Speculation: 2024-25 Playoffs Thread - series, opponents, players and team discussion

[KW]

Soon there will be goal 895 scored to much fanfare and hoopla and the goalie who let it in will be in the history books forever. Blah blah blah.

Next, goal 896, nobody cares.

 

[PSLguy]

 

[FloridaMan]

 

[KW]

By the way, Ovi was totally out of shape this summer, looked slow last season, and then suddenly this year… third in scoring with 41… ofc the league will *never* check his roids.

 

[Catscountry40]

These guys have like 12 combined points since March 1st.

Carter only has 2 goals in his last 22 games.

I do not see how we make it past RD1 with these guys producing nothing.

Would we even be in a playoff spot if Mackie did not get hot after the Four Nations?

IDK if they can "flip a switch.'' because the lack of scoring has been too long.

Lundell might be the most disappointing of the group.

His offense is too inconsistent to be a 2c on a SCF level team.

We have to resign Bennett.

 

[ShootIt]

IMO Lundell is fine as staying as a #3 center.
At 5mil, in the new age, is nothing for a 2 way center, on the 3rd line.

The only one I'm worried about is Carter, cause he never really flashed this year. At first I thought it was just a long cold wave that some shooters go through. But he never really heated up outside of a small spurt.

He's been clutch in the playoffs, and at this point that's the only hope I got that he can just manage to score a few goals at the right time in the playoffs.

With Chuk and Roidblad coming back, it will force the opposing team to respect them, compared to Ballsacks and boqvist(for example) who had to play up one line or pairing.

Hopefully that improvement can give CV a half second more to get a proper shot off or a clearer lane etc...

IMO It would be ideal to keep Bennett. He just has that edge that shines in the postseason too.

 

[Sticksandsun]

Add Luostarinen to the mix as well.
I'll be disappointed if Rodrigues is here next year.
I get Luostarinen is good defensively but his offense is brutal.

I still love Verhaeghe and will give him benefit of doubt until after playoffs.

 

[ChopCat]

Lundy and Lousty are all very much two-way players so the trade off for the defense they bring is less offense, but that said I agree there should be more production than we've been getting. ERod can do a little of everything but doesn't do any one thing really well. Those guys should always be paired with sniper types who can score which bring us to...

Verhaege. His meal ticket is the ability to put pucks in the net and he just hasn't been doing that. I've noticed a little uptick in his physicality lately but generally speaking he's a weak link on defense and avoids contact.

I really wish we re-signed Benny first and then held off on him. Hoping the playoffs can provide a spark.

 

[KW]

Hopefully that improvement can give CV a half second more to get a proper shot off or a clearer lane etc...

I think you’re spot on… Carter needs to get that little bit of extra space and time, and Chuckie and Barky are the players who can provide it.

But that’s just half the story by my eye test of Carter. He’s taking half a second extra to shoot the puck, maybe because he’s not scoring and he wants to give himself a higher probability shot… but that results in him missing exactly what had made him lethal, a quick shot before the G and D are ready. IDK why he’s not just letting it rip anymore… although there’s also been a couple of tips and one timers that he’s just missed. He’s gotta relax and not worry but in the end he’s gotta get his shit together.

 

[Catscountry40]

I also wonder if Carter if feeling the pressure from Mackie.

Taking time on PP and honestly Mackie might be better defensively.

Now he is gripping the stick even tighter.

 

[Chaos2k7]

I also wonder if Carter if feeling the pressure from Mackie.

Taking time on PP and honestly Mackie might be better defensively.

Now he is gripping the stick even tighter.

Mackie is better defensively, but Carter has never been special teams reliant or had a regular 1PP spot until at time this year.

The guys are tired, to straight short offseasons, and are playing with their food, we will see if managements gamble/confidence that IF healthy thy can just turn it on come playoffs is warranted.

 

[ShootIt]

I also wonder if Carter if feeling the pressure from Mackie.

Taking time on PP and honestly Mackie might be better defensively.

Now he is gripping the stick even tighter.

The dude bounced around teams, via trades and wasn't even tendered by the Lightning. Worked his way up from an afterthought signing here to a 40+ goal scorer.
I would say the guy can handle some competition and or some pressure.

Something is up with him.

 

[CHGoalie27]

These guys have like 12 combined points since March 1st.

Carter only has 2 goals in his last 22 games.

I do not see how we make it past RD1 with these guys producing nothing.

Would we even be in a playoff spot if Mackie did not get hot after the Four Nations?

IDK if they can "flip a switch.'' because the lack of scoring has been too long.

Lundell might be the most disappointing of the group.

His offense is too inconsistent to be a 2c on a SCF level team.

We have to resign Bennett.

My friends....I have the biggest like in-on-the-joke shit eating grin right now.

I'm laughing at you! Same time as last year, same reason, not deja vu!

It would do anyone who needs it the biggest favor to catch on and not give one single shit about the rest of the regular season.

Let me ask a stupid question: does CARTER VERHAEGHE have any bit of a reputation of coming alive in the playoffs?

Do you want Marchand risking his ass to give 110% before the meaningful games start?

