- Tweets 934
- Following 64
- Followers 711
- Likes 2,083
Pinned Tweet
I saw the 82-0 game floating around the NBA world yesterday so I thought I would make a version for the NHL.
Completely free, no ads, or anything. My record right now is 76 wins... try to beat me.
98-0.com
3
10
18,581
Went back over Petey's shifts with InStat. The guy still has a high-end defensive stick, he still has a pretty great read on the game, and his line had some great possession metrics. Petey also had some nice passes into high-danger spots.
But, considering his value prop is high-end skill & creativity, this wasn't a particularly impressive game. He never imposed his game onto an AHL lineup. Never attacked the middle in transition and constantly deferred to a safer board play instead of moving the puck. He took zero risks.
But the worst part was his touch - missed puck receptions led to a handful of important zone clearances for Bakersfield and it was the reason he missed a wide open chance in alone on Jarry. He's a slower, skill-driven player. If he has a bad first touch how is he supposed to create space for himself like a top liner?
Some nice passes, a good stick, and played the system well but considering this game was against AHLers, on home ice, in a loss, I would grade this as a brutal game overall for a guy who's entering year #4 with these same issues.
2
12
5,667
Between this pass and Adam Fox getting the slo-mo highlight, "prepare the Norris" for a D to D pass... did someone molly bomb Rangers media last night? Most joyous reactions I've ever seen in response to some pretty routine plays
2
1
9
2,789
Before I sat down and looked at it, I thought it wouldn't be too hard making a top 25 players list. Nope. There's about 35-40 guys in this league who are "obvious top 25 players."
1
6
868
Emil Andrae's biggest moment in a Flyers jersey. Never seen a guy more confused how he lost the puck 😂
Everyone says NHL players are the toughest but in honor of Caleb Williams grade 1 hamstring strain, here is Kyle Palmieri crying in pain for the same exact thing.
Just kidding, he tore his ACL, stole the puck and got an assist on the same play.
1
5
1,271
Obviously a rookie is going to value these reps a lot more than a vet like Moser. Still, for Brady Martin that's like 3-4 good skills in a row before the bullet snapshot... feels like a guy who took a lot of shit for going 5th ovr instead of 9th ovr. Could be a gamer.
1
1
11
1,435
feels like Bouchard was going for the bank here… genuinely what an insane pass
Edmonton Oilers
5
1
176
20,169
When Cootes has a little time and space, his offensive game he can really buzz. Insane release, great legs, great motor.
Have a feeling if the Canucks started treating him like a winger, they might have a Konecny or Evangelista type two-way winger on their hands.
3
1
38
8,015
David Pastrnak is EASILY in the conversation for most deceptive player in hockey
This sequence is so quick but watch how he baits Selke finalist, Anthony Cirelli, in with the jab step and hover deke, never looks left once.
As soon as Cirelli was within 5 feet, Pasta was gone.
5
13
213
19,467
David Pastrnak treats the Bruins like his Be a Pro team where he just spams RT to get the puck on his stick
3
70
4,469
Will Smith is a weird player
So much of his value right now comes from off-puck routes, spamming high-risk slot passes, and his shot.
Not that quick so he isn't elite in transition, turns the puck over a ton, genuinely questionable defensive habits, but he consistently creates a lot of (risky) offense.
Using InStat & HockeyStats.com microstats & WAR data, the closest comps (Strong finisher, strong playmaker, low transition volume, poor defensively, high in giveaways) are:
1. Gabriel Vilardi
2. Bryan Rust
3. Jake Guentzel
4. Andrei Svechnikov
5. Tyler Bertuzzi
The closest name that didn't make it was Brady Tkachuk, a guy who just doesn't finish well enough to be a valid comp. Nils Hoglander was another comparable but he has strong enough defensive metrics that he got filtered out.
Statistically, he has the output of a grinding winger, a big body net-front player, or 2x 40-goal guy, Jake Guentzel - as @AGretz named, "the best fit that Crosby has ever had on his wing."
Almost too good to be true starting his career on a line with "the next Sidney Crosby."
9
6
193
60,546
Love the Buium signing. Not many u23 defensemen in the sport have a better ceiling case than Buium. No one looked comfortable in Foote's system last year and it's plausible Buium has a massive jump this year under Malhotra. $9.5m with term is a steal.
1
9
348
Cale Makar's $20.4m AAV contract takes up 17.97% of the cap when it goes into effect in 2027/2028.
In 2034/35, this deal would be closer to a $31m AAV.
Length of a contract almost matters more than actual dollar count right now.
Hockey fans aren't prepared for when star players are getting $30m AAV in 2035...
• 2 expansion clubs (proj. Houston & Atlanta)
• consistent hockey viewership records
• streaming companies vying to break into sports
But it all hinges on the 2028 US media deal...
Since signing the current deal in 2021 - the NHL average franchise valuation has jumped from $865m -> $2.2bn (as of Oct. 2025), jumping ~26% per season avg.
