2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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degenerasian
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

Post by degenerasian »

brian wrote:
sancarlos wrote:
brian wrote:1st (Tampa) & 3rd (Vegas) team in NHL in points per game play in Vegas Tuesday in a possible Stanley Cup preview. Just like everyone predicted.

Brian, your team looks great. But, it's only December!


I think an underrated awesome thing about following hockey is that the national coverage seems to be less hot-takey* than any other sports (*for lack of a better word) because even I would probably be getting sick by now of Stephen A. Smith, Colin Cowherd et al beating the country over the head with "they just play the game the right way!"

Obviously, there's an important point to be made about the importance of having all of the guys on the roster working together and buying in, but that's just such a small part of it. (And also accurately describes most of the teams in the league, even those hovering around .500).

Some of it also is luck of course as well. And McPhee fleecing a couple of teams like Florida to not only get a guy like Marchessault, but also Reilly Smith. (See also: fleecing of Minnesota to get Tuch and Haula). And a lack of injuries outside of the goalie position (though come back soon, Sbisa!)

It's kind of a perfect storm that's building and building and hell, maybe still continuing to build. At least a half-dozen to a dozen things all had to break just right for this team to be 21-11.



and a great coach. love they they killed the Panthers last night.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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You just know all the Knights players wanted to win that one for Gallant!
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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sancarlos wrote:You just know all the Knights players wanted to win that one for Gallant!

That had to be very satisfying for him. The team probably offered transportation home after the game, too.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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For whatever it's worth -- maybe not much -- but after seeing the Lightning on TV and now finally in person I'm convinced they're the best team in the NHL.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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So the November 30th the Caps Waive Nathan Walker (1st Aussie NHLer who scored in the home opener). Oilers pick him up. Gets 2 games and just over 20 minutes on the ice before being waived again.....to be claimed by the Caps (25th in the waiver priority). The first time the Caps were hoping to get him down to the Bears for more development. This time he is on the team at least through the end of the holiday roster freeze (December 28th). Guessing they can send him to Hershey now.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Speaking of the Caps, I'm happy to have been proven wrong about all my doom and gloom. I mean, they were hot garbage to start the season, but you look up and they are in sole possession of 1st in the Metro.

I realize they had a lot of turnover and it was always going to take some time to gel and sort out lines and such. I just didn't think that the talent assembled in the bottom 6 was going to provide enough support for what was always going to be a very solid top 2 lines. Holtby also had a very rough start to the season.

And they just Burakovsky back last night after an extended injury absence, he promptly scores the game opener and game winner. The fact that they were able to make up ground without that dude in the lineup is huge. He is supposed to take the role occupied by Johansson (traded to NJ), who quietly was a pretty significant part of last year's team.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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brian wrote:For whatever it's worth -- maybe not much -- but after seeing the Lightning on TV and now finally in person I'm convinced they're the best team in the NHL.


In the last 11 days, we've beaten both of last year's Cup participants and the League leader in points. Yes, Tampa's top two lines are clearly more talented than ours and they are faster as a team but I don't agree with the best team designation. That, at this point (and perhaps only this point), is your Vegas Golden Knights.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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I have the Zamboni song stuck in my head and I swear to Christ I’m going to kill someone.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Trotz will never be hot but he’s infinitely better looking with the beard + glasses.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Ovie gotten eaten up tonight.



(Clearly the sign of an elite player that it’s noticed, but he still did.)
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Most sportsbooks had the over/under on VGK wins for the season at 24.5. So if you're holding an "over" ticket, you still need 1 win in their final 47 games.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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I've got the over on their point total at 66.5. Think they can muster 17 points in their next 47 games?
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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govmentchedda wrote:I've got the over on their point total at 66.5. Think they can muster 17 points in their next 47 games?


I like their chances (I should also amend that the actual number was 26.5 for wins).
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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I know we’ve covered this before but this is still amazing. On day one of the regular season, after looking at their roster, no expert thought this was going to happen for Vegas. Yet, here we are.

