The Ditch part deux

Great video there Will.
Jamie Benn looks back...... or he has the past few anyway

 

2-1 Pens

 

Wow, I didn't know that. I genuinely appreciate the education. I knew it was probably rare, but didn't know it was that remarkable. Wow. For my health, I hope they don't have to do it a third time.

I liked the Connolly signing because of his fit with Trocheck / as a middle 6 shooter, and that seems to very much be the role he's filling. I like his game. A guy with Stanley Cup experience still in his prime, filling a needed line role, and not for a huge contract. Works for me, and so does his scoring.

I was unhappy about the Stralman signing. Still am. Basically, he's on the ice to make up for the liability that is Mike Matheson. So far, he's done an admirable job. But I don't like his contract, and think his time is limited. I hope he proves me wrong come season end.

Also, I'll also again - does anyone want Mike Matheson? Asking for a bologna sandwich in return. Flexible on the bologna sandwich.

 

Some quick NHL-wide thoughts:

I don't have the certainty many do that Tampa will be in it come postseason. I think they should be, and it'd be a surprise if they weren't, but... Last year's success doesn't portend this year's. I'll be interested to see where they are at the break.

Is the Oilers' success sustainable? McDavid and Draisaitl account for enough points as a duo to almost double the totals for any other duo in the league. That includes great pairs from Boston's top line, Colorado's, Florida's, etc. It's remarkable. Is there a regression, or will they carry the team all season?

The Metro genuinely looks really good. That's a tough slate of teams to compete against. Pitt getting it done even with their injuries has to be encouraging.

Don't look now, but Arizona is second in the division with the best goal differential. Playoff hockey in Arizona? F***, I would love that.

The custom hockey jersey websites are starting up their major discounts for Black Friday. Thankfully, they're out of Panthers jerseys in my size. But, hell, I'm so tempted to buy some of those gorgeous uniforms of old. Whalers, Jets, baby Blues, Arizona, Colorado, Calgary... I could buy 20 different ones right now and not have enough. Run, my wallet. Run.

 

Teh Phil flopping in the desert, 4 goals in 24 games?

 

He has been so bad I cut him from my fantasy teams. Very surprising, but then again, he has no Malkin, Crosby or Guentzal around either.

 

$6.8M cap hit for the next 4 years, he needs to get at least 25 goals to be teh phil, or else he's a big bad bust (linemates or not).

 

Sabres vs Panthers

5 pm

Lots of Sabre fans will be roaming the rink.

A lot of fans down on Dhalin, year over year he's really only down on his potential goal scoring. This could be due to a slight change in systems from Housley to Ralph.

Teh Phil obviously invites his star D to make more rushes whereas Ralph could be asking him to be a more stay at home type.

His plus/minus is improved over last year, which should be good news. Maybe he needs this time to develop his defensive game before he remerges again as an offensive threat.

 

Takes D a couple hundred games to really get their feet wet. Dahlin is a stud but it’s gonna take a while. The only people that should be surprised or mad are ones that didn’t have expectations in line with history.
The kid will be fine

 

Definitely agree, the Leafs didn't even bring Rielly in right away and he was a 5th overall. Dermott was down in the AHL for two and a half years, Sandin is in his second season.

Dhalin at 22-26 will be one of the top Ds in the NHL.

 

Probbie will always be remembered here as the last player to ever score a goal at Maple Leaf Gardens. Too bad he wasn't around when the Wings started winning cups.

 

Ghost a healthy scratch this weekend? Could he be finally dealt?

I think 3 of their forwards is clogging up the top too and one could be moved if someone will take on the money. Flyers need some changes to make room for the cheaper and younger players. Two are up now, but they are buried deep on the 3rd and 4th lines.

 

Islanders' 17-game point streak ended by Ducks
New York's first regulation loss since Oct. 11; Gibson makes 26 saves for shutout





NHL.com

 

Traktor 1-0 over CSKA after one.

Was just sent this notfication on my phone.

 

What happened to Jimmy Vesey? That hype a few years ago was on another level.

 

That is a lesson in context. Vesey was gaining UFA status after four years in NCAA, he was coveted in a relative sense because he wasn't going to cost anything* other than his ELC. He was a third round pick (by NAS) that had established himself as a genuine NHL prospect. It's rare to sign a player and have him slot immediately into your NHL roster. That's what the hype was all about; it was never about getting an all-star.

Vesey has good size, and is smart. He projected as a solid middle-six winger. That's an important role, and he largely delivered on that potential with the NYR. He's been streaky, and I think we need to give him more time this season before making further proclamations of his value. For what he is, Buffalo bought low (third round pick), and the Rangers were willing to move on due to their cap situation, and Vesey's contract status, (he'll be a UFA on July 1.)

Right now it would seem like he'll hit the open market rather than resigning with Buffalo. But, as noted, he's streaky and he could change things with a hot streak. What we do not know is his locker room rep., he is rather famously pals with Eich, but by itself that's not enough to offer him a contract. In the end, I view him as a worthwhile gamble on Botterill's part. But by definition, not all gambles work out. If he's one and done in Buffalo it's not any hair off my balls.

Of course, * Tim Murray invested a third for Vesey's exclusive rights from Nashville. That was questionable asset management since Vesey had made it known that he was going to wait until 8/15 for UFA status. So, he cost Buffalo a third and some fancy restaurant tabs, but he cost the Rangers nothing.

 

Oh, this coming off season is what Botterill has been waiting for. Enough time will have elapsed for him to really know what to expect from the prospects*, and there are a handful getting close to meaningful contribution.

More importantly, he'll have a TON of cap space to reshape the roster in his way. The two factors combine for a very encouraging scenario for the Sabres.

I hate the so-called team prospects* rankings prevalent on hockey sites. What matters is the quality of players/prospects under a certain age. (IMO, that should players under 24 since that's before they hit their primes.) The problem is that the rankings remove players already in the NHL. That leaves teams like Buffalo looking worse than they should because they have so much young talent already in Buffalo. It skews down the perception for the team's potential.

 

Carey Price gets shelacked, 6-1 Bs, hatrick Pastrnak.

 

I feel like this should be the score when playing the Habs. Their roster stinks and has for a long time but they find a way to stay semi-competitive. I think it’s probably Carey Price but the upper echelon teams should have their way with this current Habs team.