Nightfall

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Everything posted by Nightfall

  1. Nightfall

    All Purpose Grand Rapids Griffins Thread

    I am watching the AHL feed and they just talked about the Utica goaltending coach that turned things around for the Comets. The man's name? Dan Cloutier. When I hear that name, all I can think about is this.....
  2. Nightfall

    All Purpose Grand Rapids Griffins Thread

    Nice snipe by Larkin. I really hope I am seeing just a little of what is to come next season for the Griffins.
  3. Nightfall

    All Purpose Grand Rapids Griffins Thread

    We sure are watching the same game. After I said that they weren't getting a lot of chances, the dam broke. Sproul had the open net chance. Pulkinnen got the turnover chance with Bert. Then we just screwed the pooch on a 5 on 3. Markstrom is standing on his head for sure, but can we win a faceoff for crying out loud?
  4. Nightfall

    All Purpose Grand Rapids Griffins Thread

    Guess we will have to agree to disagree. It certainly would be nice to see the Griffins get some of the chances like the Comets are getting. Utica are keeping the shots to the outside for the most part. The only goal they scored went off the glass in a weird way. Wow, what a chance on the power play. That was the best chance right there, and Sproul couldn't put it in the empty net. Nuts!
  5. Nightfall

    All Purpose Grand Rapids Griffins Thread

    I am watching a stream of the game and none of the goals scored on McCollum can be blamed on him. 1st was a deflection. Second and Third were uncovered guys on the backdoor that had easy tap-ins. Defense has to play better for sure.
  6. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    No thanks. Tanking is such a pansy move.
  7. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    Eventually, yes.
  8. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    Thanks to only being relevant since 2008-09. From 97-08, the Hawks went to the playoffs 1 time and didn't win a playoff series. All those draft picks all those years, and finally Dale Talon came in and helped build the team there. Stan Bowman has been great as well, but the key here is all the high draft picks they grabbed all those years.
  9. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    I like Ryan Kesler as a player. I really would like to see him win a cup sometime in his career.
  10. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    Crawford is solid right now. No rebounds. Gotta give him credit as well. Jeez, Ducks are playing like garbage.
  11. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    I like the way it is right now. Besides, that goal isn't going to be the game winner by any stretch. This will probably be a 5-1 game. Yea, I edited it. Forgot about that. Hawks had one.
  12. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    The more I watch that replay, the more I can see how the refs saw it as a good goal. I mean, was it really a kicking motion? When in doubt, allow the goal. Neither have the Hawks for that matter. Got to give credit where credit is due. EDIT: Hawks have had 1, my bad.
  13. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    Agreed! Hossa isn't a beast like he used to be, but man..... Now thats bulls***. 4-0. That was a kicking motion IMHO.
  14. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    I doubt many Wings fans would be happy with any ending unless it was a Cup win. Sure, many say it would be nicer to make it to the 2nd or 3rd round, but the deeper you make it in, the tougher it is to accept the result if you lose.
  15. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    Woah! 4-0? Nope. Kicking motion. No goal.
  16. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    Agreed. It always feels empty unless you win your last game, but a 3rd round exit would be an improvement. Imagine how they will feel when the Chicago Stanley Cup Champions merchandise shows up in a couple weeks. The Ducks Conference Finals gear will probably be preferred.
  17. Nightfall

    WCF : (3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

    Blashill is going down the same path at Boudreau. Excellence in the AHL? Check Calder cup? Check Wings fans may be saying the same thing about Blashill if he turns the Wings into a regular season powerhouse and then has 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round exits. Anyway, the coach isn't out there playing the game. The team is to blame more so than the coach.
  18. I have been following the Lightning's playoff run pretty closely this year and I have been impressed with what they have been able to accomplish. Especially considering they were swept out of the playoffs last year. Yzerman took the helm a couple years ago and last year was a his first with the club. I know I was quick to point out that Yzerman's team collapsed last year, but was it really his team? After all, he didn't draft any of those players. He did make a couple personnel decisions though that had an effect on the club though. Same with this year. Johnson for instance was drafted before Yzerman was in the pipeline. Would he have made that same decision? At the same time though, he took the helm in March of 2011 and that team made it to the conference finals. Anyway, I just got to thinking about 1998 when Holland was hired. Many members here were quick to point out that this was not Hollands team as it was built by the previous regime. Personally, if the GM is in command that season, they should get credit or blame for the result of that team for the season. Doesn't matter if they have been on the clock for an hour or a year. What is your take? At what point does the GM deserve credit or blame for the results of their team? Right away? Two or three years?
  19. Nightfall

    At what point does the GM deserve credit/blame?

