The all inclusive boredom thread for everyone… even Rich

[BlackIce]

So the entire controversy is about Goalie coach Murray.


I would presume that the goalies were consulted about him before the decision was made, since  both are signed to multiyear contracts. 


Maybe management and the goalies felt as though defensive injuries, tradouts, and incorporation of new young defensemen were more of an explanation for any defensive shortcomings than the goalies themselves, or their coaching?  I dunno.

[Mickstix]

They could of made the same argument for Lavi.. Track record is what I'd go off. This dude's been ruining goalies since Korn left.

[BlackIce]

They could of made the same argument for Lavi.. Track record is what I'd go off. This dude's been ruining goalies since Korn left.

Legitimate point (about Laviolette) Mick. Which makes me think, in Lavi's case, that the decision to separate WAS mutual,  and it didn't matter what anyone on the team thought, Lavi wasn't coming back.   


There have been a lot of negative comments about Murray on this board, but the organization has stuck with him, even while they have otherwise had a coaching merry-go-round.  The organization SEEMS to think they see something in him that others don't.  I would agree that the very MOST that could be said for Murray is that there is no evidence that he has positively influenced any goalie he has worked with, with the possible exception of Grubauer.

[richkrt99]

I watched the interview with GMBM, and it appears they were at least open to talking to Lavi again, but it quickly became evident that wasn't going to happen, so they mutually agreed to part ways.  Although, I find it odd he mentioned he wanted to talk with some of the players about the season and their thoughts BEFORE talking to Lavi.
ALOT of what was said about the year in general was they never really had a full team to work with, and never any real chance to get consistent lines working together, so even though it was a very disappointing season, they weren't blaming the coaching staff entirely
GMBM was pretty frank about talking to Backy and deciding where he thought he was and what kind of treatments or rehab he could do over the summer, and even mentioned the Retirement word, which I found surprising.  Normally they talk in generalities and vague comments, but it seemed to me GMBM was thinking Backy isn't cutting it at his current level.
Mantha was brought up and his underperforming. The topic of goaltending didn't come up that I remember.
About the only positives mentioned were Willy and Strome.  Both showed improvement in their games - especially down the stretch.  GMBM would like Willy to finish his career here and "will do everything in their power to make that happen".  Nice to hear, but especially depending on how it goes next year, I would think Willy might make a jump to an actual contender in FA after next season.  Especially with the cap struggles this team is under.'
I don't believe I heard them discuss Kuzy at all.  I might be wrong though - I CAN NOT BELIEVE they don't have a microphone to pick up the interview questions - you ONLY hear the answers.  WTF is wrong with them? ...they do the same at press conferences and aftergame interviews.  Drives me batty every time I watch one. You would think a professional media giant like Leonsis would have by now installed some equipment so you could actually hear the frigging interview questions.
GMBM did say they are looking to get younger next year, so there's that.  And that the focused need was to get better in their top 6.  That to me, and the total lack of any mention of Kuzy, makes me think they really are going to try and move Kuzy.  And probably Mantha.
I'm okay with both by this point.  I'm really disappointed Mantha could never get any traction going.  I thought he was gonna be a good fit after is first season with us.
I'd say we had a lot of underperforming this season all around.

[richkrt99]

So who is anybody rooting for in the SC playoffs?  My two teams are both out (Caps and anyone playing vs Hens)

I would like to see Oilers do something, but damn, they were up 2-0 starting the 3rd and 3-1 with about 8-1/2 minutes left and Kings tied it with the goalie pulled with 17 seconds to go.  Kings won it on the PP in OT.  Oilers looked to me like the better team and TONS of scoring chances and they are SO fast, but I think they are weak in net, and got out-goalied last night.  Same shit happened to them last year.  I KNOW they were weak in net last year and went and signed Jack Campbell in FA from the Kings after last season.  They gave him 5m for 5 years at age 31.   He went 21-9-4 this year which is pretty good, but atrocious numbers at 3.41GAA and .888 SV% (the worst in his NHL career).  (Looks like Caps weren't the only ones to overpay for a tier 2 underperforming goalie on a too-long contract).  However, EDM other goalie; Stuart Skinner - 24 year old youngin, went 29-14- 5 this season with 2.75 GAA and .914 SV%.  Much better performance numbers.  He started 48 games this year to 36 for Campbell.  So Skinner has outperformed the veteran this season.  I'm not saying he (Skinner) was bad last night, just that....they got beat and it wasn't cause of the Oilers scorers.

