General Hockey Chat

[Josh]

Paraphrased from something I found on Reddit Hockey:

Prior to this weekend’s draft, 17 forwards have been drafted 1st overall since 1993. Of those 17 forwards, 13 of them lead their entire draft class in either goals, assists, points, or all three.

So, only 4 of the forwards drafted 1st overall since 1993 are not the leader among their draft class in any of those categories. 3 of those 4 were drafted by Edmonton (Hall, RNH, and Yakupov).

[matchesmalone]

Paraphrased from something I found on Reddit Hockey:

Prior to this weekend’s draft, 17 forwards have been drafted 1st overall since 1993. Of those 17 forwards, 13 of them lead their entire draft class in either goals, assists, points, or all three.

So, only 4 of the forwards drafted 1st overall since 1993 are not the leader among their draft class in any of those categories. 3 of those 4 were drafted by Edmonton (Hall, RNH, and Yakupov).

HA! Dear Lord Edmonton.

I made my early predictions for the Stanley Cup Final. Maybe I'm undervaluing goaltending by picking two teams with questionable tendie situations, but I'm going with Nashville to win the Cup against Carolina.

[Matt the Aussie]

HA! Dear Lord Edmonton.

I made my early predictions for the Stanley Cup Final. Maybe I'm undervaluing goaltending by picking two teams with questionable tendie situations, but I'm going with Nashville to win the Cup against Carolina.

Imagine the NHL office in New York having an aneurysm over that match up...

[matchesmalone]

With all the RFAs still yet unsigned, and the absurdity of a few of the recent RFA contracts, I guess it is about time I suggest this idea that my best friend and I have been talking about for years.

We think in addition to an entry-level maximum salary, there should be a second-contract maximum. For starters, the entry level contract length should be dropped to two years. Lately, solid veteran players are being pushed out of the league early because they're being replaced by exploiting cheap labor of young players on entry level contracts. By a player's third year, it is possible for them to be as valuable as a veteran of similar role and ability, so they shouldn't still be making near league minimum.

So cut the entry level max to two years, but then set another, more moderate cap on secondary contracts, maybe two or three years at, I dunno, six or seven million? This would keep players from demanding ridiculous contracts when they are still unproven. Not that this is a major problem now, but contracts would become much more of a gamble for both sides if ELCs were only two years. So make the bridge contract mandatory and make players prove themselves and earn their long term contracts. When when they do get their long term contracts, it may increase the value in many cases, but it will more accurately reflect a player's proper value, instead of reflecting potential they may or may not fulfill.

[Josh]

With all the RFAs still yet unsigned, and the absurdity of a few of the recent RFA contracts, I guess it is about time I suggest this idea that my best friend and I have been talking about for years.

We think in addition to an entry-level maximum salary, there should be a second-contract maximum. For starters, the entry level contract length should be dropped to two years. Lately, solid veteran players are being pushed out of the league early because they're being replaced by exploiting cheap labor of young players on entry level contracts. By a player's third year, it is possible for them to be as valuable as a veteran of similar role and ability, so they shouldn't still be making near league minimum.

So cut the entry level max to two years, but then set another, more moderate cap on secondary contracts, maybe two or three years at, I dunno, six or seven million? This would keep players from demanding ridiculous contracts when they are still unproven. Not that this is a major problem now, but contracts would become much more of a gamble for both sides if ELCs were only two years. So make the bridge contract mandatory and make players prove themselves and earn their long term contracts. When when they do get their long term contracts, it may increase the value in many cases, but it will more accurately reflect a player's proper value, instead of reflecting potential they may or may not fulfill.

A great idea but one I can't see the PA going for.

[matchesmalone]

If you can add any player in the league to your team for a Cup run, who do you take? Assume this hypothetical team has no particular needs at any position.

My top three:
1. Patrick Kane
2. Erik Karlsson
3. Carey Price

[Josh]

If you can add any player in the league to your team for a Cup run, who do you take? Assume this hypothetical team has no particular needs at any position.

My top three:
1. Patrick Kane
2. Erik Karlsson
3. Carey Price

Crosby
Ovechkin
McDavid

[matchesmalone]

Best Stanley Cup Finals performers since the full lockout.

This was probably my favorite exercise I came across on HF. Had the challenge of trying to combine stats with my own memories, and trying to balance consistency from guys who played multiple Finals with great single-appearance performances.

I had actually spent a lot of time using the player game finder tool on BasketballReference, searching for most points in a triple double in a playoff game, finals game, most points with over 15 assists - all kinds of fun stuff. But I'd never used it much on HockeyReference until this. So I sat down for an afternoon and researched.

Skaters:

1. Henrik Zetterberg - 12 points in 13 games but he was also a defensive specialist constantly matched against Crosby or Malkin, he played 20+ mins every single game, and never went a single game without a shot on goal, totalling 54 in 13 games!

2. Duncan Keith - 12 points in 18 games and played 30+ minutes in eight of 18, 28+ in 13, and never played less than 26 minutes.

3. Chris Pronger - Led three different teams to the Finals, one of which had no business being there, and was a force on both ends of the ice. Nine points in 16 games, playing 30+ four times and at least 27:50 in 13 of 16.

4. Patrick Kane - Seven goals and 16 points in 18 games. One monster performance, one really strong and one average. At least three shots on goal in 14 of 18 games.

5. Daniel Briere - Consistency is important, but the best offensive single-series Final performance since the lockout is worth something. 12 points in six Finals games is ridiculous. Granted, he had the benefit of some really good centers playing behind him to give him some breathing room, but he played 21+ minutes in four of six games.

6. Ryan O'Reilly - Another one-appearance performer, but five goals and nine points in seven Finals games is pretty ridiculous in its own right. Mix in elite defensive play, a goal and assist in game seven, and he played at least 18:56 in all seven games.

7. Justin Williams - 11 in 11 with LA, and 15 in 18 overall. One monster performance and two pretty good ones.

8. Sidney Crosby - 20 points in 25 games. Two really strong performances, one average and one mediocre.

9. Jonathan Toews - Unlike the other centers on this list, Toews never had a Malkin or Datsyuk or Carter and Richards to share responsibilities - he was up against opponents' top centers just about every shift. 11 points in 18 games. And 20+ minutes in 13 of 18.

10. Drew Doughty - Eight points in 11 games, and played at least 25:41 in nine of them.

Goalies:

1. Jonathan Quick - Won two Cups with .932 and .947 SVP in two Finals.

2. Tim Thomas - Eight goals against on 248 shots in seven games for a .967 SVP.

3. Henrik Lundqvist - With his team dramatically outmatched, King Henrik forced three games to overtime, faced 40+ shots in four of five games and came away with a .923 SVP.

4. Corey Crawford - Posted a .938 and .925 in two Cup winning series.

5. Chris Osgood - Posted .930 SVP in one winning and one losing effort.

[Josh]

Joe Thornton basically Superman-punched Petr Mrazek in the neck: