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...
Grinder, kind of like a Dryden Hunt but more skill.
Habs have a logjam of mediocre to good forwards most with flaws.
they'll look to trade a couple of Monahan (who looks fantastic now that he's healthy), Hoffman, Dadanov (when he gets healthy again), Armia (swiss army knife, perfect to a contender), Drouin, Dvorak, maybe shop one or two more.
Quote:
I'm glad the Bruins got bullied into dropping him.
I read that he didn't reach out to the victim to apologize?
Until last week, via Instagram
Thanks. I'm always behind on these stories.
Just what the Bruins need, to start getting healthy.
Slafkovsky suspended 2 games for a dangerous boarding hit a couple days ago vs DET. At first I thought it was just an aggressive play - penalty worthy but not suspension, but on replay it was definitely a dangerous hit. Matt Luff, the player he boarded is out 10 - 12 weeks.
I like the willingness for physicality but you dish out plays like that you put a target on your back.
Just my opinion but:
1. I think because he's not playing C - some guys just get so "stuck in their own head" with the responsibilities center adds their whole game suffers.
2. Because he's playing with Suzuki and Caufield, who are both ridiculous play makers
3. Because he's talented and gaining confidence, some players need confidence so the talent can shine
4. He is in a system that players are comfortable playing in. - this cannot be underestimated.
Example: Last year at this time the Habs were talking about sending Caufield to Laval (AHL) - and they eventually did, he was so passive. No goals and one assist in the first 10 games. After 30 games he had 1 goal and 7 assists. Then Ducharme was fired and St. Louis took over, under MSL Caufield had 22 goals and 13 assists in 37 games.
so far this year Caufield has 8 goals and 7 assists in 15 games but more importantly he looks like a completely different player. He is aggressive on the forecheck, an incredible passer, even his skating has improved. At 21 years old he looks like a star in the making.
So, back to Dach, I don't think his low was ever as low as Caufield last year, and he had some pretty bad injuries, but I have never seen him as assertive with the puck as I do now since his days in juniors. And with his size he can become a Kreider type if he can use it to his advantage.
anyway, those are my observations. I know MSL was an unconventional hire, but man he gets the most out of his players and guys like Monahan who were brought in specifically to showcase and trade have actually made people a little sad because they say they don't want to leave. lol.
I guess he is what they mean when people talk about a coach who is good with developing young players.
I have rarely seen a player step on NHL ice and fit in so well as a top pair D as Kaiden Guhle. McAvoy comes to mind and not many others. Arber Xhekaj was a longshot - now he's a solid top 4 D. Jordan Harris spent 4 years at Northeastern, but he was raw and untested and he's a fixture on the blue line.
Even if they lose every game it's fun to watch because the effort is there, you can see the young talent, and you can see the improvement.
Great game. Nico with 2 more including a tip in the game winner in OT. Devs had to kill off a penalty in OT and Schmid had some huge saves. Wood with his 6th,they really missed him last year. I know the goalie injuries are mounting but hopefully Vanacek misses no more than a week if it's a concussion. This team has a 2017 vibe to it when they had to use 4 or 5 goalies and they all stepped up to win games.
Great game. Nico with 2 more including a tip in the game winner in OT. Devs had to kill off a penalty in OT and Schmid had some huge saves. Wood with his 6th,they really missed him last year. I know the goalie injuries are mounting but hopefully Vanacek misses no more than a week if it's a concussion. This team has a 2017 vibe to it when they had to use 4 or 5 goalies and they all stepped up to win games.
It's great to see Nico healthy. He's having a career year thus far. As you know I haven't been a fan of Wood but I have to give him kudos for his good start. The 4th line looks much stronger with him on it. The Devils just need to get the 3rd line rolling because it's been a very slow start for them.
I am not worried about either player either but it would be nice to see Sharangovich get some time with Hughes.
McAvoy scores in return as B's win
Evander Kane had his wrist run over by a skate - out a while after getting closed up
PK Subban signs with ESPN, I think he'll be a good broadcaster
Guys like Dach are why I can't stand seeing fans give up on Kakko / Laf. And I think Kakko is looking the part this year.
McAvoy scores in return as B's win
Evander Kane had his wrist run over by a skate - out a while after getting closed up
PK Subban signs with ESPN, I think he'll be a good broadcaster
I'm always surprised these skate type injuries don't happen more frequently.
Guys like Dach are why I can't stand seeing fans give up on Kakko / Laf. And I think Kakko is looking the part this year.
I struggle with it too, sometimes I feel like I'm contradictory.
Because let's be honest, hockey busts happen. Often. Even in the 1st round and the top picks in the first round.
It's at least partly because these kids get drafted at 18 based on what they've done mostly playing against 18 year olds and younger - you know their lifetime to that point. Some small samples against older kids, men, or tournaments, etc. but for the most part their body of work is against their contemporaries in their 18 year old or younger bodies. Projecting what the finished product will be like is hard.
I look more for confidence, who wants to get the puck, who has a plan with something to do with the puck when they get it - IOW - they start to look comfortable or to use the cliche the game is slowing down for them.
It will happen - and it is often happening for stretches already.
I do think Lafreniere tries to do too much. A few times I saw him (not against DET last night but either the game before or earlier) tried to attack the o-zone 1 on 3 or 1 on 4. And I know what he was trying to do - he wanted to keep possession and allow his teammates to change - the kind of play a coach probably highlights in film review as an unsung, unselfish play not dumping it in - allowing your teammates to change - and keeping possession, but not by attacking the zone, maybe curl back and go into your own zone, use your D who didn't change, or in that situation maybe better off "take the L" and dumping it in, because you lose the puck in that situation (like he did) during a change so often the chaos results in an odd-man rush against good transition teams.
