After hearing the JR radio clip, there is no doubt in my mind that he would make an excellent commissioner for the NHL. He seem to get where the players, fans, and the owners were coming from, but what I love most about him was he spoke from the heart and genuinely cares about the game. I get the impression that if JR was commissioner, the CBA would have been negotiated a lot sooner (like during last season) and the thought of a lockout would never have been news.
He is one of the only mainstream people I've seen so far that has basically said, "stop with the dick measuring contest, and get a God dam deal done, or you will both be royally F?*ked.
I fully agree with JR, if there is any kind of lockout, the game will suffer and suffer for a few years because of it. The 12-15 "hockey markets" will not miss a beat, but teams like Tampa, Florida, Dallas, Phoenix, Carolina, etc, etc, etc, will all see bigger loses and be back behind High school chess in the sports section.
The game needed the last lockout to get things in order. This lockout is purely for show and in my opinion that is Bull Shit.
Should JR be the next NHL Commissioner?
Taylor's New Deal
Taylor Hall signed his extension yesterday, 42 million over 7 years. My first reaction to this signing was, "Wow, really?" I then began to wonder if that is the market for potential 30, 40, maybe even 50 goal guys, then what is the market for players who have actually scored 30, 40, or 50 goals?
It's not that I don't think Hall is a hell of a hockey player, but paying players based on potential is something that can get you in a lot of trouble. In my opinion, the Oilers paid about a million too much for what I've seen out of Hall. Tavares and Duchene are similar players for were re-signed for less than Hall so one has to question why Hall was worth more.
The other player I will watch with curiosity is Tyler Seguin. In my opinion, he has been a touch better so far in his career then Hall and has just as much upside as Hall. If he re-ups this summer for somewhere in the ballpark of 5 million, Oilers fans have to question why Hall was worth more.
At the end of the day, I do have respect organizations who will do what they need to do to lock up their guys. The Oilers did that yesterday and I applaud that move even if I feel the cost was a tad high.
A Tribute to Rypien
Recently some of Rick's close friends got together to remember Rick, play some hockey, and help out the kids in Coleman Alberta. Here are a few videos from the event.
Juice and Hordi are awesome together. Love seeing them banter back and forth. Favourite Juice comments, "I'm here with Lloyd Christmas", and "How many games have you played?"
I would love to see these two together on the TSN Panel once their careers are done.
That's a Wrap
Ian
If you are interested in advertising your business to people in the Vancouver area or to hockey fans across North America, you can contact me by clicking the “CONTACT” button at the top of the page.
KINDLE USERS: Sign up for Canucks Buzz; a one-stop feed for all things Canucks-related on HockeyBuzz. Content is delivered instantly to your Kindle reader whenever a new Canucks-related blog is published. For more information click here.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»