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re: NHL Preseason Thread
Posted on 9/22/14 at 11:28 am to Baloo
Posted on 9/22/14 at 11:28 am to Baloo
quote:
Yeah, the Caps already played the Sabres.
A 1-0 win? Ovie with 0 shots.....Trotz gonna Trotz
I know, only first preseason game. Just nice to see Hockey again.
quote:
do love the old cartoon Penguin. Also, the strong black and gold look ties it in to the other Pittsburgh teams. It's a strong jersey, much better than that triangle head. It's good to see everyone going back to their old looks.
Definitely man. This x10000
In terms of the teams I follow, here's what I'm looking for in the preseason. (Assuming the veterans with guaranteed roster spots aren't going to show us anything):
NY Rangers:
- Forwards: Lots of battling for open spots on the 4th line. Did JT Miller get better on the offseason and earn a spot on the roster? Also, How are Michael St. Croix, Danny Kristo, Adam Tambellini, and Andrew Yogan looking? Do any of these kids make Sather regret getting Tanner Glass / Ryan Malone?
- Defense: Did Dylan McIlrath learn how to skate on the offseason? Can he do it without scraping his knuckles on the ice? If the answer to the first two questions are "Yes", did he learn how to play defense on the NHL level? As a fan I'm excited any time you draft someone with "the undertaker" as a nickname in Junior. We could use some toughness on D.
- Goalie: No questions. Talbot is a fine backup and if king Henrik gets injured the Rangers are F'd
Nashville Predators:
- Forwards: How good is James Neal without Sidney Crosby and Malkin (I am very, very afraid that I already know the answer to this)? Adding in Riberio and Roy, combined with a new coaching system - is this an upgrade over last year or is it going to be same frustration? How's this Forsberg kid looking? Fiala is blowing away everyone at rookie camp and first couple of days of pre-season. Is it possible that the Predators didn't frick up in the draft and got someone that can at least make the team for their offensive talent?
Defense: Ryan Ellis, when are you going to sign?
Goaltending: Between Helburg, Maz, and Hutton - will the Preds be completely fricked if Rinne goes down again?
Posted on 9/22/14 at 11:34 am to sms151t
My biggest gripe is that this team spent too long denying what they were. Say what you will about the Sharks, they know their identity and they are all in on the plan. The Caps lost a Game 7 to a goalie playing out his mind, and decided to scrap their whole system. It's just been painful watching them drive a Ferrari in third gear.
Getting rid of Oates is big because he was a God awful coach. Hunter, I felt, got a bad rap from Caps fans (and he got the team 6 seconds from the ECF) due to his terrible communication skills but Oates was a disaster in every way possible. There's simply no excuse for this roster to miss the postseason. Oates just horribly mismanaged the team, and some of the reporting done in the wake of his firing showed just how dysfunctional his reign was (essentially, the GM had to step in and overrule some of his more asinine decisions like carrying a third goalie).
But the new GM and a coach immediately seem to be working from the same playbook, for the first time since Boudreau pre-system change. Trotz wants to run a more defensive system, so instead of just saying it, the GM went out and loaded up the blueline. Now, is Orpik grossly overpaid? Sure. But the Caps did go from the worst blueline in the division to the best. They were trotting out a series of a career AHL'ers to fill out their 3rd pair, and now their question is which former All-Star is going to play on the 3rd line (it better fricking be Orpik).
And Trotz is saying the right things about Ovi: his job is to score goals, and his best defensive responsibility is driving play in the other end as far away from his own net as possible. Teams can't score from behind their own blueline. Even the famed "disconnected controller" gif, look how many Caps defenders botch the play. Sure, Ovi glides in late, but it never should have mattered because the defenders absolutely misplayed the puck. Stop having a D corps that hangs your goalie out to dry. It's a bad sign that Holtby was top 10 in save percentage last year but the Caps ranked near the bottom in goals allowed: shots, shots, shots. Stop giving up 30 of 'em a game.
It's still a pretty loaded roster. There's a deep blueline, a good goalie, some elite playmakers, and tons of scoring depth (despite Caps' fans complaints - I think the Caps roll out about 10 guys who have scored 20 goals). Now, they have their first competent coach in five years.
Getting rid of Oates is big because he was a God awful coach. Hunter, I felt, got a bad rap from Caps fans (and he got the team 6 seconds from the ECF) due to his terrible communication skills but Oates was a disaster in every way possible. There's simply no excuse for this roster to miss the postseason. Oates just horribly mismanaged the team, and some of the reporting done in the wake of his firing showed just how dysfunctional his reign was (essentially, the GM had to step in and overrule some of his more asinine decisions like carrying a third goalie).
