PerreaultForever

Ya, not really. I don't see how adding him at this point fits the plan or makes us significantly better. KA clearly isn't adding a D man (or two) and that's all that really matters right now.

I hear ya, but do you really see that happening with this team? We STILL haven't paid back Kucherov, and we had a rationale to do it tonight too.

Risto a healthy scratch for Philly tonight. Got to love that.

Oh I forgot to add, I thought Power looked pretty good on the point in Dahlin's absence. Some solid passing and good decisions. When he adds a little confidence in his shot to that he should be very good back there and give us another option.

Well it wasn't a blow out. It was much better than I expected. They are however, a better team than we are. Comrie held us in. It was encouraging that we still had speed in the third period of a back to back. Young legs and all that I guess. Good sign. As usual, however, Tampa runs over one of our goalies and we do very little about it. Some things never change. I'd say Comrie showed quite a lot. I'm definitely thinking now that he might be a better signing than I thought.

Do you have a stat for faceoffs won/lost in the offensive zone on the PP and in the defensive zone on the PK? Those are the ones that really matter and make a difference. It's never just about winning face offs, it's about winning key and important face offs. Tampa has had our number for years now. They usually try to go after Dahlin. It will be interesting to me to see if that happens and/or how we respond. Stamkos will have a big night if we don't have better coverage in the D zone tonight. I hate to be pessimistic but I think we might get blown out in this one.

Well that's true, but I also remember stuff like that happening back in my high school and mostly there were no consequences for anybody. Ron Roscoe, who was briefly a Sabre for a while, was a bully in my high school. His little brother was a complete menace since he would get Ron to beat up anybody who challenged his bullying. There were many others. But aside from that, for me, the question comes down to age. In society, we have rules and laws that seal the records for juvenile criminals, many who have done really bad things, but the idea is they can be rehabilitated and given a new chance as an adult. Their juvenile records aren't used against them. This applies to many many people. So he's in grade 8 making him what 13, 14? Do you hold the acts of a 14 year old against him for the rest of his life? I would say no. You watch him carefully on a short leash, but you give him a chance to redeem himself. As I said however, I'd rather they hadn't signed him.

Was what it was, I just posted it here because I know a number of people here hate Zadorov. This one's much better: https://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/n265777

I like the Bruins as most of you know, and I kind of wish they hadn't signed this guy BUT I'm not sure I really want to live in a world where something you did in grade 8 (even a bad thing like this) ruins the rest of your life. I'm pretty sure there's a LOT of current players, and likely some star players, who did their share of bullying along the way too. Jocks are often like that, especially when young. I'm also pretty sure, given the Hockey Canada thing, we've got a few rapists playing in this league right now, so I say the guy deserves a chance to make up for what he did, but the leash should be short and he should be let go at the first sign that he's not a changed and better person. He needs to do a LOT of community service and charity work to help make up for his past.

have we really not had a single fight? I guess not. A few almosts but not dropping them. Tage had one in preseason didn't he? I picked Cozens. Might be Tage. Might be Fitz. I know some of the figure skating fans on here will say I'm stuck in the 70s or 80s or whenever but we'd be a better team if this question had already been answered.

Well, first and foremost I was entertained. Couldn't say that very often last year so I take that as progress. We are clearly not near their level though - yet. We can skate with them, maybe our goaltending is as good or close but they do all the little things well and we really don't. idk the final stat, but what did they say about Thompson on face offs? 20 something percent? I know some people think they don't matter, but a stat like this does. Staal was tasked with shutting down Thompson and he did it perfectly. Thompson has to learn in coverage like that he simply HAS to use his body more but that's not him so I guess you hope somebody else can step up and they really didn't. They cut off the lanes, clogged the spaces and kept us to less dangerous shots and chances. Our D zone coverage on the other hand was poor. We still chase the puck too much and leave too many guys wide open for cross passes and one timers. We need to learn better defense. Still, luck and we might have stolen one in the third. It wasn't a blow out. I'm not overly discouraged. be nice if we threw a few more checks now and again. We kind of let them dictate the flow as we do too often. Let's see how they bounce back or if they do tomorrow.

