2009-10 NHL Thread

[Izzy]

Also, people talking shit on Crosby. Hes at least one of the top 3 hockey players of all time with Gretzky and Lemieux.

I'm not sure about that. I dislike him because I'm a biased non-Penguins fan of course, but he is a fucking fantastic hockey player. I would maybe like Malkin more than Crosby if Malkin wasn't such a fucking crybaby.

[Callisto]

Aw I missed the fun! I gotta say this year is beautiful, every time Detroit gets another injury and loses to another low-tier team I just want to throw it all on the bed and roll around in it like Indecent Proposal.

I also can't find video from the first Wings-Hawks game this year where Holmstrom was up to his usual faggot shit and Huet decked him in the back of the head when the ref turned away, favorite moment of the season so far bar maybe the 5-0 comeback vs. Calgary.

[Sepukku]

I'd take Lord Sidney any day of the week over Malkin, as amazing as Malkin is.

Malkin can't lead, is atrocious on shootouts/penalty shots/breakaways, can't win a faceoff to save his life, doesn't work the PK, isn't anywhere near as clutch as Sid is.

Now if I typed everything he could do, it'd be much longer than what I just said he couldn't do, but thats just testament to how amazing Sid is, that he can do everything Malkin can for the most part and then some.

[Callisto]

You left out that Malkin is ugly as fuck lol, looks like he has Down Syndrome.

[BadKarma]

The Crosby thing being mentioned in the top 3 with Gretzky and Lemieux is pure balls. He's good, great even, but those two are on another level. Gretzky will forever be the best player of all time, no-oone will ever beat him in points, Ovechkin, if he continues scoring 50-60 a season may beat or come close to the goals record. But 2,857 points? Be realistic.


You cannot say Crosby is up there with Gretzky and Lemieux because, he isn't even the best player in the NHL. Ovechkin is, no matter how dirty he plays, he is the more complete, and talented individual. Malkin is better than Crosby to, in my eyes at least.

[Izzy]

The thing I don't like about Malkin is that he seems like a very immature hockey player. You can see they maturity and discipline when Crosby is playing, but when Malkin takes a penalty or someone hits him in a way he doesn't like, he always retaliates and ends up either taking a matching penalty, or a penalty on a clean play that he could have just shrugged off and went off on his shift.

Oh and I can't wait for this Saturday. Sabres have a game tonight against Toronto, then tomorrow against the Pens. They better fucking play Lalime tonight and Miller against the Pens. So help me God, if I see Lalime on the ice for that Pens game, I'm changing the fucking channel.

[Callisto]

Don't, apparently the guy's a fucking star.












God dammit I had just stopped being pissed about Lalime too, thanks asshole

[Ivaden]

You cannot say Crosby is up there with Gretzky and Lemieux because, he isn't even the best player in the NHL. Ovechkin is, no matter how dirty he plays, he is the more complete, and talented individual. Malkin is better than Crosby to, in my eyes at least.

I really don't want to get into this debate, it's been beaten to death throughout history, specifically this thread, over 9000 times, but you cannot call Ovechkin a "more complete player" when his defensive talents are balls. This is an honest question, not a sarcastic one: is Ovechkin ever put on the PK? If the answer is no, then he's not a more complete player than Crosby.

[Izzy]

This is an honest question, not a sarcastic one: is Ovechkin ever put on the PK? If the answer is no, then he's not a more complete player than Crosby.

If you use that logic, then Patrick Kaleta is a fucking offensive/defensive GOD! He had a SH goal, two games in a row last week.

[Sepukku]

Wut. First off, points aren't everything. Plus, they played in a completely different era where 10-6 wasn't a shocking score. Secondly, Lemieux is arguably better than Gretzky. Points wise, since thats your only measuring stick, he would've given him much stiffer competition if it wasn't for cancer, a bad back, a wrist broken from a slash, retiring once, etc. etc. Beyond that, he saved the franchise in Pittsburgh, played his whole career with one team, beat cancer, coaches pee-wee hockey, and lets his replacement, Sir Sidney, live with him. Hes truly a champion both on and off the ice.

And back to Sid (who I believe if the Pens win 5+ cups with, it'll be renamed the Sidney Cup), again, its more than points. As Izzy alluded to, hes very mature. As I mentioned earlier, he has an unmatchable work ethic. And to Pierre McGuire's chagrin, he's got more leadership in the sweat glands on his left elbow than Mike Richards does in his entire body. Sure, he may only win the scoring title 3-4 times in his career, but he'll win the Cup even more than that.

[Ivaden]

But it's a sound argument when saying Ovechkin is a more complete player than Crosby. How can you be more complete if you're not trusted defensively?

[BadKarma]

If you use that logic, then Patrick Kaleta is a fucking offensive/defensive GOD! He had a SH goal, two games in a row last week.

Fucking lol'd hard.


Also then Marian Gaborik must be Jesus on skates, since hes on the Rangers PK unit all day.


