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Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

junodog4 — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:29:23 GMT

Author: junodog4

Posted: 06/15/2026 04:29

Well done Carolina... Glad Brindamour gets a cup coaching, and the team has been on the cusp for a while.

Sorry - I'm not sorry to see Carter Hart miss out. Dude may not have been guilty of criminal charges, but he's certainly part of the dubious culture of hockey players and women.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 13:16:47 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 06/02/2026 17:16

Uh.. I don't think it's going to seem "right" if Chicago wins anytime soon. If there's any franchise I'm taking Schadenfradue in a lack of success it's them, considering the NHL sure as fuck didn't think they were worth punishing in any meaningful way. And this is someone who's spent time in Chicago and am a genuine fan of the Bulls, and nothing against the fanbase.

Anyways, though, yeah it does just feel weird that the most rabid Hockey markets have had a lack of playoff success for so long, it being what 33 years since Canada's won a Stanley Cup? Also a long time since Detroit and new Minnesotta and the finally good-again Sabres have won too. Maybe that's saying something about Teams with less-rabid fanbases managing to have Rational-over-Rash-Decision management. Though in many ways success for Sunbelt teams don't always translate into higher attendance/interest, considering when I was down in Florida it was clear much of the attendees were actually the Canadian Snow Bunnies. And now all that interest has dissipated since more are avoiding Winters in Florida in the current political climate.

And for this Stanely Cup, I guess... go Hurricanes? even though they beat out the Habs. I am shocked the Avalanche didn't make it in, they looked like the most complete and imposing team, but the NHL playoffs are always full of surprises.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

junodog4 — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 18:26:56 GMT

Author: junodog4

Posted: 06/01/2026 22:26

Ugh. Vegas again?

I'd like to see Carolina win.

I know it's not rational, but I'm tired of the sun belt markets winning. If we could go awhile without Florida, Tampa, Carolina, Vegas or Anaheim winning, I would be happy. It feels more 'right' when markets like New York, Philly, Chicago, Buffalo, Minnesota, etc... have success (not to mention Canada). I know that the sun-belt has some great markets and well run teams, but...

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Sat, 23 May 2026 21:31:16 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 05/24/2026 01:31

Hey Juno, great to see you around these parts again

Yeah with the Flyers I think it's just elation after so many years of terrible management decisions, now they finally have a team that's set up for the long run. Donno about the Sixers, are they still "trusting the process"? Amazingly the Phillies have played better since their incredibly rash decision to fire their manager a month into decision. I'm likely moving to the Philly area long-term ( well between Philly and New York), so I probably should be more in the know.

And I have to say this playoffs have been all a Habs fan can ask for, especially if they can keep up this Scoring streak. The Avalanche look pretty unbeatable though if Montreal does make it to Stanley.

Flyers-Sixers

junodog4 — Sat, 23 May 2026 21:11:44 GMT

Author: junodog4

Posted: 05/24/2026 01:11

It also boils down to likability.

As a Flyers fan, I'm really getting behind this team of annoying pricks. Martone, Konecny, Zegras, etc... all have the right attitude for Flyers fans. Brings me back to when they had RIchards, Hartnell, Pronger...

Embiid has always been tough to like. George and Kawhai Leonard's hook up in Clipperland turned me off him. It's a shame - Maxey and Edgecome look great - they need to move on from the frontcourt.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

CA Dreamin — Fri, 22 May 2026 00:21:20 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 05/22/2026 04:21

It looked like the natural disaster teams would inevitably face each other for the Stanley Cup. Both teams bulldozed their way through the first two rounds, but now find themselves down 1-0 in the conference finals against teams statistically much worse than them. Maybe Carolina and Colorado got overconfident, and/or out of rhythm due to a long wait in between rounds. I'm interested to see how it plays out but I don't have a rooting interest any more with Philly out of the picture. Maybe Colorado vs. Montreal cause hockey is a winter sport and I like the idea of cold weather teams playing for the cup. (Why does a Vegas have a team? There's never ice there. It's not even summer yet and it's already in the 90s there most days, I wonder how much money it costs to keep their rink from melting)

