NHL (2020-2021) v. Draft, sign, & trade.

[TAC]

Apparently I'm not paying attention, but is Anthony Mantha that good? I mean, he must be for the Caps to give up on Vrana and give up a first round pick.

[TAC]

I'd put this in the Irritating Thread, but I'll post it here...

As much as I hate ESPN, I do like their website for NHL and MLB. The Standings and Stats are easy to view/use. Buy my irritation is that every fucking article on the site is an ESPN+ article. WTF??

[King Postwhore]

Yeah, I'm not paying for that.

[gmillerdrake]

If you’re a sports nut and don’t have THE ATHLETIC you’re missing out. It’s subscription based but the content blows away conventional reporting.

I’ve had it for three years and don’t utilize it nearly as much as I could and still feel like it’s a steal

[KevShmev]

I'm with you guys.  I go to espn.com to look at standings and schedules, but almost never click on articles anymore since it seems like most are ones you have to pay for, and there is no chance they are getting my money.

[Anguyen92]

I should consider giving The Athletic a try.  They are doing a starter deal offer where the first 6 months is $1.00 a month, then $8.00 a month onwards.  They pretty much have, from what I hear, good reporters with a fair view most of the time on all the things (all the teams, all the events, etc.) that's going on in sports.

[jingle.boy]

Between TSN, Sportsnet, and the NHL app, I'm covered.

[TAC]

Yeah, me too. I'm not paying for sports journalism.

We have two excellent sports radio stations in Boston, each with their own website. There's two major sports TV networks, again, each with their own websites.

I also visit https://www.tsn.ca/nhl  everyday.

[SchecterShredder]

Between TSN, Sportsnet, and the NHL app, I'm covered.

This.

Although i won't be at all surprised when they follow suit

[gmillerdrake]

I should consider giving The Athletic a try.  They are doing a starter deal offer where the first 6 months is $1.00 a month, then $8.00 a month onwards.  They pretty much have, from what I hear, good reporters with a fair view most of the time on all the things (all the teams, all the events, etc.) that's going on in sports.

I can’t endorse it enough. The articles and content a far and away superior to what you’ll find elsewhere. And like I said, I only view and use a minuscule percentage of what is available. If you’re in to multiple sports it’s a haven for information.

[pg1067]

As much as I hate ESPN, I do like their website for NHL and MLB. The Standings and Stats are easy to view/use. Buy my irritation is that every fucking article on the site is an ESPN+ article. WTF??

Agree with the first part of this -- plus, they have standings going back 20 years.  They even have attendance data (although I've only ever found it with a Google search).  As far as ESPN+, I have the bundle that gives me Disney+, ESPN+ and I think Hulu.  All of that content is worth the money (I have access to ever 30 for 30 episode, which I'm planning on digging into one of these days), so it also allows me access to the pay articles the two times a year I want to look at them.  If I didn't have the bundle, though, there's no way I'd pay for it (or any other sports journalism).

[TAC]

I have no need for Disney +. My kids long outgrew Disney. And I don’t even know what Hulu is.

[jingle.boy]

I have no need for Disney +. My kids long outgrew Disney. And I don’t even know what Hulu is.

Disney is more than princess cartoon movies.  I'm not surprised at your latter comment, but it is still facepalm-worthy.

[pg1067]

I have no need for Disney +. My kids long outgrew Disney. And I don’t even know what Hulu is.

Disney is more than princess cartoon movies.  I'm not surprised at your latter comment, but it is still facepalm-worthy.

Yeah...Hulu is essentially the same thing as Netflix, but with more of a TV focus.  And the reason I got the bundle is because half of the folks in my house wanted to watch The Mandalorian (episodic show set in the Star Wars universe).

[romdrums]

Apparently I'm not paying attention, but is Anthony Mantha that good? I mean, he must be for the Caps to give up on Vrana and give up a first round pick.

