#nhl playoffs 2019

[jerepars]

Oof, how'd I go from guessing all 8 matchups in the first round to 0 for 2 in the third round? 🤦‍♀️

With these teams in thr SCF, it caps off another year of unsatisfying playoffs (imo).

Want: Panthers

Expectation: Panthers

[hugheses]

Jack Hughes Represents Devils at NHL Player Media Tour

Kristy Flannery

Sheldon Keefe & Comparisons to Maple Leafs

"I haven't even been in New Jersey yet, so I haven't even shook his hand. I haven't met him yet," Hughes told reporters at the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. "I am definitely really excited to break it down with him and get talking to him."

-

"I don't think you can compare the two," Hughes said to reporters. "They have a team that has been to the playoffs eight years in a row. They have a 70-goal scorer. I think we both have really good forwards, but our forwards might be a little different than theirs."

"He's Still My Brother, so I Am Still Looking Out for Him a Bit"

Reporters in Vegas asked Jack if he treats Luke like any other teammate or if that brotherly love is still seeping through during games.

"He is still my brother, so I am still looking out for him a bit," Hughes said in Vegas, "but I have to let him do his thing. I was definitely more comfortable and used to looking at him in the locker room last year. I think this year will be even better, and he will take another step as well."

Last Words on 2023-24 Season

In true Hughes fashion, the 2019 first-overall pick responded with brutal honesty when asked how he would summarize last season.

"Our team was not as good as it should have been," Hughes told reporters. "Looking back at it, we probably thought we were better than we were. Obviously, we had injuries and things going on. Our team game, defensive game, we were pretty loose."

[why4anne]

Racing Hearts

Part: 1

Pairing: Jack Hughes x Reader

Word-count: 2k

Summary: F1 prodigy Y/N L/N finds herself with an unexpected crush on NHL sensation Jack Hughes.

Face claim: Madison Beer + others

Masterlist

“Do I have to do this interview?” I asked my media manager. I had just arrived at my hotel in Canada and apparently I had been scheduled for an Interview in an hour. “Yes, Y/N, you have to do this interview. The other guest has already flown out early to do this interview before the race-weekend starts and it will look really bad if you don’t show up” Sarah has been my media manager since I moved to F1 at the age of 19, which was 3 years ago and she was more than used to my antics by now.

“What is it even about?” I asked as I switched my attention from my phone to fully look at her.

“It’s something about 2 stars at the age of 22 or something. The other guest is Jack Hughes, a hockey player in the NHL” Sarah looked at her notes as she said this.

“Hockey player?” I asked, exasperated.”Sarah, I know nothing about hockey! What are we even going to talk about?” 

“Don’t worry, the interviewer will make sure everything goes smoothly. You just have to sit there, smile and answer the questions.” It was obvious that she was fed up with my whining at this point so I decided to shut my mouth.

An hour and a half later I found myself in a white room with three mics standing on a table. I greeted a guy named Evan who was the host of the podcast that the interview was for and sat down in my seat, waiting for this other guy to show up. 

Five minutes later I was making small talk with the host as the door opened and a man with light brown hair walked in and fuck was he hot. I found myself staring at him as he shook hands with Evan. I could clearly see his biceps under his white t-shirt and I would be lying if I said that they were small. But, before I could look for longer I found him in front of me with his hand outstretched. I quickly pulled myself out of my daydream and stood up to greet him.

“What’s up, I’m Jack” He introduced himself, his mannerisms and way of talking all screamed cool boy, which was very different from the pampered rich boys who were the majority of the people in racing.

“I’m Y/N, nice to meet you” I answered with a polite smile and shook his hand, locking eyes with him as I did so. I noticed how blue they were.

“Alright, if you both feel up for it I think we should get going” Evan interrupted our moment. 

“Sounds good” Jack agreed and we both took our seats.

“Welcome back to the Sport podcast, today we are joined by not one, but two special guests. We have hockey superstar Jack Hughes, a 22 year old center of the New Jersey Devils. He was drafted first overall in 2019 and has just come off a career high season with 99 points and a playoff run.” Evan introduced Jack to the podcast and I couldn’t help but be impressed with his stats. My knowledge in hockey may be limited but the way that Evan was describing him made him sound like a really good player

“Hey” Jack said into the mic. I couldn’t help but smile at his awkwardness .

“And we also have F1 protege Y/N L/N. She is currently the youngest driver on the grid but don’t be fooled, she’d been tearing up the grid for 3 years now and is currently looking like she might become the youngest World Champion in Formula 1 history, bringing the championship back to Ferrari for the first time since 2007.” Evan moved on to me.

“Ah, Evan, don’t jinx it” I smiled, all of my media training on the forefront of my mind and after years of this I would say that I’m quite skilled at the media game. 

“Just keeping it real,” Evan chuckled. “Now, how much do you guys know about each other?” 

Both me and Jack looked at each other, seeing who was going to answer first.

“Well, to be completely honest, I don’t know a lot about hockey so I’m kind of going into this interview completely blind, sorry” I admitted, feeling kind of bad for my lack of knowledge.

“No worries, I bet that you’re busy, " Jack reassured me. “I would say I’m a casual F1 fan, like I know the top teams and drivers”

"That's fair," I replied with a friendly smile. "I'm sure we can still have an interesting conversation, even if we're not experts in each other's fields."

Evan nodded in agreement and continued, "Absolutely, it's all about getting to know each other better and sharing some insights from your respective worlds. So, Jack, tell us, what's it like being a professional hockey player in the NHL?"

Jack leaned forward, his easygoing smile making him even more charming. "Being in the NHL has been a dream come true for me. It's intense, the competition is fierce, and the fans are incredibly passionate. There's nothing quite like stepping onto the ice in front of a packed arena. You feel the energy and the pressure, but that's what makes it all so exciting."

I listened to Jack's response with genuine interest, even though I had limited knowledge about hockey. He spoke with such passion and enthusiasm that it was easy to understand why he had such a successful career in the sport.

Evan then turned to me and asked, "Y/N, can you share with us what it's like being an F1 driver, especially at such a young age?"

I took a moment to gather my thoughts before responding, "Well, Formula 1 is an incredibly challenging and fast-paced sport with high pressure on the drivers and teams. As a driver, you have to be physically and mentally prepared for each race and you have to put up the results if you want to stay. I mean, there are only 20 seats in the entire world and if you’re not performing there is always another driver who will. I think going into it so young was both a blessing and a curse. It definitely put more attention on me as a driver, but at the same time I kind of got a head start.”

Jack nodded in understanding as I spoke. "Yeah, I can imagine the pressure, especially at such a young age. I mean, you're literally racing against some of the best drivers in the world. It must be quite the experience."

