GDT: 2025 Playoffs - First Round

[PK Cronin]

Cole Perfetti that was awesome. Forcing OT in game 7 with 1.6 seconds to go

Insane end to regulation.

 

[Throttle]

Cole Perfetti that was awesome. Forcing OT in game 7 with 1.6 seconds to go

And picked #10 (in a strong draft though).

 

[Big L]

The hockey gods sure as shlt smiled on the peg

 

[BMOK33]

Biggest loser here is Dallas. You go from having home ice vs the 8 seed to having to face Winnipeg

 

[BelovedIsles]

Amazing game--that's the epitome of playoff hockey.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Colorado walked away with the worst player of the three: Rantanen, Necas, and Stankhoven.

I seriously doubt that a single person in the NHL would take Stankoven over Necas.

Not a one.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Biggest loser here is Dallas. You go from having home ice vs the 8 seed to having to face Winnipeg

In general, I'm effin' finished with the NHL's divisional playoff system crap.

There really isn't any reason to have a system in place where two of a conference's top 3 teams face each other right off the bat in the first round.

Not when you can easily do it like the majority of European leagues, where (after a pre-playoff series featuring 7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9) a logical system then sees 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5.

And it works so doggone well, it hurts.

Wasn't it like that in the NHL for a while too?

What was their argument against that? To create more local rivalry pairings á la FLA vs TBL?

 

[xECK29x]

Incredible comeback for WPG, saved my bracket for another round

 

[scottywiper]

What a wild couple of games.

 

[Throttle]

I seriously doubt that a single person in the NHL would take Stankoven over Necas.

Not a one.

Well, good for them. Necas is a nice player, not a difference maker, he’s making 6.5 and soon gonna be 8/9M, which is elite player territory - he’s not there. You’ve already embarrassed yourself with the deal, you take a Stankhoven (that has delivered in the playoffs for Dallas in a sheltered role) and use the delta to get another playoff gamer on your roster.

For a team struggling to get out of the first round, they don’t need another ‘nice’ player. Even worse COL wanted Necas as McFarland has turned a SC team into a younger version of the Penguins in 3 seasons.

I mentioned COL was a one and done Cup winner because of McFarland taking over and letting go of Kadri - a playoff gamer and they were in the last season of a honeymoon cap situation. He’s a created a mess of that team and cap situation.

 

[Thrasymachus]

My dad (native Manitoban) loves the Jets, so I am happy for him.

 

[MJF]

In general, I'm effin' finished with the NHL's divisional playoff system crap.

There really isn't any reason to have a system in place where two of a conference's top 3 teams face each other right off the bat in the first round.

Not when you can easily do it like the majority of European leagues, where (after a pre-playoff series featuring 7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9) a logical system then sees 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5.

And it works so doggone well, it hurts.

Wasn't it like that in the NHL for a while too?

What was their argument against that? To create more local rivalry pairings á la FLA vs TBL?

I thought the reason for this was to keep travel costs down. I would prefer the league go back to 1-16, 2-15 playoff matchups.

 

[PK Cronin]

I thought the reason for this was to keep travel costs down. I would prefer the league go back to 1-16, 2-15 playoff matchups.

I recall that being a part of it. Shorter travel for most of the series and the increase in rivalry games.

From a competitive standpoint it should be 1-8 or 1-16, travel be damned. They won't ever go to 1-16 though because of the travel restrictions on games due to the contracts + the cost.

 

[Throttle]

I recall that being a part of it. Shorter travel for most of the series and the increase in rivalry games.

From a competitive standpoint it should be 1-8 or 1-16, travel be damned. They won't ever go to 1-16 though because of the travel restrictions on games due to the contracts + the cost.

And arena availability.

My guess is you go with the older formats and people start asking for rivalries again.

 

[Zeeker]

Not even the Leafs breaking their curse can get us down this offseason!

 

[Thrasymachus]

Not even the Leafs breaking their curse can get us down this offseason!

Speaking as a Canadian who generally loathes the leafs.

If they are going to win and not divide half the country over it... this is the year. What with all the weird politics lately.

 

[Arsenalogist24]

Stankoven was meant to be a Hurricane. Fits like a glove already

 

[BMOK33]

This game is like Canes/Panthers games 2-3-4 in 2023. Dominate and either lose or be at high risk of losing

 

[Big L]

Canes win, put pucks on net.

 

[BMOK33]

Given how good the Canes are at home I felt if the Caps split at home they'd be in trouble.

 

[Arsenalogist24]

Tough one to lose on but that’s so typical of how Carolina wins games. Nightmares from series past

 

[Arsenalogist24]

Mark Stone 2 goals already for Vegas

 

[BMOK33]

FLA/TOR and VGK/EDM had the most under the radar sweep potential in this round. FLA has like 18 guys who are nearing game 300 in the past 1000 days and that EDM goaltending is bad

 

[Big L]

I think EDM having to rally to win games is gonna bite them in the ass.

 

[MJF]

I think EDM having to rally to win games is gonna bite them in the ass.

I wouldn't trust them holding a lead. They're better off doing what they're doing lol.