Around the league part 2

[Raccoon Jesus]

Skinner is an upgrade on last year for them

And Ekholm is the big piece of the deadline, mark my words. He's a HUGE difference maker and basically 'fixes' that whole d-core by slotting everyone correctly.

 

[Fishhead]

They were in the conference finals last year.

It's a myth that the referees "swallow the whistle" in the playoffs. And there's not much difference between regular season and the playoffs in terms of overall scoring. About a 4% difference. That's nothing. Occasionally the playoffs actually have higher scoring than the regular season.

I agree their goaltending is an issue, but it was last year as well and it didn't derail them.

At the risk of sounding outlandish, if we are healthy in that series it's the Kings getting smashed my Colorado in the conference finals. The series was that close.

I think Edmonton is the favorite, but it's really close.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I actually think Seattle is the worst possible first round matchup for us. We don’t match up well against them at all.

I think we can comfortably beat either Vegas or Edmonton assuming we get competent goaltending from Copley/Korpisalo.

 

[KingsFan7824]

You get a participation ribbon at least. We’re all proud of you, bud.

You're the one that expects a championship if a team does what you think it should do. All you're doing is enabling me like these boomer/millennial parents. If you stop I'll stop.

Look at Vegas's goaltending.

I don't know much about the status of Brossoit and Thompson, but if they stay injured, VGK is headed into the playoffs with Adin Hill as their #1.

I'd much rather play Seattle or Vegas in the first round than the Oilers.

If the Kings are losing to the scary Oilers, 1st or 2nd rd doesn't matter. Bring on McDavid.

 

[kovacro]

Just watched Dallas hand it to Colorado.

Game number 1,000 for big Jamie Benn. Always loved his game. You scratch your head and wonder how a beast like that goes so late in a draft (5th round). Great career, stick tap to him.

Wyatt Johnston is having an excellent rookie year. He is going to be an excellent pro. He was so dangerous last year with Windsor (OHL). Enjoyed watching him live during the finals versus Hamilton. He and Will Cuylle were dynamite. I think Cuylle develops into a good pro as well in a bottom 6 physical crash and banger role and he’ll chip in 15 goals a year.

Interesting note with respect to Cuylle, the pick the Kings dealt to NYR for Lias Andersson was used to draft Cuylle. I’d much rather have him than Lias.

 

[Schrute farms]

It's interesting with Colorado. So many injuries. Gonna be tough for them. But i do wonder if they will have a "2013 Kings" type dissappointing season and but turn it on in the playoffs and make a run. Kings win in 2013 if it weren't for the Hawks...and the breaks they got in that series.

 

[Kurrilino]

Vegas also playing mind games in case they meet in the playoffs. Also, I'm sure Quick can give them detailed info about our shooters.

They don't need Quick for that, I can scout for Vegas as well...

They will face "High and Wide"

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Goals scored by the Oilers in Campbell's last five starts: 5,5,5,4,and 4. That's 4.6 goals per game. The Oilers are winless in those games. Campbells save percentage in those five games? .829

 

[johnjm22]

After I talk up the Oilers, they go out and lose to the Jets 7-5.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

You're the one that expects a championship if a team does what you think it should do. All you're doing is enabling me like these boomer/millennial parents. If you stop I'll stop.

I clearly don’t expect a guaranteed championship. Stop it. Would it have made you feel better if I wrote “ensure the best chances at”? You knew exactly what I meant.

I seriously engaged you with substantive debate, normative vs descriptive claims, etc., and you tucked tail and ran. Never responded to that post.

And then two days later, you pick a fight with me here over semantics. What am I supposed to make of that?

Seriously, man, I like you. I think you’re funny, and you’re a unique voice on this board. We have some differences of opinion, but that’s okay.

 

[Herby]

Beat HOF d-man Brian Leetch’s previous record.

Heck of an accomplishment for Hughes, who other than Gretzky and Lidstrom has the best game sense of any hockey player I’ve ever watched.

 

[LAKings88]

Beat HOF d-man Brian Leetch’s previous record.

Heck of an accomplishment for Hughes, who other than Gretzky and Lidstrom has the best game sense of any hockey player I’ve ever watched.

Was it Detroit that passed on him even tho they needed a dman?

 

[Herby]

Was it Detroit that passed on him even tho they needed a dman?

Yes.

And after Hughes had just had a dominant freshman season at the NCAA level in their own backyard. They were gifted with him somehow falling to 6, which with his combination of all-time great IQ and A++ skating never should have happened, and they took a player who has turned into a total bust in Zadina.

Yzerman has overall done an excellent job but it’s tough to overcome a draft decision that poor when you are rebuilding. Imagine a Hughes and Seider pairing for the next dozen years, it’s pretty easy to build a good team with 2 defenseman like that.

 

[johnjm22]

It's sucks for Hughes that he's stuck in Vancouver.

People complain about our management, but when I see teams like VAN, PHI, CAL I'm actually somewhat thankful for Bluc.

 

[TruKingFan]

It's sucks for Hughes that he's stuck in Vancouver.

People complain about our management, but when I see teams like VAN, PHI, CAL I'm actually somewhat thankful for Bluc.

That’s borderline heretic around here.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Beat HOF d-man Brian Leetch’s previous record.

Heck of an accomplishment for Hughes, who other than Gretzky and Lidstrom has the best game sense of any hockey player I’ve ever watched.

how do you like Luke in comparison?

Other than that game you didn't like the other night haha

 

[Bandit]

Gotta love Draisaitl getting a hat trick and oilers still getting stomped

 

[johnjm22]

Why does McDavid always look so angry?

 

[Bandit]

Why does McDavid always look so angry?

Have you been to Edmonton?

 

[AbsentMojo]

Makar is back from a concussion... Landeskog is skating after being out all season.. Id look for Avs to finish strong and be the team to beat again.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Makar is back from a concussion... Landeskog is skating after being out all season.. Id look for Avs to finish strong and be the team to beat again.

Still missing signifant pieces in 2C and 2W

 

[Herby]

how do you like Luke in comparison?

Other than that game you didn't like the other night haha

Luke will be a really good #1 D. He is bigger and more physically gifted than Quinn, but Quinn just has that game sense that I really don’t think anyone else in the league has right now. The best way I can describe it is he sees the game on the ice like someone would from the cheap seats or from playing a video game in traditional view. He just always knows how much space be has and what the right play is. Other than his skating, which is obviously elite, he really doesn’t have any other high end skills but when you see the game in slow motion it doesn’t really matter. Fantilli looking like a potential Auston Matthews with his historical freshman season might have me change my opinion, but I still think Quinn Hughes is the best player I’ve ever seen come out of UM.

It’s pretty amazing how good all 3 of the brothers are, when Luke was 15/16 and first committed to UM he was considered well below the other 2 and maybe a tad overrated with his name. And I do think he will be the “worst” of the three, but will still be all-star caliber player. It’ll be fun when we start having best vs best tournaments again and all 3 are representing the US.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Still missing signifant pieces in 2C and 2W

True not as strong as last year with Burakovski and Kadri, but still I think at least as good as Dallas, EDM, LAK, VGK if Landeskog can get back to form...I really wouldnt want to win the division with the reward being the Avs... theyve been off the radar for most of the season.

 

[Statto]

Gotta love Draisaitl getting a hat trick and oilers still getting stomped

They play points scoring hockey not winning hockey. As long as they pad the stats they are happy, truly elite but no more than that.

 

[Steve Zissou]

These are always so good.