Around the League | And then there were four.

[Bourne Endeavor]

I was sure the Stars would beat them last year but that was just out of anger from having just lost. In reality that team was too slow and not well equipped to deal with their speed.

This year I think it'll be more evenly matched. It's going 6 or 7. Hard to say who will win.

With how dominate Dallas has looked, I really don't see them losing this time around. Granted, you never really can count out McDavid and Draisaitl just taking over a game. Imagine having your star players show up like that though. Leafs fans are still wondering what that's like

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

With how dominate Dallas has looked, I really don't see them losing this time around. Granted, you never really can count out McDavid and Draisaitl just taking over a game. Imagine having your star players show up like that though. Leafs fans are still wondering what that's like

Not entirely sure of this but I heard yesterday that in the last 20 elimination games for both teams, McDavid has more goals than Matthews and Marner combined.

 

[thecupismine]

Couple things:

I don’t think the Canucks folded against the Oilers last year. To date, they’ve had and executed the best game plan against this version of the Oilers (outside of the Panthers, who had more talent as well). We were missing our Vezina caliber goalie, our number one center went MIA before playing them, and our number one winger got hurt. They have a more talented team, and that was compounded by the injuries. The game plan, and execution, was sound.

I also don’t think other teams have folded either, but I do question their game plans. The Canucks, despite the talent gap, outplayed the Oilers games 1 and 5, and their defensive zone structure kept the other games (outside of game 6) close. They’ve had the best plan so far to contain McDavid at ES, and while other teams may not have a JT Miller, there’s elements of that plan that haven’t been incorporated well.

We’ll see how much Dallas learned from last year, assuming they get through Winnipeg. If Miro is back they have the talent level to beat the Oilers (especially with their hollowed out depth), they just need to execute a better plan to slow down the Oilers top guys.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Not really. He's still the same player he was. Extremely limited offense and still very inconsistent.

It’s not just about offence

 

[krutovsdonut]

Podkolzin has 9 goals in a total of 93 games this season

Of all the things that have happened in the last year, moving him is probably the least concerning.

moving daniel sprong for nothing is by a large gap the least concerning thing we did. coincidentally, he may well have been the player they moved pod to make room for.

so it's a significant coaching, gm and proscouting failure to have walked on podz. it's absolutely true he made no headway with us but the fact he made headway with another team puts that lack of progress on us.

 

[Attack Vector]

It's going to be funny as hell if Podkolzin wins the cup at 23 years old, all he had to do was leave Vancouver.

 

[IComeInPeace]

Podkolzin is averaging less ice time than he saw during his Canucks career (when he was already a bit player), and his ice time has been reduced 3 minutes from the regular season to the playoffs with the Oilers.

The stats look good because of the highest shooting percentage of his career, but he can still barely get on the ice.

 

[StreetHawk]

Podkolzin is averaging less ice time than he saw during his Canucks career (when he was already a bit player), and his ice time has been reduced 3 minutes from the regular season to the playoffs with the Oilers.

The stats look good because of the highest shooting percentage of his career, but he can still barely get on the ice.

Offense was always a question mark for him. But, he was a guy who was supposed to play an all around solid game. Worst case was a middle 6 winger who could PK and be defensively responsible. Maybe the worst of the top 4 wingers in terms of scoring output.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Couple things:

I don’t think the Canucks folded against the Oilers last year. To date, they’ve had and executed the best game plan against this version of the Oilers (outside of the Panthers, who had more talent as well). We were missing our Vezina caliber goalie, our number one center went MIA before playing them, and our number one winger got hurt. They have a more talented team, and that was compounded by the injuries. The game plan, and execution, was sound.

I also don’t think other teams have folded either, but I do question their game plans. The Canucks, despite the talent gap, outplayed the Oilers games 1 and 5, and their defensive zone structure kept the other games (outside of game 6) close. They’ve had the best plan so far to contain McDavid at ES, and while other teams may not have a JT Miller, there’s elements of that plan that haven’t been incorporated well.

We’ll see how much Dallas learned from last year, assuming they get through Winnipeg. If Miro is back they have the talent level to beat the Oilers (especially with their hollowed out depth), they just need to execute a better plan to slow down the Oilers top guys.

Dallas in the 2024 WCF was without their top shutdown center (Hintz) for 2 games and was probably at 25% when he came back. Tanev was already banged up and suffered an additional injury in Game 4. Pavelski was 100% expired by the 2nd round and was a total liability in the WCF. Rantanen and Granlund have been added.

Dallas on paper has a better team offensively. I think there are some concerns with the blueline. Lyubushkin, and especially Ceci are vulnerable to making stupid errors.

 

[Jyrki]

moving daniel sprong for nothing is by a large gap the least concerning thing we did. coincidentally, he may well have been the player they moved pod to make room for.

so it's a significant coaching, gm and proscouting failure to have walked on podz. it's absolutely true he made no headway with us but the fact he made headway with another team puts that lack of progress on us.

I really wouldn't read much into letting go of someone who scored at replacement level while having Draisaitl as his most common linemate and logging 7-9 minutes in most playoff games.

