Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:lol Dude Washington's in shambles right now. Plus don't the Pens always beat them? Well, I guess they're not going to always be as bad as they are right now... lol

Me too :thumbsup

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

na, not exactly. the pens won against the caps last week for the first time in regulation in about two years. my gripe really isnt about the teams in my teams division, because they're some great rivalries, its more about the playoffs for me.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Bruins win! Down goes Pittsburgh! Down goes Pittsburgh.:hump

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

What a hockey game in Chicago. Very hard earned point for both teams. Wow, what a pace. Feels like the playoffs.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

To bring it to a shootout against Phoenix when down 3-0 is amazing. Tippet is like 117-9-3 when scoring first, and I'm not making that up, I'm just unsure of the exact record, it's in that ball park. I'll look up the official number after the shootout. this has been all Hawks since the end of the first.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

He is 114-9-12 when scoring first

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

nhlpa hasnt approved yet

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Too bad, Hawks had a ton of golden opportunities. Stalberg missing the net on the doorstep (:rolleyes) from Toews...Yandle denying Hossa on the empty net on a nasty bouncing puck. I'll take a point after being down 3-0 but the defense has to be better. So much time running around like idiots inside their own zone.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

My hatred for shootouts strikes again. I don't even like winning them.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

It was fun for a while, but now it's rather pointless. Oh well, every team pretty much wins and loses just about the same number of them.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Are the Caps fans sad that they won't be winning any more President's Trophies?

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

lollerpens

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Fuck this realignment bullshit. NHL just trying to make more money. Upset I'll have to deal with the scrum of the earth philly fans 6 times a year makes me want to take a dump on Gary B's pillow case. Also the fact that TB and FLA are way out of place in group c.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Washington Capitals with Mike Green in the lineup: 8-0-0
Washington Capitals without Mike Green in the lineup: 5-12-1

Mike Green = most valuable D player.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Oh and in other news, the NHL has decided to rename the NYR/PHL/PIT/WASH conference to the NBC Conference. True Story

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Look on the bright side, you won't be padding your point total by playing in a shitty division. This way, when you loose in the playoffs, it shouldn't come as a complete surprise :thumbsup

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

All together now People!


Bruins!!!!!!:bounce

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Your an idiot.

Do you even watch the games? Before April I mean?

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

TB and FLA are pretty much out of place no matter where you put them. Although it sucks for the teams in that conference. I'm so happy the Caps won't play those garbage teams all the time. The WSH/PIT/PHI/NYR/NYI/NJ/CAR division is stacked, but I love it.

One question I do have that I haven't seen brought up yet: how is the All Star game going to work? Are they just gonna keep doing what they did last year? I'd be okay with that

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

This is getting very old very quick.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I would have preferred:


Montreal
Toronto
Ottawa
NY R
NY I
Buffalo
Boston

----
Washington
Carolina
Florida
Tampa
Pitt
Phi
NJ

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

The only problem I have is the playoff format. I'm not a fan of having teams with fewer points getting in while teams with more points don't, and I feel like that's going to happen. I say if there's basically no more east and west, and the league has no problem with an east team playing a west team in round 3 of the playoffs, just put the top 16 teams in a bracket (1v16, 2v15, etc) and reseed each round until there's a champion. I feel like it can't get any more fair than that.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Have you seen whose first in your division? :lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Yeah I guess garbage was the wrong term to use. I mean you're right, FLA is on top of the division and TB made them look even more playoff inept than they already did last year. What I meant was nobody really seems to care about those teams (FLA in particular) even though they are good, and it's boring to watch. ATL was dreadful. And after being so overly saturated with these teams it's a nice change. I get much more excited for Flyers and Pens games than I do Panthers and Bolts games.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Has this been discussed in here? I'm sure it has, sorry if it's a duplicate post.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/sp...imes&seid=auto

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

What you said is right on. I guess for the 8 team conferences it will be some teams you play 5 and others 6 and it will be on a rotating basis. So the Wings for instance will face the Hawks 5 times one year and 6 another depending.
Me too
It's the old Norris Division really. It's the Norris plus the Wild, Jackets and Preds.
It's not about money. Eastern teams will actually spend more on travel, although Western teams (well the ones in the middle of the states) will travel less. It's about a more balanced schedule and to level the playing field. I mean Eastern teams will travel less no matter what just cause of location but Western teams shouldn't have to jump 3 time zones because of their location.
They used to do 1-16. Why we had a Philly/Isles Final in 80. I understand this argument but you had that in the 3 division system in a way with home ice advanaage. Less now but 2002 the Canes were the 16th team in the playoffs but got the 3rd seed in the East. There are pluses and minuses to both setups really.

