CAR DAL Rantanen to DAL Stankoven 1sts to CAR

[AD Skinner]

But it’s not about defense.

He’s saying that when the puck is on his team’s stick, he wants them to try to do something with it. The short-passing, boards-controlling, volume shooting, ugly goal scoring style that we play is polar opposite of what he experienced for a decade. It’s not about being in position to play defense — independently of expecting our players to be responsible, we play a particular kind of offense which puts a ton of emphasis on point shots and quick counterattacks in transition, with very little fast action otherwise.

It would be like playing three years at WR for Ohio State, then transferring to Army. Still a ranked team, they do their thing and do it well. But it involves a ton of plays where the WRs are just blockers, lucky if they even catch a pass in a given quarter. You’re talking fish-out-of-water levels of culture shock on the ice. I think we could visibly see that in his play, even without him saying so himself.

I mean for crying out loud, we bitch about our pop gun offense for 3 hours at a time, 82 times a year in our GDTs. It’s not like we don’t know what he’s talking about. It works and we’re happy at the end, but it can be painful to experience at times, and requires a high level of commitment from every single player on the ice to make it work (which is why we don’t typically target guys who don’t want to play that way, and why Rod is such an important element holding it all together).

I get what you’re saying but the root is the same. Coach wants me to do x and I don’t want to do it.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I get what you’re saying but the root is the same. Coach wants me to do x and I don’t want to do it.

Yeah and it's honestly not something he really has much control over no matter where he is. NHL HC turnover is pretty damn high. DeBoer has been with 5 different teams and none longer than 5 years. It's certainly possible Rantanen is playing for a different coach within a few years and that coach could run a system just like Rod's...

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

He’s saying that when the puck is on his team’s stick, he wants them to try to do something with it. The short-passing, boards-controlling, volume shooting, ugly goal scoring style that we play is polar opposite of what he experienced for a decade. It’s not about being in position to play defense — independently of expecting our players to be responsible, we play a particular kind of offense which puts a ton of emphasis on point shots and quick counterattacks in transition, with very little fast action otherwise.

I mean we brought him in specifically to change that. If he's saying he didn't want to play for us because he didn't like our style, it either means he didn't see himself as someone who could help change that, or he didn't want to put in the work to influence that change across the team. Either way, pretty terrible leadership from someone commanding top tier salary, and very much makes our play during his tenure make sense.

I mean for crying out loud, we bitch about our pop gun offense for 3 hours at a time, 82 times a year in our GDTs. It’s not like we don’t know what he’s talking about. It works and we’re happy at the end, but it can be painful to experience at times, and requires a high level of commitment from every single player on the ice to make it work (which is why we don’t typically target guys who don’t want to play that way, and why Rod is such an important element holding it all together).

Again, our front office brought him in to help kick start our offensive attack, not slot into it. Him not wanting to be the change we need is all on him, not on anything about Brind'Amour. Hell, Guentzel was incredible for us right off the bat, and I wouldn't exactly say he was killing it defensively, he just put in the effort to play his game with the players on his line and it worked. Instead of doing that, Rantanen sulked.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

But it’s not about defense.

He’s saying that when the puck is on his team’s stick, he wants them to try to do something with it. The short-passing, boards-controlling, volume shooting, ugly goal scoring style that we play is polar opposite of what he experienced for a decade. It’s not about being in position to play defense — independently of expecting our players to be responsible, we play a particular kind of offense which puts a ton of emphasis on point shots and quick counterattacks in transition, with very little fast action otherwise.

It would be like playing three years at WR for Ohio State, then transferring to Army. Still a ranked team, they do their thing and do it well. But it involves a ton of plays where the WRs are just blockers, lucky if they even catch a pass in a given quarter. You’re talking fish-out-of-water levels of culture shock on the ice. I think we could visibly see that in his play, even without him saying so himself.

I mean for crying out loud, we bitch about our pop gun offense for 3 hours at a time, 82 times a year in our GDTs. It’s not like we don’t know what he’s talking about. It works and we’re happy at the end, but it can be painful to experience at times, and requires a high level of commitment from every single player on the ice to make it work (which is why we don’t typically target guys who don’t want to play that way, and why Rod is such an important element holding it all together).

