The Swamp

Kuch likely out for a while. Bring on Eichel!

LTIR: Kucherov (cap hit)

I'm shocked people think this is a work.

I don't know that anyone thinks he faked his penis-area injury or anything like that, just that it'll be convenient when they backfill his cap space and then he's ready right around the start of the playoffs.

21 games for violating COVID policies seems pretty steep.

brian wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:35 pm 21 games for violating COVID policies seems pretty steep.

Of course, trying to use a forged vax card is a little worse than "violating covid protocols" makes it sound.

If the Sharks are doing ok during the next month, they won't want him back. Then, what?

sancarlos wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:38 pm

brian wrote: ↑Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:35 pm 21 games for violating COVID policies seems pretty steep.

Of course, using a forged vax card is a little worse than "violating covid protocols" makes it sound.

If the Sharks are doing ok during the next month, they won't want him back. Then, what?

He’ll be tough to move with the cap hit. They might have to just trade him for a bag of pucks. But getting the cap money back would be a win for down the road. Still, the Pacific is wide open. If they’re doing OK they might want to roll the dice on putting him back in the lineup. Worst case maybe he gains some suitors before trade deadline.

He’s poison at this stage. I can’t imagine a team taking him unless it’s like a cap floor team picking up a legit asset and telling him to stay home.

TNT using stock footage that is AT LEAST three years old for their NHL broadcasts. I don't have a beef with stock footage per se, but at least make sure it's up to date.

The lack of stock footage of Fenway last night has made the brains of some Red Sox fans break.

So, the Sabres and Sharks are a combined 6-0-0 so far. We all saw that coming, right?

Lots of excitement for the Kraken's home opener tomorrow night, mostly about the new Arena.

After $1.15 billion renovation, Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena ‘will surprise people in the greatest way

From the first blast of natural light that greets visitors entering the new spectator bowl within Climate Pledge Arena, it will be glaringly obvious that KeyArena is now dead and buried.

Not beneath the actual venue, mind you, though there might have been room enough for a burial given the 680,000 cubic yards of dirt displaced as workers dug an extra 15 feet downward to form a new arena floor some 53 feet below street level.

Instead, much of KeyArena’s interior now rests in nearby landfills while some of the base structure — particularly the historically preserved roof and side windows — was recycled as part of the new facility.

And KEXP is providing the in-arena music:

Can KEXP help the Kraken make hockey music cool?

“I’m a big sports guy,” says confirmed music geek John Richards, KEXP’s morning host and programming director, “and sometimes when I’m there, I’m mystified as to why I’m listening to what I’m listening to as I look around at the crowd. It seems like it doesn’t fit who’s in the audience.”

The Sounders season-ticket holder and his KEXP cohorts might be able to help change that when the Kraken hits the ice at Climate Pledge Arena. Heading into its inaugural season, the Kraken tapped the taste-making Seattle radio station to consult on its game-day music programming, including those in-game song selections.

It’s a smart move for the incoming franchise to utilize its Seattle Center neighbor’s wealth of musical knowledge as it looks to create a game-day experience that resonates with the hometown crowd.

Would be cool if they stuck to only Seattle artists.

John Richards' guided running podcasts/playlists are really great.

McDavid Pace Watch - 210

The Calgary Flames have made me the pessimist I am today. I'm sure of it.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 1:40 pm The Calgary Flames have made me the pessimist I am today. I'm sure of it.

They won today!

sancarlos wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 2:53 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 1:40 pm The Calgary Flames have made me the pessimist I am today. I'm sure of it.

They won today!

They had to blow a 3-0 lead first.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 3:04 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 2:53 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 1:40 pm The Calgary Flames have made me the pessimist I am today. I'm sure of it.

They won today!

They had to blow a 3-0 lead first.

Ha ha. Way to grasp for a negative in a positive result.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 3:17 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 3:04 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 2:53 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 1:40 pm The Calgary Flames have made me the pessimist I am today. I'm sure of it.

They won today!

They had to blow a 3-0 lead first.

Ha ha. Way to grasp for a negative in a positive result.

When I posted they were in the midst of blowing that lead, they hadn't won yet!

The Penguins have had their usual luck so far this season re: injuries and illness. The past decade, I swear they've led the league in games missed by top players every single season.

