Hey let's talk about the Leafs

Boges · March 9, 2015

Nazem Kadri will be a healthy scratch as punishment for being late...

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nazem-kadri-scratched-for-leafs-game-vs-islanders-1.2987225

I'm sure he's thrilled. Who wants to play for this team right now?

The_Squid · March 9, 2015

I'm sure he's thrilled. Who wants to play for this team right now?

So are they bums because of the bad management of the team? Kadri good, team sucks?

Or did the management of the team draft/trade for a bunch of bums? Kadri is a bum and team sucks because they got a bunch of bums like Kadri?

It's sort of a chicken/egg thing....

Edited March 9, 2015 by The_Squid

Boges · March 9, 2015

So are they bums because of the bad management of the team? Kadri good, team sucks?

Or did the management of the team draft/trade for a bunch of bums? Kadri is a bum and team sucks because they got a bunch of bums like Kadri?

It's sort of a chicken/egg thing....

I think the result against Boston (in a 48 game season) made management think that there was a good foundation for success with that team. And there wasn't. And when Shanahan was brought in, the board didn't let him do everything he did until it was late in the season.

Guys like Kadri and Rielly should be the foundation this team is built on. Guys like Kessel and Phaneuf seem to be the bums.

BubberMiley · March 9, 2015

No dummy, I suggested his skin colour had some bearing on how he was treated by fans and handled by the media. Same as PK Subban.

Are you talking about the criticism over the money-phone picture that he sent out during the lockout? Otherwise, I don't think the fans criticized him much at all. His jersey was second to Byfuglien in popularity, and nobody criticized his compete level on-ice.

Mighty AC · March 10, 2015

No dummy, I suggested his skin colour had some bearing on how he was treated by fans and handled by the media. Same as PK Subban.

Dummy? Careful I was given a warning for just referring to Netanyahu as Benji. This exchange makes it sound like you're implying Evander's teammates had an issue with his skin colour and cocky attitude:

Kane already had a couple of strikes against him: he's young and cocky and he's black in a predominately white sport/market. Guys who march to the beat of their own drummers are seldom accepted. It doesn't surprise me that Kane might be a target for his teammates as a result.

Kane was given multiple warnings, Dustin stepped up as a leader to ensure a young a-hole wasn't going to poison an entire team.

By bullying him.

Edited March 10, 2015 by Mighty AC

Mighty AC · March 10, 2015

PK Subban had off ice issues where he also treated Habs staff as servants. Cocky, pests on the ice can be great for a team. However, loudmouths off the ice can rub people the wrong way and kill team chemistry. A rookie walking in like he owns the joint often ruffles a few feathers, regardless of skin colour. Ovechkin had similar issues, that caused his teammates to question his antics. Anyway, it seems both guys still have outgoing personalities but have toned it down some.

BubberMiley · March 10, 2015

Not only was it poorly articulated, it wasn't very insightful whether he was calling his teammates, the fans or the media racist. There's really no evidence his skin color had anything to do with it.

Black Dog · March 10, 2015

PK Subban had off ice issues where he also treated Habs staff as servants.

Cite? There was one publicized incident where he was chided by Hall Gill in what was later revealed to be a spot of good-natured banter between a vet and a rookie. But thanks for underscoring my point, which is some players get singled out by the media for certain narratives for reasons other than their actual behaviour.

Anyway, it seems both guys still have outgoing personalities but have toned it down some.

Yep, it's always down to the player's changing and maturing, never the original narrative being bull.

Boges · March 10, 2015

I'm not a fan of Hazing. BUT!!! It's pro sports. Cries of bullying in Pro Sports are sooooo hilarious. You're in a testosterone filled environment and you're getting paid millions. Sorry but, "Suck it Up, Buttercup"

The big bullying scandal in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins 2 years ago was simply an under performing player bailing on his team and using the previous ribbing he received as a rookie as an excuse.

Edited March 10, 2015 by Boges

Black Dog · March 10, 2015

I'm not a fan of Hazing. BUT!!! It's pro sports. Cries of bullying in Pro Sports are sooooo hilarious. You're in a testosterone filled environment and you're getting paid millions. Sorry but, "Suck it Up, Buttercup"

i see so being in a testosterone-filled environment with millions in the bank means you are no longer a human, entitled to normal human emotions. Nice one, Grapes.

The big bullying scandal in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins 2 years ago was simply an under performing player bailing on his team and using the previous ribbing he received as a rookie as an excuse.

Racist, homophobic, and threatening language = "ribbing"?

Boges · March 10, 2015

i see so being in a testosterone-filled environment with millions in the bank means you are no longer a human, entitled to normal human emotions. Nice one, Grapes.

If a player feels they're being treated badly by the other players, talk to the coach. Truth is, if you're a scrub, no one will care. A star player like Kane can make headlines, especially after he bails on the team.

Racist, homophobic, and threatening language = "ribbing"?

He was using texts from months before the incident. He ended up bailing on his team after being demoted. Not a single black player on that team accused Incognito as being racist, even after he was let go.

Also the independent report afterwards found that 2 players who weren't white were involved into the hazing as well, why weren't they fingered when he quit on his team? Just go after the white guy who has a track record for being a dirty player.

Edited March 10, 2015 by Boges

Mighty AC · March 10, 2015

I think there is a big difference between a team leader putting an arrogant player in his place for violating team rules and racist/homophobic taunts.

