NHL Thread

[loner]

Yes, hockey still exists. Yes we do still have a league and a season. No, you won't see it everyday on TV. That's what web radio is for :p

Anyways, predictions people.

How they will finish:
East: PHI-OTT-TB-NJ-PIT-BOS-MON-NYI (after much deliberation and consultation with common sense, I've finally decided that another Sens vs. Leafs is not possible, and that it would take a minor miracle for the Leaf team to survive the season without 3 or 4 retirements, let alone a playoff berth)
West: VAN-SJ-DET-COL-CAL-NAS-DAL-MIN? CHI? EDM? ANA? (not much separate these 4 really).

Bolts will outscore everybody, but concede loads of goals. They won't be able to defend their title. Flames will ride on their surprise success and grit, but keep in mind that they only finished 7th in the regular season last season, and while a lot has changed since then and they've improved quite a bit, I still think they are a bit of a one-season wonder. I wouldn't mind seeing them win though. It beats seeing the Wings or the 'nucks win at least. And no, the 'nucks and the Wings won't win it.

Sidney Crosby will have a good year, with his team also racking up the goals. But they won't go far in the playoffs as defensively superior teams will snuff them out. Bouchenski, Lehtonen and Jokinen will be the other candidates for rookie of the year, but Ovechkin will fail horribly and get viciously murdered in the rink, while his team struggle to win 15 games.

Aki Berg will win the MVP.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Pfft, maybe YOU won't, but your frozen neighbours (and your non-frozen neighbours who have satellite) will.

Prediction-wise...

OTT-PHI-TB-BOS-NJ-ATL-MTL-FLA
OTT > FLA
PHI > MTL OTT > BOS
TB > ATL PHI > TB OTT > PHI
BOS > NJ

CGY-SJ-DET-VAN-NSH-COL-DAL-EDM
CGY > EDM
SJ > DAL CGY > COL
COL > DET VAN > SJ CGY > VAN
VAN > NSH

OTT > CGY in the Final.

Calder candidates will be Crosby, Richards, Carter, maybe Getzlaf and Perry in ANH if they go nuts, or Phaneuf if he has one heck of year, heck, maybe even Thomas Vanek in Buffalo. And yes, Ovechkin too. His team will be TERRIBLE, but the kid has the potential to outscore Crosby.

It's going to be a loooooooooooooong years for those poor suckers up the QEW in Toronto.

[Kaikyaku]

Wow, you guys know your stuff. I'm not nearly a big enough fan to make predictions, at least not right now. I'm more of a casual fan and I tend to stick just to my team, the Canucks of course!

West: VAN-SJ-DET-COL-CAL-NAS-DAL-MIN? CHI? EDM? ANA? (not much separate these 4 really).SWEET!! :D I would very much love this to come true! I don't think it will, but loner, I'll be rooting for you on this one!!!!

And no, the 'nucks and the Wings won't win it. Well if you go by the math, every 12 years the Canucks go to the finals. And this is our year!! Again, I don't really see it happening, but hey, you never know!

Now I'm really wishing I had TV so I could watch the games :( . I guess I'll be having the radio on more in the next little while! And I still have to make my picks for my hockey pool...

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

A Nuck fan rooting for a realistic Av fan. That's a new one.

And yeah, the Canucks make it every 12 years, and every 12 years, they lose. Frankly though, the last thing I need is to see that damn Bertuzzi's name on the Cup. I'd wish the Canucks nothing but doom, but I kind of picked Naslund with my first pick in the pool... so... umm... no doom until April!

[loner]

Yeah, Foppa too. You are so conflicted with your fantasy squad.

Alright, I need to know what American TV channels actually show NHL, because I'm pretty sure ESPN doesn't any more. And Kaikyaku, don't take my predictions as that I support the Canucks. I will EXTREMELY happy if my prediction goes wrong, and somebody else (other than DET, which will be worse) replaces them on top, and that Bertuzzi gets run over by a train or have all his limbs broken by Brad May (heh) and have to retire from life.

I still have my doubts about Iginla and friends. They still seem too much like a Cinderella team to me, and Cinderella teams usually get brutally murdered by the rest the next season. Sure, Iginla's a star player now, Kipper should do a lot better than Giguere, Regehr, Hamrlik, Leopold and Ference look decent at back, and Amonte can bring more points, but I still think their overall strength is quite lacking compared to say, *curses*, 'nucks.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Pfft, you know the Nucks are as much as a one line wonder as the Flames, and I'd wager that Reinprecht does much better than whoever the heck Vancouver has on the 2nd line (oh right, the Swedish bastards the Sedins).

American TV channels will be whatever local station you have (Empire in Buffalo, MSG in NY, Sunshine I think in Florida), NBC (once in a blue moon) and OLN.

[Kaikyaku]

And Kaikyaku, don't take my predictions as that I support the Canucks. I will EXTREMELY happy if my prediction goes wrong... Oh I know, don't worry. I just hope you turn out to be right ^_^. I don't expect them to finish first anyways.

Other than my obligation to root for the Canucks, I also root for Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton and Colorado (yes, I like Colorado too, except when they beat the Canucks).

[AioshiNYI88]

I dont rally have too worry much about the Islanders, I love living in the Tri-State area, I can see both theIslander-Saber game and the Devil-Penguin game (Crosbys debut). I like Calgarys chances this year.

[GWS923]

Just got back from the opening Devils-Penguins game, and I have a few things to say:

1.) With the defense lacking and the penguins able to pelt Brodeur with shot after shot, I think in this game he has truly proven that he is the greatest goaltender in the game. Absolutely on top of the game at all times.

2.) This Devils team is the single most offensively aware team to come out of New Jersey ever. They skated, passed, and set up plays like I've never seen the Devils do. This is the first time they've ever looked like they knew what they were doing.

3.) Where was Sidney Crosby? Aside from his one assist, I never once saw him doing anything productive. Parise's better, as the chanting crowd at Continental Airlines affirmed.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Too bad we'll never get to see Parise and Crosby play against each other in the World Juniors. And you didn't see him power off Matvichuk in the first 2 minutes and drive Brodeur? I mean, we only saw about 3 minutes worth of the game, but I'd say he didn't do too badly. I'm just amazed how the Pens could lose an offensive shootout with the Devils of all teams.

It's been one HELL of a hectic and fantastic night. GO SENS! GO HABS!

[Jedinator]

I love hockey. Its my favorite sport. The Av's are gonna win it all BITCHES!!!!

[loner]

That was depressing. But it did make me realize the hideous truths that I until now had tried to ignore or scoff at.

The Avs are no longer one of the clear favorites of the West.

A lost is not a big deal. It's only our first game, we are not unfamiliar with slow starts, we have our top goal scorer out and even though we were completely dominated in this game, we still kept it close. Losing to the Oileys is not something to be ashamed, since they do have a decent team and they are at home, and the Flyers and the Flames have fallen to lesser teams today as well. No, this game just made me, unwillingly, acknowledge the truth about the 'depth' of this team.

Before the game, the radio commentators were ranting about how even though Foppa and Footer are gone and we lost our star players, we got players that made our squad more 'deep'. Really? Getting rid of Foppa is not a tragedy for the Avs, since he's bound to go eventually and we have to rebuild sooner or later. But the problem is with how we are rebuilding. Getting some younger talents and spend a season developing them is not a step backward. Getting even older veterans who may very well retire next season (and 2 retired already THIS season) and spend the season trying to accomodate them IS a step backward. If we added Pierre Turgeon as a 3rd line or 4th line center, then we are adding depth and experience to our squad. But we added Turgeon to replace Forsberg and ask him to be like Foppa and change the game for us. Am I and Kuzu the only ones that see something wrong with that? The juries are still out on Laaksonen (who showed some promise), Svatos, Vaananen, Wolski and maybe even Sauer, but Turgeon, Brisebois and Brunette won't get much better, and they are not equals to Foppa, Foote and sigh...Paul Kariya. And anyways, your team is not getting deeper when you lose more Cs than you sign.

So we are hopeless? We are doomed to fail to make the playoffs? No, we are not alone in this. Other teams are facing their own dilemmas. Can the Wings' old guard survive the season, when past evidence showed that they are very brittle now? Can the Flames and Iginla live up to their favorites tag and the extremely large amount of expectations that came from what was actually a rather typical Cinderella run, with a squad that at first look strong in every area, but upon closer inspection, is found lacking in depth like us? In fact, there is for once an extremely even-strengthed Western Conference, with each team having their own strong points, and with the Jackets and the Coyotes the only teams that are clearly inferior to the rest (and even then, they're not that much inferior). The only reason I picked the 'nucks to top conference is that they looked to have the deepest team, and as much as you hate the Swedish bastards Kuzu, you have to admit they are younger and better than Turgeon and Brunette.

What I hope is that the Avs could have an exciting emerging talent to build a foundation on. Right now, our best prospect is Svatos, while Wolski is not in the same mold as Crosby, Parise, Bouchenski, Perry, Richards and sigh, Ovechkin. We are stuck with competent players who rarely contributes much. Which sucks.

Enough ranting. Bring on the next game.

[Finnf00]

OK, so Chicago lost. But It's not over yet!!!!

Besides, Philly looked quite funny out there. Losing to the worst team in the league wasn't much of a start. So glad Big Gay Foppa's is in a struggling team again, and Bobby "Is he big?" Clarke fails at hockey for the x:th time.

Lehtonen seemingly had an ok start despite letting in those two goals. Two goals is nothing compared to the humiliation felt by Esche after letting in 5 against...well, the worst team in the league (ok, so I can never get enough of this joke).

Caps surprisisngly won (probably their only win in the season) and Ottawa managed to barely squeeze past "The old folks home". Preds also won, although I still have no confidence in loser-Vokoun. I think Dallas beating LA has to come as some sort of surprise. Being 0-4 down after the first usually means you've lost the game. The new hard line against obstructions was pure poison for LA it seems, wonder if the refs will have as much to say about the end result in future games as they did in this one.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Poison nothing, there were teams that could actually play within the rules, and the Kings just simply could not. It's hardly the refs fault.

Lehtonen actually pitched a shutout, except that he was pulled after the first because of his groin. Dunham let in the two goals.

And Philly... yeah... I don't get Philly.

[AioshiNYI88]

Question who would you take on your Fantasy Team: Paul Mara of Phoenix or Ed Jovanovski. I personally like Jovanovski.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Jovo, easily. VAN number 1 dman with lots of PP time over PHX's 2nd pair dman with very limited special teams play? Pretty obvious.

[GWS923]

Too bad we'll never get to see Parise and Crosby play against each other in the World Juniors. And you didn't see him power off Matvichuk in the first 2 minutes and drive Brodeur? I mean, we only saw about 3 minutes worth of the game, but I'd say he didn't do too badly. I'm just amazed how the Pens could lose an offensive shootout with the Devils of all teams.!

Of course I saw his shot on Brodeur, and it was good. Not going to argue with you there, but it would have had to be better than that to beat Marty. Marty's save was not luck. And he didn't do badly. Not at all. But he certainly wasn't a presence.

