The Lock

Is it sad that I was thinking Olli Jokinen before realising this was about Olli Juolevi?

"Help" though makes an assumption that there's a problem to begin with. Without a problem, there's no need for help. Whether it's your intention or not, your words are insinuating that there's a problem which I don't feel is a fair judgement of the situation. I take it as Hughes has shown among the most leadership on the team; therefore he gets the C. His brothers have nothing to do with that. That part's just noise.

Without evidence, I honestly see no point in this way of thinking. It's an unhealthy paranoid thought process that belongs at the bottom of the ocean.

Not necessarily how Yzerman would felt. There's also the consideration of Hronek's value rising along with where the Wings are. There's nothing wrong with getting some value for a player you might not need on the roster in a couple of years time even if he's much needed currently. People immediately seem to want to think someone like Yzerman trades a player because they want to. That's not always the case. There's trades because the value's there and the situation allows for it. It doesn't always mean "player x is bad because he was traded". On the contrary, it could mean the opposite due to cap hit later on. This, of course, means that we have some cap stuff to figure out if we want to keep Hronek, which I wouldn't be surprised if this was the main reason this trade happened. Remember, Stevie Y even stated he wasn't thinking about trading Hronek. He clearly felt Hronek is a good player.

Yeah, I think the real question is whether or not Tocchet gets through to the players long term. It's one thing to "talk the talk" and "walk the walk, but that does not mean results until we actually see results. If we have another poor start to the season, then something's going to have to give because I think the issues at that point are beyond the coach and perhaps some of the comments previously mentioned about the players (ie. it being a "country club") prove to actually be true. Other teams have proven that you can have a lot of good pieces, but if those pieces don't fit overall as a team... it's all for naught unfortunately. I'll admit that a part of me just wants to see the team do things right for once and actually do a true rebuild, but I know that may not be feasible at this point in time as well. That being said, I stand by what I said in terms of this potentially being a team that may not be great in the regular season, but I see a lot of potentially good playoff pieces if we do make the playoffs; thus, my hot take.

1. I think Hronek will be better than we realise. 2. I also think we'll barely squeak into the playoffs and have one of those teams that's terrible in the regular season but better in the playoffs.

To be fair, Pittsburgh is really trying for their last push before they can't keep going with their core. I don't blame them one bit for going all out at this point, especially when most teams would be jealous of their success over the past 15 years with that same core.

I get you have high expectations for our team and I bet you even feel proud to have high expectations, but don't let those high expectations cloud your judgement of our players to the point where you have unrealistic expectations like you're showing here. (ie. If Hughes is not a #1 dman then Eddie Vedder's not a rock legend)

Look. You know me. I'm one who can get emotional on a forum. You've seen it, so hopefully when I tell you this you know I'm not just saying this for the sake of saying it... This is a forum. This is where people state their opinions. Can some of those opinions be frustrating? Absolutely. However, if you let someone else's opinion get to you like you're showing here.... you've lost the plot at that point. There's simply no way you can provide a sound argument while attacking in this manner, at least if you're trying to actually convince someone of something. Imagine if some kid walked up to you talking to you like you just posted. How would you react to that kid? Would you be convinced that the kid was even remotely right? We can all let our hearts get in the way at times. It's important to know and identify when we have... too much heart.

Again, agree to disagree. Honestly, maybe if I had my head on better I'd be more willing but right now I have a lot happening outside of the forum. I'll look at this later when I can think better.

I'm not going to disagree on OEL taking up a potential spot on the team that could be used better. I however am still skeptical on the price we paid to do that. It's fine if you'd rather take the cap hit. Good for you. You got your wish. I didn't get mine unfortunately. Remember, 4 mil is enough for literally a top 6 forward or even a top 4 defender, one that we won't have after OEL's contract would have finished because of this move. Let's never forget that. But let's agree to disagree on this. I hope the best for the organization. My faith though has been... a little wavering as of late though unfortunately.

