NFT: NHL Playoff Thread and Misc Hockey - All Teams Discussion

Even though I know nothing about hockey or the current events of the league. Doesn’t matter who the teams are, the effort and product on the ice is almost always great. Are either of the western conference teams expected to be favorites in the Finals?

FLA is the favorite, then EDM then DAL then NYR.

My personal opinion is NYR and DAL.

I don't think any team is an overwhelming favorite and I think the two EC teams are more complete teams than either WC team. But EDM probably has the two best players remaining in McDavid and Draisaitl.

2 Stars players tripped each other up in Oilers zone and Oilers broke out of their D zone with a man advantage skating into Stars zone.
Rewatch the play…

In comment 16523826 pjcas18 said:

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FLA is the favorite, then EDM then DAL then NYR. My personal opinion is NYR and DAL. I don't think any team is an overwhelming favorite and I think the two EC teams are more complete teams than either WC team. But EDM probably has the two best players remaining in McDavid and Draisaitl.

These are the odds today? Sort of feels like the money is just going in order of how well the teams played in game 1, lol

In comment 16523856 Rick in Dallas said:

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2 Stars players tripped each other up in Oilers zone and Oilers broke out of their D zone with a man advantage skating into Stars zone. Rewatch the play…

not really. it was mostly a 3 on 3. Bouchard was not really in the play. it wasn't a rush goal. Stankhoven lost his guy - he went behind the net for some reason and left McDavid all alone.

this. CHI gave a late 2nd to move up 2 posts in the 1st and 4 in the 2nd?

TRADE

To Chicago #Blackhawks
2024 1st RD pick (#18 - NYI)
2024 2nd RD pick (#50 - NYI)

To New York #Isles
2024 1st RD pick (#20 - TBL)
2024 2nd RD pick (#54 - LAK)
2024 2nd RD pick (#61 - VAN)

Waddell resigns in CAR. Says it's to pursue the next chapter in his career, but I wonder if it was completely unilateral.

Quote:

Don Waddell resigned as president and general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, and was replaced on an interim basis by assistant GM Eric Tulsky until a permanent replacement is found.

for it to be even. But puckpedia has it slightly tilted to CHI.

PuckPedia
@PuckPedia
Using PuckPedia Perri Pick Value Calc, #Blackhawks gave up 0.631 less draft value than #Isles.

How much more value? Using the Find Fair Trade button, we get that for this to be an even trade, #Blackhawks should have also given 5th round Pick (#136).

https://puckpedia.com/pickvalue

In comment 16524037 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

for it to be even. But puckpedia has it slightly tilted to CHI. PuckPedia @PuckPedia Using PuckPedia Perri Pick Value Calc, #Blackhawks gave up 0.631 less draft value than #Isles. How much more value? Using the Find Fair Trade button, we get that for this to be an even trade, #Blackhawks should have also given 5th round Pick (#136). https://puckpedia.com/pickvalue

And other measures have it tilted towards the Islanders. What this tells me is that in the latest amateur scouting meetings the Islanders have a tier that extends to at least 20 that starts too high for someone in prior tier to likely fall to 18 whereas the Hawks have a tier that ends just before 18 so someone from prior tier is likely to be there at 18 but may be pushing it at 20.

other sources have it flipped, I don't remember seeing a trade this close.

and I agree Mike in the 18-20 range it's a bunch of similar players.

The only way this hurts is if someone unexpectedly falls to 18.

Some speculate this indicates CHI is likely going D at 2 (Levshunov or Shilayev I see them both going 2/3).

Which is good for me as a Habs fan, I want as many D to go top 5 as possible. Which is likely two or three. Three would be better. Then Celebrini and 3 D gives MTL the pick of 2nd best F in the draft. I like Iginla, but I think Demidov or Lindstrom likely would be the pick.

I also like Buium a lot but I don't see MTL taking a D again. They're loaded with young D prospects.

In fact I would not be shocked before or at the draft for MTL to trade one or two of Savard (veteran D) and Mailloux, Harris, Struble, Barron or Engstrom. It's clear they love Guhle, and Hutson and Reinbacher was #5 last year.

I have heard their door is getting beaten down by teams asking for Xhekaj and so far Hughes/Gorton have been unwilling to name a price (if you believe what you read).

* Silayev.

In comment 16524047 Mike in NY said:

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What this tells me is that in the latest amateur scouting meetings the Islanders have a tier that extends to at least 20 that starts too high for someone in prior tier to likely fall to 18 whereas the Hawks have a tier that ends just before 18 so someone from prior tier is likely to be there at 18 but may be pushing it at 20.

Lol
This move is to have more assets to trade. There will be a re-tool to acquire guys who fit Roy's system.

Bouchard putting up Conn Smythe numbers should EDM win the cup. You always feel like McDavid or Draisaitl are the EDM stars and then Zach Hyman puts up a 50+ goal season and leads the playoffs with 12 goals, but Bouchard is the stand out right now.

I believe I heard he was the first defenseman in NHL history with 20 points in his teams first 13 playoff games. And his shot is like Weber/Chara right now.

He was a top 10 pick so it's not like he came out of nowhere, but he has elevated his game.

Meanwhile, EDM has 5 of the top 6 point scorers in the playoffs. Obviously that stat is skewed somewhat because teams don't play the same number of games, but it's what we have. Bouchard also leads the playoffs in +/- if you are interested in that (I mention it b/c a lot of the EDM points are on the PP, but obviously no +/- for that)

Draisaitl 25 (9/16)
McDavid 23 (3/20)
Bouchard 21 (5/16)
RNH 17 (4/13)
Tkachuk 16 (5/11)
Hyman 15 (12/3)

* Makar also has 15 but his team is eliminated

Jett Luchanko looks intriguing at 20 (hell I would not have been opposed to taking him at 18)

On the one hand the pick may have to go for a Saros or Ullmark which I'm fine with, but on the other hand it sure would be nice to keep the pick and bag a Senecke or Eiserman as a potential top 6 guy on the cheap.

In comment 16524110 Stu11 said:

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On the one hand the pick may have to go for a Saros or Ullmark which I'm fine with, but on the other hand it sure would be nice to keep the pick and bag a Senecke or Eiserman as a potential top 6 guy on the cheap.

Given the Devils situation assuming Dougie Hamilton can come back and be healthy I would flip #10 for one of the two goalies you mentioned or even maybe Try and entice NSH to send Askarov so you're not in this spot again in a couple years (unless you think one of the young goalies is a future starter).

In comment 16524166 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

In comment 16524110 Stu11 said: Quote: On the one hand the pick may have to go for a Saros or Ullmark which I'm fine with, but on the other hand it sure would be nice to keep the pick and bag a Senecke or Eiserman as a potential top 6 guy on the cheap. Given the Devils situation assuming Dougie Hamilton can come back and be healthy I would flip #10 for one of the two goalies you mentioned or even maybe Try and entice NSH to send Askarov so you're not in this spot again in a couple years (unless you think one of the young goalies is a future starter).

I agree with both of you. The only goalies that I would trade the #10 pick for is Saros, Askarov, and Ullmark. If Fitzgerald trades the 10th pick for Markstrom he should be fired on the spot. If the Devils are able to pull off a trade for Saros, Askarov, or Ullmark then I assume Holtz and either Daws or Schmid will go in the package perhaps both. The Devils have a logjam of goalies in the minors after signing Isaac Poulter and prospect Malek to ELC's.

crush the Swedes...7-3 and play the winner of Canada/Switzerland (Swiss up 2-1) for the gold. It was tied 2-2 after one, but never really that close after that.

they need to move this to a neutral site like Italy or Mexico or anywhere in South America (if they could somehow draw crowds to fill arenas), but man that Czech crowd is awesome to watch. from puck drop to final whistle, they are screaming, dancing, singing, I don't think I have seen a crowd at a professional sporting event have as much fun.

beat Canada in a shootout, horrible way to decide who plays for the gold.

Tavares tied it on the PP with 2+ left in the 3rd then a scoreless OT.

Bedard had Canada's only got in the SO. Switzerland had two - Fiala and Andrighetto with what proved to be the GW.

So, Switzerland and Czechia for the gold. Who had that on their futures bet?

Sweden and Canada for the bronze.

3rd is going to be a barnburner

.

outplayed them for 2 periods but Otter was great.

Momentum changed in the 3rd.

About half way through 2nd period
Otter played terrific game in goal.
He will be the difference for me in this series

have played better than expected. They are going to really turn it on in Edmonton.

Let's get that Oilers/Rangers final.

keeps Canada off the podium in a really good game. 4-2 (ENG).

gold medal game at the worlds headed to the 3rd

win gold on home ice. Pasta with the GW and then an ENG to make it a 2-0 final.

Cam Robinson
@Hockey_Robinson
Some context to just how important the World Championship is to Europeans:

@MarekNovotny96
tells me 76% of Czechia population tuned into the seminal match.

