Washington Capitals Fan Forum
Talk about Capitals hockey & more! => Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion => Topic started by: OurLadyOfPatience on Sunday April 15, 2018, 07:48:20 AM Eastern
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Figured I would create a place for us to chat about the success or failure of other teams in the Playoffs and how they are looking.
The stats I read recently discussed the impact of the schedule for playoffs and what this year looked like vs last year. Interesting article, will try to locate it and post when I can find it.
Hoping for Preds/Knights for their respective matchups even though I’m a fan of Colorado I still think Preds are the better team.
Kings/Knights are a tough match up to watch, would have preferred they were paired up as a R2 or higher.
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Some reading material out there...
https://usatoday.com/amp/33658777 (https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/33658777)
https://www.boston.com/sports/nhl/2018/04/11/why-the-nhls-five-year-old-playoff-format-is-still-causing-controversy (https://www.boston.com/sports/nhl/2018/04/11/why-the-nhls-five-year-old-playoff-format-is-still-causing-controversy)
https://fansided.com/2018/04/06/nhl-fix-stanley-cup-playoffs-format-rounds-berths-wild-cards/ (https://fansided.com/2018/04/06/nhl-fix-stanley-cup-playoffs-format-rounds-berths-wild-cards/)
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/Fighting-down-hatred-still-high-in-NHL-playoff-rivalries-479407583.html (https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/Fighting-down-hatred-still-high-in-NHL-playoff-rivalries-479407583.html)
https://www.ontheforecheck.com/2018/3/12/17097644/april-madness-how-the-nhl-playoffs-would-look-like-with-ncaa-format (https://www.ontheforecheck.com/2018/3/12/17097644/april-madness-how-the-nhl-playoffs-would-look-like-with-ncaa-format)
http://m.startribune.com/wild-in-line-to-be-latest-victim-of-nhl-s-wacky-playoff-seeding-system/478463743/ (http://m.startribune.com/wild-in-line-to-be-latest-victim-of-nhl-s-wacky-playoff-seeding-system/478463743/)
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/the-quiz-should-nhl-return-to-conference-system-playoff-format~1367196 (https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/the-quiz-should-nhl-return-to-conference-system-playoff-format~1367196)
https://globalnews.ca/news/4107025/rick-zamperin-the-nhl-should-tweak-its-playoff-format/ (https://globalnews.ca/news/4107025/rick-zamperin-the-nhl-should-tweak-its-playoff-format/)
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I'm hoping Nashville comes out of the west. I also like the Jets. I am probably one of the few people that don't want Vegas to advance.
In the east Tampa looks strong but if the Devils got some decent goaltending they would be right in their series. The Bruins look good. Pasternak is lighting up the Leafs by himself. A lot if teams by passed this guy in the draft including us. Instead we draft Vrana. Pasternak probably wouldn't have developed the same on another team. He has very good linemates. Being on a line with Bergeron has had to help.
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McPhees Goldenk Knights have one of the most dangerous lead in sports, 3-0 against The Kings . . .
I haven’t been able to watch most of this series, but sans a brawl or two, this is what playoff hockey should be.
Damn shame for either of those two to be out, particularly as either team could assuredly walk right through the East
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...they swept The Kings. . . (?). . . nope not a typo, They sweep The Kings
The team that won a cup after being down 3-0 in the first three rounds to win their last Cup. . .
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbFgsRBXcAAg2aY?format=jpg&name=small)
Vegas first team to advance (https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-los-angeles-kings-game-4-recap/c-298086006)
Oh, and the first expansion to sweep their first playoff series, and I think to beat a Cup winner too.
Great Job GMGM!
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EI Radek in VGK:
“Absolutely relentless in all areas of the game, all 285ft of the ice”
That’s that way it needs to be done all the tine , every game.
“Anyone that thinks this team can’t go on to win the Cup, haven’t been watching”
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...they swept The Kings. . . (?). . . nope not a typo, They sweep The Kings
The team that won a cup after being down 3-0 in the first three rounds to win their last Cup. . .
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbFgsRBXcAAg2aY?format=jpg&name=small)
Vegas first team to advance (https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-los-angeles-kings-game-4-recap/c-298086006)
Oh, and the first expansion to sweep their first playoff series, and I think to beat a Cup winner too.
Great Job GMGM!
This series was a lot closer than it looked. All low scoring one goal games. That's how to win in the playoffs. Vegas looks very good. I think they get to the western final or further.
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This series was a lot closer than it looked. All low scoring one goal games. That's how to win in the playoffs. Vegas looks very good. I think they get to the western final or further.
Yep, . . . and from a certain point of view, not really.
These were my ideal types of games. The majority of that series was the lethal one goal defense. While high risk, focuding almost solely on distrustrupting and countering the opponents strategies and tendencies, not making offense plays that could generate a chance for the opponent, just countering them and wearing out their bodies and playbooks while they’re trying to “just get that one goal”. . ,
Keep the scoreboard close while making the use up and expose resources. . . :devil:
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Yep, . . . and from a certain point of view, not really.
These were my ideal types of games. The majority of that series was the lethal one goal defense. While high risk, focuding almost solely on distrustrupting and countering the opponents strategies and tendencies, not making offense plays that could generate a chance for the opponent, just countering them and wearing out their bodies and playbooks while they’re trying to “just get that one goal”. . ,
Keep the scoreboard close while making the use up and expose resources. . . :devil:
Fleury played excellent but absolutely. What was telling for me about this entire series was watching Vegas employ a 5 man defensive structure everytime they were on the ice almost. They would allow their speed to carry them in transition, and forecheck where applicable. But when the puck was in their end they saved most of their youth/speed for that, to close the distance and allow very few odd man breaks. Then once the Kings would forecheck and win some battles, Vegas would again use all 5 in the back end to try to impede the shots.
