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Yup. Like a cow. Perfect comparison. This idiom is palpable.

I know. I get it. Tough crowd.

Speaking of things coaches say The Athletic: Wheeler - Perfetti's #4

Diversity in hockey, or anything else, is a good thing so long as it isn't done for its own sake. Diversity, for the sake of diversity, is counter-productive. Don't do it. The NHL should be made up of the 713 best hockey players in the world, period. Nothing else should matter but ability, talent, and to some extent, character. Beyond that, IDC. The NHL knows it has a diversity issue, and has done a good job reaching out and bringing the sport into new communities. They've invested millions to grow the sport among non-traditional demographics. This can only be a good thing, as it will not only help to grow the fan base, it will grow the player pool as well, resulting in an increase in talent. The end result is more money for the NHL, a greater quality of product for the fans, and more opportunities for kids living in those communities. It's a win-win-win. That said, hockey will always be a sport that lags behind when it comes to diversity and popularity. Equipment is expensive. It can only be played seasonally outdoors in colder climates and indoor ice rinks are often few and far between. And ice time can be expensive. All of this works against growth of the sport. Basketball and soccer are just easier and cheaper to play, and will always be more popular, even when hockey is more readily available.

Color Of Hockey - By Singh Harnarayan Here's a good read for you Fox & Friends... Singh chronicles his rise to becoming the most formidable hockey commentator in all of Canada despite bullying for being brown, and everyone telling him he could never do it because it's a white mans sport. And he does it all with a certain panache and splash of humor. It will restore your faith in hockey. A must read for 2020.

Marat Khusnutdinov, C, SKA (MHL) Helge Grans, RHD, Malmö (SHL) Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW, Prince Albert (WHL) Daniel Torgersson, LW, Frölunda, (SHL) Ty Smilanic, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL) Jean-Luc Foudy, C, Windsor (OHL)

Names alone would of suffice but thanks man, really appreciate it cant complain about the list as a whole , also like grans but not big a fan of foudy dont see big upside ... rather target a neiderbach who missed like the whole season and can be a sleeper if he rebounds and goes off this yr again, thanks

