NHL 2023-2024 Season - Arizona Stays Homeless
- Thread starter Animosity
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Merrith
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Shitty way to end after such an emotional comeback again (seriously, fuck you Montreal, fucking worthless), but big step forward for Wings, one would think.
Denamian
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Yes and no. Had you told me at the beginning of the season that the Wings were fighting for a playoff spot in their final game, I would be happy. The problem is that they had a good lead at the end of Feb and pissed it away with a disastrous March. Yeah, they were missing Larkin, but they still should have won more than 3 damn games.
Merrith
Golden Baronet of the Realm
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I feel you, b/c I kind of feel the same way about us after we had even gotten up to 3rd in the Metro (very, very briefly) and had games in hand on everyone. Then we pissed that away going 1-5-2 over an 8 game stretch. Not only wasted all the games in hand, but needed Pens to drop one along the way and win out (which thankfully they did to Boston, and we did final 3 games).
But when it's that close, we could probably all point to a game here or there back to October even where 1 more point changes everything. I know I was super pissed couple weeks ago v I think it was Carolina(maybe?) where they gave them a late PP with like 3 minutes left in a tied game on a shitty call. No business getting a win in that game, but we had gotten a 2-0 lead thanks to Ovechkin, and could have held the fort for 3 minutes to get another point which would have been huge down the stretch here.
What is your guys' cap/prospect situation going into next year? Any kids coming up to help and/or money to spend on FA's? It's not a great FA class, but could be some help to be had.
Denamian
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UFAs are Perron, Kane, Sprong, Fischer, Aston-Reese, Czarnik, Ghost, and Reimer. RFAs Raymond, Seider, and Veleno. Currently cap space is projected to be $28m. Overall not bad, but we have 2 more years of Holl and Chiarot, 1 more of Petry. We need to dump at least one of those, preferably 2.
Prospect wise, we are looking very good. We don't have anyone who looks to be truly elite, but we have several that look like they will be very good. Part of the problem is we are developing a bit of a log jam due to not calling up any rookies this year. Injuries finally forced them to bring up Edvinsson, who has shown in just a dozen games that he is an upgrade and should have been on the team months ago. We're probably going to have to deal Jonatan Berggren, as we've pissed him off burying him in Grand Rapids this year despite playing 67 games for the Wings last year. He's a RFA and contract talks during the season have failed so far. Maybe he'll be included as a sweetener to get rid of Holl or Petry.
Marco Kasper should be competing for a spot next year, maybe Nate Danielson and Axel Sandin Pelikka. Cossa has been great in net for Grand Rapids, so maybe we'll get a glimpse of him next year. Trey Augustine was also great for Michigan State, dunno if he's going to stay there or not next year.
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Merrith
Golden Baronet of the Realm
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Maybe Stevie Y can help clear up logjam making a deal or two like you mention to move a bad contract or two, or even just consolidating a couple prospects into a better one. Be interesting to see how active teams are this summer, it's not supposed to be a deep draft. That is quite a bit of cap space, only problem with this year's FA group is a lot are aging guys, or guys who are likely going to be looking to get a BAG this summer (Guentzel, Reinhart). Not sure how opposed you guys would be to spending big on someone or how your current line situation shakes out.
StoiCynic
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Honestly i'm prepared for any outcome. It's all gonna come down to how well the Caps defend the crease and/or whether or not the Rangers are willing to fight for the dirty goals (which they usually aren't). Lindgren is the type of goaltender that is kryptonite for the Rangers. They tend to look for the perfect setup too often and end up letting goaltenders off the hook. That's a big part of why their 5v5 is meh.House moneyStoiCynic . Just glad some of our younger guys get a playoff series of experience. Lindgren deserves it after the year he had, too. Hope we can extend it to 6 at least.
Other than that it's hope for special teams which the Rangers are pretty elite in.
Either way, cheers to a good series. Hopefully no ref jobs either way. Probably goes to 6 or 7.
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Merrith
Golden Baronet of the Realm
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I think it's a stretch to think we can keep up with you like that. Also Lindgren's never played this many games in the NHL, magic has to run out eventually. Been a fun ride. See if young guys can step up at all. We're super banged up defensively, too.
Merrith
Golden Baronet of the Realm
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Kinda crazy the offensive explosion going on around the league. Not completely surprising given the decrease in goalie save percentage last few years after they finally put even more limits on gear size. Kuch elite af, though. Going to be a tough Hart vote in general, b/c I feel like there's multiple worthy guys.
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