The Playoff Race / The Lottery Race

[john66]

Someone is getting 2 points in Philly today. A 3 pt 3 game would be fantastic.

[Victor]

The Ducks down 4-2 with under six minutes left comeback and beat the Rangers 5-4 in OT! The Ducks are now up on us by three points, great comeback.

It was one of the only games remaining for the Rangers against teams not in a playoff spot or fighting for one. Other than playing SJ tonight and one game against the Flyers, all their other 7 games are against teams in contention - 6 of them are in a playoff spot now and Islanders are in the hunt.

They have a tough schedule. Their pick might end up in the top 13.

[Victor]

It's looking like the Penguins may have 2 chances to get knocked down into a better draft position.
--Seattle is 1 point behind with 1 game in hand.
--Philly is 2 points behind, even in games.
--Buffalo is 3 points behind, 3 games in hand.

If you are wanting a better draft pick, odds are to root for Buffalo, who happens to be the hottest team in the bottom 10 right now, 6-4 in their last 10 and on a 3 game win streak. BUF and PHI play today at 1pm. Root for the Sabres.

Seattle is a toss up right now. SEA has a tough schedule, with back to backs against DAL this weekend, plus 2 games against LA, a game against VAN, a game against STL, a game against VGK. UTA and SJ are the only "easier" games.

Also interesting, SJ has gotten hot while Chicago is ice cold. SJ 5-5 in their last 10, now only 2 points from passing Chicago to 2nd overall, and SJ has 2 games in hand. I'd still expect Shaefer-Misa to go 1-2.

At this point I'd add VAN to the "easier" games for Seattle. They are 4 points behind WC2 spot with a game in hand, but STL won 8 straight games. The race in the West might be over.

[Michael74]

Someone is getting 2 points in Philly today. A 3 pt 3 game would be fantastic.

I'm hoping for OT, but Philly up 2-0 early.

Jack Quinn makes it 2-1. Dahlin out with an illness.

[thehockeyguru]

That gives Philly 69 points with an extra game played

[largegarlic]

That gives Philly 69 points with an extra game played

Nice. A regulation loss by the Pens tomorrow and they can drop into 6th! Maybe 5th if Seattle wins tonight.

Why would the Flyers change coaches to get the new coach bounce at this point? They could have just ridden Torts to the bottom and then fired him in a few weeks.

[Victor]

That gives Philly 69 points with an extra game played

Nice. A regulation loss by the Pens tomorrow and they can drop into 6th! Maybe 5th if Seattle wins tonight.

Why would the Flyers change coaches to get the new coach bounce at this point? They could have just ridden Torts to the bottom and then fired him in a few weeks.

It appears they don't think about their draft position in the 4th-7th range as much as fans do.

[Victor]

That gives Philly 69 points with an extra game played

It's very tight in that range.

Bruins 69 P, 73 GP, 23 RW
Penguins 69 P, 74 GP, 20 RW
Flyers 69 P, 75 GP, 19 RW
Kraken 68 P, 73 GP, 25 RW
Sabres 66 P, 72 GP, 24 RW

Closest teams are Detroit and Anaheim, both with 72 P, 72 GP.

[Sigwolf]

I would love the chance to spend an evening drinking a few beers and **** about hockey with Torts. Have him coach the Pens... no way.

[Michael74]

We need to lose tomorrow in REG.

[john66]

I would love the chance to spend an evening drinking a few beers and **** about hockey with Torts. Have him coach the Pens... no way.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. And add dogs to the mix. But no where near the Pens.

2 for 2 on Philly bets with the new coach.

[Victor]

Sabres beat Capitals 8-5 and now has 68 points, only 1 behind the Penguins.

[Victor]

Utah beats Chicago 5-2 and overtakes NYR, who now are outside the playoffs and their pick would be #13th.

[BigMcK]

For those Data Miners on this site: taking into a 2 year final season record, and 3 year final season record, can a report be compiled for 2 year record show final standings prior to Lemieux, and post Lemieux on final season standings, and then two seasons prior to Crosby, and post Crosby three seasons after.

My thought is that Crosby, with Lemieux on the roster, had a better impact on the three year standings than Lemieux, who.dtarted from scratch. Further fermenting that Mario is the GOAT Penguins player.

However. I am curious as to the standings bump Crosby had


@FLPensFan

[Pens4Life]

I loved Mario and he is one of best of all times,maybe best.. but putting that much stock in one player in hockey for team overall record is kinda streched.

