Re: The NHL Thread
 

Pretty good. Yeah, the Subban love no longer even surprises me, unfortunately. I like your list a lot better than theirs. :thumbsup

I have a hard time ranking players individually just because their different skillsets often makes it difficult to determine if one player is "better" than the other. But obviously some players rise above the rest. I'll just do groupings, with no particular ranking:

Certainly, my top 4 defensemen in the game would be:
Keith
Doughty
Weber
Suter
This is based on their overall ability to do EVERYTHING right.

After that, to round out the top 10:
Giordano
Karlsson
Hedman
McDonagh
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Alex Pietrangelo
Would love to keep going but I'll stop myself there.

Young stars... Give 3-ish more seasons of solid development in the NHL and they could easily crack the list:
Ekblad
Gudbranson
Barrie
Hamonic
Carlson
Spurgeon

Re: The NHL Thread
 

How did I forget OEL?! I'm ashamed of myself.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Giordano signed an extension.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Nice kind words from the Great One on Arbour. I copied and pasted:

He may be known as "The Great One," but Wayne Gretzky recalls the late Al Arbour as one of the most respected men in hockey.
Gretzky, who was at The Barclays following his son-in-law, golfer Dustin Johnson, took time to reflect on Arbour, who passed away Friday.
"Oh my gosh. I don't know if hockey has ever had a classier man involved with the game. He was so well respected," Gretzky told Newsday's Mark Herrmann.
"My dad always said, one thing in life you can't do is buy respect," Gretzky said. "You have to earn respect. Al was the kind of person who everybody really liked and gravitated to, but really respected. And the game of hockey is not the same today without him. Just a good man."
Arbour is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame - inducted in 1996 - and sits second all-time in wins and games coached in the NHL. He also coached the New York Islanders to four Stanley Cups in the 1980s.
"The hockey community is a small world," said Gretzky. "Every player knows the respect factor that people have for someone like Al Arbour - a wonderful person who got respect from everybody who played with him, against him or for him."

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I'd like to think there is some truth to this article.

http://thehockeywriters.com/are-the-...leeping-giant/

Re: The NHL Thread
 

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2...d-trade-calls/

First, this shows exactly what we had said before, someone will take him eventually. Second, would they really trade him?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Reading stuff like "more than 5 teams contacted the Blackhawks as soon as news of the investigation broke" is a discouraging sign for the state of the world.

Like, really? As soon as the news broke? Fuck yeah, Kaner screwed up big time! Let's see if we can't pry this alleged rapist off the Hawks and add him to our roster!!! Rape shmape, have you SEEN that guy play?!

:rolleyes

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I absolutely think they will trade him.

I personally think he has played his last game for the Hawks regardless of what happens and if there are charges at this point.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

From the reports I read, Kane has no interest in agreeing to void is no trade clause.

They certainly are keeping this investigation under the hood. I would think if he was innocent something would be said by now.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I dunno what happens. Ya gotta imagine some kind of charges come from this with how long it's taking, at least that's my guess. If he doesn't get jail time I wonder if they keep him. I understand what the article is saying, they feel disrespected with what he said at the parade after all the help they've given him, but you won't get fair return and is that worth dumping him then? PTI talked about this last night, and I'm with Wilbon, why would you trade him now and why would anyone take him RIGHT NOW with no idea how this is gonna play out. We're only a few weeks from training camp, so what happens by then? That's my biggest question.

edit: also, I liked one of the comments on that article when someone said what do you expect a single guy with no kids to do? (not the rape just the partying) and someone said "I dunno, ask Toews." And that's right. You don't hear that shit about him.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I have no clue why any team would consider trading for a guy with a $10m cap hit who could face possible criminal charges and (if so) one would think a hefty suspension from the league.

I'm sorry but I do not buy that bullshit about other teams wanting to touch that PR disaster with a 10' pole. Lazerus must have been high as fuck when he wrote that garbage.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I would not trade him, IMO he is one of the five best FWD's in hockey right now.

Also, no ones what happened that night and it has been a while since the allegations yet no charges have been filed.

So yeah, why trade him now when you will likely get very little in return as as a result of an allegation?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I don't doubt teams have called but I'm sure it's just "hey if you are thinking about dumping him when this gets resolved, we'll be interested" kind of thing. Whether they trade him or not, I dunno. Depends on how pissed off they really are, and if they feel they can live with him around.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

would be a great PR move to trade Kane, but a terrible hockey move

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I can't help but think of the Varlamov situation. Not exactly the same by any means, but similar in the sense that it involved a high profile player, went on for a while, and there was tons of talk about the team cutting ties with him. Long story short, charges were dismissed due to lack of evidence. Of course, just because he wasn't found guilty doesn't mean he's innocent. She maintains he was abusive and he maintains she's crazy. But the fact remains that now, a couple years later, Varlamov is still a member of the Avalanche and no one talks about or even seems to remember the situation.

