Hej alla!

Igår var det lördag, och självklart hade vi fest som vanligt!
Jakob hade några kompisar på besök så det var från början ombytta roller på syskonen Lind. (Det brukar ju vara Jakob som är ensam kille bland massa tjejer, men denna gången fick jag känna på hur det kändes att vara “ensam”)

Jakob och James

Jag var riktigt glad, hehe..

Henke, kvällens dj

James kompis från Borås

Lite senare på kvällen kom Johanna och Line



Glada

Per lyckades hitta hit också

Love you, J

Vi lämnade lägenheten vid tolvtiden. Först gick vi till ett ställe här på Grünerlökka, vilket visade sej vara väldigt misslyckat! Det här är fel sida av stan för mej att gå ut på. Det är ofräscht, mörkt, billigt och det bara skriker lowclass! Noup, jag gilllar det inte alls. Vi gick in och ut med en gång.
Så det var bara att hoppa in i en taxi och åka in till centrum.
Nu kände jag mej mer som hemma. Hehe. Vi gick till ett ställe som kanske inte är mitt favoritställe direkt. Men vi har alltid kul där. Yatzi gick vi till.

James och Jakob väl ute på krogen.

Johanna

Lyckades hitta några affärsmens Vipbord och kände oss väldigt välkomna att slå oss ner. Hehe.

Syskonen Lind

Kvällen slutade med en cheeseburgare! Mumsfillibabba! Kul kväll! Längtar redan till nästa lördag!

With the first month of the NHL season in the books, it is a good time to put a fun little exercise like a mock draft together.

Much will change when it comes to the teams slotted in these positions and there will be a few prospects that also rise or fall before it all is written in stone. This mock draft takes current standings into account but also we tweak the order somewhat as to where we think NHL teams will finish the year based on the first month plus of action.

Some of the surprises early on in the NHL season include the struggles of the mighty Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens as well as the surprisingly solid starts of the Colorado Avalanche, L.A. Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes who many thought might wrap it up and take refuge in the NHL’s basement until this whole ownership/coaching change and bankruptcy storm passes.

In the below mock, we have San Jose vs. Detroit in the Western Conference finals, Pittsburgh vs. Washington in the Eastern Finals and Pittsburgh eventually winning the Cup over San Jose in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Hey, it could happen. But give Future Considerations half of your Vegas winnings when you book it.

BOSTON Bruins (via Toronto Maple Leafs *)

1st Overall Selection: C/LW Taylor Hall – Windsor (OHL)

Organizational Summary: Boston has a NHL roster full of young talent at the forward positions and a potential starting goalie in the making behind Tim Thomas on the depth chart. In the farm system, they have some able bodied future NHLers on the way at centre and on defense.
They need to add a high-end offensive prospect or two on the wing as they are thin on both sides. Additional defensive depth would be a wise investment. Overall, a couple puck moving defenders as well as a goal scoring winger or two would be nice additions to the organization’s development system.

Pick Summary: The Bruins just might have made one of the best NHL trades since they were fleeced for big Joe Thornton by the San Jose Sharks in 2005. Sure, Phil Kessel will help the Toronto Maple Leafs both in the now and down the road but with Toronto’s next two potential lottery picks and a second rounder this year, Boston has the ability to retool their cupboard for the future while still going for a run at the cup. The B’s use the top pick on the high-end skill of Taylor Hall which helps replace the departed Kessel’s goal scoring. The addition of Hall to the Bruins organization alone makes this a pretty even deal.

CAROLINA Hurricanes

2nd Overall Selection: C Tyler Seguin – Plymouth (OHL)

Organizational Summary: The Carolina Hurricanes have some decent forward prospects moving through the ranks in Brandon Sutter, Zach Boychuk and Drayson Bowman. They have a good mix of talent developing in net as well. On the backend they need help. With the exception of Jamie McBain they have a lot of hit or miss types and nothing immediately on the way. The overall depth at all skating positions needs an upgrade and they do not have much in the way of potential high-end contributors up front. In net, a high-end prospect would help solidify the unit.

Pick Summary: The Hurricanes snap up the impressive Tyler Seguin with this pick, a prospect with ties to the organization. Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos also owns the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers franchise and there is a history of continuety between both teams. Seguin offers Carolina a top end prospect that they can build around for the future.

FLORIDA Panthers

3rd Overall Selection: D Cam Fowler – Windsor (OHL)

Organizational Summary: The Florida Panthers have a balanced system with some high-end prospects at every position. Goaltending has one of the most highly regarded tenders coming through in big Swede Jacob Markstrom while on defense they have a solid puck moving threat in Dmitri Kulikov who is already playing meaningful minutes in the NHL as a rookie. The Panthers are lacking a true top end forward prospect who can lead the Panthers offensive attack night in and night out. On the backend they could use a couple puck moving rearguards to fill out the system.

Pick Summary: The Panthers are in the midst of a semi-retool as they currently have some nice young NHL talent and also are infusing some prospects into the roster. Fowler adds one more impressive building block to the future roster they are building from the goal out.

MINNESOTA Wild

4th Overall Selection: LW Kirill Kabanov – Moncton (QMJHL)

Organizational Summary: The Minnesota Wild have a couple real solid defensive prospects in Tyler Cuma, Nick Leddy and Marco Scandella that should be NHL fixtures on their blue line for years to come. They also have some depth in character type wingers coming. Forward depth and top end scoring forwards are needed as their development pool is the thinnest in this area. Goaltending development, despite having solid depth, also needs a shot in the arm with a true blue chipper added to the mix. Minnesota has a hard time finding players in the mid to later rounds of the NHL draft which has led to a shallow prospect pool. It is imperative to nab players in the first couple rounds because of this organizational weakness.

Pick Summary: A highly skilled forward prospect is just what Minnesota is after with this pick and they have him in Kabanov. They also like Connolly and Granlund with this pick but go with the flashy Russian with game breaking abilities in the end.

NEW YORK Islanders

5th Overall Selection: D Brandon Gormley – Moncton (QMJHL)

Organizational Summary: The forward crew of the New York Islanders has good depth and a couple solid citizens with top line potential such as Cory Trivino and Kirill Petrov. On the backend they have some solid prospects in Aaron Ness, Calvin De Haan, Mark Katic and Travis Hamonic with good depth overall at the position. In net they have some nice potential as well. After years of bottom feeding and getting the lottery picks at the draft because of it, the organization has many solid prospects coming up through their development system. They would like a blue-chip goaltender to develop along with Mikko Koskinen as the Rick DiPietro injury/long term contract situation is unsettling. They need to continue adding prospects to the development system that have the ability to one day play meaningful minutes in the top six forward spots and in the top four on the backend.

Pick Summary: The Islander look at Brett Connolly and John McFarland with this pick but ultimately decide that they need to add a skilled and potential top defender in Brandon Gormley to compliment their highly skilled forwards Tavares, Bailey and Okposo taken in the last four drafts.

NASHVILLE Predators

6th Overall Selection: LW Brett Connolly – Prince George (WHL)

Organizational Summary: The Nashville Predators have another well balanced prospect pool from years of finishing at the low end of the standings and drafting high come June. They have some solid future contributors either on their way or making their contributions in the NHL already. Defensive depth is there main strength and has been for years also they have some young keepers in the crease with potential. At forward, they have some nice talent ready to break through in the near future. While they have depth up front they lack that one high-end talent that can be a first line contributor. They could use a goal scoring forward or two as well as a playmaker who can feed the puck to the finishers.

Pick Summary: The Predators looked at John McFarland or Vladimir Tarasenko at this spot but both of those prospects have too many unanswered questions despite their high skill levels. Selecting Brett Connolly adds a goal scoring forward to the prospect pool that they were sorely lacking.

PHOENIX Coyotes

7th Overall Selection: C/W John McFarland – Sudbury (OHL)

Organizational Summary: The Coyotes strong start this season is a direct result of a couple years of performing well at the draft table. They have built up a strong development system and packed it full of depth at each position. Many of their recent picks are playing a prominent role with the big club or are in-line for the chance to do so after some AHL seasoning. They need a blue-chip net minder to develop as the have depth but no real top end talent, with the possible exclusion of Mike Lee, at the most crucial position. Although they have some depth at the forward position, a couple top end offensive prospects, especially on the wing, would be great to have.

Pick Summary: The Coyotes have a potential building block type player drop into their laps with McFarland. He has the character, grit and skating to make a solid addition to a roster that already boasts a bunch of young NHL talent.

ATLANTA Thrashers

8th Overall Selection: D Erik Gudbranson – Kingston (OHL)

Organizational Summary: The Atlanta Thrashers have more depth in their prospect pool than they have had in years. They have a good balance as they have forwards who have character and a couple who are skilled, a solid young top four NHL defender in Zach Bogosian and one of the top young goalies in Ondrej Pavelec, both of whom are playing considerable roles in the NHL this season. A couple puck moving defenders would help the organizations forward immensely. They need some help on the backend as they lack any potential top four defenders in the making. Some more goaltending depth and a blue chip offensive forward would be a nice luxury as well.

Summary: Atlanta goes with the best available player and one who fits a need in the two-way rearguard Erik Gudbranson much to the disappointment of Montreal who also like the big defender. He adds another solid building block on the backend with NHL Sophomore Bogosian.

TAMPA BAY Lightning

9th Overall Selection: RW Vladimir Tarasenko – Sibir (KHL)

Organizational Summary: The Tampa Bay Lightning system has been able to add some nice talent the past couple drafts such as Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Richard Panik, Dana Tyrell, Dustin Tokarski and Carter Ashton after some thin years. They are solid depth wise at the forward position and have a few promising goaltender prospects as well. Depth on the backend of potential top four defenders is almost none existent even after drafting Hedman last summer. They could use another stud, potential top four rearguard, and a goal scoring winger which would go along way to stabilizing this franchise for the future.

