Recruits 2026 and Beyond

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

17 games.  Prime, of course.  Bah.

First 8: 44-60 .425
Game 9: 5-14 .263 vs Q
Last 8: 32-45 .416

Total: 81-119 .405

Their numbers are off by 10 on each side, or I mathed bad.

In any case, no, he didn't get any better*.  The treasure was the friends he made along the way.

* _{Although he never repeated his 4-game midseason 15-47 .242 skein.}

This is reminding me of the Devils beat reporters going "Look, Markstrom isn't that bad! If you just remove LITERALLY THE WORST GAME A GOALIE HAS EVER HAD SINCE WE STARTED ADVANCED STAT TRACKING versus the Isles, he's only SLIGHTLY below average! "

Like buddy that's not how it works 😭

Also, singling out Q is funny because he went 4 and 16 in the Colgate game for a whopping .200. Granted, that's the one where Walsh was suspended and Castagna also got booted, so he probably took a LOT more draws than expected.

Also, a .405 is Jack Hughes in the dot numbers. Unless you are fucking Jack Hughes, that's not gonna cut it! And as much as we all love Charlie, he ain't that good, otherwise he'd be at a blueblood school. (Sidenote - is Cornell a blueblood? Not like BC, BU, Michigan, NoDak, Wisconsin, Denver, right? Purpleblood?)

What COULD be interesting is if you put DiGiulian through the Cornell Faceoff Bootcamp, then put him on Major's wing and have him take the draws, but Major plays in the center position. Kinda like Haula did for Jack when he was a Devil. But also, I kinda think Major's skillset outside of draws is better suited to being a winger, and, with a veritable glut of forwards on the team, there's no lack of centers who are actually good at being centers. I also don't really like him on the third line - he's got talent that gets squandered when you put him in that kind of role. I think next year you at least start him in the top six. Kraft-Walsh-Ryan, Long-Zadvernyuk-Major? You could flip Ryan and Major around depending on vibes.

(Also, your numbers are off 'cause he took a few draws in the fall, but I didn't put those in the screenshot because going 1-0 in the dot means fuck all and he was being used as a winger then.)

("Stere, do you make EVERYTHING about the New Jersey Devils?" Have you met me? The answer is yes, of course I do! It's either the Devils, or the VGK, or the Cornell hockey teams. You're used to this by now!)

Vgk!?!?  Now you lost me.  Pure evil. 

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS SINCE THE MISFITS CUP RUN. I HAVE A RIGHT!

I went to a match the night before our tournament a few years ago.  It was the most horrible hockey experience I ever had.  The noisy ignorant minor-league hockey experience on steroids.  All the disgusting aspects of Las Vegas crammed into 2.5 hours.

There was also a hockey game, not that most of the fans even paid attention.

[arugula]

17 games.  Prime, of course.  Bah.

First 8: 44-60 .425
Game 9: 5-14 .263 vs Q
Last 8: 32-45 .416

Total: 81-119 .405

Their numbers are off by 10 on each side, or I mathed bad.

In any case, no, he didn't get any better*.  The treasure was the friends he made along the way.

* _{Although he never repeated his 4-game midseason 15-47 .242 skein.}

This is reminding me of the Devils beat reporters going "Look, Markstrom isn't that bad! If you just remove LITERALLY THE WORST GAME A GOALIE HAS EVER HAD SINCE WE STARTED ADVANCED STAT TRACKING versus the Isles, he's only SLIGHTLY below average! "

Like buddy that's not how it works 😭

Also, singling out Q is funny because he went 4 and 16 in the Colgate game for a whopping .200. Granted, that's the one where Walsh was suspended and Castagna also got booted, so he probably took a LOT more draws than expected.

Also, a .405 is Jack Hughes in the dot numbers. Unless you are fucking Jack Hughes, that's not gonna cut it! And as much as we all love Charlie, he ain't that good, otherwise he'd be at a blueblood school. (Sidenote - is Cornell a blueblood? Not like BC, BU, Michigan, NoDak, Wisconsin, Denver, right? Purpleblood?)

