GDT: Avs vs. Isles: The City So Nice...They Named It Twice (8pm ET/6pm MT)

[Ararana]

As for right now… If Byram gets his game more consistent the D pairs are better fits as:

Byram - Makar
Toews - Girard
JJ - Manson

Byram-Makar with the MacKinnon line has been pure offensive chaos when Bednar actually puts them together. That five man group has produced ridiculous offensive stats in the past.

If I was running things (without being able to trade Toews last summer)

Byram - Makar
Toews - Manson
Girard - JJ

The second pairing takes a bit of an offensive hit, but that's one hell of a shutdown pairing to match against other team's top players.

But lets face it, they didn't give Toews a massive 35+ contract to NOT play him with Makar.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

In the world of professional hockey, Mikko Rantanen, a talented Finnish player, is on the cusp of superstardom. But as he rises to fame, he unwittingly attracts the attention of an obsessive Finnish fan named Eero. Eero becomes convinced that a former NHL player, Eric Brewer, is using his rugged handsomeness to steal credit from Rantanen. What starts as harmless fan devotion takes a dark and comedic turn as Eero's obsession spirals out of control.

Is this a story worth telling?

 

[Murzu]

In the world of professional hockey, Mikko Rantanen, a talented Finnish player, is on the cusp of superstardom. But as he rises to fame, he unwittingly attracts the attention of an obsessive Finnish fan named Eero. Eero becomes convinced that a former NHL player, Eric Brewer, is using his rugged handsomeness to steal credit from Rantanen. What starts as harmless fan devotion takes a dark and comedic turn as Eero's obsession spirals out of control.

Is this a story worth telling?

Yes

@avgard

 

[CobraAcesS]

Byram-Makar with the MacKinnon line has been pure offensive chaos when Bednar actually puts them together. That five man group has produced ridiculous offensive stats in the past.

If I was running things (without being able to trade Toews last summer)

Byram - Makar
Toews - Manson
Girard - JJ

The second pairing takes a bit of an offensive hit, but that's one hell of a shutdown pairing to match against other team's top players.

But lets face it, they didn't give Toews a massive 35+ contract to NOT play him with Makar.

It's only a 35+ contract if it's signed around the player being 35. Can't remember the exact rules though.

 

[AvBuff]

In the world of professional hockey, Mikko Rantanen, a talented Finnish player, is on the cusp of superstardom. But as he rises to fame, he unwittingly attracts the attention of an obsessive Finnish fan named Eero. Eero becomes convinced that a former NHL player, Eric Brewer, is using his rugged handsomeness to steal credit from Rantanen. What starts as harmless fan devotion takes a dark and comedic turn as Eero's obsession spirals out of control.

Is this a story worth telling?

Sounds like a hockey-based Lifetime movie.

"2 Minutes of Roughing" - a young hockey players erotic, frozen journey from Lappeenranta to LoDo.

 

[GeoRox89]

It's only a 35+ contract if it's signed around the player being 35. Can't remember the exact rules though.

Pretty sure it’s if they’re 35+ on July 1 of the year it starts. That said they don’t mean much anymore now that you can’t do the crazy back diving contracts. Essentially along the lines of as long as the yearly salary is flat or increasing after year 1 and year 1 is the only one paid in signing bonuses then you aren’t stuck with the cap hit if they retire

 

[CobraAcesS]

Pretty sure it’s if they’re 35+ on July 1 of the year it starts. That said they don’t mean much anymore now that you can’t do the crazy back diving contracts. Essentially along the lines of as long as the yearly salary is flat or increasing after year 1 and year 1 is the only one paid in signing bonuses then you aren’t stuck with the cap hit if they retire

That whole thing was kind of weird to me anyway. An attempt to stop back diving contracts, but only if the player is already old lol. Maybe I just haven't followed close enough.

 

[GeoRox89]

That whole thing was kind of weird to me anyway. An attempt to stop back diving contracts, but only if the player is already old lol. Maybe I just haven't followed close enough.

Think it was mostly because once they were 35+ the cap circumvention was too blatant. Some of those non 35+ retirement contracts actually ended up played out in full. Most famous example of that I can think of is Alfie and then the debacle of him going to the Wings when the Sens refused to do right by him for playing those low value seasons at the end

 

[CobraAcesS]

Think it was mostly because once they were 35+ the cap circumvention was too blatant. Some of those non 35+ retirement contracts actually ended up played out in full. Most famous example of that I can think of is Alfie and then the debacle of him going to the Wings when the Sens refused to do right by him for playing those low value seasons at the end

I think the owners had to save the stupid GMs from themselves, and their pocket books.

 

[Foppa2118]

They need to get Byram and Girard away from each other. Not just the fact that they're both lefties but they also play similar games and need to be the guy carrying the puck to maximize their skill set.

