TropicalFruitGirl26

That situation is already ugly and can only get worse. The player, no matter whether he likes his coach or not, is still obligated to play to the best of his abilities. In the long run, he really is hurting himself by just going through the motions as shown. Just brings up too many other questions regarding his character....fair or not. The coach, well, the coach can play guys as he sees fit, but Torts is clearly making an example in front of all watching the game (it was a national game too!), and THAT isn't a good recipe for success or even 'rehabilitation' of any player, if the that is what the coach is going for. Then you have player locker room leadership (I.E. guys like the captain Nick Foligno who should be the liason between troubled player and iron fisted coach). Players need to get on Dubois a bit for lack of hustle, maybe player leadership needs to talk with the coach about not giving Dubois a pass, but rather, keep all whippings behind closed doors. All this adds up to a situation that is just a few degrees below boiling over. Ownership and/or the GM has to take a good hard look at this and make an executive decision...and make one fast. Both for the sake of the team and for any value they hope to get back in what will likely be an eventual trade.

John Tortorella is like a dairy product. He is good for you, makes you strong, has a variety of uses in good solid recipes, makes SOME people sick because they might be lactose intolerant.......AND, he will eventually expire and sour so you best use it in your recipes sooner than later...and in this case, the end recipe result is a Stanley Cup. So, if the end goal isn't met, and that dairy product is starting to sour, and too many people (players) are starting to look for fresher ingredients, then it just might be time to go grocery shopping for something with a later expiration date. I like Torts. Always have. And yes, part of it is bias because he was, after all, the guy behind the bench that helped bring the first ever Stanley Cup to the state of Florida....raising the Lightning from laughing stock of the league to champs. Torts' no-nonsense approach should be required studying for ANYONE looking to be a good head coach and getting the most of your players. But all that toughness comes at a price and when the team doesn't see the expected results, and the coach has used up his arsenal ways to get players to play to their potential, he becomes an albatross. Especially in this day and age of political correctness, being "kind" to those who play under you, and media scrutiny looking to pin anything and everything to the "Loud mouthed coach who can't seem to win it all".........whether it is fair or not to do so. Torts has become a "fix it" coach. A guy owners bring in to straighten out a %$@!ed up locker room. A drill sergeant type to whip some candy arsed players into NHL caliber shape. But he needs to get his team to win because eventually, the milk will sour, and players, media, owners...whomever...will no longer be in positions to respond positively to an abrasive coach's methods. Yes. Might be time for the Blue Jackets to get themselves a new head coach with a new direction. But they better not complain if they go back to being that type of team others beat on while they figure out how to win again.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying Risto has NO value.....but more that he has his own bag of issues to go along with what he DOES do well. And a team like the Flyers, with a budding young defensive core, and young guys up front learning to play like playoff contenders, I just don't think Risto's play, in the long run, is a help to a team like Philly. On a grizzled veteran team perhaps looking to add just one more piece on the blueline, and who have guys who have been there done that, sure. Risto can do his thing there and he will have people to cover for when he goofs. But, IMO, the Flyers just can't afford something like that with what looks like a team going in the right direction. Your team has players of their own they are trying to "get straight"....they don't need Risto's baggage added on, even if he does have games at times where he looks like a world beater. Plus Risto's cap hit (5.4M for the next two years before becoming a UFA and at 28, he will likely want MORE) doesn't exactly justify his play. I mean, that is almost Ivan Provorov money and Provorov already is a much better overall blue liner than Ristolainen is, and will only get better over the course of the same two years Risto has on his contract.

IMO, Brandon Montour is SIGNIFICANTLY more attractive as a guy I'd want on my team's blueline over Ristolainen....unless of course, you have the players to cover Risto's gaffes. Montour is a more responsible player on his own and still, like you said, a tough match up for most opposing players.

Because as much as Risto hits, as much as he can be involved in offensive plays, he is also a disaster in his own end, brain farts regularly with positioning all over the ice (see this guy pinch in and completely forget NO ONE is now covering the point), and will take ill advised penalties in scrums when his team needs it the least. I can see a super deep defensive team having him on their second or bottom pair with a very responsible (and patient) partner at the blueline, but is this the kind of player you REALLY want on the Flyers?

I can understand if some people are finding being in a tough division "unfair" because their team has to play high level competition almost on regular basis, but, still, if a team isn't even good enough to be FOURTH best in any division, I don't care how good it's supposed to be, you simply don't belong in the post season. Sure, there will be cases where the 5th best team in a good division will be better than the 3rd or 4th best team in a weak division, but the bottom line is, if a team wants to claim the right to get into the post season, let alone try to win the Cup, then I would think they should at LEAST be 4th best in their division, and even that is being generous. Otherwise, the team in question really has no business being in the playoffs.

