Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
For the NHL it's really a casualty of the lockout, I really don't think Kovalchuk would have made this decision this early had he not already spent 6 months playing in the KHL.
TheClassicK
12 years ago
8 years ago
179
Bergeron earns a lucrative contract as well. Fully deserving, his offensive numbers won't get better as seasons go, but I think he's the type of player that gets better with age. That's if he stays healthy like the last three seasons though.
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
As today marks the 25th anniversary of the Gretzky trade, I give you the excellent Kings Ransom by ESPN:



A must-watch for anyone with even the slightest interest in hockey.
Phoenix Arrow
15 years ago
1 year ago
825
I watched that the other day actually. The thing I find amazing is that if that trade didn't go through, there are a good few franchises that flat out wouldn't have existed. There are probably a few who might've died too. It got the outside markets interested in hockey. It's the biggest thing that's happened to hockey in America and probably will be forever.

Bobby Orr was better though. Obviously.
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
Tonight's the night!

Can't wait! http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/images/smilies/hyper.gif
Tommo.
12 years ago
1 year ago
2,272
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
Laviolette has been fired by the Flyers after only 3 games.
TheClassicK
12 years ago
8 years ago
179
Laviolette has been fired by the Flyers after only 3 games.

Deserves it, to be honest. Last season they were unimpressive as well, and change was necessary. With that team you really should be doing better, and one of the reasons why Bryzgalov shit the bed often last few seasons with them was because their defence was horrible.
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
Their defence is still horrible. Ultimately though that's Paul Holmgren's fault.
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
Tomas Hertl is awesome.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/P03SIsfal4bXSLjgqtzwpzgNY4fWw8lwX0xGGuUZ.gif
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
Lars Eller scored this beaut using psychic powers tonight:



TheClassicK
12 years ago
8 years ago
179
Tomas Hertl is awesome.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/P03SIsfal4bXSLjgqtzwpzgNY4fWw8lwX0xGGuUZ.gif

Pure awesomeness, but I think Sean Monahan is the better rookie here
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
The Flames should send Monahan back to junior.
Phoenix Arrow
15 years ago
1 year ago
825
Reckon the Sharks will ever win the cup? They've always seemed like a strong side to me but always fizz out.
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
The advanced stats people are pretty high on them this year as they are generating a ridiculous amount of shots compared to their opponents.

I could see it, mostly because they have ridiculous centre depth with Thornton, Couture and Pavelski.
TheClassicK
12 years ago
8 years ago
179
The Flames should send Monahan back to junior.

He said in an interview that he doesn't want to go back to junior, so I doubt the management will do it against what he wants, and they know he deserves to follow his desires. Plus, his junior team is still struggling so even if he plays 25-30 minutes a game I don't think he'll benefit much opposed to the ~15 minutes a game he's getting in the NHL. Wouldn't hurt if he goes back, but he seems too mature to be referred to as a player that was rushed to the NHL.
TheClassicK
12 years ago
8 years ago
179
The advanced stats people are pretty high on them this year as they are generating a ridiculous amount of shots compared to their opponents.

I could see it, mostly because they have ridiculous centre depth with Thornton, Couture and Pavelski.

That Matthew Nieto kid is pretty good too, the sick goal he scored last night vs Dallas when he flew by the defender.
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
He said in an interview that he doesn't want to go back to junior, so I doubt the management will do it against what he wants, and they know he deserves to follow his desires. Plus, his junior team is still struggling so even if he plays 25-30 minutes a game I don't think he'll benefit much opposed to the ~15 minutes a game he's getting in the NHL. Wouldn't hurt if he goes back, but he seems too mature to be referred to as a player that was rushed to the NHL.

I'd argue with you, but Ryan Lambert at Puck Daddy already raised most of the points I'd bring up.

Basically, there's no point for the Flames to lose a contract year just to keep him up in a season where they will be a complete write-off.
TheClassicK
12 years ago
8 years ago
179
I'd argue with you, but Ryan Lambert at Puck Daddy already raised most of the points I'd bring up.

Basically, there's no point for the Flames to lose a contract year just to keep him up in a season where they will be a complete write-off.

