OT: Around the NHL: Cup or bust for the Leafs and Oilers? Bust it is!

[Honour Over Glory]

So the whole point of having the NHL deal with Amazon was to get fans access to games, instead it has very few games and NHL access is still at a typical low for most fans that sometimes want to watch other teams or just the NHL in general and experience black outs, or if you move away, you can't even get access to games on other services you normally would have so you're f***ed and end up streaming.

The NHL keeps acting like it wants to grow the game and is right there with the MLB and NBA with viewership but they lag so insanely far behind.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

That Heinen-Blueger-Sherwood line is fun, Blueger looks like he could have a career year if they stay together.

"If we don't get it going, then I'm going to start our rebuild plan a little bit," Trotz told 102.5 The Game radio on Tuesday. “What we did in the summer, as they say ‘fantasy hockey,’ until we have a good team,” Trotz told The Game. “(If) we don’t become a good team, then we’re going to see a lot more of our kids starting their process.”

Speaking to The Tennessean afterward, Trotz said, “We're never going to burn it down to the studs,” referring to a full roster rebuild. But he said if he doesn't see success, he suggested he'll look at swapping out veterans not named Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Ryan O'Reilly, Brady Skjei, Stamkos and Marchessault for a younger player.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/opinion-predators-gms-comments-about-a-rebuild-raise-doubts

Trotz's comments are interesting - He goes they will rebuild if the Preds keep losing, so what the f*** did he go all in for? The plan was always to rebuild, he got horned out by Brunette having a very good first year and then threw a bunch of new players into the mix and they haven't looked the same at all and I am sure he sold Marchessault and Stamkos on a team that is going to push for more than last year, to now hear him say he will go in for the rebuild if they don't get better...lol ouch. Also funny the contracts he threw out to Saros, etc while trading away Askarov. I thought it was dumb to let Zucker go like they did.

In that link above, I 100% agree with this take.

To be sure, the Predators defined themselves as a win-now team in the off-season by adding a slew of veterans, including star center Stamkos, Stanley Cup-winning right winger Marchessault and defenseman Skjei via free agency. Once Trotz committed to those players – and once he locked up his veterans to long-term contracts – he set the course for the team for the foreseeable future.

Trotz had every opportunity to embark on a full rebuild when he took over from longtime Preds GM David Poile in the summer of 2023, but his competitive instincts pushed him in a direction where he was retooling and not rebuilding. Despite Nashville’s awful 4-7-1 start to the year, that philosophy is almost certainly in place.

RoR thought getting out of town for a couple of games would help, well losing 3-2 vs the Caps isn't a good start and next up is Florida (9-3-1), lol. Saros hasn't been good at all, he faces around 23 shots per game, bleeds high danger goals and his 8yr contract hasn't even kicked in yet.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

lol Torts benching Michkov

Maybe we won't have to worry so much about him in the years ahead, after all. He'll probably wanna GTFO as soon as that ELC ends.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

lol Torts benching Michkov

Maybe we won't have to worry so much about him in the years ahead, after all. He'll probably wanna GTFO as soon as that ELC ends.

He took away the other Russian lad too so he had to try to speak English more but then goes on about the language barrier and that he wants Michkov to really sit and marinate with the things he tells him...like what?

Imagine if Pens were like hey Sarge, leave Geno to his own shit so he can figure it out in a new country and language, f*** the support you give him and confidence in learning a language and having someone he can relate to.

Torts is a f***ing loser and he's a more outward personality with his shit where I find Sullivan does similar garbage but under the guise of "I'm here for you."

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

He took away the other Russian lad too so he had to try to speak English more but then goes on about the language barrier and that he wants Michkov to really sit and marinate with the things he tells him...like what?

Imagine if Pens were like hey Sarge, leave Geno to his own shit so he can figure it out in a new country and language, f*** the support you give him and confidence in learning a language and having someone he can relate to.

Torts is a f***ing loser and he's a more outward personality with his shit where I find Sullivan does similar garbage but under the guise of "I'm here for you."

The apple doesn't fall too far from the shitty mentor tree, eh?

 

[Honour Over Glory]

The apple doesn't fall too far from the shitty mentor tree, eh?

It's like a bloke that verbally abuses you with yelling and profanity and then the other that psychologically abuses you and you tell yourself "at least he's not like the other one."

