For playoff predictions and discussion go here.

Another season is in the books (almost...Jets and Kraken have to play a meaningless game tomorrow to make up for COVID delays) and if you're not one of the lucky 16 teams that are looking forward to next week, you're one of the other 16 teams waiting to see what happens in the draft lottery.

A couple surprises this year, mainly Vegas and Montreal both missing the playoffs after facing one another in the semi-finals last year. Granted both teams were plagued with injuries this season, but it's still pretty crazy how far they fell off this year. Vegas only missed the playoffs by a couple points, but they could have easily clinched in the past couple weeks and just didn't. They played terribly and Dallas snuck in ahead of them.

Montreal finishes 32nd overall and with the NHL Draft happening in Montreal later this year, it'll be great for them if they end up with the 1st overall pick. However if they don't, the entire league is going to laugh in their faces. It's win-win if you're not a Habs fan.

Some other news that the NHLPA tried to sneak under the radar last night during the Leafs/Bruins game, Donald Fehr will be replaced sometime this summer. He's been the Executive Director since 2010 and in that time has turned the NHLPA into the biggest joke in all of sports. I'm not going to do a deep dive right now but I'll be watching this story closely as it progresses. For those out of the loop, all you really need to know is that the NHLPA is the most useless, cowardly, bullshit union on the face of the planet, and we discovered in the past year that during Fehr's reign several players came forward with allegations of sexual assault and the NHLPA did nothing to protect them or help them. This should have been the immediate end of both Fehr and Gary Bettman's careers but instead Fehr gets to retire peacefully and Bettman got EXTENDED FOR 5 MORE YEARS FUCK.

Anyway...playoffs!

The Islanders fired Barry Trotz. What a joke of a team.

Took the worst defence in the league and made them one of the best in less than a year. They had a disappointing season because they couldn't play at home for the first 2 months of the season, yet they still almost made the playoffs. Definitely will be back in it next year, unless Lou can't help himself and continues to fuck the team up more.

Barry Trotz is going to get a blank cheque thrown at him from like 8 different teams before the day is over.

May 9, 2022 23:15:27 GMT RT said:

The Islanders fired Barry Trotz. What a joke of a team.

Took the worst defence in the league and made them one of the best in less than a year. They had a disappointing season because they couldn't play at home for the first 2 months of the season, yet they still almost made the playoffs. Definitely will be back in it next year, unless Lou can't help himself and continues to fuck the team up more.

Barry Trotz is going to get a blank cheque thrown at him from like 8 different teams before the day is over.

There has to be something else going on.  There has to otherwise this doesn't make any sense.  I would have thought Trotz had a longer leash than one bad year.  The team was much slower this season especially on defense.  They really missed Leddy.  That is not on Trotz though. 

Patrick Marleau announced his retirement today. What a shame he never won a cup.

May 10, 2022 19:58:59 GMT RT said:

Patrick Marleau announced his retirement today. What a shame he never won a cup.

When I think of Sharks hockey, I think of Joe Thornton & Patrick Marleau. Good times.

VGK fired Pete DeBoer after missing the playoffs, you'd think they become the favourite for where Trotz will end up.

The Bruins fired Bruce Cassidy today.

Cam Neely and Don Sweeney are fucking morons. What the fuck?

They’ve been above 100 pts in 4 of the last 5 seasons with an aging lineup, made the 2nd round 3 times and the Finals just 3 years ago.

Unreal. Cassidy’s phone probably hasn’t stopped ringing since the news broke.

Jun 7, 2022 2:08:53 GMT RT said:

The Bruins fired Bruce Cassidy today.

Cam Neely and Don Sweeney are fucking morons. What the fuck?

They’ve been above 100 pts in 4 of the last 5 seasons with an aging lineup, made the 2nd round 3 times, and the Finals just 3 years ago.

Unreal. Cassidy’s phone probably hasn’t stopped ringing since the news broke.

I hope Boston misses the playoffs for the rest of my lifetime.0

John Tortorella is now the Flyers coach. Interesting choice. They could have been worse choices. He feels outdated.

Congrats Colorado!

Now the REAL fun begins: TRADE RUMOURS AND FREE AGENCY!

