RochesterExpat

Dan's biggest issue is that he's following RJ and those shoes are going to be tough to fill for anyone. My opinion of him changed when I started listening to other games on SiriusXM and realized just how awful other play callers are. I was driving with my buddy listening to the Penguins broadcast and we started making jokes about how we had no idea what was going on. I started paying attention a lot more after that. Dan's better-than-average by quite a bit.

NHL stats are missing an assist for Mitts.

Right??

Didn't know that "Logan" Thompson played for Buffalo or that he was ripping shots on our PP. Thanks for this insightful commentary, NHL network! I had no idea!

1st NHL game against the Capitals 1st NHL goal against the Capitals 1st NHL hat trick against the Capitals ... what's he do next?

I'm not saying UPL is any kind of answer to the goaltending situation, but I don't blame that one on him. I blame that one on our defense not clearing the net front.

Alternative take: our defense shouldn't be letting Ovechkin take a tent out, start a fire, and make some coffee while sitting in front of the goalie.

Didn't know "Jokiharju" is pronounced "Joke-ee-haroo." Thanks NHL network. Such quality commentary.

Was that Sammy that drove to the net there?

This play-by-play calling is atrocious. NHL network should be embarrassed.

Timo Meier is reportedly asking for an extension in the $9s and I really hope Buffalo isn't foolish enough to trade and sign him for that. The salary cap going up isn't guaranteed considering the Bally Sports bankruptcy and the just-announced Warner Bros dropping all the AT&T RSNs effective 3/31. Revenues are going to take a hit. I wish 😞

I’m convinced this is just high level chess-playing by GMKA to get Saros so Buffalo can be the first team in history to carry four goalies into the playoffs. GMKA moved Tuch to IR because he has a simple bruise. They’ll call up Hinostroza until just after the Bruins game when he’ll get sent back down. That opens the door for Saros to be added to the roster via trade. Trade is completed. The following day, Tuch’s 7 day IR period is up and he rejoins the team. Active roster count no longer matters. Buffalo becomes the first team to win a playoff series with four different goalies posting a win. Of course it’s against Toronto. I’m not in denial. You’re in denial. 😞

The NHL rule on a 5 minute major for cross-checking is: Rule 59 – Cross-checking 59.1 Cross-checking - The action of using the shaft of the stick between the two hands to forcefully check an opponent. 59.2 Minor Penalty - A minor penalty, at the discretion of the Referee based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player who “cross checks” an opponent. 59.3 Major Penalty - A major penalty, at the discretion of the Referee based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player who “cross checks” an opponent (see 59.5). 59.4 Match Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent by cross-checking. 59.5 Game Misconduct Penalty - When a major penalty is assessed for cross-checking, an automatic game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on the offending player. 59.6 Fines and Suspensions - If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion (refer to Rule 28). If a five minute major were assessed, it carries with it an automatic game misconduct penalty. So, to @Mango's comment, any cross-checking five minute major includes a game misconduct. Please note also there is no such thing as a double minor for cross-checking. That aside, the cross-check was an egregious attempt to injure when you rewatch it. It was not a hockey play. It was nothing other than an attempt to injure Dahlin. Plain and simple. That would make it a match penalty. For those wondering, a match penalty is counted as such: A match penalty shall be imposed on any player who deliberately attempts to injure or who deliberately injures an opponent in any manner. [...] For all match penalties, a total of fifteen minutes shall be charged in the records against the offending player (five minutes on the penalty clock, plus an additional 10 minutes for being removed from the game). In addition to the match penalty, the player shall be automatically suspended from further competition until the Commissioner has ruled on the issue The correct call should have been a match penalty if NHL games were called by the book which would then carry with it an automatic 5 minute major and ejection. So, point is, a cross-checking major carries an automatic game misconduct. However, this was technically a match penalty as it was pretty evident it was intent to injure and not a 5 minute major for the severity of contact. The amount of time left doesn't make it a match penalty @Doohickie but you're also confusing the hit on Okposo with the hit on Dahlin. The hit on Dahlin had a 2 minute minor for interference called and it was in the 2nd period. And the reason it's only a minor is because the referee hilariously considered it an otherwise clean hit. And, no, I'm not joking. Again, if we go by the NHL rulebook on Interference: 56.2 Minor Penalty - A minor penalty for interference shall be imposed: [...] (iii) On any player who deliberately checks an opponent, including the goalkeeper, who is not in possession of the puck; [...] 56.4 Major Penalty - The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a major penalty, based on the degree of violence, to a player guilty of interfering with an opponent (see 56.5). Because of how Dahlin landed, the "degree of violence" wasn't satisfied to make it a major (which, again, would carry a game misconduct with it). There is no match penalty for interference for attempt to injure in the NHL rulebook. I'm sure someone is going to argue I'm wrong so here's a screenshot from the NHL rulebook: Now, it's important to note the NHL does say "not limited to" this list; however, there's never been a match penalty assigned for anything not on this list--so that statement comes without teeth. In short, the referee was practicing game management. If he called it a cross-check (which it was) it would have been a match penalty because it was attempt to injure. By calling it interference, it was a two minute minor since the act wasn't violent enough to justify a 5 + game. There's no match penalty consideration for attempting to murder a player for interference. Welcome to the wonderful world of NHL rules.

