NHL Thread - 2009-10

[simpsons_fanatic742]

I am also surprised by the Devils. I didn't see anything special with their team this year with the obvious exceptions, but every season they find a way to be competitive *cough*Brodeur*cough*.

Also, the Canes are struggling everywhere. Staal is not himself, Ward is looking very beatable, and the role players are not doing their jobs either. I really don't know if they will snap out of it what with Ward injured and Staal still struggling.

Colorado is a huge surprise. They didn't really add much, but their rookies are stepping up and delivering. They finally got a solid goalie in Anderson and that really makes a big difference. Duchene and O'Reilly are really playing well for them.

 

[CH David]

Mentioning of the Devils eh? Perhaps that is what will bring in IC25. Doubtful. Haven't been keeping up on them much this year. Guessing they are doing pretty well. Maybe IC can enlighten me.

Colorado has been a damn fine surprise out here in the West. The Park Ridge native Craig Anderson has done a fantastic job in net this season, and did a hell of a job against the Blackhawks on Wednesday. I could honestly see a little rivalry brew from the series between the Blackhawks and Avalanche, as each time this season, three so far, the games had gone to a shootout. Now the season finale won't conclude until April I believe, between Chi-Col, so that kind of takes away any rivalry aspect, but the first two games went to 9 and 8 shootout rounds respectively, and the last one went to the third round I think. But they have been intense matchups, and could be potential playoff matchups.

 

[People's Champ]

Tough loss last night for my Sharks. Was a good game and was scared when in the final minute there was a penalty and it was four on three. I thought the Sharks defended it well and just could get that goal in the shootout. Hard to be too upset tho with them playing extremely well.

 

[Mr. TM]

Same statement can be said about my Canucks, who have now lost their third in a row. They were coming into the game after being blown out, facing a team who had just blown out Columbus. So the odds were against use, but we fought through, and were looking good, and had a chance to tie it at 2. But it was all for nothing as Detroit got the Dagger into our hearts, and we feel 3-1. We need to do something here, and that something is learn to play defense. Hopefully Daniel will provide some defense, as he is quite good playing defensively while a forward, and can still give us the goal support we need.

 

[RBH]

The Ducks are currently in last place in the Pacific and I am not sure if it is a small slump or if they really are that bad. How could a team that went toe to toe with the Red Wings in the playoffs last year be so bad right now? I believe losing Chris Pronger has hurt them a lot and they need a little more toughness and better defense if they want to get back to the winning ways. No way in hell do I want to see the Kings make the playoffs and the Ducks miss it. The Ducks have the talent but they need to play harder and with more motivation. They lost in a shootout today that they could have won in regulation. The next two games are at Detroit and Pittsburgh so upsets would make me very happy.

 

[TheProdigy]

The Ducks are currently in last place in the Pacific and I am not sure if it is a small slump or if they really are that bad. How could a team that went toe to toe with the Red Wings in the playoffs last year be so bad right now? I believe losing Chris Pronger has hurt them a lot and they need a little more toughness and better defense if they want to get back to the winning ways. No way in hell do I want to see the Kings make the playoffs and the Ducks miss it. The Ducks have the talent but they need to play harder and with more motivation. They lost in a shootout today that they could have won in regulation. The next two games are at Detroit and Pittsburgh so upsets would make me very happy.

I'm not sure a win over my Pens right now would be an upset. Before last nights game we were outscored something like 16-2 over the previous four games, which is downright pathetic. Then last night we escaped with a 6-5 overtime win after a goal by Billy Guerin with under a second left in regulation to tie it.

For those of you who haven't seen it, here it goes:
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTEQTDPct84[/YOUTUBE]
Direct link to the video

 

[Mr. TM]

And my Canucks finally showed what they could do in a game. Luongo was stellar in net last night, and Hank S showed the world that twins can be separate. He got his first career Hat trick over a very good Avalanche team as we scored 8 times last night. Henrik has been incredible since Daniel left the team, scoring a point a game. This puts the Canucks back over .500 as we look to push on and pass the Avalanche for first place.

