Eleven

Unfortunately, ranch dressing is the condiment (or child's dipping sauce, because I love that, @Weave) of choice for almost everyone in America who is south and/or west of Chicago. That means that it was pushed on them, not that it is good. It is not good. It tastes like weak, sour milk with, I don't know, garlic powder and onion powder? Maybe? It doesn't cling to veggies or whatever one would dare to dip into its hellish and gelatinous substance; it doesn't add flavor or texture to anything; it just is a nothing sauce. Which speaks excellently to middle America. If you like ranch, you probably: *think that bratwurst is just a bigger hot dog *only order California rolls and the fried ***** at a sushi restaurant *drink Bud and Miller products--oh wait! Coors *go to Red Lobster for fancy night when much better food is available at nicer, local restaurants *eagerly await pumpkin spice season at Starbucks

I'm going to say that anyone would have a tough time convincing me that either Vegas or Winnipeg is skilled. The effort is amazing; the skill level? How did Vegas win a division while circumventing the salary cap by hiding its best player? They're not that good even with him!

I am confident in my command of the English language and also confident that if the team needs to trade a 2023 pick to get a defenseman, then that is part of 2023 draft strategy. What am I missing?

The 63d pick in 2024 is not the only draft pick that can be used in a trade. If the team wants to use a 2023 pick in a package to acquire an existing defenseman, then that is part of draft strategy for 2023. They need to know what they have in advance of the draft so they can decide whether to use draft picks to acquire a defenseman who will play sooner rather than later, and which draft picks to use in the event of such a trade. I don't know that I can make it plainer than this. Don't dig your heels in, just read it and let it sink in.

Are you sure about that? If he signs, the team has a D who can flip between AHL and NHL as necessary. If he does not, the team should trade for someone who, at a minimum, can do that. Draft picks might be part of such a trade.

Wings : ranch :: steak : ketchup.

I would prefer Johnson over the draft pick in 2024, but I think the team needs to give him a deadline well ahead of the draft so that it can adjust strategy as necessary.

This is the type of stuff that makes junior NHL execs roll their eyes to the heavens because they have to deal with it.

I think after SB 26.

It amazes me that NHL players can tip a puck moving that fast with that much precision.

Karlsson with a sweet tying goal for Vegas.

Did Eichel just take himself out of a power play?

I'm definitely enjoying it but I don't think it has much to do with Eichel. I think I'm just sick of hearing about them.

Yep. He'll be the second-best goalie in the league next year again.

Rags fans doing the same thing, only they're probably right.

Without Michael Bunting, though? *Michael Bunting*?! (I think the Lightning will blow them out.)

Well please ask him to run Cernak again when he comes back.

Yeah but they all yield to the right. It's endless yielding.

If you're Minnesota's coach, you have to send a message by swapping goalies at intermission, right? Tell the rest of the team that they don't deserve him back there?

I think the Sabres have the best white sweaters in the league. I think the Wild are close behind. Wow, are those gorgeous.

Omigosh! Ten minutes later and it's two Minny goals in 12 seconds! I didn't see that in him (first sentence), but if you did, it would be very tough to argue against the rest of your post.

Minnesota started the series well, but oh no.

It is a team culture. And even though it doesn't result in many Stanley Cups (I don't consider one every forty years to be impressive), it still is a culture. Should be milk on one shoulder and toast on the other.

But maybe a good one. I never imagined that Boston wouldn't hold serve.

95 percent of this board wanted him gone. Maybe it's Krueger, maybe it's Maybelline. And maybe it's us.