The all inclusive boredom thread for everyone… even Rich

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Ive seen comments this morning that indicated if it was Tkachuk that made that hit on Gudas he would’ve gotten a third misconduct.


If this was the Caps vs Fla, how many penalties would the Caps have gotten…


https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/1665885819603759104

[BlackIce]

So what are people's order of preference for our selection at #8 in the upcoming draft - assuming they are available to us?  Dvorsky, the good-size, 2-way center with potential for the top 6?  Michkov, if he happens to fall to us, the winger with the greatest goal-scoring potential?  Reinbacher, the good-size, stronger 2-way defenseman?  Or Pallikka, the smaller, shiftier defenseman with the greater potential to run the PP?  (I would note that the evaluators go back and forth over which defenseman should be the first off the board, so though they aren't equivalent in size and style of play, they are considered comparable in terms of overall desirability).


These seem to be among the highest rated players with a reasonable chance to be around at #8.


Also, I wonder if Florida's troubles aren't a classic case of losing momentum after a too-long layoff. 

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Also, I wonder if Florida's troubles aren't a classic case of losing momentum after a too-long layoff.

Yea, that would explain game 1. I’m not sure it’s a good excuse for game 2, but games 3 & 4 will tell.

[Beaglefan2]

And Tkachuk....two ten minute misconducts in one game?  How the F did he get 2 and 10 for a clean hit on Eichel?  Oldchick kept saying it was a bad hit, but watch it in slow mo....and Tkachuck never moved, never lifted his arm, was making a clean shoulder check and Eichel kind of fell into him.  It looked bad at full speed but it wasn't that bad.  There was no penalty call on the hit.  I realize there was a lot of nonsense after the hit and that's where Tkachuk got the minutes, but what about the THREE Vegas guys who jumped him after the hit.  There should have been a FLA PP for all that.  The hit on Gudas was much worse and there wasn't even a penalty.  He got a shoulder to the face and fell awkwardly and bonked his head pretty good on the ice.  I think he might be done.

Tkachuk's second 10-minute misconduct was a joke.  He literally tapped the stick out of a guys hand as they were standing around the crease after the whistle.  Yes, he is an agitating fucker, but 10 minutes for that?  I'm sure the refs were trying to keep the game from getting out of hand, but that was a bit much.  Not that it would have made a difference in the game at that point.
Mostly, I'm just disappointed the Cats didn't play better.

Totally agree. Tkachuk is clearly playing the role of Tom Wilson.  It was a good hit, he gets mugged and nothing comes from it. Earlier, Tkachuk gets cross-checked into the goal, then Hill hits him coming up, then goes after him with his goalie stick and no penalties.


As for the hit on Gudas, it was clearly a head-shot, although I don't think it was intentional. If it was Tkachuk (or Wilson) it would have been 5 and the game and they would be talking suspension.

[alta]

As far as which draft pick the Caps should take.. at this juncture I really don’t think it matters. It is rare that a 1st round pick makes a big impact in their first season or two. The bigger issue is the rest of the cast and management being stuck with the salary cap. There have been recent rumblings about moving Mantha and making a couple hard decisions with Kuzy and Backy. But until that happens this team is stuck.


The salary cap is supposed to go up this summer, but the nhl still hasn’t said by how much. It could be $1M, or based on earlier reports as much as $5-6M.

[richkrt99]

I know nothing about the draft prospects.  The Caps D seem set for the upcoming year, but I guess we shouldn't be thinking about THIS year.
Kind of depends on what happens with the old fuckers we have on D now.  I mean we have Carlson, Jensen and TVR for the next three years.  I sure as hell hope we plan on signing Fever, and Alexeyev has looked really good too.  Sandin looked very good, but we have him locked up for only next season, and I wonder if we can afford him after that.  Assuming it takes a couple-three years to develop a player (especially D), I could see the Caps going for a good D prospect.  Also....looking at Hershey, we have a bunch of D that are probably career journeyman AHL guys or possible NHL guys, but not guys you'd build your NHL D around.  I mean guys 26,27, 30 and up...so no REAL promising YOUNG prospects other than Iorio who is only 20 and I think has stood out.  SO, long term...I think the Caps do need a D more than O only because they have so little "future D prospects" in Hershey.  They have a few talented O prospects that could be promising.  Protas is only 22.  I think he's full time on the Caps next year.  Not sure he'll be a dominate scorer, but I could see him punching in 25-30 goals at some point if he gets the opportunity to play in a scoring role.  McMike is also 22, and there is Melenstyn, Sutter, Borgstrom, Lapierre, and Strome, so the cupboard isn't totally bare, but you just never know if these guys will be able to make the jump.


Although...we do need some scoring punch NOW, so...


And Yeah...I thought especially FLA, who has been on a role and defying the odds...sitting around and waiting wouldn't be good for them.  They've bounced back before, so let's hope.

[alta]

I did have the game on last night, but wasn’t watching intently. What I did see last night, and today’s replays tells me the NHL has either dictated to the officials which team they want to win, or last night was an excellent example of the general officiating in this league when these guys are supposed to be the cream of the crop.


https://twitter.com/drillyamama/status/1665891476251844609

[Beaglefan2]

Ya - I saw that and thought the same thing - although the announcers failed to even mention it.

Rich, on the draft/prospects, the only guys in our system that I think might be decent NHLers are Malynstyn and Lapierre.  McMichael might make the team but I think he is too undersized and doesn't skate that well or fast.  I'm hopeful on Protos, but he seems to have the hands of stone from time to time and I think is a 10 goal scorer.  He needs a coach to light a fire under him to use that big body.


