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When Taylor Hall signed for the Sabres last offseason it raised eyebrows. Sabres fans believed a new revolution was here. This surely was the team’s statement of intent to bring King Jack his first cup. However, to most fans outside of Buffalo, this deal seemed bizarre. Hall’s prior trade to Arizona was an expensive rental, but this deal seemed too good to be true. Sadly, it appears that Sabres fans will be once again left in despair as it appears a messy divorce is looming. Embed from Getty Images Since arriving, Hall has gotten 11 points, but the Sabres have been a mess. Dead lastRead More →

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After the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 win over Montreal, one fact became clear. Thatcher Demko is the clear first choice in net. His eight straight starts are an indicator that his form is paying off. Particularly as he has won seven of those starts. While Vancouver is in the process of patching this season together, Demko has been a ray of light. This franchise has never handled goalie situations well. Remember the horrific ending of the Cory Schneider/Roberto Luongo fiasco? Then its terrible sequel: Luongo/Eddie Lack! Well, it appears we have another contender in our midst. Embed from Getty Images Canucks fans howled when Jacob MarkstromRead More →

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As we mentioned in one of our previous articles, the Buffalo Sabres are looking at losing key stars. Jack Eichel and Taylor Hall are both showing obvious signs of displeasure. Based on how this season is progressing, it seems only a matter of time before they are on the trading block. In the past, we have had a number of NHL trades that have been difficult, surprising or even game-changing. The trades listed below didn’t all happen because things were running smoothly and often they have caught fans, players and front-office personnel off guard. Let’s look at some of the best NHL trade sagas. PerhapsRead More →

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On Thursday Jack Eichel was left out of the Buffalo lineup against New Jersey. Trade rumours are swirling once again. This ugly marriage has hit another speed bump. The Sabres and their marquee captain are in another untenable situation. Sadly, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this and unless things change drastically it won’t be the last. As much as he is beloved in Buffalo, Sabres fans have to ask themselves how much longer can this drag on? Should the Sabres trade Eichel and risk more obscurity or is he a talent worth keeping? Alex Watson, Mike Laybourne, Brodie Cotnam and Joe Martini areRead More →

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#FireBenning is trending once again, but when hasn’t it been for Vancouver fans? It’s been a bad week for hockey in B.C. and last night’s 5-1 loss in Toronto confirmed the underlying issues. Like so many off-seasons before it, fans called into question the moves made by GM Jim Benning. This team has serious potential, but it appears like this might be another learning year for the Canucks. After a great four-win streak, they are now winless in February. Currently, Vancouver’s record stands at 6-9-0, which in a competitive division might not seem terrible, however, there’s no denying that they lack sharpness and competency atRead More →

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The Pacific Division is always a difficult one to predict at the best of times. This season will be no exception, especially with a shortened season in hand. The winner of this division will be hard to predict as over the last few seasons teams have made key upgrades. Let’s take a look at the contenders in our midst. Anaheim Ducks On The Christmas List: Draft lottery favor The Ducks will be hoping to improve on an underwhelming 6th place in 2019-20. Their off-season acquisitions have been quieter than fans would’ve liked, but let’s not forget they are rebuilding. Kevin Shattenkirk was signed on a 3-yearRead More →

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One of the most glittering hockey dynasties came to an end this week. After 15 seasons, Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers have parted ways. The King had the last year of his contract bought out and now he faces free agency for the first time. I’m sure this was not the end they envisioned, but it was a respectful and amicable one. Tributes from the Rangers brass and fans have flooded in and they know for sure just how much gratitude they owe him. Lundqvist will always remain a legend in the Big Apple. Voted Rangers MVP no fewer than nine times andRead More →

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A 3-0 loss to Vegas in Game 7 wasn’t the ending the Canucks deserved. However, when you consider they battled from 3-1 down to force this game, the story reads differently. Vancouver showed a tremendous amount of spirit and skill. Travis Green and his young side have proven that there is life in this franchise with a clutch of new talent. The Stanley Cup won’t be returning to Canada for yet another year, but you have to concede this could be the start of something exciting. Youth and Experience Combine Embed from Getty Images Thorough this postseason the Canucks showed that they finally have theRead More →

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When signing a new player, the dollar amount on the contract is key. I recently wrote a piece on Vancouver’s potential cap space issues. They have a lot of average players on big-money ‘no-trade’ contracts. Often, teams will shell out big bucks to get their man. However, this does not always guarantee success. For every Connor McDavid, there is an overpaid Loui Eriksson. NHL contracts are always closely scrutinized, here are some of the worst offenders. 1. Rick DiPietro In 2006, the New York Islanders were so confident in the ability of their starting goalie. DiPietro became the first-ever goalie to be drafted first overallRead More →

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While fans lie in wait for the NHL Awards, today the Hart Trophy nominees were revealed. The trio of players nominated might not have caused a major shock. However, each of these players deserves to be considered the leagues elite. Which player deserves to win? Winning the Hart trophy will put a player among greats like Gretzky and Orr. Leon Draisaitl | Nathan MacKinnon (@Mackinnon9) | @artemiypanarin Your 2020 Hart Trophy finalists. #NHLAwards More from @NHLdotcom ➡️ https://t.co/QWVvSBW4jE pic.twitter.com/7rsJhIAfbY — NHL (@NHL) July 21, 2020 Today the 4th Line Podcast will debate which of the three players is the most worthy winner. Firstly, Joe Martini,Read More →