We’ve not only reached the end of a year, we’ve reached the end of a decade. Is anybody still afraid of Y2K? I think we’ve all become less naïve…at least I hope so.

With the end of the 2000s, I present my choices for the Milwaukee Admirals All-Decade Team.

First Line:
Simon Gamache – Cal O’Reilly – Darren Haydar

Second Line:
Scottie Upshall - Rich Peverley – Mike Santorelli

Third Line:
Vern Fiddler – Tony Hrkac – Brandon Segal

Fourth Line:
Kelsey Wilson - Greg Classen – Jordin Tootoo

Defensemen:
Cody Franson – Curtis Murphy
Alex Henry – Shea Weber
Greg Zanon – Sheldon Brookbank

Goalies:
Pekka Rinne
Wade Flaherty

I think these combos would fill the roles each team needs out of the four lines. I took Henry over Kevin Klein because I wanted another tough guy and another solid penalty killer. I realize it’s heavy with players that were here the last five seasons. At the beginning of the decade, most of the players were here a short time. A case could be made, certainly, for Wyatt Smith, Marc Moro, Mark Mowers, Timofei Shishkanov, Brad Tiley, Klein, Nolan Yonkman, Dan Hamhuis, Ryan Suter, Chris Mason, Jan Lasak, Brian Finley, Drew MacIntyre and many others.

By the way, the speed on the second line would be devastating, wouldn’t it?

Your thoughts?

Moving on…

Congratulations to former Admirals forward and current Nashville Predator Patric Hornqvist on being named to the Swedish Olympic Hockey Team.

Another former Admirals forward, Alexander Radulov, made the Russian Olympic team.

From the Nashville Predators website: the Predators have five prospects representing the organization in this year's World Junior Championships, including 2009 First Round pick Ryan Ellis of Canada. Fellow '09 draftee Gabriel Bourque joins Ellis on the Canadian roster, while '09 Fourth Round pick Mattias Ekholm will skate for Sweden. A pair of 2008 draftees round out the Preds representatives: defenseman Roman Josi for Switzerland and forward Jani Lajunen for Finland. Ellis and Lajunen are making their second appearances in the World Juniors, while Josi is playing in his third WJC tournament. Bourque and Ekholm are playing in the tournament for the first time.

As Admirals equipment manager Dave Randolph pointed out, Milwaukee has just ten road games remaining after Jan. 26.

Until next time…Go Admirals!!!