Friday, June 29, 2012
The Peter Principle Alive and Well in the NHL
(To the 4 people who might read this: Yes, I decided to do a blog post. I'm not 'unretired' so much as I just had a need to write *something*. It's rusty, and not particularly intelligent, but at least I've gotten it out of my system)
If you haven’t heard the term before, the Peter Principle
is a belief that in an organization where promotion is based on achievement,
success, and merit, that organization's members will eventually be promoted
beyond their level of ability.
If you believe *snicker* that NHL front office jobs are
placed based on merit, then this principle makes a lot of sense.
I realize running a large hockey organization is a lot more
involved than the Sim Leagues I used to be in. That said, the recent behavior of 3 particular NHL GM’s just
proves that random internet bloggers, or Michelle Bachmann, could do a far
better job running a hockey team than some of the idiots that get hired.
The GMs in question? Charles Wang’s puppet (Garth Snow),
Scott Howson, and Jay Feaster.
Wang Dang Doodle
It’s old news now, but the Isles did, in fact, offer their
entire 2012 draft to the Dinner Jackets for the chance to pick 2nd
overall. (Source: CBC)
The Isles had the 4th pick, so they basically
wanted to gut their future farm system to move up two whole spots! Woo!
Now, if this was the chance to pick a Sidney Crosby, this
would make some damn sense. Hell, ending up with a Chris Pronger in exchange
for a bunch of role players and never-made-its would also make sense.
Ryan Murray? He hardly looks like a build-a-franchise-around
me defenseman that you’d trade your farm for. He *might* pan out that way, but
I *might* also have Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis offer to reenact their love
scene from The Black Swan in my living room.
Chances are long, I suspect.
(any excuse to post this picture...)
Besides the obvious fact that gutting your entire future to
move up from #4 to #2 is folly, especially for a club in constant need of
prospects and assets, the optics of this deal are even more of a killer for the
Isles.
Think about it? Haven’t Snow/Wang been doing a pretty solid
job the last couple of years? They locked up Tavares, Moulson, and Nielsen, and
were keeping on a steady path to respectability.
This move, unfortunately, clearly reminds the rest of the
league, especially free agents, that the Isles are run by a couple of
batshit-crazy loons.
“Oh yeah, this is the team that gave Rick DiPietro
15 years to play 30 games! I really wanna sign there!”
(Isles GM Garth Snow, pictured)
Howson Misses His Chance
Scott Howson, only the second GM in the illustrious history of the Columbus Dinner
Jackets, has done a great job of ruining running the club as well
as Doug MacLean did before him. Not many GM’s would trade a mint for the worst
regular defenseman in the NHL (Jack Johnson) and still be employed.
Howson had a golden opportunity to stack his club for many years
to come, and chose to play it safe, as it were. Keeping the #2 pick was
definitely ‘safe’, since being involved with such an insane trade would only
look ‘weird’, for lack of a better term.
How can a team as piss-poor as the Jackets turn down this
many picks? With that many picks, and that many lottery tickets, you are sure
to hit a few gems and get some decent players. Moving down to #4 was hardly
that much of a difference in this draft, and the BJs would have basically
doubled their chance to produce some decent players in a few seasons.
Howson, alas, a fellow who would have trouble graduating from the
University of Phoenix, showed just how in over his head he really is.
Feast(er) Your Eyes on Duh
While the mess in Calgary is not all Jay Feaster’s fault,
the son of the Pillsbury Dough Boy and Susan Boyle is doing his best to ensure
the Flames will wallow just out of the playoffs for the foreseeable future.
Sure, Canucks fans are elated, but it’s sad to see, nonetheless.
"Poop's coming out!"
Even before the July
1st UFA kick-off, the Flames are already home to the 3rd highest projected cap hit for next season!
That’s right, the team that hasn’t made the playoffs in three
seasons has a higher payroll than the Vancouver Canucks! This even takes into account the subtraction of
Olli Jokinen, one of their better offensive forwards (Hard to believe,
but he was fairly good last season), who is going on the UFA market.
What great moves has Feaster made?
