NHL 2023-2024: Playoff Time. Hello Darkness.....

[TAC]

See: my avatar.

Some guy with a Yankees hat?

The guy does look familiar but I can't place him.

[jingle.boy]

Some guy with a Yankees hat?

The guy does look familiar but I can't place him.

Well, yeah but ... my ususal avatar.  Team-America Kim Jong-Il.  But since the movie was from the mid-2000s, I'd not expect you to get the reference.

[Stadler]

is that current one Brian Denehy?  What's the significance of that?

[TAC]

is that current one Brian Denehy?  What's the significance of that?

That's who I was thinking of, but somehow I didn't think it was him.

Oh, and Brian Denehy FTW!!

[jingle.boy]

That's who I was thinking of, but somehow I didn't think it was him.

Oh, and Brian Denehy FTW!!

Close ... Brian Keith as "Hardcastle".  As a nod for Indi during his roulette.

[King Postwhore]

The dad from Family Affair. 

[jingle.boy]

That too.

[Stadler]

Brian Keith, Brian Denehy.  It's like Dermott Mulroney and Dylan McDermott.  They're all interchangeable.

[TAC]

The dad from Family Affair.

That's right. Yeah. I knew it was a show like My Three Sons or something like that.


Why does Chad have that guy as his avatar?

[King Postwhore]

That's right. Yeah. I knew it was a show like My Three Sons or something like that.


Why does Chad have that guy as his avatar?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardcastle_and_McCormick

[TAC]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardcastle_and_McCormick

I'm positive I never watched one episode of that show.

[pg1067]

Brian Keith, Brian Denehy.  It's like Dermott Mulroney and Dylan McDermott.  They're all interchangeable.

Indeed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGqSn5Cnw74

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardcastle_and_McCormick

I'm sure I watched a few episodes back in the day, but reading the premise of that show just made me literally laugh out loud!


On topic...as I watch the game tonight, I'll take solace that the Kings won't be one of the first teams out of the playoffs (even if only by virtue of scheduling).

[jingle.boy]

That's right. Yeah. I knew it was a show like My Three Sons or something like that.


Why does Chad have that guy as his avatar?

Indi referenced Hardcastle & McCormick several times in the earlier 'Scenes from his Memory' posts, and with the race theme of his roulette, I thought it to be most appropriate.  The Coyote X from that series was one of the more iconic vehicles from film and television out of the 80s.  Not that you'd know 

[billboy73]

The Hurricanes get through the first round.  Now bring on that other team from New York!  This will be an interesting series.

[mike099]

The remainder of the Nashville/Vancouver series should be interesting especially with the Vancouver goalie situation. 

[jingle.boy]

If I'm the owner of the Kings, I'm petitioning the league to move the franchise somewhere out of the Pacific. 

I gather next year, they'll get swept by the Oil in Round 1?? (lost in 7 games two years ago; 6 last year; 5 this year).

[Anguyen92]

^^ This team is going backwards when going against the Oilers, which is pretty bad and this coaching staff and GM staff just doesn't have what it takes to build a team to beat the Oilers in the playoffs.  We've seen it 3 years in a row and that is enough for me.

Anywho, here's my personal wishlist for the offseason for the Kings.

Lock Byfield at 7M x 7.  If he's asking for PLD money, just give it to him.

Find a way to get rid of PLD's contract if the team cannot find a well-defined role for him.  If they have to retain $1M-1.5M for the remaining 7 years and it costs at most a 1st round pick, do it.  Buying out that contract is not ideal (since it will last 14 years!!!), but....., if they are going to play him at bottom 6 minutes, just don't bother having him on the roster.

Matt Roy:  Like the guy a lot, but he should chase the big money in FA.  Let's see what the Kings have with Doughty, Spence, and Clarke on the right side on a regular basis.

Arvidsson:  Like the guy as well, but unless he takes a $2M AAV with a $2M performance bonus for next year, he can chase the big bucks with someone else in FA.

