Unwilling to share

To me, it's a classic case of protectionism vs. expansion. Do we keep a possession close to home? Or do we share it with others?

When it comes to the NHL playing games outside of North America, Hound Central 3.0 readers, by nearly 2-to-1 margin, made it very clear: NHL game in Europe are a bad thing.

Down here in Humidity Bay, the Lightning will open their 2008-09 campaign against the Rangers on Oct. 4 in Prague, the Czech Republic. Add exhibitions in Germany (Sept. 28) and Slovakia (Sept. 30) and it means that the Bolts camp in Tampa Bay will be considerably shorter than others.

Despite that, I believe it's a good idea for the NHL to play games overseas. Beyond the much-needed exposure, it's a way to say thank-you to fans who, until recently, could only watch their favorite sons on television.

Question: NHL games in Europe?

Bad: 9 out of 14 votes cast (64.3 percent)
Good: 5 out of 14 votes (35.7 percent)

Consider it done

Given that more than 58 percent of Hound Central 3.0 readers want to see a Hound Central 4.0, who am I to disagree. That's why, even before the poll ended, the new blog for the 2008-09 season has, indeed, found its way into the hockey blogosphere.

Though Hound Central 4.0 is up and running, we're still a few days away from its official launch, when preseason features, such as fearless prognostications and my annual thoughts on the best young players in the game, will fill in the days until my first trip to the Lightning's training camp.

In the meantime, Hound Central 3.0 will continue to run its course. I hope you don't mind.

Question: Hound Central 3.0 or Hound Central 4.0?

Launch Hound Central 4.0: 10 out of 17 votes cast (58.8 percent)
Keep Hound Central 3.0: 4 out of 17 votes (23.5 percent)
Don't care: 2 out of 17 (11.8 percent)
Shut it down (Sorry, Johnny Boy): 1 vote (6 percent)

The next step

As you can see, I'm seeking input, through the latest Hound Central 3.0 poll, on the future of my hockey-hounding blog. Do I continue writing this version, covering my hounding efforts of the 2008-09 NHL season? Or do I start anew, launching Hound Central 4.0?

Unlike others I know, I'll be honest. Keeping Hound Central 3.0 alive through the upcoming season would be taking the easy way out. No starting from scratch, just picking up where I left off. And that, my friends, has great appeal.

Still, though, the idea of building Hound Central 4.0 offers its own set of rewards. It's satisfying to watch something grow from the first page view. It's a hoot, too, trying out new ideas and, hopefully, fresh approaches. It'll give me another set of 999 posts.

That's where you folks come in. Provide some guidance, please. So far, eight readers have shared their opinions.

Do the right thing. Take part in the poll, won't you?

Love conquers money

I'm not sure who I believe more. Those who said, in Hound Central 3.0's latest poll, that the love of the game would motivate them to play in the NHL or those who would play simply for the money.

One approach is altruistic. The other is not. One preserves the game's basic integrity. The other preserves a bank account. There are plenty of reasons to choose one answer over another. And, in the interest of full disclosure, I voted for the love of the game.

The best answer, I believe, is twofold.

For the love of the game, a person will bust their tail just to make it to the NHL. Once there, though, I wouldn't blame them for grabbing as much money as they could. Life's too short and all it takes is one bad second for a career to evaporate.

In the end, ideals trumped income. Overwhelmingly, too.

Question: What would be your motivation to play in the NHL?

Love of the game: 19 out of 24 votes cast (79.2 percent)
Love of money: 5 out of 24 votes (20.8 percent)

The rich? Well, they get richer

It's bad enough that the Red Wings won this past season's Stanley Cup. Now, they go out an ink Marian Hossa, selected by Hound Central 3.0 readers as this summer's top unrestricted free agent, to a one-year, $7.4 million deal.

Though far from unanimous, Hossa, who will play for his third team in less than a season, easily outdistanced the competition, snagging nerly 80 percent of the relative few votes cast.

Given Detroit's talent-laden lineup (featuring Mssrs. Lidstrom, Datysuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom, among others), a gnawing rumble in the pit of my stomach tells me that the Red Wings may very well do the same in 2008-09.

