St. Louis is a nice city

Having traveled to St. Louis a couple years ago, I'm pretty certain that Hannu Toivonen will enjoy his move. In some ways, baseball in particular, it will remind him of Boston. It's more quiet, though. Not so much hustle and bustle. And there's always the Mississippi and the Gateway Arch. Besides, Brad Boyes, another ex-Bruin, plays for the Blues.

Jonesin' for hockey

It's not that I truly miss living in New England, but I certainly wish I was there, spending a week of vacation. Sure, it would be nice to get away from Florida's heat and humidity for a couple days hanging out with family and friends. And I wouldn't turn down the offer of a steamed Maine lobster.

But what really has given me a mild case of homesickness, so to speak, is that there's some hockey taking place this week. The Boston Bruins are holding a development camp in Wilmington, Mass., bringing in prospects -- from sure-fire NHLers to those playing out a dream.

The camp, held through Saturday at the Ristuccia Memorial Rink, promises more than the welcome chill of a rink and a sneak peak at the team's future. It also means a week of judicious hounding, namely loading up on some stars-in-making who hopefully still get a thrill out of signing autographs.

Had I been there, my hounding efforts would focus on three players. First and foremost, there's the Bruins' top-rated prospect, goalie Tuukka Rask. First-rounders Matt Lashoff (22nd overall in the 2005 draft), a defenseman who played in Boston and Providence last season, and Zach Hamill, (eighth overall in the 2007 draft), a center with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, are also puckworthy.

Beyond that, I'm not so sure. Still, though, it's hockey, and hounding, in July. For me, September can't come soon enough.

Just a couple thoughts

With all the hockey news that's been taking place over the past few days (Bruins firing Dave Lewis, Senators dumping John Muckler, etc.), the Philadelphia Flyers made the biggest splash. In trading a No. 1 pick to Nashville (the pick came from Nashville in the Peter Forsberg trade) , the Flyers added a quality forward in Scott Hartnell and a solid defenseman in Kimmo Timonen. Philadelphia keeps stockpiling talent, enough to make the Flyers a much more formidable opponent this season.

And, in Beantown

If Bruins fans believe that the hiring of Claude Julien solves all of the team's problems, it's going to be another long season along Causeway Street. Why? It's easy. The lack of sustainable offense, an easy-to-crack defense and a true starting goalie is simply too much for a coach to deal with. I wish Julien (who got a raw deal in New Jersey, if you ask me) the best of luck. He's gonna need it.

Ask any Bruins fan ...

... what they think of Mike Sullivan's abilities behind an NHL bench and you'll receive a less-than-favorable response. Now that the Lightning has ignored my advice (like they even know who I am) and hired him as an assistant coach, Tampa Bay fans will have to live with this decision.

Think twice about Sully

It's bad enough to read this morning that the Tampa Bay Lightning has fired associate coach Craig Ramsay. But to learn that former Bruins coach Mike Sullivan is under consideration as Rammer's replacement gives me a case of the willies. Sullivan did little at the Bruins' helm and I don't see what he could bring, other than his losing ways, to Tampa Bay.

A little too late

Colin and I caught the shootout between the Bruins and Rangers this afternoon. Like the two big kids we are, we woke up the cats when Boston's Patrice Bergeron solved New York's Henrik Lundqvist. Sadly, it wasn't enough. Rangers won, 2-1.

I'm not surprised

Though I'm glad to hear that Philadelphia's Todd Fedoruk sustained no major injuries after getting knocked out recently by New York Rangers tough guy Colton Orr, it's about time the league's fighters are learning -- the hard way -- why I coined the "One-Punch" nickname for the enforcer back when he was with the Bruins.

Colin and Patrice

Of all the pictures that Colin lets me take, any one with Boston's Patrice Bergeron is among his favorites.

This one, the third of Colin's collection, was taken when Boston visited Tampa in early February following a fair trade between the two.

Sunday morning homily XV

Recent conversations with my Aunt Pat, down here in Florida as she escapes another brutal western New York winter, have shed some light on my serious devotion to hockey.

All along, I've known that a maternal generation, maybe two, lived on Prince Edward Island after leaving Scotland. After talking to my Aunt Pat, though, I've found out that three generations of family took up residence in the Canadian Maritimes before settling in the United States.

