News and notes XXXIX: off-season schedule announced

[Nikishin Go Boom]

More likely the Bear trade didn't materialize as neither us or Vancouver was going to blink.

maybe but it seemed our entire cap structure was based around him staying until at least today with Martinook being the one that was waived

 

[tarheelhockey]

Belittling something like punctuation while ignoring the content should be below this forum.

I agree, but you have to admit the punctuation thing is odd. Is there a certain type of keyboard or phone that automatically inserts a space before every period? I can't come up with another reason for it.

She has a very valid point--if not one player was willing to engage with Pride night, that is a big problem.

Does she actually have the perspective or the credibility to have input on that, though? This is the equivalent of the mail room guy catching wind that a major C-suite project has had some questionable results, and trying to take charge of solving it. That's just pure foolishness in any large-office environment. If perfectly executed in the very best circumstance it might get a "bless your heart" and a mental note about your ambitious nature. But when it's coming from someone who's already been given a short leash after overstepping her jurisdiction, it's more than likely going to have the execs questioning who's managing this person and why she keeps coming up in their inbox (and what the hell is going on with her punctuation). That can pivot into a career-limiting move very quickly.

While many are pointing out "just a mascot," Brittany Egan has credentials. She was offering to do something (have difficult discussions) for which she has graduate level training. Were her hopes a bit grandiose? Sure, but not as unreasonable as most here are describing. (These comments are all in reference to her offer to talk with players and other employees).

Honestly, no, she was actually being pretty unreasonable. The fact that she has a degree in social work and experience as a mascot does not qualify her to step into the lead role working directly with NHL players on a bunch of highly sensitive topics which play directly into a controversial marketing initiative. She's about 3 career steps away from even being qualified to do what she's proposing in that email, which mean's it's highly likely she (once again) didn't clear it with her supervisor before rocketing it off to upper management. I think her heart was in the right place, but that's a foolish misstep for someone who's already made a very similar misstep resulting in discipline.

By the way, I think empowering "the players to be more than just a hockey player" is a great idea. Obviously the NHL hasn't done nearly enough on this front.

I do agree with that, and with the general goal that she was trying to accomplish. My impression has been that players get a lot more training on this stuff than they used to, but apparently that is not the case unless something is being misrepresented.

 

[Chrispy]

Because when else can I use this picture?

 

[Lempo]

Belittling something like punctuation while ignoring the content should be below this forum. She has a very valid point--if not one player was willing to engage with Pride night, that is a big problem. While many are pointing out "just a mascot," Brittany Egan has credentials. She was offering to do something (have difficult discussions) for which she has graduate level training. Were her hopes a bit grandiose? Sure, but not as unreasonable as most here are describing. (These comments are all in reference to her offer to talk with players and other employees).

By the way, I think empowering "the players to be more than just a hockey player" is a great idea. Obviously the NHL hasn't done nearly enough on this front.

"they've been force fed toxicity" might have been the phrase where the pitch failed if not already before that. Yeah, guys, I want to reprogram your assets in a way they might feel very unresponsive to.

I would bet a professional sports organization gets to hear pitches like this ad nauseaum. There can't be shortage of self-appointed gurus who would very much like to have a gig which consist of them having and billing one-on-one time an hour a piece with professional sports millionnaires.

IF a sports team felt something like this was in order, they would probably seek a leading established organization that provides such training, and the sports team would be the one that gets to define the specifics of what the service would consist of. I can't see a sports organization voluntarily taking the pain of dealing with a person who is on personal level too involved in what the training would be about, having to have the unavoidable "this is not what we want" "this is what you need!" discussions ultimately leading to the discharging of the person.

 

[Tryamw]

What is the purpose of the paper transactions to get as close to the cap as possible?

YES.. to maximize cap relief..

 

[Bunch of Jurcos]

*pokes Canes with a stick* Do something!

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Ehhhhhh

I’m not gonna go super deep into this other than to say, based on her social media (Twitter, LinkedIn) it looks like this was less “pushed out of the NHL” and more “routinely takes public shots at former employers, repeatedly overstepped her professional boundaries, and managed to create friction with management as the mascot”.

The Cole situation is a legitimate issue that needs to be looked into. This one, I have my doubts.

These private 1 hour individual meetings with the players, what would they really consist of...? Lol

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

She has a very valid point--if not one player was willing to engage with Pride night, that is a big problem.

Why in the world is that a big problem? If they don't want to engage, for whatever reason they want, should they be forced to? They are paid to play hockey, not parade around promoting lifestyles that they don't want to promote.

