The NHL Thread

[hailtopitt]

i love you for who you are, Matty, but your opinion is wrong

[fonzz41]

Aww, thanks buddy. Right back at you!

In other news, I just did something in fantasy hockey that burned me to my very core... dropped the injured Shea Weber for <gulp> Tyler Myers.

So much shame is being felt right now.

[lockman21]

Right now the Wings chance of missing the playoffs is 2.1%

But in Tim's world it's 99.9%

[socopithy]

Originally Posted by Rebecca De Mornay

first of all, no.
second of all, make some effort to spell his name right, christ.

ass

Originally Posted by Rebecca De Mornay

well, no. everything you just listed is literally the name of a penalty.
and the league doesn't encourage it, the fans do. the league is in the business of making money which means catering to what fans want to watch. pretty sure if the masses resented physical play they would get it out of the game.

to both beccz and h2p, I do see what you're both saying, and you're both right in a way.

in the end of it though, as much as the league and fans allow certain things to happen, I think if we're being honest about this, what he did was sneaky, against the rules, and intended to inflict harm upon a fellow player. I understand that in terms of how the game is accepted to be played, and in terms of it being more of a rough sport than others, fighting is encouraged, etc. we're expected to let things go... but where's the line?

what Byfuglien did was some Sean Avery shit, and I personally have no tolerance for it.

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by fonzz41

Great backread going to last night.

I appreciate fighting as a way of sticking up for your teammates. It's the ultimate sacrifice in terms of hockey. It's not fun... those few players who've said they enjoy it are crazy, but it's - for lack of a better word - heartwarming to see guys willing to take some punches in the face and bloody their knuckles up on a helmet for someone else.

The last fight I was in was in a men's league. We had, as far as men's league was concerned, a fairly high-caliber "star" player. One game, against this team of meatheads, he was getting clobbered. Spears, elbows, checks behind the play and punches in the back of his head when he went down. So finally, after someone slew-footed him and he went down hard, I just went after that someone and we had a pretty spirited bout (again, as far as men's leagues go). Sure, I got ejected from the game (men's league, FTW!), but NO ONE bothered our "star" the rest of the night. But dude, I won't lie... it sucked being the one fighting

And I know, I know, "get even by winning" and all that. I get it. But I've had teammates fight for me just like I've fought for them, and I'll tell you, it really brings dudes together. I know people are going to disagree with me... it's an argument we've had over and over in this thread. And I'm comfortable with that now. Just giving my opinion.

Now the "staged fights" and stuff? Different story.

100% spot on. Anyone who's played hockey knows this, and that's why the players almost unanimously vote to keep fighting every year.

[lockman21]

Also, Big Buff doesn't deserve to be kicked out of the league. Let's not get out of hand.

[~Crashintome89~]

to be honest, I've seen worst cross checks. Buff certainly got him good, but I don't think he was intentionally trying to hurt him. He was just clearing the porch.

[socopithy]

Originally Posted by lockman21

Also, Big Buff doesn't deserve to be kicked out of the league. Let's not get out of hand.

I'm not really advocating he gets removed, realistically. I know he'll just get a slap on the wrist. I was more so just using hyperbole to express that I can't stand that kind of dirty stuff.

[lockman21]

Not for the weak stomachs here:

https://twitter.com/HockeyGods/statu...421568/photo/1

Drew Miller after taking a skate to the face yesterday. Very lucky to have missed his actual eye completely.

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by socopithy

I'm not really advocating he gets removed, realistically. I know he'll just get a slap on the wrist. I was more so just using hyperbole to express that I can't stand that kind of dirty stuff.

A suspension of 3 games is pretty fair in this instance, if you ask me. Hopefully the NHL does it.

[Bron Yr Aur]

LOL @ Red Wings fans. Yeesh you'd think all of those Cups over the years would have chilled you guys out when it comes to agonizing over the day to day grind of the NHL. Red Wings have a 99% chance of making the playoffs. Relax.

[~Crashintome89~]

oh my god we lost have had a terrible month of march, so bad that our 100% chance of making the playoffs is now down to 98%.

fire babcock

[Bron Yr Aur]

Originally Posted by lockman21

I posted this on another board, I'll paste it here, if you're interested. Where the cap lands is going to dictate just how good the Hawks can be next year. It'll be a transition year, either way.

Currently, for next season, the Hawks have approximately $63 million committed to the cap. Right now the NHL's cap ceiling is projected to be around $73-$74. Let's call it $73 million to be safe for our projections.

We have currently 8 forwards, 4 defenseman, and 2 goalies with that money. Logic will tell you that we probably want to add a couple more skaters. 12 usually doesn't get you through a full season in the NHL. SO, let's do that.

