IKnowPhysics

Montour played with Risto and McCabe with great success, but it was only for relatively short total times. He also played great with Dahlin. Other players... not so much. If I get some nerd time this weekend, I'll do a defensemen analysis like I did after last season and look at pairings. I think there's some interesting data in the WOWYs about what was tried and whether pairings with good possession correlated into good GF%s.

I think there's a serious case to be had for keeping Ristolainen, based on his promising use with Pilut over McCabe. CF%, GF%, HDCF% (and minutes) in 5v5: McCabe-Risto: 48.08%, 39.02%, 47.59% (482 minutes) Pilut-Risto: 55.61%, 44.44%, 60.00% (222 minutes) Pilut-Risto not only had better possession rates than McCabe-Risto, they had better goal production and high-danger corsi rates. What's also noteworthy is that despite the decent 55.61 CF% and 60.00 HDCF%, the GF% was still only 44.44%. That could have easily been goaltending.

Yeah, the weird part was that the NWHLPA was never on board with the boycott, seemingly failing to address or incorporate the interests of a large number of members: https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/05/02/hundreds-of-womens-hockey-players-announce-boycott/ So while I understand and support what both the NWHLPA and the bocotters are doing, not having the union lead the effort really muddies the waters, and makes negotiations extraordinarily difficult. Nonetheless, the NWHL announced a new deal, and the NWHLPA heralds it as a major advancement: https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nwhl-agrees-increase-salaries-benefits-revenue-sharing/ But now, just this week, the PWHPA (Professional Women's Hockey Players Association) has been created: https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/05/21/latest-developments-still-have-womens-hockey-divided/ With their stated goals: http://pwhpa.com/ So at the very least, the PWHPA will provide structure, leadership, and a negotiating team for the players that don't align with the NWHLPA, likely including former CWHL players that weren't represented by the NWHLPA. But with a new deal already in place between the NWHLPA and the NWHL, it's unknown if the new PWHPA will accept the gains and advise their members to participate. BUT, according to an interview with Kaleigh Fratkin, one of the founding players that crossed the #ForTheGame movement to sign with Boston, indicated that the movement (and the PWHPA) has their next steps planned: file for incorporation of a new WNHL and get the NHL as a major sponsor: https://www.theicegarden.com/2019/5/24/18637513/kaleigh-fratkin-interview-forthegame-decision-to-sign-with-the-nwhl-womens-hockey-pwhpa-boston-pride So I think what we may see is the PWHPA quickly attempt to take effective control of this situation by representing the majority of NWHL players, and work to form a league with the NHL. In that scenario, the PWHPA organization will ultimately be the one to green light players playing in the NWHL for the next one or two seasons, or to tell all members to hold out, forcing the collapse of the NWHL, and paving the way for a WNHL. Interesting times. There will probably be a movie made about this someday.

Quoted cost of repair at a dealership: $13110. Actual cost of repair at a trusted mechanic: $257. I love my car; the dealership quote almost made me cry, until I confirmed what little diagnostic work they did (nothing) before they quoted me for an all new crate engine. Christ was I happy to get it away from that dealer and get it to my guy. Even my guy was skeptical about being able to find/fix the issue, but I encouraged him a little, and he did not disappoint.

Not always true. Many labor unions thoroughly examine the business opportunities and business practices of the companies that employ their members to find ways to increase revenue or efficiency. Example: Company: We need to cut employee benefits in order to save $X. Union: We've determined you could do A, B, and C to save just as much money without cutting employee benefits, and you maintain good employee morale and retention. The financial growth and success of women's professional hockey is in the mutual interest of the NWHL and NWHLPA.

I think the outer shape should have been a circle, not a shield, BUT this logo will probably be worn as a chest patch, so the badge-like shape will look good on the jerseys next to the circular main crest. It is also noteworthy that the color palette is the modern set. If this patch was intended to be worn on the third jersey, I wonder if this means the third jersey uses the modern color palette too.

Nice. I'm encouraged.

Crisis averted. Best wishes in recovery.

It's not unheard of, however.

Pegula was the owner when Lindy Ruff was fired before Darcy Regier was fired, so I'm not sure what the basis for this potshot is.

He's under contract as an assistant coach for the Rangers. You hire an assistant coach that brings some skills or experience (offensive/defensive tactics, special teams, motivation, teaching) that your coaching staff needs. You don't setup for failure by hiring your next coach as an assistant. Lindy's experience would certainly help some coaching staff, but it'll be up to Krueger, Smith, and Botterill to decide what skill sets they need to add, and Lindy won't be in consideration (see #1).

Retain Steve Smith, hire Kevin Dineen and maybe Ulf Samuelsson.

Negative.

Out of curiosity, all those that would have lost their ***** if the Sabres hired Lindy Ruff as Head Coach say "AYE."

Fascinating. Ralph Krueger over Lindy Ruff.

GM Eichel approves.

Yep. See my post wherever that thread is. Cal Botterill was a hockey coach and teacher of Ralph Krueger. Nice. Star Trek builds character. That "we ***** up" article from the Edmonton Journal was eye opening. They buried Krueger at the time, only to realize in the next years with Eakins how bad the roster was at the time, and now go just short of offering an apology to Krueger. Good read. Paints an entirely different picture of the one-and-done season and really thrashes MacT.

Tom Renney as assistant coach?

Has anyone heard or read -not made up or imagined, but heard or read- anything negative about his coaching style?

I bet he keeps Steve Smith.

Also, the timing suggests Botterill has been high on Krueger. 2017: Botterill "wanted to talk to" Ralph Krueger. Unknown if he ever did before hiring Phil Housley. April 1: LeBrun publishes an article in the Athletic sugggesting Ralph Krueger may be interested in an NHL job. April 9th: Todd McLellan arrives in Buffalo to watch NCAA Frozen Four and interview with Jason Botterill. April 12th 2:00am: Southampton announces Ralph Krueger stepping down, deliberately and earlier than his contract end date in June. April 12th 11:27am: Bob McKenzie reports Botterill did not offer McLellan a contract. April 16th: LA Kings announce Todd McLellan hiring. As soon as McLellan is decided to be out, Krueger leaves his job? But Krueger leaves before McLellan is announced out- and one day before a Southampton match. Conspiracy speculation: I think Steve Smith or Jason Botterill informed Krueger they wanted to talk as soon as McLellan was out of the picture, and this happened before Bob McKenzie learns McLellan is out.

Steve Smith was in Edmonton as an assistant coach 2010-14, through Ralph Krueger's tenure as assistant coach 2010-12 and head coach 2012-13. Botterill wouldn't hire Krueger without a stellar recommendation from the only assistant coach he retained after firing Phil Housley. I like where this is going.

I don't know if tampering rules (which, for players, is in the CBA) exist for coaching staff. I know there's obvious nondisclosure clauses, etc, as part of team employment. I also think it's professionally courteous to ask permission from competing entities to communicate to staff under contract, but that's not necessarily a written rule.

Well, the order of which coaches they might prefer is definitely speculation. Most of the notes on the coaches have been written other places, however.