NHL Season 2025-26 - Page 45

jamincan · #**881** Posted **Jun 9, 2026, 11:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

Yawn….wake me up when the Leafs reach a conference or cup final…..

Then you can talk.

The Marlies are in the Calder Cup final...

Coldrsx · #**882** Posted **Jun 9, 2026, 1:28 PM**

Babcock to lead the Oil!!?!

MonctonRad · #**883** Posted **Jun 9, 2026, 2:03 PM**

Candidates to host the 2028 Memorial Cup will include Gatineau, Quebec City, Moncton and St. John's.

A strong field, but I kinda think Moncton has the edge. The Q told us to fuck off in 2025 because they wanted a Quebec based team to host the tournament that year (previous two hosts had been Saint John and Halifax).

The only strike against the Wildcats is that I don't know how strong they will be in 2028. We were a dominant team in 2025 and 2026, but the new NCAA rules mean that the old "junior hockey cycle" has been tossed out the window. We could build a competitive team completely from American imports.

Moncton is an attractive city for Americans wanting to play in the Q. The Wildcats organization is very well respected, and our coach (Gardiner MacDougall) is a legend. Moncton is also a majority English speaking city which gives us a leg up in recruiting compared to Baie Comeau, Val d'Or or Chicoutimi.

Calgarian · #**884** Posted **Jun 9, 2026, 3:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Babcock to lead the Oil!!?!

Not sure this is the right move for the Oilers, Katz seems to be meddling a bit. This makes me think of Murray Edwards bringing Sutter back to the Flames...

jamincan · #**885** Posted **Jun 9, 2026, 3:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Candidates to host the 2028 Memorial Cup will include Gatineau, Quebec City, Moncton and St. John's.

A strong field, but I kinda think Moncton has the edge. The Q told us to fuck off in 2025 because they wanted a Quebec based team to host the tournament that year (previous two hosts had been Saint John and Halifax).

The only strike against the Wildcats is that I don't know how strong they will be in 2028. We were a dominant team in 2025 and 2026, but the new NCAA rules mean that the old "junior hockey cycle" has been tossed out the window. We could build a competitive team completely from American imports.

Moncton is an attractive city for Americans wanting to play in the Q. The Wildcats organization is very well respected, and our coach (Gardiner MacDougall) is a legend. Moncton is also a majority English speaking city which gives us a leg up in recruiting compared to Baie Comeau, Val d'Or or Chicoutimi.

Man, I love discussions about how the junior hockey landscape is changing. The big upside to the NCAA changes is that it also opens up the CHL to American prospects who have their eyes on NCAA. Instead of looking to prep schools, NAHL or USHL (and the NTDP), the best American players are going to be eyeing the CHL as the best stepping stone into the NCAA. CHL is also going to be an attractive options for NCAA players on some elite teams (think BU, BC, Michigan, Minnesota) who have deep rosters and can't give all their players the ice time they need.

I've read elsewhere that the Q could potential benefit more than the other leagues as the pool of people who could be eyeing options to the north is higher in the NE. Hopefully programs are savvy and leap on those opportunities.

One of the Ranger's big players the past two years was a draft pick (Christian Humphreys) who went directly to Michigan from the NTDP and ultimately decided he wanted more play time and moved to the OHL after the rules changes. He ended up with a Memorial Cup, and is now headed to Denver with much better prospects there then he would have had if he continued at Michigan. I doubt he's the only player in that position.

The US junior landscape is far more uncertain. I think the NTDP is almost certainly dead unless it is changed into something like an U16 program. USHL and Canadian Jr A leagues are on very uncertain footing and will likely turn into feeder leagues for the CHL rather than NCAA. CHL in turn, will probably need to be considering expansion options as the pool of players has likely grown more than the losses to NCAA.

BlackDog204 · #**886** Posted **Jun 10, 2026, 6:32 AM**

What a series this Carolina-Vegas battle has turned out to be. For 2 small Sunbelt markets, TV ratings are threw the roof, best in over a decade.

The Canes jumped out to a 3-1 lead, while Vegas tied it. Staal scored a beauty in the 3rd, while Ehlers put the icing in the cake with the empty net.

I was looking at the population of the Research Triangle Area (Raleigh-Durham), and the population has doubled from when the Canes first moved into their arena in 1999, from 1.3 million, to nearly 2.5 million today. Karmanos was many things, but he knew what he was doing when he moved the team from Hartford.

What is even more impressive is the fact that the region has really embraced the Canes, selling out viewing parties at the arena. It is in sharp comparison from when they were averaging 12,000 fans/game when they first moved in the arena over 25 years ago.

Carolina is a hockey hotbed. Game 5 is Thursday in Raleigh.

