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

[AlexModvechkin8]

Not surprised the Devils are slipping.

Jack Hughes is the most overrated “superstar” in the league and their 1G and 1D are both journey men.

Hughes is a great player but he struggles when the ice shrinks and physicality ramps up. They have a soft team in general. Palat is tough but he’s over the hill. Meier is an ox too. And their bottom six isn’t near deep enough. Losing Michael McLeod was a big deal for them, he was big, strong, and could skate — great bottom six center who they haven’t been able to replace.

 

[PlushMinus]

Hughes is a great player but he struggles when the ice shrinks and physicality ramps up. They have a soft team in general. Palat is tough but he’s over the hill. Meier is an ox too. And their bottom six isn’t near deep enough. Losing Michael McLeod was a big deal for them, he was big, strong, and could skate — great bottom six center who they haven’t been able to replace.

Yeah I asked the Devils board about McLeod a while back - think it was on their GDT when they were playing us - after seeing comments about how loss of McLeod was hurting them. Seems he was indeed what you are saying, and also very good at faceoffs.

It's interesting how some guys - if it's not a team you follow regularly - just seem like day to day bottom six forwards who could easily be replaced. Dowd is probably like that on our team?

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Yeah I asked the Devils board about McLeod a while back - think it was on their GDT when they were playing us - after seeing comments about how loss of McLeod was hurting them. Seems he was indeed what you are saying, and also very good at faceoffs.

It's interesting how some guys - if it's not a team you follow regularly - just seem like day to day bottom six forwards who could easily be replaced. Dowd is probably like that on our team?

McLeod is like a bigger Dowd, but yeah generally I’d agree with you — what fans value and what coaches and teams value aren’t always the same. Guys who excel at the tough, non-glorious roles are hard to come by.

We’ve been blessed with Beagle and Dowd for a long time and replacing Dowd won’t be easy. He’s almost always in the right place at the right time and almost always makes the smart play. Guys like that don’t always show up big on the scoresheet but they’re worth their weight in gold.

 

[DWGie26]

McLeod is like a bigger Dowd, but yeah generally I’d agree with you — what fans value and what coaches and teams value aren’t always the same. Guys who excel at the tough, non-glorious roles are hard to come by.

We’ve been blessed with Beagle and Dowd for a long time and replacing Dowd won’t be easy. He’s almost always in the right place at the right time and almost always makes the smart play. Guys like that don’t always show up big on the scoresheet but they’re worth their weight in gold.

Which is why should extend Dowd for 2 more years.

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Good on ya, Sharks. can they get the next one and piss off Canada? Probably not, but nice to hope.

 

[qc14]

Just about nothing would please me more than NJD missing falling out of the Playoffs altogether

I generally hate teams that are built around small Fwds (see MTL also) , and with the pundits nearly unanimous in picking NJD before RS it pleases me that they've been .500 for 25 gms and barely hanging on w/20 left

The only problem is that if they slip out that probably gives NYR an extra lifeline ...

Only four points ahead of CBJ with two more games played!

 

[Corby78]

I want NJ to make it, mainly because they are the team I fear the least from the east competitors

 

[trick9]

Marchand out week-to-week so cross him off the trade board.

 

[Corby78]

Somebody is going to vastly overpay for a middling 3rd line payer. Hope it’s not us

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Seems like an overpay for someone who's essentially a pug.

 

[qc14]

I think Frederic is a fine player but probably not the guy to fix Edmonton's issues. Still blows my mind that they traded their 25 1st already for 30oa in last year's draft given where they are in their competitive cycle ...

 

[wickedwitch]

Still blows my mind that they traded their 25 1st already for 30oa in last year's draft given where they are in their competitive cycle ...

I mean, good move on their part. This draft looks to be weaker than last year's.

 

[qc14]

I mean, good move on their part. This draft looks to be weaker than last year's.

They should have kept it to use on a roster player rather than a guy who might help them out four years from now ...

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

They should have kept it to use on a roster player rather than a guy who might help them out four years from now ...

They would be looking pretty damn smart if they ended up trading for Hutson... If I could only remember which team traded up for him



PLEASE NO

 

[trick9]

Somebody is going to vastly overpay for a middling 3rd line payer. Hope it’s not us

Hey, it wasn't us! (Atleast not yet)

 

[Strawberry Fields]

The galaxy brains in the Flyers FO love Laughton more than life itself, they're not trading him. Flyers fans have been through this annual song and dance for four years now.

 

[qc14]

They would be looking pretty damn smart if they ended up trading for Hutson... If I could only remember which team traded up for him

If they had taken Hutson at that spot they still absolutely should be moving him for immediate help