Pick Summary: Although a defender would look like the most logical fit here for the Lightning, they are enamored with the skills of Vladimir Tarasenko and think that he can contribute offensively to the big club as early as next season.

ST. LOUIS Blues

10th Overall Selection: G Jack Campbell – US NDTP U18 (USHL)

Organizational Summary: The St. Louis Blues, after strong drafting and a couple down years depth, have quality prospects and are strong in every area. They have a handful of young NHLers already who are tearing it up and with the likes of Alex Pietrangelo, Ian Cole, Lars Eller and Brett Sonne, the future looks brighter still. The blues truly do not have an organizational weakness that needs to be addressed, although a couple more scoring wingers would be nice, but instead will take the best player available.

Pick Summary: With this pick the Blues take their possible future in net with this selection as Campbell is a draft riser who many think is rated too low by the majority of scouting community. More than a couple NHL scouts think very highly of the Michigan native.

EDMONTON Oilers

11th Overall Selection: D Mark Pysyk – Edmonton (WHL)

Organizational Summary: The Edmonton Oilers has a few high-end prospects throughout such as Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi, Toni Rajala, Riley Nash, Jeff Petry and Theo Peckham, who has seen some NHL action already. The young NHL roster also helps as none of these guys needs to be rushed. They lack overall depth on defense as well as that high-end puck moving defender as a potential future top four contributor. A top end goaltending prospect would be a nice addition as well as more depth.

Pick Summary: Edmonton takes the Sherwood Park native and his impressive defensive game to fill a need in the organizations prospect pool. They look at other options with this pick but are sold on the ultra safe upside of Mark Pysyk.

MONTREAL Canadiens

12th Overall Selection: D Derek Forbort – US NDTP U18 (USHL)

Organizational Summary: The Montreal Canadiens’ main strength is in the forward ranks but they have some nice talent developing in the system at all skating positions. They have a few character types and some nice potential top six talents in Max Pacioretty and Louis Leblanc. They have a couple young NHL goalies in Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak but nothing else with much NHL potential coming through the system. The trade with the Rangers where they gave up promising defenseman prospect Ryan McDonagh really hurt the depth of high-end defenders.

Pick Summary: The Canadiens snap up the big bodied defender who has good wheels and can play both ways who helps bolster the prospect pool from the backend. This pick follows the trend in Montreal of picking NCAA bound prospects in the first round and letting them develop at their own pace.

COLUMBUS Blue Jackets

13th Overall Selection: C Quinton Howden – Moose Jaw (WHL)

Organizational Summary: Like many of the top NHL teams this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets also have some high-end NHL talent that are just starting to find their way at the NHL level. Steve Mason, Jakub Voracek, and Derick Brassard have all made a big difference to the on-ice product in Columbus, while the Nikita Filatov experiment is put on hold. With all this graduation it means that the talent pool has seen depletion and needs to be built back up. They still have good depth but need to add some highly skilled offensive prospects to all three forward positions and a blue-chipped in net.

Pick Summary: A few of the Jackets scouting personnel are high on Quinton Howden and think that he will become a skilled power forward at the NHL level. They are tempted by both Evgeni Kuznetsov and Alex Burmistrov’s skill but have had bad experiences with Russians lately and go with a safer bet in their minds.

OTTAWA Senators

14th Overall Selection: RW Alex Burmistrov – Barrie (OHL)

Organizational Summary: The Ottawa Senators have some nice draft picks on the backend such as Erik Karlsson, Patrick Wiercioch and Jared Cowen in recent drafts and the forward talent has decent depth as well. Some top end talent at the forward position is required as they currently have an abundance of future muckers and grinders waiting in the wings. A goal scoring winger or two would be a nice addition to the farm system. Goaltending depth is an area that could also use a boost despite young NHL net minders such as Pascal Leclaire and Brian Elliot.

Pick Summary: The Senators needed an infusion of skilled forward talent and get just that with Alex Burmistrov. They look at Stanislav Galiev, Evgeni Kuznetsov and Jaden Schwartz with this selection but ultimately decide that Burmistrov is their guy.

LOS ANGELES Kings

15th Overall Selection: C Jaden Schwartz – Tri-City (USHL)

Organizational Summary: With one of the top NHL talent pools, the Los Angeles Kings have very good depth and multiple high-end prospects at almost every position. They have skill up front, see Andrei Loktionov, Oscar Moller and Brayden Schenn; they have a stable of up and coming top four defenders, see Thomas Hickey, Slava Voinov and Colten Teubert; and they have a top goaltending prospect in Jonathan Bernier. All this prospect depth and a young NHL roster already full of skill that is just starting to come into its potential. A blue chipper in the net would be nice since Bernier has not taken the top spot over and some doubt he will ever do so. Some more offensive talent on the wings, especially on the left side, would be a nice addition. More depth throughout is what LA will likely be after as they take the best player available.

Pick Summary: The Kings, who have a good stable of prospects, add a skilled and speedy forward who could eventually slide into any role needed whether it is a checking or scoring role. They could have added a goaltender here but like what Jaden Schwartz has to offer too much to pass him up.

ANAHEIM Ducks

16th Overall Selection: C Mikael Granlund – HIFK (Finland)

Organizational Summary: With a young nucleus of forwards already in the NHL, the Anaheim Ducks also have a deep stable of defenders on their way with Luca Sbisa, Jake Gardiner and Mark Mitera looking like future impact players. The Ducks have a few forward prospects with offensive potential in the likes of Kyle Palmieri, Holland and even Matt Beleskey as the majority of depth is character type forwards. The lack of top six potential offensive forward prospects is an area that needs addressing and although they did well last June to start to remedy this, more needs to be done. A blue chip goalie prospect is also lacking.

Pick Summary: The Ducks throw off everyone with this pick of the highly skilled and pint-sized Mikael Granlund. They need to add future scorers to their prospect pool and with the success the franchise has had with the other Finnish flash, Teemu Selanne, they go back too the well. With Brian Burke gone to Toronto so too are a lot of his drafting philosophies like the importance of size and physicality. Now more so the Ducks focus on skating, skill and ones character.

VANCOUVER Canucks

17th Overall Selection: D Jon Merrill – US NDTP U18 (USHL)

Organizational Summary: The Vancouver Canucks have some fine top end talent at the forward position. They have Cody Hodgson, Michael Grabner and Jordan Schroeder as potential to six forwards and a solid goaltending prospect in Cory Schneider. On the backend the top prospects is Yann Sauve who is no sure bet to be a top four NHL defender one day. They need to add depth overall and some high-end prospects on the backend.

Pick Summary: The Canucks are able grab a prospect that they have in their top ten on their draft board in the big mobile rearguard and one who fills an organizational need as well.

COLORADO Avalanche

18th Overall Selection: G Calvin Pickard – Seattle (WHL)

Organizational Summary: The Colorado Avalanche have produced a multitude of young NHLers the last couple season and have almost entirely re-built their roster from the ground up. They have solid depth and some nice high-end prospects coming on the backend like Kevin Shattenkirk, Colby Cohen, Stefan Elliot and Cameron Gaunce. They need to add depth to their forward ranks and a pure goal scorer would look nice playing along side Matt Duchene but the organizations main weakness is lack of a sure fire high-end goaltending prospect.

Pick Summary: The Avalanche look at some of the talent at the forward position left on the board but ultimately decide that they need to take a future puck stopper. Pickard gives them a solid goalie prospect that uses his frame and quick reflexes to play an effective game.

DALLAS Stars

19th Overall Selection: D Jarred Tinordi – US NDTP U18 (USHL)

Organizational Summary: The Dallas Stars have spent the past couple drafts trying to build up the depth that they once had and have had limited success in doing so as they have some fine talent coming up at the forward position. The Stars could use a couple mobile puck moving defenders to add to the development pool as well as depth at the defense position. They also need to add a goaltender of the future as Tyler Beskorowany and Richard Bachman have made doubters out of some.

Pick Summary: Ex-NHL player Mark Tinordi’s son Jarred is the pick here as he bring so much more than just his impressive size, skating ability and solid defensive play. He has some decent offensive upside along with outstanding character and leadership qualities that will likely lead to him being an NHL captain in the future.

BUFFALO Sabres

20th Overall Selection: C Nick Bjugstad – Blaine HS (USHS)

Organizational Summary: The Buffalo Sabres have made a concerned effort to get bigger and they have added a couple very sizable and physical imposing prospects to the organization in six-foot-seven defender Tyler Myers and power forward Zack Kassian. They have some skill at the forward position and a potential suitor to back-up Miller in net with Jonas Enroth. They need to add depth to all positions but mostly on the wings where they are very thin. Goaltending is another area that needs help with just the Swede Enroth having good NHL potential. A big skilled centre to offset the pint sized prospects such as Nathan Gerbe, Tyler Ennis and Paul Byron would be a real treat to have.

Pick Summary: Keeping up with the latest Buffalo trend of drafting big, skilled prospects in the first round (see Kassian and Myers); the Sabres go with the enormous and raw but talented Minnesota high school product Nick Bjugstad.

NEW YORK Rangers

21st Overall Selection: RW Emerson Etem – Medicine Hat (WHL)

Organizational Summary: The New York Rangers have some high-end guys making a run at spots in New York like Michael Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, Artem Anisimov and Evgeni Gratchev and also some others who are bidding their development time like Ryan McDonagh and Chris Kreider. Overall depth needs to continue to be upgraded as does the search for a potential goalie of the future. For years the Rangers have had loads of home grown character guys moving through the system and not much else.

