Morning Links (1/10)
by Second City Southpaw on Jan 10, 2012 9:37 AM CST
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Now see, I had this brilliant, erudite survey of the Hawks' recent losing skid to preface the links this morning, but...yeah...Sam pretty much nailed it.
Oh, well. Let's just skip to the links. (Like you all wouldn't have done that, anyway, amirite?)
- Game Previews: (blackhawks.nhl.com); (bluejackets.nhl.com); (Trib); (Cheer the Anthem)
- Shooter will be out a month or so (Jahns)
- But Kruger is close to returning (Myers)
- The Hawks like Leddy's progress, despite recent struggles (Jahns)
- Rogers pronounces the Kaner Experience dead
- CSN Chicago's Jeremy Lynn asks if Sharp's injury impacts Bowman's shopping list
- Stu Hackel: With realignment scrapped by the NHLPA, should we start worrying about the upcoming CBA?
- Down Goes Brown charts winners and losers at the season's midpoint
- NHL.com's Dan Rosen pencils his Hart Trophy ballot and Captain Serious is still in the hunt
- The Ban-hammer strikes twice: Marchand gets five; Jean-Francois Jacques gets three
- NHL.com stats and recaps of last night's games: Nyucks 1, Hawks-South 2; Caps 2, Kings 5
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If Rogers is calling Kane at center a shelved item
Then morning skate today should be fun seeing as there’s only 3 true centers on the roster. Pirri is still at the craps table in Rockvegas and Ben Smith is a winger no matter how hard anyone tries to shove that hexagon into a round hole.
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 9:41 AM CST reply actions
maybe the ghost of Sharp
can take over the 2C position?
Looks like it’ll be Toews, Frolik, Bolland and Shaw at center if Kane is out.
what about Jammer? Did you forget about him?
There are three types of people in this world: those who can count, and those who can't.
by FrankStallone on Jan 10, 2012 10:08 AM CST up reply actions
Was going to say the same thing
I think it’s 19, 36, 22 and 67… which kinda sucks because I think 67 should be up top with Kane and Toews. Like I said, morning skate will be fun today. I’ve got a meeting at 11 so I hope y’all post what the lines are in the comments here. Please and thank you.
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 10:13 AM CST up reply actions
This is what I'm envisioning
Toews between Kane and Hayes
Bolland between Hossa and Stals
Mayers between Bicks and Fro
Shaw between Brunette and Smith
And I base this on pure speculation
There are three types of people in this world: those who can count, and those who can't.
by FrankStallone on Jan 10, 2012 10:16 AM CST up reply actions
I would like those
Then bump the centers down a line each when Kruger gets back and plug him back in on line two while scratching Ben Smith.
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 10:20 AM CST up reply actions
I should amend and say that the 3rd line would really struggle though
Just no scoring touch anywhere on there. Not that there is with Bolland. I am growing tired of Bryan Bickell very quickly now. There is little he is doing right now that positively affects the team. When each player had their midseason reviews with Stan and Q yesterday, I would have loved to hear what they said to Bickell
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 10:22 AM CST up reply actions
exactly
Or if playing with Hossa sparks some offense from Bolland and they’re playing well, insert Kruger on the 3rd line but still bump Mayers back to the 4th, Shaw over to the wing, and Smith to the press box
There are three types of people in this world: those who can count, and those who can't.
by FrankStallone on Jan 10, 2012 10:23 AM CST up reply actions
I'm not so sure Q moves away from Toews-Kane-Stalberg
But I agree Hayes will get another shot in the top 6. Not many other options. So Frolik-Hossa-Hayes on the 2nd and the 3rd should remain the same as last game with Shaw taking Frolik’s spot. I doubt Smith starts there because Q seemed to sore on him on his last visit.
Maybe Brunette gets jumped to the top 6 and Hayes to the 4th, but I highly doubt Q moves 3 of the 4 centers from their lines. That’s one thing he keeps pretty consistent.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jan 10, 2012 11:06 AM CST up reply actions
er, sour
and I just read below that Smith is in the top 6. Okee dokee then.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jan 10, 2012 11:15 AM CST up reply actions
Can't blame you. Q said himself Jimmy Hayes would see Top-6 time.
I do stuff for CheerTheAnthem
by HjammerTime on Jan 10, 2012 11:18 AM CST up reply actions
oi!
