chaps80

I'd be happy with them not sucking, i'm just not happy with them getting this far this quickly. The Wild got their s*** together fairly quickly after entering the league in 2000, even taking out the Avs in Game 7 OT first round in 2003 and making it to the Conference Finals, where they were swept by Michelin Man. They didn't have a 13-3 record, sitting within three wins of the Cup in their first season. The NHL doesn't need another Arizona, but they also don't need Vegas winning a Cup right away, unless it is all about money. I dunno, if it's enjoyable for some, great. I just think it's messed up that an expansion team somehow went goal for goal with Washington in Game 1 of the Finals, and ultimately beat them, with a "castoff third liner" roster. There is more going into it, your right. Could just be a fluke, and they might miss the playoffs next year like LA did in 2015 after winning the Cup, but somehow i doubt it.

Says a lot about GM Hollands decision making capabilities that he let his Assistant make the first round picks during a time when they were scarce for Detroit. But I guess it could also be even worse if Nill wasn't there to draft the late round gems that kept the team in contention.

Nosek was who they wanted. They didn't want Mrazek. Or Coreau. Or I doubt Howard either, even if he was available I'd blame wasting a forward spot on Abby for Nosek being taken. Or the fact Nielson HAD to be protected. And Nosek makes it 5-4. If it isn't obvious that the expansion draft favoured them, I dunno what to say. Just watch tonight's game a few times. 12-3 through three rounds, probably 13-3 after this game. I'm far from a Caps fan, but this is hilarious. I can't take it seriously. Clown show NHL. Yep, there we go. LOL

Kindl, Smith, McCollum, Sheahan.

This game either proves how great a team Vegas got out of expansion, or how bad Washington wants to s*** the bed. The fact the competition is this close between a first year team made up of what some say are castoffs, and a team that's been built slowly since Ovie entered the league, and has contended for years now, is just ridiculous.

4-3 Caps!! Fleury kinda reminded me of the 2008 Finals there, knocking it into his own net. Not as funny though. LOL come onnn Holtby. No D there either. Gave up another lead.

Old is right. And stale.

Now that would be legendary. But Kenny would start to hate him for making Jimmy look bad.

Kessel said he doesn't care if he's traded or not. If he will remains to be seen. But I can see the Pens looking to make some moves after the three-peat bid was foiled by Washington.

NO other goalie will ever get a true shot at anything as long as Holland has Howard around. He's had bad stretches but always given time to work through it, even if he's losing the team games. Longest leash for a goalie i've ever seen. And this isn't just about Mrazek, although Holland sure jumped on pushing him to Philly any way possible after saying he couldn't trade Howard two offseasons before because he refused to retain salary. Howard had zero value, of course you'll need to retain salary. Not saying Coreau deserves another shot, because he doesn't, but eventually Kenny needs to cut the cord on Jimmy. He should make a shot at Grubauer, but he won't. We'll end up getting Bernier or some s***.

Like I said, great story. But it was one game, won by one goal. Tretiak was pulled after two goals, which was one of the dumbest coaching moves ever. And it wasn't even the gold medal game. It's funny how many casual hockey fans think it was. It was deserving of respect, but man, they've milked that one for a long time. Funny how all these NHL All Star teams had so much trouble with the Soviets, but the Flyers destroyed them in the 70's, after the Summit Series. The Soviets, with Kharlamov and Tretiak, bailed halfway through the first and wanted to forfeit. Poor boys were scared. lol THAT one should be talked about more. They showed how you beat the Soviets. You punish them physically. Funny how no other team caught onto that.

Fleury let in 2 goals on 5 shots. Vegas with a nice bounce to tie it at two.

Some. But some were not. In past expansions they were ALL true castoffs if you look at the rosters, and side deals were few. SJ made deals with Columbus and Minnesota to not take Nabokov, but what they gave up in return was more cast offs and low draft picks. I still don't get why Vegas got a 2nd from Pittsburgh if they selected Fleury when Fleury was their known main goalie target leading up to the draft. You'd figure the Pens would have to told Vegas to go pound salt, unless they threatened to take another player instead, but they wouldn't have passed up Fleury. Stuff like that is just ridiculous.

Fulcher will be in the OHL for another season as an overager most likely. I'm sure Hamilton wants him back. Unless the Wings insist on him moving up, but theres no reason to rush him, just sign another cheap depth goalie. Or sign McCollum for another season and send him or Rybar there.

