2025-26 NHL Season

[BuffOrange]

Sabres bandwagon here we come! Just in time.
Looks like they're in the wrong division.
What's wrong with the Panthers & Leafs this year, injuries?

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Sabres bandwagon here we come! Just in time.
Looks like they're in the wrong division.
What's wrong with the Panthers & Leafs this year, injuries?

Leafs are combo of injuries and gutlessness, mostly the latter.. Florida is just now getting healthy . I honestly don’t think the panthers are trying that hard. They just want to sneak into the playoffs and then turn it on

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Sabres bandwagon here we come! Just in time.
Looks like they're in the wrong division.
What's wrong with the Panthers & Leafs this year, injuries?

The turn around for the Sabres since the first week in December has been unreal, they need to finish the last 5 games before the Olympic break strong. 3rd in the Atlantic right now but tied with Montreal and Boston really for the wildcard spots as well. Their position keeps getting better but have a back to back in Florida next Monday/ Tuesday after a Saturday home game vs Montreal which is a huge stretch

 

[Toga]

Going to the Kings game tomorrow. Might be chilly.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Going to the Kings game tomorrow. Might be chilly.

fun to watch the past 7 weeks or so, the success has been contagious and the improvement on the ice has been staggering really. They still have to make the playoffs

 

[STEVEHOLT]

The turn around for the Sabres since the first week in December has been unreal, they need to finish the last 5 games before the Olympic break strong. 3rd in the Atlantic right now but tied with Montreal and Boston really for the wildcard spots as well. Their position keeps getting better but have a back to back in Florida next Monday/ Tuesday after a Saturday home game vs Montreal which is a huge stretch

I think Buffalo and Montreal have more talent than the Bruins, particularly on the back end. I think Boston will eventually fall on the outside looking in. And they will have the leafs #1 pick and Frasor Minten to show for the corpse of 6-5” soft as charmin Brandon Carlo

 

[Toga]

Sabres at +5,000 to win the Cup. Might be worth a couple of bucks.

 

[BuffOrange]

Sabres at +5,000 to win the Cup. Might be worth a couple of bucks.

Done! It seems like a lot of the "sustainable" signs of being legit are there: 5 on 5, Regulation Wins, etc.

 

[Toga]

+1,900 to make the finals

 

[upperdeck]

if any wants a sabres bet. They are 100-1 on Caesars. they must not be watching

 

[GoSU96]

Tuch with a hat. Everyone in the Atlantic ends up winning except Detroit, only down one.

 

[GoSU96]

fun to watch the past 7 weeks or so, the success has been contagious and the improvement on the ice has been staggering really. They still have to make the playoffs

I’ve been watching since game one. It was a discouraging start. My boys and Alex Tuch grew up together.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I’ve been watching since game one. It was a discouraging start. My boys and Alex Tuch grew up together.

Yeah the start was tough for sure.

Another big game Saturday vs Montreal. Then the back to back Florida run will be tough

 

[Toga]

A sell out last night at 19,000+. My first time down by the glass which gives you a sense of really fast mayhem.

 

[GoSU96]

A sell out last night at 19,000+. My first time down by the glass which gives you a sense of really fast mayhem.

Since it will be so cold I’m going to a hockey game during my Florida vacation Monday.

 

[upperdeck]

so strange going to a Panthers game when its 90s out and you want to wear shorts to a hockey game,

 

[jncuse]

I think Buffalo and Montreal have more talent than the Bruins, particularly on the back end. I think Boston will eventually fall on the outside looking in. And they will have the leafs #1 pick and Frasor Minten to show for the corpse of 6-5” soft as charmin Brandon Carlo

Boston is opening up a decent gap though - 8 points. The east is starting to become two groups between #1-#8 and #9-#15, as the middle has loosened up. Although I am sure a few of the #9-#15 will get back in the race (and possibly get in), its quite possible that #1-#8 right now all make the playoffs.

A lot of people assume Florida will wake up, but an 8 point gap is not easy especially for them even as they get guys back.
#1. They are a "tired" team. Two back to back playoff runs, where you play on average 5-6 weeks and about 15-20 games more then other teams for two years straight will take its toll.
#2. I believe they have 9 or 10 players in the Olympics. That will not help the fatigue situation.

 

[jncuse]

Time for the Toronto rebuild and tear down. Their draft capital and prospect pipeline stinks and its time to rebuild it.

But since there is no "draft" tank possibilities due to not having a 2027 pick, and none in either in 2026 or 2028, there doesn't need to be a rush on moving established contracts. That being said if you see a a core guy (Matthews, Nylander) at peak value right now and can get that value now you move him. But you can be patient with them too.

