NHL Thread

[Guest]

That's the guy that Ottawa can't lose.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

Cracked Rib. At least at week. Those can be incredibly painful (I know). However, he shouldn't be out that long.

[CanadianChris 0]

Losing Alfie for a week isn't the best thing in the world, but if this had to happen, he couldn't have picked a better time for it with the stretch the Sens have coming up (@ATL, @WSH, @BOS, @MTL, PHX, SJ). They should get at least four wins out of that bunch, with or without him.

[Guest]

They'll beat all of those teams. Good break for Ottawa.

[Red Baron 0]

Daniel Briere is out till April with a Sports Hernia.

 

First of all WTF is a Sports Hernia?

[stahl 0]

First of all WTF is a Sports Hernia?

 

Sports Hernia

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

At least they finally figured out what was wrong with him. He's been out a long time and they didn't know. He's got the same thing that's keeping Dumont down until March.

 

It sucks because he's my favorite Sabre...but they haven't exactly missed those guys in the lineup.

[mike546 0]

I hate Sidney Crosby. I swear sometimes the ref don't call penalties on him because hes the NHL golden boy. For example, Prucha does a nice job lifting the stick of Crosby in front of the net, but its called a hooking penalty. After the Rangers tie the game up at three, Crosby takes Malk down, an obvious penalty, right in front of the ref, and no call. Malik keeps baggering the ref about it during the game, and they put him in the box for unsportsmanlike conduct in OT. I've never seen something like that called in my life. They kill of that penalty, Rosival accidently clears a puck in his zone into the stands for another penalty, and Crosby is wide open to score off a rebound to win it.

 

Ugh.

[Guest]

My problem with Sid isn't so much that he doesn't get called for penalties, it's that he's a huge diver. Way worse than Forsberg. I don't see Ovechkin, Prucha, Staal, Spezza or any other really young players doing that. That play on the OLN game against the Rags where he jumped in the air and a penalty was called was a great example of this. No one else gets the benefit of the doubt like Crosby does, because Bettman's looking for the next Gretzky, despite that Ovechkin's a hell of a lot better than Crosby, but less marketable. It bothers me that Phil Kessel's going to get the exact same treatment next season when he comes into the league, but what can you do?

 

He helps my fantasy team, so it doesn't bother me all that much, but it's bad for the league.

Edited December 31, 2005 by Kingofthe909

[mike546 0]

Prucha gets fucking killed out there. The thing is, he plays like he's a huge guy. He always goes to the front of the net, takes hits, and does whatever he can to score. Thats why everyone in NY loves him.

 

Also, Crosby was screaming at the refs the whole game. Nothing. Malk screams at the refs for three minutes, and its a penalty.

[Guest nWoCHRISnWo]

Mike, we have absolutely no idea what Malik said to the refs at the end of regulation time. Hard to comment on that considering. As for refs not calling penalties on Crosby, gotta completely disagree here. Do you know his PIM totals? He gets calls all the time for the same penalties as everyone else.

 

And about his diving, I still don't see this. How can we as fans sitting on a couch determine what and what not is a dive? Forsberg is supposed to be a diver, but really, how the hell do we know? The game is played on a slippery surface and the game encourages physical contact. Sometimes players blow tires just skating freely without anyone even touching them, how much of an impossibility is it that a player falls down if he gets poked at/hooked/etc and falls down? Especially players like Crosby and Forsberg, sure they can stay on their skates through a lot of punishment sometimes, but they can't do it all the time. I think this is more of a case of people labelling Crosby a diver because of his status. Hell I remember after Crosby got some teeth chipped and had a bloody mouth against Philly a while ago, people were saying he was embelishing it. Watching almost every Pens game this year, I can't see how Crosby is any more or less a diver than any other star players in the league.

 

This is like the people who swear on their lives that Crosby has already won the Calder Trophy, because there's no way NHL would give it to anyone but their golden boy. Of course, the NHL doesn't choose who wins the award though...

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Phaneuf, IMO is leading the way at this point.

[skullman80 0]

My problem with Sid isn't so much that he doesn't get called for penalties, it's that he's a huge diver. Way worse than Forsberg. I don't see Ovechkin, Prucha, Staal, Spezza or any other really young players doing that. That play on the OLN game against the Rags where he jumped in the air and a penalty was called was a great example of this. No one else gets the benefit of the doubt like Crosby does, because Bettman's looking for the next Gretzky, despite that Ovechkin's a hell of a lot better than Crosby, but less marketable. It bothers me that Phil Kessel's going to get the exact same treatment next season when he comes into the league, but what can you do?

 

He helps my fantasy team, so it doesn't bother me all that much, but it's bad for the league.

 

 

How is Ovechkin a helluva lot better than Crosby. They are pretty close in points, if I remember. Both can be dominating at times. Crosby is 2 years younger as well.

