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good post. Appreciate the POV. You can log me the "doubt it" column. I think the Flyers have a great core of defensmen, and if used properly, should be the strength of the team. But a "new, leading edge"? I can't get there. They are not better without Nisky. And with him, they got exposed and torched in the playoffs. You can spring the offense all you want, but if the offense can't control the puck or score goals, you're going to find yourself in a lot of odd man rushes. All the quotes in your post sound like filler during a boring off season
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Are our Flyers on the leading-edge of the NHL New Era defence? Thinking about our Flyers Defence Group and the addition of Gustafsson - (If there is anyone uncomfortable with a long post, please just pass on this.) In reading all the transcripts of Fletcher/Flahr/AV media conferences of the last few months, it seems like they are thinking of a more up-pace defensive corp that is competent in the D-zone but also has speed/quickness/smarts in quickly exiting the D-zone and joining the rush. Erik Gustafsson wasn't signed to replace Matt Niskanen, but the Team feels the 28-year-old defenseman can give them something they were lacking. >> "[Gustafsson] has tremendous deception with the puck, tremendous poise," general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "We don't have a defenseman that sees the ice like he does, he can play on the power play. It's a different type of skill set than Matt ... there wasn't going to be that ability to replace Matt per se with the same style." << >> "We think his [Gustafsson] skill set meshes really well with what we need," Fletcher said. "We think we have a lot of strong defenders on our team and we're very structured defensively as a group. His skill set, his ability to go back on pucks and make good decisions and transition the puck up the ice, we thought was a very important element to add to our group." << GM Fletcher: >> "Gustafsson’s just got tremendous deception and vision. I think he generates offense a little bit differently than Ghost. I think Provorov’s elite defensively. Sanheim and Myers in my opinion will become elite shutdown defensemen in this league. Justin Braun is an elite defender [defensively]. Hägg is a good defender. So why not have a couple guys that can spring your offense? If we can defend less, that would be a great thing." << Fletcher: >> As I mentioned when we spoke about Matt Niskanen a few weeks ago, it’s going to be very difficult to replace Matt Niskanen. There wasn’t a defenseman in our opinion in the marketplace that was anywhere near as complete the player as Niskanen with the obvious exception of Pietrangelo. Whoever we were going to bring in was not going to fill the same role or have the same stylistic fit that Matt did. Essentially, we were able to bring back Justin Braun on a two-year deal. Justin in our opinion is an elite penalty killer and has that ability to defend and shut down in certain situations. Erik [Gustafsson] is a player that at least the last three seasons, has had a high impact offense at 5-on-5. Of all the defensemen in the game, I think he’s 10th at even strength points per 60 (minutes) over the last three seasons, which is a remarkable number. He has tremendous deception with the puck. Tremendous poise. We don’t have a defenseman that sees the ice like he does. He can play on the power play obviously. It’s a different type of skillset than Matt certainly, but as I mentioned a few weeks ago, there wasn’t going to be that ability to replace Matt per se with the same style. << These statements are a big hint to what Fletcher and AV are planning. Leading edge. Key statement: "So why not have a couple guys [read Provy/Gus/San/Myers] that can spring your offense? If we can defend less, that would be a great thing." "If we can defend less, that would be a great thing." (Flyers 5-man units including very mobile defencemen and with offensive puck-possession a higher percentage of game time.) The 'new era NHL' approach to the defence corps - - multiple defencemen who are very mobile, fast/quick, puck-moving out of the D-zone, join-the-rush, and can put up solid offensive numbers (in addition to being competent defensively). We now have 4 of these. Maybe it will work. Provorov - Gustafsson Sanheim - Myers (RH) Hagg - Braun (RH) #7 - Friedman (RH) (Ghost traded at some point) Instead of looking at losing an excellent defenceman in Niskanen, who complements/protects Provorov, and saying 'Gustafsson doesn't replace Niskenen' - - - can we say that actually now 'Provorov replaces Niskanen and the skilled Gustafsson replaces Provorov in role for that pair'? Do we older Flyers fans, fixed in our thinking of many years, need to open our eyes, get out of the box, and try to understand the new wave NHL with unique defencemen skill-sets and roles? Are our Flyers on the leading edge? Provorov, Gustafsson, Sanheim, Myers, Zamula, Wylie, York. Also, Fletcher played it smart - - signing Gus for 1 season. Advantages: 1) if Gus was signed for multiple years, and assuming Fletcher would opt for the Protected List 7F/3D/1G choice, Provorov/Sanheim/Myers would be protected, and Gus would be vulnerable to be selected by Seattle. Not so with Gus on a 1-year contract because Gus would be a pending UFA at the June Expansion Draft (UFA on 7/1/21). Most likely, Seattle will not select pending UFAs in the Expansion Draft. And, our Flyers would have a shot at signing him after the Expansion Draft if mutual interest.* 2) it gives Fletcher/AV a chance to evaluate Gus over the assumed 48 or 60 game 2020-21 season, plus playoffs, without commiting to a mult-year contract. *Assuming Gus has played very well for AV's team, and our Flyers want Gus back on a multi-year contract, and assuming Gus likes it here, Fletcher could 'pay' Gus with a new contract. All this without losing him in the Expansion Draft. NHL New Era Defence - - are our Flyers on the leading edge?
