GDT: 2024-2025 Training Camp

[Pancakes]

I dunno. He said in an interview this summer he wants to play as long as he can.



I'm not convinced the Penguins miss the playoffs this year. Wouldn't surprise me, but the Metro and East in general blows ass compared to last year.

I have the Pens missing but it wouldn't surprise me if they make it.

As shit a job as Sully has done the Pens had enough talent to get in the past two years and with a bit better finishing luck they would have. I guess you could say a lot of bubble teams could make that claim though.

 

[K Fleur]

We’ll miss the playoffs but barely.

Down the stretch Jarry will make sure of it .

 

[Gurglesons]

I have the Pens missing but it wouldn't surprise me if they make it.

As shit a job as Sully has done the Pens had enough talent to get in the past two years and with a bit better finishing luck they would have. I guess you could say a lot of bubble teams could make that claim though.

The only lock in the Metro for me is the Rangers.

The only lock in the Atlantic for me are Florida.

Everything else is fair game. Toronto's D is a joke. Tampa lost Sergachev and Stamkos. Boston is older and doesn't have a starting goaltender with Swayman holding out. Carolina lost Tuevo, Skeji, Guentzel and Pesce and replaced the D with Ghost and Walker and did nothing up front besides add Roslo. Devils are the Devils.

I just see a lot of teams that were above us got worse and I don't think any of the Sabres, Sens, or Wings did enough this off season to catapult themselves above us.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Half the teams in the league make it. It's not hard, nor is it some kinda accomplishment to make the playoffs. The East is pretty much terrible outside of a select few teams at the top so it's a fight to see which shit rises to the top of the septic tank for the rest of 'em.

But they've got no Jake, their bottom-6 is still shit, they still have Sully, and they'll still have a "starter" that collapses from like January 15th onward. So who knows?

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Nothing’s changed in Russia!?

Nothing's changed with his mindset. He still was in Russia this summer.

 

[Gurglesons]

Half the teams in the league make it. It's not hard, nor is it some kinda accomplishment to make the playoffs. The East is pretty much terrible outside of a select few teams at the top so it's a fight to see which shit rises to the top of the septic tank for the rest of 'em.

But they've got no Jake, their bottom-6 is still shit, they still have Sully, and they'll still have a "starter" that collapses from like January 15th onward. So who knows?

I think the big thing here is Sullivan has lost his faith in Jarry which makes me think he'll go to Ned a lot quicker this year.

That probably makes the playoffs for us.

Also, even if the powerplay is bad, I don't see it finishing 30th in the league again.

 

[Pancakes]

The only lock in the Metro for me is the Rangers.

The only lock in the Atlantic for me are Florida.

Everything else is fair game. Toronto's D is a joke. Tampa lost Sergachev and Stamkos. Boston is older and doesn't have a starting goaltender with Swayman holding out. Carolina lost Tuevo, Skeji, Guentzel and Pesce and replaced the D with Ghost and Walker and did nothing up front besides add Roslo. Devils are the Devils.

I just see a lot of teams that were above us got worse and I don't think any of the Sabres, Sens, or Wings did enough this off season to catapult themselves above us.

The Devils are interesting to me. Like they were really bad this last year. They did get a goalie (an old one) and they have a better coach. And they may be healthier. Perhaps that's enough? But I feel like people are making a huge leap in saying they're gonna be this elite team again. They were worse than the friggin Pens

I think there's a good chance the Devils rebound and end up a playoff team but the way people are just penciling them in there is surprising to me.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

If the Devils can stay healthy I wouldn't be surprised if they won the East tbh. Lotta talent there, and Ruff's not around anymore to Sullivan things.

But they have a buncha guys who are like as not to end up on the shelf for weeks/months.

 

[Gurglesons]

The Devils are interesting to me. Like they were really bad this last year. They did get a goalie (an old one) and they have a better coach. And they may be healthier. Perhaps that's enough? But I feel like people are making a huge leap in saying they're gonna be this elite team again. They were worse than the friggin Pens

I think there's a good chance the Devils rebound and end up a playoff team but the way people are just penciling them in there is surprising to me.

Yeah, I'm not sold on them either.

I also think people forget how bad Markstrom was a few seasons ago.

Not to mention they are already getting hit with injuries.

If the Devils can stay healthy I wouldn't be surprised if they won the East tbh. Lotta talent there, and Ruff's not around anymore to Sullivan things.

But they have a buncha guys who are like as not to end up on the shelf for weeks/months.

It's not like Keefe is a good coach. Dude got completely destroyed in every playoff series he's been in.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Sully will overplay Sid, underuse youth and this team will once again fall completely apart in February/March.

The only hope for fun is for Sully to fired in an embarrassing manner, but the beantown mafia sticks together to destroy Pittsburgh sports scene.

 

[K Fleur]

Yeah, I'm not sold on them either.

I also think people forget how bad Markstrom was a few seasons ago.

Not to mention they are already getting hit with injuries.



It's not like Keefe is a good coach. Dude got completely destroyed in every playoff series he's been in.

You can say it’s cause Marino is gone. We won’t make fun of you.

 

[Gurglesons]

You can say it’s cause Marino is gone. We won’t make fun of you.

Marino f***ing blows. No shock Jersey dealt him after 2 seasons.

Sucks my favorite team right now in the West took him on.

But, he's probably an improvement over what they had on their RHD side last year.

 

[Pancakes]

Yeah, I'm not sold on them either.

I also think people forget how bad Markstrom was a few seasons ago.

Not to mention they are already getting hit with injuries.



It's not like Keefe is a good coach. Dude got completely destroyed in every playoff series he's been in.

