• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

2019-2020 NHL Thread - Ice Hockey Baby!!!

CanadaJohn said:
Leafs fired Babcock today - and you're right, it's really not his fault that the Leafs are a mess so far this season. I'm not a big fan of Babcock and I think he's pretty over-rated and wasn't a big fan of the hiring since he won one cup in Detroit with arguably a dynasty type talent base.

But that said, the Leafs' downfall this season can be traced back to Brendan Shanahan and his decision not to extent Lou Lamoriello two summers ago and then, rather than choose Hunter to replace him he promoted Dubas as the new GM, presumably because rumour had it that Colorado was going to hire Dubas as their new GM at the time.

Since Dubas has been in place, the Leafs have overpaid each of their young RFAs - something Lamoriello would never have done. Lou would have let Nylander sit out the entire season last year until he came back at Lou's price and with that the Marner contract would never have been so rich. In addition, Dubas doesn't appear to be that great a judge of talent and relies far too much on analytics, but I guess that's what some "in the know" think is the way of the future. His first disaster was not resigning McAleney as backup goalie and the Leafs have been a mess since. Also, so far, it's been a disaster for the Leafs with his trades. Dubas believes a cup team can be built solely on elite offensive talent and so far he's been proven WRONG! Just look at St. Louis last year - far more "sandpaper" as Don Cherry would say and far fewer "sweethearts". Washington the year before was much the same.

Babcock, for all his stubbornness and faults, at least knows what's needed to win in the playoffs and to win cups - he just hasn't been afforded the players by management in order to do it.

I'll revise my pre-season prediction and say that instead of winning the division, the Leafs are far more likely to miss the playoffs and with their poor decisions on contracts they're likely to go the way of the Blackhawks without winning the cups.
Click to expand...
The Isles thank you. You think Lou is sitting on his couch with a glass of wine, gloating?

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
 
CanadaJohn said:
Cry baby Islanders' fans really don't count here in the center of hockey.
Click to expand...

Yea we hate Toronto even more than the Rangers and that is pretty amazing considering they still do chants about a guy who retired long ago. Seems to be some panicking "in the center of hockey". Check out Taveras in the front row.

Taveras in front.jpg
 
Hari Seldon said:
Yea we hate Toronto even more than the Rangers and that is pretty amazing considering they still do chants about a guy who retired long ago. Seems to be some panicking "in the center of hockey". Check out Taveras in the front row.

View attachment 67268541
Click to expand...

Sure - I can tell it's a Flyers' home game because there are actually fans in the stands, unlike an Islanders' home game where, in a metropolis of about 10 million people, they can't find more than an average of 13,000 to show up for any home game, even one against the so called hated Leafs. All while in Toronto we get more people watching the game in the streets outside the arena than the Islanders get inside theirs.

No mistaking the Islanders have a great team - I never said otherwise - too bad they serve a market that mostly doesn't care and doesn't deserve them.
 
CanadaJohn said:
Sure - I can tell it's a Flyers' home game because there are actually fans in the stands, unlike an Islanders' home game where, in a metropolis of about 10 million people, they can't find more than an average of 13,000 to show up for any home game, even one against the so called hated Leafs. All while in Toronto we get more people watching the game in the streets outside the arena than the Islanders get inside theirs.

No mistaking the Islanders have a great team - I never said otherwise - too bad they serve a market that mostly doesn't care and doesn't deserve them.
Click to expand...
The Barn is usually pretty good with attendance but it is on Long Island in the middle of suburbia. Brooklyn is a bad spot for them, not their fan base, harder to get to, not a good building for hockey. Let's see how they do in Belmont with a new stadium close to Queens and their fan base near Nassau. We also have quite a few other options here in the NY metropolitan area, not limited to hockey. I sense a bit of acerbic animosity in your posts. I think you are taking my comments too seriously. I was at the Barn last year for 2 games. Both were packed but they were on the weekend. It hard to travel a couple hours each way during the week. You have to admit that was a funny Photoshop. Taveras is not a happy camper. Big game against the Pens tonight. My wife is in Phoenix thru Saturday. I should have gone with her and taken in the Yotes tonight.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
 
Hari Seldon said:
I should have gone with her and taken in the Yotes tonight.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Speaking of which, the Coyotes actually appear to be playing good hockey this year.

What's up with that?
 
