*** 2021/22 Stanley Cup NHL Thread **** Congrats 2022 Avs Cup Champs! (2 Viewers)

[Capella]

Both good points.  Perhaps I misread your "indisputable parity" as implying that the NHL doesn't have parity.  However, that doesn't change my opinion that baseball does not have parity.  

And you're right, I should have combined TSP.  My mistake.

That still doesn't change my mind that a salary cap is a good thing.  The ability of owners in large markets to drive revenue via local cable television contracts (not to mention owning networks (e.g., YES, SNY)) splits the league into have and have nots.  Small market owners operating at a consistent loss (i.e., spending more on salaries than they take in at the gate/local TV, etc.) is not a sustainable business model.  

We can just agree to disagree. Caps are good for parity, but I don’t think a non-capped league sees a significant difference.

I don’t really care either way in most instances, but I do think how the owners (and I guess the players agreed to it because what choice do they have) have suppressed the cap for this year and the next 2-3 is unfair to the players and even to the teams who couldn’t possibly plan for such an event. Lots of players are getting paid a lot less for the next few years because of this situation. And since it’s an escrow tie-in, the Coyotes playing in a 5k arena isn’t gonna help. It’s not right! 

 

[kupcho1]

We can just agree to disagree. Caps are good for parity, but I don’t think a non-capped league sees a significant difference.

I don’t really care either way in most instances, but I do think how the owners (and I guess the players agreed to it because what choice do they have) have suppressed the cap for this year and the next 2-3 is unfair to the players and even to the teams who couldn’t possibly plan for such an event. Lots of players are getting paid a lot less for the next few years because of this situation. And since it’s an escrow tie-in, the Coyotes playing in a 5k arena isn’t gonna help. It’s not right! 

Sure

 

[Bill Brasky]

what thread is this? where am I?

 

[BeTheMatch]

what thread is this? where am I?

Well, without the Lightning game reports, what else are we supposed to talk about?

 

[JaxBill]

Damn. That didn't look good considering Patrick's concussion history

@RGilbertSOP: Scary moments for Nolan Patrick after a shoulder to the head from Nathan MacKinnon. https://twitter.com/RGilbertSOP/status/1494152053647675397/video/1

 

[Bill Brasky]

imagine what the WIld could be doing if they didn't give away Alex Tuch. 

Can they retire #89 twice for one team?

pretty fun tonight tomorrow with Eichel's return vs Colorado and USA vs Canada in Women's hockey.

technically they would have lost Dumba or god forbid Brodin instead since that was who they were protecting with that trade.  but yeah that would be a real nice

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

technically they would have lost Dumba or god forbid Brodin instead since that was who they were protecting with that trade.  but yeah that would be a real nice

They protected Brodin. 

Exposed Dumba though so that makes sense. Not sure anybody could have predicted Tuch would be this good. Looks like he’ll be Sabres captain soon enough. 

 

[Bill Brasky]

They protected Brodin. 

Exposed Dumba though so that makes sense. Not sure anybody could have predicted Tuch would be this good. Looks like he’ll be Sabres captain soon enough. 

yes, referring to how it was always viewed/debated as one or the other coin flip. now Brodin is irreplaceable and Dumba probably gone next year anyway.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I had no idea Jack Johnson was playing for the Avs now. 

 

[Zegras11]

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired D Ilya Lyubushkin and F Ryan Dzingel from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for F Nick Ritchie and a conditional draft pick.

 

[E Street Brat]

JFC that TNT pregame was worse then terrible.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Sean Avery comeback?  wtf

 

[Foosball God]

Sean Avery comeback?  wtf

:laughingemoji:

 

[JaxBill]

Jokerit is a Finnish club (Jarri Kurri GM)

@vasilieuski: Russian journalists report that #Jokerit has withdrawn from the #KHLfi championship. The official announcement is on pause due to legal issues.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Sean Avery comeback?  wtf

2 days is at least a day longer than I expected.  it was a good run

 

[Zegras11]

Kinda liking these Smashville uni's

 

[sho nuff]

Kinda liking these Smashville uni's

I like the whole stadium set up with the stages.

Kittle drinking between the benches is a nice touch too.

 

[Zegras11]

I like the whole stadium set up with the stages.

The did a great job with all that.  What's the temp?

 

[Zegras11]

39 degrees..perfect

 

[sho nuff]

39 degrees..perfect

Yeah been like that the last two days.  After a couple weeks of up and down temps and a lot of rain.  Really lucked out with that weather for this.

 

[sho nuff]

Is it just me or is the TNT feed jumpy?  The Bet MGM logos are all wonky when any longer passes go.

