NHL Thread

[FU BK]

Knowing the basic rules help, plenty of videos going over offsides, icing, etc. Like ACamp said, just follow the players. The skill level on the stick handling, and passing at that level is crazy, let alone the skating ability. I played juniors when we lived down by indianapolis, shit is definitely alot harder than it looks

 

[FU BK]

I took my daughter to the Hawks/Leafs game last night and surprised her with seats right behind the bench for her birthday/Christmas. Holy shit that was awesome. She was right next to where they come to the bench from the locker room...fist bumped the team before practice and coming out for every period. Got a puck given to her by defenseman Louis Crevier and a stick from Ryan Donato after the game. Too bad my pics keep saying too large for server

 

[TorontoGold]

Being a southerner I’m pretty foreign to NHL. Got an opportunity to attend my first game this week in Vegas. They’re playing the NY Rangers. Any tips on how to best enjoy the game are appreciated. Explain hockey like I’m 7

1) Most important - get there for the warmups. Especially if you're new to the game it's the best part to see the stuff you're going to have a tough time noticing during the game. Watch the stick work and the hands of the players, if you're familiar with lacrosse you'll have an appreciation for how quick they can contort their wrists and arms. Watch each player shoot a puck on the empty net, once the goalie is in they're going to be shooting low mostly to warm up the goalies legs and stretch him out, they'll throw some light gimmes to his glove hand but nothing crazy.

2) The hits are overrated IMO, if you're seeing someone lay a big hit chances are they're going to be out of position for the follow up so you may miss a good scoring chance if you watch the scuffle afterwards.

3) Don't focus too much on the faceoff, the puck is going to shoot out pretty quick and if it's a clean win it'll be into a set play. So if it's in either end of the ice watch the defenseman that's most aligned with the goalie, he'll usually be the point man for the play and the scoring chance.

4) If you see a breakaway or a two on one, watch how quickly the players stop and change directions, it's incredible and like watching an RB make cuts.

5) Get your drinks and snacks during the intermissions and not during the period. No one likes the jackass who has two beers and is shuffling by you while the game is on.

6) You stand when a goal is scored (for the team you like) and overtime. Playoffs is a different animal. Old geezers will get angsty if you spend too much time standing up.

7) If you see the ref with his hand up that means there is a delayed penalty, if you see a goalie skating to the bench that's because the play is dead once the other team touches it. Think of it like a free play in football once the flag is thrown the team can take a deep shot etc.

Those are the main things but it's a really easy sport - put puck in net.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Really appreciate you all fellas. Thanks for all the tips. Lots of Cowboys fans in town for tomorrow night’s MNF. Just saw Jason Kelce walking around w/ his wife (& security guards). He did pose for a pic with a fan who came up. And then F1 is next week. Crzy

 

[ACamp1900]

He deserves everything he gets tonight,… it’s not just leaving his childhood team and burying the entire fucking fanbase on the way out,… it’s who he signed with on top of that. You leave a historic team and take like four guys as an example to paint the whole franchise as a villain then sign with the most heartless, fugazi franchise in all of hockey? Get fucked Marner. I said what I said, argue with a wall

 

[Irish8248]

He deserves everything he gets tonight,… it’s not just leaving his childhood team and burying the entire fucking fanbase on the way out,… it’s who he signed with on top of that. You leave a historic team and take like four guys as an example to paint the whole franchise as a villain then sign with the most heartless, fugazi franchise in all of hockey? Get fucked Marner. I said what I said, argue with a wall

Leafs suck.. they were a villain way before Marners time.

 

[NorthDakota]

ACamp is fired up!

I dont watch the NHL until the playoffs. I see the Flyers have a reasonable shot at making it! I'll tune in after the Olympics, international games get my juices going.

Fuck Canada! As an aside, it would be fun if Quebec had their own team in the non-Olympic games akin to the UK.

Also, let the Russians play. Olympics are fun. Feels wrong to tell people they can't play for something unrelated to sports. No idea how good the Russians are at this point in time but I know they are usually among the best teams.

