Starts today. Expansion draft coming up shortly; Draft coming up shortly after that...
NHL '17/'18 Thread (2017/2018 National Hockey League)
- Thread starter Bloodshot Scott
- Start date
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
Oh yes can't wait for October 5th (Blues @ Pens)! The guys wearing the note will have a different look this year as some significant changes have been made by GM Doug Armstrong. After a strong draft that saw the team add highly-touted C Robert Thomas as their first pick, they also added a couple of big forwards with huge upside from the KHL in Klim Kostin and Akesey Toropchenko. They also dealt Jori Lehtera and Ryan Reaves in acquiring Oskar Sundqvist and Brayden Schenn. Beau Bennett and Chris Thorburg were both added as FAs. Schenn should add some much-needed presence on the PP and overall the roster seems to be significantly deeper up front (especially with the late-season addition of Vladimir Sobotka last season). The Blues' D is as good as anyone's and the goaltending combo of Jake Allen & Carter Hutton is rock-solid so I'm looking for them to be right in the thick of things in the Central Division of the Western Conference this year.
Chicago seems to have taken a bit of a backward step in attempting to recover from their stunning first-round drubbing by Nashville last year and Minnesota was a bit lost in attempting to counter the size of the Blues' D-men or solve an amazing goaltending effort by Jake Allen when they hooked up in the playoffs as well. It will be interesting to see how those two teams respond this year. Dallas made some solid moves in the off-season to bolster their roster and added former HC Ken Hitchcock behind the bench so look for their GA to be much better next year. Colorado is still trying to get competitive but the Predators would seem to be the obvious choice to win the division in 2017/18. Everything came together at the right time in "Smashville" as they made a strong run that swept through the West all the way to the cup finals before losing to the Penguins. It should be a real dogfight as usual in the brutal NHL Western Conference Central Division this year.
How does your team and division stack up? I'll be more than ready when they drop the puck in October! :thumbsup:
Chicago seems to have taken a bit of a backward step in attempting to recover from their stunning first-round drubbing by Nashville last year and Minnesota was a bit lost in attempting to counter the size of the Blues' D-men or solve an amazing goaltending effort by Jake Allen when they hooked up in the playoffs as well. It will be interesting to see how those two teams respond this year. Dallas made some solid moves in the off-season to bolster their roster and added former HC Ken Hitchcock behind the bench so look for their GA to be much better next year. Colorado is still trying to get competitive but the Predators would seem to be the obvious choice to win the division in 2017/18. Everything came together at the right time in "Smashville" as they made a strong run that swept through the West all the way to the cup finals before losing to the Penguins. It should be a real dogfight as usual in the brutal NHL Western Conference Central Division this year.
How does your team and division stack up? I'll be more than ready when they drop the puck in October! :thumbsup:
I really wish the NHL would do away with the hard salary cap.Why punish a team that drafts well like Chicago?
At least put a provision in the next player's agreement that any team can pay their highest paid player any amount they want and it would not count against the cap.Something like that.They promised the players when they first implemented the cap that it would go up 3 to 5 million every year and it has gone up very little the last few years.The players should not put up with this stupid cap.
At least put a provision in the next player's agreement that any team can pay their highest paid player any amount they want and it would not count against the cap.Something like that.They promised the players when they first implemented the cap that it would go up 3 to 5 million every year and it has gone up very little the last few years.The players should not put up with this stupid cap.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
I tend to agree. The current system rewards patient ineptitude (see "Edmonton") while ostensibly promoting parity, hence more fan interest for more teams, hence more money for the owners. The salary cap basically tells owners "You can't control your own ridiculous spending habits so we are putting a leash on you". Then they deal out the "small market" argument to the fans. It's grossly unfair but I'm not certain how the league would fare as a whole if the cap were to be done away with. Interesting that free-market principles only seem to apply to areas where competition is widespread and not limited like it is with the billionaire boys clubs of the owners of professional sports franchises.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
Oh man I am stoked about the new AHL and ECHL affiliates my beloved Blues are adding! AHL connection is going to be the San Antonio Rampage starting in 2018 and the Tulsa Oilers this season respectively! I frequently travel to both of these cities so I should be able to take in some serious ice action while I am on the road. I am starved for hockey down here in the puckless wasteland that is Houston, TX. It is the 4th largest city in the USA and has no professional hockey team at any level. By contrast, there are 14 pro hockey clubs in Texas, the latest one added in Beaumont. For Houston to have zero exposure to hockey at any pro level is a travesty.
