Hindsight, especially with those such players that do not develop linearly (goaltenders especially but defencemen can be lumped in here too), is rarely accurate. Systematically, neither Vanacek nor Samsonov were playing up to their underlying numbers in Washington. It was likely a systems issue, perhaps a clash with the personnel, but keeping either young netminder would have been moot.

Although I'd love some post-dated credit on Vanacek and a plate of crow for everyone who said acquiring him to tandem with Skinner was a poor idea.

I feel with those two it was a matter of not having a veteran mentor

Like Sammy had Holtby then he was gone and his backup was another rookie

Rarely have I seen that work as usually teams got either 2 vet goalies or a young and vet goalie. Unless theirs injuries rarely do you see 2 youngsters now

Flyers just need to slip 2 more spots down the standings and their chillin.

The blues had a full team pow-wow today and probably will murder the Penguins tomorrow and start climbing away from Bedard.

Am I a bad fan for … wanting them to lose? I mean - like…you traded an all-star to the rangers and a captain to the leafs, 2 centers in one trade. What did they think was going to happen?

😔

Except neither of those two has a veteran mentor at the moment. The aft-injured husk of Murray nor Akira Schmid count in that discussion. Perhaps through the onset of their careers it would have helped but Vanacek's case is clearly explained by personnel quality. Their blueline is incredibly solid. I think Samsonov has benefitted from both a slight upgrade in the defencemen in front of him but also a systems change too.

I mean technically Sammy's got Murray whose been around the bush a few times and while not a true vet having 2 rings and being through playoffs helps

Dont know if hes involved behind the scenes but if so Bernier could be mentoring the young NJ duo even though he cant play

It all depends on who we consider a vet mentor these days

No. It's just the realism of being a fan of a tanking team. A single game's loss can bring them lots of goods in the future.

Struble has more value than Kravtsov, let’s be honest, Kravtsov not worth much and we’re retaining, I can’t see Montreal doing that ( unless Struble has told the team he won’t sign )

Will need to check havent heard anything from him yet

There were mentions but nothing else

Chris Tierney scored for the Habs, every Habs fan saw that one coming

NHL's most underrated, or unheralded, may have a new "Captain":

Alex Tuch, that's the $4.75M/per-Tuch, with a short-side snipe: that's #28G's folks!

US$9MIL "Jackie E" for reference: will hopefully get #20 before seasons-end...!

That's not a good trade for Montreal. Would rather not trade Struble for Kravtsov

Verhaeghe has 30

He's a Panther - that's a blue-rinse/ shuffleboard kinda town...

BUFF is hockey heartland!

This TDL has real slow burn tension. Everyone is on pins and needles and doing Pepe Silva evidence boards at weird hours and stuff. I dig it and also I kinda hate it because nerves - something is gonna go down, but what? I can;t wait to find out what happens.

On a related note, if Army can somehow move out Krug and/or Leddy, all hell is gonna break loose. The slow burn part will be O V E R if one of them moves.

You don't know jack sh*t "Ksixsook" he has 31G's_LOL

FLA have to move out GMAN-BOB now!

ARZ have IR contracts/retentions/dead cap etc for Weber, Ladd, Little, OEL...surely they (or another stooge) can add Goalie-Bob and waive/bury him; somebody?

Nylander in OT is a cheatcode

No intramurals in playoffs; just hockey @ 5 on 5 come OT...sudden death!

Well hes got 25 goals 5 on 5 so I dont think he cares lul

Just give him the puck and let him do his thing

Besides one Nylander breakaway a game is almost a guarantee these days.

No Hit League ends Apr 17th...

Leafs Avging 25-35 hits a game when they go up against physical teams but go on...

Like when this team needs to be physical they can be lul

Check the Tampa series hits we out hit Tampa in a few

Yeah PENS lead the league in hits most nights too...ha ha

Willie's the NHL's leader in second on loose playoff-pucks.

Actually NSH does

Pitts 3rd with OTT 2nd

Happy clicker fingers on those 'hit-counter employee's' as the PENS cannot hit themselves out of a soggy paper bag.

OTT is likely a Brady Tkachuk counter.

And at least David Poile is #1 at something - finally!