Around the League '16-'17 There are no games after 82 edition

[Little Psycho]

As long as those 3 are on this team, they'll never win. Wait til a series goes more than 5 games, they'll all crack under the pressure.

It's embarrassing how easily they got rattled.

 

[Reclamation Project]

It's embarrassing how easily they got rattled.

If I'm a coach it's my game plan. Aside from executing the fundamentals, I'm telling my players to rattle that team, especially the weakest links - Bieksa, Kesler, Perry, and Getzlaf. Play it smart, but unload every chance you get. Talk **** to them after the whistle when the ref isn't looking, throw them around every chance you get, get right against Gibson, etc.

The psychological edge is much more important than the physical one. I would have my team mentally dominating them. Get about 10 minutes into the game and then start playing with them. Bait them into penalties every chance you get. It would be too easy.

 

[deeshamrock]

Great play by Drai there. He knew he couldn't get the pass through so he put it on net at the exact angle he needed to produce a rebound for a wide open Letestu on the other side of the net.

He has a lot of those, he's developing into about as complete a player as you would want. nothing not to love about his game And IQ off the charts, smart. He and McD will be a force for them for years.

 

[deeshamrock]

That's the mentality their team is built upon. Bunch of pretenders.

speaking of which


Ryan Rishaug‏Verified account @TSNRyanRishaug

The gamesmanship has begun. Carlyle says Oilers will be whining... McLellan responds.


http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/h...series-says-anaheim-ducks-coach-randy-carlyle

“I know they’re going to make face-offs a priority, they’ll be whining to the officials,†said Carlyle. “I know that’s coming. That’s the way playoffs are, and everybody has their crosses to bear on what the opposition is doing.â€

“I don’t think that’s a brilliant comment by any means,†Oilers head coach Todd McLellan said. “When you’re 30th, you’re not happy. Sometimes, these games (digs) are made and some of those comments are an admission of guilt. They are very effective in the face-off circle. It’s lways nice to distract.â€

 

[Little Psycho]

speaking of which


Ryan Rishaug‏Verified account @TSNRyanRishaug

The gamesmanship has begun. Carlyle says Oilers will be whining... McLellan responds.


http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/h...series-says-anaheim-ducks-coach-randy-carlyle

And that comment was made before the game! Glad to know the coach and his players are on the same page.

 

[Little Psycho]

Time to whip this out...

I expected better from you...



Where's Getzlaf and Perry?

 

[kovacro]

Sabres interview Guerin for GM role

One of many to be interviewed for the GM post.

http://www.tsn.ca/sabres-interview-guerin-for-gm-role-1.735760

Buffalo sports talk radio has mentioned Paul Fenton is a possibility for an interview.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I expected better from you...



Where's Getzlaf and Perry?

That's from when they acquired Kesler!

 

[KINGS17]

Wow!! Two goals on the opening shift of the 2nd period for Crosby.

I wonder if there has ever been a hat trick scored in a playoff game on a single shift.

 

[damacles1156]

Crosby makes the Pens go.

 

[KINGS17]

Crosby makes the Pens go.

It's what the captain and highly paid 1C is supposed to do, right?

As I am typing this Crosby just had a good chance for the natural hat trick, but Holtby made a good save.

 

[KINGS17]

Nice to see Malkin get knocked on his ass, leading to an Ovechkin goal.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Capitals ain't winning ****!

 

[kingsholygrail]

Capitals ain't winning ****!

They made it to the 2nd round. It's quittin' time. We could have a Pens vs Sens/Rags ECF. /vomit So boring.

 

[damacles1156]

It's what the captain and highly paid 1C is supposed to do, right?

As I am typing this Crosby just had a good chance for the natural hat trick, but Holtby made a good save.

Best player in the league for a reason.

 

[KINGS17]

Well let's see if Bowman can successfully negotiate his cap problems. I'm thinking he can't.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/learned-blackhawks-face-new-normal-135923328.html

Brent Seabrook? Yeah, for some reason it’s tough to see a lot of interest in a “defense-first” guy 32-year-old who’s signed at that price for another seven years, especially because he has a no-move until 2022.

Artem Anisimov? Four more years for him, and he has a no-move. (Why does Anisimov have a no-move?)

The one thing that’s weird about all this is Bowman’s apparent level of surprise that things worked out this way. Chicago has been on the decline for years now, and while this team won a Cup as recently as two seasons ago, the changes he’s been forced to make by the salary cap and his own team’s success were always going to lead to this point.

 

[KINGS17]

Sutter says he isn't retiring from coaching.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/sutter-won-t-retire-coaching-205229465.html

History suggests that Sutter isn’t joking when he says he’ll be picky about the situation and won’t rush to find the right fit. After being dismissed in Calgary in 2006, he returned to work on the family farm in Viking, Alberta and seemed fairly content doing so.

That said, hockey always seems to draw him back.

“The game has given us everything,” Sutter told Lawless. “We still have lots to give.”

