GDT: JERKS IN THE HEART OF THE ENEMY

[BadgerCane58]

I have a feeling his career will be the catalyst for the NHL eventually adding a “best defensive defenseman” award separate from the Norris. It should exist and Slavin would’ve deserved it like 5 times by now. So grateful to have the guy on this team and for the NHL undervaluing those types of players so we can have him on such a bargain long term deal.

The Jaccob Slavin trophy for best defensive defensive player. We’ll eventually or initially see this award debut after the 2044-45 season.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

The Jaccob Slavin trophy for best defensive defensive player. We’ll eventually or initially see this award debut after the 2044-45 season.

I know everybody on HF26 knows what a beast this man is, but to put it into numbers, he's played in 81 playoff games in his career. He's scored 9 goals and 31 assists for a total of 40 points.


He plus/minus is +41 in those games. I realize +/- is a silly stat most of the time, but that's ridiculously good considering he's played 24 minutes per game against the very best players the bad guys have to offer. On top of that, he's only taken five penalties in those 81 games, and I'm pretty sure 2-3 were DoGPoG. We are witnessing an all time great, and I really hope all y'all appreciate him.

 

[Tryamw]

"Kinda not bad" is a bit of an understatement. Our entire defense dominated this series.

Blake being our worst honestly won't disagree

 

[wgknestrick]

Found on the Panthers board, thought it was funny

View attachment 1036898View attachment 1036898

Let the photochops begin! He needs to be pointing to all kinds of things

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Blake being our worst honestly won't disagree

He’s really showing his “rookieness” this run. The space that he was creating in the regular season has disappeared in the playoffs. Though being taken off the top line and put on the 4th also has something to do with it.

 

[hockeynjune]

He’s really showing his “rookieness” this run. The space that he was creating in the regular season has disappeared in the playoffs. Though being taken off the top line and put on the 4th also has something to do with it.

Dude , your offside call last night made mine.

 

[Incubajerks]

Did you see the bench after the EN? Need a pic it was beautiful to watch!

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Did you see the bench after the EN? Need a pic it was beautiful to watch!

I got you.

 

[Incubajerks]

I got you.

View attachment 1037061

Tnx you so much BB! Loved that moment!

 

[The Faulker 27]

My playoff grades for the Canes since the run of sustained success began:

Overachieved: 2019, 2023, 2025

Par: 2020, 2021

Underachieved: 2022, 2024

Those damn Rangers series’ really were the bitter disappointments of this era. Just a horribly frustrating matchup both times. Getting swept in the ECF in 2023 was also annoying, but making it there sans Svech definitely exceeded expectations. Nobody expected to get that far in 2019, and 2025 was supposed to be a slight down/retooling year. 2020 and 2021 played to about their level in the playoffs, with the format being all jacked up due to COVID both times.

I don't know. So far they're Par this season IMO. We were fortunate we got Jersey and Caps for round 1 and 2. This team didn't have to overachieve to win those series. Jersey was banged up, and missing players, and Caps had an infalated record with Ovi's quest for the record. Not to mention thompson played very well this season. I think with a healthy freddie and/or PK not putting up crap numbers, they finish first in the division and we'd all expect them to beat those 2 teams.

 

[bleedgreen]

Satisfying. Sending them home in five has a finality to it that lingers. Not easily dismissed. Such an interesting year where parity is really in play, and the bar is a little lower so everyone truly has a chance. I love the way we’re playing but never considered us a real contender based on the roster. We lost talent, but the concept of giving Rod a team that plays the system really came to the forefront post trades. We lost Necas and TT, who never really excelled in the system imo - it’s not their game, and added Blake, Stank and Hall for skill on top of the role playing ufa’s and Jank. Hall, Blake and Stank all can add offense from inside the system. One of our problems has always been imo that we play the system all season, and by the end we’re tired because we don’t have young legs - and everyone is playing our system to some extent in the playoffs. Blake and Stank with young legs pushing it all the time makes a huge difference, even when they don’t score. This team really came together after the trades and the buy in to the system is outstanding.

Nikishin looked more than anything else….strong on his skates. He is not easily moved when he plants. Solid in all aspects. Defensive minded in his zone, physical, sees the pass lanes and hits them, unafraid to put the puck on the net. It’s obviously huge if he plays the system well, and at first glance it looks like yes to me. He made mistakes, obviously he turned a puck over that led to a goal that got called back but that’s what happens to rookies - and the spotlight on that is way harsher in the playoffs. If it was December you’d shrug. The difference between Nikishin and Morrow defensively is (as expected) night and day. Nikishin is much more solid in his own end and for us that’s the most important thing by a mile. His skating looked the same as it does in all the videos. Strong but not really explosive or really quick feet, he’s in the “moves really well for a big guy” classification. I thought it was a really solid first game, a bobbled puck is par for the course with a rookie in this situation.

They did a good job sheltering him. 10 minutes total in a tight game, everyone shared the load well.

Ps….Walker is starting to shine. Led the D and the team with 23 minutes. Played with Slavin in key moments late in multiple games I noticed. I think he’s the most likely candidate to play with Slavin if we can’t find a good replacement out there for Burns. Side note, if Burns keeps playing well this post season you know they’re going to try to keep him.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Just realized I haven’t changed my profile picture in 6 years and with that goal, Svech just avenged himself. Real full circle moment for me here.

 

[wgknestrick]

The stunned WSH faces in the crowd has empowered me today.

 

[Neighbor Lee]

I sure missed a lot on that xcountry Southwest flight last night. But;

Hurrah Canes Hurrah Canes Hurrah Canes!

 

[Unsustainable]

 

[Roman Yoshi]

A+ quality gif

 

[MinJaBen]

How many of them did it wearing number 37 and playing for a team that relocated? Hmmmm? I bet he would be the "only one in league history" if you look at those stats.



These stats always make me laugh. Like, the more things you add on, the smaller the pool of players to have done them. No matter the stat. The truly impressive ones are the guys that lead in these lists when it is ONE stat.

 

[Borsig]

I dont think it's the stat line, but rather svech hasnt been called for some shitty ticky tack stick infraction once per game.

 

[Stickpucker]

If we actually win an ECF game I'm going to completely take the piss on the main board with it. Still deciding how at this point.

The boring games adjusted score index. Complete with a set of criteria if a goal is boring or exciting.

Rescoring each game and series of the playoffs.

 

[Borsig]

I still dont know if I want to face FLA or TOR. FLA is gonna be on a tear and Bob will be hot if they win. If TOR comes back they will probably not have the cloud over them

 

[Incubajerks]

And so they say it was a boring series, with little spectacle and no fascinating story...

 

[robbieberns]

There’s a lot of stars aligning going on for this team that hasn’t happened in previous playoffs. A healthy and on fire Andersen is the biggest one by far. A healthy and rested squad through two rounds. Penalty kill hasn’t fallen off and is maybe even better than during the regular season. Svech showing when necessary he can be that guy to break through and be the difference. I like our odds in a seven game series against any team in the league as long as these circumstances keep up.

 

[Stickpucker]

MacMac, what a player. Dude was awesome in that Islanders series.

Also, Brent Burns was kinda not bad this series. I hope he keeps his kinda not bad play up.

For some reason he must really hate Ovechkin. He's the only player I've seen Burns check and he did it more than once.

 

[Joe McGrath]

I dont think it's the stat line, but rather svech hasnt been called for some shitty ticky tack stick infraction once per game.

95% of the penalties he takes would never be called in the playoffs. It shows exactly how much the standard of officiating changes from regular season to playoffs.