News from Around the AHL/NHL/KHL 2023-24

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Because Boychuk spent the better part of six seasons in the minors, improving and proving himself to get to the NHL. He made it through hard work and dedication.

That is reality, which Wilde seems to need a dose of.

Wilde seemingly thought he could get into Harvard and Michigan, with minimal grades.

Jeff Wilpon couldn't get into Michigan and his dad built them a baseball stadium.

Wilde appears to have gotten horrific advice throughout his career, if anyone can lay it out for him in a way he can (perhaps) finally understand, it might be JB.

And if he is still a knucklehead, then JB can let management know that he is a lost cause and maybe we are finally done with him and talking about him.

Yeah, I think you're just projecting.

 

[PK Cronin]

Because Boychuk spent the better part of six seasons in the minors, improving and proving himself to get to the NHL. He made it through hard work and dedication.

That is reality, which Wilde seems to need a dose of.

Wilde seemingly thought he could get into Harvard and Michigan, with minimal grades.

Jeff Wilpon couldn't get into Michigan and his dad built them a baseball stadium.

Wilde appears to have gotten horrific advice throughout his career, if anyone can lay it out for him in a way he can (perhaps) finally understand, it might be JB.

And if he is still a knucklehead, then JB can let management know that he is a lost cause and maybe we are finally done with him and talking about him.

Horrific advice? Like what?

Isn't the only issue with him the vaccination stuff? If so, this is a horrible take.

 

[Mike C]

Nah, just showing my age quoting a 70s TV show. Lou has lots of patience - too much for some people.

Which reminds me of that easily forgotten one hit wonder Carl Douglas

 

[The Real JT]

I agree, it wouldn't make any sense other than him being spiteful about the Isles for some reason.
He just didn't pass his physical, he doesn't have a choice in the matter. Unless he purposefully didn't take care of himself there's nothing he could do in this instance it seems.

Here’s another take.

Different doc performed this physical vs the one he had last year. Just a guess but Arizona probably hired the right guy for the opinion they wanted.

 

[SI90]

Damn!

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Well I assume Ladd is not going to retire and forfeit his $1 million base, right? Unless he wants to stick it to the Isles and be petty and retire like a day before the season ends. If he does that, I hope one of those Sturgeon that he fishes for, swallows him alive. Funny how he passed his physical last season, so the Isles couldn't just send him to LTIR.

LADD:
Here's the stipulation...

**Conditions: The pick is transferred to Arizona if Ladd:
1. Does not play in any professional games in 2022-23 while under his current contract, and
2. Does not retire prior to the conclusion of the 2022-23 regular season

Thus, it looks like him sitting on the LTIR is all they need to do to get that 3rd rounder.

They don't need Ladd in the least, so picking up that pick should be fairly easy.

 

[mm11]

Shesty is such a diva btw. Thought I would share. LGI!

 

[saintunspecified]

Yeah, I think you're just projecting.

Horrific advice? Like what?

Isn't the only issue with him the vaccination stuff? If so, this is a horrible take.

Lol, if Wilde were Josh Ho-Sang, he'd be a whipping boy. It's pathetically obvious this is about poltics. But whether or not someone want to armchair psychoanalyze posters (which is pathetic), Wilde has put up red flags (all the decommitting), and has thwarted team rules. Of course it's probably against the rules to name a spade a spade wrt politics. Whatever.

We're talking about a player who was outproduced by, like, recent 5th rounders on an ECHL level team as if it matters. It doesn't. He's not good enough. It takes someone truly comitted to denying reality to claim it isn't.

Incidentally, I don't like that the coache's kid is coming to camp. Sends a bad message.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

We're talking about a player who was outproduced by, like, recent 5th rounders on an ECHL level team as if it matters. It doesn't. He's not good enough. It takes someone truly comitted to denying reality to claim it isn't.

If he's not good enough, then he's not good enough. Whatever. That's a different argument though.

 

[gordie43]

We're talking about a player who was outproduced by, like, recent 5th rounders on an ECHL level team as if it matters. It doesn't. He's not good enough. It takes someone truly comitted to denying reality to claim it isn't.

Incidentally, I don't like that the coache's kid is coming to camp. Sends a bad message.

