toby91_ca

Is he really worth $4.25M or is the hopes that he will be a bargin later on in the contract (he's only 22). http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=374780

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/1048235--feschuk-belak-silently-suffered-from-depression-sources-say

if I was born 10 years earlier and had a better shot. If I couldn't have been born 10 years earlier, then I'd also need to improve my skating (skating is what really separates NHLers from minor leaguers, more often than not).

I agree that money is likely not an issue here, not only did he have sources of income coming, he also made about $9M during his NHL career (I guess he could have blown it all though). I'm not sure about the blows to the head theory though. Wade has said on a few occassions that he has never had a concussion in his entire life.

You've confused me, are you saying there is a problem because you are assuming the signatures as labelled A, B, C, D, etc. are in order of when they signed? If so, I highly doubt that they signed in that order. Perhaps I've missed your issue all together though.

You can tell from the writing, but I have to say that what he is doing is a pretty big undertaking for an 18 year old, so I won't try to rip on him.

It's probably neither really. Just because Cooke plays on the same team, doesn't really correlate to Crosby. If Cooke was the player out now, then you'd probably be talking about Karma...your buddy is probably right, irony likely is not the correct word. However, I am no expert in writing or grammer. I think irony really refers to an outcome that is the opposite of what you intended.

Bias? Where's the bias? The statement is "fact." I suppose it depends on what you are reading into it. I don't think the writer was trying to say that Steckel went out and drilled him with a vicious hit, otherwise, the writer would have gone on to say more about. I know there are some out there that think the contact was on purpose, but the vast majority think it was accidentaal contact...but either way, he was "drilled by a blindside hit." If you step back and think about things now though, you have to really question the Pens medical staff, reasons as follows: - When I was watching the game on TV, after seeing that hit, I was thinking concussion immediately, surely the medical staff must have had concerns as well. Regardless of what Crosby may have said to them, why on earth wouldn't they keep him out of the rest of the game? One period of a regular season game...keep him out just for precaution. Perhaps he continued to play just because of the nature of that game. - I've read that he did experience some symptoms before the TB game, which was somehow explained away, but again, combining the fact he took that headshot, had some sort of headaches/illness afterwards, surely you think you'd hold him out of hte next game for precautionary reasons. - Then, in the TB he takes the hit from behind into the glass. If you watch that play, he doesn't look well at all after the hit. Again, I'm pretty sure he finished the rest of the game....what? How is that possible. Anyway, my line of thought is to take a lot of caution when you see something that could be potentials for concussion. Knowing everything we know now and don't know, why wouldn't you be as cautious as possible. There is a lot of people out there that think he would have been back playing last year if they had just kept him out after the Steckel hit. Not playing the next game, but definately not out this long.

Good read...although, it bothered me a bit that the writer found the need to help the reader understand who Bobby Hull is by referring to him as "Brett's father."

What are you talking about? Why are you posting a video from 2006 (it's now 2011), get it wrong and say the video is from 2004 and then question whether the rules are different because there was no evidence there was a goal???? The was clearly a goal, but even if it wasn't clear at all, it would still have been a goal, even 20 years ago and even today. You've totally confused the hell out of me.

To me, it feels like this list has a very American bias to it, but maybe I'm wrong. I find most people's views of the best announcers may be largely based on who they grew up hearing. I remember when I was a kid living in Eastern Canada, Hockey Night in Canada was basically the only option for watching hockey so I would hear the same guys over and over again and in that environment, hearing those voices just reminds you so much of the event and there is some nostalgia to it.

There didn't appear to be too many people worrying....

Topic is in Water Cooler

Unfortunately, the best players don't always end up making the NHL rosters. The player contracts play an extremely large role in who ends up on the opening day roster. That doesn't mean the roster is already set, but the selecting of the roster is more "business" than it is watching the guys at training camp and picking the best ones. I've seen and know of several guys that got caught up in a lot of that over the years. Most will get the chance they deserve sooner than later, but there are some, due to the circumstances they are in, that don't get that chance soon enough.

Really?? Do explain. I've been on the planet for 34 years, I've lived in Halifax for 22 years and Toronto for 12 years, so I would hope I could add a bit of real life perspective.

Well, that's totally different then. I don't normally get bothered too much by any player's on ice play. The things that people point out that Crosby does are done by the vast majority of the players in the league, it's overblown for him because of his stature. I only get bothered occassionally by some players. Some examples would be guys like Maltby. I'd have no problem with his play (for the most part) if he didn't run away from the s*** he stirs up. When you think of diving, I can't stand Lapierre and especially the faces he makes at other players, drives me crazy. Then there is Cooke. I love the way he plays most of the time, but as everyone knows, he goes too far way too often, which I can't stand. Avery just seems like a dick.

I'll see what I can do. You'll have to get out to Halifax now though as summer is quickly coming to an end. I was just there the past couple weeks (my hometown, but I live in Toronto now). If you spend enough time around the local rinks, you might run into him. If you want to be a stalker though, I do know where he lives and where his parents live (they have a nice new house now on the water...no doubt financed by him).

No idea on player polls, but he did make #4 on a referrees list of biggest whiners of ALL-TIME.

Yes....even though the names are both spelled and pronounced differently.

Please look up the results of these polls and share them with us. There is a big difference between complaining to officials on the ice and having bad character or being a bad person/poor role model. Yzerman complained with the best of them and I think most would hold him in high regard as a human being. Just to give another example, similar player polls show players "RESPECT" Crosby way more than Ovechkin...what does that mean?

In the same article, the guy is described as being 6'2", 190lbs (but maybe closer to 180lbs) and then later described as 6'1", 170lbs. I'm confused.

I think your views of him as a person are pretty skewed and mostly based on what year hear people saying (whether there is anything to back it up or not). I'd challenge you to spend a week following him around everywhere and actually get to know what the guy is all about and then come back and tell me what you think about the guy as a person, his character, etc.

Not exactly earth shattering news.

Wishful thinking probably. We all think highly of the organization and all, but we'd be ignorant to think that Wings players don't flop from time to time (let's start with Franzen as an example).

Look above regarding my post on the 3-year waiting period.....but even if it was still available, I'd be on the fence. In my lifetime, there has only been 3 guys to have it waived (Orr, Lemieux and Gretzky). A lot of people have them as the 3 best players all-time. With that as "my" history, it's not as simple to just lump Lidstrom in there, as great as he was/is. Just a nit on your comments though when you say that his numbers, trophies and accomplishments in the NHL and international are there...well, to be honest, if it wasn't for the trophies, we wouldn't even be talking about this. His numbers, etc. are excellent as well, hall worthy, but several players have better numbers and accomplishments...it's the 7 Norris trophies as the reason we are having the discussion.