Red Wings will get there and when they do, I have a feeling, based on Yzerman's previous work, that it will mostly come from within. One thing though from watching Vladi Namestnikov over the years and even a bit since he got traded away from TB: To get the MOST out of him, he needs to be on a line that has a real game changing player. Vladi by himself isn't a game changer, and he won't elevate those around him, but he certainly raises his game when paired with a stud linemate, especially a center. In that regard, I wonder if he would get some top line time with Dylan Larkin instead of being paired with a Rasmussen or Filppula. Maybe swap Bertuzzi and Vladi on the left side. I know EVERY player has to carry their own weight, but it seems some players simply need to ride the coattails of a better player in order to be all they can be. And I think, a player like Larkin certainly has the ability to raise the game of those he plays with....if Bertuzzi isn't getting the memo, maybe Vladi should be put in there and I think some production can be had there.

Maybe...but no matter how you slice it, if the Flyers are gonna do anything this season, it is going to be with Coots ON the team, not on the IR list.

Not good at all. The Fly definitely can't afford to be without Couturier. One of the Flyers', nay, the league's, best draw men, constantly giving his team possession, top line center, and excellent two way game. As good as the Flyers look on paper, I feel their weakness still at this stage is depth. They can't lose a key player like Coots for long and be ok...throws the lines out of wack.

Word out of the Rangers is Tony DeAngelo will be riding the taxi squad following a piss poor performance....both on the ice and tactfully when being called for penalties....just one game into the New York Rangers season. Thing is, DeAngelo was FAR from the only Ranger having a bad night. You could look up and down the lineup and find fault with guys not playing to their abilities and that even includes young Shesterkin in net who let goals in he probably should have stopped. So why would the team single out DeAngelo who is one of their better up n coming defensemen? Is it his reputation for run ins with officials? Is there a genuine attitude problem with him and authority? Or are the Rangers' brass overreacting? Could be one, could be a mixture of any of those things. For sure, DeAngelo didn't help himself, first for how badly he played on the ice, and secondly, slamming doors in the penalty box which garnered him extra Sin Bin time. I didn't know much about DeAngelo when the Lightning first drafted him, but I was told by some other knowledgeable fans that he is a bit of a firecracker...and not always in a good way. But apparently, Steve Yzerman saw enough in him to draft him...... but then traded him to Arizona for just a second round pick. I thought he would get traction in Arizona (he started to play well), but then gets bounced forward again to the Rangers. Good thing or bad thing (Arizona didn't want him, but the Rangers did), I am not sure.... but the bottom line was, his skillset was beginning to show on the ice. Perhaps his reputation or something else happened NOT reported in the media that led to him being relegated to shuttle squad in favor of, get this, Anthony Bitetto! Yep...the Rangers would rather have Bitetto on the ice right now over DeAngelo....hell, even Jack Johnson, who also played a bad game, seemed immune from any criticism the Rangers may have leveled at their blueline. I dunno. Fair or not, I think DeAngelo is at a point in his career (25 yrs old), that he needs to help HIMSELF but keeping his mouth shut, just play hockey, heck, maybe even coming forward himself and taking ownership of any bad play before anyone else points a finger in his direction...even if he isn't the only one playing terribly. Quit acting like every official is "out to get him"....because eventually, if he continues with the 'attitude', they likely WILL be! Rangers brass is gonna do what Rangers brass is gonna do. All DeAngelo can do is play hard and continue to showcase his skills and show not just the Rangers, but every NHL team, that he belongs on an NHL ice sheet. Maybe the Rangers believed their own hype and the media hype about them being ready to contend (they aren't...far from it), and took the embarrassing loss against the Islanders as a bad time to make an example out of a player like DeAngelo who didn't live up to the billing. The Isles are a good team. Led by some solid veterans, good young talent themselves, and a masterful coach in Barry Trotz. If ANY NHL team, even a team like the defending champion Lightning, doesn't show up to play, let alone a still work-in-progress Rangers team, the Isles will take them down, and take them down hard. I really don't know what to make of the Tony DeAngelo situation. 3rd team now in his very young career....but does that reflect badly on him? Or maybe the Rangers aren't thinking straight right now. Bitetto? Really??