 

[a7xoff]

If you would have told me at the start of the season that the Devils would lead the Eastern Conference at any point in the season I would probably have disagreed. Nothing against them, but the fact is on paper we just don't look like a team that can lead the East yet here we are. Our whole team is just playing great. Andy Greene has stepped it up ten fold, Bergfors is doing far better than expected, Sestito has found chemistry with Clarkson, Clarkson himself continues to improve and the Devils as a whole are one of the best defense in the league. Our latest win came over the Capitals in a game where the Devils were down 2-0 five minutes into the game. We fired back and scored 5 unanswered goals. We are the last team to get 5, but we lead the East and are starting to score more and more. My only concern right now is when some of these injuries start to end and some of the regulars return. The NJ "Lowell" Devils seem to be holding their own as a 1/3 minor league team and I'm hoping we can do as well with a 100% NHL team.

On a side note... If the playoffs started today, the entire Atlantic Division would be in. The Islanders would play the Devils as they are the 8th seed. Yes the Islanders currently hold a playoff spot, the same team that last year was dead, shot, nothing, etc. The Islanders are just one of several teams to have great turnarounds. The Avalanche's young guys have really stepped it up and they got a decent goalie again so they have improved greatly after their late season charge last year. The Islanders have been able to score goals, but like Colorado they lacked a consistent goalie which they now have while DiPietro is out. They also picked up their defensive game which never hurts at all. e not been playing good despite not loosing too many guys this off season.I don't really know what the Kings have done, cause I don't really pay attention to them, but I'm guessing that they've done similar things to Colorado cause they too last year where a real young team. On every good note there is a bad. Boston has been playing nothing like last year where they dominated the East. They sit out of the playoffs right now and have not played up to par at all despite not loosing too many guys during the off season.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

If you would have told me at the start of the season that the Devils would lead the Eastern Conference at any point in the season I would probably have disagreed. Nothing against them, but the fact is on paper we just don't look like a team that can lead the East yet here we are. Our whole team is just playing great. Andy Greene has stepped it up ten fold, Bergfors is doing far better than expected, Sestito has found chemistry with Clarkson, Clarkson himself continues to improve and the Devils as a whole are one of the best defense in the league. Our latest win came over the Capitals in a game where the Devils were down 2-0 five minutes into the game. We fired back and scored 5 unanswered goals. We are the last team to get 5, but we lead the East and are starting to score more and more. My only concern right now is when some of these injuries start to end and some of the regulars return. The NJ "Lowell" Devils seem to be holding their own as a 1/3 minor league team and I'm hoping we can do as well with a 100% NHL team.

On a side note... If the playoffs started today, the entire Atlantic Division would be in. The Islanders would play the Devils as they are the 8th seed. Yes the Islanders currently hold a playoff spot, the same team that last year was dead, shot, nothing, etc. The Islanders are just one of several teams to have great turnarounds. The Avalanche's young guys have really stepped it up and they got a decent goalie again so they have improved greatly after their late season charge last year. The Islanders have been able to score goals, but like Colorado they lacked a consistent goalie which they now have while DiPietro is out. They also picked up their defensive game which never hurts at all. e not been playing good despite not loosing too many guys this off season.I don't really know what the Kings have done, cause I don't really pay attention to them, but I'm guessing that they've done similar things to Colorado cause they too last year where a real young team. On every good note there is a bad. Boston has been playing nothing like last year where they dominated the East. They sit out of the playoffs right now and have not played up to par at all despite not loosing too many guys during the off season.

A7, despite constant disappearances, you continue to show why you are among my favorite people on the forum.

2 weeks into the season, I had every single Ranger fan I knew on Facebook taking about how the Devils run is over, and the Rangers were riding the young kids - notably Marion Gaborik - right to the Stanley Cup. I cordially reminded them that an NHL season is 82 games long. Well, just a month later, the Devils are indeed one of the hottest teams in the NHL and the Rangers are treading water. And guess what? IT'S STILL EARLY...

My concern is the Devils blowing their load early and having nothing for the stretch run / playoffs. They are a pretty young team, except for their best player in Marty Brodeur. The offense can sustain with guys like Parise, Langenbrunner, Zajac, and other younger players in the lineup, but can Marty sustain another 70 start season?

I just love knowing that, once again, the NJ Devils is making ESPN's John Buccigross eat his words on a NJ Bagel with some Taylor Ham. That's Pork Roll for those of you not from North Jersey.

