Tag Archives: Bobby Ryan

Shea Weber & Ryan Suter Are Dangerous Men

January 27, 2012 By in NHL Trade Rumors Tags: , , , , , , 12 Comments

The Nashville Predators are 9-1-0 in their last 10.

They have 64 points.

They are third in the Central Division, arguably the best division in the league at the moment (who would have thunk it) and only three points out first place in the entire NHL.

Impressive.

They have something like $14.4 million dollars in cap space.

Even more impressive.

They are also being held hostage by Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.

Weber’s words lead a reasonable person to believe he has no interest in signing anytime soon. Ryan Suter dropped the little bomb today that he won’t negotiate a contract before the trade deadline.

Both of them are using the “we want to see if the organization is committed to winning” line as the reason they have not signed.

Whatever. They want money, lots of it, Nashville’s financial situation is not stable and both want to play in a bigger and more secure market. Winning is part of that equation as well but the rest of it is not the “politically correct” thing to say. I doubt any of them would be honest enough to state, “we want a shit load of money from a big market team that has stable ownership and we just don’t see that in Nashville, no offense of course.”

So, what becomes of them? That is the subject of this article. Continue reading →

Anaheim Ducks Trade Bobby Ryan To The Los Angeles Kings For…

November 30, 2011 By in LA Kings and Bobby Ryan Madness Tags: , , , 27 Comments

What did you feel when you read that title? Were you excited? Shocked? Disgusted?

This article has percolated in my mind for about a week, not because I heard anything but because I kept looking at Bobby Ryan & asking myself, “isn’t he the only moveable asset they have if they want players, prospects and picks?” I then coupled that with my love for that uninfected Anaheim top 6 forward (the only one) and let my mind wander…before we get there though, let’s briefly look at what is on the table.

This article is not about the Ducks.

Fuck the Ducks.

Let’s shorten our analysis of that team with Ryan Getzlaf is the captain, Corey Perry is…wow, there are so many words there but the most relevant one here is “untouchable”, Teemu Selanne could be traded, if he wanted, for a 1st to a contender and that basically leaves Bobby Ryan. Incidentally, rumors about the Ducks looking to trade him are going viral.

Just focusing on team needs, Anaheim Ducks trade Bobby Ryan to the Los Angeles Kings for… Continue reading →

So, Where Are The Anaheim Ducks’ Fans?

August 14, 2011 By in LA Kings Tags: , , , , 45 Comments

Unlike Surly, I spend most of my days and nights in Orange County - currently I would put myself at about 20% L.A., 70% O.C. and 10% down the rabbit hole. I am not shy about team pride. Shirts, workout clothing, hats, and my car show the love. Lately, I have noticed a trend.

About 2 months ago, I saw a guy and gal in Chipotle’s parking lot. He drove my identical car (which is not an easy thing to do) and even had the same L.A. Kings license plate frame. I had the shirt on and we chatted for a few seconds. A couple of days later, I ran into not one but two separate groups of golfers, with one person in each group wearing a Kings’ hat – one at the driving range and one between the 9th and 10th holes. Once again, I saw them, they saw me, we conferred and mused out loud about the coming season. The latter commented, “I love it, in the heart of Orange County, two Kings’ fans wearing their team colors and not a Ducks’ logo in sight.” I smiled and approved of the keen observation.

About a week after that, inside Home Depot, again wearing my Kings’ hat, and boom, another Kings fan (his hat circa silver and black era) walking the other way. I lifted my hand, he lifted his, we high-fived as we walked by each other and let out a spontaneous and simultaneous “Go Kings!” in the middle of the store – I kid you not. It was spooky karmic. Later that day, one of my dearest friends who happens to be a Ducks’ fan showed up at my house with his family for a BBQ and he was wearing…a Kings hat he bought at a game last season. I have seen him with that hat at least 3 times in the past two months. I am doing the Lord’s work with him.

Parked at the pet store. A purple Chrysler PT Cruiser with a huge L.A. Kings sticker on the rear window…a sticker that occupied the entire window. Impressive.

The next weekend, on my motorcycle, pulled into a parking lot (wearing a Kings’ shirt) and receiving a “GO KINGS! WOOO!!” from a car pulling out.

The freeway, highway, shops, stores, restaurants, all in Orange County and in many different cities. Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Newport, Huntington, Costa Mesa, Kings’ fans everywhere. Have I seen a single Ducks’ hat? A single Ducks’ shirt? A single Ducks’ anything? Yes. Some guy / gal / imp at my gym who has a disgusting Orange front license plate on his silver Audi. Have I seen this dude, chick or thing once wear a Ducks’ anything (so I can identify the rat) inside the gym even though his car has been parked next to mine (I may have planned that) more than once? No.

