GDT: Around the League - 2021/22 - Playoffs edition

[keonsbitterness]

Isn't that how most of our defensemen score? Besides jumping up on the rush.

Who knows, maybe having Rielly/Sandin/Liljegren shoot the puck more often would be a good thing for this team. They can all shoot, so why not?

I'm expecting Sandin and Lilljegren to provide more goals from the point when they become full-time starters.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I am finding it hard to think anyone can keep up with the Avs this year tbh. They are by far the most complete team top to bottom. They don't have the same holes the Leafs had and the Leafs took the Lightning to 7. Mackinnon and Makar would blitz past their slower D and Rantanen is large enough to actually forecheck against their team and is outright bigger than all of their forwards.

I think you can exploit Colorado's depth at both forward and defense, and if they go up against a team with some speed to match, they could meet their match a little bit.

I fully expect Colorado to exploit slower, gritty teams like St. Louis and Nashville, especially if refs are not calling clutch and grab and actually letting them use their speed properly. Therefore, the West should be a breeze for them if they have anything to say about it.

It is a team like Carolina or Tampa that they need to worry about. Toronto too. Florida and Rangers don't have it (unless their goalies go full Price).

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

I've been fooled before when the Avs had impressive game ones, only to lose the series.

They're still too much style not enough substance until I see different.

Avs are way deeper than when they got manhandled by Vegas last year. EJ, Byram, and Naz did not play a single game of that series. And they added guys like Lekhonen, Cogliano, and Manson at the deadline. Kuemper is also better than Grubauer

As long as Naz doesn't get suspended again, they should be in good shape lol

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I'm expecting Sandin and Lilljegren to provide more goals from the point when they become full-time starters.

I don't want to suggest that this team needs to "shoot more" or "crash the net more" because I think that is a little bit simplistic and doesn't exactly solve the issue. I think it is more about using the full playbook. I think there are plays that are really successful for us and work even when the other team is expecting it, but even then, you still need to switch things up. And that doesn't mean suddenly turning into a team that just goes full crash-and-bang. It may be crash-and-bang, looking for cross-seam, looking for the shot to score, looking for a shot for the rebound (see Game 5), or letting the defense take more charge on offense.

This is where emphasizing player IQ, vision, and awareness will really pay off. It is one thing if you can execute your coaches' game plan, but another if you can identify holes on the fly that may not be exploited. No coach is on the ice, and there is only so much a coach can do to anticipate and counter what the other team does from a tactical standpoint anyways. I can practically guarantee that Keefe won't care if you follow his game plan if the Leafs win and players are making smart decisions when they deviate from the plan. You can't be completely undisciplined after all.

 

[TheShape]

I am finding it hard to think anyone can keep up with the Avs this year tbh. They are by far the most complete team top to bottom. They don't have the same holes the Leafs had and the Leafs took the Lightning to 7. Mackinnon and Makar would blitz past their slower D and Rantanen is large enough to actually forecheck against their team and is outright bigger than all of their forwards.

Even though I’d say they’re the favourites at the moment there’s something about the Avs I still don’t trust. Also feels like their bottom six doesn’t score enough.

I think they’re a bit on the soft side too, Calgary would be a bad matchup for the Avs.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

So evidently the Coyotes won't be able to put their logo at center ice and any on ice advertising dollars go to Arizona University.

They also have a good behavior clause that allows them to be thrown out of the stadium by the University.


What a disgrace to the NHL. This cannot be allowed to continue for the next 3 years.....

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Watching teams around the league trust their young players and seeing them do well makes me even more annoyed that we didn't let Liljegren, Robertson or Sandin try to make an impact.

Liljegren had 20 great games, then 1 bad one, and he doesn't see another minute of ice. Meanwhile, you have Boosh who is just actively bad and way over his head playing with Mo, and you have Holl who is just kind of existing out there.

Still pisses me off. Trying to win doesn't mean only veterans are allowed to play. Kase, Holl, Boosh and Simmonds played way too many minutes.

