2013: The NHL season that almost wasn't

Secord sucks.

 

Last I recall, he was Washington's goalie coach. Don't know if Oates retained him or not, though.

 

Feeling here is both 2 versus 7 matchups could be upsets, particularly in the West. Boudreau's teams have been known to bomb in the playoffs. I could see San Jose knocking off Vancouver, too, if CS isn't in the net.

First game is big for St. Louis. The Blues could make a replay appearance if they get bounced around physically by Los Angeles. But there's no denying Bouwmeister and Leopold have made St. Louis better.

Off the ice, I see Sacco got sacked in Colorado and the GM is out in Dallas. No opine either way on Denver. Mark follows the Stars more than I do, but it doesn't really surprise me.

 

I see both sides with Nieuwendyk. On one hand, they missed the playoffs every year since he took over. On the other hand, they traded a lot of their veteran guys (Morrow, Jagr, Roy) at the deadline this year and otherwise might have made the playoffs. (Lost their last five and seven out of eight.)

So, yeah, even if they make it, it's probably a short stay and maybe those assets they get in return help build the franchise for the long haul. So not necessarily a set of bad moves..... unless YOU happen to be the GM and it's YOUR ass on the line. Thus, it begs the questions (1) did Nieuwendyk know make the playoffs or you're out? and (2) did someone above him pull the trigger on the trades and he was the fall guy?

Gotta figure Gulutzan is gone, too, and the new GM will hire his own coach. Not that Gulutzan was horrible, but he didn't distinguish himself any more than Marc Crawford did is his two seasons behind the bench.

 

1974. But they have only been in the same conference since 98-99, and as the Leafs haven't been in the playoffs since 2004 there hasn't been much of a chance for them to meet lately.

And yes, Rask was the Leafs' first-round pick in 2005, but was traded to the Bruins for Andrew Raycroft before he played a game in Toronto.

 

I'm still pissed that they traded Rask and kept Justin Pogge. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

Thanks. I was quite young in 1974 and hockey coverage was somewhat less than it was today. Seems I can recall tons of Boston-Montreal playoff series, but not Boston-Toronto.

Rask for Andrew Raycroft, eh? Well, I suppose there is a bit of gamble in just about anything in life. But if I'm Toronto, I might consider a moratorium on trades with Boston for a while.

 

The last trade they made with Boston wasn't too bad - getting rid of Kaberle in 2011 for Joe Colborne, a first and a second. I'm a little fuzzy on what happened after that, but I think they packaged the 1st with another pick to move up and take Tyler Biggs.

 

The odds weren't in their favor and they got it: Avs win the Seth Jones Sweepstakes.

 

Already tired of the "homecoming for Seth Jones!" storyline with the Avs winning the draft lottery. Seth Jones is to Denver as Tyler Myers is to Houston - started the sport and went through the first steps of the travel process there but really blossomed elsewhere.

 

Colorado won the lottery, not Florida.

 

Ha! This is what happens when you do too many things at once. I just pulled a CNN and reported something before checking on it. Just overheard it from someone in the newsroom and didn't comprehend what he actually said.

Derp.

I'm stupid.