Sid-Malkin-Staal?

.

I agree with the Kings comments and the Phil comments, but am really annoyed by the Oilers comments.

You just admitted that you plan on making this claim every year (like you have for a couple years already) until it eventually comes true. Do you not see a problem with this?

Anyways, I 100% guarantee the Oilers will not make the playoffs this year. What do you think of that?
- tom_delonge_ava

Staal was not on the Pens in Crosby's rookie season.

can you imagine the heat we would have took if we traded Richards to Calgary or Edmonton and then had the investigation come out?
- MikeOxbyg

I've thought about this actually. DL brought it upon himself to tell those GMs that he had to stop the trade discussions once he was notified of the incident.

It's not his fitness that was in question (except by every non-Leafs fan at the time), it's his give-a-(frank)-meter, which is off the charts (in a bad way)
- walshyleafsfan

That also doesn't make much sense unless Kessel is the greatest talent in the history of hockey. You don't play in every game in every season and put up points like he has without caring.

What if it is Richards who is refusing to follow the nhl drug policy? What if he is refusing rehab? Wouldn't that be reason to void his contract?

What if it is Richards who is refusing to follow the nhl drug policy? What if he is refusing rehab? Wouldn't that be reason to void his contract?
- Dkos

Pretty sure the CBA stipulates that he cannot have his contract terminated for non-compliance with the policy, he can only be suspended without pay. Will have to look up the specific language to confirm.

The Avs weren't a good team the year before, they were a team that got lucky, went against the odds of probability and had success despite being brutally out-possessed. They weren't good.

This isn't meant as a shot against the Avs who I have nothing personally against, but 100% they are becoming known for making terrible decisions.

Also, I don't think plus minus means anything.

ROR is worth every penny.
- James_Tanner

Avs lacked depth and defense. They dumped ROR for guess what...depth and defense.
Based on what are their known for terrible decisions now? Stastny sure should have been traded in hindsight but they will in a playoffs hunt at the time.

Avs lacked depth and defense. They dumped ROR for guess what...depth and defense.
Based on what are their known for terrible decisions now? Stastny sure should have been traded in hindsight but they will in a playoffs hunt at the time.
- Drij

Signing Iginla. Hiring Roy. Letting Stastny go. Fighting constantly with ROR. Trading ROR. Trading for Eric Johnson. There's probably more that's the first five things that popped into my head.

Sid-Malkin-Staal?

.

I agree with the Kings comments and the Phil comments, but am really annoyed by the Oilers comments.

You just admitted that you plan on making this claim every year (like you have for a couple years already) until it eventually comes true. Do you not see a problem with this?

Anyways, I 100% guarantee the Oilers will not make the playoffs this year. What do you think of that?
- tom_delonge_ava

First of all, you need to realize that all predictions are a joke. They are estimates. But I just really beleive in this team, what's wrong with that. They have Connor, Hall and RNH. Sorry but that is just awesome my good man.

Signing Iginla. Hiring Roy. Letting Stastny go. Fighting constantly with ROR. Trading ROR. Trading for Eric Johnson. There's probably more that's the first five things that popped into my head.
- James_Tanner

Drafting MacKinnon over Jones.

Fair enough, but there are people who think Karlsson and Gardiner are defensive liabilities, but its all confirmation bias- yiu remember what you're looking for. Fact is, all three guys keep the puck in the other teams zone more than 50%
- James_Tanner

Please don't ever put Gardiner and Karlsson in the same sentence. Gardiner is a joke.

Signing Iginla. Hiring Roy. Letting Stastny go. Fighting constantly with ROR. Trading ROR. Trading for Eric Johnson. There's probably more that's the first five things that popped into my head.
- James_Tanner

So you'd rather have Chris Stewart over Eric Johnson?? The Roy thing is strictly you're opinion. Whether your fancy stats tell you otherwise the avs were first in the west last year and had 92 points this year in the incredibly tough central. Who's to say it's the avs fighting with ROR and not ROR fighting with avs? ROR trade was a pretty good haul.