Pick Summary: The Rangers add a prospect that they see as a potential 30-40 goal man at the NHL level once he fills out and finishes his development in Emerson Etem.

ANAHEIM Ducks (via Philadelphia Flyers **)

22nd Overall Selection: RW Teemu Pulkkinen – Jokerit (Finland)

Pick Summary: The enigma gets scooped up by the Anaheim Ducks in an attempt to hit a home run with this acquired pick. They know he is highly skilled but questions regarding his maturity and willingness to conform to a system still remain. A plus is his chemistry he has shown with their first pick in this draft, countryman Mikael Granlund. The Ducks add more skilled talent, specifically on the wing, to their forward crop with this pick which was specifically the team’s agenda before they entered the draft.

BOSTON Bruins

23rd Overall Selection: D Brock Beukeboom – Sault St. Marie (OHL)

Pick Summary: After taking future NHL scorer Taylor Hall with Toronto’s selection, 2nd overall, the Bruins can address another organizational need in taking a defenseman. They select Brock Beukeboom based on his ability to play a solid two-way game and his pedigree.

PHOENIX Coyotes (via Calgary Flames***)

24th Overall Selection: RW Jeff Skinner – Kitchener (OHL)

Pick Summary: The Phoenix Coyotes are wavering between goalies Maxime Clermont, Louis Domingue and scoring winger Jeff Skinner but decide that Skinner just has too much upside to pass up at this spot and hope to pluck a goalie later in the draft. Skinner fills an organizational need for a fast skilled goal scoring winger.

CHICAGO Blackhawk’s

25th Overall Selection: G Louis Domingue – Moncton (QMJHL)

Organizational Summary: The pipeline of talent keeps bubbling over for the Chicago Black Hawks with a young NHL squad and more contributions at forward and defense yet to come. In net they have Anttii Niemi and Corey Crawford battling for action although goaltending prospect Unice seems to have fallen off. They have no glaring needs in the organization but could use some extra depth on defense and a true top end goaltending prospect in the pipe. Chicago will continue to draft who they see as the best player available, especially considering that because of their on ice success they will be picking later and later each year.

Pick Summary: Chicago loves that a goaltender that they wanted is available when it is their turn up at the podium. Louis Domingue gives the Hawks a prospect that has a good chance of developing into the team’s starter down the line and fills a need in the organization.

NEW JERSEY Devils

26th Overall Selection: G Maxime Clermont – Gatineau (QMJHL)

Organizational Summary: The New Jersey Devils have a few nice prospects at the skating positions that look like they will be real solid NHL citizens once they get there as well as solid depth at all skating positions. This group has a solid mix of two-way contributors. They need to stockpile goaltender prospects as they are extremely weak in this department and they lack that blue chip prospect at most every position.

Pick Summary:  New Jersey thought they would have a choice here between two Quebec league goaltenders in Maxime Clermont and Moncton’s Louis Domingue but after the Hawks pick they decide they need to take a top goalie prospect here and go with Clermont. They realize it is time to look for the successor to the throne and a prospect to try and fill the enormous shoes of Martin Brodeur for the future of the Devils organization.

DETROIT Red Wings

27th Overall Selection: D Kevin Lind – Chicago (USHL)

Organizational Summary: The Detroit Red Wings draft well and have depth at all positions but the main area of strength is in the crease where they have Jimmy Howard, who is getting a good taste of the NHL as Osgood’s backup this season, Thomas McCollum and Daniel Larsson, sharing time in the AHL with Grand Rapids, and previous Notre Dame standout Jordan Pearce developing in the ECHL with Toledo that all look like solid future NHL goaltenders. They also have a few skilled prospects that could develop into top six forwards down the line. After a couple defensive prospects with high upsides such as Jakub Kindl and Brandon Smith in the system, they do not have many sure bets at this position and will likely want to draft more at this position after last years draft haul of forward prospects.

Pick Summary: The Wings draft mantra is to draft smart defenders early and skilled forwards in the mid-to-late rounds. They grab a solid two-way defender with this pick and one that not only doesn’t need to be rushed as he is going the College Hockey route but also one with impressive size which they lack much of in their prospect pool.

WASHINGTON Capitals

28th Overall Selection: C Evgeni Kuznetsov – Traktor (KHL)

Organizational Summary: Goaltending is very solid for the Washington Capitals and is likely to be so for years with Semyon Varlamov already in Washington and more coming up the pipeline, see Michal Neuvirth. They have a few potential impact prospects at the defensive position such as John Carlson, Dmitri Orlov and Karl Alzner. They need depth through out the skating positions as graduation has depleted the high-end talent considerable. They need to continue to add skilled forwards as the Salary Cap will undoubtedly hit their NHL roster sooner rather than later and they will be looking to supplement with cheaper youth.

Pick Summary: Washington has no problem going back to the deep Russian well as they have more incentives than the average NHL team to lour them and keep them in North America, like the chance to play with the world’s top Russian Hockey Player, Alex Ovechkin. Kuznetsov give the Caps a skilled forward in the system that will be a cheap addition once cap trouble starts rearing its head.

SAN JOSE Sharks

29th Overall Selection: RW Nino Niederreiter – Portland (WHL)

Organizational Summary: The goalies of the San Jose Sharks are strong with depth and in high-end talent as at least two of Thomas Greiss, Tyson Sexsmith, Alex Stalock and Harri Sateri look like they will make an NHL impression. They have some nice serviceable forwards coming as well in the likes of the intelligent Logan Couture and hard working Jamie McGinn. Defensive depth once considered strength has taken a beating over the past couple seasons because of trades and graduations therefore; they need to add a high-end prospect or two to the bunch. Also, a high-end offensive winger or two would help solidify the forward group.

Pick Summary: The Sharks look at Ottawa 67’s forward Tyler Toffoli and Saint John import Stanislav Galiev with this pick but like the Swiss ‘Can’t Miss’ Nino Niederreiter’s all-round game and size too much and don’t think he will be around to select later in the draft.

PITTSBURGH Penguins

30th Overall Selection: RW Stanislav Galiev – Saint John (QMJHL)

Organizational Summary: The defending Stanley Cup Champions have a few high-end prospects coming through the system such as Eric Tangradi and Alex Goligoski. They also have some of the best young talent in the NHL. They need to add high-end prospects at the forward position and in net. A pure goal scoring winger to eventually play in their top six is needed.

Pick Summary: The Penguins like Peterborough’s Ryan Spooner a lot but can’t ignore the slide of the highly skilled Stanislav Galiev and see that his skill is a solid fit as a potential future fixture on the wing with Crosby down the line.

* Trade between Boston and Toronto. Boston received a 2010 and 2011 first round picks and a 2010 second round pick for scoring forward Phil Kessel.
** Trade between Anaheim and Philadelphia. Anaheim received 2009 and 2010 first round picks and a conditional 2010 pick along with defender Luca Sbisa and Joffrey Lupul for defender Chris Pronger and Ryan Dingle.
*** Trade between Phoenix and Calgary. Phoenix received 2010 first round pick, forward Matthew Lombardi and prospect Brandon Prust for forward Olli Jokinen and a 2009 third round.

Check back regularly as FC’s resident draft guru Dan Stewart blogs about the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and its prospects each Saturday and intermittently on Wednesdays. Also, be sure to subscribe and order the Future Considerations 2010 NHL Draft Guide that is sure to be the most comprehensive and informative guide on the market.

Now is the time to pull the trigger

Here’s something we already knew but now looks official: Roy Halladay won’t be re-signing with the Jays. According to ESPN.com, Paul Beeston told the New York Post that Doc is set to test the free agent waters, and why not? Let’s see — a chance to play for any team in the world? If I’m Doc, I’m not choosing this mess of a franchise.

Of course, this was inevitable. Are you up for this, Alex Anthopolous Ricciardi Jr.? With several young pieces in place already, now’s the time to deal Halladay. Adam Lind, Aaron Hill, Travis Snider and Ricky Romero are a fine core to build around, and the addition of say, Clayton Kershaw, just might accelerate the process all the more. What do you think, Dodgers? Can we get something done?

High fives all around

Here’s something that might help avenge the travesty of Derek Jeter winning a Gold Glove: Aaron Hill and Adam Lind were named Silver Slugger Award winners yesterday. The awards, voted on by coaches around the league, are handed out to the players with the best “overall offensive value” at each position.

Of course, this also leaves me feeling slightly better about an otherwise horrible Jays season, though still not too optimistic about the one we’re about to embark on next April. At least we have our two mashers, though — Lind, who hit .305/.370/.562 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 35 homers and 114 RBIs in 2009, may be in for a move to first base if Alex Anthopolous is able to move Lyle Overbay, while Hill (.286/.330/.499, 36 and 108) will keep doing his thing at second base.

Anyway, here’s the full list of Silver Sluggers:

American League: Joe Mauer (C), Mark Texeira (1B), Hill (2B), Evan Longoria (3B), Jeter (SS), Jason Bay (OF), Torii Hunter (OF), Ichiro Suzuki (OF) and Lind (DH). (Note how six of the nine were Gold Glovers, further supporting the assumed theory that the awards are given out to the best fielders that can hit. Does this mean Lind automatically becomes a Gold Glove contender?)

National League: Brian McCann (C), Albert Pujols (1B), Chase Utley (2B), Ryan Zimmerman (3B), Hanley Ramirez (SS), Ryan Braun (OF), Andre Ethier (OF), Matt Kemp (OF) and Carlos Zambrano (P).