I was suprised at the Devils offense as well, but as I said before, it was the most offensively aware group of Devils I've ever seen. They will still be a force to be wreckoned with this year.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

I think Marty just stood on his head. 36 saves against that collection of forwards is certainly nothing to scoff at. I think I foresee another gold medal for the Red and White at Torino this year.

I still think the Devils will be perhaps 4th or 5th, it all depends on how an inconsistent Boston and a suddenly wobbly Philadelphia will play though. Although, can Marty play 70 games a year WHILE facing 30+ shots a game in the new NHL?

[Jedinator]

That was depressing. But it did make me realize the hideous truths that I until now had tried to ignore or scoff at.

The Avs are no longer one of the clear favorites of the West.

A lost is not a big deal. It's only our first game, we are not unfamiliar with slow starts, we have our top goal scorer out and even though we were completely dominated in this game, we still kept it close. Losing to the Oileys is not something to be ashamed, since they do have a decent team and they are at home, and the Flyers and the Flames have fallen to lesser teams today as well. No, this game just made me, unwillingly, acknowledge the truth about the 'depth' of this team.

Before the game, the radio commentators were ranting about how even though Foppa and Footer are gone and we lost our star players, we got players that made our squad more 'deep'. Really? Getting rid of Foppa is not a tragedy for the Avs, since he's bound to go eventually and we have to rebuild sooner or later. But the problem is with how we are rebuilding. Getting some younger talents and spend a season developing them is not a step backward. Getting even older veterans who may very well retire next season (and 2 retired already THIS season) and spend the season trying to accomodate them IS a step backward. If we added Pierre Turgeon as a 3rd line or 4th line center, then we are adding depth and experience to our squad. But we added Turgeon to replace Forsberg and ask him to be like Foppa and change the game for us. Am I and Kuzu the only ones that see something wrong with that? The juries are still out on Laaksonen (who showed some promise), Svatos, Vaananen, Wolski and maybe even Sauer, but Turgeon, Brisebois and Brunette won't get much better, and they are not equals to Foppa, Foote and sigh...Paul Kariya. And anyways, your team is not getting deeper when you lose more Cs than you sign.

So we are hopeless? We are doomed to fail to make the playoffs? No, we are not alone in this. Other teams are facing their own dilemmas. Can the Wings' old guard survive the season, when past evidence showed that they are very brittle now? Can the Flames and Iginla live up to their favorites tag and the extremely large amount of expectations that came from what was actually a rather typical Cinderella run, with a squad that at first look strong in every area, but upon closer inspection, is found lacking in depth like us? In fact, there is for once an extremely even-strengthed Western Conference, with each team having their own strong points, and with the Jackets and the Coyotes the only teams that are clearly inferior to the rest (and even then, they're not that much inferior). The only reason I picked the 'nucks to top conference is that they looked to have the deepest team, and as much as you hate the Swedish bastards Kuzu, you have to admit they are younger and better than Turgeon and Brunette.

What I hope is that the Avs could have an exciting emerging talent to build a foundation on. Right now, our best prospect is Svatos, while Wolski is not in the same mold as Crosby, Parise, Bouchenski, Perry, Richards and sigh, Ovechkin. We are stuck with competent players who rarely contributes much. Which sucks.

Enough ranting. Bring on the next game.

So are you an avs fan too??? If you are thats awesome and are you from colorado?

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

So are you an avs fan too??? If you are thats awesome and are you from colorado?

Did you actually read anything that he wrote aside from "Avs"?

How about a comment on the actual post?

[Neo-Hunter]

woah, wait a miniute here i sense all of the teams that might but you have to consider the rebuilding of the NYR, they beat phi 5-3 and then lost to montrel yesterday but they become a much stronger team i mean i'm not saying that they are not a playoff contender but a least they will have a better season.

[loner]

NYR will be staring at the rest of the East from bottom up. If Ovechkin have a decent season, even the Caps will be better than them. Just because they beat the Flyers the first game doesn't mean they are challenging for anything but the last position of the whole league. They have 2 Czechs, a few past-its, and loads of no-experience rookies and youngsters, most of which you will be seeing playing in the AHL or whatever next season.

Habs on the other hand is a team we need to watch out. Michael Ryder is a much better player than I give him credit for (damn you Kuzu), and Kovalev looks to be resurrecting his game.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

It all depends if the Rangers will run out of gas, or god forbid, Jagr throws another hissy fit. There's also the question of Kevin Weekes... who has never really been quite good enough to be a certified No. 1. I'm thinking 5th in the division, fighting with the Isles.

[Angry John]

Remember when McSorely smacked that dude up side the head with his stick, like from behind with no warning? Now THAT was hockey! That was the pinnacle, the apex, the quintessence.....the rest of hockey history will be epilogue.

[Finnf00]

Remember when McSorely smacked that dude up side the head with his stick, like from behind with no warning? Now THAT was hockey! That was the pinnacle, the apex, the quintessence.....the rest of hockey history will be epilogue.McSorley = god.

And yeah, Rangers will drop to the bottom soon. Michael Ryder's current form came as no surprise to me. I'm more surprised over the fact that Teemu freakin Selanne is scoring goals this early on. I mean what's up with that? Shouldn't this guy be in the old folks home by now? Even us Finns have given up all hope on him.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Teemu's a fag. He can rot in hell. But yeah, with the lack of defense, don't be too surprised to see well... everyone putting more pucks in the net. I mean, I expect a big fast guy like Bertuzzi to go nuts. Hell, I even expected Mats Sundin to go nuts, so... let's hope Bertuzzi gets a puck to the eye... REAL soon.

[Finnf00]

Teemu's a fag. He can rot in hell. But yeah, with the lack of defense, don't be too surprised to see well... everyone putting more pucks in the net. I mean, I expect a big fast guy like Bertuzzi to go nuts. Hell, I even expected Mats Sundin to go nuts, so... let's hope Bertuzzi gets a puck to the eye... REAL soon.But, but...Bertuzzi's the coolest guy in the game. His right hand swing is a real beauty. And what ninja like talent to sneak up like that! Hail Todd!
...*hides*

[AioshiNYI88]

Fu!k the Rangers

It all depends if the Rangers will run out of gas, or god forbid, Jagr throws another hissy fit. There's also the question of Kevin Weekes... who has never really been quite good enough to be a certified No. 1. I'm thinking 5th in the division, fighting with the Isles.

No Not Cool.

[loner]

You expect the Islanders to do better than Devils, Flyers and Penguins, when they have so many stars on their teams?

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Well... PIT and NYI could fight for 3rd in the Atlantic if PIT can't get their act together.

[UZ_white]

Well if you go by the math, every 12 years the Canucks go to the finals. And this is our year!! Again, I don't really see it happening, but hey, you never know!


Well, it's not like patterns haven't been broken before.

For instance, if the NYD-CA Stanley cup ring kept going, the Avs would've won it all last year.

(For the slow, recently, there were 2 times where the Devils, and the Avalanche won the cup in order. Not again.)

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

It's been a heck of a first three days. Philly looking down and out, but WINNING against Jersey. JERSEY BLOWING A 2-0 LEAD. When is the last freaking time that happened? Brent Seabrook with 4 assists vs. the Sharks. 4 fights in the Hawks - Sharks game. Luongo's back to back shutouts. What a freaking year already, and it's just going to get so much better.

[loner]

Talk about entertainment. I mean, you know hockey is alive and well when even a Blackhawks game can be so fun. 4 freaking fights, with Barnie and Bell igniting off simutaneously (with Maca looking on in glee), and right after Bell fight, we have Vandemeer igniting an all-out brawl. Yar, savegeness. And damn it, for a change the Tribes are WINNING, and winning by blowing out opponents.

I still think that the new rules promote offence too much, and now every player and their mom and grandma can get loads of points. Seabrook's 4 assists is a prime example. I mean the kid is good, but when was the last time you see a rookie D man get 4 points? It's ridiculous, but fun (for now). Hope they willl keep this up.

[Finnf00]

The new rules would like to see fights toned down, but seriously, who can honestly say those four fights in the Hawks game didn't make it more entertaining!! The fans demand violence!!

Now both of my fav teams (HIFK and Hawks) are starting to look way more physical than any of their main contenders. And I like it. I hope Yawney can keep this tempo up. Oh, and way to go Ruutu! Netting a goal (and getting an assist) in his second game probably got the monkey off his back, so scoring should now be a lot easier.

[AioshiNYI88]

You expect the Islanders to do better than Devils, Flyers and Penguins, when they have so many stars on their teams?

No, not the Devils and Flyers, but I have hope and if thats a crime im guilty dammit.

[Dragne]

Goooooooooo sens! that's all i need to add

[Admiral Ackbar]

Everyone ignore Dragne he is an idiot

GO LEAFS GO!!!

[AioshiNYI88]

Everyone ignore Dragne he is an idiot

GO LEAFS GO!!!

LETS GO SHARKS AND ISLANDERS!!!!!

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Pfft.

Sharks... inexperienced, wonky.
Leafs... too experienced, blind.
Isles... come on, Yashin ain't no Bryan Trottier.

At least the Sens have a shot.

[loner]

Haha, talk about Calgary's chances, that was one hell of a beating we handed out to them. I'm under no illusion that this game mean that we are way better than the Flames and they will become fodders, it's just that their special team looks pathetic. The box score shows a SH goal and a PP goal. The box score also shows that those came after the Avs were already 5 up and the only player who cared is Svatos who wants his hat trick (and he got it). And it's not the change of rules that are getting the Flameys into the box. McCarty asked for the 5 minute misconduct, and so did Chris Simon for his boarding. A ref will be stupid not to call those. This is a very dangerous combination for the Flames, and they'll likely to torch themselves a large hole before they can recover.

Marek Svatos, he makes all the difference. I'm under no illusion this means the Avs will win the cup, but it does give me hope. He's up there with Crosby and Ovechkin IMO. And Phaneuf is one tough cookie, I'll give him that. The only Flames player except for Amonte that got played really well in this game.

Leafs' chances of winnin cup equals Phate's chance of ever winning a date with Chiyo.

[AioshiNYI88]

Leafs' chances of winnin cup equals Phate's chance of ever winning a date with Chiyo.

BURN ALMIGHTY!!!!!
3000 points.

[loner]

Oh great. Again.

**** this.

Abby is in a new low, just when I thought he got his determination back. And now everytime they lead by 3 goals in the 2nd period, they will fretter like little girls, fearing for their lives. They were in cruise mode after Laperriere pwning his old club, but then just became complacent again. I thought they were supposed to learn something from the Nashville game. We should've been 4-1-1, and near the top of the division. Now we are collecting dust with the Flames. Great.

This is not because LA had suddenly become an insanely good hockey team. It was idiotic defensive errors and players becoming stationery that cost us the game. And we look incapable of pulling ourselves together after any kind of setback. NOT a good news.

It's early, whatever. But this could become a trend.

/rant mode off

[AioshiNYI88]

One thing I gotta say is How bout them Canucks, Naslunds looking good as ever.

