The Unknown Poster

I find this discussion yesterday quite interesting. Maurice talked about changing the lines up and essentially suggested Lowry will eventually settle into being the center "that plays against the other teams top line". And the speculation was he might get time between Ladd & Little. I wonder if the Jets forecast that as the number 2 line with Ehelers-Scheif-Wheeler as the number 1 line...? Could be a transitional season for more than just the inclusion of young players. The Jets have a load of centers both now and in the pipeline so people are going to be converted to wing...

What he really meant - "I am confident that once all the facts are hidden from public view, I will be absolved of having done nothing wrong." I am totally for the idea of innocent until proven guilty and I agree that Kane has no obligation to remove himself from the Blackhawks right now and the Blackhawks have no obligation to suspend him. But this is pretty serious. Going to a Grand Jury... There intriguing aspect is that the DA suspended the Grand Jury once and it appeared to be because Kane's lawyers were negotiating with the victim. You cant really begrudge the victim from accepting a settlement as opposed to putting herself through a trial either. But a settlement does not preclude the DA from going to trial anyway and the victim cannot refuse to answer questions on the stand even if she signed a non-disclosure. I guess the optics are pretty bad when you have the player's side admitting they are talking settlement with an alleged victim of rape while the player (supposedly) holds back a smirk at a presser when asked if he'll stop drinking.

Not if you really believe in it. It's not emotional for me. If that was my child would I want to rip his throat out? Ofcourse. But unemotionally and taking God out of the debate we can't have a death penalty when we've convicted innocent people. Period. Why is God part of the debate? Piece of advice: just ignore the fundamentalists If your faith is important to you, why wouldn't God be part of the debate? And what does that have to do with fundamentalism? God is important to me. my point was to say, Im against the death penalty for reasons that have nothing to do with faith. Because if the debate centers on religion, then you start entering territory that a lot of people cant buy into. I've always been against capital punishment. Im not sure I'd be in favour if justice was perfect either...for example we know Paul Bernardo did it. Thats usually the response from the other side "well what about Paul Bernardo".

Oh yes. I don't know why you can't be a conservative & not be religious. I'm definitely not a social conservative. That guy Huckabee in the US sticking up for Kim Davis is a joke. I agree there too. Huckabee is a disgraceful person. I get that there can be the perception of bias towards Christians especially in the sense people seem open to letting other religions be practiced freely and yet sort of snub their nose at Christianity. But I think some Christians are overly sensitive in that they think any exception to the far right or certain issues is an attack on the entire religion and thats generally not true. Here's a classic scene from West Wing that illustrates some of the issues with the religious right's silly attack on gay marriage as a religious freedom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHN2yO3QeXU

Then we agree!

Don't know your point. I said I was against the death penalty and God didn't factor into my decision either.

I'm for the death penalty & God has no place or influence in my feelings about it. Who said he did?

