conundrumed

Was thinking split with the Sens with b2b in Ottawa. Looks like we're on the ropes for a split. Ned kinda screwed us for a solid backup so we got Hellberg's start outta the way. Hopefully a better result tonight. These are the 2 teams that I want for the EC wildcards. Split, then go beat the crap out of everyone else. If it doesn't work out, oh well. Still significant potential in prospects coming up.

I have turned this over in my pea-brain since you posted. First step - Arena. Spoken as a Detroit fan. We're the worst team in the league, but we are jacked that we have the best arena in the league in an awesome area for entertainment. Going to a game here, instead of the 'ol Joe is a whole other level. We're going to lose, but what a fun, interactive experience. Flames - I've been to 100+ games at the Saddledome. It's musty and depressing. I can stay at a reasonably-priced nearby hotel just S on MacLeod. The area is musty and depressing. Alternatively, I can drop another $300 and stay downtown. Just stay away from the LRT downtown after 11pm. It is an entirely different dynamic to view live games. I went to an afternoon game at LCA, got out at 5pm, went to eat and drink, went to the Fox Theatre to see Lenny Kravitz for $45 on last-minute resale tix, 8th row. The whole thing totaled about 5 minutes of walking. It's more than just an arena, it creates a really positive experience that people will want to do again. Dark and dank and funneling into the Saddledome like cattle doesn't set a great mood. It's supposed to be entertaining. The PoHo idea is a good one. If you own 16 businesses, you aren't running them. All you need to focus on is your lawyers and accountants. Hockey is no different. Hire someone capable of running it and stay away. In this environment, you can't just buy whatever your wealthy heart desires so leave it to someone that understands it far better. Next rows I don't see much issue until we get to farm system. Be far more conservative tossing picks around. Good draft/bad draft prospects isn't really a thing. In this day and age, every draft has a wave of 18yos that are future NHLers. Don't trade them for a perceived need. If you were wrong in that perceived need, that becomes a huge mistake. Develop everything from within, from coaches to players. A small market team will overpay for everything pretending that they're something that they're not. Put all of your faith in the "process" that there will always be great minds and young players that will be the future. Use that to be consistently good. You can't just buy/trade your way out of issues and suspend the future. At some point, you'll have to fix your future because suddenly it will be now.

Now that was a WTF trade...eff TBay, start a white hot Vasy vs Detroit, sieve Elliot vs the Pens. Oh well, that's the only way they can beat the Wings these days, in all seriousness. A win and Detroit woulda swept the series this year. The tides are turning.

Fox told everyone that he'd only play for the Rangers. We took him regardless. He shouldn't be in the league. The NHL needs to not allow these precedents, but they won't and it's pathetic that they can't/won't control it.

Quoted for truth, but I'd argue that we're as good as middling. The scary part is the bad teams are coming around to being middling and good soon while we're likely getting worse with this plan.

Who doesn't love break-up season mud.lol

Kudos to IT. They've made getting here equally as frustrating as the team is.lol By the time you navigate to here, you're already frustrated so you can fit right in. It really does give "Flames" a whole other meaning. If you came here looking for a glimpse of philosophically attaining a true juxtaposition, it'll be disappointing. What we have here, is Steve Martin being the sadistic dentist, and Bill Murray being the masochist patient.

Continually reminds me of a close friend that should have been in the show by the early '90s as a pure sniper. He was over a ppg in his rookie WHL season as a 16yo. He fell into all of the traps of deep regret. He was shooting 1,000 pucks/day and could put it anywhere, from anywhere. He still can. He told me by his 2nd year of jr he started hitting the crossbar, mainly out of boredom and using as a target. It filtered into his game. He said after a while, that crossbar was 2 feet wide and he was rattling everything off of the crossbar in games. One of his biggest regrets was practicing that. He went from 34G as a rook to 18. He consistently hit the crossbar more than he scored. I always wondered if that was a thing and he has guaranteed me it is. It becomes a reflex. He can still take a faceoff on his backhand and put the puck anywhere harder than my best wrist shot.lol I feel bad for him. NHL scouts and 1 particular Head Coach steered him straight out of being a great prospect by turning him into a grunt/scrapper. Both Chevy and McCrimmond were instrumental in saving him, for real, and getting him back to the rink around kids. I have zero dubt he'll be talking to Chevy during playoffs. He's a regular watching with me, and talked to him a few times on the phone in front of me. Chevaldayoff is his fave guy, and that's good enough for me. The Flames make me think of that every game, every post, every crossbar...

Foff Vasilevsky. Wings totally dominating, shots 42-15, Tbag up 2-0.

