I figure the Panthers are lucky Reinhart showed up .... IF he hadn't it might still be 1-1. 

For your consideration:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Sun_Game    and the second submission on this page https://www.facebook.com/explorefairbanks     

 Alas we're otherwise occupied .... MOBS Spring Campout.   https://www.facebook.com/manitobaoldtymeandbluegrass   

Reinhart was pretty quiet all series until last night. Then he pots four...

What the heck. It's timely, even if I did use it on the previous page. Here's our Jackie shot for this one.

Congrats to the Panthers,, they definitely were the better team throughout the playoffs. It’s difficult to repeat as a Cup winner. Edmonton needs a better goalie and a healthy Zach Hyman , plus a couple of other supporting cast members.

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Originally posted by chuckv97

Congrats to the Panthers,, they definitely were the better team throughout the playoffs. It’s difficult to repeat as a Cup winner. Edmonton needs a better goalie and a healthy Zach Hyman , plus a couple of other supporting cast members.

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Agreed. But they need  bit more than that. Matt Tkachuck was quoted last night as follows:

"Heart meets talent. Our team was a team. When things were getting hard for them, they looked to one guy. But our team, we do it collectively... and that's why we're lifting the Stanley Cup right now - because we're a team and not a bunch of individuals."

I'd say that's entirely fair. No team has a better player than McDavid, and few have one the equal of Draisaitl. From where I sit, the Panthers don't have anyone even close to those guys when it comes to pure holy $#!+ skill. But the way the Panthers play - so aggressive, so smart, so knowing and trusting of one another - created a problem that Edmonton just plain couldn't figure out how to solve.

Not to bore yooz guys with constant Blackhawk history, but Matt’s analysis holds true for the Chicago teams of the 1960’s and early 1970’s with Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita shouldering the bulk of the offense. They came close but never won a Cup, a possible fate for the Oilers as well.

... incessant* grinding ... kinda like full-court press in basketball??   [Didn't the Jets successfully do the same thing to the Oilers (i.e. McDavid and Draisaitl), a few years ago?]

* reminds me of NCAA 'ockey ... "they"!  never!  take! their!  foot!  off!  the!  gas!!!

And, fwiw, I think that style is more amenable with the "different" officiating standards that might, or might not, be in effect for the playoffs.

“They’ve put their whistles away!”

quote:

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Originally posted by chuckv97

Not to bore yooz guys with constant Blackhawk history, but Matt’s analysis holds true for the Chicago teams of the 1960’s and early 1970’s with Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita shouldering the bulk of the offense. They came close but never won a Cup, a possible fate for the Oilers as well.

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That's in no way boring. It's a good reminder of history - and a reminder that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

Just a thought,, if Paul Maurice was the Oilers coach, with all his experience and communications skills, would the Oilers have won?  I'm sure he and his coaching team set the "team tone" the last couple of years. 

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Originally posted by chuckv97

Just a thought,, if Paul Maurice was the Oilers coach, with all his experience and communications skills, would the Oilers have won?  I'm sure he and his coaching team set the "team tone" the last couple of years. 

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That's a really interesting question, particularly if viewed in the context of Matt Tkachuk's quote above!

On balance, though, I'd have to say no. For one thing, Knoblach wasn't responsible for building the roster - he had to work with what he was handed (some of which is brilliant, some not so much).

To that point, Paul Maurice may have set different expectations/style on the players, but that wouldn't have addressed Edmonton's weakness in the net. Yes, it's possible to win the Cup without a superstar goalie - Exhibit A is the Vegas Golden Knights - but it's obviously more difficult.

Nor would it have made up for the loss of Hyman. Heck, every team runs the risk of losing an important player to injury... but the teams that build depth into their systems are less exposed to resultant damage. And that gets back, IMO, to the way the team is put together.

Maddy (I’m calling her Maddy,, she doesn’t now me from Adam, however…..sigh) is a lot of woman - she’s 6’1” !

(btw, didja notice that every woman, gal, dame, vixen on TV lately has to show a bit of cleavage ?  I just can't fathom the reasoning behind this....)

My prediction: Brad Marchand will NOT be playing for the Panthers next year.

I am fully aware of my previous calcs that he was having so much fun there that he would stay, if the money could be worked out. Rumor is, Florida is working on making the money work.

Meantime, lots of vids of the Little Ball of Hate living large since the horn sounded, and that's nothing to show your kids. My prediction: Katrina will say "Screw the Broons. Get the best deal you can. But when it comes to the Panthers, you can have them - or me. Choose wisely."

Happy wife, happy life.
I take it Katrina stayed in Boston while the LBoH led the Cats to the Cup.
Maybe he’ll play for Providence next year,,, (are they still called the “Reds” after the chicken? as in Rhode Island Reds?)

p.s. Last summer I was chatting with banjo player Joe Deetz of the Rock Hearts , a Little Rhody-based bluegrass band , who were playing at our local festival an hour north of Calgary. 

