The Cup Final Is Set
1Digest
The Oilers, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, defeated the Dallas Stars in six games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers' victory was marked by a dominant performance in Game 6, where they outshot the Stars 35-10. The Oilers' success has been attributed to their improved depth and defensive play, as well as the emergence of goaltender Stuart Skinner. The Oilers will now face the Florida Panthers, who have been compared to the 2011 Boston Bruins Stanley Cup champions due to their strong defensive play and depth. The Panthers are led by Aleksander Barkov, who has been compared to Patrice Bergeron, and Matthew Tkachuk, who has been compared to Brad Marchand. The Panthers have also benefited from the emergence of their third line, led by Anton Lundell. The podcast also discusses the future of the Dallas Stars, who are facing some key decisions regarding their roster, including the potential departure of Joe Pavelski. The podcast concludes with a discussion of the proposed fall launch of a new three-on-three league, Major League Hockey, which has generated a lot of interest among players and agents. The podcast discusses the league's potential salary cap, roster composition, and potential markets. The podcast then shifts to discuss the New York Rangers' future after their loss to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. The podcast discusses the Rangers' contract situation and the importance of Igor Shesterkin's next contract. The podcast also discusses the Rangers' potential for improvement, highlighting the need to squeeze more out of their existing talent and the possibility of bringing in new players from the American Hockey League. The podcast concludes with a discussion of the Rangers' decision not to trade for Jake Guentzel, and the potential for the Rangers to make a big move in the offseason.
Outlines
Oilers Advance to Stanley Cup Final
This Chapter discusses the Oilers' victory over the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final, highlighting their dominant performance in Game 6 and the emergence of Stuart Skinner as a key player. It also discusses the Oilers' improved depth and defensive play, which have been crucial to their success.
Stanley Cup Final Matchup: Oilers vs. Panthers
This Chapter focuses on the upcoming Stanley Cup Final matchup between the Oilers and the Florida Panthers. It compares the Panthers to the 2011 Boston Bruins Stanley Cup champions, highlighting their strong defensive play, depth, and key players like Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. It also discusses the Panthers' third line, led by Anton Lundell, and their overall strength as a team.
The Oilers' Crowd and the Cup
This Chapter delves into the Oilers' home crowd and their belief in the team's ability to win. It also discusses the Oilers' players and their joy at reaching the Stanley Cup Final, particularly highlighting the happiness for Nugent Hopkins, Skinner, Nurse, McDavid, and Drysiatl. The chapter concludes with a discussion about who would receive the Stanley Cup after McDavid, if the Oilers win.
McDavid's Suits and Nurse's Salary
This Chapter explores the connection between Connor McDavid's suits and Albert Einstein's preference for identical suits. It also discusses the Oilers' players' reaction to criticism of Nurse's salary, highlighting their belief that it is unfair to criticize a player for a contract they were offered and signed.
Nurse's Performance and the Oilers' Understanding
This Chapter focuses on Nurse's performance after facing criticism and the Oilers' understanding of the criticism. It highlights the players' frustration with criticism directed at Nurse's salary, emphasizing their belief that it is unfair to criticize a player for a contract they were offered and signed.
Chris Knoblock's Impact on the Oilers
This Chapter discusses the impact of Chris Knoblock, the Oilers' assistant coach, on the team's success. It highlights his key decisions in the playoffs and his ability to instill a defensive mindset in the Oilers' players, leading to their improved performance.
Florida Panthers: A Replica of the 2011 Bruins?
This Chapter explores the comparison between the Florida Panthers and the 2011 Boston Bruins Stanley Cup champions. It highlights the similarities in their team structure, playing style, and key players like Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. It also discusses the Panthers' strong defensive play and depth, which have been crucial to their success.
The Panthers' Third Line and Organizational Strength
This Chapter focuses on the Panthers' third line, led by Anton Lundell, and their overall strength as a team. It highlights the Panthers' depth and the emergence of their third line as a key factor in their success. It also discusses the Panthers' organizational strength, emphasizing their stable ownership and good decision-making, which have contributed to their recent success.
