2026-27 Off Season Thread

[PuckinUgly57]

I actually never heard that before so just googled it and you're right. Makes total sense, though. If I plan ahead well enough I try to thaw everything out first because I think it cooks better. Anything frozen I like to throw in the fridge the night before.

I try to, sometimes it just gets too busy and I don't remember until it's cooking time. I'll do whatever I can though to preserve that surface.

I've bought a bunch of accessories for it including another magnetic strip for one of the shelves, a clamp mounted basket that goes on the side to hold oil, condiments, salt, pepper, specialty utensils for cooking, the basting dome, etc. I'm not a Blackstone brand snob so all that stuff came off Amazon sans the dome, which I got as a gift for Father's Day.

Need a light though, where I cook on it is dimly lit and it's difficult to see if it's at night, this is like a clamp on flexible light. You can get so many cool accessories for this thing.

Going to use it tonight for the fourth time this week, making pastrami sandwiches for dinner with cheese and onions. Next up will be breakfast tomorrow and Sunday - pancakes, bacon, eggs and hash browns and then biscuits and gravy, sausage and eggs Sunday morning. You can actually make biscuits on this thing with an alternate cooking method vs the oven, it's been fun learning about it and how versatile it is.

Philly cheese steak is on the menu for next week for sure, smelling those onions and peppers cooking is awesome.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I actually never heard that before so just googled it and you're right. Makes total sense, though. If I plan ahead well enough I try to thaw everything out first because I think it cooks better. Anything frozen I like to throw in the fridge the night before.

Another one to watch I forgot to mention, cooking stuff with high levels of sugar. The sugar burns and ends up clogging the microscopic pores on the cooking surface.

FYI.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

TA, ranking the most improved teams so far this summer:

23. Los Angeles Kings

Net Rating added: -6
In: Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, Corey Perry
Out: Anze Kopitar, Andrei Kuzmenko, Mathieu Joseph

It’s difficult enough to replace Anze Kopitar. It’s even more challenging when the UFA center market was headlined by Boone Jenner. The Kings landed Erik Haula, which puts their center depth in an extremely challenging place (to the point that Adrian Kempe may have to slide in to save the day).

At the very least, Mats Zuccarello was a savvy add. He still has top-six ability and should fit well with Artemi Panarin serving as a budget Kirill Kaprizov.

Not really earth shaking news.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Need a favor friends.

Giants are playing the Rams on MNF in LA, I have not seen NY live in CA since I was 18 in 1993 when the Rams were still at Anaheim Stadium. I am absolutely going no matter what but looking at prices.

Before I buy tickets anyone have any connections? I'll pay of course but looking for the best deal.

 

[xis]

Need a favor friends.

Giants are playing the Rams on MNF in LA, I have not seen NY live in CA since I was 18 in 1993 when the Rams were still at Anaheim Stadium. I am absolutely going no matter what but looking at prices.

Before I buy tickets anyone have any connections? I'll pay of course but looking for the best deal.

Buy your tickets just in case but remind me when the season gets close. I'll ask a few contacts

 

[Kings4OT]

Need a favor friends.

Giants are playing the Rams on MNF in LA, I have not seen NY live in CA since I was 18 in 1993 when the Rams were still at Anaheim Stadium. I am absolutely going no matter what but looking at prices.

Before I buy tickets anyone have any connections? I'll pay of course but looking for the best deal.

I am no help

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Buy your tickets just in case but remind me when the season gets close. I'll ask a few contacts

It'll be Monday 9/21 at SoFi, I'll poke you about two weeks before. Thanks for the help.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Bedard signed 5 years/$75M extension ($15M AAV), former goalie headcase Jack Campbell retires at 34 to be what I think is a life coach.

Pretty nutty story with him how he was a first round pick, briefly bloomed late in LA and then went back into the toilet to finish his career.

Wish him well, hope he is a better coach than he was a player. All indications point to him being a great guy and good human, maybe hockey never was his calling.

 

[LAKINGSFAN]

I try to, sometimes it just gets too busy and I don't remember until it's cooking time. I'll do whatever I can though to preserve that surface.

I've bought a bunch of accessories for it including another magnetic strip for one of the shelves, a clamp mounted basket that goes on the side to hold oil, condiments, salt, pepper, specialty utensils for cooking, the basting dome, etc. I'm not a Blackstone brand snob so all that stuff came off Amazon sans the dome, which I got as a gift for Father's Day.

Need a light though, where I cook on it is dimly lit and it's difficult to see if it's at night, this is like a clamp on flexible light. You can get so many cool accessories for this thing.

Going to use it tonight for the fourth time this week, making pastrami sandwiches for dinner with cheese and onions. Next up will be breakfast tomorrow and Sunday - pancakes, bacon, eggs and hash browns and then biscuits and gravy, sausage and eggs Sunday morning. You can actually make biscuits on this thing with an alternate cooking method vs the oven, it's been fun learning about it and how versatile it is.

Philly cheese steak is on the menu for next week for sure, smelling those onions and peppers cooking is awesome.

Man, I would hate to be your neighbor. Constantly smelling all of that good food. I would be peeping over your fence for handouts. LOL.
Good way to wake up in the morning smelling eggs pancakes and hashbrowns.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Man, I would hate to be your neighbor. Constantly smelling all of that good food. I would be peeping over your fence for handouts. LOL.
Good way to wake up in the morning smelling eggs pancakes and hashbrowns.

I actually go full ghetto and grill in the front of the house at the garage door opening, my neighbors already say things when they walk their dogs, walk by, stop on their bikes.

They joke and say they can smell what I'm making down the street, you have any leftovers, etc. They've been doing that for years, I'm known as the neighbrohood griller. If I have leftovers or make too much food I give them to my neighbors, rotating houses to make it fair.