Lol

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

It's like a bloke that verbally abuses you with yelling and profanity and then the other that psychologically abuses you and you tell yourself "at least he's not like the other one."

Lol

We laugh now but wait until Philly actually has the balls to fire that clown only to have Forever-Sullivan swoop in and make his second buddy hire in two years running.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

We laugh now but wait until Philly actually has the balls to fire that clown only to have Forever-Sullivan swoop in and make his second buddy hire in two years running.

I can see it now. Vellucci is hired as a coach finally and leaves. Flyers fire Torts after the season because of the shit he pulls with Michkov which has his agent say either you fire that jackass or trade my client because this is f***ing stupid.

Dubas then announces Vellucci's replacement - John Tortorella. Our nightmare truly begins...

Head coach Mike Sullivan, Assistants David Quinn and John Tortorella.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I can see it now. Vellucci is hired as a coach finally and leaves. Flyers fire Torts after the season because of the shit he pulls with Michkov which has his agent say either you fire that jackass or trade my client because this is f***ing stupid.

Dubas then announces Vellucci's replacement - John Tortorella. Our nightmare truly begins...

Head coach Mike Sullivan, Assistants David Quinn and John Tortorella.

This team is so out to lunch that it would actually BRAG about that murderer's row of stupid.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

This team is so out to lunch that it would actually BRAG about that murderer's row of stupid.

Tom Werner

We feel this is the best situation for a brilliant coach like Mike Sullivan. To surround him with like minded people so he can really get to work with the next phase of this franchise and with the help of Kyle Dubas, he will be supporting Mike Sullivan with building the right roster to get us back to winning championships.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Tom Werner

"And in addition we re very pleased to announce his next two contract extensions years before the current one is even up."

 

[Honour Over Glory]

"And in addition we re very pleased to announce his next two contract extensions years before the current one is even up."

That f***ing loser really went up to FSG before his other extension even properly kicked in and was like lemme bend your ear for a sec...what if you extend me after my new extension...

And FSG was like...

 

[Gumbercules]

Sprong traded to Seattle for Future Considerations. He keeps getting chances, but it's taking less and less time for teams to move on from him. Have to assume if he can't figure out how to stick in the lineup with Seattle his NHL days are over.

 

[Rudy Russo]

Sprong traded to Seattle for Future Considerations. He keeps getting chances, but it's taking less and less time for teams to move on from him. Have to assume if he can't figure out how to stick in the lineup with Seattle his NHL days are over.

Sprong had over twenty goals a couple of years ago with Seattle and has played in over 300 NHL games but this is his sixth NHL team.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Sprong must be f***ing annoying as shit to be around if he's discarded so often, because his numbers are fine. Attitude probably f***ing sucks.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Wild Vs Ducks was a fun game. Ducks are so poorly coached, Cronin should be fired with Verbeek asap. What f***ing morons, to have the insane young talent they do and to have a dipshit GM and a bigger dipshit coach, sucks for Ducks fans to have that hope and then have another shitty coach f*** it up.

I forgot how Disco used to get his teams to just battle back and win games when they're down by a lot. VGK was up 2-0, Kraken win 4-3 in OT. Francis should f*** off to his president role and let Botts do the GM job because he's giving Disco jack shit for depth.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

He had over twenty goals a couple of years ago with Seattle. He has played in over 300 NHL games but this is his sixth NHL team.

I don't get what teams try to do with him. He scores in depth usage. He takes advantage of mismatches and isn't good defensively but he scores. You throw him with 2 strong defensive players and he's fine. Also the amount he gives up vs scoring isn't even remotely as bad as it's made out to be.

Tocchet had him with the top 6 and it was like yeah that is gonna backfire. He was very good for Seattle so I'm fine seeing him back with them as I watch Kraken and Wild for western teams. Lalonde was a with Sprong and he still put up 43pts (18g) in 78 games while mostly on the 4th line.

He's a Michael Ryder type. Like shit, it ain't that f***ing deep. Tocchet tried to add some defense in his game, lol, mate you tried to do the same shit Sully did and failed.

Sprong was good in his second year with the Caps and his full season with the Kraken. Even when Lalonde was punishing him he wasn't even bad then either. Funny enough, Canucks have a player - Bains, that's a worse version of a one dimensional winger.

