JetsFan4Life 542 Posted May 8, 2016 So 28 or 32 games versus the other conference and 54 or 50 games versus your own isn't a big difference? That's a big difference lol. Also one conference having 14 and the other having 16 is silly. Also lopsided since you only have to be one of the 8 best out of 14 in one conference and one of the 8 best out of 16 in the other. Yeah, but the West has been much better than the East since that new system was implemented so I would argue that based off skill etc. it's tougher to make the playoffs in the West right now. Vegas will be getting a team soon which will give the West 15 to make it a little more even (and completely even if they decide to move a team in the East like Carolina). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted May 9, 2016 Someone mentioned this in the shoutbox (I think it was blots), but does this run the Lightning are on make them think they can let Stamkos walk this summer? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted May 9, 2016 I don't know how you could possibly let Stamkos go. He's 26. He could easily play as one of the top players in hockey for another 6-7 years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted May 9, 2016 I don't know their cap situation, but it'd definitely make me shy away from overpaying for him Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted May 9, 2016 I think they need to make the sacrifices to make it happen. Generally I almost always agree that overpaying a player is a bad idea. But Stamkos isn't just any player. And as I said, he's young enough that you have quite a large window of opportunity if you can find cheap talent to put around him. Maybe you have to let a few other guys go if you pay Stamkos, but in a few years you should be able to replace those guys. A guy like Stamkos isn't going to be replaced. And if they pay Stamkos, have a few "down" years, and then win a Cup, the "overpayment" in that case is totally worth it. Let's play to win, shall we? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blotsfan 2,112 Posted May 9, 2016 I'm not sure what the right answer is, but Stamkos is probably going to want a max deal of about 12 million a year. They do have a lot of cap space for next year, but contracts for Hedman and Bishop are gonna need new contracts soon. Its tough to tie up almost 1/5th of cap space on one player in hockey. Especially when they're showing now that they can win without him. Not to mention, the blood clots have to be a little scary considering whats happened to Chris Bosh. If they sign Stamkos to that deal and he gets another clot, the Lightning are screwed for the next decade. That being said, Stamkos is still one of the best scorers in the league so I do get why you would want to keep him. I just don't think its too cut and dry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piggly Wiggly 960 Posted May 9, 2016 Yer, Stamkos is already pretty much out the door. Some team will throw a ton of money at him, and it won't be TB. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted May 9, 2016 Sullivan said Matt Murray will get the nod for Tuesday's Game 6 against the Washington Capitals, removing any hint of a goaltending controversy before his usually vague answers had the possibility to be misconstrued. lmao TSN There was some talk of Fleury starting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted May 10, 2016 I wish the Pens would start Fleury lol. There's no earthly reason to pull Murray at this point. This series is his to win or lose. The fan part of me wants Washington to take this to 7. The realist says there is no way Pitt loses game 6 at home. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted May 10, 2016 a few days ago somebody mentioned in the shoutbox that Kuzy has been "invisible" this playoffs, I countered that I thought he'd actually played really well but couldn't back it up with anything other than "he's looked good" fortunately, the guys over at RMNB are a little better at defending him than I am: Believe It or Not, Evgeny Kuznetsov Has Played Really Well This Postseason Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted May 10, 2016 I said 'almost' invisible and I was referring to the scoresheet. There have been chances that need to be converted. No puck luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) I also wouldn't consider this a choke if we put up a similar performance Saturday to the past couple games and still lose, it's just a matter of two very good teams meeting too early in the playoffs, it happens and someone has to lose. These two teams finished with the best two records in the Eastern Conference and I don't think there's any shame to be had in losing in the playoffs to the second best team in the conference in a hard fought series. Now if we lay an egg like we did in the elimination game in '09 then yes, that would be a choke job, but I don't see that happening with this team. I still think we have a good chance in this series, it's definitely an uphill battle, but nobody should expect the playoffs to be