LA had some good chances, but they would usually have to work 2-3x as hard to get those good chances, and even then there is still Fluery to deal with. LA also had an awful hard time getting bodies to the front of the net, more so than I've ever seen for the way they traditionally play. This allowed Fluery to challenge far more aggressively, you could see him coming far out of the paint to challenge long shots. A lot of that had to do with the gap control and spacing of the Knights imo. When LA would get the puck, by employing man on man coverage in the Zone very tightly and chasing very hard they would force the Kings to space out so far when they were in the offensive end. This would keep a lot of open holes, and prevent crowds from forming around their goalie, in the shooting lanes, etc.
We've talked about this before but this is the type of "speed" game I think you and I reference. It isn't that they don't employ speed players, it's that the system works as such so everyone regardless of skillset can be in on it, and the speed players aren't just trying to force breakways and scoring chances, they are smartly leveraging their assets in a way that impedes the opponents abilities.
Gerard Gallant though deserves so much of all this credit, fantastic coach, Florida was boneheaded for letting him go he's the perfect type of coach to give to younger players looking to become full time NHLers, and given the crop Vegas has had to work with he was absolutely ideal for them.
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Yep, . . . and from a certain point of view, not really.
These were my ideal types of games. The majority of that series was the lethal one goal defense. While high risk, focuding almost solely on distrustrupting and countering the opponents strategies and tendencies, not making offense plays that could generate a chance for the opponent, just countering them and wearing out their bodies and playbooks while they’re trying to “just get that one goal”. . ,
Keep the scoreboard close while making the use up and expose resources. . . :devil:
Vegas is playing a strong defensive system with all 5 guys involved. And they do it with speed. The system where all 5 guys are playing defensively responsible in my kind of game. Wish all of our guys played like that. Funny thing is that is the kind if system Trotz tried to implement the past couple of years. Wtf happened this year?
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I have a question about the Vegas/Kings series. Is the 10 total goals scored the lowest in a best if 7 series. I dont recall any lower scoring series.
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I decided to check and 10 goals is the fewest in a best of 7 series. This series tied Anaheim/ Minnesota series but in that series the Wild scored only 1 goal.
The 7 goals for Vegas is the fewest goal scored for a team winning a best of 7 series.
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Vegas is playing a strong defensive system with all 5 guys involved. And they do it with speed. The system where all 5 guys are playing defensively responsible in my kind of game. Wish all of our guys played like that. Funny thing is that is the kind if system Trotz tried to implement the past couple of years. Wtf happened this year?
We still at times attempt to employ that system, but we also can't do five man systems all the time with our personnel. But ultimately what happened this year is our core got older and our depth got worse, for the most part. Trotz has to do what he can with what we have, and I don't really think he should be the one on the hot seat even though I recognize he is, but I just think that is atypical of struggling franchises. Management doesn't want to admit it was their fault when things go bad so they put it on the coach, especially if it's been a few years of said same coach.
The players almost never take the brunt of the responsibility in these situations, and it's starting to become a bit tiring. Because for us, it is mostly on the players, and then the personnel decisions second imo. For me Trotz has proven that it wouldn't matter if it was Babcock or Guy or Gerrard in here. You can't make players find a playoff gear. You can't make them adapt to the harsher conditions. It's not like your going to "teach" John Carlson to not panic under the fire of playoff hockey pressure.
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I decided to check and 10 goals is the fewest in a best of 7 series. This series tied Anaheim/ Minnesota series but in that series the Wild scored only 1 goal.
The 7 goals for Vegas is the fewest goal scored for a team winning a best of 7 series.
Hehehe what’s even cooler, their leading goal scorer was also good enough to be on the ice in the last seconds of a 1-0 playoff game, but laid out to block the final shot, which could, or could not, have effected the aim of the shot going wide and/or Fleury getting there. He wasn’t lookin for an empty net goal. . .
Just shows the character and what’s important to them
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Hehehe what’s even cooler, their leading goal scorer was also good enough to be on the ice in the last seconds of a 1-0 playoff game, but laid out to block the final shot, which could, or could not, have effected the aim of the shot going wide and/or Fleury getting there. He wasn’t lookin for an empty net goal. . .
Just shows the character and what’s important to them
We have guys that make foolish plays going for an empty net goal and end up icing the puck unnecessarily. I'm OK with that if up by 2 goals. Up by one goal get to centre before shooting for the empty net. Vegas looks like a team with unselfish players.
I still dont like the fact that an expansion team got such an easy ride. They still deserve credit for their season. I thought they might make the playoffs but didn't expect this much from them.
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We still at times attempt to employ that system, but we also can't do five man systems all the time with our personnel. But ultimately what happened this year is our core got older and our depth got worse, for the most part. Trotz has to do what he can with what we have, and I don't really think he should be the one on the hot seat even though I recognize he is, but I just think that is atypical of struggling franchises. Management doesn't want to admit it was their fault when things go bad so they put it on the coach, especially if it's been a few years of said same coach.
