A lot of the drama is basically decided in the East.
All 8 playoff teams have clinched, only jockeying for position/seeding is left.
All teams have anywhere from 2 to 4 games left.
As it stands today (games remaining in () at the end):
E1: (Atlantic champ) Panthers 120 pts (clinched 1 seed) (4)
E2: (Metro champ*) Hurricanes 110 pts (*not clinched) (3)
E3: Leafs 109 pts (3)
E4: Rangers 108 pts (3)
E5: Lightning 105 pts (4)
E6: Bruins 101 pts (4)
E7: Pens 101 pts (3)
E8: Caps 99 pts (4)
If nothing changes the 1st round matchups would be:
Panthers vs Caps (A1 vs WC2)
Hurricanes vs Bruins (M1 vs WC1)
Leafs vs Lightning (A2 vs A3)
Rangers vs Pens (M2 vs M3)
If I'm the Rangers I'm fine where I am and they have clinched at worst the 2 seed in the Metro. I'd rather play the Pens than the Bruins.
I will add the West in a separate post (5 teams have clinched and basically 4 teams vying for the final 3 spots).
Good lord 42-12 in shots after 2. It truly is what makes Hockey unique as opposed to the other sports. You can absolutely do into the other team from 1-18 amongst the skater, but one player on the other team can literally steal the game.
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I think the NHL draft is 99.999% of the time about something we say here for the NFL draft, but is much more real in the NHL: "Best Player Available"
I can't remember ever hearing an NHL team say they have too many good D or too many centers.
trades are a lot more common/easier in the NHL because contracts are all guaranteed
Oh I agree but it's really hard to differentiate who is the BPA in the next group of 4 players after Wright. I still think the Devs go Slaf. His size and skill on the wing at his age will be too enticing to pass up.
hard to say and not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I think it's good.
I'd probably go Cooley, he plays C and and plays what they call a "defensively responsible" game. He's just not physically big.
Slafkovsky had a great olympics, I just don't know if that's what you will get with him in the NHL, but....6'4 220 at 18 is rare
So many options after Wright all have pros and cons.
All-Alberta
The top-2 teams in the West, IMO, playing against each other
And of course, our team playing against the Jerks, which includes a bunch of our former players.
Exciting shit. I'll go with Panthers in 6, Avalanche in 7, Flames in 7 and...YOU ALREADY KNOW.
I don't think I realized how good a season Johnny Gaudreau had, just seeing less of the west coast teams. Always was a very good player, but he puts up 115 points in a contract year. Time to get paid. Fun player
The old Lanny MacDonald series?
@reporterchris
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Lane Lambert has been named head coach of the New York Islanders. He would have had opportunities elsewhere.
Canada beat Slovakia 5 - 1
Latvia beat Norway 3 - 2
NHL.com
@NHLdotcom
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Brayden Point is doubtful for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round when the Lightning visit the Panthers on Tuesday.
The forward has a lower-body injury.
I can't remember ever hearing an NHL team say they have too many good D or too many centers.
trades are a lot more common/easier in the NHL because contracts are all guaranteed
Yeah you can never have too many of either. If you have too many centers then all you have to do is move some to wing. Cooley may be small but he is a good defender which is why I am leaning towards him being the #2 pick. Slafkovsky is very talented but as you mentioned he was only really great during the Olympics which concerns me. Was it just a hot streak that he won't ever match again or is it a sign of things to come?
As for the Devils defense the only long term pieces IMO are Hamilton, Luke Hughes, and Siegenthaler. They have several promising D prospects (Bahl, Mukhamadullin, Walsh, Okhotiuk) but none of them look like sure thing top 4 players. If Nemec is the BPA then I would be very happy with him.
Goaltending is their biggest need but unfortunately there aren't any worth of a 1st round pick. I still hope they land one in the 2nd or 3rd.
Quote:
I think the NHL draft is 99.999% of the time about something we say here for the NFL draft, but is much more real in the NHL: "Best Player Available"
I can't remember ever hearing an NHL team say they have too many good D or too many centers.
trades are a lot more common/easier in the NHL because contracts are all guaranteed
Yeah you can never have too many of either. If you have too many centers then all you have to do is move some to wing. Cooley may be small but he is a good defender which is why I am leaning towards him being the #2 pick. Slafkovsky is very talented but as you mentioned he was only really great during the Olympics which concerns me. Was it just a hot streak that he won't ever match again or is it a sign of things to come?
As for the Devils defense the only long term pieces IMO are Hamilton, Luke Hughes, and Siegenthaler. They have several promising D prospects (Bahl, Mukhamadullin, Walsh, Okhotiuk) but none of them look like sure thing top 4 players. If Nemec is the BPA then I would be very happy with him.
