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Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:33 pm
by govmentchedda
bapo! wrote: Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:27 pm
govmentchedda wrote: Tue Mar 30, 2021 5:44 pm Holy shit, that's great.
Malkin is such a fun player. He can be frustrating at times, but Pittsburgh is so lucky to have him.

Okay, got my absinthe poured, a stream of Oilers/Habs on the laptop. (The game is a disaster for the Oilers so far.) Hug a puck tonight, Swamp.
Hug a puck, indeed. On top of the world right now after Vax shot #1. LFG!

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:54 pm
by sancarlos
I also have a little bottle of absinthe! Adds a little je ne sais quoi to certain cocktails.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:06 pm
by bapo!
sancarlos wrote: Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:54 pm I also have a little bottle of absinthe! Adds a little je ne sais quoi to certain cocktails.
I hadn't been to a liquor store in probably 10 or 12 years. But I didn't feel like buying another case of IPAs, so I just jumped straight in and bought absinthe. It's intense. Like melting a pack of spearmint gum in a sauce pan, and then trying to drink it.

I don't think I'm going to stick with this Oilers game much longer. Down 3-0. McDavid just cheap-shotted a guy and took a very uncharacteristic bad penalty. There will be no puck-hugging in the bapo residence tonight.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:09 pm
by govmentchedda
Sweet boy Hedman just got helped off the ice! Panic mode, engaged!

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:10 pm
by govmentchedda
There goes the season.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:18 pm
by govmentchedda
Back on the ice! Must've gotten a Miyagi massage.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:24 pm
by bapo!
That was quite a rollercoaster of posts, chedda. You need to calm down. Drink some absinthe.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:44 pm
by govmentchedda
It's been a day.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 7:03 pm
by brian
Don’t look now but Buffalo is up 2-0.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 8:00 pm
by L-Jam3
The Flyers should be fired. I don’t just mean Vigneault or the GM or the captain. I mean the whole fucking team.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 9:10 pm
by mister d
Not a good sign that Hart is falling on the wrong side of the “is this HoF goalie good enough to carry AV” line.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:07 pm
by mister d
brian wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 3:48 pm VGK appears to have fleeced the Devils in that Gusev trade, which delights and surprises me. VGK get the Devils 2nd rounder this year and it looks to be a high one, so they should have two picks in the top 40.
Timing ...


Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:49 pm
by bapo!
‡ McDavid was fined $5K for his elbow on Koktaniemi earlier this week. I would have been happier with a 1- or 2-game suspension. Dirty play.

‡ Now that the college season is wrapping up, some of the top players are signing with their NHL/AHL teams. Cole Caufield, Matt Boldy, Alex Newhook, Spencer Knight, Cam York, etc. Curious to see how Caufield plays in the pros. I thought that Dylan Holloway might be able to jump right into Edmonton's line-up, but he has a broken thumb.

‡ I checked in on the WHL yesterday to see what's going on. Connor Bedard is leading the league in scoring. Bedard is the latest Canadian kid to be granted exceptional status, so he's playing in the WHL at age 15. He has 19 points in his first 10 games. Yeah, it's a small sample size, but this is insanity. It's time to start tanking for 2023.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:12 pm
by brian
I wouldn't write off Gusev yet either. It's not always a smooth transition for guys who have played in the KHL for as long as he has. If I were a team like Detroit or Buffalo, I'd absolutely claim him and take a chance. I'm surprised the Devils even went as far to expose him to waivers. I'm not sure he's been THAT bad though I'm guessing it more about freeing cap space.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:20 pm
by BSF21
bapo! wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:49 pm ‡ McDavid was fined $5K for his elbow on Koktaniemi earlier this week. I would have been happier with a 1- or 2-game suspension. Dirty play.
I saw a breakdown that alleged that McDavid made 81$ for that elbow.