All Disco has to do is put Sprong back with Tanev and maybe Wight as the replacement for Geekie and he will produce and be fine. That's what Hakstol did and they were a damn good line - Tanev, Geekie, Sprong. He was also good with Wenneberg and Schwartz, Wenneberg is also gone though.

Unfortunately unlike you blokes, I don't get satisfaction seeing an ex Pen fail and still think he is good for what he is. It's when coaches think he can be more and put the wrong expectations on him that it becomes an issue.

If you care to - https://www.naturalstattrick.com/pl...&sit=all&stdoi=oi&rate=n&v=p&playerid=8478466

This helps for context.

Tanev, Wright, Sprong could be the solution for Disco getting Wright to produce. Sprong has a lethal shot and Tanev is still great in on the forecheck, Wright is a solid 2way C that likes to drive the net, has the makings of a strong unit.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

What's funny is Bryan Rust is a worse winger than Daniel Sprong, is far more of a liability for over 5 seasons lol.

And ironically, to fix Rust, they should do the same, drop him to L3.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

14-1-0 man. The Jets even wrecked the Stars today.
Now I'm curious what the best ever records are for certain checkpoints...like 15, 20, 30 games.

 

[Andy99]

14-1-0 man. The Jets even wrecked the Stars today.
Now I'm curious what the best ever records are for certain checkpoints...like 15, 20, 30 games.

Don’t worry, Stars…you’re playing a way worse team next lol….bounce back time

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Michkov healthy scratched for a second game in a row. Keep doing your thing, Torts.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Michkov healthy scratched for a second game in a row. Keep doing your thing, Torts.

I wonder how much longer Briere can pretend this is the plan all along before he realizes the Flyers Broadstreet bullshit is dumb to keep continuing witth he way they hire coaches. Torts is pissing off one of their prized prospects with franchise player potential because he thinks the tough love method works on every player rather than alienating so many instead.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I wonder how much longer Briere can pretend this is the plan all along before he realizes the Flyers Broadstreet bullshit is dumb to keep continuing witth he way they hire coaches. Torts is pissing off one of their prized prospects with franchise player potential because he thinks the tough love method works on every player rather than alienating so many instead.

You'd think Gauthier telling them he had no desire to meet with the team, let alone play for the Flyers, would've been an eye-opening experience that they'd learn from. Hey, wonder why that kid we drafted 5th overall seems repulsed by the thought of playing for this team...

I dunno. I'm sure it won't matter in the grand scheme of Michkov's career and they won't let it get to the point where he'll ask out, but it's just odd. Having permanent job security for decades really does rot the brains of these NHL coaches, and you can absolutely see that Sullivan apprenticed under Torts.

Also, having Keith Jones be a decision maker for the team I root for would drive me insane. That's like if the Pens had Colby Armstrong in a prominent FO position.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

You'd think Gauthier telling them he had no desire to meet with the team, let alone play for the Flyers, would've been an eye-opening experience that they'd learn from. Hey, wonder why that kid we drafted 5th overall seems repulsed by the thought of playing for this team...

I dunno. I'm sure it won't matter in the grand scheme of Michkov's career and they won't let it get to the point where he'll ask out, but it's just odd. Having permanent job security for decades really does rot the brains of these NHL coaches, and you can absolutely see that Sullivan apprenticed under Torts.

Also, having Keith Jones be a decision maker for the team I root for would drive me insane. That's like if the Pens had Colby Armstrong in a prominent FO position.

I feel like even a dipshit franchise like the Flyers would fire their coach sooner than FSG will with Sully lol.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I feel like even a dipshit franchise like the Flyers would fire their coach sooner than FSG will with Sully lol.

If the psychotic adoration of Sully wasn't so frustrating, it would be genuinely fascinating. Like, I cannot understand why he's still so worshipped by the organization. Dude first started showing issues when he couldn't solve a god damn forecheck against the Isles in 2019. Then, stubborn to a spiteful degree, he rode the JJ-Schultz pairing that was one of the worst d-pairings in recent memory, and refused to shake up GCRust during the Habs play-in. He's had nothing to show since 2018.

It's so odd. He must be exceptional at exec-speak and bullshitting in interviews.