Lizotte/Grundstrom: If any team is looking to trade good picks for them for the signing rights, do it.  Otherwise, give them the QO.  Don't give them a lengthy extension.

That being said, Turcotte, Fagemo, and Akil Thomas needs to be regular NHL players at this point if all are healthy.  Ride or die with more of a youth movement.  This may cost the team points in the standings, but holy butts, unless the Oilers win the Pacific, I want the Kings to be nowhere near the vicinity of facing the Oilers ever again.

[SchecterShredder]

If I'm the owner of the Kings, I'm petitioning the league to move the franchise somewhere out of the Pacific. 

I gather next year, they'll get swept by the Oil in Round 1?? (lost in 7 games two years ago; 6 last year; 5 this year).

To be fair,  this Oilers team is also the deepest they've been since the 80s. I don't think it was a case of LA declining.

[pg1067]

To be fair,  this Oilers team is also the deepest they've been since the 80s. I don't think it was a case of LA declining.

I probably said this last year (and maybe even the year before), but if Edmonton plays like they did against the Kings throughout the playoffs, you should clear your calendar for a mid-June parade.

^^ This team is going backwards when going against the Oilers, which is pretty bad and this coaching staff and GM staff just doesn't have what it takes to build a team to beat the Oilers in the playoffs.  We've seen it 3 years in a row and that is enough for me.

Anywho, here's my personal wishlist for the offseason for the Kings.

Lock Byfield at 7M x 7.  If he's asking for PLD money, just give it to him.

Find a way to get rid of PLD's contract if the team cannot find a well-defined role for him.  If they have to retain $1M-1.5M for the remaining 7 years and it costs at most a 1st round pick, do it.  Buying out that contract is not ideal (since it will last 14 years!!!), but....., if they are going to play him at bottom 6 minutes, just don't bother having him on the roster.

Matt Roy:  Like the guy a lot, but he should chase the big money in FA.  Let's see what the Kings have with Doughty, Spence, and Clarke on the right side on a regular basis.

Arvidsson:  Like the guy as well, but unless he takes a $2M AAV with a $2M performance bonus for next year, he can chase the big bucks with someone else in FA.

Lizotte/Grundstrom: If any team is looking to trade good picks for them for the signing rights, do it.  Otherwise, give them the QO.  Don't give them a lengthy extension.

That being said, Turcotte, Fagemo, and Akil Thomas needs to be regular NHL players at this point if all are healthy.  Ride or die with more of a youth movement.  This may cost the team points in the standings, but holy butts, unless the Oilers win the Pacific, I want the Kings to be nowhere near the vicinity of facing the Oilers ever again.

I think I agree about Byfield, but....  His production drought at the end of the season is a concern.  Only one goal over the last 28 regular season games.  He's just about the only guy on the roster with real size, but he seemed afraid to use it against Edmonton.  I was super high on him during the first half of the season, but he seemed to decline toward the end.

Size, speed and goaltending are the biggest issues.  With zero goalies under contract and nearly $3M in cap space tied up for Ivan Provorov and Mike Frickin' Richards (a guy who hasn't set foot on an NHL rink in nearly a decade!), it seems like a fine time to blow the whole thing up, but with the scuttlebutt being that Blake is likely to return, I'm not sure if that's likely to happen.  Maybe the best we can hope for is a Tortorella type guy to stand behind the bench.

[Anguyen92]

Well, it's written like it is in the scripts.  3-1 Bruins.  Leafs are able to win two straight games to force a game 7 in Boston.  Now let's see what funny business transpires this time around.

[mike099]

Well, it's written like it is in the scripts.  3-1 Bruins.  Leafs are able to win two straight games to force a game 7 in Boston.  Now let's see what funny business transpires this time around.

I feel the Nashville/Vancouver series will be going to a game 7 after tomorrows game  in Nashville.

