#Biggest NHL Busts

[mrhockeywiz77]

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[19871997]

Are Connor and Dylan still friends? Or did they start to fade after their draft until eventually Connor bonded with Leon? I just find the way Connor forms relationships with other men to be so, so fascinating. I think I read another post somewhere that Connor and Leon just instantly clicked or something, and I’m just like 🫠

now. from what ive heard + seen connor didnt go to dylans wedding last sumemr (or two sunmers ago ?) + they barely looked eachother in the eyes at the end of rhe chi-edm 2020 series and publically havent been seen w one another for years BUT dylan liked a tweet about one of connor’s highlight reel goals from this playoff run so. maybe something something i haven’t spoken to you in years but i still think of you on your birthday and my mom makes apple pie the way your mom did and does your brother still shuffle cards the way i taught him etc etc and to the leon point well. connor needs someone to pass to and he needs someone he knows will be there on the ice and recieve the puck and get it into the back of the net 99 times out of 100 and he needs an alt and a 2C and someone to step up if he’s out and someone to support and somejne to support him (something something that one line from dodie sick of losing soulmates leaning on a superglued human) and also their whole thing of leon being the german gretzky and connor being the next one and how they grew up through the oilers together and they make eachother better and all and anywat to my og point connor is not someone who wants to go through it all alone he wants to win a team sport as a team and with a best buddy he trusts with his life and sometimes wants to kiss

[teekays]

hello! if memory serves you are the blog that talked about boy band pretty as a marketing tactic (or something to that effect? the search function does not work so if i’m wrong i’m terribly sorry) and i was wondering if you would be willing to find someone from each team (can include prospects if you want) to create the ultimate nhl boy band. this is not a necessary thing to do, solely shits and gigs and if you ever feel like it doing it. have a lovely day!

HIIIIIII that WAS me and you sent this at the perfect time because i am at the laundromat with time to kill and i LOVE to discuss this.... let's chop it up.... a few disclaimers: this is subjective so don't get mad at me and i will be including prospects and ahl players where i know its applicable BUT for most of these teams i will be going off the main roster + looks alone because if i did a full deep dive vibes analysis on every team's roster and prospects it would take me like two months to answer this ask... you understand. we are being SHALLOW here today in the true spirit of the boy band industry. let's go!!!

carolina hurricanes: i know everyone wants me to say sebastian aho but he is 1) too old 2) too unsettling looking. the elf on the shelf is not boy band pretty im sorry 😭 i do love him but he's just not the vibe here... i will say based on looks either scott morrow or jackson blake and his 90s heartthrob hair. i want to say seth jarvis because he's my special pop pop but that does contradict almost everything i have said previously so i will not be biased but know that if he was a pop star i would be his biggest fan i would kiss his poster. and that's my truth

columbus blue jackets: in the interest of journalistic integrity i went to their roster instead of just saying it's obviously kj as the intimidating aloof one in the boy ("boy") band but actually i do think it's cole sillinger.... teen heartthrob. also i didn't know that he was born in columbus because his dad was playing for the team and his brother is also on the team??? imagine having a whole destiny like that and its for COLUMBUS OHIO 😭

new jersey devils: jack hughes. open and shut case argue with the WALL

new york islanders: NOT MAT BARZAL. HE LOOKS 35. STAND UP LADIES!!! lowkey i do not know any of these dudes and this roster is kind of busted as fuck 😭😭😭 (NOT ANTHONY DUCLAIR who is too old to be a boy band boy but who i do love) bargain bin team... anyway isaiah george YOU! are the only cute person the new york islanders

new york rangers: matt rempe. those pictures of him lounging around on the phone??? wow. no words. diva heartthrob behavior. it's sad what they're doing to him what are we doing to our beautiful queens :(

philadelphia flyers: after much careful deliberation.... i think denver barkey is taking it. denver is such a deeply boy band name tbh he was born for this!!! i know everyone thinks it's jamie (who i still forget is a flyer 😭) but can you imagine him on a stage? singing a song? they are reinventing shoegaze for him. negative star quality (AFFECTIONATE!!!!!!! LOVING!!!!!!!!!!!!)

pittsburgh penguins: well NOW the obvious answer is rutger mcgroarty... not even worth going through that senior center roster when he's there tbh sorry pens

washington capitals: AGAIN. SENIOR CENTER ROSTER. i had to go to their prospects page to find someone suitable and my vote is patrick leonard he's a cutie!!! also im so sorry to say this but my jaw dropped when i got to this guy why are you playing hockey you need to make a children's album RIGHT NOW. i know he could do a banger cover of the We're going on a bear hunt song. but i digress...

boston bruins: matthew poitras is adorable and exudes star quality NEXTTTT. shoutout also brett harrison who looks like a long lost jonas brother

buffalo sabres: JACK QUINNN JQUIZZY HIMSELF partly for looks mostly for vibes... he has extreme "jack dylan grazer vape apology video" energy and also he has that boyish charm... either him or devon levi (hot) not miss owen power for the same reasons as jamie. she could never be a pop star 😔 ryan mcleod used to be the oilers popstar boy but now he's got too much competition he's a little niche for the title

detroit red wings: my gut tells me simon edvinsson but a look at the roster tells me there is some competition in the form of amadeus lombardi... if we were discussing this two years ago mo seider would be the obvious answer but he's too grizzled now 😔

florida panthers: 🙄 here comes another busted fucking roster... i guess denisenko??? panthers are not really representing here....

montreal canadiens: ARBER <3 he's like the bad boy hottie in the boy band. the one that makes your dad shake his head when he sees him on tv

ottawa senators: wow the atlantic division is fucking WACK this was another case of like. okay i guess ill pick one of yous but REALLY? so congratulations jorian donovan YOU are in the boy band

tampa bay lightning: seriously what is going on in this division. jack finley looks like he was the closeted one in a boy band from the early 2000s but he's aged past that now and he has a husband and a wine brand.... so we will bring him back for nostalgia points. welcome to the team. also i have to be honest i thought of myself as pretty well acquainted with the ahl but the SYRACUSE CRUNCH? that's crazy

leafs: JOSEPH WOLL! boyish charm out the ears on that one. a real cutie

chicago: obviously it's bedard. we all know it's bedard. on the surface he has no charisma but he does have a certain kind of shy boy charm and he IS adorable... he's the one in the boy band who makes your mom tut over him like "he seems like a nice boy"

colorado avalanche: wow huge props to matt stienburg for having maybe the single most boy band roster photo i have seen yet... THIS is the guy they get in the boy band because he's already had huge success with his hit single called like, Heart React Girlfriend or whatever. this is jacob sartorius if he played hockey. this is chase dreams. this kid is going places

dallas stars: it's obviously wyjo, joining the ranks with cbedard as The Nice One <3

minnesota wild: okay i was going to say brock faber because every group needs a kevin jonas (SORRY BROCK) but WHO is kyle masters and why does he look like knockoff brendan brisson. budget briss. diet briss. we have briss at home.

nashville predators: this just reminded me cody glass is a penguin now 💔 anyway the preds have some STRONG contenders here wow.... jeremy hanzel is taking it but i think luke evangelista could pull it off... now if you asked me to be really subjective it would be ozzy wiesblatt who would also be the subject of much poster kissing and rigged "which member of the nhl boy band should you date" tests so i get him as the result but that's just me....

st louis blues: jeremie biakabutuka your radiant smile has charmed me.... welcome to the band....

utah whatevers: MONTANA ONYEBUCHI I AM SO FUCKING SORRY THE SHARKS DIDNT APPRECIATE YOU. BUT WE WILL..... also matt villalta kinda giving off brand kj... you could build a whole off brand version of that umich team just with guys from other teams i bet

winnipeg jets: dylan coghlan you will always be famous to ME but i fear you are a little too old for our purposes here.... other than him they kinda don't have a lot going for them.... brayden yager it is your time to shine as off brand owen power ♥️

anaheim ducks: some strong competition here... tz is the obvious choice but i think we need to think bigger... olen zellwegger please step forward....

