2009-10 NHL Thread

[Sepukku]

useless but yeah

How fitting, just like the rest of Quebec.

[Deader2818]

From what I heard, since I dont have Versass, Crosby was trying to get Zetterburg to fight and Hank was pickin his nose and scared of a real man and others had to come stick up for Zetterburg. Im sure you love it when Franzen and Holmshit are stirring things up roughing people up trying to get them to go, so don't act like Crosby is a punk for doing it. Stars in the league should fight each other more, its good for the game and its entertaining for the fans. Could you imagine a AO-Crosby fight? I mean I dont think AO has ever fought in his life, he just beats up 15 year old kids at the Olympic village, but what an epic that would be.

To put it in lolWest terms, imagine Towes and Zetterburg going at it.

If a star player is known for playing hard/dirty and making big hits, then yes, I expect them to stand up for them self every now and then. If someone like OV, Iginla, Dustin Brown, Richards, Getzlaf, who play that style of game gets challenged, they are expected to answer the bell, but if you are going after someone like Zetterburg or a Datsyuk or Kane or something who isnt known for that type of play, its just chicken shit.

[Ishido]

From what I heard, since I dont have Versass, Crosby was trying to get Zetterburg to fight and Hank was pickin his nose and scared of a real man and others had to come stick up for Zetterburg. Im sure you love it when Franzen and Holmshit are stirring things up roughing people up trying to get them to go, so don't act like Crosby is a punk for doing it. Stars in the league should fight each other more, its good for the game and its entertaining for the fans. Could you imagine a AO-Crosby fight? I mean I dont think AO has ever fought in his life, he just beats up 15 year old kids at the Olympic village, but what an epic that would be.

To put it in lolWest terms, imagine Towes and Zetterburg going at it.

I was more upset by the fact that to "try and get him to fight" all he was doing was crosschecking him in the back, repeatedly. I'll be the first to admit that Zetterberg does not "man up" and fight, because he has a total of 1 fighting major (maybe major penalty period) and that was vs Malkin last spring. That doesn't excuse Crosby from sitting on his ass and crosschecking him. If Holmstrom or someone else on the Wings was sitting on Crosby's ass and crosschecking him to hell and back I'm sure you wouldn't like it, and although I know you will come back with "well Crosby would just fight them," unfortunately Crosby has only shown himself to be slightly better of a fighter than Semin is.

I would love to see Crosby-AO too, I hope AO is a better fighter than Semin. I wonder if he would try to knee Crosby in the fight.

As far as lolWest, the 9th place team in the West would be 5th in the East. The Pens would be 5th, and soon 6th in the West.

[Sepukku]

Who will win the west? Suredly not the Sharks, cause the team always folds in the spring. Suredly not the Hawks, cause Hossa always folds in the finals. That leaves the Canucks and the nobody-knows-what-the-hell-they'll-do-in-the-playoffs Coyotes to compete vs the power quartet of New Jersey, Washington, Buffalo, and THE DEFENDING STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS - CAN YOU HEAR ME - PITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSBURGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGGGGGGH PENGUINSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!!!!!!!!!

[Ratatapa]

What happens if Pittsburgh loose in first round?

[Sepukku]

Oh they'll get loose, alright. They'll get nice and warmed up beating a peon like the Flyers or Canadians in preparations for a real team.

[Selamis]

It's gonna be some random team that no one picked at the start of the season that goes to the finals and suprises everyone. Incoming Hawks vs either LA or Colorado, with a game 7 the deciding factor. Unless we're all getting punked and the NHL owned Coyotes make it to the Stanley Cup, which would set the conspiracy folks in motion.

"Oh, the NHL wants Sidney Crosby to get his cup, so that's why the Wings lost last year." "Oh, the NHL wants to prove Phoenix is a good market and keep the team in the States.....hey, look at this turnaround from worst to first in a year!"

I can see it now. =/

[Deader2818]

At this rate, LA wont even be in the playoffs.

[NynJa]

Could you imagine a AO-Crosby fight? I mean I dont think AO has ever fought in his life, he just beats up 15 year old kids at the Olympic village, but what an epic that would be.

Since you dont have CBC, I dont think you've seen Coaches Corner, but there was a video showing Ovie was ready to drop the gloves with someone (and do it honorably by fighting without his visor to top it off), but a teammate stepped in.

It's gonna be some random team that no one picked at the start of the season that goes to the finals and suprises everyone. Incoming Hawks vs either LA or Colorado, with a game 7 the deciding factor. Unless we're all getting punked and the NHL owned Coyotes make it to the Stanley Cup, which would set the conspiracy folks in motion.

"Oh, the NHL wants Sidney Crosby to get his cup, so that's why the Wings lost last year." "Oh, the NHL wants to prove Phoenix is a good market and keep the team in the States.....hey, look at this turnaround from worst to first in a year!"

I can see it now. =/

I really wouldn't be surprised.
NHL bent rules to cater to the pens last year, as well as fucked with the SCF schedules.

