Sammy was here spitting out spoilers Sunday night after it aired. I wasnt impressed.
- MattStrat

Well, sammy's a Richard. And not just for that.

Sammy was here spitting out spoilers Sunday night after it aired. I wasnt impressed.
- MattStrat

Isn't all he said was it was really sad and hinted at maybe a dire wolf dying? I was responding to him and I was really careful not to spoil anything. All I said was Hodor was involved in a major capacity.

I was one of those pesky book readers so I've conditioned myself to tread very lightly on the spoiler front. It's such an amazing series that should be ruined for no one.

Yeah, they're mainly a giant bag of Richards. There's a few good guys who report reasonably (Bob MacKenzie, Elliotte Friedman, Sean Fitz-gerald) but they're few and far between.

They then post idiotic stuff to twitter like "It wasn't me that traded Phil - that was Dubas" when they know full well that their moronic bullpoop was lapped up by the dumbest 80% of the fan base, causing them to turn on Phil (and others).

Anyway, I hope that Phil can silence them.
- lumlums

To be fair. You needed to trade Phil for rebuild purposes. No way you have Matthews right now if you still employed The Phil. But man, a JVR-Matthews-Kessel Team America World Police line would have been the poop! Maybe next Olympics

Yeah, they're mainly a giant bag of Richards. There's a few good guys who report reasonably (Bob MacKenzie, Elliotte Friedman, Sean Fitz-gerald) but they're few and far between.

They then post idiotic stuff to twitter like "It wasn't me that traded Phil - that was Dubas" when they know full well that their moronic bullpoop was lapped up by the dumbest 80% of the fan base, causing them to turn on Phil (and others).

Anyway, I hope that Phil can silence them.
- lumlums

By all rights he should have already silenced them. He's in the Cup final and he's a legit Conn Smythe candidate to boot.

Isn't all he said was it was really sad and hinted at maybe a dire wolf dying? I was responding to him and I was really careful not to spoil anything. All I said was Hodor was involved in a major capacity.

I was one of those pesky book readers so I've conditioned myself to tread very lightly on the spoiler front. It's such an amazing series that should be ruined for no one.
- Victoro311

I basically knew the fate of a character because of what he said...it's not that bad though because quite a few other things happened in that episode too.

He wasnt gruff from the get go in TO. The media started the sh!t narratives about him, the gullible fans ate it up, he became gruff and as result the best player the Leafs have had in 10 years was run out of town.

Thanks TO media.
- MattStrat

Toronto sports media is the absolute worst. They're all bi-polar and everything all the time is a complete disaster or unbelieveably good. They villified Dion who is the most prototypical hockey personality and consumate professional on and off the ice... Then they bullied Phil out of town because he was the easy kid to pick on who was a bit different than all the others (because his 30+ goal seasons can't be picked on).

Auston Matthews has a whole world of adjustment coming his way. Its like a 24/7 performance on Broadway to a sold out house on and off the ice where everyone in the audience either gives you a teary eyed standing ovation for smiling the right way or boo's you off the stage and wants to bury in a dumpster for not being cordial to a barista at a Starbucks the morning after getting a hatty... its an absolute circus.

Toronto sports media is the absolute worst. They're all bi-polar and everything all the time is a complete disaster or unbelieveably good. They villified Dion who is the most prototypical hockey personality and consumate professional on and off the ice... Then they bullied Phil out of town because he was the easy kid to pick on who was a bit different than all the others (because he 30+ goal season can't be picked on).

Auston Matthews has whole world of adjustment coming his way. Its like a 24/7 performance on Broadway to a sold out house on and off the ice where everyone in the audience either gives you a teary eyed standing ovation for smiling the right way or boo's you off off the stage and wants to bury in a dumpster for not being cordial to a barista at a Starbucks on Sunday morning... its an absolute circus.
- brienstel

I was talking about this at hockey on Tuesday night with all the Leafs fans. If Matthews doesnt produce much in his first season, or hell, even first few months, the media might start crucifying him.