AHL hockey is terrific....all the players who are about to break out into the NHL are playing in that league so I'll definitely be going to San Antone on a regular basis!
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hock...cle_747e99a0-9c56-5cf6-af34-1ccfa839594a.html
AHL hockey is terrific....all the players who are about to break out into the NHL are playing in that league so I'll definitely be going to San Antone on a regular basis!
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hock...cle_747e99a0-9c56-5cf6-af34-1ccfa839594a.html
Honestly, I don't follow the Boston sports pages. I don't do fan forums. I have no idea.
NHL '17/'18 Thread
Alright peeps, the preseason has begun and the start of the 2017-2018 NHL season is just over two weeks away! What are your thoughts? How do you think your team will fare? How about the new team in Las Vegas? Good name (the Golden Knights)... (the answer is fuck no)? How will they do... (the answer is terrible)? The reason I say that is that they are going to really struggle to score goals; they actually have a great goaltender and a pretty decent D (especially considering that they're an expansion club)... but you can't win if you can't score, and I think they're going to have a very tough time generating offence and scoring goals.
As for my Edmonton Oilers, things should look good at this point. We have the most exciting player (Connor McDavid, obviously) in the game (who is at worst the third-best player in the league (behind Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson) already, at just twenty years of age). Seriously though, at twenty years and his first full season and his first season as captain: 100 points (led the league), Art Ross, Ted Lindsay, and Hart Trophy (as league MVP), took the team to the second round (after having missed playoffs for ten straight seasons) before losing in seven to a veteran Anaheim Ducks team (in a series that should have been a five-game series in favour of the Oilers if it hadn't been for beyond ridiculous officiating... and that is not sour grapes from an Oilers fan, that's just the flat-out truth, and anyone who watched that series objectively would agree), and the cover of the new NHL game! Incredible! Not to mention this:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3741575/...hannels-fans-in-ea-sports-nhl-18-promo-video/
[NOBABE]The kid[/NOBABE] is hilarious and he should host SNL
Aside from the McJesus hooplah, I honestly think we are in a great spot to at least repeat our success from last season (which would be pretty good), and perhaps exceed it. We got rid of Jordan Eberle (good riddance; I don't think I've ever seen a player fight less hard for the puck in the playoffs than I did when watching him this past postseason), and actually got a potentially decent player in return for him (Ryan Strome), and that freed up some space to sign Kris Russell to a nice contract. IMO, aside from McDavid and goaltender Cam Talbot, I feel that Russell is our MVP. Some fans disagree, but the guy is a genius decision-maker with the puck and with his defensive coverage; he reminds me of Steve Staios, but he's a better skater and he has softer hands. I cannot praise the guy more; he's my favorite player. We also added veteran forward Jussi Jokinen, who I think will be a nice contributor for us. So, with some roster improvements, and overall improvement from our young core, I see us as a real threat in the West this season. If you look at it, there are two real bona fide championship threats in the Chicago Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators, but aside from them the West doesn't have many teams that are on the up-and-up. And in our division (the Pacific Division), the only team that seems poised to take a step forward besides us is the Calgary Flames (and even if they do, I don't see them as being as good as us); the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks have all gotten older, and the Arizona Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, and Las Vegas Golden Knights will probably all be bad, so I see the Oilers as the team to beat in our division at this point. We'll see though, the season hasn't even started yet.
I live in New York City now, so I will probably become an at least passive New York Islanders fan (but never the Rangers; they've gooned out on my beloved Montreal Canadiens too many times), but when the Oilers come to town I will be that guy in the stands at the Barclays Center cheering on McDavid when he scores a hat trick (the one and only time he plays there each season).
Hockey!
