<<< NHL Playoff Thread >>>

[Dynamite_Kid19]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Maybe off topic, but this picture reminded me of it…







Does anyone else fell as I do the NHL should require full face masks are are in college?

No way. They are uncomfortable. They have mandated shields for guys that came into the league but I can't remember what date. Guys like Ryan O'Reilly who wear nothing are being phased out.

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[TheVTCGuy]

Of course they are uncomfortable, players said the same thing about helmets when they were first mandated; they adjusted. IMHO, I think they should do the same for shields. It would save a lot of injuries, and that young player several years ago even lost an eye.

[Carguy87]

Go Knights Go! Sorry about your Canadian brethren Brian, but I’m stoked we’re moving on!

Now we have to see if it’ll be Dallas or Seattle losing the conference finals…

[JP.]

If Seattle wins Dallas in game seven, we have three potential new Cup champions.

Seattle
Florida
Vegas

Canes have one Cup.

Biggest surprise to me was the elimination of Bruins.

As a Finn, I'm rooting for anyone but Vegas as they don't have Finnish players. :D

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Agreed. They need some grittier forwards who play heavy.

Florida pulled off the miracle against Boston and I figured they’d handle Toronto.

Im taking taking the Carolina Hurricanes to go to the cup.

Toronto is in a really difficult spot, due mostly to the GM giving out stupid contracts. AND they threw all the marbles at 4 players which handicapped the ability to have a supporting cast.

Right now they are at the blow it up, or patch it up stage and even if they wanted to move a couple of the Core 4, either their contracts are too high or they have no movement clauses kicking in.

I think they need to clear house in the front office, see if Mathews wants to stay past next year, and move out at least one of the soft 4. The overpaying for Tavares is such a mess I'm not sure how you get out of it. But the writing on the wall that this was a soft team has plagued them for a number of years, but they didn't do anything about it.

Sharp GMs realize this stuff early and bite the bullet and make changes. Look at Boston with Joe Thornton. They realized they'd never win with him and got rid of him. And he never did win anything.

Edmonton is close but still too reliant on the top 2 players. And they needed a goalie.

I think for the rest of the playoffs, the best goalie will probably determine who wins the cup because all of the contenders can play team D.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Toronto is in a really difficult spot, due mostly to the GM giving out stupid contracts. AND they threw all the marbles at 4 players which handicapped the ability to have a supporting cast.

Right now they are at the blow it up, or patch it up stage and even if they wanted to move a couple of the Core 4, either their contracts are too high or they have no movement clauses kicking in.

I think they need to clear house in the front office, see if Mathews wants to stay past next year, and move out at least one of the soft 4. The overpaying for Tavares is such a mess I'm not sure how you get out of it. But the writing on the wall that this was a soft team has plagued them for a number of years, but they didn't do anything about it.

Sharp GMs realize this stuff early and bite the bullet and make changes. Look at Boston with Joe Thornton. They realized they'd never win with him and got rid of him. And he never did win anything.

Edmonton is close but still too reliant on the top 2 players. And they needed a goalie.

I think for the rest of the playoffs, the best goalie will probably determine who wins the cup because all of the contenders can play team D.

Glad to see you made it back from purgatory

I agree, it’s a mess. IMHO, I’d deal Matthews in the off season while his stock is still relatively high provided he doesn’t have a no trade clause.

I realize that won’t be a very popular opinion…. but we could probably get a decent third line for what he will command next contract

As for the teams left in this race, I’m going with Carolina as they can roll their lines and wear you down. That said, Bobrovsky can steal the show … so I wouldn’t look past Florida.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Glad to see you made it back from purgatory

I agree, it’s a mess. IMHO, I’d deal Matthews in the off season while his stock is still relatively high provided he doesn’t have a no trade clause.

I realize that won’t be a very popular opinion…. but we could probably get a decent third line for what he will command next contract

As for the teams left in this race, I’m going with Carolina as they can roll their lines and wear you down. That said, Bobrovsky can steal the show … so I wouldn’t look past Florida.

Thanks. I was at a one week hair dressing seminar.

I think Matthews NMC kicks in on July 1st. Toronto needs to do everything before July 1 because I think Marners kicks in then too.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Thanks. I was at a one week hair dressing seminar.



