Around the League '16-'17 Stanley Cup Final Edition

[johnjm22]

So there's a Pittsburgh Penguins car that you can hit with a sledge hammer as part of game day activities in Nashville? Nice.

 

[kingsholygrail]

The Nashville crowd is great. Glad they're getting another game.

 

[kovacro]

So there's a Pittsburgh Penguins car that you can hit with a sledge hammer as part of game day activities in Nashville? Nice.

Yep.



http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/06/rex...erseys-fun-game-3-nashville-stanley-cup-final

 

[kovacro]

Great win for the Preds and to be honest, they have outplayed the Pens in all 4 games.

I know someone earlier had mentioned they don't have the depth down the middle to match the Pens but Frederick Gaudreau & Colton Sissons have really stepped it up. They are having a heck of a playoff run.

You can push a guy like Fisher down to the 3rd line when you have others stepping up and bringing it night in, night out.

I really like Jarnkrok. Nice complementary piece on that team. He doesn't stick out but he seems to do a lot of things well.

Best of 3 now. Let's go Preds.

 

[deeshamrock]

Can't even see the Penguins winning another game in this series.

I can't either. They just can't match the Preds speed and dominance. And their PP has fizzled. And I really felt the lack of center depth would affect the Preds, but they are getting contributions from the other forwards and they style lends itself to those 4 top d that are strong on both sides of the puck and very fast. They have combined for a total of 50 pts, which is insane. Have been a huge fan of Josi for years, and Ekholm is really showing some great stuff. They have the best defense in the game and it will only get better.

Josi -14
Ellis 13
Subban 12
Ekholm 11


Their defense is their best offense and that is a rare skill and they work it to perfection.

If Poile gets that elusive #2 center over the summer, that will really put them in the driver's seat in the Central.

 

[kovacro]

I can't either. They just can't match the Preds speed and dominance. And their PP has fizzled. And I really felt the lack of center depth would affect the Preds, but they are getting contributions from the other forwards and they style lends itself to those 4 top d that are strong on both sides of the puck and very fast. They have combined for a total of 50 pts, which is insane. Have been a huge fan of Josi for years, and Ekholm is really showing some great stuff. They have the best defense in the game and it will only get better.

Josi -14
Ellis 13
Subban 12
Ekholm 11


Their defense is their best offense and that is a rare skill and they work it to perfection.

If Poile gets that elusive #2 center over the summer, that will really put them in the driver's seat in the Central.

Ellis is going to get paid (UFA - end of next season) but I am sure they are going to try to lock him up prior to. Arvidsson and Johanssen will get a raises as RFA's.

I wonder what they do with Neal. I am thinking they wouldn't mind if Vegas took Craig Smith if he was exposed to help free up some money.

I don't think Nashville is a cap team so how much is left to go out and find a solid number 2 centre?

Might already be in the pipeline with a guy like Kamenev or Petterson, maybe to a lesser extent a Gaudreau. I am thinking Poile has a look in house first.

Thoughts?

 

[kingsholygrail]

Preds still gotta win a road game and that's where they've faltered the most.

 

[deeshamrock]

Ellis is going to get paid (UFA - end of next season) but I am sure they are going to try to lock him up prior to. Arvidsson and Johanssen will get a raises as RFA's.

I wonder what they do with Neal. I am thinking they wouldn't mind if Vegas took Craig Smith if he was exposed to help free up some money.

I don't think Nashville is a cap team so how much is left to go out and find a solid number 2 centre?

Might already be in the pipeline with a guy like Kamenev or Petterson, maybe to a lesser extent a Gaudreau. I am thinking Poile has a look in house first.

Thoughts?

I think, from what I've seen and read, Kamenev eventually will be a good top 6 center to support RJ. But at 20, he's a bit young and Poile, historically, doesn't rush the prospects. I think they'd like to give him another year in the AHL. Sissons? I don't see as a 2C, a good 3C, yes. Fisher? Props for what he's done but he's 37 and I'd move on. Esp if he's not interestd in a 1 yr deal, and most FA's aren't . But if they win, maybe he'll retire on top.
Gaudreau? An undrafted 24 yr old rookie? Not sure I've seen enough or he's got resume enough for that. But maybe this is the break he needed
I like building thru the draft and would go that route, give Sissons a shot next year until Kamenev is ready, unless he has a great camp and they give him a shot but that's not like them.
The reason I mentioned they might be looking for a solid #2 was because something Poile said during one of the early playoff rounds when he was asked about the effect RJ has had (legit #1) and he said something to the effect that they (as an organization) focused for years on defense and now they have that center and how that was on their radar. Now, he did mention Fisher, which I guess he had to, and they'd 'love to have him back' But that depends on the deal, the term ,etc.
I just got the impression that, esp if they don't win, they feel they have a window here for the next few years and with a more seasoned (not rookie /inexperienced) center at #2, they'd fare better.
We'll see....
I wouldn't have Fisher back, you have to get younger there. ANd I guess like other teams, the expansion draft will affect that.

