December NHL News

Ferm Sheller

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Just to illustrate the absurdity of this suggestion, if you have a stick and a puck at your house, put the puck on the blade and try to "pin it to your hip", then try to walk from one end of the room to the other. If anyone tried to do this in their own end and start skating with it, they'd be in concussion protocol before they reached the blue line.

It was a highly creative and skilled split second play from behind the net. I do not see it as some sort of gateway to the other ridiculousness you are suggesting.
So if that goal came against the B's in overtime of Game 7 of the SCF, you'd say, "Oh well, nice goal, what can you do?" and not feel like it's a bit of a bush league way of losing the Cup? Again, my opinion isn't that a few rare goals like this aren't tolerable (or even aren't entertaining), it's that I don't want to see picking up the puck with the blade of the stick and passing it become common. To me, it's too close to picking it up with your hand and pitching it (and yes, I understand it's more difficult to pick the puck up with the stick blade than with the hand, but it's not so challenging -- for NHL players, anyway -- such that only few could learn to do it).
 

kenneycb

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It actually happened in the Regional Finals of the NCAA tourney and there wasn't a big outcry so or a subsequent whiplash 15 years later, so I think it's more of a you problem. I think you're the only person I've interacted with whose reaction isn't "Wow, that was cool" and end it there.
 

Ferm Sheller

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It actually happened in the Regional Finals of the NCAA tourney and there wasn't a big outcry so or a subsequent whiplash 15 years later, so I think it's more of a you problem. I think you're the only person I've interacted with whose reaction isn't "Wow, that was cool" and end it there.
Yes, it's just an opinion, and now I've learned that it's probably shared only by few.
 

RIFan

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So if that goal came against the B's in overtime of Game 7 of the SCF, you'd say, "Oh well, nice goal, what can you do?" and not feel like it's a bit of a bush league way of losing the Cup? Again, my opinion isn't that a few rare goals like this aren't tolerable (or even aren't entertaining), it's that I don't want to see picking up the puck with the blade of the stick and passing it become common. To me, it's too close to picking it up with your hand and pitching it (and yes, I understand it's more difficult to pick the puck up with the stick blade than with the hand, but it's not so challenging -- for NHL players, anyway -- such that only few could learn to do it).
I'd be pissed at the B's player that they couldn't get anyone close enough to knock the puck off his hip. It would be all on the D. The Zegras goal shouldn't have had a chance with basic defense. Asplund gives Milano a love tap when he set up outside the crease and then overplays the right hand of a left handed shooter. Credit to the Ducks for a creative play, but it was abysmal D that really allowed the goal. He only had to make sure he controlled the stick, because a "normal" play would have had Zegras put the puck out front for Milano to try to cram it in.
 

Dummy Hoy

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Jul 22, 2006
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I have a friend I play pick-up with a couple of times a week and every time he tries to Mike Legg himself a goal I slash his stick because I'm not going to get shown up by that. It's a long running joke....

But if he's pulls it off? Great play, it's on me.
 

burstnbloom

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Jul 12, 2005
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So if that goal came against the B's in overtime of Game 7 of the SCF, you'd say, "Oh well, nice goal, what can you do?" and not feel like it's a bit of a bush league way of losing the Cup? Again, my opinion isn't that a few rare goals like this aren't tolerable (or even aren't entertaining), it's that I don't want to see picking up the puck with the blade of the stick and passing it become common. To me, it's too close to picking it up with your hand and pitching it (and yes, I understand it's more difficult to pick the puck up with the stick blade than with the hand, but it's not so challenging -- for NHL players, anyway -- such that only few could learn to do it).
Im not meaning to pile on but I'm generally interested. What did you think when Karlsson sent that puck 100 feet in the air to spring Hoffman on a breakaway against the Bruins in the playoffs?
 

EvilEmpire

paying for his sins
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Apr 9, 2007
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Apparently, Shesterkin is scheduled to skate tomorrow to test his injury. Could start Friday. Georgiev managed well enough against the struggling Blackhawks, but will have a tougher test against Colorado tonight.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Im not meaning to pile on but I'm generally interested. What did you think when Karlsson sent that puck 100 feet in the air to spring Hoffman on a breakaway against the Bruins in the playoffs?
Oh, I think we're only having a discussion (in which I'm in the limited minority) so I don't at all see it as piling on...

I think that the play that you mention was perfectly fine. Karlsson wristed it (didn't pick it up and carry it on his blade) and Hoffman stayed onsides. The Bs should have had a defenseman account for Hoffman, but they didn't. But I'm not sure why you called out that specific play because it doesn't seem analogous.
 

Ferm Sheller

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GET OFF MY LAWN YOUNGSTER!
Not exactly sure what the need is for this. I can't have the opinion that picking up the puck with your stick blade, holding it, and passing it four feet above the ice is not something that appeals to without me being an old man yelling at a cloud? I think if I'd started watching hockey only a few years ago, I'd have the same opinion. Sorry my opinions about NHL rules don't completely align with yours -- I fully get your anger and frustration.
 

biff_hardbody

New Member
Apr 27, 2016
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Let's not ignore that Buffalo could have avoided giving up this goal a number of ways like playing defense on Zegras or having someone in between Milano and the net. This was a really fun play by Zegras but pretty bad D by Buffalo. I highly doubt it becomes the norm.
 

