If they overthink goaltending for the third time in four years to attempt to talk themselves into some bullshit conventional wisdom that is anything but, rather than plain as day common sense or what has actually worked really, really well for the past two years, I might be done with this team. Plus, if Ullmark’s hot but not going to be here next year, getting Swayman reps as well is good.
Yep. What if it's tied 2-2 and both goalies have a shutout each and a 4 goal game against each? What if they sweep the first round and post 4 shutouts? The only way I pick a guy and ride him after 4 games is if one guy is hurt, or if one guy completely shits the bed in his two starts. Don't back yourself into a corner. Just rotate for games 1 and 2 and go from there.
I think the two starts is key. I really dont want either one of them going into their first playoff start thinking it might be their last.
The thing is really a lot of it really just in puck luck. You can do a lot to put yourself in the right position with the right guys and goalie, but eventually it's just puck luck.
PP1: DeBrusk Pastrnak-Zacha-Marchand McAvoy
In the hypothetical that he is open to a move, he can obviously pick his destination which would drive down the package Pittsburgh would get from any team. We've seen this in other situations in other sports. If Crosby doesn't want to be moved, a similar move should be Sweeney's top priority. Another franchise icon in Stamkos could be hitting the free agent market. Stamkos wants to stay, but there hasn't been much movement on contract talks. If he does hit the market, the Bruins should be very aggressive in trying to sign him.
Iginla had never won a Cup. He, like Ray, was trying to win one before calling it quits.
Interesting that he's been limited somewhat in his training until recently.
I believe Edmonton is known to have one of the best ice surfaces in the league. And I feel like Boston's ice has always been shitty in the spring months...if they haven't addressed it yet, I fear it's not high in their list of priorities.
It’s like slush. The only surface that I’ve ever skated on that is worse is Hockey Town.
With deep enough pockets, that seems like an easy fix with some conventional approaches that are used in rinks all the time: with a modern water filtration system, a modern HVAC system to properly control the humidity and better ice temperature monitoring, they should be able to get this under control, even with the basketball floor.
It’s easy in theory, but I believe that the issue is that the union representing the bull gang refuses to budge on training on new/modern Zamboni equipment that everyone else is using. That’s the story I heard. It would seem to me that in a union negotiation, if you gave them more money that they’ll usually agree to the other things, but I’m not qualified to speak on that.
Absolutely. It would be nice if some of the media around the team would ask Neely about it. I’d love to hear the answer.
I honestly didn't mind Hockey Town ice that much. Although skating on it as an adult I definitely noticed how soft it was compared to what I remembered when I was a kid haha..... That being said now that I live in Alaska, we have a local rink called Ben Boeke (ironically Swayman grew up playing on this rink) that is the softest, slushiest ice i've ever skated on in my life. Probably why he's good on home ice, he's used to garbage. haha
Biggest issue in Hockey Town now is the roof leaks. Causes holes in the ice. I switched to another league that plays in Bedford MA. I still play in the roller hockey league upstairs so I’m there twice a week. It sucks that we have to have rainouts for an indoor roller hockey league.
Oh wow, been years since i've been back to Saugus, didn't realize it had gotten so bad. Place was never in the greatest repair, even when I was a kid. But sounds like it's just been steadily going downhill.
This is one of those subjects where once you start learning a little, you realize how much you don’t know…but I know I cringe when the on-air commentators go on about ice, because THEY don’t know. There’s a pile of variables; Desired ice temp, water quality, ambient temp, outside temp, humidity, how air moves in the building.
You’d be surprised by how many local ice techs actually care, a lot, about their ice!
They make too much money from the beer and nachos to change that.
Add in the baked beans, and I think you'll find another reason for the rise in temperature.
In all seriousness, the sheer volume of air to be handled in a NHL arena is a very big deal. Your optimal rink would have a ceiling 1/4” higher than your tallest skater is tall - so a 20,000 seat arena is a very different animal than your local rink.
You also have to take into account the amount of hot air coming from the multitudes of mouthbreathers, this is Boston after all ;-)
Nope, just a missed post and haste to make an obvious (yet terrific) quip. You win the day Logan!
