WEEK#4 Review

Alright, let's get right to this past week's highest highs and lowest lows.


THUMBS WAAAAAY UP - G Roberto Luongo - Vancouver Canucks

-On a team that has failed to pull off wins down the stretch in the past few years, star goaltender Roberto Luongo is making every team shake their heads in amazement. Luongo is currently flying high off a string of 3 straight shutouts to propell his squad to the top of the competitive Northwest division. Up next for Luongo is a tilt with the Northwest basement dwelling Colorado Avalanche, so we may even see Luongo record his 4th straight goose egg. That is, of course that Luongo gets the likely start over backup netminder Curtis Sanford. Canucks fans are behind captain Luongo 100% and certainly have something to cheer about. Who knows, with speculation that Sundin will make a decision by Dec 1st, the Canucks are looking very promising down the stretch.


THUMBS DOWN - The Edmonton Oilers

-The Oilers are a good team, and they have high expectations this year, but they like to make it difficult to cheer for them. Their scoring his hot/cold, their goaltending is hot/cold, and their defense is hot/cold. This is the perfect mix that ultimately makes up a .500 team, and at 7-6-1, the Oil aren't turning any heads yet. We need to see a big move soon so the Oilers can be among the elite in the West. The solution? The goaltending situation needs to be resolved. It is interesting that the Oilers most recent win came on the road against the Brodeur-less Devils, because if I was the Oilers' GM, my first move in this situation is to trade veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson to the Devils. The Devils can use Roloson as a "rental", seeing that he is 39 years old, and he becomes a UFA at the end of the season. The Oilers have two young, very capable goaltenders in Matieu Garon and Jeff Deslauriers, and have no interest in re-signing a 39 year old keeper. In return, the Oilers could use some extra scoring talent. a Brian Gionta or John Madden perhaps? My second move as Oilers' GM would be to make a play for Minnesota star Marian Gaborik. The Oilers don't exactly have the salary cap room to supplement acquiring a player like Gaborik without giving up several players, so maybe a 1st round draft pick would seal the deal. Any play for Gaborik would be gutsy though, as he will be a UFA at the end of the season as well, and Edmonton would have a tough time affording Gaborik's salary. Either way, something needs to happen in Oil-town.



THUMBS UP - RW Patrick Kane - Chicago Blackhawks

-2007 first overall pick Patrick Kane is making the Blackhawks scouting staff look like heroes. The Blackhawks have the opportunity to bring back a winning tradition into the Windy City, and the responsibility is being rested on the shoulders of young-guns Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Kane is having an excellent start to the season, sitting tied for 5th in the league in points with 18, (8 of which have come in the last 5 games), and Chicago is in playoff contention with about 20% of the season in the books. If only captain Toews could step up the way we all know he can, and Patrick Sharp continues to play like he does...watch out Detroit.


That's all for this past week folks. Enjoy the games this week and don't lose any sleep over whether Sundin will play for your favorite team.



PP