HF Habs: Out Of Town Thread: 2026 Play-off edition

[Adriatic]

I really hope Babs makes it back to the show !!

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

There is no room on the ice during playoff hockey and if a player lacks the will to create some, it will be difficult for him to produce.

He admitted to playing badly which leads me to question the coaching staffs desire to keep him on the first line. I know he struggled to score but defensively was when he stuck out like a sore thumb. He was bad, Slaf and Nick were on their own defensively.

Carey Price did this regularly. Hutson is doing it. That’s what you want to see from players - they take the blame whether it’s warranted or not.

It’s a big reason why I don’t want Larkin here. Good player. Has had some great seasons with little support. But he deflects responsibility. Goes after his GM on more than one occasion. Again - even if it’s warranted- I’d never expect that from the players we’ve assembled.

As for the criticisms, the usual suspects have gone after the players they’ve always criticized. Nothing new here.

Our team didn’t have much playoff experience and we’ve been baptized by fire. We’ll be better for it going forward.

 

[The Last Red]

Are the Marty bashers (of his beloved man on man defense) watching Vegas's zone defense in this series? It's utter shit. Just saying.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Are the Marty bashers watching Vegas's zone defense in this series? It's utter shit. Just saying.

I see a lot of greasy goals by the Canes scored in the dirty areas, I don’t see as many breakdowns in their own end, Hart isn’t playing as well as Dobes, they don’t appear to be hemmed in their own end and unable to have anything left to attack.

So no Marty’s system can not claim victory

 

[Guy Larose]

I would pay that no matter his age because we win the Cup with Stone. He would instantly become our best winger.

No, not even close. Too many holes. We're not a Stone away from anything.

 

[Adriatic]

Watching this final I think to myself that a somewhat healthy Florida team would easily three-peat lol

 

[badfish]

Watching this final I think to myself that a somewhat healthy Florida team would easily three-peat lol

They sort of did what Hughes did, aquire a bunch of players tightly clustered around the same age. Most of those guys are only 29/30 this year, outside of Marchand. They're right in the middle of their competitive window. I think they'll be the team to beat next year. Big question mark is the goalie situation, but given they are in win now mode and the goalie market is generally tepid in sure they'll find something.

 

[OldCraig71]

As for the criticisms, the usual suspects have gone after the players they’ve always criticized. Nothing new here.

That's how it goes on every team's board, this one is no different. Caufield was bad, noticeably bad and I like the fact that he took ownership of it. I am hopeful that he uses the experience of this years playoffs and improves his attention to detail away from the puck and plays a little more like his head coach did. A small stature hall of famer who overcame plenty of obstacles to become a great player.

 

[OpenIceHit]

Its very complex to institute an equality plan, and also a slippery slope because where do you draw the line? Do you get weather credits too?

Regardless, cash rich canadian teams also have powerful tools at their disposal to significantly reduce the effective tax rate on non-residents.

Thats just one example to show that the issue isnt black and white in terms of effective tax rates.

Above all, just create an environment where players want to play. We saw this young core generally take discounts for security and the desire to grow with their teammates. There is no leveraging chip greater than creating an exciting environment that players want to be a part of.... and obviously winning itself.

It should be noted that it was only about a decade ago that Chicago, LA, and Boston won like 6 consecutive cups. Definitely not tax havens but they had the winning chip to lure players.

I agree with most of what you are saying. However, when there is such a distinct trend, it is hard to pretent that it is just coincidence. Also, those low tax teams also have their own powerful tools at their disposal to reduce tax rate.

 

[OldCraig71]

What have you done for me lately, amirite?

Not at all, he is a great goal scorer, our best. I just want to see him be a better all-around player, much like his head coach was. I have faith that he will want to get there.

 

[JianYang]

I agree with most of what you are saying. However, when there is such a distinct trend, it is hard to pretent that it is just coincidence. Also, those low tax teams also have their own powerful tools at their disposal to reduce tax rate.

The argument I'm presenting is how much of is just cyclical rather than a permanent trend? Nobody wanted to play in florida when they sucked and were permanent fixture outside of the playoffs. Not even the tax inducement was enough to make up for that.

And as I said, Chicago, boston, and LA won 6 cups in a row not too long ago, and strangely, nobody was talking tax back then.

