League News: NHL Talk - (News n' Scores n' Stuff) | 2023-24 Regular Season Edition

[YippieKaey]

Fun fact: the Navy has more pilots than the Air Force and the Army has more boats than the Navy.

Smedley Butler is laughing in his grave.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Philly right now is the victim of having lost 4 of their top 6 D since the deadline

It should make it easier for Miro to score in the final game.

 

[DWGie26]

My son was interested in Naval Academy and Marines. His hockey director whom went to Navy talked him out of it. He ultimately did one year of ROTC in conjunction with playing ACHA and it was too much. And he enjoyed the partying with hockey players more than the ROTC guys. Haha.

 

[twabby]

The door is wide open for the Capitals. Another dreadful showing for the Red Wings so far, getting outshot 17-4 in the first period by Pittsburgh.

 

[Marshall]

The Penguins are finally useful for something.

 

[PlushMinus]

What was the point of the Isles hiring Patrick Roy?? Are they actually any better since he took over the HC role?

The Devils are hilarious upgrade the goaltending but their defence is so inexperienced that it really makes no difference:

DeSimone, Hughs and Nemec are all rookies.
B Smith well past his use by date and was never very good anyway
MacDermid - only there to scare people and fight
Bahl - still finding his way (2nd round pick, seems ok)
Marino

 

[PlushMinus]

Kuzy with a PP goal from the Ovie spot.

This prick really needed a change of scene, didn't he?

 

[SherVaughn30]

What was the point of the Isles hiring Patrick Roy?? Are they actually any better since he took over the HC role?

The Devils are hilarious upgrade the goaltending but their defence is so inexperienced that it really makes no difference:

View attachment 837612

DeSimone, Hughs and Nemec are all rookies.
B Smith well past his use by date and was never very good anyway
MacDermid - only there to scare people and fight
Bahl - still finding his way (2nd round pick, seems ok)
Marino

They lost their top D pairing of Hamilton/Siegenthaler and they didn't re-sign Severson. Also, I think they were over achieving. Their talent was covering up Vanecek's below average goaltending. I never thought of Lindy Ruff as a good enough coach. They last year had a pretty good season and won a playoff round, but have terribly fallen backward since. No #1 goalie, interim coach who Canucks know he's not stable as a coach, their d-group will recuperate for next season but their still have gaps, and they need bigger size in their forwards group.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Kuzy with a PP goal from the Ovie spot.

This prick really needed a change of scene, didn't he?

He had been asking it for 2 prior seasons. Kuzy is a bit of a prick(with his drug issues and not buying in attitude at times), but he saw certain things with the team and wanted out. Because of Ted, we were holding on too long to aging players with big contracts. Let us not forget, we basically ditched our Cup winning coach and hired, over his head Reirden and then I Don't Give a Crap With Young Players Lavi! Kuzy was pissed when we lost that 1st round to the Canes(which I still blame on Holtby falling apart and having no Trotz).

 

[SherVaughn30]

Orlov with a breakaway goal and a PPA on Kuzy PPG. Talk about being in John Carlson's shadow offensively all those years. We didn't fully utilize him offensively because of OV/Carlson on the PP.

Dang Orlov just scored again!

 

[SherVaughn30]

Orlov with 2g, 2a! He never had an offensive output for us like that! Quite frankly, I think he shoots the puck better than Carlson, but he just doesn't shoot the puck enough.

 

[PlushMinus]

Orlov with a breakaway goal and a PPA on Kuzy PPG. Talk about being in John Carlson's shadow offensively all those years. We didn't fully utilize him offensively because of OV/Carlson on the PP.

Dang Orlov just scored again!

The Canes have so much talent on D - I think they've mostly used Burns and Skjej on the PP.

Orlov hardly ever gets PP time and in fact only has 11 seconds in this game (for that assist on the Kuzy goal).

He got a lot more during his brief time with Boston.

But I definitely agree he is under-rated for his offensive ability. You see it happen time and time again in the league when a guy finally gets a shot at the 1st PP.


Montour last season in Florida
Vince Dunn in Seattle
Morrissey in Winnipeg

I mean, even Matheson in Montreal - 47 points in 67 games and half of them on the PP. The guy is 30 years old and a 23rd OA pick way back in 2012. Never got much of a look until last season in that OD role.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[SherVaughn30]

Islanders lost 5-2, Devils lost 3-1, and Pens(ugh,it was more important they win this one) beat the Wings 6-3.

For now this is becoming, it's in the Caps hands if they want to grab a WC 2 spot and then only be 1 pt behind the Metro 3rd spot.

I know our schedule is very tough, but the other teams trying to hold on to a playoff spot or chase one, only have a slightly better schedule than us.

If the Caps somehow get into the playoffs when the regular season ends, Carbery absolutely has to be one of the 3 candidates for Coach of the Year!

 

[IafrateOvie34]

The Penguins are finally useful for something.

Lars Eller still helping the Caps.

Tyler Toffoli might be what puts the Jets in the SCF this year.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Islanders lost 5-2, Devils lost 3-1, and Pens(ugh,it was more important they win this one) beat the Wings 6-3.

For now this is becoming, it's in the Caps hands if they want to grab a WC 2 spot and then only be 1 pt behind the Metro 3rd spot.

I know our schedule is very tough, but the other teams trying to hold on to a playoff spot or chase one, only have a slightly better schedule than us.


If the Caps somehow get into the playoffs when the regular season ends, Carbery absolutely has to be one of the 3 candidates for Coach of the Year!

