It's like i've woken up in some sort of alter-world.

Quebec.

So the mayor of Quebec met Regis Labeaume, and former Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut met with Gary Bettman to discuss "hockey".

If I where Quebec I would run... fast. Because when you finally do attempt to get a team, there's good reason to believe you'll have a long and expensive court battle.

In all seriousness, it does appear that Quebec, amidst a strong Canadian dollar, and failing teams in the United States is putting it's hat in the three ring circus that is hockey North of the Border.

They need a rink. The aging Le Colisée was one of the reasons the the Nordiques left in the first place. There has been talk about a new 18,000 seat arena, which is promising.

I still believe that southern Ontario is the destination of a new team. At this point it appears this little meeting has usurped Quebec over Winnipeg as the #2 choice for a team in Canada. I guess.

Why are we surprised?

Can someone please tell me why you're all surprised that the Leafs are 0-5-1? Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize, that's a surprise. The Chicago Blackhawks coming back from 5-0 to win 6-5, that's a surprise. Finding out that robots can play piano, that's a surprise (see: stephen harper). The L.A. Kings sitting atop the Pacific division, yup that's a surprise.

Getting my point.

It's the Leafs. They aren't very good. And just one Phil Kessel is not going to make you good. You probably need a whole line of Phil Kessels... and some actual defense.... and a goaltender who can at least stop a beach ball.

Stop being surprised. Stop asking the coach what is wrong with the team. There's nothing wrong. This is how they are supposed to be.

Globe and Mail "journalism".

I saw the commercial for this and immediately filled with rage.

It's called the Great Canadian Journalism Dream. The Globe and Mail is giving out prizes to a photographer and writer to cover the Olympics.

Are you kidding me.

So coming out of school, the market for jobs in this profession was pretty dire. I don't know why I said "was"... "is" is more appropriate. Most of my classmates are still not working. Many Canadian news outlets are replacing real jobs with free interns. Others have laid off hundreds (The CBC laid off 800 jobs nation-wide earlier this year).

I understand money is tight. Especially in the newspaper world. But LITERALLY taking people off the street to cover the Olympics makes people who have paid good money to learn how to do this job, and can't find a job, really really sad.

Why not make the competition for Journalism students? At least it would have slight credibility.

But to make it this competition that says the to general public, "hey you can do this with no school!", further de-values the trade. Something we don't need help with when entire news outlets are being run by free interns.

Phil Kessel

The worst-kept secret since... well actually since Brian Burke became Leafs GM... hmmm funny.

Anyway, I'm talking about the Phil Kessel trade. It came through Friday night as we were wrapping the Mooseheads home opener. ("...John, 30 second commercial here... and Phil Kessel just got traded.)

And then I kinda forgot about it.

I had a very long day Friday, and another Mooseheads game Sunday, and Saturday is kinda a blur that included a very long afternoon nap, many Keith's White, and the inside of the Pogue Fado.

Anyways, my thoughts on the Kessel trade.

First of all, I'm thinking the Leafs sold the farm here for Kessel. A first and second round pick in 2010 and another first round pick in 2011. Wow. Hope he doesn't get injured... like he does every year. Moving on. So the Leafs have placed a lot of confidence in Kessel. (The Toronto Star headline read: "Leafs' world now centres on Phil Kessel") So, who is this supposed great player... supposed to play with?

In Boston Phil Kessel played on a line with Marc Savard. (And we all know my love for Marc Savard — one of the most under-rated players in the league — he could make Hal Gill look good.)

The candidates for linemates are looking like, Mikhail Grabovski? Matt Stajan? John Mitchell? Good God!

After fretting for the fate of poor Mr. Kessel, I then realized Kessel will fit in JUST FINE with the Leafs:

Tweet from TSN's James Cybalski: "sense in bruins room was that players had mixed feelings about kessel. some felt he was too injury prone and didn't always play hard."

Oh my god, Gary, please just let him have a team.

This joke is getting kinda old.

Will someone please just let Jim Balsillie have a team. You realize the guy owns Crackberry. He's just going to get richer. And so he's just going to keep on trying. So really, just give up. (See, the Maritime defeatist attitude is good for something.)


I mean, look at him, he even wore a bowtie.

But in all seriousness: The team is bankrupt... and it's not like the "Pittsburgh Penguins... we had some bad management but there's lots of history here so if we rally the fans then we'll be okay" kinda bankruptcy. It's the "Phoenix Coyotes. You have a hockey team... in the desert. You moved it there... from Winnipeg. Why? Why does this exist. The fans in Phoenix don't care. Why are you propping up a failing team with transfer payments from the other teams and a massive NHL line of credit." kinda bankruptcy.

Gary Bettman, you're crazy. And you're delusional.

Give the team to Balsillie. How many people want a team that badly? How many people that want a team that badly have $212 mil to just drop down in suitcases of cash at NHL headquarters. Seriously. Just let him buy the team. Quit your grudge holding Bettman.

The NHLs main argument has to do with Balsillie's desire to move the team to Southern Ontario saying that there isn't enough population and that it will encroach on the Leafs and the Sabres. Wrong.

People who live in Southern Ontario outside of Toronto don't want to drive on the crazy Southern Ontario highways for over an hour and then pay for parking in ridiculously expensive Downtown Toronto and then have to buy food. Did I mention they have to drive in Toronto? I think i'd rather play with rusty razors.

Oh yah, and then there's the tickets. The Toronto Maple Leafs have no problem selling out their games even at the cost beginning at 35$ to stand in the nosebleeds. (Compared to tickets that start at 5$ in Tampa Bay). And usually unless you bought the tickets at the beginning of the season, they're impossible to get and you're stuck buying from scalpers, who sell tickets for a premium (Unlike in Tampa Bay). Tell me how the little guy living in Waterloo, Kitchener or Hamilton can afford that? But would they go to a game in Waterloo, Kitchener or Hamilton?

You bet ya.

Ok, now you can bring Avery back.

Because if anyone will have that little moron shaking in his boots, it's Torts.

Yes, the Big Apple just got a little more entertaining.

It's another one of those moments that just seems scripted. Torts will make his coaching debut with his new team in Toronto where he will bask amongst his former co-workers at TSN and the Toronto media.

I'm so happy to have my old John Tortorella back — I missed him. The screaming, yelling, swearing, f-bomb dropping Tortorella, that is. So much more fun than the reflective, non-swearing, analytical Tortorella we got on TSN (although to his defense, he did let a few drop here and there.)

Regardless. There is nothing like a good post-game interview with John Tortorella when his team played like donkey shit. And now he's with the New York Rangers. So that possibility is highly probable.

What a nice pre-trade deadline treat.


and while I was writing this post.


MARTIN BRODEUR WAS PULLED OFF INJURY RESERVE!!!
It's looking like a debut against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday is the plan.

For the conspiracy theorists out there.
Sounds like Peter Stoffer drank the koolaid.