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Nice tackle, the Eagles are looking for linebackers
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Well, someone had to win This is about the same as what we are witnessing qith the NFC east
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Zzeke changed their profile photo
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Raffle loaned to his home country makes sense if he is staying in his country during the offseason. If he was here in Philly and took a flight to Austria, then that's a different story. But it seems like he was already over seas, so why not start playing some games and get a head start to the season. Especially if your going to be playing for a contract. With the uncertainty of the world optics and oppositions on how the world should be, I don't blame him for playing in Austria.
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Bingo. Winner! When AV played for St. Louis, he was a tough guy that stood up for his teammates. As a Head Coach, his players have respect for him. Check this out: NHL Feb. 16, 1983 Stewart Gavin,TOR v Alain Vigneault,STL Toronto Maple Leafs St. Louis Blues
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just a fyi...NHLshop.com site 30% off
AlaskaFlyerFan replied to Cheesesteak's topic in Philadelphia Flyers
They have some jerseys on sale now. Don't think they are the pro jerseys though. Black Friday Sale up to 65% off regular prices. -
Our very own coach AV
- Last week
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Yes, AV can plug him in on LW/RW on any of the 4 lines when needed, due to injury or penalty box, and be confident that he will play responsibly, not hurt the tem, and as OR said - will get timely goals.
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Nah he is a very valuable bottom 6 guy. Someone is going have to beat him out to take his spot. If my memory serves me he was tied as the leading goal scorer this past playoff run. So no worries in fact someone would have to overpay me for his services come the trade deadline because he is valuable for a playoff run.
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Hey MainFlyFan, like your Profile Icon - - Maine Mariners! Trivia question - - Who is this Mariners' player??? Anyone know? Maine Mariners 1983-84 Season Defense -- shoots R Born May 14 1961 -- Quebec, PQ [59 yrs. ago] Height 5.11 -- Weight 200 [180 cm/91 kg]
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Maybe this just doesnt bode well for Raffl
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Well that does not bode well for the start of the 2020-2021 season..... Gonna be a long, BORING isolated winter here in the Northeast. Enjoy Everyone!
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Yeh CX, and this 2020-21 season is the last season on his contract. 1.6 M Cap Hit. The fact that the Flyers sent him out on loan at this time is not a good sign that there is optimsm to get the new season started in January with NHL Camps in December.