If the Caps can beat Toronto I believe they will squeak in. The fact we have two games against them this late sucks. It's certainly up to the Caps to take advantage with games at hand and gets it done. Yeah if they manage it, Carberry would have to be there. Who cares about March Madness basketball. Give me March and April madness NHL hockey and NCAA hockey bracket every time.

The Canes have so much talent on D - I think they've mostly used Burns and Skjej on the PP.

Orlov hardly ever gets PP time and in fact only has 11 seconds in this game (for that assist on the Kuzy goal).

He got a lot more during his brief time with Boston.

But I definitely agree he is under-rated for his offensive ability. You see it happen time and time again in the league when a guy finally gets a shot at the 1st PP.


Montour last season in Florida
Vince Dunn in Seattle
Morrissey in Winnipeg

I mean, even Matheson in Montreal - 47 points in 67 games and half of them on the PP. The guy is 30 years old and a 23rd OA pick way back in 2012. Never got much of a look until last season in that OD role.

The biggest thing is Orlov and Kuzy gives the Canes depth and SC playoff experience.

Orlov with 2g, 2a! He never had an offensive output for us like that! Quite frankly, I think he shoots the puck better than Carlson, but he just doesn't shoot the puck enough.

That goal in LA years ago was something to watch.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

I just checked. Toronto has back to back and play the Flyers the night before the Wednesday night game.

 

[Monsterrain]

This is all ive asked for at the beginning of the season. Just give us a playoff sweat.

 

[PlushMinus]

If the Caps somehow get into the playoffs when the regular season ends, Carbery absolutely has to be one of the 3 candidates for Coach of the Year!

Yes, alongside Vancouver and Edmonton, I think?

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Orlov is technically our third pair LD in Carolina. Our depth chart goes like this:

Slavin-Burns
Skjei-Pesce
Orlov-Chatfield

Skjei, Burns, and Slavin have averaged around 21 minutes a night. Pesce gets 20 a night, Orlov gets 17 a night, and Chatfield gets 15 a night. Yeah, it doesn't leave a lot of room for Orlov to produce offensively, but in recent games he's still got his stuff in.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Orlov is technically our third pair LD in Carolina. Our depth chart goes like this:

Slavin-Burns
Skjei-Pesce
Orlov-Chatfield

Skjei, Burns, and Slavin have averaged around 21 minutes a night. Pesce gets 20 a night, Orlov gets 17 a night, and Chatfield gets 15 a night. Yeah, it doesn't leave a lot of room for Orlov to produce offensively, but in recent games he's still got his stuff in.

Orlov has some good hockey left in him, you guys were smart to get him for this year and the next. With the roster the Canes have, it's definitely time to go all in.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Yes, alongside Vancouver and Edmonton, I think?

I would imagine those two teams are, however younger and have players in their prime. Things looked bleak for the Caps before starting the season with aging veterans and after last year's results. To field a team of aging veterans and AHL graduates and fight for a playoff spot should be considered, imho. Vancouver was due to eventually be where they are and Edmonton has elite talent in their prime.

 

[RedRocking]

I would imagine those two teams are, however younger and have players in their prime. Things looked bleak for the Caps before starting the season with aging veterans and after last year's results. To field a team of aging veterans and AHL graduates and fight for a playoff spot should be considered, imho. Vancouver was due to eventually be where they are and Edmonton has elite talent in their prime.

I still think it’s Tocchet’s to lose. They’ve gone from finishing 6th in Pacific, trading away their captain Horvat, to challenging for the PT this season. It’s a pretty remarkable turnaround.

Yea they have a lot of talent hitting their primes, but Gabby couldn’t do sh *t with it. Tocchet got them to play structured hockey. JT Miller is a two-way beast now. He benched EP at one point. He seems to know what buttons to push. A bit skeptical of their playoff hopes, but I think he’ll get recognized for their historic season.

I’d love for Carbs to get some consideration ofc. He has accomplished a lot, saddled with a talent deficit compared to most of the playoff hopefuls. He’s found a winning formula with a lineup that’s barely held together by chewing gum, lol.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Orlov has some good hockey left in him, you guys were smart to get him for this year and the next. With the roster the Canes have, it's definitely time to go all in.

Orlov is good enough for some GM to give him a 4-5 year contract next offseason as a 34 year old in UFA (I'm not going to say that GM will be particularly smart, but they will be there). Great player.

 

[PlushMinus]

I still think it’s Tocchet’s to lose. They’ve gone from finishing 6th in Pacific, trading away their captain Horvat, to challenging for the PT this season. It’s a pretty remarkable turnaround.

Yea they have a lot of talent hitting their primes, but Gabby couldn’t do sh *t with it. Tocchet got them to play structured hockey. JT Miller is a two-way beast now. He benched EP at one point. He seems to know what buttons to push. A bit skeptical of their playoff hopes, but I think he’ll get recognized for their historic season.

I’d love for Carbs to get some consideration ofc. He has accomplished a lot, saddled with a talent deficit compared to most of the playoff hopefuls. He’s found a winning formula with a lineup that’s barely held together by chewing gum, lol.

Yeah I think Tocchet will win it (don't like the guy. Add a twirly moustache and he looks like Ming the Merciless for those old enough to remember who that is haha).

Petterson seems to have struggled over his last dozen games. I was surprised to see his linemates were (I think?) Podkolzin and Pius Suter against us. That's not much talent for him to work with.

Lindholm's gone pretty quiet since he arrived from Calgary. I think he was good the first 3 games and then crickets.

Orlov is good enough for some GM to give him a 4-5 year contract next offseason as a 34 year old in UFA. Great player.

Thoughts on Kuznetsov? He seems to be finding his way a little more each game.

I almost said becoming more comfortable, but you don't want to use that word with Kuzy haha