I think Matthews NMC kicks in on July 1st. Toronto needs to do everything before July 1 because I think Marners kicks in then too.

You're right ... we are screwed

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[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

You're right ... we are screwed

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This is a pretty good article about the contracts....

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...act-scenarios/

Maybe all the front office of Toronto is moving to Calgary .....https://www.bladeofsteel.com/Calgary...osition-236650

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Blansky

This is a pretty good article about the contracts....

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...act-scenarios/

Maybe all the front office of Toronto is moving to Calgary .....https://www.bladeofsteel.com/Calgary...osition-236650

Careful Calgary … you might not like what you wish for

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Careful Calgary … you might not like what you wish for

Could be an interesting about face.

Calgary a team with a lot of toughness and no stars.

[TheVTCGuy]

My Red Wings will win it all!!!!!!!






ahem….

[Dynamite_Kid19]

Originally Posted by brandrea

You're right ... we are screwed

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Correct. Marner and Mathews kick in 7/1. Tavares has 1 and Nylander has a 10 team no trade list and the Dubas promise he won't trade him...as long as he's GM.

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[Dynamite_Kid19]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

My Red Wings will win it all!!!!!!!













ahem….

From your lips brother to God's ears!

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[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Carguy87

Go Knights Go! Sorry about your Canadian brethren Brian, but I’m stoked we’re moving on!

Now we have to see if it’ll be Dallas or Seattle losing the conference finals…

Congratulations Steve, well deserved

I’m a believer in that team

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Dynamite_Kid19

Correct. Marner and Mathews kick in 7/1. Tavares has 1 and Nylander has a 10 team no trade list and the Dubas promise he won't trade him...as long as he's GM.

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Can we get rid of the GM?

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by BOA

Watching highlights of Bedard I thought the WHA stick had more flex than I've seen with sticks in the the NHL. Is that my imagination?

What we’re seeing with sticks is pretty fascinating.

Back years ago with wood sticks and through the aluminum and early composite sticks players shot the puck with their top hand close to their body. If you wanted flex 10 years ago you leaned your body and put weight on your bottom hand and got flex and speed from that.

Now all these young guys in the last few years learned or figured out that if you move your top hand away from your body and create the flex with both hands pushed down and forward and use your body weight. Guys are getting shots up to 90 MPH with this method, where before the only way to get that was with a slap shot.

You can order your sticks with various amount of flex. And all these guys are using the flex now.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Blansky

What we’re seeing with sticks is pretty fascinating.

Back years ago with wood sticks and through the aluminum and early composite sticks players shot the puck with their top hand close to their body. If you wanted flex 10 years ago you leaned your body and put weight on your bottom hand and got flex and speed from that.

Now all these young guys in the last few years learned or figured out that if you move your top hand away from your body and create the flex with both hand pushed down and forward. Guys are getting shots up to 90 MPH with this method, where before the only way to get that was with a slap shot.

You can order your sticks with various amount of flex. And all these guys are using the flex now.

If they wore a Rolex while playing that would be the ultimate flex

[Dynamite_Kid19]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Can we get rid of the GM?

Ha. He said it's either Toronto or he's taking time off. My opinion is the core 4 are too similar. Need some skill who will get dirty. Everybody wants a Tkachuk but not a lot of guys out there like that but they need skill players who will get inside the dots and battle. Perimeter play and pretty passes doesn't work in the playoffs. Earlier in the season someone went at Mathews and he just wilted and I think Bunting had to fight his fight for him. Not committed. They need a Tyler Bertuzzi or 2 but their cap situation is not good. The Matt Murray trade was so weird to me because he is never available. Now they are stuck with him where a Samsonov/Will tandem would be cheaper/better.

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[Dynamite_Kid19]

Originally Posted by Blansky

What we’re seeing with sticks is pretty fascinating.

Back years ago with wood sticks and through the aluminum and early composite sticks players shot the puck with their top hand close to their body. If you wanted flex 10 years ago you leaned your body and put weight on your bottom hand and got flex and speed from that.

Now all these young guys in the last few years learned or figured out that if you move your top hand away from your body and create the flex with both hands pushed down and forward and use your body weight. Guys are getting shots up to 90 MPH with this method, where before the only way to get that was with a slap shot.

