Thorny
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Posts posted by Thorny
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4 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:
That’s part of it. Far from all of it.
And yes, all NHL players have done incredible things and sacrificed greatly to get to where they are. Congratulations to all of them.
As a cohort, they all still shake out along a continuum. This isn’t Lake Wobegon. Not every NHL’er is above average.
I guess I’m glad (?) to have precipitated so many responses. I think there’s a nuanced conversation to be had on the topic of who and what this roster is (and maybe isn’t), and whether GM KA is more an assembler of talent than he is a builder of a (good) team.
It all got bumped from arguably pointless speculation to legitimately worthy discussion because of those comments Adams made (and didn’t make) at the end of season conference - I can’t even remember exactly what they were but it was a distinct “they thought they were already there!” thing which he went along with so…that’s exactly what we are talking about isn’t it? If you “think you’re there”, certainly “drive” is something perhaps on the table as a discussion point
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This series is fun but you can’t pretend it gives you the vibes of a Dallas / Colorado playoff series when dallas’ sweaters looked liked this:
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Only the Canucks are more finished than the Hurricanes
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7 minutes ago, dudacek said:
Why is Matthews nominated for the Selke?
Serious question, not trying to ***** on him.
He seems positionally sound and he’s obviously got the size and skill to match up well. But I’ve never really watched him and said *****, there’s Matthews breaking up another rush, blocking another shot, or taking away another puck.
But I see him 5 or 10 times a year and can’t say I’ve ever focused on him on that side of the puck.
Was there some serious analytics that he dropped this year?
I dunno about fancy schmancy, but he was 2nd overall in takeaways this year
Crosby was 8th
”I’m literally in love with buffalo” Alex Tuch was…4th. Overall!
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19 minutes ago, Thorny said:
Need Carolina to win this so the series is watchable
And now the rest of this series is noooooooot
10 minutes ago, ... said:As I watch the Rangers/Canes series I can't shake the impression that the Canes seem to be playing a less-inspired game than the Rangers. The Canes' body language reminds me somewhat of Toronto's.
I can’t shake the impression the playoffs were better before the in-division format
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55 minutes ago, dudacek said:
I feel the same way about the money thing.
Most of these guys grew up in well off families, and never went wanting in their lives for material things. They’ve never worried about security or lusted over a life of leisure, or saw hockey as a means to an end.
That’s a relic borrowed from other sports, or from hockey books written in the ‘50s.
What matters most about the money for these guys seems to be how it’s another way of keeping score.
You can’t assume the range of behaviours you see in your own workplace are going to carry over because the professional hockey player has been molded in specific place based on a very specific routine, background and set of beliefs.
Of course it’s not one-size-fits-all, and there is a range that exists within the fraternity, but a lazy hockey player is about as likely as a stupid doctor, or a timid marine.
Unlikely to find a timid marine relative to a civilian. Timidness in a marine relative to other marines might still be a consideration
These players are all very good at what they do. Greatness is longevity and the marathon allows even some apparently strong to fall by the wayside
relatively
There are definitely inferior doctors. Whether that comes down to intelligence is anyones guess but I’d imagine it’s a spectrum like anything else
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6 minutes ago, French Collection said:
Is he your Hart candidate? My anti Leafs brain prevents me from seeing him as the best of the best.
I’m in the MacKinnon camp this year with Kucherov being second.
The thing about Matthews is he was nominated for the Selke, too. So he’s better defensively than the other points guys, he scores way more goals than any of them, and he’s as good or better at even strength? I don’t see how he’s not top 3
he doesn’t have to win but 69 goals and Selke level D NOT being nominated seems truly absurd
imo I think he missed a nom by not hitting 70. I think he might have missed because of that arbitrary factor. He’s literally the same guy at 69 but I think that could he a reason
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Need Carolina to win this so the series is watchable
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31 minutes ago, French Collection said:
He is undeniably the best goal scorer in the NHL right now.
There has to be selfishness to his game to score 69 goals with only 38 assists. I’ve said it in other threads that they award 2 assists for every goal so there should rarely be a player with a ratio like his.
Ovechkin, not known for his playmaking, has averaged 1.22 goals for every assist over his career. Matthews scores 1.31 goals for every assist.He is definitely not the typical center, who sets up his linemates.
I believe it is no accident McDavid got 64 goals last year, after Matthews was given the Hart for 60 goals the previous year when McDavid outscored him by almost 20 points. McDavid could probably score 75 if he was more selfish.
Matthews outscored McDavid this year when considering 5 V 5 primary points. So, goals and primary assists 5 V 5.
Matthews had 38 g and 17a 55 points
McDavid had 19 g and 32a for 51 points.
I don’t think it’s a mark of Matthews being selfish, he’s a better player provably at even strength, especially cause his D is Selke level this year apparently
McDavid’s advantage is on the power play and secondary helpers
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4 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:
Can we atleast spell his name correctly
Not at his cap hit
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1 hour ago, dudacek said:
The idea of the chill bro elite athlete is something I’m forever going to struggle with in this day and age.Entitled, self-centred, sure - the environment that spits these guys out can lead to all kinds of character flaws. But lazy self-satisfaction ain’t high on the list.
That’s just not the modern amateur sports culture, where the best are pulled together at a very young age, programmed by well-trained coaches, and cutting-edge sports scientists to seek out every advantage, and constantly measured against and compared to their peers in a dogfight to reach the top.
The days of slackers with elite natural physical gifts able to slide by in sports that get played 6 or 8 months a year by flabby smokers vanished with Ed Van Impe.
