Post-Game Talk: NAS - CAR Game 2: 3-0 Canes win - lead series 2-0

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Haula with that amount of irritation directed elsewhere would have been a fan favorite.

Also, as weird as this sounds, Haula may be upping his UFA value by about $200K/year every time his antics increase. Remember about just how much NHL GMs love themselves the "tough-to-play-against"/"gritty" forwards irregardless of whether they can actually play at an above-replacement level or not. As far as possible teams are concerned, David Krejci's an UFA, so Boston might be looking for another center this offseason if he walks. I'm sure Haula would love to get a piece of that in the offseason if he can.

 

[Roboturner913]

IDK, there's a line between "gritty" and "out of control" and I feel like Haula has gotten a little out of control. He's let his emotions take him out of his game, IMO. That 3rd line with him and Duchesne should, in theory, be a pretty formidable group for a third line and they really haven't done jack shit.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

IDK, there's a line between "gritty" and "out of control" and I feel like Haula has gotten a little out of control. He's let his emotions take him out of his game, IMO. That 3rd line with him and Duchesne should, in theory, be a pretty formidable group for a third line and they really haven't done jack shit.

I'm not talking about outcome. Back when Haula was a somewhat "soft" 3C with offensive skill, he didn't get nearly as much press, positive or negative, which may have artificially lowered his market. Playing this way, however, especially in the post-season, will be noticed by many NHL GMs, I promise you. The meathead culture is still very strong around the league.

 

[Roboturner913]

As for goalie, Ned got a hell of a workout last night; I wouldn't be surprised if he sweated off 10 pounds. That can be hard to recover from especially when you have a travel day (short trip, but still). I would not be the least bit surprised if Rod goes with Mrazek.

 

[geehaad]

Even though I was an early passenger on the Ned bandwagon, I'd fully support going with Mrazek in Game 3. I think there are a ton of good reasons for going that route, not the least of which is that's the sort of strategy that got us here.

 

[A Star is Burns]

We've got Ned believers that want to go with Mrazek and the Ned skeptic that wants to go with Ned. What a time to be alive. Though as I've said for a while now, we can go with any of our goalies and I don't think they'll be the reason we lose at least.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

Criticizing the on-ice theatrics was never the issue.

I know. We're saying the same thing, right?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Though as I've said for a while now, we can go with any of our goalies and I don't think they'll be the reason we lose at least.

Pretty much. Mrazek hasn't given us any reason to fear putting him in the net. If anything, he seems to rise to the occasion when given an opportunity, and recedes when it gets a little comfortable. That has been his career pattern going back to his Detroit days.

 

[Roboturner913]

We've got Ned believers that want to go with Mrazek and the Ned skeptic that wants to go with Ned. What a time to be alive. Though as I've said for a while now, we can go with any of our goalies and I don't think they'll be the reason we lose at least.

I think everybody just realizes how illogical it is to have a platoon all season and then suddenly lean only on one guy when the playoffs start. Undersized goalies have to be managed a little more carefully too. And yes, I don't think we can go wrong with any of them. We could roll out Reimer Friday night and I wouldn't bat an eye. Depth is king.

 

[A Star is Burns]

I think everybody just realizes how illogical it is to have a platoon all season and then suddenly lean only on one guy when the playoffs start. Undersized goalies have to be managed a little more carefully too. And yes, I don't think we can go wrong with any of them. We could roll out Reimer Friday night and I wouldn't bat an eye. Depth is king.

I wouldn't suggest leaning on one guy, though I'm not opposed if that one guy just takes it and runs with it. But I'd just run the hot hand for a bit and then move to Petr when needed. I've always said we'll likely need at least two goalies. I just don't see a reason to move off of Ned. But I do trust the folks in charge with whatever their decision is.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Criticizing the on-ice theatrics was never the issue.

No? Then what was the issue?

Here, I'll even provide some receipts. I said this about him previously in a GDT in which he was being largely the same guy, and also having a good game against us:

"He was a whiny f***ing jake when he got traded here. He's a bitch and I want him to suffer and fail."

And that's pretty much the harshest thing said about him on these forums.

Well, given the various statements from Shane Willis and others, this is a pretty much dead-on assessment of how his erstwhile coach and teammates feel as well.

So. What was the issue?

 

[bleedgreen]

It would hardly be unusual of our broadcasters to go along with popular fan sentiment and pile on just to make everyone happy.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

It would hardly be unusual of our broadcasters to go along with popular fan sentiment and pile on just to make everyone happy.

I disagree. That was a rare and specific call out. Again: these are not new allegations. These allegations of tension were there at the time.

Here's the question: is it over the line to call out a guy that wasn't regarded as a good teammate? Because that's the heart of the discussion, and it was there the whole time, and when these guys play against each other, the bad blood is obvious.

 

[hblueridgegal]

The AVs & Blues number is eye opening.

 

[bleedgreen]

I disagree. That was a rare and specific call out. Again: these are not new allegations. These allegations of tension were there at the time.

Here's the question: is it over the line to call out a guy that wasn't regarded as a good teammate? Because that's the heart of the discussion, and it was there the whole time, and when these guys play against each other, the bad blood is obvious.

