NHL: Around the League 52

[BobbyJet]

Main criticism is that he doesn't stand up and answer the Bell for the hits. As Bieksa says, it ends the same with him all the time, with Cousins down on the ice in a turtle position never squaring up.
At some point, his teammates must get tired of coming to defend him.

As for the Ducks, they have missed the PO since 2019. Had zero defensive structure under Eakins. Not going to turn that around over night. Started off well in the first 16 games or so, but in the past 20, it's been ugly. Young talent is there, but they need to develop it properly.

Will need to pay to get good quality veterans to help the kids along. Guys who can still play. Not like Buffalo adding Erik Johnson and retaining Okposo who are both past their best days. Need vets who can contribute well enough to have their voice mean something.

Yeah, but turtling is only part of it .... it's worse than that according to Bieksa. When he mentioned Cousins cheap shots he referenced Raffi Torres at the same time .... the ultimate predator who all Hawks fans are familiar with.

 

[StreetHawk]

Yeah, but turtling is only part of it .... it's worse than that according to Bieksa. When he mentioned Cousins cheap shots he referenced Raffi Torres at the same time .... the ultimate predator who all Hawks fans are familiar with.

NHL hammered Torres with suspensions. For all of the crap Cousins has done, he's gotten nothing from the NHL. Torres has a couple of more high profile hits, whereas Cousins hits this season were on CBS Gudbranson and Valimaki of AZ, not exactly markets that are going to get much publicity vs against a Chicago, SJ that were good teams at the time of the hits.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Main criticism is that he doesn't stand up and answer the Bell for the hits. As Bieksa says, it ends the same with him all the time, with Cousins down on the ice in a turtle position never squaring up.
At some point, his teammates must get tired of coming to defend him.

As for the Ducks, they have missed the PO since 2019. Had zero defensive structure under Eakins. Not going to turn that around over night. Started off well in the first 16 games or so, but in the past 20, it's been ugly. Young talent is there, but they need to develop it properly.

Will need to pay to get good quality veterans to help the kids along. Guys who can still play. Not like Buffalo adding Erik Johnson and retaining Okposo who are both past their best days. Need vets who can contribute well enough to have their voice mean something.

Anaheim’s problem is that they don’t really have a defenseman drafted who projects to be a shutdown guy. Take what Vlasic has become, and EDM is coming along nicely in that regard as well, those are the guys that win you championships.

Zellweger, Mintyukov, Luneau, Lacombe, all of them gifted offensively, but train wrecks defensively. Add in that Drysdale is constantly dealing with injuries, and none of them are huge, I much prefer the route the Hawks are going with the big mobile defensemen more focused on actual defense.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

All I know is that the Hawks supposedly set ourselves into an impossible scenario when they gave both Kane and Toews $10+ million contracts simultaneously, and admittedly while we won another Cup before the contracts set in the lack of cap flexibility did rear its head for years.

The Leafs will now have four $10+ million players.

Good luck getting over the hump, Leafs.

 

[BobbyJet]

All I know is that the Hawks supposedly set ourselves into an impossible scenario when they gave both Kane and Toews $10+ million contracts simultaneously, and admittedly while we won another Cup before the contracts set in the lack of cap flexibility did rear its head for years.

The Leafs will now have four $10+ million players.

Good luck getting over the hump, Leafs.

I have never understood the Leafs strategy when it is beyond obvious that stacking a team with good offensive forwards will rarely get a team anywhere in the playoffs. It appears that they may eventually trade away Marner, their most creative player who kills penalties to boot.
IMO, that would be a mistake.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

TRADE: Flyers acquire Jamie Drysdale and a 2nd round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft from Anaheim in exchange for Cutter Gauthier | Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Cutter Gauthier.

www.nhl.com

Out of nowhere. I guess the Flyers weren’t impressed with Gauthier much like I wasn’t.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Actually, sounds like the opposite and Gauthier wasn't interested in them.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

If Drysdale can stay healthy - somewhat big if - I really like it for Philly.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

If Drysdale can stay healthy - somewhat big if - I really like it for Philly.

I do as well, I think Drysdale was the best defensively out of all those young D Anaheim has.

 

[Mrfenn92]

 

[MTU34]

That’s the first time I’ve legitimately been able to say “holy shit” in reaction to an nhl trade in awhile. That’s a crazy deal. Don’t see many like it

 

[Joemoe]

That’s the first time I’ve legitimately been able to say “holy shit” in reaction to an nhl trade in awhile. That’s a crazy deal. Don’t see many like

I am hoping the cap starting to finally go up again helps with that, although everybody and their mother getting NMC/NTC contracts makes it hard to see much meaningful movement throughout the league. The NHL for sure needs more random impactful trades like this over the season and not just at the draft/during the offseason and the trade deadline.

 

[Teemu]

Well that's something

You'd think you might ask a prospect "hey, do you want to play for our franchise" before drafting him at #5

 

[bwanajamba]

Really weird for this to happen to Philly of all teams, is this a Torts thing?

 

[TLEH]

Holy shit. Wonder why he wouldn’t want to sign with them? Torts?

He wouldn’t even meet with them at the WJC

 

[Pez68]

Definitely a strange situation.

 

[TLEH]

To be honest even though he was the leading scorer at the WJC, his overall game wasn’t that standout to me. He was force fed opportunities. Like it better for Philly, but could see both players never meet their potential.

 

[Drumman44]

I would have liked Drysdale but that’s a haul for Philly

 

[ClydeLee]

He apparently was close with Kevin Hayes, who maybe gave him some info and advice

 

[bwanajamba]

He apparently was close with Kevin Hayes, who maybe gave him some info and advice

Losing a top prospect because Kevin f***ing Hayes talked him out of my org would simply be too much for me. Someone check the stairwells in Cutter's dorm while we're at it

 

[Kevin Musto]

Holy shit

This kind of thing almost never happens

Wow

 

[Putt Pirate]

If Kevin Hayes recommends anything you should do the exact opposite. He is a total tool. So maybe Philly dodged a bullet? We will know more in a few years but sub 6’ d men usually don’t light the world afire todays NHL it seems.

The whole thing makes Gauthier seem like a real doucher.

 

[TLEH]

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

If Kevin Hayes is the leading factor in making career decisions for top five overall picks he's king of the frat boys like holy hell. Gauthier is radioactive if that's true.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Only advise one should take from Hayes is about contracts because he and his agent have swindled the Flyers a few years back