Djeffery · #**887** Posted **Jun 10, 2026, 10:38 AM**

Weird scheduling. 2 off days in Vegas, now one off day when they travel, and then 2 off days between 5-6 and 6-7 with travel. Whoever wins Thursday has a chance to close it out Sunday, I don't care who wins, let's just be done with it already so the Leafs can hire Bruce Cassidy before they do something stupid like hiring someone who hasn't been a coach.

Coldrsx · #**888** Posted **Jun 10, 2026, 1:28 PM**

^^solid points and observations.

GO CANES GO

HomeInMyShoes · #**889** Posted **Jun 10, 2026, 4:18 PM**

Best Stanley Cup since 2016 when Pittsburgh beat San Jose in 7 games?

Calgarian · #**890** Posted **Jun 10, 2026, 7:42 PM**

C'mon Vegas, give us 2 first round picks for Andersson!!!

Harrison · #**891** Posted **Jun 10, 2026, 7:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Babcock to lead the Oil!!?!

God, I hope not. Does Katz hate the team as well as the fanbase?

HomeInMyShoes · #**892** Posted **Jun 10, 2026, 8:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harrison

God, I hope not. Does Katz hate the team as well as the fanbase?

At times I've wondered if Katz just hates everyone.

craner · #**893** Posted **Jun 10, 2026, 8:07 PM**

Feels like it would be not a good move by the Oil according to this article:

Cup or bust? With Babcock it's Cup or a total Edmonton Oilers implosion
http://https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/mike-babcock-stanley-cup-or-total-edmonton-oilers-implosion

Calgarian · #**894** Posted **Jun 10, 2026, 8:21 PM**

With the scandal this is becoming already, I feel like they will not pursue Babcock. Too bad, I'd love to watch the oilers self immolate haha

Nicko999 · #**895** Posted **Jun 10, 2026, 8:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Weird scheduling. 2 off days in Vegas, now one off day when they travel, and then 2 off days between 5-6 and 6-7 with travel. Whoever wins Thursday has a chance to close it out Sunday, I don't care who wins, let's just be done with it already so the Leafs can hire Bruce Cassidy before they do something stupid like hiring someone who hasn't been a coach.

The NHL will never put a game on the same day as the NBA finals.
Tonight is game 4 between the Knicks and Spurs with Game 5 being Saturday. That's why the league won't put play the game on Saturday.

Same thing happened with the 2 days off between Game 2-3.

BlackDog204 · #**896** Posted **Jun 11, 2026, 12:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Weird scheduling. 2 off days in Vegas, now one off day when they travel, and then 2 off days between 5-6 and 6-7 with travel. Whoever wins Thursday has a chance to close it out Sunday, I don't care who wins, let's just be done with it already so the Leafs can hire Bruce Cassidy before they do something stupid like hiring someone who hasn't been a coach.

The NHL and NBA are both doing this to avoid showing games on the same day, as to not affect ratings.

NHL Game 1: Tuesday June 2
NBA Game 1: Wednesday June 3
NHL Game 2: Thursday June 4
NBA Game 2: Friday June 5
NHL Game 3: Saturday June 6
NBA Game 3: Monday June 8
NHL Game 4: Tuesday June 9
NBA Gama 4: Wednesday June 10
NHL Game 5: Thursday June 11
NBA Game 5: Saturday June 13
NHL Game 6: Sunday June 14
NBA Game 6: Tuesday June 16*
NHL Game 7: Wednesday June 17*
NBA Game 7: Friday June 19*

There is quite a bit of crossover, between hockey and basketball fans. Even more significant, is the fact that many NBA and NHL teams play in the same building (NYC, Chicago, LA, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, Toronto, Dallas, Utah, Washington, Denver, etc.)

Djeffery · #**897** Posted **Jun 11, 2026, 1:06 AM**

Yes, the NBA has been out of mind since 2019 for me, forgot all about that. Makes sense of course.

jamincan · #**898** Posted **Jun 11, 2026, 12:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

With the scandal this is becoming already, I feel like they will not pursue Babcock. Too bad, I'd love to watch the oilers self immolate haha

Considering what we've learned about Franzen since then, I wouldn't wish Babcock on anyone. Keep in mind that we don't even know the full allegations against him that led to his resignation from CBJ.

Crosby and Draisaitl and Hyman might be okay with bringing him on, but none of them would be the target of his bullying.

Calgarian · #**899** Posted **Jun 11, 2026, 7:20 PM**

Nurse is asking for a trade out of Edmonton, are the wheels starting to come off? God I hope so haha

Coldrsx · #**900** Posted **Jun 11, 2026, 8:03 PM**

About time for both parties.

It's a step forward.