2025-26 NHL discussion thread

[Commandant]

So 7 minuses of that -14 are directly attributable to the Empty net situations?

 

Makes it seem not as bad when you consider that.

[BCHabnut]

17 hours ago, Commandant said:

How many of those -14 were when he was on the ice at the end of a game in a 6 on 5 situation and they are empty netters for the other team, cause those are not "a wash" with goals scored on the PP. 

 

A goal in the last 2 or 3 minutes that is an empty netter and changes the opponents lead from 1 to 2 or 2 to 3, has little effect on the standings as it was a hail mary to try and tie the game anyway, but it counts in that minus column the same as a goal when its tied in the first. 

 

Which is why +/- is shit and can be especially misleading on guys like Hutson, Caufield and yes, Laine, who are used in the 6 on 5 situations a lot. 

Yes. This is often missed. I saw this mentioned about Hutson last year.

[TurdBurglar]

Sounds like all 5 players in the 2018 World Juniors case are being found not guilty.  Hart, Formenton and Foote have the official verdict at this time, seems safe to assume all 5 will have the same verdict. 

[Dalhabs]

Carter Hart to Edmonton Im sure. 🤪

[TurdBurglar]

1 hour ago, Dalhabs said:

Carter Hart to Edmonton Im sure. 🤪

You'd be surprised at how many Oilers fans I've talked to that believe that will happen.  

[tomh009]

1 hour ago, Dalhabs said:

Carter Hart to Edmonton Im sure. 🤪

They are still banned by Hockey Canada pending appeal, not clear what will happen with regard to the NHL teams.

[GHT120]

2 hours ago, tomh009 said:

They are still banned by Hockey Canada pending appeal, not clear what will happen with regard to the NHL teams.

The NHL will convene a review to he led by Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman to determine their fate.

[Commandant]

Given the comments by the judge that the accuser isn't credible, i don't see how they can be formally suspended by the league.

 

They currently need Bettman's permission to come back, but i dont see how they dont get it. 

 

All of them can use the classes Mailloux had to take though.

[dlbalr]

 

I feel like the Habs were more in the middle of this list last season.  Now they have one of the shorter travel schedules, even among East teams who generally have shorter travel schedules each year.

[JoeLassister]

Kinda weird to see NYR at 40k while the NYI are dead last with 28k.

[DON]

Hlinka starts tomorrow in Czech/Slov.

Official Website of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup

 

 

 

[Dalhabs]

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/nhl-summer-talent-tiers-defence-1.2344922

 

Both Toronto and Edmonton ranked above us i Defence.

Sounds crazy to me or am I wearing homer-glasses?

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

32 minutes ago, Dalhabs said:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/nhl-summer-talent-tiers-defence-1.2344922

 

Both Toronto and Edmonton ranked above us i Defence.

Sounds crazy to me or am I wearing homer-glasses?

 

I thought the same thing. If you are looking down the road there is no comparison. 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

On 8/11/2025 at 10:28 AM, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

I thought the same thing. If you are looking down the road there is no comparison. 

 

I find those rankings insane. 

 

Hutson-Dobson = two legit #1 D, with the former bordering on superstar level already.

 

Guhle and Mattheson = legit 2nd pairing D on any team. 

 

Carrier a legit #4-5 guy.

 

Good depth below that.

 

Frankly, I think a team could win the Cup with our current D corps, provided they had good goaltending and a strong FW unit.

 

The Habs should be in one of the top two tiers.

 

 

 

 

 

[DON]

21 hours ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

 

Hutson-Dobson = two legit #1 D, with the former bordering on superstar level already. In the offensive zone sure, but neither will ever be confused with a a Shae Weber or a true shut-down top pairing guy.

 

Guhle and Mattheson = legit 2nd pairing D on any team. If you are fine with Guhle playing his weaker-side and he seems pretty safe bet to miss 10-20 games.

 

Carrier a legit #4-5 guy. I think more a 3rd pairing on a good team.

 

Good depth below that. I guess so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

This was posted by the NHL account and I thought it was interesting - not much going on otherwise. 
 

Demidov or maybe Caufield could challenge for Montreal’s top spot 🧐

 

 

[DON]

BOOoo!

 

PHR Mailbag: CHL-NCAA Movement, Salary Cap, Goaltending, Bruins, August 15 Free Agents

 

2) This might be a surprise on paper but I’m going to go with Toronto.  Anthony Stolarz showed that his 2023-24 breakout wasn’t a fluke and he was quite impactful when healthy.  Joseph Woll wasn’t quite as impactful but was above average as well.

[Commandant]

The idea that the Leafs have the best goaltending in the entire NHL is so unbelievable as to make the entire article laughable.

[JoeLassister]

20 hours ago, Commandant said:

The idea that the Leafs have the best goaltending in the entire NHL is so unbelievable as to make the entire article laughable.

I get the argument that while other teams have a better starter, Woll as the backup closes the gap.

 

But is Jonathan Quick THAT FAR behind Josef Woll so that he's cancelling the lead Shesterkin has over Stolartz ?!?!

Or maybe I overestimate Shesterkin and/or underestimate Stolartz ??


I don't know if you're familiar with The Fantasy Footballers, but  Brian, you need to EXPLAIN YOURSELF! 🤪

[Commandant]

Youve also got Hellebuyck and Comrie.  The reigning Hart/Vezina winner and a backup who had a .914 sv% in 20 games played.

[dlbalr]

9 hours ago, JoeLassister said:

I get the argument that while other teams have a better starter, Woll as the backup closes the gap.

