NHL Off-Topic thread

**DrJones** · 02-14-2018, 03:04 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Originally posted by ImTellinTim

I'm definitely not going out of my way to watch any of it.

If it's a Slovakia/Slovenia final, I'll watch it. If it's Canada's F team vs Sweden's C team, I'll pass.

**rdnk** · 02-14-2018, 05:50 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Vancouver Canucks give Jim Benning a 3 year extension. It could be worse Canucks fans, you could have just extended Peter Chiarelli, or had let Benning leave and hired Ken Holland.

**Majingir** · 02-14-2018, 06:25 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Originally posted by rdnk

Vancouver Canucks give Jim Benning a 3 year extension. It could be worse Canucks fans, you could have just extended Peter Chiarelli, or had let Benning leave and hired Ken Holland.

Or have Eriksson, Suter and Gagner taking up over 13M in each of next 2 seasons(Eriksson for 4 years total, Sutter for 3).

Canucks need to clean house at the deadline or offseason if they want to turn things around. Edler, Tanev, Eriksson, Sutter, Gagner all need to go, retaining as little salary as possible to do so. Even taking back contracts that expire in 2019 wouldn't be as bad for some of these returns.

Sedins only go if they want to go, and Vanek/Gudbranson are probably gone for picks.

With Seattle coming in 2020, Canucks need to be decent by then or else get embarrassed by their pacific rivals, maybe even having some fans jumping on that bandwagon.

**ImTellinTim** · 02-14-2018, 06:29 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Originally posted by DrJones

If it's a Slovakia/Slovenia final, I'll watch it. If it's Canada's F team vs Sweden's C team, I'll pass.

Would much rather be watching a bunch of college kids in the USA jersey. Instead we get a bunch of slow 30+ year olds. No thanks.

**DrJones** · 02-14-2018, 09:13 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Originally posted by rdnk

Vancouver Canucks give Jim Benning a 3 year extension. It could be worse Canucks fans, you could have just extended Peter Chiarelli, or had let Benning leave and hired Ken Holland.

**ImTellinTim** · 02-15-2018, 12:51 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

I did catch a little bit of the tape delay of the US game while flipping channels. A bright spot is definitely DU's Troy Terry, who I actually watched in Denver last weekend. Incredible player. Was talking to one of DU's defensemen who was scratched both nights, and he said Terry routinely makes them look bad in practice. Henrik Borgstrom will probably win the Hobey, but I thought Terry was more skilled and impressive than him.

He also said that their coach was approached that both Terry and another of their players were in consideration for the team, but they would only take one so it didn't impact them as much. Coach said he didn't care, take both. Only took Terry.

**rdnk** · 02-15-2018, 12:54 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Originally posted by Majingir

Or have Eriksson, Suter and Gagner taking up over 13M in each of next 2 seasons(Eriksson for 4 years total, Sutter for 3).

Canucks need to clean house at the deadline or offseason if they want to turn things around. Edler, Tanev, Eriksson, Sutter, Gagner all need to go, retaining as little salary as possible to do so. Even taking back contracts that expire in 2019 wouldn't be as bad for some of these returns.

Sedins only go if they want to go, and Vanek/Gudbranson are probably gone for picks.

Vanek will be traded, but I wouldn't put a Gudbranson extension past Benning.

Sedins will likely be back on 1 year deals.

Tanev and Edler are their best trade chips, but it may be easier to move them in the offseason. Their best chance to trade Edler is long gone, but he still has some value.

Del Zotto and Gagner aren't that old (27, 28) and were recent FA acquisitions. I doubt they are traded before next year's deadline.

Sutter is likely to be difficult to move because he's overpaid and has a NTC. In 2019-2020 his NTC becomes a modified NTC; maybe he can be dumped then. Same thing about Eriksson, but more money and years. Cap space is fools gold anyways; if any opportunity to dump salary exists, then take it, but there is no point giving up assets to move salary for a rebuilding team.

**Majingir** · 02-15-2018, 01:01 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

They don't have to give up assets, but gotta take 1 step back to take 2 forward. Sports leagues are copycats, and right now, if there's a rebuilt team in hockey to copy, it's the leafs. Intentionally tank, take on bad deals, get picks, bring up guys together, find loopholes in the cba.

Oilers are example of what not to do, and how quickly things can change. Sabres are another example not to follow.

**rdnk** · 02-16-2018, 07:12 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Originally posted by Majingir

They don't have to give up assets, but gotta take 1 step back to take 2 forward. Sports leagues are copycats, and right now, if there's a rebuilt team in hockey to copy, it's the leafs. Intentionally tank, take on bad deals, get picks, bring up guys together, find loopholes in the cba.

Oilers are example of what not to do, and how quickly things can change. Sabres are another example not to follow.

