Around the League - PLAYOFFS!?

[MSZ]

Nashville is on a 13-0-2 run. Impressive.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Man I would've loved Duclair.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Nashville is on a 13-0-2 run. Impressive.

Are the Leafs attending a Bieber concert before the playoffs? Maybe Keefe should cancel those plans

 

[LeafEgo]

They improved their team as best as they could without spending a bunch of unrecoupable futures, and when age and injuries started catching up to the existing core, they prioritized the future and sold.

This is the best they could improve? Could they have realistically done worse? The asset in question is not recoupable - they tried with Guentz, all they had left, and couldn't do it.

This is what success looks like here: Improve competitiveness through dynamic teambuilding - a la Flyers and Isles - protect the downside by keeping both potential lottery picks this year and next in case the bottom falls out.

You're evaluating the performance play by play, shooting from the hip, Dubie style. That's not the standard GMs are held to, and why the Pens are in shambles and you're left trying to explain why failure was again unavoidable.

If we get a redo do we trade for EK again? No we don't, because it was a really bad idea and now Crosby is upset.

 

[ULF_55]

This is the best they could improve? Could they have realistically done worse? The asset in question is not recoupable - they tried with Guentz, all they had left, and couldn't do it.

This is what success looks like here: Improve competitiveness through dynamic teambuilding - a la Flyers and Isles - protect the downside by keeping both potential lottery picks this year and next in case the bottom falls out.

You're evaluating the performance play by play, shooting from the hip, Dubie style. That's not the standard GMs are held to, and why the Pens are in shambles and you're left trying to explain why failure was again unavoidable.

If we get a redo do we trade for EK again? No we don't, because it was a really bad idea and now Crosby is upset.

Penguins are not in shambles because of their current GM.

They are in shambles because they are aging out, and their previous GM's hands are all over the NMC contracts for their ancient veterans.

If you want to argue their current GM hasn't done enough, maybe like "forcing players to waive their NMC's" which is the fantasy often stated wrt Tavares here, sure I agree. But of course that's fantasy not the NHL.

 

[ULF_55]

In other news ... VGK tenuous hold in WC spot after loss tonight. Need more LTIR.

 

[LeafEgo]

Penguins are not in shambles because of their current GM.

They are in shambles because they are aging out, and their previous GM's hands are all over the NMC contracts for their ancient veterans.

If you want to argue their current GM hasn't done enough, maybe like "forcing players to waive their NMC's" which is the fantasy often stated wrt Tavares here, sure I agree. But of course that's fantasy not the NHL.

They are in shambles from a GM perspective starting last offseason because they now have a potential lottery pick in the wind while on the precipice of a long rebuild, and the decision to move that pick was simply to acquire the best player available in spite of that player not being constructive to improving team needs - now confirmed by results.

Evaluating only from last offseason onwards, they have reduced both their ability to compete and rebuild the team significantly - the worst outcome possible as they have failed spectacularly on both fronts.

There is no good reason why they could not have noticeably enhanced competitiveness at the expense of the future, improved their ability to rebuild the team, or struck a balance by maintaining their most prized assets for the future while attempting to salvage near term success through dynamic teambuilding as other teams have done via good hockey sense.

 

[Arzak]

99 points with 12 games to go. Willie and Mitch deserve more money.

44 goals, he still has shot at 50 and improving on his 113 points last season.

I was surprised to see that Pasta has the most goals the last two seasons combined. Considering McDavids last season and Matthews current.

 

[BallardEra]

44 goals, he still has shot at 50 and improving on his 113 points last season.

I was surprised to see that Pasta has the most goals the last two seasons combined. Considering McDavids last season and Matthews current.

Hyman and Willy crack the top 10 as well.

Those assists on McDavid

 

[Nineteen67]

Ugh.
More coaches challenges to slow down the game.


I still say treat puck over the glass like an icing - defensive zone faceoff for the offending team, with no line change

Then puck over glass would be a strategy for a lot of d-men.

 

[Nineteen67]

Tampa sliding into a series with the Metro winner.

 

[Dekes For Days]

This is the best they could improve? Could they have realistically done worse? The asset in question is not recoupable - they tried with Guentz, all they had left, and couldn't do it.

Of course they could have done worse. Could they have done better? Who knows. Probably, by sacrificing more futures. To outpace the age-related decline of their existing core and potential injuries to be competitive again, their only real chance was a big swing, and I'm not sure what other big swing options you think existed to both dump a ton of cap and get a player better than the reigning Norris winner; all for less than the cost of a 1st. And it's not like it was a rental. They still have the asset, and can recoup futures down the line, just as they did with Guentzel.

