I think they send Konecny back to junior for another year. Hopefully they can move some of the current D at the draft. I'm kind of apprehensive about what Edmonton does and how it might affect what Hextall does with the Defensive prospects in the system. There's going to be a lot of offensive talent in the wind that could be enticing.

I think Hakstol is pretty happy with his choice. He'll be glued to the TV the next two nights rooting for his boys.
- mayorofangrytown

Only tomorrow night. UND beat Denver to get to the Championship game against Quinnipiac.

Edit: You think he'd really be happy? Obviously if asked he would say he was, but if I did a job for a decade, and someone replaced me in year one and superseded my best result that would stick in my craw for a long time. Human nature for anyone who is competitive.

Why the (frank) are you always so god damn negative? I mean, really, why do you always put things in the worst possible light?
- jmatchett383

Living up to his username! NOT

Giving awards to players who proceed to go out and lose to the worst team in the sport. What a concept.
- PLindbergh31

Leafs have enough talent though when you give them open ice

Then neither does NYI, which means they should just roll over and die for us on Sunday, correct? So all we need to do is beat Pittsburgh, who already have second place locked up. So we're a lock to make it, sweet!
- jmatchett383

did you see the way the Rangers played the Isles? Beating the Pens is going to be a tall order but hey, stranger things have happened

Love the optimism As infuriated as I was at the conclusion of last night's game, I still have hope that they can get the points they need to squeak in. This team doesn't roll over and die easily
- aantny88

I hope you're right. I would love nothing better but it was right there for them the last two games and honestly, I don't think they showed for 4 periods. It's frustrating. I'd prefer to be positive. I just can't find it given the the new hole they've dug and the up coming opponents.

There's no reason they shouldn't be in.

Hey, we have three chances to hit the lottery this year!!!

Only tomorrow night. UND beat Denver to get to the Championship game against Quinnipiac.
- PLindbergh31

Crap. I totally missed that. I thought those games were tonight.

I hope you're right. I would love nothing better but it was right there for them the last two games and honestly, I don't think they showed for 4 periods. It's frustrating. I'd prefer to be positive. I just can't find it given the the new hole they've dug and the up coming opponents.

There's no reason they shouldn't be in.

Hey, we have three chances to hit the lottery this year!!!

- mayorofangrytown

Nope! Pessimism/negative = troll/not a fan. Because the internet said so.

Ottawa wins 3-1.

Flyers win 4-2.

Flyers go to playoffs.

Neuvirth starts Sunday

All is good.

Nope! Constant Pessimism/negative = troll/not a fan. Because the internet said so.
- PLindbergh31

FTFY.

Have to think Provorov is a lock to make it, and I think Konecny has a good chance too.

Could you imagine being Hakstol tomorrow night being eliminated from the NHL playoffs, and having a UND team he coached for a decade win the National Championship? I'd only put the odds at 5%, but that would be brutal.
- PLindbergh31

All he will have is a his huge, guaranteed contract with the Flyers and the likelihood of players like Provorov, Morin and Sanheim being on his team by the end of next season.

We'll be lucky if he doesn't hang himself.

You mean like how Pittsburgh was without Fleury and Malkin when we played them last weekend, which guaranteed us a win?
- jmatchett383

And playing the Marlies last night.

Like the Leafs and Jackets.

They're toast.

They should be in by now. Having relegated myself over the summer to them not making the playoffs it's been really disappointing to see them get this close and fold under the pressure. The last thing I want to see is this team just miss the playoffs and pick 14th.

On the flip side, they've moved some problematic contracts and opened up some spots on the roster for the younger guys and I look forward to seeing who pushes for a roster spot next season.
- mayorofangrytown

That's kind of harsh, imho. You can definitely see they are starting to run out of gas. The question is, is there still enough in the tank to get it done?

I hope you're right. I would love nothing better but it was right there for them the last two games and honestly, I don't think they showed for 4 periods. It's frustrating. I'd prefer to be positive. I just can't find it given the the new hole they've dug and the up coming opponents.

There's no reason they shouldn't be in.

Hey, we have three chances to hit the lottery this year!!!

- mayorofangrytown

I agree...they had the table set for them last night and they poop the bed by not coming out ready to play in the first period. The Detroit game was even worse, as they seemed to be going through the motions out there. I am ultra frustrated with them too, but until they are officially eliminated, I still hold on to that little glimmer of hope!

