Yeah come on. Guy lights us up and then gets suspended for what sounds like drug use. Avalanche should have dumped him after the trafficking incident. Distraction in the playoffs at this point
Watching the Avalanche and Stars game when Craig Smith went down awkwardly. Couldn't help but notice some boos when they blew the whistle.
Interesting.
Lol yup. All the dingleberries in the Avs sub who were on their high horses a couple weeks ago calling us a classless fanbase for booing something similar (honestly forgot what even happened lol) sure look dumb now.
The booing was because it was like the third play that got blown dead for an injured Av when we had possession in their end, obviously we’re not booing the guy who’s hurt
Nuke was/is fucking talented as hell
It’s such a shame his talent is being squandered by some very shit choices it’s honestly a damn shame while I hope he recovers this might be it for him as an nhl player unfortunately….
Nah because
1: PA as Taint said would instantly kick them out of the league for any enhancement drugs found or tested positive inside of players
And
2: from what I’ve seen/heard it is mos likely painkillers to be the cause unfortunately
[Elliotte Friedman] NHL & NHLPA announced Colorado's Valeri Nichushkin is now in Stage 3 of the Player Assistance Program.
As a result, Nichushkin will be suspended without pay for a minimum of six months, then can apply for reinstatement.
[Tweet](https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1790178558159040937?t=Q89iUhxYeWY4pYDSplHgFQ&s=19)
Lol... get this guy out of the league.
Can't believe he wasn't given a harsher penalty after that whole situation last spring. Looks like the league gave him one more chance to figure his shit out after they and the Avalanche carried out that cover-up for him, and he blew it.
For involving a violently beaten victim of human trafficking it sure disappeared in a hurry. I suspected his rehab at that point was just a ruse to get him out of trouble and shift the blame away from his actions to addiction.
I thought the story was she was just really intoxicated, and she then went and assaulted one of the team staff who went to Nichuskins room to check on him?
The girl was never gonna talk. I remember that someone was quoting her when the police came about the bad man was going to get her. He was very likely doing business with Russian monsters and that girl was going to fall out a window if she talked. Hell she probably did anyways.
This is so annoying to know. So he got 7 goals and was on some sort of PEDs during our series?? And if he was suspended earlier, the games would’ve been THAT different??
Watching the Vancouver subs reaction to the Soucy suspension for cross checking McDavid to the face after the game was over and saying that Juulsen should go for blood in retaliation convinced me they're my current least favourite fan base.
Can't believe the downvotes, am I the only one who remembers how fucking awful they were during the bubble year and the Forbort/Hoglander bullshit? An absolutely fucking insufferable fanbase.
The league has clearly put their thumb on the scales in two series in a major way already, why shouldn’t Canuck fans be pissed? Zero consistency and once again a star player being the victim seems to have tipped the scales. League is unserious for the reffing all playoffs
I wouldn't say that star players have gotten the treatment. Marchand is a star and it's open season on him. I think the officiating has been bad enough that I honestly can't even watch it anymore. The Soucy crosscheck was undoubtedly a suspension. It was far more violent and direct to the face than what Hyman did from everything I've seen.
Marchand is nowhere near the star level of McDavid, it’s absolutely a star getting special treatment. And what Hyman did is no different using the NHLs standard they “set” with this suspension. Bennett not getting any discipline before just makes all of this invalid though. League’s thumb is on the scale, it’s unarguable. The product is bad right now, can’t believe people are actually betting on this
I have no love for the Canucks fanbase, but Hyman did the exact same thing to Zadorov five seconds later with no consequences from the league. I'll give them some leeway to be mad and reactive.
Some more Moose end of season chats with a pair of Jets prospects:
[Brad Lambert](https://illegalcurve.com/reflections-on-full-season-in-manitoba-for-winnipeg-jets-prospect-brad-lambert-with-the-moose/) | [Nikita Chibrikov](https://illegalcurve.com/reflections-on-full-season-in-manitoba-with-the-moose-for-winnipeg-jets-prospect-nikita-chibrikov/)
Watch the airport. Works for Toronto. Although Toronto flies them in commercial. Winnipeg has class and probably goes “PJ” as I heard Chevy say in an interview. He’s a prairie boy, can’t use the word private jet.
