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CantStopWontStop

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Jan. 29, 2023
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Forum: NHLApr. 29 at 3:55 p.m.
Thread: 2023-2024 NHL Discussion Thread #5: The Final Stretch
Imma just die on the hill that Toronto will come back and win this series.

They’re better, have played better than not, and there’s a reasonable chance they get healthy fast, benefiting from extra offday. Each day after is presumably healthier. If Boston had beat them convincingly while they were without I’d think different.

Those dudes have been through too much to cave, and they’ve been too consistently good. You can’t do those things by accident.

If they don’t even put up a fight tho - ya gotta break it up.

Like last year - if I had felt Tampa was the better team, I would have kept that belief to the end, because that entire Tampa leaf series was tilted to Tampa a bit, but the leafs prevailed. Maybe Boston ends it, but it won’t take much for the momentum to flip.
Forum: NHLApr. 28 at 11:10 a.m.
Thread: 2023-2024 NHL Discussion Thread #5: The Final Stretch
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Rangsey</b></div><div>Thing is, there have been multiple times in this series the Leafs best players have had the game in their stick and in those moments they have failed to capitalize. It doesn't matter how close you are over the course of the game/series of you don't win the big moments.

Last year, Tampa was better than the Leafs for the whole first series. But they lost the big moments.
Year before the Leafs were better than tampa for most of the series, but didnt capitalize on the big moments.

The Leafs best players are losing the big moments and that's why they're losing the series.</div></div>

Agree entirely. And Boston is being extremely opportunistic and deserves what it has earned.

I just don’t get the persistent magnified negativity that has to ignore reality by not discussing the piles of good that has occurred as well as be disingenuous by highlighting known weaknesses.

We have this problem in stl too. Kyrou has some media against him, some fans against him, results in the entire building boo-ing the guy while he’s simultaneously 2nd in the league in carrying the puck into the opponents zone, leads the team in scoring.

Like, the number of games the blues have won because of Kyrou, Leafs have won because of Marner is a -way- bigger number than the games they’ve lost because of them. Then dude is literally screaming during a national broadcast about 2 50/50s. It’s just so sensationally stupid. I’ve watched 5’9’’ 4th liner Nathan walker win board battles all night against Nathan Mackinnon. You can find lost 50/50s for Crosby any given night. It’s just so dumb to magnify that, because it happens to everybody, and the type of skater marner or Kyrou are: they don’t look super good on replay when they lose 50/50s. They’re usually trying to do something with the puck besides just win it. When they lose it looks bad. Ok. That’s not gonna ever change til the end of time. To get worked up about it is nonsense.
Forum: NHLApr. 28 at 9:21 a.m.
Thread: 2023-2024 NHL Discussion Thread #5: The Final Stretch
It’s dumb to me how blind and immature opinions from the media are.

Game 1 Toronto played slightly better but close enuff to equivalent to Boston. While down 2 goals the leafs were well above 50% chance to win game for almost entire third period because they had persistent possession/chances.
Game 2-3 Toronto vastly outplayed Boston. Vastly.
Game 4 - fairly even tilt, still leafs outplaying Boston similar to g1.

Meanwhile:
Boston scoring on what feels like every power play.
Boston scoring with seconds to go in period on broken plays.
Leafs top heavy team missing significant chunk of its top heavy skaters.

Now my social media and media feed is filled with such extremism and negativity towards the leafs.

I’m not making excuses: ultimately I don’t care which team wins, I’m rooting for stl. It’s just so many wrong opinions it hurts my brain.

Everybody knows marner is soft, but showing him lose 2 50/50s then deciding he’s trash right before he dangles to score a solo effort goal is funny. Board battles are not the thing he’s good at. We’ve known that for years. It’s not going to change. If you view him from that perspective he sucks. If you view from other perspectives, like carrying the puck, he’s one of the best in the league. It’s how it works for every player, just different perspectives.

There is this need for Toronto media to be negative. Other teams are down in their series and it isn’t 25 YouTubers, broadcasters live on air pointing out an individual players known weakness anywhere near the amplitude and frequency.

They’ve conditioned the building to boo, to be cautious. It impacts the game. It’s hurting the team, but it gets clicks I guess?

—-Leafs are one of the few playoff teams that have a home ice disadvantage and it’s the medias fault.



Leafs in 7 if you can get your expensive skaters on the ice together and they are close to 100%.
Forum: NHLApr. 25 at 2:50 p.m.
Thread: 2023-2024 NHL Discussion Thread #5: The Final Stretch
I’m kinda a weirdo:

I’m preferring Utah HC as the final name.

