianc� that this was the right move for him. And I think it is."

What were their talks like?

"A great conversation with a guy who loves to play hockey. It's a tough decision, obviously. I brought him there. Chicago is a great city, a great market. But Florida's a great market and a great place to live," said Tallon.

"He made the commitment to us to come to Florida, so that says a lot. That's really important to us: [For] a player of his stature to add us to the list and make the decision to come to Florida means a heck of a lot to me and our organization."

Will it mean a lot to his peers? The Panthers are going to be active players this summer, dramatically restructuring their roster. Just like when he signed with Chicago, Campbell's contract signals a willingness by Florida to spend money on top talent.

What does that mean for a player like free agent Tomas Vokoun, the Panthers' starting goalie? Tallon plans on speaking to him this week to find out.

After that, it's on to the free-agent frenzy on July 1, where Tallon will look for more players both in free agency and via trades ? an attempt to make the team better and get the Panthers above the League's $48.3 million salary floor.

"The focus is not the floor," he declared. "The focus is on us becoming a really good team as quickly as possible without jeopardizing our future."

Campbell joins a Panthers team that has 11 players under contract and $41 million in cap space with which to play. He becomes the best offensive defenseman on the roster and a power-play quarterback for a team that was worst in the NHL with the man advantage, scoring 35 goals on�268 chances.

On the ice, he plays a style of hockey Tallon wants his Panthers to play.

"I'm a fan too. I like playmakers, and I like skill and speed," he said.

"I'm selling fun here."

Clearly, Campbell bought it.

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Panthers pick Rocco Grimaldi?s leap of faith at NHL Entry Draft

ST. PAUL ? Rocco Grimaldi was projected by many to be a low first-round selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, but slipped to the second round on Saturday morning where the Florida Panthers selected him at No. 33 overall.

"Sometimes you think something's going to happen one way but that's not what God has for you. I'm totally fine with that," he said.

Overt religious references weren't prevalent among the prospects in the Xcel Energy Center interview room, but Rocco Grimaldi isn't your typical NHL prospect when it comes to matters of faith.

The Anaheim, Calif. native is a devout Christian who has voiced a desire to become a pastor. His Twitter feed (@rgrimaldi23) is filled with messages of inspiration and gospel passages; including this tweet after the NHL Draft's first round on Friday:

"Let me encourage you this morning. When something doesn't go the way you think it's going to go, praise God even more. Just know that He is up to something bigger and greater than you can imagine (Ephesians 3:20)"

Grimaldi said his use of social media to profess his beliefs isn't something he plans on changing if and when he makes the NHL.

"I think [Twitter and Facebook] are a way to spread the Gospel. I try to put positive messages out there, and keep my head up," he said. "Like last night. It was a little disappointment for me, but I came back with my head held high. That can be a good example for people going through hard times, that it's going to work out in the end."

But did Rocco Grimaldi's faith cost him in the NHL Entry Draft?

Around the draft floor, and off the record, there were those who said teams were "scared off" by Grimaldi's candid religious discourse and that, combined with being an undersized forward, they facilitated his move out of the first round. With his use of social media, it was on display for any team considering him.

"It doesn't bother me one bit. I don't know why [he dropped], but I was happy he was there," said Florida GM Dale Tallon.

"I like character. He's got impeccable character. He's a great kid. He's committed, he's got tremendous faith and it's not gotten in the way of his competing and being a tremendous teammate," said Tallon.

When asked about why he dropped to the second round, Grimaldi said, "I don't know. I wasn't what the teams were looking for, I don't know. Florida wanted me. As long as a team wants me, I'm happy that someone wanted me."

The NHL has its openly religious players, and some prominent names: Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes and Dan Hamhuis of the Vancouver Canucks are members of Hockey Ministries International, an organization that does everything from hockey camps to traveling chapels.

But mostly, NHL players don't flaunt their faith in the way 18-year-old Grimaldi has as a USHL player.

From the Grand Forks Herald:

Growing up, his Christian faith was always at the forefront of his life. His all-time favorite athlete and childhood hero: Tim Tebow, a devout Christian who played quarterback at the University of Florida and now with the Denver Broncos.

Grimaldi reads the Bible every day and frequently reads books from his favorite pastors. He has already started looking at churches in Grand Forks and will probably attend the same one as teammate Corban Knight, the son of a pastor.

He frequently posts Bible verses on his Twitter account (@RGrimaldi23). The [Bible] verse stitched on his shoe is another reminder of his faith and determination.

Grimaldi said his religious tweets are meant to inspire others.

"I try to be encouraging. I try to write what's on my mind, try to help someone out. It's definitely different than most kids. I think it's a good way to just be positive, try to help someone out if something's going wrong," he said.

"Especially since I'm small. A lot of little kids look up to me. I think I can be a great example to them as well."

He said he hope to be a role model in the NHL, but the road to the League isn't an easy one for Grimaldi as a 5-foot-6 forward. But he likes the Panthers, likes the team's new sweaters ("I think I look good in red") and grew up emulating a former franchise star ? Pavel Bure.

"He was a Panther," he said. "Go figure."

All part of the plan, one supposes.

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the cosmos interviews pt.1

Terry Byrne talks exclusively with TIAS about the relaunch of the New York Cosmos (and that book about his buddy)

—-
This is what we know. The New York Cosmos are back with intentions on being the 20th MLS franchise in 2013. It?s run by famous industry names like Paul Kemsley, Terry Byrne, and famed advertising executive [...]

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The NFL's 10 Most Clutch Kicks of the Last 10 Years

The worst part about tackling an article like this is every fan remembers a game where their kicker hit a 45 yard FG as time expired to give the team a 2 point win.  The problem is, there are so many of those FGs that compiling all of them would take a few researchers.

If your most memorable play didn't make the list please remember...online articles are not a static medium.  They change and grow with each new comment so please feel free to share your favorites.

As for this list...I'm looking for something special.  FGs that won playoff games or important regular season contests.  Long FGs are particularly appealing, but any kick that added that little extra spice to a great game will get my attention.

For the record, though, an overtime FG in a game the kicker could have won in regulation or earlier in OT (I'm talking to you, Joe Nedney) is not "clutch."  It may be redemption of an earlier choking, but it isn't likely to make this list.

One other FG that I'd love to include but that doesn't belong on the list is Bill Gramatica.  After kicking an irrelevant FG in the first quarter of a lost season (The Arizona Cardinals were 5-7 at the time), Gramatica celebrated like a drunk college student that kicked a 40 yard FG to win a car at halftime.  One torn anterior cruciate ligament later...watch the kick.

