Isles and Devils will probably be active. Should see some more trades too either today or next week once the dominoes settle.
Okposo, Nielsen rumored to be looking elsewhere. Isles supposedly looking at Andrew Ladd. Also some talk they might be willing to take Vanek back provided it's low risk and low term.
Devils need to bring in at least another forward and a defenseman. Some rumors they have checked in on Nielsen and also Matt Martin for a 4th line role too. Okposo and Eriksson probably too high for the Devils liking.
Do Rangers pull off a trade today? Still some Stepan rumblings out there with the Wild if they can't sign one of the forwards in free agency.
Will be interesting to see what Eric Staal does and where he goes.
This trade is a head scratcher and unless someone inside the organization spills the thought process behind it, people are going to rationalize it for lack of a better explanation.
I believe almost none of them. We know Therrien was at odds with Subban, he called him out after several losses, the Avs the most blatant. My belief and you know I'm not fan of him, is MTL struggles to get coaches who fit in culturally as well as x's and o's so they are hesitant to fire Therrien since in theory he meets both.
I hate the system and think the man is way overrated as a coach, and I believe he influenced the trade more than anyone is letting on.
#rangers Sergey Zborovskiy: 3 years / $633 000 AAV + $278 000 SB (2 way) #tvasports
It's like some statnerd Rangers fans and Zherdev - they refuse to entertain the notion that maybe, just maybe, he really was a lazy floater and that's why he's out of the NHL despite his prodigious talent.
It's like some statnerd Rangers fans and Zherdev - they refuse to entertain the notion that maybe, just maybe, he really was a lazy floater and that's why he's out of the NHL despite his prodigious talent.
Seguin.
I liked Zherdev. I get why the Rangers didn't and don't think the Rangers were dumb for what they did. And I liked the Tyutin for Zherdev risk even though it didn't work out.
I know I've posted this before, but an 'analysis' like this makes me rolls my eyes (RE: Seguin).
Behind the B's - ( New Window )
Per multiple reports Maxim Lapierre will get a tryout deal with the @NYRangers
It's like some statnerd Rangers fans and Zherdev - they refuse to entertain the notion that maybe, just maybe, he really was a lazy floater and that's why he's out of the NHL despite his prodigious talent.
So you're pro grit?
I liked Zherdev. I get why the Rangers didn't and don't think the Rangers were dumb for what they did. And I liked the Tyutin for Zherdev risk even though it didn't work out.
I know I've posted this before, but an 'analysis' like this makes me rolls my eyes (RE: Seguin). Behind the B's - ( New Window )
Yes, I've seen that.
the prevailing theory in beantown is that was 100% scripted damage control. they knew they were trading him and as I've mentioned for other reasons - none that warranted trading him IMO, and this is for the fans. and they made the situation worse.
the fact Chiarelli has another job is astonishing to me. I guess you win a cup and it means you get GM or executive roles the rest of your life. part of the reason I dislike AV is the Canucks choke job.
Chiarelli traded away Kessel, Seguin, Boychuk, and "forced" the trade of Hamilton and Lucic by giving out way too big contracts to Krejci and Chara (and even Rask IMO).
Love Pastrnak though, he's going to be a super star.
Of course, Boston quickly turned into an elite possession team after that Cup run. So he may have done a great job for a few years, but his recent moves in EDM and prior in Boston were awful IMO.
To more seriously respond, the advanced stats (which arent perfect) should reflect everything you bring to the ice. They dont reflect talent or grit or something else. Just production. If you grit makes you more productive, your stats reflect it. If your laziness makes your 1st line talent produce like a 2nd liner, the stats reflect it.
Now, you can question the stats, no doubt. I think they're still in their infancy. But there are strong correlations between the shot stats and successful teams (especially predicting playoff success). The advanced stats shouldnt be dismissed because "you cant measure heart" (not putting that argument into Greg's mouth). The counter is that "well if heart helps you win hockey games and have positive outcomes, you can measure it; if it does not, it doesnt matter".
I think a lot of the things 'grit' guys do well (hits, blocked shots) aren't necessarily conducive to winning - not to say you don't need those aspects, but those shouldn't be the primary characteristics brought to the table.
I never suggested dismissing them either, only that I'm not convinced the NHL can be boiled down to individual value like WAR in baseball. with so many people on the ice at the same time, so many variables happening in an action sport like hockey I'm not convinced yet that single value metrics are reliable or an indicator of future results.