[loner]

Not really, he's not been that special. Rather, it's his team that's lifted his numbers. The real stars are Jovo and Salo, who have been very useful offensively. They are simply pwning teams on powerplay.

Bertuzzi should die.

[A-R@D]

How about Jagr leading the league in points! I thought for sure foresberg was going to be really great this year, but Jagr seems to be doing better so far.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Well, Jagr is 10 G, 5 A in 10 games, Forsberg is 0 G, 12 A in 6 games. Let's not give the Czech groin puller too much credit now.

[loner]

No Fappa will not do great. He'll be out for 50 games because he lost another vital organ that apparently he doesn't need to play hockey. They are still looking for that spleen of his...

And Jagr is cherry-picking points on the power play. There's loads of penalties now, but that'll decrease eventually once the referee get the hang of the new rules. So expect his goal tally to fall gradually.

[AioshiNYI88]

How about Jagr leading the league in points! I thought for sure foresberg was going to be really great this year, but Jagr seems to be doing better so far.
Honestly how about Eric Lindros he's playin like he did in Philidelphia and also
he's playing relitivly physical.

[loner]

Wow. Ian Laperriere. 5 goals, 8 assists, 34 PIM, +13. And he's got 2 game winning goals, both against the biggest rival in the division. What an addition. Him, Konowalchuk and Laaksonen are forming the 3rd line from hell right now, torching other teams with goals nearly every night.

The Avs D still need to learn how to defend, but 52 points in 15 games is quite astonishing. John-Michael Liles will lead the US team's top D line in Turin, and he will be a difficult player for any team. As long as he has someone to cover for his defensive defects.

[Kamikaze[NOR]]

No Fappa will not do great. He'll be out for 50 games because he lost another vital organ that apparently he doesn't need to play hockey. They are still looking for that spleen of his...

And Jagr is cherry-picking points on the power play. There's loads of penalties now, but that'll decrease eventually once the referee get the hang of the new rules. So expect his goal tally to fall gradually.

Its not Fappa, its Foppa

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

']Its not Fappa, its Foppa

Oh, he knows. He just doesn't like him. Just wait till we get to names of Red Wings players. I personally prefer Floppa.

[Neo-Hunter]

well since its only the begining i disregard hinting the rangers are actually good this season.

[Seven]

All I can say is "noooooo penguuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!"

Honestly, we can't win games, even with talent and Mario Lemiux. Who wants to give us a goalie?

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

You need a goalie after what Jocelyn did last night? Montreal should have won that game in the third and OT. Of course, it goes to a SO... and Sidney just... wow. That was one hell of a move.

[Finnf00]

Oh, he knows. He just doesn't like him. Just wait till we get to names of Red Wings players. I personally prefer Floppa.I prefer gay-boy Sven. This name can be applied to all Swedes. And those Wings players can all be addressed with this same name too, as most of them come from Sweden anyway.

OK, over a month into the new NHL, pansy league or not, I'm with Shedden. It's a pansy league nowadays, and even Finn hockey is more physical than that shite. If Rene Fasel dares to bring in these rules into the olympics he's a fucking retard and should be done in. Shot to the head from close range should do it (altrnatively one could call Shampoo Knudsen to practice blue line shots in the IIHF office).

And now that every news media have unfairly already decided upon the winner of this years Calder trophy I hope from the bottom of my heart that something really bad will happen to Crosby's knees. Have a dumbass like Boulton accidentally run into him causing severe damage.

Until I see a game where hits are actually allowed I'll keep boycotting 2nd and 3rd periods. There's just no point in watching Swede hockey with the players wearing NHL jersey's. Especially since most of the matches we get are Philly-Leafs-Avs-Rangers crap anyway.

[AioshiNYI88]

well since its only the begining i disregard hinting the rangers are actually good this season.

Thats what I have told my friend, The season is long and I certainly don't see the Rangers taking the Atlantic since I don't see them beating out Philadelphia.

[loner]

Flyers would have at least 10 points less if they didn't get lucky every single time towards the end of the game. Their D looks like Avs', and they have better D-men than us.

...yes I detest them for having a player named Peter the Spleenless Wonder. **** them.

[loner]

So...after 2 months of furious, attacking hockey that infuriates our dear Finnf00 to no ends, even though he'll still watch them no matter how much he hates it, we need to look at our predictions again and see how ****ed up they are.

What I think now:

West: Van-Det-LA-Nas-Dal-Cal-Col-Edm
East: Ott-Phi-Car-Mon-Tor-TB-NYR-NJ

Again this will probably change a lot after another 2 months given the way the games are being played now. Hell, maybe even the Capitals can make the playoffs now (though that chance is still around 0.0000001%).

Surprises:
Eric Staal: Phenomenal. He's single-handedly rejuvenated Carolina and probably push them to the division champion. He revived the old legs of Brind'Amour and Whitney, and made them fearsome opponents again. Suddenly, he is threatening Mario's place in the Olympic squad.

NYR: I admit I laughed hard at Maca's jokes of NYR being the shittiest team in the NHL. But they are not now. The players that should be playing in the AHL are doing well in the NHL. Dominic Moore, Jed Ortmeyer and Fedor Tyutin have no business being in this league, but they've earned their place. However, this team won't last once Jagr goes down, as after all you can't rely on Marcel Hossa and Michael Nylander to score you goals.

Svatos and Turgeon: I know Svatos is one hell of a prospect. I have no idea he's going to score 6 game winning goals already and lead the team in goals. And I thought Turgeon is an old past-it who is winding down his career here. I had no idea he is going to rejuvenate and lead the team in points. Their line is getting Avs wins despite their suicidal defence.

Avs pwning the Nucks repeatedly: I guess their eyes turn red whenever they see Bert.

Alexander Ovechkin: I admit I am horribly wrong about him. He is much better than Semin. Instead of getting punished, he is the one dealing out punishments with some hard hits. And he's been scoring loads and single-handedly winning games for the Caps. He's a great kid and is up there with Crosby.

Disappointments:
Penguins and Thrashers: Both teams went out their and got all the best best talents available. Pens added Crosby, Recchi, Palffy, Gonchar, LeClair and Thibault while Thrashers got Hossa, Holik, Lehtonen, Bondra and Havelid. You'd expect them to do more than what they are doing. But so far they've been schizophrenic, with some blow-out wins in between loads of lop-sided loses, and dreadful defending.

Bolts and Devils: Both are still in playoff picture, but both have also failed to deliver what they are famed for. Lightning is supposed to be an offensive powerhouse, but while Vinny and Vinny and Modin are getting it done, St. Louis and Richards have not registered enough points, and the rest of the team have generally suffered. New Jersey is supposedly to be the best defensive team in the league, but they've been leaking goals. Obviously Dan McGillis and Vladimir Malakhov are not Scott Stevens and Scotty Nieds, but Marty has also been quite disappointing and not nearly as invincibile as before.

Sergei Fedorov: He's started horribly in Duckland, and everybody in the Pond hates him. Now he's sunk to an even worse destination, traded for such illuminaries as Tyler Wright and Francois Beauchemin, and ended up in the worse team in the West. And he still can't score. The turnover to Turgeon on Friday night epitomises his fall from grace.

Sharks and Duckies: I expected both to get much more points with their youthful squads that are suppose to pwn in this new NHL. Instead, they are struggling to score points. Sharks can't find any form, and Marleau and Cheechoo have not delivered at all. The other players are simply not showing up for most games. The Duckies got Scotty Nieds, but he followed Fedorov, Prospal and Sykora and slumped as well. The answer to this from the management? More moves and changes. Fedorov is gone for the Jacket trio of Marchant, Wright and Beauchemin, while Sykora is also going soon. With all this shuffling, I still can't see any positive from Anaheim. Long season of rebuilding for them.

So yeah...fun 2 months. Hope for more Nuck-pwning, and Auld dropping more pucks on Ohlund.

[Finnf00]

So...after 2 months of furious, attacking hockey that infuriates our dear Finnf00 to no ends, even though he'll still watch them no matter how much he hates it,I'm not infuriated by attacking hockey. Attacking hockey is not 12 2 minute penalties per period and lots of powerplay goals. Attacking hockey does not mean penalizing players for minor stuff. Attacking hockey is not about players spreading their arms after a clean hit just to prove they never even touched the opponent. Attacking hockey does not mean that golies should no longer be untouchable (the way these new rules forbid crosschecking in front of your own goal, allowing attackers to drive right through the goalie if they want to).

I dislike the league cause it isn't physical anymore. Anyone calling it a physical league can look up some stats. A grand total of 7 hits per period in a Philly - Boston game is ****ing pathetic.

And no Loner, I don't watch it anymore. I find more amusement in other late night programming like porn and the BBC news. Sometimes I stick around for the first period just to see if there has been any change in the interpretation of the rules. 'Cause even the most optimistic experts say things can't continue this way. Refs really need to start calming down.

I can't remember what my prediciotns were at the beginning of the season (anyone with the IRC logs can tell me). I think, like most people, I've underestimated The Rangers and overestimated The Devils. I've been pretty wrong about Atlanta, Boston and Florida too, although Atlanta's unimaginable goalie problems have largely contributed to their poor start. In the western conference my predictions were closer to the current situation. Chicago, who I still hope will make the play-offs, being the only real dissapointment.

As much as I hate to admit, Lundqvist of The Rangers has been the best rookie so far. He's been carrying a crap team to great results and has had a greater impact than say Crosby or Ovetchkin on their respective sides. My favourite rookie though would be Brian McGrattan. Ten fights already, is a great achievement in today's NHL and a great slap in the face to all of those who wanted to get rid of hockey violence for good.

Oh well. Two months in with the new rules and still very early days. I won't draw any conclusions of how well these rules eventually work before the end of the season. To a fan of physical hockey, like me, it doesn't look good though. If only they could find a middle way to balance the offensive action with hard hits and raging emotions, I -and many others- would be satisfied. As it is now, it's kinda bland despite the risen goal amounts. i'm with our fine coach Doug Shedden on this and hope they'll never intruduce this kind of hockey over here.

[AioshiNYI88]

Wouldn't another disapointment be the Boston Bruins who have been playing pretty dismal, especially for a team with their talent. I would also think that a real suprise has been Eric Stall and the Hurricanes, Staal basically gets at least one point each night.

[loner]

So yeah, 2 games after the big trade, and both Boston and San Jose look a lot better before. Joe Thornton's added a new dimension to the Sharks' offence so far, creating a wicked PP line with Marleau and Cheechoo. Marco Sturm and the newly promoted rookie Brad Boyes also revived Patrice Bergeron, forming Boston's top line so far and giving them a youthful and dangerous attacking line, while Brad Stuart suddenly gives the Bs' D a new edge.

However, we should remember that these big trades will always motivate the entire team and cause them to overperform for a while. Whether this trade will have the same effect in the long term, or falter for one or both sides, we do not know yet. At least this trade is having the desired positive short term effect for both teams, and maul them back from very dire straits. The GMs can at least comfort themselves that this trade is doing better than the Fedorov trade.

[Finnf00]

Anaheim successfully played the trap last night. So now you've got the trap back plus all those dumb penalties. HAHAHAAHHAAHA! I just can't enough of trashing the NHL right now.

