October 16, 20241 yr https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/nhl-power-rankings-dallas-stars-shine-amidst-perfect-start-edmonton-oilers-stumble-out-of-the-gate/ Rk Teams Chg Rcrd 1 Stars Logan Stankoven has picked up right where he left off last season. The Stars rookie has five assists in his team's first four games, and he is already blossoming into a key playmaker for this lineup. After posting 14 points in his 24-game audition last season, Stankoven is adding to the embarrassment of riches up front in Dallas. -- 4-0-
October 17, 20241 yr Same AAV as the Swayman deal. That’s a win for Otter and the Stars. Cap friendly deal for a potential cornerstone piece. And he’ll still be relatively young at the end of the deal so can set up for another big contract then to take him to the end of his career if he stays healthy. Yeah, Igor won’t love this. He’s looking for something north of $11M AAV.
October 17, 20241 yr Has anyone tried to stream the Victory app from their phone via hdmi? I plugged my iPhone in via hdmi and the app just crashes (or shuts down on purpose).
October 17, 20241 yr Author 12 minutes ago, Scary Stranger said: Has anyone tried to stream the Victory app from their phone via hdmi? I plugged my iPhone in via hdmi and the app just crashes (or shuts down on purpose). Pretty steady on Chromecast. Ugh, another just acquired defenseman down. Smith wasn't moving his arm as he skated off. Almost wonder if it was a rib
October 18, 20241 yr Author Our Achilles the last few seasons has been bad teams. Looking like we'll have to play through that again
October 18, 20241 yr Our Achilles the last few seasons has been bad teams. Looking like we'll have to play through that againThat’s pretty judgy for such a small sample size buddy. But you are probably correct. [emoji1787]Great 8 is tired and is just hanging between the circles and blue line waiting for easy shots. It’s 4.5 vs 5 when he is out there.
October 19, 20241 yr Anybody going tomorrow? Going since the day the schedule came out. Skinner sucks and I’m fine with it.
October 19, 20241 yr Duchene cashes in on the PP in the final minute of the second period. Getting outshot handily again. 22-11 through 2. Otter continues to look really good.
October 21, 20241 yr The Mason Marchment drinking game was a thing by somebody a few rows in front of us. Every time he falls down, you have to drink. It a lot of times TBO, and now I cant unsee this. I find myself focusing on 27.
October 21, 20241 yr Author 2 minutes ago, markstanco said: The Mason Marchment drinking game was a thing by somebody a few rows in front of us. Every time he falls down, you have to drink. It a lot of times TBO, and now I cant unsee this. I find myself focusing on 27. I have him on my FH team so I watch for him anyway. I love the energy he brings and for whatever it is he does to get the other team so riled up
October 21, 20241 yr 2 hours ago, markstanco said: The Mason Marchment drinking game was a thing by somebody a few rows in front of us. Every time he falls down, you have to drink. It a lot of times TBO, and now I cant unsee this. I find myself focusing on 27. Who was the guy on the Flyers a few years ago who fell so much it became a meme? Hartnell?
October 22, 20241 yr On 10/21/2024 at 12:22 PM, markstanco said: The Mason Marchment drinking game was a thing by somebody a few rows in front of us. Every time he falls down, you have to drink. It a lot of times TBO, and now I cant unsee this. I find myself focusing on 27. He fell down on the opening faceoff!