TheRealness

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Not exactly sure what the need is for this. I can't have the opinion that picking up the puck with your stick blade, holding it, and passing it four feet above the ice is not something that appeals to without me being an old man yelling at a cloud? I think if I'd started watching hockey only a few years ago, I'd have the same opinion. Sorry my opinions about NHL rules don't completely align with yours -- I fully get your anger and frustration.
You can have any opinion you want, but I reserve the right to make fun of you when you sound like an old man yelling at a cloud. Trying to make it about me being "angry" is more reflective of your feelings in response. That's ok. You can be mad I am making fun of you.

I think it's excellent they try this new stuff. That highlight was EVERYWHERE on ESPN, twitter, instagram, etc. That exposure is great for the sport and gets new young eyes on it. Things the sport needs.
 

Ferm Sheller

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You can have any opinion you want, but I reserve the right to make fun of you when you sound like an old man yelling at a cloud. Trying to make it about me being "angry" is more reflective of your feelings in response. That's ok. You can be mad I am making fun of you.

I think it's excellent they try this new stuff. That highlight was EVERYWHERE on ESPN, twitter, instagram, etc. That exposure is great for the sport and gets new young eyes on it. Things the sport needs.
Okay, I got a little carried away and I'm sorry. But to be clear, it has nothing to do with me an old timey purist (for example, I like that they removed the red line and have all but eliminated fighting).

And I agree that growing interest in the sport is desirable, but I'm not sure that this is the a viable way to it.
 

burstnbloom

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Oh, I think we're only having a discussion (in which I'm in the limited minority) so I don't at all see it as piling on...

I think that the play that you mention was perfectly fine. Karlsson wristed it (didn't pick it up and carry it on his blade) and Hoffman stayed onsides. The Bs should have had a defenseman account for Hoffman, but they didn't. But I'm not sure why you called out that specific play because it doesn't seem analogous.
It's not directly analogous but while that play is commonplace now, it was one of the first times that was used on any big hockey stage. Usually when hockey players used vertical space it was to clear the puck. I just remember thinking that play was going to change a lot of things about how players play defense going forward and it has since then. It's interesting to me that the carrying on the blade is what gets you annoyed.

Hey man - I get it. We all have our things. I thought it was awesome and I love Zegras.
 

Two Youks

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Jun 18, 2013
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So if that goal came against the B's in overtime of Game 7 of the SCF, you'd say, "Oh well, nice goal, what can you do?" and not feel like it's a bit of a bush league way of losing the Cup? Again, my opinion isn't that a few rare goals like this aren't tolerable (or even aren't entertaining), it's that I don't want to see picking up the puck with the blade of the stick and passing it become common. To me, it's too close to picking it up with your hand and pitching it (and yes, I understand it's more difficult to pick the puck up with the stick blade than with the hand, but it's not so challenging -- for NHL players, anyway -- such that only few could learn to do it).
This is the slippery slope fallacy.

The play happened because the opposing team neither flushed the guy behind the net nor adequately covered the front of the net. It was a perfect storm of the defending team just standing there, watching the puck, and the offensive player saying "Screw it, let's do something cool" AND having it work (not just the flip over the net, but an accurate tip in of a falling, tumbling puck). There's 0% chance of that play becoming commonplace simply because the likelihood of all those things happening in a predictable, repeatable way is so low. There are too many variables that need to align just so.

Moreover, if it somehow, miraculously, does start to become commonplace, then teams will begin to account for it and defend accordingly. Like any sport, hockey is about adjustments. If the league adjusts one way (these kinds of plays), then it will adjust back (making them far more difficult to execute).
 

Ferm Sheller

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Mar 5, 2007
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It's not directly analogous but while that play is commonplace now, it was one of the first times that was used on any big hockey stage. Usually when hockey players used vertical space it was to clear the puck. I just remember thinking that play was going to change a lot of things about how players play defense going forward and it has since then. It's interesting to me that the carrying on the blade is what gets you annoyed.

Hey man - I get it. We all have our things. I thought it was awesome and I love Zegras.
Yes, it's too much like lacrosse and I hate lacrosse! :)
 

Ferm Sheller

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This is the slippery slope fallacy.

The play happened because the opposing team neither flushed the guy behind the net nor adequately covered the front of the net. It was a perfect storm of the defending team just standing there, watching the puck, and the offensive player saying "Screw it, let's do something cool" AND having it work (not just the flip over the net, but an accurate tip in of a falling, tumbling puck). There's 0% chance of that play becoming commonplace simply because the likelihood of all those things happening in a predictable, repeatable way is so low. There are too many variables that need to align just so.

