NHL Season 08-09

[Ivaden]

I have no doubt the Penguins will make the playoffs. Honestly, we're just a few points from being in them at the moment, with how many games left? But, do I expect us to not get bounced in the first round? Kinda, yes. I'm just anxious for the trade deadline to see what comes of it, if anything. There's a few people I absolutely do not want to see traded, but wouldn't be surprised if they were.

[Ratatapa]

well i won my best with the flames win

[Abraxas]

Hindsight is 20/20. I don't think anyone in hockey could have predicted the Penguins would have such a freefall. There's enough time for them to turn it around, but let's face it, they need to stop fucking around and get going.

well, i said they lost alot and the replacements they got would not suffice. on top of that, starting the season with no Gonchar... it really wasn't too hard to see they wouldn't be as good as they were last year.

from me on page 2:

The pens will be good, but they lost alot of role players. Spots that can't be filled by Ruslan Fedotenko's and Miroslav Satan's. Yes, they are a highly offensive team, but their depth took a hit. Malone, Roberts, Ruutu and Laraque.. thats alot of holes to fill. Even Adam Hall. Yea he's not great, but you will get more hustle out of him than you will with Fedotenko and Satan.

I dont like predicting where teams will finish, but the Pens will really be tested if they want to be as good as they were last year.

[Ivaden]

Gonchar is expected to return pretty soon considering they sent Goligoski back down to WBS. It's unfortunate, but I don't expect he's going to be able to just come right in and pick up the team (or the powerplay, specifically) given the fact it was a shoulder injury. I have a feeling the powerplay will be loads better than it has been, but really, that's not saying a whole lot.

[Sepukku]

Shame Goligoski had to be sent down, he was our only 2-way contract defenseman. He led our team's D in points and was 2nd for our D in +/- behind Scuderi, but for awhile he was leading that category too. He was a +10 at one point.

[Brill Weave]

Well when it comes to the powerplay, there isn't anywhere else to go but up. I really don't see the Penguins making any big game breaking deals this year. I don't think they will rent a player since we all saw what happened with Hossa. And they don't have the cap room to take on anyone higher than 3rd line caliber without trading one of those fat contracts. I expect them to be very quiet.

[Abraxas]

the Flyers need a freakin right-handed defenseman!

[Ivaden]

Well when it comes to the powerplay, there isn't anywhere else to go but up. I really don't see the Penguins making any big game breaking deals this year. I don't think they will rent a player since we all saw what happened with Hossa. And they don't have the cap room to take on anyone higher than 3rd line caliber without trading one of those fat contracts. I expect them to be very quiet.

Money wise, trading Staal and Whitney would give us enough room to bring in some higher quality players for more than just a season. I don't necessarily agree with trading Whitney, but Staal I wouldn't be that upset about, potential or not. Talbot can center a third line just fine, and hopefully by next season Zigomanis will be back, and if not, Bill Thomas could probably do just fine. I've been pretty impressed with him on the penalty kill.

I'm bummed about Goligoski being sent down as well, but assuming we sign him again, he'll most likely be up here starting next year. People are wanting to trade him in a package deal, but his salary hit is so minimal it would make zero sense to trade a young, great offensive defenseman like him.

[Brill Weave]

Nah they won't trade Staal or Whitney. They are too hung up on what Staal could become. I always tell everyone who rags on Staal to remember that it takes longer for a power forward to fully develop. Ryan Malone was a perfect example of this. His career practically mirrors Staal's. First year in the NHL he pots over twenty goals and gets fans excited. The next two or three seasons he seemed to regress. After that he began slowly to contribute more. I have no problem with the contract they gave Staal, I was happy when they resigned him.

Whitney I would hate to see leave. He's one of those rare breeds of defenseman. He's responsible in his own zone, he finishes his checks, and he's got a hell of a scoring touch. I don't agree with sending Goligoski down to Wilkes-Barre just because I think we could easily have sent down Mark Eaton and been done with him.

[Arnwulf]

http://i39.tinypic.com/10f3sbn.jpg

Woooo! Season sweet of the Avs, first NHL shutout for Dan LaCosta. Here's hoping we keep on winning!

[Thoronas]

Goddamn the Western Conference is a fucking log jam right now.

5. Dallas GP: 52 Point: 59
6. Anaheim GP: 56 Points: 59
7. Vancouver GP: 53 Points: 58
8. Minnesota GP: 52 Points: 57
9. Columbus GP: 54 Points: 57
10. Edmonton GP: 53 Points: 56
11. Los Angeles GP: 52 Points: 55

In order for the Canucks to maintain a decent spot, Minnesota has to lose to Colorado and Phoenix has to beat Dallas tonight. Ugh. On the plus side, there are several teams that are poised to pass Anaheim. I hope Vancouver is one of them.

[Bweigelt]

Goddamn the Western Conference is a fucking log jam right now.

5. Dallas GP: 52 Point: 59
6. Anaheim GP: 56 Points: 59
7. Vancouver GP: 53 Points: 58
8. Minnesota GP: 52 Points: 57
9. Columbus GP: 54 Points: 57
10. Edmonton GP: 53 Points: 56
11. Los Angeles GP: 52 Points: 55

In order for the Canucks to maintain a decent spot, Minnesota has to lose to Colorado and Phoenix has to beat Dallas tonight. Ugh. On the plus side, there are several teams that are poised to pass Anaheim. I hope Vancouver is one of them.

I wouldn't worry too much, Sundin has been an absolute beast the last couple games and pretty much won the game for us single handedly night. Once Luongo (he was terrible last night again) gets back to form we shouldn't have any trouble.

[Ivaden]

Holy christ we beat the Sharks.

[Sepukku]

Holy crap Fleury actually played like we know he can for once.

Even though we only got 1 goal and it was on a lucky bounce, I still like what the offense did today, we generated a lot of scoring chances and forced Boucher to stand on his head practically at times. That, and we played pretty much a full 65 minutes, from what I saw. I missed the first period due to night class, but yeah. Good effort all around. I laughed at Eaton getting hurt just as the announcers were saying he can't stay healthy.

[Ivaden]

Everyone played really solid the entire game, I was honestly wondering if our team from last year did some crazy time traveling bullshit and took over, even Satan was looking pretty damn good. Was happy for Thomas getting his first goal in Pittsburgh since he's a Pittsburgh native, that's gotta be a hell of a feeling, even if a Shark actually put it in.

[Oxyminus]

Rangers finally pull out a W. not pretty, but for a team who has been struggling everywhere on the ice for weeks to for the most part keep Ovechkin in check, and put up 4 goals is worth a day of reprieve from me.

LETS GO RANGERS!!!

[Thoronas]

Pittsburgh fires their coach

I'm kinda surprised they fired him now, is a coaching change really going to help them at this point in the season?

[Ishido]

Therrien was obviously not getting it done, not much else to do at this point after when the Eastern Conference champions are 5 points and 2 spots out of the playoffs.

[Ratatapa]

I'm sad for therien, yes pittsburgh wasn't winning, but he's an awsome coach he didn't deserve it in my opinion

[Thoronas]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Picture1.png

Good game by the Canucks tonight. The game against Calgary on Tuesday is going to be a big one.