2008/09 NHL Thread

I really can't disagree with the firing, but bringing back Maurice is crazy. He better not bring the same defensive style he had in his first stint in Raleigh because that's not going to work the way the game is played now.

 

It's official: Maurice is the Canes coach. Ron Francis is the "associate coach."

 

My man Sam (Mills 51) is going to be pleased with the news. Not that he despises Laviolette, mind you. But he's one of Maurice's biggest fans.

 

I like Maurice a lot as a person and he was always nice to me. I just hate his coaching style. I'm still listening to the press conference and he says that he'll still take advantage of the team's speed and not change the style much, but I'm skeptical.

 

At the point where a player's personal life (ie. family, significant other) comes into play.

If Avery wants to call out Phaneuf or someone else prior to a game, that's one thing. But calling him out by verbally attacking his girlfriend, whether or not that woman has a history with Avery, is going too far.

What he said might not be particularly offensive in itself, in some people's eyes. It's the context, the setting, the deliberation and yes, the history that matter.

Gamesmanship and trash talking will happen, on and off the ice. Some trash talking, though, is not acceptable off the ice. Some is not acceptable anywhere. The players know this - it's one of those "unwritten code" things. Avery crossed a line and I doubt you'll find very many people in the NHL, if anyone, who would say he didn't.

 

I'm completely stunned, and yes, you're right. This move will damage the NHL in some people's eyes.

Like mine.

Any league who would suspend someone for the term "sloppy seconds" (which is what people said in fucking HIGH SCHOOL) is a joke. An absolute joke.

 

If that was the first stupid thing he had said, he probably wouldn't have been suspended.

 

I'm with Scott Burnside on this.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=3740622

Anyone else think the E-60 feature that he had done on him went to Avery's head a little bit. It sure seems he's been acting up a lot more off the ice this season than he did with the Rangers.

For those that didn't see it, here's a link: http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3632996

 

If Avery had said that about another player's wife or children, people who aren't public figures, I might be more likely to feel a suspension is in order.
But damn, Rachel Hunter and Elisha Cuthbert are public figures. They can take it (if they can't, that's their problem, not Avery's). They're probably had much worse said about them in tabloids and on bulletin boards.
If Bettman had cracked down on the mayhem Avery brings to the ice, he wouldn't have to crack down on his speech.

 

I don't disagree with you that he crossed the line. I'm just not sure I would suspend him. He should just kept his yap shut and did his talking on the ice.

 

Watching NHL Live now. Jim Dowd and Don La Greca pointed out that Avery is great in a room where there are leaders to keep him in line.

 

After reading the quotes from Stars management in Burnside's story, these guys sound deep in CYA and denial.
It's not like Avery brought a spotless reputation into the free agent market. The Stars shelled out big bucks for a guy they knew was trouble, and are begging for the commish to solve their little PR problem. Sounds like the veteran players weren't thrilled about the signing in the first place.
Kind of like the Bruins signing an over-the-hill Chris Nilan as a free agent after his infamous dental work sans novacain on Rick Middleton.