 

[Little Psycho]

Preds still gotta win a road game and that's where they've faltered the most.

One of the reasons why people should stop comparing the Kings and Preds, Kings were road warriors and they were also ok at home.

 

[kovacro]

I think, from what I've seen and read, Kamenev eventually will be a good top 6 center to support RJ. But at 20, he's a bit young and Poile, historically, doesn't rush the prospects. I think they'd like to give him another year in the AHL. Sissons? I don't see as a 2C, a good 3C, yes. Fisher? Props for what he's done but he's 37 and I'd move on. Esp if he's not interestd in a 1 yr deal, and most FA's aren't . But if they win, maybe he'll retire on top.
Gaudreau? An undrafted 24 yr old rookie? Not sure I've seen enough or he's got resume enough for that. But maybe this is the break he needed
I like building thru the draft and would go that route, give Sissons a shot next year until Kamenev is ready, unless he has a great camp and they give him a shot but that's not like them.
The reason I mentioned they might be looking for a solid #2 was because something Poile said during one of the early playoff rounds when he was asked about the effect RJ has had (legit #1) and he said something to the effect that they (as an organization) focused for years on defense and now they have that center and how that was on their radar. Now, he did mention Fisher, which I guess he had to, and they'd 'love to have him back' But that depends on the deal, the term ,etc.
I just got the impression that, esp if they don't win, they feel they have a window here for the next few years and with a more seasoned (not rookie /inexperienced) center at #2, they'd fare better.
We'll see....
I wouldn't have Fisher back, you have to get younger there. ANd I guess like other teams, the expansion draft will affect that.

He (Fisher) may retire regardless according to Dreger. If he still opts to play longer, I would tend to agree with you and not bring him back.

Dreger: I’d be real surprised if Mike Fisher played next season

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/dreger-i-d-be-real-surprised-if-mike-fisher-played-next-season~1140287

 

[KINGS17]

I think, from what I've seen and read, Kamenev eventually will be a good top 6 center to support RJ. But at 20, he's a bit young and Poile, historically, doesn't rush the prospects. I think they'd like to give him another year in the AHL. Sissons? I don't see as a 2C, a good 3C, yes. Fisher? Props for what he's done but he's 37 and I'd move on. Esp if he's not interestd in a 1 yr deal, and most FA's aren't . But if they win, maybe he'll retire on top.
Gaudreau? An undrafted 24 yr old rookie? Not sure I've seen enough or he's got resume enough for that. But maybe this is the break he needed
I like building thru the draft and would go that route, give Sissons a shot next year until Kamenev is ready, unless he has a great camp and they give him a shot but that's not like them.
The reason I mentioned they might be looking for a solid #2 was because something Poile said during one of the early playoff rounds when he was asked about the effect RJ has had (legit #1) and he said something to the effect that they (as an organization) focused for years on defense and now they have that center and how that was on their radar. Now, he did mention Fisher, which I guess he had to, and they'd 'love to have him back' But that depends on the deal, the term ,etc.
I just got the impression that, esp if they don't win, they feel they have a window here for the next few years and with a more seasoned (not rookie /inexperienced) center at #2, they'd fare better.
We'll see....
I wouldn't have Fisher back, you have to get younger there. ANd I guess like other teams, the expansion draft will affect that.

I said before the trade deadline the Kings and Preds would be excellent trading partners. The same is true this off season.

I like the Preds chances in the remainder of the series. They seem to have found a hole on Murray's glove side.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

I can't either. They just can't match the Preds speed and dominance. And their PP has fizzled. And I really felt the lack of center depth would affect the Preds, but they are getting contributions from the other forwards and they style lends itself to those 4 top d that are strong on both sides of the puck and very fast. They have combined for a total of 50 pts, which is insane. Have been a huge fan of Josi for years, and Ekholm is really showing some great stuff. They have the best defense in the game and it will only get better.

Josi -14
Ellis 13
Subban 12
Ekholm 11


Their defense is their best offense and that is a rare skill and they work it to perfection.

If Poile gets that elusive #2 center over the summer, that will really put them in the driver's seat in the Central.

Obviously a ton can happen in the next few years with the salary cap but they're set up very well. I think the biggest question mark though is goaltending for Nashville. How much longer can Rinne play at a high level? And is Saros the answer after Rinne? You don't need a great goalie with that defense but we've all seen how an average goalie can tank a team.

I said before the trade deadline the Kings and Preds would be excellent trading partners. The same is true this off season.

I like the Preds chances in the remainder of the series. They seem to have found a hole on Murray's glove side.

