SPNHL, Season 36: Playoff Preview – Round One – “Crazy Eights”
By: Dirty-Dietrich.
As summer is just around the corner, people are becoming more optimistic and positive: the sun is out, the temperature is up, the pools are opening, the barbecues are being turned on, the mood is changing. With this change in season and subsequent change in demeanor, you need music that suits the mood. So, why not put on a fantastic hardcore pop-punk concept album revolving around a cult leader during an apocalypse? (seems fitting right now)
Enter Direct Hit!’s 2013 album “Brainless God”. This is an incredibly fun album given the lyrical context of it, one that combines elements of hardcore punk, sing-a-long choruses, unnatural love songs, and much more. The concept of the end of the world and one’s actions during the course of it are expertly explored here, and with a splash of energetic music and dark humour, make this album a fantastic soundtrack to begin your summer in a pandemic.
On the topic of the end of the world, this past week marked the conclusion of the regular season, and with that, the conclusion of the overall season for 6 of the 14 teams that were vying for the Stanley Cup. While some teams who were expected to miss the playoffs lived up to expectations (sorry Tampa Bay and Ottawa, you were doomed from the start), were some surprises regarding teams that missed the playoffs, like the great collapse of the Western powerhouses like Anaheim and Vegas. To the Penguins (so close!), the Avs, the Sens, the Knights, the Ducks, and the Bolts, better luck next time, my friends.
With those 6 teams eliminated, we have eight teams left to compete for the right to be called the champions of the SPNHL. In the Western conference, the Predators finished with 35 wins and captured first seed in the conference, while the Flames proved me dead wrong and finished second in the conference, a far cry from my initial 6th seed projection. The Blackhawks made some changes to their roster and secured that third seed, the one that Minnesota held all season, as the Wild struggled, but held on to a playoff spot and finished as the fourth seed in the West.
The race in the East was a little bit tighter, but as the Penguins fell out of the race, everything started to solidify. The Bruins put up 70 points with 33 wins, earning the President’s Trophy and capturing the first seed in the conference. The Maple Leafs also had 33 wins but finished with 69 (NICE) points, enough for second seed in the conference, 4 points ahead of the third seed New Jersey Devils. After their great start to the regular season, the Red Wings faced some adversity throughout the past few weeks but managed to hold on and secure the last playoff spot in the East.
With our participants set, let’s take an in-depth look at the four first round matchups as we begin the journey to crowning the champions of season 36 of the SPNHL!
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Boston Bruins (1) vs. Detroit Red Wings (4)
Season Series: Boston won 3-0.
Boston Bruins
Regular Season Record: 33-8-4.
Notable Stats: 127 goals against (3rd), 79% penalty kill (1st).
Leading Scorer: iyzcniZi (111 points).
X – Factor: DeathClxwn.
Strength: offense. iyzcniZi, DeathClxwn, Pfarrcyde23, and (if you combine his defensive and offensive totals) DudNastyy all scored more than 70 points during the regular season, showcasing the offensive potential of this team. Meanwhile, Capitalsfan_08, Servnspike, and jamie14benn14 all averaged over 3 points a game, so even their depth options are top-line caliber, solidifying the offensive depth of this team.
Weakness: availability. We expected Capitalsfan_08 and DeathClxwn to be a consistent staple of this team’s top line, but the lack of availability prevented them from playing together often, let alone at all for this team. While there are great players who will be there for every game like chadkillz134 and Uberpwned_6969, these elite players will give the Bruins the advantage if they aren’t too busy with other leagues this week.
Detroit Red Wings
Regular Season Record: 28-12-5.
Notable Stats: 222 goals for (2nd), 66 penalties (2nd).
Leading Scorer: LeCupidon (164 points).
X – Factor: Detajax17.
Strength: offense. This series will be a battle of strong offenses, as the Red Wings employ two of the top three scorers in the league in LeCupidon and Reapz2313. With options down the middle like JHardiie and IvanThyGreat, and offensive defenders like Dynasty1989 and Detajax17 (who lead all defenders in points), the Red Wings have a five-pronged offensive attack that if not contained properly, could spell disaster for the Bruins.
Weakness: goaltending. At least in comparison to their counterparts this series, the Red Wings have a great disadvantage in net. IceyAsylum23 and X-_-Pulver-_-X have proven to be reliable goaltenders in the past, but not at the elite level that would be expected in a playoff run. The Red Wings have struggled to find their starting goaltender all season long, and need to determine which goaltender’s employment would be the lesser of two evils.
The Verdict: while the Red Wings may have the offensive firepower to match the Bruins, they don’t have the goaltending to shut down the counter-attack. The Bruins have had the advantage so far this season, and I don’t expect much to change in this playoff series. Bruins win 4-2.
Toronto Maple Leafs (2) vs. New Jersey Devils (3)
Season Series: New Jersey won 2-1.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Regular Season Record: 33-9-3.
Notable Stats: 123 goals against (2nd), 124 penalties (14th).
Leading Scorer: toslick (137 points).
X – Factor: Gucci__gui.
Strength: overall team defense. This team employs the highest scoring top line in the league in Jcfalcon21, Gucci__gui, and toslick, but also one of the more defensively responsible cores anchored by SNAKE_-_PLISSKIN and ExE-_-53. This team traps players so effectively, and while they haven’t had the strongest goaltenders (MPurch has played well, but only played 18 games, while Defaults-Potato is only a recent arrival), they have still limited teams to under 3 goals a game.
Weakness: this is a hard one, honestly. I’d have to go with composure. This is a team filled with loud personalities with high expectations, and if they don’t win one of the first two games, I see this team eating themselves slide from the inside out. Toslick and Gucci__gui are incredibly passionate players, and if the mistakes are abundant in their first few games, those two will get hotheaded and combative.
New Jersey Devils
Regular Season Record: 32-12-1.
Notable Stats: 61 penalties (1st), 36.3% powerplay conversion (2nd).
Leading Scorer: TrueLegend07 (144 points).
X – Factor: bstieboydp.
Strength: top line. This team has arguably the best starting 6 in the league (I may be a bit biased), with two incredibly talented wingers in TrueLegend07 and bstieboydp carrying the offensive line with a solid defensive center in Dirty-Dietrich. With The-Statistician at defense, the Devils completed their top line after trading for sedinpower, a trade that was reviled by the rest of the league but one that solidified this team as a legitimate contender.
Weakness: penalty kill. Outside of penalties, the Devils can actually play defense quite well. When they take a penalty (it’s fortunate that they aren’t too frequent), they don’t have the best luck, only killing off 63.9% of penalties. With the offensive prowess of the Maple Leafs, the Devils need to stay as disciplined as they have been, or else they put themselves in a dire situation against a very lethal Toronto team.
The Verdict: I’m gonna be biased with this one, only because I think my team would have my head if I didn’t pick them. This one is gonna go the distance, as Toronto has an incredibly potent and responsible offense, but I think that our overpowered top 6 will carry New Jersey to victory. Devils win 4-3.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Nashville Predators (1) vs. Minnesota Wild (4)
Season Series: Wild won 2-1.
Nashville Predators
Regular Season Record: 35-10-0.
Notable Stats: 110 goals against (1st), +91 goal differential (t-1st).
Leading Scorer: Kylo_Reli (120 points).
X – Factor: PistolPete7788.
Strength: back end. This team’s defense and goaltending has been their backbone all season, with a strong two-line defense of ProdigyToLegend and shepard-88- as pair number one, while M1keal and L8L-foerster-L8L as the second pairing. L8L-foerster-L8L has also been exceptional in net, acting as one of the best backups in the league to Spencer_Knight30, a perennial Vezina candidate. Xx_Kapanen_Xx was undefeated in net when called upon, and serves as a great depth option if needed in net.
Weakness: attitude. After a big loss in week four, the Predators looked like they were going to implode. However, they were able to recover and get their star centre Kylo_Reli back for a night this past week. While PistolPete7788 put in overtime this week as he looked to keep his team together, Xx_Kapanen_Xx is busy getting into fights with his defenders in the Discord. Will this team be able to stick together as the playoffs arrive, or are they upholding at just the wrong time?
Minnesota Wild
Regular Season Record: 21-19-5.
Notable Stats: 134 goals against (5th), 143 goals for (10th).
Leading Scorer: Mclub326 (83 points).
X – Factor: malliaman__.
