NHL Thread

[philpritchard]

that's a steal for the Sabres

Not really, Vanek is a borderline elite player, Moulson is very good player, who doesn't produce when he's not playing with Tavares. Moulson has been terrible this year too up until the last 3-4 games. The first round pick will be a mid-round in what is expected to be not a very deep draft. The Islanders need to get a top 4 defenseman.

Vanek and Moulson are, statistically, very similar over the past few years, and both are UFA at the end of the year...I just don't buy that the upgrade from Moulson to Vanek is worth a first round pick and a second round pick

I think it's a great deal for Buffalo. I don't think it's horrible for the Isles, but I do think it's weird. I mean... if they're really going for it, why the hell would they ship out a consistent 30 goal scorer? If you really want to try to win now by taking on a star player on an expiring contract, wouldn't you construct the deal around prospects and draft picks rather than dealing an important part of the team?

[surfndestroy]

that's a steal for the Sabres

Not really, Vanek is a borderline elite player, Moulson is very good player, who doesn't produce when he's not playing with Tavares. Moulson has been terrible this year too up until the last 3-4 games. The first round pick will be a mid-round in what is expected to be not a very deep draft. The Islanders need to get a top 4 defenseman.

Vanek and Moulson are, statistically, very similar over the past few years, and both are UFA at the end of the year...I just don't buy that the upgrade from Moulson to Vanek is worth a first round pick and a second round pick

I think it's a great deal for Buffalo. I don't think it's horrible for the Isles, but I do think it's weird. I mean... if they're really going for it, why the hell would they ship out a consistent 30 goal scorer? If you really want to try to win now by taking on a star player on an expiring contract, wouldn't you construct the deal around prospects and draft picks rather than dealing an important part of the team?

I think the Isles are under a very tight budget. Buffalo had to eat a quarter of Vanek's salery and salery cap hit. Don't think improving while taking on much salary was an option. Hopefully once they move that will not be the case.

[southp]

If he's not on Team Canada, then someone should be fired. He's turning into a superstar.

I would probably find a way to get him on the team because I agree that he's moving into the next tier of players, but have you seen the list of centers he's up against? He would almost have to play on the wing, and even then it's a pretty ridiculous competition, especially with all the other centers moving to the wing.

I still think he'll make it, though.

Yup, Duchene has to be a lock for Team Canada. The way I see it, the centres will be Crosby, Tavares, Toews, Patrice Bergeron.

Centres that should make it as wingers:
Stamkos (would look great as Crosby's RW)
Eric Staal (played on Crosby's wing at Vancouver)
Duchene
Giroux (if someone finally tells him that the season started)
Couture
Thorton??

I put Toews and Bergeron as centres because they're such good two-way players for 3rd/4th lines, and both around 60% in the face-off circle.

[surfndestroy]

If he's not on Team Canada, then someone should be fired. He's turning into a superstar.

I would probably find a way to get him on the team because I agree that he's moving into the next tier of players, but have you seen the list of centers he's up against? He would almost have to play on the wing, and even then it's a pretty ridiculous competition, especially with all the other centers moving to the wing.

I still think he'll make it, though.

Yup, Duchene has to be a lock for Team Canada. The way I see it, the centres will be Crosby, Tavares, Toews, Patrice Bergeron.

Centres that should make it as wingers:
Stamkos (would look great as Crosby's RW)
Eric Staal (played on Crosby's wing at Vancouver)
Duchene
Giroux (if someone finally tells him that the season started)
Couture
Thorton??

I put Toews and Bergeron as centres because they're such good two-way players for 3rd/4th lines, and both around 60% in the face-off circle.

I'd be a little worried with so many players playing out of position.

[philpritchard]

I'd be a little worried with so many players playing out of position.

Yeah, I think they normally carry 6-7 natural centers, and it's not like there aren't some good natural wingers available to play the wings.

On a semi-related note, I am not looking forward to watching Kessel and JVR together in the Olympics. They've just been unbelievable together so far.

[surfndestroy]

I'd be a little worried with so many players playing out of position.

Yeah, I think they normally carry 6-7 natural centers, and it's not like there aren't some good natural wingers available to play the wings.

On a semi-related note, I am not looking forward to watching Kessel and JVR together in the Olympics. They've just been unbelievable together so far.

I wonder if Lucic will make it. He's skating very well this year and he could be a big presence on teh fourth line and power plays.

I think the Olympics is all going to come down to how the Crosby line performs and who has the hottest goalie.

[Mecca]

I'd be a little worried with so many players playing out of position.

Yeah, I think they normally carry 6-7 natural centers, and it's not like there aren't some good natural wingers available to play the wings.

On a semi-related note, I am not looking forward to watching Kessel and JVR together in the Olympics. They've just been unbelievable together so far.

I wonder if Lucic will make it. He's skating very well this year and he could be a big presence on teh fourth line and power plays.

I think the Olympics is all going to come down to how the Crosby line performs and who has the hottest goalie.

always surprises me that looch is canadian. dude's name and look has eastern european written all over him

[southp]

I'd be a little worried with so many players playing out of position.

