The Official 13-14 NHL Regular season thread

[Fidatelo]

I attended my last Jets game of the year tonight. It was a 1-0 loss to the Wild, which left my season record at 0-5-1. $1500 well spent?

[DaddyTorgo]

$1500 for 6 tickets??

JEEBUS

[Logan]

Guessing that's for two seats?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

#1 overall prospect and hopefully the future of team USA goaltending John Gibson makes his NHL debut tonight for the Ducks vs Vancouver in what's a pretty huge game for a Ducks team who pretty much have to win the division to have any chance of another embarrassing first round exit

Found a feed last night to watch the Pittsburgh kid make his debut.

His parents live near my cousin. They got a flight to Vancouver yesterday morning to make the game.

I think I've posted this here before, he went to the same HS I went to, and that my kids will attend. And, as I remind my son often, he was cut from the HS team as a freshman. Turned out OK I guess

[bhlloy]

Yeah, tough to get a true read on him last night as Vancouver were awful, thought he was very shaky and a bit lucky early but settled down nicely and actually made some big saves in the third to preserve the shutout.

Once he got settled down you could tell his technique is definitely off the charts for a 20 year old, he's very calm and he's got good size, all the pieces are there. Be interesting to see if the Ducks go with the two young goalies next season or sign a veteran stopgap and give Gibson another season as the starter in the AHL

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Logan

Guessing that's for two seats?

Must be. If not more.

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

$1500 for 6 tickets??

JEEBUS

It's a pair of tickets, though one of those 6 games was a pre-season game. $1000 for the seats, mid-level. Our ticket prices are the second highest in the league. The other $500 is an estimate of what it cost in babysitting, food, beers, etc for the 6 games.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

It's a pair of tickets, though one of those 6 games was a pre-season game. $1000 for the seats, mid-level. Our ticket prices are the second highest in the league. The other $500 is an estimate of what it cost in babysitting, food, beers, etc for the 6 games.

Gotcha.

Crazy that your ticket prices are so high.

Then again - it is Winnipeg.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Kris Letang playing tonight vs DET, 10 weeks after his stroke

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

It's a pair of tickets, though one of those 6 games was a pre-season game. $1000 for the seats, mid-level. Our ticket prices are the second highest in the league. The other $500 is an estimate of what it cost in babysitting, food, beers, etc for the 6 games.

so, do we know where the team will move next time? There's no way that's sustainable, right?

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

so, do we know where the team will move next time? There's no way that's sustainable, right?

Hard to say. Based on the seat level you have to sign up for minimum 3, 4, or 5 year terms when buying your season tickets (mine are 4). So the first wave of ticket renewals came up a couple months ago and 96% renewed. More amazingly, some actually chose to renew for more than the minimum 3 years, which I just don't understand but hey it's their money. There is a waiting list of 8000 people (capped and with an annual $100 fee) and I think something like 197 names on that list will finally get a chance at tickets.

TLR; They aren't going anywhere any time soon. But 10+ years out, if the team never really improves? Then I think it could get more interesting.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Hard to say. Based on the seat level you have to sign up for minimum 3, 4, or 5 year terms when buying your season tickets (mine are 4). So the first wave of ticket renewals came up a couple months ago and 96% renewed. More amazingly, some actually chose to renew for more than the minimum 3 years, which I just don't understand but hey it's their money. There is a waiting list of 8000 people (capped and with an annual $100 fee) and I think something like 197 names on that list will finally get a chance at tickets.

TLR; They aren't going anywhere any time soon. But 10+ years out, if the team never really improves? Then I think it could get more interesting.

Semi related

Not all Penguins season tix holders exercised their option to buy playoff tickets. 14,000 season tickets, around 3,000 did not purchase.

After 5 years of "failure" in the playoffs since the Cup, some people turning away.

[MikeVic]

Not NHL, but pretty damn cool:
http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/th...ee-to-believe/

[Suburban Rhythm]

MAF in shootout last night vs Alfie

[The Jackal]

That's a pretty nifty save. Reminds me of Boucher against the Devils in the playoffs way back when.