Pick 32 Marat Khusnutdinov, C, SKA (MHL) Pronman’s rank: 28 Wheeler’s rank: 48 Central Scouting rank: 12th among European skaters Why he fits: There’s a lot to like in Khusnutdinov’s profile. Pronman gave the Russian center a 60 grade (denoting ability that projects to the top third of professionals) in skating, puck skills and hockey sense, with his only below-average grade in his physical game. That makes sense, as Khusnutdinov is only 5-feet-10. However, as Pronman wrote in his scouting report, “he competes hard, frequently getting to the tough areas in the offensive zone and killing penalties well.” That could go a long way toward easing size concerns, and it certainly should be a plus for a front office that, according to Hakan Andersson, has put a premium on competitiveness in the draft. The Red Wings have some depth at center in their pipeline, headlined by Joe Veleno and Michael Rasmussen, but you can never have enough prospects down the middle, and Khusnutdinov was one of the top U18 point-producers in the MHL last season. Adding a player who can both make a difference in the offensive zone and kill penalties, with that key competitiveness trait, would be a strong addition to the farm system. “Khusnutdinov makes plays all over the ice,” Wheeler wrote. “He’s a responsible three-zone player, he doesn’t shy away from playing to the interior, he’s got enough skill to make plays from the exterior and he tracks the play exceptionally well.” He produced .86 points per game last season, and is off to another strong start this year with 7 points in eight games. That includes a last-second, game-tying goal Friday. Helge Grans, RHD, Malmö (SHL) Pronman’s rank: 50 Wheeler’s rank: 26 Central Scouting rank: 6th among European skaters Why he fits: Yzerman has been building an army of big-bodied defensemen in his first 17 months as Red Wings general manager, and at 6-3, Grans fits that that mold with a nice offensive profile, too. He was second in points per game (1.00) among all defensemen who played at least 20 games in the Swedish J20 league last season, and perhaps not coincidentally played 21 SHL games. Grans didn’t produce much (3 points) as a 17-year-old in Sweden’s top league, but Pronman gave his hockey sense and physical game both 60 grades, while also giving his puck skills an above-average mark. His skating was rated at pro average. “I’ve seen very good flashes from him over the years, as he can make some very good passes from both ends and has a hard shot from the point,” Pronman wrote in his scouting report. “… A lot of times I’m left wanting more. I’ve seen a lot of games he makes little happen offensively and his average feet are exposed defensively.” Wheeler, who had Grans ranked considerably higher, had a similar take on where Grans can stand to improve. “His skating will need to continue to progress as his feet can look heavy,” he wrote. “And I would like to see him clean up some of his mistakes with and without the puck (he turns it over a little too much for my liking and can get caught puck-watching defensively). But once he matures and tidies up some of that sloppiness, he’s got a chance at serious upside.” Because of that upside, it’s entirely possible Grans goes in the first round, before Detroit even has a shot to take him. But his profile does make him an obvious candidate if Detroit wants to use this pick on a blueliner. Since he plays in Sweden, the Red Wings will have some bonus viewings of him before the draft, too, which will allow them to see how much progress he made over the summer. Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW, Prince Albert (WHL) Pronman’s rank: 32 Wheeler’s rank: 52 Central Scouting rank rank: 19th among North American skaters Why he fits: Another 5-10 forward with a highly rated offensive skill set, Wiesblatt earned 60 grades from Pronman in skating, hockey sense and puck skills. Those accompanied a below-average grade in his physical game. But as Prince Albert coach Marc Habscheid told Pronman, “He competes well. He has a swagger about him. He wants to be in pressure situations. He has a quick stick and quick feet, and he is smart offensively.” Detroit has some prospect depth on the wing in Jonatan Berggren, Robert Mastrosimone and Elmer Söderblöm, but not enough, and Wiesblatt could be a nice addition to that group. Berggren and Mastrosimone are also smaller players off the flank, and in general the Red Wings could certainly stand to be a more physical team. That’s one potential reason for pause. But Detroit also needs significant help creating offense, and Wiesblatt was already over a point per game in the WHL last season. In that sense, Pronman’s write-up on Wiesblatt has to be enticing. “He’s very quick and skilled,” Pronman wrote. “He makes skilled plays at full speed and is a handful for defenders to stop when he comes barreling down on the rush. His hands stand out, with extremely quick twitch touches and ability to inside out defenders. He can attack in a direct style, but also has great vision and can pull up to make a tough play.” As a bonus, he’d add