Around the League: Capitals and Ovie are Stanley Cup Champions

[Daisy Jane]

I have to say, I despise all this whining about Vegas. They are a good team. They have been all season. Their goalie is amazing, but he was hurt for 25 games and they still were a great team. They won the next 5 games after he went down. They were winning with 5th string goalies. Rather than seeing Fleury making the team look better, you could also conclude that the system that they play is making Fleury look all-world.

It all just reeks of jealousy and is pretty sad and pathetic if you ask me. Just because our city hasn't produced at this level of success in 3 of the major sports in the 21st century doesn't mean you can't enjoy when another city does. People tend to forget that success in the US is good for the game, especially in "non-hockey" markets. The more the game grows south of the border, the larger the pool of young talent will be to choose from every year at the draft, the better the game will get. For all the griping about Arizona/Phoenix over the last 10 years, we of all teams should realize the benefit of having that team in that area of the world, and if I have to explain why, well, you've completely missed my point.

My personal theory on the surprise success of Vegas is based on this question...

Is it better to have a team with a handful of amazing players but also a handful of terrible players, or is it better to have a team with no amazing players but also no terrible players? What I mean to say, is that because hockey is such a team sport, is having a slow unskilled bottom six is worse than not having a fast skilled top line? 3/4 of the NHL has at least 4 or 5 players that just don't belong in the NHL any more. They are part of the "old NHL". The advantage Vegas had was a clean slate. They were able to pick players that are what I would call "future capable". They all fit in the "new NHL". They might not be amazingly skilled, but they ALL play in a way that reflects the present and future of the NHL. There are no lumbering slow players that slow others down. They are no players on that team that you would consider having a low "hockey-IQ". Every other team in the NHL is transitioning from the old NHL to the new NHL. Vegas was able to just flip a switch. There is nothing more symbolic of this than watching the way in which Vegas begins their games. The light shows, the cheesy but fun theatrics. What do we bring out? Old dudes and veteran soldiers. We've been living in the past, and so has most of the rest of the NHL.

This obviously means that once other teams catch up with the evolution of the game, Vegas will not have that advantage, but by that time, they will have attracted some top end talent that match with what they've got going on, so I'm not convinced this is a one off. Don't be surprised to see a Erik Karlsson or an Artemi Panarin end up there as a free agent in 2019.

I'll be happy if either team wins, but I feel like Washington is one of the last of the "old-NHL" style teams that has not fallen off drastically (see Chicago, Anaheim, LA), so I wouldn't mind seeing some young blood put a nail in that coffin.

okay and that's fair. but most people who said they don't want vegas winning basically admitted to being jealous. like i don't know why people should be happy for vegas if they aren't a vegas fan or don't really give a poo about "happy hockey stories". you like it (no sarcasm, i swear) that's great. but i don't get why if people aren't they have to get slagged for it.

the Leafs bring out veteran because the leafs very existence is because of their ties to the military, something that they legitimately and honestly respect. it's not living in the past, it's paying homage (and respecting) your history. I can't speak for other teams

i mean people can like what they like or not like what they don't like (and i'm not even against vegas (i truly don't care either way at this point, i just want the draft to get here) but i mean for me personally, i don't really care about the cheesy stuff vegas does, or the catfish thing or the octopath thing, or even the homages that the habs/leafs do.. like zero poops care about it. i want to watch the hockey. (which is probably why i could never see a game in vegas, nashville, or any other place where it's more a spectacle vs. watching the game. but that's just me though. i know that tonnes of people want the whole hoopla).

but i also think this 'war' of Old vs. New, Analytics vs. Not, also needs to stop. like you brought it up, but i mean. there are eleventy-million ways to build a team and basically if it gets you there and you win, that's the best way not just building it based on this belief of 'new-nhl-ism" or "old-nhl-ism" or analytics, or whatever. just whatever gives that franchise the best chance of winning

 

[Daisy Jane]

and in other news - Alfreddson really really wants the Sens to get a new owner.

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

This is amazing. Go Vegas!!!

 

[HC7]

John Carlson is garbage defensively. Hard pass.

He's the D version of JVR.

 

[Menzinger]

This is probably the most entertaining cup final in years.

If anything I hope other teams take away from the Vegas experience is that hockey/live games are supposed to be first and foremost fun, not somber events.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Unreal game.

Wish we had've gotten Nate Schmidt.

 

[MapleLeafs9]

Gardiner-esque D there by Carlson, would rather spend money on Tavares

 

[weems]

Vegas just plays at a pace and intensity level not many teams can keep up with.

 

[Nineteen67]

The only way they’ll call a penalty now is if county sheriff is involved.

 

[Nineteen67]

Literally, LVGK won that game by a millimetre

 

[Liminality]

Got to agree

 

[Legion34]

Did reaves mention his hit from behind leading straight to a goal?

 

[mix1home]

Did reaves mention his hit from behind leading straight to a goal?

Yeah, I though that was bush league officiating. You want to allow them to play, but you cannot allow crosscheck in front of the net for easy goal in scf. Should have called that, imho.

 

[Albert Iafrate]

Yeah, I though that was bush league officiating. You want to allow them to play, but you cannot allow crosscheck in front of the net for easy goal in scf. Should have called that, imho.

