Around the League Thread | Post Purge

Sometimes you need a reminder about just how long, physically demanding and tedious an 82-game season can be.

The Oilers and Leafs have come out of the Four Nations break, flatter than a pancake. And their fans are seriously questioning whether they're legitimate 'contenders' or 'pretenders'.

It's a reminder that almost every team not named the 'Jets' hits the skids at times over a long season. And all you really have to do is just 'make the dance'.

Then if your team really gets on roll to close out the schedule--almost anything is possible in Gary Bettman's parity league.
 
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While the site was crashed, we had Stan Bowman file a motion to dismiss a subpoena to testify in the case of John Doe 2 vs the Chicago Blackhawks, saying since he’s in Canada he shouldn’t have to do it.

And then Kevin Lowe attacking TSN’s Rick Westhead for shining a light on cases like this and others where victims are subject to rape / bullying / hazing and more in the game of hockey, saying “he must have been cut from a team”.

So. f*** Bowman. f*** the Blackhawks. f*** Lowe. And f*** the Oilers.
 
While the site was crashed, we had Stan Bowman file a motion to dismiss a subpoena to testify in the case of John Doe 2 vs the Chicago Blackhawks, saying since he’s in Canada he shouldn’t have to do it.

And then Kevin Lowe attacking TSN’s Rick Westhead for shining a light on cases like this and others where victims are subject to rape / bullying / hazing and more in the game of hockey, saying “he must have been cut from a team”.

So. f*** Bowman. f*** the Blackhawks. f*** Lowe. And f*** the Oilers.

Such pieces of shit. Hate how we let them stay in the game, and in Bowman’s case let him back in.
 
While the site was crashed, we had Stan Bowman file a motion to dismiss a subpoena to testify in the case of John Doe 2 vs the Chicago Blackhawks, saying since he’s in Canada he shouldn’t have to do it.

And then Kevin Lowe attacking TSN’s Rick Westhead for shining a light on cases like this and others where victims are subject to rape / bullying / hazing and more in the game of hockey, saying “he must have been cut from a team”.

So. f*** Bowman. f*** the Blackhawks. f*** Lowe. And f*** the Oilers.

Mark Messier turning into one of the more likeable '80s Oilers is just wild.
 
Mark Messier turning into one of the more likeable '80s Oilers is just wild.

Well, that bar seems to get lowered with every passing year. Never seen so many champions be complete losers.

Hazing is a part of hockey that kept me away from it, kids are brutal. Making excuses for your younger self shows zero growth.

Stan Bowman is the poster boy of a silver spoon hockey mind. Absolutely no struggle in his life to achieve his goals and is an entitled little brat having to face the music.

Hell isn’t a good enough place for that, I prefer there existing a more banal and unremarkable purgatory than the one before our eyes.

Perhaps they should have made more an example of Graham James. They could have easily ripped him apart limb by limb still breathing and set alight his skinless chicken suit and it wouldn’t have been enough.

I have less than zero time for that bullshit in this beautiful sport. It’s a disgrace he was let back in, and I wish a pox on the Oilers for doing so.

The time for remorse was 15 years ago and he shirked it then, and he continues to do so. That’s hardly a man. Where are your f***ing balls Stan?
 
While the site was crashed, we had Stan Bowman file a motion to dismiss a subpoena to testify in the case of John Doe 2 vs the Chicago Blackhawks, saying since he’s in Canada he shouldn’t have to do it.

And then Kevin Lowe attacking TSN’s Rick Westhead for shining a light on cases like this and others where victims are subject to rape / bullying / hazing and more in the game of hockey, saying “he must have been cut from a team”.

So. f*** Bowman. f*** the Blackhawks. f*** Lowe. And f*** the Oilers.

peak oilers
 
Sometimes you need a reminder about just how long, physically demanding and tedious an 82-game season can be.

The Oilers and Leafs have come out of the Four Nations break, flatter than a pancake. And their fans are seriously questioning whether they're legitimate 'contenders' or 'pretenders'.

