TropicalFruitGirl26

The Canucks may have had some puck luck this season...hell, they are having some in this game against WPG...but they are also pretty damned good too!

Some in the media questioned why they "stood pat" on deadline day....well, why mess with a winning formula?
Besides....they already got their guys (Lindholm and Monahan) well before the deadline, and even signed Pettersson to a new contract to keep him happy and on board.

They really didn't need to do much at the deadline.

If the 'Nucks fail in the postseason, then the front office can examine what needs to be fixed then....but right now, they are doing pretty well.

And leading the J-e-t-s, Jets, Jets, Jets 3-0 at the end of 1.

Also in this Phi-TB game...Mat Dumba.

Looking pretty good in his debut.
He won't have to be anything more than a depth guy with the Bolts, don't do anything stupid (yes, I know...a problem for him in the past), and make the safe and hard hitting plays...let the TB stars do their thing while he makes sure no odd man rushes go the other way.

Again...so far, so good.
If it works out for him in TB, maybe some reasonable contract could be worked out to stay beyond this season.

If TB can bring out the best in defensively challenged players like Kevin Shattenkirk, then they might be able to do the same for Dumba.

15 minutes ago, Jimtown guy said:

John Tortorella has been ejected from tonight's game between the Flyers and Lightning.  Tonight's game is dedicated to the 2004 Stanley Cup team...so basically Torts was ejected from a game dedicated to him

I settled in to watch this late in the 1st, so not sure what happened with Torts, but apparently, he isn't a fan of the officiating tonight.

Also, if Torts getting his arse thrown out for verballing assaulting officials doesn't tell ya he doesn't care about pomp n ceremony, I don't know what will.
Classic Torts simply focused on HIS OWN team's success....even though revered in Tampa Bay....and not giving a rat's arse about anything but Flyer hockey right now.
Gotta respect that.

Jake McCabe set the market! 

On 3/4/2024 at 5:19 PM, yave1964 said:

Friday at 3pm is the trade deadline. I will have my binders of hockey cards strewn around me, moving them to and fro. Yes I'm a nerd and proud. 

 Here are my predictions where top rumor suspects wind up where.

 

Guentzel. Gone to Vegas baby. 

 

Markstrom. Either stays or becomes a Devil.

 

Hanifin going to sunrise to lead the Panthers

 

Wennberg little deal to Motown

 

Henrique Bean town bound.

 

Taresenko lightning gets a middle six winger

 

Walker and Laughton both gone to Toronto.

 

Vatrano gets a return engagement with the Rangers

 

Saros stays put. So does Toffoli.

 

Hugest biggest deal is Buchnevich to play the wing on McDavids line in Edmonton.

 

 Mantha found his game and plays second line with Colorado.

 

Couture and Hertl are owed too much for too long for a mid season deal.

 

Eberle rejoins the Isles

 

Berggren staying put unless he is the wildcard that brings in a bigger non rental

 

 Broberg can be had by anyone anytime anywhere.

 

 

So far, many of these predictions ARE wrong (as per your title...hehe), but I gotta tell ya, Yave...I admire the sheer testicular fortitude it takes to put something out there like this!
I can always count on 'true to feelings' stuff from you.
No regurgitated 'insider' crap, or processed podcast canned meat from you....no sir!

Only authentic, organic, vitamins n minerals postings from you!  

As always, thank you for your voicing of opinions!

2 minutes ago, Buffalo Rick said:

Well they just traded Middlestadt for a young defenseman.  Not sure what to think.  The Sabres are just young and players in early 20s are not going to win vs 30 plus yr old veterans most of the time.  Luukenen has been a bright spot.  Need a reliable backup as the loss to Winnipeg was first time I think I’ve ever seen Sabres start a goalie back to back nights.

Since the Sabres don't look like they will be making the playoffs, I think they did absolutely wonderfully in that trade.

Sure, Mittelstadt is having a career year (or close to it....would have to look more closely at the numbers), but how many times  have the Sabres given "the ball" to Mittel, and he hasn't lived up to it yet?
Your team did what most GM's SHOULD do.... trade away a still good player when he is on a 'high', like Mittelstadt is, if he has shown in the past that he is inconsistent at best.

And when the return is a potential steal in Bown Byram, well now....like I said...Sabres did wonderfully.

Dahlin, Power, Byram.
Those are three very, very dynamic type defenseman who are still very young, and while Dahlin is obviously the most NHL established of the three, once the other two learn to be true NHL'ers, the Sabres will have a very dangerous potential for offense comeing from that blue line to support the forward lines.

If those three young players can do well as part of the Buffalo defensive core, then all the Sabres would need to do is find established stay at home type defensemen (easier to acquire than dynamic puck movers like those guys), to compliment those young players.

But I even think those three young players can be more than just offensive types.
All three can turn out to be very good two way players.
If that happens, then this is a landslide win of a trade for the Sabres.....and Atlantic division rivals will have nightmares trying to contain the Buffalo top six AND attacks from the blue line, while having trouble getting through the neutral zone past those guys as well.

Not making the playoffs sucks for your team, I get it, and the regression is disappointing, but I think the team has done very well in trying to reset things moving forward again for next season, and having Byram in there with the two young blueliners you already have helps give optimism.

Sabres at Maple Leafs on at the moment.

Buffalo isn't making the playoffs, however, they did trade away their leading scorer, Casey Mittelstadt to the Colorado Avalanche earlier today (getting back Bowan Byram....nicely done BTW, Buffalo...), so I am interested to see if the Sabres suddenly get "revitalized" after trading away one of the players that has been with them for a long while.

Amazing how that works, eh?
A coach gets fired, or a popular/long time player gets traded away....THEN all of a sudden, the team gets rejuvenated somehow and they start winning (even if only in the short term as is the case most of the time).

Still makes you wonder:
Where the H-E- double hockey sticks was all that "energy, jump, and gusto" BEFORE the freakin coach got fired or the player got traded away!!??

Anyways, Sabres have a chance to add to their locker room culture and try to smooth over the trading away of Mittelstadt with a win against what some are tabbing a Stanley Cup contender (yea, send me what THEY are smoking....and I don't even smoke  ), and also, a border and divisional rival.

Toronto, meanwhile, looks to sharpen themselves up as the season winds down, in preparation for what will be the REAL test, and major nemesis for them, the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Playoffs are definitely looking like an unassailable goal at this point, but this game, with about 20 to go, can be used at the measuring point.
After what transpired over the last three games or so, if the Wild lose THIS one, to what may be one of the worst teams in the NHL, then Bill Guerin should really start listening real hard on trade offers.

Even with a win, the Wild will find it difficult to make the post season, highlighted by getting their face handed to them by the team they need to catch, but without a win against the Sharks, well, no amount of 'fixing or tweaking' will help this particular squad.

Minnesota has some players that post season and Cup contenders would love to have on their much deeper squads....Wild lose here, Guerin should do some dealing.

Personally...I don't like to watch 'losing'.
I want to see the team win. As much as possible.
Just saying...if they can't against SJ, then I won't blame anyone for breaking up this 'vaunted' group....

On 2/29/2024 at 3:10 PM, thegx.ca said:

DAMN YOU NILS...DAMN YOU TO HELL

Attempting to 'report' on the acquisition of Ilya Lyubushkin by the Leafs, we get THIS moron, Christopher Smith (is that even a real name??):

Maple Leafs acquiring new weapon to skate alongside Auston Matthews in deal with Ducks (clutchpoints.com)

Apparently, Lyubushkin has switched from defenseman to center  

This here, people, is why you don't you don't listen to a guy whose 'primary interest is the NBA and long distance running' about anything hockey.

Seriously though...whatever happened to good, responsible and ACCURATE reporting?
Seems any ape with a microphone a camera, and/or access to a forum of some sort can run around pretending to be some sort of sports writer now.

Getting good things to read or listen to is so difficult nowadays, it's no wonder I prefer the good ol bare bones opinions of regular fans over so-called insiders, in-the-knowers, or sports reporters, particularly of the forum or podcasting variety.

