ska-T Chitown

Haha - this has been my biggest life lesson in the year or so I have actually been posting (after lurking in the shadows for 10+ years). 🙂

Honest question for the folks on the board who know more about actual development: I keep reading that Benson's skating is not great (good, but not great) and he could use a harder/quicker shot ... a player can still work on their skating and shooting at 18/19 yrs old, right?? I mean I read about players who get drafted with "flaws" that they work on and correct. Given his apparent work ethic, I would not be shocked at all (atol) if he came back with improvements in those two areas next fall.

can we get t-shirts??

You weren't making $1.44M right before you retired? 🤣

Either Wright got 'credit' for the non-existent Covid year or his 'exceptional status' came with a loophole? He also played in the OHL, so I am not sure if their agreement with the NHL is different? Those smarter than me (low bar) have been pretty adamant the Benny cannot take his jets to the AHL this year.

Yeah, game exemption thing was pulled sideways fresh outta my bum and I regret adding to any confusion now. I shall sit in the corner of shame for 3 mins.

Right after the post where @LGR4GM confirms (again) that Benson cannot go to the AHL next year ...

cheekbones?

Yeah - totally not intending to lay that stuff squarely at your feet, most just replying to your replies to my replies to keep the convo going - I enjoy your perspectives and thoughts. You are definitely correct - each pro sport has countless high profile examples of athletes flaming out for what are likely work ethic issues. I tried to cover that with my previous statements, but there are probably some of those types that end up sticking around at the higher levels. I would *guess* that those cases continue to become more rare as the athletic abilities of these players keeps increasing year after year. But, that could be my idealization. I might also be still processing my grief from such a scheisse-storm of a season and have not accepted that maybe there are some of these deep-rooted issues?

I appreciate your humorous response (I am actually still giggling). I love this forum for all the good discussion (on hockey and other things) and very knowledgeable people, so I don't like it when I feel like I step on toes that don't need to be stepped on. I think my trigger with the whole topic is that it sounds like some stuffy shirt corporate America "you should be oh so grateful to have any time off" line of thinking. It is the gen-Xer in me, I guess. (I am a cusper, so the millennial part of me wants my participation emoji reaction trophy for posting!) I'd counter some of the "spoiled kids" talk with what many of these young men have actually gone through; I believe many of them have to chose between essentially moving out from home at age 14 (or so) to stay with a host family so they can participate in the higher level leagues, camps, etc. Most of them earned their way to the top two levels (NHL and AHL) of professional hockey with enormous amounts of hard work and dedication. Those that made it through Juniors on talent alone tend to flame out very quickly (either in brief stints in the NHL/AHL or in college). I think some slack could be cut if a 22 year old (with a very limited world view) who has dedicated 10 or maybe more years of their life to excelling at this sport for thinking they "earned" a contract of whatever value. I think a player thinking they earned their contract and a player thinking they have "arrived" and are no longer subject to working their butts off (this is what I thought GMHD was talking about regarding an arrogant locker room) are two very different things.

Come to think of it, I do recall huffing and puffing a little ... 😉

I forgot to use my sarcasm font 🙂 All the bits about "egregious indignation" were meant to be mostly in jest. I still stand by my point that what the players do in their free time is their business and judging them for how they do it is perplexing at best. It does not make sense to me how a person gets to put a qualifier on who may enjoy their vacation. It wasn't even just you, at all. This is similar to The Great Fortnight Uproar, or other similar criticisms on how a player (still a person) chooses to spend their free time, trying to recharge. By the logic above, would the 4th line center, or 13th forward of a team not be entitled to their beach time? Or mountain hikes, if that trips their trigger? Yes, my comment about McDavid was intended to be obnoxious, but when taken in context, it is not that much worse than calling players out for taking a moment to recognize their good fortune. Nothing in that picture says "We have our contract, time to stop working!!" It his me (yes, my opinion) the same as someone buying a new car and a co-worker, or boss, or neighbor remarking something like "I guess they pay you too much" instead of just being happy for them. I will say - if it came off as a specific attack on you, it was not intended - I guess I am not good at calling out general things I disagree with without accidentally pointing a finger at a specific post/poster.

But he is on a beach ... he can't possibly be committed to winning any more.

That's it ... you will find my extensive collection of your hockey cards on ebay shortly ...

I read on the internet that Connor McDavid once sat in a comfy chair and did not think about hockey for FIVE WHOLE MINUTES ... what an uncommitted a-hole!

Aren't we still under "NHL or WHL" rules for Benny next year? Similar to Our Boi Savoie this year? Or is there a "he played X nhl games" clause to the agreement?

Insane buffness aside - OMG! Sidney Crosby on a beach! He must not be committed to hockey!!!!! It's like everyone expects every player to be doing off-ice stick handling drills every second they are not ON the ice or in whatever magical weight room everyone assumes will make them "grittier". Joseph Smith ... they are people - they get to take vacations. **not directing this specifically at our friendly neighborhood Liger - I was just too lazy to keep scrolling to find the egregious indignation being hurled at Dylan and Tage for taking a beat to rest.

They fired him and still didn't make the playoffs - mayhaps he was not the problem?

I am not an expert on this (or really anything, but I'll save that for the couch), but I would think he is a good candidate to avoid, or have a minimal, sophomore slump. I am thinking it is because of his versatility - he performed in many different roles and was not necessarily shielded from situations. I don't know that he would be asked to do all that much more next year. I think his ability to play so many games in a relatively physical manner this year is a great sign. I can see three potential scenarios where he could "slump" He puts too much pressure on himself to do significantly better. His role changes dramatically. New Coach either scales back his role or dramatically increases it. The fictional SabreSpace Owen Power Regression. Fans expect a significant step forward and when it does not come, the player is declared a bust even tho they are arguably played just as well or even slightly better their second year. JJ avoid "the slump". He was a little "up and down" or "streaky" in his rookie year and that continued this year, but both the highs and lows were higher.

doesn't matter, torts is a tart.

I think he emphatically struck the podium with at least one finger whilst saying it.

I will say, if Q knew (the official report was inconclusive on how much he knew and when) and "upper management" - which a HC is not part of, nor would the HC have the actual ability to quash an investigation (though he could have advocated to "push it off" during the Cup run) - if management decided to do nothing and he had any integrity, he absolutely should have taken it public. No doubt. Thinking about it more - for the NHL to essentially ban Q from coaching, I don't see how Q's public account of the facts can be true. I will now jump off the Q train - I don't like this.

Speedy response, I see where you get your name. Good on ya!

If there was a "heart" reaction, you would have had mine. Hooli machine won't let me do gifs, so you get 🥰 for now.

Are there any coaches that could get canned if they flunk out in the first round? Beyond that? No sarcasm - genuinely curious how warm/hot some of those seats might be. I'd think after the first round, not too many? In which case, GMKA (not sure if I am fully comfortable diving right into using GM Howdy Doody) could start now, dilly dally just a little, see what round 1 holds, then full speed ahead?