NHL 2012-2013: Tentative deal early Sunday January 6

Mike Modano retires. He was an all-time US great player out of Livonia, Michigan. How do I know he is from Livonia. Because every game Kings played Dallas Bob Miller would let me know.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-M...

Nice interview on Mike Modano here from a couple years ago.

http://www.mayorsmanor.com/2009/12/i...

goman wrote:

Mike Modano retires. He was an all-time US great player out of Livonia, Michigan. How do I know he is from Livonia. Because every game Kings played Dallas Bob Miller would let me know.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-M...

Nice interview on Mike Modano here from a couple years ago.

http://www.mayorsmanor.com/2009/12/i...

Do you know who is also from Livonia? Ryan Kesler.

I've also hated Modano out of pure jealousy. He was a great hockey player and good person. Wouldn't be surprised if the Stars retired his jersey this season.

MaxShrek wrote:
AnimeJ wrote:
MaxShrek wrote:

Washington, Philly, Detroit, San Jose, St. Louis: does anybody believe anymore?

C-A-P-S.

This is not to say that I expect them to get past the first round of the playoffs, but I have been a fan for going on 15 years, and I can't see stopping that now.

I remember the good old days. 1988. Devils-Caps in playoffs. The infamous 10-4 game.

Sadly, I don't quite go back that far, I moved to Maryland in the early 90s, and really got on hockey when I was a Freshman in High School. I do remember watching them get spanked by the Pens in 2001 during the playoffs, my folks bought me tickets to the first two games

I watched hockey on tv last night. It was good. The Flyers lost and the Leafs won, which was better.

This season can't start soon enough.

***

In controversy news, Shelley hit Boyce from behind into the boards in a play that is clearly exactly what they are trying to take out of the game.

What was he thinking? He should get a good suspension. Boyce came back in the third period, but that doesn't make the hit any less serious. I didn't think Rosehill deserved an instigator penalty for fighting with Shelley afterwards, because he waited until he got Shelley's attention before fighting and Shelley dropped his gloves before any punches were thrown. But whatever, that's minor.

edit: Shelley got 10 games - 5 preseason, 5 regular season. Shanahan released a video on NHL.com explaining exactly what was illegal: http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=35&id=124282 . I like the explanation. This is about as clear cut a case as Shanahan is going to get, but I like that he's trying to be transparent.

Good start for Shanahan. Let's see if he keeps it up.

Prederick wrote:

What. The F*ck.

I wonder if people who think that's a hilarious idea have ever thought to try that at an NFL or NBA game? I mean, they could go through whole bunches there. Or maybe build a time machine and travel back to 1947?

I really liked when the Canucks had both Anson Carter and Richard Park—it was practically the most racially diverse team in the league, and nicely reflective of the city too I thought. We just needed Manny Malhotra then too.

Anyway. Hockey: the sport most adored by cretins. Apparently the image its fans try so hard to continually project to the rest of the world.

Simmonds is cool. He won't let this sh*t bother him. That said. Terrible.

My favorite part:

It appeared as though a fan threw an object onto the ice during the shootout. Unfortunately, we weren't able to identify the individual.

How? Out of all the people in the same section no one had the chutzpah to point out the turd?

Yeah, I'm wondering about that. I grew up near London and it's pretty stunning to me that someone would do that. I know if I was there and saw someone do it, I know I'd be pointing her/him out to security.

I saw on Reddit that some neo-Nazi 'leader' died in London recently, so apparently they're there.

Vector wrote:

Do you know who is also from Livonia? Ryan Kesler.

Oh, you mean Livonia-Native Ryan Kesler is just a guy named Ryan Kesler? I thought he just had one of those long French-Canadien names. Y'know, like Jonathon Cheechoo From-Moose-Factory-Ontario.

Good article by James Mirtle about the increasing use of advanced statistics by NHL teams: The Moneypuck revolution

Pittsburgh and Buffalo are named as two teams that are apparently buying in, though apparently most of the league still isn't interested at all.

nihilo wrote:

Good article by James Mirtle about the increasing use of advanced statistics by NHL teams: The Moneypuck revolution

Pittsburgh and Buffalo are named as two teams that are apparently buying in, though apparently most of the league still isn't interested at all.

