Hey Jacques, it's Don...I think we changed our mind...want a tall, creepy-looking offensive forward?

Not to be the nagging wife that I am, but J (I can’t call you Moridin, its just too weird), don’t you have a job? Maybe more working and less blogging would mean you don’t get “traded” :)

Seriously though, you raise many fine points (most of which I’ve heard many times…often in a more angry, expletive filled way that makes our cats run for cover). My points/questions:

1 – Is Fridge’s contract really keep him here? I know Jovo has the no-trade, but I didn’t realize Fridge was so ummovable (ah the puns). If he’s movable, move him…now. He has forever endeared himself to me by digging out Carcillo’s teeth from the ice shavings, but I think we can do better. When Winnik’s on his A-game, he covers all of Fridge’s bases. Granted a team always needs multiple reliable grinders, but we’ve (usually) got plenty of grit…we need some softer hands.

2 – I’d hardly call Yandle replaceable. I admit I was a serious doubter of his defensive abilities, but in the last half of the season I’ve become a certified Fandle. I love him on the power play, and feel the confidence when he’s taking the puck into the zone. He still has his moments of weakness defensively, but I think he’s only going to get better. Keeping him paired with a responsible veteran like Klee was key.

3 – Jokinen…oh Olli. I want to love him, I really do. He clearly brings a skill level that we don’t see every day at Jobing.com Arena. He just seems to have some communication problems. He’s king of the miscommunicated pass to someone who isn’t there. I thought that might go away with time, but it doesn’t seem to be. They say he’s vocal in the dressing room and a leader, so I just don’t get it. But I agree that this latest line (cue the Gretzky line shuffle dance mix) might be the ticket. Putting him with Carcillo gives him the extra space and time to show off those skills. So if he’s staying, which I am guessing he is, give this system a shot, Wayne. Please.

4 – D-Mo. I don’t really know how I feel about this. I think that he, like my husband, just has never gotten over losing Ballard. I’d be sorry to see him go (especially watching him watch his kids play in the mites on ice), but if we can’t afford him, we can’t afford him. We all must make sacrifices, right?

5 – Telly is the guy I want to go for his own benefit. I think he’s great, and clearly his teammates love him (probably more than Bryz…what was up with the lack of stick taps for Bryz last night from the team? I really thought Panger was going to run down there during the game and smack the boys if they didn’t give Bryz some love. And then give Bryz a big hug). They play great for him and I wish he was played more often. But for his sake, he should go somewhere where he might have more opportunities. As this year showed across the league, no number one goalie position is sacred (except maybe Bryz’).

6 – And little David Hale. What can you say about little David Hale? He’s like Jovo-lite. He has all the weaknesses of Jovo – getting caught too much down low, failing to hold the blue line effectively, missing the puck for the hit – without the upsides (aka "talent"). He’s certainly improved over the year, but must we bench Yandle for him? I think I die a little inside every time we do that. And for the sake of my husband’s temper (and hence my sanity), the David Hale Experiment must end.

Of course it all comes down to money and what’s being offered around the league. People keep talking about adding depth to the blue line (mostly by offering up our dmen), but I really don’t think that needs to be the focus. The D seems to have suffered most from the mental collapse of late, but I think we’re pretty solid in that department. Once Sauer is back to pre-injury status, the David Hale Experiment is finished, and perhaps this Ahnelov shows his stuff, I think we’re good to go. But what seems to be our problem, our perennial problem, is a lack of offensive production. The names change, but the problem remains the same. Every year we bring in new talent, or promote the much buzzed about young guys, and think our problems will be solved. But something about the system isn’t working when these major goal scoring guys aren’t producing. Is it the lines that change every day in hopes of this mythical chemistry? That seems the most likely candidate, but maybe something more is wrong. I don’t know – and as I always remind my husband, perhaps the coaches know more about hockey than we do. What this could/should/might mean for the trade deadline? I don’t know that either. Giving up veterans for prospects is our m.o., but seriously, how many prospects can one team have? Is there even room left in the San Antonio dressing room?

Well J, I give you crap about not working, but I seem to have gone and done the same. And most days after disappointing losses I tend to avoid all hockey news because it makes me cranky. But perhaps venting is a better solution. It may not help anyone else, but I certainly feel better!

for the coaching staff lately. I totally agree with most of the points made so far. I think its time to move on w/ all of the assistant coaching staff including Fuhr…especially Fuhr.

I’ve watched a lot of practices and have not been impressed by what goes on there. Sulliman yakkin w/ the boys rather than workin them, players drifting around whenever they aren’t actively involved in a specific task, no real direction of specific points of improvement that I could see.

Yanic Perreault face off coach… hell even settle for Mike Sillinger… 2 of the best face off men in the biz during their careers… (No Panic Yanic taught Zigomanis things without even tryin) feel me?
Ulf Dahlen assistant coach… check Dallas’ record when he was there.
Mike Ramsey defensive assistant coach (8 years w/ Lemaire and the most stultifying defensive strategies in the NHL) sounding good?
Either Allaire brother… proven track records, I don’t think I can name a goalie that trained with either of them on the main stage that actually got worse during their teaching. (Fuhr? do the names Lenevue, Morris, Bryzgalov speak to you as gettin better from his teaching?)
Wayne is a pretty good study, think he could learn a thing or 3 from these guys?

that I cussed til a couldn’t talk anymore during the 3rd period (watchin 4 on nones and such is waaay past distressing) then I actually turned the game off… no really! the biggest homer in the entire NHL (outside of Panger) turned off the TV and walked away… that game hurt in ways I can’t describe.