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Hello, welcome to the NHL 2014-15 Team Introductions thread! In years past, we have made these threads that last for at least a little while before losing steam. I was originally going to make the entire thread, but that seems like a lot of work, so we're going to crowdsource it! I would like it if a post about a team started off with some info on what happened in the offseason--since nobody can remember what the gently caress teams did. Then you can introduce your team in depth (or not depth, as I'll probably do, cause I like to watch the pretty plays and I'm not so smart with knowing all the ins and outs and what-have-yous of the game) Without further ado, the 2014-15 Pittsburgh Penguins: Obviously, the biggest change for the Penguins this year: Dan Bylsma (coach) and Ray Shero (GM) (along with a couple of assistants, Tony Granato and Todd Reirden) were fired after disappointing finish after disappointing finish. To replace them: Jim Rutherford, former GM of the Hurricanes was named the new GM. Mike Johnston, the coach of the Portland Winterhawks, was named head coach; Rick Tocchet and Gary Agnew (formerly an assistant with the Blues and BJs) were named assistants. Some other hockey ops moves were also made, read about them here if you really want to--see such exciting things as the Pens taking Jason Karmanos as VP of Hockey Ops when Rutherford came onboard and also Jacques Martin is now "Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations") The Penguins made a super-fuckin-rad non-personnel move this offseason too, introducing a new 3rd jersey:  check out that super sexy mother fucker Player-wise, the biggest move was trading James Neal to the Nashville Predators for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling. I don't really know a lot about those two dudes, but hopefully it's a good move. Neal is awesome but also a shithead, so whatever. 1B in the "big move" department was signing Christian Ehrhoff to a sweetheart 1 year, $4 million deal. A full accounting of free agency: Left Pittsburgh: Matt Niskanen -> WSH (7yr/$40.25M) Brooks Orpik -> WSH (5yr/$27.5M  )Deryk Engelland -> CGY (3yr/$8.75M are you fuckin serious) Tanner Glass -> NYR (3yr/$4.35M this one is the funniest) Jussi Jokinen -> FLA (4yr/$16M) Joey Blades Vitale -> PHX...ARI? (3yr/$3.35M) Lee Stempniak -> NYR (1yr/$900k) Brian Gibbons -> CBJ (1yr/$750k) Harry Zolnierczyk -> NYI (whatever) Chuck Kobasew -> hosed off to Europe Chris Conner -> WSH (who cares) Tomas Vokoun -> died I think? Taylor Pyatt -> status: at large Signed or re-signed in Pittsburgh: Christian Ehrhoff 1yr/$4M Steve Downie -> 1yr/$1M Marcel Goc -> re-signed (1yr/$1.2M) Thomas Greiss -> 1yr/$1M Blake Comeau -> 1yr/$700k Brandon Sutter -> re-signed (2yr/$6.6M) Nick Spaling -> re-signed (2yr/$4.4M) Simon Despres -> re-signed (2yr/$1.8M) Jayson Megna(tron) -> re-signed (1yr/$874(ish)k) As for the players: OFFENSE Everyone in the fuckin world knows Sidney "Sid" Crosby and Evgeni "Geno" Malkin. Both are currently injured, although it's probably more "injured" as it's still the preseason. Crosby had wrist problems at the end of last year but he swears he's fine now. No idea what's wrong with Malkin, but he seemingly always has some nagging injury that doesn't really slow him down that much in games but usually causes him to miss some practices (like a typical lazy Russian) The superstar first line of Chris Kunitz (LW) and Pascal Dupuis (RW) will probably be reunited on Crosby's wings. The duo of Crosby and Kunitz steamrolled the rest of the world at the Olympics last year, while Pascal Dupuis had season ending ACL surgery in February (although Wikipedia tells me the actual injury was December 23, so getting the surgery actually took a while to get around to). I think he's practicing now but I don't think he's quite 100% yet. I doubt he misses much (any?) time in the regular season. The second line will be quite different, as Jokinen-Malkin-Neal now looks more like ???-Malkin-Hornqvist. As I said above, I don't know much about Hornqvist (but I hear he's a cool dude so I'm looking forward to it) and Geno is MIA. The LW spot could go to Beau Bennett, who is having a pretty good camp so far. However, he's having a lot of chemistry with Sutter and also--surprise--he seems to like playing RW better but Bylsma kept throwing him out there at LW anyway (DO YOU loving REMEMBER IGINLA, DAN, DO YOU?) I think Nick Spaling is also a candidate. Do you like bottom 6? Because the Penguins have bottom 6. Sutter is the 3C, but after that, who knows? They have: Spaling/Bennett, Marcel Goc, Steve Downie, Craig Adams and Blake Comeau, in some configuration. There's also guys like Jayson Megna, Oscar Sundqvist, and Kasperi "son of Sami" Kapanen, along with Zach Sill/Andrew Ebbett/Daniel Carcillo (although I don't think he's played because he's injured and he's only on a PTO so probably not him) who could in theory make the team. DEFENSE Kris Letang - Had a fuckin stroke last year. Is probably healthy. In my view, his probably is that he's wildly inconsistent--he can be the most dominant defenseman on the ice, going coast-to-coast skating past everyone and scoring a highlight-reel goal. Or he'll, I don't know, fall down at the blue line while carrying the puck and poo poo his pants? or something. It's not that dramatic. He's kinda maddening, though. Christian Ehrhoff - yessssssssss Olli Maatta - had such a fuckin great rookie season that it's hard to imagine him living up to it. If anyone can do it, Olli fuckin Maatta can. Paul Martin - probably he'll be good. He's usually pretty good. He had a pretty bad year a few years ago but seemed a lot better last year. Rob Scuderi - gently caress you, Ray Shero. Hopefully Scuderi gets 3rd pair minutes, where he can probably do ok. If he gets 1st or 2nd pair minutes, it may be trouble. Robert Bortuzzo - a solid dude who I have no complaints about but also not really any praise. Simon Despres...Brian Dumoulin? Scott Harrington? Derrick (  ) Pouliot... All at varying degrees of readiness, probably from most -> least (as Despres has a fair bit of actual NHL experience already). Ray Shero had a superboner for drafting D, so the Pens have quite a few in the pipe ready to go. Probably why (along with landing Ehrhoff and Maatta's awesomeness) they could afford to let Niskanen/Orpik/Engelland go (haha, like they needed to keep Engelland...or Orpik)GOALTENDING Marc-Andre Fleury. What can you say about Marc-Andre Fleury that hasn't already been said. It's the last year of his contract. He played pretty good last year. Thomas Greiss - Signed to...be the backup? I guess? Jeff Zatkoff - Did fine last year I thought, but Thomas Greiss...? Not sure what's happening with Zatkoff. So there you have it. The Penguins. I'm sure someone else can do a better job at the Penguins, or at least flesh some of this out. I'll probably link to other team posts if there's interest, for easy OP navigation.
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Sep 26, 2014 04:01
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Not that I'm fit to write anything for any team, but I'd like to see a "Why you should root for this team" or a "Get Hyped For ___" section for each team.
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Sep 26, 2014 05:52
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are the best hockey team. After trading some players they went from being the best hockey team to becoming the best hockey team. I believe that this season they will continue to be the best hockey team. Side Note: Phil Kessel spent his offseason not playing hockey and learning cool handshakes with Tyler Bozak. So he will probably only score 70 goals this season.
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Sep 26, 2014 06:30
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there are a lot of people who can tell you about the new york rangers, the team i care the most about, so instead i will tell you about the team i care the second most about : The 2014-15 New York Islanders  LAST SEASON The Islanders were bad. they started off the season with complete scrubs Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Peter Regin in the lineup who were mercifully taken off of their hands later by the Chicago Blackhawks. In a widely-criticized move, they dealt beloved winger Matt Moulson to the Buffalo Sabres, along with a 1st-round draft pick, for Thomas Vanek. I personally understood what GM Garth Snow was trying to do - bring in a star-caliber player (it's debatable whether Thomas Vanek is more "star-caliber" than Matt Moulson but at that point he probably was) to play alongside one of the best centers in the league (John Tavares), have a great season as a result, and for the first time in forever, thanks to a long history of mismanagement and having-a-lovely-arena, convince a star player to stay with the franchise. None of this worked. The primary reason for this was their goaltending, which featured a revolving door of Evgeni Nabokov (old and not good anymore), Kevin Poulin and Anders Nilsson (young but still not good). As the season went south on the back of a horrible home record and a LOT of blown 3rd-period leads, Vanek was dealt for barely a fraction of what it cost to attain him thanks to a surprisingly clogged market of similar players. John Tavares got hurt at the Olympics and missed the remainder of the season thereafter (and they were actually kind of better after this happened?) and they failed badly at their goal of 2 consecutive playoff appearances. THIS SEASON  RIP in peace you stupid bad concrete shithole This is the team's last season in Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, an old lovely building that no player wants to play in and the team can never fill. They will be moving to the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn next season, a state-of-the-art facility that is not actually built for hockey. That said: seeing games in that old building, especially when it does occasionally get full, is something I'll miss dearly because it gets loving LOUD in there. The playoff games against Pittsburgh 2 seasons ago were the best live events of any sort that I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying. IF YOU CAN, SERIOUSLY GET TO A GAME THERE THIS YEAR! ESPECIALLY A PLAYOFF GAME WHEN THEY MAKE IT! Wait, they're going to make the playoffs? Yes, I think that they are! Here's how: Remember how I said the goaltending was bad? Well, it's not anymore. The Islanders team save percentage clocked in at a dismal .898 last year, good for dead last in the league. This resulted in them allowing 261 (including empty net) goals, versus their 216 goals scored, good (actually bad) for a goal differential of -45. Had they gotten goaltending at a .918 save percentage, their goal differential would have been positive rather than negative, and teams with positive goal differentials almost invariably make the playoffs. What they went and acquired over the offseason was exactly that: a career .918 goaltender and a backup who should be able to maintain that level in the games that he starts. Wow! In addition, they lost pretty much no one, except for awful defenseman Andrew MacDonald, who is more or less a joke when it comes to analytics. His absence should mean that on top of their improved goaltending, they should also face less shots. They also made 2 surprisingly impressive forward acquisitions (especially for this franchise that has a very hard time luring major talent to town) and a few shrewd minor pickups to bolster their depth. Here's who they brought in over the offseason:  you're our only hope Jaroslav Halak, G Halak is not the best goaltender in the world, but he has been solid throughout his career, and solid is a breath of fresh air for a team who has had nothing but abysmal for years. Last year he split time between St. Louis and Washington, and was Good Enough with both teams. Actually, his .921 sv% last year was 7th among goaltenders playing 50 or more games, which is better than Good Enough - it's Good! He has had injuries in the past and also hasn't been counted on to handle an absolutely massive workload, so there are definite caveats, but he's certainly by a vast margin better than what they had last season. Chad Johnson, G Chad "Tres Cero" Johnson played his first full season as an NHL backup last year with the Eastern Conference powerhouse Boston Bruins and performed very admirably in this capacity. In 27 appearances, he logged a .926 sv%, which is really good. He'll likely be counted on for a bit more of a workload than that this year, and there are definitely questions about whether last season was a fluke. Additionally, if Halak gets hurt, he's on the hook as a starter and that could be a nightmare scenario for the Islanders. But losing your starter would be a problem for any team so let's just pretend that won't happen. Mikhail Grabovski, C  looks pretty gritty to me i dunno Grabovski, being Russian (actually Belarussian but same difference for these purposes) has been dogged throughout his career for being difficult, not showing enough effort, whatever. The things they always say about Russians. After being one of the best players at driving the offense in Toronto, he had an acrimonious departure during which he traded shots with idiot head coach Randy Carlyle, who is very bad and should not have a job. He went to Washington last year and was pretty good at scoring under another bad coach (the now-fired Adam Oates) while still remaining a strong possession player. All indications are he'll have a longer leash with the Islanders, and the depth he adds to the lineup (Tavares - Grabovski - Nielsen is an elite top 3 centers) is invaluable. He also gets to play with his best buddy, who is this guy: Nikolay Kulemin, LW Kulemin scored 30 goals in 2010-11 with Toronto, and while that's unlikely to happen again, he should enjoy a bounce-back season this year when he isn't used horribly. He is a really good possession player when he's not forced to play brutal minutes alongside complete stiffs, as was the case under Randy Carlyle for his last few seasons. He's a good two-way winger who can play in all situations and, once again, contributes solidly to the team's forward depth. Cory Conacher, F Conacher is a classic Garth Snow reclamation project with some solid upside. After absolutely tearing up the AHL in his first pro season undrafted out of college, he was on a near-rookie of the year pace with Tampa Bay before being traded to Ottawa for Ben Bishop two seasons ago. Last year, he struggled with the Sens before being waived and picked up by Buffalo where he closed out a mediocre season. He's tiny but he's a good skater with some skill. He'll probably start on a lower line or as an injury replacement, but he's a good option to have and is still young and has potential. TJ Brennan, D Brennan is an interesting case. He had 9 points in 19 games with the Panthers, good numbers especially for a mostly untested defenseman, 2 seasons ago and has been traded about a million times, failing to