NHL 2021

Hard to get excited about it this year. Maybe when we get closer to the playoffs.

Go Leafs!

Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook hung the skates up today after a 15-year career that included an Olympic gold medal and three Stanley Cups. All 1,100+ regular season games were with Chicago, who drafted him when they were a laughingstock of a franchise. He tried fixing himself early last year with surgeries on a shoulder and both hips in the span of about a month, but the body ultimately said no. Mad respect for this warrior, leader and great playoff performer. I suspect down the road the team will do a joint retirement of number 7 for him and Chris Chelios, like they did with number 3 for Pierre Pilote and Keith Magnuson.  What a great career.

I'm still having a hard time getting into hockey this year but the playoffs started last night. Effin painful to watch Tom Wilson score a goal. POS shouldn't even be in the NHL anymore but with a fellow POS running the league what can one expect?

@steve8 posted:

I'm still having a hard time getting into hockey this year but the playoffs started last night. Effin painful to watch Tom Wilson score a goal. POS shouldn't even be in the NHL anymore but with a fellow POS running the league what can one expect?

TW is definitely one of the shittier guys in the game. F Parros too.

Panthers and Lightning certainly lived up to what playoff hockey is supposed to be - and then some. That was one of the most intense and entertaining games I can remember. Wow.

I haven't posted on the WS board in a while, but another epic collapse by the Leafs to the Habs has me in a joyful mood today!

So many burns all over the web, but my favorite so far is "550 front line workers in the stands couldn't prevent the Leafs from choking"

Leafs fans are the only fanbase that makes Browns fans feel lucky.

The Jets Habs series may have 7 goals scored.  Total.  Whatever it is take the under.

Avs/Vegas series is the new FLA/Tampa.  Great hockey. Need to remember to breathe on occasion.

VGK!!!

Congrats to the Islanders. Makes me wonder where the Leafs would be with Lou?

amazing game last night.  congrats to the VGK.  It was amazing how hard both teams played.  VGK didnt give the avs an inch even chasing down iced pucks.  Flower made some huge saves in the third as well.

I’m pretty confident that we’ll have a Vegas/Tampa final. Looking forward to one game per day/evening to focus on starting tomorrow.

Habs continue to surprise me.  I thought LV was going to steamroll them. Price is playing some of the best hockey of his career.

@vinoevelo posted:

Habs continue to surprise me.  I thought LV was going to steamroll them. Price is playing some of the best hockey of his career.

Their fans whining about the officiating last night when they have clutched and grabbed like the ‘95 Devils all playoffs was pretty funny to me.

@csm posted:

Their fans whining about the officiating last night when they have clutched and grabbed like the ‘95 Devils all playoffs was pretty funny to me.

100 percent agreed. Almost as bad as Bruins fans - any year.

GM of the year - hint, it’s not Kyle Dubas Brendan Shanahan.
Congrats Lou Lamoriello

I thought Tampa was guaranteed a spot in the finals with their manpower and after the game 5 routing but the Islanders have a lot of character. Should be a good game 7.

Go Islanders!

Anyone who had the Habs in the SCF at the start of the playoffs hands up?  Pretty incredible the run they are on, and it's not all Carey Price, no matter what everyone says. 

@csm posted:

Anyone who had the Habs in the SCF at the start of the playoffs hands up?  

Nobody with honesty. 😏

hate to say it but pretty exciting to watch

@billhike posted:

100 percent agreed. Almost as bad as Bruins fans - any year.

No, the Bruins fans are in a league of their own. A very lonely league.

@billhike posted:

Go Islanders!

I am encouraged by your predictions because so far you have been wrong.

@mimik posted:

I am encouraged by your predictions because so far you have been wrong.

That one was rooting, not a prediction. I previously predicted the Bolts being in the final I now predict they will repeat.

I'm glad the finals are the Lightning-Habs as it must piss of Bettman et al who seemingly tried to get the refs to do their bidding in both of the previous series. Normally I would want the team who beat the Bruins to win but not this time. The Islanders are dirt bags and I was very happy to see them pack their (golf)bags. And me wanting the Habs to beat Vegas was probably the first time in my life I've ever cheered for them. Hopefully Grossie doesn't see this! However, that cheering for the Habs was short lived as I could not bring myself to want them to win the cup, but there doesn't seem to be much worry about that.

There is no tombstone emoji or the guy with eyes that are x, which could be my only reaction to Steve8, a devout traitor/Bruins fan rooting for the Habs!  Somehow that softens the blow of the sweep that is about to occur tonight.

I got very fortunate to be able to attend a game in the semis in Vegas and in the finals in Tampa.  I'm glad I did it, but I'm sad about the final outcome, which seems all but done at this point.  At this rate I will be 80 by the times the Habs make it back there again.

Congrats to Tampa and their fans for going back to back. Also to Montreal for showing what really wanting it and playing for each other can do. Kudos.

So Grossie, are you a lurker these days or did someone let you know about my confession of rooting for the Habs? I hope you are doing well.

I see the Habs are leaving Carey Price unprotected in the expansion draft. I suspect Price (and his wife) wouldn't mind a move to Seattle and might even take a pay cut to get there which Seattle would probably need. And the Bruins have done the same with Rask.

Hey Steve-  I lurk, check in here once in a while.  With the Habs making a run I had to post something!  Hope you're good too.

I hear the Price is hurt and likely to start the season on LTIR.  Knee and maybe hip.  Seattle is unlikely to take him.  From what I hear he'll be a 40 game per year goalie going forward, and they'll bring him out for the playoffs (if they make it). 

I hate an expansion draft.  So much maneuvering and leaving guys exposed, it creates such tension (in my mind at least).

The black cloud forming over the Blackhawks from a 2010 incident is temporarily muted by the acquisition of Seth Jones.

The Cinderella Habs from last season's playoffs are not off to a good start. Four straight losses.

When is the NHL going to give Evander Kane the boot for good? What more does he have to do to prove that he is a bonafide pos?

@steve8 posted:

When is the NHL going to give Evander Kane the boot for good? What more does he have to do to prove that he is a bonafide pos?

When he takes a knee for an anthem, or is in jail and physically unable to be with a team. Bettman and other commissioners dislike  hard decisions.

The Blackhawks saw a 535 game home sellout streak come to an end - 13 seasons. Since they are tied with the hapless Coyotes for the worst record in the league, it may at least mean their fans aren’t  dumb.

I was extremely excited when they picked up Seth Jones and Marc-Andre Fleury. While the latter pretty much has no help in front, he has also shown some poor decision-making. The former has been a complete disaster so far. My high hopes for a return to competitiveness this season are pretty much gone.

F Joel Quenneville.

Almost 18 months since any NHL post? Maybe you should change the subject to simply NHL and leave off the year Bill?

Bruins win the President's Trophy but that didn't work out very well for them the other 2 times. Third time lucky? They're looking a little tired lately which worries me, especially with regular season dog-fornicators like Tampa Bay. I have nightmares about the phrase "saved by Vasilevskiy". Canes look pretty good too.

The Blackhawks seem to be gunning for Conor Bedard in the draft but the Ducks are dropping like a rock.