Follow @james_tanner123 Tim Peel
In case you didn't hear about it Tim Peel - the NHL's most criticized ref - met with Greg Wyshynski for a very interesting interview and was subsequently suspended by the NHL.
At first it wasn't clear if Peel was suspended for his candor, but it turns out that the NHL suspended him (one game) for the picture that shows him and Wyshynski about to do a shot of tequila.
Really? The league in which Molson owns its most prestigious team? The league which has no problem allowing its teams to gouge its fans with alcohol at arena's sold for up to 4X what you can buy it at a store?
The league where you have to be drunk to watch at least six of its teams play?
What a sad bunch of hypocrites. How dare you humanize a ref and show him enjoying a legal product!
The article is really cool. Peel is forthright and reveling. It's incredibly interesting (at least to me) to hear about the politics of refereeing.
The NHL of course, overreacted, but Peel only missed one game and is now back in action.
Is Peel a bad ref? Of course not. He might not be the best, but clearly confirmation bias plays a massive role in his reputation. That said, good for him for being so cool about everything. And way to go NHL - you come off like a bunch of nerds.
Star Wars
Speaking of nerds.... I know we all do our best to forget the late nineties.
I would rather watch Reindeer Games 2
Rick Nash
Remember when guys like me said things like "Even though he isn't scoring goals he's just getting massively unlucky" last year in the Playoffs, but other people said things like "Watch the games you idiot Rick Nash is washed up."
No? Me neither.
P.S - the Coyotes can still totally make the Playoffs.
Win some lose some.
Hanzal on the Block
He's out with another injury, yes he's a monster when he plays and yes he could really help a team for half of their upcoming Playoff games.
Hate to say it, but the Coyotes should definitely be looking to trade another of my favorite players.
PLAYOFFS
We all agree that LA and Dallas will both make it, right? Sorry Calgary and Vancouver.
Dave Nonis
a) Gives me hope that I too can one day be an NHL GM b) Has a career more inexplicable than Maroon 5's (Take that for the second time in 3 days) c) Should be fired before he can do anymore damage?
Obviously it's d) All of the above....but seriously, the guy who signed Clarkson and Robidas is going to be allowed to make trades for the upcoming deadline when it's all but assured he will be fired in the summer?
Why do hockey moves need to be telegraphed six months in advance? I mean, you wanna fire him, fire him. Or since it's Toronto, does he have to sign a three-year extension first? Or does that only apply to coaches?
Coyotes Game Preview
Playing Columbus tonight. Hanzal out. Smith back in net (boo!). Last game of an 8 game road trip (Superbowl CXX) Sweet Roman Numerals Joke, Jimmy. Won two of three!
That's all, Thanks for reading.