Trade all expiring contracts and get stuff.

 

[jncuse]

One of the fascinating things so far this season has been the turnover in the Eastern Conference.

5 teams that missed the playoffs are currently in. (and alternatively 5 are out)

IN
Detroit
Buffalo
Islanders
Pittsburgh
Boston

OUT
Florida
Toronto
New Jersey
Washington
Ottawa

Detroit and Buffalo are the teams that have built assets forever and finally are in.
Nobody was expecting Pittsburgh to be a playoff team this year -- the question before the year if you remember was if they would trade Crosby (or would Crosby be open to it).

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Time for the Toronto rebuild and tear down. Their draft capital and prospect pipeline stinks and its time to rebuild it.

But since there is no "draft" tank possibilities due to not having a 2027 pick, and none in either in 2026 or 2028, there doesn't need to be a rush on moving established contracts. That being said if you see a a core guy (Matthews, Nylander) at peak value right now and can get that value now you move him. But you can be patient with them too.

Trade all expiring contracts and get stuff.

i love how when they trade for guys those guys require a first round pick and a prospect. yet when they trade those same guys, they will get nothing close to that. Laughton is not any worse now than he was last year. Carlo is trash although getting stuck with Morgan Dash Rielly doesnt help.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Time for the Toronto rebuild and tear down. Their draft capital and prospect pipeline stinks and its time to rebuild it.

But since there is no "draft" tank possibilities due to not having a 2027 pick, and none in either in 2026 or 2028, there doesn't need to be a rush on moving established contracts. That being said if you see a a core guy (Matthews, Nylander) at peak value right now and can get that value now you move him. But you can be patient with them too.

Trade all expiring contracts and get stuff.

Matthews is going to pull a marner and walk for nothing. They should try and trade him now. Nylander is locked up long term and although he is a prima dona loafer, he loves it there.

 

[jncuse]

i love how when they trade for guys those guys require a first round pick and a prospect. yet when they trade those same guys, they will get nothing close to that. Laughton is not any worse now than he was last year. Carlo is trash although getting stuck with Morgan Dash Rielly doesnt help.

The Leafs are going to get less for Laughton, and Its not because of his abilities. You can't expect the Leafs to get as much for him now as last year for two factors.
a) They got him at the deadline for two playoff runs (or I guess potential runs). Now the team that gets him is only getting him for one.
b) Philly retained his contract at 50% for a full entire season (2025/2026). To get another team to retain 50% salary for an entire full season is going to cost you an extra something even if its $1,5 million.

Non-playoff teams don't mind retaining contracts for March and April - there season is over. But when you ask a team to retain a contract for a full upcoming season that comes with a premium,


t

 

[jncuse]

Matthews is going to pull a marner and walk for nothing. They should try and trade him now. Nylander is locked up long term and although he is a prima dona loafer, he loves it there.

Time is a bit on their side for a Matthews deal as he is signed through the end of the 2028 season -- and no need to tank as they don't have picks.

He has not been at a "superstar level" in 2025 and especially in 2026. Do you wait for him to bounce back to try to get more value next year?

He also has a superstar price tag at $13.5 million, but has not played as a superstar for the last 2 years. (although that is becoming less "high" as the cap goes up). Another reason to wait for a year perhaps.

That being said if his 2027 is like his 2026, the allure of his elite seasons from 2022 and 2024 will be even further away and his value goes down.

I think the Leafs should be open to trading anybody. I'm not sure, but I'd imagine he has a no trade clause as well that will hurt his return. Marner really screwed the Leafs with his.

 

[OburgOrange]

Time is a bit on their side for a Matthews deal as he is signed through the end of the 2028 season -- and no need to tank as they don't have picks.

He has not been at a "superstar level" in 2025 and especially in 2026. Do you wait for him to bounce back to try to get more value next year?

He also has a superstar price tag at $13.5 million, but has not played as a superstar for the last 2 years. (although that is becoming less "high" as the cap goes up). Another reason to wait for a year perhaps.

That being said if his 2027 is like his 2026, the allure of his elite seasons from 2022 and 2024 will be even further away and his value goes down.

I think the Leafs should be open to trading anybody. I'm not sure, but I'd imagine he has a no trade clause as well that will hurt his return. Marner really screwed the Leafs with his.

Mariner was just taking a page out of the Mats Sundin playbook

 

[jncuse]

Talking about Marner, I went to the Habs/Vegas game last Tuesday, and for whatever reason Marner was boo'd everytime he touched the puck. Couldn't figure out why.

Montreal fans do like to find ways to get involved in making noise during games, so perhaps that was a reason. I just found it very odd. Why, as a Habs fan, should I give a crap about Marner leaving the Leafs.