Did you guys catch Kucherov quitting on his team to go throw his gloves at the equipment manger?
- Grinder47

I wouldn't say he was "quitting." If he keeps his gloves on but has no stick, what's he supposed to do? If I blame anyone on that play, I blame Hedman for trying to get an icing call he was never going to get and easing up.

Pens should sign Bokonjdi Imama.

Tweet from Lori Schmidt:

One of my favorite thoughts ever shared by an athlete was when the oft-criticized Jack Johnson, then playing with the #CBJ, told me his goal wasn't to prove the haters wrong, it was to show the people who loved him they were right all along.
https://t.co/HnrLjsWKqs

This should make Feds smile:

The Red Wings have won the Stanley Cup the year after both of the Avalanche’s previous two runs.

1996: Colorado
1997: Detroit
1998: Detroit

2001: Colorado
2002: Detroit

2022: Colorado
2023: TBD https://t.co/5asxzBYsH2

Yohe article this morning paints a grim picture on Malkin …

“ Numerous agents have told me that, after conversations they’ve had with Penguins general manager Ron Hextall, they believe it’s unlikely that Evgeni Malkin is returning to Pittsburgh. Some people I’ve spoken with in the Penguins organization feel the same way.

So, is Malkin gone?

It’s impossible to say, but here’s what I know: Hextall is willing to sign him at a certain price. However, sources said the two sides haven’t been speaking regularly after initial talks when the Penguins’ season ended on May 15. Hockey people who speak with Hextall on a regular basis are very much under the impression that Malkin’s return to the Penguins is no sure thing.”

Yohe article this morning paints a grim picture on Malkin …

“ Numerous agents have told me that, after conversations they’ve had with Penguins general manager Ron Hextall, they believe it’s unlikely that Evgeni Malkin is returning to Pittsburgh. Some people I’ve spoken with in the Penguins organization feel the same way.

So, is Malkin gone?

It’s impossible to say, but here’s what I know: Hextall is willing to sign him at a certain price. However, sources said the two sides haven’t been speaking regularly after initial talks when the Penguins’ season ended on May 15. Hockey people who speak with Hextall on a regular basis are very much under the impression that Malkin’s return to the Penguins is no sure thing.”
- kfinl170

One of the reasons I have prepared myself for neither coming back is I just think that if they both REALLY wanted to come back AND they were comfortable with offers they'd be long signed by now....or if they were close on offers it would be done by now. Their season has been over for over a month now and these extension should of been done before the playoffs even started.

Here's one of my predictions: neither signs, Pens miss playoffs and Hex is axed before the end of the season.

One of the reasons I have prepared myself for neither coming back is I just think that if they both REALLY wanted to come back AND they were comfortable with offers they'd be long signed by now....or if they were close on offers it would be done by now. Their season has been over for over a month now and these extension should of been done before the playoffs even started.

Here's one of my predictions: neither signs, Pens miss playoffs and Hex is axed before the end of the season.
- MattStrat

The way I see it, there's zero reason for an UFA to sign a deal right now. Why would they? Rust was an outlier. I haven't been following things, but has any other high profile UFA signed yet?

I'm prepared for both to leave, but this team will spend to the cap. They'll be competitive. My prediction... They let Malkin walk and sign Letang.

The way I see it, there's zero reason for an UFA to sign a deal right now. Why would they? Rust was an outlier. I haven't been following things, but has any other high profile UFA signed yet?

I'm prepared for both to leave, but this team will spend to the cap. They'll be competitive. My prediction... They let Malkin walk and sign Letang.
- madmike71

Malkin then signs with Colorado for cheaper than Kadri signs elsewhere becoming their 2C and wins the cup next season haha.

Yeah I said "one of my predictions" hahah....I think Sullivan can really milk rosters and I wouldn't be surprised if they're still super competitive next season if they lost one or both of those guys.

Usually players that are very important to a team, that really want to stay with a team and think they are being respected with offers sign before the offseason or UFA season comes....dont they? perhaps Im out to lunch in saying that hahah

Was chatting with my Avs loving buddies this morning about despite there being two instances of it in the last three seasons, d-men winning the Conn Smythe is pretty rare. I looked down through history for the reward....I had no idea Hex won the Conn Smythe in 1987 despite the Flyers not winning cup.

