PerreaultForever

He will since he's still playing. Tied with Coyle at the moment with 59. Which is a pretty high total as they are only half way through. Gudas had the most hits last year for the full playoffs with 91. Much more hitting in the East this year than the West overall. Vancouver has the most hits by a Western team though by a fair bit. https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask/nhl-hits-leaders-2024-playoffs

I just bought Fontaines DC tickets the other day for September. Also Johnny Marr and James .

That was my view before this season started. We missed the playoffs by one point and rather than make a concerted effort to take a leap forward and make them his attitude seemed to be "oh 1 point that's nothing, we are fine. All I need is Conor Clifton"

Canucks looked like garbage tonight. Don't see either team beating Dallas. The level of hockey played in the other 3 series is/was much better.

"sick" seems a little extreme but I understand your point as a Sabres fan. I would think however that Lucic made you sicker. He should have. I was trying to think of the guys I've really hated. I think Darcy Tucker fit that bill. He was very Marchandesque and he played for Toronto so how could I not hate that? Ken Linesman was really hateable. I personally think he was much dirtier than Marchand. Of course at least half the 70s Flyers team would also be in that category. None of them made me "sick" though. It was just good healthy hate.

But it's not 2-3 years, it's 13.

I get it. The narrative in Boston and outside Boston are two completely different things. He is beloved in that town and by his teammates.

I think the Vegas locker room and team culture had a lot to do with it as well. That was a fairly close knit team and Eichel knew people were doubting him and he wanted badly to show he was not the problem, the Sabres were. idk about Matthews. He seems like a diva and a bit of a d*ck but if they change the team maybe he adapts. Maybe not. I definitely don't see Marner changing though. He's never shown anything in that direction.

That's it entirely. You can look at other teams as well and see bottom 3 depth/role players totaling 3-4 million(ish) on many teams. All contributing more than KO and Girgs. The first question for free agency (and we have no way to know the answer but it's the question all the same) is will we spend to the cap to try to win now or will we be a lower towards the floor team with some philosophy about future contracts. If we do not spend and bring in bodies we need we will have trouble actually being better. Yes, I believe in Ruff, but how much can he really do? It was pointed out in one of the threads how bad Granato would really be if UPL hadn't stepped up and put up great goaltending numbers. That's the team Ruff is inheriting, and there's no guarantee the two young goalies will be great next season. We need additions.

Dallas is playing near perfect defensive hockey. It's a tight system with veteran leadership and excellent goaltending. Vegas was a loaded team and Dallas managed to knock them off so I think Dallas is capable of beating anybody. Not saying they will, but right now I'd say they are a favourite for the cup. I'd predict a Dallas-Florida toss up cup final at the moment. Rangers have more talent than Boston had but Florida has the grit and the experience. They are dirty but also smart and I think they will draw guys like Rempe into dumb penalties. If their PP works that could kill the Rangers at key moments. There's two possibilities and only Florida knows which is the reality. The Boston Florida series was old time physical with some really hard hits both ways. By the end of it Florida seemed a little less physical so they are either wearing down already due to the physicality (which ultimately got them last year) or they are holding back a little because they know they will need it later. I personally think it's the latter but it's hard to say. Vancouver's the wild card to me. I mean they are doing it with a third string goalie and their superstar has been largely quiet but at times they really look good so who knows.

Hard to say, but maybe Marner agrees to waive his no trade clause for some teams. Nylander might be fine. Matthews hard to say. Clash of egos or he buys in like Eichel did with Cassidy?

It's true. Some guys want it, some guys don't care as much. This is why you need a strong locker room and a strong culture with veteran leaders who are warriors and want it. When you have that they tend to drag the others up with them and the pressure is on to meet the expectation and be part of the group.

That's funny, but also kind of weird. Now can we somehow factor in how much Ted Nolan is loved in Latvia?

Reputation for not getting along with GMs. Probably true. I think a GM afraid of losing his job might make the move but a GM who thinks he's safe might shy away.

lol, it was a good game. Pity they lost but I liked the effort level. Florida clearly had the more talented team but the Bruins gave it their all and it was a bounce away from going the other way. Can't really complain, even though I would have enjoyed a game 7. Really liked Geekie in the playoffs. We should have signed him as our 3C. Ullmark will be traded this off season. Marchand is pretty much done. Although in the long run Power is likely much better, at the moment I'd prefer Lohrei. Kid really stepped up. It will be an interesting off season for Beantown. I guess now I will join the local Canucks bandwagon for however long that lasts. The Bruins beat the Leafs though, and that was very satisfying.

It's character. Some guys want it, some are indifferent, or maybe just don't want it as much. Not willing to pay the price. Playoff games are harder, faster, more physical, more intense, and some players just don't want to give that extra effort as much as others. I think you can predict some of it by watching how they play in big games and at key moments but you are right in that size and skill don't always follow through.

It's very possible that Benson will be fine and better even. I'm just going by what you often see from young guys in the league and saying it wouldn't surprise me and if it happens I wouldn't over react to it. The term "sophomore slump" didn't come from nowhere. It happens.

So many guys that can fill needs. I don't want to get caught up in too much wishing cause that'll lead to too much disappointment. KA should be active, simple as that, and he should be looking at guys who aren't over the hill yet and are good in the playoffs, not necessarily the regular season.

Some people did. Some people were really anti Tochet, almost like the anti Torts crowd. I wonder if the Flyers (who tend to be a little incestuous) wish they'd hired him. Coaching makes a huge difference (look how Cassidy somehow got Eichel to play 2 way hockey!) but Vancouver also made huge roster additions. Their big Swedish star has actually been pretty crap in the playoffs. Hopefully KA realizes this and isn't just going to think hiring Ruff was enough.

I think Benson's "jump" will be in year 3 or 4. Likely when he's around 21. I will not be surprised if he takes a backwards step next year and it won't worry me as I see a bright future. He might not. We shall see how he adjusts to what Ruff brings, but I am expecting a more structured style of play and young guys usually have some issues with that initially.

well idk. I'd actually like to see multiple deals to change this roster. My mindset is in terms of restructuring the roster and getting players that play differently from what we have. Our roster imo is too slanted in one direction and it doesn't have the various parts that a winning NHL roster requires. We need to move pieces where we have surpluses and get pieces where we have deficiencies. The value and the winning the trade doesn't concern me much. I'd like to hear actual trade ideas from people. Who do they want or think we could get and what would they give? It's easy to say "I want Skinner gone" (as I've said myself) but it's harder to make it happen. It's easy to say "we need" or "I want" but how and for who? What is everyone willing to actually do in concrete terms rather than vague wishes.

Okay, I will believe this. He looked decent in the Philly games I saw, but I didn't see that many. Perhaps you're still left with the question though of did he get along with Torts or did he quit on him? What I don't see on this site though is actual viable trade proposals. Everyone is just saying KA needs to make moves but what moves? That's the harder question.

Canucks fans are crazy around here. They all seem to get in their cars and trucks and drive around aimlessly for an hour or so blasting their horns after every win.

I didn't suggest a one for one. I said they might be the centerpieces of a larger trade involving picks/prospects players but in the end they'd get a D (which they need desperately) plus etc. and we'd get a 3C plus etc. The GMs can work out the equivalencies on how to make it "equal" or pleasing to each other.

I thought of Peca right away and I saw this question on twitter as well. Would it be an upgrade? Is head coach of an AHL team better than NHL assistant? I suppose it might be as simple as the size of the pay cheque but idk. But if he wanted it, yes, Peca in a heartbeat.