The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Hoping against hope that the ratings were abysmal enough to cure the league of its Blackhawks affliction.

The ratings were indeed the worst ever, so there's hope.

There are rumours floating around that the Panthers will host the Rangers or Bruins next season at the Marlins ballpark. No, it doesn't make any sense to me either.

Now Friedman is reporting that both Florida and Tampa are getting outdoor games next season (probably against Boston and Toronto respectively). You've got the two best teams of the last 5 seasons who play in the same state and hate each other's guts, and you're not going to match them together? As a neutral fan, I'd be much more likely to tune into Bolts/Panthers than them playing the same old O6 teams. Dumb.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Sounds like Toews is trying to make a comeback.

Avs, Jets, Leafs seem to be teams most interested.

I see Winnipeg making the most sense for him. He's from there and they're the best team in the NHL right now.

Toews will be 37 by the time the playoffs start and hasn't played in almost 2 full seasons. He doesn't strike me as someone who wants the spotlight at this point in his career. Expectations and media coverage would be way, way lower in Denver than in Canada, especially since there's a nonzero chance Toews ends up going full Aaron Rodgers in more ways than one.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

The ratings were indeed the worst ever, so there's hope.



Now Friedman is reporting that both Florida and Tampa are getting outdoor games next season (probably against Boston and Toronto respectively). You've got the two best teams of the last 5 seasons who play in the same state and hate each other's guts, and you're not going to match them together? As a neutral fan, I'd be much more likely to tune into Bolts/Panthers than them playing the same old O6 teams. Dumb.

Likely done for ratings reasons. Bruins vs Panthers will get ratings boost because its Boston. Tampa vs Toronto gets boost from Canadian media but also with Matthews.

Tropicana would've been a nice place to do a stadium game for the "Thunderdome 1.0" throwback, and definitely would've done well attendance wise if you're having the Leafs play there during the winter (Jays obviously are a big hit during ST since many Canadians especially go to Florida in the winter)

Toews will be 37 by the time the playoffs start and hasn't played in almost 2 full seasons. He doesn't strike me as someone who wants the spotlight at this point in his career. Expectations and media coverage would be way, way lower in Denver than in Canada, especially since there's a nonzero chance Toews ends up going full Aaron Rodgers in more ways than one.

Hype wise he'd be treated like a top 6 forward, but expectation wise he'd be a good guy to add in the bottom 6 for any contending team. Vet min contract to have him in the bottom 6, wouldn't hurt would it? Worst case he doesn't pan out and is just a healthy scratch, but at least you could still have him around the team as a guy who has been there done that when it comes to the playoffs so maybe he could help off ice.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

"I went forward in time to the All-Star break... to view alternate futures. To see all the possible outcomes of the coming half-season."

"How many did you see?"

"14,605,000."

"In how many of those were the Vancouver Canucks in 1st place overall, with everything they touch turning to gold?"

"LOL. Get real."

This has been one of the most fun seasons of my 44-year Canucks fandom. An insane heater for the 1st 50 games, unquestioned work ethic to struggle through when adversity hit and the goals dried up. So many crazy comebacks and "how did this happen" wins in both the regular season and playoffs; even at the bitter end, I was half-expecting the impossible. After a decade of toxicity, I'm grateful. No complaints.

It was fun, wasn't it? Ah well. "We now return you to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress."

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Leafs with 4 hat tricks and not a single one is from Matthews is the most Leaf thing to happen so far this season.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Love 3v3 determining who wins gold in a tournament, just love it!

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

It was fun, wasn't it? Ah well. "We now return you to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress."

On that note...

Canucks rejected Rangers offer of Miller for Zibanejed.

If that's the full deal, then I'd rather Miller over Zibanejed, but if the Rangers added on a pick, I'd definitely think about it.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

On that note...

Canucks rejected Rangers offer of Miller for Zibanejed.

If that's the full deal, then I'd rather Miller over Zibanejed, but if the Rangers added on a pick, I'd definitely think about it.

Any trade of Miller or Pettersson has to accomplish 1 of 2 things: 1. Make the Canucks an immediate Cup contender or 2. Clear cap space to make further moves to improve their D, pay Hughes, etc. Bailing out Drury by taking Zibanejad (who has Miller's age and contract, but plays like a worse version of Petey) would accomplish neither.

[l3ulvl]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

I'll go ahead and jinx it, Detroit has looked a lot better since switching to McLellan, especially the special teams. Not sure if it's fresh voice, strategy, small sample size, idunno, but nice to see them competitive for a stretch

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

2025 edition of the Leafs look like they'll continue their trend of finding new and cruel ways to torture fans in the playoffs.

This year's edition is aiming for the division title so they can lose to a WC team which could ironically enough still be the Bruins.

Although, if the season ended today, based on point percentage the Leafs would face the Sens which I would love to see again. The early 00s was such a fun time (for the Leafs at least) to watch those series.

[slickdtc]

The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

2025 edition of the Leafs look like they'll continue their trend of finding new and cruel ways to torture fans in the playoffs.

This year's edition is aiming for the division title so they can lose to a WC team which could ironically enough still be the Bruins.

Although, if the season ended today, based on point percentage the Leafs would face the Sens which I would love to see again. The early 00s was such a fun time (for the Leafs at least) to watch those series.

Some good battles between those two. Leafs never broke through, but they sure as heck were the barrier for the Sens. Ottawa did eventually get to a Cup Final but fell. I thought Lalime was still there for that but it was Emery. I won’t forget that one bad goal Lalime gave up against TOR in one of those series.

Flyers needed to cash in on all those odd man breaks in the first period last night against Toronto. Got 1 but we aren’t good enough to not capitalize on opportunities. Frustrating to see golden chance after golden chance go wide or saved and shortly after it’s in the back of our net.

Philly needs some type of spark, but I don’t know who or what that is. Probably Torts being fired. Don’t think we have the flexibility financially to really do anything. If some of our guys are drawing interest, we need to listen. And not just some vets for a playoff team to add to their roster for a run. The only guys who should be off limits are TK and Michkov. I love some of our young guys (Forester is my fav) but I don’t think they put us over the top compared to other rosters. Seems like our top end talent is equivalent to the league’s better teams secondary or worse options. MM39 is clearly a difference maker and TK is great but we need another true complement. Tippett, Farabee, Brink… fine players. Just not the high end caliber we need and waiting around for a guy to reach a level he never will is hard.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Outdoor games are Rangers @ Panthers (Jan 2) and Bruins @ Lightning (Feb 1). Pathetic.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

Outdoor games are Rangers @ Panthers (Jan 2) and Bruins @ Lightning (Feb 1). Pathetic.

No surprise NHL would opt for a soon to be tanking Rangers team and Bruins team on the decline.

I also don't know how Raymond James Stadium will work with a game....At least the Marlins ballpark has a roof.

[l3ulvl]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

No surprise NHL would opt for a soon to be tanking Rangers team and Bruins team on the decline.

I also don't know how Raymond James Stadium will work with a game....At least the Marlins ballpark has a roof.

yeah I was gonna say, outdoor hockey in south florida, are we sure?

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

yeah I was gonna say, outdoor hockey in south florida, are we sure?

Trying a Florida game is fine, but make it Panthers vs Lightning FFS. Quit shoehorning mid O6 teams everywhere.