shrader

Awwww, this was a rare time where I was actually hoping for a youtube clip. Quoting cannot do that scene justice.

So you actually looked at the list and still spelled my name wrong? I'm no longer a fan of you, dudaceck.

How soon?

He has a series of one year stops so far. One year as an assistant at Niagara (NCAA), one with the Amerks, and now one with the Otters. I get the feeling that if he's going to get back into the pro coaching game, he's going to first get some time as an assistant at the AHL level again.

Thursday's choice should be easy, just take a look at your bank account.

I wasn't expecting anything this year since I started the new job back in August. If anything, I'd get a prorated percentage based on the amount of time I was here. I got a sizable increase in salary with this new job, so I didn't really need an increase. But I am getting the full percentage (whatever it is), so I've got that going for me, which is nice.

5 of those were in the first 3 years, so that one per year stat is skewed. Of those remaining 3, they're different scenarios: -Ryan O'Reilly in 2013: A unique case that will be tough to duplicate, with O'Reilly holding out -Shea Weber in 2012: Another unique case where a truly unique player became available, teams typically lock these guys up in advance -Nik Hjalmarsson in 2010: NNow this is the case that most could make an argument for right now, an attempt at poaching a guy from a cap strapped team. Still, we've seen plenty of teams believed to be in cap trouble in recent years and there still doesn't wind up being an offer sheet. Like I said, I'll believe it when I see it, the league is going to stick to its typical behavior come July.

I feel like there's a Phil Kessel joke in here somewhere.

I guess I should have gone directly to you as it sounds like we are in pretty much the same situation. Time Warner is my main option and obviously they are trying to push me towards a higher level. Their first suggestion was actually two levels up from that (30 mbps), which I laughed at. So it will either come down to the $10 gap between the standard package and the one above it. But hey, the direct tv rate I just signed up for blows away what I am paying now for Time Warner cable (well, at least for one year anyway). I'm pumped about that.

I'm looking forward to McCoy's thoughts on why Kelly hasn't signed any asians to play for the Eagles.

There were three straight USNTDP coaches who were seen as up and comers in the coaching world. Hynes got that Scranton job. David Quinn got an assistant job at BU, then coached in Colorado's system. And then there was the third guy... Ron Rolston. I do wonder how that would have worked out if he hadn't been rushed up to the NHL job so early, maybe that career doesn't derail.

You have to love getting more money, no matter what it is. The bonus sounds like a nice touch. I'd love to get one of those sometime, but they do take care of me pretty well right now, so I can't complain. Our reviews just went through last week, but we don't know what we're getting yet. They don't kick in until July. Still, a slightly larger paycheck right at the same time where we are closing on our house is a welcomed sight. Hopefully the wife gets a little increase too.

I'll just come out and say it right now like I do every year. They won't be signing anyone to any offer sheets. Maybe someday someone changes it, but it's just not the least bit common at all in this league. So until that change actually happens, I continue to expect the league to operate as normal.

Does anyone have a good feel for what type of internet connection speed you need for netflix? I'm trying to get the lowest package I can get by on and netflix is really the only thing I use that is actually eats up any resources. I do use the PS3 occasionally too, but almost never online.

And just imagine what we may have to pay out in three years when both Eichel and Reinhart are up for new contracts. I'm sure we will get them done before they become RFAs, but man it could get ugly fast if they don't.

I don't want to get into ranking goalies, but do know that both Crawford and Bishop wouldn't be near the top of my list. I'd love to see what Price could do with a better roster behind him, especially some stronger forwards.

Which is kind of crazy when you think about it. In Carrion league standards, that team made one hell of a heroic charge in the second half last year. They just dug too much of a hole early in the year and had such a little chance at catching up.

I'll put it here because the Darwin award candidate I saw this weekend was awesomely stupid. I was driving on a busy highway yesterday and a teenage kid was riding his bike (bicycle) on the left shoulder. Not only is it a busy road, but it's also undergoing a lot of road work so it's bumpy as hell. I was in the left lane when I saw him and he was bouncing around and weaving due to the bumps. I broke pretty hard, but I was convinced I was going to be the one to end that kid. So wait, there's the awesome part, I didn't hit him.

I'm not sold on the idea of needing a top 10 goalie, probably mostly due to the fact that I have no idea what that is anymore. If that blue line grows the way you're hoping, give me just a serviceable goalie and I think we can go a long way. I realize I'm probably just playing a game of semantics with what I just said, but I'm not sure I really see the value of the superstar goalie at this point. Sure they can take you somewhere (ie. Carey Price), but if you put the right team around even an average goalie, you're going to be in good shape.

But then they just match the offer sheet...

So did the Hanifin free fall start after that? I know each time I looked at Button rankings he had Hanifin well below the standard #3 ranking. I see that as of January that he had him at 5, so I'll claim the technical victory because I said "this year" (and this is where I'd put the winking emoticon if I wasn't on my phone)

Nevermind a player going the Europe route instead of playing in college, this kind of thing doesn't happen with any North American players. It's not really a viable option for these European leagues really. They usually have rules that limit the number of players you can import from outside of the country/region. They're not going to use one of those slots on a teenager unless he's elite.

I haven't religiously followed his rankings, but it does seem like each time there is one specific guy that he likes to bury down much further than where everyone else has him. I know he's been burying Hanifin all year.

I'd be willing to bet that you don't make it to the Sabres second pick. I remember going to the draft in Buffalo the year Lecavalier went first overall. We left long before the Sabres drafted Kalinin. It was way too boring.

You go to this "exception vs. the rule" argument far too often. That and youtube videos must be right on the first page of the LGR cliche handbook. I mention Reinhart simply because he is probably the third listing in your handbook. Anyway, if this list is generated on a yearly basis, you will so those rankings fluctuate quite a bit. To put it in your words, Reinhart would actually wind up being much more of the rule instead of the exception.