Re: The NHL Thread
 

I think Ghost gets it. Larkin does have a good all around game but offensively has fallen off recently.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

And for our Canes fan - while I don't think Hanifin and Slavin are having quite Calder-worthy seasons (which, in the end, it's just a trophy anyways!), they certainly deserve to be included in the "rookies with loads of potential" category.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I actually think the Flyers match up best with the Caps. They seem to be able to hang with them the most for whatever reason. A 3 goal Caps win a while back. Then 2 one goal games. (split) And they play each other again in a couple of weeks.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

again, i'm not saying the Flyers can't beat them, i'm just saying the Pens matchup way better

i don't see Philly having the goaltending to keep the Caps' power play at bay

i'd see the Caps overwhelming the Flyers by game 5 or 6 whereas i'd see a series against the Pens going 7 and i'd probably pick the Pens to win it

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I can settle for honorable mention. :lol

Neither of them have played their way onto the level of the three mentioned previously. Hanifin and Slavin were both very solid, but didn't put up the numbers to really get in the conversation. And Slavin only really got on a tear once Faulk got hurt.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Caps will beat any of the PA teams. Book it.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah, for rookies they've been great. People forget that 98% of NHL defensemen take 3-ish seasons to really adjust to the NHL game. And that's totally fine. Not everyone can be Aaron Ekblad.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Panarin's gonna win the Calder. There's several really impressive rookies this year, but it's Panarin.

edit: I'll even say I agree with Matty that Larkin's two way game is more impressive than any of the rest and that he very well could prove to be the best player overall career wise, but the nhl awards are all about flash and offense these days. Hence why Subban has won the Norris. Again, it's Panarin's Calder this year

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol Don't worry, I actually agree here and I have not started to drink yet.

Anything can happen in the playoffs, but I don't see either Philly or Pitt knocking out the Caps.

Honestly, the only team in the Met I see those teams being able to knock out in Round 1 is the Icelanders...and only because the Icelanders have not won a playoff series in over 2 decades.

I personally would love to see the Pens in round 1. I think the Rangers would win that series in 5 or 6.

Philly would worry me more to be honest. Could see that going 7.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I don't really have a ton of faith against any team honestly. I could very easily see the Caps flaming out in round 1. Wouldn't surprise at all. Doesn't matter who they play.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Geez man, and you all call me the pessimist! I truly believe the Caps will get out of the first round.

Hell, I would be surprised if the Rangers don't get out of the first round, and I am always melting about them!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol yeah I guess I am kinda pessimistic when it comes to playoffs

I mean, there's a lot of history that tells me to be real cautious about Caps and expectations

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I don't see how you don't give Panarin the Calder.

No offense to the other guys like Larkin, etc., but Panarin is the clear winner.

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Alright Pens, do your job on Saturday.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yup, they will beat any teams in HI or AK too! :lol

That is not entirely fair to Panarin, he is not only having a good season for a rookie he is having a good season for anyone. I take your point about flash and panache but if you look over his stats he is in the top 25 of every meaningful offensive category.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Hey man. Shut it! Again.

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You're right. Panarin is a very deserving candidate.

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:thumbsup

Now let's hope our 6 picks in the first 3 rounds get players of similar calibre. I think Francis has turned out to be pretty shrewd with player development.

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Dustin with a goal in each of the last 3 games. His off the ice work is finally paying off.
https://twitter.com/LAKings/status/710664497220833280

Re: The NHL Thread
 

My wish came true!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

That was basically the Stanley Cup Finals all over. Even when the Rangers were up 3-1 I said to my parents "Wow, I hope the Rangers just get a point out of this." The Rangers are still not really able to handle the top of the west.

Also, sorry to our local Kings fan (and sort of Rangers fan), but I really despise the Kings more than I ever thought possible. Kings are 100% my most hated team in the NHL now. I even took pleasure in the Devils beating them last week. I would rather see the Flyers win the cup at this point.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Panarin will win, I have very little doubt. And that's fine. His play merits the recognition.

But in the end, I like talking more about who I would LIKE to see win rather than who WILL win. I know, how selfish, right? But in many cases it's hard to determine who should win a particular award. I mean, with the Norris, do you go for the point getters (Karlsson), or the staunch defenders (Suter)? So for me, I just like to identify whose game I like the most, and then give them accolades for it. And you know me and my tastes, so it should be no surprise I like Larkin's game more than Panarin's. Not a knock on Panarin, just preference. To me, that's a more fun conversation than predicting who actually will win what is in all actuality, a pretty meaningless award.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Ghost Bear will win you racists

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I wouldn't say it is selfish at all, it is no different than a healthy debate/discussion about who will win an MVP award, a Conn Smyth, a golden glove, a golden ball (world Cup) or any other personal award in sports where stats don't figure in quite as much as say a batting average champion, a passing leader, a rushing leader or who tallies the most points in a given season. If anything we are lucky to be having this discussion because these guys have added so much talent to the NHL - which frankly does not get the recognition of the NBA, NFL or MLB. It is great for the league to have all these new guys add their skill to the NHL. That said, I think McDavid would be the runaway winner if he did not suffer an injury.

I think the norris debate will be good too!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

The thing that might keep Panarin from it, is that the writers will look at who he plays for. "The Hawks make anyone look good" will be the argument. No matter how unfair that might be, we know it happens. It's like coach of the year. The Presidents Trophy winner rarely gets it. It's usually the coach of a team who sucked last year and is good this year or just a team that was expected to be worse than they actually were this year.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

isn't Panarin like 69 years old?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Problem is that the writers largely knows squat about hockey and are often biased against certain teams. You could make the same argument about guys who make their debut on the Caps, the Rangers, the Kings, the Ducks, etc, etc - doesn't mean their misgivings have any weight. These are the same type pf idiots who gave an MVP award to Joe Dimaggio in 1941 instead of Ted Williams who hit .406 or the morons who think Ripken's streak is more impressive than Gehrig's or the mental midgets who awarded a golden glove to Rafael Palmeiro over Tino Martinez - somehow overlooking the fact that Palmiero only played 28 games in the field. In the NFL they have the same nitwhits who constantly claim Tom Brady gets more credit than he deserves. The writers are pathetic, better to let the league or the players cast the votes IMO.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Also, it is the players who make the team look good, not the other way around!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Kronwall could be back Saturday and Howard might start. Both are surprising. Wasn't expecting Kronner back so soon and assumed Mrazek would be healthy (was ill last night) for tomorrow. Howie has played well recently and looked calm and collected last night. The best he's looked since early in the season. If he leads them down the stretch, whether they make it into the playoffs or not, it'll be interesting to see what happens in goal. I still think they keep Mrazek over him. Youth will win out but Howie playing well could help trade value so a positive there too.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yes, market definitely does play a part in it, either in favor of the player or against him.

For example, I'd love to see what the Calder talk would be like if Max Domi played for the Hawks, Rangers, etc. instead of the Coyotes.