Oh, the humanity.

Question: Who's the top UFA?

Marian Hossa: 11 out of 14 votes cast (78.6 percent)
Wade Redden (NYR): 2 out of 14 votes (14.3 percent)
Jaromir Jagr: 1 out of 14 votes (7.1 percent)
Cristobal Huet (CBH): 0 out of 14

Wasn't even close

As expected, the Tampa Bay Lightning made quick work of their No. 1 overall pick at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, selecting center Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting. Still, though, that didn't end the drama inside Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ontario.

The biggest question, it seems, was who would go second overall -- Guelph's Drew Doughty or Petersborough's Zach Bogosian?

Once again, Hound Central 3.0's readers proved their hockey IQ by overwhelmingly picking Doughty, who went second to Los Angeles, over Bogosian, taken third by Atlanta.

Question: Who will be the No. 2 pick overall at the 2008 NHL Draft?

Drew Doughty: 15 out of 21 votes cast (71.4 percent)
Zach Bogosian: 6 out of 21 (28.6 percent)

Take 2 for No. 2

Really, I should have given much more thought to the most recent Hound Central 3.0 poll, which asked (foolishly) who would be the No. 1 pick at the NHL draft -- Sarnia's Steven Stamkos or Peterborough's Zach Bogosian?

More than anything else, when The Hockey News calls you a "savior" on the cover of its draft preview, I'd say it's a done deal.

Closer to home, though, the Lightning have made no attempt to conceal their intentions with the No. 1 pick. In fact, the big hockey question all over Humidity Bay is have you Seen Stamkos?

So, yes, it's a given Stamkos will bring his talents to the Lightning. That's why I brought the Stamkos-Bogosian poll to a quick end.

The first eight votes, all in Stamkos' favor, further convinced me that there is a much better question to be asked of Hound Central 3.0's faithful: Who's the No. 2 overall pick? Is it Bogosian or Guelph's Drew Doughty?

Question: Who will be the No. 1 pick at the 2008 NHL Draft?

Steven Stamkos: 8 out of 8 votes cast (100 percent)
Zach Bogosian: 0 out of 8

Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!

Given that Detroit can claim its 11th Stanley Cup tonight by beating Pittsburgh (fulfilling my prediction of the Wings in five), it's no wonder that Hound Central 3.0 readers voted Detroit's Chris Osgood as a better goalie than Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury.

And just like this Stanley Cup Final, the poll, the blog's 18th of the season, wasn't as close as it appears. Osgood, who's had himself one whale of a playoffs as his backup (sounds weird, doesn't it?) Dominik Hasek, a future Hall of Famer, watches from the bench, remained in front throughout the poll.

In the interest of full disclosure, I voted for Fleury. At this time, he isn't the best goalie. Down the road, when the Penguins are in the midst of a long run of winning the Cup, I believe Fleury will be a better goalie. Right now, though, it's Osgood.

And, unless Detroit's Johan Franzen gets a hat trick tonight, including the Cup winner, I don't see anyone other than Osgood picking up the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Question: Who's the better goalie?

Wings' Chris Osgood: 13 votes out 23 votes cast (56 percent)
Pens' Marc-Andre Fleury: 10 out of 23 (43 percent)

Wishful thinking, perhaps?

As convincing as the Detroit Red Wings have been throughout the 2007-08 NHL playoffs so far, there is a healthy amount of skepticism (or is it distaste?) that the Presidents' Trophy winner will be the last team standing.

By more than a 2-to-1 margin, participants in Hound Central 3.0's latest poll, which asked if Detroit would take home Lord Stanley's Cup, showed little faith that the Red Wings would, indeed, deliver the goods.

I guess we'll soon find out, won't we? Though I was one of the majority voters, I'm sensing that the Red Wings will, in fact, enjoy victory laps with the Cup held high.

Question: Will Detroit win the Cup?

No: 21 out of 31 votes cast (67.7 percent)
Yes: 10 out of 31 (32.3 percent)

Not so fast

It's normal, I suppose, to vote with your heart more often than with your head. Visions of glory silence voices of reason. Idealism trumps realism. Poop, I'm afraid, happens.

