Around the NHL: Part XLIV 2025)

[Overcast]

I don't think anyone wants Torts himself back in NY, mostly everyone just wants a coach who has a real system, a vision for the team, and practices actual accountability. I can't remember another coach in my lifetime that had any semblance of team vision/accountability besides Torts and maybe Renney. Gallant was hands off, AV was hands off, Lavi is doing whatever he's doing. Just give me someone that will do something about the actual players who are constantly making shit decisions/plays and reward good decisions/plays regardless of salary. Don't scratch someone in the bottom 6 in a weak attempt to send a message to the actual offenders in the top 6. And I would love to see a system with more tactical depth than "score off the rush" and "hope our goalie is in godmode for 70 games."

 

[Boris Zubov]

Thanks but were some of Gresh and Reijos goals as forwards in those big years?

I believe Gresch played forward in 85-86 for most of the year.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I believe Gresch played forward in 85-86 for most of the year.

I think that was the year I met him after practice. He was really cool. Drove a Jeep. Many years later I thanked him for being so nice to me and my dad. He then asked how my dad was doing. Just a cool guy.

 

[gabevh3]

I don't think anyone wants Torts himself back in NY, mostly everyone just wants a coach who has a real system, a vision for the team, and practices actual accountability. I can't remember another coach in my lifetime that had any semblance of team vision/accountability besides Torts and maybe Renney. Gallant was hands off, AV was hands off, Lavi is doing whatever he's doing. Just give me someone that will do something about the actual players who are constantly making shit decisions/plays and reward good decisions/plays regardless of salary. Don't scratch someone in the bottom 6 in a weak attempt to send a message to the actual offenders in the top 6. And I would love to see a system with more tactical depth than "score off the rush" and "hope our goalie is in godmode for 70 games."

Before them it was keenan and somewhat his assistant Campbell after him but i don't recall how strict he was.

 

[WhereO Is Kakko]

Canes and CanadiEns are both playing without goalies tonight. Cool experiment.

 

[OriginalLimbo]

View attachment 1001014

Sexy Rexi, lol. My older sister’s first crush. During a rare moment of weakness, I think derived by an equally rare drinking on the job during an office party, my dad (who worked at the Garden for many years) arranged to get my early teen sister in the locker room to give him some kind of charm. Neither one said a word to each other. I think both were looking down the whole time, haha.

What a fun and talented player. @Machinehead - I think you would have been amused by him. A Dman with wheels forever AND hands. Too bad he was only like 5’ 6”, lol.

 

[WhereO Is Kakko]

Debbies folding like a cheap suit. To think a Rangers team that gave a F could have rallied past them in the standings but this point in time…

 

[WhereO Is Kakko]

F me. Lankinen is a friggin seive.

Edit: Altho, Elvis is one too. What a nightmare game for both Canucks and Jackets.

 

[Cmox]

whoops. wrong thread

 

[Megustaelhockey]

1000 games for Ryan McDonagh. Good for him.

 

[ReddestRum]

Flyers fire Torts and they crank out 10 goals in 2 games (so far).

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

Flyers fire Torts and they crank out 10 goals in 2 games (so far).

Michkov on fire, 2 goals each of his last 2 games.

 

[Megustaelhockey]

Flyers fire Torts and they crank out 10 goals in 2 games (so far).

Firing coaches reminds players there's one fewer buffer between themselves and riding the bus in Magnitogorsk.

 

[Do you want ants]

The WC2 race in the East is so pathetic. Which is why it will be even funnier when whoever backs into it beats the caps in 6.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Flyers fire Torts and they crank out 10 goals in 2 games (so far).

That sweet mid season coaching change buff

 

[RangersFan1994]

Islanders losing as expected

 

[ReddestRum]

That sweet mid season coaching change buff

 

[RangersFan1994]

Islanders trying to comeback wow up 4-0 and now 4-3 Lightning

 

[RangersFan1994]

Buchnevich scores in front of the net. What a concept. Still a brutal trade. Shows that Drury and the organization doesn't know how to scout talent

 

[turcotte8]

Buchnevich scores in front of the net. What a concept. Still a brutal trade. Shows that Drury and the organization doesn't know how to scout talent

On the plus side Sammy Blais is now waiting tables at Drury's pizzeria. Best damn waiter he's ever had.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Buchnevich scores in front of the net. What a concept. Still a brutal trade. Shows that Drury and the organization doesn't know how to scout talent

Well at least you picked out the right FO this time.

 

[LionsHeart]

Buchnevich scores in front of the net. What a concept. Still a brutal trade. Shows that Drury and the organization doesn't know how to scout talent

The contract he signed with the Blues after the trade was really fair too. Horrible trade.

 

[GAGLine]

Two games that matter to us today in terms of making the playoffs:

Montreal @ Florida
Islanders @ Carolina

If both Montreal and the Islanders lose, we will need Columbus to lose one of their next 2 games in order to control our own destiny. We've been in that spot before, though, and haven't been able to hold serve. Six of our last 8 games are against teams ahead of us, so even if those other teams lose, we are going to have a hard time not falling back again.

Other games of potential importance:

Ottawa @ Pittsburgh
Utah @ Chicago
Toronto @ Anaheim

At this point, I don't think the devils will miss the playoffs, but Ottawa passing them would be fun to see. Pittsburgh is 8 points behind us. With 8 games to go, there's very little chance they will pass us. I also don't think we can catch Ottawa, so I'd rather see them win.

Utah is at 76 points with 9 games left. If they win today, they will move past us in the league standings with the same number of games remaining.

Anaheim is at 72 points, 5 points behind us, but they have 10 games left. They could potentially pass us.

If we end up missing the playoffs, that means one of Montreal, Columbus and the Islanders will make it. The two that don't, plus Vancouver, Calgary, Utah, Anaheim and Detroit, will determine where our pick lands pre-lottery.

We could miss the playoffs and finish anywhere from 9th to 16th. My hope in that scenario is that we at least fall to 11th so that we have a shot at #1 overall in the lottery. Finishing 14th to 16th and not winning the lottery won't be fun, but at least we won't have to worry about giving up next year's pick.

We are currently in the 15th spot in terms of points, but 17th because we hold a playoff position. It will almost certainly come down to the last game to see where we end up.

My ideal scenario for today is losses by Montreal and the Islanders, and wins by Ottawa, Utah and Anaheim.

 

[effen]

The contract he signed with the Blues after the trade was really fair too. Horrible trade.

They're trying to ditch him currently.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Seattle has a Kakko and a Kokko. Would have been pretty cool to hear Sam announce one of their games. Only downside is that Kokko is a goalie so it would be hard to confuse them.