With a network as vast as ours here at SB Nation, we figured we’d put our fine hockey bloggers to good use. You’ve got questions every week. We know. And we’re here to help.
NHL Blog Council: Can the Panthers win the Cup, and where does Jonathan Drouin land?
And can we defy physics by eating ourselves?
Each Monday at noon ET we’ll take your questions on Twitter at @SBNationNHL. Our NHL Blog Council (made up of different bloggers from around the SBN hockey network) will meet and consider your queries. Later in the week we will render our verdicts to the masses.
Without further ado ...
Blog Council: COMMENCE
Why does New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault over-use players like Tanner Glass over players like J.T. Miller who are actually good?
Erin Bolen, Defending Big D: One of my cardinal tenants of evaluation, whether that’s a player or a coach, is that people always have some sort of rationale for their decisions. Coaches aren’t out to make wrong calls (though they certainly can be wrong in retrospect). I know legitimately zero about the Rangers, but from a cursory overview of the numbers, it appears Vigneault doesn’t trust Miller with minutes in his own zone, which may limit his usage. Whether that’s the best decision in the long run is anyone’s guess.
Dan Bradley, On The Forecheck: Not this year, but crazier things have happened. They have the mobile defense, the big centermen and the playoff goalie. That's been the formula used for cup winners as of late. If they choose to make some silly deadline deal, they may have a shot at getting to the conference finals. But if the measuring stick is a healthy Washington or New York Rangers, that's a big task for them to take one. But full credit to the Panthers for rebuilding better than Edmonton or Colorado so far.
Dan Saraceni, Lighthouse Hockey: In 2011-12, the Coyotes made it to the Western Conference Finals despite a 49.9 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF% in the regular season and a dismal 43.8 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF% in the playoffs. They did it thanks to Mike Smith, who posted a .936 5v5 save percentage that regular season and a .952 5v5 save percentage in the playoffs.
This year, the Florida Panthers have a 48.3 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF%, while Roberto Luongo has a .943 5v5 save percentage. I wouldn't expect this to last over a long period of time, but the Panthers just need it to last for at most 28 playoff games.
Scott Wheeler, Pension Plan Puppets: I don’t see why not. Any team that strings together a 10-game winning streak in today’s NHL has a shot at it. It’s just a matter of consistency and a matter of them being able to maintain a high level of effort and play. I’d be thrilled to see them in the SCF.
Adam Herman, Blueshirt Banter: No. It’s still technically possible. If:
.
* * *
Are the Penguins starting to get it together in time for a playoff run?
Erin Bolen, Defending Big D: Pittsburgh has been blessed with a pretty favorable schedule over the last stretch here (since February 21, five of their nine games have been against Buffalo, Winnipeg, Arizona, Calgary and New Jersey). But you can only play what the schedule gives you, and Pittsburgh has been doing very well with that recently. A playoff run in that division will be a challenge of the Capitals and potential playoff heroics of Henrik Lundqvist, but the signs are definitely encouraging at this point.
Dan Bradley, On The Forecheck: Not this year, but crazier things have happened. They have the mobile defense, the big centermen and the playoff goalie. That's been the formula used for cup winners as of late. If they choose to make some silly deadline deal, they may have a shot at getting to the conference finals. But if the measuring stick is a healthy Washington or New York Rangers, that's a big task for them to take one. But full credit to the Panthers for rebuilding better than Edmonton or Colorado so far.
Dan Saraceni, Lighthouse Hockey: In 2011-12, the Coyotes made it to the Western Conference Finals despite a 49.9 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF% in the regular season and a dismal 43.8 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF% in the playoffs. They did it thanks to Mike Smith, who posted a .936 5v5 save percentage that regular season and a .952 5v5 save percentage in the playoffs.
This year, the Florida Panthers have a 48.3 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF%, while Roberto Luongo has a .943 5v5 save percentage. I wouldn't expect this to last over a long period of time, but the Panthers just need it to last for at most 28 playoff games.