 

[JaxBill]

@gritper60pod: Thinking about how the Lightning playing home games at the Trop was the original Stadium Series

 

[Zegras11]

this goal is sick

https://twitter.com/RobLeth/status/1497742356421959680?s=20&t=J3VkDmyKcu01D_wfVeOrZw

 

[JaxBill]

@adidashockey: Classic is back 🕰

Open up the time capsule and take a trip back to 1967 through 1976 with the California Golden Seals Team Classics #AEROREADY jersey. Jersey drops on 3.3.2022 at midnight (PST) on http://adidas.com

#adidasHockey x @NHL https://twitter.com/adidashockey/status/1498737158810583042/photo/1

 

[Nigel]

Meanwhile I'm in the home stretch of my son's organized hockey career, 12 or so games remaining in his Sr. prep school season after 12 years spent in rinks with the kid. Ugh...I'm gonna miss it.  :(

My son's team made the NEPSAC (New England Prep) Elite 8 tournament, a huge accomplishment, first round game is 4:30 today. They're the 3 seed playing at home against the 6 seed, who happen to be their biggest rival. The hate runs deep. Both teams are loaded with D1 present and future commits, a couple kids who will be drafted this spring, and at least one (on my son's team) who barring injury I have no doubt will be an NHL player someday (lock for the USA NTDP next year). My son is in none of those categories but he's a gritty little *******, top 6 Fwd. All that aside, this could be the last time I watch my boy play hockey. Hard to process. Hoping they make it to the weekend but if not it was a great run. 

Livestream link if anyone interested - will be shocked if it's not a one-goal game either way. Will be intense.

BH vs Seb's 4:30pm

 

[Andy Dufresne]

If you're wondering what's happened to the Wild - I started taking more of an interest about a month ago. So there you go.

 

[3 hour lunch]

If you're wondering what's happened to the Wild - I started taking more of an interest about a month ago. So there you go.

Yeah they look terrible. Hoping a bunch of home games and getting Calgary out of town helps a bit 

 

[Capella]

Leafs choking before the playoffs this year is a fun wrinkle. 

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Leafs choking before the playoffs this year is a fun wrinkle. 

Woohoo, kicking their ###. 

 

[Zegras11]

Leafs choking before the playoffs this year is a fun wrinkle. 

That's what happens when you trade away Nick Ritchie

 

[Capella]

Woohoo, kicking their ###. 

Turned the game on and couldn’t believe the score 

 

[rockaction]

My son's team made the NEPSAC (New England Prep) Elite 8 tournament, a huge accomplishment, first round game is 4:30 today. They're the 3 seed playing at home against the 6 seed, who happen to be their biggest rival. The hate runs deep. Both teams are loaded with D1 present and future commits, a couple kids who will be drafted this spring, and at least one (on my son's team) who barring injury I have no doubt will be an NHL player someday (lock for the USA NTDP next year). My son is in none of those categories but he's a gritty little *******, top 6 Fwd. All that aside, this could be the last time I watch my boy play hockey. Hard to process. Hoping they make it to the weekend but if not it was a great run. 

Livestream link if anyone interested - will be shocked if it's not a one-goal game either way. Will be intense.

BH vs Seb's 4:30pm

That's a really high level of hockey. Making the New England Prep tournament is a tough task. I played in what was the Founders League, which didn't have Boston teams (Avon Old Farms and schools like that throughout CT and Western Mass. were in the league at the time), and making that tournament out of our league was always an accomplishment. We only lost 4-2 to the eventual prep champions my PG year and we considered that our game of the year. We did not make the tourney. We weren't even that good, really. :(

That tourney is the best in New England besides the Boston Catholic schools (I don't think they played in that tourney back then, and they probably don't now). It doesn't have the history of MN's tournament with all the pomp and fanfare, but quality Divison I players come out of the schools in droves every year. Fun stuff and congratulations. I know the type of competition you're talking about. 

I hope the game went well for your son. St. Sebastian's and Belmont Hill are long-standing, flagship programs, and he should be proud to be on one of the rotating lines. 

 

[Nigel]

That's a really high level of hockey. Making the New England Prep tournament is a tough task. I played in what was the Founders League, which didn't have Boston teams (Avon Old Farms and schools like that throughout CT and Western Mass. were in the league at the time), and making that tournament out of our league was always an accomplishment. We only lost 4-2 to the eventual prep champions my PG year and we considered that our game of the year. We did not make the tourney. We weren't even that good, really. :(

That tourney is the best in New England besides the Boston Catholic schools (I don't think they played in that tourney back then, and they probably don't now). It doesn't have the history of MN's tournament with all the pomp and fanfare, but quality Divison I players come out of the schools in droves every year. Fun stuff and congratulations. I know the type of competition you're talking about. 