Was sad to see him being traded but at best he'd still be fighting for a spot in our roster if he stayed, we never had a shortage of okay-ish grinders.

 

[StreetHawk]

Dallas in the 2024 WCF was without their top shutdown center (Hintz) for 2 games last year and was probably at 25% when he came back. Tanev was already banged up and suffered an additional injury in Game 4. Pavelski was 100% expired by the 2nd round and was a total liability in the WCF. Rantanen and Granlund have been added.

Dallas on paper has a better team offensively. I think there are some concerns with the blueline. Lyubushkin, and especially Ceci are vulnerable to making stupid errors.

Dal can't let this series with the Jets extend too long. Edm done in 5 games and played 6 vs LA, while Dal went 7 vs Col. Have a chance to close out on the road in Win. Need to get some rest before rd 3.

 

[Nuckles]

 

[tantalum]

It’s not just about offence

Well aware. He's still nothing more than a dime a dozen bottom of the lineup player. Is what it is. But the comment on points is really because he spent a lot of time playing with Draisatl. He's an offensive black hole with the occasional highlight that makes you say "huh. why can't he do that more?" Just like all those other bottom of the lineup players in the league.

 

[tantalum]

What happens to the numbers if they take Hellbuyck out? I also expect the numbers will climb some as you get into the final 2 rounds.

 

[krutovsdonut]

I really wouldn't read much into letting go of someone who scored at replacement level while having Draisaitl as his most common linemate and logging 7-9 minutes in most playoff games.

Was sad to see him being traded but at best he'd still be fighting for a spot in our roster if he stayed, we never had a shortage of okay-ish grinders.

i understand the game has honest judgment call hits and misses but it was a miss and we should call it a miss. there needs to be a recognition that these guys make mistakes even if we continue to support them.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

I may hate the Oilers but I'm happy for Skinner. He seems like a nice guy and good in the room and that city has shit on him for years now.

 

[MS]

i understand the game has honest judgment call hits and misses but it was a miss and we should call it a miss. there needs to be a recognition that these guys make mistakes even if we continue to support them.

He's literally been placed in the most perfect, confidence-generating situation possible for a player of his level and he's still barely getting by as a competent bottom-6 forward.

There's no way the same development happens here in the usage he would have received here. In order for it to be a mistake, the player would have had to contribute something here if kept and I don't think that would have happened.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Dal can't let this series with the Jets extend too long. Edm done in 5 games and played 6 vs LA, while Dal went 7 vs Col. Have a chance to close out on the road in Win. Need to get some rest before rd 3.

This is the big one here. If the Jets can fight back, then a lot more strain on Dallas. Closing them out tonight means Heiskanen basically got two warm up games before even more rest. You couldn't ask for better when your star defenseman is coming back from an injury.

Overall, I think Dallas is the better team. They can't quite match Edmonton's firepower even with Rantenan, but they have them beat just about everywhere else.

 

[iRageWin]

I think most people would have forgotten about Podkolzin if he was traded to an out of division team and just produced the exact same statline playing beside MacKinnon or Kucherov or something. The only reason anyone cares is because he's on the Oilers who are going to Round 3. The miss here is just that they probably should have asked for an in-division tax on top of the trade value we received. Maybe Pod wanted to stay in Western Canada and management just felt like doing him a solid

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

1-2-3 Hiller survives. Finally, a franchise as inept as ours.

 

[Ernie]

i understand the game has honest judgment call hits and misses but it was a miss and we should call it a miss. there needs to be a recognition that these guys make mistakes even if we continue to support them.

There are not many teams that would have had this player on the roster after training camp, and he was waivers eligible, so they got what they could for him from a desperate team.

It's nice to see him have a bit of success but let's not pretend this was a huge miss.

 

[valkynax]

1-2-3 Hiller survives. Finally, a franchise as inept as ours.

Hahahahahahahaha, I actually cackled like a lunatic, I kid you not.

 

[Ernie]

1-2-3 Hiller survives. Finally, a franchise as inept as ours.

It's honestly a smart move as a GM. You only get so many chances to fire coaches before you are on the hot seat yourself, but firing a coach you inherited is a freebie.

And sometimes it works out, as in the case of Gillis and VIgneault. It's also not clear that there is a better coach out there at the moment.

IMO the Kings have over-performed given the lack of high end skill on their roster, so I really don't think this is on the coach.

 

[tantalum]

Bringing in his own staff also means Hilelr knows his replacement ent is standing right beside him. The leash will be short.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

It's honestly a smart move as a GM. You only get so many chances to fire coaches before you are on the hot seat yourself, but firing a coach you inherited is a freebie.

And sometimes it works out, as in the case of Gillis and VIgneault. It's also not clear that there is a better coach out there at the moment.

IMO the Kings have over-performed given the lack of high end skill on their roster, so I really don't think this is on the coach.

That was the worst playoff coaching I have seen since Willie Desjardins.

Hiller had numerous opportunities to control the game at his pace and roll out 4 lines but he for some reason kept shortening the bench which kept screwing LA over in the latter half of games. Zero reason to have 4 guys averaging less than 4 min TOI in pivotal games where you have a lead.