seems like the season just ended.
but less than one week training camp starts and just over a week before 1st pre-season game (I think 9/15 is the first game), looking forward to the season (even though it looks to be a massive rebuild in MTL).
still a few RFA's unsigned and some notable FA's still unemployed.
some players I think (could be wrong) are still available as UFAs are PK Subban, Zach Aston-Reese, Braden Holtby, Sonny Milano, Evan Rodrigues, and more...
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funny how a week or 10 days changes everything. lol.
I know right? After 2 games Jay and I had everyone fired lol.
Ruff should have been replaced by Brunette but now they can’t justify it obviously. It’s nice to see Vanecek string together two good games. Hopefully he can keep it up and Blackwood can turn it around because if they can be just league average then the devils are a lock for the playoffs as long as Hughes and Nico don’t miss significant time.
It still infuriates me that Zetterlund does not play every game. He is such a good bottom 6 guy and provides a spark every time he’s on the ice. Why Ruff is so set on playing Bastian and McLeod is beyond me. Boqvist should play over McLeod also.
Also, as you mentioned Holtz barely plays and when he does he’s usually on the 4th line. For Holtz to be effective he needs to be with a play driver like Hughes and Hischier. He is wasted with McLeod and Wood and they might as well send him down to the AHL so he can play.
The one exciting thing about them being in the playoff hunt is that Luke Hughes will join them for the final stretch once Michigan’s season ends. That’s a huge upgrade over Braden Smith.
Seth Jones breaks (?) thumb out 3 - 4 weeks for CHI
Seth Jones breaks (?) thumb out 3 - 4 weeks for CHI
tough break (no pun intended) for Chicago. They have been surprisingly competitive so far. I don't think anyone thought Alex Stalock would be this good in goal. Vancouver has won a few in a row. They seem to be getting their sea legs after a horrific start. This week's Devs trip should display some damn interesting hockey- Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. All of those teams can probably skate right with the Devils.
but sounds like Wright will be in the CHL before long...
NHL Watcher
@NHL_Watcher
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29m
Friedman on TJMS: "It is very clear that unless Hakstol is forced to play Shane Wright more he's just not going to play very much in Seattle this year and so if I were the OHL I would be looking at this as an opportunity and the opportunity is we could have this kid back quickly"
Now that he proved last season was not a fluke his price tag is likely $8-8.5 AAV.
Anaheim Ducks
@AnaheimDucks
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7h
INJURY NEWS: Jamie Drysdale suffered a torn labrum (left shoulder) during last Friday's game at Vegas and will be out of the lineup approximately 4-6 months.
https://nhl.com/ducks/news/dry
Now that he proved last season was not a fluke his price tag is likely $8-8.5 AAV.
I agree Jay he's getting north of 8 mill per at this point. According to Julie Robenhymer he turned down an 8 year deal this summer and I'm betting it was in the range you're talking about and he had no interest. He clearly wanted to bet on himself. With scoring even higher than last year right now in the league I think 100 points is definitely not out of the question if he stats healthy. They can start talking extension again January 1st. My feeling is the Devs best shot to get him locked up might be to blow him away in January with something like 8.5 aav for 8 years. A year and a half outside of UFA maybe they get him to sign. If it gets to the summer I think he plays it out and bets on himself again and looks for a Panarin type of deal.
Bratt can let the season run out and become an RFA and still go with a one year deal to get to FA or even a 2 year bridge deal and then he's 27 when he hits FA and gets one big NHL contract.
If it were me, the real gamble on myself would have been taking the 8 years at 23 and feeling like I'll work my ass off to get that second contract at 31/32. by then who knows even 6 for 60 on top of the 8 years for 50+ basically is generational money.
Bratt can let the season run out and become an RFA and still go with a one year deal to get to FA or even a 2 year bridge deal and then he's 27 when he hits FA and gets one big NHL contract.
If it were me, the real gamble on myself would have been taking the 8 years at 23 and feeling like I'll work my ass off to get that second contract at 31/32. by then who knows even 6 for 60 on top of the 8 years for 50+ basically is generational money.
