Lambert's Take-Down Piece on Dreger: "When an NHL insider becomes an inside man"

[19Yzerman19]

Glad someone finally decided to compile all of this stuff into one place and make it explicit. Dreger is an absolute shill.

The world really began to take notice that Kadri had gone unsigned when the calendar flipped from August to September and with training camp a mere week and a half away, the rumors started swirling thanks in large part to TSN insider Darren Dreger, whose near-daily hits on Toronto-area radio stations focused largely and understandably on the situation with that kid who scored 44 points last season despite getting next to no minutes.
Or rather, those conversations focused on how desperately he needed to start seeing things the Leafs' way and take less money and fewer years than he wanted and probably deserved.

You know, for his own good.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...8768--nhl.html


That last question is mostly tongue-in-cheek, because there are many, many ways that the Leafs organization can grant Dreger additional access. The problem is a) he's been so blatant with it since Nonis was appointed - not just in so far as this saga, but when Toronto was in on Luongo, and throughout the baffling, ridiculous free agency period this summer in which Nonis was effectively out-GM'd by a potato. But also, b) he's never actually been a useful source of information, just sitting beside Bob McKenzie for a number of years, it's like he's somehow gained credibility through simple longevity on the TSN panel.


MOD EDIT: Please don't post entire articles. Part or parts of the article with a link provided is appreciated.

[fotiou22]

Link to Lambert's story.

[puckluck2]

Darren Dreger is a tool. A tool who has inside information, but still a tool.

He's always out to talk other people's rumors down and hates when he isn't the first person to break news. He seems very narcissistic.

[Joborule]

Tip: Don't post the whole story. Take a piece of it, then post a link (as fotiou22 did) so the writer gets viewership.

[GreenLantern2814]

The link about Nonis getting out GM'd by a potato is hilarious.

[FAN]

I never liked Dreger. Always thought he was a cocky man that simply liked the limelight and wanted to receive credit for everything, unlike other TSN insiders who, like them or not, were passionate about the game and had passionate opinions.

[Resolute 14]

It's been noted in the comments of Lambert's article, but of special concern here is that both Rogers and Bell have stakes in MLSE. There is no longer just an inherent pro-Toronto bias to their coverage, but now an outright conflict of interest. The truth is, anything any of them has to say about the Leafs will have to be viewed under a cloud, as one simply does not know if Dreger et al are presenting honest opinion or if they are saying what management wants them to.

[fotiou22]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

He's always out to talk other people's rumors down and hates when he isn't the first person to break news. He seems very narcissistic.

Narcissism seems to be a prerequisite for the gig. See the Twitter background on @realkyper. For people who spend their days sucking up to "insiders" and talking about a game, they take themselves a little too seriously.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by fotze

I like that I didn't need to click to the site to read the story.

It has more to do with crediting the writer then inconveniencing anyone.

As for the op. Interesting read.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by fotze

I like that I didn't need to click to the site to read the story.

Yeah, I usually just read whatever quotes from the article a poster puts on CP, and get the gist of it. This time, I actually read the whole thing. It was nice.

[SuperMatt18]

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

It has more to do with crediting the writer then inconveniencing anyone.

As for the op. Interesting read.

And even more to do with copyright! Of which the original post is quite in violation of.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by the2bears

And even more to do with copyright! Of which the original post is quite in violation of.

It's not, it's just not cool.
I think we should all give the link a good click, because really, an article exposing the moron that is Dreger needs as much support as possible.

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Tip: Don't post the whole story. Take a piece of it, then post a link (as fotiou22 did) so the writer gets viewership.

I normally would but have you seen what they did to puck daddy? The format is horrendous, it's barely legible for me.

[Lord Carnage]

Find myself torn on the article. I'm certainly not a Dreger fan, but after reading this, I find I'm LESS a fan of Lambert.

My opinion only, but he sounds exceedingly whiny. He's upset that the team was able to get Kadri at, what I view as, a perfectly reasonable (for both parties) bridge contract instead of Kadri holding out and sticking it to them. It also comes across that someone other than him is breaking stories (very possibly due to his relationship), so he'll complain all the louder.

