I'm in Alberta (Mountain time), so, yes, I'm 8 hrs behind you. Monday + Wednesday I have one class at 5 pm. Tuesday + Thursday I have classes straight through all day. Friday I have no classes at all.

So do it enough time before your 5pm class on wednesday or move it to friday, when you have no classes. Do either of those work for you? If so, let us know which it is, and then we'll see if it's okay with Shack and the others. Thanks trix.

Peace,
Mike

What about 5:30 ET on Wednesday (3:30 our time)? It would work for me and if it wouldn't be cutting it as close with trix's class, an hour and a half should be enough time.

Alright, I'll be around tomorrow morning and if there's no objections made by then, we'll have the draft at 5:30 ET.

Ok, fuck. For some reason, we can't draft at any time we want. I think it's kind of sign-up system, different pools take different times and not everyone can go at once. I'm changing it to is tomorrow at 2 ET, that should fit in at least trix, Mike, me. I don't know about Chip and jmart but I won't be able to change it more after anyways, all the slots on Friday are slots when I'm in school, so yeah.

That works out fine. I'm going to get home just in time to be there.

Thanks Shack!

Peace,
Mike

Don't you have school then, Shack? Anyway, that works for me. Thanks.

Oh I'm home from 11:20-ish to 1:00 our time, for lunch and the class before it I have off.

Never mind.

20 ish minutes...

I'm in the live draft room/place waiting for ya'll. 6:25 until start.... 6:24....6:23....so on.

Peace,
Mike

I missed the beginning of the draft...

Still, Brodeur + Thornton is a killer combo.

If only I had paid attention to Dan Boyle. He almost cut his wrist off with his skate.

Does anyone know how the add players thing works?

Click ahead to Thursday. At least that's what I think it is.

That worked pretty well actually

I especially like my d pack... Lidstrom/Beachemin/Chara/Kaberle

Can't believe Gomez wasn't picked, I totally forgot him because he wasn't really high on the list... playing with Jagr this year, ah.

Oh and for the add players thing, don't worry about that. Normally it'd be set up like the football system where you can only play half your team at once and have to choose before NFL Sunday who plays and sits at positions like QB and RB, but since NHL games are every other night, it'd be more a pain than anything. All the players will be "added" automatically, if you click on Saturday when the games start it should show that.

By the looks of it, we can add any of the players that weren't picked if we drop a player off of our team. Once the player gets dropped, anyone else in the league can pick him up.

Not anymore. I changed the settings, that would be unfair.

Lol... fair enough. Trades are still alright, right?

Yeah, they're fine.

So I'm stuck with my team for the season? I can't get free agents?

Alright, predictions:

THE WEST

Northwest

Still one of the toughest (if not the toughest!) divisions. All five teams have a legitimate shot of making the playoffs, save for the Oilers if they play anywhere near how they did last year.

1. Calgary Flames
Keenan will probably help them at least win on the road, but he should be able to do more than that. Losing Hamrlik will hurt, and they got Aucoin to replace him, which is kinda downgrading. Still, they've got a terrific goalie, solid D, and some great weapons up front. If they win on the road they'll be a force to be reckoned with.

2. Vancouver Canucks
They didn't do much this offseason (at least in comparison to last) but they really didn't need to. Naslund and Morrison are both in contract years, which means that they'll both probably play better, and the Sedins are only getting better. Of course, the team's fate can be summed up in one word: Luongo.

3. Colorado Avalanche
Should make it back to the playoffs after a one year absence. Smyth will only bolster an offense that's already ridiculously loaded, and if Budaj matches what he did last year, they should be okay in net. The only problem is their $5 million backup goalie.

4. Minnesota Wild
Somehow this team does well. I'm not sure how. They traded away Fernandez, so they're really hinging their hopes on Backstrom. If he struggles....

5. Edmonton Oilers
Any other division, the Oilers would not be last. But, alas, they're in the Northwest. They should do okay, but unless the new players gel with the old, they're gonna struggle offensively again. At least they have some decent blueliners now.


Central

Pretty much the easiest division to predict. Guess who'll win it...

1. Detroit Red Wings
They'll have it clinched by February or so. The only problem I can foresee is in net. The two oldest goalies in the league on the same team? Not smart.

2. Nashville Predators
This team is in a nosedive. They had a brutal offseason, losing Vokoun, Kariya, Hartnell, Timonen, after a disappointing end to last season and playoffs. They should make the playoffs again this year, only to be ousted by the Sharks again.

3. St. Louis Blues
They're getting better, and Kariya will help, but they're not quite good enough to make it to the postseason. They're on the right path, though.

4. Chicago Blackhawks
They've got a bright future, and hopefully they won't be terrorized by injuries this year, but they're just not that good. At least they're not Columbus, though....