 

[PromisedLand]

Can Yotes be any bigger JOKE than they are now? just WOW! Sure Matthews is going there as a UFA... lol

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Even though I’d say they’re the favourites at the moment there’s something about the Avs I still don’t trust. Also feels like their bottom six doesn’t score enough.

I think they’re a bit on the soft side too, Calgary would be a bad matchup for the Avs.

Calgary's bottom 6 is probably worse, and their 2nd line doesn't come close to Colorado's. Calgary also doesn't have much offensive upside on D. The only advantage is probably in net, and even that is close.

If Colorado can get by a physical team in St Louis, then neither Alberta team should really pose a threat

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Watching teams around the league trust their young players and seeing them do well makes me even more annoyed that we didn't let Liljegren, Robertson or Sandin try to make an impact.

Liljegren had 20 great games, then 1 bad one, and he doesn't see another minute of ice. Meanwhile, you have Boosh who is just actively bad and way over his head playing with Mo, and you have Holl who is just kind of existing out there.

Still pisses me off. Trying to win doesn't mean only veterans are allowed to play. Kase, Holl, Boosh and Simmonds played way too many minutes.

Funny how Lily's "inexperience" showed according to Keefe, and yet Lyubushkin, who hadn't played a single playoff game prior to this year, was allowed to be bad for most of the series.

It was really painful to watch our D create very little offense beyond Rielly.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Funny how Lily's "inexperience" showed according to Keefe, and yet Lyubushkin, who hadn't played a single playoff game prior to this year, was allowed to be bad for most of the series.

It was really painful to watch our D create very little offense beyond Rielly.

Its because Rielly is the only defender we had who is a good skater. The rest are average or more often than not below average.

Leafs defense is the slowest its been in a very long time

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[keonsbitterness]

So evidently the Coyotes won't be able to put their logo at center ice and any on ice advertising dollars go to Arizona University.

They also have a good behavior clause that allows them to be thrown out of the stadium by the University.


What a disgrace to the NHL. This cannot be allowed to continue for the next 3 years.....

Phoenix playing in a college barn for years is perfectly acceptable, but Gary says Calgary might have to move if the team doesn't get a new arena.

Makes perfect sense!

 

[TheTotalPackage]

That'd be a great marriage for both parties. Big coup for the Jets if and when it is finalized.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Phoenix playing in a college barn for years is perfectly acceptable, but Gary says Calgary might have to move if the team doesn't get a new arena.

Makes perfect sense!

Madness

 

[Nylanderthal]

I’m watching the hype video on Tim & Friends highlighting the battle of Alberta through the years in the post season and I literally never want to hear any dinosaur on here talk about how great the hockey was back then after being reminded how putrid the defensive structure and more so goaltending was back then watching the game/series winning goals from those 82-91 battles.

 

[HolyCrap]

Phoenix playing in a college barn for years is perfectly acceptable, but Gary says Calgary might have to move if the team doesn't get a new arena.

Makes perfect sense!

Different rules for different teams. I’m getting fed up with the NHL. Parts of me wish the Canadian teams just left and start their own non cap league but I know it would never work.

 

[fahad203]

Watching Markstrom walking in. Dude got such presence and aura about him
Not to mention they look like athletes. Still wearing suits

 

[2 Slick]

Canes/Rangers game feels like an exhibition game to me, so boring.

 

[TheShape]

K'Andre Miller is a stud.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Canes/Rangers game feels like an exhibition game to me, so boring.

Toronto Tampa was de facto ECF, just like in 19 vs Boston. Neither of these teams or Florida would’ve particularly scared me in a series and I expect Tampa to roll

So evidently the Coyotes won't be able to put their logo at center ice and any on ice advertising dollars go to Arizona University.

They also have a good behavior clause that allows them to be thrown out of the stadium by the University.


What a disgrace to the NHL. This cannot be allowed to continue for the next 3 years.....

I want to go there once to see it in person before they pull the plug, would make for a nice golf weekend if they go in the fall winter and especially if the cards are still playing as well.

 

[Cleetus]

Aho is so clutch what a player

 

[2 Slick]

Smith lol

2 to zip in a minute in. Hahaha

 

[CelticDruid]

Smith is back.... two shots two goals