The NHL Thread

Also Matthew Shafer is like playing against the CPU...vs a 99 on legend with the sliders turned up. Like wtf the speed, the size, the carving up the ice with the cuts. This is generational.

18 years old. The injury caused him not to get hyped enough. The talent, the eyes, made him number one after 17 games in OHL.

Islanders man got lucky. Blew whatever window they were looking at....and finding this sicko

Habs might legit have the 2 best players from the 2022 draft. In terms of pts over the last 2 months from players from that class:

1. Hutson 29
2. Slaf 24
3. Gauthier 22

Fun fact: Every team in the Pacific has a negative goal differential
Fun fact 2: Pacific division leader in points Vegas has 17 wins and 23 losses

Tbf Vegas hasnt actually conceded more goals than they scored since they're -2 and 1-5 in shootouts, so in gameplay they're up 2

But yeah, terrible division

Hutson def #1 in redraft.

Slaf is sick and I'd take him 2, but guessing he's not consensus #2

michael hage led the world juniors in scoring this year

Were half way through the season and wow how the mighty have fallen

CDN Power Rankings

• 1. Montreal
  
• 2. Edmonton
  
• 3. Calgary
  
• 4. Ottawa
  
• 5. Vancouver
  
• 6. Winnipeg
  

No team has won the Presidents Trophy and than finished dead last.

Colorado still hot and Detroit wow. Will see if Buffalo can keep up their hot ways

I think the Jets just put together a 2nd line.

Oh, bloody.

Hayden Fleury's bleeding on the ice. I'm not sure how, he slid on his back head first into the boards. Did his equipment cut him, or he bit his tongue?

Looks bad, and they say he's had injuries.

lol sabres, imagine not shutting out the canucks...

do they have a 1st line?

damn, almost an epic comeback. that would have been pretty funny

For a team that everyone has been talking about as a surefire contender in the near future, the Devils aren't very good

To make the 2nd line work, they need to take a piece off the 1st line, so, maybe?

Also talk of Laine up there. He was skating today. Personally I prefer Dach. Patrik too slow and he annoys me.

Yeah, he's too slow.

Monty in net later tonight they say. 2 games he has looked good. Fowler only one with good expected goals numbers. The three goalie rotation continues for short term. Habs probably send Fowler down they say. More of a showcase to try to get something for one of other two is the sense I am getting.

But you never know. If one of the vets stinks it up again for a couple of games, might just hand the keys to young Jake.

I feel like Dobes may be the odd one out. They aren't trading Fowler. I mean maybe in a Crosby package or something, but don't think he's going. And Monty is francais, so poor Dobes.

We can't keep up this 3 goalie rotation so something has to give. Just hope we get something back.

Laine fkn sucks. I don't care if he even suits up again much less on the 1st line. Dach is a great shout, I think he would make the first line elite again (it's been meh with Texier and Bolduc).

2nd line, Kap-Slaf-D'god, was only 40.7 GF% when I mentioned them on 12/29, less than 2 weeks later and now up to 45.2%. Improving rapidly and should only get better.

I'm pretty sure it's Fowler and not Monty confirmed for tonight. I'd just cut ties with Monty. He's 5 yrs older than Dobes and 8 older than Fowler and playing at this shitty level still? No thanks.

lozen has Habs #1 in Canadia, but it feels like a house of cards that can come crashing down at any moment. 20th CF%, 18th FF%, 18th Chances For %. Yet somehow they keep winning despite bottom 5 save %.

You would expect them to improve more than other teams due to their youth as well as a few key guys coming back (Laine NOT included), but any slump could see them tumbling in the Atlantic b/c it's so tight.

Ya it's Fowler tonight.

If he does well, Habs gotta move Monty/Dobes. If he has a poor showing maybe they send him back to Laval and delay the decision.

I agree with you that Laine sucks and I'd prefer Monty go rather than Dobes, but I think they're more likely to keep Monty. For the same return, I'd get rid of Monty. I wonder how teams value each. If there's a significant difference in return, I'd trade whichever yields the best.

The Oilers have 7 million in the press box last night and Jarry is not coming back soon How Bowman keeps his job????

Think you got to stick with Monty a little while and see what he's about. Over the last 3 years he's been pretty darn good, expected goals and quality starts pretty high ranking. obviously, his standard metrics are skewed a bit by being bombarded night after night with a young decor. Anything other than ranking him as decent mid starting NHL goalie for last 3 years is probably a bit unfair. I think the numbers argue the other way, so a bit better than that.

He's been horrible this year other than the last two games there's no doubt about it but he did have a little bit of a breakout last year and I think they are just hesitant to give up on a potential asset of an experienced starting goalie. they don't need much from him, there's no pressure to make a deep playoff run. Just get in and be solid, while letting the younger Gs develop.

It's always possible he's lost his mind, he's been meeting with sport psycholgist. Maybe he has calmed down, or it's like the yips...it can return and he's cooked.

trending in the right direction from last season. could be ok if they correctly idenify the fat and cut it off by the trade deadline, and probably find a goalie who doesn't suck

5v5 xg:

1. avs - 59%
2. hurricanes - 55%
3. lightning - 55%
4. mammoth - 54%
5. senators - 54%
10. oilers - 51%
14. flames - 50%
22. canadiens - 49%
23. leafs - 49%
26. jets - 47%
27. canucks - 47%
28. islanders - 46%
29. 'hawks - 45%
30. bruins - 45%
31. sharks - 44%
32. kraken - 43%

is ron francis still running the team in seattle? and if so, why?

Nice win for les boys

Danault 13-2 on the dot. Kap got a goal but the opposite numbers on faceoffs. Anyways, getting Danault for a 2nd is another nice move especially with Evans out.

Texier. Big night.

Doesn't look like Fowler going anywhere stops 28 of 29.

Fowler saving over half a goal above expected per 60, good for top 8. Nice.

Dobes neutral.

Monty letting in 0.6 goals extra per 60 for bottom 8.

Monty will get a few more chances, but patience has to be wearing thin. I think you also have to consider that he's 29 and the Habs have a few stars who are under 22 as well as a nice prospect pool around that age. Even if Monty does work out, the Habs window for competing for a Cup could be very wide and they'd need to find another goalie solution anyway. If his name was Morton instead of Montembeault he'd prob already be out the door.