NFT: NHL Thread: Season Less than a Week Out

Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews, and Seth Jones.

USA has their best crop of players for an Olympics ever, but man Canada is so stacked (as usual).

link gets weaker.

NHL News
@PuckReportNHL
·
1m
Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz will be out 3-4 weeks with a lower-body injury. #GoAvsGo

I'm generally down on Drury's moves in the offseason. I think Kakko is primed to take a big step in year 3 and how far they go will depend on the growth of Laf and the young defensemen. I think SC is unrealistic based on the current makeup of the team. I think the young blueliners will need another year of development and I'm still not convinced Igor is a franchise goalie until he can prove he can stay healthy, focused, and fit for longer stretches before this team can be considered a serious contender. I'm higher on guys on Schneider and Robertson than Lundkvist, though it would be terrific to have two puck-moving/PP points who are not turnover machines in their own zone (eg. DeAngelo).

No way the Devs finish above the NYR.

Kakko hits 60 points.

Chytil hits 50.

Rangers make the playoffs, lose in six in the first round to the Hurricanes.

No other predictions.

Anak and Davisian's preferred 2020 #1 pick, Quinton Byfield, fractured his ankle. Sucks.

In comment 15402028 JayBinQueens said:

Quote:

Devils finish ahead of the Rangers

Do you expect the Rangers to disappoint and miss the playoffs or do you think the Devils will just be really good?

In comment 15402157 BrettNYG10 said:

Quote:

In comment 15402028 JayBinQueens said: Quote: Devils finish ahead of the Rangers Do you expect the Rangers to disappoint and miss the playoffs or do you think the Devils will just be really good?

A little bit of a and a little bit of b.

I think the Devils will be the most surprising team this year.

from a NYR fan...agree that Devs finish ahead of the Rangers. Rangers are still lacking in their defensive end. Team defense isn't good. Allow too many quality shots. Shesty will need to be great for them to sniff the playoffs.

so Atlantic and Metro Predictions

Atlantic:
TBL*
TOR*
BOS*
FLA*
MTL
OTT
DET
BUF

Metro:
CAR*
NYI*
NYR*
WAS*
PHI
PIT
CBJ
NJD

As mentioned, only confident in the top 2 in the Metro - the next 4 or 5 teams after the top 2 are pretty interchangeable IMO (on paper).

Will do the West later (I'm sure everyone is waiting with bated breath).

Just law of averages, the odds are astronomical that they reach conf finals 3 years in a row. Played a lot of hockey last 14 months. Hard to envision this roster staying injury free for 82.

Their window is this year and next before they have to re shuffle and pay Barzal big $$.
Regardless I have enjoyed this group immensely and am soaking up the current era.

I agree that this season they will jump the Caps and/or Pens.

So much top end talent, I think they will rise over the 82 games under Gallant.

Question for Rangers fans, is there anyone who would prefer Eichel to Mika? I've yet to encounter that sentiment

In comment 15402255 JayBinQueens said:

Quote:

In comment 15402157 BrettNYG10 said: Quote: In comment 15402028 JayBinQueens said: Quote: Devils finish ahead of the Rangers Do you expect the Rangers to disappoint and miss the playoffs or do you think the Devils will just be really good? A little bit of a and a little bit of b. I think the Devils will be the most surprising team this year.

Fair. I wouldn't be shocked at the Devils doing well. Hughes' development far outpaced his point production, IMO.

In comment 15402382 Diversify yo bonds said:

Quote:

I agree that this season they will jump the Caps and/or Pens. So much top end talent, I think they will rise over the 82 games under Gallant. Question for Rangers fans, is there anyone who would prefer Eichel to Mika? I've yet to encounter that sentiment

Eichel is so much better than Mika and much younger. My issue is the cost to acquire Eichel and what you do with Mika. Can you trade Mika to VGK and send those assets to Buffalo? I think giving Mika the deal he deserves (7/8 years, $9mm+) would be a disaster for NYR.

and Eichel is really close. But (if healthy) I give Eichel an edge for youth and being a creator.

What I mean is it took Panarin before Mika became a PPG player.

Eichel was producing at a PPG pace with anchors like Jimmy Vesey and Kyle Okposo or the corpse of Jeff Skinner, or decent but not great players like Sam Reinhart and Victor Olofsson.

In other words, Eichel is the guy driving the offense, not the beneficiary of another players skill like Mika when Panarin was added. And it's not a knock on Mika, he's a great player, but it's my opinion.

