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nekojitachan · 6 years

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Twinyards (brotherly platonic) #15

*sighs*

*whispers* i thought you were my friend….

15. Don’t die on me– Please

Yeah. Trigger for some violence and guns

*******

There had to be easier ways to earn a scholarship than to play Exy on a team with the Foxes, Aaron thought as he suffered through the last few minutes of an early play-off game with Breckenridge. He could have suffered the embarrassment of showing up at prom in a dress made out of duct tape (after everything else he put up with in high school, what the hell, right?) or pretended to be a Star Trek fan or something, considering he hadn’t pulled his grades up in time (that Andrew… that they sucked for too long). No, he was stuck playing on a team of rejects and lunatics and liars while he got his ass kicked trying to keep the ‘roided offense (they had to be, the over-muscled, aggressive assholes) away from the goal.

Oh, and all while his dear brother yelled at him and Nicky for being lazy bastards who couldn’t block a distracted toddler, they were such a pathetic pair of backliners.

Andrew better not so much as blink when Aaron dragged Katelyn onto the team bus for the ride back to PSU, not when he had his own boyfriend (Aaron still felt a bit of a reflexive shudder at the thought because, well, Neil) and managed to channel the indignation he felt into mostly blocking Breckenridge for the final part of the game.

Go figure, he guessed over a year of therapy might finally be paying off.

Nicky gave out a loud cheer when the final buzzer sounded and the Foxes won by four points, the second of the three games they needed to proceed to the death matches. Aaron grimaced as he shoved his obnoxious and sweaty cousin aside, and did his best not to notice Neil headed to the goal to… whatever with Andrew. Do their weird ‘not in a relationship’ thing.

Idiots annoyed him, and those two were among the biggest he’d ever had the misfortune to suffer.

They cut it short, though, because the Breckenridge fans were not happy about their team being knocked out of the play-offs so early; it was something that had been simmering all season long, with the Jackals bitter about the Foxes winning the championship last season, something they’d never accomplished. They were used to being being the best in the Southeastern district, and weren’t taking kindly to being so vastly eclipsed by a team that used to be considered the worst.

Not kindly at all, judging from the raucous boos raining down onto the court - boos and drink cups and other debris, which reminded Aaron of what had happened in Binghamton almost a year go. Apparently he wasn’t the only one, considering how all the Foxes but the freshmen drew together with either anxious or cautious expressions on their faces, how Andrew was all but plastered to Neil’s side and the upperclassmen drew as close as they dared to the couple while Wymack yelled at Breckenridge’s coach about skipping the post-game line-up.

No one argued with that decision.

Well, almost no one argued with that decision - Jack, ever the asshole, bitched about how Wymack rushed the team through their showers and getting ready to leave after Dan and Kevin conducted very brief post-game interviews.

“We won, why are we running out of here as if we’re ashamed?” the idiot freshman bitched as he threw his dirty uniform into his duffel bag.

“Maybe because in part what everyone’s pissed-off about out there is how you ran your mouth while out on court?” Nicky said while he pulled on a clean shirt. “You know, you calling them names and getting yourself yellow-carded?”

Jack appeared ready to throw something at Nicky until Andrew slammed his locker door shut and leaned forward, his expression blank but gaze intent on the rookie striker. “Josten mouths off all the time,” Jack sneered while he folded his arms over his chest in a show of false bravado. “Maybe it’s his fault.”

Normally Aaron would agree with the jerk, but Jack was like a landmine, going off with the slightest pressure and totally indiscriminate, while Neil was normally a guided missile, intent on a target with maximum damage. Neil didn’t take on the entire team, just the players who gave him shit.

Which, granted, were most of the Jackals.

“I don’t let them get away with treating me like shit, but I actually play Exy instead of merely trying to look tough out there,” Neil shot back as he glared at Jack. “Maybe you should, too.”

Before Jack could argue, Wymack yelled at them to behave and get their asses in gear before he left them behind (if only for a couple of them). Aaron grabbed his bag, eager to see Katelyn and head back to campus, and hoped that Coach Martin wouldn’t complain about her riding with the Foxes.

He was busy texting her to see if Martin had agreed to allow her to switch buses as they left the Away locker room, Andrew on his left as his brother motioned for Nicky to walk ahead; someone seemed intent to herd his little group of ‘Monsters’ close together, the reason becoming clear as the noise from out in the parking lot grew louder. Dan fell quiet from what she was saying to Matt and Renee’s shoulders tensed while Wymack called out to them to be careful as they walked out onto a still-full parking lot awash with angry Breckenridge fans.

The campus police had their hands full trying to disperse the upset crowd, hindered by barely moving cars which were blaring their horns and blasting music. Shit was still being thrown through the air, including something which made Laura yelp as she ducked to avoid it hitting her head. Sheena yelled at a group Jackal fans which made them spray their drinks on her, and only Renee pulling her back kept a fight breaking out then and there.

Worried about Katelyn, Aaron hurried ahead to where the Vixens were huddled together doing their best to ignore a bunch of assholes in Breckenridge jackets who were harassing them; it looked as if Jorie and Bianca were barely holding back from punching them.

“Hey! Leave them alone,” Aaron shouted even as he heard his own name be called out from behind him. “Get away from them, you assholes!” Remembering his lessons from Matt, he formed his right hand into a fist and threw his weight into the punch he aimed at the guy standing nearest Katelyn, striking him on the left cheek.

He got another punch in before someone grabbed him by the back of his shirt and spun him around, clipping him in the ribs before he ended up on the ground. He got a kick in the back as he curled up to protect himself and then there was more shouting, was Nicky’s loud voice and Matt yelling, was Neil calling out Andrew’s name and then something in what sounded to be Russian.

Aaron had just started to unfurl when there was a loud bang, a noise which startled him still with its intensity and strangeness before he realized that it was a gunshot, that someone had just fired a gun. There was more yelling, a mix of panic and anger and the sound of running, and then he heard it.

People were calling out Andrew’s name.

Neil was crying out Andrew’s name.

Aaron found himself on his feet within an instant and twisted about until he saw the huddle of bodies nearby - Wymack and Matt were wrestling with some strange guy while Neil and Nicky knelt next to Andrew, who was sprawled motionless on the ground.

“No, no!” Aaron stumbled over to his brother, who was just out of reach, really. “What the hell?” he cried out as he fell down next to Andrew, to the body which suddenly seemed so small (Andrew never appeared small, not really, other than that one time back at-) with his eyes closed and the red spreading across his chest despite Neil’s hands pressed against it as if to keep it inside.

“He was… you were… oh god,” Nicky stuttered out while Neil rambled on in a mix of what sounded to be Russian and German.

It couldn’t be happening - Andrew couldn’t be hurt, not Andrew. He was supposed to be there to fuck things up for Aaron but also make them right, to be there. If he was in trouble, Aaron had to do something, just like with Drake. He had to make it right. Yet when he pressed his fingers against Andrew’s neck, to feel his pulse, he could barely feel anything at all.

“Don’t die on me– please,” Aaron whispered as Abby rushed over to join them, as he heard someone start crying in the background. “You can’t, you asshole.” He kept repeating those words while Abby started CPR and Neil’s pleading in foreign words.

*******

Hmm.

Blame @nikothespoonklepto

#aftg #aaron minyard #first time writing this pov #andrew minyard #writing prompt #now it only seems bad #i'm sure abby saves the day

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whatwouldfrogsdo · 7 years

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Red (or Memories)

Day 7 of Nursey Week!

Thanks to everyone who’s been reading these. It’s been so much fun. Happy Nursey’s-birthday-day!

Also on AO3 here.