"Kevin, You can't play Doom Metal while wearing a scarf"
by mightymike D on Jan 10, 2012 2:16 PM CST up reply actions
Re: Marchand's suspension
According to the article on PD, I don’t think this suspension will be a deterrent. I just hope he doesn’t get hurt sometime in the future.
If the suspensions don't deter him from the sort of behavior he's shown a proclivity towards
Then someone will at some point make him pay for his douchebaggery. He’s only 5’9" and he hasn’t exactly shown Shaw’s willingness to scrap with anyone regardless of size difference, so it seems likely that he’ll end up paying by being on the receiving end of a cheap shot. Not saying that I want or hope for that to happen, just that it’s a logical eventuality.
There are three types of people in this world: those who can count, and those who can't.
by FrankStallone on Jan 10, 2012 9:55 AM CST up reply actions
he hides behind the rest of his team
by putmeinthemadhouse on Jan 10, 2012 1:07 PM CST up reply actions
I sort of like him.
Obviously the dirty hits need to stop, but he was a fantastic pest in the SCF.
I do stuff for CheerTheAnthem
bias goggles, i thought so to
but if he was pulling that shit against the hawks it would be a different story.
by putmeinthemadhouse on Jan 10, 2012 1:17 PM CST up reply actions
If he was hitting up low…yes.
if he gave someone a few jabs in the face….not so much.
I do stuff for CheerTheAnthem
Well basically Marchand has said he doesn't give a shit. So I agree, not a deterrent.
I do stuff for CheerTheAnthem
Yea the league is going to have to ramp the suspensions up another notch
An explicitly more extreme scale for repeat offenders seems necessary. First offense gets you 1 to 3, second offense of similar severity gets you 6 to 8, third offense of similar severity gets you 15 to 20, fourth offense gets you at least half a season including playoffs. Something like that which the league would both explicitly declare to be the deal and then back Shanahan up on. And in all cases as is true right now the team has to do without that roster spot.
It’s clear that the pain being inflicted right now is just not enough to deter the serial offenders like Marchand and Carcillo or the teams that employ them.
by Paul the Fossil on Jan 10, 2012 10:11 AM CST up reply actions
Make the team pay
as well as the individual player. Coaches and GMs can put the brakes on the cheap shots and head hunting. If they see the team hurt financially, or on the ice in wins, the word will get to the players quickly.
Perhaps fines based on % of team revenue (to keep rich teams from having an advantage with a set $$ amount) or something like having to play the “suspended games” with a short bench. If you have a defenseman suspended for 5 games, you play with 5 defensemen for 5 games, same with each forward position. Not sure about goalies. Not too many get suspended, but it would be tough to play w/o a backup.
CBA, realignment and YOU
Howard Bloom had a good read on it this morning. Don Fehr’s words are pretty strong. Have to wonder just how much truth there is to his comments about the NHL not providing schedule drafts & whatnot. How much of it is spin for the NHLPA? Regardless, a storm is-a-brewin’.
Armageddon is a strong word designed for shock value and pageviews though. Still a ways away from DEFCON 5.
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 9:43 AM CST reply actions
League Spin
I had yet to read the League’s official statement until this morning’s link, but they’re spinning pretty hard themselves and also using a divide and conquer approach (ie. win fan support).
1) …the NHLPA has unreasonably refused to approve a plan…
“Unreasonably”? Essentially, if you disagree with the League office about anything, you’re wrong/unreasonable
2) ….spent four weeks attempting to satisfy the NHLPA’s purported concerns….
“Purported”? Doesn’t that simply mean the League is calling the NHLPA liars?
I find it real hard to believe that the League cannot produce a few mock schedules. There’s three or four guys on this Board who post regularly who could probably write up a scheduling program in a couple of days. The League was simply trying to jam this down the players throat, in the middle of the season no less, and the players just said slow down a bit.
I'm already mentally preparing myself for a lockout next season
I had a bad feeling about the CBA the minute I heard the players had hired Fehr who is, like it or not, a warrior who’s not afraid to go to war.
This could get ugly.
by bluekoolaide on Jan 10, 2012 10:47 AM CST up reply actions
I'm definitely worried about the possibility of a lockout
but I’m also really worried that Fehr will get the owners to cave on certain things like the salary cap. Yes the cap can be a bit of a nuisance and a headache at times, but overall I firmly believe that having a salary cap is essential for the NHL both from a financial standpoint and in terms of maintaining competition. I don’t want to see the NHL become like the MLB where 2/3 of the league is barely any more than a farm system for the handful of rich teams have the ability and desire to spend ludicrous sums of money on their lineup
There are three types of people in this world: those who can count, and those who can't.
by FrankStallone on Jan 10, 2012 10:54 AM CST up reply actions
this
the Soccer Premiership (and the entire UK league system) has become an overmoneyed, player controlled uncompetitive joke where three or four clubs sit at the top and are unbudgeable unless a squillionaire takes over a club and starts flushing salary money down the drain.
