2016/2017 NHL Regular Season Thread

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 2:36 pm

degenerasian wrote:Isnt Girardi the worst player to ever play hockey?

He might be the worst cost:benefit player in the league, but I don't really have an issue with him playing as our 3RD. And he does seem to be adapting a bit to the new game, atleast in terms of transition versus perpetual flip-clearing.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 2:41 pm

mister d wrote:
degenerasian wrote:Isnt Girardi the worst player to ever play hockey?
He might be the worst cost:benefit player in the league, but I don't really have an issue with him playing as our 3RD. And he does seem to be adapting a bit to the new game, atleast in terms of transition versus perpetual flip-clearing.

Yup. I thought the treatment of him last year was overblown.

Rangers look great. 4 solid lines..3 solid pairings and King Henrick who usually starts slow but looks sharp early.

You will see tomorrow. Flames cant put 2 passes together. 30th in special teams.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 2:48 pm

degenerasian wrote:Yup. I thought the treatment of him last year was overblown.

Rangers fans universally love Girardi the person, its just the usage and contract that's impossible to stomach. When the immediate rumor was that he was in the Yandle trade, despite me wanting nothing more than his contract gone, I still had a second of "dammit", like if we win, he should be part of it.

degenerasian wrote:Rangers look great. 4 solid lines

Some coach or scout or something said we have three 2nd lines and a 3rd, which seemed both accurate and awesome. And the reason I don't want to trade a roster forward like Miller to help the D, because I think a lot of it isn't as much the talent itself but the lack of non-talent dragging a line down or pushing a bottom six into the top six.

degenerasian wrote:..3 solid pairings

Nah. Unlike the forwards, we have a fringe #1 and then some 4s and 6s. If teams can figure out a way to press quicker to stop transition, we could be in a lot of trouble.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 2:53 pm

I think a defense of McDonough Klein and Staal is solid.

Forwards are scoring for fun. Nash is playing well and Grabner was an awesome pickup.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 3:04 pm

The problem is you're elevating at every pair. There's no 2 which means a 2nd pair is 1st and a 3rd pair is 2nd and you're playing two guys (Holden + Girardi) who are individually fine as your 6th but can't be in the same group if you want the group to be good.

Skjei has been very good. I like him a lot.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 3:36 pm

Bryan Bickell diagnosed with MS. This week has been utterly amazing.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 9:29 pm

WTF is going on with the BJs?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 9:31 pm

i just hope the Flames don't give up 10

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 9:36 pm

Then good thing they're playing Torts' old team, not his current team.

Besides, did you know Lundqvist is almost 35?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 10:30 pm

Hey, you know who's gonna die and leave behind all of his loved ones a full decade earlier than Henrik? Like when you consider right this minute until then, its devastating. Like 25% more life and love to be experienced on his side.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 11:19 pm

Garbage

mister d is my witness

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 11:50 am

We're really fast and good up front.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 12:35 pm

you were, as is everyone else in the league

Rant:
Flames are the first in the league to 10 losses. They're currently in 29th place but likely in 30th after the coyotes catch up in GP. They're coming up on the quarter mark and they'd have to go better than 15 games above .500 to make the playoffs. It's over early and it's embarrassing.

What's even more embarrassing is the way they're losing. Not even a sniff, just terrible boring hockey, down early and they collectively give up. Listless, getting beaten to pucks, can't make a pass, terrible giveaways all over the ice, horrible body language from both players and coaches. Special teams worst in the league by far and it's not like they're getting PP chances - just disorganized, can't enter the zone, can't regroup, when they do setup they pass around the perimeter until they give it away. THEY HAVEN'T SCORED A POWER PLAY GOAL AT HOME! 0 for 28.

This coaching staff is brutal. They talk about how awesome the other team is after a loss like they're star struck, how their own team isn't prepared, and how their own team is fragile. News flash buddy, both of the latter are your job. Wow are they ever clueless. And that's not even discussing the hockey decisions. Wideman either sits in the press box or is on the first pairing, who does that? Alex Chiasson on the first line?

The team's star player doesn't know what the team's identity is supposed to be, the team's #1 C is a total ghost, and the team's captain is one of the worst players on the ice every single night. Giordano is this years Girardi. Nobody is standing up for each other, there is no fire in their game and when they show some passion they get benched and take a penalty they get benched.

This is a key pivotal year in the rebuild when they added a few veteran pieces to complement the young core. They improved their goaltending and they should be competing for a playoff spot.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 12:15 pm

New arena for Arizona. I don't know Phoenix at all, is this a better location?

