Contract talks between the Wild and the agent for Marian Gaborik appear to have stalled, as GM Doug Risebrough said no headway has been made, adding that Gaborik wont be signed prior to the start of the season. Risebrough declined to comment if hes had talks with other teams and has yet to determine if hell shop Gaborik. While its unknown what the Wild are offering Gaborik Russo suggests that if the forward is rejecting offers around $8.5 million per season it could spur Risebrough into shopping Gaborik rather than risk losing him to free agency for nothing next summer. If it comes to that Russo suggests Risebrough might deal Gaborik to an Eastern Conference team, possibly to Montreal, Toronto or the NY Rangers as the Wild GM is friends with the general managers of those teams.

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The Huffington Post The following is an excerpt from my book Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries: What are we supposed to do to reclaim freedom? We need to understand that we are bombarded with both fake patriotism and fake democracy. Only then can we get to the real American mandate. The key ways, the phrases and metaphors, in which we are often asked to think about America tend to make us stupid, complacent, and inert. They are also, if you go back to what the great Americans wished us to identify as love of country, just plain wrong. Today, politicians often ask us to think of ourselves as a kind of "chosen people" by birthright: "Our nation is chosen by God and commissioned by history to be a model to the world," as George W. Bush asserted during the 2000 election campaign. Over the past four decades, patriotism was often defined as uncritical support for U.S. policies--such as the Vietnam War-era bumper sticker MY COUNTRY, RIGHT OR WRONG. Patriotism was also branded as support for U.S. militarism, whatever the context or conflict or cost. Sometimes patriotism was identified with "Christian America" and sometimes even as direct evangelism in the context of statecraft. Finally patriotism was rebranded as the active silencing of dissent. John McCain, for instance, whose campaign messaging in 2008 was grounded in a theme of patriotism, recently called in public for members of MoveOn.org to be kicked out of the country. But all these rebrandings of patriotism would have dismayed the great Americans who had all at various times criticized U.S. military actions, U.S. policies, the establishment of any state religion, and most of all, criticized those who would silence disagreeing voices and dissent. How did "patriotism" become so dumbed down? There are many reasons. During the Vietnam War, the left often abandoned a claim on the notion of "patriotism." Young antiwar leaders challenged the mythology of the stars and stripes--fair enough--but spent less energy reinvestigating and reanimating the ideals the flag was intended to represent. By disdaining America's own most radical heritage, the left let the right "brand" patriotism. Today's leaders on the left rarely assert that the most radical revolution in human history has already taken place-- in 1776--and that it is spreading in fits and starts around the globe. Their message rarely calls on citizens to reclaim the American Revolution above any other. And unfortunately for everyone across the political spectrum, the religious right, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, redefined patriotism in ways that would have appalled Paine, Jefferson, Washington, and Adams--not to mention the Republican president Abraham Lincoln. "Patriotism" became identified with blind loyalty and a sense that America is innately better than the rest of the world. So today, we often believe that we as Americans are "the Elect"--a special, almost a chosen, people, who are uniquely entitled to a place in the sun. Where did that idea originally come from? For it is actually a direct heresy against the founders' intent.

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Hyundai, India has launched the much awaited LPG version of the Santro. The LPG variant will be priced Rs 21,500 more than the existing petrol model. The new LPG version of Santro, christened Santro eco (eco is synonymous with environmentally friendly and economy) comes with a factory fitted LPG kit and boasts of features that meet global standards of performance and safety.

Powered by the 1.1 litre, eRLX engine, Santro eco offers its customers a unique combination of reliable performance and unmatched fuel economy. With separate Petrol (35 Litre) and LPG (27.2 litre) tanks, the customers have an option to choose from both LPG and petrol mode. The LPG tank in the Santro eco has a special ‘Toroidal’ design that allows intelligent use of space and makes larger luggage room available to the customer.