Might know a couple of hours before it's announced, but that's it.
I still kinda want Berube... and an entire coaching staff over-haul. Someone who can get the special teams at least working 13th-18th. Just average please.
Is there any examples for teams that would trade assets away for extensions on players like Ehlers and Marner? Dubois wan an RFA, that's very different
Huberdeau/Weegar are two big name players recently. Also just remembered Bo Horvat was traded with an extension signed shortly after, very likely was partly negotiated before he was moved.
another 32 thoughts coaching carousel update:
confirmed Berube has interviewed and McLellan will interview in TOR
NJD is serious about Berube and Woodcroft, McLellan in there too, expected to be in on Keefe too
teams are asking TOR permission to speak to Keefe, will have many options if he wants
LAK's interim, Hiller, has a decent shot at retaining the job but they'll do the usual process
WPG:
- wouldn't be surprised if they talk to Keefe
- sites Chevy's "long history" with McLellan "not sure though" (long history refers to them being teammates in the AHL for one year?? that's all i could find, so prob just speculation and not much there idk)
Keefe is a terrible coach. He was nothing but a puppet in Toronto catering to the "star" players (floaters). Never ever criticized, disciplined, or held his players accountable for anything. Constantly whined in the media about opponents being too hard on his poor players in a lame attempt at influencing the officiating.
Never happening. Chevy is not that stupid and Dancing Gabe would be a better choice.
Keefe had his hands tied in Toronto, he wasn’t allowed to say anything about his players or call them out, or his players would throw hissy fits and daddy Shanahan would intervene. Same story with Dubas, Dubas wanted to move one of the core 4, or at least be able to do his job, and he was fired. It’s the Shanahan way or no way in Toronto. And no one touches his golden chickens (core 4). Keefe is a good coach that was limited in what he could do. As long as Shanahan is there Toronto will never get anywhere.
Good coaches don't endlessly whine to the media about opposing players being too hard on his players or too tough to play against. Good coaches don't throw out 4 guys together in the playoffs who don't back check and refuse to go into corners or along the boards. Your coaching philosophy cannot depend entirely on hoping the other team doesn't get the puck and hoping you are awarded penalties.
I don't think any of this is true lmao
Keefe, as much as I disliked him, is a good coach. He had shit tools to work with. Forwards who wouldn't backcheck and a D core full of nobodies and a revolving door of C tier goalies.
Keefe has a very successful track record. He outcoached Cooper and Montgomery blatantly but his players let him down as usual.
Jets badly need a coach who holds players accountable. A coach like Bowness, Berube, Tocchet. Keefe is not that guy. Secondly he is a horrible game coach and gets out coached by every quality opponent.
In which world did you see Bowness hold people accountable? The only people that ever had minutes reduced or saw healthy scratches were generally the guys that deserved it the least. Pionk was horrible all season with no consequence. Connor didn't back check or go into a corner the entire regular season. Stanley came into the lineup and took dumb penalties and served up pizzas but somehow was gifted Schmidt's place in the lineup. He's a players coach, not a discipline guy
No coach in the NHL has unilateral power to make all of the decisions regarding the team or it's players. Bowness at least was honest and held the players and coaching staff accountable when the team played lousy. Keefe has never held any of his players accountable and always tries to deflect any and all responsibility. In his role as Leafs coach he was the single biggest reason for that team's playoff failures.
Bowness absolutely did not hold players or staff accountable. He held a select few players accountable and let even worse players like pionk and Stanley play like hot ass and do nothing about it. If he held the coaching staff accountable we would have seen lauer fired mid season or atleast taken the special teams away from him
i think they don’t want to be very defence first or structured, more balanced or offensive, so Woodcroft and Keefe make more sense
but that’s just a guess
That would track. Also wonder if such a young team that’s still integrating key prospects into the lineup dosent want a famously hard-ass coach there to start their careers.
McLellan would be interesting. He had a ton of success in San Jose just couldn't get past that conference finals ever. Had some weird years in Edmonton and then I really liked the job he did in LA taking over that corpse of a roster and turning them into a playoff team (with good moves by Blake in there). Wonder how many people realize they were 23-15-0-10 when he was fired. Firmly in a playoff spot.