Alright peeps, the preseason has begun and the start of the 2017-2018 NHL season is just over two weeks away! What are your thoughts? How do you think your team will fare? How about the new team in Las Vegas? Good name (the Golden Knights)... (the answer is fuck no)? How will they do... (the answer is terrible)? The reason I say that is that they are going to really struggle to score goals; they actually have a great goaltender and a pretty decent D (especially considering that they're an expansion club)... but you can't win if you can't score, and I think they're going to have a very tough time generating offence and scoring goals.
As for my Edmonton Oilers, things should look good at this point. We have the most exciting player (Connor McDavid, obviously) in the game (who is at worst the third-best player in the league (behind Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson) already, at just twenty years of age). Seriously though, at twenty years and his first full season and his first season as captain: 100 points (led the league), Art Ross, Ted Lindsay, and Hart Trophy (as league MVP), took the team to the second round (after having missed playoffs for ten straight seasons) before losing in seven to a veteran Anaheim Ducks team (in a series that should have been a five-game series in favour of the Oilers if it hadn't been for beyond ridiculous officiating... and that is not sour grapes from an Oilers fan, that's just the flat-out truth, and anyone who watched that series objectively would agree), and the cover of the new NHL game! Incredible! Not to mention this:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3741575/...hannels-fans-in-ea-sports-nhl-18-promo-video/
[NOBABE]The kid[/NOBABE] is hilarious and he should host SNL
Aside from the McJesus hooplah, I honestly think we are in a great spot to at least repeat our success from last season (which would be pretty good), and perhaps exceed it. We got rid of Jordan Eberle (good riddance; I don't think I've ever seen a player fight less hard for the puck in the playoffs than I did when watching him this past postseason), and actually got a potentially decent player in return for him (Ryan Strome), and that freed up some space to sign Kris Russell to a nice contract. IMO, aside from McDavid and goaltender Cam Talbot, I feel that Russell is our MVP. Some fans disagree, but the guy is a genius decision-maker with the puck and with his defensive coverage; he reminds me of Steve Staios, but he's a better skater and he has softer hands. I cannot praise the guy more; he's my favorite player. We also added veteran forward Jussi Jokinen, who I think will be a nice contributor for us. So, with some roster improvements, and overall improvement from our young core, I see us as a real threat in the West this season. If you look at it, there are two real bona fide championship threats in the Chicago Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators, but aside from them the West doesn't have many teams that are on the up-and-up. And in our division (the Pacific Division), the only team that seems poised to take a step forward besides us is the Calgary Flames (and even if they do, I don't see them as being as good as us); the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks have all gotten older, and the Arizona Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, and Las Vegas Golden Knights will probably all be bad, so I see the Oilers as the team to beat in our division at this point. We'll see though, the season hasn't even started yet.
I live in New York City now, so I will probably become an at least passive New York Islanders fan (but never the Rangers; they've gooned out on my beloved Montreal Canadiens too many times), but when the Oilers come to town I will be that guy in the stands at the Barclays Center cheering on McDavid when he scores a hat trick (the one and only time he plays there each season).
Hockey!
Re: NHL '17/'18 Thread
The fuck...http://board.freeones.com/showthrea...17-2018-National-Hockey-League)&highlight=nhl
Not that it really matters...no one really posts around here anymore..
The fuck...http://board.freeones.com/showthrea...17-2018-National-Hockey-League)&highlight=nhl
Not that it really matters...no one really posts around here anymore..
Two Canadian teams in the SCF. That's my prediction.
Ottawa-Edmonton?
I think so.
All the Canadian teams are going to be good this year though. Toronto will be another interesting team to watch with Matthews' second season coming up.
Oh man, Ottawa-Edmonton would be so sweet! I think all the Canadian teams have a shot at being good, but I don't think the Vancouver Canucks are poised to have a good season. You never know, but it seems like they're in rebuild mode at this point. And, as much as I hate to say it, I think the Montreal Canadiens might not be that great either; Jonathan Drouin was a nice addition, but at 6 years, $33 million, they may regret it. I think they still have a chance to make the playoffs, but it'll be a bit of a struggle methinks.
