Around the NHL — Episode XLXVII

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Tim Thomas - top 5 sv% (.920) during his tenure from 05-06 to 2013-14
Tuuka Rask - top 7 sv% (.918) from 2014-15 to 2020-21
Ullmark - 1st in sv% (.924) from 2021-22 to 2023-24
Korpisalo??? - 2024-25


Two decades of elite goaltending followed by Korpisalo? They can't sign Swayman fast enough.

Seriously. Just get it done I say.

I appreciate their optimism, but I think it's misguided wrt to Korpisalo.

 

[bicboi64]

That Devils team is going to be scary good.

When they get Pesce and Hughes back, their D is absoutely stacked.

Dillion-Hamilton
Huges-Pesce
Siegenthaler-Nemec
Kovacevic

That's an absurdly good D core

Really hoping Hughes can have a massive season that warrants a big contract for him so that the Devils have to prematurely start shaking up their roster. Having two stud RD vets like Hamilton and Pesce has me so envious

 

[BondraTime]

Really hoping Hughes can have a massive season that warrants a big contract for him so that the Devils have to prematurely start shaking up their roster. Having two stud RD vets like Hamilton and Pesce has me so envious

I'd be surprised if they don't have him signed to the same contract as his brother by Christmas, 8 x 8ish

 

[Alf Silfversson]

That Devils team is going to be scary good.

When they get Pesce and Hughes back, their D is absoutely stacked.

Dillion-Hamilton
Huges-Pesce
Siegenthaler-Nemec
Kovacevic

That's an absurdly good D core

Yeah. And some skill up front too.

Not sure if this is how they actually plan on playing their D pairings but I'd probably switch Dillon and Siegenthaler. Nemec could use Dillon's physical play and protection. Plus I think that Siegenthaler might be better equipped for the top 4 than Dillon (33 years old) moving forward.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842291418947043689

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Need a big cheap 3rd pair RD to stop gap you anyone?

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842280105168773234

 

[2CHAINZ]

And Korpisalo with a back breaker:

 

[GCK]

I’d love to get Bobby McCann out of Toronto

 

[BankStreetParade]

I feel like NHL has more incidents though, combined with a format where a 1 game suspension is a reasonable punishment.

In football, a 1 game suspension is equivalent to 5 in the NHL,
In Baseball, there isn't a lot of situations worthy of suspensions, PED use, rarely you get fights, and the odd unsportsmanlike situation.
Basketball suspends guys for instigating altercations on court, seems the NHL gives guys a 5 min timeout in the corner to both participants for the same.

The NHL and hockey in general has a culture that allows stuff that just doesn't happen to the same degree in other sports. Every other sport would have suspended WIFI for what he did to Pare.

The amount of times NHL players cross the line versus comparable situations in the other professional sports is beyond comprehension.

Football is a violent sport, with extreme levels of intense physicality. Players aren't cheap-shotting and punching each other out every game.

Basketball can be pretty physical, mixed with a lot of ego and bravado. Easy for tempers to flare on hard fouls and for things to get out of hand.

Baseball has their cheap-shot equivalent, the pitcher throwing at a player, that results in scrums and scuffles. And they used to have more scenarios with dangerous base-running tactics that the MLB has found a way to remove from the game.

The NHL seems to be the only league where players routinely cross the line, tempers flare and emotions run high seemingly every game. They need to tweak the rules to turn down the volume because this idea of jacked behemoths running around after each other to assault one another is going to end very badly. And already has in the past - Bertuzzi/Moore. It's time for this league to get creative to reduce these instances of vigilante justice cause it's really unappetizing and takes away from the incredible skill level in the game.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

I don't know, women's basketball is pretty violent.

 

[LiseL]

Of course. He's still in the new car smell phase over there. Once that wears off he'll either be the guy we saw here or injured.

I seem to remember he played very well when he first got here. As you said, that could wear off. However, if he is playing his L side and gets a good partner, he could be much better than he was here, barring injury. It would be just our luck, wouldn't it? However, keeping him wasn't an option IMO as he's due for a contract next year and there's no way we can get rid of Chabot's contract to make the room. Chabot seems to be the albatross we have to endure.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

The amount of times NHL players cross the line versus comparable situations in the other professional sports is beyond comprehension.

Football is a violent sport, with extreme levels of intense physicality. Players aren't cheap-shotting and punching each other out every game.

