Non-Minnesota NHL News XII

[llamapalooza]

I'm actually really surprised he got cut; he had a good camp. He had 2G+2A in the two games they gave him. I'm wondering if it was more of the Twins-esque "play the right way" stuff, though I have no idea if that's how Maloney and Tippet run the ship, or if he had any attitude/conditioning/etc. problems to raise those sorts of flags.

 

[NHL1674]

Count me in as one of the few who didn't mind seeing him walk. In fact, I can remember some folks getting a little chippy with me because of it. Had some heated debates. If he was willing to take a major pay cut, fine. But it was too dang risky to go beyond that.

 

[TaLoN]

I'm actually really surprised he got cut; he had a good camp. He had 2G+2A in the two games they gave him. I'm wondering if it was more of the Twins-esque "play the right way" stuff, though I have no idea if that's how Maloney and Tippet run the ship, or if he had any attitude/conditioning/etc. problems to raise those sorts of flags.

The issues with him are like a broken record... work ethic and attitude. He's perpetually lazy. His talent has never been denied, he chooses to waste it by not putting in the work, which leads to his injury issues.

 

[llamapalooza]

The issues with him are like a broken record... work ethic and attitude. He's perpetually lazy. His talent has never been denied, he chooses to waste it by not putting in the work, which leads to his injury issues.

Which has always seemed like ******** to me. The year where he came to camp out of shape, sure, that one was on him. Absolutely. But he took the criticism, came to camp in great shape the next year, and got run from behind and suffered a concussion early in the season. Concussions make you lazy? Guess Crosby's "lazy" for getting run from behind, too?

When I hear these old critiques it just sounds like the Old Boys Club from Moneyball. I get (and even frequently argue) that hockey stats aren't nearly as meaningful as in baseball, but still. At some point one of these execs is gonna get with the times and have a lot of success with the "island of misfit toys" model.

 

[TaLoN]

I get it...you like the guy, but his conditioning has always been bad. It was bad in Ottawa as well after he left the Wild.

And you can't say they never have him a chance...he got every chance to succeed there!

 

[llamapalooza]

http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/05/29/ottawa-senators-release-free-agent-guillaume-latendresse

The Senators had no issue with his work ethic but if he's not able to fulfil the role of a Top 6 forward, the club has to look elsewhere to find somebody. He made a pro-rated $2 million last season and should get a chance elsewhere.

"If he hadn't have gotten hurt, he'd have been able to contribute here," said Murray at his season-ending news conference Tuesday at Scotiabank Place. "He started off, he got hurt right away, he was really concerned about the head but it was more of a neck-related injury but coming off the concussion the previous year he was really concerned and that really set him back.

Granted, the recurring concussion concerns do raise other issues about his longevity, but I don't really think "lazy" has been his issue for a few years now. It's more complicated than that.

 

[TaLoN]

Except Tippett doesn't just throw away talent without reason. He's an absolute stickler for work ethic.

 

[Nsjohnson]

First, the backhand stick from Kassian, then the TOR/BUFF brawl, and now Eager/Kassian **** talking....is it just me or is this season that is not here yet escalating quickly?

 

[NHL1674]

First, the backhand stick from Kassian, then the TOR/BUFF brawl, and now Eager/Kassian **** talking....is it just me or is this season that is not here yet escalating quickly?

Yep. Isn't it #@$!ing awesome!?!!!

 

[TaLoN]

First, the backhand stick from Kassian, then the TOR/BUFF brawl, and now Eager/Kassian **** talking....is it just me or is this season that is not here yet escalating quickly?

Typical preseason for the NHL. The main board has a thread on the issue, and the stats pretty much call this preseason rather average for the fights etc.

You get scrubs that have no shot at the NHL in the same game as established vets...the scrubs tend to get reckless to get noticed so they can possibly earn a roster spot, which the vets take offense to...thus tempers keep escalating.

The difference now is there are some preseason games televised and streamed unlike 5-10 yrs ago and beyond, thus now the violence is just getting noticed more.