Yeah PJ I was thinking about that today. Obviously it's different if you break in later like a guy like Gaudreau and you get to UFA at like age 29, but if I was in Bratt's shoes and I reach UFA at around 25 I'd give serious thought to taking like a 3 year deal at like 25 mill and seeing where the market is again when you're like 28 or 29 still. Jack signed an 8/8 extension a year ago and young players are already surpassing it. 3 years from now it's gonna look bargain basement.
Connor Brown (WAS) ACL out for the year
I shed no tears for WAS but in addition to Brown the Caps are without Wilson, Backstrom, Oshie, Hagelin, and Carlson was just banged up too.
How many more Bergeron vs Crosby match ups will we get?
Not many and probably the two most cerebral players of this era.
Yeah the interesting thing is it wasn't one of their better efforts lately. They needed Mac to make the big stops especially early. The Edmonton game Thursday should be real entertaining.
Yes goaltending is their achilles heel. Vanecek played well over his past two games and Blackwood was solid last night so hopefully that's a sign of things to come. It's way too early to decide either way.
Marino has been a great addition. He's been their best defenseman this season.
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However the D has been so improved- we're allowing by far the least amount of shots against per game. At least that takes the pressure of them a bit.
Marino has been a great addition. He's been their best defenseman this season.
Definitely. He gives them a shutdown guy to go against the top fwds on the other team. We haven't had a guy like that in over a decade. He'll definitely have his hands full with Connor Mac tonight though.
Definitely. He gives them a shutdown guy to go against the top fwds on the other team. We haven't had a guy like that in over a decade. He'll definitely have his hands full with Connor Mac tonight though.
This should be quite the offensive performance from both sides tonight. Both teams are extremely fast and talented but have question marks in net. Hopefully the Devils can keep Marino and/or Siegenthaler on the ice when McDavid is on.
lol.
I also don't think Vegas is sustainable either, but I agree with you that it sets the tone.
Of course there are anomalies like the Blues last in January to Stanley Cup in June.
lol.
I also don't think Vegas is sustainable either, but I agree with you that it sets the tone.
Of course there are anomalies like the Blues last in January to Stanley Cup in June.
Oh yeah totally. There's always anomalies and like you said a good start guarantee's you nothing but it just seems like it's tough to make up the points if you fall too far behind. I always think of the last time the Devs made the playoffs in '17. The Panthers got off to a lousy start and had the best record in the league from like Jan 1 on and still ended up falling point short of the playoffs.
link - ( New Window )
Yeah that was pathetic by Mathews especially since he escalated it then backed away and let his teammates do the dirty work. Listen hockey history is littered with superstars like Gretzky who had linemates there to protect them. However Gretzky didn't run around starting scraps then back off and giggle while his teammates cleaned things up
I do think Campbell is an upgrade over their usual patchwork but we saw his second half last year.
I do think Campbell is an upgrade over their usual patchwork but we saw his second half last year.
Yeah it was weird. Skinner made a bunch of quality stops, and really was the reason they were ahead going into the 3rd, but he did not have a good period. The Wood goal was a nice shot, but from that distance short side needs to be stopped, and the Graves goal simply can't go in.
Mitchell was a 4th round pick of the Coyotes in 2020 and after the draft it was surfaced that as a 14-year old he abused and assaulted a developmentally disabled minority. The Coyotes rescinded his draft rights immediately when the story came out.
Bruins feel he has earned a shot at redemption.
Mitchell was a 4th round pick of the Coyotes in 2020 and after the draft it was surfaced that as a 14-year old he abused and assaulted a developmentally disabled minority. The Coyotes rescinded his draft rights immediately when the story came out.
Bruins feel he has earned a shot at redemption.
