Around the League 2020/2021 Thread | Stanley Cup Final Edition

[vadim sharifijanov]

my apologies if i’m retraumatizing anyone but this game feels so much like our road games against boston ten years ago.

habs carrying the play but getting totally dominated in the middle in front of the net, vasi handling his business but mostly shots from outside and/or less than ideal positions, opportunistic goals scored against the flow of the game, including one hell of a momentum killer.

 

[Jyrki]

You have to play outstanding just to have a chance to beat the Bolts, and they'll still destroy you if you make mistakes. Goes to show the amazing job Trotz did to make the Isles series a 1-goal affair while missing their captain, and how glimpses of casual play from the Habs renders everything else they did well useless.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

1996, 1998, 2002, 2012, 2014, 2020 and now 2021.

Crap teams thay had no business making a SCF getting their asses handed to by a dynasty. Montreal and Dallas are just fodder.

Now my question is this...why did Vancouver run into f***ing Chicago, Boston and LA? f*** man.

 

[Bubbles]

You aren't going to beat the Bolts with one goal in each game.

Price has been unbelievable though. But he's had bad luck this series. There's been at least 3 flukey goals.

 

[Dab]

How anyone can cheer for the Tampa Bay Circumventing is beyond me.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

How anyone can cheer for the Tampa Bay Circumventing is beyond me.

Having one of your best players out for an entire regular season is a bold move. The loophole is there and open to exploit. Leafs should just keep Tavares out next season and add more depth.

 

[Grumbler]

Lol tampa plays 1 period and wins.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Habs dominated play but their offense just isn’t good enough. High chance scoring opportunities were 5-1 Tampa. Scoring one goal a game just won’t cut it against Tampa and Montreal defensively makes some really bad plays. I think they may very well sweep here or five games max and Vasilesky likely gets the Conn Smythe.

 

[Dab]

Having one of your best players out for an entire regular season is a bold move. The loophole is there and open to exploit. Leafs should just keep Tavares out next season and add more depth.

The canucks could never do what the Tampa Bay Circumventing can, the league would slap retroactive penalties on the canucks so fast we’d still be reeling from the damage a decade later.

 

[m9]

The canucks could never do what the Tampa Bay Circumventing can, the league would slap retroactive penalties on the canucks so fast we’d still be reeling from the damage a decade later.

Literally did the same thing in 2010-11 with Edler, but sure

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

i gotta say, the blackhawks are doing a pretty good job of churning the news cycle

in one day, toews returns from his mysterious leave of absence to make a public statement and rumours about duncan keith’s future conveniently circulate

meanwhile, this interview with sheldon kennedy is worth a listen — Sheldon Kennedy shares his perspective on allegations against Blackhawks - Sportsnet.ca

 

[PG Canuck]

Haven’t even bothered to finish watching these games after the first period.

TB in 4, just get it over with and let’s move towards the expansion draft, which will undoubtedly be more entertaining than this SCF.

 

[PG Canuck]

The canucks could never do what the Tampa Bay Circumventing can, the league would slap retroactive penalties on the canucks so fast we’d still be reeling from the damage a decade later.

 

[PG Canuck]

Literally did the same thing in 2010-11 with Edler, but sure

You won’t get a response.

 

[Hammer79]

Montreal can't get the split at home; they need both or this series is done. A split, 3-1 heading back to T-Bay is a done deal. Lightning will not lose 3 straight.

The way I see it, there aren't any cup contenders in the West right now.

Vegas needs a 1C badly and they have too many players on the wrong side of 30. If they don't get one now, they can kiss their 'window' goodbye.
Colorado needs more D besides Makar. The way they traded leads in that Vegas series was unacceptable.
Seattle won't catch as many teams flat-footed as Vegas did. The GM's were anticipating more protection than they got, this time they have had fair warning.
St Louis screwed up by locking up Binnington long-term, he's below average now and they let AP walk.
Edmonton has two of the top forwards in the league, but nothing beyond that.
Calgary is probably going to blow it up.
SJ, LA, Chicago and Anaheim are on the down cycle right now
Winnipeg, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville are all bubble teams; good in some areas, especially the Wild, but far from complete rosters
We all know what the issue is in Vancouver; too much dead cap, but we have 2 C's, 5/6 on top 6, offensive D-man and an above average #1G. Move out the bad cap space and maybe we have something, but not next season.

Just looking at this conference, I don't anticipate the cup winner coming out of the West in 2022. Does anyone else?

 

[tantalum]

Teams win games in different ways on route to then cup. Last night it was Vasilevsky’s time to shine along with some opportune goals. In the end, if the lightning score 3 they are likely to win (like most teams).

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Teams rarely come back from 0-2 down in the SCF.

Yeah....teams RARELY come back from that.

 

[Josepho]

This is a really good gamble for LA and I'm floored that no other team (especially competitive ones in need of some good contracts) didn't beat this offer.

 

[Hooz]

This is a really good gamble for LA and I'm floored that no other team (especially competitive ones in need of some good contracts) didn't beat this offer.

Even if Nashville is going for a full rebuild this deal is just terrible value. Bargain for the Kings. Not excited to have them back in our division honestly.

 

[Gstank]

Even if Nashville is going for a full rebuild this deal is just terrible value. Bargain for the Kings. Not excited to have them back in our division honestly.

Its the equilvant of Miller for a 1st and a 3rd with the Expansion draft weighting heavily in the value. with both of LA picks being in the top 10.

More importantly this sets the market for Expansion draft exposed players

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

This is a really good gamble for LA and I'm floored that no other team (especially competitive ones in need of some good contracts) didn't beat this offer.

2 more seasons at 4.25mil. Has had a meh 2 seasons and has had frequent injury concerns...his style of play does not bode well for a long career either. Has the talent and ability to rebound but it's a gamble for LA.

Would rather have him than f***ing Tanner Pearson though.

 

[sting101]

Looks like LA is gonna be hard in on Eichel

 

[AppleHoneySauce]

Looks like LA is gonna be hard in on Eichel

I hope they do. I want them to do good next year and its definitely not because that would reflect badly on our management, Coaching and Ownership.

 

[sting101]

Having one of your best players out for an entire regular season is a bold move. The loophole is there and open to exploit. Leafs should just keep Tavares out next season and add more depth.

I doubt too many star players want to sit out 7 months so that they may have a better chance in the playoffs and you have to acquire rentals because what are you gonna do the next season. Not to mention the league will be looking for legit medical evaluations.

But sure if you can make it work. Not many compressed 56 game seasons on the horizon hopefully

 

[sting101]

I hope they do. I want them to do good next year and its definitely not because that would reflect badly on our management, Coaching and Ownership.

It makes sense that LA and NYR would have the best assets that they could afford to move and likely a situation that would have Jack happy. Should be interesting who ponies up the most. I could see a Byfield/Turcotte, 8OA getting it mostly done for the Kings. Buffalo should hold out for the best player possible and not compromise for a bigger but more watered down package. Should push for Byfield or bust. Kopitar Eichel Byfield would be ridiculous down the middle for the Kings if they could get away with Turcotte (who is a fine player also just a little further behind) as the main C piece