This reporter for the Daily is counting her blessings today that she sat next to the Samwell Men’s Hockey (SMH) goalie, Chris Chow, in Physics this year. Not only did he brighten up an otherwise torturous class, but it was with his help that we secured an exclusive interview with the NHL’s newest Samwell star, Derek Nurse. The soon-to-be Red Wings’ rookie shows up in a jersey he says came through the post that morning. It’s not the one he will eventually wear on the ice, but a gift from the Michiganian team following his signing. It’s a shockingly bright shade of red, and it’s accompanied with the green hat the defenseman is rarely seen without, and a beard which rivals the one he grew during the playoffs this year. He gets a soy amaretto latte, and turns his phone to silent before we start.

(SD) Thanks for coming here today! How does it feel to be an NHL player? (DN) It’s surreal. Everyone else is getting ready to go into senior year and I’m moving to Detroit. Of all of us to go professional, I didn’t think it would be me first. I mean, you’ve got Chowder [Chris Chow, rising senior and SMH alternate captain] who’s a mad genius in the goal, and Will - Dex [William Poindexter, rising senior and incoming SMH captain] - who… Well, you know, we’ve been d-partners since we were frogs. He’s gonna make a great captain. Of course, it probably would have been Chowder if half the team hadn’t forgotten when they were voting that NCAA rules about goalies being captains are different to NHL, but Will’s gonna make a great captain.

And, of course, there’s more to your relationship with him than just on the ice… Yeah, sure. He’ll hate it if I wax poetic in an interview, though. I better start practicing not saying anything about him for when I’m dealing with paps. Besides, anyone who had that Geography class with us last semester is sick of us.

So we’re not going to talk about being the first openly LGBTQIA+ player to be signed? It’s not that big a deal. Jack’s out. [Jack Zimmermann captained the SMH team for a record three years, before signing with the Providence Falconers in 2015. He was given the A after just a few months with the team, and became the first openly LGBTQIA+ player in the NHL earlier this year when he announced his relationship with now-outgoing SMH captain, Eric Bittle]

Jack has also been very open about mental health awareness. Rumor has it that this is another area you'll be following in his footsteps. Yeah. I was diagnosed with bipolar when I was sixteen, so it's a topic pretty close to my heart. And so many people in our generation have mental health issues, so it's a really big deal. I remember one roadie we ended up in rooms of three so it was me, Will and Chow. We lined up all our medication and I think if I remember right we had about ten lots between us. Course, some of that was vitamins or Tylenol or whatever but the point stands.

So are you and Jack going to do anything together to talk about these issues? It's been discussed. I have to meet with Red Wings PR before I can commit to anything, though. They might want me to keep my head down the first year or so, before I start talking about all these things that were just avoided in the NHL for so many years.

How about playing against your former captain? Will that be strange? Not just one former captain, and yes of course it will be, but I'm ready to start showing them up.

Right. You're actually the third Samwell student to go into the NHL in three years. Yeah, that’s pretty crazy. We’re all in the same division, too, though maybe that makes sense, with it being this area. Holster [Adam Birkholtz, who signed with the Boston Bruins last year] keeps going on about reunions and the All Star game, but I think he’s forgotten that there’s fifty other players they’d pick before they even considered putting rookies on the team. Hell, he was playing AHL this year, and I’ll probably end up in that same boat.

Maybe in the future, though! Maybe. Who knows, we might have some more NHL prospects in the team. I already mentioned Chowder and Dex, but Whiskey [Miguel Alves Guimaraes, rising junior] was drafted to the [Philadelphia] Flyers [in 2015, opting to play NCAA first to get his degree], and I wouldn’t be surprised if at least one out of Tango [Tony Gallegos, rising junior] and Kingsley [Deonte King, rising sophomore] manage to sign. I’m sure we can get together a Samwell alumni team once there’s enough of us in the League.

I know you said you weren’t going to talk about William Poindexter, but can I ask how he feels about you signing before your senior year? Is it going to make him more or less likely to pursue a professional career himself? He’s furious. Sure, there’s the two hour flight, and the fact that he’s New England through and through so he can’t physically let himself support a team that isn’t the Bruins or the Falconers, but mostly he’s pissed ‘cause he tried the jersey on and it clashes so horribly with his hair. He went darker than it when I pointed that out. He blushes to sort of Samwell red. As for how it is me going now instead of next year… It just means that we’ve been pushed into figuring stuff out a little earlier. I remember with Ransom [Justin Oluransi, class of ‘16] and Holster, it was really strange watching them try and decide where they were going to go, when they were both trying to make their own individual decisions and not affect each other’s but we all knew eventually they would try and stay in the same place as each other. I’m glad Will and I don’t have that to go through next year, anymore. He knows where I am for the moment. He also knows that it’s hockey and I could get traded at any time, so there’s no point him looking for jobs in Detroit just because that’s where I’ll be, because what if next season I’m in Arizona or somewhere instead? I can’t really say if he wants to go pro or not. I just can’t say.

Can’t because you don't know or because you're not allowed? That’s a very blurry line.

If you did get traded, where would you like to go? Hey, chill, I haven’t even moved out of the [SMH frat] Haus yet. And it really will be good to be in Detroit. My sister lives there. But, if I have to pick one, I’d like the [New York] Rangers. Who doesn’t have a dream of playing for the team they grew up supporting? And it’d be ‘swawesome to live in Manhattan again. Or, either of the New England teams would be cool, both because of getting to play with former teammates again, and because Will might actually cheer me on.

So when you play the Bruins or the Falconers with the Red Wings… [He laughs] Yeah, Jack and Holster are gonna get all the support over me.

We normally reserve this question for commencing seniors but as you’re going to miss that, what’s your best memory of Samwell? Oh, f**k. I don’t know, man. There’s too many to count. The SMH [team] don’t believe in dull moments.

How about what you’re going to miss the most? Graduation, for starters. [He laughs]. Ah, but Bitty [Eric Bittle]’s pies, and obviously all the team. I’ll still see them as often as I can but them not being right there in the same place will be strange.

And, finally, I think I already know what you’re going to say for this but who are your biggest Samwell inspirations? F**k yeah, you know what I’m going to say. Every one of those boys from SMH are amazing. Some of them can be jerks sometimes, but they’re great. Jack Zimmermann went and came out in the NHL at the perfect time for me so he’s my hero. Larissa Duan [class of ‘16, and former SMH team manager] is, like, the most amazing artist and one day we’re going to write a book together. Or, I’ll write and she’ll illustrate. Justin Oluransi, standing up for his own happiness, and proving that stereotypes are complete bulls**t. He’s the main reason I had the courage to go pro, so I owe a lot to him. Adam Birkholtz played B League Juniors when he was younger, and now has got himself into the NHL, and did you see his protest against Trump when the White House wrote all mention of Jews out of the Holocaust Memorial Day statement? What a legend. [Birkholtz at protests in Boston in January can be found on all Samwell Daily social media pages] Eric Bittle, was an openly gay NCAA captain before his boyfriend came out. He’s also 99% the reason I didn’t starve the past three years, and he learnt how to bake without dairy just for me. S**tty [B. Knight, class of ‘17] who’s been there for me longer than anyone else besides my family. [SD: Do you know his first name, then? DN: He has a first name?] And of course, my best friends, Chris Chow, Caitlin Farmer [rising senior and incoming Samwell Women’s Volleyball team captain - see next week’s edition!] and Will Poindexter. I love all three of them in majorly different ways, and Samwell wouldn’t have been the same without them.

With those touching words about some of Samwell’s biggest personalities, past and present, the interview is over. I thank Derek again for meeting with me, and he responds, with a wink, that it’s chill and that he didn’t want ESPN to get his first interview. His face lights up when he looks over to the door and sees the three people he just named as his best friends. They're all wearing Samwell athletics hoodies, and Will Poindexter holds one out for Derek who pulls it over the Red Wings jersey before stepping outside. He still has a few more weeks of Samwell before trading crimson in for bright red, after all.

