#paul morissey

[undergroundrockpress]

Flesh for Frankenstein (Andy Warhol's Frankenstein) / Dalila Di Lazzaro & Udo Krier - 1973.

[kiki-de-la-petite-flaque]

Paul Morissey, Andy Warhol, Janis Joplin, and Tim Buckley by Elliott Landyat at Max’s Kansas City. New York City, 1968.

[depressedraisin]

someday someone should make a definitive ranking of boybestfriend duos in british rock bands

like we have so much history to unpack so much problematic conjectures to make so much variety as well. for example, we have john lennon and paul mccartney who don't have that many documented gay stage antics but enough personal lore that one could write a thesis on. on the other hand we got miles kane and alex turner who don't have the lore that we know of but were practically fucking each other on stage. and then we have pete doherty and carl barat have copious amounts of both. damon albarn and graham coxon have the stage chemistry and personal lore in moderate amounts but they got the insanest make up story of all time. johnny marr and morissey who, quite unfortunately, it seems like will never have that make up story

not to mention so many duos who i personally am not that familiar with: keith richards and charlie watts, george michael and andrew ridgeley etc etc you get my point

[autopsy0fanicon]

Nico at Factory by Andy Warhol , 1960s

"Nico was spectacular. She had a definite charisma. She was interesting. She was distinctive. She had a magnificent deep voice. She was extraordinary looking. She was tall. She was a somebody. I said, "She's wonderful and she's looking for work". I said, "We'll put her in the band because the Velvets need somebody who can sing or who can command attention when they stand in front of a microphone, so she can be the lead singer, and the Velvets can still do their thing." - Paul Morissey

[edgarmoser]

lonesome cowboys, 1968, andy warhol paul morissey

[elena-ferrante]

Taking advantage of the anon who brought up the smiths to ask a scholar on both the smiths and the bugs, do you think john and paul would be estranged as morissey and marr are now if john was still with us today? I feel both have some kind of obsession but on totally different wavelengths

maybe? morrissey/marr is possibly the most divorced musical couple in history so it's hard to even make a comparison. morrissey is [insert your choice insult here] which means from the moment his solo career became successful he was never going to go back. i do believe he still has fond memories from the smiths days (mainly involving jmarr obviously) but it's clear that they haven't been friends for a long time. i remember a few mail exchanges and face to face pub meetings from the early 2000s but i doubt they even do that now because of............. well. a couple of very unchill things happened let's just say. i'm mentioning all this because in the alternate universe in my mind john got mellower as he got older. he also moved back to england which is very important to keep in touch with paul. i noticed that while reading interview quotes and doing my own #investigation when they didn't see each other for a long time that's when john usually started with the insults and bitching. and you can immediately tell when he saw paul because 1) he always mentioned it lol 2) no bitchy comments. so yeah who knows. chill, mellowed out old man john in my mind would still throw a few shades at paul from time to time but i also feel like they would still be buddies, you know?

[mogkiompmovieguide]

Cinema of Trangression. p1

Where Evil Dwells

Tommy Turner, David Wojnarowicz. U.S, 1985, 28 min

Au fil de mes futurs posts je vous proposerai de découvrir ou bien de revoir les films du Cinéma de la transgression - subversif bien évidement, chaotique et dépravé, un mouvement flash essentiel aux scènes de la No-Wave et du cinéma underground new-yorkais en général.

Cinéastes transgressifs clés, dont Nick Zedd, Richard Kern, Casandra Stark, Beth B, Tommy Turner, Tessa Hughes-Freeland, ainsi que d’autres collaborateurs comme Lydia Lunch, Joe Coleman et David Wojnarowicz, dans la lignée des œuvres pop-trashs d’Andy Warhol bien sûr, de Paul Morissey, Jack Smith, George & Mike Kuchar, ou encore John Waters et bien d’autres.

IIustrations, performances, sonorités rares et souvent dérangeantes, Cinema of Transgression est un mouvement chaotique et spontané, sexuel, marginal, brutal et mort-né. Rien qu’on ne puisse ignorer.

