#4555105 - 02/06/21 03:15 PM
Re: NHL hockey has started
[Re: KraziKanuK]
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DBond
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Sorry WT, nice move. Hard to keep this thread afloat Boston seems to have the Flyers number, and I will be happy to see the the back of them. At 7-3-2 the Flyers sit in second place in the East. Concerned about the goal difference at just +2, which suggests close wins and bad losses. They've played well over all, but it's a fine line. Most importantly, they have a six-point gap to fifth-placed Devils, who do have three games in hand. Pens are treading water and long may it last. A few random observations from around the league.... The Greafs Leafs are sitting pretty, top of the North at 8-2-1 (+8). Les Habs too, at 7-2-2 (+16), who are the highest-scoring team in the league. I predicted a good season for the Oilers, and they didn't get off to a good start, but have won three straight to get back to .500. The Central is hard to decipher, with the Stars' situation affecting the schedule and a big disparity in games played so far (some of this in the West too). The Lightning are where we expect, on top. But the Panthers have yet to lose in regulation. It's been a great start to the season, and I'm just happy we have hockey.
No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!
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#4555143 - 02/06/21 09:27 PM
Re: NHL hockey has started
[Re: KraziKanuK]
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Yeah, those numbers won't cut it at this level, although that GAA isn't bad. I thought he was out with injury?
Hart's 3.42 and .898, and now has back spasms.
No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!
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#4555540 - 02/10/21 02:13 PM
Re: NHL hockey has started
[Re: KraziKanuK]
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The Flyers put 7 past the Caps a couple days ago, rebounding from back to back one-goal losses to Boston. And now they are shut down for Covid.
But what I really wanted to mention is the Pens hiring Hexy as GM!
His record was spotty for the Flyers in that role. I'm a huge Hextall fan, I absolutely loved him as a player, but not so much as an exec. If you are a fan of ANY other team, you probably hate him. But man he was fun back in the day. And he was good too. He should have won his second Vezina in 1996, when Carey won it. Hextall's numbers were better. But it was his fire that made him so loved by Flyers' fans. Yeah, maybe he was out of control a bit. But I loved it.
It's like Tie Domi. Man I despise that guy. But Leafs fans adore him, I guess?
The worst part about this hire is Hexy going to the hated Pens, our fiercest rival. I hope he does a horrible job there. The Pens golden age is coming to an end, with Malkin, Cryin' Sid and Letang all getting in to their mid-30s. It will be Hextall's job to rebuild that roster, and it's a tall order indeed.
If the Pens don't start winning, then is it possible that those guys get moved? Like wouldn't Colorado jump all over Crosby if he were available?
No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!
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#4555616 - 02/11/21 03:00 AM
Re: NHL hockey has started
[Re: KraziKanuK]
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The Cryin' Sid crack is just banter. Amazing player and don't think I haven't watched him light up the Flyers for the past 15 years. He's the best player on our biggest rival and has been for a long time. Same with Domi too, well not the lighting the lamp part, but I need my hockey villains. Back to the banter Hexy as GM. His best work was in the draft. He especially hit at the top, with players like Konecny, Provorov, Nolan Patrick and Hart. In the free agent market and trades he had some missteps. JVR is making me eat my words now, but until this season I think we were overpaying him. If he keeps on this pace for a couple more seasons it will look good in the long run, but that's a big if. His trades were mostly about clearing cap space, which is valuable, but an impact move here or there would have been nice too.. He got a team-friendly deal with Couturier. Selke-quality centers are gold in this league. The Vorackek deal maybe not so good at this point, with a cap hit over 8m. I like Voracek, but he's underperformed his contract I'd say. Building through the draft is the way to go and he did a good job there. Probably why the Pens gave him the reigns. I know what goes on with the Flyers, but I wonder at the same time I'm praising Hexy's drafts, how they compare to any other GM through his tenure. Sorting out the best junior hockey talent is easier than say baseball, or even football. I reckon most GMs hit a good player with the first couple of picks in any draft. Hart was the 48th pick, to Hexy's credit. If he follows the same MO in Pittsburgh, I'd say the big names are on the move if they are looking up at a playoff position a month from now. He'll stockpile picks, clear cap space and start over.
No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!
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#4555750 - 02/12/21 01:44 AM
Re: NHL hockey has started
[Re: KraziKanuK]
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LB4LB
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Ah, hockey talk. Good to see some interest in the fine sport. I think the NHL , and the individual teams themselves, have done a great job of putting the product out there. It isn't the same as with the crowds, but I'll take it. I kind of like the new division set ups. The all Canadien one is great. Glad to see the Leafs and Habs fighting for top spot. I was getting tired of hearing about the #%&*$# Tkachuk boys all the time.
