bill0755

Guess the signing of Giradi and trade for McDonough did not work out as well as Stevey Y was expecting and he is committed to them at $7.7 combined for next season. I am afraid the newer faster NHL pace for defenseman might not work with those two slower defenseman in your lineup.

Well....guess my only hope now is for Ovy and the Caps to run into their kytonite in Marc Andre Fluery in the finals and get sooooo close but get beaten by MAF who goes on to win his first Conn Smyth and Vegas does the IMPOSSIBLE and wins the Stanley Cup in their inaugural season....what a story for the ages!!!! I can’t believe that Tampa Bay lost 3 of 4 games at home in the ECF. Wilson meet Mr Reaves and Mr Engelland......

Wellllll.....that’s not the start that TB was hoping for......still a lot of time left, but I can never understand the reason to continue to leave Ovy wide open for one timers. Honestly sure Vasy would like to have that one back as no screen and almost from the blue line...OUCH, that one hurt. If your in the states and listen to NBC, they sure do love the Caps and assume all hoping for Ovy in the finals.

So from our esteem group of hockey experts, who wins game 7 tonight. For me, as you all know I am a Pens fan so with a lot of biased, I MUST root for the Lightening to strike in Game 7. That would move two XPens, Kunitz for Cup #5 and Fluery for Cup #4 to three peat for the Cup. Know own there are a lot of Ovy sympathy for him to finally advance to win a Cup, sorry but I am not one of them. Let’s go Lightening!!!!!!

I just bought him out in two of my leagues, and good thing as I would not have resigned that player at the AVV and term. Interesting to see if any teams pick him up if he is available in the re-entry draft and take the risk at that AVV and term. Just to much of a head case for me, BUT, if he is able to finally play to his full potentially for a full season, I might see his value as he does offer a real good multi category stats pack in the fantasy world. Time will tell.....

Good or bad move? ( I say good move) Is this goodbye to Garth Snow? (If your an Islander fan, I am not, I’m sure they hope so!) Does this change anything at all for Johnny T approaching UFA status. (Not really sure why it would in the short term and still believe JT goes to FA and then the shit gets real for the NYI) Guess Lou missed the Northeast and wants to move back to Jersey😀

WOW!!! The Golden Knights are in the finals, who could have even envisioned this is October. They play a fast game, great goalie, steady defenseman who make the right plays and some offensive depth in the line-up. Fluery and Neal make the Cup finals for the 3rd year in a row for Fluery and 2nd year in a row for Neal. Tuch, and yes thank you GMJR, Ryan Reaves scored the winning goal. Hats off to GMGM and cast off coach of the year ( Thanks Florida) GG. I believe they will be a force in the Western Conference for many years. Love be to see Fluery win his 4th cup and very likely the Conn Smyth. MAF where was this goaltending during your earlier years with the Pens, if he played like this with the Pens (pre Matt Murray), the Pens should have won 1-2 more Cups.

You certainly need a very solid star goalie too win the cup and not sure Saros is even a proven solid NHL goalie. Tough contract to move on a goalie who shines in the regular season and was a key reason behind the Preds playoff loses the past two seasons.

after watching the first 2 games, sure looks like the Caps are a lot hungrier for the Cup Finals than the Lightening. Disappointed in the Lightening so far, they can certainly come back, but now face a real uphill battle to win the next 4 out of five from the Caps. Vasey has not really played that well in goal, and defensively the Lightening have been very soft. Will be a very interesting game 3, as its basically do or die for the Lightening, they lose game 3 its pretty much game, set match for them this season. Either way for me I am rooting hard for the Jets, just a real feel good story, team built basically through patience and the draft. I feel if the Jets get past Vegas, they can beat TB or Washington as very talented and have goalie playing lights out. GO JETS GO!!!!

BOY I hope your right about TB, as would love to see them steamroll the Caps...no vendetta here (haha) against the Caps as they took out the Pens, but just feel TB has a much better overall D then the Pens, and TB won't give up like 5 breakaways or odd man rushes per game. As long TB keeps it a 5-5 series and limits the PP'S, don't think the Caps have any chance to beat them at all. I have to root for Fleury to move Vegas to the finals. I think WPG beats them, but again you can never count out a hot goalie in Fleury and a speedy teams like Vegas. Feel its going to be a WPG and TB final, and I think the Jets will be the first Canadian team in 25 years, I think, to finally raise Lord Stanley's Cup.