calgary flames: matt coronato i am free on thursday if you would like to hang out on thursday when i am free and also join this boy band

edmonton oilers: yet another old ass roster 😭 they're lucky they got so many sabres because matt savoie is saving their asses rn

los angeles kings: angus booth is smizing in every single photo i saw of him so. come on now

san jose sharks: it's so obviously will smith i don't even know what we're doing here tbh

seattle kraken: tye kartye looks like he would be into white water rafting so he can be the nature guy in the boy band.... strong competition from tucker robertson but he's just a touch too gay porn for this vibe

vancouver canucks: JETT WOO... HELLO.... but also shoutout cole mcward for having 2014 gay youtuber phenotype. a connor franta troye sivan type face if ive ever seen one

vegas golden knights: BRISS ‼️‼️‼️ my little tabloid queen... not only is he in the boy band but he's in the news and the media. he was born to be a star. natural ham. child actor energy. alex holtz is also a strong contender for this but i think he's off on his own doing his little pop star solo act thing

this took way longer than laundromat time but it was worth it i had so much fun!!!!! thank you!!!!!!

[marnerparty]

young stud

Connor Bedard x reader

_connorbedard

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_connorbedard📍Nashville

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adamfantilli my dude!

yourusername no it’s ok… I wasn’t there either… I don’t wanna be featured…

_connorbedard being around me 24/7 wasn’t enough? 😐

yourusername no.

_masonmctavish23 Jesus just tell him you love him yn

yourusername we are JUST best friends

trevorzegras yeah, and i’m cleaner than jamie

_masonmctavish23 where tf did you come from!?

jamie.drysdale don’t bring me into this

yourusername hey all you ducks get outta here. tilli is comin to Anaheim not C-Dog

adamfantilli we have no idea where either of us are going to end up yn

_connorbedard SEE

user1 sorry the Blackhawks are gonna draft you

colton.dach 👀

yourusername even he knows you’re going #1

_connorbedard yn we still just don’t know

espn congrats on the success & good luck tomorrow finding out who your next team will be!

madi_bedard 🤘🏻

user2 boutta be the biggest bust the NHL has ever seen

yourusername and you’ve done what in your life exactly?

trevorzegras yn responding to haters >>>>>

_connorbedard please do not encourage this

yourusername hi, I’m yn. I think we’ll be great friends

trevorzegras nice to meet you, I’m trevor & likewise. let’s hang out sometime

biznasty 🤠🤠🤠

barzal97 kiddd

yourusername 😍😍😍

_connorbedard don’t say what you want to rn.

_connorbedard please.

_connorbedard I beg you.

trevorzegras yn, you are your own person. if you want to embarrass yourself and tell mat you think he’s hot do it.

barzal97 now I feel like I shouldn’t be here

user3 connor sucks

_masonmctavish23 🦅🦅🦅

_connorbedard those are Eagles

_masonmctavish23 connor wtf. that’s a smart-ass comment that should come from yn not you

_connorbedard he limited the amount of times i can comment on his Instagram posts. this is actually yn. I took connor’s phone

trevorzegras oh my god we will be amazing friends

yourusername

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yourusername I couldn’t be more proud 🫶🏻

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_connorbedard thank you for your never ending support yn ❤️

nhlblackhawks who’s the new guy?

yourusername some bum. probably shouldn’t make the team tbh

_connorbedard what happened to “couldn’t be more proud”

yourusername 🤫

adamfantilli it’s been a ride 🤘🏻

_connorbedard love you long time brother 🫡

cubs welcome to the Windy City Connor!

kentjohnson.13 YOU DID IT C!

_connorbedard miss you 🫶🏻

trevorzegras yn panicking rn trying to make this comment section abt her

yourusername fuck you trevor

barzal97 she’s aggressive isn’t she?

yourusername 🫢😮

trevorzegras look what you did Mat 🙄

barzal97 ??????

yourusername he’s referring to the fact you put the attention on me

barzal97 didn’t he start it by pointing it out in the first place?

trevorzegras watch it.

yourusername besties, please. this is no place to fight

user1 yn 🤝🏻 hockey boys

Liked by yourusername

lululemon #1 brand —> #1 pick! congrats Connor!

yourusername @lululemon free clothes?👀

_connorbedard wtf?? it’s MY brand deal bud

lhughes_06 your relationship is confusing

user2 honestly fuck connor bedard

yourusername Connor has asked me very nicely to not respond to haters & be rude so I cannot say anything to you that I want to, but just know, I really want to.

trevorzegras I am so proud of your growth

yourusername i love Connor, what can I say

yourusername

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yourusername bestie is the big 1️⃣8️⃣ 🫶🏻

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user1 about goddamn time

jackhughes wtf how is this kid just now an adult

trevorzegras now you guys can do it !

yourusername TREVOR

yourusername NOT FUNNY

adamfantilli I still can���t believe Yn’s a cougar

yourusername I’m a year older 😪 chill.

_masonmctavish23 SO YOU ADMIT YOU’RE A COUGAR

trevorzegras WE GOT HER

colton.dach YN LIKES CONNOR

user2 AHHHHH

lululemon Happy Birthday Connor! 🎉

user3 I love you plz marry me

quentinmusty happy birthday CB !!

_connorbedard 😚😚😚 miss u

trevorzegras super sus 👀

adamfantilli someone check on yn

_connorbedard thank you ynn <3

Liked by yourusername

lhughes_06 love birds

yourusername I’ll kill you Lucas

lhughes_06 come at me yn

trevorzegras Luke what have you done

trevorzegras yn will protect connie wonnie boo-boo bear at all costs

yourusername you’re dead too Zegras

user3 all these adults obsessing over some teens

_masonmctavish we are NOT obsessed

user3 def are

_masonmctavish NO

user3 yes.

jamie.drysdale mason wtf are you doing

barzal97 happy birthday kid!

_connorbedard thank you 🙌🏻

yourusername added to their story!

yourusername

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yourusername besties trip!!

tagged trevorzegras

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trevorzegras 😚😚😚

jamie.drysdale IS THIS A THING

trevorzegras ????

yourusername 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

user1 Matching tattoos & a trip? Too sus

colton.dach I THOUGHT YOU LIKED CONNOR

adamfantilli WHAT HAPPENED

user2 whore

trevorzegras watch your mouth

barzal97 I’m officially out 😔

yourusername NO

yourusername COME BACK

yourusername You’re always #1 😘😘😘

_connorbedard No invite is crazy

yourusername make up for it when I get back?

_connorbedard I guess 🙄

user3 tension?!!!

user4 this girl sucks

_connorbedard Get outta here

madi_bedard GORGE

yourusername ughhh I’m in love with you

user5 *with your brother

_masonmctavish ^^^^

_connorbedard

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_connorbedard can’t take her anywhere

tagged yourusername

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yourusername added to their story!

yourusername

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yourusername go Blackhawks!

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jackhughes WHAT

trevorzegras why are we acting surprised

luke_hughes06 HE’S A CHILD

yourusername you’re a child

ryanwhitney6 MY EYES

colton.dach you dirty liar

adamfantilli “there’s nothing between us”

nhlblackhawks “we’re just best friends”

trevorzegras Even the team is invested in this 😐

biznasty Connor you dirty dog

yourusername 40 yr old in the comment section 🥱

biznasty Connor she’s mean

yourusername who knew biz was whiny

barzal97 what about us 😔

yourusername Mat he can be gone in 5 seconds

trevorzegras Connor wonnor has a girllll friendddd

_connorbedard Yeah that’s one more than you 🤠

yourusername 🫣

jamie.drysdale Yikes getting roasted by a 12 yr old

trevorzegras JAMIE!? BE ON MY SIDE

jamie.drysdale that was kinda a dig at both of you

trevorzegras I don’t care care it should only be a dig at HIM

yourusername trouble in paradise 😬

_connorbedard

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_connorbedard a full trip around the ☀️

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biznasty Are you 30 yet?