It looks like the Sens are actually competing for last place with my Dead Wings. I will say one thing about the Sens organization, at least they try to make changes when things aren't working out. The Wings are in their sixth season of the Jeff Blashill experience. It has been an abject failure from the start. I thought for sure Yzerman would get rid of him. All they talk about is how great he is at developing young players. That's what the minor leagues are for. At the prices they charge to see a game (or a subscription to watch at home), they need to put a NHL team on the ice. Then they go out and give a long term, multi million dollar contract to Anthony Mantha. He will be just another in the long lines of bad contract deals that will never produce any results. I treated myself to NHL Center Ice so I could watch actual NHL hockey. Oh well, I just had to rant about the Wings.
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#4555805 - 02/12/21 01:43 PM
Re: NHL hockey has started
[Re: KraziKanuK]
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Welcome back man Yeah, we have a Wings fan and a Sens fan here, and while it's not a good time right now for either, things will only get better. Being at the bottom sucks, but it gives a team the tools to rise again, provided the GM isn't a moron, and the drafts have generational talent available. Look at the Leafs right now. Best team in the league so far. They hit it big on Matthews and Marner and adding a few key pieces through free agency and really turned it around. I know Wango Tango doesn't rate the GM, but from outside looking in the moves they've made look to have paid off. I know the team is cap heavy at the top, and a long term injury to one of those guys, or covid isolation could derail them. Andersen's a UFA next year, but Matthews, Marner and Tavares are all locked up through at least 2025.
No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!
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#4555852 - 02/12/21 06:44 PM
Re: NHL hockey has started
[Re: KraziKanuK]
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I don't mind it generally, the artificial crowd noise. Like you said it seems to be of varying quality and suitability. I do like also hearing the players communicate, which is unique perspective and insight not possible with vocal crowds.
I watch a lot of English soccer, and there they have it too, with even songs being sung as if from the terraces. Meh, I like both ways. Nothing beats a real, pumped crowd. But until that returns I'm OK with the interim solutions, both artificial and none at all. At first it was strange, but I quickly adapted. Every change is odd at first, I mean look now at footage from the 70s and 80s with no advertising on the boards. Remember what we all thought when we saw our first ad. Now it's far more alien without them.
About the tech pucks.... Early in the season I suspected something wasn't right with them. It looked like they lacked some slippery, but I couldn't tell if was the ice or the puck. I just guessed it was the ice surface. But the NHL stopped using them three weeks ago. Are they back? Not sure if they are/were more bouncy, I'd put that down to the ice usually. I think the NHL dropped them temporarily because they weren't sliding properly? Same pucks used in last season's playoff, I thought. But maybe they changed something in the manufacturing process for this year. As far as I know these pucks are still out of play.
No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!
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#4555863 - 02/12/21 07:45 PM
Re: NHL hockey has started
[Re: DBond]
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WangoTango
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Welcome back man Yeah, we have a Wings fan and a Sens fan here, and while it's not a good time right now for either, things will only get better. Being at the bottom sucks, but it gives a team the tools to rise again, provided the GM isn't a moron, and the drafts have generational talent available. Look at the Leafs right now. Best team in the league so far. They hit it big on Matthews and Marner and adding a few key pieces through free agency and really turned it around. I know Wango Tango doesn't rate the GM, but from outside looking in the moves they've made look to have paid off. I know the team is cap heavy at the top, and a long term injury to one of those guys, or covid isolation could derail them. Andersen's a UFA next year, but Matthews, Marner and Tavares are all locked up through at least 2025. Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Rielly were all drafted before Dubas was GM. Freddie Anderson was a Lou trade. Dubas did manage to get Tavares to come to Toronto though, although I don't think he did that on his own, Shanahan and Babcock were involved, Matthews and Marner too. Simmonds, Spezza and Thornton look like good moves, but you are talking league minimum one year deals, Ontario boys wanting to come home, nothing ground shaking. His Kadri trade turned into Kerfoot, I'd rather have Kadri. It will be interesting to see how he handles the goaltending with Freddie contract up at the end of the year. Dubas has yet to make a big boy move on his own that has succeeded. Only signing Matthews for 5 years was a mistake IMO. There is a clause that he cannot be traded in the last year of the deal. Should have signed him for 8. He is American and will probably of had his fill of the Toronto media overkill by then. If I was GM, I would trade him before the last year begins, or preferably extend him. No way you let that contract expire. They may be 1st place right now, but I've watched every minute. They are still inconsistent period to period. Their high octane first 2 lines are why they win games.
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#4556330 - 02/16/21 02:21 PM
Re: NHL hockey has started
[Re: KraziKanuK]
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I didn't see the game but that must have been entertaining. Good win for the Sens.
No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!
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