Yeah, I think they normally carry 6-7 natural centers, and it's not like there aren't some good natural wingers available to play the wings.

On a semi-related note, I am not looking forward to watching Kessel and JVR together in the Olympics. They've just been unbelievable together so far.

I wonder if Lucic will make it. He's skating very well this year and he could be a big presence on teh fourth line and power plays.

I think the Olympics is all going to come down to how the Crosby line performs and who has the hottest goalie.

In terns of entertainment value... the Crosby line should be fun but he really didn't do all that much in 2010 leading up to the Gold Medal game.

[warehouse]

I'd be a little worried with so many players playing out of position.

Yeah, I think they normally carry 6-7 natural centers, and it's not like there aren't some good natural wingers available to play the wings.

On a semi-related note, I am not looking forward to watching Kessel and JVR together in the Olympics. They've just been unbelievable together so far.

I wonder if Lucic will make it. He's skating very well this year and he could be a big presence on teh fourth line and power plays.

I think the Olympics is all going to come down to how the Crosby line performs and who has the hottest goalie.

always surprises me that looch is canadian. dude's name and look has eastern european written all over him

he plays hockey like a north american

[surfndestroy]

I'd be a little worried with so many players playing out of position.

Yeah, I think they normally carry 6-7 natural centers, and it's not like there aren't some good natural wingers available to play the wings.

On a semi-related note, I am not looking forward to watching Kessel and JVR together in the Olympics. They've just been unbelievable together so far.

I wonder if Lucic will make it. He's skating very well this year and he could be a big presence on teh fourth line and power plays.

I think the Olympics is all going to come down to how the Crosby line performs and who has the hottest goalie.

In terns of entertainment value... the Crosby line should be fun but he really didn't do all that much in 2010 leading up to the Gold Medal game.

That's why I think his line is key. It will be Canada's number one line, if it's not producing I can't see Canada getting gold unless we have the hot goalie.

I think Canada is the only country capable of winning gold with less than stellar goaltender but it requires the Crosby line to be dominant.

[numbers]

I think I've seen two Bruins games this year, they need to stop playing opposite Red Sox games.

[surfndestroy]

I think I've seen two Bruins games this year, they need to stop playing opposite Red Sox games.

Saturday's game was a whole lot like game 6 of last year's finals. Once NJ scored the tying goal, it seems like they got so deflated that Jersey gor the winner soon after.

Chara plays too many minutes game to game and is often out of gas as games wind down. Same playbook as last year. They'd be smarter to drop Chara's minutes by five a game and save him for when they need him with gas left in the tank.

[numbers]

I think I've seen two Bruins games this year, they need to stop playing opposite Red Sox games.

Saturday's game was a whole lot like game 6 of last year's finals. Once NJ scored the tying goal, it seems like they got so deflated that Jersey gor the winner soon after.

Chara plays too many minutes game to game and is often out of gas as games wind down. Same playbook as last year. They'd be smarter to drop Chara's minutes by five a game and save him for when they need him with gas left in the tank.

How do Hamilton/Bartkowski/Krug look?

[elliseamos]

I think I've seen two Bruins games this year, they need to stop playing opposite Red Sox games.

Saturday's game was a whole lot like game 6 of last year's finals. Once NJ scored the tying goal, it seems like they got so deflated that Jersey gor the winner soon after.

Chara plays too many minutes game to game and is often out of gas as games wind down. Same playbook as last year. They'd be smarter to drop Chara's minutes by five a game and save him for when they need him with gas left in the tank.

How do Hamilton/Bartkowski/Krug look?

i can't say i miss ference or whomever was the 6th d-man last year.

[elliseamos]

Semyon Varlamov

[surfndestroy]

I think I've seen two Bruins games this year, they need to stop playing opposite Red Sox games.

Saturday's game was a whole lot like game 6 of last year's finals. Once NJ scored the tying goal, it seems like they got so deflated that Jersey gor the winner soon after.

Chara plays too many minutes game to game and is often out of gas as games wind down. Same playbook as last year. They'd be smarter to drop Chara's minutes by five a game and save him for when they need him with gas left in the tank.

How do Hamilton/Bartkowski/Krug look?

Krug has been the best of them, and Hamilton has been the type d-man you don't notice though he is a good passer. Bartkowski hasn't really hit my radar yet. I'd love to see them sit Chara on the back end of back to back games. Let every d-man get a bt of playing time in a anew spot.

[surfndestroy]

Dupuis takes a stick to his mouth and then pulls his loose tooth out at the bench. That's so hockey.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/gott ... /?shawct=1

[Peeps]

Dupuis takes a stick to his mouth and then pulls his loose tooth out at the bench. That's so hockey.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/gott ... /?shawct=1

i watched it and laughed. im sure it gets done a shit ton of times throughout the year but still....

[Peeps]

duper has more self pulled teeth this year than giroux has goals

[warehouse]

didnt someone else pull a tooth out earlier this year?

love the trade for steve downie. i had enough of talbot at this point, he's not really a full time 3rd line player. he'll be good on colorado though. hopefully downie plays w/ giroux.