2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Post by **brian** » Fri Feb 26, 2021 11:54 am

Wilson's history doesn't help him get the benefit of the doubt here.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:07 pm

Maybe a major, maybe a game?

I don't like it but per the rulebook I don't know what you do. It was away from the play but there's no "that looks bad" rule as far as I know.

Can't stand this crap but you gotta change the rules. No main point of contact as the head. No leaving the feet. It was an interference behind the play. If Jankowski misses the mid air whack it's a good hit because that puck is in his feet, but Wilson did have ample time to pull up from the hit.

It's borderline for sure. And I'm no Wilson apologist.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:42 pm

So it was a 2 minute minor called during the game and Wilson's rep does not give him room, but he has been much more skill than goon in the last 18 months.

You have to be careful what you wish for on the hits. Players are way bigger and faster these days. Lacrosse went WAY too far. Watch a game. Any big hit is a foul even if it is legal. Hockey with no contact is terrible to watch. But I honestly can't tell what is a legal hit in hockey. You can crush a guy against the boards behind a play to "finish a check" but in the middle of the ice that is a foul.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:55 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:42 pm So it was a 2 minute minor called during the game and Wilson's rep does not give him room, but he has been much more skill than goon in the last 18 months.

You have to be careful what you wish for on the hits. Players are way bigger and faster these days. Lacrosse went WAY too far. Watch a game. Any big hit is a foul even if it is legal. Hockey with no contact is terrible to watch.

Absolutely disagree. The women's pro game is very enjoyable, women's college hockey even more so. Far cleaner, smoother, and reliant on skill plays.

I'm not saying that's what I want for the NHL, but it's not terrible to watch.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Fri Feb 26, 2021 3:15 pm

i don't even know whether to laugh or cry or just stare.

oh and after a terrific 1st period last night, Ullmark came out of the game with an injury - of course - for Lauren Hutton who predictably gave up 4 goals.

Anyone who can play some net pls come to Buffalo, I'll let you stay with me.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Thu Feb 25, 2021 7:19 pm

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Fri Feb 26, 2021 3:16 pm

hahaha i'm not going to edit it but i didn't even mean "Lauren Hutton" in a cruel or sexist way, that just came out naturally. good lord. Carter.

although i'll bet Lauren wouldn't do much worse.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Feb 27, 2021 9:42 pm

Constantly giving the Isles the loser point probably isn’t ideal but beating them like this is fun

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 10:26 am

Red Wings break an 0-for-40 streak on the power play last night, somehow score five goals overall.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:43 pm

Max wrote: Lauren Hutton

Weird outdated reference, Max.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:51 pm

the Sabres + the pandemic = totally fucked up brain.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:54 pm

I remember Lauren Hutton on the cover of one of my mum’s magazines. Yum. (Her magazine may have gone “missing” for awhile...)

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:55 pm

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:51 pm the Sabres + the pandemic = totally fucked up brain.

I blame Obama. Anyway, I just wanted an excuse to side-quote you.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 5:38 pm

having your team be the "worst team ever" ("...Napoleon...there's no way of knowing that...") is one thing. And theoretically temporary.

But coming to the realization that your team might be the worst franchise ever ... that's something else.

That sounds like hyperbole, but is it?

What the fuckinghell - I can't even possibly try analyzing any more.

- objectively there is a good amount of top-end talent on the roster. A forward group that contains Hall, Eichel, Reinhart, Skinner, Staal, Olauffson, Cozens... even with other shitheads filling out the top 12 that automatically should put them at least in the top half of the league. Easily. Yet...
- worst 5-on-5 scoring (thus far) in recent or recorded history
- 10 years of no playoffs
- a new GM who had zero front office experience before being hired this summer
- the recent Jeff Skinner situation (sum: scores 40 goals 2 yrs ago, Sabres totally overpay him but he's on board for 7 years. New coach comes in last year and buries him on the 2nd/3rd/4th lines and this year never plays him above 4th line and doesn't dress him for 3 straight games. On a team that can't score except on the PP)
- an owner who cannot speak in complete sentences (low blow but fuck him)
- an owner who puts his wife in charge as the Sabres' president. Who has no experience running such an organization.
- no front office or ownership accountability...with another season that somehow manages to BE ACTUALLY WORSE THAN THE PREVIOUS 9 due to the makeup and expectations etc etc ... not even the surface level bullshit of a fiery press conference, or a public letter, or any acknowledgement that this franchise used to be viewed as a near model. Once was 3rd in alltime points percentage.

At one point I'd have said they're lucky to have this franchise in an area that is quasi-Canadian and is hockey mad. Now it doesn't even matter. They're actually lucky that there are no fans in the stands because *nobody would come*.

I used to be a Bills fan when younger but I - petulantly, fully 100% admit - have come to hate the Bills. Because Foghorn Leghorn Pegula owns both teams and since buying the Bills has slowly seemingly released all care about the Sabres, a team that he *shed tears over* in his inaugural press conference being introduced to the public 10 years ago. I fell for that bullshit.

Since he took over - he's 0/10 in making the playoffs. In the NHL. It's not the 17/21 days but jesus fng christ the Leafs and Flyers and Avs and who else have had dreadful/last place/in the shits season within the last 5 or 6 years and they're all elite teams now.

One common denominator over the past 10 years. ONE.

(omg this makes little sense but I'm in disbelief and if I've jumped ship (i haven't) then there are 100,000 ppl in this area who have done the same. I honestly can't see how this franchise recovers right now.)

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 6:28 pm

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 5:38 pm a long cry for help

It's been all downhill since Monica Seles' husband sold the team. They should bring her back as a goodwill ambassador.

Shutout again today, eh? Well, at least Skinner finally played on the first line after going down three goals. This Skinner situation is such a mess. If he wants to stay in Buffalo, there's no reason to waive his no-movement clause. Krueger will be gone soon, and then maybe the next coach will have the sense to let Skinner play.

And Eichel directly contradicted what Krueger said about his injury.

One common denominator over the past 10 years. ONE.

Rick Jeanneret?

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 7:44 pm

and Kyle Okposo got moved up to the 2nd line while Dylan Cozens - who has been outstanding - is scratched.

i......

someone sent me this:

Jeff Skinner's five most common linemates (5v5) under...

Ralph Krueger: Marcus Johansson, Conor Sheary, Curtis Lazar, Evan Rodrigues, Vladimir Sobotka

Phil Housley: Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Jason Pominville, Evan Rodrigues, Kyle Okposo

40 goals for Housley. 14 for Krueger.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 7:57 pm

Yeah, why you’d want to make a plow horse out of a thoroughbred is beyond me.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:02 pm

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 7:44 pm Dylan Cozens - who has been outstanding - is scratched.

I've been meaning to ask about Cozens. Good to hear that he's playing well. But that doesn't mean much when he's not in the line-up.

This quote was attributed to Dahlin: 'This sucks. It's the worst.'

Go read some articles about the Blue Jays. That might make you feel better.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:28 pm

I think Kruger just might not be a good coach.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:33 pm

see also Housley see also Bylsma see also Ted Nolan see also Ron Rolston...

i agree about Ralph as he's doing something really shitty to a talented group of kids who have zero emotion or confidence left (Dahlin is broken, too. RASMUS DAHLIN who was only compared to fng Nik Lidstrom and (the old pre-injury) Erik Karlsson). But it's absolutely deeper than coaching. This franchise used to be the pride of the entire area - when something was off they'd address it; they cared about fans/the community. Everything is window dressing and the window dressing even sucks.

wow i have totally lost it. :P

Go Jets.

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:28 pm I think Kruger just might not be a good coach.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:46 pm

It definitely feels like the rot starts with the Pegulas, but I don't see them leaving any time soon.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 9:11 pm

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:46 pm It definitely feels like the rot starts with the Pegulas, but I don't see them leaving any time soon.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 9:17 pm

BSF21 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:55 pm
wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:42 pm So it was a 2 minute minor called during the game and Wilson's rep does not give him room, but he has been much more skill than goon in the last 18 months.

You have to be careful what you wish for on the hits. Players are way bigger and faster these days. Lacrosse went WAY too far. Watch a game. Any big hit is a foul even if it is legal. Hockey with no contact is terrible to watch.
Absolutely disagree. The women's pro game is very enjoyable, women's college hockey even more so. Far cleaner, smoother, and reliant on skill plays.

I'm not saying that's what I want for the NHL, but it's not terrible to watch.

I'm not going to take a big issue with lacrosse, because I think they HAVE gone a little too far on calling hits.