I'm of course a huge fan of this. Trips west are cut in half. I like the rivalry with the Sharks and I like playing the Canucks but I hate going out there twice. Playoff time is even better. That was my biggest complaint. Travel sucked for the players while teams like Buffalo and TO are 4-5 hour drive away and they've got it easy. But for me 8:30 would be the LATEST start time in the playoffs. I really hope that they still do stick to the a West/East Conference Finals though. I mean I like the tradition of the Campbell Bowl and Wales Trophy. How would you award those? Second while it would be kinda cool to have it re-seeded 1-4 it's not good for the NHL ratings wise to have two East teams face off or two West teams face off. Probably more so West. As someone said Sharks/Stars Final? Ratings juggernaut there huh?

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I didn't know all of the specifics in the last few years of his life. Yikes.

Sounds like he needed a good friend.

NY Rangers didn't do much to help, if anything aided the prescription pills. His family members and "friends" did the same thing.

I didn't know the thing about two other "enforcers" killing themselves. Tough call. It is a lot like boxing.

Trading dollars for your life I guess.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I hadn't read that yet. Thank you for sharing. Some crazy stuff in there. I never knew that side of him...I guess most didn't though.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

So what are we thinking in terms of names of the conferences? I know it won't be Adams..Smythe and so on because your stupid fans...I mean average fans don't get it. I mean could go back to Pacific, Central and whatever or do they go Gretzky, Howe, Orr...etc like that? I mean if FLA and TBL weren't with TO and the rest it would be NE but that doesn't really fit for them.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

This is a powerful article. Thanks for posting. :thumbsup

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Gretzky
Howe
Orr
OMGCG

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I'd love to see the Bruins division named after Orr just to see how pissed everyone in Montreal would be.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Looks like Barnaby got dropped by ESPN after his DWI arrest. Idiot.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Yeah. Hit his wife or something not long ago didn't he?

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Of course still on realignment, the one argument I saw on TSN was you want the best 4 teams in the final 4. That doesn't always happen now. A #1 seed can get beat by #8. Their argument was 1985 when the Oilers, Flames and Jets were 3 of top 5 teams overall during the regular season and you knew that two of them would be gone by the 3rd round. The Norris sucked that year so I think TSN was being Canadian biased with that one. There are more good teams now so while you might get a 5th team in one conf. not making it I personally don't think the whole "best 4" argument coming from people is a good one.

Also I had said I wanted it still to really be a Western Conference or Eastern Conference Final I think it will be. You can sell more t-shirts that way. It would probably say Campbell Bowl winners or something but more sales baby. Also the whole divisional playoff will get them tshirts there too.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Not sure if I'm quite understanding this correctly, but I think by subdividing the conferences further like this, the odds of having the best teams come through actually decreases. Especially because each conference is now guaranteed 1 team in the final 4. Look at last season. Van vs. SJ in the WCF. It would be tough to argue that those 2 teams weren't the best in the West, yet now they play in the same division and only one could make it to the semi-finals. It also gives teams at the top of a very weak conference an advantage to get to the semi-finals over teams in very strong ones. So, I'm not a huge fan of the new playoff system.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

No you're right with the Canucks and Sharks the best teams in the West last year and wouldn't have faced off in round 3 under this format. But I can go to years where it wasn't the best teams that made it. The Canes weren't one of the best teams in the East in 09. They earned it to get there but Pens/Bruins were better. Same in 2010 with the Habs and 2006 with the Oilers. They earned their ways there but weren't the best teams the way the Sharks and Nucks clearly were. Well Canucks anyways I can't say if the Wings were there that they were "worse" than the Sharks.

