Everything Else

Your Weekend Viewing Guide

By Sam Fels 1339 0

It’s our second NHL-less weekend, and before we get to what you can do to fill the time — though not with anything wholesome or actually useful because who the fuck wants to do that? — let’s try and clear up some of the gloom and doom.

You have to look past the publicity stunts that abound in this negotiation right now. And it’s all publicity stunts. As evil it was, you kind of have to marvel at how the NHL was able to turn the PR war on it’s head in the span of what felt like seven minutes. But walking out of a meeting after less than an hour isn’t going to help anything, and nor is having your barely literate union members take to twitter to try and nail themselves to the cross.

In the end, both sides have gotten to a 50-50 split, and both have offered to get there next year. They may argue how to and what comes along with it, and maybe those obstacles are bigger than they seem. But the NHLPA’s “3rd” proposal and the NHL’s last really aren’t all that far apart, considering where both sides started from. And while there won’t be any news this weekend most likely, just like there’s been every time they’re not actually meeting there will be back-channel phone calls and conversations, and that’s kind of where the real work gets done.

Anyway, the viewing:

Everything Else

Morning Links 10/19

By Ken Oda 1308 0

“I’m afraid that this offer comes off the table at midnight”

Reaction to the most recent “talks”: (TSN) (PHT)

Sid the Kid speaks on the “negotiation process”: (PHT)

and on possibly breaking Claude Giroux’s wrists: (PD)

Here’s a shock, players from 2010 held a presser and Jessie was there to talk to everybody: (ESPNChi)

Crow will be ready if/when the season starts (CSNChi) (autoplay)

I miss Doc, I want him back in my life, but not like this… not like this: (AA)

Everything Else

Nobody's Right If Everybody's Wrong

By 1033 0

I’m sure after I post this some detail will come out that completely flips it on it’s head. Such is the way. I’m also going to try and keep emotion out of this, as hard as it may be, to try and clearly see what the problems are.

Both McClure and myself have not called on the players to somewhat acquiesce to what the owners want because we think they are wrong. Anyone would be pissed off if your boss came to you and told you they wanted to take back part of your salary simply because they wanted to. It’s certainly not fair or what you’d expect any decent person to do.

We call on them to do that because of what reality says will happen. A lockout is not enacted by people who have any intention of breaking. It’s not a suggestion. You don’t put someone on the rack and then stop when they tell you it hurts and apologize. You have a result in mind, and you squeeze and inflict pain until you get it. And they’re going to get most of what they want. That’s how this works. The players seem to think they can win this. They can’t. And they’re still chasing a win, not a deal. Until they do the latter, we’re going to be in this Winter of Our Discontent.

Everything Else

Nobody’s Right If Everybody’s Wrong

By Sam Fels 1269 0

I’m sure after I post this some detail will come out that completely flips it on it’s head. Such is the way. I’m also going to try and keep emotion out of this, as hard as it may be, to try and clearly see what the problems are.

Both McClure and myself have not called on the players to somewhat acquiesce to what the owners want because we think they are wrong. Anyone would be pissed off if your boss came to you and told you they wanted to take back part of your salary simply because they wanted to. It’s certainly not fair or what you’d expect any decent person to do.

We call on them to do that because of what reality says will happen. A lockout is not enacted by people who have any intention of breaking. It’s not a suggestion. You don’t put someone on the rack and then stop when they tell you it hurts and apologize. You have a result in mind, and you squeeze and inflict pain until you get it. And they’re going to get most of what they want. That’s how this works. The players seem to think they can win this. They can’t. And they’re still chasing a win, not a deal. Until they do the latter, we’re going to be in this Winter of Our Discontent.

Everything Else

Hey Kids, Rock N' Roll

By 1145 0

While we wait for what increasingly feels like we’ll be messages of doom after this meeting is over, let’s talk about what’s going on with the kids in the system these days.

As he cements his status as the Hawks leading prospect, at least the one outside of Illinois, Phillip Danault had a ho-hum weak with only five assists. That saw him drop to the seventh-leading scorer in the Q, so he’s gone back to being a total bum, obviously. As we say every week, keep in mind that the scoring rate in the Q can get a little silly. But still, 20 points in 12 games (9 goals) is worth noting.

However, his teammate in goal Brandon Whitney was having some issues with whiplash, as he conceded nine goals in two starts. Whitney’s save-percentage has dipped below .900 and his GAA is at 3.35. Elsewhere in the Q, Dillon Fournier got his season fully underway with four points in four games. He’s also a +8 in just six games overall.

Everything Else

Hey Kids, Rock N’ Roll

By Sam Fels 1218 0

While we wait for what increasingly feels like we’ll be messages of doom after this meeting is over, let’s talk about what’s going on with the kids in the system these days.

As he cements his status as the Hawks leading prospect, at least the one outside of Illinois, Phillip Danault had a ho-hum weak with only five assists. That saw him drop to the seventh-leading scorer in the Q, so he’s gone back to being a total bum, obviously. As we say every week, keep in mind that the scoring rate in the Q can get a little silly. But still, 20 points in 12 games (9 goals) is worth noting.

However, his teammate in goal Brandon Whitney was having some issues with whiplash, as he conceded nine goals in two starts. Whitney’s save-percentage has dipped below .900 and his GAA is at 3.35. Elsewhere in the Q, Dillon Fournier got his season fully underway with four points in four games. He’s also a +8 in just six games overall.

Everything Else

Can't Talk, Coming Down

By 1043 0

Obviously, there was going to be a bit of a come down from yesterday’s optimism, if you were one of those that chose to have it. The players union was never going to respond with, “Sounds great! Where’s my pen? Let’s go get a beer!” What we saw yesterday, after all the commentary, was at least a basis for what can be intense negotiations over the next week. And an agreement is only going to come after some marathon and pressured negotiating. Between the networks starting to exert their force and players starting to bark on various media outlets, combined with what really isn’t that huge of a difference between the sides now, I still think we’ll see those negotiations get started tomorrow and we’ll end with a deal. Maybe that’s just me wanting my job back, but it’s what I think.

Anyway, let’s look at some of the disputes that the players union apparently has over the latest proposal.

Everything Else

Can’t Talk, Coming Down

By Sam Fels 1247 0

Obviously, there was going to be a bit of a come down from yesterday’s optimism, if you were one of those that chose to have it. The players union was never going to respond with, “Sounds great! Where’s my pen? Let’s go get a beer!” What we saw yesterday, after all the commentary, was at least a basis for what can be intense negotiations over the next week. And an agreement is only going to come after some marathon and pressured negotiating. Between the networks starting to exert their force and players starting to bark on various media outlets, combined with what really isn’t that huge of a difference between the sides now, I still think we’ll see those negotiations get started tomorrow and we’ll end with a deal. Maybe that’s just me wanting my job back, but it’s what I think.

Anyway, let’s look at some of the disputes that the players union apparently has over the latest proposal.

Everything Else

Morning Links 10/17

By Ken Oda 1314 0

Wysh breaks down the latest offer: (PD)

Some reaction: (TSN) (ESPN) (SI)

They’ll meet again Thursday: (PHT)

Montador tells Myers ein minuten bitte: (CSNChi)

You must be Jokerit, Teuvo is out a month: (CSNChi)

Speaking of prospects Hockey’s Future ranks the top 50: (HF)

Not so fast Nords fans (PHT)

Car!…. Game On! (PD)

Members of the 2010 team back together; I assume Jesse will need new pants (TRIB)

It doesn’t matter what the sport, watching a Green Bay team get scored on is fun: (BTN)