Someone in D.C.'s gonna need to come to the realization that continuously launching coaches hasn't seemed to help over the last several years.

ETA: Unless Oates wants out...I can't imagine it's easy trying to get Ovi to buy into any kind of system. Hey, looks like Torts is gonna be available .

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Not a mult.

Oates is a dummy, though. He's obsessed with not letting guys play off-wing even when it's their natural position. Martin Erat was a decent secondary scorer until Oates flipped him to his "natural" side, after which he was lost like a child at a supermarket until he finally got the Caps to trade him to Phoenix, where goal-scorers go to die.

EDIT: As for your edit, I think it's 50/50 between your "he's asking to be fired" suspicion and my suspicion that Ted Leonsis boots anyone who hurts Ovie and Hand-Tats' delicate feelings. A little from Column A, a little from Column B.

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took Oates 70 games to figure out that Ovi isn't going to backcheck at all?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Blues getting crushed by the Capitals 4-1. They're pulling their best Pacers imitation and opening the door for the Avs to snag their spot.

Avs are just twoooooooo points behind the Blues with each having 3 games to go.

Avs: @Van, @SJ and @Ana
Blues: @Min, @Dal and vs. Det

Avs are behind one ROW and would lose head-to-head. Backes sustained a lower body injury today while Steen returned from his ailment. Tarasenko is still out.

Blues can't score goals which is incredibly delightful. They trade Perron (A favorite of mine nearing 30 goals!) for MPS and a 2nd since Perron has offensive creativity and the unimaginative steel gripped Hitchcock can't grasp players who aren't robotic system slugs. They address their lack of scoring by trading their '15 1st rounder and Stewart for Miller rental and absolutely horrible Ott. Their '14 1st was traded for Bouwmeester rental who they subsequently re-signed last year. I love it.

Blues are getting their ass kicked and miller has looked horrible. Oshie got concussed by a textbook head down Stevens hit by Rupp. Rupp will get suspended with the justified cleaning up of head shots. Crazy to think 5 years ago that would be a celebrated hit.

I know its the wrong thread, but the North Dakota -vs- Minnesota Frozen Four simi final game being played right now on ESPN2 is great.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Somehow I doubt that. You think there's too much clutch-and-grab at the NHL level? Hoo boy.

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It was actually a great game, SH is right. I love high-level college hockey.

Unbelievable finish. Heart breaker for ND.

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Avs are ahead by 3 on ROW. If they win tonight they're in the driver's seat.

They won 4-2. I mean, bring on the Blues if they're really going to keep unraveling, but the Avs winning this division, fuuuuck that.

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To me College sports are just more exciting & entertaining. I was rooting for ND, but they lost to one of the best college hockey teams I have ever seen. I don't think I have ever seen a game end on a goal with a half of a second left.
Cant wait for the championship game Saturday night between Minnesota & Union.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Do you watch any Memorial Cup hockey? Most real prospects play major-junior, not college. I mean, unless you want to watch the third-pairing defensemen of tomorrow spend a game not having holding called against them. Granted, it's getting better than it used to be, but the OHL is where it's at. QMJHL games are track meets, but the games are in French.

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You don't enjoy college hockey? Where can I watch Memorial Cup Hockey?

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

I'm sure the NHL Network will carry it.

Dallas shut out St. Louis. http://thisisfuckingawesome.ytmnd.com/

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This simply isn't true. I can provide a nice list of players for you, but of course you won't need it.

There are some serious stars in both college and juniors. Come on now. It's a different game though. Juniors actually will go all-minor league and beat the hell out of each other once in a while. That doesn't happen too often in college.

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Top ten North American skating prospects from NHL Central Scouting are all playing major-junior and thus long since ineligible for NCAA play. You have to go down to #16 to find a player in the USHL, who would still have amateur status but could also jump to major-junior if they so chose (e.g., Jeremy Morin going from the National Development Team to Kitchener). Elite prospects play in junior, particularly the OHL. The NCAA is getting better, but still has miles and miles to go. Otherwise, you'd see more elite prospects in the USHL or Junior A, and not, y'know, defensemen and power forwards who need the extended development time that the college game affords.

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Look at the current Hawks roster. The best roster in the NHL.

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Dominated by major-junior and Europe.

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So... Europe wasn't part of the discussion. You counting that towards juniors now?

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flyers. semis.

Flyers blow.

Semis of what? Sucking?

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hey shut up.

Kevin Hayes no longer planning on signing with the Blackhawks.

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For those of us who want to play the Blues, you must root for the Red Wings this morning and the Avs (against the Ducks) late tonight. Second one unnecessary if the Wings win. So basically, we have a 75% chance of playing the Blues. Both win, both lose, and Blues lose/Avs win all hold the current seeding.

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I'm not sure how to feel about this.

I kind of want to play the Avs in the first round and get it over with because I think they are our biggest challenge in the West. At the same time it be nice if the Stars can knock them out so we don't have to deal with them at all but I don't see that happening.

Beat the Avs and we're back in the Finals.

Not worried about playing either, especially the Blues. More banged up than the Blackhawks are and coming in slumping. They cant feel too confident about being able to beat the Blackhawks hurt as they are and losing the last 2 games to them.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Barry Trotz fired!

If I'm the Maple Leafs I hire that man ASAP. His style of play is horrible for the game but whatever the Leafs have been trudging the past decade has been worse.