That's always been Murray's problem. Even last year they talked about how San Jose was exploiting it. That's not even the biggest problem for the Penguins. They have 2 goals in 2 games with that offense. Their defense is killing their offense. Not to mention how Malkin looks disinterested half the time, Kessel is completely useless in this series, and Crosby is getting punked by Subban 80% of the game.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Penguins are something like 1 for 16 on the power play and 0 for 3 last night. For such a legendary, explosive, potent offense they've done jack ****.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Penguins are something like 1 for 16 on the power play and 0 for 3 last night. For such a legendary, explosive, potent offense they've done jack ****.

Crosby touches the puck maybe 10 seconds on the power play while Malkin and Kessel turn it over repeatedly. I just don't get that power play. Why is Kessel the one skating the puck into the zone and why does Crosby hardly ever touch the puck? And why hasn't Sullivan put Guentzel on that top unit when he's the only one scoring?

 

[kingsholygrail]

Crosby scored his first Final goal since 2009? Game 2 or something? Crosby basically doesn't score in the Final which isn't terribly surprising given how hard he is kept in check. That's really why Guentzel is scoring a lot.

 

[KINGS17]

Crosby touches the puck maybe 10 seconds on the power play while Malkin and Kessel turn it over repeatedly. I just don't get that power play. Why is Kessel the one skating the puck into the zone and why does Crosby hardly ever touch the puck? And why hasn't Sullivan put Guentzel on that top unit when he's the only one scoring?

Yeah, you would think Pittsburgh would want more of a playmaker to carry the puck into the zone, and Kessel isn't exactly a speed merchant either.

 

[kingsfan28]

One of the reasons why people should stop comparing the Kings and Preds, Kings were road warriors and they were also ok at home.

Yes they were. 1 road loss and that was game 5 of the SCF.

 

[BigKing]

Yes they were. 1 road loss and that was game 5 of the SCF.

1-3 in clinch opportunities in Game 4 at home.

 

[kovacro]

Obviously a ton can happen in the next few years with the salary cap but they're set up very well. I think the biggest question mark though is goaltending for Nashville. How much longer can Rinne play at a high level? And is Saros the answer after Rinne? You don't need a great goalie with that defense but we've all seen how an average goalie can tank a team.



That's always been Murray's problem. Even last year they talked about how San Jose was exploiting it. That's not even the biggest problem for the Penguins. They have 2 goals in 2 games with that offense. Their defense is killing their offense. Not to mention how Malkin looks disinterested half the time, Kessel is completely useless in this series, and Crosby is getting punked by Subban 80% of the game.

I believe he is. He is going to be a very solid starting goalie for Nashville once Rinne calls it quits or takes a back seat.

I also think Kessel has to be playing with some type of ailment. He is passing the puck way too much. I'm thinking he's got something wrong with his wrist. I heard on, I believe it was Sportsnet, where they mentioned he had a procedure at the end of last season. I just wonder if it's come back up again and is limiting him.

 

[Brodeur]

He (Fisher) may retire regardless according to Dreger. If he still opts to play longer, I would tend to agree with you and not bring him back.

Dreger: I’d be real surprised if Mike Fisher played next season

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/dreger-i-d-be-real-surprised-if-mike-fisher-played-next-season~1140287

Original tweet by TSN Radio:



I did enjoy that Dreger had to reply to that tweet:



TSN has a bad habit of using an out of context quote as a clickbait headline for their site. Dreger had a Vancouver radio interview a few weeks back. The hosts asked Dreger if he thought the Canucks might inquire with the Devils/Flyers about moving up. Dreger said something along the lines of "....yeah, I'd be surprised if they didn't at least inquire about the cost of moving up."

When the podcast was posted, TSN gave it a sexy headline of: Dreger - "I'd be surprised" if the top picks weren't in play.

Which led to the usual overreaction of people who only saw the headline and didn't listen to the interview. Suddenly those people thought the Devils and Flyers were actively shopping the picks.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Loving the Pittsburgh media whining, dear god. Before I just wanted Nashville to win, now I also want pittsburgh to lose horribly.

First mocking Nashville as not a hockey town, now this

 

[johnjm22]

Loving the Pittsburgh media whining, dear god. Before I just wanted Nashville to win, now I also want pittsburgh to lose horribly.

First mocking Nashville as not a hockey town, now this

"At the height of the crowd mania in Game 4, I believe my radio trained ears heard the pops and cracks of over-modulation. Lastly, the sound levels are never shown in the arena, unlike every other arena in which I’ve covered games."

Haha. Definitely sour grapes.

 

[Steve Zissou]

This is pure gold!

 

[kingsfan28]

Austin Mathews new tattoo will look good when he's a King in 10 years.WTF?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He got a Bailey tattoo?!?