JR Ewing

3 minutes ago, SaucyJack said:

I’m aware that ’Winnipeg White’ is a crowd tradition up there…would the NHL allow the Jets players to also don white jerseys (and the visitors dark) against convention?

 

Doesn’t make full sense to me, as it stands.

I get what you mean. It's a left-over from the days that the home team wore white.

I think that puck crossed the line.

I will say this... I don't think the Rangers are as good as a lot of people give them credit for. They play in a division with only one other team that's good. They had middling xGoals%, Scoring Chance% and High Danger%... We don't generally define the best teams as the ones who give up more (and better) scoring chances than their opponent.

2 hours ago, tucson83 said:

this is a rebuild, to you you have to tank to rebuild and yet you learned nothing from buffalo, ottawa, phoenix, never ending making the playoffs and the toronto maple leafs with their top 5 superstars cant beat the boston bruins, that have no top 5 guys. it doesnt sound like it's about winning cups, it's about getting superstars and not care if they crap the bed like matthews.

Buffalo - the rebuild has featured an unending litany of rookie GMs who make rookie mistakes over and over again. They are a great example of why I didn't consider Briere to be the strongest possible bet for GM of the Philly rebuild. You don't train ship captains by making sure that their first voyage is in a typhoon.

Ottawa - had a terrible owner who interfered at every level. He died in 2022, and the team has only been sold to a new owner less than a year ago.

Phoenix - the very definition of the worst sort of ownership possible. They've been reaching the cap floor by taking on LTIR contracts and have been forced to pre-pay for hotels and flights. Competing hasn't possible, regardless of rebuilds.

Toronto - strong team, but the rebuild was hampered by mostly drafting wingers, and then Kyle Dubas signing John Tavares to his massive deal. Dubas was forced to move quality depth pieces (like Nazem Kadri) on value contracts, and the team has been trying to plug those holes since that time.

1 hour ago, Buffalo Rick said:

Quite a stretch to say they are the worst.  I’m They did play well at times this year.  I would not say they are the worst in all those years?  The Islanders don’t deserve to be in .  I wouldn’t say they are any better?  Does it matter?  Both will be gone in first round.

No, I'll stand by that. The Isles were bad, but their goal differential was "only" -17. Both are weak playoff teams, but you have to go back decades to find a team in the playoffs that gave up so much more than they got, and there's a linear relationship between goal differential and winning.

1 minute ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

it was why i posted it

 

i don't watch enough west coast hockey honesty to say either way

 

just laying out there what he things can take him out the game

 

so now we see if he is full of dogshit he makes it sounds though like it's easy

 

like no other coaches have thought of this?

Any guy whose game plan starts with "All you have to do stop McDavid is..." really talking out of his a$$. Confidence is what you have when you don't understand the problem.

5 minutes ago, flyercanuck said:

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan had one that always made me laugh: "Some drink from the fountain of knowledge and some just gargle". I know there's no way that he made it up, but it's still funny.

1 hour ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

 

So someone thinks they have the key.

 

 This guy's tweet makes no sense...

He comments on an executive slagging the pairing that handily led the NHL in xGoal% by noting that the Nurse/Ceci pairing, which finished 8th in the league, is dogshit. I get that it's twitter, and land of the trolls and imbeciles, but still...

33 minutes ago, flyer4ever said:

All valid points, no argument here. However, 2 years away from a 50 year cup drought I would rather see a BITFU than stumble through another 14 years of this corporate bulls*#t mediocrity. I would prefer the small glimmer of hope of a few high draft picks over another round of Staal, Atkinson, Johnson, Ellis, Johansen, Couturier contract, etc etc etc. But thats just me. 

8 weeks of real hockey until Danny B tips his hand. I am not optimistic.

I agree. I'm saying that the smart teams, like Chicago, plan this sort of thing out when they see the right player come along.

17 minutes ago, ruxpin said:

 

And still haven't won (the Cup) with him.    Not attempting to pour salt; just doubling down that it's not automatic even then.

No, though the rebuild was materially hurt by Peter Chiarelli's blunders.

-The Milan Lucic free agent signing in 2017.. They got out of by trading Lucic for James Neal and then buying him out. It was the right trade for Ken Holland to make, since it allowed them to sign Zach Hyman. The dead cap from all of this is one will expire after next season.

-The Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson trade. Larsson is a good defender, but not worth nearly Hall.

-1st and 2nd round picks for Griffin Reinhart. The Isles probably laughed themselves to death when they completed the deal.

-The next series of trades almost requires an essay of its own... The Old Boys Club were livid when Jordan Eberle ducked a hit in the 2017 playoffs, so they wanted him gone, dealing him for Ryan Strome, and then dealt Strome to the Rangers for one of the softest players in the history of the game, Ryan Spooner. In turn, Chiarelli deal Spooner to Vancouver for Sam Gagner. In one of the worst examples of asset management you can imagine, Chiarelli turned Jordan and Sam Gagner into Sam Gagner.

