I know I'm not the only big hockey fan here (I hope). We are getting into the allstar break this weekend marking the point of coasting for some teams and desperation for others in terms of playoff bids. So far this season, some of the biggest surprises to me are:
- How bad the Habs have been without Carey Price. It's amazing that a team with so much talent and experience in their top 6 can't seem to find the back of the net, and although he has had GREAT games (see the Winter Classic), Condon has just been showing how he will always be a great backup and mediocre starter, IMO. Acquiring Scrivens could prove to help out a lot as they become more of a starting due like they have in Dallas with Lehtonen and Niemi.
- How terrible the Jackets have been all around this entire season. They've started to turn it around slightly after hiring John Tororella, but are still Metro Division bottom feeders and stuck ina 3-way tie for last in the league after a much hyped offseason. Todd Richards definitely had to go after a 0-7-0 start, and Torts is a hell of a hockey coach, but something there has gone horribly wrong this year.
- The Ducks season start. From Cup contenders last year, to going 10-10 in their first 20 games.
- Crosby and Malkin's disappearing acts. I'm a die-hard Caps fan through and through, but even I was a little concerned with this one.
- The Capitals season. They were good last year. Really good. Should've beaten the Rags out and been in the Conference Finals. I'm not sure if they could've held on against TBL especially with Stamkos' hot streak right there at the end, but they definitely had a shot. This year is a whole different level though. There are very few weaknesses in their game. Holtby has been stellar and is the front runner for the Vezina and in the pack of expected Hart Trophy finalists, Ovechkin and Backstrom have been doing their thing, the addition of Oshie has been a great pickup, getting rid of Green has allowed for Carlsson to really come out of his shell and Niskanen has been showing his grit lately, and overall they have four very solid lines that can score on pretty much any team in the league any given night. Kuznetsov and Burakovsky continue to progress and show that they will become perennial league leaders in the future, and the addition of experience from Williams and now Richards is great.
I'm predicting to see the Caps and the either the Hawks or the Kings in the Cup finals. Hopefully the Caps can pull it together this year and bring home Lord Stanley's Cup!
Comments
What will Canadiens do when no teams from Canada make the playoffs?
I'd expect a formal apology from the Prime Minister.
EEHH, they'll just go to the mall..
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Bring back the glowing puck!!!! At least for the casual fan who likes playoff hockey but gets aggravated when I can't keep up with the damn puck flying everywhere.
hahaha I haven't seen FoxTrax in a LONGGGGG time. Always reminded me of video games with the puck shadow.
Would you like them to make the ball glow too when watching football? Didn't think so.
And there you have the opinion of most hockey fans on the glowing puck cries.
Flying brown ball of pig, bigger than my head is a lot easier to keep up with the a tiny burnt hamburger patty flying around the ice. The glow puck was fun and should be tweaked a bit but it did help. Most of the time I am playing where Waldo with the hockey puck
For the casual observer***
You can't tell me that it is easy to follow a football if you have never grown up with the sport. Reverses, play fakes, options, fumbles, and trick plays are just as difficult to follow for someone that has never watched the sport before. Heck, even the trained professional camera guys have difficulties at times following the play.
Part of watching any sport it knowing how to watch. Hockey is a sport where you don't really need to be able to see the puck as long as you understand players movements around the puck. By understanding player movements, it is possible to know exactly where the puck is at all times, even as it's being shot 100mph through five people. Having expectations of where the puck was, and where it should be as the result of a shot is a huge part of being able watch the game without any lame glowing circles on the TV. And for most people that follow hockey religiously, the thought of having something of the sort on the screen like a glowing circle would be extremely annoying, as there are no issues with their current abilities to watch the sport.
Also, as someone that grew up watching hockey in SD, watching hockey today is a cakewalk.
Go Caps!!
Kuzy has easily been my favorite player to watch this year. I move to the edge of my seat every time he touches the puck, much like Ovi. It has been extremely fun to watch him develop.
Oh, no doubt. I originally had a little hesitance about them moving Kuzy back to the 2nd line when Backstrom was back because I liked having guaranteed two line depth. That's obviously not an issue anymore. Ovechkin is a scoring machine but Kuzy can make the puck just dance and it's absolutely incredible. I mean, come on.. who else can make this look so efforless?
Was there for that game. The best part is, you could have put a ton of different gifs instead. But he sure does love that pass; it's a beauty.