 

[NotKoon]

He deserves everything he gets tonight,… it’s not just leaving his childhood team and burying the entire fucking fanbase on the way out,… it’s who he signed with on top of that. You leave a historic team and take like four guys as an example to paint the whole franchise as a villain then sign with the most heartless, fugazi franchise in all of hockey? Get fucked Marner. I said what I said, argue with a wall

Leafs fans are a bunch of hypocrites. Said Islander fans were scum of the earth for booing Tavares and now that the shoes on the other foot with Marner suddenly it’s okay

 

[calvegas04]

He deserves everything he gets tonight,… it’s not just leaving his childhood team and burying the entire fucking fanbase on the way out,… it’s who he signed with on top of that. You leave a historic team and take like four guys as an example to paint the whole franchise as a villain then sign with the most heartless, fugazi franchise in all of hockey? Get fucked Marner. I said what I said, argue with a wall

Hope he gets a hat trick

 

[TorontoGold]

ACamp is fired up!

I dont watch the NHL until the playoffs. I see the Flyers have a reasonable shot at making it! I'll tune in after the Olympics, international games get my juices going.

Fuck Canada! As an aside, it would be fun if Quebec had their own team in the non-Olympic games akin to the UK.

Also, let the Russians play. Olympics are fun. Feels wrong to tell people they can't play for something unrelated to sports. No idea how good the Russians are at this point in time but I know they are usually among the best teams.

Quebec has zero representation on the Olympic team. They might have a shot at bronze.

Leafs fans are a bunch of hypocrites. Said Islander fans were scum of the earth for booing Tavares and now that the shoes on the other foot with Marner suddenly it’s okay

Marner was never the face of the franchise like Tavares was. Never represented the team like Tavares did for the Islanders. Tavares gave everything to the Islanders, Marner took everything he could from the Leafs.

Marner is a giant piss baby. Him and his Dad are the Ball family but for the NHL.

 

[NotKoon]

Quebec has zero representation on the Olympic team. They might have a shot at bronze.



Marner was never the face of the franchise like Tavares was. Never represented the team like Tavares did for the Islanders. Tavares gave everything to the Islanders, Marner took everything he could from the Leafs.

Marner is a giant piss baby. Him and his Dad are the Ball family but for the NHL.

The Islanders and their fans gave everything to Tavares. He could do no wrong in either groups eyes and he was the most beloved player since the dynasty. Mitch Marner was always the scape goat and getting run out of town for years. Hell his last game in a leafs jersey he got a beer thrown on him. Can’t blame him for leaving. Tavares strung the Islanders and their fans along when all he had to do was sign the extension and he’d have been a franchise icon. Instead the dude said for two years he was coming back and then at 12:01 on July 1st posted a picture of himself in his jammies.

 

[ACamp1900]

Leafs suck.. they were a villain way before Marners time.

There’s only two true general villains in the nhl,… one is playing the leafs tonight,… the other is the team that team played last night ,… and I’m not a leafs fan

 

[KPENN]

I remember when I used to like hockey

 

[ACamp1900]

I remember when I used to like hockey

That sucks K,… I used to like our dialouges. The game is at least as good as it’s ever been to me,.. especially considering how much basketball and football (nfl) has fallen imo,… nhl is the constant, sports wise

 

[TorontoGold]

The Islanders and their fans gave everything to Tavares. He could do no wrong in either groups eyes and he was the most beloved player since the dynasty. Mitch Marner was always the scape goat and getting run out of town for years. Hell his last game in a leafs jersey he got a beer thrown on him. Can’t blame him for leaving. Tavares strung the Islanders and their fans along when all he had to do was sign the extension and he’d have been a franchise icon. Instead the dude said for two years he was coming back and then at 12:01 on July 1st posted a picture of himself in his jammies.

As they should have. Tavares was incredible for them when they were a laughing stock. It's not his fault they pissed down their leg and wasted his early years. The opposite was true for Marner. He got whatever he wanted and wilted like a coward in the playoffs.

All he had to do was sign an extension? Best player they got for him was a 20 year old Matt Barzal. It's like recruiting Jeremiah Smith and offering him Teddy Jarrard and hoping he wants to stay. Tavares signed a sweet heart deal for the Islanders and they gave him a shit sandwich. It's incredible that he even entertained them when he was a FA.

