Jack Edwards, Bruins play by play guy, is retiring. He's had some health problems recently. Watching Boston games may be more bearable next season unless Vosters gets the job.
- boilermaker100

They'd still be better. Too bad about Edwards' health but is there a bigger homer in the booth?

Jack Edwards, Bruins play by play guy, is retiring. He's had some health problems recently. Watching Boston games may be more bearable next season unless Vosters gets the job.
- boilermaker100

I was going to say listening to Edwards was more enjoyable then listening to Chris "He flicks his wrists" Voisters.

They'd still be better. Too bad about Edwards' health but is there a bigger homer in the booth?
- HawkintheD

Ever listen to the Nashville announcers?

Jack Edwards, Bruins play by play guy, is retiring. He's had some health problems recently. Watching Boston games may be more bearable next season unless Vosters gets the job.
- boilermaker100

The scary thing is that they can't seem to identify what the problem actually is. He's not had a stroke, or been diagnosed with any condition or illness.

It would have been hysterical. To be fair, VAN did have a very good team. I was actually surprised that Boston won the Cup Final. I thought they had better depth and Bieksa played over his head that entire playoffs.
- Chunk

Was one of the few times I was actually rooting for the Bruins. Though I have to admit I actually almost felt bad for whichever Sedin (Hank I think) that was getting a face wash from Marchand.

Oh well...VAN didn't win and for all of the Bruins greatness over the last 14 years it's amounted to one Cup to the Hawks 3. I like that outcome.

Ever listen to the Nashville announcers?
- LAHawk

They suck too but they are still trying to sell the NHL there vs an announce for an O6 team.

As much as I hate the Wings, I think Mickey and Ken Daniels are pretty fair and do a really good game call.

They suck too but they are still trying to sell the NHL there vs an announce for an O6 team.

As much as I hate the Wings, I think Mickey and Ken Daniels are pretty fair and do a really good game call.
- HawkintheD

I like Mickey and Ken also, if we are going original 6, the Hawks have by far the worst with Voisters. The rest (who have been there forever) (Rosen/Michelletti, Mudryk/Poulin/Johnson, and Cuthbert/Simpson) are top notch.

They suck too but they are still trying to sell the NHL there vs an announce for an O6 team.

As much as I hate the Wings, I think Mickey and Ken Daniels are pretty fair and do a really good game call.
- HawkintheD

I think Daniels has toned down his homerism over the years, he's gotten better, and they're a good tandem. Dallas has a good broadcast team, too.

I like Mickey and Ken also, if we are going original 6, the Hawks have by far the worst with Voisters. The rest (who have been there forever) (Rosen/Michelletti, Mudryk/Poulin/Johnson, and Cuthbert/Simpson) are top notch.
- LAHawk

Where would you rank Pat and Eddie (the last version) in that group?

I think Daniels has toned down his homerism over the years, he's gotten better, and they're a good tandem. Dallas has a good broadcast team, too.
- MartiniMan

Underrated broadcast team is Florida some bias but overall not bad broadcast imo.

Underrated broadcast team is Florida some bias but overall not bad broadcast imo.
- Scott1977

Yes, Florida is good too.

If Vosters wanted to improve he should listen to one of his broadcasts without video and realize how utterly inept he is at describing what the hell is going on. "BEDARD...Jones...Kurashev...BEDARD!"

I think Daniels has toned down his homerism over the years, he's gotten better, and they're a good tandem. Dallas has a good broadcast team, too.
- MartiniMan

Totally agree. When I first moved up here (2010) I didn't care for him or his call at all. Was a total homer but I think it's gotten more even keel over the years

Yes, Florida is good too.

If Vosters wanted to improve he should listen to one of his broadcasts without video and realize how utterly inept he is at describing what the hell is going on. "BEDARD...Jones...Kurashev...BEDARD!"
- MartiniMan

The sad thing is....is when Foley and Tallon's broadcast was on both radio and tv, it was amazing!

When they split the cast, Foley on tv became increasingly bad. It was him and Enzo doing Schtick. Surprise...neither is really all that funny.

I said those three Leafs can put up points playing perimeter games, can or will they play the hard nosed hockey It takes to win? All three avoid the corners and front of the net, especially in the playoffs. This season Matthews has shown more of a willingness to go to the net but the other two haven’t. Toews battled Chara, Bergeron and Lucic for every inch of ice in the ‘13 playoffs. Hoss battled anyone. Kane wasn’t afraid of any area on the ice but he didn’t get into physical confrontations. Against Florida last season Matthews had one shot from the slot the entire series. Toews, Kane and Hossa were playoff performers, so far Toronto’s three haven’t demonstrated that.
- paulr

And that team went to the cup finals (Florida) for a reason. Barkov shut Matthews down. He is very good defensively. Dave Bolland did similar to Joe Thornton. Doesn't mean Thornton is a garbage player.