You're looking at offense and defense as two separate things (and maybe Mikko was as well) and that's probably the problem. Rod and the team doesn't function that way. Offense isn't some strategy that is in a vaccum that only exists when you have the puck and same with defense. It's a playing style philosophy about awareness, effort, 200 ft play, and accountability. Sounds like Mikko didn't want to buy into that or as others have said be the type of player move the needle in a different more free flowing direction. And that's fine. He wanted a big some of money to play hockey the way that he wants to play it and that wasn't here.

 

[Chrispy]

You're looking at offense and defense as two separate things (and maybe Mikko was as well) and that's probably the problem. Rod and the team doesn't function that way. Offense isn't some strategy that is in a vaccum that only exists when you have the puck and same with defense. It's a playing style philosophy about awareness, effort, 200 ft play, and accountability. Sounds like Mikko didn't want to buy into that or as others have said be the type of player move the needle in a different more free flowing direction. And that's fine. He wanted a big some of money to play hockey the way that he wants to play it and that wasn't here.

Agreed. I think Rantanen's dislike of Carolina's offensive system can be summed up with 2 words:

High forward.

 

[Rad ChaLose]

I think:

MR wanted to 1a: Stay in COL for big $ or 1b: test free agency

COL called his agent’s bluff, he ended up in Carolina against his ultimate wishes and preferences. He sort of half asses giving it a shot here at first but after 4 nations tried to regain control of his future and was sort of grumpy about the whole situation. Him providing CAR with his list and Tulsky only trading him with an extension was the closest he was going to get the FA at that point, as the situation in Raleigh became untenable.

What I know:

MR, his agent, and RBA have done a terrible job at communicating how it all went down, and are better off never speaking about it agin.

 

[Unhinged Finn]

MR, his agent, and RBA have done a terrible job at communicating how it all went down, and are better off never speaking about it agin.

Too bad the Jerry Springer show isn't a thing anymore.

 

[MinJaBen]

Too bad the Jerry Springer show isn't a thing anymore.

“I said I am not going to pass it back to the point!”

 

[Unsustainable]

I have a friend from SC that puts Alabama White Sauce on his ribs. Not sure what to make of it, or it's relation to anything said. I just find it odd.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

He’s saying that when the puck is on his team’s stick, he wants them to try to do something with it. The short-passing, boards-controlling, volume shooting, ugly goal scoring style that we play is polar opposite of what he experienced for a decade. It’s not about being in position to play defense — independently of expecting our players to be responsible, we play a particular kind of offense which puts a ton of emphasis on point shots and quick counterattacks in transition, with very little fast action otherwise.

There are times when the Canes have ozone possession where it feels like they're are just passing it around the perimeter waiting for the other team to come and take it so the Canes forwards can then try to take it back and generate a good chance off a broken play.

That's both not the intent and mild hyperbole, but that's what it feels like sometimes. Does Rantanen not want to spend his career playing a supporting role to defensemen point shots into traffic? Hard to blame him.

Hell, Guentzel was incredible for us right off the bat, and I wouldn't exactly say he was killing it defensively,

But Guentzel was perfect for this system. Good forechecker/backchecker, not strong on the boards but could win board battles, get puck to the point for a shot into traffic. Guentzel was quick, smart, decisive and willing to go into the dirty areas. He was absolutely perfect for what this team was doing.

Hindsight is 20/20, but Rantanen was not. Pretty much the only thing he had going wrt the Canes' style was he was strong on the boards, and given we want to get pucks to the point rather than hold possession that's not too valuable. Lumbering guy that wasn't suited to getting pucks, he wanted to be the one taking clear shots as his linemates attracted others

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

didn't automatically add to post, delete

 

[tarheelhockey]

I mean we brought him in specifically to change that. If he's saying he didn't want to play for us because he didn't like our style, it either means he didn't see himself as someone who could help change that, or he didn't want to put in the work to influence that change across the team.

I don’t think this is actually what happened, but if it did happen, it would be an incredibly stupid move. Imagine asking ANY player, let alone one traded mid-season with no extension, to walk into a completely new room and “influence change” on Rod ****ing Brind’Amour.

That’s batshit and of course he’d have walked away from it, if that actually happened which it did not.

Either way, pretty terrible leadership from someone commanding top tier salary, and very much makes our play during his tenure make sense.

Why would we expect organization-altering leadership from a guy who had been here for two weeks? It makes no sense.