Overbay may be getting a change of scenery

Could change finally be on the horizon in Blue Jay land? According to several sources, Alex Anthopolous is having discussions with Arizona to send Lyle Overbay back to the desert in a deal for part-time catcher Chris Snyder — a trade that would likely result in Adam Lind moving to first base and Snyder filling the whole that’ll be left behind the plate when Rod Barajas likely leaves via free agency this winter.

First off, Overbay is a sweet kid. He’s a great defensive first baseman, but he hasn’t hit a lick since 2006, when he signed a four-year, $24 million contract. People will tell you it has to do with a broken hand suffered early in 2007, but I’m more of the opinion it’s because he’s way too selective a hitter and takes too many pitches right down the middle. If there’s a move that could give him a fresh start and free up a spot in our outfield, I’m all for it. But Snyder?

Here’s a little run-down on the Arizona backup: He broke in in 2004 and hit a combined 29 homers in 2007 and 2008 in 660 at-bats. Like Overbay, he walks and strikes out a lot. He lost playing time to Miguel Montero last year due in part to Montero’s breakout and his own poor play — he hit .200 with six homers in 61 games before undergoing back surgery in September. Here’s my biggest fear in acquiring him, though: He’s due $4.75 million in 2010 and $5.75 in 2011, while Overbay’s deal comes off the books after next season.

Anyway, a couple fun facts on the players rumoured to be on the move: Overbay got his start in Arizona, playing parts of three seasons before being dealt to Milwaukee following the 2003 season. Snyder missed a few weeks in 2008 while recovering from a fractured testicle suffered in a game. Yikes, that’s gotta sting.

(UPDATE: According to Sportsnet, the deal is off.)

From the ‘Hey, whatever happened to…’ category, former Washington Capitals first round selection Sasha Pokulok is well on his road to recovery after a string of concussions put his hockey playing days in jeopardy. The six-foot-five, 230-pound rearguard is back with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL. Surprisingly, Pokulok netted three goals in his first three games this season. (NHL)

Columbus Blue Jackets property Maksim Mayorov is quickly learning the art and intricacies of the English language, but North American systems are slow to come to the young Russian. Starting his North American professional career in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, Mayorov is being taught that playing a good game is not based on picking up points alone. (Puck-rakers)

2010 NHL Entry Draft eligible Kevin Lind is looking to build on his strong performance at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and parlay a strong season into a good showing come June. In fact, he’s already starting picking the brain of Columbus Blue Jackets’ first rounder John Moore, whom he patrolled the blueline with while playing for the Chicago Steel of the USHL. Among other things, Lind calls Moore the best leader he’s ever had, patterns himself after Chris Pronger, and likes short walks on the beach. (NHL)

Boston College defectee and now Windsor Spitfire Kenny Ryan admitted his move was largely fueled by the thought he would better develop for the NHL in the Ontario Hockey League. The Toronto Maple Leafs second round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft wants a direct route to the show. Couldn’t hurt he was drafted by the only winless team in the league. (The Star)

A poll on the CHL’s website is asking which prospect will top the NHL Entry Draft rankings come the Top Prospects game, listing one player from each category. Kirill Kabanov is the representative from the QMJHL, while Taylor Hall and Brett Connolly represent the OHL and WHL respectively. The fourth option, ‘Other’, currently is in second just behind Hall, and light years ahead of Connolly and Kabanov, who could double their votes and add them together, only to still fall short. (CHL)

Future Considerations has looked at the top five draft prospects as well as some of the draft eligible talent the CHL has to offer for 2010 in part I and part II of this introduction series to the NHL Entry Draft. In part III, FC will move south of the 49th parallel and take a look at who is making noise in the United States.

Many of today’s prospects view NCAA hockey as a viable alternative to the more traditional CHL route while NHL clubs begin to value the flexibility of a four or even five year signing window over the two years given to CHL and European prospects under the current CBA. There are always a few talented prospects who we see ply their trade in the USHL or high school leagues throughout the States during their draft years while using these leagues as a launching point to retain their NCAA eligibility.

This season, the cream of the crop includes former Saskatchewan Junior Hockey Leaguer and Notre Dame Hound centre Jaden Schwartz who is suiting up for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL and is looking like a possible first rounder next June.

The speedy Colorado College recruit was named the SJHL Rookie Of The Year in 2008-09 after a productive year offensively and he is looking to do a similar feat in the USHL this season. Schwartz was able to display his incredible ability of getting to open ice for getting the best scoring opportunity as well as possessing a nice set of hands.

In August, Schwartz also played a part in helping the Canadian U18 team capture Gold at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Also playing in the Ivan Hlinka tournament was USHL’s Chicago Steel defender Kevin Lind, who suited up for the US squad that played to a disappointing fourth place finish. Lind is a big two-way defender who has a good first pass and is willing to join the rush when the opportunity presents itself.

His head coach with Chicago, Steven Poapst, offered these comments on Lind.

“Kevin has grown a lot since joining the Steel last season. He has become a leader on and off the ice possessing the qualities that you look for in a captain. He has gotten bigger and stronger and has matured as a person and a player allowing him to become the team leader that he is. He has size, strength and an element of toughness to his game. He is a strong skater and handles the puck well. He is very good one on one against his opponents using his very well and is extremely good at eliminating his opponents in the corners and along the boards.”

Lind will garner more playing time this year with Chicago and should have a pretty solid development year. He is scheduled to attend the University of Notre Dame in 2010.

Des Moines of the USHL could be a real hot spot for scouts this winter as they have a potential power forward in the making in their lineup.

Winger Yasin Cisse is a big winger that is willing to play in dirty areas, crash the net, finish checks and he also skates well too. Cisse has committed to Boston University for the fall of 2010.

While his offensive skills are just coming to the forefront this season, he has solid skills to cultivate and could surprise many with his production this season.

Cisse is a hard working power forward, a hard hitter that showed willingness to battle along the wall and has the hands to finish off plays. The Westmount, PQ. native has decided to attend Boston University instead of joining Lewiston of the QMJHL, who drafted him in the second round of the Quebec League draft back in 2008.

Cedar Rapids forward Michael Parks is a potential riser as the season progresses. He has average size, isn’t the best skater but his undeniable strength is creating offense. Parks has a nice set of hands and makes electrifying moves with the puck in one-on-one situations and also in tight around the net.

The O’Fallon, MO. native has vision and offensive creativity that are both natural abilities you can not teach. Parks is not only a one trick pony as he is an able two-way threat that consistently plays in all three zones. He had a good showing as well for the US squad at this past summers U18 Hlinka tournament in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Youngstown Phantoms power forward Nick Czinder has the size that will have scouts purchasing a plane ticket early and often. The native of West Bloomfield, MI. is just over six-foot-five and has the skill set to compliment his size. Czinder is off to a good start this year and has shown that he not only has soft hands but that he is intelligent on the ice and willing to play a two-way game.

Indiana Ice blueliner and USNTDP graduate Nick Mattson is one of the better USHL defensemen with pro potential this season. Mattson is spending a year with the Ice after graduating from the US National Team Program U18 program before heading off to North Dakota.

He has a very good overall game with no glaring weaknesses at this stage of his development. Defensively Mattson holds solid positioning, possesses good foot work and maintains solid gap control. Offensively he has more to offer than he has shown thus far. His outlet passes are strong and he can see the ice well.

Omaha Lancer defenseman Mathieu Brisson has the raw abilities to dominate offensively from the backend during his first year of USHL play. The slick skating defender plays a solid game that marries good puck skills with decent defensive positioning although he is still very raw and needs work on the defensive side.

The Cornell Recruit and native of Quebec has good vision, soft hands and makes solid outlet passes along with having some outstanding natural creativity.

One of the top USHL goalies this season comes from Perth, ON. and is committed to Northern Michigan for next year.

Lincoln Stars netminder Jared Coreau has the size and quickness that has been the NHL cookie cutter goaltender mold the past few drafts. At over six-foot-four and almost 200-pounds, he covers a lot of net naturally but also possesses quick reflexes.

Coreau is able to control his rebounds and never gives up on a play, sometimes coming up with breathtaking stops. However, he must work on his angles play more as he has a tendency to slink back into his crease and rely more on his size to bail him out.

One of the top U.S. NCAA prospects looks to be Centennial high school alumni Tyler Pitlick, who has the potential to develop into a future power forward at the pro ranks.
The Minnesota State freshman, whose uncle Lance is a former journeyman NHLer with stops in Ottawa and Florida, has good size and hands that make him dangerous around the net.

Pitlick’s shot is a major asset and will only get better once he adds some extra strength to his six-foot-three 190-pound frame. Strength is not the only area of his game that will need to be addresses during his time with the Mavericks as his defensive game and awareness currently have many holes that need to be filled before turning pro.

Former St. Catharines Falcon centre and current University of Notre Dame freshman, Riley Sheahan, is another top end NCAA prospect for the 2010 NHL Draft.

Sheahan is a highly skilled offensive forward who skates well and also has the size and strength to play a physical role with for Irish. He is expected to be a top six forward and get considerable playing time in his first collegiate season.

The Harvard Crimson of the ECAC should have real strong locker room camaraderie this season not only because the team is a tight bunch but more importantly because they have the rarity of three brothers suiting up together this season.

Freshman defenseman Danny Biega will join his brothers Alex and Michael on the Crimson and should be able to play quality minutes on the backend. The smooth skating rearguard has solid leadership qualities to go along with an impressive two-way game. Biega carries the puck with poise and has the distribution skills and vision to make plays from the backend. Defensively he displays nice gap control, plays his angles well and possesses the ability to separate the puck from an attacker and make it look effortless.

