Montgomery calling out Pastranak. Says he's got to play better. Pasta has just disappeared lately. Do or die for both teams Saturday night.
- boilermaker100

With losing Bergeron and Krejci from last year most of the prognosticators didn't even have the Bruins making the playoffs. Looking at what they put on the ice, I don't see an elite team either, Maroon, Van Riemsdyck, Beecher, Brozeau, Shattenkirk, Bovquist ,Witherspoon. Almost looks like a roster set up to be a draft lottery team.

I don't have a vested interest in this years playoffs, other than getting the best draft position with Tampa's pick. I was hoping for 18 or 19, but I've resigned myself to the fact that the Hawks will end up with #20. Either way, I'm sure KD will attempt to move up in the draft.
- DarthKane

Last year in a deep draft, when KFC attempted to move up a few spots from 19, no one would take 19 and a 2nd.

The draft is not so deep this year, so a team may accept 20 and a 2nd to drop down a few spots . But who out there at maybe 14-17 would Davidson be interested in?

With losing Bergeron and Krejci from last year most of the prognosticators didn't even have the Bruins making the playoffs. Looking at what they put on the ice, I don't see an elite team either, Maroon, Van Riemsdyck, Beecher, Brozeau, Shattenkirk, Bovquist ,Witherspoon. Almost looks like a roster set up to be a draft lottery team.
- LAHawk

Yeah, I was thinking last night, Who are these guys?

I noticed that the Bruins are carrying 9 defensemen on their playoff roster, but Mitchell and Regula aren't among them.

Yeah, I was thinking last night, Who are these guys?

I noticed that the Bruins are carrying 9 defensemen on their playoff roster, but Mitchell and Regula aren't among them.
- boilermaker100

That is why they are tied 3-3. It would have been a sweep if they were on the ice.

That's really the nice thing about a 7 game series. You get to see the team make adjustments. Both Leafs and Stars are getting back defensively and gumming up the house. There's been no time and space for 4 of those teams. It goes to show when push comes to shove you need those sharp shooters to score goals. That shot by Davydov between the defenders legs and off the shoulder neck helmet from a terrible angle was something else.

Sorry meant Dadonov

That's really the nice thing about a 7 game series. You get to see the team make adjustments. Both Leafs and Stars are getting back defensively and gumming up the house. There's been no time and space for 4 of those teams. It goes to show when push comes to shove you need those sharp shooters to score goals. That shot by Davydov between the defenders legs and off the shoulder neck helmet from a terrible angle was something else.

Sorry meant Dadonov
- BetweenTheDots

Be interesting to see if Toronto can keep playing the hard defensive game they have the last two games? That kind of hockey is difficult to play, you get hurt playing it, it’s not as gratifying stepping in front of pucks as it is scoring goals. I expect the physicality to get ramped up even more.

Leafs play much better without Mathews. Maybe he's been the problem all along.
- boilermaker100

They are actually playing better defense, they’re clogging up the middle of the ice, making it hard for the Bruins to get clean entries. Will they commit to that game plan when Mathews returns, we’ll see.

I find it somewhat amusing that Boston's helmet sponsor sticker is The Toronto Dominion Bank.
- SaskHawkFan

Belle Tire is the Hawks helmet sponsor and they're a Detroit based business.

Belle Tire is the Hawks helmet sponsor and they're a Detroit based business.
- HawkintheD

I saw a Belle Tire outlet when I was up north a couple of weeks ago, looks like they’re infiltrating the Chicago market.

I saw a Belle Tire outlet when I was up north a couple of weeks ago, looks like they’re infiltrating the Chicago market.
- Angotti

Sounds like Bettman is using these regional corporations to infiltrate select hockey teams.

The Bruins did the same collapse against the Panthers with Hall and Foligno last year
- LAHawk

Yeah, but that's the Panthers. They'd annihilate the Leafs with those two on the team.

Yeah, I was thinking last night, Who are these guys?

I noticed that the Bruins are carrying 9 defensemen on their playoff roster, but Mitchell and Regula aren't among them.
- boilermaker100

I noticed that Regula had an outstanding plus/minus rating all season long with farm club. Doesn't mean too much or representative enough of solid performance

BTW no chance Bulion - the dman from Denver - would turn out to be like Mitchell. Size strength concern. No?

I noticed that Regula had an outstanding plus/minus rating all season long with farm club. Doesn't mean too much or representative enough of solid performance

BTW no chance Bulion - the dman from Denver - would turn out to be like Mitchell. Size strength concern. No?
- jhawk59

What do you surmise Buium’s ceiling to be? Henceforth I’m thinking KD may be considering a defenseman as the initial draft pick.

Montgomery calling out Pastranak. Says he's got to play better. Pasta has just disappeared lately. Do or die for both teams Saturday night.
- boilermaker100

Outside of Swayman, the entire Bruins team needs to step up. Pastranak needs to score, Marchand needs to stay out of the penalty box while still playing with grit.

Saturday's game has the potential to be the best game of the playoffs (at least of the 1st round) or a total embarrassment for one of the team.

(frank) you! You’re just doing that to spite me!
- paulr

Between not completely hating the Leafs, and what I'm going to say next, I'm not going to be well liked here.

I just watched the full Seth Jones end of season media session. I like him a lot more now. I think he suffers from Eli Manning/Jay Cutler disease. It "looks" like he doesn't care much, but when you hear him talk about the year, he's just frustrated. I think his points on things like guys wanting to be strong 4th line players, and needing an "A-hole" in the room. I think him having a consistent partner in Vlasic will help as well.