I guess, then, that I have more than a drop or two of Canadian blood pulsing through my veins. It also explains, too, why I have such a fondness for O Canada, and not just because it's easier to sing than the Star-Spangled Banner. My surname may come from Germany, but it's nice to know that I'm part Canadian, too.

Knowing one's heritage, I believe, is important. And despite having only six (Thanks, Drew, I had temporarily forgotten about Ottawa) of the NHL's 30 teams, we all know that hockey is Canada's heritage. Always has been, always will be. Unfortunately, some hockey fans here in the States may forget that from time to time.

Bottom line, though, is it doesn't matter where you live or where you're from. This blog has had visitors from as far away as New Zealand, Mongolia and Iceland. Hockey is hockey. And we all love the game, don't we?

He's a big fan

Though hockey purists don't like the shootout, count my son, Colin, among the supporters. Just as I sat down to start writing this morning, he came up and suggested a topic.

"Remember that time, I think it was on TV, when the Lightning scored all three times in a shootout?"

"No, not really."

"I do. It was Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Brad Richards. I remember."

"You do, huh? I'll take your word for it."

"Yeah, I like it when Marty and Vinny score."

"So do a lot of other people down here, buddy."

Another clean slate

It was nice to read in this morning's paper that Brad Boyes scored for the Blues last night. Perhaps the change in scenery, from Boston to St. Louis, will help him rediscover his scoring touch.

Though this season's production has been disappointing for him, he hasn't forgotten how to play hockey. Last night's goal, too, shows that Boyes, now with his fourth NHL organization (Toronto, San Jose, Boston and St. Louis) in five pro seasons, hasn't forgotten how to put the puck in the net.

It makes me wonder, though, whether the Boyes' scoring troubles aren't the aftermath of the undue pressure of playing in Boston. After stellar rookie campaigns, both Boyes and goalie Hannu Toivonen, shipped down to Providence, have struggled this season.

Expectations, especially in Boston, always run high.

Pretty busy day, eh?

Of all the days to take off from hockey, the NHL's trade deadline on Tuesday has to be one of the hardest. I love watching teams take chances for the Stanley Cup. I like watching teams that are building for the future. Most of all, though, is the frenetic energy that flows through the day.

Despite of all that, I found that I can take a day away from hockey, even if it is a busy one, to just chill out. I watched a movie. I played some darts. I made dinner for my son.

That doesn't mean, though, that I haven't heard the news. Sure, some teams went out and grabbed big-name players (San Jose got Bill Guerin, Gary Roberts agreed to go to Pittsburgh and Detroit took a chance with Todd Bertuzzi). A bunch of minor deals were made, too.

Now that I've had time to review the moves, here are my takes:

~ Even though it's had a terrible year, the Philadelphia Flyers should feel pretty damn proud of themselves. To me, they're a much better team, and one that's prepared for the future. Sure, they lost Peter Forsberg, but they picked up some fairly promising talent in Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent and Braydon Coburn. The addition of Martin Biron will only help, too. Adding these guys to Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Joni Pitkanen, Mike Richards and R.J. Umberger could soon cause some serious headaches in the Eastern Conference.

~ Kudos to New York Islanders' Garth Snow for nabbing Ryan Smyth from the Edmonton Oilers. Smyth's a heart-and-soul guy who, to me, will only make the Islanders much more dangerous as the season winds down. Islanders fans can only hope, too, that he'll light a fire under Miroslav Satan and Richard Zednik. If he does, I wouldn't want to meet them in the playoffs.

~ Though I respect the veteran leadership that Georges Laraque and Roberts bring to Pittsburgh, I'm not sure the Penguins addressed every issue (backup goaltending, to be exact). Talent's great, but you need depth to go deep in the playoffs. Florida, by the way, got an excellent return in Noah Welch. Smart kid, too. He graduated from Harvard.

~ I certainly hope it's not a case of too little, too late, but I believe the Bruins upgraded their defense a little with Aaron Ward and Dennis Wideman. Ward adds experience and Wideman is a younger Brad Stuart, if you ask me. I was sorry to see Brad Boyes go, but it was inevitable. Like the Blues, I have faith in his abilities. I can't help but chuckle, too, at those who thought not too long ago that he was worth a fourth-rounder.

