for the first time in the history of the team, the LA Kings are the Stanley Cup Champions.  This topic has been covered by many more talented writers here at the Gab than myself, so I will just take this opportunity to say that I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Kings this postseason.  Sure, I would have enjoyed watching the Bruins, but they just didn’t have it this year.  The Kings were just too big, too skilled and too solid at both ends of the ice.  All four lines were solid, and I didn’t realize that Penner could grow such solid eyebeard.  And just think…Dustin Brown was being shopped around at the trade deadline.

Where will Rick Nash land?  There are going to be many teams chasing him prior to the entry draft, but only a few will have the assets that Scott Howson will be looking for.  At the top of the list has to be the Rangers.  Since the other prized impending free agent Parise has stated he won’t go to New York, the Rangers will probably make a solid effort to land Nash.  The Rangers are currently stacked with a solid core of young forwards, as well as being very well established on their back end.  Two names that Columbus will be after are Kreider and Dubinsky.  Moving Dubinsky and Kreider will give the Rangers the cap room they need, but I don’t like the idea of moving Kreider.  The rookie had a tremendous post season, and just like Brad Marchand in last years playoffs, the Rangers need to give him a longer look.  He earned the chance to play regularly for the Rangers next season.

Another team that could possibly be interested in Nash could be San Jose.  San Jose could be persuaded to give up the likes of Niemi and Pavelski for Nash, but would Nash make a difference on a team that never makes a difference in the post season? 

And of course, up here in Canada, the majority of the media outlets are suggesting that Nash could be a member of the Leafs by the entry draft.  For Burke to land Nash, he is going to have to unload a number of mediocre players such as Komisarek, Schenn, Kadri and Grabovski.  Burke will traditionally have his players overvalued, but the bottom line is that Burke and the leafs do not have enough assets to make a trade happen.  Columbus would want prospects and players that would make their club better, but these players can’t even do it in Toronto.  Basement dwellers trying to swing a trade to get better always makes me laugh.

You betcha.  As expected, the Goldwater Institute has continued to hamper any potential progress that has been made with a possible Coyotes sale.  Even though Glendale City Council voted 4-2 in favor of the sale, the Goldwater Institute is contending that the city council did not meet the required 5 votes, since one of the council members was not in attendance.  As well, they contend that the city did not make 2 of its exhibits available to the public prior to the council meeting and the vote.  This whole situation just keeps making me laugh.  It is only a matter of time before Jamison steps away from the table, just like many others before him.  Maybe the Goldwater Institute should just buy the fucking team.

With the hockey season over for this season, and potentially the start of next season, my time here on Sundays is slowly drawing to a close.  I would like to thank everyone here for giving me a tremendous opportunity to share my love of hockey with everyone.  I will be hearing from the powers that be here at The Gab shortly, and I’m pretty sure there won’t be a lot of hockey to talk about this summer.

Thanks for stopping by.

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