I appreciated his understanding, and I was starting to feel more at ease with the conversation. "Absolutely, and it's a constant learning process. But it's also incredibly rewarding when you have those moments of success and achieve your goals."

Evan jumped in, keeping the conversation flowing smoothly. "It's clear that both of you have a deep passion for your respective sports. What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced in your careers so far?"

Jack took a moment to reflect before answering, "One of the biggest challenges in my career has been dealing with injuries. Hockey can be a rough sport, and I've had my fair share of injuries that required a lot of rehab and patience. But it's part of the game, and it's made me stronger both physically and mentally."

I nodded in agreement, "In F1, the physical and mental demands are also immense. The travel schedule, the constant competition, and the pressure to perform can take a toll. Plus, adapting to different tracks and conditions is a unique challenge in itself. And, of course, there's the challenge of dealing with the media and public expectations."

Evan acknowledged our responses, "It's clear that both of your careers come with their own set of challenges, and yet you've managed to rise to the top of your respective sports. What advice would you give to young athletes aspiring to reach the level of success that you've achieved?"

Jack leaned in and said, "I'd say that dedication and hard work are essential. You have to be willing to put in the hours, stay committed to your training, and never give up, no matter how tough it gets. Surround yourself with a supportive team and use setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow."

I added, "I completely agree with Jack. In addition, I'd say it's important to keep a clear vision of your goals and stay focused. Stay true to your passion and love for the sport because that's what will drive you to overcome the challenges. And never forget that setbacks are part of the journey; they make the successes even more rewarding."

Jack nodded in agreement with my response. "That's some great advice, Y/N. Having a clear vision and staying passionate about what you do is crucial in any career, especially in sports."

Evan smiled and continued, "Thank you both for sharing your insights and experiences. It's clear that you're both dedicated and passionate individuals in your respective fields, and your advice is valuable for anyone striving for success. Now, before we wrap up, let's have a little fun. How about a rapid-fire round of questions for each of you?"

Jack and I exchanged amused glances, ready for the challenge. Evan fired off a series of questions, alternating between us.

"Favorite pre-game ritual?"

Jack answered first, "Listening to music that gets me pumped up."

I followed, "Visualizing the entire race, corner by corner, in my mind."

"Favorite post-game or post-race meal?"

Jack grinned, "Pizza, no doubt."

I chuckled, "A plate of pasta."

"Most memorable career moment so far?"

Jack's eyes lit up, "Scoring my first NHL goal. It was a dream come true."

I shared, "Winning my first F1 race. It was an unforgettable feeling."

As the rapid-fire questions continued, Jack and I found ourselves sharing more personal insights and even some lighthearted stories. We learned about our favorite travel destinations, hobbies outside of our respective sports, and our sources of inspiration.

The interview had transitioned from a professional exchange to a more relaxed and friendly conversation. Jack's charismatic and easygoing personality made it easy to connect, and I found myself genuinely enjoying our interaction. We even exchanged a few friendly jokes along the way, creating a comfortable atmosphere in the studio.

Evan, our host, couldn't help but smile as he witnessed the chemistry between us. "It's clear that you two are getting along great."

Jack nodded with a playful grin, "Yeah! Maybe we'll see Y/N at a hockey game one day."

I laughed, "Well, my media manager told me you’re attending the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. Maybe I will see you in the Ferrari garage."

Jack chuckled, "I'll be sure to swing by the Ferrari garage and show some support. Maybe you can give me a crash course in F1"

I grinned at the idea. "Deal! And I'll make sure to catch a New Jersey Devils game when the opportunity arises. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two about hockey."

The interview wrapped up and Jack and I exchanged one last friendly smile.

"It was a pleasure, Jack. I’ll see you at the Grand Prix this weekend, I’ll be the one in red" I joked as we said goodbye.

Jack chuckled, "I'm looking forward to it. And if you ever want to catch a hockey game, just give me a call."

I chuckled, "I might just take you up on that offer. Best of luck with your season, Jack."

Jack flashed a warm smile as he nodded. "You too, Y/N. Good luck this weekend."

We both exchanged contact information and made plans to meet up during the Grand Prix this weekend. It was unexpected, but I had enjoyed our conversation, and I was genuinely looking forward to seeing Jack again. 

yourusername

liked by pierregasly, jackhughes and 1 242 635 others

yourusername: I had a blast on @/Sports_People today. Go check out their latest episode "Two stars under 22", where @/jackhughes and I delve into our experiences in sports.

view comments:

Sports_People: Such a great episode, thanks for joining us!

liked by yourusername

jackhughes: I had a great time! See you this weekend

- yourusername: I'll be the one in red!😜

holly_hockey: My two faves together? Yes please!

ferrarimorris: I'll be at the race on Sunday, hope you win! Forza Ferrari!

jackhugheswifeyyy: Of course she's pretty aswell, my chances are getting slimmer by the minute🤧

- caufieldsonfire: she's a brunette, don't worry

curiousgeorge: Move to McLaren please! We need youuuu!!🙏💀

[acheronist]

can you make sparknotes for the Red Wings players they are all the same person to me (sorry)

dw my darling i got you 🫡 here's the regular 23 man roster we've been skating this szn

forwards (+ this is going to be the number they wear on their jerseys, not their age)

jt compher (37) - won a cup whilst he was on the colorado avalanche (red wings long time beloathed nemesis rivals team), attended umich hockey with larkin and copp. deadpan dry asf tenderhearted weirdo. very good at hockey i like him

andrew copp (18) - 🎶get up and g-get down, 911 is a joke in your town🎶, local michigander boy playing for his hometown team, attended umich with compher and larkin, kind of fuck ugly but he's gritty and has a lot of love in his heart so we like him

alex debrincat (93) - another local michigander boy playing for his hometown team, really good at hockey, we rescued him from the ottawa senators (red wings short term/very recent beloathed nemesis rival team) and he likes it here more, haha lol lmao even. good at hockey!! kind of a sniper. also kind of fighty which is hilarious because he's about 9 inches shorter than the average nhl player. new dad and really loves it, brings his family to games all of the time. and he was our all star games representative this year !

robby fabbri (14) - how are you going to be a short italian-canadian kind of bisexual professional hockey player who mixes metals and has a standing eyebrow appointment. please pick a struggle. won the stanley cup w/ st louis and then got abandoned for being 'injury prone' and was sent to detroit in a 1 for 1 trade (the most humiliating of all nhl player trades imo). he and larkin and rasmussen are the only men left standing from the red wing's historic worst-ever season in 2019 where every game they looked like they were going to kill themselves.