-And then, because life can be unfair, half of the Oilers blueline was carved out almost in an instant: Andrej Sekera tore his Achilles tendon and was finished as a player. Oscar Klefbom developed arthritis which was so serious that he had to retire at only 26. Adam Larsson's father died across the street from the arena in Edmonton, and Larsson couldn't bear to play there anymore, walking/signing in Seattle.

It's all a long way of saying that you're 100 percent correct, and that there are no guarantees with this, even if you do things right.

17 minutes ago, ruxpin said:

But in a cap era, it's still the way to go.   You're not getting there just throwing Comcast money around like it's 1999.

The draft is the way to do it; absolutely.

1 minute ago, tucson83 said:

that's the problem with fans not getting the fact the tanking will not fix and cure everything, not only the lottery makes it harder but the fact the players in the draft class have to be good, cant be drafting provys, jvrs, and patricks and it will fix everything. that's why this organization is preaching patience because it's not going to be easy and the fact is alot of teams in our division are really good, we just have to hope that teams in our division eventually take a step back and we eventually take the mantle. just tearing it down in this division is a death sentence.

Yes, it's not just a matter of luck with rebuilds, but a matter of timing, and the right player is usually evident over a year from the draft, and sometimes earlier than that, in extreme cases like McDavid, and a few other kids granted exceptional status.

I caught this show with the Oilers, who picked #1 with Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov. Hall was skilled but interested only in himself, and Nugent-Hopkins is a very good all around player, but not a cornerstone. Then they picked Yakupov, who's so infuriating, that Brian Burke had to physically restrain one of his scouts from attacking the kid at the pre-draft interview.

It was only when they fluked their way to a lotto win with Connor McDavid that the right player came along.

54 minutes ago, Math said:

It seemed like the Kings reeeeeaaaally didn't want to get the Stars. On the other hand, it felt like Vegas was targeting Dallas as they completely let it go against the awful Ducks. Given the bad record in the regular season, the Golden Knights was my least favorite team I wanted to face in the first round. But I guess if you have the ambitious objective to go for a deep run, you should be capable to beat anyone... 

I think I'd rather face the Golden Knights in the first round, so that Stone et al, don't have as many at bats to loosen up as the playoffs continue. There are very few easy match-ups anymore, so you take what you're given, I suppose.

6 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

In fairness, if the Flyers stay at 12, Catton and Helenius are the same size and Iginla is only one inch taller than Perfetti. 

 

There's no real standout center that's 6'2, 6'3 in the top half of the draft this year. I mean, there's Cayden Lindstrom, but he's more of a winger.

 

Even looking around teams and top prospects, there's nobody really standing out who has that size and who would be available. 

 

The Flyers might end having to look for size on the wings instead of down the middle. 

You're right. This draft isn't loaded with exciting centre depth, and there's precious little in the #12 range (+/-3 spots).

2 hours ago, FD19372 said:

The Bruins, particularly on defense, are more built for playoff hockey. The game changes a bit in the postseason. The Leafs give the Bruins all they can handle, are tougher and better than previous versions of themselves..but fall short in Game 7 at Boston.

So much (good and bad) flows downhill from your best player. Auston Matthews, at his size, getting badly bullied by Steve Stamkos a couple of years ago, was embarrassing. Two things need to improve for the Leafs to make much noise:

-Matthews needs to improve his playoff performance. So far, his offense has dropped a lot from his regular season standard, and he has to become more hard-nosed.

-The Leafs need to improve defensively. Only one playoff team gave up more high danger chances this year.

6 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

I mean guys his size 5-11 180 have made careers in the NHL.

 

The biggest muscle can't even be measured. That muscle is what separates many players from being good to great.

 

And i am looking at acquiring talent to help fill out the middle of the ice.

 

But depending on what it would cost could change my interest.

 

And besides where else are they going to find the guys for the middle many have already identified they won't be able to find them in the draft because the Flyer never finish low enough.

I'm not saying that small players can't be good. I'll definitely say that small teams can't be, particularly in the playoffs, when the refs drop any pretense of calling the rulebook.

6 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

So let me ask you a question please do tell me where the Flyers are going to find a starting center then? Oh and you're not allowed to come back with in the draft.

???

I didn't suggest that the Flyers shouldn't trade for a player, though I do think it's the best avenue to take in a rebuild. Trade all you like, but make the right trades.

6 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

This was just an idea thrown out.

 

So i await your reply.

 

I get it; you're spitballing. There's nothing wrong with that.

2 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

I wonder what it would take to get Cole Perfetti from the Jets??

 

 

He is on the 4th line and if they bow out early again this year maybe they would be open for a trade of assets.

