#oilers offseason

[bluepines]

I'm actually so scared to wake up tomorrow and open twitter

#like I know this team isn't the best there is but they're MY TEAM #I mean last year's team meant a lot to me too #but I wasn't into hockey enough to truly appreciate them so it's like :( #also why is it always the oilers that precede unfortunate events for us #because last year after the oilers home game kappy and mcginn got waived and teddy got traded #and we play the oilers again in a week #also I feel like I haven't seen Ned play in forever because the last game of his I watched was Chicago #And he might get dealt and it makes me feel ill #anyway that's it for today #(I'm only leaving this up probably so I can look back at this in the offseason and call myself dramatic) #(so ignore this) #pens lb

[crow-the-unknown]

WHAT THE HELL NOT KLIM AND YAMMO :((

#edmonton oilers #oilers lb #kailer yamamoto #klim kostin #offseason... fuck you #i hate this

[goldenseresinretriever]

Ruthie’s Hockey 101, Episode 1: The NHL and friends

A/N: Welcome friends to my little series called Ruthie’s Hockey 101!! The people have spoken and most of y’all have an interest in learning more about hockey so let’s do it!! I became a hockey fan during the 2023 NHL playoffs and I’m still learning every day so I’ll do my best to both pass on the knowledge I’ve acquired as well as learn alongside y’all! I’m going to include tie-ins to the SDD Universe to help put things into perspective in the series when I can if it helps! If it doesn’t, let me know, and I can keep things strictly general if that’s what more people prefer. Well without further ado, let’s get right into episode 1!

Masterlist // Episode 2

The NHL, or National Hockey League is a major professional ice hockey league in North America consisting of 32 teams from the US and Canada. (33 in our universe!)

The typical NHL season runs from October to April for the regular season. It consists of each of the 32 teams playing a whopping 82 games. After that the Stanley Cup Playoffs occur, which runs from the end of the regular season until June. Playoffs are a four-round tournament that end in the crowning of the Stanley Cup Champions. The Stanley Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the tournament! (Jake has won one Stanley Cup while Dare has coached the Pittsburgh Penguins to five Stanley Cup wins) That means that in-total, NHL hockey runs from October to sometime in June. The remaining months of the year, July-September are known as the Offseason. (Snitches Get Stitches occurs primarily in the offseason before the Dogfighters’s first season)

The 32 teams of the NHL are divided into two conferences, Eastern and Western and four divisions: Pacific, Central, Atlantic, and Metropolitan. When determining the teams that qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, the top three teams from each division automatically qualify for playoffs. (Four additional “wild card” teams also go to the playoffs but more on that in a future episode) Below is a list and map of all the 32 teams in the NHL. (The Dogfighters would be in the Western Conference and Pacific Division)

Western Conference

Pacific Division

Vancouver Canucks (CAN)

Edmonton Oilers (CAN)

Calgary Flames (CAN)

Seattle Kraken (USA)

San Jose Sharks (USA)

LA Kings (USA)

Anaheim Ducks (USA)

Vegas Golden Knights (USA)

Central Division

Winnipeg Jets (CAN)

Minnesota Wild (USA)

Colorado Avalanche (USA)

Arizona Coyotes (USA)

Dallas Stars (USA)

St. Louis Blues (USA)

Chicago Blackhawks (USA)

Nashville Predators (USA)

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Ottawa Senators (CAN)

Montreal Canadiens (CAN)

Toronto Maple Leafs (CAN)

Detroit Red Wings (USA)

Buffalo Sabres (USA)

Boston Bruins (USA)

Florida Panthers (USA)

Tampa Bay Lightning (USA)

Metropolitan Division

New York Rangers (USA)

New York Islanders (USA)

New Jersey Devils (USA)

Philadelphia Flyers (USA)

Pittsburgh Penguins (USA)

Washington Capitals (USA)

Columbus Blue Jackets (USA)

Carolina Hurricanes (USA)

While the NHL are the major league for ice hockey, there are plenty of minor league teams as well! There are various leagues that these leagues fall into but the most well known are the AHL and ECHL. Teams in these leagues are affiliated with NHL teams and usually serve as a place for NHL teams to train and grow players that will eventually serve on their rosters.

If you’re looking for an affordable way to see your first hockey game because NHL games definitely aren’t cheap, check to see if you have an AHL or ECHL team in your area that you can go see! San Diego, while not home to an NHL team, actually houses an AHL team, the San Diego Gull! They’re affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks. There are, of course, non-professional leagues as well so there’s plenty of ways to get involved with the sport locally!

A fun fact for us Top Gun fans is that there’s an SPHL (another minor league!) team in Pensacola, Florida that’s called the Pensacola Ice Flyers. They’re named to celebrate the large naval aviation base in Pensacola! I happened to pass their arena when I was in the area over Thanksgiving! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go to a game but I really wanted to 🥲

Of course, the US and Canada aren’t the only countries with ice hockey teams. There are plenty of other international leagues around the world! I don’t have a lot of experience when it comes to most of them but I will say it’s always fun to keep an eye on leagues in the southern hemisphere such as Australia’s NHSL because since their seasons are the opposite of North America, their hockey seasons are too! That means you can enjoy hockey year-round if you want to!! One of my goals this year is to start watching the NHSL during the NHL off-season!

What about women’s ice hockey??? Well I’m so glad you asked because the Professional Women’s Hockey League or PWHL, JUST launched on January 1, 2024!! It replaced the PHF league which was bought out. As of now there are six teams, three from the USA, and three from Canada and they’re playing their first season right now!! This is so exciting for the world of women’s ice hockey, and I can’t wait to watch some games! I really wish I could go see one in person big they’re not exactly in my neck of the woods unfortunately 😔 (We may even see some tie in with the PWHL and the SDD in future fics since we have a whole host of female hockey player representation in our characters!)

And that’s a wrap on Episode 1!! It was a lot of information but hopefully it helped you understand the basic structure of the NHL and other hockey leagues. Up next will be an explanation of the makeup of a hockey team and a dive into the different positions! Down below I’m going to link some resources for the various leagues I mentioned in the episode so you can check them out if you’re interested!

