Deep Thoughts Twitter - November 18th 2020 - Rsndom Thoughts & Bayne Pettinger

Deep Thoughts
With
Mark Seidel

DT: Deep Thoughts: Welcome to Deep Thoughts which represent my PERSONAL views & don’t reflect ANY Organization that I work with! I’ve become much more “sensitive” to other’s feelings but if you are easily offended, unfollow if you don’t want them.

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• DT: I absolutely love the Bayne Pettinger story. This kid worked his bag off & became an important fixture at both @HockeyCanada & now @CAAHockey He is also gay. In a great story in @TheAthletic, he announced it publicly & received incredible support. https://theathletic.com/2178746/2020/11/05/nhl-player-agent-comes-out/
• DT: I love it is because Bayne is happy & he will be a great role model for kids. The other part is how supportive some of the biggest names in our game are with him. Our sport needs to do better but I’m sick of the SJW’s that try to tear this great game down & the people in it.
• DT: Hockey, like many aspects in sports & life, needs to be better but Bayne & the reactions to his story prove my contention that hockey is filled with great people who want to do the right thing. Sure we should get rid of the bad apples but I see a lot of good apples in this barrel.
• DT: The concept of an All-Canadian division in the NHL should get fans very excited. One of the reasons that the playoffs are so great is that seeing the same guy across the ice from you night after night builds up emotion & passion. That is what we will get on a regular basis.
• DT: Add to that watching McDavid Vs. Matthews, Tkachuk Vs Pettersson, Laine Vs. Kotkaniemi, Markstrom Vs. Murray, Montreal Vs. Toronto, Edmonton Calgary, etc. There is a lot to like & I really think fans should be excited whenever they start up.
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• DT: The export of young players to Europe is understandable but I’m not a huge fan. Agents & families obviously feel it’s a good move but the idea of young kids moving a Continent away, where Covid is also spiking, just doesn’t sit well with me unless a parent is with them.
• DT: We aren’t prepared to release our 2022 rankings because we think it's insincere to put a list out without a majority of the kids playing yet this season. Our work through video continues but we'll wait until we have enough viewings of players to put our reputation on the line
• DT: We will however list the highest ranking OHL Players from 2019/20. Alphabetically: Beck, Burroughs, Chayka, Clarke, Del Mastro, Enright, Frasca, Gaudreau, Goure, Harrison, Kressler, Lennox, McCue, Mctavish, Othmann, Pinelli, Sirozzotti, Stillman, Vrbetic, Winterton #OHL
• DT: If there is a CHL season, we have to still determine the Memorial Cup hosts. I happen to believe that either the Soo or Oshawa would be fantastic but I have to think the difference in Covid cases between the 2 cities has to give the Soo the decided edge. Good luck to both!
• DT: The World Juniors will get the high rankings because of the shortage of hockey to watch & I think it'll be a captivating tournament. Countries will have access to almost every available player so the competition will be very high caliber. It won’t be 2005 but it'll be close.
• DT: Canada will be stacked, as usual, but the biggest question mark will be in goal. They have some very quality candidates but none have proven it on the big stage like Spencer Knight (USA) or Yaroslav Askarov (RUS).
• DT: One of the biggest advantages that Team Canada will have over the other countries is Andre Tourigny behind the bench. I have never seen a guy in Junior Hockey better at making changes/adjustments on the fly or between periods. His team will be fully prepared & will adapt accordingly.
• DT: The Theo Epstein resignation from the Cubs wasn’t a surprise but his statements about Analytics ruining Baseball was interesting. He's always been a HUGE proponent of Analytics & his changing views & introspection should be noted across all sports. https://www.outkick.com/theo-epstein-wants-to-help-fix-the-game-of-baseball-his-analytics-helped-break/
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• DT: Hockey hasn’t been as adversely affected by analytics as much as Baseball but it does cause me to wonder if Teams will take pause to consider if all of the analytic work they are doing is proving helpful. The games & uses are different but when the Messiah speaks...
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• DT: I've had a greater appreciation of Analytics over the past few years but it will always remain “a tool in the toolbox”, just like live viewings, anecdotal research, background checks, etc. Critical analysis is essential in all business & I’m wondering if Teams are doing it.