Around the League 2022-23 season thread - part II

[Billdo]

I do feel good for Zacha getting paid. He may have been a major disappointment given his draft position but he seems like a genuinely good dude and teammate. I'm just glad we're not the ones paying him.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

 

[Nubmer6]

Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

I thought it was "absence makes the heart go wander"

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

 

[My3Sons]

So thr Devils broke him?

 

[KovalchukFistPump]

I do feel good for Zacha getting paid. He may have been a major disappointment given his draft position but he seems like a genuinely good dude and teammate. I'm just glad we're not the ones paying him.

Really? After he quit on the team early last year?

 

[Hisch13r]

Really? After he quit on the team early last year?

He didn’t quit on the team. He was just himself. Himself is a mediocre floater.

 

[Bleedred]

So thr Devils broke him?

He didn't follow it up with a very good game tonight either.

2 stoppable goals in this one and he looked bad in the shootout as well. He barely saved the one shot that he did save in the shootout and got deked all the way to the Outer Banks on the I think it was the shootout winner?

The JT Miller goal is probably my current softy of the night, the remainder of the Coyotes/Jets game pending. It wasn't terrible, but there's not much to choose from other than a less stoppable one on him on the first goal he allowed tonight and Panarin on Montembeault.

That Miller goal hit the post on a long, clean shot and Miller put the rebound in.

 

[My3Sons]

He didn't follow it up with a very good game tonight either.

2 stoppable goals in this one and he looked bad in the shootout as well. He barely saved the one shot that he did save in the shootout and got deked all the way to the Outer Banks on the I think it was the shootout winner?

The JT Miller goal is probably my current softy of the night, the remainder of the Coyotes/Jets game pending. It wasn't terrible, but there's not much to choose from other than a less stoppable one on him on the first goal he allowed tonight and Panarin on Montembeault.

That Miller goal hit the post on a long, clean shot and Miller put the rebound in.

If there is one thing I’ve gleaned from your gokaie evaluations it’s that goaltending is a marathon not a sprint and it’s fickle

 

[Bleedred]

If there is one thing I’ve gleaned from your gokaie evaluations it’s that goaltending is a marathon not a sprint and it’s fickle

I don't think it means he's gonna suck, but they already have 2 goalies on their roster, albeit older, injury prone and probably not any good anymore, so chances are he's gonna be up again pretty soon when Raanta or Andersen suffer a penial laceration from accidentally zipping themselves after taking a piss or accidentally drop a full water bottle on their foot and break a toe.

They recently signed him to a 4 year deal for $2 million a year starting next year. I thought it was good, as it could really pay for itself and more if he's REALLY good and they don't have to worry about him until 2027, or they can bury over 50% of it in the minors if he flops and doesn't appear NHL caliber in the long run.

 

[My3Sons]

I don't think it means he's gonna suck, but they already have 2 goalies on their roster, albeit older, injury prone and probably not any good anymore, so chances are he's gonna be up again pretty soon when Raanta or Andersen suffer a penial laceration from accidentally zipping themselves after taking a piss or accidentally drop a full water bottle on their foot and break a toe.

They recently signed him to a 4 year deal for $2 million a year starting next year. I thought it was good, as it could really pay for itself and more if he's REALLY good and they don't have to worry about him until 2027, or they can bury over 50% of it in the minors if he flops and doesn't appear NHL caliber in the long run.

Carolina has a bit of smartest guy in the room syndrome. They lowball Aho and he actually signed an offer sheet. Then they offer sheet Kotkaniemi and he signs a long deal that he doesn’t seem to be earning and they lowball Hamilton and end up getting Burns anyway who is older and may break down faster. If they hold form on expecting everyone to sign a below market deal they will potentially lose some of their core in a couple of years. Now they sign Koetchkov early and he’s doing well enough they are sending him down? They may draft well but not all their moves are great.

 

[Billdo]

I thought it was "absence makes the heart go wander"

Pavs my guy, it's fonder for me.

Really? After he quit on the team early last year?

Wtf are you talking about

 

[TrufleShufle]

Everyone seems like they are angry at Zacha, and that only means they know he could be a good hockey player, but far too often just didn't. The more times he showed he had the ability to just turn it on when he wanted and then decide not to for long stretches just reinforced that anger. Think of all the non-factor players outside of prospects who "didn't get enough time" that we let go through trades and waivers, all forgotten. Zacha has more people upset, not that we lost him, but more that Bruins fans value him, than anything else. Because we knew he had the tools, just had/has something going on where he doesn't use them most nights.

