News & Notes Thread Part VI: "Where the Hell is the News Thread?" Editon
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My Special Purpose
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- Apr 8, 2008
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Potvin is a [mod]. There are different kinds of leadership. There are quiet, soft-spoken guys who would rather let their play do the talking. And there are rah-rah types who crave attention. Potvin was (and evidently still is) the latter, obviously, and we all know Francis is the former. So Potvin can take shots at Francis whenever he wants because he knows Ronnie won't do anything about it. It's a complete and total lack of class. Leaders like Potvin like taking shots at leaders like Francis, and it just makes them bullies.
Incidentally, I always thought it was the same friction that led to Ronnie getting run out of Hartford. Rick Ley -- an original New England Whaler back in 1972 and longtime captain -- was the coach at the time and he was most definitely a rah-rah guy. Francis and Ley clashed in much the same way as Potvin and Francis, which is to say, Ley ranted and Francis ignored him. Ley was convinced Francis was "mailing it in," just playing out the final year of his contract. Eventually Ley got his way, stripped Ronnie of the captaincy, and Eddie Johnston made the deal.
Regardless of Francis's status as a pending UFA, the trade killed the Whalers, plain and simple. Ronnie was never my favorite player growing up -- I like the goal scorers from Tom Webster to Pierre Larouche to Blaine Stoughton -- but I knew it was a horrible deal from the moment it was made. But the part that makes me the most angry, and the part I can't believe doesn't get mentioned more often -- is that Johnston was the GM in Pittsburgh *before* the Francis trade, and became the head coach a few seasons *after* the Francis trade. It's no accident Francis ended up in Pittsburgh and it still bothers me.
The other issue in Hartford -- and the other problem with Potvin's comment -- is that the team was really between a rock (New York) and a hard place (Boston) their entire existence. They never really had a chance. Players considered it a last-resort option. The coaching, management and ownership seemed to be in a constant state of flux, which is also understandable considering how against the team the deck was stacked. It was frustrating. There was pressure, but not the kind of pressure Potvin describes. It was pressure to be relevant. And Ronnie had no problem with this. He was very accommodating and did everything "right," in terms of connecting with the fans and broadcast partners.
It's got to be something like if the NHL adds a team in Hamilton. Let's be honest, 95 percent of season-ticket buyers for a Hamilton franchise are going to be lifelong Leafs fans. They will struggle to build an identity through absolutely no fault of their own. The Whalers struggled with this for 25 years, and in the end, they couldn't make it work. But they may have been on the right track up 'til March 1991. We will never know.
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Lazyking
Never Forget
I think it will be different in Hamilton as long as they don't price people out of tix. the Leafs are very corporate based and if a team in Hamilton can get blue collar fans to come out, you'll see a conversion of Leaf fans that can never afford a Leafs home game.
As for the Whale, the team's mismanagment was so bad and they never could get a that generational talent that would sell tickets. Once Karmanos bought the team, it was over.
As for the Whale, the team's mismanagment was so bad and they never could get a that generational talent that would sell tickets. Once Karmanos bought the team, it was over.
DaveG
Noted Jerk
Anyone know if we're able to send Lindholm to the AHL during the Olympic break so he can get some more playing time in?
Quacktastic
Ooh!
I'll see if I can find it, but I read somewhere that he can play up until the Olympic break and then be sent down and be eligible. The main reason that Murphy had to be sent down so early was because he's played a lot more games than Lindy, and there's a weird set of rules around this stuff.
Here's a story from Syracuse on the rules around playing during the Olympic break.
There are two rules for players not eligible for waivers: 87 or more days from the start of the season up to and including January 24 or 16 of the last 20 games before the Olympic break.
I don't know how many days Lindholm has been on the NHL roster, but I know he will only play in 14 of the Canes last 20 games before the break because of the WJC.
What the Faulk
You'll know when you go
Carolinas Identity*
I'm a bad troll...
Kinda OT, but I officially don't understand Oiler fans. All the unwarranted hubris and smack talk is appalling. Apparently every player they have is worth the sun, moon & stars and every trade they make is nothing short of a total fleecing of the other team. Yet for literally almost a decade, they continue to field a team that probably couldn't beat the Ever Blades in a 7 Game Series.