I honestly don't know if they are stupid and/or ignorant, or just plain lazy and just want the "ooo, look at me, I know hockey" attention....

 

3 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

I'm wondering if the Lightning now decide to target Walker and Seeler and to ensure they get them, they offer up Isaac Howard and a bad contract the Flyers absorb. The Flyers did say they were going to weaponized cap space.

I wouldn't mind either of those players.

Walker, on the Bolts would simply need to mind his own end, but he most certainly will get some offensive opportunity given how the Bolts play.

Seeler, I remember him from his Minnesota days, and while most find him to be "meh", fact is, he is the type of defensive defenseman who never gets any recognition, but just does the dirty, thankless work of solidifying the defense zone....and can throw some nasty hits now and again.

While neither of those players is worth the Bolts gutting anything to acquire them, if somehow, some median deal could be reached, I'd be happy with either.

Sounds like the type of guy the Lightning could have used.
Then again, the Bolts likely didn't have the picks to make this happen and they likely would have had to part with a current roster player they'd prefer not to give up.

While Hanifin to Dallas probably helps their offense, it's likely he costs a lot more than Tanev did.

Pretty sure there are a number of teams circling the Flames about Hanifin....driving the cost of acquisition up as well.

Good win for your Flyers guys.

Of course, I would have liked my Bolts to not only win, but show they still have Cup chops left in them, but my team, even as talented as they are still are, are missing ingredients it looks like.
But that doesn't take away from the heart the Flyers showed not only this game, but in most games I've watched them play this season.

And I expect nothing less from a Tortorella coached team.

If the Flyers make the playoffs, I will root FOR them against whomever a division leader is (if they are a WC), or against either Carolina or the NY Rangers if Philly finishes 3rd in the Metro.

Some good work being done in that front office so far too.
Interesting to see what will Briere and his administration do over the Summer to increase long term competitiveness from the group.

Glad they called that on Bunting!

I was gonna lose it...EEK was clearly hauled down and it looked for split second the refs were gonna let that go!

4 on 4, then a Wild PP through hard work in that defensive zone!

Just DEWAR it!!

Big props to Chisholm though...he kept the play alive, kept his positioning to make that goal possible!

Just now, ClusterChuck said:

Need some secondary scoring from guys like DuHaime, Dewar and Freddie and so on.
Wild win 6-3

 

Maybe a 'parting gift' from Duhaime?
Word is, several teams have inquired about him....and Guerin is listening

Just now, FD19372 said:

Yes. They're safeguarding them from Gritty. 

Man...it's ALWAYS the mascot, isn't it??

I KNEW there was a reason the Bolts fired the original Lightning Bug...

7 minutes ago, FD19372 said:

They should just have Bryz be the timekeeper. Aren't they still paying him?

He's unavailable.
He volunteered to be the stowaway on that last Artemis mission to the Moon.....
Word is he will broadcast live when he gets to the far side...

Crowd at Wells Fargo seems awfully quiet since the arena dimmed.
Especially since their team is leading.

My guess is, they are too busy safeguarding their wallets purses and other valuables  

 

2 minutes ago, AlaskaFlyerFan said:

My rank was just increased to “Community Regular”.  WTF?!? I’ve been a regular since the beginning.

Well, yea, sure, but NOW you are no longer just a regular, but a COMMUNITY regular.
There is a decrease in pay but better parking space...

now the arena clock not working?

They are gonna have to have a guy sitting at ice level going, "1 alligator... 2 alligator.... 3 alligator..."

They are gonna play with dimmed lighting...

Time for the forwards to start peppering the goalies.....vision will be compromised

1 minute ago, FD19372 said:

A Lightning strike NOT being the reason, there is no power at the Wells Fargo Center.

That's what happens when more n more people start storing their money in their mattresses....

I bet the prisoners in the jail cells below are terrified....judgement day has truly come!  

Dammit!

Which one of you jokers was in charge of paying the Wells Fargo energy bill!??