Boomer and the Point on Sirius NHL radio had a segment on this. Their point was the concept was punishment vs rehabilitation. They felt destroying a kid's livelihood over something he did at age 14 was just too punitive. Having done a little more research into it, the amount of time this abuse went on for and the depraved levels it reached along with the racial involvement really make it difficult to stomach. The Athletic had an article yesterday where the reporter had a history of dm'ing back and forth with the victims's Mom on social media. She allowed him to screenshot the dialogue and she does not feel there has been near the level of apology and contrition required to satisfy her.
I don't know this is a tough one. We're talking about 14 year olds and something that started in 2nd grade. So I think a lot of it is on Mitchell's parents. At that age that type of behavior is learned. However I can definitely see and respect the victim's Mom's points and frankly I don't think Mitchell has displayed real evidence of contrition other than the basic remorse of it potentially costing him his career. I hope he and the Bruins can make a true commitment towards using this as a teachable moment to bring to light this kind of behavior and how wrong it is. Color me dubious though.
On one hand I feel like there is almost nothing you do at 14 years old that should warrant permanent removal from society or any specific career you may be qualified, but I also believe that even for actions done at 14 the person should show some type of remorse and contrition.
I try not to judge people (though I am guilty of it sometimes) and I believe in redemption, but I don't think it's up to me (or even the victim's mother or the court of public opinion). Not sure who gets to decide.
Habs have a similar situation in some ways with Logan Mailloux.
@Zeisberger
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15m
Bettman said Miller is not eligible for the #nhl ... and is not sure he ever will be. Added the league was not consulted before #bruins signed him.
@Zeisberger
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15m
Bettman said Miller is not eligible for the #nhl ... and is not sure he ever will be. Added the league was not consulted before #bruins signed him.
I can't see it being true. If it is that's crazy. I imagine this is the NHL doing damage control and letting the GM take the heat until it blows over
Logan Mailloux signed his ELC with the Habs this summer, I wonder if Bettman commented on Mailloux.
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No clue how Seattle is winning, but they beat the Pens in a good game.
Cassidy has the VGK playing a great system - so good on D and they beat the habs 6 - 4, but this is maybe the 3rd game when the Habs had goals from Suzuki (2), Caufield, and Slafkovsky all in the game - it's fun to watch. Guhle had a couple assists too.
Bruins went down to the Leafs - after getting called out for lack of toughness, Matthews shows why no one cares and scores both Leafs goals.
the yotes showing signs of life beat the short-handed caps.
DAL is elite even withot Oettinger, I think Jason Robertson is eventually a hart candidate. Bold, but I love his game.
still more hockey left...
this pass from Guhle to Slafkovsky is encouraging for a 20-year old D. I can't overstate how impressive Guhle is.
His transition to the NHL reminds me of how Charlie McAvoy just stepped on NHL ice and started playing top line 20+ min per game.
Check out this pass - ( New Window )
they persevered - I watched the end of that game, and there is a lot to be said for sweeping a road trip. They get the Flames at home next - they're a good team so it's not flukey wins.
Slafkovsky looks like a young Kovalchuk. His size, speed and skill is just insane for this age. And he is physical - not so much with hits yet, but on the cycle and one on one battles, and in the corners. I was expecting the Habs to draft Wright and I would have been fine with it if they did, I was unsure about Slafkovsky because there wasn't a lot of "tape" on him (were the olympics a fluke?), but I can see why it was such an easy decision for MTL and I feel better about it now.
And it's got nothing to do with Wright - it's more about Slafkovsky. Now who knows what kind of career he'll have, but it definitely makes more sense to me now.
I doubt MTL even had Wright 2nd or 3rd - since they were rumored to be shopping the pick to the lowest spot they could still get Slafkvosky and I read they felt the Devils would have taken him at 2 if MTL took Wright.
Lol the "new information" was Bettman basically saying the guy isn't playing in the NHL.
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based on "new information" and now have rescinded their contract with Mitchell Miller.
Lol the "new information" was Bettman basically saying the guy isn't playing in the NHL.
yeah, and the public backlash.
I read that he didn't reach out to the victim to apologize?
I read that he didn't reach out to the victim to apologize?
Until last week, via Instagram