Around the League '18-'19

[Reclamation Project]

so long Burrows.

Good riddance douchebag.

 

[redcard]

Kopitar's only career fight.

 

[kovacro]

Good riddance *****ebag.

His assholery level was off the charts.

Don't let the door hit you on the wait out.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I also remember Regehr murdering Kucherov in the corner and Nikita not going near a board for the rest of the game.

Soft ass team.

 

[BigKing]

One guess as to which Kings defenseman was on the ice for more Kings goals than Knights goals during the playoffs. (Also happened to be the only Kings defenseman to score a goal during the playoffs). Now guess who led the Kings defenseman in goals for % during the regular season? All of them were Paul LaDue.

In 36 total games as a King, LaDue has 4 goals and 9 assists. Extrapolate that out to a full season, that’s 9 goals and 21 assists. In my opinion, LaDue is a lock to make the team in September. Fantenberg and MacDermid will fight it out for the 7 spot.

I expected LaDue to have better numbers than Fantenberg when I was posting why I prefer him but, alas, their PPG is pretty similar.

While LaDue has the inside track and is probably a lock, the stats posted have no context to them. He scored a fortunate PP goal in Game 2 but also played small minutes in a long 2 OT game in which he was regularly an issue in the corners. For me, I take very little consolation in the LaDue/Fantenberg performances in Game 2 as it was entirely the Jon Quick show. If he isn't lights out, we are talking about how Fantenberg and/or LaDue got lit up out there and there isn't this bullshit narrative of Fantenberg crushing it because he played 40 minutes.

I like LaDue more but Fantenberg is more physical which had to play in to LaDue sitting once Muzzin was back for Game 3. I do like LaDue's offensive reads and his shot from the point. The goal in Game 2 was extremely fortunate but he does seem to have a knack for getting his shot through. He is lacking so far at defense on the NHL level, however. Questionable pinches, confusion on the cycle and not hard enough on the boards.

Back to the stats, the goals were all pretty much scored last season so that is a positive since his most recent play has led to goals. Of course, this extrapolates to a 20+ goal pace if you only take last season which isn't realistic. I do think he could be a 30 point guy with power play time but my concern is that he can't handle 15 minutes a game without being a defensive liability.

There is also the question about if he will get PP time next season from Stevens. Muzzin/Doughty and then Martinez/Phaneuf might be the play. If so, LaDue is being wasted.

I still like him more than Fantenberg and hope he proves to be NHL-regular worthy, but I don't feel he will be the Top 4 everyone hoped. I'd settle for a #5-6 that gets easy deployments and works the 2nd PP unit.

When it comes to Brickley, he has size on both LaDue and Fantenberg. We only saw one game, but he used that size a couple of times and we also saw some slick passes. When you combine his skating ability with the size, I'm more excited about him than LaDue. He could turn out to be a Drewiske, but I like the all-around skill set potential as opposed to the sort-of specialist LaDue and the don't-do-anything-that-well Fantenberg. Of course, Brickley got so lost he had to consult Waze on a simple little cycle play in his own zone so there is going to be a learning curve for sure.

 

[KopitarFAN]

I know the trade hasn't happened because i'm able to get on the site.

 

[KopitarFAN]

 

[KingsFan7824]

Almost anyone TB would want to trade to open up cap space has a NTC/NMC. How many will willingly leave Tampa as they get Karlsson? All those vets looking for their first Cup on a contender. All the money they save on taxes.

 

[KINGS17]

LaDue looks like an offensive specialist from the blue line to me. There isn't much I like about his game down low in his own end.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I can’t believe GMGM lost the inside track on this Karlsson trade. What a doofus.

 

[bouncesonly]

If TB is able to sign Karlsson for anything less than 10 mil, and is able to afford all of Hedman, McDonagh, Karlsson, Kucherov, and Stamkos, the league should immediately shut down to have an emergency owners meeting discussing the relationship the state income tax has on the cap.

It's not a huge advantage, but its a clear advantage that more than half the league does not have, and in an era where cap is anything, the fact that teams have completely different relationships to the same cap amount is absurd.

If money was the reason players signed where they signed, Tavares would be a Shark right now.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I can’t believe GMGM lost the inside track on this Karlsson trade. What a doofus.

Vegas is going to finish absolute last in the standings this upcoming season. Mark my words. Their inaugural season was just a flash in the pan, but certain players clicking together at the right time and having career years. Now without Perron and Neal, and others regressing to their normal numbers, I just don't see them repeating the magical run. Also, they caught a lot of teams off guard during the first few months of the season. Now everyone will be gunning for them, so they won't get the same cushion of points they had early in the year.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Everyone keeps bringing up Neal, please. I bet Stastny outproduces him.

 

[KopitarFAN]

If money was the reason players signed where they signed, Tavares would be a Shark right now.