Pacific:
LVG*
EDM*
VAN*
CAL
SJS
ANA
LAK
SEA

Central:
COL*
DAL*
MIN*
STL*
CHI*
NSH
WIN
ARI

man, the west sucks, top 2 or 3 teams and the rest is a morass of mediocrity.

I can see a CHI revival with Jones (both Jones brothers) and MAF if MAF has anything at all left in the tank. Plus they get Toews back and hopefully Kirby Dach.

Dark horse in the west would be the Blackhawks.

But that's not the case obviously, so I'd rather have Mika

Eichel is pretty good.

In comment 15402379 Diversify yo bonds said:

Quote:

Just law of averages, the odds are astronomical that they reach conf finals 3 years in a row. Played a lot of hockey last 14 months. Hard to envision this roster staying injury free for 82. Their window is this year and next before they have to re shuffle and pay Barzal big $$. Regardless I have enjoyed this group immensely and am soaking up the current era.

we'll see it's certainly possible but Trotz seems to know how to keep gas in the tank during the regular season. The NYI regular seasons the last 3 years were almost identical despite different talent levels - 1 month where they don't lose, 1 month where they almost never win, and in between they get enough points to keep pace. The names change but the results have been consistent - close to the top of the league in GA, 1 or 2 guys get Vez noms, mediocre to bad PP.

They get Lee back, add Chara/Parise, and seem to have a lot more quality extra players this year (Panik, Gustafsson, Bellows). Tampa lost a lot of depth so I have to think they sense that this is their chance.

IIHF
@IIHFHockey
· 33m
Things are shaping up for @SwissIceHockey, who have confirmed that @rjosi90, Timo Meier and @nicohischier will join the team at @Beijing2022

That is Hischier, Meier, and Josi

Canada also announced:

Team CANADA
Sidney CROSBY
Connor MCDAVID
Alex PIETRANGELO

And

Team LATVIA
Rudolfs BALCERS
Zemgus GIRGENSONS
Kristians RUBINS

dream likely ends today....

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
3m
Hearing today is a good day to be a Florida Panther — an extension for Aleksander Barkov is nearing.

due to a power shortage. That's the final preseason game for the Devils and it's very unfortunate for several players on the roster bubble who didn't have one final chance to earn a roster spot. Everyone is expecting Mercer and Holtz to make the team but now we wait to see if they decide to give them some time in Utica.

In comment 15401924 Stu11 said:

Quote:

Sooner rather than later. I'd much rather that spot on the 3rd pairing go to Bahl or Walsh or Sieganthaler.

I am a big fan of Walsh and he flashed impressive offensive skills this preseason but he does need some more development time in the AHL. Hopefully the Devils can move Subban at the deadline opening up a spot for Walsh who could be ready midseason. The Siegenthaler Subban line has looked good in the preseason and they will be the 3rd pairing to start the season.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
13m
Hearing Barkov extension comes in at 8x$10M, with majority coming in signing bonuses. Panthers step up and keep their captain.

I think Barron gets sent down to Hartford and Hajek gets traded/waived. Tinordi becomes the 7th D. Dryden Hunt becomes the 13th F. Gauthier plays until Reaves is healthy.

I expect the Rangers to be a better team and challenge for a wild card spot. I'm hoping Fox can maintain his level and Kakko and Lafreniere have breakout seasons in the top 6.

Unlike most Ranger fans I'm happy with the off season and glad they're trying to become a more physical team and like the coaching change. But IMO they're not competing for anything more than a spot in the playoffs until the improve their centers. I'd try Goodrow or Barron as the third line center and put Chytil on RW. He's not a center but he's good.

I watched very little of the pre season but what I saw from Jones and Schneider intrigues me a lot. Have the Rangers ever had a better suited pair developing in the minors than those two? I hope they keep them together as a pair in NY before long.

If I was GM for a day I'm not signing Mika for 7/8+ years when he's 29 years old. If he walks he walks. That opens money for a free agent or a trade. Anyone want a do over on the Kreider contract? I do and this is the same thing if not worse. I know I said they have to improve their centers and I'm saying let him walk but it's hard cap league and hard choices have to be made. If the 2nd line plays as well as I expect I'd try to resign Strome at my price to keep it together.

Fox is going to break the bank next year, Kakko and Lafreniere are going to need to be paid too soon. Drury is going to have to figure out who to keep who walks and who to trade from the prospect pool. But I think they are going in the right direction. We'll see in 82 games.

Hoping to see the Kraken out west this year when I’m in Seattle. Wonder how the renovation of Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center will look? Seattle’s a great town! I hope the NHL finds success there.

