Wake up and smell the coffee.

Many things to report, none of which are really all too important.

First, I am very excited about Calgary's chances this season. Adding Bouwmeester to an already solid group of Defensemen led by Robyn Regehr and Dion "That's About Phaneuf Outta You" was great, but coupled with the fact that Olli Jokinen is STILL with the team (and producing!) and I'm pretty thrilled. Yeah, we lost Camo, and that sucks, but at the same time with the team we have (we still have Iginla, Langkow, Glencross, et cetera so I'm not worried) and the players we got in the offseason (McGrattan to beat people's faces in, Nigel Dawes to... sound British and get some goals) and the fact that Brent Sutter is now behind the bench, and you have one solid team. Pretty exciting stuff. I hope that Backlund comes up and plays with the team this year, or Brett Sutter- though, if Brett Sutter plays, the Flames would just have a monopoly on Sutters in the NHL. We just have to find a way to get Brendan now.

Speaking of Carolina, I'm fairly excited to get down there for my first game at the RBC Center. I have heard many wonderful things about it, but at the same time, it will be nothing comparable to seeing it for myself. Even though it is preseason, I am very pumped- I don't think I've been this excited for preseason in a few years. I'll be sure to blog all about it since that's what the youth of America is doing nowadays, you know!

And speaking of blogs, it is best not to take the word on a contract signing from merely a blog. The Drew Stafford signing news that appeared on numerous blogs the past month was mere bullocks, starting with a post to a Sabres board from a San Jose Mercury-News article... from three years ago. Guys, Drew is not signed. Let us refrain from the chatter until a deal gets done (hopefully with another team, I hate that guy- but that's for another day).

Speaking of the Sabres, Sabres fans, how frickin' pumped are you for next season? Now granted, we didn't get any high scoring offense this year. Also Lalime is still our backup, so should Miller get a Scott Gomez ankle beatdown this year, we are still screwed. But we have guys that can hit, Tim Connolly looks like he's going to be healthy from what I've heard from those at the Pepsi Center, and our D actually looks good and gritty! Can you believe it? Sabres and gritty in the same sentence? It's been a few. I'd like to see us trade a D-man (Henrik Tallinder, I'm looking in YOUR direction) and maybe sign a scoring veteran like Petr Sykora, who is SOMEHOW still available at the time of this posting. I think if we did that, we would be heading into the right direction. Not only is Sykora a solid winger, but he's a proven goal scorer (25 goals last season- again, how is this guy NOT signed?!) on a consistent basis, gives his all on a consistent basis, and has been to the Stanley Cup Finals five times in his thirteen NHL seasons, winning twice- once with New Jersey, once last season with Pittsburgh. I don't really think this would happen, but if by some chance in hell Darcy Regier randomly peeks at my blog (I'm pretty sure he doesn't, but let's dare to dream) I think he should make this happen.

Man, I can write up a storm when I feel like it! I'll be sure to do more updating when I'm able- more than likely, from North Carolina. Wow, hard to believe I will be seeing hockey in just a week and a half.

It's a beautiful world.

Take care, all! Cheers!