Every team (except OTT and EDM) has reached our passed the 41 game halfway point, so thought let's take some stock in how things look vs what we expected and look at 1st half performances.
First the playoff standings (GD = goal differential):
East
Atlantic:
BOS 43GP 61PTs +30 GD
FLA 43 GP 57PTs +25 GD
TOR 41 GP 50PTs +14 GD
Metro:
NYR 42 GP 56PTs +17 GD
PHI 44 GP 54PTs +10 GD
CAR 43 GP 53PTs +16 GD
East Wild Card
DET 43 GP 49PTs +11 GD
TBL 44 GP 49PTs -3 GD
PIT 42 GP 48PTs +16 GD
NYI 43 GP 48PTs -18GD
NJD 41 GP 47PTs -2GD
WAS 41 GP 46PTs -26GD
West
Central
WIN 42 GP 60PTs +42GD
COL 44 GP 59PTs +26GD
DAL 42 GP 55PTs +26GD
Pacific
VAN 44 GP 62PTs +54GD
LVG 44 GP 55PTs +20GD
LAK 40 GP 50PTs +30GD
West Wild Card
NSH 44 GP 49PTs +1GD
EDM 39 GP 47PTs +21GD
SEA 43 GP 47PTs -3GD
CAL 43 GP 45PTs -1GD
ARI 41 GP 44PTs +3GD
STL 42 GP 44PTs -15GD
not much really that unexpected. but from a standings standpoint I say this:
VAN (positive)
PHI (positive)
ARI (positive)
DET (positive)
MIN (WTF?)
OTT (has a bunch of games in hand on everyone, but I expected more)
BUF (let's me down every year)
Awards:
Calder: Bedard, but being out 4-6 weeks it's in jeopardy. Luke Hughes, Brock Faber, Rossi, Adam Fantilli, and more nipping at his heels
Vezina: Demko or Hellebuyck
Selke: Barkov or Danault
Hart: MacKinnon or Panarin
Norris: Quinn Hughes (has a case for Hart too), Makar not far behind though
Jack Adams: Tocchet or Torts
should be a fun second half
but the line of Caufield, Suzuki, and Slafkovsky is about as much fun as I've had watching MTL in long time.
Still a project, but he has tools you just can't teach and watching the development is fun.
Word is MTL is close to selling their sellable parts. Jack Edwards mentioned some things late stage on the broadcast last night.
Mike McLeod not at practice for the Devils today, nor a team event last night. Good bet he is one of the 5.
Mike McLeod not at practice for the Devils today, nor a team event last night. Good bet he is one of the 5.
The hits keep on coming for NJ.
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Mike McLeod not at practice for the Devils today, nor a team event last night. Good bet he is one of the 5.
The hits keep on coming for NJ.
Cal Foote also absent from Devils practice today is another one rumored to have been involved.
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I actually like the Devils jersey. It is much better than the St. Louis Blues one from last season.
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not a huge fan of the devils jersey, maybe it will look better as part of the full uniform. link - ( New Window )
I actually like the Devils jersey. It is much better than the St. Louis Blues one from last season.
That's a really creative Flyers one :-)
sounds like the U18 Canada team individual "penalties" are being handed out.
feb 5th sounds like the date things will become more "public" than players taking leaves of absence.
Oilers are on fire
so are Avs (MacKinnon especially)
Just to show you how good VAN has been - EDM has won 15 in a row (30 out of 30 points) and are still 12 pts behind VAN (with 4 games in hand so best case 4 pts behind after a 19 game win streak).
His game was actually picking up too.
left for dead 6 weeks ago, man, the NHL is strange sometimes.
However, Friedman also suggests the two FO's hate each other and may not want to do business. That was news to me. I know the history with Gorton in NY, but didn't realize they had animosity.
that said, I hope MTL finds a way to keep Monahan. If Dach and Newhook don't go down for the year (and to a lesser extent Dvorak) MTL would be a fringe team and while still probably sellers could deal players like Armia and Dvorak maybe Savard and solidify the core (including Monahan who is obviously older than the rest of the group).