High school talent on the rise in the US

Some of the best US born prospects the past few years started out as little known high school players hidden away from the limelight and those who did not get as much exposure. This has changed some recently with the success these prospects have maintained and now the Minnesota and Eastern U.S. High School circuit is a must when putting together a list of potential draftees for NHL scouts and scouting agencies alike.

Blaine High School forward Nick Bjugstad has the size, speed and skill that many NHL teams will covet although some added strength is needed which is the case with most 17-year-old draft prospects. The six-foot-five forward is one of the most impressive Minnesota high schoolers available for 2010 as he plays the game not only with the ability to score goals and set-up plays but he is also defensively responsible in his own end.

Physical play and utilization of his size is also an area that Bjugstad will need improvement although he does play physical intermittently. His hockey smarts also set him apart from the average Minnesota high schooler as he is a very sharp guy both on and off the ice. He is a prospect that could see his stock rise into first round talk because of all the positives to his game and potential he holds despite is considerable rawness.

Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul MN. has one of the best 2010 draft eligible high school defensemen in senior Mark Alt. His father John was an offensive lineman for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and has blessed his son with both outstanding size and athleticism.

His game is solid in both ends and he uses his size and range very well. The University of Minnesota recruit is very agile for such a big body, over six-foot-four and 200-pounds, which is why he is also a very good quarterback for the schools football team.

Just as his brother Jake, a first round pick of the Anaheim Ducks, Max Gardiner is looking to be the next high NHL draft pick taken out of Minnetonka High School. The Minnesota recruit is a winger with good size at six-foot-three and has some good offensive skills but is not as explosive as his brother on his skates. He is a hard working winger who has some good playmaking abilities.

Mahtomedi offensive defensman Ben Marshall looks like the 2010 version of Nashville Predators prospect and former first rounder Ryan Ellis; a defensman who has boat loads of skills but lacks the size to play a real physical style on the backend.

The smooth skating Marshall is a danger to make a play every time he touches the puck. The Minnesota committed blueliner can just as easily go end-to-end as make a slick pass that opens a chance up for a teammate. Marshall’s size and strength will need to improve for him to get first round consideration.

Over in Massachusetts, Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick and current Boston College Eagle Jimmy Hayes’ younger brother Kevin Hayes is making some noise as a big body who has the ability to fill the net.

The Nobles Bulldog winger stands at six-foot-three and has the strength behind the height weighing just over 200-pounds. Hayes looks to have the potential to develop into a skilled power forward after joining his brother at Boston College for a couple years of seasoning.

USNTDP looks to have strong crop of talent this year

As most have probably noticed already, the USNTDP is playing in the USHL this season, as well as some college games and the programs staple international tournaments. That means that instead of piling up the frequent flyer cards NHL scouts will be able to see the best of what the USA has to offer in a more structured environment. The U.S. National Development Team looks to have a very skilled squad this year and should draw much attention from NHL teams as they potentially tear up the competition.

The top offensive forward on the team looks to be Paradise Valley, AZ. native Luke Moffatt. The skilled centre is extremely talented, skates well and is very coachable. He has good hands, is a smart player and possesses the vision needed to be an impact offensive contributor for the US Squad. Consistency is the one area that needs to improve, game in and game out, for an NHL team to show interest in him as more than just a mid-to-late round pick by next June.

Boston College recruit and power winger Billy Arnold should move up the draft lists as the season progresses as he has the skill and willingness to be a difference maker. He is a heart and soul type of player.

His skill set allows him to play both the role of a scoring forward as well as the mucking grind-it-out type of winger along the wall as his work ethic is unquestionable. The Needham, MA. native will need to improve conditioning and continue to refine his offensive abilites as the season progresses.

The USNTDP has a stellar defense corps this season with four potential first round candidates.

Ex-Duluth East Greyhound defenseman Derek Forbort bypassed his senior year to move on to the United States Development Program this year.

He plays a very complete game from the backend and possesses the prototypical size that all NHL are looking for. He has the ability to make everything looks easy on the ice. Forbort is a two-way defender who has a nice blend of vision, puck distribution skills and strong overall instincts. He plays the point well and usually make strong reads on when to pinch but needs work on his defensive angles and foot speed. He also needs to add more of a physical game and more strength.

His previous coach at Duluth East sounded like sour grapes when Forbort made his decision to leave, which tells you just the kind of player he is.

Highly regarded Jon Merrill is another of the defenders for Team USA U18. He also has the size at just under six-foot-four and skates very well for that size. He is more of a defense first player who uses his reach, agility and defensive reads to disrupt the opposition’s attack but does have some solid offensive skills.

Merrill also has very strong defensive positioning in his own zone to go with a very good first pass. His offensive skills are not as flashy as some but he does make smart plays in the offensive zone, he just does not try to force anything, though one wouldn’t think that to be the case just by looking at his early season statistics as he is one of the U18 top offensive contributors.

Stephen Johns is a third beast of a defenseman that the US Development Team has on the backend this season. He is six-foot-three and he too skates well for such a big body. His game is at its best when he keeps it simple and plays a physical defense first game. He uses his reach and on-ice smarts to angle off attackers effectively.

The Notre Dame recruit has some offensive potential as he makes solid outlet passes and has a decent point shot but his game is more suited as the shutdown defender type.

Ex-NHL player and former Washington Capital defender Mark Tinordi’s son, Jarred rounds out the four big men on defense for the U.S. National Team Development Program.

The six-foot-four defender is a raw talent who has more upside in the offensive game than the other three but has more of a mean streak. He skates well, has a good point shot and makes smart plays under pressure. Tinordi is the U18 team captain this season which speaks volumes to his leadership abilities. He too is slated to join the Fighting Irish next fall.

The top prospect playing in the U.S. Development Program this season is Port Huron, MI. native and the Under-18 squad’s goaltender Jack Campbell. Campbell really shone bright last April at the IIHF World Under-18 Championships for the gold medal USA squad in Fargo, especial in the gold medal game against an extremely talented Russian squad.

Campbell is not overly big but he plays a flawless butterfly style and is technically strong while maintaining proper angles. He uses his smarts to read and react while maintaining a patient yet aggressive demeanor towards the shooter. He is known to have a quick glove hand that pushes shooters to look elsewhere for open holes.

Campbell also maintains an upright position while going down in the butterfly for maximum net coverage which is a common weakness of developing goaltenders. The Michigan Wolverine recruit has great potential as a pro goaltender and could go very high in the entry draft next June.

The US development leagues have made great strides over the past ten years in an effort to narrow the gap between the Canadian Junior Leagues and their own. NHL draft picks are regularly coming from areas of the US that are traditionally known as out of market like Florida, California and even Texas. This can only be considered a good thing as more exposure to the game and more kids playing the game ultimately mean a better product on the ice in the future.

Check back regularly as Future Considerations’ resident draft guru Dan Stewart blogs about the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and its prospects each Saturday and intermittently on Wednesdays. Also, be sure to subscribe and order the Future Considerations 2010 NHL Draft Guide that is sure to be the most comprehensive and informative guide on the market.

Här kommer dagens naturrapport.

Lindlöv. Kalmar, den 19 oktober 2009.

Each and every summer a group of elite Under-18 hockey players get the call to represent their respective nations in what is regarded as the first major scouting tournament of the year, the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

The annual showcase is held in memory of late Czech hockey great Ivan Hlinka, who also played and coached in the NHL along his illustrious international hockey career. Hlinka was killed in an automobile accident in August of 2004 at the age of 54 years old. Slovakia and the Czech Republic has now become the permanent host nations of what started out as the Pacific Cup in 1991.

Each year some of the top prospects eligible for the next NHL Entry Draft showcase their skills to the throngs of scouts in attendance. The 2009 edition, held in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia is no different as it boasted some intriguing talent with a couple very notable players in potential top five picks Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler.

Both have graduated to the Under-20 programs for their nations as have a handful of other top potential draftees. The top dogs going into the tournament were Canadian forward John McFarland and Russian forward Kirill Kabanov, who both had excellent tournaments in leading their respective teams to the gold medal game against one another.

The gold was eventually won by an impressive Canadian squad with a 9-2 drubbing of the Russians in the tournament final. Canada always sends its top talent to this event which can not be said for all the participating nations and they have had great success in doing so winning a remarkable 14 gold medals in 19 years.

Some of the top performing talent for the canucks included tournament leading scorer and Plymouth Whaler Tyler Seguin. He showed some tenacious two-way play and good offensive skills with some overwhelming speed. USA defender Kevin Lind described the tournament’s leading scorer as “a player with good skill who is dangerous with the puck and can make good plays.” Seguin’s line which also consisted of top prospects John McFarland and Tyler Toffoli was the most consistent offensive line of the tournament.

McFarland was able to showcase his grit, determination and leadership through his play and by making those around him better. The Canadian squad’s Capitan and Sudbury Wolves forward is considered a top-5 prospect for next Junes draft by many. Lind said “(McFarland) was dangerous because he can do so much with the puck. He has a great shot, he skates well and he plays mean.”

Toffoli meshed well with the other two by utilizing his best asset, his hands. He has decent speed, the stick moves to beat defenders and good vision with which he uses to distribute the puck to his line mates.

The tournaments top goal scorer was speedy Kitchener Rangers forward Jeff Skinner. He paced all participants with six tallies and finished up the tournament with a hat trick in the gold medal game against the Russians.

Canada’s top blueliner was Moncton Wildcat Brandon Gormley, who also produced over a point-per-game and was the anchor on the backend while his Wildcat teammate and team Canada goaltender Louis Domingue was also very solid for the Canadians in net. Canada teammate Mark Pysyk offered up this on Gormley: “(He) is very skilled offensively and also plays defence well which lets his offensive abilities show more.”

