1984Echoes

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and listen instead to what Stevie Y and the Detroit coaches say. That's all that matters to us anyways. Hopefully Steve found another hidden gem given up for dead by two other teams... so... we'll see. (I mean the Panthers are in the playoffs so they might have just run out of time/ patience through no fault of Olli just trying to get back to hockey form after an injury...). Again... we'll see. I'm good with a lottery ticket that costs us nothing.

Sounds like they'll take a look at him and see if it's worthwhile to try to develop him. He's RFA and can go to arbitration I think... He's shown offensive skill in the minors but not in the NHL. Is it just injuries? Because it sounds like there are some Mantha-issues as well, in which both Vancouver and Florida have had issues with "effort-level"? If I'm reading that correctly. But he's a lottery ticket with a lot of talent so why not take a look-see? As for trades: Leddy and Stecher look like there is some trade interest... If both move the team could always call up Sebrango or McIsaac to break them into the NHL. I think the team wants to hold on to Staal for locker room/ vet leadership reasons (I'm OK with that...). I don't think this says anything about Veleno (even being sent down) or Zadina as I just think there is still too much leash that the team is going to give to them... And I'm not yet ready to give up on them either. Unless we can get something really good back in a big package trade.

100% inaccurate. Not one single sentence is correct. Try again.

They are. But we can easily cut them out of the deal. They are not required.

Except that we've already signed an Iranian Nuclear Deal... which I am/ was perfectly fine with. In realpolitik terms. Dumpster Fire dropping the deal under false pretenses doesn't change my thinking on the deal. It was valid. It stopped Iranian Nuclear pursuits and... even if they are not really our friend, there is no valid reason that I've seen that says sanctioning Iran is a "must-have" in American politics. Get the deal back online. IMO. And get them pumping oil. I didn't have an issue before, in the first deal, I don't now.

Red Wings write-up: https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/detroit-claims-olli-juolevi-from-florida/c-331523172

Who's Olli Joulevi? 6' 2" 23 yo defenseman. Just claimed him off waivers from the Panthers, originally drafted 1st round 5th by Vancouver...

They can't let go of their drug addiction to him and he's taking as much advantage out of it as he can pocket...

Fareed Zakaria with a good point: Finalize the last few issues with Iran in the Nuclear Deal, get it signed, and let them open up their spigots again (drop oil & gas sanctions on Iran). Iranian gas replaces Russian gas. "The enemy of my enemy is now my friend". I'm not on board with dropping Venezuela sanctions though... Fareed also made this point but... I can only go so far in enabling bad actors. But along with doing everything possible to jump American production way up... I would be on board with finalizing the Iranian Nuclear Deal and getting them back on line...

This is not good news at all. They are looking to create a fabrication/ excuse to use nuclear weapons on Ukraine.

This is another terrific thread to read. Stunning in fact, to hear an FSB voice out of Russia. And the translation/ words appear to match everything we know or believe we know on the ground, and behind the curtain. EPIC failure by Putin. Or at least the sooner we can get to a confirmation of this epic failure (Russian forces withdraw back to their pre-2022 lines), the better.

Yeah I was wrong... It was F-16's we were looking to backfill in Poland, not F-22's (I'm so confused these days!!!) In fact, it stated as such in that article that you posted that I just quoted ("Bingo!").

Bingo! BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO!!!

I'm going to make an honest request of everyone here... Can we EXCLUDE all things TFG from now on? I don't want to see him, hear him, his name or his thoughts, anywhere... But especially in this thread. I think it is just, at this point in time, inappropriate. Just my 2 cents, and humble request.

He is a really good article on the politics surrounding the swift (no pun intended) implementation of sanctions against Putin/ his inner circle/ Russia, and Zelensky's impact/ inspiration for such... https://www.yahoo.com/news/west-marshaled-stunning-show-unity-182418574.html

Right... but we can still send them F-22's if we backfill our OWN forces with additional F-35's... It's getting a bit complicated (for all party's concerned) to be properly equipped but... extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures. In fact, if I were in Congress right now I'd be running up a military build-up budget proposal that increases our military expenditures for this year at least, heavy equipment (F-35's, I know it takes years, but get them in the budget right now to get the ball rolling for all the downhill impact that is currently needed) and heavy ammunitions (Stingers and Javelins) as a way to funnel weaponry into the US, some of it through to NATO, and particularly "necessaries" all the way through to Ukraine. Even if it's a hodge-podge (MIG's) that ends up in Ukrainian hands. They want the MIG's anyways. I'd really love to be able to send them about 30 Warthogs. That would be a game-changer IMO.

I would definitely be interested in India divesting and swinging over to American equipment but... they are not exactly a reliable partner. But Indian divestiture is hugely appealing. And hugely beneficial to the Ukrainians war effort.

And MIG's. Lots of MIG's.

Adolph Putin, murderer of women and children. 21st century Ukrainian Genocide.

But that would be us, the common people. Those images may exist, but not for us in the public. If they, however, make their way to behind closed doors United Nations, and/or NATO, EU, etc.... There is still the possibility of a sea change in thinking. And yes... that's what I was thinking exactly, the Vietnam war images. Or African famine images. No one can be the same after seeing those. Attitudes change, and change fast, after that... It's emotional.

We are going to backfill Poland with F-22's I believe. That will replace, and allow the transfer, of those MIG's. But the backfill process may take some time which is what the current hold-up is on the MIG's... can't leave Poland bereft of planes. Non-starter.

Adolph Putin. Murderer of women and children.

Here's the instance in which it will change, and NATO will become involved: Pictures of dead Ukrainian children get out into the world. The World, the United Nations, NATO, the United States of America become outraged at Putin's genocide against the Ukrainian peoples, civilians, women & children. Multiple countries demand an immediate cessation of hostilities and a withdrawal of Russian forces back to pre-2022 locations; otherwise a declaration of war against Russia, by the UK, Poland, Romania, Norway, Germany, and France. Uncertain on Canada, but the U.S. will join them although... there's always Congress to get through.

And based on that... I never wanted to draft him at the top of the 1st. At the end of the 1st, if he fell, and Brad Holmes and the Detroit coaches felt they could "coach him up", maybe take a shot. IMO, if some team wants to trade up to our spot to draft Willis and offers a good enough package... I do the trade down. No hesitation. But it has to be a worthwhile package.

But we're down 5-1 after Greiss gives those up... not certain how good the defenseman are playing in front of him but I'm guessing, not very... Ned relieves Greiss... Florida's a pretty damn good team...