**** Official 2024-25 NHL Thread ****

[Bearcat]

[KC_Connection]

Only the NHL would have its season opener in the middle of the afternoon on a week day

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Blues win the NHL opener. Jordan Kyrou played liked his talent says he should

And Broberg scored his first as a Note (with an assist from Holloway).

Buch couldn't buy a goal and I'm more convinced each day that Parayko is just a white Bryce Salvador, but a win is a win. Nice little road victory to start the season.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Only the NHL would have its season opener in the middle of the afternoon on a week day

It was technically last Friday/Saturday with the Global Series, which makes it even more confusing when every other team still has a few preseason games left to play (and their own app couldn't even differentiate between those games being regular season and others being preseason).

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

It was technically last Friday/Saturday with the Global Series, which makes it even more confusing when every other team still has a few preseason games left to play (and their own app couldn't even differentiate between those games being regular season and others being preseason).

I honestly had no idea those Global Series games happened until you brought it up just now, which may also speak to an issue in itself in terms of marketing and fan awareness.

If a sports fan as big as me who has played hockey his entire life isn’t aware when your league is starting, that’s a problem.

[KC_Connection]

can’t wait for the leafs to win the presidents trophy, face an 89 point boston team in round one, and still lose in 7

— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) October 9, 2024

Sounds prescient

[Bearcat]

Who could have guess the Knights would get dominated for over half a period and then luck into some shit bad angle shot.... I'm shocked.

[UChieffyBugger]

Soooo to my Avs buddies in the house!!..wanna talk about what just happened in this game tonight?

BTW this is no surprise tbh because we're usually a nightmare to deal with on opening night. Especially in vegas. We've literally had a rebuild over the offseason with several coming in and many veterans leaving us so I am a little surprised by the performance. Marchy, Amadio, Stevenson, Carrier etc. Key guys who helped us win a championship. All gone. We signed some decent wingers in Olofsson (who bagged two tonight), Holtz, Pearson and Schwindt. So we're a younger team now and the scary thing is one of our elite center's (Karlsson) wasn't even playing tonight. So when he comes back our spine down the middle with Eichel, Hertl, Karlsson and Roy could be hell to deal with.

Got to clean a few things up defensively but all in all that was a statement win tonight imo. Our top two lines got six goals and eight assists. It was just too much for the Avs to handle but no doubt the Avs will be a tough team this year.

[Bearcat]

Yeah, looks like they really got their asses kicked after looking good for all of about 12 minutes.

[Monticore]

At least we can all agree the Leafs losing is good for the world.

[Otter]

I like to post this every year just for reference:

Opening Odds to win 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final

https://www.vegasinsider.com/nhl/odds/futures/

1. Florida Panthers +900
2. Carolina Hurricanes +950
3. Colorado Avalanche +950
4. Dallas Stars +1000
5. Edmonton Oilers +1000
6. Vegas Golden Knights +1100
7. New Jersey Devils +1300
8. New York Rangers +1300
9. Toronto Maple Leafs +1400
10. Los Angeles Kings +1800
11. Vancouver Canucks +1900
12. Tampa Bay Lightning +1900
13. Winnipeg Jets +2100
14. Boston Bruins +2300
15. Nashville Predators +3100
16. Minnesota Wild +3100
17. Ottawa Senators +3200
18. New York Islanders +4200
19. St. Louis Blues +4200
20. Pittsburgh Penguins +4300
21. Philadelphia Flyers +5500
22. Buffalo Sabres +5500
23. Detroit Red Wings +5500
24. Calgary Flames +6000
25. Seattle Kraken +8000
26. Utah Hockey Club +10000
27. Washington Capitals +17000
28. Montreal Canadiens +17000
29. Chicago Blackhawks +30000
30. Columbus Blue Jackets +30000
31. San Jose Sharks +30000
32. Anaheim Ducks +30000

[UChieffyBugger]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Yeah, looks like they really got their asses kicked after looking good for all of about 12 minutes.

We were clinical and tbh both of your goalies weren't good Bearcat. Still too early to make a real assessment though.

[DJ's left nut]

Feels like 5 teams plus maybe Boston (if the goalie goes unconscious) that are playing for the Cup this year.

Seems more top heavy than most seasons.

[Bearcat]

The Avalance have such huge question marks with Nichushkin and Landeskog... they have to account for both salaries since they expect Landy to be back fairly soon, but who the hell knows how all that plays out.

One hasn't played in two plus seasons and the other could take a hooker and fifth of bourbon back to his hotel room during the playoffs...

[DJ's left nut]

I kindof assumed the 'lance had just written Nichuskin off altogether.

But I guess if you have to carry the salary either way, there's nothing hurt by hoping he returns.

As for Landeskog - man it's been awhile. And he's what, 32 now? He's approaching that veteran decline stage anyway and has so much rust. I think you maybe just hope to get flashes from him here and there. If you're lucky, you get it when they matter most.

But I think you have to look at both of those guys combined and figure that if they can get you 50 points this year between them, that's a win.

[Bearcat]

Yeah, they're both signed through 2029 and AFAIK there isn't shit the Avalanche can do about Nichushkin's contract unless I'm guessing he gets kicked out of the league.. or unless some team really wants him while the Avalanche retain half his salary.

Sucks to think what may have been with both in the lineup the past couple seasons.


(and kudos on the 'lance, heh)