All-purpose hockey thread...

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

How great would a Ottawa-Detroit cup finals be?

Seven games of 6-5 scores, with the Spezza, Alfredsson and Heatly line all over 130 points...

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

I'm not going to see the answer until after I watch Leafs-Habs for fear that someone's going to give the result (I've managed to make it six hours without hearing the final, I'm not gonna screw it up now), but are any of you Canadiens offended that Nickelback's "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" leads into the greatest TV theme of all time on Saturdays?

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

This is just my opinion, but that stopped being a great theme when it was modernized. I'd rather hear the classic original version from the '70s and '80s.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Hi Pens.

By myself, I am three times better than you are.

Sincerely,

Jaromir Jagr (17 goals).

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Typically, The Times doesn't staff the Devils and Islanders. I am surprised that Diamos didn't travel to Pittsburgh.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

From what I gather from your posts, you're implying that Schremp would be playing third or fourth line. However, when he comes up to the show he will be a fixture on the power play and will be put on a scoring line. I think hands down he would score more than D-vo who has 2 goals in 19 games this year. The reason he was sent down was becasue chances were this year he would have been on the fourth line and the first PP unit. I brought up the defensive play because you kept stressing it. I mentioned Allison's +/- as a way of showing you can still play on a top line despite your defensive misgivings - an inability to play defence has never held back Kovalchuk or Mike Comrie from playing either. If I'm missing your point, I'm not sure what it is. Maybe because I haven't fully woken up yet. But unless he turns into the second coming of Jason Bonsignore(sp?), Schremp will be a top six forward in Edmonton next year. This is hardly even up for dispute in Alberta's capital. They need a guy who can score and is motivated to do so, and Schremp fits the bill.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Is this the same Alberta who thought Ty Conklin was the next Georges Vezina?

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

People in Alberta thought Ty Conklin was the next Georges Vezina?

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Mr 03,

I'll try to spell this out as clearly as possible.

If RS comes up, he has to be one of your top six forwards--because his game and skills aren't suited to him being in your third or fourth lines. If his skating were better, then, yes, it would be an easy fit. It isn't however. He cannot be a complementary player on the first two lines (the guy in the corner, on the backcheck) because he's neither tough enough nor good on his skates. So not only he must he be on your first two lines, he must really be Martin or Lewis, which is to say the scoring talent on the first two lines. Dvorak is there because he is supposed to be defensively responsible. Same with Rita. They give cover for the other guys to freelance. Like I said, the operative comp is Andrew Brunette. Yes, Schremp brings POTENTIAL to score more and be more creative than Brunette, but all the same flaws/knocks are in place. If it's not in dispute, then you're taking too much on faith. But then you haven't seen that much of him. The fact that he was pumped/hyped by Oilers--what can I say, it's good news for the Oilers when they select someone who's actually eligible for the draft. Nobody liked Schremp. He might have been there in the second round. Guffaws at the tables when he was selected, just industry opinion. Didn't help that he showed up at the combine like a slob.

There are reasons ($$$, protecting scouts' jobs) to think that he will play or at least will be given every chance to play. Not too many people (scouts, OHL coaches I talk to) see him as a significant player.

YHS, etc

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Apparently he was going to be their goalie of the future.

Guys' a career AHL'er, NHL back-up at best.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Schremp gave one of the great media room interviews at the draft in Raleigh after he was picked by the Oilers. It was almost like he was cutting a WWE promo, he was shitting all over those who didn't believe in him (hello, Red Line Report) etc. but Mr. Miler's right, he was projected as a second round guy at best heading into that draft. There were some questions about his attitude after he was benched by Dale Hunter during the playoffs that year.

Will be interesting to see how Schremp handles adversity at the next level. He bitched to get out of Mississauga when things weren't going his way.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Heading into this year there was every indication that Conks would be a solid starter – I don't think anybody, including myself, said he was going to be the second coming of Georges Vezina. All I said, if I remember correctly, was that he would surprise alot of people. No one counted on a wonky groin dogging him through training camp, which shook his confidence and resulted in him being sent down to the A after a piss poor start where the groin gave out on him completely. Up until that point all he had done was finish as a runner up in the Hobey baker hunt in college, took the Bulldogs on his back to a Calder Cup final, and almost single handidly took team USA to a bronze medal at the 2003 (or was it 2004) WC, taking home top goalie honours. He hadn't had the opportunity to be a full-time starter, stuck behind Tommy Salo and his $3.5-million salary, until this season.

As far as the Shremp goes ...
I think Schremp's trade demands to get out of Mississauga were completely over blown. He is not the first player to ever demand a trade off of his junior team (Spezza, speaking of the Ice Dogs, and Lindros come to mind immediately) and he's also not the first junior player to ever be benched by his coach during the playoffs. Everything I had read on Schremp heading into that draft had him projected as a top 10 pick, and I remember watching TSN and listening to Pierre McGuire and I think Bob McKenzie go on and on about how Schremp should be picked soon and about how far he had fallen, and they kept bringing up his supposed attitude problem as the reason he had fallen. The Oilers I know have been nothing but thrilled with the dedication he has shown in getting ready for the past two camps, even going so far as to call him their most pro-ready prospect.
As far as D-vo being on the top two lines because of his defensive ability, your way off base there too. The oilers need him to be a scorer, the fact he isn't is a big reason they are looking for a scoring winger (Schremp can fill that role next year). D-vo is far from the only two-way player in the Oil's top six, in fact all spend time on the PK unit – Smyth is one of their top penalty killers, Horcoff came up as a third line centre and is getting his chance as a first line centre because of the offensive flair he showed in Europe during the lockout, I don't think I need to tell you about Peca and his defensive abiltity, Hemsky has spent a lot of time on the PK the past two seasons and Torres is a solid two-way winger as well. They need scoring, scoring which Schremp has shown at every level he can provide. He will not be a guy expected be to take on D-vo's so-called checking role, in actuallity he would likely be the focal point, the trigger man, on whatever line he plays on – especially the power play. Will he one day be a Hart Trophy candidate, probably not, but I don't think an all-star selection or two is out of the question. You keep bringing up his skating ability but as I pointed out in the past there are those who have had some terrific careers who were never known for their skating, actually hammered hard for their skating. Again Luc Robitaille sticks out here.
I admit I don't have the luxury of talking to OHL scouts on a daily basis out here in Alberta but every time I've watched this kid play (be it in NHL exhibition, the Mem Cup, the odd OHL playoff game) I have been very impressed with his play. Believe me the Oilers have no trouble dealing with blown first round picks, they've done so quite well for the past two decades with such stellar selections as Joe Hulbig and Steve Kelly (over Shane Doan, the one time they didn't go with the home town boy) to name just a couple, and so building him up unneccisaraly (OK I admit I can't spell the damn word) isn't their style. If they had their doubts about him he wouldn't get nearly the press and would likely be on his way out of town after the two camps, at the very least the talk would be there. All indications were that he had made the team this year up until a last minute decision to send him back to junior.