Media (AKA Idiots) Rebooted

[Megaterio Llamas]

The Geez just said they won't exercise the team option on Tocchet. He expects a decision on Tocchet's contract this week.

Willander's agent says he's going back to school. He turned down the Canucks offer. He's back in Sweden with the national team hoping to get into some exhibition games.

JT Miller asked for a leave of absence. It wasn't the team.

You don't replace a JT Miller.

[Chef Boi RD]

The Geez just said they won't exercise the team option on Tocchet. He expects a decision on Tocchet's contract this week.

Willander's agent says he's going back to school. He turned down the Canucks offer. He's back in Sweden with the national team hoping to get into some exhibition games.

Rutherford when asked how many forwards they need to “get there” after discussing the priority of fixing the centre position. 3 he said, pulling a number out of a hat. We got a long ways to go

[Megaterio Llamas]

It would seem that Willander has solidified his position as part of the package that brings back a center.

Just listening to the clip about Tocchet's contract, it sounds like they are prepared to go outside Mr Aquilini's coaching budget comfort zone to get it done.

[Picker of Cherries]

It would seem that Willander has solidified his position as part of the package that brings back a center.

Just listening to the clip about Tocchet's contract, it sounds like they are prepared to go outside Mr Aquilini's coaching budget comfort zone to get it done.

I agree the longer Willander holds out, the more likely he’s a trade chip - still maintain it will be a mistake - If they could get the same return for Mancini, they should go that route.

Sounded to me like Rutherford was setting the media expectations low on a Tocchet resigning. To paraphrase - They offered him more than they have other coaches in Vancouver. They don’t want to force him to stay if he wants to be elsewhere. Sounds to me like there is a high likelihood Tocc is gone.

[Cousin Strawberry]

It would seem that Willander has solidified his position as part of the package that brings back a center.

Just listening to the clip about Tocchet's contract, it sounds like they are prepared to go outside Mr Aquilini's coaching budget comfort zone to get it done.

Good god we've become the western Sabres again

[Picker of Cherries]

It would seem that Willander has solidified his position as part of the package that brings back a center.

Just listening to the clip about Tocchet's contract, it sounds like they are prepared to go outside Mr Aquilini's coaching budget comfort zone to get it done.

Good god we've become the western Sabres again

I don’t understand what you mean by “again”?

[Megaterio Llamas]

I guess Rutherford tapped out to Todd Diamond's Umberger move.

[Cousin Strawberry]

I guess they never actually left the ring of dishonour

Sigh....

[Megaterio Llamas]

It starts about ten minutes in for those who want to watch it later: https://www.youtube.com/live/PreKcZJrSm ... KMFZunCQ83

[Chef Boi RD]

A legend signs off:

https://x.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/1940148015488278976

“The trade is one for none.

Which is to say I’m exchanging my semi-retired TSN life of the last five years — doing the World Junior Championships, NHL Draft Rankings, a handful of Toronto Maple Leaf broadcasts, TradeCentre and Free Agent Frenzy — for a fully-retired life of doing absolutely nothing.

Well, nothing work related anyway.

Today’s Free Agent Frenzy is the last working day in a 48-year professional career that included stops at The Sault Star, The Globe and Mail, The Hockey News (twice), The Toronto Star, TSN, ESPN and NBC, amongst others.

It’s been quite a ride.

I’ll be 69 years old in August. I decided a few months ago it’s as nice a time as any to call it a career with the expiry of my current contract. If I had been so inclined to continue doing the World Juniors and draft rankings etc. at TSN, the opportunity was certainly there for me to do so. And I’m so grateful to TSN for that.

Honestly, though, I am looking forward to waking up on Christmas morning this year and NOT flying to Minneapolis-St. Paul for the World Juniors.

I’m also looking forward to doing more travelling with my wife Cindy; having more time to give my sons Mike and Shawn unwanted (and unneeded) advice; playing even more golf than I am now; and having my two wonderful grandchildren Blake and Gunnar running my show on a full-time basis.

After almost 50 years in the business, there are far too many people to thank individually, so I won’t even try to name any lest I leave some out.

Just know that I’ve been blessed to work for, work with and work against so many great people who gave me boundless opportunity, incredible support and intense motivation. The nearly five decades have gone by in the blink of an eye.

I certainly never set out to be the TSN Hockey Insider. It never occurred to me that I would work in television. All I wanted to be when I grew up was a hockey writer, to have a “job” to watch, write and talk about the game. You know, tell a few stories and try to capture the spirit of the thing.

Mission accomplished, I guess.

I couldn’t say goodbye now without a special thanks to everyone at TSN, past and present.

I first started showing up on the network in or around 1986-87. In the 1990s, I was working full-time hours at TSN but still had a full time newspaper job, too. Since 2000, 25 years ago, TSN has been my primary professional home.

It’s been a very special place on so many levels. The best part of TSN has always been the people. The best people doing the best work. What an honour to be one small part of the unsurpassed excellence that is TSN. Every time I’ve walked out of Studio Six at the end of Free Agent Frenzy on July 1, I’ve said to myself: “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

And it doesn’t. That’s especially true on this Canada Day because I’m so very proud to be a Canadian.

I’m a very lucky guy. I owe the game of hockey, and all the people within it — the players, coaches, managers, executives, scouts, agents et al — so much; I owe my family and friends even more.

Finally, thank you to anyone who has ever read, watched or listened to any of my work in any form at any outlet over the last 48 years. It’s been a privilege to share some information with you all, and try to have a few laughs along the way on social media or whatever they’re calling it these days.

I’ve cherished it all.

Fully Completely.”

Bob McKenzie

[Strangelove]

Yeah, Bob was great.

[Blob Mckenzie]

It would seem that Willander has solidified his position as part of the package that brings back a center.

Just listening to the clip about Tocchet's contract, it sounds like they are prepared to go outside Mr Aquilini's coaching budget comfort zone to get it done.

Good god we've become the western Sabres again

I just read these dumb posts along with [grow up Blobby] saying Wilander was a holdout.

This is calgarypuck level.

[Blob Mckenzie]

You don't replace a JT Miller.

4 posters or 20 % of the posters..... are so enraged that he left, that they left the board. Sad........

[Blob Mckenzie]

Yeah, Bob was great.

Big Bob is a quality human. Very nice man.

[Chef Boi RD]

Bob was legit in a business full of paparazzi level reporting.