GDT: Ace Hardware presents 17th Annual Free Agency Disappointment Day

[Swag Surf Aho]

I wasn't here on the boards to critique JR's decision a few years back but I feel like year's draft wasn't so far off.

A clear top 5 talent dropped significantly after we passed on him as well. Lindholm may not be such a reach like Skinner, but I feel like it'll end up being "A" okay.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

In non-Chad/Burmi news, Hejduk still hasn't signed anywhere.

Another option for JR's mystery player, at the very least.

 

[Anton Babchuk]

rocky, serious question. Are you of Russian decent? Just curious why you seem to take offense to anything even remotely negative toward Russians (Anything Semin, the "Russian Factor", not taking Nichushkin, Burmistrov, etc..)

I haven't agreed with you all the time, but would be good to know where you are coming from so as to be able to have a more productive conversation.

rocky7 is Marc Gandler and he represents those three players



(or am I?)

 

[Joe McGrath]

rocky, serious question. Are you of Russian decent? Just curious why you seem to take offense to anything even remotely negative toward Russians (Anything Semin, the "Russian Factor", not taking Nichushkin, Burmistrov, etc..)

I haven't agreed with you all the time, but would be good to know where you are coming from so as to be able to have a more productive conversation.

He's Ivan Drago's illegitimate son, who straight up murders Rocky Balboa in Rocky VII.

 

[Anton Babchuk]

In non-Chad/Burmi news, Hejduk still hasn't signed anywhere.

Another option for JR's mystery player, at the very least.

donotwant.gif

 

[GhostofS16*]

rocky, serious question. Are you of Russian decent? Just curious why you seem to take offense to anything even remotely negative toward Russians (Anything Semin, the "Russian Factor", not taking Nichushkin, Burmistrov, etc..)

I haven't agreed with you all the time, but would be good to know where you are coming from so as to be able to have a more productive conversation.

I'm not speaking for rocky, it just seems all bigoted as hell. In my 20 years of following this goofy sport, bigotry has been the norm. Carry on. However, this isn't the freaking Cold War.

If you are of any ethnic background or a part of a culture that has been persecuted in some way, you may be a little sensitive to discussions like this. I hate discussing the "Russian factor". If someone wants to pay Player X to play in a league back home for tax free beau coup bucks, I call that "common sense". Some GM will be fumbling his wallet rushing to pay the guy close to what he wanted in the first place, just a little later. It never fails. To use an over used word, the GM will call the player "classy" and all will be forgotten by sheepish fans.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I'm not speaking for rocky, it just seems all bigoted as hell. In my 20 years of following this goofy sport, tolerating bigots seems to be the norm. Carry on.

Ok. Please expain the bigotry aspect? GM's have concerns over drafting a Russian player because he may go to the KHL. How is that "bigotry"? As Vagrant, Hank and others commented, if a guy can play for more money in his own home country, more power to him. But that's a risk a GM has to weigh and it's a business decision. I'd like to hear why you think it's bigotry (other than the crazy rants by Don Cherry).

EDIT: and just so you know where I come from. I grew up a Redwings Fan and Datsyuk is currently my favorite player in the NHL (outside the Canes). I loved that the Wings were able to get a lot of the early Russian/European contingent, but I still recognize that there is an inherent risk in drafting players that may go to other leagues.

 

[GhostofS16*]

Ok. Please expain the bigotry aspect? GM's have concerns over drafting a Russian player because he may go to the KHL. How is that "bigotry"? As Vagrant, Hank and others commented, if a guy can play for more money in his own home country, more power to him. But that's a risk a GM has to weigh and it's a business decision. I'd like to hear why you think it's bigotry (other than the crazy rants by Don Cherry).

I'm speaking moreso to the defensive/sensitive nature of the subject. I'm playing Devil's advocate, while at the same time opening up the seam to the realm of the hidden truth. Your mileage may vary.

Back to my rabbit hole. I actually hate this topic.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I'm speaking moreso to the defensive/sensitive nature of the subject. I'm playing Devil's advocate, while at the same time opening up the seam to the realm of the hidden truth. Your mileage may vary.

