yave1964

PRESEASON OUTLOOK Cautiously optimistic. Korpisalo was brought in to bring a veteran in net, the Debrincat fiasco was over, the hope was that Stutzle and Tkachuk would carry a young hungry roster into playoff contention. Taresenko was brought in to replace Debrincat.

FINAL RECORD 37-41-4 78 points, missed playoffs by 14 points. 

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR Young brilliant Tim Stutzle led the team among all forwards in power play time, yet he only managed 1 power play goal all year. He was 11th among all Senators, and 9th among all forwards in power play goals. Ugh.

WHAT WENT RIGHT Tkachuk didnt live up to the solid brilliant numbers of the year before but still, he had a hell of a year. Stutzle scored quite nicely although many fans felt he was too inconsistent. Batherson managed 28 goals. Giroux had a solid season. Defesneman Chychrun and Sanderson were very solid. Joseph was a solid two way winger. Greig was a fun player, Pinto showed glimpses of a solid future. Jacob Bernard Docker and Artum Zub were very solid on the back end. 

WHAT WENT WRONG Look i am not gonna blame Stutzle but he took a massive step back and again, many Senator fans are screaming that he showed zero passion many nights. Hard to say a player scored 70 points had a bad year but every single stat from the year before went down in 2024. Chabot could not stay healthy and kind of lost his role to Sanderson on the first power play. Taresenko didnt do much and was dealt at the deadline. Korpisalo and forsberg both Bluejacket rejects were dreadful, positively rotten most nights. Josh Norris is a shadow of his former self and cannot stay in the lineup. Kubalik was possitely dreadful. 

HIGH POINT OF THE SEASON, Very early in the season, Ottawa won three in a row over Philly, Tampa and Washington to push their record to 3-1. They pummelled the goalies, scoring 16 goals in 3 games. Sadly, that was the high point of the season.

LOW POINT OF THE SEASON They stumbled through October a game or so over .500 But beggining with a brutal loss to the Isles on November 24th they lost early and often. When they lost January 11th to the Sabres, they had lost 16 out of 22, with three months to go in the season essentially the year was done.

FREE AGENTS Kubalik is a free agent and wont be brought back. Thats about it. Brannstrom, Parker Kelly and Pinto are RFA who all want paid.

PROSPECTS a very ordinary bunch of forward and defense prospoects, most of the kids are already established in the NHL. They do have three good, B level goalie prospects in Sogaard, Mandolese and Merilainen and the hoipe is one or more of them will push Forsberg off the roster and steal the 1B role possibly this coming season.

OFFSEASON QUESTION MARK This team has one of the biggest baddest toughest men in the game in tkachuk but as a whole wow were they soft. IMHO the number one question in who will sort this roster out and assign players to the proper roles. Lots of talent but they were soft and something was missing most of the year. 

FPRESEASON OUTLOOK A lot of pundits thought this would be a very good year for the Coyotes, solid goaltending, lots of young prospects, vets such as Keller developing into a near star, many thought they would be a dark horse for a wild card

FINAL RECORD 36-41-5 77 points, missed the playoffs.

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR For the first time in NHL history, a team, the Coyotes, had not a single player win at least 50 percent of their faceoffs. None. Haytron came in first with 49.8 faceoff wins, and it was downhill from there. Serious,  This was the most inept faceoff team in NHL history.

WHAT WENT RIGHT Keller developed brilliantly into a dangerous point a game weapon. Schmaltz quietly had a fantastic season. Durzi came over from the Kings an potted 41 points on the back end. Macelli was a fantastic playmaker. Bjugstad and Kerfoot were solid vet players. Goalie Ingram was among the top five goalies in all of hockey for the first half of the season until he got banged up. Logan cooley started slow but caught fire late and showed so much promise. Guenther looks like the real deal. Crouse and Carcone had Cy Young 20 goal seasons. 

WHAT WENT WRONG Well Arizona voted them off the Island and now they are moving to Utah so there is that. Other than Durzi the defense had not a single puck mover and looked bad. Centers were hugely dissapointing, not a playmaker among them. Vejmelka had some damn fine games but long stretches where he was awful. 

HIGH POINT OF THE SEASON jANUARY 20TH the Coyotes bested the Penguins raising their record to 23-19-3 right in the thick of the final playoff spot. Ingram was injured but the hope was that Vejmelka and coompany could keep them in the mix and they would finish strong and attract fan interest.

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR Everything fell apart right then and there. Vejmelka was awfulm, the kids did not hold it together and they managed to lose an insane 14 games in a row ending their season. During that 14 game stretch they were outscored 66-34. The season came to a sickening thud.
   Oh and they moved to Salt Lake City so there is that.