Speaking of which, the Rangers played their best game in 2 months last night. I'm so proud of the little blue fuckups.

Still want them to tank though.


Seguin for NY 2010!

Wut. First off, points aren't everything. Plus, they played in a completely different era where 10-6 wasn't a shocking score. Secondly, Lemieux is arguably better than Gretzky. Points wise, since thats your only measuring stick, he would've given him much stiffer competition if it wasn't for cancer, a bad back, a wrist broken from a slash, retiring once, etc. etc. Beyond that, he saved the franchise in Pittsburgh, played his whole career with one team, beat cancer, coaches pee-wee hockey, and lets his replacement, Sir Sidney, live with him. Hes truly a champion both on and off the ice.

And back to Sid (who I believe if the Pens win 5+ cups with, it'll be renamed the Sidney Cup), again, its more than points. As Izzy alluded to, hes very mature. As I mentioned earlier, he has an unmatchable work ethic. And to Pierre McGuire's chagrin, he's got more leadership in the sweat glands on his left elbow than Mike Richards does in his entire body. Sure, he may only win the scoring title 3-4 times in his career, but he'll win the Cup even more than that.

Never said Lemieux wasn't arguably better, but he missed almost half his career, so the points thing kind of obscures that. Also, the cup thing, don't count your chickens early. There are ALOT of excellent teams cropping up nowadays, LA Kings anyone? Best team in the Western Conference?

[Ivaden]

So do you not dispute the idea that Ovechkin cannot be the more complete player, when compared to Crosby? I mean, I'm sure it's easy to say when it's already been said millions of times before you, but at least be prepared to back up your statement with reasoning. I'm willing to admit Ovechkin is a better goal scorer, sure. I may even say he's even more fun to watch than Crosby, if given the choice. But until Ovechkin's defensive game is as solid as Crosby, and I guess at least given the responsibility of Captain, he's not the more complete player compared to Crosby.

[Callisto]

LA Kings anyone? Best team in the Western Conference?

I won't go that far yet, but they have looked really good lately. Losing Simmonds will hurt a bit I think, he was playing great before he went down. I do like that they have scoring balance though, similar to the Hawks, instead of one guy with 20+ and the next closest with like 6(hi2u Rangers), a big chunk of players have 9-10. None of the teams who have only one player doing all the scoring are going to have a shot at the cup anytime soon.

[Brill Weave]

I tend to avoid the Ovechkin/Crosby debate if possible. I don't see the point in debating between the two. I firmly believe that Malkin is a better player than Crosby, but Crosby is by far the better leader. Ovechkin is a pure offensive powerhouse. One of the best pure goal scorers the league has seen in a very long time. But he isn't a complete player. His defensive output doesn't even come close to his offensive output. The best scoring threat in the league? Absolutely. The most complete player in the league? Hell no.

If we're looking at the total overall package I would have to say top three are Malkin, Datsyuk, and Crosby. In that order. Malkin led the league in takeaways. He's a beast on offense. But he is also extremely responsible in his own end. However he's prone to bad penalties. Datsyuk is a great offensive weapon. He's reliable and I've honestly never seen him make a bad play on defense. His only flaw is he has yet to crack the century mark in points. If he does that he might actually walk away with the MVP instead of only being a contender. And finally, onto Crosby. Crosby is a fantastic offensive player. He's also a fantastic defensive player. His negatives are that he seems lost without Malkin when he doesn't play(where as Malkin just keeps scoring when Crosby is out.) And let's be honest. He's injury prone. Usually it's nothing serious, nothing more than nagging injuries(hammy, groin, etc.) But these injuries are enough to affect his performance.

So I can appreciate your opinion Sep, as I always do. But I can't agree that Crosby is the best player in the league. Ask yourself this. If Malkin spoke flawless English how much more would he be mentioned in these coversations? If he was as media friendly as Crosby would he be getting more recognition?

[Callisto]

I highly doubt that comes into play at all. Maybe if he was more photogenic and didn't look like he got hit with a sack of bricks, that'd I'd argue. Crosby is much prettier.

[Brill Weave]

See, now I completely disagree. Crosby is pretty. He's well spoken. He's been groomed to be the ambassador of hockey since he was a child. Ovechkin isn't well spoken, looks like a caveman but he's charismatic as fuck. The guy is literally walking emotion. Malkin isn't well spoken. He looks like he should be wearing that helmet on the team bus. He shows very little emotion and gives almost no interviews in English. Until he speaks better English Malkin will always be flying under the radar of Crosby and Ovechkin.

[vagus]

Ovy is in town tonight. People going nutso.

[Callisto]

idk Toews gets a fair amount of press and I'm pretty sure he's a robot. He's the only Hawk who doesn't even come near attempting to look at Sarah Kustoc's boobs during CSN interviews, I don't think he has feelings at all.

[Brill Weave]

I don't think he has feelings at all.

Yes he does, they're just directed towards Patrick Kane