I'm definitely not saying we should treat the Kane situation with levity or brush it under the rug. Charges of rape need to be treated with the utmost seriousness. But I think talk of trading him and stuff is jumping the gun a little bit. I'm not familiar with this Lazerus guy and can't speak to his reputation or creds, but to tell you the truth I could've almost predicted that a story like this would come out in the wake of the investigation.

I know it's easier said than done when it involves such a high profile player who means so much to a very good team, but let this thing play out.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Cool Player's Trib article from Bryce Salvador:

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/bry...ls-retirement/

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Kane has a history, though and was likely warned by the club and was asked to keep "clean". They surely cannot be happy with what has happened this summer with him. They have sponsors, etc they have to answer to and need to maintain an image so I wouldn't doubt there are internal talks going on or have gone on about how to proceed and if trading Kane would be in their best interest. Surely, they have more info on the situation than the public does.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Still very surprised at how quiet it has been. In this day and age with so little leaking...amazing.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I feel the fact that we have heard so little about it and nothing has leaked makes Kane more likely did something wrong. I'm thinking if this was going to go away and he was going to come away unscathed that things would have moved along in his favor.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Fantasy Hockey is coming up. Thoughts on approaches? Goalie first round?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I would be down for playing fantasy again this year

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I'm of course all for it again.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I'd be in if you have a spot for me.

My long time league, running close to 10 years now, will force me to make important decisions this year. It's an auction league and I had all cheap keepers last year but after adding Tarasenko and some other talent last year, my keepers may get more expensive. I can't see not keeping Tarasenko at $47 bucks. That's close to 10% of our cap. If he goes back in, he would go for about $75, I'm thinking.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I said earlier this summer how Dustin was in the best shape of his life and hoping he continued his routines when we went back to NY. He definitely has. Guy is a beast now. I'm very proud of him and can't wait to see how this improves him out on the ice.

http://lakingsinsider.com/2015/09/02...-nutritionist/

Re: The NHL Thread
 

And I'm in for fantasy again, obviously.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

Great article.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Are we doing a keeper league still?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I'm game. Hopefully I pay attention to it this year and not too busy.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Nick Backstrom continues to be the most underrated hockey player in the world, even according to EA Sports

http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks...top-10-center/

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I suppose so. Tough to push some of those guys out of the top 10.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

You guys know of my aversion to broad-stroke ranking, but if I WERE to do it based on that list of centers, I'd probably stick him between Datsyuk and Tavares at the #5 spot.

FWIW, I would also move Getzlaf out of #9 and put him under Tavares.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Who exactly, in this list, is he better than?

1. SIDNEY CROSBY (96)
2. JONATHAN TOEWS (94)
3. STEVEN STAMKOS (93)
4. PAVEL DATSYUK (93)
5. JOHN TAVARES (92)
6. EVGENI MALKIN (92)
7. ANZE KOPITAR (92)
8. HENRIK ZETTERBERG (92)
9. RYAN GETZLAF (91)
10. TYLER SEGUIN (91)

No one, in my mind. He's good, but there's a LOT of great talent in the league. I think they got this list pretty close to 100% correct. I'd argue Tavares ahead of Datsyuk at this point in their careers, but that's just nit-picking.

Backstrom is good, but these guys are better. You just have to remember the incredible talent that's in this league right now. Seguin was SECOND in the league in PPG (points per game) behind only Crosby, and he's #10. You'd want to bump Seguin off this list for Backstrom? No way.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Also worth noting that OMGCG is not on that list.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Lemieux and Co. asking $750 million for the Penguins + the development rights for the land the old Igloo was on

will set an American record if sold for that price

Mario is a fucking god...from bankruptcy to the most valuable American franchise..all of this after winning 2 cups and compiling a top 3 all time career as a player

i'd go gay for Mario, just sayin

Re: The NHL Thread
 

His 160 point scoring-title winning cancer-destroying season is a top-5 athletic performance of all time. Damn shame that team didn't win a 3rd consecutive Cup that year.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

that was the best team out of the 3 also, which makes it hurt even more

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Definitely. :thumbsup But hey, they won the President's Trophy (which is all that matters, right Caps fans?!) :lol :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol:lol Backstrom should have 5 Hart trophies by now!!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I'd definitely put him ahead of Kopitar, Zetterburg and Getzlaf. Probably Seguin and Malkin as well. Tavares, maybe, but probably not. I mean it's meaningless video game stats obviously, and the difference in quality between the 5th best center in the NHL and the 11th best isn't very much. Just pointing out another example of what I would consider the Ovechkin shadow. I mean Holtby was given a higher rating. And I love Braden, but really? No way that's correct in my opinion. Backstrom is regularly undervalued because he plays next to Ovie and all the attention he commands. Which is ultimately fine, as it's never hindered his play at all. But I just see another example here of how underrated he can be. He's easily a top 10 center. I think that's more than fair.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol stopped reading after this

