The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

It's kind of amazing that both Crosby and Ovechkin have (at least) lived up to their billing.



- Crosby is likely going to finish 4th/5th on the all-time scoring list; Ovechkin is going to break the most important record in hockey and finish 10th on the all-time scoring list



- Crosby has maintained a Howe-like level of sustained all-around excellence over 20 years despite losing 100 games of his offensive zenith to injury; Ovi has gradually adapted his game from unstoppable wrecking ball-slash-goal machine to rival Howe as the greatest "old man" scorer ever, while staying remarkably healthy given his playing style



- Crosby has had more team success on both the NHL and international level, and scored one of the most memorable goals in hockey history; Ovechkin has been perhaps the most exciting player in history (Ovi is 2nd on my biased ballot behind Pavel Bure) and authored the most compelling heartbreak-to-triumph Cup run ever



- While not quite on the Gretzky/Lemieux level of all-time greatness, Crosby/Ovechkin easily tops them all when it comes to superstar-a-superstar personal rivalry (I wasn't around to judge Howe vs Richard)



- Despite Sid's early bouts of whininess (although he was definitely less of a complainer than Gretzky or Mario before him) and Ovi's... questionable taste in Instagram friends, both have avoided personal scandal and remained pretty likable in general



- Both will finish their 20+ year careers with the teams that drafted them! Among the top-30 scorers in NHL history, only Yzerman, Mario, Sakic, and Stan Mikita can claim that*



*Malkin and (maybe) Kopitar will join this list in the next couple seasons

Sports in general, having so many generational talents in the early-mid 00s coming in was huge.

Brady in the NFL, LeBron in the NBA, Crosby/Ovechkin in the NHL, all debuting between 00-05.

I remember how big of a deal it was coming out of the lockout and having Crosby/Ovechkin. I hate that old NHL video game rule where they didn't have guys who didn't play a single game on the rosters yet so you had to wait until NHL 07 for those guys to be in it (another reason sites like this were good for player CAPs back then)

For the longest while Ovechkins most played highlight was the goal from his vs the Coyotes (ALEX OVECHKIN WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE!) Who'd have thought he'd go from that to Gretzky's record.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

TIL: Dustin Wolf has Post Malone on his goalie mask

[l3ulvl]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Yeah for awhile it looked like Crosby might have to retire early, sorta like Lindros, who for awhile was like the greatest hockey prospect ever


Ovie bouncing back and still doing it like this is crazy

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

I hate that old NHL video game rule where they didn't have guys who didn't play a single game on the rosters yet so you had to wait until NHL 07 for those guys to be in it (another reason sites like this were good for player CAPs back then.

This is because players weren't officially part of the NHLPA until they appeared in a regular season game, so they weren't covered in the licensing deal. We would've been subject to lawsuits if I included them before they played their 1st game. (I did the player rosters on NHL 06.)

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

This is because players weren't officially part of the NHLPA until they appeared in a regular season game, so they weren't covered in the licensing deal. We would've been subject to lawsuits if I included them before they played their 1st game. (I did the player rosters on NHL 06.)

I know it was a rule, it just sucked not having either guy in the game for a while.

Luckily with all the deals eventually with the CHL and other leagues, we can have lots of future stars already in the game.

[slickdtc]

The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Sunday matinee Caps/Isles I wanna see that RECORD

I assume they moved this game to national broadcast? It’s on TNT/TruTV at 1230

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Sunday matinee Caps/Isles I wanna see that RECORD

I assume they moved this game to national broadcast? It’s on TNT/TruTV at 1230

Funny thing, it worked out perfectly for the league/TNT because this game was already scheduled that way. It was always going to be on TNT as part of a tripleheader.

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Bettman probably squealing in glee

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

We have a new leader in the most goals scored in NHL history. On the power play, as it goes

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

We have a new leader in the most goals scored in NHL history. On the power play, as it goes

Too bad it wasn't at home or a game they're gonna win, but still a great moment.

Everyone celebrating like it's an OT winner in game 7.