 

He can play center and well Flyers have a need at center.

 

Danny could work up a package that works for both sides.

 

 

 

Another small player?

Just now, Math said:

Utah Hockey Club ! Go for it !

 

A friend of mine texted me a couple of days ago and said "Watch them name themselves something stupid like 'Hockey Club'".

https://media.giphy.com/media/LyJ6KPlrFdKnK/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611l7yxqe2tjpjr4w66rkslghflhvmzmvvsyrcn0hp0&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=ghttps://media.giphy.com/media/LyJ6KPlrFdKnK/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611l7yxqe2tjpjr4w66rkslghflhvmzmvvsyrcn0hp0&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g

https://media.giphy.com/media/LyJ6KPlrFdKnK/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611l7yxqe2tjpjr4w66rkslghflhvmzmvvsyrcn0hp0&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g

As far as I can tell, the 2024 Caps are the worst playoff team of the salary cap era. Most years, there's a playoff team with a goal differential of something in the territory of -5 to -15 at worst. The Caps are -37.

edit - only now do I see @SaucyJack had mentioned the same thing. I'll stop backtracking through Hockey Reference.    lol

13 minutes ago, mojo1917 said:

@flyercanuck

@radoran

 

Wasn't that guy injured during his draft year?

It's Jiriceck right? 

He had a bum knee, and it was serious like missing most of his season serious. I'm remembering this correctly yes?

 

Funny to me how that guy gets a pass- but Drysdale? he's damaged goods.

Is it a size thing?

Not trying to start a row or anything but I do question if I'm remembering it right and why I perceive this difference. 

Drysdale's had one season in his last five where he was healthy, and Jiricek has had one season in his last five where he was injured.

16 minutes ago, radoran said:

 

There is a "take what you can get" aspect to this trade.

 

It's not like Briere was shopping Gauthier by choice - he essentially had to move him.

 

I'd imagine another recent top-10 pick defenceman with size and wingspan wasn't necessarily available.

I agree with all of that, but for the proviso that you can cast a net wider than the return needing to match something close to the draft position.

8 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

It’s funny that the first big piece of our rebuild is already gone and I am not impressed with Drysdale, he’s a step above Ghost in talent level, his defensive game is mediocre and he hasn’t scored much, at least Ghost scored some big goals, Drysdale was invisible for the Flyers. He also said he may need offseason work done on his shoulder. Other than that it’s looking like a great trade. 

He was never destined to be a minute munching #1, because he's too small and isn't strong defensively... For me, the big question with the trade was Drysdale's ability to stay healthy. He's only played one full season since 2019, his first year with Erie, and it's just not tracking well. What surprised me was Briere, with a smaller team, gambling with an under-sized defenseman. He's not heavy and doesn't have the wingspan you'd like to see.

9 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

 

I think the power play issues are fixable. For instance, I'd probably put Farabee, Foerster, Tippett, Frost and Drysdale on the first unit. I'd have Farabee on his off-wing, Foerster on his offwing, Tippett in the slot, Frost near the blue line and Drysdale at the top. I'm not sure I'd use the standard 1-3-1 that's being used. I'd also probably go back to the Joe Mullen days of when he was the power play coach and see how to utilize the guys. I look at a guy like Farabee and I'm astounded that one of the NHL's best 5 on 5 scorers can't get things going on the power play. That's a warning sign to me that something is off. I'd also probably use Frost for the defensive zone entries and then use the size guys like Foerster and Tippett to bully their way through the opposition to clear lanes and then set up everything.

-Tippett: I like Tippett as a shooter in the slot, but the problem with that is that the bumper position needs a guy who can facilitate for his teammates as well as shoot, and he's very ill-suited for that. He gets a puck, he shoots a puck. Braydon Point is a terrific bumper because he can shoot and pass.

-Mullen PP: what; an over-load, with two defensemen/shooters at the point? That system is as dead as disco, and for good reason. As teams abandoned it one by one, in favour of the 1-3-1, team PP% kept increasing across the NHL. You could put Al MacInnis there, and that PP wouldn't produce enough today. The only reason to shoot from the point is to keep the defenders honest; not to generate chances.

9 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

I don't know. I just see that there is some viable talent there and they're used in the wrong places. I think it's something that's fixable, but I'm also wondering if Tortorella wants guys to be used that he likes, not what's necessarily best for the team. I'm really at a loss as to why things are the way they are. No matter how hard this club tries, they just continually go back to the well of things that don't work. I guess maybe having a true offensive guy on the coaching staff might be the key to unlocking things.

I guess this is a spot where we disagree. I don't see viable/high end talent on that PP, and I think that's why it's so bad.

9 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

I'd be interested to see what the power plays were like for Thompson in junior and the AHL and who his power play coach was. That might be the key to unlocking what's broken with the Flyers power play.

I was curious about the same thing.