"Kevin, You can't play Doom Metal while wearing a scarf"
by mightymike D on Jan 10, 2012 12:51 PM CST up reply actions
That's what was starting to happen to the NHL pre-lockout
For example, the Scum’s salary total for the last pre-lockout / pre-salary-cap season (2003-‘04) was something like $20 million above what this year’s – not the first one, this year’s – salary cap ceiling is set at.
There are three types of people in this world: those who can count, and those who can't.
by FrankStallone on Jan 10, 2012 12:54 PM CST up reply actions
yup
that’s two of the things I’ve always really liked about US Sports: the Draft system and salary caps… means that no one is going to be rubbish forever…
"Kevin, You can't play Doom Metal while wearing a scarf"
by mightymike D on Jan 10, 2012 12:56 PM CST up reply actions
The League got what they wanted too
because as a fan, and someone who was was supportive of the realignment, I was disappointed upon hearing the news and immediately had a WTF reaction towards the PA. However, now that some actual reporting has been done, I don’t blame the players at all. In fact, I find most of their questions and statements quite reasonable. I wouldn’t doubt the League knew they were going to get NHLPA push-back and deliberately released the realignment news anyway knowing full well they would be rescinding it a month later in order to paint themselves as the good guys. Trust no one!
Trust no one!
Is pretty much exactly how I feel. I’m fairly certain this is power play by the NHLPA saying “we won’t be walked over” but it’s probably just as much a power play by the NHL thinking “I wonder if they’ll let us walk over them”
Me too.
Both sides will lie or try to paint themselves as the victim, when in actuality, the fans are the real victims, first for having to listen to the bluster and then if any or all of the season is canceled.
by Katherine215 on Jan 10, 2012 11:02 AM CST up reply actions
I don't believe that will happen
Mostly because many of the same owners during the previous lockout are still here – memories are long, and although the NHL is quite often the stupid league of professional sports, I believe both sides know that another lockout will effectively ruin the league for many, many years post haste.
I really hope not.
But after the NFL and NBA labor issues last year, I’m bracing for a lot of sniping at best and lost time at worst.
by Katherine215 on Jan 10, 2012 11:15 AM CST up reply actions
There are negotiations
that involve the basic dollar structure of the relationship between management and players. Then there are other negotiations that merely involve who gets which pennies.
The previous NHL negotiations were the former type. That is the type that leads to strikes/lockouts/whatevers. This upcoming negotiation is going to be more the latter type. While htere may be some very limited action, it just isn’t the type of situation that leads to extended job actions.
Comparing to the recent troubles for the NFL and NBA is a little backward. Yes they have both had tenuous negotiations in their most recent battles, but the issue has been the dollar/structure issue.. Basically, they just got through what hockey has already been through.
The only reason the players are opposing realignment is to get some leverage at the table (outside of having to threaten a job action.) This doesn’t change things much. It is still going to be a fight over pennies and neither side will let dollars go down the drain while they are fighting over pennies.
by stanfordron on Jan 10, 2012 11:25 AM CST up reply actions
Ok, that makes sense.
But it still doesn’t make me distrust them any less.
by Katherine215 on Jan 10, 2012 11:49 AM CST up reply actions
The players currently get 57% of all hockey related revenue
Even Donald Fehr would be out of his tree if he thinks that number is staying that high. The players will be lucky to get 50% on the next go round. With Fehr, they probably will. However, it may come at the cost of October and November.
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 11:50 AM CST up reply actions
The fight to create a cap
was a much bigger fight than where the cap should be set.
by stanfordron on Jan 10, 2012 11:57 AM CST up reply actions
Cap is going no where
Where it is set remains to be seen. However I think the players will be far more interested in claiming that hockey related revenue. IMO, the two most salient issues for the NHLPA will be a larger voice on the Competition Committee and the HRR % they receive.
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
Exactly -
the pennies, not the dollars.
by stanfordron on Jan 10, 2012 12:05 PM CST up reply actions
Here's how it will go
The owners will say they are losing money. No one will believe them. At this point 1 of 2 things will happen. The owners are lying and they’ll come up with a deal last minute just like the NFL did or 2. The owners aren’t lying and will be more than willing to sit on the sidelines and wait it out like the NBA. Of course, people still won’t believe the owners were losing money. Either way, it’s probably going to get ugly.
