Subban will cost Canada a medal... he's awful

Whatever Wiz


I wouldn't cry over a pre-tourney game.

There were definitely some legit calls on Canada and Subban was poor,
but the tripping call on Scheifle was a PHUCKING JOKE. Bet you're crying a different tune when the Wanks get shafted by some zebra named Igor.
- philco28

LMFAO

At $8 mill per it would be a costly buyout.
The problem is that a figure head alone won't work.... but Gretzky along with someone else could do the trick.
- Al

Pocket change to a guy like Jimmy Dolan. He would pay it himself just to flush Bettman. And Jeff Molson would leave the tip.

For meaningful progress total change is required on both ends and I can't see that happening within 2 weeks...

The NFL works as every team has been convinced because their pockets are overflowing that pure socialism works with a sports league.

NHL owners havn't bought into the same concept.
- Al

I heard former agent Watters speaking...and he said the players were under an assumption that they could control the deal, but that they found that the owners who basically have teams as toys have enough money that the season means far less to them, because they didn't lose a year off their window to actually play and get paid to basically play a game....that he knew for a fact there was one owner whose franchise was set to lose 11 million by there being a strike...but IF there was a season would lose 31 million!
also...that there are usually one or two pivotal points in sports negotiations when the agreement can be resolved...and that in this dispute, one was the owners went to 50/50, and agreed to a make whole of some sort, and Fehr decided there was more to get.
He also said there was a second close after that and that the chance for the union doing better may have past.

and that the owners feel represented well with Bettman and will continue down their present road firm to the amounts they feel MUST be held...and that despite the damage PR firms feel this lock out have caused, they have to have things limited, so that more than seven teamsare able get closer to making money.

For meaningful progress total change is required on both ends and I can't see that happening within 2 weeks...

The NFL works as every team has been convinced because their pockets are overflowing that pure socialism works with a sports league.

NHL owners havn't bought into the same concept.
- Al

I heard former agent Watters speaking...and he said the players were under an assumption that they could control the deal, but that they found that the owners who basically have teams as toys have enough money that the season means far less to them, because they didn't lose a year off their window to actually play and get paid to basically play a game....that he knew for a fact there was one owner whose franchise was set to lose 11 million by ther being a strike...but IF there was a season would lose 31 million!
also...that there are usually one or two pivotal points in sports negotiations when the agreement can be resolved...and that in this dispute, one was the owners went to 50/50, and agreed to a make whole of some sort, and Fehr decided there was more to get.
He also said there was a second close after that and that the chance for the union doing better may have past.

and that the owners feel represented well with Bettman and will continue down their present road firm to the amounts they feel MUST be held...and that despite the damage PR firms feel this lock out have caused, they have to have things limited, so that more than seven teamsare able get closer to making money.

I heard former agent Watters speaking...and he said the players were under an assumption that they could control the deal, but that they found that the owners who basically have teams as toys have enough money that the season means far less to them, because they didn't lose a year off their window to actually play and get paid to basically play a game....that he knew for a fact there was one owner whose franchise was set to lose 11 million by ther being a strike...but IF there was a season would lose 31 million!
also...that there are usually one or two pivotal points in sports negotiations when the agreement can be resolved...and that in this dispute, one was the owners went to 50/50, and agreed to a make whole of some sort, and Fehr decided there was more to get.
He also said there was a second close after that and that the chance for the union doing better may have past.

and that the owners feel represented well with Bettman and will continue down their present road firm to the amounts they feel MUST be held...and that despite the damage PR firms feel this lock out have caused, they have to have things limited, so that more than seven teamsare able get closer to making money.
- wiz1901

Bill Watters is a fun guy to listen to because he is very opinionated and willing to express most of them on air.

Keep something in mind though, he is extremely anti Don Fehr so his personal judgement swings to the owners side in this. He didn't have the same profound pro-owner sympathies when he had his own stable of 200 players and was real closely associated with Eagleson.

That $11M/$31M team was Anaheim who are apparently one of the hard liner teams in this. I ask you, would anybody miss the Ducks and Henry Samueli if they disappeared from the NHL landscape? Not much is my answer. At some point, the strong survive and the weak die. That's just a fact in the real business world.