#nurseyweek #derek nurse #omgcp #omgcp fanfic #check please!#stephwrites #freshverse tag

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paradoxicalca · 5 years

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[OC] Jack Eichel Takes Over the Sabres (An Alternate Reality)

(Previous parts of this series include: Jim Benninging the Canucks, Mike Milburying the Islanders, Don Cherry Drafts the Leafs, Tom Wilson-Proofing the Penguins, Dundon DIYs the Hurricanes, Re-Chiarelling the Oilers, Moneyballing the Sens, Covertly Tanking the Wild, and Frenchifying the Canadiens.)Part 1It's April 17th 2015, and the Buffalo Sabres have just suffered their first unintentional loss of the season: the draft lottery. GM Tim Murray thought that he and Connor McDavid would form the backbone of a new era for the Sabres - now all they have in common is that both of them are trying not to cry on national television. The consolation prize is Jack Eichel, a Boston University product who miles away is pounding down Sam Adamses and declaring "Buffalo... I'm coming for ya!" while privately wondering where exactly Buffalo is. When asked by the Sportsnet host how he feels about picking Eichel at #2, Murray blurts out "I'm disappointed for our fans."Flash forward to the draft itself. After two months of utter depression, Murray finally meets the #2 ranked prospect at a pre-draft interview featuring scouts, the coaching staff, and members of ownership. While they all seem very taken with the kid, Murray can't help but notice that Eichel refuses to make eye contact with him, speaking directly to owner Terry Pegula instead. But prospects are weird sometimes, and there are trades to focus on. He completes one with Colorado that afternoon to bring in Ryan O'Reilly, who will be the perfect #2 centre behind Conno- sorry, Jack Eichel - and acquires a number 1 goalie in Robin Lehner. He almost acquires the 16th pick in the draft, but Peter Chiarelli demands Zemgus Girgensons, and you can't trade away an all-star like him for pennies on the dollar.When Murray blankly calls Eichel's name on the draft stage that night, the young player looks at the sweater handed to him and says "where's the captain's 'C'?" Murray laughs, but Eichel does not. Once they get off the stage, the GM doesn't see Eichel for the rest of the night.Part 2Tim Murray arrives at his office a few days later to prepare for unrestricted free agency and is shocked to see it completely redesigned, covered in Boston University paraphernalia and pornographic posters. Leaning back with his feet on the GM's desk is the rookie, framed by the towering Buffalo skyline out the window behind him and chugging a tall can of Miller Lite."Jack, what the hell have you done to my office?""Your office? This is my office bud." The phone rings. "Hold on a moment."Murray sputters as Eichel picks up the phone. It's Avalanche GM Joe Sakic - Murray had inquired about a potential swap the night before."Hey. No, this isn't Mr. Murray, that bender's history. It's Jack Eichel. Yeah, I'm in charge now, what of it? The fuck did you just say to me? You wanna go bud? Don't call this number again you fuckin' turkey" Eichel yells, and slams the phone down. Murray gapes at him in horror.His secretary calls over from the reception area. "Sir, there's a call coming in from Brett Hull.""Who the hell is that?" Eichel asks. "Put him through I guess.""This is Brett Hull. If you talk to Mr. Sakic that way again I'll stick my foot in your crease.""Hang on bud, I know who you are! You were fuckin' useless in NHL 06, get the hell outta here."As he hangs up, Terry Pegula walks in. "Hey Jack, how are you settling in?"Murray interrupts "What the hell's going on here Terry? I just got here and this kid is making calls on my behalf?""I also made a few signings" Eichel adds. "Coupla beauties I went to school with, real gamers. Just some crafty roster moves ferda. "Tim Murray is bright red, fuming at the behaviour of his new rookie player and attempted usurper. He finally loses control."Jack, I swear to god if you don't start showing a little respect I'm gonna slap you in the pee-pee!"The room falls completely silent."Tim what the hell is the matter with you?" Terry Pegula says. "Jack was so right about you. You're fired."Utterly defeated, Murray takes one last look at his beautiful office view of downtown Buffalo before exiting. Before he can close the door an empty beer can hits him on the back of the head.Part 3GM Jack Eichel makes a number of unusual decisions.He signs every eligible player from his Boston University team and fires recently hired head coach Dan Bylsma in favour of David Quinn. Bylsma assumes that the jig is up and that Eichel has merely figured out he's a terrible coach, and leaves without even questioning it.He brings on two former players with no management experience, Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney, as his assistant GMs. He also hires Mike Richards and Jarret Stoll as "scouts," although nobody ever sees them at any games and their salaries are much higher than everyone else on the staff's.Somewhat inspired by Peter Laviolette, he institutes a controversial "Wet Island" policy, asking players to commit to getting absolutely bombed in order to help the team win.He receives a reprimand from the National Hockey League for his official response to Ryan O'Reilly crashing his car into a Tim Hortons: "Honestly, that's fuckin' hilarious. That's classic Snook right there, holy fuck. Buddy musta been fuckin' hammered, I mean, this guy can pound em' down no doubt about it so if he's crashing into a Timmies you know that's at least a two-four deep. What a fuckin' beauty."He signs Eric Staal as a free agent, a move that confuses the hockey media considering the team's glut of centre talent. When asked what role he'll play on the team, Eichel replies "designated driver."It shouldn't work, but it does. Thanks to the lack of anything else to do in the city, the Sabres are able to form deep and lasting friendships in Buffalo's dazzling Holiday Inn bars and after-hours parking lot swap meets. This chemistry translates on the ice, as the Boston University boys bolstered by O'Reilly and Evander Kane start winning games at will. Robin Lehner, suddenly overcome with a deep sadness at the debauchery taking place around him every night, discreetly sobers up and fully dedicates himself to nobler endeavours (namely winning hockey games and volunteering for the Trump campaign). Sick of "that tall Finnish dork" Rasmus Ristolainen, GM Eichel trades him to Edmonton for Taylor Hall.In 2019, everything comes together. The acquisition of Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty from the rebuilding Kings and Jack Johnson from the Penguins puts the finishing touches on a championship roster, and it's truly a playoff run to half-remember. Eichel's Sabres look like the 1980s Edmonton Oilers both on and off the ice, defeating Lou Lamoriello's stone-faced and jealous Islanders in a four-game sweep to advance to the Cup final against the Vegas Golden Knights.Despite every player showing up 5 minutes before each game covered in glitter and missing half their paycheques, the Sabres roll over the Knights to win their franchise's first Stanley Cup. Tragically, Jack Eichel, the architect of it all, winner of the Hart, Jack Adams, and GM of the Year Award, suffers a career-ending arm laceration while trying to shotgun a bottle of champagne in the locker room and is forced to retire. [OC] Jack Eichel Takes Over the Sabres (An Alternate Reality) Source

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thrashermaxey · 6 years

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Ramblings: Marner Rebounding, Gallagher Fired Up (Feb 11)

Marner Rebounding, Gallagher Fired Up, plus more…

Mitch Marner had the game of his career on Saturday, scoring two goals and adding three assists. One of the points was his 100th career point. The shots are finally starting to go in for Marner, who after long stretches without goals now has seven goals over his last 10 games. As much as he was thought to be slumping this season, he is now on pace to match his 61-point rookie season. Maybe you expected more given where you had to draft him, but if you look at the overall body of work now, he hasn’t disappointed as much as you think. I was able to pick him up off waivers earlier this season after one dissatisfied owner dropped him.

Patrick Marleau surprised his fantasy owners with a three-point game and six shots on goal. Marleau entered the game with just one point in his previous seven games and two points in his previous 16 games. So you can’t necessarily be blamed if you’ve decided to move on.