I think that is overrated about teams wanting to eliminate other teams. Do you think Ottawa and the Rags have any motivation to send the B's and Wings packing? I don't.
- PLindbergh31

Extra motivatioin? I don't know. I would say that Pittsburgh does, though.

Anyway, I am of the opinion that all players want to win, regardless of the circumstances, so I wouldn't expect Ottawa or the Rangers to just go through the motions not caring at all.

Like the Leafs and Jackets.

They're toast.

They should be in by now. Having relegated myself over the summer to them not making the playoffs it's been really disappointing to see them get this close and fold under the pressure. The last thing I want to see is this team just miss the playoffs and pick 14th.

On the flip side, they've moved some problematic contracts and opened up some spots on the roster for the younger guys and I look forward to seeing who pushes for a roster spot next season.
- mayorofangrytown

Its been one hell of a ride. Their rings are being made as we speak

Edit: You think he'd really be happy? Obviously if asked he would say he was, but if I did a job for a decade, and someone replaced me in year one and superseded my best result that would stick in my craw for a long time. Human nature for anyone who is competitive.
- PLindbergh31

Well, were I in his shoes, given that I voluntarily left for a job in the NHL I wouldn't be bothered at all by the coach who followed me winning it all.

Well, were I in his shoes, given that I voluntarily left for a job in the NHL I wouldn't be bothered at all by the coach who followed me winning it all.
- Scoob

I think if North Dakota won Haks would be ecstatic for them.

Well, given that I voluntarily left for a job in the NHL I wouldn't be bothered at all by the coach who followed me winning it all.
- Scoob

That is a fair point. An NHL job is a promotion from college. Plus he has kids he coached and recruited on the team so I think he'd genuinely be happy for them.
But you understand where I'm coming from right? In general you could see where a situation perhaps not exactly like that one could eat at some one right?

I think if North Dakota won Haks would be ecstatic for them.
- MBFlyerfan

Agreed.

All he will have is a his huge, guaranteed contract with the Flyers and the likelihood of players like Provorov, Morin and Sanheim being on his team by the end of next season.

We'll be lucky if he doesn't hang himself.
- Feanor

Not to mention he can take his guaranteed money and have his choice of jobs back in college if he chooses. The guy really has backed himself in a corner. The dummy.


I believe Hakstol has come as advertised . A very good teacher of the game. Still needs to improve on game management, but I feel he is the right coach at the right time with the prospects in the pipeline getting close to the NHL.

That's kind of harsh, imho. You can definitely see they are starting to run out of gas. The question is, is there still enough in the tank to get it done?
- Scoob

See I don't get the running out of gas commentary. All the teams in the league are playing 82 games, some will be playing another 20 or so. Why aren't Detroit and Boston running out of gas? They've been winning a lot of games lately. It should be easier to play when you're winning.

IMO they've let that Pittsburgh game snowball them. It got in their heads.

That is a fair point. An NHL job is a promotion from college. Plus he has kids he coached and recruited on the team so I think he'd genuinely be happy for them.
But you understand where I'm coming from right? In general you could see where a situation perhaps not exactly like that one could eat at some one right?
- PLindbergh31

Sure, again, in his shoes, were I fired/demoted and then the next guy came in I might feel differently although I'd still be happy for the kids I coached/recruited.

Sure, again, in his shoes, were I fired/demoted and then the next guy came in I might feel differently although I'd still be happy for the kids I coached/recruited.
- Scoob

Agreed!

So you think Berube is rooting for the Flyers to make the playoffs?

When the Flyers tied the game with under a minute left, they showed him in the studio, it looked like someone punched him in the stomach.

I don't have any reason to believe Sullivan to be petty for a Rivalry he really hasn't been much apart of (Pitt vs Philly). He will play smart, and make the Pens do so as well. If that means sitting Crosby and Letang in his mind, he'll do it.

Having that 14 of 15 won going into the playoffs pretty much gives him martial law for the remainder of this NHL year, no?
- Guile

kuhnackel and crew will still be enuf to beat us

See I don't get the running out of gas commentary. All the teams in the league are playing 82 games, some will be playing another 20 or so. Why aren't Detroit and Boston running out of gas? They've been winning a lot of games lately. It should be easier to play when you're winning.

IMO they've let that Pittsburgh game snowball them. It got in their heads.
- mayorofangrytown

I think BigE summed it up best a few pages ago.

They have a D filled with #4,5,6 type guys.

Jake who they need to dominate to win big games has come up lame.

They don't have the depth that other teams do top to bottom through the line up.

They have overachieved to get to this point, and things are catching up to them.