Paulie Walnuts
Well-known member
Canadian weather service says watch out for heads exploding all across the nation , particularly in Toronto and Montreal.
As a Canadian, I am truly embarrassed by all the online whining and crying North of the Border that Vegas is an NHL/Gary Bettman pet project that somehow gets all the breaks unlike no other. Vegas essentially is a hodge podge mix of every other teams 11th best player and spare parts...they have a fantastic coach, work hard and have a goaltender that is standing on his head. The Winnipeg fans are a disgrace to whine and cry when they truly were beat by a team that simply was better. It is so hard to win 16 games and the Cup, full credit where credit is due to Vegas.
William Karlsson had 18 goals in 183 games before this season. He had 43 in 82 this year. Nate Schmidt had 35 assists in 200 career games, he had 31 this year. Erik Haula had 29 goals this year, the same number as his last 2 years combined. David Perron had 50 assists this year. That beat his career high by 15, set in 2008-09 and he hadn't even had 50 points since the 2013-14 season. Could it be that a bunch of guys had career years all at the same time? They're also doing it with defense. Their 2.87 goals per game is only 9th among all teams in the playoffs. But 1.80 goals against is 2nd, behind their first round victims, LA. We know Fleury can carry a team in the playoffs, and we also know what a hot goalie means in the playoffs. But for the rest, is it lightning in a bottle, like 1983 NC State and 1985 Villanova?
And Vegas has a lot of bad contracts, they took from other teams as favors. Sone of which aren't even playing.
They have a lot to do over the summer, or their GM does at least.
Someone done made these misfits and rejects mad!
I think we will use "lightning in a bottle" for many years to come, when talking about the inaugural season of the Golden Knights. I'd be shocked if they are good again next season.
As a Canadian, I am truly embarrassed by all the online whining and crying North of the Border that Vegas is an NHL/Gary Bettman pet project that somehow gets all the breaks unlike no other. Vegas essentially is a hodge podge mix of every other teams 11th best player and spare parts...they have a fantastic coach, work hard and have a goaltender that is standing on his head. The Winnipeg fans are a disgrace to whine and cry when they truly were beat by a team that simply was better. It is so hard to win 16 games and the Cup, full credit where credit is due to Vegas.
As a Canadian I take no blame or embarrassment for the crying. In fact, I haven't even heard much of it. I've read a few comments from some butthurt fans, but that's nothing new or unique to Canadians or any fan base in particular.
Being from Winnipeg, I know a lot of Jets fans, and almost every single one of them have commended their team for a great season and given props to the Knights for a well deserved win.
Of course every fan base is going to have total idiots... lord knows the Habs have their share. I don't left that reflect on me though.
Take a look at the Vegas blueline and then try to explain to me how it is that Vegas was somehow set up to dominate the regular season and the playoffs. Or explain how a top line of Machespellcheck-Karlsson-Riley Smith was certain to become one of the top lines in the NHL. Or how David Perron, who has bounced around how many teams, would be a PP force again.
Anyone trying to argue that the NHL and other GMs created this unstoppable juggernaut of an expansion team is being absolutely ridiculous. This team just gelled with the right coach and the right attitudes and earned every bit of this. Its a great story, period.
I agree that this was a lightning in a bottle experience that led to the current situation, but you can bet your last dollar that all GMs in the lead are going to push for some serious changes on the next expansion draft for Seattle. Too many teams, like the Canes, are having to answer the difficult questions of how does an expansion team have a better winning culture than our organization and why did you expose that guy in the expansion draft. Changes will be coming as Vegas is making too many people across the NHL look bad, and I think it is hilarious! Go Knights!
I Too many teams, like the Canes, are having to answer the difficult questions of how does an expansion team have a better winning culture than our organization and why did you expose that guy in the expansion draft. Changes will be coming as Vegas is making too many people across the NHL look bad, and I think it is hilarious! Go Knights!