If Monahan is traded it's a 1st round pick or 2nd and a good prospect IMO and if he's playing in your top 6 that price is worth it all day.
I do think he gets moved for my latter point (he's 29 years old and the core is 22-25), and whoever gets him will get a really good player, surprised me since he hasn't been healthy in so long, I forgot how good he was.
it's weird, when I was in high school in CT they were required. Not sure when that changed, but back to being required.
Stephen Whyno
@SWhyno
Former NHL player Alex Formenton has been charged by police in London, Ontario, in connection with the 2018 Canada world junior team sexual assault investigation, his lawyer says:
However, Friedman also suggests the two FO's hate each other and may not want to do business. That was news to me. I know the history with Gorton in NY, but didn't realize they had animosity.
that said, I hope MTL finds a way to keep Monahan. If Dach and Newhook don't go down for the year (and to a lesser extent Dvorak) MTL would be a fringe team and while still probably sellers could deal players like Armia and Dvorak maybe Savard and solidify the core (including Monahan who is obviously older than the rest of the group).
If Monahan is traded it's a 1st round pick or 2nd and a good prospect IMO and if he's playing in your top 6 that price is worth it all day.
I do think he gets moved for my latter point (he's 29 years old and the core is 22-25), and whoever gets him will get a really good player, surprised me since he hasn't been healthy in so long, I forgot how good he was.
Animosity between FO's? Everything is high school, lol.
My guess is Drury played politics well and got Gorton canned.
but too soon to see the plan.
I do feel comforted though that Kent Hughes is there as a buffer.
But that couldn't have been done if the strategy wasn't right. I'd point to the Red Wings as a team who got the strategy right but didn't have the same lottery luck.
I think he got unlucky here. I'd prefer him over Drury, who I think sucks.
With that said, we have continued to have awful forward development. This is a decades long issue with the Rangers, and Gorton no doubt deserves some blame.
Caufield went a half season without scoring
Slafkovsky looked like an AHL player
Dach went from an afterthought to a top 6 player
Newhook was a throw in (top 15 pick, but a throw in)
Suzuki would have been good anywhere IMO
and other young guys still who look like they can play at this level.
D too. Guhle, Xhekaj, Harris, Struble, Barron - all under 24 and all look like they fit in the top 6.
they just need to keep improving because overall the talent level isn't good enough yet and the bottom 6 needs work.
plus goalie (lol). I like Montembeault, but not sure he's your #1.
Kucherov (32G) with 85 pts and MacKinnon 84 (31G) before the ASB.
Good seasons for some players.
Day 1: NYI 32
I won't include the details but will include the rankings.
Kucherov (32G) with 85 pts and MacKinnon 84 (31G) before the ASB.
Good seasons for some players.
If anyone on the Rangers could finish, Panarin would be there with them
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with 40 goals before the ASB.
Kucherov (32G) with 85 pts and MacKinnon 84 (31G) before the ASB.
Good seasons for some players.
If anyone on the Rangers could finish, Panarin would be there with them
He's not far behind anyway, 30 G and 66P.
More points than Matthews or Reinhart.
@TSN_Sports
Four NHLers – Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube & Cal Foote – have been directed to surrender to London police to be charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident that occurred during a 2018 Hockey Canada event.
"Elias Lindholm was traded to the Vancouver Canucks by the Calgary Flames for Andrei Kuzmenko on Wednesday.
Calgary also received Vancouver’s first-round pick and a conditional fourth-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, and defenseman prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo."
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Kuzmenko, because he was a rookie last year gets mistaken for being young, he's not, he's 27 or 28, still a steep price IMO unless VAN extends Lindholm.
So, that should temper the return if he's not considering an extension (IMO).
Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
Still not finalized, still details to be worked out, but all indications are that the Montreal Canadiens are trading Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets
@TSNHockey
@TheAthletic
The Habs got a 1st (2025) to take Monahan from CAL when CAL signed Kadri. So, MTL got Monahan and a 1st for basically nothing.