FREE AGENTS Liam OBrien and his goonery will likely move on, nobody of any importance is a free agent this year. Durzi and Hsyton are both RFA who will expect to get longer deals at decent salaries.

TOP PROSPECTS lots of kids are already in the NHL and proven with upside. In the minors Conor Geekie and Artu Raty are chomping at the bit for a middle six center position, Maveric Lamereaux may step into a top four defense position and is highly skilled and more or less ready. The Coyotes have 7 picks in the top three rounds this year and next.

 OUTLOOK FOR 2024-25 Who the Hell knows? At least they arent playing in a college facility named Mullet Arena. The new owner may step up to the plate and add to the roster with a splash. Or he may let them settle for a year or two, let the ton of good solid kids develop and build according to the old plan. Hard top say.

Caps built on defense, will make it a series but rangers will have their way in six 

Snoozer series, Vancouver best a surprising Nashville club

Edmonton has a better goalie, defense and offense. I cannot imagine the Kings winning this one 

My favorite first round series, cannot wait. Stars are deeper and will win in a fantastic seven game series 

Been waiting for this series for decades, elite Panthers easily handle aging bolts

Colorado offense will push them to the second round

Carolina and incredibly overrated, but will push past a feisty and Isles club 

Leafs in six. I believe that they are stronger this year and a long run begins here and now.

Brutal finish to a satisfying season.

Lots went right. Lots went wrong.

We lost because

We played an ahl goalie and a washed up vrt in net 

Larkin got hurt, we lost seven in a row without him

 Yzerman did nothing to add at the deadline.

 Fabri and Copp did nothing down the stretch

 It was a solid season because

Cat, Lark and Raymond were excellent

 Seider became the complete defenseman 200 blocks 200 hits and his second half was. Brilliant.

 Rasmussen, Sprong, compher all excellent role players

  Solid  defense

Hope for

Resigning Kane

Adding Edvinsson and Berggren as brilliant youth.

 Others in the Ahl are talented and ready.

  Hated missing the playoffs, but they were fun and worth watching which it has been a decade since I could say that

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Good Morning,

 

First of all I would like to thank everyone for a tremendous FHL season.  It has been an exciting year.  The final playoff spot was decided on the last day of the regular season.  It is also great seeing new blood in the semi-finals this year.  Congrats to @Math for winning the President's Cup this year.  What an absolutely fantastic season!  Good Luck to the Final Four GM's as we begin finishing up the season.

 

With that being said,

 

Now to pass on the news that is the real intent of this post.  After giving it much thought and consideration over the past few weeks, once this season concludes, I have made the painful decision to step down as the League Commissioner for the HF.net Sweet 16 FHL.  In addition, for the time being, I will also not be participating in the the Sweet 16 FHL next year as a GM.

 

Rest assure, this painful decision was not taken lightly.  I enjoy the sincere friendships I have with many of you on here.  I have been competing against most of you for almost a decade now.  It has been a blast.

 

As I mentioned to a few of you privately, I simply do not have the time right now to fully commit to this League.  Due to such a busy home and work life right now, I am missing out on starting players and goalies.  I don't have the time available to really research players in order to make my team better, as I have done in years past.  Its not fair to me, its not fair to my opponent, and it certainly is not fair for this League. 

 

I have been a part of this League and League Commish for nearly 10 years now and and as much as it pains me for stating this, but for the time being, I feel I need to step away for a bit.  Again, this was an issue I wrestled with myself for several weeks now.  Simply put, this was not an easy decision to make.

Rest assured, for those whom I compete with in NAHANA, I will remain an active GM in that League.  However, for the time being, I simply cannot devote the time or energy for 2 FHL's right now and I had to make a choice.  For me the choice was clear to stay active in NAHANA for the foreseeable future.

 

Therefore, effective May 1st, I am looking for a volunteer who would like to take over the reigns as the Sweet 16 FHL League Commish.  I can certainly help answer any and all questions to provide a smooth transition.  I also have a list of all GM's both past and present along with their e-mail address's which I can forward to the new League Commish.

 

Thank You everyone for your understanding,

Best,

~doc

HF.net Manager

HF.net Sweet 16 FHL soon to be former League Commish

 

 

I absolutely understand life comes a million miles an hour and you have to decide on priorities. You have rocked it as the commish and my hat is off to you ..

8 hours ago, SaucyJack said:

and with a LOT of good fortune and team luck, maybe he could have won one with the Capitals two years later in 1998.

 

The video here shows his only ‘98 playoff goal.  But it was in the Final, at heavily favored Detroit, and in the game Washington should have won to change the complexion of things.  It put the Caps up 2-1 in Game 2.  