Not fair to compare Wilde with Ho Sang. Josh broke the cardinal rule of any job do not show up late on the first day, in addition to all the excess baggage he brought with him to the island.

As for Wilde, all I really know about him is that he wouldn’t take the vaccine. I’m no Wilde apologist, but many players get second chances for any number of reason. I just don’t see why fences cannot get mended. Hard to not see what the isles have in a second round pick when their prospect pool isn’t so deep.

 

[danteipp]

Horrific advice? Like what?

Isn't the only issue with him the vaccination stuff? If so, this is a horrible take.

I specifically said it was not about the vaccination stuff in a prior post, I am fine with anyone who does or doesn't want to get vaccinated, choice is all theirs to make as they have to weigh the risks/benefits for themselves. And that is all I will say about that.

He committed to Harvard, decommitted, and then committed to Michigan, only to bounce last minute. Two extremely tough schools to qualify for academically and Wilde clearly didn't have the grades to get into either - or perhaps any decent college with academic requirements for that matter.

Just prior to the NHL draft, Wilde reversed course and eventually went to juniors. Fine, but with all of that baggage and indecisiveness, it probably hurt his stock in the draft and Wilde wasn’t invited to the 2018 Team USA World Junior Summer Showcase.

There have long been rumors that Wilde had zero interest in school, which is fine, but then face reality that you probably aren't going to a top college program. And I believe some rumors even suggested he was skipping tutoring sessions. Seems to be a significant lack of accountability.

But really, who thinks they are getting into Harvard when they are seemingly allergic to school work and cracking a book? Whoever has been advising him has been doing a rough job throughout the years, at a minimum just wasting time and energy for everyone and creating unnecessary issues.

 

[gordie43]

I specifically said it was not about the vaccination stuff in a prior post, I am fine with anyone who does or doesn't want to get vaccinated, choice is all theirs to make as they have to weigh the risks/benefits for themselves. And that is all I will say about that.

He committed to Harvard, decommitted, and then committed to Michigan, only to bounce last minute. Two extremely tough schools to qualify for academically and Wilde clearly didn't have the grades to get into either - or perhaps any decent college with academic requirements for that matter.

Just prior to the NHL draft, Wilde reversed course and eventually went to juniors. Fine, but with all of that baggage and indecisiveness, it probably hurt his stock in the draft and Wilde wasn’t invited to the 2018 Team USA World Junior Summer Showcase.

There have long been rumors that Wilde had zero interest in school, which is fine, but then face reality that you probably aren't going to a top college program. And I believe some rumors even suggested he was skipping tutoring sessions. Seems to be a significant lack of accountability.

But really, who thinks they are getting into Harvard when they are seemingly allergic to school work and cracking a book? Whoever has been advising him has been doing a rough job throughout the years, at a minimum just wasting time and energy for everyone and creating unnecessary issues.

Knowing all of this the isles still used a high second on him. If he’s not with the team based on his baggage shame on the isles for not doing they homework and souring on him so fast

 

[danteipp]

Yeah, I think you're just projecting.

Isn't that what you do with prospects? Try to project their physical AND mental limitations, then determine if you think they will likely succeed or fail based on those traits?

In which case if you have a borderline prospect, especially one who has not adapted to your system, you need to determine if the juice is worth the squeeze or if the issues outweigh any further expenditure.

And I couldn't think of a better in-house, player development rep to make that call than Boychuk, who essentially took the opposite path to the NHL.

 

[saintunspecified]

Not fair to compare Wilde with Ho Sang. Josh broke the cardinal rule of any job do not show up late on the first day, in addition to all the excess baggage he brought with him to the island.

As for Wilde, all I really know about him is that he wouldn’t take the vaccine. I’m no Wilde apologist, but many players get second chances for any number of reason. I just don’t see why fences cannot get mended. Hard to not see what the isles have in a second round pick when their prospect pool isn’t so deep.

1. I don't honestly see the difference between the kinds of rule-breaking. They both similarly to indicate the rule breakers belief that team rules don't apply to them. At least Ho-Sang was accountable. So, you're right - it's not fair... to Ho-Sang.

