AROUND THE LEAGUE - 25-26

[donlever]

Yeah, for that reason I'd be a little surprised if Detroit pull this trade off since Yzerman doesn't seem to find the risk acceptable and Calgary haven't been willing to let teams talk to Andersson. Maybe if they get negotiations right to the threshold Conroy relents.

If we had a GM worth his salt and with brains and balls he would, with Andersson rumour and Hughes knowledge in hand, be on the phone to Yzerman trying to rape him for assets and offering a long term signed Hronek back....

[Carl Yagro]

I'm sure you've all heard that another ElevenPointSix is on the market and not part of an upcoming retool.

Absolutely sure he'll just be a playoff rental to some contender. What do you think will be Drury's ask?

[donlever]

A first, a young player ready to play and a prospect.

Caveats being retention and Panarins ability to determine his destination due to his NMC.

I can see him in Colorado.

Or Dallas.

Carolina has to do something as well...that team needs to take the next step sooner than later but they have been bitten with Guentzel and Rantanen so may be more wary than others.

[Carl Yagro]

Dallas and Carolina has to do something soon to pacify their owners and fans, lest they have their windows start to close ala the Jets.

[BCExpat]

Andersson to the Bruins??

[donlever]

This is on socialz.....

The Bruins are said to have made an offer that includes defenseman Mason Lohrei and a first-round pick as Boston holding two firsts in 2026 due to the Brandon Carlo trade

...and this (as we touched in here earlier)...

Yzerman, like with Hughes, will only entertain a deal if Andersson agrees to an extended deal while Simon Edvinsson and Axel Sandin Pellikka are off limits,

[Cousin Strawberry]

There's a good game on right now: Buffalo - Minny.

Minny is absolutely loaded with talent and toughness. They're my top team in the west

[BoS]

Minny does look good. Likely to make another move or two as well.

My money is still on the Nordiques tho. Hoping Lande can get back soon and stay healthy.

[Ronning's Ghost]

My money is still on the Nordiques tho.

I think they will get every playoff break that the League can offer, because if they don't at least go deep, it will make the regular season look even more irrelevant, and the commissioner doesn't like that.

[donlever]

On that line what's the point of watching...

[Meds]

If the league wants the regular season to matter in the eyes of the fans when contrasted to the playoffs, then don’t let the refs put the whistles away after 82 games.

Maybe tolerate more scrums, but the stuff they let go in the course of play, that benefits the lesser skilled, slower footed, players. The fan come to watch the MacKinnon’s and the McDavid’s. They want to see highlight-reel offense, big hits, and otherworldly saves. They don’t want to see the best players get limited by lesser players who are breaking the rules in order to defend.

[Ronning's Ghost]

On that line what's the point of watching...

As we are currently masochistically re-hashing in another thread, the problem has been glaringly evident since at least 2011.

But here we are.

I asked at the time how and why people maintained interest, but the archives don't seem to go back that far, and I don't recall any definitive answer.

[donlever]

I gave one.

More than once.

I am not.

And never watch.

Don't really care at all.

Since 2011.

Been through the how's and why's more than once as well...

[Ronning's Ghost]

don’t let the refs put the whistles away after 82 games.

Personally, I would love that.

But I don't think I'm representative of the fans who are the source of most of the League revenue.

Professional sports are a business, and revenues come before everything else, including the integrity of the game. I think the governors want just enough of that to distinguish their form of entertainment from completely scripted sports entertainment, like WWE. A necessary minimum to keep customers engaged, but no more. Like insurance payouts.

[Ronning's Ghost]

I gave one.

More than once.

I am not.

And never watch.

Don't really care at all.

Since 2011.

Yes, that's fair, and with this reminder, I recall that you have been consistent about it.

In my defence, I hope you can see how "there is no such reason" didn't stick in my head as a reason.