gcom007

I can’t believe this is happening. I thought this was going to be a Rick Roll or prank for sure. I did a double-take on the date to make sure it wasn’t April Fools. Wow. I really didn’t think it would happen this quick. Super exciting day. Welcome home, Stevie! Also, first move: Dylan Larkin named as Captain.

I 100% agree with this. At the very least they need to limit the teams in the lottery for the top picks. I thought too that they ought to limit year over year eligibility. I think this is spot on analysis and I really hope that they at least change this aspect in the next go around of the CBA, and I’m fully aware that it will probably work against us at that point. If you’re going to do a lottery, you can’t have playoff bubble teams jumping to get top picks, and you can’t have the same teams getting the top picks year after year.

MSG can just book Phish to make extra money. Instant sellouts.

I’m just hoping for Byram. I feel like in spite of our lack of luck in the lottery, we’ve gotten lucky with players. Byram is a piece we could really use right now and was my number one choice if we didn’t get Hughes and Kakko.

I’m more pissed that a team like Chicago could jump as high as they did and come out ahead of us and other clearly more needy teams. That to me is evidence of a broken system. I think the draft lottery or whatever system should be limited to the bottom 8 teams. Playoff bubble teams that were a few wins out of a playoff spot shouldn’t be picking 3rd.

Yes. I’m still open minded about a lottery, but as we were discussing yesterday, I think whatever changes happen, the lottery or new system should be limited to the bottom 8 teams. There’s a lot more “need” there when you look at points in the season and it eliminates playoff bubble teams as said possibly having an off year from potentially shooting way up like Chicago. It really doesn’t seem right that a team like Chicago is picking ahead of us. That to me is evidence that this system needs tweaking at the very least.

Hughes doesn’t look very excited.

I really hope Byram is around at 6.

Let’s hope Byram hangs around until 6.

This s*** is rigged.

This is pain.

Don’t even put that out in the universe.

Sounds like Holland wants to get the band back together.

All of the nerves. More nervous about this than any game this year. Feels like the playoffs but crueler...

The one area I haven’t followed as closely is goalie. How has Larsson been doing? Always tough to predict how a goalie will do, but does he look like a viable option in the next year or so?

That second point is what I’m hung up on. I think they’d have to keep it to bottom 8 teams or less. That seems like a reasonable dividing line between the bubble teams fighting for a playoff spot and those teams that are truly “poor.” I think it’s harder to imagine a fake tank if you’re a few points shy of a playoff spot, whereas if you’re bottom 8, your top team this year for example is still 10 points out from a wildcard spot, and other than Ottawa, there’s a 9 point gap between 2nd to last and 8th to last. Pretty even playing field at that point. And honestly, Ottawa is such an outlier and unique mess. I don’t think the league should be rewarding teams like that that clearly have deep organizational troubles at the moment anyways. Get the house in order and at least get marginally competitive and you get a seat at the table.

I don’t know if those are dealbreakers. The schedule thing is somewhat of a weak argument. Injuries don’t seem like an issue either as it doesn’t really deviate much from the current situation where said team is going to have higher lottery odds for finishing lower. And the development factor? Honestly, I think that can sometimes be an advantage. Young guys playing to impress and hoping for a spot next year can inject some energy that a vet or regular worn down from a losing season might not bring. I don’t think it’s hurt us in the past at the very least. It’s definitely an interesting idea, though I can see where you’re coming from and generally agree that it’s going to be tough to get anyone to really agree on this, but I think they need to explore ways to add some excitement to the end of the season for non-playoff teams and reward teams for finishing strong. As much as I wanted to lose for the better odds at a high draft pick this year, the whole charade felt so ******* stupid. It’s definitely more fun to cheer and hope for wins, and if there was more reason to be excited about it, I think that’s good for the game as a whole. Hell, maybe there should be a playoffs for non-playoff teams to compete for the draft picks. We’ve got the shootout now. They’re talking about possibly bringing the shootout to the playoffs. Why not?

100%, particularly on Eaves. Oh yes, I’m sure Yzerman is really hurting financially.

If Holland could find a way to trade Abby, I’d take back a lot of what I said about him when he whiffed on signing Hossa when he had the chance.

I know Abby’s not getting bought out, but I don’t know what role he’s going to justify holding on to for too much longer with so many guys set to come up in the next few years. He’s too mediocre now let alone as we improve.

I like the Caps winning it and it’s where I’d put my money. The more Cups for Oveckin, the better as well. Would love for him to finish with more than Crosby.

Totally. Very hard to imagine a bottoming out like this year moving forward given the growth we’ve seen and growth yet to come, plus some more solid young guys in the pipeline. And that’s not even accounting for a potential big draft pick and potential solid offseason additions. I think there’s a very good chance this team competes for the playoffs next year even if we end up standing pat, and I don’t think that will happen. That’s the part of the last little streak to put us in fourth that was tough to swallow. I really think this was a one year window on netting a high draft pick. Hopefully we get some lottery luck, because thankfully, I don’t think we’ll be in this position in the coming years. I also suspect Kronwall will be back which I’m fine with, and for better or for worse, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Vanek back. It seems like something Holland would do. Outside of Hughes or Kakko, I’m on team Byram. Makes the most sense given what we have and don’t have. If we pick him up, I think Kronwall definitely returns to mentor and pass the #1 D torch.

I feel like I should see what it’s like to cheer for the Canes given that I live down here now and it’ll be on at most of the bars anyways. Shrugs...

Super curious to see how Mrazek performs in the playoffs. He seemed to rise to the occasion for us even as a young guy. If he can take the experience he’s gotten up to this point and combine it with his inherent competitiveness, he could be a major difference-maker. Good to see him doing well. Still wonder if we should’ve kept him...if he ends up actually being a consistently good goalie, it’ll sting a bit, but he certainly earned his trade.

The second I start wanting these guys to win again they s*** the bed...