# NHL April 2018 & post-season **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 2, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611 "2018-04-02T00:27:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/341 "2018-06-22T00:07:35Z")
Two weeks after hoisting the Cup, Trots is now an Islanders coach. Other teams were kicking the tires but the Islanders’ ownership basically gave Lou Lamoriello a blank cheque. So, a $2.2 million raise from last year, and five years’ security, making for a strong factor for Tavares to stay. JT’s soon going to LA to hear offers from three other teams. I predict he’ll do a Stamkos - hear a bunch of offers, but still stick with his original team. Really? The Caps couldn’t afford 4 mil a year to keep their Stanley Cup-winning coach? I believe Babcock leads coaches at 6.25 million. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/342 "2018-06-22T00:23:00Z")
Hm, it’s possible that the last sentence in my previous post could be read that Babcock isn’t worthy, which is far from the case, far from what I meant - I think he’s one of the great modern coaches. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/343 "2018-06-23T05:52:43Z")
[Trade action described as ‘slow’ but there’s too much to recap](https://apnews.com/71bda329470146cd8291b71ab53702b1/Trade-action-slow-on-first-night-of-NHL-draft). Las Vegas was quiet draft-wise, AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/344 "2018-06-23T13:01:46Z")
I could really do without the senseless booing of Gary Bettman. Has he really been that terrible? I find his treatment embarrassing and childish. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/345 "2018-06-23T17:25:00Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I could really do without the senseless booing of Gary Bettman. > > Has he really been that terrible? I find his treatment embarrassing and childish. Sure, it’s getting a little old. I figure it’s done, now, more for the lazy lulz of it than anything. Throughout the 90’s more and more fans were griping for parity, and that’s exactly what he’s been facilitating, so, that’s one major reason that the fans’ booing might be a bit pointless and misdirected. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/346 "2018-06-23T18:04:52Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Trade action described as ‘slow’ but there’s too much to recap](https://apnews.com/71bda329470146cd8291b71ab53702b1/Trade-action-slow-on-first-night-of-NHL-draft). Indeed. I’m still not sure what to make of Domi / Galchenyuk. I’m sure Habs fans were hoping for more of a goal-scorer than Domi, (which is probably why he wasn’t on the Coyotes’ top line) meanwhile with all of Galchenyuk’s skill, I can’t for some reason see him re-gaining his pre-knee injury level of play from two seasons ago. Domi should certainly provide good Gallagher-like energy, but manoman there is no more pressurized an environment in the NHL than there is in Montreal - Druin hasn’t exactly responded to it convincingly, for sure. Maybe Galchenyuk might do a Taylor Hall and _totally_ blossom in an anonymous environment - things like being able to walk downtown unbothered, no media microscope on him. And a 35 year-old (for some reason I thought he’d be older) Ilya Kovalchuk is returning to the NHL. Signs with the Kings on the 1st. I’ll be impressed if he can still put in a full season and get, maybe, 50 - 55 points? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/347 "2018-06-24T04:05:49Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > And a 35 year-old (for some reason I thought he’d be older) Ilya Kovalchuk is returning to the NHL. Signs with the Kings on the 1st. I’ll be impressed if he can still put in a full season and get, maybe, 50 - 55 points? This was the biggest news I saw all day. Frankly, I think if he gets 40+ goals the Kings will consider it money well spent. And I think he’s totally capable of that, and likely capable of the 50+ numbers you called out. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/348 "2018-06-24T17:15:28Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Frankly, I think if he gets 40+ goals the Kings will consider it money well spent. The Kings’ expectations would be well surpassed if he got 40+ goals next season, and I might have to sheepishly walk back my 50 - 55 points speculation down to 35 - 40 points - just now remembering that LA isn’t really the type of offensive juggernaut for Kovy to flourish in, unless maybe Kopy is on the same line. (heh - Kopy, Kovy) I am 600 trillion% convinced that last season was no fluke for VGK, and that they’ll have a comparable season next season. (none of that bothersome “sophomore jinx” cliche stuff) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/349 "2018-06-25T03:08:17Z")
I think he’ll fit well with them. They aren’t the only team that saw the speed & aggression of Las Vegas and realized it was the next wave of hockey. Tampa Bay and Nashville have both been playing that way for years; the Knights doing it as well _and doing it well_ is enough for other teams to realize they need to change their gameplay or get left behind every April. I suspect the Kings are going for a more generally aggressive style, with a look to building a speedier team once the coaching staff figures out how to play, exactly, in this new & speedier & more aggressive game that a significant percentage of the teams are already engaged in. Pittsburgh wants to get there too but they don’t quite grok it yet, IMO. I have no doubts that the new Seattle team (I’m still hoping for the Seattle Kraken, thus opening the way for more mythological sports mascots) will fully grok the new style and draft accordingly, giving the league another thrilling expansion team’s 1st season. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/350 "2018-06-26T21:33:05Z")
Congratulations to Willie O’Ree, Martin Brodeur, Gary Bettman and all of this year’s inductees to the NHL Hall of Fame! [A truly excellent class this year](https://apnews.com/468bcaca2a944c07b79564b884189b63/Bettman,-Brodeur,-O'Ree-top-Hockey-Hall-of-Fame-class)! I fully approve. My pride in the NHL as an organization grows every year; they really want to be a class act and accord themselves well. > [@](#): > > O’Ree, a native of Fredericton, New Brunswick in eastern Canada, made his NHL debut in 1958 as a call-up for the Boston Bruins. The winger put up four goals and 10 assists in 45 NHL games during the 1957-58 and 1960-61 seasons despite being 95 percent blind in his right eye. > > “This honor is long overdue as Willie has been a tremendous figure in our game both on and off the ice for over 60 years,” Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs said. “We are lucky to have been able to call Willie a Bruin when he made his debut in 1958 and we could not be happier for him to finally receive the recognition he so greatly deserves.” > [@](#): > > Now 82, O’Ree works for the NHL as diversity ambassador in the league’s “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative.” Sixty years after he broke the league’s color barrier, there are now about two dozen black players currently on NHL rosters. > > “This honor would not be possible if I had not rejoined the league in 1996,” O’Ree said. “I was given a second wind to give back to the game.” Bettman not only totally deserves to be in the HoF, he proved it again right then and there: > [@](#): > > “This is not something I was focused on and I’m speechless and grateful to be included with this group,” Bettman said. “I’m particularly honored to be part of a class that includes Willie O’Ree.” Like I said: classy. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/351 "2018-06-27T17:27:04Z")