The players almost never take the brunt of the responsibility in these situations, and it's starting to become a bit tiring. Because for us, it is mostly on the players, and then the personnel decisions second imo. For me Trotz has proven that it wouldn't matter if it was Babcock or Guy or Gerrard in here. You can't make players find a playoff gear. You can't make them adapt to the harsher conditions. It's not like your going to "teach" John Carlson to not panic under the fire of playoff hockey pressure.
Exactly! It comes down to orginizational philosophies and agendas. The intelligence, ability and chatecter, or the willingness to follow a system like this, or be coached to, is simply not a high priority for Monumental.
It’d be nice to think it did. . . But look at the VGK/LA and Caps/CBJ side by side. . .particulary the fact we fired the VGK GM for not making the playoffs, who went made an elite team out of cast offs with low contracts that other teams practicly didn’t want, so GMGM knows how to win, we look god-awful in the playoffs every year . . . its simply orginizational.
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Looks to me like PHilly should have worked a little less in the last few games of the regular season and drawn a different opponent in round 1. [size=78%]Really hoped they would have taken some starch out of Shittsburgh. Why does the copy size change?[/size]
Not that it would matter as far as the Caps are concerned.
Also thought Toronto would hold up a little better against Tampa Bay.
Who knows...we'll see.
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Still gotta like the Pens in the East. TB is good but susceptible to teams that play a physical game which would mean trouble with Boston who they were 1-3 against during the season. I don't think the Caps can beat Pittsburgh (when do they ever?) assuming they advance, and neither can Boston. In the West it's a bit dicier. Nashville will have all they can handle with Winnipeg which probably plays the most physical game in the league. They absolutely mauled Minnesota. SJ-VGK should be a good series as both play a swarming, attacking style in the offensive zone. From what I've seen, I like VGK in that series. So, either VGK-NSH or VGK-WPG in the West. Hard to say who comes out on top. I see the Cup winner coming out of the West, regardless of who it is.
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Still gotta like the Pens in the East. TB is good but susceptible to teams that play a physical game which would mean trouble with Boston who they were 1-3 against during the season. I don't think the Caps can beat Pittsburgh (when do they ever?) assuming they advance, and neither can Boston. In the West it's a bit dicier. Nashville will have all they can handle with Winnipeg which probably plays the most physical game in the league. They absolutely mauled Minnesota. SJ-VGK should be a good series as both play a swarming, attacking style in the offensive zone. From what I've seen, I like VGK in that series. So, either VGK-NSH or VGK-WPG in the West. Hard to say who comes out on top. I see the Cup winner coming out of the West, regardless of who it is.
The teams in the west are getting a lot more rest. The Jets are looking very good. Either that or the Wild suck. Probably a bit of both. Colorado is giving Nashville a run and Nashville isn't looking so good defensively in this series. I'm not overly impressed with the teams in the east other than the Bruins. The Pens are dynamic offensively but don't bring it every game.
In our series we are easily the better team but we are tied at 2 against van offensively challenged team. All they have up front in Panarin and Atkinson. Never paid much attention to Atkinson before. Didn't realize he was such a floater.
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And here I thought our D was bad.. Oof.
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Well, was there ANY doubt it'd be the Pens if the Caps manage to win this series.
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After seeing that terrible display of defence and goaltending in the Pitts/Philly series I'd say The Pens can be beat.
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They can always be beat, but not by the Caps unfortunately.
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After seeing that terrible display of defence and goaltending in the Pitts/Philly series I'd say The Pens can be beat.
I mean, depends on if they have the refs on their side. The blatant fucking trip by Letang in the offensive zone that lead to the Guentzel hat-trick even had Pierre the Pens biggest cheerleader wondering why it wasn't called.
The NHL needs to sort that shit out, because it always seems like this time of the year the calls like that ALWAYS go the Pens way. I'd be perfectly fine against us (if we get there) if the refs just put teh whistles away entirely and let Tom Wilson destroy Crosby. But we all know those levels of Karma's will never go our way. It'll be more like, Tom Wilson lightly bumps into Sid and then gets called a game misconduct and a suspension for almost hitting.
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That was a bullshit non call on the trip.
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I mean, depends on if they have the refs on their side. The blatant fucking trip by Letang in the offensive zone that lead to the Guentzel hat-trick even had Pierre the Pens biggest cheerleader wondering why it wasn't called.
The NHL needs to sort that shit out, because it always seems like this time of the year the calls like that ALWAYS go the Pens way. I'd be perfectly fine against us (if we get there) if the refs just put teh whistles away entirely and let Tom Wilson destroy Crosby. But we all know those levels of Karma's will never go our way. It'll be more like, Tom Wilson lightly bumps into Sid and then gets called a game misconduct and a suspension for almost hitting.
Which is why every penalty needs to count. . .ie for games.
If your're gonna get called and scammed anyway, might as well knock their head in to the third row and get your 2 minutes to 2 games worth and keep them in "the dark room: fro a couple months,
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I'm surprised Boston took 7 games, but it gives the Caps an extra day of rest.
I can't even look at Penishead any more without seeing him getting rubbed out by a penguin...
which reminds me, what did Michael tell McCaully? Just play with it till the white stuff comes out ;D
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V-G-K!!!!
Former Cap Eakin followed by Haula
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Now 3-0 !!!
This team is nuts!!
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TUCH!!!
That was ridiculous!!!!
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VGK just killed 3 straight PP, including a 5-3
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Byfuglien taking care of business... Anyone watching this?
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V!G!K!!
V!G!K!!
V!G!K!!
https://mobile.twitter.com/bellagio/status/992626955714531329 (https://mobile.twitter.com/bellagio/status/992626955714531329)
If you’ve never seen the Bellagio Fountain show: get to Vegas, grab a few drinks and sit back and watch!