Alas, their 3rd period 4-2 lead did not turn into a 3 goal lead after hired Oiler hand Esa Tikkanen missed a nearly empty cage on an odd play.  Two Red Wings goals in a minute with five to go, then an OT winner, put Detroit on a course to sweep when they returned to Washington.  (Wild Bill attending one game with all the secret service protection did not help.)

 

 

Dude!!!

  I am a HUGE Wing fan from the seventies on, these two teams along with the Devils were long suffering from back in my day (God that sounds like I am old, lol).

  That game two is right up there as one of my all time favorites along with the Colorado rivalry.  Tikkanen threw his arms up in despair, Washington owned the first half, Detroit pushed, draper winning it in OT. Just an incredibly ugly yet beautiful game. And Simon was everywhere, I even remember him playing a ton of minutes and shutting us down when on the ice. He almost willed the Caps along with an exhausted Kolzig, but my Wings were too deep and talented. Fantastic game for him. 

  Former long time enforcer Chris Simon died at 52. His family confirmed that he took his own life and stated that post career he has been suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. 

  Simon was not just a goon, he could score a lot, career high 29 goals with the Capitals. He won a cup with Colorado and played twelve years in the NHL.

  Life has been hard post career. A couple of wives, five kids, he giled bankruptcy in 2017 and stated then that he has no work because he was unable to work due to CTE. His family stressed that CTE is the absolute cause for ending his life.

50 minutes ago, NHL HHOF said:

841

 

 

 

I always check f Ovie scores. Rooting hard for him.

 So let's say he scores six more, 25 for the year and 847. That leaves him 48 short. If he scores 30 next year he is looking at mid)late in 25-26. If they manage a real dish setter in centre I believe he can still bounce back.

  Rooting for him.

Love the versatility. Henrique scores 45 points a year really can play any forward position middle six. Carrick extremely gifted 4th liner can score and hits. 

Four teams in two years, disappointed everywhere. Wow he fell fell after the cup.

  I do like him middle six with Florida, wingers include Tkachuk, Verhaeghe and Reinhart would be the top three wingers, he should fill the top six. Low cost, should be a solid add.

1 hour ago, JR Ewing said:

 

Stone's back will be good to go the day after the regular season ends.

 Idk man, that was my initial thought but the whispers are getting that he is in worse shape than initially thought.

Anthony Mantha who is known for his consistently inconsistent play has turned a pretty solid couple of months into a trad with the Knights.

 Vegas gave Washington a second this year and a 4th the year after .

  With Mark Stone out long term and possibly the rest of the season Vegas needed scoring from the wing. Mantha is not Stone but his scoring has been good on a team that needed him to step up. It likely means Guentzel is out of the Vegas lottery and makes Vancouver the favourite 

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.

  The Devils are having a nightmare year from Hell after a breakout 22-23, the victim is Lindy Ruff. He has been replaced by, God help us, Travis Green.

  GM Tom Fitzgerald was given a raise and term and title so he was not going anywhere but truth is he ruined the defense. A lot of people say they need a goalie but the defense is pathetic and nobody is working the same way. 

  Hughes makes two or three really bad giveaways a night.

 Hamilton is out for the year and was/is bad defensively.

 Nemec and Bahl are in and out as they learn the curve.

 Brendan Smith is a turnover machine.

 Siegenthaller and Colin Smith are below average.

 Marino is literally the only defender who nightly has a clue.

  So Ruff let go Fitzgerald was extended for these 4f defenders. 

  And Travis Green because of course they did.

  I bought the tee, drank the Kool aid. Thought they were going to have a great year. Hell even Hughes does not follow the game plan.

 Ugh.

Recalled Zellweger, solid prospect.

 Still love the Ducks prospects, honestly they may rank number one in my rankings with an abundance of blue liners. 

  One big trade rumor done 

  After a week of Elias Pettersson on the block, he signed an 8 year contract at 11.6 million per remaining with the Canucks.

  You never know with injuries but assuming healthy, he is an offensive force at age 25. It is very fair to say he has not yet reached his peak. 

 Chris tanev, a solid stay at home player was dealt to Dallas for a second and a third and a meh prospect. New Jersey got a 4th rounder by taking half of Tanevs salary.

  Not gonna lie, a bit non.plussed.tanev can defend with anyone but has zero offensive abilities, Dallas has fantastic defense but I think Dallas would have been better adding hanifin. I trust Jim Nill, but this one seems a bit of an overpay. 

  The footnote, Devils absorbed other teams salary for a 4th likely means they are very close to tossing the towel in on a massively disappointing season.