While I agree that no team should ever follow the Oiler's example, the Sabres did everything you described and have failed as of now. The big key for the Leafs was hiring a HOF caliber coach and bringing in a wealth of knowledge and experience in the FO, like the Cubs did in baseball.

**Money99** · 02-16-2018, 07:28 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

A lot of it is luck too.
I'm sure the Sabres are a lot better with McDavid.

The Oilers are losers.
They should fold and let the players go to other teams where they have a chance.

Sent from my LG-K210 using Operation Sports mobile app

**Majingir** · 02-16-2018, 07:54 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Originally posted by rdnk

While I agree that no team should ever follow the Oiler's example, the Sabres did everything you described and have failed as of now. The big key for the Leafs was hiring a HOF caliber coach and bringing in a wealth of knowledge and experience in the FO, like the Cubs did in baseball.

Cubs and Astros surprisingly are the teams I think others should be copying in baseball. Not just cause they won, but they have group that can stay together for years and have legit chances to win again.

In basketball, I still think Warriors aren't the team to copy. I feel like if someone wants to be the "next one", you gotta play your own game. Don't adjust to others, make others adjust to you. Other sports it might work, but I think basketball should be the least copycatted (I know that's not a word) of all sports.

Leafs are having success at AHL level too so it's beyond just Babcocks doing. But front office is perfect scenario. Every last person on staff knew the plan and were committed to it, and had ownerships full support. They know Lou is here training Dubas and Hunter to be future GMs as well.

Luck obviously plays role in it too, but then again, Oilers had laughable lottery luck and still sucked lol. And depth is obviously real important too. Take mcdavid off Oilers, they'd be last in NHL right now. Take Eichel out of Buffalo, same thing. Take Matthews off leafs, they'd still be a decent team. He's missed games this year and I think they only lost one time.

**bad_philanthropy** · 02-17-2018, 09:24 AM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

I'm not the biggest international hockey fan, but man am I tired of the narrative that this is a tournament with a bunch of underdogs and that's fun. I don't want to watch that. I've watched a few games, and it just feels completely unimportant, and I haven't enjoyed to felt a connection to any of the teams, and it certainly hasn't been fun. There are no stakes in this tournament, and it's a middling display of the sport.

I'm surprised by my reaction tbh because I do completely understand the NHL's position. International hockey had its true championship though, and it was the Olympics featuring the best players in the world. The Olympics like this sucks, and the World Cup sucks too.

**Majingir** · 02-17-2018, 04:30 PM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Speaking of Olympic hockey, decided since this year isn't interesting to watch, I'll re-watch the 02 Olympics(surprised it's STILL up on youtube). Obviously that was one of best teams Canada has ever had, but never realized just how many HOFers were on it. 23 guys on that years team, 12 are in the hall of fame(would be 13 if Iginla makes it which I think will happen).

Just insane talent. Shanahan, Yzerman, Sakic, Pronger, Nieuwendyk, Niedermayer, MacInnis, Lindros, Lemieux, Kariya, Brodeur, Blake, Belfour.

The gold medal game itself, such a huge and special matchup. Canada vs USA in USA, where Canada hasn't won gold in 50 years, USA last won gold in the Miracle on Ice, and neither country won a medal at the 98 Olympics despite NHL guys there. Even the womens side, that was such an intense matchup. 2014 had the craziest finish, but 2002 seemed to have much more bad blood. 2010 game is on youtube too, might just check that out as well. For me, nothing will beat a national sport rivalry in this part of the world like Canada-USA in hockey.

**slickdtc** · 02-18-2018, 08:49 AM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Originally posted by bad_philanthropy

I'm not the biggest international hockey fan, but man am I tired of the narrative that this is a tournament with a bunch of underdogs and that's fun. I don't want to watch that. I've watched a few games, and it just feels completely unimportant, and I haven't enjoyed to felt a connection to any of the teams, and it certainly hasn't been fun. There are no stakes in this tournament, and it's a middling display of the sport.

I'm surprised by my reaction tbh because I do completely understand the NHL's position. International hockey had its true championship though, and it was the Olympics featuring the best players in the world. The Olympics like this sucks, and the World Cup sucks too.

I have it on and it’s kind of just embarrassing watching washouts represent “the best in their country.”

It’s a joke. It’s complete uninteresting like you said.

I loved the Winter Olympics but I just don’t give a single **** about these without the top talent in hockey being displayed. We’ve had such great tourneys the last few times out, I’m feeling a bit robbed.

**rdnk** · 02-18-2018, 11:33 AM

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

The Canadian team in the Olympics is at least watchable; they loaded up with veteran (average age is 31) ex-NHL'ers. The American team... is kind of a weird hodgepodge. I would have preferred they went the all college players approach with a few vets (Gionta, Slater, Wisniewski) thrown in. At least they'd be fun to watch and could advance the future of US hockey.

NHL Off-Topic thread

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