Personally, I don't think he's worth the price he'll end up signing for based on the eye test, but he is absolutely going to get a long-term deal at more than $8m and the underlying stats support it. I'm not sure I understand what stats you're pointing to specifically. JFresh has his WAR at 93%. He is currently on a 70 point pace. He broke 40 goals last season and posted 32 goals the year prior in the COVID-shortened 52 game season. He broke 40 goals again in 2018-2019. He just turned 25 in December. Ottawa gave Brady Tkachuk $8.2m for 7 years and DeBrincat has outpaced him every year except this year. Evolving Hockey's model says he is worth $8.24 x 5 years. His QO is $9m. Ottawa is not going to get him to sign for less than Tkachuk so I'd guess the $8.2m is the floor. The Athletic RFA article from 2/16 suggests $8.6m x 7 years. The Athletic's Sens beat writer wrote in his mailbag in October he expects the number "to start with a 9" based on Barzal signing at $9.15m x 8. He's absolutely getting more than $8m. It might end up being his $9m QO and he gets traded this summer though.

I realize it's a back-to-back which is not Buffalo's strength by any stretch, but there is something to be said about momentum. Florida is coming into this game after a 3 day break and missing their 1C and 2C. Buffalo is entering the game off a shorthanded OT game winning goal by the least likely player on the roster. Now, if you're Buffalo, that momentum needs to carry through to the start of this game. If you can get out of the gate with the same energy they had when the puck went in the net last night, I think Buffalo can run all over Florida. Especially if they can get in Bob's head. On the flip side, if Florida's locker room reacts to being down a 1C and 2C with the attitude of depth players seeing it as an opportunity to step up and shine, an early goal by Florida might keep the energy high and make it difficult for Buffalo to take over the game. I know it's a bit cliché, but this game may be a 1st goal wins it situation--and that's my guess for how it goes. If Buffalo gets the early goal the adrenaline can make up for tired legs. If Florida gets it, I wouldn't be surprised if Buffalo deflates and the game gets ugly.

Since Boston didn't end up going after Gavrikov, I wonder if CBJ drops the asking price from the reported 1st and 3rd. For starters, Gavrikov was never worth a 1st and a 3rd so the fact they were apparently entertaining offers in that range means they probably won't drop the price much. However, we have 3 2nd round picks and a few AHL players that might get ice time and prove to be NHL depth players in the CBJ rebuild, but who aren't otherwise going to be given looks in the NHL ahead of our other prospects (Weissbach or Biro, for example). We might be able to package something if it looks like no other team is going after him. I think I'd be waiting until immediately before the deadline to see. I know the Oilers media seems to think they're going to go in on Gavrikov so who knows? I don't want a bidding war over him because he's not worth a 1st. But if he's still available last minute, I'd see if CBJ wants to dump him for a discount instead of letting him walk in FA.

I was confused since I didn't realize this. The $5,000 is always referred to the "maximum allowed under the CBA" when announced by the NHL so I just took it as truth, but you're correct in what you said and the NHL is kind of misleading with the statement. Per the CBA, it's the maximum the league can fine without a hearing. So, yes, $5,000 is the maximum allowed under the CBA, but only when the NHL doesn't want to hold a hearing. That's some nice PR language by the NHL then whenever they announce one of these. I appreciate the comment. I had no idea it was written this way. It also explains the "additional hurdles" bit.