christian fischer (36) - new bestie alert! huge locker room guy. okay at hockey (more of a playmaker than a goalscorer) but he's so fucking sillygoofy and funny i love to see this guy on my team. spent most of his career in arizona iirc, and basically he and gostisbehere came from the coyotes directly to the red wings as a buy one get one free deal.

patrick kane (88) - narcissict. arrogant. flop. old man who can't score anymore. history of assault and violent misdemeanors he never was punished for because he was the nhl's boytoy a decade ago. i hope he contracts sepsis from an unforeseen complication with his hip surgery and takes a long walk off of the rencen's roof and lands in the detroit river where he is frozen and then chopped up by an industrial ship's propeller. fuck this guy.

klim kostin (24) - beloved enforcer. used to skate for the edmonton oilers. his entire game is based around slotting in on the third/fourth line when necessary and whenever someone gets hurt he comes out swinging to establish the fact that the red wings are not to be fucked with. he doesn't start fights but he does finish them. notoriously big hearted and silly with his teammates. coincidentally wearing the same number as the red wings most famous enforcer from the 1980s, bob probert. my guard dog boy i love u

dylan larkin (71) - michigan native, umich grad, was the previous captain's rookie, the beating heart and soul of the team, carrying the weight of a century year old hockey team's legacy and all the ghosts that come along with that, never been to playoffs and hasn't won the cup yet. literally the miserable boyking of metro detroit. he's had to suffer a lot for absolutely no reason, but still manages to come and be our best and most important player every single night.

david perron (57) - he's old by nhl standards i.e. he's in his late thirties and has been playing for like a decade, so he knows his way around an nhl rink. french canadian enough that he's got an accent. big heart and soul guy, which i really wasn't expecting tbh! he's always standing up for teammates and has gotten in a few noteworthy fights (dylan got hurt so badly this szn that dp went rage-blind and ended up getting suspended for six games after fighting the opponents who hurt dylan)

michael rasmussen (27) - big fuck off scary intimidating canadian hockey lad. kind of awkward and bizarre. also kind of a doll if i can b honest. he's very shy and quiet in interviews but always has an insane serial killer look in his eyes whenever he's on the ice. was drafted high and then i suspect he had a lot of mental struggles about not being the player he was advertised/told to be? but the last few years he's stepped away from that role he thought he should be and started being himself and playing in a way that was obviously more comfortable, and he's taken huge huge productive strides and improved a lot. moose ily

lucas raymond (23) - our youngest babiest player!! he was our highest draft pick in a looooooooong time, and immediately went from prospect training camp -> regular nhl player, which is fucking crazy. he's exceptionally good at hockey, and has a reputation for coming in clutch with goals we need to win games. besties with moritz seider + jake walman + joe veleno.

daniel sprong (17) - i had no idea what to think of this guy at first but now i can't believe he's only been here for one season. it feels like he's been a wing for ages. he's one of our sniper goalscorers, except he shoots the puck with a lil too much sauce + with a feral desperation of a man afraid he was never going to score a goal again, every single time, which i love. also he stalks twitter and runs a team GC to forward memes that the fandom makes to the guys

joe veleno (90) - if bambi was a closeted italian canadian hockey player. wears an evil eye bracelet and also a crucifix? very meek and easy to bully, tbh, not our most productive goalscorer but also somehow he's very crucial to the emotional well being of the younger half of the roster? hes sillygoofy and a sweetheart and does his best every night which is all we can ask tbh. besties with lucas raymond + moritz seider + jake walman.

defensemen

ben chiarot (8) - resident manwhore dilf fashionista who knows he's sexy and loves to be a bitch on the ice. loves to be annoying and distracting @ the opponents during plays so the red wings can have space to move.

shayne gostisbehere (41) - escaped florida man turned into an nhler, sleeper agent defensive weapon that people tend to forget about. always busting his ass up and down the blue line. always looks sopping wet and really sad though? loves to shoot the puck and sometimes it even makes it to the net!

justin holl (3) - i'm hesistant to describe him as "good at hockey" but the boys seem to love him + he's silly enough to engage in the locker room antics + i've noticed him dealing out more hits lately which is always good.

olli maatta (2) - very very very steady in the most boring way possible. does his job and not an ounce more than necessary LOL but it's fine because he's good at what he does? a classic defensive defenseman.

jeff petry (46) - not… good? at hockey? but he is also a michigan native playing for the hometown team, and he's a veteran nhler, and he's a gritty sort of guy, so i like having him. he grew up in detroit proper, as well, because his dad played on the detroit tigers baseball team, so there's a lot of michigan sports lore going on in that household. also his kids are silly + love to come to games

moritz seider (53) - my sweet perfect darling defenseman prodigy. won the calder trophy because he was the most special and talented rookie in his first year in the nhl. breaking team records for defensemen at an alarming rate. was dylan's rookie, and is also frequently mentored by red wings defense legends. he's not a rookie anymore but you can still see how much responsibility he's shouldering and how much he takes after dylan's role modeled behavior/team legacy standards. good at handling tough responsibility vs staying silly anyways. hes my shining star and i luv him. generally he's paired up with jake walman on defense and they're a little bit married because of it. besties with lucas raymond + jake walman + joe veleno.

jake walman (96) - another guy who st louis abandoned and then ended up on the red wings and said "i want to spend my entire life and career in this city" . extremely silly. known for hitting the griddy whenever he scores important goals. big on video games + making tiktoks. tremendous locker room vibes guy, and very emotional and serious about proving his place on detroit's blue line. generally he's paired up with moritz seider on defense and they're a little bit married because of it. besties with moritz seider + lucas raymond + joe veleno.

goalies

ville husso (35) - looks like a haunted little porcelain doll. always sopping wet for some reason. very softspoken and european. mid-good level goalie, kind of needs to prove himself a bit now that alex lyon's gone completely off the shits and taken over starter goalie privileges, but i feel like there's no sense of animosity or competition between them? ville just strikes me as genuinely someone who's delighted and proud of his tandem partners for their successes, even if it comes at his expense / losing some of his chances to get ahead

james reimer (47) - idc about this man lol. he's either a very good goalie or an atrociously horrible goalie and you dont know what it'll be until the games already happening. passively homophobic christian behavior as well which i do not like to see. but he's also a veteran nhl player so in the beginning of the szn he was getting more opportunity than alex or ville.

alex lyon (34) - spent his entire career in the minor league/being traded between franchises where there wasn't really a space or need for him. got on the radar after keeping the florida panthers in their playoff race before losing, and then FL traded him to us. we've had goaltending agonies for years and then he's rolled up to detroit with something to fucking PROVE because he thought his hockey career was about to be over so he's skating every night like its do or die. after reimer and husso both were injured tho he finally got his chance to shine and oh baby he's been shining. unbelievably good at goaltending. big heart, very genuine, very funny, basically a male model as well, been to therapy and actually got something out of it, i would go to war for this man if he needed me to

[devilsupdates]

Update on trade

Again this is coming from ESPN and the Devils app

We got a goalie!!!!

