CCM Tacks has an awesome line. I've been skating the 5092 model and they're 300 bucks but I skate 3 or 4 times a week so it's worth it to me. Hockey monkey currently has the 3052 model on clearance for 170. Remember your regular shoe size is not your skate size. I'm normally 11 in sneakers but a 9.5 in skates.
- sbakley13

Thanks great advice. I will check it out.

Plus: The Blackhawks are near the top of the league. Again. Nine seasons running. All with a handful of critical man-games lost due to key players already, no bonifide 1L, up against the cap again, and with several rookies in the nightly line-up.

Plus^2: That irks Tanner, the 'Hawks are good again. Make that a Plus^3.

Plus: The 'yotes are still bad.

Minus: The league wonks are doing nothing to move them.

Minus^2: Cuz the owners (in Buttmans's ear) don't get a cut of a re-lo.

Plus: An egomaniac beat someone who should be hanged for Treason. And the egomaniac wasn't close to my first choice in the primary.

Plus^2: Even with celeb twats, in-the-bag NBC/CBS/ABC/CNN and the chosen one, fly-over country over-came coastal elistists; thank you framers for the Electoral College.

Plus^3: The egomaniac is gonna save me a poop ton in taxes.

Minus: As I send my third child to college this fall, she will see safe spaces, cry-ins, cataclysmic reaction to chalk, and elitist profs trying to form a kid's opinion. Instead of profs teaching kids to learn how to think. Thankfully she is in bio-med, so the psycho's should be far enough away.

Plus: I get to see the 'Hawks in the playoffs shortly after my Cubs begin their World Series Championship defence.

Plus^2: There is no MLB salary cap, so Theo/Jed/Jason are gonna bring WS-challenging teams to the playoffs for several years to come.

Plus^3: The Bears finished 3-13, worst ever in a 16-game season.

Minus: They will (frank) up the pick, since the GM reports to a bean counter.

Minus^2: The Bears are the Culture of Failure.
- blackhawk24

You realize that the Electoral College is nothing but a rubber stamp and a subversion of democracy? No matter what your political choice is, you should be upset that the candidate who lost by over 3 million votes didn't win. That isn't democracy.

The Framers set up the Electoral College on the off chance America ever elected a person who tells people only what they want to hear (i.e a demagogue) so that was a huge failure.

What you think about education is pretty sad. I can tell you school is not like that at all. If Professors happen to be liberal, realize that you need to have a doctorate to be one, so they are among the smartest people around, and given that they did ten years of school, they are most likely to be some of the most politically informed people around.

If the smartest and most informed people think the opposite of you, it's pretty arrogant to ignore them. Seceondly, they don't brainwash kids, kids who become informed just happen to move away from their parents (usually) ridiculous views.

If saving money on taxes is your main priority, you're really not a patriot, is what I'd say. But that's just me. I would not put my personal wealth over the good of the country. Maybe you don't see it that way, and that's fine, but time will prove me right.

Except you can come to the same conclusion from watching the team play. I watch most Flames games and can give a pretty spot on analysis of the teams strengths and weaknesses without looking at a single stat. If you're an NHL GM and you need advanced stats to tell you your team's been winning more games than they deserve to win, you probably shouldn't be an NHL GM.

I don't think analytics are completely useless, but I'd much rather have my team making decisions based on solid scouting more so than on reading charts. I also haven't seen any solid results that show that you can build a better team through analytics than you can using traditional methods.
- Hunkulese

The studies that have been done that compare success of players recommended by scouts vs what analytics says should have been done are not favorable to scouts in any way.

Scouts tend to overrate age, experience, hitting, toughness and whatever they determine as leadership. Stats tend to ignore these things and make better less biased decisions.

The studies that have been done that compare success of players recommended by scouts vs what analytics says should have been done are not favorable to scouts in any way.

Scouts tend to overrate age, experience, hitting, toughness and whatever they determine as leadership. Stats tend to ignore these things and make better less biased decisions.
- James_Tanner

I would like to see a link to these studies.

The fallacy of money-puck. Unlike baseball where individual metrics are contingent upon a player’s performance, hockey is a codependent game where individual performance metrics are contingent upon the contributions of linemates and further influenced by the opposing team/ match-ups.