Where Evil Dwells

Initialement intitulé, Satan Teens, Where Evil Dwells est une collaboration inachevée avec Tommy Turner. En septembre 1985, Wojnarowicz et Turner ont commencé à écrire un script basé sur un reportage de 1984 sur Long Island à propos d'un adolescent adorant Satan en train de commettre un meurtre. Le script a pris trois nuits. Ricky Kasso, le chef des abuseurs de PCP, a assassiné son ami de 17 ans, Gary Lauwers à Northport, Long Island en le poignardant à plusieurs reprises et en lui arrachant les yeux. Kasso s'est vanté du meurtre, montrant des amis incrédules Lauwers décomposant le corps, tout en affirmant que Satan avait approuvé. Il a finalement été arrêté et s'est pendu en prison avant son 18e anniversaire. Wojnarowicz et Turner ont non seulement trouvé l'histoire humoristique mais aussi symbolique de la génération

Le film a été tourné à l'origine sur un appareil photo Canon 8 mm, que Turner a emprunté à Richard Kern. Bien que Turner affirme que l'audio et les images ont été perdus dans un incendie, Fales Library and Special Collections possède deux bobines de film Super 8 mm directement de la caméra d'origine. Le film peut être visionné avec des fragments audio originaux, y compris des voix-off parlées à travers une poupée Howdy Doody et la chanson Where Evil Dwells de Wiseblood.

Jim Thirlwell, à l'époque un leader du groupe Wiseblood et connu comme le leader du groupe de metal industriel Foetus, a offert sa chanson à Ricky Kasso pour l’utiliser dans le film, sous réserve que le titre de la chanson soit également le titre du film, Where Evil Dwells.

************************************************************************

CINEMA OF TRANSGRESSION

Over the course of my future posts, I will suggest that you discover or review the films of the Cinema of Transgression - "Cinema Of Transgression", subversive, chaotic and depraved, essential to the scenes of the No-Wave movement of the 80s and underground cinema. New Yorker.

Key transgressive filmmakers, including Nick Zedd, Richard Kern, Casandra Stark, Beth B, Tommy Turner, Tessa Hughes-Freeland, and others like Lydia Lunch, Joe Coleman and David Wojnarowicz, along the lines of pop-trash 'Andy Warhol of course, by Paul Morissey, Jack Smith, George & Mike Kuchar, or John Waters and many others.

IIustrations, performances, rare and often sounds disturbing, Cinema of Transgression is a chaotic and spontaneous, sexual, marginal, brutal and stillborn movement. Nothing you can't ignore.

Beware all the same it will shake! Keep the fragile ones away.

These are not films to summarize. But to watch

Here are the first two for today. (Second one follows in another post)

Originally titled, Satan Teens, Where Evil Dwells is an unfinished collaboration with Tommy Turner. In September 1985, Wojnarowicz and Turner began writing a script based on a 1984 report on Long Island about a teenage boy worshiping Satan committing murder. The script took three nights. Ricky Kasso, the chief abuser of PCP, murdered his 17-year-old friend Gary Lauwers in Northport, Long Island by stabbing him repeatedly and tearing out his eyes. Kasso bragged about the murder, showing Lauwers incredulous friends breaking down the body, while claiming that Satan had approved. He was eventually arrested and hanged himself in prison before his 18th birthday. Wojnarowicz and Turner not only found the humorous but also symbolic story of the generation

The film was originally filmed on an 8mm Canon camera, which Turner borrowed from Richard Kern. Although Turner claims that the audio and images were lost in a fire, Fales Library and Special Collections has two reels of Super 8mm film directly from the original camera. The film can be viewed with original audio fragments, including voiceovers spoken through a Howdy Doody doll and Wiseblood's song Where Evil Dwells.

Jim Thirlwell, at the time a leader of the group Wiseblood and known as the leader of the industrial metal group Fetus, offered his song to Ricky Kasso for use in the film, provided that the title of the song is also the film title, Where Evil Dwells.

Le film ICI

[jxrm]