Kabanov, a potential top pick in 2010, had a good showing posting seven points in four games tying for fourth in tournament scoring. One aspect of his game which might have raised an eyebrow was his inability to fight through some of the physical play that came his way similar to current NHLer and Pittsburgh Penguin star Evgeni Malkin did when he was younger.

Lind called Kabanov “An amazing player with a lot of skill. He can do a lot with the puck and he makes his teammates better.”

Russian squad member and Saint John Sea Dogs forward Stanislav Galiev made a lasting impression on USA team forward Nick Bjugstad who said “Galiev from Team Russia impressed me the most out of what I saw. He was very strong on the puck and could make plays.”

His thoughts were cemented by USA teammate Lind who added, “He’s a skilled forward with great speed. He has quick hands and a great stride. He’s one of the most dangerous people I’ve ever seen with the puck.”

After such a great showing at the 2009 draft, especially in the first round where seven Swedes heard their names called on the first night of the selection process, the 2010 crop tends to look pedestrian in comparison.

Some of the top draft eligible talent on display included four big bodies in winger Victor Ohman, defender Johan Alm, defender Patrik Nemeth and goaltender Johan Gustafsson. The Swedes top talent however is not draft eligible until next season.

2011 looks as though it will be another premier draft year for the Three Crowns as big defender in Adam Larsson and scoring machine forward Gabriel Landeskog emerged as forces for the third place Swedes. Landeskog finished tied for second in tournament scoring with eight points and Larsson lead all defenders with a seven points effort.

Fourth went to the US squad which was chock full of enticing draft eligible talent even though the top US born prospects are rarely sent to this event. Offensive defenseman and Minnesota High Schooler Ben Marshall was one such prospect who impressed not only those in attendance but also his teammates. Lind called Marshall “(An) offensive defenseman who is dangerous when he rushes the puck. Loves the offensive part of the game.”

Big two-way defender Kevin Lind of the Chicago Steel played a solid game at both ends and proved to be money in the clutch scoring the OT winner against Slovakia to send the US Squad into the bronze medal game.

One of the hardest working prospects and one who many thought might breakout offensively which did not happen is Power Winger Austin Watson of the CHL’s Windsor Spitfires. USA Teammate Bjugstad said regarding Watson ”I have never seen someone block as many shots as he did in one tournement.” Lind added “(He’s) a good team guy and plays his role well.”

2011 draft eligible defender David Musil, son of former NHLer Frantisek Musil, was the most talented Czech player in this tournament who’s team finished in fifth place.

The sixth place finish of the host Slovaks was about were many thought they would be and they were able to play competitively with almost all teams due to the play of a few solid draft eligibles like scoring winger Lukas Cingel and highly regarded two-way  defender Martin Marincin.

This year’s hot commodity from Switzerland, who finished the tournament in seventh place, is winger Nino Niederreiter who has joined the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks for his draft year. His game was good all tournament on an over matched squad but in the last game against Finland he exploded offensively.

The last place Finns had its best player out with a shoulder injury that stems back to last April. Highly regarded Mikael Granlund was first thought to be participating but his injury kept him out of the tournament and ultimately led to the squad’s disappointing finish.

So with the first of major scouting event of the ‘09-‘10 season in the books the road to the draft is well underway and one can expect prospects to continue to rise and fall before the big day in June.

Check back regularly as FC’s resident draft guru Dan Stewart blogs about the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and its prospects  each Saturday and intermittently on Wednesdays. Also, be sure to subscribe and order the Future Considerations 2010 NHL Draft Guide that is sure to be the most comprehensive and informative guide on the market.

Det är bara att inse. Magi är livet i sig. I allt vi har runt om oss. Våra själsliga och andliga energicentra fungerar varken bättre eller sämre än hur vi tar hand om dem. Om vi tillsätter +, får vi plus. Om vi tillsätter – får vi minus. Simple as that.

Eller?

Morgonen var ej nådig. Energin bullrade i huset. Högt tempo höga ord, elektricitet som ville brännas.

Vad var då detta?

Varför känner man så ibland? Att man bokstavligen vill bränna bort skiten? Få häva ur sig något riktigt elakt, få skrika sig blå eller slå näven i väggen.

Varför?

Fördämningar. Lagrat. Undertryckt. Kärt barn har många namn.

Vad saknas?

Ventilen.

Varför?

Oftast skam. Skuld skam och pissiga miljöfaktorer.

Vadå Miljöfaktorer?

Sociala rut och nätverk som vi klistras in i som andra små fina klipp o klisterdocker från Allers.

“Så här ska det vara”

Ok?

Så om det INTE är så så är jag inte en av er? Inte en i nätverket och då blir jag utanför?

Jahapp. Så enkelt var det.

Eller?

Livets Magi ligger i en annan dimension.

Tror jag,.

Livets MAGI ligger i dimensionen som heter ” Fria val” “ansvar för den fria individen” och “Individens fria val”

Ventiler har vi alla, en ventil kan vara tex. att få skriva av sig på sin blogg varje dag. Det kan också vara att få sitta hand i hand med sin älskade, mysigt uppkrupen i soffan och lyssna på dagens tankar.

OM någon av våra ventiler hamnar utan för den Sociala normen som vi tror oss vara intryckta i

SÅ VÅGAR VI KANSKE INTE ANVÄNDA DEN!

Och skulle vi nu i parti och minut faktiskt använda oss av ventiler som passar oss men inte den sociala normen klassificeras vi per omgående huvudstupa, rakt ner i ett för normen passande fack för flyga fritt, fy, nej se det går inte för sig.

HUR ska vi kunna DÖMA någon som flyger fritt?

VA? va? ….VA?

Min magi. Min egen privata personliga alldeles egna magi heter Carola.

Hon är jag. Jag är hon. Vi är ett. Ett jag. som ingen kan förändra mer än jag själv.

Mina ventiler är oftast kreativa. Till exempel som att skriva. Men jag kan också gråta. Det är underbart att gråta!

En annan ventil är att kommunicera. Med någon på en nivå där ett utbyte sker. Fantastiskt! Det är magi!

Ventiler som att laga mat ifred, ha en tyst morgonstund, rida på stranden i månsken, pussa en snorig bebiskind o få en kram tillbaka, saker som egentligen är vardag, visar mig en viktig nyckel.

Det är vardagen som är MAGI!!

Det är vardagen som är min ventil!

Det är Här och nu och för alltid som är det jag behöver!

Magi kan vara en alldeles spektakulär soluppgång som klockan 6 i morse……

Men hade det varit Magi för mig om jag ej sett det? Om jag ej först fångat kameran och sen fångat stunden?

Tja. Vem vet?

Molnen som för mig, i mitt synfält bokstavligen ligger på horisontens rand, dansar, hand i hand med havet, det är magi! och det hände då, just precis i den stunden jag valde att ta del av det!

Jag valde också att ta en minut extra och bara stå och låta Moder Jord ta emot allt jag ville städa bort för dagen! Moder Jord är en fantastisk ventil. Hon tar emot allt jag ej behöver längre.

Magi är livet och i livet har vi ventiler konstant att nyttja, i och utanför samhällets norm och rutin.

Vem är jag att ej lyssna till mig själv först och främst?

Vem är jag att blunda för färgerna, kompositionerna frukterna, i det paradis som är mitt liv?

Som frukterna ovan plockade i min trädgård…

Liv, Magi, Kärlek och..

Jag!

Jag väljer själv. Jag väljer om jag vill svära eller ge ett ord av kärlek.

Jag väljer själv och tar ansvar för mina ventiler, vill jag klippa till någon eller vill jag stilla lägga handen över personens hjärta och dela med mig av kärlekens kraft?

Jag väljer själv och tar ansvar för tiden jag disponerar, vill jag vara kvar i nuet och ta del av bebisens leende som når mig ända in i hjärtat eller vill jag stressa vidare, byta blöjan så fort det går och sen dumpa ungen i sängen? För att hinna med något annat på Schemat?

Vill jag ha kvalitetstid i varenda liten sekund som jag befinner mig i? Inte bara passera fort för att hinna, i min tro till något bättre?

Vad är mitt ansvar i detta och till mig och till mina nästa?

Vill jag ha avtryck efter mina fötter, skapa fotspår för barnen att kunna hitta tillbaka i, landa i som en god grund att börja sina liv i eller vill jag springa fort som FAN själv och endast lämna en strid ström av stress och destruktiva ventiler för mina barn att ta del av och växa upp i?

Är det Magi i mitt liv?

Eller är det magi att hinna med så mycket som möjligt på så kort stund som möjligt för att bli så erkänd, känd och berömd som möjligt för allt det man LYCKATS med?

Eller vill jag hitta mitt jag.

Mitt liv.

Min magi.

Min ventil som faktiskt kan utryckas i kärlek, att smeka en hud, att ge ett ord av kärlek, att stötta att hylla att finnas till för den som behöver mig.

Att Acceptera att jag är jag, att jag är vacker i min form, att jag är, just här, just nu, Magisk.

Vad är Magi för dig?

Take that, fatty

With the joy I felt when Roy Halladay plunked David Ortiz in the second inning tonight, I had a realization: I hate the Boston Red Sox as much, if not more, than the New York Yankees.

I despise Kevin Youkilis. I respect Dustin Pedroia no more than I do his child-molesting brother, Brett. Ortiz is as much of a cheater as his former teammate Manny Ramirez, who was the only reason I didn’t detest the Red Sox to begin with. Then, of course, Man-Ram left town and we all found out he was on the juice. I’m a bit too emotional to make a decision at the moment, but in coming days I’ll do a full investigation into which team I hate more — the Sox or Yankees.