While I think lower tax rate is somewhat of an inducement, I dont think its as big as its made out to be, and if you have good tax planning, the gaps are bridged even further.

Its why I chuckle when I see publications showing a black and white tax rate for players in their particular cities. If only life were that simple.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Pretty sure when i was very young the first round was a best of 5.

First 2 rounds were. Divisional games. In fact, at one point it was 3, 5, 7, 7. Then it went to 5, 5, 7, 7. Then 5, 7, 7, 7. Finally just all 7s.

 

[Kimota]

Was there any thread on the main board or the Stanley Cup board about the Tortorella situation? It's insane about him not coming back next season. And have it being revealed now is nuts. Maybe he prefer to be in the East, I'm guessing.

 

[Kimota]

Oilers management is such a joke

The hilarity of hiring a GM that was involved in a big scandal...who then turn around and hire a coach that was involved in a scandal.

Oilers will never get better until they get a new owner. It's been awful decisions after awful decisions non-stop. They don't deserve McDavid.

 

[TRG]

The hilarity of hiring a GM that was involved in a big scandal...who then turn around and hire a coach that was involved in a scandal.

Oilers will never get better until they get a new owner. It's been awful decisions after awful decisions non-stop. They don't deserve McDavid.

Imagine wasting McDrai with the most obvious shitty decisions possible. Fireable offense.

 

[L4br3cqu3]

Imagine wasting McDrai with the most obvious shitty decisions possible. Fireable offense.

Main problem seems to be above Bowman, whole Oilers brass seems rotten to the core.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Imagine wasting McDrai with the most obvious shitty decisions possible. Fireable offense.

McDavid and Draisatl are wasting their own careers. The morons could have and should have left.

 

[Kimota]

McDavid and Draisatl are wasting their own careers. The morons scould have and should have left.

I know it's not classy but McDavid should have pulled a Lindros the moment he was selected by the Oilers. Or he should at least have asked for a trade moons ago. Hell this guy is such a misguided boy scout that he still won't ask for a trade, not even now!

 

[Kimota]

Imagine wasting McDrai with the most obvious shitty decisions possible. Fireable offense.

Firing Squad Offense. From owner down.

This has been damaging not only to the Oilers but to the league as a whole.

 

[the valiant effort]

Oilers owner Darryl Katz addresses media amid Babcock investigation fallout

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I know it's not classy but McDavid should have pulled a Lindros the moment he was selected by the Oilers. Or he should at least have asked for a trade moons ago. Hell this guy is such a misguided boy scout that he still won't ask for a trade, not even now!

At the very least hiring Bowman should have been the last straw and McDavid should have gotten out as soon as possible.

 

[OnTheRun]

Here's an idea Edmonton... How about just hiring the next guy on your list? There's just no way that guy is worth that much trouble. Heck, you could just wait 6 months and hire DeBoer 15 minutes after he gets fired like everyone else, ffs.

 

[Leto]

Here's an idea Edmonton... How about just hiring the next guy on your list? There's just no way that guy is worth that much trouble. Heck, you could just wait 6 months and hire DeBoer 15 minutes after he gets fired like everyone else, ffs.

The news leaking / getting out in the open is basically Bettman saying to Bowman & co to get a clue. Will Katz/Jackson/Bowman get it? Who knows.

 

[OnTheRun]

The news leaking / getting out in the open is basically Bettman saying to Bowman & co to get a clue. Will Katz/Jackson/Bowman get it? Who knows.

Oilers already gave the thumb up to the investigation, they're cool with it. If the NHL are using the media to fire signal flare... Then it's addressed to Babcock, find a rock to crawl under and stay there, we don't need to poke around if you don't come back.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

That's how it goes on every team's board, this one is no different. Caufield was bad, noticeably bad and I like the fact that he took ownership of it. I am hopeful that he uses the experience of this years playoffs and improves his attention to detail away from the puck and plays a little more like his head coach did. A small stature hall of famer who overcame plenty of obstacles to become a great player.

Not as bad as you suggest. He was inconsistent and bad vs Tampa. Good vs Buffalo and generated some really good chances vs Carolina in what was a rough series.

All of our guys were inconsistent btw. Nobody was particularly great except Dobes. If you want to talk CC though, do it in his thread.