find a permanent NHL roster spot. Last year, he spent the entire year in the AHL and went buck wild, scoring 72 points (25 goals) in 76 games. Don't expect those numbers in the NHL, but do expect him to get a long look on this team, possibly as a PP specialist. Jack Skille & Harry Zolniercyczcyzcycyzycyyzcyzyck AHL tweener forwards with some NHL experience. The former is a one-time first round draft pick who never quite panned out, the latter got in trouble for distributing unsolicited sex tapes in college or some poo poo. They'll maybe see time as capable injury replacements. Here's the guys who were already here: FORWARDS: John Tavares  you try and find an interesting pic of john tavares One of the top centers - or players, really - in the league. Oozes hockey sense and makes everyone around him better. Wouldn't be surprised to see him crack 100 points this season. Kyle Okposo  green guy in the middle Now firmly established as Tavares' RW, had a breakout year last year with 69 points in 71 games, and proved he could keep it up when he was just as good after Tavares went down with his Olympics injury. About as tough to knock off the puck as anyone in the league. Frans Nielsen A pure two-way center who can do everything well, had his best offensive season last year with 58 points. Expect a regression in that regard as he settles back into a more defensive role now that Grabovski's here. That's a good thing. Also very possibly the best shootout specialist in the league. Josh Bailey Enigmatic winger who had his best season last year despite being infuriatingly inconsistent. Even though he goes through loooooooooooooong droughts, he's a gifted playmaker and a strong possession guy. He's good to have around even though he makes you pull your goddamn hair out. Don't be surprised if he's traded for help on defense, though. Brock Nelson Had a solid rookie campaign with 14 goals, most of those playing with mediocre linemates - expect an increase, because right now he's penciled in as Tavares' new LW. Got better as the season went on and has real good tools. He's going to be a good player. Michael Grabner Was somewhat impeded by injuries last year and struggled to put much together when he was playing, but he's most likely the fastest player in the league and he gets like, at least one breakaway a game. As you can imagine, his possession numbers are quite good as a result. With a better supporting cast around him, should have a good year. Also the subject of frequent trade rumors. Cal Clutterbuck He hits a lot of people but can also occasionally score goals. Good bottom 6-er, another guy who should have a better year thanks to better talent taking on tougher minutes. Colin McDonald Hard to say where he fits in. He's a grinder with a little bit of offense to his game but younger, faster guys might force him out Ryan Strome Took him some games to find his feet at the NHL level, but has a ton of skill. Was very good down the stretch last season and should get a chance to make a difference this year. Potential future star, but might spend some more time in the AHL this year thanks to his waiver eligibility. Casey Cizikas Sputtered a bit last year in his sophomore season but has the tools to be a good bottom-6 forward. Needs to do better at puck possession, but it would help if his coach didn't use him like an idiot. More on that later. Anders Lee Put up 14 points in only 22 games last season and is another potential candidate for time alongside Tavares, but also is a candidate to spend some time in the minors for the same reason as Strome. Relentless competitor who the puck seems to follow. Matt Martin One of the most beloved Islanders for his hit-literally-everything style and his willingness to fight, he finds himself as a fringe player this year thanks to the Isles' infusion of talent. Going to have to do a better job tilting the ice if he wants to keep his job. Eric Boulton Old, likable goon who should probably just retire. Might occasionally play in games because coaches still think this is useful. Other guys who got callups last year Mike Halmo, Johan Sundstrom, John Persson: they might play games at some point? DEFENSE: Travis Hamonic Handles big minutes and does it well. Has offensive talent that's been held back a bit by virtue of him always playing against other teams' best players - might get a chance to play the PP a bit this year, which would be nice. Calvin de Haan Was a revelation last season after he was considered a probable bust thanks to a long string of injuries following his draft year. Excellent 2-way defenseman with great possession numbers and Hamonic's clear top-pairing partner. Lubomir Visnovsky Old and was hurt a lot last year but has been a fantastic play-driving defenseman when he's been healthy. A lot rides on a clean bill of health for Viz, but there's no indication to this point that age has gotten to him, at least. Thomas Hickey After being considered an embarrassing draft pick at #4 overall whatever the hell year it was by Los Angeles, the Isles eventually picked him up on waivers and he's impressed ever since getting a chance to play in the NHL. Plays a simple, not flashy 2-way game and may have some untapped offensive skill yet. Very good at playing the puck and minimizing any problems caused by his slight stature. Matt Donovan Very interesting case, because he's looked bad on the eye test in the NHL at times but has had great underlying possession numbers. It's hard to say whether he'll be an opening-night guy but one imagines he'll play a good amount this year. Got better later in the season last year. Brian Strait He's not very good. Was decent in his first season with the Isles and very mediocre (and hurt a lot) last year. Looks like the bastard son of Jack Capuano so he'll probably get playing time as a result of that. An OK 3rd pairing option, I guess, but I'd much rather he be there primarily as an injury replacement. Matt Carkner Slow and bad, but he fights people sometimes. The quintessential "good locker room guy" who really has no business playing. I hope he's sent down to the minors or something but he'll probably stick around and get inserted occasionally. Griffin Reinhart Top draft pick from a couple years ago turning pro this year, he was the best defenseman in the WHL last year but is a decidedly stay-at-home guy and guys who play like that in juniors don't historically project that well in the pro game so we'll have to see. There's a chance he starts the year on the Isles but he should probably play in the minors first to hone his game. Here's hoping he eventually turns into the elite defensive defenseman the team thinks he can be. Other guys who got callups last year Aaron Ness, Kevin Czuczman, Scott Mayfield: probably the backbone of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers this year COACH JACK CAPUANO:  He looks like Fred Flintstone. A lot of people think he's a bad coach and I am inclined to agree. Puts his worst players out after the team scores a goal which often leads (surprise!) to other teams quickly evening the score. Still, seems to have at least heard of possession numbers and hopefully he's going to take that into account with this team that's full of players who have good ones and some guys who have bad ones. The way he manages his bottom lines scares me though, with how they seem to be under an imperative to "grind it out" in their own zone rather than turn the play up ice, which guys like Casey Cizikas should be more than capable of doing. Like it or not, he's one of Charles Wang's Guys, and as long as Charles is here, Jack will probably be as well. Anyway, root for the New York Islanders they are much cooler to like than any other team in the league! do it a false fucked around with this message at 07:30 on Sep 26, 2014 |
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Sep 26, 2014 06:38
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As a non-American/Canadian who has decided to properly follow NHL this season (from abroad), this thread will be awesomely informative. Please continue.
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Sep 26, 2014 07:16
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 Oh you want to know a little something about the best team in the league? Last Season:  What to expect this Season: Nothing has really changed. We have arguably the best GM in the league in Dean Lombardi, and the press isn't afraid to let everyone know that. Before Lombardi the Kings alternated between "Stepping Stone" and "Almost there" now they're very close to becoming a dynasty. They have managed to keep almost all of the key players from the Cup winning team in 2011-12. They have managed to turn the Philadelphia Flyers into a Kings farm team. We basically chose not to pick up an older defensive player and brought up a guy that filled in when injuries took it's toll in the playoffs. That's it. Signing Marion Gaborik took the rest of our cap, but the fact that we were able to do that in and of itself is amazing. The contract is long for an oldish player, but we have ways to dump it later. How the Kings play, and win: Time of possession. The Kings are built to hold the puck more than your team, and put opportunistic shots on goal. They do this through size and power. Every team in the league, especially the pacific division is now trying to copy this strategy in an attempt to compete. The kings have "depth down the middle" which means having 4 really good centers that never give the opponent a chance to breath. The Players: 1st line: Maríon Gáborík [LW]:  Gáborík was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on March 5, 2014 for forward Matt Frattin, a 2nd round draft pick, and a conditional 3rd round pick. He was picked up to be a scorer and he did just that, with 14 goals in the playoffs. On June 25, 2014, Gáborík as a pending free agent, opted to remain with the Kings in signing a seven-year contract worth an annual average value of $4.875M. I went to the first preseason game at staples center and wouldn't you know it, he scored in that game too, with an assist from... Anže Kopitar [C]:  At the end of regular 2013–14 NHL season Kopitar led the Kings offense for the 7th consecutive season with 70 points. In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Kopitar was yet again Los Angeles' top scorer, having amassed 26 points in as many games. Kopitar is considered an elite 2-way center and the best player on the team, which is saying something. A big body with amazing puck control, he goes where he wants and sets up amazing shot opportunities for his wingers, which at the end of last season were Gabby and... Dustin Brown [RW]:  The Captain! The Heart! The Dirt! The Goons Most Hated!? Seriously though, goons really hate this guy... and I can't really blame them. He is noted for his physical playing style, consistently ranking among the league leaders in hits and penalties drawn. Brown is one of the most effective NHL players at drawing penalties, having led the league in that category in five of seven post-lockout seasons. Beyond his physicality and agitation, Brown has provided a consistent offensive threat for the Kings, scoring at least 22 goals five consecutive years. Brown plays an effective two-way game and has matured into an elite defensive and penalty-killing forward. 2nd line: Tanner Pearson [LW]:  Jeff Carter [C]:  Tyler Toffoli aka Top Titty [RW]  aka That 70's Line  Pearson and Toffoli (who has the best nick-name, cause he goes top shelf all the time and his initials) were paired with papa Carter near the end of the regular season and were instant magic. Carter brought experience and composure for the young guns. This line is FAST. Really fast, and all 3 can score. This line capitalizes on loose pucks and breakout passes from the defenders. I could write up the 3rd line and the guys that would most likely make up the 4th line too but really there's only 1 more important forward: Mr.(don't call me) Game 7, Just(w)in Williams:  During the regular season he would play starting RW more than Brown, but when the playoffs started and we needed more scoring depth he was moved to 3rd line. That's right, the MVP of the playoffs was a THIRD LINE WINGER! Justin Williams has stats you have wet dreams over. He has played seven Game 7 playoff games in his NHL career, with his team sporting a 7-0 record in these games. He currently shares a playoff record with Glenn Anderson for the most Game 7 goals in NHL history with seven, and has the outright record for most Game 7 points with fourteen. Crazy. Key Defensive players: Drew Doughty:  Doughty is a star player. He will make the worst pass one play, then burn 5 players and the goalie on the next. He is incredibly annoying (but not as much as some players *cough-coryperry-cough*) and a fierce competitor. Some people call him a 2 way defender, I personally think he falls firmly into the "offensively minded" category with the ability to fix his own mistakes. He's sort of a big deal as Ron Burgundy would say. Robyn Regehr:  He's old, he's busted up (read his wiki, it's too much to copy) but the dude is still good. He'll probably play 1/2 the regular season games but he's the type of play the kings like, strong leader personality, likes to finish his checks, and can play. Even though he got taken out of the playoffs early, Dustin Brown gave the cup to him 1st, showing everyone how much he means to the team. Vyacheslav Leonidovich Voynov aka Slava:  Our Russian star (BTW the kings sent 6 players to the Olympics last year). He's our second defensive pairing anchor and basically does what Doughty does with less of a wild hair. Would start on any other team in the league. Goalies: Jonathan Quick  3 years ago he won the Conn Smythe for his unquestionable play. Since then he's dropped off, it's true, but he makes the saves when they really need to be save. He's kinda like a procrastinator, his best saves come in third periods, overtimes, and game sevens. Martin Jones  Last season Quick had an injury and Jones was called up, and earned a 3–2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. He stopped all nine shooters he faced in a shootout to secure his first NHL win. Jones won his second NHL start and made 16 saves to record his first NHL shutout four nights later against the New York Islanders. He shut out the Montreal Canadiens in his next game, making him the first Kings goalie to do so, and the second Los Angeles rookie to record consecutive shutouts. He went on to win 8 straight. After his stellar play it become clear he was talented enough to be the backup, and Ben Scrivens was dealt away. So we even have depth in goaltending! Okay I'm done for now. If I missed anything I'll edit it in. No ones really going to read this anyway, just be jealous cause the team everyone loves to hate won. Nitramster fucked around with this message at 19:28 on Sep 26, 2014 |
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Sep 26, 2014 09:38
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Thanks for the Penguins round-up. I had no idea we'd lost so many people to other teams. Christ.
