Follow @james_tanner123 "PLUS/MINUS is the NHL's best stat, and the only one I use" - Craig Button* PLUS: Hockey is back!
MINUS: Still gotta wait till Wednesday.
MINUS: The Washington Capitals sad attempt at icing a competitive team. I have never seen a team in the history of sports have a worse off-season in terms of player transactions and roster construction. What a sad way to potentially end the Ovechkin era.
I can see the team out of playoff contention by Christmas, and then realizing next offseason that Ovechkin's salary would really allow them to ice a deeper roster.
PLUS: I just got back from my son's first ever hockey game. It was amazing. I have to say, even though his team lost by a good ten or so goals, it was one of the best experiences. The best part was that he's not a very good skater (even at 5 and 6, most of the kids seem to have tons more experience) the coach made sure he was taking faceoffs so at least he was in on the action. After the game, he didn't complain about anything, he just bragged about taking faceoffs. The guy has the best attitude of anyone I know.
MINUS: The Leafs attempting to use Ron Hainsey in a top four role. Top pairing, actually, since Babcock seems to consider wherever Rielly is the top pairing.
MINUS: You'd think that since Sportsnet owns the Leafs, they'd make a show of trying to be objective, but they seriously published an article about Hainsey on the top pairing and how he could help Rielly come into his own.
For the record, every player Hainsey played significant minutes with last year did better away from him.
MINUS: I totally get that people think that it's disrespectful to your country to kneel for the anthem, but I just wish everyone understood that if protests aren't disrespectful to a huge part of the population, then they aren't really making a protest. In that sense, no matter what your view is on the topic, it's helping just to have one.
I don't want to get into politics, but I just want to say that whether you agree or don't agree, you should seek some people out with the opposite view and talk to them for a while. Plus, keep in mind that if you follow a bunch of like-minded people on any social media platform, you're just creating an echo chamber that re-enforces what you already think. No matter who you are, smarter people than you have different ideas, so I think we should all try harder to be open minded.
Note to self: This might be more constructive than offering your opinion on anything, since all that is at this point is basically screaming into the vortex.
PLUS: True Blood. This damn show has cost me untold hours of sleep in the last three months, but I have to say, the stupidity and the insanity of the show keeps me glued. The real world is just too serious right now to watch anything that isn't idiotic.
Which is why it was such a let down to see two of my childhood heroes, Stephen Seagal and Don Cherry in the media this week. But, that's just the vortex talking. What could be more appropriate today than Rock em Sock Hockey or a Seagal Movie? And you know what? I didn't like either guy any less for having (what I consider) the wrong opinion. People are people and if we all thought alike we'd live in a facist state under aliens who breed us in pods. It's healthy to disagree. It's fine to like someone who doesn't agree with you.
But that said, I don't care what anyone says, Martin Marincin is a good hockey player.
PLUS: Last night I watched the Hunt for Red October which is a really, really good movie. But the best part? Sean Connery as Russian Sub Captain speaking English with Scottish Accent.
MINUS: Season previews. All people do is look at last year's stats, then pick one team that is going to surprise everyone, and that's that. This is how you get people still picking the Capitals as a contender.
MINUS: I hate to say this cause I'm a fan,but the Oilers, outside of McDavid, don't have that great of a roster. Their lack of depth is concerning. They are the sexy pick this year to win it all, but I'm still calling the Flames to win the West.
PLUS: Coyotes. Is there a more exciting team in the NHL this year? Just to see what happens is going to be awesome. They have so much talent, have improved so much, and have so many exciting players to check out, that I can't wait.
On a personal note, after covering them for four years, and growing to really love the team, it's pretty cool to see them - for the first time ever (for me, at least) - heading into the season with some legit hope at a playoff spot.
MINUS: Looking at your phone in public. I saw some pics the other day of an amusement park in 2008 and 2015. IN today's photos, all it is is jerks on their phones. It just makes me sad.
I swore off looking at my phone in public about six months ago and it's going well. In fact, I try never to look at it in front of another human being. (And if it wasn't for my crippling addiction to fantasy sports, I'd go back to a flip phone). People walking around with their eyes down, people looking at their phones while in conversations, at sporting events, or restaurants is just wrong on so many levels. No one even talks about it, but it's a plague.
Personally I judge people harshly and I mock them openly. If I see some ass walking across the street looking at their phone while I'm stopped at a light, I lean on the horn like a _____.
We gotta do better. That's just my two sense. The smart phone is the worst thing to happen to our society, possibly ever, and I just think we should all acknowledge that and try to do better.
At least realize that there are people who think people who look at their phones in public are huge losers.
PLUS: The National's new record Sleep Well Beast not since R.E.M has a band been this good on their eighth record. It's something bordering on a masterpiece and I recommend everyone pick it up.
PLUS: Jarimor Jagr and the best tweet ever dropped.
Look, I just tell my cat, there is a chance to play in NHL this year. 😀😀😀 pic.twitter.com/8iBoTYeEl7
— Jaromir Jagr (@68Jagr) October 1, 2017
PLUS: Stephen Colbert. I didn't think anyone could replace Letterman, but he's doing pretty good. I really enjoy latenight shows, I don't know why. Always have.
PLUS Lil Wayne. The only human who can makes face tats work.
PLUS: The New Jersey Devils and the Carolina Hurricanes, my picks for the two biggest surprises in the East this year.
I am not a huge fan of who the Devils have on defense, but their top six is potent, people massively underrate how good Taylor Hall is, and Schneider is an elite goalie.
Thanks for reading.