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I didnt realize Raffl was 32
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MICHAEL RAFFLLW, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS The Philadelphia Flyers have loaned winger Michael Raffl to Villacher SV of the ICE Hockey League in Austria. Raffl played with a high ankle sprain during the post-season, thought to have been suffered during the round-robin portion of the tournament. Raffl. who turns 32 on Wednesday, was born in Villach and played there until he was 24. He then joined the Flyers and has been a bottom-six forward through most of his career. Raffl had eight goals and 20 points in 58 regular season games last year but shone in the playoffs with four goals and an assist in nine games. SOURCE: Adam Kimelman on Twitter Nov 28, 2020, 12:00 PM ET I think that this is the first Flyers rostered player loaned out. Flyers prospects loaned are: - Felix Sandstrom G Vasterviks IK, Sweden Allsvenskan - Kirill Ustimenko G Gomel, Belarus, KHL - Linus Hogberg Allsvenskan’s Vita Hasten HC, Sweden - German Rubtsov C HC Sochi, Russia, KHL - David Kase C/W Karlovy Vary HC, Czech League - Linus Sandin RW/LW HV71 Jonkoping, Sweden, SHL - Maksim Sushko RW Dyamo Minsk, Belarus, KHL
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Well let's hope Ustimenko and Sandstrom has something to say about that.
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Lyon plays a great two periods of hockey in the AHL. I can't tell you how many late goals he gave up in LV the last two years. I'd rather have Tokarski or even Stolarz.
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Yes we saw other teams like the Isles clog up the middle and force them to be a perimeter team and they tried but couldn't even get any quality shots through on net or when they did there seemed to be no one who could pounce of the rebound. That has to change they need some forwards who are going to find some space around the top of the crease to help screen the goalie and be there to slide the rebound home. Or basically I could have said just try and do what other teams try vs the Flyers and are successful with...hey yeah try that but you have to have the guys willing to pay the price to hand in those areas...
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Good points. Additionally - - 1) Goal scoring may not be a big issue. Our Flyers last season were 7th in the 31-team NHL in 'goals scored' (They played 1 and 2 games less than the two teams ahead of them, and could easily have been 5th in the League). 2) The reminder from GM Fletcher - don't draw conclusions from the small sample size of the 13 games of the Bubble Playoffs. I think he is right. 3) The possibility, depending on circumstances, of one of these skill forwards making the team soon (as you said - next 2 seasons): Sandin, Frost, Allison - - most likely Sandin this season - - age 24, is a goal scorer with SHL pro experience. Other positives for optimism: 1) the addition of Lindblom and potentially Patrick 2) young rostered players have not yet peaked and will get better and better: Konecny, Farabee, NAK, Bunnaman (in his 4th line role), Sanheim, Myers, Provorov, Hart Actually, thinking about the end of the 2019-20 regular season success to climb to the top and how well the team was in sync, and also knowing that finally the top-rated (2nd behind Buffalo) prospect pool is/will be ready to emerge, the future seems bright for our Flyers.
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Yeah, who needs another player like that when we already have 4 lines worth?
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.....but we will still be 2 seasons away from having any young offensive players ready to step in There is no question that the Flyers strength is D. That includes in goal. Nisky was a set back, and I think it will take a full season to recover from that loss. But as we saw in the PO, defense alone couldnt get it done. If they dont improve their play up front, by the time these young players are ready, we will lose these d-men to expiring contracts
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I agree and look how long it took them to finally get them....and Eklund now just expects them to give one a way for a guy who is infamous for playing soft come playoff time. I think not. As you said he is just dangling click bait. And it is slow and nothing much else to talk about.
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>> a source tells me they have had talks over the past few days with the Flyers regarding a top D-man for Nylander << Slow time. He needs site hits. But, just for conversation purposes, the 3 'rumors' floated this off-season have been for wingers Gaudreau, Laine, and Nylander. How would we rank them in fit for our Flyers? Also, what E is ignoring is - - having a quality top-2 pairs of defencemen are a lot harder to get than skilled forwards (top-9). The Sanheim-Myers pair of big, great skating, 2-way young mobile defencemen, along with Provorov, will be a pillar of the Flyers defense for many years. GMs around the league salavate at getting any of these guys. No way does Fletcher move any of them. (unless it's for Connor McDavid ) In 3 seasons from now, the Flyers will have the best 6-man mobile defense in the NHL that can excel in all 3 zones: LD - RD Provorov-Zamula Sanheim-Myers (RH) York-Friedman (RH) (maybe Gustafsson) #7 - Hagg
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Our picks
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Recap of 10 year zoom reunion of Flyers 2010 SCF Players
Poulin20 posted a topic in Philadelphia Flyers ,
Dear all,
As part of my season ticket holder benefits the Flyers invited me to a 10 year reunion of a handful of the 2010 players on a Zoom type system where we could see and hear all the players but they could not hear or see us (see screenshot at end of recap). It was hosted by Steve Coates and radio announcer Tim Saunders. In attendance were JVR, Scott Hartnell, Claude Giroux, Simon Gagne, Danny Briere, Ian laperriere, Kimmo Timonen, and Brian Boucher. The event lasted an hour and they discussed some of the behind the scenes stuff from the 2010 playoff run.
