NFT: NHL Thread: training camp less than a week away

there are just 7 RFA's left.

Jason Robertson (DAL)
Rasmus Sandin (TOR)
Ryan McLeod (EDM)
Alex Formenton (OTT)
Nicolas Hague (LVG)
Adam Ruzicka (CAL)
Parker Wotherspoon (NYI)

Complete Hockey News
@CompleteHkyNews
·
1m
The Arizona Coyotes have re-signed forward Barrett Hayton to a two-year, $3.5 million contract with an AAV of $1.75 million.

guy or a pack rat, but....for some reason I save every business card I ever got. Don't get them as much anymore with social media and QR scans, etc. but I had thousands and I was throwing them out recently when I was cleaning out my desk and I found this in there with them.

The absolute most boring event of my life. Other than getting to see the Stanley Cup up close, I'd rather be in economics class sophomore year of college. that's how boring the draft was.

Islanders had 10(!!) guys picked in the top 60 at one point or another. All of them were garbage except Scatchard who was a good 3rd line center. The Milbury wilderness years ugh.

I can't imagine attending a draft. What is fun about hearing names read live?

I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't think it would be that dreadfully boring.

It was my first job out of college and my boss was a Whalers season ticket holder and thought he was doing me a solid by giving me his free draft tickets.

I felt obligated to go.

Only cool thing was I took my dad, and while he was equally as bored as me, we got to see the Stanley Cup.

Nothing beats seeing it in Toronto in that cathedral / stain glass area at the Hhof. That's a really cool room. The other half that's downstairs in a mall is embarrassing.

I got to be up close in the summer of 94. My buddy's neighbor was a video assistant for the Rags and had the Cup in his backyard. A mixed blessing to be sure, but it was crazy to see it in a plain old long Island backyard.

once at the hockey hall of fame, once at a charity event (where I met McAvoy, Grzelcyk, Krug, Gronk and a few more Boston sports stars), once at Fenway after the Bruins won, but that first time, I could have spent hours just trying to read all the names, etc.

In comment 15827221 Diversify yo bonds said:

Quote:

Islanders had 10(!!) guys picked in the top 60 at one point or another. All of them were garbage except Scatchard who was a good 3rd line center. The Milbury wilderness years ugh. I can't imagine attending a draft. What is fun about hearing names read live?

The 1996 draft was atrocious.

In comment 15827291 Jay on the Island said:

Quote:

In comment 15827221 Diversify yo bonds said: Quote: Islanders had 10(!!) guys picked in the top 60 at one point or another. All of them were garbage except Scatchard who was a good 3rd line center. The Milbury wilderness years ugh. I can't imagine attending a draft. What is fun about hearing names read live? The 1996 draft was atrocious.

Truly awful. '99 is a shit show also.

They bring it, along with all the other awards trophies and set them up for display at a location off site in each city during the finals. PJ that's a good point about the names. I'd love to see it again, because back then there were no Devil's names on it. DYOB I visited the old site for the hockey HOF in Toronto back in the 80's. I'd love to go again because from what I hear it another level from the old one. The old one was a joke. It was some tiny building with a couple of small rooms by the old Exhibition Stadium where the Jays played

I never played organized hockey. I've watched practices and seen various battle drills. I've never seen this setup. Is this common? What is the purpose of having the goalies there?
Drill - ( New Window )

In comment 15827408 Diversify yo bonds said:

Quote:

I never played organized hockey. I've watched practices and seen various battle drills. I've never seen this setup. Is this common? What is the purpose of having the goalies there? Drill - ( New Window )

that's almost all we do anymore. Small area battle drills. They combine so many fundamentals the kids don't even realize all the things they are working on during the drill.

The best ones are what we call progressive, where it starts 1 on 1 but once you get control of the puck you pass to a teammate on your side and they join the battle and it becomes 2 on 1 and the rules vary but often for us you can't shoot on net until you get 3 on your side. We have so many variations of battle drills.

having goalies is important because shooting at an empty net is useless, and because of the small area goalies need to pay constant attention because the contest can turn quickly and result in a shot on net.

I'd say some days 75% of our practice plan now is small area battles.

That first round, other than the Sedins, is just atrocious. Stefan was an all-timer bust at #1. Pavel Brendl at #4. The only player besides the twins to crack even 500 points was Martin Havlat. After him was Tim Connelly with 431 points, #5 on the list is Taylor Pyatt. Seriously.