Strength: depth/diversity. Sportsgeek5 has assembled a team that has a roster full of talented players who can forward and defense like Naslund, SMOKESHOWJOE, and Faaa_Kueue. While Mclub326 has lead an effective top line with a multitude of options like Papadamou_l88l, AKmatic_47, and Beantwn_beatdwn, while TheDrixMeister and blouf43 have been reliable partners for Naslund at defence. With malliaman__ in net, this team can assemble any line and have a chance to win games.
The Verdict: Minnesota have been a feel-good story in the league this season, and it’s nice to see them make it to the playoffs. However, facing off against the President’s Trophy winners in Nashville, their story likely stops here. Predators win 4-2.
Calgary Flames (2) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (3)
Season Series: Series split 2-2.
Calgary Flames
Regular Season Record: 26-15-4.
Notable Stats: 231 goals for (1st), 37.5% powerplay conversion (1st).
Leading Scorer: Whitetees41 (179 points).
X – Factor: Fluri37.
Strength: offense. This team has arguably the best forward line that remains in these playoffs: PBM_TroyJ is one of the most offensively talented players in the league, while Fluri37 consistently improves over his career in SP and amassed 150 points this season. Meanwhile, their line is completed by this season’s Art Ross and Rocket Richard trophy winner in Whitetees41. While their depth offensive options in NowYoDead and N-3-3-P-0-S-H aren’t at their proverbial level, their top line will likely be out there for 6/7 games.
Weakness: goaltending. Calgary has struggled to find that consistent starting goaltender all season, and it has plagued their progression through the rankings and is arguably the reason why they don’t have the top seed in the conference. Acquiring Eddie2708_ in a trade seemed to be the turning point this team was looking for, however Eddie has not lived up to expectations in net for the Flames. Meanwhile, the only other goalie with experience between the pipes this season has been Visibility12, who has a 1-2 record and a 63.64% save percentage. Calgary will need a big series in front of their goaltenders for a chance to win.
Chicago Blackhawks
Regular Season Record: 23-18-4.
Notable Stats: 168 goals against (7th), 34% powerplay conversion (3rd).
Leading Scorer: ttommyboiii (100 points).
X – Factor: bluedevil631.
Strengths: depth. This team has two solid offensive lines, one headed by ttommyboiii that employs bluedevil631 and Duchesne_x_10 (the scoring line), and one anchored by ThatGuyShadow91 with FatSxyCanadian and tylor_2009 on his wings (the grind line). On defense, marktsib could easily pair with either steelersfan26 or EL_R_O_O_K_I_E and give the Blackhawks a fighting chance at defense. In between the pipes, Bad-buzzz_ has marginally outplayed his starter in devindags. A competition between your goaltenders for the starting position with the stats to prove it is always a competition you like to see.
Weakness: defense. While we noted the depth of their defense, they don’t have that established #1 defender that every other team seems to have. While marktsib has very good stats at defense, his 23 games played implies a lack of availability. steelersfan26 doesn’t have the offensive chops that a top defender may have, and EL_R_O_O_K_I_E has far too many giveaways and penalty minutes at the position. There will need to be a good team defence to make up for the lack of studs at the point.
The Verdict: Calgary’s offense has been dynamic all season long, and after picking up PBM_TroyJ heading into the playoffs, they have the potential to be a game-breaking line. Chicago will give them some trouble, but I don’t see the Blackhawks making it out of round 1 (sorry Tbizzle). Flames win 4-2.
You know how everybody says the regular season doesn’t matter? Well now is the time to put your money where your mouth is. Having been to three Stanley Cup Finals in my career, I understand the sacrifices that must be made in these playoffs; you need to focus on winning. Play great team defense, don’t try to do everything yourself, stay level headed, and go out there prepared to get the W each game. It doesn’t matter if your proverbial backups are out there, you gotta give it all for 60 minutes.
Join us for the next episode of SPNHL: Off the Ice as we run down the first round of the playoffs and make our predictions, whether it be before or after the first round (real life matters happen, sorry folks). Join Pliskin, special guests, and I as we straddle the line of professionalism live on air and discuss all things in the SPNHL. You can tune in at https://twitch.tv/thespnhl_media as well as watch all previous episodes of Off the Ice on that channel. Make sure to follow to get notifications when we (or Pliskin) go live!
Good luck to all the teams in the playoffs this week, we’ll see you on the ice!
Cheers,
DD.
Category: Uncategorized
SPNHL, Season 36: Week Five – Players of the Week
SPNHL, Season 36: Week Five – Players of the Week
By: ProdigyToLegend
Welcome to Players of the Week: Week 5 Edition. The final week before playoffs start, and we got guys representing cup contenders. This should be an action packed playoffs with lots of drama and stellar hockey await. But before all that, here are your players of the week.
Forwards:
LeCupidon: 9 GP, 22 G, 17 A, 39 P, 4.3 PPG, +17, 110 GV, 25 TK.
One half of the dynamic duo of Cupe and Reapz, Cupidon takes player of the week for forwards in the final week of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. With Detroit battling for the final playoff spot, Cupe stepped it up and helped bring his team into the postseason. With 22 goals and 17 assists, Cupe did everything he could offensively to help his team.
Honorable Mentions:
Whitetees41: 8 GP, 20 G, 13 A, 33 P, 4.1 PPG, -4, 78 GV, 14 TK.
iyzcniZi: 6 GP, 17 G, 11 A, 28 P, 4.7 PPG, +22, 83 GV, 25 TK.
bstieboydp: 7 GP, 19 G, 9 A, 28 P, 4.0 PPG, +19, 91 GV, 17 TK.
Defence:
DudNastyy: 5 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 P, 2.2 PPG, +17, 41 GV, 18 TK
Dudnasty finally gets his player of the week in the final week of the season. Making the transition from forward to defence halfway through the season for Boston has really paid off and Dudnasty has really helped the back end for Boston both offensively and defensively. In just 5 games, he had 18 takeaways and 11 points, good enough for player of the week defence.
Honorable Mentions:
The-Statistician: 6 GP, 0 G, 12 A, 12 P, 2.0 PPG, +18, 54 GV, 15 TK.
Uberpwned_6969: 8 GP, 1 G, 9 A, 10 P, 1.3 PPG, +22, 82 GV, 19 TK.
Goalie:
xEKANE_9x: 4 GP, 4-0, .940 SV%, 0.8 GAA, 1 SO.
Despite only playing 4 games this week, EKane stood out. He had a .940 save percentage and allowed less than a goal per game, that is just insane. Whether that’s a product of the team in front of him, or Kane playing well, we’ll find out in the playoffs.
Honorable Mention:
chadkillz134: 6 GP, 5-1, .841 SV%, 2.0 GAA, 1 SO.
SPNHL, Season 36: Week Four – Players of the Week
SPNHL, Season 36: Week Four – Players of the Week
By: ProdigyToLegend
Welcome to Players of the Week: Week 4 Edition. This week, we have 1 returning player of the week and 2 new players. So we have some consistent dominance from certain guys, and other guys trying to make their claim at an individual trophy at the end of the season.
Forwards:
Whitetees41: 8 GP, 24 G, 17 A, 41 P, 5.1 PPG, +12, 88 GV, 20 TK.
In my opinion, one of the front runners for MVP this season, Whitetees continues to show his dominance in SPNHL with once again an amazing week for a Calgary forward. This guy is going to be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time and I wish any opposing defenders luck when they see this guy coming straight at them.
Honorable Mentions:
Gucci_gui: 9 GP, 16 G, 24 A, 40 P, 4.4 PPG, +25, 182 GV, 40 TK.
Fluri37: 8 GP, 15 G, 22 A, 37 P, 4.6 PPG, +11, 83 GV, 25 TK.
TrueLegend07: 8 GP, 13 G, 20 A, 33 P, 4.1 PPG, +15, 81 GV, 22 TK.
Defence:
shepard-88-: 5 GP, 2 G, 8 A, 10 P, 2.0 PPG, +19, 22 GV, 23 TK
Shepard is more known as a forward but has done a great job this season slotting in at defence for the Nashville Predators. He has been great defensively for the team, especially shown this week with his positive takeaway/giveaway ratio and has helped his team offensively as well when they needed it. If Nashville wants to stand a chance in the playoffs, shepard’s going to need to be on his game.
Honorable Mentions:
DudNastyy: 5 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 P, 2.0 PPG, +9, 25 GV, 15 TK.
jasonw1978: 6 GP, 0 G, 8 A, 8 P, 1.3 PPG, +13, 48 GV, 17 TK.
Goalie:
MPurch: 7 GP, 6-1, .849 SV%, 1.6 GAA, 1 SO.