book log - 2023

the librarianist by patrick dewitt

same time next year by tessa bailey

did you hear about kitty karr? by crystal smith paul

lore olympus: volume one by rachel smythe

a court if thorns and roses by sarah j. mass

summer sisters by judy blume

the demigod files by rick riordan

mistletoe and mayhem by carly winter

you shouldn’t have come here by jeneva rose

a house with good bones by t. kingfisher

christmas presents by lisa unger

z: a novel of zelda fitzgerald

the storm runner by j.c. cervantes

just another missing person by gillian mcallister

take me home by beth moran

blood sugar by sascha rothchild

a court of mist and fury by sarah j. mass

the christmas orphans club by becca freeman

under her care by lucinda berry

paris: the memoir by paris hilton

our wives under the sea by julie armfield

the celebrants by steven rowley

keep it in the family by john marrs

housemoms by jen lancaster

the woman in me by britney spears

just like home by sarah gailey

trespasses by louise kennedy

silence for the dead by simone st. james

a good family by matt goldman

the fire keeper by j.c. cervantes

dead silence by s.a. barnes

sunshine nails by mai nguyen

lore olympus: volume one by rachel smythe

the mystery guest by nita prose

her little flowers by shannon morgan

woke up like this by amy lea

legendary children by tom fitzgerald

midnight is the darkest hour by ashley winstead

the leftover women by jean kwok

everyone here is lying by shari lapena

mother-daughter murder night by nina simon

you may now kill the bride by r.l. stone

the man i never met by elle cook

hold my girl by charlene carr

legends & lattes by travis baldree

the golden spoon by jessa maxwell

bright young women by jessica kroll

suddenly a murder by lauren munoz

the only one left by riley sager

zero days by ruth ware

good bad girl by alice feeney

the christmas wager by holly cassidy

fortune by elle won steil

theme music by t. marie vandelly

close to home by cara hunter

the true love experiment by christina lauren

penelope in retrograde by brooke abrams

everyone in my family has killed someone by benjamin stevenson

the modern girl’s guide to magic by lindsay hall

i feed her to the beast and the beast is me by jamison shea

hello stranger by katherine center

the unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry by rachel joyce

gone tonight by sarah pekkanen

the library of the dead by t.l. huchu

what never happened by rachel howzell hall

look out for the little guy by scott lang

the christmas mourner by marian mccarthy

every little breath by keri beevis

this might hurt by stephanie wrobel

the last word by taylor adams

a court of wings and ruin by sarah j. mass

forth wing by rebecca yaros

hello beautiful by ann napolitano

summer rental by rektok ross

the house across the lake by riley sager

a cursed covenant by leigh ferguson

her rebel highness by diana ma

stone heart by katee robert

the perfect match by dandy smith

camp zero by michelle min sterling

one by one by frieda mcfadden

the wishing game by meg shaffer

a court of frost and starlight by sarah j. mass

that summer feeling by bridget morissey

to die for by lisa grey

the wrong family by tarryn fisher

heiress apparently by diana ma

the school for good mothers by jessamine chin

tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow by gabrielle zevin

she started it by sian gilbert

best friends forever by shannon hollinger

the housekeepers by alex hay

secluded cabin sleeps six by lisa unger

lore olympus: volume two by rachel smythe

of women and salt by gabriela garcia

kismet by amina akhtar

the devil wears scrubs by frieda mcfadden

girl, forgotten by karin slaughter

come closer by sara gran

the exorcist’s house by nick roberts

august blue by deborah levy

hang the moon by jeannette walls

the thursday murder club by richard osman

a whole new world by liz braswell

run on red by noelle w. ihli

the last thing he told me by laura dave

lore olympus: volume three by rachel smythe

how to sell a haunted house by grady hendrix

the dead romantics by ashley poston

cassandra in reverse by holly smale

i used to be fun by melanie summers

the showrunner by kim moritsugu

runaway groomsman by meghan quinn

i want to die but i want to eat tteokpokki by baek she-hee

the whispers by ashley audrain

e. aster bunnymund and the warrior eggs at the earth’s core! by william joyce

allergies: poems on grieving and loving by maggie bowyer

hermione granger and the philosopher’s stone by sara baines-miller

the summer house by keri beevis

exiles by jane harper

just the nicest couple by mary kubica

the very secret society of irregular witches by sangu mandanna

have you seen her by catherine mckenzie

the shallows by holly craig

a love letter to whiskey by kandi steiner

hermione granger and the chamber of secrets by sara baines-miller

the coworker by frieda mcfadden

tiny beautiful things by cheryl strayed

you’re not supposed to die tonight by kalynn bayron

the little old lady who broke all the rules by catharina ingelman-sundberg

hermione granger and the prisoner of azkaban by sara baines-miller

the blonde identity by ally carter

nicolas st. north and the battle of the nightmare king by william joyce

