Random Hockey Thoughts
@therkt.bsky.social
Some random guy dropping random thoughts about more than just Anaheim Ducks
Man what a game from Sennecke. Double shifted for almost 2 periods and dangerous every shift. Good for him but says a lot about the team. Sure it was great comeback and good second half of the game but overall they got a bit lucky. Helleson didn’t look good. They should play Moore as D and roll 12-6
January 17, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Man what a game from Sennecke. Double shifted for almost 2 periods and dangerous every shift. Good for him but says a lot about the team. Sure it was great comeback and good second half of the game but overall they got a bit lucky. Helleson didn’t look good. They should play Moore as D and roll 12-6
That said it’s hard to imagine retool with Sullivan in charge and lack of young talent. They are Rangers of course and have upper hand in free agency but when will they get next Panarin?
Gotta give credit to Drury for acknowledging the real situation fast enough and having balls to pull the plug even after hiring the most expensive coach in hockey.
Rangers are so cooked. Feels like Ducks at the end of Murray era.
January 16, 2026 at 9:06 PM
That said it’s hard to imagine retool with Sullivan in charge and lack of young talent. They are Rangers of course and have upper hand in free agency but when will they get next Panarin?
Gotta give credit to Drury for acknowledging the real situation fast enough and having balls to pull the plug even after hiring the most expensive coach in hockey.
Rangers are so cooked. Feels like Ducks at the end of Murray era.
January 16, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Gotta give credit to Drury for acknowledging the real situation fast enough and having balls to pull the plug even after hiring the most expensive coach in hockey.
Absolutely mind boggling trading any kind of asset for a game who you could claim on waivers every week. We already have Ross Johnston. Why do we need another one?
January 16, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Absolutely mind boggling trading any kind of asset for a game who you could claim on waivers every week. We already have Ross Johnston. Why do we need another one?
Jinxed it lol. WTF this trade? 4th for AHL guy?!
January 16, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Jinxed it lol. WTF this trade? 4th for AHL guy?!
Out of all names circulating there I believe #FlyTogether should be most interested in Hamilton and Thomas.
January 16, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Out of all names circulating there I believe #FlyTogether should be most interested in Hamilton and Thomas.
Now we entering this time of the year again when every normal hockey fan should be afraid of his favorite team GM doing something very very stupid. I'm officially nervous now.
January 16, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Now we entering this time of the year again when every normal hockey fan should be afraid of his favorite team GM doing something very very stupid. I'm officially nervous now.
Folks in CGY afraid of becoming the next BUF. So they would prefer to retool on the fly. The only team pulled this off is WSH and they got really lucky. I don't think they will be serious cup contenders anyway though. I really don't understand the logic of wanting to be forever mediocre.
January 16, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Folks in CGY afraid of becoming the next BUF. So they would prefer to retool on the fly. The only team pulled this off is WSH and they got really lucky. I don't think they will be serious cup contenders anyway though. I really don't understand the logic of wanting to be forever mediocre.
Rangers are so cooked. Feels like Ducks at the end of Murray era.
January 15, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Rangers are so cooked. Feels like Ducks at the end of Murray era.
A lot of teams do strange things in the NHL now. Look at BOS for example. What is the goal there? This team won't win the cup. Not this year, not next year. It's just impossible. Do they just want to make playoffs to sell tickets and earn money? That's the only explanation I got
January 14, 2026 at 4:42 PM
A lot of teams do strange things in the NHL now. Look at BOS for example. What is the goal there? This team won't win the cup. Not this year, not next year. It's just impossible. Do they just want to make playoffs to sell tickets and earn money? That's the only explanation I got
By the way as for RHD search I wonder what PHI thinks about Ristolainen. They should be selling and rebuilding but they seem to believe they could make playoffs. I'd call and ask anyway if I'm #FlyTogether Verbeek.
January 14, 2026 at 4:39 PM
By the way as for RHD search I wonder what PHI thinks about Ristolainen. They should be selling and rebuilding but they seem to believe they could make playoffs. I'd call and ask anyway if I'm #FlyTogether Verbeek.
I really liked Kreider-McTavish-Strome line yesterday. It actually looks like an excellent 3rd line with complimentary skill sets. I also like Killorn-Carlsson-Sennecke as the concept. It leaves Gauthier-Granlund-Terry as the other line. Why not. I'd run those and see what happens.
January 14, 2026 at 2:24 PM
I really liked Kreider-McTavish-Strome line yesterday. It actually looks like an excellent 3rd line with complimentary skill sets. I also like Killorn-Carlsson-Sennecke as the concept. It leaves Gauthier-Granlund-Terry as the other line. Why not. I'd run those and see what happens.
#FlyTogether should look for a competent backup for the next season. Husso is okay but an upgrade wouldn't hurt. I guess Rittich or Nedeljkovic is the upgrade over Husso. There are some other interesting UFA goalies but less proven.
January 14, 2026 at 2:21 PM
#FlyTogether should look for a competent backup for the next season. Husso is okay but an upgrade wouldn't hurt. I guess Rittich or Nedeljkovic is the upgrade over Husso. There are some other interesting UFA goalies but less proven.
