December NHL News

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
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Dec 2, 2006
16,090
Tuukka's refugee camp
Fred in Lynn said:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/15/ice-breaker

Not so much news as it is a piece on a player, one sure to please most readers here. I feel posting this here is the equivalent of taking a dump in the living room and running away, but here I go.
I think most of us just hate him because he's on the Habs. I'm on record along with several others saying I'd love him in the black and gold.

Also, Brassard picked up a case of the mumps to add to the tally.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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It's their own fault, but Edmonton is in a tough spot right now. Expectations were higher this year, but their season is already down the tubes (17 points out of a playoff spot). Like it or not, there are 2 potential generational talents at the draft. The fans are at pitch forks and torches level sick of the never ending rebuild and they are demanding actio. At this point a trade to improve now could take them out of the McDavid/Eichel sweepstakes. Seems like Eakins is the peace offering for now but that organization needs wholesale changes everywhere, from the front office down to the roster.
 

PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
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Dec 12, 2004
27,164
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How Katz has kept Kevin Lowe on the payroll is beyond my comprehension. You could get similar results by handing me the Habs' GM role for a decade.

And yes, move #1 would be to consummate the Lecavalier for Price/Subban/Pacioretty/#1 trade
 

MiracleOfO2704

not AWOL
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Jul 12, 2005
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The Island
I'd argue you'd still do better as the Habs GM than Lowe has with the Oilers.

And the answer in Edmonton is to get rid of everyone, from Katz to the parking attendants.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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James Neal became the first player to be fined for diving. He had previously been warned under the new policy, so this is his secnd offense. The video is in the link, I'm not sure how to pull it out and embed. Holy hell what a shit head he is. 3 lengthy suspensions for head shots, knee on knee's and other assorted douchebaggery. Now he takes the diving lead. 
 
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=744564&navid=nhl:topheads
 

MoGator71

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Jul 15, 2005
5,117
I kind of agree with you. The biggest thing with diving is that it works, and if it works guys will do it. I did see the rare diving penalty called alone, without the even-up tripping/hooking call to go with it a couple of weeks ago. Can't remember who it was (it was a Flyer), but it wasn't one of those egregious ones where you're left shaking your head at the ridiculousness of it. 
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
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Aug 23, 2006
6,196
That $2000 fine will really send a strong message too.
 
I don't know how to fix it, but as long as long as referees that are right there keep falling for it or players aren't actually suspended for it, nothing will change.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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I've just come to accept that the refs will never get it right. The game moves too fast, it's too hard for them to make correct diving calls at real time. They miss Neal's at real speed, but then there are instances where they call the matching dive when it clearly wasn't a dive. I know Marchand had his 2 diving penalties rescinded after DPS review, and I'm sure there are others around the league that have had similar overturns.

There is no good solution. Honestly, at this point I'd just rip the diving rule out of the rule book and just have DPS handle it. Take it out of the refs hands. Continue with the fines and public shaming, but move towards making it suspendable.
 

Fred in Lynn

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I will add that I like that the "punishment" was handled through the supplemental discipline program. However, it would have been more effective to just publicly admonish him rather than fine a millionaire $2,000 (I'm sure the NHL spent more than that on the matter in administrative, overhead, and payroll costs).

I don't care for having it as an infraction because the referees, who have a tough job, often get it wrong. The NHL's focus should be on ensuring refs call what they actually observe, not what they think occurred for incidents they didn't entirely observe. If they were almost universally good at getting it right on the ice, then it would be practical to have them call diving. Otherwise, supplemental discipline is the only way they should be punishing this.
 

MoGator71

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Jul 15, 2005
5,117
cshea said:
I've just come to accept that the refs will never get it right. The game moves too fast, it's too hard for them to make correct diving calls at real time. They miss Neal's at real speed, but then there are instances where they call the matching dive when it clearly wasn't a dive. I know Marchand had his 2 diving penalties rescinded after DPS review, and I'm sure there are others around the league that have had similar overturns.

There is no good solution. Honestly, at this point I'd just rip the diving rule out of the rule book and just have DPS handle it. Take it out of the refs hands. Continue with the fines and public shaming, but move towards making it suspendable.
 
Obviously they'd never go to that level, but if you got fined a game check for a dive that might curb it. I agree I'd leave it to DPS to handle, the refs can't really get it right in real time and game speed; if they did, it wouldn't work in the first place. It seems really random the way it's called on-ice now, you see plays that look like obvious dives that aren't called, then you see what looks like a legit hook or trip and they call the dive.
 

LogansDad

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Nov 15, 2006
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He really does seem to be a high quality individual.  He would be one of the guys who would be easy to root for if he was wearing my laundry.
 

MoGator71

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Jul 15, 2005
5,117
He would probably be my favorite Flyer, if he was one. Think they'd still want Lecavalier? He does have 3 goals in his last 2 games...
 
Vinny for Price/Subban/Max Pac. And just to be fair I'll let them keep their 1st, and they can have Mason so they don't have a hole in goal. Since it's Christmas and all.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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McKenzie just tweeted that DeBoer has been fired by NJ.

Dear Pete,

Merry Christmas. You're fired.

Sincerely,
Lou
 

Greg29fan

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Jul 14, 2005
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In other New Jersey news Patrik Elias also has the mumps, joining recently diagnosed Steve Downie and Thomas Greiss (the fourth and fifth Penguins' players to get it).
 

MoGator71

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Jul 15, 2005
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Considering his career vs. the Flyers Elias is likely to sneak into the Philly locker room and infect the entire team. 
 

86spike

Currently enjoying "Arli$$"
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Apr 17, 2002
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Procrasti Nation
Lasting as Lou's head coach for 3.5 years is an accomplishment.

Maybe Jagr can be Player/Coach the rest of the way for fun.
 

Greg29fan

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Adam Oates and Scott Stevens will sorta be the new head coaches of the Devils with Crazy Lou supervising them from behind the bench.  Sounds odd.
 
https://twitter.com/sroarke_nhl/status/548864502817902592
 

86spike

Currently enjoying "Arli$$"
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Apr 17, 2002
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Alright... I'm now officially on the Time For Lou To Retire bandwagon.

This team needs to dump everything of value in return for draft picks and go into the wilderness for a few years with new leadership at the wheel.
 

Silverdude2167

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Oct 9, 2006
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Amstredam
Greg29fan said:
Adam Oates and Scott Stevens will sorta be the new head coaches of the Devils with Crazy Lou supervising them from behind the bench.  Sounds odd.
When I saw this tweet earlier I thought it was a joke. Maybe it will work perfectly.
 

MoGator71

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Jul 15, 2005
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Honestly looking at that roster Lou should probably fire himself.
 
Not sure how Stevens might work out, but I don't recall much praise for Oates in his time in Washington. And they're better with Trotz, though that isn't a shock since Trotz is a good coach. 
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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Oilers trade Mark Arcobello to Nashville for Derek Roy. Roy was on waivers today. I'm guessing Nashville is retaining salary and/or the Oilers wanted to move out a contract instead of just claiming Roy.