MPurch went off this week, going 6-1 for the Toronto Maple Leafs with an .849 save percentage and 1.6 goals against average. Those numbers are so good I’m surprised he even lost a game. Toronto’s offensive duo was already good with Gui and toslick, and now they add a potential top goalie coming to form. Good luck to whoever faces the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Honorable Mention:
chadkillz134: 9 GP, 7-2, .826 SV%, 3.0 GAA, 0 SO.
SPNHL, Season 36: Week Two – Players of the Week
SPNHL, Season 36: Week Two – Players of the Week
By: ProdigyToLegend
Welcome to Players of the Week: Week 2 Edition. We got 3 new players taking Player of the Week this week, which is a very good thing for the league as it means there is a lot more talent and not just 1 player dominating.
Forwards:
Whitetees41: 9 GP, 17 G, 13 A, 30 P, 3.3 PPG, +15, 89 GV, 40 TK.
Whitetees is the forward of the week for week 2. An OG player of the community, WhiteTees is picking up right where he left off and had a strong week 2, with 17 goals and 13 assists, good enough for a 3.3 PPG. What gave him the edge for me though this week is he helped his team win a lot more than the other honorable mentions which is what his +15 helps prove. He also added 40 takeaways in 9 games this week so he has not only just been waiting for the puck, but he is getting it himself as well.
Honorable Mentions:
TrueLegend07: 9 GP, 10 G, 18 A, 28 P, 3.1 PPG, +7, 92 GV, 26 TK.
Reapz2313: 7 GP, 16 G, 6 A, 22 P, 3.1 PPG, -5, 80 GV, 20 TK.
x_Kane88x: 7 GP, 13 G, 13 A, 26 P, 3.7 PPG, +11, 109 GV, 25 TK.
Defence:
sabres1414: 9 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 9 P, 1 PPG, +13, 57 GV, 21 TK
Can’t tell if this is player of the week or just a love letter to the Calgary organization. But, another member of the Flames has earned player of the week this week and for good reason, Sabres1414 is one of the top defenders in the league and he has proven it statistically, having a 1 point per game ratio and 21 takeaways in the 9 games played this week.
Honorable Mentions:
Detajax17: 7 GP, 2 G, 10 A, 12 P, 1.7 PPG, -5, 65 GV, 26 TK.
ExE-_-53: 9 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 P, 0.9 PPG, +15, 24 GV, 20 TK.
Goalie:
Chadkillz134: 9 GP, 7-2, .817 SV%, 2.4 GAA, 1 SO.
To round out week 2 players of the week is Boston owner, chadkillz. Chad went 7-2 this week and allowed just under 2.5 goals a game. With the offense he created in Boston, Chad could let 5 goals a game and still end up on the winning side. Nonetheless, Chad still helped his team to a 7-2 week and still solidifies himself as a top goaltender in the league.
Honorable Mention:
Spencer_Knight30: 6 GP, 5-1, .827 SV%, 2.2 GAA, 1 SO.
SPNHL, Season 36: Week Two – Power Rankings
SPNHL, Season 36: Week Two – Power Rankings
By: Dirty-Dietrich
Recently, there have been some tragic deaths in a community I’m involved in, and it made me really reflect on my actions and how I conduct myself on this platform. We need to be better to each other; we all like to chirp and talk shit, but there’s a point when it crosses the line and becomes incredibly abusive and damaging. We all know where that proverbial line is, and I strongly encourage people not to cross it, and focus more on bringing others up than pushing them down.
With that being said, I wanted a happy album for my Saturday afternoon. I elected to go with Authority Zero’s “Andiamo” from 2004. This album has a bit of everything: ska, hardcore, skate, and more subgenres of punk. Standouts like “Find Your Way” and “Taking on the World” are fantastic, frenetic tracks to get you through the toughest of times, while “Madman” and “Solitude” illustrate the band’s ability to seamlessly transition from one style to another. Check it out!
We are two weeks into season 36, and we are starting to see how each team is constructing their own identity, whether it be a good or bad one. No team is really running away in the standings, unless you count running away from a playoff spot (man, we really didn’t predict the West correctly, did we?). Many teams are either living up to or surpassing expectations, and those who aren’t are making every move they can to change the course of their season, as we have seen more activity on the trade block than we have in recent seasons (at least from what I can recall).
As we approach the halfway point of the season, the trade deadline looms over teams, which can explain the ludicrous amount of trades conducted over the course of the past week. This is the time to move your enigmatic superstar for two reliable players (good move, Triix) or to fortify your top six with that stud goalie (Calgary won that trade). At this point, teams should be able to identify the cracks in their metaphorical shield, and make the moves necessary to prepare them as they brace for a playoff run.
So, let’s see how many feathers we can ruffle with the power rankings this week. Remember; this isn’t always based on standings, as there are many factors that play into a team’s “power”. Actually, after taking a brief look at the standings, it’s really hard to find a team that validates that claim. Maybe the Penguins and the Senators? IDK. Maybe I’m just trying to justify some radical choices. I’m rambling at this point anyways.
Let’s get to the power rankings!
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Toronto Maple Leafs.
Record: 9-0-0.
MVP: toslick (there ya go, DTM!).
Trend: Skyrocketing (W9).
Notable Stats: 87 goals for (2nd), 50% powerplay conversion (2nd).
The Leafs had an outstanding week, becoming the first team to have a perfect week this season. While their schedule wasn’t the most challenging on Tuesday or Friday, they defeated 3 of the top 5 teams in the league on Monday night. Their goaltending has stepped up with MPurch leading the way, and ExE-_-53 is having a Norris caliber season with impressive offensive and defensive numbers with support from Servnspike and Graham_scott. Jcfalcon21, Gucci__gui, and toslick are this team’s offensive contributors, with the latter leading the team with 37 goals and 62 points as Toronto continues to dominate.
2. Boston Bruins.
Record: 8-1-0.
MVP: DudNastyy.
Trend: Upwards (L1).
Notable Stats: 80.6% penalty kill (2nd), 55 goals against (4th).
Before losing to Minnesota to end the week, the Bruins were on a 9 game win streak and were firing on all cylinders. Boston’s big turnaround from week 1 was due in part to chadkillz134’s return to form, allowing 21 goals in 9 games (down from 34 the week prior). SNAKE_-_PLISSKIN continues to be reliable at the blueline through his frequent pairing with nuckingfutz85, while Capitalsfan_08, DeathClxwn, iyzcniZi, and DudNastyy (47 points and a team leading 4.3 points per game) continue to light teams up as Bostonis starting to play like the team we thought they would be.
3. Detroit Red Wings.
Record: 4-5-0.
MVP: Reapz2313.
Trend: Sideways (L1).
Notable Stats: 91 goals for (1st), 87.5% penalty kill (1st).
The team everybody loves to hate, the Red Wings came out of the gate flying but cooled down this week. They began the week 0-3, but rebounded and went 4-2 over their next two nights. While LockerRoomCancer has been reliable in net, the Wings should consider putting Budz_780 in the pipes more often. patrickisonfire has been a great shut-down defender to complement Detajax17, who leads the league in points from the blue line with 24 (22 apples!). While LeCupidon has been noted to “carry” Reapz2313, the latter is leading his team with 33 goals (55 points, 2 behind Cupe) and will be looking to do more to rebound from a mediocre week.
4. New Jersey Devils.
Record: 6-3-0.
MVP: TrueLegend07.
Trend: Upwards (W1).
Notable Stats: 72 goals against (9th), 46.7% penalty kill (12th).
Look at us turning the ship around! The Devils carried a win streak into this week that was capped at 5, and after losing two straight games, won 3 of their last 4. While goaltending is still a highly contested position in New Jersey, xEKANE_9x is showing signs of being the starting goalie. The-Statistician is averaging a point per game from the blueline, while Radyjr is excelling as a stay at home partner. bstieboydp and Dirty-Dietrich have combined for 29 goals and have formed a cohesive top line along TrueLegend07, who leads the team with 30 goals and 60 points. Will the Devils keep up their momentum? I hope so!
5. Ottawa Senators.
Record: 4-5-0.
MVP: x_Kane88x.
Trend: Upwards (W2).
Notable Stats: 84 goals against (13th), 43 powerplay opportunities (2nd).
After ending the first week on a 5 game skid, the Senators rebounded with a respectable week and earning 50% of available points. A four game skid this week didn’t deter this streaky Senators team, one that should be backstopped by WCDevon98 going forward. Dynasty1989 has been holding his own on the blueline with 14 points in 15 games, and the recently acquired steelersfan26 will support him as their blueline improves. Randymarsh2012 and the excellent PBM_TroyJ (averaging 5 points a game) are great offensive weapons to help out x_Kane88x, who leads the team with 21 goals and 46 points. While not in a playoff spot now, expect the Senators to make a run for one.