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Dwayne De Rosario?s move to D.C. United from New York Red Bulls: poll and video

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Hockey Hall Class of 2011: Howe, Gilmour, Nieuwendyk, Belfour

There must be some mistake: Mark Howe never played for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Oh, right: He was a Marlie.

Mark Howe is also a Hockey Hall of Famer, ending a lengthy wait for the call (since 1998!) to immortality for a defenseman whose career spanned from the Houston Aeros in the WHA to the Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings in the NHL over the course of 929 games. He's the story today: The player that many hoped would get the call but who was perpetually a runner-up for the selection committee.

The Class of 2011:

Ed Belfour, G (stats)

The mystery today wasn't if Belfour would be a Hall of Famer, because two Vezinas, a Stanley Cup and third in career wins (484) necessitates it. It was if he'd be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, given some of his off-ice foibles.

That turned out to be secondary to his numbers and his impact. He may not be Patrick Roy, he may not be Dominik Hasek, but he can easily lay claim to having been the best goalie in the game in two different years and being in the conversation for top three in his position during his prime, which is a handy measure for the Hall of Fame.

Doug Gilmour, C (stats)

He had 450 goals, 1,414 points, one Stanley Cup and a Selke Trophy, along with being tied for seventh in career playoff points (188). A complete player and a tenacious competitor. Should have gone in last year.

Mark Howe, D (stats)

Why Howe? Bill Fleischman's 2008 piece from the Flyers website makes the case:

He's a three-time first-team NHL all-star defenseman. In his first six seasons with the Flyers, he scored 115 goals operating from the blue line. During his 22-year pro hockey career, he collected 405 goals and 1,246 points and has a +400 rating. He is the youngest hockey player to ever win an Olympic medal.

Yet, Mark Howe is still not in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

He is now. More from Bill Houston back in 2006. This is a long, long time coming.

Joe Nieuwendyk, C (stats)

As we said in our Hall of Fame preview, Nieuwendyk has the prestige. Three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe and a Calder to go along with his being 11th all-time in power-play goals at 215. Best at his position? Hardly. A model player in the NHL? Totally.

The snubs? No Eric Lindros or Pavel Bure or Adam Oates or Dave Andreychuk. No Pat Burns, which remains a tarnish on this process.

What's interesting about this Class of 2011: No builders for the first time since 1981, and we get four players after getting only one last season. Was this due to the incredible Class of 2012 first-ballot guys (Sakic, Sundin, Shanahan,Roenick, Joseph, Gary Roberts among others) coming up?

"The committee are so involved and serious about their job. They do look at the candidates that are up, and I do not believe that they take into consideration the people that are coming up in the following year," said HHOF selection committee co-chair Jim Gregory.

The full release from the NHL and the Hockey Hall of Fame. More coverage later:

TORONTO� (June 28, 2011) ? Bill Hay, Chairman and CEO of the Hockey Hall of Fame,� Jim� Gregory and Pat Quinn, Co-Chairmen of the Hockey Hall of Fame's Selection� Committee,� announced� today Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe and� Joe� Nieuwendyk� have� been� elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player� Category.� The� vote took place today at the annual meeting of the Selection Committee in Toronto

"The� Hockey� Hall of Fame is proud to welcome these four hockey legends as Honoured� Members,"� said Jim Gregory.� "Their contributions to the game of hockey are well documented and their election to the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved."

Ed Belfour, a native of Carmen, Manitoba, played on five NHL teams from the 1988 to 2007 seasons, winning the Stanley cup in 1999 as a member of the Dallas Stars.� A two-time Vezina trophy winner, he also won a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

"It� is� hard� to� put into words what this means to me," said Belfour.� "I would like to thank all of my teammates and people along the way who helped me achieve my hockey dreams."

Doug� Gilmour was born in Kingston, Ontario and played Junior hockey nearby as� a� member of the Cornwall Royals, winning a Memorial Cup in 1981.� Doug played� 20� years in the NHL, winning a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989.

"This� is� an overwhelming honour and one that makes me reflect back on the teammates and coaches I have had over years," said Gilmour.� "Larry Mavety, who� gave� me� a chance in Tier II hockey and Gord Wood who drafted me into Junior� at� Cornwall,� are� two� people who were instrumental in helping me establish myself as a player".

Mark� Howe� played his Junior hockey in Toronto before turning professional with the Houston Aeros in 1973.� He stayed in the WHA until the merger with the� NHL,� playing� with� the Hartford Whalers, the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings before retiring in 1995.

"I� was� elated� to have this dream come true given that it is a tremendous honour� just� to� have my name mentioned with the upper echelon of hockey," said� Howe.� "To actually have my name in the Hall of Fame with my Dad will mean so much to my family."

Joe� Nieuwendyk� played� three seasons at Cornell University before turning professional� with� the Calgary Flames, winning Rookie of the Year in 1988.

Joe� went� on� to win the Stanley Cup with Calgary the following season and twice more ? with Dallas in 1999 and New Jersey in 2003.

"Every player does their best year after year and strives to play at a very
high� level," said Nieuwendyk.� "I truly love the game and love to compete,

and I'm pleased to be honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame."

The 2011 Induction Celebration will be held on Monday, November 14th at the Hockey� Hall� of Fame in Toronto.� For more information regarding the 2011 Induction Weekend/Celebration, visit http://www.hhof.com.

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Video: Islanders? pick Ryan Strome: ?I want to win a championship?

ST. PAUL ? It's been a busy week for Ryan Strome.

"I've gone from taking exams Monday and Tuesday to flying out Wednesday, whole bunch of interviews the last two days," said Strome, the Niagara IceDogs center who tallied 106 points last season.

Before he could concentrate on the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Strome needed to ace tests in data management and law. "I'm usually a pretty good math student," he said, "but the brain needs a little rest, that's for sure."

His nerves could finally rest after the New York Islanders made him the No. 5 pick in the draft on Friday night ? the third center selected in the top five, and the first in a run of four centers that ended with Sean Couterier going to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Strome's Niagara teammate, defenseman Dougie Hamilton, went next at No. 9 to the Boston Bruins. Strome said he was nervous the Islanders might opt for Hamilton at No. 5. "He texted me about an hour before I left saying whatever happens, it's been a great year," said Strome.

As for his future with the Islanders, Strome has trained with star John Tavares, who had a glowing endorsement of the pick at the Isles' draft party (via Islanders Top Shelf).