You can order your sticks with various amount of flex. And all these guys are using the flex now.

It's crazy how many of them use a low flex like 70 or 75 with the strength they have. Bedard and Matthews like the curl it in towards your body and rip a snap shot to change the angle, going a little old school.

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[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Can we get rid of the GM?

I think he’s probably gone. You can’t do the same thing over and over and expect different results.

Obviously he expected the cap to go up considerably, and thought paying 4 players half the cap would cure itself. But he should have realized by now that these 4 are not playoff performers. They just don’t have the character and even size to elevate their game when the going get tough. Marner and Nylander especially.

And the Tavares contract is 5 million too high. This was the first year he looked good but still too much money.

It’s a mess because it’s really hard to move these contracts, and with no movement clauses kicking in….

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

If they wore a Rolex while playing that would be the ultimate flex

I think there are a lot of guys that would get them in the corner, beat them up and skate away with their watches.

Then we’d have to bring back the out of work enforcers.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Carguy87

I’ll root for the leafs with you since they aren’t playing VGK right now and I’d love to see an American/Canadian Final. Long as the Oilers aren’t the Canadian team LOL

Looking forward to game 5!

Looks like your Vegas team now has a good as shot as anybody to win it all.

The remaining 4 teams look pretty equal and it may just come down to hot goaltending.

Good luck. Things will get pretty crazy in Vegas if they win. A great fan base.

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Looks like your Vegas team now has a good as shot as anybody to win it all.

The remaining 4 teams look pretty equal and it may just come down to hot goaltending.

Good luck. Things will get pretty crazy in Vegas if they win. A great fan base.

Thanks Blansky! Goaltending is always a huge factor this late in the season. We’ve gone through so many goaltenders this year who knows. Hill looked great in net for the back half of the Oilers series so hopefully he stays hot, and we keep the rest of the skaters healthy. We also have to stop taking stupid penalties. Having guys get suspended for boarding and slashing with intent to injure away from the play isn’t how we’ll win the Cup.

Would love to be in Vegas if we make it to the finals though! It’ll be a hell of a party!

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Carguy87

Thanks Blansky! Goaltending is always a huge factor this late in the season. We’ve gone through so many goaltenders this year who knows. Hill looked great in net for the back half of the Oilers series so hopefully he stays hot, and we keep the rest of the skaters healthy. We also have to stop taking stupid penalties. Having guys get suspended for boarding and slashing with intent to injure away from the play isn’t how we’ll win the Cup.

Would love to be in Vegas if we make it to the finals though! It’ll be a hell of a party!

I'm thinking game one in both series won't mean a whole lot as they feel each other out and shake off some cobwebs. But after that....

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by Blansky

I'm thinking game one in both series won't mean a whole lot as they feel each other out and shake off some cobwebs. But after that....

I just know that truthfully Dallas has consistently looked sharper than us in previous meetings, so we need to ensure we don’t squander the home ice advantage we have. If we aren’t winning in the Fortress it’ll be a scary prospect for the remainder of the series. Glad we get started soon! Hopefully that extra game Dallas had to play against Seattle means they’ll start the series a little worn down. Time will tell.

[Dynamite_Kid19]

Anybody make it through all of game 1 in the ECF?

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[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Dynamite_Kid19

Anybody make it through all of game 1 in the ECF?

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Nope. I bailed at the end of regulation. And just checked the score.

That's gotta hurt to play almost 5 extra periods. More so for the Hurricanes though.

[Dynamite_Kid19]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Nope. I bailed at the end of regulation. And just checked the score.



That's gotta hurt to play almost 5 extra periods. More so for the Hurricanes though.

I saw about 10 mins of 1st period. My son has sleep issues and wakes up really early, his waking up was about 30 mins after the goal so I almost made the end lol.

I'd love to play a game that long. Obviously not NHL playoff hockey but I play in a 3 hr game yearly for charity and I wish it was longer. I played a tournament weekend and between a Thursday-Sunday I played 6 games for the tournament and a Sunday night game in another league. Of course that was the game we only had 4 other players so I played the whole game.

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[brandrea]

Well … good riddance Mr Dubas.

Now can someone please sort us out?