One final rant about the Flyers and Sixers this season. Both teams were eliminated on back-to-back days but the crowd reactions could not have been any different. Repo wrote on the basketball thread 'build around Maxey and Edgecomb and the Sixers will be contenders for years to come.' Maybe that's true but right now the Philly fanbase doesn't strongly believe in them, and they've clearly chosen they feel better about the Flyers. The Flyers received cheers and a long standing ovation after they lost Game 4. It was feel-good even in defeat, for they came so far against expectations and their future looks bright. The next day, however, in the very same building, Knicks fans were louder than Sixers fans. Sixers ticket-holders were selling them off a high rate, and it appears Knicks fans were the ones buying them. It was the opposite tone of the previous night, demonstrating that while it was very nice to see the Sixers knock off the Celtics, the overall fans' mood towards the Sixers is pessimism. They were contenders with realistic chances at winning it all in 2019, 2021, and 2023. But that simply feels like bygone history and their current team is living in the twilight of that window. Perhaps Repo is right and they can get better. That doesn't change the fact Philly fans (and most fans really) are fickle, fair-weather, and will flock to the teams on the upward swing. That team is the Flyers, hope to see them stronger next year!

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Wed, 20 May 2026 18:49:36 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 05/20/2026 22:49

Habs all the way to the Stanley Cup, ALLONS-Y. Maybe we can even be competitive enough to survive the eventual Avalanche (I'll see myself out).

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:42:57 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 04/23/2026 01:42

Montreal missing a major oppurtunity to go up 2-0 on Tampa Bay, but I'm still hopeful. Only real horse in the race with the Islanders and Kraken out, though I think they have a better shot then they're given credit for.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

CA Dreamin — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:03:26 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 04/23/2026 00:03

So I'm listening to the Flyers-Penguins Game 3 on the radio right now. I've been out of the sport for a while, so I'm catching up on things. Sidney Crosby just got a 2-minute penalty for flopping to the ice when he was barely touched. I don't recall that being a penalty. But holy crap, I was just talking in the basketball thread about how I'm sick of seeing such weak, pathetic actions by NBA players, and that it should be punished. Thank you NHL for calling out this BS! The NBA should take note.

Go Flyers!

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

CA Dreamin — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:14:50 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 04/20/2026 00:14

It's funny how enthusiastic fair-weather fandom can be. My team is in the playoffs for the first time in six years! The Flyers came out of nowhere this year, less than a 5% chance of making the playoffs at the break, and were 8 points behind the playoff mark. But hey, a hot finish to the season, and they made it! Several of my friends and relatives back east are excited for the Flyers like it's 2010. Nobody was talking about them a month ago. The hot streak continued yesterday, taking a 1-0 lead against our biggest rivals in the first round. Ok, I'm officially on the bandwagon too. Let's go Flyers!

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 11:43:11 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 11/28/2025 16:43

This year has actually turned out well so far. While the Habs have slipped a bit from their top seed, they're still promising for a playoff run. The Islanders are getting younger and are already seeing vast improvement, and the Kraken don't totally suck this year either (though they really need to find that franchise player soon). The Predators are bad, but that's intentional at this point. And my gawd are the Ducks in first place?!! Strange times. I bet Juno isn't having too much fun in Calgary this year, though.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Tue, 20 May 2025 20:21:00 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 05/21/2025 00:21

Well, some things never change, and Maple Leafs get dominated in another game 7 do-or-die. I guess we're not seeing the all-Canada Stanley Cup that once looked possible. I'm getting a major vibe we're going to see an Oilers-Panthers rematch, so given the current tensions could be an interesting setup in it's own right.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 23:06:20 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 04/18/2025 03:06

Well color me pleasantly surpris that the Habs managed to pull out a playoff run. I'm not expecting another 2021-style cinderella run with the young team (especially with no Weber-Price behind the blue line), but hopefully they can continue to build on this momentum for next year and beef up their lines in Free Agency.