1. Signing Dennis Wideman to a 5-year deal giving him $5.25/mil
per season! Not content with one offensive-minded marshmallow (Jay Bouwmeester,
who left his scoring touch in Florida), the Flames vastly overpaid for a guy
who is easier to beat than Rihanna.
Sure, some other team would have likely overpaid for flashy
offensive stats, but that doesn’t mean the Flames should have. Oh, and let’s
not forget the no-trade clause given for the full term of the contract. Way to
handcuff the club, Jay!
2. Re-signing Lee Stempniak for a 2-year deal giving him
$2.5/mil per season.
As any Blues or Coyotes fan can tell you, Lee is great for a
scoring burst for about 2-3 weeks a year, and then goes back into hibernation
for the rest of the winter. Lee doesn’t add much value other than his
goal-scoring touch, and the Flames vastly overpaid for an empty player.
3. Re-signing Cory Sarich for a 2-year deal giving him $2/mil
per season.
Even in his Tampa days, Sarich wasn’t worth $2mil/season,
and now that he’s old enough to remember how to work a VCR, he’s an expensive
pylon.
The Flames already appear to have 5-6 other defensemen on
one-way contracts, so the Flames have basically given a good salary to a 3rd-line
pylon and will have to cut a contract somewhere else. Who the hell else would
have given Sarich $2mil? Ugh.
If you count Wideman vs. Jokinen for wash (being generous),
the Flames have basically spent a hefty fortune for a team that has a very slim
shot at the playoffs.
You know Jay Feaster reminds me of? The idiot who actually pays for porn
on the Internet.
…and I’m spent…
Labels: blue jackets, Charles Wang, Flames, Garth Snow, idiots, Islanders, Jay Feaster, Scott Howson
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
A Little Wine and Cheese
by Jes
Mediot of the Day: Michael Platt.
If you happen to be cheering for the road team at any NHL arena, it's not the best idea to get all lippy and annoying (although that doesn't stop the large mobs of Leafs and Habs fans from doing so). Given how much alcohol is consumed at sporting events, and how alpha male jackoffs allow their emotions to control their actions, it's best just to exercise some restraint when cheering on your team in another team's barn.
Still, there is no excuse for what happened in Calgary, as a bunch of drunken Flames fans took to beating an Oilers fan for being a little 'loud'.
Is THAT really worth a beating? I supposed he said something a bit nastier. Still, nothing like that ever deserves a cowardly mob beatdown.
What irks me about this whole thing is the apologetic writing of this Michael Platt character, who seems to remind me of that macho sports jock that talks tough, but got his ass kicked around a lot in high school.
Witness the following crap he writes. Keep in mind that this is a major newspaper, and not some fan blog or rinky-dinky free paper.
But Parker's beating at the hands of a few cowardly yobs shouldn't be a collective black eye for Calgary, nor should it be misconstrued as a case of hockey fans turned hooligans at the sight of another team's colours.
Make that "alleged" beating, because we only have Parker's side of the story, so far. Police are working on the rest.
Oh, since he's an Oilers fan, he must be lying. Right.
But Calgary shouldn't think for a minute we are in danger of borrowing the British motive for such violence -- namely, one group of sports fans targeting another, for no reason other than wearing the wrong colours.
Parker was not targeted simply for wearing an Oilers jersey.
The Oilers jersey got him noticed, but Parker's mouth got him into trouble.
O RLY? Do you think these men would have stopped the car, got out of the car, and administered said beating if the guy wasn't a noticeable Oilers fan wearing Oilers colours? Gimme a break.
So, dude spends the whole column defending Calgary for the actions of these thugs, and basically expects someone should expect a beating any time they show their team's colours.
Now, do I believe Calgary is a bad place to watch hockey simply because of this incident? No, there are 100s of other, more important, reasons to dislike Calgary.
Sheesh.
----
The NHLPA, in a bid to make more money for its alumni, has come out with a series of wines with the likeness of legendary players. Hmm.
Given Hull's problems with alcoholism, was it really wise to give him a wine to endorse?
I can imagine the Bobby Hull wine has a hell of a kick, and will get your seriously drunk. Best drunk in a big shot glass. Try not to fight with your children, afterwards.
