NHL 2019-20

[J4L]

What are your predictions for the upcoming NHL season?

[Dougie93]

I'm like Bobby Mac, I don't make predictions, it's all in the hands of the Hockey Gods, who are both fickle and cruel, I don't tempt them by jinxing myself with predictions.

[-TSS-]

I always cheer for the traditional teams. I don't like these new desert or palm-tree teams.

[Dougie93]

One would expect Tampa to have the most to prove and come storming back to slam dunk the Cup.

On the other hand that sweep might not be a one off but a sign that their window is closing fast, because they don't actually look stronger on paper, they may have peaked last year,

Assuming Marner signs the Leafs on paper look like a force, but the issue continues to be the Mike Babcock Country Club, they just don't execute when the chips are down, they seem to have a sense of entitlement which they can't back up, they lack a killer instinct, they don't finish teams off when they have them down.

Don't know if it will all come together for the Rangers this season, none the less, on paper, they are loading up with firepower and fast.

New Jersey looks good, except for the goalies.

Edited August 21, 2019 by Dougie93

[Yzermandius19]

The Calder race should be interesting with Makar, Hughes and Kakko.

[Dougie93]

30 minutes ago, Yzermandius19 said:

The Calder race should be interesting with Makar, Hughes and Kakko.

The Rangers should be interesting, they've loaded up fast, Panarin, Trouba, Fox and Kakko all being added at once.

[Yzermandius19]

13 minutes ago, Dougie93 said:

The Rangers should be interesting, they've loaded up fast, Panarin, Trouba, Fox and Kakko all being added at once.

Problem is, Lundqvist is falling off. Like the Devils, they too have goalie issues.

[Dougie93]

5 minutes ago, Yzermandius19 said:

Problem is, Lundqvist is falling off. Like the Devils, they too have goalie issues.

The Mike Babcock Country Club has no excuse this year, there's really no team in the east which doesn't have flaws, on paper the Leafs should be the beast in the east, even Tampa has holes, the Leafs might be the most complete team in the conference.

[Yzermandius19]

6 minutes ago, Dougie93 said:

The Mike Babcock Country Club has no excuse this year, there's really no team in the east which doesn't have flaws, on paper the Leafs should be the beast in the east, even Tampa has holes, the Leafs might be the most complete team in the conference.

If they lose to Tampa in the playoffs, but are competitive, I'll give them a pass. If they lose to any other Eastern Conference team in the playoffs, that's a choke though. If they can get past Tampa, I see no reason why they shouldn't be in the finals, aside from Mike Babcock Country Clubitis.

Edited August 21, 2019 by Yzermandius19

[Dougie93]

3 minutes ago, Yzermandius19 said:

If they lose to Tampa in the playoffs, but are competitive, I'll give them a pass. If they lose to any other Eastern Conference team in the playoffs, that's a choke though. If they can get past Tampa, I see no reason why they shouldn't be in the finals, aside from Mike Babcock Country Clubitis.

If they don't win the cup it's a choke, they are close enough, nobody has a perfect team, St. Louis just went worst to first, go for it now, no more excuses.

[Yzermandius19]

8 minutes ago, Dougie93 said:

If they don't win the cup it's a choke, they are close enough, nobody has a perfect team, St. Louis just went worst to first, go for it now, no more excuses.

They are close enough, but if they lose to a team who is better than them, that's not really a choke, unless they get smashed.

It's a choke if Tampa doesn't win the cup, if the Leafs run into a hot Bolts team in the playoffs and can't get over that hump, not so much. If they put them on the verge of elimination and can't finish the job, that would a choke though.

Edited August 21, 2019 by Yzermandius19

[Dougie93]

3 minutes ago, Yzermandius19 said:

They are close enough, but if they lose to a team who is better than them, that's not really a choke, unless they get smashed.

It's a choke if Tampa doesn't win the cup, if the Leafs run into a hot Bolts team in the playoffs and can't get over that hump, not so much.

After Columbus rolled Tampa with ease in four?  Tampa is no excuse anymore, losing to Tampa is a choke because the only reason they lose to Tampa is that they let Tampa beat them when Tampa is totally beatable.

[Yzermandius19]

6 minutes ago, Dougie93 said:

After Columbus rolled Tampa with ease in four?  Tampa is no excuse anymore, losing to Tampa is a choke because the only reason they lose to Tampa is that they let Tampa beat them when Tampa is totally beatable.

The Leafs are totally beatable, and Tampa getting rolled by Columbus with ease in four was a fluke.

Tampa is the better team, if they both are playing to their potential. Beatable? Sure, but every team is beatable.

The Leafs beat Tampa, by Tampa not being at the top of their game and Leafs exploiting it while being near the top of theirs, not by actually being the better team on paper. That's how Columbus beat them, it wasn't because they were actually the better team, the better team doesn't always win the series.

Edited August 21, 2019 by Yzermandius19

[Vid]

Kuznetsov was banned from playing for Russia in International tournaments for four years, after he tested positive for cocaine use. It remains to be seen what punishment he will receive in the NHL.

[Yzermandius19]

8 hours ago, Vid said:

Kuznetsov was banned from playing for Russia in International tournaments for four years, after he tested positive for cocaine use. It remains to be seen what punishment he will receive in the NHL.

The Temperance Lady strikes again. Four year suspension for cocaine is insane, obvious moral panic witch hunt is obvious.

F*ck draconian anti-doping punishments and the horse they rode in on.
*spits tobacco juice*

Edited August 24, 2019 by Yzermandius19