Ever since Timmy P. started writing for Hockey Buzz, his quality of work has gone down greatly.

I am a Flyers fan and can’t read him anymore, just can’t understand why he associates himself with a site like that.

Posted by FFan on 08/29/09 at 05:18 PM ET

That has to be among the dumbest things I’ve ever read. It’s a fuching camp for an Olympic team; if you didn’t prepare your body for it, that’s your own damn fault. I’ll bet every one of those players had been doing off and on ice conditioning at some level; no worthwhile professional athlete would do otherwise.

Posted by Osrt on 08/29/09 at 05:48 PM ET

Talk about brain cramps from one of hockey’s more obnoxious coaches…

Um, excuse me, but “...one of hockey’s more obnoxious coaches...” doesn’t even come close to describing Uncle Mike. And god forbid a coach would expect his players to show up in shape. They’ve known for weeks now that they were coming to this camp...a camp that will help them earn a spot on their national team for cripes sake.

This guy needs to find a local pharmacist and see if he can get some reality meds because that article is just ridiculous whining from a ridiculous whiner.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 08/29/09 at 06:26 PM ET

Have to agree with the comments, and if you honestly believe that these guys hadn’t seen a pair of skates you’re more out of the loop than i originally though...August 1st is when most guys get back on the ice…

Posted by Greg on 08/29/09 at 06:58 PM ET

“and we haven’t heard a single person question that serious lack of judgment.”

Unlike you, the other people know it was not Babcock’s fault.

What is wrong Tim, Eklund not talking to you today, bad mood?

Posted by Greg from New York on 08/29/09 at 07:26 PM ET

he’s from philly which ain’t good.  but he’s right. dumb move by babCOCK.

Posted by LOVEWINGS on 08/29/09 at 07:47 PM ET

but he’s right. dumb move by babCOCK.

Posting it twice doesn’t make it right, jackass. Or should I say, Mr. Panaccio?

The idea that anyone who knew even a smidgen about hockey would say or believe that kind of nonsense about Uncle Mike is just plain laughable.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 08/29/09 at 08:08 PM ET

LOVEWINGS, I deleted one of your comments, no need to repeat yourself.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 08/29/09 at 08:10 PM ET

So the argument goes:
- most players hadn’t skated in months
- so skating them hard at camp put them at risk of injuries
- unlike most players, Simon Gagne had been skating for two weeks
- ???
- therefore, it’s all Babcock’s fault

I think he might be trying to say that Gagne was at risk of an injury because he’d only been skating for two weeks, as opposed to “skating hard”, but that just begs the question--if it’s not safe for a player to start “skating hard” again after two weeks of warm-up, when the heck is it?

Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 08/29/09 at 08:31 PM ET

If this guy things these guys just showed up to camp with out training/skating all summer, he should stop writing about hockey right now.

Posted by RJ on 08/29/09 at 10:23 PM ET

babcock is obnoxious...of that there is no doubt.

Canadian players are soft?  Some of them at least.

Posted by stoneman from vegas on 08/30/09 at 12:09 AM ET

RJ...I have two words for you: RICK DIPIETRO.  That is all.  (I guess Marian Gaborik could work).

Posted by stoneman from Vegas on 08/30/09 at 12:19 AM ET

babcock is obnoxious

How so?

I’m biased as hell because I don’t think there is a better coach in the NHL right now, although Babbles himself would disagree; he has said before that the best coach is the one with the Cup. Regardless, I curious to know why people would think he’s obnoxious.

Also, stoneman, we harass players who we’ve heard haven’t done their work over the summer and come prepared for training camp. Any player who doesn’t come prepared is considered questionable in terms of dedication, understanding, professionalism, determination etc…

Posted by Osrt on 08/30/09 at 03:27 AM ET

Babcock was probably thinking “I have a very limited amount of time to get a few key concepts across to these guys before they and I get involved with the NHL season, so there isn’t any time to waste.” It’s getting near the end of the summer, he probably figured they were getting close to being ready, so a fast practice wasn’t going to do any more damage than any of their normal workouts would at this point.

I don’t think he is obnoxious, but I can see why people might think that.  He has a pretty dry sense of humour and a tendency to be very blunt and abrupt at times in his conversation, and that can come across as not very tactful and a bit obnoxious even though he doesn’t intend for it to be that way.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 08/30/09 at 05:43 AM ET

I love Babs as a Wings coach, but I’ve said all along he is not an Olympic coach. This will backfire on Team Canada in a big way. And then Babs will be hated by all of Canada.

Lose/lose situation.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste. Marie on 08/30/09 at 10:57 AM ET

he’s from philly which ain’t good.  but he’s right. dumb move by babCOCK.

Posted by LOVEWINGS on 08/29/09 at 08:47 PM ET

actually he’s from Pittsburgh. He got canned from Philly inquirer because of crappy work and got caught making things up. He’s an Crosby apologists. ek gets sources many from him

Posted by FlyersFan on 08/30/09 at 12:48 PM ET

Given how Team Canada performed in 2006, putting them under the whip from the get-go for 2010 is probably the message they need sent to them.  Coddling everyone from the start and babying players because it’s still, technically, the offseason are the kinds of things Canadian fans would look back upon and point to if Team Canada gets bounced out early or out of the medals.

Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 08/30/09 at 01:37 PM ET

From what I understand, by the time players return to their respective NHL cities in late August or early September, they’re skating at near-NHL practice tempo.  Captain Obnoxious knows that.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 08/30/09 at 03:13 PM ET