I don't know all that much about the guy, but I do know a lot about Jim Benning. Wouldn't be surprised if he made a really stupid deal to try to get his lower lotory team into "win now" mode.
- Victoro311

Yeah, you're right. Benning has made some pretty questionable moves the past few years. Even still, I believe Gudbranson to be a good young defeneseman who can still get better.

If that was as great as you act like it is we wouldn't have people coming to America from Canada because they dont want to wait so long to get treated. But whatever. "Free" is such a lie people tell themselves its so funny.
- Zac_O

You're right free is a bit of a lie. We pay taxes for it. Only wealthy and/or extremely impatient people go to the US for immediate healthcare. Government healthcare benefits the bottom 99% ok, bottom 90%. Its not perfect, for sure, but 9/10 is pretty good. I've broken a wrist, ankle, and had two ACLs repaired. Didn't cost me an additional dime and for the broken bones I was casted within 24 hrs, I had to wait 2 months for the surgeries but was in a brace and doing rehab pre surgury all publicly funded - not terrible - not a dime out of pocket. The CMA is amongst the best in the world so the quality of care and the medical professionals are excellent.

Like all government funded things, there are hiccups. I'm sympathetic to Americans though given the concerns my fellow classmates expressed, stuff we'd don't blink an eye at, like calling an ambulance.

Yeah, you're right. Benning has made some pretty questionable moves the past few years. Even still, I believe Gudbranson to be a good young defeneseman who can still get better.
- MattStrat

And he was traded for a ransom of a blue chip prospect, a second round pick, and another pick. It's not like he was just dumped... But now their blue line is pretty thin. Basically Ekblad and the Russian kid.

You're right free is a bit of a lie. We pay taxes for it. Only wealthy and/or extremely impatient people go to the US for immediate healthcare. Government healthcare benefits the bottom 99% ok, bottom 90%. Its not perfect, for sure, but 9/10 is pretty good. I'm not complaining.
- brienstel

Also desperate people. My dad is a cardiologist and he sees a lot of Canadians that take medical vacations to get heart procedures done because of emergency and the system is backlogged. IMO, that's a substantial flaw when the system puts people in dire need on a waiting list.

Also desperate people. My dad is a cardiologist and he sees a lot of Canadians that take medical vacations to get heart procedures done because of emergency and the system is backlogged. IMO, that's a substantial flaw when the system puts people in dire need on a waiting list.
- Victoro311

You're right. 100%.

But the bottomline is they will be seen regardless of income. Its comforting to know that if you proactively visit your family doc every year (or twice or three times, whenever you want really - all "free") you can catch anything before its too serious and then a wait time isn't a big deal because you caught a symptom early enough.

Everyone gets excellent care regardless of income. Thats the main thing. Yup you might have to wait a couple months, but you will be seen and treated.

I'm not saying its perfect. Its absolutely not. But its good. And I hope the US adopts something similar because it would benefit a lot of people, if nothing more than piece of mind.

Yeah that's why the Canucks gave up a good forward prospect AND 2 picks for him...He's a young top 4 defensemen. He's good.
- MattStrat

LOL he is not a top 4 defenseman. He's a 3rd pairing defenseman. I'm not sure who's a worse GM, Sweeney or Benning.

You're right free is a bit of a lie. We pay taxes for it. Only wealthy and/or extremely impatient people go to the US for immediate healthcare. Government healthcare benefits the bottom 99% ok, bottom 90%. Its not perfect, for sure, but 9/10 is pretty good. I've broken a wrist, ankle, and had to ACLs repaired. Didn't cost me an additional dime and for the broken bones I was casted within 24 hrs, I had to wait 2 months for the surgeries but was in a brace and doing rehab pre surgury all publicly funded - not terrible - not a dime out of pocket. The CMA is amongst the best in the world so the quality of care and the medical professionals are excellent.

Like all government funded things, there are hiccups. I'm sympathetic to Americans though given the concerns my fellow classmates expressed, stuff we'd don't blink an eye at, like calling an ambulance.
- brienstel

What you're basically saying is everyone pays in but it doesn't help everyone that pays in. The system is better than what America has but is not nearly as good as people like to play it up to be.

LOL he is not a top 4 defenseman. He's a 3rd pairing defenseman. I'm not sure who's a worse GM, Sweeney or Benning.
- j.boyd919

I think he is. At least borderline top 4. Difference of opinions I guess.

On this day in history...May 26th, 2009...the Penguins beat the Hurricanes to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals...

I think he is. At least borderline top 4. Difference of opinions I guess.
- MattStrat

Issue from what I've gathered is he's perceived to have a lot of value and will get a hefty raise after this season. Florida doesn't want to poney up.

What you're basically saying is everyone pays in but it doesn't help everyone that pays in. The system is better than what America has but is not nearly as good as people like to play it up to be.
- Zac_O

No, it helps everyone that pays in. It even helps those that don't! If you make under 20k per yea (roughly) you're income tax exempt or if you are on welfare (governemnt checks). In fact, people who pay the least or not at all get the best value for their dollar.