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Sep 26, 2014 11:43
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 Last Season Was a disaster in pretty much every way. After firing Alain Vigneault and trading newly anointed starter Cory Schneider to the Devils for the 9th overall pick (Bo Horvat) at the 2013 draft the Canucks were supposed to enter 2013/14 with re-energized title aspirations after a couple disappointing seasons. Instead the following happened: - New coach John Tortorella fought another team's coach outside their locker room during a game - Henrik Sedin's 8 season iron man streak ended - Ryan Kesler demanded (and eventually got) a trade - The Sedins went from PPG+ players to slightly better than half a PPG players - Daniel Sedin continued his transformation into a pumpkin as he clearly hasn't recovered from the concussion Duncan Keith gave him - Alex Edler finished worst in the league in +/- - Top propsect Hunter Shinkaruk missed all but a handful of games following shoulder surgery - They lost 9-1 to Anaheim - Tortorella decided that Eddie Lack should be the starter at the Heritage classic, something that pissed Roberto Luongo off so much he demanded a trade as well and was shipped back to Florida for peanuts (actual peanuts; Matthias and Markstrom are overpaid and suck) - Burrows scored 5 goals all season (all in one week) - The team couldn't score at all - The team couldn't defend at all - The team finished at its lowest point in the standings since 1999 - Their old coach went to the Stanley cup finals - Torts was fired - The GM was fired - They sucked from top to bottom 2014/15 - Don't Call it a Rebuild So yeah... That was bad. Trevor Linden was then hired as the new team President and subsequently hired Boston's assistant GM Jim Benning as GM and hired the AHL coach of the year Willie Desjardins as head coach. They then focused on a major roster overhaul completing the following deals: - Bought out David Booth - Ryan Kesler traded to Anaheim for Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa and a 1st round pick (Jared McCann) - Derek Dorsett acquired for a 3rd rounder in 2015 - Jason Garrison traded to Tampa Bay for a 2nd round pick - That 2nd round pick traded to LA for Linden Vey - Selected Jake Virtanen 6th overall and Jared McCann 24th overall - UFA Ryan Miller signed to a 3 year contract to be the team's new starting goaltender - UFA Radim Vrbata signed to a 2 year contract to be the Sedin's new linemate The following players left as UFAs: - Mike Santorelli (to Toronto) - Jordan Schroeder (to Minnesota) - Zac Dalpe (to Buffalo) - David Booth (to Toronto) - Jeremy Welsh (to St. Louis) The team is suddenly very different with a lineup that will look something like the following: D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Vrbata Burrows - Bonino - Kassian Higgins - Vey - Hansen Matthias - Richardson - Dorsett Sestito Hamhuis - Bieksa Edler - Tanev Sbisa - Stanton Weber Miller Lack This is likely not going to be a very good year for the Canucks. There are lots of question marks around the team, particularly up front and fan expectation is at its lowest in a decade (for the first time in 12 years the team did not sell all of its season tickets and its 400+ game sellout streak will likely end this season; didn't stop them raising ticket prices though!). The chances of them making the playoffs aren't high, however this is still largely the same team that won back to back President's trophies in 2011 and 2012. A bounce back year from the Sedins, stability in goal and fewer off ice distractions and the team could very well be a wild card seed. I'm not holding my breath, but it's not all doom and gloom. The New Guys Ryan Miller - G  The team's biggest offseason acquisition is arguably its most head scratching. Ryan "Wonk Eyes" Miller has been among the upper echelon of goaltenders in the league for the last 7-10 years, winning the Vezina in 2010, putting up solid numbers on some very poor Buffalo teams. A trade deadline deal to St. Louis last year was an unmitigated disaster, and he went from being a highly respected goaltender to a reclamation project. The Canucks had a ton of issues last year, but goaltending wasn't high on that list (on the ice at least). Eddie Lack put up decent numbers and was well liked by the fans. It was expected he'd be the new #1, but Benning felt the team needed a proven starter and signed Miller for that reason. If he can play closer to how he did in Buffalo than St. Louis he could provide the stability in net the team has lacked since Cory Schneider emerged as a challenge to Roberto Luongo's starting role (then again Lack is having a great pre-season...) Nick Bonino - C  Nick Bonino was the centre piece of the Kesler trade from a Canucks perspective. A popular player in Anaheim, he exploded as a scoring threat last year putting up 22 goals and 49 points largely on a line with superstars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. He's signed to a great contract, and the team feels it has found its second line centre until Bo Horvat is ready to be a full time NHLer. However, Bonino isn't young (he'll be 26 this year) and last season came totally out of the blue. He's far from 'proven' as a top six forward and he'll be stepping into the 2nd line centre role in one of the most media intensive markets in the league with no real wingers. A lot of the team's success is riding on his shoulders, and no one really knows how he'll do. Radim Vrbata - RW  The team's other big summer signing was Radim Vrbata. A shoot first winger who has put up a bunch of good seasons on small market teams, he'll be thrust into the spotlight for the first time in Vancouver. Intended to be the Sedin's new linemate after Burrows struggled last year, Vrbata will have to show he can be a star after being regularly named one of the most underrated players in the league over the last few seasons. If the Sedins can recapture their scoring wizardry, he could easily put up 30+ goals. If he doesn't gel he's a short term signing with little downside. Linden Vey - C/RW An AHL scoring dynamo with skill to burn, he's a centre that was lost in the shuffle in LA due to their incredible depth. The Canucks feel he has what it takes to be a top six forward at the NHL level, but with limited experience that's very much up in the air. He'll likely start the year as the 3rd line centre, but depending on how the team gels will probably also see time as a second line RW. Derek Dorsett - RW Big, tough locker room guy, he's just there to add a bit of depth to the bottom six that was sorely lacking last year. Luca Sbisa - D A journeyman Swiss defenceman that has yet to find his niche in the NHL. He was the #5/6 in Anaheim and will likely play the same role in Vancouver. He's had a poor pre-season and people are already calling for his head. He could quickly be passed on the depth chart by Yannick Weber or Frank Corrado if he doesn't play well out of the gate. Returning Players to Watch Daniel and Henrik Sedin - LW & C  Identical twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin are arguably the two greatest players in franchise history, now sadly on the downswing of their careers. Drafted 2nd and 3rd overall in 1999, they took a while to get going but emerged as superstars in the mid 2000s and dominated the league into the early 2010s. They have each won a league scoring title, and if people weren't idiots would both have a Hart trophy (Henrik won in 2011, Daniel was robbed in 2012 because the voters got distracted by Corey Perry's late season goal surge. It is probably the second most egregious Hart trophy decision after Iginla lost to Theodore in 2003). 2013/14 was not a good season for the two of them. Henrik missed a game for the first time in 8 years after a recurring back injury flared up and Daniel played like a shadow of his former self as it became evident he was still recovering from a concussion he received after a dirty elbow to the head from Duncan Keith. They finished with their lowest point totals in a decade, and in general went from insanely reliable PPG players to barely half a point per game. However, they're still talented players and they have a new linemate and something to prove this year. The question is, was last season an aberration brought on by Tort's system and a horrendous year overall or is this the start of their age related decline? Alex Burrows - RW/LW  An undrafted, unheralded player who worked his way up from the ECHL to the top line of the best team in the league in a few short years, Alex Burrows is the token example of hard work paying off. After making the NHL as a 4th line agitator, he suddenly found chemistry with Daniel and Henrik Sedin and became their regular linemate in 2010 average between 25 and 30 goals a season as their trigger man. Like most of the team, 2013/14 was awful for him. He was badly injured twice and when he was on the ice he was completely ineffective. He scored five total goals and didn't look good doing so. His poor performance led to the team looking for a new winger for the Sedins and he enters this year without a clear spot in the lineup. Logic would suggest he'll play on the 2nd line, but he's never been that effective as a point getter without the twins so he could end up as a 3rd line defensive forward/PK specialist. He'll want to prove he can be a scorer again and he's a pretty hardworking guy, so I expect he'll at least be a 2nd liner this year. Alex Edler - D  It's arguable that Alex Edler had the worst season of any NHL regular in the entire league last year. Forever pegged as a future cornerstone of the defence, Edler has always had the size and offensive acumen to be a top pairing defenceman in the NHL. However, he's notorious for having stretches of inconsistent play marked by horrible turnovers and bad penalties, and that stretched for an entire season last year. I don't think anyone had anything good to say about his play last year, and he's 28 now so the concept of him having any 'potential' is long gone. He needs a bounce back year in the worst way, or he'll likely see himself run out of town next summer. Zack Kassian - RW  Zack Kassian is an intimidating physical