Player evaluation metrics are in their infancy and will continue to evolve, however, separating player effect vs. team/ teammate effect is an arduous task and one that is often left unanswered (by modern analytical/ statistical methodologies). What once existed in one team or situation is not guaranteed to translate into another.

Sportscheck had a nice $320 pair of Tacks for $120 off, but unfortunatly that deal will likely be over by pay day - and Christmas was also just hugely expensive.
- James_Tanner

it's so worth it, they'll last a long time!

Picked up the Bauer Supreme 190s on a good deal at National Sport earlier in Dec

I'll teach you how to buy skates if you teach me why hero charts matter.

If your last skates lasted 20 years you probably don't play a lot. Look at used skates again.

I'll teach you how to buy skates if you teach me why hero charts matter.

If your last skates lasted 20 years you probably don't play a lot. Look at used skates again.
- 50 Mission Cap

I never play. I haven't been on the ice in two years since I last tried to use those skates and I learned that they were destroyed. The blades were about 1mm and the rivets were jamming into my feet, I could barely stand on them, let alone skate.

You realize that the Electoral College is nothing but a rubber stamp and a subversion of democracy? No matter what your political choice is, you should be upset that the candidate who lost by over 3 million votes didn't win. That isn't democracy.

The Framers set up the Electoral College on the off chance America ever elected a person who tells people only what they want to hear (i.e a demagogue) so that was a huge failure.

What you think about education is pretty sad. I can tell you school is not like that at all. If Professors happen to be liberal, realize that you need to have a doctorate to be one, so they are among the smartest people around, and given that they did ten years of school, they are most likely to be some of the most politically informed people around.

If the smartest and most informed people think the opposite of you, it's pretty arrogant to ignore them. Seceondly, they don't brainwash kids, kids who become informed just happen to move away from their parents (usually) ridiculous views.

If saving money on taxes is your main priority, you're really not a patriot, is what I'd say. But that's just me. I would not put my personal wealth over the good of the country. Maybe you don't see it that way, and that's fine, but time will prove me right.
- James_Tanner

Get over it. Your criminal candidate LOST. Wanna join the hollywood dorks and move? Maybe you can sublet a place in Spain with Chelsea Handler. What crocodile tears she has. Probably came up with the Cornel U. cry-in idea.

You're totally wrong on the Electoral College. It's set so a plurality of smaller states have a word. To counter the urban centres. The vote itself is yes, a rubber stamp. However, allocation based upon the 538 total Congressional seats is not a stamp. And this country is a Constitutional Republic, not a democracy. Learn the difference.

And I know a lot about school. I know my kids lesson plans, all their lives. And I know who has an agenda and who doesn't. Having completed my own post graduate work at NU and seeing two kids already into grad school, provides great insight. Three+ decades in industry also helps. And unlike profs who stay in their bubble, I took my degrees and educated hundreds within the arena of a high tech industry.

And try not to lecture me. Like you told another poster not to tell you what to do, take your own advice. Especially Patriotism. Just like a lefty, you define a word to fit your narrative. Often changing it. You are in no position to tell me I am not patriotic cuz I do not want to pay taxes based on elitists like the current WH occupier.

And of course, your guy will interfere with the new guy, unlike every ex-president prior. His healthcare system was designed to fail in order to usher in single payer. He started the war with the police, he tried to force solar and lost. He hates free market enterprise. He apologized where ever he went.

Is Trump great? Nope. Far from it. In fact he is a progressive. Go learn that word. It's far beyond liberalism. Read up on George Soros. But Trump is a biz guy. Not a community organizer. Let's see. Try to have an open mind. See the next two years. I adjusted how I did biz for 8 years, since 1/20/09. Now I get to see something much more biz friendly. I may be able to expand now.

We agree to disagree, OK? Lets just see.

But above all this, I would like to see you give the Blackhawks a fair shake.

Don't overlook used skates. I've been playing for twenty years and rarely ever bought new skates. I bought a pair of Easton's last year for 100 bucks. Two years prior to that they were a 700 dollar pair of skates. They feel and work like a high-end skate because they are. Yet cost the same as a new pair of Bauer's.

If you get your kids low end gear it can be detrimental to their skating development. They cannot feel the stride properly and it will breed bad compensating habits. Most of us cannot afford the 900 dollar skates we want to get them, so merely get an older model. There's nothing wrong with used skates. Only cheap ones.

