Around the League - 2024-2025 Part II

[MSZ]

That one step closer to a repeat of last season's SCF (yay! )

I remember Marian Hossa being on the wrong side both times in Pittsburgh vs Detroit going back-to-back, but I can't as easily recall a time that a team has won both in a back-to-back? Edmonton defeating Boston in 1988 and 1990 almost qualifies.

The last time a team won both in a B2B was those monster 70s Montreal teams against Boston.

 

[Buds17]

The last time a team won both in a B2B was those monster 70s Montreal teams against Boston.

Makes sense. Thanks!

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

The salary cap was never about parity, it was about cost certainty. What's funny is the the NHL has way more parity than something like the NBA or especially MLB, where the Rockies are literally on pace to be the worst team since the 19th century(!) at the moment and a bunch of the teams exist only as farm teams.

I kind of hate the MLB sometimes. There just isn't any consequences for owners who don't spend but rake in profits. Like, when was the last time the Pirates signed a free agent to a multi year deal?? 2016? Truly pathetic.

They have arguably the best pitcher in baseball (along with other legit pitching studs coming up) and they don't bother spending around him? I really hope Skenes tells the Pirates to take a lap when they try to negotiate a deal (if they do lol)

Rockies ownership calls out the Dodgers for being bad for baseball because of their spending and yet, they're not doing shit themselves. Comical. Just sell the team already.

 

[Aashir]

You sure that wasn't because of previous ownership possibly being cheap?

then why was Bob overpaid

they paid him more than any other goalie in the entire league who came off a .913 when .915ish was league average

it's not like he took 9M because florida.

I won't say it's purely just because they are good now, but even if ownership wanted to spend money, no one was joining the 2014-18 panthers.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I kind of hate the MLB sometimes. There just isn't any consequences for owners who don't spend but rake in profits. Like, when was the last time the Pirates signed a free agent to a multi year deal?? 2016? Truly pathetic.

They have arguably the best pitcher in baseball (along with other legit pitching studs coming up) and they don't bother spending around him? I really hope Skenes tells the Pirates to take a lap when they try to negotiate a deal (if thedrifters.

Skenes is OUT ASAP and he'll get the biggest pitching contract in history.

Rockies ownership calls out the Dodgers for being bad for baseball because of their spending and yet, they're not doing shit themselves. Comical. Just sell the team already.

Heaven help the Dodgers try to win!

I have no tolerance for owners crying poverty while raking in revenue sharing hand over fist.

f***ing grifters.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Six straight years of Florida teams winning the east ugh.

 

[LaPlante94]

then why was Bob overpaid

they paid him more than any other goalie in the entire league who came off a .913 when .915ish was league average

it's not like he took 9M because florida.

I won't say it's purely just because they are good now, but even if ownership wanted to spend money, no one was joining the 2014-18 panthers.

That was the new owners. New owners took over in 2013. Combine a new owner who isn't afraid to spend with good management/scouting and good coaching you're gonna create a dynasty. People can try and say tax free states aren't an advantage when you have guys like Kucherov, Point, Barkov and Reinhart all signing cheaper than our guys by quite a bit and some even after the cap has gone up.

 

[thewave]

Six straight years of Florida teams winning the east ugh.

Low taxes means a lot.

 

[Aashir]

That was the new owners. New owners took over in 2013. Combine a new owner who isn't afraid to spend with good management/scouting and good coaching you're gonna create a dynasty. People can try and say tax free states aren't an advantage when you have guys like Kucherov, Point, Barkov and Reinhart all signing cheaper than our guys by quite a bit and some even after the cap has gone up.

it is an advantage, but it isn't THE advantage: That is always going to be having a good team. If tampa or florida were mid they aren't getting these deals. Teams like the leafs, rangers, habs, etc... also get to front load contract heavily and have huge advertisment opportunities. Simone Benoit is sponsered by Milk....what other 6 dman gets that level of recognition.

If Tampa or Florida were dumpster fires like Buffalo or Philly, they aren't getting those discounts despite the cap.

for example Barkov signed after they won the presidents trophy and had made b2b playoff appearances
reinhart the same but for finals instead

Point @9.5 after b2b sub ppg years with an injury in the playoffs is not some steal IMO. Without kucherov he is a 75ish point player and we've seen it in the past

Barkov @10 is a good deal, but it's only 1M less than what Eichel signed for a few years prior (~.4% difference). He was coming off 2 poor playoff runs too. Matthews himself gave us 11.634 (by 5 though)

Reinhart signed for around Forsberg, Larkin, Aho, Fiala. If anything, he looks great because to leafs fans because we severly overpaid Nylander.

It is an advantage, but the org needs to create a certain environment to utilize and entice players to come.

 

[LaPlante94]

it is an advantage, but it isn't THE advantage: That is always going to be having a good team. If tampa or florida were mid they aren't getting these deals. Teams like the leafs, rangers, habs, etc... also get to front load contract heavily and have huge advertisment opportunities. Simone Benoit is sponsered by Milk....what other 6 dman gets that level of recognition.

If Tampa or Florida were dumpster fires like Buffalo or Philly, they aren't getting those discounts despite the cap.

for example Barkov signed after they won the presidents trophy and had made b2b playoff appearances
reinhart the same but for finals instead

Point @9.5 after b2b sub ppg years with an injury in the playoffs is not some steal IMO. Without kucherov he is a 75ish point player and we've seen it in the past

Barkov @10 is a good deal, but it's only 1M less than what Eichel signed for a few years prior (~.4% difference). He was coming off 2 poor playoff runs too. Matthews himself gave us 11.634 (by 5 though)

Reinhart signed for around Forsberg, Larkin, Aho, Fiala. If anything, he looks great because to leafs fans because we severly overpaid Nylander.