Again, our front office brought him in to help kick start our offensive attack, not slot into it. Him not wanting to be the change we need is all on him, not on anything about Brind'Amour. Hell, Guentzel was incredible for us right off the bat, and I wouldn't exactly say he was killing it defensively, he just put in the effort to play his game with the players on his line and it worked. Instead of doing that, Rantanen sulked.

I agree that Rantanen sulked and sucked, both at a high level. I agree that it’s on him. But let’s get it straight about why it happened. We’ve heard a lot of straight up nonsense about his motives, some from brainless national media and some from our own side of the fence.

You're looking at offense and defense as two separate things (and maybe Mikko was as well) and that's probably the problem.

No, I’m not. I’m saying defense wasn’t the issue. The issue was that 90% of his role would be to pick rimmed pucks off the wall, bump them back to the D, then go stand near the net and hope the puck comes back to him. He didn’t want to play that way. Neither did Necas. Probably neither do a lot of top players that we fail to sign each year.

And that’s completely fine. We have our style and not everyone fits into it. This was a case of Tulsky feeling he had a guy whose skills would slot into the offense, but who was not at all interested in being that guy, so it went south in a hurry. Rantanen actually did give the organization the time of day, he just wasn’t interested in 8 years of grinding the half wall. That’s all it was.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

I don’t think this is actually what happened, but if it did happen, it would be an incredibly stupid move. Imagine asking ANY player, let alone one traded mid-season with no extension, to walk into a completely new room and “influence change” on Rod ****ing Brind’Amour.

That’s batshit and of course he’d have walked away from it, if that actually happened which it did not.




Why would we expect organization-altering leadership from a guy who had been here for two weeks? It makes no sense.



I agree that Rantanen sulked and sucked, both at a high level. I agree that it’s on him. But let’s get it straight about why it happened. We’ve heard a lot of straight up nonsense about his motives, some from brainless national media and some from our own side of the fence.



No, I’m not. I’m saying defense wasn’t the issue. The issue was that 90% of his role would be to pick rimmed pucks off the wall, bump them back to the D, then go stand near the net and hope the puck comes back to him. He didn’t want to play that way. Neither did Necas. Probably neither do a lot of top players that we fail to sign each year.

And that’s completely fine. We have our style and not everyone fits into it. This was a case of Tulsky feeling he had a guy whose skills would slot into the offense, but who was not at all interested in being that guy, so it went south in a hurry. Rantanen actually did give the organization the time of day, he just wasn’t interested in 8 years of grinding the half wall. That’s all it was.

I think you’re greatly over simplifying the team strategy and approach and that’s fine. It’s just semantics at this point. Don’t think Rod or anyone else in the org has an issue with players skating with the puck or being creative at all. I think it’s about on ice awareness and choosing the right times to activate.

I highly doubt Mikko or anyone else player came in and the coaching staff said ‘Ok so everytime you get the puck we’re gonna dump it into the other zone, try and get back possession, grind it back and forth along the boards to get it to someone so they can make the quickest low danger shot possible. We’re gonna do that all game and hope a couple go in.’

 

[chaz4hockey]

I think you’re greatly over simplifying the team strategy and approach and that’s fine. It’s just semantics at this point. Don’t think Rod or anyone else in the org has an issue with players skating with the puck or being creative at all. I think it’s about on ice awareness and choosing the right times to activate.

I highly doubt Mikko or anyone else player came in and the coaching staff said ‘Ok so everytime you get the puck we’re gonna dump it into the other zone, try and get back possession, grind it back and forth along the boards to get it to someone so they can make the quickest low danger shot possible. We’re gonna do that all game and hope a couple go in.’

To build on your point, Blake is someone that RBA allows to make moves in the zone but plays the right way and is defensively responsible.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think you’re greatly over simplifying the team strategy and approach and that’s fine. It’s just semantics at this point. Don’t think Rod or anyone else in the org has an issue with players skating with the puck or being creative at all. I think it’s about on ice awareness and choosing the right times to activate.

I highly doubt Mikko or anyone else player came in and the coaching staff said ‘Ok so everytime you get the puck we’re gonna dump it into the other zone, try and get back possession, grind it back and forth along the boards to get it to someone so they can make the quickest low danger shot possible. We’re gonna do that all game and hope a couple go in.’

I mean, what you described isn’t that much of a simplification.