 

[CH David]

A7, despite constant disappearances, you continue to show why you are among my favorite people on the forum.

2 weeks into the season, I had every single Ranger fan I knew on Facebook taking about how the Devils run is over, and the Rangers were riding the young kids - notably Marion Gaborik - right to the Stanley Cup. I cordially reminded them that an NHL season is 82 games long. Well, just a month later, the Devils are indeed one of the hottest teams in the NHL and the Rangers are treading water. And guess what? IT'S STILL EARLY...

My concern is the Devils blowing their load early and having nothing for the stretch run / playoffs. They are a pretty young team, except for their best player in Marty Brodeur. The offense can sustain with guys like Parise, Langenbrunner, Zajac, and other younger players in the lineup, but can Marty sustain another 70 start season?

I just love knowing that, once again, the NJ Devils is making ESPN's John Buccigross eat his words on a NJ Bagel with some Taylor Ham. That's Pork Roll for those of you not from North Jersey.

Wait, so IC25...posted on the NHL season?!?! YES!!!!! I know he is a fan so I am more than happy to see the NHL getting love from an admin.

Anywho, last night the Blackhawks played the Sharks, and it was also Jeremy Roenick Heritage Night. For those that don't know, Jeremy Roenick started his career with the Blackhawks, playing 8 great seasons and recording back to back 50 goal seasons. Then when he was up for free agency, he wanted top player money (which he deserved) but Bill Wirtz was his same old cheap self, and let Roenick go. Then he made his way to Phoenix, Philly, L.A., and finally San Jose, where he retired at the end of last year. He wants his #27 retired some time by the Blackhawks, and wants to be inducted into the Hall of Fame (when he is eligible) as a Blackhawk.

So last night the Blackhawks went toe to toe with last year's President Trophy winning Sharks, and came out on top in the overtime period. Toews set up Brent Seabrook for the game winning goal to beat Nabokov. The Hawks had to come back from 2 goals down in the 2nd period, and as per usual, are never out of games when they are down.

Hossa Alert: Hossa has been practicing with the team, taking battling drills, and has been looking good according to reports. His shoulder isn't 100%, but it is better than last year in the playoffs. He couldn't lift weights at all during the playoffs, and he now has the strength to do so.

Also, there are reports that both Captain Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are close to signing deals to stay in Chicago. Both of these young kids are instrumental to the Blackhawks future, and the sooner they are able to sign long term contracts, the better. And when those signings get out of the way (hopefully soon) then the Blackhawks can turn their attention to resigning Duncan Keith, who is one of the more underrated defenseman in the NHL.

 

[simpsons_fanatic742]

Chicago has a solid core to them, but they can't resign all of their players. Toews, Kane, and Keith are almost locks to be signed up for the long term, but with the rest of the contracts on the team it's not possible to keep them all. They have to make moves in order to get these 3 under the cap. Chicago will make moves 100% and I expect that Sharp and possibly Barker will be moved either at the deadline or at the draft. They won't miss them that much and it's worth it to have Toews, Kane, and Keith locked up for a long time.

I believe a target date has been set for Hossa and it's November 25. Of course that is barring any unforeseen circumstances. He will be a great addition to this team and make them even more dangerous. As long as they get solid, consistent goaltending, Chicago has a chance to go deep into the playoffs.

 

[CH David]

Chicago has a solid core to them, but they can't resign all of their players. Toews, Kane, and Keith are almost locks to be signed up for the long term, but with the rest of the contracts on the team it's not possible to keep them all. They have to make moves in order to get these 3 under the cap. Chicago will make moves 100% and I expect that Sharp and possibly Barker will be moved either at the deadline or at the draft. They won't miss them that much and it's worth it to have Toews, Kane, and Keith locked up for a long time.

I believe a target date has been set for Hossa and it's November 25. Of course that is barring any unforeseen circumstances. He will be a great addition to this team and make them even more dangerous. As long as they get solid, consistent goaltending, Chicago has a chance to go deep into the playoffs.

Definitely. I don't at all expect all of the players to be resigned this year. The main core is there though. Barker is staying unless they are able to get someone relatively good, as they signed him to a three year deal in the offseason. He has been coming into his own from the end of last year and continually progressing this year.

