Das 2025-2026 NHL Regular Season Thread: If Connor McDavid were a real team player, he’d sign for the league minimum

[sutterfamily]

I guess, kinda dunb to take both Larkin and DeBrincat off at the end tho for what is kinda norm-core hockey play around the net. Not like Larkin was just sitting there innocently?

[sutterfamily]

I'm glad these teams don't play anymore

[Grand Moff Larkin]

I guess, kinda dunb to take both Larkin and DeBrincat off at the end tho for what is kinda norm-core hockey play around the net. Not like Larkin was just sitting there innocently?

Yeah Larkin was busy getting headlocked for being near the net

[sutterfamily]

Leafs beat the Bruins in reg, that rules.

[sutterfamily]

Ooh, Bruins get the Sabres tomorrow night, too.

[practice]

Leafs beat the Bruins in reg, that rules.

I am surprisingly ok with this result as well

[sutterfamily]

I think last night was the first... maybe second? game the SNES won thanks in large part to goaltending for the entire season?

I was reading reddit and most of the wings fans are SUPER down on the loss but I don't think they were bad at all.

[Grand Moff Larkin]

That’s just Wings fandom right now, I have to avoid it completely after a loss. I’ve extended that to general hockey discussion too because The Athletic podcast guys are unbearable about the Wings (outside of Bultman).

Detroit could’ve put more pressure on in the first half of the game, fell asleep defensively when it went from 1-0 to 3-0, needed to do more on their PPs, and clear the puck out of the zone when Ottawa had extended time / kept it in (which led to two of the goals). But I don’t think they were bad, necessarily, and they definitely had a half-dozen big chances down the stretch that Ullmark stopped or hit the post.

I have thought a lot about how much having their first goal taken off the board for a second consecutive game must’ve taken the wind out of their sails.

[sutterfamily]

Sabres win a sweet comeback and up 3-2 late against da broons. Hold this lead you dinks

[sutterfamily]

nope

[Cacophony]

This is something else

[sutterfamily]

loooooosers

[practice]

no faith in UPL at all

[Grand Moff Larkin]

Sabres win a sweet comeback and up 3-2 late against da broons. Hold this lead you dinks

Ah well nevertheless

[sutterfamily]

They tying goal was pretty woof.

[sutterfamily]

So, I had been toying with the idea of revisiting an opinion I had last year that Ruff was a terrible hire for the Sabres. Clearly wrong. But also, last night they were talking about how the Sabres have some super concerning underlying numbers and that they don't play a very solid, structured team D, riding a high team PDO, etc and they asked Lindy about it and he basically said "Uh, we're winning. Guess it's not so bad is it, nerds?" and that was pretty great in that it helps reinforce my belief they're gonna crash back to earth at some point here and that Ruff is and has always been kind of an arrogant blowhard.

[Grand Moff Larkin]

Roster wise I think the Sabres are legit, especially on the back end. If Norris is healthy (nervous chuckle), their forwards sift out well and have scoring depth. Alex Lyon was my favorite Wings goalie post-Howard until they got Gibson and he seems like a great dude, but they have to be careful with his workout. I am not entirely sold on UPL. So the way in which the Sabres would crash to earth would involve the goaltending turning into a pumpkin, Norris getting hurt, and the vibes they’ve been riding vanishing.

[sutterfamily]

I'm not saying they're terrible but they also aren't the best team in the NHL? F depth is good but Tage T is the only legit first line player. Everyone else is a really good 2 max (or worse).

Their exceptional record the last few months (1st basically since Dec 1) is mostly vibes and some luck. So back to earth = a typical decent team in the East (IMO)

[Grand Moff Larkin]

I don’t think they’re better than Carolina or Tampa in the East, but I don’t think any of the other teams are clearly better than them.

[sutterfamily]

Right, so what I said. Glad we could agree.