Welcome to the inaugural edition of Post to Post. The internet’s premier mailbag for questions about hockey, meat, life and anything else. If you have question that you’d like answered, get in touch through Twitter or Facebook. Today we’ll be looking at Nazem Kadri, beards and Andrew Ladd, but first we’ll start in BC:
QUESTION
After numerous defeats in a row, is there actually any hope for the Canucks? – Alex on Facebook
Have you ever climbed a tree and thought ‘damn this is fun, but I’m a bit too high up so I’ll just climb down in case I fall and get hurt’? Well the tree is the league and you are the Canucks.
The Vancouver Canucks’ fall from grace was predicted on these pages not long ago. Starting the season with a 4/0/0 streak saw the Canucks sat atop the the Pacific division, now the team sits sixth, just one point ahead of the Arizona Coyotes.
Vancouver lost nine games in a row, including four shut-outs. 4/0/0 became 4/8/1 which is kinda embarrassing. Coaches have been fired for less and Willie Desjardins must be panicking a bit. On Tuesday the Canucks had scored the fewest goals in the league, even if the blueline was better than useless, if the team can’t find the net then they aren’t going to win anything.
To answer your question Alex, we’re only four weeks into the season, and stranger things have happened and the Pacific is still fairly tight among the six teams that aren’t in Edmonton. I’d definitely cancel that ‘Canucks Stanley Cup’ tattoo though.
QUESTION
@The4thLinePod If (both) of you could grow your beard into an interesting shape what would it be? Ferries wheel? Etc
— Joe Martini (@JoeMartini90) November 6, 2016
Carl would shape his beard into antlers, Joel questioned the very concept of beards having a shape. I’d go for one of those NFL style hand warmers that quarterbacks have.
QUESTION
Why does Kadri seem like he’s losing his mind in Toronto? Is it the city or the young players that are eventually going to run him out of town? – Gwen via twitter
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri is skating a fine line. He may have escaped supplemental discipline for his blindside hit on Daniel Sedin, but he was still ejected from the game, and you can’t score from the locker room. Legal or not, Kadri chose to make the hit which convinced the officials they had no choice but to eject. That sort of decision making is not endearing Kadri to the Maple Leafs faithful.
Kadri’s disciplinary history leaves a lot to be desired, having been suspended in each of the last three seasons. His season has been suspension-free so far, but his 3.08 (average) penalty minutes per game aren’t helping the Leafs (or my fantasy team). Wherever the point is at which he just becomes a liability is, it can’t be far away.
The Leafs faithful can be a demanding, jersey throwing lot when unhappy. But they’re probably the only fanbase that Kadri has left, so if he can keep up his current scoring rate of 0.5 goals per game, then he won’t be run out of town just yet.
QUESTION
@The4thLinePod will Andrew Ladd ever score a goal?
— Joel Schnell (@JoelASchnell) November 7, 2016
If you’ve listened to episode 104, you’ll know that Andrew Ladd hasn’t exactly been a shining light for the Islanders. His mighty zero goals and one assist in 12 games is pretty poor. So Carl has added Ladd to his fantasy team. A decision so clever/dumb that Rob Vollman will probably write it about it. Hence Joel’s trolling.
Will Ladd ever score a goal? Definitely. I’m not sure that’ll be in the NHL, but definitely in life. Life goals are achievable. Keep the faith Andrew, Carl’s got your back.
That’s it for now. If you have a question about hockey, facial hair, kale or anything else, you know where we are!