NHL 2014-2015

[Speedy Cerviche]

I'm still kind of hoping they get in and beat Tampa for the Habs.

[Ceryse]

According to advance stats, Calgary shouldn't be sitting in a playoff spot, either.

And Colorado shouldn't have made the playoffs the year before. Nor should have Toronto when they last did. Advanced stats are a fairly good means of determining success long term, but there are always a couple exceptions to the rule. Much of what Calgary has done simply isn't sustainable (the shooting percentages of their top line alone...) and they will regress to the mean next season unless they can add enough in the off-season to deal with the fact they are one of the worst teams in the league (most of the advanced stats have them 24th-26th). It's fantastic for Flames' fans in getting to see the playoffs (though it does cost them draft position in one of the best draft years), especially since they are likely to face the Canucks in the first round; a series they can possibly win.

In fact, I'm not impressed with the Pacific at all. I wouldn't be completely surprised to see Calgary emerge from the division before getting its head caved in by whatever team emerges from the Central.

But, every year there are 1-2 teams that defy their status as 'omg shitty team' through sheer luck and goaltending to make the playoffs and it seems to get some people thinking advanced stats are useless (especially certain twits in the media).

Personally, I'm hoping for the Canucks to sweep the Flames before they in turn get swept by the Ducks, who in turn get swept by whomever comes out of the Central. I dislike all three teams a fair amount.

[Shannow]

I'm just going to call this year 'anyone but the Habs or the 'Hawks'

Oh and the Canucks. Fuck em..:D

[murdoc]

Went to the Flames vs. Kings game last night and it was a crazy good crowd. This city is fairly realistic (in my circles anyways) that the Flames are a statistical anomoly, but the fact they stood pat at the trade deadline suggests that maybe management knows they jumped the line this year getting into the playoffs.

These kids are only going to get better - they just have to be allowed to.

[Strazos]

As much as it pains me to say it, I'd prefer to see Boston get in...but only if the Penguins are left out in the cold. 

As for teams going deep - I'm rooting for Chicago, only because if Kimmo plays in most of their games and they go deep, the Flyers can get up to a 2nd round pick as the second conditional pick (meaning they traded him away for two 2nd round picks).

[Ginaz]

Went to the Flames vs. Kings game last night and it was a crazy good crowd. This city is fairly realistic (in my circles anyways) that the Flames are a statistical anomoly, but the fact they stood pat at the trade deadline suggests that maybe management knows they jumped the line this year getting into the playoffs.

These kids are only going to get better - they just have to be allowed to.

Long term, I think having their top young players like Gaudreau and Monohan in a playoff race and then getting some playoff games under their belt is better for the Flames than finishing 25th or so and maybe drafting a guy who will turn into a good player 2-4 years from now.  The small, small chance of landing McDavid in the lottery isn't worth it IMO.  Besides, Calgary now has some decent prospects in their system, unlike in years past when the Flames drafted such "talent" as Kris Chucko, Greg Nemisz and Adam Pelech in the first round.   Darryl Sutter may be a good coach but he's shit as a GM.

[Ginaz]

Not really NHL related but the first Israeli ever was selected first overall in the OHL draft.

 http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/david-levin-chosen-1st-overall-in-ohl-draft-by-sudbury-1.3029388

[Ginaz]

Suck it, Boston.  Suck it wicked hard.

[Shannow]

Suck it, Boston.  Suck it wicked hard.

   yup. And we lost in a shoot out which was just fitting.

Watched the NCAA final instead which was damn good.

[Special J]

Oh hai Canadiens! 


Regardless of what happens in round 1, I haven't had this much fun watching my team since the ill-fated Cup run.  That was just unreal.  Never mind all those things I said about Paul MacLean, he sucks.

[WayAbvPar]

STL v MIN- MIN in 7
NSH v CHI- CHI in 6
ANA v WIN- ANA in 5
VAN v CGY- VAN in 7

MTL v OTT- MTL in 5
TBL v DET- TBL in 6
NYR v PIT- NYR in 5
WAS v NYI- NYI in 7

Other than Canucks/Flames (which I will watch every second of), I am really looking forward to Islanders and Caps. Also the Jets/Ducks series might set a record for number of hits. Should be physical as hell, and the Winnipeg crowd should be fun to watch. They are going to go apeshit. Will also be fun to see the Rangers run Sid and his gang of shitheads out in the first round.