It is an advantage, but the org needs to create a certain environment to utilize and entice players to come.

We front load contracts and they get millions from sponsors but still can't get them signed cheaper. Everyone knows this which is why they call out our core for taking every penny they can get and even not signing 8 year deals so they can continue to max out their money when the cap rises. So maybe front loaded contracts and sponsors don't really mean much, especially when those tax free states can also front load contracts.

That's why I said good management and scouting. They drafted a #1C, #1D and top line winger and haven't looked back since. Then when they were ready to compete they went out and paid top dollar for a 2x Vezina winner. Started making trades and signing guys and then paid a majority of them when they started having success together. We're not a dumpster fire so why don't we get discounts?

We have this talented of a core but we haven't created an environment to utilize or entice players to come here? How do you create this environment then? Not overpaying for 4 players? We knew that a long time ago.

 

[Stephen]

Hyman's story is pretty incredible really. This is a guy with a ton of heart, incredible worth ethic, and great hockey IQ. He isn't blessed with elite talents, but he sure is a guy who finds a way to succeed. That he's become a better and better player as he gets older, is also something special.

Recall, at 28 years old, after missing time with knee issues, and having put up 1 point in 7 games in the playoffs, two of the previous three years... the contract the Oilers gave him was pretty rich. a) it looked like an overpayment at the time b) we really couldn't afford it anyway, as we overpaid the core 4. It's not often, that a player under such circumstances goes on to be so successful.

It goes to show you, that sometimes a players success, is dictated by being in the right circumstances for them. He was good, but not great with us. He was an absolute ghost in the playoffs for us.... but, it wasn't him, it was the circumstances, and the players and likely locker room mentality.

I hope he wins his cup.

In hindsight and not really that much hindsight, Zach Hyman was the good influence Babcock wanted to infuse Matthews with. Just a constant worker who was seen as lacking talent and unfit to play with the phenom. I think it works insofar as Matthews is adaptable to what surrounds him. But disappointing that he doesn’t really possess the elite drive train as advertised.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Can't believe we had more wins against Florida than Tampa and Carolina combined. Doesn't mean we should run it back (far from it) but it speaks to just how crappy this conference was and how outclassed the other supposed "contenders" were.

 

[weems]

Fanduel just posted next years cup odds.

 

[Nineteen67]

Can't believe we had more wins against Florida than Tampa and Carolina combined. Doesn't mean we should run it back (far from it) but it speaks to just how crappy this conference was and how outclassed the other supposed "contenders" were.

Florida wasn’t great in the first two games, and to their credit the Leafs took advantage, but I bet goalie Bob would like a couple of those goals back that he allowed in Toronto.
They can’t afford to play like they did against the Leafs or Edmonton ( if they make it) will steam roll them.

 

[Nineteen67]

Low taxes means a lot.

Getting paid n US dollars and spending in Canada is an ever bigger advantage and could be why the NY and Cal teams are never in a final.

 

[Nineteen67]

That was the new owners. New owners took over in 2013. Combine a new owner who isn't afraid to spend with good management/scouting and good coaching you're gonna create a dynasty. People can try and say tax free states aren't an advantage when you have guys like Kucherov, Point, Barkov and Reinhart all signing cheaper than our guys by quite a bit and some even after the cap has gone up.

Weather and lifestyle play a bigger role than a 4.5% tax difference they all find ways to avoid anyway.

 

[Peasy]

Fanduel just posted next years cup odds.


View attachment 1043533

How do people still believe in the fraud Canes?

 

[Menzinger]

Weather and lifestyle play a bigger role than a 4.5% tax difference they all find ways to avoid anyway.

It's a package deal really. Great weather + zero fan/media pressure + low taxes.

I think Canadian sales tax also gets overlooked in these discussions. That adds up, especially to a young millionaire making lots of high value purchases

 

[Roo]

I wonder if Carolina is going to fire everyone and get rid of their top players.

 

[Nineteen67]

It's a package deal really. Great weather + zero fan/media pressure + low taxes.

I think Canadian sales tax also gets overlooked in these discussions. That adds up, especially to a young millionaire making lots of high value purchases

We all pay sales tax and is their NHL city with media pressure? Maybe TTOE?

 

[Nineteen67]

I wonder if Carolina is going to fire everyone and get rid of their top players.

They should change things up and get a little harder to play against. They have too many of the same type of player.

 

[fahad203]

Can't believe we had more wins against Florida than Tampa and Carolina combined. Doesn't mean we should run it back (far from it) but it speaks to just how crappy this conference was and how outclassed the other supposed "contenders" were.

You think that's bad. Imagine being in Smyth division during the 80s with Oilers being your daddy every year

If we knew how good we had during that North Division. We should have won it all that year or at least gone to the finals
That's what happens when you don't capitalize on opportunities, you start to get less and less of them

 

[ToneDog]

Are we hanging another "we lost to the SC finalist" banner?

 

[Jojalu]

Are we hanging another "we lost to the SC finalist" banner?

I sure am! Lol

 

[Trapper]

I wonder if Carolina is going to fire everyone and get rid of their top players.

Probably run it back and lose again.