Around the League Thread Part II: Final Stretch

[Jason Squirties]

I don't think any of the vets were cool with the rebuild decision. They didn't want to leave LA, I mean Manhattan Beach.

They all seemed to love Dean. Blake blew it up. That's on them for playing so poorly though.

Maybe Martinez was the outlier, didn't like losing but the rest of the team was fine with it. He couldn't fire them up though, I suppose. Maybe it's more to do with the players than management.

 

[cyclones22]

I own a Martinez jersey and will still rock it at games in the future. But I imagine some of his former teammates are going to give him some good natured shit over that comment. Without a doubt this Vegas team is among the 4 best teams he's ever played for! He probably enjoys playing a larger role on his current team than being the 5th best defenseman on the Cup winning squads.

 

[DrHansReinhardt]

What a relief to have Vegas out of the ovs. I will live up to my statement about forgiving the habs for '93. For the final, other team in 5 lol lets go islanders

 

[YP44]

On A-mart saying this is one of the, if not the best teams he has played on. I mean they were tied for the president's trophy. Looking at regular season he is correct.

Will always love the guy so am biased. Thought it was classy his first response to thoughts on this season was gratitude.

 

[Masao]

Centre Bell on lockdown (3,500 people) because the exterior looks like a European rock festival. Can't have the building full, but you can have 25,000+ people outside in a total mosh pit. One of the most pathetic things I've ever seen. #governmentlogic #trustthescience

The problem is that the Habs are a private business. If the Quebec government made an exception for them and allowed them to have a full arena, restaurant owners, movie theatre owners, etc., would blow a gasket.

 

[YP44]

The problem is that the Habs are a private business. If the Quebec government made an exception for them and allowed them to have a full arena, restaurant owners, movie theatre owners, etc., would blow a gasket.

i agree with this but at some point common sense needs to prevail. Same with the gather outside. They should organize so it is done safely and not a shit show. However if the city organizes a mass gathering during a time when there are still restriction that will look very poorly.

 

[KopitarFAN]

I'm torn, do I want to see Tampa vs MTL, contrasting styles, good goaltending etc or NYI vs MTL, a good heavy series.

 

[YP44]

I wonder if Fleury finds his way back to Pittsburgh.

Fleury + krebs for malkin

Is that anywhere close? Vegas could use a center, Pittsburgh could use a goalie, both Malkin and Fluery are on the last years for their deals. Not sure if the difference is Krebs. Feels like too much but Vegas sure seems to go for it.

 

[kilowatt]

I wonder if Fleury finds his way back to Pittsburgh.

Fleury + krebs for malkin

Is that anywhere close? Vegas could use a center, Pittsburgh could use a goalie, both Malkin and Fluery are on the last years for their deals. Not sure if the difference is Krebs. Feels like too much but Vegas sure seems to go for it.

I don't see why Pittsburgh would do that ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[kingsholygrail]

I think a lot is being read into Alec's comments. He's a Golden Knight now and he's going to pump his team's tires.

 

[tny760]

i just want an updated "corey perry being eliminated from the playoffs" avatar, nothing personal to the habs

 

[johnjm22]

I think a lot is being read into Alec's comments. He's a Golden Knight now and he's going to pump his team's tires.

Normally I would agree, but those comments in conjunction with reports that he'd been pissy his last year here just makes me wonder.

I sure hope there's no hard feelings between him and the organization. I love the guy. He's responsible for two of the most iconic moments in franchise history.

I think that goal he scored against Chicago might've been the best singular moment I've ever felt as a sports fan. Pure elation.

 

[kilowatt]

Normally I would agree, but those comments in conjunction with reports that he'd been pissy his last year here just makes me wonder.

I sure hope there's no hard feelings between him and the organization. I love the guy. He's responsible for two of the most iconic moments in franchise history.

I think that goal he scored against Chicago might've best the best singular moment I've ever felt as a sports fan.

The 2013 and 2014 Chicago/LA series are two of the greatest sports playoff matchups of all time.

