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Everything posted by IBatch
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[PGT] Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks | Mar. 31, 2023
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Lol I forgot about him. Remember Tie Domi putting his forefinger on his forehead, and his thumb on his upper lip, skating by Tim Hunter when he was in WNP, classic stuff. For you younger fans, maybe close your eyes Mike Ricci: -
[PGT] Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks | Mar. 31, 2023
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
You missed the part "in every sense of the word". I'm sorry but Brock is winning in the pay-cheque category, and i'm guessing the face too. Know the hair... and this is what my wife has to say about his face - "that's the ugliest hockey player i've ever seen (TT) during the bubble. Not sure why but hey that's not my thing. I'm pretty sure Brock's bank account is winning, as is his face and hair. Plus he's been decent since Tochett took over. Maybe he's scared he will go bald. Edit: Plus if it was my thing, pretty sure Tim Hunter or Gary Leeman takes the cake. -
It should be a win win for both teams. As long as Hronek works out for us and we can re-sign him at something reasonable. For them it could accelerate a year of drafting between the picks. They need some game breakers still.
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Glad you mentioned Espo. Lafluer and Dionne eventually caught up. Like to see McDavid follow it up next season ... but it doesn't appear to be a one off like Kucherov or Thornton in the dead puck era, Yzerman. Jagr probably should be added in the Crosby, Yzerman tier too. Same with Bossy, Lafleur and Dionne and maybe Sakic.
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[PGT] Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks | Mar. 31, 2023
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
QHs is getting a ton of love out East. EP don't hear as much about him (they notice him too though), but even the folks that's aren't paying attention (and goes to every hockey writer - of course they spend the majority of their time watching their region) can look at the stat sheet, and see plus players on all special teams, check out EV points (good for EP), and easily have a take away that despite a non playoff team, these guys did great. And then do some due diligence. EP will get a couple votes. QHs will be close to if not a Norris finalist. In the past, the guys that we've had that have had votes for an award earned it. One it came down to Forsberg versus Naslund, and Sedin versus Perry. Both votes were close. You might be surprised at who's received votes over the years - some for sure homer ones though. Others no way should they have won, or being a finalist (Jovo twice), but sure got a lot of respect (6th i think). Hart votes...rare those are given out to non-playoff teams, if we made the playoffs both QHs and EP would. Linden got some one year, Selke votes too a few times. Usually there aren't many players getting votes, and one can assume the ones getting the one vote, are homer votes. It's a pretty fair system IMO, can only vote for you own team once per trophy anyways. -
[PGT] Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks | Mar. 31, 2023
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Yes and it's designed for injuries. Rarely done. -
Was really rooting for Weber and Price/Habs to win a cup too. 31-32 teams ... a lot of very good players won't win cups now. What used to almost be a requirement to get into the HHOF, has eased off, and rightly so. Staal had a resurgence which for sure prolonged his career. I was actually hoping we'd pick him up, played great and a big part of that run. Also during his mid 30's resurgence, garnered a Hart vote. Lots of Byng and Selke votes too over the years. Making a pretty decent statement to get into the HHOF.
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You bet. Staal had a terrific playoff too, believe he led teams in scoring, worthy candidate for the Conn Smythe. Kind of feel for players like him and Theo Fluery who win a cup their first year or two, and then never get back. Staal was close though.
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They went to the finals with a slightly different team before they won a cup. So wouldn't really say they caught anything. Staal was an animal that year. 6'4" and tough to handle, talk about a career year as a sophomore though. Nothing like QHs though. Veteran team, loaded with very good players. A few fringe HHOFers plus aging Recchi. We'd be over the moon to have that roster, five guys that's scored over 1000 points in their career a couple scored more than the Sedins and all those guys played the entire dead puck era (started in 1995). Still doing their thing, vet roster for sure. Then a second tier. Their D was solid but yes no QHs, still better then ours overall as of right now of course. Ward was a lock for close to 40 wins when doing hockey pools back then lol, everyone wanted him. After their cup...Maybe Demko gets there too. In short CAR was a force in the East for awhile. They petered out given the age of those guys. A lot moved on too, but hung in there with they youth movement for awhile. It was definitely a compliment saying one day, we could have assemble a core that matched CAR cup/final team(s). Edti: Rutherford brought Cullen back, winning back to back cups in PIT and then retiring. Captain game 7, Brind'Amour was critical in those deep PHI teams in the 90's one that went to the final, Recchi for PIT and then PHI, and his first five seasons or 415 games, Recchi scored 509 points, on 3 separate teams to boot ... an average of 101.8 points. Recchi his first five years anyways > then EPs. Loads of guys who were leaders on other teams - and younger guys who would become leaders later like Staal and Williams (Mr Game 7).