Agreed JR certainly had several misses this year in a 3 year contract for Hunwick (just did not fit), Niemi (no comment needed here) and possible Reaves as at somepoint they need to start rebuilding the cupboard with prospects and continually trading #1 picks will become a real problem. The Oleksiak trade did work out as he looks like a solid 5-6 defenseman with some snarl, which they desperately need. He also made a very good deal for Sheahan so probably graded a C on his GM work for the 17-18 season. They gave up a a hell of a lot for Brassard, Gustavsson, Cole, #1 and Reaves. Did not work out so well this year, but he is signed for another year at a great AVV (thanks Vegas) so still feel he is a very solid 3 line center so would give him a little time next season to see how he works out in the long term. On the forward side their depth scoring abandoned them against the Caps. They are just not the quick team they used to be when they played SJ. Need to get back to a speed lineup and also add someone with a little bite to the forward group. Sprong will have to be traded or find a role next year as he no longer is waiver eligible. I do do think they shop Letang his AVV if $7.250 for the next 5 years could hopefully bring back a nice return. On the fence on Maata, some games he looks really good, others looks as slow as molasses. He is a decent 3-4 defenseman, so unless they can deal him for a younger, faster promising defensemen, think he stays. Gotta think Dumo, Schultz and a resigned Oleksiak are set for next season, but JR has a lot of work to do to solidify this defense next year. He will also move Hunwick if he can, I hope. They have virtually have no minor league depth or prospects on D, which is not good. Do they go over Sids old buddy Jack Johnson, possible bring Coke back, Greg Patryn, De Haan, who might fit their system and their cap next year. As far a goal, I will give Murray some leeway this year as he did help them win 2 cups. He is more of a positional blocker in G with a suspect glove hand. He still young so still have hope he can still be a very solid #1 goalie. As far as a backup, would not be shocked if they also addressed that position this offseason as honesty not sold that DeSmith or even Jarry would be solid backups. JR and Guerin have whole a lot of work to do this offseason to get them back to being a very serious cup contender.

Great run, back to back cups, so can’t complain too much, just ran out of gas. Rutherford has some work to do this offseason, that’s for sure. Would love to see Fluery win the Cup, as possibly they exposed the wrong goalie in the expansion draft. Don’t see anyway the Caps get past Tampa as they actually have some forward depth, solid defense and a damn good goalie!!

I would have never expected them to get this far, but as long as they play a fast game, always on the puck and MAF continues to play like he did last year in the Washington series, I would not count them out. I do feel WPG is headed to the finals and first time for a Canadian team in the finals in how long?? Even if the Pens beat the Caps which would be very big uphill climb, I don’t see either team getting past TB. If its TB and WPG or LAK in the finals I am 100% rooting for either WPG or LAK to win the cup.

Right call? Too severe? Suspension should have been longer? what do you think....

It’s 2-1 Caps and next game is Thursday. Pens just are a jeckyl and Hyde this year as never know which team will show up and Murray has not played well at all in the playoffs. They lose Thursday and go down 3-1, I just don’t see them coming back this season

Their playoff winning string vs the Caps was bound to end at some point. Looks like this could be the year. Murray has certainly been outplayed by Holtby and has let in some soft goals for sure. Letang has played terrible all year and that continues in the playoffs. How do you play a 2-1, certainly not floundering on the ice and leaving a pass open to Ovy!!! Maatta was definitely tripped by Wilson, but’s let’s face facts even if he were not tripped, he would have never caught up to the play. Why be aggressive on the wall pinching with 2 freaking minutes left in a tied game. Not smart. I don’t see either Washington or Pittsburgh getting by TB this season, so when the Pens lose to the Caps, hopefully they will have a nice long offseason rest. Rutherford has to think about this offseason as team is getting on wrong side of 30, and could Letang or Malkin be dealt to get some younger assets? Be a very interesting offseason for sure. I am really rooting for the Jets or Vegas to win, that would certainly be special if Vegas wins the Cup and MAF wins the Conn Smith!!!!

