Around the NHL 2023 - Playoffs 2024

[AintLifeGrand]

bittersweet time: Once SLC gets the team it will vault into a co- favorite team (viqsi dyanmic ) with the preds

Really looking fwd to this off season as the last one with exclusive preds fandom so for that- I hope we make a deep run

 

[ShagDaddy]

HUUUUGE surprise.

 

[PredsV82]

HUUUUGE surprise.

I'm sure Hertl is next.

 

[herzausstein]

Playoffs are right around the corner of course Stone is clear to practice. Was there any doubt that was gonna happen?

 

[nine_inch_fang]

Playoffs are right around the corner of course Stone is clear to practice. Was there any doubt that was gonna happen?

No

 

[Armourboy]

It's going to keep happening until the NHL does something about it. Frankly I think its the one thing that could completely undermine the sport because what point is there in having a salary cap if teams can just bypass it as much as they want?

It will be like NASCAR, they will look up one day and realize everyone is gone and will be sitting around wondering what happened.

 

[101st_fan]

I'm not upset about Stone. It was a lacerated spleen at the end of February. Seven weeks later he's cleared to practice. He's back ahead of schedule. It's the guys who are out longer than expected with injuries that have a more projected recovery timeline that are the potential issue.

 

[AintLifeGrand]

It's going to keep happening until the NHL does something about it. Frankly I think its the one thing that could completely undermine the sport because what point is there in having a salary cap if teams can just bypass it as much as they want?

It will be like NASCAR, they will look up one day and realize everyone is gone and will be sitting around wondering what happened.

nhl will never fall off like Nascar

Nascar peaked hard in the aughts (kind of like f1 today) , then had a 10 year span of all the big league working man heroes guys dying (earnhardt) or retiring (jeff gordon, labonte bros, tony stewart, dale jarett, mark martin etc) retiring in a short period of time and were replaced with milquetoast rich kids that had no appeal to the common man (like Indycar in the 90s). Then a series of asinine rule changes like the chase, stages etc led to more alienation and its current status as a niche sport.

While it could be argued the nhl straddles the line of mainstream and niche, it has local pride and support to fall back on- and the casual fans who comprise 80-90% of the fanbase will still
show up regardless of whatever rule changes the nhl does.

 

[ShagDaddy]

 

[hockey diva]

I feel bad for the AZ fans but that situation has become a distraction and a disaster all around. The move to Glendale and the subsequent falling off of the fan base spelled doom for the franchise.

 

[101st_fan]

F Jerry Moyes

 

[Armourboy]

Finding out right before the game has got to be rough. You know everyone in the stands are going to be disappointed when it gets out.

 

[Mass]

I'm sure Hertl is next.

I hope you're sitting down..... Hertl has been back for two games

 

[PredsV82]

I hope you're sitting down..... Hertl has been back for two games

D'oh!

 

[Viqsi]

I have nothing against Arizona as a team, but as a sports market they have basically been in shambles for a decade. It's more or less time to put a bullet in it to stop the suffering.

I will always be fiercely opposed to this line of argument because it's been used to justify relocationist bullshit for the Blue Jackets for years.

And the first I found out about it was, well, I'm on my way home from Dallas (was meeting with friends for the eclipse; overnighting at a hotel in Kentucky) and so turned on 102.5 The Game to listen to Preds @ Blackhawks on the radio, and they mentioned it then.

 

[Armourboy]

I will always be fiercely opposed to this line of argument because it's been used to justify relocationist bullshit for the Blue Jackets for years.

And the first I found out about it was, well, I'm on my way home from Dallas (was meeting with friends for the eclipse; overnighting at a hotel in Kentucky) and so turned on 102.5 The Game to listen to Preds @ Blackhawks on the radio, and they mentioned it then.

There is a difference in the team being bad and a franchise just being ran poorly. They can't even find a place to play, yall are at least averaging 17k a game.

 

[Viqsi]

There is a difference in the team being bad and a franchise just being ran poorly. They can't even find a place to play, yall are at least averaging 17k a game.

Tell that to the vultures.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

HUUUUGE surprise.

It's bullshit, but I will laugh if we manage to hold on to WC1 and Dallas' reward for winning the conference is playing Vegas.

Only conflict I have over that is whether I wish it had been the Avs getting them instead.

 

[Armourboy]

Tell that to the vultures.

I can't do anything about other people being stupid.

 

[nine_inch_fang]

An important game at 9pm tonight in Edmonton. Might very well determine who the Preds play in the first round.

 

[101st_fan]

Last night eliminated the Blues so the 8 teams are decided. A win by the Preds tonight means that Vegas has to win out for any chance to pass us for WC1.

 

[Kat Predator]

The East has 5 teams jockeying for 2 playoff spots with ~3 games to go. Nice.

In other news, Buffalo and Ottawa continue their tank and instant rebuilds.

 

[PredsV82]

An important game at 9pm tonight in Edmonton. Might very well determine who the Preds play in the first round.

I didn't realize they still had a game against each other. P1 definitely in play. If Edm had beaten AZ last night would basically be winner takes all

 

[ShagDaddy]

 

[Softball99]

Call them the Saints...lol