"He's a special player. The way he sees the ice is exceptional," said Tavares, after Strome was selected. "He's gonna do great. I've got no doubts about him."

Strome will likely be back in the OHL next season, but he's excited about becoming a part of the young foundation GM Garth Snow is laying down on Long Island.

"It's a big investment for them. It's a big part of their future," he said.

"I want to win a championship. I know I'm young saying that, but that's what you want to do."

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Columbus gives up on Nikita Filatov, deals him to Ottawa

ST. PAUL -- The Nikita Filatov era in Columbus has officially come to an end.

The 21-year old forward was dealt during Saturday's second round to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a third round pick (No. 66 overall).

According to Columbus GM Scott Howson, Filatov requested a trade and had that not happened, he planned to play in the KHL next season.

"It was just time for everybody to move on," said Howson.

Over the span of three seasons, the sixth overall pick in the 2008 Draft played just 44 games for the Blue Jackets putting up six goals and 13 points, while struggling to land full-time spot in the lineup and spending most of his time with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL.

Filatov also famously clashed with former Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock during the 2009-10 season before he was loaned to CSKA Moscow of the KHL

Columbus gives up a talented young player, but one who was more consistent in giving them headaches than producing on the ice.

For Ottawa, it's a low-risk move. Filatov still has a lot to prove and with the Senators currently in rebuild mode, he'll be given plenty of opportunity to live up to the potential that scouts talked about when he was drafted in 2008. Filatov has one year remaining on his current contract before becoming a restricted free agent after next season.

"We felt it was very worthwhile to taking a chance that this young man could come in to a team that's hurting for offense and provide some of that," said Senators GM Bryan Murray.

"There's no risk in this at all."

Finally, it's since been deleted, but Filatov's now former teammate in Columbus, R.J. Umberger, Tweeted out his thoughts on the decision to trade Filatov for a third rounder:

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If Hulsizer?s out, what are Phoenix Coyotes? ownership options?

The longer the process in Glendale played out, the less patient prospective Phoenix Coyotes buyer Matthew Hulsizer seemed to become, saying "the clock is striking midnight" as late as last week.

You hear that clanging? That's the clock striking midnight, according to Scott Burnside:

The most promising potential buyer of the beleaguered Phoenix Coyotes to come along since the team was thrown into bankruptcy two years ago has walked away from the process, a source told ESPN.com on Monday afternoon.

Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer, who had hoped to have a deal in place to purchase the team from the NHL last spring, had set aside over $100 million for the purchase of the team but ongoing issues over a new arena lease agreement with the City of Glendale have led to Hulsizer withdrawing from the deal.

Burnside reports that after that lease proposal was approved by the Glendale City Council ? ostensibly clearing the way for Hulsizer to purchase the team ? Hulsizer produced "an alternative proposal that would have given the city more flexibility in managing the lease deal." After that proposal stalled, sources said Hulsizer bailed.

More from Phoenix Business Journal:

Hulsizer is still interested in buying another National Hockey League franchise but is not longer trying to buy the Coyotes, according an official familiar with the situation.

The official, who asked not to be identified, said the Hulsizer ownership group did not want to go through another several-month process of Glendale trying to sell the Coyotes to their group or other potential owners.

Sources familiar with the deal said late last week that Glendale was talking to Hulsizer and two other potential owners: Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and another unnamed group.

Reinsdorf's been in the Coyotes' picture for over two years, popping in and out of the scene when the NHL seemingly needed a well-funded alternative when things fell apart with the franchise sale. And here he is again!

The city approved funds to keep the team on Glendale for the 2011-12 season, but Hulsizer was seen as the best option for keeping it there for years to come. The local political pressure, the Glendale's flaccid approach to getting this deal done, proved too much for him; will it prevent another buyer from keeping the Coyotes local?

The NHL is reportedly working with the city to find more favorable lease terms, according to the Business Journal:

A new proposal could involve lower city bond levels to help avoid a legal challenge by the the Goldwater Institute, as well as changes to the NHL's assumed $170 million asking price and how much cash a potential owner is putting toward the sale.

Oh boy ? so what does this news affect more: Next year's season-ticket sales for the Coyotes, such as they are, or the 2012 realignment plan?

UPDATE: Official statement from the Coyotes - "The City of Glendale and the National Hockey League continue to negotiate with other interested parties to secure new ownership for the Phoenix Coyotes. The objective continues to be to transition ownership of the Club to an interested purchaser in the coming months."

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USL Pro Week 13: A Look Back

By JOHN BOSCHINI If the rest of the American Division isn't careful, Orlando City could wrap up the division title before the end of July. A couple of weekend wins saw Orlando City move 10 points clear of the Richmond Kickers. Richmond does have three games in hand but a scoreless draw with FC New York highlights the early-season leaders inconsistent form. The Charlotte Eagles wrapped up their unbeaten June with a 2-0 win over Pittsburgh. The Eagles exploded during June, garnering 10 points from a possible 12 and moving out of the bottom of the American Division. The Riverhounds...

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Kings send Ryan Smyth back to Oilers; mullet-watch begins

??The Edmonton Oilers completed their trade for hockey hero Ryan Smyth on Sunday, ending a few days of confusion, false starts and unintentional comedy ... and making Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi look like a [expletive] genius.

From the Edmonton Journal:

The Edmonton Oilers finally completed their deal with the Los Angeles Kings Sunday to get the hugely popular winger back in his old No 94. They sent centre Colin Fraser and a seventh round pick in 2012 for Smyth after Kings GM Dean Lombardi had balked at taking forward Gilbert Brule because of health issues.

It's expected Lombardi will buy out the $825,000 one year contract Fraser has left at two-thirds which is $550,000

Lombardi had planned on buying out Brule at one-third of his $1.85 mil because he is under 26. Fraser is over 26.

The wrinkle with Brule was that buying out an injured player is forbidden under the CBA (See: Drury, Chris). Were it not for his picking up Bono has a hitchhiker, his holding up a major trade for the Edmonton Oilers would be the most patently absurd Gilbert Brule news of the year.

So how does this shake out for the teams? Very well … especially for the Kings.

Earlier this week, we broke down the ramifications for the Oilers and Kings when it came to Smyth. The Oilers take:

Should they acquire him, the Edmonton Oilers� would add the kind of veteran intangibles that transition a team from a wayward collection of young stars and well-compensated vets into a cohesive playoff contender.