But the new GM and a coach immediately seem to be working from the same playbook, for the first time since Boudreau pre-system change. Trotz wants to run a more defensive system, so instead of just saying it, the GM went out and loaded up the blueline. Now, is Orpik grossly overpaid? Sure. But the Caps did go from the worst blueline in the division to the best. They were trotting out a series of a career AHL'ers to fill out their 3rd pair, and now their question is which former All-Star is going to play on the 3rd line (it better fricking be Orpik).
And Trotz is saying the right things about Ovi: his job is to score goals, and his best defensive responsibility is driving play in the other end as far away from his own net as possible. Teams can't score from behind their own blueline. Even the famed "disconnected controller" gif, look how many Caps defenders botch the play. Sure, Ovi glides in late, but it never should have mattered because the defenders absolutely misplayed the puck. Stop having a D corps that hangs your goalie out to dry. It's a bad sign that Holtby was top 10 in save percentage last year but the Caps ranked near the bottom in goals allowed: shots, shots, shots. Stop giving up 30 of 'em a game.
It's still a pretty loaded roster. There's a deep blueline, a good goalie, some elite playmakers, and tons of scoring depth (despite Caps' fans complaints - I think the Caps roll out about 10 guys who have scored 20 goals). Now, they have their first competent coach in five years.
Posted on 9/22/14 at 11:42 am to Baloo
quote:
It's just been painful watching them drive a Ferrari in third gear.
I can understand this. How many TV screens have you broken watching them frick this up?
quote:
Getting rid of Oates is big because he was a God awful coach.
Yes.
quote:
And Trotz is saying the right things about Ovi: his job is to score goals, and his best defensive responsibility is driving play in the other end as far away from his own net as possible.
To be fair about Trotz, when has he ever had the offensive talent that he has now? Kariya in Nashville averaged 80 pts / season. Ovie is a shite ton better than Kariya.
Think you guys will contend again this season. NY Rangers will be roughly the same team they had last season, Pittsburgh and Philly won't be as good as they were last season. You guys will be better than you were.
Posted on 9/22/14 at 11:53 am to ironsides
Also, it's amazing to hear Trotz gush about Backstrom. He talks a lot about forward pairings, and we have at least two down Ovi-Backs and Chimera-Ward. The rest of the lines are up in the air. Who knows? A lot depends on Laich's health. His complete implosion as a decent player has killed the team.
I think Pitt takes a step back as their blueline got gutted by free agency and they need the kids to pan out immediately. Flyers are impossible to read, as always. Rangers will hold steady, but they are a tad overrated by their postseason run. Jackets could continue to improve and the Isles are a legit playoff threat. I'd guess the Pens, Rangers, Caps, and Isles make the playoffs (I think the Jackets take a step back to take an eventual step forward -- I like what they are building -- but I wanna be wrong and see them in the playoffs again).
I think Pitt takes a step back as their blueline got gutted by free agency and they need the kids to pan out immediately. Flyers are impossible to read, as always. Rangers will hold steady, but they are a tad overrated by their postseason run. Jackets could continue to improve and the Isles are a legit playoff threat. I'd guess the Pens, Rangers, Caps, and Isles make the playoffs (I think the Jackets take a step back to take an eventual step forward -- I like what they are building -- but I wanna be wrong and see them in the playoffs again).
Posted on 9/22/14 at 11:56 am to LosLobos111
Sharks coming for dat arse
Maybe this will be our year.
Maybe this will be our year.
Posted on 9/22/14 at 11:57 am to Big Moe
quote:
Aeros games
Moved to Houston this year and was so pumped to go to some Aeros games. Then I saw they moved....
Posted on 9/22/14 at 1:05 pm to Walt OReilly
quote:
Wish BR still had the kingfish. Yes I know they weren't an nhl team
The Icegators are in the SPHL and only a hour west. Talk about some fun games to go to. Beer is cheap too.
This post was edited on 9/22/14 at 1:07 pm
Posted on 9/22/14 at 1:37 pm to Baloo
quote:
I think Pitt takes a step back as their blueline got gutted by free agency and they need the kids to pan out immediately.