Taken as data points and input into the decision making process, sure, but as reliable measures and predictors I'm not there yet (and it's entirely possible it's me not the stats)
I think a lot of the things 'grit' guys do well (hits, blocked shots) aren't necessarily conducive to winning - not to say you don't need those aspects, but those shouldn't be the primary characteristics brought to the table.
I think it depends on how the grit guy plays. I think fighting does nothing. Hits? I think they matter. Smart hits can cause turnovers. They can cause guys to play hand grenade with the puck. But some of the well known hitters are guys who try to hit everything that moves and will get out of position to do it. I also think a critical mass of hitters can have a really big effect. E.g. the Torts teams that were like playing sandpaper. Players didnt want to hit the ice against us.
As for blocked shots, I think they're really helpful. Again, if you do them well. I also dont consider that to be grit play (though I do associate them because we had those gritty shot blockers on the Torts teams).
PIT (2nd)
CHI (4th)
LAK (1st)
CHI (2nd)
LAK (1st)
BOS (10th)
CHI (1st)
PIT (19th)
DET (1st)
ANA (3rd)
I believe if you whittle it down to the final 20 games CF% the predictive value is even higher (I think PIT was #1 since 01/01/2016, for example).
I saw someone made a WAR-stat for goaltenders, but I haven't read enough about it to have an opinion (Lundqvist looked great on it, though).
I agree it gets trickier when you get down to individual skaters. Especially given how clustered most of the league is.
PIT (2nd)
CHI (4th)
LAK (1st)
CHI (2nd)
LAK (1st)
BOS (10th)
CHI (1st)
PIT (19th)
DET (1st)
ANA (3rd)
I believe if you whittle it down to the final 20 games CF% the predictive value is even higher (I think PIT was #1 since 01/01/2016, for example).
I saw someone made a WAR-stat for goaltenders, but I haven't read enough about it to have an opinion (Lundqvist looked great on it, though).
I agree it gets trickier when you get down to individual skaters. Especially given how clustered most of the league is.
But LA was by far the CF% leader last year, MTL was 10th. LA was terrible in the playoffs. LA had like 9 of the top 10 individual players in CF% (I filtered to min of 800 min figuring only players who averaged 10 min per game so regular shifts). That has to be a record. No?
and MTL being 10th in almost any stat that is supposed to be predictive of success still needs work. they were the 10th worst team in the league, not 10th best.
I'm definitely not enunciating my position well-enough. I'm not saying those things aren't important at all. A well-time blocked shot can save a game. Hockey's such an interesting game because you can contribute in so many different ways. But I'm skeptical when a player's primary contribution in the defensive end is blocking shots as opposed to denying zone entries, retrieving the puck in the corner, etc., etc.
I think the Habs were dragged down by shit goaltending. Their PDO was below-average, and SV% was well below-average. Average goaltending probably makes them a playoff team last season.
To me grit isn't fighting, they have guys for that, it's not just hits either.
Grit to me is cycling through the corners physically (not passively like Kessel), it's forechecking with your balls to the wall to force a defenseman into a breakout pass he doesn't want to make that gets picked off by a guy like Kessel standing on the half boards, it's standing in front of the net in the offensive zone to screen the goalie knowing your going to be hammered by a defenseman and the play could result in a rebound going right to your teammate as you occupy the goalie's attention as well as defenseman, or blocking shots in the defensive zone, backchecking to maybe not get the puck carrier but getting the trailer to force the puck carrier to shoot or make a pass he didn't want to make.
taking a hit on the breakout that frees up a guy that you can hit on a pass off the boards or even up the middle.
I'm not sure how any of that is measured, but it's not as flippant as "you can't measure heart", but you need guys like that on championship teams. Gritty players can be on offense and defense.
Per multiple reports Maxim Lapierre will get a tryout deal with the @NYRangers
Wat?
Here is one of the cool responses from Tavares: "Yeah obviously there's a lot of stuff floating out there. But I've always told people, until you've played there, been there, been around the team, been around the organization, our fan-base, you really don't know what it's like. There's a lot of opinions that are really far off. [They] don't really have a good pulse of what's going on, or what the organization is all about. And they drafted me there, gave me a great opportunity to play this game that I love and fulfill my dream. Obviously they've put a lot of high expectations in to me and I don't take that lightly, and I've always enjoyed being there from day one. So I would love to see it through and lift the Stanley Cup there."
Yeah I get it, what else was he going to say, blah, blah, blah. But coming from Tavares, it is believable. He is a humble and loyal superstar. And he is kindly telling that sh*t stain organization to stop dreaming.
