scratchmb Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Fans and media buffoons are the worst critics in the world. Fans feel it necessary to exercize their version of the knowledge of the game, as if they should be owners, general managers, president of operations, and the entire coaching staff. The media clowns merely reflect what they they think the fans want to hear, but is just their own blown ego of their version of the knowledge of the game....well as above. Yet, neither the fans nor the media are the owners, general manager, nor the coach. Hockey is a game, The NHL is the elite professional version of that game, so that in mind, it is a business, and as a business they made the decisions. Money is an issue because of the cap system. The advantage is that the mega wealthy can't just go and buy a Stanley Cup by buying the best and paying attractive contracts including incentive bonuses. So it was not just a matter of winning awards, reach certain production levels and get cash. Well, Edmonton did just that with the purchase of Wayne Gretzky and surrounded him with players that reflected his intesity, energy, style of game, and enthusiasm. The salary cap put an end to that. What was amazing was some wealthy owners were cheap and wouldn't put out the big bucks. These places oddly were the cities that sold the concept that players should be honored to play for an original six team and not for flashy cash. Funny thing as time passed so did the Stanley Cup as the brave new owners were sweeping up the better players. Yet with the cap, it got worse, players didn't want to play for the small market teams, this made obvious by Eric Lindros who refused to play for the Quebec Nordiques, which was not only an insult and the death of one of Canada's most devoted hockey cities, it set an ideal that players could just walk away and still play in the league. Eric did not become "The Next" as was predicted, and the ironic thing is that the Nordiques who relocated in Denver Colorado as the Avalanche swept the Stanley Cup in their first year there. Then three years later one a second Lord Stanley's Grail. How many did Lindros win? Zero. He just complained about everything. Now, the Vancouver Canucks are a unique organization, yes it's true they have not yet won the almight prize of professional hockey, but what they are is a powerful mainstay of the not only the Community of Vancouver, but the province of British Columbia. They have worked hard by employing talent behind the scenes, these include scouts, equipment specialists, medial staff, and trainers. The Canucks have always been builders of the league. Many people of note have had a Vancouver Canucks connection.So, I aim to point out certain players and what they bring to the team. Let me start with Jannik Hansen. He is not a super scoring machine, but if you pay attention, the goals he does make are often critical in changing the balance of the game and lifting the team to a win. The other aspect of Hansen is he is one pain in the ass. He is not that physical although he does his share of hitting, his talent is his mouth, he insults players as he skates by them just enough to irritate them, then before they can turn around, hansen is gone or out of reach. He can draw penalties, he is a force on the penalty kill and does some of his best scoring short handed. Alexandre Burrows is exactly the same school of nuisance factor as Hansen, but the only difference is Burrows is more of a presence on and off the ice. Hansen prefers to be the quiet sniper. Burrows is much more vocal and willing to get into the face of the referee in the name of justice, or just to buy time. Either way each player do things that are not easily obvious to the fans. Now for one new player, I am sort of partial towards Adam Cracknell and I have hopes that he might blossom under the Canucks banner, he reminds me so much of Geoff Courtnall. Geoff was everywhere when he was on the ice, relentless, he battled in either end, he willing went into the corners to dig out pucks so that the defencemen could fall back and move players away from the net so the goaltender could have a clear area to do what he does best, stop shots. Cracknell is this kind of player. Yes, Cracknell has had some NHL experience but for the most part he has been a call up grunt from the minors and not given the confidence or green light from the coaching staff to be a mainstay of the team. I am not going to be optomistic about Vancouver winning any championships this year. They are in a stage of regrowth and over the next few years, more of the veterans will be either traded or retired. It will take pure team effort and stamina to achieve success. I am more excited to see that take shape. C'mon just look at rookie defenseman Ben Hutton who is old by rookie standards but has the face and build of a 15 year old youth. Yet his performance is like he owns the ice, and he takes responsibilities for his own mistakes. With a little more weight and seasoned training, he will be a player that one day will be deserving of a top contract. That puts us back to the business of the profession, and why it is not just a game. No team can afford to keep every elite player that they draft or comes up in their organization. This is why trades of multiple players for a single player exists, get one star you can afford after releasing lesser contracts. The other side takes on the lesser contracts and either enters renogiation or trades them again. The modern concept is to sell players your city, the commitment of the fanbase, and the desire to win. Sell players on team rational. It must be something that money can not buy. The team needs players who want to be here. It does hurt to give up some players that we thought would retire here, but as I keep reminding you, business comes first, sentiment is only our burden to bare. Cheers Scratchmb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heretic Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 You had me at Hello. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazmanian Devil Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 4/10 Not even formatted in MLA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edlerberry Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 you do the crime, you do the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby_Lu1ngo Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 In summary.... FANS and media are idiots for sharing their opinions of hockey and canucks. Followed by fan writing ridiculously long post of his opinion of hockey and canucks. Well done sir. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Are you stoned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remy Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 That's quite the rambling mess you've posted, OP. This is why we teach students about theses and topic sentences. Trust me, it's very handy for more than just formal essays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coryberg Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 That was painful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANUCK-EXPRESS Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 I got bored didn't finish the whole thing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edlerberry Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 when in doubt pull it out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyCuddles Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Stopped reading. Can someone who had the brain power to power through it summerize his beef with opinionated people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Stopped reading. Can someone who had the brain power to power through it summerize his beef with opinionated people? Actually, that wasn't what his essay was about. He had about five thesis arguments in there, but none of them connect together....so I can't even really summarize into one thought. I will try: The NHL is a business and teams can't buy the Stanley Cup anymore, so it's important to have heart and soul players like Hansen, Burrows and Cracknell to create an enthusiastic team that players and fans will be interested in; big name superstars are no longer most important - it's more of a team game with the cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Googlie Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 I actually read it, and thought it was a well-reasoned opinion. But then I am old school, from an era when reading and comprehension were valued, and thoughts were longer than 128 characters ,,, heck I remember the excitement when Tanti was aquired in trade, the angst when he was on a 7 game scoring drought, then the chemistry with Sundstrom. But back to the OP - I agree with scratchmb (and a good summary by Canadian) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice orca Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 when in doubt pull it outWhen in doubt you are already finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scratchmb Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 In summary.... FANS and media are idiots for sharing their opinions of hockey and canucks. Followed by fan writing ridiculously long post of his opinion of hockey and canucks. Well done sir. Well done. Point taken, yet, what is your objection to a long posting? Too use to the life of O'Reilley and the world of texting on minature devices? Maybe the fear of reading because you lack the patience, because you are so absorbed by twitter. Could be you get bored because I don't provide a graphic novel version or a jaunty little movie because you find reading so teadious and boring. Or maybe you have some irrational idea that the site will run out of space. Yet I am not the fan who dumps on players or suggests that we should be rid of them, not do I start blaming everyone for trading off their heroes. Instead I explained the reasoning, the logic, and the justification of the professional operation of the business of hockey. I support the organization. I do not necessarily support the NHL nor it's commish. Thus Bobby_Lu1ngo, your scathing attempt at cynicism is mote and I remain unblemished. Warning, not a keen idea to get into a trial of matching wits with an elite master of satire. I can and will take you down every time. To reiterate, I do not recall saying anything against having opinions, just ones that have some merit to them. Can a person truly be considered a dvoted fan is all they do is spout out inane and negative comments? How is that being supportive? If one must have a negative implication they need to give reason. Comments such as "So and so, sucks as a player and should be traded." is not conducive to the spirit or the support of the team. It is a hack comment. Just as the ones who say, "So and so is the best player ever." Trust me, people who use that expression, everything is the best ever. It is beyond the mundane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scratchmb Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 Are you stoned? Nope, are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scratchmb Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 That's quite the rambling mess you've posted, OP. This is why we teach students about theses and topic sentences. Trust me, it's very handy for more than just formal essays. What can I say, I have rambling down to an art form. It's really one of those picture puzzles, the more you read it, the sense of it magically appear between the lines. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scratchmb Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 That was painful! No what is painful is breaking your leg while golfing, not to mention the humility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5 decades and no cup Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Actually, that wasn't what his essay was about. He had about five thesis arguments in there, but none of them connect together....so I can't even really summarize into one thought. I will try: The NHL is a business and teams can't buy the Stanley Cup anymore, so it's important to have heart and soul players like Hansen, Burrows and Cracknell to create an enthusiastic team that players and fans will be interested in; big name superstars are no longer most important - it's more of a team game with the cap. Good job Cdn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scratchmb Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 I got bored didn't finish the whole thing.. Ah boredom, the ultimate curse of today's generation. Too many distractions, can't afford them all, so the only thing to do is sit around in rebellion mode, pout, and declare boredom as if were a sanctioned right of some invisible constitutions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.