All we had to do was make it. Now please sit back and wait patiently to enjoy the meal the incomparable Mr.Zito has been preparing for us, and stick to what we should be worried about: whether we need to bring sunscreen or an umbrella to the parade! (both. Definitely both.)

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

Add in Luostarinen. Him and ERod are offensive blackholes. They need time off. They just don't look like they want to put in the effort to make smart plays.

 

[Gizmoskevich]

Sit Verhaeghe for the last 5 games please.

 

[ScottyMascotty]

Lundell started the season hot, but him cooling off was inevitable. Still a great year, as he has only 6 less points than Bennett while being much better defensively and having less PP time. He is more of a two-way player.

Rodrigues has never been high-end offensive scorer. He is a swiss-knife type of player, could play at any line and look ok, just not necessarily producing. Team is better having him in the lineup than just average bottom-6 forward, but his value is not as high with that much competition for offensive and defensive roles.

Luostarinen role is cover teammates defensively, block shots and play on PK. Team has too much talent to expect him to carry significant offensive load.

I'm not sure why everyone is so confident in Bennett. This is essentially his first year there without significant injuries, that helped him to find consistency. But strategically, how long do you expect the perfect situation to continue? What if he gets hurt again in the playoffs? What if his body gets worn out by his style of play?

Verhaeghe is having outlier year with bad luck+confidence issues. Still doing things right to bounce back one day. He wouldn't have that on-ice puck possession numbers no matter with whom he played if he didn't do much besides shooting (and not scoring as much this year) as some people suggest.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

I think Verhaeghe will probably bounce back. This season reminds me of Reinhart two years ago when he just could not put the puck in the damn net for some reason.

 

[ScottyMascotty]

I think Verhaeghe will probably bounce back. This season reminds me of Reinhart two years ago when he just could not put the puck in the damn net for some reason.

Exactly.

 

[I am not exposed]

We tanking to play Toronto instead of Tampa....

 

[KW]

We tanking to play Toronto instead of Tampa....

We want Toronno!

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

We tanking to play Toronto instead of Tampa....

I'm going to huff copium and assume this is true.

 

[Gentle Man]

Tanking to play anyone is stupid. So is purposefully losing in anything and Ill die on that hill.

That 2022 playoff run was cursed right when we dressed players and for them to just sit there and watch the last game of the season.

 

[KW]

Tanking to play anyone is stupid. So is purposefully losing in anything and Ill die on that hill.

That 2022 playoff run was cursed right when dressed players and for them to just sit there and watch the last game of the season.

I don’t think they’re purposefully losing. I think it’s a trade off between resting key players and actually having the possibility of a shot in playoffs.

They coulda gone balls to the walls on regular season and let’s say they secured first in Atlantic. Then they play Ottawa, who’s hungry and relatively rested with good goalies. Doesn’t sound so great.

Or they could let their top guys get some rest and bring them in a lot fresher to the playoffs against Tampa or Toronto. Not ideal but probably better than the first option because now you have rested top guys and more in sync bottom guys. Might be a great formula.

And who knew, maybe they’d win the division even without their top lineup. Just a bonus. I don’t think they’re angling for anyone or away from anyone, just trying to be at their best possible given the last two years.

 

[Gentle Man]

I don’t think they’re purposefully losing. I think it’s a trade off between resting key players and actually having the possibility of a shot in playoffs.

They coulda gone balls to the walls on regular season and let’s say they secured first in Atlantic. Then they play Ottawa, who’s hungry and relatively rested with good goalies. Doesn’t sound so great.

Or they could let their top guys get some rest and bring them in a lot fresher to the playoffs against Tampa or Toronto. Not ideal but probably better than the first option because now you have rested top guys and more in sync bottom guys. Might be a great formula.

And who knew, maybe they’d win the division even without their top lineup. Just a bonus. I don’t think they’re angling for anyone or away from anyone, just trying to be at their best possible given the last two years.

No I understand fully that they are placing important in rest and health. But I do still want them to finish the season on the winning side of things. Entering the playoffs on a 10 game losing streak just looks absurd.

And I will also not discount that having Game 7 in the Stanley Cup final was paramount as it allowed us to dictate the match ups on the biggest game in our history, and arguably NHL history in at least a decade plus.

There are legitimate Cup contenders in the West that are within reach for us and it would be nice to at least finish with a better record than them.

 

[KW]

No I understand fully that they are placing important in rest and health. But I do still want them to finish the season on the winning side of things. Entering the playoffs on a 10 game losing streak just looks absurd.

And I will also not discount that having Game 7 in the Stanley Cup final was paramount as it allowed us to dictate the match ups on the biggest game in our history, and arguably NHL history in at least a decade plus.

There are legitimate Cup contenders in the West that are within reach for us and it would be nice to at least finish with a better record than them.

I agree that of course I’d rather have them winning games than losing. It’s frustrating and worrisome. But ultimately I’m with @FinlandPanther that at this point I gotta trust Maurice and believe his strategy gives us the best shot.

We may still be out in first round. But if we’re not, then we’ll pretty much know it was the right thing to do.