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Yeah, depends on how the Sharks rate Stenberg (or McKenna should he fall to 2) really. If they see him with a better upside that Reid or feel like his set of skills fills the gaps in what they’ve already got up front then they’ll go with the upside over the need. But, yeah … they need D. I could...

I was almost shocked to see Rank get the assignment in an elimination game in the ECF. He didn’t let me down, since he called yet another mysterious game and yet he gets a spot in the Finals. It’s the NHL so we shouldn’t be surprised, but even then … have SOME standards.

That’s generally the case in the first period of the last two rounds, but Carolina/Montreal exploded into action right away. I expect the Canes to try to jump on Vegas early and see if they can rattle their old bones. There’s absolutely nothing unique or special about what Vegas does on D other...

Same protocols apply for the Canes though. Lauzon is more rugged and can be used on the PK, but he’s still not that great a puck retriever and even less of a threat to skate the puck out of danger. He’ll be a target for the forecheck in the corners.

A couple of matchup things to watch for the Canes … It’ll be interesting to see how the Canes attack Vegas’ defense pairings. A lot is made of Vegas’ zone defense and their forwards DO take a lot of pressure off of their D. But, that third pairing is either going to have to deal with Ehlers and...

If everybody keeps their picks and does the obvious stuff, it would make sense for Vancouver to take Malhotra even if you toss aside the stuff with his Dad. He’s a riser as a prospect in a draft calls where a lot of the top guys are kind of sliders, he has good size and is a natural center. He’s...

But it’s the playoffs. It just means more … reason to screw things up

That will run Siryatsky to 21 years old, which should be fine since he’s gotten some time in the full fat KHL already. You’d love to see him thicken up a little

Game 1 notes … For Carolina the plan is remarkably the same even though the style and strengths of the opponent are different. Turn ‘em over with pressure, value possession, create a mess in front of the net, throw pucks at said mess. Vegas doesn’t really mind if you possess the puck, so maybe...

Remember … chances are VERY good that the good folks at the Lenovo Center will unveil some sort of new way to access the parking lots tonight. Even if you’re not a tailgater it’s probably best to be early.

One thing to watch for .. it took Vegas 3 or 4 games to figure out how to slow down Anaheim, and they never really did slow down Utah. Vegas won that series because Utah’s defense fell apart more than anything. People keep talking about Colorado’s speed, but that only really exists on their top...

And as we know, you can’t be a “real” contender until you have those guys on your team. Until you don’t and you’re still playing.

Honestly, Carolina was always the most likely to come out of the East, regardless of how anybody wants to frame past seasons. They won the Conference while playing a rookie waiver wire pickup in net for half the freaking year and without their 6 man D group being intact for all but a quarter of...

The initial pricing is a Ticketmaster issue, FWIW. Now it's just people with tickets to sell with a starting price point set by that ridiculous dynamic pricing model. They’re pot-committed

I’ve seen Necas, Nelson, Manson and a few others taking strays in Colorado. Also the front office and Bednar. Weirdly, all of the guys the fans want to trade have trade protection, so … just a sampling of how realistic they’re being. I do think the Avs will probably make some changes somewhere...

Honestly, as badly as Burnsy played in that last series … when they really needed him to step up with Makar out or ailing … I can’t imagine Colorado wanting him back. Maybe he still has a shot with somebody, but I can’t see a contender going with Burns in their Top 6 and I can’t see him wanting...

Probably figures if they beat “his” Avs so easily, then they’re gonna roll Carolina. More than a few Canadian-centric writers and presenters are thinking similar thoughts about Carolina. In truth, I’m not sure we’ve ever learned less about a pair of Finalists in the Conference Finals than this...

Pretty tight grouping in those picks. Seems about right.

Been so busy and distracted that I completely forgot to post mortem the Conference Finals losers … whoops. Colorado I feel like the fan base thinks somebody needs to pay for yet another playoff flameout, especially after the massive whimper they went out on. In truth, I’m not sure it makes...

Forgot to mention … today is “media day”. for the Finals. Both teams will have extended media availability in addition to practice sessions today, as the entirety of the hockey media descends on Raleigh. The last time we had this level of media activity was the outdoor game in 2023, but that was...