Take Montreal's rookie netminder Carey Price, for instance.

When the latest Hound Central 3.0 poll, launched before the second round of the NHL playoffs, asked which player would take home the Conn Smythe Trophy for their efforts as the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup pushes toward summer, Price took an early lead, one that he never relinquished. Of the 39 votes cast, the goalie garnered 15, or 38.5 percent.

Now that his Canadiens are facing elimination at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers, a position that can be blamed on an apparent weak glove, those hopeful votes cast in his support appear to be in vain. Funny thing, too: The poll allows visitors to change their votes.

As expected, Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin, finished tied among voters, each receiving six votes. It further proves, I believe, the lifelong comparison that will follow these two players.

I was a bit surprised that Someone Else, who also received six votes, didn't do better. Given playoff performances by Philly's Martin Biron, Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, Detroit's Johan Franzen and Chris Osgood, there are plenty of players worthy of consideration.

Question: Which player will win the Conn Smythe Trophy?

Montreal's Carey Price: 15 out of 39 votes cast (38.5 percent)
Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby: 6 out of 39 (15.4 percent)
Washington's Alex Ovechkin: 6 out of 39 (15.4 percent)
Someone else: 6 out of 39 (15.4 percent)
Philadelphia's Danny Briere: 3 out of 39 (7.7 percent)
Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury: 2 out of 39 (5.1 percent)
San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov: 1 out of 39 (2.5 percent)
Minnesota's Marian Gaborik: No votes

The Habs have it

It seems that fans of the Montreal Canadiens have discovered this little old blog of mine. How do I know? That's easy. As the latest Hound Central 3.0 poll wound down, there was a last-minute push in picking the Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup.

That's not to say, though, that it was a landslide. It seems, too, that other visitors felt that another team, one not made available within the poll's choices, would end the season skating laps with hockey's hallowed hardware lifted to the heavens.

I was a bit surprised, too, that the Detroit Red Wings, who finished the 2007-08 regular season with the league's best record, didn't fare better in the poll. Then again, winning the Presidents' Trophy, which the Red Wings did for the sixth time, does not automatically guarantee success deep into June. Just ask the Buffalo Sabres.

Who's going to win the Cup? It's hard telling. Montreal does appear to be pretty stout, especially with rookie goalie Carey Price doing his best imitation of another rookie goalie who once led the Habs to the promised land. Still, though, I'm sure folks in other corners of the hockey universe, especially those in Pittsburgh, might beg to differ.

Question: Who will win the Stanley Cup?

Montreal Canadiens: 23 out of 49 votes cast (46.9 percent)
Another team: 17 out of 49 (34.7 percent)
San Jose Sharks: 4 out of 49 (8.1 percent)
Ottawa Senators: 3 out of 49 (6.1 percent)
Detroit Red Wings: 2 out of 49 (4 percent)

Crowning the Kings

In less than two hours, we'll learn what team will have the luxury of picking first overall at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft later this year.

If it we're up to Hound Central 3.0 readers, however, it would be the Los Angeles Kings, and not the doormat Tampa Bay Lightning, that would win the Steven Stamkos Derby.

In one of the closest polls ever here at Hound Central 3.0, 18 of the 35 voters picked the Kings, the Western Conference's cellar dweller, to get the No. 1 pick. Seventeen readers picked the Lightning, who finished with the league's worst point total.

With the draft lottery taking place at 8 EST tonight (it's televised on Versus, so check your local listings), we'll all learn just who will get the coveted pick.

Will the top pick be Stamkos, the Sarnia Sting center who's projected to step right into the NHL next season? A lot of people believe his name will be called first on June 20 at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ontario. Then again, it could be a defenseman: Peterborough Petes' Zach Bogosian or the Guelph Storm's Drew Doughty.

I guess we'll have to wait, won't we?

Question: Who will get the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft?

Los Angeles Kings: 18 out of 35 votes cast (51.4 percent)
Tampa Bay Lightning: 17 out of 35 (48.6 percent)

Update: The Lightning did, indeed, win the lottery for the first overall pick at the 2008 NHL Draft.

