s26 - Round 4

By Matt George (SCOUTS) On Tuesday 23rd April 2024 / 1:07pm

Stanley Cup Final
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Vegas Golden Knights
The Lightning are flying when it comes to scoring, 66 goals in 20 games so far this post-season, and is almost double the amount of goals the Golden Knights have scored, 49 goals in 20 games. On the defensive side of the puck, both teams are even. Where the Lightning and Golden Knights separate is at home, the Golden Knights have been a much better home team than the Lightning, and should play a part in the series because if the Golden Knights want to lift the cup over their heads, they will need take a game in Tampa Bay, or the Lightning will be named, "Champa Bay" once again.

Interest Stat: The Lightning have broken the code and managed to have more hits than the Golden Knights with less penalty minutes, and this could be the biggest factor in the series.

WINNER: Lightning in SEVEN

Calder Cup Final
Muskegon Lumberjacks vs Wyoming Cowboys
Everything points to another Lumberjack win, but you can't pick against yourself in the championship series. It is amazing how good the Lunberjacks have been this post-season, but could it be the Western Conference is not only better, but a lot better than the Eastern Conference, giving the Cowboys a fighting chance against the "Kings of the Minor Leagues", Muskegon!

WINNER: Cowboys in SEVEN

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Round 3

By Matt George (SCOUTS) On Tuesday 16th April 2024 / 1:05pm

The VHL playoffs have already reached the final four. Both first place teams in each conference remain with the Lightning and Coyotes. Joining them in the final four are the fifth place Maple Leafs and the fourth place Golden Knights, and it should be noted how every division besides for the Central has a team remaining in the playoffs.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Tampa Bay Lightning (1) v Toronto Maple Leafs (5)
The Lightning came into the playoffs as on of the favourites to win the cup and have not to be challenged in the playoffs winning both series 4-2. The Leafs this playoff season have yet to be tested, first knocking of the Flyers in a sweep and then beating the Sabres 4-1. The Leafs have looked impressive and should give the Lightning fantastic series. The Leafs look to be on a mission and look poised to knock the Lighting off.
WINNER : Maple Leafs in SEVEN
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WESTERN CONFERENCE

Phoenix Coyotes (1) v Vegas Golden Knights (4)
This series could be a quick one but it could also go the distance. Both teams are evenly matched to the point both teams are mirror images of each other. This might be the series of the playoffs and maybe the real final everyone wants to see. It would not be a stretch if the winner of the series does become the cup champion when the dust settles.
WINNER: Golden Knights in SEVEN
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IN THE MINORS

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Muskegon Lumberjacks over Springfield Thunderbirds in FIVE

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Wyoming Cowboys over Owen Sound Attack in SEVEN
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SCOUTS REPORT

Scouts still have some players to re-sign before the end of the season. Both Alex Steen and Marian Hossa remain unsigned, as does Teemu Hartikainen, Joonas Rask, Nicolas Deschamps, Eric Tangradi, and Gunnarsson as well.

Paul Ladue and Teemu Pulkkinen seem to be heading to arbitration.

Not re-signing Steen and Hossa would change the Scouts in big ways and could trigger a shift in how the Scouts plan thei off-season. The Scouts are also expected to see a lot of prospects advance to Wyomig or even Kansas City.
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s26 - Round 2

By Matt George (SCOUTS) On Wednesday 10th April 2024 / 12:23pm

The playoffs opened with upsets in the New Jersey and Kansas City as both teams eliminated from the playoffs. Buffalo were given a scare by the Islanders. The Leafs got the brooms out in a sweep over the Flyers and the Bolts beat the Penguins in six. In the west, every series went the distance with the Flames, Coyotes, and Golden Knights joining the Jets in the second round.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Tampa Bay Lightning (1) v Boston Bruins (6)
Bruins came into the playoffs as a question mark team because their GM stepped down weeks before the start of the playoffs, leaving in the limbo and under the guidance of the league. Since the switch in leadership, the Bruins have become a goal scoring machine. As for the Lightning, the club continues to show their dominance and come into this series looking to slow the Bruins down.
WINNER: Lightning in SIX

Buffalo Sabres (2) v Toronto Maple Leafs (5)
The Sabres got a scare in the first round and the Leafs breezed past the Flyers. With the momentum on the Leafs side and if the break did not hurt too much, then the Maple Leafs have to makeup to knock the Sabres off the board. The Sabres come into the series riding a high after beating the Islanders in a Game 7 OT classic.
WINNER : Maple Leafs in SEVEN
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WESTERN CONFERENCE

Phoenix Coyotes (1) v Winnipeg Jets (7)
If the Kings can pull off the upset, it would not only open up the Western side of the bracket but also the whole playoffs. Sadly, beating the Coyotes will take even the Kings have and more.
WINNER: Coyotes in SIX

Vegas Golden Knights (4 v Calgary Flames (6)
Slight scoring edge goes to the Golden Knights, but otherwise, the series will be won in the neutral zone since both teams are defensively strong. While both teams went seven in the first round series, the Flames had a fought battle against the Sharks and this will will lead to questions of what this series took out of the Flames.
WINNER: Golden Knights in SEVEN
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IN THE MINORS

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Muskegon Lumberjacks over Rochester Americans in FIVE

Springfield Thunderbirds over Hershey Bears SEVEN

Rochester Americans

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Owen Sound Attack over Indianapolis Ice in SIX