Black Dog · March 10, 2015

If a player feels they're being treated badly by the other players, talk to the coach. Truth is, if you're a scrub, no one will care. A star player like Kane can make headlines, especially after he bails on the team.

What happened to "suck it up?"

He was using texts from months before the incident. He ended up bailing on his team after being demoted. Not a single black player on that team accused Incognito as being racist, even after he was let go.

Also the independent report afterwards found that 2 players who weren't white were involved into the hazing as well, why weren't they fingered when he quit on his team? Just go after the white guy who has a track record for being a dirty player.

You are the first person I've ever seen defending Incognito. Congratulations I guess?

Boges · March 10, 2015

What happened to "suck it up?"

It's up to the coach to say that. To go straight to the media is bush IMHO. Now if the coach allows assault and violent hazing, then that's a different issue. Was Paul Maurice complicit in Kane's "treatment"?

You are the first person I've ever seen defending Incognito. Congratulations I guess?

Not as much defending him, He's a meat head jerk no question, though he has landed on his feet with the Bills this coming year. I'm more appalled at how Martin quit on his team.

"I have no problem with the normal hazing that you see in the NFL," Martin said. "'Get a haircut,' stuff like that, little pranks. The personal attacking nature, I don’t think there’s any place for that."

That's it. That's the news. The full interview with NBC's Tony Dungy will be aired on NBC Network's PFT at 6:30 Wednesday.

Now my opinion ...

At the risk of sounding unsympathetic, Jon Martin, your weak act is officially old. Go away. Just do what you did best as an offensive lineman on the field and back away. Just do what you did when you left your teammates unexpectedly during the season and simply disappear.

Every single step taken by you in this saga feels manufactured and authored by a lawyer as a step toward a suit. And that makes sense because you definitely have gotten excellent legal advice from your family and the lawyer you added to represent you in this matter. And I, for one, would be surprised if your legal team isn't preparing a suit.

The dramatic throwing down of your lunch tray and departure? No other teammate did that when youwere among the players standing up and leaving them alone at a lunch table. So the fact you chose that harmless act to make your departure statement seems contrived now.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2014/01/hfirst-the-news-although-in-this-case-there-is-precious-little-of-that-in-his-interview-with-nbc-dolphins-offensive-tackle.html#storylink=cpy

Edited March 10, 2015 by Boges

Black Dog · March 10, 2015

It's up to the coach to say that. To go straight to the media is bush IMHO. Now if the coach allows assault and violent hazing, then that's a different issue. Was Paul Maurice complicit in Kane's "treatment"?

Kane didn't go to the media.

Not as much defending him, He's a meat head jerk no question, though he has landed on his feet with the Bills this coming year. I'm more appalled at how Martin quit on his team.

Why? His team had already quit on him. What the hell does he owe a team that taunted and ridiculed him almost daily with (and I'm going from the report here) "racial slurs and vicious sexual taunts."

Boges · March 10, 2015

Why? His team had already quit on him. What the hell does he owe a team that taunted and ridiculed him almost daily with (and I'm going from the report here) "racial slurs and vicious sexual taunts."

Yet he only quit the week after he was demoted.

Black Dog · March 10, 2015

Yet he only quit the week after he was demoted.

Self-serving as the timing might have been, I don't see why it matters except to obfuscate the real issues around the locker room culture.

Michael Hardner · March 11, 2015

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2015/03/09/22278036.html

Leafs ratings hit historic low ?

Listen, it had to happen eventually...

"I couldn't believe how low it was when I saw it," one industry insider said.

"It has to be a record low."

Black Dog · March 11, 2015

How are our resident Jets fans feeling today after getting Pavelectrocuted yesterday? The enduring mystery of that franchise is why they've continued, year after year, to go to this guy. He's probably the worst starter in the NHL.

BubberMiley · March 11, 2015

He's the backup, not the starter.

Black Dog · March 11, 2015

He's the backup, not the starter.

Disingenuous. He's been the starter for the last three years and this year it's roughly an even split.

BubberMiley · March 11, 2015

I think he's started one game in the last month and a half. That's called a backup.

Black Dog · March 11, 2015

I think he's started one game in the last month and a half. That's called a backup.

He's started more games this year than Hutchinson. That's called a starter.

PrimeNumber · March 11, 2015

What a deflating loss, this has been the roller coaster that is being a Jets fan thisseason. Pavs has been an issue for this team for the last 3 years, I think I speak for every Jets fan when I say enough is enough. It's time for Chevy to finally give upon his golden boy.

Pavs started this season as the starter but after a rough couple of games, Hutch was given a chance. He had an good run and during that time they gave Pavs a few more chances where he ended up playing pretty good as well. So for the Majority of the season we were rolling with the tandem until pavs starting losing more than he was winning so we kept trying to give hutch the reigns but he kept dropping the ball so to speak, so they starting rolling with as 2-1-2, hutch to pavs tandem into the all star break. Once we came off the break they both have been trending downwards. Before the all star break Hutch had a league leading gosls against average now he sits somewhere in the mid 20 area and Pavshas been even worse. They officially gave Hutch the starting job in February. All I can say is I can't wait for Hellebuyck to make the jump from the rock next season.

Black Dog · March 11, 2015

I'm sure I've said it before, but this year's Jets remind me a bit of the 2005-06 Oilers. Solid team with stellar D, good depth, excelnnet posession numbers and mediocre to crap goaltending. Oilers fixed their goaltending that year at the deadline and made a deep run as a result: the Jets need to do the same before they can hope for such a thing. I hope they do it and soon.