R2 - Series Thread - Golden Knights (P1) vs Sharks (P3)

[Red]

Would love to see Fleury vs Pittsburgh.
Hard to dislike the guy. And funny how he was thought as a crappy playoff goalie. Guy just keeps on winning and 4 shutouts in 10 games is just a cherry on top.

[Manhattanboy]

Who dat?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I don’t get this attitude. These are the cast offs, they’ve pulled off something remarkable. It’s not like the NHL stacked the deck to enable a team of superstars or something. If they win the cup, it’ll be one of the most incredible stories in not only hockey history, but all of sporting history.

This is true, but the flip side is that it makes a mockery of the league. Experts and pundits and the best and most experienced minds in the sport couldn't predict this and can't explain it, and analytics doesn't have a convincing answer either. It's just baffling. Everyone who supposedly understands the sport from whatever perspective is at a complete loss - apparently, none of them really know anything after all.

Some people are all for that because it'd be funny, but you have to think about what it entails. When we get to free agency and everyone's talking about Tavares and will he or won't he leave for greener pastures, and will the Senators trade Karlsson, and all these other stories... but who even cares anymore? None of it actually matters at all. Signing big stars is unnecessary. Painstakingly building a team over years is just wasting time. A poor assortment of castoffs just beat everyone soundly. It completely undercuts the stakes of everything we argue and talk about in the sport. Let's just all tune out until next season and roll the dice and see what happens because this whole thing is, it turns out, completely random bullcrap.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

This is true, but the flip side is that it makes a mockery of the league. Experts and pundits and the best and most experienced minds in the sport couldn't predict this and can't explain it, and analytics doesn't have a convincing answer either. It's just baffling. Everyone who supposedly understands the sport from whatever perspective is at a complete loss - apparently, none of them really know anything after all.

Some people are all for that because it'd be funny, but you have to think about what it entails. When we get to free agency and everyone's talking about Tavares and will he or won't he leave for greener pastures, and will the Senators trade Karlsson, and all these other stories... but who even cares anymore? None of it actually matters at all. Signing big stars is unnecessary. Painstakingly building a team over years is just wasting time. A poor assortment of castoffs just beat everyone soundly. It completely undercuts the stakes of everything we argue and talk about in the sport. Let's just all tune out until next season and roll the dice and see what happens because this whole thing is, it turns out, completely random bullcrap.

To me it’s explained by a few key things - not randomness. One, they epitomize the best of the modern game - speed and possession. They are tenacious on the puck at all times. Second, it demonstrates the power of team cohesion. The players were all thrown into a difficult situation, they chose to truly bond over it. The sum is greater than the parts. That, again, is the epitome of team sport success.

[Red]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

This is true, but the flip side is that it makes a mockery of the league. Experts and pundits and the best and most experienced minds in the sport couldn't predict this and can't explain it, and analytics doesn't have a convincing answer either. It's just baffling. Everyone who supposedly understands the sport from whatever perspective is at a complete loss - apparently, none of them really know anything after all.

Some people are all for that because it'd be funny, but you have to think about what it entails. When we get to free agency and everyone's talking about Tavares and will he or won't he leave for greener pastures, and will the Senators trade Karlsson, and all these other stories... but who even cares anymore? None of it actually matters at all. Signing big stars is unnecessary. Painstakingly building a team over years is just wasting time. A poor assortment of castoffs just beat everyone soundly. It completely undercuts the stakes of everything we argue and talk about in the sport. Let's just all tune out until next season and roll the dice and see what happens because this whole thing is, it turns out, completely random bullcrap.

I totally get what you are saying, it makes it look like star power is irrelevant. But when you think about it, this isn't new, it's just magnified right now.
NYR bought stars every year with no success.
Kariya + Selanne to Colorado to win a sure cup only to massively disappoint.
List is long. But some statements still ring true here, goaltending, depth, grit and determination are the prime ingredients to overcome skill.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Bunk

To me it’s explained by a few key things - not randomness. One, they epitomize the best of the modern game - speed and possession. They are tenacious on the puck at all times. Second, it demonstrates the power of team cohesion. The players were all thrown into a difficult situation, they chose to truly bond over it. The sum is greater than the parts. That, again, is the epitome of team sport success.

