The Official 2018-19 NHL hockey thread

[jalimon]

I agree with you Doc. I have no idea what Hydragoos was getting at. If the Canadian teams are not any good, it is due to the management of those teams and has nothing to do with Bettman. Maybe the Canadian teams need to hire better scouts, GMs and coaches. Bettman has nothing to do with how these teams are managed.

Hydargoos does have a point regarding Bettman's arrogance and complete distaste of Canada. I did wrote that yes Bettman did some good moves and brought the NHL a lot of revenue. The only problem is more then half of the revenue comes from Canada (and 46% of the players...). The biggest TV deal is Canadian (replacing a laughable deal that got less revenue for the league then women's softball league). If canadian fans loose interest in hockey the NHL will go down rapidly.

Cheers,

 

[EagerBeaver]

Canada (and 46% of the players...). If canadian fans loose interest in hockey the NHL will go down rapidly.

Really? And where will those fans go, hop on a plane to watch KHL games or the Swiss or German leagues? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:nono:

What planet do you guys live on? The NHL is a monopoly of pro hockey in North America.

 

[No_Church_InThe_Wild]

I enjoy reading EB’s and Docs posts when it comes to hockey,, they know their stuff
But having said that let’s call a spade a spade. Hydargoos previous post is not without merit.
Canadian teams are at a disadvantage, are they not?
It’s been 25 years since they won anything. And it clearly cannot be attributed solely on Canadian teams being mismanaged or bad luck for that matter.
It seems Canada’s game has outgrown Canada. It makes it difficult to contend with the difference of the USD vs CDN dollar witch means US teams have a higher salary cap ,, does it not ? Also the big teams in the south have it much easier when it comes to attracting big free agents than their Canadian counterparts. By choosing to not play up north don’t they pay less taxes aswell? And as for Bettman I think he has done wonders for the league but please don’t tell me he’s not biased.
The only way around this is for the Canadian teams to be managed more efficiently and to draft better , coupled with solid coaching,, because otherwise Canadian teams are up against it.
Just my 2 cents

 

[gaby]

If Brind’Amour can outcoach Trotz his stock will certainly rise in the hierarchy of NHL coaches. I see the Islanders as the favorite in this series, so if the low seeds continue to win it could be a stunning Stanley Cup finals.

Well b prepared for CANES and AVS for the Cup......both did the playoffs by the backdoor......that's the way it works this year in the playoffs...lolllll

 

[jalimon]

Really? And where will those fans go, hop on a plane to watch KHL games or the Swiss or German leagues? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:nono:

What planet do you guys live on? The NHL is a monopoly of pro hockey in North America.

they will be interested in soccer, like my kids

 

[Doc Holliday]

The only way around this is for the Canadian teams to be managed more efficiently and to draft better , coupled with solid coaching,, because otherwise Canadian teams are up against it.
Just my 2 cents

Yep, that's what i just wrote. But i'd like to add that the lower Canadian dollar doesn't affect the wealthy teams like Toronto & Montreal. They are not only among the league's wealthiest but their arenas are packed every night and it's been like this for years. These two Canadian teams are so wealthy that they do not participate in the league's revenue-sharing program to help the lesser teams and those that are affected by the lower Canadian dollar. They are actually contributors.

But i insist that a lot of other Canadian teams' failures have to do with crappy ownership and poor management. Especially teams like Ottawa and Edmonton. There's not a fucking chance in hell that these two franchises would have a chance at contending right now even if they lived in the States and were the richest franchises on the planet!

 

[gaby]

Big win for St-Louis in Dallas....looks very good for them.....quiet game until the third period with 4 goals.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Do you guys think Sergei Bobrovsky is one of these goalies that can get so hot that a team can climb on his back and ride him to a Cup, like the Anaheim Ducks did that one year with Jiggy?

Do you guys remember Jiggy? Later on the Bruins took the same ride with Tim Thomas who for 3-4 years was one of the best goalies in the NHL. These guys are the goaltender horses of yesteryear. Can Bobrovsky join their ranks? .973 save % tonight- it’s not going to get beat.

 

[gaby]

Good remark....if Jackets won 2-1 yesterday it's because of his outstanding game.....Bobrovsky is on fire and on a double mission....win the Cup and get the same astronomique contract than Price.

SHARKS 4 COL 2.......big win for the Sharks...hat trick for Couture :yo:

 

[No_Church_InThe_Wild]

Do you guys think Sergei Bobrovsky is one of these goalies that can get so hot that a team can climb on his back and ride him to a Cup, like the Anaheim Ducks did that one year with Jiggy?

It’s no secret that In hockey a hot goalie can carry a team . Sergei Bobrovsky is certainly doing that in the playoffs right now. Another underrated goalie that did a number on Tampa and he’s playing the same way against Boston. Let’s see if Columbus can finish what Toronto couldn’t. I will be rooting for them along with San Jose .

And yes I remember Giguere’s great run but if I’m not mistaken he also had some great D .

 

[EagerBeaver]

Marchand: Harrington Head Punch "unnecessary", but "I don't regret it", defends actions by saying "DeBrusk was bullied":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-uawpQbdaw

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/26649123/marchand-no-regrets-punching-harrington

 

[gaby]

CANES 5 ISLES 2....Canes 3-0 are easily cruising to Columbus....lolll.....always in perfect control and even in the third period their thank is always full of gaz.

Must win for Dallas...4-2 vs Blues.....finally Seguin--Radu- Benn were au rendez-vous....and emotions were high....young Binnington a du caractère...he took 4 min for altercation with Benn and Bishop.....ca promet pour la suite.....more action to come.....emotions will get higher....fun to watch.

 

[gaby]

WOW...CANES 5 ISLES 2.....CANES sweep Isles in game 4 with 5 straight goals and reach Eastern Final......incredible....who will stop them???....lolll......McElhinney did very well....:yo::yo::yo:.......and STARS hang on in game 5....again Seguin and Radu played very well.

 

[EagerBeaver]

I am shocked that the Canes swept the Islanders. This was the same amount of shock as when the Blue Jackets swept Tampa except this time I didn’t lose $100, so it’s just emotional shock and not financial shock as well.

 

[gaby]

BOS 4 CBJ 3....a crazy game with 6 goals in the third period..watch out Marchand is back on track with Pastrnak.....not a good news for the Jackets.

HERTL 2 COL 1....good game and Jones wth big big saves....keep on....

 

[gaby]

Flyers named Therrien and Yeo assistants to Vigneault.....good news....very happy for both Vigneault and Therrien.....they should do a good job.......

I would like also Hartley to be appointed as Head Coach for the Sens......ce serait d'un naturel et une bonne pointure pour lui.

 

[Robert 21]

Na na na na, na na na na, heyyyyyyyyyyyy
Magic Number is 8 eep:

Let’s GO Bruins

 

[gaby]

Yep they played a top notch game,,,,victoire bien méritée......will play Canes,,,should do it.

And we will have un 7ème match tomorrow in San Jose.....go Sharks.

 

[gaby]

Oufffff....Blues win game 7 in 2OT....wow.....victoire bien méritée....they played much much better than the Stars in game 6 AND 7...well done.....they will know tonight who they will play in semis.....hoping for the Sharks...

 

[gaby]

Yesssss...SJ 3 COL 2.....Sharks did it BUT credit to the AVS qui en 3ème n'ont jamais abandonné mais Jones was ready.....is it finally the year of the Sharks???......semble que les dieux du hockey soient de leur bord this year....Blues--Sharks should be very interesting....

And remember Blues in January were last in the NHL.....quelle remontée spectaculaire.

So Bruins in 5.....Sharks in 6.....enjoy.