Toews is a very good compliment to Makar, he plays the stability role of that pairing and lets Makar go ham. Ideally the Avs trade Girard for a long term RHD solution for Byram on the second pair that will be that stability guy for Bo to go out and do his thing. Manson was probably penciled in to be that guy for Byram when they extended him but Manson can't stay healthy anymore. If only we could have EJ of five years ago back for that pairing.

Then the only thing left would be for Bednar to hand over PP2 to Byram. Makar/Byram should be your PP QBs and Toews/Manson should be the PKers.

Another problem is that they had been unintentionally using Byram as a stay at home guy. For those that wanted to see a keep it simple Byram that focuses on defense, this year's been what it looks like.

When he plays with Girard, G handles the puck on the breakout like 80% of the time. Bo usually passes to Girard, but Girard rarely passes to Bo. Same in the O zone. G's been very good this year and that approach helps him, but it hurts Bo by taking away his biggest strength, and the part of the game that's key to getting him into games mentally.

Bo needs the puck on his stick to make plays because that's who he is. That's his identity. He's not a stay at home personality. He's a race horse. He needs to play with confidence and making him play simple defensive hockey doesn't boost his confidence enough.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

#StopThatMakar

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

#StopThatMakar

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That was filthy. His first breakaway wasn't bad either.

 

[famicommander]

i think this makar kid might be good someday

 

[RoyIsALegend]

That was filthy. His first breakaway wasn't bad either.

It’s the backhand that does it for me on this one.

As a goaltender, that is just a nightmare. You can’t read it and it goes straight top bins in a half second, blocker side as well so you’re f***ed. Unreal shot.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

It’s the backhand that does it for me on this one.

As a goaltender, that is just a nightmare. You can’t read it and it goes straight top bins in a half second, blocker side as well so you’re f***ed. Unreal shot.

The goal is perfection. His small wait at the blueline, so Mikko has enough time to get out of the zone, but it also works as a trick for the defenseman. After that sudden change of pace instead of dumping the puck or passing and he fooled the defenseman.

It's just unbelievable goal. Shows how high level Makar thinks about the game, unreal level. Backhand is just the cherry on top.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I just love the calm, workman like approach he had to celebrating in that last .gif. Cale knows damn well what he's capable of and he expects to make plays like these. Dude has ice water flowing through his veins.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Mikko Rantanen is going to make all the money. Might have priced himself out I dunno. Avs should do everything to keep him.

 

[thedoctor]

Mikko Rantanen is going to make all the money. Might have priced himself out I dunno. Avs should do everything to keep him.

I think it'll be fine. he'll get a 2-3m raise.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I think it'll be fine. he'll get a 2-3m raise.

Mikko's going to take 8x8 and demand CMac use the savings on more Finns.

 

[The Moops]

What's the significance of 35+ contacts again?

 

[Ncit3]

In the world of professional hockey, Mikko Rantanen, a talented Finnish player, is on the cusp of superstardom. But as he rises to fame, he unwittingly attracts the attention of an obsessive Finnish fan named Eero. Eero becomes convinced that a former NHL player, Eric Brewer, is using his rugged handsomeness to steal credit from Rantanen. What starts as harmless fan devotion takes a dark and comedic turn as Eero's obsession spirals out of control.

Is this a story worth telling?

When is the book coming out?

 

[Richard88]

They need to get Byram and Girard away from each other. Not just the fact that they're both lefties but they also play similar games and need to be the guy carrying the puck to maximize their skill set.

Toews is a very good compliment to Makar, he plays the stability role of that pairing and lets Makar go ham. Ideally the Avs trade Girard for a long term RHD solution for Byram on the second pair that will be that stability guy for Bo to go out and do his thing. Manson was probably penciled in to be that guy for Byram when they extended him but Manson can't stay healthy anymore. If only we could have EJ of five years ago back for that pairing.

Then the only thing left would be for Bednar to hand over PP2 to Byram. Makar/Byram should be your PP QBs and Toews/Manson should be the PKers.

Trading Girard for a top 4 RHD would be ideal, but it seems a bit optimistic that another team would make such a trade given the premium value RHD's have compared to small LHD's

 

[Ararana]

Trading Girard for a top 4 RHD would be ideal, but it seems a bit optimistic that another team would make such a trade given the premium value RHD's have compared to small LHD's

They'd probably have to do what they did with Newhook/Colton. Trade Girard for assets then turn around and use those assets to get the piece their looking for.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Trading Girard for a top 4 RHD would be ideal, but it seems a bit optimistic that another team would make such a trade given the premium value RHD's have compared to small LHD's

I'll forever be annoyed that we weren't able to swap Girard for Marino, and instead, the Penguins got Ty f@#$ing Smith and a 3rd rounder.

Marino would have been the RD version of Toews for us, just an absolute steady, mobile presence and the perfect partner for Bo.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

When is the book coming out?

If @TOOMANYJTCGOALS is anything like George R Martin, that sucker isn't ever going to be released.