He's Captain Canada, for Pete's sake ? a veteran gamer that plays with a body held together by scotch tape and willpower, who leads by example by hauling ass on every shift.

They'd also get a player who scored nine goals on the power play last season with Los Angeles, which would have made him Edmonton's PPG leader. And while left wing is pretty well-spoken for with Taylor Hall and Magnus Paajarvi … what, are we going to pretend that there's a debate about Ryan Smyth vs. Teemu Hartikanien or Jason Strudwick?

Ryan Smyth makes $6.25 million against the cap, which means the Los Angeles savings in this deal are significant.

Here's Lombardi before the trade, when the Brule thing was still an issue:

"To me, it was kind of simple, but it's, OK, if something has to come back (to the Kings) to make this work, then there has to be certain things in place to allow me to run my (salary) cap. If they're not in place, then this makes no sense. Because I have to replace this player. That's the only urgency for me. I have to replace him. In order to replace him, whatever I'm taking back has to allow me full freedom to keep that (cap) space available. If that is not there, I can't do this deal. And those conditions were not there. So there's no deal.

"It makes no sense for me to lose this player and lose the flexibility. I need to replace him. That's where it broke down. When it was clear that I couldn't do what I needed to do with that player I'm taking back, then it's not what the deal was based on, in any stretch of the imagination, and it certainly doesn't make any sense for me."

Our tin-foil hat, Pelican Brief theory was always that the Kings leaked the trade "request" to spark a massive fan outcry in Edmonton and force the hand of the Oilers to make this deal. Whatever ended up getting the Oilers to bite, it's a great salary dump for the Kings.

After the Mike Richards trade, the need a right wing replacement for Wayne Simmonds. Now, they need something on the left side to replace Smyth, who was a more significant offensive contributor.

You could argue that they could use Smyth's cap space to add both players through trades or free agency. The savings are that significant.

Help on the left side via free agency is hard to find; wonder what Dean Lombardi has in mind?

Bottom line: The Kings managed to ship out a player who goes free agent next summer, who was requesting a trade that had a $6.25 million cap hit with a no-trade clause and with a preferred destinations list that read "Only, Alberta."

That's a win for Lombardi.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Nearing Deal for Bolton Star Gary Cahill

Arsenal Transfer News Sees Gunners Inching Closer to Deal for Gary Cahill

Arsenal's severe lack of defensive skill last season was painfully obvious to anyone who watched the Gunners flounder down the stretch. Even Arsene Wenger admitted as much earlier this summer, and promptly set about landing a couple of big defensive stoppers to plant in the center of his back line. 

The player at the top of Wenger's wish list was Bolton Wanderer star Gary Cahill. The 25-year-old defender was a hot commodity in this transfer window, drawing interest from the Gunners, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Now, according to a report from Mirror Football, the London club is actually getting close to landing the talented young defender from Wanderers. 

They're moving forward with negotiations with Wanderers, and have proposed a player-cash swap to avoid paying Cahill's full buyout fee. After all, Wenger's love of a bargain is well-documented, and �17 million would obliterate the transfer record for the London club. 

So, in an effort to avoid paying the full sum, the Gunners would send midfielder Hanri Lansbury on a permanent transfer to Wanderers, while also loaning out Spaniard Ignasi Miquel to Bolton for next season. 

Frankly, that deal sounds much more appealing to Wanderers than the one previously proposed, in which the Gunners would ship Nicklas Bendtner off in exchange for Cahill in what would have been one of the biggest heists in the history of the transfer market. 

Instead, both sides get players they can use; Bolton gets young players to build around, Arsenal get the big, talented defender they needed so desperately last season, and get him for less cash then he likely would have cost to begin with. 

The deal isn't done yet, but the fact that the Gunners have continued to post offers to Bolton has to be a good sign for Arsenal fans. They're clearly willing to splash the cash to get the player they want, and are even willing to give up young talent to do it. 

In the end, the deal seems like a win-win. Arsenal get the boost to the defense they need, Bolton get cash to help pay their staggering debt and get two players to build around, and Cahill gets to play in the Champions League, for one of the Premiership's elite clubs. 

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Blue Jackets send diplomatic envoy to hold Carter’s hand (Update)

(UPDATE: Carter speaks! Check the end of the blog.)

There's no question Jeff Carter was crushed when GM Paul Holmgren told him that the Philadelphia Flyers had traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"He was short [with me]. He's normally a very quiet kid to begin with, but he was very upset," said Holmgren about his phone call to Carter.

Carter's agent, Rick Curran, claims his client's anger stems from having been "assured him that he should not be concerned" with being traded, having signed an 11-year, $58 million contract extension last November.

"I was in the room and I'm not sure I would word it that way," said Holmgren.

Whatever the case, Carter's gone silent since the deal, his simmering anger towards the Flyers evidently having prevented him or his representation from making even the most pithy, perfunctory acknowledgment to the Columbus fans that he's committed to winning or looking forward to the challenge or whatever other canned quote you want to toss out there.

From Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:

It's hard for me to fathom that his agent, Rick Curran, hasn't produced some sort of press release including Carter quotes. You know, something along the lines of "I'm very excited for a new opportunity, and I can't wait to get settled in Columbus."

Trust me, agents have been cranking out "quotes" like this for many years now.

I've spoken to five agents about this situation. They can't believe it. One said: "He's got to turn off his emotions for 10 minutes and make a phone call."

Or perhaps he'll just wait until the Blue Jackets send a diplomatic envoy to his house in order to help him locate his smile. Which they've apparently done.

According to Portzline:

Multiple sources from around the NHL have confirmed today that a Blue Jackets contingent, led by GM Scott Howson, is traveling to meet with newly-acquired center Jeff Carter today.

One source indicated that majority owner John P. McConnell and captain Rick Nash are with Howson, that they were traveling to Philadelphia. Neither Howson nor Nash immediately responded to text messages from The Dispatch seeking comment.� Another source said that Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger plans to meet the contingent and Carter in Philadelphia.

(Can't believe the Blue Jackets didn't include Boomer the Cannon on that travel list. You know, to show how excited the team is to get him.)

Please keep in mind that Jeff Carter is a 26-year-old professional athlete. This is different than, say, being a child who just discovered he or she has to live with their second-favorite parent after a messy divorce.

Some might say: "But what if you were traded from your job to a place that's 10 times worse, huh?! Wouldn't you feel the same way?!"

