NHL Season 08-09

[Oxyminus]

"Undisclosed lower body injury". Rumor is it might be a sore hip. But since the league recently put in place that teams do not need to release coherent injury reports, it could be a sore elbow for all you know

[BadKarma]

10-2-1, the rangers are the worst best team in NHL history >.> i dont know how they win

[Oxyminus]

Yeah that's right, I'm reviving my thread cause someone had the nerve to make an "official" NHL thread.

Anyway, I just got back from the Rangers game tonight. Beautiful ceremony for Graves' jersey retirement (I have like 100+ pics that I'm going to upload tomorrow if people wanna see)

Rangers are forever frustrating. They can't score, that's all there is to it. Still defensively sound, great PK, always reliable goaltending. But 2 goals in the last 7 periods and ~100 shots taken? inexfuckingcusable. The general consensus in Rangers land is either make a move for a sniper (Kovalchuk?) or Renney is going to be axed, or maybe both. Personally, right now as long as the trade doesn't include Staal I say do it. Dubinsky, 1 of Del Zotto/Sanguinetti, 1 of Dawes/Prucha, 2 picks would possibly make it happen. I'd miss Dubi (and wearing my Dubi jersey), but the guy is only 25 and has scored 40+ goals once, and 50+ goals twice. Rangers clearly need a legitimate gamebreaker, which they lack. The scoring by committee approach isn't working because nobody can score consistently. Zherdev is the closest thing but he is more a playmaker than a legit sniper, though he is a threat to score every time he has the puck.

But their offensive problems need more than one superstar can fix. At this point I almost don't want them to make the playoffs because it will cost me tons of money and all will happen is another 2nd round exit because they as constructed are not an elite team. Close but not it.

[Thoronas]

Anyway, I just got back from the Rangers game tonight. Beautiful ceremony for Graves' jersey retirement (I have like 100+ pics that I'm going to upload tomorrow if people wanna see)

Post some of those pics!!

Rangers are forever frustrating.

You think the Rangers are frustrating, try being a canucks fan these days.

How is Naslund working out for you guys? I don't get much Rangers news out West so I have no idea how good/bad he's been.

Lets bring this thread back bitches! It's the race for the playoffs.

[melbufrauma]

Stars are looking hot right now after winning their 5th straight tonight over the Calgary Flames 3-1
http://img.fannation.com/images/gett...yi-565x565.jpg
surprised they are doin so well without Morrow and Zubov

[Oxyminus]

Post some of those pics!!



You think the Rangers are frustrating, try being a canucks fan these days.

How is Naslund working out for you guys? I don't get much Rangers news out West so I have no idea how good/bad he's been.

Lets bring this thread back bitches! It's the race for the playoffs.

I'll post them tomorrow. They're pretty repetitive but they're pretty good.

I don't follow the 'Nucks much either, except for the whole Sundin saga. But you guys have been tanking pretty hard lately yeah?

Naslund started off pretty damn slow and struggled. He's been one of our better forwards lately. The ENTIRE TEAM has been struggling offensively for the whole season, so his 34 points (16G 18A) is pretty respectable for this squad. It seems like him and Gomez have yet to find any real chemistry, because Naslund to what I can tell operates better creating his offensive than having a puck carrying centerman (Gomez) doing it for him.

AND Naslund had the game-tying goal tonight with 10.7 seconds left. We lost the shootout 2-1 (he had the only goal there lol) so he gets my praises. As far as the moves made this past offseason including bringing in: Redden, Voros, Rismiller, Kalinin, Zherdev, and Fritsche (who is now gone lol!) I'd say Naslund has been the only non-dissapointment besides Zherdev. Naslund has probably been the only bright spot among the vets who are supposed to be leading this team

[Thoronas]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ucksvcanes.jpg

It's finally over!! 9 consecutive home losses but no more!
Nucks 4 Canes 3.

Christ what a game, Sundin, Kesler, and Burrows were great. Lou still needs to get back in the zone.

[Palin]

Stars are looking hot right now after winning their 5th straight tonight over the Calgary Flames 3-1
http://img.fannation.com/images/gett...yi-565x565.jpg
surprised they are doin so well without Morrow and Zubov

Hell yes! Stars are my team and I was really disappointed to see their horrid performance earlier this season. Glad to see them coming back to form with new chemistry on their lines.

Canucks have been tanking hard, good to see them break their losing streak (though they need to stay below my Stars!)