Agree completely
As I’ve said before, you’d like to believe that both sides understand how potentially catastrophic this will be for the sport and that cooler heads will prevail.
Unfortunately, when it comes to money, logic and rationality tend to go out the window.
by bluekoolaide on Jan 10, 2012 11:02 AM CST up reply actions
It'd be nice if it was just money
We’re also dealing with billionaires egos. It’s amazing how many stories I hear about managers spending hundreds of thousands on lawyers to fight over some trivial matter where if both sides just said “We’ll split it 50/50 down the middle” both sides would end up better off.
Money is still money
If I were one of the owners and you were asking for a sum that had anything over seven figures, it’s not my ego that’s getting in the way, it’s my bank account.
The standard reply to this is that “what’s a million bucks to a guy who has billions?” Well, the answer is it’s still a million dollars. You guys probably won’t like me if there’s a lockout or even during the negotiations. I’m a total ownership honk because I don’t think these guys should be vilified for taking advantage of a capitalist system. It’s business. I ’d be interested in acquiring every single penny I felt I was entitled to.
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 11:54 AM CST up reply actions
I'm not saying the money doesn't matter
but some people will pay quite a bit of money to prove they’re right. And that’s an ego issue. I’m also more of an ownership honk.
I think most of us understand the owners positions and agree with most of it
the last strike had to play out the way it did, the players and their union reps refused to believe how fucked up the league had become, and never believed the situation to be as dire as it was. I still remember JR braying to the heavens about how unfair it all was, and he was getting paid absolute top dollar at the time.
I'm not necessarily taking sides here but does this mean...
…that the players then should be “vilified” for taking advantage of the capitalist system?
by bluekoolaide on Jan 10, 2012 1:54 PM CST up reply actions
I don't know if this has been discussed here
but Pat and Eddie were really obnoxious when they were discussing this during the game Friday. Foley claimed 95% of the players he talked to were in favor of it – um, the NHLPA is made up of players, who obviously voted against it. And he seems to have forgotten Q was quite unenthusiastic about it when it first was announced.
Eddie was agreeing with him, which I thought was interesting, given he once was a player. I guess it’s different when you work directly for the organization.
by Katherine215 on Jan 10, 2012 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
I wouldn't be surprised if most of the players are for it
but they’ve been advised it’s in their best interest that they’ll have more leverage in CBA negotiations if they don’t just accept it. I bet this realignment happens and I don’t think the players mind too much if it gets delayed one year.
Probably it will get approved.
I do think the travel is a legit concern for some of those teams though.
by Katherine215 on Jan 10, 2012 11:07 AM CST up reply actions
A request for the links posters
I’d suggest skipping the local Hawks beats in these links posts, since
a) we all know where to go read them anytime if we’re interested in them, and
b) we’re not interested in them.
Honestly I’m just skipping half of the daily links here now since they are of the newspaper beat writers who I know won’t have any actual new information or ideas of any interest. There’s a certain amount of time in each day for mucking about in Blackhawks news and bluntly I don’t have any of it to fritter away. Bet I’m not alone in that.
So might as well just stick with the handful of links from disparate places that we might not already know about, those are of genuine interest. (And thanks of course for doing these every day.)
by Paul the Fossil on Jan 10, 2012 10:18 AM CST reply actions
But in Saskatchewan we like the daily beat-links!!
/damn foreigner asking for stuff…
No Swagger, No Dagger
by Saskjet on Jan 10, 2012 10:26 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
I click on some of them
depending on how much time I have. I’m fairly capable of not clicking on a link I don’t want to read; I think someone else determining what is and isn’t of value is rather subjective. More information doesn’t usually hurt anyone.
by Katherine215 on Jan 10, 2012 10:55 AM CST up reply actions
Who'se we sucka?
Smith and Wesson…an me!
"How smooth must be the language of the whites, when they can make right look like wrong, and wrong like right."
by thepuckstopshere31 on Jan 10, 2012 11:23 AM CST up reply actions
ya leave the links
I read each and every one besides Jahns because that damn 20 limit from the suntimes
Why Q, why?!
"Watching a shootout is like admitting you watch Survivor or search the internet for porn."
Yeah, could you please not link to pay sites.