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If Marchand licked me I'd go McSorley on him.
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V!G!K!!
V!G!K!!
V!G!K!!
https://mobile.twitter.com/bellagio/status/992626955714531329 (https://mobile.twitter.com/bellagio/status/992626955714531329)
If you’ve never seen the Bellagio Fountain show: get to Vegas, grab a few drinks and sit back and watch!
the fountains were neat, but hard to watch from Fremont St.
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the fountains were neat, but hard to watch from Fremont St.
Yep, only spent a Lee hours on Fremont, but I liked that better than the Strup, mainly because The D Casino has the second American Coney in it 🤗
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Bruins scored one in the last minute of the 1st period. Tampa leads 3-1 in the series so we need Bruins to make them work harder and longer before we take them on. :wackysmile:
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Bruins scored one in the last minute of the 1st period. Tampa leads 3-1 in the series so we need Bruins to make them work harder and longer before we take them on. :wackysmile:
watching Max throw 15 K's was more interesting, but then the bullpen took over...
hell of finish at the ballpark though!
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Tampon Bay advancing...
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Tampa won the series against Bruins 4-1. It would behoove the Caps to dispatch the Hens in the next game so we are not giving the Lightning much more opportunity to rest than we have. Bruins looked pretty awful. Tampa Bay will be a hell of a matchup with the Caps.
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well that's surprising, I thought Boston had more than that
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frikin sweet goal by Schmity tonight
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frikin sweet goal by Schmity tonight
I know we are going to totally choke it away, but can you imagine if Vegas/Caps were the Cup Finals? That would be so odd.
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I know we are going to totally choke it away, but can you imagine if Vegas/Caps were the Cup Finals? That would be so odd.
I dont want Vegas in the finals.
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I dont want Vegas in the finals.
Too bad? Haha, they look like they have a first class ticket already booked imo.
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Too bad? Haha, they look like they have a first class ticket already booked imo.
Next round they will be facing a very good opponent.
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Next round they will be facing a very good opponent.
They already beat two better playoff teams in LA and SJS.
The time off between the two series had an obvious effect on Fleury going from record setting to average, so the first few games in that series will be interesting
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They already beat two better playoff teams in LA and SJS.
The time off between the two series had an obvious effect on Fleury going from record setting to average, so the first few games in that series will be interesting
Vegas did face 2 teams that really dont score a lot. Next round should be a bigger test for Fluery.
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Either way. Tampa is looking flat-out NASTY
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Either way. Tampa is looking flat-out NASTY
yea, the Bolts look good despite getting licked by Boston
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yea, the Bolts look good despite getting licked by Boston
:lol: :rofl:
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yea, the Bolts look good despite getting licked by Boston
Nasty Bears! Soft porno.
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Pekka Rinne just let in two of the softest goals I've seen all playoffs. He was pulled 11 minutes into game 7 against the Jets. 2-0 halfway through the 1st.
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Pekka Rinne just let in two of the softest goals I've seen all playoffs. He was pulled 11 minutes into game 7 against the Jets. 2-0 halfway through the 1st.
The first goal was brutal. Deflected the puck in his own net from a near impossible angle.
The 2nd goal Stastny came from behind the net and tried to go short side. Rinne made the save but Stastny put in the rebound because Rinne didn't stat against the post. While all that was happening Ellis stood there the entire time watching. That 2nd goal was on Ellis. Wtf was he thinking. Even our dmen are better than that.
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I feel bad for Rinne. My 2nd favorite goalie in the league right now. I'm a bit surprised they pulled him that early.
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That’s what the they deserve for pulling Rinne. . . He’d of probably had that
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That’s what the they deserve for pulling Rinne. . . He’d of probably had that
I agree. I really think they pulled Rinne way too early. It was 2-0. So fucking what. How many times were the Caps up 2-0 in these playoffs and blew the lead.
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I agree. I really think they pulled Rinne way too early. It was 2-0. So fucking what. How many times were the Caps up 2-0 in these playoffs and blew the lead.
It’s just “the back up is always better” trend/mentality. . .
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It’s just “the back up is always better” trend/mentality. . .
Well Rinne is a vezina finalist and he likely wins it.
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And for the fuck of it (Hehehe I can’t wait 🤗🤗🤗)
https://youtu.be/uxbQATBAXf8 (https://youtu.be/uxbQATBAXf8)
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I agree. I really think they pulled Rinne way too early. It was 2-0. So fucking what. How many times were the Caps up 2-0 in these playoffs and blew the lead.
Didn't matter, since 'Ville couldn't figure out Hellebuyck tonight.
Hmm ...... highly regarded team lays an egg at home in game 7. Where have we heard that tale before?
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Didn't matter, since 'Ville couldn't figure out Hellebuyck tonight.
Hmm ...... highly regarded team lays an egg at home in game 7. Where have we heard that tale before?
yea, but the Preds have a front office that cares. Nashville is a great hockey town. I passed through there last April and the energy was amazing,
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yea, but the Preds have a front office that cares. Nashville is a great hockey town. I passed through there last April and the energy was amazing,
I'm pretty sure our front office cares.
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Jets and Knights at 8pm
....
mustv been a typo
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Jets and Knights at 8pm
It starts at 7:00 pm, don’t want you to miss the 1st period. Lol.
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I'm pretty sure our front office cares.
They care about something: $$,$$$,$$$ The last 10yrs have shown that’s a bigger priory winning a Cup.