I'm not playing it up to be anything. What I've said are personal anecdotes. I have no reason to fabricate my experiences or the generalized benefits and flaws of our system.

Its not perfect. But it is good.

Regardless, it was a just a D comment that was meant to poke fun, not start a converation about politics - I hate politics.

Lets refocus. We got a game 7 tonight!

On this day in history...May 26th, 2009...the Penguins beat the Hurricanes to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals...
- MattStrat

Love it!

On this day in history...May 26th, 2009...the Penguins beat the Hurricanes to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals...
- MattStrat

So what you're saying is...

I got the game 7 jitters
- dbell646

Ditto. We've been kicked in the nuts plenty with these game 7's at home.

Pens/Sharks would be an awesome series IMO.

Thornton still has a lot left and has been playing pretty good. I think SHarks win the beard contest though.

Pens/Sharks would be an awesome series IMO.

Thornton still has a lot left and has been playing pretty good. I think SHarks win the beard contest though.
- sammy87

Yeah their beards are unreal. No contest there.

So what you're saying is...
- znagle58

...

EDIT: too superstitious to say anything.

Issue from what I've gathered is he's perceived to have a lot of value and will get a hefty raise after this season. Florida doesn't want to poney up.
- Victoro311

Yeah they've got some important pieces requiring new contracts/raises soon.

Also desperate people. My dad is a cardiologist and he sees a lot of Canadians that take medical vacations to get heart procedures done because of emergency and the system is backlogged. IMO, that's a substantial flaw when the system puts people in dire need on a waiting list.
- Victoro311

My dad had a "funny" feeling in his chest. Had a 5 way bypass the very next day with great success. The American system is amazing. 100% free system in a country this size would kill a lot of people.

Doctors deserve every penny they make. If you reduce their pay and make them work for peanuts, you'll have a whole lot less doctors. It's happening already.

No, it helps everyone that pays in. It even helps those that don't! If you make under 20k per yea (roughly) you're income tax exempt or if you are on welfare (governemnt checks). In fact, people who pay the least or not at all get the best value for their dollar.

I'm not playing it up to be anything. What I've said are personal anecdotes. I have no reason to fabricate my experiences or the generalized benefits and flaws of our system.

Its not perfect. But it is good.

Regardless, it was a just a D comment that was meant to poke fun, not start a converation about politics - I hate politics.

Lets refocus. We got a game 7 tonight!
- brienstel

Me too...elbowgate...

Issue from what I've gathered is he's perceived to have a lot of value and will get a hefty raise after this season. Florida doesn't want to poney up.
- Victoro311

Dale Tallon is team building genius. He built the Hawks and then took off before the first cup. He went to Florida, who was a complete disaster, and they're on their way to being Cup contenders... but, has now accepted the President role and handed the GM duty over to another guy. He's the master mind behind putting these teams together.

Me too...elbowgate...
- MattStrat

How stupid was that, "eh."
So dumb.

How stupid was that, "eh."
So dumb.
- brienstel

It's absolutely ridiculous.

I think he is. At least borderline top 4. Difference of opinions I guess.
- MattStrat

"since entering the NHL, Gudbranson ranks 184th in Rel 5v5 GF% out of 207 defensemen who have play >2500 minutes"

That is horrible.

And he is expected to make 5mil in his next contract. Florida turned a 24 year old bust and 5th into a 20 year old forward, a 2nd (33rd overall) and a 4th.

My dad had a "funny" feeling in his chest. Had a 5 way bypass the very next day with great success. The American system is amazing. 100% free system in a country this size would kill a lot of people.

Doctors deserve every penny they make. If you reduce their pay and make them work for peanuts, you'll have a whole lot less doctors. It's happening already.
- madmike71

Firstly, glad your Dad is A-ok! Thats terrific.

Doctors are so valuable. Its a shame that in Canada the government tries to negotiate their pay (and everyone elses) to help fund the system. They do it by specialty too, so not all doctors make the same and some get hit harder by cut backs than others. That said, family docs still start at roughly 180k. So while they don't make as much as private independent practices in the US, 180k is nothing to sneeze at - I wish I made that much. The average I would estimate to be close to 300k. Cardiologists and Opthamologists (eyes), Derm (skin), they all make 600k+ (it also depends on the province you work in). In the US the sky is the limit... which is why insurance and pharam and med tech is so profitiable but unsustainable and a big factor for the domestic deficit.

But you're right. Next day quintuplet bybass is incredibly fast and was obviously needed on an "right now" basis, not an "ASAP" basis. In Canada if you're about to die in the ER you do get attention immediatly, but you obviously don't want to be in that condition to justify those means. There is a hierarchy based on immediacy of need, just part of the system, and in some cases a drawback.

Ideally a two teired system would be good. Where the baseline of care is gov't funded for everyone and then if you can afford it you can pay extra (why people go to the US). But that has a myriad of issues that I'm too niave to even begin discussing ON A HOCKEY BLOG AND PENS FORM THE DAY OF A GAME 7!