And if you really want to make peoples day, could you send a quick email to the Suntimes saying you have stopped linking to them because they are now a pay site?
Actually I think it would be pretty cool if everyone here sent an email to the Suntimes saying that they no longer link or read the Suntimes.
I wrote Jahns on twitter
and he said I can get it free from there, but i can’t actually get that link from work and nor can I read or wait for it to load on my shitty phone
Why Q, why?!
"Watching a shootout is like admitting you watch Survivor or search the internet for porn."
I think that point has already been made
they won’t exist in any form within the next year.
lines per jesse
Hawks on ice 15,22,39…25,29,88…28,67,81…29,36,65 are the line rushes
Frolik centering hossa and smith. Poor hossa.
Q said Hayes was going to get 1st line time….apparently not.
I do stuff for CheerTheAnthem
by HjammerTime on Jan 10, 2012 10:38 AM CST up reply actions
Jesus fucking Christ, Q
Just waste your best two way player with a couple of 4th line bums. What the fuck is wrong with you?
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 10:41 AM CST up reply actions
Agreed. Not sure why the only 3 guys who generate offense outside of Marian Hossa have to skate together on the same line.
I do stuff for CheerTheAnthem
by HjammerTime on Jan 10, 2012 10:42 AM CST up reply actions
Other than the top line
I haven’t a clue who is going to score tonight. I like the top line though, should make that clear. I’d be fine with Stalberg skating with Bolland but he’s done so well up top that I see no reason not to place him there.
$50 says Frolik goes less than 30% in the faceoff dot tonight.
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 10:46 AM CST up reply actions
I think, with injuries to so many quality top 6 players
which is really, kruger and sharp, Q should just cut his losses and run the 1/1/4/4 setup, with:
?/19/88
?/36/81
everyone else
by oregon_hawk on Jan 10, 2012 10:51 AM CST up reply actions
Bickell will score tonight
just to piss you and Sam off.
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jan 10, 2012 11:14 AM CST up reply actions
with steve mason in goal
anything is possible
There are three types of people in this world: those who can count, and those who can't.
by FrankStallone on Jan 10, 2012 11:16 AM CST up reply actions
Wouldn't doubt it
I won’t be able to watch tonight and Bickell seems to play well when I don’t watch.
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 11:40 AM CST up reply actions
I sort of wish he'd put Stalberg with Toews and Kane with Hossa.
I do stuff for CheerTheAnthem
by HjammerTime on Jan 10, 2012 11:16 AM CST up reply actions
on those lines it has 29 there twice
I sure hope Bickel isn’t playing both
Why Q, why?!
"Watching a shootout is like admitting you watch Survivor or search the internet for porn."
I think that should be 25-19-88
I do stuff for CheerTheAnthem
by HjammerTime on Jan 10, 2012 12:45 PM CST up reply actions
yeah I figured as much
But who knows, maybe Bickell is now versatile and playing
Why Q, why?!
"Watching a shootout is like admitting you watch Survivor or search the internet for porn."
I think i just choked on a some food after typing that
Why Q, why?!
"Watching a shootout is like admitting you watch Survivor or search the internet for porn."
Just keep spinning that wheel, Q
What goes up must come down
spinning wheel got to go round
Talking about your troubles it’s a crying sin
Ride a painted pony
Let the spinning wheel spin
You got no money, and you, you got no home
Spinning wheel, spinning all alone
Talking about your troubles and you, you never learn
Ride a painted pony
let the spinning wheel turn
I agree with Kronfuck here and I think Holland is an idiot
Detroit rep Niklas Kronwall said that the players "overwhelmingly" disagreed with two parts of the plan during a conference call on Jan. 1, telling Mirtle of The Globe and Mail, "The unfairness of the playoffs, with some divisions being eight teams compared to some divisions being seven teams, it’s tough to get away from. Every player in the league feels like it should be an even playing field before the season starts."
But Kronwall’s Red Wings boss, GM Ken Holland, was mystified at the position taken by the players. "First off, you’ve got a 30-team league, and if you divide it by four, you’ve got to have two sevens and two eights," Holland told Gregg Krupa of The Detroit News. "That’s just the math.
"I would say that (the proposal is) not so much an east-west league as a four-conference league," Holland said of the proposed realignment. "Your focus was on the conference. Certainly, we were aware that we were in an eight-team conference as opposed to some teams being in a seven-team conference, but what’s the difference between the seventh and the eighth? You’ve got to be in the top four. If you’re not in the top four, it doesn’t matter if you’re eighth or sixth, you’re out. I’m sort of missing something, I guess."
i think the problem with those conferences is obvious.
in a 7 team conference, you have to beat 3 teams to make the playoffs. In an 8 team conference, you have to beat 4.