With a goal and an assist on Saturday, Nazem Kadri now has 13 points (4g-9a) in his last 10 games. Prior to that stretch Kadri had just one point in his previous 18 games. So he’s probably safe to use again while he’s on this line with Marner and Marleau.

Craig Anderson pulled midway through the first period after allowing three goals on 10 shots. Considering how the rest of his season has gone, Anderson had been settling in with three consecutive wins entering this game to go with a 2.54 GAA and .930 SV% over the last five games. The Senators were a disaster in the first period of this game and have been for much of the season, but they have one of the league’s most favorable schedules during the fantasy playoffs. So I think I’ll retain Anderson anyway and see what happens. I do have other goalies in case his season goes sideways again.

Mark Stone returned to the Senators’ lineup on Saturday, recording two assists. Don’t forget to get him back in your lineup.

P.K. Subban returning to Montreal is always an event. The visit to the Montreal children’s hospital with some Nashville teammates was heartwarming. But this game provided evidence that there was at least one teammate that didn’t admire him as much as the Montreal community at large does.

"HEY PK, SORRY NOT SORRY" – @BGALLY17 pic.twitter.com/RzuCBvR8kC

— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 11, 2018

Here’s the post-game interviews from both Brendan Gallagher and Subban. Hockey interviews are often mundane, but not these ones. Throwing shade, as the kids like to say.

{youtube}TfTAa-QuIjM{/youtube}

Subban was held without a point in nearly 27 minutes of icetime. But with 43 points in 54 games, he leads the Preds in scoring. Not surprisingly, he also has more points than anyone on the Habs. It’s easy for fans to say that the Habs never should have traded Subban, but it makes you wonder how disliked he was among certain people in the Canadiens organization that they felt they had no choice but to trade him.

Lost in the feud was the fact that Gallagher scored his team-leading 20th goal of the season. Players that are fired up often deliver. In the black cloud that has been the Habs’ season, Gallagher has been one bright spot recently with goals in back-to-back games, points in four consecutive games, and nine points over his last ten games. And with a 5on5 SH% of just 5.95%, Gallagher is a great buy-low candidate.

Gallagher’s linemate Artturi Lehkonen recorded two assists in this game, giving him five points over this last three games. Up to this point, Lehkonen hasn’t caught a break at all this season. But if you go to his Dobber player profile, you’ll see that the numbers are all green. As in buy-low green. We’re talking about a 966 PDO, a 5.3 SH%, and the brightest green of them all, a 5on5 SH% of 5%. After Lehkonen nearly reached 20 goals last season, I pegged him as a potential deep sleeper. Lehkonen is worth consideration in deep leagues at this point, especially those in which a player like Gallagher is already owned.

There was bad news for both teams in the Sabres/Bruins matchup. Despite the win, the Sabres lost Jack Eichel from this game with a lower-body injury. Eichel will be re-examined on Sunday. Here’s how it looked, which was kind of awkward.

Hope Eichel is okay, this didn’t look good pic.twitter.com/sTkAmK7pnb

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) February 11, 2018

Many fantasy owners would have deployed Tuukka Rask thinking that he would be able to continue his win streak with an easy home matchup against the Sabres. But as it stands, Rask’s win streak ended at eight games, while he was tagged with a regulation loss for the first time since November 26. In fact, this was the first game that Rask had allowed more than two goals in nearly a month. Quite a run.

Rask will receive a rest on Sunday, as Anton Khudobin will start against the Devils. Khudobin is one of the league’s better backups with a 11-3-4 record and a 2.28 GAA and a .925 SV%, so he’s a sneaky Sunday start if you need a final push to your goaltending stats for the week. For more Sunday starters, check out Goalie Post.

Brian Elliott also left Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury… in the shootout. Yes, that can happen. After stopping five shootout attempts, Michal Neuvirth earned the win in spite of not playing a single minute in regulation or overtime. According to the HNIC panel, that’s the first time in NHL history that a goalie has earned a win while only playing in the shootout. It’s like a baseball pitcher winning a game after throwing just one pitch. You just have to be in the right place at the right time to earn the win.

Should Elliott miss any time, the inconsistent Neuvirth will need to battle Alex Lyon for playing time. Lyon earned back-to-back starts earlier this month while Elliott was injured. Hopefully Elliott’s injury in the shootout isn’t related to the injury he suffered on Saturday.

With two assists on Saturday, Shayne Gostisbehere now has a five-game point streak in which he has nine points (1g-8a). He is one of five defensemen to reach the 40-point mark this season. Without peeking at the stats, can you name the others? I mentioned one of them earlier.

On Vincent Lecavalier jersey retirement night, Andrei Vasilevskiy stole the show with this save. Sure, he allowed three goals in this game, but he did so on 47 shots and earned the win.

GRAND. THEFT. ANDREI.

HOW DOES HE DO THIS?! 🤯 #LAKvsTBL pic.twitter.com/hP3XpqomTB

— #VL4 (@TBLightning) February 11, 2018

Dustin Brown might be in some hot water with the league for this knee on Mikhail Sergachev. Fortunately, Sergachev was able to return to the game.

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Devan Dubnyk’s shutout on Saturday was well-earned, as he had to stop 44 shots. You’re probably normally starting Dubnyk anyway, but you’ll want him in your lineup especially when the Wild are playing at home. Dubnyk is 14-2-4 at the Xcel Energy Center this season, while the Wild are 9-0-3 in their past 12 games there.

It’s been mainly a down season for Charlie Coyle, but he rewarded his remaining fantasy owners with two goals on Saturday. It’s worth mentioning that his points-per-game pace this season (0.59) isn’t much lower than last season’s (0.68). Sometimes there’s a fine line between success and failure in fantasy.

Elias Lindholm assisted on both of Brock McGinn’s goals in an identical fashion (from behind the net). Lindholm now has four points over his last three games. At his current pace, Lindholm will reach 47 points. Maybe he’s settling in as a 40-50 point player, although he still is only 23 years old.

In a game that saw the Sharks take a 3-0 lead, only to see the Oilers storm back to take a 4-3 lead, then the Sharks retake the lead for good, Joe Pavelski was able to pile on some impressive numbers. Pavelski scored two goals and added two assists on six shots on goal, which gives him two goals in back-to-back games. While Pavelski has a 5on5 SH% as low as 5.8, you could trade for him at a lower price than you would have at the start of the season.

The Joe Thornton injury hasn’t impacted Pavelski as much as it has young scorers Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier. Since Jumbo Joe’s injury, Labanc has seven points over his last eight games and has been added to the first-unit power play. Meier, meanwhile, has four points over his last four games while playing on Pavelski’s line. Both players are worth keeping an eye on, as it appears that Thornton won’t be back anytime soon – maybe even at all. Remember that Thornton is on a one-year contract worth $8 million, and GM Doug Wilson could decide to move on from him after this season.

If you’d like to hear me discuss fantasy hockey, I’ll be on Nick Alberga’s podcast this weekend. Follow him on Twitter @thegoldenmuzzy for the details.

And of course, for more fantasy hockey information, you can follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding.

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-rambling/ramblings-marner-rebounding-gallagher-fired-up-feb-11/

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amtushinfosolutionspage · 7 years

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DGB NHL Season Preview: The Question Marks, Contenders, and Playoff Picks

Yesterday, we covered half the league with a look at the bottom-feeders and the middle-of-the-pack. Today, we wrap up the season preview with a look at the very best teams the league has to offer, plus a full set of predictions and a Cup winner. Spoiler alert: It’s a little anti-climactic.

But first, let’s work on our exasperated shrugs as we tackle the league’s misfits and question marks.

