THE 2014-2015 NHL Regular Season Thread

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:50 pm

As you know I'm a huge fan of Myers so I may be looking at it differently. Even if he needs a change of scenery he's still a valuable asset for some GM who will overpay for him.

Deal is done.. I heard that Sabres were trying to get Burmistrov added but got Kasdorf instead. And the Sabres retaining half of Stafford salary.

As a neutral, I don't like it for Buffalo. Jets really maximized on a bad situation.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:53 pm

Ehhh ... they might have maximized present day, but Kane's suitors triple or more after the season ends. I'd much rather (always) see the one huge prospect in a deal versus a platter.

(Also, I'm comparing what went to Winnipeg and what went to Tampa Bay for MSL and its breaking my heart and brain.)

BuffloSoldier · Post by **BuffloSoldier** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:54 pm

I don't like it either, and that's as a Sabres fan. Gave up way too much in Armia/Lemieux.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:25 pm

BuffloSoldier wrote:I don't like it either, and that's as a Sabres fan. Gave up way too much in Armia/Lemieux.

That 1st round pick is also valuable even if it's the last of the 3. It's a very deep draft.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:38 pm

Here's something to consider about Kane and the Jets ... their core has actually been together for a pretty decent amount of time now. Him "not getting along with teammates" isn't necessarily a personality flaw as much as what happens when a 17 year old enters the real workforce. If he has issues in Buffalo, fine, you can pin it on him. But he was in a weird situation in Atlanta/Winnipeg.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:41 pm

BuffloSoldier wrote:I don't like it either, and that's as a Sabres fan. Gave up way too much in Armia/Lemieux.

Eh ... everyone loves their own prospects. I'm going to cry if J.T. Miller gets dealt at the deadline, even for a solid veteran like Hanzal who makes us instantly better. Armia is a great profile, but he's not a top top prospect and Kane has been a top top actual NHL player.

(Not that I'm unbiased here. I f'ing love Kane.)

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 3:03 pm

I'm siding with Delaware. Quality over quantity and potential.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 3:06 pm

I'm kind of sad Cheveldayoff broke what was easily the most impressive GMing streak of my lifetime.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 4:47 pm

this.

yes everyone overrates their own prospects because we only see them as matching their ceiling/potential. that rarely happens. not excusing it but it's true and in this case...ah, i'll just copy what i just wrote to a few friends:

"doesn't really matter if it's clear or who won though does it? i mean...what we care about as Sabres fans is "are we going to be better next year / next 3 years because of this" and i think pretty safely it's a yes. Only "bad" part is if those 3 unknowns turn into 2 or 3 really good players and even then...doesn't really affect us."

Evander and McEichel on the first line is pretty tantalizing. Reinhart and Ennis on 2nd line likely facing lesser competition is a good/fast start on the rebuild.

....and the tank keeps rolling as Enroth goes to Dallas for Hardy Astrom and a 2016 conditional 3rd. hello 30th place.

sancarlos wrote:I'm siding with Delaware. Quality over quantity and potential.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 5:09 pm

Does Buffalo have a good goalie in their system? Hardy Astrom is terrible.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 5:13 pm

not really, Andrey Makarov is probably their best, still in the W.

by most accounts (take w grain of salt as always) Enroth likes it in Buffalo and as he's a UFA could always re-sign there in the summer.

it's getting something (3rd, 2nd if Dallas goes to 2nd round this year) for nothing and making the team markedly worse for the remainder of the season. not exciting in the least but functional for the ta...er, rebuild.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 6:09 pm

About two hours away from heading to Hawks-Canucks.

It'll be my first home Hawks game in decades.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 6:37 pm

MaxWebster wrote: by most accounts (take w grain of salt as always) Enroth likes it in Buffalo and as he's a UFA could always re-sign there in the summer.

Enroth traded to the Dallas Stars for Anders "Hardy Astrom" Lindback and a 3rd? I'm sorry but Lindback is not good.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:29 pm

nothing to be sorry about, he's horrible. that's kind of the point. :)

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:37 pm

MaxWebster wrote:nothing to be sorry about, he's horrible. that's kind of the point. :)

but you were going to be 30th anyways with no changes. Didn't have to get a worse goalie.

Steve of phpBB wrote:About two hours away from heading to Hawks-Canucks.

It'll be my first home Hawks game in decades.

Nice! It's the nationally televised game in Canada tonight followed by Caps-Sharks

GOOOOOOO HAWKS!!!! GOOOOOOO CAPS!!!!!

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:43 pm

a) no guarantees - we may be the worst team but Enroth stole too many games. honest. and with Hall down for 6 weeks in Edmonton...

b) the better reason of course is that Enroth is an UFA. getting something >>>>> getting nothing. a 2nd or 3rd rounder is definitely something.

there's no reason to keep him as the Sabres have the same odds at signing him this summer as anyone else since they obviously hadn't extended him before the season. It's smart if not obvious roster/asset management.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 8:10 pm

The anthem is so awesome in Chicago hadnt heard it in awhile

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 10:50 am

degenerasian wrote:The anthem is so awesome in Chicago hadnt heard it in awhile

Certainly better than the hockey as of late.

David Runblad is the worst D man in the league. That guy couldn't start on a pickup team. Hawks are in trouble right now. They have got to make some adjustments.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:06 am

But he ... is ... SO ... HOT!!!

