All-encompassing anti-Pittsburgh thread

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I don't see any great teams in their division. BOS has injury and age problems. WAS is getting older, not better. NYI are a tough beat, but they are not a great team. PHA will be a good team at least, but have proven nothing. BUF and NJD have been crap. NYR should be really good offensively, but their D ...not so much. If Guentzel gets his game back and Zucker plays well then they've got as chance to finish in the top 3, easily.

We've got some bad teams in our division, but TBL are the best in the league, and CAR is ready to be a top tier team. CBJ was devastated by injuries last year, and still did their thing in the playoffs. I think they are as good as NYI, if not better. If they stay healthy this year they will be very tough to beat.

The way I look at it

NYI will be a 98-102 point team based on the depth they have, they’re previous season, and the defensive structure

BOS could take a step back, but I don’t see how they could regress from a 118 point pace to a non-contender in less than a year. Sure, they’re starting the season with injury issues, but that will allow them to pick up a good player thanks to LTIR and will only make them better down the stretch.

NYR: I think this team will suprise a lot of people. When Shesterkin came in down the stretch, they were a really good team. Younger guys should improve (Deangeo, Fox, Kakko), add in Lafreniere and a goalie who could be a top 7 goalie in the world right away, and I think they’re a playoff team.

WAS: They’re really in a similar sport to Pittsburgh. A team that’s been good for so long that’s aging. They’ve both got the guns on offense. The difference is, I’ll take Washington’s defensive group over Pitts any day, and I’ll take Samsonov over Jarry. I think they’re a playoff team.

PHI: This is a very good team. I predict they’ll build on their last season and win this division. Couturier is a number 1 center. Provorov anchors a strong defensive group. Weapons all over on offense. Farabee and Frost should take steps forward. Hart has been great and looks like he could be entering the prime of what will surely be a career as a Vezina contender.

BUFF: I’m not picking them to make the postseason, but they should be close. Hall adds a lot to this teams offense. Skinner could bounce-back. If Dahlin takes a step and Ullmark is fine, they could absolutely sneak in as a Wildcard team.

NJD: It doesn’t look great, but I think they’re better than they were last year. Murray is a solid add as a top-4 defenseman. Blackwood is surprisingly Solid. I’m expecting at least somewhat of a bounce-back season from PK. If Hughes and/or Hishier take a step and Gusev plays like he did over the last half of the season, they’re probably about an 80-85 point team over a full season.

PITT: And here we are. This is a solid top 6 group. They’re going to get their goals. If Crosby/Malkin stay healthy, I expect they’ll compete for a playoff spot. However, looking at the depth of this team, it’s not looking great for them. They’re bottom-6 is atrocious. Blue line is bottom half of the league. They traded a 20+ goal scorer for possibly the worst player I watched in the bubble ~Matheson. They’re betting on Jarry being able to recreate his 30 games sample size while being ‘the guy’ this year. Can he go it facing the best teams every night and playing 80% of the games? I don’t know.

My Rankings:
1. Philadelphia
2. Boston
3. Washington
4. New York Rangers
5. New York Islanders
6. Pittsburgh
7. Buffalo
8. New Jersey

 

[Gurglesons]

The way I look at it

NYI will be a 98-102 point team based on the depth they have, they’re previous season, and the defensive structure

BOS could take a step back, but I don’t see how they could regress from a 118 point pace to a non-contender in less than a year. Sure, they’re starting the season with injury issues, but that will allow them to pick up a good player thanks to LTIR and will only make them better down the stretch.

NYR: I think this team will suprise a lot of people. When Shesterkin came in down the stretch, they were a really good team. Younger guys should improve (Deangeo, Fox, Kakko), add in Lafreniere and a goalie who could be a top 7 goalie in the world right away, and I think they’re a playoff team.

WAS: They’re really in a similar sport to Pittsburgh. A team that’s been good for so long that’s aging. They’ve both got the guns on offense. The difference is, I’ll take Washington’s defensive group over Pitts any day, and I’ll take Samsonov over Jarry. I think they’re a playoff team.

PHI: This is a very good team. I predict they’ll build on their last season and win this division. Couturier is a number 1 center. Provorov anchors a strong defensive group. Weapons all over on offense. Farabee and Frost should take steps forward. Hart has been great and looks like he could be entering the prime of what will surely be a career as a Vezina contender.

BUFF: I’m not picking them to make the postseason, but they should be close. Hall adds a lot to this teams offense. Skinner could bounce-back. If Dahlin takes a step and Ullmark is fine, they could absolutely sneak in as a Wildcard team.

