Everything Else

Living Piggy Lives 11/12

By Sam Fels 1244 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 1677 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 1203 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.

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Your NHL-less Weekend Viewing Guide

By Sam Fels 1296 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

Morning Links 11/9

By Joe DeTolve 1354 0

Jesus Christo or What the hell is that!! (Puck Daddy)

Hammer to Italy..Maybe (CSN Chicago)

Much work to be done: (TSN)

Not much more comment: (CBC)

No vitriol rhetoric:(Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Talks will continue today: (Globe and Mail)

Keith Primeau wrote a book that will probably piss off dumb people (Montreal Gazette)

How much revenue sharing should the NHL have ? (Globe and Mail)

Also buy this shirt its pretty awesome (Teespring)

 

 

 

Everything Else

Thursday Grabass

By Sam Fels 1331 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 1402 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.