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Bruce Forsyth returns to our screens to present the sixth series of the popular Saturday night spectacle Strictly Come Dancing. Sixteen new celebrity contestants have been paired up with internationally renowned professional dancers, to compete against each other whilst impressing a panel of judges and the viewing public in order to survive potential elimination. Tom Chambers and Rachel Stevens are the early favourites, but who will dance their way to victory.

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Tenders for the construction of the $90 million Alstonville Bypass on the Bruxner Highway are scheduled to be called on October 6, with its completion scheduled by the end of 2010.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the Rudd Labor Government used its first Budget to bring forward $13.6 million so work on the vital road project could be started at least 12 months early.

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Bruce Forsyth returns to our screens to present the sixth series of the popular Saturday night spectacle Strictly Come Dancing. Sixteen new celebrity contestants have been paired up with internationally renowned professional dancers, to compete against each other whilst impressing a panel of judges and the viewing public in order to survive potential elimination. Tom Chambers and Rachel Stevens are the early favourites, but who will dance their way to victory.

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Sneaky, very sneaky. Other games that are effected and considered 'premium' are the Original Six rivalries, the Penguins game on November 11, and the home game against the Blackhawks directly before the Winter Classic. The $9 tickets from last season still exist for purchase at the box office, going on sale in two month increments, but from the picking around I did it looks like the next step up - the $25 tickets - are practically unacquirable.

While I think it's very unfortunate to have this sprung on the fans, and it does truly suck that it's this hard and this expensive to get tickets to see the team you love, it's hard not to be happy that perhaps the team will be able to fill the Joe's seats again, following this victory. And besides that, it's something special to be a follower of a team like this in a city like ours. I can't say how many times I've thought it would be unbelievably nice to live in a city that didn't care, where you could walk up to the arena on the day of a game and pick up decent tickets from the box office a few hours before the game - but the more I've considered it every time I've realized I would hate to be in a town that didn't care, convenience or not.

It's a tough line to walk - on one hand, the price-gouging, especially in a city going through what Detroit is right now - is making it almost impossibly hard for some fans to attend games at all. How spectacular is having Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Hossa, Lidstrom, when you can't afford to see them live? On the other hand, being able to call this successful, this dynamic a team your own and to live in a city that bleeds for them, a real hockey city, often makes it feel worth it.

However, I ended up buying tickets to only two games, rather than the handful I would have liked, at least for now - and that sucks. While I'm not mad at the team per se, it's hard not to bear a little resentment at how thin my pocketbook is at the moment. So, what do you think? Worth it or not? Rip off, or okay? Would you rather life somewhere tickets cost spare change? I think in the long run, I like it here - unfortunate as it is. We'll always have FSN.

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This is footypodand were getting there slowly, still lots to do before we get back to where we were before our old hosts vanished off the face of the earth taking the old site with them.
Were syndicating content from all over the place, if you recognise this as your stuff, well be happy to remove it or link to you over there on the right.
Were currently working through our list of forums to syndicate content from. Basically this means footypod will be a place you can check in and see what your rivals are saying about your team, quickly and easily without having to trawl around the web. If you are a forum owner, dont worry we will always link back to the original thread which means you will probably get new members. If you have a forum you would like to be included, leave a comment somewhere and we will pick up on it.
This is going to take a while, so keep checking back as we have lots of clubs to get through. They will appear in the Main Menu to the right as and when we add them.
When we have finished with the forums, we will move on to the podcasts.
All the stuff you will need for now is in the main menu on the right.

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This is footypodand were getting there slowly, still lots to do before we get back to where we were before our old hosts vanished off the face of the earth taking the old site with them.
Were syndicating content from all over the place, if you recognise this as your stuff, well be happy to remove it or link to you over there on the right.
Were currently working through our list of forums to syndicate content from. Basically this means footypod will be a place you can check in and see what your rivals are saying about your team, quickly and easily without having to trawl around the web. If you are a forum owner, dont worry we will always link back to the original thread which means you will probably get new members. If you have a forum you would like to be included, leave a comment somewhere and we will pick up on it.
This is going to take a while, so keep checking back as we have lots of clubs to get through. They will appear in the Main Menu to the right as and when we add them.
When we have finished with the forums, we will move on to the podcasts.
All the stuff you will need for now is in the main menu on the right.

