2010-2011 NHL Season Thread

[Bregor]

If they manage to lose to NJ on Wednesday they're going to be in trouble.

No one's really in trouble in the first week of November but I know what you mean. When the Caps couldn't score for shit two weeks ago I was flipping the fuck out.

[Palin]

Nice gritty win by the Rangers. The BAR line (Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Ryan Callahan) continues to shine and show great chemistry. Callahan is a fucking beast. He plays so hard and is amazing at every part of the game.

Hawks looked damn good that game though, their passing is so crisp and dangerous. Torts just knew how to counter them with massive shot blocking. Hawks didn't adapt by pushing the forecheck and going for dirty goals, or running Hank.

[Callisto]

Hawks are already in "trouble" for the Central given their 1/2/2 pt lead on the other teams also comes with 5/5/4 more games played. They've seemed to be good enough though, they should be able to make the playoffs once they get used to all of the new faces a little bit more.

Not worried in terms of them making the playoffs, just that if they're going to have any reasonable expectations of going deep in them they need to be able to put away mediocre teams that aren't at full strength.

[Palin]

Not worried in terms of them making the playoffs, just that if they're going to have any reasonable expectations of going deep in them they need to be able to put away mediocre teams that aren't at full strength.

To be fair the Rangers are playing harder, grittier, and more like a team than I've seen them in the past year and a half. Gabby out has made everyone on the lineup (except Frolov he sucks) step up.

[Selamis]

I'll need an official stat check but a friend of mine said that before tonight's game, the Hawks were only one game behind where we were last season at the same point of the year, and that it's still too early to panic. That being said, I'm afraid that we don't have the same grit as last year and as much depth, so unless we either crack down on defense/weak goals, start scoring 4-5 goals a game, or all of the above, I will worry but not panic yet.

[Palin]

Nucks and Devils coming up next, interested to see how NJ responds without Parise. Nucks haven't played in like 5 days too right? Bet them come out soft.

[Anton]

The season's been pretty darn close in both conferences this year.

Leafs need to grab some points off Ottawa tomorrow and then they'll be back in a safe spot. Battle of Ontario, they'll step up.

Devils V Canucks starting up.

[Callisto]

I'll need an official stat check but a friend of mine said that before tonight's game, the Hawks were only one game behind where we were last season at the same point of the year, and that it's still too early to panic. That being said, I'm afraid that we don't have the same grit as last year and as much depth, so unless we either crack down on defense/weak goals, start scoring 4-5 goals a game, or all of the above, I will worry but not panic yet.

That's it exactly, it's not the record that's bothering me, it's the play. Andrew Ladd would be really, really fucking nice to have right about now.

[Deader2818]

With VAN, CHI, and SJ not playing to well, sure makes me hopeful the Kings can Finish 1 or 2 in the west.

[Ishido]

I'll need an official stat check but a friend of mine said that before tonight's game, the Hawks were only one game behind where we were last season at the same point of the year, and that it's still too early to panic. That being said, I'm afraid that we don't have the same grit as last year and as much depth, so unless we either crack down on defense/weak goals, start scoring 4-5 goals a game, or all of the above, I will worry but not panic yet.

Through 14 games last year they were 8-5-1, but through 23 games they were 16-5-2, so... they going to come up wanting soon. I would agree with Callisto, from the 5 or so Hawks games I've seen this year the 3rd and 4th lines just look so bad compared to last year. Still, the front office did quite a nice job in replacing what they lost, and getting return from the guys they had to give up. Should be interesting to see if they can get a few NHLers out of all of the draft picks they picked up.

[Deader2818]

I dont follow the Hawks to closely but how many of the bottom 6 guys are new to the system/team? Could take some time for those lines to gel and for them to figure out their roles.

[Oxyminus]

Hosedicks. Really shitty game to lose, they need the points and New York only has one legitimate NHL top line, 2/3rds of which are on injured reserve. If they manage to lose to NJ on Wednesday they're going to be in trouble.

I'm guessing you're referring to Gaborik and Prospal being out...with us only having 1/3 of a healthy top line

But the Dubinsky/Anisimov/Callahan line has been damn good so far this season. Not saying they're as talented as a "real" top line, but they've been DAMN good!

[Deader2818]

Hows Frolov been doing? Heard hes in the dog house already. Havent gotten to watch many NYR games but is he doing the usual, hold, hold, hold, cycle, cycle, cycle, but then never takes it to the net?

[Callisto]

Through 14 games last year they were 8-5-1, but through 23 games they were 16-5-2, so... they going to come up wanting soon. I would agree with Callisto, from the 5 or so Hawks games I've seen this year the 3rd and 4th lines just look so bad compared to last year. Still, the front office did quite a nice job in replacing what they lost, and getting return from the guys they had to give up. Should be interesting to see if they can get a few NHLers out of all of the draft picks they picked up.

4th job actually plays very well, they just look awful on paper. Third line has been terrible, but it's been changed about 15 times already and Dave Bolland has had a really rough start to the season, and he's pretty much what makes that line work. And yeah, as far as return on the guys the lost, they'll pay a lot of dividends over the next couple of years.

[Callisto]

I dont follow the Hawks to closely but how many of the bottom 6 guys are new to the system/team? Could take some time for those lines to gel and for them to figure out their roles.

Dave Bolland is the only person on the bottom 6 who was a full-time player last year, and he's on the IR now. Skille/Bickell are the only guys who are new to the full-time team but not the system.

[Palin]

Hows Frolov been doing? Heard hes in the dog house already. Havent gotten to watch many NYR games but is he doing the usual, hold, hold, hold, cycle, cycle, cycle, but then never takes it to the net?

Frustrating to all hell. Doesn't shoot the puck at all. His only goals have been lucky ones that bounce off the other teams' D. He's great on the boards but all he does is try to pass and do wraparounds.

He better put up some chemistry with Gabby when he gets back.

[Palin]

Dear NJD. I'm playing Luongo in 2 of my fantasy leagues this week. Please remember how to score a goal. Thx.

-Palin

[Deader2818]

Frustrating to all hell. Doesn't shoot the puck at all. His only goals have been lucky ones that bounce off the other teams' D. He's great on the boards but all he does is try to pass and do wraparounds.

He better put up some chemistry with Gabby when he gets back.

Yep, pretty much what Kings fan got tired of after 7 years. Hes extremely strong on the puck and prob in the top 5 in the league when it comes to puck protection but REFUSES to shoot.

[Oxyminus]

Palin nailed it. Strong on the puck along the boards, but that's it. Tries about 12502300396 wrap-arounds and has yet to score on any of them. Had a decent shot tonight from right up-close that Turco beat him on. Keeping fingers crossed that Gaborik can get Frolov going. Gaborik is an underestimated play-maker, or at least Frolov should have to be able to score more just by parking himself in front of the net. Getting him going would be great.

Grachev too for that matter...guy has tapered off since ripping up the OHL

[Deader2818]

Frolov going in front of the net, thats a good one