women in white coats by olivia campbell

the ex talk by rachel lynn solomon

hermione granger and the goblet of fire by sara baines-miller

the wife before by shanora williams

gone again by minka kent

know my name by chanel miller

in the lives of puppets by t.j. klune

the homewreckers by mary kay andrews

going dark by melissa de la cruz

all the dangerous things by stacy willingham

counterfit by kirsten chen

the rewind by allison winn scotch

have i told you this already? by lauren graham

beyond the wand by tom felton

jana goes wild by farah heron

the perfect son by frieda mcfadden

america’s next reality star by laura heffernan

the new mother by nora murphy

georgie, all along by kate clayborn

the storied life of a.j. fikry by gabrielle zevin

a flicker in the dark by stacy willingham

the villa by rachel hawkins

device free weekend by sean doolittle

what the neighbors saw by melissa adelman

the library of lost and found by phaedra patrick

motherthing by ainslie hogarth

the block party by jamie day

tanqueray by stephanie johnston

the ex hex by erin sterling

rock paper scissors by alice feeney

the kiss curse by erin sterling

it ends with us - colleen hoover

the summer of broken rules by k.l. walther

the wife stalker by liv constantine

in my dreams i hold a knife by ashley winstead

the family remains by lisa jewell

my secret sister by lauren westwood

the engagement by samantha hayes

if we were villains by m.l. rio

the sleepover by keri beevis

twenty years later by charlie donlea

the doctor’s wife by daniel hurst

[featurespast]

Women in Revolt (1971)

[undergroundrockpress]

At the Factory, 1966 Photo : Hervé Gloasguen

[suspiria76]

To know death Otto, You haf to fuck life... in ze gall bladder!

[chthonic-cassandra]

Hello! I'm trying to make a list of dracula adaptations to watch, and I was wondering, which ones are your faves? Are there any you'd advise not to waste my time on? Thanks!

Oh, this is the best ask, thank you! I love talking about this.

I always say that these are the five Dracula movies which will give you the clearest sense of the arc of adaptation the story has taken over time:

Nosferatu (dir. F.W. Murnau, 1922)

Dracula (dir. Tod Browning, 1931)

Dracula/Horror of Dracula (dir. Terrence Fisher, 1958)

Dracula (dir. John Badham, 1979)

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (dir. Francis Ford Coppola, 1992)

However, this is not the same as a list of my favorites! I think that all of those are pretty essential viewing for a comprehensive understanding of the world of Dracula adaptations, even though I virulently hate the Coppola, and would happily bestow on you all the permission needed not to waste your time on it, despite it being tremendously influential.

My alternative list of weird personal favorite Dracula adaptations aside from the above (Murnau and likely Badham’s films would make their way onto a comprehensive list of my favorites) would be the following:

Nosferatu (dir. Werner Herzog, 1979) - my first Dracula, my favorite Dracula, and also my favorite film period. Watch it watch it watch it.

Drácula (dir. George Melford, 1932) - made on the same sets as the Browning film, with Spanish-speaking actors who came in and filmed after the cast of the English version were done, this film as a fascinating comparison to the iconic Browning/Lugosi film, and better done in almost every way, solving many of the English version’s plot holes.

Count Dracula (Jesús Franco, 1970) - Franco was a Spanish B movie director who made tremendously trashy films but also made some inspired casting choices. He lured Christopher Lee into playing Dracula again for this by promising him the chance to actually say some of the speeches from the books (Hammer films never let him do this), and somehow also got Klaus Kinski to play a visionary wordless Renfield. The movie itself is a mess, but how can you care?

Dracula (dir. Bill Eagles, 2006) - this is a very odd BBC film that changes the plot around dramatically but somehow still retains the essence of many the characters, who are charmingly cast, especially Lucy, Mina, and Jack. It’s weakened by a really badly played Dracula, but is a lot of fun for fans of the book.

If you want to go into the depths of the weirdness, I recommend you try:

Blood for Dracula (dir. Paul Morissey, 1974) - this Warhol-influenced oddity is impossible to truly describe; it’s full of strangely placed (but sometimes intensely hilarious) humor, very graphic sex scenes, and just...strangeness. Warning that there are some very weird and rather tasteless sexual assault scenes, but if you’re up for the weirdness, it is not to be missed.

Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s Diary (dir. Guy Maddin, 2002) - this is the silent film ballet Dracula. It doesn’t always work, but it is certainly going for something.

I have not yet managed to see Dracula in Istanbul or this apparently crazy Czech film called Jonathan (in which, according to my reading, the vampires are a metaphor for capitalism), so cannot speak to those.

As for what can be skipped...you will miss out on very little if you skip Van Helsing, Dracula 2000, Dracula Untold (which is not even really a Dracula adaptation proper), or the newest BBC Dracula. 

