Craig Adams

Arron Asham (RW) is a very tough guy. Logging 126 penalty minutes (PIM) gives a guy that type of reputation around the league these days. He works hard on the fourth line and can even do some damage on the third line as he does have a scoring touch (72 games, 10 goals, 24 points last year).

What do the Flyers, Coyotes, Senators, and Avalanche have in common?

They were picked to lose their opening-round series by the bulk of NHL punditry.

Granted, the 2010 NHL playoffs are still in their infancy, but each one of the favored teams in last night’s games got a wake-up call. If you don’t come to win the NHL playoffs, you’re going to lose.

The regular season and playoffs are two different animals in the NHL. The regular season is filled with highlight reel goals, saves, and hits, but the playoffs are filled with gritty, grind-it-out games.

I’ve seen Ray Shero’s name dragged through the mud.  People mocked him when Marian Hossa signed with the Red Wings.  They ridiculed him when he fired Michel Therrien.  They wanted Colby Armstrong back, they missed Ryan Malone, they missed Ryan Whitney, they couldn’t believe someone would give up on Angelo Esposito.  Who did this guy think he was, anyway—a General Manager or something?

Maybe the best in hockey.