All Marner had to do was not demand to be paid the same as Matthews on his 2nd contract, effectively closing the window on any possible FA signings. All Marner had to do was not disappear in the playoffs. All Marner had to do was cry on the bench and pout like a bitch. Embarrassing that there's video proof of him being called a bitch by his teammates. He was BELOVED by the city up until the final two years.

 

[KPENN]

That sucks K,… I used to like our dialouges. The game is at least as good as it’s ever been to me,.. especially considering how much basketball and football (nfl) has fallen imo,… nhl is the constant, sports wise

Yeah, unfortunately The Flyers have broken my spirit. Haha

 

[NotKoon]

As they should have. Tavares was incredible for them when they were a laughing stock. It's not his fault they pissed down their leg and wasted his early years. The opposite was true for Marner. He got whatever he wanted and wilted like a coward in the playoffs.

All he had to do was sign an extension? Best player they got for him was a 20 year old Matt Barzal. It's like recruiting Jeremiah Smith and offering him Teddy Jarrard and hoping he wants to stay. Tavares signed a sweet heart deal for the Islanders and they gave him a shit sandwich. It's incredible that he even entertained them when he was a FA.

All Marner had to do was not demand to be paid the same as Matthews on his 2nd contract, effectively closing the window on any possible FA signings. All Marner had to do was not disappear in the playoffs. All Marner had to do was cry on the bench and pout like a bitch. Embarrassing that there's video proof of him being called a bitch by his teammates. He was BELOVED by the city up until the final two years.

Tavares didn’t go to some powerhouse team. He went to the Leafs. A team where he has won exactly one more playoff series than he did in his tenure on Long Island. His first 3 years in Toronto the Isles made it further every year. They won more playoff series in those first 3 years without JT than he has in his entire career. The Islanders had also just brought in the coach who just won a cup and an icon at GM. You’re also way underselling the talent on that team. Barzal was coming off an 80+ point rookie season, Lee was scoring 30 every year, and Nelson and Cizikas were phenomenal options for bottom 6 centers

Tavares also did a whole bullshit, drawn out week long process where he met with teams and created tons of drama. This is after he consistently said he was going to come back to the Islanders and asked the owner to not trade him.

He left terribly and has accomplished nothing since leaving. Him signing there probably cost the Isles a cup and probably cost the Leafs a cup too because that money would’ve been way better spent on D.

Also after Dubas breaks the bank for a free agent and made clear who his “core 4” is, he gave up all leverage in negotiations with them. None of them were willing to take a discount at that point.

 

[TorontoGold]

Tavares didn’t go to some powerhouse team. He went to the Leafs. A team where he has won exactly one more playoff series than he did in his tenure on Long Island. His first 3 years in Toronto the Isles made it further every year. They won more playoff series in those first 3 years without JT than he has in his entire career. The Islanders had also just brought in the coach who just won a cup and an icon at GM. You’re also way underselling the talent on that team. Barzal was coming off an 80+ point rookie season, Lee was scoring 30 every year, and Nelson and Cizikas were phenomenal options for bottom 6 centers

Tavares also did a whole bullshit, drawn out week long process where he met with teams and created tons of drama. This is after he consistently said he was going to come back to the Islanders and asked the owner to not trade him.

He left terribly and has accomplished nothing since leaving. Him signing there probably cost the Isles a cup and probably cost the Leafs a cup too because that money would’ve been way better spent on D.

Also after Dubas breaks the bank for a free agent and made clear who his “core 4” is, he gave up all leverage in negotiations with them. None of them were willing to take a discount at that point.

The Islanders had a roster that was maxed out talentwise with their guys all at the peaks of their careers with only Barzal posting a PPG stat line. At the time Tavares left the Leafs had two players with similar potential to Barzal and a generational talent in Matthews. The Leafs roster at that time was a lot more attractive. The coach who just won a cup doesn't exactly beat the resume Babcock had at that point. The following years AFTER Tavares signed, the Leafs pissed down their leg and essentially had a ND 2025 season for like 5 straight years with only themselves and some bad luck to blame.

Every marquee free agent does that. Stamkos did it and still returned to Tampa. Marner was having offer sheet conversations with other teams when he was an RFA. A Toronto kid who supposedly loved his city and team was actively trying to get out. There is no comparison between Tavares and Marner.