Basketball can be pretty physical, mixed with a lot of ego and bravado. Easy for tempers to flare on hard fouls and for things to get out of hand.

Baseball has their cheap-shot equivalent, the pitcher throwing at a player, that results in scrums and scuffles. And they used to have more scenarios with dangerous base-running tactics that the MLB has found a way to remove from the game.

The NHL seems to be the only league where players routinely cross the line, tempers flare and emotions run high seemingly every game. They need to tweak the rules to turn down the volume because this idea of jacked behemoths running around after each other to assault one another is going to end very badly. And already has in the past - Bertuzzi/Moore. It's time for this league to get creative to reduce these instances of vigilante justice cause it's really unappetizing and takes away from the incredible skill level in the game.

I thought they'd start putting their foot down more after the Cooke on Savard hit. That was almost attempted murder in hindsight of the repercussions and consequences on Savard's life for a long time, and knowing who did it, you knew damn well he was out headhunting doing it on purpose and nobody should believe otherwise.

 

[LiseL]

Suspensions in the NHL have to be the most confusing and unpredictable of all the pro leagues. Amazing how much they seem to botch it. It's like there's just no consistency whatsoever.

Like refereeing? Consistency in the NHL seems to be a foreign concept.

 

[PatrickEaves]

I thought they'd start putting their foot down more after the Cooke on Savard hit. That was almost attempted murder in hindsight of the repercussions and consequences on Savard's life for a long time, and knowing who did it, you knew damn well he was out headhunting doing it on purpose and nobody should believe otherwise.

Yeah, but Parros is in charge now, and he owns a clothing line called make hockey violent again.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Like refereeing? Consistency in the NHL seems to be a foreign concept.

Lol, fair! I feel like I can at least cut those guys a little bit of slack because the decisions are usually made in real time and I've done quite a bit of reffing in my life in rec leagues.

Yeah, but Parros is in charge now, and he owns a clothing line called make hockey violent again.

Please tell me you're joking...

 

[PatrickEaves]

Lol, fair! I feel like I can at least cut those guys a little bit of slack because the decisions are usually made in real time and I've done quite a bit of reffing in my life in rec leagues.

Please tell me you're joking...

George Parros Getting Hired By The NHL Department Of Player Safety Is A Huge Win For Enforcers Everywhere

NHL – George Parros joined the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety, NHL Senior Vice President Player Safety Stephane Quintal announced on Wednesday.Parros, who played nine seasons in ...

www.barstoolsports.com

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

George Parros Getting Hired By The NHL Department Of Player Safety Is A Huge Win For Enforcers Everywhere

NHL – George Parros joined the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety, NHL Senior Vice President Player Safety Stephane Quintal announced on Wednesday.Parros, who played nine seasons in ...

www.barstoolsports.com

View attachment 912498

Eww gross. As if the obvious association to T Rump doesn't turn me off enough already, but the slogan isn't winning me over either.

 

[LiseL]

It's hard to believe but Tim Thomas was a journeyman before he joined the Bruins. Bruins have had Bob Sense (think that's how it's spelled) as their goalie coach since 2003. It seems he is one of the best in the business.

Toronto traded Raask to the Bruins, they didn't see anything special in him. He was very good with Boston.

Ullmark went from being a good goalie on a bad team to a Vezina winner with an amazing record. He also stated in his first interview after being traded that he learned a lot from coach Bob.

Now Swayman has been really good. His entire development has been under coach Bob's watchful eye.

How likely is it that it's all luck? The one thing they all have in common is the goalie coach.

I would say that if anyone can help Korpi improve, it'll be that goalie coach. And let's not forget that Korpi had eye laser surgery in the off-season and now has a new mask. Maybe he did have sightline issues that affected his play, especially on perimeter shots. It wouldn't shock me if his play improves this season.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

It's hard to believe but Tim Thomas was a journeyman before he joined the Bruins. Bruins have had Bob Sense (think that's how it's spelled) as their goalie coach since 2003. It seems he is one of the best in the business.

Toronto traded Raask to the Bruins, they didn't see anything special in him. He was very good with Boston.

Ullmark went from being a good goalie on a bad team to a Vezina winner with an amazing record. He also stated in his first interview after being traded that he learned a lot from coach Bob.

Now Swayman has been really good. His entire development has been under coach Bob's watchful eye.

How likely is it that it's all luck? The one thing they all have in common is the goalie coach.