Helpful Resources

NHL Team Directory (List of Teams)

AHL Team Directory (List of Teams)

ECHL Team Directory (List of Teams)

NHSL Australia Team Directory (List of Teams)

PWHL Team Directory (List of Teams)

Watch PWHL Games on YouTube

#Ruthie’s hockey 101 #nhl #nhl hockey #hockey #san diego dogfighters #san diego dogfighters au #san diego dogfighters hockey au

[swissboyhisch]

Are They The NHL Power Couple or Just Best Friends?

If you know who Connor McDavid is then you would definitely know who Y/n L/n is. The young captain of the Edmonton Oilers, who is only aged 19, is very quiet about his private life, rarely posting on social media. But one thing for certain is that he constantly posts about his "best friend" Y/n L/n, or Y/n/n as he calls her. If either one of them isn't posting a picture about the other, usually someone else – either their childhood friends Y/b/f/n or Dylan Strome or a teammate of McDavid's – posts a picture of the two. The pair claims their just best friends but by the looks of the pictures, everyone expects them to be something more than just best friends. Even their close friends and family hint towards them being more than best friends. It seems like everyone wants them to be a couple.

From what we know, McDavid and L/n have known each other since birth; their parents were close friends before either of them were born. What we do know is that L/n was born in 1998, meaning she is only a year younger than McDavid. Our first public sighting of her was at the 2015 NHL draft, where McDavid was drafted 1st overall by Edmonton Oilers. There we witnessed McDavid celebrating the announcement by hugging his family and pressing a kiss to L/n's forehead, the young teenagers smiling at each other. As the years go on and McDavid becomes one of the best players in the league, their "friendship" becomes more public.

Currently, L/n is in Edmonton and our feed is getting flooded with photos of the best friends from both McDavid and L/n , along with their friends and family. These photos prove there is something between them but we don't know what that something is. Here are 10 photos to help you get to know the girl behind the youngest captain in NHL history and 5 photos that make us believe that there are sparks are flying between Connor McDavid and his best friend, Y/n L/n.

1) The Girl Behind The Captain

Y/n L/n seems to have her selfie game down pat though as she looks absolutely stunning in this picture she posted last month. It's a simple picture really, with not all that much going on, so the fact that she still manages to look so good speaks volumes. The selfie craze might be a little overdone in most cases but what we can say Connor is a lucky guy.

2) Besties

Y/n posted this photo during this past offseason when the large group of friends went on holiday to Europe, celebrating many things, like Octavia's Graduation and Connor's rookie season celebration. In this picture: Y/n L/n, best friend of Connor McDavid; Y/b/f/n, girlfriend of Oiler's forward Leon Draisaitl; Clover Bennett, cousin of New Jersey Devil's Forward Beau Bennett; Zara Strome, younger sister of New York Islanders' Forward Ryan Strome and Arizona Coyotes' Forward Dylan Strome; and Kennedy Moore, Girlfriend of Dylan Strome.

3) Prom Season

This past May, McDavid himself posted this picture to his Instagram, mcdavid97. Y/n, who was finishing her senior year, had asked Connor to be her date to her senior prom back in Erie. The caption was "Prom with Y/n/n 💕 #4". We believe that the hashtag four is the number of Proms they've attended together. Doesn't Y/n look just stunning though?

4) Talented

Just last month, Y/n represented the US at the Shotokan Karate World Championship in Paris. Her sister, Y/s/n, posted this photo, congratulating Y/n on her gold medals in her events. This isn't the first time she has been declared world champion. The young girl has travelled the world, competing and representing her country.

5) Siblings

Now we know McDavid has an older brother, but Y/n has an older sister named Y/s/n who we predict is roughly the same age as Connor's brother, Cameron McDavid. The two sisters are close, often posting photos of each other and photos together. And from the comments on their posts, all siblings are close, along with the Stromes and the Y/b/f/l/n. If we wanted to join any family, it would be the McDavids or L/n.

6) Support

Dylan Strome, now of the Arizona Coyotes, posted this after an Erie Otters game in 2015, McDavid's last season with the Otters. The caption thanked Y/n for always being at their games and being their number one supporter. It proves her, and Y/b/f/n, have been there since the start of both of their hockey careers. 

7) Future Family

Earlier this year, McDavid's older brother Cameron finally married his high school sweetheart, Holly Jensen. The day after the event, the bride posted this adorable photo of herself and her bridesmaids, including Y/n L/n (Far Right). We knew that Willow was close to the McDavids but they were closer than we thought! At the age of 17, L/n was asked to be a bridesmaid for the McDavid family wedding. She looks absolutely beautiful and we wished our puberty was that good!

8) WAG Life

At the age of 18, young Y/n is constantly spotted with the older WAGs; and not just Oiler WAGs! Even though she is not publicly known as a WAG, L/n is known to hang out with Kelly Talbot, Y/b/f/n and Mikayla Marrelli (Darnell Nurse' girlfriend) in Edmonton. But the young adult is also friends with many of the Lady Leafs, such as Stephanie Le Chance, Molly Robinson, Lucy Cashin and Sydney Esiason. But it doesn't stop there, she's also been seen with Arizona WAGs such as her best friends, Zara Strome and Clove Bennett.

9) Adorableness

Posted only yesterday by Y/n, the two friends are shown skating together, McDavid having to hold the brunette steady as they posed for the picture. If you look in the comments of the post, McDavid replies with "Just as bad as last time ❤️" and Y/b/f/n state that she's still bad at ice skating even though "she's basically dating an NHL player". I mean is that confirming everyone's wishing of them being together?

10) Future Mum

Isn't this picture just adorable?! No, she doesn't have a child; L/n just happens to love kids! She is known to be the team's babysitter when she is in Edmonton. This was posted by the teenager's older sister. The baby she's holding is the girl's niece. Honestly, if McDavid and L/n have a baby, wouldn't it be the cutest baby alive?!

11) Potterhead

This summer, we got updates on the young Oilers rookie as he experienced his first offseason of his NHL career. With his first year paycheck, he could have bought many things but instead, he decided to spoil his best friend. McDavid ended up taking L/n to the place she had always wanted to go since she was a kid, The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. There, the pair took over the Oilers Instagram, doing a live stream as the pair sat and drank butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron. This photo, posted by a fan, was a screenshot of the Livestream as they headed to the ride, Forbidden Journey.

12) High School Sweethearts

Y/n's best friend Y/b/f/n, posted this when McDavid was in his senior year. This was taken during Homecoming where all the athletes are celebrated for their part in the school spirit. McDavid played ice hockey for Erie Otters at this point, and well recognised at the school, while Y/n was a cheerleader for her school team while also heavily training in karate.

