NHL 2021-2022 Thread

[Doc Holliday]

I realize it is a young team the NY Rangers have, but after 6 games is it unreasonable for me to expect that Alexis LaFreniere should have at least one point? I mean this guy was compared to Sidney Crosby, all I heard about was he tied Crosby's records in the juniors and that he is Quebec's answer to Crosby.

Maybe LaFreniere is more Alexandre Daigle than Sidney Crosby. I remember when Daigle was the talk of junior hockey and was compared to Mario Lemieux. He was drafted #1 overall by the Ottawa Senators and was a major bust. Same thing with Doug Wickenheiser when he was drafted #1 overall by the habs and being touted as the next mega superstar in hockey. He was a bust but unlike Daigle he at least ended up with a decent NHL career mostly used as a defensive player for most of his career.

As for the Rangers' young Russian goalie i was impressed by him last season but maybe he's simply a one-year wonder like so many goaltenders of the past such as Andrew Raycroft, Steve Penney & the infamous "hamburglar" with the Senators a few years ago. And if it's true that he's unhappy and depressed don't be surprised if he doesn't end up bolting for his homeland and the KHL.

 

[gaby]

Agree... not the start we were expecting from Lafrenière and from NYR......time will tell....définitivement slow starters....lol......BUT the season s'écoule rapidement.

 

[gaby]

Oh boy....CANUCKS enjoy practicing vs SENS ....12 goals in 2 games and one more tonight.

BTW full agenda tonight with 14 games ....will watch HABS--FLAMES and again TOR--JETS....enjoy.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Toronto backup goalie Jack "Soup" Campbell is out so guess who is back? Much like Jason in the Friday The 13th movies, he returns when you think he is long gone.

Hutchison was signed during the offseason to add to goaltending depth. He was #4 on the organization's depth chart until a couple of weeks ago when the Leafs had to put Aaron Dell on waivers in order to move up forwards to compensate for injuries to Nick Robertson & Joe Thornton. Unfortunately for the Leafs Dell was picked up by the Devils which meant that Hutchison would get the call from the big club if either Andersson or Campbell ended up with a serious injury. In order to fill out Hutchison's spot on the taxi squad the Leafs called up goaltending prospect Joseph Woll, an American goalie who was on past Team USA National Junior teams. He attended Boston College while on a hockey scholarship. Campbell is expected to be out for two weeks but the Leafs will get 5 days off between games prior to Campbell's return. As for the 30-year old Michael Hutchison he re-signed with the Leafs after spending the end of last season as the team's goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the playoffs.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Oh boy....CANUCKS enjoy practicing vs SENS ....12 goals in 2 games and one more tonight.

BTW full agenda tonight with 14 games ....will watch HABS--FLAMES and again TOR--JETS....enjoy.

Leafs play the Oilers tonight, not the Jets. By the way am i the only one who's surprised at what a poor start the Sens have been having? I didn't expect them to be up in the standings but geez! Although not a Sens fan i was telling many of their fans during the offseason that i was extremely impressed of their moves prior to the season. I guess the joke's on me!

 

[gaby]

Yep sorry right...should b easier for the LEAFS ...about the SENS...quelle déception!!!!!....was expecting much better and my son----leaving in Ottawa and a big fan---est sur le point de faire une dépression ......du jeu échevelé, une défensive qui se cherche et Matt Murray ne semble pas la solution ,,,,,dure dure saison.

 

[gaby]

Oups....VEGAS--ST-LOUIS postponed....Vegas coaching staff plus one player entered NHL Covid protocol Thursday.

 

[EagerBeaver]

As for the Rangers' young Russian goalie i was impressed by him last season but maybe he's simply a one-year wonder like so many goaltenders of the past such as Andrew Raycroft, Steve Penney & the infamous "hamburglar" with the Senators a few years ago. And if it's true that he's unhappy and depressed don't be surprised if he doesn't end up bolting for his homeland and the KHL.

I really hope Sheshterkin isn't another Hamburglar. I don't think he is one of those one year wonder guys but am worried that he could have trouble performing in NYC.

What do you guys think- is he The Russian Hamburglar or real deal?