That next little stretch is critical for #FlyTogether. 10 games before the break and 8 of them are against Pacific. They really need to put together a decent run and win 6-7 of those to force themselves back into the playoff conversation.
January 14, 2026 at 1:11 PM
That next little stretch is critical for #FlyTogether. 10 games before the break and 8 of them are against Pacific. They really need to put together a decent run and win 6-7 of those to force themselves back into the playoff conversation.
Told ya! Absolute heck of an effort from #FlyTogether especially without Gauthier/Carlsson/Terry. Great win. Absolutely deserved too.
I think today is the great day to end the losing streak #FlyTogether
January 14, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Told ya! Absolute heck of an effort from #FlyTogether especially without Gauthier/Carlsson/Terry. Great win. Absolutely deserved too.
hockeyviz.com/fixedImg/sGD...
Found a nice stat by @hockeyviz.com
Meet Ryan Strome. Anaheim's best forward according to sG. Didn't see that coming.
Found a nice stat by @hockeyviz.com
Meet Ryan Strome. Anaheim's best forward according to sG. Didn't see that coming.
January 13, 2026 at 2:06 PM
hockeyviz.com/fixedImg/sGD...
Found a nice stat by @hockeyviz.com
Meet Ryan Strome. Anaheim's best forward according to sG. Didn't see that coming.
Found a nice stat by @hockeyviz.com
Meet Ryan Strome. Anaheim's best forward according to sG. Didn't see that coming.
#FlyTogether are very well represented here at the top. However I laughed so hard reading McTavish's "no notable flaws" and "he could be one of the best second-line centers in the league at his peak". Also apparently his skating as good as Gauthier's and Carlsson's
www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
Ranking the best NHL players and prospects under 23: Celebrini, Bedard remain at the top
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:40 PM
#FlyTogether are very well represented here at the top. However I laughed so hard reading McTavish's "no notable flaws" and "he could be one of the best second-line centers in the league at his peak". Also apparently his skating as good as Gauthier's and Carlsson's
www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
I think today is the great day to end the losing streak #FlyTogether
January 13, 2026 at 12:50 PM
I think today is the great day to end the losing streak #FlyTogether
What's weird about #FlyTogether current struggles is that it's really hard to say who and what causing this. Based on xG data it is goaltending but it's very hard to blame goalies given the quality of chances team surrenders. Player xG also pretty equally spread. Nobody is super bad. Interesting.
January 12, 2026 at 4:36 PM
What's weird about #FlyTogether current struggles is that it's really hard to say who and what causing this. Based on xG data it is goaltending but it's very hard to blame goalies given the quality of chances team surrenders. Player xG also pretty equally spread. Nobody is super bad. Interesting.
If it wasn’t for the electric start I think it’d be time to start asking questions about #FlyTogether coaching staff job security. I doubt they fire Quenneville first season in but his inability to fix the team is concerning.
January 11, 2026 at 2:48 PM
If it wasn’t for the electric start I think it’d be time to start asking questions about #FlyTogether coaching staff job security. I doubt they fire Quenneville first season in but his inability to fix the team is concerning.
Well, at least Carlsson scored.
January 11, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Well, at least Carlsson scored.
I see a lot of ANA people don’t want Hamilton because of contract or he’s old or logjam. I mean listen this is the upgrade they really need. Not Trouba. This is different. Of course it means you let Trouba and Gudas go after the season. For the next 40 games it’s a bit of logjam, but not critical.
January 10, 2026 at 10:46 PM
I see a lot of ANA people don’t want Hamilton because of contract or he’s old or logjam. I mean listen this is the upgrade they really need. Not Trouba. This is different. Of course it means you let Trouba and Gudas go after the season. For the next 40 games it’s a bit of logjam, but not critical.
Verbeek absolutely has to be all over it
News story on Devils and Dougie Hamilton from me and /jkamckenzie for /TheAthletic https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6960145/2026/01/10/devils-scratch-dougie-hamilton-trade/?source=emp_shared_article
Devils scratch defenseman Dougie Hamilton, agent says he’s waiting to be traded
Hamilton, 32, is in the fifth year of a seven-year, $63 million contract signed with the Devils in July 2021, carrying a $9 million cap hit.
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Verbeek absolutely has to be all over it
Wondering how the trade could look like. Given the situation I’d assume Hamilton value is lowered. So probably no 1st and top prospect would be required. 2nd + Strome + Warren? I mean I like it and do it in 1 sec, so probably it’s light. But has to be close.
NJ is about to scratch Hamilton. Verbeek time to make a call.
January 10, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Wondering how the trade could look like. Given the situation I’d assume Hamilton value is lowered. So probably no 1st and top prospect would be required. 2nd + Strome + Warren? I mean I like it and do it in 1 sec, so probably it’s light. But has to be close.
Btw I don’t understand why ANA could be interested in Sherwood. As UFA sure why not but trading assets? Hell no.
January 10, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Btw I don’t understand why ANA could be interested in Sherwood. As UFA sure why not but trading assets? Hell no.