Around the NHL - Part XLV (Playoffs edition)

[NickyFotiu]

Yes, because my whole thing is that while it certainly is a factor, the Rangers have other advantages that other teams don't have. Fox, Kane, and Miller are just recent examples of players forcing their way here. It's objectively an attractive destination even with the tax rate. You could make the argument it's still the most attractive destination in the league! (Also, if they ponied up Lafreniere and/or Kakko, Tkachuk would be here instead of in Florida not paying taxes).

Should the league legislate it? Maybe, but I don't think they can. Every city has different taxes. What actually would be the solution?

Beyond that specific issue, there's way more than taxes that makes a free agency/trade destination, and again, there's nothing the league can do to make places equal. You have teams in 32 different cities, and people would rather live in some cities than others for a whole host of reasons.

When you put every possible reason into a blender, New York is still probably at the very top of the list. We're not in any position to say the league structure is unfair to us.

I could see a team like Winnipeg saying "how are we ever supposed to keep or attract players?" but again, what is the league supposed to about it?

Bread pushed his way here. We even have had guys fighting to stay here (Goody, Trouba, Zibs, Kreider, etc).

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I think people are missing the point here. It’s not that players are less likely to sign in higher tax locations. It’s that they are willing to sign for lower AAV in no tax states . If there was no salary cap it would not matter a bit

 

[Filip Chytil]

 

[mike14]

Has Paul Maurice always been this insufferable?

I’m still angry about the handshake interview. What a pompous asshole.

Late to party, but yes.
He's a smarmy wanker.
More than happy to harp on eloquently when his team is winning, and have a fun joke or two; but as soon as something doesn't go his way he's like an 8 year old who got told off for reaching for the lolly jar

 

[I Eat Crow]

View attachment 1044183

Cody Ceci being mega ass?

I'm shocked!!!

 

[McRanger92]

Including an Olympic teammate on that list of jagr teammates nullifies it imo.

 

[NYRnine94]

I don't care how you build your team, personally, because I'm of the opinion that you just win, and fairness is for second place.

However, I would argue that the Panthers building a system around committing so many penalties that the league just stops calling them is equally ripe for criticism.

Oh please with this penalty garbage. It's the same thing with every winning team. People whine about penalties and teams playing dirty, maybe our soft shit team should try it sometime.

 

[wolfgaze]

 

[WojtekWolski86]

Username brings me back to that 2010-2011 Rangers team. That team had some legends on it. Wolski, Frolov, Christensen, Eminger. Good times.

Having a Pole on the team really excited me and he showed some potential with the Avs. Sad it didn't work out.

 

[haohmaru]

Im sorry but if your response to the valid critique that state income tax plays an uneven role in NHL is some corny shit like this you arent a serious person. Weekes may as well have the league office's hand up his ass and moving his mouth like a puppet at this point. Biz and Brooksie are correct that its a clear advantage for Florida and other teams and a clear handicap for the Rangers and Maple Leafs (who basically keep the league afloat on their own btw). Childish naivete shielding the league from a legitimate conversation.

How much of an "advantage" are we talking about here? I mean you're paying taxes for wherever you're playing so that knocks out half of the games in the schedule as an advantage.

You're talking 41 games. Sure, there's a financial incentive in that but some of these tax free teams have further advantages - one of them being that they are GOOD teams and winter isn't a thing.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

How much of an "advantage" are we talking about here? I mean you're paying taxes for wherever you're playing so that knocks out half of the games in the schedule as an advantage.

You're talking 41 games. Sure, there's a financial incentive in that but some of these tax free teams have further advantages - one of them being that they are GOOD teams and winter isn't a thing.

But that’s the thing…

When these teams are good (see: when people want to play for you) it’s an enormous advantage in a cap world. Top teams spend up to the cap and beyond it pulling all shorts of shenanigans (which are available to be used by every team so at least that is balanced.) A million or 2 saved across 4-5 contracts adds up. That’s enough to fit in several good players or one really good player.

When you suck? You’re going to have trouble getting people to play for you regardless of where you are located.

You can be one of these tax teams spend a ton and still suck (Nashville) but it’s not a coincidence that most of the top
Teams today are located where they are. Good management is a big part of that, but when you give good management an even bigger budget to work with? Yeah that’s not fair at all.

