Post-Game Talk: We’re all smilin with you tonight Stu

[McDoused]

I would be embarrassed to even post that.

 

[foshizzle]

That was me that keeps saying we won't win until McD has is yzerman moment. I still think Drai needs this, too. But it was a start

Even Steve Yzerman didn’t have a Steve Yzerman moment. He won a cup when he had 8 hall of famers surrounding him. This narrative that he had some sort of epiphany needs to die

 

[McShogun99]

He was limping in the hallway when Stu came back to the room. Next series is very optimistic.

My guess would be games 6 or 7 of round 3 at the earliest.

 

[McShogun99]

I'm assuming the #1 job is Skinners again even if Pickard is healthy? I don't agree with it. I feel more confident in Pickard but Skinner did look sharp last night and management loves him

I think Skinner starts next series if we win in 5 or 6. If it goes to 7 then I think Pickard takes the net and if we win then it's Pickards net the rest of the way.

 

[McShogun99]

The Knights and Panthers are to Vegas and Miami what our CFL team is to us: a minor attraction. Sorry Gary, but no amount of Cups will ever change that.

Don't insult the CFL like that. They draw more fans then Gary's babies.

 

[McShogun99]

Even Steve Yzerman didn’t have a Steve Yzerman moment. He won a cup when he had 8 hall of famers surrounding him. This narrative that he had some sort of epiphany needs to die

Same goes with Lemieux and even Mackinnon. The 2022 Avs were stacked. Now they're lucky to get out of the first round.

 

[Stoneman89]

Big shoutout to the great team game last night and to Stu in particular. He looked calm and collected and focused on his positioning, instead of some of the crazy athletic stuff he chases at times. Was aggressive going after loose pucks in his crease, but not overdoing it.

Glad to see Stretcher in there, and as many of us thought, he was able to play significant minutes, and play them competently and well, giving the other guys a breather. 16:46 of ice time, and just as importantly, settled Nurse down. I don't think it's a coincidence that the defence as a whole looked great with the load reduced and fresher bodies out there. Unfortunately with Emberson, it was 6 minutes and done, and way too many minutes on the others.

And Kane is vindicating himself after so many wrote him off the last year, both as a player as well as his character.

 

[OfCorsiDid]

That limp didn’t look good. But if some of round 2 pushes to 7 games… maybe.

DAL/WPG and FLA/TOR are both going 6 minimum, 7 likely imo.

 

[Jarvi]

8 mil is definitely too much but we're spending far too little. It's just so risky, we shouldn't be entering every postseason shitting our pants every night wondering if netminding is going to sink us any given game

also wouldn't lump Saros in with Swayman, Saros has been excellent for much longer on a weaker team. if a signed Saros and he happened to crumble, who could blame the GM?

I mean, I would blame them for it because I can see some warning signs. Guy didn't look great at 4N. Is small and 30yo. Played on a team with a strong defensive mentality his whole career. I can easily see him blowing up here. At 8+ mil, he's a risk as much as Swayman imo.

If they picked him up and he did great, I would be happy obviously. But there is definitely a possibility he doesn't work out imo, and if that happened it would be disastrous with his contract. That's why I would feel a GM who brought him in would deserve criticism if he failed, and why I don't think it's worth the gamble.

And I'm not gonna complain they spend too little on the position. We could have gotten Lankinen for 875k this summer, who outperformed our goalies and Saros/Swayman, and been spending even less. How would that have been a bad thing?

Where we need to invest imo, is bring in a guy like Sean Burke, Ian Clarke, or Benoit Allaire. A goalie coach proven to get the most from guys, and it wouldn't put a cent on our cap.

 

[Kinibo]

No doubt we’ll be hearing for the next two days about how Vegas has to up their game if they want to extend the series, and how poorly they played in Game 4. I find it quite the coincidence that they played their worst game exactly when we played our best.

 

[snag]

DAL/WPG and FLA/TOR are both going 6 minimum, 7 likely imo.

Love to see it....

 

[snag]

No doubt we’ll be hearing for the next two days about how Vegas has to up their game if they want to extend the series, and how poorly they played in Game 4. I find it quite the coincidence that they played their worst game exactly when we played our best.

two totally unrelated events. Same game.....just a coincidence.

 

[bleedthenorth]

I mean, I would blame them for it because I can see some warning signs. Guy didn't look great at 4N. Is small and 30yo. Played on a team with a strong defensive mentality his whole career. I can easily see him blowing up here. At 8+ mil, he's a risk as much as Swayman imo.

If they picked him up and he did great, I would be happy obviously. But there is definitely a possibility he doesn't work out imo, and if that happened it would be disastrous with his contract. That's why I would feel a GM who brought him in would deserve criticism if he failed, and why I don't think it's worth the gamble.