I admit to getting the 1968 Mystery and Imagination Dracula, the 1974 Dan Curtis/Jack Palance Dracula, and the 1977 Louis Jourdan Dracula confused at times, but there is good reason for that; none of them is especially exciting or original, though each do have their good moment (and their fans, who I hope I am not too sorely offending here!). If you are choosing one of those three, I would go with the 1977; Louis Jourdan gives an interestingly understated performance, and they have some interesting Renfield-Mina interaction that other versions don’t have.

Once you watch The Horror of Dracula, you’ll have a sense of whether or not you like the Hammer film style, and you should know from there whether you want to watch the rest of them. 

Have fun!

[lescuriositesdelafoire]

Hervé Gloaguen, Andy Warhol, NY 1966 (With Nico, Gérard Malanga, Paul Morissey on “Tiger Morse”), 1966

[highbuttonsports]

PREVIEW: NHL’s Scotia North Division

The 2021 NHL season is finally here, and it will be special for Canadian hockey fans. All seven teams are loaded into one division to abide by government mandated travel restrictions. This means we will have intense rivalries renewed 8-10 times this year, and I can’t wait for the chaos. So let’s take a look at how I see each team faring, and the storylines to watch as this unprecedented 56 game schedule begins.

Ottawa Senators

Rank: 7th 

MVP: Brady Tkachuk

Best Off-Season Addition: Evgenii Dadonov

Biggest Off-Season Loss: Anthony Duclair 

Sleeper Star: Matt Murray

The Sens are coming off a tough 25-34-12 season that ranked second worst in the NHL. There were not a lot of positives other than landing Tim Stüzle with the third overall pick in the draft. This season I expect to see them take a step forward as they continue to rebuild, but unfortunately they are stuck in a division that is loaded with win-now teams and it will be tough for them to win on a consistent basis.

Forwards

 Up front Tkachuk and Dadonov will provide a solid offensive output, and Stüzle brings a lot of potential, but once again, depth is an issue. There is potential for some surprises if Alex Galchenyuk somehow finds his game and becomes the player he was once hoped to be, and Derek Stepan could return miraculously to his prime and perform to the standard his contract says he should, but I find that hard to see happening. 

Defencemen

 Their biggest question mark lies on the blueline, as after the top pair of Chabot-Gudbranson, there is not much. Chabot is a stud and I expect to compete for Norris trophies in his career, but unfortunately he can’t play sixty minutes a night, and with a condensed schedule he will likely see the ice even less per game.

Goalies

Ottawa’s GM Pierre Dorion did make a solid move this offseason acquiring Stanley Cup champion Matt Murray to guard their crease. Murray posted a .899 save percentage last season which needs to be improved upon if the Sens have any chance of stealing some games this year. If he can return to the Matt Murray he was before injury problems, however, he could be an X-factor for the Sens. Behind him will likely be Marcus Hogberg who posted a .904 save percentage and a 3.12 GAA last year in 24 games with the Sens. Those numbers aren’t outstanding but if he can improve off of that he will be a great backup and potentially a starting goalie in the near future.

Who to Watch

Without a doubt Tim Stüzle is the player to watch this year in Ottawa. He will likely be in contention for the Calder, and if the World Juniors were any indication, this kid is the real deal. Physicality of the NHL may be a potential weakness, but it will certainly be interesting to see how it plays out. 

 Edmonton Oilers 

Rank: 6th

MVP: Connor McDavid

Best Off-Season Addition: Tyson Barrie

Biggest Off-Season Loss: Andreas Athanasiou

Sleeper Star: Jesse Puljujarvi

Oilers fans certainly will not be happy with being ranked this low. Connor McDavid is often considered the best player in the world, Leon Draisaitl is coming off a season where he won the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Surely that would be enough to finish higher than sixth in a division, right? No. There are too many question marks everywhere to be considered a legitimate contender, very average depth and below-average goaltending. I could be wrong, and if any team surprises me this year I expect it to be Edmonton, however as of right now, I have many doubts.

Forwards

Draisaitl and McDavid are one of the best one-two punches in the league, but this year they’re expected to do so on different lines. With Kyle Turris as their third line center that is the position which they show the most depth and promise, but unfortunately that is the only depth. Jesse Puljujarvi is returning from Finland and sliding onto the top line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, however neither of those guys have proven they can produce at the rate you want a 1st line to produce. Playing with McDavid will certainly help, and they are both former top five picks in the draft, but McDavid cannot carry the team by himself if they expect to make the playoffs. The second line consists of Dominik Kahun and Kailer Yamamoto on Draisaitl’s wings, and once again, it’s one superstar between two unproven wingers. 