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 12:18 pm

I don't know Phoenix either, but I've heard many times that one of their big problems is that the current Glendale location is a pain in the ass for many in greater Phoenix. Believed to have a significantly negative effect on attendance.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 6:37 pm

§ Degen, I appreciate your rant upthread. Yeah, it's tough when you feel that your team is out of it this early in the season, but they're only 5 points out of 8th place with many months to go. Gulutzan is still a new coach; give him time.

§ I groaned when I read the Coyotes news because I'm just so fatigued by Coyotes news. But the online reaction is overwhelmingly positive. The proposed site is in a much, much better location. And I guess it's going to be a joint project between the Coyotes and Arizona State University. (TIL ASU has a hockey program.) But, this being the 'yotes, something is sure to go wrong.

Post by **brian** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 6:42 pm

sancarlos wrote:I don't know Phoenix either, but I've heard many times that one of their big problems is that the current Glendale location is a pain in the ass for many in greater Phoenix. Believed to have a significantly negative effect on attendance.

I can assure you this is in a MUCH better location and if it comes together wouldn't be surprised to see Phoenix attendance sold out every night. Glendale is OK for the Cardinals since there's only 8 home games a year, but it really drives down attendance to have an arena in a location only readily accessible to about 15-20 percent of the entire metro area. If you live in Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, etc. it's a damn 60-75 minute drive each way to watch a Coyotes game.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Nov 15, 2016 12:31 am

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Nov 15, 2016 7:00 pm

Gordie Howe. And, now I can't quit watching this.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Nov 16, 2016 2:37 pm

Flames with 1-0 thriller last night.

But Gaudreau is out 4 to 6 weeks broken finger. Not surprising. I'll sound like a homer but he's been slashed in the hands all year.

edit:

http://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/2 ... nother-one

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Nov 16, 2016 9:20 pm

Just listening on the radio but it doesn't sound like this has been Geno's best game...

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 9:42 am

It's looking like another few months of Stamkos rehabbing. Stralman and Drouin out too. It's 2015-2016 all over again!

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 9:47 am

#toomanyblondes

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 9:49 am

I get that this is staged but like the trolling between the Caps and Penguins (some good twitter stuff over the last few days).
http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks.co ... ore-117279

Also I think the 87 Jersey guy was not part of the act.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 10:47 am

The NHL is such a weird league, but I guess over 82 games there are going to be a lot of surprises - the Capitals lose to Columbus but the next night wax the Penguins. The Sharks look terrible at home getting waxed by the Penguins, then hit the road to beat the Capitals, Panthers and Lightning in a row. Then, get shut out by Carolina.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:05 am

sancarlos wrote:The NHL is such a weird league, but I guess over 82 games there are going to be a lot of surprises - the Capitals lose to Columbus but the next night wax the Penguins. The Sharks look terrible at home getting waxed by the Penguins, then hit the road to beat the Capitals, Panthers and Lightning in a row. Then, get shut out by Carolina.

You know what they say: Any Given Random Weeknight In November When The Players Are Going Thru The Motions And Just Waiting For The Playoffs To Start Because There Are Just Too Many Games And Nobody Really Cares.

The Stamkos injury sucks. Taylor Hall is going to be out for a while, too. You guys can officially ignore New Jersey again.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:27 am

bapo! wrote:
sancarlos wrote:The NHL is such a weird league, but I guess over 82 games there are going to be a lot of surprises - the Capitals lose to Columbus but the next night wax the Penguins. The Sharks look terrible at home getting waxed by the Penguins, then hit the road to beat the Capitals, Panthers and Lightning in a row. Then, get shut out by Carolina.
You know what they say: Any Given Random Weeknight In November When The Players Are Going Thru The Motions And Just Waiting For The Playoffs To Start Because There Are Just Too Many Games And Nobody Really Cares.

The Stamkos injury sucks. Taylor Hall is going to be out for a while, too. You guys can officially ignore New Jersey again.

At least Kucherov has found his stride of late. Maybe it is because they just played the Wings, but someone recently mentioned that Kuch was playing like Datsyuk. I didn't watch enough Datsyuk to know exactly how he played, but whoever it was mentioned sneaking back on the backcheck and lifting the stick of a player and stealing the puck.