presence at 6'3" 220lbs and has all the makings of a good top-6 power forward. He has tons of skill and is a surprisingly adept passer for a player his size. Sadly his time in Vancouver has been marked by incredible inconsistency. At time's he's a force to be reckoned with, but mostly he's a shadow that is barely involved in the play. A good stretch to end the year got everyone's hopes up a bit and has him pencilled in as the 2nd line RW, but he still has a lot to prove if he wants to be a full time top six forward. He'll be turning 24 halfway through the season, so it's starting to seem like maybe what you see is what you get with him. An inconsistent middle six forward forever tarred by the "if only he could put it all together" brush. Eddie Lack - G  It wouldn't be Vancouver without a goaltending controversy! Eddie Lack briefly supplanted Roberto Luongo as the team's starter last year after a great first half which ultimately led to Bobby Lu asking out of town. However, he wasn't able to maintain his play as the team's sole #1 after that and finished fairly poorly. Yet he was and remains quite popular with the fans due to his upbeat attitude and weird interviews. Many people are rooting for him, and he's a very technically proficient goaltender with the size to match. He can get caught out of position and doesn't have the best glove hand, but he's quick to bounce back from bad goals. Miller was brought in to end any starter debate, but Lack has been lights out in the pre-season and will want to show he can be a #1 at the NHL level. It could be an interesting year for him. So Why should I Watch This Team? The short answer is, they MIGHT be good. Distractions like Torts, Kesler and Luongo are gone. The team's expectations are low, and the new coach is pledging a return to the puck possesion/uptempo style that made them world beaters for a few season. There are a bunch of great young players in the system like flashy winger Hunter Shinkaruk (who's currently having a dynamite pre-season and could very well make the team as a result), two-way centre Bo Horvat, recent 6th overall pick wrecking ball winger Jake Virtanen and younger NHLers like Kassian and Vey. Most importantly the team has something to prove in the regular season for the first time in years. Then again, there's a reason this team is not ranked highly. The Sedins could very well be on the verge of a precipitous decline. The defence has been steadily eroded over the last few years, and lacks a true powerplay QB and shooting option. The bottom six is better than it was last year, but without Kesler the top six looks mighty thin. A lot rides on some relatively unproven players like Bonino, Kassian and Vey. It could be a very trying year, and if Desjardin's system doesn't click they could be just as boring and offensively impotent to watch as they were under Torts. The one thing the team has going for it, is that it's almost impossible for this season to be as much of a sideshow as last year. Ownership has stripped away all the off ice distractions, and the team has taken adopted a close lipped, non-abrasive personality approach to dealing with the fans and media. The hope is that with the attention returning to the on ice product and a bit more jump and energy in the lineup, the team can return to the playoffs and perhaps make a fairy tale run. I'm not optimistic, but it could be far worse. The press conferences are going to be way less fun though. ThinkTank fucked around with this message at 15:10 on Sep 26, 2014 |
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Sep 26, 2014 15:05
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Toronto Maple Leafs This past offseason for the Leafs was not as disastrous as last year's offseason, only because of how bad last year's offseason was. Acquired Daniel Winnik: I like Winnik, and he should be a good 3rd/4th line player. David Booth: Booth was once a promising young player, and then he got traded to the Canucks. Petri Kontiola: Apparently Kontiola is a real person from the KHL. Mike Santorelli: Santorelli is a 4th line player that has offensive upside. Like Winnik, a great addition to the Leafs bottom-6. Matt Frattin: Frattin has been around the past few seasons, but he's back to where he belongs. He's really fast, so you notice him on the ice, and because of that, people think he's going to become a good player. He won't. Stephane Robidas: A 37-year old defenseman who broke his right leg, then fractured that leg, and then was signed to a 3-year deal by the Leafs. Why? I am not sure. Roman Polak: The Leafs traded good defenseman Carl Gunnarsson, and threw in a fourth-round draft pick, to get bad defenseman Polak. I am not sure what the point of this deal was, especially since the Leafs D was a tire fire last year. Leo Komarov: A loveable Leafs player who went to the KHL last year, and then signed a ridiculous deal to come back to the Leafs this year. I love him as a player, but goddamn, his contract sucks. Departures Tim Gleason: The Leafs traded Liles, a player they wanted to buyout, for Gleason, a player the Hurricanes wanted to buyout, even though Gleason made slightly more money. The Leafs then placed Gleason on waivers to buy him out in the offseason. Jay McClement: Good. Nikolai Kulemin: On one hand, I will miss Kulemin, on the other, his contract was too much for a player of his capabilities. He scored 30 goals once, but he doesn't have the offensive abilities to ever do that again. Drew MacIntyre: Apparently MacIntyre did player two games for the Leafs last year, but I don't remember. He was an AHL goalie. Mason Raymond: A surprisingly good cheap pick-up last year, but the Leafs weren't going to keep him for $3mil. Dave Bolland: A player overshadowed by his contract demands and what fans thought he contributed to the team. Jerry D’Amigo: Played 22 games last year, and I have no memory of him on the ice. T.J. Brennan: A defenseman who scored a silly amount of points in the AHL (72 points in 76 games), but never got a shot with the Leafs last year. Carl Gunnarsson: Read my Polak post. Notable Forwards Phil "The Thrill" Kessel: Looks like forums poster Paulo. Would have six straight years of 30-goals or more, but the lockout shortened season made that not happen. He will score a lot of goals, possibly touch 80 points again, and is the best player the Leafs have had since Sundin. However, you wouldn't know this, because a lot of people will throw around words like "inconsistent" and "doesn't play defense" at him, and not appreciate him for the player he is. Tyler Bozak: Kessel's BFF, so he is the #1 center. He is controversial, in the same way Bolland was, in that fans think he's better than he actually is, and the detractors think he's worse than he actually is. James van Riemsdyk: The Leafs stole JVR from the Flyers, and he's such a good young player. Joffrey Lupul: The criticism that Kessel gets is never lobbed at Lupul, despite the same being true for him. He puts up points, and that's about it. He will never play a full season. Nazem Kadri: The Leafs best prospect since...I am not sure. In the lockout year, he nearly put up a PPG, which inflated expectations for Kadri. When he took a step back last year, the criticism for Kadri's game increased. There were a lot of trade rumours surrounding Kadri last year, which is silly. He should be the #1 center. David Clarkson: Is signed to the worst contract in the league, and put up an absolute turd of a season. I figured he'd put up at least one or two decent seasons before his contract got really bad. The Leafs have him for six more years. Notable Defensemen Dion Phaneuf: Oh god. Who is Dion Phaneuf? No one knows. He is the Leafs #1 defenseman, but you can't really discuss him, because a lot of people have strong opinions about him which will never be changed. Jake Gardiner: A great young defenseman who will never flourish under Carlyle. Was also the subject to trade rumours all year. Morgan Rielly: Another great young defenseman, who is even younger and possibly greater than Gardiner. I really hope the best for him, but again, I don't have much faith under Carlyle. Cody Franson: I mistakenly thought Franson could be a decent second-pairing D, and PP specialist, but I was wrong. Goalies Jonathan Bernier: I was not a fan of the Bernier deal last offseason, not because of the player, but because the Leafs already had a good #1 in Reimer. It's hard to argue with the results, though. James Reimer: I, along with a number of other people, feel bad for Reimer. He had a great year, got the Leafs to the playoffs, and then the Leafs traded for another goalie. I wouldn't be surprised if Reimer was traded this year. What to expect from the Leafs this year? They have a good top-6, and great goaltending, but little of anything else. If Rielly or Gardiner really flourish this year, and if the bottom-6 lives up to expectations, and Clarkson has a decent season, the Leafs could grab a wild card spot. Those are a lot of "ifs", though, and it's more realistic to think that they will miss the playoffs for the 9th time in 10 years, or something.
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Sep 26, 2014 16:30
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I think it's worth noting that Carlyle's player usage and systems suppress offense and makes defenders look worse. MacArthur was a revelation for the Senators once he finally got out of Carlyle's doghouse, and if Grabovski had been healthy for the Caps we'd be talking about him the same way. There's no doubt in my mind that Kulemin will put up numbers on the Isles. I had hopes for the team earlier in training camp when the players and org were making noise about changes to their defensive system, what with the addition of Horacek. Now that we're a few games in it's obvious that change isn't as dramatic as it needs to be, and Carlyle hasn't learned his lesson. We've established that Spott is also a moron and that Carlyle and Nonis still have absolutely stupid ideas about roster construction. Basically the Leafs will continue to abuse common sense and squander a team that's more talented than it looks, then blame their failures on the best players on the roster for not being best-enough.
