Christian Renzi
The Tampa Bay Lightning just became the Golden State Warriors.
I’m making this comparison because I know that the Warriors are pretty good and that’s pretty much the extent of my basketball knowledge.
The NHL trade deadline ended at 3PM yesterday and apparently just before the clock struck three the already stacked Tampa Bay Lightning managed to trade for the New York Rangers captain, Ryan McDonagh and IT’S JUST NOT FAIR. I wanted the Bruins to get McDonagh. I had been thinking about it for the past two weeks. I just imagined a playoff Bruins team with Charlie McAvoy, Zdeno Chara, and Ryan McDonagh as our top defenders and it just made me so happy to consider and then it all came crashing down yesterday at 3PM.
To add insult to injury it was just reported a few hours ago that Patrice Bergeron would be out for at least two weeks with a fractured foot and now everything just sucks.
Get well soon Bergy. I love you.
Okay I’m being dramatic. Things aren’t all that bad. On Sunday the Bruins traded for Rick Nash, a guy who can play with David Krejci and make a legit impact on this team. Ten years ago Nash was an absolute stud and although he’s not the same player as he was in 2008, he still has a chance to help this team make a deep run. The other great part of this trade is that it sent Matt Beleskey and half his terrible contract to New York. It also sent Ryan Spooner, a guy who was probably gone next year, defensive prospect Ryan Lindgren, a 2018 first round pick and 2019 seventh round pick into the hands of the New York Rangers. It sounds like a lot but I really think it could be worth the risk.
By Sunday night things were looking really good for the B’s. Nash even managed to get to Buffalo in time for the 5PM puck drop. The Sabres, who currently are sitting in the basement of the NHL, have actually been giving the Bruins problems this year and Sunday’s game was no exception. It was a garbage pile of a game. The Bruins lost 4-1 and looked flat as hell. They now find themselves on a two game losing streak AND THE FUCKING SKY IS FALLING.
Okay, I’m being dramatic again.
I approached Monday’s deadline with optimism. With the Nash trade I figured the Bruins were pretty much out on Ryan McDonagh, but I still had this sliver of hope that something amazing would happen. I also kept hearing these terrifying trade scenarios that included the Ottawa Senators sending their superstar defensemen, Erik Karlsson to Tampa, which would be unbelievable given the talent the team already has.
Luckily Karlsson didn’t get traded to the Lightning. Unfortunately McDonagh did.
WHY DOES TAMPA HAVE TO RUIN EVERYTHING? They are legitimately stacked. Between Stamkos, Kucherov, Vasilevskiy, Hedman, McDonagh and a number of other guys, they’re built like a goddamn all star team and the most frustrating part is that it’s hard to hate them. They aren’t the Pittsburgh Penguins or the Montreal Canadiens. I can get behind hating those two vile organizations. The Lightning are lead by Steven Stamkos who I’ve respected so much since he had his nose shattered in the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals against Boston and came back out to finish the game. He’s a generational talent and is also tough as hell. This guy doesn’t turtle like Crosby. He plays the game hard.
What did Harvey Dent say in The Dark Knight? “The night is darkest just before the dawn.” That’s the way I’m feeling right now. Bergeron is hurt and Tampa is stacked but I still feel like my boys in Boston have a chance. Tampa isn’t our kryptonite. That’s the Capitals job. Stacking your team doesn’t always win you a championship, especially in hockey. In 2012 the LA Kings were the 8th seed in the Western Conference and they steamrolled their way through the playoffs to win their first Stanley Cup. Crazy things happen and it gives me hope.
A quick side note here for a hot take. Vegas is not winning the Stanley Cup. Period. They’re a nice little story but in no way do I think this team has the experience and talent to win it all. Plus it seems like they just way overpaid for former Red Wing, Tomas Tatar so maybe they fucked up their future too. What do I know? Plus whoever does their twitter thinks they are so hilarious and it’s really starting to get on my nerves.
Get it? It's a Ted reference because they were playing a team from Boston. How hilarious!
Alright, time for closing thoughts.
Don’t count the Penguins out. I still think they can win three in a row.
The Capitals won’t get bounced in the second round. They’ll get bounced in the first round.
Jets and their fanbase deserve a deep run. GO JETS IN THE WEST.
Don’t count the Ducks out. They’re good.
I don’t like Vegas Twitter.
Where the hell did the Flyers come from? Ten loses in a row earlier in the year and now they’re first in the metro? That’s why I love hockey.
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