haroldsnepsts

Out of respect for the few people who are actually trying to discuss the topic, enough with the Dekeyser signing and trolling.

Incorrect. They were locked out by ownership so they could not play. Play semantics games if you like, but it doesn't change the fact that the players were locked out by ownership. I don't understand why you're arguing this fact. Then there's your massive oversimplification of the lockout. There were many offers rejected by both sides. But that doesn't exactly fit with your "the players chose not to play" scenario. And I wasn't saying anything about name calling. It has nothing to do with the point. You're calling someone out for not having their facts correct but insist on misrepresenting what was clearly a lockout. That article doesn't actually address how much less the players are making. It cherrypicks contracts of players and uses percentages to make it seem as if overall they didn't take a massive paycut when the cap was implemented.

And as I said, they didn't sit out. They were locked out. Also, players aren't making more than they ever have. Lidstrom made $10.5 million in 2003. Forsberg made $11 million in 2004. Star players salaries are just now approaching what they were pre-cap, especially adjusted for inflation.

If we're getting our facts straight, the players didn't sit out a year to get rid of the cap. They were locked out by the owners so the league could implement a cap. One is a strike by players, which didn't happen, the other is a lockout by ownership, which did.

Mule shouldn't retire, but probably should LTIRetire.

Right. So you're making the broad assumption that people are leaving because of the moderating. If you read my posts in this thread and think there isn't any introspection, I really don't know what to say other than re-read them. I've made several long winded posts trying to explain the reasoning behind a lot of what we do here, likely to the point of boring people to tears. And there's a lot of discussion that goes on between mods because frankly it's almost all grey area. No more posters to kick around? The power-hungry mod thing is such a myth, at least for mods on this site. As I've said in PM's and in this thread, modding is actually kind of a pain in the ass. It takes time away from why I came here in the first place, to talk hockey. Believe it or not, my goal isn't to abuse the members here or drive them away from the site. If you have a problem with the moderating, send a PM to Matt. And I don't mean that in a dismissive "tough crap, talk to my manager" way. I genuinely mean send him a message giving him feedback. I don't expect everyone here to like, respect or agree with everything I do. If you send Matt a PM that says "I think haroldsnepsts is a bad moderator who is driving people away from your website," he will listen. Especially if it's presented in a polite manner with specific examples to discuss.

Admittedly he didn't have a great season, but overall I agree. I'm hoping his finger injury only hampered his training last season and didn't permanently damage his game. He's playing a bit over his head on that top pair but usually does a good job. Hopefully he rebounds this season.

Please. I've been here a looong time and this site is hardly locked down. The biggest change is the profanity filter and it's because it got so out of hand here Matt very reluctantly implemented it. It's always funny to me when people long for the old times and imply it's somehow the moderating team's fault things have gone south. We don't generate the content here. You guys do. Post garbage, the site becomes garbage. And there's a lot of garbage posted here these days. Sometimes I wonder if anyone actually comes to talk hockey. Post great stuff, the site gets great again. Pretty simple.

Could someone who's more familiar with Dallas than I am tell me what their plan is for defense?

Except possibly the Wings. On the top pair against top lines Green may wreak havoc but possibly not the kind you're looking for. Green played 19 minutes a game for the Caps (good for 5th in TOI/game) and 2:45 of that was on the PP. He also started in the offensive zone 60% of the time. If he were on the top pair I'm guessing we'd all be pining for the good ol days when Ericsson was there. Anything could happen and I'm guessing he will be asked to do more on the Wings, but I don't see him on the top pair. Like Helmethead posted, middle pair seems likely, with a ton of PP minutes.

Agreed. I can understand the sentimentality to an extent but it's just not practical. Then Datsyuk shouldn't be wearing Kozlov's 13. Smith shouldn't be wearing Fetisov/Fischer's #2, Abby shouldn't be wearing Larionov's 8. And no one should be wearing #4.

We're not turning another thread into jokes about McGrattan. Stick to the topic please.

Signed. Continue discussion here: http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/topic/79697-gustav-nyquist-signed-4-year-deal/

Let's try talking about the actual topic and less about each other.

Burnside over at ESPN takes on the case for and against Ozzy getting in the HHOF. http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/35052/hall-of-fame-debate-chris-osgood Concluding ultimately that yes, he's HHOF material. The interesting point he makes against "they could've won with any goalie" argument is that the Wings didn't manage to with Cujo, Legace, Cheveldae. Obviously there were other factors involved but it's an interesting point.

I don't know if Ottawa goes back to the cellar but I don't think they're a playoff team. I'd also be surprised if Montreal stays the same. They were 23rd on the PP and 20th in Goals For. Their success required a Vezina/Hart/Lindsay award-worthy season from Price. He doesn't necessarily even have to come back down to earth but just by sheer bounce of the puck they probably won't win as many games unless they find some desperately needed offense.

Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 16m 16 minutes ago @evan_olive @georgemalik It usually speeds up process of getting deal done because both sides want to avoid unpleasant arbitration hearing.

23 players in the NHL filed for arbitration today. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=773987

Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 52m52 minutes ago By filing for arbitration, Nyquist not eligible to receive an offer sheet. Will continue negotiating with Wings. Hearings are July 20-Aug. 4 Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 50m 50 minutes ago Wings usually sign the player before it gets to the hearing.

It's amazing how fast people will turn on a player. If memory serves, this is more of a basic procedural thing than a real indication that things are going poorly. By filing for arbitration Nyquist forfeits the right to accept an offer sheet from other teams. In other words, he's committing to the Wings by filing. Today is the deadline to file so the timing is likely a result of that, not something that happened with the Wings. I'm pretty sure this is something players do that's just a backup plan for a worst case scenario. And again, by doing so he cannot accept an offer sheet from another team.

Compared to when the shootout was relatively new, Datsyuk seems completely uninterested in it. He used to be a human highlight reel. I was hoping that the younger guys on the Wings who grew up with it would be more proficient in the shootout but it hasn't seemed that way yet. In general I think it takes several seasons to be able statistically who's better in the shootout. It's such a flukey event and the sample sizes per season are extremely small. Regardless of his conversion rate Oshie's performance at the Olympics shows he at least has the mindset and moves to be good in the shootout. Of course, teams can just watch that Olympic performance to scout his best moves and tendencies. From your lips to the hockey gods ears. *fingers crossed* I don't really follow St. Louis closely enough to know about behavioral issues but doesn't Brouwer score at about the same rate in the playoffs?

Agreed. It'd be amazing if the Wings pulled off a miracle and landed him but I can't ever see the Kings letting Kopitar go. He should really be wearing the C on that team. I've been saying that he plays a similar game to Zetterberg, only Kopi is actually 6'3" 225 lbs, whereas Z just plays like he is.

As much as people keep wanting to push that narrative, I'm pretty sure that was Tortorella who took top honors. Babcock was at or near the top of coaches they'd most want to play for. I couldn't find the original poll, just articles that reference it. http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/content/where-do-nhl-players-want-play-cbcnhlpa-poll-says-lightning-no-5-destination In terms of free agents coming here, it could be that Kenny actually paid market value for both of them.

I have a feeling Housley will be used as precedent in tons of arguments for players getting into the HHOF. Housley and Niedermayer are in, but Zubov isn't? Lindros isn't? etc. I don't think Osgood should get into the HHOF for similar reasons that I think Housley shouldn't be in there. Osgood had a good long career and was an accumulator, but was never considered among the elite.

I think the fine and community service could've been much, much higher, but otherwise, yes. There are a lot more possible reasons than just those two things.