[MacroGuru]

pretty entertaining game in Buffalo today. Both teams gave it their all and I think a few of the players will be here next year.

It's going to be crazy to see what happens here in the next 2 years, I am excited to see how it all pans out.

[DaddyTorgo]

Looking forward to Stanley Cup playoffs!!!!

[DaddyTorgo]

Johnny Gaudreau scores first NHL goal Video - NHL VideoCenter - Calgary Flames

JOHNNY HOCKEY MAKIN A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION!!!

[The Jackal]

Flyers just signed MacDonald to a 6 year / 30 million extension.

His advanced stats are terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible. He's a good skater and passer but his decision making in the neutral zone both offensively and defensively is crap. Hopefully that can be worked out of him, but his career suggests otherwise...

[Grover]

Originally Posted by The Jackal

Flyers just signed MacDonald to a 6 year / 30 million extension.

His advanced stats are terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible. He's a good skater and passer but his decision making in the neutral zone both offensively and defensively is crap. Hopefully that can be worked out of him, but his career suggests otherwise...

But he blocks ALL the shots!

[Dr. Sak]

I am not an advance stats guy...mainly cause I don't understand them and don't really want to.

Did the Flyers pay a bit much? Yes, but they would have had to for any defenseman at FA. The one thing I did notice is that Luke Schenn has played better when paired with MacDonald. He isn't left out to dry like he was when he was paired with Mezaros (sp?).

With Kimmo probably gone after this year, the money is a wash.

[Logan]

Makes me love the Girardi deal even more. Same term, $500K more per year.

[Suburban Rhythm]

What doesn't make sense for me...

The Flyers seem to have a ton of #3/4 type guys, but lack a #1.

While I get those guys aren't always available, sinking money into another guy in the same mold doesn't make sense, IMO.

[Suburban Rhythm]

DOLA

Matt Ni$kanen is a happy dude

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

What doesn't make sense for me...

The Flyers seem to have a ton of #3/4 type guys, but lack a #1.

While I get those guys aren't always available, sinking money into another guy in the same mold doesn't make sense, IMO.

You are right but it isn't like there are Chris Pronger types just waiting in the wings to get signed. They do have some good quality defensemen in the minors (Haag, Morin, and now Gostisbehere) which could be packaged to get Shea Weber...jk...maybe...

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

You are right but it isn't like there are Chris Pronger types just waiting in the wings to get signed. They do have some good quality defensemen in the minors (Haag, Morin, and now Gostisbehere) which could be packaged to get Shea Weber...jk...maybe...

I did notice, AMac's deal doesn't have a NMC/NTC

Columbus or LA?

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

I did notice, AMac's deal doesn't have a NMC/NTC

Columbus or LA?

If they can get the same return they did for Carter and Richards...sure why not.

Jeff Carter for Jakub Voracek, Sean Couturier, and a 3rd Round Pick (Nick Cousins)

Mike Richards for Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, and a 2nd Round Pick (Nick Grossmann via trade)

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

I am not an advance stats guy...mainly cause I don't understand them and don't really want to.

Did the Flyers pay a bit much? Yes, but they would have had to for any defenseman at FA. The one thing I did notice is that Luke Schenn has played better when paired with MacDonald. He isn't left out to dry like he was when he was paired with Mezaros (sp?).

With Kimmo probably gone after this year, the money is a wash.

The main problem is if they end up keeping Schenn, Grossmann, and MacDonald on the roster again next year. It seems like the Flyers want a shot blocker and/or big hitter on every line instead of a group of guys that can move the puck well and possess it well.

MacDonald is positionally sound in the defensive zone and a very good shot blocker but he allows zone entry too easily and turns the puck over in the neutral zone too much, allowing teams to control the puck (and giving him more chance to BLOCK ALL THE SHOTS)

If they end up moving one or both of Schenn and Grossmann I'll feel better about it. MacDonald can skate well, at least.

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

What doesn't make sense for me...

The Flyers seem to have a ton of #3/4 type guys, but lack a #1.