Brandon Saad. Uh, yeah. That's a no brainer. In-house prospects with his kind of upside are a lot cheaper for their production than finding it again in free agency. Especially long term. He's coming back. Let's estimate a $5 million cap hit for Saader. Bring up Hartman. Bring up Mashinter. Bring up McNeil. Bring up Johns and Cumiskey. We now have 12 forwards and 6 defensemen and we're at just a shade under $71 million. So, about 4 more people to sign/recall for about $2 million. Doable, but probably want a little more "bang for your buck". So you ship off Bickell for a bag of sand, and possibly Shaw for a draft pick in the 100th round (just kidding, obviously, but a 5th-7th rounder each for those two wouldn't be asking too much).
All the sudden we have about $8 million to fill 5 spots. Much more doable. Resign Vermette to a Brad Richards-like deal. 4 spots $6 million. Maybe find a veteran presence on the back end to help shoulder some of the load for TvR and Johns. 3 spots $4 million. And when those holes we're filling are bottom 6/role player types? Easily done. Kruger for another $2 million? Sure. Now just 2 players, $2 million. Easy.

ANYWAY, the point is...this is when those prospects we all hear so much about all the time are useful. So does unloading the ridiculously overpriced Bickell. First year of the new contracts for 19 and 88, we'll have to fill the spots with some kids. McNeil, Johns, Hartman, etc. come in handy now. They've had time to get some "seasoning".

I see where you are going with this and I would be on board but no team is going to skate 5+ rookies from day 1. Especially not a team run by coach Q.

So yeah I think it's unrealistic to think the Hawks will not try to trade Sharp or Seabrook if they can.

[Rebecca De Mornay]

Originally Posted by ~Crashintome89~

oh my god we lost have had a terrible month of march, so bad that our 100% chance of making the playoffs is now down to 98%.

fire babcock

this is what's so amusing to me, they're all beside themselves and saying this is the worst they have seen the wings play in 145 years yet they're terrified of the idea that babcock could leave after this season.

[socopithy]

Originally Posted by lockman21

Not for the weak stomachs here:

https://twitter.com/HockeyGods/statu...421568/photo/1

Drew Miller after taking a skate to the face yesterday. Very lucky to have missed his actual eye completely.

jesus, that's gnarly.

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by Bron Yr Aur

I see where you are going with this and I would be on board but no team is going to skate 5+ rookies from day 1. Especially not a team run by coach Q.

So yeah I think it's unrealistic to think the Hawks will not try to trade Sharp or Seabrook if they can.

So, you're saying you don't remember the 2010-11 roster?

Got it.

[UCFish]

Kane doing a real practice today...I mean he is starting game 1 of the playoffs isn't he?

[lockman21]

Yes, I've been saying that since day 1. He'll be back round 1. And it's going to be fucking amazing.

Saad - Toews - Hossa
Sharp - Richards - Kane
Bickell - Vermette - Versteeg
Teravainen - Kruger - Shaw

That's some Cup winning shit right there.

TvR is going to be sidelined again after another injury, so the defense will probably be:

Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Oduya
Timonen - Rozsival

That bottom pairing could use some youth, hopefully Paliotta gets a chance to skate and shows something.

[UCFish]

I mean it is a minor thing but god that 3rd D pairing is SLOWWWWWWWWWWW

[Bron Yr Aur]

Originally Posted by lockman21

So, you're saying you don't remember the 2010-11 roster?

Got it.

Erm....maybe your memory is a little foggy. You are suggesting filling up the starting lineup on openng night with 4-5 rookies who have never seen any NHL action. Totally different than 2010-11 where all of the forwards had previous NHL experience and the only real rookie was Nick Leddy who was acquired in a trade.

[~Crashintome89~]

has mike babcock been fired yet?

[Rebecca De Mornay]

i can confirm he has been fired.
the red wings are currently working on a lengthy extension for him as well.

[~Crashintome89~]

good, his firing has been long overdue, imo.
babcock is literally the best coach, whichever team he coached for an extended period of time is so lucky to have him behind the bench.

[fonzz41]

They're still trying to figure out if he can still be an NHL coach while still being President of the Universe.

[TMoore4075]

Team should be fired for last night's effort. All but Mrazek. It felt like they were playing 10 against 5 the whole game.

In all seriousness, this is scary.:
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nh...-cut/70778596/

Glad he's ok. That's almost a Zednik moment.

[JRS1386]

Anyone that disagrees with Matty is wrong and should go fuck themselves. I can say this without any fear of retaliation from these sissies. Fighting will always have a place in this sport

[Brohan_Santana]

Awesome benchmark for Ovechkin yesterday. Dude hasn't gotten a lot of praise this year for switching to a more 2 way player. And all bias aside he's hands down the MVP. With how bad the Caps secondary scoring has been this year Ovechkin has carried the team during the struggles.


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[JRS1386]

Love when the Flyers play in their secondary home location

[lockman21]

LOL Sabres playing their way out of the sweepstakes.

[Roose13]

At least the Flyers own the Pens