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Sep 26, 2014 16:45
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 LAST SEASON Last season was the worst season for the Capitals since the Bruce Cassidy/Jaromir Jagr era. At least when the Capitals were bad from 2003-07, they were tanking and rebuilding with a clear direction. In 2013-14, the Capitals had a win now mentality with a decent enough roster to at least make the playoffs. Some think they failed to make the playoffs because of a combination of bad GMing, really bad depth defensemen, and the worst head coach in the league (yes, even worse than Randy Carlyle). But they are wrong. They failed to make the playoffs because of this man:  Sure, he scored 51 goals, but half of them were on the power play and as we all know power play goals only count for half as many goals as other goals, so he really only scored like 39 goals. Also, for you stat nerds out there, Ovechkin was a -35 last year. The Capitals overall were a -5 in goal differential. If Ovechkin, who has one of the highest salaries in the league, were just an AVERAGE hockey player, he would have had an even +/- and therefore the Capitals would have been a +30 in goal differential and probably been in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Kings who also were around a +30 in GD (+32). But for real, Adam Oates was the main reason the Capitals were terrible last year. He did everything wrong except the power play, where he just said "gently caress it let Ovie hit some dingers." Here is a very good list of reasons why Adam Oates was the worst coach in the NHL last season. A few choice reasons: 1. Paired Alex Ovechkin with Jay Beagle with the season on the line. 2. Kept Dmitry Orlov stuck between Hershey and Washington for two months. 3. Wasted Martin Erat on the fourth line. 4. Implemented suffocating rules for defensive breakouts (i.e. Mike Green now allowed to go below the circles in the offensive zone) 5. Changed Braden Holtby for the worse by making him play deeper in the net, because Adam Oates claimed he knows about goaltending than former goaltender coach Mark Prior 6. HANDEDNESS  George McPhee deserves huge blame for hiring this jerkoff in the first place and for convincing Bruce Boudreau to convert to a more defensive style despite great results. Both Oates and McPhee were thankfully fired at the end of the season. MAJOR OFFSEASON TRANSACTIONS  Brian MacLellan hired as General Manager - despite looking outside of the organization as well, owner Ted Leonsis decided to promote from within again and hired Brian MacLellan as general manager to replace George McPhee. MacLellan was an assistant GM and was in charge of the scouting staff before being promoted. Many people have not liked this move, time will tell if he has what it takes to be a good GM.  Barry Trotz hired as Head Coach - former Nashville Predators head coach who managed to take Nashville to several playoff appearances despite never having a great roster, particularly at forward. Almost universally praised as a great hiring as Trotz as been a finalist for the Jack Adams award several times in his career. He is generally known for having a defensive style, but most evidence suggests that Trotz was simply playing to his roster's strengths since in the one season the Predators actually iced a decent forward roster in 2006-07, the Predators led the Western Conference in goals for.  Matt Niskanen signed to a 7 year, $40.25M contract ($5.75 AAV) - not a bargain contract by any means, but Niskanen is a capable first or second pairing defenseman who should immediately help at even strength a team that was very bad at even strength last year. Should also see power play time, but should remain behind Mike Green on the PP depth chart.  Brooks Orpik signed to a 5 year, $27.5M contract ($5.5 AAV) - rightfully panned as the worst offseason contract by a mile. Brooks Orpik is a relic of the dead puck era who at his best is a crease clearing defenseman on the penalty kill, but he's not even really good at that. He sucks at puck possession and makes his teammates worse. They aren't going to pay him to sit on the bench, so ideally he will be playing third pairing minutes with some PK duties. Lost Mikhail Grabovski to free agency to the Islanders - Grabovski and his agent tried to make a deal with Washington but most people believe that he and Nikolai Kulemin were a package deal. Despite missing 24 games last season he was a very solid second line center. PREDICTIONS FOR THIS SEASON The biggest difference between this season and last is Trotz vs. Oates. Trotz is a top tier coach whereas, as mentioned earlier, Adam Oates was the worst coach in the NHL. That should be worth about 2-6 standings points by itself. Also, while the Orpik deal was rightfully panned, overall the roster is much better this season than last, especially the defensive depth. Rather than calling on AHL callups and NHL washouts all season long, the Capitals should have 6 NHL calibre defensemen at all times even when Mike Green inevitably gets injured again. Losing Grabovski hurts, but the plan is for Evgeny Kuznetsov or Marcus Johansson to play second line center. The Capitals should make the playoffs, especially with the Metro division not really getting that much better aside from the Islanders. But I wouldn't expect them to advanced past the first or second round. PLAYERS TO WATCH Alex Ovechkin - Ovechkin is still the driving force of the offense. He played all of last season at right wing, and while he scored 51 goals most of them came from the left side. He is a much better left wing than right wing at even strength, and Barry Trotz has decided to start him at LW to begin the season. Ovechkin should enjoy better success at even strength this season because his linemates cannot possibly shoot 3% at even strength all season long, and he will probably not be playing a quarter of the season with Jay loving Beagle as his center. Nicklas Backstrom (i.e. the good one) - scored almost a point per game last season, but again most of the damage was done on the power play. He's not an elite center but he is a very solid #1 center who should continue to have great success when paired with Ovechkin. Brooks Laich - his groin has been held together by duct tape the past two seasons, but he says a recent adductor release procedure finally has him back at 100% he's said this same thing more than once in the past two seasons. When healthy, he is a solid two-way LW/C who can fit in on the second or third lines. If healthy, his presence could really positively impact the forward depth. Evgeny Kuznetsov - after years of agonizing Caps fans, Kuznetsov finally left the KHL for the NHL last season, and showed glimpses of what makes him a potentially great player. He has the offensive skills to put up a lot of points in the NHL, but he is still undersized and getting used to the speed of the NHL. He will be in competition with Marcus Johansson for the second line center spot in the preseason, but if he doesn't win that job he will likely play wing on either the first or second line. Mike Green - when healthy, he is a dynamic playmaking defenseman who drives possession like few others in the game. But his problem has always been staying healthy. He has yet to learn how to avoid hits and often puts himself in unnecessary harm's way. He makes boneheaded plays on defense and cannot defend a 2 on 1 for the life of him, but his impact on possession offsets this and much more. Braden Holtby - after a couple of years of being yanked around and not knowing whether he was the guy or not, he was given a full vote of confidence by staff and management this offseason. He has had one of the better even strength save percentages in the NHL since he has arrived, but has been victim to being bombarded by shorthanded shot attempts, which has driven down his overall save percentage number. New goaltender coach Mitch Korn is regarded as one of the best in the game, and should help Holtby fix a few of his issues. Along with Korn helping him out, it is unlike that Holtby will see shots at the rate he did last season, so it is possible that his numbers will be very good next year as long as he doesn't get assaulted by Ray Emery again. Andre Burakovsky - unlikely to start on the NHL roster to begin the season, but it is possible that he will see significant time later on. Easily the Capitals best prospect at this point. Trotz sees him as a center, but he might start at his natural wing position.
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Sep 26, 2014 19:18
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Koopa Kid posted:I think it's worth noting that Carlyle's player usage and systems suppress offense and makes defenders look worse. That's the thing -- there is a lot of talent on this team. The Leafs have one of the best scoring wingers in the game, a great top-6, two fully capable good goalies, some great young talent (Rielly, Gardiner, JVR, and Kadri), and what looks to be the makings of a good bottom-6. However, it won't work. It's frustrating, because it is a case where you can point to two people in the organization as being the issue.
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Sep 26, 2014 19:20
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Twin Cinema posted:That's the thing -- there is a lot of talent on this team. The Leafs have one of the best scoring wingers in the game, a great top-6, two fully capable good goalies, some great young talent (Rielly, Gardiner, JVR, and Kadri), and what looks to be the makings of a good bottom-6. However, it won't work. It's frustrating, because it is a case where you can point to two people in the organization as being the issue. Solution: Trade Morgan Rielly to the Flames for Curtis Glencross
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Sep 26, 2014 19:32
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Boston didn't do poo poo. They have to do poo poo because they're over the cap and have too many defensemen, but they did not. Stay tuned!
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Sep 27, 2014 00:06
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a false posted:
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Sep 27, 2014 02:25
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Presenting, the Columbus Blue Jackets: Let's Get This Elephant Out of the Way You've all heard about Ryan Johansen and the pissing match between his agent, who thinks he's worth all the bucks for one good season, and management, who want to see him perform two more years before giving him all the bucks. The two parties are currently $1.7M apart on a two-year deal, after Kurt Overhardt knocked the offer down significantly. I've already posted lots about this and can do so on-demand, but for now, I'll leave it be. Will the spat end? Probably. We can just hope it ends before he plays like rear end because he's out of the loop from missing camp. Rear-View Mirror Last season, the CBJ set all kinds of personal records (43-32-7, 93 points), and had plenty of moments a pent-up fanbase has dreamed of. Sergei Bobrovsky put up decent-to-good numbers instead of regressing, and a number of players had breakout seasons. They gave the Pens all they could handle in a six-game series in which five games ended with 4-3 final scores. It looked like this magical moment would be hard to outdo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7slSSl80JzY But then...The MAFfing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWrkoHqPq2I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV9iXqyCcBs If you'd like to know what it sounds like when a fanbase suddenly gets their first home playoff win after 14 years, have a listen. I was AT this game and it was Shark Tank loud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUgGSzDEyTs The Road Ahead The Jackets disposed of several players who were essentially spare parts over the summer. Blake Comeau, Derek MacKenzie, Jack Skille (e- Re-Claimed Off Waivers from NYI), Nick Schultz, Nikita Nikitin, and RJ Umberger were among those who headed out this summer. Umberger, who had been with the CBJ since 2008, requested a trade and was granted one in exchange for Scott Hartnell who, with encouragement from former teammate Jody Shelley, was excited to waive his NTC. The core of the team is still intact for the most part. Two major question marks are Johansen (see above) and Nathan Horton (see below). Roster Notables Forward: 19- Ryan Johansen- Had a career year last season (33-30-63), but is currently in a contract spat with the organization. He's a highly skilled forward, but the cause of the spat and some previous effort questions are among the franchise's primary concerns: "He did it once. Can he do it again?". I still think both sides are eventually going to kiss and make up, because it's a serious case of Mutually Assured Destruction if they do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYw0AJsxnY4 17- Brandon Dubinsky- The main piece in the Rick Nash trade (and god drat was it worth it), CBJ fan heartthrob and spark-plug Brandon Dubinsky showed he's here for the long-haul this summer, re-upping with the Jackets for a long-term deal. He plays in all situations and wears his heart on his sleeve. A likely captain candidate, he had 50 points to his name a season ago and was a point-per-game player in the playoffs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19o9Vc-8Jrg 13- Cam Atkinson- Scores lots of goals for not much money. Great wheels and hands. 21 goals last year. There's something about Jackets with the #13 and going end to end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxz9RqnyWPI 71- Nick Foligno- The BFF of Sergei Bobrovsky, he had a career year with 39 points, plays a gritty game and not afraid to toss the mitts if needed, fun to watch. Scored a couple pretty goals of his own: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev6HKR-0AAE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWcGoUvi-1Q 42- Artem Anisimov- Another piece from the Nash trade, Arty Party's got a nice set of hands, sick as gently caress skills to boot, and can be found playing even strength as well as special teams. I mean just watch the man dangle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lASItknRXTY 55- Mark Letestu- One of the bigger surprises on a consistent basis, Test Tube's not a bad bottom 6 forward. Picked up from Pittsburgh in 2011, he had 34 points last year and has a nice set of hands in the shootout. 