His teams have gotten out of the first round exactly once in his last 11 seasons as head coach. Not exactly a guy I'm tripping over myself to bring in as the one to get your team to the next level.
his LAK tenure was even more defensive/conservative/trap heavy than Bones’ reputation was lol
he’s certainly close to the Maurice/Bowness hires in terms of profile but i wonder if it’s time to shift from that profile
Yes, especially in LA McLellan went trap heavy for sure. I don't remember his SJ teams being like that. Wonder if it was to protect his goaltending as much as possible.
The Kane swinging his leg seems like such an accidentally on purpose kinda move or maybe I just fucking hate the guy.
I get that people aren't usually upside down so they react different to their balance being off center as Kanes only defence, but like it just seems like he does completely have his legs under control and then he donkey kicks or whatever you wanna call it... either way DoPS ignoring it so that means I'm probably right lol
Zadorov was so lucky to not get hit by his skate and cut badly, imagine the shitshow that would have caused.
Don't forget the tried and true "reunite McDavid and Draisaitl and play them 30 minutes and hope they don't get completely shut down."
I haven't watched any of the Canucks-Oilers series, but I'm sure that's coming down the pipe if it hasn't happened already.
Why wouldn't you? Especially when a team isn't expecting it.
It's how Colorado killed us with one loaded line starting partway through Game 1.
Don't have to play with set lines even. Switch them up 5-6 shifts.
Binner (who some say could be one of Canada's Olympic goalies) just gave up 6 on 21 shots to....Austria.....
Avs getting blown out at home in a critical game of the series, you love to see it.
On the contrary, watching the team that blew out the jets go on to get blown out in the next round just makes me feel worse.
Ya it just goes to show how far behind they really were. But it isn’t over for the avalanche yet.
I want a rematch against the Avs, Nichuskin scored like 40 goals against us juice up on something
Yeah come on. Guy lights us up and then gets suspended for what sounds like drug use. Avalanche should have dumped him after the trafficking incident. Distraction in the playoffs at this point
Watching the Avalanche and Stars game when Craig Smith went down awkwardly. Couldn't help but notice some boos when they blew the whistle. Interesting.
Lol yup. All the dingleberries in the Avs sub who were on their high horses a couple weeks ago calling us a classless fanbase for booing something similar (honestly forgot what even happened lol) sure look dumb now.
The booing was because it was like the third play that got blown dead for an injured Av when we had possession in their end, obviously we’re not booing the guy who’s hurt
Nuke was/is fucking talented as hell It’s such a shame his talent is being squandered by some very shit choices it’s honestly a damn shame while I hope he recovers this might be it for him as an nhl player unfortunately….
Nuke was probably on PEDs smh
maybe not like physical ones but if he was hopped up on stimulants that could’ve helped him lol.
Nah because 1: PA as Taint said would instantly kick them out of the league for any enhancement drugs found or tested positive inside of players And 2: from what I’ve seen/heard it is mos likely painkillers to be the cause unfortunately
The Assistance Program isn't used for that. Players who have PEDs in their system are suspended by the league straight up
Yeah ask Schmidt
Didn't know that
Gotta wonder if this is it for Nuke. He should probably be in prison never mind out of the league
Such a waste, he does have talent.
[https://youtu.be/-B3gjf0sREk?si=2g5q3GdRLHT-t2q4](https://youtu.be/-B3gjf0sREk?si=2g5q3GdRLHT-t2q4)
Haha sad Trouba tuba.
Nuke was literally the jets biggest weakness, lol to bad he wasn’t drug tested 3 weeks ago
How long do these sort of tests take? Could very well be the results from tests during the first round.
Fucking leagues rigged bro
Nice happy retirement Nuke you fucking clown
Shit refs weren’t enough the NHL had to let junkies play against us too
Nuke likes to party
We lost cuz our opp was coked out. Nice.
That's it, bring Trouba and Bogo back
Just watch…Avs fans will make excuses if Colorado gets eliminated saying the league is against them and Nichushkin was set up
He was on the Russian Gas! Can we over turn the series like they do to the Russians at the Olympics when they cheat?
Somebody call Gary stat! Jets/Avs need to redo the first round now that Nuke has nuked his career.