NJD: It doesn’t look great, but I think they’re better than they were last year. Murray is a solid add as a top-4 defenseman. Blackwood is surprisingly Solid. I’m expecting at least somewhat of a bounce-back season from PK. If Hughes and/or Hishier take a step and Gusev plays like he did over the last half of the season, they’re probably about an 80-85 point team over a full season.

PITT: And here we are. This is a solid top 6 group. They’re going to get their goals. If Crosby/Malkin stay healthy, I expect they’ll compete for a playoff spot. However, looking at the depth of this team, it’s not looking great for them. They’re bottom-6 is atrocious. Blue line is bottom half of the league. They traded a 20+ goal scorer for possibly the worst player I watched in the bubble ~Matheson. They’re betting on Jarry being able to recreate his 30 games sample size while being ‘the guy’ this year. Can he go it facing the best teams every night and playing 80% of the games? I don’t know.

My Rankings:
1. Philadelphia
2. Boston
3. Washington
4. New York Rangers
5. New York Islanders
6. Pittsburgh
7. Buffalo
8. New Jersey

I think you’re really underrating how much losing Niskanen will effect that Flyers team. Provorov was somewhat of a nightmare the year prior and they’ll be asking Braun to set up in that absence.

NYI is likely losing someone else in addition to Toews. That may not seem like a lot, but Boychuk and Toews out of that roster and Dobson not making a big appearance is going to be rough.

I see no way in hell how the Rags are going to outpace the two above teams let alone PIT. Their defense is still a trash fire despite Fox being a stud.

Your assessment of Was is straight up bizarre..

You take..

Dillon - Carlson
Orlov - Schultz
Seigenthaler - Jensen

Over..

Dumoulin - Letang
Pettersson - Marino
Matheson - Ceci

That blows my mind. Analytically without Ceci, PIT’s defense was rated # 1 by Jfresh’s model in the league.

PIT also kept pace with most of these teams last year without Sid, Malkin, and Guentzel playing a few games. Their defense is hugely improved and they have arguably the best top six they’ve ever had in the Crosby and Malkin era.

Goaltending is my big concern with my team.


That being said PIT was a 100+ pt pace team last year while basically playing McCann at 2C for half the season and until their defense got completely decimated with Dumoulin and Marino going ou was still putting up league best analytics. Crosby returning messed that up, but I imagine they’ll be consistent for this year and next before we start to see them really drop off.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I think you’re really underrating how much losing Niskanen will effect that Flyers team. Provorov was somewhat of a nightmare the year prior and they’ll be asking Braun to set up in that absence.

NYI is likely losing someone else in addition to Toews. That may not seem like a lot, but Boychuk and Toews out of that roster and Dobson not making a big appearance is going to be rough.

I see no way in hell how the Rags are going to outpace the two above teams let alone PIT. Their defense is still a trash fire despite Fox being a stud.

Your assessment of Was is straight up bizarre..

You take..

Dillon - Carlson
Orlov - Schultz
Seigenthaler - Jensen

Over..

Dumoulin - Letang
Pettersson - Marino
Matheson - Ceci

That blows my mind. Analytically without Ceci, PIT’s defense was rated # 1 by Jfresh’s model in the league.

PIT also kept pace with most of these teams last year without Sid, Malkin, and Guentzel playing a few games. Their defense is hugely improved and they have arguably the best top six they’ve ever had in the Crosby and Malkin era.

Goaltending is my big concern with my team.


That being said PIT was a 100+ pt pace team last year while basically playing McCann at 2C for half the season and until their defense got completely decimated with Dumoulin and Marino going ou was still putting up league best analytics. Crosby returning messed that up, but I imagine they’ll be consistent for this year and next before we start to see them really drop off.

You’re obviously not getting the point of this thread. That said, algorithm that ranks Pitts defense #1 is obviously flawed. Yes, I would rather have the capitals defense. Carlson is a top 3 defenseman in the world right now. Dillon and Dumoullin are a wash as they both are defensive specialists who are best suited for a middle defense pairing on a good D-Corp. Orlov is better than Petterson. Marino is a good top-4 guy if he plays as well as he did last year. That bottom pair though is atrocious.