No. That's not about the 70s. The penalty doesn't matter. The fact is Lindgren took a run at him and he responded by taking a run back at Lindgren. Knocked him out of the game actually. It's not about the Bruins or the 70s, it's about standing up for yourself and not being pushed around. That still holds in 2022. Have you noticed Mitts shove and whack guys back lately? Do you hate that too? Is that 1970s? I love to see that from him. A player last year I thought might be too soft for the NHL but this year he seems to be ready to play. or maybe it's just the Rob Ray style brush cut who knows? 🙂

VO is a guy I have a hard time deciding on what his value really is. Ultimately I think I come down on the one dimensional side. 4 years at that number seems too much to me as we do have talent coming and money will be needed as you said. I would consider 3 years at that value but otherwise I'd want a lower number. Ultimately, with the potential speed and scoring talent we have coming I think if anything we will want some money lying around to add depth and grit to the roster if we want to be a playoff team. Plug the holes for whoever is missing. This option however is something KA has to judge from the reactions he starts to receive. Will we still be a destination players don't want to come to and if we are, better to stick with those we already have.

Or you could have a star player who takes care of himself and earns respect for that. Just saying.

He is most definitely soft, and there's no way they win the cup this year without a LOT of help from the refs (and more) BUT at least a few of the Leafs stepped in when their "star" got involved in something. That is better (for the team) than when Eichel got roughed up and nobody on the Sabres did anything. Fortunately, the current group of Sabres seems different.

Only in terms of the goaltending maybe. Giroux is scoring and some of their additions seem solid, as do some of their kids, but ya, they need to score like 6 or 7 some nights to win. I was just looking at the standings for the first time in a bit and they are crazy full of surprises. Most of all St. Louis tied for dead last with Columbus. That keeps up Ryan's going to lose his love again.

They're healthy. They're well coached, but eventually players start to hate Cassidy. If Jack has a slump and Cassidy rips him for it (as he is prone to do) then watch it all fall apart. If not, I look forward to beating them in the Stanley Cup final.

One would think this will be a very very very fast skating game. Win or lose if we can play with these guys start to finish it'll be another sign that we are for real now.

Sens coming out on the wrong end of a lot of 1 goal games. I'm thinking their goaltending injuries have really cost them and might just ruin their whole plan for this year.

Rope a dope with these guys and find yourself way too far down. Maybe they'll be a little tired, but they skate so much better than Pittsburgh so I doubt it. It's speed against speed and it might come down to goaltending. On an unrelated note, something's wrong with Minnesota. I watched them play the Kraken tonight and they were dreadful. A shadow of what they were last year. They look like a team that has quit on their coach but idk, whatever it is, they are bad right now. If they decide to tear things down I'd offer them a prospect to bring back Marcus.

No I heard he's interested in Ottawa but he'd also be interested in the Kraken if it was a possibility. I don't think it is.

"legit" is kind of a funny word and I'm not sure it applies. Clearly, the team can skate. Clearly they can generate offense and score goals. Clearly they are more of a team than they used to be and have many up and coming players who in all likelihood will get even better. But the question is really are they as good as the elite other teams in the league? Not sure. When we beat them then they will be "legit" for sure but that still remains to be seen. I'm still not convinced we can handle real physical play or tough checking. Maybe. Also not sure if the goaltending will hold up for a whole season. It has to, but idk if it will. They are definitely better than last year, but I think it's still fragile.

Ryan Reynolds also reportedly interested in the Kraken. I guess he's enjoyed owning that soccer team and wants the sport he actually enjoys. Damn celebrities clearly have too much cash lying around 🙂

I kind of think maybe the "rotation" is over. Line up we saw tonight is the line up unless somebody gets hurt or starts to struggle mightily. Vinnie will be the one sitting.

Listening to the Canucks whining it seems NJ is playing a similar fast style to us so it'll be interesting to see who is doing it better when we meet up, but perhaps they are also an underestimated team.