Nasty Nate

I think WWE quickly lost confidence in Buff as a product. He was 6'1", well muscled, not a giant by any means but not a mini-me like Eddy, Jericho or Benoit (who are all 5'6" to 5'8") I think they expected him to be a Ravishing Rick Rude clone. But Ravishing Rick could tell a great story in the ring. Buff couldn't. Look at that 5'7", 260 lb. schlepper named Paul Heyman. Can't rassle, can't take hard bumps but tells the best stories in the game. Also look at a guy who you'd think would rival Bullinski for roundness - Husky Harris aka Bray Wyatt. Biggest thing going right now besides teachers pets John Cena, HHH, Rock the Temp, Taker the Temp.

What exactly did we learn? In my case - absolutely NOTHING! OK, I learned two things. Well one and a half. 1. Lawless's nickname is Shooter. Guess they call him that cuz he's always trying to be a bit ahead of the media curve. 2. When you play or coach in a smaller market the #1 dictum is 'You must LOVE the city' even if you don't. Just fake it. Fans eat it up and the chamber of commerce gets some joy, too! Anyone learn anything else. Its in today's Wpg Free Press.

O for the halcyon days of The Superstar, Walter Shefchyk. j/k Whatever became of that guy?

They not going to replace Perry Pearn...and why would Barry Trotz want an ass't job? To work with one of the great organizations in hockey. Right? Plus if no good head coaching jobs show up in the next few weeks he can bide his time working in Winnipeg. His services would be welcome by many! But I agree he might want to just take it easy for a year, do some color commentary/panelist, etc.

Certainly better than John Paddock. Personally, if Barry Trotz can't find a head coaching gig I'd like the Jets to bring him in as they're still 1 coach down with Perry Pearn going down with Noel.

I've seen the guy. Looks like the old Polish Prince Putski from the 60s and 70s. A smallish Mark Henry to be sure. Probably Vince's people couldn't sign the guy unless they gave him a spot in the primary WWE vs. the minor leagues. Now they're stuck with him and have to work around his weaknesses to present him. Can only have the guy doing run-ins and big entrances so long.

I'm sure he didn't intend such but when Chevynoplayoff announced Pavelec as his 2014-15 starter it was almost as if he was taunting Jet fans. We're a patient group and sometimes too patient. Chevy shouldn't be taking advantage of all the good will he's been granted!

My fantasy trade would be Kane, Ladd, Enstrom, Clitsome, Pavelec & Jets 3rd round pick to Tampa for Stamkos, Bishop Obviously Tampa would never let Stamkos leave town but my point is there'd be a very large group of Jet fans that would think its a stupid trade and we're giving the Bolts way too much. Tons of hometown bias, no matter where you're an NHL fan. Funny thing - even though its a fantasy trade that has no chance of happening it might actually help both teams big=time. Ladd gives the Bolts solid 2nd or 3rd line production with leadership capabilities, Enstrom is a good puck-moving defenseman who if used properly (not as a defender in certain situations) can be very productive. Kane would give the Bolts at least 1/2 of the production lost by Stamkos' departure, Clitsome is a good 4th to 6th d-man. If a change of scenery meant Pavelec went from a .899 stop % to .919 to .922 then the trade almost is in Tampa's advantage. Stamkos would be a monster playing with Wheeler and Schiefele. Bishop probably solves Jets goal-tending woes. We'd need Morrisey or Redmond to step into Enstrom's shoes and a guy like Petan or Lowry to replace Ladd. But unfortunately the dream ends now. Guys like Stammer, Crosby, McKinnon are virtually untradeable NHL commodities.

Spot protection is one of the grand old concepts of wrestling - especially at the highest level (WWE) but also in regional promotions. Just ask mini-men like CM Punk or Daniel Bryan about 'basking' in John Cena's shadow!

Well, I now see why Chevy is "protecting" Pavs. However, Pav's inferior stats don't lie and they extend over a number of seasons, not just one. Only thing good about Pav is he doesn't injure easily and doesn't appear to be a locker room cancer. If Chevy's 'unpublished plan' doesn't include a playoff berth then no problem with Pavelec carrying the mail. That said - may as well bring back almost all of this year's group plus the one or two draft picks that make their way onto the roster. If playoffs not a real possibility - then why not Wright, Gooch, Tango, Thorburn, etc?

Gooch can still play but only as a 2nd or 3rd line player in Germany, Switzerland, ECHL.

because if we sign a better goalie or one of the youngsters come up and show they are ready, where else is he gonna go? why buy him out when u can put him in st johns. Maybe he doesnt accept that and goes back to play in the khl or czech leagues or something. I really dont think a buyout on pavelec is something TNSE will even think about. Sometimes, it makes me wonder. Buyout Pavelec he sucks, get rid of him, he sucks... but... you think burying his contract in the minors is awful? how can the jets trade someone who is awful? why would anyone pick him up if he's as awful as some make him out to be. Why waste a buyout on pav when you dont need too. You either trade him if you sign someone or one of your young guys step up or you bury him in the minors. He has no trade value according to those who think he sucks. Pav's stop average is inferior. He's a good goalie if you never want to mount a playoff challenge.