Lady went to a game at Nashville and loved it, to the point of me being jealous . . .
DO YOU KNOW THOSE ASSHOLES HAVE STAMPED BARRELS OF JASPER DANIELS OLD NO 7!!!
THERE OWN FUCKIN BARRELS OF WHAT MAKES UP A RESPECTABLE PORTION OF MY DIET AND BLOOD STREAM!!! (Fucking luckey assholes)
Every year I get talk my self out of buying my own barrel of JD (https://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/whiskey/single-barrel/personal-collection/inquiry-form#jack-daniels-form)!! (They’re only 10k! But I can’t keep it in my apartment. That being said it would cover my JD for, . . . carry the 1, apply standard deviation, factor in the quadric vs outliers . . . as long as it’s not kept at Rushs, as long as I don’t keep it at Rushs or Alta’s place (of course you two would be welcome to it) a fiscal argument can made for that being a sound decision.
Hell Dallas has The Jack Daniels bar at the AAC (which is the best stadium bar ever and where I meant two of our best friends at a Stars game) . . .
We get Becks, Bud, and a Manassas brewery that got thrown out!!!
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Well, live and die by the head-case Fleury. . .
But if the Jets wanna make this a street-fight they ain’t man enough for V-G-K
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Jesus Harr-od Mel Brooks Christ Flurey how did you not stop that?!
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Mark my words: Karlsson will be the next Zetterberg . . .
I previously said Nick was, but 200 feet of smart intense hockey from a Sweed . . ,
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Glad the Jets won. I want Vegas to go away.
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They care about something: $$,$$$,$$$ The last 10yrs have shown that’s a bigger priory winning a Cup.
Lady went to a game at Nashville and loved it, to the point of me being jealous . . .
DO YOU KNOW THOSE ASSHOLES HAVE STAMPED BARRELS OF JASPER DANIELS OLD NO 7!!!
THERE OWN FUCKIN BARRELS OF WHAT MAKES UP A RESPECTABLE PORTION OF MY DIET AND BLOOD STREAM!!! (Fucking luckey assholes)
Every year I get talk my self out of buying my own barrel of JD (https://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/whiskey/single-barrel/personal-collection/inquiry-form#jack-daniels-form)!! (They’re only 10k! But I can’t keep it in my apartment. That being said it would cover my JD for, . . . carry the 1, apply standard deviation, factor in the quadric vs outliers . . . as long as it’s not kept at Rushs, as long as I don’t keep it at Rushs or Alta’s place (of course you two would be welcome to it) a fiscal argument can made for that being a sound decision.
Hell Dallas has The Jack Daniels bar at the AAC (which is the best stadium bar ever and where I meant two of our best friends at a Stars game) . . .
We get Becks, Bud, and a Manassas brewery that got thrown out!!!
Years ago when JD first offered the barrel for sale I was this close[index finger is touching thumb] to buying one. I lived in a condo at the time and finding someplace to put the barrel would've been a challenge, but at the time I was stupidly thinking I'm never gonna drink 50 gallons of whisky. Turns out it would've been like buying that 5 gal jug of mayo at Costco, and I coulda had my very own JD barrel with my name burned into it...
Vegas fell back to earth last night, and F1 has added an interesting roll bar this year
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Just watched coaches corner after the first period of the Jets/Knights game. Cherry spoke of the Caps and praised them. He said he picked Tampa to win but said the Caps played big, mean and nasty and they are on a mission.
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Scmitty is tearin up out there . .
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They just said “alma matter” about 5 times in two minutes
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Into the 3rd period in the Vegas/'Peg game, and Vegas is ahead 2-0 with a grand total of 7 hits credited to them. For. The. Entire. Team. Two of which belong to Ryan Reaves, a limited-minutes goon who probably will see little or no TOI the rest of the game.
Like it or not, the NHL has changed.
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Into the 3rd period in the Vegas/'Peg game, and Vegas is ahead 2-0 with a grand total of 7 hits credited to them. For. The. Entire. Team. Two of which belong to Ryan Reaves, a limited-minutes goon who probably will see little or no TOI the rest of the game.
Like it or not, the NHL has changed.
Heh the scorekeepers ain’t watching the game then
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That play by smith leading to that goal was utter insanity. . .
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That play by smith leading to that goal was utter insanity. . .
Most of all miss Nate, a great guy and player.
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Scmitty is tearin up out there . .
They were raving about Schmitty all night and gave him the number two star even though he didn’t score a goal. Good for him!
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Most of all miss Nate, a great guy and player.
Yes we do, he's better than any of our D now thats for sure. . .
but I was talking about Riley Smith on that post. . . ;D
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V-G-K!!!
V-G-K!!!
V-G-K!!!
V-G-K!!!
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that's a good example of why the SOG stat is a joke, if that puck hits just a hair higher it's a clean pipe hit and doesn't count as a SOG
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that's a good example of why the SOG stat is a joke, if that puck hits just a hair higher it's a clean pipe hit and doesn't count as a SOG
I agree. High scoring chances is a better stat.
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The Knights are in the Stanley cup finals. This is an embarrassment to the NHL. Bettman had to make sure this team was successful right out of the gate. Its all about the money. They should have had to go through the growing pains other expansion teams did. Make them build a team. It may take a few years and they may not have gotten support if the fans if they were a bottom feeder. If that's the case so be it. If the fans won't vsupport a team that is building then they don't deserve a team.
