WTF is happening here?!

It all started yesterday with the goalie swap.

I understand that Craig Anderson wasn't performing the sort of Superman heroics this season as he did last season. But does that mean he's not a number one goaltender? No, it doesn't. I maintain that there were a few factors in Anderson's less than stellar season. The first are the knee and groin injuries he had early on in the season. I just don't think he fully regained his timing after coming back. The other thing that I think most people forget is that we have a new goaltending coach this season. Not that I know much about Kirk McLean, but I don't think it's coincidence that we change goaltending coaches and both of our goalies go to hell. I also think that coaching decisions overall played a hand in the turn around. Last year, Sacco would let Anderson work himself out of those situations and Anderson was better for it. This year, Sacco just didn't seem to trust that Anderson could do it.

Not that Peter Budaj is a terrible goaltender, and I don't know enough about Brian Elliot, because the Senators are admittedly a team that I don't follow and truthfully don't care to follow (part of it goes to being a Leafs fan), to know whether or not he's an adequate replacement for Craig Anderson. What I do know is that the last time the Avalanche relied on Peter Budaj to be the number one goaltender, we drafted Matt Duchene 3rd overall and went out and found Craig Anderson. And I still don't care what Joe Sacco says - Peter Budaj is not a number one goaltender and he DOES NOT give that team the best chance to win on any given night. Despite his struggles, Craig Anderson was at least able to make clutch saves when he needed to to either keep the Avalanche in the game or allow them to keep a lead.

As for the Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk trade ... I'm still trying to decide what I think of this. I understand you have to give up something of value to get something of value, but I'm just not sure that Erik Johnson and Jay McLement are worth a former number 1 draft pick in Stewart and a promising defenseman in Shattenkirk. Although, I suppose the conditional first rounder in either 2011 or 2012 is a good toss in.

It wasn't a surprise that one of Liles, Cumiskey, Hunwick, or Shattenkirk was going to be moved. Cumiskey, by sheer virtue of being injured is guaranteed to stick around through the end of the year. Hunwick hasn't done anything since coming over from Boston that would endear teams to wanting to give anything up for him. And Liles, with his salary and partial no trade clause, makes Shatty sort of the odd man out on that. It sucks to lose both Shatty and Colby Cohen to trade this year, but we do still have a decent crop of defensemen coming up in the system. It's also still possible that another one of our defenseman is moved before the trade deadline. Personally, I think I'm about ready to put John-Michael Liles on lock down.

Needless to say, the next couple of months are going to be long here in Denver, and it's going to be an even longer summer. I'm just hoping that the management, led by yet another accountant turned GM, figure out what they're doing, because right now, it doesn't seem as though they have a plan at all, and if they do, it seems they are grossly over estimating how much guys they are interested in are worth.

Dog days

It looks like we've lost our steam here in these parts. Maybe a summer off will help both of us off. I've given up on hockey because the thought of three of the four teams left lifting the cup makes me physically ill and having been to Montreal, I'd like to see it still standing if they should pull it off.

I miss having a team to cheer for. And unlike my counterpart here, I can't abide by baseball. It's gonna be along summer for this hockey fan.

Before I go, I wanna send out birthday greetings to Friend of the Chuckers Megan. Honey, I hope you have a fantastic birthday today!

Also, not that they read it, my folks have been married for 44 years today. Congratulations to you Paula and Corbin. For a lot of years, I didn't think you'd make it this far. I'm glad you did.

It's really Tuesday

I had yesterday off as I am a government lackey and yesterday was a federal holiday (don't believe me? Did you get mail yesterday? No?) and I'm sorta fubar today thinking that it is Monday again but it's not. It's Tuesday. I'd like to be able to say oooh, it's Tuesday, that means it's _______ around here but honestly, we're sorta new to this blogging thing and haven't thought up any clever du jour things to do (well ok, I haven't, I think Amy has). We're open to suggestions.

The rangers lost to the Blues last night. While I like some of the players on the Blues, lets face it, a good solid high school team against them on any given night could make a game of it. I personally LOVE that they beat the rangers. But I'm like that (Amy is the nice one, trust me).

Welcome to the bigs Dan Bylsma. Getting a point in your first game isn't so bad - it's the same thing your predecessor did....oh, well maybe that's not such a good thing after all. Keep that head up, you've got another chance Thursday against the free-falling Habs.

Yahoo tells me that Paul Stastny could return to the ice soon. This, however, could be a little too late for the Av. Too many injuries, inconsistent goal tending, not enough scoring generally lead to an early summer. Speaking of injuries, who was the mental giant behind this little gem: the Avalanche had their annual brunch fundraiser fashion show and guess who is behind the carving station holding a big knife? Captain Joe. Oh har har. Lets see if he can really lose a finger this time. [and I know that the Avalanche are more of a Western thing but since Amy loathes them, I figured I was save discussing them here]

The Buffaslugs play tonight against Toronto (on versus - blech) and lord knows who Lindy is gonna put in net. My guess is Miller as Lalime had his 40 minutes of play for the month (and actually did really well) Maybe this time they can actually show up and not sleep through the game a la Sunday.

Not much else to talk about so I will bid you a farewell. Skate on kids!

PSA: This post was spell checked and is glitch free for your convenience and protection.

A little bit about us and why we're here

Amy and Lisa have known each other for roughly five years now and things haven't been the same since. We both share a great love of the hockey (fans for over 60 years combined) and have had on occasion a thing or two to say about the game. From the big boys (NHL) to baby boys (WHL), they love them all - some way more than others. They are also big fans of the theory "love the player, HATE the team". Amy is a fan of the Nucks, Ducks, and Pens. Lisa is a fan of the Wings, Sabres, and Avalanche (don't judge)


Things we like:

When the saying "Hard work will always beat talent when talent doesn't work hard" come true.

Listening to a game called by Dave Strader.

That Ryan Miller drives a hybrid vehicle and that the sabres website let us know this tidbit.

Games that end 1-0.

Bone crushing hits.

Stay at home defenseman (see also: Bouwmeester, Jay; Foote, Adam; Smith, Jason, and Ellington, Taylor)

Trevor Linden & Steve Yzerman

The Everett Silvertips (aka, Amy's Baby Boys)

Sid's Huge Ass

Boys in glasses



Things we dislike:

Puck bunnies (if you are going to the game, please do not wear Dasiy Dukes. It's cold in the arena and you look like an idiot).

We share a hatred for the dirty dirty Rangers. Lisa dislikes, in no particular order, the Capitals, Hawks, Stars, Senators, and on most nights, the Devils. Amy, being the good Northwest girl she is, also hates Colorado.

Refs gone bad (see also Fraser, Kerry)

People who don't believe that you are entitled to your own opinion.


There are others, but this is a good start as to who we are and what we're about. So pull up a chair and stay a while. Pipe in and let us know you are there and tell us what YOU think.