Yea plus that stat was regular season face-off percentage. I wonder what they were during the playoffs? And with Florida if they get in the 3rd seed they are done first round unless Tampa poops the bed again lol
- 668710

Considering we lived in our defensive zone in the 2017 playoffs, it couldn't have been very good.

While the losses piling up is certainly frustrating, I really admire what this team’s been able to do without their best goal scorer, half their top 4, and with Johnson dragging Letang down. I really think we’ll be a high end contender when Marino and Dumoulin come back.
- Victoro311

This. Hopefully they come back strong. We can only hope. Kahun coming back helps too and not sure how I feel about Bjugstad.

This. Hopefully they come back strong. We can only hope. Kahun coming back helps too and not sure how I feel about Bjugstad.
- 668710

I’ve just written him off for the season. Hopefully he can come back and be an asset. It’s probably more likely he comes back and re aggravates his injuries.

Can he claim an allergy to hockey and save us his cap hit?

I agree, but...they are only 2 points behind where STL was at this time last year and they won the Cup with some dude named Binnington. Just sayin'.

I think it's a pretty tough balancing act for a GM, but I think they tend to want to make the playoffs if they have a legit shot, which FLA clearly does. Anything can happen and it means more $$$ for them and increased fan interest (which FLA could use a lot more of). Even if they just pull one upset, that would be pretty huge and might even give them a boost going into next season. But, all that being said, the smart play probably is to get something for their 30 year old pending FAs.
- Hockey66

You keep saying these actual crap teams are where St.Louis was last year, fact is the Blues are an actual good team that was just struggling then finally got back to where they should have already been. The Panthers are not the Blues. However, yes sometimes teams can make a Cinderella run, but the Blues were not that.

Considering we lived in our defensive zone in the 2017 playoffs, it couldn't have been very good.
- Hockey66

Most likely lol

I’ve just written him off for the season. Hopefully he can come back and be an asset. It’s probably more likely he comes back and re aggravates his injuries.

Can he claim an allergy to hockey and save us his cap hit?
- Thorny87

Hahahaha, the old Hossa trick.

You keep saying these actual crap teams are where St.Louis was last year, fact is the Blues are an actual good team that was just struggling then finally got back to where they should have already been. The Panthers are not the Blues. However, yes sometimes teams can make a Cinderella run, but the Blues were not that.
- 668710

The same STL team that finished with 94 points and didn't make the playoffs the previous season?

The same STL team that finished with 94 points and didn't make the playoffs the previous season?
- Hockey66

Idk about their previous season, who was on it, what injuries they had, their goaltending situation etc. But yes last year's team was a good team that struggled 2/3 the way and then finally got their stride. They have a very good solid group of defense and forwards. Plus Binnington was finally the goalie they needed, Allen wasn't cutting it. The Panthers defense can't touch the Blues defense.

The same STL team that finished with 94 points and didn't make the playoffs the previous season?
- Hockey66

The west was pretty wide open last year. Plus, the O'reilly trade was huge for them.

Any word on AA in Detroit? Being held out along with Green for “asset management “
- Thorny87

I put AA in the category of "players Sullivan wouldn't like" so I refuse to think of him as a possibility


Players Sully wouldn't like: AA, Hoffman, Kovalchuk

Players Sully would like: Pageau, Kreider, Wood, Thompson

I put AA in the category of "players Sullivan wouldn't like" so I refuse to think of him as a possibility


Players Sully wouldn't like: AA, Hoffman, Kovalchuk

Players Sully would like: Pageau, Kreider, Wood, Thompson
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Probably not far off.

The west was pretty wide open last year. Plus, the O'reilly trade was huge for them.
- madmike71

I'm just saying that a GM in a similar position might be reluctant to throw in the towel given the STL example from last season. Personally, I agree that teams like FLA, MTL, MIN, etc. should be sellers. Will they be? Probably not.

I put AA in the category of "players Sullivan wouldn't like" so I refuse to think of him as a possibility


Players Sully wouldn't like: AA, Hoffman, Kovalchuk

Players Sully would like: Pageau, Kreider, Wood, Thompson
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Man Kreider would be a bomb addition. I don't see it happening but just the thought of it...I can see Ruth snagging Pageau though.

I'm just saying that a GM in a similar position might be reluctant to throw in the towel given the STL example from last season. Personally, I agree that teams like FLA, MTL, MIN, etc. should be sellers. Will they be? Probably not.
- Hockey66

I think the Habs answered that question today haha.

I put AA in the category of "players Sullivan wouldn't like" so I refuse to think of him as a possibility


Players Sully wouldn't like: AA, Hoffman, Kovalchuk

Players Sully would like: Pageau, Kreider, Wood, Thompson
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Pageau - good get
Kreider - unrealistic
Wood - unrealistic, he is cheap for 2 seasons after this and then RFA.
Thompson - ugh.

I'm just saying that a GM in a similar position might be reluctant to throw in the towel given the STL example from last season. Personally, I agree that teams like FLA, MTL, MIN, etc. should be sellers. Will they be? Probably not.
- Hockey66

I agree FLA won't sell. They should, but won't.

I agree FLA won't sell. They should, but won't.
- madmike71

Definitely, you would think that Tallon would understand the difference between a bad team, a mediocre team, a playoff contender and a cup contender being on the Blackhawks from 1998-2010. He saw just about all of that on that team in that timeframe lol.

Man Kreider would be a bomb addition. I don't see it happening but just the thought of it...I can see Ruth snagging Pageau though.
- 668710

Yeah GMJR will probably wake up, put too much syrup on his pancakes, and bug the poop out of NYR trying to get Kreider.... And at 3pm, settle for Jesper Fast for a 3rd, and take a nap.

In seriousness , rust has gone cold....McCann is soon to stop being snake bit.... But Id still prioritize scoring

Yeah GMJR will probably wake up, put too much syrup on his pancakes, and bug the poop out of NYR trying to get Kreider.... And at 3pm, settle for Jesper Fast for a 3rd, and take a nap.

In seriousness , rust has gone cold....McCann is soon to stop being snake bit.... But Id still prioritize scoring
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Rust needs to be placed back on the LW, possibly even with Sid to get him going again.

Definitely, you would think that Tallon would understand the difference between a bad team, a mediocre team, a playoff contender and a cup contender being on the Blackhawks from 1998-2010. He saw just about all of that on that team in that timeframe lol.
- 668710

He might but the owners might have immediate financial motivations that take precedent.

Rust needs to be placed back on the LW, possibly even with Sid to get him going again.
- 668710

Isn't he better at RW? I'm pretty sure Zucker is better at LW and seems to be set on Sid's line. I've heard different things about where Kahun plays best, but he is the other legit top 6 winger to consider.

I'm not saying he is, but if Zucker is 3/4 of the player Guentzel is on a team that got swept by NYI last year, then we need to add something more than just a bottom six F. IMO. Where is all this scoring going to come from? Simon? The defense looks putrid and the goaltending is shaky. Dumo and Marino aren't going to magically fix all of the problems.
- Hockey66

Dumo and Marino are two top 4 defensemen coming back to a team that is currently playing with 1 top 4 defenseman in their whole defense. Dumo and Marino are going to help IMMENSELY. Getting those two back are likely better than any trade acquisition that could even happen tomorrow.

Dumo and Marino are two top 4 defensemen coming back to a team that is currently playing with 1 top 4 defenseman in their whole defense. Dumo and Marino are going to help IMMENSELY. Getting those two back are likely better than any trade acquisition that could even happen tomorrow.
- j.boyd919

Dumo is coming off major surgery, hasn't played in a long time, and might be mediocre at best the remainder of the season and playoffs. Marino is a 22 year old rookie. I'm not putting a lot of stock in either to come through in the playoffs. The left side is still very shaky even if Dumo comes back good but not great which is about the best that can be hoped for.

Isn't he better at RW? I'm pretty sure Zucker is better at LW and seems to be set on Sid's line. I've heard different things about where Kahun plays best, but he is the other legit top 6 winger to consider.
- Hockey66

Yeah.... Rust is a better at RW. I'd be inclined to move Rust up with Sid and Zucker for a look. Maybe Kahun, Geno, Hornie. Simon needs to be dropped out of the top 6 for now.

Got this little nugget from Bob Grove. I wanted to post it earlier....

Since the lockout, there's only been 3 cup champs that were sub 50% in faceoffs during the regular season. Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Penguins and...... Pittsburgh Penguins.

Anyway.... I wonder if FLA is going to sell. Dadanov and Hoffman as UFA's. I imagine the asking would be in the Kreider range.
- madmike71

Me and Feds been saying faceoffs don’t matter for years. Everyone finally coming around to it? lol