"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Go Hawks! I'm hoping for at least an 8 seed this year (man, times have changed).
They'll be better this year, but the West is absolutely brutal. There are just too many really good teams. What they can hope for is St. Louis having a champions slump after winning their first cup, but even they are off to a 2-0-1 start.
It's tough, they just don't control the puck like they used to, and they are still thin on the back end if you ask me.
They are pretty much handcuffed until some of these guys come off the books. Seabrook and Keith make a ton, Keith is obviously still really good, but his contract is a big number. Crawford is great in the playoffs and has won them 2 cups, but he's unreliable in the regular season with an injury history. Toews makes a ton of money, but is really only great when everything else is set up, and he can kinda go and do his thing, which is win faceoffs, and lock down the opponent's best guys.
Patrick Kane is worth the price of admission, so he's kind of their one great piece.
It's just not a good mix, but it's the price you have to pay to make the mini-dynasty that they did.
As a Leafs fan, I'd take 3 Cups and the inevitable backslide in a heartbeat.
absolutely
I do feel like eventually for this team to move on, they are going to have to move pieces and cut ties with a lot of these players from those teams.
Boston was in a similar situation, with them also having really competitive teams for years, but I don't think they had as much of their cap dedicated to a couple of guys, it was definitely spread out more, and now they look like they will be in the mix for years to come, and they still have guys from those prior teams.
I don't think the cap is balanced correctly, but it is what it is, and teams will have to adjust, and I think the model is to keep your team young and fast, and don't pour a ton of your cap money into one goaltender (and that pains me to say it, but it can absolutely handcuff your team)
Hurricanes are off to a pretty good start. I honestly have a hard time getting into hockey until it starts to get colder, then I really start to get into once football season is over.
Hurricanes are off to a pretty good start. I honestly have a hard time getting into hockey until it starts to get colder, then I really start to get into once football season is over.
Canes are clicking and Columbus gets them next. Jackets couldn't take a Ducks team that had played 3 games in 4 nights. That's brutal and yet they beat you..
Go Hawks! I'm hoping for at least an 8 seed this year (man, times have changed).
They'll be better this year, but the West is absolutely brutal. There are just too many really good teams. What they can hope for is St. Louis having a champions slump after winning their first cup, but even they are off to a 2-0-1 start.
It's tough, they just don't control the puck like they used to, and they are still thin on the back end if you ask me.
They are pretty much handcuffed until some of these guys come off the books. Seabrook and Keith make a ton, Keith is obviously still really good, but his contract is a big number. Crawford is great in the playoffs and has won them 2 cups, but he's unreliable in the regular season with an injury history. Toews makes a ton of money, but is really only great when everything else is set up, and he can kinda go and do his thing, which is win faceoffs, and lock down the opponent's best guys.
Patrick Kane is worth the price of admission, so he's kind of their one great piece.
It's just not a good mix, but it's the price you have to pay to make the mini-dynasty that they did.
It felt like the front office had to make a decision, blow it up to start over or keep everyone together for nostalgia sake but be average. I honk they made the wrong decision, but I might have done the same if I were them. Like, assuming Lebron and Kyrie wanted to stay, I’d keep them and TT, Swish and Kevin around forever just to bask in the 2016 glory.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
Go Hawks! I'm hoping for at least an 8 seed this year (man, times have changed).
They'll be better this year, but the West is absolutely brutal. There are just too many really good teams. What they can hope for is St. Louis having a champions slump after winning their first cup, but even they are off to a 2-0-1 start.
It's tough, they just don't control the puck like they used to, and they are still thin on the back end if you ask me.
They are pretty much handcuffed until some of these guys come off the books. Seabrook and Keith make a ton, Keith is obviously still really good, but his contract is a big number. Crawford is great in the playoffs and has won them 2 cups, but he's unreliable in the regular season with an injury history. Toews makes a ton of money, but is really only great when everything else is set up, and he can kinda go and do his thing, which is win faceoffs, and lock down the opponent's best guys.
Patrick Kane is worth the price of admission, so he's kind of their one great piece.
It's just not a good mix, but it's the price you have to pay to make the mini-dynasty that they did.
It felt like the front office had to make a decision, blow it up to start over or keep everyone together for nostalgia sake but be average. I honk they made the wrong decision, but I might have done the same if I were them. Like, assuming Lebron and Kyrie wanted to stay, I’d keep them and TT, Swish and Kevin around forever just to bask in the 2016 glory.
I think it all boils down to whether or not you want to deal Patrick Kane.
If you try and move any of your other pieces for picks or shorter contracts, you're stuck with Patrick Kane and nothing else, and he's on the wrong side of 30.
If you deal Patrick Kane, then you basically are putting everyone else on the table, essentially murdering your season.
I think they want to wait it out until they can clear their books and allow for more cap money. I know their top pick from the draft is still in the juniors (nothing wrong with that, but it does not help you this year).
Hopefully he develops but he is probably a wash for this year unless the Hawks feel like things are going well enough where maybe they can slide him into a line late in the year (similar to what the Avs did with Makar), but that's not likely
With the way this league is going, I agree that in hindsight they should have blown this thing up, probably after the Predators swept them a few years ago, and I think they scored only 4 or 5 goals in the entire series.