I hope the game went well for your son. St. Sebastian's and Belmont Hill are long-standing, flagship programs, and he should be proud to be on one of the rotating lines. 

Appreciate the words Rock - 3/2 W for the good guys! Next game Sat @ Avon, winner plays Sun vs Kimble Union/Salisbury winner. Founders league is legit! Must have been a blast.

Also times have changed, Boston Catholics still solid but aren’t in same league as ISL these days. 
 

 

[rockaction]

Wow, that's a blast from the past with those schools. Avon is maybe twenty-five minutes from where I grew up, Salisbury no more than forty-five minutes, and KUA has a post-Christmas/seasonal tourney we played in over our month-long Christmas break. I'll never forget the drive. It was up in New Hampshire. 

Cold. Cold, cold, cold. I remember the icicles on the trees and listening to Primus's Sailing The Seas Of Cheese to get up for our games. 

Very cool. Thanks for that memory. 

 

[Zegras11]

Ducks Lukas Dostal stops 50 shots in 5-2 win and scores a goal.

https://twitter.com/SDGullsAHL/status/1499246113487876096?s=20&t=qI_Yq4rQQX5fp46QaO2T8g

 

[falguy]

Leafs choking before the playoffs this year is a fun wrinkle. 

Their goaltending lately has been, shall we say, questionable.

I imagine they are trying to figure out a way to get a proven goalie on board.  They can't possibly trust Mrazek and Campbell is in a bit of a fog lately - and he's not playoff proven.

If they don't go far this year there will be some major changes I suspect.  By far, I mean, win 1 round

 

[Capella]

Their goaltending lately has been, shall we say, questionable.

I imagine they are trying to figure out a way to get a proven goalie on board.  They can't possibly trust Mrazek and Campbell is in a bit of a fog lately - and he's not playoff proven.

If they don't go far this year there will be some major changes I suspect.  By far, I mean, win 1 round

Bolts fans on Twitter that I chat with want to win the division……to get Boston in round 1. I keep telling them give me the 2 seed and Toronto. No disrespect to an extremely talented team but I’d take them over the Bruins in round 1 every day of the week. 

 

[JaxBill]

@DownGoesBrown: I can't remember the last time I saw a coach tossed during a game.

@DownGoesBrown: McCauley should have at least let Cooper come out and go face-to-face for a few minutes like old school Earl Weaver.

 

[E Street Brat]

@DownGoesBrown: I can't remember the last time I saw a coach tossed during a game.

@DownGoesBrown: McCauley should have at least let Cooper come out and go face-to-face for a few minutes like old school Earl Weaver.

You could tell Coop was giving it to him.  I'd love to know exactly what he said, 

 

[RUSF18]

Who knew that the only downgrade from Lundqvist to Shesterkin would be in the looks department. 

 

[BeTheMatch]

The Wild have officially collapsed. And it's not even the first round of the playoffs.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Sabres really doing some damage it seems. 

 

[Chemical X]

The Wild have officially collapsed. And it's not even the first round of the playoffs.

all it takes is georgiev to make it all better.

 

[falguy]

Have you guys heard of Auston Matthews?  He's all they talk about up here.  Apparently he is pretty good at hockey.

 

[guru_007]

Rangers are in dire need of another top 6 forward, stat.

Last night they have Reeves playing with Mika and Kreider.  Dylan Hunt may be a nice guy and all, but he's been playing with Strome and Panarin forever and has 1 goal in the last 30 games.  Is Kakko ever returning?  Either way, you get Kakko back, put him with Chytil/Gauthier (or Goodrow) on the 3rd line and roll out the 4th line that has been running decent all year and you have a team.

Rangers also play completely different with Shesterkin in net.  Game vs Jets, they outplayed them pretty much all night 5v5, and even though shot differential was high, very low quality shots were taken against the Rangers.  Last night, Wild pretty much dominated all game long.  Rangers couldn't break out of their own zone. Fox has not been great the past few weeks other than on the power play.  So many giveaways and no sustained pressure in the offensive zone other than maybe 1-2 shifts.  It's like they play fearlessly with 31 in net, and in shambles with Georgiev out there.  

Team is still ahead of perceived schedule, but really, they should be making a run this year as it stands.  They have assets, they have cap room, they have enough talent in the pipeline to make a move.   I also was advocating for them to trade for Eichel months back, but I guess their offers were midling at best.  You have to give something to get something, I'd still be good with them trading Miller, Barron, draft picks, Georgiev (not many youngish nhl caliber goalies are available right now so he still has value), Kratsov. I'd prefer they not trade Lundquist but if that's what it will take, so be it.