13) Travel Bug

How is she only 18 and yet travelled to more countries than most of us have in our entire lives? Whilst travelling the world for karate competitions, she also regularly travels during the summer with her friends and family, this year travelling to Europe with a group of friends as a graduation celebration. This stunning photo was posted by McDavid last June, he captioned this by simply putting the heart emoji underneath it.

14) Animal Lover

Don't you just want to steal this cute pup? The L/n family pet is a rescue German Sheppard, which was gifted to Octavia by her family after Connor and Dylan had been drafted in 2015. Rightfully named after Oilers mascot, the gorgeous dog is named Hunter. We don't know if L/n brought the dog with her to Edmonton, but we hope that we get more pictures of this in the future.

15) The Look

And our favourite picture of the two best friends was posted by the Edmonton Oilers account its self, reposted by the NHL official account. This year's Thanksgiving fundraiser night was a blast and after his killer rookie season and being named the captain, McDavid had a stunning girl by his side for the night. The team account posted this adorable photo of the young friends, both looking amazing. But just by looking at them, you can tell there is something more. Now it's a waiting game.

We're just saying if they were together, they would be the NHL's power couple!

TAG LIST

@penny4yourthoughts @mp0625 @nowandkei

#connor mcdavid x reader #connor mcdavid insta edit #connor mcdavid imagine #connor mcdavid #nhl imagine #nhl fic #nhl fanfiction #swissboyhisch insta edit #social media imagines #nhl insta edit #insta edit #insta fic #swissboyhisch social media fics

[sergeifyodorov]

I'm a new jets fan and I am sooo curious about your post about the locket room being toxic. is it just a vibe or is there actually known fueds between players?

okay i am going to state that the majority of this is hearsay/gossip, but here's a few things i can state fairly confidently

evander kane (noted ex-jet and ex-shark, current oiler) was not liked in the locker room, at least by dustin byfuglien (who i will shortly refer to as "buff," a nickname of his)

buff was an F/D for the jets/thrashers, and an alternate captain for them as well as a perennial all-star. there is an actual photo of him flipping off evander, so this feud is the least alleged thing about the Jetsuation (jets situation). right before the pandemic buff was granted a leave of absence and then a contract termination -- the rumours about this are twofold; one, that his body was breaking down (he was frequently injured so there's almost certainly truth to this) and two, that he was Not Friends with blake wheeler/mark schiefele

mark schiefele was essentially a co-captain, from what i can tell (now that wheeler is a] stripped of the captaincy b] a ranger and c] not long for the nhl, i imagine they might Name him), and is known to be firstly, an evangelical Christian (no hate, but, like, if you don't work in the church and your christianity is more than two lines in your wikipedia page? harshes the vibes) and secondly, kind of an asshole.

blake wheeler was, up until the 2022-23 season, the captain of the jets. they stripped him of the C in the offseason. he was good friends/allies with schiefele. he is apparently at least a democrat though so that's cool. what's uncool is the uh

THE PATRIK LAINE SITUATION

it's 2016. the jets have sucked ass and now have the second overall pick. they pick patrik laine, a winger with a great shot and some serious star potential

laine is a favourite pretty much instantly, scoring 36 goals as an eighteen-year-old rookie and 44 the year after. he's not twenty and arguably one of the best players winnipeg has ever had. quiet, even-keel, fashionable.

there's some contract struggles in there, including a stint where he went to switzerland as an rfa, but he comes back, signs a very short contract, we move.

gets hurt in december, before he comes back from it he's traded to columbus.

a little bit later, rumours come out -- blake wheeler (also a winger) was jealous of his skill, wanted the ice-time and the glory, and mark schiefele, the best centre on the team, wanted to play only with wheeler, not laine. rumours say the two of them bullied him to his face, talked about him behind his back, and the then-coach (paul maurice iirc) just sat there and let it happen (although maurice has stated he regrets not intervening). after this, laine allegedly requests a trade

so yeah

beyond The Patrik Laine Situation there's just rumours of them not liking each other at all; on paper they should be a comfortable away playoffs team, a 3-seed or a comfy wild card, but in practice they're a wild-card team at best -- they were up there in the division for a few months last year, but seriously crashed and burned as soon as january rolls around. there are seemingly yearly soundbites of them going "well, we just don't like each other all that much," and everyone always seems to want out (although that might be winnipeg the city more than winnipeg the team.)

i will leave you with one old alleged anecdote: some reddit guy once went to a party (or a concert? maybe a restaurant or club?) where the jets were, and instead of socializing, talking to each other, they were apparently all just sitting around in silence not really lookin at each other at all

#asks #not tagging the jets that feels mean. the jets could be fixed if we disappeared mark schiefele lbr #theres ALSO rumours of there being a handful of qanon types there who make it miserable for everyone else #but like. hellebuyck wants out. pld wanted out. laine and buff and and and. when does it end. what is it worth #my hockeyblr agendas: stan the bolts 4 rivalry reasons and kill schiefele for the sanity of the rest of us reasons #ALSO ONCE AGAIN stating that this is largely hearsay and speculation #godspeed new jets fan and good fortune

[hopetorun]

“it’s almost just like how it was before” for the made-up fic title meme!

my first thought for this was actually leon goes to tampa futurefic but the @msmargaretmurry did this in a response for the same meme so i'm going to take this in a different direction.

our story starts in buffalo, new york, on june 24, 2016. draft day. auston matthew goes first overall to toronto, and patrik laine goes second overall to winnipeg. and then, instead of what actually happened that day, it goes the way people thought it would: jesse puljujarvi goes third, to columbus. and edmonton, picking fourth, takes the guy whose nameplate they already have velcroed to an oilers jersey: matthew tkachuk.

so matthew trucks his way up to edmonton, with aspirations of adding "winger for connor mcdavid" to his resume. now i'm gonna level with y'all: the oilers made me very, very mad in the summer of 2016 and hockey in general made me very, very made in the fall of 2016, so i've memory holed a lot of the details of the next couple of years. but luckily i'm not writing this story for real, so i can fudge and slur my way through that part!