Desjardins' blog was one of the websites I linked to last season when I was talking about statistical analysis in hockey. The worst part about an NHL team moving to Winnipeg is the blog is Jets-focused rather than general-focused now.

I've been told that the Islanders consulted with people outside the organization for statistical analysis of the Tavares draft and the acquisition of Matt Moulson was heavily influenced by analysis. One would assume Boston has some sort of statistical work going on given that Harry Sinden tracked "Corsi" (well, what is now known as Corsi) back for the Summit Series.

The hardest part is probably collecting the data, as the NHL's stat-tracking can be woeful. If I ran a team I would be trying to get college students working for me part-time and have them watching tapes of games and counting or recording stuff as simple as scoring chances, touches, or completed passes. I think it was the Houston Rockets' (NBA) General Manager who said that recording and collecting proprietary data will be the next big thing in sports analysis.

When you look at GM backgrounds and GM lineage I don't think it's too surprising that a lot of teams are going to eschew quantitative analysis. Not many have much in the way of education and have grown up in a culture of intangibles, heart, and character being the most important qualities of a hockey player. The lineage thing also explains why offer-sheets for restricted free agents are so rare even though there were some very good opportunities this off-season.

Edit1: Perron potentially being healthy is great news. Very good player.

Edit2: I hope Shanahan's suspension videos are the most viewed thing on NHL.com. I have to imagine they're driving a fair bit of traffic since he's been quite busy this pre-season. Hopefully he keeps it up through June and "stars" don't get special treatment. The Boyes suspension was particularly impressive because he mentioned that intent doesn't matter if you're reckless.

Roke wrote:

Edit2: I hope Shanahan's suspension videos are the most viewed thing on NHL.com. I have to imagine they're driving a fair bit of traffic since he's been quite busy this pre-season. Hopefully he keeps it up through June and "stars" don't get special treatment. The Boyes suspension was particularly impressive because he mentioned that intent doesn't matter if you're reckless.

Yup. If they're serious about getting players to change their behavior, he's going about it the right way. Showing the hit, clearly stating the rules, stating why it's a violation, and describing how repeat offense affects it.

Watched the Leafs preseason game last night versus Ottawa. I know its just preseason, but the Grabovski - Kulemin - MacArthur line looks very good again this year, which is excellent news. I hope Kessel and Connolly get something going, but right now it seems clear that Grabovski's line is the best on the Leafs. Really, I think it won't be long before Grabovski is generally recognized as the Leafs' best player.

I remember when the Leafs got Grabovski from Montreal for practically nothing. At the time he was more trouble than he was worth - constantly feuding with the Kostitsyns and getting in trouble off the ice. I didn't care for him much. But in the last year or so he's been much more focused and has just been playing the game - it's been good for him. He's fast, fearless and has a good shot. I'm concerned about him getting hurt because he's taken a few good blows to the head, but he seems to bounce back just fine. He's one of the best pick ups by the Leafs in the last 5 years and I never would have guessed I'd be saying that at the time.

Reimer played last night and looked shaky in the first - which is scary. The Leafs absolutely need solid goaltending if they're going to have success this year, and basically counting on Reimer recapturing his form from last spring. The Leafs (like every other team in the NHL) play so much better when they have good goaltending behind them. If we don't have that, players get frustrated and stop playing their game - there is still a lot of inexperience on this team. Reimer playing well will help more than just making saves - it would provide confidence for the whole team.

London police charged a suspect in the Wayne Simmons banana-throwing incident.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Suspect-charged-in-Wayne-Simmonds-banana-throwin?urn=nhl-wp13596

James Wisniewski, Jean-Francois Jacques, Brad Boyes, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, all having suspensions for hits or other silly stuff like instigating during a line change. Pretty busy pre-season, but I wonder how long it will hold up.

nihilo wrote:

London police charged a suspect in the Wayne Simmons banana-throwing incident.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Suspect-charged-in-Wayne-Simmonds-banana-throwin?urn=nhl-wp13596

Here's your alleged asshole.

IMAGE(http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/editorial_image/ab/abebe5547cd241920060737d4cd3a84d/suspect_charged_in_wayne_simmonds_bananathrowing_affair.jpg)

ColdForged wrote:
nihilo wrote:

London police charged a suspect in the Wayne Simmons banana-throwing incident.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Suspect-charged-in-Wayne-Simmonds-banana-throwin?urn=nhl-wp13596

Here's your alleged asshole.

IMAGE(http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/editorial_image/ab/abebe5547cd241920060737d4cd3a84d/suspect_charged_in_wayne_simmonds_bananathrowing_affair.jpg)

As a sidenote, Simmonds also apparently called Sean Avery a certain three-letter British term for a cigarette. Frankly, I don't doubt he did it in the slightest, and I would've liked the NHL to fine his dumb ass for it. One can be a bigot and a victim simultaneously.

And yes, speaking as a Rangers fan, Sean Avery is an absolutely insufferable little sh*t, but he's my little sh*t so I have to endure him.

Really? By the sounds of it the trash talk that happens on the ice in every game goes well beyond f-g. Everyone I've seen who has had a chance to hear what is said on the ice game in game out seems completely unphased by the Simmonds - Avery thing, except that they express surprise that Avery is complaining about it. Well, not surprise (because it's Avery), but yeah. If you ask me, that's the reason the NHL didn't fine anyone - because sh*t-talking is an NHL staple among players.

Prederick wrote:

And yes, speaking as a Rangers fan, Sean Avery is an absolutely insufferable little sh*t, but he's my little sh*t so I have to endure him.

Speaking as a Rangers fan, Avery has said a lot worse during his career in the heat of battle, so he's a jack a$$, and I cannot wait until he is no longer a Ranger. I have never hated a player so much on a team I root for............................ok, Tiki Barber ranks #1 overall, but Avery is a close 2nd. Then again, at least Barber waited until after he left to be a giant tool.

When on the Jets, Selanne used to play ball hockey with the kids on his street.

That's awesome.

nihilo wrote:

London police charged a suspect in the Wayne Simmons banana-throwing incident.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Suspect-charged-in-Wayne-Simmonds-banana-throwin?urn=nhl-wp13596

His lawyer is now saying that he had no idea throwing the banana could be seen as racist.

nihilo wrote:
nihilo wrote:

London police charged a suspect in the Wayne Simmons banana-throwing incident.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Suspect-charged-in-Wayne-Simmonds-banana-throwin?urn=nhl-wp13596

His lawyer is now saying that he had no idea throwing the banana could be seen as racist.

Its probably a ignorance deffense that will work but he knew exactly what he was doing.

nihilo wrote:
nihilo wrote:

London police charged a suspect in the Wayne Simmons banana-throwing incident.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Suspect-charged-in-Wayne-Simmonds-banana-throwin?urn=nhl-wp13596

His lawyer is now saying that he had no idea throwing the banana could be seen as racist.

Right. "Technically, your Honour, and as my client is aware, we're all descended from monkeys."

I was not aware of thrown bananas having a history in hockey either, but when you think about:

-Who buys a banana at a hockey game?
-Who throws anything on the ice except hats and occasionally sea creatures?
-Who does this not only during play, but in a penalty shot-type situation?

It does seem like the whole thing is in extraordinarily bad taste.

4xis.black wrote:

I was not aware of thrown bananas having a history in hockey either, but when you think about:

-Who buys a banana at a hockey game?
-Who throws anything on the ice except hats and occasionally sea creatures?
-Who does this not only during play, but in a penalty shot-type situation?

It does seem like the whole thing is in extraordinarily bad taste.

He fails (or would that be pass?) the douche bag test at every level. If someone act like a douche bag at every level, then they pretty much are wasting my time if they want to nitpick about what their motivations are.

So I think he is probably racist. I don't think it is worth my, or anyone else's, time, nailing down if that is true or not. He's a pathetic human being even if he were to convince anyone he is not racist.