[Speedy Cerviche]

Oh hai Canadiens! 


Regardless of what happens in round 1, I haven't had this much fun watching my team since the ill-fated Cup run.  That was just unreal.  Never mind all those things I said about Paul MacLean, he sucks.

I was pulling for the Sens even though a lot of people were calling it bad news for the Canadiens. I could be wrong but I don't see it. I mean yeah it's possible the Sens keep up the hero run, but I think there's a natural deflation now that they've achieved the goal they've been living for the past month. Also I've always considered it a safe bet against a "virgin" team, where you have an up and coming young team making its first playoff appearance, they always tend to get demolished by vet teams their first trip to the big show (I remember a veteran Sens team doing the same to the Crosby era Pens the first time they showed up). Finally the Sens depth is a bit iffy at this point, the Turris line has been carrying them with heroics but I don't know if they can keep that up in a tighter playoff environment and the defence past Karlsson and Methot is kind of dubious. I guess the big concern would be if the guys who had been cooling down a bit on the Sens like Hoffman re-ignite and suddenly there's 4 talented lines  of young guys all buzzing hard.

STL v MIN- MIN in 7
NSH v CHI- CHI in 7
ANA v WIN- WIN in 7
VAN v CGY- VAN in 6

MTL v OTT- MTL in 5
TBL v DET- TBL in 7
NYR v PIT- NYR in 4
WAS v NYI- WAS in 5

[Strazos]

Oh, are we doing this thing?

STL in 5
CHI in 6
ANA in 5
CGY in 7

MTL in 5
TBL in 6
NYR in 4
NYI in 6

Looking forward to the Rangers embarrassing the Pens, and hoping CHI goes deep so that the Flyers get a better conditional draft pick. 

[Special J]

I was pulling for the Sens even though a lot of people were calling it bad news for the Canadiens. I could be wrong but I don't see it. I mean yeah it's possible the Sens keep up the hero run, but I think there's a natural deflation now that they've achieved the goal they've been living for the past month. Also I've always considered it a safe bet against a "virgin" team, where you have an up and coming young team making its first playoff appearance, they always tend to get demolished by vet teams their first trip to the big show (I remember a veteran Sens team doing the same to the Crosby era Pens the first time they showed up). Finally the Sens depth is a bit iffy at this point, the Turris line has been carrying them with heroics but I don't know if they can keep that up in a tighter playoff environment and the defence past Karlsson and Methot is kind of dubious. I guess the big concern would be if the guys who had been cooling down a bit on the Sens like Hoffman re-ignite and suddenly there's 4 talented lines  of young guys all buzzing hard.

The post-comeback letdown is a concern and I also bet against young teams getting their first taste.  Yet every time this team had a setback and I'd say "welp. that's it then." and they'd prove me wrong.  But the Hamburglar has to keep it going and Zibanejad's line better get scoring again to have a chance of winning this.

Wiercoch and Ceci have come a long way.  Borowiecki, Gryba and Cowen remain   but I would argue that most teams' bottom pair is that way.  At any rate I'm excpecting a few 2-1 OT games.

Of course remember a lot of this group were around for the last encounter,  and who doesn't want to see this again?  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAQtabmrV7Q

STL v MIN- STL in 6
NSH v CHI- NSH in 7
ANA v WIN- WIN in 7 <- Anaheim's goaltending gets exposed.
VAN v CGY- VAN in 6  <- really don't know actually. So I'll take the goalie

MTL v OTT- OTT in 7  <- yes I'm a homer, but jeez give em more than 5.
TBL v DET- TBL in 6
NYR v PIT- NYR in 5  <- Maybe 4
WAS v NYI- NYI in 7

[Speedy Cerviche]

Of course remember a lot of this group were around for the last encounter,  and who doesn't want to see this again?  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAQtabmrV7Q

That was a...weird series, pretty funny though. Montreal got slammed hard by injuries and by game 2 Price (wasn't as good as this year, but having to put Budaj in for help was bad), Eller, Gionta and Pacioretty were out missing games and then trying to come back hurt. Then you had Anderson red hot. The Habs would throw everything at him in first half of the game, then get demoralized, and start trying to goon it up once they fell behind. Which they were not very good at, the gooning.