Also, Pags says there is a better than 50% chance Monahan returns to MTL in the off-season.
he's a rental.
Good GM work.
The Habs got a 1st (2025) to take Monahan from CAL when CAL signed Kadri. So, MTL got Monahan and a 1st for basically nothing.
Also, Pags says there is a better than 50% chance Monahan returns to MTL in the off-season.
he's a rental.
Good GM work.
Great job by Montreal.
It's maddening because it seems clear to everyone but Fitzgerald that Ruff is not the answer. I heard that Ruff and Fitzgerald are really close friends and I am worried that Fitzgerald is reluctant to fire his friend especially when he can just blame their struggles on the injuries.
Vanecek has been the worst goaltender in the NHL this season and they still haven't replaced him. IMO the defense will look noticeably different when a new coach steps in. Ruff's system puts too much pressure on the DMen and goaltenders.
can't wait. two more years, a lot can happen between now and then but it's about time - should be a permanent decision.
Sounds like Salt Lake City would be the favorite if they do move, though the usual suspects always creep up - Quebec (city), Atlanta (again), and a couple others.
can't wait. two more years, a lot can happen between now and then but it's about time - should be a permanent decision.
At your age, I'm praying you make it!!!
And yeah, fucking finally.
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I agree Jay. Up through this season I love what Fitz has done. However he has sat and done absolutely nothing what is on its way to becoming a lost season. It's crystal clear that the goaltending situation will not be fixed from within and they are in desperate need of some help on D as well as a top/middle 6 fwd. If he continues to do nothing he's waving the white flag on the season.
It's maddening because it seems clear to everyone but Fitzgerald that Ruff is not the answer. I heard that Ruff and Fitzgerald are really close friends and I am worried that Fitzgerald is reluctant to fire his friend especially when he can just blame their struggles on the injuries.
Vanecek has been the worst goaltender in the NHL this season and they still haven't replaced him. IMO the defense will look noticeably different when a new coach steps in. Ruff's system puts too much pressure on the DMen and goaltenders.
Maybe part of the reason for the hesitation is thinking that there will be better options available in the off-season?
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NHL will participate in the 2026 Olympics.
can't wait. two more years, a lot can happen between now and then but it's about time - should be a permanent decision.
At your age, I'm praying you make it!!!
And yeah, fucking finally.
Make what? the team or just stay alive long enough to watch?
lol.
I can see a USA top line of the Tkachuk's and Hughes.
Jack centering Matthew and Brady (or really any of them being center) with Luke and Quinn on D. no reason why but I think that would be a cool line. so much talent in the league right now NHL in the Olympics would be awesome.
Canada will be insane obviously with McDavid, MacKinnon, Makar, I think Crosby is going to try and hold on long enough to make it. I hope he plays too.
and I hope Russia is in.
I read it will be an NHL sized rink, not Olympic sized which does make you wonder why there is an Olympic size but whatever, benefits the US (and Canada) since their rinks are all NHL size by default.
Agreed on Russia.
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In comment 16387263 Stu11 said:
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I agree Jay. Up through this season I love what Fitz has done. However he has sat and done absolutely nothing what is on its way to becoming a lost season. It's crystal clear that the goaltending situation will not be fixed from within and they are in desperate need of some help on D as well as a top/middle 6 fwd. If he continues to do nothing he's waving the white flag on the season.
It's maddening because it seems clear to everyone but Fitzgerald that Ruff is not the answer. I heard that Ruff and Fitzgerald are really close friends and I am worried that Fitzgerald is reluctant to fire his friend especially when he can just blame their struggles on the injuries.
Vanecek has been the worst goaltender in the NHL this season and they still haven't replaced him. IMO the defense will look noticeably different when a new coach steps in. Ruff's system puts too much pressure on the DMen and goaltenders.
Maybe part of the reason for the hesitation is thinking that there will be better options available in the off-season?
Could be. However I think Markstrom is worth it for the rest of the season. He signed through next season and if it doesn't work out they could always move on.
I know Devils fans are mixed on him but I think he's pretty good.