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OMG guys! What a game! I love my team. JT was a beast...all over McDavid. And that beautiful pass....what a set up! His goal was a total JT snipe. Love that he was Joshua's biggest cheerleader when he dropped the gloves. He's so damn awesome. I'm super happy for Brock...loved it. We were chanting "we want Boeser". Petey's amazing. He was hitting like a beast and he still does these subtle little moves that elude players and give him time and space. He is just so phenomenal. Demko puked in his mask? Poor guy, hope he's ok. Oh yeah, Draisaitl is a total b. He's so dirty .... a slewfoot and a slash as the game got away from him and his ego exploded. Oilers always turn to the dirty stuff....they're such whiney pusses. It was great to see them get demolished. I really like our team...Lafferty and PGD really stood out for me. Everyone chipped in for this win. Captain Quinn...woo! Was great seeing former captains there. What a night, what a birthday!!

It is sad....there are places of worship to go to where everything lines up according to religion. Out here in the world it's about all of us and different beliefs. The belief that all people should be able to live their lives free of fear and discrimination is as more important. But sure, some people are uncomfortable so let's make it about them. It gets confusing that some don't follow all the aspects of their religion but pick and choose when it's convenient.

What next? NHL Unicorn cull? They're so disconnected. I can't believe they don't see how this is a huge step backward in any kind of progress toward inclusiveness. "Some people don't like it so....."

Every year we get to wipe the slate clean and have hope that's not desperate. They just have to get off to a good start this year, no more playing from behind. Already super excited for the game....GCG!!!

Thank you. Couldn't think of a better way to spend it...opening night! Perfect.

Vegas. Already giving me a headache and seizures.

It's my birthday tomorrow and I'm going to the game!

My friend Rob lives in Chicago and was sending me texts about Bedard. I should block him.

Thing is, those things (height/weight) are important on a team that's been pegged as soft/easy to play against with some smaller players on board. Although Myers is a good example of not using physical stature to determine actual physicality. I admit, I'm one of those who looks at those things at this point. I want players who can outmuscle their opponents in board battles and hits. A little more of an intimidation factor is definitely something we could use.

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Gutless NHL. It's tape for crying out loud but sure, be scared of it. Some players may want to use it and I just don't understand this move. Bettman's the distraction in the NHL...let's make that clear.

If we can stay healthy, yes. This team has pride and I doubt they'll easily accept any other fate. Quinn's leading the charge and showing the way. Petey, Miller, Kuz, Demko backing him up....yep.

Happy birthday! Hope you have a fantastic day.

That's your deal though. I'm glad the team doesn't operate from a fear based perspective. They are doing things to help the club improve and picks aren't guaranteed to do that any more than the guys on the bench or being brought in are. It's all a crapshoot but some act like picks are somehow proven paths to success. They may be. Over time. Eventually, With the right team in place. It starts there...with this roster. If we've been terrible for a decade you should welcome the opportunity to give new players a chance here. See if we can't find some fits. Just because others haven't worked out, doesn't mean you stop trying.

At some point, you have to face forward and not dwell on the past. History dealt with different players, etc. so don't assign past failures to groups of players who have no connection to the past. You're jaded and that's your deal and not really properly assessing things on current situation/needs/wants. It's fear based. We're in a position to try to improve the club...from here onward. Not just hoard picks in hopes of better days down the road. Accumulating mass picks in the "hope" of "hitting a gem". We have a couple of real gems and helping them succeed is important. You build toward something you don't just freeze and wait and hope. This club in the here and now matters as much as a pool to fish from down the road.

You've made this a negative prematurely though. A. That asset could produce "no results" B. Lafferty hasn't laced them up for us yet to decide that this is a bust/no results. My son also had to look at players/teams for his job and he's usually right about stuff. He's ok with this, so that's ok with me.

Well he seems to hold his own just fine. Here's a guy with 30 lbs on him:

Quantity doesn't equal quality and later rounds have fewer "gems". You may not get a gem with that one later round pick you've just let go of. So it's about weighing it out and not just assuming that more = better chance. More picks in the early rounds? Sure...but as you move further away the odds do decrease so hitting the jackpot gets harder. Picks get traded, just how it is. And later rounds aren't as coveted as you make them out to be. AUGUST 18: Anaheim Ducks acquire defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Buffalo Sabres for a 4th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.| Lyubushkin traded to Ducks by Sabres AUGUST 15: Detroit Red Wings acquire defenseman Jeff Petry from the Montreal Canadiens for Gustav Lindstrom and a conditional 4th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. | Petry traded to Red Wings by Canadiens AUGUST 8:Carolina Hurricanes acquire forward David Kase from the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Massimo Rizzo and a 5th round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. | Kase traded to Hurricanes by Flyers AUGUST 6: Pittsburgh Penguins acquire defenseman Erik Karlsson, forward Dillon Hamaliuk and a 3rd-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the San Jose Sharks for forwards Mikael Granlund, Mike Hoffman, defenseman Jan Rutta and a 1st-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. | Karlsson traded to Penguins by Sharks AUGUST 6: Montreal Canadiens acquire defenseman Jeff Petry, goalie Casey DeSmith, forward Nathan Legare and a 2nd-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Pittsburgh Penguins for forwards Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick. | Petry traded to Canadiens by Penguins JULY 9: Detroit Red Wings acquire forward Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators for forward Dominik Kubalik, defenseman Donovan Sebrango, a conditional 1st-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a 4th-round pick in the 2024 draft. | DeBrincat traded to Red Wings by Senators JULY 2:Minnesota Wild acquire forward Pat Maroon and forward Maxim Cajkovic from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 7th-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. | Maroon traded to Wild by Lightning JULY 1: San Jose Sharks acquire forward Anthony Duclair from the Florida Panthers for forward Steven Lorentz and a 5th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. | Duclair traded to Sharks by Panthers for Lorentz, draft pick JULY 1: New Jersey Devils acquire defenseman Colin Miller from the Dallas Stars for a 5th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. | Miller traded to Devils by Stars

I like the "finishes his checks" part. Check.