Don't jinx the Caps again pls I've endured too much heartache
Penguins were playing under a coach that didn't fit the players. A coach that focuses on low scores and defensive games is fine, but not when you have weapons like Sid, Malkin and Kessel.
Since firing Johnson, the Pens have been playing much better. Sullivan lets the stars play to their skills. Crosby has averaged more than a PPG since Sullivan became the coach
Most important though is that the Penguins are finally fun to watch again
Just to add to this...Malkin is in the top 10 in points and Crosby has one less point than Ovi.
Yea, you've got a point. I forgot that they hired a new HC - They seem to be back to normal for the most part, but for a while there it was a little iffy.
I'm not sure why you are surprised that Montreal can't score. Their top 6 is one of the weakest of all playoff contenders honestly. It's Pacioretty and that's about it. When Price went out, the forwards could no longer get away with cheating up the ice, so it comes to no surprise that they are struggling now offensively.
On another topic, we're witnessing the changing of the guard for the new set of superstars breaking into the league. Ovechkin is really the only guy that is keeping up with Seguin, Benn, Tarasenko, Kane, Hall, etc these days. And Karlsson looks to again be a Norris frontrunner.
But please no Hawks/Kings in the finals again. As a Blues fan it is just so depressing seeing those two teams win it every other year.
The Canadiens top line is pretty stout IMO. Gallagher was injured for a while but is on a 60 point pace for this season, Pacioretty and Plekanec are both on 55ish point paces for this season. Galchenyuk and Weise are both pretty solid too. I guess what surprises me the most about them is that they have good posession numbers and are 3rd in the league in Corsi For, but just can't score. Their D has always been a little weak minus Subban though.
I definitely agree with the changing of the guard though. Taylor Hall is one of my favorite non-caps to watch along with Tarasenko, Karlsson, and Parayko. There is some serious talent in the younger ranks of the league right now.
55-60 point forwards aren't really 1st line forwards in today's NHL. At least not guys that a team can rely on offensively for production. You need a least one or two guys that can put up a point a game in order to have success. If you look at all the playoff teams currently, just about every team has a guy that is scoring at that PPG pace. And of the teams that don't (LA, Tampa, etc.) the teams are really built around that depth, which the Canadiens just do not have.
Fair enough. I definitely agree that they need to attend to their forward depth situations, but at the same time, the were considered a cup contender at the beginning of the post season last year and made it to the second round with very little difference in personnel. Their lines got shuffled some, but for the most part its the same players.
1st line last year was Galchenyuk (42 pts), Plekanec (60 pts), and Parenteau (22 pts).
I guess what it really comes down to is that even though i've sort of known all along, it surprised me how much their "greatness" leans on Carey Price being lockdown day in and day out. Now that they have a slightly above average goalie instead of elite level, they can barely tread water.
Bold prediction: the Red Wings will make the playoffs again
I'm hoping this is the year the Blackhawks finally put it together in back to back seasons. I'm tired of the whole skipping a year thing. I'd like to see the repeat.
Been a Caps fan since the age of seven when I went to see Alex Ovechkin's first game at the MCI Center up in DC (now known as the Verizon Center). This is our year to win the Cup. We have great line depth and plenty off good players that can handle the puck well and put the puck in the net. This is our year.
C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS!
Said every Washington sports fan, every season, for every sport.
Hockey is a different story... yeah we've choked the past couple of years, but we had good reasons. We have the players and the talent this year.
Haha just busting your chops. As a sabres fan who watched them choke multiple times over the years I can relate but I just can't bring myself to believe the caps will win it all until they actually do. Gotta admit they look very good so far though.
well with the exception of the deadskins lately that's the way DC sports goes. Play really well and look like a Championship team in the regular season and then it all falls apart in the playoffs. See Caps/Nationals lately
As a life long Caps fan, I really hate the "this is our year" sentiment from some of the Caps fan base. A great regular season is nice and all, but it means diddly. This is the NHL, not the NBA, you are entitled to nothing. Until this team exercises the playoff demons, I will remain unimpressed. Harrumph!
That being said this is the best Caps team I've ever seen in my life time and the possibilities are exciting. Just concerned they run out of steam by mid-April.
So I'm a very casual fan of the Sabres which means I don't watch any games...just check box scores and standings. If they ever made the playoffs, I would tune in. I know they're near the bottom of the standings again, but I'm curious to know what everybody thinks of Jack Eichel.
