fishyy-fish

[fishyy-fish]

well since some devils fans can’t let it go and are being pushy about it, here’s a number for them-

2003

That is the first and last year that the Devils made it to the Conference finals in the last two decades. This is also the last year the Devils won anything that wasn’t first overall draft pick. Grow up and move on.

[fishyy-fish]

Just wanted to let you all know that my entire catalogue of (locked!!) works was scrapped by the latest AI breach of AO3.

Due to this, I am pulling everything off AO3 on June 1st. If there is anything you want to download, please do so before then. If you miss that deadline, I will do my best to be reachable here and send you a copy.

[fishyy-fish]

cont,

Stop saying the canes should play with their AHL defenders. It’s the playoffs. It isn’t fair. It not the canes’ fault that your previous gm fucked your team’s bottom 6 up. It’s not the canes’ problem that the devils were not prepared for the reality of playoff hockey and how physical it gets. I’m going to be mean and say that we have several very good defensive prospects too, so idk if that would actually help the devils all that much. But yeah, what the hell, let’s put Nikishin out there for game 5.

Just a rant. Please ignore.

I’m so disappointed in some of my friends right now. I get not liking the canes, I get not liking the players, I get not liking how the canes plays their game. But to say you hate the whole fanbase (which does include me, your friend, btw) is awful. I’m so sorry the series isn’t going the way you wanted. I’m sorry that your team isn’t doing well. But dudes, please grow up and mature. I don’t feel welcome in what was a safe space for me to talk about hockey any more.

Like I can’t even point out that none of the canes players are playing dirty or intentionally injuring other players (minus the Burns headbutt, which was wild, and should have been a penalty). Hockey is a contact sport, and playoffs are high stakes. During the playoffs, players don’t pull hits, it’s not at all uncommon or a dirty play.

Hurricanes players are not injuring the Devils players, that’s just how the game is sometimes. If you honestly think that the Canes are responsible for all those injuries, please please look at your fucking goalie. Markstrom is responsible for slashing his own teammates over the course of multiple games.

It’s awful that some of you were happy that Andersen got injured because it gave your team a chance. It’s wild to call me a flop for saying there should have been a penalty on the play. You know damn well that if roles were reversed, you would be calling for a penalty too.

I’m gonna take a step back right now, but I’m so hurt that my friends can’t see past the SPORTS TEAM I support and hate me right now because of that. We were FaceTiming and sending each other postcards a week ago, and some games shouldn’t change that. You yourselves said it wasn’t going to be the devils’ year, why are you mad about it now?

[fishyy-fish]

Just a rant. Please ignore.

I’m so disappointed in some of my friends right now. I get not liking the canes, I get not liking the players, I get not liking how the canes plays their game. But to say you hate the whole fanbase (which does include me, your friend, btw) is awful. I’m so sorry the series isn’t going the way you wanted. I’m sorry that your team isn’t doing well. But dudes, please grow up and mature. I don’t feel welcome in what was a safe space for me to talk about hockey any more.

Like I can’t even point out that none of the canes players are playing dirty or intentionally injuring other players (minus the Burns headbutt, which was wild, and should have been a penalty). Hockey is a contact sport, and playoffs are high stakes. During the playoffs, players don’t pull hits, it’s not at all uncommon or a dirty play.

Hurricanes players are not injuring the Devils players, that’s just how the game is sometimes. If you honestly think that the Canes are responsible for all those injuries, please please look at your fucking goalie. Markstrom is responsible for slashing his own teammates over the course of multiple games.

It’s awful that some of you were happy that Andersen got injured because it gave your team a chance. It’s wild to call me a flop for saying there should have been a penalty on the play. You know damn well that if roles were reversed, you would be calling for a penalty too.

I’m gonna take a step back right now, but I’m so hurt that my friends can’t see past the SPORTS TEAM I support and hate me right now because of that. We were FaceTiming and sending each other postcards a week ago, and some games shouldn’t change that. You yourselves said it wasn’t going to be the devils’ year, why are you mad about it now?

[fishyy-fish]

[fishyy-fish]

[fishyy-fish]

I actually think it’s completely reasonable for Canes fans to be upset with Mikko and his agent. I realize that he was on the team for all of a month, and that’s not the issue. There was always a chance that he would not re-sign with the Canes, and I don’t think most people are upset that he was traded. I’m glad he was able to get to a team he can do well on, and I hold no ill will that he wanted to be traded from Carolina. It’s the manner in which he and his agent handled his trade that irks me.

