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****2017/18 NHL Discussion Thread****

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Boik14, Sep 6, 2017.

  1. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Its almost here and my Islanders look pretty good sans a Tavares extension looming though many around the team seem to think theres a good chance it gets done. Theres also Calder contenders in the form of Josh Ho Sang who dazzled with 10 points in 21 games down the stretch in mostly 3rd line work. Matthew Barzal could become the 2nd line C the Isles have been lacking or the key to acquiring one. And Ryan Pulock should provide a tremendous PP asset with a booming shot and improving physicality.

    Adding Jordan Eberle for Ryan Strome who was awful last year, no matter how bad Edmonton fans think Eberle was. Travis Hamonic being gone sucks in some respects (tough player, leadership) but his play has diminished the last 2 years.

    The two things this team need are a 2nd line C and a true #1 goalie to emerge.

    Prediction: 48-22-12 = 108 points/4th in the conference (they were i think 5th in the entire league after Capuano got canned)
     

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  2. drumzan

    drumzan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It feels weird that the NY Jets are one of my most hated football teams, yet I'm a die-hard Winnipeg Jets fan. LOL
     
  3. rdhstlr23

    rdhstlr23 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Rangers fan through and through.

    Weird offseason. Absolutely hated seeing Derek Stepan leave. He had a down year and I expected him to return. Due to awful contracts we've handed out to Dan Girardi and Marc Staal, we had to take from Peter to pay Paul.

    I wasn't thrilled about the return either. We got a high pick in an otherwise weak draft. We used it on a kid from Sweden that can "play now". But, he doesn't have the upside you hope for from a guy you drafted #7 overall. The kid we got from Russia later in the 1st may wind up the better player.

    Hated seeing Oscar Lindberg leave for Vegas too. He had a fantastic playoff run, and I thought he was only going to be better. He helped our 4th line dominate other team's 4th line, along with Grabner and Fast. My hope is that Lias can eventually fill his role.

    Obviously, everyone will talk about the Shattenkirk signing. Just an absolute steal for him.

    The Rangers are set up to have a solid team. I would expect Grabner to fall off a cliff, but my hope is we'll find major upticks from guys like Nash, Buchevnich, Mika, and maybe Vesey.

    I worry about losing Fast until January. I worry about the depth we have at center. Kevin Hayes as our 2C is frightening on days he doesn't feel like playing, or in the postseason.

    My biggest worry? Our coach. AV sucks! We have an outstanding amount of talented defensemen and I have no doubt he will find ways to give important minutes to guys like Holden and Staal. Marc Staal should never see any minutes outside of a 7th Dman...but he will...and AV will continue to use him in critical PK minutes because "he's done it before".
     
  4. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Agree with you on Stepan...it was silly to move a young talent like him.

    Shattenkirk will be your new Wade Redden contract I hope. Grabner has a year like that once every 3-4 years so he can stick around. Did the same thing for NYI once upon a time. Vesey and Hayes and Holden have to grow for the Rags to stay where they are, a playoff team that can make some noise especially when Henrik gets hot.
     
  5. Samphin

    Samphin Κακό σκυλί ψόφο δεν έχει

    Interested to see The Knights play.

    My Kings look to be awful this year, unfortunately. Here is hoping Kopitar can finally lead the way he is/was supposed to and that Quick stays healthy.
     
  6. finyank13

    finyank13 Reality Check

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    Go Oilers!!

    Excited for this year, after what happened last year.
     
  7. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    New NYI owner Jon Ledecky seems intent on finally getting the NYI their own arena in Belmont on the border of Nassau County and Queens. Luckily the land he wants to build on is state owned and so this could move quickly. But the Islanders have been trying to get a new arena built since the early 80's so I'm not sure it ever moves quickly for this group. Also if you recognize the owners name, it's because his daughter was an Olympic Medalist in swimming.

    I like the way these young cats look. Barzal, Ho Sang, Beauvillier, Pelech are part of the next wave of young Isles players that will eventually see Ryan Pulock, Michael Dal Colle, Kiefer Bellows, Devon Toews (Yes its Jonathan Toews brother), and two stud goalie prospects in Linus Soderstrom and Ilya Sorokin.
     

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