 

[EagerBeaver]

The Rangers have decided to keep LaFraniere on the top line, but he is still pointless through 2 periods tonight. Were the scouts all wrong on this kid?

David Quinn's call to go with Colin Blackwell in overtime pays off

Blackwell, who came off the taxi squad to play in Pittsburgh, stole the puck in the neutral zone and set up Lafreniere for the winner in overtime.

www.newsday.com

This blog article compares LaFreniere's start to Kakko's using various metrics, and says good things are ahead:

Comparing Alexis Lafrenière’s Start With New York Rangers to Kaapo Kakko’s

All eyes were on Alexis Lafrenière when he made his long awaited NHL debut on Madison Square Garden ice almost three weeks ago, much in a similar way fans affixed their gaze to Kaapo Kakko back in October of 2019. Given each player’s draft status — Lafrenière No. 1 overall

www.blueshirtbanter.com

 

[gaby]

Yes....Lafrenière first goal for a big win in 0/T ....well done...more to come.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Yes, LaFreniere 1st goal and first NHL point was a game winner in OT!

 

[gaby]

What a night ...yes great win for NYR... and what about the CAPS 6-3.....six straight goals---wow....and CHARA was part of it with a goal on a wow slap shot.....even without 4 of their best players CAPS won 4 in a row....credit to CARLSON--OSHIE--BACKSTROM--WILSON.....they still have une équipe redoutable.
BRUINS win fourth in a row and LEAFS top OILERS 4-3.
Another CANUCKS win vs the SENS....incredible MATT MURRAY signed for 4 years at 6,2 millions/year......yesterday he was horrible....le DG doit faire des cauchemars...et être très songeur quant à son avenir.

 

[gaby]

Oh boy....again VEGAS---S.JOSE.. 2 games next week have been postponed.....i don't like it .

 

[EagerBeaver]

Oh boy....again VEGAS---S.JOSE.. 2 games next week have been postponed.....i don't like it .

Gaby,

You probably do not follow college basketball but this has been going on since November. The UConn men's basketball team is now in their 3rd Covid pause, this due to an official at their last game on Tuesday night against Butler testifying positive for Covid after the game. They have played only 11 games, and are 8-3. The NCAA has now said 13 games are needed to be played to qualify for the NCAA tournament. The usual college basketball season is anywhere from 27-32 games before the NCAA tournament. So if this 3rd Covid pause is 2 weeks or so, UConn will still have another 8 games on the schedule and needs to play 2 of 8 games to get to the 13 needed for NCAA tournament qualification. They will most likely make the tournament if they can play those 2 games.

NHL teams are, similarly, not going to play 56 games each. Not happening. What will happen is the NHL will, like the NCAA, come up with some number of games needed to qualify for the playoffs. My guess is it will be around 35.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Rangers Problems and Issues Analyzed In Depth By Dave Maloney and Kevin Weekes:

What's wrong with the Rangers? Can they get back on track?

After many believed the rebuild was over, the Blueshirts stumbled out of the starting blocks. We diagnose the issues, and determine whether they are fixable.

www.espn.com

 

[EagerBeaver]

Both Crosby and Ovechkin had game winning OT goals tonight. Unfortunately Crosby's goal came at the expense of the Rangers. Meanwhile Montreal staring at their first loss night down 1-0 to Calgary. Will they go down in flames to the Flames?

 

[gaby]

Yep FLAMES 2-0...what a game by MARKSTROM....he will make the difference.......great win by OILERS 4-3 in o/t....McDavid again just wow....his first goal was incredible.....d'un bout à l'autre de la patinoire....wow wow wow.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Habs Singed, Unable to Extinguish The Flames

Flames 2-0 Canadiens (Jan 30, 2021) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Calgary Flames vs. Montreal Canadiens NHL game from January 30, 2021 on ESPN. Includes all goals, assists and penalty minutes stats.

www.espn.com

 

[IamNY]

Tonight was a great Saturday night for hockey. Many close games and lot's of action.

 

[gaby]

...WOW.....CROSBY---OVECHKIN---McDAVID make history, score o/t goals 12 min. apart.....first time 3 #1 draft picks have done it.....yep...what a night....a night to remember .