Mitch Marner had (1) 90 point season before signing a 10.9M contract. Rantanen signed for 9.25M. Point 6.75M (!!!). Marner raked the Leafs over the coals.

 

[calvegas04]

Knights deserved that win

 

[NorthDakota]

Quebec has zero representation on the Olympic team. They might have a shot at bronze.



Marner was never the face of the franchise like Tavares was. Never represented the team like Tavares did for the Islanders. Tavares gave everything to the Islanders, Marner took everything he could from the Leafs.

Marner is a giant piss baby. Him and his Dad are the Ball family but for the NHL.

Bronze sounds good! Maybe gold if some wine soaked clown stands on his head for sixty minutes! Let the Quebecois spin!

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Also, let the Russians play. Olympics are fun. Feels wrong to tell people they can't play for something unrelated to sports. No idea how good the Russians are at this point in time but I know they are usually among the best teams.

They probably wouldn't even medal. They'd be behind US/Canada as the two favorites to win, followed by Sweeden. They'd be a top heavy lineup with no depth and weak on D.

And honestly, I don't share the same sympathies you do

 

[arndtjc]

They probably wouldn't even medal. They'd be behind US/Canada as the two favorites to win, followed by Sweeden. They'd be a top heavy lineup with no depth and weak on D.

And honestly, I don't share the same sympathies you do

Any team with Kucherov and Vasilevskiy will always have a fighting chance. This is a solid lineup top to bottom, just lacking the star power of the Canadians.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

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Any team with Kucherov and Vasilevskiy will always have a fighting chance. This is a solid lineup top to bottom, just lacking the star power of the Canadians.

Agreed they'd be formidable with that good of goalteanding. They have good wing depth, kind of "meh" at C and D.

They be fighting with Sweden for bronze. USA and Canada are on another level right now. 4 Nations showed that clear as day

 

[ACamp1900]

They probably wouldn't even medal. They'd be behind US/Canada as the two favorites to win, followed by Sweeden. They'd be a top heavy lineup with no depth and weak on D.

And honestly, I don't share the same sympathies you do

Eh,…. I feel for some of the guys who get all kinds of grief for simply not talking about it… what are they supposed to do? Also, I’m obviously a huge Malkin fan. I’d love to see him compete

 

[FU BK]

Now that I figured out how to post pics....these were my daughter and I seats for the Hawks/Leafs game. Got a stick from Colton Dach. She was pumped sitting next to the tunnel getting to fist bump the players on their way to the bench

 

[ACamp1900]

Lot of Jason Robertson talk lately, one rumor is my pens. I would be super stoked. We need a young star like him and it’s a ton of fun following him with my girls who match his ethnicity and background. I’m definitely hoping if Dallas has to move him the pens are involved

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Lot of Jason Robertson talk lately, one rumor is my pens. I would be super stoked. We need a young star like him and it’s a ton of fun following him with my girls who match his ethnicity and background. I’m definitely hoping if Dallas has to move him the pens are involved

Would seem crazy for them to let him go in the middle of a cup run but they could probably get a crazy good haul for him. It seems inevitable they'd either have to cut ties with him or several other assets to retain him as an upcoming RFA.

Seeing a lot of Detroit, Pittsburgh and Carolina as potential suiters, which makes sense. All three in contention currently and have the requisite cap space this offseason, which would bode well for a trade/extend situation. (Proj. Available cap, respectively: $13M, $11.4M, and $7.8M).

 

[ACamp1900]

Will be interesting to see what teams collapse post Olympic break,… my pens are probably a prime suspect. They’ve been fun to watch today tho.

 

[ACamp1900]

What a freakin game in Tampa!!!!

 

[Irish du Nord]

Eh,…. I feel for some of the guys who get all kinds of grief for simply not talking about it… what are they supposed to do? Also, I’m obviously a huge Malkin fan. I’d love to see him compete

There are various sorts of guys who won’t talk about it, some for respectable even lamentable reasons, others because their agent wouldn’t like their vocal support of the invasion. I know Russian expats of both stripes. I don’t feel bad for the latter guys