The Minnesota Wild will trade Cam Talbot to the Sabres in exchange for Hutton. Hutton, of course, will bomb, giving the Minnesota crease to young Kaapo Kahkonen

I am honestly not expecting a whole lot from the Minnesota Wild this season, but in the crazy times we live in now, there could be some crazy results....and some players on the Wild may very well step up their games. Good way for the team to start out their 'transition' campaign is against the three California teams, whom I see struggling as well this season. With the Wild seeing lots of the LA Kings before they see a REAL challenge in the Avalanche later this month, this may give Minnesota a good way to gel as a team. I am particularly interested in seeing how Mat Dumba, Eriksson-Ek, Greenway, and Fiala play as I think those players will be key in keeping this team competitive. Also, I know Cam Talbot is the number one, but hoping Kahkonen takes those reigns sooner than later. Good luck to the Green, Red, and White tonight!

You said it. A money and numbers thing. Blues are one of those teams near the top of the cap and Pietrangelo's requirements for staying on were a bit more than the Blues could take on and still keep a competitive team. On the bright side, they get Torey Krug on board. While I feel Pietrangelo is the better overall defenseman, Krug isn't too shabby and might even bring a bit more PP numbers to the table for the Blues. Ultimately, Pietrangelo is costing his new team Vegas, $8.8M against the cap, while Krug is costing St. Louis a relatively friendlier $6.5M against the cap....and for a team like the Blues already up against the cap ceiling, that is huge. I am sure in a perfect scenario, Pietrangelo re-signs and the Blues would have been glad to keep him on. But that isn't the way of things and the price all GMs of Stanley Cup champion or contending teams have to pay when managing such teams.

It's a game played on a sheet of ice....some hitting involved (well some hitting..hehe), a little black disc is shot around and the goal is to put it in the net guarded by a guy wearing lots of padding and a face mask. You will love it, Yave!

I'd say "they" are on par with that one guy who's been telling me St. Louis is loaded...

2- 1 Flyers and Farabee with a two assist night already. Nice start for him! Maybe wearing that Nikita Kucherov #86 is paying off for him!

Malken-Stein causing some trouble in front of the benches. TK wasn't happy. Flyers to the PP...and score...just like that..

I gotta say, this particular rivalry is definitely missing an ingredient with no fans in the stands.... that "fan track" they got going just ain't cutting it. Real fans would have been all over the refs and players big time by now.

Wow.. After a Flyer 2 on 1 stopped by Jarry, Pitts turns things around and new bird Mark Jankowski puts the Pens up 1-0

Looks like Philadelphia is already trying to get into the head of Tristan Jarry...seems whenever Orange skaters go by, they make ever so slight contact. Jarry is already starting to jab at guys as they go by...... Stay tuned.

Me too. I am still playing fantasy hockey and I am banking on him having a good season....so I drafted him!

Not too long before we get our first game of the season! For once, I would have to give the unquestioned edge in goal to the Flyers in their matchup against Pittsburgh. Carter Hart's play inspires that. With any luck, he thrives on a super workload, and ol Brian Elliot will be used minimally. Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith will have to show they can handle regular starts...especially Jarry. Flyers skaters also have to be excited and feel they can match up well against Pittsburgh especially after their good run last season. Looking for Travis Konecny to turn things up even more and become an undisputed mainstay on the Philly top line.

Well, to understand the Knights way of thinking and doing things, you must understand that the Knights do NOT typically go with a traditional 1-4 lines set up. Sure, you can usually see what is clearly their 4th line, but in general, the first three lines can be seen rotating based on whomever is performing best at the time. Or even have them (especially whatever the first two lines are), share in equal ice time. My guess is Stephenson has shown the Knights something during their training camps and they want to give him every chance to do well. If he doesn't, I can easily see them bumping Willie Karlsson back to that top spot or even promoting Cody Glass if he is doing well. It is what makes the Vegas Knights so good (and could be their biggest weakness)....they don't really have a clearly defined top anything....but DO have several players who all play well enough to serve in those roles throughout their lineup. When everyone is playing on all cylinders, this setup is great....when slumps come around, then the team, as a whole, looks very mediocre and every bit the has been contender part. Vegas just runs things differently than everyone else and aside from not actually winning a Cup, hard to argue with their track record so far. Hope that helps make sense of things a bit.

We officially begin All Star Leagu FHL action today....and want to wish everyone good luck and fun during the season. Good luck to my opening opponent @pilldoc and his Ice Pigs. We have a long matchup to start and we will probably be sick of each other by the end of it.