2026 Stanley Cup playoffs thread

[Jake from State Farm]

I got a ticket when I was living and going to school in Raleigh. Saw a goalie take one in a spot that had almost every guy in Dorton Arena groaning in sympathy once they processed again and again where that puck went ... though he stopped the shot.

Then a few years after I got into the biz, my hometown paper got a good SE. A guy who knew hockey and knew that covering it might be fun and might help grab more readers. Little did he know the monster he would unintentionally create.


One player who was really angry about what Francis got wanted out of Raleigh in any way, shape or form. Keith Primeau was loathed by the fan base, because even if they didn't know hockey, they knew petty and entitled when they saw it.

That’s interesting about Primeau. He was the main piece in the deal the Wings made with the Whalers for Brendan Shanahan. He wasn’t happy as the third center in Detroit — behind Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Primeau held out for what was a little much. Francis got more.

Francis was also a better player. Juuuuuuuust a smidge. I mean, second in career assists behind some stiff named Gretzky? Rutherford did the correct thing. Wanted Primeau, but he wouldn't budge. So, off to Philly he went. Return was pretty decent ...

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Primeau was a good player. Shanahan was the missing piece the Wings needed.

 

[HanSenSE]

I dislike the Canes vehemently, but the right team won. Vegas is 0-2 against the Metro in Finals, FWIW, with both deciding losses coming at home.

Agreed as someone who can't stand VGK. And what was nice is Carolina's victory was so decisive Knights fans can't find any way to complain about it.

 

[BTExpress]

Today's Raleigh News and Observer . . . printed about two hours before Game 6 started.

Take note of the first paragraph of the centerpiece story, which has the first 30 words cut off. Glad to see McClatchy's Gurugram bureau is as ****ty as ever.

Since last September, the NC State Bureau of Investigation has had the ability to keep a watchful eye over customers at Lowe’s and possibly Home Depot stores across the state, using a network of cameras that capture detailed images of vehicles passing through.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

On one hand, McC just sucks.

OTOH, corrections can no longer be sent five minutes before "deadline."

 

[I Should Coco]

Today's Raleigh News and Observer . . . printed about two hours before Game 6 started.

Take note of the first paragraph of the centerpiece story, which has the first 30 words cut off. Glad to see McClatchy's Gurugram bureau is as ****ty as ever.


View attachment 23037

It's like they're trying to publish a print edition to make sure no one ever buys a print edition again ... Looks awful, and the stories are probably all a week old.

 

[BTExpress]

The centerpiece definitely is a week old (I had to look it up to find what the missing words were).

 

[Craig Sagers Tailor]

That's too bad about the N&O. In 2006, I got this front page signed by Rod. It's framed and a cherished possession.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Yup. I believe I have that one and the one honoring Ron Francis' number retirement ceremony.

Those were the days ...

 

[MTM]

Probably should start an offseason thread with this, but Torts isn't coming back to Vegas.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Too bad. Talk about two sides who deserved each other.

 

[SixToe]

Did he get his clothes back?