6. Pittsburgh Penguins.
Record: 2-5-2.
MVP: ACK-stonerboy.
Trend: Downwards (L2).
Notable Stats: 65 goals against (5th), 38.1 powerplay conversion (6th).
While the Penguins are 4 points out of a playoff spot, a disappointing week sees them fall down the rankings amidst a turbulent time for the squad. The Penguins could not get any momentum going this week, with Wade-Belak only winning 1 out of his 6 starts between the pipes. Bostonbruins_4_ matched his input from last week and leads Pittsburgh defenders with 10 points, as Faaa_Kueue and Howard_1333 will be counted on for more games/points. Chelios24x7 and MCoffey9 have paired well with ACK-stonerboy, with Coffey leading the team in goals (21) while Stoner leads the team in points (37). This isn’t a bad team, they just had a bad week and will be flying out of the gates next week.
7. Tampa Bay Lightning.
Record: 0-7-2.
MVP: N/A.
Trend: Nosediving (L4).
Notable Stats: 46 goals for (14th), 115 goals against (14th).
While we have the first team to post a perfect week, the Lightning were the first team to go through a week without a win this season, only scoring 2 points out of a possible 18. Bufford80 traded away almost everybody that was left this week, with the only players remaining from the original Lightning roster being gbdrumify, Kgod7, and himself. With IceyAsylum23 in net, Bufford and X_beaster_x on defense, and a forward line consisting of IvanThyGreat, Christ-Boyz, and cam123mph, this team might be able to win some games, or at least they’ll show up to them.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Nashville Predators.
Record: 7-2-0.
MVP: Kylo_Reli.
Trend: Upwards (W2).
Notable Stats: 38 goals against (1st), +36 goal differential (1st).
Nashville continues their reign over the Western conference, holding the top spot in our power rankings for the second week in a row. They maintained consistency with seven wins and only 18 goals against this week (keeping their average at two goals against a game) in kind to excellent goaltending from Spencer_Knight30 and a defensive core structured around ProdigyToLegend. The Predators employ a plethora of talented offensive weapons such as Fear_mjolnir_22, Xx_Kapanen_Xx, and their first overall pick in Kylo_Reli, who leads the team with 21 goals and 45 points in only 12 games, completing a top tier team at both ends of the ice.
2. Calgary Flames.
Record: 6-1-2.
MVP: Whitetees41.
Trend: Upwards (W3).
Notable Stats: 86 goals for (3rd), 35.1% powerplay conversion (8th).
After a respectable week one, Calgary posted the fewest regulation losses in the West in week two, defeating some of the best teams in the league along the way. While goaltending has always been a question for them, a big trade this week brought Eddie2708_ into the fold, a championship caliber goaltender in other leagues. sabres1414 and Theganjamerc have performed well as the consistent starting defensive pair for the Flames (the former leading with 19 points from the blueline), while the offense has been guided by Fluri37 and Whitetees41, the former leading the league in goals (41) and points (67). Will anybody be able to extinguish the fire of Calgary?
3. Chicago Blackhawks.
Record: 6-2-1.
MVP: ttommyboiii.
Trend: Upwards (W1).
Notable Stats: 47.1% powerplay conversion (3rd), 67 goals against (6th).
Chicago rebounded after a mediocre first week with a 13 point week to keep pace with a very competitive pack of teams. Their depth has shone through; devindags and Bad-buzzz_ have both proven to be very competent goaltenders for the Blackhawks, while marktsib has grown from their last draft pick into their starting right defender, pairing often with MLG_Owen. Offensively, Duchesne_x_10 and XM1n1atur3P33nxX are both averaging 3.4 points per game, with the former leading the team in goals (16) and the latter leading the team in assists (26), while ttommyboiii leads a deep (dish!) Chicago team with 37 points.
4. Minnesota Wild.
Record: 5-3-1.
MVP: Mclub326.
Trend: Upwards (W1).
Notable Stats: 60 goals for (11th), 52 goals against (2nd).
Minnesota’s good start to the season continues, as they keep pace with another 11 point week to keep them in a playoff spot in the Western conference. While the Wild have struggled offensively, they have been excellent defensively, as JonFromEarth and TheDrixMeister have come together to make an effective pairing in front of malliaman__, who has won 11 out of his 13 starts this season. SMOKESHOWJOE has filled the centre role quite well, with Papadamou_l88l on his left leading the team in goals (19), and Mclub326 leading the team in points (43) on his right. Offense wins games, but defense wins championships, so let’s see how the Wild progress this season.
5. Vegas Golden Knights.
Record: 3-6-0.
MVP: sedinpower.
Trend: Downwards (L2).
Notable Stats: 54 goals for (12th), 26.8 powerplay conversion (12th).
Here’s where it starts to get a bit hairy. The Golden Knights pulled off what some perceived to be an absolute steal before the season even began, trading Faaa_Kueue and Chadiliac to Pittsburgh for IIAdxmII. However, this move proved to be costly for Vegas, as IIAdxmII was banned from the league this week. While the team still has a respectable core of players in sedinpower (8 points at forward and 6 from the blueline), SliyumShady in net, and ThePoolMagician and Shockers2004 on offense, a recent trade for Su_Dzy may be what this team needs to turn their tides around and find championship success again.
6. Colorado Avalanche.
Record: 2-6-1.
MVP: Jayscott555.
Trend: Downwards (L3).
Notable Stats: 88 goals against (13th), 56.3% penalty kill (11th).
The Avalanche had a very promising outlook to the season, with a team loaded with top talent and the only question mark being in between the pipes. That question mark has significantly contributed to this team’s lack of success, with a revolving door of goalies not accumulating higher than a 72.73% save percentage. ultimateGamer940 has played every game for this team as Eggman-1’s partner, while etthan, Lo-maximus (another player who has played all games for Colorado), and Jayscott555 (who leads the team with 22 goals and 40 points) have been a competent forward line. All this team needs is a starting goaltender and they can turn their season around.
7. Anaheim Ducks.
Record: 2-7-0.
MVP: Diirty_triix_13.
Trend: Downwards (L2).
Notable Stats: 81 goals against (11th), 53 goals for (13th).
Well, the Su_Dzy experiment didn’t necessarily work for the Anaheim Ducks, and it has seriously affected the start to their season. There is plenty of time left in the season for the Ducks to turn things around and make up the 12 point difference between them and a playoff spot, and they are making the trades necessary to do so. Defaults-Potato will hopefully perform better than he did in Tampa Bay, while jamie14benn14 will contribute effectively at both ends of the ice. Leprechaunn_90 will provide goal scoring support to Diirty_triix_13, who leads his team with 23 goals and 35 points in this team’s first two weeks. Will Anaheim be able to recover after a disastrous start?
Two weeks down, three to go as we look forward to another competitive week here in the SPNHL. While the East seems to be a little closer to what we predicted at the beginning, the Western conference is the real story of this season so far: a conference stacked from top to bottom that has seen three seemingly top teams fall apart, a superstar take a ban, and the unlikely story of how a team projected to finish last in the conference focused on defense and goaltending to become one of the most competitive and feel good teams this season.
The home for this season of SPNHL: Off the Ice is on twitch.tv/probablekoz! Kozmo has invested lots of money into his streaming setup and has all these fancy layovers and graphics for your viewing enjoyment. We’re trying to bring it to you on a weekly basis every Saturday at 9pm, but sometimes life gets in the way. Nontheless, we appreciate your viewership and feedback, and encourage you to submit “Ask the Commish” questions to get live feedback from the man behind SP: SA_Pliskin.
Good luck to all the teams this week!
Cheers,
DD.
SPNHL, Season 36: Week One – Players of the Week
SPNHL, Season 36: Week One – Players of the Week
By: ProdigyToLegend.
Welcome to Players of the Week by SPNHL. This is pretty self explanatory on what this is, and I plan on trying to do this every single week. The winners are not decided by just solely myself, as I do get second opinions on who should be the winner and I have no say in who wins on defence.
With that being said, here are your players of the week!
Forwards:
iyzcniZi: 7 GP, 11 G, 21 A, 32 P, 4.6 PPG, +15, 70 GV, 23 TK.