Capital moves

By adding Sergei Fedorov, Cristobal Huet and, to a lesser extent, pesky Matt Cooke, the Washington Capitals improved their lot the most on the NHL's trade deadline day, according to Hound Central 3.0 readers.

Of the 26 votes cast, the Capitals, who have surged into competitiveness since putting Bruce Boudreau behind the bench, garnered 16 out of the 26 votes cast by readers.

Given the additions to a lineup that already boasts Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green and Olaf Kolzig, it's apparent the Capitals were serious about winning the Southeast, perhaps the only way they could make a run during the playoffs.

Pittsburgh's acquisition of Marian Hossa, perhaps the biggest name player dealt (Dallas' Brad Richards, in my opinion, is a close second), Pascal Dupuis and Hall Gill captured some attention, but not nearly enough to make it interesting. It's too bad, though, Hossa hurt a knee in his Penguins debut.

Something tells me, however, that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Ryan Whitney and Marc-Andre Fleury can somehow keep the team afloat until everyone is healthy again. Just look back at how well Pittsburgh did in extended absences by Crosby and Fleury.

Question: Who improved the most on trade deadline day?

Washington Capitals: 16 out of 26 votes cast (61.5 percent)
Pittsburgh Penguins: 8 out of 26 (30.7 percent)
Atlanta Thrashers: 1 out of 26 (3.8 percent)
Tampa Bay Lightning: 1 out of 26 (3.8 percent)

On everyone's radar

Now that the dust has settled from Tuesday's NHL trade deadline, one could easily argue that Marian Hossa's move to Pittsburgh from Atlanta was the biggest name trade of the day. Given his skill level and consistency, the abilities he brings to the Steel City only improves the stellar talent stocked within the Penguins roster.

Sure, there are some, especially here in Tampa Bay, who might claim that Brad Richards' trade to Dallas was fairly significant. While these folks are entitled to their opinion, I'm not convinced, based on what I've seen from "Dime on a Dollar" over the past two seasons, that a fresh start will mean anything more than a new set of unmet expectations.

In hindsight, I should've named Richards, rather than Marty St. Louis, as Tampa Bay's representative.

All analysis aside, an astounding majority, based upon the results of Hound Central 3.0's latest poll, believed that Hossa's days in Atlanta were numbered.

Question: Who's the most likely to be traded by 3 p.m. Feb. 26?

Atlanta's Marian Hossa: 15 out of 23 votes cast (65.2 percent)
Toronto's Mats Sundin: 6 out of 23 (26.1 percent)
Dallas' Marty Turco: 1 out of 23 (4.3 percent)
Tampa Bay's Marty St. Louis: 1 out of 23 (4.3 percent)

AO vs. Sid

Perhaps the results would have been closer had not an injury been involved, but regular visitors to Hound Central 3.0 said Washington's Alexander Ovechkin is a better player than Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby by more than a 2-to-1 margin in the most recent poll.

In a sense, it's easy to see why. Ovechkin, barring he doesn't get hurt, will be the first player to reach 50 goals this season and, in all likelihood, will lead the league in scoring. Crosby, meanwhile, has spent the past month or so recuperating from a high ankle sprain.

To me, Ovechkin brings excitement and passion to the game. He loves to play. He loves to shoot. And he's willing to dish out, and absorb, some punishment. Crosby, however, is the type of player you build championships around, surrounding him with talented players who only complement his skills. Unlike Ovechkin, he's not the only star on the squad.

Though the intent of the poll was to compare apples to apples, it became more of comparing a Granny Smith apple with a stalk of organic rhubarb. Simply put, there is no comparison today. Down the road, though, we'll have to see what happens.

My concern is that Ovechkin's style of play will ultimately limit the time he's in the league. Should Crosby fully recover from what is often a nagging injury, I believe time will show that the short-term view of Ovechkin, though completely warranted, will give way to Crosby's longevity.

Here are the results:

Question: Who's better?