What a stupid hypothetical. Here's a clue: Jeff Carter had to know that despite his hefty contract ? with the extremely desirable cap hit ? the Flyers needed to cut payroll in order to bring in the high-priced goaltender that the Boss of Bosses wanted to bring in. His no-trade clause hadn't kicked in yet. He was vulnerable and, worse yet, a redundancy in the Flyers' lineup thanks to their strength at center.

Yes, it sucks he was that cap casualty, but cowboy-up and accept that it's a business, and start acting in good faith with your new customers.

From Bob Hunter of the Dispatch:

Carter could help reverse the trend by simply doing what most traded players do in these situations - act like a grown-up. It's easy to understand why he is ticked at the Flyers; he signed an 11-year contract with the team because he wanted to be in Philadelphia, and had been told that the trade rumors were only that: rumors. But Carter's petulance is undermining Howson's efforts to improve the team that he is going to play for and if he doesn't at least act like he wants to be here, Carter might even doom it to more losing.

Early in the franchise's history, Columbus was actually a destination for some players. Many saw a bright hockey future in a clean, livable city with an underrated night life and a great family atmosphere. The city hasn't changed, but poor draft picks, bad decisions and a history of losing have made the franchise harder and harder to sell.

The Carter deal should help the team tremendously, but it only added to the team's perception problem. As unfair as it must seem to Howson, he is back at the plate with the game on the line again.

From Light the Lamp, a Blue Jackets blog:

He's got to understand that this is a critical time for the Jackets --- Howson wants to get he, Nash, Umberger and the boys even more help. �His public buy in will only help Howson get that help. �The longer he waits to speak the longer the negative speculation continues and the snowball gets bigger.

It's time to man up. �I know it sucks but as cliche as it is -- it's pro sports. �It's part of the biz. �The chances of any player spending their career with one team these days are remote. �Even with a NTC.

We here in Columbus are excited as hell to have ya - give it a chance.

You know, Dale Tallon of the Florida Panthers has taken some heat for calling the Brian Campbell trade an important symbolic move for the franchise, given that he had to waive his no-trade clause to make the move happen.

But Tallon didn't need to take a group of Panthers owners and players to his house to convince him to leave Chicago. They spoke on the phone, the sales pitch worked, and now the Panthers have an elite talent they can use to hook other talents this summer.

This Carter situation is much more reminiscent of when the Edmonton Oilers made their sad little pitch to Dany Heatley, trying to convince a player that (a) demanded out of Ottawa and (b) had limited options that their destination was the best one for him. The only difference is that the Blue Jackets didn't send Carter an "infotainment package" yet; one assumes it would include a DVD of female Ohio State students walking to class in lingering slow-motion.

Look, it's all going to work out. He'll eventually come to Columbus, blame all the bad feelings on the Flyers and say the right things. And on the ice, it's going to be exciting to see if a sniper at center can mesh well with Rick Nash on the wing.

But for now, even if his crushing disappointment and resentment of Holmgren is at its core, Carter's demeanor here makes Columbus seem like the last place on Earth he'd want to play. They've already had countless free agents and Guy Boucher refuse to join the franchise; they don't need Jeff Carter acting like he's going to spend the next 11 years in Hockey Mogadishu.

? ? ?

UPDATE: Jeff Carter breaks his silence, via Puck-rakers:

"It's been a tough couple of days," Carter said. "I spent six years in Philadelphia. I think so highly of the organization. It was a real shot to me.

"My decision to not talk had absolutely nothing to do with being traded to Columbus. I know it's a team that has struggled in the past, but there's a great future there, a lot of young players. I'm excited to be there."

And on the Blue Jackets flying out to meet him:

"It was great. I really appreciate them making the trip down here to come see me," Carter said. "It shows a lot on their part, that they're excited to have me. We talked for a while about the team, their direction. We talked about the city.

"Just sitting down and talking with them, it got me real excited, and wishing the season would start a little earlier."

So there you go. Pithy quotes, four days later than they should have arrived. More from the Associated Press here.

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USA Live Blog: U17s and USMNT

Join MFUSA for a full day of American soccer live blogging.



Starting at 3:45 ET, MFUSA US Youth National Team writer Ben McCormick will host a live blog of the US U17 World Cup team's match against Uzbekistan (ESPN3, kickoff at 4 ET).



*Update*



Looks like Ben will be tied up until the 20th minute or so. If you want to step in for Ben until he arrives, shoot me an email at matchfitusa@gmail.com.



We'll roll on from there to the senior side's Gold Cup semifinal showdown with Panama (FSC...

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Flyers captain Mike Richards traded to Kings in pre-draft blockbuster

Los Angeles media, meet your new headache. Philadelphia Flyers fans, enjoy your heart transplant.

According to multiple sources (and first reported by TSN), the Flyers acquired blue-chip forward Brayden�Schenn and power forward Wayne�Simmonds (as well as a second-round pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft) for Mike Richards, their captain who is signed through 2020 with a $5.75 million cap hit.

The message is now clear from Flyers management: That the obstacles preventing this team from winning its first Stanley Cup since 1975 are larger than just the body between the goaltending pipes.

Trading Jeff Carter (and his contact that runs through 2022) to the Columbus Blue Jackets was seen as a financial move; when coupled with Thursday's blockbuster deal that sent Richards to the Los Angeles Kings, it has to be seen as a chemistry test that these guys failed in the eyes of Ed Snider and GM Paul Holmgren.

Now do the Flyers have room for Ilya Bryzgalov?

For the Kings, Richards won't face the same scrutiny he did in Philadelphia. He's boundlessly talented, and one of the best two-way forwards in hockey.� The Kopitar/Richards duo will be as good as any in the West up the middle. It's a bold move, and perhaps confirmation that GM Dean Lombardi couldn't land Brad Richards this summer.

From Rich Hammond:

This is certainly one of the more fascinating deals done by the Kings in years. In comes Mike Richards, a 26-year-old center who has already reached the 30-goal mark twice in six NHL seasons. Out goes Brayden Schenn, arguably the Kings' top prospect and the player the Kings had resisted trading despite countless offers that basically started the day he was drafted, as well as Wayne Simmonds, a player assumed to have great potential who took something of a step backward last season. Privately, the Kings were concerned that Simmonds, due to be an unrestricted free agent, might draw an offer sheet if he was not re-signed by July 1.

For the Flyers, one of the most dramatic transformations of a dressing room in recent NHL history. Or at least since the Flyers traded for Chris Pronger, which was another bombshell dropped at the NHL draft.

