Tribute 2023-24 season - POSITIVITY THREAD - PART 1

[GCK]

Other than Montreal and Detroit I think there is a large group looking at 2 spots. Toronto, Boston, Tampa, NJ, NYR and Carolina are locks barring multiple key injuries. Are the Sens a 100 point team ? Hope so.

 

[JD1]

Other than Montreal and Detroit I think there is a large group looking at 2 spots. Toronto, Boston, Tampa, NJ, NYR and Carolina are locks barring multiple key injuries. Are the Sens a 100 point team ? Hope so.

From January 1 to end of season, TB was 10th in the conference with Pittsburgh only a fraction behind in terms of winning percentage.

That's well over half the season

I'm not sure I agree that a team that played over half the season at that pace is a lock.

Both Buffalo and Ottawa played at a higher pace from January 1 onwards and the pundits all have both teams doing more to improve than Tampa.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Anyone else a bit less stoked this year than last?

I'm not really sure why I'm feeling that way. I had big hopes for DBC and Pinto last season, but honestly, sandy and brady and stu all outperformed my expectations so I feel like I should be more excited.

I think we winning the cup this year so I’m hyped

 

[Micklebot]

This year, the hockey gods cannot be as cruel as last year and we're far better depth wise to withstand injury to key personnel. And the pundits all believe the big 4 in the Atlantic took a step back.

I mean, it feels like we've been saying that every offseason for the last decade... feels like we might be stuck in a gamblers fallacy situation.

 

[Micklebot]

From January 1 to end of season, TB was 10th in the conference with Pittsburgh only a fraction behind in terms of winning percentage.

That's well over half the season

I'm not sure I agree that a team that played over half the season at that pace is a lock.

Both Buffalo and Ottawa played at a higher pace from January 1 onwards and the pundits all have both teams doing more to improve than Tampa.

Agreed. Hard to say Tbay is a lock but Florida isn't, I think both will be fighting to get in myself.

 

[stempniaksen]

Personally I'd have the only playoff locks as the Leafs, Canes and Devils and then as long as Ottawa can sneak in and avoid Carolina I'd have relatively high levels of confidence against anyone else from the East.

Tampa and Boston have the inside track of the Sens/Sabres until proven otherwise, but I wouldn't be shocked if one of these teams ends up on the outside looking in come playoff time.

 

[TonySoprano11]

My positive outlook on this season:

Stutzle continues to improve and becomes a bonafide #1 center and top 10 forward in the league

Tkachuk also continues to improve his game and proves he is one of the best captains in the league by having multiple big moments that swing games in our favor when we need it most

With a new and improved healthy defense in front of him, Korpisalo breaks the curse of mediocre goaltending this team has suffered for so many years of its existence

Our new coach, Patrick Roy, gets us into the playoffs and we make it to the ECF, beating the Leafs along the way.

 

[GCK]

From January 1 to end of season, TB was 10th in the conference with Pittsburgh only a fraction behind in terms of winning percentage.

That's well over half the season

I'm not sure I agree that a team that played over half the season at that pace is a lock.

Both Buffalo and Ottawa played at a higher pace from January 1 onwards and the pundits all have both teams doing more to improve than Tampa.

I think Tampa will benefit from a nice long summer and be back near the top.

 

[Cosmix]

I think we winning the cup this year so I’m hyped

Which cup?

 

[BigRig4]

Assuming everyone available/healthy, this is our best forward group since ???

Assuming everyone available/healthy, this is our best defence group since ???

I’m thinking the answer to both is probably 2006-2007 - not to say we’re at the level of that team though.

 

[armani]

Assuming everyone available/healthy, this is our best forward group since ???

Assuming everyone available/healthy, this is our best defence group since ???

I’m thinking the answer to both is probably 2006-2007 - not to say we’re at the level of that team though.

Best forward group since 2007 run.

Best defence group since 2007 run.

2007 is better until this group proves otherwise. The top-9 centre depth is much better now with Stutzle, Norris, and Pinto.

Hasek was on the roster but a non-factor, I think Korpisalo-Forsberg tandem is better on paper than Emery.

 

[HSF]

Tampa will be more rested. those guys have played a ton of games. They also tend to go into cruise control till the playoffs.

They are still elite

 

[Micklebot]

Tampa will be more rested. those guys have played a ton of games. They also tend to go into cruise control till the playoffs.

They are still elite

Hopefully they think that too because that's the kind of complacency that had them outed in the first round of the playoffs last year.

One big question I have is will vasilevsky continue to struggle tracking shots from the point, Leafs absolutely exposed him.

 

[stempniaksen]

Tampa will be more rested. those guys have played a ton of games. They also tend to go into cruise control till the playoffs.

They are still elite

They have elite top end pieces and elite coaching, but I'm not sure the team as a whole still classifies.

The F's past the top 6 and the D after the top 3 fall off a cliff. I think they'll need to lean on Vasi more than they have in the past (one of the better options to have to rely on though, luckily for them). If this past playoffs taught us anything it's that the league is moving towards depth being more and more important.

