Running 2017-18 NHL thread

Mike Smith is awful and has been for a while. Maybe he can be sheltered by the best or second best d group in the league. I like Calgary as well but I can't see their goaltending standing up.

 

Same with the Lightning. They are banking on Sergachev being a stud and hopefully making up for some of the deficiencies of their vets like Coburn and Girardi.

 

Good insight as always, EF. Really like No. 23, something I've been trying to hammer home to my Caps fan friends. Also why I think Vrana can be a big piece. He needs a serious look. If he stinks after 20 games, trying something else.

Can't get the actually 31 thoughts to link here for some reason. Only posts the video.

 

I've noticed the television prediction shows on both sides of the border have given Tampa Bay a lot of love. Melrose predicted a Stanley Cup as did TSN. Seems a little over the top to me, but I'm nowhere near their league in expertise. What say you?

 

Lot of scoring depth. If Stamkos is healthy he should get to about a 35-goal season, Nikita Kucherov could be a Hart Trophy finalist. They had to add a little more grit and they did with Callahan returning and Chris Kunitz and maybe Girardi too. Victor Hedman is a Norris Trophy candidate but there's a lot of youth behind him and a 23-year-old goalie with a lot of talent and work ethic, but he's never carried the load like he will this season.

I think they will win 45 games and be the home team in a 2-3 series in the Atlantic, if they win 48 than they win the Atlantic Division IMO. After that we'll see how things shake out and if all that international tournament experience will serve Vasilevskiy well in the playoffs.

And this is all assuming they won't have the rash of injuries they did last season.

 

Leafs demolish Jets 7-2 and Patrick Marleau, former Shark for 19 years, scored two. Andersen is the first good goalie Leafs have had since, shit, Belfour. Not too many holes in the Leafs so there is hope. Next up: Rangers on HNIC on Saturday night. ​

 

I hate the hockey world I am living in where Leafs Oilers is a legitimate Stanley Cup prediction.

 

Looking through some of the game summaries. It looks like either the NHL crackdown on slashing did its job in the preseason and guys were more careful or they aren't calling what they said they would call. Because in the preseason games were getting 5+ slashing calls a night.

 

Caps didn't look terrible last night, especially offensively. If Kuznetsov can look that interested every night, that's going to be a good line.

Jury is still out in my mind on Ness, Chorney and Smith-Pelly.