PerreaultForever

Cozens playing well today, but it's France so maybe doesn't mean much. Likely playing Sweden in the quarters, that'll be tough.

I know some people will say that, and I am moving him up a little but my thinking is with the 3 first round picks, assuming we take forwards with the first two, I'm securing need at that 3rd pick. I personally think he will go late first or very early second and thus we'd miss out on him.

Ya, poor old Joe Thornton, that was probably his last shot. No cup for him. Claude Giroux probably wishing he'd considered other deadline destinations as well. Florida imo played that series like they played the regular season and Tampa elevated to that playoff level that you need. Florida just lacked that spark and extra effort to go above and beyond. and of course they had Reinhart. It's called having fun. Try it sometime.

Absolutely. Teams rise or fall based on these not obvious selections. Speaking of Samuelsson, while some people will consider this pick too soon, I'd strongly consider Noah Warren with that Florida pick. Big strong RHD. Not offensively skilled, but we already have that so he'd be the compliment and the shut down in 2-3 years. (and since we aren't going to get Shane Wright, might as well get a guy who can take him out of the play :)) https://thehockeywriters.com/noah-warren-2022-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/

Definitely more relevant on the PP but holds in all situations. It will be interesting next year to see how teams try to defend Thompson now that they should realize that he's a true scoring threat.

and that is looking like a very good draft class too.

Canada was so bad against Denmark. Barzal was playing lazy don't care hockey. Not many players looked very good at all. Maybe there was a good party the night before or something but effort like that won't get them far. Cozens included.

Well this went well didn't it? Assuming they don't blow this draft we will fill that prospect cupboard up nicely.

It does matter who it is though in the sense that you are going to try to eliminate the more dangerous player and that might allow shots from the lesser threat. For example if you're defending the Washington PP you want to eliminate Ovi more than another player. Boston you focus on Pasternak. Not every shot and shooter can be treated equally.

Honestly I have no big deal with it. My point is the Kadri play was dirtier and worse than the Lucic play. The commentary surrounding the plays is reversed however as is the punishment because of who they are and who they play for. Before Hamilton says it: Reinhart only 1 point in 4 games against Tampa.

Kane playing well there with McDavid is highly annoying, cause it sort of validates the Murray plan and the only thing that made it fail was losing the lottery. I don't even want a shred of that idea to exist so I hate Edmonton. Funny how the Lucic collision with Smith gets a major when he clearly pulled up and Smith is fine while Kadri gets to knock Binnington out of the playoffs. Seems to me Kadri knocks somebody out of the playoffs every year, and yet this year it's okay. The Lucic play was nothing like the Miller one. Sure, the guy's a big dumb goon, but Kadri is without a doubt the dirtiest player in the league and he makes plays deliberately to injure. And don't give me the argument about him being pushed in by the defenseman, he lunged forward on purpose. It's what he does.

Kind of. I think it was more like I trust my eye test but if the analytics disagree I will take a closer look. I think the most interesting point is how you can be fooled by blanket analytics. There are nuances that matter and the eyes can give you that. That part about who took the shot mattering etc.

I found this an interesting read on analytics from Bruce Boudreau so I thought I'd share it. Pretty much agree with his view and the rather funny (and somewhat meaningless) summary statement: “Sometimes too much analytics is not good for you,” Boudreau said to close out his answer. “But the proper analytics are really good.” https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canucks-coach-boudreau-analytics-thoughts

So Vegas is apparently very interested. I would love to see that. Eichel and Trotz how would that unfold? Diva gonna hate that and he will either finally get it and be transformed into the great player he should be OR more likely he will be shipped out of town. Makes for an interesting scenario either way.

Would it be fair to say that he COULD be a Tanner Jeannot (or similar) for us in a few years?

hey, what's the story on this Rousek guy? I'm hearing he's been a big surprise performer. Does he have future NHL potential?

They kept sending pairs of guys off every time it was getting a little heated. I enjoy a little mayhem in the playoffs. Let them play. Its not a 1980s thing, not talking about fighting, but I prefer a game with bodies flying and players hitting each other and a little chaos instead of whistles and power plays. It's just more fun to me.

I totally agree, and I've said that before. We SHOULD be. We used to be. Used to be a ton of Sabres living in and around St. Catherines so they could stay in southern Ontario, be close to the rink but still be in Canada. Hopefully Owen Power will love the proximity to Mississauga and it'll grow again. It should. We just have to start winning.

The record looks fine. Can't see a scratch on it. So it's the player that's broken. Do I focus on the same things frequently? Probably. I enjoy the physicality in hockey. But I am no more repetitive than those wetting themselves over Connor McDavid goals. Saying how good he is is pretty repetitive too. We all like what we like. Now what happened in 1988? Didn't get that reference at all. It was. You go for the hit and make it, it's a great play. You miss the hit and you look like a fool. He missed it.

It's not the GMs, those examples are/were all good teams that players wanted to be part of. That's easy for a GM to work with. Tampa has the bonus advantage of the tax laws too. We aren't a desirable spot yet. Maybe one day soon we will be again.

All I will say about that Calgary Edmonton game is it looked like it was going to be a good heated affair and then the refs decided to be the main story. Every year there's a few like that where the refs just ruin it. Hope it was just a one off.

You need it to throw Tampa off their game (or at least make it harder for them). Tampa is playing experienced playoff style hockey and Florida is like "hey, that's mean, you're supposed to let me skate right through there." I'm being silly, but I think it makes the point. One team is playing playoff hockey, the other one is just being the same as they were in the regular season, and that doesn't work. See my comment above on Florida. Basically same scenario.

I thought the Florida series was going to be a war. they've had some serious dust ups in the past but Florida not playing physical at all. Afraid of taking penalties or just uninspired idk. Their PP has gone limp too. Samson not rising to the occasion.

or St Louis? 🙂

"traditionalist" is an interesting word. I'm taking it as a compliment because the game was good when I started watching it, that's why I started watching it. Changing from good isn't always a good thing. Otherwise, I'm not really that. The word I will repeat is "intensity". That's the key to a good game. Just that. The rest follows with that.