I actually read that article a few days ago, and it's just pure bullshit.

I'm not saying Monahan shouldn't go back to junior, but the way this guy talks is bullshit. So he's basically saying that it's a waste to have Monahan up with the Flames because it'll "burn" a year of his contract while they will have another bad season? He says Calgary will be very far from the playoff picture, and supports it by only picking out the unimpressive stats we have. Yes, our goalies' SV% and team GA are concerns, but he does not emphasize the positives that have complemented our weaknesses. He's simply judging the Flames based on how they look on paper. I can agree that we don't have the strongest-looking team on paper, but it's pretty damn ridiculous to ignore the way we have played. I'm not saying we're looking like playoff team as it's too early in the season, but I'd say we're looking pretty good and there's a higher chance of getting better than getting worse. It's foolish not to be optimistic after a good start.

I don't like his use of stats regarding Monahan either. Yeah, Monahan is sheltered from strong lines (which he says might be the reason why he's producing those stats he has), but isn't that how it's done for most rookies? They have absolutely nothing to do with his notion that he should be sent back because Calgary will be a write-off. If that should be the case, the likes of Scheifele, Yakupov, Ristolainen, Barkov, Trouba, Nichuskin, Chiasson and many others should not be on their respective teams because they will be write-offs, and he should write identical articles regarding those players. But that's not the reason teams send their rookies down. It will have more positives than negatives if they get sent down, but it's a ridiculous statement that it should happen to prevent the burning of a year of their contracts because their team will be out of the playoff picture.

Whatever the case is for Monahan, I hope he stays. The Flames may have a bad season, but I truly believe it'll be important for him to cement his place in the organization as early as possible. Also, Ryan Lambert should really piss off as I could write about better things in a much better way.
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
I love how aggressively a lot of people react to pretty much anything Lambert writes
TheClassicK
12 years ago
8 years ago
179
I might have over-said stuff as I wrote that right after a nap... but still, all of that unreasonable stuff he says in that article would anger any sports fan.

Just hoping we put up a good fight against the Sharks tomorrow.
TheClassicK
12 years ago
8 years ago
179
Wow, did the refs ever fucking ruin that game. Some penalties were definite but they called like 8 straight on us but when the Sharks committed the same kinds of things we did to get penalties, the refs didn't call it. Fucking ridiculous, I hope the players and coaches publicly criticize them through the media.
Phoenix Arrow
15 years ago
1 year ago
825
Hey Franck. Or other people.
I'm trying to watch more neutral games on Gamecentre because I feel like I'm missing out. But obviously I don't want to watch awful games.
So. Do you know of any website which like... recommends games without spoiling the result? If not, I will have to be picking games at random.
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
Hey Franck. Or other people.
I'm trying to watch more neutral games on Gamecentre because I feel like I'm missing out. But obviously I don't want to watch awful games.
So. Do you know of any website which like... recommends games without spoiling the result? If not, I will have to be picking games at random.

Are you watching them after they've been played?
Phoenix Arrow
15 years ago
1 year ago
825
Yeah. I havea job with normal hours now which kind of stops me from being able to stay up until 4 watching hockey. Which sucks because that was fucking fun.
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
I guess your best bet is to ask someone who watches hockey to pick an interesting game for you, don't think there's a site out there that does it.
hammer9
16 years ago
1 month ago
94,628
strange, i know NHL, they are best clubs in USA.....they lost both womens and mens in winter olympics, no medal for them, i was shocking .....how come russia, finland, sweden, canada are strong teams. i thought NHL over world for ice hockey
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
strange, i know NHL, they are best clubs in USA.....they lost both womens and mens in winter olympics, no medal for them, i was shocking .....how come russia, finland, sweden, canada are strong teams. i thought NHL over world for ice hockey

Just shy of 60% of the players in the NHL are Canadians, even if most of the teams are in the United States.
TheClassicK
12 years ago
8 years ago
179
Arguably the most entertaining trade deadline in a while.
Franck
17 years ago
3 days ago
4,255
Vanek! \o/

May as well cancel the rest of the season and give us the Cup now!

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