October 24, 20241 yr Couple Stars-adjacent stories from The Athletic. First up, the Stars' front office is recognized by peers as being the best in the NHL. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5864035/2024/10/24/nhl-front-office-rankings-quotes/ 4 Quote Dallas Stars First-place vote from a director of scouting: “In all, I think everything they’ve done has been really good. They’re drafted well and on a pro side. I think Jim Nill has done a really good job. I don’t think he gets enough credit.” First-place vote from an assistant GM: “Just the way they do everything — the way they handle their business. They’re very professional. Jim Nill and (AGM) Scott White, they’re just very professional. The way they draft and go about their business.” First-place vote from a senior adviser to the GM: “They’ve done a good job drafting and developing guys without top picks for the most part.” First-place vote from a senior adviser to the GM: “Everything they do is right and smart. And a lot is relationships because Jim may be the most respected GM in the league.” First-place vote from an assistant GM: “They’re on to something. They have a nice mix in the front office of experience and knowledge.” First-place vote from a senior adviser to the GM: “Draft well, solid UFA signings (albeit no state income tax helps), solid farm team, and Jim Nill and AGM Scott White are two solid, respected hockey men.” First-place vote from a director of scouting: “They have a couple bad contracts, but those are expiring soon. Lots of smart free-agent signings and excellent drafting.” First-place vote from a GM: “Jim’s a quiet guy. Very rare do you read anything about him, but at the draft, I was looking at his table and I couldn’t believe all the people he’s surrounded himself with. Every one of them is good hockey people. You know, no one person can do this job. And if somebody tells you that, then their ego’s too big. Jim’s got no ego. A gentleman. You need to surround yourself with people that can work hard and make good decisions, and I think Jim’s done that.” Second-place vote from a GM: “Solid drafting, stable management, smart decisions in a non-tax state.” Third-place vote from an assistant GM: “Just consistency. Draft well. Trade well. They have good people throughout the organization, especially with Jimmy Nill and Scott White.” Third-place vote from a scouting director: “Just really consistent. A good minor-league system. Getting over the top is something for them, but they belong on the list.” Third-place vote from a senior adviser to the GM: “Dallas has done a wonderful job. They really have. They’ve got a good base. They’ve put together a group of athletes who complement each other. They’ve got a lot of talent. Obviously, they got (Miro) Heiskanen with, what, a second pick (third in 2017)? He’s a star. You’ve got a defenseman like that who can play those minutes as successfully as he can, then everything grows from there. But they’ve also drafted very well. I look at their roster and I see a lot of young players. They’ve made some significant trades.” Fourth-place vote from an assistant GM: “Dallas is interesting. That draft with (Jake) Oettinger, Heiskanen and (Jason) Robertson was unbelievable.” Fourth-place vote from an assistant GM: “Draft and develop is top-notch and helps to make better decisions and pay the right people.” Fourth-place vote from a team president: “Great draft organization.” Fifth-place vote from a senior adviser to the GM: “Arguably the best club in (the) NHL at drafting and developing. Excellent support staff surrounding one of the top GMs in the NHL. Jim Nill handles matters with class and professionalism.”
October 24, 20241 yr And, next, a very, very early look at 10 players who could be the most sought-after trade pieces for Cup contenders this season. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5866643/2024/10/24/nhl-trade-board-provorov-fowler-liljegren/ Quote Early NHL trade candidates: 10 players to watch ahead of the deadline this season Chris Johnston Oct 24, 2024 If history is any indication, we may still be a month or more away from a trade of any consequence involving NHL players. There were only two of those before U.S. Thanksgiving last season, and they happened on the same day with one team involved in both deals, when the Minnesota Wild sent Calen Addison to the San Jose Sharks while acquiring Zach Bogosian from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 8. Generally speaking, it takes time for the needs and wants of competing organizations to align. Still, even in these earliest days of the 2024-25 campaign, general managers have already started planning for the road ahead. Tire-kicking conversations are underway. Important contractual considerations loom in the background. While it’s too early to roll out a full-blown Trade Board, it’s not too soon to start identifying some of the names that could play a role in the upcoming trading season. Let’s start with 10 players to watch. 