Around the NHL: Part V – Nice Try, Sabres (or, Playoffs?!)

[Tawnos]

Is this real? After the season they just had, their solution is to hire the guy the Oilers fired?!

I'd guess the thinking there is that he didn't really deserve to be fired in Edmonton... that Chiarelli was doing it to save his job, which he lost anyway 2 months later. I've seen some of that sentiment coming from some Oilers fans... that McLellan wasn't part of the problem.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I'd guess the thinking there is that he didn't really deserve to be fired in Edmonton... that Chiarelli was doing it to save his job, which he lost anyway 2 months later. I've seen some of that sentiment coming from some Oilers fans... that McLellan wasn't part of the problem.

The NHL coaching carousel.

The NHL needs some European coaches. They have injected a plethora of EU players into the NHL over the last few decades, but EU coaches in the NHL are rare. I can't even name 5

 

[Irishguy42]

Heck. Just new coaches in general. Doesn't have to be Euro.

Bring in some new people instead of rotating the same 40 people.

 

[leetch99]

Yup....new ones would be refreshing for sure . I wonder would Sabres ever look at Keefe from Leafs ??? He might be tempting for them .

 

[eco's bones]

TBL over CBJ in 5 - Bob and Artemi can steal one, but Tampa is too good here.
CAR over WSH in 7 - Carolina's possession game should be too much to handle for Washington who shouldn't get enough powerplay opportunities to outscore the Canes over a series. Wildcard is if the Caps' shooters pick apart Carolina's shaky goaltending.
PIT over NYI in 5 - Goaltending voodoo doesn't carry over to the playoffs in this case.
BOS over TOR in 6 - Boston's top line runs roughshod over them. As with Washington, Toronto won't get enough PP opportunities to win it.

CGY over COL in 5 - Colorado has enough star power to steal one game, but Calgary is just better.
VGK over SJS in 5 - Karlsson will not play and San Jose have been dreadful down the stretch. Both are good possession teams, but Vegas are playing a lot better right now and have vastly superior goaltending.
DAL over NSH in 7 - Wishful thinking, but Nashville has disappointed this year and Dallas have played well down the stretch.
STL over WPG in 5 - If Nashville can be considered disappointing, I'm not sure what word to use for Winnipeg. St Louis have been incredible since the new year and takes this one easily.

Toronto was the least penalized team in the league. Boston was the second highest after us. I'm kind of thinking Toronto is going to get a lot of Pwp opportunities and Boston is going to need a very good penalty kill to win the series.

 

[eco's bones]

The chances of us sliding all the way to #9 is the least likely and very remote. It's 2.1%. I did the tankathon thing yesterday and in 100 times the Rangers only slid to 9 once. 7th is the spot we hit the most--36 times. 8th was next--21 times. Holding at 6th is third--16 times. They are the likelihoods.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The chances of us sliding all the way to #9 is the least likely and very remote. It's 2.1%. I did the tankathon thing yesterday and in 100 times the Rangers only slid to 9 once. 7th is the spot we hit the most--36 times. 8th was next--21 times. Holding at 6th is third--16 times. They are the likelihoods.

I just ran 100 as well.

1st came up 10 times
2nd came up 9 times
3rd came up 4 times
6th came up 22 times
7th came up 41(!) times
8th came up 12 times
9th came up 2 times.

23 appearances in the top 3 sounds about right (23.3% chance in the top 3). I got a bit luckier than the odds would suggest as I had exactly 10% of my rolls get to #1. Every roll from 30-35 had the Rangers picking in the top 3, all but 2 of the rolls from 90-100 had them at 7.

 

[eco's bones]

I just ran 100 as well.

1st came up 10 times
2nd came up 9 times
3rd came up 4 times
6th came up 22 times
7th came up 41(!) times
8th came up 12 times
9th came up 2 times.

23 appearances in the top 3 sounds about right (23.3% chance in the top 3). I got a bit luckier than the odds would suggest as I had exactly 10% of my rolls get to #1. Every roll from 30-35 had the Rangers picking in the top 3, all but 2 of the rolls from 90-100 had them at 7.

For me it was:

1st--8
2nd-8
3rd-10
6th-16
7th-36
8th-21
9th-1

So I was even luckier about the top 3. But generally we're both around the averages and 7th is what most likely happens. And if that's the case either Byram or one of the centers--Cozens, Dach, Turcotte or Zegras should be there for us--which is basically what I'm interested in (that said, who knows who the Rangers will draft). If we fall to 8th that might change things depending on whether someone takes Podkolzin or Boldy or some other reach.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I just ran 5 more just for the f*** of it.

1st twice, 2nd once, 6th once, 7th once.

 

[Metranger]

Rangers will get the second pick. I saw it in a dream last night.

 

[Larrybiv]

Heck. Just new coaches in general. Doesn't have to be Euro.

Bring in some new people instead of rotating the same 40 people.

Who cares if they keep regurgitating the same 39? We have quite possibly a difference maker in Quinn. He is new, so they can have the "old Q's and AV's" with their old thinking. The Rangers are way ahead of the curve, as far as I am concerned.
The only thing that needs fixing is the respect the refs don't give to Quinn leading the Rangers. It's obvious to me that those "regurgitated, been in the league on and off for decades" coaches......get more calls because they have been around the league forever.

 

[TheTakedown]

They should hire Garth Snow for a position that best fits his skills.

Perhaps an assistant mens room attendant or something of that nature.

