GDT: 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs thread

[Joe McGrath]

I fear JR may have built a cup champion by adding all that depth he never could in Carolina. At least he had the good sense to trade Brandon Sutter twice.

 

[HisIceness]

Another spring, another early exit for Washington.

Alex Ovechkin is the Chris Paul of the NHL. Star players, been in the league for 10+ seasons, both 30 years of age, and yet no Conference finals appearance for either.

 

[VAcaniac]

Its official. Capitals will nevef win a Cup. And Im not sold on the Pens. Anyone can win from here out IMO.

I got sucked in belueving the Caps this year. Nothings changed tho. LOL

 

[nobuddy]

I don't think anybody's beating the Pens.

I'd give the Blues the best chance of anyone left.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

Crosby and Malkin basically did nothing in that series, as far as I know, and they still won. That is scary.

 

[HisIceness]

Crosby and Malkin basically did nothing in that series, as far as I know, and they still won. That is scary.

Letang was suspended in game 4 and they still won that game.

 

[Novacane]

JR + rookie goalie = Cup

 

[HisIceness]

 

[Brock Anton]

As much as I despise Pittsburgh, watching Washington fail yet again is magical.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

i hate pittsburgh

watching washington do this again, while hilarious makes me sad, i was pulling for them


tampa/nsh scf gogogogo

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

go western conference

win the clarence campbowl

then win the stanley cup

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

JR + rookie goalie = Cup

I posted it back when JR was hired (I think in the Pens thread) that JR might be a perfect match for the Pens. He's not a guy that I'd want to build/rebuild a team through drafting/developing, but for a team that had a lot of strong pieces in place and needed to make moves to add to it, he's a good fit, especially if he has money to spend. After a few hiccups at the start, like his cap management last year and the coaching hire, he got things going in the right direction. He added the right depth (Bonino, Kessel, Hagelin, Daley, Cullen, etc..) so that the team could still win if Crosby/Malkin were shut down.

Of course, as you indicated, it helps when your #1 goalie goes down and a rookie steps in plays as he has.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

maybe jr will trade us fleury on the cheap

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

maybe jr will trade us fleury on the cheap

Possibly. Maybe he learned his lesson with Ward and realizes it's dangerous to assume Murray's playoff performance will equal full season success next year.

Pens are up against the cap for sure, but don't really have any major signings to do so I don't think they need to move him next year.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Possibly. Maybe he learned his lesson with Ward and realizes it's dangerous to assume Murray's playoff performance will equal full season success next year.

Pens are up against the cap for sure, but don't really have any major signings to do so I don't think they need to move him next year.

expansion draft thing?

i dont think jr learned his lesson because i dont think he thinks ward is anything but the best goalie in the league the last ten years

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

expansion draft thing?

I'm not following you. The expansion draft won't be until after next season. Or are you saying that they have to protect Fleury (NMC?) and would lose Murray in the draft so it's better to trade Fleury now?

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

I'm not following you. The expansion draft won't be until after next season. Or are you saying that they have to protect Fleury (NMC?) and would lose Murray in the draft so it's better to trade Fleury now?

i just figure they have to make a decision eventually, if murray wins the cup theres no way jr falls "out of love" with him within a year, so if theres a trade to be made it might as well be whenever, esp with that cap hit, and the fact that we are looking for a goalie

 

[Joe McGrath]

I think we're ignoring the very real possibility JR wins the cup and retires.

 

[nobuddy]

I fear JR may have built a cup champion by adding all that depth he never could in Carolina. At least he had the good sense to trade Brandon Sutter twice.

Also I wouldn't say that he.... NEVER found a way to add Cup-caliber forward depth to the Canes.

 

[Joe McGrath]

Also I wouldn't say that he.... NEVER found a way to add Cup-caliber forward depth to the Canes.

Well yeah, never wasn't the right choice of words.

 

[Joe McGrath]

Maybe Barry Trotz doesn't have what it takes to win the big one? Lavi's been with the Preds for 1 year now and they're a game away from going further than Trotz ever did in Nashville.

I don't necessarily believe that, but it's worth pointing out.

 

[AD Skinner]

Trotz = Boudreau + goatee

Trotz = evil Boudreau

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Also I wouldn't say that he.... NEVER found a way to add Cup-caliber forward depth to the Canes.

Yeah..hard to say never. Stillman, Staal, Cole, Williams, Brindy, Whitney, Ladd, Weight, Recchi, Cullen may have been one of the deeper Cup-Caliber forward depth that has existed in recent years.

 

[Joe McGrath]

Yeah..hard to say never. Stillman, Staal, Cole, Williams, Brindy, Whitney, Ladd, Weight, Recchi, Cullen may have been one of the deeper Cup-Caliber forward depth that has existed in recent years.

Never was the wrong word. Couldn't replicate after '06 is what I should have said.

That said, the '10 Blackhawks forwards say hello.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that the Caps went 56-18-8, and lost to the Pens in the second round again.

This is the EIGHTH time in 25 years that the Pens have knocked the Caps out of the playoffs. I can't even imagine how much I'd hate the Pens if I were a Caps fan. Actually I'd probably hate the Caps more.