Today is a slow news day in the hockey world, so let’s do a mailbag.
All I ask from you with these questions is three things: Ask about trade deadline stuff, keep it fun, and don’t get all weird on me. Can you guys handle that for an entire mailbag? Let’s find out.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
Hey folks...
The trade deadline is this week, so let's try a mailbag.
I'm looking for your questions, comments, rants and hypotheticals. Trade talk/speculation/proposals are fun, although remember this won't run until deadline day.
Clever is good. Straight down the middle is good too, so don't feel like you have to steal the show if you'd rather ask something simple. Anything can work.
Send your stuff via email at dgbmailbag@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Sean
It’s been a week, but most of us are still in shock. NHL GMs actually did it. They pulled off the impossible: meaningful midseason trades. More than one, even.
Well, if they can do it, so can we. Welcome back to “Who Says No?”, the feature where you send me your trade proposals involving things that can not be traded.
We tried this over the summer, with trades involving Brass Bonanza, Carlton the Bear and the 1999 Super Bowl. Were any of those trades realistic? No they were not. But neither was “The Canucks trade Quinn Hughes to a team that isn’t the Devils”, and look where that ended up.
What did you fine folks come up with this time around? I’m almost afraid to find out, but let’s dig in.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
We’re two weeks into the season, and it’s too early. Too early for panic, too early for trades, too early for rankings, too early for conclusions. In fact, it’s too early for everything but a Friday mailbag that will distract you from doing work you weren’t going to do anyway. Let’s do this.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
Hey folks…
Thinking of doing another edition of The Contrarian. You send in a statement that you think is obvious or inarguable, and I’ll try to come up with the contrarian view.
We've done a few of these, and the ones that work best find that sweet spot of feeling difficult but not impossible. "Mark Messier was a bad signing for the Canucks" and "Ray Bourque's Cup win was good" worked great. Stuff like "Connor McDavid is good at hockey" or "The Leafs have a bad playoff record", not so much.
Send me your sure-thing statement via email at dgbcontrarian@gmail.com.
In the NHL, you can’t trade coaches. There was a time when you could, and it happened back in 1987, when Rangers’ GM Phil Esposito sent a first-round pick to Quebec for head coach Michel Bergeron in a surprise swap. It was a creative move. It also didn’t work, with Bergeron lasting less than two seasons, and the league quickly moved to make sure it wouldn’t be tried again. These days, coaches are one of many assets a team is not allowed to trade.
Or are they? After all, we occasionally see coaching quasi-trades, like when John Tortorella and Alain Vigneault essentially swapped teams after being fired in 2013. More recently, the Rangers and Penguins didn’t actually pull off a Mike Sullivan and David Quinn for Dan Muse trade, but it kind of worked out that way.
Let's use that as inspiration. We've got some time to kill between Stanley Cup final games, so I put out a call to readers: Send me your "who says no?" trade proposals involving things that cannot actually be traded. And you sure did. Can we pull off a blockbuster, or will just be too complicated to make a trade in the cap era NHL? Let's find out.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
We all love a good “Who says no?” trade column. Readers send
in their proposals, and writers figure out which ones makes sense, and which
teams would or wouldn’t be interested. It’s a great gimmick, which is why you
see it show up so often.
Let’s try it with a twist. I’m asking you for your trade
proposals involving anything that teams aren’t actually allowed to trade. That
is, I don’t want to hear about players or picks or signing rights or retained
salary. Instead, I want you to hit me with everything else – coaches, front
offices, mascots, media, anthem singers, you name it.
Get creative, come up with a trade you think would work for
both teams, and send it in. Then I’ll take those ideas and… actually, I don’t
know. This probably won’t work. But it would be fun if it did, so no harm in
trying.
One tip: Keep your trade offers small and specific. One team's coach for another's GM would work way better than something involving vague concepts like "Team A trades their fans to Team B for low taxes".
Update: OK seriously stop sending proposals that involve tax rates.
Email your trade proposals to dgbmailbag@gmail.com and let’s see where
this goes.
It’s the middle of May, which means that the Toronto Maple Leafs have lost. It took a little longer this time, with this team going deep into the second round, but the ending was the same: An absolutely brutal no-show, fans and media pleading for something to change, and this time we mean it.