Tony Esposito? A solid red wine, but you will be 'shut out' when the ladies see you drinking this.
How about a Phil Esposito wine? In remembrance of his tendency to take shifts that were 1-2 minutes too long, this hearty red wine has a serious long aftertaste that takes away from its delicious flavour.
Bobby Orr? A very limited edition white wine that is superior to all other wines, but very hard to find as it was only made for a brief period in the 70s. The red version from the late 70s is disgusting, and should have never been made.
How about a Ron DuGuay white wine? This is great for getting ladies drunk and loosened up. It worked on Cher!
Mediot of the Day: Michael Platt.
If you happen to be cheering for the road team at any NHL arena, it's not the best idea to get all lippy and annoying (although that doesn't stop the large mobs of Leafs and Habs fans from doing so). Given how much alcohol is consumed at sporting events, and how alpha male jackoffs allow their emotions to control their actions, it's best just to exercise some restraint when cheering on your team in another team's barn.
Still, there is no excuse for what happened in Calgary, as a bunch of drunken Flames fans took to beating an Oilers fan for being a little 'loud'.
With a broken nose and fractured cheek, Andrew Parker has learned a painful lesson about what can happen if you mouth off to strangers after a few beers.
Parker says he was walking near 18 Ave. and 4 St. S.W. early Sunday morning, still wearing his Oilers jersey, when a group of men in a nearby car started glaring at him.
Seeing their Flames' sweaters, and with a half-dozen bottles of malted courage in his system, 22-year-old Parker did something he now regrets: He yelled at the glowering men, saying something like, "How about those Flames."
The men took exception, got out of their car and gave Parker a good kicking, to borrow a phrase often used in Britain.
Is THAT really worth a beating? I supposed he said something a bit nastier. Still, nothing like that ever deserves a cowardly mob beatdown.
What irks me about this whole thing is the apologetic writing of this Michael Platt character, who seems to remind me of that macho sports jock that talks tough, but got his ass kicked around a lot in high school.
Witness the following crap he writes. Keep in mind that this is a major newspaper, and not some fan blog or rinky-dinky free paper.
But Parker's beating at the hands of a few cowardly yobs shouldn't be a collective black eye for Calgary, nor should it be misconstrued as a case of hockey fans turned hooligans at the sight of another team's colours.
Make that "alleged" beating, because we only have Parker's side of the story, so far. Police are working on the rest.
Oh, since he's an Oilers fan, he must be lying. Right.
But Calgary shouldn't think for a minute we are in danger of borrowing the British motive for such violence -- namely, one group of sports fans targeting another, for no reason other than wearing the wrong colours.
Parker was not targeted simply for wearing an Oilers jersey.
The Oilers jersey got him noticed, but Parker's mouth got him into trouble.
O RLY? Do you think these men would have stopped the car, got out of the car, and administered said beating if the guy wasn't a noticeable Oilers fan wearing Oilers colours? Gimme a break.
So, dude spends the whole column defending Calgary for the actions of these thugs, and basically expects someone should expect a beating any time they show their team's colours.
Now, do I believe Calgary is a bad place to watch hockey simply because of this incident? No, there are 100s of other, more important, reasons to dislike Calgary.
Sheesh.
----
The NHLPA, in a bid to make more money for its alumni, has come out with a series of wines with the likeness of legendary players. Hmm.
The NHL Alumni Association has rolled out a Signature Wine Series, a 12-bottle collection -- six Chardonnays, six Cabernet Sauvignons -- featuring the likeness of some of hockey's greatest players.
In Chicago, the two wines, produced by Ironstone Vineyards of Murphys, Calif., are Bobby Hull's "Golden Jet" 2007 Chardonnay and Tony Esposito's "Tony O" 2005 Cabernet. The wines are sold at Binny's and in the United Center's restaurants and suites.
Given Hull's problems with alcoholism, was it really wise to give him a wine to endorse?
I can imagine the Bobby Hull wine has a hell of a kick, and will get your seriously drunk. Best drunk in a big shot glass. Try not to fight with your children, afterwards.
Tony Esposito? A solid red wine, but you will be 'shut out' when the ladies see you drinking this.