matthew's career trajectory in edmonton isn't all that different from in calgary -- he's good pretty much from the jump, and with some ups and downs improves as he gets older (and a little calmer). he does get to add winger for connor mcdavid to his resume, but he ends up sticking mostly on the second line, as one of leon's wingers. there's a lot of reasons for it, but in part it's because it just drives the other teams bananas. annoyingness/60 off the charts. and matthew and leon are both having a blast the whole time.

i don't think they click instantly when matthew shows up in edmonton in 2016, because matthew's a hotshot, high draft pick, legacy, the whole nine yards, and leon's still feeling a little insecure about his place with the oilers. at least matthew's not a center.

so they don't click instantly, but it comes pretty quickly. matthew's a friendly guy, when he's not antagonizing every flames player on the ice (which frankly leon thinks is very funny), and he's smart about hockey, and a fun guy to hang out with.

and so we get a few years of the mcdavid-draisaitl-tkachuk era in edmonton. a lot of goals, and maybe not as much defensive responsibility as everyone wishes, a lot of people on twitter and capfriendly's gm tool getting stressed about the contract math. and they're right to be stressed about the contract math -- that's a lot of high-end offensive talent to have stored up, and it's gonna get pricey.

and then it's the 2021 offseason. matthew's already been a holdout, and he got his deal but everyone knows the next one won't be any easier, and mcdavid and draisaitl have their long-term deals but they're only going to get more expensive. they've been swept two years in a row in the playoffs. the front office wants results, and cap flexibility (that flat cap is already hurting). so matthew gets traded.

now, i don't think he and leon ever dated or anything at this point, but they were kind of dancing around the possibility for a while. another few years, or maybe one good solid playoff run, and it would've happened. (and by it i do mean falling into bed without actually talking about anything, but they would've talked eventually. both of them are too soft and serious about important things.) so for leon, matthew is this possibility. someone he almost got to have. it haunts him a little, when he lets it. and he misses the camaraderie he had with matthew, and how well they clicked on the ice. but that's just the business. he makes new friends and finds new guys to click with on the ice, and sure none of them make his heart beat too fast in the same way but he shouldn't be looking for boyfriends amongst his teammates anyway.

they keep in touch, a bit. it's hard with the grind of the season, and the time difference (matthew's on the east coast now) that doesn't even get any easier in the summers. leon fills up the space matthew took up in his life with other friends. more time with connor. other teammates. a dog. (it's a hassle, without someone living with him, but he's got a very generous neighbor and a big backyard and money to burn on fancy kennels if he wants.)

leon dates someone else, eventually. pretty seriously, living together kind of stuff. it is easier to deal with the dog this way. he learns just how annoying it is to play against matthew, and he tries not to laugh when matthew stares him down. the two of them get dinner with connor when the oilers are in raleigh (hey, we're playing the it almost happened game here anyway) and talk about the oilers circa 2017 experience. none of them win cups, but matthew gets the closest. leon determinedly isn't jealous, and sends him a nice text when the canes wash out in the conference final. again. but you know, it's not like leon misses him daily or anything. just at odd moments, when a play breaks down and he ends up with the puck, and he spins to find matthew on the ice, because matthew would've seen the same thing he did. and matthew's not there. matthew hasn't been there for years.

he doesn't ever ask if matthew's dating anyone, and matthew doesn't volunteer the information. he thinks it'll sting too much to find out, even though he is dating someone, and he hasn't told matthew about it.

matthew finds out, though, at an all-star game down the road. they're both there, and leon's boyfriend is too, and leon doesn't even introduce them. matthew's just saying hi to everyone, the way he does, and leon's boyfriend says leon invited him, and from the look on matthew's face, he doesn't even have to say boyfriend because matthew's got it all figured out. that shouldn't bother leon, and it bothers him a hell of a lot. (matthew's dated people too, but no one seriously enough to do something like this, and leon is right that he'd be hurt if he found out.)

leon signs a contract extension in edmonton. thinks about the possibility of retiring as an oiler. gets dumped, because his boyfriend gets tired of the late nights at home alone. the core of players he was striving for a cup with in edmonton is slowly breaking up. early-ish retirements. trades. the usual stuff. and leon wants to win, and he's starting to think that isn't going to happen in edmonton.

there's two years left on his contract and, well. he's looking, a bit. eyeballing other teams, looking at where he thinks he might be able to help the most. he has a full NTC, now, and the oilers won't be happy if he asks to be moved, but he thinks they'll make it happen. he can be flexible, a bit. he's good enough to command a decent return. connor will forgive him. he'll resent it, the freedom that his presence has given leon to do things like bail on the oilers when the going starts getting tough again, but he'll get over it. the deadline is creeping up now, and the oilers could still make the playoffs but it's looking more and more like they won't, and on the other side of the continent matthew's still -- well, he's not tearing it up like he used to, but he's putting together a decent season on a competitive team. and leon's jealous.

so he finally puts in the request. feels a little guilty but not enough to not do it. this is a business. he wants to win. he's won everything else, individually. maybe they've even won the president's trophy once or twice. but he wants a cup. the cup isn't the first thing he thinks about when all the chips are down and he's going to be matthew's teammate again.

it takes some getting used to, when it actually happens. matthew doesn't just plop back onto leon's wing and learn to read his mind all over again. matthew's an established guy on the team, he's already got a line. leon's playing a bit of wing, a bit of center. leon knows better than to have expected everything to just slot back into place but there was a stupid part of him that kind of wanted it anyway. it was so easy before! and now matthew's got a whole life here and leon's the interloper.

i think from here leon spends a while being in his feelings about it. not wanting to push too hard and upset the balance of this team, because they're winning. they're playing well. it feels good. but then the team's 2c gets hurt and he ends up slotting in, matthew on his wing again and oh, oh, that's the thing they used to have. leon is totally swept up in it, and along with it the crush he used to have on matthew. the thing that always felt like it could happen is still there, simmering under the surface. leon feels it when matthew slams him into the boards in a hug, and he feels it when matthew compliments him in a scrum and he feels it at the bar after the game, drink in hand and matthew leaning in close and grinning too wide.

it's not the same, exactly. they're both comfortably into their thirties now. older. more settled. matthew has a house in raleigh, which he never did in edmonton. even leon, uprooted midseason and in a new area, feels older and more stable than he ever did at 22.

they still don't act on it. matthew thinks leon got over it. leon doesn't want to rock the boat. but leon can't stop himself from pushing a little. touching when they don't need to. knees pressed together on the plane.

matthew does realize leon isn't over it somewhere in here. he's not an idiot. he knew what the vibes were back in edmonton, and he knows that leon's hand on his back at the bar isn't platonic. but leon doesn't push, and matthew's careful about these things. and they're winning, winning so much. winning in a way they weren't when they played together before, and it feels incredible.

gonna go big romance here and say this one ends when they win the cup. neither of them's on the ice but they pile off the bench together when the buzzer sounds, and after they've had their turns with the cup -- it feels even better than leon thought it would -- and after the night has finally wound down, leon grabs matthew by the wrist the way he's wanted to since matthew was 20 years old and so transparently trying to make everyone like him.

matthew comes toward him easily, until they're nearly touching, and leon finally, finally kisses him.

