Around the NHL — Episode XLXVII

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

If we hired Jacques this team is two years ahead of where it is right now

Hard to argue with that. I would have thought Martin would have been a much better hire at the time, let alone in hindsight. The DJ era was a flop.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Crazy that Pierre Dorion was the one interviewing Jacques Martin and Patrick Roy for a job in the NHL.

So glad the micky mouse organisation days are behind us.

How the f*** did we retain our sanity through that? Or did we?

Almost enough to turn fans away forever. It was pretty tough to buy in to a rebuild when you don't believe in any of the people behind it all the way to the top. The most aggravating part for me were Melnyk's quotes about never letting the team go even though he wouldn't and couldn't do what it takes to build a winner. Like, just let it go man.

 

[Xspyrit]

I agree, but I don't think it needs to be stated each time. Obviously, when people use hyperbole to describe players, they're speaking relative to NHL standards and every NHLer is at a high level, so when people say Korpisalo is trash, I assume they say it knowing he's still probably 1 of the top 200 tenders in the world.

Of course, but my point was more to say that a goalie's job is extremely hard these days since every player is really damn good at hockey, much more than before with a very diluted pool of talent in comparison. Which is why McDavid dominating today is more impressive to me than a Gretzky in the 80's, but that's another subject.

I didn't even see the highlights tbh, just looking at box scores.

I do agree to an extent that the team in front of them is a determining factor, but the few that are able to separate themselves do still exist, even if they still ride the team waves too, they're just fewer and further between these days and I do think we have one in Ullmark. It's a distinct advantage for the few teams that have it. Guys like Shesterkin, Hellybuck, Demko, Swayman, Ullmark, etc. are clearly a cut above guys like say Korpisalo and Forsberg.

I think Habs were due for a great offensive game and it seems that every goal was a golden opportunity, I wouldn't blame UPL that much on any of the goals.

Oettinger, Vasilevskiy and Sorokin are among the best too. Bobrovsky too even if he's not at his prime anymore and is less consistent than before. IMO Gustavsson, Dostal and Daccord are rising too. Seriously, there's plenty of good goalies. Numbers don't matter much, there's just so much talent in this league, they're going to score goals

Hopefully, Ullmark remains in the Top-20 during his whole contract

Meanwhile….
Gustavsson gets another shutout
8-2-2 .924 so far

The goalie we gave away is playing like we hoped the goalie we traded for would.

I wonder if that trade even gets ranked Top-10 in Dorion's worst moves... but yeah I still think we should have just gone with Forsberg/Gustavsson going forward. Instead, we're spending a LOT more on goaltending when we have very mediocre depth up front

 

[Loach]

Almost enough to turn fans away forever. It was pretty tough to buy in to a rebuild when you don't believe in any of the people behind it all the way to the top. The most aggravating part for me were Melnyk's quotes about never letting the team go even though he wouldn't and couldn't do what it takes to build a winner. Like, just let it go man.

...or going on Parliment Hill during the 100th year anniversary outdoor game and threatening to move the team.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

...or going on Parliment Hill during the 100th year anniversary outdoor game and threatening to move the team.

Ugh. Don't get me started. That was such a self inflicted disaster.

 

[Senovision]

Trivia....Who's the only defenseman to win the Hart Trophy since Bobby Orr did it in 1972?