Hating Boston was a lot of fun tonight, as the Jays wrapped up a sweep at Fenway and won their sixth game in a row and ninth in ten, 12-0 behind Roy Halladay’s second consecutive shutout. Again, if this was Doc’s finale in a Jays uniform, he went just the way you’d expect him to. With the back-t0-back shutouts to close out the season, Halladay finishes 2009 at 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA in 239 innings pitched.

Adam Lind, who homered three times last night before getting plunked by a Jonathan Papelbon fastball in the ninth, was out of the lineup. That, of course, was why Doc went after Ortiz, drilling him with a high inside fastball on the first pitch of the second inning. Well done — very, very well done. Halladay then went on to strike out Big Papi his remaining three at-bats.

The Jays did just fine, by the way, without Lind — they homered four more times, including a pair by Randy Ruiz and one each by Lyle Overbay and Jose Bautista. Bautista’s was his fourth in five games and his eighth in September, while Ruiz’s pair gave him nine in 102 at-bats since his call-up in mid-August. Can we get this guy a starting job next season?

It’s a bit sad the Jays saved their best baseball (with all due respect to April and the first half of May) for the last two weeks of the season, but I’ll take it nonetheless. They head to Baltimore to finish the season with three against an Orioles team that has dropped 13 straight, with David Purcey and Jason Berken going in the opener Friday.

Lind, continuing to mash

In case you hadn’t figured out in the first 157 games, Adam Lind is legit. Lind went deep three times at Fenway tonight, missing a shot at tying the major league record of four when Jonathan Papelpon pussied out and plunked him with two outs in the ninth. Jose Bautista, Aaron Hill and Kevin Millar also added homers and the Jays withstood a shaky bottom of the eighth to win 8-7 — their eighth win in nine games.

Back to Lind: He showed signs of coming into his own after being called up after John Gibbons’ firing last June, but I don’t think anyone expected the barrage he’s put up in 2009. After picking up four hits and six RBIs on Opening Day, Lind never looked back. With four games to go, he’s hit 35 home runs (one short of Hill’s team lead) and driven in a team-high 114 runs. Now, if only Cito Gaston would consider starting him against lefties next season…(or better yet, if only Cito were fired following this season.)

Ricky Romero finally picked up a win against Boston in what was likely his last start of the season, running his record to 13-9. Coming in 0-3 with an 8.83 ERA agains the Red Sox, Romero went five innings and gave up two runs. Shawn Camp gave up five runs (though one was inherited from Jesse Carlson) in the eighth but Jason Frasor closed it out in the ninth for his 11th save.

In Rod I (still) trust

It didn’t garner quite as much attention as Roy Halladay’s possible last stand (and for good reason), but Rod Barajas played what was likely his last game as a Jay at Rogers Centre yesterday. Like Doc, he went out on a high note. Barajas doubled home the game-winner off esteemed poet Miguel Batista with two outs in the eighth to give Toronto a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Mariners.

For what turned into a horrible season, the Jays sure wrapped up their home schedule on a high note. Yesterday’s win put the finishing touches on a 6-1 homestand and gave Toronto a 44-37 mark at Rogers Centre in 2009. The win — in front of a crowd of 39,052 — was the Jays’ second consecutive after trailing by two runs late. Adam Lind, who hit a two-run homer to tie Saturday’s game in the eighth before a walk-off in the tenth, singled home the tying run with two outs in the eighth yesterday before Barajas’ winner.

Brian Tallet had his best start in a few months for Toronto, going seven innings and giving up three runs — all three on solo homers in the fifth — but picked up a no-decision. Brian Wolfe, who gave up a homer to Mike Sweeney in the top of the eighth, picked up the win and Shawn Camp picked up his first save.

So, that does it for Jays home games in 2009. I was a perfect 81-for-81 in attendance (I work there, in case you thought I was crazy for a second) and won a sweet bike at the staff party last night, somewhat softening the blow of knowing I won’t be paid to watch baseball games for six months.

Halladay's last game as a Jay, yet again

Goodbye Roy Halladay. Hopefully that means I’ll see you in April, but I’m prepared for the worst. Doc made what could’ve been his last start at Rogers Centre as a Blue Jay last night (though we’ve heard that one before), tossing a seven-hit shutout in Toronto’s 4-0 win over Seattle. Halladay was his masterful self, striking out nine and walking none to win his 16th game of the year.

To be completely honest, I’m on the fence when it comes to dealing Doc. If the Jays are serious about upping their payroll next season, then I’m all for bringing him back and taking another shot at re-signing him. If they’re not, then there’s no better time to rebuild than now, with a young core of Aaron Hill, Travis Snider, Adam Lind and Ricky Romero already in place.

The Jays, by the way, added another win this afternoon, dropping the Mariners 5-4 on Lind’s walk-off homer in the tenth. Lind also hit a two-run bomb in the eighth to tie things at four. David Purcey returned to his shaky form, giving up nine hits and three runs before leaving with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth. Jason Frasor got the win, tossing two perfect innings and striking out four.

The Jays — 5-1 on the current homestand — close out their home schedule tomorrow afternoon with Brian Tallet facing Ryan Rowland-Smith.

Echt groot nieuws brengen met deze filmpjes is niet de bedoeling. De meeste zullen deze filmpjes kennen. Toch zet ik even enkele talenten op een rijtje. Elk van hun hebben een uniek verhaal waarom ze met muziek zijn begonnen. Meestal zie je ook (zoals bij Paul Potts en Susan Boyle) dat deze zangers specifieke ervaringen achter de rug hebben. De emotionele ervaringen die ze meedragen zijn duidelijk voelbaar op de manier waarop ze zingen, in hun teksten en songkeuzes. Luister maar!

Paul Potts – Nessun Dorma
Susan Boyle – Les Miserable
Susan Boyle – Wild Horses !

Van samenzang gesproken; Lind, Holm, Fuentes en Kurt Nilsen kunnen er wat van. In vele tijdschriften werd deze versie van Hallelujah omschreven als beste ooit! (Kurt Nilsen werd dan ook World Idol)
Lind, Holm, Fuentes, Nilsen – Hallelujah
Kurt Nilsen – I Live

Niet te vergeten: Dirk De Smet – Another Day die in België X-Factor won! Ik ben zelf naar enkele liveshow’s van hem gaan kijken. Waar ik enorm respect voor heb bij Dirk is dat hij zijn eigen blijft en nuchter blijft tijdens de overrompelende media tijdens X-Factor. Ik had verschillende kilometers moeten rijden om tot bij zijn liveshow te geraken en kreeg dan ook een dankwoordje van Dirk zelf. (lang met hem gepraat over songkeuzes en soorten muziek)De pers, fotografen,.. moesten wachten want hij kwam eerst met zijn grote fans en familie een babbeltje slaan.
www.dirkdesmet.be

Encarnacion and Bautista, glad to not be Orioles

As bad as life has been for the Jays the past four months 15 years, there’s always the Baltimore Orioles. Even up 5-2 in the eighth last night, there wasn’t much question as to whether or not the O’s would let it get away — it was just a question of how. The answer: A two-run Edwin Encarnacion homer, a bases-loaded hit by a pitch and a walk-off Aaron Hill double in the 11th. Make the final 6-5 Jays.

Brian Tallet was his post-May self for Toronto, coughing up 11 hits and five runs over six-plus, but four Jay relievers held the potent Orioles off the board after Brian Roberts’ one-out RBI double in the seventh to leave some room for the comeback. Shawn Camp got the win, pitching a scoreless 11th.

Encarnacion hit a pair of homers, the first of which followed Aaron Hill’s 33rd in the third inning. Hill’s walk-off double drove home his 100th run of the season, joining Adam Lind in the 30/100 club (Lind: .301/30/106, Hill: .286/33/100). Travis Snider added a pair of singles and reached base four times.

The loss was Baltimore’s sixth in a row, dropping them to 60-91 on the season, which makes Toronto’s 68-83 mark look pretty sexy (actually, it doesn’t). The powerhouses wrap up their three-game set tonight when Scott Richmond (6-10, 5.31) faces Mark Guthrie (10-15, 5.05).

Purcey was in form last night

Despite his inconsistency as a rookie in 2008, I had David Purcey pegged for a big season. Needless to say, that didn’t come anywhere close to happening. After struggling horribly with his control in five April starts, Purcey was dumped to Vegas, where he didn’t exactly turn heads — a 4.46 ERA and 78 walks in 139 innings. Purcey, back in the Jays’ rotation to close out the season, had his best start of 2009 in last night’s 9-2 win over Baltimore, going seven-and-two-thirds, giving up just four hits and a run.

Purcey’s command wasn’t exactly impeccable — he walked four, though two came with two outs in the eighth before Shawn Camp came and closed the door. Still, a nice performance for a guy that fell out of favour pretty quickly this year. The win was his first in seven starts with Toronto in 2009.

Lyle Overbay and Johnny McDonald hit solo homers for the Jays, while Travis Snider drove home three (despite striking out three times) and Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion each had a pair of RBIs. Encarnacion also managed to make the worst throw in the history of third basemen in the top of the third, pulling Overbay about 105 feet to the left of the bag on a Cesar Izturis’ routine ground ball. Oh well, at least we’re starting to get something out of the guy’s bat.

The win snaps a four-game losing streak for the Jays. Brian Tallet gets the ball tonight against Mark Hendrickson in a matchup that proves you can be a tall and not-so-talented lefty and still find work in the big leagues. If there’s an inspiration for Purcey to keep truckin’, this is it.