Toronto Sun (yeah) If Canadians had any doubt that the election has become a choice between Stephen Harper and Tom Mulcair, Wednesday’s leaders debate confirmed it. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau performed so poorly, that – after the halfway mark – he appeared more like an irritant getting in the way of two adults having a conversation than a productive contributor to the conversation. One of his closing barbs against the Conservative and NDP leaders was “their lack of ambition for our country.” Really? When asked what the role of the federal government should be, he said to “respond to the needs Canadians have to improve their quality of life.” But that’s fluff. It doesn’t answer the question or say anything of substance. He also told the biggest lie of the debate: He called out Harper for cutting health care to refugees. But that never happened. (They eliminated eye and dental care for newcomers while eliminating most care for rejected claimants.) Trudeau’s high school debating tactics hit their lowest when he accused Harper of promoting “fear of others.” Mulcair meanwhile performed far better than last time, appearing more relaxed and in control. When he opposed Harper he did from a sensible position — like how he acknowledged the importance of security checks for refugees, but wants the government to move faster on processing. He was also comfortable with the numbers, having wisely released his party’s fiscal framework the day before the debate. However because Mulcair’s straddling a delicate divide of trying to be centrist but still not alienating his left-wing base, he failed to differentiate himself as belonging to any political camp. This creates voter confusion. But if you want clear political lines drawn in the sand, Harper is your man. The first hour of the debate was not so good. Harper spent the time defending his niche credits and, in particular, the indefensible vote-buying pledge that is the home renovation tax credit. Then he touted the need for government to make “specific investments” in the economy. The government picking winners and losers is a big no-no for true fiscal conservatives. Plus, he only glossed over his work on trade deals — his best long-term economic project. He should brag about it and commit to do more as the other parties don’t have a leg to stand on with this issue. Although he did point out, towards the end, that Canada will soon have access to over half the world’s GDP. Then everything changed. Responding to Trudeau’s appeal for more spending, Harper knocked it out of the park by saying, “We don’t measure our level of optimism through our level of spending.” It was the strongest line of the night, deflating all that rhetoric Trudeau has vented over the months portraying Harper as uncaring and nasty. It showed that real life is about making tough choices, something Trudeau doesn’t seem to appreciate. (P.S. The worst moment of the debate was when David Walmsley, the moderator and Globe & Mail editor in chief-in-chief, began a question by editorializing: “Mr. Harper, you’re going to need some new ideas.” The voters deserved better.)

@Mark - you misunderstand. I meant that the discussion often comes down to one of faith and the bible but it's easy to be against the death penalty without being religious at all.

Well I can't say first hand. But that would certainly be the minority from what I'm reading. Sounds like Harper, Mulcair, Trudeau. But like I said I didn't see it first hand. Probably sense of winner is influenced by which party one most identifies with.

Love it

I've only been able to read about the debate online. Sounds like Trudeau didn't do well again.

I think Ladd and little will still be contributors then.

Exactly. The screens at IGF would be fine if they used the whole damn thing

That's great! Thanks for posting

lol. You've gotta be joking.

Were you hacked??? lol Every year, Buff does exactly as you said he doesnt - inconsistent play. Everyone knows it. Media always talks about Buff being able to take over a game "when he wants to". Racism? yikes.

Sara Orlesky ✔ @saraorlesky John McDonough confirms that Patrick Kane will join Blackhawks for training camp Keith McCullough @reporterKeith I am shocked the Hawks even opened it up to questions for Patrick Kane, not surprised in any way that he wouldn't answer any. Chris Kuc @ChrisKuc I'm not sure what I'm watching. And I'm about 10 feet from it. #Blackhawks Arash Madani @ArashMadani You know who probably doesn't "appreciate" this whole Blackhawks song and dance? The (alleged) victim in this. That whole scene is a joke. Keith McCullough @reporterKeith This whole news conference is bad, bad look for the Blackhawks. Going over like a lead balloon. Arash Madani @ArashMadani Patrick Kane, English major: "I am confident that once all the facts are brought to light, I will be absolved of having done nothing wrong." ****When will sports teams learn not to get into these sorts of scenarios. Whats next, the victim appears at a Blackhawks presser to accept her role in the assault?