_connorbedard just turned 19 bud

yourusername lover 😚

_connorbedard ❤️❤️

user1 🤮

user2 mans pulled a baddie like yn … let me know your ways

madi_bedard sista sista

madi_bedard I’m stealing her

yourusername im yours <3

trevorzegras and Connor’s and Mat’s ?

yourusername yes.

colton.dach yn > Connor 🤷🏼‍♀️

olivermoore11 agreed.

titobeauvi91 she has a more pleasant presence

_connorbedard wow TEAMMATES thank you!

jamie.drysdale YOU’VE BEEN DATING A YEAR!?

luca.fantilli That’s gotta be illegal

trevorzegras Not so team Connor and yn now huh Jimmy

yourusername oh please you wouldn’t have known we were dating if I didn’t tell you

barzal97 🤘🏻

user3 you need someone better than yn

trevorzegras lol good luck finding anyone better

barzal97 she’s a national treasure

jamie.drysdale haters will be haters

_connorbedard too bad I love her 🤷🏼‍♀️

yourusername boys stop it I’m blushing ☺️

adamfantilli he said the L word 🤢

A/N I’m … back ??

[jamiedryssnail]

Safe now

Love of my Life Au

Warnings : fighting, swearing, underage drinking, and attempted SA

He was 6,1 and on the hockey team guys knew to keep clear of him and his girl. Obviously he is the biggest sweetheart but if you didn’t know this well then good luck because he can be intimidating when he wants to.

He always has a need to hold her, go to the bathroom with her, get her drinks so they don’t get spiked. He is protective but he knows he needs to be because you don’t know what types you get at big parties like this.

He also knows that all the hockey boys will look out for each others girls. Madi especially I mean she is practically hockey royalty and they are all like her older brothers. There is also the factor that her brothers would kill you if anything happened to her. Now if you think Rutger looks intimidating try her three NHL player brothers Quinn, Jack, and Luke.

Mads was not drinking at all just Coke Zero for her. She is a very serious athlete and her mum Ellen always said athletes don’t drink in the season. This came as more of a suggestion to her brothers ( jack ) but she took it to heart. Always wanting to perform her best and not take any chances of being sick, dehydrated, or tired.

Hence why Rut thought it was fine for her to go to the bathroom by herself. She hadn’t been drinking and the bathroom was in view from we’re they were standing, talking to Mark and Ethan. “Just meet me right back here as soon as you are done” he noted as he was very cautious of his girl. “It’s one of the biggest parties of the year who knows who is here mads, ok” he says making his point clear.

If it was any other party he would have been fine and more at ease. But Michigan had just won the rose bowl so it was hectic and everyone was there drunk off their asses. He had heard of many cases at parties like this of girls getting spiked or assaulted by guys. “Ok baby I’ll be quick, then maybe we could head home yeah” she said in a suggestive tone. Mads wondered off into the crowd seeing the huge line for the bathroom. There had to be at least twelve people ahead of her.

As she waited in the line she saw Dylan duke her long time best friend. “Dyl, we’re have you been all night” she asked knowing just why he had been preoccupied. “Oh shut up she is pretty ok and she thinks I’m hot” “Sure, Dylan” she joked.

As they chit chatted she gave rut a little wave before he looked away smiling re entering the conversation he was having.

“Oh my god what are these people doing in the bathroom” She exclaimed obviously busting to pee. “Mads don’t wait in this queue just go upstairs, it’s what I’ve been using”. Dylan says directing her

Unsure Madi made her way upstairs passing a few couples that couldn’t seem to wait til they got home to get with each other. As she made her way to the top she looked in a few rooms for a free bathroom. Accidentally walking in on a few couples getting at it she got a few ‘what the hell’s’ and ‘do you minds’. She finally found a free one and quickly used it.

Quickly using it and then touching up her makeup for the night ahead with rut she opened the door ready to go downstairs. As she started walking out she saw a guy she had never seen before looking directly at her. “Hey Mads right?” He asked “It’s Madison.” She said sternly trying to get out of there as soon as possible. She so did not feel like having a conversation with a gross stranger who obviously just wanted to get in her pants. Mads tried to exit but he grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear “ I don’t really care what your name is or how you say it you have a decent rack so you better shut the fuck up” Madi then trying to scream and kick her way out causing some kind of attention.

The guy put her hand over her mouth and dragged her back into the bathroom locking the door. She tried to fight back but he wasn’t budging instead hitting her in the face making her drowsy. She kept trying to push him away but he was a big dude and was to strong.

As she felt the blood start drip down from the top of her face she couldn’t help but cry.

Rutgers Pov,

“Hey has anyone seen Mads”

He had been asking everyone at the party for the last ten minutes.

“Rut hey dude mads just went to the toilet upstairs”

“Alone are you fucking with me” he said fuming at Dylan for even thinking that was ok. Rutger knows what guys are like and he was ready to beat the shit out of anyone.

Rutger rushed upstairs and searched everywhere to find one bathroom door locked. He banged on it then to hear Madi’s soft pleas to stop and get off her.

“Open up you asshole” Rutger screamed he swore the whole party had heard him but he didn’t care, he just wanted to hold mads. Luckily the guy had only just locked the door so nothing major had happened.

Finally the guy opened up the door expecting some guy who drank to much beer and needed the restroom. Before he knew it there was a guy jumping on him punching him repeatedly until he had blood all over his face. “Fucking touch her again and I’ll fucking kill you” he yelled like someone had died. Luca and Dylan seeing this run to pull Rut off the guy, then something catches ruts eyes. Madi standing frail and scared a few feet away. He goes to hold her and then sees blood. She has a cut on her upper eyebrow.

“You son of a bitch you laid hands on my girl” Rutger yells knowing he can’t do anything because he has to hold mads. “Oh fuck off as if you’d be dating her if she wasn’t a Hughes and didn’t have a rack”. Then the guy spoke up again “she’s a slut you know what have ur hooker looking girlfriend”. At this point Rutger was beyond pissed he couldn’t believe his ears.

“Fucking say it again I dare you” “As if you’d be dating her if she wasn’t a Hughes and didn’t have a rack she’s a good hit admit it” Rutger then decided to leave it until he heard a “Yea go have my sloppy seconds I got to her first tonight” and with that the guy was almost passed out on the floor from another hit. Luca lunges to towards him telling him to leave before they call the cops.

“Oh my girl you poor thing come here” rut says to mads. “I’m sorry for not being there I’m horrible” he whispers. “No Rut you were there don’t blame yourself for others actions, please baby”. Madi said

Rutger and Mads slowly walk down stairs trying to exit the house and get back to someone’s dorm. He did not let go of her at all after that. Finally finding the front yard Rutger picks her up and puts her in his car. “Oh sweet girl I’m never going to let anyone hurt you again”.

When they get to Madi’s dorm Rutger grabs the first aid kit Madi uses to clean him up after he gets into fights at games. He carefully dabs a cotton bud and some disinfectant oil for her cut. He then fixes himself up knowing his girl is to tired to do it for him like usual.

Rutger helps madi out of her little dress and into one of her (his) shirts and his boxers. He can’t help at smile at his beautiful girl almost drowning in his clothes.