Firstly they discussed how they had been picked to go far at the beginning of the season and how they laid an egg early on which got Stevens fired. Coatsey and Saunders asked if the hiring of Lavvy made a huge difference and they tried to be diplomatic about it but said yes implicitly. Hartnell said that Stevens was all defense and that nobody likes to play defense and they all felt freed by Lavvy's offensive system to do their thing. As you can imagine they also highlighted that Stevens was very soft spoken and that Lavvy was very fiery which really inspired them. They also said the leadership of Pronger was huge. Harts said just the name gave them more confidence but also his big body and the leadership as well.
Then they went into a discussion about how the season was ending where they were losing 8 out of 11 down the stretch including one to the Rangers in game 81 of the season. The most interesting thing we learned about the last game of the season was that Lavvy anticipated that the Rags would play them tight and may even play for a shootout as they had Lundqvist in net and figured if they could get it to a shootout they would beat the Flyers in it (I myself certainly thought so when it got to the SO). Lavvy wanted them to be prepared for this so at practice he called Gagne, Giroux, Briere, JVR, Richards and Carter over to him and said he wanted them to study film of Lundqvist in the SO and pick a move that they planned to move and practice that move. They did so and Briere went out and executed is perfectly. Giroux on the other hand changed his mind in the middle of his attempt and then had nothing to shoot at so he just went 5 hole and was lucky that it went in. Boucher mentioned that he was so nervous before the game and really felt the pressure that afternoon. He also note that he couldnt stand Lundqvist's celebration at the end of Ranger wins where he taps his posts and then does a huge fist pump. Bouch witnessed it from the bench in the previous game and wanted to do it back to him if the Flyers won and when he made that last save his celebration was an attempt to emulate and mock it. Booch said he actually tripped up when trying to do it as he got up awkwardly from the save but that was the story behind his famous celebration.
cont'd on forum post
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hf101, -
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Leafs Players Sorted By Defence (The "Minus" Score) Version 2.0
WordsOfWisdom posted a topic in Toronto Maple Leafs ,
Okay, after listening to feedback (I do occasionally listen lol) I took a second crack at this stat.... and here's what I came up with:
To me, what was missing previously was a way to get defensive scores back UP again through continued playing time, so now it's here. It's like a "counter-balance" to allow defensive scores to rise.
With this recent improvement, there was no longer a need to add 100 to try and pretty up the scores. I left them as is and they fluctuate between positive and negative values, just like regular +/-..... but this is NO +/- !!! This is much closer (I hope) to what people have been looking for. It is quite literally DEFENCE..... just defence and nothing else.
Now, I know what people are going to say: "But guys are still being punished for offence..." (That comment makes me cringe.) No player is ever technically "punished" for offence. They're just not able to boost their DEFENCE rating by scoring points. That's it. If you're the worst defensive player in the league, you can't score 100 goals, boost your stat, and then turn around and claim a Selke trophy. This isn't +/-. Just like you can't erase ERRORS in baseball by hitting more home runs. It doesn't make sense. If you commit 50 errors in baseball, the only way you can get better is to stop making errors... and if you play long enough error-free, you will eventually raise your fielding percentage to a respectable level. But the bottom line is that you can't hit your way out of bad fielding stats.
(Whew!)
Okay, so how does this work now? It starts with the Minus stat (as described previously) but now I take TOI (Time On Ice in minutes) and divide it by 60. That value gets added to the score. So for every game you play without committing a "-", your defence score will go up. Notice that this accomplishes a few things: It sort of considers "quality of opposition" into the stat (because your best players play the most) but it also rewards the players who contribute the most to your team.
