Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

interestingly, while Martin has been the pens best d-man this year, Orpik has probably been the worst.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:lol Yeah, that's what I've been reading/seeing. 6 months ago I would have called Orpik a "lock", especially considering the coach, but he's now not quite a lock.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I'm thinking Faulk gets in over Orpik. I got Buff as a dark horse, he's doubtful because of the rink size.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Toews' SH tonight....so nasty.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I think USA brings 8 defenseman, so I think Orpik and Faulk make the squad, but yeah, big boy Buff probably won't make it.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Sometimes I think the Rangers should rebuild again. This team is capable of being competitive, but is never going to win a cup. Really thought we would have a chance to win one, but I think two years ago was our chance.

5-0 to a Stamkosless Lightning. Enough said.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Bryz! First save as an oiler

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

In the Rangers defense, it's pretty obvious that no other team is capable of winning a cup while the Blackhawks are around. Might as well put forth the effort to fight over being #2.

Humongous big

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Hawks are scoring 4.5 goals per game over the last month

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

But Q sucks right?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I'm sure it has nothing to do with Pirri now being on the 2nd line over the last month and Handzus being injured.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:lol ....and who put him there? Jesus? Toews? Oh, right, Q did.

He was going to move there eventually anyway, Handzeus's injury just expedited it.

Doubting Q is nothing but moronic at this point.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I agree with almost all of this... I've got E. Johnson as a lock.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

It took Handzus getting hurt for Pirri to even be called up from Rockford. It took DAN CARCILLO getting hurt on the SECOND LINE for Brandon Saad to not be scratched.

He's a good coach, but he is hardly without flaws; hardly.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

and also the Hawks are going killing it, but things like playing Crawford 15 games in a row are really going to come back and kick the Hawks in the ass come April especially if he makes the Olympic team (hint: he won't)

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Well, he was a funny one. I didn't know what to do with him. If I were GM, I would take him over Orpik...but I was factoring in who is making these decisions.

1) You realize Q doesn't bring people up from Rockford right? That's Bowman.

2) That's a skewed way of saying how it happened. Pirri was hurt until the very last preseason game. He needed time in Rockford to get his feet back. Starting him in the NHL right away would have been the wrong move for both the team and Pirri. He looked uncomfortable enough his first couple games.

3) A rookie going from injured, to the AHL for a week, to the NHL on the defending Cup champs 2nd line between Kane and Sharp would have been an absolute bonehead move. Crawl before you run type deal. Q slowly was moving Handzus out of the 2C role before his injury anyway. It's just not a move that's made overnight in hockey. It's not like baseball or something where all the sudden you're the starting first baseman. He handled the Pirri situation like a pro.

4) Crawford more than likely will make the Olympic squad. Why wouldn't he? He's leading the NHL in wins this year, has a VERY respectable save percentage, has been clutch for the Hawks most of the year, and more importantly, should have won a Conn Smythe last postseason as the Stanley Cup winning goalie. He'll likely be #3, which as a Hawks fan, you should be STOKED about. He'll get great exposure, would be a huge confidence builder for him, and he likely will never have to start a game. Who would get the nod over him? Mike Smith? Doubtful. Also, him not starting Raanta tonight was the 100% right move. Edmonton is a team that historically piles up goals on the Hawks. Throwing your new rookie goalie that has basically 0 NHL experience against a team like that, regardless of record, is a potential long term disaster. Calgary and Dallas make a lot more sense.

5) Q isn't a good coach. He's a GREAT one. A Hall of Fame coach that has brought this city two Stanley Cups in 4 years (which is more than your boy Babcock), and has time and time again proved that there is almost always a method to his madness in the end. Yeah, the Carcillo thing was a head scratcher, his love of Kopecky was another. I'll admit, I don't understand the Brookbank thing this year over Morin...BUT...I don't have all the information or knowledge of what's happening behind closed doors. I don't know where he sees guys fitting in his schemes all the time...and if anyone has earned the trust of the meatball Chicago fans that want to question everything...it's Q. He's one of the best in the business.

That's the end of my rant. I'm bored at work and needed something to do, so...

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Hawks fans finding something to both about since 2010

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I knew we were going to lose on St. Louis' night. didn't think it would be that bad. The entire team looked awful, Hank included

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Oilers sucked, no surprises there.

What did surprise me when I woke up today was to learn that TSN has lost their NHL rights as of next fall. Rogers (another huge media/telecom company) out bid them by a wide margin, and secured rights to all the games for 12 (I think) years. Hockey Night in Canada will be unaffected by this, but damn...it's a bit like a punch to the gut. So much great hockey talent there that is now caught in limbo. Will be interesting to see how it all shakes down over the coming months.

The biggest blow to me is Oilers coverage. Rogers already had the territorial rights to the Oilers, and now that they have national too I fear they won't show as much Oil as TSN did. Maybe they'll be contractually obligated to show X number of games per team, but I'm afraid I might have to order centre ice again.

Here is an article outlining the deal;
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/...deal-1.2440326

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Please let Cuthbert come back to HNIC. Pleeeease. Hope he doesn't go over to Rogers.

Your point about the Oilers coverage is a good one. Kinda wonder if the Flames, Jets and Oilers will be left out in the cold compared to the Habs, Leafs and Canucks and maybe even the Sens.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

TSN has the regional coverage from the Jets and Montreal, but Rogers has the rest of the regional packages. That tells me that Rogers will prop up the Jets and Habs at most opportunities for a national game, thusly bumping out Oilers etc from that possible coverage.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Oh c'mon Chris that's a poor excuse. You have to know they make these decisions with input from everyone.

This. But also, Q was never a big fan of his defensive effort. Perhaps it was just a matter of Pirri getting a chance to play under Q and his staff? Seems to be plenty of effort from him in the Hawks' zone.

Also....Pirri has played what, 20 games? Almost all of them on the 2nd line with guys like Kane and Saad? Let's not make him out to be some star. A lot of guys can find success playing with that talent.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Ah gotcha. Still I want Cuthbert back on HNIC. lol

Alright hockey fans I want some input. As you may have saw from my post the other day, going to Wings/Bruins tomorrow night. I will be tempted, and probably cave, to buy a shirt while I'm there. I want a Winter Classic jersey but I can't get myself to spend that kind of money for something I'll rarely wear. So I'm torn between these two.

Zetterberg Winter Classic jersey shirt:

http://shop.nhl.com/Detroit_Red_Wing..._T-Shirt_-_Red

Or either the tshirt or sweatshirt of this:
http://shop.nhl.com/Detroit_Red_Wing..._T-Shirt_-_Ash

The Zetterberg shirt doesn't date itself the way the WC shirt does. But the vintage/nostalgic part of the Norris Rivalry is just cool.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I'm not a fan of jersey t-shirts so I vote option two.

But really you should just get the winter classic sweater :lol

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I want that so bad you have no idea. But my wife would kill me. lol

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Zetterberg shirt.

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also get the t-shirt version of the second one. When sweatshirts are too specific they never get worn

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Toronto was so bad last night. EVERYONE was bad from top to bottom. I was grateful I wasn't watching. I had a friend sending me updates and then watched the game in six minutes but my god that was a stinker. Be better Toronto. Be Better.

Little disappointed after Reimer played like the kind of the world on Saturday.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

The new Canadian TV deal will raise the cap by $3mil next year on it's own. It's also sounding like HNIC is going to be phased out over the next four years (unless they are given an opportunity to re-up)