But expansion teams being ass for awhile is how it should be. Earn it. You get a roster of cast offs, and build through draft and free agency. How does is it remotely make sense to give them a better roster to be competitive with established teams who have had to claw their way to get to the top for years? It doesn't. Whether you think they weren't supposed to be this good or not is irrelevant. They are, and that's the problem.

Caps take it to 7!! Holtby was a beast, Ovechkin was hitting everything in sight. Osgood was the only one that didn't cost him a lot and paid off big time. He didn't draft Oz, but he did bring him back for a second stint and nearly won two Cups. Other than that, yeah not much.

I wonder why Colombus sucked for so long after expansion? And why SJ an Ottawa won like 8 games their first seasons? Even Minnesota, who got their s*** together fairly quickly, have never been to the Finals. What makes Vegas so different that they are the exception and not the norm? Better draft choices overall due to less protection slots for teams, and GMs having to scramble to try to work around it and making some mistakes. Any way you look at it, those extra protection slots in previous drafts, and the huge jump in side deals in this draft because of GMs not being able to use those played a huge role. Expansion teams used to get established teams scraps and worked their way up through drafts and trades. How it should be. Your not going to win a conference title With Ron Tugnutt as your starting goalie, but you can with a guy like Fleury who's now won five of them and three Cups.

A movie? Great. Not like we don't already have five mostly s***ty movies about the "Miracle" USA olympic team. Guess as long as they don't blow it out of proportion and overdo it through the years like they have with that, it might be ok. It was one game where they beat the Russians by one goal with Tretiak playing one period. Fun story, but nothing that's really worth rehashing over and over.

Jokes.

So if Vegas wins the Cup, they’re still protected in the Seattle expansion? HAHAHAHHA

I don’t see how. They got a great roster out of the draft. Not only Cup winning vets, but some great young players, and other young guys due to break out anytime, like Karlsson, and did he ever. They also got lucky with Subban when Fleury went down, but that was just a waiver pickup that happened to work out after Boston gave up on him. Got a bunch of assets from teams too that they used some of to beef up what they already had. I dunno how some can’t see that this expansion draft would NEVER fail with how tight the league is cap wise and the amount of protection slots given to each team. Making the playoffs was the goal at the very least. That’s not just other GMs faults when they’re hands are forced by 11 protection slots. Had they had the extra four, none of what you posted would matter. I didn’t know the Pens gave anything up to Vegas for them to take Fleury. I thought he was the goalie they wanted all along. Why would they have to give them a 2nd?

Many in Vegas did. Wouldn’t be surprised to see some gambling establishments near bankruptcy afterwards, depending on the amount bet. Say some high roller bet a million cause that’s nothing to him, he’s collecting $500 million off it, that’s ONE bet. Lots of deep pockets in Vegas that made similar bets I’m sure.

As for the Quebec/Colorado move that people have brought up. Quebec was a team that got moved while being a solid goalie away from a Cup. And look what happened the very next season. Who made the Lindros deal that brought in Forsberg? Drafted Sakic and guys like Foote? Quebec. Another gift to a US market. No one can honestly blame Quebec for wanting a franchise again after theirs was snatched when on the brink of a Cup run. They have the fans, they have the arena. They’d actually be able to support a franchise without league bailouts like Arizona, but Arizona is Gary’s pet project and he can’t allow himself to admit defeat when it’s been a lost cause for years. That’s a problem.

Not just because of the last Canadian team. Just not a lot of people care about a team in Nevada and a team in Florida playing in the Final. They had a favourable draft format. Each team could protect 11 players from their rosters. Gee, thanks Gary. At least in the last expansion they could protect 15 players. Vegas would NOT be where they are had they used that same format. They got players teams wanted to and would have kept had those 4 extra slots have been open. Take away Marchy, Karlsson, Theodore, etc. maybe even Fleury, had the Pens chosen the alternate 2 goalie 10 skater format. The problem I have with drafts like that is those are other teams players, many they have drafted and developed themselves, which is crucial in the cap era. Some rich ******* throws $500 million bucks at the league and gets to take one player from each team? Why? He had no issue signing Shipshayev or whatever his name was, he can go find more of his own players. An underdog story? Hahaha More like a welcome gift from the NHL. I’m not being salty, the whole thing is an embarrassment to the league. But you go ahead and enjoy it. Wonder what the draft rules for Seattle will be? 7 total skaters and no goalie that can be protected?

Yeah, she's pretty damn hot. And will continue to be until their contracts expire. DD may even get an extension!