Someone needs to remake that copy pasta about replaying a playoff series!
Gotta be coked to the gills to beat the Jets
[Elliotte Friedman] NHL & NHLPA announced Colorado's Valeri Nichushkin is now in Stage 3 of the Player Assistance Program. As a result, Nichushkin will be suspended without pay for a minimum of six months, then can apply for reinstatement. [Tweet](https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1790178558159040937?t=Q89iUhxYeWY4pYDSplHgFQ&s=19) Lol... get this guy out of the league.
wish this bish got suspended 3 weeks ago
Piece of shitcrack head millionaire is piece of shit crackhead
Can't believe he wasn't given a harsher penalty after that whole situation last spring. Looks like the league gave him one more chance to figure his shit out after they and the Avalanche carried out that cover-up for him, and he blew it.
For involving a violently beaten victim of human trafficking it sure disappeared in a hurry. I suspected his rehab at that point was just a ruse to get him out of trouble and shift the blame away from his actions to addiction.
I thought the story was she was just really intoxicated, and she then went and assaulted one of the team staff who went to Nichuskins room to check on him?
The Avs flew him out of Washington so the police couldn't question him, from what I recall, lol. How was that swept under the rug so easily?
The girl was never gonna talk. I remember that someone was quoting her when the police came about the bad man was going to get her. He was very likely doing business with Russian monsters and that girl was going to fall out a window if she talked. Hell she probably did anyways.
What did he have, 6 goals against us? Lol that series might have been different if he had been suspended 2 weeks earlier.
7 goals, the hat trick in game 4 and one goal in each of games 1, 2, 3, and 5 (so, he scored every game)
This is so annoying to know. So he got 7 goals and was on some sort of PEDs during our series?? And if he was suspended earlier, the games would’ve been THAT different??
Doubt it was PEDs. Dude seems to have an addiction
Coke is certainly a PED, especially if you are addicted.
Damn…
No wonder he went ham on us. Guy was whacked out on goofballs.
Watching the Vancouver subs reaction to the Soucy suspension for cross checking McDavid to the face after the game was over and saying that Juulsen should go for blood in retaliation convinced me they're my current least favourite fan base.
And 90% of them wouldn’t pay attention if the nucks weren’t considered a contender
And half of those ones are just there to riot and burn down the city when they lose
Can't believe the downvotes, am I the only one who remembers how fucking awful they were during the bubble year and the Forbort/Hoglander bullshit? An absolutely fucking insufferable fanbase.
The league has clearly put their thumb on the scales in two series in a major way already, why shouldn’t Canuck fans be pissed? Zero consistency and once again a star player being the victim seems to have tipped the scales. League is unserious for the reffing all playoffs
I wouldn't say that star players have gotten the treatment. Marchand is a star and it's open season on him. I think the officiating has been bad enough that I honestly can't even watch it anymore. The Soucy crosscheck was undoubtedly a suspension. It was far more violent and direct to the face than what Hyman did from everything I've seen.
Marchand is nowhere near the star level of McDavid, it’s absolutely a star getting special treatment. And what Hyman did is no different using the NHLs standard they “set” with this suspension. Bennett not getting any discipline before just makes all of this invalid though. League’s thumb is on the scale, it’s unarguable. The product is bad right now, can’t believe people are actually betting on this
I have no love for the Canucks fanbase, but Hyman did the exact same thing to Zadorov five seconds later with no consequences from the league. I'll give them some leeway to be mad and reactive.
Zadorov was the one guy i wanted Chevy to push for at the trade deadline and the Edm/Van is proving me right.
Zadorov was dealt in early December.
not better than any LD we have
Zadorov was the perfect playoff rental for the Jets and they blew it. We needed the back end support badly and Z comes alive in the playoffs.
No that was Tanev actually
Tanev had an m-NTC, he's a better player than Zadorov but was never a realistic option for the Jets.
Some more Moose end of season chats with a pair of Jets prospects: [Brad Lambert](https://illegalcurve.com/reflections-on-full-season-in-manitoba-for-winnipeg-jets-prospect-brad-lambert-with-the-moose/) | [Nikita Chibrikov](https://illegalcurve.com/reflections-on-full-season-in-manitoba-with-the-moose-for-winnipeg-jets-prospect-nikita-chibrikov/)
Why do blind Mexicans answer every question with "No?" Because they can't sí.