The New Jersey Devils announced today that the team has acquired goaltender Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for New Jersey’s conditional third-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft. Montreal will retain 50% of Allen’s salary both this year and in 2024-25, the last year of his contract. The announcement was made by President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.

The conditions on the pick are as follows: if Allen plays in 40 regular-season games in the 2024-25 season and his club qualifies for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 2025 third-round pick becomes New Jersey’s 2025 second-round selection.

Allen, 33, joins New Jersey after spending the last four seasons with Montreal. The 6’2”, 195lbs. goaltender recorded a 41-68-15 career record with the Canadiens, while also earning three shutouts and a 3.30 goals-against average (GAA). Allen posted 6-12-3 record in 21 games this season for Montreal and owns a 6-1-0 career record playing at Prudential Center.

Before Allen was traded to Montreal on Sept. 2, 2020, he played in parts of eight seasons with the St. Louis Blues from 2011-12 to 2019-20. Allen earned 148 career wins with St. Louis, which ranks second all-time for Blues franchise history. The Fredericton, New Brunswick native logged his first career regular season start on Feb. 13, 2013, in a 4-3 win at Detroit. He recorded a career-high 33 wins in 2016-17 with St. Louis and earned a career-high six shutouts in 2015-16.

The veteran netminder also carries Stanley Cup Playoff experience, after playing in six postseasons with St. Louis, and was a member of their 2019 Stanley Cup championship team. Allen has played in 29 career postseason contests and owns an 11-12 overall record with a 2.06 GAA.

Born on Aug.7, 1990, St. Louis selected Allen in the second round, 34th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft. He also represented Canada on the international stage at the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) U18 World Junior Championship (WJC) in 2007-08 and 2009-10. Allen helped Canada win a Gold Medal in 2008 and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He also earned a Silver Medal with Canada at the 2010 WJC.

[hockeyreport]

Sheldon Keefe Named Devils Head Coach

The New Jersey Devils announced today that the team has hired Sheldon Keefe as its 22nd head coach in team history. The announcement was made by President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.  Keefe, 43, joins New Jersey after spending the last five seasons as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs since 2019-20, when he took over the head coaching job in Toronto on Nov. 20, 2019. He recorded a 212-97-40 career record (.665 pts%) during his tenure with the Maple Leafs and his regular season win total ranks fifth all-time in Toronto’s franchise history. His points percentage places him first among all head coaches in Toronto’s franchise history. Keefe was the second fastest coach in NHL history (tie, B. Boudreau) to accumulate 200 wins in an NHL career, behind Dan Bylsma with Pittsburgh. He led Toronto to five consecutive postseason appearances and earned a 16-21 record in 37 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. Before joining the Maple Leafs, Keefe was head coach for Toronto’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Marlies from 2015-16 until his promotion to the NHL in November 2019. Keefe earned a career 199-89-22-9 regular-season record in the AHL with the Marlies and led the team to its first-ever Calder Cup Championship in 2018. The Marlies also won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as AHL regular season champions on two occasions (2016 & 2018). As a player, Keefe was selected by Tampa Bay in the second round, 47th overall, in the 1999 NHL Draft. The right wing played in 125 career NHL games with Tampa Bay from 2000-01 to 2002-03. Keefe totaled 120 career games at the AHL level (2001-02 to 2004-05) with Springfield, Hershey, and Utah. He also played in 13 games during the 2000-01 season with Detroit of the International Hockey League (IHL).

[equallyshaw]

𝔥𝔬𝔭𝔢 𝔲𝔯 𝔬𝔨𝔞𝔶 𝔣𝔢𝔞𝔱 𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔩𝔦𝔞𝔪 𝔫𝔶𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯 (𝔦𝔪𝔞𝔤𝔦𝔫𝔢 +𝔦𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞 𝔢𝔡𝔦𝔱)

Warnings: none

Word Count: 868

Sour Masterlist.

────────────

I knew a boy once, when I was small

A tow-head blond, with eyes of salt

I knew William back when we were just some random younglins in sweden. Our blonde hair and blue eyes could be spotted from a distance away and they know it was us. We grew up next door to eachother, and if you couldn't fine one of us, we were most likely with the other. Growing up Mrs.Nylander always liked to joke that we were soulmates, well actually she wasn't joking. I thought that too but then he left, for Toronto and then it was too late. I really thought we'd somehow, someday be together. I still remember that day, the sun was shining so brightley, the air just right, the lake calm as ever with soft waves and the perfect picnic to end the summer.

I remember doing a double take, and then blabbering about college and how we had planned to go to college together while he was in the Sweden Pro League. All he did was stare at me, and I realized that our plans had changed without me knowing.

And somehow, we fell out of touch

Hope he took his bad deal and made a royal flush

Don't know if I'll see you again someday

After he left for Toronto, we planned to stay in touch. We did until his first game in the NHL. His family and my family flew out to Toronto to catch his first pro game and then after that, things changed. More time passed between text messages and face times. More and more excuses from him and at some point I'd had enough. So I blocked him on social media and his phone numner. The Willy I had grown up with and the one I had cared so deeply for, was no longer the one I knew. Maybe the billet family had changed him? Though when we met them, they were sweethearts especially the blonde mom. Maybe the money had but that would have been so out of character for him

The Nylanders moved a few blocks away in 2019, and that was the the first time she had heard about them or William for that matter. Despite having the home next store, they spent most of their time in Miami and their Canadian home. So there was really no way that I'd see him ever again. Our lives were just so different.

After they moved, she heard through the grapevine that William was having a hard time in Toronto. He had even reached out to my dad for some advice, because of his time in the Sweden Pro League and understood long negotitations on contracts. My dad spent the better part of a day talking to him and for the first time in years, she heard his voice. It was deeper than the last time she had heard it, and his laugh even more hearty.

My dad went on to explain that his contract wasn't what he deserved, at dinner after his signing. He had wastde the first part of the season, and feared it would harm his career. My dad said that he'd get paid no matter what but would of walked away and try to get another contract for smaller time. But that was his decision, because he loved the team, staff and city. That meant, he would not be seeing the family anytime soon. He wouldn't be seeing me for who knows how longer.

Address the letters, to the holes in my butterfly wings

William left a hole in my heart, that has yet to be closed now at 25. . I fear that it will never be. My grandmother explained that the reason it hasn't healed is because I still am holding onto hope that Ill see him again and he'll see me the way I see him. My grandma jokes I should fly to Toronto without a return ticket and see what happens. But everybody knows I'd never do that.

