2017-2018 NHL Thread

[herman]

A worthwhile interview with Andrew Ference about how the league needs to reach beyond its traditional fanbase:

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/22908289/nhl-andrew-ference-says-nhl-reach-middle-aged-white-dudes

This guy gets it.

 

[bustaheims]

Interesting playbook by the Ducks last night in overtime against the Oilers.

It was 4-4 after regulation, and McDavid created 3 of the 4 Edmonton goals. OT starts with Getzlaf, Kesler, and Fowler for Anaheim and McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nurse for Edmonton. The Ducks win the faceoff and Getzlaf immediately jumps off the ice for Silfverberg. Anaheim then spends over a minute passing the puck around in their own end while McDavid & co. skate around the ice trying to catch them. After a minute and 15 seconds the Ducks finally attack up the ice with Getzlaf, Rakell, and Lindholm now out vs. the Oilers trio who never changed and they immediately score.

It almost looks like the Oilers are doing a good job of cutting off potential routes, until you realize the Ducks aren't really trying.

 

[princedpw]

Interesting playbook by the Ducks last night in overtime against the Oilers.

It was 4-4 after regulation, and McDavid created 3 of the 4 Edmonton goals. OT starts with Getzlaf, Kesler, and Fowler for Anaheim and McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nurse for Edmonton. The Ducks win the faceoff and Getzlaf immediately jumps off the ice for Silfverberg. Anaheim then spends over a minute passing the puck around in their own end while McDavid & co. skate around the ice trying to catch them. After a minute and 15 seconds the Ducks finally attack up the ice with Getzlaf, Rakell, and Lindholm now out vs. the Oilers trio who never changed and they immediately score.

https://twitter.com/bruce_arthur/status/978124801234620417

Fascinating.  I appreciate the tactical smarts going on here.

 

[Frank E]

The Ducks thing...I think you get away with that once. 

 

[bustaheims]

The Ducks thing...I think you get away with that once.

Maybe. Depends on how much the team you're playing against is willing to risk losing the extra point, as the extra pressure required to break it up will lead to more openings for the other team to take advantage of.

Also, it's not a super unusual tactic, really. We see teams passing the puck back into the neutral zone/their end in OT all the time in order to maintain possession while making line changes. This is really just an extreme and pointed usage of that tactic.

 

[cabber24]

Interesting playbook by the Ducks last night in overtime against the Oilers.

It was 4-4 after regulation, and McDavid created 3 of the 4 Edmonton goals. OT starts with Getzlaf, Kesler, and Fowler for Anaheim and McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nurse for Edmonton. The Ducks win the faceoff and Getzlaf immediately jumps off the ice for Silfverberg. Anaheim then spends over a minute passing the puck around in their own end while McDavid & co. skate around the ice trying to catch them. After a minute and 15 seconds the Ducks finally attack up the ice with Getzlaf, Rakell, and Lindholm now out vs. the Oilers trio who never changed and they immediately score.

https://twitter.com/bruce_arthur/status/978124801234620417

Fascinating.  I appreciate the tactical smarts going on here.

I don't like it, possession is key and if you have it you shouldn't assume you can kill a minute in half to burn someone's shift. If you have your best player on the ice (Getzlaf) and possession try and score immediately. Reminds me of Pronger against TB's trap.

 

[Coco-puffs]

The Ducks thing...I think you get away with that once.

I believe Washington did it to McDavid earlier in the year.  Didn't score, but kept McDavid from getting the puck for a whole shift in OT.  Washington ended up winning the game in SO.

 

[herman]

If you get a chance to not let McDavid touch the puck, you take it. Even if it goes to shootout, where you at least have multiple cracks at the game.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/CapFriendly/status/978316459964289027

I honestly don't know why they invested the time into developing this tool, considering the league it's for.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I honestly don't know why they invested the time into developing this tool, considering the league it's for.

Because even though it never happens fans still talk about it every single offseason as if it could?

 

[herman]

I honestly don't know why they invested the time into developing this tool, considering the league it's for.

Because even though it never happens fans still talk about it every single offseason as if it could?

I sort of hope a slew of offer sheets hit the wire this off season because some front offices found this tool and enjoyed the ease of use.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I sort of hope a slew of offer sheets hit the wire this off season because some front offices found this tool and enjoyed the ease of use.

There's probably a good chance Jack Eichel just frantically started following them today.

 

[herman]

I sort of hope a slew of offer sheets hit the wire this off season because some front offices found this tool and enjoyed the ease of use.

There's probably a good chance Jack Eichel just frantically started following them today.

I can see Dundon making a go of it.
Can't step on any toes with offer sheets if you never make trades.

 

[Frank E]

Anybody else pulling for the Jets to come out of the West? 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Anybody else pulling for the Jets to come out of the West? 

I think they have an exciting team packed with talent but their fans, particularly the whole TRUE NORTH shtick, bug me too much to ever consider cheering for them.

 

[Zee]

Anybody else pulling for the Jets to come out of the West? 

I think they have an exciting team packed with talent but their fans, particularly the whole TRUE NORTH shtick, bug me too much to ever consider cheering for them.

Most of the Jets fans I've talked to bug me.  They have an irrational hate on for Toronto, feel Laine should have won rookie of the year instead of Matthews and are just downright annoying.  The sooner they're bounced out of the playoffs the sooner I have a glass of champagne to celebrate.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Most of the Jets fans I've talked to bug me.  They have an irrational hate on for Toronto, feel Laine should have won rookie of the year instead of Matthews and are just downright annoying.  The sooner they're bounced out of the playoffs the sooner I have a glass of champagne to celebrate.

Next time you talk to one just remind them that Ilya Kovalchuk is their franchise's all-time leading point scorer.

 

[bustaheims]

Anybody else pulling for the Jets to come out of the West?

Hard no. I want them to continue the futility of the original Jets franchise - because, as others have pointed out, their fanbase is insufferable.

 

[Kin]

Anybody else pulling for the Jets to come out of the West?

Not even a little bit.

 

[cabber24]

Most of the Jets fans I've talked to bug me.  They have an irrational hate on for Toronto, feel Laine should have won rookie of the year instead of Matthews and are just downright annoying.  The sooner they're bounced out of the playoffs the sooner I have a glass of champagne to celebrate.

Next time you talk to one just remind them that Ilya Kovalchuk is their franchise's all-time leading point scorer.

...and where WPG is on a map.