I heard former agent Watters speaking...and he said the players were under an assumption that they could control the deal, but that they found that the owners who basically have teams as toys have enough money that the season means far less to them, because they didn't lose a year off their window to actually play and get paid to basically play a game....that he knew for a fact there was one owner whose franchise was set to lose 11 million by ther being a strike...but IF there was a season would lose 31 million!
also...that there are usually one or two pivotal points in sports negotiations when the agreement can be resolved...and that in this dispute, one was the owners went to 50/50, and agreed to a make whole of some sort, and Fehr decided there was more to get.
He also said there was a second close after that and that the chance for the union doing better may have past.

and that the owners feel represented well with Bettman and will continue down their present road firm to the amounts they feel MUST be held...and that despite the damage PR firms feel this lock out have caused, they have to have things limited, so that more than seven teamsare able get closer to making money.
- wiz1901

I think Fehr underestimated the resolve of the owners even though there are probably three different groups.

The most salient point you brought up, as I have in the past...

Quite a few franchises had their best Oct-Nov ever by not playing a single game.

Bill Watters is a fun guy to listen to because he is very opinionated and willing to express most of them on air.

Keep something in mind though, he is extremely anti Don Fehr so his personal judgement swings to the owners side in this. He didn't have the same profound pro-owner sympathies when he had his own stable of 200 players and was real closely associated with Eagleson.

That $11M/$31M team was Anaheim who are apparently one of the hard liner teams in this. I ask you, would anybody miss the Ducks and Henry Samueli if they disappeared from the NHL landscape? Not much is my answer. At some point, the strong survive and the weak die. That's just a fact in the real business world.
- RickJ

The problem is there aren't enough of the strong...

The Ducks cousins out West, the Sharks, also lose considerable money and they sell out every game.

The problem is there aren't enough of the strong...

The Ducks cousins out West, the Sharks, also lose considerable money and they sell out every game.
- Al

Yes, SJ supposedly lost $15M last year and they are apparently another one of the hardliners. And their position stems mainly from their belief that the cap system in the last CBA was flagrantly subverted by a few teams.

That issue is an internal matter among team owners - I can't blame it on the players. They will take what's offered them. If you don't offer them stupid contracts, they don't get them. And who eventually signed off on that ridiculous Kovalchuk deal - Gary Bettman. Why wouldn't the players think there is more stupidity like that to come?

Whatever Wiz


I wouldn't cry over a pre-tourney game.

There were definitely some legit calls on Canada and Subban was poor,
but the tripping call on Scheifle was a PHUCKING JOKE. Bet you're crying a different tune when the Wanks get shafted by some zebra named Igor.
- philco28

I guess I am a bit jealous that you have the spirit to back your country's boys. (Now I can honestly say I easily can go ballistic with calls on the Blackhawks or no calls on their opponents, and even that is starting to be infrequent.)

I have NEVER felt that way towards the USA team in this tourney because the Canadien
teams usually had the best draftees and already drafted prospects. Even in the Olympics with the Canada USA final I was for team Tazer or team Kesler.
So no Russian zebra will be wanking on me.

I know that the Russian Hockey Federation wants to win this tourney badly, and also wants to be a strong contender for Gold next Olympics too.
So, I wouldn't be the least surprised to see more than one key call going in favor of the Russian squad and even in games that determine who the Russian squad plays or doesn't play.

That is why I think Canada has to score a whole lot, and netminder has to come up big.

Sorry- didn't mean the nationalist pride remark as more than it was...

It is still undeciced as to whether Danault actually slides up to the - Jenner - Lipon line in Hudon's place or stays with Camera and McKinnon.
If McNeill fills for Danault on the line he was on in the last game with Camara - MacKinnon, I am curious if McNeill stays at centre or McKinnon moves back there. That would be a pretty big sized line with MacK and Camara...

What if Danault and McNeill saw them together at some point before the New Year?

Yes, SJ supposedly lost $15M last year and they are apparently another one of the hardliners. And their position stems mainly from their belief that the cap system in the last CBA was flagrantly subverted by a few teams.

That issue is an internal matter among team owners - I can't blame it on the players. They will take what's offered them. If you don't offer them stupid contracts, they don't get them. And who eventually signed off on that ridiculous Kovalchuk deal - Gary Bettman. Why wouldn't the players think there is more stupidity like that to come?
- RickJ

I think the players are in store for quite an "adjustment".