I agree with this.

Also, if you are throwing money at your top line, you have less dollars available for lines 3 and 4. You have to prioritize as a GM, and maybe this will make some people reconsider their approach to building a team.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Bunk

To me it’s explained by a few key things - not randomness. One, they epitomize the best of the modern game - speed and possession. They are tenacious on the puck at all times. Second, it demonstrates the power of team cohesion. The players were all thrown into a difficult situation, they chose to truly bond over it. The sum is greater than the parts. That, again, is the epitome of team sport success.

This...a hundred times this.

people on this very board have, for years, been very vocal about how chemistry on a team is "over rated" and even IIRC "not really a thing".

It is the single most important aspect in team sports. Full stop. If you don't have everyone pulling on the same rope at all times, you will get beat by a team that is.

These guys found a rallying point (as unfortunate as it was that it came from tragedy), and have never looked back. It's freaking awesome to watch and underscores just how important the right pieces are as opposed to the good pieces.

All that said, they haven't won anything yet except the respect of the entire hockey world. Still a lot of work to do, but i will be cheering for them to take it to the finish line.

[blender]

I agree with the points about team chemistry and the value of a proven winner with elite talent in net can't be overstated, but the other thing that I think is critical is the fact that the Vegas roster is not cast offs. They are all roster players on other teams and middle of the roster depth at that. Where Vegas has a team building advantage IMO is that their players are all developed. They are not in the process of developing players this season and they don't have any over the hill vets on bloated contracts.

I still feel that they have lightning in a bottle right now, and the future could still be bumpy as all the problems that other teams have to face become problems for Vegas, but they sure have it going right now.

[Roof-Daddy]

I might have less sour grapes if they weren't in division, but they are so it's all sour grapes for me.

Screw that team, and screw the NHL for stacking the deck in their favor.

It's absolutely ridiculous that an expansion team is going to the conference finals. What a joke.

EDIT: I'm also admittedly bitter because the team I cheer for has been a pathetically ran joke for 30 years and because of that I haven't had barely a sniff of a team that good to cheer for since I was a goddamn little kid.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Castoffs or not, some were really good players that weren't protected due to some trans protecting other assets. They also made some pretty good free agent signings. But overall, every single player bought into the system, which is unbelievable. That's a very good team.

We call them castoffs but they are proving to be very good players who maybe weren't in position to succeed with the clubs that drafted them. It just so happened that McPhee picked skill over so called intangibles and experience. May have been easy to take a guy like Brouwer for example because of supposed experience and leadership but instead he picked players that could skate and had talent and passed over washed up veteran players. I simply think there are way too many veteran players in this league that aren't very good anymore and while the Golden Nights may not have the most high end talent in the league they also don't have many washed up players taking ice time away from faster, younger players. They have four lines that can skate and that's a problem for a lot of teams that can't hide their worst defensive pairings and 4th lines against them.

[zamler]

Vegas is not getting near enough credit they didn't have success come to them automatically. They play a great system and earn their wins.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

This is true, but the flip side is that it makes a mockery of the league. Experts and pundits and the best and most experienced minds in the sport couldn't predict this and can't explain it, and analytics doesn't have a convincing answer either. It's just baffling. Everyone who supposedly understands the sport from whatever perspective is at a complete loss - apparently, none of them really know anything after all.

Some people are all for that because it'd be funny, but you have to think about what it entails. When we get to free agency and everyone's talking about Tavares and will he or won't he leave for greener pastures, and will the Senators trade Karlsson, and all these other stories... but who even cares anymore? None of it actually matters at all. Signing big stars is unnecessary. Painstakingly building a team over years is just wasting time. A poor assortment of castoffs just beat everyone soundly. It completely undercuts the stakes of everything we argue and talk about in the sport. Let's just all tune out until next season and roll the dice and see what happens because this whole thing is, it turns out, completely random bullcrap.

There's nothing baffling about it, nor does it make a mockery of the league.

It just exposes the arrogance of those who thought they had figured out the game. But ultimately the game owes no favours or ready-made solutions to the "experts" and "pundits." Those who hold the viewpoint described in your post deserve public ridicule.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

This is true, but the flip side is that it makes a mockery of the league. Experts and pundits and the best and most experienced minds in the sport couldn't predict this and can't explain it, and analytics doesn't have a convincing answer either. It's just baffling. Everyone who supposedly understands the sport from whatever perspective is at a complete loss - apparently, none of them really know anything after all.

Some people are all for that because it'd be funny, but you have to think about what it entails. When we get to free agency and everyone's talking about Tavares and will he or won't he leave for greener pastures, and will the Senators trade Karlsson, and all these other stories... but who even cares anymore? None of it actually matters at all. Signing big stars is unnecessary. Painstakingly building a team over years is just wasting time. A poor assortment of castoffs just beat everyone soundly. It completely undercuts the stakes of everything we argue and talk about in the sport. Let's just all tune out until next season and roll the dice and see what happens because this whole thing is, it turns out, completely random bullcrap.

The main thing it makes a mockery of is the abilities of some other GMs. If Tallon wasn't dumb enough to give up Marchessault and Smith in order to be able to protect both of Pysyk and Petrovic, Vegas probably wouldn't have even made the playoffs. Not to mention Armstrong gave up his 4th leading scorer in Perron to protect Ryan Reaves, though I suppose in his defense he was able to pawn Reaves off for a good return.

Unlike most other sports, the pool of talent that NHL GMs are drawn from consists almost exclusively of ex-players. So it's not all that surprising when some of them are absolutely terrible at their jobs and ripe to be taken advantage of and the expansion process really brought everything to the fore. GMs and coaches have so many preconceptions and biases about their own players that they often can't see what's right in front of them.

Throw in excellent coaching, good team chemistry, a tragedy that pulled the team together, and the likely refreshing atmosphere of joining a team where there's no ingrained leadership group or cliques among the players and you have the makings of a great team. Though judging by some of McPhee's moves since (1st, 2nd, and 3rd for Tatar for instance) he'll probably make a mess of the team soon enough.

[White Out 403]

If Nashville wins the series against the Jets, I will be cheering for a Vegas cup, why not.

[nik-]

I have no problem with how the team was put together, but I'm over their success now. Fun story can end any time now.

I find it disheartening being a fan of a team who just can't do anything to see a team drop shipped into the second round. I'm jealous, I admit it, it sucks.

[Kovaz]

It never ceases to amaze me how often the team with the best chemistry, depth, coaching, or style of play, also has the best goalie. A .951 save percentage generally makes most things you do look good.

[browna]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

This is true, but the flip side is that it makes a mockery of the league. Experts and pundits and the best and most experienced minds in the sport couldn't predict this and can't explain it, and analytics doesn't have a convincing answer either. It's just baffling. Everyone who supposedly understands the sport from whatever perspective is at a complete loss - apparently, none of them really know anything after all.

Just like these so called experts in October picking the Oilers? This is a bigger mockery, because for all the supposed experts, and experienced minds, for some reason sympathetic to the Oilers terrible management, possibly because they’ve been charmed and wooed by the Oilers executive, for likely being open with the media, they have been linked for the better part of a decade, every year, to break out. This year was to be the year.

Vegas is a solid team, works thier butts off, goes through the wall for their coach, who has implemented a perfect mix of work ethic and skill and speed. One bad game and they were supposedly done? 2 convincing wins and thier on to the WCF. Great for them.

