NSH has three guys that you have to really worry about (Johansen, Forsberg, and Arvidsson). They play an annoying 1-3-1 which goads skill/possession teams into making risky/bad plays which lead to turnovers and they do most of their damage off the rush. They are not really all that good at keeping zone possession. They do work hard and forecheck pretty well, but ultimately they are like the 2010-2015 Wild. They try really hard, but don't have the horses.
- Chunk

Yeah if you try to get cute against them they'll eat you up but because they play that 1-3-1 if you dump it in and just hammer away they can't do much. Basically they either have to break up your plays in the neutral zone or interfere with you as you chase the dump in.

So is Trashville's HOF GM going to fire Hynes? He hasn't done any better than Laviolette. And if the Wild beat Vegas, what does that mean for DeBoer?
- LAHawk

Very unlikely that the Wild win game seven, but I’ll be rooting for them.

Very unlikely that the Wild win game seven, but I’ll be rooting for them.
- Angotti

Agreed. i'd like to see at least one upset in the first round.

Agreed. i'd like to see at least one upset in the first round.
- BINGO!

Although very unlikely to happen, the upset I want to see is Montreal upsetting the Leaves.

So is Trashville's HOF GM going to fire Hynes? He hasn't done any better than Laviolette. And if the Wild beat Vegas, what does that mean for DeBoer?
- LAHawk

It just means that there will be more coaches available that are better than Colliton.

The best part for me is that Evason (coach of the Wild) didn't have any success as a head coach prior to his being named head coach of the Wild. He literally won a single playoff game in his tenure as the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals (2012-2018). The rest were sweep losses or did not qualify.

Nylander has three things in his favor. He skates well, and that is important in the league today. He's also cheap, which is also important. Third, Stan traded the next Bobby Orr for him. And no GM wants to see a trade like that fail.
- mohel

Bobby Orr, come on aren't you being a little overly dramatic? I would say Paul Coffey.

Who the hell is Bergman?
- Chunk

Whoever he is he'll suck too.

Although very unlikely to happen, the upset I want to see is Montreal upsetting the Leaves.
- paulr

Very, very unlikely, but I’d love to see that as well, more so than the Wild upset, but the Wild have better odds of advancing than the Habs.

Very unlikely that the Wild win game seven, but I’ll be rooting for them.
- Angotti

Weird to be rooting for a MN team (me anyway) but I'm with you. I know it's not the same but there was a time where the Stars, not the Preds, occupied the top step for most hated.

Very unlikely that the Wild win game seven, but I’ll be rooting for them.
- Angotti

That's why they play the games. Nothing is unlikely with MAF in net especially a game 7, consider net minders to be equal tonight

Weird to be rooting for a MN team (me anyway) but I'm with you. I know it's not the same but there was a time where the Stars, not the Preds, occupied the top step for most hated.
- HawkintheD

Always has been the Blows for me.

How often do these first round pedigree reclamation projects succeed? I keep in mind that the NHL draft is about evaluating 18 year olds. There is a lot of uncertainty. When players are 21, we have more information by which to evaluate.

Weird to be rooting for a MN team (me anyway) but I'm with you. I know it's not the same but there was a time where the Stars, not the Preds, occupied the top step for most hated.
- HawkintheD

My "hate" for MN was team rivalry, not fan stupidity.

Whoever he is he'll suck too.
- HawkintheD

Nice. If either of Nylander or Borgstrom were to become a valuable NHL player, I hope it’s Borgstrom as good centers with size/talent are hard to find.

My "hate" for MN was team rivalry, not fan stupidity.
- LAHawk

Though anyone who isn’t a Hawk fan is stupid.

Yeah, have had to suffer through a Pred feed a few times. They are one of the announcing teams that have stuck out among the worst for blatant homerism along with the Bruin crew.
While I agree Foley has outlived his shelf life I think he'd be fine if he'd stick to calling the game...both him and Edzo. Edzo probably bends too far the other way in trying to be objective but I will give Pat that, in that he's pretty even handed.

- HawkintheD

The other night here in St. Pete, when flipping between games, I realized that the Tampa loc al feed wasn't the only option so I quickly went to the network (not sure if it was a Canadian or NBC US) because I simply cannot stand Brian Engblom and his play by play partner.

Sao many team different younger roster addition had me go back to having sound on so I get the players correct.
It doesn't take long to know if the broad asa team comes from one of the two team's playing.
I understand when doing their local telecasts, they are selling a 2nd class sport, that6 was once ahead of the NBA in viewers, and they want to catch up, sell seats, pennants, and soda pop.
I already started composing letters with suggestions for the new 2021-22 ESPN and having announcers who call or comment w/o the attached bravado on why actions happened, on how they were basically their team's PR spin. Their best players were elite, their middle six above the middle six of others and their goalie, and role guys are just premium grader and to be feared.