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/09/17/ex-jet-slater-looks-to-europe Ex-Jet Slater looks to Europe Jim Slater has come to terms with the fact he’s no longer the longest-serving member of the Winnipeg Jets. But that didn’t mean it was easy to swallow when the veteran centre wasn’t among the many players showing up for medicals as NHL camps opened in most cities on Thursday. “My agent (Mike Liut) called me (Wednesday) around three and he was talking to a few teams but just kind of said there is not anything going on for you over here,” Slater said in a telephone interview from his off-season home in Michigan. “Last night was a tough night, I didn’t get much sleep. I kind of tossed and turned, I was thinking, my mind was racing. This morning was tough, but I still went in for my workout and skated here. “It’s been very stressful, for sure. You go through a couple different feelings along the way as the summertime goes. But I wasn’t the only one going through it this summer, I’m sure.” As the Jets look to add a bit more youth to their lineup this season, Slater was one of the casualties. An unrestricted free agent, Slater had hoped to remain with the Jets but was confident he would land somewhere else if the team decided to move on. “It was a strange off-season that seemed to be happening for a lot of guys and I was included in that. It’s something you’ve got to roll with,” said Slater, who has 67 goals and 138 points in 534 NHL games. “I had an offer on the first day of free agency and didn’t want to take it, I wanted to see what else is out there. We were talking to about eight to 10 teams throughout free agency and nothing really came about. Then you see a lot of guys unsigned and you’re thinking, ‘geez, this isn’t supposed to be how it is.’ “Then you get later and see the guys that are accepting PTO’s that are established players and you know it’s a different type of summer when that starts happening.” Slater, 32, is ready to regroup and has turned his attention to playing in Europe this season and is considering offers from teams in the Kontinental Hockey League, Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden. “I’m still positive that I’m going to go over to Europe and do well over there and hopefully next year, maybe come back and see what happens,” said Slater. “I’m going to go to a good league over there and play well and live a good quality of life over there and hopefully have a good year and open up some eyes back over here in North America. It’s going to be a great experience. I just want to get going now and get playing. I prepared like I was getting ready for NHL training camp and now when I do go over to Europe, I’m going to be getting right into games. It’s a different transition for me, but it’s one I look forward to. I’m going to enjoy myself and there’s a lot the European teams offer. I’ve heard good things from guys who have gone over there.” Slater is confident he’s got plenty of gas left in the proverbial tank. “You know you can still play and you still want to play,” said Slater, who was chosen in the first round (30th overall) by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2002 NHL Draft. “When that opportunity isn’t there for you, you kind of reflect and wonder what do you do. But I feel I can still help a team. I’m one of those guys who still loves the game and wants to play. Wherever I end up, I’m going to do my best to help the team win.” As the conversation continued, Slater also took some time to discuss his time in Winnipeg, a place that was dear to his heart as he spent a lot of time getting involved in the community. “I loved my time in Winnipeg,” said Slater. “When we came from Atlanta to there, I was really stoked and excited to play for a Canadian city. It met every one of my expectations. Had a great time there and met a lot of great people. The city wasn’t too big, wasn’t too small. The community was wonderful, the people there were very nice and kind and open-hearted. Nothing but good things to say about the city. “It’s tough. You grow to be a part of it and then you’re not there anymore. You’ve got to be strong mentally and try to move on and smile because it happened. Don’t cry because it’s over. I look back and we had great memories, what more do you want.” Helping the Jets qualify for the playoffs and being part of the first white-out since 1996 stand out as a few of the highlights. “Playing in Winnipeg, I got to do some things not a lot of people get to do,” said Slater. “Obviously, the first year coming back was amazing, the buzz around the city. That was really cool. Then realizing our goal of making the playoffs last year, that was something that was big for the city, big for the fan base and big for us. It’s one of those memories that will stay with me for a long time.”