#i'm SO sorry this took so long #i think there's a lot to flesh out in here and it really feels like one of those stories where i'd have to write it to learn the story #which isn't bad necessarily but it is stressful; home by now was one of those and i was SO unsure of the character arcs #and to the person whose prompt i still haven't gotten to: i'm working on it #my fic #fic by daisysusan

[stereax]

GOT AN IDEA

tell me whos gonna get the cup next year. like who would u say will get it. ik u cant say but who you do think it will be, lets make predictions

Hmmmmm. I did do a bit of an analysis on that a bit ago, but with Free Agency Frenzy almost fully in the rearview mirror, things have changed...

Here are my WAY too early predictions for the playoffs.

Metro -

1. Devils - Conference Leaders

2. Hurricanes

3. Rangers

4(WC2). Penguins

Atlantic -

1. Maple Leafs

2. Panthers

3. Bruins

4(WC1). Senators

Central -

1. Stars

2. Avalanche

3. Predators

4(WC1). Wild

Pacific -

1. Golden Knights - Conference Leaders

2. Oilers

3. Kraken

4(WC2). Kings

This would give us a bracket as follows:

Devils v Penguins

Hurricanes v Rangers

Maple Leafs v Senators

Panthers v Bruins

---

Stars v Wild

Avalanche v Predators

Golden Knights v Kings

Oilers v Kraken

My picks to win?

Devs v Pens - Devs. Even though I give the Pens a playoff berth (which they really could blow) because of some of the good short-term moves Dubas has made to solidify the team, I really doubt they can beat the Devils in a seven-game series. Devs v Pens games always have the aura of "our grandparents threw a party and we were the only ones that came". They're just too old to make a serious Cup run. And Jarry is more often injured than not.

Canes v Rags - Rags. The top three teams in the Metro last year have what could be described as a rock-paper-scissors relationship. Devils overpower Rangers through offense, Canes stifle that offense with good defense, Rangers goaltending blocks Canes volume shooting. Plus, Shesty's mad.

Leafs v Sens - Sens. That's a hot take, but let me justify it. Despite the Leafs breaking the curse this year, they have many glaring issues - most notably, they've gotten way worse over this offseason and are even more cap-strapped than usual. They can't really acquire at the trade deadline even if they want to. On the flipside, the Senators' main issue was goaltending. They got a good goalie in Koorpisalo. I do see this going six or seven, but I honestly believe the Sens can upset the Leafs.

Cats v Bruins - Cats. The Cats already beat the Bruins last year. Arguably better Cats versus clearly worse Bruins? Not even a contest.

Stars v Wild - Stars. The Wild can't seem to crack the first round and they're dealing with $14.7m in dead cap. Contrast with the Stars, who are able to make deep runs for the Cup and don't have $14.7m less to play with. Easy choice here.

Avs v Preds - Preds. The Preds made some really good moves in free agency, adding Ryan O'Reilly and Luke Schenn, among others. The Avs lost their captain for another year and coped by signing Miles Wood to a 6x2.5. Holy overpay. It's almost like they're trying not to contend.

Knights v Kings - Knights. The Kings are an aging husk of a team that managed to lose the PLD trade where Winnipeg was begging for anyone to take him. The Knights just won the Cup. How is this a contest?

Oilers v Kraken - Kraken. The Kraken have depth and have four solid lines of players. The Oilers shipped off Yamamoto and Kostin to the Red Wings for literal table scraps. Darnell Nurse is on one of The contracts in history. Campbell is massively underperforming. C'mon, further the tragedy of the Edmonton Oilers. I know you want to.

Round 2 becomes:

Devils v Rangers

Panthers v Senators

---

Stars v Predators

Knights v Kraken

Predictions:

Devs v Rags - Devs. Shesty probably gets a panic attack when he sees Timo's smiling face. The Devils have learned that the speed game is paramount for them (which is what they use to beat the Penguins as well) and they can track meet the Rangers seven days a week. This really becomes Devils Offense versus Shesterkin. I think the Devils win this one.

Cats v Sens - Cats. This one's gonna set some penalty minute records. The Tkachuks are going to kill each other and their teams' penalty kills. While the Sens upsetting the Cats would be ironic and further a Senators Cinderella Run, I think the Cats win here. I mean, one solid hit on Stützle and half the offense is gone.

Stars v Preds - Stars. The Predators have a Saros, the Stars have an Oettinger. What the Stars have is their top point scorer NOT being a defenseman. That's right - the Preds' top point scorer last year was a defenseman (Roman Josi). I put the Preds above the Avs because the Avs are seemingly trying to be bad now, but I can't put them above the Stars.

Knights v Kraken - Kraken. I just want to see a battle of the expansion teams in the playoffs. Giving the edge to the Kraken only because of Knights playoff fatigue, but it can go either way. Just make it happen, Bettman. That's all I want.

So the Conference Finals become:

Devils v Panthers

Stars v Kraken

My predictions here?

Devs v Cats - Cats. This one could REALLY go either way. I'm giving it to the Panthers because they're a more physical team that the Devils have historically struggled with. Expect this to go to six or seven if nobody's injured.

Stars v Kraken - Stars. I think the Stars beat the Kraken seven days a week. There's no real reason for this (maybe outside of Oetter>Grubi) but just a general vibe that the Stars are just the better team in that matchup.

So your Stanley Cup Final is:

Cats v Stars.

And my winner?

Stars. Anything can happen in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This one can go either way (damn, I've said that before). I'm calling Stars in six or seven because I think they can be slightly more consistent over the Cats, who can be notorious for being hot and cold. Once again, injuries will play a big role here - if Robertson, for example, is out of commission, the scales tip drastically towards the Cats. If Benn is injured it might be better for the Stars...