Hari Seldon said:
The Barn is usually pretty good with attendance but it is on Long Island in the middle of suburbia. Brooklyn is a bad spot for them, not their fan base, harder to get to, not a good building for hockey. Let's see how they do in Belmont with a new stadium close to Queens and their fan base near Nassau. We also have quite a few other options here in the NY metropolitan area, not limited to hockey. I sense a bit of acerbic animosity in your posts. I think you are taking my comments too seriously. I was at the Barn last year for 2 games. Both were packed but they were on the weekend. It hard to travel a couple hours each way during the week. You have to admit that was a funny Photoshop. Taveras is not a happy camper. Big game against the Pens tonight. My wife is in Phoenix thru Saturday. I should have gone with her and taken in the Yotes tonight.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

You're right - belaboring the bad behavior of Islanders' fans against John Tavares only proves my point. There have been many players in Toronto's sports history who have left this city for other challenges over the years and I don't recall us ever treating such a player so poorly when they return with their new team. The worst culprit would be Vince Carter but many, if not most, fans in Toronto want to see his number retired when he does and the look forward to honoring him at that time. Likewise, with the Raptors, most Toronto fans were quite depressed when Kawhi Leonard decided to leave the Raptors after winning a championship and return to his home town to play for the LA Clippers. But, again, Toronto fans can accept that a player may want to relocate close to family and Leonard remains extremely popular here in Toronto and will be given a royal reception when he returns later this year.

Not sure how any player can look at the way a player of Tavares' stature in the league has been treated on returning to the Islanders and think that's a fan base they'd like to play for voluntarily.

As for lots to do in the NYC area, there's plenty to do here in Toronto as well - that hasn't kept us from supporting our teams through good and bad. I hope the new arena helps attendance - the players there now deserve a lot of support and respect for the product they're putting on the ice every game.
 
CanadaJohn said:
You're right - belaboring the bad behavior of Islanders' fans against John Tavares only proves my point. There have been many players in Toronto's sports history who have left this city for other challenges over the years and I don't recall us ever treating such a player so poorly when they return with their new team. The worst culprit would be Vince Carter but many, if not most, fans in Toronto want to see his number retired when he does and the look forward to honoring him at that time. Likewise, with the Raptors, most Toronto fans were quite depressed when Kawhi Leonard decided to leave the Raptors after winning a championship and return to his home town to play for the LA Clippers. But, again, Toronto fans can accept that a player may want to relocate close to family and Leonard remains extremely popular here in Toronto and will be given a royal reception when he returns later this year.

Not sure how any player can look at the way a player of Tavares' stature in the league has been treated on returning to the Islanders and think that's a fan base they'd like to play for voluntarily.

As for lots to do in the NYC area, there's plenty to do here in Toronto as well - that hasn't kept us from supporting our teams through good and bad. I hope the new arena helps attendance - the players there now deserve a lot of support and respect for the product they're putting on the ice every game.
Click to expand...

Its a good thing you are not belaboring the point. LOL!!! Some Toronto fans appear to think Taveras is a coach killer. I also like Mike Commodore's comments on Babcock. Holy cow! They surpass any of the Islander fans comments on Taveras. There are 2 professional baseball, 2 football, 3 hockey, 2 basketball and 2 MLS teams in the NY Metro area. We support plenty through the good and bad. Just ask a Mets or Jets or Knicks fan. (guilty on all 3) Contrary to many Canadians belief there is more to life than just hockey. BTW if Taveras simply said he wanted to play for his hometown team instead of stringing the team along the reaction would have been a lot less extreme. Travis Hammonic was very well liked even after he asked to be traded to be closer to home. No animosity at all from any fan that I have seen. I'm sure I mentioned this before.
 
I still can't understand why Taveras is that much of a topic. He's far from being a superstar. He's a good solid player. That's it. Nothing more. He's not exceptional. He's not a game changer.
He's rarely (as far as I've ever seen) the reason a team wins games. He's absolutely NOT a player I'd be drooling over at the thought of having him on my favorite team.

What is the ever-lovin deal with the whole brew-ha-ha over Taveras?


Flyers had a nice comeback win against the Hurricanes last night. They started off playing like absolute dog-crap and gave up two early goals to go down 0-2.
They came back nicely and finally got their first win after a four game winless streak.

Elliott (after the first 5 minutes or so) was HUGE in goal.

Hopefully they can finish out November like they started it. I won't hold my breath though.
 
Hari Seldon said:
Its a good thing you are not belaboring the point. LOL!!! Some Toronto fans appear to think Taveras is a coach killer. I also like Mike Commodore's comments on Babcock. Holy cow! They surpass any of the Islander fans comments on Taveras. There are 2 professional baseball, 2 football, 3 hockey, 2 basketball and 2 MLS teams in the NY Metro area. We support plenty through the good and bad. Just ask a Mets or Jets or Knicks fan. (guilty on all 3) Contrary to many Canadians belief there is more to life than just hockey. BTW if Taveras simply said he wanted to play for his hometown team instead of stringing the team along the reaction would have been a lot less extreme. Travis Hammonic was very well liked even after he asked to be traded to be closer to home. No animosity at all from any fan that I have seen. I'm sure I mentioned this before.
Click to expand...