He was a first round pick and the only 50 goal scorer in his draft year.  He’s put up decent numbers with the Wings, and his advanced stats are among the best in the league.  Now that he doesn’t have to be the man for offense and can be part of what looks like is going to be the best top 6 going into the postseason, I expect him to do quite well in Washington.  He was inches away from a 3 point night tonight against the Flyers, and seemed to gel pretty quickly with Backstrom and Oshie.  He was on the ice for three, maybe four of Caps goals tonight.  I’m excited to see what he can do with the Caps.

[KevShmev]

Blues fall just short with a 3rd period comeback vs the Avs.  No points for a loss like that, but the team would have tucked their tails and quit down 4-1 in a game two weeks ago, so it's good to see them showing fight like that.  Still feels like their upside is limited, but it is what it is.

[gmillerdrake]

Blues fall just short with a 3rd period comeback vs the Avs.  No points for a loss like that, but the team would have tucked their tails and quit down 4-1 in a game two weeks ago, so it's good to see them showing fight like that.  Still feels like their upside is limited, but it is what it is.

Yeah. It was good to see them not give up and make it a game. You can’t let a team like Colorado go up 4-1. Their 3 goals in the 2nd period were all due to bad mistakes from the Blues. Oh well.....

[Dittomist]

It really felt like the Blues were going to shock the Avalanche and take the game to overtime because they pretty much dominated the entire third period, and have been exceptional this season when it comes to empty net heroics. It sucks to once again lose to Colorado by a single goal in regulation, but all in all it wasn't a bad night for the Blues because Arizona and Los Angeles both lost their games decisively and San Jose is currently down 0-3 against the worst team in the division.

[pg1067]

After the last couple games, I'm starting to hate Vegas more than I hate the Ducks....  What a waste of a season this has been for the Kings.  No energy, very little effort, no teamwork.  And, of course, my Facebook "Memories" section is full of posts from the 2012 & 2014 Cup runs.

[romdrums]

After the last couple games, I'm starting to hate Vegas more than I hate the Ducks....  What a waste of a season this has been for the Kings.  No energy, very little effort, no teamwork.  And, of course, my Facebook "Memories" section is full of posts from the 2012 & 2014 Cup runs.

I think the future for the Kings is pretty bright though.  They have what could be the best prospect pool in the league, and the idea of Quentin Byfield and Alex Turcotte learning the center position from Anze Kopitar is going to put the Kings in a really good position in a few years time.

[Anguyen92]

^^ Yeah, in a few years time, just not right now in this current present.

They do get a lot of cap space back though.  $9 million gets freed up from buyouts after this season and Brown's contract (at around $5.9M) and the other half of Carter's retained contract is freed up in the season after.  That would be the part where Rob Blake will need to try to make sure more riskier moves with that cap space.  They got Iafallo signed for $4M x 4 years so that's solid support.  These next steps afterwards will be key.

[pg1067]

After the last couple games, I'm starting to hate Vegas more than I hate the Ducks....  What a waste of a season this has been for the Kings.  No energy, very little effort, no teamwork.  And, of course, my Facebook "Memories" section is full of posts from the 2012 & 2014 Cup runs.

I think the future for the Kings is pretty bright though.  They have what could be the best prospect pool in the league, and the idea of Quentin Byfield and Alex Turcotte learning the center position from Anze Kopitar is going to put the Kings in a really good position in a few years time.

I felt that way earlier in the season.  They had energy and a lot of team speed and were competitive -- even when they weren't winning.  The last couple weeks have been tough to watch.  Completely agree about Byfield and Turcotte, though, so we'll see.

My other concern is that the NHL is about to create Vegas 2.0 in Seattle.  Being stuck in a division with two teams that are less than five years old, but which are dominant because of the expansion draft process that created them, is going to suck.

[jingle.boy]

My other concern is that the NHL is about to create Vegas 2.0 in Seattle.  Being stuck in a division with two teams that are less than five years old, but which are dominant because of the expansion draft process that created them, is going to suck.

After the raping that most teams took with the Vegas expansion draft, most GMs got smart about their signings.  At least, Dubas did.  The Leafs have something like 11 UFAs coming up.  Given what they're allowed to protect, there (at the moment) is literally only one contracted player that the Kraken could choose - Justin Holl (5th D-man).  They only have 7 forwards under contract at the end of the season.