 

[HisIceness]

Yeah sorry but private meetings with the players? That just screams lawsuits. Once again, someone was not told "no" growing up. Holy cow sounds like a real PR nightmare avoided there.

Anyways, have we signed Derek Stepan yet? Because if we don't I'm driving up there and someones ass is getting kicked.

 

[emptyNedder]

I agree, but you have to admit the punctuation thing is odd. Is there a certain type of keyboard or phone that automatically inserts a space before every period? I can't come up with another reason for it.

Recently listened to a "Hidden Brain" where John McWhorter talked about how language always changes. Since things like Twitter are more like speaking than writing, I imagine there are several reasons for the "punctuation thing." Perhaps it is something within the queer community (I am not part of that community, so just surmising) to show solidarity.

Does she actually have the perspective or the credibility to have input on that, though? This is the equivalent of the mail room guy catching wind that a major C-suite project has had some questionable results, and trying to take charge of solving it.

She does have a perspective that I would guess is lacking in the C-suite. A better analogy would be a mail room guy (which in itself is kinda belittling) noticing that executives are wasting thousands by not using bulk mailing rates. As someone with both professional and personal interest in pride issues, she has insights that are definitely needed on a team with no players willing to engage in pride events. If the team had someone doing a "more professional" job, why were none of the players willing to participate?

Honestly, no, she was actually being pretty unreasonable.

In a purely organizational sense, sure. But again, the organization had failed completely at engaging any players. Sometimes it takes unreasonable steps from minions to get things done. Remember this organization is "untraditional" and "not run like any other NHL team."

Obviously, I think this is a worthwhile discussion--thanks for engaging.

 

[emptyNedder]

Why in the world is that a big problem? If they don't want to engage, for whatever reason they want, should they be forced to? They are paid to play hockey, not parade around promoting lifestyles that they don't want to promote.

When the team was in Hartford, the argument might have seemed reasonable. But at this point conflating pride events with "promoting lifestyles" is out of touch.

 

[mikeyfan]

Is there a rule prohibiting a team over the cap from claiming a player?

If not, I’m kind of surprised Montreal didn’t pick Martinook up on waivers just to extract revenge for Koko.

 

[Hinterland]

So I get that the rest are paper moves. I can't quite get my head around the Drury move though. Did the Canes send him down for good to sign Stepan or is it a paper move and Drury is gonna be in the lineup wednesday?

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Is there a rule prohibiting a team over the cap from claiming a player?

If not, I’m kind of surprised Montreal didn’t pick Martinook up on waivers just to extract revenge for Koko.

For as bad as they are, Montreal has surprisingly little cap space. They’re under new management, as well, so the history isn’t there.

Also, claiming a fourth liner we waived seems like really weak revenge. That’s like dating my ex to get back at me. If you want her, you’re more than welcome.

 

[DaveG]

"they've been force fed toxicity" might have been the phrase where the pitch failed if not already before that. Yeah, guys, I want to reprogram your assets in a way they might feel very unresponsive to.

I would bet a professional sports organization gets to hear pitches like this ad nauseaum. There can't be shortage of self-appointed gurus who would very much like to have a gig which consist of them having and billing one-on-one time an hour a piece with professional sports millionnaires.

IF a sports team felt something like this was in order, they would probably seek a leading established organization that provides such training, and the sports team would be the one that gets to define the specifics of what the service would consist of. I can't see a sports organization voluntarily taking the pain of dealing with a person who is on personal level too involved in what the training would be about, having to have the unavoidable "this is not what we want" "this is what you need!" discussions ultimately leading to the discharging of the person.

I hate to say this as well but it leads to the question on if they did ANY vetting before hiring them in the first place given what's come out about their comments on prior employers, etc. The first question anyone should be asking with a hire like this, especially in a position that's entirely public facing, is if they're likely to do anything that would be a bad look on the organization. There should have been more than enough red flags to make them a hard pass.

 

[DaveG]

So I get that the rest are paper moves. I can't quite get my head around the Drury move though. Did the Canes send him down for good to sign Stepan or is it a paper move and Drury is gonna be in the lineup wednesday?

Still likely a paper move, there's almost a 100k difference in salary cap hit between Rees and Drury

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Is there a rule prohibiting a team over the cap from claiming a player?

If not, I’m kind of surprised Montreal didn’t pick Martinook up on waivers just to extract revenge for Koko.

Montreal exacted revenge by not claiming Martinook.

 

[Svechhammer]

I hate to say this as well but it leads to the question on if they did ANY vetting before hiring them in the first place given what's come out about their comments on prior employers, etc. The first question anyone should be asking with a hire like this, especially in a position that's entirely public facing, is if they're likely to do anything that would be a bad look on the organization. There should have been more than enough red flags to make them a hard pass.