Carlson, looking for another shot at Posada's nose

Thank you, Jesse Carlson. You’re now officially the man, replacing LeBron James, who previously held the title. Carlson became the first Blue Jay to stand up to the big bad Yankees this season, making a couple stands against Jorge Posada and his oversized nose after Aaron Hill was drilled in the top of the inning in a Jays blowout win at Yankee Stadium. The benches cleared after Carlson threw behind Posada with one out in the eighth, then again and into a free-for-all when Posada brushed Carlson after scoring on a double with two outs. Emotions ran high and Carlson appeared to be wounded, but for the first time in awhile the Jays didn’t look like pussies.

The Jays ended up winning the game 10-4 behind five homers — a pair by Travis Snider and one each by Adam Lind, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista. Lind’s bomb was his 30th of the season. Roy Halladay was in and out of jams all night, giving up 11 hits but only a pair of second innings runs over six innings. The win ran his record to 15-9.

So, finally a little emotion. Finally a character-building win. The only thing missing is Josh Towers’ reaction to the kerfuffle, though I’m sure that’s to come. For now, the Jays and Yankees prepare for their season series finale, which tips tomorrow night with Brian Tallet and and Little Andrew Pettitte on the hill. Heads up, Jeter and A-Rod.

David Purcey returned for the Jays tonight. Unfortunately, his command didn't.

While I was busy watching football and forgetting the Jays existed the past two days, they managed to drop a pair of games in Detroit to settle for a split of their four-game set at Comerica. Ricky Romero’s late-season implosion continued in a 7-2 loss yesterday and Jason Frasor blew a 5-2 ninth inning lead in a 6-5 loss in 10 tonight.

Adam Lind hit a three-run homer in a five-run sixth in tonight’s loss, upping his RBI total to 100 on his 29th blast of the year. David Purcey returned from exile to toss five-and-two-thirds, giving up five hits, two runs and — surpsrise, surprise — four walks. No shocker there.

As for Romero, it’s getting tough to see him get lit late in the season. Yesterday’s ten-hit, four-run outing bumped his ERA to 4.22 and dropped his record to 12-8, all but eliminating him from the Rookie of the Year picture. At 154 innings, it might be time to go the Brett Cecil and Marc Rzepczynski route and shut the kid down. All in all, a fine rookie year.

Cano and Damon, celebrating a clutch win

To quote former Blue Jay great A.J. Burnett, “Why? Why? Why? Why?”. Why does Cito still feel the need to sit Adam Lind against lefties? Why pinch hit for Randy Ruiz when Jose Bautista and Raul Chavez are due up next? Why did Johnny Mac start in left field? Why is Kevin Millar still getting at-bats as a cleanup hitter? More importantly, why is Millar still even on this team? So many questions, so few answers.

It took the Jays and Yankees just short of four hours to complete a 6-4 game this afternoon — a New York win if you hadn’t yet figured it out. Brett Cecil was his shaky self, giving up seven hits and three runs in four-plus innings, and Casey Janssen and Scotty Downs did their part to let the Yanks extend a couple one-run leads in the later innings. Randy Ruiz hit his sixth homer twice — the first was reversed on the first ever home run review in Rogers Centre history in the second, though he followed with one that counted two innings later.

The win gives New York a 2-1 edge in the series and an 11-4 mark in the season series. The set wraps up tomorrow afternoon, with Brian Tallet and Sergio Mitre on the mound.

Halladay is back on track

Now that’s the Roy Halladay I remember growing up with. After three straight shaky outings, Doc was back in form last night, pitching a one-hit shutout to beat an overweight and underproductive Joba Chamberlain 6-0. The only Yankee hit came with one out in the sixth, when shortstop Derek Jeter Ramiro Pena doubled into the right field corner. Halladay also pitched a two-hit shutout against Chamberlain and the Yankees at Rogers Centre just before the All-Star Break last year.

The Jays got on the board early against Joba, scoring twice in the first behind back-to-back doubles by Aaron Hill and Adam Lind and a two-out error by Pena on a routine Vernon Wells grounder. Hill drove in two more with a double in the eighth as well, upping his RBI total to 91, one short of Lind’s team lead.

Adam Lind, loving Arlington

18-10. I’m not even going to try analyzing this one. In case, like me, you missed the game, the Jays jumped out to an 11-0 lead on the strength of an Adam Lind grand slam, then coughed up 10 straight runs to cut the lead one, then scored seven more in the top of the ninth. All this after being shutout in Boston Sunday afternoon.

Lind added a solo homer and a bases loaded double in the ninth to finish with eight RBIs — one shy of the team record. In four games in Arlington this season, Lind is 8-for-17 with four homers and 14 RBIs, and now has 27 and 89 on the season altogether. Pretty, pretty, pretty good. Rod Barajas also had a pair of homers and five RBIs for the Jays, and Johnny Mac chipped in with three of Toronto’s 14 hits.

More good news for Lind — the Jays and Rangers play a doubleheader today, with Mark Rzepczynski and Dustin Nippert taking the hill in the opener and Brian Tallet and Brandon McCarthy battling in the nightcap.

Lindsay Lohan was robbed for the 5653rd time the other day.  Apparently, a safe was taken from her house.  She thinks that it’s someone she knows.  She says:

…that’s how i know it was not a ROBBERY. electronics weren’t taken… just things that a certain old friend knew meant a lot to me

Others are saying that it wasn’t so innocent.  Apparently there are bunch of tapes, pictures, and legal documents that would stir up a whole bunch of press for her.  Over at wwtdd.com, the writer claims to know a few generous souls who are aware of a sex tape that Lindsay plans to sell.  It will be a two parter and this may just be the beginning of the prequel’s release.

I’m sorry but I don’t care.  I will post the shit out of it when it gets released just so i can put “Lindsay Lohan Sex Tape – For Real” as the title of a post but I won’t be happy about it.  As I have said before, I was a Bio major and I have seen some pretty graphic pictures of every STD ever known to man.  I certainly do not care to see them again while desending on fire-crotch’s vagina like the battle for Troy.  That gaping, saggy, roast beef-fest probably looks like a lowerd red pirate ship sail.  Complete with skull and crossbones flag.  The surgeon general made her install one because of the hazards her vagina poses to the viewing and inspecting public.  That shit must be like DDT and the shit they used to put in diet pills so that when pregnant chics took them, their kids were born with flippers.

Sorry that was so long.  Come back when you’re done throwing up your lunch.  Megan Fox is up next!

Last Tuesday, Joe came up to Cologne and got to see my apartment.  It was the first time I’d seen the place since Dominique had moved out.  The kitchen was pretty bare, and it needed a LOT of cleaning (some of which he has since gone back and done).  I don’t know if my face shows it, but I was feeling pretty overwhelmed.  On Sunday, I moved in a bed and a wardrobe with the help of my co-worker Barbara’s husband (they’re loaning me the furniture).  On Saturday night, I volunteered to babysit their 6 and 8-year-old girls as a way to say thank you (they’d been invited out but couldn’t find anyone to watch the kids).  It was pretty fun, although I only understood about 20% of what the girls were saying to me.  (Note to self: remember word for burglar next time so I won’t smile and nod when child asks if I think there might be one in the yard.)  So without further ado, a tour of the new apartment in pictures.

This is the city limits of Cologne, coming from the southeast. DLR is just ahead on the right, and my apartment is a little further down and several streets to the left. This district is called Lind, part of the larger district called Porz.

My new building from the outside. My apartment is on the top floor to the left from the stairs. There are four entrances to the building, and mine has by far the nicest flowers out front.

This is the living room, with the table and chairs Dominique left for me, and his built-in shelves.

Another shot of the living room... the balcony is off to the right, as is the kitchen.

Me on the balcony

Such a nice view!

This is the view from the balcony. It looks out over a back yard (which I can use), a big green space, then some community gardens, then a hill. On the other side of the hill is the Autobahn, but you can barely hear it, even from the balcony.

The kitchen: yes it's really as green as it looks. The paint everywhere is a bit much, but I like it.

Me at the little table in the kitchen and the pass-through to the living room. Not sure if I'm going to leave the red birds on the wall.

On to the bedroom.

The bedroom: same colors as the living room, same built-in shelves, the desk D. left, windows to the left overlooking Peidong and Zhenglei's building.

The blue bathroom. I need to find a shower curtain that coordinates with the walls.

Me checking out the coal-burning stove just inside the front door. When lit, it heats the bedroom and the living room. Dominique said he'd give me the number of his chimney sweep if I wanted to start using it, but I might just stick with the regular modern heaters.

This guy...this is my kind of guy

Ricky Romero — one of very few reasons to stay interested in Jays baseball the next two months. The rookie was back on the hill today, going seven innings and giving up two runs in a 7-2 win over Oakland, improving his record to 10-4 in the process. Toronto actually scored five runs before Romero even got out of the dugout, so this one was never in question.

Aaron Hill hit his 26th bomb, Alex Rios (!) drove home three with a first inning triple and Adam Lind had three hits for the Jays. Rod Barajas also hit his 10th homer of the season.

As for Romero, he’s looking pretty good in the AL Rookie of the Year picture. Right now his numbers are very similar to Tampa Bay’s Jeff Niemann — Romero is 10-4 with a 3.53 ERA and 87 Ks, while Niemann is 10-5 with a 3.62 ERA and 72 Ks. You might throw Oakland’s Andrew Bailey into the mix, but I’m not sure how much attention a reliever would draw in the voting. Another thing about Romero: His early season sneezing accident may prove to be a blessing in disguise, since the Jays won’t have to worry as much about limiting his innings in September. He’s throw 109 2/3 this season, short of his high of 164 1/3 from last season.