NHL 15-16 season

[biittner77]

ok Sha arks. Win this series or at least take it to 7 games. Thanks

[UMFan83]

There is still time for the Blues to choke right?

 

Order of teams that I want to see win it:

 

-Sharks

-Lightning

-Pens

-

-

-Blues

[NewUserName]

Sharks and Blues? Both teams are kind of known as playoff chokers. Have the Blues really been chokers though? Seems like they lose to good teams every year.

[philosophizer75]

I'm penguins fan (went to university of pittsburgh). They've looked really good for about two months, but the lightning scare me. They play really solid hockey and there's a chance they can get some significant pieces back during this series.

[UMFan83]

Sharks and Blues? Both teams are kind of known as playoff chokers. Have the Blues really been chokers though? Seems like they lose to good teams every year.

 

They probably shouldn't have lost to the Wild last year. They blew a 2-0 series lead to the Blackhawks the year before. This year they blew a 3-1 series lead and were tied heading into the final period of Game 7.

 

I think the choker label was justified.

[JonJayCutler]

As the resident Bolts fan that nobody cares about, I do have to say that last year was a lot more fun. I loved elminating teams that I genuinely hate (Habs, Rags), and with the majority of the board being Hawks fans, that was fun too (the ending wasn't).

 

Drouin's emergence has come at the perfect time and has largely negated the loss of Stamkos, who is physically ready to play, but all depends on when he's taken off blood-thinners. Could be tomorrow, could be July.

 

Probably Pens in 6, although the sooner Stralman comes back the better our chances are (looks like G2 is a possibility). We'll need him to kill off the Pens' top-shelf PP. I'm also placing hope in that the Bolts being the fresher, more rested team having played two short series will be enough to tip the scales. We'll see.

[NewUserName]

I cheer for Tampa because of Yzerman. Plus Pittsburgh is easy to dislike. Not sure how much of a blow losing Bishop will be. But a big win for Tampa last night.

 

With the success of the team and Druin in particular I wonder if Tampa may low ball Stamkos? Problem being, I am not sure I would be completely sold on Druin because of a couple weeks of good play and not being a problem. But not having to tie 9+ million up in one guy with the cap not going up would be tempting. I think Stamkos has already declined some.

[JonJayCutler]

I cheer for Tampa because of Yzerman. Plus Pittsburgh is easy to dislike. Not sure how much of a blow losing Bishop will be. But a big win for Tampa last night.

 

With the success of the team and Druin in particular I wonder if Tampa may low ball Stamkos? Problem being, I am not sure I would be completely sold on Druin because of a couple weeks of good play and not being a problem. But not having to tie 9+ million up in one guy with the cap not going up would be tempting. I think Stamkos has already declined some.

 

Low-balling Stamkos is the only smart thing to do, IMO. Like you said, Drouin's emergence combined with Stamkos' best hockey most likely behind him are big reasons, but the biggest is they've proven they can win without him. Between him being invisible last year and hurt this year, he's contributed almost nothing to either playoff run the past two seasons. And with a team this young and deep, if he doesn't take some sort of discount (staying in TB is one of his best chances for a Cup) then let him walk. That being said if I'm a betting man, I think he's still in Bolts blue in 2017.

 

On a different note, somehow Bishop is only DTD after that injury. X-Rays and MRI both negative. Don't recall ever seeing screaming/tears on a stretcher that didn't result in some sort of structural damage. Doubtful he'll be in net Game 2, but the fact that Cooper hasn't ruled it out yet is pretty crazy.

[NewUserName]

Stamkos had 18 points last year in the playoffs, not exactly a no show. Just looked like a no show compared to the triplet line.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Stamkos is 26, how is his best hockey behind him?

[biittner77]

Stamkos is 26, how is his best hockey behind him?

 

It feels like he's been around forever. Most people probably think he's 30.

[NewUserName]

Yeah I forget he is similar age and career path as Kane and Toews. I am not positive his best hockey is behind him, but I think his game isn't quite what it was several yrs ago. I like Stamkos and wouldn't mind the Wings figuring out how to afford him. My example was more from the Tampa point of view. It might make sense for them to low ball him

[biittner77]

Yeah I forget he is similar age and career path as Kane and Toews. I am not positive his best hockey is behind him, but I think his game isn't quite what it was several yrs ago. I like Stamkos and wouldn't mind the Wings figuring out how to afford him. My example was more from the Tampa point of view. It might make sense for them to low ball him

 

They have a lot of cap issues. These playoffs have shown that life after Stamkos won't be a disaster. They have a little bit of leverage since there aren't a lot of good destinations that can pay him the type of contract that he likely wants - similar to Toews/ Kane. For example, A team like Winnipeg could afford him but would he really want to sign there?

[NewUserName]

Yeah I forget he is similar age and career path as Kane and Toews. I am not positive his best hockey is behind him, but I think his game isn't quite what it was several yrs ago. I like Stamkos and wouldn't mind the Wings figuring out how to afford him. My example was more from the Tampa point of view. It might make sense for them to low ball him

 

They have a lot of cap issues. These playoffs have shown that life after Stamkos won't be a disaster. They have a little bit of leverage since there aren't a lot of good destinations that can pay him the type of contract that he likely wants - similar to Toews/ Kane. For example, A team like Winnipeg could afford him but would he really want to sign there?

it seems as though it's going to be Toronto who can pay more, or Tampa who is a current contender.

[BrockLanders]

I think the chances of Stamkos re-signing in Tampa are pretty remote. If they were in the ballpark salary-wise, this would've been done already. It's essentially unprecedented for a young star of his stature to hit UFA in the salary cap era. He's turned down offers since last July to get to this moment, I don't see why he suddenly takes a discount in Tampa.

 

Toronto and Buffalo, among others, will have offers between $10-12 million. I think there's a good chance he ends up with the highest cap hit in the league.

[biittner77]

I think the chances of Stamkos re-signing in Tampa are pretty remote. If they were in the ballpark salary-wise, this would've been done already. It's essentially unprecedented for a young star of his stature to hit UFA in the salary cap era. He's turned down offers since last July to get to this moment, I don't see why he suddenly takes a discount in Tampa.

 

Toronto and Buffalo, among others, will have offers between $10-12 million. I think there's a good chance he ends up with the highest cap hit in the league.

 

I've been thinking that maybe he might go back to Tampa on a shorter deal to prove he's healthy. Blood clots are a big deal and Stamkos has missed large stretches with injuries before. It's an interesting situation since guys like Stamkos don't become available at 26 very often. But it would have to give another GM pause to give him $10 mil + per season in light of those injuries.

[JonJayCutler]

Stamkos had 18 points last year in the playoffs, not exactly a no show. Just looked like a no show compared to the triplet line.

 

Yeah, "no-show" was a little harsh, but he was pretty bad in both R1 and the SCF. And with each passing playoff win this year, it becomes more and more evident that he just isn't necessary. We do miss him pretty badly on the PP, admittedly.

 

Stamkos is 26, how is his best hockey behind him?

 

As someone who watches him dozens of times a year, I can confidently assure you that he's not the dude he was at 20/21. He still has many productive years left, but I think his days as a Top 2 or 3 player in the league are probably over.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have him back. But with the cap being so rough on us next year, probably better to just save it. Kucherov is absolutely the guy the bank needs to be broken for.

[Brian707]

Go Sharks tonight, The Blues have not won a game 5 since 2012(last W was against the Sharks)

 

As for Stamkos, I think he either winds up in Toronto or Detroit

[Brian707]

The Blues are now 1 loss from elimination, this is great, yes it sucks the Hawks lost to them, but now they will keep Hitchcock with the false hope that they are close(assuming the Sharks finish them off). Someone made this point in the Hawks off season thread and was spot on.

 

 

Do they stick with Jay Gallon or go back to Elliot for game 6?

[biittner77]

Go Sharks tonight, The Blues have not won a game 5 since 2012(last W was against the Sharks)

 

As for Stamkos, I think he either winds up in Toronto or Detroit

 

Those seem like reasonable destinations if they make clear the necessary cap space.

[NewUserName]

Go Sharks tonight, The Blues have not won a game 5 since 2012(last W was against the Sharks)

 

As for Stamkos, I think he either winds up in Toronto or Detroit

 

Those seem like reasonable destinations if they make clear the necessary cap space.

Toronto has plenty of room. If Detroit can trade Datsyuk's contract to a team looking to get to the cap floor, they should also. I also think Detroit fans are getting weary of the status quo. So I could see it happening. I wouldn't bet on it though.

[CubInOK]

Sharks advance and the Blues will forever be in the Blackhawks shadow.

[NonProfitCow]

Welp, this has been quite the shitty Wednesday.

[UMFan83]

Sharks advance and the Blues will forever be in the Blackhawks shadow.

 

On the Blues reddit one of the fans said "oh well at least we fucked the Blackhawks"

 

Yeah we are hurting so badly with our 3 recent cup wins

[Banedon]

Welp, this has been quite the [expletive] Wednesday.

 

http://img.pandawhale.com/post-36877-agree-to-disagree-gif-Anchorma-kFLi.gif