Eichel is pretty awesome. 2nd pick overall in last years draft and has definitely been living up the hype. Hes top of the rookie class right now with Dylan Larkin , Colton Parayko, and Artemi Panarin. Connor McDavid was the 1st overall pick by the Oilers and was an awesome player to watch up until he unfortunately broke his collar bone - In my opinion Eichel has stepped in along with Larkin to be the face of this year's rookie class. Definitely top tier talent and once he gets some more experience I can see him being an elite play-making forward.
I think Buffalo's main issue this year is that they only have five players that are really worth much (Kane, Ennis, O'Reilly, Eichel, and Ristolainen), and one is injured (Ennis). Their defense situation isnt helping at all right now either. Ristolainen is really the only notable defender along with Bogosian depending on the day. Lehner and Johnson are both competent goalies even though neither is the clear cut starter - they both have decent middle-of-the-pack career numbers but are facing around 33 shots per game. Sabres have high Fenwick/Corsi Against number too which doesn't help when your defense isn't up to par.
As a resident Rangers fan (been a fan since the Leetch-Gartner-Kisio-Mullen teams pre-Messier), I don't think we have the horses this season. The Rangers don't have enough finish in their top six, especially guys who will go to the net. Kreider has the capability, but until the last handful of games, he has not shown it. Kevin Hayes is underperforming, along with Derek Stepan (who they should have offered Torterella in a package for Ryan Johansen.
Defense is a huge problem. Dan Girardi and Marc Staal have been awful this season and are showing all the wear and tear of being overplayed and blocking shots the last four years. Dan Boyle is atrocious, and yet gets games over Dylan McIlrath (who has been the Rangers 3rd best Dman when he plays.) He also plays over Keith Yandle on the top power play unit, which defies any logic. Yandle is a defensive liability, but doesn't get top end power play time despite the power play being markedly better when he is on the ice. Ultimately, the Rangers may deal him (Andrew Shaw from the Blackhawks is a rumored target) meaning the Rangers got minimal return for a 1st rounder and a future star in Anthony Duclair.
As someone trapped in the Capitals backyard, I am impressed. That said, they still need two pieces I think to win a 7 game series against either the Blackhawks or the Kings. I really think they should offer Andre Burakowsky to Winnepeg for Andrew Ladd. Burakowsky has tremendous upside, but I don't trust him as a kid who will win the types of battles he has to win to be a consistent top six scorer in the playoffs. Ladd has that track record. Also, with Orpik's health questionable, I think the Caps need to look at upgrading their bottom two defense. I don't know who would be a good fit, but they can't go into a major playoff confrontation with Schmidt and Orlov getting 16-18 minutes a game.
Ultimately, if the Caps finally do break through, I am convinced it will only happen if Holtby (who is tremendous) and Kuznetsov are their best players. Ovechkin gets the press, and is an amazing player, but he can be limited in a playoff series where a team can focus on matching up and taking away specific areas of ice (put a left handed D with long reach at right D, overplay the forehand on the rush. Get in the shooting lane on point shots once offensive zone possession has happened.) It isn't his effort that has resulted in less production. It is the lack of variability in his game. Meanwhile, Backstrom just hasn't been the same player since his major concussion. He still puts up numbers, but he doesn't carry the play in playoff games. Kuzentsov does, and is incredibly difficult to defend because he can attack from so many angles, and he has a tremendously tough and savvy player in Justin Williams to create space for him. A guy like Ladd would give him even more room. To me, Kuznetsov is the key guy for the Caps come April.
I agree on most of your counts. I've been surprised at Yandle's lack of ice-time. He's not the best, but he seems to bring a lot of chemistry to the ice. I've always felt that Staal and Girardi would be a very good 2nd D-pairing. They just don't seem explosive enough and (to me) seem to lack some of the awareness needed when playing top-line ice time. Dan Boyle just needs to retire. He's been bad for probably 3-4 years now and hes past the point of return at 39 years old.
I'm not a Rangers fan, but I will say I have been impressed at how JT Miller and Derik Brassard have really stepped it up this year. Brassard won't every be an elite power forward, but from last year to this year even it seems that he's really stepped up his puck movement and quality shots.
