10/3/09 Shootout Loss to Preds

First of all, I want to congratualte Stephane Robidas on such a finely delivered hit on J.P. Dumont.  Trashville, that was payback for the Tootoo hit three years ago.

Anyway, game review time, I thought the Stars looked slow through the first and most of the second period.  The first James Neal goal gave them momentum that they really needed.  And it was a pretty awesome goal.  I mean, Nealer was practically falling when he scored it.

They probably would have won if not for Dan Ellis’ (unfortunately) spectacular goaltending.  They played a solid game towards the end, and if they always play that way, this will be a good season.  I think I like Marc Crawford’s system.

Charlie Huddy= Our New Defense Coach

You’ve probably heard by now that Charlie Huddy is our newest bench acquisition. 

My first question is this, How the heck do you say his name?

Is it, like “Hoodie”?  Or is it more like, “Hootie?”  Or is it something completely different?

Well, whatever.  Here’s what SI’s Alan Muir had to say about it:

The news that Charlie Huddy had signed on with the Stars as an assistant coach didn’t exactly generate 20-point headlines outside of Dallas. Still, this stands to be one of the most impactful bench acquisitions of the offseason — and might end up being more important to the club than the hiring of head coach Marc Crawford.

I thought that was a nice thing to say- but then something else that infuriates me:

With All-Star (yeah, I double-checked) Stephane Robidas as the group’s only legitimate veteran, the struggling Stars are counting on rapid development from Matt Niskanen, Nicklas Grossman, Mark Fistric and Ivan Vishnevski, the former first rounder who should benefit the most from the repatriation of former Star Sergei Zubov.

With that one (very lengthy) sentence, he managed to make fun of Robidas and misspell Mini-Zubie’s name.  First of all, Stephane Robidas rocks.  He’s more of an All-Star than most of the regulars.  Robi rocks everyone’s socks off.  Secondly, it’s Vishnevskiy with a y at the end.  It just goes to show you how people don’t care about the Stars.  They’ll be eating their words soon. 

Oh, and by the way, it was a blurb in a Jeremy Roenick article.  Look.

Brad Richards is Only the 4th Highest Paid Player Now and Other Notes

-According to Pierre LeBrun, Hossa will get $7.9 million until 2015-16, and you know what that means?

Brad Richards with his $7.8 million a year is only the fourth highest player in the NHL now!  Yay!  Now my favorite Star won’t have to take so much heat for being paid so much now, because, honestly, I don’t think Hossa is worth that kind of money.  He’s a good player, yes, but he doesn’t strike me as a difference-maker. Besides, who hasn’t seen the tragic comedy that’s Marian Hossa’s recent career? ‘Nuff said.

-The Wild lost an injury-prone player to get…another injury-prone player. So what was the point of that?  Unless Martin Havlat and Marian Gaborik learn to stay healthy, Minnesota and New York both lose.

-Our very own Brenden Morrow and Stephane Robidas were invited to Team Canada’s training camp!  I’m very happy for both guys, and hopefully they make the team.

Brenden Morrow rocks.