Flames 'Hot' for Bouwmeester; Tavares+Islanders=New Arena; Burke's 'Love Affair' w/ Montreal...

After watching the NHL draft on Friday, a few thoughts came to mind. It was an incredibly entertaining draft where the suspense was absolutely mind boggling. It was the "Matlock" of NHL drafts, where you didn't know what was going to happen until it happened.

The New York Islanders had to take John Tavares. Pure and simple. Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene were probably better "complete players", but Tavares was the sexy pic. He is a point-producing freak. In the Ontario Hockey League last year, he had over 110 points in just 60 games! That's hard to fathom. He isn't the best skater on the ice, but he does things with the puck that would make any casual fan go nuts. He is the 'fish' that will save Long Island. The Islanders will now get a new arena, and all will be right with the world. I just dont see the Kansas City Islanders being in the cards. Or the Las Vegas Islanders. Or the Winnipeg Islanders (which would be ironic since Winnipeg is located the prairies of Manitoba). There's only place that franchise should be, and that's on Long Island. Denis Potvin.Mike Bossy. Bryan Trottier. Billy Smith. And now, Tavares.

A surprising trade took place at Friday's draft festivities. The Flyers acquired Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks for Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, and two first-round draft picks in 2010 and 2011! Philly must be thinking short term, and thinking Pronger will get them over the proverbial hump to win the Cup. My thoughts are, great short term move. But when you give up two first round picks, you better hope Pronger gets you far in the playoffs. For a while now, we all had a inkling that Pronger was going somewhere. I was thinking more of the LA Kings than Philly. But I was wrong on that one.

The Florida Panthers traded the rights to Jay Bouwmeester to the Calgary Flames. If you are a Flames fan, you must be thinking "stellar"! But you might get egg on your face if he chooses to sign with another team come July 1st. A bold move to by Calgary GM Darryl Sutter (who has done a lot of those lately). If the Flames sign Bouwmeester, they will have the best defense in the NHL, with him, Robyn Regehr and Dion Phaneuf. They become a serious title contender if they get him. After all, defense wins championships.

Last week, the Detroit Red Wings decided not to bring back 47 year old Chris Chelios back for another season. I have all the respect in the world for "Cheli", but it's time to hang up the skates. He has had a Hall of Fame career and has won three Stanley Cups with Montreal and Detroit. Plus he is a god in Chicago, where he played many great seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. He thinks he has a few seasons left in him. I think otherwise.

Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf put in a bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes for $148 million. As much as I would like to see a seventh Canadian team (which will eventually be a 2nd team in Toronto; not Hamilton), I think it sets a terrible precedent when teams just start moving. A team hasn't moved in the NHL since 1997, when Hartford moved to Carolina. I think the Coyotes are on the cusp of something truly special, and that alone will draw more fans to the Jobing.Com Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

I found it hilarious that the fans in Montreal jeered Toronto GM Brian Burke and the Maple Leafs front office when they chanted "67! 67! 67!". If you don't know, 1967 was the last year the Leafs won the Cup. If you don't know, Brian Burke likes to wear his emotions on his sleeve, and he got very angry that the Canadiens were being what he thinks, "disrespectful." He was quoted as saying, "I don't give a rat's ass how those fans feel. The best fans in the NHL are in Toronto, not Montreal." And being from the United States, I'm sure Burke is not too keen on the whole French flavor in Montreal. I love it when GM's are honest and outspoken rather than give you that politically correct answer. Brian Burke and John Tortorella are both the best at telling you what's on their minds. Coincidentally, both are from Boston. Maybe there's something in the water up there in Massachusetts. Or something in the Dunkin' Donuts recipe.

Any questions? Comments? Feel free to message me. Im always up for some good ol' frozen puck talk.

-Jake