2015-2016 NHL Discussion Thread

Love the World Juniors. Hard to believe how big some of the guys are on Canada's team there.Two wingers at 6'4", one at 212 and the other at 211 lbs? holy shit lol

 

In the juniors O.O? Jeeze, they're on some sort of supplements, that's absolutely insane.

 

One of those giants draft year is 2016, too....... jesus. I know some people are just built bigger than others, but with the conditioning these guys go through, if you're heavy while that young not much of your weight is fat. They're probably some lean 212 lb 6'4" guys, which is the really fucking scary thing. Imagine as they continue to grow their adult strength into their early 20s.

If I'm that big, the main thing I'd be working on is skating. Big, mean powerforwards who can actually skate are invaluable in todays NHL (such as: Draisaitl, who is looking like he's going to be a real dominant powerforward).

 

Definitely agreed. If you're big and strong, that's one thing. But if you can skate, get open, and use that to your advantage, that will really make you a solid player. Just look at Burns, perfect example of that. Even though he is a defensemen, he can really rack up the point total because of his ability to skate and generate offense.

 

Another good example is Byfuglien. Can play both forward and defence, can score points, absolutely demolish guys like no one else, handle the puckk, and skate well for a guy of his posture. he's going to ask a pretty penny when he becomes a f/a this summer and some team will pay the money for his skill set.

 

Yeah, forgot about him. He's in a contract year? yikes. While we're on the topic of contracts: Steven Stamkos. Why in the hell haven't they signed him yet?

 

I know it's not much of a comparison, but I used to play volleyball last year in highschool and have felt incredibly short compared to the people on the court sometimes (I'm 6'1). They weren't just tall though - you get athletic, decently muscular 6'8, 6'9 guys in highschool. (one of them can touch 12'3 which is ridiculous, would be considered stellar even for an adult professional volleyball player).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P45gWdFzc7g

I'm getting veeeery off topic lol. But basically, the point is that while this isn't the norm, when you have such a huge pool of people that play volleyball you are bound to get some outliers who have all the characteristics needed to succeed. Hockey being so much more popular than volleyball in Canada has an even bigger pool to choose from. No surprise that the best kids have the size and strength needed to do well. High level play of any sport is fun to watch, and it's all the more interesting to see it when they are people my age While they're competing internationally I'm just sitting here posting on Sythe...

 

Oh I know, it's just mind boggling to think about. At my college we have a backetball player that I think is 7'2" or something as a freshman. It's just crazy how massive some people can get, continues to blow my mind every year when you hear about new prospects.

 

Yeah, a good buddy of mine's brother is like 6'8" and he played college volleyball in canada. i just find it hard to believe that when guys grow that tall in highschool they're not super clumsy... that's the thing about hockey, being overly tall isn't much of an advantage, the guy who didn't stop growing till he was 19 and is 6'7 isn't likely going to be nearly as coordinated as the guy who grew to 6'0 flat when he was 15 and stopped growing then and had plenty of years to get accustomed to his size

When I was in highschool I played on the football team, and there was a kid on the team who was in 10th grade who was 6'7 (I think he grew to 6'10), and he was maybe 160 pounds soaking wet and an absolute lanky twig who really struggled with every aspect of the sport, not sure why he wasn't on the volleyball team instead. we also had this black outside linebacker who was 6'4 or 6'5 and probably 220+ and literally looked like he had the muscle mass of a full grown man in his sophmore year. guy looked 25 at 17. I truly believe if he wasn't stuck in this shitty canadian town, he seriously could have gone and played college ball no question.

when my dad played football during highschool, he was 6'1 and like 190-200 lbs and was considered one of the bigger guys on the field, playing guard at that size. nowadays he'd probably be almost too small to be a linebacker. kids are just fucking massive these days I swear

 

True, but after a couple years of seasoning in the AHL and they could be a real enforcer. Maybe not a top line scorer, but easily a 3rd or fourth line brute that's meant to keep energy up and just generally be annoying for the other team. Not everything is about goals and assists, after all

 

Hockey isnt pleasent to late bloomers. If you arent in the triple AAA stream while in your early teens you don't make it to the next level when 16/17 (i.e. OHL, WHL, etc), which puts you at a serious disadvantage to ever getting a chance in the show, unless you can manage to get picked up by a good college after highschool, but if youre an uncoordinated and clumsy fuck in highschool it's tough to get scouted to one.