#stereanswers #stereanalysis

[foxglves]

keep being reminded of the very real and high chance that yamo gets traded this offseason they can’t do thattt literally the only hockey jersey I own is a yamo oilers jersey. you can’t do that to me and also drai and nuge what will they do without their emotional support rabid little freak

#hockeyposting #oilers #:(:(:( #idk I know his injuries have been affecting his play #but he’s still a great player and has great chemistry with his linemates #in my personal heavily biased opinion trading him would be a mistake

[krakenbait]

bragging rights bracket update #6

good afternoon, bracketeers! the eastern conference had worked itself out last time i reported, while the west came to its final two this time. the golden knights took out the oilers, while the stars overcame the kraken in a game 7 that was very unfortunate for me personally. the conference finals lineup is probably fun if you’re a canes, panthers, knights, or stars fan, but is decidedly not fun for the majority of the brag-cket. there’s only one entry left standing, and 15 out of 19 participants have hit their points ceiling. most likely, i’ll get to award this year’s bragging rights before they hand out the stanley cup. gary bettman, eat your heart out. 

anyway, the scores.

116 points

Hughes line is it anyway? (@natashastarkk​) - highest points potential for a busted bracket, and third place last year. is this another podium event for nat?

96 points

hopelessly optimistic bruins fan (@patron-saint-of-boston-hockey​) - something something unfortunate bruins fans being very attracted to the numbers 6 and 9 (see: AJ’s points total last year)

91 points

more hairy men (abby) - go natural disaster teams?

84 points

Chaos mode (emily) - what are your thoughts on shiny gold helmets?

81 points

raise hell or whatever (@dawson-mercer​) - which taylor swift era would you say the devils are in?

you know :) (@nastybastian​) - how’s the weather in jersey? i bet it’s cold and grey

68 points

come on and raise up (@andreisvechnikov​) - i really hope teravainen isn’t rushing back too quickly

ready 2b dissapointed but not surprised (@morganfrost​) - how could the oilers do this to you?

the commissioner is not supposed to win (me) - so close to being nice! well, at least i’m in good company

66 points

Jack I will pay you to get a mullet (@puck--off​) - and now we wait for the offseason adventures

61 points

battle of the matty b’s (@shea-theodore​)

kraken why! you were my last hope!

58 points

The head, the heart, and the himbos (@circle--of--confusion​) - your western conference was briefly genius... well, aside from that jets pick.

56 points

Hold me like a grudge -  that’s no good for your health

GOOD vibrations (ki) - denver has officially shifted into basketball mode, i take it

55 points

big advocate for naps (@turbolainen​) - last one standing! *several red lasers appear pointed at you*

53 points

the bringer of chaos (brett) - your bracket standing is somehow worse than your music taste.

46 points

Djoker’s actual bracket - did you see the noora raty signing? it’s like the rivs are building their own finnish mafia

33 points

last season 69 points (@arsonandhockey​)

corwin, i think your brag-cket attempts are cursed.

13 points

if the bruins don’t win don’t talk to m (AJ) - if this was a real bracket pool, like with money, i’d be giving you yours back

#bragging rights bracket challenge #brag-cket updates #scp23

[reavenedges-lies]

I don't want to be mean but I'm just here loling at the Sharks-Oilers PGT thread that has over 2,000 comments from fans of 31 other teams. The cherry on top is that the Oilers Twitter admin turned the final score tweet in a reply format 😭 Tbh they shouldn't have declared "cup or bust" in the offseason, it never ends well

It's rough because to an extent it is funny and I did laugh but also I'm just sad. I remember the yotes doing this, hels they might do it again, and everyone used it as another excuse to shit on the fan base and team, but the oilers are different. They're in Canada, they have stable ownership, they have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they've had 10 or 11 top 10 first round draft picks in the last like decade, they should not be struggling as much as they are and it's hard to watch but it's hilarious as a person not invested in the team. As a fan of a smaller market team like the coyotes it's validating and it proves that the sport is hard and managing the teams are hard, but the Penguins fan in me sees this and wants to laugh purely because of the first overall draft pick nonsense of the Connor McDavid versus Sidney Crosby narrative that they keep pushing.

But yeah after cup or bust is never a good ultimatum to have. I don't expect all of their management or staff to still be there in a day or two I definitely expect some changes but it's going to be fun watching shit get torn down for everyone involved except for oilers fans who have to deal with this for another 5 years

#oilers opinion piece #rea answers #thanks for rhe ask lovely! #anon ask

[iwantahockeyhimbo]

the oilers and rangers said why wait an offseason when you can wait 3 days?

#connor mcdavid #sammy blais #kinda hockey #new york rangers #edmonton oilers

[idontlikeem]

take 1: you should fire your coach every 5-6 years.

sorry this took me a few days!

ugh i hate this take. i see it a lot and i think it's coming from a viewpoint that i actually agree with, but so many people have turned it into some sort of rigid hard and fast rule of the league and it's just...wrong.

there is some truth to the fact that coaches can get 'stale' after a certain amount of time, and if they're not adapting to the strengths and weaknesses of the roster they currently have, then yes, that's a reason to fire them.

same if they lose the room (and to the person who sent me the ask about sid's coach-killer reputation, i am going to get to it i swear!). you can tell when a team has totally checked out on a coach's words and instructions—it's happened multiple times this year, look at the flyers, look at the habs, look at the oilers, look at the canucks. if the roster won't perform for the coach, he's gotta go, even if he's still working hard.

but to fire someone just because they've reached an arbitrary tenure, without evaluating everything that goes into determining if a season was successful or not? no no no no no.

let's look at jon cooper of the tampa bay lightning as an example. he is, i believe, currently the longest-tenured active coach. he was hired in march 2013. that would have put, according to the above metric, his fire date in the offseason after the 18-19 season.

granted, the 2019 playoffs were an epic collapse for that team. they'd just signed him to an extension, but after such an insane failure in that postseason, i don't think anyone would have been too surprised if he'd been fired- after all, it had been six years, maybe he's just not good enough for the team anymore?

well. i don't think i need to remind anyone what happened with that team the two following postseasons, do i? do they still win back-to-back cups if someone else is their coach? maybe—but the fact of the matter is, they did it with him.

if your coach is still able to coax extraordinary performance out of your players, if he can adapt and adjust his systems to work with what he has available, and if he still has the ear and the respect of the players, you don't get rid of him just because some people in the media think that coaches should be replaced every few years like you're supposed to replace your mattress.

#asks #anon

[oeldeservesthenorris]

Avalanche have embraced the journey. It’s taking them to the Stanley Cup Final - The Athletic

EDMONTON — You don’t have to wait until the pinnacle to feel the joy. The Avalanche are going to the Stanley Cup Final, and that’s a big deal. Feel it, soak it in, celebrate.

No, the job isn’t done. This is a team with bigger goals. But as Nathan MacKinnon said after the game, it’s important to enjoy the journey. His team has a chance to win a championship, and that’s an accomplishment in itself.

The players seemed to recognize that in the moments after finishing a sweep of the Oilers with a 6-5 win. There was the hyper-focused MacKinnon, who grinned, helmet unstrapped, as he walked from the ice to the dressing room. There was rookie Bowen Byram, who screamed, “Fuckin’ right!” before throwing his arms around skills coach Shawn Allard. And there was 34-year-old Erik Johnson, the longest-tenured Denver athlete, whose eyes grew damp in his postgame news conference, reflecting on his 857-game journey in the NHL that has, at long last, led him to a Stanley Cup Final.

“You never know if that opportunity is going to come,” he said.

But it did.

MacKinnon — who came to Colorado with the burden of expectation and has met everyone’s, except maybe his own — is going to the Stanley Cup Final.

Captain Gabriel Landeskog — who acknowledged after the game that, in a dismal 2016-17 season, he doubted whether the Avalanche core would ever reach this point — is going to the Stanley Cup Final.

Cale Makar — who scored five points in the clinching Game 4 and whom Wayne Gretzky called the best player on the ice in every game of a series featuring Connor McDavid — is going to the Stanley Cup Final.

Forwards Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Compher, who were with the Avalanche at their lowest in 2017. Valeri Nichushkin and Jack Johnson, who came to Colorado hoping for a chance. Pavel Francouz, the No. 2 goalie who found a way to win four games in the conference finals. They’re all going to the Stanley Cup Final.

So is coach Jared Bednar, whom the Avalanche hired despite his lack of NHL experience. He’d never played at the highest level and hadn’t even been an assistant in the league before general manager Joe Sakic gave him a chance, impressed by how he grinded in the minors, honing his craft, working for an opportunity. Sakic stuck with the coach after the 48-point 2016-17 disaster, and he stuck with him again after three consecutive second-round playoff exits.

“I wasn’t in a rush to get to the NHL,” Bednar said. “I’d still be coaching today if I was in the ECHL or the American League, but the opportunities came and I wanted to make sure I was ready. I put a lot of work into that and a lot of growth over the last few years, no question. Not unlike our team.

“I’m just one piece to it — I’m just one piece to it. It’s been a lot of fun, and we’re going to get a heck of an opportunity here.”

Sakic rode the elevator down after the game with assistant general manager Chris MacFarland, who helped build a star-studded roster that managed to keep its depth. The Avs traded for Nazem Kadri, Devon Toews and Andre Burakovsky in previous offseasons, then made four additions at this year’s deadline. One was depth forward Nico Sturm, who assisted a Makar overtime winner against Nashville in the first round. Another was Josh Manson, who scored an overtime winner against the Blues. A third was forward Andrew Cogliano, who has chipped in two game-winning goals this postseason.

But front and center Monday night was Artturi Lehkonen, whom Sakic acquired from Montreal for former first-rounder Justin Barron and a second-round pick. The forward grabbed a rebound in front of the net less than two minutes into overtime and made sure it was on his stick. Then, after what Makar said felt like a full minute, he fired it past a sprawling Mike Smith.

Game over, series over.

“That’s why you trade for guys like that at the deadline,” MacKinnon said. “I’d trade 10 first-rounders for him right now.”

It wasn’t the first time Lehkonen has come through in a big moment. Playing for the Canadiens last season, he scored a conference final overtime winner against Vegas to send his team to the Cup.

“Chance to play for the Stanley Cup doesn’t come very often,” he said after the game. “You’ve got to make the most of it. This year is an opportunity for us.”

Colorado’s stars showed up in the final game, with MacKinnon, Landeskog, Rantanen and Toews all scoring. But Makar, the first player to put the puck in the net Monday, shined brightest of all. He’s up to 22 points in 14 games this postseason, all while taking on hard defensive assignments and continually coming through.

“We’re lucky,” Erik Johnson said, “because we’re watching greatness.”

The Avalanche showed a comfort level playing from behind that they sometimes lacked last season, when they won the Presidents’ Trophy for the best regular-season record but fizzled against Vegas in the playoffs. Colorado trailed 3-1 entering the third period, then 4-2. But the Avs clawed back and took the lead with five minutes left, only to give it back moments later.

The prospect of a late blown lead didn’t faze Bednar’s bunch, though. Johnson said the team went into the locker room after regulation believing all the pressure was on Edmonton. Avalanche players knew from experience: They’d blown a multigoal lead in Game 5 of their second-round series with the Blues, losing in overtime. This time they turned the tables.

“We’ve been up and we’ve gotten tight,” MacKinnon said. “We figured: ‘Let’s make these guys tight. Put a little doubt in their mind.’ Their season was on the line, and we pushed and pushed, and we finally broke through.”

Added Bednar: “There’s been a lot of growth, even from last season and the heartbreak we’ve had over the last couple of years, to be as resilient as we’ve been.”

The Avalanche have reached their first Stanley Cup since 2001, and they’ve done so by eliminating key players from past eras. First was Nashville’s Matt Duchene, who, by his own request, was traded in 2017. Then was St. Louis’ Ryan O’Reilly, who was moved in a 2015 trade with Buffalo. And now has come Edmonton’s Tyson Barrie, a dressing room favorite who was moved in Sakic’s 2019 deal to acquire Kadri. Barrie walked through the handshake line after the game, warmly greeting his old friends in defeat.

In the moments after shaking hands, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly presented Landeskog with the Clarence Campbell Bowl, given to the Western Conference winners. Landeskog didn’t touch the trophy at first (some consider it bad luck), but when MacKinnon came over, both put their hands on it — two of the team’s leaders celebrating a new height reached.

