League News: NHL Talk - (News n' Scores n' Stuff) | 2024-25 Summer Edition

[Silky mitts]

Wait. You talking about Lapierre? He was picked 22. That the highest since Alzner (4th?).

I’m confused by everything you wrote, Mr mitts


They will rally. They always do

For some reason I thought Lappy went in the teens since they traded up but Sgarbossa didn't look like an NHL player last night. Can't drop Protas or CMM to 3C when the top 2 lines are producing. I can see how the Kings would think to make that kind of a move for someone ill fitted for 3C when 3]the other lines are cooking.

 

[kicksavedave]

Somewhat amusing that PLD was the problem in LA and now his former linemates are struggling and he's thriving here. 11-0 high-danger chances with him on the ice vs. Rangers against tough competition.

Fiala healthy-scratched. Next scapegoat?

The announcers, I forget which one, talked about PLD in LA, and how he likes the personal challenge of taking on the other teams top players, but in LA he was on 3rd line duty behind Kopitar and Danault, so he was having a hard time with motivation... the Caps are sending him out vs the other teams top lines and he's excelling here, embracing the challenge. Carbury, for the win.

 

[Calicaps]

Someone else said in the offseason, can't remember who. But the Caps' strategy has been finding square pegs that were wedged into round holes on other teams and actually fitting them into square holes. So far, it's working brilliantly. And the assets given up are largely not missed. Kuemper has a sub .900 GAA and Jensen is doing well on a revived Ottawa team, but isn't lighting it up.

 

[wickedwitch]

Must not have paid attention closely….did it?

They were okay at best. They obviously didn't kill us, but they also didn't play well enough that I'd keep Lapierre out of the lineup.

 

[Chokingdogs]

I don’t want the penguins within a JD Hail Mary pass distance of the 1OA pick.

Plz plz plz let them rally to a WC spot.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I don’t want the penguins within a JD Hail Mary pass distance of the 1OA pick.

Plz plz plz let them rally to a WC spot.

Hagens isnt all that. They will get what they get. And I won’t fret

 

[um]

Someone else said in the offseason, can't remember who. But the Caps' strategy has been finding square pegs that were wedged into round holes on other teams and actually fitting them into square holes. So far, it's working brilliantly. And the assets given up are largely not missed. Kuemper has a sub .900 GAA and Jensen is doing well on a revived Ottawa team, but isn't lighting it up.

I still got love for Jensen, he was great for a lot of years on a great contract, and he only had one bad season.

But the age difference made the trade a no-brainer for us.

 

[Hivemind]

Kuemper has a sub .900 GAA

I assume you mean sv%? A sub 0.900 GAA would be Hall of Fame worthy!

 

[Calicaps]

I assume you mean sv%? A sub 0.900 GAA would be Hall of Fame worthy!

Doh, yes save pct.

 

[stephenball]

To be fair both of our goalies are currently below 0.900

 

[zappa4ever]

To be fair both of our goalies are currently below 0.900

we are also 1st in Shots against/gm with 25.1 so save pctg will be lower than a lot of teams (PIT is 32nd with 35.5)

 

[Ridley Simon]

I still got love for Jensen, he was great for a lot of years on a great contract, and he only had one bad season.

But the age difference made the trade a no-brainer for us.

Age difference is not first on my list of why Chychrun is a better player than Jensen. And I never railed against Jensen.

Chychrun has much better hands (like a lot), is a far more agile skater (guy can pivot/wheel/burst much better, and Nate wasn’t bad at this), has a LOT better/accurate shot, and has far more snarl/anger to his game.

He’s just a much much better player. And again, that’s not taking anything away from Jensen. It’s like saying Chychrun is a far better player than TVR.

 

[PlushMinus]

we are also 1st in Shots against/gm with 25.1 so save pctg will be lower than a lot of teams (PIT is 32nd with 35.5)

Pens allowing most shots per game in the league

 

[usiel]

Caps 9th in franchise value.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5885530/2024/10/30/nhl-franchise-valuations-rising/

 

[Kazer]

Age difference is not first on my list of why Chychrun is a better player than Jensen. And I never railed against Jensen.

