Alot More Random Crap

I am really starting to run out of topics to talk about here -- the preseason seriously needs to begin. For one, watching sports is my biggest stress reliever (esp with friends), however, the Oakland Athletics decided to try and give me a hernia at the age of 22 instead of actually play baseball and stay healthy this season, so I need my hockey more than ever. I will never forget the NHL lockout in 2003 because I was living in Canada at the time (just my luck right? I get to see Bertuzzi and Naslund and then no freaking hockey) and because my friend Matty( who I'm going to see over Columbus Day!! Nina, Pinta and the Santa Maria stand no chance) said to me after I bitched for a good 35 minutes about the bad day I was having, "Wow. So you become a girl when you have to use tools and when the NHL has a lockout. May hockey come back for the good of us all." And its true friends. May hockey come back for it is the equivalent of sunshine and roses for me. Or actually, I more compare it to the scene in the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy falls asleep in the poppies and is awakened by fresh snow. Replace the poppies here with lots of rubber pucks and happy dreams of the Stanely Cup and the snow with giant Canadian/Eastern European men who have clearly some disdain for the dentist and a razor blade. Mmm, toothless, hairy men. Um, in hockey uniforms. Or something.

So, I will not talk about how much I hate Sidney Crosby today although his clothing line with hot pink T-shirts is reaffirming every theory I have about him, nor will I address the growing Staal problem. Although, the Staal problem, with two of the brothers getting arrested in Minnesota, is a comedy forum just taunting me "Priya, go for it! Make fun of them! Go on! Its all right here! Run like the wind!" But I wont. With the impending arrival of Marc Staal to my Rangers, I have to be nice. Well that and Mommy Staal has the family I forsee myself having: 4 boys all who have gone to the NHL. With a little good luck and a decently attractive husband, they will hopefully not be as ugly or mentally retarded but you know, things happen.

What I will talk about is the an article similar to Paul Kukkla's on NHL.com. Its the players I cannot wait to see play. Some of my picks may be the same as Paul's but lets be honest: These guys should be almost everyones top pick. So here we are in no particular order:

1. Pavel Datsyuk
What to say about Pavel Datsyuk --- more like what not to say about Pavel Datsyuk! That mans hands are the softest yet powerful hands that exist in the NHL today. He can handle the puck like an egg and then bang that egg 90mph into the upper right hand corner of the net no matter whose there to try and stop it. He looks so funny out there, with his slumped shoulders and kinda hunched back but then he kicks it into gear and its explosive. He is so fun to watch out on the ice because hes like a secret. Everyone knows what a great rookie season he had but he did have a downturn (very slight but a downturn nonetheless) a few seasons after. After alot of growing up and maturing as a player in his technique and defensive play, he was a force in the Red Wings playoff games and scored key goals for them. Alot of critics say he cant be a big game player but I think thats because he plays for the freaking Red Wings! Have you seen their roster?! If their team has one more "leader" they will become the Yankees. He has not had the chance to lead his team in any capacity but why should he when he plays with the likes of Nick Lindstrum and Dominick Hasek? Plus, I think I would be a bit twitchy if I played for the Red wings, with people throwing octupi at me all the time. Creepy. But yes. Go Pavel!

-- Crap, my hour for lunch is over but I will continue this at home later tonight.