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

[SchecterShredder]

Edmonton's start is definitely a surprise. Having two 100-point scorers on the team means they should be in the mix in any game, but the reason for their success out of the gate is consistent goaltending. Talbot was a dumpster fire for all but 1 season in Edmonton, so it's a nice change of pace to have goalies that can make a save. I still think that until they can show this level of consistency for 20 or more games I'll stick with my 11-14th in the western conference prediction for them.

Jersey is the biggest surprise to me. They have a lot of really good pieces there, so no wins to start the season is a bit of a head scratcher.

[TAC]

The Oilers' third uni's are hurting my eyes.

[SchecterShredder]

The Oilers' third uni's are hurting my eyes.

I was just coming on here to piss all over the 3rd jerseys lol

[dparrott]

I'll tell you who needs a rage room: Sharks fans during the playoffs! 

[SystematicThought]

Jason Zucker with the Minnesota Wild really caused a stir this week.

The Wild are off to a horrendous start this season, which is really no surprise. After their loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday (4-0) which put the wild at 1-6, the worst goal differential in the league and the worst goals for/goals against in the league. They had a 10-minute players only meeting after the game and then talked to the media. Zucker came out of that meeting with this to say:

I think more than (a meeting’s) going to have to jumpstart us, to be honest with you,” Zucker said. “It’s going to be each individual guy from Bruce on down. Bruce has got to be better. We’ve got to be better. Everybody’s got to be better. That’s it.

He actually called out Bruce Boudreau when the entire team isn't performing up to standards/their contracts, including Jason Zucker. Bruce is doing everything he can with the players he was given, they have the oldest team in the league and they can't keep up with teams top lines and some bottom lines. I don't know what Bruce can do differently. They're doing to Bruce what they did to their last three coaches, where they just stop playing for them. Parise and Suter still apparently don't fly with the team, they fly separately. The owner is in denial and still think they are contenders, they keep using St Louis as an example of "Anything Can Happen." Today, the Wild snapped their 232 game sellout on home ice...people are getting tired.

There was a decent amount of backlash for Jason's comments. Most said that although he called out the team as well, it was in poor taste to only name Bruce by name. It was sad though that the local sports radio station, KFAN, kissed Jason's ass and said people were blowing it out of proportion and that people were just looking for a headline. The thing is though, Zucker's wife has a show on KFAN and is friends with the whole broadcast team. Even the Athletic Wild reporter had Carly Zucker on his podcast the day after and said people were wrong for calling out Jason.

Jason apologized for it, but then said the media needs to be better and start reporting more positive stories on the team, instead of focusing on the negative.

If they want positive, they should start winning...

https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2019/10/18/things-are-so-bad-for-wild-even-bruce-boudreaus-getting-called-out/

[TAC]

Sounds like Jason Zucker brought it on himself.

[KevShmev]

Awesome win tonight over the Avs, giving them their first regulation loss. 

[gmillerdrake]

Awesome win tonight over the Avs, giving them their first regulation loss. 

I got to go with my kiddos. A buddy of mine called and said his company suite seats were open and he couldn't go. It was my youngest's first Blue's game....and we got to meet Bob Plager 

[TAC]

Those are great shots!

[jingle.boy]

That's fantastic!  Great hockey year for the Miller clan.

[gmillerdrake]

Those are great shots!

 

That's fantastic!  Great hockey year for the Miller clan.

Yes it has!!

[KevShmev]

Good stuff, Gary! 

[gmillerdrake]

Plager told a couple cool little stories. One was, in regards to the 'drop pass' that has been prevalent in today's NHL. He said that they used to call that the 'KC drop pass' because if you did that in a game you'd be in Kansas City the next day on the team in the minors 

He talked about how he in particular passed up a lot of heavy hits due to how they'd always think about who their opponents were playing in the following games. If they were chasing a team in the standings and they knew the team they were playing was playing them in the next few days they wouldn't hit that teams best players all too hard or often....hoping they'd beat the team they were chasing. (this was in context of a playoff push....not all season)

He also talked about the scoreboard being the coach in the third period. If you're up by (2) with five to play....it's the gain the red line and dump and puck control. But if you're down by (2) with seven to play it's everyone is pushing and taking chances.

