SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME

Nice goal today from future Czech fireman Lukáš Jašek.

I hope those Japanese farmers remembered to pay licensing fees for using the image of Hunter, the Edmonton Oilers’ mascot.

I agree that we’re unlikely to see much further “development” from Rafferty, given his age. However, it is possible to see some improvements, beyond just hoping to translate his current AHL game to the NHL. The quality of a player’s shot can always be improved (it’s something many guys never stop working on), and Rafferty would be a more dangerous player with a better shot. Physical play also can be improved. And you do often see players becoming more physical as they move into the back half of their 20’s. Possibly even more so with a late bloomer like Rafferty. Elements like vision and creativity aren’t likely to improve much at this point, but you can see some progress with decision making as players gain seasoning and experience. So some of what might appear to be limitations to Rafferty’s playmaking, may actually be more comfort/familiarity related and adjusting to the pro game (where he’s only had one season). It’s possible he might still show a little more playmaking ability than he has to-date in the pros. I’m not saying that I expect massive gains in any of these areas. Just that there’s still a window where we might see some improvements from Rafferty. If he was a 25 year old first round pick, already with 5+ seasons in the AHL/NHL, and who’s played D since he could skate, I’d be more likely to say “he is what he is.” But he’s a 25 year old late bloomer, who only started playing D in his late teens, and who’s only one season into his pro career. So I’m more hesitant to say he’s fully “cooked” at this point. He may still prove to be more than just a depth player (although that’s still where I’d project him right now). The defenceman position is also one with a steep learning curve. A guy can play D from age 4 to 44, and never stop making incremental changes and improvements to his game. There’s always something to work on, tweak, and improve. Maybe not all, but certainly some, of the current “limiting” factors and elements in Rafferty’s game are areas where improvement is still possible. So I’m willing to take a “wait and see” approach before setting a ceiling for him, especially given his rather unusual history and path to the pros (late bloomer, late growth spurt, late position change, overcoming health issues like scoliosis and amblyopia, etc).

I think Cambie Kev’s criticisms are fair, when it comes to Rafferty. However, while he writes for Last Word on Hockey, he’s certainly not the last word on hockey. It’s true that, most likely, Rafferty projects as a depth/utility defenceman. However, he’s only one season into his professional career, and a very successful rookie season at that. He may yet show another level to his play. He’s an older prospect, so you don’t expect much of a development curve at this stage, but the D position is also one that takes some time to learn, and it’s possible he may yet iron out aspects of his game that currently appear limiting, and reach a higher ceiling than expected. He definitely wouldn’t be the the first NHL Dman to shatter his expected ceiling and find a higher gear through his mid-to-late twenties and beyond. It’s not something you bet on, but you also can’t rule it out. The first step is him earning a spot in the NHL lineup. Then, we can see what he makes of his opportunity.

Also added an assist last game. All 8 of his points this season have come in the five games since the move from RW to C, including 4 points (1G 3A) in his last 2 GP.

Leafs had to mix in lower case letters because they ran out of “cap” space.

First glance had me thinking that Melania had already moved on to her next job.

Am I a bad fan and a negative person if I think those jerseys are ugly? (I actually like the orca, like the colours, and I don’t mind the gradient, but the overall composition leaves me )

At Bon’s, I was the typical 90’s indie kid in weird thrift store clothes but cool shoes (always spent money on the shoes, lol) counting out stacks of pennies, nickles, and dimes to pay for my breaky special. I still can’t quite figure out how they keep it so cheap, but it’s legit food (good eggs, real potatoes in their hash browns). The place is kind of a dump (albeit with some charm), but definitely some good memories. I hope it hasn’t changed (and never does), because that place is an institution, and has fed many poor students, struggling artists, and punk/indie band members for years (as well as a bunch of local regulars with lots of character). Just thinking about Bon’s makes me want to go back there some morning for a trip down memory lane.

Been a while since I've done the breakfast/brunch after a night out thing, so my references might be dated (although I'm pretty sure all these places are still going strong). During my poor student days, the usual spot was Bon's Off Broadway, where I could afford to get a decent meal with whatever change I had left in my pocket from the night before. Also Cafe Deux Soleils, which was just across the street from my place back in the '90s, so I was a regular. If I ended up on Main after a night out, it would be Slickity Jim's. In Kits, it was Sophie's. West End, Sylvia's. That's about all I can remember. I know I went to other places, but those were the main ones. These days, with the kids, it's usually McDonald's drive thru.