Maybe I’ve thought about so many names they all just kinda seem generic and lazy. Like what low grade theme park would name its newest ride. So why not be generic and lazy to the extreme, own it and do it well, go big or go home. Could refer to them as whatever people from Utah call themselves, or just Utah. (A Ute?, the Utes?) (I’ve recently lived thru the St. Louis MLS expansion and really like our branding there, local ownership enhances marketing opportunity and impact, impresses upon fans that advertising partners are “us”).

It would be fun if their mascot was a snake and it was a dude in a modified green inflatable flailing arms man costume, so for that I’m rooting for venom or poison or whatever. They could have a power play dance for the fans that looks absolutely stupid and ridiculous, making it amazing, where they all wiggle around like snakes.
Forum: NHLApr. 24 at 6:43 p.m.
Thread: 2023-2024 NHL Discussion Thread #5: The Final Stretch
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>sensonfire</b></div><div>Obviously, I'm biased about Chychrun's trade value, but I acknowledge that there's a distinct possibility we might get less than what we paid for him.



With that said, any trade for Chychrun should be about saving face.

I think an acceptable return on Chychrun would be a 1st + two 2nds, regardless of how high the 1st is.

It doesn't have to be #12 overall and it can even be #32 overall.



I also think that something like what Calgary got for Noah Hanifin as a pending UFA at the trade deadline would be acceptable.

A 1st + a conditional 2nd + a big right shot depth defenceman with a low cap hit.



As for what Chychrun might sign for, anywhere between 6.5 million and 8 million on an 8 year deal is well within his reach.</div></div>

I think you might be in for a positive surprise. I’m pretty sure a big knock to Chychrun’s value was his historic injuries and time missed. At the time yall got him, it was a very safe bet to assume he’d miss 25%++ of the season cause that’s kinda how it had been, give or take. That had to scare away buyers. Playing a full 82 and playing pretty okay shows not only that he has the fitness/awareness to do it, but all the previous stuff is in the past also. I don’t think you can accidentally play 82, esp as a d.
Forum: NHLApr. 19 at 12:55 p.m.
Thread: CantStop prediction post with 1 opinion per series
If ur bored here’s some fanfic from random St. Louis fan and my bracket submission this season.

<strong>Round 1</strong>

West:

Dallas Vs Vegas: Stars in 5.
I feel like the longer the series goes, the more it tilts to Vegas, but the Stars are so stable and diverse. I don’t think Vegas has what it takes to get going or that the Stars will shut it down quick if they do. It’s not that the stars are so wildly better that they’ll win in 5, they’re just so persistent and heavy that once the boulder is rolling down hill it won’t be possible to stop it.

Colorado Vs Winnipeg: Jets in 6.
The Jets are on fire. They haven’t lost in April and also have had an insanely stacked schedule. They have the best goalie, best gm, diverse squad, big defense, health, depth. Everybody else is in serious trouble against them. There is no shortcut. Meanwhile in the last stretch of the season the Avs allowed 7 jets goals, 7 stars goals, 6 oiler goals. That’s way too pourous. Still, the avs are really solid, it won’t be a clean cut.

Vancouver Vs Nashville: Predators in 6.
Vancouver will not be pleased with their draw, is like a cactus from secret Santa. I’d suggest of all teams, Nashville is probably among the best in 1-goal scenarios - either holding or trailing - they will frustrate Vancouver and eke out Ws, having just enough to steal games they have no business taking. Don’t burn down ur city, it’s just a game.

Edmonton VS LA: Oilers in 6.
I think the kings are scarier than they seem. PLD is kinda the guy you complain about in December but rave about in April, but it’s not just him - tons of standouts down the stretch. I’m not sure I’d pick the kings to lose in the first round if they had a different opponent, but the Oilers have been built too well, and there has to be some positive factor for having guys like Corey Perry in a long series against a repeat opponent. I really do want to pick the kings, but McDavid…

East:
Panthers Vs Lightning: Lightning in 6
I’m choosing Vasilevski. If the panthers do take care of business here everybody else is in trouble, as is my bracket. The lightning give them a responsibility challenge, and I like the lightnings ability to stuff Florida’s offense somewhat. Goalie probably has to win this series so I’m picking a goalie who’s won a whole bunch of series just like this. The panthers have everything going for them, but there’s a bit of kryptonite in the draw.