Not even good enough for actual mens room attendant. Shame

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

For me it was:

1st--8
2nd-8
3rd-10
6th-16
7th-36
8th-21
9th-1

So I was even luckier about the top 3. But generally we're both around the averages and 7th is what most likely happens. And if that's the case either Byram or one of the centers--Cozens, Dach, Turcotte or Zegras should be there for us--which is basically what I'm interested in (that said, who knows who the Rangers will draft). If we fall to 8th that might change things depending on whether someone takes Podkolzin or Boldy or some other reach.

For sure.

Between our 200 simulations the most likely spots are 7,6,8 in that order followed by 1,2,3,9.

It doesn't matter though, we're picking second.

 

[NYR94]

Get ready to root hard for Tampa Bay and Dallas, people. Jeff "The Accelerator" Gorton needs those picks.

 

[mike14]

Rangers will get the second pick. I saw it in a dream last night.

well played

 

[Tawnos]

Get ready to root hard for Tampa Bay and Dallas, people. Jeff "The Accelerator" Gorton needs those picks.

In the first round, we should be rooting for

Tampa
Dallas
St Louis
Carolina
Vegas
Colorado

Those last 4 are about maximizing the the Jets pick. We want the Jets out. Then if the WCF is Dallas vs Vegas or Colorado and the ECF is Tampa vs Carolina, then the Jets pick is 19.

 

[Zibanejbread]

great thread title.

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

I'm glad we didn't just roll over like the Buffalo Roadkill er.. Sabres

 

[Black Aces]

I cant believe how happy I was to see a Sabres logo.

 

[Harbour Dog]

After the lottery yesterday, I am rejuvenated and ready for some PLAYOFF HOCKEY! I'm even excited/optimistic enough about the future that I'm putting aside my normal biases and just cheering for what gets us the best picks*

Tampa beats Columbus
Boston beats Toronto
Carolina upsets Washington
Pittsburgh and the Isles go seven hard fought games completely emptying the tanks, and the winner is a mere shell of their former selves.

Colorado upsets Calgary or at least push them to seven and beat the hell out of them.
Vegas over San Jose or see above.
Dallas upsets Nashville
St. Louis over Winnipeg

*Except Toronto. f*** Toronto.

 

[BLOCKERSAVE]

After the lottery yesterday, I am rejuvenated and ready for some PLAYOFF HOCKEY! I'm even excited/optimistic enough about the future that I'm putting aside my normal biases and just cheering for what gets us the best picks*

Tampa beats Columbus
Boston beats Toronto
Carolina upsets Washington
Pittsburgh and the Isles go seven hard fought games completely emptying the tanks, and the winner is a mere shell of their former selves.

Colorado upsets Calgary or at least push them to seven and beat the hell out of them.
Vegas over San Jose or see above.
Dallas upsets Nashville
St. Louis over Winnipeg

*Except Toronto. **** Toronto.

I rather see Dallas go 7 hard fought games and lose, give the Rangers a high 2 rd, seeing how hard Zook plays Dallas sign him to a contract , giving the Rangers a 1st rd, if by chance Dallas goes 2 rds we get a low 1st rd, but can't see Dallas signing Zook. No way does Zook worth 2 first rds, also if we get a 1st this year I think we get nothing if Zook don't sign with Dallas, does this make sense?

 

[Harbour Dog]

I rather see Dallas go 7 hard fought games and lose, give the Rangers a high 2 rd, seeing how hard Zook plays Dallas sign him to a contract , giving the Rangers a 1st rd, if by chance Dallas goes 2 rds we get a low 1st rd, but can't see Dallas signing Zook. No way does Zook worth 2 first rds, also if we get a 1st this year I think we get nothing if Zook don't sign with Dallas, does this make sense?

It does, and I haven't consider this.

If Dallas already gives up one first rounder this year, then they may be very unlikely to sign him and forfeit another one.

I would agree that it's a concern and that their 2020 first rounder has much more potential than this one (as well as being in a deeper draft).

The choice then becomes between wanting a sure first this year, at increased odds of losing out on a potentially better first next year; or giving up on this year's first with assumed increased chances at getting next year's.

This is a very good point. I think I'm going to continue to cheer for them this year (I'm also a little Zucc-biased), but this is certainly a silver lining to them putting up a fight and losing anyway.

e - I wanted to compare the scenario to 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush', but it's more like 'A sparrow in the hand that's squawking while you're also trying to sneak up on what's probably a pheasant in the bush.'

 

[Based Anime Fan]

I will say this, as a Devils fan, ever since last night I've found myself reading Ranger fans comments and finding them quite funny and enjoyable.

Far more interesting than most other fanbases

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

I will say this, as a Devils fan, ever since last night I've found myself reading Ranger fans comments and finding them quite funny and enjoyable.

Far more interesting than most other fanbases

You're welcome

 

[Ghost of jas]

I rather see Dallas go 7 hard fought games and lose, give the Rangers a high 2 rd, seeing how hard Zook plays Dallas sign him to a contract , giving the Rangers a 1st rd, if by chance Dallas goes 2 rds we get a low 1st rd, but can't see Dallas signing Zook. No way does Zook worth 2 first rds, also if we get a 1st this year I think we get nothing if Zook don't sign with Dallas, does this make sense?

Do you really think that a team committed to Benn, Seguin, Radulov and Bishop, that makes a run to the Conference finals is not paying the price of an additional 1st to keep an important player like Zuccarello to keep that team together? I don’t.