    The Oilers are going to do it again with this next pick as well. That organization is so bad.
  20. Nightfall

    Jim Devellano on Mantha's play: "Very disappointing"

    I provided one from HF as well, one that you didn't read apparently. Let me requote it. 2014-15: Mantha did not make his pro hockey debut with Detroit AHL affiliate Grand Rapids until November after suffering a broken tibia in a rookie tournament game in September. Steadily adapting to pro hockey from the junior game, he had the ups and downs not uncommon for a 20-year-old in his first AHL season. He provided secondary scoring and some physical play in his first season with the Griffins. You said his lack of work ethic has been well documented. So far, no scout or coach is saying work ethic is a problem. This is all a learning situation. I also think its comical that you are willing to take Jimmy's word for how Mantha is doing, but not Blashill or Holland's assessment. If that isn't cherry picking, I don't know what is. I am glad that you have seen him play and have formed a negative opinion of him already in his young career. You speak like you have not seen him out there, but I digress. Since you have obviously vetted him and determined he is a failure already, what would you do with this prospect? Would you jettison him or keep him in the fold in hopes he develops?
  21. Nightfall

    Jim Devellano on Mantha's play: "Very disappointing"

    Negative, I did not ask him about what scouts said about him. I asked him to provide links on what was said about his work ethic this season. I could care less what scouts in the past (like pre 2014) have said about him. I do care about what coaches and scouts say about him for his work ethic this year and so far, it has been all about development and the reports have been all positive aside from the broken leg. The point I wanted to make is that no one has called out his work ethic at any time this season besides Jimmy D and his assessment is a poor one to say the least. Something the trolls have been quick to jump on and ride into the sunset. The key is that it is still too early to make any determination on how he is developing. He is a prospect, plain and simple. I never really boarded the hype train on this guy and I find it pretty funny how trolls are willing to dismiss this kid and he hasn't even completed his first season in the minor leagues as a developing prospect.
  22. Nightfall

    The return of The Mule?

    I haven't heard anything positive which is unfortunate. I really do hope he can come back, but the saga is starting to play out like Marc Savard. Mule won't retire though, and he shouldn't be forced to retire either. The insurance and the Wings will pay his contract for the next 5 years while he is on LTIR. His salary won't count towards the cap. Franzen helped deliver us a cup in 2008 and helped us get to the finals in 2009. He deserves the rest of his contract (either playing or on LTIR) and the respect of Wings fans.
  23. Nightfall

    Jim Devellano on Mantha's play: "Very disappointing"

    While I really did enjoy reading and watching you cherry pick bad things that some scouts said about him, you didn't post a single link from his playing time in the AHL this season documenting that he was lacking the work ethic. I asked for a source or a link that showed that his work ethic on the ice this season was poor. You are talking like you have been watching him. As someone who has been watching him this season, I can tell you this isn't the case. The coaching staff continues to speak highly of him. Even the scouting reports from the very links you gave also speak highly of his work ethic (to which you omitted). Mantha joined the professional ranks in 2014-15; skating for Red Wings' AHL affiliate Grand Rapids. Slowed by an injury that kept him from competing for an NHL spot in Detroit, he returned to the ice in November 2014. He has had the battles and struggles not uncommon for a first-year pro making the jump from junior hockey. Long-term he is expected to be a consistent scorer at the NHL level and a top-line forward. Here is another one. This time from someone who is watching him play in the AHL this year. http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2015/1/28/7918487/the-red-wings-and-the-fans-must-be-patient-with-anthony-mantha Case in point, we must be patient with him. He's got the skill, he's got the work ethic, and he sure as hell has got the tools.. I have every reason to believe that he will pan out into a great hockey player at the professional level. How about from the coach himself. Surely he would know better than us. http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/13/manthas-going-to-be-a-great-player-says-detroits-ahl-coach/ “That’s just going to take time, but habits will change if work at them and willing to work hard at them and listen and get better. That’s what he’s certainly been willing to do.” “We know he can score goals,” said Blashill. “But he’s actually got an ability to make lots of plays with the puck in tight areas and I think when you’ve got that kind of stick, at that size level, when you can skate like that – its just a really good package.” “When you care as much as he cares, as soon as he learns the daily attention to detail and the daily work ethic it takes, with his skill set, he’s going to be a special player.” ---- I believe what you are seeing with Mantha is less about the work ethic and more about learning what it takes to be a successful NHL player. Something that every player has to learn but it takes time to get there.
  24. Nightfall

    Jim Devellano on Mantha's play: "Very disappointing"

    Link, source? Hearing Blashill talk about him is all about working with him to improve his two way game and watching him on the ice you see that kind of effort. Now, maybe he is being underutilized and maybe it took him a while to recover from the broken leg, but I haven't read anything that says he doesn't have a strong work ethic.
  25. Nightfall

    Jim Devellano on Mantha's play: "Very disappointing"

    So you were just trolling and not speaking from an actual analytical standpoint. Good to know.