Sounds like it’s time for a spring tradition around these parts: The annual “the Leafs lose again” mailbag. Let’s see what was on your mind this time around.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
We haven’t done a mailbag since just after the season started. Remember back then? When the Rangers and Bruins were elite, the Predators were ready to contend, the Habs and Blue Jackets were write-offs and the Sabres were going to take the Capitals’ playoff spot? Good times. In related news, it’s possible we’re all dumb.
On that note, let’s see what was on your mind this time around.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
Welcome back to The Contrarian, one of the most beloved and popular features that I write. Unless it isn't.
The concept here is simple. Readers send me statements about the NHL which they believe to be obviously true, bordering on the inarguable. Then I argue against those statements anyway, and see if I can convince you to start thinking the unthinkable.
Do I actually believe any of this? Maybe, but that’s not the point. The point is that I’m a sportswriter, and if I’m going to have any success in this media world, I need to master the art of making ridiculous contrarian arguments that make just enough sense to be infuriating.
Previous editions of The Contrarian have seen me make the case that Mark Messier was a great Canuck, Ray Bourque’s long-awaited championship was bad, and Brett Hull’s skate-in-crease goal was actually fine. Today, we’ve got a new batch of reader statements that can’t be argued. Spoiler alert: All of them will be.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
It’s two weeks into the season, and we’re all still trying to get our bearings. When it comes to those questions you might have percolating in your hockey fan brain, there’s nothing better than having a forum where you can ask a well-informed expert. Unfortunately, you have me instead, but ah well, we’ll make the best of it.
It's mailbag time. Which early-season storylines were on your mind? What kind of crazy hypotheticals were you able to dream up for me? Will I be able to make it all the way through without being asked about The Amulet? Let’s find out.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
Welcome to the August mailbag. Is it going to get weird? (Scans actual headlines.) It had better. Let’s do this.
Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and style.
Who wins a seven-game series: The team that just won the Stanley Cup, or the best team that didn't make the playoffs IF the series starts the day after the Cup is won, the challenger is fully healthy, rested and prepared, and the champs don't know the series is happening until that morning? – Ben D.
First of all: This is one of the best questions this mailbag has ever had. But to really make it work, we need to establish the stakes. Otherwise, the easy answer is “The champs just won the Cup so they don’t care if they lose every game 10-0 and wouldn’t bother trying.”
So here’s what we’re playing for: The champs are informed that the Cup is on the line, and if they lose the series then their win is stricken from the record. That ought to get their attention.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
It’s the second round of the playoffs, so it must be time for our annual “the Leafs were just eliminated” mailbag. This should be a million laughs, I can’t wait.
Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and style.
Based on the one-way parasocial relationship between us as podcaster/listener, I hope you don't find it weird that my only real question is "are you okay?" – Danny B.
I am, thanks. Honestly, this one barely stung at all.
I once wrote a column about how difficult this version of the Leafs is to root for, and that was almost two full seasons ago. It’s fair to say it hasn’t got any easier. This is a talented group, but it’s not an especially likable one, especially when the story always ends the same way.
So yeah, my reaction to Game 7 was a lot closer to a shrug than a tantrum. (And if you don’t believe me, here’s Ian Mendes opening Monday’s podcast with a description of what it was like to watch the game with me.)
Honestly, this is pretty easily the least disappointment I’ve ever felt after a Leafs playoff loss, which is maybe not a great sign. And I’m guessing I’m not the only one, which is worse.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
We’re just two days away from a trade deadline in which all hell will break loose, or maybe nothing all that interesting will happen. As we count down the hours, let’s see what’s on your mind…
You keep talking about how great the Gold Plan is because it would eliminate tanking. But doesn’t the whole thing fall apart because teams would just tank earlier, to make sure they were eliminated from playoff contention as soon as possible? – A whole lot of you.
Now that we officially have a pro league using the Gold Plan, the old debates about whether the NHL should adopt it are back. Some are on board, others are just wrong, and that’s OK. But this seems to have emerged as the main objection, so let’s cover it here.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
Which team would win this 3-on-3 tournament?
Note: Each team’s one designated goalie has to stay in net, and only those goalies get goalie equipment.
