2022-2023 Around The League

[Chiarelli]

That's a guy I'd trade for. Even on old legs, he is brilliant.

Not happening, but agreed

 

[redacted]

Now that we're basically a third of they way through the season... scoring is up even compared to last year to ~3.21 GF. That level hasn't been seen since 93-94. I think we are getting to the point of a new normal in the NHL. 55 point guys of 5 years ago, need to be 70 point guys today. PPG forwards should be pushing 100. 35 point defensemen should be 45. 55 point defensemen need to be PPG. Wild stuff.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

They will want to even the score after that Georgiev celly for sure

I bet Frankie starts

 

[redacted]

I bet Frankie starts

Would be the ultimate bad teammate test

 

[Balthazar]

 

[redacted]

Meh I understand why they didn't. It was a blowout and those types of games can lead to headhunting. If they had played Thompson a bunch and he caught a flying elbow, they'd be getting ripped for that.

 

[Pokecheque]

Eh, I can see why Granato let the depth players play once the game was well out of hand. You don't want a situation where guys start headhunting out of frustration. Just look at the Flyers/Caps game, Konecny got all bent outta shape because Ovechkin scored two empty netters.

I would love to see a record like that broken someday, along with the 10-point night held by Sittler (I think that's the record, right?) but there's a reason why those have stood for so long.

 

[ANewHope]

I still remember when Gagner went off for 8 points. Has to be one of the strangest things in NHL history.

Thompson looked insane last night. I wasn’t a huge believer but he looks every part of a franchise C this season whenever I’ve watched him. What a payoff for Buffalo signing him to that contract.

 

[Pokecheque]

I still remember when Gagner went off for 8 points. Has to be one of the strangest things in NHL history.

Thompson looked insane last night. I wasn’t a huge believer but he looks every part of a franchise C this season whenever I’ve watched him. What a payoff for Buffalo signing him to that contract.

I still get irritated as all hell when I think back to that one game where Jussi effin' Jokinen scored four goals on the Avs. That was ridiculous.

What astounds me about Thompson is that he scores in almost every way imaginable. He can rip one-timers from distance, he can crash the net and get to rebounds easily, and for a big guy he really can move. It's insane how many coaches took one look at him and said "You're a grinder." Granato was the first guy who just...let him play the way he wanted to.

 

[Chiarelli]

I still get irritated as all hell when I think back to that one game where Jussi effin' Jokinen scored four goals on the Avs. That was ridiculous.

What astounds me about Thompson is that he scores in almost every way imaginable. He can rip one-timers from distance, he can crash the net and get to rebounds easily, and for a big guy he really can move. It's insane how many coaches took one look at him and said "You're a grinder." Granato was the first guy who just...let him play the way he wanted to.

You didn’t even mention his hands in tight/ reach which might be his best asset.

 

[Pokecheque]

You didn’t even mention his hands in tight/ reach which might be his best asset.

True, for a big, lanky guy he's astoundingly adept maneuvering in tight spaces. He's like a giant version of Pettersson/Zegras in that regard.

 

[Chiarelli]

True, for a big, lanky guy he's astoundingly adept maneuvering in tight spaces. He's like a giant version of Pettersson/Zegras in that regard.

Rick Nash is the comparable name that comes to my mind for moves around the net. Not Tage but he’s got size too.



Is Thompson physical at all?

 

[Balthazar]

True, for a big, lanky guy he's astoundingly adept maneuvering in tight spaces. He's like a giant version of Pettersson/Zegras in that regard.

That's the thing, he's not supposed to move like that at that size.

When you draft a 6'6 center it comes with upsides and downsides. One downside is the player not being able to be as agile as an elite 5'11 center (because physics).

He really is a unicorn.

 

[dahrougem2]

Tage Thompson is what I imagine a caring, centre version of Dustin Byfuglien would look like minus the bone crushing hits.

God I miss Buff.

 

[Pokecheque]

That's the thing, he's not supposed to move like that at that size.

When you draft a 6'6 center it comes with upsides and downsides. One downside is the player not being able to be as agile as an elite 5'11 center (because physics).

He really is an unicorn.

Doesn't happen when a guy with size AND speed shows up with the skill to boot, which is why Bertuzzi was such a frustrating player to watch even before the whole Moore debacle. Dude had elite hands, was built like a tank, but he was also an amazing skater.

I never would've thought he was going to be better than O'Reilly, but he's on his way to doing just that.

 

[redacted]

Rick Nash is the comparable name that comes to my mind for moves around the net. Not Tage but he’s got size too.



Is Thompson physical at all?

Thompson won’t hit anybody with any real force… but he uses his frame and strength with the puck better than anybody in the NHL. Yeah anybody. He gets the puck and turns and good f luck getting the puck from him.

 

[Chiarelli]

Thompson won’t hit anybody with any real force… but he uses his frame and strength with the puck better than anybody in the NHL. Yeah anybody. He gets the puck and turns and good f luck getting the puck from him.

So he’s modern Jagr

 

[redacted]

So he’s modern Jagr

In that specific area… doesn’t have the vision of Jagr or even close.

 

[CobraAcesS]

In that specific area… doesn’t have the vision of Jagr or even close.

So Mikko with more balance and less vision.

 

[redacted]

So Mikko with more balance and less vision.

In my dream world… Thompson is what Mikko would be as a center.

 

[CobraAcesS]

In my dream world… Thompson is what Mikko would be as a center.

Yeah I had that dream too once.

Oh, and on Kaut I lost my love for supporting low motor players after Greg. I wrote him off a while ago. Still have a thing for rooting for Russians though, so I'm happy with Nuke lol.

 

[JWK]

TIL: Timmins is in Toronto

 

[Balthazar]

Leafs don't lose anymore. Also their goalies look good (yes, Matt Murray too).

 

[The Kingslayer]

Good. f*** that guy.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Leafs don't lose anymore. Also their goalies look good (yes, Matt Murray too).

Back to back shutouts for me. I picked those two up with my final two picks.