BCHabnut

This sums it up for me. My hate of the bruins comes from decades (minus the last ten years) of intense competition against a worthy (dirty) foe. The hate of the leafs is based only on the media and their fan base. If I was hate cheering properly, I would be hate cheering against boston, because I truly hate many players who have played for them. Including rat boy and their president Neely. And a huge list of their alumni. I don't actually hate anyone on TO. I actually like Matthews. But I still want boston, who I have reason to hate, to beat the leafs just so the media and fans can be let down. They won't shut up, but at least I can revel in their pain.

The standings don't show it, but I think this is a better team this year than last, and I expect an improvement next season. The habs won and lost a lot of one goal games this year. While there were blowouts, they were also very competitive against good teams. They are a 1 line team right now, so I don't expect it to be quick, but the top players are all on reasonable contracts, which should mean that there will be cap space to add talent or sign players who develope within the prospect pool.

On the first point, discovery plus satisfied the wife. On the second, you are so correct. He's the best in the biz in my opinion.

This is a good point. But the early reffing misses didn't help. Ghule goes off for interference. Next shift back, takes an elbow to the shops and nothing. But the Habs were outclassed and deserved to lose.

His statement every year has been that if BPA stands out as better than others, you draft him, but if there isn't a clear cut BPA, you draft by need.

I loled.

This is a tough one. I think it's great that he's showing his versatility by playing pretty good on the right side, but I would prefer that he play his strong side more while he's developing.

Matheson is so skilled but at times his decision making annoys me. He tries that one on three junk way too often in OT. Peal back and keep possession. Also on the PK, he held and tried whiplashing around the net instead of clearing it. I don't dislike him, but those type of plays can be super costly.

Also grew up in northern BC. It has changed a great deal. Sorry about the weather talk. I'm old. To heck with tank. Let's learn how to win. Go habs go!

This was the strangest winter in my half century

I was just having this conversation with someone yesterday. If Suzuki can become Bergeron, Kopitar, Barkov level, he may not get 100 points in a season ever. But if his defensive game against the other teams' best players continues to develop, maybe that skill negates 25 goals against in a season, and his 75 point season results in the same goal differential. Still elite in my view.

It’s been a garbage season, but the bright spots for me so far have been seeing Suzuki gradually work his way into selke conversations (next year?), and the steady progression of the big man. Can’t wait to see him in his prime with full man strength.

My cousin's son Brett Leason is a good example of this. He was always slow to develope in each league that he played, but his final year in the dub, he lit it up. Was drafted mid second round by the caps. Now he is a 4th liner in Anaheim. He may ha e a career, because he's not bad away from the puck, but if you saw his last year with the raiders, you'd mistakenly project him as the next Nash. Classic example of men against boys.

I liked him. Can’t remember if he was overpaid, but I thought he was a solid 4th liner with ability to move up the line up. Slow though, I think. Maybe selective memory.

Bad bad decision after some great momentum killing pk.