The best forward this week is iyzcniZi. While there may be a lot of offensive firepower in Boston, iyzcniZi has been the go to guy for Boston, as he leads all of their major forwards in games played. With 11 goals and 21 assists in his rookie season for Boston, chadkillz took a chance on this guy and he has delivered. With a 4.6 PPG in his first 7 games played in SPNHL, this guy is going to make other teams’ lives a living hell when he steps on the ice. Add his two major linemates in deathclown and dudnasty, good luck.
Honorable mentions:
LeCupidon: 9 GP, 17 G, 21 A, 38 P, 4.2 PPG, +15, 113 GV, 27 TK.
WhiteTees: 9 GP, 24 G, 13 A, 37 P, 4.1 PPG, +1, 73 GV, 17 TK.
toslick: 8 GP, 22 G, 14 A, 36 P, 4.5 PPG, +13, 86 GV, 14 TK.
Defence:
ProdigyToLegend: 9 GP, 3 G, 14 A, 17 P, 1.9 PPG, +12, 53 GV, 21 TK.
The player of the week on defence goes to ProdigyToLegend. Known mostly as a forward in SPNHL, Prodigy decided to give it a go on defense this season and so far has delivered. Being re-signed by new Nashville owner Kapanen, it is looking like a good decision. Prodigy played all 9 games this week and is currently in the league lead in points amongst defenders. Adding his 21 takeaways and being the main quarterback on breakouts for Nashville, Kapanen is looking real smart for taking a chance on this position change.
Honorable mentions:
Detajax: 6 GP, 0 G, 13 A, 2.2 PPG, 51 GV, 22 TK.
Dynasty1989: 9 GP, 0 G, 8 A, 0.9 PPG, 59 GV, 35 TK.
Goalie:
malliaman__: 6 GP, 5-0-1, .859 SV%, 1.67 GAA, 1 SO.
Malliaman takes player of the week for goaltenders, and while the other candidate Spencer_Knight had an amazing week, in my opinion Spencer has more help from his team than malliaman. Mallia went 5-0-1 this week with a .859 SV% and 1.67 GAA. Malliaman is a big reason why the Wild are doing so well so far one week into the season, and if the Wild want to continue their success, then he’ll have to continue his stellar play. Any other week, Spencer’s statline is good enough for a POTW, but this week, malliaman takes it based on the teams in front of them.
Honorable mention:
Spencer_Knight30: 7 GP, 6-0-1, .899 SV%, 1.14 GAA, 2 SO.
SPNHL, Season 36, Season Preview: May Flowers and Conference Superpowers
SPNHL, Season 36, Season Preview: May Flowers and Conference Superpowers
By: Dirty-Dietrich.
Being a punk rock and metal enthusiast for most of my life, I feel like it’s time that I branch out and diversify my musical tastes. Fortunately, one punk rock band made the transition/expansion quite easy: The Bronx. The Los Angeles band has a mariachi side project cleverly named “Mariachi El Bronx” and has released three studio albums and a new set of rarities. I highly recommend checking out their second album: it looks like the cover to something that could have been released on No Limit Records and is actually very well done!
Fresh off the backs of one of the more competitive and competent drafts in quite some time (14 teams and nobody made questionable picks within the first two rounds), we find ourselves around the corner from the beginning of the 36th season of the SPNHL, one that will take us into the beginning of summer. Don’t get your swim trunks and flip flops on just yet, as fourteen teams still have to navigate through a five week sprint that will take them into early June, and wrap playoffs up as the sun begins to shine.
Seven teams will battle per conference as they look to be the team that represents their respective alignment in the SPNHL Stanley Cup Finals. There are many different identities that teams have assumed this season: you’ve got teams full of vets like Calgary and Colorado, squads full of rookies like Nashville and Chicago, a good mix of both in Tampa Bay and Minnesota, offensive forces like Boston and Anaheim, and more that we’ll get to in the coming paragraphs.
Teams didn’t have much money to use, as an influx of rookie brought the salary cap down to 32 million, the lowest I have seen in my three years in the league. Regardless, teams assembled their minimum ten man rosters and are preparing for the start of the season, this coming Monday at 9 pm. Let’s take a look at the starting six of these 14 teams, take a closer look at the construction of their squads, and see if we can predict how these teams will fare over the course of the next five weeks.
Anaheim Ducks.
GM: Diirty_triix_13.
Starting lineup:
LW: X_beaster_x.
C: Diirty_triix_13.
RW: Su_Dzy.
LD: Uberpwned_6969.
RD: Utonator.
G: Power44Wheels.
X-Factor: Su_Dzy.
Prediction: 2nd in the West.
After trading for the fourth overall pick, Triix picked Sudzy and never looked back, as he assembled an incredibly intimidating team that looks poised to frustrate goaltenders and defenses this season. With a top line that has plenty of chemistry, and depth options at forward like Thumbz, Hardie, and Ruggles, the Ducks will have all hands on deck when it comes to offense. Don’t expect Wheels or WakeDog to see much shots on net this season, as Anaheim will control the offensive flow of their games.
Boston Bruins.
GM: chadkillz134.
Starting lineup:
LW: DudNastyy.
C: DeathClxwn.
RW: Capitalsfan_08.
LD: SNAKE_-_PLISSKIN.
RD: Dptickler.
G: chadkillz134.
X-Factor: DudNastyy.
Prediction: 1st in the East.
We’re starting out the article strong with two of the best teams in the league. Chad found himself in a hole with only $18.5 million to use in the draft due to his large cap hit, but assembled the most dynamic forward line in the league and spent $5.5 million doing so. Eddie and Steel are solid depth options with SP experience and versatility, while nuckingfutz and iyzcniZi (please let us know how that is pronounced, we have nothing) have plenty of experienced in competitive NHL and will help the Bruins reach the top of the East. Maybe Chad will finally leave me alone when they do.
Calgary Flames.
GM: NowYoDead.
Starting lineup:
LW: Whitetees41.
C: Fluri37.
RW: N-3-3-P-0-S-H.
LD: Theganjamerc.
RD: sabres1414.
G: IceyAsylum23.
X-Factor: Whitetees41.
Prediction: 6th in the West.
Dead, Fluri, you know I love you and I hate to do you dirty like this, but this is an average team in an above-average conference. This team had some great picks in Whitetees and sabres, and filled their starting six with some respectable veterans. Unfortunately, this team’s backup options are not as strong as other’s, with Broken, Hale, and Morderca being relatively unproven in this and other leagues. halecunning added this to this article: “Is that garbage I smell or is it just the rest of the league that stinks?” Pretty sure it’s your team, pal. Sorry!
Chicago Blackhawks.
GM: EL_R_O_O_K_I_E.
Starting lineup:
LW: XM1n1atur3P33nxX.
C: ttommyboiii.
RW: Duchesne_x_10.
LD: MLG_Owen.
RD: EL_R_O_O_K_I_E.
G: devindags.
X-Factor: Duchesne_x_10.
Prediction: 4th in the West.
Another team that I feel is a top contender in another conference, the Blackhawks have a good balance of offense and defense in this lineup, with a crop of great two-way players. They have great depth options in Shadow (still blocked, sorry), Five, Headcase, and more, the Blackhawks can put out a line that will surprise teams and win their fair share of games in this upcoming season. Rookie wanted to make sure I added “the worse gm in sp history still running a team”. Can Chicago’s PR team make sure to proofread each of his statements?
Colorado Avalanche.
GM: Eggman–1.
Starting lineup:
LW: Jayscott555.
C: vxWoytkiw8xv.
RW: Lo-maximus.
LD: Eggman–1.
RD: ultimateGamer940.
G: F1yersx907.
X-Factor: vxWoytkiw8xv.
Prediction: 3rd in the West.
Eggman returns to Colorado as he looks to build a dynasty again, building a team consisting of some of the league’s highest career scorers and most decorated players. The only questions I have about this team is goaltending, as Flyers and Pensrul don’t have any experience in SP or much in other leagues, but Egg and Woy do their homework when picking these players. Expect another successful season out of Colorado, easier said than done in this stacked Western Conference.
Detroit Red Wings.
GM: Reapz2313.
Starting lineup:
LW: Reapz2313.
C: FreezeMothaSucka.
RW: LeCupidon.
LD: patrickisonfire.
RD: Detajax17.
G: LockerRoomCancer.
X-Factor: LeCupidon.
Prediction: 3rd in the East.
Reap and Cupe have been playing together for four seasons now, and they have built a defensive minded team around themselves this season. The Red Wings are one of the only teams with more defenders than forwards (even though Freeze is playing between Reap and Cupe), with Jason and Frodo as a secondary pair that will look to surprise people, while Budz and Foxy will be effective backups at C and in net. Offense wins games, but defense wins championships, and Detroit looks to have subscribed to that philosophy.
