Everything Else

Here Comes That Vomit Again

By Sam Fels 1406 0

Before I get to the meat of the post, an apology on the spam taking over our forums. We’ve addressed it, we think we’ve taken the steps to prevent it from happening again. Stick with us, we’ll get it right.

Ok, usually we like to run pictures with every post. Looks nice and all. But I just couldn’t bring myself to look at Gary Bettman right now. It’s been mentioned a little last night and some today, but the Commish’s appearance at the Hall of Fame Ceremony was nothing short of sickening.

I know, it would have looked awkward for the commissioner to not be at his league’s Hall induction. But that absence would have been washed over by the occasion. No one would worry about Gary being absent while Joe Sakic or Adam Oates or Mats Sundin were giving their speeches. It would have passed seamlessly.

But Gary couldn’t have that.

Everything Else

Living Piggy Lives 11/12

By Sam Fels 1266 0

It was not the best of weekends for The Winnebago County Bacon Bits. It wasn’t that busy, as they only had a divisional double-header against Grand Rapids and Milwaukee. But that didn’t stop them from continuing their idiotic ways and losing both of them under an avalanche of penalties and some Funhouse defending.

Friday night saw the Hogs’ second trip to Grand Rapids, which is probably two more than anyone should make. Another habit the Hogs have gotten into is surrendering a goal early, and they did so again here. Riley Sheahan, which sounds like a name that should be on some terrible Fox show that I wouldn’t watch,, banged home one from the crease merely two minutes in.

Everything Else

Dear Rockwell

By Sam Fels 1720 0

You mind if I call you Rockwell? Would you prefer Rocky? Either or. Sir, I come to you today not in a bid to end this madness, because we really don’t know how you feel about it. You’re not allowed to say. Even if you could, it’s hard to gauge how much sway you have over your fellow owners. You’ve only been one for five years now, and there are some entrenched members in your little club there. Secondly, maybe some owners are going to be envious or jealous or suspicious of you as you have the biggest building in the league and you sell it out every game. Perhaps they feel your interests don’t match theirs, and that could very well be correct.

But sir, you have a chance to save yourself and your fanbase here. Not by ending this lockout. Your Napoleon-complex ridden leader will assure that one voice cannot crack his posse’s militant desire to break the union, the league, the sport, and every fans’ heart irrevocably.

But you can survive more easily than almost any other owner in the sport, at least one below the 49th.

Everything Else

Up To The Hips In It

By Sam Fels 1223 0

Well, that was all a big mess, wasn’t it?

As you’ve probably followed on Twitter, the NHL and PA ended a week of negotiations by going back to posturing and attacking each other. I don’t remember if straight-out lies were a part of it, but they kind of are now. I’ll do my best to try and wade through all the shit both sides have just thrown us into and see just what the hell is going on.

It started when the NHL (I think) leaked their perplexion (is that a word? It is now) at the fact that in that NHLPA memo that leaked this morning (enough leaks here to be quite the golden shower, no?) there was no mention of their make-whole proposal. That proposal called for all the salary lost in the drop from 57% to 50% to be re-paid in payments in the second year and third year.

Everything Else

Your NHL-less Weekend Viewing Guide

By Sam Fels 1319 0

Before we go through all the stuff you probably don’t want to watch anyway, I feel like I should warn you that at some point today it’s likely you’re going to get bad news about the CBA negotiations. The leaks are increasing, more reports of no progress, and it’s starting to feel like this was all part of the show instead of actual work. For a second there it felt like everyone became interested in saving a season with integrity — after all, 70-75 games really would not have been much of a loss and in fact may even be better than the slog that 82 can feel like. Now it just feels like they’ll do just enough just in time just toss out something, regardless if it is a true farce of a season or not. It’s games, it’s a schedule, and that’s all they care. Whether you do or not, I leave to you.

Anyway, how to fill the time if you are either uninterested or unable to fill the time with constructive activities.

Everything Else

Thursday Grabass

By Sam Fels 1354 0

I couldn’t think of a theme for today’s post, so I’m just going to spray to all fields because I’m bored.

– Sadly, found myself watching the second game of the Subway SuperSeries last night between Team QMJHL and Russia. But I was rewarded when Phillip Danault had a much improved game. He was vaulted up to the team’s top line with Jonathan Huberdeau — who will probably be a Panther in about a month. So he wasn’t on straight defensive duty, and his puck-pursuit was on much more on display. He didn’t scratch a point but definitely opened up space for everyone else. Feel like we’ll get a much better read on him when and if he makes the World Juniors for Canada, though I don’t think he’ll be left out. Fournier was eh. Shalunov looked good again but not as good as Monday.

Everything Else

Try Try Try To Understand

By Sam Fels 1425 0

Ugh, a Heart reference. You can tell that I’m at the end of my rope.

With the NHL and NHLPA heading into a second consecutive day of negotiating, which breaks the record of this lockout by at least 100%, and on pretty much a media blackout (though you’ll get leaks here and there), it’s a little hard to know what to think and what is actually going on. I’ll do my best to pass along how I’m seeing things, and you can tell me I’m totally wrong in the comments.

First things first, one aspect I’ve been getting slightly wrong is how the “make-whole” provision would work, why it’s necessary, why they’re arguing about it, and how it’s different from normal escrow. Yep, I’m going to admit I’m wrong. You’d think this would happen more considering how often I am wrong. But yeah, totally admitting a degree of wrong-ness. My girlfriend will be so thrilled.

Everything Else

Sell The Kids For Food

By Sam Fels 1275 0

Before we get to the prospects roundup, a couple quick things. First, please go vote. Even if you don’t think it affects you, there are local questions and races on the ballots around the place that will. And it feels good.

Secondly, we haven’t talked about it much here and I know everyone in the hockey fan world is doing everything they can to not think about or mention meetings between the owners and PS starting again today. I think it’s ok if you want to be cautiously optimistic. Cautiously. There’s no way that Steve Fehr and Bill Daly would have had that long of a meeting Saturday totally off the reservation. It’s a pretty safe assumption that they were in touch with their fearless leaders about what was going on. That doesn’t mean when more people get in the room it won’t be a complete balls-up. But I don’t think anyone’s going to be surprised by what they hear in that room either. And that they’re not going to talk to the media after means they’re more prepared to actually talk instead of posture. No guarantees, many miles to go before we sleep, but I’m not going to tell  you to forget it this week either.

Ok, to the kids!

Everything Else

Life’s A Beach

By Sam Fels 1550 0

God, that’s an awful title. Whatever, cut me some fucking slack.

The Hogs had quite the weekend, swinging pretty much all over the place. They were bad, great, stupid, gutsy, fun, awful and everything in between.

One thing we can be certain of is that the Hogs are supremely stupid. There’s no way around it. They surrendered 20 power plays in two games this past weekend. 20. That’s not easy to do. You seriously have to go out of your way to give two teams nine and 11 power plays respectively. Like, that must be on the white-board or something. “Attack this guy on the wall. Don’t let this guy to the outside. Take a fuckload of penalties.” That must be what it says.