[jingle.boy]

I'm going to be in Florida tomorrow night.  Hopefully the hotel room has ESPN or whoever is broadcasting it in the US.  God help me if I have to listen to Jack-fucking-Edwards on the call.

I still fully expect to be disappointed.

[King Postwhore]

Lol. Florida won't have the Boston broadcast. Besides,  it's Jack's last game ever.

[jingle.boy]

I'll say this... the Leafs won't be able to count on Boston starting the game playing like ass for a 3 game in a row.  Last night, they were fucking brutal for the first 30 minutes.  Yes, the Leafs blocked like 8-10 shots in the first period, but man alive... 1 SOG in the first period!?!?!

And it really is a game of inches.  Swayman made a couple of saves that were just off the tip of his glove/blocker, and Woll also had one that just caught the corner of his pad.  1 inch up/down/left/right, and this game is a different story.

[jingle.boy]

Lol. Florida won't have the Boston broadcast. Besides,  it's Jack's last game ever.

That's what I'm worried about ... ESPN picking up the NESN feed!   

[jingle.boy]

This sniffs like 2013 all over again.

Something's gotta give on Saturday.... Bs have lost 5 straight close-out games; Leafs have lost 4 straight Game 7s at TD Garden.  I'm not liking the Leafs' chances.

[King Postwhore]

Brian, and I feel the same way about game 7 as you do ,Chad.

[Nick]

I'll say this... the Leafs won't be able to count on Boston starting the game playing like ass for a 3 game in a row.  Last night, they were fucking brutal for the first 30 minutes.  Yes, the Leafs blocked like 8-10 shots in the first period, but man alive... 1 SOG in the first period!?!?!

And it really is a game of inches.  Swayman made a couple of saves that were just off the tip of his glove/blocker, and Woll also had one that just caught the corner of his pad.  1 inch up/down/left/right, and this game is a different story.

For as much as the broadcast was swooning over Woll, on what was effectively a shutout, they should not have been. That was a great team defensive effort. Woll was good, but he left a lot of stuff loose that he should not have. The team made sure it didn't come back to bite them.

[Stadler]

Lol. Florida won't have the Boston broadcast. Besides,  it's Jack's last game ever.

Why?  NESN won't have any games after this round, or are you predicting they lose?

[Anguyen92]

Local broadcasts can only host playoff games for Round 1.  After that, it's only exclusive to TNT/ESPN/Sportsnet, the national networks.  Regardless of how Game 7 goes, this will be the last game for NESN for the season and ergo, this will be Jack Edward's final game to call.

[TAC]

For as much as the broadcast was swooning over Woll, on what was effectively a shutout, they should not have been. That was a great team defensive effort. Woll was good, but he left a lot of stuff loose that he should not have. The team made sure it didn't come back to bite them.

I agree. I mentioned it last night that the Leafs’ D was strong on front of their own net big time.

[Stadler]

Local broadcasts can only host playoff games for Round 1.  After that, it's only exclusive to TNT/ESPN/Sportsnet, the national networks.  Regardless of how Game 7 goes, this will be the last game for NESN for the season and ergo, this will be Jack Edward's final game to call.

DraftKings has the line on whether Stadler cries at -150. 

[jingle.boy]

Actually, the game on Saturday is national (on ABC), so last night was Jack's last game.  Unless NESN still has local broadcast rights?

[Anguyen92]

Oh...., well that's lame.  I wanted to see if he can get one more big infamous call in a Bruins/Leafs Game 7.

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-bruins/2024/05/02/jack-edwards-boston-bruins-nesn-retirement-maple-leafs/

[Stadler]

Actually, the game on Saturday is national (on ABC), so last night was Jack's last game.  Unless NESN still has local broadcast rights?

Dammit; genuinely sad I missed it.   I don't think he currently does, but he used to live in the next town over, and was often seen around town.  I had always hoped to say hello, but alas that's probably not going to happen.