This is what success looks like here: Improve competitiveness through dynamic teambuilding - a la Flyers and Isles

I'm not sure what you think "dynamic teambuilding" means, but Pittsburgh didn't really have time to take the slow route if they were looking for a last shot with this core. Also not really sure what you're talking about when it comes to the Isles and Flyers. The Islanders haven't drafted in the 1st round since 2019. They missed the playoffs in 2021-2022 and then traded their 1st in the offseason for a defenseman. Philly missed the playoffs in 2020-2021 and then traded their 1st in the offseason for a defenseman. Worse, it was a 1st and a 2nd for Ristolainen of all players, after spending an additional 2nd and 7th to clear cap. You're really just highlighting how common this type of thing is.

 

[ToneDog]

Kutch with 1 and 3 takes over scoring lead with 118 points (1.76 PPG). I see nobody is talking about Matty being the MVP and rightfully so. Kutch and MacKinnon have been the most consistent stars and one will win the Hart.

 

[Nineteen67]

Hyman and Willy crack the top 10 as well.

Those assists on McDavid

View attachment 838812

Being -11 with 170 points must be hard to do. How many PP points does Point have?

 

[ToneDog]

Being -11 with 170 points must be hard to do. How many PP points does Point have?

-13 after last night. 25 PPP and 50 EVP. Shows just how amazing Kutch has been. He is now 43 points up on the 2nd Lighting player.

 

[Arzak]

Kutch with 1 and 3 takes over scoring lead with 118 points (1.76 PPG). I see nobody is talking about Matty being the MVP and rightfully so. Kutch and MacKinnon have been the most consistent stars and one will win the Hart.

I'd say there are still anticipations for McJesus to pull it off. Very interesting scoring race.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Then puck over glass would be a strategy for a lot of d-men.

No more than icing is now.

 

[ToneDog]

I'd say there are still anticipations for McJesus to pull it off. Very interesting scoring race.

I doubt he wins it given how few goals he has scored this year. He's 10 points back of Kutch who is not slowing down. Hard to believe some still think Marner is the better player. LOL.

Kutch has 4, 100 point seasons and looks to break his high of 128. Easily would have had 100 the 2 COVID seasons. Marner is still looking for his first. If you look at the numbers, there is no comparison.

 

[Nineteen67]

I doubt he wins it given how few goals he has scored this year. He's 10 points back of Kutch who is not slowing down. Hard to believe some still think Marner is the better player. LOL.

Kutch has 4, 100 point seasons and looks to break his high of 128. Easily would have had 100 the 2 COVID seasons. Marner is still looking for his first. If you look at the numbers, there is no comparison.

I mistakenly thought Marner would become the best player in the playoff series last year and he once again couldn’t do it.

 

[BallardEra]

Being -11 with 170 points must be hard to do. How many PP points does Point have?

He's 24th with 55 PPP from last year to now:

 

[BallardEra]

I wonder if the Bruins roll with Maroon and Brazeau together come playoff time?:

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/latest-news/more-confidence-every-game-i-play-justin-brazeau-shines-in-two-goal-performance-

 

[Arzak]

I wonder if the Bruins roll with Maroon and Brazeau together come playoff time?:

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/latest-news/more-confidence-every-game-i-play-justin-brazeau-shines-in-two-goal-performance-

Random players succeeding in the Bruins system once again. Feels like we've seen it before.

 

[Arzak]

I doubt he wins it given how few goals he has scored this year. He's 10 points back of Kutch who is not slowing down. Hard to believe some still think Marner is the better player. LOL.

Kutch has 4, 100 point seasons and looks to break his high of 128. Easily would have had 100 the 2 COVID seasons. Marner is still looking for his first. If you look at the numbers, there is no comparison.

Marner has been pacing for a couple of 100-point seasons and he is elite on PK.

Clearly superior player worth 13M per year, especially if we ever want to see Matthews produce again. Plus as a bonus, you get playoff Mitch instead of Kutch.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

Marner has been pacing for a couple of 100-point seasons and he is elite on PK.

Clearly superior player worth 13M per year, especially if we ever want to see Matthews produce again. Plus as a bonus, you get playoff Mitch instead of Kutch.

Whether he is deemed worth it or not, I am convinced Marner's negotiation will be an easy one -- 8 years, $100M total, for a hit of $12.5 million a year. Done.

 

[Arzak]

Whether he is deemed worth it or not, I am convinced Marner's negotiation will be an easy one -- 8 years, $100M total, for a hit of $12.5 million a year. Done.

I bet you're right! Just strictly based on the internal pecking order, he'll get more than Styles, but not Matthews's money.