If they put up points it doesn't matter where they come from.

They need good goaltending but without any push from the blue line it will be very difficult for them to have success.

It is much more a roster construction problem then it is a star problem.

Similar has been the case with the Oilers. I think with the year Bouchard is having with Ekholm + having Nurse on that other pairing - as long as they get competent goaltending, the Oilers are going to do some damage.

As long as Makar is healthy - the Avalanche are going to be formidable. Sure MacKinnon and Miko are tremendous players but their real strength is the push they get from the blue line to kill plays before they start and press the puck forward.

They just announced on the TNT pre-game show that the Winter Classic game at Wrigley Field between the Hawks and Blues will be New Year's Eve instead of New Year's Day. 4pm puck drop.

Your Red Wings played 82 games this year, and won 27 in regulation. Arizona (with one game left) is currently ahead of four teams, and they also have won 27 games in regulation. Only six teams have won fewer than 27 games in regulation.

Stevie signed a bunch of serviceable old guys who helped keep them in games. But they don't really look like a coming juggernaut to me. And again, they are five years into their rebuild - at least three years ahead of the Hawks.

I saw a post above - from fatty, I think - setting 85 points for a Hawks target next year. That'll be a very tall order, imo.
- mohel

If Larkin plays 80 games they are probably a playoff team.

Getting their younger core into games that mattered at the end of the season was important but they had below average goaltending which killed their margin of error for not being a dominating possession team.

They have a lot of guys who project as NHL talent but Raymond has been the only top 5 pick and it kinda shows.

Lotta chatter about Demidov. My problem with him is we haven't seen him internationally, so we're stuck with video breakdowns. But that's my only problem.

Wiz ain't diggin his skating and in this Elite Prospects video look, and I like this kid evaluator, he mentions his outside edges too but isn't worried about them. Honestly until Wiz and a guy in this vid mentions his outside edges I had never heard the term... As for me, if this kid was playing Major Junior he'd be in the conversation for 1st overall all the way to draft day...... As one evaluator said he reminds me of Jack Hughes in the Ozone. Freakish hands and vision.. To me elite IQ in every single phase of most everything that occurs on a sheet of ice.

Watch the kid's cruise/think/attack mentality and the endless set of tools he displays, many times in 1 shift. And take a look at his skating and judge for yourself. While I'd agree he has hunched over choppy stride along with fantastic ability to transition from backward to forward skating his skating doesn't keep him from getting anywhere on time and his Ozone look looks like Jack Hughes to me without the elite skating. Same hands/vison/creativity...... Both vids against pros.

https://www.youtube.com/w...ab_channel=EliteProspects

My favorite vids, a shift by shift as it shows a more realistic look than highlights. Less flattering but shows his tool kit. #11 in white. https://www.youtube.com/w...channel=ThePuckEnthusiast

The reason for my clear biased against Kurashev for the years prior to Bedard year ones is I was sure his on ice possession were ended far too many time when he was being pressured. In junior it came off more obvious and as a Blackhawk in his infancy, I figured he would have to take some steps to play middle six in the big leagues.
I think "Phil" has shown me he is more fearless than I thought, but the times he looses pucks, loses possession when pressured are still an issue. Oh, now with Bedrad he got the leash taken off so he is able to motor around, but the fact remains there are so many times he has been handed the puck on silver platters to fumble and end possession.
It is hopeful he keeps the confidence and continues to grow and fix the possession issues.
It is frustrating when you have this 18 year old who is so gifted he can make all these high end puck decisions and gift warp Kurachev, and then unless it Phil taken the one timer, turnovers are more likely than it developing a long attack look.

Honestly, I think there are lots of prospects who can take the one timer.

I want Bedard less frustrated by a linemate's lack of dominance.

I am not going to stretch and say Oliie Miller, or little Frankie are answers, but we are going to see if nazar is that multi-weaponed possible linemate that excels over Kurachev's abilities as a weapon.
Time is what we need.
- wiz1901

Kurashevs play away from the puck and defensive ability is not very good either.

Definitely a plus that it seems like he's the only one not a moron enough to shoot the puck when half the team is defending Bedard but otherwise I don't see a lot there.