I have no idea what you were trying to say. Way too deep for a hockey forum.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

Sign Jagr, trade for Plekanec.

Profit?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Sign Jagr, trade for Plekanec.

Profit?

Cap space?

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

EDIT: and just so you know where I come from. I grew up a Redwings Fan and Datsyuk is currently my favorite player in the NHL (outside the Canes). I loved that the Wings were able to get a lot of the early Russian/European contingent, but I still recognize that there is an inherent risk in drafting players that may go to other leagues.

If you don't mind me asking, when did you make the switch to the 'Canes.

Was it the Fedorov offer sheet?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

If you don't mind me asking, when did you make the switch to the 'Canes.

It was during the lockout when I moved here. I grew up a Redwings fan but hadn't lived in MI in many years. Still, Yzerman was my favorite player and I followed them. I then moved and lived among Habs fans for a number of years and enjoyed going to games (at the old Forum and Bell Centre), but never really became a Habs fan. By the time I had moved here, Yzerman was on his last legs and the transition was more natural.

I still root for the Wings as my "second" team, but once I became a STH, I became a Canes fan.

 

[vwg*]

Former Wings fans unite!

I was mostly just a casual Wings/NHL fan (I lived briefly in MI as a kid, my dad was a Wings fan and watching hockey was secondary to playing it for me) up until the 2002 Cup Final. Even though the Canes were playing the Wings, I decided to root for the Canes since they are basically my "local" team even though I live 6-7 hours away. Of course, the Wings ended up winning but I still ended up becoming a hardcore Canes fan for whatever reason.

 

[What the Faulk]

I still have a soft spot of hatred for the Wings for 2002, and it'll never let up. Even with the cup win.

 

[Roboturner913]

I was thinking Hejduk myself earlier but from reading the Avs board they almost universally seem to think he is finished.

 

[Oenatzu]

I was thinking Hejduk myself earlier but from reading the Avs board they almost universally seem to think he is finished.

My first thought was that he had retired when I heard he didn't resign with the Avs.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Yeah, to be honest, I thought he retired a couple years ago.

 

[cptjeff]

My first thought was that he had retired when I heard he didn't resign with the Avs.

Yeah, if the Avs don't want him, I'm wary. He's not really the type of guy who tests the market by choice. Maybe on a cheap, one year bonus laden deal, but yeah, if I'm a GM, I'm inclined to look elsewhere.

 

[Buenos Necas]

Former Wings fans unite!

I was mostly just a casual Wings/NHL fan (I lived briefly in MI as a kid, my dad was a Wings fan and watching hockey was secondary to playing it for me) up until the 2002 Cup Final. Even though the Canes were playing the Wings, I decided to root for the Canes since they are basically my "local" team even though I live 6-7 hours away. Of course, the Wings ended up winning but I still ended up becoming a hardcore Canes fan for whatever reason.

I started out as a casual Red Wings fan because I got this game for Christmas as a kid:

I used the Red Wings because they were on the cover, and became a big Stevie Y/Shanahan fan. Then the 2002 Olympics really sucked me into the sport, and realizing we actually had a team in NC and watching the cup run that year.

 

[Roboturner913]

I was a Fedorov guy myself, starting here:

You only needed one move to score and the players all looked exactly alike, but still to this day its in my top 5 games ever. NHL 94 gets all the nostalgia glory, screw that, this one was better.

 

[Vagrant]

This exact game. I used the Capitals because I was magic with Dino Ciccarelli.... who until recently was actually the man on the HF boards banner. Mike Gartner was fast as hell too. I always played against the Whalers because they were the worst team in the game.

 

[DaveG]

I blame this game for me getting into hockey:

 

[Roboturner913]

I blame this game for me getting into hockey:

The fighting on that game was fun. That's about the only thing I remember about it though.

I bought myself an NES a while back for nostalgia purposes. May have to find a copy of that.

 

[vwg*]

This was the first NHL video game I played. It's still one of my favorite video games ever and was the reason for me signing up to play mites hockey as a little kid.

The EA games for the original Playstation were also really awesome. I'm thinking about buying an original Playstation and those games just to relive the nostalgia.