2024/2025 NHL Season

[MassCobra]

The difference in assists is mind-blowing though. In my opinion part of it is that Gretzky had better players around him than Ovechkin ever did. Also, Wayne had some bad ass mofos protecting him and allowing him more freedom on the ice. NHL was rougher and dirtier in the 80s/90s than it is now.

You're 100% spot on. Those Edmonton teams were probably the greatest teams of all time for a few years and if you laid a hand on Gretzky you had to deal with whoever the enforcer was, mostly Semenko or McSorley. He was basically untouchable.

I'm not talking bad about Gretzky because I love the guy and he had immense talent but numbers aside he is not the greatest of all time in my opinion because was not the total package and it's mainly because he could not handle the physical part of the game.

Bobby Orr and Mario Lemeiux are 2 players I put ahead of him because they were the total package.
And Bobby Orr was basically done at 26 so we never even got to see the best of his greatness which is a tragedy.
Lemeiux's career was also impacted by injuries, not to the same degree as Orr but when he was healthy he also put up ungodly numbers.

 

[VegasMichael]

You're 100% spot on. Those Edmonton teams were probably the greatest teams of all time for a few years and if you laid a hand on Gretzky you had to deal with whoever the enforcer was, mostly Semenko or McSorley. He was basically untouchable.

I'm not talking bad about Gretzky because I love the guy and he had immense talent but numbers aside he is not the greatest of all time in my opinion because was not the total package and it's mainly because he could not handle the physical part of the game.

Bobby Orr and Mario Lemeiux are 2 players I put ahead of him because they were the total package.
And Bobby Orr was basically done at 26 so we never even got to see the best of his greatness which is a tragedy.
Lemeiux's career was also impacted by injuries, not to the same degree as Orr but when he was healthy he also put up ungodly numbers.

Yup. Gretzky had Kurri, Messier and Coffey on his team( all hall of famers) and Grant Fuhr in goal too.
I was living in Philly in the 80s and the Flyers had a pretty good team then and met the Oilers in the finals twice but lost both times. I cringe when I see the Flyers nowadays. They are just horrible.

Gordie Howe was a total package too.

 

[MassCobra]

 

[biminiLX]

Off season will be interesting.
But for now I’m always excited for playoff hockey.
Good NCAA final yesterday too.
Between that and the Masters an excellent TV evening.
Took my son and some teammates to NCAA regional and they met Yzerman and Draper. Cool deal.
-J

 

[specracer]

Elaborating on 1st's, first time all of the American original 6 teams are out of the playoffs. Black Hawks, Rangers, Red Wings, and Bruins.

 

[specracer]

MAN this time of year is GREAT. Several games each night, and many are NASTY. There is nothing like playoff hockey.

I'll be rooting for the Panthers, wow so strange to see Marchand on this team.....

 

[biminiLX]

Playoff hockey every night is great!
-J

 

[specracer]

I think there were 4 games last night, starting at 6 EDT, and the west coast game started something like 10pm EDT. Nicely staggered so you could switch during inters, and not get bogged down with pre and post came commentary. Round 1 so many games.

 

[DSG2003Mach1]

Wtf was that Tampa

 

[MassCobra]

Game one of LA-Edmonton was one for the ages. Glad I stayed up for it.

I was shocked to hear Florida was the lowest scoring team since 4 Nations when Tkachuk got injured. And that's in a league that includes the Bruins. First game back and they put up 6 and he gets 2.

I'm going with Colorado to win it all.

 

[MassCobra]

Looks like their could be a lot of 7 game series. Especially in the west. Lots of good series but imo Kings and Oilers has been the best. Kings just can't close them out in 3rd periods even with multiple goal leads.

Stars are a good team but I'm a little surprised they have mostly been the better team against the Av's even without 2 of their best players Robertson and Heiskanen.

Hopefully the Caps can close out the Canadiens in 5. I hate their fans more than any fan base on the planet.

 

[VegasMichael]

Looks like their could be a lot of 7 game series. Especially in the west. Lots of good series but imo Kings and Oilers has been the best. Kings just can't close them out in 3rd periods even with multiple goal leads.

Stars are a good team but I'm a little surprised they have mostly been the better team against the Av's even without 2 of their best players Robertson and Heiskanen.

Hopefully the Caps can close out the Canadiens in 5. I hate their fans more than any fan base on the planet.

Looks like they might be playing hockey until July!

I keep forgetting that Toronto is second all time in Stanley Cup victories behind the Canadiens. They look pretty good this year.

 

[MassCobra]

Looks like they might be playing hockey until July!

I keep forgetting that Toronto is second all time in Stanley Cup victories behind the Canadiens. They look pretty good this year.

They do look very strong. The one thing the Bruins were good at was eliminated the Maple Leafs in the playoffs so that road block is gone. They certainly have the talent and one of these years it might all click for them. I hope not, but they're as good as any team in the league.
Gotta keep that winless streak for Canadian teams going.

 

[VegasMichael]

They do look very strong. The one thing the Bruins were good at was eliminated the Maple Leafs in the playoffs so that road block is gone. They certainly have the talent and one of these years it might all click for them. I hope not, but they're as good as any team in the league.
Gotta keep that winless streak for Canadian teams going.

VGK has their hands full with MINN. All my Vegas buddies are sweatin' right now.

 

[DSG2003Mach1]

tampa blew their own feet off last night giving up 3 goals in what, 4 minutes?

looked at the score - still 2-1 with 4 to go. Jump in the shower, check the score, lost 4-2.

If it's not gonna be the Lightning might as well be the panthers again so that's where I'll jump ship to. After that I really dont care

 

[MassCobra]

tampa blew their own feet off last night giving up 3 goals in what, 4 minutes?

looked at the score - still 2-1 with 4 to go. Jump in the shower, check the score, lost 4-2.

If it's not gonna be the Lightning might as well be the panthers again so that's where I'll jump ship to. After that I really dont care

Tampa let a game they really needed to have get away. If they could have evened the series I would have gave them the edge to take it but not being down 3-1.

 

[specracer]

So much going on, I have only focused on the caps habs (MAN I hate the habs!!!), and Tampa / Panthers. How the Panthers rallied was pretty strong. Tampa got their 1st and 2nd under 30 seconds apart, but so did the Panthers with ~3 min to go (then the "plus one" the 4th empty netter).

Have the Leafs / Sens on now.

 

[72MachOne99GT]

Cats in 5, 12 to go!

Honestly reminds me of the start to the 23 playoffs when Florida won games they really had no business winning.

Tampa Bay outplayed Florida in games 2, 3, and 4, but only won one.

Now Florida gets a day or 3 extra to see if they’re going to Toronto or hosting Ottawa.

Florida teams absolutely dominating the Eastern for the last 5 years is wild (even if locality is really a coincidence when players come from around the world).

 

[MassCobra]

My take on the playoffs so far.

Edmonton advances to WCF. I think they are the favorite now to win this year. They have been dominant in their first 2 series.

Carolina advances to ECF. They don't have the high end talent as some of the other teams still playing but they play an effective swarming, smothering style of play.

Florida is looking good again and hopefully they can finish off the chokey Leafs in game 6.

I think Dallas is lucky to be up 3-1 in their series against Winnipeg. Jets have looked like the better team but just can't come up with the wins, which is fine with me.

 

[specracer]

Ive only watched the east games, I was surprised Carolina dispensed of the "Great 8" group. IF Florida takes the leafs, that might be an entertaining matchup. But agreed, Florida is looking good, especially after the 1st 2 losses to Toronto, but good fight to get back in it, and quite a beating in Toronto in G5. See what happens tonight.