Yep, it's called being human. Our heroes and sports athletes aren't allowed to be. Some things are more important.
- MJL

Given your support of the armed forces, do you consider service personnel to be heroes? They get 10 days. If they are married. Unmarried father = get nothing.

It should also be remembered that playing in the bubble is directly linked to the financial situation of the NHL. If they don't, their own salaries/those of their peers likely get reduced by millions in the future.

In summary, I am sympathetic, but this is hardly in the ballpark of a tremendous sacrifice.

So, any news of TK?

- Pat1993

Let me guess, you are here once again because Bruce trolled you, right?

Given your support of the armed forces, do you consider service personnel to be heroes? They get 10 days. If they are married. Unmarried father = get nothing.


- PT21

They know that is part of the deal going in when they enlist. Part of the negotiations between the league and the NHLPA was to allow the players to opt out. I would not criticize a member of the armed services if they wanted out of their enlistment due to a family issue.

It should also be remembered that playing in the bubble is directly linked to the financial situation of the NHL. If they don't, their own salaries/those of their peers likely get reduced by millions in the future.


- PT21

Are you suggesting that the NHL is going to suffer financially and NHL players in the future are going to suffer financially due to Rask or a few other players opting out?

In summary, I am sympathetic, but this is hardly in the ballpark of a tremendous sacrifice.
- PT21

Who said it was a tremendous sacrifice?

In summary, you failed miserably here.

Let me guess, you are here once again because Bruce trolled you, right?
- PT21

no I was actually inspired by a certain streit2thepoint fella...

They know that is part of the deal going in when they enlist. Part of the negotiations between the league and the NHLPA was to allow the players to opt out. I would not criticize a member of the armed services if 1. they wanted out of their enlistment due to a family issue.




Are you suggesting that the NHL is going to suffer financially and NHL players in the future are going to suffer financially due to 2. Rask or a few other players opting out?



3. Who said it was a tremendous sacrifice?

In summary, you failed miserably here.
- MJL

1. What do you mean, "wanted out?" You have to apply for a discharge from the Army. You cannot just leave. It is virtually certain that if the reason is an infant child, your application will be denied. You could still leave, and that will be of course the end of your working career.

2. It depends on the magnitude and nature of the few, right? If Mackinnon or Kucherov or Matthews or Price did, of course they would.

3. Gee, I dunno. It wasn't me. As I made clear.

In summary, no one is belittling the choices of the opt-outers. But at the same time, no one should magnify the hardships either. There is ample grounds for sympathy for those who feel one way, and ample grounds for those who are critical, because there are many careers in today's world which involve just this sort of choice.

no I was actually inspired by a certain streit2thepoint fella...
- Pat1993

Oh good. Thanks for clearing that up. I so envy the nature and ease of your inspiration.

I wonder if Giroux,Couturier and JVR are struggling with the same issues that Rask is? Their collective heads certainly don't seem like they've been locked in mentally.
- Phillywhiteout

G and specially JVR, has been gone for a good while.

- Pat1993

I'll admit, Habs fans are way better at this than Flyers fans, who are the most self-serious group you'll meet this side of the Euphrates.

1. What do you mean, "wanted out?" You have to apply for a discharge from the Army. You cannot just leave. It is virtually certain that if the reason is an infant child, your application will be denied. You could still leave, and that will be of course the end of your working career.


- PT21

LOL, arguing semantics and details of how someone would leave the military if they wanted out. No kidding that they just can't leave. My point was obvious.

2. It depends on the magnitude and nature of the few, right? If Mackinnon or Kucherov or Matthews or Price did, of course they would.


- PT21

No it doesn't. Having a few stars opt out would not drastically effect the NHL moving forward financially. Stars such as McDavid, Draisaitl, Marner, Matthews are already out.

3. Gee, I dunno. It wasn't me. As I made clear.

In summary, no one is belittling the choices of the opt-outers. But at the same time, no one should magnify the hardships either. There is ample grounds for sympathy for those who feel one way, and ample grounds for those who are critical, because there are many careers in today's world which involve just this sort of choice.
- PT21

You're incorrect in stating that no one is belittling the choices of those who opt out. You're making an asinine argument in trying to equate it with the sacrifices of those in the military. While we shouldn't magnify the hardships, which no one is doing, we should also not diminish it and tell other human beings how they should feel and act in this situation.

So, any news of TK?
- PT21

Nope. Day off for the team. No beat writers in Toronto. Plus league wide nondisclosure policy.

I'll admit, Habs fans are way better at this than Flyers fans, who are the most self-serious group you'll meet this side of the Euphrates.
- countreeman28

BRUCE dissapeard after 1 zip Habs lol.

Nope. Day off for the team. No beat writers in Toronto. Plus league wide nondisclosure policy.
- bmeltzer

State controlled press. And good old ROD had to pay big-time for his free speech.

No it doesn't. Having a few stars opt out would not drastically effect the NHL moving forward financially. Stars such as McDavid, Draisaitl, Marner, Matthews are already out.