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Every parent hopes that their daughter learns something from playing girls hockey.

Sure some are destined for hockey scholarships and even fewer are headed for the National Team.

But most parents are simply hoping that their daughters learn that hard-work can be rewarding, how to be a team player, and learn to be respectful and responsible.

But what have the parents learned?

I stumbled across this Did You Ever Notice? on another hockey blog and the jury is still out as to whether it is accurate, funny or troubling. You be the judge.


Did You Ever Noticethat when you scream and argue a call, its justified?

that when the opposing fans scream and argue a call, they are loud mouth parents?

that your daughters goal was a thing of beauty?

that the opposing players goal was the luckiest thing youve ever seen?

that when your daughter played well and her team won, her coach was a genius?

that when your daughter struggled and her team lost, her coach was a total bonehead?

that when your daughter has long forgotten a loss, youre still stewing over it?

that when your daughter has long forgotten a win, youre still bragging about it?

that your team was obviously robbed by the officials on a disallowed goal?

that the officials made the proper call on an opponents disallowed goal?

that when your daughter registers a hat trick, a thrown hat is pretty cool?

that when an opposing player gets a hat trick, a thrown hat is just plain uncalled for?

that a 6 2 win was a blowout?

that a 6 2 loss was a simple case of a few missed opportunities and some really bad calls?

that when your daughter is playing novice hockey, it is the most important level of hockey in the whole world?

that when your daughter is reaching the end of her minor hockey career, you wished you could do it all over again.

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UC Irvine says it has put together financing for one of the largest stem cell research centers on the West Coast, but the buildings estimated price has risen about $6 million since spring.
The 100,636 square-foot building is now expected to cost at least $66.6 million by the time it is completed in June 2010. Construction is set to start next week, campus officials say.
The centers cost rose because the price of the building changes with time due to the inherent changes in steel, etc., said Hans Keirstead, co-director of UCIs Stem Cell Research Center.
Keirstead also said that the construction bid contained several for additional value-add options that the developers might want to throw in to win the bid. In addition, UCI has to decide which alternates that it might want to pay for.s financing package includes about $27.2 million from the state, $23.3 million in private donations and a $15 million in loans. About $1 million also will be raised to equip the building. The donations include a $12 million anonymous gift that UCI has been reluctant to discuss. The university said that it would provide details about the basic gift agreement by late September, following a Public Records Act request by The Register. But the campus unexpectedly announced last week that it wont provide the information until at least Oct. 24.
We need additional time to process your request,  said Tiffany Jue of UCIs Public Records Office. 
UCI has fared well is raising money for stem cell research, one of the fastest growing areas of the life sciences. But the campus has been struggling to fill an open position for a senior stem cell biologist, largely due to competition with schools like the University of Southern California, which recently beat UCI in breaking ground on a stem cell institute.