The players didn’t pick up the bowl, though. That celebration, if it happens, will have to wait for the Stanley Cup, still four wins away.

“Hopefully, we go out and put our best foot forward and go win the thing,” Bednar said.

As players repeated, the job isn’t finished. Far from it. But that doesn’t mean the journey isn’t one to savor.

#colorado avalanche #nhl #nhl hockey #nhl players #nhl playoffs #nhl playoffs 2022 #amazing #sohappyforej allofthemreally

[jackkelley3714-blog]

Reliving Glory: Unveiling the Legend of Kansas City Chiefs' #19 Joe Montana

he Chiefs mailed three jerseys to Montana. One was number 3, his number from Notre Dame, which the Chiefs had retired in honor of Hall of Fame kicker Jan Stenerud, who offered to let him wear it. Another was number 19, which he wore in youth football and also briefly in training camp of the 1979 season with San Francisco, and the third was number 16, which Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson offered to let Montana wear since the organization had retired it. Montana declined Dawson’s and Stenerud’s offers and wore 19 instead. During the Chiefs’ first offseason practice, the defensive players all remained behind after their session concluded to watch the offensive team practice “because they wanted to see Joe Montana play. That’s what those guys thought of the trade. It gave everybody hope we could win a championship. That’s why it was such a special time.”

A Match Made in Football Heaven: Joe Montana’s arrival at the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993 felt nothing short of serendipitous. With his illustrious career at the San Francisco 49ers behind him, Montana found himself ready to embrace a new challenge in the Midwest. The Chiefs, eager to elevate their game, warmly opened their arms to an NFL icon.

A Story of Redemption: Montana’s Chiefs’ journey was one of redemption, as he battled back from a career-threatening injury in 1991. Having missed almost two entire seasons, many doubted his ability to reclaim his glory. However, the sheer determination and resilience Montana displayed propelled him to resuscitate not only his career but also the Chiefs’ fortunes.

Montana’s Leadership and Legacy: When it came to leadership, few quarterbacks could match Montana’s prowess. The legendary “Comeback Kid” was known for his calmness under pressure and his ability to rally his team to victory. His unparalleled football IQ and unwavering confidence made him an invaluable asset not just for the Chiefs but for the NFL as a whole.

Montana’s Playoff Heroics: Montana’s greatest magic came to life during the NFL playoffs. Whether it was the phenomenal “Drive” against the Houston Oilers or leading the Chiefs to their first AFC Championship Game appearance in 25 years, Montana’s playoff performances were nothing short of legendary. His knack for delivering in clutch moments solidified his place among football’s all-time greats.

Montana’s Lasting Impact: While Montana’s time with the Chiefs only spanned two seasons, his impact still reverberates within the organization. His arrival injected new life into the franchise and attracted a surge of fan support. Moreover, his mentorship of young quarterbacks, including a certain Patrick Mahomes, planted the seeds for future successes.

When discussing the Kansas City Chiefs, the name Joe Montana will forever be etched in golden letters in the team’s illustrious history. Through his leadership, resilience, and remarkable playoff heroics, Montana left an indelible mark not only on the Chiefs’ organization but on the entire NFL landscape. His time spent as the Chiefs’ #19 will forever be cherished, reminding fans of a legendary football journey that unfolded in the heart of Kansas City.

#nfl football

[sergeifyodorov]

I just wanted to say that, living in the uk, I have never cared about ice hockey before in my life, but my twin sent me your wonderful summary of the 2015 draft class and now I'm rooting for Jack Eichel and Las Vegas in the Stanley Cup finals (though we probably won't be able to watch most of the matches). We both agree that it was a very enjoyable piece, and it was interesting and detailed whilst being understandable for someone who doesn't know much about hockey. Also, what do the letters preceding peoples' blog titles and display names mean?

Oh my god, I am so honoured that I could get you into it!

The letters in people's blog titles (I presume you're talking about things like the "x-" in, say, my "x-narrativeposting" title) have to do with their teams clinching playoffs. I'm not sure how much you know about sports/North American sports in general, but a hockey standings table looks something like this:

This is an example from the middle of the season. The GP means "games played" -- all NHL teams play 82 games in a standard season, but because they're approximately every other day, not all teams have the same number of games played at any point in the middle. Teams receive two points for a win and one point for an overtime loss -- in this way, they have a maximum amount of potential points, and, as the season goes by, that amount slowly diminishes.

Eventually, teams at the bottom and top will separate out -- their points will become high enough that even losing the rest of their games in regulation (zero additional points) would guarantee them one of the playoff spots, or their points will become low enough relative to everyone else that winning all of their remaining games would still not get them to pass enough teams to make it into the playoffs. The former occurrence is called "clinching" a playoff spot, and the latter is "elimination."

On a standings table, the teams that clinch spots are marked with an x -, to show that they cannot fall below halfway, and the teams that are eliminated are marked with an e -. Here is an example:

In this image, the Columbus Blue jackets have been eliminated, and both the Hurricanes and Devils have clinched a spot.

For playoff teams, though, after they have clinched a simple playoff spot, there are further things to potentially clinch seeding-wise, so these things are also marked with a different letter:

the President's Trophy, awarded to the best regular season team in the league, is given either a * or a p -

the other conference leader (the one who did not win the President's Trophy) is given a z -

the other two division leaders are given a y-

Here is a table at the end of the year:

The Vegas Golden Knights have the best record in the Western Conference, so they have a z. The Oilers, Kings, and Kraken all have a playoff spot, but not a division title, so they have an x. The Flames, Canucks, Sharks, and Ducks are all eliminated.

As to finally answer your question: most fans are mainly aligned with one team, so to show their allegiance they'll put an x next to their name (or y/z/p, or e if they're funny) on the day their team clinches a spot! Playoffs are a stressful but exciting time, and the month or so leading up to playoffs when teams either clinch or don't is a fun buildup to the big payoff (or, since I'm a Leafs fan, big disappointment.)

As a sidenote, re your comments about living in the UK: if your interest in hockey survives the offseason and you want to keep watching, I would suggest picking an Eastern team (sorry Eichel!), because in most cases games will start at 7pm local time, which is midnight in the UK for Eastern teams but more like three in the morning for the Western ones.

#asks #tl;dr is that those letters go by the team names when they clinch the playoffs and as a fun show of allegiance #fans put the x or other letter in their display when their team does #tsym for asking :]