Jeremy Laura: McIsaac overseas, glimpses of the hockey apocalypse

McIssac is awesome.

McIssac is awesome.
- RafiDRW

He and Seider could be dynamite. Just needs to be able to stay healthy

Smart move to allow JM to play a full season overseas; he needs ice time and experience. Will say the same thing I did a while back; as long as there are set things he works on with the coaching staff, areas he truly needs improvement on. He has potential, but just flittering around the ice dorking around is a bad move. I'm positive that The Captain has a very finite set of rules that JM and the staff would have to abide by. I think he's about 1 full year away from the Bigs....the Katie-bar-the-door!!

Listen, this country is in tough shape. The financials across the board are dismal. NO POLITICS....things need to change. There will be substantial amounts of pleading, bargaining, and dealing in order to alleviate some of the pressure due to COVIDcation on GBs part. Hope against hope that the broadcasters have some sort of sympathy (rrriiiiigggghhhtttttt.....). The salary cap discussion were having now in your previous posts is merely the proverbial tip of the ice-berg. I think the game is under pressure to rise up & overcome adversity, but that can't be done alone; fans need to be back, concessions need to flow freely, SWAG needs to sell, broadcast mediums need to be flexible. I truly think we're going to see a condensed schedule, limiting travel to close0in rivals, and a de-escalation of out-of-pocket expenses. The financials are very scary....

The players will need to be flexible as well. I really hope that the LOVE of this grand GAME will win the day. Many players PLAY because they love the game, but more and more are playing for the $$$. Some things are going to have to change; shared rooms for a year, etc....but how much are players willing to give up to save the game they started playing because of the TRUE love of the game? I hate saying this, but times have changed. Players are no longer about the love of the game; they're part of the "ME" generation; What do I get for what I do? I know there are a few select players who truly love the game, but they are becoming more and more rare.

Condensed season, limited travel are just the beginning...things are going to change. The question is for how long and by how much....

I don't know how they can have a season with fans until a vaccine is given to the population. Things seem to be going back up in terms of the virus right now. I live near a health center that tests people and every morning when i leave for work at 6:30am, there are lineups of cars there and all along the road of people waiting to get tested and it's getting worst every single day. That health center doesn't open until 9am and by 11am they are booked for the day and have to turn everyone else away.

Without fans, i can't see how they can even have a season and make money.

Smart move to allow JM to play a full season overseas; he needs ice time and experience. Will say the same thing I did a while back; as long as there are set things he works on with the coaching staff, areas he truly needs improvement on. He has potential, but just flittering around the ice dorking around is a bad move. I'm positive that The Captain has a very finite set of rules that JM and the staff would have to abide by. I think he's about 1 full year away from the Bigs....the Katie-bar-the-door!!

Listen, this country is in tough shape. The financials across the board are dismal. NO POLITICS....things need to change. There will be substantial amounts of pleading, bargaining, and dealing in order to alleviate some of the pressure due to COVIDcation on GBs part. Hope against hope that the broadcasters have some sort of sympathy (rrriiiiigggghhhtttttt.....). The salary cap discussion were having now in your previous posts is merely the proverbial tip of the ice-berg. I think the game is under pressure to rise up & overcome adversity, but that can't be done alone; fans need to be back, concessions need to flow freely, SWAG needs to sell, broadcast mediums need to be flexible. I truly think we're going to see a condensed schedule, limiting travel to close0in rivals, and a de-escalation of out-of-pocket expenses. The financials are very scary....

The players will need to be flexible as well. I really hope that the LOVE of this grand GAME will win the day. Many players PLAY because they love the game, but more and more are playing for the $$$. Some things are going to have to change; shared rooms for a year, etc....but how much are players willing to give up to save the game they started playing because of the TRUE love of the game? I hate saying this, but times have changed. Players are no longer about the love of the game; they're part of the "ME" generation; What do I get for what I do? I know there are a few select players who truly love the game, but they are becoming more and more rare.

Condensed season, limited travel are just the beginning...things are going to change. The question is for how long and by how much....
- mcmastermike1968

I really appreciate your thoughts. Not THAT long ago Bobby Hull had a summer job on a farm during the off season. A lot of those guys did. The need for sacrifice could become very real. It’s just reality.

I think Bettman may be able to renegotiate existing contracts with concessions for the new deals. Give and take. It can be done

I don't know how they can have a season with fans until a vaccine is given to the population. Things seem to be going back up in terms of the virus right now. I live near a health center that tests people and every morning when i leave for work at 6:30am, there are lineups of cars there and all along the road of people waiting to get tested and it's getting worst every single day. That health center doesn't open until 9am and by 11am they are booked for the day and have to turn everyone else away.