How about a Phil Esposito wine? In remembrance of his tendency to take shifts that were 1-2 minutes too long, this hearty red wine has a serious long aftertaste that takes away from its delicious flavour.
Bobby Orr? A very limited edition white wine that is superior to all other wines, but very hard to find as it was only made for a brief period in the 70s. The red version from the late 70s is disgusting, and should have never been made.
How about a Ron DuGuay white wine? This is great for getting ladies drunk and loosened up. It worked on Cher!
Labels: Flames, marketing, off-ice silliness, oilers
Friday, December 28, 2007
Live Game Recap: Canucks 5, Flames 3
By Jes
Last night's 5-3 Vancouver Canucks win over the Calgary Flames was my first live game of the season. It might be my last, too, unless someone wants to donate to my unregistered charity ;)
The play was sloppy like cafeteria chili, and the Canucks were out-chanced most of the night, but they won and that's all that matters.
Some random thoughts ...
1. Mike Weaver is below-average in just about every facet of the game. If you don't get nervous when he is on the ice, please have your emotion chip checked.
2. You HAVE to see Daniel Sedin's spin-o-rama goal. Nice!
3. Dion Phaneuf (what a dumb name, eh?) continues to climb my chart of people I want to see injured. Not only does he have that permanent sourpuss look on his ugly face, but he never finishes what he starts. At least Avery drops the gloves often enough.
4. The boos for Mike Keenan and "Keenan Sucks" chants would have brought a tear to my eye if I was capable of that emotion.
5. The new line of Pyatt-Raymond-Jaffray had some wicked offensive chemistry together. Do we *Gasp* have the makings of an actual second line? Sub in Morrison for Jaffray when Mo returns from injury and the Canucks may get some scoring from somebody who isn't Swedish
6. A big FU to the concession stand lady that gave my girlfriend a cup of Sprite that had about 90% ice in it. Talk about cheap ass.
7. When people fill out those credit card apps for the free T-shirt, do they actually give real information? Do these kiosks verify this? I'm tempted to sign up under a fake name and score myself some merch.
8. Remember when Owen Nolan used to be a great player? With Trevor Linden, we've seen his slow decline first-hand. With Nolan, it's different since we don't see him nearly as much. Before the lockout, he's good. After the lockout, he sucks eggs.
9. Canucks' mascot Fin (boo!!) is breeding. Ugh.
10. Alex Burrows, the Phil Bourque of the YouTube generation.
(I bet none of the YouTube generation will get that reference)
11. The Canucks are now selling carved beef sandwiches. Nice to see them expanding the menu, but I'm not paying $9.25 for a sub-standard deli product.
12. I very much enjoyed throwing popcorn at a barky Flames fan, and the peeps in front of me took it one step further and threw peanut shells. Then the ushers came, and we were scolded for being mean. Awww :( Don’t' be coming into our corporate-named building and get all squawky crow with us, ma'am.
13. Fan highlight of the night: Two girls were dancing and were caught on the in-stadium cam to win some prize. The final freeze frame caught one of them giving the finger to a Flames
Last night's 5-3 Vancouver Canucks win over the Calgary Flames was my first live game of the season. It might be my last, too, unless someone wants to donate to my unregistered charity ;)
The play was sloppy like cafeteria chili, and the Canucks were out-chanced most of the night, but they won and that's all that matters.
Some random thoughts ...
1. Mike Weaver is below-average in just about every facet of the game. If you don't get nervous when he is on the ice, please have your emotion chip checked.
2. You HAVE to see Daniel Sedin's spin-o-rama goal. Nice!
3. Dion Phaneuf (what a dumb name, eh?) continues to climb my chart of people I want to see injured. Not only does he have that permanent sourpuss look on his ugly face, but he never finishes what he starts. At least Avery drops the gloves often enough.
4. The boos for Mike Keenan and "Keenan Sucks" chants would have brought a tear to my eye if I was capable of that emotion.
5. The new line of Pyatt-Raymond-Jaffray had some wicked offensive chemistry together. Do we *Gasp* have the makings of an actual second line? Sub in Morrison for Jaffray when Mo returns from injury and the Canucks may get some scoring from somebody who isn't Swedish
6. A big FU to the concession stand lady that gave my girlfriend a cup of Sprite that had about 90% ice in it. Talk about cheap ass.
