Random Thoughts

---NHL Draft time is upon us, and the crazy rumors are flying around, as usual. I already expressed my disdain for the rumor of a Russel/ Auld trade on Twitter; Quite hilarious. In my amateur opinion, I see Howson getting the goalie situation taken care of through a free agent signing, not a trade. I'm not ruling out the possibility of Dan LaCosta getting the nod as the permanent number 2, either; That depends on how ready Hitch thinks he is to step up. As down as many people seem to be on the idea, I wouldn't be surprised if Duvie ends up sticking around, either. He sounds like a good, upbeat personality to have in the locker room, and he did show he has some chops in goal after a couple rocky starts. Guess finally having his own gear DID help. It's looking less and less like Malhotra will be coming back, which is a shame. He was another great face for the franchise and his faceoff expertise will be missed, but his offensive production is just not what it once was. I understand the argument that his agent is likely making regarding him spending most of the season playing on the top offensive line, but if he wants to be paid like a top-line center, he needs to SCORE like a top-line center.

-- Broke down and bought Ghostbusters: The Video Game. As a nostalgia piece, it is sublime; I was smiling from ear to ear through the whole first level, which culminates in a battle with the infamous Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man! As a game, it's merely solid; Controls are good, and there are hints of cool stuff that could have been in the PKE meter scanning. The gamer in me is left wanting a somewhat broader experience, but the storyteller in me is struck by how well scripted and choreographed the game is. The cinematic chops of the folks behind the scenes really shine through; it's almost magical how well the game's gags and shocks are pulled off. It's an absolute must-play for fans of the movies.

-- Idea for TV show: The deceased members of the cast of Hee-Haw return from the grave as zombies, reunite with the remaining cast, and travel the country bringing the magic of laughter to downtrodden towns throught their blend of rural/geriatric humor and classic country music. Then they eat brains.