No one wants to be in buffalo. It was a long shot but I was actually hoping he would come to San Jose. Was it me or was hockey sort of boring this year?
Well I'm in Buffalo by default, not originally from here. I'm also a Boston Bruins fan for 25 years, so I don't drink the Buffalo sports teams kool-aid like most super fans here. I do feel bad for them though, I know a few who pretty much thought it was a sure thing. Yeah hockey was kind of dull this year. Too much neutral zone trap in every game I watched. I felt like I was watching a Devils game from the mid nineties over and over
I did notice the neutral zone trap being used more recently. Anyways I cant stand the ducks so 'hawks or lightning taking it all would be no problem with me!
What a farce this league becomes with each passing season. Babcock is good, if probably overrated, and I would welcome his as a coach, but this move and salary for him, and a bidding war between teams, is just sad. Double the salary of the next-highest coach? The Leafs are a joke. The deep pockets of MLSE makes them like the Yankees used to be, only completely without the ability to actually WIN. They sink more and more money, into one of the biggest sports franchises in the world, and yet cannot make it amount to anything in terms of playing success (nor have they done for decades). All professional sports are just about the money nowadays, but having it doesn't guarantee anything. Anyways, wish him success in Toronto. For what it is worth I would love to see the team get strong again and orginal six rivalries be rekindled with a passion in the NHL. Bring on more games with Detroit, Boston, Toronto, and I could not be happier. Doubt it will happen, not with Bettman in charge, but you can always hope.
Lightning are going to take the Rangers, mark my words. I'm usually a original six guy but I hate the Rangers and the Blackhawks so much I'm really hoping for a Ducks-Lightning Stanley Cup. I hope TB takes the whole thing. I guess I'd be more inclined to go original six if I didn't absolutely loathe the Blackhawks whole team and many of the Rangers players like Krieder, Brassard, McDonaugh, Nash, Staal, Stephan, Haeglin, oh fuck it I hate their whole team except for maybe St Louis.
My HATE for the ducks is ten times the hate you have for any team. That being said I'll take any team to win it over the ducks, but the top (neutral) choice would be the lightning also.
I don't know about that. Montreal is a team that drives me to actually want to confront the players lol!
Peter DeBoer will coach the Sharks. So much negativity on my FB wall. I still think Doug Wilson needs to go but that's only based on what McLellan said.
Speaking of the Bruins. Boston fans seem to be indifferent when it comes to Lucic and his pending final contract year. Lots of people want to see him traded because of his down year. I'm firmly in the 'keep him' camp. Yeah he struggled mightily in the first few months but you have to consider this WHOLE team had a bad season by Bruin standards. He was coming off season wrist surgery, then Krejci, Lucic' center for his entire career is hurt for 35 games. Lucic had mix an match line mates all season. Towards the end of the season he had one of the best shooting percentages of his career. I still feel a certain amount of grit is relevant in the NHL. It can't all just be small speedy forwards 24-7. That's boring. Going forward the B's front office has said they want to get back to playing an aggressive physical game, so trading Lucic is going to be really stupid if they do IMO. With Krejci healthy, and a much needed rest (instead of going deep into the playoffs once again), Lucic will bounce back.
Wow, after the first period I didn't think Chicago would end up winning this one. Turning out to be a better series than I would have expected!
Neither did I. Looked like Chicago was holding on for dear life the whole game. I can't stand the Blackhawks so I'm hoping Tampa Bay wins it all. I think they will.
Tampa's speed is a bigger factor than I thought it would be. Chicago has to be running on fumes, looks like this series can go the distance, with either team with taking it.
TB might be done. Their goalie Bishop is having serious mobility problems and their leading scorer Johnson is hurt so bad he can't take face offs or make passes with much accuracy anymore Now Kucherov probably broke his collar bone. That's three of their most important players. Fucking Chicago. Same shit happened when they played the Bruins in 2013, half the opposing team has debilitating injuries. Bergeron had the equivalent injuries to someone in a car accident. Chicago fans will go on how good their team is and I'm not saying they're not, but come on Kane and Toews haven't done much this year. I hate attrition deciding cups. You can say everyone is banged up this time of year but Chicago always escapes any major injuries.
I think if the Lightning were 100% the outcome might have been different, certainly at least would have gone to a game 7. Oh well, it will be fun watching this dynasty die because at the cap hit the Hawks are taking on certain players, they can't possibly keep this team together for long.
I wasn't really rooting for one team over another, but congratulations to the 'Hawks just the same. I guess at least the cup is in a city where there are still some fans, even if they probably take it for granted now. Going to be a long off-season again. The whole Phoenix drama that just won't die is really tiring at this point. Well I hope Montreal makes some major moves, but they rarely do (sensible ones I should say) and judging by their commitments already and who they have resigned lately, probably going to be a year of more of the same.
I was hoping for a Tampa win but at least the ducks didnt win! Now I get to deal with the sharks and their issues moving forward. Lets hope the upcoming season is a lot more exciting than this years!
Actually I'm always excited from draft day till the first week in July with free agency. The off season is pretty hectic and fun. For the Bruins I'm hoping they sign Hamilton (although everyone hates the B's and will probably throw offer sheets his way). He's basically a year or two from becoming Hedman in TB. Solid first line defenseman with good size and serious skating/puck moving ability. I don't care what anyone says, the Bruins need to keep Lucic. NHL is not 100% about small speedy forwards that avoid confrontation, despite what the pussy sports writers wish it was and try to make an package the NHL to be. Yeah he had a bad season but like I said before he had mix an match linemates all season and came off wrist surgery. Problem is they are salary cap hell and oversigned (with no trade clauses) and overpaid a few guys. They need to offload but not Lucic. I mean really what would you get in return? Draft picks that might never pan out and untested guys? They need solid D going forward to help an aging Chara/Seidenberg and fill the void left by Boychuk, and a decent backup goalie. Not worried about scoring as much.
I definitely agree that this is one of the best parts of the season. I love it when its crazy active during free agency, with trades and pickups happening so frequent you cant keep up! I just wish the Sharks would have fired Doug Wilson so they could take a step forward in the RIGHT direction. i just dont think he can put together a coaching staff and get the proper pieces for a team to make a run and win. the last few seasons have been proof especially in the postseason.
I don't think the Sharks will win a cup with Doug in office. I think he can put together a team + coaches that can win the cup, if he keeps his hands off the team and coaching staff after he's hired them. How many coaches have we seen come through the Sharks org., leave, and then become successful either in International or NHL level...2, 3 maybe? It will be interesting to see what the Coyotes do for the rest of the year till the season starts. Draft day will be interesting because of all the free agent signings and trades. Always the fun part. I just saw that Yashin is finally not part of the Islanders but DiPietro will be for a very long time. I was only cheering for the Ducks to make the finals so I could at least catch some part of the games during the weekdays. There are some really lovely women here at work. Is it October yet?
Is anyone excited for the draft? I don't have any better solution, and I am all for equalisation between teams, but honestly, a part of me would also like to see other (e.g. my) team get a shot at drafting some new talent too. Not that the top picks or first round or anything offers any guarantees. But just making it to the playoffs, typically squeakily, kinda hurts a lot of middleground teams, as they cannot build for the future. It is not an answer of course, as the Oilers haven't managed to get together an amazing team (yet) either for example, but still, I do believe that bringing in new young talent is a crucial part to any team's success. Montreal never really makes any big trades for picks either. It is all about team development and making the most of young skill (ideally without the ego ) and veteran leadership. I still think we could use fewer teams in the league to have stronger overall talent. Expansion is certainly a mistake.