7. When people fill out those credit card apps for the free T-shirt, do they actually give real information? Do these kiosks verify this? I'm tempted to sign up under a fake name and score myself some merch.
8. Remember when Owen Nolan used to be a great player? With Trevor Linden, we've seen his slow decline first-hand. With Nolan, it's different since we don't see him nearly as much. Before the lockout, he's good. After the lockout, he sucks eggs.
9. Canucks' mascot Fin (boo!!) is breeding. Ugh.
10. Alex Burrows, the Phil Bourque of the YouTube generation.
(I bet none of the YouTube generation will get that reference)
11. The Canucks are now selling carved beef sandwiches. Nice to see them expanding the menu, but I'm not paying $9.25 for a sub-standard deli product.
12. I very much enjoyed throwing popcorn at a barky Flames fan, and the peeps in front of me took it one step further and threw peanut shells. Then the ushers came, and we were scolded for being mean. Awww :( Don’t' be coming into our corporate-named building and get all squawky crow with us, ma'am.
13. Fan highlight of the night: Two girls were dancing and were caught on the in-stadium cam to win some prize. The final freeze frame caught one of them giving the finger to a Flames
Labels: Canucks, Daniel Sedin, Flames, Live Game Recap, Mike Keenan, video
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Calgary Flames to Hire Hot-Headed Keenan?
by Jes
While I figured Jim Playfair was on the outs as the Calgary Flames head coach (a job at which he sucked with great proficiency), I never thought his replacement would be ... MIKE KEENAN (!WTF?!)
Well, Sutter is a bad-ass, whip-cracker type, so who better than Adolf Hitler look-a-like Mike Keenan to fill the coaching role?
Greg over at The NHL Fanhouse notes a couple of interesting facts ...
Keenan has long worn out his welcome in the NHL, yet teams continue giving him chances. The ultra-disciplinary asshole types just don't connect with today's spoiled superstars, so I can't see how Calgary is going to benefit greatly from this.
In the short term? Yeah, things might be peachey. Once any trouble starts? Keenan shows his true colours, startings treating his players like dogs, and things will go downhill for the Flamers.
As a Canucks fan, this pleases me greatly.
While I figured Jim Playfair was on the outs as the Calgary Flames head coach (a job at which he sucked with great proficiency), I never thought his replacement would be ... MIKE KEENAN (!WTF?!)
It looks like "Iron Mike" could be back in business behind the bench of an NHL team.
Sources tell TSN that Mike Keenan is on the verge of becoming the new head coach of the Calgary Flames.
While the Flames declined to comment when contacted by TSN today, sources confirm Keenan is currently in Calgary and if all goes as expected, the well-travelled NHL executive and coach could be announced as the head coach of the Flames as early as Thursday.
Well, Sutter is a bad-ass, whip-cracker type, so who better than Adolf Hitler look-a-like Mike Keenan to fill the coaching role?
Greg over at The NHL Fanhouse notes a couple of interesting facts ...
Although he's fifth on the all-time coaches' victories list, Keenan last took a team to the postseason in 1995-96 -- the same postseason in which Calgary's leading scorer last season, Jarome Iginla, made his NHL debut.
Speaking of Iginla, check out this 2000 article from Larry Wigge in The Sporting News in which Iggy claims that in order for him to be an elite star, he doesn't need a coach that bullies his players. Guess that theory might be put to the test pretty soon...
Keenan has long worn out his welcome in the NHL, yet teams continue giving him chances. The ultra-disciplinary asshole types just don't connect with today's spoiled superstars, so I can't see how Calgary is going to benefit greatly from this.
In the short term? Yeah, things might be peachey. Once any trouble starts? Keenan shows his true colours, startings treating his players like dogs, and things will go downhill for the Flamers.
As a Canucks fan, this pleases me greatly.
Labels: Coach firing, coach hiring, Flames, rumours
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Do the Flames Not Appreciate Lombardi?