[Victor]

Different eras as well. Crosby's first year was the first of the salary cap era. The lockout ended and teams could use unlimited compliance buyouts to get under the cap. So there was a lot of UFAs available which lead to unprecedented player movement. Scott Niedermayer, who was the reigning Norris winner, signed with Anaheim to play with his brother.

The team was able to sign Gonchar, Recchi, LeClair, Palffy as UFAs. They weren't as cash strapped as before. They still finished last in the old Atlantic division though. The state of the franchise was also very different. When Crosby was drafted, they already had Fleury, Orpik, Malkin in the system. Letang was selected the same year. I think the only guys that were on the roster in Lemieux's rookie season and that were still there in the '91-92 cup years were Troy Loney and Bob Errey.

It also marked the season X-generation star Rico Fata last played for the Penguins... he was lost in the waiver wire.

[Victor]

For those Data Miners on this site: taking into a 2 year final season record, and 3 year final season record, can a report be compiled for 2 year record show final standings prior to Lemieux, and post Lemieux on final season standings, and then two seasons prior to Crosby, and post Crosby three seasons after.

My thought is that Crosby, with Lemieux on the roster, had a better impact on the three year standings than Lemieux, who.dtarted from scratch. Further fermenting that Mario is the GOAT Penguins player.

However. I am curious as to the standings bump Crosby had


@FLPensFan

Just looking at the record for each season and overall league standings...

Code: Select all

Season  GP W  L  T  P  League
1982-83 80 18 53 9  45  21st
1983-84 80 16 58 6  38  21st
---
1984-85 80 24 51 5  53  20th
1985-86 80 34 38 8  76  15th
1986-87 80 30 38 12 72  14th 

Code: Select all

Season  GP W  L  T OT P   League
2002-03 82 27 44 6 5  65   29th
2003-04 82 23 47 8 4  58   30th
---
2005-06 82 22 46 - 14 58   29th
2006-07 82 47 24 - 11 105  10th
2007-08 82 47 27 - 8  102  5th

[KG]

Flyers won tonight. They are now tied with us in points with 1 game in hand.

[Michael74]

Flyers won tonight. They are now tied with us in points with 1 game in hand.

WE have the game in hand. We also have the tie breaker I believe so they have to have more points than us outright.

Which is why winning a meaningless game yesterday is so damaging. And there are other teams all around us tanking.

[BigMcK]

Victor, great job compiling those stats. It reflects the difference between the two teams. 80 games vs. 82 games. Also the expansion of the league thru the years.

It easily shows that Crosby joined a roster who had experienced players and talent surrounding him, as well as a mentor.

The jump in standings between the two teams is also interesting to see side by side.

Add talent = win more games. Here's to a new trend for the next generation of players.

[thehockeyguru]

Nice showing by Buffalo to get 2 points
Boston is still Tom Petty free falling

[Pitts]

From Yohe today:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/624353 ... ed_article

The Penguins are operating as though they’ll have access to the New York Rangers’ first-round pick this season — the one they acquired in the trade with Vancouver that sent Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor to the Canucks. If New York finishes with one of the NHL’s worst 13 records, it can choose to send the Penguins either its 2025 or 2026 first-round draft pick. The Rangers don’t have to tell the Penguins their plans for that pick until 48 hours before the draft. I don’t think the Penguins have a clue what the Rangers will do.

Do the Rangers fancy themselves contenders next season? If so, they might be more inclined to use, say, the 12th pick in this draft, presuming they would finish higher in the standings next season. Of course, what if the 2025-26 campaign is a disaster for the seemingly declining Rangers? There’s a prize in the 2026 NHL Draft, and his name is Gavin McKenna, the best prospect since Connor McDavid. Teams will be hesitant to trade away their 2026 first-round picks because of the possibility, slight or not, of getting lucky and landing the top pick.

I sense the Penguins will be perfectly pleased with whatever choice the Rangers make. They simply have to wait and see. But the Penguins are preparing to have two picks in the first round in June, as they should be.

[largegarlic]

From Yohe today:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/624353 ... ed_article

The Penguins are operating as though they’ll have access to the New York Rangers’ first-round pick this season — the one they acquired in the trade with Vancouver that sent Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor to the Canucks. If New York finishes with one of the NHL’s worst 13 records, it can choose to send the Penguins either its 2025 or 2026 first-round draft pick. The Rangers don’t have to tell the Penguins their plans for that pick until 48 hours before the draft. I don’t think the Penguins have a clue what the Rangers will do.