Well, I hope you know how proud I am you were created

'Cause I love you, and I hope that you're okay

My dad during the 2022 playoffs, said one night at our weekly Sunday dinner that he was getting a ton of hate that was unwarrented. But explained that it was just part of the job, and the hardships of it. I remember nodding and making a note to look him up when we were done. I saw the hate that they were giving and going after who he was as a person. I debated on reaching out to him and wish him well in the playoffs but debated if that was weird or wrong of me. I enlisted the help of my two sibilings and they pushed me to do it. Stating that I was his absolute best friend at one point.

I opened instagram, unblocked his account and opened messages.

Hi Willy-

hope ur okay! Sending so many positive vibes and love as the season rolls on. Keep pushing the boundaries, Raring. (darling)

Sent- May 19th, 2022

Read- May 21st, 2022

Hi Rosey-

thankyou for the encouraging words! hope ur doing okay too, blond. (blondie)

•

@rosetheviking: s/out to mama for sending me some archives from back in the day.

Location: Scandinavian

2.9k likes, 78 comments.

||

@sibiling1: the first photo 😭

@sibiling2: more like an outfit recap for the past 20 years

@rosetheviking: tbh

@bestfriend: iconic in every era

@rosetheviking: 🫶🏻🫶🏻

@alexnylander: but y’all were so cute !!

@sibiling1: ummmm that’s what we have always said 💀

@sibiling2: where have u been??

@alexnylander: trying to beat this guy @williamnylander

@randomuser1: he fumbled a dime

@sibiling2: this !!!

@cousin1: such a cutie pie 🥹

@rosetheviking: 🤍

@williamnylander: two peas in a pod 🤞🏻

@rosetheviking: srsly

@williamnydlander: wait — you had red hair ???

@rosetheviking: yep unfortunately you missed my rebellious era 👼🏼

@sibiling1: it was a fun time

@williamnylander: I’m sure. I definitely was on the receiving end of mischief as a kid

@williamnylander has messaged @rosetheviking: fancy a Toronto trip?

—

Hope you all enjoyed ! Please like and reblog if you did :)

- tbh not my best work but wanted to get it out !

Tags:

@seattlekrakengirl @slafgoalskybaby @bitchinbarzal @z3gras @zegrasbabyyy @hockeyboysarehot @fallinallincurls @zegras2crosby @jayda12 @nicoleloveshockey @hockey-lover86 @huggybug @cellythefloshie

[keyshui]

i present to you, a very unserious post in which i insult every NHL team!

(this is all exaggerated so don’t get mad at me)

anaheim ducks - why is it that 1/3 of the way through the season you remember how to play hockey? like at this point it’s useless since you’re not making the playoffs and if you keep up like this you sure aren’t getting bedard

arizona coyotes - i do not like your jerseys. you would be forgettable but you suck too much for it

boston bruins - the only thing your team has going for you are your goalies and i hope next season you end up where the ducks are rn: not good enough for the playoffs and not bad enough for the draft lottery. sorry garnet hathaway (please come back)

buffalo sabres - i can define your entire team in one word: disappointment

calgary flames - anything good about you died when matthew tkachuk decided to go to florida. sorry!

carolina hurricanes - something about the “canes” nickname annoys the shit out of me. i hope you get a first round exit purely so the fans enjoying their team being good for once can be upset about it

chicago blackhawks - do i even have to say anything? because ew

colorado avalanche - literally how did you win the cup last year? thanks for the cup winning goalie btw <3 kuemper is better as a cap

columbus blue jackets - you don’t deserve bedard and i hope you lose the lottery since you’re clearly not pulling yourself out of the tank like the ducks

dallas stars - your jerseys are fucking ugly and the only stars player i can think of is tyler seguin (seriously… why that green…)

detroit red wings - you have the most obnoxious fan base i have ever had the displeasure of being in the same stadium with. LET GO OF THE 90s!!! PLEASE

edmonton oilers - how do you have two of the best players in the league and still manage to fail to get a cup every single playoffs

florida panthers - honestly if it weren’t for matthew tkachuk trade and the all stars game you’d be a dying, forgettable team

los angeles kings - i literally cant think of anything to put here. that’s how little you matter.

minnesota wild - one time in like 2019 the wild squished the caps at a game i was at so i decided that the wild suck. other than that y’all are so forgettable that i don’t have anything else to say

montreal canadiens - how is it that you keep managing to get beaten so so badly by teams that suck?

nashville predators - uuuugly ass jerseys and stuuuupid ass name

new jersey devils - jack hughes isn’t as hot as y’all think he is both in terms of attraction and skill

new york islanders - i hold a deep seated hatred for all new york city teams. you and your fanbases are so goddamn annoying

new york rangers - same with the islanders except 10x worse purely because of the little rivalry the caps hage with you (hope tom wilson squishes you tonight <3)

ottawa senators - really says something about your team that you had to name brady tkachuk of all people captain

philadelphia flyers - literally what is your logo i hate it. the only thing you have going for you is gritty and even that gets tiring REAL fast

pittsburgh penguins - i don’t care if the caps/pens rivalry doesn’t exist anymore it’s ingrained into me i hate you all and especially sidney crosby. you’re an aging team. retire already. ovechkin is better and malkin is overhyped

san jose sharks - wasted a sick ass team name on a depressing team

seattle kraken - y’all were doing so good at the start of the season what the hell happened. now it’s just disappointment…

st. louis blues - you’re one of those teams that i forget isn’t fake sometimes. like you’re not forgettable you’re just not… real

tampa bay lightning - i don’t get the hype the fanbase has for vasilevsky and your gray/yellow jerseys are way better than the normal ones

toronto maple leafs - auston matthews is not hot even slightly y’all just have competency kinks and it’s sad

vancouver canucks - quinn hughes looks so haunted and depressed all the time for a reason

vegas golden knights - did y’all think you were being funny when you decided to match with the kings?

washington capitals - jesus fuck just retire the entire goddamn team at this point. stop sending your prospects to the ahl and fucking play them if you want to give your roster some “youth” (i’m looking at you gmbm & laviolette)

winnipeg jets - if it weren’t for the fact that i used a website to make this list alphabetical order i would’ve forgotten you

[korshrimpski]

I love finding random hockey connections but have no one to yap about them to so tumblr you shall become subjected to my yapping

Zach Benson and Connor Bedard: isn’t it so sweet that kids that used to have sleepovers with each other are now in the NHL together? They were both on the Vancouver Viper AAA team together, got drafted to the WHL (2020) and got drafted to the NHL (2023) in the same year (Andrew Cristall is also apart of this but i don’t know enough about that man to comment)

