Long Hot Summer

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Well, now that the season is over--and the Ducks have won--now we can begin speculating where free agents are going to land this summer.

Here's a good one: in today's New York Post, Larry Brooks speculates that Michael Peca may choose to return to the Islanders now that ol' Number 79 has been bought out.

Oh, really? I don't know about you, but I take everything I read written by Larry Brooks with less than a grain of salt. He's proven to be a Ranger lap dog on so many occasions. He's like anyone who had every written a book appearing on the Oprah show. Think they are going to suck up to Oprah? You bet they are. Another couple million units shifted is hanging on whether or not she tells her disciples that she liked your book. Larry is the same way. The Rangers have buttered his bread so for so long that I think he just gave up and joined the parade. He likes to poke fun at the Islanders with every opportunity and yet, he comes off as very thin-skinned in some of his columns. Let's never forget that he tried "outing" the blogger known as Eklund after being scooped a few too many times.

Anyway, if you're me, the everlasting image of Larry Brooks comes from few years ago when he appeared on the NHL Awards Show with Ron MacLean. The man--Brooks--had the faraway look in his eye of someone making a hostage tape when he was on stage. I've seen people being led away in handcuffs who were more in control and less scared-looking than Larry Brooks was on that night. I am just saying.

Does that mean Peca would be interested in playing for his old Sabres coach? Hey, he might be. Would the Islanders want to have him back? I don't know. With Randy Robitaille taking his defensive responsibilities to Russia next season, sweater #27 is available again. If Garth and the management team think Peca would be a good fit, they may try to make something happen there. I just think it is doubtful that Peca is going to be getting a lot of long-term offers because he sure has been injured a lot lately. Plus, once he signed with the Maple Leafs, are the fans going to welcome him back or are they going to see him as having joined the enemy? Anyone who knows me or has read any of these postings knows which side I fall on in this argument.

Before LB tries to "out" me, my name is Bill Strong and I freely admit that I have never tried shipping my bags by using the Luggage Express services.