38- Boone "The Jennerator" Jenner- A highly-touted (in Columbus) rookie last season with an upside compared to Michael Peca, Boooooooone came to life as the season progressed. He had a 16 goal rookie campaign and, when combined with Johansen and Horton, was part of a fun line to watch. Lots of upside which probably hasn't been tapped yet. 11- Matt "Killer" Calvert- Will go down in CBJ lore for two reasons: scoring the OT goal which gave the Jackets their first playoff win, and this message-sending to a former Jacket over shoving his goalie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH7yjuBVmYU 8- Nathan Horton- Ah, yes, Jarmo's $5M man. He missed most of last season recovering from shoulder surgery and, when he DID play, he did things like this and the Jackets' play went from "Good" to "Really Good": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7i5MywTr_s The problem is the back condition which was revealed this week to be degenerative. How long will it keep him out? I hope not long. The Jackets proved they could get to the playoffs without him last year, but it'd be sure fuckin' nice if he'd be able to go this year. 43- Scott Hartnell- When I got the alert that RJ Umberger had been traded, I thought it said Scott Upshall. Then I read it again, saw Scott HARTNELL, and went "How the gently caress?". He's Umberger's direct replacement, he wants to be here and everybody's seen what he can do. The question is, how will he perform in the Jackets' system. Signs from pre-season point to "Well". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjo_SfycR_A 26- Corey Tropp- I just wanted to post this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j78KBUU7J9g 40- Jared Boll- Gets in fights. Loses fights. Defense: 21- James Wisniewski- Proving he was worth the money given to him in 2011, Wiz showed up in a big way last season. He had 51 points in 75 games and continued to demonstrate the god drat cannon of a shot he has on the PP. He just needs to learn to keep the god drat puck in on the point while playing the PP. 7- Jack "JMFJ" Johnson- 33 points. Sucked at times, played well at others. 51- Fedor Tyutin- Solid blueliner, one of the veterans on the Jackets roster. 27- Ryan Murray- Said to have Scott Niedermayer skills and wearing Niedermayer's number, Murray had a solid rookie campaign. Three of his four goals were PPGs. He's dinged up right now but will hopefully be ready to go to start the season. 58- David Savard- On the rise, stuck in the NHL last season. Third-pairing guy. Nothing fancy, but there's lots yet to be seen from him. 20- Tim Erixon- Third piece from the Nash trade, floated between Columbus and the AHL last year. Will probably stick in Columbus this year. 47- Dalton Prout- Was a surprise two years ago coming up from the AHL and playing really solid. Numbers weren't as fancy last year, but still serviceable. Goaltenders: 72- Sergei BOBROVSKY  - The Number One Cop on the Force, Officer Bob didn't put up Vezina numbers last year, but was solid at arresting many shots on goal with a 2.38 and .923. He also got into the head of former Jacket Rick Nash a couple times, including a master-level troll when Nash was already emotional about coming home:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DR9T68ivno https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxXy2n5Simo This sequence was two seasons ago, but is worth looking back at because it's ri-goddamn-diculous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4k57m5k4LA 30- Curtis McElhinney- McBackup was pressed into action more than he probably expected last year when Bob wrecked his groin, but he stood up to the task well when called upon and will be back for more this time around. Other Players The Jackets' three first-rounders in 2013 may contend for roster spots, especially if this Johansen thing draws out too long. Alexander Wennberg and Kerby Rychel appear to be in decent position to make the team, while Marko Dano hasn't stuck out too much. Simon Hjalmarsson (ex-SHL) and Brian Gibbons (ex-PIT) will make it tough for them to make the big show, though. Cody Goloubef may see time on the back end. Why Should I Get Hyped For This Team? Unfortunately, you can't have a Jackets offseason without some sort of drama, whether it be Rick Nash's contract, inaction on the part of management, Jeff Carter's seclusion, Rick Nash's trade and "The End is Nigh", Sergei Bobrovsky maybe going back to Russia. This year is no exception with Ryan Johansen. That said, this team has trended upwards the last two seasons and should at least tread water, if not improve. Johansen and Horton will be two keys to how things play out; I'd be shocked if Johansen doesn't sign. Why Should I ROOT For This Team? You should join CBAS/BJAS. As others have said, there are no stars, rather a bunch of cool, likeable guys from other teams who banded together to finally give Ohio its non-lovely NHL team in the last two seasons. They're a franchise who, just two summers ago, looked like they were going to hang out in the basement for several years, yet almost made the playoffs that season and DID last season. The Jackets are a cool second team if you need an underdog to pull for. Plus, it's not too late to get in before people start throwing the word "bandwagon" around. You can also be on board for Columbus' All-Star Game 201 
CBJSprague24 fucked around with this message at 19:04 on Oct 5, 2014 |
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Sep 27, 2014 03:05
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haha I was actually trying to find that pic and I couldn't
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Sep 27, 2014 03:30
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Let's take a look at your least favorite team, the 2014-15 Anaheim Ducks Who's Gone Teemu Selanne, RW- Anaheim's favorite son played his final season in the NHL last year. He then wrote a book and got mad at current coach Bruce Boudreau, possibly to remind you he had a book. He's a surefire Hall of Famer and will have his number retired this year. Unfortunately, his age was showing the past couple of seasons. Saku Koivu, C- Selanne's countryman also decided to retire after a year in which he declined to play in the Olympics because of his age. Koivu was largely used in a checking line role but had poor possession numbers. He'll be most remembered for his time with the Canadiens. Matthieu Perrault, C- Matty P was a pre-season steal for the Ducks and had great possession numbers and productivity. It's a bit surprising he wasn't qualified but the Ducks and Perrault decided it was best to part ways. He has since signed with the Jets. Daniel Winnik, F- Winnik played center and wing at various points. He was a good depth player who was not retained. He's now with the Leafs. Nick Bonino, C- Bones posted the third-highest point total on the Ducks, essentially in a 2C role. He was traded to Vancouver for Ryan Kesler. Peter Holland, C- Could never break into the lineup. Traded to Toronto. Stephane Robidas, D- Robidas was acquired at the deadline to shore up the Anaheim defense. He ended up re-injuring his leg in the playoffs and has signed with the Leafs. Luca Sbisa, D- Not-very-good D who was traded as part of the package for Ryan Kesler. Jonas Hiller, G- Anaheim's #1 goalie for the past few years was let go thanks to the rise of Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. Hiller signed with division rival Calgary. Viktor Fasth, G-Expected to be the #2G in Anaheim, he was the subject of circumstance. Fasth was traded at the deadline to Edmonton for picks.  New Acquisitions Ryan Kesler, C- In the biggest trade of the summer, Anaheim managed to acquire the center from Vancouver for a paltry sum. He's a 2-way forward expected to be the 2L pivot. Dany Heatley, LW- Signed for a million dollars and the possible answer to "Who plays with Perry and Getzlaf?" Is not the guy he once was. Has scored 2 goals in preseason! Nate Thompson, C- Acquired from Tampa in a trade. The Alaskan Assassin will be charged with the 4C duties. Brought in to add to center depth after Matty P walked. Clayton Stoner, D- Signed for way too goddamn much ($13M/4years) because I guess he is tall. Didn't play a lot in Minnesota or against tough competition. Was okay in the preseason game against LA  Get used to the new away jerseys Your Presumed Lineup Well, minus the additions Ryan Getzlaf, C- Had a career year last year which lead him to 2nd in Hart voting behind Sidney Crosby. I expect a slight dip in points but he's still an excellent all-around forward. Captain. Corey Perry, RW- Dude no one likes because he's an rear end in a top hat and that's incredibly true. Gonna still score 30 or so goals. Jakob Silfverberg, LW- Silf was the big prize in the Bobby Ryan trade. An injury-plagued season snakebit the two-way forward who should see time with Ryan Kesler. Andrew Cogliano, RW- Cogliano is incredibly fast and finishes sometime. Never misses a game and will fit great on a line with Kesler, or perhaps on the 3rd line. Emerson Etem, LW- Long Beach's own did a good amount of growing up in the AHL. He's expected to contribute this year at the NHL level, and I'd like to see how he does with regular time. Rickard Rakell, C- Rakell is a dynamic playmaking center with good possession. He showed a lot of promise with Etem and DSP in the A, and it could be a good line at the NHL level. Devante Smith-Pelly, RW- DSP signed right before camp and is coming off of a stellar playoffs. He needs to put that to work to help with this depth scoring line. Patrick Maroon, LW- The Big Dog is a nice possession player who can add some scoring. Look for him to play different lines and occasionally slot in with Getzlaf and Perry. Matt Beleskey, LW- Beleskey is coming off an injury but should be ready to play for this season. He'll be used a bit like Maroon but I don't expect to see him scratched. Kyle Palmieri, RW- Even though he's injured, Palmieri has failed to impress at the NHL level. I can see a lot of healthy scratches in his future if he doesn't get consistent. Tim Jackman, RW- Punches people and occasionally gets chances which never do anything. Defense Cam Fowler- Olympian emerged as true 1D last year and was incredibly capable. Close to 30 points would be another good showing for Fowler. Sami Vatanen- Another Olympian! Re-signed and should be an everyday player. Offense-first D who deserves lots of power play time. Francois Beauchemin- Veteran D is still pretty good but has clearly lost a step. Needs to be solid, not spectacular. Hampus Lindholm- All-rookie team D made an incredible leap from AHL to NHL thanks to a strong all-around game. Would love to see him score 30 points again. Ben Lovejoy- Not really a boat anchor, not really an incredible player. Decent depth D who will chip in occasionally. Bryan Allen- Slow guy who is big gets paired with Sami Vatanen, who is small and fast a lot. Clayton Stoner makes Allen an easy trade piece. Mark Fistric- 7D who is okay possession wise. Nothing spectacular, nothing terrible, just..a 7D. Goalies Frederik Andersen- Dane continued his climb up the professional ranks with solid first NHL season. Looks primed to be a #1 starter and should get most games this year. John Gibson- Highly-touted prospect was great in both regular season and playoff samples. Has been promoted to the NHL though maybe too soon. Has looked rough in preseason. Jason LaBarbera- Will probably be going to Norfolk unless Anaheim decides to send Gibson down. LaBarbera is a journeyman backup goalie who is not very good.  Prospect Nic Kerdiles with Norfolk against Worcester Players on the bubble Most of the players I mentioned are more than assured roster spots. Here are some players who will be high on the call-up list. William Karlsson, C- Swedish playmaker at the pivot spot, like Rakell. The two are reportedly battling but Karlsson barely has North American experience. Will get 1C spot in Norfolk. Nic Kerdiles, LW- Irvine's own 2nd round pick finished two years at Wisconsin and stepped in to the AHL. He looked good in a small sample, and definitely has the talent. Injury call-up. Nick Ritchie, LW- Anaheim's 2014 first round pick scores and collects PIMs because of course he does. Might get an early season tryout thanks to injuries, but expect him in Petersborough. Summary Anaheim made themselves better over the offseason, especially with the Ryan Kesler trade. Goaltending will be incredibly important as John Gibson has not had that much experience at the professional level. A lot is riding on his potential. Under Bruce Boudreau, the Ducks should contend for the division again though it looks to be even more competitive than last year.
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Sep 27, 2014 06:52
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Twin Cinema posted:Drew MacIntyre: Apparently MacIntyre did player two games for the Leafs last year, but I don't remember. He was an AHL goalie. You forgot to mention that he may also be a closet Brony.
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Sep 28, 2014 22:45
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This page takes a long time to load, maybe we're including too many pictures... Not gonna change mine though, took way too long to do 
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Sep 29, 2014 04:21
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it loads very quickly for me Ż\_(ツ)_/Ż
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Sep 29, 2014 04:54
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SA has been having networking issues since Friday-ish so it's probably not the pictures.
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Sep 29, 2014 13:53
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What're you guys, writing essays about hockey players? What a fuckin' waste of time.  This space reserved for the Detroit Red Wings.
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Sep 29, 2014 22:43
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VJeff posted:What're you guys, writing essays about hockey players? What a fuckin' waste of time. Speaking of essays...