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I see the Pens fans have offered up more meaningless drivel. Thank goodness for that.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I still remember watching that first game back, just in awe. Didn't he come straight to the game from radiation treatment, and still get like a goal and an assist?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

oh here we go

my apologies...can we at least be friends until the season starts?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

yep, and shortly after that he got a standing ovation at MSG after scoring 5 goals in the game that still stands as the NHL record 17th straight win :lol

so stupid good

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Talk about Le'Magnifique is neither meaningless nor drivel. I threw in some levity to assuage the sting I still feel from that Game 7 loss to the Isles. Apologies for it being at the Caps expense. :)

All of this is correct. Still boggles my mind.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Sorry about that. Well, no, not really.

Still so improbable we won that series with no Turgeon.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Dude, your bias is showing so hard right now.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

one of the greatest performances I've ever seen. Cemented my opinion that Mario is my favorite non Islander of all time. Stick it those rag$

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I mean, I know Caps fans love to talk about "how super underrated Backstrom is", and he probably doesn't get the recognition he deserves...but god damn.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yes of course

No worries it's mostly h2p and his rambling nonsense. And I actually am not aware of a trophy one would want to win more than the President's. :confused

I really don't think saying Backstrom is a top 10 center is overly biased

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I made many good points. Y'all keep hating while he leads the league in assists again next year.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

But you didn't have him top 10. You have him top 5 and over Malkin, Getzlaf and maybe JT, which is laughable. Hence, your bias is shining.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Sounds like I'm in the minority here, but I would rank Backstrom pretty damn high. I've always had a tough time ranking guys with different skill sets against each other. Like, "who's better, Getzlaf or Backstrom?" Uh...

So I usually go off of, "who would I rather have on my team?" and how complete their game is. How many situations can they plan in and still be effective? I know other people have different criteria than me and that's fine. But Backstrom meets that for me in spades. I wouldn't take him over Toews and others, but I would over Seguin.

In the end, does ranking really matter? I mean, it's fun to banter and bitch about, but can't guys just be considered "really good hockey players" without having a number assigned to them?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

But if we WERE to rank top RWs of all time, I think we all know who would be #1

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I think we all agree that Backstrom is pretty good to great and deserves recognition. I'm a Backstrom fan for sure. But I just can't get on board with this.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

That doesn't say Bossy.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I mean, I just don't consider it all that extreme of an opinion. It's not like it's off the charts ridiculous to say Nicky's as good or better than Evgeni Malkin. I just don't see that as being laughable.

Boom :thumbsup

Re: The NHL Thread
 

It became laughable when you had him over all of them, not just one. I'm not going to start knocking Backstrom because he's very good but I just don't have him that high.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah. I think a big part of it is the understated way he plays the game. He's a very quiet player for the most part who just gets the job done. Yet, he's almost a PPG player throughout his career (just checked: 572 pts in 577 games). And he can play the PP, he can play the PK, he can pass, he can shoot (although he needs to do it more), he can skate like lightning, he can cover defensively when called upon, and by all accounts he's got a great attitude. I love all the guys on that top 10 list, but I wouldn't hesitate to include Backstrom smack dab in the middle of 'em all.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

And that's fine. I was just pointing out yet another example of Backstrom never getting due credit on a league wide basis. Stuff like never making an ASG, never being on top 10 center lists, etc. It's meaningless stuff that doesn't have any bearing on how he performs, but I like to point it out because, what can I say. I'm in love with the guy.

And I maintain saying he's at least the 10th best center in the NHL is very much a fair statement.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Pretty much this exactly.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:thumbsup he transcended time and space

:lol

:confused

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Was just joking bud

Re: The NHL Thread
 

no worries

ever think about how fitting it is that the Caps play at the Verizon Center? i mean, considering no matter where they go they get an awful reception

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I literally have zero problems ever with my Verizon service anywhere I've been in the country

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I mean, no. It's just at least something to talk about here during the beginning of September.

God knows I'm not a "stats" guy, so I'm going to try and avoid that. If we look at a criteria like the overused "fantasy draft" where all players become free agents and teams get to redraft everyone, where would Backstrom fall? Would you feel better about drafting Kopitar than Backstrom as your #1 guy? I know I fuckin would. Backstrom is a great #2 guy, but anyone that says they'd rather build a team around Backstrom than fuckin' John Tavares, Ryan Getzlaf or Pavel Datsyuk is either an idiot or a god damn liar.

Just my opinion.