And why did they acquire Pronger? Because of the locker room issues caused by players like Carter and Richards.

This is Pronger's team now, as you assume he'll get the captaincy that probably should have been his to begin with. Whether this is a good move or a bad move rests with GM Paul Holmgren, who has declared Pronger the winner in the locker room war of egos between himself and Richards.

This is now the team of Danny Briere and Claude Giroux, who are now going to have to provide offensive and defensive leadership at forward to fill the voids left by Carter and Richards.

With the removal of two players and the addition of three (and plus Bryzgalov), this is now a different Flyers team that it was on Thursday morning. But is a better one?

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Montreal police after Zdeno Chara in Pacioretty investigation

It's become a point of ridicule that Montreal Canadiens fans called the police after Zdeno Chara rode Max Pacioretty into a stanchion and onto a stretcher back in March.

But here's the thing: There's actually an ongoing police investigation into the matter; and now that the Boston Bruins are Stanley Cup champions, Montreal authorities would like a word with the last witness in this case with whom they've yet to speak ? Zdeno Chara.

From CBC News:

Sgt. Ian Lafreni�re of Montreal police said the investigation was delayed because most of the witnesses were hockey players busy with the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There were concerns Chara would be brought in for questioning when he returned to Montreal during the first round of the playoffs in April, but police said they were in no rush to speak to him.

Lafreni�re said Tuesday, however, that the investigation is nearing its end and the last step is to finally interview Chara. "We haven't met Chara, we don't have his version of the facts, and also at the end of it, [a report is] gonna be presented to a crown prosecutor, and this is the person who will decide whether there will be some accusations," said Lafreni�re.

Montreal police told the CP they intend to question Chara soon, but they won't say when or where they'll do it.

Pacioretty suffered what the team called a "severe concussion," with a second opinion from renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Markus Recchi disagreeing with the diagnosis. The severity of the injury aside, the impact of the moment politically was significant: From politicians speaking out to NHL sponsors threatening the League over player safety issues.

The police investigation is another facet of that fallout. And while we watched Chara, who wasn't suspended, talk around any culpability for Pacioretty's injury -- calling it "one of those things" -- we know there's a legal reason why.

Hopefully this is just a productive conversation and some evidence gathering, and we can be done with this incident without charges being filed by a prosecutor. Real world statutes and regulations have no place in our happy little Thunderdome of nightly violence and lawlessness.

Plus, arrest Chara might prove difficult, unless they can fly in the handcuffs they used on Chewbacca while saving the princess on the Death Star.

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the year in photos

in 2010, photos change, words not so much.
MLS Superdraft breakdown - you know you’re not getting that here. But every year the draft marks the beginning of a new soccer season. Beyond the MLS hot stove, it means the first USMNT game of the new year is around the corner, with the Gold Cup just [...]

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Mystery: Who broke Daniel Sedin’s Ted Lindsay Award in Vegas?

When Vancouver Canucks star Daniel Sedin and his lovely wife Marinette Sedin posed with his Ted Lindsay Award for outstanding player Wednesday night at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas, something seemed a little … crooked.

For comparison's sake, take a look at Alex Ovechkin with the Lindsay Award last season ? specifically the stick.

No bend. No black tape wrapped around the shaft.

Someone broke Ted Lindsay!

Sedin was eventually made aware of this fact, so he covered up the busted stick with his hand during post-NHL Awards photos.

So what happened? Norm Clarke of Vegas Confidential theorized the following:

Media members were first told that country music star Dierks Bentley may have accidentally bumped into the trophy backstage but an event rep later said the award was damaged in transit to Las Vegas, or while being transported after it arrived here.

Broken in transit? Did the NHL run out of funds for bubble wrap and Styrofoam packing peanuts? This is what happens when you meet Criss Angel's appearance fee.

So, in summary: Should have been you, Lady Byng.

s/t to Larry Brown Sports for the Vegas news.

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Landeskog’s NHL Draft Diary: Touched by the hand of Don Cherry

(Ed. Note: Gabriel Landeskog is a winger for the Kitchener Rangers and is expected to be a Top 3 pick in the 2011 NHL draft. He's agreed to write a few Draft Diaries for Puck Daddy before and after the first round. Here's the first entry.)

By Gabriel Landeskog

I am Gabriel Landeskog and here is a little recap of the past few weeks in my life leading into the NHL draft this weekend.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty crazy.

We started out a few weeks ago with the scouting combine. We had a bunch of interviews and some pretty intense fitness testing. It was a great experience all that week.

After the combine, I did extra testing with the New Jersey Devils. It was one of the craziest fitness tests I've ever done. They had me and few other guys running on treadmills for as long as you could with the incline getting steeper and steeper, I didn't have a shirt on and had electrodes all over my body ? I ran for 16 minutes with a huge increasing incline ? which was the longest of anyone there.

Afterwards, the NHL hosted me, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jonathan Huberdeau and Dougie Hamilton at Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals in Boston. I got stuck in customs and missed my flight to Boston. They said there was a problem with my visa and it looked like I was in Canada for too long (I wasn't). I got another flight and got to Boston after a few hours.

During the game I was kind of rooting for Vancouver but not loudly ... because we were sitting in the stands and Boston fans are crazy.

It was still a great experience. We got to meet the Sedins after the pregame skate in the locker room. My dad was in the background during the meet-and-greet and he said afterwards that I went from being a hockey prospect to a little boy ? being a fan.

I'm Swedish and the Sedins are something like national heroes there. It's something that you can't control, but you get excited when you get to meet guys like this.

They told me to just enjoy the whole draft process and take it all in (and said it in Swedish). We also got to meet Tyler Seguin. All I could think about was that he was in our shoes last year and now he's playing for a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

Also, while I was there I was on hockey night in Canada… there was one moment where Don Cherry was touching my shoulder and I was thinking, "Don Cherry is touching my shoulder, this is pretty cool."

After the game, I got some down time. I flew back to Sweden where my twin sister, Beatrice, and some other friends were graduating high school. My flight from Boston was a bit delayed, so I went straight from the airport in Stockholm to the graduation. Seeing my sister's graduation was really important because my family did a lot for me over the years, so this was something I had to do.

Last Thursday, I went to Miami with four of my closest friends from back home (Erik, Fredrik, Johan and Jesper), just laying on the beach for a few days. We rented a couple of scooters and went around town, saw the Miami Heat's arena and hung out on South Beach. My buddies are really into cars, and it was ridiculous how nice the cars are there, and because of my friends being car lovers I consider myself being a car expert now.