 

[Nsjohnson]

Yep. Isn't it #@$!ing awesome!?!!!

Opening night is almost as good as the first round of the playoffs, both of which are better than xmas morning.

 

[Nsjohnson]

Typical preseason for the NHL. The main board has a thread on the issue, and the stats pretty much call this preseason rather average for the fights etc.

You get scrubs that have no shot at the NHL in the same game as established vets...the scrubs tend to get reckless to get noticed so they can possibly earn a roster spot, which the vets take offense to...thus tempers keep escalating.

The difference now is there are some preseason games televised and streamed unlike 5-10 yrs ago and beyond, thus now the violence is just getting noticed more.

Which, escalates all of the drama. Fans start talking **** sooner, faster...and yes, I haven't actually noticed as many fights total this preseason (from what I can follow w/o everything being televised). The on ice scenario's are nothing new to me, but the social explosion of little and big things is unbelievable.

 

[DrPP]

Why hasn't anyone given an offer sheet to Stepan? It seems like a no brainer to me. Most he'd cost to get him is a 1st, 2nd and 3rd, I think. Seems like a good deal for a young #1 center.

 

[MuckOG]

Why hasn't anyone given an offer sheet to Stepan? It seems like a no brainer to me. Most he'd cost to get him is a 1st, 2nd and 3rd, I think. Seems like a good deal for a young #1 center.

IMO, it comes down to cap space...as in, many teams don't have any.

 

[Victorious Secret]

6 teams have more than enough cap room to do it. I'm surprised Buffalo doesn't do it since he'll be an elder part of the youth movement.

 

[MuckOG]

6 teams have more than enough cap room to do it. I'm surprised Buffalo doesn't do it since he'll be an elder part of the youth movement.

After publicly lashing out at Kevin Lowe for the Vanek offersheet, it would look pretty hypocritical if Regier would then go ahead and sign Stepan to an OS.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

If Fletcher made decisions based on whether he would look like a hypocrite, I'd want him gone tomorrow. Not a good enough reason to forego improving your team.

 

[Victorious Secret]

After publicly lashing out at Kevin Lowe for the Vanek offersheet, it would look pretty hypocritical if Regier would then go ahead and sign Stepan to an OS.

If Fletcher made decisions based on whether he would look like a hypocrite, I'd want him gone tomorrow. Not a good enough reason to forego improving your team.

this.

Regier was angry because it was his best player. What GM wouldn't have been upset?

 

[MuckOG]

Not saying I wouldnt like to see the Wild sign Stepan. Just pointing out that many GMs wont go that route. Two I can think of right off the bat: Lou Lamirello and Darcy Regier.

 

[Northland Wild Man]

I see that Luongo had a 40 save shutout tonight against New York.

I'm looking forward to seeing the return of St. Paul Luongo this season. There's no more Schneider to hide behind anymore.

 

[Lapa]

Asked in the Sabres board about Larsson. Here's the response in case someone's interested:

Larsson has looked really good in all of the games he's played in (sounded good in the two that weren't viewable). His puck retrieval ability and aggressive two-way play fit in with the mindset the new generation of prospects are bringing to the organization and further the new coach's goal to become a better puck possession team. I don't see how he doesn't make the cut, because the Sabres need a defensively responsible center and he should be able to plug anywhere in the line-up.

 

[TaLoN]

Larsson was my favorite prospect before we traded him... knew he'd be cracking the NHL this year. He was so underrated around here!

 

[Lapa]

Gilbert signs with the Panthers. 1 yr, 1 million. Good for him.

 

[rynryn]

Larsson was my favorite prospect before we traded him... knew he'd be cracking the NHL this year. He was so underrated around here!

you're joking, right?

 

[Sportsfan1]

Yep. Isn't it #@$!ing awesome!?!!!

Loved every minute of that fracus! Was a ton of fun, Kessel is a little lucky he didn't seriously injure someone with that stick though, has to stop swinging it like a club.