#love their goalie tandem tho

[pwhl-mybeloved]

why do you hate Minnesota so much

bc they won the walter cup and it hurt my feelings next question

[coffee-at-annies]

Oh absolutely. Sid is an infielder who loves to get guys out. His yapping to refs energy would directly translate into getting people out at first and/or caught stealing. He’s not a catcher cause you can hit a catcher with a bat and as long as you say sorry convincingly enough they have to shrug it off and move on. He would go insane in the outfield. He would love chasing down a ball at the wall or making a diving catch but he would also go insane waiting to see if the ball is deep enough. Third base makes the most sense cause a lot of people hit the ball down the base lines and I just can’t see Sid as a first baseman. All my first basemen have been power hitters with a body type I affectionately describe as meatball (Carlos Santana I miss you) so that’s why I struggle seeing Sid or Geno there. Geno’s baseball vibe is “will hit it out of the park, please don’t make him run the bases” which actually fits with first base energy. I don’t think he’s chatty enough tho. First basemen be flirting every time someone is on base. Geno would rather be left alone rather than guard someone.

I was gonna put in the last post that your goalie tandem should be your starting rotation/bullpen and you illustrated why that is perfectly. A pulled goalie and getting your starter out in the third cause they gave 6 is in fact similar vibes. Granted your bullpen pitchers are gonna pitch an inning at most. Asking them to get 4 outs in a standard game is a lot. So again it’s not 1:1.

Which again, that’s cause comparing sports can be like apples to oranges. They’re both fruits but you’d have a better time if they were in the same family. At least if you compare oranges and lemons they’re both citrus. (How I feel comparing soccer and hockey — at least they both have goals and goalies).

i love when people put players in a different sport but its clear that they dont watch the sport. like im sorry but sid would NOT be a pitcher and geno's skinny ass wouldnt be catching.

[axiomsofice]

2021 Playoff Preview

WEST

1. Colorado: hitting their stride at the perfect time, key players are back from injury. Healthy goalies go a long way (as they found last year). Makar deserves Norris consideration. On top of all their riches Jost and Timmins have finally started to live up to their potential. Don’t forget Newhook and Byram are on the way up as well. This group should be a cup contender for the next 5 years or so. With all that being said it took Tampa quite some time to turn their talents into a cup, and only time will tell if the Avs are able to love up to their projection. 2. Vegas: this team is big and strong and feasted on the lower half of the west division just like the avalanche. One of the most undersold additions of this off-season is probably Pietrangelo, joining Theodore and a strong and young blueline that boasts some really good defenders in Whitecloud and Hague. Yes, Chandler Stevenson is not quite the flashiest name at 1C (he does a good job tho, don’t get it twisted), but even the bottom portion of the forward group has players who are strong, fast, and skilled, such as Roy, Tuch, and Kolesar. A cup win this year is very much in play, but the future is not without hope should Glass and/or Krebs ever blossom into what Stevenson is not. 3. Minnesota: Although a playoff berth without much of a chance to go all the way is not new for the Wild, the sense of ascension in a optimistic future is a welcome change. Even without a series win, the foundation of a strong performance could be a crucial step in their building. 4. St. Louis: letting your captain and best defencemen (player?) walk is certainly a choice. Reminds me a little of Washington letting Trotz walk. I must also admit I’m not a huge believer in Binnington. They’ll need Kyrou and Thomas to continue expanding their influence as the years go, but it’s hard to see this group replicating their success from 2019. Shout outs to Perron for aging like fine wine.

Final four pick: Vegas over Colorado

EAST

1. Pittsburgh: Yes, the goaltending is more stable than last year, but another huge aspect in what looks to be a much stronger iteration of the Penguins is the success of Matheson-Ceci. The duos play has definitely helped Marino-Pettersson to develop at their own pace, not to mention Dumolin-Letang to round out an understated but very strong blueline. Carter has been a great addition and has still got game, people sleep on you when your team isn’t good (I see you Anze Kopitar). Between their cups wins the Pens looked like an easy out at times, but I see that more as a testament to Crosby and Malkin being able to cruise into the playoffs. When they are on they could easily go all the way. 2. Washington: Some have been waiting for the bottom to fall out with this aging group, although they managed to pace the division for large parts of the season. Although Chara joins a defence group that is probably at its best since the Cup win, there are questions up front and in net. Mantha is a nice addition (maybe not worth the price) but there are a lot of injuries heading into the post season. Samsonov and Vanecek have been alright in net, but it is a lot to ask of two young goalies. In 3 years that tandem could be really strong but to this point it hasn’t been elite level. 3. Boston: finally the blueline is healthy. The second line, rather the forward group in general is as strong as it’s been in years. Swayman and Vladar provide some post Rask optimism, but for now there’s not much to be critical about throughout this lineup. 4. NY Islanders: This team is not exciting but they get the job done. They ended Pittsburgh’s 8 series winning streak a few years ago. Barzal/Nelson/Pageau is really solid down the middle. The defence would look a lot better with Toews. I might pick them to beat Washington in a series but that’s about it.

Final four pick: Boston over Pittsburgh

CENTRAL

1. Carolina: This team is stacked. The blueline is very deep. The goalies have all been good in large part thanks to their overall team structure (I’d go Mrazek/Nedeljkovic/Riemer FWIW). Trocheck has fit in so nicely and really shine with Necas, who is big, fast, and skilled, and often looks like he can do anything on the ice. Svechnikov is still coming into his own, but is not being relied on more than he can handle at this point. 2. Florida: This has been the most surprising and fun team of the season. It’s nice to see players like Duclair, Verhaeghe, and Bennett excel when given the opportunity. Splitting Barkov and Huberdeau was huge, and adding lots of sandpaper with the likes of Hornqvist, Wennberg, Gudas, and Nutivaara has helped solidify the bottom of the roster. It sucks that Ekblad is out for sure, although hopefully both he and the Panthers can carry their success into next year, regardless of how a very tough opening round in the battle of Florida unfolds. They really got pooched in the last expansion draft so hopefully that does not repeat itself, although youngsters like Tippett, Denisenko, and down the road Noel and Lundell should help prevent too much of a regression. 3. Tampa Bay: What to say? The defending champs hitting the post season in a return to full health. A roster with no holes, lots of continuity and the best goalie in the world (?) at this point. There’s not much reason to pick against them besides hockey is strange and random and Florida is more fun. Big shout outs to the NHL’s first all Black line, as Mathieu Joseph, Daniel Walcott, and Gemel Smith got the opportunity to start late in the season. In particular Joseph and Smith are players who have had really strong results in short stints fighting for a regular spot in this loaded Tampa lineup (also, shout out to their brothers, Givani Smith and P.O. Joseph who should have a shot at being NHL regulars next season). 4. Nashville: The Preds have the goaltending and defensive structure to pull off an upset. Both the 1st round matchups in this division embody why I really enjoyed this division, as geographical rivals have the chance to square off. In all, this division could provide the most entertainment of round 1.

Final four pick: Carolina over Florida

NORTH

1. Toronto: I will probably be writing more Toronto centric pieces so I’ll keep it short. In three short (actually painfully long) years as GM, Dubas has kept the “can and will” big four and changed the rest of the team to compliment their skill sets and short comings. This team is easily the favourite to come out of the North Division. 2. Edmonton: McDavid is on another level. Seeing some clips in the fall (off-season) it’s as if my eyes forgot how fast he really was, as upon seeing some clips of his I could’ve sworn were playing in fast forward. Draisaitl is really good too. Similar to Dubas, GM Holland has built a roster that compliments his offensive stars, although his route there has involved more patience than anything. Tippett and Smith have been the forefront of their defensive prowess, it’s hard to overlook the effect that defenders like Nurse and Bear have contributed to this new facet of their identity. 3. Winnipeg: the Jets are very much limping into the post season, although they do have the goaltending to pull off upsets, and the talent up front to score opportunistically. In all their blueline and defensive play in general is underwhelming. 4. Montreal: The Habs successfully outlasted the mediocrity in the lower portion of the division to hold onto the last spot. They do have the physicality and depth to outperform their talents in the playoffs as we saw last year, although a lot will have to go right for them to pull off an upset or two, including a vintage Price performance in net should he be available.

Final four pick: Toronto over Edmonton

[finnmafia]

I am unashamedly attracted to the goalie tandem in Dallas INCLUDING kari. Kari is a big fucking finn, big dork, also incredibly hot. Dob is like. Bear, big, fluffy, I want him to rail me into a couch. and Ben is like hot, intimidating string bean. - ted.

none of this surprises me even a little bit coming from u ted, we all know you go ham for the stars goalie tandem even tho i personally will never understand it. i love all 3 of them dearly but attraction? ehhhhhhhh you’re skirting a line there lil buddy

what player(s) are you most ashamed to be attracted to

[mitchmarnersnohomopillow]

Vasileskiy and Bishop might both have been goalies on the same team, but there was no bad blood? If one of them had a success the other would be right there??? Vasilveskiy actually has hugged Bishop and picked him up, as well as kissing his helmet. And Bishop just hasn't looked the same since he got traded to L.A., he doesn't seem happy anymore. I personally think that Bishop and Vasy love each other a lot and that they're a perfect and loving and healthy couple??? My favorite ship tbh

most tandems don’t have bad blood tho but i feel. bish is very cute so i’m all up for shipping him and i have noticed that Vasy is super cute???? and he’s doing so good. 