So, what is going on? The current? Tide? The seas of change? Has there been a genocide that actually changed things for the better and upgraded the general populace’s acumen & IQ? I do know this. I am having withdrawals. I haven’t had a single person in this county to direct my requisite piss, wit and vinegar for months…and chirping Bobby Ryan on Twitter is barely keeping me sane…what? Well, it went something like this:

@b_ryan9 round of golf. My treat. Pelican, south course. I win and you ask for a trade to the Kings. I lose and you remain a Duck. Deal?

@kingsofhockey handicap?

@b_ryan9 10

After trying to get Dustin Brown in this…

@DustinBrown23 Great Pic Brownie. I challenged @b_ryan9 to a round of golf, I win, he asks for a trade to the Kings. Persuade him to accept

@kingsofhockey @dustinbrown23 haha. Pass. Course is too tough to gamble my career with!

For one fleeting, insane second, I thought Bobby Ryan would actually accept. I saw the celebration on the 18th hole as I putted for an exhilarating 73, Bobby Ryan picking up his cellular phone and calling his agent (secretly thanking God), GregWyshynski getting the exclusive interview with me about the bet and historic match, Surly running around in circles screaming, “We got Bobby Ryan! We got Bobby Ryan!” for days, Dean Lombardi formally appointing me as the Kings’ Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for life, a couple of ingrates claiming that the golf game never happened and writing that isn’t the real Bobby Ryan, and Gary Bettman uttering the word “WHAT!!??” right before his head exploded and painted the roses red.

Let’s hear it for the winds of change.

ONE DUCK, TWO DUCK, WHAT THE F***?

June 11, 2011 By in 2010-2011 Stanley Cup Finals Coverage Tags: , , , , 9 Comments

First, Corey Perry’s sophomoric breakdown of the Cup Finals.

Then, the only Anaheim Duck player I can tolerate, Bobby Ryan, does one…for the L.A. Times…as a “guest blogger”.

First, let’s be clear on the word “guest”. A guest is invited. Hence, Helene Elliott, whom I like and respect, invited Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan into her domain to, of all the insanity, write. If fish and guests stink after three days, I can only imagine the stench these two have and will leave behind.

Did the O.C. Register stop covering Anaheim puck? Has there been a coup at the L.A. Times? In the words of Stu Price, “what the f*** is going on!?”

KINGS VS ANAHEIM DUCKS GAME PREVIEW: ‘TIS THE SEASON

December 26, 2010 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey Pre Game Report or preview, Los Angeles Kings hockey pregame report or preview Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , 10 Comments

If you haven’t read it, read it now.  If you have read it, read it again.

Corey Perry, Joffrey Lupul & Wayne Simmonds’ Revenge.

Let us not forget that a mere 2 months ago, Corey Perry and Joffrey Lupul waltzed into a Kings fans’ Halloween party, uninvited, and destroyed said Kings fans’ Wayne Simmonds bobblehead in an act of immaturity and jealousy that will be refreshed violently upon Perry’s pasty white ugly face tonight.  You can help.  Scribe and I will be there passing out posters and photos for you to hold up.  Display them with pride.  Reminders of Perry’s atrocities against Simmonds and Lupul’s against fashion.

For tonight is the night when the Anaheim Ducks trespass on Staples Center ice for the first time of the season, and while other may think it is the season of giving, when it comes to the Ducks, it is the season of taking away.

Take away their game.  Take away their rhythm.  Take away their goals and their confidence and above all take away their two points.

We often try to keep the cursing and foul language to a minimum here, but sometimes only one phrase will suffice.

Fuck these guys.

More poetically (ignore the pro-Sharks undertone, focus on the altruistic message):

So who are the water foul this year anyway?

Well, they are the team that despite having played 5 more games than the Kings possess one less point and two fewer wins than the more beloved of the Southern Californian hockey clubs.  They are the team with a defense as tough as a blond curl on a infant’s head and as in control as a blind race car driver.  They are the team whose suck surpasses its rhyme with their moniker.

Corey Perry manages to score a bunch of points.  As do Getzlaf and to lesser extends Selanne and a disappointing Bobby Ryan.  Beyond that, there is nothing.  The one Duck for whom I hold the smallest bit of affection, Lubomir Visnovsky, is having a season worthy of the contract Dean Lombardi signed him to several years ago.  I am happy for him on a personal level and appalled on all others.