I guess I want you to learn by watching and hearing, not a false narrative, but maybe why it didn't work, how the other team DOES have strengths the home team is having trouble overcoming.

Why do I NOT want the play by play by a side macho few seconds of how is "The Big Rig" Patrick Maroon, is SO solidi!!!! "They didn't know they were attempting that with the "Big Rig...."

I think my favorite is praise for the goalies elite abilities, only for a goal to get scored in the next two minutes.
It is a team game and a lot of players have to do a lot of good stuff for tags to happen.

and I really understand the places that Ovi, and Stamkos, Kucherov, and Pastrnak set up...but is it me? Do I need other of the deadly threat they are over calling the game EVERY game over and over?

I am admitting that at very least Pierre McGuire try to delver praise on both defense and offense and set-ups & little nuances, really well no matter who is ahead at the time.
I have no trouble with any mentions of the current momentum, because all of us here with long history with the sport, pick up when one team seems to start ramping up for long periods.
I just do not care for building a jingo like foundation of words/opinions that seem based win that 3 - O lead.

But I think if a fan of team X turns on a network broadcast they don't have to put up with the continued praises for almost every player on the local broadocast team's sites.
and would it kill the to say, "Anthony Cirelli mishandles it, gave up to Seth Jones who quickly thread the needle on a long transition pass...?"

To get there in the playoffs both teams players did thing that set them apart the other 16 non playoff teams. Build ff that - don't magnify it to juggernaut status only bro change the narrative with the net round.

yeah foley and Eddie are not close to being homers compared to the rest of the league.

I just think sensible descriptions helps when your team is on the downslide..If Bernie Federko spends two seasons calling the Blue's the Cup juggernaut where is reality for the fan's now.

Or maybe the goal is selling the product with unreasonable expectations and realities...

Always has been the Blows for me.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yes, both Minny and Blues, but for the most part those rivalries were more respectful, unlike the Pred fans and their blogger is a piece of work as well.

How often do these first round pedigree reclamation projects succeed? I keep in mind that the NHL draft is about evaluating 18 year olds. There is a lot of uncertainty. When players are 21, we have more information by which to evaluate.
- 333inthe3rd

It's tough to really say and I think it depends on what you classify as "succeed". Pretty much none of them ever live up to the initial hype. Most first round picks are over-hyped in general because teams are under the microscope so much on their picks.

Ultimately, I think it depends what you give up to get them. If you didn't give up much or they were tossed in as part of a deal, then if they can play a regular role, you can probably say they succeed.

STILL PRAYING TOEWS RETURN SO WE CAN WIN A FACE OFF

STILL PRAYING TOEWS RETURN SO WE CAN WIN A FACE OFF
- Ging72

YES, YES, WHAT HE SAID.

Always has been the Blows for me.
- Ogilthorpe2

I know and I admire your steadfastness. They're about a half step down of the Preds. When the Wings get good again they'll be a half step above them or maybe it will have all switched around again. My hatred's apparently fluid.

With all the usual suspects gone the Canucks are way down the list where they were once right there with Detroit.

Goalie Matt Tomkins signs a one year deal in Sweden.

It's tough to really say and I think it depends on what you classify as "succeed". Pretty much none of them ever live up to the initial hype. Most first round picks are over-hyped in general because teams are under the microscope so much on their picks.

Ultimately, I think it depends what you give up to get them. If you didn't give up much or they were tossed in as part of a deal, then if they can play a regular role, you can probably say they succeed.
- breadbag

Frolik would be a good example by your definition. De Haan might have been if not for the devastating injuries.

In MLB, the greatest reclamation success story I saw was Josh Hamilton. A fallen former overall #1 who finally made good, even if the success didn't stay forever.

Frolik would be a good example by your definition. De Haan might have been if not for the devastating injuries.

In MLB, the greatest reclamation success story I saw was Josh Hamilton. A fallen former overall #1 who finally made good, even if the success didn't stay forever.
- 333inthe3rd

Yes but Hamilton was a stud with drug issues, he overcame his demons and talent took over. I hope he’s doing well now, that’s a terrible disease.

Dylan Strome, Henrik Borgstrom, and Alex Nylander. All of them are on the Hawks. All of them are or will be failed experiments. None of them will be on the Hawks in a couple seasons. A tiger can't change his stripes just because its got on a new sweater.
Hawks would do better to build from within as opposed to taking on other teams failed prospects. There are exceptions, but they are few and far between. This isn't baseball.
- Hawkeynation

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