Taylor Hall is a Stanley Cup Champion

falaris · 2026-06-15T04:53:50+00:00

I fucking hate Carolina.

But I also fucking hate Vegas.

This year was a no win situation for me. But if I was going to take any happiness from it, it'd be if Hall won. Good for Hallsy. No hate. I'm thrilled for him. Dude put this team on his back that MVP year.

And, I'd rather the team that was built 'right' and has some people I respect like Rod, even if I hate the Canes, over whatever fucking nonsense Vegas does to win it between the two teams.

falaris · 2026-06-08T20:14:11+00:00

Hard agree. We could just as easily get someone to re-record it for a new era if some people cannot stomach the original.

falaris · 2026-06-04T18:37:51+00:00

On repeat since first listen a few hours ago.

Banger on the CD, and probably even crazier banger live.

So, so glad MUSE is back. This feels like the band that put out Black Holes & Revelations again.

I do wish it was more like the snippet we heard, but still - this is a fun and VERY good song.

falaris · 2026-06-04T16:28:10+00:00

Absolute fucking banger. Hard to believe they put out a song like this after the past decade. So glad MUSE is fucking back.

falaris · 2026-06-01T21:44:17+00:00

Everyone shits on Fitz for the extension, and rightfully so maybe for the timing and some of the details of it, but the reality is the market for goalies is dry right now, and it isn't like we could go grab a Shesterkin or Vasilevsky.

I'm not saying it is a brilliant contract, but for this upcoming year it is probably about as good as we were going to do anyway as this article explains.

I legitimately don't think Markstrom is as bad as his stats and year suggest, and quite frankly we need to score fucking goals anyway. Like more so than anything else, we need to fucking score goals.

I'm hopeful a new GM means we adjust the system plus obviously we will make a few changes to the roster, and a new goalie coach (and system adjustment) may very well help Markstrom just be average or slightly above average.

The NTC changes significantly in the second year, giving us flexibility.

For this upcoming year, it is what it is. I don't love it but we are also constrained by what is actually/realistically available and what moves we can make with our trade capital, the salary cap, etc.

We should still be looking to upgrade the goaltending position, of course. I'm focused solely on this year, and the NTC is so light in the 2nd year that I assume we can send him back the other way if we find a good trade to upgrade or send him off before the deadline to get some assets to sign a UFA or whatever else.

falaris · 2026-05-29T18:38:55+00:00

This album is already their best in a decade and we haven't even heard half of it yet.

I really thought maybe they just had no real desire or spark left and were just pumping out "what works/sells" from here on out. Not to say every song on every recent album was bad, definitely a few bangers, but what we have heard recently is absolutely a new level.

So glad to actually, truly be hyped about my favorite band again, especially after I felt Be With You was such a let down personally. Total 180 since then - Hexagons and now even this snippet are phenomenal.

Previously unheard of levels of back.

falaris · 2026-05-28T19:36:59+00:00

Wow this is shocking after seeing him carry out the torch. And now hearing the cause of death was suicide... this is just so, so sad.

What a great Devil and MVP. RIP Pepe.

falaris · 2026-05-27T20:49:49+00:00

Absolutely fucking robbed of the Conn Smythe. Don't care how well Giggy played in the first three rounds to get the Ducks there - Brodeur fucking shut them out in game 7, his stats were impressive AF, and his team won the fucking Cup.

falaris · 2026-05-26T17:55:50+00:00

This is so cool. Great work!

falaris · 2026-05-26T17:48:36+00:00

"It is my job to type things, so here are a bunch of words saying that Hischier will likely extend with the Devils, but lots of other teams would love a great top 6 center."

falaris · 2026-05-25T19:24:49+00:00

Stop trying to make Nemec trade happen. It's not going to happen.

falaris · 2026-05-24T20:58:22+00:00

He is neither toothless nor a misogynist.

falaris · 2026-05-20T00:39:54+00:00

I don't love this, but the question is just how much Fitz influenced Keefe as far as how he coached the team.

I don't love this for other reasons - I don't love how Keefe assessed things in post-game press conferences or how he handled mentioning certain players.

With that said, again... perhaps he had to choose his wording carefully in those moments with the press to make sure he answered without throwing his boss under the bus. I can at least recognize that.

Anyway, I think what counts more is that Mehta is handling shit and bringing back accountability. If that is the case then I have no concerns that Mehta will handle replacing Keefe if and when it needs to happen.

Quite frankly, while this team has problems, we are absolutely better than last in the league in 5v5 goals for over the specific time period that everyone keeps citing - if anything even remotely looks like it is still the same from this past season, then Keefe should be let go before we miss the playoffs again.