Anyway, I see a lot of positive with both players I think the points will come and I think the pressure of being a top pick in NY will wear off.
Or he/they will bust, lol. But definitely not ready, not even close, for either player and worst case I think they have established a nice floor as a top 6 forward. Maybe not what you want with pick #1 or 2, but not a bust (and I think both will cement themselves as all-star caliber players before it's all said and done - so far from the floor).
Nolan Patrick and Ryan Murray are probably the worst #2s the last decade.
I'd add, I think Kakko sucked his rookie year but you started to see some signs the past couple years. And then this season he actually looks good even if the points aren't quite there yet. Laf (who has more points but looks worse than Kakko so far this year IMO) is a really misunderstood player IMO. People bashing him for not having plus skills are totally wrong and not seeing the whole picture. I don't know if the upside is as high as I thought when they were drafted - but I think the floor on both players is much higher than NYR fans think, so you might as well see if you can get the upside.
Damn, Zach Werenski out for the year, separated shoulder and torn labrum
It's funny, if you asked this when Lafreniere was a rookie and Hischier was in his 4th year - good rookie year, then 3 consecutive worse seasons, the Rangers give you a hard no. Hischier was injured and unproductive.
Now? Hischier is on fire and looks like an all-star, like what they expected he would be. The Devils give a hard no.
Plus Hischier is a C and C > W and not to mention Hischier is locked up long-term at what I think is very team friendly contract for a 1C or 2C - depending if he or Hughes are 1C.
If anything seeing players like Hischier, Kirby Dach, even someone like Shane Pinto - should be enough to suggest some patience is warranted.
Salming was the first European player to have a real NHL career - he is the one who opened the door to Europeans in the NHL. Played from 1973-90, all but the last year with the Leafs
He was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year
It is Daryl Sittler, also a Hall of Famer, who is helping him and hugs him while crying
Hope the link works
Salming - ( New Window )
Borje has an award named after him for the best Swedish born defenseman in the SHL. former Ranger Nils Lundkvist won it in 2021. The Salming Trophy. It's very prestigious - kind of like their Norris trophy.
Great night of hockey. PJ I caught a chunk of the 3rd and OT Habs-Pens and man that was fun up and down hockey! Great OT winner by Hoffman. Can't wait to watch Habs-Devs Tuesday that should be fun hockey. Slaf is back for that one right?
Rangers lose a heartbreaker 2-1. Had a 5 minute pp in the final 8 minutes or so, had about 5 or 6 glorious chances but couldn't convert. This sport may be the most entertaining it's been in my lifetime. The up and down skill level is off the charts. The East is gonna be a nightly war for points.
Will be cool to see Hughes and Caufield play against each other. Is this the first time in the NHL?
Their world juniors teams were some of the most talented and entertaining hockey teams I'd seen in that tournament.
So many turnovers forced and the layers, holy shit I was having nightmares while I was awake. I don't think I've seen a team with such trust in their teammates with the layers like this since the '09-'13 Bruins teams under Julien that were so dominant offensively and defensively.
As good offensively as the Devils were tonight it was their defense and goaltending that set the tone in the 1st period. The Canadiens had the momentum off the start, but so many blocked shots, great saves, and cleaned up rebounds so not a lot of second chances. Then the Devils transition game and speed were just too much.
This is the least room I have seen MTL have all year.
nice turnaround from the 0 - 2 start. If this Devils team can stay healthy and the goaltending stays at this level they will be a contender and they have the youth to add for the playoffs.
Before the season started Luke Hughes said that this would be his final season in Michigan. If the Devils are still in the playoff hunt as seasons end I would be absolutely shocked if Luke Hughes doesn't sign his ELC to play in the NHL at the end of the season and into the playoffs. Imagine the offensive boost adding a player like him at the end of the season. Send Bahl back to the AHL and replace Smith in the lineup with Hughes.
I hope the Devils go hard for him this offseason because he could be the next great Russian goaltender who is available for a cheap ELC.
I hope the Devils go hard for him this offseason because he could be the next great Russian goaltender who is available for a cheap ELC.
I hadn't heard of him until this year.
Russian goalies are starting to get a lot more NHL consideration with this latest crop, Shesterkin, Sorokin, Samsonov, even Askarov, so it's not strange I hadn't heard of him - those guys dominated the international tournaments for years for Russia.
Nikolayev will likely focus on the team that gives him the best chance of immediate playing time so I hope that NJ is high on his list. I could see Toronto and Edmonton going hard for him.
I keep wondering what Luke Hughes must be thinking. I can't wait until he is added later in the year.
Even if they decide to protect him as they did with Will Butcher and Ty Smith during their rookie seasons Luke could still have a big impact.
One of the most exciting things about this season is that this team has two potential defensive studs in Hughes and Nemec on the way.
4 years after this at $11.5M per, good luck.
4 years after this at $11.5M per, good luck.
Yeah Karlsson is on one of the Dman heaters of all time. 22 points in 10 games but that contract woooof. Nobody who's any sort of contender can afford that under the cap even prorated.
Another impressive win today. The Devils won 5-1 despite Hughes and Bratt no recording a point. It was great to see the bottom 6 carry the load today.
Schmid was good again today. If he continues to play well the Devils are going to have a tough decision to make when Blackwood is healthy.
I hate that, if the net comes off, it sucks, maybe a penalty if it was in any way intentional, but no way that should count with the net off, way before the shot.