Yeah, they're mainly a giant bag of Richards. There's a few good guys who report reasonably (Bob MacKenzie, Elliotte Friedman, Sean Fitz-gerald) but they're few and far between.

They then post idiotic stuff to twitter like "It wasn't me that traded Phil - that was Dubas" when they know full well that their moronic bullpoop was lapped up by the dumbest 80% of the fan base, causing them to turn on Phil (and others).

Anyway, I hope that Phil can silence them.
- lumlums

Phil just seems to be a socially awkward kind of a guy. I could see how that could be misjudged by reporters as arrogant or gruff. He's not a vocal kind of guy and probably shouldn't be counted on for that duty.

It sounds like the TO media is similar to the New York media. Very adversarial. Downright nasty at times if athletes don't measure up. That confrontational style is always about a reporter making himself the story than actually getting the facts.

Phil just seems to be a socially awkward kind of a guy. I could see how that could be misjudged by reporters as arrogant or gruff. He's not a vocal kind of guy and probably shouldn't be counted on for that duty.

It sounds like the TO media is similar to the New York media. Very adversarial. Downright nasty at times if athletes don't measure up. That confrontational style is always about a reporter making himself the story than actually getting the facts.
- madmike71

Rossi, that idiot, would fit right in there...

Phil just seems to be a socially awkward kind of a guy. I could see how that could be misjudged by reporters as arrogant or gruff. He's not a vocal kind of guy and probably shouldn't be counted on for that duty.

It sounds like the TO media is similar to the New York media. Very adversarial. Downright nasty at times if athletes don't measure up. That confrontational style is always about a reporter making himself the story than actually getting the facts.
- madmike71

I'm not sure if it was an episode of In the Room or what but the Pens posted a video in the middle of our own fan bases' Phil hate where Kessel had a stick signing event at a D¡ck's and he was so visibly nervous on the car ride over. Then when he got there and there was a line of fans happy as can be he said something along the lines of "Oh man... This is all for me?" Then the rest of the video he was so humbled and thankful, like he had never seen a Phil Kessel fan before in his life and he was just expecting to be heckled. It was so heart warming.

Phil just seems to be a socially awkward kind of a guy. I could see how that could be misjudged by reporters as arrogant or gruff. He's not a vocal kind of guy and probably shouldn't be counted on for that duty.

It sounds like the TO media is similar to the New York media. Very adversarial. Downright nasty at times if athletes don't measure up. That confrontational style is always about a reporter making himself the story than actually getting the facts.
- madmike71

You nailed it right there... these guys see themselves as central to the narrative rather than just a window to view what's happening. Somehow, management's inability to put together a competitive roster became Phil's problem in their eyes...

Phil just seems to be a socially awkward kind of a guy. I could see how that could be misjudged by reporters as arrogant or gruff. He's not a vocal kind of guy and probably shouldn't be counted on for that duty.

It sounds like the TO media is similar to the New York media. Very adversarial. Downright nasty at times if athletes don't measure up. That confrontational style is always about a reporter making himself the story than actually getting the facts.
- madmike71

Could you imagine a guy like Brooksie working in TOR? Those interviews with Kessel woulda been super awkward

Rossi, that idiot, would fit right in there...
- MattStrat

Exactly who I was thinking about. That's why nobody in Pittsburgh respects him. Fans understand his "style" is more about him than the story.

I was talking about this at hockey on Tuesday night with all the Leafs fans. If Matthews doesnt produce much in his first season, or hell, even first few months, the media might start crucifying him.
- MattStrat

Absolutely. And all the TO media is building him up to be a McDavid comparable.

This is were having Babcock and Lou and Shanny is really good. They're big enough personalities and garner enough respect and they're smart enough to know to shelter him as much as possible and protect his development, but the TO media will find a way... they always do.

Absolutely. And all the TO media is building him up to be a McDavid comparable.

This is were having Babcock and Lou and Shanny is really good. They're big enough personalities and garner enough respect and they're smart enough to know to shelter him as much as possible and protect his development, but the TO media will find a way... they always do.
- brienstel

If the situation in Edm, with their stagnating rebuild had occurred in Toronto, my god....

Rossi, that idiot, would fit right in there...
- MattStrat

Rossi has nothing on guys like Simmons or Feschuk.

Hell, the latter interviewed Reimer's mother when he decided that the answers to questions about Reimer's health given by the club weren't good enough. These guys don;t give a (frank) about the players in question, they just want to be the next "hot take" and will sink to any levels to get it...

You could see last night the Pens kept pressing. Obviously the Bolts were going to have a really desperate push back but the Pens still kept putting 2 forwards in their zone pressuring and as a result the Pens had some decent chances in the 3rd as well. They didn't do that in the other 3rd periods they had a lead in these playoffs. I was extremely pleased to see it. That last 5 minutes though....detrimental to my health. I seriously almost puked on my couch.
- MattStrat

I almost lost my mind when Bonino needlessly iced the puck with about 15 seconds left. He and Hagelin would have been in on a 2 on 1 for an empty netter.

Could you imagine a guy like Brooksie working in TOR? Those interviews with Kessel woulda been super awkward
- DeflatedPucks

I loved him getting shut down by Boyle

I almost lost my mind when Bonino needlessly iced the puck with about 15 seconds left. He and Hagelin would have been in on a 2 on 1 for an empty netter.
- Emperor Filonius

I loved seeing stamkos throw a temper tantrum for some reason

If the situation in Edm, with their stagnating rebuild had occurred in Toronto, my god....
- DeflatedPucks

The ACC would have be burned to the ground and several players and management would have been publicly hung.

I almost lost my mind when Bonino needlessly iced the puck with about 15 seconds left. He and Hagelin would have been in on a 2 on 1 for an empty netter.
- Emperor Filonius

Yeah that was a bit much. I was yelling at my TV over that one. Imagine the Bolts had tied it up on that next faceoff?....

Absolutely. And all the TO media is building him up to be a McDavid comparable.

This is were having Babcock and Lou and Shanny is really good. They're big enough personalities and garner enough respect and they're smart enough to know to shelter him as much as possible and protect his development, but the TO media will find a way... they always do.
- brienstel

Yeah and McDavid he is not.

Rossi has nothing on guys like Simmons or Feschuk.

Hell, the latter interviewed Reimer's mother when he decided that the answers to questions about Reimer's health given by the club weren't good enough. These guys don;t give a (frank) about the players in question, they just want to be the next "hot take" and will sink to any levels to get it...
- lumlums

Simmons and Feschuk are two of the very worst... they're boarderline TMZ reporters.

Just side shows looking for their names to be in the headlines regardless of their work.

Gotta think Bishop is the difference on a the second goal last night... keeps it 1-1 then who knows.
- brienstel

I'm not convinced Bishop makes any difference. Vasilevski was stellar and was the only reason the series went 7 games. It would have been very difficult for Bishop to improve on that performance.

(frank)in' rights boys. My Twitter timeline was full of salt last night. My buddies that are Wings, caps and lightning fans all are rooting for the Sharks. Hell, basically everyone is. Love being the "underdog".

Probably going to make the voyage to Pitt for the big screen at least. If tickets aren't too bad I might pop on some. I'd like to go to a game that we can clinch on Thursday-Saturday. Hopefully I get the chance. I was in Chicago last year when the Hawks beat the Preds on game 6 and it was crazy. I can only imagine what a Cup win would bring.... Mayhem.
- znagle58

If you can get a ticket by all means pony up the $$ and go. I've been to two games in the finals (one a home win against Detroit in 08 and the other at the Joe for a loss in 09) and its worth every penny.