In comment 15827419 Greg from LI said:

Quote:

That first round, other than the Sedins, is just atrocious. Stefan was an all-timer bust at #1. Pavel Brendl at #4. The only player besides the twins to crack even 500 points was Martin Havlat. After him was Tim Connelly with 431 points, #5 on the list is Taylor Pyatt. Seriously.

Wow, never would have guessed that top 5.

Pyatt is a perfect example of the size/speed power forward overdraft trap. Teams always do this. "He's big and fast, the skill will develop."

He did carve out a solid career as a checker.

That was a barren draft. Connolly was destroyed by concussions and Havlat could never stay healthy.

In comment 15827410 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

In comment 15827408 Diversify yo bonds said: Quote: I never played organized hockey. I've watched practices and seen various battle drills. I've never seen this setup. Is this common? What is the purpose of having the goalies there? Drill - ( New Window ) that's almost all we do anymore. Small area battle drills. They combine so many fundamentals the kids don't even realize all the things they are working on during the drill. The best ones are what we call progressive, where it starts 1 on 1 but once you get control of the puck you pass to a teammate on your side and they join the battle and it becomes 2 on 1 and the rules vary but often for us you can't shoot on net until you get 3 on your side. We have so many variations of battle drills. having goalies is important because shooting at an empty net is useless, and because of the small area goalies need to pay constant attention because the contest can turn quickly and result in a shot on net. I'd say some days 75% of our practice plan now is small area battles.

Thanks Pj, good to know

In comment 15827408 Diversify yo bonds said:

Quote:

I never played organized hockey. I've watched practices and seen various battle drills. I've never seen this setup. Is this common? What is the purpose of having the goalies there? Drill - ( New Window )

I used to play goalie and when I first started playing ice hockey they did drills like this.

draft wasn't that bad as a complete body of work....except if you consider the drafts best player, Daniel Alfredsson, was drafted in the 6th round, or the next best player, Chara, was taken late 2nd.

Other notables:

Milan Hejduk (4th round)
Chris Drury (3rd round)

Of the top 7 leading scorers from that draft, 1 was a 1st round pick (Ryan Smith)

two of the top 13 scorers in that draft were from the 10th round. The draft, that boring ass event, had 11 rounds back then.

coming off a season where they set injury records....

Priyanta Emrith
@HabsInHighHeels
·
3h
Oh boy, it begins - #Habs injury report on the first day of training camp on-ice activities:
- Nick Suzuki out 2 weeks (upper-body)
- Josh Anderson day-to-day (upper-body)
- Jake Evans day-to-day (upper-body)
- Joel Edmundson out indefinitely (lower-body)

In comment 15827452 Diversify yo bonds said:

Quote:

In comment 15827419 Greg from LI said: Quote: That first round, other than the Sedins, is just atrocious. Stefan was an all-timer bust at #1. Pavel Brendl at #4. The only player besides the twins to crack even 500 points was Martin Havlat. After him was Tim Connelly with 431 points, #5 on the list is Taylor Pyatt. Seriously. Wow, never would have guessed that top 5. Pyatt is a perfect example of the size/speed power forward overdraft trap. Teams always do this. "He's big and fast, the skill will develop." He did carve out a solid career as a checker. That was a barren draft. Connolly was destroyed by concussions and Havlat could never stay healthy.

Just to clarify, they weren't the top five picks. They were the top five scorers out of that first round.

There were a few good players in the later rounds - Henrik Zetterberg, Radim Vrbata, Ryan Miller, Martin Erat. Craig Anderson somehow is still playing.

tough break. Kid has/had talent, one thing after another.

Jesse Granger
@JesseGranger_
·
24m
Kelly McCrimmon announces Nolan Patrick will not play this season.

In comment 15827634 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

tough break. Kid has/had talent, one thing after another. Jesse Granger @JesseGranger_ · 24m Kelly McCrimmon announces Nolan Patrick will not play this season.

Neither will Ryan Ellis. Cody Glass is an AHLer. Just a zero for all teams involved in that trade

In comment 15827654 Diversify yo bonds said:

Quote:

In comment 15827634 pjcas18 said: Quote: tough break. Kid has/had talent, one thing after another. Jesse Granger @JesseGranger_ · 24m Kelly McCrimmon announces Nolan Patrick will not play this season. Neither will Ryan Ellis. Cody Glass is an AHLer. Just a zero for all teams involved in that trade

Vegas wanted to include Glass instead of Suzuki in the Pacioretty trade. Glad that Bergevin held firm for Suzuki.

Both expected


Complete Hockey News
@CompleteHkyNews
·
1h
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner and defenceman Shea Weber will miss the entire 2022/23 season.