It's possible she didn't let the crazy fully come out until she got a taste of power and fame through the Stormy account at which time she went a bit nutso when she wasn't able to make the mascot to team psychiatrist leap.

 

[tarheelhockey]

IF a sports team felt something like this was in order, they would probably seek a leading established organization that provides such training, and the sports team would be the one that gets to define the specifics of what the service would consist of. I can't see a sports organization voluntarily taking the pain of dealing with a person who is on personal level too involved in what the training would be about, having to have the unavoidable "this is not what we want" "this is what you need!" discussions ultimately leading to the discharging of the person.

This is a better written version of what I was trying to say above. Even if her intentions are pure, it’s presumptuous for a low-level employee to pitch something like this to management. The very best to be expected is a polite deferral, but for an employee who is already on probation for overstepping her bounds, a polite deferral is not owed.

 

[raynman]

So I get that the rest are paper moves. I can't quite get my head around the Drury move though. Did the Canes send him down for good to sign Stepan or is it a paper move and Drury is gonna be in the lineup wednesday?

I’ve been wondering if Drury is going to get eased in like Jarvis was but as of now without a Stepan signing perhaps he’ll be the 4th line center come Wednesday

 

[Vagrant]

sometimes people try to crowd surf to the front of the line by way of public support on a platform that knows no moderate and rational viewpoints. regardless of what is said, if you go left of said comment you will always ratio the hell out of whatever you quoted. up and into wishing death and destruction upon the infidels. it doesn't matter if your cause is righteous, it can quickly cross into self-righteous when you have the crowd as assembled by a former beat writer lusting for blood. this forced compliance issue is obscene and I have always, always been a supporter of people's rights and choices to live their truth. what you don't get to do is drag people across the political or even human decency line kicking and screaming because you like to watch hockey and not be conflicted that you may inadvertently be cheering for a republican. having a degree in social work isn't even enough of a credential to get you an audience with my kids when I was teaching, and you're going to approach a billion dollar business as the f***ing mascot (the f***ing mascot) and start talking to people the way she did? if she had any position of note, she would have been fired. they probably didn't want to fire her because they knew that looney toons would probably file a lawsuit or something insane about this "toxic workplace culture," based entirely upon her speculation of what is going on behind the scenes and nothing else.

people need to start telling nutjobs to shut up when they're being nutjobs, even if they happen to share some of the same convictions. not "yas queen!!" their views into legitimacy. do them that kindness before they further embarrass themselves or get in front of a court of law and get sliced into pieces so tiny they have to get swept into a dustbin. the level of entitlement to be given access to an entire hockey team to tell them how wrong they are about something and how indoctrinated they are as if it were a basic human right is nauseating. please stormy, help us make sense of all this.

 

[Borsig]

Ooof, don't look at the twitter replies, people are totally hosing the Canes organization based on her twisted version of the actual story (basically put on probation for posting things without approval)

Who gives less than half a shit what twitter fans think, LOL. I thought they all burned their jerseys when we signed TDA, which was apparently a distraction from the Harvey Weinstein of hockey or something?

 

[Stickpucker]

For as bad as they are, Montreal has surprisingly little cap space. They’re under new management, as well, so the history isn’t there.

Also, claiming a fourth liner we waived seems like really weak revenge. That’s like dating my ex to get back at me. If you want her, you’re more than welcome.

Tell me more about this ex....

 

[Stickpucker]

Wait...so Stormy isn't yalls shrink?!

 

[Borsig]

Why in the world is that a big problem? If they don't want to engage, for whatever reason they want, should they be forced to? They are paid to play hockey, not parade around promoting lifestyles that they don't want to promote.

SO MUCH THIS.

So much. Like would you shame a player for not donating to X cause? Or for not "giving enough back?" Backes' Buddies was sort of his thing, the dog rescue. We know Slavin does big stuff with orphans. Kadri does children's hospitals. Oshie Does make a wish.

Why MUST a player participate in pride stuff? Isn't simply not being offensive toward LBGT people enough? Is it not enough to be tolerant and treat them normally? Or are we moving the bar again, and now you're a bigot if you don't engage in pride night, even if you're tolerant and see them as you do everyone else? I think we all know the answer here, don't we?

Is there a rule prohibiting a team over the cap from claiming a player?

If not, I’m kind of surprised Montreal didn’t pick Martinook up on waivers just to extract revenge for Koko.

The contract is just THAT bad?