After the Rangers and Canes who I think are locks I probably trust the Islanders the most for two reasons:

1) They have Sorokin

2) They're annoyingly f-ing good at grinding out points. They're not a good team, but they will grind their way into lots of OT losses. Those extra points add up. Where the Pens and other Metro teams will be losing games in regulation the Isles will find a way to squeeze out extra points out of some of those losses.

Flyers don't have much talent so I doubt they'll be good unless Michkov has an incredible year. He does look very good but I don't think it will be enough.

Jackets will be bad.

Caps had a great off season but they sucked ass this year. I know they made the playoffs but that was one of the worst playoff teams I've ever seen in the modern era. Hugely negative goal differential and just bad. I'm not sure the off season additions they made will be enough to vault them into being actually good. They might be a better team than last year and miss simply because they were lucky to make it last year.

And then there's the Pens who look like much the same team as last year but what they had last year was good enough to make the playoffs provided they got a bit more finishing luck. Perhaps that happens this year or perhaps not.

 

[Gurglesons]

After the Rangers and Canes who I think are locks I probably trust the Islanders the most for two reasons:

1) They have Sorokin

2) They're annoyingly f-ing good at grinding out points. They're not a good team, but they will grind their way into lots of OT losses. Those extra points add up. Where the Pens and other Metro teams will be losing games in regulation the Isles will find a way to squeeze out extra points out of some of those losses.

Flyers don't have much talent so I doubt they'll be good unless Michkov has an incredible year. He does look very good but I don't think it will be enough.

Jackets will be bad.

Caps had a great off season but they sucked ass this year. I know they made the playoffs but that was one of the worst playoff teams I've ever seen in the modern era. Hugely negative goal differential and just bad. I'm not sure the off season additions they made will be enough to vault them into being actually good. They might be a better team than last year and miss simply because they were lucky to make it last year.

And then there's the Pens who look like much the same team as last year but what they had last year was good enough to make the playoffs provided they got a bit more finishing luck. Perhaps that happens this year or perhaps not.

Sorokin had back surgery. Not sure he'll be healthy for them to start.

 

[Pancakes]

Sorokin had back surgery. Not sure he'll be healthy for them to start.

I thought he was expected to start the season for them despite that?

I suppose if the surgery hinders him that could spell doom for the Isles. But if he's healthy and ready to go they'll be in the mix again.

 

[Gurglesons]

I thought he was expected to start the season for them despite that?

I suppose if the surgery hinders him that could spell doom for the Isles. But if he's healthy and ready to go they'll be in the mix again.

He hasn't practiced once.

 

[Pancakes]

He hasn't practiced once.

Interesting. Well assuming he plays most of the season I would have them grabbing one of the final playoff spots but if he misses a big chunk of time I would revise that thought

 

[Andy99]

Won’t be out long…

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840578254228304314

 

[HandshakeLine]

Malkin always wanted to finish his career in Russia. Nothing's changed imo.
I see him bailing after these 2 years.

Russia ain’t doin to hot these days there AB

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

After the Rangers and Canes who I think are locks I probably trust the Islanders the most for two reasons:

1) They have Sorokin

2) They're annoyingly f-ing good at grinding out points. They're not a good team, but they will grind their way into lots of OT losses. Those extra points add up. Where the Pens and other Metro teams will be losing games in regulation the Isles will find a way to squeeze out extra points out of some of those losses.

This is so annoyingly true.

They always finish with like 12-15 OTL's.

 

[HandshakeLine]

The only lock in the Metro for me is the Rangers.

The only lock in the Atlantic for me are Florida.

Everything else is fair game. Toronto's D is a joke. Tampa lost Sergachev and Stamkos. Boston is older and doesn't have a starting goaltender with Swayman holding out. Carolina lost Tuevo, Skeji, Guentzel and Pesce and replaced the D with Ghost and Walker and did nothing up front besides add Roslo. Devils are the Devils.

I just see a lot of teams that were above us got worse and I don't think any of the Sabres, Sens, or Wings did enough this off season to catapult themselves above us.

As always, I don't think we're really in a position that other teams are beating us out, it's that we're losing what should be enough easily winnable points to not make it. We've missed the playoffs by the thinnest of margins for two years in a row, and again, not because other teams were vastly better, but because we couldn't make the necessary adjustments to score one more power play goal or, even better, simply just not lose a winnable OT.

The only one who's going to keep us from the playoffs is ourselves, and by golly, knowing us, we're gonna try real hard to keep on missing them!

 

[Ryder71]

I actually enjoyed the game. Might be the last time I say this.

Quite possibly so.

Are we really debating starting 18 year old Harrison Brunicke on opening night?

He can skate, already has NHL speed, but he's still needs a lot of seasoning. Looks like a value pick there for our CAR trade.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think teams like Florida and the NYR are sure bets. I think it's safe to assume the Canes, Leafs, Bolts, and Devils (if they remain healthy) are in. Then you've got a shitjam of teams like the Pens, Caps, Wings, and Isles fighting for the remaining spots. I intentionally omitted the Bruins; if Swayman's contract stuff drags on for months, they're in trouble. If it's resolved soon, I think they're a relatively safe bet to be in. Maybe closer to the shitpile than comfortable making it since they lost Ullmark. Then you've got the sludge at the bottom with the Sabres, Habs, Jackets, Sens and Flyers. (No particular order throughout)

But yeah, Sullivan and Dubas are gonna keep doing their thing so even something as easy as being a middle of the pack team in the East is gonna be something the team's gonna have to fight tooth and nail for all season again.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Russia ain’t doin to hot these days there AB

Again, not what I was talking about HSL.
Players are still heading over to the Russian league. Malkin will do the same.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Again, not what I was talking about HSL.
Players are still heading over to the Russian league. Malkin will do the same.

I don't know, if he was going to do it, I think he would have done it already when the team was jerking him around about signing and before they got sanctioned to hell.