The Nespresso machine coffee is next level. Hence, not cheap for a make-at-home.

meh, don't take it personally. If nothing was broken there'd be nothing to talk about. They'll still be here tomorrow. Someone will make a big save, someone will score a big goal. It will be magic. Just you wait and see. Disclaimer: I didn't say it would be the Flames. Have fun with it, come what may...

What??? Ahhhh. I drink mine black, that's probably the difference. I know what they taste like with nothing added.

Yup. Your making a McDavid comparison is pretty off. There is zero comparison in coverage. I'll re-iterate, Backlund is a dime-a-dozen. There is a world of middling centers that can put a puck in a goalies belly-button for an O faceoff and backcheck and defend effectively. What would you guess his comparables are on other teams?

Whereas $1.00 currently gets you a far superior MacDonald's medium coffee in a cup that stays hotter 3 times longer. Just sayin'...

Hanging on to Backlund for what reason? He's effectively been the one player in this prolonged, "we're almost good enough". Who in their right mind is making a crazy offer for Backlund? He's a bottom 6, dime a dozen center. Let's see what Henrique fetches, there's your guideline. Maybe Toffoli gets a decent return. Probably not great. But BT has yet to show great player-for-player trades if you remove the Hamilton trade. Wallinder is potentially a 1RD, but Seider is already there. He makes great trade fodder, or Detroit has the market cornered on Dmen. They have enough D prospects for 2 NHL teams.

If I'm Detroit, I'm staring straight at Lindholm to be the 2C and push Copp to 3. Lots of assets and that would crush it. Wallinder, Sebrango and a first this year just to start the conversation and progress from there. Maybe Kasper can be in the convo. Lindholm is precisely what Detroit needs, a solid 2C. But patience is on their side.

Neither. They would never see the ice. Jonny Burgers sat last night, Zadina the game before. Both a LOT better than Lucic. Mackey would have to be better than Hagg or Oesterle. At his best, he's not. Both Lucic and Mackey would be in GR if they want ice time. Detroit has 15 better options than Lucic, 9 and counting better than Mackey. Put it this way. if injury devastation hits, Lucic is the 2-3 call-up, Mackey likely 3-4. When Raymond gets back, it's already an immediate struggle of who to sit. Vrana, Berggren, Zadina, Kubalik. And none of them sit for Lucic. Call-ups can be Soderblom, Hanas, Erne. Likely all better than Lucic. Don't get me started on farm D depth that's better than Mackey. Although we should cozy up to Detroit as a trade partner.

The Vrana trade rumours keep swirling. If it is factual, I'd have no problem trying him. Detroit retains 50%, offer them a 4th or next yrs 3rd. If he's in fact going to be traded, it's because Yzerman has decided he's not necessary. Detroit is fully stocked at fwd. We'll see what happens.

Yeah it really sucks that my positives for the Flames has turned into, "watch the Wings". I want everyone over 25 gone, excluding Huberdeau, Weegar and Andersson. Let's try this again. Say lots of positives about Backlund all you like, but he's been the poster boy for this constant enigma for years. My heart into this team is now on par with the heart they show. The only guys giving it their all are Dube and the callups. I can forgive a young team trying and losing. A vet team looking lost after every single misfortune is pathetic. I've never seen an NHL team get more down after a goal against, especially an early one, but any one, really. It's indescribable, the zero mental fortitude that this team has. I make it no secret I'm a Wings fan too. In my wildest dreams I didn't suspect they'd be better than the Flames this early. It makes me crazy. All I can think is, "so now what"? Will Anaheim/ARI/Chi-town surpass us soon? Scary thought. I thought like many that the offseason upheaval would take time to balance out. But we're stagnated in mediocrity although we seem good. Can't get the timely save, can't get the timely goal. Just stuck in suspended hope. I'm lost for words, frustrated af. So I watch the Wings and go, waitaminute....total 180.

Watch the Wings.lol Zero fan expectations for another year or 2, yet they're way exceeding and fun to watch. The battle cry with fans is, "let's get swept by the Bruins". Great fanbase and Ken Daniels/Mickey Redmond are awesome commentary. Last night(NYR) Mickey told us the Bud the Spud story about NYR coach Gallant. He's too funny. There must be a "Mickey's Moments" on YouTube. He's a riot. Commentary is very balanced, best in the league, easily. Always great interviews

Trying to temper expectations, but damn they're playing well in all facets. The win puts them ahead of the Pens for 2nd wc, games in hand for 1st wc. Zadina and Copp pitching in with goals. It's now officially everyone pitching in. Jonny Burgers sat, Raymond could be back Saturday. May need to put Vrana back in the A until after TDL because there's no one deserves to sit. Great problem to have.

And the saga continues...

More than irony: Get excited to add CNRL to the client list. Do 1 job, will never take another CNRL job due to their dangerous incompetence. Cheer for the Flames, realize CNRL is running the team.