The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[SidVish]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Yeah definitely not his best series and while I don't want him to be fired I think he needs to get rid of Mike Kitchen, our PP was terrible and Kitchen is in charge of it. It has been brutal since he took over (the year after we won the cup) and a change needs to be made there for sure.

Not sure if Q will can him though and the only way I could see Q being fired is if Bowman gives him an ultimatum, change the staff or you're gone. That is pretty much the only scenario I could see Q being gone though and I don't think its a very likely one.

Quenneville is extremely loyal so I don't know if he would get rid of Kitchen. I don't care how it happens but Kitchen has to go. Also, the older guys were signed to one year deals so they'll all be gone. Bottom line is the defense, special teams, and goaltending wasn't good enough. I thought that they could maybe win one series but I'm definitely not surprised with another 1st round exit. If I know McDonough these back to back 1st round exits aren't good enough and there will be some changes. Kane, Toews, and Sharp needed to score in this series in order to win it and it just didn't happen.

As always it should be an interesting offseason. Hossa finally got out of the house but still isn't feeling too well. I hope this isn't one of those cases where he's out for an extended period of time. I'd like to see him on the ice for next season's opener.

Nashville and Phoenix are similar teams but the Predators actually have an offense so I like them to win in 5 or 6. However, the team I'm rooting for to come out of the West is LA.

[jyoung]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Going to be some low scoring games in the 2nd round, Phoenix/Nashville and St. Louis/Los Angeles.

First team to 2 goals wins all of these games.

[l3ulvl]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

The biggest missed opportunity ever. This Scranton-Wilkes-Barre weather report is interrupted by bears. This raises the question of why the home of the Penguins affiliate didn't invite Bryzgalov to guest as a weatherman before Game 6. He would have been rendered completely useless.

http://deadspin.com/5904543/tonights...vaded-by-bears

wtf?

News teams today are wimps. In the 70s we handled bears like real men.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Miller? Nah. I'm surprised you haven't thought about the obvious candidate to not only vastly upgrade your goaltending but troll the Canucks at the same time.

I'll give you a hint: this INDIVIDUAL plays on another team that begins with "B".

Do you think Boston would be looking to trade Tim Thomas though?

I mean with Rask I can understand why they would but hadn't really thought of him, he would be an interesting short term option.

[Feared]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

What happened to Chicago's dynamic goal scorers in that series? Seems like Kane, Sharp were pretty much no shows, and outside of Game 5 Toews didn't do much as well.

Was Mike Smith really that good?

I'm actually pretty interested in the next round of the West playoffs. Gives some fresh blood teams some spotlight, and there will be some outstanding Goal-tending.

[RealmK]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Do you think Boston would be looking to trade Tim Thomas though?

I mean with Rask I can understand why they would but hadn't really thought of him, he would be an interesting short term option.

I think they'd trade Thomas long before Rask. Thomas is 38.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Quenneville is extremely loyal so I don't know if he would get rid of Kitchen. I don't care how it happens but Kitchen has to go. Also, the older guys were signed to one year deals so they'll all be gone. Bottom line is the defense, special teams, and goaltending wasn't good enough.

Agree, if they want changes and he refuses to get rid of Kitchen I think Q will be fired, I'm just not sure it has reached that point yet I think he might have one more year before it gets to that although I really hope Kitchen is gone soon.

As far as the old guys and one year deals they should all definitely be gone but Q likes his vets, I just hope Bowman doesn't bring any of them back they are done or don't fit what the Hawks are doing.

Defense needs to be shored up (although I think some of that is the system we run doesn't do anything to clear the crease), goaltending could definitely use an upgrade, and Kitchen needs to be replaced with someone who knows how to run a PP.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

I think they'd trade Thomas long before Rask. Thomas is 38.

Definitely wasn't meaning they'd trade Rask, just asking if they would trade Thomas. Sure hes blocking Rask by being there but at the same time having two good goalies is a nice problem to have, especially when Rask is still cheap.

*Edit - reading my initial post again I see why you thought I meant Rask, I worded that question pretty poorly, I meant that with having Rask I could see why they'd trade Thomas, not with Rask as in I see why they would trade him.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Do you think Boston would be looking to trade Tim Thomas though?

I mean with Rask I can understand why they would but hadn't really thought of him, he would be an interesting short term option.

Rask is going to be given the reins at some point, and he's an RFA, so he'll be due a raise. If Boston doesn't make a deep run this year, I think it's a possibility, especially with TT's "controversy" this season. Thomas has one year left on his deal. His NTC expires on July 1. Boston would only trade him to a team in the West, and only a win-now contender would want a 38-year-old goalie. Chicago makes the most sense.

[RealmK]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Definitely wasn't meaning they'd trade Rask, just asking if they would trade Thomas. Sure hes blocking Rask by being there but at the same time having two good goalies is a nice problem to have, especially when Rask is still cheap.

*Edit - reading my initial post again I see why you thought I meant Rask, I worded that question pretty poorly, I meant that with having Rask I could see why they'd trade Thomas, not with Rask as in I see why they would trade him.

Ahh okay, yeah weirdly worded, I gotcha bro. Not only that, they have a goaltender in Anton Khudobin who while he only played one game for the big club this year looks NHL ready as far as I'm concerned. I could totally see them being interested in trading Thomas while he could still get a decent return. And really even at his age, Timmay is solid.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Ahh okay, yeah weirdly worded, I gotcha bro. Not only that, they have a goaltender in Anton Khudobin who while he only played one game for the big club this year looks NHL ready as far as I'm concerned. I could totally see them being interested in trading Thomas while he could still get a decent return. And really even at his age, Timmay is solid.

Of course he does. He spent his younger years at the NHL's farm club, the Minnesota Wild. Enjoying all that work Pouliot is putting in as well?

[RealmK]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Of course he does. He spent his younger years at the NHL's farm club, the Minnesota Wild. Enjoying all that work Pouliot is putting in as well?

Yeah I hadn't heard of the kid prior, Edwards during that broadcast (the one Bruins game he was in net for) had mentioned he's played 6 or 7 NHL games. I was surprised it wasn't more. The kid was impressive imo.

Eh I'll give Pouliot credit for his effort, though he does take stupid penalties more often than I'd like.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

Any idea what kind of return the B's would want for Thomas? He would definitely be an upgrade for us and while he is a short term fix he would immediately make us a championship caliber team for the next year or two, with our core and a goalie capable of putting the team on his back I like our chances.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

So who's excited for Devils/Panthers Game 6!

[Psyblast]

Re: The Official 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

So who's excited for Devils/Panthers Game 6!

I AM! I AM! I AM!

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