I say 5 games just because I envision a scenario where if the Sens lose game 1 the nerves/moral deflation effect could kick in game 2. They could go back to Ottawa in full panic game 3 if they're down 2-0, Hamburgler out, Anderson in, and I don't think that is going to improve things. If that scenario doesn't happen, and the Sens split it in Montreal, I see it going probably to 7 games where at that point anything can happen in a game 7.

[Bunk]

STL v MIN- MIN in 6
NSH v CHI- CHI in 7
ANA v WIN- ANA in 6
VAN v CGY- VAN in 6

MTL v OTT- MTL in 6
TBL v DET- TBL in 6
NYR v PIT- NYR in 5
WAS v NYI- WAS in 6

Five of Seven Canadian Teams in and no Boston. What more could I hope for. So with no Boston or LA, who's going to emerge as the new masters of goonery "playoff hockey"?

[WayAbvPar]

Anaheim.

[murdoc]

STL v MIN- STL in 5
NSH v CHI- CHI in 5
ANA v WIN- ANA in 7
VAN v CGY- CGY in 7

MTL v OTT- MTL in 6
TBL v DET- TBL in 5
NYR v PIT- NYR in 5
WAS v NYI- WAS in 7

At some point St Louis will have to advance in the playoffs and Chicago gets Kane back in time. Anaheim and Winnipeg are going to beat each others brains in. Calgary remains lucky for one more series (because fuck the Canucks). Montreal's goalie > Ottawa's. Detroit barely squeaks in and gets rolled, Pittsburgh I am just happy made it so Edmonton doesn't have a 2nd lottery pick and Washington goes the distance in a back and forth series with the Islanders.

[Special J]

Seems I have more faith in their goalie than the Canuvks do. Eddie Lack to start.

Chiarelli fired by Bruins.  Delivered a Cup but also made the 2nd worst Tyler Seguin trade.

[Ginaz]

Seems I have more faith in their goalie than the Canuvks do. Eddie Lack to start.

Chiarelli fired by Bruins.  Delivered a Cup but also made the 2nd worst Tyler Seguin trade.

I think people know I'm not a Bruins fan but I believe theres been an overreaction to the Seguin trade.  Remember, he was playing behind Bergeron and Krejci and he wouldn't be getting the minutes that he does in Dallas.  Add that to the fact the Bruins play a more conservative style and he had worn out his welcome with them, I don't think Seguin would be putting up nearly the same numbers with Boston as he has with Dallas.

[Speedy Cerviche]

Probably the correct thing to do was trade Krecje, instead of give him a huge extension paying him all-star money. Then get Seguin into the top 6.

[Ginaz]

Probably the correct thing to do was trade Krecje, instead of give him a huge extension paying him all-star money. Then get Seguin into the top 6.

Well, as I mentioned, Seguin seemed to have burned some bridges in Boston.  Probably best for everyone to move on.

[Speedy Cerviche]

Every pro team has to manage spoiled, arrogant 21 year old millionaires. They had their asses kissed for the past 10 years and are boiled obnoxious. Not much excuse for Boston to have given up and traded a top young gun just because of these usual growing pains. Well anyway, Chiarelli just got canned.

[Shannow]

Wont miss him, and I too think the whole 'Seguin trade was horrible' reaction was overblown. Through two runs to the Stanley Cup, Seguin, outside of one game, did diddly-squat, god if he'd just shown up in the '13 finals we probably win the thing. (Probably better we didn't for Ginaz's health  ).
He'll get his 30+ goals in the regular season, those type of players will, but I just don't think he has what it takes to be a force in the playoffs.
What they got back was pretty fucking crap though and the signing mediocre players to expensive long term deals is what makes me glad Chiarelli is gone.

Anyway onwards, go anyone but the Habs and Hawks!

[Stewie]

The Bruins clearly lost on that deal but yeah, there have been many worse deals.


On a side note how many people here would be interested in a full keeper roto league @ $50/year?
I was thinking of seeing if there was enough interest here (10 teams) for a f13 league. fees could be handled by the site (fantrax)

I am in one that I would mirror it off of. We have 17 starters, 5 reserves and deep minor/farm league roster. for example, I have Anthony Mantha, Zemgus Grigersons, Barkov etc etc that are all farmers. I can bring them up to my main roster or leave them on the farm until the reach a games played limit at which point I will need to find roster space or drop them to the fa pool.

if anyone is interested. let me know.

