The Ditch part deux

We also get cheated out of Mtl Vs Bos, Det Vs Chi conference finals and stuff unless one of them was the correct wildcard or both are. And the odds of any wildcard getting through are low enough already.

 

Too much tinkering, leave well enough alone.

 

Bruins win they play the devils, they lose they play the leafs.

 

Penz swept the Phlyers this year, scoring 5 goals in two of those four contests.

 

The difference in this series will be the goaltending, murray is a proven clutch goalie.

 

Flyers need to get chippy quick. They can't win unless they get the Pens off their game. It's just not a good matchup this year.

 

Glad the Avs are in. That's my gf's team. Right now, my WC team is Vegas, so I'd like to see the BCGE face Pittsburgh in the SCF. Colorado is my WC backup plan. In the EC, its Pittsburgh ... and then fuck everybody else.

 

I broke a record on twitter today, 30 likes and 4 retweets, that's a first for the skinster.

 

Seeing Rene next to Chara was comical.

 

Confirmed, Rick Nash was off for 11 games because of a concussion.

 

Borgstrom gets his first goal tonight.

 

It's a shame that Auston Matthews will be one of the best players in the game and most americans will have no clue who he is.

 

for the Flyers to win, their goalie needs to get insanely hot or miller gets cold or the Flyers play like they did for their 11 or 12 game point streak. A ton to ask of these guys. If they can steal 1 on the road, they may have a chance, but I don't see it.

 

Wicked wrister, as the Bostonians might have said. Jumped up into the play, grabbed the TO that Sceviour caused, and made a sick shot.

After the game, he did a number of interviews. The one thing that sticks out to me with Borgstrom is that, obviously, he's a young guy, and you can see the immaturity a bit. He dominated at a lower level, and you want to see him step up his practices in the NHL. During one of the interviews, he was asked about the NHL competition. I watched him light up and get really excited when he said, "It's going to be a busy summer for me. I've got a lot of work to do, competing with these guys". It didn't look like hubris, it looked like ambition. That was cool to see. Glad the kid got a taste, and I'm excited to see what he does in the offseason to gear up for next year.

Panthers are going to have a lot of tough decisions to make on this roster, at the forward position, for next year.

McCann, Vatrano, Mamin, and Malgin are the rostered players with RFA's coming up in the next offseason or two. Brickley is the only UFA for this offseason, with Mackenzie, Haley, and McGinn up the next.

Potential Forwards:
Bjugstad - Barkov - Dadonov
Huberdeau - Trocheck - McGinn
Malgin - McCann - Vatrano
Sceviour - Borgstrom - Mamin

And that's not accounting for Mackenzie (Captain), Haley, Brickley (if he's back), and the litany of young guys who could make showings on the team from the minor ranks. The decision at the C position is going to be crucial, with 5 guys who all deserve roster spots. McKenzie may not bring much offensively, but he's crucial to the PK, and a fantastic Captain for this team. Borgstrom has shown enough to get ice time next year if he continues to develop through the offseason. McCann was a solid player throughout, and should have a stranglehold on that the third line spot, as he's still a young developing player in his own right (and one of my personal favorites).

Then, you've got to figure out where all this talent on the wings fits. McGinn, Malgin, and Vatrano all had success on the second line. How do you parse those guys out? Who sits if Haley's on the ice, or if Brickley comes back (worthy 3rd/4th line competition)?

I anticipate one of the above names being traded for a defenseman, or a G prospect (or, at least, an attempt to be made). The reality is, as strong as this team is at F, they have little to nothing in the way of real D or G prospects, and it's not exactly like their defense was particularly good this year (though they definitely improved). If they can nail this offseason, and put the right F's in the right positions, while adding some talent to the D and G pools, they'll be awfully exciting.

This belongs in the Panthers forum, which I never use. I'll go put it over there later, when I have a moment. Got carried away while eating lunch.

Here's to a fun playoff season, this year. As a spectator, give me close games and long series. Let's go.

 

My fan allegiance is for sale during the play-offs. We will start the bidding at a quarter.