It's not unpopular. It's flat out wrong Fatty.

Raddysh barely looked like he belonged in the NHL this year and even last year, it wasn't like he was driving play in the Ozone. He has a decent shot and a lot of his goals were more of the opportunistic variety.

Think Kurashev is more skilled. Yes, playing with Bedard helps but Kurashev is also helping drive play on that line.

That said, and I don't care what the one guy who keeps female doging about it says...he's a middle 6 player on a decent team and he'd be a good third liner on a contender.
- HawkintheD

Could 100% be wrong but I dunno. Thats one of those things I'm gonna go a head and stick with as my guys to regress to the mean next year.

Also gonna say Eiserman 40+ goals in the NCAA barring injury.

As LAHawk suggests, some current players will take a step back. Maybe Kurashev, Mrazek. I personally don't expect a ton from Hall; the injuries are adding up.

To get that much improvement, they'll need a lot more talent. The few kids already up should get better - some more than others. But, I don't see them signing high end UFA's. I can see some of the type that Detroit nabbed last summer; I just have a hard time envisioning that much improvement in the standings.

I think they're doing this the right way; I just don't think enough of the kids will be ready to make that large an impact next year (almost all the new core will still be in the minors, juniors, or school).

Just my take.
- mohel

Don't want all kids just want kids playing in games where they think if they win enough maybe they'll make the playoffs. Like not being mathematically eliminated until game 75 or something.

They can give some older veterans who are still productive stupid money like they have for Foligno and at least be competitive for this group. In two years it should be about time for the next set of young fellers to step up and they'll be stepping into a team that is hopefully winning more than losing and there won't be tolerance for being mediocre or trash because of a "rebuild" or whatever.

Continuing to be bad only encourages complacency and malaise. Do not want that.

I wouldn't be shocked if KK gets the Vlasic/Kaiser treatment next year, with Kaiser being paired with Murphy, one new veteran D as the 6th/7th defensemen, and Phillips/Crevier/del Maestro and possibly Allen rotating in and out and up and down to the Rock.
- LAHawk

I'm gonna say 8 goals and 30 points for Korch next year.

Tuned into the Saginaw @ Sault St Marie Rd 2 tilt to get another look at Parekh v Hayes. ..... Parekh took a hit into the boards last game, laid on the ice, went to the room, came back and finished the game. Tonight, he's scratched!!!

Don't want all kids just want kids playing in games where they think if they win enough maybe they'll make the playoffs. Like not being mathematically eliminated until game 75 or something.

They can give some older veterans who are still productive stupid money like they have for Foligno and at least be competitive for this group. In two years it should be about time for the next set of young fellers to step up and they'll be stepping into a team that is hopefully winning more than losing and there won't be tolerance for being mediocre or trash because of a "rebuild" or whatever.

Continuing to be bad only encourages complacency and malaise. Do not want that.
- fattybeef

I'm all for that happening next year, but I think next year's growth won't be that strong.

Let's look at Detroit's progress the past five years:

2020...39 points in 71 games. Worst
2021...48 in 56 games. 5th worst
2022...74 in 82 games. 8th worst
2023...80 in 82 games. 8th worst again.
2024...91 in 82 games. 16th worst.

Things stagnated for the middle three years until some kids reached the bigs, and got comfortable there. Then an 11 point jump after adding Kane, Cat and several retreads. It's not the quickest process, imo.

I agree completely that Detroit's rebuild is a bit hampered by their best players not approaching elite status.

I'm all for that happening next year, but I think next year's growth won't be that strong.

Let's look at Detroit's progress the past five years:

2020...39 points in 71 games. Worst
2021...48 in 56 games. 5th worst
2022...74 in 82 games. 8th worst
2023...80 in 82 games. 8th worst again.
2024...91 in 82 games. 16th worst.

Things stagnated for the middle three years until some kids reached the bigs, and got comfortable there. Then an 11 point jump after adding Kane, Cat and several retreads. It's not the quickest process, imo.

I agree completely that Detroit's rebuild is a bit hampered by their best players not approaching elite status.
- mohel

Precisely why they shouldn’t wait until all their rookies come to fruition to add around them. I’m not going to repeat all of what Fatty just posted, but it’s shortsighted to hope all of the rookies come in and create your contending team out of the blue.

Put the kids in a good position to grow.

Damn. Matt Tomkins got the start for TB tonight. Hawks 7th rounder from 2012. Winning thus far against the Leafs (with 6 goals of support).