Draisaitl was phenomenal last night.  He is 27 years old and makes $8.5m/per.  He scored 56G, 76A this season (Ahem...paging Mr. Kuznetsov...)
With McDavid and Draisaitl at 1c/2c, this team is hard to stop all the scoring, but damn, they can't get out of their own way it seems.  Yikes - I just looked it up and they scored NHL leading 325 goals this year.  Allowed 260...which is about middle of the league. (3.17GAA)
McDavid is just on another level altogether.  He is fun to watch.  That dude flat out makes opponents look bad at times.  I do wonder about his 2-way play a little, but when you are as potent as him, you get cut some slack I think (ahem...Mr. Ovechkin).

I don't really care for any of the teams in it really.
IN the East; Fuck Boston, Tampa, FLA, NYR, NJD.  With TOR, CAR, NYI, I'd say Toronto would be the team I'd prefer to see win.
In the West; Fuck SEA, VGK, LA.  Don't care for Dallas, so I'll take MIN there, WPG over VGK, and EDM over LA.  Out of COL, WPG, MIN, EDM, I'd like to see EDM win it, but not bothered if MIN or WPG win

I'd be happy to see TOR vs EDM for the Cup, with Edmonton winning it.  When was the last time two Canadian teams competed in the SC final?

GO....oh who cares.

[richkrt99]

I just looked at EDM roster - they have nine forwards listed at C, three LW and 1 RW.   McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Bjugstad,  Mcleod, Ryan, Janmark, Shore.


They did grab Bjugstad and Janmark at trade deadline, but damn, That's a healthy list of Centers.  Three of them are 24 or younger, and McDavid 26, and Draisaitl 27.  This team looks to be good at C for the foreseeable future.

And this team is fairly big.  One midget at 5'8", one 5'10, and one 6'-0, everyone else 6-1" and much bigger.  I guess that's probably typical, but sounds looks big looking at the roster.

Go Oilers....I guess.


Yes.  I am bored.

[Mickstix]

Yes.  I am bored.

       So far, nothing in the Cup playoffs has grabbed my attention. Really hope nobody wins. 24 hours of tie games and they all agree to forfeit until next year. 

[alta]

The way I see it, it wasn’t the injuries that did Lavi in this season. He clearly lost this team the way he kept throwing lines at the wall as if he never cooked spaghetti before.

[Beaglefan2]

So who is anybody rooting for in the SC playoffs?  My two teams are both out (Caps and anyone playing vs Hens)

Rich - I love Colorado, although I would really like Edmonton to get a Cup for McDavid. We aren't lucky enough to see him very often, but he is in another universe. I think he is the best hockey player of all time.


I have to say in the east, I really liked NJ the other night when they did us a big favor and came back and stopped us from getting 2 points. They are so fast and skilled and the Hughes boys are incredible. Not sure they are tough enough, but I could see them making a run.


I was happy to see Boston struggle a bit last night and hope they suffer the curse of the Presidents Cup.  They do have Orlov and Hathaway now, but I have too many Boston friends that are just obnoxious.

[alta]

It was only game 1 of round 1, but former Caps goalies are 1-2. Gruby won with Seattle. Sammy(Leafs) was run out after 40 minutes, and Vtec(Devils) didn’t do much better.

[richkrt99]

Rich - I love Colorado, although I would really like Edmonton to get a Cup for McDavid. We aren't lucky enough to see him very often, but he is in another universe. I think he is the best hockey player of all time.

Yes, I agree - McDavid is something else.  I thought he was especially good in last years' playoffs, but I haven't seen him play much this year.  Scoring 150+ points is no fluke for this guy.  He IS on another level....I watched bursts in the game the other night where he just took over.   He flat out embarrasses other teams on regular basis just dancing through them like they were standing still.
Edmonton is LOADED with offensive talent.  Not quite sure why they can't get it done.  I though last year their weakness was in net, but Skinner has been really good this year.  They picked up a couple guys at deadline to shore up the defense too
Can't believe Draisaitl is only $8.5m per.  He signed 8 year deal in 2017 for $68m.  Compared to Kuzy who also signed 8 years in 2017 for $62.4m.
I mean that's a lot of coin either way, and Caps desperately needed Kuzy at the time and he was looking better and better,...and lets not mention $9.2m for Backy for FIVE years at age 33.
No wonder the Caps are in suck mode.  $17m per season for two WAY-underperforming Centers

[richkrt99]

BTW...F Tampa.  Watched that game and FFS nothing went Toronto's way...am I'm not even a Toronto fan.
Glad to see Vegas get stomped.  Not sure why I am adverse to Vegas, but I think it is because the expansion draft scenario was/is WAY too generous.  I realize the NHL wanted them to field a competitive team, but especially the first year it was WAY too easy to cherry pick players that other teams spent time & effort developing.  Same goes for Seattle, but other teams learned a little in the Vegas draft so I think were better prepared for the Seattle expansion draft.
I don't really care who wins most of the series, but I have several teams I want to see NOT succeed....
Boston, Tampa, Vegas, Seattle