1. Ivan Provorov, Columbus Blue Jackets Age: 27 Position: LHD Contract term: 2025 UFA Cap hit: $4.725 million For a rebuilding Blue Jackets organization, Provorov represents the chip to play before the March 7 trade deadline. Still just 27 years old, the pending unrestricted-free-agent defenseman is already into his ninth NHL season and carries an attractive cap hit that was chopped down to $4.725 million in the trade to Columbus. It can be further reduced, too. Provorov is an all-situations defender who is capable of playing both sides of the ice and profiles as the kind of asset who typically nets a first-round pick at the deadline. Given the stage Provorov is at in his career and where the Blue Jackets are in their competitive cycle, it’s more a matter of when he’s moved rather than a question of if he’s moved. 2. Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks Age: 32 Position: LHD Contract term: 2026 UFA Cap hit: $6.5 million A mainstay on the Anaheim blue line for 15 years and more than 1,000 games, Fowler is feeling the ground shift beneath his feet with five defensemen aged 25 or younger currently playing alongside him in the Ducks lineup. When you couple that with the fact he has one year beyond this one remaining on his contract at a $6.5 million cap hit, the conditions may be ripe for him to move to a team in win-now mode. There were certainly trade discussions involving Fowler’s name held over the summer. Any move would essentially have to come with the support of the 32-year-old because his contract includes a four-team trade list that gives him a tremendous amount of say in a potential change of address. It’s worth noting it’s been nearly eight years since he last had a taste of playoff hockey, though. Cam Fowler could be dealt to a team in win-now mode. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images) 3. Timothy Liljegren, Toronto Maple Leafs Age: 25 Position: RHD Contract term: 2026 UFA Cap hit: $3 million As a well-paid healthy scratch for most of this season, Liljegren’s tenure in Toronto appears to be nearing its end. The 25-year-old right-shot defenseman has only dressed for one game so far after being leapfrogged on the Maple Leafs depth chart by Conor Timmins, who is soaking up third-pairing minutes behind Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe at roughly a third of Liljegren’s $3 million cap hit. With Jani Hakanpää also in the mix for playing time on the right side in Toronto, Liljegren has become expendable. A deft skater and puck-mover, his game has been held back by questionable defensive decisions and inconsistency. There’s no doubt he has the tools to be an effective NHL player, but after seven years in the Leafs organization, Liljegren still hasn’t carved out a full-time role and will likely get another opportunity elsewhere. GO DEEPER Mirtle: The Leafs' Liljegren vs. Timmins debate highlights trouble with depth defencemen 4. Brock Nelson, New York Islanders Age: 33 Position: C, LW Contract term: 2025 UFA Cap hit: $6 million Nelson is a big, sturdy forward who has scored at a 35-goal pace across the past three seasons. He can be slotted as a second-line center or slide into a wing spot on the top line while being trusted with special teams duty. As a pending unrestricted free agent, he’s exactly the kind of difference-maker contending teams would be falling over themselves to get their hands on if — and it remains a massive if — the Islanders fade from the playoff picture and elect to move him before the trade deadline. That organization has a healthy track record of keeping its own, too, but it’s certainly notable that Nelson is currently playing out the final year of his contract. 5. Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers Age: 23 Position: RW Contract term: 2025 RFA Cap hit: $2.4 million When the playoffs ended in the spring, the former No. 2 draft pick expressed a desire to remain in New York, quickly signing a one-year contract at the amount he would have been due on his qualifying offer — $2.4 million — rather than pushing for more money and/or term. That provided cost certainty for the Rangers, but it didn’t guarantee any added security for Kakko. He’s had a productive start to this season with five points in six games while skating on the third line, which could boost his trade value if it continues while simultaneously making him a less desirable player for the Rangers to move. Still, it’s a win-at-all-costs season in New York. The Rangers have gauged the market on Kakko previously and could dangle him again as part of a package should they take an aggressive approach into the deadline. 6. Christian Dvorak, Montreal Canadiens Age: 28 Position: C, LW Contract term: 2025 UFA Cap hit: $4.45 million The number of teams in need of a center usually outstrips the number of them available, which is what lands Dvorak on this list. The 28-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent playing for a Habs team that’s been a highly motivated seller at recent deadlines. While his offensive impacts are minimal, Dvorak has shown himself to be a strong faceoff man and penalty killer, and he’d be a natural bottom-six fit for contenders looking to bolster their depth. The X-factor here is the player’s health as he’s been sidelined by a number of different injuries in recent years. 