This is a black mark on the NHL. Pretty bad when it is a lot easier to build a team from scratch then it is to rebuild an existing franchise. Vegas not only was given a good team but they are mostly young players and they stocked up on draftpicks. They should be a solid team for quite awhile. This whole Vegas thing has really turned me off from hockey. At least the NHL.
I can now watch the Regina Pats play their 2nd game of the Memorial Cup.
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Well, I just finished watching some of the Jets/Knights game.
This is absurd. A first-year expansion team wins its division, then ROARS through the Western Conference to the Stanley Cup finals, playing only 15 games to get there. They are going to have a significant rest advantage over either the Caps or Tampa. It wouldn't be a huge surprise to watch them win the Cup in 6 games or fewer. And there is no fluke about it; this team's players support each other better and know where each other is better than teams with players who have played together for 10 years. Argue all you want about the quality of players, and whether or not they should have had the selection they did. But this team LOOKS as though they are playing a different game than anyone else is. I saw it when they played the Caps in the middle of the regular season; I see it now. It's almost as if they came down from a superior league and are toying with the other teams in this one.
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Well, I just finished watching some of the Jets/Knights game.
This is absurd. A first-year expansion team wins its division, then ROARS through the Western Conference to the Stanley Cup finals, playing only 15 games to get there. They are going to have a significant rest advantage over either the Caps or Tampa. It wouldn't be a huge surprise to watch them win the Cup in 6 games or fewer. And there is no fluke about it; this team's players support each other better and know where each other is better than teams with players who have played together for 10 years. Argue all you want about the quality of players, and whether or not they should have had the selection they did. But this team LOOKS as though they are playing a different game than anyone else is. I saw it when they played the Caps in the middle of the regular season; I see it now. It's almost as if they came down from a superior league and are toying with the other teams in this one.
The team is coached very well. They play a good team game but they have good talent. Very good talent. And they have a lot of depth. We have 3rd line players that coulkdnt crack that lineup. The future also looks good for this team. I'm disgusted that an expansion team gets to the cup final and could very well win it.
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The Knights are in the Stanley cup finals. This is an embarrassment to the NHL. Bettman had to make sure this team was successful right out of the gate. Its all about the money. They should have had to go through the growing pains other expansion teams did. Make them build a team. It may take a few years and they may not have gotten support if the fans if they were a bottom feeder. If that's the case so be it. If the fans won't vsupport a team that is building then they don't deserve a team.
This is a black mark on the NHL. Pretty bad when it is a lot easier to build a team from scratch then it is to rebuild an existing franchise. Vegas not only was given a good team but they are mostly young players and they stocked up on draftpicks. They should be a solid team for quite awhile. This whole Vegas thing has really turned me off from hockey. At least the NHL.
I can now watch the Regina Pats play their 2nd game of the Memorial Cup.
I say go ahead and give the same draft rules to them. If the new expansion teams GN can do what GMGM did, more power to then, ok fact it would be funny to see em try.
Yes, their expansion draft allowed a bigger pool than any before. But the owners, GMs, and NHLPA agreed to it. The other GMs had the time and data to make GMGMs job all but impossible. But, they thought that “it’s an expansion draft, will keep our popular, NMC, and our “best players”, and pick or scrub and take en with you to the desert.
And GMGM took them ALL to school. He scouted drafted IQ, character, and contracts, to make an unconventional team that dominates them all.
A team with no superstars, no captain but six alternates, running a defensive system with liittke to no flash/dangling/toe drags. players that say “we” anytime they speak, and the players not only buy in, but demand this of each other.
So maybe this isn’t as much of a black-spot, but a black-eye this league needed to remind them there isnt just one way to build a winning team. Now watch as teams start modeling the way they build their rosters after VGK, and watch Gary, the NHLPA, and their agents go nuts over it.
So, sure give the next expansion team the same thinng. Hell, give em an extra 5-6mil on thier cap to, doesn’t matter because they’re not gonna do it better than Vegas did.
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The team is coached very well. They play a good team game but they have good talent. Very good talent. And they have a lot of depth. We have 3rd line players that coulkdnt crack that lineup. The future also looks good for this team. I'm disgusted that an expansion team gets to the cup final and could very well win it.
And GMBetaMale protected two of of them (Bura and Eller) in the expansion draft.
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Well this is great, may as well just present the Cup to Vegas now cuz the brooms will be out enmas against whom ever survives in the east.
I still don't know why this is surprise to anyone, the best championship teams ever don't have any superstars on the team, just a bunch of slightly above average players that bonded well and were coached well. If Herb was still alive he'd tell you the same thing.
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And GMBetaMale protected two of of them (Bura and Eller) in the expansion draft.
Yes I agree with that. Which is why I would have protected 4 dmen and left those guys exposed. If we did that we may have lost Wilson though. BTW we are not the only team in this situation. Intact I believe the other 30 teams have guys that couldn't make the Knights lineup. Because of the rules of the expansion draft I honestly believe they have the most depth in the NHL. Which is one of the reason they have been so successful.
Look at the bottom 6 and bottom pairings on most teams and you will see a lot of guys that should be playing in the AHL. We probably have 5 guys in our lineup that are not NHL calibre players.
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I say go ahead and give the same draft rules to them. If the new expansion teams GN can do what GMGM did, more power to then, ok fact it would be funny to see em try.
Yes, their expansion draft allowed a bigger pool than any before. But the owners, GMs, and NHLPA agreed to it. The other GMs had the time and data to make GMGMs job all but impossible. But, they thought that “it’s an expansion draft, will keep our popular, NMC, and our “best players”, and pick or scrub and take en with you to the desert.