a much-needed right-shot winger to Detroit’s system. Later in Round 2 Daniel Torgersson, LW, Frölunda, (SHL) Pronman’s rank: 84 Wheeler’s rank: 74 Central Scouting rank: 13th among European skaters Why he fits: Here’s your larger element to add to the winger core. At 6-3, Torgersson’s physical game graded at 65 via Pronman, who also gave him above- average marks on his hockey sense and puck skills. Those are important complements, since the Red Wings can’t afford to draft a player for size alone. Torgersson was in the lineup for Frölunda’s SHL season-opener Saturday, after playing a handful of games with the senior club last season as well. He mostly played in the J20 league, though, where he produced as one of the top U18 players in the league. His goal rate was the most impressive, with 26 in 39 games. Playing in the same organization as Söderblöm, Detroit should have plenty of familiarity with Torgersson, who has the potential to add some important elements to the Red Wings’ farm system with his skill set at that size. “He has some skill and can make plays, and showed this season he can score at a significant level,” Pronman wrote. “Torgersson’s skating is OK. The stride breaks down a bit more than I’d like, but I’ve seen him pull away from enough checks to think it can be pro-average. His ability to score, play in the tough areas and PK gives him versatility that will endear him to coaches.” Ty Smilanic, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL) Pronman’s rank: 48 Wheeler’s rank: 45 Central Scouting rank: 24th among North American skaters Why he fits: Particularly considering some of the gaudy production coming out of the NTDP in recent years, Smilanic’s 22 points in 34 games this season wouldn’t make him an obvious target here. But there’s some important context missing from those numbers, which Wheeler laid out in his final draft board. “Smilanic spent the back half of the season with a cast on his top hand and the mitt of his glove cut out so that he could grip the knob,” Wheeler wrote. “Eventually, NHL Central Scouting sent out a note to inform teams that he was playing injured. I was told that among his four outside fingers, only the index wasn’t in the cast.” That certainly qualifies as an extenuating circumstance, perhaps explaining why Smilanic scored at a lower rate than he did the previous season in the program (when he had 38 points in 54 games). With Pronman giving Smilanic 60 grades on both skating and puck skills, the skill set for the 6-1 center should merit consideration in this range. Wheeler and Pronman both ranked him in the mid- to late-40s on their boards. “Smilanic is a high-end skater with excellent hands,” Pronman wrote. “He can blow past defenders off the rush and has excellent edge work to evade checks inside the zone.” Smilanic (a Quinnipiac commit) certainly could have used the chance some Europeans will get to play this fall, in order to show his growth and what he can do when healthy. Instead, if the Red Wings want him, they’ll have to draft on what they have seen so far, and the potential for upside from the center. With three picks in the second round, he might be the right kind of swing to take with the Oilers or Capitals pick. Jean-Luc Foudy, C, Windsor (OHL) Pronman’s rank: 49 Wheeler’s rank: 62 Central Scouting rank: 33rd among North American skaters Why he fits: And speaking of upside, here you go. Based on his rookie year in the OHL, Foudy was in early first-round conversations for 2020. He scored 49 points in 63 games as a 16-year-old. But after a slight downtick in production as a sophomore, both Wheeler and Pronman have him ranked in the back half of the second round. Pronman gave Foudy a 60 grade on his skating, hockey sense and puck skills, with physical game and Foudy’s shot the two below-average areas. Foudy is 5-11 and the brother of Blue Jackets prospect Liam Foudy, who scored at a similar rate to Jean-Luc in his draft year before going 18th overall and then surging past a point-per-game in the following season. This year, Liam Foudy was on the Blue Jackets’ playoff roster as a 20-year-old. “Jean-Luc Foudy, like his brother, is an excellent skater,” Pronman wrote in his scouting report. “He has more skill than his brother, though, showing the ability to make difficult plays with the puck individually and as a distributor. His combination of speed and skill makes him elite at gaining the offensive zone with possession. I think he’s a very good passer, but some scouts think he’s selfish and wheels too much with the puck. I don’t mind it but he does like to dance around the perimeter looking for plays.” It’s also worth noting that while Foudy’s overall production went slightly down, his goal scoring nearly doubled this season. So, particularly if you buy the potential for a surge this coming season, Foudy’s pedigree and collection of skills could make him another high-upside target for the Red Wings, especially considering he’s a right-shot center. And since he plays in Windsor, the Red Wings will have had every opportunity to see him the last two years.

