During a break this week, I watched a big chunk of Keanu Reeves’ documentary about old-fashioned versus digital film, titled “Side by Side.”
Beyond noting that the oft-ridiculed “Matrix” star really gestures with his hands a lot when he’s interviewing famous and/or beloved directors, I couldn’t help but get the same feeling that I get when people lament the decline of typewriters, record players, railroads and whatever relics they’re moaning about at the moment. (There’s at least one documentary that covers people who seriously cannot let pinball machines go.)
The thought I had was: “Wow, these people are really stubborn about mostly stupid things.”
Upon further reflection, it’s understandable that they cling to some of these things. (That’s why I wrote mostly stupid.)
Still, the impact is basically the same. People become set in their ways and stubborn, even when there are obvious advancements taking place. Radio had to adapt to movies and television. Editing a piece of cinema is simply easier on a computer. So is running a fantasy hockey league.
THE BRICK WALL
Really, when you think about, wearing a helmet without a visor is hockey’s answer to refusing to replace your typewriter with a word processor. Of course, barring a pretty extraordinary amount of bad luck,* refusing to buy an mp3 player in lieu of your phonograph won’t possibly cost you your eyesight or perhaps even your career.
That’s the grim reality that New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal might be facing. We don’t know yet how bad his grisly-looking eye injury will end up being. Instead, we just shudder at the sight of the video and uncomfortable screen captures.
We also open up the inevitable debates about visors. Proponents of visors are basically the same as people who thought goalies should wear masks, skaters needed to wear helmets and stanchions probably shouldn’t cause grave danger to athletes.
It’s the guys who are stubbornly fighting this who are threatening to go the way of the dodo.
THE ELITE VS. THE OBSOLETE
Sadly, the truth is staring them in the face much like the horizontal visor line they’d like to avoid viewing. How, pray tell, can you complain about a visor obstructing your view when visionaries like Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Alex Ovechkin and [insert almost every world-class player] has learned to adapt to such an encumbrance?
Furthermore, ask all the players whose careers were ended prematurely or flat-out ruined if they’re glad they never wore a visor. While there might be some who are unwilling to admit their mistakes, my guess is that most of a group that includes Steve Yzerman, Al MacInnis and (my saddest example) Bryan Berard would fess up that they should’ve taken whatever precautions they could.
GRANDFATHER CLOCK TICKING
Someday - hopefully soon - the NHL will mandate visors. Maybe they’ll grandfather the changes in so that all rookies are required to wear one while the dinosaurs can roam around with their eyes foolishly endangered like next generation Craig MacTavishes. Even those reckless types should be forced to do so in an ideal world, but in reality, it would be better just to avoid the endless belly-aching from those who wish video games were still like “Pong.”
I look forward to a future where players have visors, protect their necks from stray blades and wear Kevlar socks so they can better avoid Erik Karlsson-type disasters.
Sure, it won’t make hockey a safe sport by any stretch. Yet let me say this: you might go skydiving for the thrill, but you probably also try to avoid splatting on the ground like an idiot if at all possible. Let’s give hockey players as many “parachutes” as possible.
Staal is a very good (maybe great) defenseman, yet his fantasy impact won’t be enormous.** But what if it happens to a big performer in a similar prime-of-his-career spot like Jamie Benn, who I’m fairly certain remains visor-free? It would be a shame, but the biggest shame would be that it could have easily been avoided, like yet another no-seat-belt death.
Hey, some of us like gambling more than others, though. Jump for more from the hockey world.
* - Maybe a scorned lover throwing a typewriter at you?
** - It’s probably bad news in an indirect way for an important guy by the name Henrik Lundqvist, though.
During a break this week, I watched a big chunk of Keanu Reeves’ documentary about old-fashioned versus digital film, titled “Side by Side.”
Beyond noting that the oft-ridiculed “Matrix” star really gestures with his hands a lot when he’s interviewing famous and/or beloved directors, I couldn’t help but get the same feeling that I get when people lament the decline of typewriters, record players, railroads and whatever relics they’re moaning about at the moment. (There’s at least one documentary that covers people who seriously cannot let pinball machines go.)
The thought I had was: “Wow, these people are really stubborn about mostly stupid things.”
Upon further reflection, it’s understandable that they cling to some of these things. (That’s why I wrote mostly stupid.)
Still, the impact is basically the same. People become set in their ways and stubborn, even when there are obvious advancements taking place. Radio had to adapt to movies and television. Editing a piece of cinema is simply easier on a computer. So is running a fantasy hockey league.
THE BRICK WALL
Really, when you think about, wearing a helmet without a visor is hockey’s answer to refusing to replace your typewriter with a word processor. Of course, barring a pretty extraordinary amount of bad luck,* refusing to buy an mp3 player in lieu of your phonograph won’t possibly cost you your eyesight or perhaps even your career.
That’s the grim reality that New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal might be facing. We don’t know yet how bad his grisly-looking eye injury will end up being. Instead, we just shudder at the sight of the video and uncomfortable screen captures.
We also open up the inevitable debates about visors. Proponents of visors are basically the same as people who thought goalies should wear masks, skaters needed to wear helmets and stanchions probably shouldn’t cause grave danger to athletes.
It’s the guys who are stubbornly fighting this who are threatening to go the way of the dodo.
THE ELITE VS. THE OBSOLETE
Sadly, the truth is staring them in the face much like the horizontal visor line they’d like to avoid viewing. How, pray tell, can you complain about a visor obstructing your view when visionaries like Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Alex Ovechkin and [insert almost every world-class player] has learned to adapt to such an encumbrance?