And GMGM took them ALL to school. He scouted drafted IQ, character, and contracts, to make an unconventional team that dominates them all.
A team with no superstars, no captain but six alternates, running a defensive system with liittke to no flash/dangling/toe drags. players that say “we” anytime they speak, and the players not only buy in, but demand this of each other.
So maybe this isn’t as much of a black-spot, but a black-eye this league needed to remind them there isnt just one way to build a winning team. Now watch as teams start modeling the way they build their rosters after VGK, and watch Gary, the NHLPA, and their agents go nuts over it.
So, sure give the next expansion team the same thinng. Hell, give em an extra 5-6mil on thier cap to, doesn’t matter because they’re not gonna do it better than Vegas did.
Vegas did a good job building this team but I still think the rules helped then immensely. I'm not convinced the rules will be the identical in the next expansion.
I think the other teams will look at this and make wiser decisions.
There was a lot of good talent available in this draft. There was a lot that Vegas left out there. They drafted a combination of youth and experience. They got 3 or 4 guys that were already proven goal scorers. They picked up some highly touted prospects that hadn't yet made a name for themselves. They end up getting a guy like Alex Tuch. The guy us 6'4 and 220lbs and has some skill. He was a first round pick for a reason. Another good young player they got was Shea Theodore. He was also a first around draft pick. Both those guys are only 22 years old. This team looks goods for the future too.
You know this team has depth when they bring over Vadim Shipachyov , a star in Russia and he can't make the lineup.
They also benefitted from teams making bonehead decisions. Florida probably being the worst. They kept 4 dmen and 4 forwards instead of 3 and 7. Why the FUCK would they keep Yandle over Marchessault. Yandle is an aging one dimensional defence man with a high Cap hit. Vegas wasnt likely to select him so why protect him and expose a young 30 goal scorer.
Caps fans made me laugh thinking Vegas was going to take Grubauer. There was too many goalies available. I wished they did take Grubauer.
Sorry for ranting. This whole Vegas thing has turned me off of hockey. I'm not even sure if I want the Caps to get to the finals. I'd rather lose to Tampa than Bettmans own personal team.
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Vegas did a good job building this team but I still think the rules helped then immensely. I'm not convinced the rules will be the identical in the next expansion.
I think the other teams will look at this and make wiser decisions.
There was a lot of good talent available in this draft. There was a lot that Vegas left out there. They drafted a combination of youth and experience. They got 3 or 4 guys that were already proven goal scorers. They picked up some highly touted prospects that hadn't yet made a name for themselves. They end up getting a guy like Alex Tuch. The guy us 6'4 and 220lbs and has some skill. He was a first round pick for a reason. Another good young player they got was Shea Theodore. He was also a first around draft pick. Both those guys are only 22 years old. This team looks goods for the future too.
You know this team has depth when they bring over Vadim Shipachyov , a star in Russia and he can't make the lineup.
They also benefitted from teams making bonehead decisions. Florida probably being the worst. They kept 4 dmen and 4 forwards instead of 3 and 7. Why the FUCK would they keep Yandle over Marchessault. Yandle is an aging one dimensional defence man with a high Cap hit. Vegas wasnt likely to select him so why protect him and expose a young 30 goal scorer.
Caps fans made me laugh thinking Vegas was going to take Grubauer. There was too many goalies available. I wished they did take Grubauer.
Sorry for ranting. This whole Vegas thing has turned me off of hockey. I'm not even sure if I want the Caps to get to the finals. I'd rather lose to Tampa than Bettmans own personal team.
Vegas is good because they made very shrewd picks. Outside of James Neal, none of the guys they picked up front had had impressive stats before. I made an earlier post on this. It was similar on defense. They picked guys who were steady and skilled rather than flashy. The flashiest guy they got back there was Schmidt who never, ever should have been available to begin with. You don't protect a 31 year old Niskanen on the downside over a 26 year old Schmidt coming into his own. Good for Schmidty, though. I'm sure he was glad to escape DC.
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Vegas did a good job building this team but I still think the rules helped then immensely. I'm not convinced the rules will be the identical in the next expansion.
I think the other teams will look at this and make wiser decisions.
There was a lot of good talent available in this draft. There was a lot that Vegas left out there. They drafted a combination of youth and experience. They got 3 or 4 guys that were already proven goal scorers. They picked up some highly touted prospects that hadn't yet made a name for themselves. They end up getting a guy like Alex Tuch. The guy us 6'4 and 220lbs and has some skill. He was a first round pick for a reason. Another good young player they got was Shea Theodore. He was also a first around draft pick. Both those guys are only 22 years old. This team looks goods for the future too.
You know this team has depth when they bring over Vadim Shipachyov , a star in Russia and he can't make the lineup.
They also benefitted from teams making bonehead decisions. Florida probably being the worst. They kept 4 dmen and 4 forwards instead of 3 and 7. Why the FUCK would they keep Yandle over Marchessault. Yandle is an aging one dimensional defence man with a high Cap hit. Vegas wasnt likely to select him so why protect him and expose a young 30 goal scorer.
Caps fans made me laugh thinking Vegas was going to take Grubauer. There was too many goalies available. I wished they did take Grubauer.
Sorry for ranting. This whole Vegas thing has turned me off of hockey. I'm not even sure if I want the Caps to get to the finals. I'd rather lose to Tampa than Bettmans own personal team.