2. I think the team would be plenty flexible in mending fences... If he looked like a viable prospect.

3. The notion that vaccines are 'personal choices' is being shown for the nonsense sham view it always was with the resurgence of polio. F'ing polio. Who's looking forward to the return of smallpox? The "choices" of large numbers of "individuals" makes a thing like that, I would have considered unthinkable 20 years ago, now seem pretty likely.

 

[danteipp]

Knowing all of this the isles still used a high second on him. If he’s not with the team based on his baggage shame on the isles for not doing they homework and souring on him so fast

All I can think of is that the scouts signed off on his tools and took the view that while Wilde might not be focused on school, he is seemingly focused on making it to the NHL as soon as possible, and they could work with that. College isn't the right path for everyone, provided you have a different talent and drive to succeed elsewhere.

 

[Islanders4Cups]

All I can think of is that the scouts signed off on his tools and took the view that while Wilde might not be focused on school, he is seemingly focused on making it to the NHL as soon as possible, and they could work with that. College isn't the right path for everyone, provided you have a different talent and drive to succeed elsewhere.

..but college is a good path if you are not going to make it in professional hockey. We shall see.…

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

1. I don't honestly see the difference between the kinds of rule-breaking. They both similarly to indicate the rule breakers belief that team rules don't apply to them. At least Ho-Sang was accountable. So, you're right - it's not fair... to Ho-Sang.

I like a lot of your stuff, but this is just absolutely insane.

Rarely ever seen anyone try to compare apples and oranges as hard as you're doing with this statement.

2. I think the team would be plenty flexible in mending fences... If he looked like a viable prospect.

"You know Bode, we'd bend our rules that already defy the reasoning behind which we justified instituting those rules in the first place - if you were actually any good."

Good thing he hasn't been. Can't imagine how things would be looking right now if he had torn up the Allsvenskan last season.

***
They simply need to cut ties.

At this point, the image being projected is that the organization is ostracizing him for only one reason.

I'm just surprised Wilde's camp hasn't lawyered up. Maybe that'll take place if there isn't an assignment that makes sense for both sides in the coming weeks.

 

[MJF]

I'm just surprised Wilde's camp hasn't lawyered up. Maybe that'll take place if there isn't an assignment that makes sense for both sides in the coming weeks.

Lawyered up??? For what? Wilde has a contract and he is getting paid. The NHLPA so far has shown no interest in this either. If there’s anything more to the Wilde situation than Lou not wanting a player who refused to follow a requirement let us all know.

 

[saintunspecified]

I like a lot of your stuff, but this is just absolutely insane.

Rarely ever seen anyone try to compare apples and oranges as hard as you're doing with this statement.

I might be insane, but I don't really find calling me insane very convincing. In the words of the late great David Lewis, "I do not know how to refute an incredulous stare."

 

[PK Cronin]

Lol, if Wilde were Josh Ho-Sang, he'd be a whipping boy. It's pathetically obvious this is about poltics. But whether or not someone want to armchair psychoanalyze posters (which is pathetic), Wilde has put up red flags (all the decommitting), and has thwarted team rules. Of course it's probably against the rules to name a spade a spade wrt politics. Whatever.

We're talking about a player who was outproduced by, like, recent 5th rounders on an ECHL level team as if it matters. It doesn't. He's not good enough. It takes someone truly comitted to denying reality to claim it isn't.

Incidentally, I don't like that the coache's kid is coming to camp. Sends a bad message.

You're the one making it about politics, not me.

I don't have an issue with the team sticking by the rule they created, but I'm not going to criticize Wilde for not wanting to get vaccinated. It's his body and he can do what he likes, and the team can do what it likes in regards to his contract or placement.

Ho-Sang, who I was a big supporter of, obviously had a lot of issues because he's still not on an NHL roster and isn't tearing up the lower leagues either. Maybe that is Wilde's fate too, I'm not arguing one way or the other.

I specifically said it was not about the vaccination stuff in a prior post, I am fine with anyone who does or doesn't want to get vaccinated, choice is all theirs to make as they have to weigh the risks/benefits for themselves. And that is all I will say about that.

He committed to Harvard, decommitted, and then committed to Michigan, only to bounce last minute. Two extremely tough schools to qualify for academically and Wilde clearly didn't have the grades to get into either - or perhaps any decent college with academic requirements for that matter.