I would say that if anyone can help Korpi improve, it'll be that goalie coach. And let's not forget that Korpi had eye laser surgery in the off-season and now has a new mask. Maybe he did have sightline issues that affected his play, especially on perimeter shots. It wouldn't shock me if his play improves this season.

Just for fun...

Thomas actually put up pretty solid numbers previously, but he never got a shot in the NHL. As soon as he did, he ran with it and played pretty well. He wasn't a journeyman like Korpse with a 9 year NHL history.

I wouldn't agree that Toronto didn't see anything in Rask, they just made a poor decision to go after Raycroft and use Rask as the currency. Given how poorly Toronto was being managed at the time, I don't think them moving him for Raycroft means much.

Other than the Vezina season, Ullmark's stats have been pretty consistent from Buffalo to Boston. I think he's just a solid .915-920 type goaltender with the ability to go higher year to year.

Swayman is the real deal imo. He was good in the playoffs too as a young guy. I think he's just one of those guys, and if I were them, I'd bet on him.


One of the biggest red flags with Korpse's resume imo, beyond the subpar stats in general, is that basically every year he was in CBJ, his goaltending partner(s) were putting up .010-.030 higher save percentage behind the same team. I just don't see it, but like many NHL goalies, I think he has the ability to put it together in spurts. I've probably hammered that enough, but that's my opinion.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

That Devils team is going to be scary good.

When they get Pesce and Hughes back, their D is absoutely stacked.

Dillion-Hamilton
Huges-Pesce
Siegenthaler-Nemec
Kovacevic

That's an absurdly good D core

Keefe is in Dreamland. His 3rd pairing is basically as good as any pair he's had in Toronto.

 

[Ice-Tray]

It's hard to believe but Tim Thomas was a journeyman before he joined the Bruins. Bruins have had Bob Sense (think that's how it's spelled) as their goalie coach since 2003. It seems he is one of the best in the business.

Toronto traded Raask to the Bruins, they didn't see anything special in him. He was very good with Boston.

Ullmark went from being a good goalie on a bad team to a Vezina winner with an amazing record. He also stated in his first interview after being traded that he learned a lot from coach Bob.

Now Swayman has been really good. His entire development has been under coach Bob's watchful eye.

How likely is it that it's all luck? The one thing they all have in common is the goalie coach.

I would say that if anyone can help Korpi improve, it'll be that goalie coach. And let's not forget that Korpi had eye laser surgery in the off-season and now has a new mask. Maybe he did have sightline issues that affected his play, especially on perimeter shots. It wouldn't shock me if his play improves this season.

Bob Essensa, former Bruins goalie.

 

[Tuna99]

The danger of playoffs for a goalie, Korpisalo went to LA looking good, won a couple of playoff games early in the round and then got completely exposed letting in I think 6 goals each of the last 3 games and he hasn’t been the same since. You give NHL shooters 2 weeks to study a goalie and they’ll find all the weaknesses, he’s never recovered from them last 2 playoff games for the Kings, probably never will

Keefe is in Dreamland. His 3rd pairing is basically as good as any pair he's had in Toronto.

And a real goalie.

 

[Micklebot]

It's hard to believe but Tim Thomas was a journeyman before he joined the Bruins. Bruins have had Bob Sense (think that's how it's spelled) as their goalie coach since 2003. It seems he is one of the best in the business.

Toronto traded Raask to the Bruins, they didn't see anything special in him. He was very good with Boston.

Ullmark went from being a good goalie on a bad team to a Vezina winner with an amazing record. He also stated in his first interview after being traded that he learned a lot from coach Bob.

Now Swayman has been really good. His entire development has been under coach Bob's watchful eye.

How likely is it that it's all luck? The one thing they all have in common is the goalie coach.

I would say that if anyone can help Korpi improve, it'll be that goalie coach. And let's not forget that Korpi had eye laser surgery in the off-season and now has a new mask. Maybe he did have sightline issues that affected his play, especially on perimeter shots. It wouldn't shock me if his play improves this season.

Bob Essensa is a good goalie coach but he can't perform miracles. This isn't like Allaire helping pioneer a complely different style that was objectively superior like the butterfly, Essensa doesn't have a secrete sauce that turns journeymen into elite goalies that somehow no other goalie coach can replicate. He's been around for ages, if he was doing anything particularly unique it would have made it into the wild by now with goalies who trained under him moving on to other teams.

 

[BigRig4]

I didn’t know NJD got Dillon. What a great signing. He’s such a monster.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

f*** Matt cooke