My top priority would be to sign Fever to as long of a deal as possible. I would even overpay to keep him for 6 or 7 years.


I don't see them doing anything with Mantha as nobody will take him without the Caps keeping so much of the contract that it doesn't make sense.


They won't make any "hard decision" on Backy.  He is here as long as he wants to play and he is not retiring and walking away from the money.


On the draft, I fear they will do something stupid to move up and get Michlov - like giving the pick at 8 and then future picks as well.

[Mickstix]

I hope they draft a wing or center. Center preferably. Seems like you can find D on the market if the need arises. This team struggles to score goals and it won't get better with Ovi, Nicky and Oshie a year older.


Nicky is gonna skate/limp around and do not much of anything Im afraid. Maybe on the PP he can still be effective. 5v5 he should probably not venture past center ice, or we'll be playing the odd man rush lottery every 3rd or 4th shift. Oshie, who even knows how many games he plays before he's injured. And I still feel like Ovi isn't gonna break the record under this contract, unfortunately. He slowed to a snail's pace scoring the 2nd half of last season. Don't think that improves either. Just can't outrun father time, no matter how great you are.


Im not entirely sure why we're holding onto a 5m goalie who rarely (if ever) steals anything. Somebody from Hershey could watch us lose a bunch of games for like 500k?


I heard Bettman said the salary cap won't be going up more than 1m.. ?? Not much help to us old overpaid slackers..

[alta]

as of June 3…

2023-24 SALARY CAP
Bettman said the players’ escrow debt won’t be paid off by the end of the season. That likely means a $1M salary cap increase next season, with a much larger bump expected for 2024-25.

[alta]

Game 1 is Thursday 10pm eastern…

https://theahl.com/firebirds-bears-to-meet-in-2023-calder-cup-finals

the Coachella Valley Thunderbirds are a farm team for Seattle and were founded in 2022 along with Seattle

[richkrt99]

Game 1 is Thursday 10pm eastern…

https://theahl.com/firebirds-bears-to-meet-in-2023-calder-cup-finals

the Coachella Valley Thunderbirds are a farm team for Seattle and were founded in 2022 along with Seattle

I don't follow AHL, so I had to look up Coachella Valley Thunderbirds....THE FINALS in year ONE? WTF is happening?  NHL needs to fix the expansion draft lottery robbery.  It's just way to easy to cherry pick from other teams developed talent.  I have no idea how the AHL teams get their talent in a startup year?

[alta]

There’s a big fancy race at Le Sarth this weekend, it’s supposed to start at 10am eastern on Saturday

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practice at Le Sarth..

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damn..

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2023/06/08/catfish-caught-italy-po-river/70301201007/

[Mickstix]

Catfish and a half right there! I hear the Hendrick Cup car is running GT3 times at Le Mans! Not sure it'll last 24 hours, but hope it does!


edit: Panthers look like dog  .. 0-11 on the PP to Vegas 6-15. They'll get swept if they don't find something here in the 3rd period.

[richkrt99]

Signs of life have been discovered in Sunrise FLA.  WOOT!  Apparently if they can hang on and get it to OT, they can actually win a playoff game.  Kind of a unique game plan, but okay.
That Tkachuk guy is something else.  Talk about carrying a team.  I think BOB is going to have to throw a shutout to win this series.  Cats are anemic scorers.
The PP made me think I was watching the Caps not the Cats.  Oof.
And FFS....DID the NHL mandate Vegas win this?  Some of these calls are starting to look....suspect.  I'd be seriously losing my shit if I were on the FLA bench for some of these calls.  I mean...game changers...potentially series altering....and it's the Cup Finals we're talking about.

Fuck Vegas.  GO CATS!!

[alta]

FLA wins in OT


Hershey gets smoked 5-0 in California
 

[Mickstix]

Bob is/was the MVP last night. Surprised they scored to tie the game, but with the goalie pulled they finally got a decent rebound. But Bob kept them from losing handily within the 60 minutes. That PP is weak. I don't follow them, but I assume they have no goal scorers other than Tkachuck?

[richkrt99]

I did not realize Vegas had 2 PPG in all three games of this series.  FLA needs to stay out of the box...even though only some of that is under their control.
Bob will need likely NEED to be the MVP of this series in order for FLA to win.  (and he didn't get off to a good start)
I didn't know Tkachuk was a 1st round pick.  He was drafted 1st round 6th overall in 2016 as an 18 year old and played 76 games his draft year.  He's only 25.  He's a 40G scorer the last two years.  He scored 100+ points the last two seasons.  I didn't know he was that prolific a scorer.  I couldn't understand why Calgary would let him go, but he was an RFA and wanted to move.  FLA signed him to an eight year deal (9.5m per season). He and Barkoff are signed thru 2029-30.
Cats are only middle of the pack in salary Cap overall and will have tons of cash next year (and the need for a bunch of guys).  They are definitely short on D.  They have Ekblad thru 24-25 and Montour thru next year, and two waiver pickups thru next season, one waiver pickup UFA, and another UFA-G6 guy, then Gudas (33) and Staal (36) who are UFA end of season.  FLA will be shopping for some D this summer  (they should be able to attract some)
Their cupboard is really bare on D, but they will have plenty of $$ to spend to fill spots.  Current projected cap spending for next year is 67.3m, but they need to fill 4D, 4F positions
Basically....FLA core guys are all good for next season and they have plenty of spots to fill and some cash to do it.  Compare their near future potential to the Caps and its embarrassing (for the Caps)


Go CATS!