Dater: The Kadri Story

Thank God for my subscribers

I don’t and won’t go much into detail on this, because, who cares? I have written the last few days that things were hot and heavy between the Avalanche and Calgary Flames over Nazem Kadri. I said that I thought Valeri Nichushkin might - and here is the word might - for all you idiots on social media who said that I said it was a done deal that Nichushkin would be on the move to the Flames for No. 91. It wasn’t. Nichushkin who went to Calgary for Kadri. It was Victor Oloffson, a first-round pick in 2028, prospect Max Curran and another 5th-round pick, that went to Calgary for Kadri.

I never said for sure Nichushkin would be the one traded. But I sure as shit thought it was going to be him, based on some deep reporting on the whole thing. And, I sure do stand by that belief. But that didn’t happen, so I have to own that I was WRONG on that. But I did have that the Avs were hot and heavy after Kadri, so I will give myself some credit for that at least.

I also want to know if maybe the Flames turned down Nichushkin as the trade acquisition, based on their own due diligence. I want to know if that is what postponed the trade, until the Avs came up with a last-ditch new offer that, somehow, was accepted?

Regarldess: It was such another valuable reminder to me, that “thank the Lord Jesus I don’t have to report to these fucking Twitter morons every day anymore.”

like I used to, as the paid, everyday beat writer covering this team. I work happily today as a regular writer for four print publications, more work than I can handle, frankly. I’m 61 and semi-retired, but over the last few days I decided to put my energy back into trying to get a trade scoop ahead of everybody, just for kicks, like the time in 2013 when I broke the news of the NHL lockout ending, after a night of covering the Denver Nuggets. I got home, decided to text some sources, and beat everybody to the news, including all those paid “insiders” on hand at a hotel in New York, where talks between the NHL and NHPLA were ongoing. Don’t believe me?

Here: https://www.denverpost.com/2013/01/05/nhl-lockout-ends-colorado-avalanche-season-saved/

I can narrow down most every Avs idiot social media moron to Reddit, where it is truly like the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” meets “The Cable Guy”. Idiot shut-in, sociopathic losers - that’s the Avs crowd on Reddit.

Oh, and also to the fringe “hockey media” which includes losers who couldn’t ever get hired by a real, reputable media company and are mad at me because of it. Like, I had anything to do with that.

No, I didn’t get it right that I thought Nichushkin would be the primary guy dealt to the Flames for Kadri.

And, I LOVED THIS: Nichushkin was the hero tonight in the Avs’ win over the Dallas Stars. He scored the game-tying goal with 13 seconds left, then scored a shootout goal in the Avs’ 5-4 win - a win that pretty much wrapped up both the Central Division and the Western Conference title.

I will say this: I totally stand by my belief that Nuke was the one who would go to Calgary for Kadri. But it didn’t happen in the end. So, I have to own that, and I do.

But, show me anything where I said it was a deal that WOULD happen. I said it MIGHT happen. But, that is something you have to be careful about in today’s media world, which is mostly the province of young, 20-30-something lazeabouts who think the main job of a team beat writer is to cheerlead for the team and NEVER, EVER, EVER write anything that 1. criticizes the team at all or 2. goes any deeper than what the team spoonfeeds you on the media release.

I was brought up in the age of journalism where it was YOUR JOB to find out what was happening with the team BEFORE the media release.

I know that might sound crazy to today’s Avs beat writer, but, yeah, that’s the way it used to be in this business. That goes for every dumbass Reddit Avs fan idiot too.

Next time you want to take a swing at me, Avs stenographers and their fans: Show me the big stories you had that were published before ANY other media or team releases in the last few years. I’m waiting… Send them to adater@comcast.net. Seriously, send them and I’ll credit you.

I can only be SOOOOOOOOO thankful that I have hundreds and hundreds of you who know this, and are paid subscribers here.

THANK YOU.

And to everyone else: God bless you. I don’t want or need your approval anymore.