Not sure what's to "like" about Commodore's comments vis-à-vis Babcock. Like I said, I'm not a big fan of Babcock's coaching style and what I see as an inflated record, but I've never known anyone here in Toronto or elsewhere claim that he's evil or a bad person. In fact, after the Commodore comments, several people, civilians, have come forward to challenge those comments and talk about all the charity work and individual attention Babcock has paid to seriously ill children at our Sick Kid's Hospital and they give glowing reports about his character and decency. I'm guessing Commodore didn't like Babcock's coaching style or his stubborn attention to his way or the highway mentality - lots of people are critics of authority but few take it to such a vindictive and personal level. Then again, seeing as how you are all for Islanders' fans making the Tavares move incredibly personal, I'm not surprised you'd cheer Commodore on.
 
CanadaJohn said:
Not sure what's to "like" about Commodore's comments vis-à-vis Babcock. Like I said, I'm not a big fan of Babcock's coaching style and what I see as an inflated record, but I've never known anyone here in Toronto or elsewhere claim that he's evil or a bad person. In fact, after the Commodore comments, several people, civilians, have come forward to challenge those comments and talk about all the charity work and individual attention Babcock has paid to seriously ill children at our Sick Kid's Hospital and they give glowing reports about his character and decency. I'm guessing Commodore didn't like Babcock's coaching style or his stubborn attention to his way or the highway mentality - lots of people are critics of authority but few take it to such a vindictive and personal level. Then again, seeing as how you are all for Islanders' fans making the Tavares move incredibly personal, I'm not surprised you'd cheer Commodore on.
Click to expand...
I should have said I found Commodore's comments interesting. I wasn't cheering him on but you continue to try and find fault with us Islanders fans. So be it. Big game in San Jose tonight, going for 17! I posted the old time hockey fights as it reminded me of the current home and home with the Pens. Lee rarely fights but he creamed someone. I love their physical style, I think they had 80 hits. 16 game point streak and Eberle hasn't scored a goal. Pretty awesome.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
 
A couple of other players came out against Babs. Fraser really made him sound bad and former star Chris Chellios. On the other hand Nasim Kadri said he is a good coach. Who knows but Fraser really backed up Commodore.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
 
Isles finally lost in regulation, 3 - 0 to the Ducks. Eberle scored his first goal, too bad it was in his own net. Great run.

How about that Babcock - Marner story! The guy is 19 and his coach asks him to rate all the players from hardest working to least hardest working. So he does it and then Babcock shares it with the team. I don't understand that at all. Babs is looking more and more like a real asshole. Marner says there are additional horror stories from other Leaf players. Still he has had a fair amount of success.

How about the double cross check by Bortuzzo on Arvidsson. The crosscheck into the net was bad enough but cross checking him as he was trying to get up was real bush league. The guy is out for 6 weeks and all Bortuzzo got was 4 games. Should have gotten 24 games. Repeat offender as well.



Someone needs to destroy this asshole. Too bad Johnston wasn't on the ice when he did the same to Nelson.

 
Good win for Flyers last night in Columbus.

The last time the Flyers won in regulation in Columbus was in 2005. :shock:
 
Shocking!!! Flyers beat Detroit today.

Now, 7th overall in the NHL.

:congrats:
 
i
 
Dragonfly said:
Shocking!!! Flyers beat Detroit today.

Now, 7th overall in the NHL.

:congrats:
Click to expand...

Not beating Detroit would be a shock. Worst team in the league, and now without their best player.
 
Redress said:
Worst team in the league, and now without their best player.
Click to expand...

That's typically a situation where the Flyers would figure out a way to lose.
That's why it was actually shocking for them to win.
 
Redress said:
Not beating Detroit would be a shock. Worst team in the league, and now without their best player.
Click to expand...

Fabri is doing quite well with them. Franz Nielson was one of my favorite islanders, great in the shootout. Backhand top shelf is his favorite move. I don't hear anything about him. He was the #2 center. I also liked Filpula. Perfect #3 center with Uncle Leo and whoever. Brassard has done well as a replacement but seems to play better on the wing.
 
Everyday a new miserable story about Babcock. Now he gave a Detroit player a nervous breakdown. Unreal.
 
GDViking said:
Man I miss my NHL package...
Click to expand...

NHL Streams

Go to the game you want, you’ll find the home and away links in the comment section.

iPad users usually don’t have to be fearful of bugs. Bilasport seems to be a good stream... no pop ups, no ads.

Enjoy.
 
Last edited:
As of today:
4 out of the top 5 teams in the entire league are from the East Conference.
3 out of the top 5 teams in the entire league are from the Metropolitan Division.
None of those teams is the Penguins!!!!


BUT - one of those teams is the F'n Flyers!!!!


I'm starting to have HOPE.

:screwy



(I'm just enjoying it while it lasts...I don't expect it to last for too long....)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom