Monday Link Party

Well the good news is that the Florida Panthers are 2-2 and have won two games in a row.  Tomas Vokoun has two consecutive shutouts, and has stopped 99 of 104 shots in the four games he’s played.  Honestly, it’s going to be on his shoulders for most of the season to see how far the Panthers can improve over last year.  Judging by these first few games I can see he’s up for the challenge.

Enough about us, here’s what you should have read from last week.

I wish I was talented enough to figure out how to do this, or had the time, but Puck Daddy’s SI Cover Contest is something that I would have liked to participate in.

Each week TSN holds a quiz for it’s staff.  Click here for last week’s.  If I remember, I’ll try to do this weekly.

Harvey Fialkov from the Sun-Sentinel referred to Jay Bouwmeester as oft-maligned!  Sorry Harvey.  Jay Blow is getting everything he deserves.  What are we supposed to do after reading that?  Pass the kleenex for poor Jay.  The lesson here is be careful for what you ask for!

The Active Stick is still in love with Chris Higgins and isn’t too shy to tell us.  However, she thinks that the NHL might be a little backwards in a couple suspensions that were handed out last week.  The NSFW post will make you think twice about your next gesture during a game.

Have we seen the beginning of the end of fat contracts?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  But what we are seeing is that players who are “not worthy” anymore being sent to the minors since other clubs don’t want their table scraps.  Cost cutting throughout the NHL.  Down Goes Brown has some advice on how to watch the bottom line.

The Dallas Stars have added former NHLer and one of my favourite players Gary Roberts to their staff.  Roberts will be in the role of player development consultant and joins his childhood buddy Joe Nieuwendyk ( I did NOT spell that right the first time) who is the Stars GM.  Great quote that I read about Gary:  Gary Roberts does not think he is tough.  Tough thinks it is Gary Roberts.  Awesome!

One day, and I’m not sure when, I’m getting a tatoo.   Yep, the Stanley Cup will be placed on my upper left arm.  Bangin’ Panger has some of the worst tatoo’s in the world for you to see.  Thanks, I know mine won’t look anything like these.

I’ve always been the kind of guy that hates to lose more than I like to win.  Justin Bourne from Bourne’s Blog discusses that very same issue.

Much has been said about NHL players using Twitter as well as text messaging.  Blades Of Funny sent out some questions via text to some NHL players.  Check out the answers that came back.

Lots of talk in Montreal about goaltending.  Price-Halak, Halak-Price.  Whatever.  The Notwithstanding Clause makes her case for where Montreal would be without Carey.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are undefeated so far.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing.  Genereal Borchevsky has things figured out.

Sun-Sentinel reporter Dave Hyde no longer thinks the Florida Panthers are the worst run franchise.  An early statement to make, but he just might be on to something.

We all know about the James Wisniewski incident last week as his inappropriate gesture.  There are others you know.  Stay Classy has a few more of the most common ones.

Friday night saw two ex-Florida Panthers earning stars of the night by Puck Daddy. Former Panther forward Anthony Stewart recorded his first NHL Hat Trick and was the night’s number one start.  Couldn’t be happier for him as Stewie needed a change of scenery.

The Chicago Blackhawks early play has caused some to question how this year’s going to turn out.  The gang at Second City Hockey tells us, there’s nothing to worry about.  I agree.

Thanks for reading.

Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

Please visit our NHL main page:  Too Many Men On The Site.

You can follow me on Twitter @TheRatTrick and please join our Facebook Fan Page.

Follow my colleague David Lasseter on Twitter @davidlasseter.

Want The Rat Trick or another Fansided network blog on your Android phone? Search the Android marketplace for your favorite Fansided site and download the free app!

Cheers