Made everything I said I would this weekend above, everything turned out great. Next door neighbor walked over Saturday morning and we talked for a bit, she said you are always on that thing aren't you? I said yup, sure am and you should get one for the husband haha.

They do have an oasis backyard with a built in gas BBQ but that ain't the same.

 

[histkng23]

A little comedy for the day....

Five Hole | NHL History & Highlights on Instagram: "On July 20, 1990, Bryan Trottier signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent, bringing an end to an incredible 15-year run with the New York Islanders. During his time on Long Island, Trotti

fivehole_ on July 17, 2026: "On July 20, 1990, Bryan Trottier signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent, bringing an end to an incredible 15-year run with the New York Islanders. During his time on Long Island, Trottier became one of the greatest players in franchise history, winning...

www.instagram.com

 

[PuckinUgly57]

A little comedy for the day....

Five Hole | NHL History & Highlights on Instagram: "On July 20, 1990, Bryan Trottier signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent, bringing an end to an incredible 15-year run with the New York Islanders. During his time on Long Island, Trotti

fivehole_ on July 17, 2026: "On July 20, 1990, Bryan Trottier signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent, bringing an end to an incredible 15-year run with the New York Islanders. During his time on Long Island, Trottier became one of the greatest players in franchise history, winning...

www.instagram.com

That one never gets old, I also like Doughty chirping Maroon when he was originally a Duck and the jerking off motion he pulled on someone I think during the Cup years.

Another good one is when Brown just destroyed Matt Cooke and Avery can be heard from the bench screaming "how's your f**kin head Cookie?".

 

[LAKINGSFAN]

I actually go full ghetto and grill in the front of the house at the garage door opening, my neighbors already say things when they walk their dogs, walk by, stop on their bikes.

They joke and say they can smell what I'm making down the street, you have any leftovers, etc. They've been doing that for years, I'm known as the neighbrohood griller. If I have leftovers or make too much food I give them to my neighbors, rotating houses to make it fair.

Made everything I said I would this weekend above, everything turned out great. Next door neighbor walked over Saturday morning and we talked for a bit, she said you are always on that thing aren't you? I said yup, sure am and you should get one for the husband haha.

They do have an oasis backyard with a built in gas BBQ but that ain't the same.

I would make it habit of going to the store with you and chipping in on the groceries to make sure you have some leftovers.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I would make it habit of going to the store with you and chipping in on the groceries to make sure you have some leftovers.

This is in May and I didn't roll it out of the garage for some reason I don't remember but some breakfast being made - hash browns, sausage, turkey bacon, regular bacon, Canadian bacon, French toast.

Yeah the Pucky household are carnivores.

 

[LAKINGSFAN]

This is in May and I didn't roll it out of the garage for some reason I don't remember but some breakfast being made - hash browns, sausage, turkey bacon, regular bacon, Canadian bacon, French toast.

Yeah the Pucky household are carnivores.

I am in a condo so I dont have room for one of those. It resembles a regular grill in a diner but just a bit smaller. Thats awsome.

 

[Kings4OT]

I am in a condo so I dont have room for one of those. It resembles a regular grill in a diner but just a bit smaller. Thats awsome.

I have one i can take apart and store, i take it camping sometimes if im hunting or whatnot. Of course need room to store it, its probably 3' x 2' x 1' thick in the case + 5g propane...

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I have one i can take apart and store, i take it camping sometimes if im hunting or whatnot. Of course need room to store it, its probably 3' x 2' x 1' thick in the case + 5g propane...

This thing looks like a PITA to take apart, I won't unless I have to. I rearranged some stuff in the garage and store it there covered, my smoker and charcoal grill took some serious abuse being outdoors in the backyard from the elements and I want to preserve this one as much as I can.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Arbitration hearings started yesterday, I found this one interesting on BJs goalie Jet Greaves.

His ask: $7.5M
BJs offer: $2.8M

Yikes, huge gap clearly but as always thw team will low ball, the player will shoot for the moon. But this is a great examplw.of how far apart the player and team is on salary.

Arbitrator can choose one of the numbers or somewhere in between.

 

[Kings4OT]

Arbitration hearings started yesterday, I found this one interesting on BJs goalie Jet Greaves.

His ask: $7.5M
BJs offer: $2.8M

Yikes, huge gap clearly but as always thw team will low ball, the player will shoot for the moon. But this is a great examplw.of how far apart the player and team is on salary.

Arbitrator can choose one of the numbers or somewhere in between.

Cossa got 2m for 1 NHL game, coming at a guy with 55games with a 2.7 offer is kinda laughable to me.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Cossa got 2m for 1 NHL game, coming at a guy with 55games with a 2.7 offer is kinda laughable to me.

That's the arbitration game though, the team will always come in super low. My guess is they'll settle around $3.5M or so, arbitration award or settling before arbitration (his hearing is Thursday so they have until then).

In 2007 Cammalleri went in with a $6M ask after an 82 point season, Dumbo offered $2.6M because Cammalleri was coming off his ELC and went straight for the top, Dumbo went low.

Arbitrator awarded 2 years/$6.7M, $3.1M in 2007-08 and $3.6M in 2008-09. He tanked in 2007-08 going to 51 points and Dumbo traded him to Calgary in June 2008 for a 2nd and a 1st (that 2nd was later traded by LA to Carolina with O'Sullivan for Justin Williams, the Canes picked Dummy of all players. I'd say that worked out well for LA).

Once a player goes to arbitration, it's a matter of time they get traded it seems - it irritates GMs or the player feels slighted and they want out.

In Cammaleri's case he played hard ball on his ELC and subsequent contracts overall and Dumbo moved him at a high value, something Bowlby never learned under him.