2024/2025 Around the League

[Pokecheque]

I think it did. It's the Tavares experiment on steroids.

When you are rebuilding you don't hand your room to outsiders. By trying to avoid becoming Buffalo they will become Buffalo.

They didn’t really hand the room over to outsiders. They pinned the C on Larkin and (I think) the A on Seider. And I don’t think anyone in there is a disruptive presence, on the contrary, they brought in plenty of guys who are generally regarded as good in the room. Much as I’ve made it clear I think Kane is a human shitstain, he’s generally well-liked by his teammates.

The team IMO simply isn’t good enough. Way too many past-their-prime stars and depth guys, coupled with abhorrent goaltending, and a coach who’s in waaaaaay over his head. And the top guys aren’t really good enough to carry them. Larkin is damn good but not a game breaker, Mo is a legit top defender but he needs some help. They desperately need Kasper and Cossa to graduate and start making an impact.

 

[Pokecheque]

It was a big failure. It screwed up their salary structure, alienated the young core (who thought were getting the room) and led to all that playoff misery.

It was a failure but not in the way you’re describing here. At least not entirely. Yes it screwed up their salary structure but it ate up a ton of cap room to address a need they didn’t have. At least the moment they got Tavares, Kadri should’ve been flipped right away. But Kadri proved he can be your 2C on a Cup winning squad, they had him signed to a steal of a contract, and ultimately decided to not utilize that value at all. The Avs did though.

Ultimately they should’ve gone out and gotten another stud defenseman and/or addressed the goaltending. Maybe in hindsight been WAY tougher in negotiations with Marner, either signing him to a cheaper deal or trading him…the latter might have actually worked out great.

But really they should’ve fired Babcock’s dumb ass sooner. That’s on Shanahan.

 

[McMetal]

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.

That is the very textbook definition of recency bias. Can you really tell me with a straight face that a 31 year old Miller for 5 years is going to give the Nucks a longer contention window than 26 year old Pettersson for 7 years?

Unless you just really think EP40 sucks and his 102 point season was the fluke of all flukes, I cannot imagine how that could be the case.

 

[LOFIN]

8 games for Rempe

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

8 games for Rempe

Good

 

[McMetal]

8 games for Rempe

Good. The sooner he goes the way of Raffi Torres, the better. We may only play the Rags twice a year, but I don't want that guy to ever spend one second on the ice with Cale Makar.

 

[dahrougem2]

8 games for Rempe

Good. Send him a message that stupid shit will not be tolerated.

There was no reason for that hit to be as violent as it was.

 

[S E P H]

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.

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.

Pretty sure there were reports that he had a bum shoulder last season during the playoffs. Obviously that has healed now, but that is what I remember reading about.

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 is tough because do you sell out and try to win at least one Cup within the next 2-4 years? If so, then JT Miller is absolutely the one you keep. He's a hot head, but he's a playoff warrior and would be so much more productive postseason than EP40. You choose Elias if you're worried about your long-term game.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[Pokecheque]

The idiotic mania that always takes hold over goons like Rempe has literally cost players their very lives. The Rangers deserve everything that’s happening to them.

 

[hockeyfish]

If my math is correct, Rempe is currently averaging one game suspened per 10 minutes of ice time. over his "carrer."

That isn't a good look.

 

[Balthazar]

That is the very textbook definition of recency bias. Can you really tell me with a straight face that a 31 year old Miller for 5 years is going to give the Nucks a longer contention window than 26 year old Pettersson for 7 years?

"Recency" as in the last 2 seasons? He's not the player you remember. He isn't as explosive on his skates and doesn't have that shot/release anymore.

I'll tell you what, if EP keeps this up not only he's not helping but he's a 11.6M anchor to that team and would sink any contender because of that AAV.

Now you might believe that everything is going to change once he's no longer in the same locker room as JT Miller, and you could be right, but you could also be wrong.

 

[Balthazar]

No, he was struggling before that contract too, which may have prompted him to sign that deal out of concern that he wouldn’t secure the bag at his production level at the time.

It’s very concerning that if it is indeed an injury that it’s lasted this long.

@McMetal see? The decision isn't as easy as "you keep the younger guy".

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

I love they are shitting all over their captain after he acknowledged the feud and said it was an issue. LOL.

 

[HockeyFan100]

Hope the Canucks implode

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I love they are shitting all over their captain after he acknowledged the feud and said it was an issue. LOL.

Never been a big JT Miller fan, but man other than be obviously irritated by being asked so much about it, everything he said is exactly what I'd expect Nate to say. He showed scorn to the reporters and then said something like if there's any noise between my ears it's me trying to figure out how to play a better 200' game for the team. Later on he went to emphasize the process and work needed...said they had to start playing the game the right way and when they do that, the points will come.

Not a whole lot more you could want to hear from him... unless you want to see this thing blow up.

 

[Balthazar]

Never been a big JT Miller fan, but man other than be obviously irritated by being asked so much about it, everything he said is exactly what I'd expect Nate to say. He showed scorn to the reporters and then said something like if there's any noise between my ears it's me trying to figure out how to play a better 200' game for the team. Later on he went to emphasize the process and work needed...said they had to start playing the game the right way and when they do that, the points will come.

Not a whole lot more you could want to hear from him... unless you want to see this thing blow up.

 

[sethro109]

This post is

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Geekie just hit the boards hard. He's off to the room under his own popwer but man...that looked bad. Hope he's back quick.

 

[Metallo]

More drama. Hasek not happy that the Habs went to Russia to watch Demidov.

Hasek is right, Russian imperialism is bad, US imperialism is good.