ECQF: Boston Bruins (4) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (5) (Boston wins 4-1)

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

Just to be clear, I said nothing about postpartum depression.

My comment was merely that even in the most innocuous situation where they have 3 healthy kids, that’s a lot of work for one person and it’s ok to want to be home and to share the responsibilities.

Sure, and thats understandable. I dont have a dog in this fight, but I also feel that he was locked at home for 4 months already, there was ample time for preparations to be made for his family knowing this was coming.

Its entirely possible there are extenuating family circumstances, which is fine too.

Ultimately it doesnt really matter, its possible that there are entirely unrelated reasons he didnt want to be there and he just used an irreproachable reason to leave.

If he just didnt want to play and wanted to sit on his ass and play video games people would be pissed, but if he has to 'be there for his family' then hes doing something honourable.

[Reggie28]

Originally Posted by Corral

Tbh the whole setup for this is really lame and I expect more players to do likewise. Well some of you still want to believe this is real playoffs, its not and the players know it. To leave your family for months to perform in this mens League tournament is just not worth it

Only a third of the players will be allowed to stay for a month.

Anyone can leave, but only winners get to stay.

But the players are people like the rest of us. I have seen lots of people give up high paying jobs away from home to be closer to their families. Most of the guys I worked with internationally had at least one ex wife. Being away from home for extended periods of time is definitely difficult and it’s hard to explain, you almost have to experience it for yourself to understand it.

[Dion]

I find that some of the comments regrading Rask and his leaving the bubble to be quite sad. We don't know the reasons why and yet some would put him through the ringer.

I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision for Rask to leave his teammates. Why can't we just support the guy and wish him well? I know his teammates would.

[Locke]

I do have to say, after watching a number of games...

I'm not sure if they're doing a great job with the ice all things considered or if theres just nothing they can do...it looks like they're playing with a tennis ball.

[Benched]

who got their leg all messed up in that game?
the slow mow of the leg bending the wrong way....yuck

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Benched

who got their leg all messed up in that game?
the slow mow of the leg bending the wrong way....yuck

Svechnikov.

That would be a devastating loss for them.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Locke

I do have to say, after watching a number of games...

I'm not sure if they're doing a great job with the ice all things considered or if theres just nothing they can do...it looks like they're playing with a tennis ball.

I think they have done as well as possible considering the heat and humidity they have had to deal with as well as the volume of games played. Had fans been allowed, no question in my mind this wouldnt of been possible.

A+ to the ice makers.

[Strange Brew]

I respect the guy’s decision. His comments about the games being like exhibition games were unfortunate and wish he hadn’t said that. Would not have endeared him to teammates who were fully committed.

[Strange Brew]

So is the heat and humidity in Edmonton that big a factor is summer time compared to all the warm weather climates of other buildings?

Doesn’t having no fans in the building help?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

So is the heat and humidity in Edmonton that big a factor is summer time compared to all the warm weather climates of other buildings?

Doesn’t having no fans in the building help?

A lot,

Just not having the doors open helps nevermind the lack of body heat.

The difference is freezing time. In the warmest weather climates, they usually have at least 40+ hours between games to get the ice frozen. Here they have 90 minutes at times. Ess than 24 hours at the best of times.

The ice plants can only work so fast. I suspect the ice in both cities (Torontos humidity has been off the charts) is a lot thinner than it normally would be as well so the freeze takes quicker. Now the technology these days must be a lot better than what i was dealing with when i was involved and the newer equipment should help, but make no mistake...getting ice right in these conditions is as much an art as it is science.

[Vedder]

Originally Posted by Dion

I find that some of the comments regrading Rask and his leaving the bubble to be quite sad. We don't know the reasons why and yet some would put him through the ringer.

I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision for Rask to leave his teammates. Why can't we just support the guy and wish him well? I know his teammates would.

I respect the decision from the perspective he made it for family reasons. Where he lost me was disparaging the legitimacy of the games in his post game comments. He’s basically spitting in the face of his teammates and other players who continue to make big sacrifices to maintain some semblance of a league. Without the return to play I think the league and some teams would have been in a very tough place (and likely still will be).

So a guy who has made his money is opting out, and giving a finger to everyone else on his way out. Even though this whole thing might be the reason he has a league to come back to when it suits him. Sorry, no good.

[Reggie28]

Will Boston be allowed to add another goalie to their 30 player list?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Reggie28

Will Boston be allowed to add another goalie to their 30 player list?