As long as it’s not a dogfight to reach a long term contract
Specifically
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40 minutes ago, dudacek said:
I find these things are more so the breathless comprehension issues of the reader than issues with writer, though. At least if you are reading credible sources and you have a good grasp of how the draft actually works.
When someone says “Matt Savoie is small, fast, and competitive. He’s got great hands and is always moving and attacking and prowling for openings like a shark. He reminds me a little of Danny Briere.” I certainly don’t go “whoohoo, we’re going to add a Danny Briere to the lineup next year.” And I don’t think many around here do.
It just tells me that’s the type of game he plays at his current level of competition.
There’s WAY too many people who talk hockey to generalize here though. It depends on the analyst
Yes even after focusing on just the “credible” ones
Also the draft comparables on tsn’s draft show for example are always the hall of fame guys and or superstars. Surely there are other players below that level that compare stylistically. They aren’t stupid, they know what they are doing. It’s just selling the product. I understand why they do it.
I anecdotally do feel like a lot of people take the comps pretty literally for expectation. Skinner was just referenced in this way. As sort of a reasonably achievable level for an average first round prospect. Last year Thompson was Eric Lindros in a conversation I had on here
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1 hour ago, SDS said:
😤 I had the original reference up thread.
And I’d do it again
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33 minutes ago, Brawndo said:
Your theory is they are chill bros.
These are world class athletes who have spent a large majority of lives training and honing their skill sets.
Cozens in particular left home by age 12 to seek out a higher level of competition
These guys are highly competitive both on and off the ice.
I personally want them to be good friends and hang out off the ice, building chemistry is best for the team in the long run
This is not going fade away once they sign their first big contract
Context does matter.
That picture was taken last year during the season each completed their career highs.
Was it their fault that they ran the back the same lineup?
Was it their fault that the team ran the same power play game after game when it was painfully obvious it wasn’t working.
Was it their fault that the HC refused any attempt to line match all season, particularly at home when he had the last change?
Tage’s drop in production seemed to correlate with His Wrist Injury and as it improved he had 21 points in his last 18 games.
Does anyone here think that Cozens was satisfied with the season he had? He is more upset with it than anyone on this board.
The prevailing theme from the players at their end of season exit interviews was they wanted a coach that would push them harder and demand accountability.
That does not sound like something chill bros would want.
Might be something they’d say, though
11 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:Offseason pics should be limited to underground fight clubs or street fights😛
You forgot rule number 1
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2 minutes ago, inkman said:
One of those players interests me. They all came with question marks at the time of the trades. The Sabres would be getting a complimentary piece at best. Not exactly the “win now” mantra that every single chud I see insisting occurs or “Adams needs to be fired” or some other nonsense.
Thankfully a draft pick comes with as many or more question marks. 11 is a very good asset when combined in a package. There’ll be some intriguing options out there
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34 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:
Comps are for playing style not, this guy will be this guy in 5 years.
That’s a good theory, in practice that’s not how it’s being interpreted
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5 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:
Well I didn't say that.
If you draft a guy like Eiserman to replace Skinner in this scenario, that is mistake. You have 2-3 years of Eiserman no where near the NHL and then another 2-3 years of Esierman adapting to the NHL. Maybe in 5 years you might have Eiserman able to replace Skinner.
Skinner and Eiserman aren't connected IMO. The player on track to replace Skinner is either Benson or Kulich.
Didn’t say you did.
There is an eternal mystery box aspect to prospects that leads to overstated comparisons (not saying you) that is undeniable, though, just speaking to that. The actual nhl production thus often undervalued. This is something that no doubt exists, it’s ingrained in the entertainment aspect of the whole production
watch sportsnet on draft day and you’ll see: every player has an nhl comp or either nik lidstrom or jaromir Jagr
if you polled 100 random fans whether they’d be disappointed if pick 11 had the career of skinner I’d bet over half would say yes
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10 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:
Bravo! 👏
Now 'splain us about his contract.
Players that are better get paid more. Hope that helps.
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His contract will be 15% of the cap next season. Pastrnak’s is 14%
wooooooOOOoooooOooo
my online GM simulator broke! It does not compute!
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Skinner is top 10 in even strength goals league wide, over the course of the last *10 years.* He has nearly 400 goals.
Very few nhl players have no flaws. To think we can draft some rando at 11, throw them in Rochester for 3 years and get ourselves an upgraded version of Skinner just blows my mind. Maybe an upgrade on who Skinner is in 3 years, but if that’s the argument that’s not really saying much of anything
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4 minutes ago, SabreFinn said:
So after 3 years in Rochester he could be a upgraded version on Skinner?
Skinner probably represents closer to a ceiling
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2 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:
Or his contract and lack of playoff intensity.
Sabres have no room for the best scorer in a generation and maybe ever at even strength and a guy who’s pretty good but not yet exceptional in the playoffs
Being pretty good in the playoffs? That’s beneath us
we’re more of a “first exit pass rate per 60 relative to expected goals at 5 V 5 for all players under 22” type treasure hunters. Find the one obscure stat that fits the narrative and chalk the rest up to vague intangibles
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2 hours ago, CallawaySabres said:
Utah Yeti seems like a no-brainer. The logo has the potential to be pretty sick too.
The Utah YetTAY
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No room for the best goal scorer of a generation
2024 NHL Playoffs - ROUND TWO
in The Aud Club
Posted
He’s been excellent all playoffs
Rangers Stars would be a powerhouse matchup