IDK, seems like Maatta and Despres aren't the worst young blueliners in the league but they don't replace Nikasenen / Orpik and show zero signs of becoming the next PK Subban.
quote:
Flyers are impossible to read, as always
Meh, another middle of the road team. The question for them will be: Did Del Zotto learn where the blue line is on the offseason? Love the kid but goodness the amount of times he killed a power play from the point by dragging the puck offsides is mind boggling.
quote:
Rangers will hold steady, but they are a tad overrated by their postseason run
Yeah we probably are. Took Marty St. Louis a while once Cally left.
Seems the metro division is all upper-middle class teams.
As for the Sharks, the only thing that makes me worry about them is the defensive unit. Niemi can't do this by himself.
Posted on 9/22/14 at 1:37 pm to Phil0ndeeez
quote:
Moved to Houston this year and was so pumped to go to some Aeros games. Then I saw they moved
Yep, starting year 2 of my withdrawal.
Posted on 9/22/14 at 2:52 pm to ironsides
Yeah, the Pens need Letang to regain full health, Scuderi to be very good, and Despres/Maata to have no growing pains (or injuries, Maata is coming off surgery). It's possible, but there's a lot of "if" coming off of their plan. And their non 1st line wings are Spaling, Bennett, Comeau, Dupuis, Downie, and Adams. That should terrify Pens fans.
Would you trade your team's wing depth for the Penguins? What teams would? This team is so amazingly top heavy (tho they have some pretty great center depth)
Would you trade your team's wing depth for the Penguins? What teams would? This team is so amazingly top heavy (tho they have some pretty great center depth)
Posted on 9/22/14 at 2:55 pm to Big Moe
Really wish we used this as our secondary logo. Flame On
Posted on 9/22/14 at 3:09 pm to Them
I will check in on both NHL and NBA after football season ends. I hope to find the Preds and Pels doing well.
Posted on 9/22/14 at 3:42 pm to TTownTiger
quote:
Too bad they play the NHL wrecking ball Dallas Stars the first game of the season. Stars will be destroying teams this season! I bet Chicago is already shaking in their skates from nervousness about that first game!
I'm terrified. But if we can beat the almighty Stars the first game, then the cup is ours
Posted on 9/22/14 at 3:44 pm to cascadia
quote:
I've never been to or seen a hockey game but it is something I want to try. Looks like fun to go to.
They're supposedly working on bringing a team to the PNW, either Portland or Seattle. I hope Seattle. I'm planning to move there after grad school and I would love to be there for the start of a new expansion team
Posted on 9/22/14 at 8:31 pm to Big Moe
Pens are going to wreck shite again and run away with the division like last year, all about postseason again as 1-3 seed.
Ehrhoff pain train, signing of the offseason. He's going to be so good, and then we'll lock him up long term.
And finally we have bottom 6 depth! GMJR.
Ehrhoff pain train, signing of the offseason. He's going to be so good, and then we'll lock him up long term.
And finally we have bottom 6 depth! GMJR.
This post was edited on 9/22/14 at 8:37 pm
Posted on 9/22/14 at 8:52 pm to UltimateHog
I'm excited about Caps hockey again for the first time in 2 years. Last year I was mostly checked out, I couldn't take McPhee running the team anymore. Excited to see what this team does this year.
Posted on 9/22/14 at 9:20 pm to UnluckyTiger
Is Nashville any good? I havent watched hockey since the Thrashers left, but I enjoyed going to the games. Ill be moving to Nashville within a month, so I might start following them.
Posted on 9/22/14 at 9:21 pm to devils1854
Wings off to a good start. 2-1 over Pitt.
Posted on 9/22/14 at 9:40 pm to devils1854
I really like Nashville, jerseys colors players, etc.
They'll be a playoff bubble team. Rinne is a beast in net, Neal will get them goals, but they don't have a lot else. Stalberg, Forsberg, Cullen, a lot of meh players but decent depth, new coaching staff. It'll be close for them to get in.
They'll be a playoff bubble team. Rinne is a beast in net, Neal will get them goals, but they don't have a lot else. Stalberg, Forsberg, Cullen, a lot of meh players but decent depth, new coaching staff. It'll be close for them to get in.
Posted on 9/22/14 at 10:08 pm to UltimateHog
quote:
They'll be a playoff bubble team. Rinne is a beast in net, Neal will get them goals, but they don't have a lot else. Stalberg, Forsberg, Cullen, a lot of meh players but decent depth, new coaching staff. It'll be close for them to get in.
You forgot arguably the best defenseman in the world: Shea Weber.
I wouldn't call them a bubble playoff team. They're in the toughest division in hockey. I'd be pretty surprised if they made the playoffs. They won't be horrible, though.
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