They forfeit pay while suspended, yes. I should add I was talking about situations where a fine is handed out and not a suspension. The minimum fine should be the amount the player "made" during the game. It's silly it isn't and it's even worse that the amount doesn't scale with salary.

I thought I was optimistic when I believed TNT would only have a minor regression to ~30 goals, but everyone would still think the contract extension was good. I didn't see him improving on his numbers from last season at all.

Agreed and it drives me nuts. It's something that needs to be addressed in the CBA Think about it, the maximum fine is $5,000. I understand cap hits accrue daily over the 185 day season, but if we consider cap hit on a per-game basis, even a league minimum player makes more than $5,000 a game. In Cernak's case, his daily cap hit is ~$16K, but per game his cap hit is $36K. Even with taxes he still made more than the fine in the game. Fines should be relative to cap hit. Fines should start at the "income" from the game and scale up from there. I'm also a firm believer that if you committed a play with intent to injure, and you injured the opposing player, you should be suspended until the game after the opposing player returns to the ice. The fact we have a league where a player can serve a two game suspension for injuring a player and then return to play while the injured player takes months to recover is absurd. I'm also a believer that organizations should be forfeiting draft picks for repeat offenders. Player gets two hearings in the same season? Goodbye second round pick. Player has his third consecutive season with a suspension? Goodbye first round pick. That is how you have accountability and give DOPS real firepower. Of course, it'll never happen.

2. Highlight of the Year So Far Acheivements Division The real answer here is Peyton Krebs' growth into, well, whatever it is he's become. He is night and day different from last season. That's an achievement unto itself 😉

Even said in his pre-draft interview that he really looks up to Point for the way he plays the game and was trying to model his own game after it.

It should have been a 5 + game if the NHL called penalties by the book. I'll save you the trouble and tell you the future: "Erik Cernak has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowed under the CBA, for his hit on Kyle Okposo in last night's game."

I could not agree more. Granted, I've been pretty high up on Kulich for a while now. What is most remarkable to me is he's still going to be 18 when the regular season ends. His birthday isn't until April. Even though he was only two draft years later, he's closer to three years younger than Quinn and not two. Relevant post from September where I was saying I fully expected him in the AHL when people were suggesting he belongs in Europe or the Q. And then me saying the same thing you said above just 3 weeks ago. Under the currently constructed roster, I can see where he would slot in eventually as an upgrade because he's a complete player. Taking the classic VO-is-a-one-dimensional-player stereotype for comparison: This is VO in a different sweater: Except, unlike VO, he's better at reading plays while cycling and positioning himself to support the forecheck. Obviously this got a goal which is why we have the clip, but you see him clearly making the best available move up the boards at the start and then moving himself to center. The point man then dumps the puck toward the net to Murray who is now low in man-coverage while the Sens have three high. Kulich then cycles through the open seam to support as he realizes the defense is collapsing on the puck. He manages to find a little bit of space and it happens to be perfectly where the puck lands. Regardless, you see him driving to the net and not just hanging in the perimeter waiting for something happen--the VO specialty. Do I think he would outscore VO's current 35 goal/49 point pace in his first season? No. Not at all. That's crazy. But I don't see him being at VO's 5x5 on-ice goal % of 41.9 either. He's a more complete player. Do I think he's a better player than VO? No--at least not while he's 18. Point is, I see him as an upgrade to the middle-six and capable of playing multiple roles well. Kulich is a special player although I honestly don't see him as a top line player in Buffalo at any point. I really believe he will be an excellent middle-six Swiss Army Knife player through his career. Of all the prospects in our system, I'm most confident in Kulich playing multiple seasons in the NHL.

His KHL contract runs through 24-25 as it was renewed last season; however, the NHL also said all working agreements with the KHL were officially cancelled/void at some point in early March of last year following the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. Theoretically, this means he is free to come over whenever. Conversely, it also means AHL players under contract are free to fly home and take KHL contracts (theoretically). That being said, not a single NHL team has attempted to test the waters by bringing over a player under KHL team control and no NA player has fled for Russia while under contract.