Wyoming Cowboys over Saskatchewan Stags in SEVEN

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s26 - Round 1

By Matt George (SCOUTS) On Monday 1st April 2024 / 5:45am

The VHL playoff season is upon us. There are several interesting match at the pro and farm level, including the series which might be most watched series in the first round - the Sharks vs the Flames. On the Eastern side of the VHL playoffs, the most interesting series is the Flyers vs the Maple Leafs. And, at the minor league level the series with most fanfare is the Golden Eagles vs the Stags.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Tampa Bay Lightning (1) v Pittsburgh Penguins (8)
This series is not so much about the Lightning winning as it is about the Penguins and if the team will show up. The Penguins have been known to pull disappearing act this time of the year. If the Penguins do show up, then this series could be an upset.
WINNER: Lightning in SIX

Buffalo Sabres (2) v New York Islanders (7)
Both teams can score, the Islanders have been pone to allowing goals, while the Sabres play a good defensive style, so why are the Islanders winning the series? Simple, riding the hot hand and the Islanders had three more ROW wins than the Sabres. The Sabres will be a hard.
WINNER : Islanders in SEVEN

New Jersey Devils (3) v Boston Bruins (6)
I would not be shocked in the Bruins pulled off the upset with their low scoring trap style of the play. The Devils have the tools to counter to the Bruins' trap.
WINNER: Devils in FIVE

Philadelphia Flyers (4) v Toronto Maple Leafs (5)
The Maple Leafs score a lot, they also allow a lot of goals, they also made moves to improve the roster at the trade deadline, and this makes them dangerous. As for the Flyers, they defend and score enough to beat any team in the playoffs. The Flyers feel like a hard out.
WINNER: Flyers in SIX
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WESTERN CONFERENCE

Phoenix Coyotes (1) v Los Angeles Kings (8)
If the Kings can pull off the upset, it would not only open up the Western side of the bracket but also the whole playoffs. Sadly, beating the Coyotes will take even the Kings have and more.
WINNER: Coyotes in FOUR

Kansas City Scouts (2) v Winnipeg Jets (7)
This series could go either way. The Scouts have been up and down since the deadline and haven't been the same team from early in the season. The Jets are a good team and able to limit scoring meaning the Scouts who lack scoring will need to find ways to score.
WINNER: SCOUTS in SIX

San Jose Sharks (3) v Calgary Flames (6)
Picking a winner for this series is hard. The Flames score and defend well, but so do the Sharks. Slight edge given to the Sharks as they proved to be the more stable of the stable of the two teams.
WINNER: Sharks in SEVEN

Vegas Golden Knights (4) v Detroit Red Wings (5)
The poor Red Wings won the lucky draw of landing one of the better fourth seeds in the recent memory. The Red Wings will need to limit the mistakes and use their chances well to win the series.
WINNER: Golden Knights in FIVE

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IN THE MINORS

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Muskegon Lumberjacks over Adirondack Red Wings in FIVE

Springfield Thunderbirds over PEI Senators in SIX

Hershey Bears over Utica Devils in SEVEN

Rochester Americans over New Haven Nighthawks in SIX

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Owen Sound Attack over Seattle Kraken in FOUR

Scottsdale Hatters over Indianapolis Ice in FIVE

Wyoming Cowboys over Anaheim Ducks in SIX

Saskatchewan Stags over Salt Lake City Golden Eagles in SEVEN

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[INFO] And the Winner is ...

By Commissioner On Friday 29th March 2024 / 8:16pm

New York Rangers have won the 2016 Entry Draft

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s26 - No gambling for Vegas

By David Zammit (GOLDEN KNIGHTS) On Sunday 24th March 2024 / 8:48pm

Vegas, NV - The Vintage Hockey League’s trade deadline has well past and one of the top teams decided to sit pat.

The move, or lack their of, is surprising when you look at Vegas Golden Knights General Manager David Zammit’s history since taking over the team about a decade ago.

He’s always been active at the deadline either adding pieces to help his team bulk up for a run or selling off pieces to help with a retool or rebuild.

One thing that’s really stuck out with Zammit’s approach I’ve noticed is he tries to deal off pending UFAs at or ahead of the deadline, especially ones that are talented. This started in his rookie season with the likes of Joe Thornton and Josef Boumedienne. It tends to only land 2nd rounders or sometimes prospects like Mason Raymond, but if your team isn’t in it to win it, what’s the point in holding the pending UFA.

“I think it would be malpractice to not at least explore the idea of shipping out guys that don’t have a long-term future within your organization,” Zammit said following the deadline. “There’s a case by case basis for it, but even for the best players you have to ponder it at least.”

Well he’s certainly more than pondered it. At the time he moved Thornton, he was arguably the best player in the league if not, at minimum a top five player. However, why didn’t he follow a similar approach this go around with star defenceman Alex Pietranglo?

“Funny you ask, we actually had an inquiry from an Eastern Conference team about him,” he said. “Although with our team playing great this year, my ask was big because if we’re going to do damage in the playoffs, it will be because he’s playing like the best defenceman in the league.”

You could also look at one of his pending UFAs that he did deal earlier in the year in Patrik Berglund. He attached him in a massive deal that landed Filppula and Kovalchuk. That trade also put the team at the cap and sort of fulfilled their needs.

“I didn’t see anywhere that I needed to upgrade,” he said. “Sure I would have loved another scoring winger but we didn’t have the cap room to do it.”

WC - 387

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