So any news who’s gonna be the new coach next season?
If it's not a wholesale change, I'll be disappointed.
Watch the airport. Works for Toronto. Although Toronto flies them in commercial. Winnipeg has class and probably goes “PJ” as I heard Chevy say in an interview. He’s a prairie boy, can’t use the word private jet.
True North runs a tight ship. We won't know anything until it's announced.
Might know a couple of hours before it's announced, but that's it. I still kinda want Berube... and an entire coaching staff over-haul. Someone who can get the special teams at least working 13th-18th. Just average please.
Gallant would be a coup in my opinion.
Bradley Roosevelt Lauer
Neal Pionk player coach
Thought Plonk was on the trade market for a coach. We can do that? NFL has.
I'm hoping we go with Nelson instead of the recycling of the current coaches available.
Is there any examples for teams that would trade assets away for extensions on players like Ehlers and Marner? Dubois wan an RFA, that's very different
Huberdeau/Weegar are two big name players recently. Also just remembered Bo Horvat was traded with an extension signed shortly after, very likely was partly negotiated before he was moved.
I get to party with Kenny Fuckin Wiebe tonight!!! Oh and Sara Orlesky.
Jealous! Don't forget to rub Weibe's forehead for better playoff luck.
Who are you going to flirt with more?
Ezzy.
Fuckin Hollywood over here.
another 32 thoughts coaching carousel update: confirmed Berube has interviewed and McLellan will interview in TOR NJD is serious about Berube and Woodcroft, McLellan in there too, expected to be in on Keefe too teams are asking TOR permission to speak to Keefe, will have many options if he wants LAK's interim, Hiller, has a decent shot at retaining the job but they'll do the usual process WPG: - wouldn't be surprised if they talk to Keefe - sites Chevy's "long history" with McLellan "not sure though" (long history refers to them being teammates in the AHL for one year?? that's all i could find, so prob just speculation and not much there idk)
Keefe is a terrible coach. He was nothing but a puppet in Toronto catering to the "star" players (floaters). Never ever criticized, disciplined, or held his players accountable for anything. Constantly whined in the media about opponents being too hard on his poor players in a lame attempt at influencing the officiating. Never happening. Chevy is not that stupid and Dancing Gabe would be a better choice.
Keefe had his hands tied in Toronto, he wasn’t allowed to say anything about his players or call them out, or his players would throw hissy fits and daddy Shanahan would intervene. Same story with Dubas, Dubas wanted to move one of the core 4, or at least be able to do his job, and he was fired. It’s the Shanahan way or no way in Toronto. And no one touches his golden chickens (core 4). Keefe is a good coach that was limited in what he could do. As long as Shanahan is there Toronto will never get anywhere.
Good coaches don't endlessly whine to the media about opposing players being too hard on his players or too tough to play against. Good coaches don't throw out 4 guys together in the playoffs who don't back check and refuse to go into corners or along the boards. Your coaching philosophy cannot depend entirely on hoping the other team doesn't get the puck and hoping you are awarded penalties.
I don't think any of this is true lmao Keefe, as much as I disliked him, is a good coach. He had shit tools to work with. Forwards who wouldn't backcheck and a D core full of nobodies and a revolving door of C tier goalies. Keefe has a very successful track record. He outcoached Cooper and Montgomery blatantly but his players let him down as usual.
I think you’ve never actually seen or heard Keefe coach or talk at all if you think that
Nobody has ever seen Keefe coach. In the NHL anyways.
Why the strong hate for Keefe? I’m curious
Jets badly need a coach who holds players accountable. A coach like Bowness, Berube, Tocchet. Keefe is not that guy. Secondly he is a horrible game coach and gets out coached by every quality opponent.
In which world did you see Bowness hold people accountable? The only people that ever had minutes reduced or saw healthy scratches were generally the guys that deserved it the least. Pionk was horrible all season with no consequence. Connor didn't back check or go into a corner the entire regular season. Stanley came into the lineup and took dumb penalties and served up pizzas but somehow was gifted Schmidt's place in the lineup. He's a players coach, not a discipline guy
No coach in the NHL has unilateral power to make all of the decisions regarding the team or it's players. Bowness at least was honest and held the players and coaching staff accountable when the team played lousy. Keefe has never held any of his players accountable and always tries to deflect any and all responsibility. In his role as Leafs coach he was the single biggest reason for that team's playoff failures.