After they both get into comfy clothes they find themselves cuddled up in bundles of blankets and pillows holding each other. Rutger is just happy she is safe now, and when I tell you he will never let her go again i mean never. He is walking her to and from every class, holding her tightly at parties, and taking her to her training. Anyway let’s just say Rut is content but also not looking forward to her brothers finding out especially jack.

[puckpocketed]

As someone who’s the go-to prospects blog in my mind, do you have any thoughts on Aron kiviharju dropping to the fourth round? The video the Wild shared after he got drafted is soo interesting to me

"Let me tell you one thing, man; you just made the biggest steal of the draft. I promise you that."

29/06/2024 - The Minnesota Wild draft Aron Kiviharju 122nd overall

Aron Kiviharju was supposed to go 1st overall.

Can you be a bust before you ever get drafted? Can the narrative miasma of going 1st overall linger on someone who went 122nd?

Kiviharju’s first game report from the 2024 EP Draft Guide is dated November 24th, 2019. He was 13 back then. According to them, no other player in EP's database — nor in any other draft guide this year — has had scouts' eyes on them so early, for so long. They say he understands the game beyond what's reasonable for a player his age, that he's always excelled while playing above his year level, that even though he's small and light there's something special about his game. Singular, elite, a phenom. This child is the next big thing. He is 13, 14, 15, he is anointed Boysaviour before his voice has cracked.

How many times have we heard this story before?

One day, Aron Kiviharju will be competing with and against players his age. And when that day comes, it might feel a bit odd for the defenceman. For years, ever since Kiviharju was young, he has played up a level, or two, or three. At age 13, he was playing U16 hockey with TPS Turku and, this past season, as a 15-year-old, he started with TPS’ U18 team before moving on to the U20 club. His numbers – 30 points in 35 games – would be deemed impressive for a 19-year-old forward, never mind a young defenceman who only turned 16 in January.

Steven Ellis' article on Kiviharju for Daily Faceoff, early September 2023, broadens the scope of public scrutiny even further:

Time travel back to 2022, and you'll find his name is printed right next to some familiar faces from this year's draft: Macklin Celebrini, Cole Eiserman, Berkly Catton, Ivan Demidov — except, they're all listed as possible challengers to his assumed throne.

And then, the accident.

The glaring flag on Kiviharju's draft profile, and across every report, every interview, and article since is the reality of his stalled potential. A scout’s job is to project a player’s future, but progress is rarely linear. What might halt a once-promising player's progress? Injuries and global pandemics and a poorly managed season or two; these things don't care for destiny. For every realised prodigy there are a dozen more who will fall short of expectations — this is something you pick up fast reading backdated draft guides and sifting through the history of the NHL.

In Kiviharju's case, the dislocated kneecap and the skate cut to the throat are the things most will write about. Behind the scenes, however, there were evidently other factors that contributed to his drop to the 4th round.

You see, every time I think I've escaped it, the size issue comes back.

The belief remains, however, that larger is better. I’m understating just how much it pervades hockey discourses: it’s present in scouting reports and has had measurable impacts on drafting; I hear it on professional and amateur hockey podcasts; it’s thrown out casually during interviews by coaches and fellow players. I can’t read or listen to anything about Faber without stumbling across it — the preoccupation with size. I’ll be very clear here: I’m not reading anything malicious from specific people, I’m not accusing anyone of crimes, and in no way am I implying that ice hockey is unique here. Just the opposite, in fact. I know professional sports hinges upon producing stars, that the commodification of young bodies is endemic to the business. Those stars are, stripped down to the basest definition, workers who perform with their bodies and sell their labour, whose bodies will inevitably be coveted and revered for their adherence to the Platonic Ideal of their respective crafts. For men’s sports, there’s something extra on top of the commodification of children’s bodies — it’s the vernacular of near-fetishistic worship; of the masculine, the oxymoronic youthful-but-mature, the virile. The language used to praise Faber and other young d-men like him has my stomach twisting in a discomfort that I find hard to quantify — players, coaches, and the media all talk about him, and the hockey blinders slip. He’s a “workhorse”, a “stud”, he’s got “a man’s body” — and call it projecting, call it reading too deeply into innocuous statements, but the closest thing I can compare it to is hearing my AFAB body spoken about as an object whose value can be reduced to its function, its usefulness, its closeness to sexual maturity.

Excerpt from the last time I wrote about a Minnesota d-man (sensing a pattern here).

Kiviharju probably would've dropped some places regardless of his injury and missed time; that's where the league is trending right now in terms of draft preference. When you're small, every mistake is amplified by your lack of size. You must be twice as skilled, faster, more consistent.

p. 595, The 2024 Elite Prospects NHL Draft Guide

Kiviharju's media appearances read like someone who is haunted by his draft stock despite his assertions otherwise.

Kiviharju's bold proclamation, caught on GM Bill Guerin’s hot mic, that the Wild just got "the biggest steal of the draft” will likely be associated with Kiviharju's rise — or perhaps his fall — as Minnesota media and fans work at their mythmaking. I don't know if I want to care about some hockey myths anymore. My appetite for them sours day by day. These myths were started by the eyes and hands and mouths of people watching a boy of 11 play hockey, who witnessed him and salivated at his unwritten future. Part of me thinks: I don't want to be complicit in their continued weaving — though I know I will be anyway.

I read what he says in the lead up to the draft and it's like he's telling himself as he tells us; that he will not care, because he is worth more than this.

From Kiviharju's draft day interview, transcribed by me:

Q: What's the biggest thing you learned about yourself going through the rehab process? AK: Kind of like... it's — life is more than hockey. Hockey is the biggest thing for me. I love the sport. I will do this for the rest of my life, for sure. First playing it, then probably I will continue with hockey after my career, so I've been always thinking like that, and I'm still thinking like that, but it's just that it's — more. Life is more than just hockey, there's a lot of things. And there's a lot of different things about myself, kind of like when you don't — if hockey is my fuel and I'm a car and I'm 200 days without getting any fuel, we have to find some new ways how to get that fuel, to keep my car going. - Q: How has your cut healed since U-18's? AK: Yeah so (he gestures to the cut right below his jawline) that was a pretty close one, but thank God we're alive. That's what I kind of meant when I said that this life is more than just hockey. So first you're 200 days without playing hockey and when you come back your first game the World Under 18's a skate cuts your throat open, so it's very close calls, and that's when you remember that this is only hockey.

Whatever happens, I want Kiviharju to hold on to this. Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for him. In so many ways, he fits the archetype of players I enjoy. I want him to make it to the show and blow everyone's expectations out of the water and bring Minnesota the Cup. I love this team, even if I rarely post about them. Even still, whether he shoots into stardom or he washes out of the NHL, it doesn't fucking matter. It's only hockey.

And he is more than his ability to live up to our myths.

[uluvjay]

mackie samoskevich with “i think i deserve a kiss", possibly like after his debut game? <3

This idea is so cute

Mackie x established relationship! Reader

Warnings?; non really, kissing, fluff, pet names

—

You were sat in the stands as Mackie’s debut game with the Florida panthers came to an end. You and his family were emotional wrecks the entire game, especially after Mackie got an assist on one of Tkachuks goals earning him his first nhl point in his first game.

Your talked with his family as you all waited by the panthers locker room for him to come out.

“Oh here he comes!” His mom notified.

Your face hurt from smiling so much today but that didn’t stop you from busting out the biggest smile as he can towards all of you holding his own cheesy grin.

His sisters tackled him in a hug as soon as he got close enough and as soon as they separated his parents did the same.

His mom gave him a kiss on the cheek before pulling away and wiping her tears of joy. He turned to face you and you couldn’t help but jump into his arms, allowing your own tears to come down your face.

“I’m so proud of you Mack, I swear it feels like I was watching you in your first Umich game yesterday, and here I am watching you play in the nhl” you told him as you pulled back a little.

