Around the NHL 9

[voyageur]

I don't dislike Lowry at all. I think he's a useful piece for any team to have. What I dislike is the insistence to run him in a specific spot consistiently, especially when the results aren't there. I feel that the org trying to force him into that role no matter the other pieces hurt the team and hurt some development the last few years. If you have pieces ro run a dominat checking line like in 17-18 then you build that type of third line but imo we didn't have those pieces the last number of years and instead had pieces to run a scoring third line system but chose to double down on a checking line that wasn't getting the job done.

I think we probably have a middle ground in this debate.

For Lowry I think you still get pretty good results out of a guy who takes more defensive zone draws than anyone else. He wins a lot of pucks. His metrics took a hit once he Trouba and Morrissey were no longer paired with him defensively. The glory days of having other defensemen who could carry play. It's a long way to go from that pairing to Beaulieu-Bitetto, and I think that affected Lowry's stats. With Dillon-Pionk he was successful early in the season, but the quality of wingers was an issue. If the missing piece was Tanev, you'd think he'd be relatively easy to replace. I think Barron brings many Copp like qualities of the early days, when no one considered him a top 6 centre. Appleton is a long way from Tanev in terms of being a pain to play against, but if the Jets ever go back to an aggressive forecheck, he's a guy who can cut off the middle of the ice as an F3. I actually like what we have as a checking line, and I think if Harkins finds his game, and some chemistry with Apples, there's another player in the mix.

I thought the checking line was pretty good last year, but against weaker competition. We had something good going when it was Perrreault-Roslovic-Appleton playing behind the checking line. I think there should be less of a discrepancy between the 3rd and 4th lines in the organization, as a coaching strategy, to keep everyone engaged. It's worked against us. The key to not deploying your checking line so much is don't give up defensive zone draws, and that's where the defense making an impact still has to be measured in my opinion, among other off season issues.

 

[DRW204]

Funny how it seems every players best year is in a contact year....

look no further than us with Neal Pionk! lol.

fiala was trending pretty well the past couple years, but he's ending this season an absolute tear. seems like him & boldy found real chemistry, w/ F. Gaudreau (of all players) as their C.

two wild lines in the top-10 in GF/60 (min. of 200 mins).... this ain't the wild of yester-years

will be interesting to see how they maneuver the cap. think dumba could be a trade candidate. not sure how they feel about their goaltending, they have talbot signed, and MAF as a UFA. Also, Wallstedt waiting in the wings.

 

[surixon]

I think we probably have a middle ground in this debate.

For Lowry I think you still get pretty good results out of a guy who takes more defensive zone draws than anyone else. He wins a lot of pucks. His metrics took a hit once he Trouba and Morrissey were no longer paired with him defensively. The glory days of having other defensemen who could carry play. It's a long way to go from that pairing to Beaulieu-Bitetto, and I think that affected Lowry's stats. With Dillon-Pionk he was successful early in the season, but the quality of wingers was an issue. If the missing piece was Tanev, you'd think he'd be relatively easy to replace. I think Barron brings many Copp like qualities of the early days, when no one considered him a top 6 centre. Appleton is a long way from Tanev in terms of being a pain to play against, but if the Jets ever go back to an aggressive forecheck, he's a guy who can cut off the middle of the ice as an F3. I actually like what we have as a checking line, and I think if Harkins finds his game, and some chemistry with Apples, there's another player in the mix.

I thought the checking line was pretty good last year, but against weaker competition. We had something good going when it was Perrreault-Roslovic-Appleton playing behind the checking line. I think there should be less of a discrepancy between the 3rd and 4th lines in the organization, as a coaching strategy, to keep everyone engaged. It's worked against us. The key to not deploying your checking line so much is don't give up defensive zone draws, and that's where the defense making an impact still has to be measured in my opinion, among other off season issues.

I have been kicking the 3a 3b line idea for a while now where depending on the game state you deploy the offensive or defensive line more. But this org seems ro have no interest in playing it's fourth line over 6 minutes a game.

 

[snowkiddin]

I think a loss on Tuesday actually does eliminate them, though that may not be technically true if it's a 3 point game. I don't know who owns the tiebreaker.

It's also looking like we'll get a Calgary Edmonton 2nd round series. That's gonna be spectacular.

I wouldn’t go ahead and give Edmonton a first-round bye yet with their track record…

 

[tbcwpg]

I wouldn’t go ahead and give Edmonton a first-round bye yet with their track record…

Sure but LA is kind of backing into the playoffs and the Oilers have been pretty hot lately. Their goaltending could give out at any time, of course.