The issue (for me at least) is how he and his agent handled his trade from the Avs, and the crunch it put the canes (a team that he and his agent expressed that they’d be willing to sign with if they traded for him who had no way of knowing that was not the case) at the trade deadline. He himself said he only made his mind up last week abound not staying with Carolina, so even though Hurricanes management knew there was a chance of that from the start, there’s only so much they can do to find prospective trade partners when you don’t know if the trade will happen or not. Even if he did say he wasn’t interested right off the bat, I do think that Carolina thought there was a chance they could change his mind, but as the trade deadline grew closer, it because more obvious that Mikko would only be a playoffs rental if he wasn’t traded.

To be honest, I’m also disappointed with how he has presented the situation to media before his trade to the Stars, but he’s an adult and he’s responsible for his own choices and comments. He repeatedly told media and fans that he was thinking about re-signing in Carolina, when by most accounts he was on the fence or not willing from the get go. It’s not that hard to just say “no comment”. While he has not criticized the Canes after the fact, as a fan I am disappointed that he found his time in Carolina (not matter how brief) so miserable that he couldn’t even whip up a “thank you to the fans” when we were so excited and welcoming. Again, I understand he was on the team for like a month, but Canes fans embraced him in that time.

It’s reasonable and rational to be upset about what happened, and pretending it’s silly for people to be frustrated just because he only spent 14 games as a Hurricane isn’t helpful. It’s also disingenuous to say Canes fans are only upset because he didn’t want to stay.

Some people are taking it too far and being really shitty about it, and especially to Mikko’s girlfriend. It’s completely reasonable and normal to discuss where you want to spend the next decade of your life with your long term significant other. Like oh no, he’s in a healthy relationship and he respects his girlfriend and her career enough to factor it in to his plans for the future. Those people need to go outside and touch grass, maybe a little therapy as a treat. I think lots people (especially on Twitter and Reddit, I’ve had to delete the apps) are really upset with the situation, and instead of being sad about it, they are putting all their energy into being mad. Also they’re misogynistic assholes, which I feel like is a lot canes fans on Twitter and Reddit, or maybe they’re more vocal? Idk.

I’ve had a chance to sleep on it and I’m not as sad as I was because I think the trade to the Stars was the best case scenario for Mikko and the Canes. I still feel really bad for Logan, because he didn’t do anything wrong, and was assured several times that he was not on the trade block, but he got traded anyways, but I think he’s going to fit in great with the Canes. I hope Mikko continues to do well with the Stars, but I probably won’t be personally rooting for him for a while.

[fishyy-fish]

Fish’s Guide to the Mikko Rantanen Saga (with notes and asides)

This summer, Rantanen was close to signing a $12M/year contract with the Avs BUT Leon Draisiatl signed a $14M/year extension with the Oilers. This is important because they both share the same agent, one Andy Scott of Octagon Athlete Repersentation (per PuckPedia). Also interesting to note that Scott also represents Thomas Harley and Wyatt Johnston of the Dallas Stars (both recently signed to new contracts as of this off season and the trade deadline on Friday respectively) and Mackenzie Blackwood (traded to the Colorado Avalanche then signed to a 5 year deal at $5.25M/year shortly after).

Rantanen reportedly asked for $14M/year from the Avs, however the Avs have an internal policy that they will not pay a player more than Nathan MacKinnon (currently signed to a $12.6M/year contract for the next 6 years). This is a good decision to me, as much of their cap is tied up in Captain Gabe Landeskog who has been out on LTIR for the past three years yet is still trying to recover and join the team again, leaving the team with unknown cap space for future seasons despite the rising cap.

At some point, the Hurricanes reach out and ask Rantanen/his agent if they would be willing to sign a deal with them were he traded to the Canes. Rantanen and his agent say yes, likely intending to use that as a bargaining chip with the Avs, similar to what Elias Patterson previously did with the Canucks and the Hurricanes. They do not believe that the Avalanche would trade Rantanen, who was drafted by the team and helped lead them to a Stanley Cup. At this time, the Hurricanes are shopping Marty Nečas, and it is a rumor that they intend to deal him to the Canucks. The Avs have had their eye on Nečas (as they should, I miss that bottle blonde rockstar) and don’t want him to be traded to a contender, so they initiate trade talks with the Canes for Rantanen.