Businesses closed early and employees given the evening off to watch the gold medal game.

Downtown Prague is electric.

but the ending in that PWHL game was crazy.

in the best of 5 championship of the PWHL finals, MIN led the series 2-1 so could clinch the inaugural title with a win. With 2:30 left in the 2nd OT period of a scoreless game a MIN player was driving to the net, loses their edge (could have been a trip) and crashed in to the goalie and the trailing player from MIN flips the puck in the net. Ref signals goal, crowd goes nuts, players celebrate, yard sale on the ice. Joy on the MIN side, tears from BOS.

but wait...after a min or so of celebrating they announce it's being reviewed, delay during review and then they come back and announce no goal due to goalie interference.

BOS scores 1 min later. I guess sending it back to BOS for a decisive game 5 (not sure how they determine where each game is).

What a roller coaster of emotions.

If they don't call a trip on the play, it's an easy goalie interference call.

Hintz back for DAL.

Henrique back for EDM

with the greasy goal tip for his 13th of the playoffs (playoff leading) from McDavid and Bouchard.

1-0 EDM, 3+ into the 1st.

with a greasy goal of his own - that's what happens when you have a forward covering him.

2-0 EDM.

In comment 16525440 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

with a greasy goal of his own - that's what happens when you have a forward covering him. 2-0 EDM.

They are demolishing them right now. Jesus.

Robertson goal makes it 2-1.

Now 2-2
Stars skating now

In comment 16525441 BrettNYG10 said:

Quote:

In comment 16525440 pjcas18 said: Quote: with a greasy goal of his own - that's what happens when you have a forward covering him. 2-0 EDM. They are demolishing them right now. Jesus.

This, but opposite.

In comment 16525467 Rick in Dallas said:

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Now 2-2 Stars skating now

And now 3-2 Stars

24, Wyatt Johnson 21.

Dallas youth contributing in a big way.

Stankhoven 21.


as I type, EDM ties it up.

Henrique.

if Trouba did what Harley did Anakim would need a new keyboard from typing so hard in all caps.

3-3

so teams 4 v 4 as 2nd comes to a close

In comment 16525475 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

if Trouba did what Harley did Anakim would need a new keyboard from typing so hard in all caps.

I missed what happened with Harley, but I don't JUST dislike Trouba because of the stupid penalties and reckless plays.

gives the Stars the lead - gets the hat trick.

4-3 Stars

Robertson with the hatty, his mom's (I think) ethnicity is Phillipino

In comment 16525486 Anakim said:

Quote:

In comment 16525475 pjcas18 said: Quote: if Trouba did what Harley did Anakim would need a new keyboard from typing so hard in all caps. I missed what happened with Harley, but I don't JUST dislike Trouba because of the stupid penalties and reckless plays.

as someone unbiased it is completely irrational the hate he gets. I will be watching a NYR game and watching the D turn pucks over, get beat on puck retrieval, get caught out of position - even occasionally resulting in a goal against and then seeing Trouba make the slightest mistake and before I check here I know what's coming. lol. It's plastered over this site. and then it becomes a social contagion and others pick it up and harp on it. I'm not sure why, he is without question the most positionally sound and defensively responsible Rangers defenseman. it's not debatable and the next one isn't really close. It is why he's on PK1, it's why he's out there late in games. He seems like a good human being off the ice, a great team ambassador and he leads by example, even with the penalties that cross the line on occasion. He will play a near perfect game and the one or two mistakes are all that get emphasized. More than other players too.

it's weird for me to see and as someone who has followed his career since it began I don't understand the reasoning for it. that's the only reason i defend him. Because I don't understand it. It's like we're watching different games.

but also, I don't watch the game like it seems you (and some other NYR fans do) - like you're watching the game to see who makes a mistake so you can post and complain about it - more so when it's Trouba. I don't think about hockey that way, and I guarantee the Rangers players don't either.

Sorry for the novel.

by Benn stretches the lead to 2. Just under 2 left.

Stars outplayed Oilers last 2 periods
Roope Hintz with a huge impact tonight.

and I'll listen to him all day and be content to do so. He is like Jordan to me and I'm fortunate to have seen both play live many times. But man is he bad at this studio analyst role.

"Edmonton played like Bob Hope in the first and no hope in the 2nd and 3rd" WTF Wayne?

being filled besides the already mentioned ones in BUF, OTT, NJ and TOR.

Dan Bylsma to SEA
Jim Hiller has interim label removed for LAK