Maybe we’re so used to the Canes that we don’t really see it with the same eyes as an outsider. But seriously, we spend a huge amount of our offensive zone time and especially our PP time just bumping the puck around. The point men eventually get open because nobody else on the ice activates… the action is all on the perimeter unless the defense really ****s up. That’s what @Finlandia WOAT is describing above with respect to our perimeter game — we deliberately dare the opposing D to pursue the puck so we can exploit the open ice they’ve created. If they don’t bite, we just work it around and around until a gap opens up for the point man. It’s the reason guys like Hamilton and Skjei and DeAngelo keep having career goalscoring years with us.

If you’re a 100-point winger who is used to a much more dynamic offense, used to burying one-timers from the likes of MacKinnon and Makar when they’re unleashed to Globetrot defenders at will, you’re probably not thrilled about the idea of being a halfwall bumper for 8 years. I’d imagine that when he sat down to hear Rod’s chalk-talk, Rantanen had a hell of a thousand-yard stare. We certainly saw that stare by the end of his stint here.

Could he have made more out of his ice time, been closer to acceptable? Absolutely, 100%. He was shit. That part is all on him. All I’m sharing is that this wasn’t about the market, or his girlfriend, or the money, or any of that stuff. He just didn’t want to play this style of hockey, simple as.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

I mean, what you described isn’t that much of a simplification.

Maybe we’re so used to the Canes that we don’t really see it with the same eyes as an outsider. But seriously, we spend a huge amount of our offensive zone time and especially our PP time just bumping the puck around. The point men eventually get open because nobody else on the ice activates… the action is all on the perimeter unless the defense really ****s up. That’s what @Finlandia WOAT is describing above with respect to our perimeter game — we deliberately dare the opposing D to pursue the puck so we can exploit the open ice they’ve created. If they don’t bite, we just work it around and around until a gap opens up for the point man. It’s the reason guys like Hamilton and Skjei and DeAngelo keep having career goalscoring years with us.

If you’re a 100-point winger who is used to a much more dynamic offense, used to burying one-timers from the likes of MacKinnon and Makar when they’re unleashed to Globetrot defenders at will, you’re probably not thrilled about the idea of being a halfwall bumper for 8 years. I’d imagine that when he sat down to hear Rod’s chalk-talk, Rantanen had a hell of a thousand-yard stare. We certainly saw that stare by the end of his stint here.

Could he have made more out of his ice time, been closer to acceptable? Absolutely, 100%. He was shit. That part is all on him. All I’m sharing is that this wasn’t about the market, or his girlfriend, or the money, or any of that stuff. He just didn’t want to play this style of hockey, simple as.

I think what you're failing to highlight is that while the process might be fairly simplistic, this isn't the way that the Canes actually score their goals. They score off the rush, off one timers, and yes, shots from the point and the circles. The puck possession strategy is what leads to that. It's about controlling the game and taking advantage of the opportunities that come up. It's NOT about forcing plays that aren't there and going on solo skates leaving yourself out of position and your linemates out to dry.

I think it's more of a forest through the trees type thing.

 

[Bub]

I have a friend from SC that puts Alabama White Sauce on his ribs. Not sure what to make of it, or it's relation to anything said. I just find it odd.

Obscure yet perfect take on the trade. 10/10

 

[Derailed75]

I have a friend from SC that puts Alabama White Sauce on his ribs. Not sure what to make of it, or it's relation to anything said. I just find it odd.

I looked it up and made it once for chicken legs. I've had worse, but I never made it again

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think what you're failing to highlight is that while the process might be fairly simplistic, this isn't the way that the Canes actually score their goals. They score off the rush, off one timers, and yes, shots from the point and the circles. The puck possession strategy is what leads to that. It's about controlling the game and taking advantage of the opportunities that come up. It's NOT about forcing plays that aren't there and going on solo skates leaving yourself out of position and your linemates out to dry.

I think it's more of a forest through the trees type thing.

I get the theory behind the system, and I think it’s pretty brilliant what Rod has achieved with it. It’s a system where a team without a top 10 player can have a reliable top 10 offense year in, year out. They do it by getting a ton of mileage out of guys like Martinook and Kotkaniemi, by getting the absolute maximum out of the defense, and by making it hard on the other team take the initiative. It’s a great system for what we are as a team.

