James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Smith, JVR, Panthers ++++ Your gramma's favorite weekly NHL column.

First!

Thanks for the heads up on DFS James, going to look into it right now!

And Merry Christmas everybody! (Especially you Garnie you holiday Nazi!)

Fire Tippett, hire Gallant?!?

I wonder if Mike Smith feels tired today...

60 shots against, wow...

The reason the Panthers are getting ripped mercilessly is that the team has gone through something like 10 head coaches and 8 gm's since 2000. Their scouts have landed them some real gems as well and didn't deserve to get the axe, imho. The team is a punchline because of the constant turnover. It didn't matter in the end whether or not Gallant was a good coach, what made it a mockery was that in claiming they were doing something new the Panthers managed to replicate their dreaded past, all the while claiming it to be progress.

First!

Thanks for the heads up on DFS James, going to look into it right now!

And Merry Christmas everybody! (Especially you Garnie you holiday Nazi!)
- Flamin_Irishmin

If you end up signing up for the site, let me know. I'd like to hear about how you do.

The reason the Panthers are getting ripped mercilessly is that the team has gone through something like 10 head coaches and 8 gm's since 2000. Their scouts have landed them some real gems as well and didn't deserve to get the axe, imho. The team is a punchline because of the constant turnover. It didn't matter in the end whether or not Gallant was a good coach, what made it a mockery was that in claiming they were doing something new the Panthers managed to replicate their dreaded past, all the while claiming it to be progress.
- mnhockeyguy

I don't think that's an accurate read of the situation. They really do have a new way of doing things and took some balls to move Gudbranson and Kulikov. I like their new direction very much, but it will be interesting to see how it works out.

I wonder if Mike Smith feels tired today...

60 shots against, wow...
- Flamin_Irishmin

60 shots is crazy. I think I read it's been three years since a team had that many shots.

I don't think that's an accurate read of the situation. They really do have a new way of doing things and took some balls to move Gudbranson and Kulikov. I like their new direction very much, but it will be interesting to see how it works out.
- James_Tanner

We shall see...

"Columbus Blue Jackets - who, I don't care what their record is, aren't a great team. "
Why?

Colbert

James David Fister Wallace is a great writer though I have not read any of his large novels yet. I enojoy hearing him speak.


That reminded me of another author I think you would massively enjoy--Nabokov. Or hell you might even like one of my very favorite novels--The Cancer Ward.

The coaches in the NHL are not always so incorrect about experience at the NHl level. No matter how great a player is they have to get used to the nuances of the high level of ability and where the puck goes. Yet, I still see coaches and managers seem to not know how to deal with some really good talents.

I would say Rattie is an example in that no matter what level he plays at the puck finds him in the slot. This despite his lack of speed and size.

The Blues use of Yakupov and the lack of recognition of how well he has played is dumbfounding. Last night Hitch mentioned by name Jaskin and Berglund as being players who played well and the right way. Well their line mate Yakupov did a lot including making good defensive okays, back checking, eliminating icings with his soeed, winning puck battles and creating chances. Yet he was not noticed in the post game with his linemates. That is utterly shocking. So my best guess is that this is about some ego thing.

"Columbus Blue Jackets - who, I don't care what their record is, aren't a great team. "
Why?
- Roadkill90

I picked them to be last in the NHL this year with Detroit, Ottawa, and the Canucks.

I didn't foresee them being good at all, and I don't think they are as good as they've been. Their roster is weak and I hate their coach.

However, credit where it's due I guess. They have been a great team and they even have decent peripherals. I don't see it lasting with their roster, but then again, I thought the Islanders would be a good team this year, so what do I know?

Colbert
- Mordecai

He really was the best possible choice to have followed Letterman.

"Stop hiring hockey people for hockey jobs and start hiring mathematicians! Get with the times!"

"What the world really needs is to cut down more trees for books, magazines, and newspapers!"

James David Fister Wallace is a great writer though I have not read any of his large novels yet. I enojoy hearing him speak.


That reminded me of another author I think you would massively enjoy--Nabokov. Or hell you might even like one of my very favorite novels--The Cancer Ward.

The coaches in the NHL are not always so incorrect about experience at the NHl level. No matter how great a player is they have to get used to the nuances of the high level of ability and where the puck goes. Yet, I still see coaches and managers seem to not know how to deal with some really good talents.

I would say Rattie is an example in that no matter what level he plays at the puck finds him in the slot. This despite his lack of speed and size.

The Blues use of Yakupov and the lack of recognition of how well he has played is dumbfounding. Last night Hitch mentioned by name Jaskin and Berglund as being players who played well and the right way. Well their line mate Yakupov did a lot including making good defensive okays, back checking, eliminating icings with his soeed, winning puck battles and creating chances. Yet he was not noticed in the post game with his linemates. That is utterly shocking. So my best guess is that this is about some ego thing.
- BluemanGuruu

I haven't read a novel by Nabokov, but I've read criticism and short-stories (i think) in university. Most of my favorite authors - Pynchon, DeLillo, Wallace - site him as a favorite, so I'm not sure why I've never gotten around to at least reading Lolita.

I haven't read that other guy though whose name I'll not even attempt to spell, but I'll give it a shot. I tend to enjoy Russian novelists, particularly Gogel.

If you haven't read one of the three DFW novels you owe it to yourself to get one as soon as you can. They are wonderful.

Over reliance on garbage analytics screwed the Panthers.

"Stop hiring hockey people for hockey jobs and start hiring mathematicians! Get with the times!"

"What the world really needs is to cut down more trees for books, magazines, and newspapers!"


- hardnosed

Well that's not exactly what I'm saying, but sure. You could always make paper out of hemp or other organic materials. I may be wrong, but I don't think they clear-cut old-wood forests to make paper anymore.

The ideal structure for a hockey team would be to have a knowledgable hockey math expert in charge with a couple of very good open-minded hockey experts as his right hand men.

Over reliance on garbage analytics screwed the Panthers.
- Newgod77

How are they screwed? They have one of the best rosters in the NHL?

In May of 2010 Tallon took over a middling team in the Panthers, broke it down and built it back up to a 103 point playoff team in six years. So what do they do, the owner changes the entire organization and now they're about to enter the middling years all over again

He really was the best possible choice to have followed Letterman.
- James_Tanner

I disagree, but only because I feel he was chemically castrated by the move and has only now gotten back to cutting commentary. Cutting commentary at the easiest target possible.

Expansion draft is going to hurt Columbus.
Keeping Clarkson over Atkinson, or Wennberg, ouch.
As well as the Jack Johnson vs David Savard issue on D

I've always hated Alec Baldwin. He has such an annoying screen presence.

I haven't read a novel by Nabokov, but I've read criticism and short-stories (i think) in university. Most of my favorite authors - Pynchon, DeLillo, Wallace - site him as a favorite, so I'm not sure why I've never gotten around to at least reading Lolita.

I haven't read that other guy though whose name I'll not even attempt to spell, but I'll give it a shot. I tend to enjoy Russian novelists, particularly Gogel.

If you haven't read one of the three DFW novels you owe it to yourself to get one as soon as you can. They are wonderful.
- James_Tanner

You should read Lolita.

First!

Thanks for the heads up on DFS James, going to look into it right now!

And Merry Christmas everybody! (Especially you Garnie you holiday Nazi!)
- Flamin_Irishmin

Merry Christmas to you too.....hope I didn't hurt your feelings using Christmas....heaven forbid.

And ya, hire mathematicians over hockey players. Says someone who can't hockey.

But great blog!!!!