There are a lot of good-looking people there. It was great to kind of get my mind off the draft a little bit and relax a little bit. I had a tank top on the first day and got burnt and after the first day it looked like I had a tank top on even though I was shirtless, which was very embarrassing.

While my schedule has been insane, I wasn't nervous; I'm surprisingly calm about the whole thing. I wonder when I'm going to start getting anxious and nervous. I'm just really excited about the whole thing since the season ended. Even when I was in Miami, I knew it was four or five days days away but you can't really worry about it.

Now that I'm here and seeing the signs for the draft, it's becoming real. I have a dozen family and friends here so that's certainly helping.

I'll be back later with some more stories from draft week in Minnesota.

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Vital tips, potential pitfalls for blogging the NHL Entry Draft

Oh, young blogging grasshopper, you have officially hit the big leagues. Your application for credentials has been stamped, your room at the Red Roof Inn is booked, and your ass is heading to the NHL Entry Draft for the very first time.

Excited? Of course you are. But keep it in your pants, kiddo … you have a lot to learn … and I'm here to help. Here are a few tips and tricks to make your experience worthy of tales at the pub when you get home.

Tip #1: STFU and don't act like a jackass (Degree of Difficulty: Mild to moderate)

So you're finally here, and you want to network like an emeffer. I get it. The Entry Draft is the biggest media event of the season, and it's a great place to finally meet some of the players in the business. That said, your anonymity is one of the most powerful tools you have. One of my favourite things to do at Drafts is to flip over my credentials so no one could see who I was (assuming they didn't know me) and just casually wander around, eavesdropping on conversations. There are a million different places to do this: The lobby of the media hotel, luncheons, interview rooms … you never know what you might overhear. Don't try and add your two cents, and at least try to be inconspicuous (this would involve not hovering and/or sporting any kind of fanboy team gear like a tool).

Tip #2: Go to the media luncheon (Degree of Difficulty: Easy)

This is always my favourite event, even moreso than the Draft itself. All the elements are there: Media, insane amounts of food (and the subsequent observation of watching previously mentioned media scarf down said food) and the players projected to go in the top 20. Watch in amusement as Pat Hickey demolishes the poutine station!* Wait for a break in the action to ask Gabriel Landeskog if IKEA allen keys could potentially double as mini-sticks! (In all seriousness, it's one of the best times to network, and get in some one-on-one time with the prospects. Go.)

Tip #3: Work the fence (Degree of difficulty: Moderate to difficult)

Day 2 can get a bit restless, and it usually begins to hit around the fourth round. Nearly everyone's a little hungover/bored, and this includes the team representatives. Eventually they will begin wandering around, and will venture up towards the fence that separates the team tables from the media risers. This is one of the greatest opportunities you will ever get to have some one-on-one casual conversations with team GM's. I worked one Draft alongside my dear friend and AHL savant Patrick Williams when we noticed Brian Burke hovering along the fence. Patrick engaged Burke in a conversation about his days with the Maine Mariners (while I invoked Tip #1). Burke's typically gruff demeanour fell away like a mask; it was amazing to watch him recall the old days, as if he were just having a conversation with a buddy in a bar. This isn't the time to ask, "What do you think about _______ trade?" Use this rare chance to ask someone a really offbeat question; don't fawn or provoke … just talk. You never know where the discussion may lead.

The Entry Draft is an overwhelming and amazing event to attend. Above all, have fun, be yourself, try not to drink too much and for the love of God, dress properly. Your Vikingstad T-shirt does not belong on-air during the first round. Good luck, sweet neophytes. I look forward to your posts.

* This may or may not have occurred during the Draft held in Montreal in 2009. Ahem.

Erin Nicks is a writer for Puck Daddy and blogs at The Universal Cynic.

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LOOKING FOR LOVE AT MLS CUP
Ratings for MLS Cup plunged 44 percent from last year and grabbed just 748,000 viewers, a near record low. It’s almost as if ESPN knew what was coming–the game, the crowd, the referee, the weather, the ratings. Why else would they not promo the game during their international friendly double-header [...]

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D.C. United acquires MLS star Dwayne De Rosario from New York Red Bulls for Dax McCarty

D.C. United has acquired Dwayne De Rosario from the New York Red Bulls for midfielder Dax McCarty, a blockbuster trade that drastically alters United?s attack heading into the second half of the MLS season.

?Dwayne is a proven champion in our league and will add significant firepower to our attack,? General Manager Dave Kasper said.

De Rosario, a Canadian national team midfielder-forward, is a five-time MLS all-star and five-time all-league Best XI selection. He has won four MLS Cup titles and twice was named MVP of the championship game.

Read full article >>

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US U-17 National Team Faces Stiff Germany Test

-Ben McCormick



After a promising start, the US U-17 National Team is in a tough spot.  The Americans opened the 2011 U-17 World Cup with a satisfying 3-0 win against the Czech Republic before it was wiped out by an embarrassing 2-1 loss to Uzbekistan.  On June 25, the Americans squared off against New Zealand, needing a win to clinch the group earning themselves a date with Australia, a manageable task in pursuit of returning to the quarterfinals for the first time since...

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Puck Daddy’s Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2011 forecast

The Hockey Hall of Fame's selections for the Class of 2011 will be announced at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, broadcast live on NHL Network and TSN rather than shared first with a bunch of crusty writers on a conference call as in years past. (The crusty ones get their Q&A session with inductees a half hour later).

Dino Ciccarelli was the only NHL player elected to the Hall last year, a selection that was frankly overshadowed by the snub of Pat Burns as a builder. (Hopefully rectified, posthumously, this year.)

Will the Hall of Fame selection committee go solo again? Will it be two players, perhaps even three or four?

Coming up, our filtering out of Hall-eligible players to reduce the field down to the essential candidates.

Who makes the cut this year … and will Eric Lindros be one of them?

Check out our Hall of Fame odds from 2010 for plenty of debates about the candidates that are still in the mix this season. But before we can get to the key candidates, we have to filter out a few runners-up and also-rans. (Keep in mind these aren't the total group of eligible players, but just some prominent and recent names.)

The No-Chance-In-Hell Club

Jocelyn Thibault, Mattias Norstrom, Richard Matvichuk, Eric Weinrich, Mariusz Czerkawski, Andrew Cassels, Dallas Drake, Travis Green, Claude Lapointe, Martin Lapointe, Yanic Perreault, Geoff Sanderson, Scott Thornton.