Oh and Fla also sent them Riley Smith for a 4th round pick at the draft . . . a 4th round
Also CBJ BJd it to, Karrlson a first and 2nd . . . to dump a contract.
Like I said earlier, this the wake-up call the NHL needed. It's clear the GMs thought and took for granted that GMGM would build VGK like any other team, particularly expanding in a non-traditional environment. Tradition would say that players the like of Iginla, Stall. Gabronick, Doan, Campbell, Jack Johnson, Patrick Sharp, Nick Kronwall, Bobby Ryan and Mike Fisher would be picked up by a team with 100% free cap space. They may be overpaid, they may be declining, but they are popular and can be put on billboards and sell jerseys which is what an expansion team needs, or so one would think.
But, GMGM knew this, knew what the other GMs wanted him to do, then laughed and did what they didnt expect, or would think could win . . .and built a team of depth players with good contracts and the closest thing to a star being the goalie.
Ultimately, GMGM and VGK knew their opponents, and their oppents underestimated them.
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Oh and Fla also sent them Riley Smith for a 4th round pick at the draft . . . a 4th round
Also CBJ BJd it to, Karrlson a first and 2nd . . . to dump a contract.
Like I said earlier, this the wake-up call the NHL needed. It's clear the GMs thought and took for granted that GMGM would build VGK like any other team, particularly expanding in a non-traditional environment. Tradition would say that players the like of Iginla, Stall. Gabronick, Doan, Campbell, Jack Johnson, Patrick Sharp, Nick Kronwall, Bobby Ryan and Mike Fisher would be picked up by a team with 100% free cap space. They may be overpaid, they may be declining, but they are popular and can be put on billboards and sell jerseys which is what an expansion team needs, or so one would think.
But, GMGM knew this, knew what the other GMs wanted him to do, then laughed and did what they didnt expect, or would think could win . . .and built a team of depth players with good contracts and the closest thing to a star being the goalie.
Ultimately, GMGM and VGK knew their opponents, and their oppents underestimated them.
Right. Yet he couldn't do it in DC. Maybe making DC hockey the Ovechkin show wasn't such a great idea.
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Vegas is good because they made very shrewd picks. Outside of James Neal, none of the guys they picked up front had had impressive stats before. I made an earlier post on this. It was similar on defense. They picked guys who were steady and skilled rather than flashy. The flashiest guy they got back there was Schmidt who never, ever should have been available to begin with. You don't protect a 31 year old Niskanen on the downside over a 26 year old Schmidt coming into his own. Good for Schmidty, though. I'm sure he was glad to escape DC.
or Brayden McnNabb over Marion Gaborik or Jerome Iginla?
or Shelmco over Joe Thornton, only to trade him for a pick the next day
And yes GMBetaMale utterly fucked this expansion draft up. Yeah, NMC provided, leave Nisky and Schmidt, and if your just gonna extend Bura, and Eller during the season, why not do so before the draft so the cap hits tougher. ..
Most of all, how GMBetaMale wouldn't know or figure out what his former boss would do, is simply inexcusable
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or Brayden McnNabb over Marion Gaborik or Jerome Iginla?
or Shelmco over Joe Thornton, only to trade him for a pick the next day
And yes GMBetaMale utterly fucked this expansion draft up. Yeah, NMC provided, leave Nisky and Schmidt, and if your just gonna extend Bura, and Eller during the season, why not do so before the draft so the cap hits tougher. ..
Most of all, how GMBetaMale wouldn't know or figure out what his former boss would do, is simply inexcusable
Vegas had so many options it was pretty hard to screw it up. Then you add all the deals teams made to protect Vegas from selecting certain players and Vegas ended up with a ton if draft pick as well. I'm sure Vegas had three 1st round picks and two 2 and round picks. Yes this team has overachieved but if Mcphee failed with these expansion rules he should be out as GM forever. This was a no lose scenario because the options were so many.
And yes our GM failed with our protected list. He could have gone 4 dmen and 4 forwards and left 3 of these 4 available, Wilson, Burakovsky, Eller or Johansson. Not sure which oibe if them would have been protected. Our GM is an idiot so he likely would have protected Burakovsky. I would have protected Wilson. We could have gone that route. We were only going to lose one of them and a forward is easier to replace than a dman. We ended up losing Johansson anyway. So why protect him.
We went with the other option 3 dmen and 7 forwards which moist teams did. Which is fine but like DC said why keep a 31 year old with a high cap hit for a 26 year old that was coming into his own. If Niskanen was left unprotected there ius no guarantee Vegas would have taken him because of the cap hit. I'm not even a big Nate Schmidt fan but you could see last year, especially in the playoffs that he was going to be a good dman.
Anyway the point is that pretty much every team lost a decent player in that expansion draft. It was way too easy.
Other expansion drafts had fewer options to choose from for several reasons. First reason being the protected lists were smaller than other years. 2nd reason there are now more teams in the league giving the expansion franchise more to choose from. 3rd some expansion drafts had more than one team entering the league that same season. There are probably other reasons too.
The rules made it pretty easy for Vegas to build a pretty decent team.
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I have set aside my bias against McPhee and have really loved watching Vegas - mostly because they have Schmidt. When we lost him, I said congratulations to him because he escaped from our quagmire and had a better chance to win a Cup in Vegas. I certainly didn't think it would be this year though!
If we manage to make it to the Finals, it will be bittersweet to watch Schmidt play against us. He is a special player and will be for a long time. I think our fanbase will then realize what a massive screwup it was to let him go.