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Two more points in three more games, 6 goals for QHs, 9 for EK Jan, Feb, March. QHs is pacing EK but not out scoring him (yet). EKs plus minus has taken a nose dive in March though. Maybe more than just what one could expect from selling key guys. Only month so far QHs has outscored EK is February, by one point in one more game ... and one more point so far this month. QHs for sure has a lot more to work with, not even close really. Still, very impressive. I've yet to see what EK was going in Ottawa from QHs.
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I think Myers is in the driver seat. Maybe if so many teams aren't up against the cap. Is there even ten teams in the league that can afford that hit? Usually each year, the cap space gets smaller and smaller if cap doesn't go up, even with retired players. I like what the above poster suggested about a 3 way trade though. Not sure what the cost would be to us.
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Agree Spook. Myers i'd be a little surprised if we can move him without taking a player back that's also on an expiring deal that's overpaid. Too easy for Myers to basically veto any club with cap space when he hands in his list. If the wheels fall off, and he's playing well maybe a TDL a deal. Sure they'd like to move him but feel they've already done what they can with Hronek, and some of his money will be used there. Bear likely gets a 2-3 year deal but it won't cost us much. One of our extra wingers will get traded. If i had to put money on it, Brock will be. At least he's playing a lot better with Tochett.
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Also one more thing about drafts. The EP draft was considered underwhelming at the time. Below average, and quite a bit lower than the previous drafts. Starting with no "big name" for the hype machine. Ended up being Nolan Patrick versus Hirschier ... not like Hall/Seguin (which Taylor to pick) or the McDavid/Eichel draft which actually reminded me of the Modano/Linden draft. As in a great consultation prize for second place. To me 2003 is the meat and potatoes all-time draft. 1979,1980, 1981, 1990, 1991 and 1984 and 1988 for sure ahead ... Check those ones out. There have been others too. But those are > then 2003. 2005 was actually good too. It is exciting to have a player hyped in the same way McDavid, Crosby, Daigle, Lindros were though.
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It happens often that one side ends up with a better player for longer. Sometimes it's lopsided but also works out for both clubs. CAL involved with two such trades - Hull. When Suter went down Ramage was right there to pick up the slack. And Joe New for Iginla. CAL lost a two time 50 goal scorer and key member of their club, but set themselves up for the 2000's. Dallas went on to win a cup, Joe the Conn Smythe and rightly so, and went back to the finals the next year, during the deepest part of the dead puck era. NYR (f!ck them!) in 94 had loads of young talent and some key vets, but decided to unload even though they just had a great season the year before, we're leading the league in points, tops in PP and tops in PK. They traded some blue chip and young stars, for ex Oilers etc lol. They probably wouldn't have beat NJ if they didn't add that playoff experience. Also mortgaged their future doing so. As far as Horvat goes, reminds me more of a 70's guy than anything. Just one of the better guys around for his time. Maybe 80's but they did go to the final with a lot of guys that played throughout. What happens next? And as far as picks goes that's one thing you will never see me bitch much about when it's past the top ten or so. Who the heck knows who we'd take. Maybe DET totally flops with their pick. And maybe IF we kept it instead, we'd draft a future HHOFer. Or vice versa. I really wanted McTavish before the OEL trade. Once he was gone at 3 was like whatever. Boldy reminded me a little of Linden so also wanted him, but Podz was so highly ranked can see why they went with him instead. It's a crap shoot even in the