Without fans, i can't see how they can even have a season and make money.
- dcz28

I think, in part, we need to accept that COVID isn’t as dangerous as we thought. The fatality numbers keep being revised, and over 6000 false positives were just discovered. The NHL stopped reporting positives until they did 4 more tests. Almost every positive was false. That’s how they got to 0 cases. We’ve crippled society over something that we shouldn’t have.

Vaccines. Lol.

Problem? There is no problem!
Just declare the hockey game a "protest" and have fans in the stands.

I really appreciate your thoughts. Not THAT long ago Bobby Hull had a summer job on a farm during the off season. A lot of those guys did. The need for sacrifice could become very real. It’s just reality.

I think Bettman may be able to renegotiate existing contracts with concessions for the new deals. Give and take. It can be done
- Jeremy Laura

Look, we're talking about 1-2 years to recover. How much "sacrifice" are players willing to absorb??? NO ONE can convince me that a player who makes $750k/year can't survive on $500k for 2 years. Dude, do you know what I could do with $500k?!?!?! Shoot. And if I hear another person say that players are "sacrificing" for the game, I'm gonna kick someone in the Jimmie. Sacrifice is a wife standing by a grave holding a child as her husband lies at rest underneath his country's flag. This is a GAME played for pleasure....they need to find the pleasure again....for 2 years then they can go back to holding out for $7m/year, their own hotel room and a per diem check every trip....and a 1st class charter flight across the road. I played in FIELDS just to play. I know this is a business and there are huge amounts of money at stake, I'm not naïve enough to think that love is all the GAME is about, but good night Sweet Sally....give n take, like you said, brother,

My football coach at Port Huron Northern HS played pro football for Dallas, dorked up his knee then went to the CFL to play with Montreal. He wrestled in the off-season to keep food on the table....folks need to realize how good they have it. But old Coach Armstrong LOVED playing football, so that's what he did to stay in the game...

I think, in part, we need to accept that COVID isn’t as dangerous as we thought. The fatality numbers keep being revised, and over 6000 false positives were just discovered. The NHL stopped reporting positives until they did 4 more tests. Almost every positive was false. That’s how they got to 0 cases. We’ve crippled society over something that we shouldn’t have.
- Jeremy Laura

Just watch, the entire country is reopened November 4th,
cause they can't try to hurt the president on economy anymore.

Problem? There is no problem!
Just declare the hockey game a "protest" and have fans in the stands.
- StargateSG1

Dude, that's franking funny right there...just Navaged my nose with milk when I read that

Look, we're talking about 1-2 years to recover. How much "sacrifice" are players willing to absorb??? NO ONE can convince me that a player who makes $750k/year can't survive on $500k for 2 years. Dude, do you know what I could do with $500k?!?!?! Shoot. And if I hear another person say that players are "sacrificing" for the game, I'm gonna kick someone in the Jimmie. Sacrifice is a wife standing by a grave holding a child as her husband lies at rest underneath his country's flag. This is a GAME played for pleasure....they need to find the pleasure again....for 2 years then they can go back to holding out for $7m/year, their own hotel room and a per diem check every trip....and a 1st class charter flight across the road. I played in FIELDS just to play. I know this is a business and there are huge amounts of money at stake, I'm not naïve enough to think that love is all the GAME is about, but good night Sweet Sally....give n take, like you said, brother,

My football coach at Port Huron Northern HS played pro football for Dallas, dorked up his knee then went to the CFL to play with Montreal. He wrestled in the off-season to keep food on the table....folks need to realize how good they have it. But old Coach Armstrong LOVED playing football, so that's what he did to stay in the game...
- mcmastermike1968

You are completely right sir. The players need to take a long hard look at a possible rollback. It’s go time

Jeremy Laura: McIsaac overseas, glimpses of the hockey apocalypse
- Jeremy Laura

The good news is that whether there's a full season or a shortened season Justin Abdelkader will still have the same goals scored total.

You are completely right sir. The players need to take a long hard look at a possible rollback. It’s go time
- Jeremy Laura

Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum!

I really appreciate your thoughts. Not THAT long ago Bobby Hull had a summer job on a farm during the off season. A lot of those guys did. The need for sacrifice could become very real. It’s just reality.

I think Bettman may be able to renegotiate existing contracts with concessions for the new deals. Give and take. It can be done
- Jeremy Laura

I wasn't going off on you, J. Just hearing some folks use that term like it's such a huge thing when someone has to give up luxury is frustrating. I know you said it for discussion's sake. Too many say it like it's a TRUE thing.....I apologize if it seemed like I was coming at you. I wasn't.