 

[johnjm22]

Maybe Martinez was the outlier, didn't like losing but the rest of the team was fine with it. He couldn't fire them up though, I suppose. Maybe it's more to do with the players than management.

If that's the case, then why didn't he play better?

 

[fivehole32]

I have to say that DeBoer totally mismanaged the goalies in the MTL series, and I believe that has an affect on the players in front of them. The rotation back and forth had no rhyme or reason. I honestly think DeBoer is a putz nd he really showed it in this series.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I have to say that DeBoer totally mismanaged the goalies in the MTL series, and I believe that has an affect on the players in front of them. The rotation back and forth had no rhyme or reason. I honestly think DeBoer is a putz nd he really showed it in this series.

Some might consider DeBoer to be a bit of a… boob.

 

[YP44]

I don't see why Pittsburgh would do that ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

1) Krebs would be a level of prospect they do not have. Both in terms of skill and age.
2) addresses goaltending needs.
3) save cap (malkin missed a lot of time and team did ok without him)
4) would have to be post ED

 

[YP44]

I have to say that DeBoer totally mismanaged the goalies in the MTL series, and I believe that has an affect on the players in front of them. The rotation back and forth had no rhyme or reason. I honestly think DeBoer is a putz nd he really showed it in this series.

I was shocked the GM kept both goalies all year. Take that decision and overthinking out of your coaches hands. Love Fleury but there was a reason they signed Lehner to an extension.

 

[raswilliam]

cant stop watching this. Mcnab is in full sprint and still gets burned.

 

[YP44]

I was a fan of McNabb as a king. Pre vegas ED i wanted LA to deal Muzzin to Toronto for Kapanen and a pick in order for LA to protect McNabb.

The thing is he works in Vegas because he is a 4/5 guy. In LA he would constantly be top 4 and be exposed too often.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I have to say that DeBoer totally mismanaged the goalies in the MTL series, and I believe that has an affect on the players in front of them. The rotation back and forth had no rhyme or reason. I honestly think DeBoer is a putz nd he really showed it in this series.

0 power play goals scored, multiple OT 1 goal games, 2 goals from their entire top 6. This was a very LA Kings type performance - awesome goaltending and pathetic offense. Any talk of goaltending is irrelevant, their offense, especially the horrendous power play, cost them the series. Nothing more. You put Lehner in for Game 4 as a kick in the ass for a team that needed it, it had nothing to do with Fleury. It didn't work overall, yes they won, but the offense still looked horrible. The blunder by Fleury (reminded me of Quick) and not going to Lehner for Game 5 are non-factors when you get 2 goals from your top 6 and the power play doesn't score a single goal. People are praising Montreal, not accurate, their power play has been terrible for months.

 

[johnjm22]

I have to say that DeBoer totally mismanaged the goalies in the MTL series, and I believe that has an affect on the players in front of them. The rotation back and forth had no rhyme or reason. I honestly think DeBoer is a putz nd he really showed it in this series.

I was gonna say has their ever been a team that won the SC while juggling goaltenders?

Seems like if you don't have "your guy" then it causes uncertainty and you don't win.

Boudreau despite always having regular season success would often juggle goaltenders in the post season. It never worked out.

In the 2014 playoffs Sutter stood by Quick after he got lit up in the first two games.

Fleury was fantastic all year long. DeBoer should have stuck with him.

 

[DoktorJeep]

I didn’t see any possibility of the habs beating Vegas, so it feels dumb to be wrong about the results. Same goes for Caulfield. I believed he would struggle right away because he’s small. But the guy is probably the habs mvp after Price.

I still don’t see how Montreal beats Tampa or the Islanders based on talent. I think it will be plodding hockey if it’s Mtl vs NYI. But after last night, the only reason for me to pay attention to the playoffs is to keep track of the status of downtown Montreal riots or trash being thrown on the ice at the dump in Nassau.

 

[YP44]

just realized it will be an all eastern time zone cup final. Frick.

 

[fsanford]

just realized it will be an all eastern time zone cup final. Frick.

So that just means that all games start at 5PM and not 6 PM (PST)
Not a huge difference really. And figure they drop the puck at like 5:15 or so.