It seemed to me that the Avs overachieved the first season under Roy mainly because his antics fired up the young players and created an almost college like esprit de corps atmosphere. But by Roy's second season his act didn't have the same effect on the players because it only works once and the players had been there and done that. It seemed Roy toned it down a bit during games last season but I think he proved that the best asset he had as a coach was good for only one season.

I grew up in the Quad Cities, home of the Quad City Mallards. They have bounced back and forth between the Colonial Hockey League and AHL as the Flames. Regularly draw 1,500- 2,000 fans on weekends.

The biggest legend is Jacque Mailhot. The clip below is post-Mallards, but the guy might be the only Quad City Mallard to make SportsCenter.

Also JJ, just visited Portland, ME with my wife in May. We loved it! Hit me up if you are looking for food or beverage recommendations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNqT5ojYT3A
- phantasmo

Love the Mallards coach - Terry Ruskowski

Rockton Cardinals at the Wagon Wheel. Insane.
- 6628

Back in the day was the Jim Campbells power skating hockey school at Wagon Wheel

King James resigning in Cleveland - 3 years $100MM!!!

$33MM per year is 45% of the NHL salary cap.
- StLBravesFan

unbelievable

Erik Johnson said that probably 90% of the locker room loved playing for him since they knew he had their back and was always there to motivate them to be better
- DDM-Coga

Again, love ya Coda, but has there ever been a dismissal voluntary or forced, where the players said they hated the coach? (Even Adolph ((Mike Keenan)) with each dismissal didn't get public crap from his players...)

The NHL channel people talked down Wild's Mike Yeo departure, saying he lost his players, but it was more about them losind, not his relationship.

and I love that you feel comfortable coming here and sharing with all of us who ARE truly your hockey buddies despite or different allegiances...

Love the Mallards coach - Terry Ruskowski
- hockey nut 28

When my acquaintance Troy Gamble played for the Houston Aeros, i was supposed to meet up with him after Wolves game at the Rosemont. Terry was their coach.

The Aeros lost, Troy, their goalie, came out (b/c he wasn't playing in net) to get the security to let me down...he forgot he left something in the room, so I went to the inside door of the room, and Roscoe was downright crazy railing his team, their effort, etc.
Troy said to me, "You really don't want come in with me."

When my acquaintance Troy Gamble played for the Houston Aeros, i was supposed to meet up with him after Wolves game at the Rosemont. Terry was their coach.

The Aeros lost, Troy, their goalie, came out (b/c he wasn't playing in net) to get the security to let me down...he forgot he left something in the room, so I went to the inside door of the room, and Roscoe was downright crazy railing his team, their effort, etc.
Troy said to me, "You really don't want come in with me."
- wiz1901

He is fiery indeed. Also a in between periods smoker. He and Kevin McClelland were always a good story teller.

I once went to a Coyotes game in Phoenix. That counts as AHL right?

West Riders Best.
- BINGO!

Green is the Colo(u)r!!

Remember going to Indy ice games in seeing players like Krivokrasov, Lecompte and thinking the Hawks may have something there. My wife is from Norfolk Virginia so we went to a couple Admirals games when they were the Hawks minor team. First game we took our niece to ther had both benches empty into a brawl, coaching staff included.

I once went to a Coyotes game in Phoenix. That counts as AHL right?
- blackhawks30

Thanks I needed a good laugh!

Back in the day was the Jim Campbells power skating hockey school at Wagon Wheel
- hockey nut 28

Campbell had a little something to do with the Elmhurst Y back in the day. You could field a pretty good team with the players that started playing hockey at the Y.

It's already stupid enough to have two Sox teams in the MLB.

Two 'Hawks in the NHL? To me that's egregious.
- TommyHawk

Completely agree--- so many names they could choose from--- infinitum--- why Hawks? If I were Rocky I would protest vehemently---

Las Vegas Thunder--- the last hockey team there-- Las Vegas Lights--- Las Vegas Roulettes----- Vultures--- Desert Storm--- Sandmen-- Bondsmen-- whatever -- its a major cheap shot to consider using Hawks in the name---

Completely agree--- so many names they could choose from--- infinitum--- why Hawks? If I were Rocky I would protest vehemently---

Las Vegas Thunder--- the last hockey team there-- Las Vegas Lights--- Las Vegas Roulettes----- Vultures--- Desert Storm--- Sandmen-- Bondsmen-- whatever -- its a major cheap shot to consider using Hawks in the name---
- jb3333

Agreed. Don't know how it isn't challenged by the Blackhawks, who were also known as the Hawks first and who are in the same business. It would lead to confusion. I also can't believe the league would allow it.

Agreed. Don't know how it isn't challenged by the Blackhawks, who were also known as the Hawks first and who are in the same business. It would lead to confusion. I also can't believe the league would allow it.
- Marlowe

Here's one for the controversial set---- The Las Vegas Trumps----

It seemed to me that the Avs overachieved the first season under Roy mainly because his antics fired up the young players and created an almost college like esprit de corps atmosphere. But by Roy's second season his act didn't have the same effect on the players because it only works once and the players had been there and done that. It seemed Roy toned it down a bit during games last season but I think he proved that the best asset he had as a coach was good for only one season.
- EbonyRaptor

If I recall correctly too, the team had a dynamite season from Varlamov that year and he really made a difference holding the fort for the weak D while the young forwards were playing a very run and gun style. The team was a bottom feeder in possession metrics and the strong goal-tending really made them look better than they were. It did catch up them, and Varlamov cooled off and I believe missed some time with injury the following two seasons.

