After the panthers won it last year it felt like cup or bust. This year it feels like there’s no pressure and we’re just having fun. I agree with Jesse.
To add onto what happened with Ullmark, it's not that he was great and then was simply bad in the playoffs. He was great, and got injured pretty severely but the Bruins coaching staff kept playing him instead going to Swayman like they had all year for reasons unknown. This Bruins era going back to 2010 has been a series of pretty horrendous chokes except in 2011 and when against the Leafs for some reason. Getting to three cup finals is pretty amazing, losing 2 of 3 not so much. Nor getting reverse swept by the Flyers nor losing to the Panthers after the best regular season ever. Although in the Panthers defense, they're a lot better than their regular season record showed. Pretty much the same team that won the President's Trophy the season before, and it was a collective sense of dread that was the round 1 matchup. Most Bruins fans were hoping for the Islanders or Penguins if they snuck in, Panthers were like getting the Hurricanes again. A bad match up that played the bruins close all season.
I'd take Carey price at 80% healthy in the playoffs over any goalie in the league. Some goalies have the ability to steal a couple games. He has the ability to steal entire playoff rounds. Crosby and the penguins complained about having to play them the year Montréal went to the finals because they knew he was going to steal the series. It's a shame that during his entire career, only once did a player ever reach 80 points. It's a crime.
The biggest choke job I've ever seen in hockey was team Sweden losing to Belarus in the Olympics. Boston doesn't even come close to that. A team stacked with nhl players lost to a team with none.
"why are we limiting it to the last 20 years?" Cause there was a completely new era of hockey being played from 04-05 and on. One win came from a lockout shortended season, and the other I don't have any excuse for. After that you had 2 cups wins, 1 cup loss, 2 conference finals, 7 second round exits, and 6 first round exits. That's not nothing. You have to at least acknowledge in the last 10 years the farthest someone made it was the conference finals in 14-15.
I belive that the presidents trophy has some meaning. Its an accomplishment to be the best regular season team. I think it has the same kind of value that individual trophies.
I think whoever wins the Presidents Trophy the team burns them selves out by playing so hard during the regular season and they run out of gas in the playoffs
You guys missed the MOST OBVIOUS explanation for President's Cup winning teams doing poorly in the first round. You see, the NHL does this incredibly stupid thing when the playoffs arrive; THEY CHANGE THE NATURE OF THE GAME. Whereas, you would get a penalty call (and power play) for an infraction against the other team, now you don't get the call and the team that is better at committing the minor fouls (like baby hooks, tugs on the jersey as examples) and not getting calls has a big advantage.
It frankly surprised me that Boston still didn't win because they are the quintessential cheap and dirty team (while still be highly skilled); however, this time they met their match with Florida who are also very good at the cheap and dirty style of game. It actually surprised me more that Toronto beat Tampa Bay who are also that type of team (while still being highly skilled) and, I hear, do very well in the playoffs (LOL). Until the NHL decides to run the regular season and the playoffs under the same rules, the President's Cup Trophy will not mean a damn thing and will end up being a lead indicator for your eventual fall in the playoffs and the league will be the worse for it.
I keep hearing about this nonsense about the Playoffs being a "tougher" game like that's something to be celebrated. It's rubbish!! I'll take a high skill playoff game every single day of the year. It might also make the referrees look a lot less like complete idiots who seem to have no idea what a penalty looks like. I've heard refs say they don't want to "change" the game by making a borderline call; however, they DO CHANGE THE GAME by not making the call.
Bottomline: If you call the games in the playoffs the same way you call the regular season, then teams who do well in the regular season will likely do well in the playoffs too, all things being equal. Then, the wild card will be injuries, some players stepping up under pressure and some disappearing under pressure. The way the NHL is now, it is almost unwatchable in the playoffs and sometimes in the regular season as well. They should fix it once and for all.
29 Comments
leafs > bruins
But the Warriors were in the finals. Boston didn't get out the first round against technically the 16th seed in the playoffs.
After the panthers won it last year it felt like cup or bust. This year it feels like there’s no pressure and we’re just having fun. I agree with Jesse.
To add onto what happened with Ullmark, it's not that he was great and then was simply bad in the playoffs. He was great, and got injured pretty severely but the Bruins coaching staff kept playing him instead going to Swayman like they had all year for reasons unknown. This Bruins era going back to 2010 has been a series of pretty horrendous chokes except in 2011 and when against the Leafs for some reason. Getting to three cup finals is pretty amazing, losing 2 of 3 not so much. Nor getting reverse swept by the Flyers nor losing to the Panthers after the best regular season ever. Although in the Panthers defense, they're a lot better than their regular season record showed. Pretty much the same team that won the President's Trophy the season before, and it was a collective sense of dread that was the round 1 matchup. Most Bruins fans were hoping for the Islanders or Penguins if they snuck in, Panthers were like getting the Hurricanes again. A bad match up that played the bruins close all season.
Overconfidence is a stinger
I'd take Carey price at 80% healthy in the playoffs over any goalie in the league. Some goalies have the ability to steal a couple games. He has the ability to steal entire playoff rounds. Crosby and the penguins complained about having to play them the year Montréal went to the finals because they knew he was going to steal the series. It's a shame that during his entire career, only once did a player ever reach 80 points. It's a crime.
People forget that Florida is actually good, they just had a rough season. I think they are better than last year. They just got their mojo in time.
Also, Tampa's historic season just to be swept by columbus I think is worst than Boston losing in 7.
The biggest choke job I've ever seen in hockey was team Sweden losing to Belarus in the Olympics. Boston doesn't even come close to that. A team stacked with nhl players lost to a team with none.
Love this
"why are we limiting it to the last 20 years?" Cause there was a completely new era of hockey being played from 04-05 and on. One win came from a lockout shortended season, and the other I don't have any excuse for. After that you had 2 cups wins, 1 cup loss, 2 conference finals, 7 second round exits, and 6 first round exits. That's not nothing. You have to at least acknowledge in the last 10 years the farthest someone made it was the conference finals in 14-15.
If the Bruins didn't win in 2011 it's kinda unreal how much they choke.
Ha ha! What a comment to end on.
The Canucks out-choked the Bruins or they wouldn't have a cup 🤷♂
The Sharks up 3 0 up against LA in the first round.
I belive that the presidents trophy has some meaning. Its an accomplishment to be the best regular season team. I think it has the same kind of value that individual trophies.
It’s just too much pressure. It’s really hard to win when everyone is expecting you
I think whoever wins the Presidents Trophy the team burns them selves out by playing so hard during the regular season and they run out of gas in the playoffs
You guys missed the MOST OBVIOUS explanation for President's Cup winning teams doing poorly in the first round. You see, the NHL does this incredibly stupid thing when the playoffs arrive; THEY CHANGE THE NATURE OF THE GAME. Whereas, you would get a penalty call (and power play) for an infraction against the other team, now you don't get the call and the team that is better at committing the minor fouls (like baby hooks, tugs on the jersey as examples) and not getting calls has a big advantage.
It frankly surprised me that Boston still didn't win because they are the quintessential cheap and dirty team (while still be highly skilled); however, this time they met their match with Florida who are also very good at the cheap and dirty style of game. It actually surprised me more that Toronto beat Tampa Bay who are also that type of team (while still being highly skilled) and, I hear, do very well in the playoffs (LOL). Until the NHL decides to run the regular season and the playoffs under the same rules, the President's Cup Trophy will not mean a damn thing and will end up being a lead indicator for your eventual fall in the playoffs and the league will be the worse for it.
I keep hearing about this nonsense about the Playoffs being a "tougher" game like that's something to be celebrated. It's rubbish!! I'll take a high skill playoff game every single day of the year. It might also make the referrees look a lot less like complete idiots who seem to have no idea what a penalty looks like. I've heard refs say they don't want to "change" the game by making a borderline call; however, they DO CHANGE THE GAME by not making the call.
Bottomline: If you call the games in the playoffs the same way you call the regular season, then teams who do well in the regular season will likely do well in the playoffs too, all things being equal. Then, the wild card will be injuries, some players stepping up under pressure and some disappearing under pressure. The way the NHL is now, it is almost unwatchable in the playoffs and sometimes in the regular season as well. They should fix it once and for all.
I'm a diehard Sabres fan and I hate our President Trophy banner. Reminds me about that bad Sens series
Honestly biggest choke could be seahawks in the SuperBowl. I know it's only one play but jeez…
That doesn't even crack a top 50 list of worst sports choke jobs.
Shoutout to Luca for the sick PWHPA hat
Corwin, your last comment was hilarious!
The last time a president winning trophy won a Stanley cup 2013 Chicago blackhawks
Buggest choke in SPORTS history is psg blowing a 3 goal pead in 8 min
Patriots game wasn’t a choke. It was one single game with a crazy play.
Unlike all these other choke jobs who blow series
How about the Yankees blowing their sweep to the Sox ?
Lol.
In the words of a wise man.. the playoffs are a different beast!
There's. No. Damn. Curse.