top ten. As for this draft. I'm going to wager it ends up underwhelming aside from the top of it. Only because it's been so freaking hyped it's a little ridiculous. Maybe it's the best draft for a couple decades. Or maybe it's another Mathews like draft too. Scouts warned in September that these guys lost a lot of development time, and that it wouldn't be easy to ascertain whom to pick after the top guys are gone. A lot of misses and a lot of guys picked late that could end up steals. And above average - say it again, above average overall. Since September, the hype machine has amped right up. Was it Daigle that broke Lafleurs junior record or was it Mario. Can't re-call. He was hyped like Beddard is too. Not saying Beddard won't work out, sure he will. Those other guys? McTavish and EP say hello, same with Seider, same with Zadina, Yakupov, Drouin, too many vowels in CAR that slew footed EP... the top ten never looks right in a re-draft aside form maybe the top two or three guys. And even then usually not. Edit: This was written in 2012, already claiming the 2003 draft class as the winner. Which is a little ridiculous. Not all Harts, Norris, Art Ross, Vezina, first and second team all-star and Selke trophies are created equal. Case in point. Already declaring Perry and Getzlaf as HHOFers (meh maybe Getzlaf .. but if Perry gets in so should at least 10 other guys who haven't yet, starting with Mogilny, Brindamour, Propp, Nichols, Elias, Turgeon just off the top of my head) and Phanuef oplus Mike Richards lol.. This is why you need to wait before declaring anything. For sure a great draft class though. This is an article saying it was the best draft all time and "not even close" ... prematurely of course. Edit: Truly the only "locks" for the HHOF are Bergeron and MAF. Of the two, Bergeron is more special given he's passed Gainey who the Selke was inspired from, but MAF for sure is still writing his chapter right now and it's pretty close. Getzlaf probably gets in too, even though it was Selanne's line doing the heavy close to the end of his career, if the Sedins get in, he likely does too. Selanne >.
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One could argue that the quality of competition was also much higher with less teams. Never was this so evident than the 2000's. Guys from the 90's dominated that era, and guys from the 80's who were almost done outshone a lot of the next crop of guys (Yzerman). Iginla also played in the 90's, and took some time to get traction. Joe N, the guy he was traded for, they wouldn't go back on that trade given they won a cup.
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For me it's Dionne. "I'd have scored 1000 goals if the Habs drafted me instead".... 400 more points then Lafluer, on at best mediocre teams. Guy looked like he could still play in the late 90's watching him at an old timers game that included several recently retired HHOFers...scored like 8 points, zippy doodling around players and they played rougher then you'd expect. Lafluer had a couple for the other side ... but did light some bottle rockets on his skates and go really fast for a lap. Built like a little tank. At least he won an Art Ross. Iginla and Thornton would be the best from the younger class. Than the Sedins. Stastny probably my second up. Gilmour should also make the cut.
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CAR missed 9 in a row in the end ... Raleigh fanbase needed gimmicks to bring fans back. No our core is not as elite, but do think we might end up as good as CAR. All those things he mentioned take time. A lot to unpack from the JB era, that said QHs, EP, Demko and Miller are all core players he brought in. Let's hope JR/Allvin are good finishers. Funny how he only mentions the next group as guys they brought in. Garland, OEL, Brock and Myers don't seem to be long term guys in Vancouver. One more season of unpacking, then we likely see the team he's trying to assemble. The bones are good. Glad he mentioned cap. And curious to what these free agent market adds will be. One already. And confirmed, he's not trading this years draft pick.