Kuzu, I'll send you a tape of HIFK's next TV-match, just so you'll get some good hockey for a change.

[Jedinator]

I Just went to the 2nd avs game Ive ever been too. It was everything I hoped it would be. & rows from the Ice oh man was it fun. I got to see us shoot a penaltie shot too. We scored on it to tie them game but then we lost. Budaj is the best goalie ever and they need to start him instead of Abesher. Thats what i think. It was a great game. Other than the avs losing part....

[loner]

Budaj...best goalie ever? I can name you 50 goalies in NHL history that is better than Peter Budaj, and I'm sure there are a lot more. Budaj is a consistent goalie who don't make much mistakes, but not great yet. There's a lot of things that he needs to work on in order to become an elite goalie.

Whether he or Abby should start is well, up to debate. Thing is, I don't think the Avs' problem start with goaltending, but with defence. From what I can gather from all the Avs games I've listened to this season (grumble damn Canadians grumble), Abby only starts to make dumb mistakes when he gives up a few goals already. E.g., this Buffalo game. We turnover the puck and gift the Sabres an early giveaway, and Gaustad scores. Then we hit back. Then we give away a shorthanded 2 on 1 in which Hecht scores. Then Abby breaks down and Sabres score 2 more that he should've saved. Is he responsible for the loss? Yes. Is he the number one reason? No. It's the D that allows 2 breakaways for the Sabres. Because Aebischer is actually a pretty darn good goalie normally, and can make saves that Budaj can only dream of right now. But when he gives up 2 or 3 quick goals, even if in the Sabres' game's case in which the first 2 goals weren't his fault, his confidence breaks down and he lets in shots that he should have stopped. And that's his biggest shortcoming: his confidence can be broken very easily, and he can get his emotions get the better of him quite easily. Technically, he's up there with the best, but he just can't get past that hurdle.

So should he be our starter? He can stop shots that Budaj can't, but he also will let in shots that Budaj will never. So yes, Budaj is a good option right now, but as long as the defence isn't as crappy and gung ho as it is right now, Abby can give us more wins IMO. Simple solution: get a D that don't give the puck over so easily, and Abby will deliver. Of course, if he still breaks down after that, then yeah, try a new goalie.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Pfft, the thing about good goalies is that they knew how to bail out a D. Abby just needs to work on his positioning and to stop going down so damned early. Everything's been going roof on him or off his shoulders or something. It's damned pathetic, almost Lalimeian.

[loner]

Haha, well yeah Abby has been contributing to the defensive problems like Lalime. Only difference is that Abby only start contributing when the D has already done a few bone-headed things, while Lalime just contributes all the time.

Abby does bail the D out when the mistake happens at occasions, but when they come at the rate it's coming from the Avs' D, a few is going to go in. And once he gets scored in quick succession, he cracks. So yeah, I wish we had a Curtis Joseph (grumble grumble) who can bail out his porous D, but we don't. Luongo really isn't doing that much better than Abby at Miami. So between the two we have I think Abby's the better goalie technically, but also the emotionally more unstable of the two.

...alright, Abby's in my pool team, and I want his wins. Meh :P

EDIT: Kolesnik is in. This is getting much more interesting.

[Chocobo Breeder]

The new NHL has completely thrown the whole goaltending scheme out of whack. A man who was struggling like Cujo is suddenly the best goalie in the league and someone who was great like Marty Brodeur or Roberto Luongo becomes a mediocre goalie. My own personal disappointment has be Jose Theodore. While he hasn't been terrible he has had some weak games and my beloved Habs are suffering because of it. If he was playing in his form from his Vezina winning year Habs would be tops not the Sens.

[Neo-Hunter]

well, now that The Rangers are in a tie for first in the divison i sense they will have a playoff contention and maybe just maybe beat the sens.

[AioshiNYI88]

well, now that The Rangers are in a tie for first in the divison i sense they will have a playoff contention and maybe just maybe beat the sens.

They will not beats the Sens, with or without Havlat the Sens are a better team.

[loner]

Rangers are a lot better this year, I'll admit that. The Czech legion of Jagr, Straka, Rucinsky, Prucha, and even Marek Malik are playing awesome hockey to say the least. And like maca said, Henrik Lundqvist is probably the best goalie in the league right now. But they are also pretty schizophrenic, losing to the likes of Caps and Hawks while beating the Preds and Kings. And no way can I see them beating a team that's as talented as the Sens, since Bochenski is not much worse than Havlat. Havlat will be back in the playoffs anyways.

[Chocobo Breeder]

They will not beats the Sens, with or without Havlat the Sens are a better team.

I hate the Sens. I hate the Leafs too but they're not very good this year so my hatred is more focused towards the Sens.

[UZ_white]

The main problem with the Avalanche is...

EVERYTHING.

I've been to several games this year for them, and I could easily list a ton of things wrong.

* Their Defense normally has (Only in the first 10-15 minutes of every game) the consistancy of String cheese.
* They still don't have a real true solution yet at Goalie. I personally say Stick with the Goaltending Budda, with Kollie as the Backup.
* Quinville obviously doesn't realize there has been a rules change, and still sticks with the old "Dump it into the other zone before reaching it, and hope somebody grabs it from our team" method. Unfortunatly, somebody from the other team grabs it, and easily shoots to another member of his team, causing 10-20 breakaways each game for the other team.

So let the nasty letters to Quinnville COMMENCE!

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Rule changes are one thing, but you're still not going to stickhandle through 4 guys on the blue line. The Avs haven't been able to catch people off guard with odd man rushes, and can't seem to out battle and out hit people in order to play a dump and chase game.

After all, Calgary's playing an EXCELLENT game based on the dump and chase, so it can be done. Really though, the issue, like it has been the last three-four years, is inconsistency. The team needs a new Adam Foote, BADLY.

[Finnf00]

OK, this isn't NHL related, but hockey related none the less.

Some very sad news were reported today as Tony Arima, a native of Helsinki and a Jokerit bred HIFK legend from the 80's, died by his own hand apparently last weekend. Arima was 44 years of age. The suicide of this fine hockey player tragically reminds me of what the NHL lockout was all about. I know the players all seem like greedy bastards, but knowing how little the teams in reality do to help the players get on in life after their careers, I feel the players have a justified cause in fighting over their rights (even though this last battle was mostly about money).

Tony "The Tiger" Arima was a relentless fighter and talented player in the rink, but outside of it his life was filled with misery and sadly, alocohol. Nothing new inside the hockey world indeed. Now one of my childhood favourites is gone, and I think hockey, wether it be the NHL or the Sm-Liiga, really doesn't need any more tragic heroes like Arima. Again, as the Jews say; Le chaim! To life! Here's to life, and Arima of course!

[loner]

Everything is going wrong with the Avs? Excuse me, but did you expect another Stanley Cup? This team never had enough to win the Cup from Day 1, with the salary cap limiting a lot what we can do, and losing Adam Foote during the Fappa travesty. I think that Pierre Turgeon has done a lot more than I expected him to do, the side casts like Laperriere, Laaksonen and Brunette are doing way more than what they are expected to do by everybody and now the top line is starting to get together. The defensive problem is there the moment Foote is replaced by Brisebois, and we end up with 2 lines of gung-ho PP quarterbacks with only 2 defensive Ds, one seriously lacking in NHL experience. The goalie is also a problem, and Aebischer threw away 3 or 4 games, but you can't expect them to bail you out everytime when you give up 5 or 6 breakaways per game due to boneheaded mistakes. Right now, a defensive move must be made. People are talking Luongo, but I think a tough, defensive-minded defender who can keep the line in order and take care of the puck is much more needed.

[AioshiNYI88]

The main problem with the Avalanche is...

EVERYTHING.

I've been to several games this year for them, and I could easily list a ton of things wrong.

* Their Defense normally has (Only in the first 10-15 minutes of every game) the consistancy of String cheese.
* They still don't have a real true solution yet at Goalie. I personally say Stick with the Goaltending Budda, with Kollie as the Backup.
* Quinville obviously doesn't realize there has been a rules change, and still sticks with the old "Dump it into the other zone before reaching it, and hope somebody grabs it from our team" method. Unfortunatly, somebody from the other team grabs it, and easily shoots to another member of his team, causing 10-20 breakaways each game for the other team.

So let the nasty letters to Quinnville COMMENCE!
[/QUOTE]
Everything is going wrong with the Avs? Excuse me, but did you expect another Stanley Cup? This team never had enough to win the Cup from Day 1, with the salary cap limiting a lot what we can do, and losing Adam Foote during the Fappa travesty. I think that Pierre Turgeon has done a lot more than I expected him to do, the side casts like Laperriere, Laaksonen and Brunette are doing way more than what they are expected to do by everybody and now the top line is starting to get together. The defensive problem is there the moment Foote is replaced by Brisebois, and we end up with 2 lines of gung-ho PP quarterbacks with only 2 defensive Ds, one seriously lacking in NHL experience. The goalie is also a problem, and Aebischer threw away 3 or 4 games, but you can't expect them to bail you out everytime when you give up 5 or 6 breakaways per game due to boneheaded mistakes. Right now, a defensive move must be made. People are talking Luongo, but I think a tough, defensive-minded defender who can keep the line in order and take care of the puck is much more needed.[QUOTE]

Well after seeing these complaints about the Av's I think it will be interesting Saturday night since I'll be at the Islander-Avalanche game at the Colisium. Im interested to see how the Av's play on one of the few road trips to the East Coast this year. From the Ilse standpoint at times I've been disapointed with them but I think that If they could pry Samsonov from the Bruins that would give them a major lift, I really miss Shawn Bates (atleast he should be back next month) but I have been happy with Mirsolov Satans play.

[loner]

Lol as if Bruins will let you take Samsonov. They need to keep whatever little offence they have, not that he's going to be a top scorer now he's stuck with Zhamnov, "hand of God" or not. Even if they trade him, they won't be as stupid as to trade him to a team in the East, not when they still have slim playoff aspirations and the Isles are one of the teams battling them.

Even though he's in my pool, I'm a bit relieved that Jason Blake won't be playing. He was really in form before Foster hit him unconcious, and is always a difficult player to deal with.

[AioshiNYI88]

I'm just glad he's okay and that there were no severe injuries.

[UZ_white]

Everything is going wrong with the Avs? Excuse me, but did you expect another Stanley Cup? This team never had enough to win the Cup from Day 1, with the salary cap limiting a lot what we can do, and losing Adam Foote during the Fappa travesty. I think that Pierre Turgeon has done a lot more than I expected him to do, the side casts like Laperriere, Laaksonen and Brunette are doing way more than what they are expected to do by everybody and now the top line is starting to get together. The defensive problem is there the moment Foote is replaced by Brisebois, and we end up with 2 lines of gung-ho PP quarterbacks with only 2 defensive Ds, one seriously lacking in NHL experience. The goalie is also a problem, and Aebischer threw away 3 or 4 games, but you can't expect them to bail you out everytime when you give up 5 or 6 breakaways per game due to boneheaded mistakes. Right now, a defensive move must be made. People are talking Luongo, but I think a tough, defensive-minded defender who can keep the line in order and take care of the puck is much more needed.