Defencemen

The Oilers are thin on the blueline with Oscar Klefbom out for the season. Darnell Nurse is solid but not a top pairing guy just yet. He’s forced into Klefbom’s top spot alongside either Ethan Bear or Tyson Barrie, both have potential to have breakout seasons, as Bear is still 23 and Barrie is out of the limelight that the Leafs put on him, looking to return to the production and success he had in Colorado. Kris Russell and Adam Larsson make up the third pair, which is actually a solid shutdown tandem, but paying 8 million to your bottom two D-men is not ideal. To sum up this defensive core: Good, not great, top to bottom. 

Goalies

Koskinen and Smith are not good enough goalies to win games. They are both at best backup goaltenders in this league, and with the schedule’s series-like format they will likely split most games, and that is a big concern for Edmonton, and ultimately what I see as their downfall.

Who to Watch

Kailer Yamamoto alongside Leon Draisaitl could turn into something special. Coming off a season where Yamamoto scored 31 points in 53 games, he could potentially improve on those numbers with a 56 game season. Anywhere above the 40 point plateau would be a success. 

Winnipeg Jets

Rank: 5th

MVP: Connor Hellybuyck

Best Off-Season Addition: Paul Satstny

Biggest Off-Season Loss: Dustin Byfuglien

Sleeper Star: Josh Morissey

Last year the Jets finished 37-28-6, a record that would have been much worse without their netminder Connor Hellebuyck. It’s very rare to see a goalie in the Hart Trophy conversation but Hellebuyck brings exactly that. An elite top six forward group is what carries the offence, however the defensive core is weak, and Laurent Brossoit is a question mark on whether or not he can maintain consistent play as Hellebuyck’s backup. Depending on the Patrik Laine situation, they could turn him into a solid defenceman and end up winning the division. Time will tell.

Forwards

The Jets top line of Scheifele between Wheeler and Ehlers is elite and will steal them some games. The offence is deeper than that too. With a full schedule last season Kyle Connor would have finished with 40 goals, and as it sits right now, he plays on a line with former 40 goal scorer Patrik Laine. This high powered offence will surely be a key to their success.

Defencemen

Josh Morissey and Neal Pionk will have to have stellar seasons in order for the Jets to find success and make the playoffs this season. They don’t have a true #1 defenceman as of right now and their depth isn’t all that great either. It is possible that each defenceman in their top 4 have breakout years, but that is unlikely. Hellebuyck will likely be hung out to dry this year, and Jets fans better hope he’s ready.

Goalies

Connor Hellebuyck just won the vezina, and he may just have to do it again. With a weak defensive roster in front of him, he may be the Jets only ticket to the playoffs. It remains to be seen how much Paul Maurice will use Brossoit with the amount of back to backs on their schedule, but there’s no question his role will increase, and the Jets can’t afford to throw away games every time he’s between the pipes.

Who to Watch

The never-ending Patrik Laine saga continues in Winnipeg. He once had 44 goals in a season, but since then has struggled to find consistency. Rumblings of him wanting out of Winnipeg continue to flood the media and ultimately may serve as a distraction to the Jets the longer it goes on, similar to Byfuglien last season. It may be in their best interest to flip him for a defenceman now, or decide firmly that they’ll keep him and hope for 40 goals per year. They should stop delaying their decision, whatever it may be.

Montreal Canadiens

Rank: 4th

MVP: Carey Price

Best Off-Season Addition: Tyler Toffoli

Biggest Off-Season Loss: Max Domi

Sleeper Star: Josh Anderson

Les Canadiens had a pretty busy offseason headlined by the Max Domi for Josh Anderson deal. Marc Bergevin did what he could to make his team tougher and a legitimate contender this year. A pretty solid forward group in front of a great top 4 on the back-end, not to mention Carey Price in goal, this team could surprise some people this year. If they do get into the playoffs, Carey can easily steal four rounds and they could find themselves hoisting a cup. He’s that good. 

Forwards

The Habs have no superstars up front but they’re loaded with grit and have a few players that could blossom onto that star level. Johnathan Drouin is still too young to count out, and has shown flashes of greatness before, Nick Suzuki is their best prospect, Josh Anderson could sneakily put up 20 goals, same with Toffoli. Not to mention they’ve seen Gallagher put up 30 goals twice in his career. This is a very deep forward group that has the potential to be elite, but also could fail to find the back of the net. One or the other.