 

I may be a Pens fan, but I don't think Crosby is the "golden child" so to say. I love watching Ovechkin play, Svatos, etc. I like watching great hockey players make plays.

 

Sid gives 100% every shift out there, and has been the best player for the Pens, and at times the only reason to watch the team this year(other than Fleury). He does get called for his fair share of penalties as well, and as for the diving comment, I don't think he dives any more than anyone else in the league.

 

I don't think the league should just hand Crosby the Calder trophy, if by the end of the year, Ovechkin or whoever else is out playing him. Right now they have been going neck and neck for most of the year. Ovechkin is more of a sniper and has a better shot at this point, and I think Crosby is more of a playmaker, although his shot can be wicked if he does take it. Both are good for the game.

 

I think Crosby has shown his maturity level this year as well. Yeah he can yack a bit, I won't deny that, but he has carried the Penguins with his play on most nights, when it was the veterans(Leclair, Rechhi, Palffy), that were brought into do that. He didn't make a big deal when he didn't get selected to team Canada, he accepted and moved on.

 

Ovechkin, Crosby, Svatos, Vanek are the future of this league..it's gonna be fun to watch for a long long time.

 

If Malkin comes to the Pens next year, which I think he will, The Pens will have to legit top line centers to center the first two lines. I'm excited to see Malkin, he has been tearing up the RSL, and playing well in the World Junior Championships...and some, note I said some, had him rated higher than Ovechkin in the draft they both came out of. He is a big kid to at like 6'3 or so.

[skullman80 0]

Phaneuf, IMO is leading the way at this point.

 

I saw Phaneuf play in person when the Flames were in Pittsburgh. Kid is very solid. I highly doubt though that he will win the Calder this year. First reason being he is a D-Man, nothing against that, but I would be highly suprised if he wins in the same year that Crosby/Ovechkin are rookies. I think someone like Lundvquist from the NYR would have a better chance to win.

 

Nothing against the kid, but I don't think he has a real shot to win the Calder...to many other factors.

[mike546 0]

Lundquist almost freakin won the game today for the Rangers. That glove save right after they gave up the goal to trail 3-2, wow.

[skullman80 0]

Lundquist almost freakin won the game today for the Rangers. That glove save right after they gave up the goal to trail 3-2, wow.

 

That was a fantastic save.

[Guest]

How is Ovechkin a helluva lot better than Crosby. They are pretty close in points, if I remember. Both can be dominating at times. Crosby is 2 years younger as well.

 

I may be a Pens fan, but I don't think Crosby is the "golden child" so to say. I love watching Ovechkin play, Svatos, etc. I like watching great hockey players make plays.

 

Sid gives 100% every shift out there, and has been the best player for the Pens, and at times the only reason to watch the team this year(other than Fleury). He does get called for his fair share of penalties as well, and as for the diving comment, I don't think he dives any more than anyone else in the league.

 

I don't think the league should just hand Crosby the Calder trophy, if by the end of the year, Ovechkin or whoever else is out playing him. Right now they have been going neck and neck for most of the year. Ovechkin is more of a sniper and has a better shot at this point, and I think Crosby is more of a playmaker, although his shot can be wicked if he does take it. Both are good for the game.

 

I think Crosby has shown his maturity level this year as well. Yeah he can yack a bit, I won't deny that, but he has carried the Penguins with his play on most nights, when it was the veterans(Leclair, Rechhi, Palffy), that were brought into do that. He didn't make a big deal when he didn't get selected to team Canada, he accepted and moved on.

 

Ovechkin, Crosby, Svatos, Vanek are the future of this league..it's gonna be fun to watch for a long long time.

 

If Malkin comes to the Pens next year, which I think he will, The Pens will have to legit top line centers to center the first two lines. I'm excited to see Malkin, he has been tearing up the RSL, and playing well in the World Junior Championships...and some, note I said some, had him rated higher than Ovechkin in the draft they both came out of. He is a big kid to at like 6'3 or so.

I think that what Ovechkin does has a bigger impact on the game. He's better defensively, he hits and his size allows him to power into shooting lanes. I think they are both great players, but I'd rather have Ovechkin.

 

The problem with Pittsburgh is that they spent too much damn money on old, floating players, and now they have no way to improve their defensive core.

 

For the record, I think Crosby will improve in all facets of the game and become the better player over time. On the Malkin subject, the guy is a fucking monster.

 

I think either Ovechkin or Crosby should win the Calder, but the guys out West like Svatos and Phaneuf should get a look too, but it's tough to get recognition out West.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Crosby is the biggest crybaby, diving bitch that I have seen in the NHL in a while.

 

I'm glad we swept those assholes.

[Guest Ether]

Yes, because surely that's what caused him to crack three of his teeth back in November, not Darian Hatcher's stick.

 

Damn jackasses in Philadelphia. That's where the real crybabies are.

[Guest nWoCHRISnWo]

Crosby is the best 18 year old that I have seen in the NHL in a while.

 

I think that's what you meant to say