Quote:

“Michkov may be the second-best prospect in the entire draft, maybe even the best, and given his contract status, I’m not even sure he’ll be taken in the top five picks in June,” said another NHL scout. “It’s a really talented draft class. If you’re picking in the top five, and the choice is between a gifted Russian who you have to wait on for three or more years and a gifted prospect who’s available to you right away…it’s going to be intriguing to see how it all plays out [for Michkov].”

Michkov to the Rangers at pick #32.
TSN - ( New Window )

less and less about Bedard's size. I think he could be the best #1 since McDavid.

Every night it's another highlight reel, his shot is unreal. his vision incredible, and he has better moves than anyone I can remember not named Datsyuk. I hope the Habs got a good player with Slafkovsky but I know whoever gets Bedard is getting the proverbial "generational" talent.

last weekend.

I only saw highlights from last night, but among them Cole Caufield and Matty Beniers snipes, a K'Andre Miller shortie, Barkov GW, some good stuff.

Good to have hockey back

Kevin Weekes
@KevinWeekes
**Breaking News** 🚨📰
The @FlaPanthers
have agreed to a 3Yr Contract Extension with G @slknight30
at around 4M per.
@espn
@NHL
@NHLNetwork
@DraftKings
#HockeyTwitter

I believe will have the highest $$$ allocated to goalies next year or close to it, I wonder if they try and trade Bob

Brennan Klak
@nhlupdate
·
3m
John Tavares out 3 weeks minimum with an oblique strain. #Leafs

The Athletic Rangers preview. I think this is a pretty stupid piece, actually. What's the point of a model if it's not going to predict player development?
The Athletic - ( New Window )

Matt Smith
@Snakebite350
·
24s
Alex Galchenyuk has been released from his PTO by the Colorado Avalanche.

He played 1 game, 16:59 TOI, 1 shot, 3 hits, & 4 blocks.

@HabsUnfiltered

story, after a win in his first or second season, Zucc and the Rangers were celebrating and saw the door was open to the Knicks locker room. Zucc puts on Carmello Anthony's jersey shorts and shoes and dribbles a basketball (that visual is hilarious), Torts walks in sees what is going on and says "take that gear with you back to Hartford" and it was real, lol, Zucc was sent back to Hartford.


link - ( New Window )

Quote:

Sheng Peng @Sheng_Peng · Sep 28 David Quinn on being ranked the 29th most-handsome coach in the NHL: "It means I'm not last! It's what coaching does to you, look at me." On No. 3 Derek Lalonde: "I know Derek Lalonde. He ain't No. 3. There's a 3 in there, but there's another number after it. Please quote me."

Quinn got robbed.

is incredible
link - ( New Window )

New Jersey Devils
@NJDevils
·
24m
#NEWS: We have released defenseman Thomas Hickey from his Professional Tryout contract (PTO).

but I became a Phil Kessel fan, lol. I play men's league with someone who looks like Kessel (I think everyone has a men's league teammate who looks like this).

In comment 15843392 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

is incredible link - ( New Window )

Please don't post videos of me without my permission.

Kessel looks terrible for his age, Jesus.

Is Kessel a HOF'er?

I think he is. I also think he got robbed of a Conn Smythe.

In comment 15845376 BrettNYG10 said:

Quote:

Is Kessel a HOF'er? I think he is. I also think he got robbed of a Conn Smythe.

I think he's borderline but he gets in, on top of his two rings he will retire as the NHL iron man.

He was a consistently underrated player

put on a clinic last night in the VHL.

I love Connor Bedard, but between he and Michkov it is probably the best 1/2 since McDavid/Eichel.

Also, I watched some of the Habs Leafs pre-season game - Slafkovsky can play. Holy shit he's a big boy for 18.

Rangers are skating with Jimmy Vesey at first line RW. Lulzzzzz

In comment 15845749 Greg from LI said:

Quote:

Rangers are skating with Jimmy Vesey at first line RW. Lulzzzzz

Please bash my skull in.

In comment 15845388 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

put on a clinic last night in the VHL. I love Connor Bedard, but between he and Michkov it is probably the best 1/2 since McDavid/Eichel. Also, I watched some of the Habs Leafs pre-season game - Slafkovsky can play. Holy shit he's a big boy for 18.

I posted an article (maybe in this thread?) about Michkov maybe slipping due to his contract situation.

Why is he in the VHL?

8 year deal. im shocked. im just used to players like him leaving
Link - ( New Window )

In comment 15845755 KDubbs said:

Quote:

8 year deal. im shocked. im just used to players like him leaving Link - ( New Window )

LGI!