Defencemen

Ben Chiarot and Shea Weber are a great top pairing. Weber may not be the Norris candidate he once was, but he’s still an elite shut down guy who has all the tools to compete and bring leadership. Adding Joel Edmunson was a fantastic move, and Jeff Petry is coming off of a career year. With Romanov and Kulak rounding out the D-Core, there are a few unknowns, but once again, plenty of potential.

Goalies

Carey Price. That’s all I’ll say about him. Jake Allen has been a number one guy in the past and during the condensed regular season they can give Price some nights off to avoid overworking him in years past and prevent injuries. Depth will be key this year and the Habs arguably have the best tandem in the league.

Who to Watch

Josh Anderson’s seven year contract was scrutinized by hockey fans around the league (myself included), it will be interesting to see if he can live up to the 5.5 million AAV. If he can evolve his scoring touch, I think there’s a chance that this quietly becomes a steal because of the physical element he brings.

 Vancouver Canucks

Rank: 3rd

MVP: Elias Pettersson

Best Off-Season Addition: Braden Holtby

Biggest Off-Season Loss: Jacob Markstrom

Sleeper Star: Brock Boeser

Another team that was busy this offseason, the Canucks lost several players but Jim Benning was very quick to replace them. Chemistry on the blueline could be interesting to see develop because of all the new faces, but I feel people are generally sleeping on this team. A young forward group that provides a little bit of everything, scoring, grit and it has remained mostly the same from their success last year, with a defensive core that is different, but still very good to go with it. On paper the roster may not scream contender, but they have all the tools to make up a great hockey team in my mind.

Forwards

Elias Pettersson is a top 5 scorer in this league and I will stand by that. He leads this offence that is very good. Bo Horvat broke out in the bubble and if that was any indication of what kind of player he truly is, Canucks fans are in for a treat. J.T. Miller was an all-star last year and despite starting the season on the COVID list he should produce upon his return. If Brock Boeser can return to what he was in 2017-19 scoring 25+ goals, the Canucks will have no shortage of goals to lead them to victory.

Defencemen

Quinn Hughes was runner-up for the calder last year and already is one of the league’s best D-Men. He will likely be paired with Nate Schmidt or their most recent signing Travis Hamonic, both of whom are good pickups by Vancouver. Alex Edler is quietly still a great shutdown guy as well. The only blemish on the blueline for the Canucks is Tyler Myers and his contract. He doesn’t need to get big minutes and can hide behind the other defencemen in front of him. 

Goalies

Braden Holtby signed a 2 year contract with an AAV of 4.3 million this offseason, which some fans saw as an overpay after seeing Thatcher Demko shut the door for an injured Markstrom in the bubble last year. The reality is Demko hasn’t played a lot of games yet as he’s only ever been a backup. Signing Holtby, who despite a career-worst season last year, has been an elite goalie for nearly a decade. I expect Holtby to start as the number one guy, but worst case scenario, Demko gets molded into the go-to keeper by the end of the season.

Who to Watch

Quinn Hughes was elite last season and showed promise to become a future Norris Trophy winner. I’m curious to see if he runs into the dreaded ‘sophomore slump’ that many before him have. His success will likely have a huge impact on the Canucks success as a whole. 

Toronto Maple Leafs

Rank: 2nd

MVP: Auston Matthews

Best Off-Season Addition: T.J. Brodie

Biggest Off-Season Loss: Kasperi Kapanen

Sleeper Star: William Nylander

The Maple Leafs are likely the most criticized franchise in the league and have one of the wildest fanbases. The reality is, they are good. This year they look more complete than they ever had in the Auston Matthews era, and their defencemen have improved via free agency and Frederik Andersen is still an all-star goalie. They have proven in the past they are solid in the regular season, but with the added leadership of Simmonds and Thornton they might have what it takes to win in the playof- Er, at least win a series. 

Forwards

Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares. One of the best “big threes” that the NHL has as far as forwards are concerned. William Nylander has a big contract, yes, but he quietly had 31 bingos last year, and I expect him to keep up, if not improve that scoring pace. Wayne Simmonds adds grit that this Leafs roster has needed so badly for years, and with additions like Jimmy Vesey and Jumbo Joe Thornton to round out their top nine, this roster finally looks like it’s deep enough to win.

Defencemen

Morgan Reilly may not have had his best season last year but he is still a top defender in the league, and now he finally has a partner. Although they didn’t get the right-handed shot they wanted, they got T.J. Brodie who plays the right side to complement Reilly’s offensive game style. Jake Muzzin will continue to be their stay-at-home guy, and with expected development of Dermott and Holl, the Leafs may finally have a decent top six here.