As far as Burakovsky, I think he has the talent he just needs more experience. I'd hate to see him go. I think someone like Ladd could help for the short-term, but in the long run Burakovsky will be a better deal. He and Kuznetsov are unstoppable when they both hit their stride at the same time.. it just needs to happen more often. I think Justin Williams brings some good experience and know-how to the second line to counteract both Burakovsky and Kuznetsov's youth. IF the Caps were to trade Burakovsky, I'd love to see him traded for someone like Taylor Hall, Nathan MacKinnon, or Sean Monahan. I don't know if he could pull that kind of trade value, but I'd love to see someone like them with the speed and finesse they have paired up with Kuznetsov.
I do agree though, that if they are going to win it'll be due to Kuzy and Holtby. Holtby has been absolutely incredible this year and it seems like most nights the other team can't find anyway past him. As much as I love Oveckin, and personally see him as one of, if not the best, scoring power forward in NHL history, I think Kuznetsov may be the best overall play-making Russian on the team right now.
Being a Rangers fan though, I'm sure you can agree with me that I just really hope that the Islanders barely squeak into the playoffs only to have whoever they play against wipe the floor with them in 4 straight. They have some good, respectable players like John Tavares, Brock Nelson, Calvin de Hann, Nick Leddy, and Jaroslav Halak, but I think Kyle Okposo, Cal Clutterbuck, and Matt Martin may be some of my least favorite players in the entire NHL.
For the Caps, it will be very interesting to see what Richards brings to the table. He has a lot of playoff experience and could really help push them over the hump. The bright side of both Carlson and Orpik being out is that Trotz was able to get a good look at those younger Ds.
True. It was pretty interesting seeing him getting into it with some Flyers players on Wednesday considering he used to be Philly's Captain. He does have a lot of experience and I can definitely see the reasoning behind picking him up. Hopefully it'll work out and he can help propel them over their annual 2nd Round hump.
I've never been a huge fan of Orpik. I know he's a defensive defenseman but it seems to me like he was never really fast and really was only good at just being in the way. Not a great shot or stick handler either. Having him out though has really opened up possibilities for Niskanen who has really started to come through as a play-making defenseman. Definitely glad to have Carlsson back in the lineup though.
Agree about Orpik. I wasnt over the top about that signing. I will say it seems to me that he rarely messes up even though he doesnt possess elite anything. I just hope that Trotz can keep them sharp heading into the playoffs. There's a lot of time and I hope they don't get bored and start getting sloppy.
Yea, he has good positioning and size, but doesn't really posses any puck movement abilities. Good for getting in the way and you know that he will be where he is supposed to be. I understand thats a good counter to Carlson's super offensiveness a lot of times, but I just wish he could help on offense and with the breakout more than he does. It might just be the former defenseman in me, but I just want something more from a top line D. That being said, I don't know who else besides Carlson I would like him being paired with, so it may just be that he is limited to the top pair.
I think it'll be a little rough for the first few games after the ASB, but they'll get back into the swing of things. They have a pretty hard month coming up in February, so if they can keep at around the same pace, all should be fine. Chicago is closing the gap for the President's trophy, but the Caps have played I think 4 less games than CHI at this point.
IMO, Richards has been a great 4th line addition so far.
I know this is an unpopular sentiment with the Rock the Red crowd because he's a fan favorite, but I would like to see Brooks Laich permanently replaced in the line up. You can find lots of FWDs that PK and play defense that are much more physical than Laich. Getting hit by Laich looks about as painful as getting pegged with a cotton ball.
I agree about Laich. I think he's a solid guy and I root for him but giving him that contract a few seasons ago was a mistake.
For a fan of a team that employs Tom Wilson, you shouldn't have so much disdain for the "gritty" players.
eh. It's not even so much the "grit." I don't watch a ton of Islanders games so I could be wrong, but to me they just never seem to play with any respect or class. I understand the need for enforcers, but a lot of times it seems like they're more just playing to hit someone than even playing the puck. TBH, Wilson does it a lot too and I'm not a huge fan of his play style. I'm fine with a big open ice hit at a pivotal moment to stop a breakout or to get some energy back in your team, but I've never been a fan of completely laying someone out when a simple poke check along the boards or a shove to drive their body off the puck will suffice.
I have never been so confident in the Caps. This may be the best team they have every compiled. Legit top 2 scoring lines, a good defense, and probably the best goalie to date in net.
I went to Vegas a couple weeks ago and put $500 on their odds to win it all, so im all in to say the least.
"Holtbeast" for a reason!