But with hockey, when it is called at all other levels (int'l, college, etc) it doesn't fuck up the sport to take out hits that come a solid 2 beats after a pass is gone. It's just not necessary. These guy get hurt WITHOUT late hits all the time. It's probably the most dangerous sport out there, because, yes, football is all about hitting, but with hockey it's that same aggression, they have weapons in their hands, the object they play with is a cement-disk (Charra fucked a dude up today unintentionally with a puck flip to the face), and they are on skates that could could open your jugular (has happened - Clint Malarchuck anyone?) Oh, and btw, your "out of bounds" are boards that can kill/paralyze you.

They need to take that type of play out of the game. Period.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 3:19 pm

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Feb 25, 2021 7:24 pm Future Ranger Jack Eichel.

Prescient?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 3:45 pm

I'm weirdly worried about a potential Eichel trade just because I don't see one happening without immediately opening up a different top 6 / top 4 hole, but with $9MM less to fix it. My deal-breaker players are admittedly guys NYR should have to give up in a trade, but at shallow positions where I'd rather either hold out and see if Buffalo breaks or if Arizona needs to get out of Keller for just picks and cap relief. He's obviously the far lesser player, but I'd be fine seeing if Keller + Chytil + Miller/Lundqvist is better for a roster than Eichel.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 11:50 pm

It takes quite a level to suck at to get not just beat, but beat decisively by the Sens twice.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:52 am

Sorry, Degen. (Turn sound on.)

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:57 am

The Oilers and Sabres have each been shutout in their last two games. Let's hope the similarities end there.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:55 pm

Caps and Bruins are beating the snot out of each other. Super physical and rough. Apparently according to the commentators lots of chirping on the benches.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:08 pm

Flames play like that during the game too.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Mar 03, 2021 9:36 pm

Sure, but Washington and Boston also remember to "prevent goals".

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 9:06 am

Match penalty! Don't see those often. How many games.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 9:42 am

I think I've made it clear where I stand on predatory hits (and I absolutely love MacKinnon), but that one isn't nearly as flagrant to me despite the results. I'd love for those types to be out of the game because it shows that hockey plays can still have devastating effects, but struck me as a hockey play. He separated the man from the puck. He didn't "finish his check" or seek out a guy who had his head down and I'm betting if MacKinnon hits Blichfeld like that its a minor at most.

(Now to go to twitter and either see a different angle that renders me totally wrong or find out I'm in the minority here.)

duff · Post by **duff** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 9:59 am

That hit didn't seem to be as bad as the other one posted earlier where the guy got a minor interference. It seemed to be part of play then the other one. I am confused by all of this.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:00 am

NHL focuses on stars and/or results over intent. It would be so easy to get this stuff right using immediate off-ice review (and by changing some rules) but they have no interest in actually protecting the players.

duff · Post by **duff** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:04 am

And since I don't watch, I have no idea who any of the stars are except for the biggest of big names. I guess I should have realized MacKinnon was someone after being an answer for Calder winners in the quiz show.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:05 am

2nd or 3rd best player in the entire league.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:41 am

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:05 am 2nd or 3rd best player in the entire league.

I might put him at #1, actually. I have a hard time putting McDavid in that spot because he's not always the most reliable player defensively. (But I'm not really sure how good MacKinnon is defensively. And MacKinnon is surrounded by much better teammates. Whatever. I enjoy watching both of them whenever they're on tv.)

I would still put Crosby at/near the top, too. He looks more like Bergeron than McDavid or MacKinnon these days, but that's not a bad place to be. He's still a wonderful player who does so many good things. He just doesn't get the attention that he used to.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:48 am

That's barely a minor, IMO. Certainly doesn't appear to be predatory and it sure wasn't late.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:53 am

Meant to mention yesterday: I read that Dylan Cozens got into a fight during Tuesday's Sabres game. I wasn't happy to hear this. Then I read the online comments, and it was universally celebrated. 'At least that guy cares,' etc. Yeah, fighting isn't leaving the sport any time soon.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:55 am

bapo! wrote: ↑Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:53 am Meant to mention yesterday: I read that Dylan Cozens got into a fight during Tuesday's Sabres game. I wasn't happy to hear this. Then I read the online comments, and it was universally celebrated. 'At least that guy cares,' etc. Yeah, fighting isn't leaving the sport any time soon.

The online comments think vaccines have babies in them. The loud ones often don't represent the majority.