• ~2.50x jump in value
Seattle paid $650m to join the league for 2021/22; Houston has agreed to pay $2bn to join in 2029/30.
• ~3.00x jump in value
The World Cup of Hockey is likely going to be packaged into this media deal as well, or sold as a standalone.
It's reasonable to estimate the media deal jumping from an annual rate of $625m -> $1.5bn for a 2.4x jump. Averaged over the term of the deal, half goes to players -> that's ~$13m per team to spend on players.
So what does that mean for the salary cap?
2028/29 is projected at $123m salary cap from @walsha. As the media deal trickles into the cap over ~6 years with average growth ~5%, you're looking at ~$170m salary cap in 2034/35.
Celebrini's brand new $18.8m contract was 16.56% of the cap, that same cap-value contract would be a $28m AAV in 2035.
If Edmonton was still trying to keep 37-year-old Connor McDavid around, they could pay him up to $34m per season AAV at a max rate of 20% of the cap.
This is the most explosive era of cap growth we will see for a long time.
The important lesson here:
• Term is more important for clubs than ever. $20m contracts are going to become the new $15m contracts which already are the new $10m contracts.
• A young group that values term > AAV will fare better than a group that gets an AAV discount for fewer playing years.
2
2
12
1,435
Hockey fans aren't prepared for when star players are getting $30m AAV in 2035...
• 2 expansion clubs (proj. Houston & Atlanta)
• consistent hockey viewership records
• streaming companies vying to break into sports
But it all hinges on the 2028 US media deal...
Since signing the current deal in 2021 - the NHL average franchise valuation has jumped from $865m -> $2.2bn (as of Oct. 2025), jumping ~26% per season avg.
• ~2.50x jump in value
Seattle paid $650m to join the league for 2021/22; Houston has agreed to pay $2bn to join in 2029/30.
• ~3.00x jump in value
The World Cup of Hockey is likely going to be packaged into this media deal as well, or sold as a standalone.
It's reasonable to estimate the media deal jumping from an annual rate of $625m -> $1.5bn for a 2.4x jump. Averaged over the term of the deal, half goes to players -> that's ~$13m per team to spend on players.
So what does that mean for the salary cap?
2028/29 is projected at $123m salary cap from @walsha. As the media deal trickles into the cap over ~6 years with average growth ~5%, you're looking at ~$170m salary cap in 2034/35.
Celebrini's brand new $18.8m contract was 16.56% of the cap, that same cap-value contract would be a $28m AAV in 2035.
If Edmonton was still trying to keep 37-year-old Connor McDavid around, they could pay him up to $34m per season AAV at a max rate of 20% of the cap.
This is the most explosive era of cap growth we will see for a long time.
The important lesson here:
• Term is more important for clubs than ever. $20m contracts are going to become the new $15m contracts which already are the new $10m contracts.
• A young group that values term > AAV will fare better than a group that gets an AAV discount for fewer playing years.
1
6
48
19,767
The Botchford Project is one of the coolest things to happen in the hockey media space in the last decade
How many names exist in the hockey space nowadays from this project alone?
Bringing it National is an obvious next step for a hyper successful tribute project like this
Aspiring sports journalists can apply now as part of the expansion of The Botchford Project to Hockey Canada and the World Juniors. ✍️
Les personnes voulant faire carrière en journalisme sportif peuvent soumettre leur candidature pour participer à l’expansion de l’initiative du Botchford Project auprès de Hockey Canada et du Mondial junior. ✍️
📰 hc.hockey/Release5126
📰 hc.hockey/Communique5126
3
448
~10 second mark, Buium picks up a pass off Pettersson and makes a nice play.
He set that up by coming up tight against the wall shifting his weight hard as the pass is coming in.
Gives him the chance get shifty right away and an out of position Moore hesitates to challenge
1
1
26
3,461
Laine's possession metrics with/without elite playmakers are hilarious.
• On his own, he's dead last in everything.
• With a great teammate, their possession metrics & chances went way down... but they scored WAY more.
If you're a coach like what do you even do or say
5
1
19
5,661
Adam Fox and Jason Robertson sitting at home while Team USA won Gold at the Olympics is so funny in hindsight. They just left off two top 20 players in the NHL because of "vibes," basically, and now people think "jeez well they didn't crack the US team... so..." bad bounce.
1
1
10
1,293
Game 5, Vancouver vs St. Louis:
• Tyler Motte scored a highlight reel short handed goal
• Jake Virtanen had a 2 point night
• Canucks won 4-3 after another Tyler Motte snipe for the game winner
• Canucks would go on to win the series in 6 games
Canucks classic
1
6
1,814
In general I think hockey discourse appeals to consensus more than any other sport. You see it with prospects but you also see it with how similar top-10 players lists are, power rankings are, who's a good GM/coach, etc. There's a right opinion and then there's everything else.
I don't know if it's better to have a bunch of wild opinions flying around but for a sport that hangs it's coat on unpredictability, there sure are a lot of certain opinions.
3
701