Around the NHL: Part XVIII

[BKGooner]

Put this piece of information away for future reference...

If the Rangers ever decide to move on from DQ, DeBoer would be a leading candidate to replace him. He is very highly regarded by Ranger management.

oh I hope not. Never really liked the guy even when he was coaching junior. he just seems so bush league. Let him go back to the Devils.

 

[Maximus]

oh I hope not. Never really liked the guy even when he was coaching junior. he just seems so bush league. Let him go back to the Devils.

As much as I respect Bobop...I'm with you, I wouldn't want DeBoer as our coach. He's a Devil and always will be.

 

[Maximus]

Not sure there is anything more intimidating in all of hockey if your an opposing player than Nathan MacKinnon skating full speed on the PP while your standing still waiting for him at the opposing blue line not knowing what the f*** he is going to do...lol

 

[Edge]

So from what I'm gathering if we miss the playoffs which is likely, we'll have couple of ping pong balls to give us a chance to move up in the draft. The higher we finish the less ping pong balls we have.

A team like Jersey because they'll be so terrible will have no worse than a top 4 pick if I'm reading things right. Do I have it right now?

Yes, the better the record the lower the odds. Though I’m not sure exactly how they have their system set up.

But all things being equal, I think the Rangers would rather this group hang tough and challenge for a playoff spot than be out of contention by January. In other words, if the options are between having a lousy season and picking 5th, or having some ups and downs and picking 13th, I think the Rangers would much prefer the latter.

I’m hoping this all makes sense. It’s 3:30 am where I am and I can’t sleep.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Not sure there is anything more intimidating in all of hockey if your an opposing player than Nathan MacKinnon skating full speed on the PP while your standing still waiting for him at the opposing blue line not knowing what the **** he is going to do...lol

Outside of McDavid, yeah.

 

[LokiDog]

Yes, the better the record the lower the odds. Though I’m not sure exactly how they have their system set up.

But all things being equal, I think the Rangers would rather this group hang tough and challenge for a playoff spot than be out of contention by January. In other words, if the options are between having a lousy season and picking 5th, or having some ups and downs and picking 13th, I think the Rangers would much prefer the latter.

I’m hoping this all makes sense. It’s 3:30 am where I am and I can’t sleep.

obviously blue indicates won 1st overall

 

[Maximus]

Yes, the better the record the lower the odds. Though I’m not sure exactly how they have their system set up.

But all things being equal, I think the Rangers would rather this group hang tough and challenge for a playoff spot than be out of contention by January. In other words, if the options are between having a lousy season and picking 5th, or having some ups and downs and picking 13th, I think the Rangers would much prefer the latter.

I’m hoping this all makes sense. It’s 3:30 am where I am and I can’t sleep.

No...it makes sense...you done good at 3:30 AM...lol.

I happen to agree with you as well that JD/Gorton would rather us contend for a playoff spot rather than suckage and not be competitive but have a better draft pick. I thought this at the beginning of the season as well and the play of the team this season has merely reinforced this thought process that it would be better for us to contend for playoff spot rather than not.

With the prospect pool we already have combined with the team we currently ice, we are phenomenal shape no matter if we make the playoffs this year or not.

BTW Edge...if it's 3:30 where you are because I'm a geography buff, I'll muster a guess and say your in either London or Paris...haha

 

[Maximus]

BTW and I hate to say this but I think that after 45 years of looking and searching the planet for a guy to replace Bernie Parent as their next great goalie, me thinks the Flyers finally found him and it's Carter Hart.

Been watching him a ton this year and I'm convinced he's the real deal which is great for the Flyer franchise and not so good for us seeing even tho we are going to be a great team most likely for the next decade, so will likely the Flyers as they have a hell of a nice future too.

The Metro division is going to be crazy competitive as pretty much ever team other than the Devils has bright futures. And even they if hey continue their suckage might finally get lucky and have enough A level high draft picks where it would be hard to suck...lol

 

[Edge]

No...it makes sense...you done good at 3:30 AM...lol.

I happen to agree with you as well that JD/Gorton would rather us contend for a playoff spot rather than suckage and not be competitive but have a better draft pick. I thought this at the beginning of the season as well and the play of the team this season has merely reinforced this thought process that it would be better for us to contend for playoff spot rather than not.

With the prospect pool we already have combined with the team we currently ice, we are phenomenal shape no matter if we make the playoffs this year or not.