Furthermore, ask all the players whose careers were ended prematurely or flat-out ruined if they’re glad they never wore a visor. While there might be some who are unwilling to admit their mistakes, my guess is that most of a group that includes Steve Yzerman, Al MacInnis and (my saddest example) Bryan Berard would fess up that they should’ve taken whatever precautions they could.
GRANDFATHER CLOCK TICKING
Someday - hopefully soon - the NHL will mandate visors. Maybe they’ll grandfather the changes in so that all rookies are required to wear one while the dinosaurs can roam around with their eyes foolishly endangered like next generation Craig MacTavishes. Even those reckless types should be forced to do so in an ideal world, but in reality, it would be better just to avoid the endless belly-aching from those who wish video games were still like “Pong.”
I look forward to a future where players have visors, protect their necks from stray blades and wear Kevlar socks so they can better avoid Erik Karlsson-type disasters.
Sure, it won’t make hockey a safe sport by any stretch. Yet let me say this: you might go skydiving for the thrill, but you probably also try to avoid splatting on the ground like an idiot if at all possible. Let’s give hockey players as many “parachutes” as possible.
Staal is a very good (maybe great) defenseman, yet his fantasy impact won’t be enormous.** But what if it happens to a big performer in a similar prime-of-his-career spot like Jamie Benn, who I’m fairly certain remains visor-free? It would be a shame, but the biggest shame would be that it could have easily been avoided, like yet another no-seat-belt death.
Hey, some of us like gambling more than others, though. Jump for more from the hockey world.
* - Maybe a scorned lover throwing a typewriter at you?
** - It’s probably bad news in an indirect way for an important guy by the name Henrik Lundqvist, though.
WEISS IS DONE, MARKSTROM IS JUST BEGINNING
From the “sad news that would have been sadder in just about any other season” department: wrist surgery has ended Stephen Weiss’ abysmal 2013 campaign. It’s hard not to think that, like Jose Theodore, his time with the Florida Panthers is just about over.
Weiss found himself getting benched, injured and criticized by his choice during what’s been his worst year in recent memory. About the only bummer for fantasy owners is that he might have had a chance to do more as a revitalized veteran after a solid trade.
From the end of the road to the beginning, we have Jacob Markstrom. Dale Tallon gave him his seal of approval earlier on Tuesday and then he stopped 30 out of 31 Winnipeg Jets shots for his first win of 2013.
In Tuesday’s Dose, I waffled a bit between Markstrom and fellow freed-up netminder Dan Ellis. Considering Markstrom’s pedigree, strong “start” and the fact that Justin Peters started (and looked good) instead of Ellis last night, my gut feeling to lean toward Markstrom might actually be spot-on.
Naturally one day is far from a clincher for that argument, but either way I’d say Markstrom's worth a look in deeper leagues.
SMOOTH RYDER
After seeing his point streak die after switching sweaters from Dallas to Montreal, Michael Ryder seems like he’s settling in with the Habs. It seems a bit like cheating because they were of the secondary variety, but Ryder owners must be glad to see that he generated three assists on Tuesday (two of which were on the PP). He also had an assist on March 3, so he has a nice four points in three games with his new team.
It seems like he’s still getting moved around a bit and his ice time is a little inconsistent so far, too. He received 18:41 in his debut, 19:22 on March 3, and oddly was just under 14 last night.
So far, Ryder and Erik Cole look like they’re settling into their new habitats while Simon Gagne is admittedly limited (albeit on a team that can generate some serious offense).
SURGING CONTENDERS
Both the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings remain hot out West. While the Blackhawks pushed this season’s opening point streak to 23 and the overall run to 29, the Kings shook off a 4-1 St. Louis Blues margin to win 6-4 thanks mostly to a huge third period. Jeff Carter really slouched with a measly single goal, though.
It was generally bad news for backups. Corey Crawford received another start, putting at least a moderate bit of doubt into Ray Emery owners’ minds. In L.A., Jonathan Bernier’s attempts to usurp Jonathan Quick stumbled as he was pulled during the Kings’ comeback. (Bernier didn’t receive a loss, obviously, but that’s not really a concern in most fantasy leagues.)
Even the Blues’ backup faces potential tough news, barring an injury (keep an eye on that at Rotoworld, as you should with all your players anyway). After a tough night for Jaroslav Halak in particular and a tough start to 2013 for Brian Elliott, Jake Allen was once again called up from the AHL late last night. Uh oh.
INJURY NOTES (full list) and QUICK HITS
Some players are just best off in one locale, like Radim Vrbata with the Coyotes. I’m not convinced he’s totally worth owning, but it seems like that’s the case with Eric Fehr and Washington … Jordan Eberle is day-to-day with a hand injury … The Washington Capitals placed Mike Green and his perpetually wonky groin on the IR … Lubomir Visnovsky needed a personal day on Tuesday. While his situation is likely legitimate, you have to wonder if he’s costing himself several millions with the way he’s handling things this season … Good news for the Rangers: Rick Nash and Ryan Callahan each had two-goal nights on Tuesday. Bad news? Brad Richards was too “banged up” to play … Sounds like Milan Michalek is very close to returning for Ottawa … The same might be true for Ryan Malone and the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning … It’s taking them a long time, but the Blue Jackets are finally figuring out that Sergei Bobrovsky gives them a(t least a slightly) better chance to win than Steve Mason … Nicklas Grossman is day-to-day with a lower-body injury … Milan Hejduk is day-to-day with an upper-body problem.