Do the Rangers fancy themselves contenders next season? If so, they might be more inclined to use, say, the 12th pick in this draft, presuming they would finish higher in the standings next season. Of course, what if the 2025-26 campaign is a disaster for the seemingly declining Rangers? There’s a prize in the 2026 NHL Draft, and his name is Gavin McKenna, the best prospect since Connor McDavid. Teams will be hesitant to trade away their 2026 first-round picks because of the possibility, slight or not, of getting lucky and landing the top pick.

I sense the Penguins will be perfectly pleased with whatever choice the Rangers make. They simply have to wait and see. But the Penguins are preparing to have two picks in the first round in June, as they should be.

I think that's kind of ridiculous that the Rangers don't have to let them know until 48 hours before the draft. It seems more reasonable to say 48 hours after the Rangers' draft position is determined.

[Michael74]

From Yohe today:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/624353 ... ed_article

The Penguins are operating as though they’ll have access to the New York Rangers’ first-round pick this season — the one they acquired in the trade with Vancouver that sent Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor to the Canucks. If New York finishes with one of the NHL’s worst 13 records, it can choose to send the Penguins either its 2025 or 2026 first-round draft pick. The Rangers don’t have to tell the Penguins their plans for that pick until 48 hours before the draft. I don’t think the Penguins have a clue what the Rangers will do.

Do the Rangers fancy themselves contenders next season? If so, they might be more inclined to use, say, the 12th pick in this draft, presuming they would finish higher in the standings next season. Of course, what if the 2025-26 campaign is a disaster for the seemingly declining Rangers? There’s a prize in the 2026 NHL Draft, and his name is Gavin McKenna, the best prospect since Connor McDavid. Teams will be hesitant to trade away their 2026 first-round picks because of the possibility, slight or not, of getting lucky and landing the top pick.

I sense the Penguins will be perfectly pleased with whatever choice the Rangers make. They simply have to wait and see. But the Penguins are preparing to have two picks in the first round in June, as they should be.

I think that's kind of ridiculous that the Rangers don't have to let them know until 48 hours before the draft. It seems more reasonable to say 48 hours after the Rangers' draft position is determined.

The terms were top 13 protected, so we knew the stipulation. Honestly I seriously doubt the Rangers believed they would be in this position. The best case scenario is that the Rags finish 14th -15th OA. Win one then lose one. But if it is deferred to next year that might not be such a bad thing.

[Pitts]

From Yohe today:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/624353 ... ed_article

The Penguins are operating as though they’ll have access to the New York Rangers’ first-round pick this season — the one they acquired in the trade with Vancouver that sent Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor to the Canucks. If New York finishes with one of the NHL’s worst 13 records, it can choose to send the Penguins either its 2025 or 2026 first-round draft pick. The Rangers don’t have to tell the Penguins their plans for that pick until 48 hours before the draft. I don’t think the Penguins have a clue what the Rangers will do.

Do the Rangers fancy themselves contenders next season? If so, they might be more inclined to use, say, the 12th pick in this draft, presuming they would finish higher in the standings next season. Of course, what if the 2025-26 campaign is a disaster for the seemingly declining Rangers? There’s a prize in the 2026 NHL Draft, and his name is Gavin McKenna, the best prospect since Connor McDavid. Teams will be hesitant to trade away their 2026 first-round picks because of the possibility, slight or not, of getting lucky and landing the top pick.

I sense the Penguins will be perfectly pleased with whatever choice the Rangers make. They simply have to wait and see. But the Penguins are preparing to have two picks in the first round in June, as they should be.

I think that's kind of ridiculous that the Rangers don't have to let them know until 48 hours before the draft. It seems more reasonable to say 48 hours after the Rangers' draft position is determined.

The terms were top 13 protected, so we knew the stipulation. Honestly I seriously doubt the Rangers believed they would be in this position. The best case scenario is that the Rags finish 14th -15th OA. Win one then lose one. But if it is deferred to next year that might not be such a bad thing.

I really want the Rangers to keep their pick this year and give us next year's. I expect them (whether they think so or not) to be a bit worse next season. Since next year's draft is supposed to be much deeper, I would rather have that pick! But, I'm guessing the Rangers will feel the same.