NHL Diary Update.

Okay, so with my Raw review and a busy few weeks, the diary has gotten away from me. But something happened today that required me to write. If for nothing other than therapy.

First, I will catch you all up a tad. Now, I don't have the numbers with me, but I do remember some major events. When the tragedy of today occured, I was just fresh off the 2019-20 season. With that being said, the finnacial crunch I was under the past few times I wrote wasn't solved. Every year I was just squeking in under budget. So two seasons ago (fresh off my most recent cup win) I started to have to make painful adjustments.

First came at the 2018-19 trade deadline. I had a nice young player in Michael St. Coix who's contract was coming up. I knew he'd want more money, and with all my talent, he was never going to crack my top line and be worth it. So I shopped him around and Minnesota, who has a storied past of giving me awful trades,  gave me two first round picks (2019, 2020). I was happy. That season we had a strong showing in the playoffs and got eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals. I was pleased....apparently, ownership wasn't.

In the off season that year, I had to make two more hard decisions. I decided to let go Zach Phillips, and more surprisingly, our captain PK Subban. Philips was in the same boat as St. Coix, unable to crack the top six, but wanting top six money. Subban's contract came up the same time and the rest of my top four defenders. Sbisa signed a resonable deal, as did Demers, and I have Cam Fowler the 10 mil he deserved from winning the Norris. Subban was starting to age quickly at 30, he had already dropped from a 91 to a 87 and was going to stay in decline. I also let go vetern depth and added lots of young, undrafted guys who had potential. I thought I had done a fine job with what I was given....ownersip, apparently, did not.

So the 2019-2020 season goes well. Everyone steps up and fills the roles that were subtracted. Claude Giroux had a amazing season finishing second in points with an amazing 98 points! We finished with 47 wins, just shy of the lofty goal of 52 set by ownership. Ownership set the goal of getting to the conferene finals, which we did, before being bounced by Detroit in the cup.

And after that season....after (off the top of my head) 4 cups and 6 cup appearances....after battling not only other teams but the cap year in and year out....after getting them 7 first round draft picks in two years.....

I GOT FIRED BY THE MONTREAL CANADIANS!

I couldn't handle it! I would've been less pissed if I got fired from my real job!
Upon reading the news, I promise you this is true, I stood up, pointed at my TV and yelled "AFTER ALL I'VE DONE FOR YOU?! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!". Let me remind you, I am indeed a grown man.

I got offers from the Sharks, Islanders, Kings, Bruins, and Rangers. I hate the Sharks and Kings, the Islanders are hopeless, and the Bruins just aren't fun. So I opted with the Rangers. I do like the Rangers in real life, not my favorite but I dig them. Especially after Mike Rupp's heel move on Jagr at the Winter Classic. They will be fun in the game too, as I knew Lundquist had just retired and I would need to rebuild them from the net out, which is fun. Upon examining them, they have some star guys at good prices (Stepan and Staal at around 6 mil a piece) and some people I will need to ditch (an 87 center which is also making 6 millions).

But let this blog be my statement......my new life goal is to destroy the Canadians and everything they stand for.

Raw Meat for 4-23-12

Well, I wasn't able to watch Raw as close as I usually do, but I've got a couple things to gripe about.

In short, what the fuck was up with that Lesnar promo? Ugh, after I've been really happy with his work too. It was slow, boring, and sounded like he was reading his lines straight off of that paper which is bush league. He can handle himself on the mic, but that pausing every four words stuff isn't going to fly. A bit of a side bar, but I almost don't see a positive way to book Lesnar vs Cena. Either Cena wins and all this Lesnar hype was for nothing right out of the gate or Lesnar wins and Cena looks like the Peyton Manning of the WWE. Im excited/worried to see where this goes.

Also, and I have to give the assist to my friend Jason on this thought....how many times is Paul Bearer going to get murdered on live TV?! Paul has been encased in cement, locked in freezers, knocked off scaffolds, not to mention the time Undertaker just straight up fried him with lighting in the Smackdown game! Come on already, he's like the Kenny of the WWE Universe. Except he has a large layer of fat covering his head instead of an orange sweatshirt.