Minnesota Wild.
GM: sportsgeek5.
Starting lineup:
LW: Beantwn_beatdwn.
C: SMOKESHOWJOE.
RW: Mclub326.
LD: JonFromEarth.
RD: TheDrixMeister.
G: malliaman__.
X-Factor: JonFromEarth.
Prediction: 7th in the West.
Sportsgeek isn’t going to be happy about this, and Jon will likely chirp me for this prediction, but Minnesota has the same problem as Calgary: they don’t have the talent to excel in a stacked Western conference. Geek will pair with blouf as their backup defensive pairing, while old Vandoos will compete with mallia for the starting position. Pap, AK, and Prime will be a cohesive second line for the Wild, but Mclub and Jon will be heavily relied upon if they want to prove my prediction wrong. Will they do it? Stay tuned!
Nashville Predators.
GM: Xx_Kapanen_Xx.
Starting lineup:
LW: Pfarrcyde23.
C: Kylo_Reli.
RW: Xx_Kapanen_Xx.
LD: ProdigyToLegend.
RD: L8L-foerster-L8L.
G: Spencer_Knight30.
X-Factor: Kylo_Reli.
Prediction: 5th in the West.
We mentioned how the Predators were rookie heavy, well their top line is filled with 4 (really 3) players who are new to SP. However, this core of players is known throughout the NHL community and have a reputation for torching teams on the scoreboard. The vets are taking a backseat on this team, with Cam, Ant, Kwhiss, and Appler all assuming the role of backups to this explosive core. When the first overall pick is a rookie, you know they’re going to be something special, so don’t be surprised if more than just a Calder trophy goes to Nashville.
New Jersey Devils.
GM: TrueLegend07.
Starting lineup:
LW: TrueLegend07.
C: Dirty-Dietrich.
RW: bstieboydp.
LD: The-Statistician.
RD: Radyjr.
G: priceless_1982.
X-Factor: The-Statistician.
Prediction: 4th in the East.
The Devils are looking to follow up last season’s Stanley Cup finals appearance with another successful season, and assembled a respectable top 6 (after a big mistake with their second round pick). This team employs a core of former Selke and Lady Byng trophy winners, and will grind teams down. Tyrell, Trip, and KC will handle backup duties at forward, defense, and goaltending as we search for where EKANE went. We should start putting up “missing” posters around the city. Nonetheless, the Devils can look forward to another winning season.
Ottawa Senators.
GM: WCDevon98.
Starting lineup:
LW: bluedevil631.
C: PBM_TroyJ.
RW: Randymarsh2012.
LD: Dynasty1989.
RD: WCDevon98
G: SA_Pliskin.
X-Factor: PBM_TroyJ.
Prediction: 7th in the East.
Pliskin said he was looking forward to seeing this team play, a sentiment he echos nearly every season as he helps build a team. This is going to be another team that grinds teams down, but aside from Troy, I don’t see much offensive prowess on the Senators. Ottawa has a decent backup goaltender in Bad-buzzz_ (who apparently doesn’t have the time for SP anymore), and some reliable depth options in Christ-Boyz and teamrun, but doesn’t have any players who stand out and can help carry Ottawa’s offense. Sorry guys truth hurts. </3
Pittsburgh Penguins.
GM: Cookie_man_412.
Starting lineup:
LW: Cookie_man_412.
C: Chelios24x7.
RW: xPucky.
LD: Faaa_Kueue.
RD: ACK-stonerboy.
G: Fivestarcoock.
X-Factor: Faaa_Kueue.
Prediction: 6th in the East.
Cookie never posted his top six, so guess what? Get bent. Sorry pal. He also made waves by trading Adam for Jason before the season began. On paper, this is a good team, and their backups are no slouches either, as Wade and Bruins could fortify the Penguins back end while Howard and Coffey will bolster the offensive abilities of the team. There may be some inquisition into their low rank, but I’ll explain: there are a LOT of explosive personalities on this team, something evidenced by the aforementioned preseason trade, and these explosions may cause the proverbial walls of Pittsburgh to erode and crumble as the season progresses.
Here’s another quip from Calgary, courtesy of Visibility: “I unretired to win the cup and fuck bitches… and i’m all out of bitches”.
You got a mirror? You aren’t out yet. Pete took over a team in shambles with weeks left and ran it better than you ever had/could. Keep talking.
Tampa Bay Lightning.
GM: Bufford80.
Starting lineup:
LW: PistolPete7788_.
C: KIDMON3Y.
RW: shepard-88-.
LD: steelersfan26.
RD: Bufford80.
G: Defaults-Potato.
X-Factor: PistolPete7788_.
Prediction: 5th in the East.
Speaking of Pete, the Lightning faced some interesting circumstances on draft night as their GM was nowhere to be found (hope all is well, Buff). Shepard stepped in and drafted a very 50/50 team. Out of their 12 players, 6 are playing in their rookie season. Twist, Aro, Panther (he’s actually pretty good), drumify, puck, and kgod will have their chance to learn a lot and prove themselves this season as understudies to a team full of experienced veterans. It’s almost like the Lightning at the turn of the millennium. Good luck, old friends.
Toronto Maple Leafs.
GM: ExE-_-53.
Starting lineup:
LW: Gucci__gui.
C: Jcfalcon2.
RW: toslick.
LD: ExE-_-53.
RD: Servnspike.
G: X-_-Pulver-_-X.
X-Factor: Gucci__gui.
Prediction: 2nd in the East.
My hometown team is going to be fun to watch this season, as they have two of the most talented forwards in the league, but also two of the loudest personalities in the community. The only question I have with this team is goaltending, as Pulver was the only goalie they drafted and that boy isn’t a starting goalie. However, their defensive core is deep and talented, employing Graham, Mpurch, and Minor and will not let many high-scoring opportunities go against the Leafs. The only thing that can stop the Leafs from success this season is themselves.
Vegas Golden Knights.
GM: SliyumShady.
Starting lineup:
LW: IIAdxmII.
C: Shockers2004.
RW: Leprechaunn_90.
LD: jamie14benn14.
RD: sedinpower.
G: SliyumShady.
X-Factor: IIAdxmII.
Prediction: 1st in the West.
If the Golden Knights weren’t already a stacked team, they traded Jason for Adam for an upgrade on offense. With award winning defenders and goaltenders on the team, the Knights have the most reliable back end in the league, one that will be taught to and supported by way2easy and ShutUpMike. Chadiliac and PoolMagician are reliable veterans that will support this team’s offensive core, and fill out the roster for arguably the best team in the Western conference, and potentially the best team in the SPNHL.
So, for anybody who got lost in our alphabetical categorization of teams, let’s break the rankings down into their respective conferences:
Eastern Conference:
1. Boston Bruins.
2. Toronto Maple leafs.
3. Detroit Red Wings.
4. New Jersey Devils.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning.
6. Pittsburgh Penguins.
7. Ottawa Senators.
Western Conference:
1. Vegas Golden Knights.
2. Anaheim Ducks.
3. Colorado Avalanche.
4. Chicago Blackhawks.
5. Nashville Predators.
6. Calgary Flames.
7. Minnesota Wild.
Composing this article really made me realize how stacked the Western conference is this season, but the Eastern conference are no slouches either. In a rookie heavy season, a lot of players that are new to the SPNHL are looking forward to making a name for themselves and proving the naysayers wrong. Conversely, the old guard of SP are looking forward to welcoming the new core of players to the league with a barrage of big hits, flashy goals, and relentless chirps in the league Discord.
We will be increasing our media coverage throughout Season 36, as we look to bring you more highlights, weekly power rankings, players of the week, and weekly episodes of SPNHL: Off the Ice at https://www.twitch.tv/probablekoz. You can listen to special guests, Kozmo, Pliskin, and myself as we discuss everything that is happening in the league from competition to controversy. Anybody get banned for a second tag yet?
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and good luck to all the teams this season!
DD.
Season 36 First Round Predictions
SPNHL, Season 36: The Boys Are Back in Town – First Round Predictions & Top Players
By: Dirty-Dietrich and ProbableKoz
Well, I couldn’t stay away long. I thought after retiring from SP last December, I wouldn’t see myself back in the league for a few years. However, with the loud cries from the community, the voice of SP has returned and is ready to deliver the best media content this league has seen in a few seasons. Also, my old friend/owner/pain in my (and everybody’s) ass Kozmo has returned to help out with the media this season, after retiring from competitive leagues altogether.