5. Columbus Blue Jackets
Seriously, WTF did they do this offseason? They signed Mike Peca. That's it. They're not even trying anymore. The only team in the NHL to never make it to the playoffs will continue to suck.


Pacific

The only question here is which of the California teams will come out on top. The Sharks? The Ducks? The Kings (yeah right)?

1. San Jose Sharks
They should barely edge out the Ducks for tops in the division. They didn't do a whole lot, but they didn't need to. Sticking with the one goalie is good, though.

2. Anaheim Ducks
Losing Penner, and probably Niedermayer and Selanne, will hurt, but they got Bertuzzi and Schneider to fill the holes. No Stanley Cup repeat, though (I hope!).

3. Dallas Stars
They're pretty middleground right now, and they haven't done anything significant since, what, letting Belfour go? Mediocrity doesn't win championships.

4. Los Angeles Kings
They spent a lot of money, but I don't think it'll help much. Their situation in goal is still horrible. They've got some stars up front, though, so they should get better if they get a decent netminder.

5. Phoenix Coyotes
Ah, Phoenix. What a fucking mess you are. Just because the Great One coaches you doesn't make you good. At least you got rid of some of the greybeards.


Standings

1. Detroit
2. San Jose
3. Calgary
4. Anaheim
5. Vancouver
6. Colorado
7. Nashville
8. Minnesota
9. Dallas
10. St. Louis
11. Edmonton
12. Los Angeles
13. Chicago
14. Phoenix
15. Columbus

THE EAST

Northeast

Not as tough as the Toronto media would have you believe.

1. Ottawa Senators
Emery for a full year will only be beneficial, and they didn't lose anyone big. This more has to do with Buffalo falling, though.

2. Buffalo Sabres
Yeah, they got fucked right out of the gate. They've got lots of depth, though, so they should be alright.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs
On paper, they look good. That's the highest compliment I can pay them. Still, they'll be fighting for a playoff spot all year.

4. Montreal Canadiens
Losing Souray will hurt a lot. Being worse than Toronto will hurt even more. Sorry Mike!

5. Boston Bruins
Sorry jmart. They're just not that good. I suppose Fernandez will help, but this team has been going down ever since they traded away a guy named Joe.


Atlantic

This is probably the other toughest division in the league. Again, all the teams have a shot at making it.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins
A.K.A. The Sidney Crosby Show. They'll just keep on rolling.

2. New York Rangers
Drury + Gomez added to their existing lineup will be killer. Their only weak spot is their D, and they've got Lundqvist, so they should be good.

3. New Jersey Devils
A bit of a slip, but still contenders. Brodeur will do his thing, and that's all they really need.

4. Philadelphia Flyers
A nice rebound. The addition of Briere will help a lot, as him and Gagne should light it up. They might even make the playoffs! But probably not.

5. New York Islanders
This team did a lot better last year than I thought they would, but I don't think that about this year. Another team that got screwed right at the beginning of free agency.


Southeast

I really have no idea about this division. I just closed my eyes and randomly picked a division winner.

1. Carolina Hurricanes
No Stanley Cup hangover will help, and they've still got all the pieces there. Could be a contender again.

2. Atlanta Thrashers
Predictably bounced in the playoffs last year, they should be just as good this year. And then lose in the first round again.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning
They need a decent goalie. And one of the big three will be gone soon (probably Richards). Coincidence?

4. Florida Panthers
Well, they got Vokoun. So that's a start.

5. Washington Capitals
Well, they got Nylander. So that's a start.


Standings

1. Ottawa
2. Pittsburgh
3. Carolina
4. Buffalo
5. New York Rangers
6. New Jersey
7. Atlanta
8. Toronto
9. Tampa Bay
10. Montreal
11. Philadelphia
12. New York Islanders
13. Florida
14. Washington
15. Boston

As for the playoffs....

THE WEST

1 Detroit over 8 Minnesota
2 San Jose over 7 Nashville
3 Calgary over 6 Colorado
5 Vancouver over 4 Anaheim (yeah, I went there)

5 Vancouver over 1 Detroit
2 San Jose over 3 Calgary

5 Vancouver over 2 San Jose


THE EAST

1 Ottawa over 8 Toronto
2 Pittsburgh over 7 Atlanta
6 New Jersey over 3 Carolina
4 Buffalo over 5 New York Rangers

1 Ottawa over 6 New Jersey
2 Pittsburgh over 4 Buffalo

1 Ottawa over 4 Buffalo


FINALS
1 Ottawa over 5 Vancouver


Maybe I'm being a bit optimistic. But whatever. If another Canadian team loses in the final I'm gonna assassinate Gary Bettman.