2025-26 NHL Playoff Thread: No More BuffLMAO

[Cail]

Sounds like the Sens will get the 9th and 25th overall pick this year, another first in 2029, and another second round pick.

massive overpay

[Vaspinne]

Word salad

So all you got is that... you'll be fine in a couple years when the cap goes up but also somehow this year you're a cup fav with a team that doesn't have a starter or backup goalie signed, no forward or D depth and only $7mil in cap space. And your proud that your cup contending team missed the playoffs last season but had more points then a team that is blowing it all up and rebuilding.

Okay cool champ.

Carolina's situation is very different. They have their entire forward line-up signed, 2 goalies, 5-D and have $11mil in cap to fill the gaps. They also have a decent'ish prospect pool as well as 5 first rounders in the next 4 seasons to either stock up prospects to keep the team competitive or use as trade chips to bring in bigger pieces in the immediate. They're built for more sustained long-term success.

Florida have all their eggs in 1 basket, and as we saw and as you said yourself, if these players that have played a TON of intense physical playoff hockey end up dealing with injuries, and they likely will, Florida doesn't currently have the cap space or the depth to fix those problems unless they start selling off this 'signed until 2030' core you're so proud of.

You don't have any goalies. You have $7mil in cap space and realistically unless you gamble on league minimums, you're gonna spend the bulk of your remaining cap on your goalies.

[Salodin]

Our top 3 lines could be the top line in any other team like lol

Literally every pundit agrees Florida was a favorite before the Brady trade, and are even more so now. Of course health is a factor in all this, it always is. In every sport. All the time.

You can think you're outsmarting the management team that pulled off 3 straight finals and back to back cups. They definitely don't have a plan on goaltending and totally just forgot cause Matt asked for a favor. I won't try to sway you otherwise lul

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[Richybear]

Just wait til they somehow still get Larkin and Helly

[Obsidian]

I fully expect them to end up with Hellebyuck.

[Salodin]

A lot of people think it's gonna be hard, but the cats have a culture and it is understood that you take a pay cut to join a great organization. And that story has worked so far. I fully expect people to be shocked by how "cheap" they fill the remaining holes in the squad.

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[synistar]

This year's hall of fame class that one name will be sure to piss off everyone - Keith Tkachuk

Patrice Bergeon
Pekka Rinne
Carey Price
US Women's hockey pioneer Cindy Curley
Brian Burke

[Obsidian]

A lot of people think it's gonna be hard, but the cats have a culture and it is understood that you take a pay cut to join a great organization. And that story has worked so far. I fully expect people to be shocked by how "cheap" they fill the remaining holes in the squad.

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It has nothing to do with taking a pay cut when the players are being brought in via trade.

Edit:

This year's hall of fame class that one name will be sure to piss off everyone - Keith Tkachuk

Patrice Bergeon
Pekka Rinne
Carey Price
US Women's hockey pioneer Cindy Curley
Brian Burke

500+ goals and 2000+ PIMs is a rare combo but he also never really won anything so I dunno.

[Vaspinne]

This year's hall of fame class that one name will be sure to piss off everyone - Keith Tkachuk

Patrice Bergeon
Pekka Rinne
Carey Price
US Women's hockey pioneer Cindy Curley
Brian Burke

Tkachuk hasn't won any individual accolades or Stanley cups, but he did score over 500 goals and 1000 points in the lowest scoring era of the league, and there are only like 2 other players with over 500 goals that aren't in the HoF. Dunno if it's more about him getting in than it is about him getting in before other people first, but that's all subjective I guess

[Obsidian]

Him getting in before Brind'Amor as a player is pretty hilarious honestly. Ron Francis is gonna have to be dead before Rod gets in.

[Vaspinne]

Brind'Amor is definitely the biggest argument. Have a hunch they're saving him as a double player/coach inductee to make a big spectacle out of it

[Bombur]

Another year that I am disappointed in the HHOF's selections with notable members who have been eligible for more than one campaign still left off the induction list.

Here are the inductees that I believe are reasonable from the Class of 2026:

Brian Burke

Patrice Bergeron

Cindy Curley - I will be honest, beyond her statistics, I am not too familiar with Ms. Curley. I will take the HHOF's committee's word for her induction.


As for the three others, I do believe there are more notable candidates who have been waiting for their call:

Rod Brind'Amour - An argument could be made that he is still an active coach, but we have seen instances of "active" players still being inducted.

Patrik Eliáš - 1025 Career Points, 2 Stanley Cups, Former Captain, Quiet(er) Leader, NJD's All-Time Points, Goals, and Assists Leader, Most Career Game-Winning Goals with NJD

Theoren Fleury - 1 Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold, Canadian Humanitarian Award, Queen's Jubilee Medallion. A figurehead for mental health and being a survivor. He certainly has been very polarizing in his political takes but that should not be the only defining point.

Patrick Marleau - Most NHL Regular Season Games Played (1779). 2 Olympic Gold Medals ('10, '14). He will be dinged for no major personal awards.

Henrik Zetterberg - Triple Gold Club member, 1 Stanley Cup, Former Captain, Conn Smythe Trophy Winner, NHL Foundation Player Award, King Clancy Memorial Trophy

Curtis Joseph - 8th All-Time in NHL Wins, 51 Shutouts, 9th All-Time in NHL Points (as a Goalie)

Nikolai Khabibulin - 1 Stanley Cup, NHL Record for Most Shutouts in a Playoff Round (Tied), Olympic Gold ('92), Olympic Bronze ('02), Best Goaltender Award - Directorate (IIHF) ('02)

[Richybear]

fuck theo fleury

[Bombur]

fuck theo fleury

Well I mean his on the ice merits..lol

[Bombur]

Stan Bowman just loves to give long term contracts to aging players.

https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/2069095592719216875

[Cail]

imagine being CMC+Drai and seeing the contracts handed out to Murphy+Dickinson

[Cail]

https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/...895747359?s=20

RIP anyone not named CMC/Drai/Bouch

[Richybear]

It’s gonna be glorious to watch him bully the non effort shifts though

[Richybear]

imagine being CMC+Drai and seeing the contracts handed out to Murphy+Dickinson

You realize he’s pretty much GMCM here right? Like I don’t think a single thing has happened without his input first.

[synistar]

https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/...895747359?s=20

RIP anyone not named CMC/Drai/Bouch

And for good measure, DJ Smith hired as an Associate Coach.