The idea that theres no way to get away from the disparity, because if you divide thirty by four you don’t get a whole number, completely ignores the fact that you can divide thirty by a different number than four.
sigh.
by oregon_hawk on Jan 10, 2012 11:40 AM CST up reply actions
Yes, or have a system where you can reward a 5th place team with a playoff spot if it has more points than the 4th place team in a 7-team conference
A link of a great article explaining how easy it would be to reduce the impact of the uneven number of teams by conference was posted here a few weeks back. Can’t recall who wrote it though.
by LavalPhantom on Jan 10, 2012 11:50 AM CST up reply actions
Glad Holland can explain basic division for us,
but he probably should have stuck around for probability and percentages.
I think I read the chances of making the playoffs weren’t too different in the 7 versus 8 team conferences, but the inherent “unfairness” when looking at it on the surface is an understandable problem, imo. Especially when our division had 8 pretty good teams.
by Katherine215 on Jan 10, 2012 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
4/7 =57.1%
4/8 =50%
Quite a big difference.
by LavalPhantom on Jan 10, 2012 12:02 PM CST up reply actions
not to mention the composition of the conferences.
in the short term, which is mostly where this alignment matters, i seem to recall the conference in which the caps and the pens reside has 4 good teams and 3 crappy teams.
The argument can be made that those teams will improve and degrade as time goes on, but since the league might expand/contract, and PHX might move (triggering another possible re-align), i don’t think that argument flies. It looks like a blatant free-pass to the playoffs for the NHL’s darling children.
by oregon_hawk on Jan 10, 2012 12:17 PM CST up reply actions
Sorry to bring the MLB into this but
Look at the NL Central 6 teams. You have to play and beat those teams to win the Division and get in the Playoffs. .That is 5 other teams you have to be better then. The AL West has 4 teams, there you only need to be better then 3 teams. The Wild card it is you against 11 or 13 others (14/16 minus 3 division winners). If the NL Central is a tough division, you will more likely lose more games, compared to other teams playing in weaker divisions reducing you chance to beat out the other 12.
Same logic carries to the NHL, and I agree with this concern above the others. It is not the best or fairest method for teams to get in the playoffs. If the Hawks Conference has 8 teams and it is a strong division with only 1 weak team, they have to be better then 4 other teams 3 of which are good they must outplay, whereas a 7 team conference it is only 3, and if it has 1-2 weak teams, only playout better then 1-2 other good teams.
The MLB recognized this (finally!!!) and in 2012 all divsions will be 5 teams to afford equal chances to get into the post-season.
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jan 10, 2012 1:07 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah this was a good move by MLB
I never really liked inter-league play being squeezed into “slots”.
I know this will probably anger Cubs fans, but I’ve always thought of the NL Central as the single shitiest division in ball and having 6 of them slug it out seemed ok. That being said, the new 15-and-15 league set-up is just more fair… although competing in the AL east without a cap is patently absurd (this coming from a half-assed Jays fan that was really pissed when the Expos moved and is kind of in MLB fandom purgatory).
You are next.
by M7 on Jan 10, 2012 2:18 PM CST up reply actions
I used to think that about the central
but then the Cardinals always seem to win the whole shebang, so not so much.
Yeah, I've pondered that as well
but I think that is fairly explainable IMO. The reason I say that is because I think the best-of-5 first round is a total crapshoot and handicaps the truly best teams that run 4 starters deep. Also, in baseball with all stats regressing towards the mean, anything can happen in a series let alone one game. If your 3/4/5 hitters go dormant for a game or two you’re fucked.
It’s one of the reasons I’m not a big fan of the World Baseball Classic in its current format (not that many people are fans of the WBC). Next to anything can happen in these one game scenario’s. Without getting into it too much, I don’t see why they can’t take all 10 (or 12) teams and play a single game round-robin with the best two playing a 2 of 3 final or something.
You are next.
by M7 on Jan 10, 2012 2:57 PM CST up reply actions
Hard to believe those are a GM’s thoughts on the plan.
All hockey all the time at The Globe and Mail
by James Mirtle on Jan 10, 2012 12:08 PM CST up reply actions
Yes you wouldn't think a guy like Holland would look like he has the brain of a worm
Next to a guy like Kronwall…
by LavalPhantom on Jan 10, 2012 12:13 PM CST up reply actions
Kronwall’s pretty good to talk to. I’d bet he’s one of the smarter guys on that team.