The Your-Guess-Is-As-Good-As-Mine Division

This is always my favorite division, for two reasons. First, by definition I can’t actually be wrong about any of the teams here. And second, it’s fun to watch fans read through the first half of the preview, not see their team listed, and get all excited about them being considered contenders. Not so fast…

Buffalo Sabres

Last season: 33-37-12, 78 points, last in the Atlantic, missed playoffs

Offseason report: They fired the coach and GM. As far as the roster, the emphasis was on the blueline, which looks better with Marco Scandella and Nathan Beaulieu added.

Outlook: This year feels like a crucial one, where you’d want to see big progress to justify all the misery that came before. There’s enough young talent here that you could certainly imagine it all coming together. Sounds encouraging, right? The problem is I cut-and-pasted those two sentences from last year’s preview, and then the team went backwards. It can’t happen again… can it?

In the spotlight: Jack Eichel, and not just because he’s the team’s best player. Fair or not, Eichel was viewed as having a hand in those firings, and some Sabres fans joke that he’s become the team’s de facto GM. And he still needs an extension. It’s fair to say there’s a lot riding on this year.

Oddly specific prediction: I really want to find a way to get them higher than sixth in the Atlantic. I’m not sure I can. I cut-and-pasted that part, too.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Last season: 50-24-8, 108 points, third in the Metro, out in the first round

Offseason report: Other than that Brandon Saad/Artemi Panarin deal and dumping David Clarkson’s contract on the Knights, nothing big.

Outlook: A year ago, everyone had them pegged for last in the Metro and John Tortorella was going to be the first coach fired. Then they won 50 games. Was it a fluke? Not necessarily, but it’s fair to say that the hockey world wants to see it again before they’re convinced.

In the spotlight: Zach Werenski. Other than goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, nobody was a bigger piece of last year’s rise than the rookie blueliner. He’s on track for full-blown stardom, but he also just turned 20 and some guys struggle in their second season. The Jackets may not be able to afford that.

Oddly specific prediction: They break through with the most successful playoff run in franchise history. Which is to say they lose in the first round in seven games.

Los Angeles Kings

Last season: 39-35-8, 86 points, fifth in Pacific, missed playoffs

Offseason report: They fired Dean Lombardi and Darryl Sutter, essentially hitting reset on their Stanley Cup era.

Outlook: Those two Cups feel like they were a long time ago, as the Kings have won just a single playoff game since 2014. They’re still a good team on paper, and some new voices could spark a temporary return to the league’s elite. But this is basically the same roster as last year, just older, and you have to figure that big changes are coming sooner or later.

In the spotlight: Drew Doughty. If the Kings can rebound, Doughty will be a big reason why. If they can’t, expect his contract status—he’ll be a UFA in 2019—to start to loom large. Especially if he keeps saying stuff like this.

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Oddly specific prediction: They hang tough early, but the wheels come off by mid-November and they finish sixth in the Pacific.

Florida Panthers

Last season: 35-36-11, 81 points, sixth in the Atlantic, missed playoffs

Offseason report: They confused everyone at the expansion draft, said goodbye to Jaromir Jagr, hired a new coach, and basically tried as hard as they could to hit CTRL-Z on everything they did a year ago.

Outlook: They were really bad last season, and on paper they just got even worse. But last year felt like a worst-case scenario, and they still have one of the better young rosters in the league. There may not be a team in the league with a wider range of realistic outcomes heading into this season.

In the spotlight: Aleksander Barkov. He was the team’s second leading scorer last year, trailing only [squints at scoresheet] Vincent Trocheck. Barkov has always been an excellent two-way player, but has yet to crack 60 points. With three of the other top six scorers shipped out for essentially no return, the Panthers will need him to be an offensive force.

Oddly specific prediction: Jonathan Huberdeau stays healthy and has his breakout year, leading the team in scoring.

Washington Capitals

Last season: 55-19-8, 118 points, won the Presidents’ Trophy, then remembered they were the Capitals

Offseason report: They didn’t blow it all up, despite rumors they were considering it. But they certainly didn’t get any better, losing Justin Williams, Nate Schmidt, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Karl Alzner.

Outlook: Yet another loss to the Penguins seems to be the one that finally broke the Capitals—the players, the front office, the fans, everyone. With this year’s team featuring the same core but less depth, it sure seems like there’s only one direction to go. Then again, maybe that’s the key. Maybe the Caps are the team that can’t handle the pressure of being the favorite, but get dangerous once they’re written off. We’ll find out, because man, these guys have been written off so hard the pencil tore through the paper and carved “CAPS SUCK” into the table underneath.

In the spotlight: Barry Trotz. They’re totally going to fire him if they start slow, aren’t they?

Oddly specific prediction: The Capitals make the playoffs, face the Penguins, and beat them. I don’t remotely believe that, I just wanted Washington fans to remember what happiness felt like for a moment.

Winnipeg Jets

Last season: 40-35-7, 87 points, fifth in the Central, missed playoffs

Offseason report: They signed Steve Mason and Dmitry Kulikov to UFA deals. Then they gave the coach and GM extensions, since organizational stability is crucial when you’ve got zero playoffs wins in six years.

Outlook: The roster is (mostly) young and (mostly) very good. It has to click eventually, you’d think. And yet here we are, once again, talking about this finally being the season the Jets break through and actually do something. We’ve been down this road for years, and it just never seems to happen. Meanwhile, other Central teams are making aggressive trades, firing people, and finishing ten points ahead of Winnipeg year after year.

Photo by Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

In the spotlight: Mark Scheifele. The best forward whose name you still have to look up to spell correctly every single time broke through in 2015-16, then did it again last year. Was that his peak? He’s 24, so maybe not.

Oddly specific prediction: Connor Hellebuyck wins the starting job, Patrik Laine scores 50, and the Jets make the playoffs. What the hell, I’ll be right one of these years.

Nashville Predators

Last season: 41-29-12, 94 points, fourth in the Central, lost in the final

Offseason report: They lost their captain, Mike Fisher, to retirement, and saw James Neal head to Vegas. They also signed Nick Bonino away from the Penguins.

Outlook: The Predators’ playoff run was so much fun that it’s easy to forget that this team finished last year with the same point total as the Islanders. They have the talent to make another push for a title, but the margin for error isn’t as big as you might assume. And the recent history of Cup final losers isn’t pretty.

In the spotlight: Roman Josi. He’s the new captain, and with Ryan Ellis out for a few months, he’ll have to be at his best. There’s been some debate in recent years as to whether Josi is one of the league’s most underrated players, or sneakily overrated. We’ll get some clarity this year.

Oddly specific prediction: The team struggles to score early on. In an unrelated story, Matt Duchene is starting every interview by mentioning how much he loves country music.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Last season: 40-27-15, 95 points, second Eastern wildcard, out in the first round

Offseason report: They signed Patrick Marleau to a three-year deal that would raise serious salary cap questions if this were the sort of team that worried about the rules.

Outlook: You know when your phone is completely dead and you figure it will take a while to charge back up but then you plug it in and suddenly it’s at like 78% right away and on the one hand you think “Oh awesome that was fast” but on the other hand you’re like “That’s not supposed to happen, I think something might be wrong here.” That’s how longtime Maple Leaf fans feel about the rebuild.

Photo by Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

In the spotlight: Jake Gardiner. The Leafs are stacked with young talent up front and seem adequate in goal, but still don’t have that No. 1 stud defenseman. Or do they? Fans have been hoping that Morgan Rielly would grow into the role, but the oft-maligned Gardiner might be closer.

Oddly specific prediction: With everyone in the world seemingly convinced the Leafs are either headed directly for a championship or about to collapse, they annoy everyone by finishing with the exact same 95 points they had last year.