- MJL

I am curious, how do you know? The finances of the NHL are strongly correlated with the tv deal, which is correlated with viewership. If Price is out, for example, out goes the most popular team in the most hockey crazed country, which means lower viewership.

The fact that Marner and Mathews are already out is hardly beneficial to the viewership in the biggest city market. If more stars had left/would leave, that would enhance the process.

Anyway.

Nope. Day off for the team. No beat writers in Toronto. Plus league wide nondisclosure policy.
- bmeltzer

Yes, I thought so. I just saw a few posts earlier about lines that talked about Bee being replaced, so I was wondering how come.

Lines for game 3:

Giroux-Coots-Voracek/JVR/Bee?

Laughts-Hayes-Bee/JVR/Raffl?

JVR/Raffl/-Grant-NAK/Pitlick

Pilick/Raffl/-Nate-Raffl/NAK/Pitlick

I am curious, how do you know? The finances of the NHL are strongly correlated with the tv deal, which is correlated with viewership. If Price is out, for example, out goes the most popular team in the most hockey crazed country, which means lower viewership.

The fact that Marner and Mathews are already out is hardly beneficial to the viewership in the biggest city market. If more stars had left/would leave, that would enhance the process.

Anyway.
- PT21

So you're telling me that is a hockey crazed community such as Montreal, that if Price is hurt or decides to opt out, they're going to stop watching the Habs? You're also telling me that the avid hockey fan isn't going to watch? The inevitability of teams being eliminated in big and small markets is already factored into it. It's going to happen. A few players opting out is not going to change a whole lot. Especially not in terms of the future. Now what is going to effect the future, which we've already seen is what has been already lost. We already know the cap is going to stay flat. That's already independent of what happens in the playoffs financially because it has already been negotiated. I would also think with a lot of people camped out in their homes without sports for a while, that TV ratings are good with a major sport resuming play. I don't see how a few players opting out changes that much.

Yes, I thought so. I just saw a few posts earlier about lines that talked about Bee being replaced, so I was wondering how come.

Lines for game 3:

Giroux-Coots-Voracek/JVR/Bee?

Laughts-Hayes-Bee/JVR/Raffl?

JVR/Raffl/-Grant-NAK/Pitlick

Pilick/Raffl/-Nate-Raffl/NAK/Pitlick
- PT21

I guess you are born in Middletown and a huge JVR fan.

I skimmed again after reading when my three kids were yelling and running. Did not see the game last night but heard tk left. Any word.

So you're telling me that is a hockey crazed community such as Montreal, that if Price is hurt or decides to opt out, they're going to stop watching the Habs?
- MJL

Let me spell out this out.

1. Montreal=>large hockey market.

2. Large hockey market => less likely to continue watching if team is out.

3. Stars op out => Team is out chances goes up

4. From 2, 3, team is out chances goes up => higher chances of lower viewership.

5. Lower viewership => lower tv revenue

(last post, because I am in a foul mood today after the game and am being nasty to everybody)

I guess you are born in Middletown and a huge JVR fan.
- Landsbergfan

I was born on the west bank of the Euphrates. I thought deeply about joining the Islamic Brotherhood but decided to become a Flyers fan instead. Much more drama.

Let me spell out this out.

1. Montreal=>large hockey market.

2. Large hockey market => less likely to continue watching if team is out.

3. Stars op out => Team is out chances goes up

4. From 2, 3, team is out chances goes up => higher chances of lower viewership.

5. Lower viewership => lower tv revenue

(last post, because I am in a foul mood today after the game and am being nasty to everybody)
- PT21

What you're spelling out is that you don't know what you're talking about. You're in a foul mood! Do you need a safe space?


You ridiculously ignored many points that I made including that in a playoff scenario, teams and stars will be eliminated. That's a factor that is present in the playoffs during every season. It's independent of a player deciding to opt out.

Wow, I have to say I really love this post and was expecting something totally different.

As typical as it might be to find negative fans around here, it’s also typical to find that group who goes against that and simple says “well it’s a 1-1 tied series, what are you complaining about?”

Here’s the reality. A team hungry to win a Cup doesn’t collectively play like what we saw yesterday. Another dose of reality is, yes it’s been two games but our team is lying down. The third fact is, should we win this round, we have to fight our way into three more rounds and I for one didn’t see much fight yesterday.
- SuperSchennBros

If this team doesn’t come out and just manhandle Montreal on Sunday, they are just not ready for playoff hockey. Put a fork in them.

Oh good. Thanks for clearing that up. I so envy the nature and ease of your inspiration.
- PT21

you like bold things don't you. it's nice you that you appreciate bold things. way better than just italic or underlined or whatever.

I'll admit, Habs fans are way better at this than Flyers fans, who are the most self-serious group you'll meet this side of the Euphrates.
- countreeman28

seems that some fans appreciate the banter more than others lol