But you are right. It is much, much more imperative that the Hawks re-sign Keith, Toews, and Kane. Keith and Seabrook are two outstanding defensemen, and they just work so well as a tandem, and were able to shut down some good offenses in the playoffs and into the season now. And they need to keep the Captain and Kaner as well. The Blackhawks started to struggle a bit without Toews in the lineup, scoring I think one goal less per game in the stretch that he was out. He just provides that leadership for the team. Kane is a scoring machine and will be a great offensive player.

Also, touching on the net-minders. Huet has been playing great in net. He got a lot of crap at the start of the season, and deservedly so. But he has stepped his game up and has been coming up huge. The save he made last night when it was either 3-1 or 3-2 in favor of San Jose was huge, and likely would have given San Jose that one extra goal needed to put the Hawks away. But Huet was able to keep it from crossing the line, and has been playing great at home. Hopefully the team can keep up the momentum on their Circus Trip now.

 

[a7xoff1214]

A7, despite constant disappearances, you continue to show why you are among my favorite people on the forum.


I just love knowing that, once again, the NJ Devils is making ESPN's John Buccigross eat his words on a NJ Bagel with some Taylor Ham. That's Pork Roll for those of you not from North Jersey.

Well thanks for the compliment IC. So lets chat about the Devils a bit. I think that we are a good team and will continue to be good throughout the season. As far as youth goes though I think that at the moment we have a very youthful team, which is not a bad thing at all as we are seeing even in tonight's 3-2 loss that we can score at just about any time... .06 left in the game... My thing is though when Odyua, Martin, Pandolfo, Lebleund, and the others come back. Right now our defense is doing great and that's without Martin and Odyua. I personally don't like Odyua, and I think we're paying him a bit more than we should, but that's besides the point. Murphy has stepped up his game and from what I've seen he has not been doing near as bad as the start of the season/preseason. Sestito has been a great fill in for Rob Niedermyer and I'd really hate to see him go back to Lowell. Same thing goes for Andy Greene who's been real good since Martin went down. There are a few other young guys on the team who are filling in for some of the regulars that I'd like to see stay, but at the same time I can see why they'd go back down. Lowell is doing real well without these guys so I'm starting to think that the Devils are going to make it through the season pretty well with or without injuries. Don't get me wrong though I do look forward to the return of all of our starters (minus Odyua), but hope we consider keeping some of these young guys on board. Speaking of young guys.... Danis has impressed me throughout the preseason and his two regular season games as well. I know he's not the best, but I really think with the coaching staff the Devils have, he could become a real solid goalkeeper.

ESPN always counts the Devils out yet every time we just keep proving them dead wrong which makes me happy cause I don't think I like any of those guys anyway...

 

[Mr. TM]

Giguere is bitching in Anaheim. After winning a cup there, as well as taking the team to the finals, he has found his asJS on the bench. Hiller has been fantastic goalie this season, and could easily be a starter, that leaves Giguere coming off of his injury and said he better get the starting role, or he is going to Florida (not the Panthers/Lightning). He is only half way through a 24 million 4 year contract, but it might turn into an issue and I think Anaheim needs to trade him.

 

[a7xoff]

TM I agree with Gigure basically failing recently and Anaheim does need to make a trade. The trade I'm talking about is a little different and involves Scotty Neidermyer going back to NJ. When we played Anaheim last week the crowd, at least where I was, chanted come home Scotty. We want him back in NJ. I'm sure his brother would love for huim to be on his team again, we have the cap space. Give em Odyua and something else mabey. Then again Odyua's agent claims he's one of the top 4 Dmen in the league... My ass...

I would also like to congradulate, and thank Brenden Shanahan on a great career. He retired the other day and I still say it was awesome of him to start and finish in NJ.

Another turnaround team that I don't think anyone mentioned yet is Buffalo. I mean these guys last year fell apart real fast after loosing some key guys. This year though Ryan Miller is back on his feet, and Buffalo looks a whole lot better with a team that looks very similar to last year's. I'm thinking they'll win the so far not so competitive Northeast Division.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I'd just like to take a moment to thank Phil Kessel.

