Around the NHL - Episode XLIV

[thinkwild]

Not as advertised
NHL bubble confidential: Go inside the Toronto and Edmonton playoff hubs

Good read.

"The weird thing was just seeing guys on other teams. Even if they had a couple of hotels where they limited it, it was just weird. Even if you saw a buddy on another team that you're friends with, it's like, 'Do I say hi to him? Do I not say hi to him?'" he said. "And sometimes you'd be eating, and, like, the coaches from the other team are one table over from you having a meal. It's just too weird, you know? That might be different in other sports, but it's weird for hockey."

Don Cherry would be happy to hear that.

Was also interesting hearing them compare it to minor leagues cause there were no fans and how hard it was to motivate without that 7th man. Guess there’s something tangible to that after all.

So they suggested there’s no way they’d do a bubble again for next season. More sympathy for Tuukka maybe. But that’s gonna make next season a little more unpredictable, or maybe more predictable.

"There was definitely chatter of what teams wanted to be there and what teams wanted to be home. Ultimately, I think everyone realizes, whoever ends up winning the Cup this summer is a very deserving champion. We're going to remember that team forever. The grind this year makes it perhaps even harder to win."

Here, here.

 

[Hale The Villain]

This off-season Rutherford has turned:

Hornqvist, Hallander, Bjugstad (50% retained), 15th OVR into Kapanen, Matheson and Sceviour

Old man needs to be put out to pasture

 

[Laphroaig]

Buffalo gave Curtis Lazar a two year one way contract today. Good for him. He may not be the player we hoped for but he's become an elite penalty killer and a crowd favorite. Nice guy.

 

[Taluss]

Good to hear about Lazar

 

[GCK]

This off-season Rutherford has turned:

Hornqvist, Hallander, Bjugstad (50% retained), 15th OVR into Kapanen, Matheson and Sceviour

Old man needs to be put out to pasture

For the most part those are nice moves.
They get faster, faster and healthier

 

[DJB]

For the most part those are nice moves.
They get faster, faster and healthier

Pens fans disagree.

They want him gone. Guy is senile

 

[GCK]

Pens fans disagree.

They want him gone. Guy is senile

As the old saying goes, if a GM listens to fans then he will soon be sitting with them.

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

the walrus is now a leaf!

 

[OmniSens]

Don't care what Habs fans say. Petry is not worth $6.25m

 

[GCK]

Don't care what Habs fans say. Petry is not worth $6.25m

I haven’t seen the term yet but if it’s 3 years that’s not bad for AAV.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Don't care what Habs fans say. Petry is not worth $6.25m

Maybe a slight overpayment, but he's underrated.

 

[Boud]

This off-season Rutherford has turned:

Hornqvist, Hallander, Bjugstad (50% retained), 15th OVR into Kapanen, Matheson and Sceviour

Old man needs to be put out to pasture

I mean the only asset that has value there is the 15th overall and then Hallander. Bjugstad is a throw away, he's an average 3rd line guy that's always injured and never fit in. Hornqvist is the new Clarke MacArthur.

 

[Sensmileletsgo]

Don't care what Habs fans say. Petry is not worth $6.25m

He is a very good defenseman. Very tough to play against and puts up points. $6.25 million is a fair contract.

 

[Peptic Balcers]

Don't care what Habs fans say. Petry is not worth $6.25m

Zaitsev's contract is way worse

 

[BoardsofCanada]

6.25M per year is a reward for what he has done over the last many years....not what he will do over the next few years.

 

[Hale The Villain]

I mean the only asset that has value there is the 15th overall and then Hallander. Bjugstad is a throw away, he's an average 3rd line guy that's always injured and never fit in. Hornqvist is the new Clarke MacArthur.

With those 3 moves the Pens are worse now and have a worse future too.

The Dorion special.

 

[GCK]

With those 3 moves the Pens are worse now and have a worse future too.

The Dorion special.

I disagree completely. Hörnqvist was a pain to play against but he can’t stay healthy and the 15OA won’t contribute much before the Crosby / Malkin duo is done. Meanwhile Kap adds speed, PK and will probably put up 25+. Matheson will help their second pair, adds speed and can play on the power play. Adding a top 6 F and 2nd pair D while giving up a 3rd line prospect, and a couple of aging players who are breaking down physically is a clear improvement.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Embellishment

I'd like to see the ref take one of these and see if he thinks its embellishment

 

[JungleBeat]

Let’s go Tampa!

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Refs screwed Dallas there . That was a BS call on Benn. They had there chance on the BS call on Point I guess but .. they should not be a factor especially on two terrible calls effectively in OT.

Tampa all the way... High tempo , High skill team.
Shattenkirk comes in as a hired gun and scores a big one putting Tampa up 3-1.

 

[IranCondraAffair]

I always thought the embellishment thing should be more nuanced to get refs to call it more:

1. If there was a penalty on the play, but the ref believes that it was embellished by the "victim" . The "victim" gets to sit in the box for the PP. Still a PP for the "victim's" team, but the player who embellished doesn't get a chance to benefit from their "crime". Too many times you only get offsetting penalties when it is SUPER clear cut. As a result, the refs are hesitant to call embellishment. This way there is a lot less at stake, so a lot more guys would get called for diving get fined, and not get a chance to "benefit". Hopefully this would amke players less inclined to dive.

2. If there was no penalty on the play, the embellishing player should get a 2 minute minor. I know this can be called now, but I don't think I have EVER seen one because they always fall back to "offsetting penalties" .

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Kinda sad seeing Tampa’s success success compared to ours. Expansion cousins but the franchises couldn’t be any more different.

New ownership changed everything for them.

 

[DrEasy]

the walrus is now a leaf!

That's great news: hopefully he brings his GSN 4th line philosophy to the Leafs, along with his talent for picking players for the shoot out!

 

[OmniSens]

Zaitsev's contract is way worse

Oh for sure, without a doubt.

 

[NyQuil]

I liked Paul MacLean as Senators coach.