 

[Gurglesons]

You’re obviously not getting the point of this thread. That said, algorithm that ranks Pitts defense #1 is obviously flawed. Yes, I would rather have the capitals defense. Carlson is a top 3 defenseman in the world right now. Dillon and Dumoullin are a wash as they both are defensive specialists who are best suited for a middle defense pairing on a good D-Corp. Orlov is better than Petterson. Marino is a good top-4 guy if he plays as well as he did last year. That bottom pair though is atrocious.

I suggest you watch some Penguins if you think Dillon and Dumoulin are a wash. Dillon was basically a midpairing / bottom D until 18-19 in his career.

Washington’s defense is straight trash if you’ve ever invest time in watching those players. Basically a bunch of # 4s at their very best and Carlson.

I get the point of the thread, just figured I’d provide some insight on why you shouldn’t get too excited.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I suggest you watching some Penguins if you think Dillon and Dumoulin are a wash. Dillon was basically a midpairing / bottom D until 18-19 in his career.

Washington’s defense is straight trash if you’ve ever invest time in watching those players. Basically a bunch of # 4s at their very best and Carlson.

I get the point of the thread, just figured I’d provide some insight on why you shouldn’t get too excited.

We’ll remained excited.

 

[57special]

I'm going to stay unexcited, and hope to be pleasantly surprised by a Pens flame out.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I suggest you watch some Penguins if you think Dillon and Dumoulin are a wash. Dillon was basically a midpairing / bottom D until 18-19 in his career.

Washington’s defense is straight trash if you’ve ever invest time in watching those players. Basically a bunch of # 4s at their very best and Carlson.

I get the point of the thread, just figured I’d provide some insight on why you shouldn’t get too excited.

We try but their games are hard to find. They should be on national TV more.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'm going to stay unexcited, and hope to be pleasantly surprised by a Pens flame out.

Just hope their goaltending goes to shit or they get injured again.. No chance in hell their forward depth or defense is going to be the issues.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Just hope their goaltending goes to shit or they get injured again.. No chance in hell their forward depth or defense is going to be the issues.

Short season, older elite players, I wouldn’t be too quick to toss out the “no chance in hells”.

 

[Gurglesons]

Short season, older elite players, I wouldn’t be too quick to toss out the “no chance in hells”.

Ok. Those guys are old and are going to crash in the theme of the thread

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Ok. Those guys are old and are going to crash in the theme of the thread

We toast to your suffering.

 

[ThatGuy22]

Hopefully it's a hangnail... that prevents him from playing again this season.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

could be big. I would never root for a player to be hurt, not even in this situation, but it's undeniable we benefit in this situation.

 

[ThatGuy22]

Hopefully it's a hangnail... that prevents him from playing again this season.

But in all serious... Who the frack is laying a big hit on Sidney fracking Crosby in day 3 of training camp...

 

[ThatGuy22]

false alarm

 

[AKL]

false alarm

Josh

Josh pls

 

[Dickie Dunn]

We toast to your suffering.

"Na Zdrowie!!!"

 

[BagHead]

But in all serious... Who the frack is laying a big hit on Sidney fracking Crosby in day 3 of training camp...

I was going to make a half-joke about the young players "having no respect" these days. But then I realized it could be anybody. One time in squirts I was lined up for a face-off before the puck dropped and the adult ref skated backwards straight into me! Took me down hard! It could be anybody. I wouldn't even rule out Josh Yohe.

 

[57special]

I remember watching a heavy set coach slowly skating backwards yelling instructions at his Termites. Unbeknownst to him, a little guy was behind him on his hands and knees trying to pick up his stick. in what seemed like slow motion, I saw the backs of his calves and ankles knock into the 8 yo, and all 275 lbs. of the guy completely wiped out.

Little guy was fine, picked up his stick, and scurried back to the line. The coach was down and out, and had to be helped off the ice.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

And the devils get better

 

[thestonedkoala]

And the devils get better

Wait, Sami Vatanen is only 29? I thought he was like 36!

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I really think we could see the Penguins have a tough go this year. They start the season with PHI, PHI, WSH, WSH, NYR, NYR, BOS, BOS. It’s exciting to be able to cheer against a team that’s not your own. #BeniersWatch #JohnsonWatch #SamoskevichWatch #HughesWatch

 

[MuckOG]

 

[AKL]

Ooh that's going to cost them at least 2 wins, let's go

 

[pfunk]

Looks like Dom Luszczyszyn’s (numbers guy with the Athletic) model shows the Penguins will still be a pretty good team, FWIW.

Has them at 80% chance of making playoffs, 44% chance to the division final, 23% to the final 4, and 13% to make the finals.