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One players name certainly is emerging from training camps first week by virtue of its omission.
That of Olaf Kolzig.
You dont hear it mentioned among the press, by fans in the Kettler stands, certainly not by Capitals players or coaches. Everybody seems to have moved on from the April agony and the summer transition trauma.
HockeyWashington, so consumed by the drama of Laffair Nameplate five months ago, five months later seems to have reacted to a Kolzig-less training camp with a collective
I for one am a little surprised. I expected some manner of media frenzy (particularly on Day 1 of camp) pegged on this the first day of hockey without Olie in Washington in more than a decade. But it didnt happen, and it isnt going to, and its worth reflecting on why.
There are I think a handful of factors accounting for this striking silence for a hockey hero, but foremost among them is the fact that the Capitals in goal this September have an abundance of exciting talent. Over the past three days there were three highly competitive scrimmages that took place with jobs on the line and highly skilled players littering all three competing rosters and yet no team ever tallied more than 3 goals in any of them. I saw scores of breakaways and a pair of shootouts, and I saw goalies winning the overwhelming majority of those showdowns. And specifically, in the likes of Simeon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth, I saw a tandem of talent Id never seen before at a Caps camp. Observers of this Capitals training camp, I believe, are too preoccupied with a fresh and great storyline in net to think back to that of even the recent past. Which, in Olie Kolzigs case, represented a fading talent.
Capitals fans in the final third of the 2007-08 regular season saw a significantly improved Olie Kolzig in net, and with late Februarys trade with Montreal they also saw scintillating virtuosity in his rival Cristobal Huet. The regular seasons final loss was on Kolzig, in Chicago, and it was ugly. Thereafter, Head Coach Bruce Boudreau rode Huet, who started and finished the teams final seven games all victories, culminating in a near miraculous Southeast division crown. They may not have admitted it then, but Kolzigs defenders had to have seen the writing on the wall.
Indeed, even when new contract talks with Cristobal Huet fell apart, re-signing Olie Kolzig was never an option. The team needed to move in a new direction.
But the old netminder himself apparently didnt see any such signs, and this leads to my third reason for the collective, quiet acceptance of his absence. When Kolzig very publicly postured that he had still no. 1 minutes and a no. 1 contract for a contending club ahead of him, he needed, for credibilitys sake, at a minimum, one or two contending summer suitors to make a play for his services. Instead, he ended up in Tampa Bay, for Matt Bradley money. The market spoke. Capitals management, which endured a torrent of message board tirades over their perceived handling of Kolzig, was vindicated.
Initially, most rightly viewed Kolzigs public swagger and competitive perseverance as the byproduct of a special athletes pride. And most fans I think were inclined to cut Olie the Goalie a heck of a lot of slack in light of his enormous community contributions. That too is understandable. But Kolzig never articulated any acknowledgment of the teams turning the corner, for the markedly, durably better, at a time when the rest of Washington had quickly gone hot over hockey. Instead, he remained in a self-centered posture. That I think in turn allowed many Capitals fans to turn the page.
A fourth and perhaps pre-eminent reason I think exists for this quasi-forgetfulness of athlete: the thirst for lasting victory. Fair or not, Kolzig, save for one Cinderella season in 98, was associated with an organizations mediocrity and rebuilding. For a decade solid Olie Kolzig was the face of this hockey organization, and it was one Washingtonians could be proud of. But the team his team always fell short. Today Alexander Ovechkin is the face of the Washington Capitals, displaying a charisma the likes of which weve never seen in a hockey player in this town maybe not among any pro athletes ever in this town. Part of the primal appeal of this current Caps team is its being led by the greatest hockey player on the planet, but nearly just as important is its being comprised of a young and exciting core thats going to be around for a while.
A season ticket holder I spoke with on the Kolzig subject back in April put it best: I love Olie Kolzig, he told me, but I love winning more.s gone but of course not forgotten. How could he be? These days, were just too busy going about the business of following winning. Were overdue that and damn its fun.

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U.S.S. Howard, armed with munitions from the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, is following pirates off Somalia who commandeered a freighter laden with Russian military tanks, says the U.S. Navy and the Associated Press.
AP says the Howard, whose crew is trained for high seas interdiction, will likely trail the Ukrainian-flagged freighter Faina until a Russian warship can reach the scene.
The Faina reportedly is carrying 33 Russian-built T72 tanks and ammunition. The ship was seized on Thursday while enroute to Kenya.
The Howard was ordered to shadow the Faina, reportedly to stop the pirates from unloading the tanks. The American warship has a variety of munitions that can be used in interdiction, ranging from a 5-inch gun to missiles loaded on to an SH-60 helicopter.
The AP reports that the pirates are demanding $20 million for the Faina, and have threatened to fight if the Howard or any other military vessel tries to intervene.
It is rare for U.S. warships to fire on vessels. But thats not the case with land attacks. More than 20 American ships that fired on Baghdad during the shock and awe bombings in spring 2003 obtained at least some of their ordance at Seal Beach.
The Howard, which is homeported in San Diego, held an open house at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station last December, drawing more than 3,000 visitors. It was the first open house aboard at ship at Seal Beach since the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
The base provides ships like the Howard - an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer with everything from Tomahawk cruise missiles to ordnance for its five inch gun to ammunition for rifles.

