Thebrewcrew

Conroy mentioned the Dallas model. If the Flames want to fast-track the rebuild, they're probably going to look like LA. Like the Flames, the Kings had some very good veterans when the team entered it's decline. Better veterans, hall of famers in fact. The core of the Cup teams got old. The Kings ended up picking top ten for three straight years and top eleven in four of five drafts. The Flames look to be trending that way. The Kings return to relevance hasn't really been due to their drafting and development. It's been due to (primarily) Kopitar and Doughty still playing well and the organization speeding things along by trading picks and young players for immediate help. Dubois/Arvidsson/Fiala/Gavrikov. They traded a likely Calder finalist in Brock Faber. On the surface, there's nothing really wrong with the LA model. They've had good regular seasons and made the playoffs three consecutive years. Something Calgary hasn't done since the Iggy/Kipper era. The LA model is really a matter of philosophy. Do you want to be a playoff team, or do you want to be a contender? LA is a playoff team. They're nowhere near a threat in the West. If you're an owner you're probably ok with your two or three home playoff dates a season. LA relies so heavily on Doughty and Kopitar, when they decline/retire, I think they are a team in no-mans land. I like Byfield but he's not a Kopitar and I like Clarke but he's no Doughty. Because they elected to speed things up, they've traded a lot of futures and haven't drafted all that well recently. They sped it up and it worked, it's just not something built to last IMO.

LA just can’t hold a lead against Edmonton. If this one gets away from them tonight. Good night, LA

Monahan on the pk. Who'da thunk it.

Tampa is now feeling the attrition of being a contender for the past decade. They got two cups so it's all worth it and they've still got a good team. They just lack the depth to contend. Crozier/Lilleberg/Chaffee. Matt Tomkins. FLA is potentially the most complete team in the league and the Bolts are trotting out an AHL pair of Lilleberg-Crozier. And to be fair, they are missing an excellent player in Sergachev.

FLA TB game 2 has been excellent. Everything a playoff game should be. Also, can we just skip to the part where NYR ans CAR play? Their first round matchups do little to interest me. And to think there are folks that want more playoff teams..

They also got swept by VAN in the season series. That doesn't mean much, but they did just play like 10 days ago. Stakes were high, the division was up for grabs. DeSmith got the W.

I think LA is being really overlooked. I didn't like them last night, but it's only game one. They've been right there with the Oilers the past two years. Lead 3-2 in 2022, in 2023 they were an OT goal away from a 3-1 lead. VAN is in trouble without Demko. I don't think DeSmith can steal a game. I've seen a lot of "Edmonton has a cakewalk to the conference final". That is definitively not true. The past two goalies to eliminate the Oilers have been backups.

If the Flames want to shorten the rebuild, day 2 of the draft is where they've got to make hay. They should be able to really strengthen their prospect pool this year and that's very exciting. Pick 41, they're likely getting someone they had a 1st round grade on. Exciting times, really looking forward to the draft.

They already have that guy and he's wearing 52 for the Flames.

That’s fair. Hes done a good job at stockpiling picks. They just have to hit on them though. Arizona is a tough job. Build a roster on a tight budget. Utah apparently is going to be a cap team. Expectations will be quite high I think, if they fall short, a change could happen

Friday on 32 thoughts podcast, Friedman said that Utah wants continuity and it is looking like Armstrong will continue as GM and Tourigny as coach

It's nuts that the Avalanche have spent two years of their window with Georgiev as their starter. They lost last year to the Kraken of all teams. 7 on 22 shots on Georgiev. Kuemper and Francouz got almost zero credit for 2022. But they made key saves.

This series is gonna be a lot of fun.

Josh Manson is having a miserable period.

Colorado's quick strike ability is legit. However, every Jets shot has a real chance to beat Georgiev