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“Republicans buy shoes too” we heard a young Michael Jordan say when he was asked to back a young black politician in his home state. And it’s been a quote that has haunted Jordan’s life since it was published in Sam Smith’s book “The Second Coming.” For all the accomplishments that Michael Jordan has had, the championships, the Olympic glory, the records, the prestige, the sneakers, the title of best basketball player of all time, this quote has followed him as an example of his so-called apolitical and pro-capitalist over everything stance. It spits in the face of the image of the strong leader thatRead More →

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When signing a new player, the dollar amount on the contract is key. I recently wrote a piece on Vancouver’s potential cap space issues. They have a lot of average players on big-money ‘no-trade’ contracts. Often, teams will shell out big bucks to get their man. However, this does not always guarantee success. For every Connor McDavid, there is an overpaid Loui Eriksson. NHL contracts are always closely scrutinized, here are some of the worst offenders. 1. Rick DiPietro In 2006, the New York Islanders were so confident in the ability of their starting goalie. DiPietro became the first-ever goalie to be drafted first overallRead More →

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While fans lie in wait for the NHL Awards, today the Hart Trophy nominees were revealed. The trio of players nominated might not have caused a major shock. However, each of these players deserves to be considered the leagues elite. Which player deserves to win? Winning the Hart trophy will put a player among greats like Gretzky and Orr. Leon Draisaitl | Nathan MacKinnon (@Mackinnon9) | @artemiypanarin Your 2020 Hart Trophy finalists. #NHLAwards More from @NHLdotcom ➡️ https://t.co/QWVvSBW4jE pic.twitter.com/7rsJhIAfbY — NHL (@NHL) July 21, 2020 Today the 4th Line Podcast will debate which of the three players is the most worthy winner. Firstly, Joe Martini,Read More →

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Do you remember what made you fall in love with your favorite NHL team? Were you swooned by their flashy colors and fearsome logo? Were you taken to a game by your dad as youngster? Maybe you were born into tradition, or your hometown adopted a relocation or was awarded a franchise. Perhaps you saw Claude Lemiuex and Darren McCarty spearhead the most vicious rivalry in all of sports history live on television. All of us were taken on a different path, some short, some longer, to find that one team we call our own. We immerse ourselves and in essence we become a partRead More →

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Back in September when we all found out that Erik Karlsson was being traded to the San Jose Sharks, every Ottawa Senators fan lost a little piece of themselves. Just like Daniel Alfredsson’s return to Ottawa, Erik Karlsson will be making his first appearance against his former club on December 1st. Embed from Getty Images How the trade has panned out so far When looking at the trade from a fan’s point of view, the Senators fans felt like they could have received so much more in return. Fast forward to present day, that trade is looking better and better by the day. Erik KarlssonRead More →

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Hockey in Atlanta sadly never truly caught on. The city’s first foray into the NHL began in 1972 with the establishment of the Atlanta Flames. Despite making the playoff in six of their eight seasons; there was little hockey fanfare in Georgia. By 1979-80 the Flames averaged less than 10,000 fans a game at the Omni Coliseum. This would result in their relocation to the more hockey-hungry Calgary. In 1999, a second attempt would be made with very mixed success. Atlanta Thrashers Due to a four-team expansion; Atlanta was awarded another NHL franchise on June 25, 1997. As a result, the name ‘Thrashers’ (the official state birdRead More →

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Before the puck even drops for the regular season, let’s make crazy predictions. Who will win the 2018-2019 Stanley Cup? Which NHL team will surprise you? And which team will let you down? The Surprise: St. Louis Blues With newly acquired forwards like Tyler Bozak (11G, 32A), Patrick Maroon (17G, 26A) and Ryan O’Reilly (24G, 37A) the St Louis Blues have added grit and point producers this off season. These new acquisitions should bring a big jump to the team who respectfully finished fifth in the extremely tough Central division. Ryan O’Reilly might be the most exciting piece the Blues have added, but he isRead More →

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Picture the scene if you will: it’s the year 2000 and my family has embarked on a Christmas vacation to the Big Apple. Being from the UK, our winters are normally damp and full of rain. Coming to the sub-zero temperatures of a New York December meant pounding the sidewalks was a real task. New York seemed like a metropolis compared to life in buttoned-down Winchester. Standing under the bright neon advertisements in Time Square, I felt like the luckiest kid in the world. Keen to make the most of our trip, whilst sheltering from the cold in Macy’s, my Dad suggested the possibility of headingRead More →

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Sunday night ended any speculation about Center, Ryan O’Reilly, being traded to the St. Louis Blues. He is no longer a Buffalo Sabre. GM Jason Botterill was essentially given what he asked for. Two roster players (Patrik Berglund, Vladmir Sobotka), a prospect (Tage Thompson), and two higher draft picks (1st-2019 with conditions, 2nd-2021). Scoring and forward depth plagued Buffalo but Berglund and Sobotka will improve the bottom-six eventually. Thompson likely starts in the minors and could elevate someone from Rochester (C.J. Smith, Sean Malone) if they are ready. A first round pick never hurts although it is Top 10 protected. The Blues, adding two centersRead More →

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The Buffalo Sabres held their annual development camp this past week, followed by the 3 on 3 scrimmage. For some, this was the first chance to view Rasmus Dahlin, the highlight, in a game-like setting. Yesterday’s scrimmage results ended with 2017 1st round pick, Casey Mittelstadt‘s, group winning the tournament, again. Over 40 draftees, signees and invitees worked on skills, on and off the ice, while concluding the camp with some game simulation. Season ticket holders filed into the Harbor Center in downtown Buffalo to watch potential pros. Though not that close to an real game, the youngsters had the opportunity to show off. EmbedRead More →