"....even though the analytics currently say their one of the best teams in the NHL even though they've been terribly injured, had a coaching change, and their best player has the scoring results of a 6th Dman and not the #1 Dman he is.

But then again, that's way to complicated a narrative for the TV

*they're
*too

Classic Tanner grammar

Now I'll await the classic Tannsy response. Refusal to admit an obvious and primary error, followed by a reminder of your genius and a ban

OA was great Jim. You should also watch Glitch on Netflix.

Get over it. Your criminal candidate LOST. Wanna join the hollywood dorks and move? Maybe you can sublet a place in Spain with Chelsea Handler. What crocodile tears she has. Probably came up with the Cornel U. cry-in idea.

You're totally wrong on the Electoral College. It's set so a plurality of smaller states have a word. To counter the urban centres. The vote itself is yes, a rubber stamp. However, allocation based upon the 538 total Congressional seats is not a stamp. And this country is a Constitutional Republic, not a democracy. Learn the difference.

And I know a lot about school. I know my kids lesson plans, all their lives. And I know who has an agenda and who doesn't. Having completed my own post graduate work at NU and seeing two kids already into grad school, provides great insight. Three+ decades in industry also helps. And unlike profs who stay in their bubble, I took my degrees and educated hundreds within the arena of a high tech industry.

And try not to lecture me. Like you told another poster not to tell you what to do, take your own advice. Especially Patriotism. Just like a lefty, you define a word to fit your narrative. Often changing it. You are in no position to tell me I am not patriotic cuz I do not want to pay taxes based on elitists like the current WH occupier.

And of course, your guy will interfere with the new guy, unlike every ex-president prior. His healthcare system was designed to fail in order to usher in single payer. He started the war with the police, he tried to force solar and lost. He hates free market enterprise. He apologized where ever he went.

Is Trump great? Nope. Far from it. In fact he is a progressive. Go learn that word. It's far beyond liberalism. Read up on George Soros. But Trump is a biz guy. Not a community organizer. Let's see. Try to have an open mind. See the next two years. I adjusted how I did biz for 8 years, since 1/20/09. Now I get to see something much more biz friendly. I may be able to expand now.

We agree to disagree, OK? Lets just see.

But above all this, I would like to see you give the Blackhawks a fair shake.
- blackhawk24

I really don't have a problem with the Blackhawks - in fact Keith is one of the best off-ice charity guys I know of and Hossa is one of my favorite players of all time. I just find Patrick Kane to be disgusting, so I won't cheer for them.

As for politics, I don't care about the Democratic Party - I just hate Trump - he is by far the most corrupt, criminal person to ever be the President. I also already live in Canada so I won't have to move.

As for the plurality of smaller states, until we have a system that doesn't force any minority or educated person to move from a rural area to a city, then their attempt at fairness is a joke.

like Bill Maher said, if there are 2 Dakatos, there should be 15 Californias.

Don't overlook used skates. I've been playing for twenty years and rarely ever bought new skates. I bought a pair of Easton's last year for 100 bucks. Two years prior to that they were a 700 dollar pair of skates. They feel and work like a high-end skate because they are. Yet cost the same as a new pair of Bauer's.

If you get your kids low end gear it can be detrimental to their skating development. They cannot feel the stride properly and it will breed bad compensating habits. Most of us cannot afford the 900 dollar skates we want to get them, so merely get an older model. There's nothing wrong with used skates. Only cheap ones.
- MarkStoned

Hey great perspective - I've always been a buy-used kind of guy anyways.

My son is playing Atom and first year AAA. Crazy awesome exciting to watch yiur son playing highest level of hockey. I see parents so hard on their kids at this level and am just like "wow"! How can u not be so proud of your kid for making it this far and give them crap for mistakes even pros make.
Some parents should be shot!

Get over it. Your criminal candidate LOST. Wanna join the hollywood dorks and move? Maybe you can sublet a place in Spain with Chelsea Handler. What crocodile tears she has. Probably came up with the Cornel U. cry-in idea.

You're totally wrong on the Electoral College. It's set so a plurality of smaller states have a word. To counter the urban centres. The vote itself is yes, a rubber stamp. However, allocation based upon the 538 total Congressional seats is not a stamp. And this country is a Constitutional Republic, not a democracy. Learn the difference.

