Polemic Hockey

He won't make the hall of fame, and I wouldn't bet on the Devils retiring his number, but it's guys like Sergei Brylin that make the NHL the league that it is, that make hockey the sport it is (and differentiate it from the other sports), and also who win Cups for teams.

Sergei Brylin would win, if there were such a thing, the award for best third line player every year, and would have been winning it since the mid 90s.

But, he's gone. Off to play in Russia, leaving Marty Brodeur as the only remaining three Cup Devil on the team (the only other active 3-cup Devil is Scott Niedermayer). I guess they didn't have the cash for him after bringing Rolston and (barf) Holik back.

Rolston signs with New Jersey for 4@20m. Rolston was the trade bait that won the Devils their 2000 Cup, was with the team for their 1995 triumph (mostly as a bit player, though), and has since matured into an on-ice leader with one of the league's hardest shots. He can also play the point on the powerplay.

Chicago made some decent moves, signing Huet and Brian Campbell. These guys have done well of late, but you cannot say that they have been solid for many years; as such, I question the dedication of so much money to them. But Chicago needed to do something.

Everyone else was mostly filling holes. We'll see about Hossa and Sundin. Does Chicago have the money to reunite Havlat and Hossa?