Part of me wants to see NJ win the cup now just to hear the outrage on this forum. lol

But you just said 4.7mil isn't going to make much of a difference in terms of creating a cup contender. You're kind of giving mixed signals a bit here. This is what I mean, your point isn't really much of a point. I get that we're trying to fix things by buying him out, but it's still shooting ourselves in the foot no matter what. It's just not an ideal scenario period no matter what we do. You may be for the buyout. That's fine. I'm not for the buyout. While OEL wasn't doing any favours neither will that caphit from the buyout; however, what's done is done. Again though, I don't have to agree with it. And there's always a path to contention, just our path doesn't look good at the moment. That's what I'm saying. Perhaps we will get there, but the more likely scenario at the moment is we're kind of hanging by a thread and I don't see this buyout as helping that. In another thread, I even stated that perhaps we'll go the '94 route and just make the playoffs and go all the way. However, until we start making smart decision after smart decision it's just all talk.

Thinking about it, perhaps this is the way we can go with this team. Acquire enough "character" players who can make it through multiple playoff rounds and you never know. You just need to make the playoffs at that point. Sure we might not be considered a "cup contender" if we do it (we weren't considered 1 in '94 afterrall), but I'm not convinced we are in a spot that would make us considered to be that contender anyway, so perhaps this would be the next best thing a la '94?

So then what exactly does this prove? That it doesn't matter if we do a buyout or not? If you wanted a cup contender, that ship left sail a while ago my dude. This buyout is merely duct tape on a sinking ship.

I'm on record of having a similar mentality. It definately surprised me when they actually pulled the trigger and I still can't say I agree with it. That being said, I do kind of picture the team as putting whip cream over a pile of dung at this point and it's going to be that way for a while probably. lol

The problem with this way of thinking is that we also have to consider whether or not other teams will want him at his cap hit or not. I'm not saying he's not tradable or anything, but I am saying that your observations, if viewed the same by other teams, would limit what we would be able to get back for him. Perhaps at least one plus with him is, had he played a full 82 games with us last season, he was on pace for almost 50 points. That not nothing. We also have to consider Mikheyev's knee injury. Hopefully he has a good bounce back year from it, but that's still going to be a question until that happens imo.

I disagree with that 100%. Babcock might have had a good record with Detroit, but he's generally hated by a lot of players in both Toronto and Detroit. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2019/11/26/ex-red-wings-d-colaiacovo-on-babcock-guys-hated-him-in-detroit-tried-to-get-him-fired-every-year/ https://editorinleaf.com/2019/11/25/the-toronto-maple-leafs-waited-babcock/ Babcock is far from the best coach in the NHL. He just got lucky in Detroit in my opinion.

I just hope this thread doesn't get moved. This place is turning into not the place I once enjoyed.

It's not about you chiming in after several months. It's that you're badgering people for posting in here when there's relevant recent events happening regarding it. Perhaps you should catch up on your recent events as well as this thread? Also, don't bother to claim you don't care about that, because clearly you do; otherwise, you wouldn't have posted in this thread today calling other people obsessed. You can literally state your opinion about the matter without throwing other people into the dirt you know. My challenge still stands despite your attempt to dodge it.

Maybe he'll accept the challenge I added in the end. Couldn't edit in time. lol

Guess what. You don't have to keep up with it. Doesn't mean you should badger people when you see it's still active. I'll be honest, it just makes you look like a stuck-up. This doesn't make you look good nor does it make you look justified. It's a false crusade. Just let people enjoy the conversation dude. You don't have to be a part of it. It's not hard to do. In fact, I challenge you to leave this conversation and let people converse.

I know right? "I don't like this topic so I'm going to call others pitiful who like this topic."

Why not? It's relevant current events. Do you not like current events? Strange mentality to try and bury current events.

That's fine if that's what you think, but you're arguably equally obsessed with what you seem to think is obsessed. What if this IS enjoyable for others? Perhaps the next time you bring a topic up other aren't interested in they should call you out too? Is that justified? What would make it different than what you're doing now?