Around the NHL 2024-2025

[Lord Helix]

This Oilers/Kings game is insane!

 

[Xerloris]

Kings coming in with what will probably be the biggest choke of the playoffs.

So about that choke...

 

[The Note]

I can’t believe an NHL team hired Dan Bylsma in 2024 and was surprised it didn’t work out.

 

[TheOrganist]

I can’t believe an NHL team hired Dan Bylsma in 2024 and was surprised it didn’t work out.

It's interesting to me that Ron Francis is universally regarded as one of, if not THE smartest, highest hockey IQ player/mind of his generation and his entire tenure as GM has been unimpressive. I guess you can probably say they about Stevie Y too. Not all of those on-ice traits that served these guys so well as players are transferrable to the C-Suite, clearly.

 

[Thallis]

It's interesting to me that Ron Francis is universally regarded as one of, if not THE smartest, highest hockey IQ player/mind of his generation and his entire tenure as GM has been unimpressive. I guess you can probably say they about Stevie Y too. Not all of those on-ice traits that served these guys so well as players are transferrable to the C-Suite, clearly.

Yzerman was at least good in Tampa.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Why is Ron Francis moving from GM to President considered a firing and failing upwards and Doug Armstrong going from GM/President to just President (a year from now) seen differently?

George McPhee also moved from GM to President in Vegas a few years ago. Was that failing upwards or a promotion? Same with Sakic in Colorado too I think.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Why is Ron Francis moving from GM to President considered a firing and failing upwards and Doug Armstrong going from GM/President to just President (a year from now) seen differently?

George McPhee also moved from GM to President in Vegas a few years ago. Was that failing upwards or a promotion? Same with Sakic in Colorado too I think.

The trajectory of the team?

 

[STL fan in MN]

The trajectory of the team?

That’s sort of my point. It’s all perception. To me, all are examples of an older guy stepping aside so a younger guy can have his time in the seat.

 

[Stelmacki]

So about that choke...

What about it?

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

That’s sort of my point. It’s all perception. To me, all are examples of an older guy stepping aside so a younger guy can have his time in the seat.

Seattle one I don’t know though. There were reports Francis and ownership weren’t on same page this year. He built pretty solid organization infrastructure in hockey side, but he wasn’t good GM. This feels like promotion demotion for him rather than deciding on their own that they were ready to step back a bit like Vegas and here.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Lou Lamoriello is out in NYI. Should have happened a long time ago. He managed a pretty incredible feat: took a team in one of the leagues largest markets and made them completely irrelevant. Not bad per se, but just totally inconsequential. His policy of silence to the media just is not gonna fly in today’s era of social media dominance. He made a bunch of bad decisions as GM too, but the mortal sin of making a brand totally meaningless is what should drive him out of hockey permanently.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

Lou Lamoriello is out in NYI. Should have happened a long time ago. He managed a pretty incredible feat: took a team in one of the leagues largest markets and made them completely irrelevant. Not bad per se, but just totally inconsequential. His policy of silence to the media just is not gonna fly in today’s era of social media dominance. He made a bunch of bad decisions as GM too, but the mortal sin of making a brand totally meaningless is what should drive him out of hockey permanently.

He's a dinosaur that’s been stuck in the dead puck era forever

 

[Brian39]

Lou Lamoriello is out in NYI. Should have happened a long time ago. He managed a pretty incredible feat: took a team in one of the leagues largest markets and made them completely irrelevant. Not bad per se, but just totally inconsequential. His policy of silence to the media just is not gonna fly in today’s era of social media dominance. He made a bunch of bad decisions as GM too, but the mortal sin of making a brand totally meaningless is what should drive him out of hockey permanently.

Garth Snow accomplished that feat long before Lou took over for him. Snow spent 12 years as the GM of the Isles. In that time, they missed the playoffs 8 times, lost in the 1st round 3 times, and lost in the 2nd round once. They started the playoffs on the road in each of the 4 years they made it and won 11 total playoff games in that 12 year window.

Lou's time is well over, but he promptly got them back to the playoffs when he took over, they made the Conference Final in years 2 +3, and they made the playoffs in 5 of 6 years. I can't say that they are any less relevant than when he took over.

 

[stl76]

Why is Ron Francis moving from GM to President considered a firing and failing upwards and Doug Armstrong going from GM/President to just President (a year from now) seen differently?

George McPhee also moved from GM to President in Vegas a few years ago. Was that failing upwards or a promotion? Same with Sakic in Colorado too I think.

Didn’t realize his new job was POHO, I figured it was some made up advisor position. Almost makes it worse IMO.

Maybe he’s better suited for POHO, will thrive in the role and prove critics wrong…but what Francis done as GM to warrant a promotion? IDK, seems like there is a lot to criticize in his record - especially if we are going to compare it to a list of guys who have won cups like McPhee, Sakic, Armstrong, etc.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Garth Snow accomplished that feat long before Lou took over for him. Snow spent 12 years as the GM of the Isles. In that time, they missed the playoffs 8 times, lost in the 1st round 3 times, and lost in the 2nd round once. They started the playoffs on the road in each of the 4 years they made it and won 11 total playoff games in that 12 year window.

