Official '19-'20 NHL Thread - v. Hedman is a cupman.

[KevShmev]

I am not overly concerned about seeding since home ice means so little in the NHL playoffs (and would mean squat this time around with playing in empty arenas).  The idea of a team that has no business being in the playoffs making a deep playoff run is far more annoying.

[TAC]

The idea of a team that has no business being in the playoffs making a deep playoff run is far more annoying.

For sure.

[gmillerdrake]

The idea of a team that has no business being in the playoffs making a deep playoff run is far more annoying.

For sure.

Yeah....I get that.

[SchecterShredder]

Problem is, it may be used to reseed the Top 4 teams in each conference. That could mean the Blues (and Bruins) could lose their Top Seed.

I agree that this scenario would suck for fans of these teams (Oilers would be in the play-in tournament anyway so it's not an issue for my team). However, unless those games have some kind of meaning they won't serve as reasonable prep for actual playoff hockey. A tournament with some value would at least mimic regular season intensity, i would think. It's about making the best of a shitty, unprecedented situation.

[gmillerdrake]

Problem is, it may be used to reseed the Top 4 teams in each conference. That could mean the Blues (and Bruins) could lose their Top Seed.

I agree that this scenario would suck for fans of these teams (Oilers would be in the play-in tournament anyway so it's not an issue for my team). However, unless those games have some kind of meaning they won't serve as reasonable prep for actual playoff hockey. A tournament with some value would at least mimic regular season intensity, i would think. It's about making the best of a shitty, unprecedented situation.

Yep. And, I'm still not convinced it's gonna happen. They're trying hard, I'll give them that but I still can't believe this will realistically happen.

[TAC]

While I have recited what I've heard, I am not keeping up to date with any of the major sports' plans. I'm trying to more or less ignore any news, because it does seem quite far away.

[SchecterShredder]

The hub city concept could work. We have almost no covid cases in metro Edmonton, which is shocking for a area with a population of 1.5 million. All our cases are in the Calgary area. We have a brand new arena with attached practice facility and rink, with pedway access to a 4 star JW Marriott hotel. They could isolate the crap out of people with the set up here. I'm feeling 65/35% in terms of yes playoffs/no playoffs

[SchecterShredder]

https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/positive-tests-of-a-few-players-will-not-lead-to-full-shutdown-of-nhls-return-to-play-process/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1590434232

Sounds like practices in early June, in cohorts of 6 players max that would only practice amongst themselves. Interesting

[jingle.boy]

The only problem with having a Canadian city as a hub, is you'd have to have all 12 teams from one conference in Canada, then there'd be a 2 week gap before the finals could start.  Don't get me wrong, I'd love it, but I don't see the (American) advertisers being too keen on that.

[TAC]

Right. I didn't think Trudeau was going to go for it.

[SchecterShredder]

Right. I didn't think Trudeau was going to go for it.

His stance is that they need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival since they're international travellers.

Good point, chad, that the league likely doesn't want to have to cross the border at all.

[TAC]

David Pastrnak co winner of the Rocket Richard Award.

He just turned 24 yesterday.

[Anguyen92]

The draft lottery percentages as it is.



In hindsight, Kings should have pushed harder to lose to Senators in the last game before the stoppage.  Having a six-game winning streak was already overachieving for that team.  On the other hand, it would have meant that the Senators would have had a 23% chance at securing #1 instead of 25% that they have now.  Nice going, Sharks.  How's that Erik Karlsson signing at $11.5M a year paying dividends for you so far?

[pg1067]

The draft lottery percentages as it is.



In hindsight, Kings should have pushed harder to lose to Senators in the last game before the stoppage.  Having a six-game winning streak was already overachieving for that team.  On the other hand, it would have meant that the Senators would have had a 23% chance at securing #1 instead of 25% that they have now.  Nice going, Sharks.  How's that Erik Karlsson signing at $11.5M a year paying dividends for you so far?

Translation:  the Kings have a 100% chance of not getting the #1 pick.

And I very much disagree that the Kings (or any other team) should try to lose.  It's one thing, organizationally, to cut loose/trade veterans who might help win a few more games now, in favor of getting young guys some experience.  But once you're on the ice, you play to win.

[TAC]

So this week, on NESN it's Cam Neely week. Great! Old games!

Last night was a game against the LA Kings in 1989. I totally forgot Larry Robinson played for the Kings, as well as Barry Beck and John Tonelli.

Tonight, it was Game 2 of the 1990 Adams Division Finals. As much as I despised the Canadiens, this team had a number of my favorite players from this era: Brian Skrudland, Guy Carbonneau, Mike Keane, Mike McPhee.

[pg1067]

So this week, on NESN it's Cam Neely week. Great! Old games!

Last night was a game against the LA Kings in 1989. I totally forgot Larry Robinson played for the Kings, as well as Barry Beck and John Tonelli.

Tonight, it was Game 2 of the 1990 Adams Division Finals. As much as I despised the Canadiens, this team had a number of my favorite players from this era: Brian Skrudland, Guy Carbonneau, Mike Keane, Mike McPhee.

When Bruce McNall owned the Kings, it seemed to be his goal to sign every former superstar on his last legs (caveat: I've never heard of Barry Beck, so I don't know if that description is apt for him).  He seemed to have little realization that, without quality young players to learn from guys like that, all he was doing was putting a team of past-their-prime players on the ice.