Guess I brought Buffalo some good luck

Buffalo is over due for some good luck. 🍀

Pens have lived rent free in Holtby’s head for the last 2 playoff years. If Malkin does return for game to and Pens get back to a decent 4 line without Rowney, and Caps go down 2-0, it gets very bleak for the Caps. Pretty sure the Pens lost the draft lottery to the Caps and the Caps selected Ovy and with the 2nd pick the Pens selected Malkin. That draft lottery luck has benefited the Pens with 3 Cups and Caps never got out of the 2nd round.

my 2 cents... 1. solid team construction all around. always starts with strong goaltending and Fleury has been one of the top goalies during the regular season over the past several years. honestly in hindsight, Rutherford should have sold high and traded Murray and keep Fleury. Great teammate and locker room presence. No fluke in LV, you win with a 4 speed and 4 solid lines, mobile D and solid and at times great goaltending. this team will make the playoffs and give some team a real headache in the 1st round. 2. a real enigma that's for sure. only 26, and two more years, this year and next at $6M then UFA. maybe he just needs to find a place where he can slid in as 2-3 line center. scored 67 and 70 points in a season, so talent is there, just went bad in Colorado, and trade to Ottawa put a lot of pressure on him to perform, and that has not happened yet. Stupid trade by Ottawa as doubtful he will resign with them after next year and he will try to find the right fit for his game. Karlsson and Duchene UFA'S after next season, good luck with that Ottawa.. 3.Klingberg starting to heat up, 3 points last night. Great value contract at 4.250 for next 5 years and at 24, best is yet to come. 4.Heinen, nice 3 round pick, great numbers at Denver and BCHL days. Slotted nicely in Boston and great ELC contract value the next two years. 5.Kopitar and Brown, they have always been good to great players this year found some good chemistry. Both coming off bad years, but that happens over a long career. Brown had great years in 2011 and 2012, then signed that long term deal at 5.875 that runs for another 4 years after this year and he is 32. Great year, bad contract value for those later years. Kopitar should continue to be a solid 70 point player, and with an 8 year contract at AVV at $10M, he better be. 6. Last year was a magical year for the oilers as they clicked on all cylinders. first starts in G, and if your G is not solid, that's a problem. Talbot had a great year last year, this year really struggling at 3.09 GAA and 903%. don't see them making the playoffs, now a real longshot. question is what happens next as coming off a season where they almost made the western conference finals to missing the playoffs. sure the oiler fans are very frustrated.Chiarelli. well good news as with their amateur drafting luck and the new lottery system, maybe the get another #1 pick. 7 Penguins...tough year, Murray has really not made the timely saves but Jarry certainly has exceeded my expectations. Would have loved a Jarry-Fluery combo and Murray traded for some needed depth at forward. this team as played a lot of hockey over the past two years, at some point the tank gets a bit empty both physically and emotionally. lost a lot of heart and locker room presence in Kuny, Cullen, Daley, Bonino and Fleury and have not come close to replacing their F depth. Will they even make the playoffs, at this point not too sure as they play great one game and then don't show up for the next game. cannot continue to trade futures (amateur picks) as feel they need to start looking toward post Geno and Sid days and start building a solid foundation of young depth at forward and D. JR pinned himself in a corner on D with the Schultz and Dumo contracts and the trade for Reaves has paid no dividends. tough to pay any dividends with player average TOI is probably 7 minutes a game. could see a year where last years eastern conference finalists (Ottawa-Pgh) don't even make the playoffs. Still a die hard fan and hope they can find lighting in a bottle the second half of the year and sneak into a wild card position.

Now Ottawa has Duchene and Karlsson as UFA's at the same time. Looks like Duchene is a rental the next 2 years.

So for the Canadian Fans, where do you go from here?? Badly constructed team by Bergeron in my opinion. Not great defensive depth, pretty shallow forward depth and Price struggling a bit. Got a lot of cap space, but the GM has to make the right roster decisions and was the Price contract the right decision? Thoughts........

I don't think there is any doubt there will be another lock out once the current CBA expires. Afraid the next one could last a whole season😒

Pretty much only follow hockey, baseball is to boring....

If healthy, I expect Eichel to be a top 10 scorer in the league this season. McDavid’s contract set the bar, so $10m for Eichel is about where everyone assumed this contract would fall. These contracts for top end guys are now all likely $10m plus. Assume Laine after another 40+ goal year will also be a $10m + player and Karlsson might exceed the McDavid AVV.