What COULD be interesting is if you put DiGiulian through the Cornell Faceoff Bootcamp, then put him on Major's wing and have him take the draws, but Major plays in the center position. Kinda like Haula did for Jack when he was a Devil. But also, I kinda think Major's skillset outside of draws is better suited to being a winger, and, with a veritable glut of forwards on the team, there's no lack of centers who are actually good at being centers. I also don't really like him on the third line - he's got talent that gets squandered when you put him in that kind of role. I think next year you at least start him in the top six. Kraft-Walsh-Ryan, Long-Zadvernyuk-Major? You could flip Ryan and Major around depending on vibes.

(Also, your numbers are off 'cause he took a few draws in the fall, but I didn't put those in the screenshot because going 1-0 in the dot means fuck all and he was being used as a winger then.)

("Stere, do you make EVERYTHING about the New Jersey Devils?" Have you met me? The answer is yes, of course I do! It's either the Devils, or the VGK, or the Cornell hockey teams. You're used to this by now!)

Vgk!?!?  Now you lost me.  Pure evil. 

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS SINCE THE MISFITS CUP RUN. I HAVE A RIGHT!

Of course you do. We all have a right to be wrong.  My feeling is first you root for your hometown team.  My perspective is VGK fans are remarkably spoiled and entitled. They haven't suffered at all so I'm not in the least sympathetic.  The league gave them sweetheart to enable them to build a team fast.  How do you think they ended up with Fleury? They routinely flout the injury rules to enable them to bypass the salary cap. They fire coaches faster than prime George Steinbrenner.  Just this week they were docked a draft pick for their constant breaking of media access rules.  Mark Stone plays for them. Mitch Marner plays for them.  They have too many colors in Their uniforms.  They stole their name and logo from Army.  I enjoy underdogs.  Hence I lose a lot.  Hard pass on VGK. They are the Cowboys or Duke.  I'm sure you're convinced.

[stereax]

Of course you do. We all have a right to be wrong.  My feeling is first you root for your hometown team.

Hence the Devils. I root for the Fucking Devils. Let me have something in my life.

My perspective is VGK fans are remarkably spoiled and entitled. They haven't suffered at all so I'm not in the least sympathetic.  The league gave them sweetheart to enable them to build a team fast.  How do you think they ended up with Fleury?

They ended up with Fleury because Matt Murray was seen as the future in net for the Pens. A lot of what made Vegas good was GMs of other teams who panicked and shipped off useful pieces to Vegas to ensure they got to choose who to keep. Like how Florida gave Reilly Smith away so Vegas would select Marchessault. They also got lucky as hell that William Karlsson took the Vegas move as an insult and went nuts ever since. (Plus, after the shooting in Vegas that killed 58 or so people, the team seemed to have a little bit of hockey magic on its side.)

They routinely flout the injury rules to enable them to bypass the salary cap.

Like Kucherov in 2021, who missed the entire regular season before popping up shiny as a dime Game 1? Like Matthew Tkachuk, whose opportune LTIRing allowed Florida to grab Seth Jones and Brad Marchand for the repeat? Like Patty Kane in 2015?

Every team does the LTIR bullshit. Or did, because they closed the loophole. The Knights aren't unique. Also, Mark Stone is actually made of wet paper.

They fire coaches faster than prime George Steinbrenner.

Seen the Oilers recently? The average NHL coach only lasts like 2 years with a team. Couple notable exceptions, like Bednar and Cooper, but that's far from unique. (In fact, they probably should have fired Cassidy sooner when it was apparent he lost the room.)

Just this week they were docked a draft pick for their constant breaking of media access rules.

Which will most likely be rescinded after some ass kissing and was done most likely as a warning to other teams. (Plus, there's at least some credibility to the rumor that they were trying to get out of Anaheim quickly so as to avoid a noise violation with their plane that would have kept them grounded all night.)

Also, I agree with Trotsky in that 99% of sports writing and media today is utter fucking garbage.

Mark Stone plays for them. Mitch Marner plays for them.

Fucking Carter Hart, one of the defendants in the 2018 WJC rape case who admitted to having sexual contact with the victim, also plays for them! But yeah, you're right, let's instead talk about two really good players who are shining now that they're in Vegas. Deadass, what did Stone ever do to any of you?

They have too many colors in Their uniforms.  They stole their name and logo from Army.

...That's valid.

I enjoy underdogs.  Hence I lose a lot.  Hard pass on VGK. They are the Cowboys or Duke.  I'm sure you're convinced.

They're not the Cowboys because they win lmao.

[underskill]

Also don't knock Predators fans. Nashville is a great hockey market.