That said, it’s a system that’s a lot kinder to a Martinook than it is to a Necas. We routinely scratch our heads at the fact that Svech hasn’t blossomed despite having no reason to stagnate. We don’t even question why Aho still hasn’t hit 90 points despite being a top 10 center in the league. We all know it’s the system and accept that, but someone who’s making a very sudden and harsh adjustment into it probably won’t see it that way. Especially if he has complete and total control to play wherever he wants.

To be clear, I don’t think it was a bad gamble by Tulsky. But it was a gamble and, by definition, those don’t always go well. This one didn’t, for reasons mostly outside of his direct control given that he wasn’t allowed to speak directly with the player.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

I get the theory behind the system, and I think it’s pretty brilliant what Rod has achieved with it. It’s a system where a team without a top 10 player can have a reliable top 10 offense year in, year out. They do it by getting a ton of mileage out of guys like Martinook and Kotkaniemi, by getting the absolute maximum out of the defense, and by making it hard on the other team take the initiative. It’s a great system for what we are as a team.

That said, it’s a system that’s a lot kinder to a Martinook than it is to a Necas. We routinely scratch our heads at the fact that Svech hasn’t blossomed despite having no reason to stagnate. We don’t even question why Aho still hasn’t hit 90 points despite being a top 10 center in the league. We all know it’s the system and accept that, but someone who’s making a very sudden and harsh adjustment into it probably won’t see it that way. Especially if he has complete and total control to play wherever he wants.

To be clear, I don’t think it was a bad gamble by Tulsky. But it was a gamble and, by definition, those don’t always go well. This one didn’t, for reasons mostly outside of his direct control given that he wasn’t allowed to speak directly with the player.

Ya - 100% agree the system is designed so that players can be ‘somewhat’ replaceable as long as they display a certain amount of skills and traits that are generally very achievable and abundant.

Skate hard. Work hard. Don’t be an idiot.

Maybe it’s chicken or the egg in that did they come up with this system and get players to buy in and continue to go that route or is it because they didn’t have the horses to do anything better to be more effective?

Maybe a bit of both, but we also know that this team under RBA hasn’t had much offensive talent to work with relative to the rest of the league.

Could a guy like Aho maybe score 10-15 points a year more in a different system? Sure it’s definitely possible but he’s also just not THAT offensively gifted… same with Jarvis… Svech? I really don’t know. Hes still an enigma to me.

Like don’t get me wrong Aho, Jarvis can score and create offense but even on a Colorado or Tampa or Toronto or wherever they just aren’t in the same league as those dudes when it comes to that side of the game.

But Brind’Amour is also one of the most productive and least creative offensive players ever. Like this guys scored over 450 goals and almost 1200 points because he was awesome defensively and worked his ass off every shift. He wasn’t the fastest skater by any means although earlier in his career he was pretty decent speed wise, he didn’t have a good shot, slick handles, great vision for passing. He just played hard and beat guys going north south and winning puck battles. So he must be like ‘guys… this works… you can do it and win, because that’s what I did’.

The failing to some degree is that while Rod wasn’t remarkable beyond the defensive side of the game he was remarkable in that we know about his legendary training but also his will to succeed and never give up. Not every player is like that, and many are nowhere near that degree of discipline and dedication. But if guys are at least willing to buy in then they are pretty confident they can get good results.

Of course it would never happen but if there would have ever been a way to get Nate McK on the team under Rod that would truly be something to behold. Have to think he’s RBA’s dream player and that goes well beyond just what he can do with the puck on his stick.

 

[bleedgreen]

I feel like there’s a lot of resentment around here about this topic of the system, Rod and Rants.

Haven’t we seen from interviews that players across the league know about us and the system? I don’t know that it’s viewed as popular despite its success. I could see Rants being wary of it, and then seeing it in action just didn’t think it was for him. I think he sulked and mailed it in, and I don’t like him for that but I feel everyone is going overboard defending what we do. We don’t have to defend it, we win and it works. There just shouldn’t be any surprise when an offensive player says no thanks.

And despite Tarheel’s info, I find it hard to believe that some other factors weren’t going on internally with him that maybe he wouldn’t have said out loud to anyone. I believe @tarheelhockey and the info, just not that Rants shared all of his most personal thoughts to the source. Is there not a chance that he defaulted to this rationale behind the scenes but was internally certain on where he wanted to go as well? I have a hard time believing he didn’t have a list well in advance that he was likely going to hold to. I don’t believe he was 100% open to being with us long term.

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

Two things can be true.

We can be relieved they we no longer have a lazy me first player that didn’t want to work hard. And… it could be better if Rod modified his system to allow for more offensive creativity from at least the first line

 

[BrindAmours Army]

I’m not an expert, but when it comes to brisket I think I disagree on that. There’s a process/science to it that it seems like some of the better BBQ meccas in Texas have down pat.

I don’t doubt your abilities when it comes to pork, however. Let me know when I can come over.

Ehh. I'm not sure I agree with that. If you went to one of the well known "best brisket" places and asked them how there brisket was different than the brisket from another well known "best brisket" place, do you think they say "oh it's not, we make it the exact same way."

They're going to have their own wood blend, or temperature sequence, or wrap time, etc. They might be produced similarly, but that's the same as most pulled pork. The devil is in the details.

I’m not gonna say there isn’t great pulled pork out there. I’m sure there is, it’s just in general pulled pork, or pulled meats don’t do it for me.

Ribs? Amazing. Really good pork chop? Sign me up. But if I have the choice between something pork or a steak, brisket, burger, all beef dog, etc. I’m gonna go with the beef more often than not.

Bacon I also find to be terribly overrated. Not that it’s bad, I’m just not a OMG BACON PUT IT ON EVERYTHING type person. Like it’s fine but the world needs to calm down about it.

I'm just giving you a hard time.

People like what they like. I've always preferred pork. I'll take a fried pork chop over steak pretty much any day.

I think part of the reason is that the average pork is better quality than the average beef (talking about the raw meat, not the end result). Way too much grass-fed beef out there with basically zero fat or flavor. I'm sure someone out there is known for producing very lean hogs, but it's definitely not the norm.

YEAH, PEOPLE ACTING LIKE BACON IS A HOLY GRAIL OR SOME SHIT PROBABLY DIDN’T HAVE ANY REAL SAUSAGE OR ANOTHER SMOKED MEAT PRODUCT.

What are your feelings on bacon sausage? Hah.

I love andouille, chorizo, and kielbasa. But sometimes cravings can only be satisfied by thick strips of bacon

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Ehh. I'm not sure I agree with that. If you went to one of the well known "best brisket" places and asked them how there brisket was different than the brisket from another well known "best brisket" place, do you think they say "oh it's not, we make it the exact same way."

They're going to have their own wood blend, or temperature sequence, or wrap time, etc. They might be produced similarly, but that's the same as most pulled pork. The devil is in the details.


I'm just giving you a hard time.

People like what they like. I've always preferred pork. I'll take a fried pork chop over steak pretty much any day.

I think part of the reason is the average pork is better quality than the average beef (talking about the raw meat, not the end result). Way too much grass-fed beef out there with basically zero fat or flavor. I'm sure someone out there is known for producing very lean hogs, but it's definitely not the norm.

What are your feelings on bacon sausage? Hah.

I love andouille, chorizo, and kielbasa. But sometimes cravings can only be satisfied by thick strips of bacon

For me it's also the general fattiness of pork isn't up my alley. I actually do prefer lean meats in general but something like Pork tenderloin I find super boring and flavourless so that also doesn't make sense. My wife doesn't really like Pork all that much so it probably stems from that a good amount since we just don't buy it very often.

Pork if done properly of course can be great and there are many applications for it but other than ribs and sausages I will generally take the non-pork counterpart. Definitely eat more of it in the summer up here in Canada and the weather has been actually pretty awesome in Toronto lately so the BBQ might get dusted off a bit earlier than usual.

 

[MyLuckyPuck]

Then why did Florida supposedly make his short list? They play the same "grinding" style of forecheck. I'm calling BS. Why is questioning this guy's integrity so taboo? He's a quitter and COL 100% called his bluff and he was pissed. Say what you want (everyone in the NHL world who didn't watch every game he played), I watched them, and he quit on pucks starting game 1 with us. Someone needs to ask Tulsky this...."would you have kept him as a rental if would have been pt/game?" Period. I bet you he would have. That would end any speculation. That's why they got rid of him. He was a quitter and cancer. You can still have UFA in your sights even if things (being traded unexpectedly) happen. But as a consummate professional, the least you can do is give the team you have been traded to 100%. Everyone would just rather insult our organization and coaching as opposed to addressing reality. We are a top 4 team in the league at current. We win. So he didn't want to win?