All hockey all the time at The Globe and Mail
by James Mirtle on Jan 10, 2012 6:54 PM CST up reply actions
Brad Marchand is a dirty Fuck
I hope someone corrects his “I don’t care” attitude on the ice. Boston as a team on the whole is now competing with VAN for the bottom in my “Just completely Fuck the Assholes” category of how I root for teams.
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jan 10, 2012 12:55 PM CST reply actions
agreed
and the more I see that clip the worse it looks. But I agree with the comments above that he clearly isn’t contrite in the slightest.. which makes him a)and asshole b) a marked man for both opposition players and zebras and c) an asshole.
"Kevin, You can't play Doom Metal while wearing a scarf"
by mightymike D on Jan 10, 2012 12:58 PM CST up reply actions
Also you left out d) a turd burgler and e) a gigantic asshole
There are three types of people in this world: those who can count, and those who can't.
by FrankStallone on Jan 10, 2012 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
Dont't forget
f) Dirty Selfish Fuck g) Told John Scott his mother is stiff in the bedroom
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jan 10, 2012 1:09 PM CST up reply actions
h) an asshole
"Kevin, You can't play Doom Metal while wearing a scarf"
by mightymike D on Jan 10, 2012 1:15 PM CST up reply actions
They were saying on the radio this morning
That Marchand had contacted the league about this type of hit earlier in the season or before the season, presumably to find out what type of punishment would be handed down. He claims what the league told him then isn’t the same as what they did now.
If you must scream to get noticed, maybe you should whisper instead
by Z-man24 on Jan 10, 2012 1:22 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Being a repeat Dickhead will do that!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jan 10, 2012 1:24 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
It's a bit like calling the cops to find out the penalty for assault
Then beating the hell out of someone right in front of the police station
If you must scream to get noticed, maybe you should whisper instead
by Z-man24 on Jan 10, 2012 1:35 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
if you have to even ask that question
it pretty much sums up what kind of player you are, does it not?
Yes it does
I’m shocked they even put this info out there, makes him look like an even bigger asshole
If you must scream to get noticed, maybe you should whisper instead
by Z-man24 on Jan 10, 2012 2:04 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
tied for me, actually boston is lower than vancouver
they have been playing really despicably lately. I could argue that van isn’t really as dirty or cheap as they used to be, bruins are fucking pushing the envelope plus they were diving all over the ice in the later sections of the game.
by putmeinthemadhouse on Jan 10, 2012 1:16 PM CST up reply actions
I was not dissapointed they lost to VAN myself
This is why meteor and plague both appear in my team priority lists above the "Just completely Fuck the Assholes" category
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jan 10, 2012 1:19 PM CST up reply actions
I'm fond of
“Small Tactical Nuclear Strike” and “Very Localised Swarm Of Killer Bees” too..
"Kevin, You can't play Doom Metal while wearing a scarf"
by mightymike D on Jan 10, 2012 1:24 PM CST up reply actions
Maybe Boston just finally got tired of Van's whining
about playing dirty in the SCF last year. Perhaps they said, you want dirty, we’ll show you dirty. I’m not condoning it, but this is the NHL and shit like this happens all the time.
bruins have been playing like it all year
by putmeinthemadhouse on Jan 10, 2012 1:31 PM CST up reply actions
yep from the very beginning
and Shanny screwed the pooch royally for allowing the Giant Goon (aka Lucic) to get off Scott – free after running a goalie into the fucking ditch. His reasoning was assinine and blatantly ridiculous, he shares some of the blame for the Bruins’ increasingly worse behavior on the ice this year. But only a little – I think their coach deserves more of it. Wonder what Thomas really thinks about all this.
TT probably is saying
“If you Fucking assholes get me run the Fuck over and fucked up, I know where each and every one of you Fuckfaces live, and mark my words…….”
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jan 10, 2012 1:54 PM CST up reply actions
heh!
probably right. And I agree with Waylon.. Kent Basky at NM has put up a pretty interesting post about the subjecy here
There’s a bit of Canuck Paranoia in there but his main points are pretty spot on
"Kevin, You can't play Doom Metal while wearing a scarf"
by mightymike D on Jan 10, 2012 2:19 PM CST up reply actions
thomas has a nasty streak in the crease
he likes to pull out those two handed slashes
by putmeinthemadhouse on Jan 10, 2012 3:02 PM CST up reply actions
Here's the thing
(Oh, and hi. I noticed since I have been lurking the last while, that VCD is almost shorthand for STD in a few people’s minds.
