Around the NHL - The 2025 NHL Playoffs Thread

[KiwiGriff]

Ouch. I didn't realize the Cane's are staring down the barrel of a fourth consecutive Conf Final sweep.

 

[DapperCam]

That embellishment call was...interesting. The chicken wing down on the stick and fall down is the Jeff Skinner special, and I don't recall him being called for embellishment (maybe it happened once or twice).

 

[oldgoalie]

Is this going to be a 1-0 final? Halfway through…

 

[jc17]

Nikishin is such a fun player

 

[KiwiGriff]

That embellishment call was...interesting. The chicken wing down on the stick and fall down is the Jeff Skinner special, and I don't recall him being called for embellishment (maybe it happened once or twice).

There are much better times to call embellishment. Tkachuk had his back leg taken out. Pity they decided to use it then, when it didn't seem like a flop (or at least Tkachuk didn't fight going down, he didn't throw himself or flail around)

 

[sabremike]

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

the hardest part about watching the playoffs is seeing the leafs and canes getting roasted for being regular playoff teams with some success

and then going home to this mess

 

[Ness]

Haven’t seen him playing much in the playoffs but seeing Jeff Skinner raising the Cup would be hilarious, just for the sake of Adams and Pegula to be embarrassed yet again.

 

[Chainshot]

Haven’t seen him playing much in the playoffs but seeing Jeff Skinner raising the Cup would be hilarious, just for the sake of Adams and Pegula to be embarrassed yet again.

He played the first game and had a hand in three goals against and one goal for. He hasn't seen the ice since.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Stars on the ropes because when they need it they can't generate any offense.

 

[Zman5778]

Stars on the ropes because when they need it they can't generate any offense.

Seems like a bit of a common theme. Toronto, Carolina, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vegas.......all of their offense just dried up when needed most.

 

[Chainshot]

Bruins bring in Marco Sturm as their new HC. I'm happy to see a new candidate to feed into the recycler of NHL bench bosses.

 

[oldgoalie]

Ooo ahhh
Canes on the golf course.

 

[EichHart]

Panthers 3rd straight Stanley

 

[Ehran]

Congratulations (I guess) to the Felons of Florida on battering your way again to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Not that the 'Canes are any better, just less talented at the thuggery.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Leafs going nuclear ?

 

[old kummelweck]

Is Sam Bennett capable of feeling joy?

 

[DapperCam]

Really disappointing that the Canes didn’t get swept again.

 

[Jim Bob]

This is an interesting bit of news.

 

[debaser66]

3 straight final appearences are quite impressive. their management is the opposite of ours. they identified and collected all the right pieces (mayor and minor) and it all fits together.

 

[Fezzy126]

3 straight final appearences are quite impressive. their management is the opposite of ours. they identified and collected all the right pieces (mayor and minor) and it all fits together.

I give Zito A LOT of credit. His acquisitions of Reinhart, Bennett, and Tkachuk helped form a terrific forward core with Barkov and Lundell. unearthing very good role players in Verhaeghe, Luostarinen, ERod, and a never ending supply of 4th line grinders is extremely impressive as well.

Also, recognizing that Maurice (a coach I was very skeptical of) would be the perfect fit for this group of players is another feather in the cap.

But man there is fair amount of luck too:

• Bob discovering the fountain of youth after being considered the worst contract in the sport for multiple years (in their first cup run they needed Alex Lyon to go on a stupid hot streak just to make the playoffs)
• Stumbling into elite top 4 defensemen with Mikkola (bargain bin UFA) and Forsling (waivers) that perfectly fit their system

Seriously, if you asked 2 or 3 years ago if I'd rather have Ekblad, Jones, Mikkola, and Forsling as my top 4 or Dahlin, Power, Byram, and Samuelsson, I don't think I'd even consider the former group a serious option.

I would love to see defense corps switched and see how their defensemen would fare with Ruff, Wilford, and our forwards supporting them.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I give Zito A LOT of credit. His acquisitions of Reinhart, Bennett, and Tkachuk helped form a terrific forward core with Barkov and Lundell. unearthing very good role players in Verhaeghe, Luostarinen, ERod, and a never ending supply of 4th line grinders is extremely impressive as well.

Also, recognizing that Maurice (a coach I was very skeptical of) would be the perfect fit for this group of players is another feather in the cap.

But man there is fair amount of luck too:

• Bob discovering the fountain of youth after being considered the worst contract in the sport for multiple years (in their first cup run they needed Alex Lyon to go on a stupid hot streak just to make the playoffs)
• Stumbling into elite top 4 defensemen with Mikkola (bargain bin UFA) and Forsling (waivers) that perfectly fit their system

Seriously, if you asked 2 or 3 years ago if I'd rather have Ekblad, Jones, Mikkola, and Forsling as my top 4 or Dahlin, Power, Byram, and Samuelsson, I don't think I'd even consider the former group a serious option.

I would love to see defense corps switched and see how their defensemen would fare with Ruff, Wilford, and our forwards supporting them.

I see a lot of the old LA Kings in the way Florida plays.

Florida ensured their center position was solid for 200 foot play, and it shows in how they can buckle down in tight games. They also brought in wingers who would commit defensively. Their defense hasn't really had the true #1 like a Keith or Doughty, but Montour, Ekblad, and Jones have played well.

The whole team plays the exact same way, all lines and all pairs. Pound the puck in deep, forecheck, wear down the opposition with physical play, etc.

All great teams need a little luck and they've had that with how Bobrovsky turned things around. But overall, it's been a great team design, mixed with the right coaching, and the right player acquisitions.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

FL is a perfect playoff team. They play together, play both ends of the ice with passion, toughness, grit and determination. They play just as hard to defend as they do to forecheck and wear teams down. It doesn't matter who they play, or how a game is officiated, or what's trendy in the game.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I give Zito A LOT of credit. His acquisitions of Reinhart, Bennett, and Tkachuk helped form a terrific forward core with Barkov and Lundell. unearthing very good role players in Verhaeghe, Luostarinen, ERod, and a never ending supply of 4th line grinders is extremely impressive as well.

Also, recognizing that Maurice (a coach I was very skeptical of) would be the perfect fit for this group of players is another feather in the cap.

But man there is fair amount of luck too:

• Bob discovering the fountain of youth after being considered the worst contract in the sport for multiple years (in their first cup run they needed Alex Lyon to go on a stupid hot streak just to make the playoffs)
• Stumbling into elite top 4 defensemen with Mikkola (bargain bin UFA) and Forsling (waivers) that perfectly fit their system

Seriously, if you asked 2 or 3 years ago if I'd rather have Ekblad, Jones, Mikkola, and Forsling as my top 4 or Dahlin, Power, Byram, and Samuelsson, I don't think I'd even consider the former group a serious option.

I would love to see defense corps switched and see how their defensemen would fare with Ruff, Wilford, and our forwards supporting them.

I seem to recall wanting Mikkola back when he was with the Blues. Of course he’d probably have turned into a pumpkin if the Sabres acquired him.

 

[oldgoalie]

Oilers off to a quick start.
Jeff Skinner on the ice too.