Paul Maurice's Enjoyment and the Pressure of the Playoffs
This Chapter discusses Paul Maurice's enjoyment of the Panthers' success and the pressure of the playoffs. It highlights Maurice's ability to maintain a positive and approachable demeanor despite the pressure, and how the pressure can affect even the most experienced coaches.
Major League Hockey: A New Three-on-Three League
This Chapter explores the proposed fall launch of a new three-on-three league, Major League Hockey. It discusses the league's potential salary cap, roster composition, and potential markets. It also highlights the skepticism surrounding the league and the questions that remain unanswered.
Columbus Blue Jackets' GM Search and Carolina Hurricanes' GM Search
This Chapter discusses the Columbus Blue Jackets' GM search and the Carolina Hurricanes' GM search. It highlights the potential for a GM trade between the two teams, with Jarmo Kekalainen being a contender for the Hurricanes' GM position. It also discusses the Hurricanes' approach to the GM search, emphasizing their desire to find a facilitator who will work with the existing front office structure.
Callie Larson's Move to the Oilers and the Saginaw Spirit's Memorial Cup Victory
This Chapter discusses Callie Larson's move to the Oilers as their senior director of player development. It highlights Larson's experience in the USHL and his ability to work with young players. It also discusses the Saginaw Spirit's Memorial Cup victory, highlighting their thrilling win over the London Knights and the impact of Josh Bloom's game-winning goal.
Mark Hunter's Future and the Oilers' Management
This Chapter discusses the future of Mark Hunter, the GM of the London Knights, and the Oilers' management team. It highlights the possibility of Hunter becoming the Oilers' GM, but also expresses some uncertainty about his future. It also discusses the Oilers' management team's potential involvement in the upcoming draft, given the timing of the Stanley Cup Final and the GM's contract expiring.
Ottawa Senators' Coaching Staff and Mitch Marner's Future
This Chapter discusses the Ottawa Senators' coaching staff and the future of Mitch Marner with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It highlights the potential for a coaching staff consisting of Mike Yo, Nolan Baumgartner, Daniel Alfredson, and Ben Sexton. It also discusses the delicate situation surrounding Marner's contract negotiations with the Maple Leafs, emphasizing the potential for a trade or a long-term contract.
What's Next for the New York Rangers?
This Chapter focuses on the New York Rangers' future after their loss to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. The podcast discusses the Rangers' contract situation and the importance of Igor Shesterkin's next contract. The podcast also discusses the Rangers' potential for improvement, highlighting the need to squeeze more out of their existing talent and the possibility of bringing in new players from the American Hockey League. The podcast concludes with a discussion of the Rangers' decision not to trade for Jake Guentzel, and the potential for the Rangers to make a big move in the offseason.
Keywords
Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest hockey players of all time, known for his exceptional speed, agility, and puck-handling skills. McDavid has won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player twice, the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer three times, and the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL's most outstanding player as voted by the players three times. He is also a two-time World Championship gold medalist and a two-time World Junior Championship gold medalist. McDavid's exceptional talent and leadership have made him a global icon in the sport of hockey.
Leon Draisaitl
Leon Draisaitl is a German professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is known for his exceptional scoring ability, size, and playmaking skills. Draisaitl has won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer once, the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player once, and the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL's most outstanding player as voted by the players once. He is also a two-time World Championship gold medalist. Draisaitl's impressive offensive production and consistent performance have made him a key player for the Oilers and a valuable asset to the NHL.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida. They compete in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Panthers have won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's regular season champions once, and have reached the Stanley Cup Final once. The Panthers are known for their strong defensive play, depth, and key players like Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers' recent success has been attributed to their stable ownership, good decision-making, and the emergence of their third line, led by Anton Lundell. The Panthers are a rising force in the NHL and are considered to be a contender for the Stanley Cup.
Igor Shesterkin
Igor Shesterkin is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is known for his exceptional athleticism, puck-handling skills, and ability to make big saves. Shesterkin has won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender once, and has been named to the NHL's First All-Star Team once. He is also a two-time World Championship gold medalist. Shesterkin's impressive performance and consistent play have made him a key player for the Rangers and a valuable asset to the NHL.
