yzerman19

I can't see Stecher sitting either. He was really solid in a number of situations last year

Thanks for the compliment. My use of "alright" regarding LaDue wasn't meant analogous to "mediocre" it was meant as a real positive. Sorta like saying Toews turned out alright...not comparing him to Toews, just my use of "alright". My bias against older players is probably due to living in rodentville...I don't like hearing the 25 year old Canadian reference. Even though I know it is ignorant, anything that points towards older players just grates a little.

I don't know much about Poolman, but he is older than Jordan Schmaltz, Keaton Thompson, Troy Stecher, and Gage Ausmus...so is LaDue, and he worked out alright...although he did make some freshman mistakes, even as an old man freshman. Not knocking him, as I think he is very solid. I have a bit of a prejudice against these old players coming in, but it is what it is. Not everyone is Zack Parise, TJ Oshie, Drew Stafford, Jonathan Toews.... I would love to see that skill level on the ice again...17/18 year olds that are the best in NCAA...

I like OD on that "energy" line to put at least one slightly higher offensive skill guy on the ice- I could see Pattyn punishing, Gaarder scrapping, and OD picking up some real nice looks from yje high slot. I am counting on him burying a dozen of them this year...agree on Schmaltz...

Here are my thoughts for today- Scoring 1: Easy Mac between LJohnson and Parks (most complete line) Scoring 2: Jewels between Poganski and Schmaltz (most raw talent line) Energy 1: Pattyn between Gaarder and OD (line that will be very difficult to play against) Energy 2: St Clair between whomever earns it ( I think St Clair gets in because of his pk ability) D1: Schmaltz and LaDue D2: Mattson and Stecher D3: Thompson and Ausmus G1: Zane

just imagine one of those dresses next to a guy in the canadian tuxedo (jeans, jean shirt, and jean jacket)... a two-four of Labatt's in the day time watching the world juniors... then some awkward, horrific sex in a pick-up in the parking lot of a Timmy's or Robin's donuts

They are both excellent players, however... If I were a GM, I would build from the middle of the rink out, and the back of the rink up...Suter is absolutely a dman you build a team around, and some of the youngsters have potential. I think the missing element is truly a great 2-way center...a Toews or a Kopitar or a Bergeron type guy who will score 25-35 goals, 60-80 points, against other teams' top forward lines, playing plus hockey, winning draws, and playing well in all 3 zones. The 3 guys I named not only have those skills in common, but also have rings from each of the last 5 seasons. If you go back further some names pop up...Yzerman, Datsyuk...great 2-way centers. You need an elite 2-way center to win the cup. Mikko is a good two-way center. He is a dream as your #2 pivot...Wild need a top-end, two-way center.

Saw Rocco's deal on capgeek. Its a rookie max deal plus a couple spiffs in the two out years. Guessing by the deal and his signing that all parties expect assignment to the A next year- no big surprises.

Ox's "Mt. Crushmore" I am honored...actually, I am...thanks for the props

This thread has a good mix of opinions- educated and uneducated... Regarding the recently removed CEO- I have also had the opportunity to interact with him...he is a decent man and intelligent...none of this was malicious. So, as a result of ACA, Maryland opts to put up an exchange...Noridian says they can do it...they fail, and it costs them many, many millions. So, ACA plays a role in the loss by creating the environment/opportunity which ultimately costs BCND a boatload of cash. Had they been successful, the ACA (by the same loose logic chain) would've then made them cash. ACA will have winners and losers...the lawmakers are keenly aware of how the statutes impact each interest and are effectively choosing winners and losers...this is not a partisan statement, it is a statement about how our current gov't works... The interesting thing is that the BCND loss is not an "insurance loss" this isn't risk based capital or a result of a failure to manage the underwriting cycle correctly. It is a failure of a business to execute in a profitable manner. As for the whistleblower allegations- BCND is under a microscope, and management should understand that and work to ensure all practices are so far above board that there can never be any doubt. Oversight can be hard, especially when you have to trust those beneath you...and when you are in an industry that most people don't understand fully and certainly don't trust fully, you have to make things crystal clear. ACA- has good and bad in it...it will raise the cost of insurance for most people...there is a big time 80/20 rule in insurance...20 percent of the people drive 80 percent of costs...with community rating on underwriting and guaranteed issue, that means that premiums (benefit neutral) will go up for 80 percent of people and down for 20 percent of people. I said benefit neutral...add benefit requirements in, and costs go up even more for the premiums. The cost savings argument is a bet that more people covered will improve health outcomes and also greatly reduce provider bad debt, which in theory would allow providers to accept lower reimbursement which would then lower premiums...okay, the logic is fairly accurate, but the reality is that provider payments will not go down, especially if demand for services requires more access and more providers... In my opinion, BC's losses are not driven by ACA, but rather driven by a failure to execute and operate an efficient business.

Fair point- it isn't about business, nor NHL readiness, but a kid chasing a long-shot dream.

The odds of him getting hurt and earning nothing are incredibly small. I would say his upside odds resulting from staying and having a monster year are exponentially greater, but still small. If you rule out the extremes, and assume that he will not have a career ending injury nor will he be in the NHL, his deal looks the same next spring as now. In the meantime, he will have had another year living a free college life. The time value of one year is offset by the small increase to the CBA. Gotta make the business decision based on likely, not unlikely events.

$70k...terrible, terrible business decision by Rocco...I believe his NHL dream is gone, and he should've enoyed college and gotten a degree. Wow...love the kid, but he is not NHL ready

Right on...Bergeron looks an awful lot like Toews...he is a great player

I love watching Rocco, but I agree that he would not be the biggest loss. I also firmly believe he is not NHL ready.

for a physical, at home dman...hell yes

GF police have never had anything better to do than bust underagers having some fun...we all got minors in high school..just lame...in Minnneapolis...no minors

Wow...even sweeter deal for Dillon...Capgeek shows as I stated above, but with an NHL salary that inflates, but averages $830k

NHL really hurt me when the North Stars left and the Jets left. Those were my teams as a kid. Obviously by my moniker you can tell I was a Stevie Y fan, and while not a true Wings fan, I pulled for Stevie. I also remained a Selanne, Zhamnov, and Tkachuk fan as they journeyed. Am a Hawks fan cause of Toewser. Little bit Blues fan cause of Osh. Love Parise, but Wild under Lemaire turned me off so badly that I struggle pulling for them- I go to a few games a year,but have never fallen in love with the Wild...I really think the relocating of teams crushed my fandom.

So I didn't watch the game...if that foot is off the ice, then it is offsides; but let's think about it at game speed. In the picture, the puck looks like its an inch from the zone, and if the "offside" player just pulled his skate off the ice (which would appear be the case) if it is off the ice, then you are talking about offside by an inch...at game speed...hardly the worst call in history.

He's onside if he's dragging that left foot...can't tell from the picture

I think what makes those guys (collectively hair bands) awesome is that they never took themselves seriously...they were all about the good times...so it is hard for me to take them seriously when they didn't even take themselves seriously... Take Ratt again...the first name of that band was "Buster Cherry"...seriously???

"see the factory where I worked, silouetted in the back..."

Invasion of your privacy tour...

Finally- a kindred spirit!