[abmarks]

Sidenote - is Cornell a blueblood? Not like BC, BU, Michigan, NoDak, Wisconsin, Denver, right? Purpleblood?

Redblood.

Duh!

I thought kind of thing got cancelled already....

[ursusminor]

They stole their name and logo from Army.

I thought that they stole their name from Clarkson.

[Weder]

I happened to go to a Vegas game early in their first season when it was starting to look like they might be really good. They came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Tampa -- a lot of sad Lightning fans leaving that game. As for the experience, I don't have a problem with maximum circus in Vegas. It was also very reasonably priced in that first season, but I assume that's no longer the case.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Also don't knock Predators fans. Nashville is a great hockey market.

And at least they didn't steal their team from somewhere else, Like Carolina.

[RichH]

Vgk!?!?  Now you lost me.  Pure evil.

Tawdry, but not evil.

The only evil in the NHL is the Slave States. FLA, TB, NSH, CAR, DAL. 

I can't abide any team south of the line connecting DC and St. Louis. L.A. Kings get the exception for longevity.

[Weder]

Vgk!?!?  Now you lost me.  Pure evil.

Tawdry, but not evil.

The only evil in the NHL is the Slave States. FLA, TB, NSH, CAR, DAL. 

I can't abide any team south of the line connecting DC and St. Louis. L.A. Kings get the exception for longevity.

Given the Bay Area's hockey history, are you OK with the Sharks? Fun fact: San Jose is south of St. Louis.

[arugula]

Of course you do. We all have a right to be wrong.  My feeling is first you root for your hometown team.

Hence the Devils. I root for the Fucking Devils. Let me have something in my life.

My perspective is VGK fans are remarkably spoiled and entitled. They haven't suffered at all so I'm not in the least sympathetic.  The league gave them sweetheart to enable them to build a team fast.  How do you think they ended up with Fleury?

They ended up with Fleury because Matt Murray was seen as the future in net for the Pens. A lot of what made Vegas good was GMs of other teams who panicked and shipped off useful pieces to Vegas to ensure they got to choose who to keep. Like how Florida gave Reilly Smith away so Vegas would select Marchessault. They also got lucky as hell that William Karlsson took the Vegas move as an insult and went nuts ever since. (Plus, after the shooting in Vegas that killed 58 or so people, the team seemed to have a little bit of hockey magic on its side.)

They routinely flout the injury rules to enable them to bypass the salary cap.

Like Kucherov in 2021, who missed the entire regular season before popping up shiny as a dime Game 1? Like Matthew Tkachuk, whose opportune LTIRing allowed Florida to grab Seth Jones and Brad Marchand for the repeat? Like Patty Kane in 2015?

Every team does the LTIR bullshit. Or did, because they closed the loophole. The Knights aren't unique. Also, Mark Stone is actually made of wet paper.

They fire coaches faster than prime George Steinbrenner.

Seen the Oilers recently? The average NHL coach only lasts like 2 years with a team. Couple notable exceptions, like Bednar and Cooper, but that's far from unique. (In fact, they probably should have fired Cassidy sooner when it was apparent he lost the room.)

Just this week they were docked a draft pick for their constant breaking of media access rules.

Which will most likely be rescinded after some ass kissing and was done most likely as a warning to other teams. (Plus, there's at least some credibility to the rumor that they were trying to get out of Anaheim quickly so as to avoid a noise violation with their plane that would have kept them grounded all night.)

Also, I agree with Trotsky in that 99% of sports writing and media today is utter fucking garbage.

Mark Stone plays for them. Mitch Marner plays for them.

Fucking Carter Hart, one of the defendants in the 2018 WJC rape case who admitted to having sexual contact with the victim, also plays for them! But yeah, you're right, let's instead talk about two really good players who are shining now that they're in Vegas. Deadass, what did Stone ever do to any of you?

They have too many colors in Their uniforms.  They stole their name and logo from Army.

...That's valid.

I enjoy underdogs.  Hence I lose a lot.  Hard pass on VGK. They are the Cowboys or Duke.  I'm sure you're convinced.

They're not the Cowboys because they win lmao.

I grew up with the cowboys always winning. Childhood trauma stays.  I totally spaced out about the rapist Hart. Another reason to hate VGK. I hate stone because he gets "injured" every year so they can circumvent the cap so much that the league was forced to change the rules. 