Welcome back everybody to the SPNHL! Congratulations to the Carolina hurricanes, the winners of the season 35 Stanley Cup, but now we must move on to bigger and better things, such as one of the largest SPNHL seasons in recent memory! This season, we have 14 teams, a far cry from the 8 we had last season. I’m calling this the reunion season because a lot of old faces (such as your’s truly) are coming back into the fold. We’ve got our Hawaiian shirts on and our golf bags on standby, as we get ready for an exciting summer season of the SPNHL!
With all these returns to the league, the talent pool is one of the deepest we have seen in quite some time. There are some very experienced GMs in Reapz, Triix, TrueLegend, and Eggman who are giddy like a teenager in an Apple Store with all this talent on the board, and some relatively new owners in Devon, NYD, Geek, and EXE who may not be as informed as others on this panel of the talent presented before them. Well, we’re here to help with that, being the ever so generous and championship winning (well, one of us) owners we are.
So, we hypothesized how the first round of the draft would go, as well as some honorable mentions. We included the pick, transactional details if necessary, some background about the team’s construction, and the justification for the drafting of said player (career stats, reputation, all that jazz). We probably made a bunch of mistakes but whatever, we’ll grade ourselves after. Koz sounded like he was a few deep when we made this list.
Regardless, let’s get to it!
Pick: 1.
Team: Nashville Predators.
GM: Kapanen.
Player: Kylo_Reli.
Reasoning: with their knowledge of additional leagues, Kapanen and his resignee Prodigy would take what some might see as a chance in picking a rookie to SP in Kylo_Reli. However, Reli’s reputation in the community as a fantastic player (formerly known as Malkin) precedes his entry into SP, and makes him more than worthy of a first round pick. Add in his existing relationships with his two teammates, and this seems like a sure fire pick for Nashville. Kozmo said he would bet $10 on this pick, I’m still debating if I want to take that action.
Pick: 2.
Team: Boston Bruins.
GM: ChadKillz.
Player: DeathClxwn.
Reasoning: the boy wonder of SP and a top pick in multiple leagues, the Clown is back in town and is likely heading to Boston. With Chad resigning Snake, the Bruins have two reliable players holding down their back end, so it makes complete sense that they would take a franchise center with their second overall pick. Clown’s SP career has brought him 491 points in 174 games, and can carry offenses with ease, proving it multiple times throughout his competitive NHL career.
Pick: 3.
Team: Calgary Flames.
GM: NowYoDead.
Player: Mclub326.
Reasoning: NowYoDead has been around this league for a long time, and seen some of it’s best players come and go. With the third overall pick, Kozmo and I feel that Mclub is the logical choice for the Flames. An incredibly talented RW/C who will create a very effective duo with Fluri on their top line, mclub comes into this season with 152 points in 55 games, and an absurd 42.77 shooting percentage and has 9/9 availability. Expect NYD to do the right thing here, at least according to us, and pick up one of the best available right wingers.
Pick: 4.
Team: Anaheim Ducks.
GM: Diirty_Triix.
Player: Su_Dzy.
Reasoning: the Ducks resigned Tommyboii and traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks for this pick, a good deal if you ask DD. Triix is a very effective C who is comfortable on offense or defense, and will pair nicely with one of the most dynamic players in the league. With two Cups and a Conn Smythe to his name, Sudzy has a track record that speaks for itself as one of the most dominant players to ever grace the ice of the SPNHL. With a career 3.7 points per game (and 399 goals in 184 games), expect the Ducks to be dominant if this pick is accurate.
Pick: 5.
Team: Ottawa Senators.
GM: wcdevon8.
Player: Lo-maximus.
Reasoning: Devon kept the age-old tradition of resigning Pliskin alive, and you have to believe that his guidance will be heavily leaned upon. In that case, we believe that Plisk will grab his old buddy in Lo-max, who will mesh nicely with this team down the middle. A risk free pick, Lomax has plenty to offer with experience at each position, but thriving as a forward with a 2.5 points per game over his 416 game career in the position. His offensive contributions will be heavily relied upon in the Capital City.
Pick: 6.
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins.
GM: Cookieman.
Player: ACK-stonerboy.
Reasoning: Cookie is taking over his hometown team, and looking to keep Adam in the same Penguins uniform he is (in)famously known for. With their first round pick, we feel that they’ll get somebody that they’re familiar with in Stonerboy. Armani Calvin Klein (ACK) is a former first overall pick in the SPNHL, and has shown great aptitude for whatever position he is in. He will likely be playing C for this team, and has scored 2.4 points per game in his 348 games at forward. Maybe we’re wrong. Not usually though.
Pick: 7.
Team: Minnesota Wild.
GM: Sportsgeek.
Player: Whitetees41.
Reasoning: fresh off a lengthy playoff run in another league, Sportsgeek re-signed JonFromEarth, the former GermanGretzky, and gave the Wild a solid defensive foundation. With their inexpensive price tags, the Wild can go out and get the most expensive player in the draft at $8 million in Whitetees. An incredibly talented left winger with a standard for excellence throughout the community, he has averaged 3 points per game over his SPNHL career and will be the player leading the Wild’s offense this season.
Pick: 8.
Team: Anaheim Ducks..
GM: Diirty_Triix.
Player: Sabres1414.
Reasoning: with their second pick in the first round, the Ducks are going for the best talent available, and we feel that one of the best defenders on the list is sabres. A point leader at the blueline in other leagues, sabres is an absolute steal with 9 games of availability and an affordable $3 million price tag. A defender capable of contributing just as much offensively as defensively, Anaheim will be an powerhouse in the offensive zone and overwhelm teams all season long.
Pick: 9.
Team: Colorado Avalanche.
GM: Eggman.
Player: PBM_TroyJ.
Reasoning: Returning to management after a lengthy absence, Eggman is looking to rebuild the dynasty that he once had in Colorado, and started off strong with the resigning of Woytkiw. In the first round, we see them picking up Troy. A professional eSports player with top level management experience in other leagues, the former BradyTkachuk7 scored 90 points in 19 games last season, and would be a welcome addition to an Avalanche squad that is determined to return to the promised land.
Pick: 10.
Team: Detroit Red Wings.
GM: Reapz.
Player: Capitalsfan_08.
Reasoning: the gatekeeper of SP and it’s third all time leading scorer (behind Triix and Jayscott), Reap resigned Cupidon and looks to continue their relationship as offensively consistent linemates. However, Kozmo feels that Reap won’t draft Kid in the first round, a mistake if you ask me, and we think the player best suited to fill the slot between them is Capitalsfan. A phenomenal centre that has achieved success in multiple leagues, Caps will be a welcome addition to an offense that knows how to generate and convert scoring chances.
Pick: 11.
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs.
GM: EXE.
Player: Detajax17.
Reasoning: Exe returns to Toronto and re-signed as an all-time SPNHL great in Gucci__Gui / Go_marc. With their offense basically taken care of (Marc carried my ass to 40 goals one season), they will fortify their defense with Ajax, one of the best defenders available in the draft. A stellar two-way defender, Ajax is averaging one point per game from the blueline over his SPNHL career and will guide the Leaf’s defenses to a successful season. God, it would be nice if it were like that in real life.
Pick: 12.
Team: Tampa Bay Lightning.
GM: Bufford.
Player: KIDMON3Y.
Reasoning: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as Bufford is going to scoop Kidmon3y up if Reap passes on him. Resigning Shepard and sticking with reliable faces, Tampa Bay may be the old guys’ team this season. Kidmoney is no slouch though, with a career 2.6 PPG over 621 games. One of the most experienced players in the SPNHL, Kid will be a welcome addition to a team full of versatile players. Expect him to play C and Buff to play RD to solve the issue of three RW’s on this team when Money gets picked up.
Pick: 13.
Team: New Jersey Devils.
GM: TrueLegend.
Player: Uberpwned_6969.
Reasoning: after coming up short in game 6 of the finals last season (and game 7 in the season prior), True looks to build another championship caliber team and started out right by resigning Bstieboy. With an offensively gifted duo already, expect the Devils to look to their blueline and put Uber right there. With 9 games a week at a $4.5 million salary this season, Uber is very familiar with both of the forwards on this team, and will fit right in to their fast paced-grinding style and give the Devils a very solid core to build upon.
Pick: 14.
Team: Vegas Golden Knights.
GM: SliyumShady.
Player: The-Statistician.