Might also take in a game at the Isles new USB FishStick Arena. I’ve already been hearing about what a disappointing dump that place is so the lowlife Fishsticks fans should feel right at home. That will be a really interesting scene with all the degenerate gamblers from the horse track mingling with the Isles addlepated fan base. Definitely set the Belmont gene pool back a few generations. Anyway, I’m sure there will be plenty of seats available late in the season when the Isles are in the basement.

LGR!

In comment 15403361 trueblueinpw said:

Quote:

Might also take in a game at the Isles new USB FishStick Arena. I’ve already been hearing about what a disappointing dump that place is so the lowlife Fishsticks fans should feel right at home. That will be a really interesting scene with all the degenerate gamblers from the horse track mingling with the Isles addlepated fan base. Definitely set the Belmont gene pool back a few generations. Anyway, I’m sure there will be plenty of seats available late in the season when the Isles are in the basement. LGR!

From all reports the stadium looks like it will be beautiful. Have you seen anything to the contrary, or are you just talking out of your ass?

In comment 15403384 JayBinQueens said:

Quote:

In comment 15403361 trueblueinpw said: Quote: Might also take in a game at the Isles new USB FishStick Arena. I’ve already been hearing about what a disappointing dump that place is so the lowlife Fishsticks fans should feel right at home. That will be a really interesting scene with all the degenerate gamblers from the horse track mingling with the Isles addlepated fan base. Definitely set the Belmont gene pool back a few generations. Anyway, I’m sure there will be plenty of seats available late in the season when the Isles are in the basement. LGR! From all reports the stadium looks like it will be beautiful. Have you seen anything to the contrary, or are you just talking out of your ass?

You can always assume I’m talking out of my ass. I’m a Rangers fan. I’m sure the new Gortons ice palace will be just fine.

Until further notice and a change in results (not foreseeable based on pre-season), Isles remain kingpins in Metro. Caps's free gift to the Fishsticks reigns supreme and Trott knows what to do with his highly and broadly skilled team. It was TBL's toughest out. Yeah, Atlantic are tough through the first three or four (FL).

I'm mixed on NYR offseason. Watched 7 periods or so of pre-season (rotated many Hartford-bound with the NHL-bound), and Gallant + grit will make a difference. I'm just not sure how much.

And, yes, the biggest issue remains down the middle:
- not enough creativity or defense at C,
- team still seems weighted toward and on the wings, and thus predictable, defendable
- have said for nearly two seasons Chytil is more suited to a winger, needs to be much, much better in finishing
- pj's analysis of Eichel vs Mika is not off (but Panarin had Strome as his C, not Mika?) in terms of creativity/making the players on your line better
- give me Hertl.

Strome, Chytil and Rooney as your C2, C3 and C4 aren't going to scare anyone. It's a weakness. But adding Eichel now and losing Mika in '22 isn't going to improve that, imo.

I think it's more than Xs and Os on Mika/Eichel. Yes, the latter is younger, but his neck (fragile, repaired vertebrae, how resilient?) + his contract--5 more very expensive years? Is a new contract for Mika, at 29, that much worse? I don't buy the Kreider comp.

But to me it's more nuanced than that: having sent Buch packing, is Drury really going to send a 2nd forward who has been so central to the Rangers' attack and glue packing? To me, that's too much of a culture shock, for a young club trying to establish its identity. More of a gut punch. For all the NA grit added, the Euros on this team are a core part of that identity, creativity in the offensive end.

Lundkvist, Schneider, Robertson (latter two already Hartford bound?), Fox/Lindgren, KAM/JT and Lundkivst/Nemeth, and more, a lot to grow. KAM as good as he was as a rookie has to eliminate a lot of mistakes/giveaways. Think Trouba's absence for the last ~20 games was underappreciated, even if, yes, there are not a few here who think he's overpaid and undertalented. He, Kreider, and Fox lead contenders for the Captain's jersey.

Agree with concerns about Igor's durability. He's got to be the midget among NHL netminders, in an era of behemoths. Can always brink Henrik off the Ass't GK coach bench?? (jk)

Will take GG time to re-make the play of this team in his own image, no Miracle on Ice in the short term: pre-season Rangers looked a lot like last season's version.

Kravtsov a C on the NYR.

He doesn't lack offensive creativity at all, just not sure about his D/face offs, but he seems like a player who could develop if they get him the right coaching and mentor-ship.

Chytil scored a hat trick last night in Bridgeport against the Islanders, his 3rd goal in OT giving NYR a 5-4 win. So much for not finishing.