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The one thing that’s weird about all this is Bowman’s apparent level of surprise that things worked out this way. Chicago has been on the decline for years now, and while this team won a Cup as recently as two seasons ago, the changes he’s been forced to make by the salary cap and his own team’s success were always going to lead to this point.

God that line is so dumb. Wait, you mean especially in this cap era and with that level of success the Hawks weren't going to win forever? I also would like to predict that 29 teams will not win the Cup this year.

Edit: Oh, it's Ryan Lambert. No wonder.

 

[KINGS17]

Rangers refusing to grant permission to Buffalo to talk to Drury about their GM position.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/rangers-won-t-let-drury-150537966.html

 

[KINGS17]

God that line is so dumb. Wait, you mean especially in this cap era and with that level of success the Hawks weren't going to win forever? I also would like to predict that 29 teams will not win the Cup this year.

Edit: Oh, it's Ryan Lambert. No wonder.

It may be a dumb line (maybe Bowman isn't surprised?), but it does point out the futility of extending a core using ridiculous 3rd contracts. Contracts which will pay them until they are 35 or older and well past their prime production years.

You keep saying there are no guarantees with a rebuild, which is true. There are certain guarantees which come with the approach the Kings and Hawks have taken though, and there is a very high probability neither team will contend again in the next 7-8 years unless or until they do something drastic.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I wonder where the Penguins would be if they applied that strategy.

They're an example that drafting well and injecting youth in the lineup (Guentzel, Sheary, Rust, Murray, etc.), making low risk-high reward moves (Schultz, Daley, Hainsey), and adding scoring support (Kessel, Bonino) to go along with the core is what brought them back on top.

They didn't have to be big spenders in free agency, have also lost some top players like Staal, Neal, Niskanen, and they still have remained contenders. It helps that their highest paid players perform. That's necessary for a team's success.

 

[johnjm22]

Sutter says he isn't retiring from coaching.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/sutter-won-t-retire-coaching-205229465.html

Good for him.

Sutter makes sense for a team that's good, but hasn't been able to get over the hump in the playoffs. Teams like the Capitols, Wild or Ducks.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I wonder where the Penguins would be if they applied that strategy.

They're an example that drafting well and injecting youth in the lineup (Guentzel, Sheary, Rust, Murray, etc.), making low risk-high reward moves (Schultz, Daley, Hainsey), and adding scoring support (Kessel, Bonino) to go along with the core is what brought them back on top.

They didn't have to be big spenders in free agency, have also lost some top players like Staal, Neal, Niskanen, and they still have remained contenders. It helps that their highest paid players perform. That's necessary for a team's success.

I'd guess that's the biggest reason. Helps having two guys that can average a point per game in today's league. That's what was supposed to set them apart all this time. It also helps that Malkin's 3rd contract cap hit isn't much bigger than his 2nd contract, and Crosby's cap hit has been and will continue to be the exact same since the 08-09 season. His thing with the numbers 8 and 7 has given the Penguins a small leg up.

The next test for Pittsburgh is this summer, especially if they win. What does Sheary get? What does Schultz get? Do they keep Bonino, likely for more money(double?), or let him walk? Not to mention if they actually manage to get out from under Fleury's contract. If they don't, they'll be spending almost $10m on goalies.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

It may be a dumb line (maybe Bowman isn't surprised?), but it does point out the futility of extending a core using ridiculous 3rd contracts. Contracts which will pay them until they are 35 or older and well past their prime production years.

You keep saying there are no guarantees with a rebuild, which is true. There are certain guarantees which come with the approach the Kings and Hawks have taken though, and there is a very high probability neither team will contend again in the next 7-8 years unless or until they do something drastic.

I mean the writing itself. You don't see anything wrong with the statement "Chicago has been on the decline for years now?" That's lolworthy. "and while this team won a Cup as recently as two seasons ago" right afterwords completely conflicts with that, but at least he acknowledges as you and I do that "the changes he’s been forced to make by the salary cap and his own team’s success were always going to lead to this point." That's more of him confirming my feelings about the situation where if you experience success you're going to most likely cut yourself off at the knees since guys--especially UFA vets--are going to get paid.

I'd also mention some of those 'crippling' contracts are the ones that were previously unfair (not in my eyes, just the common opinion) advantages as relics of the previous CBA in Keith and Hossa. Can you imagine if those guys didn't have those deals (or in our case, Carter)?

I guess I'm just more flabbergasted that people are immediately slagging the franchise that's been a model of success in the league for nearly a full decade as if they should be MORE successful and suggesting Bowman is incompetent because they aren't likely to continue winning Cup after Cup.

 

[deeshamrock]

Capitals ain't winning ****!

Not as long as Ovie is there. Failures every playoff run since he arrived under 4 different coaches. Great player, but not a leader, where it counts. GM said last yr, if the Caps didn't win it all next year, there would be major changes.
You need to have a bunch of real leaders in the room for a tough playoff run. They don't have that. And it's bleeds thru every post season.

They haven't beaten the Pens in a playoff series in over 20 years and it won't change this year.