“It’s so crazy” he admitted and you seen his eyes watering as well.

“I think Samo deserves a nice greasy piece of pizza, what do the rest of you think?” Maddy asked as she seen you two pull away.

“I think hell yes” Mackie laughed as everyone started heading to the parking garage.

His parents and sisters headed to their rental car as you and Mackie headed to his. You we’re about to open the passenger side door before he stopped you.

“Everything okay?” You asked as he pulled you close to his chest by your waist.

“Yeah, it’s just I think I deserve a kiss” he said with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

“Oh do you now?” You asked with a laugh.

“I mean I did just play my first nhl game, and got my first point in the Sam-“ he started but you cut him off by pulling his face down to yours and giving him a kiss.

You kissed for a moment before slowly pulling away for air, “That better?” You asked.

“Much” he laughed before pulling you in for another one.

[thenhlteaissuperhot]

is slafkovsky a bust?

If there is something I genuinely hate about the perception of young talents in the NHL, then it's how quick people are to delusionally overstate their abilities and set the bar ridiculously high for them (like they do every single day for Bedard) and how quick they are to write them off or call them a bust when the player in question understandably struggles as a rookie.

It honestly feels like you are forgetting that not everyone is a generational talent like Connor McDavid and that those kids are literal kids - Slafkovský is still only nineteen, if he doesn't suffer a career-ending injury he is set to play for another twenty years perhaps.

1st overall picks don't always have an immediate effect on the team they play for, you can't expect bloody miracles from them, especially when the team they are playing for is completely mismanaging them and giving them shitty linemates - if you actually look at Slafkovský, he is creating so many goalscoring chances for Anderson in that 3rd line but none of them is turned into goal by Josh.

I have never been the biggest fan of throwing those kids immediately into the league, especially when they come from Europe and from playing junior leagues and are used to a different style of game. It shouldn't be a shameful thing being sent to play in the AHL for the first season or two before jumping into the big boys league, that's what those farms are supposed to be for, and in Juraj's case, I honestly feel like he should have played in the AHL the first season.

Frankly, sometimes it feels that they treat him like someone much older and more experienced solely because of his body frame which makes him look at least five years older than he actually is.

So no, Juraj is not a bust, in my opinion, just awfully mismanaged by Montreal.

[areyoutherelarry]

Title: Slapshot Through the Heart for 1D Tour de Fic Fest

Author: areyoutherelarry

Summary: Being the third overall draft pick comes with a lot of pressure, pressure that Shawn Mendes feels like he’s cracked under until he joins the Florida Panthers and develops a massive crush on their illustrious captain, Niall Horan. However, now that Matthew Tkachuk, the sixth overall pick from Shawn’s draft year, is joining the team, maybe Shawn overexaggerated his and Niall’s connection, maybe he is the biggest draft bust, maybe he isn’t good for the team at all.

Or the Florida Panthers’ crazy 2022-2023 season but make it a friends-to-lovers Shiall Hockey AU with a dash of Matthew Tkachuk propaganda.

@1dtourdeficfest

LONG appendix below cut (Hockey people and glossary)

NHL People

Matthew Tkachuk- (American) Rat king, nepo baby (his dad played for a long time), loves to start shit and plays very good hockey, thriving in Florida, is so obsessed with his new team, always munching on his mouth guard, went #6 in 2016 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (left)

Mitch Marner- (Canadian) tiny baby hockey player, adorable and smiley very good at hockey, went #4 in 2015 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (right)

Dylan Strome- (Canadian) long-suffering, played with Connor McDavid in juniors, considered somewhat of a bust (I love him don’t come for me), went #3 in 2015 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (left)

Auston Matthews- (American) another great hockey player,, known for being fashionable and ✨cool✨, went #1 in 2016 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (right)

Connor McDavid- (Canadian) long-suffering best player currently in the NHL, known for being boring af, went #1 in 2015 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (left)

Nick Foligno- (American-Canadian) I don’t know much about him, another nepo baby, went #28 in 2006 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (right)

Alexander Ovechkin- (Russian) will probably break Gretzky’s record for # of goals scored, is a powerhouse, considered one of the best hockey players of all-time but people consider him a showboat but like yeahhhh duh, went #1 in 2004 NHL entry draft, won 1 Stanley Cup (left)

Phil Kessel- (American) Ridiculous hockey player but was good, think stereotypical Wisconsin dude and yep you’ve got him, known for drinking Coke and eating hot dogs, went #5 in 2006 NHL entry draft, won 3 Stanley Cups (right)

Connor Bedard- (Canadian) Considered a generational talent like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby but is only 18, hope he isn’t crushed by the Chicago sports ecosystem (I’m from Chicago), went #1 in 2023 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (duh) (left)

Sidney Crosby- (Canadian) One of the best players, hockey men consider him a whiner but boo to them, he is a big weirdo who has lots of superstitions and doesn’t have public social media, an enigma, went #1 in 2005 NHL entry draft, won 3 Stanley Cups (right)

John Tavares- (Canadian) He’s such a dad, considered to have “abandoned” the Islanders, whatever, went #1 in 2009 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (left)

Ryan Lomberg- (Canadian) Lomberghini I don’t know much about him, chirper, went undrafted, won 0 Stanley Cups (right)

Jonathan Huberdeau- (Canadian) Huby I don’t know much about him, regularly leads teams in points, went #3 in 2011 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (top left)

Claude Giroux- (Canadian) Scrappy hockey player who was captain of the Philadelphia Flyers for a long time, such a dad, went #22 in 2006 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (top right)

Paul Maurice- (Canadian) *I’m missing how to find NHL coaches’ headshots so here’s a funny Paul pic* Says this year’s team has brought back his love of hockey, notably quit previously in the middle of the season because he just couldn’t anymore, also played but only juniors because he got hurt, won 0 Stanley Cups (left)

Sergei Bobrovsky- (Russian) Always seems long-suffering, people talk a lot of shit about Bob, went undrafted, won 0 Stanley Cups (top left)

Keith Tkachuk- (American) *This picture is hella old but he looks so much like his kids* Has lots of points because he played lots of games, comes from an NHL family, pretty chirpy even with his own kids, went #19 in 1990 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (left)

Brady Tkachuk- (American) *The head tilt the Tkachuk brothers do* WILL FIGHT, once got bit during a fight, captain of his team has outrageously high number of penalty minutes compared to other captains, nepo baby, the Tkachuk brothers harass and love each other very much, went #4 in 2018 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (right)

Tim Stützle- (German) I don’t know much about him, except he loves doing adorable antics, he and Brady are silly together, hilarious conspiracy that Matthew thinks he’s annoying, went #3 in 2020 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (left)

Thomas Chabot- (Canadian) I don’t know much about him, he hit a teammate in the face with his stick this year accidentally, went #18 in 2015 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (right)

Kris Letang- (Canadian) eternally cursed, this poor man has had two TWO strokes during his career, his dad died not long after he had his second stroke, known for being French Canadian, beautiful, and obsessed with his hair, went #62 in 2005 NHL entry draft, won 3 Stanley Cups (left)

Evgeni Malkin- (Russian) is so moody, will fight you if you irk him just a little bit, also considered whiny with Sid, loves to chirp those he loves, loves jokes and is funny, went #2 in 2004 NHL entry draft, won 3 Stanley Cups (right)

Eric Staal- (Canadian) homophobe, one of four Staal brothers who have played in the NHL, went #2 in 2003 NHL entry draft, won 1 Stanley Cup (left)

Marc Staal- (Canadian) homophobe, one of four Staal brothers who have played in the NHL, went #12 in 2015 NHL entry draft, won 0 Stanley Cups (right)

NHL Glossary (most of this was copy and pasted from around the internet)

The Presidents' Trophy- The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the NHL to the team that finishes with the most points during the NHL regular season. Teams get two points for each win, one point for each tie, and no points for a loss

The Presidents' Trophy Curse- Finishing with the best record in the regular season has become a dubious distinction: Only twice in 20 years has the Presidents' Trophy winner gone on to win the Stanley Cup — most recently a decade ago when the Blackhawks beat Boston in the final. Since then, only one team has made it past the second round. 

