Cloak of Elvenkind was okay but theres at least 7 Better Lord of the Rings themed songs by Led Zeppelin alone. Now I know youre an Alternative Hipster but dont even try and say Marcy Playground > Led Zep. That would be the most ridiculous thing you've ever said...and that says an awful lot.
- Larsson_fan

Well that is insulting on so many levels. The idea that I'm a hipster is perhaps the most ridiculous thing anyone could say about me since I've never followed a single trend or attempted to even know what is currently trendy since about 1996.

I don't know where the idea comes from that I'm some kind of hipster - just my taste in music?
For the record: I don't wear sweater vests, skinny jeans, grow awful goatees, or care if a band I like gets popular. I really like Faith No More, eating meat, and , off line, making as many comments as I possibly can that would get me fired from any job where they made in public, as per the wishes of our King, d. Trump.

Also, can an adult with a family and a full time job even be a hipster? Aren't pejorative and broadly classified genres of people really a thing best left for highschool?

Well that is insulting on so many levels. The idea that I'm a hipster is perhaps the most ridiculous thing anyone could say about me since I've never followed a single trend or attempted to even know what is currently trendy since about 1996.

I don't know where the idea comes from that I'm some kind of hipster - just my taste in music?
For the record: I don't wear sweater vests, skinny jeans, grow awful goatees, or care if a band I like gets popular. I really like Faith No More, eating meat, and , off line, making as many comments as I possibly can that would get me fired from any job where they made in public, as per the wishes of our King, d. Trump.

Also, can an adult with a family and a full time job even be a hipster? Aren't pejorative and broadly classified genres of people really a thing best left for highschool?
- James_Tanner

Ok...so some good natured ribbing between old chums totally took away from the point....there's no way Marcy Playground could even sniff the tighty whities of the surviving members of Led Zep.

Ok...so some good natured ribbing between old chums totally took away from the point....there's no way Marcy Playground could even sniff the tighty whities of the surviving members of Led Zep.
- Larsson_fan

Hah Marcy's Playground is at best a 4th rate 90s band. Led Zeppelin rules! Never doubt my 70s extremely mainstream classic rock street cred again.

Hah Marcy's Playground is at best a 4th rate 90s band. Led Zeppelin rules! Never doubt my 70s extremely mainstream classic rock street cred again.
- James_Tanner

I feel shame for that is exactly what I did.

However....if you dont recognize what is great about Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent and Slade that shame will be wiped clean.

Man, here goes Tanner again...I'm butthurt my team doesn't do well so I have to come down on other teams that are consistent and performing. Ottawa is definitely not the class of the league, but they are trending in the right direction. Let me know when the coyotes organization can hold their jock

Man, here goes Tanner again...I'm butthurt my team doesn't do well so I have to come down on other teams that are consistent and performing. Ottawa is definitely not the class of the league, but they are trending in the right direction. Let me know when the coyotes organization can hold their jock
- AlexBoucher

Hey man, do me a favor and don't go around thinking everyone who criticises what you like has an axe to grind.

I'm an objective observer and my job is to analze the NHL. I don't care about the Senators one way or the other - if anything, I'd like them to do good.

But they are a team that plays the most boring defensive hockey in the NHL and they have a record that is too good for their stats to prop up.

I hope I'm wrong and an extra Canadian team makes the playoffs. But the bottom line is it's immature and ridiculous to pull out the haters gonna hate BS everytime you come across an opinion you don't like.

Hey man, do me a favor and don't go around thinking everyone who criticises what you like has an axe to grind.

I'm an objective observer and my job is to analze the NHL. I don't care about the Senators one way or the other - if anything, I'd like them to do good.

But they are a team that plays the most boring defensive hockey in the NHL and they have a record that is too good for their stats to prop up.

I hope I'm wrong and an extra Canadian team makes the playoffs. But the bottom line is it's immature and ridiculous to pull out the haters gonna hate BS everytime you come across an opinion you don't like.
- James_Tanner

Solid post..l.except I actually prefer the Sens to miss. There is no playoff matchup involving the Sens that appeals to me at all.

I wasn't really kidding when I talked about those injuries not mattering too much to Ottawa. Their coach could probably keep the best 18 players to a one goal lead if he had a group of full sized random adults and a half-way decent goalie.


The Leafs are going through a rough-patch after killing it for nearly two months. They play a style of game that is going to be volatile and streaky because you can't always score in the NHL, even when you play good.