They better get it right though, like I said, the west is absolutely stacked with young talent, and great teams. There just isn't any room to just kinda hang around and hope to fall into a back-end playoff spot.
I'm not sure about this, but once you send a guy back to junior he's ineligible to play this season. It'd be different if they sent him to the minors. Like I said, I could be wrong.
Another topic: The Leafs have a lot of skill, but not nearly enough jam. Not enough grinders IMO.
I'm not sure about this, but once you send a guy back to junior he's ineligible to play this season. It'd be different if they sent him to the minors. Like I said, I could be wrong.
Another topic: The Leafs have a lot of skill, but not nearly enough jam. Not enough grinders IMO.
I am not that schooled on the rules involving junior players, although I know there is a stipulation with the amount of games a kid that is junior-eligible plays.
Really though, if you send a kid back to juniors, there is absolutely no reason you bring him back up that year.
Totally agree about the Leafs too, they need a 3rd/4th line type guy or two to help give good minutes, but damn that team is fun watch, they can pile up the goals
Got a chance to watch the Blackhawks practice on Friday..
Pretty awesome, I know we have some Chicago people on this board. I highly recommend it. It's free, parking is free at Fifth Third Arena, and you can literally stand around the glass and watch.
I don't get a chance to go to too many games, and even if I do, I'm way up in the nosebleeds, so it's cool to see action that close up.
And yeah, I totally wanted to get out there with them, LOL
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
What a damn shame. I think firing Don Cherry will prove much more divisive than anything he said. I can't believe Ron Mclean took the company stance on this and basically threw Grapes under the bus. I will truly miss him.
I also can't believe we'll never see this again:
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
It's like we are at the point where if someone says something controversial - perhaps one that the silent majority agrees with - that person must be destroyed.
So.... opinions silenced.the left used to be all about freedom of expression. What a wussified society we are becoming.
I think the network was looking for a reason, any reason, to get the guy off the TV.
He's well past his expiration date. I couldn't stand his takes and shtick (and watch Ron during his segments, he couldn't either).
I don't like the way he went out. Would've much preferred he'd been canned for being unbearable to watch.
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
cancel culture has already made itself into hockey.
I play hockey with a few guys who ref, and I found out this year that if a kid gets checked, and the other team's bench bangs their sticks on the boards, it's a penalty. Give me a break.
I knew the day would come when this stuff would infest hockey. Pretty soon you won't be allowed to celly a goal because the other team might feel bad.
I guarantee you this rule was brought about by parents who did not play themselves, but their kids wanted to play. No parent who went through hockey would ever get mad about that.
You cheer a good check. If the kid stays down, obviously the cheering and stick banging stops. That's how the game works.
But hey, let's move checking back to the bantam level so kids don't know how to accept hits anymore either..
I knew there was a reason I don't coach, and it's this kind of garbage (along with hockey parents being absolute psychos)
I think the network was looking for a reason, any reason, to get the guy off the TV.
He's well past his expiration date. I couldn't stand his takes and shtick (and watch Ron during his segments, he couldn't either).
I don't like the way he went out. Would've much preferred he'd been canned for being unbearable to watch.
Come on, the guy's 85 years old. Don Cherry is an institution and has carved a prominent spot for himself in the history of the sport (and Canada). I liked him more as time went on. It's pretty frickin' sad that some butt hurt liberals can take away the last years of his career. Did you actually hear what he said? Mclean agreed with him when he said it. I'm still pizzed at him. Don Cherry is the sole reason for Mclean's success, and he crapped on him.
Last edited by jfanent; 11/12/1910:03 PM.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
I agree it's stupid the way he went out. I just wasn't a fan of the guy
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
Here's an episode of Don Cherry's Grapevine with Bob Probert as the guest. I used to love this show. There's a great clip of one of Probert's fights with Ty Domi starting just before the 21m mark.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
It's gonna sound really crappy, but I am glad it happened with him and the NHL where this will be buried soon enough...
If this were an NFL personality, we would never hear the end of it. The offended crowd would be out with out with pitchforks.
I don't necessarily agree with his take on the whole poppy thing, but it's his take, and whatever, who cares. I don't understand why that take gets you fired. There's a line and I don't think he really crossed it.
Also, watching a pretty entertaining Hawks/Knights game
Again, this is mostly driven by my opinion of the guy...
I think they were looking for something... anything... to get him out. The guy was painful to watch and a joke (again, imo).
And regarding what he said... no, it wasn't that bad... but it wasn't that innocent either. It's not the 'you people' part, it's the part where he puts out that line of thinking that immigrants/illegals take up resources and don't contribute.
I'll reiterate... I disagree with the reason he was fired. I thought it would've made more sense to let him go based on him being a windbag.
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
Again, this is mostly driven by my opinion of the guy...
I think they were looking for something... anything... to get him out. The guy was painful to watch and a joke (again, imo).
And regarding what he said... no, it wasn't that bad... but it wasn't that innocent either. It's not the 'you people' part, it's the part where he puts out that line of thinking that immigrants/illegals take up resources and don't contribute.
I'll reiterate... I disagree with the reason he was fired. I thought it would've made more sense to let him go based on him being a windbag.
I do agree that the shtick was kind of old.
If they're smart, they'll put Kevin Weekes in his spot. Guy is maybe the best analyst in the sport right now, and brings a ton of energy. Love his coverage on NHL network
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