Rich

Did you really just put Pardy as a top pairing defencemen?

The Kane trade was actually a pretty significant trade. Trades like that are a rarity in this day in age. As to the UFA's in the off season, I don't think it has anything to do with price. As a case in point, look at Stempniak who ended the season with the Jets last year. He would have re-signed here, he just wasn't offered a contract. He had to sign a PTO with New Jersey and then signed for 800k. He is 2nd in scoring with New Jersey right now. A lot of forwards had to take a discount last season in free agency due to demand for them being so low, this had nothing to do with price. The Jets could have afforded them, this was a conscious decision to go younger and make some room for some rookies. The problem is they gave too many of them a job with no real competition out of TC. Hopefully long term, this season is a blip and chalked up to growing pains for a young team.

This team is just not good enough.

So they didn't have a contract. They had an email that was rescinded two days later. In two days, they hired enough people for this job that they need to recover $40k ?

I wouldn't say he's GM of the year... but his one year with us he found quite a few solid guys from down south who immediately could play the CFL game. Now we can't even find a healthy decent receiver ... it seems like any guy we find with talent is injury plague or he's just filler Couple things: 1) We don't know what he did or what Mack did.... 2) Just because you can scout talent, doesn't make you a great GM... Wasn't John Murphy here with Mike Kelly? I thought Mack fired John Murphy shortly after taking over.

Didn't have anywhere else to put this, so thought I would start a thread for the Grey Cup game itself. Here is a link from June on the odds of each team winning the Grey Cup. http://cfl.ca/article/cauzs-annual-take-on-grey-cup-odds Interesting that Ottawa had the worst odds of any team of winning the Grey Cup at the beginning of the season. 20 : 1

Why does this apply more to an American player?

Not surprised about Trouba straight up. We lose 4 years of age. Maybe Meyers straight up? Lose 4 years of age but gain Hamonic in his later (prime) years on a really good contract. I wouldn't make the trade as I think Trouba has more potential / upside than Hamonic, but Hamonic is on a really good deal. It is a tough trade to make as the Islanders are going to want an overpay in return for that contract.

If you read the comments on here, he lost by alienating / losing good will with the very group of season ticket holders that are the financial life blood of the organization. Is that price really worth maximizing the profits for this one event? I don't think this episode alone is enough to affect ticket sales going forward, but when you combine the escalating prices in tickets (yes I know no increase this year), concessions, and parking, and the cumulative affect of the on field product over the last number of years, there are a lot of people that are getting turned off by this organization. The way I see it is the Bombers thought they were the Jets, or at least saw what the Jets did and thought they could emulate it. The Jets are able to make people agree to multi year season ticket agreements because the demand is there. That demand won't be there forever, but they took advantage of it while they could. Smart business. The Bombers should have offered this discount to season ticket holders to guarantee a solid base of ticket sales without the multi year commitment (or even a one year commitment would have been fine). The Bombers don't have the same demand as the Jets and they don't command the same level of "prestige" in the eyes of many as the NHL does. In a series of a lot of gaffes from this organization over the last 5 years, they've just thrown more good will out the window with the people they should be catering to the most.

I feel bad for Pavelec. Was driving to the game on Saturday and discussing the Jets goalie situation with my brother. With Pavelec under contract this year and next and Hutchinson an RFA next year, we were talking about what it would take for Hellebuyck to get his chance. My thoughts were in an ideal world, Hellebuyck would get a chance to prove himself and take over the starting job through injury, then force the Jets hand on trading Pavelec or Hutchinson. Otherwise, how can you really justify trading Pavelec or Hutchinson this year or next with an unproven guy behind them. Then we talked about how fortunate the Jets have been since they’ve come back with almost no games lost to injuries for their goalies. Then Pavelec goes and gets hurt that night, so I feel partially to blame. Sorry Pav.