I'm leaning defensemen. Goalies have massive advantage having a real goalie, but I don't think they would have the puck much. – Josh D.
I’m with you on the goaltenders – they just wouldn’t be able to keep up. The average NHL goalie is a far better hockey player than you’d think, and plenty of beer leaguers have stories of pro goalies wanting to play out and just skating circles around everyone. But these wouldn’t be beer leaugers they’re playing against. They might never touch the puck. Give them the bronze.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
Welcome to August, where nothing is happening and it’s the perfect opportunity to waste everyone’s time with a bunch of nonsense. “Um, slow news day?” No, dummy, it’s a slow news month, so let’s get weird.
Please settle the debate about the proper way to play Puckdoku. (And share any tips you might have.) – Eric C.
If you’re not already playing Puckdoku, you’re still getting work done missing out. The game is based on a bit we did on Puck Soup a few weeks ago, and is basically a hockey version of the Immaculate Grid craze. You’re presented with a 3x3 grid, with teams or accomplishments along the top and side, and you need to fill each space with a player who meets both of his square’s requirements.
How do you win? In theory, by successfully filling out the whole grid, although some people like to go further. Is there a right and wrong way to play? I don’t think so – this is one of those things where everyone should just enjoy what they enjoy, and play however they choose.
That said, you should make up your mind before you start each day's grid. As best I can tell, there are four distinct ways people are playing:
- Basic mode: Just get as many right answers as possible, which a lot of days is difficult enough on its own. A right answer is a right answer, and that’s all you’re looking for. I’d imagine this is how most beginners and/or casual fans play.
- Front-runner mode: In this version, you’re trying to guess the most popular answer for each square, which will usually (but not quite always) be an active and/or superstar player. This means you’re looking for the highest possible “uniqueness” score for each square. Or to put it more simply, you want your grid to match the “Popular picks” that show up at the end of the game.
- Sicko mode: The opposite of front-runner mode, this one has you searching for the rarest answers, and the lowest possible uniqueness score. Double-digits is good; single digits is better. It will not surprise you to know that this is how I play.
- Cheater mode: This is sicko mode on steroids, where you research your answers before you enter them to try to get as close as possible to a uniqueness score of zero. I’ll be honest, I don’t really get the appeal here, especially now that you can use this tool to easily find players nobody has ever heard of. But if it’s your cup of tea then go for it, with the only caveat being that you own it – no showing up in conversations between sicko mode fans and pretending your zero was legit.
If anyone has come up with anything more creative, be sure to let us know in the comments.
As far as tips, I’ll pass on a few.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
I’ve been doing this writing thing for a long time, dating back to my first blogspot post back in 2008. I’ve written a lot of different things, many of them deeply weird. I’ve covered drafts, all-star games and Stanley Cup finals. I’ve impersonated an NHL GM, tricked a player into thinking he’d been traded at the deadline, and debated Ken Dryden on TV.
But there’s one thing I’ve never had a chance to do, until now: A reader mailbag about the Toronto Maple Leafs actually winning something.
Oh, we’ve done Leaf mailbags. Have we ever. Just not like this. Not when we’re all… what’s the word? You know, the one that means the opposite of miserable. Look, we’re still getting used to this, give us an adjustment period.
I put out the call for questions on Sunday morning. Here’s what I got from those of you who were somehow sober enough to put a coherent thought together.
I’m conflicted. Like a lot of Leafs fans, I said the regular season didn’t matter for two or three years running and felt that winning in the first round this season in particular was merely table stakes. Now that they have accomplished what I felt was the bare minimum for a team with this much prime talent, am I supposed to feel good? Am I allowed to enjoy this?I’m caught between wanting to be elated and also having the feeling of a parent who told their kid to tidy up their room 67 times before they finally did it. Please advise. – Mike S.
Yes, you should feel good. Yes, you’re allowed to enjoy it. No, they haven’t won anything all that meaningful yet, but so what. As long as you’re not going full throttle as if they just won the Cup, you’re good.
For one thing, if they’d lost again – especially after blowing a 3-1 series lead – then we’d all have been miserable. And more than that, the team would have been blown up. There was no avoiding it. Being a Leaf fan after another early exit would have been absolutely awful. Now we don't have to be. If you sit by the phone all day waiting for bad news and the call never comes, that’s worth celebrating.
