tp49

In all fairness I've been trying to forget Andy Hawkins (and Ed Whitson too) since the early 90's.

Tampa Bay hasn't been able to win two in a row all series. We'll see if they take any momentum into Saturday night or if the pattern continues.

He's also the guy who kept going on and on about how he wanted to stay on the Island for his whole career, which given the state of the team while he was here and that a lot of athletes say that to be diplomatic would be forgivable. What angered the Islander fan base was that supposedly he was approached prior to the trade deadline about being traded and he refused so not only did the Islanders lose him (which we were honestly expecting anyway) but they weren't even able to trade him for assets then he dragged the whole process out knowing he wasn't going to come back. More or less gave the organization and fans the middle finger walking out the door. Now in fairness I don't remember whether he refused based on an NTC/NMC or just personal assurances to Garth Snow that he would re-sign and didn't want to be traded but that irritated the fanbase to no end. Had Tavares handled it better on the way out the door the majority of us would have a different feeling towards him and is why I hope the only way he ever gets to see the cup is if he goes to the HHOF and buys a ticket.

For me it was never that he left, I actually expected it, it's how he left that upset the large majority of the fan base.

For reasons...I don't want to see John Tavares win a cup but if the Leafs are going to get eliminated from the playoffs this year it won't be this round. Tampa looks gassed and can't sustain any momentum.

Tavares did make the second round once with the Islanders.

Lamoriello firing Trotz belongs in the bad business thread. Trotz took a roster of crap and made it to the ECF twice. Lou needs his head examined the move makes no sense. I'm scared to see who he brings in next. I hate this move. I really hate this move.

I thought I was watching the Islanders power play there for seven minutes it was that bad.

Unpopular opinion, the suspension is so excessive that when it goes to arbitration it will be knocked down at least by half if not more. If it winds up in court it will for sure be severely cut. Bauer being a vocal POS probably had a lot to do with the length and I am not condoning any of his behavior at all but I think the suspension's excessive particularly when looking at other DV suspensions MLB has issued over the years. I do wonder if the Dodgers will attempt to void his contract over this, now that would be very interesting.

I was at the game last night too. First time there, nice building. Didn't notice the banner thing because they were blocked by the catwalk as we were a few rows from the top. Looking forward to hitting a few next season. If I had known I'd have suggested a pregame beverage or two at Cigar City.

What I've been known to do is call the team directly and speak with someone who handles game used authentics. Most of the time they can tell you who customizes the on field jerseys for the team. If it's in-house and they won't customize jerseys for fans I send them to EPS. I also send jerseys to EPS which are older then what the team currently wears. For example, EPS did a fantastic job for me on an orange Marlins alt.

Mike Bossy and Gillies are what got me into hockey way back when. That they both passed this year is a major gut punch. Feel like my childhood is pretty much gone. Fitting the Isles are playing in Montreal tonight. RIP Boss you gave us a hell of a ride!

Bruce Arians retiring as Bucs head coach. Todd Bowles to be next HC. I hope for the sake of the fans in Tampa that Bowles learned some lessons from his time as Jets HC.

Victoria's Secret.

Really like the Alaska tag a lot. I also like the California plate as well but to me it looks very similar to the current Pennsylvania tag. Looking forward to seeing what comes next.

I remember when the Islanders left the abomination to the NHL that was Barclay's Center to go back to the "too small for the NHL Nassau Coliseum" and the uproar that came with it even from Bettman...but the Coyotes can play in a building with a capacity of 5,000. OITGDNHL.

As long as Manfred and Bettman are around Goodell will never finish lower than second.

Hue Jackson walked back and clarified his comments late yesterday to say he was paid to tank due to the construction of the roster and how winning wasn't to be expected until year three of the four year plan.

If by not in the NFL you mean Pee Wee football then I'd agree.

The only thing more OITGDNHL would be if the Coyotes had to play their games in a trailer park...are there any trailer parks in the Phoenix Metro willing to allow an NHL team to play there.

Brady to retire

No love for the Grouper?

If they hypothetically built in Ybor I'd buy season tickets.

I remember reading the article in The Athletic back in February outlining the never ending Coyotes saga to that point. The owners have a history of not paying their vendors across all of their business units then negotiating much lower "take it or leave it" demands, screwing over small local businesses who can't afford to litigate. They brought this same model to their operation of the Coyotes because they figure there's no difference between the team and SLS (IMHO the worst hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, Circus Circus not withstanding) Problem is if there's one expense you want to make sure you pay, and pay on time...it's taxes. Ownership's delusion is also on full display if they thought they might be able to negotiate tax payments with Glendale who's already had enough of these guys. Would have been funny though if the tax lien went to sale...we could have bought it for pennies on the dollar. There's an article in The Athletic today where Bettman says there is no issue in Glendale...using my NHL to English translation device it means there's a five alarm fire burning in the desert.

When the primary logo causes the fans of your most bitter rival to chant "We want fish sticks" at you because it looks like the Gorton's Fisherman, it's not a good logo. It wasn't then, and it's not now.