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VOLCANO TACOS - I dont know where Ive been hiding recently but until we walked into a Taco Bell last week, I had never seen the ads for the Volcano Taco. Since Im about all things spicy I figured Id give it a try. And for 89 cents, its not a bad price. The taco has cheddar cheese (I shudder to think they have to say its real), lettuce, cheesy lava sauce (not real cheese?) and seasoned beef in a red colored shell. The shell tasted just like any other crisp Taco Bell Taco shell, its just red (I was hoping for some more flavor or spice). The whole point of this taco is that it is spicy...its that sauce. So, what did we think?
Spicy is relative. I actually added almost an entire pack of Taco Bell Fire Sauce to each Volcano Taco. It was spicy in a runny nacho cheese sauce with jalapeños sorta way. Im not really a fan of the standard Taco Bell tacos (Gorditas, Chalupas, Bean Burritos add sour cream, oh yeah!), but for 89 cents and if the Volcano Tacos were in front of me, I could eat a few.
Mr. L? Not such a fan. Something about the evil gut bomb that tore his stomach apart. I think he was tasting these tacos for a day or two. Swore hed never eat them again (and he is a fan of the standard tacos). I dont think well be seeing Mr. L eating any of these again soon.
These are for a limited time only so get them while you can and let me know what you think. And by the way, these little suckers pack 250 calories each!
THE TACO BAND - Hurry, if you are a band and want some free food while your spending your time touring around the county you only have one more day to enter Taco Bells Feed The Beat contest. Selected bands could get up to $500 in Taco Bell Bucks.

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www.syracuse.com for the top notch news they have provided on this situation). I would offer this advice though I am sure the answer from the Chiefs management will be "DUH" but I would go with the team who you think has a great farm system in general and is willing to help invest in their team, not the one who likes to trade prospects often for name players because this will allow you to have top players playing at AAA level and the only time you will see good players are during rehab stints for a couple games before they get back with the major league team. I do think that the Chiefs offer a lot to their fans and if partnered up with a good system, you will see attendance rise with a new team. My pick if I had to, I would select the Washington Nationals and let me briefly explain why as well. I will admit, I don't know much about their farm system and they may not contend as much in the NL East as say the Florida Marlins but Florida scares me as far as selling prospects when their owner gets desperate for a championship. I also like that Washington has been aggressive in wanting to be with the Chiefs and if they offered some top notch incentives, take the ball and run to the bank with the announcement. The grass turf is finally set and the local government is dealing with the scoreboard issue and maybe we can get the Nationals to step up and help with this as well since they actually want to be here.