I've seen the Wings lose early to crap teams. Seen them get the 4th seed because they didn't win the central and in round 2 with the Blues gone they were the best team record wise still remaining in the playoffs but got the Avs in round 2 and started on the road. That didn't seem right either. And I mentioned early about the Canes in 02 being the 16th team in the playoffs but got home ice in round 1 and with the 1st and 2nd teams out got it in rounds 2 and 3 as well. So I won't be one to sit here and say it's unfair to my team when I've seen the old system be "unfair" to them as well.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Yeah, I mean, with any system there are going to be some...inequalities.

But I think the fact that the two "Eastern" conferences have 1 fewer team gives them a significant statistical advantage in their odds to reach the playoffs.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Rioting in the streets.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I do see that it being a slight advantage in terms of just numbers but again that's the nature of things with 30 teams. Bettman even said this leaves room for flexibility. IE when PHX doesn't sell we can move them East or if they happen to end up in the middle of the States like Kansas City, we can move CBJ or Detroit into that conference with Boston and them.

And I wanna say I like a 1-8 playoff but being selfish I hate it on my team. The travel is a big deal. SJ series alone the Wings were on a plane for about 25 hours total in one round. And for the fans the 10pm or later games suck. I can't do that anymore with a kid at home and a job where I have to get up at 6. It really sucked staying up only to have them lose. lol Plus the rivalries will be ratcheted it up a bit when you are not only fighting for playoff spots with these teams but then meet them in the playoffs.So while this is far from perfect I think it's the best they can do right now.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Two for Tootoo... Right call?

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

^^ Here's the link to Sheriff Shanny in case anyone wants to view: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=605024

I'm well aware of the speed of the game and how hard it can sometimes be to minimize contact or avoid a collision altogether, but from my vantage point (which, as a viewer is not always perfect), Tootoo could have at least minimized contact on that play. I'm ok with the supplemental discipline handed out on this one.

And, like I said before, I LOVED Miller's response. I would've done the exact same thing coming off a concussion that happened because of a similar play. Way to see him stand up for himself, and for the rest of the team to do the same.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:lol But I would still BUY you a drink perhaps. Does that count?

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:thumbsup:thumbsup I can't believe some people were criticizing the Sabres for this after what happened with Lucic. What the hell did people expect them to do?

I think the two game suspension is fair. I know some Sabres fans wanted much more than this, but I'm completely fine with two. Looking back though, if this deserved two, then I don't see how the Lucic didn't deserve two as well

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

That was the thing Shanny was gonna have a problem with. You give Tootoo anything people are gonna be like what about Lucic. However, imo, Tootoo's was a little worse. I mean he launched himself at Miller, and I think going for his head. Lucic was still on purpose though don't get me wrong.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Meh I'm not sure I agree with the suspension. Tootoo didn't really have anywhere to go in that situation.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I agree he couldn't have changed direction, but could he have minimized contact (i.e. slowed down)? I'm thinking he may have been able to.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I dunno it seemed to me like it was just a tough goaltender interference. If the lucic incident hadn't just happened there isn't even a disciplinary hearing let alone a suspension imo.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Toews is a God. IMO, him and Crosby are the two best players in the NHL, everyone else is a step below those two.

And yes, I think he is getting on Crosby's level.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Tim Thomas is the best player in the world.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Could you imagine if the Pens drafted Toews instead of Jordan Staal?

Jesus.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

You know who is on OMGCG's level?

No one.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

He sucks too much, you're right.

Toews
Crosby





Patrick Kane















Matt Cooke
















Beer league benders












Claude Giroux

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Chris is a bad person.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:thumbsup:thumbsup
May God have mercy on your soul

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

But I do agree with Chris about Toews and Crosby. The way they play the game is a bit different, but it's their attitude that elevates them to that same level of greatness. That willingness to do whatever it takes and play whatever role to win at the highest level. That's what makes them great players and leaders, even at their age.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:lol:lol:lol:lol

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Toews > Giroux

Toews has the same number of points in the first 3 games of December that he had in the entire month of October. He never plays well in October. If he stays at this pace it's his Hart Trophy to lose, possibly even the Selke.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Sure, but has Toews ever healed anyone?

No.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:lol:bounce:multi

Bruins!!!! And suck it.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

no, he does the opposite. He slays: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttigJnJV4XY

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:lol :lol this past page is hilarious. if the pens would have drafted toews he'd be stuck on the third line like staal.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

LOL

Crosby would be sharpening his skates for him.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

ummm seguin didn't play tonight cuz he missed a team breakfast?! realllly? :lol

aka too hungover to get up for breakfast cuz he's legal in canada :lol

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I hope that is all there is to it.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

lollerbruins.