Goaltending is their biggest need but unfortunately there aren't any worth of a 1st round pick. I still hope they land one in the 2nd or 3rd.
I'd like to see the Devs sign Graves to an extension this summer. I agree man that #2 pick is a tough. From what I've read Slaf has been impressive at the Worlds. Getting top line minutes. Nemec is so intriguing too. I almost wish it was like the NFL and we could trade back 2 or 3 spots and add an asset or two. Honestly from what I'm reading I don't think you go wrong with any of the 3. Btw evidently Slaf impressed In his league playoffs. Nemec sounds like he is able to get top pairing minutes in his league as an 18 year old and was really impressive offensively in his playoffs.
I'd like to see the Devs sign Graves to an extension this summer. I agree man that #2 pick is a tough. From what I've read Slaf has been impressive at the Worlds. Getting top line minutes. Nemec is so intriguing too. I almost wish it was like the NFL and we could trade back 2 or 3 spots and add an asset or two. Honestly from what I'm reading I don't think you go wrong with any of the 3. Btw evidently Slaf impressed In his league playoffs. Nemec sounds like he is able to get top pairing minutes in his league as an 18 year old and was really impressive offensively in his playoffs.
I would be happy to trade down to 4 if they could land Seattle's 1st next year but I seriously doubt that Seattle do that. Take whoever if leftover at 4 between Cooley, Slafkovsky, and Nemec at 4.
I wanted him earlier in the year but he really struggled during the second half. He did play very well in the playoffs so I would still like the Devils to land him if he's willing to sign a 1-2 year deal.
This would lend credence to the closer to home theory if he takes that job over Vegas bucks.
WTF is going on in that game? It's 8-6 Flames in the third period
a little bit of everything.
If I'm starting a team today and have to pick either McDavid or Tkachuk it's not as easy a decision as people think. It's probably still McDavid, but Tkachuk can put a hat trick, and kick your ass - like an old school hockey throw back.
and he hits like a truck.
Lucic is still a dick, but CAL has so much sandpaper, grit and skill - more than any team I remember.
a little bit of everything.
If I'm starting a team today and have to pick either McDavid or Tkachuk it's not as easy a decision as people think. It's probably still McDavid, but Tkachuk can put a hat trick, and kick your ass - like an old school hockey throw back.
and he hits like a truck.
Lucic is still a dick, but CAL has so much sandpaper, grit and skill - more than any team I remember.
I really wish that the Devils could get Tkachuk from Calgary. He is one of the few plays I would love to give up the #2 pick for. Obviously it would cost more than that but I would happily give up that pick plus Alexander Holtz, and another piece for Tkachuk.
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Alberta game 1 was awesome.
a little bit of everything.
If I'm starting a team today and have to pick either McDavid or Tkachuk it's not as easy a decision as people think. It's probably still McDavid, but Tkachuk can put a hat trick, and kick your ass - like an old school hockey throw back.
and he hits like a truck.
Lucic is still a dick, but CAL has so much sandpaper, grit and skill - more than any team I remember.
I really wish that the Devils could get Tkachuk from Calgary. He is one of the few plays I would love to give up the #2 pick for. Obviously it would cost more than that but I would happily give up that pick plus Alexander Holtz, and another piece for Tkachuk.
I'd trade #1 overall for Tkachuk, but MTL won't.
*4 seconds
Crushing loss.
And the Blues suffocate the AVs. Tie up that series.
Looked like Makar tore his ACL good to see him finish the game. Hope he’s ok.
he did lose in the SCF once (to TBL with the Stars), but he's the epitome of a retread
I couldn't either. He has a career winning % of .391
Huge loss. Husso had a good year and in fact I believe leapfrogged Binnington as the starter but Binnington had been lights out in the playoffs and wasn't likely getting benched.
Technically Kadri did nothing wrong, much in the way Kreider did nothing wrong vs the Habs but having played as long as I have I feel like players sometimes look for the soft landing - picking goalie over post/boards. Not saying 100% in either case there was any intent, but also not much effort at avoidance (though in Kreider's case admittedly it would have been harder at his speed).
they play the Czech's today - with Pastrnak, Hertl, Krejci, Vrana, Horonek, Kempny, (and Jiricek - 2022 draft top 5 rated prospect)
USA added Swayman and Merrill. Too bad no McAvoy or Grzelcyk
Minutes later Stamkos scores and it's 3-1
Minutes later Stamkos scores and it's 3-1
So, good and mobile for his size.