BTW Edge...if it's 3:30 where you are because I'm a geography buff, I'll muster a guess and say your in either London or Paris...haha

Haha, London.

I mean if we’re looking at names that have come up in the past:

Jost in Colorado
Nylander in Toronto
Crouse in Arizona
Benson in Edmonton’s organization
Kuokkanen in Carolina’s organization

I’d say some of those are names that could resurface as teams pick up the phone.

 

[darko]

Who was the last defenseman to crack 100 points? I can see Carlson doing it this year.

 

[Edge]

Who was the last defenseman to crack 100 points? I can see Carlson doing it this year.

Was it Leetch in 92?

 

[Maximus]

Was it Leetch in 92?

Yup...that's it...Leetchie was the last one.

 

[Maximus]

Haha, London.

I mean if we’re looking at names that have come up in the past:

Jost in Colorado
Nylander in Toronto
Crouse in Arizona
Benson in Edmonton’s organization
Kuokkanen in Carolina’s organization

I’d say some of those are names that could resurface as teams pick up the phone.

What about Oilers "bust" Jesse Puljurjarvi?

 

[Edge]

What about Oilers "bust" Jesse Puljurjarvi?

Definitely on the radar.

 

[Maximus]

Haha, London.

I mean if we’re looking at names that have come up in the past:

Jost in Colorado
Nylander in Toronto
Crouse in Arizona
Benson in Edmonton’s organization
Kuokkanen in Carolina’s organization

I’d say some of those are names that could resurface as teams pick up the phone.

Yah see...I know my geography...lol

What about Edmonton "bust" Jesse Puljuarjarvi? I know I spelt it wrong...haha

 

[LokiDog]

What a save by Hart on Rantanen.

 

[Maximus]

As I said...the Flyers have their goalie finally. He just robbed Rantanen with maybe the save of the year...holy shit!!

 

[Edge]

Yah see...I know my geography...lol

What about Edmonton "bust" Jesse Puljuarjarvi? I know I spelt it wrong...haha

There’s an interest there. Not sure on what they see as being a reasonable cost, but I suspect his name could come up again.

The Oilers and Rangers have flirted with each other for a while now and thrown around a couple of different scenarios. Some with Buch, some with JP, some with the Oilers draft pick. If rumors are to be believed, some recently with Andersson.

But they’ve never quite been able to close the deal. Typically the hold up has been on the Oilers end of things. But I think there’s some mutual interest that still exists.

 

[Maximus]

Gotta say that Chris Cuthbert who is doing play by play tonight in the Avalanche Flyer game is a hell of a good announcer. Once Doc hangs them up either he or John Forslund should be the #1 guy going forward for NBC...they both are great

 

[B17 Apricots]

I know there have been stories written about the whole thing but I can't help but believe that there is a deeper story involved here than what was portrayed in the media. I could be wrong.

I think without a shadow of a doubt. That chick could be a lunatic but when someone has a miscarriage and someone's accusing them of popping pills u gotta wonder unfortunately...I'd say that couple knows something.

 

[Leetch3]

The Caps using John Denver as their goal song is the most anticlimactic song ever.

its a great song...the thing that makes it completely lame is that blues fans sang it during the playoffs last year and then the caps just stole it

 

[B17 Apricots]

It still annoys me that Graves didn't get a single chance here.

 

[Leetch3]

 

[Maximus]

I keep saying it but it's so damn true as every time I watch them it keeps becoming more and more apparent which is that the Avalanche top to bottom have probably the best team out West and maybe in the entire league and yes that includes Boston and Washington.

Until our Rangers are ready to join the elite which likely won't be for another 3 years or so, a Colorado vs either Boston or Washington Cup final would be must see TV and likely as exciting of a series as any of us have seen in a long time. I'm betting that will be what we will be seeing come June.

And when I go to Parx Casino this weekend, I'm going to put my money where my mouth is and put a couple of Benjamin's on exactly that happening...

 

[Charlie Conway]

It still annoys me that Graves didn't get a single chance here.

Crazy that he's leading the league in +/-. I know, I know, it's a stat that doesn't hold a ton of meaning, but I had to double-take seeing him there.

Classic change of scenery trade when he looked like he was taking a little bit of a step back. Bigras didn't really have a bad AHL year last year, (similar stats if you projected Graves' AHL stats) but seemed obvious he wasn't going to get much of a chance either.

I'm happy for Graves, though. He went to a team that really needed a d-man with his type of game and he seized the opportunity.

That said, how many of his points are coming from playing with the most productive offense in the league?