Tidbits: Around the League: NHL News - 2023-24

[Minnewildsota]

They'll only close the loophole when a team like the Wild, Jackets, or Sens try to take advantage of it. Vegas isn't even trying to hide their cheating ways at this point.

And they would punish the Wild retroactively.

Oh, you took advantage of this last year. Well, that’s 20 million against your cap.

 

[Wabit]

I'm sure this conversation will go the same way it does every year, but shocker that Mark Stone magically got healthy for game 1 again.

He's right in the middle of what the google search search says is a 2-2.5 month recovery window for a lacerated spleen (Feb 18th injury).

 

[BagHead]

He's right in the middle of what the google search search says is a 2-2.5 month recovery window for a lacerated spleen (Feb 18th injury).

I have to imagine returning that early is very uncomforatble. I was wondering if it would also be dangerous to his health, and the scientific research very strongly says "maybe?". They can't even decide on what a proper timeline is, and it's usually up to the discretion of the physician.

In short, it's entirely possible he is well enough to play, and has only been for the last week or so.

For the conspiracy theorists out there, it's the perfect injury to fake because there is so little consensus about it, allowing him to return whenever the playoffs begin. I personally don't subscribe to the "faked injury" thing, as I don't like to make accusations without proof.

 

[AKL]

I have to imagine returning that early is very uncomforatble. I was wondering if it would also be dangerous to his health, and the scientific research very strongly says "maybe?". They can't even decide on what a proper timeline is, and it's usually up to the discretion of the physician.

In short, it's entirely possible he is well enough to play, and has only been for the last week or so.

For the conspiracy theorists out there, it's the perfect injury to fake because there is so little consensus about it, allowing him to return whenever the playoffs begin. I personally don't subscribe to the "faked injury" thing, as I don't like to make accusations without proof.

I don't know if other people out there are saying they faked the entire injury. My perspective has always been that the injury is real, and they're playing with the timeline. The idea being that Stone really did get injured, he really did need to go on IR, but he realistically could have come back 2 weeks before the end of the regular season, but they kept him out because they had no cap space for him. It's pretty easy to say he's just not ready yet or he needs a stint to practice to get back up to speed or whatever.

At this point, I don't know how you can look at this situation and not think something like that is going on. It's now happened several times in the last decade that guys have missed significant stretches of the season, namely after the trade deadline, and then "magically" been ready for game one of the playoffs.

It's not against the rules and the NHL doesn't seem to have an issue with it, so I guess it won't change. But I wish it was a bigger issue to them, because it feels gross. Especially with some of the stuff they've come down on in the past (like the 13 year contracts to lower the AAV a la Parise/Suter/Kovalchuk).

 

[57special]

Athletes tend to come back from injury WAY sooner than normal folks. The Stone situation still stinks to high heaven, though. The whole point of salary caps is to not allow wealthier teams to have an unfair advantage, yet in this case VGK clearly have an advantage over other teams going into the playoffs.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

If the players/teams don't care enough to fix in the next CBA, fans need to just accept it. No other way to do it.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I think it’s fine, I just don’t like these “they’re going to miss tons of time and be ready for game 1” in back to back years.

 

[Wasted Talent]

I think it’s fine, I just don’t like these “they’re going to miss tons of time and be ready for game 1” in back to back years.

Stone has been doing it for 3 straight years, it just didn't get so much attention the first time since they ended up missing the playoffs.

 

[BagHead]

I don't know if other people out there are saying they faked the entire injury. My perspective has always been that the injury is real, and they're playing with the timeline. The idea being that Stone really did get injured, he really did need to go on IR, but he realistically could have come back 2 weeks before the end of the regular season, but they kept him out because they had no cap space for him. It's pretty easy to say he's just not ready yet or he needs a stint to practice to get back up to speed or whatever.

At this point, I don't know how you can look at this situation and not think something like that is going on. It's now happened several times in the last decade that guys have missed significant stretches of the season, namely after the trade deadline, and then "magically" been ready for game one of the playoffs.

It's not against the rules and the NHL doesn't seem to have an issue with it, so I guess it won't change. But I wish it was a bigger issue to them, because it feels gross. Especially with some of the stuff they've come down on in the past (like the 13 year contracts to lower the AAV a la Parise/Suter/Kovalchuk).

I shouldn't have said "fake" but instead "fudge". Because of the ambiguity around the return-to-play timeline, it seems like a good one to fudge the timeline with.

I'm sure there is a little something going on with Vegas doing this multiple years now, but I also won't outright accuse them without proof. That's my line to cross or not cross. Others have different lines. I have no problem with that.

My concern isn't that it's gross or immoral, but that if another team like the... Devils or Wild try it, the NHL will then do something about it, and apply the punishment retroactively. They have a history of that.

 

[thestonedkoala]

My concern isn't that it's gross or immoral, but that if another team like the... Devils or Wild try it, the NHL will then do something about it, and apply the punishment retroactively. They have a history of that.

Wasn't this the case this year...other than punishing them retroactively when they told Minnesota they couldn't retain salary because Spurgeon is on LTIR. But they didn't care when other teams did it?

 

[BagHead]

Wasn't this the case this year...other than punishing them retroactively when they told Minnesota they couldn't retain salary because Spurgeon is on LTIR. But they didn't care when other teams did it?

I'm not the right person to ask, I am not educated on how LTIR works well enough to really know the differences.

 

[MuckOG]

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

 

[NHL1674]

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

That was the longest coaching tenure ever!

 

[Arturia Pendragon]

That was the longest coaching tenure ever!

No wonder he was fired, no cups in 106 years

 

[Sad People]

I just got excited for a Ryan Suter goal..... Gross lol

EDIT: Its being challenged.

 

[MNRube]

Suter can still play. Especially in the playoffs where things tighten up and he can employ some of his crafty interferences.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Awfully convenient that Stone is back for Game 1…

 

[kfan22]

Bruins pulled a Wild tonight, changing goalies after a game 1 win and starter playing exceptional and lost.

 

[NHL1674]

It's very early in round 1, but seeing Talbot get lit up...Fiala a bit of a ghost....and Suter and company losing.....not bad. Typical.

 

[Sweetnut]

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Good for them, they need some fresh blood in the org. He must be at least as old as Flower. So nice to see a new coach lead the way for such a successful franchise.
Waiting for Lemaire to return to Wild. Any minute now...

 

[NHL1674]

Where is this Hellebuyck that I've heard so much about in the regular season?

 

[NHL1674]

And he allows another. Get your @#!$ together, dude.

 

[NHL1674]

And Preds up by 3 now. These games are NOT going well tonight.

 

[Digitalbooya]

And he allows another. Get your @#!$ together, dude.

You want the Jets to win?

 

[NHL1674]

You want the Jets to win?

Yep. I want the Avs and Stars done asap more than anything else. I hate the Knights and Jets, but I absolutely loathe Dallas and Colorado. It's a very deep hate for Colorado going back decades.