I don't see a repeat of what Vegas was able to pull off.  They captured lightning in a bottle from a bunch of different angles.

[romdrums]

Agreed, I don’t see the Kraken gettin’ crackin’ like Vegas did. 

[pg1067]

My other concern is that the NHL is about to create Vegas 2.0 in Seattle.  Being stuck in a division with two teams that are less than five years old, but which are dominant because of the expansion draft process that created them, is going to suck.

After the raping that most teams took with the Vegas expansion draft, most GMs got smart about their signings.  At least, Dubas did.  The Leafs have something like 11 UFAs coming up.  Given what they're allowed to protect, there (at the moment) is literally only one contracted player that the Kraken could choose - Justin Holl (5th D-man).  They only have 7 forwards under contract at the end of the season.

I don't see a repeat of what Vegas was able to pull off.  They captured lightning in a bottle from a bunch of different angles.

I hope you're right.

From what I've read, the Kings are likely to go with the 1 goalie plus 8 skaters plan.  They'll definitely protect Cal Petersen and have to protect Drew Doughty.  They'll also protect Anze Kopitar.  Jonathan Quick and probably Dustin Brown will be available.  The Kings also have a ton of young talent with varying degrees of NHL experience that would probably be exposed (Carl Grundstrom, Martin Frk, Trevor Moore, Blake Lizotte, etc.) along with guys like Andreas Athanasiou and Olli Maatta.  Hopefully, Seattle decides Kurtis MacDermid needs to be an original Krakhead.   

[Anguyen92]

^^ If Seattle picks Kurtis MacDermid, watch him turn into the next Ryan Reaves with them.

[pg1067]

^^ If Seattle picks Kurtis MacDermid, watch him turn into the next Ryan Reaves with them.

Or Quick into the next Fleury.   

[Anguyen92]

Speaking of which, out of the goalies that would be potentially exposed for Seattle to pick, who else would be their best choice?

[jingle.boy]

Speaking of which, out of the goalies that would be potentially exposed for Seattle to pick, who else would be their best choice?

The backup in Florada has been pretty fucking solid this year.  Rangers also have a very good/young tandem.  Holtby will also be exposed - if he isn't traded first.

[pg1067]

Speaking of which, out of the goalies that would be potentially exposed for Seattle to pick, who else would be their best choice?

An SI/THN mock draft from before the season started suggested:  Braden Holtby, Anton Khudobin and Ville Husso.

[TAC]

You know what I hate is that back in the day, they used to call off icing if the linesman thought the D-man was dogging it back. Now the D man can make no attempt to retrieve the puck, and they still call icing.

[TAC]

Wow the Bruins finally beat the Islanders this year.

I really like Mike Reilly, the young d-man they got from the Sens. He was their best d-man tonight.



Taylor Hall scored his first goal tonight. He looked way more comfortable tonight.

[jingle.boy]

You know what I hate is that back in the day, they used to call off icing if the linesman thought the D-man was dogging it back. Now the D man can make no attempt to retrieve the puck, and they still call icing.

Tell me about it.  Watching old games from the 80s is great, and I yearn for the days when Linesmen look for reasons NOT to call icing, vs nowadays it seems like it's the exact opposite.

Leafs are in a funk ... again.  2-46 on their PP over the last I dunno, 18ish games I think (since they had a 7 game winless streak).  Freddie being on LTIR is now catching up (Campbell let in 2 really soft ones last night; Rittich's goal against was  a terrible play on his - and Marner's - part), Matthews hurt again, Nylander on COVID (he's done it now), and won't have their trade acquisitions until after the weekend.  Their games against Vancouver are going to be rescheduled, so they'll at least have a bit of rest to hopefully get their shit together.

[TAC]

Last night's game

Bruins Trade deadline-3
Islabders-0

Mike Reilly-primary assist on Pasta's goal
Taylor Hall-Goal (2nd in two games...has doubled his goal output since the trade)
Curtis Lazar-Goal (EN)

[TheCountOfNYC]

Gotta say, with all of the ups and downs this season, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the Rangers kick the shit out of the Devils all week.