NHL hockey 2024/2025

[East Bay Rider]

Who's your team and how are they doing?

[Krash]

I was born and raised in Philly, so the Flyers are still my #1 team. Unfortunately, they look terrible so far. They have serious goaltending issues. On a positive note, Michkov looks like he’s a legitimate superstar in the making. He’s only 19 and was our first round pick last year.

My #2 team is the Panthers. Stanley Cup champions and off to a decent start.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[1st amg]

Ottawa Senators fan here….obviously, it’s my home town. But before we had the team, growing up I was a fan of Quebec Nordiques who became Colorado Avalanche. I also loved the Oilers of course!

The Sens are off to a better start than last year but our Vezina winning goalie we snagged this summer has been dealing with a nagging injury. So not the best start. Tonight they are playing Colorado.

And I despise the Leafs lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AF_Rob]

Huge Penguins fan. How are they doing? FAR from good.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Who's your team and how are they doing?

Thanks for beating us in overtime.

[piratfisk]

NYR! I have an ongoing, semi-inside joke with my wife. She says I'm not a hockey fan (neither is she). I say I am because I've been to two NYR games at MSG. Plus, I have a hat so... I enjoy hockey passively because it's quick & keeps my attention, plus, given the right environment, some fermented beverages in moderately-quick succession can be fun. The local AHL team (Gulls) sometimes puts on a good show.

[Blansky]

Lived near Edmonton in the Gretzky era so always an Oilers fan. Unfortunately the team has been mismanaged for many years, and now I fear they still don't have enough good players around McDavid. And the fact that they are spending too much on to few players. You can't win a cup with 4-5 guys taking up half the payroll.

I also watch Toronto a lot but they too are far too top heavy with soft players so doubt they can win.

Love watching both the Florida teams, especially Tampa but they are probably on the down slope now. Panthers still have good shot this year.

[Yoda_Eating_Pizza]

VGK
They seem to have a split personality. Still early in the season, but so far they're a completely different team on the road than they are at home.

[-dustin]

Stars are loaded.

Stars AHL team here in town has some incredible young talent (again…miss you Stanky and Mav).

[Marcaine]

Go Bolts!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Lived near Edmonton in the Gretzky era so always an Oilers fan. Unfortunately the team has been mismanaged for many years, and now I fear they still don't have enough good players around McDavid. And the fact that they are spending too much on to few players. You can't win a cup with 4-5 guys taking up half the payroll.

I also watch Toronto a lot but they too are far too top heavy with soft players so doubt they can win.

Love watching both the Florida teams, especially Tampa but they are probably on the down slope now. Panthers still have good shot this year.

Yep, the weak-link theory. It’s real

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Yep, the weak-link theory. It’s real

What bothers me is the players saying to the fans.."we wanna win the cup and bring it home to _____ city", and yet guys like McDavid, and Mathews, and McKinnon, and Nylander etc etc etc, all want top dollar when contract time rolls around.

I get that people want to get paid, but McDavid's next contract is going to be in the 15 million X 8 years. He's already made around 100 million on the last contract.

So instead of taking say 12-13 million or even 10 million and have more money for complimentary players salaries he and the top guys take all the money and there's none left for the bottom 6.

So don't say we want to win the cup, and then between him and 3-4 other guys on the team, take half the salary cap.

I think Boston is one of the only teams where the stars take a hometown discount so they can have a strong supporting cast.

I realize some guys on second contracts need to capitalize on contracts because careers can be short, but the top guys on third contracts have already made a fortune and if they truly want to bring the cup home, they need to share the wealth. Either that or don't BS the fans with the "we wanna win the cup here".

There always the talk of..."the cap is going up next year so we can get in better complimentary players" but it's BS because the top guys will ALWAYS take the few million the cap goes up and the lesser guys are still making $800,000.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Blansky

What bothers me is the players saying to the fans.."we wanna win the cup and bring it home to _____ city", and yet guys like McDavid, and Mathews, and McKinnon, and Nylander etc etc etc, all want top dollar when contract time rolls around.

I get that people want to get paid, but McDavid's next contract is going to be in the 15 million X 8 years. He's already made around 100 million on the last contract.

So instead of taking say 12-13 million or even 10 million and have more money for complimentary players salaries he and the top guys take all the money and there's non left for the bottom 6.

So don't say we want to win the cup, and then between him and 3-4 other guys on the team, take half the salary cap.

I think Boston is one of the only teams where the stars take a hometown discount so they can have a strong supporting cast.

Totally agree.

The analogy used by a famous Canadian (Malcom Gladwell) can be heard here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7dY...TZGjcw8hqn_lSw

I believe Sid also took less than he could’ve got on his last contract however Pittsburg still haven’t put together the other pieces


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Totally agree.


I believe Sid also took less than he could’ve got on his last contract however Pittsburg still haven’t put together the other pieces

Pittsburg is a different situation though, since the core is all ageing and haven't been near contending for years.

But teams like Toronto, and Edmonton are legitimate contenders with a couple of decent extra players. Well maybe not Toronto because their top guys are pretty soft.

Tampa was probably right to not pay Stamkos top dollar because he's not worth it. So he walked and they are paying a younger guy. Stamkos got greedy and has already made a fortune in Tampa. If he truly wanted to win there take less money.