With only the Grey Cup game left, Blueandgold has clinched this years Pick 'Ems contest with 58 wins. Congratulations Blueandgold! The Leaderboard can be seen here: http://morningbigblue.com/community/index.php?app=pickems&do=leaderboard&pid=6&wid=92 For those who still want to close out the final week, Grey Cup Pick 'Ems can still be made here: http://morningbigblue.com/community/index.php?app=pickems&do=games&pid=6&wid=93

This is the way you want your prospects making the lineup. Getting a shot with an injury call up and forcing the team to keep you up. Too many rookies on the team out of TC this year with no real competition. Up to Helle to make the most of his chance now.

http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=788686

Well this I disagree with. And I disagreed with it vehemently when people trash Obama. The position deserves respect. And disagreeing on politics is not reason enough to disrespect someone as a person. I dont dislike Justin personally. I dont know him personally. I hope he does well. I was very attracted to Stephen Harper (politically...haha), but now he is gone, Im probably just as likely to vote Liberal next time as Conservative (well, maybe 60-40). Was it because of his hair?

I've never heard of any story like this before. Yes refugees have typically lived a much different life and have seen many things that native Canadians would never experience. I have friends whose parents came to Canada from Poland. Stories about how they escaped and ran from the communist regime in the middle of the night. The times his Father does talk about those times and living there, you can see a certain quiet come over him when he relives those memories. But they are a wonderful addition to the Canadian community and contributing citizens. To suggest that "a lot" of refugees pose these kinds of problems is disingenuous. There is a certain percentage of the population who exhibit extreme behaviour like this which will be fact whether you are from Croatia, Poland, or Canada. Canada is historically built upon immigration. And most immigrants historically are leaving their native Countries for a reason and would carry some kind of "baggage". I'm also curious if your last sentence is implying that Canada should stop accepting these refugees?

Because bragging once isn't good enough?

The Islanders are in a win now mode, they aren't building. They aren't going to trade one of their top pairing defencemen for picks and prospects. The deal is going to have to include a competent (Top 6 / Top 4) roster player than can play now.

The thing is, these guys would all be the all stars and the highest paid in the league. Money is all relative. So even if we go at the low end for the top players and say they pull in $5M. Thats 2% of their annual salary. Then take half away for taxes. So yeah, it is some nice pocket change for them but is it really going to make a difference? They still aren't going to want to get hurt.

So, they're chosen as all stars, and can't find the oomph to try and win the game for the charity of their choice, in what will be a fun game of 3 on 3? Was there money involved in the all-star games before? Other than to their pensions? Money shouldn't be the incentive. But that's just me. No money wasn't involved before. Not even to their pensions. No one gets paid for it, it is something they have to do per their contracts. I'm pretty sure they get a bunch of "gifts" and shwag throughout the weekend, but I don't believe there was any money prior to this year. Have you watched an all star game recently? You can talk about what they "should" do but they don't. It is boring hockey because it is a meaningless game and no one wants to get hurt in a meaningless game. And even with money on the line, it probably will still not change anything. But you asked why not give the money to charity, and the rational for the money was to put something on the line for the players so they "try". Truth be told I wouldn't care if they cancelled the all star game all together. Probably won't watch it regardless,

The point of the million is to put something on the line for the players so the game means something and they actually try. However, it would be nice if the players stepped up and decided to donate it themselves.

Halischuk is still down with the Moose. I'd argue Lipon is ready for a shot. He is the perfect 4th liner. And while currently injured, I'd like to see Raffl get his shot.

It is interesting that the Jets have been preaching a draft and develop model, Chevy often talked about "over-ripening" players in the AHL. But this is not happening. It did with maybe Chiarot, and it is with Morrissey. Now you look at who is on the Jets this year Ehlers - never played in the AHL, Copp - Never played in the AHL, Petan - Never played in the AHL. Now of course Ehlers would have had to of gone back to juniors if he wasn't playing for the Jets, so I'm fine with him being on the team, but how many young rookies can you really absorb and not experience what we are right now. You have to start to wonder if we didn't do The Jets, The Moose, as well as Copp and Petan a disservice by not re-signing players like Stempniak and Tlusty and letting them "ripen" in the AHL.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/tsns-off-the-record-cancelled-amid-bell-job-cuts/article27308362/ More at the link.