travel_dude

They praise when winning and trash when losing. Reaves has his place in the NHL playoffs, but maybe a bit too big a role too early. The 2nd and later rounds need varieties that you can put out there.

New (Flames) nickname for it is the Douche Bomb TM

I was thinking Dellandrea, who isn't really getting top 6 duty. Not my first choicem but better than giving Mange away.

When I say similar, I don't mean size and style and salary. I mean someone who is struggling on another team, perhaps getting 4th lineplay and isn't makeing a tonne of money. Struggling because the team isn't built for the type of player they are, bigger, good on the rush, etc. Let's say plays bottom 6 and is paid for that. On the right team would score 20. Doesn't spend most of the time on his backside.

Blame it on AI. I'm right handed, shoot right and lean right. You saw the impact of overlaid graphics on the NHL boards. I think they actually overlaid the scores and game action. We were watching deep fake (I hate using media terms) hockey, not real players.

Okay, so we built up his value, supposedly. I am sure that on the right team he could score 30. I'm just thinking we aren't that team. The line he plays on can only score so many goals. Coleman goes to the net, so those goals are gobbled up. What Mangiapane used to excel at was quick strike goals. Finding a quiet area. Either the passes aren't coming from Backlund now, or he is not able to find those areas. Needs a change in scenery, and we should be looking for a similar player. Someone we don't regret playing 4th line and paying third line for. We are paying for a top 6 and he hasn't shown that in a couple.

Can't remember how long ago I had suggested we would end up with 81 points. A lot of my threads were emergency basis, since it's nice to comment somewhere about the game on. I can't recall if I did or said anything to the team to have them lose more than half the games I posted. I can neither confirm nor deny this allegation.

Clearly, I don't recall my reaction when we drafted him. It's not important what my initial reaction was, since I am not an expert when it comes to player drafts. Would I have preferred a center? No doubt. Only 2 players taken after him have played single NHL games each. In 2021 we got Coronato, while Wyatt Johnson was ranked below him. I think we would have been happy with him. It's way to early to do a redraft of 2023. 2020 draft? Nobody after Zary is really blowing the doors off. I'm not seeing the big reaches or poor drafting in the 1st round.

When was the last time we drafted an overrated player in the first round? Last decade, under a GM that made a bunch of miscalculations? Clutch pearls and you will be okay.

The president cup curse seems to be real, but it doesn't always mean a 1st round exit. NYR is tough to beat. I think FLA wins, but both teams have struggles. CAR is tough to beat. BOS seems to always have Leaf's number. Did Toronto add anyone that can stop a forward?

ARI sells team to Utah, avoiding the franchise fees. ARI gets an expansion team, paying roughly the same amount they got in the sale. NHL team get their cut of the entry fee ($1B) It's a weird twist. ARI had to sell the team because the NHL would not allow them to play at Mullet. Even if they win the rights to buy the land, they still have 3 years or less to build a stadium. So, the NHL allowed the sale to a team that would probably have gotten an expansion team in 3 years. The franchise fee is paid about the same times as expected. The Jets is a really poor example of the NHL decision making. Or perhaps the peril of being a small market team. Lose a team. Expansion team fails, team sold and moves to WPG.

The team took the name because the team was relocated from NO. They seem to get left overs from the league. So, maybe they should be the Utah Coyotes. That won't work because Arizona is getting a new team when they expand again. How about Utah keeps the Yotes last name and when Phoenix gets a team they call it the Arizona Snow Birds.

You want Tij to piss on the new stadium?

It doesn't really look like any surprises coming out of this conference. All higher seeds win out.

I would say the safe picks are DAL, COL, VAN. EDM is going into the playoffs with (another) rookie coach. I think this year's Kings have a better goalie tandem than the last two versions of them. If they can frustrate the Oilers top line, it comes down to how well EDM can defend. Skinner's SA% dropped but his GAA also dropped. Less goals scored but more goals on less shots. Hmm. In previous playoffs, LA has lost a pivotal game on one or two plays. With that: DAL in 5 COL in 6 VAN in 5 LA in 6

Rocket Doc does the nasty. Was only able to get within 200 points at the best part of my season. Then he jumped to 800 point lead and I couldn't get any closer than 720. Well played Sir.

I never suggested that Tij was better and I would be a little miffed if we drafted him. Can't say I know who we should pick, but Tij is not my first suggestion. I don't want the sentimental fave, I want the best player.

Bennett was a natural C. Bennett was too young to play in the AHL, so it was NHL or back to junior. His shot was hampered by shoulder recivery. Janko was a better 2 way C, so he never gained the spot here. I think it's too narrow view to say Bennett would have developed in the AHL better. He would have needed to stay one more year in junior. Then he may have played in the A for a year. That year the Heat was full of the failed picks from the Feaster era. Not sure what he learns there. This year, they did the right things with Coronato by more AHL than NHL. That was this year. He should get to have some fun in the AHL playoffs. May not be a long run, since they really has problems late season.

He's ranked within our number, is he not? If we were to pick him and Iggy Jr goes next, would that PO the fans too much? I'm really hoping we don't have to make the choice because Tij is gone or we win the lotto. SEA would do well to go after Tij. Right now, they are a bunch of nobodies and the name would light up the town.

Let's not confuse Coronato with Zary. Coronato had 2 years at Harvard, playing against men. Zary had two healthy season in the AHL. They are one year apart in age. Saying that, the reality is we have too many wingers and not enogh C/W. Coronato at least looked good in his last 5. Zary can play C, but should he? Pelletier couldn't even hold the spot here. If we got rid of Mangiapane, we would likely have a better balance: Zary-Kadri-Kuzmenko Huberdeau-Sharky-Pospisil Coleman-Backlund-Coronato I struggled with the idea of Coronato with Uberdeau, since they stuggle defensively. You want Coronato to learn to generate from your own zone on the rush? Play him with Backlund. Heck, put him on LW. He not going to learn hockey in the AHL playing with our lesser forwards.

It's difficult for him to play one game with Kadri then the next bunch with Rooney. He's rushing plays becuase he only gets 10 minutes max. There is no incentive for them to start him in the AHL next year. He will be ready.

Was that year 1? The only reason I won was that there was a re-scheduled game after the last NHL games played. That allowed me to drop everyone but those two teams that were playing. Unlike the Flames winning game 82 last year, that wasn't a moral victory for me. It was just playing the game.

So, it's speculation given that several quote insiders quote were saying a 1st plus Holtz plus. And that Markstrom was asked if he would waive to go to NJ. That would have been pretty risky for NJ at the time, if it was true. Possibly too late to save the season. End up having given away a lotto pick. Yes, it may have been the 2025 pick. Or it could have been 2024. Will never know for sure. LA could get in on any bidding war or be the only team interested in Marky. They are built to win now. It would have to be a 1st this year plus Kaliyev. If they want retention, then they need to add another pick. LA is built not to score, so the G is uber important to them. Marky/Rittich would not be a bad tandem, and Rittich may still be a cheap re-sign.

Markstrom since he was rumoured to be going to NJ near TDL: 1-7-0 record 3.55 GAA .870 SV% (zero games with a SV% above .900) -1.82 GSAA

The converted touchdown win by EDM didn't help you. Not much you can do to widen the gap when that team plays. Great season for you, almost wire-to-wire. And the other contender drains a 30 footer while you double bogie on the 17th hole.