I wouldn't feel too bad if I was you. The your 81 million dollar team lost to a 90 million dollar team thanks to the NHL accepting lack of cap space as a legit LTIR injury.

I mean I’m not going into that because that’s a whole different issue… this isn’t a single series issue for the canes they have gone out the same way 3 straight years

Top 6 winger? This team needs to figure out the D core. Hamilton and Hakanpaa looked like the same player, that's concerning. Trade some assets for Seth Jones. The forward group isn't terrible, the line combinations were not optimal.

There are a lot of issues for a team that was so good in the regular season. I feel the defensive issues are a bit overblown when ur not scoring at all

you did run into the best goalie in the world too be fair

🙄

Are you serious?

They've won 4 playoff series in 3 years now and they've only lost to truly elite teams- TB just randomly added Kucherov and Stamkos to their lineup...

Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of

Keep building by all means

But the playoffs are just crazy fickle

What does Jones give you that Hamilton doesn't?

Not exactly an 'aging Jeff sknner' allocation of the extra 9M$ either, yeah, that Kucherov guy is pretty good despite his down year of 12.8 points

*does double take* wait there's no decimal??!

😱

Have you seen Hamilton play? He's so hesitant to take shots and when he does, they're weak. He's not a top pair guy and teams need to take caution before locking him up long term. Jones will bounce back, Hamilton is mediocre at best. You have to go with the player with the highest ceiling.

This times 1000%

Defense

Hamilton is a 2nd pairing 5-6M AAV offensive defenseman in a elite 1st pairing defenseman body. He wilts in the playoffs like spinach in a frying pan.

The thing is, it's not a 100% Tampas fault either. They stayed with in the rules that the league set up. The NHL is mostly to blame for allowing the loop hole to exist. It's such an easy fix too. Anyone on the LTIR when the playoffs starts are not eligible to play. Teams will then be forced to get cap compliant or go with out.