The term limit component is far bigger than most think....And that is also about owners protecting themselves from each other.

The problem is there aren't enough of the strong...

The Ducks cousins out West, the Sharks, also lose considerable money and they sell out every game.
- Al

When I started writing that I got called away (presently in Hollywood), and I meant to mention Watters said there the seven or so strong franchise with the rest scraping to get close to making money...

When I started writing that I got called away (presently in Hollywood), and I meant to mention Watters said there the seven or so strong franchise with the rest scraping to get close to making money...
- wiz1901

My thinking is about 7 or so strong, about 13 or so that don't lose crazy money and about 10 that never have a real chance of sustaining profitable seasons.

So about 75% of NHL owners have to be mindful of money spent and the strongest franchises really can't make a logical argument against that cause.

In my view that's why Bettman stays around as the wealthiest teams don't have enough votes to get him out.....And the weakest teams alone can't mount enough strength to change things.

I guess I am a bit jealous that you have the spirit to back your country's boys. (Now I can honestly say I easily can go ballistic with calls on the Blackhawks or no calls on their opponents, and even that is starting to be infrequent.)

I have NEVER felt that way towards the USA team in this tourney because the Canadien
teams usually had the best draftees and already drafted prospects. Even in the Olympics with the Canada USA final I was for team Tazer or team Kesler.
So no Russian zebra will be wanking on me.

I know that the Russian Hockey Federation wants to win this tourney badly, and also wants to be a strong contender for Gold next Olympics too.
So, I wouldn't be the least surprised to see more than one key call going in favor of the Russian squad and even in games that determine who the Russian squad plays or doesn't play.

That is why I think Canada has to score a whole lot, and netminder has to come up big.

Sorry- didn't mean the nationalist pride remark as more than it was...
- wiz1901

It's all good Wiz...my initial point wasn't about being a fan of any one country...it was just the poor quality (IMHO) of the Euro refs. You may as well wear a tutu to please those clowns.

Whatever Wiz


I wouldn't cry over a pre-tourney game.

There were definitely some legit calls on Canada and Subban was poor,
but the tripping call on Scheifle was a PHUCKING JOKE. Bet you're crying a different tune when the Wanks get shafted by some zebra named Igor.
- philco28

BTW, I am becoming a big Scheifele fan.

Via Twitter,

"Hudon out for the tournament; Mark McNeill gets the call to replace him "

Via Twitter,

"Hudon out for the tournament; Mark McNeill gets the call to replace him "
- MartiniMan

Excellent! I never like to see any of the kids in the tournament get hurt, but I'm happy McNeill gets a chance.

BTW, I am becoming a big Scheifele fan.
- John Jaeckel

The Jets really need him to become the star he is projected to be.

BTW, I am becoming a big Scheifele fan.
- John Jaeckel

Me too JJ...i've seen him live a number of times and the kid can take over a game with his offensive savvy. Great size, great hands, and great hockey sense as he displayed on the goal he scored he yesterday. Took a sweet feed and instinctively picked the low stick corner on the fly and did it in a heartbeat.

The Jets do have a good one, BUT...he needs to beef up.

Via Twitter,

"Hudon out for the tournament; Mark McNeill gets the call to replace him "
- MartiniMan

Sounds good to me...one more Hawk prospect to keep an eye on at an elite tourney.

Via Twitter,

"Hudon out for the tournament; Mark McNeill gets the call to replace him "
- MartiniMan

It is still undeciced as to whether Danault actually slides up to the - Jenner - Lipon line in Hudon's place or stays with Camera and McKinnon.
If McNeill fills for Danault on the line he was on in the last game with Camara - MacKinnon, I am curious if McNeill stays at centre or McKinnon moves back there. That would be a pretty big sized line with MacK and Camara...

Me thinks McNeill is the new right wing with Boone Jenner and Lil Lipon.

What if Danault and McNeill saw them together at some point before the New Year?

The press release from the Canada coaching staff on McNeill's return:

"It was a specific role that we were looking for, somebody that could play in a depth position, kill penalties, bring energy, bring grit," said Spott. "He's obviously a little bit bigger than Charles. He can play centre or the wing."