Scott Wheeler, Pension Plan Puppets: I don’t see why not. Any team that strings together a 10-game winning streak in today’s NHL has a shot at it. It’s just a matter of consistency and a matter of them being able to maintain a high level of effort and play. I’d be thrilled to see them in the SCF.
Adam Herman, Blueshirt Banter: No. It’s still technically possible. If:
* * *
Should the Dallas Stars be worried?
Erin Bolen, Defending Big D: Based on what set of expectations? If I’m worried about the team relative to its 19-5 start this year, I think you have to be concerned, particularly about the drop off in the goaltending and the recent slumps of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, sporting both frustration and abysmal luck to the tune of a 91.9 PDO since Jan. 1. But in the grand scheme of the development cycle, where the Stars were about a 50-percent pick to make the playoffs at all this season, they’re on a very understandable patch of bumpy play while still maintaining perhaps an accelerated trajectory. So to answer the question, it depends on what point of reference you’re using.
Dan Bradley, On The Forecheck: Not this year, but crazier things have happened. They have the mobile defense, the big centermen and the playoff goalie. That's been the formula used for cup winners as of late. If they choose to make some silly deadline deal, they may have a shot at getting to the conference finals. But if the measuring stick is a healthy Washington or New York Rangers, that's a big task for them to take one. But full credit to the Panthers for rebuilding better than Edmonton or Colorado so far.
Dan Saraceni, Lighthouse Hockey: In 2011-12, the Coyotes made it to the Western Conference Finals despite a 49.9 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF% in the regular season and a dismal 43.8 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF% in the playoffs. They did it thanks to Mike Smith, who posted a .936 5v5 save percentage that regular season and a .952 5v5 save percentage in the playoffs.
This year, the Florida Panthers have a 48.3 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF%, while Roberto Luongo has a .943 5v5 save percentage. I wouldn't expect this to last over a long period of time, but the Panthers just need it to last for at most 28 playoff games.
Scott Wheeler, Pension Plan Puppets: I don’t see why not. Any team that strings together a 10-game winning streak in today’s NHL has a shot at it. It’s just a matter of consistency and a matter of them being able to maintain a high level of effort and play. I’d be thrilled to see them in the SCF.
Adam Herman, Blueshirt Banter: No. It’s still technically possible. If:
* * *
Bonus: Help settle an internal SB Nation debate: Is pie overrated?
Erin Bolen, Defending Big D: Fruit pie is completely overrated. Crème-based pies are delicious and belong in the desert hall of fame when done right.
Dan Bradley, On The Forecheck: Not this year, but crazier things have happened. They have the mobile defense, the big centermen and the playoff goalie. That's been the formula used for cup winners as of late. If they choose to make some silly deadline deal, they may have a shot at getting to the conference finals. But if the measuring stick is a healthy Washington or New York Rangers, that's a big task for them to take one. But full credit to the Panthers for rebuilding better than Edmonton or Colorado so far.
Dan Saraceni, Lighthouse Hockey: In 2011-12, the Coyotes made it to the Western Conference Finals despite a 49.9 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF% in the regular season and a dismal 43.8 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF% in the playoffs. They did it thanks to Mike Smith, who posted a .936 5v5 save percentage that regular season and a .952 5v5 save percentage in the playoffs.
This year, the Florida Panthers have a 48.3 Score Adjusted 5v5 CF%, while Roberto Luongo has a .943 5v5 save percentage. I wouldn't expect this to last over a long period of time, but the Panthers just need it to last for at most 28 playoff games.
Scott Wheeler, Pension Plan Puppets: I don't see why not. Any team that strings together a 10-game winning streak in today's NHL has a shot at it. It's just a matter of consistency and a matter of them being able to maintain a high level of effort and play. I'd be thrilled to see them in the SCF.
Adam Herman, Blueshirt Banter: No. It's still technically possible. If:
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