Lou's time is well over, but he promptly got them back to the playoffs when he took over, they made the Conference Final in years 2 +3, and they made the playoffs in 5 of 6 years. I can't say that they are any less relevant than when he took over.

I'm not even talking about on-ice success, but you're right, they did better under Lou than under Garth. I pay pretty close attention to the league, and there were multiple times throughout the season when I was like "oh right, the Islanders exist." They're just sort of irrelevant.

We caught a lot of flack over the last year for being "stuck in the middle," but they really are in a bad way. 11/23 of their players have either full or partial trade/movement protection, and only 3 of those expire before 2028 (Pageau, Nelson, Varlamov). They should be rebuilding, but they're really going to struggle with that.

 

[Brian39]

I'm not even talking about on-ice success, but you're right, they did better under Lou than under Garth. I pay pretty close attention to the league, and there were multiple times throughout the season when I was like "oh right, the Islanders exist." They're just sort of irrelevant.

We caught a lot of flack over the last year for being "stuck in the middle," but they really are in a bad way. 11/23 of their players have either full or partial trade/movement protection, and only 3 of those expire before 2028 (Pageau, Nelson, Varlamov). They should be rebuilding, but they're really going to struggle with that.

I don't disagree about the irrelevant 'I forgot they exist' status for the Isles at the moment, but I've felt that way about the Isles in almost 100% of the salary cap era.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Garth Snow accomplished that feat long before Lou took over for him. Snow spent 12 years as the GM of the Isles. In that time, they missed the playoffs 8 times, lost in the 1st round 3 times, and lost in the 2nd round once. They started the playoffs on the road in each of the 4 years they made it and won 11 total playoff games in that 12 year window.

Lou's time is well over, but he promptly got them back to the playoffs when he took over, they made the Conference Final in years 2 +3, and they made the playoffs in 5 of 6 years. I can't say that they are any less relevant than when he took over.

Snow was worse but Lou was still pretty darn bad. Well past his prime. An org with no character or identity really. And I don’t see what they’re building or see a path to much improvement. And I don’t think Roy is a very good coach. And making players cut their hair/shave their beards? Get out of here with that outdated crap IMO.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

That’s sort of my point. It’s all perception. To me, all are examples of an older guy stepping aside so a younger guy can have his time in the seat.

It’s not as arbitrary as you make it sound. One guy piloted his team to a Cup and a lot of competitive seasons, and leaving with a vision that looks on track and rising. The other guy looks like a failed endeavor that is on fire and sinking. I don’t think it’s just about having a certain point of view. There are some objective details.

 

[TheDizee]

so lame we didnt get vegas because of a non call on a trip when minnesota had a empty net vs anaheim.

we could have beat them.

 

[WeWentBlues]

so lame we didnt get vegas because of a non call on a trip when minnesota had a empty net vs anaheim.

we could have beat them.

Been reliving that play too. Brutal

 

[TheOrganist]

Shea Theodore was horrible. -4 and he earned those minuses. That pass from Kaprizov to Boldy on their first goal was a beauty.

 

[STL fan in MN]

It’s not as arbitrary as you make it sound. One guy piloted his team to a Cup and a lot of competitive seasons, and leaving with a vision that looks on track and rising. The other guy looks like a failed endeavor that is on fire and sinking. I don’t think it’s just about having a certain point of view. There are some objective details.

Well sure, that could be the case but again, my point is that the opinions are based on perception.

In the end though, I don’t really care much about Francis or what Seattle does but I don’t think Francis did a horrible job. The teams learned from the Vegas expansion draft and Francis wasn’t able to take advantage the same way McPhee did in Vegas. They’ve got a solid group of prospects coming up too.

 

[STL fan in MN]

The sexual assault trial against Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Carter Hart started yesterday where the jury was selected. Our own Robert Thomas was named as a prospective witness. The trial will take part right during the playoffs so if he is called to testify sounds like he’d be able to do it via zoom. Hopefully won’t be a distraction for him but still, he needs to do his civic duty if he’s called upon to testify.

https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/rick-westhead-jury-selected-at-london-hockey-trial-1.2293043

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

The sexual assault trial against Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Carter Hart started yesterday where the jury was selected. Our own Robert Thomas was named as a prospective witness. The trial will take part right during the playoffs so if he is called to testify sounds like he’d be able to do it via zoom. Hopefully won’t be a distraction for him but still, he needs to do his civic duty if he’s called upon to testify.

Rick Westhead: Jury selected at London hockey trial | TSN

I’m so glad we aren’t dealing with a Blues player or prospect as a defendant in this ugliness

 

[TruBlueFan1970]

so lame we didnt get vegas because of a non call on a trip when minnesota had a empty net vs anaheim.

we could have beat them.

Man, I’m just not sure. Minny was the best team/record in hockey before they were killed with injuries in Dec. They are a relentless checking team and suffocated the Knights last night. Same in game one, but got down by two and couldn’t recover. Not sure the current version of the Blues are as good as Minny or would be faring as well. I’m impressed with them and they just might pull off the big upset.