Their D is terrible, (TEAM Defense, not just the six guys who play D) but they are basically the most dangerous offensive team in hockey, give or take one or two contenders, so they're gonna make it.
- James_Tanner

When the forwards/D/goalie are playing better the actual 6 D seem to find away to give the puck away. Anyways I'm hoping youre right on the money. ( Still have my doubts they pull it off ) I miss meaningful playoff games.

Hey man, do me a favor and don't go around thinking everyone who criticises what you like has an axe to grind.

I'm an objective observer and my job is to analze the NHL. I don't care about the Senators one way or the other - if anything, I'd like them to do good.

But they are a team that plays the most boring defensive hockey in the NHL and they have a record that is too good for their stats to prop up.

I hope I'm wrong and an extra Canadian team makes the playoffs. But the bottom line is it's immature and ridiculous to pull out the haters gonna hate BS everytime you come across an opinion you don't like.
- James_Tanner

I don't know James- it seems like you have 'an axe to grind'. Some of your comments are dripping with resentment against other teams- you sing the praises of the coyotes yet they fail year after year? Not to objective to me

This doesn't even make sense. Duclair scored 20 goals/ 44 points last year, was one of his teams best players, a positive corsi, a driver of possession, and a spark plug/ grinder.

Sure, his crazy shooting percentage contributed to his totals, but he had a better season than Max Domi, who is a high end draft pick who can't play defense against an NHL player, who no one says 'won't be a first liner.'

For his age, history of NHL success, and blazing speed, Duclair is about as 'blue chip' as you can get. Considering his rookie season was, at worst, an average first line winger, I would say his ceiling is 30 goal, all-star, first liner.

It's possible he doesn't live up to that, but what you're saying is a little harsh.
- James_Tanner

1 good year a #1 line player make. there is a reason he is playing in the AHL. 8 goals in his last 79 games is a big stat. you cant argue that. a player that is paid to score, who doesnt score. is not a top line player. i will give you that he is still very young, but currently - he does not look like a blue chip prospect to me.

Thanks for the full response; I can live with all rebuttals except the analytics one. The problem is if you place the sheltered player in the limelight and the limelight player sheltered, the stats would likely reverse and your logic would have you demanding that we trade the players you currently want to keep, and keep the players you currently want to trade. The reality is the coyotes are filled with ~3rd line players right now, and anyone forced to play up, looks horrible from an analytics perspective.

So my challenge to you and any other analytics enthusiasts is to start taking context in to account when making these evaluations. Otherwise you'll advocate to keep/trade the wrong players.

Yotes seriously need to take a page out of the leafs book and just play the kids to let them grow. There will be pain, but also hope, something that has been lacking in the desert for a long time.

Is Mike Smith worth the pick up tonight? Ducks are likely to go with a Bernier with Boston coming up on Tuesday

This doesn't even make sense. Duclair scored 20 goals/ 44 points last year, was one of his teams best players, a positive corsi, a driver of possession, and a spark plug/ grinder.

Sure, his crazy shooting percentage contributed to his totals, but he had a better season than Max Domi, who is a high end draft pick who can't play defense against an NHL player, who no one says 'won't be a first liner.'

For his age, history of NHL success, and blazing speed, Duclair is about as 'blue chip' as you can get. Considering his rookie season was, at worst, an average first line winger, I would say his ceiling is 30 goal, all-star, first liner.

It's possible he doesn't live up to that, but what you're saying is a little harsh.
- James_Tanner

He is not this year, was not last year, and never will be, a first line goal scorer. Let alone a 30 goal all star. And he has never been, nor will he ever be, the player that domi is. And to be clear domi is a complementary first line player, or a star second liner...not even a star first liner himself.

He scored a ton of goals at the beginning of the year last year, including a hat trick against Anaheim when the goalie was fighting the puck and he let in some duclair floaters. By the way I was arguing this last year, long before he flamed out (as I predicted).

He is crazy fast, and a hard worker, so I would love to have him as a 3rd liner, knowing that he can hang on the second line when injuries strike. But no way is he a top scorer on a good team. And NO WAY is he better than Domi. Watch any coyotes game and that will be obvious. [end rant]

Is Mike Smith worth the pick up tonight? Ducks are likely to go with a Bernier with Boston coming up on Tuesday
- Szela93

I picked Smith in m y DFS

Yotes seriously need to take a page out of the leafs book and just play the kids to let them grow. There will be pain, but also hope, something that has been lacking in the desert for a long time.
- Falon

Been saying that all year.

James will gormley dress in more than 5 nhl games this year do you think?

Unfortunately, the most used player was local Benjamin Button impersonator Radim Vrbata. Why Dave Tippett - who has zero chance of making the playoffs - gives the most ice-time to a player who will soon be traded is beyond the comprehension of most sane people.
- James Tanner

I think you just answered your own question. It's like "hey other teams! Look at how much he can play at 74 years old!".

I Know you aren't that fond of the eye test James. But I saw the Roadrunners with my own eyes here in San Diego Saturday night. And for the life of me, I can't figure out why Duclair is down in Tucson. When he was on the ice, it was noticeable. He's faster and more skilled than everyone else on the ice...to the point that he's sometimes ineffective because no one else can play with him.

You and I don't agree on everything. But this Duclair demotion is one place where our opinions are completely square.

I Know you aren't that fond of the eye test James. But I saw the Roadrunners with my own eyes here in San Diego Saturday night. And for the life of me, I can't figure out why Duclair is down in Tucson. When he was on the ice, it was noticeable. He's faster and more skilled than everyone else on the ice...to the point that he's sometimes ineffective because no one else can play with him.

You and I don't agree on everything. But this Duclair demotion is one place where our opinions are completely square.
- yzermaneely

You saw him one time in the AHL. Try watching him every game! in the NHL. Ask a Rangers fan also. He phoned it in a lot this year and deserves to be in the AHL. I hope and pray that Duclair can get it together next year, but this year he can stay in the minors.

I think you just answered your own question. It's like "hey other teams! Look at how much he can play at 74 years old!".
- Wetbandit1

Vrbada is on pace for 57 points! You and the Tan man think its a good idea to bench him and play Duclair, who played like crap this year. That would play well with the rookies. No accountability. The Yotes have 4 rookies. And 4 players in their second year. Not counting all the call ups. So lets bench the 35 year old, Who is out playing everyone. And then, they can finally call the Duke back up! Who had 3 goals in 41 games. Brilliant!

Vrbada is on pace for 57 points! You and the Tan man think its a good idea to bench him and play Duclair, who played like crap this year. That would play well with the rookies. No accountability. The Yotes have 4 rookies. And 4 players in their second year. Not counting all the call ups. So lets bench the 35 year old, Who is out playing everyone. And then, they can finally call the Duke back up! Who had 3 goals in 41 games. Brilliant!
- Gomey

Where in my statement did I say to bench him? I just said that he's playing a lot because he's playing well and they're saying to other teams, "he might be old, but he's still got it and can handle a heavy workload. So, you know, give us your next 2 2nds."

I don't watch Coyotes games, I have no idea why Duclair isn't playing.

Teams do this all the time. They showcase guys who are playing well that they want to move.

You saw him one time in the AHL. Try watching him every game! in the NHL. Ask a Rangers fan also. He phoned it in a lot this year and deserves to be in the AHL. I hope and pray that Duclair can get it together next year, but this year he can stay in the minors.
- Gomey

Duclair, with the puck on his stick, is like Patrick Kane. His hands and dangling ability are elite.

His issue, at least with the Rangers, was getting into a position where he can have the puck on his stick. He seems to lack that 6th sense that all the top offensive players have in terms of finding dead space in coverage and just getting open in general. It was difficult for a teammate to pass him the puck because it seemed like he was always covered. And then in 1 on 1 battles, he wouldn't be able to win the battle.

I Know you aren't that fond of the eye test James. But I saw the Roadrunners with my own eyes here in San Diego Saturday night. And for the life of me, I can't figure out why Duclair is down in Tucson. When he was on the ice, it was noticeable. He's faster and more skilled than everyone else on the ice...to the point that he's sometimes ineffective because no one else can play with him.

You and I don't agree on everything. But this Duclair demotion is one place where our opinions are completely square.
- yzermaneely

I also heard he's taking it well and being a total pro, for whatever that's worth. He's gonna be back soon and he'll be fine.

Roy Halladay once got sent to minors after some early success. It's not like that one anecdote means Duclair will go to the hall of fame, it just means he isn't the first young player to end up back in the minors. He could still be great.

Vrbada is on pace for 57 points! You and the Tan man think its a good idea to bench him and play Duclair, who played like crap this year. That would play well with the rookies. No accountability. The Yotes have 4 rookies. And 4 players in their second year. Not counting all the call ups. So lets bench the 35 year old, Who is out playing everyone. And then, they can finally call the Duke back up! Who had 3 goals in 41 games. Brilliant!
- Gomey

I think you're missing the main point here. The Coyotes are not making the Playoffs. The old guys won't be here when they do. Therefore, there is no utility in giving your ice time to old guys. Letting young players play and getting experience would ultimately help the team more down the road.

If you make it to the NHL, you understand accountability. People act like guys make the NHL and they're just complete morons who won't function if the coach doesn't treat them like they're five.