ESPN

Buzzmaster

  (11:20 AM)

Hey everyone, Pierre's on his way to the rink over in Finland. He should be here in 10 minutes or so!

Pierre

  (11:32 AM)

Sorry for the lateness everyone _ Helsinki traffic. I'm at Hartwall Arena now, where the Panthers play Jockerit in 30 min. Meanwhile, just got word from a source that the Caroline Hurricanes have signed star goalie Cam Ward to a six-year, $37.8-million deal. One of the best goalies is locked up !

Joe (Alaska)

Do you think theres anyway Alaska will get a PRO team up here cause last year when the Alaska Aces made the Finals (ECHL) there were over 15 Thousand ppl trying to get a ticket i dont get why we dont have a team

Pierre

  (11:33 AM)

not sure there's enough money there my friend.

Tom (Kingston)

Does Toskala have reason to be afraid of the monster. How long before Vesa is number 2. (Kind of ironic because a number of the preason games he played in reminded me of a number 2)

Pierre

  (11:35 AM)

I think the Leafs signed Monster very much with the thought of him eventually being a number one and with the thought that Toskala is UFA July 1

rich (rhode island)

Manny Fernandez will lace them up for which organization?

Pierre

  (11:36 AM)

team retirement would be my guess but I haven't spoken to his agent in a long time.

Ben (New York City)

Pierre, how do you feel about the Shark's overhaul of their 3rd and 4th lines? Does this give them enough grit to get over the hump in the playoffs?

Pierre

  (11:38 AM)

I do like what they did there with their bottom six group but to be honest, it's all about Nabokov. He was brutal in the first round and that's why they lost.

John (Boston)

Pierre - I love Tim Thomas and feel he was the best goalie in the league last year, but was it the right move to sign him for 4 years when they have a potential number 1 goalie waiting in the wings with Rask? Thanks

Pierre

  (11:39 AM)

I'm sure by the fourth year of that deal if Rask has indeed surpassed him, Tim won't balk if becomes a backup... It's a solid 1-2 punch either way for the next four years

Josh ((Nashville))

Pierre, Help me out with this... Balsillie wants to move the Coyotes into a more profitable market. If successful, he turns a team that was taking money from revenue sharing and becomes a team that contributes to the revenue sharing "pool". Would this not lessen the burden of the financially well off teams and give more money to the less well off? Why would the owners block his ownership if it meant they would make more money? Can you please explain this?

Pierre

  (11:43 AM)

The problem is not with putting another team in Southern Ontario _ the NHL privately wants to do just that over the next few years. The problem is the manner in which Balsillie has gone about it. Imagine getting the rights to a Tim Hortons doughnut store in Toronto and deciding to move it to Los Angeles without telling the home office. According to NHL bylaws, the rights to your franchise are for the market that's beena ssigned to you. Jerry Moyes doesn't have the right to sell the Coyotes to Hamilton. That's the truth, even if we all agree the Coyotes would make more money in Southerh Ontario.

Jonathon (Boston, MA)

T.J Oshie! Brad Boyes! Patrick Berglund! Erik Johnson! David Backes! David Perron! Alex Pietrangelo! Paul Kariya! Andy Macdonald! Exclamation Point! Tell me why I shouldn't be excited about the Blues chances this year. No don't tell me.

Pierre

  (11:45 AM)

You should definitely be excited! They're the real deal !

Tim (Chicago)

More goals this year- Toews or Kane?

Pierre

  (11:46 AM)

Kane. But I prefer Toews as an overall player

Jeff White (reminderville OH)

Pierre love your work on HNIC. Do you think with all the changes Burke has made, will the Toronto Maple Leafs make the playoffs??

Pierre

  (11:47 AM)

Thanks Jeff. I've said this a few times but I think it's the truth _ after the top four of Washington, Pitt, Philly and Boston to me I view it as completely wide-open from 5th to 13th. I really do. Injuries will have a big role in seperating that group. Parity !

Geno (Pittsburgh)

Will I score 40 goals again this season?

Pierre

  (11:48 AM)

da

tom (hackensack)

Pierre,With the success Alex Burrows had with the Sedin twins last year, how can the Canucks not leave that line intact? Does Samuelsson make that line even better? how do you see this playing out this year...Thanks!

Pierre

  (11:49 AM)

I think for Vigneault it's about finding scoring balance in his top six and not becoming a one-line team. I think Burrows, Samuelsson and Shirakov will all get a look with the twins this season...

James (Orange County, Ca)

Pierre, The Ducks can not replace Pronger and Beauchemin on the Blueline, but do the additions, of Saku, Lupul and ther emergence of Ryan, help with the scoring enough to help ease the loss some d?

Pierre

  (11:50 AM)

not sure if you saw which team I picked to finish first in the West in a minor upset _ Anaheim !

becca price (history class)

is this the year san jose finally does something in the playoffs?

Pierre

  (11:51 AM)

Becca from history class ! pay attention !Well, I picked them win the Cup from the 4th seed. I just can't believe this collection of talent will never figure it out. But I've been wrong before...

mike (boston)

Do you think the Bruins will be OK without Kessel? And what do you think of Dennis Wideman?

Pierre

  (11:53 AM)

First on Wideman _ bonafide top-four guy and effective at both ends. Strange that he doesn't play well with Chara but he's perfect on the 3/4 pair.Second, the offense without Kessel _ the Bruins hope the return of 25/30-goal man Marco Sturm from injury and the continued improvement of Blake Wheeler will make up for the difference. It's not a bad theory. But we'll see.

Joe (MN)

Pierre, what are the Wild's top 2 lines going to look like?

Pierre

  (11:55 AM)

courtesy of an e-mail I just got from veteran hockey writer Mike Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:Brunette koivu havlatSykora bouchard nolan

john (dc)

any update on what is going on with Nylander in DC? Can the Caps get deal him? If so, what is the type of deal we should expect

Pierre

  (11:56 AM)

just got a fresh update on this: the Caps are hoping Nylander will go play in Europe but it's delicate matter that requires some negotiating.

martice (lexington,tn)

i think kimbo slice can contend(and be a dominate person)in the ufc for the heavyweight belt once he gets he ground skills good and wins the ultimate fighter

Pierre

  (11:57 AM)

I wish I even knew who Kimbo Slice was??? haha

brian (toledo )

are the wings a better or worse team this year ?

Pierre

  (11:58 AM)

I think on paper there less deep with the defections of Hossa, Kopecky, Samuelsson and Hudler but I also know from talking to them last weekend in TOronto that they are extemely motivated to avenge last spring's Cup loss. That's a nice hunger to have all year long.

Evan Vogini (Pittsburgh)

Am I really the first one to ask a question. What can hockey do a better job of in the future to bring more excitement to the beginning of the season. I might be the only one around that knows it starts tomorrow.

Pierre

  (11:59 AM)

Guess you haven't been in Canada in a while !!! huge buzz as usual in my home country

John (Baltimore)

What are the chances that the Caps get their defense and goaltending together enough to win the cup this year?

Pierre

  (12:00 PM)

I mean, it's possible. There's so much talent on this team. But the Theodore/Varlamov/Neuvirth situation in goal is unsettling for me. I think a Cup contender needs to know who their guy is. It's about stability.

Drew (Philly)

Crazy NFL related question: Which Pierre do you like more, Thomas or Garcon?

Pierre

  (12:01 PM)

Thomas _ because he plays for a French team :)

Pierre

  (12:02 PM)

Hey guys, sorry for the shortened session. The puck is dropping in two minutes between Jokerit and Florida. Catch ya all next week.