Go Oilers

[alta]

I saw this this morning, which made me think why TF is nascar testing at Sebring..

https://racedayct.com/2023/04/nascar-garage-56-project-completes-final-test-at-sebring-before-heading-to-le-mans/

which led me to this article from mid February..

https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2023/02/17/specs-revealed-nascar-garage-56-camaro-24-hours-le-mans-next-gen/

Normally a new car runs the Rolex 24 as a test prior to the race at Le Sarthe. But then this is nascar we are talking about.

and Jimmy my Johnson is going to be one of the drivers

[Mickstix]

I haven't followed the garage 56 project. Did they say why they didn't run the Rolex? Probably not ready or no class for experimental cars? Hopefully the other drivers are good at road racing. Jimmie is not that guy, but I guess his clout in nascar gives him the opportunity. I'll still tune in when it happens though. Hope they run a ring around some of those GT3 cars. 

[alta]

If this car fits into a class at Le Mans, it fits into a class at Rolex. Most likely GT3. Rolex is always 2-3 weeks before the 500, it used to be the start of speed weeks which ended with the 500. The 12 hours of Sebring is mid march, which is also considered a test run for Le Mans. This car didn’t run in either race. Building a race car is a bit easier today than in decades past, but there is a big difference between a 3-4 hour race and a 24 hour race. Le Mans is usually won by who breaks the least equipment, not the fastest car. Kinda hard to figure what’s going to break without testing it. The car apparently wasn’t ready for the Rolex, which is piss poor planning. Don’t know why they didn’t run Sebring.


and Jimmy my Johnson is going to be one of drivers

[alta]

Florida vs Boston got a bit chippy, might have to watch the rest of that series


https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1648878163576107009

[Mickstix]

Oh I know Jimmie is gonna drive. Just saying he's not good at road racing.    I think the 24Lemans race has a specific class for "experimental" cars. Not sure IMSA or whatever, have that anymore.


FLA/BOS might be interesting!

[richkrt99]

Yeah...FLA jumped on Boston...Woot..


Edmonton wins game 2 to even the series...WOOT!
and...I watched this game and Edmonton was ALL OVER LA.  I can't tell you how many odd man breaks Edmonton had and didn't score.  It could have been 6-0 in the 1st period alone.  Edmonton absolutely dominated the play.  LA did not register a shot on goal until about 2 minutes left in the 1st period.  It's like a visiting team knowing they have to weather the storm the first five minutes...but the storm just never ended.  It ended up like 37 shots to 24 by the end but it was never that close...despite LA tying it late in the second on what I'd call two squeaky goals...tucked between goalie glove/skate and post on a 3rd whack (and watching it - still can't figure exactly how it got by), and similar goal to tie on the goalies right side - guy deflected it from behind the net off the back of goalies skate (which was against the post) and in.  Two very similar goals that you don't see that often.  Edmonton might not be much on D, but man are they quick on transition and they are fast and had TONS of good scoring chances.
Despite the scores to the games and the outcomes, watching these games Edmonton is dominating the play.  It looks like the current Caps where the other team is just dominating them everywhere on the ice with speed and hustle (only LA goalie is doing a much better job when hung out to dry multiple times a period).  It doesn't even appear to be close IMO.
But hey, that's why they play them....shit happens.


Go Oilers!

[richkrt99]

Avs come back and win game 2 to even series (down 2-0 in this game, won 3-2).  (Justin Shultz scored the 1st goal of the game for SEA)
Eller is playing for Colorado...12 minutes Gm1, 8 min Gm2.  No points.  (He did score 2g in their final regular season game)
Orlov has 2 assists for Boston, and played 19:53, 22:32 in the two games so far.  Hathy hasn't scored, but played 11:42 and 8:28


Toronto sure did wake the hell up and got their revenge on Tampa 7-2 after getting stomped 7-3 in game one.
I don't think Matthews has a goal yet.


Rangers are whipping the Devils.  Really the only series that hasn't been close.  5-1 score both games.
Even though Canes are up 2-0 on NYI, both games have been very tight.
All the other series tied 1-1
Me thinks maybe this is rigged - draw series out for more TV revenue.  Nah...no professional sports league would ever do something like that. 


I've watched more playoff hockey this year than usual (well except for Caps).  Maybe my NHL clock doesn't usually stop until the end of the 1st round...
like my team 


I'm definitely pulling for the Oilers now. 

[Beaglefan2]

Playoff hockey has been great and some of these guys have just been amazing. I can't think of a single guy on the Caps that has the kind of speed and energy that we are watching. It has also been great to see physical hockey again.  We used to have regular season games where guys actually checked and got nasty. I think I am gonna skip the regular season next year and just watch the playoffs.