Whilst surfing on a sleepy Sunday morning, I came upon some WTF article by Eric Francis.
The subject: Matthew Lombardi
Am I reading that right? The Flames are looking at giving away Lombardi?
Look, I know the guy is a bit frustrating to some Flames fans, but he's a player I'd love on my team.
D00d is just 25, and has the need for speed...
When the Flames played the Canucks this year, Lombardi was a constant thorn in Luongo's side, using his speed to create scoring chances and annoyances for the Canucks D.
I saw a guy put on the 3rd line often, with linemates would couldn't pass a puck to themselves off the boards.
For a guy getting paid $5.5mil over 3 seasons, I'll take 20 goals and good penalty killing ability.
Go ahead, Calgary, get rid of the guy. You don't need him. We'll give you gritty Matt Cooke for him.
The subject: Matthew Lombardi
Early in his stint at the world championships, one could easily have assumed the 'A' he wore on his jersey yesterday was there simply to appease French politicians barking up Shane Doan's tree.
However, by scoring twice in Canada's quarter-final win over Switzerland yesterday -- his fifth and sixth goals in seven games -- it's clear the 25-year-old Montreal native has earned it.
By using the tourney as his coming-out party it appears -- at the moment -- he belongs among the world's elite.
However, as Flames fans know, the only thing consistent about Lombardi is the tough love his bosses, GM Darryl Sutter and Jim Playfair, shower him with at every turn.
While tremendously gifted, it seems no one knows what to expect from the speedy centre night after night.
On the heels of a breakthrough 20-goal campaign that gave fans glimpses of his junior greatness, Lombardi was signed to a contract extension that will pay him $5.5 million over three years. Exactly who will pay his salary is anyone's guess as it appears he'll be used as trade bait this summer as the Flames go looking to add grit and character to a team finally stocked with offensive talent.
Even when it appeared to the casual observer Lombardi's flashy neutral-zone speed had him poised to make a Daniel Briere-type emergence, Playfair would shrug it off, suggesting he needed 'Lombo' to drive the net and muck around in the "dirty areas" more.
Am I reading that right? The Flames are looking at giving away Lombardi?
Look, I know the guy is a bit frustrating to some Flames fans, but he's a player I'd love on my team.
D00d is just 25, and has the need for speed...
Year Team GP G A Pts +/-
03-04 CGY 79 16 13 29 4
05-06 CGY 55 6 20 26 -1
06-07 CGY 81 20 26 46 10
When the Flames played the Canucks this year, Lombardi was a constant thorn in Luongo's side, using his speed to create scoring chances and annoyances for the Canucks D.
I saw a guy put on the 3rd line often, with linemates would couldn't pass a puck to themselves off the boards.
For a guy getting paid $5.5mil over 3 seasons, I'll take 20 goals and good penalty killing ability.
Go ahead, Calgary, get rid of the guy. You don't need him. We'll give you gritty Matt Cooke for him.
Labels: Flames, Matthew Lombardi
Monday, March 19, 2007
Party Pics: Kiprusoff and Phaneuf are Smokin!
by Jes
It seems the spirit of the 1970's New York Rangers hasn't died out completely.
Here's Miikka Kiprusoff and Dion Phaneuf at a classy strip club, smoking on a couple of cancer sticks and enjoying the company of a few bunnies.
Now, Kipper is a known smoker, but Phaneuf? Should a d-man playing 25+ mins a night really be inhaling cigarette smoke?
Methinks one Sutter brother won't be too happy to see this!
(Edit: Looks like the evil bastards over at The Battle of Alberta beat me to the punch.)
It seems the spirit of the 1970's New York Rangers hasn't died out completely.
Here's Miikka Kiprusoff and Dion Phaneuf at a classy strip club, smoking on a couple of cancer sticks and enjoying the company of a few bunnies.
Now, Kipper is a known smoker, but Phaneuf? Should a d-man playing 25+ mins a night really be inhaling cigarette smoke?
Methinks one Sutter brother won't be too happy to see this!
(Edit: Looks like the evil bastards over at The Battle of Alberta beat me to the punch.)
