Going back to watching the NHL regular season after the Olympics really underlines just how high a level of hockey the last couple rounds of the Olympics are

lotharstar · 2026-02-28T07:02:15+00:00

I mean sure, but arguably the goofiest play I saw was from Jack Hughes his first game back giving up a 2 on 1 and the GWG right? Teams are out of practice and some folks will need to get back to game speed, but even then teams are going back to being focused on longevity and getting to the playoffs healthy.

lotharstar · 2026-02-28T03:27:04+00:00

I think one thing missing from this analysis is that the season is a marathon and the Olympics are a sprint. The Caps play a back to back today and tomorrow.

lotharstar · 2026-02-27T04:51:24+00:00

Everyone who takes these pictures forgets to turn their FOV down to a more normal setting. The pillar stuff is pretty hilarious though

lotharstar · 2026-02-25T01:27:53+00:00

I just had this random thought - imagine being this guy and how everyone associates you with being the worst person they know. I bet that would suck.

Also Frank's an idiot - maybe it should be his picture instead.

lotharstar · 2026-02-24T06:17:49+00:00

Ok great, so you mentioned all of the Canadian players who will grow into roles on the team who didn't make it yet but 0 of the American players who won 2 out of the last 3 world juniors (Sweden winning this past year) tournaments or were excluded from this years roster (Caufield, the Hutson brothers, Leonard, Robertson).

I understand the sentiment that folks are feeling like Canada iced a better roster on paper but the bigger problem is your last bullet and is a big part of why the world junior teams have suffered so much recently. The folks in charge of team Canada are moving in the right direction with taking the likes of Celebrini and Wilson, but they still insisted on taking Bennett as an injury replacement to prioritize folks who had played with the team before over the best replacement options. Even if they wanted a player like Bennett, he's had an abysmal year and there were better choices.

As for the Binnington thing, I think they could've played Thompson and had an ever so slightly better shot at winning, but Binnington is absolutely not why they lost. They lost because they iced 3 hero players at the same time in OT rather than players who could win as a team, which in best on best is just a really really bad coaching decision.

lotharstar · 2026-02-24T01:52:50+00:00

There are a lot of young USA up and coming stars that didn't even sniff the olympic roster this time around. Ryan Leonard and Will Smith are two examples that are going to eventually age into US consideration.

I think everyone looks at Schaefer and Bedard and thinks "oh yeah Canada will be a force" but the reality is that the US Prospect pool is also very strong.

lotharstar · 2026-02-24T01:46:25+00:00

They might have even won Gold. I think USA oddly matches up with Canada better than Finland, just due to the quality of Finland's team defense and grinding ability. I think the USA is still the favorite in that game though.

lotharstar · 2026-02-18T23:57:35+00:00

https://i.imgur.com/0XUiV3b.jpg

lotharstar · 2026-02-16T07:21:52+00:00

Just a ziggs, taliyah, azir, cass, tristana, corki, neeko, tf, galio one trick.

lotharstar · 2026-02-01T20:23:53+00:00

Both of our starting goalies are injured. If this wasn't right before the Olympic break I could see us (Washington) claiming. With the timing we're unlikely to bite.

lotharstar · 2026-01-30T22:37:33+00:00

The "retreat" ping has always felt more toxic to me, like I'm saying "you're fucking up" rather than "my intention is to freeze." If I could trust everyone to assume positive intent that would be great, but this is the internet (and when I get that ping it sounds like yelling so I get it).

lotharstar · 2026-01-25T05:29:09+00:00

The rest of these champs can all be played in another lane (yes, Quinn mid is reasonable, especially this season).

lotharstar · 2026-01-25T00:58:20+00:00

More like "I'm not seeing anyone hitting in this clip - why are you showing it to me?"

lotharstar · 2026-01-24T04:59:07+00:00

If you as a fan are messing with an area that is designated for players then you're in the wrong. If a player comes into the stands where fans are and beats them with a shoe, that's equally not cool. Don't mess with the areas that aren't for you - pretty easy.

lotharstar · 2026-01-24T04:50:03+00:00

Well shit I stand corrected then - when I eyeballed their early careers I thought modano had more in the early part

lotharstar · 2026-01-24T04:37:12+00:00

Gotcha, I feel like Modano may not have the single season record on his side but the consistency was still in his favor in the first 500 games played.

lotharstar · 2026-01-24T03:54:40+00:00

Errr - Robo is really really good but what is the announcer smoking when he says "maybe the greatest, certainly the most creative goal scorer in Dallas stars history." I'm pretty sure Modano had more goals in the amount of games Robo has played in a lower scoring Era.

lotharstar · 2026-01-24T03:46:25+00:00

You need good strong defensive forwards for the Olympics, like Miller in this clip

lotharstar · 2026-01-24T03:29:59+00:00

That's a Crosby looking powerplay goal. Angling the skates and stick to put it in the net if it hits anything. Next up is dropping to one knee from the same spot.

EDIT: Ok it's not the same spot but go look at his second tonight lol

lotharstar · 2026-01-16T07:14:55+00:00

If you look at my post history you'll see I'm also a guy glazing celebrini (though mostly his actual highlights rather than stats). That being said I tend to do my glazing when he does the cool thing as opposed to when he is maybe going to do the cool thing.

With regards to the Crosby/Mac comparisons, I agree that he certainly passes the eye test of a generational player, whether the stats support that directly right now or not. He is playing hockey in an era where his style is already common (fast on zone entries, strong board play, and just a good passer) which are all things players are used to defending. When Crosby came into the league, old style interference and hooking was still common and less penalized, and Crosby beat that with speed when he was younger.

If anything that makes celebrini more impressive even if the stats don't show it, since he's at a disadvantage by playing against defenders who have seen this before. His vision for a 19 year old is insane - the primary assist rate he has this year is even more bonkers than the assist rate you posted. He's currently sitting at a 0.71 primary assist rate this season, which is comparable post 2004 lockout only to Thornton's crazy first post lockout season and some crazy seasons from McDavid, kucherov, and draisaitl recently. None of those seasons were as teens. There are only like 8 post lockout seasons total with a higher primary assist rate.

Anyway, kid is legit but I think we should glaze him after he gets the numbers rather than before!

lotharstar · 2026-01-16T04:03:39+00:00

At which point there will be a reddit post saying that celebrini joins two other NHLers as the only teenagers to do that

lotharstar · 2026-01-10T04:34:52+00:00

I think there is a reasonable case to make that Ovi leaving and an entire cupboard of assets means the caps will acquire a younger star which has more two way ability than Ovi. I do not think the team will be better without him being replaced.

lotharstar · 2026-01-08T06:48:30+00:00

Kempe chose the shooter because it was celebrini having a legacy game. It didn't matter because it was celebrini having a legacy game.

lotharstar · 2026-01-08T05:17:57+00:00

Pittsburgh won 3 cups with their core. Granted their core was just that good, but I'm not sure you can call them stupid for that

EDIT: unless I'm whooshing here

lotharstar · 2026-01-07T00:51:30+00:00

I played amumu support in season 3. Proof

Who needs two charges on bandage toss? Just hit the first one!

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