The Contenders Division

If your favorite team hasn’t shown up yet, that can only mean one thing: They made the cut for the final group, the one featuring the teams with the best shot at the Stanley Cup. Well, that or I forgot about them and left them off the list completely. Crap, I probably should have double-checked this thing.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Last season: 50-21-11, 111 points, second in the Metro and overall, won the Stanley Cup for the second straight year

Photo by Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Offseason report: They kept the core intact, but the depth took a major hit with several departures. That includes longtime fan favorite Marc-Andre Fleury, who’s now a Golden Knight.

Outlook: There hasn’t been a three-peat in the NHL since the Al Arbour Islanders—even the Gretzky/Messier Oilers and Lemieux/Jagr Penguins never won three straight—so doing it in the cap era would seem like a borderline miracle. Still, the Penguins are already two wins deep, and they come into this year looking like the favorites. The depth is a big concern, though.

In the spotlight: Kris Letang. He’s back healthy, and with him in the lineup the Penguins can make a reasonable case that their opening night lineup is better than the one they won the Cup with. Obviously, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are the keys, but Letang playing a full season for the first time since 2010-11 would be enormous.

Oddly specific prediction: Jake Guentzel goes five rounds too early in your office hockey pool.

Chicago Blackhawks

Last season: 50-23-9, 109 points, first in the Central, swept in the opening round

Offseason report: They swapped Panarin for Saad, dumped Niklas Hjalmarsson’s contract on the Coyotes, and lost Marian Hossa to a rare skin disorder.

Outlook: Between age, the salary cap, and some questionable roster moves, you can see the cracks starting to form. The question is: When things finally start to crumble, how fast does it all come down?

In the spotlight: Brent Seabrook. The Toews/Kane/Keith core is locked in forever, and Hawks fans are fine with that. But Seabrook’s deal is tougher to defend, especially given his recent play. A return to form would be nice, but that’s asking a lot from a 32-year-old with plenty of miles on him.

Oddly specific prediction: The Hawks hold off the inevitable for another year, cracking 100 points yet again.

Anaheim Ducks

Last season: 46-23-13, 105 points, first in the Pacific, lost in the conference final

Offseason report: The lost Shea Theodore to the Knights, which will hurt someday but is manageable now. They also added Ryan Miller on a cheap deal, and brought back deadline rental Patrick Eaves.

Outlook: The Ducks were a trendy pick to regress last year after replacing Bruce Boudreau with Randy Carlyle, but they had another strong season. The cap is jammed and the core is getting old, so the window is closing here. But for now, they look like contenders.

In the spotlight: Corey Perry. After scoring 110 goals over three years, the former MVP and Rocket Richard winner plummeted to just 19 last year. Even the best have off-years, and the Ducks better hope that’s what this was, because Perry is 32 and makes big bucks for the next four years.

Photo by Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Oddly specific prediction: Hampus Lindholm has a breakout year, infuriating the analytics guys who insist he’s already had several.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Last season: 42-30-10, 94 points, fifth in the Atlantic, missed playoffs

Offseason report: They finally traded Jonathan Drouin, re-signed several guys, and added veterans Chris Kunitz and Dan Girardi.

Outlook: It’s rare for a team that missed the playoffs one year to head into the next as a consensus Cup favorite. Then again, it’s rare for a team this good to miss the playoffs at all. On paper, the Lightning are as good as anyone out there, and with a healthy Steven Stamkos they’re already better than last year’s edition. Last year was about as bad as it could possibly get for this group, and they still only missed the playoffs by one point.

In the spotlight: Steve Yzerman. I know, I know, he’s everyone’s pick as the best GM in the league right now. But last year, he misplayed his Ben Bishop hand, made the call to sell at the deadline, and then lost out on the final wildcard spot by a single point to one of the teams he sold to. He had to do some of that to clear up cap space, sure. But then he used that cap space on Girardi, who even the most loyal Ranger fans had soured on. Are we completely sure he’s playing 3D chess here? OK, just making sure.

Oddly specific prediction: Victor Hedman finally wins the Norris Trophy.

Dallas Stars

Last season: 34-37-11, 79 points, sixth in Central, missed the playoffs

Offseason report: They loaded up, adding Bishop, Alexander Radulov, Martin Hanzal, and Marc Methot. They also brought Ken Hitchcock back as coach.

Outlook: Wait, a 79-point team in the contenders section? Welcome to the parity era. But no team was a bigger disappointment last season, and no team did more to bring in reinforcements over the summer, so all signs point to a big rebound season in Dallas. The blueline remains a question mark, but there’s so much firepower up front that they can cover for some of that.

In the spotlight: Bishop. Goaltending has killed the Stars for years, and GM Jim Nill finally went out and got the guy we all assumed he’d wind up with all along. But is it already too late? Bishop wasn’t great last year, and he’s a big guy on the wrong side of 30. If he slumps or gets hurt, look out.

Oddly specific prediction: The Benn-Seguin-Radulov line is the league’s most entertaining until Hitchcock decides they’re taking too many chances and breaks them up in the third period of the season opener.

Montreal Canadiens

Last season: 47-26-9, 103 points, first in the Atlantic, out in round one

Offseason report: Radulov left and Andrei Markov retired, but they added Drouin, Alzner, and Ales Hemsky. Most importantly, they got Carey Price locked in on a long-term extension.

Outlook: While the roster underwent some changes, when it all shakes out this year’s Canadiens look a lot like last year’s. Which is to say, they’re good enough to make the playoffs and maybe even win the division, but it’s hard to see a path to the Stanley Cup that doesn’t involve Price stealing a few series along the way. Which he might.

Photo by Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

In the spotlight: Alex Galchenyuk. Despite all the changes over the summer, GM Marc Bergevin never did find the surefire first-line center everyone in Montreal wants him to get. Maybe that ends up being Drouin. Maybe they try Galchenyuk again someday. Or maybe we all just keep talking about this forever. After five years in the NHL, the team still doesn’t seem quite sure what it has in this kid.

Oddly specific prediction: Drouin hits the 60-point mark for the first time. It’s not enough for Montreal.

Minnesota Wild

Last season: 49-25-8, 106 points, second in the Central, out in round one

Offseason report: They swung a deal with the Sabres for Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno, signed Matt Cullen, and extended captain Mikko Koivu.

Outlook: Does it feel like we’re stretching the whole “contender” thing here? It kind of does. The Wild are usually good, usually make the playoffs, and usually exit pretty quickly. Last year’s team was quite possibly their best ever, so there’s something to build on here, and the Central seems kind of wide open. Could they win it all? Sure, I guess.

In the spotlight: Zach Parise. Remember him? Last year he had 42 points to rank eighth on the team. He’s 33, and still signed for another eight years. Those 2020 lockout compliance buyouts can’t come fast enough in Minnesota.

Oddly specific prediction: Parise scores 30 goals and makes me eat that last paragraph.

Edmonton Oilers

Last season: 47-26-9, 103 points, second in Pacific, out in round two

Offseason report: They gave Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl all the money. Oh, and they traded Jordan Eberle to help pay for it.

Outlook: With a generational franchise player and some momentum from last year, the Oilers seem destined to win a Cup in the very near future. But is this year too soon?

Photo by Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

In the spotlight: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Obviously McDavid is the big name here, and Draisaitl will be analyzed to death due to his new deal. But Nugent-Hopkins has become a bit of a forgotten man in Edmonton. This seems like the year when we figure out whether the former first overall pick can be a key supporting piece for a contender, or a salary cap albatross who has to be shipped out, Eberle-style.

Oddly specific prediction: McDavid becomes the league’s first 120-point player in a decade.

Predictions: I’ve got four new playoff teams; history tells us that’s two or three teams too few. Still, you have to give me credit for mixing it up a bit and not just sticking with the same-old same-old, right? Uh, feel free to skip the Cup pick.