Speaking of scoreboards and the local government's persistence to prove that politicians love to piss off sports fans, the Syracuse Crunch are in desperate need of a new one and seem to have a problem getting it, despite the fact that it's actually in their lease. To me, this makes them more like a slumlord who even though he has it in writing he will make improvements on your apartment, he basically says, "Make me". Owner Howard Dolgon is understandably like you would be if you were a tenant and getting to the point where he is considering finding another landlord who will be more grateful for their presence. I have heard him on Axe's On The Block radio show discussing this issue and it infuriates me that a guy who is giving the local fans a great product and doing everything to help can't get something contractually obligated to him. I don't think the local politicians there think enough fans will care what they do, even if it means the ownership moves elsewhere. To me, I would write the local officials and tell them why this team is so important to the area and you fans. I would even reach out to Syracuse University and say, I know you are starting ice hockey at your school and what can we do together to maybe provide a top notch facility for both teams and let the government officials find out the hard way that their band aid approach to repairing the arena is disgraceful. I am the first one to complain when I see major league franchises bullying cities into paying millions or billions on new stadiums but in this case, I find it sad that a new scoreboard which could help sell other events as well, is the selling point that could cost the Syracuse area a team. As I mentioned, I live in Charlotte and like to get down there to see the Charlotte Checkers ECHL level games when I can and am enjoying them just now getting radio and possibly TV but guess what, they play in a top notch NBA arena with the Charlotte Bobcats and I can tell you first hand that it helps the experience more then most would expect. Make some improvements now and heck, get Syracuse University on board to host some of their college games there as well as concerts and so forth and I promise you that the investment you make today will not only keep the team in Syracuse but secure the future of the area. The economy is hurting and I understand being cautious but there are ways to keep Mr. Dolgon happy while meeting his lease requirements, the area resident happy without raising their taxes excessively and also give them a better place for sports and other events. Why is it that a simple blogger like me can see the problems this will cause if they leave all the way from Charlotte, North Carolina but yet locals will wait until it's too late to do anything? By the way, those who think it's not my money so I just don't care should know I have a lot of family in that area and I don't want to see their taxes raised either, especially my lovely grandmother who could use more breaks then additions. There are answers in front of you but you have to stop playing politics and party line BS and think about what truly is best for the community and that is to not only score the goal by getting that scoreboard issue taken care of but provide a better facility in general.

Look, I know in many people's eyes if it's not major league or affecting their gas prices, they don't care but many do. I also think you need to remember the number of area people dependent on jobs with these teams in the area(the jobs may not be all high paying but even the lower ones are wages that make a difference in their lifes and the life of their families). I simply ask you to research top notch programs and see what you think is in the best interest whether your a Chief or Crunch person. Syracuse is a great city and many times I miss it more then I could mention here but then I see issues like some of these and wonder what the future will hold for the younger generation of sports fans and residents in general. In contrast, Jerry Jones is build a 1 BILLION dollar stadium in Texas so it could be a lot worse. I know the economy and jobs in that area need a big boost to help but there are options in that city to help. Syracuse fans show your support for both teams and show them you care. Don't just buy the t-shirt (I do need more of those myself) but write your local politicians and newspapers to vent your opinions and even email the teams to let them know what you think about the current state of their programs. And to those who think it's just minor league team and who cares, I ask that you go out there and experience it for yourself and I bet the majority of you if you are open minded will enjoy it and become a fan. You may not see the names on ESPN right now but some of them you will in the future and you can say you saw them before they got their break and in the meantime enjoy some great games and promotions which minor league is known to occasionally sponsor great ones. Please, support it now before it's too late and it's either gone or you feel ripped off by the choices made because there is nothing worse then wishing you had.

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Bruce Forsyth returns to our screens to present the sixth series of the popular Saturday night spectacle Strictly Come Dancing. Sixteen new celebrity contestants have been paired up with internationally renowned professional dancers, to compete against each other whilst impressing a panel of judges and the viewing public in order to survive potential elimination. Tom Chambers and Rachel Stevens are the early favourites, but who will dance their way to victory.

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The daylong portentous clouds and accompanying apocalyptic weather in the NYC area made total sense after I read today's New York Post. Because for the first time in a long, long time (ever?), I kind of agree with Larry Brooks here. We are clearly in the end times.