Captain- In ice hockey, the captain is the player designated by a team as the only person authorized to speak with the game officials regarding rule interpretations when the captain is on the ice. At most levels of play each team must designate one captain and a number of alternate captains (usually two or three) who speak to the officials when the captain is on the bench. 

BioSteel Camp- The annual BioSteel NHL CAMP is a four-day event where 30 of the top hockey stars and prospects go through both on- and off- ice training as the NHL season start is just around the corner.  

London Knights- The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League. 

Memorial Cup- The Memorial Cup is the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League, a consortium of three major junior ice hockey leagues operating in Canada and parts of the United States. It is a four-team round-robin tournament played between the champions of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL), and a fourth, hosting team, which alternates between the three leagues annually. 

Chirp-Hockey insults are known as "chirps.” The basic theory behind any kind of trash-talking is that, by disrupting your opponent's concentration and confidence through chirping, you gain a competitive edge that might just help you win. 

The Show- Many players refer to the NHL as “the show” 

Training Camp- NHL training camp is the period when professional ice hockey clubs gather to prepare and enhance themselves for the next season. It starts before the start of the regular season. 

Development Camp- Development Camp provides an opportunity for  prospects to showcase their talents and show management and staff that they are progressing in the right direction. Players at camp are all looking to prove different things. Some camp goers will be looking to prove they're NHL-ready, some will be hoping to show the staff they've improved on areas of need based on last year's camp, some are looking to be signed and some are looking to make a good first impression, along with much more.

Prospect-  A prospect is typically a player who was drafted and/or signed by an NHL team, and is assigned to a development farm team. These development leagues are the American Hockey League and the ECHL. Besides these minor leagues, draft picks may continue playing for the team that they were drafted from in the Canadian Hockey League (consisting of the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League), the NCAA, the United States Hockey League, various European leagues such as the Czech Extraliga, Finnish Liiga, German Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Russian Kontinental Hockey League, Slovak Extraliga, Swedish Hockey League, the Norwegian Fjordkraftligaen or Swiss National League.

Messier Trophy- The Mark Messier Leadership Award is a NHL award that recognizes an individual as a superior leader within their sport and as a contributing member of society. 

Selke- The Frank J. Selke Trophy is an annual award given "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game." The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season.

Waivers- Waivers is an NHL labor management procedure by which an NHL team makes a professional ice hockey player's contract and rights available to all other NHL teams. Other NHL teams "waive" any claim to a player designated for assignment in the American Hockey League (AHL) or designated for release. This means another team could sign that player to their NHL team before they go to the minors. 

Celly- Slang for “celebration” and refers to the expression of joy after a player scores a goal; a celly comes in many forms and can range from a fist pump to sheathing a stick as if it were a sword to belly-sliding across the ice. The degree of celly is typically correlated to the importance of the goal.

Liney- The lines in hockey refer to the different lineups that teams utilize throughout the game. Each line typically consists of three forwards, a center and two wingers on either side of the center, and two defensemen. Usually, teams field four lines of forwards and three lines of defensemen. A liney is a player on the same line.

Cross Check- Cross-checking is “The action of using the shaft of the stick between the two hands to forcefully check an opponent.”

Empty Net- Empty net goals usually occur on two occasions in ice hockey: In the final minutes of a game, if a team is within two goals, they will often pull the goalie, leaving the net defenseless, for an extra attacker, in order to have a better chance of scoring to either tie or get within one goal. OR In the case of a delayed penalty, the non-offending team will often pull their goaltender for an extra attacker in this situation as well. 

Shift- A hockey shift is when a “line” takes their turn to play while the other lines take a break on the bench to rest. Each line rotates about every 45 seconds to keep the game intensity up and give players time to rest.

Holding- Holding is any action by a player that restrains an opposing player by impeding their progress whether or not they are in possession of the puck, or by such action prohibiting their ability to pass, shoot, receive, or otherwise propel the puck.

The Box- The penalty box or sin bin (sometimes called the bad box, or simply bin or box) is the area in ice hockey where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty, for an offense not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the game.

Powerplay- In ice hockey, a team is considered to be on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty, and the team has a numerical advantage on the ice (whenever both teams have the same number of players on the ice, there is no power play).

Shoot-out Goal- A hockey shootout is a penalty shot competition used to decide the result of a game that is tied after regulation time and is still tied at the end of overtime. In a shootout, a player starts with the puck at center ice and has a scoring opportunity 1-1 against the opposing team's goalie. The puck can only move forwards. If it moves backwards, the play is considered dead.

Gentleman’s Sweep- A gentleman's sweep is where a team wins a playoff series but loses one game leading to a 4–1 win. It is called a gentleman's sweep under the pretense that it would be rude and unsporting to embarrass a team with a 4–0 victory, so the winning team lets the other team win a game to save face.

Important References

2022 FL Panthers Primer

Matthew Tkachuk Daddy Issues

Hockey Fun Facts

Florida’s Schedule

Shiall Timeline

Dylan Strome Primer

2015 Draft Class

Matthew Tkachuk

[toffoliravioli]

at least the pressure really won’t be on the devils tmmr. they’re a young team, way ahead of schedule in the rebuild, literally biggest season turn around in the nhl, we’ll be ok. and on the other end all I hear from rangers fans are “cup or bust” for New York

so whatever happens tmmr…..

[yafaiah-raaida-cham]

The Best 7 Fun Facts to Know About Canada

Not only is Canada known for being the second-largest country in the world, but it is also known not only for its amazing natural scenery but also for many interesting little-known facts. From culturally diverse cities to wildlife species and cultural uniqueness,.

Canada's reputation as a wonderland is matched by a welcoming spirit, making it a magnet for adventurers and nature lovers. In addition to its iconic maple leaf flag and humble name, Canada's mosaic of provinces and territories contains incredible treasures of its history, culture, and natural wonders. Discovering the most fascinating facts on the topic reveals a country that continues to be fascinating and inspires curiosity in the world at large

The Best 7 Fun Facts to Know About Canada 1. A mosaic of cultures: Canada prides itself on being a cultural mosaic, richly woven into the material of its social diversity. Unlike the idea of a melting pot, where one-of-a kind cultures merge into one identification, Canada celebrates its cultural variety with the aid of retaining and promoting ethnic traditions and languages. In those cultures, this policy is embedded in Canadian law, such as inclusiveness and respect for cultural variations.  2. The world's longest beach: Canada has the longest coastline of any United States in the world, at 202,080 kilometers (125,567 miles). This expansive shoreline includes the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Great Lakes, making Canada a maritime country wealthy in herbal assets and numerous in marine existence 3. Home Ice Hockey:

Ice hockey holds a unique place in Canadian culture as part of a country's wide ice recreation. Since then, the game has emerged as ingrained in Canada’s identity and is famous in the burgeoning expert league, the National Hockey League (NHL). Is to maintain and unite groups across the United States of America, from small towns to busts. 4. Lakes and Freshwater Conservation:

Canada has great lakes and holds nearly 20% of the sector’s sparkling water. The USA has more than 2 million lakes, such as the Great Lakes, which form the Canada-U.S. half of the total. This freshwater reservoir plays a crucial role in Canada's environment, assisting wildlife habitats and providing leisure opportunities along with boating, fishing, and camping in Lake Lewis, Alberta, and Lake Ontario, Ontario, which are among the most stunning and exquisite lakes that entice vacationers from all around the world. 