Alexander Ovechkin: 28 out of 40 votes cast (70 percent)
Sidney Crosby: 12 out of 40 (30 percent)

Loathing the Leafs

Having grown up in western New York, nothing warms my hockey heart more than learning I'm not alone in my longstanding distaste for the bumbling Buds in Toronto.

Sure, my hometown Buffalo Sabres have developed bitter rivalries with other NHL clubs. But when it comes to Leafs, those feelings of ill will are pretty quick to ramp up.

Though I know that the geographical proximity plays a major role, I believe it's more of the perception that the organization believes the Leafs, no matter how poorly they're playing, are Canada's team. This is just a hunch, but I'm sure there are another five cities that feel qualified to make that claim.

Because of that, I was hardly surprised that the Toronto Maple Leafs were overwhelmingly picked by Hound Central 3.0's readers as the worst team in the NHL.

Here are the results:

Question: Who's the worst team in the NHL?

Toronto Maple Leafs: 27 out of 48 votes cast (56.3 percent)
Los Angeles Kings: 15 out of 48 (31.3 percent)
Tampa Bay Lightning: 6 out of 48 (12.5 percent)

Really, I mean this

I'd like to take this time to express my appreciation to those folks kind enough to take part in Hound Central 3.0's latest poll: Who's the worst team in the NHL?

My undying gratitude, however, goes to anyone who picks the Leafs.

Winging it

When it comes right down to it, it was hardly a surprise. Given its talented lineup, rabid fan base and place in hockey history, it's no wonder that Hound Central 3.0 readers picked the Detroit Red Wings as the NHL's best team this season.

By receiving more than 45 percent of the 33 votes cast (a Hound Central 3.0 poll record), the Wings easily outdistanced Ottawa. The Senators made a bit of a run, getting within one vote of tying Detroit, but their support dropped quickly upon news of injuries to Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza.

For the record, here are the results:

Question: Who's the best team in the NHL?

Detroit Red Wings: 15 out of 33 votes cast (45.4 percent)
Ottawa Senators: 10 out of 33 (30.3 percent)
Montreal Canadiens: 3 out of 33 (9 percent)
Vancouver Canucks: 3 out of 33 (9 percent)
Dallas Stars: 1 out of 33 (3 percent)
San Jose Sharks: 1 out of 33 (3 percent)

Headed to overtime

In the latest Hound Central 3.0 poll, we asked who was going to win today's NHL Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium in snowy Orchard Park, N.Y.

At the conclusion of voting, timed to end as the game started, we found ourselves in a tie. Of the 18 votes cast, the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins each received nine votes.

My vote, the last cast in the poll, went to my hometown Sabres.

So, who's going to win? We'll have to wait to see. I'm hoping that home-snow advantage plays a role. As an added bonus, Buffalo's Brian Campbell nets the game-winner.

Update (1/2/08): Even though it's disappointing that the Sabres lost 2-1 in a shootout, it was wonderful to see hockey played outdoors. I hope the NHL does this every year.

Bad boys

I suppose when your name makes the headlines only because you tried to hurt someone, there's a really good chance that Santa won't be smiling at you. Just ask Chris Simon, the New York Islanders forward who recently got dope-slapped with a 30-game suspension.

It seems that Simon, fresh off a 25-game sidelining for two-handing the Rangers' Ryan Hollweg last season, didn't learn his lesson -- attempting to injure Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu by stepping on his skate. Pretty scary, in both instances.

Now, we all know hockey is a hard-hitting game. To some, myself included, there's little that's more exciting that a well-placed, legal hit that doesn't injure an opponent. However, Simon's recent actions, as well as those delivered by the other players listed, have no business in the game.

Let's hope that all players, not just Simon and the NHL's motley crew of thugs, goons and knuckle-draggers, get the message.

For the record, here are the results:

Question: Who's getting a lump of coal from Santa?

NYI's Chris Simon: 9 out of 14 votes cast (64.3 percent)
All of the above: 3 out of 14 (21.4 percent)
Philly's Randy Jones: 2 out of 14 (14.3 percent)
Philly's Jesse Boulerice: 0 votes
Phily's Steve Downie: 0 votes
Vancouver's Mattias Ohlund: 0 votes