All-purpose hockey thread...

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Beefy, I agree with you. JR doesn't deserve a spot on the team, and neither does Poti. The only reason he's being mentioned for a spot with Team U.S.A. is that he's a puck-rushing defenseman.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

After they decided that they were going to change their name, the Owen Sound franchise was giving serious consideration to The Flying Aces, which I would have loved. They settled on Attack, which sucks.

And, JJ, Joel Ward sucks.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Flying Aces would have worked but I was pulling for Mercurys, from a historical standpoint.
Joel Ward? Wow, blast from the past. Where is he playing now?

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

OK, since we have two guys here familiar with the O, why are all the uniforms so damn uglly?

I tend to be a traditionalist and I like the St. Mikes and Kitchener's but even my home team's uniforms of puke green and Sarge on the front are friggin' awful.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

I understand that reaction, but in my opinion the Battalion's uniforms are the most creative in the entire league. Those ones and the Ottawa 67's barber poles are the best while Oshawa and St. Mike's are the best in terms of tradition.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

I have no idea why the uniforms in the OHL suck. But percentage wise I'd say there are just as many pro jerseys that suck.

Joel Ward is playing for the Houston Aeros with Patrick O'Sullivan. I don't know if he's Minnesota property or if he's on an AHL deal only. He doesn't suck, but he was a Battalion killer, hence my distaste.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Post-Gazette is reporting that Olczyk is gone.

http://post-gazette.com/

No story yet, just a note on the front page.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Post deleted -- I didn't realize Olczyk's firing and Therrien's hiring was already being discussed on the Mario thread.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

From ESPN.com:

First Period -- Start Spreading the News

Outside of shrinking to the size of a sunflower seed so I could curl up into one of the crevices of Natalie Portman's furrowed brows, I enjoy life most when I'm lost in a song. In particular, a song that has to be played every time I get in the car. Twice. Immediately when get in the car and again some time before I get to work.

Right now, that song is "Marching Bands of Manhattan" by Death Cab for Cutie.

"Sorrow drips into your heart through a pinhole
Just like a faucet that leaks and there is comfort in the sound
But while you debate half empty or half full
It slowly rises, your love is gonna drown"


Why are so many songs either written about or refer to New York City? Well, NYC is a place people either love or despise. Personally, I love it. Also, it's better business to have a New York City reference in your song than a Bascom, Ohio, reference (population 280). Eight million people live in the Big Apple. If one out of every eight New Yorkers buys your CD, you've got a platinum record, Sparky.

Death Cab for Cutie is not for everyone. They are a word-intensive band with a lead singer, Ben Gibbard, who sounds a little like Al "Year of the Cat, Time Passages" Stewart without the English accent. So, find "Time Passages" and "Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart. Then, buy Death Cab for Cutie's "Plans" CD and reread the second sentence in this paragraph.

Why am I getting into all of this? It's my way of saying that if I was a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (I'm not) and had a vote for Rookie of the Year (I don't), my vote would go New York resident Henrik Lundqvist.

When I first heard the opening line to "Marching Bands of Manhattan," my mind immediately went to the 23-year-old Swedish goaltender. As I type this, Lundqvist is 12-4. His 2.07 goals-against average is third in the NHL. His .928 save percentage is tied for fourth. Most important, he has given the Rangers competence at the back end. You don't win in the NHL with good goaltending, you win with great goaltending. And Lundy has been great. Great in regulation, great in overtime, great in shootouts. He has changed the entire feel of the Rangers. Jaromir Jagr is the league MVP right now and a big reason for the Rangers' success. Still, Lundqvist's play has changed the entire aura of the Rangers, and for that, he should be the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year.

Besides poor personnel decisions that have included some coaching hires, a big reason why the Rangers have missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons is poor goaltending. Mike Richter was physically beaten up at the end of his career and was no longer an elite goaltender. Then followed a string of average goaltenders. Lundqvist has changed that.

Second Period -- Born in the USA

The deadline for teams to submit their final Olympic rosters is Dec. 22, but the United States will announce its final list of 23 players on Dec. 19. If I were Team USA GM Don Waddell, these would be my four lines:

Forwards
Mike Modano-Brian Gionta-Chris Drury
Craig Conroy-Brian Rolston-Dustin Brown
Doug Weight-Keith Tkachuk-Mike Knuble
Scott Gomez-Erik Cole-Jason Blake


Defensemen
Brian Rafalski-Mathieu Schneider
Bret Hedican-John-Michael Liles
Jordan Leopold-Aaron Miller


Goaltenders
Rick DiPietro
John Grahame
Robert Esche

Extra skaters
Ryan Kesler
Paul Mara

Team USA is in the middle of a transition period. It has a lot of very good, young players, but too young for these Olympics. The U.S. will be fortunate to medal in 2006. In 2010, they will be among the favorites for gold.

