PavelValerievichDatsyuk

I guess it's slightly different situation due his year in college team and starting in the BCHL when drafted, but I imagine the 20 years old rule would kick in as soon as he signed on with a WHL team. Do have any link that says the rule doesn't apply to him? The whole idea of the agreement is so that the CHL doesn't get players taken away mid season or a year early which could hurt revenue, or when they've used assets to draft of trade or whatever the case may be (I know that later doesn't apply to Cholo).

Because it's not allowed until he's 20 or played 4 years in the major juniors. It's the agreement with the NHL to protect the CHL.

Holland already said in one of his offseason interviews that Z would be in the rafters.

That's Orange Hat Guy who used to always be at games at Joe Louis. The wings painted his seat orange after he past away a few years ago. I wonder if the new arena is getting any traditions yet. And did Knitting Lady or Mo Cheese come along to the new arena. As for rumour (stay on target, stay on target - yes I did a Star Wars marathon) I'm in for Duclair. Wonder if they would be interested in Nyquist. He only has 1 year left so that might not be enough for them

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Jimmy fricking Howard!!! NIce save.

Well that was embarrassing. They turned that 4on4 into a PP - good on them ....But good PK so i guess it doesn't matter

I like AA and Mantha together Makes the most absurd 4th line around as well.

I guess that is where people disagree. He had a few awful games (3-4 maybe) but I think he's been pretty good elsewhere. The regular backup role usually plays more than Mrazek has. Howard has played 32 games - that's 2nd in the league. That's a lot for any starter. He's on pace for getting 65 starts this year (based on 30 starts or 69 GP if you count games he started in but not started). That's more than he's ever played. Even his best years or when we had Conklin s***ting the bed as a backup (in his 2nd stint) he didn't play this much. Usually the work load is split a bit more. Mrazek could stand just a few more starts here and there. That's all I'm saying. Even if it's for Howard's preservation - he is injury prone by everyone's admission and he's 33 and we'll need to not run him into the ground if he's our guy for the next few years. And, yes, there is the possibility of drawing trade interest or Mrazek making a case for coming back on a smaller deal. It's good for everyone.

I meant you guys talking about his stats apparently getting worse every time he starts (which they aren't currently - and I pointed out his good stat in the last start to show it's wrong) and about not playing him to hide his bad play from potential trade partners. Those are exaggerating the situation with Mraz. You talk about Mrazek becoming starter, but that's miles past anything I was talking about and I don't think any one has remotely suggested that. And I don't think anyone in the fandom assumes this is a tandem situation, so I don't what you're getting at with that. Don't know who these points would be responses to. Just Howard has played a s*** ton. Mrazek could stand to play a few more games..

Definitely. Should be the strategy across the board whenever a season is lost. Give younger players ice time to develop or see whether they're part of the future. And, CRL and Kickazz, Mrazek's stats haven't gotten worse every time he plays. His last game against the Islanders (a win), he had his best SV% (other than his shutout). You guys are definitely exaggerating the situation. Mrazek hasn't been that bad this year. I think he's definitely deserving of a few more starts. I mean, Howard is tied for 2nd in the league with 32 GP and he's had some rough parts of the year. I don't think Mrazek needs 5 in a rows like Krsmith is saying, but let's throw him in there some more. Anyway, Howard does seem to get injured whenever we ride him like this, so the natural course of things should give him more games even if Blash doesn't want to. Blash is probably playing to maintain respectability and the chance at keeping his coaching career alive somewhere after this season, so he'll probably side with the safe route on most decisions.

Sadly, it sounds like they can't actually qualify until there's a rink in Jamiaca and a minor hockey program, but I like that it exists and maybe they be in there in a future year.

Some people say they can't believe, Jamaica we have a hockey team! https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/jamaica-s-hockey-team-aims-for-olympics-1.3412133 I also like that they have a website (joiht.org) that looks so much like joint.

Ah, too bad. He seems to have missed a bunch of games earlier in the season as well - maybe it was due to this as well. Didn't he have a broken wrist last and that was still healing in training camp? That's what I remember and that probably be related unless I'm misremembering the injury. Anyway, he's done well this year despite apparently playing through pain. I like the possibility that he'll be better than what he's shown once the wrist is dealt with.

That doesn't pass the common sense test to me. Bigger guys are more durable. If Lindros and Lemieux "suffered far more...being bigger targets" it's because they they were targeted since they were stars and constant offensive threats. That's why teams used to put enforcers to protect stars like McSorley-Gretsky. And as krsmith pointed out, you can find many "smaller contemporaries" that had injury problems

Larkin, Nielsen, Helm and Glendening are all really good PKers so we use them. When one of them is in the box or injured, Abby's the next best option. Mantha's getting better on the defensive side of thing, but that's not his strength - don't know why you think he should be on the PK.

It's not a Blashism, though. It's pretty much the go to cliche for every struggling team now. Here's a Flyer saying it: http://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/video/flyers-prospect-carter-hart-you-gotta-trust-process-development A Flame: https://www.thescore.com/s/3079113 Google it and I'm sure you can find many other examples. Comes from 76ers coach originally, apparently.

I was thinking of the fact that Mantha only went back to the QMJHL for 1 year after being drafting, but that must have had something to do with where his birthday falls and he must have turned 20 before that potential 4th CHL year. But I think you're right because Ras will only be 19 when next season starts. Anyway, I meant more that I doubt that he'll make the team next year. Especially when guys coming off KILLER junior years, like AA and Mantha, failed to do the same in that situation. Maybe with the team being in a different place it'll be different, but I think hell have to really get it going to be in consideration. And agreed on Svech. Now you guys have me considering next year's D corp being the same minus Green...ugghh. Then again maybe HIcketts, Hronek or Cholowski grab a spot? Still rough

Witkowski's signed for next year so there's probably only 2 spots available. Unless Green's not brought back and no one fills his spot on D. I think Bert takes Booth's spot and Ras will at least start in GR and will probably play a at least a full year there.

It was a back-to-back game and we lost Glendening early, so it's not surprising that the 3rd wasn't our best period. Thought we played pretty well tonight, but needed to take advantage off the chances in the 1st to pull it off.

Well, exciting game anyway.

I guess I'm not up on my billionaires - had to search him. Why would want the owner of the Nets? Haven't they sucked since forever?

I want to steal Simmonds and Provorov from their team.

MIKE GREEN!!!!

Don't know why you think positivity on Larkin is misplaced. He is doing well and developing well at center in his first full year there. Maybe if you said not elite, fine, but average doesn't fit. He's 55th in points and that's definitely better than an "average NHL'er". (21 non goalies per rosterX31 teams=651 NHLers) 55th of 651 shouldn't be average in any consideration. And he's in the top 30 for forwards' ATOI (28th). That's a good sign for him becoming a number 1 center. In terms of icetime, he's already handling the amount of a #1. Among the fastest skaters in the league. Plays PP and PK which is kind of rare and only 3 players have more than his 2 shorthanded goals. (FYI our PP is still 8th despite our struggles, PK is meh at 15th) (nhl.com stats) He's doing well.