Meanwhile, back at the hockey history desk, Bill Mosienko’s incredible feat that I doubt will ever be matched or surpassed.

p.s. the Rangers' regular goalies were both injured so they brought up a puck stopper from the New York Rovers of the Eastern League. Dennis Mooney, our coach with the U. of Guelph Gryphons in 1971 when I was trying out for the varsity squad, was goalie for the Rangers American League farm team in Bridgeport, CT and was tapped to play that game but he was too sick to make it, ,, the rest is history.

quote:

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Originally posted by chuckv97

Happy wife, happy life.
I take it Katrina stayed in Boston while the LBoH led the Cats to the Cup.
Maybe he’ll play for Providence next year,,, (are they still called the “Reds” after the chicken? as in Rhode Island Reds?)

p.s. Last summer I was chatting with banjo player Joe Deetz of the Rock Hearts , a Little Rhody-based bluegrass band , who were playing at our local festival an hour north of Calgary. 

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Katrina and the kids stayed in Boston when 63 went to Florida. They came down for Game 6. Presumably, they left shortly thereafter, knowing that Daddy was going on a one-week bender.

Providence is the Providence Bruins. They play one or two home games a year wearing Reds jerseys.

Joe Deetz is a really nice guy and an amazing banjo player. I've only met him twice. I know Bill Thibodeau, Rock Hearts' mando player, a little better. With the exception of the fiddler, Rock Hearts is pretty much all older guys. Kind of fun to see a bunch of long-time players who never made much noise in the business do well later on. FWIW, Deetz played with Joe Val and the New England Bluegrass Boys way back when.

Chuck: "....   I just can't fathom the reasoning behind this."

 A few decades back Scott Russell was interviewing the members of some European country's [maybe Italy?] female Olympic downhill ski team.... trying to give us some insights and/or interesting (?) background info.   He had asked what they would be known for, were it not for their obvious talent at skiing.  The first few gave other relatively ho-hum career choices or hobbies. Then, one answered that her second best feature was: "My cleavage."  It was on the radio, but ear-to-ear Smilin' Scott sounded like he must've almost swallowed his Red Man in his haste to, "And now we'll turn it back to Brian Williams at our anchor desk."

.

Kinda in the same vein as Trevor Linden missing fitness testing to help castrate bull calves >>  https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1038702118449551&set=a.486101550376280

Fwiw, I might watch a draft show [ditto for awards ceremonies] IF you paid me mucho dollaaars.  [So long as staying awake wasn't part of the it's-no-big-deal.]

Maddy (?) ... a lot of woman?  ... or a lot of girl-next-door?       https://x.com/maddiemoohoo

Madison and Madysin were/are/seem-to-be at odds when it comes to career moves… but waddueyeno

Is Olympic "cat diving"  a sports highlight?   ..... or a lowlight?  

https://www.tiktok.com/@nunchakusdragon/video/7518436616801750285

... inquiring minds want to know!!    

AI has taken over the MD thread,, tell me it ain’t so….!

I watched the draft up until about 15. Was really most interested, of course, in who my Broons selected, and I'm happy with the choice: James Hagen. He's a center who currently plays for Boston College. A bit on the smaller side but an agile and skilled playmaker who sees the ice well.

Observations:

1) Gary Bettman is a ham. We already knew that about him, but I suspect one of the most dangerous places to stand in the Western Hemisphere is between Bettman and a TV camera. Fortunately, he's pretty good at his job.

2) Bettman seemed buoyed by the just-announced Memorandum of Understanding between the League and the NHLPA, which sets forth the important changes to the CBA. Four-year extension beginning after next season. That the agreement is essentially done with a year left on the old one speaks to a) Bettman being good at his job, and 2) Marty Walsh, who heads up the NHLPA, being very good at his. I didn't think much of Walsh when he was mayor of Boston, and less of him when he was US Secretary of Labor, but he's proving to be excellent for the players.

3) The formatting of the pick announcements was such that the drafted players went into a smaller area on stage to have a brief video interface with team leadership. When Hagens was called in to talk with Neely, Sweeney and Jacobs, tech difficulties arose. Video, but no audio. They just sat there, looking kinda dumb - which is something they're pretty good at (they've had plenty of practice). So we were spared the 60 second mutual butt rubbing between player and management all the other draftees got.

4) Seems as how nobody likes the remote draft format - League, fans, scouts. Not sure the owners agree, but far as I'm concerned, the League should commit right now to sign a ten-year lease with the Sphere on the last weekend in June.

Gary B had a weekly hour show on Sirius XM’s hockey channel years ago. He would interview whoever said they were available, I suppose. One I listened to was Pierre McGuire,,, argh.
I don’t think Gary was given the boot,, however, he didn’t last long, I don't think.

oh wait,,, looks like he's still on or back on Sirius.. I lost touch with the time schedule of shows when I drove truck.

Wonder if Paul’s partner in high school crime , Pat Keon, will unveil the statue?