The blockbuster trade is announced on January 24th, while I am deep in a fever nap after traveling to New York to see the Canes play the NY Islanders and the NY Rangers. I do not believe it at first when I wake up to the news at 3am local time, believing it to be a wild fever dream, as I was still recovering from the flu and a day of cross country travel. It is still real at 5am when I wake up again. I am shocked and text my mother. The only Hurricanes player she knows is Bret Burns, affectionately called Greasy by my family.

After his trade to the Hurricanes, Rantanen speaks to the media about being blindsided by the trade. He also discusses his willingness to sign an extension with the Hurricanes on several occasions, but expresses that he needs time to adjust to his new reality. Fair enough. As more time goes on without any updates or news of progress on extension talks, the hockey world begins to rumble that a trade is eminent.

The Hurricanes are reported to have offered him $12.5M to $13M per year deals, however Rantanen expresses that he is not ready to sign and will not be until after the trade deadline. It is worthwhile to note that the Hurricanes were burned last offseason by Jake Guentzel (traded to them by the Pittsburgh Penguins) leaving the team due to a cap crunch.

It is also currently reported that Rantanen said he was not willing to re-sign with the Canes last week, after the 4 Nations Face Off tournament (of 4 Nations Jerking Off fame). This leaves the Carolina Hurricanes less than a week to find a team that Rantanen is willing to sign with, has a player/players that the Hurricanes are interested in, and would be able to come to terms with Rantanen and his agent.

During a practice, Rantanen refused to enter the locker room while member of the media are there. This adds fuel to reports of discontent and discord, though it could also have been attributed to constant talks of trade and performance. I can’t blame him, I’ve been known to start signing in ASL when I don’t want to interact with people in public.

Reports state that the Oilers and Leafs were among the interested teams who met those requirements, however the Oilers did not have any players, prospects, or draft picks that the Hurricanes were interested in, though they did come to an understanding with Rantanen about a potential contract higher than the contract he eventually signs; the Leafs’ Mitch Marner was not willing to waive his NMC, and the Hurricanes were not interested in the other players that the Leafs offered for a trade. Off hand, but Marner would be electric on the Hurricanes if he isn’t able to stay with the Leafs.

Trade rumors of Rantanen to the Stars start to circulate at approximately 1:00am (MST) on Friday, March 7th (the trade deadline), while I am puking my guts out in my bathroom. Again, I do not believe the notification but I am quickly distracted by another round of yakking out my guts. I am distracted and forlorn all day while at work. I am also still sick but covering shifts for a coworker who was on vacation. I cannot go home and cry in the shower, even though I want to.

Details of the trade are leaked throughout the day, however no official announcement comes until after the deadline due the the Stars insistence that Rantanen agree to the terms of a long term deal before the trade with the Hurricanes is finalized.

The Hurricanes receive inhousegrown rookie Logan Stankoven as well as a few draft picks for Rantanen. Stankoven had previously been assured that he was not on the trade table because Dallas Stars GM Jimothy Nill was not willing to trade his young core. He was developed by the Stars in their AHL affiliate before making a debut in the NHL last season and helping them in the playoffs before gaining a permanent spot on the NHL roster this season.

Due to the delay in the deal between Rantanen and the Stars, the Hurricanes are not able to make other trades they intended to make that day, as their available cap space was not free and the deal could have fallen through at the last moment.

While negotiating with the Stars on behalf of Rantanen, Andy Scott’s other client, Wyatt Johnston, to a 5 year deal at $8.4M/year. Johnston had reportedly turned down an 8 year deal at $8M/year earlier that week.

Rantanen agrees to an 8 year deal at $12M/year with the Stars, the exact offer he declined in Colorado. His new deal includes a no movement clause, commonly referred to as an NMC (reference above with Marner).

Many people have claimed that Rantanen chose Dallas due to Texas’ income tax free laws, however the income tax difference between $13M/year in Carolina and $12M/year in Texas is negligible.

While talking with TSN on Friday, Rantanen said “But yeah, just the fit in Dallas.” This hurts my feelings, part of me feels like he wasn’t able to give it an honest shot with the Hurricanes, but I understand what that was the case.

During his brief tenure with the Hurricanes, more vocal fans, pundits, and commentators noted Rantanen’s poor performance. Many attributed it to being shell shocked by the trade, however I personally feel that this trade was never a good idea in the first place. Rantanen’s offensive style was mismatched with the Hurricane’s more defensive style from the get go. I believe that the Hurricanes coach was more than willing to make adjustments had Rantanen re-signed with the team. Currently, Hurricanes fans are circulating that Rantanen was performing poorly on purpose, with theories ranging from low effort to intentional sabotage. That seems extreme and far fetched. His style of play was not a good match, the team was going through a time of sickness and struggle, and Rantanen himself was still reeling from being traded from the Avalanche.

