2024/2025 Around the League

[Balthazar]

J.T. Miller can look like a world beater defending Nathan MacKinnon one night then look like an absolute pylon letting Jake Sanderson skate untouched from blueline all the way to Lankinen during 3v3 overtime another night.

I pray Vancouver chooses him over Pettersson.

On a very related note, another 0 point night for EP. His last 5 games:

 

[missionAvs]

Yeah but Miller isn’t competing with Makar for Norris. I have to put the word out there that Hughes sucks defensively

True. That's on me. Miller actually played that perfectly and there is nothing that Lankinen could have done. That situation would have never manifested itself if Captain Quinn had just won the opening faceoff in OT and skated the puck up the ice to score the game winner. That's what Frail would have done.

 

[the_fan]

True. That's on me. Miller actually played that perfectly and there is nothing that Lankinen could have done. That situation would have never manifested itself if Captain Quinn had just won the opening faceoff in OT and skated the puck up the ice to score the game winner. That's what Frail would have done.

This is why I love you. You always got my back!!!!

 

[dahrougem2]

On a very related note, another 0 point night for EP. His last 5 games:

No idea why you're laughing. Every organization should choose the 26 year old over the soon-to-be 32 year old, especially when said 26 year old has shown himself to play great when Miller was out of the lineup and has shown in the past to be a very good 1C.

You always liked to tout "it's mental health" for Georgiev. You of all people should be the first to understand Elias Pettersson is more than likely mailing it in so that either he gets traded or Miller gets traded because he can't stand Miller. Nobody regresses like this naturally in less than a year.

EDIT: For comparison's sake:

Pettersson with Miller in the lineup:
22 Games Played
6 Goals
5 Assists
11 Points
-3

Pettersson without Miller in the lineup:
10 Games Played
2 Goals
13 Assists
15 Points
-1

 

[Balthazar]

No idea why you're laughing. Every organization should choose the 26 year old over the soon-to-be 32 year old, especially when said 26 year old has shown himself to play great when Miller was out of the lineup and has shown in the past to be a very good 1C.

You always liked to tout "it's mental health" for Georgiev. You of all people should be the first to understand Elias Pettersson is more than likely mailing it in so that either he gets traded or Miller gets traded because he can't stand Miller. Nobody regresses like this naturally in less than a year.

We just don't know what's going on. His skating and shot have regressed so much that a few days ago @Pokecheque swore that EP was playing injured, without a shadow of doubt.

Now you say that he's mailing it in because he doesn't like Miller.

Who knows why he's this bad now and if he's going to be good again one day.

 

[dahrougem2]

We just don't know what's going on. His skating and shot have regressed so much that a few days ago @Pokecheque swore that EP was playing injured, without a shadow of doubt.

Who knows if he's injured or not, but the points speak for themselves. Guy plays at a 41 point pace with Miller in the lineup and a 123 point pace without him. It's night and day difference.

We hear publicly that these two don't like one another, and we know the NHL. We NEVER hear of shit happening publicly. I can't imagine how much these guys hate each other privately.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

So Hughes all buts admits it's real, but EP....

Guess Hughes is full of shit.

 

[Puckstop40]

3 of 5 goals against Grubauer were high glove. Good ol’ days

 

[Pokecheque]

We just don't know what's going on. His skating and shot have regressed so much that a few days ago @Pokecheque swore that EP was playing injured, without a shadow of doubt.

Now you say that he's mailing it in because he doesn't like Miller.

Who knows why he's this bad now and if he's going to be good again one day.

Don’t put words in my mouth.

There’s evidence by the dropoff in his play that he’s dealing with something, I never said that it was “without a shadow of doubt.” There’s plenty of reason to doubt that assertion, but it ain’t like I’m just making shit up.

Only time will tell. If Miller and Petey get separated and the latter immediately starts lighting it up, then we’ll know for sure.

 

[Balthazar]

Don’t put words in my mouth.

I wasnt:

Pettersson is clearly not healthy, and no, I don't believe anyone--not even Pettersson himself--when they say otherwise.

So Hughes all buts admits it's real, but EP....

Guess Hughes is full of shit.

Dude looks and sounds like he should be on suicide watch. Not sure Buffalo is the right place for him though...

 

[Pokecheque]

I wasnt:

Yes you were. Still didn’t say “without a shadow of doubt”. Nothing I’m asserting here is irrefutable, but the statistical evidence is a strong indicator that something is seriously wrong with him. I think it’s clear but that doesn’t mean it’s definitive, it only gets that way if someone on the Canucks comes right out and says it.

 

[Pokecheque]

Incidentally, I’ve been curious to see whether it would be Cossa or Walstedt who ends up being the better goalie, still awfully early yet but Cossa appears to be in the lead.

 

[the_fan]

Is it me or does Vancouver have a collection of the grumpiest players.