Moreover, if it somehow, miraculously, does start to become commonplace, then teams will begin to account for it and defend accordingly. Like any sport, hockey is about adjustments. If the league adjusts one way (these kinds of plays), then it will adjust back (making them far more difficult to execute).
I appreciate all of this, but I'm not talking only about this specific play or ones close it. I could imagine, for example, McAvoy picking the puck at the point on a PP and skating around with it a bit looking for a guy to pass to before flicking it four feet off the ice to Bergeron, who then chops it on three bounces and a skip past the goalie (or maybe even Bergy snatches it out of the air and catches it on his blade and "throws" it into the net with his stick). Again, that's lacrosse and I don't want to see it!
 

TheRealness

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Okay, I got a little carried away and I'm sorry. But to be clear, it has nothing to do with me an old timey purist (for example, I like that they removed the red line and have all but eliminated fighting).

And I agree that growing interest in the sport is desirable, but I'm not sure that this is the a viable way to it.
I am definitely being a snarky prick, but I just love someone having the creativity to do this, and the absurd skill to pull off both the pass and the goal. Just amazing stuff, and his reaction after was just as fun. His interview with Buccigross after was fun. Showed personality and I’m glad to see ESPN run with it.
 

TheRealness

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I appreciate all of this, but I'm not talking only about this specific play or ones close it. I could imagine, for example, McAvoy picking the puck at the point on a PP and skating around with it a bit looking for a guy to pass to before flicking it four feet off the ice to Bergeron, who then chops it on three bounces and a skip past the goalie (or maybe even Bergy snatches it out of the air and catches it on his blade and "throws" it into the net with his stick). Again, that's lacrosse and I don't want to see it!
Dude this sounds amazing. I would lose my shit if that happened.
 

MiracleOfO2704

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Jul 12, 2005
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The NHL will likely find a way to keep that from happening, but the real answer is to take the team from Meruelo and prep it for a move. I get the argument that you don’t want to lose the Phoenix market, but I honestly think the clown car parade of owners since Moyes has salted the earth there.
 

McDrew

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ColdSoxPack

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And I just read that Bettman said this: "It's clear that the city of Glendale has an edge or agenda in terms of how they're dealing with the Coyotes," Bettman said.

And Glendale said this: In response, Glendale city manager Kevin Phelps told The Athletic: "If Mr. Bettman and others want to believe that not filing 17 monthly tax returns was due to human error, then so be it.

What a superb asshole Bettman is.
 

kenneycb

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What do you want him to say? His job is to protect the collective ownership base so he's going to always go to bat for whatever story the Coyotes are throwing out there. I guarantee he's working behind the scenes to get their shit together and figure out scenarios if they can't or won't.
 

RIFan

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And I just read that Bettman said this: "It's clear that the city of Glendale has an edge or agenda in terms of how they're dealing with the Coyotes," Bettman said.

And Glendale said this: In response, Glendale city manager Kevin Phelps told The Athletic: "If Mr. Bettman and others want to believe that not filing 17 monthly tax returns was due to human error, then so be it.

What a superb asshole Bettman is.
Well, Bettman isn't wrong. They do have an agenda and it's to get a deadbeat tenant to live up to their obligations.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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He sounds like an idiot, but his job description is literally to sound like an idiot to protect the owners best interests.

Do people really think he is going to publicly admit the Coyotes ownership sucks and they are actively looking to sell and move the team?
 

ColdSoxPack

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Speaking of idiots, Coach Torts said on whatever hockey show he is on that he didn't like the Zegras play and didn't think it was good for hockey. Lol.
 

McDrew

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I feel like he's trying to drive ratings by just being an absolute heel. Maybe ESPN is pushing him to be like that? He's never seemed this curmudgeonly to me.
 

cshea

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Olympic participation is in jeopardy due to the virus. If enough games get canceled, the league can pull out (which is why I'm kind of surprised they haven't canceled more). Also, the players themselves have some reservations over the Covid protocols and whatnot. Robin Lehner already opted out because he feared getting the virus and being stuck in isolation in a foreign country for an extended period of time. There are also financial concerns as an NHL player who misses games due to getting covid at the Olympics would not get paid.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/32845874/nhlpa-says-lack-clarity-covid-19-protocols-players-uncertain-participating-winter-olympics
 

RedOctober3829

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Olympic participation is in jeopardy due to the virus. If enough games get canceled, the league can pull out (which is why I'm kind of surprised they haven't canceled more). Also, the players themselves have some reservations over the Covid protocols and whatnot. Robin Lehner already opted out because he feared getting the virus and being stuck in isolation in a foreign country for an extended period of time. There are also financial concerns as an NHL player who misses games due to getting covid at the Olympics would not get paid.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/32845874/nhlpa-says-lack-clarity-covid-19-protocols-players-uncertain-participating-winter-olympics
I can almost guarantee that the players won't go. If they get COVID over there and don't produce 2 negative test within 24 hours, they have a minimum 3 week stay in isolation and could be up to 5 weeks due to Chinese law.