Thank you so much for being a greedy douchebag and think you're worth $5 million a year despite not really proving anything yet. While you suffer away in Toronto, being on a team where you're expected to be the savior of a ragtag group of mediocre hockey players, the Bruins are playing as well as they can despite all of the injuries they've suffered so far and are only going to get better as the season goes on and everyone gets healthy.

When the season ends, the Bruins still could very well win the Stanley Cup, and could very well be in possession of the #1 pick overall. That #1 overall pick is going to be valuable as all hell too. We could find the next Joe Thornton, or we could trade the #1 overall pick for a major playmaker.

 

[Mr. TM]

Agreed, there is something to be said about that. Either play for the money in Toronto, or have a chance to compete, in a Boston team that usually finds a way to win.

Toronto is an atrocious team this year, and now they are losing for nothing, and they lose 5 million for a defender who is worth 3, but they had to pay a lot for him in a low defender free agency.

This is why Toronto is so far away from competing, it isn't funny.

 

[a7xoff]

This is why Toronto is so far away from competing, it isn't funny.

If you think about it though it really is depressing. Toronto used to be one of my favorite teams to go see against the Devils. Win or loose they were always close and exciting games. Now though Toronto can barley scrape together a win. It really is sad to see a Canadian team of all teams to be doing so piss poor. I mean really tonight is a perfect example of this team just not being able to hold anything together. They held a 3-0 lead after the first then had a 4-2 lead, then blew that all up when Carolina scored with 2.9 seconds left in the game to tie it. I know Carolina is pretty damn good at getting final second goals, but in a game that sounds like Toronto controlled a lot of, to loose 5-4 in a shootout is just sad. I know teams have off games and that kind of thing happens, Calgary, but this so far is the story of Toronto's season. Either they can't score or they can, but can't protect the lead.

 

[CH David]

So the Blackhawks started their Circus Trip off on the right foot. Using said right foot, repeatedly beat the crap out of Mikka Kiprusoff and the Flames. The power play finally came to life tonight, and boy did it. Blackhawks went 4-5 with the man advantage. The lone goal for the Flames came from Jokinen, 14 seconds into the 2nd period on the power play. That was just the second power play that the Blackhawks had not been able to kill the past 6-7 games. For whatever reason, the Hawks have just killed the Flames for the past year and a half. In two games, the Flames have given up 13 goals to the Hawks, 12 of them with Kiprusoff in between the pipes. So now the Blackhawks are 3-3-1 on the road, while attaining a 10-2-1 record at the UC. Now that is some home cooking, and they just need to pick it up on the road. If the Calgary game was an indicator, then this could be one of the best seasons the Blackhawks have ever had. But then again, there is still a lot of season left, so I shan't get overconfident.

 

[simpsons_fanatic742]

You guys gotta relax on Toronto before I get upset

Seriously thought stop. I'm not going to come in here and say they're playing good because they're not, but I will defend the Leafs till the death you can believe that. The team is rebuilding and that's very obvious so I don't expect them to come in and get 90-95 points and compete for a top spot in the East. The truth is they are more of a team that will compete for the final spot in the East if everything goes right. They are building for the future and in 2-3 years they'll be back to form, trust me. A lot of teams go through a rebuilding faze, but because it's Toronto they have to compete every year. That's not fair. They've been trying and trying every year to make their fans happy by trading away their future for a shot at the playoffs, well now we're ready to wait for a team that will compete for the Cup and not just for a playoff spot. So yes they are struggling right now and it does hurt as a fan, but we've hurt for a long time so you know what I'll wait another 2 years.

Plus I do believe that this year's team can compete for a playoff spot if the goaltending is consistent and the defence plays to its potential. They've started bad and that's going to hurt them, but they can regroup. Remember this is the same team who had points in 7 straight games. So please everyone, realize the situation and bare with them.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

You guys gotta relax on Toronto before I get upset

Seriously thought stop. I'm not going to come in here and say they're playing good because they're not, but I will defend the Leafs till the death you can believe that. The team is rebuilding and that's very obvious so I don't expect them to come in and get 90-95 points and compete for a top spot in the East.

