Quick Note: If you're new, this is just me rattling off some thoughts about the league goings-on and other various topics akin to Elliotte Friedman's "31 Thoughts" segment. Here we go, the ultimate LG toilet material. 1. Oh boy, a new season! There's always those dark horses that jump ahead in the standings through one week that no one expects. Let me check the standings real quick... nope the Ducks are in first, cancel the season @Tris10 . 2. Seriously, though, definitely a couple teams that took advantage of being underestimated. The Jets are off to a 6-3-0 start (and were 6-1-0 until they dropped their last two games of the week). The Islanders got off to a similarly good start thanks to a big 4 game win streak to end the week. Both sit 2nd in their respective division. 3. And then there are those teams that we all expect to do well and get fed good lines or buckle under the pressure or flat out underperform or whatever else. Just two wins for the Bolts and Canucks through week one. 4. Also, the Avalanche (formerly the Predators) are just 2-6-1 in the post-goonderk era. Do they need their star-defenseman back? Well, they can't get him because he signed up for center this season. Rumor is one of their defenseman is also getting deployed (but still wants to play esports) and won't be available for parts of the season. Will people start jumping ship? Can the Avs stay afloat?! Is there even any snow in Colorado?!? Godspeed Avs fans. 5. Our eponymous thought this article is about Toronto using ECUs in 6 of their 9 games in week one. I feel like that's some sort of record for the first week of the season. They had 2 or more ECUs in 5 of the 6 games, and 7 different skaters laced up for the Leafs as an ECU this week. Not a bad record, though, as they were 3-1-2 in those games. Hopefully there are less vacant locker room stalls at the Scotiabank Arena this week. 6. I think my chances of scoring a goal this season are essentially zero when I look at the save percentages of goalies so far. There are 41 goalies with higher than an 80% save percentage. I think that means I can get even more mad at my goalie when I get coned and a goal goes in, though. 7. Kind of early to be thinking about awards, but maybe this is the season where a goalie makes a push for the Hart Trophy? Then again, goalies aren't people, so it'd be weird giving the Hart to nobody. 8. More on goalies: supposedly one of Florida's goaltenders @l Huskie l asked to be sent down because the guys in front of him couldn't score goals. They did score a league-worst 10 goals this week, but to demand to be sent down is still newsworthy, right? 9. I guess we can't really blame him for not being happy, but you know who rightfully shouldn't be happy? This guy in the CHL, @iCory Koshiomi , saved 53 of 54 shots. Incredible performance. Oh yeah, and they lost 1-0 in OT. Props to him, though, because he handled it pretty well. I think my Xbox would have been out the window at that point. https://www.leaguegaming.com/forums.../league&action=league&page=game&gameid=505989 10. If that wasn't enough, two days later he actually almost faced as many shots when he saw 52 versus the Hamilton Bulldogs. I know what you're thinking, "please tell me he won that game". NOPE. Another overtime loss. https://www.leaguegaming.com/forums.../league&action=league&page=game&gameid=506030 11. Unfortunately, no goalies changed hands this weekend. We did have a couple blockbusters. The Devils traded @Koho @xXShadillacXx @jackD00P and 2 picks for @Gerbe x 42 @Jaw Ache and @JTavares l91l . Not too sure I like this one just from an NHL 19 perspective. I think @DirtyJerrz and the Preds definitely benefited. He gets 3 guys who have a couple wins under their belt already, and he shipped out 3 guys who couldn't win together on his team. Not sure how much the Devils improved with this one, though. Yes, @Gerbe x 42 is a five-hole specialist (specifically whiffed shots) and @Jaw Ache was the star of the playoffs last season, but they all come into New Jersey without a win during week one. 12. @Gulash l4l didn't stop there. He sent @Sbass19 and @Serpe x 13 to Toronto for @Bouch 26 and @x SMP 7 x . Not sure how the negotiations went down, but @Serpe x 13 only showed for one game in New Jersey which is never good. Maybe this was more like @Sbass19 for @Bouch 26 and @x SMP 7 x to New Jersey which is still a little lopsided, but at least they get a good RWer (did you see him turn one of FLAs dmen inside out last week?) and a guy who will show up to his games. I'll just say both teams benefited even though TOR likely got the best player. 13. One other thought about New Jersey; they didn't really even have that bad of a week. The Metro is going to be tight all year, but 5 wins isn't too bad. If I had to guess I'd say a couple of players weren't happy about line combinations or results of games and weren't too amenable to staying put. Same story on some team every year. You hate to see it. 14. I definitely think trades should be avoided when possible. Hard to be consistent in-game when the roster is being changed around constantly. With that being said, Nashville maybe needed a breath of fresh air after winning just two games so far. I will say that there didn't seem to be any panic here. I'd argue both trades helped Nashville out a bit, at least on paper. 