I still don't know if I have anything viable here, but it gives me a good feeling this time around.
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- 8 replies
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hf101, -
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Cale Makar's Assault On The Record Book
jammer2 posted a topic in Colorado Avalanche ,
OK....some crazy stuff going on in Ave's land! The all time record for a rookie defensemen is 76 by the great Larry Murphy. Even Ray Bourque had under 70...he had 4th best with 65 rookie pts. Makar is on pace for 93. Staggering.
The scary part is he is doing this with Rantanen and Landeskog both out with serious injuries. Cales hockey sense is outrageous for a rookie...howitzer of a shot...wicked moves, agile and smart. He reminds me of Bourque as a rookie. He has 100 pt potential...as silly as that sounds in this day and age.-
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TropicalFruitGirl26, -
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Vladimir Tarasenko Out 5 Months
Hockey Junkie posted a topic in St Louis Blues ,
The defending Stanley Cup champion St Louis Blues have just received a dose of bad news. Teresenko, the superstar that helped the Blues hoist their first Cup, is now to be lost for 5 months due to shoulder surgery. If they can survive without him and still make the playoffs, it would seem he would return for that. I believe they are deep enough to do it.-
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TropicalFruitGirl26, -
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It's Demko time!!
yave1964 posted a topic in Vancouver Canucks ,
Small deal between the Canucks and the Senators today with possible large implications for both.
Vancouver gets: Taylor Pyatt, a 13th forward not much of a player. McKenna, an AHL goalie pressed into duty because of injuries to the Ottawa net and a 6th round pick.
Ottawa gets Anders Nilsson who in two years as a backup in Vancouver went 10-27 and Darren Archibald who has been a meh prospect forever now and who looks like he is just a body to even out the players involved.
A bunch of hot garbage in other words but it may be a sign of things to come for both.
First Ottawa seems almost certain to trade Craig Anderson at some point now and ride out the season with Nilsson in net. A contender wanting a veteran goalie will take a shot at him.
Vancouver likely will ship McKenna to the AHL and call up top prospect Thatcher Demko to share the net at the least and possibly become the primary starter after two very successful seasons with Utica in the AHL. Demko is a California boy, a big surfer looking dude who Benning has shown surprising patience with as he developed. Moving Nilsson clears the way for him to get his shot probably moving Markstrom to the backup role for the remaining of the season to see what Demko can do.
So a trade of junk for junk has implication for an aging brittle goalie and for a kid chomping at the bit wanting a shot.-
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- 5 replies
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TropicalFruitGirl26, -
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Post in Paul Fenton has been fired as GM after just one season.
ruxpin posted a post in a topic,
It's possible. But I think right now your biggest issue is timing. The Wild fired Fenton at a time is year where the replacement pool is such that if the candidate were any good, he'd already be working.
Leipold should get a lot of "credit" for badly bungling this situation (and it's on him if what you describe is accurate, and I think it is up an extent). His statements indicate this started at exit interviews.
First of all, if you did any credible due diligence, you knew this before. But make a decision when you did realize it. You don't go to the end of July, in hockey's no man's land (we'll call it "Miami," for short) and then make this move.
Leipold is nearly single-handedly destroying his own franchise.
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hf101, -
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Post in What makes a good NHL GM?
rottenrefs posted a post in a topic,
To answer your question, what makes a good NHL GM?
You noted player personnel wins and losses... But didn't cover anything else. Understandably, I get it, but IMO there's a ton more behind being a good GM.
Looking at it from a fan perspective player personnel is about the only thing one could care about. But from an operations standpoint, or from an owners standpoint, generating $$ is all they ever put much emphasis on. Business, or rather being a successful business equals follow the money.
