Neomaxizoomdweebie

"There is nothing natural about losing." - Said some coach somewhere I'm sure.

What would you consider impressive? 200 points? 300 points? AA wouldnt be any better. He cant control the level of his competition. All he can do is go out and dominate. Which he has done.

Build the wall then.

I prefer life in the real world, not in the computer fabricated Matrix that you AA fanboys live in. It wasn't a comeback. I was being totally genuine.

i miss the funny hat and revolving furniture.

You and I read this totally differently. Sitting still and falling in the standings (losing) is unacceptable to them (tanking). I don't think they're embracing it at all. Losing a ton of games is never ok, and they'll do whatever it takes to not be a loser. That's how I read it.

Thanks. Always nice to hear from an admirer.

Karate Kid on ice. Need more information. Is he a repeat offender? How badly was the other player injured (fair or not, it matters)? Who instigated the altercation? Based on just that, I would give a 1 calendar year ban.

Yzerman was groomed under Ken Holland. You're going to be disappointed if you think things are going to be significantly different or better with Yzerman as GM. There's a difference between a fan and a fanboy. Also, I think you are using that metaphor incorrectly. I believe the term is only temporary. And it has nothing to do with speed.

What I take from it is that they havent embraced the tank mentality. Sitting back and letting the team tumble in the standings isn't being aggressive at all and is contrary to what Devellano said. I don't think they've embraced losing at all. I think they've accepted that this team isn't as good as they would like it to be, but losing is unacceptable, period. And I don't think they're of the mindset that losing is good because it improves their chances in the lottery. The comments about the lottery and draft contradict that. Pretty much what I have been saying and getting ripped for.

You found 2 exceptions. That totally ruins my point. L o l. Zadina only played in a handful of games, so now ur just grasping at straws. If you believe that losing has no effect on a team, then I hope this team never loses cuz that woukd mean they don't care.

And who was picked 1st and 2nd in that draft? Brian Lawton and Sylvain Turgeon. Wow what studs those 2 turned out to be . I guess Minnesota and the NY Islanders were glad they got to pick first and 2nd that year.

So did I.

LOL. You're right. AA was always playing this well all along. Even when he was being criticized. Even when he was being benched. That's how coaching works in the NHL. When guys are playing up to expectations, you decrease their ice time. It's clear that last year Blashill wanted to lose. He was all in on the tank. But now all of a sudden he wants to win this year. So now AA gets more playing time. AA's play has nothing to do with it. He was right there all along. Blashill was just blinded by his manlove for Larkin, Nielsen, and Glendening. He just couldn't see that AA was the 1C this team so desperately needed. But now he has seen the light. He has been reborn. Athanasi-luyah! Or we could implore logic. AA is getting more ice time and scoring more because he has actually become a better player than he was. He has improved his all around game and becoming the player that the coaching staff thought he had the potential to be. In turn, he is getting rewarded with greater opportunity. If he was playing this well last year, do you really think that he would've been benched? Really? Which doesn't make me wrong at all. What AA is doing now is what I thought he could do, but wasn't doing last year. Now he is. So I was right to be critical of his play last year. It wasn't up to par. And I wasn't the only one saying so.

LOL. And Mrazek got some starts over Howard. I guess that means he's a starting goalie in the NHL? Now AA is a 1C in the NHL! C'mon now. Even you have to know he is not that caliber.

They aren't mutually exclusive. It's totally possible to accomplish both. That's my point. Losing doesn't guarantee anything. Last I checked, all teams that miss the playoffs are in the lottery. Does it increase the odds the worse you are? Yes. But at what expense? Franchise Respectability? Team Confidence? Player Development? We are not giving up a Hughes or Kakko by winning more games. We could finish dead last and still not get either of those 2. All losing does is increase the odds in your favor. That's it. Nothing more. I could buy more lottery tickets to increase my chances of winning the powerball, but if I don't win, then its a waste. You keep using the word "pride". It can be a bad thing, which is probably why you keep using it, it suits your argument better. Replace "pride" with self respect or dignity. Is holding onto either of these a bad thing? I don't think so. If you think it's better to suck, that's your opinion. Doesn't make my argument "silly". And excuse me if I want to see my team win a few more games, to be a little more respectable, to maintain a little more confidence and dignity. But I guess such things are "silly" when you can gain a few more percentage points in the draft lottery. That's true. But is this team really as bad as the record shows? Does the talent on this team justify being a bottom dweller? I don't think so. I think they are a better team than the points show. Others think it silly, but I do think that losing affects team confidence and desire to win. Do we really think that this team is playing its best hockey every game? I don't. Is losing helping this team in any way other than gaining a few percentage points in the draft lottery? I don't think so. I think it has the opposite effect.

They're both pushing 30, so I guess not. But since the question came from an AA fanboy, I was questioning the motive behind it.

So now you are resorting to name calling and questioning my intelligence. Well done on your empty rebuttal. You forgot to insult my mother tho.

Ovechkin. 63.

Chicken or the egg argument. You say he wasnt playing up to his potential because he wasnt getting more ice time. I say he wasnt getting more ice time because he wasnt playing up to his ability. I think its pretty clear that AA is playing a much better game this year than last. If you agree, than you prove my point. If you believe he's playing exactly the same as last year, than I question how closely you're paying attention.

Not pushing any narrative. I'll let the fake media do that. If you were actually in my head, you would know that I have never said or even thought this.

I am not liking the "boy band" look there Dylan.

Is this a serious question?

Rooting for my team to win....crazy right? Being critical of players on my team who arent living up to their potential, and then laying off the criticism when their play improves...even more crazy right? Hes not putting up those kinds of numbers. That doesnt make me a hater. AA is lazy and he sucks. That makes me a hater.

They tried maintaining a playoff streak and rebuilding at the same time. That's not what I am talking about. Never once have I used the term "rebuild on the fly". What I HAVE said is that it is possible to rebuild while not being at the bottom of the standings. You can still finish at say 20th thru 25th. Thats below a playoff team, while still being respectable. Does that sound so bad? I know, call me crazy for not wanting my team to be a joke. How bad was the team when those guys were drafted? Remember Jiri Fischer? Also drafted during the glory years. The team continued to trade away 1st round picks year after year. Thats why the well ran dry.