In comment 15845754 BrettNYG10 said:

Quote:

In comment 15845388 pjcas18 said: Quote: put on a clinic last night in the VHL. I love Connor Bedard, but between he and Michkov it is probably the best 1/2 since McDavid/Eichel. Also, I watched some of the Habs Leafs pre-season game - Slafkovsky can play. Holy shit he's a big boy for 18. I posted an article (maybe in this thread?) about Michkov maybe slipping due to his contract situation. Why is he in the VHL?

He will be in the KHL this year - SKA St. Petersburg, he played a couple dozen games last year, but he's 18, so he they'll let him get his legs and he will eventually be up this year.

In comment 15845755 KDubbs said:

Quote:

8 year deal. im shocked. im just used to players like him leaving Link - ( New Window )

Wow, good news for the NYI...

In comment 15845752 BrettNYG10 said:

Quote:

In comment 15845749 Greg from LI said: Quote: Rangers are skating with Jimmy Vesey at first line RW. Lulzzzzz Please bash my skull in.

I am beginning to understand why Gallant quickly wears out his welcome. The things he's been doing this training camp are so mindless. Keeping Reaves in the lineup. Hajek still hanging around long after he's proven that he does not belong in the NHL. Blais on the top line. Vesey on the top line, or Vesey on the roster at all in the first place. Goodrow on the top line.

Just so many things making me shake my head.

Coaches all have their pluses and minuses, but generally there are a few things that really matter (which are all related to degrees, obviously):

1) System. The NHL doesn't have a huge variety of systems and every player can play in each system, unlike the NFL where someone might be great in a 3-4 vs. 4-3. We saw a big benefit when we moved from Torts to AV and I think we saw a benefit from Quinn to Gallant. I think Gallant is good here. I think Miller was helped.

2) Player development. Are players developing the appropriate skills? This is harder for a team like the Rangers that is competing while having top prospects in Kakko / Lafreniere. I think both have turned into solid defensive players (although Kakko got there under Quinn). Miller has made huge strides.

3) Player usage. I think Gallant sucks here way too often. I think him and Drury like the same type of player (big and physical). You pointed out Reaves and Hajek. Another example that pisses me off was the usage of the kid line in the playoffs. Game 1 of the ECF when they dominated got Kakko and Laf 12 minutes and Chytil 14. Game 2 Kakko got <10, Laf 11, Chytil 12. It was really inexcusable. The advances stats show they were the best line, the eyes showed they were the best line, the production showed it. And then Kakko gets benched in game seven. It's ridiculous.

4) In-game X's and O's / tactics. Gallant seems fine here but was getting beat by Sullivan in round one and at times against TB. I've seen other fans bitch about this more but not sure I think it's as big of a deal as others think.

Lastly, people kept crediting Gallant for last season - the biggest difference was Shesterkin having the best season for a goalie since Price's MVP season. Gallant was an upgrade over Quinn but I think it's been overstated. His weaknesses are starting to show.

In comment 15845889 BrettNYG10 said:

Quote:

Coaches all have their pluses and minuses, but generally there are a few things that really matter (which are all related to degrees, obviously): 1) System. The NHL doesn't have a huge variety of systems and every player can play in each system, unlike the NFL where someone might be great in a 3-4 vs. 4-3. We saw a big benefit when we moved from Torts to AV and I think we saw a benefit from Quinn to Gallant. I think Gallant is good here. I think Miller was helped. 2) Player development. Are players developing the appropriate skills? This is harder for a team like the Rangers that is competing while having top prospects in Kakko / Lafreniere. I think both have turned into solid defensive players (although Kakko got there under Quinn). Miller has made huge strides. 3) Player usage. I think Gallant sucks here way too often. I think him and Drury like the same type of player (big and physical). You pointed out Reaves and Hajek. Another example that pisses me off was the usage of the kid line in the playoffs. Game 1 of the ECF when they dominated got Kakko and Laf 12 minutes and Chytil 14. Game 2 Kakko got <10, Laf 11, Chytil 12. It was really inexcusable. The advances stats show they were the best line, the eyes showed they were the best line, the production showed it. And then Kakko gets benched in game seven. It's ridiculous. 4) In-game X's and O's / tactics. Gallant seems fine here but was getting beat by Sullivan in round one and at times against TB. I've seen other fans bitch about this more but not sure I think it's as big of a deal as others think. Lastly, people kept crediting Gallant for last season - the biggest difference was Shesterkin having the best season for a goalie since Price's MVP season. Gallant was an upgrade over Quinn but I think it's been overstated. His weaknesses are starting to show.

This is a great post. I agree with every word.