 

But is Jonathan Quick THAT FAR behind Josef Woll so that he's cancelling the lead Shesterkin has over Stolartz ?!?!

Or maybe I overestimate Shesterkin and/or underestimate Stolartz ??


I don't know if you're familiar with The Fantasy Footballers, but  Brian, you need to EXPLAIN YOURSELF! 🤪

 

The Rangers were on my shortlist but Shesterkin was pretty pedestrian last season and is three years removed from being elite.  I'm not sold on Quick being more than an adequate backup.

 

To quickly cover the others I pondered, Vancouver on paper has it if Demko/Lankinen play to expectations but that probably won't happen.  Dallas has Oettinger but he hasn't been a high-end goalie for a couple of years.  A strong starter, yes, but not elite.  Tampa has Vasilevskiy but an AHL-calibre backup in Johansson which took them out.

 

And speaking of Fantasy Football, check your PMs.

 

8 hours ago, Commandant said:

Youve also got Hellebuyck and Comrie.  The reigning Hart/Vezina winner and a backup who had a .914 sv% in 20 games played.

 

Winnipeg was the other team I gave serious consideration to.  But if Hellebuyck goes down, they're in big trouble.  Comrie with the Jets is a good backup in short doses but his track record is spotty.  And frankly, they were the easy answer and I do try to be contrarian at times in those columns.  

 

Stolarz was elite in limited action last season.  He was similarly elite in limited action the year before.  I could be completely wrong on this guess but I'm more of a believer in his ability to stay at this level now than I was the year before.  For those who believe in Goals Saved Above Expected and how it makes Montembeault a better goalie than people give him credit for, Stolarz was better than him in barely half the games played.  If you use the per-60 average, he was the best in the league by a mile.  And the year before that, he was second, just behind first (Frederik Andersen) and well ahead of anyone else.

 

I also have Woll as a starting-calibre goalie unlike the backups for teams with more proven high-end starters (he landed 11th league-wide on that stat above).  If Stolarz goes down, they're still going to get solid goaltending most nights which helps insulate them.  I also have Toronto becoming a stingier defensive team this season based on how they're trying to build their roster; they're playing to try to win 3-2 most nights.  So, using my logic while also going up against the clock of a posting deadline, having a goalie capable of being elite and a recent (albeit short) track record of doing so backed up by a starting-calibre netminder on a team that I think will be among the best in the league in goals against felt like a defensible argument.  

[JoeLassister]

Quote

Stolarz was elite in limited action last season.  He was similarly elite in limited action the year before.  I could be completely wrong on this guess but I'm more of a believer in his ability to stay at this level now than I was the year before.  For those who believe in Goals Saved Above Expected and how it makes Montembeault a better goalie than people give him credit for, Stolarz was better than him in barely half the games played.  If you use the per-60 average, he was the best in the league by a mile.  And the year before that, he was second, just behind first (Frederik Andersen) and well ahead of anyone else.

Damnit.  Good arguments.  You're almost having me right now wanting to draft Stolarz.

 

[Commandant]

15 hours ago, dlbalr said:

 

The Rangers were on my shortlist but Shesterkin was pretty pedestrian last season and is three years removed from being elite.  I'm not sold on Quick being more than an adequate backup.

 

To quickly cover the others I pondered, Vancouver on paper has it if Demko/Lankinen play to expectations but that probably won't happen.  Dallas has Oettinger but he hasn't been a high-end goalie for a couple of years.  A strong starter, yes, but not elite.  Tampa has Vasilevskiy but an AHL-calibre backup in Johansson which took them out.

 

And speaking of Fantasy Football, check your PMs.

 

 

Winnipeg was the other team I gave serious consideration to.  But if Hellebuyck goes down, they're in big trouble.  Comrie with the Jets is a good backup in short doses but his track record is spotty.  And frankly, they were the easy answer and I do try to be contrarian at times in those columns.  

 

Stolarz was elite in limited action last season.  He was similarly elite in limited action the year before.  I could be completely wrong on this guess but I'm more of a believer in his ability to stay at this level now than I was the year before.  For those who believe in Goals Saved Above Expected and how it makes Montembeault a better goalie than people give him credit for, Stolarz was better than him in barely half the games played.  If you use the per-60 average, he was the best in the league by a mile.  And the year before that, he was second, just behind first (Frederik Andersen) and well ahead of anyone else.

 

I also have Woll as a starting-calibre goalie unlike the backups for teams with more proven high-end starters (he landed 11th league-wide on that stat above).  If Stolarz goes down, they're still going to get solid goaltending most nights which helps insulate them.  I also have Toronto becoming a stingier defensive team this season based on how they're trying to build their roster; they're playing to try to win 3-2 most nights.  So, using my logic while also going up against the clock of a posting deadline, having a goalie capable of being elite and a recent (albeit short) track record of doing so backed up by a starting-calibre netminder on a team that I think will be among the best in the league in goals against felt like a defensible argument.  

 

Id argue neither Woll or Stolarz have proven they are true #1s.  Good in a tandem, but can they handle playing every night if the other had an extended injury and they had to play 55-60 games.  To me thats a similar injury risk to saying what if Hellebuyck, Sorokin, Shesterkin, were hurt. Those three being who i consider absolutely elite NHL goalies right now.

 

Personally Id rather have the elite guy.  Especially when two of those teams have really good backups (quick and comrie).

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Stolarz does need to keep proving it but so far the guy has been outstanding 

 

His huge body is such a bonus for him because he covers corners just by butterfly. 
 

I wish he was a Hab

[DON]

9 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I wish he was a Hab

BOOOooo!