Around the League

[Sadekuuro]

That's the bummer for me. I've been following the Wings since they were the Dead Things. This past season has been the worst product I've ever seen from the NHL. I barely follow any other sport other than hockey, but this is getting to the point where it's just not worth it.

I hear you, I don't watch any other sports either. Really wish they'd stop ruining hockey.


But hey, at least the incredibly obnoxious animated board ads are in English today. For some reason I had mostly German language ads on SN last night

 

[ArGarBarGar]

That's the bummer for me. I've been following the Wings since they were the Dead Things. This past season has been the worst product I've ever seen from the NHL. I barely follow any other sport other than hockey, but this is getting to the point where it's just not worth it.

Yeah, between the gambling ads, the ad patch on the jersey, and the open door to pieces of garbage like Q I am just pretty much tapped out of professional hockey at this point. And I hate that.

 

[JediOrderPizza]

Yeah I've barely watched the playoffs. NHL blows, ESPN stuff is awful.

 

[Konnan511]

That's the bummer for me. I've been following the Wings since they were the Dead Things. This past season has been the worst product I've ever seen from the NHL. I barely follow any other sport other than hockey, but this is getting to the point where it's just not worth it.

Come watch the Tigers. They are doing exciting things this year.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

None Wings related, Connor McMichael (center) drafted #25 in the same draft as Seider is looking like a stud. He's making a name for himself.

Washington’s ability to scout and develop impact forwards is super impressive. We need to steal their formula.

 

[RabidBadger]

That's the bummer for me. I've been following the Wings since they were the Dead Things. This past season has been the worst product I've ever seen from the NHL. I barely follow any other sport other than hockey, but this is getting to the point where it's just not worth it.

I don't know where you live, but if you have any kind of development league near you it is a great option. I'm lucky enough I can be at a Windsor Spitfires, U. Mich (not a Michigan fan but The Yost Arena is the best!), or USNTDP game in under an hour.

Less expensive tickets and concessions, competitive play, and chances are you're watching a future pro. Roller Derby is also ****ing awesome if you want to have a new sports experience.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Quenneville apparently back working in the NHL.

This f***ing league. Seriously. Between the gambling woven into the game, the ads all over every visible surface, the complete lack of any integrity by allowing shitbags like Quenneville and Bowman back into the league, I think I really may be done.

Hockey is by far my favorite sport, but I don't know that I can take anymore of Bettman's shit just to watch it.

Not sure if you are looking for new sports, but soccer is growing quite a bit in NA and there are games on all the time with all of the leagues across the globe. The sport has limited advertising given game play does not stop unless there are subs/injuries, so there are no commercial breaks during the halves, and players are treated much better than they are in other professional leagues. NHL owners are some of the worst owners in all of sport, and that’s reflected in how little they value the product they put out.

If you are in the Detroit area maybe check out a Detroit City FC game. Experiencing the atmosphere on a game day is probably the best way to get a feel for whether or not the sport appeals to you.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Not sure if you are looking for new sports, but soccer is growing quite a bit in NA and there are games on all the time with all of the leagues across the globe. The sport has limited advertising given game play does not stop unless there are subs/injuries, so there are no commercial breaks during the halves, and players are treated much better than they are in other professional leagues. NHL owners are some of the worst owners in all of sport, and that’s reflected in how little they value the product they put out.

If you are in the Detroit area maybe check out a Detroit City FC game. Experiencing the atmosphere on a game day is probably the best way to get a feel for whether or not the sport appeals to you.

I'm a casual soccer fan. It's definitely fun to go to games and a good point about advertising. People here sometimes justify NHL advertising by pointing to soccer. Or even to European hockey. But that ignores the lack of commercial breaks in soccer (and advertising on the field, I believe) and the ticket prices for hockey games in NHL vs Europe.

There's certain parts of soccer I have a hard time accepting though. The diving of course. But I think that's a function of the number of officials in the game. The NHL has two refs and two linesmen for a 200 ft x 85 ft playing surface. Soccer has one ref and two line judges covering a minimum of 300 ft x 210 ft.

Of course refs are going to miss calls and fall for dives because they're running their ass off and still probably at least 20 feet away from the play. I know soccer fans would riot but I'd add one more ref and two more line judges.

 

[Run the Jewels]

I'm a casual soccer fan. It's definitely fun to go to games and a good point about advertising. People here sometimes justify NHL advertising by pointing to soccer. Or even to European hockey. But that ignores the lack of commercial breaks in soccer (and advertising on the field, I believe) and the ticket prices for hockey games in NHL vs Europe.

There's certain parts of soccer I have a hard time accepting though. The diving of course. But I think that's a function of the number of officials in the game. The NHL has two refs and two linesmen for a 200 ft x 85 ft playing surface. Soccer has one ref and two line judges covering a minimum of 300 ft x 210 ft.

Of course refs are going to miss calls and fall for dives because they're running their ass off and still probably at least 20 feet away from the play. I know soccer fans would riot but I'd add one more ref and two more line judges.

That’s a good point on diving, but many leagues use video to review questionable calls. It’s not perfect, and fans from some of the biggest clubs have decided to wage war on referees which sucks. But overall, the product is great. I also like leagues that utilize promotion and relegation as that makes the season interesting even once the positioning at the top of the league has been settled. It also punishes s**tty owners, something the NHL would never do.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

That’s a good point on diving, but many leagues use video to review questionable calls. It’s not perfect, and fans from some of the biggest clubs have decided to wage war on referees which sucks. But overall, the product is great. I also like leagues that utilize promotion and relegation as that makes the season interesting even once the positioning at the top of the league has been settled. It also punishes s**tty owners, something the NHL would never do.