Pettersson
Miller
Hughes
Myers
coach Tocchet

I don’t think I’ve ever seen all this people smile once. They’re always mad at something

 

[MacKaRant]

No idea why you're laughing. Every organization should choose the 26 year old over the soon-to-be 32 year old, especially when said 26 year old has shown himself to play great when Miller was out of the lineup and has shown in the past to be a very good 1C.

You always liked to tout "it's mental health" for Georgiev. You of all people should be the first to understand Elias Pettersson is more than likely mailing it in so that either he gets traded or Miller gets traded because he can't stand Miller. Nobody regresses like this naturally in less than a year.

EDIT: For comparison's sake:

Pettersson with Miller in the lineup:
22 Games Played
6 Goals
5 Assists
11 Points
-3

Pettersson without Miller in the lineup:
10 Games Played
2 Goals
13 Assists
15 Points
-1

What about last season then?

Pettersson was producing consistently right up until the point that he signed that huge contract, with or without Miller in the lineup. And then after he signed the contract he disappeared.

Now there was a lot of talk last year of an injury playing a role in that. Could it have lasted over the summer or is some kind of injury that will plague him the rest of his career?

 

[McMetal]

I can't even believe this is an argument. Pettersson may be slumping this season, but Vancouver has to think about their window while they have the second-best defenseman in the world in his prime. EP40 is way, WAY more likely to still be good in 3 years than Miller is. If they jettison him in favor of Miller and he falls off the aging cliff next season, their contention window slams shut harder than Boston's just did.

It would be beyond stupid for them to decide that JT Miller is their future. The only way that works out well for them is if they trade Pettersson and he somehow regresses to being a 60 point player for the rest of his career and JT Miller is a great 1C until he's 36. Stranger things have happened in the NHL, but that's not where my money would be.

 

[The Pwnerer]

Jonas Kovacevic is the offseason trade that got away. He and Sieganthaler have been NJs best shutdown pair this year. He would've been perfect with us.

 

[Chiarelli]

I’ve been wondering if his slow start to the season was because he bulked up too much in the off-season. This somewhat confirms it for me. He’s probably trimmed down a bit since like most players do throughout the season and it’s not surprising that his game has gotten better lately.

 

[AvsMakar08]

View attachment 949776

I’ve been wondering if his slow start to the season was because he bulked up too much in the off-season. This somewhat confirms it for me. He’s probably trimmed down a bit since like most players do throughout the season and it’s not surprising that his game has gotten better lately.

MacK also bulked up and looked slower that season. He then ended up going on eating chicklet pasta and become slimmer and faster.

 

[LOFIN]

 

[UncleRisto]

So Hughes all buts admits it's real, but EP....

Guess Hughes is full of shit.

Biiiiitch.

 

[Balthazar]

Is the trade freeze over yet?

I can't even believe this is an argument. Pettersson may be slumping this season, but Vancouver has to think about their window while they have the second-best defenseman in the world in his prime. EP40 is way, WAY more likely to still be good in 3 years than Miller is. If they jettison him in favor of Miller and he falls off the aging cliff next season, their contention window slams shut harder than Boston's just did.

It would be beyond stupid for them to decide that JT Miller is their future. The only way that works out well for them is if they trade Pettersson and he somehow regresses to being a 60 point player for the rest of his career and JT Miller is a great 1C until he's 36. Stranger things have happened in the NHL, but that's not where my money would be.

Miller is playing well and the other isn't. From everything we've heard I don't even think in the cards to get rid of Miller. That would be a Hell of a surprise...especially since Miller has a full NMC while EP's NMC only kicks in in July 2025.

Miller is older but he's also 3.6M AAV cheaper and has only 5 additional years left as opposed to 7 for EP.

 

[dahrougem2]

Is the trade freeze over yet?


Miller is playing well and the other isn't. From everything we've heard I don't even think in the cards to get rid of Miller. That would be a Hell of a surprise...especially since Miller has a full NMC while EP's NMC only kicks in in July 2025.

Miller is older but he's also 3.6M AAV cheaper and has only 5 additional years left as opposed to 7 for EP.

You're the biggest contract value guy here.

Surely you can see the difference in value between a 32-37 contract and a 26-33 contract.

 

[Balthazar]

You're the biggest contract value guy here.

Surely you can see the difference in value between a 32-37 contract and a 26-33 contract.

The problem is you think EP is only a Miller trade away from going back to a 100 pt player but you don't know that.

Considering how they have played in the last 2 years I'd much rather have Miller at 8M than EP at 11.6M.

 

[dahrougem2]

The problem is you think EP is only a Miller trade away from going back to a 100 pt player but you don't know that.

Considering how they have played in the last 2 years I'd much rather have Miller at 8M than EP at 11.6M.

I would say the odds of Pettersson regaining his form during his prime are much higher than Miller maintaining his form as he exits his prime, yes.

 

[Balthazar]