OK, I’m getting a kick out of the influx in traffic and everything but to those searching on Google for reactions from Mario and the Penguins on landing the #1 Draft pick… well, it ain’t here.

….But it might be here on Google News

But exactly what the Lightning won by lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup last….

The Tampa Bay Lightning will pick 30th in next week’s entry draft…..

EDIT: I’m live blogging right now and the biggest surprise of this draft so far is Florida picking 29th… But then again they have had so many opportunities int eh top 10 the last few years….

Nothing else is shocking to me right now. San Jose not being picked yet (??) is a big win on their part. Same with the WIngs.

THE NEW YORK RANGERS LOST THE #1 PICK! THE RANGERS HAVE LOST! Sorry for the exuberance but with all the “fix is in” talk (even coming from me) it was surprising as hell to see this.

3 Canadian clubs in the top ten - guaranteed (their order has not been determined yet)….

Down to LA or Pittsburgh. I can’t fault the Penguins getting the #1 pick — they were the reason people watche dthe NHL during it’s surge in popularity. The Anaheim franchise getting him is also not too bad — it’s the LA market after all. Just as long as they change their name PLEASE.

The Penguins win the right to call Sidney Crosby’s name next week. Not that they don’t have the right to trade the #1 draft pick…

Let’s kick this f’n pig and drop the puck already!

Kukla’s Korner posted that today’s press conference with Gary Bettman will be on Fox Sports Florida at or around 3 PM…..

Give a hand to SabresFans.com for compiling a list (or maybe reposting it from somewhere else) of all the UFA’s and RFA’s (by team) currently

Cory Borlund also offers another compiled list without all the graphical hub-bub. He’s also tracking where players are signing…

EDIT: TSN is tracking each roster and moves made by NHL teams. This is an excellent tool for following player movement throughout the league - and there will be a hell of a lot of it.

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Tom Jones over at the St. Pete Times wrote a story about the players ratifying the new CBA. He also got some fresh quotes from center Tim Taylor who continues his job as a PA Mouthpiece:

“The owners stood their ground, they were willing to sit out a whole season and we needed to do something to get hockey up and running again.”

Spin it any way you want it, Tim…

On a sidenote, in Hockey notes in the TImes, Taylor reports two teams have contacted him about his services… To which I must say don’t let the door hit you on the way out Tim….