Otherwise have no idea who is going to win the cup this year, so should be an interesting playoffs.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 17:57:38 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 01/12/2025 22:57

Well, this season has (not fucking at all) been fun. The Islanders suck, the Kraken can barely skate, and now I gotta commend the Habs for being pleasantly mediocre. Admittedly it's amusing when most of the fans at a Panthers game are from Canada.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

craola — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 11:56:38 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 06/19/2024 15:56

cestuneblague wrote:

The Oilers are showing some gumption, that's a good thing. Thought they may have worn themselves out after that 8-goal explosion, but still got plenty of fight left in them even if history's not on their side. Should be a really fun game 6 regardless.

if mcdavid can keep putting up four points per night, the oilers could still win this. either way, i hope they can draw this out to seven because last night's game was fun.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:03:04 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 06/19/2024 12:03

The Oilers are showing some gumption, that's a good thing. Thought they may have worn themselves out after that 8-goal explosion, but still got plenty of fight left in them even if history's not on their side. Should be a really fun game 6 regardless.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:43:43 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 10/11/2023 18:43

A tad late with seasons predictions, but everything still stands and should be a fun season for a majority of fanbases at least- as there seems to be more geniune playoff-level squads and the bad teams are going to be really, really terrible this year. Anyways, got some Panthers tickets so should enjoy decent seats at much better prices, even if I don't expect my Habs to do much this year (Kraken, Panthers and maybe even Islanders though, are safer bets)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1) Dallas- Most efficient attack in the game, made the right decision to add more punch to their offensive attack to compliment their terrific defense. Don't know if that will be enough to get them into the Stanley Cup, but they have the best unit designed for the 82-game grind.

2) Vegas- Not the most overpowering lineup on first glance, but it's undeniably effective and disciplined to outlast many other teams in the playoffs. Should be strong during the regular season, too.

3) Edmonton- McDavid and Draistl could conceivably put up 300 points between them, and yet I still don't buy them as a Stanley Cup contender. Why do they seem so adverse to finding creative ways to shore up the obvious, glaring Blue Line weakness? Why have they flubbed so many recent drafts, which has made it impossible for them to load up their backlines with effective, affordable reinforcements? They'll beat up on most teams during the regular season, but I still see them being one of the more vulnerable squads come playoff time.

4) Colorado- Injuries and Departures have weakned the roster (and overall outlook) of the team from their Stanley Cup just two seasons ago, but still enough up on the front lines to have a good season regardless. I still don't see them winning it all again this year, unless they make some serious moves in-season.

5) Los Angeles- They've rebuilt nicely, but they still seem to be missing key pieces to get over that early-playoff-exit hump. They made a big swing for Dubois, sacrifcing some later-line depth in the process, but that will give them their needed scoring kick. Preventing goals is going to be a question mark, as they're relying on streaky veterans to play goalie. They could be a big contender this year, but I also see plenty of scenarios of being underachievers.

6) Seattle- I expect a bit of a hangover after last year's major success, but they got depth and plenty of up-and-coming prospects that they look set for a long window of contention- but probably not this year.

7) Minnesotta- Kaprizov is an all-timer, and Boldy's really nice on the wing, but they greatly overrate the Wild's otherwise moribund offense. Their defense is strong enough that I see them being a playoff lock, but it just seems like more dissapointment for Minnesotta 2.0 NHL hockey until they commit to adding more scorers to fill out their second and third lines.

😎 Winnipeg- They've been the enigma the past few seasons, greatly underachieving when they looked like they could be possible contenders and overachieving when they were written off by mostly everybody. Even with losing Dubois, I see them being good enough to make it back to the playoffs just because the conference kind of bottoms out at the #8 spot, but with all the impending free agents and Cap coming for them it looks like re-boot mode is coming for them pretty soon- without a whole lot to show for it.