[Ceryse]

LOL.

LOL.

LOL.

Only reaction worthy of today.

The Edmonton Oilers; the most hated team in the NHL.

I was certain it would have been fixed to the degree of McDavid not going to Edmonton (and really, to somewhere like Buffalo, Arizona, Florida, New Jersey).

Four first overalls.

I can't wait to see how Katz and Co. fuck this up. Probably trade him for Lucic.

[Strazos]

Yeah, what an utter waste. They would possibly be better off trading the pick for a king's ransom, as McDavid alone is not going to make Edmonton into a contending team.

[Ceryse]

Eh, he goes a long way. It completely fixes center depth (RNH, McDavid, Gordon, Lander, Draisatl). Wingers are already actually pretty good. Only holes on the Oilers now are in the top D pairing roles and goaltending (the latter of which has been a black hole, to be fair). A Nikitin buy-out, a Ference trade (for a 6th round pick?) and the Oilers have a ton of cap room to make moves, as well. McDavid will make free agents more likely to come to Edmonton and creates trade flexibility (due to it being slightly more likely for a player to waive a NTC, or not be so adamant about Edmonton being Siberia..).

It helps the Oilers a lot.

Its just that while he went to the most deserving fan base (8 1/2 years of sell outs -- this past season saw the streak break finally; all of it under incompetence not seen since the Oakland Seals days, and last 5 years of which have been under a brutally horrible rebuild conditions) and a hockey market getting the star instead of a non-hockey market team is nice to see.

Went to the least deserving team, however.

[Strazos]

Really, they're only missing a goaltender and a top D pair? That's like saying the Flyers are only missing a top D pair. 

In actuality, every time I've watched, it seems they're missing defense of any sort.

[Ceryse]

Yes, that's about all they are missing, believe it or not. The problem with the Oilers' D is the lack of a top D-man and the fact Nikitin, Ference are done and Schultz can't play D (and should be moved to wing, but that won't happen). Bring in a top pairing, buyout Nikitin, trade Ference for a bag of pucks and you run Klefbom/Fayne and Marincin/Schultz as your bottom four and its nowhere near as bad as it was. This season, the Genius that was Eakins had Schultz, Ference and Nikitin out on the ice whenever possible, while Klefbom and Marincin were in the minors despite being vastly superior to Nikitin/Ference. Nelson, showing mere common sense, already started to address the roster/ice time issues and the Oilers got a fair bit better results, in spite of continued horrible goaltending.

Already got better coaching. Throw in even league average goaltending and you'd likely see a 15-20 point increase in the standings over this year (yes, the goaltending was -that- bad; seems the Flames stole all the goalie juju in Alberta this season). Add in McDavid, fixing the top D pair.. and they're a playoff-contending team (though only barely).

[Ginaz]

Nothing will change in Edmonton until they stop living in the past and fire all the old 80's Oilers.  And get a new owner.  And move the city 500 km south.  And not be...Edmonton.  Having lived in Calgary for 7 years and travelled to Edmonton more than a few times, I can confirm that as a city, Edmonton really is an undesirable place to live.  Having McDavid isn't going to make the city any more of a desirable destination for free agents than it is now.  The only way to get those guys to come is to start winning like the 80's Oilers.  That's not happening.

What a waste of a draft and McDavid's time and talent.

[Speedy Cerviche]

I don't get the outrage, like Oilers fans just stole something. They're still a pretty crappy team, and the fans have endured a decade of misery. Some people don't realize how tough that is. That's what the draft is supposed to do, give the crappiest teams a chance to get back into contention.

[Shannow]

I want you to go tell that to a Buffalo Sabres fan. To their face.

[Speedy Cerviche]

They knew they over a 50% chance of losing the #1 pick and they still get another potential all-star player as consolation. Also the misery difference between Oiler and Sabre fans is pretty marginal, so I don't really think anyone has a god given claim to that prize of top loser.

[Strazos]

I don't get the outrage, like Oilers fans just stole something. They're still a pretty crappy team, and the fans have endured a decade of misery. Some people don't realize how tough that is. That's what the draft is supposed to do, give the crappiest teams a chance to get back into contention.

People don't care that a crappy team got a good player - it's that EDM now has received 4 #1 draft picks in the last six years.

They've had their chance to get back into contention.