The draft is next week so we should see some moves here and there before everyone focuses on free agency then disappears to the lake for a month. What do you want to see your team do?

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Liljegren got extended for 2 years in Toronto. Him and Gio looked good together so hopefully that continues.

Leafs are likely losing Jack Campbell unless he REALLY wants to stay in Toronto and signs for less than he’s worth. Can’t see that happening. I hope Toronto can offload Mrazek’s contract because he sucked last year and they need the cap space.

Sounds like Muzzin might be gone too. Leafs can’t re-sign him and even if they could he’s only getting slower and more injury prone and isn’t worth it. Some team with cap space that needs a reliable defenceman for 50 games a season will take him.

Apparently Mikheyev will be asking for like $5.5 mil which is lunacy because he can’t score. I’m assuming the Leafs let him walk because if some team is willing to pay that for a guy that is good on the penalty kill but can’t do anything else then sure, go ahead.

The Rangers big decision is what to do at 2C - whether to resign Strome or Copp, or potentially neither if they believe Chytil can continue his playoff performance on a more consistent basis. The rumour mill seems to suggest that they prefer keeping Copp which would make the 2022 lineup look something like:

Kreider-Mika-Laf
Panarin-Copp-Kakko
Blais-Chytil-Kravtsov
Motte-Rooney-Goodrow

Fox-Lindgren
Miller-Trouba
Jones-Schneider

Rangers strongly linked to Pierre-Luc Dubois today with a rumoured trade package starting with either Kakko or Chytil. It would be an upgrade at 2C but I'm a bit concerned about his attitude, and it seems a little bit strange to trade with Winnipeg again after giving up a relatively high price to (presumably) rent Copp.

Jun 7, 2022 2:08:53 GMT RT said:

The Bruins fired Bruce Cassidy today.

Cam Neely and Don Sweeney are fucking morons. What the fuck?

They’ve been above 100 pts in 4 of the last 5 seasons with an aging lineup, made the 2nd round 3 times and the Finals just 3 years ago.

Unreal. Cassidy’s phone probably hasn’t stopped ringing since the news broke.

Decision seems even more ridiculous now that David Quinn is apparently the favourite to replace him.

That’s hilarious. Yes let’s take the guy who’s team was immediately a Cup contender after he got fired.

The Bruins might be looking at rebuilding though, and maybe that’s why Quinn is being brought in. It always seems like a team needs a coach to rebuild with, then they fire that guy and replace him with whoever is going to take them on a playoff run. Quinn did improve the Rangers while he was there, even if it wasn’t noticeable until he was gone.

Maybe they use Quinn while the Bergerons and Marchands pass down the torch then bring in someone else.

Mike Grier was named GM of the San Jose Sharks. He is the first black man to be named GM in NHL history.

Jul 5, 2022 18:44:50 GMT RT said:

Brian Grier was named GM of the San Jose Sharks. He is the first black man to be named GM in NHL history.

Don't you mean Mike Grier?

Yes thanks I don't know why I wrote Brian. :lol:

He's the younger brother of Miami Dolphins GM Chris Grier which is pretty cool. He was working in the Rangers office last season, I wonder if we see any deals between NYR and San Jose in the next year or two.

Jul 5, 2022 23:04:40 GMT @admin said:

He's the younger brother of Miami Dolphins GM Chris Grier which is pretty cool. He was working in the Rangers office last season, I wonder if we see any deals between NYR and San Jose in the next year or two.

Erik Karlsson wins his cup with the Rangers?

Blackhawks traded Alex DeBrincat to Ottawa for some picks. 7th overall tonight, 39th overall tomorrow, then a 2024 3rd round pick.

Terrible trade for Chicago imo unless they already knew they couldn’t re-sign him next year. Kinda seems weird they wouldn’t be able to. Either he wanted out and asked for a trade or Chicago is as stupid as we all thought.

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Georgiev to Colorado for picks. @admin Zappy thoughts?

Sounds like Kuemper is definitely gone.

…

Letang re-signed in Pittsburgh. 6 years 36.6 mil. He’ll be 41 when that contract is up…

Letang cashing in with 1 last big contract. Good for him0

Jul 7, 2022 21:30:57 GMT RT said:

Georgiev to Colorado for picks. @admin Zappy thoughts?

The consensus was that they'd probably get one mid-round pick for him so to get three and restock a lot of what Drury spent at the trade deadline is a great result.

Good landing spot for him too, he should be a pretty clear 1A over Francouz and Colorado is obviously a very forgiving team for a goalie.

This is cool: Bruce Boudreau got to meet his favourite wrestler at the draft today.

Toronto have traded for Matt Murray, seems a bit strange considering he's not an obvious improvement on Campbell and they're basically paying him the same amount. What do you think RT?

Other big news today is that Malkin is going to hit the open market.

Jul 12, 2022 0:32:48 GMT @admin said:

Toronto have traded for Matt Murray, seems a bit strange considering he's not an obvious improvement on Campbell and they're basically paying him the same amount. What do you think RT ?

Other big news today is that Malkin is going to hit the open market.

Dubas just fucking loves his Soo Greyhounds.

I'm optimistic, which is weird. I shouldn't be.

I'm still trying to process it but I'll post some random thoughts and see what comes out.

-Murray was 18th in goals saved above expected last season. Campbell was 37th.

-Murray is a proven playoff goaltender and has won two cups. Campbell posted an .897 against Tampa.

-Murray's biggest question mark is his health, but the Leafs have the best medical team in the league.

-Ottawa is a dog shit team that thought they would be good this year. Murray needed a bounce back year and A) got hurt and B) played for one of the worst teams in the league. Maybe he writes off last season and this is the bounce back year?

-Ottawa retained 25% of Murray's pay and threw in 2 draft picks for nothing in return (yet), and he only has 2 years left on his contract. The Leafs are cap strapped and committing to Campbell might have fucked them even more. Campbell is going to fetch a minimum of 5 million on the market and is going to want at minimum 5 years on his contract. He's only played one full season as a starter, and it was meh outside of his one good month where he was unbeatable. Yeah maybe he becomes one of the best goalies in the league, but it's also just as likely he stays a middle of the pack starting goalie that isn't going to win you a playoff round and then what?

All that being said, if Murray falters again and Dubas doesn't have a back up plan outside of hoping Kallgren continues to be good, the Leafs are absolutely boned and it could cost him his job. This is a big gamble on Dubas' part, but hey, you don't win championships by being a pussy and making the "right" moves every time. Sometimes you have to take a chance and hope it works out.

Jul 12, 2022 0:32:48 GMT @admin said:

Other big news today is that Malkin is going to hit the open market.

So much for that, he's re-signed with Pittsburgh 4x6. Evander Kane has also re-signed with Edmonton.

It's Johnny Gaudreau who's hitting free agency after apparently turning down a monster deal from Calgary. Islanders, and his hometown Devils rumoured to be leading the race there. 

Copp, a year younger, a good fit on the team, an excellent all around true hockey player received the same cap hit and less years than Trochek.

Jul 13, 2022 17:27:12 GMT Zappy said:

Copp, a year younger, a good fit on the team, an excellent all around true hockey player received the same cap hit and less years than Trochek.

Trocheck is a genuine 2C though. He's also been a better producer, with four seasons over 50 points (one of those 75 points). Copp hit 40+ for the first time last year, and got a bump from playing with Panarin. 

Is Johnny Gaudreau going to Columbus the weirdest out of left field signing ever? Like show me one person that said Columbus was even an option. I don’t even remember hearing they made an offer.

Also how bad did Cliff Fletcher fuck up? Gaudreau all but said Philly was his first choice and he goes and gives Tony D’Angelo $5 million a year and takes himself out of the running. Unbelievable.

Jul 15, 2022 15:33:39 GMT RT said:

Is Johnny Gaudreau going to Columbus the weirdest out of left field signing ever? Like show me one person that said Columbus was even an option. I don’t even remember hearing they made an offer.

The best explanation I saw was that his car broke down in Ohio on way from Calgary to Jersey.

Wow and now it sounds like Matthew Tkachuk is on his way out of Calgary too, possibly heading to St Louis. Brutal offseason for Flames fans.