I bet there are many people out there who committed assault that, once caught, wish they were rich enough to buy their way out of trouble.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-patrick-kane-met-20150916-story.html Even as Patrick Kane prepares for preseason training camp, his lawyers are working to reach a resolution with the woman who has accused the Blackhawks star of sexual assault, according to sources familiar with the case. Attorneys for the parties have been in communication for weeks, though they had not reached a formal agreement by Wednesday afternoon that would potentially end the criminal investigation. To the contrary, the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described a fluid situation in which both Kane and his accuser have refused at times to acquiesce because they both view themselves as the wronged party. Haugh: Kane, Blackhawks should await grand jury result before taking ice "Each of them has threatened to walk away and just let the justice system take care of it," one source said. "They both say the truth is on their side." As the fragile talks continue, the criminal investigation will be at the forefront of the Blackhawks preseason, which opens Friday with a three-day camp at the University of Notre Dame. The team and Kane's agent, Pat Brisson, said Kane is expected to attend the public event, where he's likely to face a crush of reporters for the first time since a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her last month at his offseason home outside Buffalo. At the same time, western New York prosecutors will be preparing to take the criminal case to a grand jury later this month. Kane attorney Paul Cambria has confirmed the upcoming proceedings but said he had not been given any specific dates for when evidence will be presented. The Erie County district attorney's office postponed grand jury proceedings last week, a move that raised questions about the direction of the high-profile criminal investigation of the Blackhawks winger. Before the last-minute delay, Kane's accuser and a friend who was with her at Kane's lakefront home in the town of Hamburg on the night of the alleged incident had been scheduled to appear. Patrick Kane expected to attend Blackhawks training camp this week The decision to reschedule the proceedings was made by prosecutors, and the sources said it did not come at either Kane's or his accuser's request. Kane's accuser continues to cooperate with the criminal investigation and has hired an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases, in addition to the defense attorney who has been guiding her through that criminal investigation, sources said. Neither of those attorneys could be reached for comment. Kane, 26, has kept a low profile over the past seven weeks. Social media has been largely devoid of Kane sightings and he has made no public appearances since the investigation began, though neighbors have spotted him working out in the yard of his lakefront mansion. On Wednesday night, Cambria said there are no "settlement" talks. He has declined to discuss the case, but he has addressed Kane's return to hockey. "Obviously Patrick would like to be on the ice playing hockey, have this all be put behind him," Cambria told the Tribune on Tuesday. "That's the goal. That's what we're all working toward." That work, at times, has included the consideration of a civil resolution and the various entanglements associated with one. While such an agreement could spare both sides the possibility of a trial, it also could leave the public to make its own judgments about Kane, his 21-year-old accuser and the justice system. Settlements typically include clauses that would prohibit accusers from voluntarily cooperating with the investigation, according to legal experts. The standard clause, however, would not bar prosecutors from continuing with their case or prevent the woman from answering questions under oath if prosecutors took the rare step of proceeding without her cooperation. For Kane's accuser, a settlement may spare her a protracted legal process in which she could face intense public scrutiny without any guarantee about the outcome. An agreement also would allow her to maintain her relative anonymity. Kane has much to protect as the investigation continues, as well. If indicted, he could face a suspension and possibly see his entire $84 million contract voided. If convicted, he could face prison time and a premature end to a career that has included three Stanley Cup championships. "For Pat Kane, there is no downside to a settlement," said Alan Bedenko, a civil litigation attorney in Buffalo who is not affiliated with the case. "For the accuser, there are some upsides too. She doesn't have to relive this again and again in court. Once it's done, it's done." Other athletes and their accusers have used similar legal strategies in recent years, employing confidential settlements to resolve sexual assault allegations. And none of their careers have been irrevocably harmed by the out-of-court agreements. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant weighed the risks after being charged with sexual assault in Colorado in 2003. He was indicted on charges that he raped a hotel employee in his room the night before he was scheduled to have knee surgery. Prosecutors later dropped the case after the woman said she would no longer testify. A lawsuit filed by the woman was settled, though no terms were released. Bryant did not admit any guilt, but he publicly apologized and said he believed the sex was consensual — though he acknowledged the woman might not have. Bryant went on to win two more NBA championships and currently ranks 10th on the Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes with endorsement deals estimated at $26 million. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has twice been accused of sexual assault, although neither instance led to criminal charges. The first allegation, from 2008, led to an out-of-court settlement with his accuser. After the second allegation, in 2010, the NFL conducted its own investigation. Roethlisberger was suspended for six games, which was later reduced to four games. In March, Roethlisberger signed a four-year, $87.4 million deal with the Steelers, making him one of the NFL's highest-paid players. And in the NHL, Nashville Predators center Mike Riberio settled a lawsuit in July after his family's former nanny accused him of sexual assault. He was never charged with any wrongdoing and did not face any disciplinary action from the league. The Predators signed him to a two-year, $7 million deal just days before the settlement was reached. "The public perception is the rich athlete gets to buy his way out of a serious crime, whereas you and I would have to go to jail," former Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark said of the outcomes of such cases. "The public perception is very negative." In New York, a civil settlement cannot prohibit someone from testifying at trial because it would amount to paying off a witness. Yet the agreements often are worded to prevent the parties from voluntarily discussing the allegation with authorities, though they still could be compelled to testify. Therein lies the problem for prosecutors: Sexual assault cases often hinge on the accuser's testimony and credibility. If an accuser appears reluctant or waffles on testimony, it could be difficult to persuade jurors to convict. And by proceeding with the case, prosecutors risk forcing the accuser to unwillingly relive an alleged sexual assault. "It would be very difficult to move forward without the victim's cooperation," said Michael J. Hutter, a professor at Albany Law School in upstate New York. "It really comes down to a judgment call for the district attorney." Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita has repeatedly declined to comment on the Kane case.

