Around the League - 2022 offseason thread

[Lou is God]

So league play started today in Europe? I had no clue.

 

[Devils731]

So league play started today in Europe? I had no clue.

It’s still going on if you want to check it out.

 

[Clam Jensen]

So league play started today in Europe? I had no clue.

Yea this really threw me off lol.

 

[Bleedred]

Why exactly would anyone think Nashville is a contender to win the cup?

I heard a couple guys pumping them up the other night on TNT and then the Sharks commentators tonight. I mean, it's easy to look like a cup contender when you're going up against the lottery contending Sharks.

The Predators are basically like the current Pittsburgh (or even Washington) of the West to me. Where they were a cup winner/finalist/Presidents Triphy winner (not a cup winner in their case) from 5 years ago, whose contending window has slammed shut, but they're still good for a perennial playoff berth, with a perennial first round loss to go along with it.

I'm pretty sure none of these teams have won a single playoff round since the last time they were in the cup finals, which was 2017 for both Pittsburgh and Nashville and 2018 for Washington. But none of them have missed the playoffs either and both Pittsburgh and Nashville even lost in the play-in rounds in the 2020 bubble playoffs.

 

[glenwo2]

Why exactly would anyone think Nashville is a contender to win the cup?

I heard a couple guys pumping them up the other night on TNT and then the Sharks commentators tonight. I mean, it's easy to look like a cup contender when you're going up against the lottery contending Sharks.

The Predators are basically like the current Pittsburgh (or even Washington) of the West to me. Where they were a cup winner/finalist/Presidents Triphy winner (not a cup winner in their case) from 5 years ago, whose contending window has slammed shut, but they're still good for a perennial playoff berth, with a perennial first round loss to go along with it.

I'm pretty sure none of these teams have won a single playoff round since the last time they were in the cup finals, which was 2017 for both Pittsburgh and Nashville and 2018 for Washington. But none of them have missed the playoffs either and both Pittsburgh and Nashville even lost in the play-in rounds in the 2020 bubble playoffs.

They are the Pens without Crosby.

They will never go far unless Saros goes all Shesterkin.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

NHL Hope-O-Meter results 2022-23: Ranking fans’ optimism for all 32 NHL teams

The methodology is simple as ever. One question: Are you optimistic about your team ... or are you not?

theathletic.com

This was kind of fun, ask readers if they are optimistic or pessimistic, what's the % of responses that were optimistic? Not a scientific poll.

Devils - 83.3% (90.8% last year)
Rangers - 94.4% (83.6% last year)
Flyers - 1.7%!!! (75.3% last year)

And if you look at the flyers board here, man it is something else.

 

[Scorcho]

very happy for my boi zacha rn

 

[Bone Density]

Good for him

 

[Patrik26]

Ty Smith with his first points of the pre-season tonight - a goal and assist vs Buffalo. Actually looks comfortable handling the puck as well. It's only one game though.

Good for him

Beat me to it LOL!

 

[Devils731]

It won’t surprise me if playing in a structured system helps Smith.

The swarm wasn’t doing him any favors last season.

 

[Guttersniped]

It won’t surprise me if playing in a structured system helps Smith.

The swarm wasn’t doing him any favors last season.

This times a million.

Even last season I could see his offensive chops, he really does see the ice well in the offensive zone.

He was a mess in the defensive end but he got off to a bad start with the pre-season injury and that might’ve effected his conditioning. He got injured again in January.

He definitely got frazzled and befuddled, our system broke his brain at some point lol.

His skating, which is not bad at all, has been praised by writers covering the Pens too. It’s more of question of strength with him and he’s still at the point where he’s gaining strength with age.

He’s just a defenseman that the Pens needed more. He can be a depth guy now since Petry and Letang are signed for a few more years but they’re both 35.

 

[Patrik26]

This times a million.

Even last season I could see his offensive chops, he really does see the ice well in the offensive zone.