Zagina

Hold on. Are you talking about weight too?

Addition by subtraction in this case.

Vegas, for example, have almost 5M in current cap space. They could find a trading partner with a team like Ottawa or Detroit for one year of Stastny @ 6.5M per. There's your Pietrangello money.

I don't really blame Howie for wanting to move on. This team is a joke and he wants a chance to win a cup before he can't play anymore. This will be the first of many players who will probably walk away when Yzerman offers a new contract. It's a shame, but that's the sad reality. I will be watching whatever contender he decides to move on to. Best of luck Jim Jam.

It's true. Seattle is 89% white and probably 10% Asian-American. And yet despite living in this ivory tower (har har) away from these problems we still recognize the systemic oppression of people of color. You should try it. Um sweetie... who hurt you? I just spent three hours trying to digest this and this whole message still gets a big YIKES from me. Let's unpack this: It's almost as if maybe... just maybe... your own problematic and toxic views on people of color are the real problem here. Let that sink in. You talk as if you know the troubles and trials that people of color unfairly face. You don't. Ever stop and wonder why the homicide rate in black communities is so much worse than in white ones? Because of years and years of systemic oppression and racism. And we have a long way to go before the white stranglehold on black communities are undone and black economies can flourish. When white cops, oppressors, and colonizers, are removed then these communities will flourish. I went to college too ya see. Sociology 201. Sweet summer child, you are why normal people like me are losing faith in humanity. It's called being a decent human being, you should try it sometime soon. Why do you think black folks can't afford to play hockey, but white folks can?

Jimmy, You can’t play anymore. XOXO, Your 2019/2020 Season

Cannot remember where I had seen the comparison, but Byfield’s upside is thought to be about the same as Malkin.

Does anyone have Jimmy's number? I have something to tell him.

Expected by everyone except @ChristopherReevesLegs...

AKA bad take... Byfield is an absolute beast. He's one of the youngest players in this draft class (just turned 18 a month ago). Rossi, on the other hand, is one of the oldest players in this draft class (will turn 19 in three days). A year is a huge difference at the age of 17/18. Byfield put up 82 points in 45 games (1.822 points per game) this season. At the same age, Rossi put up 65 points in 53 games (1.226 points per game) last season. He exploded this past season for 120 points in 56 games (2.143 points per game), and I'd expect the same sort of explosion from Byfield next season, at the same age. Rossi may be closer to NHL ready, but I'd bet on Byfield being the better player long-term. Don't mistake any of this as a knock against Rossi, because it's not at all. Rossi is a great prospect, and I'd be happy to get him at 4th overall (not my first choice), but if Byfield somehow drops to 4, he's the easy pick over Rossi or anyone else available there.

I see what you are saying, and for the most part I agree. The one thing I would say, is hockey is likely losing out on some of the better athletes in the word when those athletes are from low income families given the incredibly high cost associated with minor league hockey. If you are a kid who is a HUGE hockey fan growing up, but your family is just scraping by, its a lot easier for your parents to put you in baseball, football, or basketball compared to hockey. Not saying I have a solution, but this may be the one area where something could be changed.

The difference in many of the comparisons is a percentage point or two. In a survey of 400k people, that is not a lot of people. That said, even though there are differences, why do we assume that it needs fixing? This is not a question of whether or not people are allowed to like or choose something, but what it is that they choose. We tend to like and follow teams and sports that our family like or that our friends are into. If a person is from a city or region that hosts a team, (or if a parent is from said place) the likelihood that a person will follow a specific team is higher. Obviously, this is not always true. My dad (from Detroit) loved every team from Detroit. My mom (from southern Illinois) liked Cardinals baseball. I have no love for baseball or basketball, but love Wings and Lions. In her later life, after marriage, Mom became a big Wings fan. She still hates football, even though Dad coached it. When this fanhood travels through families and communities, it shapes a person's team preferences, which may shape sports preferences in general. When I was growing up, every kid had a pair of skates and the boys had hockey sticks and pucks. That was all we needed to play hockey. We hit balls around with the sticks in the summer. We also played with basketballs and baseballs and footballs. This was fun until they figured out that the reason that I did not own any of these things because I was a girl. That sucked. This was in Saskatchewan. We had a rink and ice aplenty, even in a very small town. It was part of the culture. Moving south to the US, there was still ice, but not the hockey culture. Had I moved slightly east, I'd have been in Minnesota, aka "the State of Hockey". It's about your family, your community, and your geographical location. Race may be (and likely is) a factor in at least one of these, but this does not inherently mean that it needs fixing. It just means that different families, communities, and cultures like different things. While we want to open the world of hockey to all people, it doesn't mean that we have to "fix" it. We just have to market it to people who may not have been exposed to it. We also have to accept that there are people (meaning individuals, not groups) who just have no interest in hockey, or sports in general. As long as no one is being excluded, it is a matter of personal opinion.