Yeah VAR is pretty great. I don't know the technology behind it but it seems odd more sports don't utilize it.

 

[GarlicbreadTB]

Looks like Ken Holland will become the new GM for the Kings.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Looks like Ken Holland will become the new GM for the Kings.

Who do we want from the Kings in a trade for Rasmussen?

 

[jkutswings]

Who do we want from the Kings in a trade for Rasmussen?

I'll settle for Byfield if LA adds a sweetener.

 

[Oddbob]

Who do we want from the Kings in a trade for Rasmussen?

Plus we could sign Zadina, and trade him there for something.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Looks like Ken Holland will become the new GM for the Kings.

He took the best open job, this is a much better landing spot than NYI.

If Larkin is willing to waive and he would move Byfield that is a very interesting landing spot.

 

[Winger98]

He took the best open job, this is a much better landing spot than NYI.

If Larkin is willing to waive and he would move Byfield that is a very interesting landing spot.

Am I the only one who looks at LA and thinks they should be dealing kopitar/Doughty, not Byfield?

 

[jkutswings]

Am I the only one who looks at LA and thinks they should be dealing kopitar/Doughty, not Byfield?

That would be the smart move. But I don't see Kenny going that route at all. Hopefully Detroit can take advantage of a team clinging past their due date, whether it's LA or Pittsburgh or whomever.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Am I the only one who looks at LA and thinks they should be dealing kopitar/Doughty, not Byfield?

I doubt they will. I don’t think he deals Byfield for the record. He just is my ideal player to move Larkin.

I think ownership would nix trading Kopitar or Doughty.

 

[Winger98]

I doubt they will. I don’t think he deals Byfield for the record. He just is my ideal player to move Larkin.

I think ownership would nix trading Kopitar or Doughty.

I don't think they allow Kopitar or Doughty to be dealt, either. I was just wondering if I was reading LA wrong. They seem to be in the pittsburgh boat where they could be dealing some of those vets off and trying to goose a rebuild but are dragging it out. Been there with the Wings...

That would be the smart move. But I don't see Kenny going that route at all. Hopefully Detroit can take advantage of a team clinging past their due date, whether it's LA or Pittsburgh or whomever.

I'm not really sure what either of those teams (or NYI) are doing. Hate to see it, but Boston handled their stuff right this year.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I don't think they allow Kopitar or Doughty to be dealt, either. I was just wondering if I was reading LA wrong. They seem to be in the pittsburgh boat where they could be dealing some of those vets off and trying to goose a rebuild but are dragging it out. Been there with the Wings...



I'm not really sure what either of those teams (or NYI) are doing. Hate to see it, but Boston handled their stuff right this year.

The Kings have a bunch of young talent so they aren’t really ideally suited to blow it up ala Boston. Although I think with McAvoy and Pasta healthy Boston will be too good to bottom out next year as well. I am curious if they would shop those two guys in Boston. Those returns would be prodigious for them.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Am I the only one who looks at LA and thinks they should be dealing kopitar/Doughty, not Byfield?

Am I the only one here that watches LA and sees that Byfield is not a smart center and should be on the wing?

This kid has the physical gifts of prime Malkin but the brain of prime Devereaux. He should be an automatic 70+ point guy with average hockey IQ. I really think this is more than a case of a big player figuring it out. I don’t want to trade Larkin for a much worse player in his D+5 hoping Byfield figures it out.

 

[Frk It]

Am I the only one here that watches LA and sees that Byfield is not a smart center and should be on the wing?

This kid has the physical gifts of prime Malkin but the brain of prime Devereaux. He should be an automatic 70+ point guy with average hockey IQ. I really think this is more than a case of a big player figuring it out. I don’t want to trade Larkin for a much worse player in his D+5 hoping Byfield figures it out.

Respectfully, I don't trust your ability to be objective on Byfield given you have seemingly wanted him to be a bust for like 3-4 years now and have been calling him Bustfield since like the day after his draft.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Respectfully, I don't trust your ability to be objective on Byfield given you have seemingly wanted him to be a bust for like 3-4 years now and have been calling him Bustfield since like the day after his draft.

It’s not wanting him to bust. It’s having watched him and seeing him consistently skate the puck into an area he can’t make a play. He did in in Sudbury. He’s doing it in the NHL. He’s not busting, but he’s not excelling as much as a #2 overall pick from a strong draft year should.

 

[Frk It]

It’s not wanting him to bust. It’s having watched him and seeing him consistently skate the puck into an area he can’t make a play. He did in in Sudbury. He’s doing it in the NHL. He’s not busting, but he’s not excelling as much as a #2 overall pick from a strong draft year should.

There are some flaws in his game. There are also some big pluses in his game.

If/when Holland takes over as GM, I think a Larkin for Byfield swap is going to be something that gets discussed.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

It’s not wanting him to bust. It’s having watched him and seeing him consistently skate the puck into an area he can’t make a play. He did in in Sudbury. He’s doing it in the NHL. He’s not busting, but he’s not excelling as much as a #2 overall pick from a strong draft year should.

I believe he is outperforming the #1 in said draft the last two years.