NHL Season 08-09

[Norelco]

Yeah Buffalo is in a bad spot right now. Without Vanek they really only have a few guys capable of scoring regularly(Stafford and Roy for example.) I will be surprised if Florida makes it to be blunt. They have been playing above their means for a while now and I am kind of expecting the bottom to fall out. Which kind of sucks because I like the way David Booth plays. Would love to see that guy in a Penguin uniform.

Actually, going back throughout the year and through the various games the bulk of Vanek's goals were junk goals. The reason why the Sabres are missing Vanek is because he's probably the only Sabre willing to take a beating in front of the net for tip-ins.

Really...Buffalo is in a bad spot because of Miller being out, not Vanek (fuck you Gomez!)

[Arnwulf]

Buffalo has also lost a lot of talent in the past few years since their finals appearance. It's hard to make up for the loss of those guys right away.

[Brill Weave]

That's kind of what I mean though. Vanek is a skill player who understands he will do more good getting his hands dirty down in front. You don't see too many skilled Europeans willing to do that. I think losing Vanek hurts them more, not to minimize Miller's loss at all. But when you think of the Sabres you think Thomas Vanek. He's their icon imo.

[Norelco]

That's kind of what I mean though. Vanek is a skill player who understands he will do more good getting his hands dirty down in front. You don't see too many skilled Europeans willing to do that. I think losing Vanek hurts them more, not to minimize Miller's loss at all. But when you think of the Sabres you think Thomas Vanek. He's their icon imo.

True. It's still early to grade the impact of his absence since the Sabres only played 5 games without him. They're 3-2 without him.

They're going to put in an ice cold Lalime.

[Ratatapa]

Well we can't say that Lalime won't win without Miller, look at clemension at NJ, NO one expected him to do shit, and look now lol.


But yeah Lalime never was OMG awsome, exept when he replaced Damian Rhodes(sp) with the Sens

[Oxyminus]

Yeah I'm concerned with how Zherdev will work with a guy like Tortorella. Renney got him to be a better two-way player, but there were still a few nights where he'd dissapear. Though some of that I think is to the fault of him being more of a playmaker than a pure goal scorer, and having questionable talent around him.

apparently at practice this morning a player walked on the NYR logo in the locker room and Tortorella said "STAY THE FUCK OFF THE LOGO!" I like the changes already.

And for the record, I want NO PART of Sean Avery coming back. fuck em.

[Arnwulf]

"Stay the fuck off the Logo!"....that's awesome, doesn't sound like he's going to go easy on them haha.

[BadKarma]

Fuck no, Tortorella is shit. He Had the power in TB back then with Richards, boyle, Lecavalier and St-Louis. Of Course he got a Stanley Cup, but after that he did nothing to support them.

Tortorella might bring them to the playoffs but Rangers will not pass first round

Torts is the type of coach the rangers need, someone to kick them in the ass. Thats what keenan did in 94 and thats why they won.

[Oxyminus]

Apparently the logo comment may have been made to the media...but Regardless, Tortorella's change of approach is a breath of fresh air.

[Thoronas]

Is Tortorella is like Keenan you can kiss any and all offensive contribution from Naslund good bye. Keenan use to make Naslund cry like a girl when they were both with the Canucks. They ended up having to get Tony Robbins in to help Naslund out with his low self esteem, Im not joking.

[BadKarma]

Is Tortorella is like Keenan you can kiss any and all offensive contribution from Naslund good bye. Keenan use to make Naslund cry like a girl when they were both with the Canucks. They ended up having to get Tony Robbins in to help Naslund out with his low self esteem, Im not joking.

Naslund wasnt really impressing me at all anyway.

[Thoronas]

He leads the Rangers in goals...

What does that say about the rest of the team?

[Oxyminus]

Naslund has gone through stretches...I'll take what he's given the team over what we've gotten from say Drury or Redden

[Arnwulf]

Dammit Bluejackets, don't tank on me now! We really need our GM to grow a pair and pull off a trade to help us over the hump.

[Sepukku]

One of the most interesting trade rumors I heard (and it made sense in a way) was Pascal Leclaire (and others) for Daniel Briere (and potentially others). The Flyers want to find a #1 goalie, Columbus needs a center. Obviously questions with Briere's health and he has a pretty big contract for the next half dozen or so years I believe, but Columbus seems like it has cap room, no giant big name contracts when Rick Nash is your best player.

[Ratatapa]

Nice game for habs vs canucks yesterday.

Halak Stole the game, canucks played better then the habs in general.

16 shot by the habs is not alot, and personally Pleklanek Goal wasn't good, when koivu dived to pass the puck he put his stick in the skate of the canuck player which should've been a penalty to koivu.

But like most says what gave the most confidence to halak was the 5vs3, when Kovalev got 4min penalty + plenkanek 2min.


The rumor i heard was Briere for Bowmeister, Flyers need a good defenseman, and Florida need a good scorer (even tho briere is injured this year)

[Arnwulf]

One of the most interesting trade rumors I heard (and it made sense in a way) was Pascal Leclaire (and others) for Daniel Briere (and potentially others). The Flyers want to find a #1 goalie, Columbus needs a center. Obviously questions with Briere's health and he has a pretty big contract for the next half dozen or so years I believe, but Columbus seems like it has cap room, no giant big name contracts when Rick Nash is your best player.

Briere for Leclaire would be interesting. I don't see Leclaire being dealt at the deadline though, considering he's on IR for the rest of the year. We would basically be swapping people who spend lots of time on the IR haha. Briere has really only had one good season, but he'd still be an asset if he stays healthy.

[Abraxas]

The Flyers arent trading Briere, lol. The only names on the block are Randy Jones and Joffrey Lupul. But to be honest, i doubt they will do anything drastic. But yea, Briere isnt going anywhere.

I doubt they will bring Bouwmeester in too. he's good, but they already have the highest paid back-end in the league. i didnt believe that when i heard it, but they do. 16.2m goes to the defenseman.

[Sepukku]

Briere is a LOT of money... Flyers can't move forward with Nitty or Biron. They're both mediocre at best.

The thing with the Flyers is, you're like the Penguins in a lot of ways. Very young. Your players will be coming out of entry level contracts and will be warranting a lot more money. Additionally, like I said, I think Flyers would have to get something else in addition to Leclaire, which I think would help. Maybe draft picks to trade for Pronger/Bouw..

I honestly think too, the Flyers don't need Briere. They've ran two blazing-and-amazing lines that could be #1 lines on half the teams in the league, all without Briere this year. I think if Briere played this year, he wouldn't be trade bait, but his absence has allowed the Flyers to prove to themselves they don't need him as much as they need a goalie or defensemen.

[Ratatapa]

Another rumors about the flyers i heard was briging Keri Lethonen (sp) from Thrashers.

Lethonen is a good goaler for the team he has infront of him but mmm