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The Chara piece and interview that appeared in today's Sun left me with mixed feelings. I believe Zdeno when he says that he wanted to stay, but obviously there's the question of not taking the alleged $6 million paycheque which was offered by the Senators.

I'm torn about the entire event after reading the interview, and there's no way to fully shut down an argument one way or the other, because I can see both sides, with so much of it being speculative.

Other stuff...

I spoke with Fred Brathwaite today, who was recently signed by the Thrashers after spending the last two years with Ak-Bars Kazan. Freddie has been waiting for his chance to make it back into the NHL, and knew that so many teams would be looking for goaltenders after July 1st. There were other teams interested in him (two Western conference and one Eastern), but Atlanta maintained the most interest. Brathwaite sounded really upbeat and ready to challenge Johan Hedberg for the No. 2 position with the team. The interview will appear in its entirety in this Sunday's column.

5 responses to "Bits and pieces"

  1. Don't bet against Freddie. Never seen him fail when faced with a big challenge and that goes back to the Memorial Cup he won in Oshawa coming in off the bench. You heard it here first....Freddie will take the #2 spot and Hedberg will be gone by november.

    Anonymous

  2. Hey All

    Here in C-Town as you know we just signed Tanguay and Friesen.

    While I can truly say Tanguay is going to be great. I feel that Friesen is a grinder, he scored all of 4 goals last year. We don't need another 4 goal scorer. We have tons of those bums.

    We still have yet to fill first line centre spot, which has been missing since the stupidity of trading Craig Conroy (more than 4 goals). Sutter was on the radio spewing his garbage again about how versitile Freisen is and he CAN play centre. Well I CAN play centre to, it doesn't mean that I you should put me there.

    Granted, for you Friesen fans I know he has had forty goal seasons and yes they were under Sutter, but this winger playing centre crap is not going to fly with me

    After this rant, you may think I hate the Flames living in Calgary, but I don't. What I do is not believe in the Sutter way of thinking or coaching, he play's to not lose he doesn't play to win.
    "We have to be responsible in uor own end first"
    Translation
    "we can't score so we better not let them "

    He's been fired before and he will be fired again.

    On a TBAY note: Colombus is short one Tbay boy. 2 years not good enough

    Anonymous

  3. Reailty Check

    I hear what you are saying but if you have to listen to sports radio in Calgary listening to how he is the second coming of GOD, everyday you would get a little sick and tired of him.

    As for him coaching the team he was given. That's crap. he has had three years. If you don't have a scorer go get one or two you have to give up something but that's the way of the world.

    If he is the messiah the hockey world and Calgary claim him to be, he could easily fish himself out another Mikka, couldn't he?

    On the radio all last year all I heard from him was
    "we need more out of the people we have"
    Darrel Sutter

    WOW there's a revelation.
    Signed the sky is blue.

    Don't you think my Boss want's more out of me? Well he needs to motivate me just like Sutter needs to motivate his trops

    Your the coach and GM, get more out of them, isn't that your job?
    You don't need to teach them to skate do you?

    What are you doing in practice? Oh yeah working on your power play... Iginla to Phaneuf shot blocked repeat repeat throw shot by Regier in there every fifth power play.

    Phaneuf he is awesome to watch live, his shot is unbeliveable

    Now, where is this centre going to come from?
    I have the answer Omaha.
    Eric Nystrom, you know Bobby's kid
    He skates like the wind has the skills, but not the chance wait and see........

    He is a winger but he is already in the system but you can do allot more with him.

    Anonymous

  4. Cynic,

    Anything with all the goalie jobs out there about

    Felix "the cat" Potvin?
    or
    Arters "The Latvin Lover" Irbe

    Anonymous

  5. Take it to the message board, ladies. That's what it's there for.

    The Universal Cynic