Buds Board Keepers League

Sens owner Eugene Melnyk passed away Monday night. 62 years old (same age as me)

Cap goingup by 1 million next season

DApolloS wroteCOLONCap goingup by 1 million next season

Glad there's finally some movement in that direction...the million dollar increase has been rumored all season. With the new US TV money and hopefully the end of the economic impacts of Covid...plus it'll be nice to see fans in buildings on both sides of the border. I want to see Calgary, Toronto and Edmonton back to having real playoff atmospheres. The C of Red is great.

DApolloS wroteCOLONCap goingup by 1 million next season

Oohhhh baby!!!!

dave1959 wroteCOLONSens owner Eugene Melnyk passed away Monday night. 62 years old (same age as me)

Hate him or whatever for his handling of the Sens franchise, but this is extremely sad news. Far too young to be leaving us. May he Rest In Peace.

KapG wroteCOLON

dave1959 wroteCOLONSens owner Eugene Melnyk passed away Monday night. 62 years old (same age as me)

Hate him or whatever for his handling of the Sens franchise, but this is extremely sad news. Far too young to be leaving us. May he Rest In Peace.

it will be interesting to see what happens now. if they get sold or his daughter(s) run the organization as he said in the past.

Always wanted him to sell but sad regardless

Can we talk about how the Vegas Golden Knights franchise are a classic example of beginner's luck in a casino?

Or how their continuous efforts to double-down by buying or trading for flashy names and shredding their original roster's identity to become just another disappointing collection of players rather than building a real team?

It looks like they'll have plenty of time to think about what the next crazy win-now move they make since there's only 5 games left in the season.

Seriously though, part of me wonders if that team actually could've been good for a full 82 with a healthy Eichel. If you're Vegas...do you not make any panic moves or just keep things the way there are and try again next season? I want to point to Lehner getting hurt but Logan Thompson has posted adequate numbers in goal...actually better than Lehner and Brossoit. Plus, they've got to be better than 16.8% power play.

You see a team like Florida do a similar kind of roster construction but they've built an offensive dynamo plus they had enough cap space to make more additions at the deadline. I think Florida took some chances on guys like Duclair and Verhaeghe plus they added a rejuvenated Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart has been brilliant after he got out of Buffalo. Can't ignore the fact they've got some homegrown anchors like Huberdeau, Barkov, Weegar and Ekblad and throw in a couple of breakout young players like Lundell and Marchment. And the fact they're sustaining their early success after they're famed coach had to step down abruptly.

Florida reminds of Chicago and Los Angeles in their best years. Vegas doesn't have bad players but they just seem like uneven roster from top to bottom. They were less flashy when they joined the league but just had the right mix and they played the right way. I think a lot of Edmonton's problems are similar to Vegas where teams can have great players but be too top heavy and struggle to find the right complimentary pieces. Zach Hyman was a pricey signing but he was the right kind of player to add to that mix and they've looked better after the coaching change.

Then, you have Colorado...are they ready to breakthrough or they the new Capitals or Sharks who have a lot of promise but are perennial playoff disappointments?

Man, I love this time of year...even if my team is missing the playoffs again.

I'm hoping Vancouver pulls it off, they win all their games and they are in. I also hope Vegas doesn't make it, I thought they were going to pass LA, but that loss to NJ really hurt their chances.

As a Leafs fan I hope BOS passes Tampa so we can play them, but that is looking unlikely.

Bruyns wroteCOLONI'm hoping Vancouver pulls it off, they win all their games and they are in. I also hope Vegas doesn't make it, I thought they were going to pass LA, but that loss to NJ really hurt their chances.

As a Leafs fan I hope BOS passes Tampa so we can play them, but that is looking unlikely.

Why in god's name would you want to face Boston in round 1? I'd rather play just about anyone else. The potential for a meltdown is far greater vs beantown than anyone else.

I think they are a weaker team than Tampa

Bruyns wroteCOLONI think they are a weaker team than Tampa

Toronto does not do well in the playoffs vs weaker teams. You might recall them losing to Montreal last year...

The Lightning have been showing some vulnerability but you can't tell me that beating them 4 out of 7 is going to be easy for any opponent. Who in their right mind would say 'bring on the 2-time defending champs'?

Shoalzie wroteCOLONThe Lightning have been showing some vulnerability but you can't tell me that beating them 4 out of 7 is going to be easy for any opponent. Who in their right mind would say 'bring on the 2-time defending champs'?

Leafs have a better records against the Bolts than they do against many other teams. We seem to play MUCH better against the skilled teams vs the cheap shot balls to the wall teams like Boston and co.

I don't understand why anyone thinks they have to beat Bruins to get over this proverbial playoff hump...you play who you play. If you can get out of the first round and knock off the defending champs in the process, I don't think the fans up there are going to complain.

Shoalzie wroteCOLONI don't understand why anyone thinks they have to beat Bruins to get over this proverbial playoff hump...you play who you play. If you can get out of the first round and knock off the defending champs in the process, I don't think the fans up there are going to complain.

Because the Bruins started this whole thing with the 4-1 come from behind victory - all hockey fans know the game. Sure, the 1st round is an issue for us either way, but the Bruins just seem to have our number, kind of like the Leafs vs Sens all those years ago.

So, I'll take my chances with a team that does not know us in the playoffs, who we have no history against, but that if we can beat - it'd be a massive confidence boost going into round 2.

Da_Hawks wroteCOLON

Bruyns wroteCOLONI think they are a weaker team than Tampa

Toronto does not do well in the playoffs vs weaker teams. You might recall them losing to Montreal last year...

they don't do well in the playoffs against teams.

ftfy

dave1959 wroteCOLON

Da_Hawks wroteCOLON

Bruyns wroteCOLONI think they are a weaker team than Tampa

Toronto does not do well in the playoffs vs weaker teams. You might recall them losing to Montreal last year...

they don't do well in the playoffs against teams.

ftfy

Should have said in general. Always getting beat by bottom feeders it seems. But they love to play against the other elite teams and play well. But who knows. Playoffs are always interesting regardless

Not really any bad playoff teams in the east. The difference between the top 8 teams and the bottom 8 teams is kind of ridiculous. 17 point difference between 8th place and 9th place.

And 8th place in the east would be 5th in the west.

It's kind of the opposite of bbkl

Da_Hawks wroteCOLON

Shoalzie wroteCOLONThe Lightning have been showing some vulnerability but you can't tell me that beating them 4 out of 7 is going to be easy for any opponent. Who in their right mind would say 'bring on the 2-time defending champs'?

Leafs have a better records against the Bolts than they do against many other teams. We seem to play MUCH better against the skilled teams vs the cheap shot balls to the wall teams like Boston and co.

This comment aged well.