Atlantic

1) Lightning* 2) Canadiens* 3) Maple Leafs* 4) Bruins 5) Senators 6) Sabres 7) Panthers 8) Red Wings

Metro

1) Penguins* 2) Capitals* 3) Blue Jackets* 4) Hurricanes* (wc) 5) Rangers* (wc) 6) Islanders 7) Flyers 8) Devils

Central

1) Wild* 2) Blackhawks* 3) Stars* 4) Predators* (wc) 5) Jets* (wc) 6) Blues 7) Avalanche

Pacific

1) Oilers* 2) Ducks* 3) Flames* 4) Sharks 5) Coyotes 6) Kings 7) Canucks 8) Knights

* = playoffs; (wc) = wildcard Eastern Conference final: Penguins over Lightning Western Conference final: Oilers over Stars Stanley Cup pick: Penguins over Oilers in five

Click here for more preview stories on the 2017-18 NHL season

DGB NHL Season Preview: The Question Marks, Contenders, and Playoff Picks syndicated from http://ift.tt/2ug2Ns6

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flauntpage · 7 years

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DGB NHL Season Preview: The Question Marks, Contenders, and Playoff Picks

But first, let's work on our exasperated shrugs as we tackle the league's misfits and question marks.

The Your-Guess-Is-As-Good-As-Mine Division

This is always my favorite division, for two reasons. First, by definition I can't actually be wrong about any of the teams here. And second, it's fun to watch fans read through the first half of the preview, not see their team listed, and get all excited about them being considered contenders. Not so fast...

Buffalo Sabres

Last season: 33-37-12, 78 points, last in the Atlantic, missed playoffs

Offseason report: They fired the coach and GM. As far as the roster, the emphasis was on the blueline, which looks better with Marco Scandella and Nathan Beaulieu added.

Outlook: This year feels like a crucial one, where you'd want to see big progress to justify all the misery that came before. There's enough young talent here that you could certainly imagine it all coming together. Sounds encouraging, right? The problem is I cut-and-pasted those two sentences from last year's preview, and then the team went backwards. It can't happen again... can it?

In the spotlight: Jack Eichel, and not just because he's the team's best player. Fair or not, Eichel was viewed as having a hand in those firings, and some Sabres fans joke that he's become the team's de facto GM. And he still needs an extension. It's fair to say there's a lot riding on this year.

Oddly specific prediction: I really want to find a way to get them higher than sixth in the Atlantic. I'm not sure I can. I cut-and-pasted that part, too.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Last season: 50-24-8, 108 points, third in the Metro, out in the first round

Offseason report: Other than that Brandon Saad/Artemi Panarin deal and dumping David Clarkson's contract on the Knights, nothing big.

Outlook: A year ago, everyone had them pegged for last in the Metro and John Tortorella was going to be the first coach fired. Then they won 50 games. Was it a fluke? Not necessarily, but it's fair to say that the hockey world wants to see it again before they're convinced.

In the spotlight: Zach Werenski. Other than goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, nobody was a bigger piece of last year's rise than the rookie blueliner. He's on track for full-blown stardom, but he also just turned 20 and some guys struggle in their second season. The Jackets may not be able to afford that.

Oddly specific prediction: They break through with the most successful playoff run in franchise history. Which is to say they lose in the first round in seven games.

Los Angeles Kings

Last season: 39-35-8, 86 points, fifth in Pacific, missed playoffs

Offseason report: They fired Dean Lombardi and Darryl Sutter, essentially hitting reset on their Stanley Cup era.

Outlook: Those two Cups feel like they were a long time ago, as the Kings have won just a single playoff game since 2014. They're still a good team on paper, and some new voices could spark a temporary return to the league's elite. But this is basically the same roster as last year, just older, and you have to figure that big changes are coming sooner or later.

In the spotlight: Drew Doughty. If the Kings can rebound, Doughty will be a big reason why. If they can't, expect his contract status—he'll be a UFA in 2019—to start to loom large. Especially if he keeps saying stuff like this.

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Oddly specific prediction: They hang tough early, but the wheels come off by mid-November and they finish sixth in the Pacific.

Florida Panthers

Last season: 35-36-11, 81 points, sixth in the Atlantic, missed playoffs

In the spotlight: Aleksander Barkov. He was the team's second leading scorer last year, trailing only [squints at scoresheet] Vincent Trocheck. Barkov has always been an excellent two-way player, but has yet to crack 60 points. With three of the other top six scorers shipped out for essentially no return, the Panthers will need him to be an offensive force.

Oddly specific prediction: Jonathan Huberdeau stays healthy and has his breakout year, leading the team in scoring.

Washington Capitals

Last season: 55-19-8, 118 points, won the Presidents' Trophy, then remembered they were the Capitals

Offseason report: They didn't blow it all up, despite rumors they were considering it. But they certainly didn't get any better, losing Justin Williams, Nate Schmidt, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Karl Alzner.

Outlook: Yet another loss to the Penguins seems to be the one that finally broke the Capitals—the players, the front office, the fans, everyone. With this year's team featuring the same core but less depth, it sure seems like there's only one direction to go. Then again, maybe that's the key. Maybe the Caps are the team that can't handle the pressure of being the favorite, but get dangerous once they're written off. We'll find out, because man, these guys have been written off so hard the pencil tore through the paper and carved "CAPS SUCK" into the table underneath.

In the spotlight: Barry Trotz. They're totally going to fire him if they start slow, aren't they?

Oddly specific prediction: The Capitals make the playoffs, face the Penguins, and beat them. I don't remotely believe that, I just wanted Washington fans to remember what happiness felt like for a moment.

Winnipeg Jets

Last season: 40-35-7, 87 points, fifth in the Central, missed playoffs

Offseason report: They signed Steve Mason and Dmitry Kulikov to UFA deals. Then they gave the coach and GM extensions, since organizational stability is crucial when you've got zero playoffs wins in six years.

Outlook: The roster is (mostly) young and (mostly) very good. It has to click eventually, you'd think. And yet here we are, once again, talking about this finally being the season the Jets break through and actually do something. We've been down this road for years, and it just never seems to happen. Meanwhile, other Central teams are making aggressive trades, firing people, and finishing ten points ahead of Winnipeg year after year.

Photo by Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Oddly specific prediction: Connor Hellebuyck wins the starting job, Patrik Laine scores 50, and the Jets make the playoffs. What the hell, I'll be right one of these years.

Nashville Predators

Last season: 41-29-12, 94 points, fourth in the Central, lost in the final

Offseason report: They lost their captain, Mike Fisher, to retirement, and saw James Neal head to Vegas. They also signed Nick Bonino away from the Penguins.

Outlook: The Predators' playoff run was so much fun that it's easy to forget that this team finished last year with the same point total as the Islanders. They have the talent to make another push for a title, but the margin for error isn't as big as you might assume. And the recent history of Cup final losers isn't pretty.

In the spotlight: Roman Josi. He's the new captain, and with Ryan Ellis out for a few months, he'll have to be at his best. There's been some debate in recent years as to whether Josi is one of the league's most underrated players, or sneakily overrated. We'll get some clarity this year.

Oddly specific prediction: The team struggles to score early on. In an unrelated story, Matt Duchene is starting every interview by mentioning how much he loves country music.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Last season: 40-27-15, 95 points, second Eastern wildcard, out in the first round

Offseason report: They signed Patrick Marleau to a three-year deal that would raise serious salary cap questions if this were the sort of team that worried about the rules.

Outlook: You know when your phone is completely dead and you figure it will take a while to charge back up but then you plug it in and suddenly it's at like 78% right away and on the one hand you think "Oh awesome that was fast" but on the other hand you're like "That's not supposed to happen, I think something might be wrong here." That's how longtime Maple Leaf fans feel about the rebuild.