If they aren't going to suspend people for this shit, they should be fire proportionally to their pay. Maybe that's a deterrent. I don't care who the fuck it is, what McDavid did is inexcusable.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:41 pm
by govmentchedda
brian wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:12 pm I wouldn't write off Gusev yet either. It's not always a smooth transition for guys who have played in the KHL for as long as he has. If I were a team like Detroit or Buffalo, I'd absolutely claim him and take a chance. I'm surprised the Devils even went as far to expose him to waivers. I'm not sure he's been THAT bad though I'm guessing it more about freeing cap space.
Stevie Y drafted him.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:50 pm
by brian
I didn't realize his contract was up at the end of this year. I had thought he had signed a longer term deal. So no reason for Buffalo or Detroit to claim him really. Still, it's a bit of a perplexing move though I guess it doesn't really matter much since NJ's season is in the tank and they apparently have no interest in re-signing him (and the trade market would appear to be limited). Still might be an opportunity there for a team with a little cap space at the outside of a playoff run (like say, LA or Chicago) that might be able to benefit if Gusev just needs a change of scenery. Almost no downside if you have the cap space.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 5:36 pm
by bapo!
BSF21 wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:20 pm
bapo! wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:49 pm ‡ McDavid was fined $5K for his elbow on Koktaniemi earlier this week. I would have been happier with a 1- or 2-game suspension. Dirty play.
I saw a breakdown that alleged that McDavid made 81$ for that elbow.

If they aren't going to suspend people for this shit, they should be fire proportionally to their pay. Maybe that's a deterrent. I don't care who the fuck it is, what McDavid did is inexcusable.
McDavid skated out of his way to make that hit. I don't want to make it sound like the worst play ever, but it was dumb and unnecessary. A small fine is pointless.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 11:50 pm
by degenerasian
Sabres...



Skinner should have kicked it on net. Get a rebound.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:52 am
by MaxWebster
i mean...who cares, but was that not a clear slash against Skinner?

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:57 am
by mister d
I think Hajek gets officiated on a curve.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2021 4:43 pm
by wlu_lax6
Caps sweep NJ for the season. 8 wins against the Devils.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 10:08 am
by DSafetyGuy
Wings won a regular season game in Tampa yesterday for the first time in 10+ years (they had won there twice in the first round of the 2015 postseason, but lost that series, including Game 7 on the road). Glad they ended that streak.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 11:24 am
by wlu_lax6
So for those of us who are not so knowledgeable about hockey tactics...I could use some education. Caps are playing man-to-man defense. This is a change from the previous coach and looks very different from most games I watch. Is man-to-man common and I just never noticed it or are the Caps doing something very different? I feel like man-to-man was something that Gretzky abused in his Oilers days (it is very noticeable in the old highlights as Gretzky is just pumping in goals).


Does it really matter? Guessing most goals come from transition as they enter the zone and power plays and what this really is about is board battles for puck control.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 11:30 am
by mister d
When I think man-to-man, I think Alain Vigneault and then I think about four defenders below the blue line or along the same boards or something. It just seems too hard to be worthwhile because the lost players and mistakes always seem to lead to wide open chances.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:33 pm
by sancarlos
I wonder if they've considered just shutting down the Canucks for the rest of the season.


Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 7:08 pm
by mister d
I really like the devils getting a 1st rather than the standard 2nd + 4th + B prospect that package might usually returns.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:30 pm
by degenerasian
So basically a 1st round pick, conditional 4th and two AHL contracts. Definitely a buyers market this year. Pageau went for a 1st and a 2nd last year and a conditional 3rd.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:26 pm
by rass
With Palmieri gone everyone left on the Devils looks like they’re younger than my kids.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:47 am
by brian
MAF tied Ed Belfour in career wins (4th all-time) and Patrick Roy in shutouts (15th all-time) yesterday.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:49 am
by Ryan
Imagine driving from Ottawa or Buffalo to get to Boston and it's the greatest day of your life

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 2:47 pm
by DSafetyGuy
Did not expect Mantha to get traded.


Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 2:56 pm
by Nonlinear FC
Huh. Welp.

Think the Caps might be eating it a little on that one giving up those picks.

That said, that's a pretty massive upgrade in the top six rotation. Vrana wasn't likely to get signed (he's a UFA), so I don't mind that one. And Panik is a nothingburger, who is pretty much replaced by picking up Raffl today.