The reality is, who you know is a realistic part of how the world works. Yes, that means Dreger may have some inside information, but Lambert needs to suck it up and grow a pair.

[sun]

Sure makes it sound like he's Nonis' mouthpiece in that article. Always found the guy smug and irritating. Didn't know Nonis was his cousin.

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by Lord Carnage

Find myself torn on the article. I'm certainly not a Dreger fan, but after reading this, I find I'm LESS a fan of Lambert.

My opinion only, but he sounds exceedingly whiny. He's upset that the team was able to get Kadri at, what I view as, a perfectly reasonable (for both parties) bridge contract instead of Kadri holding out and sticking it to them. It also comes across that someone other than him is breaking stories (very possibly due to his relationship), so he'll complain all the louder.

The reality is, who you know is a realistic part of how the world works. Yes, that means Dreger may have some inside information, but Lambert needs to suck it up and grow a pair.

I think you missed the point. It's not about Dreger getting inside information because he knows Nonis. It's about Dreger laughably acting as some sort of journalist and influencing public opinion as some sort of purported source of NHL knowledge when his independence and objectivity are obviously compromised.

I don't like Lambert either (he's basically a huge troll and likes writing articles in incendiary terms to get page views) but to dismiss this piece for that reason would be ad hominem. I really doubt there's any sour grapes here as far as what Dreger gets that he doesn't - Dreger or no Dreger, Lambert is never going to be the guy who gets to break free agent signings or major trades, and he knows that. If it were Kypreos or someone who operates in the same realm as Dreger I might consider the possibility, but it isn't.

As for the contract, you might think it's reasonable but it's exactly what the TML wanted and not what Kadri wanted, by all accounts.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Not a fan of Dreger either, but I don't think the Lambert piece "exposes" anything really. All media types kneel before the Toronto alter, as they know that is what drives the financial bus when it comes to hits or followers or whatever.

I do agree that the conflict of the ownership of Bell/MLSE should be better disclosed. I think ESPN generally discloses where there is a relationship with ABC/Disney that might affect perception of a story/

[Lord Carnage]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

I think you missed the point. It's not about Dreger getting inside information because he knows Nonis. It's about Dreger laughably acting as some sort of journalist and influencing public opinion as some sort of purported source of NHL knowledge when his independence and objectivity are obviously compromised.

I don't like Lambert either (he's basically a huge troll and likes writing articles in incendiary terms to get page views) but to dismiss this piece for that reason would be ad hominem. I really doubt there's any sour grapes here as far as what Dreger gets that he doesn't - Dreger or no Dreger, Lambert is never going to be the guy who gets to break free agent signings or major trades, and he knows that. If it were Kypreos or someone who operates in the same realm as Dreger I might consider the possibility, but it isn't.

I see your point here - unfortunately the tone he took with the article ended up overpowering to me. Reading it, the first thing I get is whiny, with an undercurrent about Dreger. Maybe just me though.

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

As for the contract, you might think it's reasonable but it's exactly what the TML wanted and not what Kadri wanted, by all accounts.

Just because the contract is what the team wanted does not make it the right contract. Players always ask for a boatload, as is their right, but if a contract turns out to be a boat-anchor, the team gets blamed for offering it.

I know the contracts are vastly different, and I agree the team offered it and should suffer, but lets be honest... if Vancouver had offered Luongo 2mil AAV less per season, he wouldn't have signed. Everyone always says "it wasn't the player's fault for getting offered it", and I agree, but you can't tell me Luongo and his agent weren't pushing for a big payday.

The whole point with Kadri is he got the bridge contract that players coming off their entry level deals are 'designed' to get with the current CBA. Not all teams have chosen to go that route, but - as much as I dislike the Leafs - I respect they stuck to their guns on that one.

[Lord Carnage]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

...but to dismiss this piece for that reason would be ad hominem...

BTW, really like the use of "ad hominem" in your post...