It was cool to get to talk and chat it up with him. I texted my dad the picture and knew he'd be jealous being my pops has been a fan since the Blues inception.

[KevShmev]

Good stuff.

[SchecterShredder]

Still very, very early in the season, however, I may need to admit that this year's Oilers are the real deal. The McDavid/Draisaitl combo looks unbelievable. I'll reassess my 12th place prediction at the 20 game mark. Still need to see more scoring from the bottom 6 though if they plan to still be competitive post Christmas.

[KevShmev]

Can the Blues make it 4 in a row in Boston tonight?? 

[King Postwhore]

David Krejčí out tonight. 

[gmillerdrake]

So is Tarasenko. Getting re-evaluated on Monday. Left the Last game a few minutes in. Possible shoulder injury. Same one he’s had two surgeries on. 

[King Postwhore]

Damn, not good for him.

[gmillerdrake]

Damn, not good for him.

Yeah. It’s never good when they say ‘he will be re-evaluated’.

[TAC]

Watching the Heritage Classic and it looks cold AF in Winnipeg.

[KevShmev]

The Bruins really wanted that game tonight.  Blech.

[TAC]

The Bruins really wanted that game tonight.  Blech.

I didn't watch it. I was telling Gary earlier that the Bruins are off to a great start this year. The year after they lost to Chicago, they went out and won the President's Cup, only to get unceremoniously bounced in the first round by the Capitals.

[KevShmev]

So much can happen over the course of an 82-game season.  I fully expect Buffalo to miss the playoffs again despite this hot start. Didn't they do that last year?

The Oilers are fun to watch, so I hope their good start lasts.

[jingle.boy]

The Bruins really wanted that game tonight.  Blech.

There's a circus comment in here somewhere.      

Now last night, the Leafs DID get clowned by the Habs.  Second time they give up 3 in the 3rd to that team.  This is exactly the October/November start I felt was coming.  I just hope they find their game sometime by mid-December.

[King Postwhore]

I just saw the standings.  I had no clue to Buffalo's hot start.

[jingle.boy]

I just saw the standings.  I had no clue to Buffalo's hot start.

I've been to two of their games.  They look solid.  Their hot start last year, and 10-game winning streak (where iirc, 7 of them were OT/SO wins) was an fluke / anomaly.  They look more legit this year.  Hutton/Ulmark are seemingly a very good 1-2 combination between the pipes.

[King Postwhore]

I like that the B's are right up there eith only 10 games played so far.

[Nick]

Went to the game last night, our first of the season, and got to see a great comeback against Columbus.

[gmillerdrake]

Tarasenko to have surgery on the same left shoulder he’s had two surgeries on already. Will be re-evaluated in 5 months. 

[jingle.boy]

Tarasenko to have surgery on the same left shoulder he’s had two surgeries on already. Will be re-evaluated in 5 months. 

jingle.daughter is pissed cuz she took him in the pool we're in.

[KevShmev]

Awful news, regarding Tarasenko.  The team is rock solid everywhere, but the West is deep, so it'll be interesting to see how they without him.

[gmillerdrake]

Awful news, regarding Tarasenko.  The team is rock solid everywhere, but the West is deep, so it'll be interesting to see how they without him.

Replacing 35-40 goals and 35-40 Assists isn't going to be easy.....or even doable. Bottom line is what skilled players we have will have to step up...period.....hope to make the playoffs and around that time we'd get him back. It's a chance for some youngsters to prove themselves. Could be a blessing in disguise.

[SchecterShredder]

Sums up the Oilers rather nicely...

[jingle.boy]

Right you are Kev... the rest of the league had no chance with Tarasenko in the lineup.  Precisely the place you want to be in the standings to have the rest of the league by the balls - 16th overall   Anyhoo...

Leafs PP was dreadful last night - 1-8, including a 1+ minute 5-3.  Taking 2 penalties in OT didn't help their chances.  5-5, they played a great game.  Nothing short of a miracle that they held in there against the Caps.  Can't believe they are tied with the Kings for the worst GA in the entire league    I mean, everyone knows defense is not their forte, but man.  Good thing they're 2nd overall in GF!  Still got some significant growing pains to work thru - and it ain't gonna get any easier.  Hyman coming of IR in a couple of weeks will help from a personnel standpoint, but it's gonna further cripple them from a cap/roster standpoint.