so most of the hockey fans on BBI have their teams eliminated or close to it. See if anyone wants to discuss the tank-a-thon or playoffs.
Pretty much eliminated (of the BBI fan teams):
Rangers
Canadiens
Islanders
Senators
Hurricanes
Some fans still have teams alive
Bruins
Capitals
I've seen a Flyers fan on here
and of course our Penguins fan, plus the lone Vegas Knights fan.
Anyway more of us probably interested in Rasmus Dahlin than playoff seeding, but still some good races left.
Most teams have between 12 and 15 games left.
The Lightning and Predators, the two conference leaders, are on absolute fire. Both 9 - 0 - 1 in their last 10.
The Jets (my darkhorse) are also pretty hot.
And Patrik Laine is now in elite company, he's tied Gretzky for 3rd most goals as a teen. Interestingly that's not the 1st most, Jimmy Carson (92) and Dale Hawerchuck (85) both have more than Laine who currently has 76, but what Laine is doing is impressive since it's being done in a lower scoring era.
If the season ended today draft order (subject to lottery of course) would be:
Arizona
Buffalo
Ottawa
Vancouver
Montreal
Detroit
Edmonton
Rangers
Chicago
Islanders
Carolina
Islanders (from Calgary)
Columbus
Philly (from St Louis)
Anaheim
A lot of movement will take place in that group, plus the lottery will shuffle things, but just my view it's a strong top of the draft.
Current playoff matchups would be:
East
TAM vs CBJ
BOS vs TOR
PIT vs NJD
WAS vs PHI
still alive: FLA, CAR
West
LVG vs DAL
SJS vs ANA
NSH vs COL
WIN vs MIN
Still alive: LAK, CAL, STL
some good matchups
MTL and DET play twice in the final 9 games, that could be the difference in bottom 5 finish for MTL.
MTL of their 9 remaining games, has two with DET and one with BUF, the rest playoff teams.
Lol. This post put a big smile on my face. I need that after seeing my boys blow a 3-0 lead to Tampa Bay last night.
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Don’t hate me for saying this, but that list of young guys you named In my opinion are all mediocre or less. Honestly, I doubt any of those guys make you proud. No blue chippers at all and that includes AG. For your sake, I hope I’m wrong because I don’t hate the Habs just because I’m a Leafs fan......it is hard to hate a team that has not been significant for 25 years. As a Leafs fan, I know all about not being significant. Been longer than 25......
As long as you continue to have not smart people running the ship, expect a lot more disappointment.
I don't hate you for saying it. I too don't hate the Leafs, I don't remember them ever being relevant in my life time even the odd years when they made the playoffs, I did see the Habs win two cups though.
What the comment makes me though is to dismiss your evaluation skills and not really value your opinion on players.
Alex Galchenyuk is mediocre or worse?
He's the leading point scorer from the 2012 draft. In a draft that didn't have a McDavid I'll admit, but it included Forsberg, Teravainen, Athanasiou and others. He is far from average or worse
He had 30 goals as a 21 year old. He's insanely skilled. and he's never played next to a #1 or even a legit center.
By you saying Jonathan Drouin is average or worse doesn't make me hate you, I love hockey talk and I engage with all fans, but like I said it makes me dismiss your opinion as uninformed or makes me feel like you as a fan are as mediocre or worse with your player evals.
Some of the guys like Juulsen - you have no idea about. he's a former 1st round pick whose played 14 NHL games at 20 years old - to have your opinion about him is silly, Lehkonen, Hudon, de la rose, maybe not top liners, but all are legit NHL players. Plus Mete who I didn't even name is 19.
Agree about the not smart people running things though. I do like their youth though, even with no Auston Matthews in the group - you need to be much worse than the Canadiens have been (like the Leafs have been) to win that prize.
If you had METE on that list I would have excluded him because I do think you have a player in him. Juulsen may be one too.
As for AG and Drouin.....they both are lousy playing 5-5.i believe both are something like -25 so clearly they are not two way players. I strongly believe TBay dumped Drouin very quickly because they saw and know things about Drouin that made them not feel he will ever be the man he was drafted to be. Lastly, I think most Habs fans do not like Drouin and many are hoping to trade AG for a decent center. I wonder what Claude thinks about either of those two guys.
Honestly, all the other guys not mentioned above from your list are insignificant and will probably be what I said....mediocre.
Problem is neither Galchenyuk nor Drouin are NHL centers. Which is fine, you need wings too obviously, but centers are simply more valuable. Put either of them on a line with an actual NHL center and tell me how they'd do. Who is the best center Galchenyuk has played with in his 4 years? Andrew Shaw? Philip Danault? Get the hell out of here with your half-baked analysis.
and TB trade Drouin because they didn't want to/couldn't afford to pay him and they needed D more than O. Plus he had attitude issues when sent down to the minors as a 19 year old.