Not to mention, it doesn't get much dumber than this locked in a freezer bit. Let's give this even a second of thought. What was Paul Bearer (who we've established, was dead) doing there? Did Orton take his rental car to that old shack where Bearer used to make Taker forge caskets and kidnap him? Why did Orton lock him in a freezer when Kane only beat up his dad? Oh yeah, because Randy Orton is a DOCUMENTED UNSTABLE LUNATIC! Who we all are supposed to cheer for! How the hell did the handshake feud become "You murdered my dad, so I killed yours, let's have a FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH!". A fucking wrestling match? Two elderly men have been killed here!

I could go on and on. This feud only stands to prove my theory than Kane is one of the most misused, silly characters in wrestling. Along with Abyss's stupid ass, but that's for another blog...

Raw Meat For 4-16-12

I didn't watch Raw...so...here's this....

That's Hulk Hogan causing 911. It's the most hysterical/offensive thing I could find during my 10 second search. Enjoy.

NHL Playoffs: Fan's Perspective

Well, Game 1 of the St. Blues' playoff series is tonight. I can't wait to go home, eat some home made burgers, and cheer on my Blues. I've loved hockey, and the Blues, since I was a kid and I've waited what seems like a long time for a team like this to come around. These Blues are contenders this year and have all the pieces to compete for years to come.

First off, this season was unlike any other I've experienced as an adult. See as a kid I remember going to the "Kiel" and routing on my favorites like Hull and McInnis and I was a fanatic. After the lock out season, my fandom really died down. I just had to know EVERYTHING about hockey, and when the lockout happened and seemingly every player moved and rules changed, I tuned out. I still paid attention but I wasn't obsessed with it. Until two seasons ago. I bought a NHL game for the first time in year and used it to study all the new names and rules I'd missed, and I fully credit that game with relighting my fire. It was that young, hungry Blues team that I fell back in love with.

So to see the Blues mature and fight to get were they are this season, against all odds was magic. This was the first time I can remember going to a signifigant amount of games and not seeing a single loss. I also got to introduce my girlfriend to my love of hockey this year and she has taken to it well, haha.

So I go into the playoffs with high hopes, but history tells me to have low expectations. The Blues are, as Sadie discribed them this weekend, quickly becoming the Cubs of hockey. We always look like a contender, only to come up short. I hope this is the season we get rid of that, but Im keeping my expectations low.

All I expect of them is to win this first round. They are at home, were they have dominated. They are playing a team that they beat 4-0 in the season series and who are an aging, shell of their former selfs. This is winnable and anything less will leave me with a sour taste in my mouth. I think they can and will do it. Beyond that, its all hope and wishes. Who knows who they could play. There are some seriously tough teams in the west this season. I believe that if the Blues can win this series and carry some confidence to the next round though, anything can happen.

Beyond the Blues, I've got some other teams I've got my eye on. I've got a lot of teams I dig in the Eastern side of the tourney. I love what the Panthers did this off season and that they've made it in. Them, along with the Senators, would be a great underdog story. Mike Rupp's pro wrestling heel-like disrespect during the Winter Classic would soften a Rangers cup win too. The West on the other hand, I hate almost every team. I've thought about a series of blogs detailing why I have a seemlingly unrationable hatred of certain sports teams/figures, so I'll keep it short, but I can't fucking stand San Jose or LA. Detroit, while I respect what they do year in and year out, can fuck up a rope. Fuck those Canuks. Chicago I think of as more of a fun rivalry, but I sure don't want them to win AGAIN before St. Louis gets one. Phenoix I litterally forget exists these days, maybe they have that as an advtadge. The only team I would accept beating my Blues, is Nashville. I predicted long ago Nashville will be trouble in the playoffs and I respect them. Their goaltending is top notch and they really went all in at the deadline to add quality players.

Finally, some predictions...

East...
Rangers d. Senators
Bruins d. Capitals
Devils d. Panthers
Penguins d. Flyers

West…
Kings d. Canucks (Yep, LA is going to be a tough 8 to beat, mark my words)
Blues d. Sharks
Predators d. Red Wings
Blackhawks d. Coyotes

Raw Meat For 4-9-12

I'll admit straight up, I was in and out of Raw last night. I just went back and watched it on the DVR, which is never quite the same and I find myself fast forwarding a lot of the action and watching the segment. A bit of a side bar, I've never been a fan of taped wrestling. Its hard for me to sit through even the best show that isn't live, there's just an air of unpredictably that can't be matched. We all have Eric Bischoff to thank for that by the way, for as big of a tool as he is, he made leaps and bounds in the industry and never gets enough credit.