WAAAAAY overdue in O’Ree’s case. St. Louis and Brodeur were both shoe-ins. (And if they hadn’t stopped doing so after Gretzky, I think they would’ve waived the three year period for Brodueur) But BETTMAN??? You’ve got to be shitting me! The guy’s been responsible for three lockouts! Fuck him. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/352 "2018-06-27T18:02:10Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > WAAAAAY overdue in O’Ree’s case. St. Louis and Brodeur were both shoe-ins. (And if they hadn’t stopped doing so after Gretzky, I think they would’ve waived the three year period for Brodueur) > > But BETTMAN??? You’ve got to be shitting me! The guy’s been responsible for three lockouts! Fuck him. He’s increased the league’s revenue by more than 10 fold to over $5 billion per year, overseen one of the most successful long-term expansions in a sports league in history AND been pretty cool about being everyone’s villain. And frankly, NHL hockey is more fun to watch now than since the 1970s. ETA: > [@](#): > > Bettman has been commissioner since 1993, during which time the NHL has expanded its footprint across North America and increased from 24 to 31 teams. In that time, the league has gone from a $437 million business to one with almost $5 billion in revenue. It’s been an occasionally bruising ride, with three work stoppages, including one that canceled the entire 2004-05 season and led to the salary cap. But Bettman has been nothing if not a strong leader, and all-time great Wayne Gretzky said the efforts to help each club compete have made the game stronger. > > “His leadership and love for hockey is very evident,” Gretzky said. “Hockey has become more entertaining year after year, thanks in part to his passion for the game.” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/353 "2018-06-27T19:11:43Z")
If I was a team owner, I would be very happy with Bettman. Afterall, he’s working for me, not the players or fans. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/354 "2018-06-27T19:23:40Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > If I was a team owner, I would be very happy with Bettman. Afterall, he’s working for me, not the players or fans. It’s cool if that’s your opinion, but there are hundreds more people playing professionally in the NHL now than there were 25 yers ago and the fanbase is much larger now as well. And as I said earlier, I think the game is more fun to watch now than it has been since the 1970s. The parity is pretty good and the level of talent is amazing. I think Bettman totally deserves to be in the HoF. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/355 "2018-06-27T19:54:50Z")
^ You don’t think our opinions are mutually inclusive? I totally agree with you and think the owners are also quite chuffed. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/356 "2018-06-27T20:20:45Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > ^ You don’t think our opinions are mutually inclusive? I totally agree with you and think the owners are also quite chuffed. Your post seemed to suggest that ONLY the owners would be happy, to the exclusion of the players and fans, for whom Bettman was not working (and therefore presumably does not care about). ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/357 "2018-06-27T20:28:30Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Sure, it’s getting a little old. I figure it’s done, now, more for the lazy lulz of it than anything. > Throughout the 90’s more and more fans were griping for parity, and that’s exactly what he’s been facilitating, so, that’s one major reason that the fans’ booing might be a bit pointless and misdirected. there are those of us who didn’t like how he flushed a bunch of history down the toilet when the league changed all of the conference and division names to “me too” dreck. I don’t see how changing from “Campbell/Wales Conference” to “Western/Eastern Conference” and “Adams/Norris/Patrick/Smythe Division” to “Atlantic/Metropolitan/Central/Pacific Division” was of any benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/358 "2018-06-27T20:36:01Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > there are those of us who didn’t like how he flushed a bunch of history down the toilet when the league changed all of the conference and division names to “me too” dreck. I don’t see how changing from “Campbell/Wales Conference” to “Western/Eastern Conference” and “Adams/Norris/Patrick/Smythe Division” to “Atlantic/Metropolitan/Central/Pacific Division” was of any benefit. I do. “Eastern” is a pretty clear geographic distinction; “Campbell” isn’t a clear distinction of any kind except from “not-Campbell”. I can prolly assume that Seattle’s team will be in the Western Conference, not the Eastern. And they prolly won’t be in the Atlantic or Central division, but I have no idea if they would be in the Adams or Norris or Patrick or Smythe divisions. I understand hard feelings at history being “lost” or obscured, but in this case IMO the change was made to try and make the sport more comprehensible and accessible and I think it did that. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/359 "2018-06-27T20:37:26Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > there are those of us who didn’t like how he flushed a bunch of history down the toilet when the league changed all of the conference and division names to “me too” dreck. I don’t see how changing from “Campbell/Wales Conference” to “Western/Eastern Conference” and “Adams/Norris/Patrick/Smythe Division” to “Atlantic/Metropolitan/Central/Pacific Division” was of any benefit. Branding. Make it easier for new fans to comprehend. I’m not thrilled with it, but I understand the reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611/360 "2018-06-27T22:02:34Z")
If you look on Twitter, quite a few players aren’t impressed either. About the best thing I can say about Bettman is that he isn’t as bad as Roger Goodell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-april-2018-post-season/811611.md?page=19)