And I'm not gonna complain they spend too little on the position. We could have gotten Lankinen for 875k this summer, who outperformed our goalies and Saros/Swayman, and been spending even less. How would that have been a bad thing?

i think that you can find "warning signs" with every single goalie in the league if you care to. however, if you need to bring someone in, who do you go for? a 2025 Lankinen at 875k would be incredible, but we won't have the luxury of hindsight. do we want to continue to throw hail marys at the position looking for answers for the remaining years of McDrai?

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Can't remember where I saw it....maybe even here...where Matthews is still suffering from an injury he suffered in the handshake line

Apparently he's been dealing with something all year, and he did have a down year, so I could believe that, though solid bit lol

 

[jukon]

Really glad to see Stecher in. The chicken/egg scenario of Nurse sucking/Stu sucking gets cancelled out when Stecher is in and playing well.

 

[snag]

i think that you can find "warning signs" with every single goalie in the league if you care to. however, if you need to bring someone in, who do you go for? a 2025 Lankinen at 875k would be incredible, but we won't have the luxury of hindsight. do we want to continue to throw hail marys at the position looking for answers for the remaining years of McDrai?

I think you go with two proven solid upper-middle tier guys who you can trust both to stop what is expected allowing the guys upfront to do what they are expected to do and if one has issues you can fall back on the other. I mean, look at Winnipeg. All that money and...well....enjoy your "P" Winnipeg.

Still saying we need to improve on what we have ... but not go all in on a $8-10million goalie.

 

[M Ace]

I'm wondering if Knob keeps Drai with those guys to prevent him from making those blind passes he does when he plays with more skilled players

Maybe his injury prevent him from shooting and passing as he used to. But he can skate and bring som checking and defending to the table

 

[bleedthenorth]

I think you go with two proven solid upper-middle tier guys who you can trust both to stop what is expected allowing the guys upfront to do what they are expected to do and if one has issues you can fall back on the other. I mean, look at Winnipeg. All that money and...well....enjoy your "P" Winnipeg.

Still saying we need to improve on what we have ... but not go all in on a $8-10million goalie.

that's ideal, but who would we get, and how much would you be happy to pay each?

 

[stewy04]

Different assets. This was reported well after we landed walman.

I imagine there were a number of balls in the air, tbh. I also know for a fact we had something with the ducks that was pending "another deal."

Go on.... I like these rumors.

 

[elmeroil]

Lol... it's all about building the market isn't it.

However what they maybe don't appreciate is how much a good-ole' win in Edmonton gets people in a feisty and 'festive' mood. Ya know what I'm sayin' ?

The NHL could try playing the (ahem) long game in established markets

We can dream! It's been so clear that they take for granted the crazed hockey markets and believe they'll be fine no matter what

 

[Jarvi]

i think that you can find "warning signs" with every single goalie in the league if you care to. however, if you need to bring someone in, who do you go for? a 2025 Lankinen at 875k would be incredible, but we won't have the luxury of hindsight. do we want to continue to throw hail marys at the position looking for answers for the remaining years of McDrai?

Can you not admit those are big warning signs for a goaltender signed for 8 per until he is close to 40? If he fails that is worse for the remaining years of McDrai than just running what we have.

I think a guy like Gibson retained could be a good 1A. There is the injury concern, but at 3mil and only a couple years, it's little risk. Same thing with Binnington. Freddy Anderson might even be an option in FA, he has great #'s these playoffs.

I also have a gut feeling they bring in Carter Hart on a very cheap deal. It just fits this team to a T, whether we like it or not as fans.

Soderblom or Stauber could maybe be a buy low option as a backup that surprises.

I'm not gonna pretend I have the answer for who that guy should be. Any of the names I said could blow up too. But other teams manage to find these discounts and it would help our team far more to be able to find those guys, and rotate through them every couple years, than it would be to put all our eggs in the Saros basket, because even if he did well here, that's like 5mil taken away from other spots on the roster.

 

[M Ace]

Might have to do with whatever injury Drai is working through right now. He’s one of the best two way players in the league and so it could be just a matter of playing to his remaining strength.

Just as I thought!

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

2 goals, including the best of the playoffs, destroyed Vegas in the dot

 

[ThePhoenixx]

Agreed. I'm perplexed that Knob gave Draisaitl the two most stone-handed wingers on the team, especially if, as most people surmise, he's clearly fighting something. Wouldn't it make sense to give him better finishers (i.e. Kane, Perry) or someone that can provide puck support (i.e. RNH?). One mediocre winger is fine, especially Podz, who can bring a physical element and retrieve pucks, but at least give him a passer/finisher on the other side.

We won, so it's water under the bridge, but the selection of wingers for Draisaitl is puzzling to say the least, especially now that we have actual depth.

They had lots of energy so those two did all the dirty work for Drai. He played high all night. Didn't take much physical abuse.

In the first, when those two were wrecking Vegas players, it was the loudest I've heard this barn in a long time.



That they completely shut down Eichel and Stone was also a major benefit.

 

[ahmedou]