I couldn't watch it, no NHL Network, but apparently KK looked really good, Rangers played w/o Zib, Panarin and Kreider, yet 5 goals vs Isles, who according to some were going with pretty much their starters (no way for me to verify), who were very chippy (same). Trouba on ice for all 4 Isles' scores. Georgiev in net but apparently played solid (same).

If the Rangers can get that kind of production minus half of their top 6, whoa!

pj, I like the idea of Vitaly at C, but he needs to grow his body bigger and stronger and become more tenacious in his open ice checking game. imo, he's not so lacking along the boards.

However slowly or quickly the Rangers become more cohesive under GG, it will be interesting to assess DQ, albeit some of the 'kids' are a year older.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
11m
NJ signs Jim Vesey: 1 year, $800K

what was it a PTO?

Quote:

Hockey Hound @HockeyHoundShow · 3m Breaking News: The #Isles have signed Zdeno Chara to a 1 year, $1.5M contract.

Brian Compton
@BComptonNHL
·
2m
Jon Cooper signs three-year extension with #TBLightning through 2024-25. #NHL

not far off from mine other than the Pens who I think they are grossly overrating (linked below).

COL, TBL, and LVG all equal at 12% to win the cup

in order of pts (top 16):

COL
TBL
LVG
BOS
CAR
NYI
PIT
FLA
WAS
MIN
TOR
EDM
NSH
WIN
NYR
STL

some of the west teams after this top 16 have better playoffs odds because the east is better
link - ( New Window )

more than me, and it's a small thing, but I really don't like teams with no captain.

New York Rangers
@NYRangers
OFFICIAL: The six alternate captains for #NYR will be Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome and Barclay Goodrow.
11:15 AM · Oct 11, 2021·Twitter Web App

NHL News
@PuckReportNHL
·
2m
Seattle Kraken announce Mark Giordano as the first captain in franchise history. #SeaKraken

In comment 15408504 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

more than me, and it's a small thing, but I really don't like teams with no captain. New York Rangers @NYRangers OFFICIAL: The six alternate captains for #NYR will be Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome and Barclay Goodrow. 11:15 AM · Oct 11, 2021·Twitter Web App

I don't either. Also, no Adam Fox?

Kid from Buffalo played very uninspired in the preseason (it's preseason) and Swayman (who I like) played just like he ended 2021...looks really good.

Hope Swayman doesn't turn into another Andrew Raycroft LOL

In comment 15408889 BillKo said:

Quote:

Kid from Buffalo played very uninspired in the preseason (it's preseason) and Swayman (who I like) played just like he ended 2021...looks really good. Hope Swayman doesn't turn into another Andrew Raycroft LOL

Most of the people I talk to are very bullish on Swayman and hope/expect he will be lead goalie and not a time share/tandem

John Hoven | The Mayor
@mayorNHL
· 4m
Landed back in LA...

-- Lias Andersson missing from practice

-- Maatta in a black jersey (not red)

-- Kaliyev up with Vilardi

-- Wagner and Strand both cleared waivers

-- More soon

I think he played well enough to make the team but they want him getting top 6 and PP time down there being as he's only 19. I'm mixed on it. While I agree with Ruff's premise, the fact is the AHL is not a great developmental league for top prospects and frankly if he out played other players in camp he should be on the roster to start for at least a little bit to see if he can handle the speed of regular season NHL.

In comment 15408504 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

more than me, and it's a small thing, but I really don't like teams with no captain. New York Rangers @NYRangers OFFICIAL: The six alternate captains for #NYR will be Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome and Barclay Goodrow. 11:15 AM · Oct 11, 2021·Twitter Web App

It's important.

Fox doesn't get an A?

The next Rangers C will be either Lafreniere or Fox. No need for a place-holder.

about it. I'm sure he has a good explanation.

What do these teams have in common?

The six teams without a captain are the Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, and Ottawa Senators

they're all shitty in case you can't guess with the exception of the NYR IMO. CAL not putrid, and could make the playoffs with some luck, and I expect Tkachuk to be their captain if he's re-signed. Unlike the NYR, CAL does not have veterans like Mika, Trouba, Panarin, and Kreider signed long term.

The Rangers just signed Mika to an 8 year extension, he'll be a NYR for 14 years or so when it ends (if he plays it out). He should be the captain now. You can always adjust.

NHL News
@PuckReportNHL
·
1m
#Isles signed Michael Dal Colle to one-year, one-way contract ($750K) per @CapFriendly

Ummm...sure, ok

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
11m
Working on exact terms, but hearing Montreal and Nick Suzuki are closing in on a long-term extension. Good way to start the season.