N. H. L. -2019-20

[EagerBeaver]

Here is the abbreviated Auston Matthews presser in which he gave an apologetic non-apology:

Leafs' Matthews faces disorderly conduct charge https://es.pn/2msUMlk

I kind of agree with Doc that the case never should have been charged. It should be quickly dismissed although prosecutors will want to extract some community service or a charitable donation to the Police Athletic League out of Auston. The ole prosecutorial shakedown for money and service.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I watched the entire police interview on You Tube. She keeps referring to the fact that she was in the military, etc. Basically she’s strongly hinting that she’s suffering from ptsd. Look, i feel for her. The incident likely did freak her out and it’s obvious that for this reasons and also for their own safety the young men should not have pulled this prank on her. But they were likely pissed drunk and that’s why to them the entire thing appeared to be very funny at the time.

My guess is that she probably wanted to teach them a lesson that doing this type of thing could potentially be dangerous and could escalate. But it appears from the interview that she only decided to make a case about it when Matthews pulled down his pants (without removing his boxers) and walked into the building and into the elevator with hos pants still down. She probably then realized that she now had him on the building’s security cameras. A gotcha moment.

What i find puzzling is why Matthews appears to be the only one charged. I mean he didn’t even have any interaction with her. His friends did all the talking and were the ones who had tried to open her car door. And they were apologetic. All Matthews seems to have done is pull a Jim Carrey by pulling down his pants and pretend to speak by moving his ass cheeks while all the time keeping his boxers on. He then walked away and entered the building for good. But she didnt like the fact he never pulled his pants back on prior to entering the building or elevator.

The biggest mistake in my opinion is the fact Matthews didn’t advise his employer (the Leafs) about the incident. The Leafs only out about it when we did from a post on twitter. Of course Matthews was embarrassed about it but he still should have advised them. His own agent probably didnt even know. Maybe he got bad advice from his family, who knows. It’s also possible he knew that his chances of being named as the Leafs captain would go down the drain if they found out about this incident prior to the start of the season. And he was probably correct about this since i suspect that John Tavares will now likely be named the team captain. Bit he would have been my #1 choice anyway.

 

[EagerBeaver]

He was not getting named Captain anyway. Taveras deserves to have been named Captain based on his experience and accomplishments. Matthews will be Captain down the road if he keeps producing and doesn’t have further off ice issues. Nobody names 22 year olds Captains in the sports world.

There is some talk that Brett Gardner will be named Captain of the Yankees next year. This would also be deserved.

 

[gaby]

In NHL actually you have 3 very young Captains---22-23 years old------ZACK EICHEL with Buffalo, CONNOR McDAVID with Oilers and ALEXANDER BARKOV with the Panthers.....all elite players.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Gaby,

I can’t help but wonder if those 3 captaincies aren’t more of an inducement to stay long term with an organization at a “home town discount” as opposed to being a reward for excellence in past service and leadership with one organization. Derek Jeter, a likely Hall of Fame baseball player, played his whole career with the Yankees but didn’t become a Captain until his age 29 season by which time he had won 4 World Series championships, a World Series MVP and other awards. The 3 guys you mention are elite players, and in the case of Eichel at least maybe even good leaders at a young age, but all 3 of them have won shit. They were named Captains because their teams want to wrap them up into cheap long term contracts and they figure let’s extend the loyalty carrot and we will get the carrot back with a monetary discount. Although I understand that economic thinking in hockey, it’s bullshit and it wouldn’t ever happen in other pro sports. The most well known Captain maybe in baseball history is former Yankee Lou Gehrig who played with the Yankees 1923-1939 when the illness ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, killed him. He played in a then record 2,130 consecutive baseball games until being felled by the disease earning him the nickname “The Iron Horse.” Even he did not get named a Captain until he was with the team 12 years and was 32 years old despite having one of the more acclaimed and successful careers in baseball history. So I am not impressed with these 3 captaincies you mention and they are all the result of financial considerations and nothing else.