On a much smaller scale, most experts thought the Sharks would also miss the playoffs. And, they might be Vegas’ first round dance partner.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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If you're looking for a single image/stat to explain how crazy this is, this one is a good start.

Image

Then remember they've only already played 36 games.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Just remember...you have GMGM....so expect years of hopes only to be crushed with early round exits in the spring.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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wlu_lax6 wrote:Just remember...you have GMGM....so expect years of hopes only to be crushed with early round exits in the spring.


Nah, man -- that's the curse of the R------s. Washington's teams will never win another title until the NFL team changes its nickname. Vegas will probably win the Stanley Cup this year just to twist the knife a little more for Caps fans.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Which Golden Knight(s) should be in the all-star game?
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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degenerasian wrote:Which Golden Knight(s) should be in the all-star game?


I'd say Karlsson for sure. Not sure how many guys they take per division with the 3 on 3 format, but you could also make a really strong case for Neal. So I'd say those two guys would definitely be fair.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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brian wrote:
degenerasian wrote:Which Golden Knight(s) should be in the all-star game?


I'd say Karlsson for sure. Not sure how many guys they take per division with the 3 on 3 format, but you could also make a really strong case for Neal. So I'd say those two guys would definitely be fair.


Marchessault for me. Points leader despite missing a couple games. Any one (or combination) would be fine by me. Truth is, if the All-Star game were about sending the player(s) most responsible for the team's standing, we would be sending Subban and Legace.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Vasilevskiy isn't getting nearly enough love nationally. He is a rock. Maybe the best goalie the Bolts have ever had.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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NBC has added 3 Sunday games to its schedule in February!

All games will be at noon Eastern.

Feb. 11 – Pittsburgh Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues
Feb. 18 – Philadelphia Flyers vs. N.Y. Rangers
Feb. 25 – St. Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators

Nice to see Nashville there. They should try to add a Vegas game.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Jay Beagle was on local sports this morning. Had good things to say about Vegas, but also mentioned he wants see them again. He was doing the whole "we don't make excuses, but..." They were on the third game of a road trip, and coming off an OT loss to the Yotes the night before.

And he copped to the fact that they just beat the Devils in the same scenario (flipped.)

But 3-0 is 3-0. I think people, including players, are having a very tough time wrapping their head around the idea of an expansion team being this good.

All I can really go by, in terms of not being shocked, is that they grabbed probably the perfect guy for this scenario in Schmidt. Not a huge salary cap #, plays balls out every night (pretty much), under the radar nationally, but loved by the fans (and hockey insiders) because he plays above expectations, great team guy. If GMGM replicated that type of formula throughout the roster...
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Well, most GMs didn't leave players like that available ; )
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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I think the one thing you can really appreciate if you watch them every night is that there are basically no times when they're not forechecking, attacking offensively, blocking shots, battling for loose pucks, etc. and that's been difficult for some teams. It's not the best analogy but it's like those old Arkansas basketball teams of the 90s with 40 Minutes Of Hell. They don't brand it that way, but basically the idea is 60 Minutes Of Hell. Not with physicality necessarily, but just in terms of overall team philosophy.

I think realistically they're not as good as their record, but they're a LOT better than most people seem to believe even still. This is probably about the 8th to 10th or so best team in the NHL and that's not something some people want to hear. It's a testament to the job McPhee, Gallant and the scouts, etc. did in putting the team together. They've over-performed in overtime and/or 1-goal games, but that's about the only place where the results in the standings don't match up with the stats or advanced stats. (Knock their results in 1-goal games and overtime games back to league average, and they're still probably about 8th to 10th in points per game)*.

I find it kind of interesting that there's been some backlash in some corners of the media as far as the expansion draft rules being stacked in Vegas' favor, but at the time the draft was done and the Knights had dealt Methot and some of the other guys they drafted expressly to flip, NO ONE was suggesting that this team was going to be anything other than horrible. The best case scenarios from people who know hockey had them scuffling for one of the wild card spots in the standings.

