NHL 2021-2022 Thread

[Doc Holliday]

The debate as to whether Matthews or Patrik Laine should have been drafted #1 in 2016 finally seems to be over. Matthews has played 302 games and produced 316 points. Laine has played 319 games and produced 260 points. Mathews is a point a game player plus; Laine is not. Matthews also has more goals, which surprises me as I thought Laine would be the better goal scorer. But Matthews has just been the better player. 5 years later, we can finally say that Toronto got it right when they picked Matthews #1.

There was never a debate on whether which of the two should have been drafted #1. In your mind, maybe. Or on Fox News. Everyone knew a year in advance that Mathews would be picked first (especially since he was a centre). There was a debate however on whom would get chosen next. It was going to be one of the two FInns (either Laine and his other countryman whose name escapes me). But Matthews clearly was the #1 choice projected and there was never debate about this once their professional NHL seasons got under way. Auston Matthews is already likely a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame and has barely three seasons of NHL hockey under his belt. Laine? Who knows. He could find his scoring touch again and be the next Phil Esposito in getting traded from the team that picked him & then traded him after 1-2 seasons and then become a top scorer.

 

[EagerBeaver]

There was never a debate on whether which of the two should have been drafted #1. In your mind, maybe. Or on Fox News. Everyone knew a year in advance that Mathews would be picked first (especially since he was a centre). There was a debate however on whom would get chosen next. It was going to be one of the two FInns (either Laine and his other countryman whose name escapes me). But Matthews clearly was the #1 choice projected and there was never debate about this once their professional NHL seasons got under way. Auston Matthews is already likely a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame and has barely three seasons of NHL hockey under his belt. Laine? Who knows. He could find his scoring touch again and be the next Phil Esposito in getting traded from the team that picked him & then traded him after 1-2 seasons and then become a top scorer.

This is revisionist history. Allow me to take you back in time to 2016 when the debate raged through the media, like in this piece, which dubbed it the "Great No. 1 Debate":

2016 NHL draft: The great No.1 debate — Auston Matthews or Patrik Laine?

The NHL draft will take place June. 24-25 in Buffalo.

www.usatoday.com

And Here:

Making the pick: Matthews vs. Laine | NHL.com

Scouts provide insight into top two forwards in 2016 NHL Draft

www.nhl.com

And Here:

Patrik Laine insists he should be the No. 1 pick in NHL draft, not Matthews

Finnish winger doesn’t lack for confidence ahead of NHL draft.

www.thestar.com

 

[EagerBeaver]

Ward Fired By Flames; Sutter is New Coach:

Flames fire Ward, name Sutter as new coach

The Flames fired head coach Geoff Ward after a lackluster start to the season, replacing him with two-time Stanley Cup champion Darryl Sutter.

www.espn.com

 

[gaby]

Yep...not a surprise....Darryl is back...good move dans les circonstances....they are still fighting and need this leadership derrière le banc.......

Big win for VAN 3 TOR 1....it will b tough for the CANUCKS but they have very good young players.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Toronto did lose to Vancouver last night but it wasn't for lack of effort. The Leafs dominated the Canucks for most of the game but the Vancouver goalie, some dude named Demko, was fantastic throughout the night. Toronto chose to go with their 3rd goalie (Hutchison) but he allowed two weak goals and that was the difference. The Leafs will bounce back against the same Canucks tomorrow and Freddie Andersen is likely to get the start. Backup Jack Campbell re-injured his knee against Edmonton the other night but it's just a day to day thing.

 

[EagerBeaver]

If you are wondering which NHL coach will be fired next in yet another season in which heads have rolled, look no further than Ralph Krueger in Buffalo:

'Angry' Sabres GM evaluating Krueger amid woes

With the Buffalo Sabres in last place in the East Division, GM Kevyn Adams said he is evaluating the status of coach Ralph Krueger and he said star center Jack Eichel has not requested a trade.

www.espn.com

 

[gaby]

..and why not give another chance to GERARD GALLANT....with the SABRES or even with the SENS....he had good experience with good teams in the NHL...IMHO he deserves another try....would b very happy to see him back.

 

[gaby]

EDM 3 FLAMES 2...exciting one...McDavid was back with 3 pts....beaucoup d'intensité as usual.....more to come from those 2 teams.