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Sep 29, 2014 23:31
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The 2014-2015 Nashville Predators Last Season In the 2013-14 season Nashville missed the playoffs for the 2nd straight year, finishing with 88 points, good for 10th in the West and only 3 points back of 8th. Most people will probably blame this on goaltender Pekka Rinne's bizarre hip issues that had him missing most of the season, but the rest of the roster wasn't much to sneeze at anyway. Who is gone?  The biggest casualty of last season's failure was noted neck-lacker and the only head coach in Nashville's history, Barry Trotz. Trotz was not technically fired, but his contract was not renewed and after a sort of embarrassing like-fest, he and the team parted ways and he was quickly hired by the Washington Capitals. Along with him went goalie guru Mitch Korn (possibly a huge loss) and assistant coach Lane Lambert. Player departures from last season: David Legwand - The first ever Predator was traded to Detroit at the deadline for Calle Jarnkrok and Patrick Eaves Patrick Hornqvist and Nick Spaling - Traded to Pittsburgh for James Neal Kevin Klein - Traded to the Rangers for Michael Del Zotto ... Michael Del Zotto - Not qualified after a poor showing in his brief stint in Nashville. Matt Hendricks - Traded to Edmonton, somehow. Patrick Eaves - Only played 5 games, not re-signed Simon Moser - I think he hosed off to Europe New Additions  Noted puck and head-shooter James Neal was acquired in the offseason from Pittsburgh. Questions remain as to whether he will be able to continue his goal-scoring success with Nashville's lesser centers. Also, how many games suspensions will he rack up?  Nashville hired Peter Laviolette as head coach to replace Trotz. He's known to be a more offense-oriented coach, time will tell if he has the tools in Nashville to score goals. So far, judging by the preseason, he does not. Centers! Centers!! Centers!!!    After apparently failing to swing a trade for Jason Spezza in the offseason, GM David Poile decided to go for quantity over quality. He signed three old centers of dubious worth to cheap, one-year deals: Olli Jokinen, Mike Ribiero, and Derek Roy. Will at least one of them pan out? Who knows! Also signed in the offseason was vet defenseman Anton Volchenkov. Returning players Forwards: Craig Smith - Put up 52 points last season, hopefully he can meet or exceed that this year. Mike Fisher - Will miss time at the beginning of the season due to a summer training injury. Will probably get broken again at some point. Matt Cullen - Is an NHL player, for sure Paul Gaustad - Hopefully will stay healthy and win lots of faceoffs and not be too slow and terrible otherwise Colin Wilson - Will probably continue being kind of a bust who is bad defensively. I wouldn't be surprised to see him traded this season if his play doesn't pick up. Gabriel Bourque - Apparently he has surprisingly good fancy stats? Eric Nystrom - Another third line center Viktor Stalberg - Was terrible last year. It would be nice if he would be slightly less terrible this year. Calle Jarnkrok - Didn't play much last year but apparently is looking good in camp. Rich Clune - Is at least sort of ok at hockey as far as punchmen go. Filip Fordserg - Put on some muscle over the summer, hopefully ready to stick in the NHL this season Defense: Shea Weber - He's pretty good Roman Josi - Hopefully doesn't get conked in his noggin this season. Seth Jones -  Ryan Ellis - Held out through part of training camp and then signed a long-rear end deal. He looked pretty good to me last season. Mattias Ekholm - pretty decent Victor Bartley - Gonna be scratched a lot, probably. Goalies: Pekka Rinne - Please stay healthy and not bad Carter Hutton - Probably a serviceable backup at this point. Question Marks And Storylines - What the hell will happen with Laviolette coaching? - Will David Poile get fired? - Will Pekka Rinne stay healthy and/or play well? - Is any of Nashville's young offensive talent actually talented? - Can anyone play top-6 center? Predictions I think this team will probably be bad and miss the playoffs. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if they were mediocre and snuck in to the 7 or 8 spot. I have no idea. edit: The also just signed Taylor Beck to a one-way deal yesterday so once Fisher comes back there will be a logjam at forward. Thufir fucked around with this message at 16:12 on Oct 1, 2014 |
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Sep 30, 2014 17:16
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Nitramster posted:LA Kings
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Oct 1, 2014 17:40
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The Buffalo Sabres https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7Df_1UC7dk
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Oct 1, 2014 20:26
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 The Dallas Stars return pretty much intact from their playoff roster. What's gone is not really lost, but what's lacking is still potentially fatal in the Central. Backup goaltending and defense are major, major flaws. The PP and PK were both bottom third.  Gone in the offseason: Ray Whitney - Aged out. Should have a legendary coaching/training career because that's a likeable guy who thinks the game very well. Tim Thomas - Was bad to terrible, though probably better than Dan Ellis. Dustin Jeffrey - Signed with the Canucks. Desjardins likes him I guess. Didn't stand out much at all in Dallas. Lane MacDermid - Europe probably Cris Nilstorp - Europe probably Aaron Rome - Bought out. Only compliance buyout used. Was solid when he got to Dallas but turned into Mr. Glass after. Kinda sad. Chris Mueller - Signed with NYR  New faces! Jason Spezza - Came from some frozen slab where they dig tunnels to get from place to place. Provides pizza to the masses. Oh god I can't goddamn wait. Ales Hemsky - Stellar addition. We just bought a second line for nothing, now we find out if Cole can keep up with the two of them. Patrick Eaves - If the third line of Garbutt-Eakin-Roussel stays together he's going to be playing the 4th line. Already 30, but serviceable. Anders Lindback - Looks like a sieve in preseason and gives me heartburn. PK Subban broke this man.  Noteable kids: Colton Sceviour - The most likely two way forward to not see Austin this year. Quick thinking, good wrist shot, uses whatever space he's given to good effect, usually. 4th liner. Kevin Connauton - Played 36 games last year and has taken a spot on a very young blue line over a lot of competition. Jamie Oleksiak - The 6'7" big elbowing slow thinkin' Big Rig will be back in Austin after Dillon is signed unless somebody gets hurt, and even then... Jyrki Jokipakka - Might just take that spot. Strong candidate for best Finnish name in hockey right now. Patrick Nemeth - Maybe the best raw defensive prospect Dallas has in their system. Doesn't shoot often at all but has dat gap and great tracking. Most of the forward kids had their debut set back a bit by the arrival of Spezza, Hemsky and Eaves. Radek Faksa, Brett Richie or Jason Dickinson will probably come up in injury reserve. AHL studs, NHL unknowns. Speaking of the unknown, GET WELL SOON PEVERLEY WE NEED YOU SO BAD  Idiotically hype video made about this season's expectations after last year's breakout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smbx-saW22M Expectations: 2nd round or bust! Reality: Any injuries are going to expose a lack of depth that might push them out of playoff contention.  The Bromance: Real 
DOOMocrat fucked around with this message at 17:15 on Oct 2, 2014 |
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Oct 1, 2014 22:46
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Scylla posted:Very nice! Thanks! Everyone else is doing a great job, I think mines kinda lame.
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Oct 1, 2014 23:17
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Great posts everyone! Keep 'em coming!
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Oct 2, 2014 16:28
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THE 2014-15 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS This will all end in tears...   2013-14 Recap To say the Flyers got off to a slow start is a bit of an understatement. They were loving awful to start. So bad they got their head coach (Peter Laviolette) fired. Claude "Best Player In The World" Giroux didn't score a goal until the 16th game of the season. Things looked pretty bleak. The team turned things around though, and started to buy into new head coach Craig Berube's system. The offence found its scoring touch. The defence looked...adequate. Steve Mason did not, to the surprise of pretty much everyone, turn back into a pumpkin. Giroux, despite not scoring a goal for the first six weeks of the season, finished 3rd in the NHL in points. Eventually this culmulated into a 42-30-10 record, good for 3rd place in the And of course because it's the playoffs and against the Rangers, the Flyers lost the series. At least we can hang our hats on the fact that we didn't get swept. Key DeparturesLW Scott Hartnell - A fan favourite and above average goal scorer. Traded to Columbus for R.J. Umberger. RW Steve Downie - Signed with Pittsburgh. Was decent-ish when he wasn't hurt last year, which was almost never. RW Adam Hall - Very good penalty killer and was a good, cheap 4th liner. hosed off to Europe. Notable Additions RW R.J. Umberger - Aquired in the Hartnell trade. A slight downgrade from Scott, but his contract expires 2 years sooner. Also doesn't fall down all the time. D Michael Del Zotto - Wasn't given a QO by Nashville after last year, signed for depth after Timonen was diagnosed with blood clots. D Nick Schultz - Another depth defenceman. Also, he sucks. Important Players You Should Know Claude "Ginger Jesus" Giroux https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf7SwT85LrA "Oh Captain, my Captain!" Uhhhhhh, dude's really loving good. Also, has more points than anyone over the last 3 seasons. Wayne "Wayne Train" Simmonds  Last season saw Simmonds break out as one of the biggest PP threats in the NHL, ranking 3rd in PP goals. He also like to punch dudes, so he's essentially a better version of Scott Hartnell. Jake "The Snake" Voracek aka "Scoracek"  Wasn't the goal scoring monster he was during the lockout shortened season, but still one of the most talented goal scorers in the league. Sean "Cooter" Couturier  May possibly be the best penalty killer and shutdown forward in the NHL. He's still only 21, so he's still got plenty of time to develop his offensive skills too. Steve "Stebe" Mason  Great news, everyone! He doesn't suck, I think! Maybe? Who cares, he had a decent season last year! Maybe he'll have another one this year too! If you are wondering why FAS is super excited about a goalie having just an average season, it's quite simple. The last good goaltender this team had is now its General Manager. Other Players FORWARDS Brayden "Babby" Schenn - A good but inconsistent goal scorer. Matt "Reading Rainbow" Read - Late-blooming but very good two-way forward. Usually Couturier's PK Partner Michael "Rafflcopter" Raffl - Can seemingly play on any line. Played very well with Giroux last season, though I doubt he's going to see much 1st line time this year. Vinny Lecavalier - He's not very good anymore except on the PP. R.J. Umberger - When the most exicitng thing about you is the cap relief you'll give your team two years from now when you leave, that's not really much of an endorsement. Zac Rinaldo - Resident shithead/punchman. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - Some fast french guy. Jason Akeson - Played well in the playoffs last year, though everyone's gonna remember him for a stupid penalty he took that cost them a game. Blair Jones - Uhhhhhh.......who? Jay Rosehill - Another lovely punchman who will probably spend most of the year a healthy scratch. A DUMPSTER FIRE THAT'S VISIBLE FROM SPACE (Defence) Mark Streit - PP QB, getting old, wasn't as horrible as everyone thought he'd be last year. Braydon Coburn - Probably the best actual defenceman, so there's that. Nick Grossmann - Blocks shots, is slow. Luke "Dumb" Schenn - Brayden's older brother. He is very slow and bad at hockey. Andrew MacDonald - A possession black hole who Paul Holmgren gave $5,000,000/yr in a final "gently caress you" to Flyer fans. Nick Schultz - Bad. Hopefully spends most of the year hanging out with Rosehill in the press box. Michael Del Zotto - Not very good from what I hear, but he's only 24, so maybe could be a reclamation project. GOALIES Ray Emery - His hip exploded the first time he played for us, yet teams don't seem to realise he has no lateral movement. Still, a more than servicable backup. LONG-TERM INJURED RESERVE Kimmo Timonen - Is old as hell and still is our best defenceman. May be able to come back later this year, but it's a long shot. Chris Pronger - Technically still on this year because retiring would gently caress this team's cap situation big time. PREDICTION This team will score a bunch of goals, but it's also gonna give up a bunch. I think Steve Mason keeps up what he did last year, though I wouldn't be surprised if his stats go down because holy gently caress is that defence bad. Thankfully the Metro is wide open with every team aside from Carolina having a shot at making the playoffs. Best case: Flyers able to outscore their defensive issues, Timonen is able to recover before the season ends, and Mason maintains form. 3rd place in the Metro. Worst case: Offence is inconsistant, defence is a horrid clusterfuck, and Mason regresses. 7th place in Metro. Infidel Castro fucked around with this message at 00:19 on Oct 4, 2014 |
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Oct 2, 2014 19:47
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Infidel Castro posted:THE 2014-15 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS I'm pretty much on par with this. This and maybe next year are basically going to be an exercise in patience, which is really loving foreign for this team. (E: I mean as in the team being patient, not just the team trying my patience) Hextall is refusing to call any of the rookies up too soon, including Ghost Bear, and wanting to finally shift this to a team that develops via the draft and minors instead of trying to trade for immediate results. Ghost Bear is going to own... eventually. I'd imagine he'll get a couple call-ups and play well but I really don't want to see him burn out across an 82 game schedule. Like Castro said, they're going to score a shitload of goals and probably give up almost as many. Thankfully the Metro is insane and as such, gives them a decent shot at making the playoffs but probably not going further than the 1st round. I really feel for Mason because he is going to have zero help this year. DJExile fucked around with this message at 19:58 on Oct 2, 2014 |