I'm probably throwing stones from a glass house if I'm comparing their depth to the Sens, but this doesn't scare me:

Sheary - Glendening - Jeannot
Essymont - L.Brown - Archibald
Barre Boulet

De Haan - Perbix
Fleury - Bogosian
Raddysh (Myers)

Johansson

 

[milkbag]

I think we winning the cup this year so I’m hyped

I've already placed my Vegas sportsbook bet

 

[Butchy Dakkar]

Anyone else a bit less stoked this year than last?

I'm not really sure why I'm feeling that way. I had big hopes for DBC and Pinto last season, but honestly, sandy and brady and stu all outperformed my expectations so I feel like I should be more excited.

I feel a bit that way too. Excited, but not as exciting as last year.

My theory is that last year with the off-season we had. I was so confident that we took the next step and then we didn’t. Now I’m coming to terms with some unrecognized homer bias. So there is a seed of doubt in my mind.

I've already placed my Vegas sportsbook bet

Me too. Why not? Dare to dream. Pencil in the loss early to avoid disappointment.

 

[Sensinitis]

Get hyped!!

This is the best RW depth we’ve had since the Alfie/Hossa/Havlat days…

Giroux/Tarasenko/Batherson are natural RWs and Giroux is the only one who’s a bit versatile.

Not sure how we’re gonna roll the lines but I like the idea of Giroux with Pinto as they’re both not burners and Pinto can learn a lot with him on his wing.

The issue with that is that you break up one of the best lines we’ve ever had, but tbh any line with Tkachuk and Stutzle as a pair will be among the best lines in the league.

Taratankshow can have a big year with Stutzle and Tkachuk to open up space for that sick shot. More of a pure finisher even at this stage in his career that DeBrincat imo

 

[bicboi64]

Giroux/Tarasenko/Batherson are natural RWs and Giroux is the only one who’s a bit versatile.

Wasn't Batherson a C in junior who became a RW in the AHL?

 

[Here I Pageau Again]

Honestly this season just makes me nervous.

Last year, making the playoffs would be amazing but a bit surprising.

This year I expect more. But then we are in a division that is going to be really hard. Those divisional points are going to be real valuable.

 

[HSF]

They have elite top end pieces and elite coaching, but I'm not sure the team as a whole still classifies.

The F's past the top 6 and the D after the top 3 fall off a cliff. I think they'll need to lean on Vasi more than they have in the past (one of the better options to have to rely on though, luckily for them). If this past playoffs taught us anything it's that the league is moving towards depth being more and more important.

I'm probably throwing stones from a glass house if I'm comparing their depth to the Sens, but this doesn't scare me:

Sheary - Glendening - Jeannot
Essymont - L.Brown - Archibald
Barre Boulet

De Haan - Perbix
Fleury - Bogosian
Raddysh (Myers)

Johansson

Their depth has been getting slapped by the flat cap

But their high end talent is the best of the best. You also add in Vasi and they are tough in the regular season

Big test for ottawa

 

[JD1]

Their depth has been getting slapped by the flat cap

But their high end talent is the best of the best. You also add in Vasi and they are tough in the regular season

Big test for ottawa

If you think of their big 3, it's Stamkos, Hedman and Vasilevski. Vasilevski has played more than any other goalie the past 4 years.

I could see some age regression with all of them.

 

[BondraTime]

If you think of their big 3, it's Stamkos, Hedman and Vasilevski. Vasilevski has played more than any other goalie the past 4 years.

I could see some age regression with all of them.

Point and Kucherov are both quite a bit better than Stamkos

 

[JD1]

Point and Kucherov are both quite a bit better than Stamkos

At this point yes. But what's driven the run is a high-end 1C, 1D and 1G. Stamkos is definitely in decline and so are the other two I think.

Point is better than Stamkos at this time but don't think he'll ever be better than Stamkos was at peak.

Personally I don't put much stock in wingers.

 

[BondraTime]

At this point yes. But what's driven the run is a high-end 1C, 1D and 1G. Stamkos is definitely in decline and so are the other two I think.

Point is better than Stamkos at this time but don't think he'll ever be better than Stamkos was at peak.

Personally I don't put much stock in wingers.

I think Stamkos has the 2nd highest peak, but I don't think he helped drive their team more than either Point nor Kucherov.

He never even played in the playoffs during their 1st cup run, and was outscored by both in their 2nd. Kucherov nearly had double his points the 2nd cup run.

Point plays C, Stammer has been on the wing the past few seasons including their runs.

 

[stempniaksen]

At this point yes. But what's driven the run is a high-end 1C, 1D and 1G. Stamkos is definitely in decline and so are the other two I think.

Point is better than Stamkos at this time but don't think he'll ever be better than Stamkos was at peak.

Personally I don't put much stock in wingers.

I actually understand what you're doing with the 1C/1D/1G thing, but your last sentence has two issues with it. It's dismissive of arguably the best (and most important) player during their cup seasons in Kucherov, and Stamkos has actually played quite a bit of a wing the last few seasons.

I'm of the mind we'll (finally) see some regression from that group as well though and that one of them or the Bruins will finish on the outside looking in.