Look at some previous cup champs:
Tampa...struggles for a couple years, shit market...miraculously wins the cup, no one seems to care, fall back to oblivion.
Carolina...struggles for a couple years, shit market...Koivu gets his eye fucked up in the middle of a play that somehow gets no call, somehow win the cup, no one seems to care, fall back to oblivion.

Phoenix makes next to 0 changes on the ice, and somehow goes from basement dweller to a serious contender? No...no...

[Oxyminus]

Since you dont have CBC, I dont think you've seen Coaches Corner, but there was a video showing Ovie was ready to drop the gloves with someone (and do it honorably by fighting without his visor to top it off), but a teammate stepped in.

I think it was Matt Bradley who stepped in...I cried when I saw that. There aren't enough guys on my team who would do that...hence missing the playoffs

[NynJa]

I think it was Matt Bradley who stepped in...I cried when I saw that. There aren't enough guys on my team who would do that...hence missing the playoffs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8iUNIl1_Kw
Jump to 2:35

The fact Bradley stepped in so his team's star wouldnt risk a broken hand so close to playoff time is irrelevant, Ovie was willing to pick a fight with someone and start at a neutral confrontational point, unlike Crosby playing Donkey King Bongos on someone's back.

[Sepukku]

Since you dont have CBC, I dont think you've seen Coaches Corner, but there was a video showing Ovie was ready to drop the gloves with someone (and do it honorably by fighting without his visor to top it off), but a teammate stepped in.

His teammate didn't want to have to watch AO get his pathetic vodka drunk ass kicked.

I really wouldn't be surprised.
NHL bent rules to cater to the pens last year, as well as fucked with the SCF schedules.

Look at some previous cup champs:
Tampa...struggles for a couple years, shit market...miraculously wins the cup, no one seems to care, fall back to oblivion.
Carolina...struggles for a couple years, shit market...Koivu gets his eye fucked up in the middle of a play that somehow gets no call, somehow win the cup, no one seems to care, fall back to oblivion.

Phoenix makes next to 0 changes on the ice, and somehow goes from basement dweller to a serious contender? No...no...

Yawn. Shit isn't bent for anyone. Its called suck = get draft picks. Philly sucked too and bam, Richards, Carter, contender once more. Phoenix put in a brilliant defensive scheme in conjunction with Bryzgalov living up to 110% of his potential - trust me, they're not scoring any more goals than they were before hahahahaha Their lead scorer is like 55 points?

[NynJa]

Its called tank games = get draft picks.

Fixed for what your beloved pens do best.

[Ishido]

Crosby: -2
Gonchar: -2
Eaton: -2

The Red Wings: Beaton Mark Eaton.

[Sepukku]

The Red Wings: Struggling For a Playoff Spot

[Absolutely Virtue]

Believe me when I tell you that every Caps fan secretly wants OV (6'2, 235 pounds) to fight Cindy (5'11, 200 pounds). I might give a year of my life for it.

But there is no way the rest of the Caps are going to let that happen. When you're leading the league in points and tied for the lead in goals (despite playing 10 fewer games than anyone else), the last thing you need to do is get hurt fighting. Even tough guys break hands or fingers throwing punches.

Speaking of OV, was a story in the Post yesterday about his chances for the Hart. If he wins, he becomes the third player in history to win it three straight years (Orr, Gretzky).

Arguments for (numbers through Saturday, copypasta from the article):

1st in points (97)
1st in +/- (+42)
1st in points per game (1.56)
T-1st in goals (Cindy)

Other sneaky stats-

On pace for fewest penalty minutes of his career
On pace to set career high in assists
Team is 24-3-4 since he was named captain
Team likely to break franchise record for points

Working against him:

He's not Canadian
He's "OMG THE DIRTIEST PLAYER EVER OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!1111111"
Team is 7-2-1 without him
Take away his 45 goals and the team would still lead the league in scoring (holy shit)

I personally don't think he will get it, which is crazy because this probably go down as his best season, both statistically and from a leadership standpoint.

[Thoronas]

The only player who should even get a sniff at the Hart other than Ovechkin is Miller. I honestly don't see how Ovechkin wouldn't get the Hart unless they decide to punish him for his dirty hits this year and I just don't think that'll happen. But you do bring up a good point that without his goals the team would still lead the league in scoring so maybe Miller has a chance after all.

[Palin]

While I know its never going to happen, the most valuable to their team? I'd say something like Gaborik for the Rangers, Richards for the Stars, Kipper for Flames, etc. Without those bodies these teams would be even further down the standings.

I kinda feel like the Hart should go to someone who carried their team on their back all year.

[Thoronas]

I kinda feel like the Hart should go to someone who carried their team on their back all year.

Agreed, that's why I think it would be Miller. No way is that team in the playoffs without him.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Still though, it's hard to punish a guy because he's lucky enough to be on a good team. It's subtle, but the NHL describes the Hart as "awarded to the player judged best in the league." That's a bit different than "most valuable player."

I think every sport should have an award for the best player, and then a second award for "holy shit his team would be absolutely fucked without him." Miller probably wins the latter in a landslide.