Not saying late bloomers aren't a thing, just you still have to have a good skillset just to make it to the AHL where you can really begin to develop and get a crack at makinh it big

 

I mean anyone who wants to make it anywhere needs to work towards it. In hockey, that means physical conditioning, and plenty of it. However, seeing people at 6'4" is a bit overboard lol. If they're taking supplements and enhancements left and right to have that kind of advantage, that's too risky imo. One side of me wants to say "i want to see the best athletes that scientists can create"; however, the other side of me believes this is immoral to put that kind of pressure on those who want to enjoy the sport. It shouldn't have to be something you practically need to do to have a shot.

 

I'm rooting for Montreal Canadiens. They are owning right now hopefully they keep it up in the playoffs. I'd say they're auto to get to playoffs anyways.

 

Depends how their goalie situation holds up. If Price isn't able to stay healthy they might be in some danger. Not sure if Condon and Tokarski can handle the responsibility.

 

Chychrun cut from the WJC roster. Not completely a surprise as Hockey Canada has historically hated 17 year olds, not entirely sure why though lol.

Virtanen on the lineup will be pretty big for the team as well as being a boost for the Canucks, maybe tearing it up in the world juniors will put some confidence back in his step.

Oilers at it again, they just can't seem to lose nowadays lol.

Yeah their goalie situation is pretty weird right now lol, almost as bad as Toronto's was a few days ago. Tokarski doesn't seem to play well as a backup - from past experience he seems like the guy who needs a lot of playing time to stay sharp. Gonna be interesting who they go with once Price comes back.

 

It'd have to be Condon. He started real well, and although he cooled off, he still was pretty decent. I don't see why he hasn't earned himself the backup job.

 

Yeah and they're missing Gallagher as well. Hopefully they don't rush Price back into net too quickly coming off this injury. Habs have won enough games already they'll make the playoffs even if they play sub .500 hockey for the next month.

Oilers extended their winning streak to 6 games now and swept Boston this year in what could have been the ugliest win I may have ever seen. 2nd period Oilers didn't have a shot until 16 minutes into the period. Couldn't break out and could not pass the red line to save their lives. To be fair though, Oilers lost their best dman last game with a broken finger and they're still missing their entire second line.

Somehow (mainly thanks to Talbot and his 47 saves) the Oil made it into OT, and for the 50 some seconds it lasted, the Oilers put on a clinic on how to win in 3v3. Not even sure if the Bruins ever took possession of the puck. It's almost hilarious how much better the Oilers are with all that open ice.

interesting stat: Oilers are 10-7-2 since McDavid got injured since by my count. What happens when he comes back?

 

They're also on a 6 game win streak, let's not forget that. So that number is slightly inflated while they're currently playing well. Although I have to agree, they've definitely been playing better than they normally do. I think after a month or so of McDavid back, allowing him to get back into the groove and find some chemistry, they might have some time to make a final push for the playoffs. I'd still be surprised if they ended up having a spot; however, they might be knocking on the doorstep for a bit.

 

That's the point of the stat: the Oilers also managed to go on a 6 game winning streak without McJesus and his line mates.

The pacific division is so bad yet competitive with each other it's going to get really interesting come April if the teams keep it up at this rate. All of the teams besides the Kings are within 3 points of each other.



I don't want to get my hopes up at all, but the Oilers schedule looks a helluva lot easier in the back 40 games. If the following 4 things can happen, I'd have no issue believing the Oil makes the playoffs:

1. no more big time injuries
2. mcdavid and his line mates get back in and pick it up exactly where they left off
3. goaltending stays consistently decent or better
4. we make it into at the very least OT often against teams not in our division (Oilers are 7-2 in OT/SO, would have been 8-1 but crawford absolutely robbed the shit out of us)

That being said, I'm 100% expecting the Oil to miss the playoffs this year. I just can't handle any more disappointment

 

That's a lot to bank on, for any team.

1. Injuries - every team deals with injuries. Look how it's plaguing the Lightning atm
2. Can't guarantee they'll have what they once did. Not every line lasts. The triplets didn't last from the Lightning.
3. Cam Talbot has never been a full time goaltender. It's only been 30 games, how will he hold up towards the end of the season?
4. Again, tough to hope for. What goes up must come down. Just because they are 7-2 now doesn't mean they'll continue to win OT games at a 3.5:1 loss.

I don't see the stars aligning on this one. At best, as I said before, they'll be knocking on the doorstep, but won't have what it takes for that final push to make it in.