I didn't feel any tension around him in the first half of the season. I did in the second half but I viewed that as an off ice contact issue. The same thing that had happened to Ferland happened to Haula it felt like. He started off good, contract talks were presumed to be going on as it seemed a good fit then the player gets hurt. When both returned they weren't put in the same spot they had been as Rod had them "work their way back in" which doesnt always happen with everyone else. It could easily be taken as a ploy to mess with the contract talks. Both guys were frustrated about it I think, Ferland worked hard to get back and just couldnt stay healthy which pissed Rod off. Haula it would appear just got pissed in general....and didnt they have a miscarriage at the same time? Or was that sometime later? I can't remember. I just remember there was a shift, but it wasnt one I felt that was teammate related and it didnt seem that bad other than Rod wanted him to be better defensively and it was leading to Haula getting less time.

When the trade happened it seemed like a good thing for Haula to get a fresh start.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

I disagree. That was a rare and specific call out. Again: these are not new allegations. These allegations of tension were there at the time.

Here's the question: is it over the line to call out a guy that wasn't regarded as a good teammate? Because that's the heart of the discussion, and it was there the whole time, and when these guys play against each other, the bad blood is obvious.

I don't know if at this point we will all be able to come to a full agreement. I'm just choosing to let people express themselves re: Haula however they choose.

I will agree that clearly there is a lot more "smoke" around these allegations than I realized before the last two days.

I apologize if I have offended anyone with my reactions/opinions over some of the intensity I saw in the comments about Haula. It is what it is at this point. I don't like what I've seen with my own eyes from him against our players on the ice and I hope we crush them.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

It's an interesting parallel. There are similarities between Haula and Ferland. Both players that showed promise, underachieved after injury, gave the sense that they weren't putting in the effort to get back with the team (an impression that, to be fair, may have been pushed by the team, but could also have had basis in fact) and were not kept on by the team.

I don't know that I felt much one way or the other about Haula until he came back in someone else's sweater, and then when he started showing his ass, I remembered all the things not to like. I'm sure the Panthers fans feel the same way about Vinnie, except moreso because Vinnie is actually good.

I have no similar feelings about Ferland, except that he's overrated, and that has more to do with the fun of arguing with the people who, in my opinion, overrate him

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

The AVs & Blues number is eye opening.

Doesn't explain the entire magnitude, but the Ball Arena scorekeepers are pretty selective in what qualifies as a hit. Per NHL.com, the Avs had 6.57 hits/60 more on the road than at home. That's in line with the differential between the Avs' opponents at their respective home arenas and in Colorado (7.24 per 60 more).

 

[bleedgreen]

I just don't have a single iota of ill will towards Haula. I thought he played well generally for us, I didnt have higher expectations that what he brought as he was the third line center. He's hardly a villain and I'll save my blood lust for someone along this path that deserves it more. A lot of teams have tried to rough up Necas to keep him quiet....and honestly it works so there's a method to it. I'd rather it be Haula than someone bigger who could actually hurt the kid.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

The AVs & Blues number is eye opening.

Winner of Minnesota/Vegas will give Colorado a serious challenge with playoff physicality in round 2 (barring a shocking Blues comeback/upset).

 

[2Minutes4Surging]

Funny game 2 fact...

Nashville offers fans "Reward Points" through their APP for things like buying season tickets, arriving early to the game, attending watch parties, or in this case, watching the game on Bally Sports (Fox Sports.) During the broadcast they display a code word that fans can enter into the APP to redeem their "Smashville Rewards." Last nights Smashville Rewards code word was "SHUTOUT"

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Funny game 2 fact...

Nashville offers fans "Reward Points" through their APP for things like buying season tickets, arriving early to the game, attending watch parties, or in this case, watching the game on Bally Sports (Fox Sports.) During the broadcast they display a code word that fans can enter into the APP to redeem their "Smashville Rewards." Last nights Smashville Rewards code word was "SHUTOUT"

Well, that backfired!

 

[A Star is Burns]

I've had to watch the National broadcasts so far. When I go on the NHL app, I can choose National, Nashville feed, or French. I've never run into situations where I couldn't watch the Canes feed unless they were playing the Capitals. Been annoying, but I think the national feed has been fine even though some don't care for it. Sometimes you just want your homers though. But I don't really want them enough to bother with the illegal streams.

 

[hockeynjune]

Funny game 2 fact...

Nashville offers fans "Reward Points" through their APP for things like buying season tickets, arriving early to the game, attending watch parties, or in this case, watching the game on Bally Sports (Fox Sports.) During the broadcast they display a code word that fans can enter into the APP to redeem their "Smashville Rewards." Last nights Smashville Rewards code word was "SHUTOUT"

IIRC someone in their GDT was not happy and predicted doom when that was posted.

 

[DaveG]

I just don't have a single iota of ill will towards Haula. I thought he played well generally for us, I didnt have higher expectations that what he brought as he was the third line center. He's hardly a villain and I'll save my blood lust for someone along this path that deserves it more. A lot of teams have tried to rough up Necas to keep him quiet....and honestly it works so there's a method to it. I'd rather it be Haula than someone bigger who could actually hurt the kid.

I don't disagree much with this. There were definitely times he was here where he clearly was at odds with the team (Rod) over something, mostly when he was coming back from injury, though i wouldn't say he ever reached Eric Belanger levels of dgaf. That said, he's basically trying to hit Marchand levels of dickishness in this series and doesn't have the skill or game results to back it up. If anything it backfired on Nashville badly in game 1 and we controlled the game after he went full heel turn in the first. The refs in game 1 weren't buying it for a second, last night they were for whatever reason. Though seeing that Chris Lee was one of the pair last night makes sense in retrospect, that guy's always been a twatwaffle.

If anything the Canes need to be the ones initiating on him like they did in game 1, and if he retaliates, which he will, take a page out of his book and go full f***ing Neymar.