Except your asessment of Jokinen is not true. According to Paul Maurice, he very much likes Jokinen's defensive play. Maurice is the current coach. He speaks highly of everyone on his current team. If he was coming at it from his previous perch as a media analyst his tone would change significantly. I'm not saying Joker isn't a good player - but at 35/36 he's not a 4.5 million guy. Maurice has been blowing a ton of smoke since taking over for Noel. The yap about talking to his family regarding a long-term coaching contract with True North is a bit of a ruse imho. He's really thinking about whether he wants to coach a team of mostly over-performers who might still be 3 years away from a legit playoff challenge cuz the Jets roster is just NOT THAT GOOD! But a guy like Maurice can't say that......his out is the one he's been setting up for weeks - that his family has to agree! Even Clod Noel maintained to his firing day that he 'like his team', liked his players. Maurice is tremendous at setting up low expectations. Did you hear him talking about Pavelec and turning it around to a mini-lecture about total team conditioning? Nate, Maurice signed a new contract. Why would he do that for a bunch of overachievers if he didn't want to be here?. Maurice may be the best head coach the Jets 1.0 & 2.0 have ever had. We are fortunate to have him. I am extremely pleased he is coming back. Not pleased that Cheveldae announced Pavlec as the Jets starting goalie next year as that should have been Maurice. Still Chevy & Maurice must have discussed our goaltending & reached a consensus or he wouldn't have said that publicly. That was the one time I wouldn't have minded Chevy going into his usual waffle-off style and not giving a direct answer! Anyways, prolly an 80% chance Pavelec is the starter. I say that cuz Chevy's track record in trades is pretty dank. Traded a solid #3 d-man in Oduya for picks. Traded his 2nd rd pick for a piece of trash Setogucci. If Montoya walks we should pick up James Reimer til the kids are ready for prime-time. Even with a very good coach at the helm I can't see the Jets being more than 5 points better than this year - and just as easily, 5 pts worse!

Was it your promotion or the Church on the Rock promotion that brought in Scott Steiner. He was a real roid-berg during his heyday. Wonder what was he on when he appeared on Hussler & Lawless prior to the matches? Or just pure Scott Steiner hate?

Pav is #1 until something better turns up - and in Chevy's world thats a near impossibility cuz Chevy won't make trades unless he's the clear winner. Conclusion - we're stuck with Pavelec and Evander.... maybe even Devon Setrogucci if he can't find a better player!

Hopefully he'll be selling radio time only. . . . not negotiating a new roof for the station!

I've heard the best description of wrestling. Its all about lying. The best liars make it the furthest. Sometimes the best liars incorporate aspects of the truth to put themselves over even more. Best guys at doing that were Gene Kiniski, Paul Heyman, Vince McMahon, Archie the Stomper Gouldie, Triple H, CM Punk,

I really like the Jets more when I hear Mark Chipman speaking. Very open and honest - even with Lawless trying to mug him with oddball questions. Doesn't talk in vapid circles like Cheveldayoff who's a master in that art form. Maurice is great on the stick. Lots of confidence and assertive. He can basically disarm any of the limp-wristed Winnipeg media and leave 'em layin'

Ladd can be a solid effort guy most nights but in the end he's really just a quality 3rd liner who's parading as a 1st or 2nd liner on a mediocre to awful hockey team. Average speed, slightly above average hands, grit when he wants to give er, propensity to take cheap penalties for the sake of it, washes off the back check far too early, very average passer, slightly above average wrist shot, below average slapper. Like many athletes who play here he's got most, if not all the local media wrapped around his finger. Did a great job getting Noel fired!

Fact is if I could get a solid proven young star like Eberle and all I had to do was give up Kane - DONE!

I agree with Goalie that Tavares might be one of the few NHL centres who could revive a dormant desperate Kane. Kane could push 30-35 goals with that guy feeding him tap-ins!

Maybe a high to middlin' 2nd round pick?

I'd punt Kane for Eberle in a nympho's minute! But I suspect even the crapnutz who run the Oilers would laugh at the idea that they're getting value for Eberle. And stoic Mr. Chevy would probably think Eberle is half the player Evander is...

My read on Kane is similar. If we can still procure a pack of stuff (Top 6 F, high draft pick, Left D) then I'm all for it. Even if Kane goes thru a transformation and turns into a 35 goal scorer on another team....if he malingers here another year then we won't be able to trade him for used pucks and broken sticks!

Except your asessment of Jokinen is not true. According to Paul Maurice, he very much likes Jokinen's defensive play. Maurice is the current coach. He speaks highly of everyone on his current team. If he was coming at it from his previous perch as a media analyst his tone would change significantly. I'm not saying Joker isn't a good player - but at 35/36 he's not a 4.5 million guy. Maurice has been blowing a ton of smoke since taking over for Noel. The yap about talking to his family regarding a long-term coaching contract with True North is a bit of a ruse imho. He's really thinking about whether he wants to coach a team of mostly over-performers who might still be 3 years away from a legit playoff challenge cuz the Jets roster is just NOT THAT GOOD! But a guy like Maurice can't say that......his out is the one he's been setting up for weeks - that his family has to agree! Even Clod Noel maintained to his firing day that he 'like his team', liked his players. Maurice is tremendous at setting up low expectations. Did you hear him talking about Pavelec and turning it around to a mini-lecture about total team conditioning?