If you honestly asked any NHL GM if they would consent to getting a do-over and getting to build their team the same way Vegas had to (forget that it's obviously impossible), you could count on one hand the number of teams that would go for it. Maybe none. Remember, they'd have to get rid of all of their already drafted players still in the juniors, the AHL, etc.

* - This is where I also point out if they had a healthy Fleury and Subban for the entire season they arguably have two or three more wins than they already do.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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I've seen Vegas play on tv many times and they truly are hard-working and really fun. There is something to be said for a team full of guys who were unprotected and have a point to prove. I compare them to my Flames who are hopeless. Flames are an average team that with a bit of hard work and coaching could be top 3 in the division. But they have hardly played 30 minutes in a game, let alone 60 and that's on the coach who should be fired very soon. He just can't get the team going. They would be in last place if it weren't for 3 on 3.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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(And for what it's worth amongst the people who didn't think the team was going to be very good was myself. I'm still as surprised as anyone. But taking a step back now I can see they actually did have a plan for the product on the ice this year beyond building the team for 2020 and beyond.)
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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I mean ... yeah, but ... if you restarted this season 100 times, where would this one rank? Like 97th best case scenario?
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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mister d wrote:I mean ... yeah, but ... if you restarted this season 100 times, where would this one rank? Like 97th best case scenario?


Obviously can’t answer until season is over. Also middle of the pack at worst. Getting the town into it from the jump has been very underrated and may pay dividends on the ice down the road.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Absolutely. I think that's a fair argument against selling off pieces at the deadline even though you kinda sorta know that's the right thing to do.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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mister d wrote:Absolutely. I think that's a fair argument against selling off pieces at the deadline even though you kinda sorta know that's the right thing to do.

Assuming Vegas makes the playoffs, I think it’s much more likely they’ll be buyers than sellers at the deadline.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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This is no joke but I think you can’t underrate how attractive a contract extension/FA situation this is going to be if the franchise does it right. You can literally make $500K less a season and still be ahead compared to playing in San Jose, Anaheim or LA. And that’s not even before factoring in you can buy twice the house for half the price here.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Longest winning streak in franchise history:

Vegas Golden Knights - 8 (38 games)
Dallas Stars/Minnesota North Stars - 7 (50 seasons)
Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets - 6 (18 seasons)
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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brian wrote:This is no joke but I think you can’t underrate how attractive a contract extension/FA situation this is going to be if the franchise does it right. You can literally make $500K less a season and still be ahead compared to playing in San Jose, Anaheim or LA. And that’s not even before factoring in you can buy twice the house for half the price here.

A not insignificant reason Stamkos decided to stay, IMO. $8.5m here is damn near $11m, or more in Toronto.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Ovi's OT winner last night put him ahead of Gretzky for goals scored for a single franchise.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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I'd be curious what percentage of athletes really make their decisions on state income tax rates versus proximity to home or general location or franchise.
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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wlu_lax6 wrote:Ovi's OT winner last night put him ahead of Gretzky for goals scored for a single franchise.

How do they compare on assists and total points?
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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Or "games played for a single franchise".
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Re: 2017-2018 NHL Regular Season

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I basically called this over the weekend*, but didn't think it would happen this soon. Smart deal for VGK hopefully. Marchessault is still pretty young and they shouldn't regret the deal TOO much by the mid-20s.

https://twitter.com/TSNHockey/status/948646827460562948

* - My point was that of the "Big Three" UFAs Vegas has (Neal, Perron, Marchessault) they would have to sign at least one of them to a long-term deal and to do it before the trade deadline. Basically make a splash and send a message to the team and to the fanbase. I think they have to let either Neal or Perron walk, but think they might be open to signing one of them if they can get a bit of a deal on the contract.
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