2023-24 NHL Season Thread.

[Rennadrel]

Things keep going from awkward to worse in Tampa. Drouin got sent down to the minors and apparently requested a trade in November. With Stamkos holding out on signing a contract extension, this are not looking good for them.

[Greeney]

Go... Sweden?

Nice pass by Timshov.

[Cairhiin]

Sweden was surprisingly weak to be honest. Sure they took care of Laine-Aho-Pulju but that was really it. Refereeing was also really bad at times.

[Puupi]

Who cares if you have 4 D or 10?

Your defense are still probably the absolute worst out of the top teams. But then you have Laine and Puljujärvi who can win games alone.

Also my shots at Finland was ofc abit too hard, but you get my point. I can't see how you are going to be able to win the entire thing with the defense you have.

But now that I have said that you will ofc go on and win it all and I have to eat my words xD

Heja Sverige?

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Rofl, the USA coach Ron Wilson openly admitted he is going to lecture his team about the political and cultural differences between USA and Russia before the game. "We are in a cold war and our players need to know it" etc.

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Yay dream final Finland vs Russia, Winter War reloaded!

Auston Matthews was completely invisible in that semifinal...

[Cairhiin]

USA was pretty bad overall that game to be honest. Looked tired, and way too long shifts. At one point Matthews chain was well over 2 minutes on ice. Russia played actually a very good game.

[Puupi]

Oh dear at that USA coach Ron Wilson. Not only he said those idiotic things to Finnish TV about using political propaganda to prepare the players for the match against Russia. Then there is this:

http://uproxx.com/sports/ron-wilson-...uniors-russia/

Wilson: “I couldn’t tell you any players on the Russian team. It’s probably a good thing that I don’t know any of their players.”
Reporter: “Why is that a good thing?”
Wilson: “Because I don’t know them! Do you know any of the Russian players? Do you? No! I’m the same I’m in the same boat I’ve never seen them play before.”
Reporter: “Are you going to do some research?”
Wilson: “No, I’m not. We play with our team and that’s who I’m going to trust. I’m going to trust our team to go out there and get the job done.”



Is he like the Donald Trump of ice hockey?!

[Rennadrel]

Oh dear at that USA coach Ron Wilson. Not only he said those idiotic things to Finnish TV about using political propaganda to prepare the players for the match against Russia. Then there is this:

http://uproxx.com/sports/ron-wilson-...uniors-russia/

Wilson: “I couldn’t tell you any players on the Russian team. It’s probably a good thing that I don’t know any of their players.”
Reporter: “Why is that a good thing?”
Wilson: “Because I don’t know them! Do you know any of the Russian players? Do you? No! I’m the same I’m in the same boat I’ve never seen them play before.”
Reporter: “Are you going to do some research?”
Wilson: “No, I’m not. We play with our team and that’s who I’m going to trust. I’m going to trust our team to go out there and get the job done.”



Is he like the Donald Trump of ice hockey?!

Considering he was hired by the Leafs at one point and is one of the only coaches to have a sub .500 NHL record (or close to it anyway) in history, should be proof enough.

[Zeoni]

Signed as a free agent in one of the Calgary Mens Leagues here in Calgary, so stoked to be back on the ice. I'll give you all a shoutout when I make the chell next year!

[Puupi]

Signed as a free agent in one of the Calgary Mens Leagues here in Calgary, so stoked to be back on the ice. I'll give you all a shoutout when I make the chell next year!

Had to google what Calgary Mens League is as it sounds like some sort of "gentlemens" club. The web page free agent list looks like Canadian escort service.

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YAYAyayyayayayayAYAYAYAYAYYAYAY!!!!!! KAPANEN!

Kerdoz, you want some salt and pepper with those words?

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[Zeoni]

Seems like it was a crazy game, Finland beats Canada Swden then Russia. Pulju and Laine are gonna be so damn good.

[Puupi]

Seems like it was a crazy game, Finland beats Canada Swden then Russia. Pulju and Laine are gonna be so damn good.

I wonder what kind of penalty that Russian captain Kamenev will get. In case you don't know what happened: he went berserk when Finland scored 3-2 and got a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. When he went to the penalty box he hit his stick so hard it broke and he hit the hand of an official in the penalty box. The official got a bleeding wound in his hand. Then Kamenev got 10+20min penalty and was thrown out.