Is he going to live up to what we expect with his contract? No, but I think he'll be a lot better next year - especially on a team with theoretically better players.

With losing Bergeron and Krejci from last year most of the prognosticators didn't even have the Bruins making the playoffs. Looking at what they put on the ice, I don't see an elite team either, Maroon, Van Riemsdyck, Beecher, Brozeau, Shattenkirk, Bovquist ,Witherspoon. Almost looks like a roster set up to be a draft lottery team.
- LAHawk

Yhey have a good system.

They are actually playing better defense, they’re clogging up the middle of the ice, making it hard for the Bruins to get clean entries. Will they commit to that game plan when Mathews returns, we’ll see.
- Angotti

Matthees assist numbers tell me all i need to know.

So what should the Kings do with Pierre-Luc Dubois? After a disappointing regular reason he was even worse in the playoffs.

If they can buy him out prior to him turning 26 the cap hit would be $1.1 million for 14 years (yes, 14 years). If they buy him our at age 26 the cost is about $2.1 million.

Before anyone suggests it...I would not trade Jones for Dubois. I would much rather have Jones on the Hawks.

Matthees assist numbers tell me all i need to know.
- LFS

Mathews this season 81 games, 69 G/38 A. Career 562 games, 368 G/281 A

Eiserman this season for the US U18 team - 54 games, 55 G & 31 A

I see a similarity.

So what should the Kings do with Pierre-Luc Dubois? After a disappointing regular reason he was even worse in the playoffs.

If they can buy him out prior to him turning 26 the cap hit would be $1.1 million for 14 years (yes, 14 years). If they buy him our at age 26 the cost is about $2.1 million.

Before anyone suggests it...I would not trade Jones for Dubois. I would much rather have Jones on the Hawks.
- DarthKane

Speaking of PLD ....

https://thehockeynews.com...he-worst-in-the-nhl-today

So what should the Kings do with Pierre-Luc Dubois? After a disappointing regular reason he was even worse in the playoffs.

If they can buy him out prior to him turning 26 the cap hit would be $1.1 million for 14 years (yes, 14 years). If they buy him our at age 26 the cost is about $2.1 million.

Before anyone suggests it...I would not trade Jones for Dubois. I would much rather have Jones on the Hawks.
- DarthKane

I think they will try to make it work with him and hope to get him going.

I have to say, kudos to the Leafs on not rolling over and losing. They have pushed back and stayed alive. I think Matthews being out has been one of those moments where they realized they needed to step up to try to fill the gap and it worked out so far. I say so far, because I feel like fate is setting up the Leafs to take a lead into the 3rd period of game 7 and blow it. I don't have a horse in the race, so I don't care either way, but just feels like a very Maple Leafs thing to happen again vs Boston.

I think they will try to make it work with him and hope to get him going.
- breadbag

That’s really all LAK can do at this point? It was a mistake for Blake to trade for PLD in the first place - that guy was a problem in two previous organizations. What made him think PLD would be different in LA is beyond me?

“When someone shows you who they are - believe them the first time…”

Sounds like Bettman is using these regional corporations to infiltrate select hockey teams.
- paulr

??… Not sure where Bettman comes in as far as individual teams revenue from advertising, or am I missing the sarcasm? Then it’s time for that Superman gif.

What do you surmise Buium’s ceiling to be? Henceforth I’m thinking KD may be considering a defenseman as the initial draft pick.
- paulr

I spent hours of mental gymanstics trying to adjust the defenseman prospects to a better possible draft outcome of the "attractiveness" of where they possibly get selected.

No one is fooling themselves that the reason this draft stays "thicker neared to the top" is the strength of this classes rearguards.

(I can happily assure that I think the entire draft is also a thick mid-base talent and even a later long development group that will have teams selecting them because of their possible upsides. I almost want to predict that there will be a record number of defenseman selected.)

Teams have seen the college Dee prospects play against stronger older attackers. Zeev Buium, Artyom Levshunov have to get props in that area.
And I think lots of talk will inviolve IF Buium is a strong candidate for an early selection.
Using the strength attribute would push down Zanye Parehk w/o calling out his abiklities as apossible NHL defender. (I don't think NHL teams have any trepidation in Sam Richardinson all-around strength and two-way play, just his ceiling offensively.

Another wild card is the wild Carter Yakemchuk who is not close to ready but sure looking like a kid with NHL abilities once he refines them with pro experience. . (Imagine if a team takes him and like KK, he stays with on the job experience for an entire season!)

Let's add another wild card Russian giant who everyone loved at first only to eventual on the idea tha his strengths ei. giant who uses his strong stick to steal pucks away, is impossible to beat of the rush, and the fact that at his size he can hit players (of any age) and they know they have been checked.
Silayev's offensive side as a future NHLer is questionable, as his offensive hockey sense and effectiveness and creativity are not strengths; he is an easy read as he is basic in what he does in transition and most touches are ok unless he is rushed and then the door opens for turnovers because he seems easy to predict in his touches. I am not going to even attempt to disuade your thought on a powerful hitting Russian who footwork is SO nimble and can due to his wingspan doesn't get beat wide.
But there is now after the intital hype to suggest he lingers past the top ten.

The story of the Irseal born Buium brothers who loved and picked hockey as their passion and were pretty good at it, a great story:
https://nchchockey.com/ne...key-journey-pays-off.aspx