Hopefully we see more people have a shot at this record because it'll mean goal scoring continues to rise.

This is like LeBron breaking the record. Play stops and just do a ceremony mid game.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

All the talk between Leafs/Lightning/Panthers, but now the Sens are just 2 points behind the Panthers.

Leafs winning division and still having to face the Panthers would be the most Leaf thing to happen.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Hopefully we see more people have a shot at this record because it'll mean goal scoring continues to rise.

All-time goals-per-game leaders (min 500 games and 0.5 GPG):

Mike Bossy 0.762
Mario Lemieux 0.754
Auston Matthews 0.639
Pavel Bure 0.623
*Alexander Ovechkin 0.602
*Wayne Gretzky 0.601
*Brett Hull 0.584
*Bobby Hull 0.574
Tim Kerr 0.565
Rick Martin 0.561
*Phil Esposito 0.559
Maurice Richard 0.556
Cam Neely 0.544
*Marcel Dionne 0.542
Pat LaFontaine 0.541
David Pastrnak 0.516
Connor McDavid 0.510
Leon Draisaitl 0.505
*Michel Goulet 0.503
Rick Vaive 0.503
*Steven Stamkos 0.500

Active players in bold
* Players with 1000+ games played

A shame so many of these guys couldn't stay healthy.

- Bossy is the most underrated player in NHL history: scored 50+ goals for each of his 1st NINE seasons, was out of the league following his 10th
- Mario was almost certainly the most talented hockey player who has ever lived (never saw Orr play live, obviously); cancer-free and with a relatively healthy back, he tops 1000 goals easy (but still likely finishes a few hundred points behind Gretzky)
- I still remember hearing Jim Robson call Bure's Canucks debut on the radio (the game wasn't televised; pre-historic times); he didn't even score, but I'll never forget the goosebumps
- Through his 1st 12 seasons (1979-91), Gretzky had a GPG of 0.776 and a PPG of 2.316 (LOL); Gary Suter's cheap shot in the 1991 Canada Cup reduced him to being merely "The Pretty Good One" for his final 8 seasons
- Golden Jet & Golden Brett: the GOAT father/son duo in both scoring and drinking prowess
- Tim Kerr was the ultimate slot machine; built like a brick sh**house (6'3"/230 in the 80s!), Kerr was the widest hockey player I've ever seen, and unfortunately also took the most uncalled crosschecks in the back I've ever seen
- I had Rick Martin and Phil Esposito's final O-Pee-Chee cards (autumn 1980), but remember nothing of their final games
- Like most Gen X Canadians, I remember Maurice Richard only from pre-game ceremonies at the Montreal Forum and Grecian Formula commercials: "Hey, Rocket! Two minutes for looking so good!"
- Sea Bass: the worst trade in Vancouver history
- Marcel Dionne: the best player who nobody ever saw on TV
- Pat LaFontaine: delivered the most memorable series-winning OT goal (Easter Epic) and series-winning OT assist (May Day) combo in history; my favourite (non-Canuck) American player ever
- Michel Goulet: can't think of him and his mustache/Jofa helmet combo without thinking of the Stastny brothers and how much I miss the Battle of Quebec
- Rick Vaive: he played in the very 1st game I saw live! (Leafs @ Canucks, Feb 3/82)

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

All-time goals-per-game leaders (min 500 games and 0.5 GPG):

Mike Bossy 0.762
Mario Lemieux 0.754
Auston Matthews 0.639
Pavel Bure 0.623
*Alexander Ovechkin 0.602
*Wayne Gretzky 0.601
*Brett Hull 0.584
*Bobby Hull 0.574
Tim Kerr 0.565
Rick Martin 0.561
*Phil Esposito 0.559
Maurice Richard 0.556
Cam Neely 0.544
*Marcel Dionne 0.542
Pat LaFontaine 0.541
David Pastrnak 0.516
Connor McDavid 0.510
Leon Draisaitl 0.505
*Michel Goulet 0.503
Rick Vaive 0.503
*Steven Stamkos 0.500

Active players in bold
* Players with 1000+ games played

A shame so many of these guys couldn't stay healthy.