No ,I wasn't expecting a Stanley Cup, but I was expecting a team that would figure out how the ***king new rules worked out.

[Jedinator]

I was not expecting a cup either but I was expecting them to make the playoffs which they could very well do if they get their act straight. I dont think they will make it to the cup though... GO AV's!!!!!

[loner]

I'd say this: they are figuring out how to play in the new league a lot better than say, the Penguins or the Bruins. We are still in a playoff position.

[UZ_white]

I'd say this: they are figuring out how to play in the new league a lot better than say, the Penguins or the Bruins. We are still in a playoff position.

Good point. I laugh at stupid Foote for accepting a few extra bucks for a team that won't even go .500. Ha. HAHA. HAHAHAHA.

[Chocobo Breeder]

The Salary Cap system has forced certain teams to spend more and other teams to not spend as much. Colorado couldn't really afford a player like Foote, they didn't have the cap space at the time so he went to Columbus a team with plenty of cap space. Also he has won 3 cups, usually once a player has won he wants to go and help lead a team on his own. It doesn't always work but I don't blame him at all.

Also, my team has more stable goaltending. Which we haven't been able to say since we traded Roy to you guys. Go Habs Go!

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Ah the Habs, the what, 3-8 team without Kovalev? How the heck does any team rely so much on ALEXEI KOVALEV of all people?

[UZ_white]

The same way the Av's appear to be needing Svantos... And the otehr members of it's "High Scoring 2nd" line... It's weird.

[loner]

Well no, it's not like the Avs have a losing streak when Svatos is scoring loads, or loses a lot when Svatos don't score. Yeah he's been great, as has Turgeon and Brunette, but depth in scoring, or offence period is not what worries me about the Avs. The top line, especially Sakic and Tanguay, is really in form right now, and Liles is finding his touch again.

Svatos however has the knack of scoring the key goals, sans the 6 or 7 GWGs he had this season. Well we become a completely different team without him, like Montreal when without Kovalev? Nah, I don't think so.

...strangely, the Avs learned how to defend like Calgary today. If only they can play like that every day against tough opponents, and grind out good results.

[Chocobo Breeder]

This isn't an NHL thread, it's a Colorado Avalanche thread.

[Neo-Hunter]

i have to agree on that~

[loner]

Lol well you can rant and rave about your teams too, and I might join as well. Post about the Habs recent injury plague or the Rangers inability to score on the power plays and whine and yell.

It's just that there seems to be many Avs fans in AA XD

[Chocobo Breeder]

Lol well you can rant and rave about your teams too, and I might join as well. Post about the Habs recent injury plague or the Rangers inability to score on the power plays and whine and yell.

It's just that there seems to be many Avs fans in AA XD

Yay! Kovalev is back and the Habs knock off the Sens. A team I dislike more than the Leafs since they're struggling to even make the playoffs. I'm still baffled at how the Habs need him to win though.

[loner]

Well, he's their no. 1 scorer. I always thought an unfit Saku Koivu was the bigger reason for the Habs' slump, but taking away Kovalev means taking away many of their goals. Zednik and Ryder needs him to be effective. Without Saku and Alex, the Habs basically lost their top 2 lines. So they need rookies like Tomas Plekanec and Garth Murray to score goals for them.

[Kaikyaku]

Wow, I finally got to see a game. Ya ya, I know that's pathetic for someone who claims to be a fan, but I just haven't been able to get into hockey as much this year... that and I don't have cable >_<

I must say I like the higher scoring games though. Even when down two goals, or three, there a good chance for a comeback. And goals are exciting. As much as an intense defensive game can be good, nothing can beat the excitment of a goal.

I watched the annocment about Team Canada for the Olympics this afternoon. I'm kinda glad they decided to go with experience over energy. While the young guns like Crosby would be fun to watch, who knows if they can handle pressure like the olympics. They will have their day later. Right now we can stick with our proven vetrans.

Two things I dodn't like though: Jovo and Bert making the team. It kills me to say that, being a Nucks fan, but it's true. Jovo has been playing awful lately. When he's good he's good, but he gives up the puck way to often. It could hurt us (Team Canada) a lot. Bert shouldn't be on the team because he should not be forgiven yet for what he did, and he hasn't been having the greatest of seasons either. Leaving him off the team would have sent a huge message, but I guess that message wasn't a top priority for the big decisions makers for Team Canada.

The rest looks pretty good though. Sakic at the helm is awesome and some of his former teammates from Salt Lake behind him. Now we just need our lucky loonie :D

[loner]

Let's just say that compred with the USA squad, this team is freaking awesome. You can have endless permutations that would all be killer. Sakic worked well with Iginla last time, yes, but I think he will do equally well with Gagne and Heatley, in a frightening scoring line that screams goals. Nash, Thornton and Iginla would form the ultimate power forward line that would be insanely physical and gritty. I don't like Doan that much, and he hasn't started the season well enough. Brendan Morrow deserves a spot on a checking line IMO. However, Smyth, Draper and Doan would still stiffle any offence. And the Tampa line of Vinny, Richards and St. Louis as a fourth line just puts icing on the cake. 3 of these 4 lines are filled with players that have all scored at least 25 points so far, and it also has a good defensive balance. I'm miffed at Bertuzzi's choice too, not only out of me hating him as a person, but also because as a player he had been lazy and outplayed in many games, which is criminal for someone hailed as one of the best power forward in the league. I can see him being relegated as the extra skater if he doesn't shape up.

Defensively, there are worries however. A lot of these veteran defenders have not started well. If you think Jovo has been awful, than Rob Blake qualifies as being truly craptacular, turning over the puck easily, taking bad penalties and generally careless defensively. Pronger had been up and down in Edmonton, and his point total doesn't speak well of his reputation as an attacking defenceman. Scotty Nieds is not up to his Devils form either. They are going by experience, and that certainly is important, but in form players like McCabe and Boyle deserve better than Blake or Pronger IMO.

As for the goalies, I don't think Marty will be too much of a problem come Olympic time. Luongo had been inconsisitent so far. Marty Turco had been playing the best hockey of the 3, and will be an able substitute for the other 2 should they flop.

All in all, Canada is too strong for the rest. I'm glad that they are taking this professionally, unlike Jeremy Roenick who is whining that he is not in the team. You've been crap, Jeremy, and LA are winning despite your presence. Canada doesn't need you to cheer for them, and I doubt the Americans want you either. Now go contact the Kazakhs and see if they want you. You may make their Taxi squad and get in when Perezhogin whacks another guy in the head.

[MetalAlchemist]

i hate sports but i love hockey and lacross. but everything else sucks ass
just putting my 2 cents in...its all i got
:drool:

[GWS923]

Let's just say that compred with the USA squad, this team is freaking awesome. You can have endless permutations that would all be killer. Sakic worked well with Iginla last time, yes, but I think he will do equally well with Gagne and Heatley, in a frightening scoring line that screams goals. Nash, Thornton and Iginla would form the ultimate power forward line that would be insanely physical and gritty. I don't like Doan that much, and he hasn't started the season well enough. Brendan Morrow deserves a spot on a checking line IMO. However, Smyth, Draper and Doan would still stiffle any offence. And the Tampa line of Vinny, Richards and St. Louis as a fourth line just puts icing on the cake. 3 of these 4 lines are filled with players that have all scored at least 25 points so far, and it also has a good defensive balance. I'm miffed at Bertuzzi's choice too, not only out of me hating him as a person, but also because as a player he had been lazy and outplayed in many games, which is criminal for someone hailed as one of the best power forward in the league. I can see him being relegated as the extra skater if he doesn't shape up.

Defensively, there are worries however. A lot of these veteran defenders have not started well. If you think Jovo has been awful, than Rob Blake qualifies as being truly craptacular, turning over the puck easily, taking bad penalties and generally careless defensively. Pronger had been up and down in Edmonton, and his point total doesn't speak well of his reputation as an attacking defenceman. Scotty Nieds is not up to his Devils form either. They are going by experience, and that certainly is important, but in form players like McCabe and Boyle deserve better than Blake or Pronger IMO.

As for the goalies, I don't think Marty will be too much of a problem come Olympic time. Luongo had been inconsisitent so far. Marty Turco had been playing the best hockey of the 3, and will be an able substitute for the other 2 should they flop.

All in all, Canada is too strong for the rest. I'm glad that they are taking this professionally, unlike Jeremy Roenick who is whining that he is not in the team. You've been crap, Jeremy, and LA are winning despite your presence. Canada doesn't need you to cheer for them, and I doubt the Americans want you either. Now go contact the Kazakhs and see if they want you. You may make their Taxi squad and get in when Perezhogin whacks another guy in the head.

Brodeur's been getting his act together too. He's dropped his GAA by an entire goal since he came back from his injury. I think perhaps it might be a better idea to let Turco play though. We'll see I guess.

And Rob Blake has been awful. He should not be on the team.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Well, let's put it this way. Do you have a better cannon from the point on the PP than Blake and Pronger? McCabe? Well, he can't play D any better than those two. Hmm... Souray? No. Boyle? No.

Leave the D to Nieds (who's got pretty good numbers considering it's the Ducks), Regher (who's utter dynamite), Foote (let's see what he can do when it's not constant 2 on 1's against him), and Redden (dynamite x2).

Besides, we do open the tournament against Italy, Switzerland, and Germany before facing the Finns and Czechs. Plenty of time for fine tuning.

[loner]

Heh, well let's hope they don't start screwing up against uh...Marco Sturm... and uh...Marcel Goc...and uh...Mark Streit...and uh...damn it, Italians play hockey???!!!!

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Tut tut, you forgot Abby.

[loner]

That was intentional. He probably won't even play, considering that Gerber has been playing much better than him. Anyways, he won't be a threat to the defence of Canada, unless he has suddenly developed a talent for blasting the puck from the red line like Jordin Tootoo.

[Finnf00]

All in all, Canada is too strong for the rest. Team Finland hasn't been anounced yet, but I'm pretty sure we'll beat you net. And that's ultimately where it counts. Other than that, I'd say we'll have to wait until the olympics, but in my mind that's not an impossible team Canada to beat. Remember the big ice and the kind of problems your big D can have against the fast Euro's (think Nagano). I mean The Czechs and The Slovaks will eat you alive, not to mention The Russians.

[loner]

The Czechs are the most likely contender for gold against Canada IMO, since they are the only team that can match Canada in every position. Their netminding is arguably even stronger than Canada, with the Dominatrix and HIFK-favorite Vokoun both looking very sharp. Their D is probably even stronger, with Zidlicky, the Kaberles, Kubina, Hamrlik and Kuba providing good defending, great passing and decent attacking threat. Jagr is on top form right now, and provide his groin won't go out before Febuary, he will be a great threat. But depthwise, the Czechs still can't compare with Canada. Sykora, Hejduk, Bonk and Holik are all having average to poor seasons, while Elias and Havlat are unavailable (Elias might be, but the VD won't make him the same player he used to be). Prucha, Hemsky and Kotalik are doing alright, but will they be picked?