[axiomsofice]

Col

The Avs are entering a window in which they will ice a team among the best in decade. It doesn’t always translate to cups right away (see Tampa Bay) but they will have a good a shot as any from this point into the foreseeable future. Landeskog/MacKinnon/Rantanen has been a staple on a shortlist of the league’s best for the past couple seasons, but the rest of the team has really filled out. The rest of the forward group is slotted really nicely in support, Burakovsky/Kadri/Saad brings a variety of skills, speed, and intensity, Nichushkin/Jost/Donskoi are so effective, any fourth line with one of Bellemare or Calvert would look good. But the greatest change has cone on defence. Maker is otherworldly, leading the charge in group of young defenders ascending into perennial Norris conversation. Girard has looked like a super charged Letang/Hughes combination stylistically for a few seasons, but is finally converting that into a more profound dominance. Devon Toews was probably one of the best moves of the offseason. From there everyone else has been thriving. MacDonald has cone out of nowhere. Even when Makar missed games due to injury they almost haven’t missed a beat. And to top it all off serious help is still on the way, as Newhook and Bryan look poised to grow into key roles in the near future. Goalie health remains the main issue, but when everyone’s available there’s nothing not to like about where this franchise is. Sakic v Yzerman still going strong.

Vgk

Vegas has the Midas touch for sure, and this team is very established at this point. Their defence group is the best it’s been, Pietrangelo is the big addition joining Theodore as central pieces on the top 2 pairings, but we’re starting to see some Vegas draftees make impacts. Hague, Whitecloud, and Coughlin have all had strong seasons and that definitely raises the quality of the roster. In a way, they are a lot like what the Rangers are hoping to become, especially given both teams plethora of skilled wingers. Stone and Pacioretty among the best top line duos. Marchessault/Karlsson/Smith are still boarder line elite (as a compliment). Tuch is overqualified. Kolesar has fit in really nicely. This whole team is big and tough and definitely is a huge part of the team’s identity, as such even though the centre group is a little underwhelming for a top tier team, role players like Stevenson and Roy have been able to be effective in key positions in the lineup. It would be really exciting to see a young player like Cody Glass run away with the top line, but that seems unlikely to be the case this season.

Min

I recently wrote about the Wild so I’ll just point you to that.

Stl

A year removed from their first Cup, things have been a bit tumultuous for the Blues. Tarasenko is back and seems to be regaining his form, and the team needs him to be their top offensive threat. Goaltending is notoriously difficult to project, if not mystical, but I’m not necessarily a huge Binnington fan. I do see him as a tandem starter, meaning I think it is key to have someone behind him pushing the envelope a bit(FWIW I wouldn’t have him on my team Canada). Overall I’d say I’m a bit curious as to how the blueline has been handled, ie Faulk and Krug but not Pietrangelo, but this team is probably better than they’ve shown so far? I think my decision to put them below the Wild here is deserved, despite having a nice breakout from Jordan Kyrou.

Ari

At its best this roster is definitely plucky, feisty, definitely coyote-like in being scavengers more so than apex predators. There’s definitely some skills, a renaissance year for Kessel, Schmaltz and Keller have been pretty good, Garland is probably their best forward at this point though. Chychrun is really good and has needed to be with Hjalmarsson and Ekman-Larson being varying shades of their former selves. The team definitely puts its goaltenders in positions to succeed, enough so that despite the vast array of off ice dysfunction that defines the Coyotes’ existence, the on ice product has been far and away the best part of the franchise. Without much draft capital it will be interesting to see how the coming months will be approached.

La

Cal Peterson has been good in net. Doughty’s been a positive impact which is relieving. This team has a lot of good forward prospects on the way, so there should be a lot of internal competition for those spots in the coming years. With names like Byfield, Thomas, Turcotte, Kaliyev, and even Madden, Kupari, and Fagemo surely to push for jobs in the near future, how will the likes of Vilardi, Kempe, Anderson-Dolan and Lizotte hold them off? How much longer will veterans like Carter, Brown, and Iafallo be around for? Especially if 1-2 younger defencemen start to really step up, the Kings could easily be competing for a playoff spot as soon as next season.

Ana

Not quite the same as the Kings, but the Ducks do have a very exciting prospect pool. Zegras and Drysdale have already got a few games under their belts. Younger roster players are having a greater impact, like Comtois and Lundestrom, even Max Jones. Hakanpaa has earned top minutes on the blueline which is probably a little known fact. It would make sense to see one of the more established players, like Rakell or Manson or something, get moved if the package is right. The Ducks usually seem to have an internal cap, and I would suggest they have a pretty strong drafting and development record, so their path forward is most likely to rely on said avenues.

Sj

Maybe being in a division with La and Ana has helped the Sharks look a bit better? Either way, there’s just a lot of term, dollars, and 30+ year old players and not a lot of flexibility. I really don’t love the goaltending situation but it’s been better than last season. There is some talent here tho. It’s easy to think of Nashville being in a similar spot, although Nashville might even have a few more options. At least they have their 1st round pick this year, and I have caught myself thinking about how a certain 3rd overall pick in Ottawa would change the Sharks’ ceiling. Although that might not sound like a good thing, it does point to an infusion of talent being able to go a long way here.