Mitchell Marner, Canadian Charmer, Vegas First Line Wins Should Garner - NHL 2025-26

[MartyFunkhouser]

Hockey is fun again.

also, eff the Mammoth. I tried my OTA antenna and I’m not getting channel 16. Eff Ryan Smith.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Mammoth are humming. 4-0 half way through the first period against the blues.

Real teams score 8 against the Blues.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Ryan Freakin’ Donato!!!!!!!!!!!!

[beefytee]

Real teams score 8 against the Blues.

They only ended up with 7.

[beefytee]

5 straight wins for the mammoth. That's a first.

[MartyFunkhouser]

5 straight wins for the mammoth. That's a first.

The Central Division standings are very odd right now. Weird to see the Blackhawks anywhere by last. It won't stay this way. Thinks will sort out and the Stars, Avalanche, and Jets will be the top 3. I could see the Preds finish worse than the Blackhawks (seriously there spending spree in the summer of 2024 was so stupid), but the Blackhawks likely end up last.

I'm starting to wonder if the Blues aren't good. Maybe the Mammoth can finish 4th in the division. I still don't see them as a playoff team.

I actually wonder if the Blackhawks might actually only finish 3rd to last this year. The Sharks have been terrible (-12 goal differential) and the Flames have been even worse (-16 goal differential).

[Flystripper]

If they stay healthy and Knight stays consistent the Hawks have a shot at the playoffs. The young bucks need to experience a playoff push and this is the year they learn what it takes whether they make it or not.

[beefytee]

Yeah. I think those 3 teams are the strongest in the Central, but injuries always play an important role in where teams end up in the standings. If one of them isn't healthy, than someone could slide into the top 3.

[beefytee]

Up to seven wins now taking down the Jets on day two in the B2B.

I stand by what I said earlier about liking the Peterka/Gunther combo. They are awesome and it was Peterka’s hustle that got the set up for the game winning Gunther goal.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Up to seven wins now taking down the Jets on day two in the B2B.

I stand by what I said earlier about liking the Peterka/Gunther combo. They are awesome and it was Peterka’s hustle that got the set up for the game winning Gunther goal.

Peterka was a really good pickup and the contract is a good one.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Bertuzzi and Mikheyev both day-to-day. The line combinations from practice:

Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky

Teravainen-Nazar-Donato

Slaggert-Dickinson-Dach

Lafferty-Foligno

Greene playing on the first line should be fun to watch.

I'm guessing that it will be Bedard who gets most of the minutes on the 4th line, with Nazar getting some time there as well.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Really interesting analysis of where teams are getting top tier players from:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...ades-drafting/

91 of the top tier players ranked by the Athletic were drafted by their current team.
40 were acquired via trade
14 were free agent signings
4 were undrafted
2 were via offer sheet
2 were expansion draft players

What is becoming clear is the reality of the NHL right now is building teams through the draft. The exception to this appears to be the Knights and Panthers. The Knights have built primary through trades: Eichel (Tier 2A), Marner (Tier 2B), Mark Stone (Tier 4A), and Hanifan (Tier 4C) through trade. Panthers have built through a combo of trades/free agent signings.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Finally! Bedard's first NHL hat trick. His second and third goal were both things of beauty.

Also, Nazar's takeaway in the offensive zone to set up Bertuzzi is what drew that offensive zone draw that set up the goal.

Nazar and Bedard are going to be hell of a lot of fun for a long time in Chicago.

[beefytee]

The Mammoth now have Peterka locked up until 2030, while Guenther and Cooley are in until 2033. Cooley signed today, locking up another young star.

The young core is in place for a strong team for a long time!

[MartyFunkhouser]

The Mammoth now have Peterka locked up until 2030, while Guenther and Cooley are in until 2033. Cooley signed today, locking up another young star.

The young core is in place for a strong team for a long time!

The AAV is about right for Cooley.