The good news is that whether there's a full season or a shortened season Justin Abdelkader will still have the same goals scored total.
- gergeswillems

I wasn't going off on you, J. Just hearing some folks use that term like it's such a huge thing when someone has to give up luxury is frustrating. I know you said it for discussion's sake. Too many say it like it's a TRUE thing.....I apologize if it seemed like I was coming at you. I wasn't.
- mcmastermike1968

Dude, not at all!! I just wanted to encourage your post! I love you man

Dude, not at all!! I just wanted to encourage your post! I love you man
- Jeremy Laura

You do rock. My wife laughs at my bromance with your blog....and yeah you're pretty cool, too

You do rock. My wife laughs at my bromance with your blog....and yeah you're pretty cool, too
- mcmastermike1968

Thanks brother!!

I think, in part, we need to accept that COVID isn’t as dangerous as we thought. The fatality numbers keep being revised, and over 6000 false positives were just discovered. The NHL stopped reporting positives until they did 4 more tests. Almost every positive was false. That’s how they got to 0 cases. We’ve crippled society over something that we shouldn’t have.
- Jeremy Laura

It is dangerous but for certain people (older people and people who already had certain health issues) and that was reported back when it started. For most people it might just be like a bad cold or flu. The problem is and always was about keeping those that might not make it if they get it safe by trying to stop the spread and avoid having infected people coming into contact with people that are at risk of serious complications or death if they get it.

It is dangerous but for certain people (older people and people who already had certain health issues) and that was reported back when it started. For most people it might just be like a bad cold or flu. The problem is and always was about keeping those that might not make it if they get it safe by trying to stop the spread and avoid having infected people coming into contact with people that are at risk of serious complications or death if they get it.
- dcz28

I agree, but we can continue to help the elderly and compromised people stay safe without shutting down an entire state.

I agree, but we can continue to help the elderly and compromised people stay safe without shutting down an entire state.
- Jeremy Laura

That's a tricky thing to accomplish unless you want to quarantine everyone at risk from having any contact with anyone. I'm not worried about myself but my girlfriend on the other hand could be at risk. We live together so if i get it, by the time i find out she could already have been infected by me. If i got it i could also possibly give it a guy at work that lives with his elderly mother in law. The time it takes to show symptoms (if you show them at all), you can infect a bunch more people that in turn can infect others that are at risk or who come into contact with people who are. It's easier to stay away from people at risk if they don't live with you but if they do, then what do you do to keep them safe?

That's a tricky thing to accomplish unless you want to quarantine everyone at risk from having any contact with anyone. I'm not worried about myself but my girlfriend on the other hand could be at risk. We live together so if i get it, by the time i find out she could already have been infected by me. If i got it i could also possibly give it a guy at work that lives with his elderly mother in law. The time it takes to show symptoms (if you show them at all), you can infect a bunch more people that in turn can infect others that are at risk or who come into contact with people who are. It's easier to stay away from people at risk if they don't live with you but if they do, then what do you do to keep them safe?
- dcz28

As time has gone on and we’ve learned more about COVID, Asymptomatic carriers aren’t transmitting. It can’t survive on surfaces the way we originally thought. My wife and I spent a year going back and forth to the Mayo Clinic in 2010. People with compromised immune systems always have to be more careful. (The boy in the bubble was back in the 70s). Allowing senior citizens and people with compromised immune systems to self quarantine and opening more services to those groups that reduce the amount of exposure. The CDC revised the fatality rate reported to 5.6 percent of the original reported number. People do get sick each year and pass away. This disease is not nearly as dangerous and as that information continues to get out, restrictions need to be lifted. Wearing masks every day is going to cause more problems (respiratory infections). We’re making ourselves more sick by staying quarantined en masse.

That's a tricky thing to accomplish unless you want to quarantine everyone at risk from having any contact with anyone. I'm not worried about myself but my girlfriend on the other hand could be at risk. We live together so if i get it, by the time i find out she could already have been infected by me. If i got it i could also possibly give it a guy at work that lives with his elderly mother in law. The time it takes to show symptoms (if you show them at all), you can infect a bunch more people that in turn can infect others that are at risk or who come into contact with people who are. It's easier to stay away from people at risk if they don't live with you but if they do, then what do you do to keep them safe?
- dcz28

Final point. I have first hand experience living in that situation. You do the best you can to self sanitize. In extreme cases, personal oxygen and equipment may be needed. It’s the same risk with flu season each year. People don’t go to church when “bugs” are going around, etc. people manage this lifestyle every single day (as we have had to do) without society having to close down.