You're just stuck in conventional thinking

Pretty sure the CBA stipulates that he cannot have his contract terminated for non-compliance with the policy, he can only be suspended without pay. Will have to look up the specific language to confirm.
- Sandus

Does the player lose salary when suspended? Does his salary, during the suspension, still count against the cap?

The magnificent offensive wonder that is Jake Gardiner was last in on ice GF/60 of any regular Leaf defensemen. That's right, behind Roman Polak.

This is despite him being sheltered with more offensive zone starts than any regular besides Robidas.

Must just be more bad luck

The magnificent offensive wonder that is Jake Gardiner was last in on ice GF/60 of any regular Leaf defensemen. That's right, behind Roman Polak.

This is despite him being sheltered with more offensive zone starts than any regular besides Robidas.

Must just be more bad luck
- sbroads24

You should delete this post. Only tanner can use fancy stats and he gets to hand pick each one

It also seems Gardiner faced the worst competition out of the regulars too


So he scores less, against worse players, with more advantages


It seems as if it's not confirmation bias, it's actual facts that show he's not very good

Does the player lose salary when suspended? Does his salary, during the suspension, still count against the cap?
- Dkos

All suspensions are governed by the SABH Program (substance abuse and behavioral health). It works in a 4 step process

Stage 1- Suspension with pay for the duration of treatment.
Stage 2- For violation or refusal of Stage 1 treatment, suspension without pay for the duration of treatment.
Stage 3-For violation or refusal of Stage 2 treatment, suspension without pay for a minimum of 6 months.
Stage 4-For violation or refusal of Stage 3 treatment, suspension without pay for at least an entire season.

For stages 2-4, reinstatement is discretionary and not guaranteed.

In Richards' case, he has never been assigned (publicly) to stage 1 of the program or prescribed treatment, therefore refusal of treatment would place him in stage 2 where he would be suspended without pay.

As for cap hit, the SABH predates the new CBA, but it's my understanding that any player suspended by the league is considered a rostered player and counts against the cap unless a special exemption is awarded (see: Voynov, Slava). I may do some more digging to see if this is in fact the case.

Signing Iginla. Hiring Roy. Letting Stastny go. Fighting constantly with ROR. Trading ROR. Trading for Eric Johnson. There's probably more that's the first five things that popped into my head.
- James_Tanner

Signing the guy who ended up being their leading scorer was a mistake? He was signed to be a complimentary player and ended up leading the team. Not sure what the problem is. Must be some stat somewhere I'm missing.

Stastny left because he wanted to. They tried to resign him.

ROR thought he was a star and Feaster decides to try to pay him like one. Trading him was their only option because he priced himself out when he signed the offer sheet. It happens. Placing all of the blame for that on the Avs is wrong.

So you'd rather have Chris Stewart over Eric Johnson?? The Roy thing is strictly you're opinion. Whether your fancy stats tell you otherwise the avs were first in the west last year and had 92 points this year in the incredibly tough central. Who's to say it's the avs fighting with ROR and not ROR fighting with avs? ROR trade was a pretty good haul.

You're just stuck in conventional thinking
- kessellover69

That trade was Stewart ADN Shattenkirk for EJ.

Please don't ever put Gardiner and Karlsson in the same sentence. Gardiner is a joke.
- sbroads24

You mad Bro

Agreed he has always been when media is concerned. I did not see effort issues until this past season, but the whole team had also quit around him. Kessel is the only one that gets female doged about.
- ConnorMcDaigle

While i respect your opinion, the turn around from non-Leafs fans is staggering regarding Phil. Just as it is with Leafs fans.

All suspensions are governed by the SABH Program (substance abuse and behavioral health). It works in a 4 step process

Stage 1- Suspension with pay for the duration of treatment.
Stage 2- For violation or refusal of Stage 1 treatment, suspension without pay for the duration of treatment.
Stage 3-For violation or refusal of Stage 2 treatment, suspension without pay for a minimum of 6 months.
Stage 4-For violation or refusal of Stage 3 treatment, suspension without pay for at least an entire season.

