So. The Edmonton Oilers, according to the proposed 24-team COVID Cup plans the NHL is voting on, will not be a top-4 seed and they’ll have to go through a “play-in” in order to “make the playoffs” and that short series (not sure if that’d be a best of three or five) is against a team that, in any other season, would be a lottery team, the Chicago Blackhawks. And should they beat them, they get to play a team who got a bye but had fewer points than them in the standings, the Dallas Stars…
Are. You. Kidding. Me?
This joke is getting better by the day. In an effort to stay “relevant” (as if daily hockey coverage of when the NHL draft is going to take place or when hockey might come back isn’t keeping the NHL talk alive) and to recoup lost revenues, the NHL is ready to piss off a MASSIVE portion of its playing personnel.
I’m not concerned about the Oilers losing to Chicago, if you’re wondering. Now, I can’t wait to see if the NHL “awards” Edmonton the chance to be a hub for this summer tournament because they’re f*cking them over so badly.
You know how you fix this, you take the where everybody was in the standings when the league took its pause and those are your playoff teams. “What’s that? Your team’s points percentage is better than another’s? Too bad. We’ll work something out down the road with you. Maybe give you an All-Star game or a draft to host.”
I just feel that the NHL is laughing in the face of society right now. Why is it that professional athletes get access to things like lighter travel restrictions improved “lifestyle” choices ahead of the fans? How much more stoked would fanbases all over the world be if they could fill the arenas of their favorite sports teams as opposed to being stuck in their cages watching it on the tele?
Now, if hockey returns I’ll watch it. I still love the game. I mean, they might actually find a way to make it unwatchable, but I’ll give it a shot. What I won’t do is give it the same credence a regular Stanley Cup Playoffs would get because it’s not that. It’s an abomination
BLH Hockey Interview with Jason Strudwick
Following up our interview with Edmonton Oilers winger Patrick Russell, here’s our second interview of the BLH Hockey Interview series! This time with one of the greatest shootout scorers in the history of the NHL, former Islanders, Rangers, Canucks, Blackhawks, and Oilers defender Jason Strudwick.
I did up some sweet graphics for this interview and posted them over at the BLH Hockey Instagram account! Please, head on over and check them out! Give us a follow if you aren’t!
Growing up, who was your favorite player?
I liked the more aggressive players that were physical. Mark Messier, Bob Probert and Luke Richardson all caught my attention. They were able to influence the game with their physicality and skills.
Growing up in Edmonton during the 80’s I was so lucky to fall in love with hockey by watching the great Oilers teams of that era. A group of HOFers running wild on the NHL and many cup runs sealed it for me.
I was so lucky to play as long as I did in the league. Scoring my first goal, getting into the playoffs and scoring in a shootout were all great but playing live in front of my parents the first time is number 1. That is when it really became real for them and me. Growing up I never thought I could be an NHL player. I actually wanted to be an accountant. So when I made it I was quite surprised as were my parents!
Jagr was the top player I played with. I remember getting on the ice with him in training camp for the Rangers with him. I couldn’t believe how strong he was on his skates and how he controlled the play. It is true that you don’t know how good a player is until you play with him. We would be down a goal going into the 3rd period and both our team and the team we were playing against knew he was going to score the goal to tie it up and be involved in the winner!
There were so many great players to play against but I remember thinking that Paul Kariya was a blur. Let’s be honest, I didn’t get to match up against him every shift but when we did play on the ice at the same time I couldn’t believe how quick he was.
I was very lucky to win 2 memorial cups. Those are great memories and it was two season of playing 100 games from the start of preseason till the final cup game. I do think that winning the Stanley Cup would be the hardest. Winning 4 rounds against the best in the world with the travel would really take its toll.
Playing in Hungary was such a great experience. I loved it. The team and fans were very passionate. I still hear from friends and teammates from there. I really enjoyed the chance to be an important player for our team. Getting lots of minutes and action reminded me of why I love the game and to keep playing it. The 2 years prior in the NHL I had been mostly used as a meat grinder and even though I didn’t mind it the reality is making plays and being on the ice at the end of a game is why we play the game. Coming back after that time in Hungary I was recharged and ready to be more then just the meat grinder. That first year after the Lockout was maybe my best year in the league and a lot of that has to do with my time in Hungary.
Wow…. These are all so important, hard to rank them. I do believe that heart/compete should be the foundation that a player is built on. If you don’t like to compete and test yourself against the best eventually you will be pushed out of the game because you are unable to keep up. Smarts is next, knowing how you can impact the game and where to be trumps the ability to dangle the whole team but being brain dead. Lastly I would put skill. Every player at the jr level and up has an amazing amount of skill so the other 2 are what create separation.
This is something I get asked often and the answer is easy….be coachable. If the coach asks you to kill penalties become the best in your league at that skill. Listen to the advice they are offering you as to how you can improve. Trust me, at 15 you don’t have all the answer. I am still learning the game at 44!
If the door is locked kick it down. This means that when you go to a tryout you need to leave an impression. You can’t just be there to fill a jersey. Try to get noticed every skate. That could mean winning a faceoff, blocking a shot, throwing a hit, driving the net that results in a goal or killing a penalty. Right now everyone thinks you make an impression by toe dragging the whole team. There is more to the game and it gives players a great opportunity to get noticed and kick the door down!
