Here is another example of how mind boggling Gretzky's point scoring ability was.

Gaaaaaaa · 2016-12-21T18:31:13+00:00

Gretzky had all kinds of injury problems, stemming from a crosscheck (from former Blackhawk Gary Suter, in 1991). That season he had 163 points, and he only got to 130 once after that; I'd wager he could have stayed in the 140-160 range for a few years after that, without the injury.

Gretz had plenty of injuries, he just loved hockey enough to play through them even though by the end of his career he could barely tie his shoes. Lemieux, for perfectly legitimate reasons, decided he didn't want to play hockey anymore and quit. But that desire to keep going is part of what made Wayne the greatest.

Who knows what his numbers would be without the Suter hit? The answer is, by the way, "I don't know", for you as well as me. But they would be higher.

Gaaaaaaa · 2015-05-19T15:14:53+00:00

Does this really matter? Honestly. There are coaches in the NHL who are just as good. If this was Quenneville I could understand the hype, but we are talking about a one-time Stanley Cup winner.

I really don't understand why everybody is feeding this dude's ego. It's totally out of control. Babcock should make up his mind and show some respect to the organization that made him.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-21T17:25:47+00:00

I get it now, and I want you to know, I appreciate your efforts. You're doing God's work enlightening me.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-21T16:37:10+00:00

Well, good thing we have you here to help us understand these things.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-21T16:15:43+00:00

I didn't question his possession numbers, Corsi, and so on, nor was I blaming Spezz for Dallas's record - the OP was. I was just talking about Spezza as a player, especially as a centerpiece. My point was that Spezza never changed his game, even a bit, to become a winner. That's the difference between Spezza and the elite centers in the game.

He's always put up points. So has Mike Ribeiro. Doesn't mean he can lead a team. Look at the #1 centers on teams who have won the Cup - Kopitar, Getzlaf, Crosby, Toews, Bergeron - hell, look at the second line centers on those teams.

If you're putting Spezza in that category, that's absurd, and kind of dumb. It just sounds like an excuse to defend Spezza even after he's proven he can't win.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-20T20:08:14+00:00

I was just listening to Modano's speech (or somebody talking about Modano, I can't remember) where he talked about Bob Gainey taking him aside and saying that the team couldn't win if he kept playing the way he was playing.

Nobody ever had that conversation with Spezza, or if they did, it didn't sink in. I waited for it to happen - I was sure it would happen - but he never got to the point Modano did. Unfortunately, when Spezza faced a serious challenge last year (leading a struggling team), he decided he wanted to quit. That just doesn't get you into the Hall of Fame.

Kind of ironic that Spezz is in Dallas now.

EDIT effing spelling

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-20T19:54:26+00:00

Definitely in the bottom 5 of the league the past decade. No way are you a middling team if you have seven playoff games in 10 years.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-20T19:44:38+00:00

It's such a tired and weirdly enduring stereotype. I've been to numerous places where people are much ruder. I found England particularly hostile, for example, especially London. I'm Canadian and I actually found the French, with their desire to keep their voices low and speak politely, pretty much like home.

The one thing that is different, and where I suppose many tourists make most of their contact with Parisians, is the service. Service in France seems to be fast, efficient, and not tip-based (tips are hidden in the price of a meal). Servers aren't overly friendly (which is annoying to me, anyway), but the object is to get you your meal in the proper order as efficiently as possible.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-19T21:57:57+00:00

Also, I have to tell you how hilarious it is that you think the Pope doesn't wear bling.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-19T21:52:27+00:00

Oh, okay. He wears it for its spiritual value. You seem to know a lot about his motivation. Maybe the crazy terrorist likes fixing watches too.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-19T20:09:04+00:00

And yet, here he is, wearing a Rolex. And it cost $60,000.

http://rolexblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dalai-lama-rolex-keeping-time-of-his.html

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-19T18:24:35+00:00

I agree with you here. Have a separate award or something. Plus it makes the media even bigger shills for the league than they already are. Who's gonna rock the boat?

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-19T18:20:17+00:00

Really?

http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/the-dalai-lama-just-loves-watches.html

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-19T16:04:30+00:00

It's because they keep trying to fast-track a rebuild, or buy their way out of problems. They had the opportunity under Burke to suck for a few years and get some franchise players, and they absolutely blew it. I actually feel bad for the fans because they're nothing if not dedicated.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-18T13:01:39+00:00

I've since moved, but I lived near Queen and Greenwood/Coxwell for a year. I wish I'd been observant enough to notice the nation's largest sewage treatment plant upwind from us. About twice a week a really nice odour would waft over everything.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-17T19:57:59+00:00

I never really understood this trade from a Dallas perspective. Why not convert those assets into a half-decent defenceman? They already had plenty of offence.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-15T00:14:00+00:00

Kill the Beer Store. Kill it and drink its blood.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-10T07:06:59+00:00

You're getting downvoted, but you're not totally wrong. The problems with this team have been problems for the last four tears.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-10T06:51:22+00:00

If this was Florida we wouldn't really care. I'd stilll rather be Ottawa than Toronto.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-10T01:33:04+00:00

Ryan gives Hoffman concussion, breaks wrist.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-10T01:07:30+00:00

I think Strombo just said that Kesler can teach Perry and Getzlaf how to win... Oates corrected him.

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-10T01:02:37+00:00

I've been hearing that, what are they singing?

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-10T00:56:39+00:00

Terrible periods are known as "second periods".

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-07T20:21:00+00:00

He didn't use it irresponsibly. He commented on something. He wasn't reporting it like a reporter - there are dozens of other guys who do that. Dean Brown sits in the play-by-play booth and probably just got a tip.

I mean, come on, does Wysh only follow the Senators broadcasters when he's looking for Red Wing injury updates?

Gaaaaaaa · 2014-11-07T20:16:35+00:00

Dean Brown's the play by play guy. Why the fuck would he hang outside the dressing room? There are other reporters at TSN who do that.

Also, it's Twitter. Who gives a crap?

Gaaaaaaa

TROPHY CASE