I agree with LoveJoyFan42069 on this one, his problems are most likely all in his head. We gave him long enough to figure it out, and he didn't, so we shipped him off. I enjoyed having him on the team for a number of reasons, but wasn't upset on a team structure stand point to see him go.

He's gone, let him go.

 

[Brodeur]

Now they sign Koetchkov early and he’s doing well enough they are sending him down? They may draft well but not all their moves are great.

That was to be expected with Andersen being activated, basically like Schmid going down when Blackwood got the green light. Kochetkov is still on his ELC with an extension that kicks in next year (Andersen and Raanta are UFAs). Kochetkov has cooled a little bit since his fast start.

I do wonder how Martin Necas' next contract will go and whether he was annoyed that they rolled out the red carpet for Kotkaniemi while he had to settle for a bridge deal.

 

[KovalchukFistPump]

Wtf are you talking about

Absolutely not a coincidence that Hischier's game took off after Zacha was taken off his line and started being moved off the power play. Zacha was an absolute anchor. Instead of being part of the solution, his consistently underwhelming play was part of the reason why the team had its season effectively end earlier and earlier.

I watched most of the games last year and I remember most of his already paltry offensive production came in the tail end of blowouts. I'm obviously not in the room, but you could see a dejected attitude from him, and that type of attitude is contagious. Good for him for turning the effort level back up on a winning team and during a contract year. Let's see what happens after Bergeron and Krejci retire and the going gets tough again. Boston media loves to have their whipping boys as well.

 

[Goptor]

Zacha is on a team having an all-time great regular season and he's still only at the upper end of his expected point range with us. He's not any different than he ever was.

Its just different situations.

Devils have a large prospect pool and young guys looking to get paid. Zacha got squeezed out.
Bruins have a terrible prospect pool so they are bringing in talent with money. I'm sure they are happy with the deal, hence why it got done.

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

I want no business with Zacha. He doesnt have a winning mentality or the give-your-110% spark in him. Not a player you want in a young organization like NJ (av. player age). Sure he can get carried by the vet Bs, text book definition of a veteran team.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Elias Patterson literally took his will and sent him back in the AHL in one shootout move

 

[Louskoolaid89]

If there is one thing I’ve gleaned from your gokaie evaluations it’s that goaltending is a marathon not a sprint and it’s fickle

Quarterback and goaltender are most scrutinized positions in all of team sports. Over who's on the mound in baseball a close 3rd.

I want no business with Zacha. He doesnt have a winning mentality or the give-your-110% spark in him. Not a player you want in a young organization like NJ (av. player age). Sure he can get carried by the vet Bs, text book definition of a veteran team.

I still like the trade for Haula. Haula about to go on a heater anyway. Probably take out his frustration over his Vikings getting knocked out by the Giants on the poor Sharks today.

 

[Ripshot 43]

Quarterback and goaltender are most scrutinized positions in all of team sports. Over who's on the mound in baseball a close 3rd.


I still like the trade for Haula. Haula about to go on a heater anyway. Probably take out his frustration over his Vikings getting knocked out by the Giants on the poor Sharks today.

Haula on a heater!

Confirmed 7/10 on faceoffs today!!

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

Glenny bringing the fire power. I like it. You sir get a Ring Pop.

 

[Billdo]

That guys a clown. I'd much rather have 3v3 for 10 mins. Hell make it 15 mins. I'd bet most games end. It's much better than the shootout. HOWEVER.... they need to address taking the puck out of the offensive zone for the sole reason that they want to reset. If you've got possession you shouldn't be able to do that, that shits annoying. Hold it to make a change or do something with it. I hate seeing the puck cycled all the way back to their own end just to reset. Thank you for coming to my TedTalk.

 

[Hisch13r]

Good deal

 

[Devs3cups]

Good deal

Yup, 7 per isn’t bad at all.

 

[Saugus]

Yup, 7 per isn’t bad at all.

If only Boldy was a better comparable for Bratt. But unfortunately for us, the Wild are doing the Hughes thing and locking Boldy up based mostly on potential, while Bratt is a little older and so will command more due to proven performance.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

He’s Zacha. He is what he is and he’s a talented but flawed NHL player. His problems are in his head and mostly in his heart. I will just never believe he loves hockey and his backstory just reinforces that for me. He will only be so good unless and until he can ever learn to just “go for it” but every day that goes by I think that is less likely. My suspicion is Zacha thinks it isn’t likely either as he chose not to bet on himself which in my view is further support for my point. That doesn’t make him a bad person and in a veteran team he can contribute but he was asked for more by NJ and it wasn’t to be.

I’ve never seen passion from the guy. I don’t care what he does in Boston, just as long that it’s in Boston.