I also like that it isn't a rental, with Mantha still sitting on contract for another 2-3 years.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 4:11 pm
by Nonlinear FC
Nonlinear FC wrote: Mon Apr 12, 2021 2:56 pm Huh. Welp.

Think the Caps might be eating it a little on that one giving up those picks.

That said, that's a pretty massive upgrade in the top six rotation. Vrana wasn't likely to get signed (he's a UFA), so I don't mind that one. And Panik is a nothingburger, who is pretty much replaced by picking up Raffl today.

I also like that it isn't a rental, with Mantha still sitting on contract for another 2-3 years.
ETA - Correction on Vrana, he's an RFA after this season.

There's been some ongoing drama between him and Laviolette. He got scratched for 2 games a week ago, and after scoring an OT winner the other night, he stared down the bench, presumably the coaches. He's dipped down in minutes, sometimes only getting about 10 a night. Something was off, which is a shame, because he's incredibly talented and much liked by fans for his help winning the Cup.

That said, the more I read, the more I like this trade. They are freeing up a good chunk of cap space with Panik, who had turned into a taxi squad guy that was put on waivers not that long ago. Caps need to start worrying about re-signing Ovi, and this is a step in that direction. Also, draft picks are wonky, and the Caps are still pretty loaded in the minors (reportedly). The rebuild years are likely going to start in 2024/25, so... Try and get what you can now, and Mantha is a pretty massive addition.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 4:24 pm
by sancarlos
Regardless of how one shades it, I think that's a surprisingly high price paid for Mantha. Might have been par for the course in a different season, but not compared to other trades this season.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:03 pm
by DSafetyGuy
That tweet was about two minutes old when I saw it and the responses at that point were overwhelmingly in favor of the price extracted from the Caps, but that was to be expected from the team account (#Yzerplan is still terrible, although the actual plan gives plenty of reason for optimism). Wings had cap space to give up in exchange for draft picks and the team has seemed to have done really well with their picks since the regime change, so getting high picks is a plus, even though the Caps' pick will be near the end of the round.

I have no clue if they want to extend Vrana or not, but Yzerman would have familiarity with Panik from their mutual time with the Lightning and his remaining contract is pretty modest (two years, $5.6 million, $2.75 million cap hit per year).

I cannot help but feel this nudges back the timetable on when they contend for a playoff spot by another season, though. That part is disappointing, but not anything to really get upset about, especially with the sheer number of picks they have in the next couple years - two in each of the first five rounds next season, save for three second-rounders, and an extra second and two extra fourths in 2022. Just seems like 2023-24 is when things should get interesting unless they start using cap space the season before that (their sheet for 2022-23 is clean except for Larkin and now Panik).

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 7:19 pm
by mister d
Panik! At the ... Motown club ... in Detroit. Where Motown is famously from.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:35 am
by DSafetyGuy
mister d wrote: Mon Apr 12, 2021 7:19 pm Panik! At the ... Motown club ... in Detroit. Where Motown is famously from.
Might be Panik at St. Andrew's or the State Theater, in that case. The latter was where the boxing event in "Out of Sight" took place.

Anyway, Panik gives the Wings another option for a player to be exposed in the expansion draft, allowing them to not risk Namestnikov.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 11:31 am
by govmentchedda
DSafetyGuy wrote: Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:35 am
mister d wrote: Mon Apr 12, 2021 7:19 pm Panik! At the ... Motown club ... in Detroit. Where Motown is famously from.
Might be Panik at St. Andrew's or the State Theater, in that case. The latter was where the boxing event in "Out of Sight" took place.

Anyway, Panik gives the Wings another option for a player to be exposed in the expansion draft, allowing them to not risk Namestnikov.
I remember overvaluing Namestnikov.

Re: 2020-2021 NHL Regular Season Thread

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 11:33 am
by Ryan
mister d wrote: Mon Apr 12, 2021 7:19 pm Panik! At the ... Motown club ... in Detroit. Where Motown is famously from.
Bookmarking this post for future Thatcher Demko trades.