NHL Season 08-09

[Ragns]

People saying something big should be revealed about MTL tomorrow, about more then 1 player, that could be the cause why MTL suck latly

I am scared, can,t wait to see tomorrow

Yep, cops are waiting till the team arrives in town right now.

[Ivaden]

Isn't it supposed to be some huge scandal that Kovalev was bitching about anyway?

Speaking of which, a lot of people are speculating that Letang is getting traded for Kovalev since he was scratched tonight. Some people are just too quick to jump the assumption gun. I know a lot of people lost faith in our GM when Hossa and Malone chose to go elsewhere, but Shero isn't that stupid. I hope.

oplzgodletangdontgo

[Sepukku]

I like Goligoski better than Letang anyways. I'd prefer Letang leave than Goligoski. Goligoski will be a top 4 defenseman someday, with definite 1st-unit PP potential. Both are good, so whatev. Is Kovalev in a contract year? Would he be a rental? I don't want another rental. Statistically, I don't think we ought to trade one of our extra D for a rental this year. Trade Whitney for a 1st round draft pick and a 2nd-3rd line pick maybe? I wouldn't mind Kovalev, assuming hes under contract with us for more than just 4 weeks of play time. I would mind if hes a rental. What kind of 10th seed team trades one of their better defenseman for a rental? Just so we can squeek in and get embarassed by the Bruins?

[Ivaden]

Kovalev is an UFA this spring. I'd wait it out and try picking him up in the offseason if he hates Montreal as much as the media is making it seem (or vice versa), not to mention he looked like he really enjoyed playing with Malkin. Kovy - Malkin - Sykora second line plzzzzz.

I'd never ever ever trade Letang or Goligoski for him, though. They both have the potential to become Gonchar-esque, moreso when they get better in their own zone, but they're freaking young. With Gonchar getting older and who knows how much longer he'll be around, I want Letang and Goligoski around as long as possible. Goligoski needs to work on his upper body strength though, I've never been on ice skates in my life and I don't think he'd be able to push me over lol.

[Sepukku]

He's like 5'10" and of polish descent lol What do you expect? I'm Polish too and let me tell you, we don't get hulky. He reminds me of Rifalski but with a better shooting ability. Rifalski, despite now plenty of time in the NHL still sucks in his own zone, still can't hit for shit, but is awesome on the offensive side. Goligoski doesn't suck in his own zone. Yes he can't hit, but hes good with his stick and positioning. I remember a couple times him hustling back and breaking up breakaways without taking a penalty/penalty shot. Granted breakaways usually are the result of him/his d-mate fucking up, but he knows what he's doing out there. He led the Pens D in +/- for most of his time in the NHL this season.

[Ivaden]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I think Goligoski is a hell of a player as is. I'm a huge fan of offensive defensemen for some reason. All I'm saying is, though, is that when he (and Letang) get better in their zone, they are going to be phenomenal players. I see a lot of people on the Penguins message board constantly wanting to trade Goligoski and all I can do is shake my head. I'd love to see him get a bit stronger but I won't hold it against him lol, he's not really a physical d-man, just like Whitney and I don't see anything realistically wrong with him either.

[Brill Weave]

I don't think there's any possible way Shero would trade either Letang or Goligoski. They have way too much upside. I mean it's only Letang's second year and Goligoski's rookie year. I could see him moving Whitney or Eaton. But it seems to me that Goligoski, Letang, Scuderi, and Orpik are the only untouchables on the team when it comes to the d men. I would love if they traded Gill. Hi I'm 6'7" and skate like I'm in quicksand. That was an odd game yesterday. Not one, but two goals because of broken sticks. I was freaking out when Knuble scored because Talbot was passing his stick to Gonch. Now I'm stuck at work, so I won't even be able to watch the game today.

[Ivaden]

Fleury out, Garon in. I missed the first period because of a long night last night, but god was he terrible in the second.

[Brill Weave]

Not surprising. He wasn't good yesterday either. He just got lucky the offense was able to pick it up and keep scoring.

[Sepukku]

Talbot was a man possessed during the pens 1st period goal, I was stuck at work watching NBC's shitty ISO-cam which was on Max Talbot during the 4-on-4 situation? (or was it a PP for Washington? There's no play by play commentary or box in the upper left with the score/penalties in ISO-cam so its hard to keep track of everything) with Staal in the box, and when Talbot got the puck in our own end and started flying down the ice you could just see it in his face and his posture that he wanted a goal and he was going to see to it that we got it.

[Bregor]

I missed Caps/Pens (hate working weekends) but apparently Crosby had his phasers set for maximum BAAAAAWWWWWW, both during and after the game. Motivational tactic, or frustration setting in? Can't believe they're sitting at 10th in the East.