If you actually watched hockey and see Drouin just have a completely different gear than everyone else on the ice and Galchenyuk shoot with the best in the league and felt they were average or worse than again, I'm fine with ignoring your player evaluation.
Both could be one-way players, but don't cite their plus minus to prove it to me.
I like Galchenyuk a lot. Think MTL is hurting him, though. I like Drouin, but I don't think he's going to be an elite player.
I like Galchenyuk a lot. Think MTL is hurting him, though. I like Drouin, but I don't think he's going to be an elite player.
I don't think Drouin will be elite, but I do think he'll be a consistent 50+-point per year player - who is better with better talent. which basically slots you in top 100 or so offensive players in this day and age.
Far from average or worse.
I also think they got worse with the Subban deal, but that's a separate discussion from my point (and one we've discussed a ton already).
And I think the Canadiens would be better if they didn't make them.
But...they were (and still are) good enough to be a contender. The Rangers series last year was razor thin and I think they would have beaten OTT. Could they beat PIT or NSH? Who knows once you're in a series I wouldn't bet against anything.
Problem is they were built from Price out and when you make that your plan, you need Price to be the best goalie on the planet night in night out to be good.
he hasn't been that goalie in over two seasons.
When you're 6 points out of last place it's hard to envision yourself as a contender, but I really don't see the Habs as that far away if, big if, Price rebounds. Canadiens can have a mediocre roster, but they'll go as far as Price takes them.
I think it's Ovie now, probably would have been anyway, but seeing a 19 year old win it would have been cool.
I also think they got worse with the Subban deal, but that's a separate discussion from my point (and one we've discussed a ton already).
100% agree on Subban for Weber.
The other one - Drouin is only 22 y.o., they were coming off a division title, and they thought they were already set defensively/goaltending, needed more scoring. Clearly - they should have saved the Sergachev chip for a 1st/2nd line Center, .... but I can still see some reasoning behind it.
Link - ( New Window )
Better be careful, you might get a point tonight and tie Detroit. Ha
Better be careful, you might get a point tonight and tie Detroit. Ha
Now I see you're just trolling me. I don't mind.
No clue why Price is playing, but even with the 4 or 5 goals he'll allow tonight, he's playing well. Even though I wouldn't play him the rest of the season.
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Your boy Drouin scored tonight, and I see you got the once great Carey Price back in the nets letting in his 4-5 goals again.
Better be careful, you might get a point tonight and tie Detroit. Ha
Now I see you're just trolling me. I don't mind.
No clue why Price is playing, but even with the 4 or 5 goals he'll allow tonight, he's playing well. Even though I wouldn't play him the rest of the season.
I’m not trolling....just having intelligent hockey talk...that is why I like you. As for Price, I know it would be hard to trade him, but it would be nice if you could. You have 2-3 good guys behind him and he might be able to land you that center you so desperately want for your two boys- Drouin and AG.
I’m sure you are relieved your boys didn’t pass Detroit tonight.
Lundqvist is 4-13-2 with a 3.79 goal-against average and .897 save percentage since Jan. 20, with one win in relief and his past two victories coming in consecutive 50-save performances in Vancouver and Calgary on Feb. 28 and Mar. 2, respectively.
FLA vs CBJ
LAK vs COL
on the other end
EDM vs OTT
DET in action
ARI in action
I think his fatal flaw is he viewed both Drouin and Galchenyuk as NHL centers. And who knows they might be, but not in a Julien/Therrien system (both coaches have the same system).
But it's easy for people like you (or I) to pile on, but completely discount or be ignorant to the fact the Drouin was one of the best centers in the history of the Q - which isn't some crappy juniors league in case you didn't know - even though it is known for finesse - it launched careers of people like Lemieux and Lafleur.
Anyway, the Maple Leafs haven't won a playoff series in 15 years and haven't reach the SCF in my lifetime, let alone win a cup, I'd worry about your own team rather than obsess over Montreal's failures.
I like the Canadiens youth and I like their prospects for the upcoming draft and I feel like they can contend as soon as next year.
But as I mentioned they really need Price to rebound or they won't contend and no I doubt they can trade Price and the players behind him (Lindgren, Fucale, McNiven) are not close to Price. At least I have not seen any evidence they are. Lindgren looks good in spots, haven't seen much of McNiven and Fucale so far hasn't come close to the hype and I wouldn't be surprised if he's no longer in the Canadiens system next year.
Not to mention getting Weber and Pacioretty back will help (if they keep Pacioretty).
Sitting there, the Barclays is fine, but overall, it just is not good for hockey which is a shame because otherwise the arena is beautiful and so so easy to get to.