easy. The best part is that I don't see either of these teams falling off any time soon, so we should be meeting each other in the playoffs a lot more, especially under the new division format. I still hold true to this, I look forward to meeting/beating the Pens next season also, FUCK THE PENGUINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Edited May 11, 2016 by oochymp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted May 11, 2016 John Carlson was so fun to watch in the playoffs and I'll miss that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piggly Wiggly 960 Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) The Caps are simply not a postseason team. They don't embrace the pressure like other teams do. When they couldn't bury the Flyers in game 4 and got pushed to a game 6, it was very clear they didn't have it this year, as usual. The Caps have had two 120-pt seasons since 2010 and it's resulted in a one-and-done and a two-and-BBQ. Any way you cut it, that's beyond unacceptable. Caps are a sorry fucking excuse for a franchise. LOSERS!!!!! Edited May 11, 2016 by Piggly Wiggly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BJORN 679 Posted May 11, 2016 The Caps are simply not a postseason team. They don't embrace the pressure like other teams do. When they couldn't bury the Flyers in game 4 and got pushed to a game 6, it was very clear they didn't have it this year, as usual. Pretty much this. They peaked too early and simply coasted into and even during the postseason. I said 'almost' invisible and I was referring to the scoresheet. There have been chances that need to be converted. No puck luck. 2 points in 12 games....no show. Hoping for a Sharks-Stars WCF, the dream. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted May 11, 2016 Penguins/Lightning ECF...what a nightmare. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BJORN 679 Posted May 11, 2016 Penguins/Lightning ECF...what a nightmare. Should be fun to watch at least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) Still feel the Caps outplayed the Penguins in at least two of their losses, including game 6, (not the OT period, though, jesus, Pens were all over them for that). Just nearly all the puck luck went Pitt's way- exception game 1- and the Caps were not good enough to overcome that and the Penguins. It's easy to chalk this up to "that's just the Capitals" but this didn't seem the same as some other playoff exits in their past. They were a good team that played a good team that just got some fortunate bounces and the Caps shot themselves in the leg with a couple big mistakes, (Orpik can go jump in a lake, especially if that was an intentional shot with his stick, which it sure as hell looked like it to me. He cost the Caps the series singlehandedly, almost). Holtby also let in a very easy one last night, not sure what happened on Kessel's first shot. Capitals had plenty of opportunities to take game 6 anyway though, 3:30 worth of PP time in the last seven minutes and they couldn't score the go-ahead goal. Once OT started, it was like a different Pens team came out. Love the morons talking about how Sid beat Ovi again, Sid was held to two points and Ovi had 7. Ovechkin played great in most of the games and is the better player between the two at this point. Edited May 11, 2016 by Thanatos Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) https://twitter.com/JenksCSN/status/730229434565988354 https://twitter.com/JenksCSN/status/730237220788027392 https://twitter.com/JenksCSN/status/730242467128283136 Michael Jenkins - I took last night's Washington Capitals loss... Michael Jenkins is every Caps fan, couldn't find the video in a format I could embed, but it's worth clicking through the link Edited May 11, 2016 by oochymp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted May 12, 2016 So, my bracket's not completely screwed, somehow. We should have some pretty awesome hockey in the conference finals. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piggly Wiggly 960 Posted May 12, 2016 The WCF intrigues me more, but won't be going out of my way to watch either series, really. Barely watched the ECF last year even with the Rangers being in it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted May 13, 2016 Sharks-Blues premature post so now the Sharks will choke this game away Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FartWaffles 1,857 Posted May 13, 2016 Sharks-Blues I'll be rooting for whoever wins that series to win it all. Should be a good one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted May 13, 2016 Michael Jenkins - I took last night's Washington Capitals loss... Michael Jenkins is every Caps fan, couldn't find the video in a format I could embed, but it's worth clicking through the link the video made it to YouTube so I can imbed it: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigBen07 285 Posted May 13, 2016 Sharks-Blues premature post so now the Sharks will choke this game away *points at scoreboard* *ahem* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites