[PST] Stanley Cup Final: Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning---Bolts win the Cup 4-1

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Of course we realize that he had surgery. It’s the way too convenient timing of his activation off of LTIR that everyone is calling cap circumvention . The team that Tampa put on the ice for the playoffs was way over the cap.


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OK, what date should he have returned?

BTW, Montreal played a bunch of PO games over the cap as well (though not the finals because they scratched Tatar). I bet Drouin was healthy by the finals as well.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

You cannot "just put them on LTIR." People do understand that Kucherov actually underwent actual surgery, right?


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Yes. People also understand he was skating well two months before the playoffs began and clearly could have returned before the regular season ended. It was a smart play on the organizations part but they clearly took advantage of the system.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

OK, what date should he have returned?

BTW, Montreal played a bunch of PO games over the cap as well (though not the finals because they scratched Tatar). I bet Drouin was healthy by the finals as well.

That’s the problem. As I said in the previous post… Tampa did what they did within the rules so far as anyone could ever prove. And yes, other teams have done this before… Tampa has just taken it to a whole new level with how far over the cap they were.

As far as when he should have been activated… there’s no way of knowing for sure. It was just way too convenient that he was able to practice for over a month but was still not “ready” to play. Especially with the fact that Tampa would not have been cap compliant had he been ready a few days earlier.

Do you honestly believe they didn’t intentionally wait to activate him?


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[Hemi-Cuda]

The last two Stanley Cup finals were the most boring I have ever watched. Last year because of the bubble, and this year because Tampa winning was a forgone conclusion after around game 2 of their first series. At least the Islanders put up something of a fight, but Montreal was completely exposed as a team that should have never made the finals to begin with

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Then Flames fans are delusional too. Flames could have made the final and gotten revenge on Tampa if they had gotten in. I've heard that all week.

I didn't say that so I can't speak for other Flames fans.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

The last two Stanley Cup finals were the most boring I have ever watched. Last year because of the bubble, and this year because Tampa winning was a forgone conclusion after around game 2 of their first series. At least the Islanders put up something of a fight, but Montreal was completely exposed as a team that should have never made the finals to begin with

I think the thing about the Lightning is that they have no team weaknesses and can adapt their play to their opponents beating them at their own game. They simply outscored the Panthers at their own game of wide open hockey and against teams like the Hurricanes, Islanders, and Habs who tried to shut down their playoff opponents, the Lightning simply beat them at their own game and shut them down. I feel if the Avalanche or even Knights make the finals that there would have been some higher scoring and more exciting games but I feel the ultimate result would be the same.

[TheIronMaiden]

The silver lining is now every GM in the league can point to TB when they ask players to take 1 or 2 M off their AAV as a means to build a competitive team. They don't have a single player getting paid over 10M.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Then Flames fans are delusional too. Flames could have made the final and gotten revenge on Tampa if they had gotten in. I've heard that all week.

My comment was in jest, was fantasy. I don’t think Flames fans suffer from delusions of grandeur.

[Igottago]

Tampa is an incredibly well built team. I guess its easy to hate the winners but they are completely deserving champs, the quality of play between the teams wasn't close, could have been done in 4 straight. I actually found it enjoyable to watch a very good hockey team that played up to a very high standard each night. The NHL isn't about being nice guys, its about winning, and Tampa has done it twice in a row. No small feat. Hats off to them. I can only hope the Flames can build as good a team at some point.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Then Flames fans are delusional too. Flames could have made the final and gotten revenge on Tampa if they had gotten in. I've heard that all week.

Here is the thing.

Flames could have gotten in and made the conference finals.

The North division playoffs were weird, especially with the Leafs losing Tavares and Jets losing Scheifele.

BUT that shouldn't change strategy or suddenly change what a team is looking to achieve. The goal in the NHL should be to be a top 10 regular season team over an extended period of time.

Building a team that is good over long periods of time tends to be your best chance of playoff success at some point, and doesn't necessarily happen overnight. Tampa didn't win a cup until their 12th season after drafting Stamkos.

Draft well. Manage assets (aka don't let assets walk for nothing in return). Be Patient.

And one other thing is that Canadian teams need to realize they can lean into subpar seasons as opportunties instead of always trying to "Salvage" them. Look at Tampa in 2016-2017, a poor season by their standards. Do they try to make moves to squeak into the playoffs, nope they lean into it.

Trade Bishop for Cernak. Trade Drouin for Sergachev + 2nd. Trade Boyle for a 2nd. Drafted Cal Foote 14th OV.

Flames did that a little bit this year by recouping some assets for Bennett and Rittich. But honestly they really should have moved Brodie last year, and Gio this season at the deadline.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Yes. People also understand he was skating well two months before the playoffs began and clearly could have returned before the regular season ended. It was a smart play on the organizations part but they clearly took advantage of the system.

"Clearly"? Clearly to whom? You? Based on what, exactly? What qualifies you or any other fan to determine when a player should be clear to play from this distance?


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[Senator Clay Davis]

Based off that Kucherov post-game presser I've already figured out how he ends up on LTIR next year: Rehab for cocaine addiction.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

That was a great presser by Kucherov. The league needs more stars ready to talk smack about others at any given moment. When you win the cup, you can say whatever the #### you want, wearing whatever you want (or lack thereof), and you can drink/sniff whatever you want. Good on him. Love the butthurt on this site and on other social media sites. Good stuff.

Not even upset that TBL won because they are a dynasty in the making with such an incredible core that I can only dream of having here.

I must agree.

We constantly lament all of the tired old cliches trotted out by players and then roast the players being honest.

That was a nice dose of sincerity. I'll allow it. I thought it was great. Great for the game, great for the rivalry.

Dont like it? Clutch your pearls a little tighter.

Come on...you want a press conference right after winning a Championship and then dont like what you get?

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

"Clearly"? Clearly to whom? You? Based on what, exactly? What qualifies you or any other fan to determine when a player should be clear to play from this distance?


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Yeah a beat writer used the word “dazzling” which has been the only indication he was 100% healthy…. If you go off of that kind of thing. You know, instead of what a physician says.

Also, breaking news: players push injuries in the playoffs, and not in the regular season. I know I know, this is brand new and never happened before.

[Toonage]

Would have been awesome if it was the doctor who used "dazzling" to describe him

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

My comment was in jest, was fantasy. I don’t think Flames fans suffer from delusions of grandeur.

It wasn't you, I've heard it in person.

[monkeyman]

Awesome presser by Kucherov. Everyone loves a villain, and now Montreal has theirs. He’s going to do way more for attendance and fan support in Montreal than if he gave some boring ass, political tip-toe response. Every time Tampa goes into that building will be an event for years.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

OK, what date should he have returned?

BTW, Montreal played a bunch of PO games over the cap as well (though not the finals because they scratched Tatar). I bet Drouin was healthy by the finals as well.

I was just gonna say this. Remember Montreal was struggling to get Caufield into the lineup because they were over the cap? They had a couple convenient absences too. Let's not forget they clinched the playoffs because they lost a close one to the Oilers where Koskinen gave them a gift.

They certainly benefited from odd NHL rules too

[Nsd1]

Let’s see how many teams cry about the LTIR system this time.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1413196378927517698

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Yeah a beat writer used the word “dazzling” which has been the only indication he was 100% healthy…. If you go off of that kind of thing. You know, instead of what a physician says.

Also, breaking news: players push injuries in the playoffs, and not in the regular season. I know I know, this is brand new and never happened before.

The story didn’t even say he was close. It said he was dazzling teammates by skating. By himself. What dazzled them? Maybe the mere fact he was skating. He wasn’t in a team practice for another month and not in contact for a month after that.