My biggest takeaway from this situation has been that Rantanen’s agent is the biggest villain in this. It is my belief that he held out for more money, and that Rantanen was unaware that the Avalanche were willing to trade him to a team he had no desire to play on or sign with.

By the time the Hurricanes realized that no deal could be made, they had to move fast so that he could be traded before the deadline and recoup some of their losses.

Blame should not fall solely on Rantanen for this, I truely believe that he thought the Avalanche would be more willing to work with him rather than trading him. I understand and respect that he did not want to stay with the Hurricanes, however I do find his lack of open communication with team management about that fact disappointing, as it has set the team back for their playoffs run this year.

Hurricanes coach and players have commented that this situation was a distraction on the ice and in the locker room. It feels unfair that the whole team had to suffer about it, and that their performance suffered for it as well.

The biggest winner of the trade was Jack Roslovic, who got a shiny expensive Rolex for renting his number out for a few weeks.

The biggest looser of the trade was Logan Stankoven, who was traded from his team despite being told he would not be traded. I will treasure him, Dallas Stars fans.

On a personal note, as a fan of both teams, I find the happiness and sadness doubled. I am excited for Mikko to play with the Stars, but I am sad he would not sign with the Canes. I am excited that Stank will play with the Canes, but I am heartbroken that he was traded away from his Texas family. I can’t help but feel a bit bitter at the way this all played out. Mikko should still be on the Avs, and Stank should still be with the Stars. It feels wrong, somehow, that the trajectory of their lives and careers was permanently changed by one man’s bluff for more money. This whole situation has soured me a bit, I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch Canes or Stars hockey for a bit.

[fishyy-fish]

For the record, I absolutely despise that MTkachuk is a trumpy. I will probably continue to write using him as a character though, because my works are fiction about real people. Think paper dolls. My MTkachuk paper doll will continue to be put in gay situations, he will be liberal, and he will continue to be the victim of angst as I see fit.

Honestly, I have taken a step back from writing about him, but I do have several WIPs that I am working on and intend to finish at some point. Idk if there will be new stuff about him after that, but I will keep y’all updated if anyone cares to ask.

I will keep all my fics with MTkachuk up on the archive, and I will never delete them. If one day, I decide I no longer wish to be at all associated with him, I will orphan all works with him. I believe that the archive should remain an archive, and that deleting works compromises its main function. Prior to orphaning works, I will let everyone know so that they can download in their original state.

[fishyy-fish]

via avalanche

[fishyy-fish]

I’m seeing people be upset that the images they post without a watermark or a tag being reused by others. This is the internet, I have 1000 memes saved to my phone and I can guarantee that maybe three of them are actually saved from their OP. I’m not saying it’s right or anything, that’s just how social media is these days.

Bestie, if you feel that strongly about it, include a watermark or something, or just don’t post the image. It’s silly to act passive aggressive in the comments of people who posted it and had no way of knowing who or where the image came from because it has been recycled by so many other people before it got to them. Also like 8/10 times it’s people getting upset about the most bland and basic photo of something that is publicly available and easily photographed because it’s nothing unique. If it’s that big of a deal to you, just add a fucking watermark.

[fishyy-fish]

someone needs to stop letting me make spootify playlists (I’m still in mourning and disbelief)

[fishyy-fish]

arsirane + stick season

[fishyy-fish]

"Stuck in the timeloop as a punishment" is cool and all, but stuck in the timeloop voluntarily though? Oh, brother. Stuck in the timeloop cause you just can't move on. Stuck in the timeloop even if you know that it's not real and whatever should've happen already did. Stuck in the timeloop even if doesn't makes you happy. You just can't bear the thought of not being able to see them ever again. Stuck in the timeloop even if you know you should move on. Stuck in the timeloop even if you know they would want you to move on.

But maybe just a little while longer.

[fishyy-fish]

a displeased mike sullivan unhinges his jaw, preparing to devour the referee

[fishyy-fish]

aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

thomas harley dumping wyatt johnston

[fishyy-fish]

haha dallas stars, ur so sexxy, stop french kissing on the bench and giving each other the flu

what are they doin in dallas . on the bench??? in front of god & also their shared viruses??? anon i dont follow dallas anon you cant just LEAVE me with this information anon please come back