All-purpose hockey thread...

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

I don't think anybody, anywhere, would say that Spezza made the wrong decision when he left Mississauga, nor should they have faulted him at the time. The Don Cherry/Trevor Whiffen/Rick Vaive circus was no place for a prospect to be.

Schremp's demands were a little more curious to say the least, especially when you consider that team was on its way up when he left. There are those on this board that know more about that situation than I do, but the rumours that he left due to a combination of :

1) anger over the Ice Dogs showing Steve Ludzik the door;
2) not wanting to share the spotlight with Patrick O'Sullivan;
3) not wanting to attend high school.

A little less understandable, if you ask me. Especially when the Ice Dogs when to the OHL final that year. Yeah, I know, the Knights won it all the next year, but it's not like Schremp wanted specifically to go there, he just wanted out of Missisauga.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

This was the Redliner Reports on Schremp prior to the draft.

Huge talent level, probably the best of any North American in this draft. Tremendous hands and magic with the puck. Average skating keeps him from being a truly special offensive player, yet still can be explosive. Unfortunately that usually only happens when he gets lots of ice to work with. Solid leg strength and low centre of gravity make him difficult to separate from the puck. Can make good d-men look stupid 1-on-1. Selfish and petulant with an attitude of entitlement; difficult teammate. Always looks to be focus of attention, but wants to make things happen and many times does. Unafraid of traffic. Lacks defensive intensity and off-ice issues are a concern, but abilities are first rate. If you can get past the baggage, he’s your man. Projection: Top flight playmaker or total bust.  Style compares to: Marc Savard/Vaclav Prospal "

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

I hadn't seen that before, putting his attitude problems into such detail, but since the draft i have heard little of these issues. The Edmonton media which in the past has had no problems in running the petulant primadonna players with a sense of self entitlement out on a rail (Arnott, Poti, Comrie, to name a few) has actually talked about how his 'so-called attitude problems' are a thing of the past and don't exist anymore. He has come to camp the past two seasons motivated and ready to go. The Oilers have one of the tightest knit dressingrooms in the league - that is well documented - and they don't put up wth shit from rookies. Maybe he's growing up. Maybe he's matured over the last two years under the guidance of Hunter - the playoff benching could have served him very well. If it was such a problem and he has shown no qualms about demanding a trade in the past, why didn't he after the benching. i think it could have gone a long way to helping him get his shit togethe, and that could have played a large part in him going back to junior this year, for one more year of seasoning under Hunter.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Also, average skating skills does not mean he's incompitant in the skill. If he can get up and down the ice and find open space – Brett Hull made a career of it – then he'll do fine. Not saying he'll be Brett Hull, but I am saying, if a legend of Hull's status is able to find the holes despite his reputation, I'm sure it is possible for Schremp to find holes as well, especially in the 'new NHL'

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Mr 03,

I wish you and yours a lot of luck.

Witheringly, etc

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Seeing how I nearly killed this thread :'( I'll do my best to revive it.

What is the likelihood of Kovalchuk coming all the way back to win the Art Ross this year? After missing the first few weeks due to a contract dispute, the Russian has already worked himself back into shape after missing all of trainign camp and now sits 16th in the league in scoring with 21 points in 14 games.

Also, what's the over/under on 100 point scorers this year?

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

He'll be in the race all year, finishing behind Jagr.

I'll say we'll see 15 guys over 100 points.


Rick Nash has a real, live centerman....http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/5086976

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

The Blue Jackets traded for Sergei Fedorov today.


Fedorov headed to Columbus

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Fedorov and Nash will be a fun pair to watch.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

The key, however, is that Nash has to be healthy enough to play for the two to be a fun pair to watch.
Any idea where Marchant will now end up (put on waivers almost immediately after the deal went through)? I love the guy, but I hope not the Oilers. We need another defensive forward like we need another hole in the head. Rumour is though they might pick him up off waivers and trade Peca and his 4.9-mil for a top 4 d-man straight across.
Another possibility is he could end up in Anaheim to "complete the trade" – apparently he didn't want to waive his no-trade clause so they put him on waivers so the Ducks could still pick him up. Still, the deal would be impossibly one-sided. A salary dump if there ever was one. Shades of the NYR at last season's trade deadline.
Other possibilities that should be in the running: Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Chicago, LA, Pheonix, any others out there?
He won't score 60 points again like he did three years ago in Edmonton, but you can count on him for 40 or so. He's one of the fastest guys in the league, it's just he has the hands of a construction worker. Great defensive shut down centreman though, tons of heart. But $2.5 mil contract is a little steep.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Sirs, Madames,

re Nash, Fedorov

I think it's fascinating. Two couldn't be more different.

Fedorov, Hart Trophy notwithstanding, Cups notwithstanding, never really fully tapped into his talent. As good as he was, he should have been better. Not an underachiever, but he became satisfied with being a very good but something less than dominant player. Never been accused of being fiery. Never accused of being edgy.

Nash, 40 goals as a kid notwithstanding, great world championships notwithstanding, doesn't have a fraction of Fedorov's skating ability, your basic hockey tool. He's strong on his skates but no drag racer, not smooth. I thought that skating was going to be an issue, even tho' he had an u-18 tournament (summer) better than anyone else's, Lecavalier being No. 2. (Ovechkin and Crosby I saw in 18s but as underagers, edge to 87 but pretty close.) Just on skills I thought that Bouwmeester was a safer pick (another somnambulist and, truth be told, dud personality). I was very wrong. Maclean made an amazingly prescient selection. Nash might play harder than anyone else in the game.

Put Nash's head and heart on Fedorov--a top ten player alltime. Put Fedorov's attitude and character on Nash--a decent second-liner. Okay, on CBJ he'd still be a first liner but nothing special.

YHS, etc

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

I think part of the problem with Federov's heart is that he never had to be the main go-to-guy, until he got to Anaheim and by that time I think it was a case of trying to teach an old dog new tricks. In Detroit it was always Yzerman's team, and I'd say even Shanny during his prime was more important to the Red Wings success. Federov is a hell of a player, but he never had to really put the team on his back and be the guy. Dare I think that had he gone to Carolina five years ago instead of being re-signed by the Wings, that he may have had that responsibility come along at the right time, when he still had enough in his tank to take on that leadership role and be the guy - I think he may have taken that next step on the road to superstardom. But now he's 36 and a little old to take that step. I respect the hell out of Federov, but if I'm MacLean I wouldn't be expecting Federov to be quite the impact player a lot of people think he will be, at least not until Nash comes back and takes the pressure off of him, then Feds will get going.