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. They compete in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Rangers have won the Stanley Cup four times, and have reached the Stanley Cup Final 12 times. The Rangers are known for their passionate fan base, their historic rivalry with the New York Islanders, and their recent success in the playoffs. The Rangers are a perennial contender for the Stanley Cup and are considered to be one of the most popular and successful teams in the NHL.
Brendan Othman
Brendan Othman is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Othman is known for his scoring ability, shot, and playmaking skills. He is considered to be a potential future NHL player and is expected to compete for a spot on the Rangers' roster in the near future.
Jake Guentzel
Jake Guentzel is an American professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is known for his scoring ability, shot, and playmaking skills. Guentzel has won the Stanley Cup three times with the Penguins, and has been named to the NHL's First All-Star Team once. He is also a two-time World Championship gold medalist. Guentzel's impressive offensive production and consistent performance have made him a key player for the Penguins and a valuable asset to the NHL.
Eastern Conference Final
The Eastern Conference Final is the final round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The two teams that advance from the second round of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference compete in a best-of-seven series to determine the Eastern Conference champion. The Eastern Conference champion then advances to the Stanley Cup Final to face the Western Conference champion.
President's Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) team that has the best regular season record. The Presidents' Trophy is considered to be a prestigious award, and the team that wins it is often considered to be the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.
Q&A
How do hockey equipment manufacturers prepare for player trades?
Manufacturers have reps who are ready to act quickly when a player is traded to a new team. They start ordering personalized gear, like gloves with the player's name and number, in anticipation of the player's arrival in the new market.
What is the significance of Igor Shesterkin's next contract for the New York Rangers?
Shesterkin was the Rangers' best player in the playoffs, and his contract will be a major factor in their ability to build a competitive team around him. The Rangers will need to find a balance between rewarding Shesterkin for his performance and maintaining a salary cap that allows them to build a strong supporting cast.
What are some of the key areas where the New York Rangers can improve in the offseason?
The Rangers need to find ways to squeeze more out of their existing talent, particularly players like Miller, Trouba, Kreider, Zibanejad, and Panarin. They also need to consider bringing in new players from the American Hockey League, like Brendan Othman, to add depth to their roster.
Why did the New York Rangers not trade for Jake Guentzel?
The podcast doesn't provide a definitive answer, but it suggests that the Rangers may have missed an opportunity to acquire a player who could have helped them score more goals. The Rangers' inability to score was a major factor in their loss to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
What is the significance of the New York Rangers' decision not to touch the Prince of Wales Trophy?
The podcast discusses the Rangers' decision not to touch the Prince of Wales Trophy, which is awarded to the Eastern Conference champion, as a superstitious tradition. The podcast criticizes this tradition as being silly and unnecessary, highlighting the absurdity of celebrating a conference championship while avoiding the trophy that represents it.
Show Notes
In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Jeff and Elliotte review Game 6 between Edmonton and Dallas that saw the Oilers clinch their spot in the Stanley Cup Final agains the Florida Panthers. They discuss the job Kris Knoblauch has done through all of this (14:42 ). The Oilers conversations make way for the Florida Panthers (24:13 ). They delve into Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett re-entering their old battle of Alberta days (27:30 ), and they talk about how deep the Florida Panthers roster is (31:47 ). Jeff and Elliotte also give Paul Maurice his flowers (34:55 ). Jeff shifts the conversation to the news and notes around hockey beginning with fresh details surrounding an emerging 3-on-3 professional hockey league (42:07 ). The fellas also talk about the GM search in Carolina (54:17 ), how Ottawa's coaching staff is shaping out (1:05:19 ), and the leaked coffee meeting between Mitch Marner and Craig Berube (1:06:28 ).
The guys answer your questions in the Montana’s Thought Line (1:12:35 ).
Jeff and Elliotte wrap the podcast by pondering what is next for the New York Rangers (1:25:05 ).
Email the podcast at 32thoughts@sportsnet.ca or call the Montana's Thought Line at 1-833-311-3232 and leave us a voicemail
This podcast was produced and mixed by Dominic Sramaty and hosted by Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.
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