Oh I know, but I also routinely see people under the belief that the league will step in and change the LTIR rules. Like one was if the season ended with a guy on the LTIR he shouldn’t be allowed to play again til the second round. I just shook my head.
- Dozzer

CC is right (he usually is on the factual side), but optics used to matter. Once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away, the spirit of the law was observed with near-equal tenacity as the letter of the law. This was true in business, government, and private affairs, for the most part...... or, at least more effort was given to appearances of caring and putting on a proper show for the public that covered the ugly truth.

In recent years the trend is towards success/profit/prestige at all costs. Optics, ethics, and other non-profit ideas are pushed aside. Hockey is no exception.

Gaming the system is legal as long as no rules are broken. And CC is right - no rules are broken with what Tampa did or Vegas is going to do. Heck, keep an eye on Sergachev. If Tampa goes deep, he might suddenly spring himself free of his comfy poolside chair on Robidas Island.

I have mixed feelings personally. I like Tampa having two recent Cups, but I don't like the asterisk that comes with them. Even if the asterisks are just footnotes that most people won't remember or care about.

CC is right (he usually is on the factual side), but optics used to matter. Once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away, the spirit of the law was observed with near-equal tenacity as the letter of the law. This was true in business, government, and private affairs, for the most part...... or, at least more effort was given to appearances of caring and putting on a proper show for the public that covered the ugly truth.

In recent years the trend is towards success/profit/prestige at all costs. Optics, ethics, and other non-profit ideas are pushed aside. Hockey is no exception.

Gaming the system is legal as long as no rules are broken. And CC is right - no rules are broken with what Tampa did or Vegas is going to do. Heck, keep an eye on Sergachev. If Tampa goes deep, he might suddenly spring himself free of his comfy poolside chair on Robidas Island.

I have mixed feelings personally. I like Tampa having two recent Cups, but I don't like the asterisk that comes with them. Even if the asterisks are just footnotes that most people won't remember or care about.
- GalacticStone

This. Exactly. But here is the why….

They want to make money because that, in general, is the priority of our current society.

Feelings don’t matter because humans aren’t the primary thinkers any longer, it’s computers. A human’s face is no longer a variable in decision making, just the number on your f’n phone screen.

So yeah humans still run things and make the choices, but the choice options are far different nowadays.

Marner has been demonstrably worse than AM34 and BillNy this season.
- mjones242

Ok, not sure what that has anything to do what was posted.
But grrr marner

This. Exactly. But here is the why….

They want to make money because that, in general, is the priority of our current society.

Feelings don’t matter because humans aren’t the primary thinkers any longer, it’s computers. A human’s face is no longer a variable in decision making, just the number on your f’n phone screen.

So yeah humans still run things and make the choices, but the choice options are far different nowadays.
- Dozzer

Love of the game is a phrase that is thrown around a lot. And it's a real thing, but it plays little role in the larger operations of any professional sport. Pond hockey is where the love of the game shines. Big leagues is all about big money. Teams owned by billionaires and played by millionaires for the benefit of sponsors (first) and then fans (last).

Sucks, but it is what it is. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the NHLPA and the NHL to get together and change it. Both sides seem OK with the status quo.

This. Exactly. But here is the why….

They want to make money because that, in general, is the priority of our current society.

Feelings don’t matter because humans aren’t the primary thinkers any longer, it’s computers. A human’s face is no longer a variable in decision making, just the number on your f’n phone screen.

So yeah humans still run things and make the choices, but the choice options are far different nowadays.
- Dozzer

Free Masons run the country!

Oh I know, but I also routinely see people under the belief that the league will step in and change the LTIR rules. Like one was if the season ended with a guy on the LTIR he shouldn’t be allowed to play again til the second round. I just shook my head.
- Dozzer

It was negotiated as part of the collective bargaining agreement. Not simple to change even if the league wanted to.

Ok, not sure what that has anything to do what was posted.
But grrr marner
- Fakepartofme

The stats presented a narrative that the team plays worse when Marner is out of the lineup compared to other Core teammates since 2018-19.

I pointed out that Marner has not contributed to the same degree as AM34 and Willie this season.

It was a direct response to the historical statistics you presented and was certainly not carried with a tone of "grrr marner."

Marner has not been the same key component this season as he has in the past. 🤷

Love of the game is a phrase that is thrown around a lot. And it's a real thing, but it plays little role in the larger operations of any professional sport. Pond hockey is where the love of the game shines. Big leagues is all about big money. Teams owned by billionaires and played by millionaires for the benefit of sponsors (first) and then fans (last).