Nope.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

No, it's not, as you've just demonstrated. "Every family situation is different." Yes, everyone has their own issues at home that they have to deal with, and Rask is just like everyone else. But he's the only one who's quitting on his teammates. Again, it's a different story if there is some other information we're not privy to - perhaps his newborn is sick, or his wife needs special support because of some issue she's having - but not only do we not know that, we're explicitly being told that's not the case. He just decided it wasn't what he felt like doing right now. I cannot imagine being part of a hockey team in a playoff situation where teammates are relying on you to give your all, and coming to that conclusion. Hell, I can't imagine it in my own job - I wouldn't hang my co-workers out to dry like that.

No, we don't have to just shrug our shoulders every decision that everyone else makes. It's perfectly legitimate for people to make judgments about the decisions made by others in the public sphere, which Rask is. There are absolutely things hockey players can choose to do that are open to reproach from fans, and in my opinion, leaving your teammates because you just don't feel like continuing to compete alongside them is one of those things. I didn't say he was an awful person, nor did I wish ill on him or his family. I said he quit on the team, because based on what his GM has said, that's precisely what he did. It's completely fair to look at that decision and say, "that's poor form by Rask".

You and your moralizing "that's an ugly take" self-righteous holier-than-thou schtick any time anyone has a negative view of something an NHL player has done is utterly tiresome.

I'm talking about Rask's decision. You've decided to change the whole tone of this discussion just to take a personal shot at me. But that's not surprising given your posting history - you really like making things personal whenever you can, don't you? Well, I happen to think that tendency reflects poorly on you, every single time you demonstrate it.

You wouldn't hang your co workers out to dry but you'd leave your family hanging? I have to agree with Jiri. You've got an ugly take on this situation.

So many people put family first. You see it everywhere. Family comes first yet when somebkdy outs family first they're making the wrong choice? That is a cold and heartless take.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Buff

You wouldn't hang your co workers out to dry but you'd leave your family hanging? I have to agree with Jiri. You've got an ugly take on this situation.

How is doing your job leaving your family hanging? If anyone in the NHL just randomly decides to skip a road trip because they feel like spending time at home with their family, not for any specific reason but just because they're having a hard time being away from them, you don't think that's in any way objectionable?

Again, everyone probably wishes they could be home with their family, and everyone has good reasons why in their specific case, it's important to them. They're not using it as an excuse to leave, because you just don't walk out on your teammates.

So many people put family first.

What the hell does this mean, to you? That whenever you miss your family you don't have to do your job anymore and can stay home, regardless of whether your coworkers, your employer and other stakeholders (in this case the fans) are relying on you to do what you committed to do? It's heartless and cold to expect you to honour those obligations? The fact that you have a wife and children means you can abandon your responsibilities whenever you like to be with them, because "family comes first"? This is a ridiculous standard.

[dammage79]

So many life coaches here.

Here's the thing, it doesn't matter what we think.

[SeanCharles]

I’m ready to move on from the Rask thing.

It’s his life, his decision and I don’t overly care that much, if at all.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Again every family situation and different. Saying "its true of every other player" is a gross oversimplification.

It's an ugly take from you. The world needs more empathy. If he feels he needs to be home for his family, I'm not going to judge him because I don't know nearly enough. But you can stand there and look down your nose and cast judgement if you want, based on next to no information.

For a guy that often prides himself on being data driven and pragmatic, seems odd to me.

You think this reflects poorly on Rask? I think your take reflects poorly on you.

It's disappointing seeing you make things personal with a poster who is respectfully engaged in a discussion. It takes away entirely from any point you might have had. Moderators should be setting a better example, frankly.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Hey Connor, It's Mess

It's disappointing seeing you make things personal with a poster who is respectfully engaged in a discussion. It takes away entirely from any point you might have had. Moderators should be setting a better example, frankly.

Being a moderator doesn't prevent me from having opinions. I find his view to be objectionable and his willingness to judge someone making a personal and family decision, absent real information, reflects poorly on him. People's tendency to judge others instead of trying to understand with empathy and understanding is a problem in this world.

Doesn't make him a good or bad person. I don't know anything about him. Just means I think his view in this topic reflects badly on him.

[Philly06Cup]

Back to hockey, the Bruins forwards are an interesting case study on building your team with centre depth.



Top line has Berg with Marsh, now flanked with replacement level Bjork.

Second line Krejci has been amazing and underrated, probably their MVP of the series. He is flanked by two underachieving youngsters DeBrusk and Kase.

Third line Coyle has also looked amazing. Was previously a first line caliber center on Minnesota. He's playing with replacement level Kuraly and complete rookie Studnicka.



Great centers, rotating cast of hohum wingers. Losing Pasta hurts, but their centers keep them really strong.