VEGAS 4 SJ 0.....wow......bagel for FLEURY...listen...this season this backup is 12-3, 1.60 and .942....incredible...a sure sure value for his team.....bravo MARC-ANDRÉ.

 

[EagerBeaver]

What's wrong with Jonathan Toews???

No, we don’t have a right to know what’s wrong with Jonathan Toews. But ...

The Blackhawks star hasn’t spoken since December about the medical condition that has kept him off the ice this season.

www.google.com

 

[EagerBeaver]

NHL SIgns 7 Year Contract With ESPN!!!!!! This means we will be seeing a lot more of Barry Melrose, and a lot less of Pierre Maguire unless ESPN hires Pierre:

NHL back on ESPN with 7-year multiplatform deal

The NHL will once again be broadcast on ESPN after the league agreed to a seven-year multiplatform deal.

www.espn.com

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

Oilers had their way with Ottawa, Draisaitl got me 26 points in my draft

 

[EagerBeaver]

This morning on WFAN Boomer Esiason launched into a scathing attack on Canadian division hockey. He called it by far the worst division in NHL hockey. He said the emphasis is on goal scoring and not defense and that there are only 2 good teams in the division (Toronto and Winnipeg), which he seems to think will be toast when they have to play the better American playoff teams that are used to more defensive playoff style hockey.

It's too bad they couldn't revise the rules to use something other than 4 playoff teams per division because maybe the Canadian division should only have 2 teams allowed into the playoffs, and the other 2 slots should go to more deserving American teams that are playing in better conferences. They need to maybe consider revising the system. It's not fair to the teams stuck in better divisions. Make it more like NFL type playoffs.

 

[gaby]

BETMAN.....Next season, divisions fully at normal....and season on time .....let's cross our fingers.

 

[EagerBeaver]

If you take away Edmonton's 7-0 against Ottawa, they are a .500 team. Would .500 cut it in any other division to make the playoffs? No it would not.

 

[gaby]

wow....SENS 4 TOR 3....LEAFS are 1-5 in their last 6.....they have the week off until FRIDAY....it will b good for them....they will b ready for the rest of a very very demanding season.

 

[gaby]

KUDOS to BRIND'DAMOUR---TRUTZ and QUENNEVILLE.....souvent sous le radar---BUT ALL doing a heck of a job.....des coachs respectés et qui savent tirer le max. de leurs joueurs.....et sont au sommet....avec des équipes qui affichent une CONSTANCE si nécessaire
au succès.

 

[gaby]

KUDOS to BRIND'DAMOUR---TRUTZ and QUENNEVILLE.....souvent sous le radar---BUT ALL doing a heck of a job.....des coachs respectés et qui savent tirer le max. de leurs joueurs.....et sont au sommet....avec des équipes qui affichent une CONSTANCE si nécessaire
au succès.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Ralph Krueger is 3rd NHL Coach To Be Axed This Season:

Sabres fire coach Krueger after 12-game skid

The Sabres have fired coach Ralph Krueger after their losing streak reached 12 games.

www.espn.com

12 game losing streaks and last in the NHL goals despite signing 2 high priced scorers in Skinner and Hall does not give management oodles of confidence.

 

[gaby]

KRUEGER fired as SABRES coach after losing 12 in a row!!!!!!! quelqu'un de surpris ????..lol.........they will need more than that......en comparaison WINGS and SENS look like CHAMPS....lolllll

 

[EagerBeaver]

With the entire coaching staff sideline due to Covid and their AHL coach and Chris Drury running the team, the Rangers have exacted a brutal vengeance on the Flyers tonight and are winning 9-0 in the 3rd, having scored 4 goals on Carter and 5 on the benched Elliott:

Rangers 9-0 Flyers (Mar 17, 2021) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers NHL game from March 17, 2021 on ESPN. Includes all goals, assists and penalty minutes stats.

www.espn.com

Zibenajad has 3 goals and 3 assists so far for 6 points, while Buchnevich had 2 goals and 2 assists

No coaches, no problem for victorious Rangers

Mika Zibanejad tied an NHL record with six points, including three goals, in one period, and the New York Rangers, without their full-time coaching staff, trounced the Philadelphia Flyers 9-0 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

www.espn.com