Some of you may unpleasantly recall that which Duck fans will cling to until we rip it from their feathery dead fingers, that the last time these two team’s met the Ducks caught the Kings in the midst of a slide that allowed the lesser team to skip to their Lou all the way back to Orange County with a 2-0 win over the Kings.  The light of luck can shine on even the darkest corners of the earth.

But that took place in another building.  A cesspool.  A shelter for the inbred and the indiscriminate.  Tonight the game we all love will be played on home ice.  Energetic ice.  Ice which fans of the game flock to whether their team is riding a high or low.  Passion exists here, Pride runneth over and Power is forcefully exerted on those who dare enter Staples Center.

The Kings are riding a 2 game winning streak and after narrowly squeaking out a win over the Edmonton Oilers in a shootout after a grueling road trip, enter tonight rested and ready to ignite the fire in their eyes.  Matt Greene returns to the lineup and Jonathan Bernier returns to the crease.  Two men with something to prove is a recipe for success.

Kevin Westgarth will sit out, because with the Frank Zappa moustache on George Parros’ face, no one can take him seriously.  If Parros wants to ring a bell, he can ask Kyle Clifford to ring his.

I always want the Kings to win.

Tonight, I need them to win.

Its been such a wonderful holiday thus far.  The tingling in my bones tells me it will continue tonight.

Fuck the Ducks.

Always and forever,

GO KINGS GO!

One more time,

GO KINGS GO!

Its never enough!

GO KINGS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

LEBRUN: KINGS TALKING SHORT-TERM WITH DOUGHTY

November 21, 2010 By in LA Kings Hockey, LA Kings news Tags: , , , , , , 5 Comments

From ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun:

Well, you can’t mention Stamkos and not the player taken right after him in the 2008 NHL entry draft, Drew Doughty, right? I wrote a few weeks ago that the Kings were drawing up different contract proposals for Doughty’s camp. Talks, as far as I can tell, still haven’t begun, but one thing I was told Friday is that the Kings at this point are leaning toward a short-term deal instead of the multiyear deals you usually see for these young stars; the reason being that the Kings are weary of the uncertainty of the next CBA. I don’t think you can rule out a long-term deal, because, after all, it all depends on the money, but short term is where the Kings are leaning right now.

Interesting. Not surprising. Several things may be relevant here:

1. Of course, the CBA looms large over every team’s negotiations. With the potential of a falling CAP and further limits on long-term deals, any offer with serious money (excess of $5 million) could handcuff the Kings’ short and mid-term ability to keep its core. Of course, this isn’t just a Kings’ problem. There are 28 teams with the same issue (I don’t consider the Devils and Islanders part of this discussion). If LeBrun is right, what is short term? 3 years? 5? My guess is no more than 5. Think Bobby Ryan money and term.

2. Doughty allegedly did poorly on his fitness testing prior to camp. It has translated to his on ice game. Both prior to and after his concussion, he has looked a step behind on defense. He is also struggling on the offensive side of the puck, which is to say he has almost been non-existent on the scoreboard. His plus-minus is decent and, in fairness to Drew, his play last season set a very high bar by which to judge his performance. Knowing Lombardi like we do and his emphasis on conditioning, Dean must have some unspoken concern (if that is possible with Lombardi) about Drew’s commitment level.

3. Dean gave a passionate commentary about paying the kids big money. In response to a question I asked him in September at Fan Fest, he responded:

“You give anybody too much to chew, that person is not going to be the same in continuing to drive in being the best that he can be. And you put this system in place like they did with the NBA, and then you wonder why the best talents somehow get their way with it. Somehow they’re not focused anymore. Well who’s fault is that? How many of you would be focused in your line of work if all of a sudden at 22 years old you’ve got it all? And again, I had no problem with Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy getting their 10 million dollars; Those guys had 10 years in the league, they had proven they were winners, they had proven they were leaders, and god bless ‘em. But for some reason, we went out and said let’s make free agency 25, and then you have a team like Phoenix that’s one of the oldest teams in the league and has one of the lesser payrolls — it’s completely inverted. So, maybe I’m talking a little for selfish reasons too, though. But I think the product when you have players who have stayed together, come up the right way, they perform better, you get a better team, you can get a better product. The other thing for our game, that I think is critical and not only because it is what we believe in in building a team, and keeping young athletes together so they not only become the best they can be, but they become teammates and they like each other and stay together for years. (this and other Dean Lombardi quotes can be found within the page The Quotable Lombardi)

Not exactly mincing words. Dean must have some concerns in paying the long-term big bucks to a kid with an amazing skill set but who is still a kid nevertheless.

So, this begs a question for you. Do you give Drew a short-term deal or a long one? What are your numbers?

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