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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/04/18 in all areas

  1. I do a lot with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. I don’t know the set up for the league you might billot for - in the USHL the players often have their own transportation. But I would say this - for the players - it’s about the food. I’m not sure the hosts were paid enough to feed the players properly. That said - if your family loves hockey and feeds well and is basically sociable with teens (not too involved, not too distant) - then it’s an awesome thing to do. The players will be respectful and appreciative (unless you get a real dud - but I found those are rare) and you’ll create a friendship that will last for decades. (Unfortunately, Curtis Hall, a good kid I became friends with got drafted by the Bruins in the 4th round - i can’t easily root for him anymore) you can always message me if i can help more. Overall - if the transport is figured out and you feed well and are appropriately sociable .... GO FOR IT!!!!
    5 points
  2. I guess this is a relevant topic on the hockey forum, has anyone been a billet family for a player before? We’ve been asked by a friend who coaches a AAA 15U team if we’d host one of their players for the season. It’s quite a responsibility, but it might be good to expose my son to the work/dedication of a top tier player, too. My son will be a competitive squirt goalie next year. Just curious is anyone has any any experience either first hand or known anyone they’d billeted.
    3 points
  3. Gauthier really didn't leave a "mess" He left the team with a young #1 goalie, a young #1 defenceman, and a young #1 LW... all of whom were already producing in the NHL and a #3 overall pick He also had an Elite LHD, and very strong #2 centre who could play against top lines and a #3 centre with size and good defensive game. The #2 C and #1 LHD were in their prime (and are now old). In the minors he had a player who would emerge as a top 6 RW in Gallagher and a pair of 1st round defencemen who would ultimately fail. Most came in the Gainey era except Markov (Houle), Plekanec (Savard) and Eller (Gauthier) so Gauthier only added one of the good pieces (and Beaulieu, Tinordi). Gauthier had to go cause he was on his way to ruining the potential we had, but was moved out early enough that the next GM had the chance to build a contender. The next GMs biggest job was getting a number 1 centre. What did he do? - Drafted a kid at 3 who should have been that top C, then allowed his coach to play him on wing for 4 years. Then he did this with his top 3 centre spots - Went into the 2012-13 season with Desharnais, Plekanec, Eller - Went into the 2013-14 season with Desharnais, Plekanec, Eller - Went into the 2014-15 season with Desharnais, Plekanec, Eller - Went into the 2015-16 season with Desharnais, Plekanec, Eller - Went into the 2016-17 season with Galchenyuk finally at Centre, Desharnais, Plekanec, (Danault started on the fourth line and eventually emerged). - Went into the 2017-18 season with Drouin, Danault, Plekanec Only now do i finally see a coherrent plan to address the position and its through building with Kotkaniemi and Poehling. It took him until his 6th off season in charge before he even tried to make a change at Centre (Drouin, drafting Poehling) and then into his 7th to get another kid in Kotkaniemi. He has completely and utterly failed this team over his tenure, and I have no confidence in his ability to rebuild it. We are in a much worse position than when he took over.
    3 points
  4. The point is that Bergevin inherited a strong hand and utterly misplayed it. Gauthier may not have been great, but he nonetheless handed off an organization with very good pieces. As Commandant effectively documents. My only addition to Commandant's account would be that in addition to failing to secure that elusive #1C, Bergevin also had absolutely no succession plan for two key veterans: Plekanec and Markov. Once Pleks hit his best-by date, and once Markov was done, the team was crippled at C and LD. That these players would need to be replaced within the foreseeable future was a fact that would have been obvious to any forward-thinking GM. He did nothing, zero, zilch to address the matter (instead he flailed around chasing chimeras like "leadership"). That failure, more than anything else, explains why a team that was knocking on the door in 2014 and should be in its Cup window right now instead regressed into oblivion. Sheer, egregious neglect and incompetence. And this is the boob whom we're trusting to rebuild the franchise.
    1 point
  5. Price only got it because he was already UFA-age at the time the extension was signed.
    1 point
  6. Thanks for the feedback. Transportation is mostly accommodated, a lot will depend on which school he attends. I was initially a “no”, while my wife has been for it. I think I’m starting to sway a little bit towards the yes. We have the room, we have the money to afford any extra food. I know we’d get paid, but as you said, it’s more a supplement amount and not something that would cover all expenses. It could definitely make for an interesting hockey season coming up!
    1 point
  7. Without it seeming obvious, I’d want to meet the kid at least briefly before making a decision personally. I’m sure there have been both positive and negative experiences, and it likely boils down to the person you’d be billeting. In all likelihood it would be a positive I think I don’t have personal experience with it so maybe someone else can help you out there.
    1 point
  8. Pretty sure players are ineligible to get NTC's and NMC's until their UFA eligibility kicks in. It's why Connor McDavid's contract doesn't have a NMC until 2022-23. Or Sidney Crosby's second contract only had a NMC in it's final year. It wasn't Subban's mistake, he was just ineligible to have it for the first 2 years of his contract.
    1 point
  9. He will ask for the retro NMC like Price did. Everyone has now learned after Subban's mistake.
    1 point
  10. I really believe that Price will be strong this year. Unlike last season, he knows well in advance that he's backstopping one of the league's worst rosters - there won't be that early-season crash that everyone seems to think ran through the dressing room last year. He should also be highly motivated, knowing that another crapola season will create a narrative that Carey Price is Washed Up, which is the last thing he wants, I'm sure. This plus the 'youthful enthusiasm' that comes with the 'new direction' likely won't bring us to the dance, but my prediction is that we'll be close enough to the bubble to create excitement and praise for our bright future, etc., etc..
    1 point
  11. Florida out because of soap opera with team management - that's been sorted out. TBL were out before because of major injuries, but were still a stacked team. Teams that were out and than got back in have a lot of good YOUNG talent and DOMINANT centres, or a game breaker (NJD - Taylor Hall). We have Price and that's it. If Price is hurt we're out. If price is bad, we're out. If Price is human we're out. Only way we get in is if Price is the Hart/Lindsey winner. We have more holes than any team that was out and got back in.
    1 point
  12. Man. There is no way any coach in any league would sit Plek so dlr could get experience.
    1 point
  13. At 1 mill in actual salary per season. Hossa isn't getting off his couch to play for this shitshow... and i don't even blame him.
    1 point
  14. He took a picture with my son at last year’s Habs hockey camp, so I’ll give him that. Then again, he has one with Bergevin, too.
    1 point
  15. Just a few weeks ago I thought Montreal was in a position to really improve and be a bigger contender than most here thought possible. Now, I'd have to say they had one of THE WORST off-seasons for any team in the NHL.. A team truly lacking a #1 guy sees one on the market only to go to a division rival. Then, plan 1B falls apart because of a steep asking price. Toronto and Tampa are the class of the division. Boston not too far behind. Buffalo has added a highly regarded D prospect and have their young guns coming. Detroit saw Zadina slide to them. Florida seems to be one or two players away from being a true contender. Heck, if not for Ottawa it'd be easy to say Montreal has a 100% shot at finishing last in the division. I still like their chances. So MB didn't make any really terrible moves or signings.. but Montreal is worse off than they were at the end of the season. We still have ZERO top 6 Centres, meaning our best winger will be playing and likely struggling there again. We still have a massive hole on the left side beside Weber. I'm guessing there will be a Pacs trade soon, but it also wouldn't surprise me if he stays for half the season and is traded as a rental at the deadline. I guess we can look forward to the next lottery, hope the balls fall in our favour.
    1 point
  16. to Dallas: Pacioretty Benn Price return: Seguin Faksa Bishop try to pry spezza out for picks maybe?
    -1 points
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