The Slovaks however can't be considered a serious threat. You said G's where it ultimately counts, and well, Slovaks have no established G. Peter Budaj is still a backup, and Jan Lasak is not up to international standard. Their whole team is also unbalanced, filled with attack-minded wingers, and their D is nothing outside of Visnovsky, Chara and Meszaros.

The Russians...well Ovechkin and Malkin will lead their new wave, as the old famed Mogilny-Fedorov-Bure line is no more. They lack the experience of such big tournaments, which is important at this stage. Khabibulin has been rather poor this season, and that will prove to be their undoing. I'm not too educated about the depth of centermen they have in Russia right now, but they cannot rely on Zhamnov in Turin.

Swedes...hmmm...they found a goalie. Lundqvist is still not the undisputed no. 1 in NY, but he will be Sweden's no. 1 I think. But they are not tough enough, as their roster is filled with players that'll get run over by Thornton and Nash. They'll get roughed out eventually.

And finally Finland. Yes, Kipper is probably the best goalie in the world right now. The D of Timonen, Pitkanen and Salo look decent too, as long as a certain Aki don't get too much ice time. Established Finnish forwards are enjoying return to forms, like Lehtinen and Shamu...uh...Teemu, and other young forwards are doing decent, like Jussi Jokinen. Still, it's a question of depth, and Canada has more of that. If you think Rob Blake and Jovo will be defensive liabilities, then what about that certain Aki?

Canada do have weaknesses to be exploited, I will admit that, and I pointed them out too. But all other teams have bigger problems IMO. On paper, Canada do have the strongest team with the greatest depth. The most complete teams out there are Czech Republic and Finland, and IMO they will be Canada's strongest contenders. They just lack Canada's depth.

Oh and the Yanks. They are doomed. The fact that 2 of their best players play in the worst team in the NHL shows that. Fat boy Tkachuk? Can you rely on him? And their goaltending is a mess. Rick DiPietro was pathetic against the Leafs, Esche has made some of the most pathetic mistakes I've heard of and John Grahame isn't even a legitimate starter until this season, and still is sporadic and inconsistent. As good as their D is (and their best one is 44), they will be undone by horrible goaltending and little production from the "top line".

[Finnf00]

Ok, forgot the smiley. Seriously I doubt Finlands chances. Not because of the material, cause lets face it, there are only a few matches, and on a good day any team can be victorious. It's not like we had the second best roster in The World Cup either. No, it's not the difference in our material, it's the difference in coaching.

During The World Cup in 2004 we had a real monster behind the bench in Raimo Summanen, also known as Raivo (= raging), due to his explosive and feared attitude. He has a Nazi-like reputation, but more than anything, he can get the most out of each player. Today we're stuck with his long running partner and second man, Westerlund, who's a very calm tempered analyst, the exact opposite of Summanen. Now I admit that these two used to work wonders together, but I -and many others- fear Westerlund is just too laid back to get the team up and fighting again in a tight spot.

Dunno about Canada, I mean it could end up both ways fior you guys. Physical dominance and downright scaring the opposition hasn't always paid off. Then again, Finland might also face loads of penalty killing, if they go for a more strict line of refereeing. I still hope the likes of Ruutu and Nieminen will make the cut (too bad about Karalahti though). And don't you think too much about Berg either. It might just be that he'll be left out from the squad, or as a backup. My guess for our D-men would be Salo, Numminen (god forbid), Pitkanen, Vaananen, Nummelin, Lydman and Niinimaa (not that I would like anything more than to see his ass dropped from the team too, but if he's cool with the current management guess he'll be on board then). So I'd say we're quite well covered on the Blue line. Question is, how well these guys can defend together.

It's not bad to be a constant underdog in these tourney's, cause let's face it, today even the Slovaks are ranked higher up than us. The problem seems to be wether our managment can get the guys to play well together. Aravirta was too much of a sissy to really push the guys when it mattered the most. I hope Westerlund doesn't fall into this same category.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Team Finland hasn't been anounced yet, but I'm pretty sure we'll beat you net. And that's ultimately where it counts. Other than that, I'd say we'll have to wait until the olympics, but in my mind that's not an impossible team Canada to beat. Remember the big ice and the kind of problems your big D can have against the fast Euro's (think Nagano). I mean The Czechs and The Slovaks will eat you alive, not to mention The Russians.

That's what you said the last time. And at the World Cup. Come on, our D at Salt Lake with MacInnis and Brewer was infinitely slower.

As for the other teams, it is an undisputed fact that there is no country that can match Canada in depth. Sweden, the Czechs, and the Russians simply cannot field 4 lines on par with Canada (who could probably field 8 without problem). However, could Canada lose? They have before, for one simple reason: goaltending. If Vokoun or Kiprusoff do what Hasek did at Nagano, we could be in a heck of trouble.

Edit: Finnish roster picked.

Kiprusoff, Lehtonen, Norrena
Salo, Berg, Timonen, Lydman, Numminen, Pitkanen, Vaananen
S. Koivu, Selanne, Lehtinen, Jokinen, T. Ruutu, J. Ruutu, M. Koivu, Hentunen, S. Kapanen, N. Kapanen, Laaksonen, Miettinen, Peltonen.

Hmm. Soft.

[Finnf00]

That's what you said the last time. And at the World Cup. Come on, our D at Salt Lake with MacInnis and Brewer was infinitely slower.

Edit: Finnish roster picked.

Kiprusoff, Lehtonen, Norrena
Salo, Berg, Timonen, Lydman, Numminen, Pitkanen, Vaananen
S. Koivu, Selanne, Lehtinen, Jokinen, T. Ruutu, J. Ruutu, M. Koivu, Hentunen, S. Kapanen, N. Kapanen, Laaksonen, Miettinen, Peltonen.

Hmm. Soft.The World Cup was played on a small ice, and Salt Lake was almost like a home tourney for you. Besides, you had solid goaltending in both, what about this year?

Anyway, like i said, I forgot to put in the smiley in my initial post. I didn't mean to say Finland would actually stand a chance in comparison. At least on paper. However, even a mediocre team almost had you guys weeping maple syrup in the World Cup final, ON HOME SOIL, don't you forget that.

And yeah, forgot about Timonen there. Well, Berg seems to be the extra D-man, and I'm glad Niinimaa didn't get picked. Other than that our D looks quite OK, especially with the goalies we have. I'm sad Nieminen didn't make the cut. Jussi Jokinen was dropped for Miettinen who's physically stronger. It's still quite a gritty arsenal we've got. I just hope Tuomo can get in top form and shape before the tourney. We'd really need a capable second line to support Teemu, Saku and Jere.

[Chocobo Breeder]

Aki Berg made the Finnish team... hahahaha. They're screwed. Anyway my personal choice for the Canadian team would have been Souray. He's good if he can manage to overcome his nagging injuries.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Home soil this, home soil that. You can't call SLC our home soil if we played the Yanks in the final. What kind of pathetic NHLers would we have if we couldn't win a road game?

[Finnf00]

Well, that kind of logic would apply to all the major teams. Then again, you didn't win in the last World Championships. And that's despite Canada still dictating just about everything in international hockey.

Meh, I know it's different being expected to win each tournament. I mean the Nagano tournament was probably the worst catastrophe in your long history of international hockey. But lets face it. Even for the NHL pro's, it's quite a change to come skating on a big ice with different set of rules. And defending that reputation of yours is no easy task when most European hockey fans would love to see mighty Canada fail. For what it's worth -and you know this Kuzu- Canada is my second favourite team, and nothing pleases me more than to see Dany Heatley and Ryan Smith slash away on those slender Czech legs when all hope is lost. I think it's awesome to present such passion for winning games (or such hatred towards losing them). But that doesn't mean your task at Turin will be an easy one.

Away games, far away from your own continent, in front of a crowd that probably won't love your team to death. Yeah, when small errors could cause a gigantic loss it really could go any way for your team. As with all the other contenders of course. The difference is, you guys have a rep to uphold. Others are set on gaining it.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

I don't think anyone is taking anyone lightly. However, we SHOULD win on paper. Does that mean we WILL win? No. We have to crack some Czech skulls to do that.

[loner]

Well, Finland's chances just took a nosedive. Kipper WON'T be going to Turin. This leaves Lehtonen and the unproven Norrena in the squad, with probably Niitymaki or Toivonen getting called up. Lehtonen is a great goalie, but losing Kipper may end Finland's hopes for gold. Kipper-Lehtonen 1-2 combo looked really strong, but now they need an unproven G to pair with Lehtonen in Turin.

The Czechs go with form rather than reputation, dropping old guards like Reichel and the out-of-form Sykora and Bonk. Jan Bulis and Rotislav Olesz surprises me, but Prucha and Hemsky deserve their place. One is scoring loads for NYR, the other is a very good playmaker. Hasek-Vokoun is now the most fearsome G combo on paper now, so Canada's scoring line need to come out big against them.

[Chocobo Breeder]

After his performance tonight my money is going on Toivonen getting called up to be the 3rd goalie. I still think Brodeur-Turco-Luongo is better than any other country and that's with guys like Joseph, Theodore, Raycroft, Belfour and the like left out. (Keep in mind, they'd get to use the old equipment).

[Finnf00]

OH SHIT!

First Karalahti, now this? Now I really hope Lehtonen can get in shape fast. I mean he is more talented than Kipper, but being sidelined for half the season has to show somewhere. And according to local analysts Niittymaki was our initial 4th option, so guess he's going insetad.

Damn, this will make everything so much more difficult.

And Loner, Norrena is in no way new to international games. He just hasn't played in the bgger tournaments, which I don't see as a problem per se. He's the best we've got in Europe at the moment, and that's taking even Nicklas Backstrom into account.

[loner]

Ah well it's good to hear that Norrena is not a novice on the international stage, but I still wonder if he can hold his ground against the top NHL players. Kipper faces them every game and calmly shuts them out, and his name does hold something against the Canadians. Norrena won't be feared and respected by the likes of Sakic, Jagr and Kovalchuk, so he needs to get his nerve and act together when he's called on to play.

I personally prefer Toivonen to Niitymaki, but both are decent backups. However, none of them are bona fide no. 1s for their team. Lehtonen do needs to get together fast.

Kipper is now a Judas. I suggest he wear disguises when he goes back to Finland.

[Finnf00]

Kipper is now a Judas. I suggest he wear disguises when he goes back to Finland.I think he only travels to Turku, and they still love their own no matter what.

Yeah, he's the Judas now. Pulling out due to a minor thing really pisses most Finnish hockey fans off. He's being seen as the biggest traitor since, well, ever. Most fans would like to forget about him and hope the remaining goalies could prove what kind of netminders we're breeding over here. If Lehtonen can't get in shape, we'll be pretty screwed though. I mean Norrena is a real big-ice specialist, coming in as the best goalie in the Swedish Elitserien. He's calm and big, and has a ton of experience. The kind of goalie you can throw in at any point and see him win the game for ya. But yeah, his experience is mostly limited to the best players in Europe (except for the NHL players he met last season). So it's a complete mystery to see how he'll cope with the best in the world.