5. Maple Syrup Capital:

Canada is the arena’s biggest manufacturer of maple syrup, accounting for approximately 71% of the sector’s production. Maple syrup manufacturing in eastern Canada, especially Quebec, is a time-commemorated lifestyle in which sugar maple bushes are tapped to acquire the sap, then boiled into a candy golden syrup for the duration of the sugar block season or maple syrup season, normally early spring. When temperatures are above freezing for the duration of the day and below freezing at night, ideal conditions are to go with the flow.

6. Polar Bear Capital:

Known as the polar bear capital of the world, Canada has a large population of polar bears living in the Arctic region. Manitoba on the Hudson Bay coast, Churchill, is particularly well known for its polar bear population. Each fall, polar bears await the formation of sea ice near Churchill, providing wildlife enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

7. Bilingual Country:

Quebec is dominated by French, while English is widely spoken in the rest of the country. Bilingualism is an integral part of Canadian identity and is supported by government policies that promote language diversity and cultural exchange. Canadians have the opportunity to learn both official languages in schools, enhancing the bilingual workforce and increasing cultural contacts across the country.

Conclusion

Canada’s diverse cultural mosaic, expansive coastline, support of sports like ice hockey, and status as the world’s largest maple syrup producer and polar bear capital establish its uniqueness as a global destination. For travellers from all over the world, including those applying for Canada Visit visa from Dubai, exploring these attractions provides an insight into and appreciation for Canada’s rich heritage and natural beauty, enhancing its cultural diversity and environmental stewardship. It was in line with innovation standards.

[mrhockeywiz77]

Hockeywiz777 Youtube Videos + Hockeywiztalks Blogs + Podcast: January 22, 2024-March 8, 2024

Youtube Videos Podcast Podcast 249-2024 NHL Trade Deadline RecapPodcast 248-Potential Sellers Calgary FlamesPodcast 247-Potential Sellers Chicago BlackhawksPodcast 246-Potential Sellers San Jose SharksPODCAST 245-POTENTIAL SELLERS ANAHEIM DUCKS Blog FANTASY HOCKEY: DEFENSEMAN AND GOALTENDERS TO TRADE FOR https://hockeywiztalks-hockey.blogspot.com/2024/02/fantasy-hockey-defenseman-and.html

[ao3feed-hockey]

Never Grow Up

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/G6KzlHT

by lowkeyinlovewithanakinskywalker

Jack wasn't sure when he'd started feeling like this. Maybe it was when he'd gotten thrown into the opposing team's bench, when he'd missed easy shots that he usually would've scored on, when he'd earned the title of 'biggest bust in the NHL' or when he'd been called a pretty boy hockey player that couldn't play, but at some point along the line hockey had become a lot less fun than it used to be. It got to the point that he wasn't sure he wanted to play anymore and was considering quitting, despite having worked hard his whole life to get to the NHL.

If it hadn't been for Quinn, he probably would have.

OR

Three times Jack needed Quinn and the one time he realized that no matter how old he got, he would always need him.

Words: 899, Chapters: 1/4, Language: English

Fandoms: Men's Hockey RPF

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Characters: Jack Hughes (b. 2001), Quinn Hughes, Luke Hughes, Ellen Hughes, Jim Hughes, Trevor Zegras, Nico Hischier

Relationships: Jack Hughes (b. 2001) & Quinn Hughes, Jack Hughes (b. 2001) & Luke Hughes & Quinn Hughes

Additional Tags: New Jersey Devils NHL Team, Vancouver Canucks NHL Team, Brothers, Brotherly Love, Song: Never Grow Up (Taylor Swift), Why is that song so sad bro, Quinn Hughes is a good big brother, But can we talk about how he lowkey looks like a sad mouse, No Beta we die like Matthew Tkachuk's sternum, I'm so sorry, How Do I Tag, Rookie Year, Jack Needs a Hug, wholesome fic because I'm weak, Taylor Swift titles are fun

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/G6KzlHT

[stereax]

Hi anon! Just hopped onto my computer so I can type quickly. Let's do this. Side note - I love these kinds of asks, because it means I get to do my favoritest thing: ramble about hockey.

@sportsthoughts, sorry if this annoys you! @reavenedges-lies, thanks for the ping!

Prospects and the NHL: A Story

Let's play a game. I'll give you a few quotes. You tell me who these are about.

"A dynamic, game-breaking talent. He can create offence on his own and will be a difference-maker in the NHL. He will be a star in the NHL."

"Arguably the best prospect available. … First and foremost is his skating. He maintains a low centre of gravity, great strength in his lower body and his quick footwork gives him exceptional acceleration. … The release on his shot is powerful and accurate."

Which NHL player were these glowing draft-era reports about? Sidney Crosby? Connor Bedard?

Nope. Nail Yakupov.

That Nail Yakupov, the notorious 1OA draft bust from 2012. Some say it was a personality issue. Some say his skill just couldn't translate. Yakupov himself blames a lot of it on coaches not teaching him at the NHL level.

His stats? 350GP, 62G, 74A, 136P, over 6 seasons.

Here's another one.

"I don't see any vulnerability or weakness in his game. He's so big, so strong, with great hockey sense, and he's totally unselfish. I think he'll be an A-plus, franchise player."

"He's got size, speed and skill up the middle, and that's just hard to find in one package."

Who is this? Connor McDavid? Nate MacKinnon?

Nope. Nolan Patrick.

That Nolan Patrick, the 2OA draft "bust" from 2017. Now, NolPat's reason for flaming out is patently obvious: a migraine disorder that ruined his chance at an NHL career before it even really got going. This is why I also really hate calling him a "bust" - he's not a bust in the way Yakupov or Stefan or Daigle were. He just couldn't play any more.

His stats? 222GP, 32G, 45A, 77P, over 4 seasons.

Both of these prospects were arguably "rushed" to the NHL. This "rushing" did not help and certainly might have destroyed Yakupov's, if not Patrick's, careers. This is why nowadays, there is massive wariness of calling up rookies before they're ready. Back in the 1980s, 90s, and so on, the league was young and rookies were coming in young. One can partially attribute this to the very North American-ness of the league back then, or the many expansion teams that drove average player age down, or the relative instability of the minor leagues of hockey. Nowadays, with a fairly constant team number, things are different. You don't want to push a kid to the NHL at 18 and see him leave the league by 25. From a business standpoint, it's a waste of an asset; from a personal standpoint, you could ruin someone's life.

Hockey is a complicated sport. There are a bunch of factors in "NHL readiness" that pundits and others debate about endlessly. I'll cover a few here for you.

European versus North American ice.

North American ice is often referred to as "smaller" than international ice. This is especially true east-west, where NHL rinks are 85% of the size of international ones. This fundamentally changes how a team can play and creates a "smaller" and "faster" game in the NHL. For prospects who played in Europe, this change in rink dimensions takes adjusting. Some can't do it and flame out at the minor league level in the Americas, then go back to Europe and play like stars there. Take Leon Gawanke of the DEL's Adler Mannheim as an example here. Despite being a relatively good offensive defenseman in the minor leagues, he could never "put it together" on North American ice enough to get a call-up to the NHL. He's now the Adler's poster child.

Play without the puck.

This is one of the biggest things coaches emphasize at the sub-NHL level. Anyone can get a puck and score. If you watch CHL/NCAA hockey, you'll see that there is a veritable plethora of kids who can put a puck in a net. It's important to recognize that there are only so many top-line players in the NHL, though. Many times, you draft a player, possibly in the first round, and you expect they'll be a top-six player, but it turns out that they can't do that at the NHL level. Curtis Lazar, for example, put up 76 points in 58 games his final pre-NHL season. When he joined the Senators, the idea was second-line center. Patrice Bergeron was a comparable. Turns out that he could only solidify his role as a fourth-liner because of his ability to play even when the puck wasn't on his stick. One of the most important things a player can do is know how to play without the puck. You have the puck approximately 1/10 of the time, if there are 10 players on the ice. What are you doing the other 90%? Are you putting yourself and your team in a good position to win? Or are you a liability on the ice?