[stereax]

I grew up with the cowboys always winning. Childhood trauma stays.  I totally spaced out about the rapist Hart. Another reason to hate VGK. I hate stone because he gets "injured" every year so they can circumvent the cap so much that the league was forced to change the rules. 

stoner is held together with duct tape and chewing gum and still tries to get in his regular shift. i can guarantee to you that man does NOT want to be injured. he just is. (plus, the team generally plays like dogshit without him lmao.)

and again - plenty of teams did cap circumvention like that. arguably, tkachuk was the one that made the league close the loophole.

[arugula]

Of course you do. We all have a right to be wrong.  My feeling is first you root for your hometown team.

Hence the Devils. I root for the Fucking Devils. Let me have something in my life.

My perspective is VGK fans are remarkably spoiled and entitled. They haven't suffered at all so I'm not in the least sympathetic.  The league gave them sweetheart to enable them to build a team fast.  How do you think they ended up with Fleury?

They ended up with Fleury because Matt Murray was seen as the future in net for the Pens. A lot of what made Vegas good was GMs of other teams who panicked and shipped off useful pieces to Vegas to ensure they got to choose who to keep. Like how Florida gave Reilly Smith away so Vegas would select Marchessault. They also got lucky as hell that William Karlsson took the Vegas move as an insult and went nuts ever since. (Plus, after the shooting in Vegas that killed 58 or so people, the team seemed to have a little bit of hockey magic on its side.)

They routinely flout the injury rules to enable them to bypass the salary cap.

Like Kucherov in 2021, who missed the entire regular season before popping up shiny as a dime Game 1? Like Matthew Tkachuk, whose opportune LTIRing allowed Florida to grab Seth Jones and Brad Marchand for the repeat? Like Patty Kane in 2015?

Every team does the LTIR bullshit. Or did, because they closed the loophole. The Knights aren't unique. Also, Mark Stone is actually made of wet paper.

They fire coaches faster than prime George Steinbrenner.

Seen the Oilers recently? The average NHL coach only lasts like 2 years with a team. Couple notable exceptions, like Bednar and Cooper, but that's far from unique. (In fact, they probably should have fired Cassidy sooner when it was apparent he lost the room.)

Just this week they were docked a draft pick for their constant breaking of media access rules.

Which will most likely be rescinded after some ass kissing and was done most likely as a warning to other teams. (Plus, there's at least some credibility to the rumor that they were trying to get out of Anaheim quickly so as to avoid a noise violation with their plane that would have kept them grounded all night.)

Also, I agree with Trotsky in that 99% of sports writing and media today is utter fucking garbage.

Mark Stone plays for them. Mitch Marner plays for them.

Fucking Carter Hart, one of the defendants in the 2018 WJC rape case who admitted to having sexual contact with the victim, also plays for them! But yeah, you're right, let's instead talk about two really good players who are shining now that they're in Vegas. Deadass, what did Stone ever do to any of you?

They have too many colors in Their uniforms.  They stole their name and logo from Army.

...That's valid.

I enjoy underdogs.  Hence I lose a lot.  Hard pass on VGK. They are the Cowboys or Duke.  I'm sure you're convinced.

They're not the Cowboys because they win lmao.

Wow defensive much? 
I would note that the Devils have three Stanley cups in recent memories. They ain't suffering. U fortunately for you you likely missed them. Otoh you're young and that team is still very promising.

I'll focus on the draft rules first. They got Fleury because h like last expansion teams were only able to protect & skaters and one goalie. In the past you'd be picking from theis stringers not slightly aging hall of famers so please. 

Next, Carter Hart. Full stop.

As to LTIR, just because other teams have done it doesn't make it right and VGK seemed to be the main offender. 

I failed to mention my frustration that Howden, who couldn't put a puck in the ocean at MSG is somehow now Mr. Clutch.  Not VGK fault but annoys me.  Fundamentally, I'm frustrated because I have watched my team(s), the denizens of MSG, for a combined 106 seasons and have one title.  Corrodes the soul.




Acknowledge VGK has gotten some breaks.

[TimV]

They stole their name and logo from Army.

I thought that they stole their name from Clarkson.

You're right Ralph.  Army is the BLACK knights.

[arugula]

They stole their name and logo from Army.

I thought that they stole their name from Clarkson.

You're right Ralph.  Army is the BLACK knights.

Owner is a West Point grad.  Gold=vegas