While I get those guys aren't always available, sinking money into another guy in the same mold doesn't make sense, IMO.

Yeah and one of the main reasons you are seeing that is because the Flyers haven't built their D-core through the draft for many years. Now that Ghost Bear, Hagg, and Morin are coming in the next few years they have a chance to have cheap, young depth at the back-end instead of over-priced free agents.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Didn't want to put this in the playoff thread and get reprimanded

Penguins press conference at 11:30

Bylsma almost certainly gone. Shero rumored to be 50/50 - Lemieux fighting to retain him, rest of ownership team apparently wants him out.

[bronconick]

Speaking of which,

Sharks are keeping McClellan and Wilson, but Boyle and Havlat are gone and a few other names are up in the air.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Didn't want to put this in the playoff thread and get reprimanded

Penguins press conference at 11:30

Bylsma almost certainly gone. Shero rumored to be 50/50 - Lemieux fighting to retain him, rest of ownership team apparently wants him out.

This team....

GM gone...Bylsma still coach pending new GM

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

This team....

GM gone...Bylsma still coach pending new GM

Not sure why you're surprised. They will bring in a new GM and he will decide Bylsma's fate, as his boss. That makes sense to me.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Not sure why you're surprised. They will bring in a new GM and he will decide Bylsma's fate, as his boss. That makes sense to me.

Bylsma was a Shero hire.

Rumblings last year ownership considered making a move at coach. Shero backwed Bylsma. Then extended him for 2 years.

If you are firing Shero based on his track record, a large portion of that is his backing of Bylsma. If ownership is disappointed in Bylsma's performance, and that was Shero's signing...what is the incentive for firing Shero for a poor hire, but not the hire himself?

Just illogical.

There's little doubt in my mind he'll be fired eventually...but why hang on for another month?

[Grover]

Sub, maybe they're trying to keep a team like the Caps from grabbing him right away if they sack him now.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Waiting for Babcock?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Grover

Sub, maybe they're trying to keep a team like the Caps from grabbing him right away if they sack him now.

But if you've soured on him that much, why not let him go to a rival team? If you trust your convictions that much he's not the answer, your concern should be all about improving your organization, not the potential improvement another organization could possibly get from your scraps.

ETA: You can not currently trade coaches. But a push is being made to make that an option, and to further the oddity of it all....the push is coming from Ken Holland.

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

Waiting for Babcock?

He's still signed through 14-15. Don't see Detroit dumping him. Maybe he's not retained next year...but that's next year.

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by Grover

Sub, maybe they're trying to keep a team like the Caps from grabbing him right away if they sack him now.

He's welcome to stay in the division.

[Fidatelo]

So Ryan Miller won't be back in St. Louis. How bad does that trade look in hindsight? I didn't like it when it happened but now... wow.

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

So Ryan Miller won't be back in St. Louis. How bad does that trade look in hindsight? I didn't like it when it happened but now... wow.

Yeah for the GM to come out and admit they took a risk that didn't work out and literally say:

"We gave up quite a bit,'' Armstrong said. ''We took a swing. It certainly was a lot to give up for 20-some odd games and six playoff games.''

Granted, they should have decent to solid goaltending anyhow, with Jake Allen being a potential long-term option, but if they regress at all and continue to have depth scoring issues - watch out GM.

[Dr. Sak]

Please let the Pens hire Pierre as GM...

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

Please let the Pens hire Pierre as GM...

Sadly, I heard an interview with him on NHL radio on Monday and he emphatically stated that he wasn't up for the job.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

Please let the Pens hire Pierre as GM...

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Sadly, I heard an interview with him on NHL radio on Monday and he emphatically stated that he wasn't up for the job.

Contract negotiations would take too long...he'd be listing the players teams and coaches from midgets on up.

[The Jackal]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Contract negotiations would take too long...he'd be listing the players teams and coaches from midgets on up.

Plus the Penguins wouldn't approve of his long standing man crush on Mike Richards.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by The Jackal

Plus the Penguins wouldn't approve of his long standing man crush on Mike Richards.