 

[Zegras11]

Rangers are in dire need of another top 6 forward, stat.

Last night they have Reeves playing with Mika and Kreider.  Dylan Hunt may be a nice guy and all, but he's been playing with Strome and Panarin forever and has 1 goal in the last 30 games.  Is Kakko ever returning?  Either way, you get Kakko back, put him with Chytil/Gauthier (or Goodrow) on the 3rd line and roll out the 4th line that has been running decent all year and you have a team.

Rangers also play completely different with Shesterkin in net.  Game vs Jets, they outplayed them pretty much all night 5v5, and even though shot differential was high, very low quality shots were taken against the Rangers.  Last night, Wild pretty much dominated all game long.  Rangers couldn't break out of their own zone. Fox has not been great the past few weeks other than on the power play.  So many giveaways and no sustained pressure in the offensive zone other than maybe 1-2 shifts.  It's like they play fearlessly with 31 in net, and in shambles with Georgiev out there.  

Team is still ahead of perceived schedule, but really, they should be making a run this year as it stands.  They have assets, they have cap room, they have enough talent in the pipeline to make a move.   I also was advocating for them to trade for Eichel months back, but I guess their offers were midling at best.  You have to give something to get something, I'd still be good with them trading Miller, Barron, draft picks, Georgiev (not many youngish nhl caliber goalies are available right now so he still has value), Kratsov. I'd prefer they not trade Lundquist but if that's what it will take, so be it.

Seeing a lot of talk about Rakell and possibly Lindholm to the Rangers. 

 

[Chemical X]

rangers theoretically know they are 1-2 years away and won’t gut assets, but i’d assume georgiev, zac jones, lundqvist, quitsov and their #1 could be in play.  maybe that lands them some rentals.  i don’t think any of those players are long term holds.  the top 4 d are set and i get the feeling the players dislike georgiev.

 

[AcerFC]

Rangers are in dire need of another top 6 forward, stat.

Last night they have Reeves playing with Mika and Kreider.  Dylan Hunt may be a nice guy and all, but he's been playing with Strome and Panarin forever and has 1 goal in the last 30 games.  Is Kakko ever returning?  Either way, you get Kakko back, put him with Chytil/Gauthier (or Goodrow) on the 3rd line and roll out the 4th line that has been running decent all year and you have a team.

Rangers also play completely different with Shesterkin in net.  Game vs Jets, they outplayed them pretty much all night 5v5, and even though shot differential was high, very low quality shots were taken against the Rangers.  Last night, Wild pretty much dominated all game long.  Rangers couldn't break out of their own zone. Fox has not been great the past few weeks other than on the power play.  So many giveaways and no sustained pressure in the offensive zone other than maybe 1-2 shifts.  It's like they play fearlessly with 31 in net, and in shambles with Georgiev out there.  

Team is still ahead of perceived schedule, but really, they should be making a run this year as it stands.  They have assets, they have cap room, they have enough talent in the pipeline to make a move.   I also was advocating for them to trade for Eichel months back, but I guess their offers were midling at best.  You have to give something to get something, I'd still be good with them trading Miller, Barron, draft picks, Georgiev (not many youngish nhl caliber goalies are available right now so he still has value), Kratsov. I'd prefer they not trade Lundquist but if that's what it will take, so be it.

I strongly disagree with this. The problem is not their top 6. The main problem is their third line. Laffy on that top line is not only good, but is starting to show how good he can be. Kakko will be back and when he comes back he SHOULD DEFINITELY be on the second line. When he was playing on that line earlier in the year he looked almost unstoppable. 
Their third line is non existent which in turns leads to their 4th line playing too much. Their 4th line of Reaves, Rooney and Goodrow is really good. Then you can rotate McKegg and Hunt to keep guys fresh. If they want to keep Chytl in the middle then they need to get Rakell like Getz mentioned and also Lehkonen. That would give them a legit third line. 
Forget Georgiev. He might be done with them. They have given up more than 4 goals 5 times this season and he has been in net for all of them. 
another issue is that Fox and Panarin haven’t been right since they each returned from injury. I expect them to be better as we get further. 

 

[AcerFC]

One more quick note to add. I would not deal a first or Lundqvist/Jones for any of those guys. Have to manage your chips wisely imo and you can’t give those chips for rentals. It’s not like getting either of those guys or even both will make them a favorite. 

 

[Barry]

Have you guys heard of Auston Matthews?  He's all they talk about up here.  Apparently he is pretty good at hockey.

by up here he means Toronto. By they he means Canadian media which is really Toronto media broadcast nationally.  The rest of us up here hate everything about that team.  That franchise is a perennial loser yet everyone still hates them. That's special.