It is clear that the elite line of Nugent Hopkins setting up Scheifele and Huderdeau is the bread and butter and key scoring component with a strong secondary presence throughout the other three lines.
Hopkins is so good a distributing the puck and being a constant threat, you have to think Scheifele and Huderbeau will have to capitalize on the the excellent chances he will set them up with.

It is still undeciced as to whether Danault actually slides up to the - Jenner - Lipon line in Hudon's place or stays with Camera and McKinnon.
If McNeill fills for Danault on the line he was on in the last game with Camara - MacKinnon, I am curious if McNeill stays at centre or McKinnon moves back there. That would be a pretty big sized line with MacK and Camara...

Me thinks McNeill is the new right wing with Boone Jenner and Lil Lipon.

What if Danault and McNeill saw them together at some point before the New Year?

The press release from the Canada coaching staff on McNeill's return:

"It was a specific role that we were looking for, somebody that could play in a depth position, kill penalties, bring energy, bring grit," said Spott. "He's obviously a little bit bigger than Charles. He can play centre or the wing."

No one is saying just how bad Brett Ritchie is hurt after that hit that had him hit the showers early last game. McNeill is a nice fill for Ritchie with Rattie moving to one of the other lines also...


It is clear that the elite line of Nugent Hopkins setting up Scheifele and Huderdeau is the bread and butter and key scoring component with a strong secondary presence throughout the other three lines.
Hopkins is so good a distributing the puck and being a constant threat, you have to think Scheifele and Huderbeau will have to capitalize on the the excellent chances he will set them up with.

It is still undeciced as to whether Danault actually slides up to the - Jenner - Lipon line in Hudon's place or stays with Camera and McKinnon.
If McNeill fills for Danault on the line he was on in the last game with Camara - MacKinnon, I am curious if McNeill stays at centre or McKinnon moves back there. That would be a pretty big sized line with MacK and Camara...

Me thinks McNeill is the new right wing with Boone Jenner and Lil Lipon.

What if Danault and McNeill saw them together at some point before the New Year?

The press release from the Canada coaching staff on McNeill's return:

"It was a specific role that we were looking for, somebody that could play in a depth position, kill penalties, bring energy, bring grit," said Spott. "He's obviously a little bit bigger than Charles. He can play centre or the wing."


It is clear that the elite line of Nugent Hopkins setting up Scheifele and Huderdeau is the bread and butter and key scoring component with a strong secondary presence throughout the other three lines.
Hopkins is so good a distributing the puck and being a constant threat, you have to think Scheifele and Huderbeau will have to capitalize on the the excellent chances he will set them up with.
- wiz1901

I think Danault's going to be out a lot against the other team's top line. He will have the firepower around him to score, but it seems to me his primary role on this team is defensive, so he might not light it up while having a very successful tourney regardless.

Lots of good teams in it this year; Russia and Canada right now look to be the cream to me.

I think Danault's going to be out a lot against the other team's top line. He will have the firepower around him to score, but it seems to me his primary role on this team is defensive, so he might not light it up while having a very successful tourney regardless.
Lots of good teams in it this year; Russia and Canada right now look to be the cream to me.
- John Jaeckel

Oh, yeah...he made this squad for him to play that role.
He is certainly a find. The kid was the best player on a bad QMJHLeague team, and took care of business defensively, still flew up ice offensively to pick apart the defenders and score.
The kid is far ahead of most juniors in his responsibilty to be in position after transition, fill if the defenseman jump up in the cycle, etc.
The other part part of the package known as dano is the competitive nature: the Russian Super Series saw them split open hismouth/ teeth, him returning prior to the final whistle as a show that he was still going finish with the same type big hits he started EACH period the Quebec All-Star team was in.
He just had more dental work to fix part of that.
The kids is thicker stronger and WANTS to be a good hockey player, not just a hockey player.
Just to go back to your previous article about drafting sucesses and failure (which I added a post like yesterday, btw):

If you choose a kid like Danault, a kid like Giroux (and not trying to make a comparison as similar upsides) and even a Toews, they come with speed and that hunger to just be better, as difference makers, and winners...it doesn't have to be by just filling the net. They want all the little things in the game to make shift by shift differences.

So I am very excited at the prospect of Danault being a Hawk, but I am not going to put a high end tag on how he fares as a pro.
I just know he won't give us less than his best...and we can't ask for more.

Just imagine if he continues to put his entire game together.