OT: Around the NHL: The Start of a New Season

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[BHD]

@Gurglesons

Here is Kaprosov's goal from last night. He also assisted on two others.



A bunch of people have Minny as their 4th team in the West division. They have a good defense, decent group of wingers, and a respectable goalie. Their only weakness, and it's a big one, is down the middle. Bjugstad and Bonino (maybe Johansson, who can play C).

 

[Gurglesons]

@Gurglesons

Here is Kaprosov's goal from last night. He also assisted on two others.



A bunch of people have Minny as their 4th team in the West division. They have a good defense, decent group of wingers, and a respectable goalie. Their only weakness, and it's a big one, is down the middle. Bjugstad and Bonino (maybe Johansson, who can play C).

I watched the game. Minnesota would okay, but it was basically Kaprizov on an island. They did it against the Kings. I imagine the rest of the season will be a little different.

 

[BHD]

Yeah, they definitely do not stack up against the Big Three in that division. However, they do play a bunch of games against the California teams. So, they could make the most of that.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Yeah, they definitely do not stack up against the Big Three in that division. However, they do play a bunch of games against the California teams. So, they could make the most of that.

It's pointless to complain about because there's no good alternative, but the divisions are so damn unbalanced that we're inevitably going to see some weird things.

Minnesota making the playoffs without a center would certainly be weird, but given the California teams and Arizona represent half of that division, it's entirely plausible. That's 5 teams at or below the level of the worst team in the East in my eyes. Yeesh. Again, no good alternative given the circumstances (I'm not about to advocate for blowing up travel budgets for 24 teams, especially not when revenue sources are greatly reduced), but the standings may never mean less than they will in terms of defining the actual quality of a team. The point differential between the #3 and #4 teams in that division may well end up greater than the difference between #3 and #8 for the East.

 

[BHD]

It's pointless to complain about because there's no good alternative, but the divisions are so damn unbalanced that we're inevitably going to see some weird things.

Minnesota making the playoffs without a center would certainly be weird, but given the California teams and Arizona represent half of that division, it's entirely plausible. That's 5 teams at or below the level of the worst team in the East in my eyes. Yeesh. Again, no good alternative given the circumstances (I'm not about to advocate for blowing up travel budgets for 24 teams, especially not when revenue sources are greatly reduced), but the standings may never mean less than they will in terms of defining the actual quality of a team. The point differential between the #3 and #4 teams in that division may well end up greater than the difference between #3 and #8 for the East.

This has been brought up. It won’t be until the season is underway that fans realize how unbalanced the divisions are. A middle of the pack team (Minnesota, Nashville?) might end up finishing in the top four of a weak division while a competitive team (Pittsburgh, Boston?) doesn’t make the cut in a stacked one.

 

[Tom Hanks]

More for @Gurglesons

 

[dogthateats]

 

[dogthateats]

Lol. JJ moves up 1 spot. Eventually he is on the top pairing and PP1.

 

[BHD]

The Rangers' season is off to a great start.

 

[Tom Hanks]

The Rangers' season is off to a great start.

Hockey fans and even a lot of media overlook/underestimate (including and especially the forwards).

NYR have a potent offense but their team D sucks big time. A lot of pressure on the young goalie to bail them out. They really need some roster tweaks to bring that balance

 

[BHD]

Hockey fans and even a lot of media overlook/underestimate (including and especially the forwards).

NYR have a potent offense but their team D sucks big time. A lot of pressure on the young goalie to bail them out. They really need some roster tweaks to bring that balance

Their defensemen and goaltenders are green behind the ears. You can shelter forwards through rough stretches. The other two positions, not so much... Jacob Trouba, who is 26, is the elder statesman on that defense. And no, Jack Johnson doesn't belong in the discussion.

EDIT: oh, and David Quinn is still new to being a head coaching at the top level.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

If they figure it out they’ll be very very good though. Lot of talent. Here’s to hoping they don’t.

 

[Tom Hanks]

Their defensemen and goaltenders are green behind the ears. You can shelter forwards through rough stretches. The other two positions, not so much... Jacob Trouba, who is 26, is the elder statesman on that defense. And no, Jack Johnson doesn't belong in the discussion.

EDIT: oh, and David Quinn is still new to being a head coaching at the top level.

They have too many forwards that are trash defensively to shelter. They need some roster tweaks but they can figure that out next season. I’m good with how they are this season

 

[BHD]

They have too many forwards that are trash defensively to shelter. They need some roster tweaks but they can figure that out next season. I’m good with how they are this season

If they figure it out they’ll be very very good though. Lot of talent. Here’s to hoping they don’t.

They're a prime example of a work in progress.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

How is Blais bit a 2 game suspension but Dowds isn't?

Virtually the same bs.

 

[BHD]

Wilson taught him the subtle art of getting away with that stuff.

 

[Tom Hanks]

 

[BHD]

(chorus of Sabotage blaring in the background)

 

[BHD]

Saw this on the main board...

"Chara realizing he’s not going to get special Bruins treatment from the refs anymore."

 

[Randy Butternubs]

This Blues-Avs game is fun.

 

[BHD]

What is... fun?

 

[Kristopher Letang]

 

[Honour Over Glory]

(chorus of Sabotage blaring in the background)

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I respect the flyers more than the Pens. I feel gross. Is this how Gurglesons feels as a flyers fan all the time?

This Blues-Avs game is fun.

We're all Avs fans now. Go Mack Go!