- Bossy is the most underrated player in NHL history: scored 50+ goals for each of his 1st NINE seasons, was out of the league following his 10th
- Mario was almost certainly the most talented hockey player who has ever lived (never saw Orr play live, obviously); cancer-free and with a relatively healthy back, he tops 1000 goals easy (but still likely finishes a few hundred points behind Gretzky)
- I still remember hearing Jim Robson call Bure's Canucks debut on the radio (the game wasn't televised; pre-historic times); he didn't even score, but I'll never forget the goosebumps
- Through his 1st 12 seasons (1979-91), Gretzky had a GPG of 0.776 and a PPG of 2.316 (LOL); Gary Suter's cheap shot in the 1991 Canada Cup reduced him to being merely "The Pretty Good One" for his final 8 seasons
- Golden Jet & Golden Brett: the GOAT father/son duo in both scoring and drinking prowess
- Tim Kerr was the ultimate slot machine; built like a brick sh**house (6'3"/230 in the 80s!), Kerr was the widest hockey player I've ever seen, and unfortunately also took the most uncalled crosschecks in the back I've ever seen
- I had Rick Martin and Phil Esposito's final O-Pee-Chee cards (autumn 1980), but remember nothing of their final games
- Like most Gen X Canadians, I remember Maurice Richard only from pre-game ceremonies at the Montreal Forum and Grecian Formula commercials: "Hey, Rocket! Two minutes for looking so good!"
- Sea Bass: the worst trade in Vancouver history
- Marcel Dionne: the best player who nobody ever saw on TV
- Pat LaFontaine: delivered the most memorable series-winning OT goal (Easter Epic) and series-winning OT assist (May Day) combo in history; my favourite (non-Canuck) American player ever
- Michel Goulet: can't think of him and his mustache/Jofa helmet combo without thinking of the Stastny brothers and how much I miss the Battle of Quebec
- Rick Vaive: he played in the very 1st game I saw live! (Leafs @ Canucks, Feb 3/82)

Matthews has a shot, but obviously he'll probably decline once he hits 30, unless he goes Ovechkin mode and still gets 40+ a year in his 30s.

Health is the big thing too. Ovechkin outside of lockout/covid years has played 70+ games every year (this year ironically will be his first time not doing so in a full season).

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

With Philly's loss in Montreal on Saturday, the Flyers' Cup drought has officially reached 50 years, granting them automatic entry to the upper tier of cursed franchises. Welcome to Hell!

Current Cursed Franchise Rankings (updated from end of 23/24 playoffs):

The (Expired) Cream of the Crop:

1. Buffalo (Even): gonna be very difficult to dislodge from the top spot
2. Vancouver (+1): put in a lot of hard work to overcome last season's good vibes
3. Toronto (-1): mild promise with new coach, improved goaltending, and a possible rare division title; Lucy awaits with her Game 7 football in the 1st round, however
4. Philadelphia (Even): Finally playing with the big boys, but gonna be real tough to climb onto the podium

"You Merely Adopted the Dark" Tier:

5. San Jose (Even): Slowly accumulating talent so they can transition from league doormats back to their rightful place as pathetic chokers
6. Ottawa (Even): Giddy with the opportunity re-establish their brand as the only team that can make the Leafs look like the Leafs' playoff opponents

Peering into the Void Tier:

7. Minnesota (NEW): Even mid at being misfortunate
8. Columbus (NEW): Too soon
9. Winnipeg (NEW): A lot of potential here! An uncertain franchise future, a shrinking title window, plus Sophie's Choice between the Presidents' Trophy Curse and blowing a wire-to-wire top West seed at the very last second and facing a deathtrap matchup with Colorado

Not Ranked: Nashville (I don't care); Seattle/Utah (nobody cares); any team that I've seen win the Cup

[Psyblast]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Ahh yes, the beautiful game.