Either way, today is just another example of why I love Ovechkin. I wanted to see the two of them drop the gloves, it would only last a couple seconds but it'd be worth it.

[Ivaden]

I missed Caps/Pens (hate working weekends) but apparently Crosby had his phasers set for maximum BAAAAAWWWWWW, both during and after the game. Motivational tactic, or frustration setting in? Can't believe they're sitting at 10th in the East.

Either way, today is just another example of why I love Ovechkin. I wanted to see the two of them drop the gloves, it would only last a couple seconds but it'd be worth it.

The media is just hyping another rivalry between two superstars, that's all. Being as unbiased as possible, since it's pretty clear I'm a Pens fan, Crosby didn't whine any more today than he has been lately. This season looks like it's brought out the worst in him, but given our season last season compared to this one, it's not a surprise. He's probably also becoming bitter of the fact that some spotlight is being pulled away from him by other (and, in my opinion, more rounded and better) players such as Ovechkin. Malkin > Ovechkin > Crosby in all around play, in my opinion. Malkin doesn't showboat, bitch, throw temper tantrums, and is very, very humble in interviews... in Russian, anyway, since he's still not so good with English. Malkin deserves Captaincy, but that would cause so much shit it's not worth suggesting or even anticipating.

I'm pretty indifferent about Ovechkin's showboating, which is what Crosby was crying about to reporters after the game. Honestly, I love the way Ovechkin plays. He plays with energy and when he gets a goal and jumps fifty feet in the air, it instills energy into his team. That's undeniable, and that's someone who's playing for the love of the game, and playing because he's having fun.

[Thoronas]

I can't wait for the playoffs. Washington, Ovechkin in particular will be a big draw in the US which is what the NHL needs. Crosby had his go last year and it was a good run. Hopefully this year the Western team won't completely destroy the Eastern conference team in the final as it was kinda anti-climactic.

I really hope Detroit doesn't make it to the finals again. We need something new. I'd like to imagine Vancouver might make a good run but that's the fan in me hoping for that. In all honesty I'd rather see San Jose or even Calgary make it to the final before I'd see Detroit there.

[Oxyminus]

So yeah....Fuck the Rangers.

and btw...wtf happened to my thread? I made a NHL thread long before this one popped up

[Thoronas]

You made one about the NHL playoffs I thought. I made this one at the beginning of the season and it went dead after about 2 months. I recently revived it when someone tried creating a new one.

[Oxyminus]

Nah I made one at the beginning of the season....there were many epic arguments about how teams in the atlantic division would do

[Ishido]

I can't wait for the playoffs. Washington, Ovechkin in particular will be a big draw in the US which is what the NHL needs. Crosby had his go last year and it was a good run. Hopefully this year the Western team won't completely destroy the Eastern conference team in the final as it was kinda anti-climactic.

I really hope Detroit doesn't make it to the finals again. We need something new. I'd like to imagine Vancouver might make a good run but that's the fan in me hoping for that. In all honesty I'd rather see San Jose or even Calgary make it to the final before I'd see Detroit there.

Ovechkin and Crosby draw as much as they do becasue they're so hyped. There are probably a dozen or more players the NHL could do the same thing with, but they really don't for the most part.

As a Detroit fan I obviously root for them to get back, but I kind of understand your sentiment. I disagree, but I guess it's similar to how a lot of people feel about the Patriots/Celtics/Lakers/Red Sox/Yankees in any given year. I think the Western Conf. is stronger right now, but it's not so bad that I think they will win no matter what.

[Ivaden]

Nah I made one at the beginning of the season....there were many epic arguments about how teams in the atlantic division would do

There were arguments between you and Seppukku in the beginning of this thread somewhere, unless for some reason they were modded out. Something about when Zherdev killed the Penguins and the Rangers fans booed until they won and then prospect death in Russia, etc..

[Thoronas]

As a Detroit fan I obviously root for them to get back, but I kind of understand your sentiment. I disagree, but I guess it's similar to how a lot of people feel about the Patriots/Celtics/Lakers/Red Sox/Yankees in any given year. I think the Western Conf. is stronger right now, but it's not so bad that I think they will win no matter what.

Don't get me wrong, I personally think Detroit still has a strong chance of winning again. All the flack Osgood has been getting is moot because I'm convinced the dude is a playoff goalie. Once the playoffs start people will wonder why he's playing so good all of a sudden, just wait.

As for the Western Conference, I'd have to say it's like 80% likely that the West is going to claim another Stanley Cup. Boston and Washington are the only teams playing like they could be a threat right now but we'll see what happens.

[Sepukku]

San Jose is Chokecity.