So, what the hell. I thought I would dip my metaphorical toe back into the SCH waters. See what happens on a by the day basis. If thats cool. Cool. For what it is worth, and you longer timers will know that about me, I always liked the Hawks as a second team of interest. The rivalries and whatnot (and, sorry double ellipses, but how awesome that the rivalry started with ONE shirt ripping, hair pulling, fishhooking cheapo shot on both sides of a line brawl…fucking awesome ) made it difficult to have “bnater” anymore. For what it is worth, as Bertuzzi says, it is what it is…)
Anyhow, my question or response to that is this. Thomas is a punk like anyone else that puts on the Black and Gold. Not that that is a bad thing. Guys like Paille and Pouliot for Gods sake grew two inches and fifty pounds of testicles as soon as the cult indoctrinated them.
In all the Marchand foolishness, go back to the Youtubes and find Timmy’s response to Malhotra being tripped into him ( best line on that from Twitter was “its like buttending Mother Teresa”)…and that got like zero notice.
He totally got away with a nut shot on a defenseless guy that even Hawk fans had to feel good for coming back in the Final.
And yes Waylon, their coach’s diatribe the other day will live as a rambling mess that will be up there with Herm and Jim’s rants about Hello and Playoffs.
I mean this sincerely,
Peace
PS ; Isn’t it nice that the Bruins could bring us together again? In light of the last few days, it kinda made the back and forth here seem mild. I mean, I read death threats ( not to me!;-) on Twitter from Bruins fans to random Canuck fans…WoW
Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod. "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Gandhi. I think he was a Canucks fan...
@Vancitydan Writer at Nucks Misconduct
oops...banter
Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod. "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Gandhi. I think he was a Canucks fan...
@Vancitydan Writer at Nucks Misconduct
As Puppet said
This is far from being the first time Boston had played as dirty as wet mud this season.
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jan 10, 2012 1:52 PM CST up reply actions
In Don Cherry's World (where I visit from time to time)
Let’s just say for now that the Canucks had one coming. So now, what team in the NHL is going to stand up to the Bruins and end their shit? They don’t seem to fear Shanahan’s wrath.
or
if Don is pandering to us for a change.
They gave the rest of the NHL a blue print on how to beat them. Its the same as mom told you to do with the schoolyard bully. Stand up, take your licks, and (mom forgot this part) make them play on the power play.
I thought Shanny sent them a huge message, and sent a bit of a finger to the conspiracy tinfoil hat club that say Jeremy Jacobs runs things for his team because he is the Bruins owner and Chairman of the Board of the NHL That video was a smackdown on them all. It discounted every point they tried to put in ( even alluding to it being OK to defensively bail when a guy is coming at you face up like Raymond did in that video they compared it to) in a clinical fashion.
Shanny showed his integrity after it was questioned with the Lucic mistake he made (needed a game for the message, I thought )
But yeah, that last Sat one was pretty bizarre. His Black and Gold Hanes must have been extra small by mistake or something…made him crankier than usual.
Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod. "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Gandhi. I think he was a Canucks fan...
@Vancitydan Writer at Nucks Misconduct
Is your powerplay still ridiculous (as in good)?
Those creepy twins with their powerplay ESP
everyone said
4 for 11, it was 4 on 7 opportunities that included a 5 on 3 and a major that got two goals, one for each unit.
Yes, ridiculously good that day. But we went 2 for 33 in the Final, which is why the Bruins played the way they did. Even a little better PP and the running around would have been less.
That was then, this is now though. About 3 % over everyone else right now. Thanks to Cody freaking Hodgson. So glad you guys took Beach to take away the temptation. We would have nabbed him.
Thing one and Thing two had a classic slap tip for the 3rd goal on Sat though.
Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod. "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Gandhi. I think he was a Canucks fan...
@Vancitydan Writer at Nucks Misconduct
Living in Boston will do that to a person
Just ask Carl Crawford about the brick the fans put through his window last year.
by JesusMarianHossa on Jan 10, 2012 1:55 PM CST up reply actions
Kent basky at NM
put this link from The Copper & Blue my way… here
Perfection!
"Kevin, You can't play Doom Metal while wearing a scarf"
by mightymike D on Jan 10, 2012 2:31 PM CST up reply actions
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