He was a mess in the defensive end but he got off to a bad start with the pre-season injury and that might’ve effected his conditioning. He got injured again in January.

He definitely got frazzled and befuddled, our system broke his brain at some point lol.

His skating, which is not bad at all, has been praised by writers covering the Pens too. It’s more of question of strength with him and he’s still at the point where he’s gaining strength with age.

He’s just a defenseman that the Pens needed more. He can be a depth guy now since Petry and Letang are signed for a few more years but they’re both 35.

I'm of the belief the injuries were a problem all season long which contributed greatly to the decline in his game, especially his puck handling.

 

[Bone Density]

Lol. He's gonna be a pain to handle down low.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I'm of the belief the injuries were a problem all season long which contributed greatly to the decline in his game, especially his puck handling.

Eh idk, a lot of his lapses last year were mental. They were things we saw in his first preseason with the Devils as well in 2018, out of the two guys we shipped out I think Zacha has a better chance of succeeding in Boston considering who's playing with it but Sullivan is arguably the best coach in the league in regards to churning out winners with the rosters he's given.

 

[Scorcho]

we needed marino as much as they needed a smith - win/win

 

[NJDevs26]

It won’t surprise me if playing in a structured system helps Smith.

The swarm wasn’t doing him any favors last season.

By structured system you mean actually playing IN a system and with actual talented offensive players to goose his numbers

 

[Devils731]

By structured system you mean actually playing IN a system and with actual talented offensive players to goose his numbers

I’m thinking a system that asks him to play more in proper positions and lanes rather than constantly chasing the puck and trying to engage in physical contests.

Smith isn’t Andy Greene but Greene is a very successful defenseman that I think would have looked worse playing in this swarm defense.

Ok the flip side, really atheltic guys may look better under the swarm. Especially if they’re not good at identifying proper position and lanes.

 

[Gurglesons]

we needed marino as much as they needed a smith - win/win

Hm. I guess. It just seems like a really odd sell low move for a bloated contract on a 3rd pairing D. Having Semec and Hughes on entry levels will help ease it over the years and I guess it helps with losing Severson, but just never made much sense to me.

Marino isn't someone I'd argue Jersey needed. He strikes me as what Jersey already had on D.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Hm. I guess. It just seems like a really odd sell low move for a bloated contract on a 3rd pairing D. Having Semec and Hughes on entry levels will help ease it over the years and I guess it helps with losing Severson, but just never made much sense to me.

Marino isn't someone I'd argue Jersey needed. He strikes me as what Jersey already had on D.

Smith was way more what we already had than Marino is. Especially moving forward. We'll have Hamilton, Nemec & L. Hughes all in the lineup sooner or later, Smith was going to get pushed out eventually.

I've said it before but I think getting Marino set us up very nicely this year and beyond.

 

[Bone Density]

 

[Guttersniped]

Huh, not sure what to make of that.

I guess the Canucks were desperate but that’s only a gain of +1.3m cap space. Plus Stillman is LHD, kind of sucks and is signed for 2 years like Dickinson.

Chicago going to do some serious waiver wire hunting for defensemen when the final wave hits.

 

[Guttersniped]

Just noticed you started this thread on the trade board. Aren’t you fancy lol! I know people race to post it first.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I remember when it leaked last year (from VAN no doubt) that Zacha for Dickinson was in the works. Seemed like an FU from Vancouver when it leaked to try and tank Zacha's trade value.

Now he gets traded with a 2nd as part of a cap dump.

 

[Goptor]

I remember when it leaked last year (from VAN no doubt) that Zacha for Dickinson was in the works. Seemed like an FU from Vancouver when it leaked to try and tank Zacha's trade value.

Now he gets traded with a 2nd as part of a cap dump.

Ya it was nonsense.

Dickinson was their version of Andreas Johnsson

 

[guitarguyvic]

Anytime I hear people talk about how we employ the “swarm” defense, I think to myself…it sounds as stupid as it looks on the ice.