It's a reminder that almost every team not named the 'Jets' hits the skids at times over a long season. And all you really have to do is just 'make the dance'.

Then if your team really gets on roll to close out the schedule--almost anything is possible in Gary Bettman's parity league.
Kind of going off tangent, but even before the break the Oilers have only been playing at a 100 point season pace, and that's without last seasons terrible start where they had to dig themselves out of a hole. While McDavid is obviously playing under par, their key depth in RNH, Hyman, and Bouchard are also well behind from last season.

I'm sure come playoff time the Canadian media will be slobbering all over them as Canada's anointed chosen to win the Cup again, but I don't know combined with the downgrades they made in the offseason they just don't seem to be nearly as good a team this year? I wouldn't be surprised if LA finally beats them.
 
I see journalist Jordan Manning on his site "NHL Trade Talk" is predicting that the Hawks could have a real tough time re-signing Connor Bedard, whose frustration is starting to boil over.

He points out that despite all the brave talk in Chicago about their prospect pool and the number of picks they've stockpiled--there's still nobody in the queue who's really going to change the Hawks outlook much over the next two or three seasons.

It is possible to turn a franchise around relatively fast, with the right trades, UFA signings, and 'hitting' on some of your high picks. But there's not much indication that is actually transpiring in Chicago.

If the losses continue to pile up--I could actually see Bedard and his agent issuing an ultimatum once his ELC is up. And a trade demand isn't out of the question. It's happened before with young players, who have a burning desire to 'win now'.

In fact when you look at Bedard's career, the one thing that stands out is that he's been on teams that have done a lot of 'losing'. The Regina Pats teams he played on really weren't very good. And of course two long years in Chicago.

Obviously it would be far too prohibitive for an NHL team to sign Bedard to an 'offer sheet'. But I'd be very surprised if a GM like Allvin isn't monitoring the situation closely.
 
I see journalist Jordan Manning on his site "NHL Trade Talk" is predicting that the Hawks could have a real tough time re-signing Connor Bedard, whose frustration is starting to boil over.

He points out that despite all the brave talk in Chicago about their prospect pool and the number of picks they've stockpiled--there's still nobody in the queue who's really going to change the Hawks outlook much over the next two or three seasons.

It is possible to turn a franchise around relatively fast, with the right trades, UFA signings, and 'hitting' on some of your high picks. But there's not much indication that is actually transpiring in Chicago.

If the losses continue to pile up--I could actually see Bedard and his agent issuing an ultimatum once his ELC is up. And a trade demand isn't out of the question. It's happened before with young players, who have a burning desire to 'win now'.

In fact when you look at Bedard's career, the one thing that stands out is that he's been on teams that have done a lot of 'losing'. The Regina Pats teams he played on really weren't very good. And of course two long years in Chicago.

Obviously it would be far too prohibitive for an NHL team to sign Bedard to an 'offer sheet'. But I'd be very surprised if a GM like Allvin isn't monitoring the situation closely.
Hows Moore developing? There was a bunch of talk about them securing their top 2 Cs of the future that Bedard draft
 
I doubt it would be wise to offer sheet Bedard with the kind of money that wouldn't result in Chicago automatically matching.
 
I see Bedard signing a "straight-to-UFA" contract that just eats up the rest of his RFA years. He looks miserable there. But he really has no recourse to leave. Chicago will match any offer sheet and he's not getting traded.
 
I see Bedard signing a "straight-to-UFA" contract that just eats up the rest of his RFA years. He looks miserable there. But he really has no recourse to leave. Chicago will match any offer sheet and he's not getting traded.
Chicago needs to be active in the off season. They need culture setters not more Bertuzzi, TT, who are there for a pay check for 2-3 years. Can’t just sit on their future firsts from Tor, TB, Fla. need to use them to get some help. It’s a 3rd straight season in the bottom 3. So players are not going there without getting paid a premium to do so.
 

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