I think in that "fantasy draft" you'd see Backstrom as early as a late 1st or as late as a mid 2nd round pick. You'd see Tavares top 10, for sure. I'd draft Seguin, Malkin, Kopitar, etc. all over Backstrom.

Again, not to say he's not a great player, I think he is, he's just more suited as a top tier #2 guy where the other guys are much more "I want to build my team around this guy".

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Well, then I suppose I'm an idiot and a liar.

For reasons I've already stated, I would take him over Tavares (barely though... I love that guy!), Kopitar, and Seguin. Despite what I said before, I probably would not take Backstrom over Getzlaf in a fantasy draft. So in that sitch, Getzlaf over Backstrom. Same with Datsyuk, Toews, Stamkos, and Crosby. Malkin's a tough call... there's no denying that skillset, but not sure how much I like him.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

You are a liar, that's for sure.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Voynov taken into custody by ICE. Wonder if this leads to anything.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Domestic abuse, since he is not a US citizen ICE handled the arrest.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I know, I just mean I wonder if it leads to him getting kicked out of the country. Which technically they could do correct?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Former Flyers forward Tim Kerr's son signed to play basketball in the Czech Republic. Kid is a stud.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

So it's been summer and I've essentially forgotten that hockey exists because Edmonton summers are way to short to be thinking about ice and snow and cold.

But the temperature has started to drop, so I've listening the hype around town a bit more - the Oilers might have done alright at the draft this year, David O'Connor or Connor MacTavish or something?

Been a bit crazy here, hope he's ready for the spotlight - there have been thousands of people at open practices at the rookie camp earlier in the summer, and the annual Golden Bears v. Oilers rookie game is being held at Rexall Place. It's usually at the UofA arena, but for some reason a LOT more people are expected to attend this year.

Also pretty cool to see the new area progressing downtown. Going to be an exciting time to be here (assuming that the oil price cliff doesn't kill the city...)

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Have got to hand it to those crazy Flyers fans. This is crazy and hysterical.

http://thehockeywriters.com/flyers-f...-buy-penguins/

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I mean its essentially their home rink anyway with how much they have owned the Penguins there

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Matt (Crash) will be back in October.

Don't say I never did anything for a Flyers fan.

I feel filthy now.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

You so dirty.

Thanks.

Offseason continues to draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggg on.....

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Cooties!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Your ticket to heaven just got stamped.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

classic flyers fans focusing more on other teams than on their own

never change, philly

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I feel like they do this with every sport. Not much success in the philly sports world. Much more fun for them to just whine about other teams.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

yea it's actually quite impressive from a consistency stand point

only town i've ever seen where they actively cheer against other teams and rarely cheer for their own team

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I actually get laughs sitting at bars just listening to people go on about stuff that they obviously just have no idea what they are talking about. it's fine to be bitter and hate other teams. I get that. Just try to sound like you know what you are talking about a little bit.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol yea

i was at a pens-flyers game a few years back in philly and honestly, there was a group of guys that heckled me so much that they just wasted good money on their tickets

they couldn't have seen more than 5-10 mins of actual game action. rest of the time was devoted to getting drunk and yelling at anything not wearing ugly orange

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Funny, the actual Penguins players worry more about playing the Flyers than they do trying not to pretty much waste the two best players in the world.

http://www.broadstreethockey.com/201...lyers-penguins

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Flyers fans also know the joke isn't gonna land them the Penguins and will donate the money to Flyers Charities. Those heartless, stupid, orange-and-black clad bastards.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

so James Neal says the Pens get rattled when playing the Flyers

ground breaking news

Re: The NHL Thread
 

i never said any of that

you must be a journalist because you have no hesitation in misquoting me

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Never said you did. Don't take cheap shots.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Makes sense. It's probably the only way Flyers fans will be able to celebrate a Stanley Cup win is by buying the Pens.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol the irony of that coming from a flyers fan

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Pens fans, the butthurt Patriots fans of the NHL.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Pens fans butthurt about their franchise being successful too?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

oh this is good

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Too good indeed.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0QjsuoJuFs

Listen to the first couple minutes. "Whole town rallying around a guy that doesn't even fuckin exist"

Re: The NHL Thread
 

one of my favorite bits

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Shut it. All of you. Jerks. Poop.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I think this one is better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jMhoGUiIkk

"One bridge having piece of shit city"

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yea, let's get some shit stirring up in here today. I love it.

Nice to see Crash well be back sooner than expected. Flyers may not even be in last place at the time, though truthfully, they should be ahead of the Devils.

In real hockey news, Isles still haven't come to terms with Brock Nelson, which stinks and rumor has them offering a contract to Zidlicky. I'd rather see Pulock get the chance than sign a veteran but maybe Pulock not yet ready. Zdlicky is steady.