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To me the obvious is that he just played 82 NHL Regular season games AND a tough 5 game series. At this stage I dont think he has anything to learn at the AHL level. He looked a bit burned out in the second half this year compared to the beginning of the season, why not let him rest and focus on next year. Its also not worth the injury rish. Differant story for a guy like Mantha who has alot of development left, Larkin is just past that point.

I feel embarrassed for the fan base that this post is even necessary, but this is the career APPRECIATION thread, google it if you don't understand the definition. From this post forward, anything negative, anyone wanting to debate his decision, your post will be removed and you will receive a warning. Show some class for the man that has given us so much over the years and pay your respect, that's the purpose of this thread. Anything beyond that is off topic. Thank you.

Why risk an injury when he has nothing left to learn? Let him recover and train instead.

Saw that too. Also saw him say this season was disappointing. Can't remember him saying that recently. Maybe this means he will kick monster truck tires.

Frank, you essentially put down the kids on this team down every time you say "this team is headed in the wrong direction" "our future looks bleak" "Holland needs to step down as he has not set us up good at all" you are essentially saying that you dont have faith in the kids. If you had faith, you would not be so down on the future. If you had faith in them, you should be happy with the direction like the way you always talk about Buffalo. Larkin is a perfect example of what I mean when I say you are down on the kids, he pretty much had an identical year to Jack Eichel, and is looked at as being at the same level as him, yet you call the Sabres the "Buffalo Eichel's" and talk about Eichel as if he is a superstar but you have never once (that I have read) indicated that you believe Larkin is anything more that an okay-good player. Your exact quote above was "That doesn't mean I'm expecting them to become superstars or anything crazy like that"...... implying that the thought of Larkin becoming a superstar is "crazy". This is what I mean when I say you are down on our kids, you show zero faith in them compared to others. As far as Tatar and Nyquist, I cant speak for other, but I never saw them as the next D & Z. That is a very elite category and those two never showed that level of play IMO. Expecting 30 goals out of them though I don't think was unrealistic. Nyquist got 28 goals in like 55 games a couple years ago, and didn't Tatar just get 29 last year? Not elite top level superstars, but with legit top line guys they can definitely be good secondary scorers. I think their drop was more so due to us losing one of the best coaches in the game, and replacing him with a rookie head coach. For the record, I agree that Stamkos likely wont come here, but you posted the question "why would he want to come here" and I gave the "pros" (as in pro's and con's). The two pro's being that we have a strong young core, as well as a rich history which I believe means something. As far as going to the Leafs, my gut tells me he is going there, but I wouldn't want to go to the Leafs if I were him. Things have simmered down this year, but if the Leafs still suck in 3 years, Babcock and Stamkos will become the new Kessel and Pheneuf and become the scapegoats for everything. Fans and media are harsh in TO, its like people on this board and Ken Holland/Jeff Blashill, but times 100.

It is a little interesting that considering how awful our defense is we still lost because we couldn't score enough goals. Any form of decent offensive output and we would've won this series.

It's pretty simple. The coach calls the name of the line thats going out next, usually by the name of the center. So if you're RW on Zetterbergs line and you hear Blashill calling "Z" or "Zetterberg" you know its your turn. Then you wait for your "changing partner", in this case the RW currently on the ice. If he comes up for the change you go. I'd give Blash some time. It was his first season, he made the playoffs. He also made a few questionable decisions, but I want to see him coaching another year before I decide if I hate him.

Well, the offseason is here again, sadly.

Even if Zetterberg did give Blashill his opinion (which he has every right to do), its ultimately up to Blashill. This article is stupid.

That was one of the most asinine, overly dramatic attempts at a smear job I have ever seen. Who TF even is this nobody? Lmao "mafia" gtfo

Because Howard has made a career out of moves like hat. Mrazek hasn't. Yet. And hopefully won't. Again, he made a last second mistake, Howard's usually deflate us at several points during a game. But that's another debate.

You're right. Howard would be getting torn to pieces. But Howard has a long history of poor puck handling whereas Petr is usually one of the best. Is it going to be like this til Howard leaves? Every time Petr makes a mistake some Jimmy-slappy fan is gonna lament that "if that had been Howard....." We know what would've happened "if it had been Howard". But it wasn't. It was a different goalie with a different skill set at a different stage of his career. That's why there's a different reaction.

I'd say it sounds like there's maybe a 40% chance pav is back.. I have a gut feeling he will be but I won't blame him if he's ready to leave.. I'll just be really really sad. Also, I vote pav goes into the rafters for sure.

Looking at this thread now.., I'm sad. Sergei and Datsyuk should both have their numbers retired next year in the Joe's final season.

of course if there is any way to bribe Ericsson and move him without having to retain a large part of his salary that should be done. But that is a lot of if's and maybe's...... if we choose to we can buy him out. It would be a 1.42 million cap hit for the next 8 years though. To go along with the 1.1 cap hit for Weiss.

If the Hawks fall, I don't really care how the rest of the playoffs will go. Yes, there are some teams/cities I want to win more than others and some teams I'll root harder for. However, nobody else's winning would make me question the existence of a God or whether if he did exist, that he had any goodness in him whatsoever.

Yea, but... Who else in sports can say they have a 25 year playoff streak? We have a great young team that almost won many of the games they lost! In this playoff series were tied in the third period every game! We need more time for our young players to develop! The refs suck and have it in for Detroit! Holland hands are tied by the cap! ..ok, I can't do it, but I'm sure others can do just fine in coming up with all the weak head-in-the-sand homer excuses.

Because he says stupid meaningless stuff like this after every game (including the last): “I thought our guys played really well, we just couldn’t find a way to find the back of the net, obviously,” Blashill said. “You can say whatever you want, but in all four losses, it was tied in third period. The power play wasn’t good enough. When you put yourselves in position to win hockey games, you gotta win them.” Because he was hired because of his reputation with our young talent, but then he wasted a year not developing our young talent, killing our old talent by depending on them for everything, failing to improve and make accountable our medium age talent, and didn't benching those without talent. Because he works for Kenny Holland, the most over hyped "genius" in any sport. Because we will waste another year with him before realizing he is not the guy to lead this team.

It's time to move Larkin and AA into center roles, and to make sure they learn all the tricks to winning faceoffs at this level. Down the middle it should be Larkin, AA, Hank, and Glenny. In that order. Hank is still a very important part of this team. He just needs to play less minutes during the season. Even during the rough patches. Abby/UFA-Larkin-Goose Tatar-AA-Mantha Sheahan-Hank-Jurco Helm-Glenny-Abby/UFA

What if he doesn't leave. please!

hands down jersey retirement

Thanks for 14 years of magic! 953 games 918 points 2 cups. 1 Bronze Medal 4 Lady Byngs 3 Selkes He'll be in the Hall Haven't seen anyone ask the question: 13 in the rafters? For franchise records: 8th in Games 7th in Goals 5th in Assists 6th in Points 3rd in +/-

Made this little number since NBC won't

Pavel Datsyuk, AKA Nightcrawler! All we need is the word BAMF! to appear!