Can’t help thinking that Höglander-Gaudette-Lind has a chance to be a hell of a third line one day. Not saying that I’m certain any of the three will be deployed in those roles, just that I think they could mix very well and form a really effective and complimentary group.

First game is in two weeks.

Maybe Jasek actually is a centre? Pointless in his first 3 games, playing at his natural RW position. Then moved to 3C and now has 4A, 8 SOG, and 59% faceoff win%, over his last 3 games.

Can’t complain with that, although in an 8-1 win, nearly every Wolverine was a plus for the night. Still, in limited minutes, Truscott was tied for a team best +3, and made 4 shot attempts (one on goal), so not bad. I didn’t have time to watch, but people who did are saying that he didn’t stand out (in the good way), so sounds like a solid enough debut.

Truscott playing today for Michigan. (but did we trade him to the Devils? )

Looks like it was a hoax: https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5801236

Mi’kmaq not only become 50% owners of the company but expect to hold Clearwater’s Canadian fishing licences within a fully Mi’kmaq owned partnership. This collective investment by First Nations in Clearwater represents the single largest investment in the seafood industry by any Indigenous group in Canada. Each of Paqtnkek, Pictou Landing, Potlotek, Sipekne’katik, and We’koqma’q have confirmed their intention to participate with Membertou and Miawpukek in this historic investment.” Clearwater is one of North America’s largest vertically-integrated seafood companies and the largest holder of shellfish licenses and quotas in Canada. https://www.nsbuzz.ca/life/clearwater-seafoods-was-just-acquired-for-1-billion-by-a-mikmaq-first-nations-coalition-premium-brands/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Had a feeling some snow might be coming when I saw brine spraying trucks hitting my local roads last week. I still don’t expect to get much here, as we're not at higher elevations, but at least they’ve done the prep, just in case.

Very encouraging news today re: Pfizer and the vaccine. Hopefully that >90% claim will hold up, once the data becomes public, and peer review happens. But it’s very exciting. >90% effectiveness is huge. Even 50-60% would have been very positive news, but at >90%, we’re talking an efficacy rate similar to what we see from childhood vaccines like measles and mumps, rather than from flu vaccines (often <50% effectiveness). Also glad to see Trudeau saying that this should mean Canadians will be getting their Covid vaccinations in the first quarter of 2021, and the GoC already having secured the supply of millions of doses for use by us folks living north of the border.

Hard to tell from the clip, but looks like the Dman stopped him? Seems like he had the goalie beat. Oh well. Would’ve been a nice goal, but as you say, nice to see him playing with the confidence to try that move in a game.

I think Silovs is right in the middle of making some adjustments to his game, so there could be some growing pains, as he builds his technique. From what I recall, he has a bit of a bad habit of using a very wide stance, which is OK for lower levels, as it takes away the bottom of the net, but it’s problematic as competition levels go up, both due to the room it leaves up high, and the limitations to mobility it creates. Actually, I just remembered while writing this post, there’s a section from a recent article (including a good quote from Woodley) that gets into the issue: https://canucksarmy.com/2020/11/06/canucks-prospect-report-goaltender-arturs-silovs/ Sounds like everyone involved is aware of the issue and it’s being worked through, just might take some time before Silovs fully adopts a new stance and gains the reps and muscle memory to make the technical adjustments really work for him.

(Just kidding . I’m also glad to see that the college teams are getting back to playing games. A few months ago, I wasn’t sure they’d even have a 2020-21 season.)

That’s good news. Michaelis hasn’t played competitive hockey for quite a while, so he needs to get back on the ice while he awaits the opening of the NHL/AHL season. I think the DEL starts their preseason tournament next week.

Costmar gets the nod for Sweden’s 2C in The Athletic’s roster prediction for the 2021 WJC: https://theathletic.com/2171637/2020/11/02/world-junior-2021-roster-projections-scott-wheeler-picks-the-teams-and-medals/