 

[Romang67]

Sure but LA is kind of backing into the playoffs and the Oilers have been pretty hot lately. Their goaltending could give out at any time, of course.

Smith against Quick would be an amazing goaltending battle.

10 years ago.

Edit: not only would be. It actually was a pretty great goaltending battle 10 years ago. Kings won 4-1, but the goaltending stats over 5 games were .939 for Quick against .936 for Smith. Both goalies had a shutout each.

 

[snowkiddin]

Sure but LA is kind of backing into the playoffs and the Oilers have been pretty hot lately. Their goaltending could give out at any time, of course.

LA has won four straight. I’d pick the Oilers in a series too but what’s saying about counting chickens?

 

[RabidOne]

I have been kicking the 3a 3b line idea for a while now where depending on the game state you deploy the offensive or defensive line more. But this org seems ro have no interest in playing it's fourth line over 6 minutes a game.

Which is baffling. The best teams usually dont play their 4th line 5 minutes a night.

 

[bustamente]

Las Vegas is a mess, first the Davydov drama, then the LTIR shenanigans, now Lehner who was going to have season ending surgery then he wasn't and was the back up goalie and finally know he is. The NHL's model franchise and most beloved is anything but and if they miss the playoffs heads will roll. Oh by the way they are in the shit re next years salary cap unless the NHL says they can field a team 10+ million over the cap

 

[tbcwpg]

 

[surixon]

Las Vegas is a mess, first the Davydov drama, then the LTIR shenanigans, now Lehner who was going to have season ending surgery then he wasn't and was the back up goalie and finally know he is. The NHL's model franchise and most beloved is anything but and if they miss the playoffs heads will roll. Oh by the way they are in the shit re next years salary cap unless the NHL says they can field a team 10+ million over the cap

They look more and more scummy all the time. They wouldn't even allow him to get surgery until they could get their house in order cap wise...

 

[GaryPoppins]

The rich get richer

 

[DRW204]

Not surprised. Great team, with questionable long term goaltending. No nothing about him, but it's a good situation for a up and coming goalie.

 

[GaryPoppins]

They look more and more scummy all the time. They wouldn't even allow him to get surgery until they could get their house in order cap wise...

If KM becomes available, I’d 100% hire him to replace Chevy. Aggressive, not afraid to make moves. With a more conservative approach, he could do well here.

 

[surixon]

If KM becomes available, I’d 100% hire him to replace Chevy. Aggressive, not afraid to make moves. With a more conservative approach, he could do well here.

It's easy to be super aggressive when the players want to be in your market. Not so easy when they don't.

I quite frankly am actually disappointed with Kelly and how his management team have treated a number of players the last number of years.

 

[DeepFrickinValue]

I wouldn’t go ahead and give Edmonton a first-round bye yet with their track record…

Track suit record.

 

[ps241]

Dallas at home tonight to Vegas. I assume Vegas needs a clean 2 points and that still might not be enough.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

Dallas at home tonight to Vegas. I assume Vegas needs a clean 2 points and that still might not be enough.

Dallas finishes with Arizona and Anaheim. Nashville has Arizona and the "meh, we'll turn the switch back on when the playoffs start" Avs. Vegas has Chicago and St Louis. Not looking promising for the Pyritic Knights.

 

[cbcwpg]

The Dallas Stars can clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday, and they can do something that has never been done before: eliminate the Vegas Golden Knights from playoff contention.

Dallas leads Vegas by three points. Each team has three games to go.
If the Stars (44-30-5) win in regulation, they will clinch a playoff berth and the Golden Knights (42-31-6) will miss the playoffs for the first time since joining the NHL as an expansion team in 2017-18.

Dallas players realize just how big this game is. It's what you want, it's in your control. Win and you are in.

 

[None]

I think I speak for most people when I say we're all Dallas Star fans today

 

[kanadalainen]

I think I speak for most people when I say we're all Dallas Star fans today

 

[snowkiddin]

I think I speak for most people when I say we're all Dallas Star fans today

Saw this yesterday and thought it was relevant

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Not surprised. Great team, with questionable long term goaltending. No nothing about him, but it's a good situation for a up and coming goalie.

Really good NCAA career, but what are the chances he will be able to duplicate it in the NHL? He's already 24 YO and he is 5'11. Dominik Hasek was listed as 6'2.

 

[SUX2BU]

Ladies and gentlemen, Gary Batman ..........

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

I think I speak for most people when I say we're all Dallas Star fans today

Just to be contrarian, I'm going to be cheering for Vegas to get in. You gotta feel for those plucky Knights. They've had to overcome injury and adversity the likes of which has rarely been seen (outside of Tampa). Go ahead, boo me, give me the squirrel finger,...