- Oct 31, 2007
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Sounds like he's still another week or two away from a return. Looks like it'll either be all Anton until the Olympic break or we'll roll the dice with Peters again
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
- Oct 31, 2007
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PaulProteus
****ing amaxing dman
Short answer: Canada.
Longer answer: Stanley Cup(s) prior to a number of members of this board even being born.
What the Faulk
You'll know when you go
He's missed a ton of time this year. He had an injury, "got healthy" then got hurt again. Why rush him into a third? I don't see this as a wake-up anything.
Also buys more time to sell someone on Peters, possibly.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
In fairness, bringing certain fans to the trade board is a bit like bringing a billionaire to the supermarket and asking him to make a good meal within a budget. They don't know what anything is worth, and they don't quite know how to put it together anyway, so they just want to take all of it and figure out the details later.
Boom Boom Apathy
I am the Professor. Deal with it!
- Sep 6, 2006
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I do think it's a bit of a wake-up call, but also it is necessary regardless of that. The Canes only have 4 games left til the Olympic break with a few days rest in between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd (4th is back to back). Khodobin is all but guaranteed to start 3 of the 4 (and maybe all 4 since there are breaks and then it's the Olympic break). Points are precious so I don't see Muller throwing Ward or Peters in there if he thinks Khodobin gives the team a better chance. That would mean Ward wouldn't get a game until after the Olympic break which is a long time to go without action so this makes some sense on that front.
- Aug 24, 2006
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No disagreement, but he's had many extended stints on IR in the past...this has *never* happened with any of his previous injuries.
Whether or not it is a message sent by the team is not something I'm willing to speculate on, but as a general "life message"...oh yeah, most definitely. He better get himself back together pronto, or he won't simply be slow-rolling downhill, as he is currently.
- Oct 31, 2007
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This.
This is nothing more than an attempt to ease Ward into the NHL again. He apparently wasn't healthy the last time he attempted to return from injury, so the team is simply being cautious this time around.
What the Faulk
You'll know when you go
In terms of "this is what could happen if I don't relocate my game or commit to staying healthy"? I can buy that. I just doubt it's the team saying that he's basically on the outs because of Khudobin's success. Peters seems destined to be the one moved, or waived, at this point, which I think he's only 50/50 to be claimed.
Joe McGrath
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- Oct 29, 2009
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As far as I know he's had 2 extended IR stints before this season and 1 of those ended his season, so there wouldn't really be a conditioning stint possibility. That means this has never happened to Cam Ward the 1 time where it was a possibility.
Boom Boom Apathy
I am the Professor. Deal with it!
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I think Peters is the one gone also and doubt anyone takes him. Back during his "hot streak" while Khodobin was out, people were saying "trade the guys that get's the most in return" and my view back then was that you keep Khodobin as he gives the team the best chance at winning..and at best, Peter's would return a late round pick or marginal NHLr. I don't think he had nearly as much value as some thought he did. If JR can get anything for him, that would be great. If not, so be it.
Novacane
Registered User
The only problem I have with the thought of "easing" Cam in with the AHL is that he still will need to be in game shape to perform and not get injured again. I think it's more of a protection for the Hurricanes than Cam to get him going in the AHL first.
Ole Gil
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- May 9, 2009
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Re Ward, he doesn't have to try to find his game after a long layoff in games the team desperately needs to win. That's not a wake-up call, that's a luxury.
The wake-up call will be when he does come back if he doesn't play well, and has to watch a bunch of games in a row from the bench.
The wake-up call will be when he does come back if he doesn't play well, and has to watch a bunch of games in a row from the bench.
Boom Boom Apathy
I am the Professor. Deal with it!
- Sep 6, 2006
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Khodobin also provides the Canes with a luxury they've never had before. A guy brought in as a back-up that can actually play well at the NHL level. Whenever Cam was out previously, the team needed him back as the back-ups all pretty much stunk until Khodobin arrived.
I still think Cam has to see this as a bit of a wake-up call though (whether the Canes intended it that way or not). These guys are proud and competitive, and going down to the AHL, even on a conditioning stint has to be tough to swallow. I'm sure Cam would say he could play for the Canes the moment he's healthy.
I still think Cam has to see this as a bit of a wake-up call though (whether the Canes intended it that way or not). These guys are proud and competitive, and going down to the AHL, even on a conditioning stint has to be tough to swallow. I'm sure Cam would say he could play for the Canes the moment he's healthy.
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