Olen Zellweger and Connor Bedard: they played on team Canada WJC in 2022/3 and played on team Canada again in 2024. And Zelly has one of the best bodies connor has ever seen

Matt Rempe and Kevin Korchinski: teammates on the Seattle Thunderbirds, Kevin even got his first WHL point on a Rempe goal. Kevin’s comments of Rempe’s post are always entertaining, and Rempe commenting under Korch’s Insta, “little kev” has well and truely changed my brain chemistry. (Also there names are next to each other on the alumni wall this doesn’t mean anything but that doesn’t mean it’s any less entertaining to me)

Jack Quinn and Brandt Clarke: I actually have nothing for this one other than Jack Quinn was at Brandt Clarkes draft party (to anyone who knows more please do tell ☺️🤲)

Jeff Skinner and Elias Lindholm: this one isn’t far reaching as the other as they were both drafted my Carolina but the photos of them together are so fun and *that* one photo, masterful

Clayton Keller and Auston Matthews: they are actually friends. IN FACT!! They have a shared Spotify playlist. Like I know they’re friends, they were in the UNSTPD together, Matthews’ literally said he would pick Keller to compete on team USA together but them having a shared Spotify playlist caught me off guard 💀

Shane Wright, Brandt Clarke and Brennan Othmann: DON MILLS FLYERS BOYS!!! Anyways I am fragile and these boys deserve the world. More info ig they played on Canada U18 team together in 2021 and WJC 2023 together (“there last go around” as Shane said) also Shane and Brendan share the same birthday (Jan 5th)

Elias Petterson and Rasmus Dahlin: teammates in 2018 for WJC team Sweden, and also this article (this one I swear made me half insane because I couldn’t find anything, but say it with me, “I’m not finding friendships, I’m finding connections.”)

Dylan Strome and Clayton Keller: I know this isn’t far stretching but idc whenever is see the yotes tweet from 2017 calling them the present and the future I get emotional

Alex Turcotte, Jordan Spence, Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere: again not far fetched as they are on the kings together (listen, when turcotte stops getting injured I can die happy) but tbh I just need people to know about these 4 because they’re iconic

JJ Peterka and Tim Stützle: team Germany teammates in 2020 and played on the same line, and the story in 2020 was that they lead Germany to first ever playoffs

Mark Stone and Peyton Krebs: I would just like to remind you that Krebs lived with mark stone and they got to Vegas the same year (2019) Krebs was his rookie

Dylan Holloway and Peyton Krebs: played together at the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky cup. They were billeted in 2017-20 (dates a bit iffy). And Krebs said, “he’s [Holloway] pretty much a brother now.” Like 😭

Logan Cooley and Cutter Gauthier: I love crumbs if you can’t tell. Teammates at WJC 2023 (team USA), and this photo and this one (boys… stop being antisocial)

[cellythefloshie]

ummm, benn is a bitch to take dunns stick and punch him while he's on the bench. Captain Yanni would never. I know Lars took good care of calming down Vince in the locker room.....as did the Kraken road wifie 😈

This quickly became a very long hockey-stats-based post, so I have put my rant about why Benn is a horrible teammate and captain beneath the read more.

Having watched Yanni play hockey for many years in Tampa before he moved over to the Kraken I wouldn't say he would never BUT he would leave it out on the ice, not on the bench like Benn. Yanni likes to start shit and get under their skin, but I don't think he would be taking another player's stick from the bench.

Lars and Vince seem like such great friends - and Dunn plays with so much passion that I'm sure that Lars has had to learn a few things on how to bring Dunn back down to a calm. And a RW would have to master this so fast, and she would be very good at it.

I said it in 2019, and I have been saying it for years. Benn is an anchor on his team - and not the good kind. Jaime Benn has had 768 (90 in the playoffs) Penalty Minutes in his career. To compare these are the career penalty minutes of some of his teammates. The teammates I selected are In a similar age range. The number in brackets is their playoff penalty minutes)

Seguin - 277 (24)

Marchment - 151 (16)

Pavelski - 438 (82)

Dadonov - 38 (4)

Glendening - 259 (12)

Suter - 733 (58)

And their career playoff stats in comparison. It will be formatted as games played - goal - assists - plus/minus

Benn 75-21-37-+10

Seguin 104-20-37-+12

Marchment 19-6-2- -7

Pavelski 172-69-62-+4

Dadonov 13-4-3-+3

Glendening 32-4-2- -7

Suter 104-6-31- -24

The PK for the Dallas Stars this season was 82% in 2019, 79% in 2020-2022 and 83% this season. Which I would argue is pretty good. As the best in the NHL this season was 87% (BOS). But that means the opponent is scoring the other 17% of the time.

With Benn's 34 penalty minutes this season, assuming each is a 2-minute minor - that would mean taking a goal against 5 times during the season because he took a penalty. If we take that same calculation and apply it to his career penalty minutes of 768 that is 130 goals against total and 15 in the postseason. That is 15 goals that have cost him a game, and even a playoff series. *cough*Against Tampa Bay*cough* - I am a strong believer that he cost Dallas the cup in the bubble with the penalties he took during that series.

It absolutely baffles me that this man has the C when he fails to embody the characteristics I believe a Captain should have on the ice. He does not have to be the best scorer on the team, but he should not be the one that always finds himself in the box either. It would be like giving Tom Wilson the C in Washington.

[rouzys]

THE UNOFFICIAL ST. LOUIS BLUES PRIMER PART THREE: GOALIES + MORE

JORDAN BINNINGTON (Binner)

Info: #50, STL 2011

Last season: 3.31 GAA + .894 SV%

History: Played his first ever NHL game in an emergency role in the 15-16 season, then developed in the minors until the fateful 18-19 season where he was the backup to Jake Allen. Through the season, he proved that he could by the #1 goalie for the team and started each of the Blues' 26 playoff games. He became the regular Blues starting goalie, though he would split starts with Ville Husso in the 21-22 season, and then start 61 of 82 games in the 22-23 season (sorry to Griess, he was not very good). The 23-24 season has been a bit of a redemption season for him after posting his worst ever numbers last year and also being notably rowdier than usual.

Profile: Look. He's a good goalie. He's a GREAT goalie when he has a reliable backup, which he definitely does this season. He's never been able to replicate the level he was on in the 18-19 season, but he's still proven time and again that he is a good goalie. On a more technical level, he has a tendency to over-commit to one shot or angle and leave the back door wide open, which isn't great on a team with an unreliable defense. My dad says he sometimes "flops around like a fish" so take that as you will.