When I hear “the shift” I think of Helm in the WCF against Chicago. I’m with you though if you’re saying (frank) the rangers.
- Feds91Stammer

hahaha

Gonna go see if I can find a highlight of that...dont recall it

Yohe article this morning paints a grim picture on Malkin …

“ Numerous agents have told me that, after conversations they’ve had with Penguins general manager Ron Hextall, they believe it’s unlikely that Evgeni Malkin is returning to Pittsburgh. Some people I’ve spoken with in the Penguins organization feel the same way.

So, is Malkin gone?

It’s impossible to say, but here’s what I know: Hextall is willing to sign him at a certain price. However, sources said the two sides haven’t been speaking regularly after initial talks when the Penguins’ season ended on May 15. Hockey people who speak with Hextall on a regular basis are very much under the impression that Malkin’s return to the Penguins is no sure thing.”
- kfinl170

I wonder how much of this is Hextall working for his job? He's a smart enough guy to know that new owners can sometimes mean a new regime. Is he playing hardball because he thinks FSG wants him to or because letting a guy like Malkin walk was apart of the plan.

I dont like it. I dont see who you will get to replace him. I wonder where Sully fits in all of this. Part of me says he wants this group back, another part of me says the coaches see the Malkins and Letangs as top offensive players, but complete liabilities to the way the Penguins want to play. Makes you also wonder where Crosby would land in all of this.

I wonder how much of this is Hextall working for his job? He's a smart enough guy to know that new owners can sometimes mean a new regime. Is he playing hardball because he thinks FSG wants him to or because letting a guy like Malkin walk was apart of the plan.

I dont like it. I dont see who you will get to replace him. I wonder where Sully fits in all of this. Part of me says he wants this group back, another part of me says the coaches see the Malkins and Letangs as top offensive players, but complete liabilities to the way the Penguins want to play. Makes you also wonder where Crosby would land in all of this.
- SuperHenderson13

I’m concerned that this is Hextall thinking that he wants to build HIS version of the Penguins. That if they are going to win it’s because of the team that HE put together.

While I love Malkin, from a hockey perspective he can be somewhat replaced, my pick would be Giroux or Kadri.

But how are they going to replace Letang who will be a Montreal Canadien in a week. Are there any dmen FAs available?


Meh maybe we will really suck and win the lottery. Seems about the right time for another couple generational talents to join the team.

I wonder how much of this is Hextall working for his job? He's a smart enough guy to know that new owners can sometimes mean a new regime. Is he playing hardball because he thinks FSG wants him to or because letting a guy like Malkin walk was apart of the plan.

I dont like it. I dont see who you will get to replace him. I wonder where Sully fits in all of this. Part of me says he wants this group back, another part of me says the coaches see the Malkins and Letangs as top offensive players, but complete liabilities to the way the Penguins want to play. Makes you also wonder where Crosby would land in all of this.
- SuperHenderson13

I believe I read that part of the plan he put together for FSG had resigning Malkin and Letang at the top of the list, a main reason he kept his job

If Malkin and Letang want to retire Pens and go after a cup they would both take friendly discounts to stay and would have signed already. Come FA day the Pens will need to know how much space they have to work with and Malkin and Letang know this. However they are human and they should be trying to make as much as they possibly can while they can. The pens and Malkin/Letang owe each other nothing at this point. They both fulfilled the terms of their deals. 58 and 71 know they can more more in FA. the question is do they want to go to a true competitor? The Pens aren't if they max both of them out.

FSG wants to be profitable and the only way is to make a deep run.

Seems like NHL had a really profitable year and good viewership in the US through TNT and ESPN. I think TNT knocked it out of the park with their coverage. I always watched the crew with Biz, Toc, and Carter (and The Great One when he showed up).

I think ESPN was okay, they seemed to experiment with more cameras/angles than TNT did. I think Mark Messier got a lot better as an analyst as the season went on. I've never been a Ray Ferraro fan and just generally the play-by-play groups for ESPN was kind of "meh".

Overall, this has to be one of the most successful NHL seasons in recent memory. Hopefully it helps the escrow situation and we can get a salary cap bump sooner rather than later.

Was chatting with my Avs loving buddies this morning about despite there being two instances of it in the last three seasons, d-men winning the Conn Smythe is pretty rare. I looked down through history for the reward....I had no idea Hex won the Conn Smythe in 1987 despite the Flyers not winning cup.
- MattStrat

It's not incredibly rare, it's actually more rare for a winger. Here's the breakdown:
G - 17
C - 19
D - 12
LW/RW - 9

Fact of the day: In the history of the Conn Smythe Trophy, only 5 players have ever won for the team that lost the Final, and 2 of them have been Flyers (Leach and Hextall).

I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing for the Flyers.

It's funny that the best thing Ron Hextall did for the Penguins was not selecting Makar when he was Flyers GM.

Everyone would've selected Patrick in his position no matter what Bobby Clarke says, but it makes me laugh that has been his most impactful move that helped the Penguins.

It's funny that the best thing Ron Hextall did for the Penguins was not selecting Makar when he was Flyers GM.

Everyone would've selected Patrick in his position no matter what Bobby Clarke says, but it makes me laugh that has been his most impactful move that helped the Penguins.
- SuperHenderson13

Actually, even before Patrick was ruined and Clarke spoke out, it was leaked that the Flyers scouts all had either Makar or Hesikanen (not necessarily both) ranked ahead of Patrick, but he overruled them and took Patrick and...yeah.

Actually, even before Patrick was ruined and Clarke spoke out, it was leaked that the Flyers scouts all had either Makar or Hesikanen (not necessarily both) ranked ahead of Patrick, but he overruled them and took Patrick and...yeah.
- jmatchett383

Well, that's interesting. I didnt know that. I question the legitimacy of the "leak" because I would've thought most scouts would be favoring a center versus a defenseman that early in the draft, but if that's who they really had, thats interest Hextall overrode them. Makes me nervous for our draft

Hextall figured he was going to be fired and become the Penguins GM and didnt want to face Makar for the foreseeable future

Well, that's interesting. I didnt know that. I question the legitimacy of the "leak" because I would've thought most scouts would be favoring a center versus a defenseman that early in the draft, but if that's who they really had, thats interest Hextall overrode them. Makes me nervous for our draft

Hextall figured he was going to be fired and become the Penguins GM and didnt want to face Makar for the foreseeable future
- SuperHenderson13

Nolan Patrick seems like a guy who just was more athletically gifted than the other junior players and was able to excel even if he wasn't the most skilled. That won't translate well in the NHL.

Hextall had a very small circle that he listened to in Philly and rubbed a lot of people in the organization the wrong way. But the news about the scouts came from Bill Meltzer almost immediately after he was fired.

I wouldn't say he was "quitting." If he keeps his gloves on but has no stick, what's he supposed to do? If I blame anyone on that play, I blame Hedman for trying to get an icing call he was never going to get and easing up.
- jmatchett383

Yeah the got a bad icing call right before that. With the time left in that situation you grab a teammates stick and go back to the play. Douche bag literally threw his gloves at the equipment manager.

It's not incredibly rare, it's actually more rare for a winger. Here's the breakdown:
G - 17
C - 19
D - 12
LW/RW - 9

Fact of the day: In the history of the Conn Smythe Trophy, only 5 players have ever won for the team that lost the Final, and 2 of them have been Flyers (Leach and Hextall).

I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing for the Flyers.
- jmatchett383

Is Conn Smythe voting done by the same PHWA clowns.

This year a blackhawks clown didn’t have Josi in his top 5 for Norris. And some Philadelphia inquirer clown had Rask as one of their goalies for 1st team all stars.

Fedorov and Kessel should have won Conn Smythes but the voting is a joke.

Yeah the got a bad icing call right before that. With the time left in that situation you grab a teammates stick and go back to the play. Douche bag literally threw his gloves at the equipment manager.
- Grinder47

Again, not giving him a pass, it wasn't smart. Still don't say it's "quitting."

Is Conn Smythe voting done by the same PHWA clowns.

This year a blackhawks clown didn’t have Josi in his top 5 for Norris. And some Philadelphia inquirer clown had Rask as one of their goalies for 1st team all stars.

Fedorov and Kessel should have won Conn Smythes but the voting is a joke.
- Feds91Stammer

Yes, it's the PHWA.

Kessel should have won in 2016, agree.

Is Conn Smythe voting done by the same PHWA clowns.

This year a blackhawks clown didn’t have Josi in his top 5 for Norris. And some Philadelphia inquirer clown had Rask as one of their goalies for 1st team all stars.

Fedorov and Kessel should have won Conn Smythes but the voting is a joke.
- Feds91Stammer

Sid needed a Conn Smythe. Probably would've given it to Kessel had they known Sid was going to win it next year.