Why does it need F'ing fixed? Black people flock to basketball and football. I don't see black people concerned about the lack of representation of whites in the NBA or concern for white viewership? So black people don't care for hockey. Who cares??? In our town, you don't rank hockey families by their color. You rank them by their INCOME. Hockey families live in quarter million dollar homes. The only way you're going to fix this is by making hockey equipment more affordable. Evander Kane didn't come from the hood. He wasn't raised poor. All of his family members are elite athletes and he played travel hockey his entire life. You want inner cities to take hold of the NHL? Basketball is on poured concrete and requires a $12 basketball at Target. $7 at Walmart. Who is going to pay to maintain the rink? Who is going to pay for hundreds of dollars of goalie equipment? Sticks? Gloves? Helmets? Why do you think poor countries play soccer? Literally ANYTHING can represent a goal (two sticks, two trash cans, etc.) and a ball.

First off, Jacob Blake wasn't murdered. And he showed back up at the home of a woman he molested. So F him. The only thing I'm sorry about is that there's a chance his paralysis is temporary. For a guy about "legs", you would have been a better recipient than that sexual predating thug. Now let's get into a real conversation about police and black people... "https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/07/03/police-black-killings-homicide-rates-race-injustice-column/3235072001/ Much of modern policing is driven by crime data and community demands for help. The African American community tends to be policed more heavily, because that is where people are disproportionately hurt by violent street crime. In New York City in 2018, 73% of shooting victims were Black, though Black residents comprise only 24% of the city’s population. Nationally, African Americans between the ages of 10 and 34 die from homicide at 13 times the rate of white Americans, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Justice Department." >>I promise you, police are not shooting 13x as many blacks as whites. You know who is shooting blacks? Black gangs. Fatherlessness and Gangs are the two factors most affecting Black people. Is racial profiling an issue? Absolutely. I've literally taken Crime and Punishment, Sociology of Criminology, etc. courses at a 4-year institution taught both by defense lawyers and former law enforcement professionals. I've had both ideologies presented and both sides are right - but they focus on different issues, and only their own issues, instead of focusing on ALL the issues as a whole. The police are encountering Gang members daily, and the majority are carrying weapons. Innocent black people are facing profiling, by police and business. They're both issues. And they do need addressed. But this "pandemic" of unarmed blacks dying at the hands of police officers is B.S. fed to drive division. I'll leave you with one last quote from the article: The number of unarmed Black shooting victims is down 63% from 2015, when the database began. There are about 7,300 Black homicide victims a year. The 14 unarmed victims in fatal police shootings would comprise only 0.2% of that total. 0.2% is not a pandemic. Hell, 3-5% of people that catch COVID are dying, and folks are complaining THAT isn't a pandemic. What's 6% of 3%? 4% of 5%? Literally nothing. That's what this is. Much bigger issues affecting blacks are laws that declare crimes without victims and sentencing that is blatantly racist. On top of making a good defense unaffordable. People are going to jail for decades for nonviolent crimes - mostly POC. Meanwhile, afflicted-by-affluenza rich white boy rapes a girl and doesn't serve a day. The punishments don't fit the crimes. But blacks need to stop freakin' canonizing criminals like Jacob Blake and Antwon Rose. Those dirt bags deserved what they got. Neither one of them were condemned for their "past", it was literally their present - Jacob Blake was back at the girl's house that he molested (NOT "breaking up a fight between two girls" like the first freakin' narrative) and Antwon LITERALLY just shot a man, they KNEW it was the right vehicle (people don't drive around with blown out back windows on their vehicles), and took off running with a metal object (turns out, it was a magazine - LITERALLY part of a firearm) in his hand. White people need to understand that black people didn't get equal treatment when slavery ended. Black people need to understand that sometimes black people get shot for good reason.