[Arnwulf]

I'm still optimistic that my Bluejackets will make the playoffs. I'd say this year is the best team we've had in our short history, let's hope that we make it over the hump, this town is itching for a winner.

[BadKarma]

Rangers suck ass and im a rangers fan.

[Viq]

This season seems like it's been too good to be true for the Bruins. I can't help but think that they're going to get bounced in the first round again just to remind us that they're really the Bruins.

[Thoronas]

If Boston doesn't make it past the second round in the playoffs I'll be shocked. Right now I'm predicting a Boston or Washington vs San Jose or Calgary stanley cup final.

Arnwulf I'd like to see the Blue Jackets make it to the playoffs as well. I like they're team (except when they beat Vancouver). I'd rather see Columbus and Dallas make it to the playoffs than Phoenix (lol) or Anaheim.

As for Naslund, I really hope he continues to help the Rangers. I thought he got treated poorly in Vancouver near the end. That being said, don't be surprised if he disappears during the playoffs. That always seemed to be his problem.

[Brill Weave]

It's looking mighty grim for my boys here in Pittsburgh. Goaltending is woefully inadequate right now. Powerplay and PK are atrocious. Aside from Sykora, Malkin, and Crosby there has been little contribution from....anyone.

There's no desperation. Therrien has lost the team. They aren't buying what he's selling anymore. I expect the day the Penguins get eliminated from playoff contention, Therrien will be hitting the bricks.

As someone who lives breathes and bleeds Penguins hockey his entire life, this is a rough fucking season so far.

[Ivaden]

Yeah, seriously. What the fuck happened to our Penguins. I want to believe that they're playing poorly in order to get Therrien canned, but then why are there flashes of brilliancy when the coaching staff tries something different (remember when we played the trap a couple weeks ago?)? Therrien juggles the lines way too much, I can't imagine there's much chemistry aside from Sykie and Geno that's solid. Our defense sucks ass, Whitney has not been playing like he should be. Letang and Goligoski are doing okay but their age and inexperience shows, and when it does, it shows in bright fucking neon colors. Eaton and Boucher are as useless as can be, Orpik hasn't been showing much grit lately for some reason. Fleury is playing like he's Sabourin, Garon played like he hasn't played in forever (which apparently in Edmonton, he hasn't). Staal is the biggest waste of money ever, and he's too shitty I wouldn't be surprised if any teams don't want to pick him up in a trade.

But I still love 'em all. Except Boucher and Eaton, seriously. Seriously, guys.

[Brill Weave]

Well when it comes to Staal I'm don't bash him like it seems everyone else in Pittsburgh does. The contract he signed isn't about the player he is right now, it's about the player he could end up being. Right now he's one of our top defensive forwards along with Kennedy, Talbot, and Dupuis. But he also has a bit of a scoring touch. His problem is he's still too streaky and he hasn't really grown into his body yet. He's only 20, he's a big fucking dood. But he still has a younger guy's mindset. I think about Ryan Malone when I look at Staal. It took him time to develop into a power forward and he was older than Staal.

My issues are with the following players. Garon looked horrid. Abolutely no rebound control and the guy was playing almost IN the net. Which any intelligent hockey fan will tell you is just setting yourself up for failure.

Satan is going through another streak of invisibility. He's trying too hard for the perfect shot. I've watched him pass up opportunities to launch one timers, but instead he keeps stopping, setting up, then taking a shit slapper.

Hal Gill needs to be gone. I don't fucking care that he's 6'7" The dood can't fucking skate. AT ALL. He is without a doubt one of the slowest people I've ever seen play in the NHL. Why didn't we try trading this piece of dead wood for Boucher instead of losing Sydor, who was at least mobile.

As far as our forwards go, it's been way too much of a revolving door with the Baby Pens. Some of the guys look right at home playing up with the big club, others just looked flat out lost. I like Luca Caputi just because he drove to the net every single time he had the puck it seemed.

Right now they miss Gonchar and Zigomanis. Fedotenko I'm still really on the fence about. Ah well time to keep our fingers crossed.

[Ivaden]

Well when it comes to Staal I'm don't bash him like it seems everyone else in Pittsburgh does. The contract he signed isn't about the player he is right now, it's about the player he could end up being. Right now he's one of our top defensive forwards along with Kennedy, Talbot, and Dupuis. But he also has a bit of a scoring touch. His problem is he's still too streaky and he hasn't really grown into his body yet. He's only 20, he's a big fucking dood. But he still has a younger guy's mindset. I think about Ryan Malone when I look at Staal. It took him time to develop into a power forward and he was older than Staal.