Photo by Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

In the spotlight: Jake Gardiner. The Leafs are stacked with young talent up front and seem adequate in goal, but still don't have that No. 1 stud defenseman. Or do they? Fans have been hoping that Morgan Rielly would grow into the role, but the oft-maligned Gardiner might be closer.

The Contenders Division

If your favorite team hasn't shown up yet, that can only mean one thing: They made the cut for the final group, the one featuring the teams with the best shot at the Stanley Cup. Well, that or I forgot about them and left them off the list completely. Crap, I probably should have double-checked this thing.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Last season: 50-21-11, 111 points, second in the Metro and overall, won the Stanley Cup for the second straight year

Photo by Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Offseason report: They kept the core intact, but the depth took a major hit with several departures. That includes longtime fan favorite Marc-Andre Fleury, who's now a Golden Knight.

Outlook: There hasn't been a three-peat in the NHL since the Al Arbour Islanders—even the Gretzky/Messier Oilers and Lemieux/Jagr Penguins never won three straight—so doing it in the cap era would seem like a borderline miracle. Still, the Penguins are already two wins deep, and they come into this year looking like the favorites. The depth is a big concern, though.

In the spotlight: Kris Letang. He's back healthy, and with him in the lineup the Penguins can make a reasonable case that their opening night lineup is better than the one they won the Cup with. Obviously, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are the keys, but Letang playing a full season for the first time since 2010-11 would be enormous.

Oddly specific prediction: Jake Guentzel goes five rounds too early in your office hockey pool.

Chicago Blackhawks

Last season: 50-23-9, 109 points, first in the Central, swept in the opening round

Offseason report: They swapped Panarin for Saad, dumped Niklas Hjalmarsson's contract on the Coyotes, and lost Marian Hossa to a rare skin disorder.

In the spotlight: Brent Seabrook. The Toews/Kane/Keith core is locked in forever, and Hawks fans are fine with that. But Seabrook's deal is tougher to defend, especially given his recent play. A return to form would be nice, but that's asking a lot from a 32-year-old with plenty of miles on him.

Oddly specific prediction: The Hawks hold off the inevitable for another year, cracking 100 points yet again.

Anaheim Ducks

Last season: 46-23-13, 105 points, first in the Pacific, lost in the conference final

Offseason report: The lost Shea Theodore to the Knights, which will hurt someday but is manageable now. They also added Ryan Miller on a cheap deal, and brought back deadline rental Patrick Eaves.

In the spotlight: Corey Perry. After scoring 110 goals over three years, the former MVP and Rocket Richard winner plummeted to just 19 last year. Even the best have off-years, and the Ducks better hope that's what this was, because Perry is 32 and makes big bucks for the next four years.

Photo by Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Oddly specific prediction: Hampus Lindholm has a breakout year, infuriating the analytics guys who insist he's already had several.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Last season: 42-30-10, 94 points, fifth in the Atlantic, missed playoffs

Offseason report: They finally traded Jonathan Drouin, re-signed several guys, and added veterans Chris Kunitz and Dan Girardi.

Outlook: It's rare for a team that missed the playoffs one year to head into the next as a consensus Cup favorite. Then again, it's rare for a team this good to miss the playoffs at all. On paper, the Lightning are as good as anyone out there, and with a healthy Steven Stamkos they're already better than last year's edition. Last year was about as bad as it could possibly get for this group, and they still only missed the playoffs by one point.

In the spotlight: Steve Yzerman. I know, I know, he's everyone's pick as the best GM in the league right now. But last year, he misplayed his Ben Bishop hand, made the call to sell at the deadline, and then lost out on the final wildcard spot by a single point to one of the teams he sold to. He had to do some of that to clear up cap space, sure. But then he used that cap space on Girardi, who even the most loyal Ranger fans had soured on. Are we completely sure he's playing 3D chess here? OK, just making sure.

Oddly specific prediction: Victor Hedman finally wins the Norris Trophy.

Dallas Stars

Last season: 34-37-11, 79 points, sixth in Central, missed the playoffs

Offseason report: They loaded up, adding Bishop, Alexander Radulov, Martin Hanzal, and Marc Methot. They also brought Ken Hitchcock back as coach.

Outlook: Wait, a 79-point team in the contenders section? Welcome to the parity era. But no team was a bigger disappointment last season, and no team did more to bring in reinforcements over the summer, so all signs point to a big rebound season in Dallas. The blueline remains a question mark, but there's so much firepower up front that they can cover for some of that.

In the spotlight: Bishop. Goaltending has killed the Stars for years, and GM Jim Nill finally went out and got the guy we all assumed he'd wind up with all along. But is it already too late? Bishop wasn't great last year, and he's a big guy on the wrong side of 30. If he slumps or gets hurt, look out.

Oddly specific prediction: The Benn-Seguin-Radulov line is the league's most entertaining until Hitchcock decides they're taking too many chances and breaks them up in the third period of the season opener.

Montreal Canadiens

Last season: 47-26-9, 103 points, first in the Atlantic, out in round one

Offseason report: Radulov left and Andrei Markov retired, but they added Drouin, Alzner, and Ales Hemsky. Most importantly, they got Carey Price locked in on a long-term extension.

Outlook: While the roster underwent some changes, when it all shakes out this year's Canadiens look a lot like last year's. Which is to say, they're good enough to make the playoffs and maybe even win the division, but it's hard to see a path to the Stanley Cup that doesn't involve Price stealing a few series along the way. Which he might.

Photo by Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Oddly specific prediction: Drouin hits the 60-point mark for the first time. It's not enough for Montreal.

Minnesota Wild

Last season: 49-25-8, 106 points, second in the Central, out in round one

Offseason report: They swung a deal with the Sabres for Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno, signed Matt Cullen, and extended captain Mikko Koivu.

Outlook: Does it feel like we're stretching the whole "contender" thing here? It kind of does. The Wild are usually good, usually make the playoffs, and usually exit pretty quickly. Last year's team was quite possibly their best ever, so there's something to build on here, and the Central seems kind of wide open. Could they win it all? Sure, I guess.

In the spotlight: Zach Parise. Remember him? Last year he had 42 points to rank eighth on the team. He's 33, and still signed for another eight years. Those 2020 lockout compliance buyouts can't come fast enough in Minnesota.

Oddly specific prediction: Parise scores 30 goals and makes me eat that last paragraph.

Edmonton Oilers

Last season: 47-26-9, 103 points, second in Pacific, out in round two

Offseason report: They gave Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl all the money. Oh, and they traded Jordan Eberle to help pay for it.

Outlook: With a generational franchise player and some momentum from last year, the Oilers seem destined to win a Cup in the very near future. But is this year too soon?

Photo by Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Oddly specific prediction: McDavid becomes the league's first 120-point player in a decade.

Predictions: I've got four new playoff teams; history tells us that's two or three teams too few. Still, you have to give me credit for mixing it up a bit and not just sticking with the same-old same-old, right? Uh, feel free to skip the Cup pick.

Atlantic

1) Lightning* 2) Canadiens* 3) Maple Leafs* 4) Bruins 5) Senators 6) Sabres 7) Panthers 8) Red Wings

Metro

1) Penguins* 2) Capitals* 3) Blue Jackets* 4) Hurricanes* (wc) 5) Rangers* (wc) 6) Islanders 7) Flyers 8) Devils

Central

1) Wild* 2) Blackhawks* 3) Stars* 4) Predators* (wc) 5) Jets* (wc) 6) Blues 7) Avalanche

Pacific

1) Oilers* 2) Ducks* 3) Flames* 4) Sharks 5) Coyotes 6) Kings 7) Canucks 8) Knights

* = playoffs; (wc) = wildcard Eastern Conference final: Penguins over Lightning Western Conference final: Oilers over Stars Stanley Cup pick: Penguins over Oilers in five

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DGB NHL Season Preview: The Question Marks, Contenders, and Playoff Picks published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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