Since +/- is the NHL's worst stat, I thought it would make sense to appropriate it and make it useful as we review the best and worst of the past week in the NHL.
PLUS: The L.A Kings being eliminated. I mean, who doesn't want to see Joe Thornton have some Playoff success?, but seeing the Kings go down is a great feeling.
Like no offense, but seeing the Kings/Hawks win all the time is boring.
Now, the interesting thing to see will be if they panic and make stupid moves because of missing the Playoffs last year and going out in the first round this year, even though they are/were arguably the best team in the NHL in both years.
We get so tied up in results, that often we don't pay any attention to anything else. But, realistically, there is no reason the Kings can't come back next season and win the Cup with the roster they have.
I am sure that some - well if you can't say anything nice - guys will say that one Playoff game in two years is a failure, but come on. It's bad luck what happened to them, but they're still currently among the NHL's elite teams.
MINUS: I was just looking up the salary cap situation of the Rangers and wow! it is not pretty.
They have Marc Staal and Dan Giardi locked up for six and five more years, respectively. They have Rick Nash for three more years @ almost 8 mill.
They are going to pay the alright Derek Stepan $6.5 for the next six years while the Leafs pay the younger, massively superior Nazem Kadri two million less/year for the same amount of time.
Also, even though Lundqvist is 34, they still have to pay him almost nine million for the next five years.
PLUS: More credit should go to the Ducks for not firing Bruce Boudreau when pretty much everyone figured they would. Boudreau is a great coach and the Ducks are one of the best teams in hockey, and they're fun to watch.
However, I do find it extremely disappointing that he fails to conduct his post-game interviews in a Louisiana accent.
PLUS: Mitch Marner. Have you seen what this kid is doing to the OHL Playoffs? He has 29 points in 11 games, and if you take away his power-play points, he still averages 2 5v5 points per game.
The Leafs have him and William Nylander. After a decade in the wilderness, I think we can literally plan the parade.
MINUS: All the cynicism in sports. Blue Jays player Chris Colabello was suspended and denied taking the drugs. Basically everyone's response was "Sure, buddy, everyone says that."
Personally, I believe him. No qualifications. I mean, everyone denies taking drugs, but not all of them can be lying.
MINUS: Anyone surprised by the Panthers not being very good in the Playoffs. I told you were they basically one good line and a goalie. But what a line.
PLUS: Sasha Barkov, along with Nikita Kucherov, are two guys who are just becoming absolutely dominant. I would tune into watch a game specifically just for them.
PLUS: Speaking of young players who are the best. I can't get enough of Hampus Lindholm. Everything about this guy is awesome. First, his name is Hampus. Second, he looks like Hans Gruber's younger brother, and the potential star of Die Hard 6. Third, he is a flat-out amazing hockey player, and potentially looking to usurp OEL as the best Swedish Defenseman in the NHL.
MINUS: James Reimer - who's statistics say that he was one of the best goalies in the NHL this year - was acquired by a team that doesn't use him, even though they probably should, basically for free, while Detroit, Philadelphia, Nashville, (arguably) L.A, the Islanders, Stars and Wild all entered the Playoffs with worse goalies.
Whoever needs a goalie this offseason should make Reimer a priority.
MINUS: UFC. I just do not see the appeal. It's terrible. Also, basically the sports equivalent to having one of those trucks where it's lifted up real high.
PLUS: The Sharks win. And how can you not love it? Thornton and Marleau are two guys who deserve some Playoff success. They're just easy to cheer for. And how about the twist of fate that saw Brent Burns as a millionaire and not a guy living behind a store in a home-made cardboard house?
What's not to love?
PLUS: I watched Lethal Weapon 2 yesterday for perhaps the 30th time in my life. Few movies are able to penetrate to the very emotional core of a person. With the best acting, special effects and score in cinematic history, I find it extremely weird that Richard Donner isn't respected on an Orson Wells-esque level.
PLUS: One week from the draft lottery!!!
PLUS: Friday's performance by Michael Nuevirth was one of the best I've ever seen.
PLUS: Happy birthday to my gramma, who almost certainly does not read this column. But still, we love you Gramma!
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