All the D combinations are problematic because...Canucks.
We don't have a great top 6 and any combination leaves holes.

The obvious imo is:
Edler/Tanev
MDZ/Guds
Hutton/Stetch

Our best 2 dmen on the top pairing.
MDZ and Guds could complement each other well.
That bottom pairing would be exposed, but as someone mentioned you could try to protect them. Or rotate in a more solid stayathome guy like Weircoch if necessary.

I also would consider:
Edler-Stetcher
Hutton-Tanev
MDZ-Gudbranson

Stetch is clearly not a top Dman yet, but that spreads out the talent better imo.
- dbot

that is better.
Of course this is just a lineup, in game adjustments will likely give edler / tanev the real tough assignments still if needed. Of perhaps tanev EG combo for very tough ones

The NHL is making a very interesting rule change for the 2017-18 season, introducing a harsher penalty for one particular video review.

From now on, a failed offside challenge will result in a two-minute penalty against the club asking for the review. It’s a potentially powerful infraction. Can you imagine a team in a tight game giving up a goal it thought was offside, losing the challenge, then having to withstand an immediate power-play opportunity? It’s going to make bench bosses much more wary — and ratchet up the pressure on video coaches.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...asking-offside-challenge/


hmmm. i am not a fan of that offside rule, so, i suppose this helps limit them, but i'd be good with just getting rid of it all together. Keep the goalie interference challenges tho.
- dbot

Ive never been a fan of the offside video review. If it isnt obvious enough to be caught be the linesman then BFD.
BUt to take it further and assign a penalty for what could amount to 1/10th of a second for being offside in review is ridiculous. 2 min for that? Same as a boarding penalty, crosschecking, charging etc.
This brings back my assertion that non contact penalties should be penalized differently than contact penalties. Otherwise as an nhl player I take teeth out every game I play

I think this is a start at least ...teams won't just challenge because they can ...you better be more sure than not
- Redmile247

yes some coaches would use it as a means to rest their players when unable by regulation to make the change. It is a coaches role to find every advantage possible.

However as I said above non contact penalties should differ in the penalty from contact penalties. Perhaps 1 min is more appropriate for this case where microseconds can determine a penalty as opposed to a boarding call where a dangerous hit can mean an injury, surgery or even career

yes some coaches would use it as a means to rest their players when unable by regulation to make the change. It is a coaches role to find every advantage possible.

However as I said above non contact penalties should differ in the penalty from contact penalties. Perhaps 1 min is more appropriate for this case where microseconds can determine a penalty as opposed to a boarding call where a dangerous hit can mean an injury, surgery or even career
- SMBDragon

The idea is to stop coaches from challenging those ticky tacky offside by a millimetre goals ...coaches would constantly challenge a goal even if they didn't think they could win ...now the penalty is a way to stop this from happening constantly

The idea is to stop coaches from challenging those ticky tacky offside by a millimetre goals ...coaches would constantly challenge a goal even if they didn't think they could win ...now the penalty is a way to stop this from happening constantly
- Redmile247

absolutely it is. Thats really pretty obvious
If you re read, my point is it should be a 1min penalty as opposed to 2 min which is what contact penalties are.

yes some coaches would use it as a means to rest their players when unable by regulation to make the change. It is a coaches role to find every advantage possible.

However as I said above non contact penalties should differ in the penalty from contact penalties. Perhaps 1 min is more appropriate for this case where microseconds can determine a penalty as opposed to a boarding call where a dangerous hit can mean an injury, surgery or even career
- SMBDragon

Honestly, I feel any contact penalty (like boarding/checking from behind/headshot/slashing/spearing/kneeing/etc.) should be an automatic 5min major penalty and a game misconduct. If the NHL would have the balls to do that, you'd get a LOT of the Marchands of the world out of the game and cut down on injuries and eliminate so-called 'hockey plays' which are euphemisms for wanting to light someone up and send a message.

The idea is to stop coaches from challenging those ticky tacky offside by a millimetre goals ...coaches would constantly challenge a goal even if they didn't think they could win ...now the penalty is a way to stop this from happening constantly
- Redmile247

Just get the calls right...that's all we need.

“Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run, but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant.”
- Marwood

Hunter S. Thompson - Fear and Loathing in LV... Right before "Get Together" by The Youngbloods plays.

absolutely it is. Thats really pretty obvious
If you re read, my point is it should be a 1min penalty as opposed to 2 min which is what contact penalties are.
- SMBDragon

a 1 minute penalty?!?! That's ridiculous. The game has already changed so much, no need to alter the length of penalties too.

a 1 minute penalty?!?! That's ridiculous. The game has already changed so much, no need to alter the length of penalties too.
- Codes1087

Reports on Twitter Horvat's contract will be announced today? No one reputable though.

absolutely it is. Thats really pretty obvious
If you re read, my point is it should be a 1min penalty as opposed to 2 min which is what contact penalties are.
- SMBDragon

Preposterous. Blasphemy.

Pfffft... "1 minute penalties"

Reports on Twitter Horvat's contract will be announced today? No one reputable though.
- LeftCoaster

Hopefully they announce things like this in between NFL games, I wouldn't want to miss it.

Reports on Twitter Horvat's contract will be announced today? No one reputable though.
- LeftCoaster

Exciting!

What do you guys think he signs for... $5.5M x 6-8yrs? Does Bo hit $6M per?

Exciting!

What do you guys think he signs for... $5.5M x 6-8yrs? Does Bo hit $6M per?
- As_I_See_It

He can't make more than the Sedins or Eriksson.

absolutely it is. Thats really pretty obvious
If you re read, my point is it should be a 1min penalty as opposed to 2 min which is what contact penalties are.
- SMBDragon

This is just ridiculousness

Just get the calls right...that's all we need.
- LordHumungous

So you like the 20 minute replay followed by a no goal call because the skate blade is a millimetre off the ice ?

Exciting!

What do you guys think he signs for... $5.5M x 6-8yrs? Does Bo hit $6M per?
- As_I_See_It

More than he should?

More than he should?
- DraftandDestroy

and in your humble opinion, what should he be paid?

absolutely it is. Thats really pretty obvious
If you re read, my point is it should be a 1min penalty as opposed to 2 min which is what contact penalties are.
- SMBDragon

Maybe you want to reword that and just make the contact ones double. Leave the 2 minutes to these minor delay of game or unsportsmen like infractions.

Though I wouldn't be opposed to what Darius suggested on potential dangerous ones to be 5 and a game.

He can't make more than the Sedins or Eriksson.
- VanHockeyGuy

and in your humble opinion, what should he be paid?
- Codes1087

Depends how many years they sign him for. Just wondering if he can repeat the 50 point season. If he falls back to 40 points 5.5 is too much.

Depends how many years they sign him for. Just wondering if he can repeat the 50 point season. If he falls back to 40 points 5.5 is too much.
- DraftandDestroy

If he gets a decent 2nd winger, than I have no doubt he can repeat. He mainly played with Sven, but the first few games I believe he was on the 4th line... Willy.. I think if he gets a solid 2nd winger, consistently over the season, like Boeser or Granlund or Ericsson or Gagner even, he can replicate his point totals from last season. I would personally like to see him around the 5.3 mark, as opposed to 6 million or a little under.

Honestly, I feel any contact penalty (like boarding/checking from behind/headshot/slashing/spearing/kneeing/etc.) should be an automatic 5min major penalty and a game misconduct. If the NHL would have the balls to do that, you'd get a LOT of the Marchands of the world out of the game and cut down on injuries and eliminate so-called 'hockey plays' which are euphemisms for wanting to light someone up and send a message.
- DariusKnight

Sorta related: George Parros expected to be named new head of NHL Safety.

I think he's actually a good choice for it, as he has played the role of enforcer and on that fine line of dirty hockey. He suffered a few too many concussions and will want to (hopefully) help prevent others from the same fate now that hes had to step away from the game

If he gets a decent 2nd winger, than I have no doubt he can repeat. He mainly played with Sven, but the first few games I believe he was on the 4th line... Willy.. I think if he gets a solid 2nd winger, consistently over the season, like Boeser or Granlund or Ericsson or Gagner even, he can replicate his point totals from last season. I would personally like to see him around the 5.3 mark, as opposed to 6 million or a little under.
- Codes1087

While I really liked his game last season, I think I agree with Belcher's lineup with Granlund on the 3rd line. I think he is a prime candidate to regress this year, but hopefully he still provides a solid 2-way game and chips in a bit