On another note, who the hell are the Russians going to play in net? It's not like Khabby's been the solid wall he was two years ago. Nabokov? The way I see it, the only country with solid goaltending right now are the Czechs. I just hope they'll play Vokoun, and that he'll flop when the going gets tough, just the way he did last season with HIFK.

[loner]

Haha if Vokoun shows his Nashville form, there's not much chance for him to flop. He barely makes any mistakes now.

Yeah the Russians will have to go to Khabby still. He is still their best, even though he flopped a lot this season. He has improved though. Their 1-2 punch of two out of form goalies is their biggest hole though. Brzygalov has been mildly successful in Anaheim, so let's see if he's thrown into the mix.

[Finnf00]

Haha if Vokoun shows his Nashville form, there's not much chance for him to flop. He barely makes any mistakes now.He was pretty awesome with HIFK too, until the important games started. But yeah, he was quite solid last year when the Czechs won the championship.

[Chocobo Breeder]

Good news for you Finnf00, Lehtonen will be back playing on Boxing Day (Dec. 26)

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Pfft, maybe YOU won't, but your frozen neighbours (and your non-frozen neighbours who have satellite) will.

Prediction-wise...

OTT-PHI-TB-BOS-NJ-ATL-MTL-FLA
OTT > FLA
PHI > MTL OTT > BOS
TB > ATL PHI > TB OTT > PHI
BOS > NJ

CGY-SJ-DET-VAN-NSH-COL-DAL-EDM
CGY > EDM
SJ > DAL CGY > COL
COL > DET VAN > SJ CGY > VAN
VAN > NSH

OTT > CGY in the Final.

Calder candidates will be Crosby, Richards, Carter, maybe Getzlaf and Perry in ANH if they go nuts, or Phaneuf if he has one heck of year, heck, maybe even Thomas Vanek in Buffalo. And yes, Ovechkin too. His team will be TERRIBLE, but the kid has the potential to outscore Crosby.

It's going to be a loooooooooooooong years for those poor suckers up the QEW in Toronto.

Well, I said that a long time ago. And the result at Xmas is...

OTT-CRL-PHI-BUF-NYR-MTL-TOR-TB

DET-EDM-DAL-NSH-VAN-LA-CGY-COL

Geez. I should be in Vegas with that sort of awesome prowess.

[Finnf00]

Well, I said that a long time ago. And the result at Xmas is...

OTT-CRL-PHI-BUF-NYR-MTL-TOR-TB

DET-EDM-DAL-NSH-VAN-LA-CGY-COL

Geez. I should be in Vegas with that sort of awesome prowess.The Western conference has gone exactly according to most predictions, so no wonder you've got it right. The Eastern looks nothing like your predictions though.

[Chocobo Breeder]

I can't believe you picked Florida or Atlanta over Toronto or New Jersey, I mean they're not playing great but they're in the playoffs. I've grown to respect Toronto's ability to at the very least sneak into the playoffs. I wish Montreal was better at it. Thank god Kovalev is back.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

I can't believe you picked Florida or Atlanta over Toronto or New Jersey, I mean they're not playing great but they're in the playoffs. I've grown to respect Toronto's ability to at the very least sneak into the playoffs. I wish Montreal was better at it. Thank god Kovalev is back.

Well, there's two things I didn't bank on:

1) Atlanta having to use it's 3rd and 4th string goalies.
2) Florida having such a porous defense with Jacques Martin and Roberto Luongo.

And Maca, it was sarcasm. The West is essentially all wrong in terms of placement.

[Finnf00]

Chocobo. There's still half a season left. Kuzu picked the teams for the playoffs, not for new years. With Atlanta getting Lehtonen back they're sure to make a decent effort of reaching the playoffs. Too bad I never wrote down my candidates, but I'm pretty sure I didn't have Florida in it. New Jersey yes. Atlanta also. Can't remember the other six. I know I definately didn't have New York or Carolina up there.

[Kaikyaku]

Hey, is anyone watching the World Junior Tourney? I saw the Canadians play tonight against the Finns. It was a really awesome game, so well executed. The kids look good so far!

On the other hand, I don't know what's wrong with the Canucks. I must be bad luck because they haven't won in 4 games since I started watching. And they ae winless against the Alberta teams all season. We don't stand a chance if we can't win in our own division. It's rather pathetic. They played awful tonight. I think I'll be watching more of the Juniors.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Heh, poor soft Canucks. Can't win against anyone in their own division, but are cleaning up everywhere else.

And yep, as a Canadian, it's a civic duty to watch the World Juniors. Kids look good, but they could still use a little more polish. There were still a few soft plays around, and I don't think they can beat the Yanks like this. Then again, the Yanks look really individualistic, so a well played system could take them down.

Now, the Finns... I expected better, but I guess Tukonen and Korpikoski just couldn't play together... or with anyone else. Maca's right, Laakso is excellent, but Seppanen (who had a REALLY bad game) and the rest of the D is utterly soft. Can you stand on Rask for the rest of the tourney?

[Chocobo Breeder]

Man, our Juniors killed the Finns, and we're supposed to be underdogs in this tournament. I gotta say its seem the home ice advantage is pretty obvious. Our team is used to the small ice, so I mean the Finns could use that as an excuse. Meh, I'd say we're guaranteed to get a medal this time around.

In other news, I can understand why Robinson decided to leave the New Jersey. That team just can't score. The Leafs have been pathetic lately and they got nothing. I'm not even going to talk about what happened with Atlanta last night. I'll just say that I was on the verge of being sick.

[Finnf00]

Canada is never an underdog. NEVER. If you don't win the tourney's you enter, regardless of the level, you return home as losers. That's how it's written in history. Despite the fact that you guys seem to enjoy undermining your own chances.

And Kuzu. These guys are younger than yourself. I'm sure the results -and level of play- will vary quite alot during this tourney. I didn't see the match, but 5-1 is an ugly loss no matter how you look at it. Well, we knew this was going to be the toughest match to begin the tourney with. So it can't get any tougher from here on. Then again, a 5-1 loss means you can't sink much lower.

Meh, we'll just have to see how we manage against the European teams. There's no way we can beat you guys on home soil.

[Chocobo Breeder]

Oh man, 4-3 against Switzerland. It's sad day in Canadian hockey when you only beat Switzerland 4-3. Hopefully Brent Sutter can get these guys to play a lot more disciplined hockey. Granted the Swiss goalie was excellent tonight. I wouldn't be surprised if they manage to sneak into the medal round.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Heh, yeah, that game was rather tragic. Just seemed like the boys didn't want to play. They didn't hit, they didn't skate, and pucks kept rolling off their skates. Sutter should probably stop playing the passive box on the PK too. The point shots are killing us. Dubnyk should start today against Norway, and the boys better win this one big, or Sutter's going to work their asses off tomorrow.

[Finnf00]

OK, first off congrats to our Canadian comrades. Your juniors put up a hell of a show last night. Too bad I was very tired, although I did see a very entertaining first period. Secondly, I have no idea how the Yanks could have been touted as the favorites to win this tourney, and I'm very glad for our lads. I think all superlatives have been used up to describe Rask, who's just one out of many promising goalie prospects we seem to have at the moment.

I still feel we had our high point against the Swedes, even though the game seemed boring to an outsider. Ahh the laughing and the boozing that followed. Couldn't have turned out better.

Now I guess it's back to earth and to our mundane leagues. The NHL refs do seem to have toned down on the penalty calls a bit, which I think is good. I've seen a few very juicy hits which would most certainly have been deemed tripping at the start of the season.

[Chocobo Breeder]

Now I guess it's back to earth and to our mundane leagues. The NHL refs do seem to have toned down on the penalty calls a bit, which I think is good. I've seen a few very juicy hits which would most certainly have been deemed tripping at the start of the season.

I don't know if it's that they're calling less penalties, but that players have caught on and stopped using their sticks to hook other players. I don't know about the hits thing though, I haven't seen many hits that have been penalized that aren't charging. (Can't leave your feet)

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

OK, first off congrats to our Canadian comrades. Your juniors put up a hell of a show last night. Too bad I was very tired, although I did see a very entertaining first period.

"Just a day earlier Zubarev had said that historically the Russians were more skilled than Canada. Khudobin had even boasted Russia would "dominate" Canada."

Eat them words Russkies.


Secondly, I have no idea how the Yanks could have been touted as the favorites to win this tourney, and I'm very glad for our lads. I think all superlatives have been used up to describe Rask, who's just one out of many promising goalie prospects we seem to have at the moment.

Well... Bobby Ryan was the 2nd overall pick, Jack Johnson went 3rd, Rob Schremp leads the OHL in scoring, Jack Skille, TJ Oshie, Chris Bourque, Corey Schneider, all high round draft picks, you get the idea. Oh, and some kid named Phil Kessel.

Of course, they had no freaking clue what the word "team" meant, seemed tired through out the tournament, cheap shotted, played arrogantly, and in the end, got out worked by the literally blue collared Finns. Joensuu picked a very good time to start scoring.


I still feel we had our high point against the Swedes, even though the game seemed boring to an outsider. Ahh the laughing and the boozing that followed. Couldn't have turned out better.

Well, the result was the high point. The game was nailbitingly worrisome.

And so ends the holiday season. Next up, Torino 2006, and Canada's other bid to repeat. Let's hope that Quinn can instill the same work ethic as Sutter did in our boys at the U20s.

[Chocobo Breeder]

And so ends the holiday season. Next up, Torino 2006, and Canada's other bid to repeat. Let's hope that Quinn can instill the same work ethic as Sutter did in our boys at the U20s.

Fortunately we selected a team that have a lot of hard workers to begin with like Draper, Thornton, Doan, Smyth and the like. As for Pat Quinn's work ethic instilling skills; he's able to do for short bits with his own team, they seem to get better with injuries. (wish my beloved habs could do the same). Anyway, we've got a good chance but upsets happen. Look at last night.

[Finnf00]

Well... Bobby Ryan was the 2nd overall pick, Jack Johnson went 3rd, Rob Schremp leads the OHL in scoring, Jack Skille, TJ Oshie, Chris Bourque, Corey Schneider, all high round draft picks, you get the idea. Oh, and some kid named Phil Kessel.I still say a lot of the NA's went way too early in the draft simply because of the lockout.

[Chocobo Breeder]

Man, how about that Northwest division? That's the tightest race I've ever seen. I'm kinda pulling for the Flames, 89 got me to make them my team in the West.

[Finnf00]

For a second there I thought you said you were pulling on to The Flames.... ^_^;;

Anyways, my NHL fight-DVD is coming along nicely. I'm putting all my editing expertice into this, so once it's ready, it'll be hawt. Anyone who wants ripped copy can get in touch in IRC.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

That DVD can't be that long this year.

[AioshiNYI88]

Im sure all you NHL fans have finally heard that Mike Milbury has stepped down as Islanders GM, This is grat news to basically 8 seasons of a horrible job done by the worst GM in Hockey, Hopefully the Iles can lure Brent Sutter to take the GM job.

[loner]

Milbury should've been forced out a long time ago. He ruined your organization. Think about a team build around these players: Luongo, Brewer, Chara, Redden, McCabe and Spezza. 3 of them play for the Ottawa Senators right now, and they are one of the main title challengers this season. Instead, the Isles end up with one of their most infamous reject Alexei Yashin and signed him to an enormous contract. He also drafted Rick DiPietro with his no. 1 pick. While DiPietro has not been horrible, he's also not a great goalie and is very erratic (certainly not as good as say, uh, Luongo). And think of who you could've got instead: Dany Heatley (oh, another key player on the Sens squad) or Marian Gaborik.

Hard to swallow the fact that the best players of the Sens could've all been yours, eh? That's atrocious GM dealings and decisions for you. So yeah, very very good news for the Isles, but unfortunately it's come too late.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Im sure all you NHL fans have finally heard that Mike Milbury has stepped down as Islanders GM, This is grat news to basically 8 seasons of a horrible job done by the worst GM in Hockey, Hopefully the Iles can lure Brent Sutter to take the GM job.

Brent Sutter is a coach. One of the finest coaches that exist. But for the love of god, I hope he doesn't go to the Islanders. He's known for a gritty style where you play hard or well, you don't play. At the World Juniors, Guillame Latendresse was a highly touted star forward who had an excellent training camp with the Canadiens. He played a very soft game and was very lazy in the first game against the Finns. Even though the Canadians won 5-1, Latendresse became the 13th forward and saw maybe 20 minutes of ice time in total over the next 6 games.

Can you imagine that happening to Alexei Yashin? Can you imagine the uproar?

Brent, for the love of god, stay at Red Deer. The Junior Program needs you, and you don't need the debacle that is the New York Islanders.

[AioshiNYI88]

Milbury should've been forced out a long time ago. He ruined your organization. Think about a team build around these players: Luongo, Brewer, Chara, Redden, McCabe and Spezza. 3 of them play for the Ottawa Senators right now, and they are one of the main title challengers this season. Instead, the Isles end up with one of their most infamous reject Alexei Yashin and signed him to an enormous contract. He also drafted Rick DiPietro with his no. 1 pick. While DiPietro has not been horrible, he's also not a great goalie and is very erratic (certainly not as good as say, uh, Luongo). And think of who you could've got instead: Dany Heatley (oh, another key player on the Sens squad) or Marian Gaborik.

Hard to swallow the fact that the best players of the Sens could've all been yours, eh? That's atrocious GM dealings and decisions for you. So yeah, very very good news for the Isles, but unfortunately it's come too late.

No crap, he's been public enemy no.1 at the coliseum for years, Dont think Islander fans weren't awear of his crappy job as GM. They could have had this starting line up.

C: Spezza or Oli Jokeinen
RW:Heatley
LW: Bertuzzi
D: Macabe
D: Redden
G: Luongo

The way I see it better late than never. I personally would like to see them offer Ted Nolan the coaching job.

[Finnf00]

The Isles haven't staged any nice bench clearing brawls (or line brawls for that matter) in a long time either. Still, Eric Godard is one hell of a fighter. Got the technique and the incredibly hard punches, so not all Islanders players have been completely shite this year.

I digged the Isles of the 80's and early 90's. When stuff like this (http://www.sit.fi/~sundstra/hockey/NYI_vs_NYR.wmv) would take place. Yeah, it's a different team and a different league from those days. :(

"Just remember the circumstances. An icing call with two seconds to go and a face-off in the Islander end, and Al Arbour made sure that Baumgartner and Vukota were on the ice. So Nielsen pulled back Patrick and countered with Nilan and King. All the heavyweights with two seconds to go in a game that the Islanders had no hope of tying with the face-off in their own zone."

[AioshiNYI88]

Last big brawl I remember was like 98 when Salo and Dan Cloutier were going at it.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Ah, that was a fun one, where Cloutier pounded the living crap out of Salo. I suppose if you can't stop the puck, make sure the other guy can't either.

[Finnf00]

Ahh yes.

This game (http://www.sit.fi/~sundstra/hockey/RangersVSIslanders.mpg).

Summary Of Events (dropyourgloves.com)
1 N/A Rough Langdon-Webb
2 N/A Rough Langdon-Odjick
3 2:07 Fight Langdon-Odjick
4 40:00 Fight Stevens-Pilon
5 53:01 Brawl 12 players
6 53:01 Fight Langdon-Chara
7 53:01 Fight Berg-Linden
8 53:01 Fight Stock-Czerkawski
9 53:01 Fight Cloutier-Salo
10 53:01 Fight Beukeboom-Daigneault

[AioshiNYI88]

I remember that game like it was yesterday.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Well... that's that. The old guard is pretty much gone now. Mario... we'll miss you.

And to think, 17 years ago, you were a cocky, cigar chomping, egotistical rookie. All it took was one little Canada Cup with Wayne Gretzky on your wing, and boom, you score one of the greatest goals in Canadian hockey history, and become Wayne's heir.

You've had so many chances to quit, and no one would have thought any worse of you. But no, you fight through a crippling back injury, cancer, age, rebuilding, and even team bankruptcy. Damn it, we can't even put you in the Hall of Fame to honour you because you're already there.

If Wayne doesn't want his job as Team Canada GM, how about you take it? I can't think of anyone better.

Cheers.

http://tsn.ca/photo_gallery/images/MarioLemieuxRetires_20060124/Lemieux5_42008.jpg

[loner]

So who is left?

I suppose this signifies the shift from the old guard to the new guard, from Gretzky, Messier, Mario, Bourque, Stevens and Roy to Crosby, Ovechkin, Phaneuf and Svatos. Perhaps it is somewhat fitting that the season with the best crop of rookies is also the season when most of the best players of the past generation retired. This allow us to honor the past without drowning in nostalgia, and let us look to the future without forgetting the past.

Anyways, shapses with the sentimental eulogy. The most important matter for Mario is to find some slot machine so the Pens can stay in Pittsburgh.

[loner]

There you go. Swedes are the Olympic champs. Maca will come here to rip his team apart, but I thought all the Finnish players played out of their skin this entire tournament. They were REALLY unlucky, conceding their only even-strength goal this whole tournament to a broken stick, and getting snubbed on a shot that in 9/10 chances would defintely go in. Again, Maca would disagree, but I see a lot of hope in this team. They have a lot of exciting young players coming through, and they will be a force.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

I'd say something about the Olympics, but that would just lead to a long rant about Todd "pig****er" Bertuzzi and Pat "can't coach out of a paper bag" Quinn.

So I will merely laugh at the casualties of a sadistic Italian schedule maker, Mike Modano for being a jackass, the Russians for falling apart, and finally, the Swedes for their ridiculous pictures on Aftonbladet.

[Finnf00]

http://www.sit.fi/~sundstra/hockey/losers.jpg

[Dragne]

hah olympics, maybe canada wont suck ass next time. That said i was really impressed by the finns, more so than the swed's because i never expected them to make the finals. Silver really isn't all that bad when you look at your country and realize they're behind the swiss (no offence to the swiss).

I can't wait for nhl to start up again, hopefully alfie's success will help the sens bounce back, especially since emery's going to be seeing some time now. :(

[AioshiNYI88]

Well the NHL is finally back tonight. The three teams Im going to look out for are the Hurricanes (To see if they can carry over the momentum they have had so far), The Sharks (To see if Joe "Invisable during the playoffs" Thorton and Chechoo get on fire and The Stars who have certainly been exciting with guys like Jussi Jokienen.

[Dragne]

Well Cole is dead, how do you think the Canes will do now :D The sharks wont make the playoffs the way they are skidding, and besides I'd rather see the Oilers in there any day of the year. The Habs have been kicking alot of ass lately with Huet in net and I doubt anyone will beat them out for the 8th spot. Right now I'm just very eager to see what Muckler does, Jokinen with Havlat? Aha, but I seriously doubt it. Go sens!

[loner]

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

Why Lacroix. Why.

You ****ing idiot.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

For those of you who don't know why Loner happens to be upset:

DENVER (CP) - The Montreal Canadiens traded goalie Jose Theodore to the Colorado Avalanche for netminder David Aebischer on Wednesday.
http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=157722&hubname=

And I echo his sentiments.

[loner]

OK, the initial shock, utter bewilderment and disgust is gone, but I still don't buy this trade. We are going for a great gamble. Ultimately, Lacroix doesn't believe we'll go anywhere with Abby. That may be true. He has been excellent lately, but I don't think he forgot about December and believes that he doesn't have the skills to bail us out in a major playoff game and win us a cup. Theodore was a Vezina winner, he has done more in the playoffs, albeit he's not won that much either. He is still considered as the better goalie.

...but is he really?

Right now, he's in an even worse funk than Aebischer. I think it's only a 50-50 chance that we can revive his game. Montreal is a difficult place to play in, and even legends like Roy was forced out. Theodore felt the pressure, along with loads of off ice troubles. But would a change in scenery really help? Moreover, pressure exists in Colorado too. Ask Abby, who had play under the huge shadow of Roy's retired jersey above him. Theodore will feel even more of that shadow, given that he is literally following Paddy's footsteps to come the team that'll expect the same kind of result as Roy. Moreover, there's something fundamentally wrong about his game that I despise. Think Abby goes down too often? Jose goes down EVERY TIME. That's how teams managed to shell him with 5-6 goals per game before Huet replaced him: top shelf every time. You can give him motivation and help him cope with the pressure, you can even improve his equipments and make him get used to it, but that's a habitual problem that is very hard to stamp out. Also, while he may have much more respect than Abby in the past when he was good, now he's name is dirt and every team will salivate at the prospect of going top shelve on him. The respect factor doesn't work either.

A second problem: doing this trade now. Avs right now are at 5th position, but a very dangerous position. Looking up, Calgary is not far off, especially with a double-header with them coming up. But looking down, every other team is still breathing down our neck, and thing is they have more games to play than us. We could be leapfrogged and dumped to 8th during our 6-day break. At this critical time, stability is more important than anything. And Abby had been very stable. But now he is traded for a goalie who, nevermind that his damaged confidence, won't be back until late March, when the playoffs are about to start. You are going to rely on Budaj/Kolesnik, two unproven rookies whose been average this season to win you big playoff position deciding games? Why make this trade now? He is not going anywhere, since Montreal probably won't play him much when he comes back, and no other team will think of getting him and his lousy contract when they have better options in the UFA in the summer. So we could easily pull this same deal off in the summer. Then we would have time to rehab him, to work his confidence up and help him improve his game. But right now, at the most intense time of the season, you are going to throw him to the doghouse when he's at his weakest?

And if this fails, we totally screwed our cap room. Sakic and Blake are UFA this summer, and presumably we'll sign both back with reduced contracts. That'll clear maybe 5-6 million, which will allow us the space to attract a pretty high profile UFA. Abby is UFA this summer too, so if we want to replace him, we could find one in the market (Luongo?), or if PL insists on Theodore, we can do a sign-and-trade with Montreal as well. But now, our cap room is screwed by a 4.3 million, 3-year con