Boston Vs Toronto: Toronto in 6.
I feel like Toronto can approach this playoffs with tons of weight off their shoulders: they aren’t all in, guys resigned to play together for a long time. If they just go to work they’re going on a run. I really think we will see them flourish because their skill is off the charts - when games come down to the leafs best 5 skaters vs the bruins best 5, the leafs tilt the ice hard. There has been a lot of maturity and improvement from various leafs in key roles since the last time these two teams battled.

Rangers VS Capitals: Rangers in 4
I like wrong sided Charlie Lindgren and I like the Capitals, but the rangers are stacked and the capitals goal differential is just so bad. I know it doesn’t count, and some players were injured or traded before, it’s just such a blemish, makes things seem very fragile, and the rangers are elite and lethal. I think the capitals could have done some more damage in the playoffs if they had a different draw.

Hurricanes VS Islanders: Hurricanes in 7
Hurricanes will win the most lopsided 7 game series ever. I think NYI will drag it out excessively, but the hurricanes soundly win, it just takes a bit. Guarantee you’ll overhear “oh I thought the hurricanes ended that series already” at the pub in 10 days. Then game 7 will occur and the hurricanes will win 9-2, leading by 5 at the first intermission.

<strong>Round 2</strong>

West:
Dallas VS Winnipeg: Jets in 7
Hardest matchup for the jets in the conference. We get to watch two honest mature deep teams go to war. I think the Jets are more focused, sharpened roster with isolated roles, where Dallas is much more intermixing youth and old age while being very dense and sharing responsibility. Both are excellent approaches, but I like the Jets when head to head this moment in time because of the moment in time. Some of the stars young guys are real young, and old guys real old. It’s not that’s automatically a bad thing, but when matched against a much narrower team, the body will do what it does. The jets oldest skater is 33, the stars have 6 guys above that.

Predators Vs Oilers: Oilers in 5
The predators won’t have enough answers for the oilers offense, middle of the lineup, and special teams - the oilers can spread McDavid and draisaitl apart, flatten ice time, and win through attrition and power plays. A flattened oilers group is way scarier than a flattened Vancouver group, and there will be little concern over 1 goal games because the oilers will score a ton of them. Giving Nashville one win in the series is generous, but the oilers seem to just randomly get caved in. Has been like that 2 seasons now. I dunno why.

East:
Leafs Vs Lightning: Leafs in 6
It was fun last year let’s do it again.

Rangers Vs Carolina: ?
Impossible to predict but Rangers in 7. Two well matched and well built teams. I really think this would be must see hockey.

<strong>Conference Finals</strong>

West:
Winnipeg Vs Oilers: Jets in 7
The calmer of the two conference finals - I like the jets structure and depth after both teams have been through two series. They’re just going to go to work, meanwhile McJesus, ekholm, Bouchard will have played 25-30 min a night every other night for 2 weeks. I think the Jets are really difficult to play against when they load up on 200ft guys in response to high skill. Guys like Adam Lowry are forever underrated. Edmonton is like a long distance runner who gets a huge lead by sprinting at first, need to throttle back on the extreme usage in early rounds or this will persist as a problem when facing deep teams in the later rounds.

East:
Leafs Vs Rangers: Leafs in 5
Kinda seems like there will be big swings - if either team is in control long enough they’re winning bigly, but the other taking control swings that pendulum so much you’d think it’s 2 different teams. I think that environment favors the Leafs, built in drama, thrive on drama, bleed drama, dream drama, become drama. I’m being srs, we’ve watched these elite athletes get put through the pressure wringer every year of their careers - that’s worth something. Otherwise I’d pick NYR. I don’t think the leafs are so much better than the rangers, I just think we’re going to witness what happens when a generational talent flexes, and if nyr lets this series open up in response to the spotlight, it’ll be over fast, you’re giving the leafs exactly what they want.

<strong>Finals</strong>
Jets vs Leafs: Jets win in 6 games
Cheveldayoff Conn Smythe. Or hellebyuck.
The Jets, in cold ass boring taxed to death Winnipeg will overcome extreme adversity with a cup win highlighted by world class team composition. The Leafs have a great run, but they won’t have enough answers for the defense and goaltending on the other side. I’m not even tryin to put the leafs down but it won’t be close - is a case where the matchup happens to favor the jets composition as is, nevermind them being so thoroughly good, and at this point, the top performers on the leafs will have expended so much.