Neo

chicken or egg. Does the organization fail to find players, or do players fail to find an organization? I’ve leaned toward the latter for over a year.

Least likely .. Scandella from Girgensons!?

Life’s funny .... 540 pages on “How to go to work”.

Awesome !

In another thread, I said I’d give Housley until December of next year. I also said I was unable to evaluate roster vs coaching when determining what the problem was. Im still there, candidly, regarding my ability. However, I’ve moved on regarding action. To “show” like this so often against this caliber of opposition means the coach is missing something or he’s lost the room. I’m inclined to the latter. I am personally sensitive to great performers who lose rooms. I’ve been there. It matters not whether it’s the fault of the coach or the players. The coach goes. The circle of life for coaches. Assumption of risk. I can, and have, railed all day about it being the takent’s fault. You don’t fire the talent. I know of what I speak. My heart bleeds for HCPH. He’s finished.

He hates to lose, I hear.

Progress!

If this is overturned, I don’t know what hockey is ...

NICE!

From the “what do I know” bin ... One consolation I took from the Montreal game was Sam and Casey simply looking ... stronger, bigger, established. Sam sold me a few weeks ago, and Casey most recently. I am eagerly awaiting some young kid we just develop nicely for a few years. Dropping “the franchise, 1C, 2C” on these kids, necessarily, just stunts development, IMHO. My kids all got trikes and training wheels. I was convinced they were generational when they arrived.

Interesting side path ... what the fans want to see v’s. what wins. I am reminded of the 1990s New Jersey Devils, or the franchise that nearly killed hockey. The left wing lock/neutral zone trap. We hated it. New Jersey loved it. It was effective and not entertaining. If there’s little or no correlation to hitting and winning, what do we want to see? I suspect winning would silence a lot of the hitting talk. Just an observation. I’m casting no vote.

Had you pulled me aside, long ago, and told me that in the future the efficacy of “hitting in hockey” would be debated ... A lesson for the youth. Your immutables have shelf lives!

You’re on to something. A mic in front of you after a loss is no-win. Perhaps penance, as a good poster mentioned, but no satisfaction for fans.

Visit me at The Fig Wednesday night. I’ll buy you a salad!

Fancy stats, meet Mr. play by play guy!

No doubt it was different and welcome. My evolution to a post fighting world still allows and loves playing the body. For me, the vibe started after Skinner was hauled down, or something. He looked for a call, got none, and went into berserker mode as only a sniper can, launching shots from every angle. He skated like the Tasmanian Devil, as only he can. He rotates! The team seemed to feed off of it. Passion, as much as crunched bodies, sat me up on my sofa. Oh, and the roars!

Immediate impressions .. ERod will never pot 30, but I like him on the ice. When did we acquire Sheary? He looks pretty good. Skinner competes. Three years ago I called him a diver. I no longer have doubts about Sam Reinhart. He’s stronger. Jack is Goldilocks. Sometimes he does too much. Some times he does too little. Sometimes he’s juuuuust right. Risto ?! O’Reilly is a tank casualty. Had we let him be a great hockey player, and not saddled him with the ethos and identity of a franchise, we’d be much better off. I’m looking at me, Neo. Success as a team can’t come too fast for Dhalin’s development. Nylander has a pulse. Irwin! I searched your profile, but failed to find the name history.

All do respect to B - Lo, but that’s one funny response. Gotta say I share your joy in this game. Who the heck are you?

I’m glad for them all. Let’s carry the arena vibe into the Leafs game.

Exciting hockey ,,, crowds ... passion ... I’m having flashbacks. Oh, it’s been so long!

Skinner livid shift ...

Oh, my, no! I was making a joke, poorly. He was chatting with a teammate on the bench. A polite nod. Craig Berube clapped. Nice gesture, all around.

He listened to the smattering, and then mouthed “I’ve got to be better”.

I’m familiar with demanding better. I’m not self convinced I know what needs to be better. I generally sit on my demands until I can argue their efficacy. You demand better coaching. She demands better GMing. They demand better effort and grit. I’m not arguing against you and I’m not satisfied with the present.

It’s like an upper deck MNF game at New Era Field. It’s fun an entertaining, but mind your women and children ... and be prepared to explain the unexplainable! SabreSpace has so many chefs. I still want an @Claude_Verret BBQ.