Third Period -- It's a Canadian Game

Team Canada is the defending Olympic gold medalist. Executive director Wayne Gretzky is again in charge and the same coaching staff is in place. It's only natural that they will bring back as many players from 2002 as talent will allow. If I was Team Canada executive director, I would immediately resign to spend more time with Janet Gretzky. If I had to pick a team:

Forwards

Joe Thornton-Jarome Iginla-Simon Gagne
Vincent Lecavalier-Brad Richards-Martin St. Louis
Joe Sakic-Dany Heatley-Patrick Marleau
Sidney Crosby-Paul Kariya-Ryan Smyth

Defensemen
Wade Redden-Scott Niedermayer
Rob Blake-Ed Jovanovski
Dion Phaneuf-Robyn Regehr


Goaltenders
Martin Brodeur
Marty Turco
Curtis Joseph

Extra skaters
Rick Nash
Dan Boyle


I would love to see Crosby and Kariya play on together and I would have Kariya around for shootout purposes. My top five Canadian shootout shooters: Lecavalier, Kariya, Crosby, Heatley and Gagne.


I'd love to get John Madden on this team for late game faceoffs and penalty kills. Patrick Marleau has sick talent that shouldn't be overlooked. I like Dan Boyle's right-handed shot on the power play. But there is so much talent to choose from. That's why Team Canada is the favorite to win gold again in Turin.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

HB -
First period
Lundquist while having an outstanding rookie season will not be rookie of the year for four reasons
1) some kid named Sidney Crosby
2) Ovechkin is doing everythign and more in Washington
3) Phaneuf is quickly becoming the league's next Denis Potvin
4) Lundy - as you call him - still hasn't been able to beat out Kevin weekes for the number one starters spot on the Rangers. While Weekes has spent almost as much time on the DL as on the ice this year, when he has been in he has been solid, and the Rangers are to paranoid of turning Ludvist into the next Blackburn to give him the number one job this year, unless Weekes goes down long term.

Second period
After figuring out your lines as C-W-W instead of the traditional W-C-W, I can't argue too much with those picks, although i would not completely write of Conklin in Edmonton as a third string goalie yet. He is healthy for the first time all year and in his first game looked pretty strong, going save for save with Brodeur, despite losing 2-1 in a shoot out. If he can re-establish himself as the goalie the Oilers thought they'd have at the begining of the year and go on a nice little tear, you can bet the USHA will weremember what he has been able to do for team USA in recent international play. He's far from a a sure thing, but I would still consider him a dark horse at this point.

Third Period
While Crosby is a trendy pick right now, there is no way you pick him over Spezza, or Karyia over Spezza for that matter. Hell i take Spezza over any of those Lightning players - I know you want to keep the consistency and chemistry of those lines, but Spezza has been flat out better than any of them this year. As well, will Gagne be healthy enough to be in top form for Turin? Same thing with Nash. He hasn't been healthy enough to play more than what five games this year, no way he makes the team in front of some of the other guys.
Smyth is there for sure, as you listed, there is no way they leave "Captain Canada" at home for the Olympics, especially with Kevin Lowe as Gretzky's assistant.

I also do not know about Phaneuf over Pronger. He's still one of the game's elite defencemen - I know his numbers aren't quite what they have been, but for some reason they are not using him as the focal point on the PP, they keep trying to set up Stoll and his cannon instead. Regardless, Pronger has to be there.

Other guys to keep an eye on - Alex Tanguay, Jose Theodore, Eric Staal, Rod Brind'amour (sp?), Roberto Luongo (I don't think he's played his way off the team, yet), Brian McCabe, Ed Belfour (second best money goalie right now until someone proves otherwise), Eric Brewer (although he shouldn't be, but for sentimental reasons), and Rob Zammnur(sp?)

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Well, Bertuzzi seems a lock to get on Team Canada. Damien Cox disagrees with that decision which is pretty much a slam dunk.
I agree with Damien on this.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...ageid=968867503640&col=970081593064&t=TS_Home

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Glossed it over, have to agree whole-heartedly. There is no way Berti should be on this team. I didn't even have him in my list to keep an eye on. When did he or anyone else become a lock for this team? There is too much talent available to add a Bertuzzi. He is a thug and has been unproductive all season. He shouldn't be within an mile of that team.