These top guys also make a ton of money from endorsements so it's not as if a couple of million a year less in salary would hurt them at all.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Pittsburg is a different situation though, since the core is all ageing and haven't been near contending for years.

But teams like Toronto, and Edmonton are legitimate contenders with a couple of decent extra players.

Tampa was probably right to not pay Stamkos top dollar because he's not worth it. So he walked and they are paying a younger guy. Stamkos got greedy and has already made a fortune in Tampa. If he truly wanted to win there take less money.

Agreed.

Motto of the story spread more money around the team to level up the 3rd and 4th lines and you’ll have a more competitive team.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Agreed.

Motto of the story spread more money around the team to level up the 3rd and 4th lines and you’ll have a more competitive team.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If I owned a team like Edmonton, not necessarily a desired climate/tax free destination, I'd have a ton of perks to play there. A couple of company jets for families to travel, a bunch of condos for get-aways at warm beaches for the wives, just a ton of perks for the families. Anything you can think of to entice players that this is a great place to live.

BUT I'd stress to the players, that this is a winning team and if we want to win, you have to take less money to play here so the team can be competitive.

When Pocklington owned the team, he owned a car dealership and gave guys sweet car deals, and golf trips etc etc to make everyone happy.

San Jose has a pretty good reputation for player perks that there are a ton of ex players still living there after they retired from the game. The problem was the team was a country club and life was a bit too soft. You could put together an NHL oldtimers team there just from the guys that stayed. And a lot still work for the team in various capacities.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Blansky

If I owned a team like Edmonton, not necessarily a desired climate/tax free destination, I'd have a ton of perks to play there. A couple of company jets for families to travel, a bunch of condos for get-aways at warm beaches for the wives, just a ton of perks for the families. Anything you can think of to entice players that this is a great place to live.

BUT I'd stress to the players, that this is a winning team and if we want to win, you have to take less money to play here so the team can be competitive.

When Pocklington owned the team, he owned a car dealership and gave guys sweet car deals, and golf trips etc etc to make everyone happy.

San Jose has a pretty good reputation for player perks that there are a ton of ex players still living there after they retired from the game. The problem was the team was a country club and life was a bit too soft. You could put together an NHL oldtimers team there just from the guys that stayed. And a lot still work for the team in various capacities.

I never understand why anyone would want out of Edmonton in February


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I never understand why anyone would want out of Edmonton in February


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey that wind blowing in off the lake in Toronto ain't no tropical breeze either.

[East Bay Rider]

Bruins: I don't know whether to criticize the coach or the team captain(s), but something is definitely wrong and needs to change.

[MrGoat]

Originally Posted by Marcaine

Go Bolts!

Go Bolts x2!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Krash]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I never understand why anyone would want out of Edmonton in February


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just said something similar in another thread about winter in St Augustine, Florida. We complain when it’s only 55 degrees outside. But on a positive note, it starts to climb into the 70s during the last two weeks of February.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Krash

I just said something similar in another thread about winter in St Augustine, Florida. We complain when it’s only 55 degrees outside. But on a positive note, it starts to climb into the 70s during the last two weeks of February.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Consider yourself lucky lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[1st amg]

My Ottawa Senators team faced the best goalie in the world last night and the guy was outstanding. My son and I were in shock and awe on his performance....this is why he just turned down 10m a year in New York....rumblings are he is going to get 12-13m per year. Sheesh. Igor Shesterkin in case you are not sure who I was talking about.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by 1st amg

My Ottawa Senators team faced the best goalie in the world last night and the guy was outstanding. My son and I were in shock and awe on his performance....this is why he just turned down 10m a year in New York....rumblings are he is going to get 12-13m per year. Sheesh. Igor Shesterkin in case you are not sure who I was talking about.

Yeah he looked great and he's going to set the bar for goalie salaries in the future since most of the best are around 8 million.

Problem is like I mentioned before it will dilute the talent on the team going forward.

Ya wanna win cups, take less money.

[Cambo]

Go Flames! Yeah, I know….quit laughing. Still they are doing better than everyone predicted…so far!
Cautiously optimistic for a shorter than expected rebuild.

[AzPaul]

Was hoping my Wings might take a step forward this year, at least get back to the playoffs, but the early returns have not been promising.

[1st amg]

3-0 win for my team at home tonight.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by 1st amg

3-0 win for my team at home tonight.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Those look like great seats.

[1st amg]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Those look like great seats.

Thanks, they really are. They are second bowl second row. We have had these season tickets here since 1998! If your a hockey person who loves to see everything develop, these are the seats. We also have 2 seats in the first bowl and you end up watching half the game on the Jumbotron. My son who loves the game always wants to sit here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by 1st amg

Thanks, they really are. They are second bowl second row. We have had these season tickets here since 1998! If your a hockey person who loves to see everything develop, these are the seats. We also have 2 seats in the first bowl and you end up watching half the game on the Jumbotron. My son who loves the game always wants to sit here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That was exactly my thoughts when I saw the view. I used to have seasons seats at the Kitchener Rangers and they were similar. It was just prefect, you could see the whole ice surface, both benches and as you say, you could see the plays developing


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk