Tampa Bay @ Toronto

[Hoek]

Aren't you the same SmittyFan1 who eventually came around to hating Smitty too? How does that look now? That said Connolly deserves plenty of criticism, just chill a little and keep it on the level. It's his first season as a pro. Ideally he'll get some time in the A next season, which wasn't an option now.

[BurnTHalO]

Originally Posted by SmittyFan1

I have big shoulders, I can take it, so go ahead at rip me a new one. I HATE CONNOLLY!!!!! I hated when SFY drafted him. I hated the fact that he made this team. I hated him all season long/ I will hate him until I die. Skinner, Campbell, and Fowler will, in my opinion will be better NHL players when it is all said and done. I read all of Pete's after game articles, and 49 out of 50 times, he has no points and a minus rating for the game. The 3 guys mentioned by me, were taken after him in the draft, and I thought were better players. Again just my stupid opinion. It is worth what you paid for it.......nothing. Did I mention I hate Brett Connolly?

I'm curious, did you feel the same way about Stamkos before Tocchet stuck him on a program to develop his game? Because honestly, I think that is exactly how Connolly looks (no, I'm not saying he will be as good as Stamkos). But to me, it has looked like our coaching staff has really failed him. You can't play a guy 3-4 minutes a game for half the season and expect him to learn and develop.

And I'm curious, what do you base your opinion on? If I remember the draft correctly, all the experts called this pick a steal if the kid stays healthy. These are guys who are former scouts, watch alll the junior games, etc.

Finally, dear God man, how can you hate a teenager you have never met? What, did he run over your dog or something? Jesus Christ, I didn't realize someone could have this amount of anger at a kid 67 games in his career.

[Alex]

Connolly made a mistake. A costly one, but how many players go a full game without making a mistake? He and the coaching staff will move on.

I can see where the hate for Connolly exists but I'm not ready to say other players should have been drafted over him. Sure it looks like that now, but the kid is young and still learning.

Originally Posted by Sotnos

Yes, because GDTs never, ever get dragged OT.

In fairness, this board has a better on-topic ratio than many, many other places I've been.

[Bolts4Lyfe]

Originally Posted by The Great Zo

In all seriousness, based on this and other posts, I'm not sure sports are really your thing (or in your best interest). Developing tendencies like this can't be healthy over the long haul.

In all seriousness, that was beyond uneccessary. He actually made total, logical sense. If you have such a problem with people stating their opinions, maybe sports forums aren't YOUR thing. You're probably irrelevant in the real world, so in order to feel like you have even a shred of importantance, you come on a forum, hide behind your keyboard and act like whoever doesn't have the same views as you is an idiot and you try to bring them down and try to make them feel like they don't know a thing about sports. Honestly, Connolly does suck. I guess a little fan boy is blind to that, though. In all honesty, people like you are the reason I, and many other people don't have a good time on this forum anymore and don't want to state their opinion because they know people like you will be an asshole about it. Criticize someone when Connolly comes out of a game with a plus rating and maybe when he scores on the opposing goalie, and not ours.

[Avery86]

Uh. Wow. Where did all this unsolicited hate and anger come from? Especially over Brett freaking Connolly, a teenage rookie in his first professional season. A rookie with no option to be in Norfolk and no point being in PG. Reading these posts, you'd think he's the sole reason for this non-playoff season.

Absolutely no patience.

Originally Posted by Avery86

Uh. Wow. Where did all this unsolicited hate and anger come from? Especially over Brett freaking Connolly, a teenage rookie in his first professional season. A rookie with no option to be in Norfolk and no point being in PG. Reading these posts, you'd think he's the sole reason for this non-playoff season.

Absolutely no patience.

I was looking for a nice way to respond to the remarks, but you did a very nice job for me

[Flycoon]

Was there a hockey game last night?

[Bolts4Lyfe]

Originally Posted by Avery86

Uh. Wow. Where did all this unsolicited hate and anger come from? Especially over Brett freaking Connolly, a teenage rookie in his first professional season. A rookie with no option to be in Norfolk and no point being in PG. Reading these posts, you'd think he's the sole reason for this non-playoff season.

Absolutely no patience.

My anger has nothing to do with Brett. It has to do with some of the condescending assholes on here. I've always seen it, but I've never said anything. I just think it's ridiculous that someone can't come to a forum that says it's a friendly community, without being afraid of being attacked when they speak ther mind.

[BurnTHalO]

Originally Posted by Bolts4Lyfe

In all seriousness, that was beyond uneccessary. He actually made total, logical sense. If you have such a problem with people stating their opinions, maybe sports forums aren't YOUR thing. You're probably irrelevant in the real world, so in order to feel like you have even a shred of importantance, you come on a forum, hide behind your keyboard and act like whoever doesn't have the same views as you is an idiot and you try to bring them down and try to make them feel like they don't know a thing about sports. Honestly, Connolly does suck. I guess a little fan boy is blind to that, though. In all honesty, people like you are the reason I, and many other people don't have a good time on this forum anymore and don't want to state their opinion because they know people like you will be an asshole about it. Criticize someone when Connolly comes out of a game with a plus rating and maybe when he scores on the opposing goalie, and not ours.

And you call him uneccessary? Those are pretty personal attacks there. You want to state an opinion that Connolly sucks, that's one thing. You go off about hating the guy and hating him until the day you die, that's quite a bit different, hence Zo's retort.

You say fan boys are blind. I could say people who hate may be blinder than anyone. Problem is in hockey more than maybe any other sport (other than maybe baseball), it takes time to develop unless you are a Super Star player. Connolly has had one pro season and couldn't be in the minors. What did you really expect? Seguin's first year he had VERY similar stats. Does he suck? Daniel Sedin didn't break the 50 point mark til his 4th season. Henrik until his 5th season (not counting the lockout year where he was playing professional in Europe). Heck, Joe Thornton had 7 points in 55 games his first year. Double heck, Marty had a total of 20 points his first 69 games (which were spread out across 2 seasons with AHL in the middle). According to your logic, they suck, and should be completely given up on. Point being, it is pretty ridiculous to make judgements after two thirds of a season, especially when half that time he was playing like 5 minutes or less a game.

[The Great Zo]

Originally Posted by Bolts4Lyfe

In all seriousness, that was beyond uneccessary. He actually made total, logical sense.

Hatred is never logical.