Other: Grew up playing with current Thunderbirds goalie Malcolm Subban! Also he got married summer of 2023 and a lot of the younger guys from the 18-19 season, several of which haven't played on the Blues in a few years, were there :) it was sweet :)

JOEL HOFER (Hof) (?)

Info: #30, STL 2018

Last season: 2.50 GAA + .921 SV% (AHL)

History: ROOKIE GOALIE !!!! He played 6 games last year after Binnington's suspension, and proved himself so well that the Blues had three goalies on their roster for an extra week or so. In the AHL he's averaged about a .910 SV% and he actually scored a goal in the 2022 Calder Cup playoffs !! He has one more year on his two-year one-way contract, but if he keeps playing the way he is, he'll probably be sticking around for a while longer! He's definitely still adjusting to the NHL but he's only been improving

Other: Lives with Jake Neighbours! Their friendship is very cute, definitely watch for them in the headbutt line after wins :) My mom says he looks very polite

ROOKIES/SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS PLAYERS TO KNOW !

disclaimer: i don't watch the AHL games. im not made of money. also for the record they play in springfield, massachusetts

NIKITA ALEXANDROV

Info: #59, C, STL 2019

Smaller player weight-wise but still throws himself around. Up and down between STL and Springfield a bunch as he develops. Young and inexperienced but played well in the 22-23 season when he played 28 NHL games !

MACKENZIE MACHEACHERN

Info: #28, LW, STL 2012

Nearly 30 and has played 123 NHL games. Played for the Hurricanes organization last year but returned to the Thunderbirds for the 23-24 season. Reliable callup if someone is injured.

HUGH MCGING

Info: #56, LW, STL 2018

Literally the funniest name in the world, and he's on a team with Mackenzie Maceachern. Made his NHL debut last season and played a handful of games this season and has yet to score a point, but seems solid on the Thunderbirds!

JAKUB VRANA

Info: #15, LW, WSH 2014

Won the cup with the Capitals in 2018, came to the Blues at the 2023 trade deadline and had a fantastic 10 goals and 14 points in just 20 games. He came back for the 23-24 season, made the team, and then did not play up to potential. Was a regular healthy scratch for about half of the games in the first half of the season, and then got sent to Springfield. Has spent non-insignificant amounts of time in the AHL in the last several seasons

MATTHEW KESSEL

Info: #51, RD, STL 2020

Currently in the Blues lineup as players deal with injuries! Has played 8 NHL games between this season and last season and has yet to score a point, but has been very good on the Thunderbirds!! Solid young right-shot defenseman with offensive ability :)

ADAM GAUDETTE

Info: #88, C, VAN 2015

Technically a prospect despite having played 218 NHL games between the Canucks, Blackhawks, and Senators. Came to the Blues at the 2023 trade deadline in the O'Reilly and Acciari trade after spending the season playing for the Toronto Marlies. He already has 23 goals + 35 points in just 35 games with the Thunderbirds, was AHL player of the month in Oct 2023, and was just recently named to the AHL All Star Game! Currently leads the entire AHL in goals

kind of a stud. hope to see him play on the blues at some point <3

NAMES YOU MIGHT HEAR: Zachary Bolduc, Leo Loof, Jimmy Snuggerud, Otto Stenberg, Dalibor Dvorsky, Juraj Pekarcik. All recent high draft picks (2022-2023) and players to keep an eye on if you’re interested !

[hockeyreport]

Blue Jackets Name Don Waddell President of Hockey Ops and GM

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that longtime NHL executive Don Waddell has agreed to a multi-year contract to serve as the club’s president of hockey operations, general manager and alternate governor. The club also announced that John Davidson, who has been the club’s president of hockey operations for 10 of the past 12 years, has agreed to serve as a senior advisor and alternate governor. Waddell will be introduced at a press conference on Wednesday. Waddell has spent the past 10 years with the Hurricanes, serving as team president from 2014-18 and as team president and general manager since 2018. Over the past six seasons, Carolina has compiled a 278-130-44 record to rank second in the NHL in points percentage (.664; Boston - .695) and third in wins (Boston-289, Tampa Bay-283). The Hurricanes have won three division titles (2021-Central, 2022 and 2023-Metropolitan), advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs each year and earned trips to the Eastern Conference Finals twice (2019, 2023) during that time. Prior to his taking over as general manager, Carolina had missed the playoffs in 11 of the 12 previous seasons. Waddell began his NHL career in 1997-98 and won a Stanley Cup championship as an assistant general manager with the Detroit Red Wings. The following year, he joined the expansion Atlanta Thrashers as vice president of hockey operations and general manager and would serve in that role until 2010 when he was named team president. He also served as executive vice president and co-chair of the executive committee of the Atlanta Spirit, the parent company of the Thrashers, the National Basketball Association’s Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena. He then had a three-year stint as a consultant and pro scout with the Pittsburgh Penguins before arriving in Carolina in 2014.

[shutth3puckup]

Wait why does Evander Kane have a restraining order against Anna Kane?

Nov 2019: He gets sued by casinos for not paying his gambling debts, and allegedly this took place when he was in Vegas for the playoffs.

Jan 2021: EK declared bankruptcy, says he has over 25 million in debt. 1.5 million of that is gambling debts

July 2021: Anna posted to her Instagram that E.K had been betting on his own games, even throwing some games to win his bets.

Sept 21: The NHL investigated and found no wrong doing. E.K said Anna acted out because of their ongoing divorce. He would admit to having a gambling addiction.

Anna filed a domestic violence restraining order against him, and she noted sexual assault and domestic battery in the claim. I don’t know if she was ever granted hers.

He denied it, and ultimately was granted a temporary restraining order against her claiming she had been physically abusive, and then filed for a permanent restraining order.

The NHL investigated the claims against EK and ruled they couldn’t substantiate it.

EK had been accused of assault multiple times before Anna came out with her accusations. There have been many allegations and accusations over the last few years, Anna says he is keeping their daughter from her. It’s all very messy.

I refuse to believe there is no proof to what Anna is saying, but I do not think she is innocent in the matter. She is very vocal on her social media (which she has every right to do) but I think some of it will be used against her, or has been in the past. They both clearly have issues that need to be sorted out, I just hope they can see the bigger picture and focus on what’s best for their daughter.