Reference :

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Gehrig

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nNLKPaThYkE

 

[EagerBeaver]

Henrik Lundqvist tonight: 32 saves, .970 save %, 1st star of game

He still has it

 

[gaby]

,,and with the addition of PANARIN---KAKKO and TROUBA they should b fun to watch this year....

 

[EagerBeaver]

Kakko will be NHL Rookie of the Year.... Hughes at 160 pounds will need time to physically develop whereas Kakko has already gone from being boy to man....it’s a men’s league, not juniors or boys hockey

https://www.nhl.com/player/kaapo-kakko-8481554

 

[gaby]

Finalement LAINE agrees to two -years contract 13.5 with the Jets......and now RANTANEN?........AVS need him.....

 

[gaby]

..and RANTANEN just agreed on a 6 year-contract....55.5m........very good news......they will have a very cpmpetitive team this year......and they are fun to watch.

 

[EagerBeaver]

They should have offered Rantanen 5 years, $45 million and the captaincy. He would have taken it. They would have saved one year and 10.5 million which they could use to pay McKinnon

 

[EagerBeaver]

Tampa Bay and Toronto have the best groups of forwards in the NHL:

Ranking all 31 NHL teams by their forwards https://es.pn/2lr7W2a

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

A friend of mine recently put down our yearly Vegas bet for the Oilers.. $100.00 pays $3,500.00 this year.

 

[No_Church_InThe_Wild]

^^
Keep at it and GL on your bet. Sooner or later there has to be a Canadian team that finally wins it .
Won’t say how much but I put my usual futures bet with the Maple Leafs and also added Dallas this season.
If anything, it will make the season more interesting.

 

[EagerBeaver]

If a Canadian team wins the Stanley Cup this season, it will most likely be the Toronto Maple Leafs, on the strength of their exceptionally talented group of forwards. However, I don't think their defense is good enough to carry them through the playoffs. I believe the Stanley Cup Champ will be one of 3 American teams, Tampa Bay, Boston, or Vegas. Those 3 teams have high end depth, high end coaching, and high end intangibles, which are the holy trinity of hockey championships. If you guys really want to be smart with your money, bet on a parlay that has TB or Boston and Vegas going to the finals. Putting emotional bets on pet teams is the surest way to prove WC Fields was a prophet.

 

[jalimon]

Completely agree with EB on Toronto. They are the next canadian team to win. But just before the playoff they will need to add a key defense.

As for who will win this year call me crazy but I bet on Philly

Cheers,

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

Putting emotional bets on pet teams is the surest way to prove WC Fields was a prophet.

Putting a small wager on your team for an almost impossible feat is for entertainment value only, never know what will happen
Friend of mine is a huge Pittsburg fan, back in 1990 he placed a $500 bet for them to win near the beginning of the season, he won big. Sheer luck yes.

 

[No_Church_InThe_Wild]

^^
You know Sports Betting EB I’ll give you that . But I tell you one of these days the Maple Leafs are going to win and I’ll be right .
Just don’t know when lol

 

[EagerBeaver]

What Toronto needs is a top defenseman. They should consider trading Nylander to Montreal for Weber. Straight up. This deal will help both teams. Nylander was a huge disappointment after his holdout - 27 points in 54 games isn’t going to cut it. In Montreal they are always looking for dynamic young offensive talent and perhaps Montreal can bring Nylander to his full potential. Meanwhile with Weber, Toronto would get an experienced veteran leader on D to pair with Rielly and you could then start seeing real as opposed to make believe visions of a Stanley Cup parade in Toronto.

If I was the Leafs GM that deal would have been done yesterday and all you guys would be buying each other drinks and toasting Canada’s next SC champion, but I am not the Leafs GM, so no drinks for all of you. You can feel free to email or text him my suggested trade.

 

[jalimon]

EB or they should have get Subban! No kidding. Subban would have stop his fantasy and focused with a team from where he was born. He would have proved that he is stellar and that he can adapt to pure defensive style.

Since it wont happen he prefers to live the Hollywood celebrity circle

Cheers,