James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Joe Thornton + Tragically Hips True Place In Music History The world's greatest weekly hockey article. With love from me to you.

USA hockey is a joke. The North American team can probably handle them the way each team is constructed. Boo to USA brass at the top

USA hockey is a joke. The North American team can probably handle them the way each team is constructed. Boo to USA brass at the top
- holeinone

It amazes me that Dean Lombardi can be both the GM of the LA Kings and Team USA.

*sigh*

But Mad Season is one of my fav's

I haven't closely followed the Hip for some time but I agree they never had the full-blown recognition they should have. They are in that same category with bands like the Ramones. Great careers, but not recognized by enough people as belonging in the all-time rock pantheon.

I also couldn't agree more about the Kessel trade (the second one). The bottom line for me is the Leafs as they were constructed were never going to succeed, and they had no way whatsoever to acquire what they needed - a Crosby, Malkin, Letang and a goalie to add to Kessel. Having cut him loose, they are able to build a team that maybe down the road can add a piece akin to him at the right time. I love Kessel too, but it was improper build sequencing in a cap and draft system. Cutting bait and hitting the reset button was the smart play by ShannaLou. When Leaf fans inevitably complain if he wins the Cup and/or Conn Smythe, it's because they aren't seeing the big picture.

Have people really been shaming the 2md Kessel trade? Its exactly what Toronto should have done. I mean, I know Toronto media is, for the most part, a complete joke, but they really can't hate on it, can they?

Social distortion > tragically hip
Fact

Have people really been shaming the 2md Kessel trade? Its exactly what Toronto should have done. I mean, I know Toronto media is, for the most part, a complete joke, but they really can't hate on it, can they?
- BatFan88

Enough Leaf fans were complaining that they should have got more and not retained salary. How they were supposed to do that I'm not sure.

Social distortion > tragically hip
Fact
- rinaldo

Social Distortion does rule. But it's a little like saying Dead Kennedys > Neil Young. Both are good but hard to compare.

Enough Leaf fans were complaining that they should have got more and not retained salary. How they were supposed to do that I'm not sure.
- Zezel

I'm not sure how much more you could have gotten, especially from Pittsburgh whose prospect pool is about as shallow as you can get. Maybe like another 4th rounder or something? I don't know, people need to stop putting their hindsight glasses on.

Kessel was left off the roster due to his breath

Ive watched both the Big Short and Wolf of Wallstreet and they're both great. Adam McKay is terribly underrated though. He blended to perfect amount of comedy and drama in the Big Short. The cast was stellar too.

Ive watched both the Big Short and Wolf of Wallstreet and they're both great. Adam McKay is terribly underrated though. He blended to perfect amount of comedy and drama in the Big Short. The cast was stellar too.
- lplafrance

Most of the kids in my class at the time seemed to misunderstand the point of wows which I think is a problem with that movie. But it is great no doubt

https://youtu.be/twfd6QAkb_c

Just in case you don't get my "breath" joke

Most of the kids in my class at the time seemed to misunderstand the point of wows which I think is a problem with that movie. But it is great no doubt
- James_Tanner

kind of makes sense when the big short had 4 wall breaking lessons on what the movie was about.

I'm probably in the minority as a West Coaster, but I'm really happy Joe Thornton finally made it to the finals after all these years.

First ballot HHOF'er

Jim send some of that Toronto heat this way will you. We'll take about two months worth. Cheers

You saw the Muzzin thing coming so good on you. Curious to see how he does here.

With Subban, Brodie, Giordano, Ekblad, Hamilton, Rielly, Seabrook... You could put together a second Canadian defence that's arguably as good as the one going to Toronto.

With Subban, Brodie, Giordano, Ekblad, Hamilton, Rielly, Seabrook... You could put together a second Canadian defence that's arguably as good as the one going to Toronto.
- DoubleDown

ekblad and reilly are playing for team north America just saying

I'm probably in the minority as a West Coaster, but I'm really happy Joe Thornton finally made it to the finals after all these years.

First ballot HHOF'er
- LeftCoaster

Absolutely.

Jim send some of that Toronto heat this way will you. We'll take about two months worth. Cheers
- shack67

Wish I could.

You saw the Muzzin thing coming so good on you. Curious to see how he does here.
- DoubleDown

Well, I'll try not to get a big head haha I mean, he's only been among the best defenseman in the NHL for like three years, so it's not like there aren't 50 million other people who all said the same thing!!

James agree with a lot of this blog but I don't understand why you always have to compare what you like /believe with something else in a negative way. Thornton just can't be great and be happy he is going to the finals. You have to add how Kane is "garbage" on defence, Tragically Hip can't just be good they should be bigger then Pearl Jam ect.
Anyway don't understand team USA choices except to say Torts is the coach.
Good to see Kessel doing well but have to cheer for Thornton, Marleau and Ward

Mr T...

Really enjoyed this blog.
While I have never been a fan of Thorton the person (I met him in St Thomas a few years back and sorry, he is an ass-clown) but I respect the game he plays and has played.

The Hip... Couldn't agree more! I think they were a little too "Canadiana" to be taken seriously outside the Great White North... Hopefully Gord can beat that god-awful disease so the respect the band deserves isn't because we remember him but because of the music they play now and in the future...

And Benning...you nailed it. poor Van fans. (sorta)

The World Cup is a joke on a thousand fronts... Meh to the tourney and the teams...