Something I brought up several years ago was the Wild, under Doug Risenbrough, were an economically successful team. The team never spent to the Cap but they had sellout after sellout. Contrary to some the previous ownership claimed they were losing money. Where have we heard that with the Minnesota North Stars? Hence, they left for Dallas and won a Stanley Cup, 2 Conference Titles, 2 Presidents Trophies and 8 Division Titles... They're doing well generating revenue. They were bought for $84 million in 1995 and are now valued at $525 million. The Dallas Stars are a prime example of spending more (wisely) can create residual earnings. Which is something the Minnesota North Stars never figured out.
Insert the Minnesota Wild. So under Robert Naegele, Jr., and GM Doug Risenbrough, as mentioned they ran a tight ship on spending. Wild fans here viewed them as cheap. The results as some pride themselves as describing, they're a successful team because they've had so many sellouts in a less than desirable "Hockey Market" because everyone here keeps reminding everyone (nationally) that Minnesota isn't a very good hockey market. (That's something I totally disagree with.) Minnesota probably has more hockey pucks and hockey arena's per capita than any other state or Canadian Providence... To match it's 'Land of 10,000 Lakes' boast.
Granted, it's a bit off-topic talking about Minnesota's hockey market, but in the grand scheme of things no one can match Minnesota's superior high school hockey programs or the number of successful college hockey programs... Fans following them could have gone to more North Stars games, or more Wild games... But why if neither of those teams have anything to show for their efforts except being on the losing end of highlight reels (nationwide)?
Okay, back on topic now that I've eliminated any just cause that Minnesota can't be a major hockey market.
Read more ... https://www.hockeyforums.net/topic/71822-what-makes-a-good-nhl-gm/?do=findComment&comment=390931
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hf101, -
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Post in Fire Hextall, gut senior management and the coaching staff
ruxpin posted a post in a topic,
The more I'm thinking about this the more I'm coming to the conclusion it's not simply the coach but the result of the coach trying to compensate for the goaltending -- which is ultimately on Hextall.
The centers ARE a mess. And so is Ghost. Why? Because the centers are not staying low in the offensive zone and--Patrick and Coots in particular--not mucking it up in the slot to cheat back to hedge against being caught.
Ghost is doing less going low or pinching much for the same reason. It's possible they're doing this on their own. Whether deliberate or not, it's a natural response to the knowledge that any mistake, any odd man or often even man rush the other way will end up past the incompetent sieves in our net.
It's just as likely that this is per coach directive much for the same reason.
The question remains--bluntly--how does a competent GM look at his goaltending this past summer and not move to fix this while leaving $10M in cap space on the table?
How does that same competent GM go through the summer knowing he doesn't have a 3C and not move to correct that in any sober way? Again, with the $10M sitting there.
I know he doesn't want a contract that blocks kids and doesn't want to move said kids for it, but that effectively and explicitly tosses this season away.
Meanwhile, the tickets are still full price.
You see the results in the stands during the game. The last game, the stands had all the energy of a wake.
There was apparently zero thought of putting out a quality product this season. And there's no good reason for it.
I do like what Hextall has done with draft picks. But it sucks that the most exciting time of year is the lead up to the draft. Only to keep saying, "boy, in five years!"
I've been uncharacteristically calling for patience the last couple of years. Those who have been around for awhile--especially those from the silly.com days--know how out of character that really it. But the patience has waned. At this point, supplement through trade. Move out "leadership" that isn't leading.
Do SOMETHING other than punish kids you yourself have damaged only to bring up other soon to be damaged kids. Wake the hell up and get the lumina out of neutral and go get us some damn halibut!
We're starving!
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hf101, -
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Why no Canadian NHL team will win the cup
Fanboy posted a topic in Around the NHL,
Gary Bettman who is the commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL) was brought in 30 years ago with one agenda, and that was to grow the game of hockey in the USA. In Canada the game of hockey is like a religion, with winters lasting 6 months all there is, is hockey. Fans are passionate and it's the number one sport. Football and baseball come second and third. Unfortunately for fans in Canada, no Canadian NHL team has won the Stanley Cup for 25 years since the Montreal Canadians have won.
This thesis will explain why no Canadian team will win the Stanley Cup until at least 2050.
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- 40 replies
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hf101, -
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The random (hockey related) picture thread.
WingNut722 posted a topic in General Hockey,
Hey It works!-
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