Sucks, but it is what it is. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the NHLPA and the NHL to get together and change it. Both sides seem OK with the status quo.
- GalacticStone

The solution is obvious: the cap should be respected during the post-season as it is during the regular season.

That would end egregious cap shenanigans instantly.

But yes, there is very little thirst from owners and/or the NHLPA to adopt it.

Teravainen out tonight

Svechnikov - Aho - Jarvis
Guentzel - Kuznetsov - Necas
Martinook - Staal - Fast
Noesen - Kotkaniemi - Lemieux

Slavin - Burns
Skjei - Pesce
Orlov - Chatfield

Kochetkov the likely starter.

Love of the game is a phrase that is thrown around a lot. And it's a real thing, but it plays little role in the larger operations of any professional sport. Pond hockey is where the love of the game shines. Big leagues is all about big money. Teams owned by billionaires and played by millionaires for the benefit of sponsors (first) and then fans (last).

Sucks, but it is what it is. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the NHLPA and the NHL to get together and change it. Both sides seem OK with the status quo.
- GalacticStone

My guess is that the players would say if you want to impose a cap during the playoffs, you can pay for the playoffs. The current arrangement gives richer teams a bit of an advantage while not moving off cost certainty that a hard cap provides.

Love of the game is a phrase that is thrown around a lot. And it's a real thing, but it plays little role in the larger operations of any professional sport. Pond hockey is where the love of the game shines. Big leagues is all about big money. Teams owned by billionaires and played by millionaires for the benefit of sponsors (first) and then fans (last).

Sucks, but it is what it is. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the NHLPA and the NHL to get together and change it. Both sides seem OK with the status quo.
- GalacticStone

At the same time it’s always easy to go somewhere to see people play the game for free. If you want to see the high end talent however that costs money. Can you blame a player? Become rich in a short span leading to an early retirement or play for free on a pond or local arena and work til 65?

Free Masons run the country!
- drexel

wow

It’s more than one country

It was negotiated as part of the collective bargaining agreement. Not simple to change even if the league wanted to.
- Fakepartofme

Oh hell it would be miserable negotiations, figuring out how to control player payment in the off-season to maintain control or let the owners willing to spend essentially take over?

The post season is currently advertisement for the league in the states atm. Easy choice.

Imagine for a moment that Matthews wasn't having a Rocket season...... it would create a reality where Zach Hyman could win the Rocket.

Hyman. Rocket.

Sammy playing tonight

Imagine for a moment that Matthews wasn't having a Rocket season...... it would create a reality where Zach Hyman could win the Rocket.

Hyman. Rocket.


- GalacticStone

Pretty crazy. Years from now people would be wondering how the heck that happened.

It must almost be time for Augello to drop a new thread. Can't get hits without either lackluster information or rumours. We can always talk politics, but then it gets a cleaning quickly after.

Should be good hockey watching today. The stretch drive is the best time to watch hockey. The playoffs turn into defensive battles and low scoring, heart destroying close games. Florida is definitely built for the playoffs. However, some team with nothing to lose could upset their plans and make it a wide open opportunity for the rest of the conference. I'm hoping that somehow Lost Wages misses the playoffs after playing roulette with cap circumvention.

Have I told anybody lately that I hate the World Economic Forum Maniacs?

Imagine for a moment that Matthews wasn't having a Rocket season...... it would create a reality where Zach Hyman could win the Rocket.

Hyman. Rocket.


- GalacticStone

Hyman could hit 50 goals at $8m less than Matthews.
Unbelievable
But only 70pts or so.

Hyman could hit 50 goals at $8m less than Matthews.
Unbelievable
But only 70pts or so.
- Fakepartofme

That is a terrible comparison. Rob Brown scored 49 in 68 games playing with Mario.

Hyman could hit 50 goals at $8m less than Matthews.
Unbelievable
But only 70pts or so.
- Fakepartofme

Good on Hyman, but, he is having the season of a life……..whereas it’s routine for Matthew’s. AM does this every year. Scored more goals than anyone since he’s been in the league, and, the most even strength goal in the league. Matthew’s does it on any team and on any line and Hyman, well, he does it this year, playing with McD. So yeah, great value for Edmonton, this year. Don’t get me wrong, love Hyman and wish we could have kept him, but Leafs Management prefers high profile dipsy doodlers to grinders and workers…….which is why we will be out of the playoffs 1st round again. But it’s all good, next year we will run it all back again and the results will be different!!

new blog everyone