Reasoning: we were originally gonna go with Jason, but we feel that The-Statistician would be the likely choice of the Golden Knights. Fresh off their Stanley Cup victory, Sliyum and the Knights resigned Sedinpower and have the foundation for another Cup run already. While Statistician is another rookie to the SPNHL, he can be compared to Reli in terms of success and reputation and it’s not feasible to see him ending up in the second round. His availability may be limited, but don’t be surprised to see that 4 games stretched to 6 on a weekly basis.
Did everybody follow along? No? Alright, lets review:
1 Nashville Predators Kapanen – Kylo_Reli
2 Boston Bruins ChadKillz – DeathClxwn
3 Calgary Flames NowYoDead – Mclub326
4 Anaheim Ducks (via Chicago Blackhawks) Diirty_Triix – Su_Dzy
5 Ottawa Senators wcdevon8 – Lo-maximus
6 Pittsburgh Penguins Cookieman – ACK-stonerboy
7 Minnesota Wild Sportsgeek – Whitetees41
8 Anaheim Ducks Diirty_Triix – sabres1414
9 Colorado Avalanche Eggman – PBM_TroyJ
10 Detroit Red Wings Reapz – Capitalsfan_08
11 Toronto Maple Leafs EXE – Detajax17
12 Tampa Bay Lightning Bufford – KIDMON3Y
13 New Jersey Devils TrueLegend – Uberpwned_6969
14 Vegas Golden Knights SliyumShady – The-Statistician
There were plenty of players who could have been picked in that first round, so let’s give them a little bit of credit. We compiled a list to do so!
Honorable Mentions
1. Fear_mjolnir_22: Mjolnir has had great success in multiple levels of other leagues, where he has plenty of experience with Kapanen and Adam. Don’t be surprised if the Predators or the Penguins pick him up in the second round.
2. PistolPete7788_: my boy! Petey is an all-time SPNHL great, recently making the transition from left wing to left defense and doing so in award winning fashion. A lot of teams could take him for a risk-free pick, as PP has full availability and would fit nicely in Tampa Bay or Calgary.
3. XM1n1atur3P33nxX: DD was a big advocate for Peen as even though he’s a bit of a hothead, the guy is still one of the best utility players out there. Going left wing this season, it’s not a far fetched idea to see him land in Colorado or Vegas.
4. FreezeMothaSucka: Freeze has emerged over the past few seasons as one of the most sought after defenders, with his physical style being a rare commodity in the community. His physicality doesn’t impact his overall play, as his responsible defensive ability makes him an ideal target for teams like Chicago and Detroit.
5. IvanThyGreat: a long time member of the SPNHL community, Ivan has the offensive ability and the availability to make an impact on whatever team he is on. Minnesota or Ottawa seem like likely destinations for this affordable yet talented left winger.
6. Fivestarcoock: when Five is on his game, he’s one of the best goalies in the league. When he isn’t, he’ll tear locker rooms apart with ease. With his high-risk nature, expect Pittsburgh or Anaheim to be the home of the coock.
7. Toslick: Kozmo didn’t think I should put Slick on here but you know what, fuck you, Kozmo. Toslick is a polarizing figure with a trophy case as big as his ego, seemingly perfect for Toronto or Boston.
8. Servnspike: Serv and Pete are like family to me, so I had to throw the former on here. Serv is one of the most reliable hands in the league, capable of playing any position but a fantastic defender who will likely find a home in New Jersey or Ottawa.
That’s all for now folks. Tune in to https://www.twitch.tv/probablekoz on May 5th at 7:45 pm as we go live with the pre-draft State of SP address from big boss Pliskin himself, and then we will roll into our draft show with a number of special guests. Kozmo and I will probably be drunk on Sangrias after a nice Cinco de Mayo celebration, and we encourage all of our viewers to send pictures of their tacos to us. <3
Good luck to all the GMs entering this draft, and good fortune to all the players eligible for the draft. I know I’ll be looking forward to not going to Boston. 🙂
Cheers,
DD & Kozmo.
Season 36 timeline
Season 36 registrations will close May 1st. 8 pm est.
GM selection April 30th – May 1st.
Team selection May 2nd
Team resign / Resign lottery due May 3rd 8pm est
Draft May 5th 8pm est
Season 36 begins monday May 11th.
SPNHL Season 35 Playoff Round 2 Preview
SPNHL Season 35 Playoff Round 2 Preview
By Chad & Fluri
Welcome to the Round 2 preview from our loveable duo of Chad and myself (Fluri)
For week 2 of the playoffs we have a couple titan like matchups, Carolina vs Toronto (Bean vs GoMarc), and Vegas vs New Jersey (Hypey vs Chad). Both of these series have the potential to see HUGE upsets, or some crushing defeats. So let’s take a moment to break these down for you guys, and get right into it!
UP FIRST WE HAVE!!!!!
Carolina Hurricanes (1) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (4)
Team: Carolina Hurricanes
GM: SliyumShady
Regular Season Leading Scorer: ROLLaBACKWOODS (171 points)
MVP: Iam_mrbean
After a dominant regular season the Hurricanes finished with the best record in the league, took home the presidents trophy and got a bye into the 2nd round. The duo of Rolla and Bean finished #1 and 2 in points in the league. Sliyum had a Norris calabar season on defense and they have last season’s Conn Smythe Winner Ciulla as their netminder. This team has no real weaknesses on paper. Toronto had a tough fought series against the Red Wings last week and the Hurricanes haven’t played since the regular season. Could this be the difference maker? Not playing for a week could hurt them and make this series closer but in the end I think the Hurricanes are too strong and will win this series and Bean will advance to his second straight Stanley Cup Final.
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
GM: ExE-_-53
Regular Season Leading Scorer: Gucci__gui (103 points)
MVP: Gucci__gui
Toronto had a first round matchup against Detroit that everyone figured would be a well fought battle from start to finish. Toronto handled the ever dangerous Red Wings in a 6 game series, winning it 4-2. A forward line made up of GoMarc, Lo-Max, and Triix seemed to be more than Reapz and his Red Wings could handle as Marc averaged 4 and a half PPG throughout the 6 game series.PNC had a rough series for Toronto in net, going 0-2, but the stellar play from Pliskin between the pipes was enough, as he went 3-0 in the 1st round against Detroit, with a very respectable 0.812 SV%. Will be interesting to see how Toronto’s goaltending stacks up against the highest offense in SP this season. Will be a good 2nd round.
Fluri’s Prediction: Carolina in 7
Chad’s Prediction: Carolina in 6
New Jersey Devils (2) vs Vegas Golden Knights (3)
Team: New Jersey Devils
GM: TrueLegend07
Regular Season Leading Scorer: Fluri37 and TrueLegend07 (both 94 points)
MVP: chadkillz134
After a few quits at the end of the season the Devils managed to hold off the Knights for second place and secure a much needed bye. This gave the devils a chance to relax and bring in some free agents and prepare for round 2. Lucky for them most of their core is still intact. True and Fluri lead this team upfront both having very good regular seasons. Egg and Peen are this team’s top defensive pair combining as a +110 in the regular season. In net after another stellar regular season Chad looks to return to the finals and win his 3rd straight cup. In my opinion this team is a bit weaker than the knights offensively but they make up for it with Egg, Peen and Chad on the back end. This will be a close series and one to watch but in the end New Jersey’s top line is just stronger and that will be the deciding factor.
Team: Vegas Golden Knights
GM: FIVEpointOHHH
Regular Season Leading Scorer: agedembryo (80 points)
MVP: No not “King Ajax”. It’s hypey-
Vegas was expected to have a walk in the first round against a Pittsburgh team that really struggled all year finding offense, and defense as well most games, but it didn’t go as planned. Vegas jumped out to the early series lead but squandered it a little on Monday night giving up a couple games, where they finally were able to close out the series in game 6. Hypey- led the charge for the Knights with 18 points in 5 games (3.6ppg if you can’t math). Jmm had a decent series as well, having 11 points in 3 games. The biggest surprise coming out of Vegas was probably Vandoos, going 3-0 in the opening series, although he did allow 8 goals on 38 total shots (which puts him below the coveted 0.800 Sv%). Goaltending will be a big question mark going into round 2 for Vegas. If they can get some solid goaltending throughout the 2nd round they could make it close. Hypey can also steal a series on his own, so it’s definitely not over.
Fluri’s Prediction: New Jersey in 6
Chad’s Prediction: New Jersey in 7
A lot of people are expecting a CAR vs NJ finals, but the top 4 teams are all here for a reason, and any team could take it all. Look forward to a great week of SPNHL action. Bean vs GoMarc, and Chad vs Hypey. Grab your popcorn kids 😉