ruxpin

Yes, he died on a Friday, was resurrected on Sunday. Then banned. I think I've heard this story somewhere before... I do not have independent confirmation on the reports that @HF101 denied him three times before his c o c k finally crowed.

Okay. Habsguy26 supposedly died but didn't die when he was riding a rental bike along a river somewhere and fell in. I just like referencing it as often as possible to entertain myself.

Oh, wow. No, it was just an easy rental bike reference. Nothing intended towards you with it.

Oh, just to comment on Ruff: I think he's one of the more over-rated coaches in the NHL. On the other hand, I know Bylsma has a cup, but I don't think he's that much better. He, too, has a goalie, but he also has a bunch of #1 draft picks, etc. Bylsma has a lot more to work with (not downing Bylsma. I'm just saying it's not necessarily and apples-to-apples comparison). I think Ruff does okay, probably, with what he has. I just think his tenure wouldn't be so long in a more demanding city. (By the way, I too would take Ruff over Keenan every time).

Hey, MT. Definite kudos on the St. Louis pick. I'm glad you didn't take my bet or I'd have owed you money. I'm not a huge Hitchcock fan either, but I do have to give him some credit. Talent or no, I still don't think they are where they are without the coaching change. It just seemed like a rudderless ship. I wish I could blame my initial doubt of St. Louis on the then coach, but I really underestimated the talent on the team. Good call.

Fine. But if he does cry you a river, try not to go riding a rental bike near it. K?

I don't know. It seems to me the Lauffs are right about where they should be, given their team. At the beginning of the year, they were playing well over their heads and now they're playing a little worse than what they actually are. It all balances out. You can argue for a coaching change, I suppose, but I really don't know that it was warranted.

@mojo1917 THIS game was not about defense. And I didn't see the Edmonton game, but it doesn't seem that one was, either. But defense has been an issue. Team defense/gap/etc has been bad, backstopped by putrid goaltending. It seems they are slowly correcting the defense thing, but man, does goaltending have a long way to go.

I think you're onto something, @mojo1917. And that's actually what scares me a little. You'd think that something mental would result in bad positioning or taking chances or even being a moment too SOON rather than too late. But he seems to waive at pucks with his glove and you wonder what he's doing. Maybe it IS an eyesight thing. Something is really wrong though more than simply committing too quickly or bad goalie coaching (although I also think both of those are involved, too).

Please tell me that was joking.

Maybe CHL would have made him better. Or maybe it would have proved that he really isn't all that.

...but not since December 26th, because he very well may have met that one clean check.

Periodically, like in last year's playoffs and in short spurts this year, JVR shows something that makes you think he could be REALLY good. And then he goes back to sleep. He irritates me to no end. But I actually think that aside from being injured quite a bit this year, he's been on the wrong line(s) for much of it when he IS healthy. I would really like to keep him with Giroux for a bit and see what shakes out. I don't trade him yet, but I don't think he has much rope left. Bernier isn't Bob, to me. But I bet it's because I'm not as high on Bob rather than that I'm higher on Bernier. I just don't have ANY faith in Bob. He's Nitty Part Deux for me.

Wanna make a bet?

I think "they" might be! There is a "like this" button on your post. There is a "like sheep" button on podein's. But not on rad's post or mine. WTF? I wonder if it is a thread moderator thing. I'll have to look at HF101's.

We really do need a "like" button.

Choking.

I hope they have really strong end glass in the Staples Center. It's about to get tested...a LOT.

Seriously, what the hell are they doing in LA? Since the lockout, the Flyers have been horribly inconsistent, lack-luster for large stretches, incapable of playing 60 minutes, run out several coaches, etc. So what do they do in LA? Why, reassemble the above team. Apparently because playing in LA will turn out better than playing on the right coast. I don't get it.

I'm going to answer that with a resounding YES.

If people want to boo lack of effort, etc., I think that's well within their right as a paying customer. You go to a restaurant and the food/service is crap, you let the server or manager know. You could use barber, mechanic, plumber, whatever as more examples. The paying customer has a right to let the provider know if his product/server doesn't meet requirements and/or expectations. I guarantee you that the server, manager, barber, mechanic, plumber, etc., don't make nearly the money that a pro-athlete does. How many times have we conveniently been told by players and front office people that "this is a business." That's right. They're not idols or whatever. They represent a company; a business. The difference is at a game, you don't have the opportunity to speak directly to the person providing the lousy product or service. All you have left to express your displeasure is to boo. So if, as a paying customer to that business, the goalie or whomever is producing a lousy product, you let them know it. Is booing rude? I don't think so. Maybe at a funeral or a wedding or somethng, but not at a sporting event. It's a business. You tell them when they are doing well, by cheering; you tell them when they are doing poorly, by booing. What's the issue here? Does it HELP the person or persons on the receiving end? It doesn't have to, but it can. Does it help to tell your server that your food was bland or cold or whatever? Or that the service was slow? It doesn't have to. The server can get pissy or spit in your food or whatever. Or they can try to make it right. Maybe it doesn't help your visit but it's improved for another time. If a player wants to internalize it and respond with "oh, woe is me. They booed." Well, screw them. Or, if they want to go back to practice and say "damn, I sucked. I was too busy thinking about my dog" and work harder or smarter or whatever. Great. The booing is an attempt to express displeasure with the product. What that product/service provider does with that information is up to them. What they do with that information says more about their character than it does about the effect or ineffect of booing. This is, after all, a business, and these people are not only supposed to be professionals, they're getting paid quite well.

@Green Man You make good points. The description probably fits me well, but in this case I really was on the "he's a good goalie who has allowed trying to live up to a huge contract get to his head." I'm still hoping that is the case. But the more he talks, the more he sounds like a looney toon. I actually do like that he has some personality about him (unlike the above contrast to Richie). I just wish he'd start stopping the puck so we can get on with it.

Fair point.

@phlfly I buy that it was sarcasm, which only changes the way in which it was stupid. I'm late to the "pile on Bryz" game, but I'm there now. @Digityman Alternative: "I'm really good at hunting; I just thought my friend was a bird." "I'm very faithful in my marriage. By the way, dear, have you met my son?"

Okay, so I'm reading this article: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20120222_Flyers_put_on_a_late_show.html And I'm starting to wonder if Bryzgalov is Rick. Seriously, the dude is coming across equally as retarded. Does he really think the mocking from the Peg fans was cheering? Does the NHL have random substance abuse testing?