Around the League - 2023/24
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Tells me their high end guys will get going…
We are too early to say definitive, but as I watch across the league I certainly wouldn’t put the Avs in the top 5. The method of winning doesn’t look sustainable for the playoffs. Lack of depth is a big problem. Goaltending has entered the fray too.
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dahrougem2
Registered User
I mean Eichel is over PPG, Stone is around his usual pace and Karlsson is exceeding his usual pace. Theodore also when healthy is at his usual pace. Not sure how much better it can get, at least offensively.
When healthy, the Avs IMO are right there with Vegas.
You could be right, I just don’t see it. Vegas looks better in the games I’ve watched. Head to head was obvious.
Foppa2118
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- Oct 3, 2003
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Agreed. This chart was from a few weeks ago, but shows Vegas was over performing, while having less expected standings points than the Avs, who were underperforming.
Their PDO and share of goals scored has dropped recently too, as has their record.
LOFIN
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- Sep 16, 2011
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I think it's fair to say that Vegas might be better than the Avs currently. They didn't lose nearly as much as Avs did after their cup. They basically lost Smith and that was that. We lost Burakovsky, Kadri, and most importantly, Landeskog. 3 top-6 players right there. Those have still not been replaced. And can't be replaced because of the flat cap. But we just got to hope that Drouin, RyJo and Tatar somehow get better and Landeskog returns and is actually contributing.
As much as Landeskog being out gives us capspace via LTIR, I think his presence is missed very much in the locker room. Let alone what he would bring on ice.
Foppa2118
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Images still aren't loading yet here, but a few weeks ago when Vegas was playing better and the Avs were in a funk, the Avs led the league in expected goal differential, while Vegas was 7th.
Too early to really compare the two teams, but all things being equal, I haven't seen anything to suggest Vegas is truly better than the Avs. We really underrate our own team here IMO.
Too early to really compare the two teams, but all things being equal, I haven't seen anything to suggest Vegas is truly better than the Avs. We really underrate our own team here IMO.
LOFIN
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HFAvs being overly critical of their team? What? Never!
- Apr 25, 2006
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Yea Oilers were massively underperforming until the coaching change and Boston was overperforming. Those were pretty obvious.
Kings underperforming is not good news for the rest of the league.
To me the West is:
Tier 1: Kings
Tier 2: Vegas
Tier 3: Avs, Stars, Oilers
Tier 4: Jets, Canucks
SirLoinOfCloth
Registered User
Flip Avs and Vegas, and put oilers in the toilet and I agree.
Yeah I pretty much agree. Kings need a better option in net for safety… but lots of things can change.
dahrougem2
Registered User
Avs, Stars and Oilers are all in tier 2. Canucks don't belong here, either - record now be damned.
John Mandalorian
2022 Avs: The First Dance
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Wait until the Avs continue on this path of over taxing other lines to compensate for the futility of the 2nd line. The Avs can easily become 4th tier.
LOFIN
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Because of the nature of NHL, I just refuse to see Kings in a different tier than us, let alone two tiers above us. For me, there are contenders, playoff teams, bubble teams, and teams that suck.
Boston was so hot last year and look what became of them. As did with Tampa the year they beasted regular season and then got swept by Columbus...
I think it's fair to say the Kings are the best team in the NHL now, but that doesn't mean they are some behemoth in the West.
Boston was so hot last year and look what became of them. As did with Tampa the year they beasted regular season and then got swept by Columbus...
I think it's fair to say the Kings are the best team in the NHL now, but that doesn't mean they are some behemoth in the West.
Foppa2118
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100%. How often do we see the teams put in the top tier not win the Cup? Playoffs are very different than the regular season.
There are some parallels, and some conclusions to take from the regular season, but not all. IN fact, there are many weaknesses from top teams that get exposed in the playoffs that didn't in the regular season.
We've been on both sides of that. Defensive depth getting exposed. Lack of size and physicality getting exposed.
How often do we see the "deep team" beaten by the team with more high end talent and star players in the conference or Cup finals? Almost always in the finals.
Hockey is just different in the playoffs. We should know that by now.
Avsboy
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LOFIN
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For what it's worth, LA seems like a team built for playoffs. Top to bottom. I don't want to question their goaltending after we won the cup with Kuemper with the worst save percentage of SC winning goalie in 30 years.
But if I had to pick a fault, are there enough elite players? Kopitar and Doughty used to be ones. PLD is a good center, but hardly a Hart candidate. Then again, the Blues won in 2019, when their top players were O'Reilly, Tarasenko, Pietrangelo and Binnington. Nothing spectacular either. It can be done.
Foppa2118
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One area of concern for the Kings is the playoff expereince from their defense outside of Doughty.
Gavrikov - 18 games
Anderson - 13 games
Roy - 13 games
Spence - 3 games
Englund - 0 games
Bjornfot - 0 games
Moverare - 0 games
Same with some of their forwards like Byfield and Kaliyev who have 8 and 9 playoff games.
Also can Talbot maintain his level of play through the regular season and into the playoffs at 36, soon to be 37 in July by the time the playoffs start? As you mention they don't have the kind of elite talent the Avs had when they won with Kuemper.
The Kingslayer
Registered User
Yeah and came along with a first. I don’t think Faber had much offense, but damn he’s good defensively.
- Apr 25, 2006
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JFC Wild leading the Oilers 3-2 while getting outshot 30-11
The Kingslayer
Registered User
Yah hes damn responsible for being a young dman. Great get for the Wild sadly.
Tie game now. The German scores one for the Oilers and one for my fantasy team.
dahrougem2
Registered User
Also, for as much as we talk about the ages of cores on this forum:
Kopitar is 36
Doughty is 34
Danault will be 31 by the playoffs
I know they have younger guys complementing them, but if age is such a major concern around here then surely this Kings team is going to have issues. If it's not, they won't.
I'll say like I always have: goaltending will be their downfall. Idgaf who they play in the postseason, they will have the worse goalie in that series.
Kopitar is 36
Doughty is 34
Danault will be 31 by the playoffs
I know they have younger guys complementing them, but if age is such a major concern around here then surely this Kings team is going to have issues. If it's not, they won't.
I'll say like I always have: goaltending will be their downfall. Idgaf who they play in the postseason, they will have the worse goalie in that series.
The Kingslayer
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