I agree that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be an interesting team to watch. Last season, they emerged as a great offensive club, and Frederik Andersen showed the world (who didn't pay attention to it, really) that he's a bona fide stud goaltender in the NHL. The Leafs' problem is that they allow way way way too many scoring opportunities and shots-on-goal against, so look for them to improve their D through a trade at some point this season.
Another team that I think will be interesting to watch will be the Buffalo Sabres. They've actually built a pretty decent team that may be poised to enter the postseason this year. Jack Eichel is developing into a stud, Ryan O'Reilly is one of the best two-way players in the game (even if no one notices), a decent D (not sexy, but decent), and Robin Lehner is poised for a real breakout methinks.
What do people think of the Pittsburgh Penguins chances of three-peating? My two cents is that in today's NHL it may be impossible to three-peat (not literally impossible, but you know what I mean), and just repeating was in itself an almost unfathomable achievement. I just don't think [NOBABE]the body[/NOBABE] can take the extra two months of absolutely brutally bone-crushing, hard-nosed hockey that a Stanley Cup run requires three years in a row. Just doing it two years in a row is amazing enough, I just don't think that three is in the cards. But they still should be one of the best teams in the league, but I see an early exit in the postseason for them.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
I originally posted this to the wrong thread. I would appreciate comments as well as similar analyses for your favorite team. I enjoy in depth analysis....hockey geek to the max. I even watch exhibition games!
Names to watch....Vince Dunn (D), Ville Husso (G), Robert Thomas (F), Jordan Kyrou (F), Klim Kostin (F), Tage Thompson (F)
Names to watch....Vince Dunn (D), Ville Husso (G), Robert Thomas (F), Jordan Kyrou (F), Klim Kostin (F), Tage Thompson (F)
It's funny Canada's most lovable losers the Leafs finally get a "savior" in the mold of a McD, but he happens to be an American from Arizona. I wish the Wild would have got him. Seriously after his first game - the four goal effort - the whole world had to keep their eyes on him at that point.
You're not the only one who watches the exhibitions. I watch them. Bloody hell the first game a few nights ago was sloppyass hockey.
Yesterday wasn't as bad but still the whole team looks like hell right now. Most of our starters were on the ice last night so it was good. The Twins have my undivided attention this month though as we're playoff bound for the first time in years!
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
This new slashing rule they are enforcing in preseason is a disaster. There are so many penalties that the flow of the game is being severely disrupted. Surely they will let up on this once the regular season starts....at least I sure hope so. And I am doing the same thing with MLB since the Cardinals are making a dark-horse run for the last wild card spot in the National League. It's not uncommon for me to have the TV and my iPad going at the same time this time of year!
Yeah these Twins...I'm telling you, people better watch out for them. The Wild Card play-in one game deal is gimmicky...so much so the Twins could actually win that thing...then you never know. The Twins could go on a crazy run or some such, you never know. The pitching is sketchy for the Twins but the bullpen is ok.
Anyway, wrong thread for that.
I haven't watched enough of the preseason games to see what people are bitching about (the dropping of the puck has been the most bitching I have heard on the Golf and hockey forums I post on) and I haven't watched nearly enough.
The Colorado/Minnesota game last night wasn't on TV. WTF??!!?
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
This is not good news for the Blues. Fabbri is being counted on to provide a much-needed spark to the offense this year. I really hope he is able to return soon but it feels to me like he came back too early from the knee injury and likely will need weeks if not months to totally rehab. In the meantime, one of the young guys like Tage Thompson, Sam Blais or, as darkhorses with terrific upsides are concerned, Klim Kostin or Robert Thomas will need to step up to fill the void. No crying in hockey....especially in the uber-tough Western Conference Central so it's next man up for us unless/until Fabbri can return. With Bergland and Steen already on the shelf for now, we are suddenly very thin at forward so it will be a rookie's chance to show us what he's got.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hock...cle_98ff6185-5c21-5c4f-8e66-b9cc18354b38.html
PS- Cardinals are toast so let's drop the puck and let's go Astros!
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hock...cle_98ff6185-5c21-5c4f-8e66-b9cc18354b38.html
PS- Cardinals are toast so let's drop the puck and let's go Astros!