Well, more likely he'd be in Dallas or Tampa. No state tax.

Everyone keeps bringing up Neal, please. I bet Stastny outproduces him.

Sure. However I wouldn't be shocked if W. Karlsson, Marchessault, Smith and Haula regressed to varying degrees and as a result they are fighting for their playoff lives down to the last days of the season.

 

[bouncesonly]

Well, more likely he'd be in Dallas or Tampa. No state tax.

I thought I read that the Shark's offered Tavares 13 mil/year, yet he chose 2 mil less in a city with comparable taxes.

 

[lexlavender]

If money was the reason players signed where they signed, Tavares would be a Shark right now.

It's not just about money, it's about being able to field a cap affordable super team because they're able to take "discounts" in order to be on a hyper competitive team, but they're not really discounts because of the tax difference.

It's why Steven Stamkos and Hedman each signed for on paper way less than their market value, because without taxes they get to keep a market value amount of that money. It's completely unfair.

 

[KopitarFAN]

I thought I read that the Shark's offered Tavares 13 mil/year, yet he chose 2 mil less in a city with comparable taxes.

I'm agreeing with you that his decision wasn't solely financially driven. However, if it were, the lack of state tax in Texas or Florida would have driven him there.

 

[bouncesonly]

It's not just about money, it's about being able to field a cap affordable super team because they're able to take "discounts" in order to be on a hyper competitive team, but they're not really discounts because of the tax difference.

It's why Steven Stamkos and Hedman each signed for on paper way less than their market value, because without taxes they get to keep a market value amount of that money. It's completely unfair.

Would it be completely unfair if the state of Florida decided to suddenly introduce state income tax to negate this "advantage" of no-income-tax states? What's gonna happen to these non-traditional hockey states if you get rid of this "advantage" and they end up folding up shop cause players no longer have an incentive to go down south?

I say keep it the way it is. Until these no-income-tax states start dominating cup runs, it all just seems like hot air based on a whole bunch of what if's, like Doughty's potential loss of 12 million if he got bought out.

 

[damacles1156]

LaDue looks like an offensive specialist from the blue line to me. There isn't much I like about his game down low in his own end.

Reminds me of a more offensive Gravel. Just gets out worked down low and on the walls in his own end.

 

[KingsFan7824]

It's not just about money, it's about being able to field a cap affordable super team because they're able to take "discounts" in order to be on a hyper competitive team, but they're not really discounts because of the tax difference.

It's why Steven Stamkos and Hedman each signed for on paper way less than their market value, because without taxes they get to keep a market value amount of that money. It's completely unfair.

The PA probably doesn't mind it though. They can play the lower tax teams against the higher ones.

 

[BigKing]

Reminds me of a more offensive Gravel. Just gets out worked down low and on the walls in his own end.

I almost wrote that earlier when talking about LaDue, I just didn't want to shade LaDue that bad since Gravel being soft is/was much more infuriating.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Vegas is going to finish absolute last in the standings this upcoming season. Mark my words. Their inaugural season was just a flash in the pan, but certain players clicking together at the right time and having career years. Now without Perron and Neal, and others regressing to their normal numbers, I just don't see them repeating the magical run. Also, they caught a lot of teams off guard during the first few months of the season. Now everyone will be gunning for them, so they won't get the same cushion of points they had early in the year.

Oh, please. Vegas stopped “catching teams off guard” in January. There is nothing substantative at all to that argument.

Neal and Perron are gone, yes, and neither were that critical to the team’s success, especially Perron, and especially in the postseason. Neal will be missed as a depth veteran winger, but Stastny is a great addition down the middle.

The only player likely to go through a major regression statistically is William Karlsson. Marchessault, Tuch, Smith, Schmidt, Theodore, etc. are the real deal, and will only continue to get better. They also have Glass and Suzuki in the wings, two prospects better than anyone in the Kings pipeline not named Vilardi.

EK would obviously be a huge add, as he would solidify their blueline and slot Schmidt down into their #2 spot. But GMGM is clearly hesitant on repeating his Forsberg trade mistake by sending a top ranked prospect like Glass/Suzuki to Ottawa. It is what it is.

The Knights are still very well coached and disciplined. They’re young, they added a good center, and they still have world class goaltending. “Mark my words,” they will be right in the thick of things well into the spring. You don’t get to the Cup Finals on pure pixie dust, and to suggest as much reeks of salt.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Kopitar's only career fight.

That hit was my favorite moment of the 2012 run.

 

[tny760]

i preferred the comic relief shortly thereafter

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I loved this one as well.



Just so much embarrassment of them all over the ice. Loved it. And the Sedins were the only ones to really man up all series. Hell, Hamhuis was begging for a ref to save him while we won the series.