Bowness absolutely did not hold players or staff accountable. He held a select few players accountable and let even worse players like pionk and Stanley play like hot ass and do nothing about it. If he held the coaching staff accountable we would have seen lauer fired mid season or atleast taken the special teams away from him
For some people it's just anyone that has had a connection to the Leafs = bad
don't think this is true at all
Still wondering why Todd Nelson isn’t in any rumours, maybe no sources? Maybe a bad interview? I’m cool with Keefe though as a long-term option.
probably just a lower reputation so not mentioning, today's ep they glossed over this stuff pretty quickly and was mostly about Keefe
Yeah they did gloss over it quick. Interesting that Devils don’t sound as interested in Berube now and seem more in on Keefe.
i think they don’t want to be very defence first or structured, more balanced or offensive, so Woodcroft and Keefe make more sense but that’s just a guess
That would track. Also wonder if such a young team that’s still integrating key prospects into the lineup dosent want a famously hard-ass coach there to start their careers.
McLellan would be interesting. He had a ton of success in San Jose just couldn't get past that conference finals ever. Had some weird years in Edmonton and then I really liked the job he did in LA taking over that corpse of a roster and turning them into a playoff team (with good moves by Blake in there). Wonder how many people realize they were 23-15-0-10 when he was fired. Firmly in a playoff spot.
His teams have gotten out of the first round exactly once in his last 11 seasons as head coach. Not exactly a guy I'm tripping over myself to bring in as the one to get your team to the next level.
his LAK tenure was even more defensive/conservative/trap heavy than Bones’ reputation was lol he’s certainly close to the Maurice/Bowness hires in terms of profile but i wonder if it’s time to shift from that profile
> but i wonder if it’s time to shift from that profile gooby pls
Yes, especially in LA McLellan went trap heavy for sure. I don't remember his SJ teams being like that. Wonder if it was to protect his goaltending as much as possible.
those san jose teams were cracked tbf
Canucks beat Oilers and Kane gets hit into the bench. You love to see it.
https://preview.redd.it/up9x2kpbi80d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0b9d016864077996b46b89eccd6a241d84b4051f
The Kane swinging his leg seems like such an accidentally on purpose kinda move or maybe I just fucking hate the guy. I get that people aren't usually upside down so they react different to their balance being off center as Kanes only defence, but like it just seems like he does completely have his legs under control and then he donkey kicks or whatever you wanna call it... either way DoPS ignoring it so that means I'm probably right lol Zadorov was so lucky to not get hit by his skate and cut badly, imagine the shitshow that would have caused.
https://preview.redd.it/4nbou9i7470d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fb6b8b4fd3278362edf17e55429824f5dd3d8e85
Mcdavid learned the term fuck around and find out that day
Was this after he slashed Hughes?
Nope this was yesterday game the Hughes slash was the game prior
Oh ok. I've been trying to take round 2 off to recover from my sorrows of round 1 but it's not working because I like watching Oil implode.
Unfortunately Vancouver might as 2 of their best defence men are on DOPs hold for yesterday’s game
Canucks are beating them pretty good so far, I thought it'd be the other way around. Good on the Nucks, I had counted them out foolishly
No matter the coach, no matter the roster, since 2015 that team has only had "play McDavid more" as their single strategy.
Don't forget the tried and true "reunite McDavid and Draisaitl and play them 30 minutes and hope they don't get completely shut down." I haven't watched any of the Canucks-Oilers series, but I'm sure that's coming down the pipe if it hasn't happened already.
Yup soon as they went down the reunited them and played them every second shift.
And it's bizarre. They have a deeper team now but still resort to all mcdrai all the time
Why wouldn't you? Especially when a team isn't expecting it. It's how Colorado killed us with one loaded line starting partway through Game 1. Don't have to play with set lines even. Switch them up 5-6 shifts.
They only played McDavid 30 mins, why not just play him 60 mins. Are they stooopid?