Amidst the usual DiPietro deriding and general bashing of the Isles, Brooks actually makes some (hard to type this, hard to type this) good points. Trots has been working with the kids for the last few years and seems to be the type of guy who relishes the opportunity to shepherd a young team (although based on his infamous lengthy letter that earned him the Rangers' head coaching job, he seemingly relishes any opportunity to coach). Plus, he meshes with Wang's vision to honor the legacy of the franchise and also seems like the kind of guy who wouldn't be driven batshit crazy by the Wang "coaching by committee" system that would likely rankle already established coaches like Maurice, Tortorella, and Hartley. And, for the record (are you really keeping a record?...shame on you), I would prefer Goring but I can't imagine him not killing someone about three months into the Wang system. I'd be happy to be proven wrong, though. Or proven right depending on who he kills.

So, yeah, I think either Trottier or Goring is the way to go (though I pray they don't even consider Ulf Samuelsson for a minute...what a douche).

I would, however, be lying if I said that I wouldn't enjoy having a guy who knows to handle Larry Brooks behind the Isles' bench (some language NSFW, in case the context clues didn't tip you off).

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In a very real sense, the Ballston Massacre yesterday represented the culmination of the Capitals rebuild. Last September, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis decreed that the rebuild was over, asserting that his young team was primed for playoff contention. But being rebuilt as both Leonsis and General Manager George McPhee targeted 5 years ago, I believe, means more than that; I believe it is represented by what were seeing out at Kettler this September: the parent club enjoying the chic designation as Cup contender, and certainly an across-the-board classification as elite in the East. But also, concurrently, below them, resides a dozen-plus dazzling talents in juniors and the minor pros. With the teams scouts consistently identifying gems in each years draft, the organizations talent pipeline is annually replenished.
Yesterdays 7-0 shellacking of Philly a game that wasnt anywhere near as close as the score indicated means nothing. And everything. Nearly every single member of what will constitute the Capitals opening night lineup next month was standing hard by the glass in one corner, following the action intently. They were drawn there, presumably, by the novelty of yesterdays matinee: the first-ever NHL exhibition in the facility. But theyre all also computer literate and not oblivious to the buzz thats been circulating on line this week about the likes of John Carlson, Oskar Osala, Simeon Varlamov, Mathieu Perreault, and scores more recently acquired kids. A well rebuilt organization, Id submit, is one in which the present is a consensus contender as well as one within which the vets are checking the rear view mirror for skilled and fast-skating youth, hard charging on their heels.
It is true that the Flyers yesterday were without two prime young talents, Claude Giroux and JVR. Neither, however, plays defense or tends goal, and suited up they might have succeeded in making the score 7-3. The Caps, it should be noted, were also without a pair of first-round talents (Joe Finley and Anton Gustafsson). Interestingly, the heavy duty damage inflicted yesterday came from the very late rounds and even free agency: Travis Morin, Mathieu Perreault, Steve Pinizzotto, Viktor Dovgan, Jay Beagle. Oskar Osala was conspicuous throwing his fourth-round weight around.
A veteran puckhead follower of the Caps needed about one hour of the opening day of autumn skating out at Kettler to see the difference that 5 years has made in the organizations acquisition and development of prospects. That was the emerging theme for me during an upwards of 5 hours spent there on Sunday, and listening to voices far more expert than mine ruminate on the breadth and quality of this organizations personnel.
Once upon a time, veteran members of the beat pack told me, the Washington Capitals made a habit of hurtling highly drafted kids more or less straight into the big-league lineup, with hardly any apprenticeship in the minors, and shortsightedly shortchanging their development. Jacub Cuttas presence at 2008s training camp is an instructive case in point. Back in 2000, Cutta arrived in Washington as an 18-year-old rookie out of Swift Current of the WHL. He had an outstanding camp that autumn, without question. He certainly was one of the best six or seven rearguard performers then. But really, shouldnt he have been patted on the back, commended for his competitiveness, and immediately returned to the W for at least another year, rather than thrust into the opening night lineup? Then head coach Ron Wilson, himself a former NHL rearguard, must have assumed that he could manage Cuttas rookie year just fine.
In reality, though, how many 18-year-old defensemen are ready for an 82-game NHL season?
The Capitals did return Cutta to Swift Current, where he played fewer than 50 games in 2000-01. But its possible he did so with some sense of failure, his development cycle oddly meandering at its outset.
Others classified as very youthful could be identified as having been microwaved into the big leagues during the first half of this decade  Brian Sutherby, Kris Beech, Steve Eminger. Today, however, theres a whole new mindset in place when it comes to developing prospects, and this, joined by now consistently adept drafting and superb pro scouting, has the Capitals in 2008 right where management dreamed of five years ago.
Of the 67 players who will skate at Kettler Capitals in Rookie and Training camps this month, fully 23 were drafted in either the first or second rounds of the NHL draft. All are accorded an appropriate apprenticeship. Just as encouraging is the emrgence of contribtor and star quality potential from later rounds (Osala, Perreault, Lepisto, Dovgan). Those of you who paid a visit to Kettler this week before the vets (save Ovechkin!) reported, found a compelling reason to go out so early: there were really good hockey players all over the ice.
I cannot make mention of these changed fortunes without acknowledging the wholesale change in media acknowledgment of the role that a robust development pipeline now plays in the organizations overall health.

