Fifth Avenue Forum

That’s great.

But also, **** Philadelphia sports in general.

I was looking at old drafts. There are a lot of top 5 busts and late round hits, but something in 1983 caught my eye. Yes, there might be more extreme examples, but Kevin Stevens and Rick Tocchet were both drafted in the 6th round. Stevens was picked 108th by LA and Tocchet 121st by Philly. That year, 2 players drafted in the first round didn't hit 70 NHL games. 4 guys from the second round never played a game, 4 more didn't hit 14 NHL games played. Yet Stevens and Tocchet went in the 6th.

There were only 20 teams so these would both be 4th round now, but it's still amazing to go back and look at old drafts.

Tocchet was also draft eligible in 82 and was not selected.

I stumbled upon Chris Prongers Instagram and he is definitely the dorkiest ex NHL player

The "bubble" guidelines are intense.

https://www.tsn.ca/how-nhl-plans-to-ope ... -1.1492443

Some standouts:

Every person inside the NHL’s “bubble” will be tested for COVID-19 daily...With 24 teams inside the bubble (at 52 people per team), that is 1,248 tests required daily for team personnel only. Add in all of the other levels and it is easy to imagine the NHL requiring upwards of 2,000 tests daily to begin the 24-team tournament. That is 20,000 tests in first 10 days alone.

Bubble life: Each bubble will be tightly secured, no one will be able to enter/exit that is not authorized. Players will be living in single occupancy rooms, no roommates, with each team assigned designated floors. Players are not permitted to enter each other’s rooms. Housekeeping will be provided every third day. Hotel bars and restaurants will be open and available in the bubble, provided social distancing is followed.

Help at home: While players are gone, NHL teams will offer to assist families remaining at home by providing grocery delivery and errand delivery services.

Don't care. Give me hockey

I meant “intense” in a good way. It looks like the league and players are going to do everything possible to ensure there isn’t a breakout which forces a cancellation. The bubble will be as airtight as possible.

Housekeeping? There's your in, COVID.

The "bubble" guidelines are intense.

https://www.tsn.ca/how-nhl-plans-to-ope ... -1.1492443

Some standouts:

Every person inside the NHL’s “bubble” will be tested for COVID-19 daily...With 24 teams inside the bubble (at 52 people per team), that is 1,248 tests required daily for team personnel only. Add in all of the other levels and it is easy to imagine the NHL requiring upwards of 2,000 tests daily to begin the 24-team tournament. That is 20,000 tests in first 10 days alone.

Bubble life: Each bubble will be tightly secured, no one will be able to enter/exit that is not authorized. Players will be living in single occupancy rooms, no roommates, with each team assigned designated floors. Players are not permitted to enter each other’s rooms. Housekeeping will be provided every third day. Hotel bars and restaurants will be open and available in the bubble, provided social distancing is followed.

Help at home: While players are gone, NHL teams will offer to assist families remaining at home by providing grocery delivery and errand delivery services.

Is there a betting line on the number of players who will "accidentally" break the bubble? I'm guessing at least two.

Housekeeping? There's your in, COVID.

Apparently they plan on testing all hotel staff daily as well.

The NHL recycle cycle continues

Meh, I think that's a pretty good hire actually. Ruff isn't the guy to really hang your hat on there. They really went through a long process with this. And Ruff was a big part of the expansion Panthers rise. Then obviously with Buffalo got them to the '99 Final with Hasek and a good defensive structure, then on the other side of the lockout, Buffalo was the most well-prepared team - he opened them up, got faster, more skilled, did a great job. If not for losing 4 of their top 5 d-men, he gets a Cup there in 2006 I think. Not a lot in Dallas to be fair, though he did get 50 wins out of an Antti Niemi/Kari Lehtonen goalie combo. So, for a team that's going to have some youth and could use some structure, I think this is probably a pretty good fit...it's a bad roster with no strengths, so an experienced guy who has also dealt with some flamboyant personalities (Hasek, Vanek, Seguin, etc.) might be good for a young team with a washed up spotlight grabber like Subban...

I don't know, we'll see...but that roster stinks something awful...

No more of that UFA talk prior to signing day, thank god

Are they planning on playing 82 with next season starting 12/1?

"Nah, **** next season, I need my August hockey fix right now." -mikey

Yes, December or January start. 82 games. Nothing is lost with this attempt.

"I'm a stupid moron with an ugly face and a big butt and my butt smells and I like to kiss my own butt." - dodint

Pays to be flexible.

So if they jam it in (heh) they probably don't start the playoffs until early to mid May 2021?

Why, August 2021, of course.

May or early June, yeah.

Good post imo

The first thing I always think of when I hear Federov’s name are his old fugly Nike skates from back in the day. So goofy.