Goalies

Frederik Andersen is still an elite goalie despite Leafs fans trying to drive him out of town. He is the reason the Leafs won many games last year and I expect that to be the case this year. With upgrades in front of him and a solid backup in Jack Campbell to share the load of games, the netminders are far from a concern for Toronto. We’ve come a long way from the Bernier/Sparks tandem folks.

Who to Watch

Although he falls outside the lineup right now, with injuries expected this year I would keep and eye out for Nick Robertson to sneak in and compete for the Calder Trophy. 

 Calgary Flames

Rank: 1st 

MVP: Matthew Tkachuk

Best Off-Season Addition: Jacob Markstrom

Biggest Off-Season Loss: T.J. Brodie

Sleeper Star: Elias Lindholm

The Flames are coming off a 36-27-7 season. Pretty good, but nothing spectacular. This year I’m expecting a huge jump for them. They added Jacob Markstrom who was nominated for the Vezina last year, Johnny Gaudreau should bounce back from a down year, (by his standards, otherwise solid) and their defensive core remains solid despite losing T.J. Brodie. They have a deep roster that brings toughness each night, similar to Montreal, but the Flames have more stars. This prediction is admittingly a bit of a reach, but I’m anticipating big seasons from Sean Monahan, Dillon Dube and Elias Lindholm. If that happens, the Flames are cup contenders.

Forwards

Matthew Tkachuk is absolutely electrifying. The touch of a goal scorer, the physicality of an enforcer, an all-around great player. On a line with Monahan and Gaudreau I expect all three of them to produce big numbers. Sam Bennett is arguably the best 4th line center in the league and that speaks to their depth, if they can get a breakout year out of Dillon Dube they will be a threat to score 5 every night.

Defencemen

Mark Giordano may be aging but as of today he is an elite defenceman. Rasumus Andersson is continuing to develop into a great top-pair guy, with Noah Hanifin right behind him. People often seem to forget Noah Hanifin is only 23, and isn’t even entering his prime yet. He will be an all-star one day and I believe this will be a big year for him. Another underrated add is Chris Tanev who will help lock it down to close out their top 4.

Goalies

Jacob Markstrom was nominated for a Vezina with Calgary’s division rival Vancouver Canucks just last year. He’s one of the most promising goalies in the league and without a doubt be the franchise guy the Flames have been searching for since Mikka Kippursoff. Behind Marsktrom is David Rittich, who also was an all-star last year, and as I’ve said throughout the article, with this schedule, a good backup goalie is crucial. WIth Rittich playing less games, I expect him to be more effective, and I predict the Flames GAA to be amongst the best in the NHL.

Who to Watch

Sean Monahan put up 48 points in 70 games last season. He is a great two-way forward but I would expect the Flames to lean on him more offensively, especially on the powerplay. Look for him to have his most productive season. 

That’s it! Those are my predictions! Let me know what you think and WHY you think it! Regardless of opinion, I think it’s safe to say we are all happy hockey is back. So buckle up Canada, you’re in for one hell of a season. Let’s go.

Aidan Robertson

[inkslingersworld]

It is 7:57. Chris Pratt, Dario Marianelli, David Morrissey, Jean-Paul Sartre, Joey Kramer, Lana Del Rey, and Lil Bub were born on this day.

Chris Pratt is an actor who is famous for playing Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation, Emmet in The Lego Movie, Owen Grady in the Jurassic Park franchise, and Peter Quill/Star-Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Dario Marianelli is a film composer who frequently collaborates with Joe Wright. His film scores include Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Anna Karenina, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Darkest Hour. 

David Morissey is an actor who has starred in numerous stage productions as well as The Walking Dead.

Jean-Paul Sartre was a philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was a vocal proponent in existentialism and phenomenology and a leading figure in 20th-century French philosophy and Marxism. His work has influenced sociology, critical theory, and literary studies.

Joey Kramer is a musician who is currently the drummer for Aerosmith.

Lana Del Rey is a singer-songwriter whose songs incorporate themes of sadness, tragic romance, glamor, melancholia, and pop culture references.

Lil Bub was a celebrity cat, and a cute one too.

Happy Birthday, Chris, Dario, David, Jean-Paul, Joey, Lana, and Lil Bub!

[vegantimifmp]

Blood for Dracula dir Paul Morissey 1974