My issues are with the following players. Garon looked horrid. Abolutely no rebound control and the guy was playing almost IN the net. Which any intelligent hockey fan will tell you is just setting yourself up for failure.

Satan is going through another streak of invisibility. He's trying too hard for the perfect shot. I've watched him pass up opportunities to launch one timers, but instead he keeps stopping, setting up, then taking a shit slapper.

Hal Gill needs to be gone. I don't fucking care that he's 6'7" The dood can't fucking skate. AT ALL. He is without a doubt one of the slowest people I've ever seen play in the NHL. Why didn't we try trading this piece of dead wood for Boucher instead of losing Sydor, who was at least mobile.

As far as our forwards go, it's been way too much of a revolving door with the Baby Pens. Some of the guys look right at home playing up with the big club, others just looked flat out lost. I like Luca Caputi just because he drove to the net every single time he had the puck it seemed.

Right now they miss Gonchar and Zigomanis. Fedotenko I'm still really on the fence about. Ah well time to keep our fingers crossed.

Yeah, honestly Staal is just one of my scapegoats. Like I said, I like almost all of our players, and it just sucks that right now they're completely horrid. If Staal could develop into a Malone, someone who stood in front of the net with as big as he is and got dirty goals, he'd be a lot more useful than he is now. I'd love to see him on Crosby's wing even if he's a natural center, to be honest. In a few years, Staal - Crosby - Caputi could be one hell of a line in my opinion. We need to stay away from Crosby and Malkin on the same line, way too easy to contain us to near no scoring from any other line, and Malkin is limited way too much on a wing. He needs to be a center.

Fedotanko was doing a hell of a job until he revealed he's glass after breaking his hand on Colby's face lol... but I'm looking forward to him coming back, I really liked him on Malkin and Sykora's line. I'm sort of hoping we sign Feds beyond this season. Once he comes back, I want our energetic third line from earlier in the season to be reunited: Cooke, Staal, and Kennedy. I like Cooke on the first two lines but I don't think he's quite capable of staying there yet.

I just hope they give Caputi a chance on one of the first two lines tonight. Give that kid a chance on Crosby's wing, because like you said, he went to the net every time he was on the ice, and his flash of mini Mario brilliance shows it.

[Thoronas]

I like Cooke on the first two lines but I don't think he's quite capable of staying there yet.

As a Canucks fan, I'm shocked to see someone say that about Cooke. lol He was always a decent player but I never thought I'd see him on any teams third line, let alone second line.

I'm still kinda surprised how far Pittsburgh has fallen. I didn't think they'd miss Hossa or Malone this much. But perhaps it's more injuries that has been hurting Pittsburgh, well that and iffy goaltending.

[Ishido]

It seems really weird but I'm happy with the Wings' position in the standings right now, I think if they won the Presidents' Trophy again I'm not sure if I would be surprised by an early exit from the playoffs (not the best logic but I'm sure some can follow). What I'm not happy with is the defense they've been playing all season, and pretty much everything since the halfway point. Hopefully the win over St. Louis stopping the losing streak will get things going in the right direction.

[Ivaden]

As a Canucks fan, I'm shocked to see someone say that about Cooke. lol He was always a decent player but I never thought I'd see him on any teams third line, let alone second line.

I'm still kinda surprised how far Pittsburgh has fallen. I didn't think they'd miss Hossa or Malone this much. But perhaps it's more injuries that has been hurting Pittsburgh, well that and iffy goaltending.

Well, we don't have much else right now lol. He'd be third or fourth line for sure if we still had Hossa and Malone, but for now, I think he does a decent job at trying to replace Malone. It's just too bad Shero burned any bridges with Malone left, I'd love to see him back here.

Our problem now is simply, we do not have the team we did last year. I don't think we have the locker room chemistry we did, and I've actually heard quite a few rumors that people are dissatisfied with Crosby's premadonna attitude. Sykora mentioned in a Russian interview that Malkin never whines or gets pissed off with any of the players when things go bad, and the way he worded it eluded to a subtle stab at Crosby. So who knows. I'm just anxious for trade deadline, I want to see what comes of it. Hopefully we don't blow it on more rental players, though. I want a good future, not a good playoff run at this point.

[Abraxas]

heading down to the flyers/bruins game in a few hours. first meeting of the year. boston is kickin ass and the flyers last played Saturday, getting shutout by the Blues. should be a good game tonight