[torontoarenas]

Leafs in the Playoffs! 10

i also realized i forgot to do this. mostly because i almost never look at tumblr anymore. (and every time i do could be my last!) but when i looked at my post history and saw that i've done nine of these, i thought, "well, how could i stop there?" after all, ten's such a nice round number.

without further ado, here's the list of every former or current toronto maple leaf under contract to an NHL playoff team in 2023-24:

Boston

James van Riemsdyk (2013 to 2018)

Carolina

Frederik Andersen (2016 to 2021)

Stefan Noesen (2021)

Colorado

{N/A}

Dallas

Mason Marchment (2020)

Edmonton

Connor Brown (2016 to 2019)

Jack Campbell (2020 to 2022) [in the minors]

Sam Carrick (2014 to 2016)

Cody Ceci (2019 to 2020)

Seth Griffith (2016) [in the minors]

Zach Hyman (2016 to 2021)

Greg McKegg (2014 to 2015) [in the minors]

Calvin Pickard (2017)

Florida

{N/A}

Los Angeles

Trevor Moore (2018 to 2020)

David Rittich (2021)

Nashville

Tyson Barrie (2019 to 2020)

Kevin Gravel (2019) [in the minors]

Ryan O'Reilly (2023)

Luke Schenn (2008 to 2012; 2023)

NY Islanders

Pierre Engvall (2019 to 2023)

Matt Martin (2016 to 2018)

NY Rangers

Erik Gustafsson (2023)

Mac Hollowell (2022) [in the minors]

Nic Petan (2019 to 2021) [in the minors]

Jimmy Vesey (2021)

Tampa Bay

{N/A}

Toronto

Nick Abruzzese (2022 to present) [in the minors]

Simon Benoit (2023 to present)

Tyler Bertuzzi (2023 to present)

T. J. Brodie (2021 to present)

Kyle Clifford (2020; 2021 to present) [in the minors]

Connor Dewar (2024 to present)

Max Domi (2023 to present)

Joel Edmundson (2023 to present)

Mark Giordano (2022 to present)

Noah Gregor (2023 to present)

Pontus Holmberg (2022 to present)

Calle Järnkrok (2022 to present)

Martin Jones (2023 to present)

David Kämpf (2021 to present)

John Klingberg (2023 to present) [LTIR]

Matthew Knies (2023 to present)

Maxime Lajoie (2023 to present) [in the minors]

Timothy Liljegren (2020 to present)

Ilya Lyubushkin (2022; 2024 to present)

Mitch Marner (2016 to present)

Auston Matthews (2016 to present)

Jake McCabe (2023 to present)

Bobby McMann (2023 to present)

Fraser Minten (2023 to present) [in junior with Saskatoon Blades]

Matt Murray (2022 to present) [LTIR]

Jake Muzzin (2019 to present) [LTIR]

William Nylander (2016 to present)

Ryan Reaves (2023 to present)

Morgan Rielly (2013 to present)

Marshall Rifai (2024 to present) [in the minors]

Nick Robertson (2020 to present)

Ilya Samsonov (2022 to present)

Alex Steeves (2021 to present) [in the minors]

John Tavares (2018 to present)

Connor Timmins (2022 to present)

Joseph Woll (2021 to present)

Vancouver

Sam Lafferty (2023)

Ilya Mikheyev (2019 to 2022)

Vegas

Michael Amadio (2021)

Byron Froese (2015 to 2016) [in the minors]

Ben Hutton (2021)

Washington

Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (2022)

Rasmus Sandin (2019 to 2023)

Winnipeg

{N/A}

[reavenedges-lies]

Pens Twitter is really toxic right now, just a warning for all. I came across a tweet by a fan account saying that our current 5-game losing streak is unacceptable when everyone else in the East is winning right now and we we are falling behind fast. And that the game we should've only lost was the Isles game. First of all, again any team can beat anyone at a single night as you'd always say. Last I checked a lot of winning streaks have been snapped recently? Like are they aware things can change really fast in the NHL? Plus it's only January, all teams have not played at least 1 team yet, no major trades yet? We haven't even made it to the All Star break where momentum can significantly change with the mega long break. Wordspill inconing.

The way they talk about the Pens, you'd think all Metro teams are on simultaneous 7-game winning streaks (spoiler: they are not). Even I am frustrated but come to think about it: it is easy to be loud about the your own team's struggles when you just look at the out of town scoreboard every time ignoring other factors like games in hand, strength of schedule, team health. Injuries can't be predicted, so can slumps and hot streaks. For proof momentum matters and nothing is sustainable: remember in the shortened 2019-20 season, the Flyers were on a roll with a 9-game W streak, quickly took 1st seed then the league pause happened? When the bubble playoffs happened 4 months later they were not the same team anymore and were eliminated in R2 by an Isles team that lost 7 straight heading to the pause. The Blues and Bruins both had high odds of a SCF rematch as they were leading the league in March, then things went south at the playoff bubble. As much as we rag on the Oilers, they had a massive losing streak in January 2022 that prompted them to fire their coach and five months later they made it to the WCF.

The Pens won't be losing for this long. We'll be playing some West teams and non-divisional opponents next, our low momentum now can quickly go up. Once we get a few players back for a compressed schedule from January onwards, it can change the way we're playing. All the bounces that didn't go our way now will come soon when we need it the most. After the ASG break, there'll be a lot of team and player movements guaranteed that can change the whole makeup of the league standings. I'm open to the Pens trading for someone to hopefully fill our current needs - but again we have to wait for Sully to make either the right adjustments. Nobody, just no team can only do so well or bad for long. No team will get all the bounces all the time, neither will be this unlucky either. The comeback wins now could quickly become blown leads later. Even the players themselves have already said it's an 82-game season with ups and downs, why not listen to the very people who play the game?

I quickly came to realize there are quite a few types of fans in sports:

Bandwagon or Fair-weather

Ones That Know Everything™

Haters

Fans of the game

No real way to distinguish between them consistently, nor do I really care most of the time. The Haters over on twitter will continue to do what they do, Sports Social Media much like any other form of interaction comes with the caveat that so long as you don't interact with or consume the hateful stuff you can mostly stay away from it. Block what you need to or take a break from there if needed.

Nothing anyone says right now other than the people in that room matters. We cannot fix them as fans, no matter how we wish we could at times. Its all about staying positive and riding the waves the sport throws at you. I know we're all varying levels of upset about this winless streak, but I am firmly in the know as a Jacksonville Jaguars(NFL) and Arizona Coyotes(NHL) fan that the wins will come, sometimes even at the most unexpected of times. You can't always be good, but you won't always be bad. Its the life cycle of a sports team

[lovethelifeyoulive123]

Not sure the NHL shuts down three weeks when hockey was at the Olympics. I can see it if those 23 or 26 are the major stars of the league. The nwsl growth since 2019 is so much greater now. If they scrap the stupid CC and start training camp March 1st and begin the season April 1 a month earlier they can do it and then restart with the NT players missing less games and finish the season more balanced going into playoffs. The league shutdown one week this season after concacaf.

Yeah but the NWSL didn't shut down for the Olympics🤷🏼 I'm not sure it makes sense to give all the players a month off in season. Just doesn't seem practical tbh.