[TAC]

Barry Beck started out with the Rockies. He was a beast. He also played for the Rangers. May have even become their captain. He was most definitely on his last legs in LA.

[pg1067]

Barry Beck started out with the Rockies. He was a beast. He also played for the Rangers. May have even become their captain. He was most definitely on his last legs in LA.

I knew Robinson ended his career with the Kings.  Beck did as well (after one mediocre year in which he played 52 games).  Tonelli played one season with the Hawks and Nords after three with the Kings.  Robinson was still with the Kings when I started following them.  Beck and Tonelli were gone, but I heard a bunch about Tonelli.

[TAC]

I was a huge Islander fan when I was a kid, so I loved John Tonelli. Just so happens, the game they showed between the B's-Kings, Tonelli scored two goals!

[TAC]

Not to bring this here, but I would have Patrice Bergeron's baby.

https://weei.radio.com/blogs/scott-mclaughlin/patrice-bergeron-releases-statement-donates-to-naacp

[DragonAttack]

Hockey is still the best sport, IMO, but it seems like there a lot less fights and scuffles nowadays, probably because of the instigator penalty that was instituted that makes player less likely now to, well, instigate a fight, and the rivalries don't seem quite as fierce now as a result.  Maybe I just long for another rivalry like the Wings/Avs one of the later 90's/early 00's; those teams hated each other with a passion, and it was awesome.

I was wearing a Red Wing tee shirt while doing yard work, and a new neighbor was walking by and commented on it.  I'm originally from Michigan, he's originally from Colorado.  Much respect now for those long ago days, but we were both honest:  we HATED the other team, though the Wings didn't have anyone as dirty as Claude Lemieux.  I hate fighting in hockey, have always liked how the college game deals with it, but I have to admit, I had a couple of friends over, and the beat down of the Avs in '97.     

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche%E2%80%93Detroit_Red_Wings_brawl

Moving on:  the NHL is close to agreeing to their playoff format.  And daily C19 tests.  This isn't the good ol' 'pee in a cup' test.  I'm no doctor, but I'm wondering what damage this 'brain sucking' swabbing will do to all the individuals involved. 

EDIT:  Found out from a friend yesterday that he is tested weekly.  Had the initial nose swab, and now it is a saliva swab.  Obviously, much less painful.  I didn't know this method was available.

[KevShmev]

Yesterday was the anniversary of the Blues Cup win and Fox Sports Midwest replayed Game 7 last night with some commentary by various Blues at key points of the game.  Very cool.  It still doesn't seem real that they actually won the Stanley Cup.

[Anguyen92]

Welp. This could highly derail the postseason.  Looks like Auston Matthews has Covid.  Apparently, people from the Lightning organization has Covid as well.  I would rather not see other people in the league get caught with it as well, scrap this season, and move on with the plans for the next season (whenever it may be), but Bettman probably has a way to reason with people to move forward with this postseason plans despite these setbacks. 

https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/06/19/report-auston-matthews-tests-positive-for-covid-19-toronto-maple-leafs-nhl/

[KevShmev]

I don't see how they can possibly attempt to have the postseason.  Feels like it's time to bite the bullet, declare the season over, give the Cup to the Blues again, and hope you can find a way to have a 2020-2021 season.

[jingle.boy]

I don’t see how any person-to-person sports organization could (re)start. All seem to have cases in the league... whether players or support staff.

[King Postwhore]

I don't see how they can possibly attempt to have the postseason.  Feels like it's time to bite the bullet, declare the season over, give the Cup to the Blues again, and hope you can find a way to have a 2020-2021 season.

Nope.  Lol

[KevShmev]

I don't see how they can possibly attempt to have the postseason.  Feels like it's time to bite the bullet, declare the season over, give the Cup to the Blues again, and hope you can find a way to have a 2020-2021 season.

Nope.  Lol

You don't want a 2020-2021 season?? WHY DO YOU HATE HOCKEY??

[King Postwhore]

No, I'm not handing it over to you sarcastically or not. The B's were on a roll. I feel cheated. Well, we all do.

[KevShmev]

Pretty much, yeah.

I think anyone expecting to see any team sports before next year is kidding themselves.  Hockey, football, etc.  Ain't gonna happen.

[King Postwhore]

Not how we all act. Nope.

[TheCountOfNYC]

As disappointing as it would be, I don’t think the Stanley Cup should be awarded without a playoff, and I’m not sure if I want to see the playoffs either. The other league awards can still be awarded (I think the President’s Trophy would be a good consolation prize for the Bruins in these unprecedented times), but to resume actual play while still in the middle of a pandemic honestly isn’t the right thing to do.

[jingle.boy]

If there are no playoffs, there will be no Stanley Cup Champion recognized, and the distinguished gentlemen from St.Louis know that.

[KevShmev]

[Anguyen92]

If there are no playoffs, there will be no Stanley Cup Champion recognized, and the distinguished gentlemen from St.Louis know that.

Yep, but at least, they still claim that the Blues have won the previous Stanley Cup held, so they have that going for them.

[TAC]

Is Marian Hossa really a HOFer?