Btw Finland won all games (exluding the 6-0 win from Belarus) after being behind in goals. That was quite special.

[Cairhiin]

Finland only lost against Russia in the preliminary rounds this tournament. All other games were won, and many as Puupi said when being 1 or 2 goals down.

Then again this was a deserved win, and Pulju-Aho-Laine chain was again unstoppable. All respect to Russia though, what a goal 6 seconds before the end of the game. In the end this could have gone either way but Finland was the better team.

EDIT: And Matthews over Aho in the star team is a travesty really. Matthews was totally invisible when it really counted.

[Greeney]

I'm glad kapenen scored the game winner but really wish nylander would have been able to play the entire tourney. Should help to push pulajahahahajaja (sp?) over competition for second in draft.

[Puupi]

Laine will be drafted before Puljujärvi.

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Also, Carolina really got a bargain last year when they drafted Aho on 2nd round. Pretty sure he is going to play there next season.

[Rennadrel]

Laine will be drafted before Puljujärvi.

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Also, Carolina really got a bargain last year when they drafted Aho on 2nd round. Pretty sure he is going to play there next season.

Assuming Carolina stays where they are, which I doubt with that incompetent management and coaching. They have done nothing and Skinner has fallen off the map.

[Armourboy]

I wonder what kind of penalty that Russian captain Kamenev will get. In case you don't know what happened: he went berserk when Finland scored 3-2 and got a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. When he went to the penalty box he hit his stick so hard it broke and he hit the hand of an official in the penalty box. The official got a bleeding wound in his hand. Then Kamenev got 10+20min penalty and was thrown out.

Btw Finland won all games (exluding the 6-0 win from Belarus) after being behind in goals. That was quite special.

It won't really matter, its an international competition that is over. Side from that I'm glad that kid has some fire, we could use that right about now.

[Cairhiin]

Laine will be drafted before Puljujärvi.

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Also, Carolina really got a bargain last year when they drafted Aho on 2nd round. Pretty sure he is going to play there next season.

Draft will probably be 1) Matthews 2) Laine 3) Puljujärvi. Juolevi will also be drafted in top 10. Matthews is just more ready to play NHL than both Laine or Puljujärvi. Then again it also really depends what the first draft team needs.

Aho was fantastic this tournament, as he's been the whole season in Kärpät really. Gotta remember Aho is actually a winger, and not a center attacker.

[Deleted]

Kerdoz, you want some salt and pepper with those words?

For what? I am still 100% behind my words that you had the worst defense out of the top 4 teams. And the worst goalkeeper. But then again showed that you have an amazing offense. I mean what did you end up on in PP? 45%? That is insanly good.

But Sweden were apparently fine with making to the semi's since we stopped playing completly against you and in the bronze game. If you watched any of our games in the group stages and the game against Finland you have to admit they looked like 2 different teams.

[Rennadrel]

Draft will probably be 1) Matthews 2) Laine 3) Puljujärvi. Juolevi will also be drafted in top 10. Matthews is just more ready to play NHL than both Laine or Puljujärvi. Then again it also really depends what the first draft team needs.

Aho was fantastic this tournament, as he's been the whole season in Kärpät really. Gotta remember Aho is actually a winger, and not a center attacker.

If you can skate on the big ice, the NHL should be easy. What will be the difference is whether they have the drive and desire to play every night. Too many kids going into the league not giving a fuck about their fitness and their effort every night, especially high draft picks. And a lot of European players get heat for not caring about playing in the NHL.

[Cairhiin]

If you can skate on the big ice, the NHL should be easy. What will be the difference is whether they have the drive and desire to play every night. Too many kids going into the league not giving a fuck about their fitness and their effort every night, especially high draft picks. And a lot of European players get heat for not caring about playing in the NHL.

This is true but I still think NHL teams will rate Matthews more ready (plus the fact he is american, and has no need to adapt to new language, country and culture). Especially because he is already dominating in the Swiss league. Puljujärvi and Laine are playing okay seasons in Finnish league, and I'd rate the Finnish league a bit higher than the Swiss one but they are not really ready to dominate yet.

As a comparison:

Matthews 14+11 in 22 games for ZSC Lions.
Laine 8+8 in 24 games for Tappara.
Puljujärvi 5+7 in 31 games for Kärpät.