Chychrun has much better hands (like a lot), is a far more agile skater (guy can pivot/wheel/burst much better, and Nate wasn’t bad at this), has a LOT better/accurate shot, and has far more snarl/anger to his game.

He’s just a much much better player. And again, that’s not taking anything away from Jensen. It’s like saying Chychrun is a far better player than TVR.

To me, it's far more about fit than anything else, which harkens back to Cali's original point.

Ottawa had a 'need' for a RH defensive defenseman to put next to Chabot. Caps had a 'need' for a LH defenseman to pair with John Carlson (allowing Sandin and Fehervary to thrive). Caps were in a position of strength on the right side having Carlson, TvR, Roy (having just signed), with McIlrath in the AHL and Iorio developing which made Jensen expendable.

 

[HeyMattyB]

Hey, I posted something memorable!

Someone else said in the offseason, can't remember who. But the Caps' strategy has been finding square pegs that were wedged into round holes on other teams and actually fitting them into square holes. So far, it's working brilliantly.

"Our strategy is to find round pegs that dipshit GMs and coaches have been trying to bang into square holes, then we put them into round holes. Call me crazy, but we think that might just work."

 

[Random schmoe]

There's really nothing wrong with putting a round peg in a square hole.

So long as the diameter of the round peg is less than or equal to the length of one side of the square hole.

The math gets fuzzier with a square peg and round hole, though.

 

[HTFN]

There's really nothing wrong with putting a round peg in a square hole.

So long as the diameter of the round peg is less than or equal to the length of one side of the square hole.

The math gets fuzzier with a square peg and round hole, though.

This is actually (weirdly) a very good way to describe personnel decisions if you view the shapes like those rounded web-style attribute maps in games like FIFA.

It’s easy to fit round players because they aren’t specialized, but also lack key qualities that just render them serviceable instead of standouts. On the other hand, the squares (any sharp shape really) have huge swings in dynamic value… but if you need a circle and not a square you have to shrink the size and overall impact of the square just to fit the round hole (and still have gaps).

Circles fit at a larger scale at a better rate than squares, but squares have the tendency to reshape the hole with success since it’s easier to find more circles…

The Caps used to be circle hunters and now feel a bit more like they’re building an actual puzzle, which is encouraging.

 

[marcel snapshot]

Watched some of the Winnipeg Detroit game last night. The Jets absolutely dominated - had the Wings on their heels almost whole time I was watching, wouldn't let them have the puck, elite puck movement and support, textbook 5-man game. Maybe the Wings are terrible, but the Jets just cratered them

 

[BallardEra]

Just checked the stats.

Pens are allowing the most shots against per game at 35.5 while the Caps are allowing the least at 25.1

 

[trick9]

Watched some of the Winnipeg Detroit game last night. The Jets absolutely dominated - had the Wings on their heels almost whole time I was watching, wouldn't let them have the puck, elite puck movement and support, textbook 5-man game. Maybe the Wings are terrible, but the Jets just cratered them

Wings are truly something crap.

5-on-5 they rank 3rd worst offensively in most stats like xGF%, HDCF% and rank as worst in shots for/against.

 

[um]

Wings are truly something crap.

5-on-5 they rank 3rd worst offensively in most stats like xGF%, HDCF% and rank as worst in shots for/against.

Yzerman should be thanking those Tampa scouts everyday for this false reputation they gave him.

 

[Kazer]

Yzerman should be thanking those Tampa scouts everyday for this false reputation they gave him.

With the caveat that Tampa is PDOing like crazy (104.9), Tampa looks like an improved team this year. Moving on from Sergachev was risky, but they got Moser back who has fit in well and the cap space allowed them to reacquire McDonagh. Swapping Stamkos for Guentzel looks like a net positive so far too.

I don't think Yzerman's reputation is entirely undeserved, but he clearly benefitted by being part of a very well oiled machine. His results in Detroit have been middling at best.

Unrelated stat I noticed while looking at Tampa's fancies - Caps are currently second in xGF% at 58.41%. Caps have not finished top 10 in xGF% since 15-16 (6th at 52.35%).

 

[zappa4ever]

Just checked the stats.

Pens are allowing the most shots against per game at 35.5 while the Caps are allowing the least at 25.1

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