For stages 2-4, reinstatement is discretionary and not guaranteed.

In Richards' case, he has never been assigned (publicly) to stage 1 of the program or prescribed treatment, therefore refusal of treatment would place him in stage 2 where he would be suspended without pay.

As for cap hit, the SABH predates the new CBA, but it's my understanding that any player suspended by the league is considered a rostered player and counts against the cap unless a special exemption is awarded (see: Voynov, Slava). I may do some more digging to see if this is in fact the case.
- Sandus

I don't think Richards was terminated because he wouldn't go to rehab. We will not know the reason until all is said and done so all this talk is just people guessing at what may have happened. There's no doubt teams are able to terminate a contract if that player didn't fulfill his contractual obligations to the team and league its self. As of right now the league have given the Kings the OK to terminate the contract. We just have to see what the NHLPA will do, which they Will most certainly file a grievance

MINUS: The L.A Kings. I don't care what kind of salary cap trouble you've gotten yourself into, voiding Mike Richards contract appears to be one of the most egregious examples of a corporation unjustly screwing over an employee that I have ever seen.

Now, I say the word "appears" because no one actually is publicly admitting to anything here and instead of facts there is only speculation.

The speculation is that Mike Richards is under investigation for being arrested at the Canada/US border for OxyContin possession. If this speculation is unrelated to the voiding of his contract, that would be surprising coincidence, but there obviously must be more to the story because otherwise wouldn't Richards have to be entered into treatment and the Kings would have to follow the CBA's drug policy?

My point here is that it's pretty convenient for them to void his contract just a couple days after (apparently) being unable to trade him.

My other point is that the NHL culture requires players be tough, to play through pain and that if even 10% of the rumours are based on facts, then people would be shocked at the amount of painkillers athletes in all major sports take.

Furthermore, the way hockey culture glorifies playing injured and being tough - I mean, no one even hides the fact that guys get needles before games so that they can play - means that if painkillers or addiction have anything to do with Richard's contract being voided then the Kings are 100% hypocrites.

Also, I think any kind of drug offense is less serious than beating your wife, and I don't see the Kings voiding the contract of convicted domestic abuser Slava Voynov. But of course, he's actually worth the money on his contract, and they can say "he served his time" so why even talk about it, right?

Assuming the contract voiding was painkiller related, I hope Richards gets his contract re-instated and I think Slava Voynov should be banned from the NHL for life. You don't hit woman and there should be zero tolerance.

But you also shouldn't encourage people to play hurt and be surprised if they end up addicted to painkillers - if that is what happened.

Damn dude! I'm a big fan of your columns for the entertainment they provide. But this is completely spot on. You are the first person I've read who completely, 100% gets the situation the Kings have put themselves in. Well done!!!!

That trade was Stewart ADN Shattenkirk for EJ.
- Snowblind

Yup it was. My bad. I totally forgot about him in that deal.

Signing Iginla. Hiring Roy. Letting Stastny go. Fighting constantly with ROR. Trading ROR. Trading for Eric Johnson. There's probably more that's the first five things that popped into my head.
- James_Tanner

oh jimmy, you try so hard

That trade was Stewart ADN Shattenkirk for EJ.
- Snowblind

sure, you have to give up something to try and get something. Shattenkirk was a rookie when he was moved, but a small puck moving Dman (which they felt they had a better one in Barrie in the system) was a surplus of theirs

They didn't have a EJ in the system, A big Top 4 dman who can lug a lot of minute and play a simple sound game. Hes not a true number 1, but hes a good number 2 and does the Job for the Avs.

I dont see any issues with this trade. Dont think Shattenkirk would be putting up the numbers he would be doing if he was the Number 1 man on the Avs right now surrounded by Hejda and Liles for those first couple seasons