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 9:19 pm

BSF21 wrote:
degenerasian wrote:The anthem is so awesome in Chicago hadnt heard it in awhile
Certainly better than the hockey as of late.

David Runblad is the worst D man in the league. That guy couldn't start on a pickup team. Hawks are in trouble right now. They have got to make some adjustments.

That was some bad hockey in those first two periods. The first period, both teams sucked. The second period, the Hawks were even worse while the Canucks were actually playing.

But it all worked to set up some good drama for the third period. Twice the Hawks scored with their goalie on the bench.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 10:22 pm

The Kings are wearing retro gold uniforms tonight. Looks awesome.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 10:50 pm

SWEET. thanks for the tip - just flipped over

degenerasian wrote:The Kings are wearing retro gold uniforms tonight. Looks awesome.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:22 pm

Real nice trade for Nashville.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:01 pm

Steve Montador passes away

Form Flame and Sabre. Was a huge part of the Flames 2004 run.

Sounds like post post-concussion symptoms. So sad :(

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:07 pm

Suicide rumors, don't think confirmed. Fighting is gonna be gone real soon.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:15 pm

Yeah i think so. Ive watched every Flames game this year and there have been just a handful of fights. Mostly after cheapshots.

Dont really miss it.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:31 pm

That's my issue, I like it as an option for an on-ice response to shitty stuff Patrick Kaleta does, but that's only like one in four fights. Hopefully the second part of teams (besides San Jose) dumping off the useless goons is actual players cutting down on the number of staged or semi-staged fights.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:37 pm

mister d wrote:That's my issue, I like it as an option for an on-ice response to shitty stuff Patrick Kaleta does, but that's only like one in four fights. Hopefully the second part of teams (besides San Jose) dumping off the useless goons is actual players cutting down on the number of staged or semi-staged fights.

I agree. Flames only fighters are now Bollig and sometimes Engelland and they both contribute to the team in other ways. They waived Brian McGrattan who had been their enforcer for years.

But Montador wasn't a fighter, he took a lot of hits to the head though.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:45 pm

He was a real player, but a lot of fights. 69 (nice) at the NHL level.

And Mirtle is going to be in a ton of shit, apparently his suicide speculation was off.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:56 pm

yeah. Authorities are saying natural causes.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:04 am

Another 3rd period comeback, that's 10 this year!

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 1:54 pm

So, this Saturday night, the Sharks are playing the Kings outdoors, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara (DSG, are you going to be here?). Kind of tough scheduling, as the Kings are on a winning streak and the Sharks are playing poorly these days.

I'll be there, assuming my eye is ok, sitting in overpriced, crappy seats. But it should be a fun time.

Here's a time-lapse photography video of them constructing the hockey rink in the football stadium. Kind of cool to watch.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 3:34 pm

sancarlos wrote:So, this Saturday night, the Sharks are playing the Kings outdoors, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara (DSG, are you going to be here?). Kind of tough scheduling, as the Kings are on a winning streak and the Sharks are playing poorly these days.

I'll be there, assuming my eye is ok, sitting in overpriced, crappy seats. But it should be a fun time.

Here's a time-lapse photography video of them constructing the hockey rink in the football stadium. Kind of cool to watch.

I will not be there, sorry. After having the contract for the last couple cycles, the NHL opened things up for bids and my boss opted not to participate.

Don't worry, though, I'll be there for sure next January and February for about three weeks (and if the November thing happens again like this past year, which I think it will, but have heard nothing concrete).

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:02 pm

The crazy bounce giveth, the crazy bounce taketh away.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 12:16 am

So fun story, a goaltender got called up to Ottawa from our league 2 days ago (ECHL jump to NHL) from Evansville to play backup while they struggle thru injury. Neat chance for the kid. We have had a fucking blast going to Indy Fuel games this year (ECHL team for the Chicago Blackhawks). Neat to see a kid that young make the jump. Mark this post now, he may not make the Blackhawks roster, but if he gets traded, look out for Mac Carruth. Solid goaltender. Loves to play and stretch the puck. We just reupped our tickets for next season. I'll post some pics from games we are at soon. Fun team and they just put 63 million dollars into the stadium. It's a fucking blast. Anytime one of you guys ends up in Indy let me know and I'll score you tickets. It's a great time.

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 5:27 pm

sancarlos wrote:Here's a time-lapse photography video of them constructing the hockey rink in the football stadium. Kind of cool to watch.

Updated footage from that webcam:

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TheHumanComa · Post by **TheHumanComa** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:54 pm

Montreal still in first place in the Eastern Conference despite a loss to Ottawa last night and a shootout loss to Florida tonight! What I don't get is the Islanders have the same amount of points as the Habs with more wins, so shouldn't they be in first? The Habs have one game in hand but.... oh i get it now... the OT wins... sorry... nevermind. But shouldn't regular time wins count for more?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 1:44 am

Montreal is first due to having games in hand. This is of course moot at the end of the season when Overtime and Regulation wins is the first tiebreaker. Even the NHL admits shootouts suck.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:42 am

Meaningless stat that somehow still feels appropriate for where the Pens are right now...

@Mackey_Trib wrote:The Penguins have seven division wins. The Buffalo Sabres, I believe, have eight.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:12 am

Talbot has been deceptively really, really bad since Henrik has gone out. One of eight games with a save percentage above .901.

(Single game save percentage doesn't mean much, but I'm ok pointing that out when its 7 of 8 games.)