On with the show, as they say! That opening segment was perfect. I actually found myself asking if the punches were becoming legit for a second after Cena got busted open, which I'm sure is exactly what they were going for. Made Cena look like a bad ass for coming out and laying it on the line. Lesnar continues to look strong as well. Of course, I decided while watching this, Brock Lesnar could look tough dressed as the Easter bunny. It's not because of his physique, his background, his tattoos, or whatever. It's that awful haircut. The guy has had it since atleast college that I know of! You've GOT to be tough to sport that hair cut for 10-20 years. What does Brock even tell his barber? "Hey, I'd like a box on top of my head. Spike up the front, make it a little longer than the rest. Of course I want to look ridiculous!". What a battle of stupid flattops that match at Extreme Rules is gonna be, eh?

I didn't watch every match but caught most of the tag team match and all of the Lord Tensai squash. Eh, they were what they were. The tag team match was entertaining, but why the hell did Swagger just watch his partner get pinned. That's a former World Champion there? That's a rookie mistake. The Tensai squashes aren't supposed to be five star classics, I'm very into the character and like how it's based on what really happened with A-Train post WWE.

The past two weeks the Jericho vs Punk feud has been red hot. I found myself saying, "FINALLY!" while watching the segments between them this week. This is the stuff that I wanted to happen before Wrestlemania. Both men have done well on the mic (although I must say, Jericho did seem sharper than Punk this week) and I really feel the venom and emotion now. As great as that match was at Mania, it really could've used this venom. It just doesn't mean as much going into Extreme Rules. I dug Punk lossing his cool, getting DQ'd and the ensuing beatdown from Jericho and trash talk was more of that raw emotion that was missing going into Wrestlemania.

So, the Stooges. I mean, clearly it's stupid to be on Raw but atleast the segments were funny. Will Sasso did, hands down, the best Hulk Hogan impression I've ever heard. Anyone can put on a mustache and make a gravelly voice, but Sasso really had the subtle stuff down. Like how Hogan sometimes seems like he's trying to speak three words ahead of himself, his "dUde!". It was all there, classic. Took a damn good chokeslam bump too!

The main event did a great job to sell the Cena/Lesnar feud as well. Notice with every appearance, there were less and less cheers for Lesnar. Lesnar is naturally unlikable, so he is the perfect heel. I love his character, the idea that he thinks he's a "real" fighter in a world of bums, yet resorts to a low blow. Love him or hate him, they'll building a great character here with Lesnar and a great feud with Cena.

A couple final thoughts though, and my first one picks right up from here. As I just said, I love what they did with Cena and Lesnar this week and can't wait to see where it goes. With that being said, this angle is supposed to be heavily based in reality right?.Som  Lesnar is returning to dominate the WWE and he's starting at the top. That mean's he's challenging the WWE Champion, right? No...well, then maybe he's going to go after the World Heavyweight Champion since he won it so quickly...oh...no...he's not doing that either. Well then he HAS to challenge the man who won the biggest main event of all time, on the grandest stage of them all, right? Oh....no...he's challenging the guy who fucking LOST! Can't believe it took me a week to decide that was kind of dumb.

Finally, I don't know how to put this without contradicting some things I've said going into Wrestlemania....but it really makes me sad to see this Punk and Jericho feud take a back seat in ways. Now I've defended the WWE the past few weeks on here and on facebook because a bunch of internet fans are crying that Punk and Jericho didn't main event Mania. I'm not going back on that, Rock vs Cena was the only option. Even if the Punk/Jericho feud had this venom that it has now, I still don't put it above Rock vs Cena. Also, it's not like they were hurting, they were one of the final matches of then night and stole the show in ring wise.

Even now, I totally understand why they are not the focal point of the show. Brock Lesnar's return is the biggest story in wrestling today and should be the focus of Raw. That being said, as both a wrestler who has more respect for Chris Jericho than just about anyone and a fan who enjoys both Punk and Jericho's work, I hate to see them having these just perfect segments and in the end....its like it doesn't even matter. How quickly we forget with the returns of The Rock and Brock Lesnar, that Chris Jericho has just recently made a huge, surprising return as well and it just seems like nobody cares because of all these circus sideshows popping up.

WWE isn't really helping this fact either. It seems like the better the men do, the more WWE throws at them...

"So, you guys had an okay build going into Mania, too bad we've booked an impossible to top main event, eh?

"Wow, what a great Mania match guys. So tonight on Raw we're going to continue your feud, start a feud with Henry, tease a feud with Lord Tensai, and debut Brock fucking Lesnar."

"You guys actually came through last week, even though you fell the fuck down and the bottle exploded in your hand Chris. No worries, I know you'll knock it out of the park tonight. Oh yeah, Punk, you're STILL feuding with Henry on the side though. Also you have no chance of main eventing next year's Wrestlemania either."

I'm rambling, so I'll close this off. It just makes me sad to see two world class workers be constantly fucked with here. Till next time, folks.

Raw Meat For 4-2-2012

First and foremost, my Wrestlemania thoughts. I'll make them quick and dirty sense you are already probably tired of reading reviews of it. Overall, Mania turned out well. Let me first say, from a booking stand point, I get the quick title change for Daniel Bryan. But man, when you tune in to see somebody have a good match and get that, it just left a bad taste in my mouth for the first hour or so. Show/Cody was good, that Maria broad is tough, even Kane/Orton wasn't bad but I didn't get into it. I thought the big three matches all delivered and had everything you'd want from a great match. My one surprise was that I really liked the 6 vs 6 tag team match. Had a lot of fun spots and a really convincing false finish.

Now, on to Raw. The Rock's promo at the start of the show was great and did a great job pulling in the excitement from Wrestlemania. Rock settling out a goal of being WWE champion was surprising and left me wanting to tune back in and see where it goes, and that's all you can ask for. I will say, I think the idea of Rock vs a certain former UFC Champion at Wrestlemania 29 is a mammoth mistake. A huge match with Lesnar and a WWE title match could make a mega star out of somebody who is right on the cusp like CM Punk. I even think there is magic to be had in Taker Vs Lesnar. I think I'd rather see Lesnar vs Cena/Taker and have Rock go in as champion against a guy like Punk. But hey, I' writing a review blog, not the show, so who am I to say what's good for buisness. I'll try to just sit back and enjoy it.

Lord Tensai's debut was interesting. The match was a snoozefest but it wasn't supposed to be the second coming of Steamboat/Flair. It was to establish Tensai's character which I think they did a nice job of. I look forward to seeing where they take him.

CM Punk vs Mark Henry was a great match, never thought I'd say that. The Jericho attack afterwards was classic too, even if he did fall the hell down. My only concern is, they are possibly spreading Punk a little too thin right now. Rock has basically laid a challenge down to become Champion. Johnny's promo suggests that either Tensai or a reanimated Earthquake is about to e inserted into the title picture. None of that is necessary  when there is a compelling feud with Jericho that hasn't been fully tapped yet.

And yep, Brock fucking Lesnar. That promo from Cena was great and you really felt his emotion pouring out. For all the people bitching, The Rock coming back is like Jesus coming back in the WWE Universe. The fact that Cena took one of the greats to his limit but came up just short is not burrying John Cena. Not to mention, all you people do is bitch that Cena never loses...then you bitch when he gets beat at Wrestlemania. And now it looks like he's in for a nice little feud with Lesnar which I would expect to elevate both men. There work together pretty much launched John Cena back in the day, now Lesnar is back for revenge.

I have to say, I never thought Lesnar was coming back. I was shoot surprised when he came out, and I marked out for it. Its been talked about so many times I just assumed it would never happen. I'd like to see Heyman return as his manager but I doubt we get that. Still, Im not a hater, there was magic in Miami, I haven't heard a pop like that in years.

I'll close with this, that was one hot crowd last night. The "Yes!" chants were great, and the "Si!" chants were fucking classic. They were into the whole show for better or worse. I hope if anything, the signing of Lesnar and part time return of The Rock leads to more of that. Less people sitting on their hands and more giant reactions like the ones that opened and closed the show. That's simply good for all of us.