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2022-23 NHL Thread

https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1622986064393650180

I don't know anything about the guy, but this certainly seems like an interesting career path.
 
I remember a bit about him from his time as the Mayor of Boston. I certainly don't think of him as being any sort of drastic idealogue and while he's certainly not particularly responsible for Labor policy under Biden it's not like there's anything there to suggest he's a bomb-thrower.

Anyways, it certainly doesn't seem like the kind of hire you make if you're planning on a large scale labor action any time soon.
 
Nik said:
Anyways, it certainly doesn't seem like the kind of hire you make if you're planning on a large scale labor action any time soon.

Really? I kind of thought the opposite. Maybe I'm overstating Walsh's role in the U.S. government (very possible) but this feels like a pretty high-profile hire for them. If they were comfortable with the status quo I figured they'd just promote someone from within like Gillis.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Really? I kind of thought the opposite. Maybe I'm overstating Walsh's role in the U.S. government (very possible) but this feels like a pretty high-profile hire for them. If they were comfortable with the status quo I figured they'd just promote someone from within like Gillis.

He's certainly very high-profile but he's not high-profile in the way someone like Fehr was where he had direct experience in leading a major sports union through work stoppages. Now, in reading about him today I learned that he does have direct union experience as was heavily involved in union leadership prior to running for Mayor so I suppose anything is possible but I almost feel like promoting from within, having someone with experience in dealing with this particular sort of union and dealing with owners, would be more indicative of a group trying to improve their stake via negotiation with owners whereas a high profile political hire reads more like a union looking to leverage relationships outside of typical management-labor dynamics.
 
When reports of Walsh?s candidacy first emerged last week, he was immediately linked to Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, who made multiple donations to Walsh?s political campaigns. The Jacobs Family also organized fundraisers for Walsh?s campaigns through their Delaware North companies where untold monies went into Walsh?s coffers. That information appeared to catch the search firm Russell Reynolds by surprise, sources said, which raised questions about the depth of the firm?s vetting process.

The optics of those donations are less than savory. While many wealthy families routinely support political candidates, Jacobs is the long-standing chairman of the NHL?s Board of Governors and is widely regarded as the most powerful owner in the league ? the exact power that Walsh will now be asked to attempt keep in check as head of the union.
 
I really don't see an obvious problem here unless there's a suggestion that Walsh wouldn't be able to distinguish between his old job and his new one. Sure, Jacobs giving money to Walsh's campaigns indicates that Jacobs, like anyone who wants some semblance of influence in Boston/Massachuesetts, isn't constitutionally incapable of supporting centrist politicians but the idea that Walsh would be therefore inclined to feel indebted to anyone who gave him money would tax even my far-left sensibilities.

Is this further evidence that suggests that Walsh isn't the guy who's going to try and set fire to the existing power structure in order for giant union gains? Sure but like I said above, hiring a Centrist Democratic Politician should have disabused anyone of that notion in the first place.
 
"Hockey is for everyone" is sure picking up steam!

https://nypost.com/2023/02/08/islanders-pride-night-wont-feature-rainbow-jerseys-or-tape/
 
Zee said:
"Hockey is for everyone" is sure picking up steam!

https://nypost.com/2023/02/08/islanders-pride-night-wont-feature-rainbow-jerseys-or-tape/

Unlike the Rangers, who pulled their plans to do so without explanation, the Islanders have never worn rainbow jerseys due to an organizational policy against wearing specialized warmups. The only ones they wear are mandated by the league: Hockey Fights Cancer, Military and St. Patrick?s Day.

Would absolutely love to hear the story of how St. Patrick's Day jerseys became "mandated" by the league for teams to wear.

(military ones being mandated is also stupid, just not in a surprising way)
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Zee said:
"Hockey is for everyone" is sure picking up steam!

https://nypost.com/2023/02/08/islanders-pride-night-wont-feature-rainbow-jerseys-or-tape/

Unlike the Rangers, who pulled their plans to do so without explanation, the Islanders have never worn rainbow jerseys due to an organizational policy against wearing specialized warmups. The only ones they wear are mandated by the league: Hockey Fights Cancer, Military and St. Patrick?s Day.

Would absolutely love to hear the story of how St. Patrick's Day jerseys became "mandated" by the league for teams to wear.

(military ones being mandated is also stupid, just not in a surprising way)

Easy.  Jeremy Jacobs has Irish roots (mothers side)
 
There's so many reasons why the NHL will never be like the NBA in that regard so this by itself certainly won't change things but I'd love to see the next CBA cut down on maximum contract lengths again. It's crazy that the NBA is at 4 years (or 5 at some exceptions from what I can tell).
 
CarltonTheBear said:
There's so many reasons why the NHL will never be like the NBA in that regard so this by itself certainly won't change things but I'd love to see the next CBA cut down on maximum contract lengths again. It's crazy that the NBA is at 4 years (or 5 at some exceptions from what I can tell).

I don't need McDavid being traded every year for the league to be exciting, but more movement and more teams taking big swings would make things more interesting. The divisional/playoff format doesn't help things...
 
Bender said:
CarltonTheBear said:
There's so many reasons why the NHL will never be like the NBA in that regard so this by itself certainly won't change things but I'd love to see the next CBA cut down on maximum contract lengths again. It's crazy that the NBA is at 4 years (or 5 at some exceptions from what I can tell).

I don't need McDavid being traded every year for the league to be exciting, but more movement and more teams taking big swings would make things more interesting. The divisional/playoff format doesn't help things...

It's never movement for movement's sake. It just means there are more teams I'm interested in watching. Pre-Deadline there were 4-5 teams I'd go out of my way to watch, post Deadline there are 7-8. Meanwhile the NHL stays firmly at 0.
 
https://twitter.com/SeanFitz_Gerald/status/1626729615766044679

I used to referee hockey when I was a younger man...I don't miss it...like at all.
 
Frank E said:
https://twitter.com/SeanFitz_Gerald/status/1626729615766044679

I used to referee hockey when I was a younger man...I don't miss it...like at all.

Yeah, my son was playing in a rec B tournament this weekend, and the parents were crazy.
 
https://twitter.com/agrossnewsday/status/1627707321504657408
https://twitter.com/agrossnewsday/status/1627719476333379594
 

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