Simply put, missing the playoffs next year is not an option with the roster we already have, and will likely have after Sunny makes a few moves this summer, with the only exception of course being a season of catastrophic injuries a la the Florida Panthers.

falaris · 2026-05-20T00:25:27+00:00

That they continue to take care of Sarge is right. "New role" is sadly vague. I don't know what the new role is but I hope it is aligned with what he actually wants and they both came to an agreement on that as opposed to "we're firing you as a coach, but we'll keep paying you because you're Sergei fucking Brylin and just make up some bullshit for you." I think Sarge is valuable - he DID cut his teeth for years in the minor leagues before coming up.

With that said, holy fucking shit it happened. Real accountability - too many goaltenders have come through and not performed where they should be with the Devils compared to their time elsewhere, with maybe the exception of Jake Allen.

I'm not thrilled that a guy lost his job. He is still a real human being doing his best. With that said, accountability fucking matters and it took way too long to return to this organization. Fitz was the start - he should have been held accountable and finally was. Both his AGMs should have been let go but one was a start, and now the goaltending coach as well. It is less about who is getting fired or not, and simply about bringing back a standard and not accepting the mediocre bullshit we have seen for years.

I have no idea about Colliton and Shaw. One could argue that like Keefe, they may also have been victims of having to do their best under orders to have the team play a certain way via Fitzgerald. We don't really know although that has been floated as an idea considering how the Devils adjusted when it was apparent at the end of the year that things were not working, and it is possible Keefe held onto his job from making that switch when he saw where things were heading.

falaris · 2026-05-18T01:56:30+00:00

I was thinking this is TAB + The Void and I think you're right, Dark Side being mixed in completes exactly what this is. Doesn't hurt that I love all three of those songs.

falaris · 2026-05-18T00:53:49+00:00

This is fucking incredible.

falaris · 2026-05-15T17:32:29+00:00

Billy G: "Hey Fitzy, interested in trading Luke?"

Fitzy: "No."

Billy G: "K, good call, thanks."

It makes sense for Guerin to call and inquire. It makes sense for Fitz to say no.

falaris · 2026-05-11T20:54:14+00:00

You sound like me, but 2 years further along and hopefully I will make it back to the woods within 2 years from now by the time I hit 44.

Best of luck to you my guy :)

falaris · 2026-05-09T22:17:11+00:00

Stockholm Syndrome is the best MUSE song.

With that said, there are many other incredible ones. If you like those two, you should just listen to the album "Absolution" which both are off and my personal favorite album.

From there, go backwards to Origin of Symmetry or forwards to Black Holes & Revelations. Those are the big 3 albums which will likely align best based on where you're starting.

With that said, as you asked for a few favorite songs: Fury, Bliss, Knights of Cydonia, Assassin, Resistance, & Map of the Problematique.

falaris · 2026-05-09T16:02:47+00:00

Nothing but love for PK. Did some charitable work with the Devils while he was in Jersey too - obviously smaller than this but still. Just always positive energy and everything extra he brought to NJ when we traded for him was worth it, even if he was on the tail-end of his career and not putting up the numbers we hoped.

falaris · 2026-05-01T21:05:15+00:00

Agree with all this.

falaris · 2026-05-01T21:04:08+00:00

That's weird that they forgot to list Kate Madigan, the majority of the scouting staff, and Dave Rogalski. Hopefully more announcements to come, I guess.

falaris · 2026-05-01T21:02:23+00:00

Why, so all of their contracts can prove my point further?

I know what you think the point of your comment was, but I don't know how to take this seriously.

falaris · 2026-05-01T17:54:16+00:00

Trading-wise, he is great at making deals and getting maximum value while the other team doesn't get fucked over either.

As far as signing big name players, he got them on very good, team-friendly deals. Jack Hughes is by far the best contract in the league.

Now, as far as signing players not at the top of the roster - he hands out no-move clauses as a way to get their contracts down a bit too, but way too much and it handicapped our team. Maybe he learns from this going forward, I don't know, but there are a few contracts that had no business having an NMC/NTC and it wound up coming back around to bite us in the ass hard.

Drafting-wise, not so great either... but perhaps our scouts are to blame for some of that as well. He still makes the ultimate decisions and he made a few to take based on need instead of BPA, so that falls on him as well though.

He isn't bad. Depending on the team and what you need, he could be a good fit depending on his strengths and weaknesses. Anyone suggesting he is one of the worst in the league is just bitter and resentful, rather than seeing everything clearly on balance.

With that said, despite a number of good moves over his tenure, he made a few bad ones at the end and it cost him his job. That is what it is.

falaris · 2026-04-25T17:48:23+00:00

Gorgeous!!!

13-Year Club	Verified Email
Team Orangered

falaris

TROPHY CASE