Good thing I'm forced to trade another mismanaged talent away, and for a shot at the cup again, nonetheless, because my head coach is stubborn and refuses to adapt his system based on his personnel.

Shortening the bench and riding the horses can't go wrong year after year, right ?

That team was ready to move - Toews and Kane were 20, but were superstars in waiting; Sharp, Ladd, Keith, Eager, Burish, Campbell, Seabrook, Hossa all were experienced players.

I think he put the group together more than developed individual players - again, like a Jackson would do.
- StLBravesFan

good points...don't forget big buff...

WTC I agree with every one of your posts tonight. Bowman has basically turned this team into a squad best suited to play the NCAA style of game with full face shields and no physical contact. However, the 2 teams that played the hardest games physically in the playoffs are meeting for the SC.

And Q and Ulfie sure look bad over the Kempny situation. I'm sure Stanbo can turn that 3rd round pick into another ballerina.

Hope they ask Ovi whether he likes having Wilson on his team.
- RickJ

I thought the interview with Tom Wilson was point on as to what it takes, I can respect others opinion regarding Wilson, but you heard it from him, " gamesmanship" and respect for Colburn, Wilson knows his role. You think he would let Toews get hammered as often as he did and not have something to say?
Maybe we have that player in Hayden, but Q has to let him play. I don't know what they are targeting this summer. Look, Tom Wilson probably stays in DC, but there are others, Hate him if you want, I'll take a kid like Ryan Reeves or Antoine Roussell just to name a couple on my team. That was St. Louis's mistake, by dismantling the Identity of their team by losing guys like Reeves, Ott, Backus ,role players, just to mname a few,along with letting Ken Hitchcock leave, StLouis Identity was smash mouth hockey, had they stayed the course instead of changing to the pansy ass crap, they were probably a goalie away from a cup. Well see Rick!

ahhh the stench of tom wilson love...yeah his psycho thuggery made all the difference for the caps this playoff...

tom wilson is no difference maker accept to the opposing player he trys to kill...

and don't conflate my disdain for this jerk and others like him for a luv of the marshmellow hockey style....

you can be tough and physical..play hard...like #8 has all playoffs and stay with in the rules and control yourself...

They really should of paid Bishop.
- BetweenTheDots

Bishop always gets hurt in playoffs

Don't think it matters what we want but I'm sure Toews would be very very happy to have Wilson on the same line as him.

Bishop always gets hurt in playoffs
- riozzo

Very true

I thought the interview with Tom Wilson was point on as to what it takes, I can respect others opinion regarding Wilson, but you heard it from him, " gamesmanship" and respect for Colburn, Wilson knows his role. You think he would let Toews get hammered as often as he did and not have something to say?
Maybe we have that player in Hayden, but Q has to let him play. I don't know what they are targeting this summer. Look, Tom Wilson probably stays in DC, but there are others, Hate him if you want, I'll take a kid like Ryan Reeves or Antoine Roussell just to name a couple on my team. That was St. Louis's mistake, by dismantling the Identity of their team by losing guys like Reeves, Ott, Backus ,role players, just to mname a few,along with letting Ken Hitchcock leave, StLouis Identity was smash mouth hockey, had they stayed the course instead of changing to the pansy ass crap, they were probably a goalie away from a cup. Well see Rick!
- wonthecup10

Didn't see the post game interview with Wilson, CBC had Ovi as their interview.

Tom Wilson has done some very stupid things out there in his career and been suspended for them. He's a hit to hurt type player, just like Chris Pronger, Messier, Dustin Brown and others were. Fans can hate Wilson's guts but he played very hard and smart in this series. And as a result he was one of the difference makers for Washington. Usually to win a Cup and protect smaller teammates with skill, teams need a player like that.

I know some disagree but Holtby has been the better goalie in every series so far.
- BetweenTheDots

If he continues to give up all those juicy rebounds the Knights will kill them.

WTC I agree with every one of your posts tonight. Bowman has basically turned this team into a squad best suited to play the NCAA style of game with full face shields and no physical contact. However, the 2 teams that played the hardest games physically in the playoffs are meeting for the SC.

And Q and Ulfie sure look bad over the Kempny situation. I'm sure Stanbo can turn that 3rd round pick into another ballerina.

Hope they ask Ovi whether he likes having Wilson on his team.
- RickJ

I’m not so sure Ulf and Q were on the same page. Honestly I don’t think Ulf had much input, not sure Q listens to anyone.

If he continues to give up all those juicy rebounds the Knights will kill them.
- walleyeb1

Every series, to me anyways, is the team who is more responsible with the puck wins the series. Caps/Bolts series they were about even so the better goalie won.

LVGK will probably be the SC winners, they are and have been the most responsible team during the entire season with the puck. It's so hard to score when you don't get a breakaway, 2 on 1, or power play, honestly that's why I've been confused with the brand of hockey the Hawks played this past year.

Didn't see the post game interview with Wilson, CBC had Ovi as their interview.

Tom Wilson has done some very stupid things out there in his career and been suspended for them. He's a hit to hurt type player, just like Chris Pronger, Messier, Dustin Brown and others were. Fans can hate Wilson's guts but he played very hard and smart in this series. And as a result he was one of the difference makers for Washington. Usually to win a Cup and protect smaller teammates with skill, teams need a player like that.
- RickJ

Well said and I agree - many great posts on here today

I think TB is a good regular season team but Stamkos as a Captain is a scorer not a leader. Guys like Crosby - Toews - Messier - Dowdy and this year Ovie have that emotional next gear. A gear Stamkos doesn’t posses.