But even more importantly, it’s OK to just enjoy it when your team makes you happy. That was the point of last week’s post on non-Cup playoff runs; when only one team can win the Cup every year and there are 32 teams in line, you can’t rely on that as your sole source of joy. You’d lose your mind, and the league would lose its fan base. It’s OK to cheer on the baby steps.
Your kids finally cleaned their room, and they did a good job of it. Screw it, take them out for ice cream. We have to embrace the joy where we can find it.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
We’ve got one week to go, and then we can all stop writing about the same thing over and over sit back and enjoy trade deadline day. While we wait, let’s open up the mailbag and see what kind of nonsense you all came up with this month.
Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and style.
In light of Coyotes Legend Shea Weber: Which team has the better overall roster, Team Midseason Dead Space or Team Summer Dead Space? Team Midseason Dead Space is any space that was traded from opening night to the trade deadline, while Team Summer Dead Space is from whenever the Stanley Cup was awarded until final rosters are due.
I doubt you would get a full 20 players for each side, but I bet you could definitely get a shinny game together. And seeing how they're all LTIR guys anyways, that's probably for the better. – Jacob B.
Sounds like fun, although I’m guessing Team Summer will win this one. Let’s find out.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
Happy holidays, assuming they’ve started for you. If you’re at work today, no you’re not. You might be physically in the building, but we all know you’re not working, so let’s waste company time with a midseason mailbag.
Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and style.
If you could get rid of one of these items but the other becomes permanent as-is, which do you change: Loser point or offside reviews? – Bill M.
No. Pass. I refuse. This is like asking me which one of my kids I love most, only the exact opposite.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
Are you ready for NHL opening night, part six or whatever we’re up to now? Me too. But in the meantime, let’s get in a quick mailbag before some teams play their third game and we all start forming conclusions that we’ll cling to all season long.
Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and style.
MLB’s wild card weekend was fun and the NBA play-in tournament has been a winner. Shouldn’t the NHL follow suit? – Andy B.
Absolutely. The NBA and MLB now both have play-in rounds, and the NFL kind of does too if you count the wildcard weekend. The NHL is the only one of the big four leagues that still has every postseason team start on equal footing.
I’ve made the case for the play-in before, most recently on the podcast with Ian a few weeks back. The NHL should steal the NBA’s format, where the #7 and #8 seeds play each other in a single game with the winner advancing and the loser facing the winner of a showdown between #9 and #10. That means the two higher seeds get two chances to win their way in and only miss if they go 0-for-2, while the task is tougher but not impossible for the lower two teams who each need back-to-back wins.
Today, all that really matters is making the playoffs, since home ice barely has an impact in the playoffs any more and seeding doesn’t matter at all. Sometimes that means we get a “race” like last year’s East, where we knew all eight teams by Christmas and could basically tune out the entire conference until April. Under a play-in format, you’d have more teams in the mix, plus pressure points at eighth (to get the double chance at advancing), sixth (to avoid the play-in altogether), and first and second (to get to play a team that just survived the play-in rather than a rested opponent). I know that some fans don’t want to “expand” the playoffs, so don’t – we can do like the NBA and just say that the play-in as determine who makes the official playoffs, which will still have the same 16 teams it’s had for decades.
It will apparently never happen because Gary Bettman is weird about this. So once again, the NHL will dawdle behind everyone else, and hockey fans will watch all the other sports have more fun than we do while we mumble about tradition.
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
(Want to read this post on The Athletic for free? Sign up for a free trial.)
 |
 |  |
The Athletic Hockey Show runs four days a week during the season, and will feature me with Other Sean Gentille on Wednesdays.
Puck Soup is a podcast featuring me and Ryan Lambert. We release one free episode each week during the season, plus mailbags and other bonus episodes for Patreon subscribers.
"Biscuits" was the Vice Sports hockey podcast, hosted by DGB and Dave Lozo. It ran for two seasons; the final episode was in July, 2018. You can find the archives below:
As of the 2018-19 season, my work will appear exclusively at The Athletic.
Don't have a subscription? You can sign up today by clicking the offer link at the bottom of my posts, or read for free with a one-week trial.
My archives from other sites can be found here:
