There's so many things to debate these days in the NHL. From visors, to Shananabans to realignment, what isn't up for debate? The December GM meetings are quickly approaching and everything of any concern will be voiced and put out on the table for all to hear.
Lets start with visors, because honestly this is fascinating to me. To be blind or not to be is the question? All fights I've seen, guys throw the helmet and gloves off before the first punch is thrown, wearing a visor isn't going to change this protocol. Wearing a helmet wasn't always mandatory but it has never stopped the guys from not removing it for a fight and the visors are attached to said helmet. This is more a psychological issue than anything. Doesn't the NHL pay for therapy?
Jarret Stoll of the LA Kings started wearing a visor this season for the first time. He tried a for a few training camps to use it but always gave up. This time he told the trainers to not let him quit, and after a 3 week period of adjustment, he is used to it. After a few almost injuries last year, he said his mom, girlfriend and sister all pestered him to start wearing one. Stoll believes that they should mandate the change and just grandfather people in as they did with helmets. “Change happens. Things evolve, you have to realize it could be you. It might be too late before you realize that," Stoll told ESPN. So here's a guy who grew up wearing one (he's only 29 and had to wear one in lower levels), gave up wearing one, and now is wearing one again. How come I feel this is going to fall on dead ears.
Chris Pronger apparently has decided Stoll might be wrong, and doesn't seem to have jumped on the visor train yet. He refused to say whether he will wear one, but the Philly team doctors have said they won't clear him without one. If you have blurry vision and need eye drops to relieve pressure and swelling, wouldn't you try to avoid this again? It's like saying you have a weak ankle and not taping it up to give some extra support. I won't view you as weak for taking every medical precaution offered. That's one of the greatest things about being in a first world country, you have access to the best medical options out there. Your livelihood is literally beating your body up for a living, therefore I think your ridiculous for NOT taking advantage of everything available to you.
Brendan Shanahan has a Sunday date and Monday date with more players to be suspended. This make his grand total 13 players as 11 have already been suspended, a few more than Colin Campbell had suspended at this point last year. Shanahan has added almost $600,000 to the players emergency fund and has been consistent in his rulings. It will be interesting to see as the season goes on if the guys are learning from his after-school specials on why someone was suspended for a play. It seems going after the guys wallets is when they start to pay attention more. No one wants to lose their salary for something they could have avoided.
James Neal ends his October in 2nd in scoring with 9 to Phil Kessel who managed to score his 10th. Kessel apparently decided this was the year to come and play hockey. Matt Cooke apparently decided he doesn't want a date with Shanahan and would like to be more productive on the ice so he put in his 4th goal of the young season. When did he become the goal scorer? He's got 2 more than Malkin. The Penguins have a league leading 18 points right now and they have yet to put out their entire lineup. The factory in Pitt is well oiled and Mr. Crosby hasn't even played a game. Rumor is he's "flying" in practices. ESPN has their trophy tracker up (already) and Disco Dan is in 2nd place (to F-bomb himself) for the Jack Adams.
The Habs fired assistant coach Perry Pearn in an effort to wake up the team and they won 2 games without him. Is this the answer to fixing them? No. Are more firings possible for them? Yes. They used him as a scapegoat since his power play was horrible but the power play was one of their three thousand issues.
The Coyotes GM is toeing the hardline with Kyle Turris and refusing him a trade since he refuses to sign with the team. I have so many thoughts and opinions on this I don't even know where to begin. Don Maloney won't trade Turris since the CBA gives them rights over players. If Turris hasn't signed a contract by December 1, he is ineligible to play this season. This is screwy on so many levels. First off Turris is only 22. He might not like the way the Coyotes have developed him, but if he just agrees to something for this season, he'll be on the first plane out of town when possible. On the flip side, Maloney is wasting his time leaving Turris in his system if he refuses to sign. Keeping a player that spites you just to spite him is really mature. A few teams have expressed interest in Turris and I think the Coyotes will benefit from trading him now and moving on. No offense to the Coyotes but your owned the league, I'm not exactly sure you should be playing hardball with players. I think the League is over owning this team and as much as they don't want to move the team, I have a feeling patience in NY is growing thin for a ownership deal that will keep them in the desert. I think Turris should sign so he won't lose a year and then another team will hopefully make an offer Maloney can't refuse. Of course if Maloney wants to really be spiteful and Turris does finally sign, he can chose to not trade him. But why would you want to keep a guy that hates your guts?
Realignment will continue to be a hot topic since Winnipeg is located in Western Canada which in case you failed geography is not located near the Southern East coast of America, yet the Jets are in this division so someone needs to move. The Wings claim they were promised in a future realignment they would be put in the Eastern conference. I think a full shake up will happen before the Wings move East, like this nifty chart shows. It will be interesting to see what is approved as 20 of the 30 votes from the board of governors must approve it, but word is its picking up steam in the inner circles. I also think where its DET/CBJ the Wings will be staying in the West while the Blue Jackets will get the East. The travel will lessen a bit for the Wings even staying West under this and they will always be a money cow. The Blue Jackets are just bleeding money and even a few less games further away might help them in the finance department. Those 747's are expensive transportation...
Finally the Flyers goalie who cost them half a team this off season (it seems that way) Bryzgalov seems to be a Russian quote machine. Everything is a bit left of center and lets face it, it began with his comments about needing parks when the Coyotes were on the table for a move to Winnipeg. But he just can't be stopped and I can't get enough of them, so I think I'm going to just start posting random ones (possibly every blog since he's a machine!). When was asked about how bad his loss to the Jets was he said "I was lost in the woods". Guy loves nature apparently, but after his most recent outing against the Hurricanes he found his way, or as he put it "I found a compass". Awesome.
Now if he can ever top Mike Lange that will be something!
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