I call bullshit. A penalty shouldn't be called purely because it ended up causing a goal, it should be called regardless. If you watch the front of the net in any rink on any night, there are 3 or 4 uncalled "blatant" crosschecks EVERY PERIOD. If the refs called crosschecks in front of the net you would literally have players in the box the whole game. That is the reality of battling for the puck in front of the net. Especially after the goalie has frozen the puck, dudes will two hand anyone remotely close to the puck every time this happens. Seriously, instead of watching the puck on the cycle by the boards, focus on the front of the net when players are jockeying for position and you'd be shocked to see how often players crosscheck each other. It's basically a given. And it's mostly the offensive player in front of the net getting smashed. The problem in this specific case is that Carlson didn't have position (he had his back to Reaves). He should have been cross-checking, or at least tying up Reaves' stick, or something. Carlson just shit the bed on that one.

 

[thewave]

I call bull****. A penalty shouldn't be called purely because it ended up causing a goal, it should be called regardless. If you watch the front of the net in any rink on any night, there are 3 or 4 uncalled "blatant" crosschecks EVERY PERIOD. If the refs called crosschecks in front of the net you would literally have players in the box the whole game. That is the reality of battling for the puck in front of the net. Especially after the goalie has frozen the puck, dudes will two hand anyone remotely close to the puck every time this happens. Seriously, instead of watching the puck on the cycle by the boards, focus on the front of the net when players are jockeying for position and you'd be shocked to see how often players crosscheck each other. It's basically a given. And it's mostly the offensive player in front of the net getting smashed. The problem in this specific case is that Carlson didn't have position (he had his back to Reaves). He should have been cross-checking, or at least tying up Reaves' stick, or something. Carlson just **** the bed on that one.

Right. What was bush league was the weak crosschecking penalty on WSH to start the game. Lead to a goal.

 

[Daisy Jane]

This is probably the most entertaining cup final in years.

If anything I hope other teams take away from the Vegas experience is that hockey/live games are supposed to be first and foremost fun, not somber events.

hockey is supposed to be about hockey.
that's my nickel though. just get to the game. you don't need all this hoopla.

 

[ACC1224]

This is probably the most entertaining cup final in years.

If anything I hope other teams take away from the Vegas experience is that hockey/live games are supposed to be first and foremost fun, not somber events.

Any examples of these "somber events"? I can't imagine why any team would decide to hold such an event.

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

hockey is supposed to be about hockey.
that's my nickel though. just get to the game. you don't need all this hoopla.

When many teams lose as often as they win, coupled with the going rate for a ticket (not to mention, if you have a family to take) there HAS to be some entertainment outside of the actual game.

The game needs to be an enjoyable "event" win or lose. Otherwise, if all you are getting is the game, why not save the $$ and stay home?

This is the way sports needs to go - attendance is down I believe for all sports, and it's because a) tickets are too expensive and b) the telecasts are so good now that it's almost better than being there in person.

Of course, this is only my opinion.

 

[Daisy Jane]

When many teams lose as often as they win, coupled with the going rate for a ticket (not to mention, if you have a family to take) there HAS to be some entertainment outside of the actual game.

The game needs to be an enjoyable "event" win or lose. Otherwise, if all you are getting is the game, why not save the $$ and stay home?

This is the way sports needs to go - attendance is down I believe for all sports, and it's because a) tickets are too expensive and b) the telecasts are so good now that it's almost better than being there in person.

Of course, this is only my opinion.

lol this is kinda why i stay home
I will also admit, despite my age, i am an old fart at heart haha that totally does make a lot of sense, and i do tend to forget about that

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

lol this is kinda why i stay home
I will also admit, despite my age, i am an old fart at heart haha that totally does make a lot of sense, and i do tend to forget about that

When I was younger, I felt the same. I was annoyed by all of the junk between whistles and what not. Now that I have to entertain two kids when I go, I'm appreciative that there is something else to engage them and keep them interested. Surprisingly, little kids have a hard time just sitting quietly watching hockey like I like to do

 

[Albert Iafrate]

Right. What was bush league was the weak crosschecking penalty on WSH to start the game. Lead to a goal.

You mean the boarding penalty? The one where he squarely hit him in the numbers into the boards from behind? Yeah, 'cause that's totally the same as getting crosschecked in front of the net.

 

[member 147413]

This might be wishful thinking, but I feel like the Jets are a very entitled and overconfident group. As a result, I think they compete for a few years but never win.

After their elimination, there’s still some discussion about them being the best team in the league and their players feel as though “they deserved better”. I may be looking into it too much but man I would love to see them fall short over and over again.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

This might be wishful thinking, but I feel like the Jets are a very entitled and overconfident group. As a result, I think they compete for a few years but never win.

After their elimination, there’s still some discussion about them being the best team in the league and their players feel as though “they deserved better”. I may be looking into it too much but man I would love to see them fall short over and over again.

yeah I can see that, although I like Winnipeg's team. I couldn't believe it when Hellebuyck said he liked his game better than Fleury's. They are definitely a talented bunch who can play the game any way you want it, but I have to agree that there's something missing there

 

[Suntouchable13]

These pregame shows really make me dislike Vegas even more. Thanks, Gary.

 

[Albert Iafrate]

These pregame shows really make me dislike Vegas even more. Thanks, Gary.

"I hate fun." Hot take.