Last night, they played without Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Jeff Carter, and Brian Rust. Evan Rodrigues was their 1C. And they beat the Leafs, 7-1. There's no shame in losing to the Penguins, but the Leafs can't be happy about that. I'm sure that Leafs Internet is a fun place this morning.

bapo! wrote: ↑Sun Oct 24, 2021 10:15 am I'm sure that Leafs Internet is a fun place this morning.

I’ve been reading the comments since their game against the Sharks on Friday. Leafs fans have the torches and ropes out. They’re looking to lynch somebody. Marner, Ritchie, Keefe and Dubas getting the most abuse.

A friend who shares my Leafs-misery hobby just sent an email. He was reading the comments section of an article in The Athletic and came across this suggestion to fix the team:

'Jim Rutherford, he fixed the Pens enough to win a couple of cups and won one in Carolina. Plenty of experience and owes nothing to any player on the roster. Do it soon, if this keeps up another week or two it may be too late to make up points and jump enough teams. This has been going on since halfway through last season. Let Rutherford bring in a coach and let's get this fixed.'

To which my friend responded, 'Yes, do that, Toronto. Please, please do that.'

I'm digging in now. Seeing a lot of comments about how Matthews will be gone in two years after his contract expires. This fan base is thoroughly defeated.

Meanwhile, Zach Hyman has been fantastic for the Oilers. The Leafs could use a guy like that.

Earlier in this thread, I talked about my interest in Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard. It took all of 5 games for Bouchard to get moved up to the top pairing with Darnell Nurse. Against Vegas, he played 24 very strong minutes. He's one of their top penalty killers. (The only reason he isn't on the power play is because Tyson Barrie is currently excellent in that role.) Took a while to get here, but he might be the player I thought he was. This is fun.

bapo! wrote: ↑Sun Oct 24, 2021 6:13 pm Earlier in this thread, I talked about my interest in Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard. It took all of 5 games for Bouchard to get moved up to the top pairing with Darnell Nurse. Against Vegas, he played 24 very strong minutes. He's one of their top penalty killers. (The only reason he isn't on the power play is because Tyson Barrie is currently excellent in that role.) Took a while to get here, but he might be the player I thought he was. This is fun.

Oilers are really clicking!

sancarlos wrote: ↑Sun Oct 24, 2021 7:22 pm Oilers are really clicking!

There's a lot to like about a 5-0 team. (Or maybe even a 4-1 team like the Sharks at the moment.) But, like the Leafs, nothing really matters for this team until the playoffs. But seeing Hyman and Bouchard doing what they're doing is certainly encouraging. And McDavid and Draisaitl are leading the league in scoring, as is tradition.

Lucas Raymond has a hat trick tonight.

As far as I know there are only two teams in the league that have not led during game play all year long. The Blackhawks and the Lightning.

Stamkos might get suspended. The refs didn't call a penalty, but he had a pretty shitty looking shoulder to Cozens' face hit in the 3rd.

Ok i feel better, didn't blow a lead!

Ovi passed Gretzky last night in the record book......Most multi-goal road games in NHL history

oh and 4 goals away from Brett Hull, and 29 from former Capital great Jagr on the career goal list.

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 8:39 pm Stamkos might get suspended. The refs didn't call a penalty, but he had a pretty shitty looking shoulder to Cozens' face hit in the 3rd.

Atleast he doesn't have a history of dirty hits over the last week.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Oct 26, 2021 7:23 am

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 8:39 pm Stamkos might get suspended. The refs didn't call a penalty, but he had a pretty shitty looking shoulder to Cozens' face hit in the 3rd.

Atleast he doesn't have a history of dirty hits over the last week.

It's funny, I didn't watch Saturday so I hadn't seen that hit until I searched Twitter this morning. Dude is like early Madonna out there right now.

Just suckin' and fuckin' as much he wants?

Playing on the borderline.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Oct 26, 2021 7:55 am Just suckin' and fuckin' as much he wants?

Not mid-career Madonna.

Didn't expect Chicago to end up having to give an update on their investigation to distract from how badly the team is playing, but it's been a weird season already.

This sex predator guy was really bad and this other guy who used to work here (perhaps dead or already disgraced) should have done more but everyone else still with the organization or with a good reputation around the league couldn't have done any better in this situation. There will be no repercussions. Case closed.

Good, although I'm sure I'm going to hate the phrases that are going to be said like "in hindsight we could have and should have done better" and "to avoid being a distraction to the team, it's in the organizations best interest that I resign"

There will be little real accountability, but something is better than nothing.