15. So, if no one noticed, scoring is down a bit so far this season. You'd think that would make those 4+ goal performances more rare, and yet, there were like 10+ guys who scored 4 goals in a single game this week. Only one to score all of his team's goals in a game with 4 or more was @iAMoee with 4 goals against the Kings, including the game winner obviously. Clutch performance? You could say that. 16. Definitely need some guys with a bit of poise on the squad. I think Dallas was a top 3 team in the Central for sure, but they had a solid first week with 7 wins which may have surprised some people. Not surprising is just a pure offensive talent showing up when he's needed. @Stifmeister x 7 who? I'm talking about @Martin ScoresEZ with 2 game-winning goals this week among the 4 he's scored. He's like a young Simon Gagne out there. Pure scorer. 17. Ok and yeah @Stifmeister x 7 leads the Stars in scoring and has 7 goals so far this season (3rd in the league). I bet nobody predicted that (sarcasm). 18. One other trade to mention before I get too sidetracked. The Bolts send @PARKINSON SNIPA to the Predators for @DUTCHLOVER44 and a couple of picks. I'd think this works out for both sides. Both guys are good at different things, so a swap of play-styles which is understandable after both struggling in the first week with their previous clubs. Maybe edge this in Tampa's favor for getting two picks with it. Doubt Nashville minds after receiving picks in the other trade they made. 19. A good time to mention that the @Po1andsFinest for @Optehic trade seemed to work out for everyone so far. Dallas lands @Optehic and goes 7-2-0 with him at 2-1-0. Rangers go 6-3-0 with @Po1andsFinest at 3-0-0 . Islanders get @TheHeroicDuck and upgrade a late 2nd to a late 1st round pick, and he goes 2-1-0 with the team going 6-3-0. 20. We unfortunately had the first couple guys quit after being traded. @KLAK and @Spawzz both eat that two-season ban (I assume) because they didn't like how NHL 19 was turning out. @Chris-Tastik quit on his own team which is how it's done. Bravo sir. 21. WE HAVE A TRADE TO ANNOUNCE. Um... I mean a call-up to announce. The Comets have sent nO Undies On to the Canucks 2018-10-19 07:05pm I'm sure they are hoping this solidifies their top line into one that can win 3 each week from here on out. Their defense looks great on paper, but they let up the 2nd most goals in the Pacific last week, and they struggled to score in most of their games. I think getting @nO Undies On will help with both those issues a bit for his 3 games a week. 22. Also, anyone else trying to get into AHL bidding next season? Oh, yeah me neither. 23. You know who makes up the majority of AHL bidding? AHLers. (Beautiful segue here.) That's what most people thought the Jets were, a ragtag group of AHL players with a couple veterans sprinkled in. Oh man did they surprise us in week one. Like I said earlier, they had a great start at 6-3-0 with one or more guys probably earning player-of-the-week honors. 24. All of this leads me to this great thread --> https://www.leaguegaming.com/forums/index.php?threads/hold-up-are-the-jets-sick.279753/ If you don't like that kind of confidence and optimism, you should turn on your brain. Ignore the two Wednesday losses for the Jets, they are keeping up this momentum going into next week. One reporter saw the Jets doing wall-sits in the showers after their most recent victory. That's dedication right there. 25. The most recent esports tournament was 3v3, and some team named Moisty Mire won. Turns out it was the usual suspects @Gilleh @Sitful @Odieeeeee @jonlol . Like, go back to Fortnite please. 26. I was so close to making it to 31 this time, seriously I was. Maybe next week. Also, if anyone noticed, I definitely did not post my prediction thread last weekend. A bunch of stuff came up and didn't leave me with enough time to put any effort into it. I apologize for getting everyone's hopes up. Regardless, "Some Thoughts /w Goonderk" will continue. Catch my next article after the conclusion of week two. 27. If you like these, rate one of those good ratings so I know (or comment or whatever). Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks for reading LG.
"5. Our eponymous thought this article is about Toronto using ECUs in 6 of their 9 games in week one. I feel like that's some sort of record for the first week of the season. They had 2 or more ECUs in 5 of the 6 games, and 7 different skaters laced up for the Leafs as an ECU this week. Not a bad record, though, as they were 3-1-2 in those games. Hopefully there are less vacant locker room stalls at the Scotiabank Arena this week." That's what you think, we got Serpe for his ideal 1 game avail. These ECU Leafs are here to stay.
Don’t sleep on Colorado. I love me some Jerz but I think the Devils may have gotten the better end of that trade. I played 6s with Tavares and Gerbe and they were on fire against NHL talent. Washington 5-3-1... but no mention from the Goon?!?!
Imagine saving 102 of 106 shots in two OT losses and not crying about it. 96.2% if anyone has the right to be upset its @iCory Koshiomi
To be honest I prefer having that many shots compared to 10 shots a game. Its alot of fun <3 Could care less about winning, more here to have fun. But your not the first person to say this xD
Keep up that mentality and you will do just fine. Let your play do the talking and don't pay attention to others, I meant to put that in my earlier comment about how most games now are 10-15 shots a game and you've faced about 10 times that amount in just 2 granted you've also played 9 periods but still nonetheless. Keep up the good work man and hope to see you in the bigs some day.