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There has been a lot of action around the NHL lately.  Here is a brief rundown of events around the league this last week.
Today - Selanne to participate in Ducks Camp
Teemu Selanne has signed a tryout agreement with the Anaheim Ducks.  Contract negotiations are still underway between the Ducks and Selanne.
Today - NHL approves Staal contract
The NHL have approved the contract between Eric Staal and the Carolina Hurricanes.  The NHL had requested adjustments be made to the wording of the deal.
Today - Zubov our 4-8 weeks
Zubov underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday and will be re-evaluated by the Stars in four weeks, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Sept 18 - Captain Lecavalier
The Tampa Bay Lightning have named All-Star center Vincent Lecavalier captain.  Lecavalier, who will be entering his 10th NHL season signed an 11-year $85 million contract in July.
Sept 18 - Pominville gets 5-year extension
The Buffalo Sabres inked Jason Pominville to a 5-year extension worth $26.5 million.  Pominville finally found a place for himself on the Sabres after almost being dropped before the 05-06 season when the Sabres placed him on waivers.
Sept 18 - Flyers sign G Aubin
The Philadelphia Flyers signed veteran goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin to a one-year contract Thursday.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Sept 18 - Hatcher on IR
Derian Hatcher will not participate when the Philadelphia Flyers open training camp on Saturday. Instead, the veteran defenseman will be headed to injured reserve, according to general manager Paul Holmgren on Thursday.
Sept 17 - McCarty re-signs with Wings
McCarty on Wednesday agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.  Financial terms were not disclosed.
Sept 16 - Roys son pleads not guilty
The son of Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy pleaded not guilty to assault Tuesday for his attack on a player last March during a game in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Sept 15 - Kings sign Stoll Richardson
The Kings signed restricted free agent centres Jarret Stoll and Brad Richardson on Monday.  Stoll got a four-year deal, while Richardson signed a two-year contract. Stoll was acquired by the Kings with defenceman Matt Greene from Edmonton in exchange for Lubomir Visnovsky in June. Stoll had 14 goals and 22 assists in 81 games for the Oilers last season. He played on their 2006 team that lost in the Stanley Cup finals.
Sept 15 - Nittymaki out 4-6 weeks
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymaki will be sidelined four-to-six weeks after having surgery on his left hip, according to a report posted Monday on the team’s website.
Sept 15 - Hurricanes ink Matt Murley
The Carolina Hurricanes signed left wing Matt Murley to a one-year contract Monday.  Assistant general manager Ron Francis said the deal will pay Murley $500,000 at the NHL level or $100,000 if he is sent to the minors for the 2008-09 season. He has a minimum guaranteed total salary of $125,000.
Sept 12 - Filatov to miss rookie camp
Nikita Filatov of the Blue Jackets will miss the team’s rookie camp in Traverse City, Mich., this weekend because of a lower leg injury.

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