Just prior to the NHL draft, Wilde reversed course and eventually went to juniors. Fine, but with all of that baggage and indecisiveness, it probably hurt his stock in the draft and Wilde wasn’t invited to the 2018 Team USA World Junior Summer Showcase.

There have long been rumors that Wilde had zero interest in school, which is fine, but then face reality that you probably aren't going to a top college program. And I believe some rumors even suggested he was skipping tutoring sessions. Seems to be a significant lack of accountability.

But really, who thinks they are getting into Harvard when they are seemingly allergic to school work and cracking a book? Whoever has been advising him has been doing a rough job throughout the years, at a minimum just wasting time and energy for everyone and creating unnecessary issues.

Thank you, I missed your prior post. This makes much more sense and I don't have any issues with it.

3. The notion that vaccines are 'personal choices' is being shown for the nonsense sham view it always was with the resurgence of polio. F'ing polio. Who's looking forward to the return of smallpox? The "choices" of large numbers of "individuals" makes a thing like that, I would have considered unthinkable 20 years ago, now seem pretty likely.

The efficacy of the two and the manner in which they are currently implemented cannot be compared with any seriousness. Let's just stop the vaccine talk right here, especially since danteipp provided clarification to the post I commented on.

 

[doublechili]

Do we know for certain whether Wilde is absent from camp because the Isles didn't invite him or because he opted against coming? My assumption is that the Isles didn't invite him because they still have the mandatory vaccine policy in effect....

I hope they find a good situation for him and he has a great year and gets back on track. I'd love to have another RHD prospect in the mix. I assume we can all agree that would be a good thing?

 

[MJF]

Ken Holland’s spending model is “Brewster’s Millions”

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I might be insane, but I don't really find calling me insane very convincing. In the words of the late great David Lewis, "I do not know how to refute an incredulous stare."

You're not insane. I wouldn't say you are.

I just think that take with Ho-Sang and Wilde being equal part rulebreakers is.

And in general (because we're seeing it across Twitter and other social media), there are fans who clearly feel Wilde is, in essence, wrong (and insubordinate) for not getting vaccinated and that the policy Lou has decided to institute with respect to organization-wide vaccination against Covid (not the principle of vaccination in general) is perfectly OK and justified, if not just "the right thing to do".

However, rather than just go with that, they're honing in on saying "Big deal, Wilde stinks and he should no longer be seen as a prospect anyways".

I hold that for very disingenuous and completely off the point.

Wilde is a paid asset who the organization is making no productive use of.

And what for exactly?

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Isn't that what you do with prospects?

That's not what I meant.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Lawyered up??? For what? Wilde has a contract and he is getting paid. The NHLPA so far has shown no interest in this either. If there’s anything more to the Wilde situation than Lou not wanting a player who refused to follow a requirement let us all know.

Maybe it's just my surprise that is unwarranted, but yes, definitely, lawyer up.

Of course, that would be fully dependent on how much Wilde feels that his remaining with this organization is inhibiting his options of one day reaching the NHL.

Maybe he doesn't see it that way? Maybe something else is going on within the NHLPA as we speak? After all, the dropping of certain Covid vaccination regulations or recommendations is fairly recent, but Wilde not being part of camp is like two days old.

So, it could be in the works.

Important here is that the vaccination policy was placed in effect after he signed his contract. That policy, which immediately pushes anyone who is morally/medically conflicted by it outside of participation within the organization, now prevents him from going on the career path he signed with this team to go on. And I seriously doubt there is or was a clause in the ELC stating that the player will be required to inject himself with a foreign substance if the team would decide in the course of the contract that he is to do so in order to continue to work within the organization.

Again, maybe he just doesn't care and would like to continue to get paid, wait for the ELC to run out, and then seek out new options. Sure, might be the easiest route to take.

But if you implement such a policy after a contract is signed, then I'm pretty certain your average lawyer can clearly argue that it is grounds for the discontinuation of the contract.

This path of ostracization certainly isn't anything helping Wilde get closer to the NHL or the team foster itself a solid prospect who could come into question for the NHL team one day.

My greatest surprise is that they haven't just severed ways.

The NYI stop paying him and free up a contract slot. Wilde gets to seek out a new spot with another organization that doesn't enforce such a policy.