These players are among the first-year candidates for the Hall of Fame who really stretch the accepted definition of "eligibility" to its breaking point. You know, with all due respect to the Mariusz Czerkawski fans out there. Yeah, I'm talking to you, Obviously Mariusz Czerkawski's Cousin.

The Better Than Average Club

Glen Wesley, Glen Murray, Derian Hatcher, Trevor Linden, Sean Burke

These are first-year eligible players (save for Burke, a carryover from last season) who are a better cut of steak than the ones in the NCIH Club, but still fall short of the Hall of Fame. These guys are always players that are elevated higher than their accomplishments by local fans who adore them. They've got impressive numbers and international hockey glory in some cases. But they're not great players in the context of the Hall.

The Stu Barnes Club

Because Stu Barnes is eligible for the Hall this year. And even if he doesn't get in, he deserves his own club. Because he's Stu Barnes.

The Flashy Stats Club

Tom Barrasso, Pierre Turgeon, Sergei Makarov, Steve Larmer, Bernie Nicholls, Peter Bondra, Alexander Mogilny, John Leclair, Pat Verbeek, Mike Vernon, Mike Richter, Phil Housley, Theo Fleury

The numbers here are mind-blowing: 1,327 points for Turgeon; 503 career goals for Bondra; a 70-goal season for Nicholls. These are players who have the numbers to be considered close to immortality but either lack the trophies or the impact that's required for the Hall of Fame in most cases. (Or in Barrasso's case, he was really mean to people. Boo-hoo.)

(Note: Makarov deserves to be among the group in the next heading, but we can't imagine the Hall would give him his due.)

Which brings us to ...

The Hall of Fame Pool

Dave Andreychuk, LW

He's 13th all-time in goals with 640 and fifth in games played, playing a vital role in the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2004 Stanley Cup championship. He's the best power-play goal scorer in NHL history with 274, better than Brett Hull or Mario Lemieux. As with others on this list, he name means something: He's the immovable object with great hands in front of the net, a connoisseur of garbage goals and a consummate professional.

Ed Belfour, G

The only first-year eligible player with a prayer of making the cut. Two Vezina Trophies, four Jennings Trophies, the Calder for rookie of the year and a Stanley Cup championship to his credit. He's third in wins for his career (484) and fourth in career saves (22,434). The knocks on Eddie are that he wasn't as dominant a goalie as some of his peers, posting a career .906 save percentage despite playing during the trap years; and his off-the-ice troubles may have him Ciccarelli'd out of a first-year induction.

Pavel Bure, RW

Bure has 437 goals in 702 games, placing him sixth all-time (0.623) in the NHL. Of the rest of the top 10, only Alex Ovechkin and Tim Kerr aren't in the Hall of Fame. He has 779 points in 702 games, a points-per-game average that ranks him 24th all-time. He won the Calder and two Richard Trophies, leading the League in goals three times.

The case for Bure as a Hall of Fame player has been made again and again and again and again. The reasons are simple: He has the numbers, despite not having a Hart or a Stanley Cup; and his name means something to a generation of fans and peers. To be compared to Pavel Bure today is to be compared to an offensive star of unparalleled speed and goal-scoring ability. He was a once in a generation player; will he be counted among the immortals?

Guy Carbonneau, C

If membership in the Hockey Hall of Fame was ever dedicated to being the best player at your position during a given era, then Carbonneau would warrant serious consideration. He won three Selke Trophies and three Stanley Cups, ranking 14th all-time in shorthanded goals (32). He was one of the best shutdown centers of all-time, and scored 663 points along with it.

Doug Gilmour, C

"Killer" was thought by many to be tabbed for the Hall in 2010, but as snubbed. He has� 450 goals, 1,414 points, one Stanley Cup and a Selke Trophy, as well as some other impressive intangibles from Joe Pelletier:

Gilmour has reputation as a hockey warrior. He was an imperative piece of the 1989 Stanley Cup championship in Calgary. He willed Toronto to two consecutive final four appearances in the 1990s, not to mention two more in St. Louis a few years before that. He is seventh all time in Stanley Cup playoffs scoring, 5th in terms of assists. His points per game production actually increased in the playoffs. The only other of the NHL's top 50 all time to also be able to make that claim is Mark Messier. So there can be no doubting Gilmour's big game presence.

Pelletier joked last year that he was surprised Gilmour wasn't already in the Hall given its Toronto-centric focus. Perhaps that will be remedied this year.

Eric Lindros, C

Yup, time to fire up this debate for another year.

The case for Lindros isn't necessarily stats-based, although he's 18th all-time with a points per game average of 1.14. It isn't awards-based, despite having both a Hart and a Pearson in the truncated 1994-95 season. It's impact-based: Lindros was one of the dominant, game-changing forces in the NHL during his time with the Philadelphia Flyers in the dead puck era, before concussions cost him his career.

There are great arguments for and against his inclusion in the Hall. But the only arguments that matter are the ones that will occur, again, amongst the selection committee.

Joe Nieuwendyk, C

He's 21st in goals scored with 564 and 11th in power-play goals at 215. He won the Calder in 1988 and the King Clancy in 1995. But the case for Nieuwendyk is based on the prestige: Three Stanley Cups with three different teams, and a Conn Smythe Trophy in 1999 with the Dallas Stars for 21 points in 23 games and six game-winning goals. Never the most dominant NHL player; just one of the most clutch and well-respected ones.

Adam Oates, C

What if we told you a player had 1,420 career points, placing him 16th all-time behind 12 Hall of Famers, two sure-things (Sakic, Jagr) and one probable (Mark Recchi)? What if this player led the League in assists three times, and ranks sixth all-time with 1,079 helpers ? surrounded by nine Hall of Fame players in the Top 10?

Sure-fire Hall of Famer?

OK, but what if this player never one a major NHL award or championship? What if his only claim to postseason fame is a second-team NHL All-Star Team appearance in 1991? What if his greatest claim to fame is as the co-star to a legendary sniper named Brett Hull?

Does he get in the Hall? Because these are the Adam Oates questions.

Predictions

Joe Nieuwendyk and Doug Gilmour, with Ed Belfour spending a year in HOF jail for offering the Dallas police a billion-dollar bribe to stay out of jail in 2000. Both centers have Cup rings and accolades that Oates does not.

Bure deserves the Hall. Lindros is on the cusp, but we'd let him in. If either one is in the Class of 2011, it would be a pleasant surprise. We just don't expect it.

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