Avery Seriously Ill. Euthanasia Debate Ends

With a single body check, Sean Avery found a way to stay in the press well after the Rangers are eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs. The crafty devil. That bastion of journalistic integrity, The New York Daily News, had Avery in cardiac arrest at 3 am after the game, with "someone" finding him at the last minute, saving his Canadian bacon. Untrue. Avery's injury happened sometime during the game, and he was fairly ineffective thereafter because of the serious pain he was in. Immediately following the game, he went to a New York hospital under his own steam.

The medical community is under fire this morning as the public asks, "What is a doctors place?" and "Should a doctor always save a life? Euthanasia advocates were the go-to guests on all the news networks as hoards of pro assisted-suicide protesters clashed with police outside of Avery's hospital.

"Let Sean do the right thing!" The crowds chanted. Adding, "Let him go the way he played hockey: with dignity!"

That sentiment is not only being heard in New York, Pittsburgh, and Martin Brodeur's house, its also gone international. A CNN/Time Magazine poll released this morning shows where support for euthanasia is highest. With this, world leaders, hospital administrators and Gary Bettman, today will not be able to look away at the plight of #16.

The Toronto Maple Leafs: Omnipresence

As I struggle to give a shit... wait, sorry. I'll start again. As I stay glued to the playoffs even though the Leafs aren't involved, my beloved ones are never far from my mind. Like in yesterdays post I wondered aloud what difference Sundin would be making on a Canadiens squad which desperately needs a man around the house. Watching the Pens/Rangers series, if you can call it that, I'm enjoying watching Hal Gill a lot, because, what do I care if he makes a mistake? (Please Note: 1) I do care a little as I want the Rangers out of it, home, and in bed by Friday. And 2) Hal's just not making that many mistakes.)

I'm also buoyed by the news that roughly 2/3 's of the nominees for the Hart this year were linemates with our very own Nikolai Kulemin. At the World Championships in 2006, Ovechkin, Malkin and Kulemin played on the same line, and Kulemin and Malkin were paired together when Malkin played for Magnitogorsk Metallurg in the Blorska Nofski Jorkavet. This wasn't one of those Sundin and Jonas Hoglund deals, either. Metallurg coach Dave King gave a mighty two thumbs up to Niki, saying, when asked about the two:

"All of a sudden, he shows he can make a lot of plays. The play didn't stop with him, he made the next play. Suddenly, Malkin was on a tear, the line was a real plus line and, really, the key element was Nikolai Kulemin."

AND

"He's a two-way hockey player. He's got the ability to add to your offence. He can make good plays, he can also score. Beyond that, what really impressed me, was his defensive anticipation. His ability to read the game defensively and make the right play."

Well hooray for us. So taking it a step further, if Ovechkin is like Bure and Malkin is like Mogilny, then by King's description, Kulemin is...Federov? Holy shit! We drafted Federov! And not Fedor, either! The good brother! AWESOME!

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In other news, the Penguins of Pittsburgh are making a laughingstock out of their opponents by now going 7-0 in the post season. In a weird post-loss scrum, Jaromir Jagr responded to the pressure the Pens are putting on him by threatening to quit and by growing a Hitler moustache.This is the real picture. I didn't touch his face up. I mean, Jaro, we all face stress in our lives. Sometimes the store runs out of that wine I like to serve to all the ladies, and I'm like, "Noo-ooo!" But I kinda, get over it. I don't...You do all see that Jaromir Jagr has a Hitler moustache, right? This isn't one of those things I want to be on my own about. Right! Right?