Around the League

[RED WINGS STOMP]

I actually want the Leafs to win their first round match up, only because I hate Ottawa so much more.

After that, they can go back to being a playoff embarrassment

 

[USAHockey97]

Sucking one more year and having Demidov fall into their laps is some very good fortune. Looks great.

Sigh, wish this would have happened to the Wings. Just a few points less and Michkov or Leonard could be Wings.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

I actually want the Leafs to win their first round match up, only because I hate Ottawa so much more.

After that, they can go back to being a playoff embarrassment

I was trying to decide who I'd want to win that series and it kind of comes down to which fan base will be less annoying. Honestly it's a toss up. Leafs fans have greater numbers but the handful of Sens fans that act like jackasses make up for it with persistence.

 

[JediOrderPizza]

Easily rooting for Ottawa cause I like Stutzle, also makes it more likely that Marner might leave the Leafs if they lose in the first round again.

 

[Oddbob]

I was trying to decide who I'd want to win that series and it kind of comes down to which fan base will be less annoying. Honestly it's a toss up. Leafs fans have greater numbers but the handful of Sens fans that act like jackasses make up for it with persistence.

Has to be Ottawa to hate from this season, as those 5 or 6 loud fans have been super irritating!

 

[minimal]

Fellas.

At least we're not the Canucks.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Fellas.

At least we're not the Canucks.

Or honestly the sharks. It dawned me how they need to go through a deep rebuild and they never won crap.

 

[Run the Jewels]

So what's the story with McDavid in Edmonton? He had to basically carry that team on his shoulders last night and they still lost. One more season under contract in Edmonton. Is he expected to re-up?

 

[ricky0034]

So what's the story with McDavid in Edmonton? He had to basically carry that team on his shoulders last night and they still lost. One more season under contract in Edmonton. Is he expected to re-up?

bit of a tangent but it's so dumb how this is literally the 4th year in a row Edmonton and LA are playing each other in the first round

talk about singlehandedly making an argument for the current Playoff seeding format being stale

 

[SoupNazi]

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Oh boy. The Islanders are in a really tough spot in my opinion. He did snap Edmonton out of it and into the playoffs but I think NYI are in big trouble.

 

[Winger98]

Oh boy. The Islanders are in a really tough spot in my opinion. He did snap Edmonton out of it and into the playoffs but I think NYI are in big trouble.

Hey, anyone could get Edmonton into the playoffs, just like the GM before Holland did.

I think NYI could be interesting for Holland. A totally different challenge from Edmonton and Detroit.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Hey, anyone could get Edmonton into the playoffs, just like the GM before Holland did.

I think NYI could be interesting for Holland. A totally different challenge from Edmonton and Detroit.

If they were moving on from somebody other than Lou I could see It. Going from the oldest GM to the new oldest GM isn’t going to make the Long Island fanbase happy in my opinion.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Hey, anyone could get Edmonton into the playoffs, just like the GM before Holland did.

I think NYI could be interesting for Holland. A totally different challenge from Edmonton and Detroit.

They got into the playoffs with Peter Chiarelli as GM before Holland came to town, so yeah, you're kinda right in that if he can do it, practically any competent GM could (which I don't think Chiarelli is anymore). It's notable the Oilers did not keep Holland around in spite of making it to the finals.

I wouldn't mind seeing Holland take over for the Isles. Maybe the Wings can trade some castoffs there before Holland leaves them in a cap crunch.

(requisite disclaimer that I appreciate Holland's work 20 years ago and prior in helping the Wings build a successful franchise, but the dude has lost his touch and should just retire).

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

They got into the playoffs with Peter Chiarelli as GM before Holland came to town, so yeah, you're kinda right in that if he can do it, practically any competent GM could (which I don't think Chiarelli is anymore). It's notable the Oilers did not keep Holland around in spite of making it to the finals.

I wouldn't mind seeing Holland take over for the Isles. Maybe the Wings can trade some castoffs there before Holland leaves them in a cap crunch.

(requisite disclaimer that I appreciate Holland's work 20 years ago and prior in helping the Wings build a successful franchise, but the dude has lost his touch and should just retire).

They missed the playoffs Chia’s final two years.

The Oilers won more playoff series under Holland’s leadership than from 1998 until the day he arrived in 2019. 5 total in the 20 years and 6 total while he was there.

I know people here hate him and McDavid etc. He changed that culture.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

They missed the playoffs Chia’s final two years.

The Oilers won more playoff series under Holland’s leadership than from 1998 until the day he arrived in 2019. 5 total in the 20 years and 6 total while he was there.

I know people here hate him and McDavid etc. He changed that culture.

I in no way hate McDavid. I'd love to see him win the Cup, though ideally not with Stan Bowman as GM.

And yeah they missed the playoffs because Chia started doing Chia things. Once they stopped hiring guys like Craig McTavish, Chia and Keith Gretzky, it's not a shock the team got better. Notably they didn't keep Holland around in spite of making the Cup Finals.

I don't hate Holland. I just think his best days are behind him and he's mostly tarnishing his legacy by hanging around. He's on a path to become the Tortorella of GM's. Getting hired by teams based on boys club relationships and success from 20+ years ago.

 

[Winger98]

If they were moving on from somebody other than Lou I could see It. Going from the oldest GM to the new oldest GM isn’t going to make the Long Island fanbase happy in my opinion.

What makes them happy and what's good for the team aren't always the same thing.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I in no way hate McDavid. I'd love to see him win the Cup, though ideally not with Stan Bowman as GM.

And yeah they missed the playoffs because Chia started doing Chia things. Once they stopped hiring guys like Craig McTavish, Chia and Keith Gretzky, it's not a shock the team got better. Notably they didn't keep Holland around in spite of making the Cup Finals.

I don't hate Holland. I just think his best days are behind him and he's mostly tarnishing his legacy by hanging around. He's on a path to become the Tortorella of GM's. Getting hired by teams based on boys club relationships and success from 20+ years ago.

I love McDavid was just pointing out often on this board Ken Holland somehow never did anything good just the bad. It is exhausting. Not saying you did hate Holland, similar to some of our Larkin thread comments, I always enjoy your posts even when we disagree. I just feel some of the other posts coming as well.

 

[ricky0034]

in a lot of ways that Edmonton role was kind of the perfect spot for Holland, they needed a guy to come whip the culture into shape and build some depth around their stars and honestly that kinda played to his strengths

I actually think he did mostly a good job there(although he did make some bad moves too) but the Islanders are a totally different situation and I don't think he has it in him at this point

Unlike with Edmonton he might even be exactly the wrong kind of hire, maybe he could have the Islanders as a fringe Playoff team for a few years but they need deeper changes than he'd bring to really compete

 

[saska sault]

Dubas in his press conference saying what Yzerman wishes he could say.

You can tank and hope for luck or you can just try to get better. His wording was a little different but it's not a unique idea to Yzerman although some think it is.

 

[ricky0034]

Dubas in his press conference saying what Yzerman wishes he could say.

You can tank and hope for luck or you can just try to get better. His wording was a little different but it's not a unique idea to Yzerman although some think it is.

that would be a pretty alarming thing to hear from the GM if I were a Pens fan considering that teams age and lack of a prospect pool