This is the real thing the league should be looking at, not the LTIR shenanigans which are actually available to everyone.

 

[LOFIN]

This is the real thing the league should be looking at, not the LTIR shenanigans which are actually available to everyone.

But the thing is, there is no realistic solution available. Basically the only viable option would be to make the salary cap about net salaries. And that would mean that owners would have to pay different amounts of money for the same player on a same contract. That would never fly. Remember, the salary cap doesn't exist to make the league competitive across the board and increase parity. The salary cap exist because it keeps the players salaries cost controlled for the owners. They are making more money with a salary cap.

And even if there was a realistic solution, that would just shift the goalposts to something else. Next people would want some way to balance the difference in cost of living.

 

[ArPanet]

The league gave Vegas a scandalous exemption on the Robin Lehner contract so they're probably not concerned about state tax variations.

 

[Machinehead]

Oh please with this penalty garbage. It's the same thing with every winning team. People whine about penalties and teams playing dirty, maybe our soft shit team should try it sometime.

I agree with you!! I would run every player in the league over with a bus to win a game in January.

I just don't think the Panthers pass some ridiculous purity test over the Oilers. They cheat (which I endorse) and also had a bunch of high draft picks.

 

[NYRnine94]

I agree with you!! I would run every player in the league over with a bus to win a game in January.

I just don't think the Panthers pass some ridiculous purity test over the Oilers. They cheat (which I endorse) and also had a bunch of high draft picks.

We didn't do the cheating thing but we had a few high picks and we drafted the 3 stooges in Laf, Kakko, Kravstov. Throw Andersson in too because he's another amazing pick

 

[Machinehead]

We didn't do the cheating thing but we had a few high picks and we drafted the 3 stooges in Laf, Kakko, Kravstov. Throw Andersson in too because he's another amazing pick

Then we should try our hand at cheating!

I like what Sullivan said about his forecheck. Good. Make lots of contact. Make lots of illegal contact.

I will say this: the shit Rempe has been suspended several games for -- you'd be hard pressed to find a Sam Bennett hit that's not that. That's annoying.

Granted, I think there's a target on Rempe because of his size but as a team, I've been critical for years about not interfering enough. They don't enforce it. They enforced it in 2005-06 and then forgot about it.

 

[NYRnine94]

Then we should try our hand at cheating!

I like what Sullivan said about his forecheck. Good. Make lots of contact. Make lots of illegal contact.

I will say this: the shit Rempe has been suspended several games for -- you'd be hard pressed to find a Sam Bennett hit that's not that. That's annoying.

Granted, I think there's a target on Rempe because of his size but as a team, I've been critical for years about not interfering enough. They don't enforce it. They enforced it in 2005-06 and then forgot about it.

Illegal contact in this league leads to playoff wins. Idk how Sullivan will work out but if he can teach this team how to "make contact" in the playoffs then he did his job. There isn't a magic formula to winning and hopefully, Sullivan can help with that.

 

[savebyrichter94]

View attachment 1044413

The face you make when you stop having a boring tuna and stop having a boring life

 

[Filip Chytil]

Stars GM Jim Nill confirmed to The Dallas Morning News Saturday that Hintz suffered a foot fracture from the slash he took from Darnell Nurse in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.

“I moved Jamie Benn to the fourth line. Does that ruin our relationship? When I healthy scratched [Evgenii] Dadonov, who I’ve had since he was 20 years old, does that ruin our relationship?” DeBoer said in his exit interview Saturday morning. “No, these aren’t easy conversations. As a player, you don’t like that. I’m sure there’s always some hard feelings. Those are the decisions we make, and we try to keep it as professional as we can, and it’s all with one goal, and that’s to try and keep the group moving forward.”

Oettinger spoke Saturday for the first time since spending most of Game 5 seated next to ESPN broadcaster Ray Ferraro listening to his own game and his team’s latest playoff failure be analyzed.
Understandably, Oettinger was not his normal cheery self when he spoke Saturday, but his competitive side shined through.
“It sucks. It’s embarrassing,” he said. “Any time you get pulled, it doesn’t matter if it’s the playoffs or the regular season, you just want to go right off the ice and crawl in your bed and not talk to anyone.
“The way I’m looking at it is how can I get better from that? How can I make those saves I’ve made all playoffs?”