The thing is, it's hard to rebuild when the Bruins have the Leafs first two picks for 2010, and your first pick in 2011. With the way the Leafs have been struggling, it wouldn't shock me at all if those wind up being #1 picks.

Phil Kessel is good, but he's injury prone, and he's not the type of player who is going to mix it up with other guys and throw his body around and deliver some hits. Kessel is also the type of player who while he's good, he doesn't like being at the forefront. He had a hard time dealing with the Boston media, and the Boston media isn't really rabid for the Bruins at all. In Toronto, he's being looked at as the savior. He's not going to be able to deal with the pressure in a hockey town.

 

[Mr. TM]

The Canucks have done well again. They let in a couple power play goals early in the game, looking to break TM's heart, but boy did they come back. They scored 5 goals, as H. Sedin got another one, doing it like he doesn't even need Daniel.

Canucks over the past 6 days (2 games in the WORST schedule of all time in the NHL) have won both their games against the division leading Avalanche, by a score of 13-4, with Sedin scoring 4 goals in the two games.

Flames aren't fairing well either, losing their last two, as the Canucks look to rebound after a poor road series, but they will get 5 at home (with a big break again.

I really cannot understand the schedules mind here. Canucks go on a 3 week road swing, which is unfair to the team, but is due to the Olympics. Yet, we have had 4 huge breaks in our season as it has been already. Why not cut more games then?

Fuck the NHL. Canucks should seed to the KHL.

 

[CH David]

After showing no mercy on the Calgary Flames, the Blackhawks kept up their dominant play in Edmonton, beating them soundly 5-2. At times Edmonton didn't even look like they should have been out on that ice, and the Blackhawks were moving the puck very well. Hawks announcer Pat Foley compared portions of the game to the Globetrotters and the Washington Generals. Edmonton has some work to do on improving.

Hopefully the Hawks can use this momentum in Vancouver. It should be a very good game, and I'm curious to see if any of the Hawks will go head hunting for Willie Mitchell after the hit he layed on Jonathan Toews, or if they will continue with just letting other players jab at them, and then scoring on them as retaliation. We shall see.

On the resigning of Toews, Kane, and Keith, it is being reported that each player is very close to signing deals to stay in Chicago. Kane and Toews are looking at 5-6 year deals and getting 5-6 million per year. Keith on the other hand is likely to be receiving a reported 13, yes 13, year deal, however the amount hasn't been disclosed, and it would likely keep Keith a Hawk for the rest of his career. Personally I like the idea of the 13 year deal for Keith, as he is one of the most underrated defensemen in the league, and the tandem of him and Seabrook is one of the best blue lines in the league.

The only thing with these deals is that someone at the end of the season will be leaving, and there are quite a few possibilities. But when the deals are finalized I'll go more into the possibilities at the end of the season.

 

[Mr. TM]

Canucks will crush Chicago into the ground.

Daniel Sedin is back in the lineup, and after we have seen Hank light up the league without his brother, I can see him easily getting 100 points this year, starting with a few against the Blackhawks. And Mitchell will be looking to put some bitch ass hawks out of the league for 5-6 years

I might be cocky, but the Canucks are looking good right now, two devastating wins over a young avalanche team was just a warm up for this team from pizza town.

 

[CH David]

Canucks will crush Chicago into the ground.

Daniel Sedin is back in the lineup, and after we have seen Hank light up the league without his brother, I can see him easily getting 100 points this year, starting with a few against the Blackhawks. And Mitchell will be looking to put some bitch ass hawks out of the league for 5-6 years

I might be cocky, but the Canucks are looking good right now, two devastating wins over a young avalanche team was just a warm up for this team from pizza town.

Lol, I look forward to tomorrow nights game TM. The Hawks and Canucks have put on some good ones the past few years. Okay possibly just last year and a bit this year. But either way, should be a good game.

I haven't been keeping up on the Canucks that much, but I did see that they beat Colorado in a home and home, granted the home and home was six days apart, but still a 13-4 romping in those two games. But don't forget, the Hawks are riding a six game winning streak, having just routed a very good Calgary Flames team, and a semi decent Edmonton Oilers team in the process.

Tomorrow night will be a good one, and I look forward to either getting trash talked for the Hawks losing, or TM sulking for a bit with Vancouver losing.