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Around the League 2019-2024 Edition

why call those nights in the first place and why are teams that have had pride nights before canceling them now?
 
mbow30 said:
why call those nights in the first place and why are teams that have had pride nights before canceling them now?
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Russian/Putin factor -- fear that some players will be prosecuted by the new anti-gay laws in their homeland

Regardless, a pro run league would have been way ahead of this...or at least figure something out the first time one of these night got cancelled.

Instead, they are in scramble mode, issuing some variation of a weak ass press release every single time. Talk about having your head in the fucking sand.
 
I think NHL is erring in trying so hard to look diverse and for everyone. Just stop patting yourself on the back. The Pride stuff is a mess. They're just getting themselves into trouble with this stuff. They need to be more organized about this and aware way ahead of time on what players won't wear pride jerseys. They clearly have no idea who will say no until the last minute.
 
So a year after Matthews gets 60 for the first time in 10 years, McDavid gets 60 with ten games left. To go along with what will almost for sure be a 150 point season, the first one in almost 30 years.

I'm not a huge fan of the guy and his robot personality living in that villain laier listening to Nickelback. But even if his defense is shit, those numbers are absolutely incredible. It's pretty clear he did not like some people calling Matthews the best in the league and decided he was going to go off this year while becoming the best goal scorer in the league. I can respect that.
 
.. and his coach could give a shit about load/minute management, and lets him play full-throttle offence for 25mins/game with none of the worries of retreating past the neutral-zone.
 
Meh, he could be hanging out at the opposing blue line all game and those numbers would still be amazing. He's 28 points and 12 goals ahead of the next guys on the list.
 
the numbers themselves are amazing, sure.

the lack of team success, on the other hand, almost equally amazing given his individual production.
 
In any event, Dom is bullish on the Oilers. As we all should be. If they get decent goaltending, they should be the top pick in the west. And then in the finals who knows what could happen...

 
yeah any notion of Matthews being the better goalscorer are gone. looking at the history of the league, he most likely won't crack 60 again. OV never did. McDavid? I think he has a non zero chance to do it, and has at the very least equalled what Matthews did. although again, this year might end up being his top offensively too, as he's in that typical age range.

as peak seasons go, last year for Matthews was great. besides winning the Smythe/Cup it's hard to beat a 60 goal Hart/Pearson season where you're also a top defensive player at the most important forward position. And he deserved those trophies. I'm glad that he won the player-voted one as well to eliminate those questions from the gallery.

but as good as that is, it still ain't this year's McDavid who is putting up the modern day equivalent of a Gretz/Mario type season.

he might be playing well enough to carry them to the finals this year, despite that they still stink defensively even after getting Ekholm. 97 has been that dominant, and he won't have to face a real top team till round 4.
 
Volcanologist said:
yeah any notion of Matthews being the better goalscorer are gone.
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not by most statistical measures, but sure.
Volcanologist said:
looking at the history of the league, he most likely won't crack 60 again. OV never did. McDavid? I think he has a non zero chance to do it, and has at the very least equalled what Matthews did. although again, this year might end up being his top offensively too, as he's in that typical age range.
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if Matthews was an Oiler and McDavid a Leaf, I am confident you would feel the opposite.
Volcanologist said:
as peak seasons go, last year for Matthews was great. besides winning the Smythe/Cup it's hard to beat a 60 goal Hart/Pearson season where you're also a top defensive player at the most important forward position. And he deserved those trophies. I'm glad that he won the player-voted one as well to eliminate those questions from the gallery.

but as good as that is, it still ain't this year's McDavid who is putting up the modern day equivalent of a Gretz/Mario type season.

he might be playing well enough to carry them to the finals this year, despite that they still stink defensively even after getting Ekholm. 97 has been that dominant, and he won't have to face a real top team till round 4.
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we agree that Edmonton has a much easier potential path to the finals, yes.
 
Preston said:
Ekholm getting some tough minutes but still playing at a 61% xgf% as an Oiler so far. He has been absolutely dominant and exactly what they needed. A true #1 horse and worth every penny of that contract, and more.
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sure as shit >>>>> McCabe. ugh.
 
Preston said:
Ekholm getting some tough minutes but still playing at a 61% xgf% as an Oiler so far. He has been absolutely dominant and exactly what they needed. A true #1 horse and worth every penny of that contract, and more.
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what really grinds my gears is that the Leafs could have done that. don't let them tell you they couldn't. they could.
 
Chychrun has been ok for Ottawa but he's not really on Ekholm's level and probably never will be. Ekholm was the prize and yeah, Dubas could have done it for sure but it would have taken some creativity and he may have felt that it wasn't worth the risk because of his contract. But that's some ultra safe GMing despite throughout history the best ROI on any trade has always been the acquisition of a true #1 d, ala the Pronger trades. I'm not sure a guy like McCabe satisfied any need like Ekholm would have but it is what it is. He wasn't the only one that passed him up.
 
Wayward DP said:
not by most statistical measures, but sure.
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well they're obviously now both players capable of reaching 60 goals. I honestly didn't think McDavid had it in him, as he's previously been more of a playmaker.

I think this year changes the perception of McDavid the goalscorer.

Wayward DP said:
if Matthews was an Oiler and McDavid a Leaf, I am confident you would feel the opposite.
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I don't think so. For one I did mention this year could be McDavid's peak too. for most players it's mid 20s I think.

Also, this year is unique in that he's been peak all year long. before he would play like this for 30 games or so but not the whole season. And when he did, you guys would get upset when I would marvel at those stretches because yes, when he plays on that level, he's better than Matthews.

he has also shown a totally different level in the playoffs from Matthews.

Wayward DP said:
we agree that Edmonton has a much easier potential path to the finals, yes.
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they do but I think we've established that strength of opponent, although it gets brought up a lot around here, has not made any difference in Matthews and the Leafs postseason fortunes.
 
The big number is 156 points. He can pass Yzerman's 88-89 total. That's bigger than 60 goals. That's the best non Mario/wayne season.
 
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