Running 2007 NHL regular season thread

Hey boys in Minnesota ... WTF is up with Walz?

http://www.startribune.com/wild/story/1528356.html

Four days after being excused from the Wild for "personal reasons," Wes Walz has still not surfaced and all indications are the veteran center is contemplating his future in the NHL.

Thursday morning, the Wild front office said Walz, one of the most popular players in team history, would be away for "two or three days." Saturday night, General Manager Doug Risebrough referred questions regarding Walz to his agent, Jay Grossman.

 

Oh, I can shoot harder with a composite.

But try catching a saucer pass with one.

I guess it can depend on the type of player you are, but I always had very good hands, and I have a hard time handling the puck with those things.

I finally took a couple composites that were busted near the heel of the blade (TPS), flipped them, cut them and put wooden blades in the other end. Worked pretty well.

 

There's no argument that you can shoot harder with the composites. I took practice shots with one several weeks ago and heard a "whoosh." But what good are harder shots if you can't control them?

 

My opinion.

His numbers are world class.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/stats/bycategory?cat=Goaltending&conference=NHL&sort=111

1.61 GAA, .939 save percentage, three shutouts, six wins and he's played in all 13 games for the Rangers. He's been very good.

 

I tried telling my kids that for four years. Goals get scored because:
1. Quick release
2. Accuracy









3. Velocity

They all want to shoot it through the fucking end boards. That's when they're not waxing the shit out of their tape and trying to Mike Legg it in warmups of a fucking playoff game.

God, am I going to miss coaching.

 

Right now, I need all the help I can get. My hand is still nowhere near 100% strength after the injury.

 

Oh and I didn't have to spend the money on it. I'm still tight with the junior team I used to cover.

 

I wish you as much luck with that as we've had with the blight that is metal baseball bats.


I w

 

Grapes, again, blamed Bergeron for being driven face first into the end boards.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnic/coachscorner/2007/11/saku_koivu_deserves_praise_not.html

 

Forsberg return in doubt ... ankle isn't holding up.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=222228&hubname=

Peter Forsberg's comeback to professional hockey has seemingly taken a turn for the worse.

According to the Globe and Mail, Forsberg left the ice at Sweden's national team practice after an hour, saying his ankle wasn't holding up.

Forsberg, who is skating with the team, had hoped to be able to play in the Karjala Cup which is a four-team international tournament. Forsberg was going to use the event to see if his ankle would be able to withstand the rigors of an NHL season.

''I will have to go back to one of the doctors to see if there's something I can do.'' Forsberg told the Swedish media. ''I'm not going to play if it's not working. I might as well retire.''

The 13-year NHL veteran had been reluctant to talk about his plans to return, but was every emotional after leaving the ice: ''I've never been so close to the end of my career''.

 

This guy may dispute that.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8469461

Still early for all involved tho.
Big question, does having played so many games early (and likely he'll continue with the heavy workload) wear on Lundqvist or does he hold up?
Probably something know one knows the answer too, just have to watch and enjoy.

 

An early Valentine for my friend Sportschick:

Rangers 2, Flyers 0 at MSG tonight. Lundqvist with the shutout and guys named Jagr and Shanahan scored goals.