This was hilarious too... http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/winnipeg-liberal-candidate-challenges-mp-pat-martin-with-sass-laden-press-release

Less than 11 years after its official opening, you can be excused if you don't recognize the MTS Centre. True North Sports & Entertainment has poured many millions of dollars into upgrades of the downtown facility since that first AHL game between the Manitoba Moose and the St. John's Maple Leafs in November 2004. JASON HALSTEAD / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The new scoreboard and LED video rings at the MTS Centre are part of $12 million in building enhancements. Photo Store The improvements kicked into high gear once it was announced the NHL was returning to town in the spring of 2011 and the latest $12 million in enhancements was put on display for the first time Wednesday afternoon. Arguably the biggest change is the addition of a new high-definition scoreboard. With four screens measuring 17 feet by 22 feet, compared to nine feet tall by 16 feet wide for the old scoreboard, and 10 times the resolution, fans will be able to see replays down to a couple of millimetres when the puck crosses the goal line. Noah Baird, True North's manager of audio/video and broadcast services, said it makes the scoreboard from the old Winnipeg Arena, where players' pictures were virtually indistinguishable from one other, look like it came from the Stone Age. "It's just much smaller light bulbs. The distance between the LEDs has gotten smaller and smaller and that's what brings the resolution higher and higher," he said. There will also be additional camera angles from the penalty boxes, home and away team hallways, the Jets' bench and underneath the clock. There will be 278 additional sets of eyeballs taking in the new scoreboard from the new row of loge seating that's been added on to the 300-level, bringing the building's capacity for hockey up to 15,294. Ticket holders will enjoy swivel chairs and a counter-style ledge for food and drinks. Kevin Donnelly, general manager of the MTS Centre and senior vice-president at True North, said that should be the last new batch of seats that fans will hear about for awhile. "Never say never," he said. "But we won't be raising the roof." Corporate messages will move around the larger power ring and be complemented by new LED screens on the front of the press box and above the Zamboni entrance. Corporate suite holders will also notice their couches have been replaced by high-top tables and bar stools, which not only make it easier to see the game away from the arena seating but also more conducive to hosting social functions. The changes are all part of True North's "TN 2020" initiative which will see nearly $30 million in enhancements throughout the building by 2020. Geoff.Kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 17, 2015 D2

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Taylor Beck and minor leaguers Matt Finn, Christopher Gibson, Tom Nilsson and Carter Verhaeghe to New York Islanders for forward Michael Grabner.

@MapleLeafs: . @SportChek Player Alert: #Leafs acquire Michael Grabner from the Islanders. #tmltak READ: http://t.co/cj6ptgg6gphttp://t.co/9q0fY2Mqrk