Bunk is right, this is one of the best stories in a long time in the league, and the team has been full value for all they have done this season.

https://www.tsn.ca/frank-s-red-hot-t...tions-1.874108

12. EDMONTON - Lord Stanley is coming home: The Oilers will end Canada’s Stanley Cup drought after 25 long years. Connor McDavid matched Sidney Crosby by winning the Hart and Art Ross in his sophomore season. Along with Leon Draisaitl, his version of Evgeni Malkin, McDavid will one-up Crosby by capturing the Cup in his third season – after Crosby fell short in Game 6 against the Red Wings.


https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...017-18-season/

West Champion

Chris Johnston: Edmonton Oilers
Iain MacIntyre: Edmonton Oilers
John Shannon: Chicago Blackhawks
Mark Spector: Edmonton Oilers
Eric Engels: Dallas Stars
Luke Fox: Anaheim Ducks
Daren Millard: Edmonton Oilers
David Amber: Edmonton Oilers
Eric Francis: Minnesota Wild
Gord Stellick: Anaheim Ducks
Nick Kypreos: Anaheim Ducks
Jeff Marek: Nashville Predators
Kristina Rutherford: Nashville Predators
Sean McIndoe: Edmonton Oilers
Doug MacLean: Edmonton Oilers
Rory Boylen: Anaheim Ducks

https://thehockeywriters.com/predict...18-nhl-season/


Who Wins the Stanley Cup?

In eight of the last nine seasons, the Stanley Cup has been won by one of three teams: the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, or Los Angeles Kings.

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins would like to keep that trend going, while also defending the title for the third year in a row.

But as much as Sid the Kid and company would like to make it a three-peat, there’s a new kid on the block named Connor McDavid looking for his first taste of Stanley Cup glory. And he doesn’t want to wait.
The Edmonton Oilers proved in last season’s playoffs they’re for real.

The Oilers outplayed the San Jose Sharks in every facet of their opening 4-2 series win, a Sharks team that’s been to playoffs 11 of the last 12 seasons. They gave the Anaheim Ducks all they could handle in a series that went the full seven games; a series they probably should’ve won.

The off-season acquisitions of Jussi Jokinen and Ryan Strome add even more depth and experience to an already elite roster.

This season, the Oilers will deploy a well-balanced lineup led by the most dynamic player in the NHL, and use the experience from last season’s playoff run to win their first Stanley Cup since 1990.

The time is now for McDavid and the Oilers.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

There's nothing baffling about it, nor does it make a mockery of the league.

It just exposes the arrogance of those who thought they had figured out the game. But ultimately the game owes no favours or ready-made solutions to the "experts" and "pundits." Those who hold the viewpoint described in your post deserve public ridicule.

So maybe the Flames should trade Gaudreau for 3 third liners? For improved depth. Because high end talent isn't necessary. Meshing together is more important than talent.

[woob]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

This is true, but the flip side is that it makes a mockery of the league. Experts and pundits and the best and most experienced minds in the sport couldn't predict this and can't explain it, and analytics doesn't have a convincing answer either. It's just baffling. Everyone who supposedly understands the sport from whatever perspective is at a complete loss - apparently, none of them really know anything after all.

Some people are all for that because it'd be funny, but you have to think about what it entails. When we get to free agency and everyone's talking about Tavares and will he or won't he leave for greener pastures, and will the Senators trade Karlsson, and all these other stories... but who even cares anymore? None of it actually matters at all. Signing big stars is unnecessary. Painstakingly building a team over years is just wasting time. A poor assortment of castoffs just beat everyone soundly. It completely undercuts the stakes of everything we argue and talk about in the sport. Let's just all tune out until next season and roll the dice and see what happens because this whole thing is, it turns out, completely random bullcrap.

Yeah, there is no "what it entails." GMs are still going to build the dream team and it will still win them a cup. That will always be a thing.

Sport is the Penguins winning 2, maybe 3 cups in a row with arguably two of the best players in the game. Sport is also Leicester City Football Club winning the premier league, which was unfathomable.

The only thing it entails is there's going to be a lot of teams trying to copy the Knights system next year, but unless they can also have 100% buy in, it's just a system.

[zamler]

Along with Leon Draisaitl, his version of Evgeni Malkin

How much a blithering homer do you have to be to write this.