kipwinger

Petry is having a solid game. He was leaning pretty hard on Kaliyev in the d-zone a bit ago and I wondered what had gotten into him. Shoulda said something.

Big time clapper from Petry. Holy smokes that was a looooooong way from the net lol

When was the last time you saw Seider do something where you were left really really impressed? His rookie year he did something awesome every few games. He's more or less invisible lately.

So predictable.

Kinda, but that's misleading a bit. The USNTDP is basically an all star team that start playing together when they're like 14 or 15. So basically if you make that team you're going to have a zillion points, you're going to have tons of international success, you're going to go to the best college programs, and you're definitely getting drafted high. If they took all the best kids in Canada, made a super team out of them, and then let them obliterate CHL teams all season prepping for the major international tourneys those guys would all likely have a lot of NHL success too. But not because the "route" was better, but rather that all those guys were going to be successful anyway.

The french announcing team is probably the most unheralded part of Shoresy.

There's no reason why Michigan State shouldn't be cleaning up on NTDP talent every year. Sure the very top guys will go to Michigan, but there's no reason why the 2nd tier guys shouldn't be going to Michigan State. Nightingale has a pipeline now, everyone at the program knows him and as long as he makes Michigan State respectable in the short term he'll start getting top flight recruits.

Dispensary Thoughts with Kip: If a transgendered musician made "Man, I Feel Like a Woman" today instead of the song being made by Shania Twain in the 90s all the country people in America would hate it and all trans people would love it. In either event the song should be preserved by the Library of Congress for it's cultural relevance.

I do? We are the most perimeter team in the league right now. We attack the net with zero consistency.

I'm goin' out tonight, I'm feelin' alright Gonna let it all hang out Wanna make some noise, really raise my voice Yeah, I wanna scream and shout, uh No inhibitions, make no conditions Get a little outta line I ain't gonna act politically correct I only wanna have a good time

Didn't Nightingale have association with the U.S. NTDP? I thought that was why he was able to nab Red Savage, Trey Augustine, Isaac Howard?

I don't really have anything against the guy, he provides a little personality on the Sabres broadcast. But he's just so...sO...SO...french.

Did I shave my legs for THIS?!?!

Copp out tonight.

I love how hard he plays. He and DP are like gatekeepers for this team. If you wanna be a top of the lineup player for this team you have to push those guys down the lineup. It sets a good standard. I just wish our defense wasn't so bad that he has to play a bigger role than he should.

I genuinely like Ben Chiarot and how he plays the game of hockey. I just say that with a few heavy caveats. First, he should never play more than 3rd pair minutes with PK time. Also, he should always be paired with a very good defensive-defenseman because Chiarot likes to gamble at even strength. Third, because of these two things he should only be making Justin Holl money. Under those conditions I absolutely love Bennifer.

At the beginning of the season these two teams reminded me of one another. Both were big and played very fast with very active defenses. We have since diverged from that template pretty dramatically.

Martin Biron is the french-est dude I've ever seen. He's almost ludicrously french.

I prefer a natural casing on my hotdog. Koegel's vienna dogs are my favorite (being a Michigan guy), but shoutout to Sahlen's in Buffalo NY for making a damn fine natural casing dog as well. Well apparently people call hotdogs "glizzys" as well. Who knew?

Quick aside: How long have other people called hotdogs "glizzys"? Like, I'm a hotdog fanatic. I eat them all the time. I get coneys even more often than that. I routinely talk about hotdogs, have hotdog tshirts, and have Joey Chestnut facts off the top of my head. Point is, I feel like I've got my thumb on top of hotdog culture and I only JUST heard this term. Where did this come from?

I'm scared to get hyped about this kid because he's only 6'1, but he sure does rise to the top more often than not.

At the beginning of the season we were playing a much more up tempo brand of hockey and Maatta stuck out like a sore thumb. Not surprisingly, Chiarot, Gostisbehere, and (to a lesser extent) Petry looked better at that time, given their obvious skating advantages. More or less around the time Kane came on board (who I'm not blaming for this) we've slowed the tempo and pace of our play WAY down and Maatta is more suited to that game. If we are going to continue to play this style of hockey then I'd agree he's the guy to keep. But if we're looking to play the game you signed guys like Chiarot, Ghost, Petry, Sprong, Fischer, and Kostin for, then Maatta doesn't really fit the bill. Personally I want this team playing faster and meaner and all my deadline roster moves would reflect that attitude.

Kane's as good as gone. He wants to play for a winner and we aren't that yet. Most of this seems fine with me. I'd try to keep Sprong and Fischer's contracts to 2-3 years though.

Goal and an assist for ASP today. I cannot believe we got this kid at 17OA. What a steal. Edit: Solid showing for 4th round pick Kevin Bicker today as well. Goal and an assist for him in a win for Germany.

I'd also look to flex him to the wing like they've done with Ras and Veleno at times. Copp started the season on Compher's wing and it wasn't a bad look. He's good at getting pucks back on the forecheck and he's a solid passer so he may thrive offensively without all the responsibilities at center. Go with Larkin, Compher, Veleno, Fischer down the middle and free Copp up to get a little offense out of him. Dcat-Larkin-Raymond Kane-Compher-Sprong Copp-Veleno-Perron/Fabbri Ras-Fischer-Perron/Fabbri Kostin