ruxpin

This isn't content! It's mindlessly spamming the board. How about go copy and paste a spaghetti and meatball recipe somewhere on Facebook or something else equally inspiring. God, you're annoying! Quit spamming!

Yeah, I like the team itself. If everyone meshes well together, they're a nice team with crap goaltending. Ottawa--who actually got the lesser of the Diarrhetic Duo--also has a descent lineup with questionable goaltending. I kind of like Sogaard, but I don't want him starting 50 games. He'll have to with Korpse as his creasemate. Gotta think Columbus finishes better than Ottawa but they'll be in the same neighborhood. Good comparison to Detroit, too. I like their goaltending better. Detroit has some nice things going on with their lineup, but as was said on the Detroit write-up thread: their defense is a huge question. Things could go well and they're the best of these three. Or they're right there. If Columbus's defense can improve and hold and Merz can at least stay healthy then who knows? They're headed in the right direction as a team, and will be better than last year, but I think likely still bottom ten.

Yeah. All of this. Tarasev is still waiver exempt. I know they have $5M+ invested in Pelvis, but they seemingly have everyone signed and $4M in cap space ($5M+ if they send Tarasev to the Monsters). It feels like there should be better options than Pelvis still out there if they wanted to make a move. Unless they feel like they're just not there yet either way so wait. Gaudreau isn't getting any younger, though.

Breaking News: https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-draft-maple-leafs-pick-auston-matthews-first/c-281038834 on Friday. "Toronto is the hockey mecca; that's the hockey universe right there," Matthews said. "They sure do love the Maple Leafs. They are a very good sports city in general, but especially with the Leafs." Matthews is the seventh United States-born player selected with the first pick and the first since Patrick Kane was chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007. After hearing his name called by Maple Leafs director of player personnel Mark Hunter, Matthews hugged his mother and father....

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Good post all around. I agree; they have jumped the shark. Or, Oni prygnuli na akulu.

I'm okay if he moves to wing, but I like him better at center. He just needs wingers that will show up (cough cough Farabee).

I'm not bullish on over 100 points. I think they may sneak into the playoffs as an 8-seed, but I just don't like this team. Too much has to go just right with their kids. I think Huberdeau will likely be better (could he be worse?) but no matter how you slice and dice it, Barkov does not play for Calgary, so you won't see Huberdeau return to Florida production. I am not, nor have I ever been, a fan of Markstrom. He's not terrible but can be. And I think two seasons ago was his career high water mark. He's going to have to be at least that good because I still think their defense is suspect and their forward lines are decent but mismatched players. The middle to bottom of the conference is terrible, so things could go well enough that they get in, but I would not think they have any contender qualities. I don't think they can skate with the stronger teams.

When you break it down as you do, it's hard to argue individual points. I think they get in as one of the two wild cards and it's solely on the idea that what much of what you say is true, they'll have much better goaltending next year. That, and the fact I'm not at all bullish on Ottawa.

1:20, 1:28, and 1:39, I see nose/forehead as initial point of contact. I don't think there's anything incidental about it. Possibly accidental, but not incidental. Not completely buying accidental, either. I'd say get your head up, but on this particular play it's not like he was carrying the puck and admiring his handiwork. The puck was loose and bouncing, and he was trying to find it corral it. I'm by no means a Lindros defender, but that would probably be a suspension in today's game except that he's a Penguin so he'd get a medal.

How quickly you forget Jon Sim!

@yave1964 I disagree with the whole post. I mean not really, but "dead on" on every post is kind of getting monotonous.

OMG! How are you?

I remember Dan! I had no idea the relationship. That's very cool.

Do you keep the GM? From my vantage, they won the Cup because they accidentally tripped over it. I've never been an Armstrong fan.

Interesting. That's about where my "give a s**t" level is.

This is dead on. I was there last summer, but it's become worse due to the changes you cite. At least they have recent Cup memories.

Je me souviens. Je me rends.

This has buyout before it's over written all over it. And that's a lot to write on it. Great write up, yave. Can't disagree with any of it.

Don't be insulted, Pens fans. I'm a Flyers fan. I can only dream that my team can one day be mediocre.

He'll do well in Pittsburgh. They meet the mediocre team criteria.

Well, it would need to also include some picks and/or prospects coming to Philly. In 2024, the Habs have a 1st and a pick in each of the first four rounds. They have two firsts in 2025 (theirs and Calgary's).. If Hart and DeSmith are the centerpiece, I need a 2025 first (Calgary's) and a 2024 second (Colorado's). And a prospect.

DeSmith gives Montreal a goalie to send back in a trade for Carter Hart. Fully story at 11.