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[Signing] Wilds Re-sign Matt Boldy 7x7M$
IBatch replied to timberz21's topic in Trades, Rumours, Signings
For sure. This is a big pet peeve of mine. Second contract money should have limits, same with term. A lot of teams have miscalculated on paying for potential, and like Burke said way back with Penner, the system won't function giving out third contract money, for second contracts. The Sedins, ELC, bridge, one year, five then four ... that's a textbook way to pay these guys. All that money has to come from someone else's paycheque with a hard cap. Doubt the NHLPA would agree to this, and GMs are their worst enemies, but would love to see RFA deals brought down one full year, same with UFA ones. Still give the controlling team the extra year, that would actually give them even more percentage leverage 7 years as a UFA instead of 6. Would love to see a cap on RFAs too. One way to reward production is allow a bonus system, a float of sorts say 10% slush fund as part of each teams cap, that could be used to reward players reaching certain parameters. Some deals are done like this but not big ones. Just spitballing. The other fair way to approach this, is players themselves don't make their full pay cheque if they don't make minimum requirements on any given year, on a sliding scale, which would go a long way into helping teams deal with players like LE that rest on their laurels. That cap then can be banked and used to make changes. The leagues overall product could be better if solid vets who still have game aren't pushed out in favour of AHL vets to balance the books, and ELC guys who really should just be developing. Detroit was so good for so many years because they kept their young talent down until they were 20 or 21. ANA did this too with Perry and Getzlaf. Datsyuk, Zetterberg. Now these guys are in the league earlier, and taking a chunk of the pie before putting much time in. NHL shouldn't be a socialist regime, but at the same time, the "middle class" players keep taking a hit. It's their salaries and term that get squeezed. As we've found with Vegas and Seattle even, a group of them together makes a good to great team. The best value deals are often found in the middle, guys like JT Miller, McAan, Dunn, Tuch, Toffoli etc. Then theirs guys like Schenn and Marroon, coveted vets been passed around the league like magic beans come playoff time making peanuts. -
So do all those poor folks from the late 90's to late 2000's, and even still today with better medical practices, who had a surgery or an accident, from all walks of life have "poor character" too after getting hooked on pain meds? Funny, I used to sit on a throne, and asked during interviews if they had addiction issues point blank. Using equipment that could kill mattered, didn't care if it was out of bounds. And felt some righteousness around the subject (must be weak). Wasn't wise enough (yet) ... sure am now, have a lot of empty for people dealing with this. Eventually, after over a decade of this policy, hired one, and the another one a couple years later that did because they were honest about it and didn't drink at the site. We're great employees. And became good friends, they were reliable. Functional addicts one could say. As for the opioid crisis everyone knows someone - or at least should unless they have been in a cave. One of my clients, a lovely young women, successful lawyer, kept it hidden for five years before here life imploded (Oxy's) after a surgery. Was she lacking "character"? These are human beings. Where the character is lacking for a lot of these souls, was in the health care system and big Pharma. And the idea that taking meds as prescribed is ok. It certainly wasn't. As for recreational use - no judgement. Don't really see much difference between weed and alcohol. Socially acceptable ... back in the 80's cocaine was to a degree. Furh ... lol, didn't name anyone but said (Coco movie) he didn't have a habit, just occasional use and that there were a lot more guys using it more than he did. I remember that time well, media circus turned him into a coke head. Probert. Suppose they lacked character? Of course they didnt't. Probert protected his friends and teammates, also used coke at times. Furh was one of the greatest goalies ever and inspired Luongo. And if you want to get theological about it, hate the sin not the sinner. Kuznetsov for sure isn't the only player that's had some coke lol. And you can't play on it. Would blow you heart out of your chest. Probert said he did some once before a practice and was sluggish and thought he was going to die. This is cancelling without all the data. Sorry you've have intimate knowledge of this. You'd be surprised at how much support Ottawa gave Ryan when he came out. Suppose he's got "poor character" too. Trauma sometimes is the issue as well, certainly played into it for Ryan. Edit: Yes you may be right about his character. But his coke use, certainly shouldn't be at the top of the list of reasons in making that judgement. Our first Prime Minister used to drink vodka instead of water during his speeches. Alf would be proud lol. And the Second World War might have had a different outcome without Churchill. Check out his daily regimen lol. Not sure how he could even stand and move around.
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[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at St. Louis Blues | Mar. 28, 2023
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
They also consider the team they are on, San Jose is a total tire fire. Leading man Couture... has how many goals? Lidstrom was gifted his last Norris as a minus player, on a much better team. He's having a year for the ages ... pretty sure he wins. 69 Even strength points versus 39. QHs likely is the runner up, but would be a pleasant surprise if he won. Hamilton likely the other finalist. -27 versus -16 to -11. That's quite the range for their D's. Hertl is like a minis 30 lol. Actually half their top six is. Pretty clear they get scored on a lot less when EKs line is on the ice. QHs is super impressive too, considering we aren't a playoff team, not so terrible either kind of no man's land before the real suck starts. -
Your Top 10 All-Time Fav Nucks Players Ever! (In Order!)
IBatch replied to Canuck You's topic in Canucks Talk
Top 20? If Bure and Gino are there, where is Linden... Just ribbing you, i do get it. I'm sure some of my favourites would get some head scratching too. Kudos for not bending to the masses. One of my favourite pre-94 players all-time ended up becoming our Captain...Linden, McLean and Gino were turfed as a result.