The Stars goalie somewhat deflected speaking directly to their relationship.
“The whole experience, I think just learn from it, and it’s gonna help me grow and be a better person, be a better goalie,” he said. “My job is to stop the puck. I feel like I’m one of the best in the world when I’m playing well. That’s all I’m gonna focus on. All the extra stuff’s just extra stuff for me. If I go out there next year, and I’m the best goalie in the world, it doesn’t matter if one of you guys are coaching me.”
While Oettinger wouldn’t sing his coach’s praises in the same way some of his teammates did Saturday, DeBoer made his thoughts on the young netminder clear, even if his actions Thursday didn’t line up.
“No one’s a bigger fan of Jake Oettinger than me, as a person or a goalie,” DeBoer said. “I think Jake is the best young goaltender in the league, but that doesn’t mean there’s not still a learning curve and growth.”

 

[Filip Chytil]

Maple Leafs mailbag: Could Marchand or McDavid come to Toronto?

The Maple Leafs left their fans frustrated and disappointed in Game 7, again. But they also left them curious. Here are some questions from fans as the off-season begins.

www.sportsnet.ca

Our understanding is that Marchand was not content to go the Joe Pavelski route in Boston. He wants term and a raise up from his current $6.125-million AAV, which turned into a bargain rather quickly.

We envision Marchand’s rental stint in South Florida playing out like Claude Giroux’s (except he has a shot to lift the Cup at the end).

And on July 1 we expect Marchand, a champion once (or twice) over, to get $7 million or more on, say, a three-year contract. That might mean joining a team that’s not considered a top contender. Likely one outside the Atlantic Division.

Is Cowan as good as he looks in the CHL? Or is it a mirage? —@4thlinewinger

Great question, and one on many Leafs fans’ minds.

I’m turning to the expert here. Jason Bukala, a veteran NHL scout, has watched the top prospect much closer, so I asked for his take.

Here’s Bukala’s guest response to your question:

Cowan’s level of three-zone detail and overall compete needed to be better in the regular season, but he bounced back nicely in playoffs and has returned to form.

He’s above the puck when his group doesn’t have control in the offensive zone and making small-area plays that are above the level.

As far as next season goes, I believe he needs time to further mature in the AHL and continue to evolve his all-round game. Shorter shifts. Even more relentless compete. Roles in all situations.

Right now, I’m projecting Cowan as a middle-six forward BUT he has the skill to potentially become a 2F as he matures. I wouldn’t rush him, though.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Wolski? I remember him being a monster in NHL 2k7 after a great rookie year. Then? Fell off the face of the earth.

Deboer is a pompous ass and always will be. Didn't like him since he broke into the league with NJ. I'll never root for one of his teams.

 

[haohmaru]

Marchand for 7M x 3? Huge pass.

 

[94leetch]

Marchand for 7M x 3? Huge pass.

On the other hand if they're going to suck anyway he'd at least be entertaining to watch??

 

[Roo Returns]

Wolski? I remember him being a monster in NHL 2k7 after a great rookie year. Then? Fell off the face of the earth.

Deboer is a pompous ass and always will be. Didn't like him since he broke into the league with NJ. I'll never root for one of his teams.

He was basically the Polish version of Prucha. A finesse player who was crafty and had a lot of skill. He had three pretty good years with Colorado. Then the league figured him out and the physical marathon wore him down.

He was ok on the Rangers in 2010-11. Torts had no use for him the following year. "We can't get him out of the hot tub."

 

[Roo Returns]

Anyone here watch The Whalers documentary? SNY carried it.

I watched about 30 minutes in between Mets and Knicks while doing some other stuff. It was really well done and I'm going to DVR it for next weekend.

A few observations:

-Mike Liut as a grandfather makes me feel old. I remember him as a villain as the Capitals goalie in the early 90s who gave the Rangers fits.

-Ulf Samuelson is a really funny guy.

-I loved the footage of a young Larry Pleau, Emile Francis in Hartford, and the 1986 playoffs. I was too young but all of that was like folklore to me growing up.

-Dean Evanson young is the weirdest thing. He wasn't always a SyFy Channel dystpotian authoritarian figure.

Documentary film “The Whalers” to premiere this Sunday on NBC Sports Boston

The world television premiere of the critically acclaimed documentary “The Whalers” will be this Sunday, April 13 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.

www.nbcsportsboston.com