9) Vancouver- Have been hampered by plenty of dumb win-now moves that didn't lead to winning, but with more consistiency and improved defense they have a chance to sneak into the playoffs this year- but not doing a proper rebuild is going to hurt them immensely in the next few seasons considering their thin group of viable prospects and impending departures.

10) Nashville- Goaltending and overall goal-prevention helps them overachieve, but those skating lines wouldn't scare an U16 lineup. Considering how open the last playoff seed is, though, they could still sneak into the playoffs on their Blue Line strength alone.

11) Calgary- They'll be better than last year, but have made nowhere near the level of moves and roster improvements to even consider them making it back to the playoffs- even in the wide open west. It's time to start over as I see them being major sellers at the trade deadline.

12) Chicago- They should be ready to embrace their role as the League's supreme villian, it's a shame everybody's going to be rooting against Bedard if he's as great as advertised. Sure to be growing pains this year but to the dismay of anybody outside of Chicago they'll be back on top sooner than later.

13) St. Louis- They had a nice run, but I have no idea why they're waiting so long to re-tool. For frick's sake do you want to be the Flyers? Gonna be a rough year

14) Anaheim- Made some low key moves and a much-anticipated Zegras breakout will help them improve from their awful '23, but still a ways to go till they're close to contenders. Passing on Fantelli is either going to be low-key genius or a franchise-crippling mistake.

15) Arizona- The people of Tempe choose a toxic landfill over your next arena. It's time to put the sick dog to rest and just move on. For some reason I'll never comprehend they are still playing at the ASU arena, so the terrible Coyotes team will at least have home field advantage. Cooley should be the only bright spot in watching NHL's biggest trainwreck continue to dig their gaping viability hole into an endless canyon.

16) San Jose- It's going to be the best thing for the perpetually they-are-a-team-in-the-NHL? Sharks to be gawd-awful this year and be frontrunners in the Celembrini sweepstakes.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1) Boston- Will underachive by winning only 62 games this year.

2) Toronto- Best top 2 scoring lines in the game and will dominate during the regular season. But this-bird'll-never-change, their defense is still a gigantic question mark that will likely be the worst thing your Blue Line can be this year- incredibly streaky. I still don't see them as a contender, but at least their get-out-of-the-first-round Monkey-On-Their-Back is gone so they can finally relax a little, I guess.

3) Carolina- Have been a really, really effective team for awhile, but seemed to be missing that extra piece that made them formidable in the post season. Made some savvy additions during the offseason, so I think time will tell if that makes them a contender but they should still rule the Met this year regardless.

4) New Jersey- Have developed probably the most formidable scoring attacks in the entire game, with the older Hughes being a possible MVP, but youth and a few questions with their defense and goaltending might cause them to underachieve a tad this year. If it all clicks, though, they will be next-level dangerous.

5) Tampa Bay- Really grown into a model franchise, even as the Cap and free agency have loomed like the grim reaper over their mini 20s dynasty they still find ways to replinish their roster with effective lineups. Having an all-timer Goaltender certainly helps as well. Don't know if they are quite on the level of their Stanley Cup runs, but they'll be a really tough out in the playoffs nonetheless.

6) Florida- I expect more consistiency this year for the talented team, but the East is brutal. Still should be a decent contender to linger in the playoffs, but making it back to the Stanley Cup is going to be much more difficult.

7) NY Rangers- Have they already peaked? They don't seem to be getting any better, even if they have solid depth and a really effective frontline scoring attack. Even if they fall to number 7 they're still decent contenders, but it feels like more teams in the conference have improved (or are bound to improve quite a bit this year) and they're just sort of treading water.

😎 Buffalo- My breakout candidate, Dahlin and Thompson has morphed into one of the best first-line scoring duos in the game and now that their young players have gained more experience (especially their Defenseman) they seem poised to take that great big leap and end their decade plus of misery.

9) Detroit- Remain an enigma, so much young talent but I don't know if it's utilized in the best way. A good candidate to end the playoff drought, but could easily get stuck early in the ultra-competive east and not be able to claw their way back.

10) NY Islanders- For a team that always seems underwhelming on paper, they find a way to overachieve during the season. It still is really frustrating Management seems to have little appetite to bring in external improvements, as I don't see this team improving from last year's surprise playoff appearance as the east has only gotten stronger.

11) Ottawa- Have built up a solid team that is looking to save themselves from being the league's perennial Mr. Irrelevant, and could swing a lower-seed playoff appeareance in the East's wide-open race.

12) Washington- This season will be all about Ovechkin

13) Pittsburgh- Have held on too long to their championship core, if they don't blow up the team by the trade deadline they are in for an endless, bitter Pittsburgh winter for the rest of the decade.

14) Montreal- Having Caufield healthy will help, though shoulder injuries are always scary especially for an undersized pure scorer like him. Otherwise there's talent, but they're relying on a whole lot of unrpoven breakouts and Suzuki (while talented) as an alpha center, and with Price's health once again being up in the air and their almost non-existient defense it's probably not going to be une belle anne.

15) Colombus- Fantenilli falling to them was the best scenario, but they did little to improve an already lackluster squad. Sure Gad isn't regretting his signing one bit. Still, I think there are better days ahead with their now pretty-deep prospect pool, but it's going to be a while before they even have the whiff of an 8th-seed hope in the near future.

16) Philadelphia- Finally commiting to a rebuild, won't be the expensive joke of the league anymore, but it's going to be plenty of regulation losses regardless until their now suddenly-deep group of young talent graduate to the Big Time.

And I guess for Finals predictions? Dallas over Vegas in the West, Carolina over New Jersey in the East. Dallas over Carolina for the Cup, how riveting.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

junodog4 — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 01:10:15 GMT

Author: junodog4

Posted: 06/30/2023 05:10

Flyers are really blowing it up. Provorov out, Hayes given away, and soon Sanheim, Laughton, and others could be up. I hope they don't trade Hart and Konecny.

I almost enjoy the draft and early offseason more than the finals. I get all excited in the 1st round, but lose interest once it becomes teams like Vegas or the Stars in the finals. At least Florida was fun to watch, and Vegas deserved it.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:07:50 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 06/29/2023 17:07

Well the first round of the draft was... something. It sucks you have a generational talent like Bedard but everybody outside of Chicago seems ready to boo him just because of the jersey he's wearing. Still an ugly story all around for the Blackhawks, obviously still hope Bedard has a great career. Otherwise the rest of the draft was interesting, but not always in a good way. My habs and kraken (Islanders traded out) made... interesting picks, and the former a really bad trade at #31. The Coyotes clearly don't care about scouting anymore. The Flyers, for once in the past decade, actually made a really good decision by choosing Mitchkov, gonna have to wait but likely getting their own Kaprizov by 2027. The Blue Jackets finally have a star to build around with Fantnelli, donno if that will actually bring people to their seats though.

Re: NHL Back of the Net thread

cestuneblague — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 11:18:56 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 06/15/2023 15:18

Well, that was a less than riveting NHL finals. Good for Vegas, I guess 😕 anyways I guess we're now on to the offseason. Obviously few outside of Chicago is looking forward to the NHL draft (still a lot of saltiness about how the lottery played out, though perhaps more to the NHL's lack of disciplinary measures), but interested to see how the offseason goes, whether teams like Detroit or Buffalo start making moves to open up their playoff window, and if the Penguins or Capitols blow it up and trade their icons to a current contender. Habs got Caufield on a big contract though, so that's definitely cool as ice 😎