The annual should be available in .pdf form within a couple of days, and hard copies available on Amazon and in your local bookstore not long after that.

It’s been a tiring couple of months writing and co-editing the material (my family is looking forward to having me back soon) but you’re going to really love the end result. Some very insightful hockey essays augmenting analysis and previews of all 30 NHL teams.

Nigel Lythgoe – The closest thing to Simon you’re going to find. He’s excellent on So You Think You Can Dance. Having him as a behind the scenes producer isn’t enough.

Sharon Osbourne – I’m sure she’s under contract with that other show, but she’s got a bit of Simon to her as well. Hell, I’d even take Kelly Osbourne over some of the options that have been bandied about for female judges.

Paula Abdul – Yes, we know she can’t get out of her contract. But my miss the dippiness and the lack of coherence.

How about Ozzy Osbourne? Now that would be the male Paula.

Bret Michaels – Pretty much anything he touches on TV turns to gold. Bret, please, not Steven Tyler.

My wife suggested Adam Lambert, which would be a pretty interesting, off-the-board choice. I’d rather see an interesting enough former Idol than a Steven Tyler or J Lo.

For now, Randy. For continuity.

We’ve been on a little hiatus here at www.icehockeymetrics.com for a few reasons, but the biggest being my work on the upcoming, first ever, Puck Prospectus Annual. Not only am I writing all of the Atlantic Division team essays and player comments, but I have the honor of co-editing the work with Andrew Rothstein. It makes for some late nights, let me tell you. It should be a great product that will hopefully become a bible for fans, media, and others looking to get an insightful preview on the 2010-11 season and resource on analyzing the teams and players of the NHL. 

As we’re in the home stretch, I should have more to report on the upcoming book soon!

Look for it in September!

Timo Seppa

1. No more changing the ball for the World Cup. It’s backfired this time, big time. No one can weight a cross properly or keep a shot under the crossbar.

2. Expand to 40 teams. First of all, more countries will be happy to be in. But the main reason is to expand the Group stage to 4 games, with 8 Groups of 5 teams. Given 4 games per team in the Group stage, ties are going to be deemphasized. Teams will be more willing to play offensively if they will likely trade a Win for a Loss that way - 3 points – rather than played scared for a couple of Ties – 2 points.

Just remember: I suggested this first.

Underrated: France +1400 (though perhaps not given a coach that benches their two best players), Cameroon +10000, Switzerland +15000, Algeria +40000

Overrated: Brazil +450, Italy +1200, Chile +4000, Paraguay +5000, Greece +10000, S0uth Africa +12500

*Limited minutes – Use with caution

*Low minutes – don’t take the rating too seriously.

*Lacking minutes for reliable Total Rating

*Limited minutes

#2008-9

*Limited minutes – Take these ratings with a grain of salt.

Though it’s true that Ghana has comparable numbers of players in the top European leagues, Serbia has several top quality performers from these leagues, led by Manchester United star fullback Nemanja Vidic. Australia relies on two fine EPL players in particular: goaltender Mark Schwarzer of Fulham and midfielder Tim Cahill of Everton. What’s consider to be a somewhat weaker German squad than usual still looks awfully stacked.