Official NHL thread?

[r'aggro]

With that offense in front of him, SJ can still go deep into the playoffs even with Boucher in net. Teams like Carolina and Detroit have already proven that you don't have to have an elite goaltender to win it all, just one who heats up at the right time.

Course once Nabokov is healthy you'll actually have the elite tender anyway. The Wings are the only thing standing in SJ's way IMO.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

Quarter way through the season and the Oilers have been disappointing. They were expected to be better... with a lot of depth and good talent at forward.

I guess that a sophmore slump should have been expected out of Gagner and Cogliano. And Nilsson. Though all three of those guys also started slow last year and ended with a BANG!

Cole hasn't got the numbers that I thought that he would.

Penner isn't looking like he's justifying his contract. Supposably in MacTavish's doghouse... though he did respond last game with a goal.

I have thought that Souray, Grebeshkov, and Vishnovsky have all looked very good. Grebeshkov has been a surprise.

It was also a bizarre starting schedule... with the Oil playing most of their games on the road to start. Hopefully coming home they can improve on their .500 record.

Some teams have really surprised me! Vancouver for starters.

I also saw where Brendan Morrow of the Stars is out for the year. That should be the death knell for them this season. I love it!

[Nabby]

With that offense in front of him, SJ can still go deep into the playoffs even with Boucher in net. Teams like Carolina and Detroit have already proven that you don't have to have an elite goaltender to win it all, just one who heats up at the right time.

Course once Nabokov is healthy you'll actually have the elite tender anyway. The Wings are the only thing standing in SJ's way IMO.

This is the contrary to last year when we didn't have to goal scoring and Nabby had to bail us out on many occasions. With all the offense the sharks are producing people are having a hard time stopping us. Sharks are also taking up 3 of the top 5 in defense scoring so far this season. The only thing the sharks were missing was the Power Play and that has been clicking like crazy lately.

I'm not too optimistic however, we always manage to choke it hard come playoff time. I think we'll get out first presidents trophy this year but I don't know about the cup. I can hope but I've been burned many a time. Sharks fan since about '95.

[JDC]

I'm not too optimistic however, we always manage to choke it hard come playoff time. I think we'll get out first presidents trophy this year but I don't know about the cup. I can hope but I've been burned many a time. Sharks fan since about '95.

Seriously, every year when 'experts' pick the Sharks to win the Cup I always cringe because they end up choking

[r'aggro]

Quarter way through the season and the Oilers have been disappointing. They were expected to be better... with a lot of depth and good talent at forward.

I guess that a sophmore slump should have been expected out of Gagner and Cogliano. And Nilsson. Though all three of those guys also started slow last year and ended with a BANG!

Cole hasn't got the numbers that I thought that he would.

Penner isn't looking like he's justifying his contract. Supposably in MacTavish's doghouse... though he did respond last game with a goal.

Offering Penner was a big gamble and so far it hasn't paid off for EDM. I don't watch many Oilers games but I get the impression Mac T isn't one of the better coaches in the league either.

Don't worry about your sophomores...Jeff Carter and Mike Richards had the stereotypical second year slump too, and look at 'em now. Your boys will figure it out.

[r'aggro]

This is the contrary to last year when we didn't have to goal scoring and Nabby had to bail us out on many occasions. With all the offense the sharks are producing people are having a hard time stopping us. Sharks are also taking up 3 of the top 5 in defense scoring so far this season. The only thing the sharks were missing was the Power Play and that has been clicking like crazy lately.

I'm not too optimistic however, we always manage to choke it hard come playoff time. I think we'll get out first presidents trophy this year but I don't know about the cup. I can hope but I've been burned many a time. Sharks fan since about '95.

As a fan of another team, I can say with maximum objectivity that the Sharks are ****ing ridiculous. I've watched them bow out prematurely a few years myself, but you just never know when it's your year. So far it looks like the Sharks only lose when playing a below average team, and are disinterested.


Meanwhile, Philly has won six straight games after a bumpy start and just find ways to win. Carter is tied for the league lead in goals and has become a bona fide two-way stud, like Richards already was. Gagne is #2 league-wide in points, behind Malkin. Our O has been great all year, but now the D has spent enough time together to be competitive as well. Matt Carle has played great for us, btw. He hasn't been racking up the points, but has instead played really solid D and blocks shots like crazy. Philly doesn't need its defensemen to score anyway.

[r'aggro]

So has everyone seen this vid yet?

youtube

I thought Crosby was starting to grow up some this year, but this is kinda embarrassing. He's wailing away on an Atlanta player's back and (!) while the guy is already wrestling around with Kris Letang. wth.

Now, I don't think this warrants a suspension or anything like some fans do; Velabik wasn't injured and claims not to have even noticed Crosby's punches.

So there's my anti-crosby post for the year.

[dyne]

My Hawks have won 7 in a row and I don't have Center Ice this year

[r'aggro]

Chicago looks great this year, most any team would kill to have that defense. Brent Seabrooke is awesome. I don't think they are quite ready to pass the best teams in the Western yet, but they are such a young team it's only the beginning for them.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

I am surprised with Chicago.

I mean, I know that they have some great young talent on the team but that has never really meant much... ownership has.

Chicago has been one of the cheapest teams in the league for over a decade. When a player starts getting good... and demanding what his peers are making... ownership trades him off and "downgrades" to lesser talent.

I have still not determined that ownership has made a commitment to winning (and paying), but they have the makings of a playoff contender for years to come if they make an effort to keep what they have.

The signing of Brian Campbell this offseason was the first clue of a fundamental change in philosophy by management to me.

[Nabby]

So has everyone seen this vid yet?

youtube

I thought Crosby was starting to grow up some this year, but this is kinda embarrassing. He's wailing away on an Atlanta player's back and (!) while the guy is already wrestling around with Kris Letang. wth.

Now, I don't think this warrants a suspension or anything like some fans do; Velabik wasn't injured and claims not to have even noticed Crosby's punches.

So there's my anti-crosby post for the year.

I never saw this. I hate Crosby's face. I really want to punch that punk kid. I hate how he is the poster child for the NHL right now. The only saving grace in my opinion is that his punk a** is growing the sport. Most people I know that are hockey fans can respect his shinning moments but overall hate him.

[r'aggro]

Yeah, that really was an odd sort of temper tantrum. No one can deny Crosby's status as a phenom but that was really strange behavior for a Bettman-appointed league spokesman.

I was watching the Bruins-Pens game last night before the Flyers-Nucks game came on late. Man, Boston is ON FIRE right now. That team is big, tough and just play well together. They certainly look like the best in the east.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

Man, Boston is ON FIRE right now. That team is big, tough and just play well together. They certainly look like the best in the east.

I fully expect Boston to dominate in the regular season and then crap the bed in the playoffs like they've done so many season in the past.

One of my best friends is a die hard Boston fan and he'll be the first to admit that the problem with Boston is almost insurmoutable... a cheap ownership. Boston is one of the top teams in the league in terms of revenues and usually spends some of the least money.

I'm not sure if it's true this season, but it has for the mostpart historically. And if that holds true... the B's will not hold on to the talent that they have.

[Recon]

detroit looked good on the first.....

[dyne]

Sad to see my Hawks lose but Keith's goal at the end was sick.