~ I'm not quite sure what to think of the Sabres' dealings. On one hand, adding Dainius Zubrus to Buffalo's high-octane offense left me giggling with anticipation. Replacing Biron with Ty Conklin, though, leaves me worried. Though I'll root for Conklin because of his UNH ties, I won't have the confidence with him in net as I would have with Biron. Besides, Biron's one of the nicest players you'll meet -- great signer and loves to talk.

~ As for Tampa Bay, I applaud the moves they made. Not for the enhanced grit that Shane O'Brien, Karl Stewart and Jason Ward bring, but it gives me a reason to hound the Lightning one more time this season.

Sunday morning homily XIV

After more than half of a season attending Tampa Bay Lightning games, there's something I have to get off my chest: Just because the team won the Stanley Cup, it doesn't mean all the team's fans truly know hockey.

Sure, they know that Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis are the star players. They know that Johan Holmqvist has wrestled the starting goalie position away from Marc Denis. And, if they read the morning paper, they know that newly acquired defenseman Shane O'Brien is unlikely to play in this afternoon's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In instances like that, they're a knowledgeable lot. And, yes, the Lightning's Stanley Cup ring is pretty shiny. But, when it comes to the nuances of the game, there's still plenty to learn.

Early during Friday's humbling 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins, when the score was just 2-1 or 3-1, a group of fans started with the "We Want Roy" chant. Like most team tough guys, Andre Roy has become a fan favorite. It's my guess, too, that there are more than a few fans who come to games just to watch players fight.

But to implore Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella to send out Roy was a mistake. Not only would that move have risked putting the Lightning down a man because of a likely instigator penalty, but the team needed more than a spirited bout that night against Boston. Besides, at that point, the Lightning was only trailing by, at most, two goals, a deficit they have surmounted many times this season.

Furthermore, I've never held much stock in using pugilism as a way to inspire. If you're an NHL player, earning a minimum of $450,000, you shouldn't need a fight to get fired up. If you do, well, you don't belong in the league.

Getting back to the fans, though, I couldn't help but laugh at this vocal group later in the second period when, after the third elicitation of a "Boston s****" chant, the Bruins scored a fourth goal. Though sophomoric and yet funny, the St. Pete Times Forum fell silent as the red light flashed.

Unfortunately, not every one saw humor in my non-verbal "I can't hear you" response (hand cupped behind ear). One lady, and I'm being very generous here by using that word, gave me the universal sign of disagreement. In response, all it took was a point to the scoreboard and an inquiry to what else she does with that finger, and she knew she had been schooled.

It's instances like these, which show a lack of knowledge as well as class, that will continue a lack of respect shown toward the team and its efforts.

This afternoon, against the Penguins, my loyalties won't be conflicted. I'll wear my Lightning jersey, with Captain Dave's name and number, and will probably cheer myself hoarse. But I'll also cringe when, inevitably, a handful of fans embarrass not only themselves, but the team and the area as well.

And for a team and a region that has one of the greatest reasons to celebrate -- a Stanley Cup title in a relatively short time of existence -- that's a shame.

Nice souvenirs

For the most part, our son, Colin, has a souvenir from every hockey game he attends long before the puck is dropped. Tonight's game against the Boston Bruins was no different.

Despite dealing with the aftereffects of a cold, Colin scored 11 autographs on his team sheet (at left) from such players as Zdeno Chara, Marc Savard and Hannu Toivonen. He also added two cards each from his Bruins buddy, Patrice Bergeron, and Tim Thomas.

Once inside the St. Pete Times Forum, though, the gifts kept coming. As he stood along the glass during warm-ups, wearing his autographed Bergeron jersey, two Bruins made sure he went home with ice-cold souvenirs. Andrew Ference and Phil Kessel each skated up to the glass, tapped it, pointed to Colin and tossed a puck over the glass.

Pretty cool, if you ask me, and it certainly was the highlight, even beyond the Bruins' 6-2 drubbing of the Tampa Bay Lightning, of the evening. And you can bet we'll have them sign those pucks when Boston's back in town.