:lol

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Toews > Bruins

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

They are playing horrible. Luckily not quite as horrible as the Flyers.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:lol:lol:lol:lol

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

14-1-1 stretch. Ba-ru-tull!

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

He's on an insane hot streak. That said, you have to let the season play out before this statement could hold any truth. Toews has never gone more than 76 points and, though it's not all about points with Toews, becoming an elite scorer is what he would have to do to get on Crosby's level. Right now, it looks like he's becoming that. But we'll see if the pucks keep going in for him.

The thing that Toews has is faceoff skills that are just significantly better than anyone in the league. He's a full 3.5% better in the dot than anyone in the league.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

(Because I'm bored) If you had to pick some award finalists at this point in the season who would they be?

Mine:
Coach: Kevin Dineen, Mike Yeo, and toss up between Bylsma, Julien, and Tippets

Norris: Chara, Weber, Phaneuf (he's back)

Vezina: Thomas, Jimmy Howard, Mike Smith

Calder: Nugent-Hopkins, Matt Read, toss up between Gabriel Landeskog and Craig Smith

Hart: Kessell, Toews, OMGCG

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Uh oh.

http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.ht...wt-pghpenguins

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Of course, when I just got tickets to see him tomorrow.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I feel sick.

I'd rather have Stall that Towes, assuming everyone on the Pens is healthy.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

You're nuts off you'd rather have staal than toews. Staal is a good player but toews is elite.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

So is Staal.

Guy has turned into a 30 goal scorer, and a favorite for the Selke.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I hear Toews is already being enshrined into the Hockey Hall of Fame as we speak.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Staal has never topped 50 points or 30 goals and toews is a selke candidate as well.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I take bergeron over staal any day of the week.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:lol:lol:lol You are a fantastic human, Matt.
Toews
Staal
Bergeron

IMO

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I think staal and bergeron are close, but toews is on a different level than them.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Lol looking at numbers of course people would take taves over staal. Staal plays on the third line with matt cooke and tyler kennedy. You give him first line and pp minutes instead of just es and pk minutes from the start of his career and he likely puts up numbers like taves. Personally, i dont even have taves in my top ten.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Agreed. With that in mind, should be:

Toews

Kevin Dineen



Staal
Bergeron

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

You can see the difference just by watching them play. All 3 are very good defensively but toews has much better offensive instincts than bergeron and staal.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Toews - besides his skillset - has this air of quiet dignity and determination about him... not quite sure how to describe it but not every player has it. In 20 years we'll be talking about him the same way we talk about Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic.

Maybe it's just a #19 thing.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Toews > Everything

For real though, he needs to keep it up. He always gets going though late in the year and never cools down, this is the first hot streak of his in a while that I remember coming this early. Keep it the hell up.

And I'm sure Crosby will sit out when he has to play the Hawks in about 2 weeks.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

All Hail:

PK9 Paul Kennedy
The gap between Jonathan Toews (62.3%) and the next best faceoff win% (58.7%) right now is larger than the gap between 2nd & 15th.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

On the other hand, Staal is one of the worst in the NHL at the dot this year.

I would love to have Staal, but to say he's on the same plane as Toews is beyond ridiculous. If you had a top 3 C's of Crosby - Malkin - Toews, you wouldn't even need a 4th line. :lol

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

maybe points wise, but if I'm making a team I'm putting Datsyuk at a C and Malkin on a wing

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

This thread is out of control. Jesus.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

if I were making a team, I would make the 3 best 2-way centers my centers.

Crosby, Toews, Datsyuk

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol You're such a moron.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:lol :lol


Sabres must be shooting beach balls tonight

EDIT: wow, did that get in? I looked away for a second and its a goal. thats a big goal

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

That was a ridiculous period. Nice work by Kassian. Something tells me he won't be going back to Rochester anytime soon.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Ryan Miller just made a save with his head without his helmet on. What The Fuck

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Ryan Miller looking awful. Sabres don't look that great every time I watch them.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

It's all Lucic's fault. Just ask Lindy Ruff.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Fuck You Buffalo