And I know a lot about school. I know my kids lesson plans, all their lives. And I know who has an agenda and who doesn't. Having completed my own post graduate work at NU and seeing two kids already into grad school, provides great insight. Three+ decades in industry also helps. And unlike profs who stay in their bubble, I took my degrees and educated hundreds within the arena of a high tech industry.

And try not to lecture me. Like you told another poster not to tell you what to do, take your own advice. Especially Patriotism. Just like a lefty, you define a word to fit your narrative. Often changing it. You are in no position to tell me I am not patriotic cuz I do not want to pay taxes based on elitists like the current WH occupier.

And of course, your guy will interfere with the new guy, unlike every ex-president prior. His healthcare system was designed to fail in order to usher in single payer. He started the war with the police, he tried to force solar and lost. He hates free market enterprise. He apologized where ever he went.

Is Trump great? Nope. Far from it. In fact he is a progressive. Go learn that word. It's far beyond liberalism. Read up on George Soros. But Trump is a biz guy. Not a community organizer. Let's see. Try to have an open mind. See the next two years. I adjusted how I did biz for 8 years, since 1/20/09. Now I get to see something much more biz friendly. I may be able to expand now.

We agree to disagree, OK? Lets just see.

But above all this, I would like to see you give the Blackhawks a fair shake.
- blackhawk24

Best thing ever written in one of your blogs

If it we weren't in an era where the stock market, unemployment rate, crime rates and pollution weren't all down significantly, I guess you'd have a point.

Lost in the media fear-blitz is the fact that right now is pretty much the best time you could ever be alive in all of human history.
- James_Tanner

That's not what your BLM friends say
That's not what the nutty left wing professors say
But thanks to the election, this will be a great time to be living in the States

That's not what your BLM friends say
That's not what the nutty left wing professors say
But thanks to the election, this will be a great time to be living in the States
- Yikes726

Why are people so anti intellectual? If the smartest people all think the opposite way you do, its worth asking why. 90% of people w/ advanced degrees did not vote for Trump. You owe iy to yourself to ask why.

As gor BLM they have my support 100% bc I am a human and I have empathy.

My son is playing Atom and first year AAA. Crazy awesome exciting to watch yiur son playing highest level of hockey. I see parents so hard on their kids at this level and am just like "wow"! How can u not be so proud of your kid for making it this far and give them crap for mistakes even pros make.
Some parents should be shot!
- Cooshie

I'll never understand how people don't support their kids no matter what.

OA was great Jim. You should also watch Glitch on Netflix.
- shack67

I will check it out thanks

What did Deangelo do?

If it we weren't in an era where the stock market, unemployment rate, crime rates and pollution weren't all down significantly, I guess you'd have a point.

Lost in the media fear-blitz is the fact that right now is pretty much the best time you could ever be alive in all of human history.
- James_Tanner

That's not what your BLM friends say
That's not what the nutty left wing professors say
But thanks to the election, this will be a great time to be living in the States

Why are people so anti intellectual? If the smartest people all think the opposite way you do, its worth asking why. 90% of people w/ advanced degrees did not vote for Trump. You owe iy to yourself to ask why.

As gor BLM they have my support 100% bc I am a human and I have empathy.
- James_Tanner

I'll just say this... The "qualified" (your words not mine) candidate was instrumental in two of the worst geopolitical decisions this world has ever seen. Over-throwing Iraq and Libya are irreversible blunders for which future "western" generations will never recover.

I would have voted for Donald Duck over that Kleptocrat Clinton.

Why are people so anti intellectual? If the smartest people all think the opposite way you do, its worth asking why. 90% of people w/ advanced degrees did not vote for Trump. You owe iy to yourself to ask why.

As gor BLM they have my support 100% bc I am a human and I have empathy.
- James_Tanner

Why do you support a group that wants to kill police officers?

Tanner, could you please double as the Ducks' blogger? Our guy doesn't really want to write anything but a pregame report every fourth game. And maybe you could confirm for me that Getzlaf is wildly overrated.

Plus: You would be awesome at blogging for a team that has Carlyle as the coach and a bunch of guys you probably hate playing for them.