The only bummer of the night was learning that Patrice wasn't going to play. Not only did he tell us before the game that he was going to play, but we also saw him during the warmups. Was Colin disappointed? A little. But he understands that he'll have plenty of time to see Patrice play again.

A fair trade

The last time the Boston Bruins were in town, we were fortunate enough to get a picture of Patrice Bergeron and Colin together outside the team’s hotel in Tampa. Since then, the picture has sat, in a frame, on a dresser in Colin’s room. And instead of gathering dust, it was simply waiting for the right time.

That time, I believe, was earlier today.

Just before tonight’s game, Colin’s gave Patrice that picture, even taking the time to autograph it for the Bruins star.

"Is that for me?" Patrice asked.

"Yes," Colin replied. "I even autographed it to you for you."

"Thanks, buddy," Patrice said.

The deal got even better, as Colin gave him three hand-drawn pictures – one showing Patrice getting high-fives from the bench after scoring a goal, one of the Bruins locker room where Patrice’s jersey hung in a stall and one of two Zambonis clearing the TDBanknorth Garden ice.

It was hard to tell who had the biggest smile – Patrice, Colin or myself.

In return, Patrice signed a couple cards for Colin, including one (shown above) with a piece of game-used jersey. As you can imagine, that’ll soon be in a screwdown case. It’s my guess, too, that’ll end up on Colin’s dresser.

The true Hub of Hockey

There is no one in Boston who knows more about hockey than the Boston Globe’s hockey writer Kevin Paul Dupont.

As pleasant and approachable as he is, I couldn’t believe that I was the only one to get the Hall of Famer’s autograph this morning.

He even shared with me a story, involving his then 5-year-old son, from the day he was "abducted" in hockey's hallowed hall.

If you’re a Globe reader, you should be looking forward to a pretty neat package the paper is putting together of the Bruins’ Father-Sons trip.

School days

When Boston’s Tim Thomas signed this University of Vermont puck earlier today, he became the third member of the 1993-94 Catamount squad to do so.

Can you guess the two others?

Here's a hint: They both play for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

I also wonder whether the trio will grab a beer after tonight's game.

Junior! Oh, Junior!

Though I had two pucks that I wanted to get signed, Boston’s Marc Savard was following a strict one-per-person policy this morning.

Not a problem.

Picking the Oshawa Generals puck over the New York Rangers was a no-brainer. I just wish his signature, or shall I say scribble, was a little better.

Hockey humor?

Even though Boston’s Brandon Bochenski and Andrew Ference aren’t rookies, they’re still new B’s. Get it? Newbies? Sorry, bad joke.

Definitely worth the trip

Sometimes it’s fun to be humbled. All I was proud of myself for getting Boston’s Hannu Toivonen ("the backup goalie" was how Tampa's dealers referred to him) to sign these four cards.

Then I noticed Toivonen happily signing nine cards for a Bruins fan and autograph collector visiting from Hershey, Pa.

Despite the bumpy ride he’s had this season, Toivonen has always been a class act.

Checking in with the B's

After conducting a little research, touching base with some sources and playing up a hunch, I was fortunate enough to be the only hound this morning waiting for the Boston Bruins as they headed to a practice over in Brandon.

My motivation for the trip over to Tampa was far more than autographs. Sure, I added another 14 autographs to the collection, including four pucks from Zdeno Chara. What I really wanted to do was check in with Patrice Bergeron and let him know that his little buddy was looking forward to seeing him tomorrow.

Fortunately, I was able to see Patrice and pass along our best wishes. He assured me that he was feeling better, enjoying his brief time in Florida (he didn’t catch any fish) and he’d be playing against the Lightning.

I told Patrice that Colin had been wrestling with what to wear to Friday’s game – either his autographed Bergeron jersey or his Lightning jersey. Not surprisingly, Patrice weighed in.

"You tell him he better wear his Bergeron jersey," he said.

Proof positive

I’ve heard that Boston’s Zdeno Chara is a pretty willing signer, even to the point that he takes an interest in what people want him to sign. I found out for myself earlier today when the Chara, the Bruins’ captain, signed these four pucks.

He was impressed that I had a puck from the Prince George Cougars, where he played his junior hockey.

"I don’t see too many of those," Chara said. "That’s pretty cool."