Link - ( New Window )
In the spirit of FEKker's math exercise above.... 700 days and counting baby. Cant wait to pair him with the real JT at the world's most frustrating famous Arena in Fall 2018!
"Trevor asked LeBron if he would be in Cleveland after next season," the source said. "And LeBron said, 'I'll be there. Of course, I'll be there.'"
Spoiler: HE LEFT.
ESPN - ( New Window )
In the spirit of FEKker's math exercise above.... 700 days and counting baby. Cant wait to pair him with the real JT at the world's most frustrating famous Arena in Fall 2018!
JT will not make it through another 365 days without a contract extension.
I think it was a huge mistake not to get Hall - an aging Andrew Ladd isn't exciting enough to stick around (at least relative to what's out there, IMV). Maybe one of your younger prospects is exciting enough, I don't know them well-enough (I am high on Strome, though).
And I'm not concern trolling - I hope he leaves and you guys perpetually suck.
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In the spirit of FEKker's math exercise above.... 700 days and counting baby. Cant wait to pair him with the real JT at the world's most frustrating famous Arena in Fall 2018!
JT will not make it through another 365 days without a contract extension.
Well that settles it.. I mean, I'm totally convinced based on how well all 4,000 of your previous bold proclamations of Islander glory has worked out...
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In comment 13047216 MetsAreBack said:
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In the spirit of FEKker's math exercise above.... 700 days and counting baby. Cant wait to pair him with the real JT at the world's most frustrating famous Arena in Fall 2018!
JT will not make it through another 365 days without a contract extension.
Well that settles it.. I mean, I'm totally convinced based on how well all 4,000 of your previous bold proclamations of Islander glory has worked out...
They worked out better than your Rags last year. I was a year off. I predicted they would end up better than the Rags last year and they did. They won a playoff series. Winning a series is not a big deal to some franchises but, it helps get the monkey off the back. This is a very big year for this franchise. I believe they will be in contention for the Cup this year. There is no way they are going to let their franchise player go into the last year of his contract without extending him. He is by far the most important player to that team. The new ownership is not going to screw this up.
In the spirit of FEKker's math exercise above.... 700 days and counting baby. Cant wait to pair him with the real JT at the world's most frustrating famous Arena in Fall 2018!
He's going to be a Ranger. I've already wrapped my head around it. Congrats.
Again, out of curiosity - hope your summer is going well.
Thanks Greg - I won't bore you guys with questions of yesteryear. I frequent these threads and I always see these references.
NYI probably in the tier right below PIT/TB/WSH which means they'll be in the mix.
NYI probably in the tier right below PIT/TB/WSH which means they'll be in the mix.
The Islanders have new management, new assets and prospects that can be moved at the deadline to help them in the playoffs. They are in a very good position right now, much better than the Rangers.
They are in a very good position right now, much better than the Rangers.
You've literally said this every year since I joined this site.
Being in a better position than the Rangers =/= being a contender
In 2018 JT will be 28. He'll be 10 years too young for the Rangers.
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One of which featured the Panthers getting whistled for more penalties in the 2nd OT than the Islanders did in the entire game.
In the same game the Panthers were given an OT penalty shot. And failed to convert.
The penalty shot call was clear as day. Game 5 was poorly called.
The most egregious moment of the series though was end of game 6 when Reilly Smith was walking in for an empty net goal to seal the game, was tripped from behind... and no call. I guess professional hockey players just trip over their own skates in those moments though /derp
Was probably the best series of the first round - that or Blues/Hawks... was a shame the refs tainted it the way they called at the very least game 6.
The penalty shot call was clear as day. Game 5 was poorly called.
The most egregious moment of the series though was end of game 6 when Reilly Smith was walking in for an empty net goal to seal the game, was tripped from behind... and no call. I guess professional hockey players just trip over their own skates in those moments though /derp
Was probably the best series of the first round - that or Blues/Hawks... was a shame the refs tainted it the way they called at the very least game 6.
Depends on how you want to define cup contender. If you want to define contender as only the best 3-5 teams, that's fine and you're right.
I'd rather consider those few teams the favorites, and then the next group of teams the contenders. Making the 2nd round means you were in the last 8, so not a stretch to call them a contender IMO.
And no mention of the first 3 games where the Isles got hosed a bunch of times the biggest of which was Matt Martin getting slashed and then being called for slashing. If I remember correctly there was another terrible call against Martin and one terrible noncall when JT was hacked to shit. There were bad calls across the series. We had it coming though after Cappy purposely screwed the Rangers on the last game of the regular season.