the hockey thread

capt. scotty · Mar 29, 2013, 02:47 PM

Absolutely. I think Shero needs to do whatever he can to keep both Malkin and Letang. I think moving Staal had that in mind, and what happens in the next year will dictate that as well. We only have 5 guys under contract currently for 2014-15 (Sid, Neal, Fleury, Martin, Bennett). They have the room, but hard decisions will need to be made. I see Orpik, Niskanen, and possibly Kunitz (he's hard to know, really outperforming his contract this year but we might not even be able to pay him that $3.75 in couple years. I could see him playing for less to stay with Pens/Sid) as the guys that go to be able to afford both Malkin and Letang.

Like I said, gun to my head I want Malkin but they really gotta keep both. Letang has a few Norris Trophies in his future, no doubt. Maybe this year is the first.

I agree Morrow is past his prime, too physical of a player not to be, but he will be a perfect fit on the 3rd line. He was still putting up real good numbers 3 and 4 seasons ago. Was he playing with Brad Richards then?? That could partially explain the downturn the last couple seasons. I know this season in particular he wasnt getting much playing time for Dallas.

Jaimoe · Mar 29, 2013, 03:01 PM

Morrow has never really been a points guy, although he knows how to find the net when called upon. I can see him turning into a role player similar to what we saw with Kirk Muller and Joe Nieuwendyk near the twilight of their careers.

You know what's interesting is that when Crosby is healthy like he is more or less now, nobody can touch his talent. Malkin, Ovie, Stamkos, Tavares etc... are all elite players, but when Crosby is "on", he is heads and tails better than the bunch.

capt. scotty · Apr 06, 2013, 01:10 PM

Man, just when we make all these moves to set us up for a Cup run, Crosby eats vulcanized rubber a minute into Iginla's first game for the Pens. Ugh, weve had so much bad luck these last few years.

iLikeBeer · Apr 18, 2013, 09:07 AM

If you don't get goosebumps watching this, you don't have a pulse...

http://youtu.be/ZzMsagY7oRs

Jaimoe · Apr 18, 2013, 05:02 PM

It was an awesome display last night in Beantown. I almost got goosebumps, and that's saying something coming from a flag-waving, red-blooded maple syrup-sucking hoser. I'm wearing my Bruins long-sleeve retro shirt to work tonight, on, ironically, the same night as the Leafs may clinch a playoff spot. Go Bruins (and Leafs).

ManNamedTruth · May 26, 2013, 07:56 AM

Jaimoe, I knew it would come down to this. Despite what the playoff seeding ended up being, these were the two top teams in the East all season. Should be a pretty epic hard-fought series. Good luck to your B's, and Let's Go Pens!

Jaimoe · May 27, 2013, 09:05 AM

Should be an interesting series for sure.

joey_rogo · May 28, 2013, 12:36 PM

Gonna have to pull for a BOS/SJS final. God, the Rangers looked fucking terrible.

Jaimoe · May 28, 2013, 01:47 PM

Quote from: joey_rogo on May 28, 2013, 12:36 PM
Gonna have to pull for a BOS/SJS final. God, the Rangers looked fucking terrible.

Bad coaching too. Terrible motivator.

I hate the Wings, so Go Hawks in that series.

iLikeBeer · May 28, 2013, 02:47 PM

Quote from: Jaimoe on May 28, 2013, 01:47 PM

I hate the Wings, so Go Hawks in that series.

As a Hawks fan, I too hate the Wings...

I was pretty down when Chicago picked the Western Conference Semis as the place for them to lose 3 in a row for the first time all season.

I honestly thought the series would be over last night as the Hawks haven't won a playoff game at the Joe since 1992!

Now, the possibility of coming back from a 3-1 deficit looks like a definite possibility. Hopefully the Madhouse will be rocking tomorrow night!

That Boston/Pittsburgh series should be a dandy!

joey_rogo · May 29, 2013, 02:09 PM

If the Rangers hire Lindy Ruff I will become an Islanders fan.

Jaimoe · Jun 12, 2013, 03:36 PM

Bruins in 7, but it'll be a great series.

Former NBAer Popeye Jones' son Seth will probably go No. 1 in the upcoming deep draft.

Taterbug · Jun 13, 2013, 02:08 PM

This series is gonna kill me if I have to sit through any more triple overtimes.

Jaimoe · Jun 13, 2013, 02:21 PM

Frustrating end, making it even worse is that Shaw kid is from one of my least favourite cities in Ontario: Belleville (home of the OHL Belleville Bulls, although the team has produced tons of great NHLers including PK Subban and its current goalie is Subban's brother, the soon-to-be Bruins backup).

iLikeBeer · Jun 25, 2013, 08:42 AM

Fuck yeah!!!

Taterbug · Jun 25, 2013, 09:52 AM

Boston Beat us Bloody, WOW WOW WOW , Now what am I gonna do, no more Hockey.

joey_rogo · Jun 25, 2013, 10:38 AM

Was pulling for Boston (because of Jagr) so that was a pretty shitty game for me considering Jagr was hurt the whole time.

As for my Rangers, I am not an AV fan so I'm worried about these next few seasons. His teams in Vancouver were amongst the softest groups of pansies ever assembled and I'm having nightmares about the Rangers acting like the Canucks did in the 2011 finals.

Jaimoe · Jun 25, 2013, 02:11 PM

Quote from: joey_rogo on Jun 25, 2013, 10:38 AM
Was pulling for Boston (because of Jagr) so that was a pretty shitty game for me considering Jagr was hurt the whole time.

As for my Rangers, I am not an AV fan so I'm worried about these next few seasons. His teams in Vancouver were amongst the softest groups of pansies ever assembled and I'm having nightmares about the Rangers acting like the Canucks did in the 2011 finals.

I wouldn't call the entire Canucks soft or pansies, just some of them. Sure, the sweetheart Sedins embrace both of your wimpy labels, but the team plays pretty aggressive hockey; however, the four forward lines are full of too many sneaky weasels. I hate the Canucks (and their fans and smug-ass, but nice-loooking city) with passion, almost as much as the Habs, although I respect the latter Original Six team more than any other organization is sport.

AV will do fine in New York, and the one great thing is that he won't have a goalie controversy. He'll be able to handle the high-priced stars too.

capt. scotty · Jun 25, 2013, 08:44 PM

Congrats to the Hawks. My Pens really gotta make some changes next year. I thought Bylsma getting fired was first in line but he got extended

Also, I was shocked Ovechkin got the Hart over Crosby. Ovechkin had about 1 good month of hockey. Sid I think was still leading the league in points going into the final week. Whenever he was one the ice, regular season and post, Crosby was clearly the better player this year.

Jaimoe · Jun 25, 2013, 09:02 PM

Quote from: capt. scotty on Jun 25, 2013, 08:44 PM
Congrats to the Hawks. My Pens really gotta make some changes next year. I thought Bylsma getting fired was first in line but he got extended

Also, I was shocked Ovechkin got the Hart over Crosby. Ovechkin had about 1 good month of hockey. Sid I think was still leading the league in points going into the final week. Whenever he was one the ice, regular season and post, Crosby was clearly the better player this year.

What about Kane winning the Conn Smythe? I don't think he deserved it. Odds on favourite was Crawford, but Keith was my pick (and Toews really played well down the stretch, injured as he was).

BTW, according to Sportsnet in Toronto, Bergeron was playing with broken ribs, a separated shoulder and torn ligaments.