conundrumed

Now imagine BT talking to Shanahan, my take, of course: BT: what's our limit on Matthews? BS: No limit BT: Can I look into moving one of Tavares, Marner or Nylander, in that order? BS: No BT: well, Blockchain BS: just get tough guys. Reaves would be perfect. BT: He wants 3 years *laughs nervously* BS: Just do it BT: Can we talk about me getting some autonomy? BS: You have autonomy, after doing what I want first

Man, are you ever driving right down the middle of Disappointment Blvd. lol If you think a Lindholm-type would be a failure, wait until we end up with Juolevi at D or Kakko at wing. Not 1 of these players is guaranteed any success. Lindholm should be considered a win. The alternative is terrifying.

Yup. All those yesterdays. Conroy (forcibly, I guess) had to move guys, had no cap. You're rebuilding. It's evident. Conroy is steering it well imo. He's doing a nice job of doing it quietly.

It is, without question, a thing. I'll go so far as to point out 2 unsuccessful teams: Ottawa. Had the absolute worst schedule. They were 4-6 games behind a lot of their competition. I'm more than confident to say that screwed their whole season. I would sum up their season as, "just never really got into a rhythm". I'm voting the schedule did that, they just weren't playing enough competitive games to stay razor sharp. Other teams were. Detroit. Ran off a 5 game heater up until the all-star break. Looked good for 1st wildcard over Tampa. If my memory serves correct, they didn't play until the following wkend after all-star wkend. 7 game losing streak, 2-10. Made playoff hopes a nightmare. Layoffs matter. Florida will snap out of it. Boston's zoned in.

Withhold your final answer. Helenius is playing for Finland in the IIHF World Championship starting May 10th. With NHLers, against NHLers. Same as Celebrini for Canada. See how he does. Unfortunately, if he has a solid showing, it'll raise his stock. But it's too early to checkmark your boxes. Chris Peters at FloHockey had a pretty decent post-mortem today following the u18. Flo is quite reputable and the principal source for the USHL. Decent insights: https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/12534528-2024-nhl-draft-prospect-scouting-reports-from-the-world-u18-championship

Connolly carrying on his trend of being a loose cannon arrived on queue yesterday, but still captures 15th. hmmm...

My Leafs friends and family have one consistent hate. That's the guy. The media is relentless with Marner though. I heard Tavares' name in the 3rd period of game 7 (ESPN feed). I'm certain that was the first time that I heard it. It was that signing by Dubas that was completely unnecessary, and I've always maintained that. Ahh the things $11mil could have gotten them.

That was definitely offside. But the puck went in before the jamming away. Rode up and over Wolf on the replays. But it was offside or too many men for sure. Thought the Wranglers were going to run away with it in the 3rd. Tough loss. Made me barely pay attention to half of the Dallas-Vegas. Great, great hockey yesterday. Wore me out. Great u18 final, great Knights-Saginaw game, GR eliminating Rockford game, Wranglers game, different outcome woulda been a perfect day. Saginaw hosts the Memorial Cup, so whatever. Cowan should be charged for constantly raping Parekh. lol Charge him with exploitation, at least. A 2-on-1 goal and then 2 breakaways that were saved. Great effort by the Wranglers though, deserved a better fate. Coronato-Schwindt connections were fun to see. Agree Poirier looked great. I'm going to have to eliminate democratically deciding which game gets the volume though.

It wouldn't be an NHL season in Leafland if Marner isn't nailed to the cross. I wonder how Vegas will acquire him? lol

With the Dallas win, the Vegas pick is officially 84th oa.

Nope. Just that they make it a tacky little gambling production. Create fervour that an 18yo will change your franchise forever, give the media a vast opportunity to over-emphasize until the cows come home, etc. Why do they change rules and odds every 2 years? My guess is that there isn’t a proper algorithm. So why have it at all if the answer is, “well, it’s the best we could come up with”? Really, they’ve taken a method with fleeting problems and added new ones. Just like the playoff setup not being based on conference standings. The regular season point system. Stop overthinking things NHL. They create problems where there really weren’t many, or turned them into more problems.

To whom? It won't matter. These draft lotteries are a sideshow. NHL is run by 70yo carnies. Don't get excited by smoke and mirrors.

Tuesday, the 7th. Nothing good ever happened on a Tuesday.

Cowan right passed him for a breakaway from the red line too. Goalie save. Some youtube scouts defend his D-play as, "not as bad".... They can watch this game. It's awful.

Oof Parekh on the PP. Totally flat-footed and Cowan just blew past him like nothing for the 1-0 lead. Plays getting tighter, Parekh is melting away...

Amazing game, had everything. Sorry to those that missed. Tons of great performances.

Carter George with THAT save. OMFG.

We have. That boner you have for BT must be really painful by now. Who needs Viagra? lol

Yeah, sucks that Vegas didn't take 3rd in the Pacific and face Ed first. I'd rather Vegas' 2nd next year. This year's extra 3rd can be replaced from Vegas' if Van takes out the Oilers to reach the WCF. I honestly have zero skin in the game these playoffs. Great hockey to watch, of course. Have a party, eat and drink, friends get mad on each other with their teams. It's fine. lol Big day today, U18 final, London @ Saginaw game 6, CAR-NYR, Grand Rapids can take out Rockford, Wranglers host Coachella for game 2, LV-DAL game 7. 3 tvs. The drop-in center's open again. Boston Pizza would be envious. lol

We def want Van to beat Ed so the NJ 4th upgrades to Van's 3rd this year. Vegas' 2nd would be a better pick. Dallas pick would be a 2026 3rd. We currently have our and Van's 2026 3rd.

What? Most of that hot mess is Dubas' doing. Blaming BT for trying to negotiate a hot mess with little cap is nothing more than grinding an axe.

Truer words were never spoken.

Yeah, I'm a little torn between the 2 of you. Loose cannon, but a cannon nonetheless. I'm happy to give him an offseason by our watch. Maybe we can find more from him than a protected O-weapon. It's worth a shot. We're biding time regardless.

A year at $3.1. Calm down. You can't manage a team to bottom out for McKenna. You'll be fired. Be patient, take a breath. Drafts help, but they aren't the sole driver. A manager needs to manage. Scouts are there to help one part, not run the show.

I am in inexhaustible favour of the selection, should the implication prevail, that Nikita Artamonov should become available upon our 29th selection in the 2024 NHL hockey draft for young men 18 years of age from September 16 of 2023, yet not exceeding September 15, 2024 birthdates, my good sir. Further, past agreements regarding our international friends and exceeding age limitations shall not be impeded. Which era do you prefer? lol