FLA vs CBJ
LAK vs COL
The Devs really need a Columbus reg. win of Florida. Its a shame we've actually survived this trip from hell at 3-2 but we're clinging to a 1 point lead. The last 2 games have been garbage efforts. Anaheim we looked worn out. SJ we didn't play well but the goaltending was atrocious. Schneider looks shot right now, unbelievably it looks like Kinkaid will be the #1 the rest of the way. We have @Pitt tomorrow and home vs. Tampa Saturday. After that the sched thankfully lightens up a bit.
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Lundqvist is 4-13-2 with a 3.79 goal-against average and .897 save percentage since Jan. 20, with one win in relief and his past two victories coming in consecutive 50-save performances in Vancouver and Calgary on Feb. 28 and Mar. 2, respectively.
Looking at his post-ASG numbers, sounds about right. 4-11-2, 3.83, .899 since the break.
NSH, TBL, and BOS all clinched playoff spots (not last night, but so far).
MTL plays BUF in one of their few remaining games they'll be favored. Need to lose here.
Evan Bouchard making a lot of movement on draft boards. Always liked him, he could be the Canadiens guy at 6 if they don't crack the top 5.
Also making some movement, Finnish center: Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Canadian center Barrett Hayton. Quinn Hughes is dropping a little.
I believe this draft will be a good one.
dont care.
Where we you when the Leafs sucked?
dont care.
Where we you when the Leafs sucked?
Hiding....
Sportsnet - ( New Window )
St Cloud St (overall #1) losing 2 - 0 to Air Force in the 2nd.
Link - ( New Window )
My roommate's a Leaf's fan so I want to root for them but god you're insufferable
I don't think it's that uncommon, hockey is really hard to win even as the #1 seed I think.
There is some talent here - just need an alpha forward and two top 4 defenseman. Maybe can draft a D this spring and sign Tavares. Get it done Gorton.
As far as D goes ... the brendon smith signing really hurts the team moving forward. Maybe he'll be more motivated this summer or something.
There is some talent here - just need an alpha forward and two top 4 defenseman. Maybe can draft a D this spring and sign Tavares. Get it done Gorton.
As far as D goes ... the brendon smith signing really hurts the team moving forward. Maybe he'll be more motivated this summer or something.
You guys see Smith is out for the season after breaking his hand down at Hartford in a fight with teammate Vinny Letterri? Fitting, I think he’s done here
Pionk looked really good past couple games. I hadn't seen much of him other than last year's NCAA's.
I thought Gorton was more analytical in his approach, but it all points to this franchise being clueless when it comes to scouting and valuing defensemen.
Or maybe Smith got paid and became lazy as hell and/or starting sniffing nose candy. That's always possible too. Still, Detroit had healthy scratched him at times last year and ended up giving him away to us (late 2nd rounder?) - all of a sudden that is worth almost $20 million? It doesnt add up.
I believe they will both be in the lineup Monday. Chytil can only play the 7 remaining games without burning a year. I guess they just wanted to bring them up together because Lias could have played the last 9.
Pionk looked really good past couple games. I hadn't seen much of him other than last year's NCAA's.
+1 on Pionk. He's been taking full advantage of his opportunity and proving he belongs.
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and have scored 5 goals on 15 shots
I believe they will both be in the lineup Monday. Chytil can only play the 7 remaining games without burning a year. I guess they just wanted to bring them up together because Lias could have played the last 9.
Thanks Rob. I didn't count, but for some reason I thought Sat's game was game 1 of the final 7 games. Glad to hear they haven't changed their minds - I'm looking forward to seeing them.
current playoff matchups:
East:
TBL vs NJD
BOS vs TOR (hope this stays)
WAS vs PHI
PIT vs CBJ
Still alive: FLA 83 points, 3 pts behind the Devils with 2 games in hand
West:
LVG vs COL
SJS vs ANA (seems they play every year in the playoffs)
NSH vs STL
WIN vs MIN
Still alive:
LAK, tied in pts with STL, one fewer game left
DAL, 5 back, only 6 left, biggest surprise on the season for me from a futility standpoint, loved their off-season (Bishop, Radulov, Hanzal)
Looking up from the Bottom:
BUF (58 points, 7 remaining)
ARI (61 points, 7 remaining)
VAN (63 points, 6 remaining)
OTT (63 points, 8 remaining)
DET (65 points, 7 remaining)
MTL (66 points, 6 remaining)
though with the new odds, anyone can "win" the top pick.
IMO, just need to get a top 5 pick.
and the favorites are in the Atlantic (in the East).
Hard to say the Isles were all-in. They have two lottery picks and didn't move any of them at the deadline.
But it's still a core group without an elite player, much like what we already had.
Can Chytil or Andersson become that guy? Just how good can Pionk be? Can Skeji bounce back from a somewhat disappointing 2nd season? And what do we get from these three first rounders?
I've given up hopes for Dahlin but can we just get a break and get into the top 3. 12.3% chance of that right now