Physicality.

The NHL is a very hit-forward league. To most people, this is not news. However, for prospects, this is an important thing to learn. Most prospects play in leagues that have little to no checking. Their heads are protected with "fishbowl" helmets; they are not taught how to take a hit. On one hand, this is good: we clearly do not want kids suffering concussions, developing CTE, and so on. On the other hand, this is leading to a rash of young players in the NHL who cannot take hits and are very easily injured. There are about thirty good examples of this (half the 2019 draft class) but I'll choose Jamie Drysdale for this one. The glass bones paper skin meme applies to all of them. What good is a player who is constantly on IR? This is also a discussion being held in the PWHL - female hockey players almost never play in checking leagues, now the PWHL is allowing checks, why is everyone hurt. Oftentimes, a little marinating in the AHL can help teach players how to deal with hits before hitting the NHL level.

Level of competition.

This is generally the main thing we talk about when we talk about NHL readiness. Just because a CHL/NCAA player carves through the competition at the junior level does not mean they will do so at the NHL level. Heck, look at Brendan Shinnimin, CHL player of the year in 2012, who put up 134 points in 69 games in the WHL. He only ever played 12 games at the NHL level. (For context, Sidney Crosby won the same award in 2004 by putting up 135 points.) The NHL is a much trickier league. The players are literally the best in the world. Even that 13th forward who sits in the press box most nights is one of the best in the world. A cool spinny move can work against 17- and 18-year olds. It won't work against Jaccob Slavin.

The ELC.

Sometimes a player actually is NHL ready but they're not called up. This can be a highly frustrating process for many. Say, Simon Nemec, who spent last year in the AHL transitioning from European hockey to North American hockey. He could not make the opening night roster this year, despite being better than probably every RHD on the roster not named Dougie Hamilton. Nemec himself expressed frustration, saying he believed he was NHL ready. His big break? When Dougie went down with a season-ending pectoral injury. Only then could he find a spot on the roster. It's not that he wasn't better than Brendan Smith. It's because of his contract. See, when you sign a young enough player to an entry-level contract (ELC), you can slide that contract to extend one or two years if they do not play enough NHL games. This can be incredibly useful when, for example, you're up against the cap and want to extend the amount of time a player is on an ELC to delay the cap hit of a big contract.

So, to summarize: There are a ton of details that go into assessing whether a prospect is NHL ready. Rushing a player to the NHL level can have disastrous effects. This is why you generally see NHL prospects, even super-high-level ones, try to "cook" in the AHL first. Your only real exceptions are your 1OAs, who (almost) always go straight to the NHL. Sometimes, non-1OAs do this too (Fantilli and Carlsson from 2023), but it's very situational - Carlsson, for example, was playing limited games at the beginning of his season. And many of these 1OAs suffer from going directly to the NHL - Slafkovsky is a prime example of this. So it's a big question mark at this point, and one of the reasons why NHL teams are very concerned about "NHL readiness". They don't want to play a player in the NHL until they're prepared, skill- and mentality-wise, to do so.

I hope this helps you, anon, and whoever else needs it!

NHL-wide thought: it's funny how when a team has reached it's expiration date they call for a retool to get younger and refresh the roster to compete. but when they see prospects doing so well before coming in the show, they're like "but does his game translate well to the NHL???" or "is he NHL ready?" What really is the deal about prospects and why is there so much stigma about them despite the need to rebuild at some point?

good question, anon! I would like to know the answer to this too, but sadly I am here exclusively for the shits, giggles and pretty faces so am probably not the best person to ask.

I would suggest asking... perhaps @reavenedges-lies @coffee-at-annies or @idontlikeem all of whom i think know far more about Proper Hockey Stuff!

[pyotrkochetkov]

why should we get on the Pelly train

anon respectfully, WHY WOULDN'T YOU??? adam pelech:

is one of the best shutdown defensemen in the league who busts his ass every single night

defends against some of the biggest stars in the league and routinely keeps them off the board

is not afraid to get scrappy to defend his teammates

out of the lineup = team suffers

is now an NHL all-star

can actually cook (as confirmed by anders lee)

has the cutest dog of all time, a chiweenie named duke, that he also helps run an instagram account for

has his own posse

signed a team-friendly deal this off season just to stay on long island because he believes in this team

has the prettiest blue eyes

is 6'3

is unconventionally attractive i said what i said! and all of the above just adds to it

thank you for coming to my pelly ted talk 🤍

[st-louis]

The two young centres have come out of the 11-day break giving Canadiens fans high hopes that the future looks bright. It’s interesting to watch how what Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi both struggle with most is simply the gruelling scheduling – that playing every two nights is their biggest challenge over time. When they are fresh, they are high-quality NHL players, but when they are tired, they just melt into the ice and disappear. So let’s see how long the pair can keep up their energy this time, because they are going to have to be resilient. The schedule is grueling and will definitely claim some victims. It’s simply a matter of predicting who will lose their legs. It’s easy to predict it will be Suzuki and Kotkaniemi as it has happened before. Perhaps though, they are continuing their evolution. To see their play on Saturday night, we see excellence. Kotkaniemi particularly was effective. He laid a pass cross-ice to Josh Anderson that was outstanding. It was hard to know how he even saw him so quickly and found Anderson 80 feet away for his first tally on the night. Nick Suzuki also set up Anderson for a goal in the second period with a smart pass. However, it was the first-period pass from Suzuki to set up the Tyler Toffoli one-timer that was his best moment. Suzuki is a heady player. Everyone always likes to guess which one is going to be the first-line centre and which one will be the second liner? Here’s the truth on this question: it’s not going to matter. They’ll get opportunities equally. All that matters is they both keep improving and enjoy the ride fully. If they do, we have seen the last days of Montreal not winning the middle to win the game.

brian wilde, getting it, per usual

the thing that kills me about the habs subreddit is a) they have the memory of a goldfish; b) it often seems like we’re not watching the same games; c) they only really seem to notice goals; d) along with the memory of a goldfish they are vicious regarding the players who have fallen out of favor.

you see it the most with nick and kk, weirdly enough. during the break when kk was playing with ässät and probably struggling to adjust to the different ice size and style of play the habs subreddit could not shut up about how he was a bust etc. same when he was struggling in the early season with julien and not being deployed in a way that would give him a chance to maximize talents. when nick was having his hot streak of ten games, the mods literally had to ban sexual comments about players because people were being so uncomfortable about him. and now if you read any comments it’s like people going “move suzuki to wing on a line with kk, i don’t like his 200 foot game” (???? were we watching the same game).

they are 20 and 21 years old. kk is in his third official season but spent time off the ice due to injuries and being sent down. nick has never played a full nhl season because of covid! they’re both learning. both of them are getting the shit kicked out of them on a nightly basis (like, specifically being targeted and hit worse than a lot of their other teammates, thinking of the elbow to the head and slew foot kk had this week, the fact that nick is constantly getting cross checked from behind in the numbers, etc). they are both dealing with the adjusting to the grueling pace of an nhl season, and this one is even worse because it’s so compressed.

they both have similar skill sets in that they’re excellent playmakers and passers and their best assets are the way they see the ice; they’re both extremely hard workers who legitimately give a shit about how the team does and planning their own futures with the team. they seem to be genuinely good friends with each other. you would think people would be excited that they have two centers who have such high ceilings and promise, they’re literally both on your team, why are you acting like this? like i seriously do not understand it lmao. it drives me absolutely insane!!