Our rookies have played well this year too. Koekkoek has been very good for a rookie D man, and Point has been electric at times. The Crunch are playing well too. In Stevie Y we trust.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:54 am

yeah there are too many games because of the way they play now. Players go full speed for 40 second shifts. Do that 30 times they're exhausted.
Also the teams are pretty even and a lucky bounce here and there it's a two goal lead which is hard to come back from. Middle of the season, teams just give up sometimes, the body doesn't have it.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 12:08 pm

Which is why its kinda weird goalies "need" rest but skaters don't, right?

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 4:00 pm

Apparently Drouin is back tonight. It really is 2015-2016 all over again.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 10:24 pm

First (controlled) phone spike of the season. Go sports.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:42 am

I have begun accepting that the Red Wings' postseason streak will end this season. I was most of the way there at a couple points last season, but they are just not going to make it this time around.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:42 am

It's only November. Take a breath!

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:48 am

sancarlos wrote:It's only November. Take a breath!

don't mind sancarlos, he's not used to watching bad teams :)

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:48 am

The Coyotes sent Dylan Strome back to juniors. Not surprising since he had been a healthy scratch more often than not. Still must be frustrating, tho, since I know that this wasn't the plan this year.

At least he's going back to a stacked Erie Otters team. Even without Strome, they have the second-best record in the OHL, and they have the league's top two leading scorers -- Taylor Raddysh, Tampa's second-round pick, and Alex DeBrincat, Chicago's second-round pick. And Strome will be able to play in the World Juniors.

And there's talk that Arizona might want to trade Anthony Duclair. I read it on the Internet, so it must be true.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 11:04 am

sancarlos wrote:It's only November. Take a breath!

They've been deteriorating on defense after Lidstrom retired (goals allowed by season - 5th, 13th, 16th, 14th, 19th - and I know you obviously can't replace someone you can argue is the best defenseman to ever play the game) and simply lacked the firepower on offense to pick up the slack as players like Datsyuk and Zetterberg aged. Their "big" free agent moves included missing out on the real big names (Parise and Shea Weber were supposed to come the same season, and on and on every year) and the guys they have brought in (Daniel Alfredsson, Stephen Weiss, Mike Green) have not performed up to expectations. Even some of their talented younger guys like Nyquist, Tatar, and DeKeyser have stalled in their development.

I've always liked Howard and thought he was better than perceived and I like Mrazek even more. The problem is they're both so frequently hung out to dry. The Wigs have some very exciting talent on its way in players like Larkin, Mantha, Athanasiou, and some more prospects, but they are all forwards.

In the old seeding (not in-division), they would have been 8th, 6th, and 8th seed the last three seasons. The 6th place was two points ahead of eighth.

This is something that has been coming. This year, it just happens.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 11:24 am

bapo! wrote:And there's talk that Arizona might want to trade Anthony Duclair. I read it on the Internet, so it must be true.

Wonder if they want Girardi.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 11:34 am

bapo! wrote:The Coyotes sent Dylan Strome back to juniors. Not surprising since he had been a healthy scratch more often than not. Still must be frustrating, tho, since I know that this wasn't the plan this year.

At least he's going back to a stacked Erie Otters team. Even without Strome, they have the second-best record in the OHL, and they have the league's top two leading scorers -- Taylor Raddysh, Tampa's second-round pick, and Alex DeBrincat, Chicago's second-round pick. And Strome will be able to play in the World Juniors.

And there's talk that Arizona might want to trade Anthony Duclair. I read it on the Internet, so it must be true.

Don't look now, but Tampa's farm (minors, juniors, etc. all included) has been playing really well. The recently traded Anthony DeAngelo has also been playing well for the Coyotes since his call up.

What I really want is Nikita Gusev (Kucherov's best buddy) to come over from SKA St. Petersburg. He's third in the KHL in scoring behind Kovalchuk and Mozyakin, with 30 GP, 14-27-41, +29, 6 PIM.

Also, 3 of the 5 captains for the 2016 CIBC OHL v. Russia Series were Bolts players.

Future's so bright...

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 11:34 am

mister d wrote:
bapo! wrote:And there's talk that Arizona might want to trade Anthony Duclair. I read it on the Internet, so it must be true.
Wonder if they want Girardi.

I want Duclair to do well. But if he turns into an average NHL player, maybe your anger over the Yandle trade will eventually go away.

Just looked up his numbers. He only has 1 goal and 2 assists this year. That's rather shocking.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 11:41 am

I doubt it. Even if Duclair or the 1st or the 2nd don't pan out, it was still a dumb idea trade.