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Oct 2, 2014 19:56
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Well, it is me or Rutkowski, so I will bite the bullet. 2014-15 Arizona Coyotes  Last year recap Last year the Coyotes played respectable for the first while. A lot of excitement was around the new ownership and the fact that they would spend money to win, signing top free agent Mike Riberio to a long term big money deal. They were scoring way too much for their team's M.O., the powerplay was good and it seemed like they might break free of the 'don't score much' trope. But then the inevitable scoring backslide happened and Mike Riberio crawled into a liquor bottle never to be seen again. With all that against them, they chugged along holding tight to that #8 spot. Mike Smith went down for an extended period of time and it was time for Thomas Greiss to show that he was capable of coming through when he was needed the most. And he poo poo his pants. The Coyotes fell out of the race and finished 4th in the Pacific just 2 points and some ROW out of the playoffs. Offseason Moves Probably the most visible change this offseason was the changing of the team name. The name was switched from the Phoenix Coyotes to the Arizona Coyotes, which makes since considering they have not played in Phoenix for a decade now. Team wise, right away the team bit the bullet and bought out Mike Riberio. This came as a surprise to most people, he clearly had lost favor on the ice, he was on the 4th line or benched most of the playoff push, but no one expected this. Turns out he has a major drug (probably alcohol) problem, was late to/skipped practices and team events, missed flights, got in screaming matches with coach Dave Tippett and was just an all around douchebag. I am glad he is gone and it says a lot about the club that they won't put up with that kind of poo poo. He is now off to Nashville, where I am sure he will have no problems (see Radulov circa their last playoff stint). Key Losses Mike Riberio - A key loss only in terms of money, should be addition by subtraction Radim Vrbata - Left as a UFA to Vancouver. Leaves a huge scoring hole in the Coyotes, but can hopefully be filled by Gagner/Domi Thomas Greiss - An OK backup, but proved that he does not have what it takes to perform highly yet Jeff Halpern - A great faceoff specialist and PKer. He might end up being more missed than any departures this year. Derek Morris - Great point shot, but getting old and showing it. With a glut of young defensive talent, the writing was on the wall for him Paul Bissonette - Great twitter personality, noted punchman who had some value in being able to play both F/D and bringing energy. He spent the majority of games in the pressbox though. Kennedy - He was a player Key Additions Sam Gagner - A younger center with a touch for scoring. He has consistently put up ~40 points every year since he came into the league. The only years he failed to hit 40 were shortened by lockout and a broken jaw. He still put up 38 and 37 respectively. Gagner will eat up a large chunk of the void Vrbata left behind, if not fill it outright, while playing a more valuable position. He was acquired for literally nothing. BJ Crombeen - He came over as the condition for getting Gagner for free. He makes decent money to not really do much. He will be a serviceable replacement for Paul Bissonette. Devin Dubnyk - Starting goalie last year for the Oilers. Not as bad as his numbers suggest because he was on the Oilers. Got hot-potatoed around a lot last year. He will be a better backup than Thomas Griess and could fill in respectably for Smitty should he go down for some time. Joe Vitale - Solid 4th line center, not as good on faceoffs as Halpern was though. Returning Veterans Forward: Shane Doan - Captain Coyote is back for another season and although he is cooling offensively he is still a solid 50-60 point guy. Missed a ton of games last season with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (not making this poo poo up) and even when he came back, was not the same player for a good portion of the year. Expect solid offense, huge hits and a suspension or two out of this power forward this year. Martin Hanzal - In the running for the award for 'best player you never heard of', Hanzal is cut from the same cloth Shane Doan is. Hanzal is big and bruising and gives the other team's star players fits. Although he lacks the scoring touch Doan has, Hanzal scores enough to keep from being a niche player, racking up a career high 40 points last season. Playing both the PP and PK, Hanzal can often be found with his big rear end parked in front of the opposing goalies looking for tips or juicy rebounds. Mikkel 'The Great Dane' Boedker - Boedker has experienced a slow breakout for the past several years. He never went through the 20-to-70 point seasons that a lot of pundits expected but has instead gradually increased his point output year after year. He broke the 50 point threshold last season and it looks like this season he is poised to become an elite scorer in this league. Also, if anyone tells you that Lars Eller is the real Great Dane, they are loving liars. Antione Vermette - Great 2 way player, responsible center. Emerged as a SHG threat last season for a while. Not going to light up the world by any means, but he is good for 30-40 points a season. Very likely to be the top line center Martin Erat - 3 years ago, Erat was pretty highly regarded. He came to the Capitals in a trade that send highly touted prospect Filip Forsberg back, so the pressure to perform was high. After a "rough" stint in DC (he still put up 27 points in 62 games for them) he was sent to Arizona for peanuts. A bit of an unknown for the Coyotes, will a full season of stability and zero-pressure and expectations mark a return to his salad days in Nashville? Time will tell. Lauri 'Korpedo' Korpikoski - Korp is know for his fast transition. It leads to a lot of breakaways and makes him a big threat, especially on the PK. His ability to finish is questionable and it seems unlikely he will touch 40 points again. That being said, he is a solid 3rd liner that is good for 20-25 all day. Kyle Chipchura - This is the guy that Paul Bissonette strives to be one day. Chippy will never be a star, but he provides grit, energy and the willingness to fight. The 20 points he put up last year did not hurt either. Previous seasons points totals were in the upper half of the teens, so it is not completely unreasonable to expect similar results. Rob Klinkhammer - In addition to having a great hockey name, Klinkhammer made some waves early in the season with a scoring streak. Though he did come back down to earth, his first full season with the Coyotes was a 20 point affair and that is not too bad for a bottom 6 player. Lucas Lessio - Lessio played 3 games with the Yotes last year and seems to be a solid bottom 6 player. Look for him to get some more time with the club as a spare part. Jordan Szwarz - Played 26 games with the club last year, scoring 3 goals. Did not look completely out of place, but still a ways off from being a legitimate NHLer. David Moss/Brandon McMillian - Eh, they are OK. Defense: Keith Yandle - Yandle is a great talent and is the odds-on favorite to replace Shane Doan as captain someday. An unappreciated scoring threat leaguewide, Yandle has quietly racked up 40 or more points every year for the past 5, with the exception of the lockout season. He still score 30 then. His 53 points last year were good enough for his 2nd best career total, despite a career worse 3.3% shooting percentage. Yandle is also incredibly durable, playing every game in the last 5 years. It seems likely that this year is the year he eclipses the 60 point barrier that has eluded him to this point. Oliver Ekman-Larsson - For as good as Yandle looks now, OEL arguably looks better. His offensive numbers have improved every year (assuming you pro-rate the lockout season) Significantly better defensively, OEL has emerged as the team's best coverage option. He draws the hardest defensive assignments and still has time to put up a career best 44 points. While Yandle may remain a more potent offensive threat, do not be surprised if OEL is knocking on 60 this year as well. Zbynek Michalik - Michalek was a shot blocking machine several years back for the Coyotes and left for greener pastures in Pittsburgh. That did not work out well and 2 years ago Michalek came back. Last year was an as expected full year from Michalek and this year will be the same. He will not provide much offense, but he is a rock defensively. Unlikely to get the shot blocking title again, but he is not afraid to lay down in front of the rubber. Micheal Stone - While his brother Mark might be a little better known, Michael has proven himself to be more valuable. Completing his first full year with the Coyotes last year, he has made himself a regular on a crowded blueline. While he spent some time as the 7th D (70 gp), he racked up 21 points which point to good things for the young blueliner. Connor Murphy - Selected 20th overall in the 2011 draft, Murphy got his chance in the bigs and impressed. Though he only played 30 games last year, it is very likely he gets a full season with the big club this year. Chris Summers - A rotating 7th defensemen, Summers likely does not have enough to make the big time with the Coyotes. It is likely we will see him traded or waived. David Schlemko - Sometimes you love him, more times you hate him, Schlemko is the resident 6/7 D for the Coyotes. Playing in 48 games last year, he put up 18 points, but was probably responsible for more. The club seems to like him, but he might be losing his job to the younger blood soon. Brandon Gormley - Can we call him a veteran yet? I guess since he played last year, he is in. Gormley was taken 13th overall in the 2010 draft and has has high expectations put on him for a long time. He had a 5 game tryout with the Yotes last year where he failed to impress, but at the same time did not look completely lost. An odds on bet to make it out of camp, Gormley has the skills to be a bonafide PP QB. If he makes the bigs, Schlemko might be on the way out. Goalies: Mike Smith - There is not too much to say about Smitty. He had an amazing, Vezina calibre season 3 years back, signed a hugh contract and regressed a bit. He bounced back last year, posting a .915 SV%, but got bit by the injury bug at the wrong time. Should have a good season with a competent backup this time around. Prospects to look out for Max Domi - Son of NHL (great? Player?) Tie, Max has had a lot of buzz around him, with many people suggesting he is better than his father. With 87 and 93 points the last 2 seasons with the London Knights, he is clearly talented offensively. From the looks of it, he will be making it out of training camp and be put on the 1st or 2nd lines at center. If he sticks, time will tell. Justin Hodgeman - A surprise at camp this year, Hodgeman is really pushing for a spot. My gut tells me that he might be one of the last guys cut from opening night's roster. Louis Domingue - Mark Visentin might be higher on the goaltending depth chart, but Domingue deserves praise with his play this preseason. Though not a threat to unseat Smith or Dubnyk, Domingue is still young for a goaltender and could see time in the bigs in the future. Outlook I'm not going to pull any punches, the West this year is a loving meat grinder. Arizona has the potential to make the playoffs, but to do so they need to outplay Minnesota, Edmonton, Vancouver and Colorado. I see them fighting all year and finishing between 7th and 10th in the West.
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Oct 2, 2014 23:07
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The Yotes sent Domi back to the OHL this afternoon as per BoBo.
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Oct 3, 2014 00:19
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ThinkTank posted:The Yotes sent Domi back to the OHL this afternoon as per BoBo. Gormley, Lessio and Szwarz also went back down. Honestly surprised at Domi and Gormley but with their roster being pretty well fleshed out, there is no need to rush them either. Pretty sure we will see more of these guys as injury callups. I think that puts the roster at 23, so there is a good chance Justin Hodgman made the team out of camp. Good for him. Coyotes final preseason game is Friday. David Schlemko, your job is safe.... for now.
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Oct 3, 2014 00:52
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Oilers are back baby
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Oct 3, 2014 03:22
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Infidel Castro posted:THE 2014-15 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS  your worst case scenario is the thing that is most-likely to happenThe Flyers are hot loving garbage and will finish 6th or lower in their division  Someone pick a Philly-area charity I won't have to donate $50 dollars to but totally would if by some miracle the Flyers didn't crash and burn spectacularly
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Oct 3, 2014 19:26
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Flyers were hot garbage last year and somehow managed to make the playoffs, go figure.
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Oct 3, 2014 19:48
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Levitate posted:Flyers were hot garbage last year and somehow managed to make the playoffs, go figure. The defense this year is worse
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Oct 3, 2014 20:46
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grack posted:The defense this year is worse So is the rest of the East. 
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Oct 3, 2014 20:50
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