7. Cody Ceci, San Jose Sharks Age: 30 Position: RHD Contract term: 2025 UFA Cap hit: $3.25 million Traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Sharks over the summer in a cap-clearing move, it’s hard to imagine the veteran right-shot defenseman finishing the entire campaign with the cellar-dwelling Sharks. Not only is he a pending unrestricted free agent, but he’s also shown himself capable of handling the rigors of playoff hockey during three runs with Edmonton. Most notably, he was an important part of the penalty kill that was a massive difference-maker for the Oilers last spring. While Ceci has his detractors, his blend of experience and defensive attributes should hold some appeal to teams looking for added depth before the playoffs. 8. Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers Age: 29 Position: RHD Contract term: 2027 UFA Cap hit: $5.1 million The retooling Flyers are short on rental players to take to market in the leadup to the deadline, but they could probably be compelled to part with the big, physical defenseman if the right deal came along. Ristolainen carries a $5.1 million cap charge on a contract that stretches two seasons beyond this one, so some salary retention might be needed here. The right-shooting Ristolainen showed improved on-ice results when healthy last season and is ideally slotted on a third pairing at this stage of his career. 9. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks Age: 31 Position: G Contract term: 2027 UFA Cap hit: $6.4 million Gibson has yet to appear in a game this season after undergoing emergency appendectomy surgery in late September, but he’s well down the road to recovery. No stranger to our Big Board, the 31-year-old goaltender remains a player of interest with another year down on his contract — he’s got this season, plus two more remaining — and successor Lukáš Dostál potentially ready to run with Anaheim’s No. 1 job. Gibson’s numbers in recent seasons don’t jump off the page in a positive way, but they should be viewed with the understanding that he played behind some horrific defensive teams. How the veteran might perform under better conditions is unknown, but it’s potentially a compelling enough possibility that someone might roll the dice. 10. Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets Age: 28 Position: LW Contract term: 2025 UFA Cap hit: $6 million The Winnipeg Jets’ scorching 6-0-0 start has been fueled by elite results from the Ehlers line, so his inclusion here may seem misplaced (if not totally off base). Hear me out: View it as a “situation to watch” involving a pending unrestricted free agent rather than a player being dangled as trade bait. There is still plenty of time for the Jets and Ehlers to come together on an in-season extension, and there’s a case to be made on the merits of keeping him in the fold as an “own rental” even if that doesn’t end up happening. The fact that it’s up in the air is what makes the Ehlers case worth monitoring. The 28-year-old winger is an important asset for the Jets organization to manage and only has limited ability to dictate his potential trade market through a 10-team no-trade clause. Big decisions are on the horizon for both team and player here.
October 24, 20241 yr Author That's pretty cool about the Stars front office. Makes me even prouder to be a fan of the team. I would take any of the RHD listed above. Kinda thinking with how shaky the defense has been so far Nill will be compelled to make a move or two.
October 24, 20241 yr 1 hour ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said: That's pretty cool about the Stars front office. Makes me even prouder to be a fan of the team. I would take any of the RHD listed above. Kinda thinking with how shaky the defense has been so far Nill will be compelled to make a move or two. Was thinking the same thing. Can't have too many defensemen come playoff time. We saw that first-hand this past spring when we were rolling with five back there and just gassed Miro.
October 24, 20241 yr Author 59 minutes ago, C-Man said: Was thinking the same thing. Can't have too many defensemen come playoff time. We saw that first-hand this past spring when we were rolling with five back there and just gassed Miro. our pipeline thins out pretty quickly once we get past the healthy scratch (Petrovic) - I could definitely see us picking up another dman sooner rather than later. we're also surprisingly young/inexperienced on the front end too. considering we have been rotating three rookies (Back, Bourque, Stankoven) and several of our starters are still pretty green - we could probably use a rental forward too.
October 25, 20241 yr Author that one felt good. guess they were shaking off the rust against the Sabres because they looked unbeatable at times last night. build on that one. one more dust up against CHI and then off to Finland! Edited October 25, 20241 yr by Longhorn_Fan68
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