Hockey

[Tea_drinker]

 

[SerenityNigh]

MY LONG TIME RIVAL @SerenityNigh

Told you it would be Tampa and Dallas. Let’s have it. At least I won’t be fuming very much if the Stars end up winning.

Pantera deserves a chance to remove that dent

 

[SerenityNigh]

If the boys stay hungry like this, I can see it happening.

 

[mmmmsnouts]

Tampa looked like they were playing a Sunday game after a Thursday night in the Europa League

 

[ToffeeDevil]

omg we have a thread for this?

maybe someone will understand my name

 

[SerenityNigh]

omg we have a thread for this?

maybe someone will understand my name

 

[the sniderman]

hi mods can u please change the title to put ice before hockey so we know our cattle shooting friends are talking about this pathetic game played by white supremacists thank u.

 

[mmmmsnouts]

That second period by the Lightning was absolute sex. Stars had no ideas after that and spent the rest of the game trying to “send messages.” If Stamkos can keep playing even a little bit this might be a wrap.

 

[SerenityNigh]

That second period by the Lightning was absolute sex. Stars had no ideas after that and spent the rest of the game trying to “send messages.” If Stamkos can keep playing even a little bit this might be a wrap.

did not like

 

[SerenityNigh]

Not happy with that result. Bolts have been better for much of the series but that was a bad call ref.

 

[mmmmsnouts]

Not happy with that result. Bolts have been better for much of the series but that was a bad call ref.

I didn’t know Mike Dean did hockey games.

The Stars fans are beside themselves but don’t blow a 2-nil lead and don’t give up three power play goals.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Fair to the Bolts, they were better. Now we go in box 2 months, feel shame, and then you get free with the new season.

 

[mmmmsnouts]

I HAVE SPENT AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON MERCH AND THE MISSUS IS ANGRY BECAUSE I BLEW OFF THE KIDS’ BEDTIME FOR THE FINAL WHISTLE

worth it

 

[mmmmsnouts]

Now that I’m not on the lash, that was a tough series @SerenityNigh and you should feel really good about getting that far. I think the Bolts are going to be broken up a little bit with the salary cap, and who knows what’s going on with Stamkos. I have a bad feeling he may end up retiring. Very glad they got their title while they could.

I just don’t see the Stars making another run like that any time soon. They have an old team that struggles to score goals and there isn’t much offense in the pipeline. The only way you can get younger forwards is by trading, and I’m not sure what kind of assets they have to do that unless they want to move Klingberg. And Benn/Seguin/Radulov were absolutely shocking in that series. Zero goals between them.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Now that I’m not on the lash, that was a tough series @SerenityNigh and you should feel really good about getting that far. I think the Bolts are going to be broken up a little bit with the salary cap, and who knows what’s going on with Stamkos. I have a bad feeling he may end up retiring. Very glad they got their title while they could.

I just don’t see the Stars making another run like that any time soon. They have an old team that struggles to score goals and there isn’t much offense in the pipeline. The only way you can get younger forwards is by trading, and I’m not sure what kind of assets they have to do that unless they want to move Klingberg. And Benn/Seguin/Radulov were absolutely shocking in that series. Zero goals between them.

We desperately need to keep the kids. Hintz and Gurianov are restricted FA. I thought Kiviranta was great in spots early and in tough minutes in the Cup Finals. He apparently doesn't "grade out" well by the wonks at The Athletic but when I use my untrained eyes, he "gets it" and is a great 2nd or 3rd line grinder or you keep him on the checking line and he produces some goals too.

But we desperately need to add offensive talent. I don't think Perry re-signs, but Pavelski is on a 3 year. Seguin was injured but he's dropped off offensively. Radulov was great in the earlier rounds but silenced by the Bolts. Benn was likewise really good but I think if you can remove the one dangerous offensive weapon and limit good shots from the rest with disciplined defense, you can limit goals. Most of the Stars' goals were scrappy sorts, and although Benn created good chances he didn't capitalize.

I'm ok with trading Klingberg--he's very talented but Heiskanen is now the guy and the squad needs to rebuild. Oleksiak was a liability in the season campaign but very good down the stretch. I thought Hanley was solid for a kid playing tough minutes. Keep Lindell and sign someone as FA to replace Klinger. Let Sekera go. If Klinger brings in a productive winger then that's a good trade; without a change in system we can rotate in capable D men and keep the D first philosophy.

I took about a 15 year pause in watching hockey but it seems that developing kids takes a long time so unless you draft Lafreniere or someone else who turns out to be a stud, Nill will have to use FA to rebuild. But I think in the modern game (in most sports) you can rebuild quicker now than in the past. So here's fingers tied that we aren't terrible next year.