If I recall correctly too, the team had a dynamite season from Varlamov that year and he really made a difference holding the fort for the weak D while the young forwards were playing a very run and gun style. The team was a bottom feeder in possession metrics and the strong goal-tending really made them look better than they were. It did catch up them, and Varlamov cooled off and I believe missed some time with injury the following two seasons.
- breadbag

That's also my recollection of why the Avalanche were so successful that year. Varlamov was the difference maker on an overall poor possession team then came back down to earth in the following seasons.

Now contrast that to the argument of Crawford not being an elite NHL goalie because has such a strong defense in front of him (blueliners + overall team defense). Last year, IMHO, proved that theory wrong as the blueline depth and overall team defense were much weaker and the Hawks would have been much worse had Crawford not been in net. I consider Crawford to be amongst the top 5 goalies in the league.

Speaking of which, in the most recent HockeyBuzz HotStove, 3 bloggers were surveyed with one ranking Crawford in his top 5, the 2ne didn't but had him as his honorable mention, and the 3rd was Tanner who didn't list him even as an honorable mention. JJ wasn't one of the bloggers surveyed.

This is probaby your best post ever! LOL!
- wiz1901

Thank you, but really, that isn't saying much.......................

Offseason is a killer, have gone into sarcastic mode about a month ago

NCAA: I really miss the days when UIC had a D1 team and played at the Pavilion in the CCHA. My favorite moments growing up as a Chicago hockey player were watching them take on Michigan State in the late 80's and early 90's. Ron Mason's State teams were always loaded with the likes of the Miller brothers, Rod Brind 'Amour, Bryan Smolinski, Jim Cummins, Mitch Messier, Anson Carter and of course Chicago hockey products Rob Woodward, Scott Dean and Stevie Suk.

Crowd was always a bit thin but watching those guys was amazing. UIC had some talent with Jeff Nelson, Sheldon Gorski, and Paul Torey but those MSU Spartan teams were just sublime.
- acmidd28

Thissssssss. Giant Thumbs up.


I talk to the athletic director all the time. He stated that he loves hockey but it will never come back to UIC. To sum it up he said because of Title 9 (Which I think is a good thing by the way) UICs current population is 60% female therefore it must have at least 55% of its varsity athletes be female. UIC already has a hard time hitting that mark. UIC is in year 2 of Varsity girls soccer which helps the $s jive.

But it is a shame. Hockey at Racine and Harrison was awesome.

https://youtu.be/d83zH4lDFgI

I have been thinking about getting Devils season tickets for this upcoming season through my company to take customers when they come to visit from out of town. My clientele are international folks that most are not hockey fans - big cricket and football (soccer) fans, etc. How do you rate the experience at the Rock? A friend of mine has the club seats in the "ice" bar area and that is pretty cool but I am biased as a Devils fan. The all you can eat food and such is nice but wondered what you thought as a non Devils fan.

Also - after thinking about it, I really like the car service idea, I take a car service when I fly out of JFK (I live in the shore) the long term parking cost almost make it a wash and its nice to be able to get tanked on a long flight and not have to drive home.
- TRDevil

Its pretty good the way we have it set up. Car picks us up at their office, takes us to one of those restaurants for early dinner, drops us off at game, is there after the game about a block down, can't remember name of bar he parks at across from the stadium, sports bar a couple levels, you probably know where i'm talking about.

Its new and modern and a good place to see a hockey game.

Remember going to Indy ice games in seeing players like Krivokrasov, Lecompte and thinking the Hawks may have something there. My wife is from Norfolk Virginia so we went to a couple Admirals games when they were the Hawks minor team. First game we took our niece to ther had both benches empty into a brawl, coaching staff included.
- ikeane

Lived in VA Beach for 12 yrs, when the Hawks moved them to Norfolk, I assumed they were doing it just for me

ps. Predicted to my friends after one game Krivo would be the next great Hawk. So remember that when I make some other prediction on here

Its pretty good the way we have it set up. Car picks us up at their office, takes us to one of those restaurants for early dinner, drops us off at game, is there after the game about a block down, can't remember name of bar he parks at across from the stadium, sports bar a couple levels, you probably know where i'm talking about.

Its new and modern and a good place to see a hockey game.
- vabeachbear

Thank you for the response. I like it there ok myself, but is good to have a impartial opinion. It sounds like a classy way to entertain a customer.

The funny thing is this guy is your customer and the guy with the club seats I mentioned is my customer also. We are supposed to take them out (hence the Portuguese) but I am not going to complain.

Hockey is so much fun to see live - the speed and sounds, I enjoy taking non hockey fans and planting that seed. So many begin to watch after seeing a live game.

Lived in VA Beach for 12 yrs, when the Hawks moved them to Norfolk, I assumed they were doing it just for me

ps. Predicted to my friends after one game Krivo would be the next great Hawk. So remember that when I make some other prediction on here
- vabeachbear

Where did they play in Norfolk? I think I saw the Admirals play when I was stationed down there.

Where did they play in Norfolk? I think I saw the Admirals play when I was stationed down there.
- hpk90

At the scope

Remember going to Indy ice games in seeing players like Krivokrasov, Lecompte and thinking the Hawks may have something there. My wife is from Norfolk Virginia so we went to a couple Admirals games when they were the Hawks minor team. First game we took our niece to ther had both benches empty into a brawl, coaching staff included.
- ikeane

My friend Steven Cohn said something (at the warm ups) after we saw Krivo in preseason that still rings true:
It's not a matter of watchhing the hopefuls and seeing upside as much as seeing in a few showing right now if all the pieces are in play to BE NHL players.
With Krio, we saw jump but the rest was just lacking in finish(scoring), positioning, sense, and ability to play strong and hold pucks, adn the other zone play...