It can't be too serious if he doesn't call him by his full name.

Kristofer Letang
Maxime Talbot

[Suburban Rhythm]

DOLA

He and Shero are BFFs, so he wouldn't take it out of respect for Shero, even if he was interested.

[The Jackal]

I'm kind of surprised Shero was fired. I generally thought the moves he made were pretty good.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by The Jackal

I'm kind of surprised Shero was fired. I generally thought the moves he made were pretty good.

Trades, yes. Everything else...not so much.

I'll give him a B+ for trades

Kunitz (and Tangradi, who busted) for Whitney
Neal & Niskanen for Goligoski
Jokinen for nothing (was a conditional pick on them making the SCF in 2013)

Hossa + Dupuis for a bunch of parts. Colby Armstrong is in Switzerland I think, Erik Christensen out of the league, Angelo Esposito never panned out, and Daulten Leveille (1st rounder) panned out less than Espo.

Staal is a wash at this point - Sutter has been OK, Dumoulin looks to have a shot at the bottom pair next season, Derrick Pouliot has 1st pairing potential.

Morrow, Iginla, Murray, Guerin, Goc, Stempniak...all for picks (that he typically wasted, see below) or prospects outside the organizational top 5.

Drafting, no. D

4 forwards drafted by Shero have scored NHL goals: Staal, Bennett, Dustin Jeffrey, Luca Caputi. That's since 2006.

Defense, stocked...but none were moved for young forwards (as promised) or given playing time (Maatta forced their hand this year, and ended up taking Simon Despres' spot).

Free Agency. C

Paul Martin and Sergei Gonchar both had horrible first years...then great the remainder of the contracts (thus far for Martin).

But, never landed a top 6 forward. The Cup years, he brought in guys who worked well enough - Fedetenko, Sykora.

But most importantly, the guys he did bring in, didn't adequately replace the guys he let go.

Cooke, Kennedy, Talbot, Rupp etc were replaced with Chuck Kobasew, Tanner Glass, Taylor Pyatt, etc. A bottom 6 that was at least annoying, if not tough, to play against became slow and soft.

On top of that, signed Z Michalek to a deal, and dumped him a year later to clear space and get a couple picks in return. Then does the same thing with Scuderi, 4 years later...hopefully with the new GM dumping him somewhere.

A fine example (and I get, you can do this for just about every team):

2011 draft with the 22nd pick, Penguins select Joe Morrow (gotta stockpile those defenseman!).

With the 39th pick, the Ducks take Pittsburgh native G John Gibson.
With the 43rd pick, the Hawks take Pittsburgh native W Brandon Saad.

It's not even the Pittsburgh native part (though, from a marketing aspect, it helps). But either of those picks, the team is light years ahead of where they are now - either a 20 year old franchise goalie in place (I'm not a MAF hater, but he's worn out his welcome) or a 21 year old fast, gritty winger they've been trying to fill out their roster with since 2009.

[The Jackal]

Fair enough. Definitely always felt that they should have done more to surround Crosby with talent. Way too often the past few years you watch the Pens play and scratch your head at Crosby's wingers. I know some of that was due to injury, but just because Crosby makes everyone better doesn't mean you shouldn't give him great linemates.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by The Jackal

Fair enough. Definitely always felt that they should have done more to surround Crosby with talent. Way too often the past few years you watch the Pens play and scratch your head at Crosby's wingers. I know some of that was due to injury, but just because Crosby makes everyone better doesn't mean you shouldn't give him great linemates.

Nailed it.

I'm a Kunitz fan, but he was at his best as the 3rd wheel on a top 6 line - same as he was used in Anaheim. When he was in on the forecheck, blowing up Kimmo Timonen, he was at his best.

Not that his 30+ goals aren't welcome, but he's now Sid's sidekick. And he's not good enough, certainly in the playoffs, to create on his own.

Malkin-Neal had their best season together with Kunitz on their LW. Kunitz did the dirty work, puck retrieval. Malkin worked his magic, and Neal shot until his arms fell off.