Well at least Yzerman has a lot of team friendly contacts under his belt.
- BetweenTheDots

Worlds greatest GM................

So tired of all the praise for a guy who hasn't won a thing as a GM. He's been there 8 years.

With everything said here about Stan after the cups, wonder what would be being said on this board if our GM had been here 8 years, and still hadn't won anything.

If he had been handled properly, kempney could have filled a big hole for the 18-19 hawks, and he wouldn’t have cost a single asset.
- Spec41971

Better get something with the pick you go for him.

Worlds greatest GM................

So tired of all the praise for a guy who hasn't won a thing as a GM. He's been there 8 years.

With everything said here about Stan after the cups, wonder what would be being said on this board if our GM had been here 8 years, and still hadn't won anything.
- vabeachbear

Yep!

Worlds greatest GM................

So tired of all the praise for a guy who hasn't won a thing as a GM. He's been there 8 years.

With everything said here about Stan after the cups, wonder what would be being said on this board if our GM had been here 8 years, and still hadn't won anything.
- vabeachbear

^^^ This^^^

Well said and I agree - many great posts on here today

I think TB is a good regular season team but Stamkos as a Captain is a scorer not a leader. Guys like Crosby - Toews - Messier - Dowdy and this year Ovie have that emotional next gear. A gear Stamkos doesn’t posses.
- Colbyboy

Stamkos and the entire Lightning team went completely quiet - on the scoreboard and generally. It is sort of amazing that their last goal was scored a few seconds into the 2nd period of game 5 - so basically they did not score for 8 periods. Caps did play well but some of the problem had to be a failure to maintain intensity.

Stamkos and the entire Lightning team went completely quiet - on the scoreboard and generally. It is sort of amazing that their last goal was scored a few seconds into the 2nd period of game 5 - so basically they did not score for 8 periods. Caps did play well but some of the problem had to be a failure to maintain intensity.
- Z3Hawk

Yeah and I really don’t think Holtby was playing lights out, yeah he made some big saves at key moments but he was leaving a lot of juicy rebounds.

Tampa just wasn’t able to get to them, and when they did they either missed the net or sent into his chest!

Stamkos and the entire Lightning team went completely quiet - on the scoreboard and generally. It is sort of amazing that their last goal was scored a few seconds into the 2nd period of game 5 - so basically they did not score for 8 periods. Caps did play well but some of the problem had to be a failure to maintain intensity.
- Z3Hawk

Holtby outgoaltended Vaz (and was quite lucky at times) when it counted and the Caps punished the Bolts physically over the course of the series. Should never have taken 7 games. But I still love that Brayden Point kid.

He broke a mans face.

Go Hayden
- hocktock

Bam, this guy wins

Worlds greatest GM................

So tired of all the praise for a guy who hasn't won a thing as a GM. He's been there 8 years.

With everything said here about Stan after the cups, wonder what would be being said on this board if our GM had been here 8 years, and still hadn't won anything.
- vabeachbear

I completely agree, don't make the playoffs last year, the handling of Drouin, not drafting Seth Jones instead, best team in hockey this year and now this. Give him credit for at least trading for McDonough

So the great Poile and Yzerman fail short once again

I completely agree, don't make the playoffs last year, the handling of Drouin, not drafting Seth Jones instead, best team in hockey this year and now this. Give him credit for at least trading for McDonough

So the great Poile and Yzerman fail short once again
- BetweenTheDots

Not even close to the best team in the NHL this year - lots of standings points playing in a garbage division. Put them in the Central and they would have struggled to be better than 3rd place.

I completely agree, don't make the playoffs last year, the handling of Drouin, not drafting Seth Jones instead, best team in hockey this year and now this. Give him credit for at least trading for McDonough

So the great Poile and Yzerman fail short once again
- BetweenTheDots

I don't agree. He got a stud defenseman for Drouin, who hasn't lit it up in Montreal. They were the best team in hockey this year, and getting to the ECF is not something wrong. As we all know, getting past any round of the playoffs is a monumental task. Yzerman can't lace them up and go will his team to victory, but he absolutely gave his team the best assets to work with. Sometimes you just don't win, I don't put any of that on Yzerman.

He got Stamkos and Hedman on discounts, he doesn't hand out NMCs to every guy he resigns. His worst contract is Callahan, who at least serves a role on their team. He has his work cut out for him after this season with Point, Kucherov as RFAs and McDonagh, Stralman, Coburn, Girardi, and Gourde all as UFAs.

To be a great GM you give your team the best 'team on paper' that you possibly can, and have a good coach. I think we all agree that the Lightning were the best team on paper this postseason, and Cooper is still a very good coach.

Everyone relishing in Tampa losing because you're envious of their GM needs to take some of the Bickell, Panarin, Panik, Daley, Timmonen, Seabrook salt out of their wounds.

I don't agree. He got a stud defenseman for Drouin, who hasn't lit it up in Montreal.
- ObeseOprah

Remember when clueless fans here didn´t want to give TT for Drouin! But Stan gave TT to Canes in gift wrapping paper..

Great - if you don’t like Hutton or Ward as a backup who do u like?
- Colbyboy

For the right amount of money, Khudobin, Johnson, Hutchinson (he sure made the Hawks look silly for a year or so), Bernier.

Ward wouldn't be horrible, but Hutton i don't trust.

All depends on the money though.