Labels: Flames, Kiprusoff, Phaneuf, Players Partying
Friday, December 15, 2006
Canucks Rule 3 - Calgary Flames Suck 1
The Vancouver Canucks, finally, were up to a real challenge and beat the Calgary Flamers by a 3-1 score. 2 straight games and 2 good efforts. With the crazy-ass weather we've been having here, there are some strange omens going around.
My lucky bastard of a co-worker got free tickets (FREE TICKETS!!!) to the game last night and ended up being treated to one of the most entertaining tilts of the year. Yep, this game had a bit of everything and drew out the best in both clubs (except for Tanguay who was nowhere to be seen)
Now, I've had a hard time drumming up a real hate for the Flames. Sure, they are from Calgary, a cultural wasteland, but I respect most of their players and they are a tough team to play against that doesn't pull a lot of crap.
So, we need a target. I've deciced on Dion Phaneuf.
Why?
1. He's named after Celine Dion (It's true, because you read it on a blog)
2. He always has that pissed-off sourpuss "I'm an asshole" look on his face. Could you smile once in awhile?
3. Phaneuf is just a dumb, silly name. Even other French people must say, between puffs of their cigarettes, "Mon dieu, what a dumb, silly name!"
Sure, I'd love the guy on my team any day of the week, but he's also somewhat easy to hate. Consider him Denis Gauthier with actual talent.
Jes's 3 Stars (No Flamers Allowed)
1. Brendan Morrison - His shot on the 3rd goal of the game was twice as hard as I've ever seen him shoot the puck before. He's working hard and producing, finally.
2. Matt Cooke - Great pass on the Morrison goal and all-around pesty effort is the kind of game Cooke should have every night.
3. Willie Mitchell - Held Iginla in check and had a noticeably good game.
Honourable Mention: The Canucks PK unit, which held the Flames to an 0-for-8 mark.
Other crap on my mind
1. Alanah @ VCOE made the point that Matthew Lombardi is really, really, really, really fast. D00ds got 10 goals and 20 points in 29 games and scored the only Flamers goal last night.
2. Kevin Bieksa had 8 of the Canucks 27 shots on goal last night. D00d!
3. Fitzpatrick finished with a +2. Just another reason to vote him into the All-Star game.
My lucky bastard of a co-worker got free tickets (FREE TICKETS!!!) to the game last night and ended up being treated to one of the most entertaining tilts of the year. Yep, this game had a bit of everything and drew out the best in both clubs (except for Tanguay who was nowhere to be seen)
Now, I've had a hard time drumming up a real hate for the Flames. Sure, they are from Calgary, a cultural wasteland, but I respect most of their players and they are a tough team to play against that doesn't pull a lot of crap.
So, we need a target. I've deciced on Dion Phaneuf.
Why?
1. He's named after Celine Dion (It's true, because you read it on a blog)
2. He always has that pissed-off sourpuss "I'm an asshole" look on his face. Could you smile once in awhile?
3. Phaneuf is just a dumb, silly name. Even other French people must say, between puffs of their cigarettes, "Mon dieu, what a dumb, silly name!"
Sure, I'd love the guy on my team any day of the week, but he's also somewhat easy to hate. Consider him Denis Gauthier with actual talent.
Jes's 3 Stars (No Flamers Allowed)
1. Brendan Morrison - His shot on the 3rd goal of the game was twice as hard as I've ever seen him shoot the puck before. He's working hard and producing, finally.
2. Matt Cooke - Great pass on the Morrison goal and all-around pesty effort is the kind of game Cooke should have every night.
3. Willie Mitchell - Held Iginla in check and had a noticeably good game.
Honourable Mention: The Canucks PK unit, which held the Flames to an 0-for-8 mark.
Other crap on my mind
1. Alanah @ VCOE made the point that Matthew Lombardi is really, really, really, really fast. D00ds got 10 goals and 20 points in 29 games and scored the only Flamers goal last night.
2. Kevin Bieksa had 8 of the Canucks 27 shots on goal last night. D00d!
3. Fitzpatrick finished with a +2. Just another reason to vote him into the All-Star game.
Labels: Canucks, Cooke, Flames, Mitchell, Non-Live Game Recap, Phaneuf
