Back from Mexico and have spent the morning getting my head back in the game. I spent an hour yesterday running through the week in hockey while I awaited my plane, so at least I wasn’t coming in completely cold. I’m pretty shocked that the Sharks were swept – I know it’s shocking news as it is, but you guys got to see it unravel, whereas I hopped on to see them down 2-0, and then three days later I see they were swept.

Kudos to Joe Pavelski. Though he only had two points in the last six games, he led the Sharks in scoring. With Marleau gone (don’t kid yourself, he’s gone), Pavelski’s PP time will jump and he’ll top 70 points next year easy. Since the big line was shut down for much of the postseason, as soon as Pavelski was stifled the Sharks folded. I can see that just from the stats.

Dany Heatley had just two goals in 14 playoff games. That’s two goals in 21 games going back to the regular season. We know he was struggling a little with a groin problem, but I think the high of joining a new team really died down by midseason.

Ryane Clowe had just two points in his last nine games.

Joe Thornton – one point and minus-5 in the Western Conference Final.

The Blues have signed 25-year-old Evgeny Skachkov. He is an offensive (goal scorer) specialist who has been off the radar because, let’s face it, he wasn’t expected to ever sign a contract. Well now he has, and his progress in camp – although a longshot – bears watching. He won’t be put on their penalty kill.

Andy Wozniewski has signed to play in the Swiss League next year.

Brendan Bell has signed to play in the KHL next year.

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Dobber is back today – you know he'll be getting to work on the 2010 Prospect Report as soon as possible! The Report will be available for download on June 1^st.

Three new DobberHockey wallpapers! Chelios, Lundqvist, and Steen! Check out the rest of them here.

Taylor Hall was named Memorial Cup MVP for the second consecutive time, making him the first player in history to win the award twice. Windsor absolutely destroyed Brandon 9-1.

I believe Windsor goalie Philipp Grubauer is draft-eligible this year. He played behind a great team, but bailed them out whenever he needed to. Does he get drafted?

Not sure if he was injured or not, but Brandon forward Scott Glennie was horrible. Schenn was good in spots and bad in others. Matt Calvert was definitely the most noticeable of the three.

San Jose didn't choke – they simply lost to a better team. Will Nabokov be back? I doubt it. Thornton? Maybe. Marleau? He should, but he may want a fresh start elsewhere. Rob Blake was great all season long, and I can see him returning for another kick at the can.

Dany Heatley was miserable all series long. It has now been reported that he has been battling a "pretty bad' groin injury that he sustained in the Colorado series. At least one person was probably happy to see Heatley struggle a bit – Senators owner Eugene Melnyk.

There was a rumour in the Ottawa Sun yesterday (not started by Bruce Garrioch, surprisingly) that has Anton Volchenkov signing with the Capitals this summer. I can see that happening – the Russian factor and Washington has a glaring need for a defensive defenseman. I wouldn't touch Volchenkov with a 10-foot pole if I were an NHL GM, though. He is going to fetch north of $4.5 million/season. He is tough as nails and strong defensively, but his style of play is going to lead to numerous injuries, and he kills the transition game with his inability to make strong breakout passes. It sounds like Ottawa is going to pass on re-signing him unless he drops his salary demands a bit – good move on their part.

Ottawa could use Volchenkov's salary to sign Zbynek Michalek, a superior defenseman at both ends of the ice. The opportunity to play with his brother (Milan) would probably interest him as well. Whatever team signs Michalek is going to be very impressed with what they get. He plays tough minutes, moves the puck well, makes great reads on the PK, and most importantly can play in all situations. Defensive defensemen are too one-dimensional to commit vast amounts of cap space to.

Colorado has signed defensive prospect Jonas Holos. The Norwegian-born defenseman had 14 points for Farjestads in the SEL this past season. He's not overly big, but is very sturdy on his skates. He also has a bomb of a shot from the point. Colorado is knee-deep in blue line prospects (Kevin Shattenkirk and Stefan Elliott being the two best), so Holos may have to put in some time at the AHL level first.

The mysterious sand that appeared in the Flyers tunnel at the Bell Centre, causing some skate blade issues for a few Philadelphia forwards, has generated a lot of discussion from both sides. Jaroslav Spacek has some interesting things to say…

Marian Hossa has now made the cup finals for three consecutive seasons with three different teams (Pittsburgh, Detroit, and now Chicago). I doubt this has happened before in the NHL, but Eric Hinske (former Blue Jay) did it three straight years with three different teams in the MLB – Boston, New York, and Tampa Bay (who all play in the same division to boot).

Duncan Keith lost seven teeth in yesterday's game and still managed to play over 29 minutes.

Who were San Jose's goal scorers this series? Jason Demers, Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau, and… Patrick Marleau. Three different players with goals – no wonder they got swept!

German goalie Dennis Endras had a fantastic World Championships tourney. Endras led Germany to a fourth place finish at home – their highest placing since the 1938 tournament.

Watching Maxim Afinogenov skate on the big ice is one of hockey's greatest joys. He can create offense even when rushing against two or three opposing players.

I hadn't watched much of Magus Paajarvi-Svensson before this tournament – colour me VERY impressed. He is big, fast, skilled, and strong on the puck. The comparisons to Marian Hossa are pretty spot on.

Russian defenseman Alexei Emelin caught Jaromir Jagr with a very low hit near the end of the Gold Medal game yesterday. Video evidence (Jagr's girlfriend makes an appearance at the 0:25 mark):

Missing seven teeth and still willing to give an interview!

A great video of Doug Harvey was posted on the message boards last night (thanks, doulos). Check out the spin-o-rama Harvey pulls right at the end – he was an unbelievable skater: