Kakko with another highlight reel goal. Jeeze.

Kakko with another highlight reel goal. Jeeze.
- MannySilvers

Yeah that was pretty filthy

Do you guys think that if the Sharks win this year, their victory is tainted? They've benefited from some inexcusable calls.
- willschulme

The hand pass not being caught is moronic, the major against Vegas was fine because the ref saw him get murdered and thought it was a major. It happens.

Yeah that was pretty filthy
- djsnippets

He's just incredibly lucky, that's all - gonna be a bust!
Hughes with the higher ceiling is your obvious choice.


please

Im kinda having second thoughts on hughes...

Kakko is playing out of this world. Granted its bigger ice surface, not sure how much that plays into it.

He is sick.

Im kinda having second thoughts on hughes...

Kakko is playing out of this world. Granted its bigger ice surface, not sure how much that plays into it.

He is sick.
- Leniwm1

Really fell in love with Hughes a month ago, but now Kakko is looking super sexy. I still say Hughes but sucks that Kakko would end up on the Rangers.

All I can say is our scouts are watching these games too. They've done the homework. Either pick is a good one.

All I can say is our scouts are watching these games too. They've done the homework. Either pick is a good one.
- willschulme

If he is the Fin version of Forsberg.... Bure and Forsberg were my idols so I am a bit jealous of the Rags.

When you're calculating the luck element, officiating is but a small piece of that pie.

Other variables include:

- Other upsets to take out the teams that can take you out.
- Not taking on a nemesis (every team has that team that just beats them, even if they are a top of the league team).
- Not playing a forechecking team that'll bang up your defence.
- Not constantly playing fatigued because of long series' (though some of the past few winners have bucked that trend).
- Not having key injuries.
- Having a steady roster (a good mix of hot and cold players)
- Your goaltender suddenly not being bad.

So many great teams got knocked out for one of these silly reasons, but this is why it's about "surviving" rather than winning. And many of the teams that have won survived because better teams got bent because of one of these variables.

For SJ, they had a blown call against them early in the series against VGK. Then they had another "blown call" (still think Stastny upended Pavelski by sweeping his thighs with his knee), and they did something pretty much unprecedented.

The hand pass was hard to notice. But who's to say SJ wouldn't have scored anyway?

In the end, it is what it is. We celebrate teams that win the cup all the same, but I'm not going to pretend none of it was luck: there's a crap ton of luck that goes into a cup run. Some of it is officiating.
- archromat

All those variables are valid and true, but "luck" things and variables vary in impact and deliberateness. Not much will impact a game between 2 great teams more than putting one of them down a man for 5 minutes, and then admitting you shouldn't have done that. SJ was down 3, and credit to them for scoring 3 and then the 4th. It doesn't matter if there's a microscopic chance they do that anyway with a 2 minute minor.. because the fact is the call was made and it was as huge of a judgement call made at as huge of a time as the latter half of the 3rd period of a game 7. NO excuse for that. That's not an element of luck but an element of decision-making by the refs. SJ was lucky to get the call.. but this is a massive "luck" event, not typical of most series/game-deciding luck-events.

The hand-pass goal was already scored.. not maybe would/maybe wouldn't.. should not have counted. It did and decided the game. SJ may not have won the game if the goal didn't count like the rule says. The refs decided that SJ would win on that goal, not the Sharks, and not the Blues. That's the problem. Refs clearly decided a game that decided the series, and then a game within a series that STL now at least still has a chance to come back from.

All those variables are valid and true, but "luck" things and variables vary in impact and deliberateness. Not much will impact a game between 2 great teams more than putting one of them down a man for 5 minutes, and then admitting you shouldn't have done that. SJ was down 3, and credit to them for scoring 3 and then the 4th. It doesn't matter if there's a microscopic chance they do that anyway with a 2 minute minor.. because the fact is the call was made and it was as huge of a judgement call made at as huge of a time as the latter half of the 3rd period of a game 7. NO excuse for that. That's not an element of luck but an element of decision-making by the refs. SJ was lucky to get the call.. but this is a massive "luck" event, not typical of most series/game-deciding luck-events.

The hand-pass goal was already scored.. not maybe would/maybe wouldn't.. should not have counted. It did and decided the game. SJ may not have won the game if the goal didn't count like the rule says. The refs decided that SJ would win on that goal, not the Sharks, and not the Blues. That's the problem. Refs clearly decided a game that decided the series, and then a game within a series that STL now at least still has a chance to come back from.
- MartysBetter88

Im not sure why some plays are reviewable and others are not. I'd imagine every important play should be reviewable.

I am going to be happy with whoever the Devils pick. Ray and team are doing there homework and I trust they make the right decision.

I do have a fear about Hughes that I don't see people mention, and as a Devs fan we have suffered through before. What if Hughes down the road wants to play with his brother and there is nothing we can do to stop him? Its in the future but a thought. Devs would need to get Quinn ahead of time.

Im not sure why some plays are reviewable and others are not. I'd imagine every important play should be reviewable.
- Leniwm1

See Paul Stewart’s article on Hockeybuzz. He says it is technically reviewable.

I am going to be happy with whoever the Devils pick. Ray and team are doing there homework and I trust they make the right decision.

I do have a fear about Hughes that I don't see people mention, and as a Devs fan we have suffered through before. What if Hughes down the road wants to play with his brother and there is nothing we can do to stop him? Its in the future but a thought. Devs would need to get Quinn ahead of time.
- redmonsters

not at all concerned about the brother thing. the "what if" is a big what if. Brothers don't always want or "need" to play with each other. NHL players don't seem quite as entitled as in the NBA so I wouldn't worry about it.

I am going to be happy with whoever the Devils pick. Ray and team are doing there homework and I trust they make the right decision.

I do have a fear about Hughes that I don't see people mention, and as a Devs fan we have suffered through before. What if Hughes down the road wants to play with his brother and there is nothing we can do to stop him? Its in the future but a thought. Devs would need to get Quinn ahead of time.
- redmonsters

We’ll just sign him in free agency. Problem solved

not at all concerned about the brother thing. the "what if" is a big what if. Brothers don't always want or "need" to play with each other. NHL players don't seem quite as entitled as in the NBA so I wouldn't worry about it.
- MartysBetter88

Everybody brings up the brother thing because the Sedins specifically would only play for the same team. It hasn't been a problem for any other brothers so who cares.

Interesting point and a better observation then I noticed.

I'd say the question becomes if you move Zacha to wing who's his center. Zajac is as good defensively (give or take) but the rest of the potential centers aren't; except maybe Nico and I don't see that happening. Something for Hynes to figure out.
- Queenie_5_hole

Quennville, Mcleod, Zajac all are in the running for the #3C if Zacha gets bumped to the Wing. I feel this is the best move for Zacha, who can focus on becoming the cut-throat offensive player he needs to be, and has yet to show. I feel we are crowded in the middle, and could use another LW, and about 3 RW's. But if Shero feels we need to add depth in the middle, Boyle may be up for another season of Dev's hockey.

I am going to be happy with whoever the Devils pick. Ray and team are doing there homework and I trust they make the right decision.

I do have a fear about Hughes that I don't see people mention, and as a Devs fan we have suffered through before. What if Hughes down the road wants to play with his brother and there is nothing we can do to stop him? Its in the future but a thought. Devs would need to get Quinn ahead of time.
- redmonsters

I would be more concerned drafting a Left shooting RW and putting him on an ice surface far smaller than he is used too. Kakko is going to have much less time to get his shots off. Certainly, he will be a great guy on the PP, but 5v5 Hughes is the better player on NHL ice I believe.

Everybody brings up the brother thing because the Sedins specifically would only play for the same team. It hasn't been a problem for any other brothers so who cares.
- Pomegrant

Losing niedermayer to play with his brother sucked

All those variables are valid and true, but "luck" things and variables vary in impact and deliberateness. Not much will impact a game between 2 great teams more than putting one of them down a man for 5 minutes, and then admitting you shouldn't have done that. SJ was down 3, and credit to them for scoring 3 and then the 4th. It doesn't matter if there's a microscopic chance they do that anyway with a 2 minute minor.. because the fact is the call was made and it was as huge of a judgement call made at as huge of a time as the latter half of the 3rd period of a game 7. NO excuse for that. That's not an element of luck but an element of decision-making by the refs. SJ was lucky to get the call.. but this is a massive "luck" event, not typical of most series/game-deciding luck-events.

The hand-pass goal was already scored.. not maybe would/maybe wouldn't.. should not have counted. It did and decided the game. SJ may not have won the game if the goal didn't count like the rule says. The refs decided that SJ would win on that goal, not the Sharks, and not the Blues. That's the problem. Refs clearly decided a game that decided the series, and then a game within a series that STL now at least still has a chance to come back from.
- MartysBetter88

They didn't decide the game! Both teams scored 4 goals and went to overtime: that had a pretty big part in "deciding the game"!

It came down to a play where everyone is splitting hairs!

Now it's a "hand pass"... more like a guy randomly swatting it: it happens to go to a teammate, he happens to make a play, it happens to score. Here's the funny thing... had that puck been kneed to the other guy, or kicked to the other guy, or if it even went off his wrist, this is a non-discussion. But now everyone's up in arms because they're splitting hairs. These teams are a dead heat: they are monstrously close in match up. The "officiating" didn't decide that game... otherwise, SJ would have gotten 10 power plays and St Louis would have gotten 1.

It was a matter of luck. The officials miss a lot. This one has all the magnifying glasses.

If St Louis wants to prove they're the better team: they survive this and win the last three games.

Losing niedermayer to play with his brother sucked
- shvingter88

Especially since Scott was such a better player then Rob. You'd think Lou Lams could have traded for Rob at some point prior but what's done is done.

Hopefully that doesn't happen with Quinn and Jack. Although I feel like we should be able to trade for Quinn.

Why the (frank) didn't we draft Lemieux? Unrelated but this WTF moment won't leave my head. And now Q is looking like a bust while Claude's kid is beating the poop out of everyone for the Rangers....

How the (frank) could we draft someone named Stefan Matteau?

Especially since Scott was such a better player then Rob. You'd think Lou Lams could have traded for Rob at some point prior but what's done is done.
- Queenie_5_hole

I think Lou did try to trade for them but the Ducks knew that if they kept rob they might be able to draw scott.

They didn't decide the game! Both teams scored 4 goals and went to overtime: that had a pretty big part in "deciding the game"!

It came down to a play where everyone is splitting hairs!

Now it's a "hand pass"... more like a guy randomly swatting it: it happens to go to a teammate, he happens to make a play, it happens to score. Here's the funny thing... had that puck been kneed to the other guy, or kicked to the other guy, or if it even went off his wrist, this is a non-discussion. But now everyone's up in arms because they're splitting hairs. These teams are a dead heat: they are monstrously close in match up. The "officiating" didn't decide that game... otherwise, SJ would have gotten 10 power plays and St Louis would have gotten 1.

It was a matter of luck. The officials miss a lot. This one has all the magnifying glasses.

If St Louis wants to prove they're the better team: they survive this and win the last three games.
- archromat

wut? The calls absolutely decided the game. Vegas put themselves in a position to WIN the game. They earned that. SJ did NOT EARN Vegas being down a man for 5 minutes. SJ didn't decide that. Vegas didn't decide that. The refs decided that. There is a 95% chance Vegas wins that game if the refs don't put them down a man against a game-7-level desperate Sharks team for FIVE minutes.
The hand pass was a primary assist to the Game 3 winner.

If both calls are made correctly, SJ does NOT score 3 goals to tie that game, and the OT GWG would not have counted. What happens after that is unknown. What we do know.. that actually happened.. was those calls led to SJ winning both games and consequentially a series.

... more like a guy randomly swatting it.. EXACTLY lol. He hit it with his hand/wrist and it went to the goal-scorer, whos name I forgot already because the goal wouldn't have counted if 4 refs saw a guy randomly swatting at the puck.. in the exact direction of his teammate in position to score an overtime winner.

it's not luck. it's 2 massive missed calls. we're not talking minor penalties or borderline interference or whatever. We're talking about a major penalty in the 2nd half of GAME 7. Doesn't get ANY bigger than that, and the error couldn't get any bigger than a 5-minute major.. even a 5-3 PP would be better. The missed call on the hand pass is as big as any missed call because it was the PRIMARY ASSIST to the goal!!! lol

I don't understand what the contract discussions are. Sign him to the max ELC contract. He comes to all camps & preseason. If he makes the team he stays here & if he doesn't he goes back to the SHL. Then there's also the option of 9 games he can play if we need to see more & at that point decide if he stays or goes. As soon as he signs he gets his signing bonus whether he stays or goes. So give him the $925k max, he gets his $92,500 signing bonus & there's nothing to negotiate. Bonuses are set in stone. Let's get him signed, moved into the area, & get ready to play some hockey!!!!

Yeah that was pretty filthy
- djsnippets

Pretty terrible goalie play though. I don't think I've ever seen a goalie leave the crease and go all soccer style slide tackle on a player. If he stays in net it doesn't look near as spectacular. I'm not trying to take anything away from Kakko. He's scored some fantastic goals in every way u can. I'd say the goalie knew it was Kakko& that's why he did what he did. So I'll give him the credit for making the goalie feel like he had to do something different but it was a horrendous play by the goalie. I still think Nico's is the better goal.

I am going to be happy with whoever the Devils pick. Ray and team are doing there homework and I trust they make the right decision.

I do have a fear about Hughes that I don't see people mention, and as a Devs fan we have suffered through before. What if Hughes down the road wants to play with his brother and there is nothing we can do to stop him? Its in the future but a thought. Devs would need to get Quinn ahead of time.
- redmonsters

That is so far away. He'll be 25 or 26 before he goes from a RFA to a UFA. That's 7-8yrs away & would be an unprecedented situation. There's a 3rd brother, Luke, who's starting his career with the USNTDP this coming season. So he'll be draft eligible in 3-4yrs. So are all of them gonna strike til they can all play on the same team?? Never gonna happen.