Official NHL/hockey thread

**Tomi** · 10th Apr 07, 22:39

Originally Posted by BTCC2

I wasn't aware they were in it.

Come on, in a one off game against an NHL team you have no idea how fired up the players would be, are you trying to say that there isn't the slightest possibilty that they would win?

no possibility

**A.F.F.** · 10th Apr 07, 22:59

Originally Posted by BTCC2

Come on, in a one off game against an NHL team you have no idea how fired up the players would be, are you trying to say that there isn't the slightest possibilty that they would win?

Not trying to be rude or anything but yes.

EDIT: NHL players, should they be fired up or not, have their professional pride towards hockey. No way they would take it easy, not even after a long and lost season.

**BTCC2** · 10th Apr 07, 23:17

Well I still disagree.

I know NHL players are in a differnt league standard wise to GBEL players but in a one off game I think Coventry Blaze would give the Flyers a run for their money. The GBEL players would have their pride at stake as well, they would not want to be embarresed in front of the whole of North America by getting hammered 10-0.

**BTCC2** · 10th Apr 07, 23:43

Oh I also forgot to tell you that a couple of months ago we (Newcastle Vipers) signed Ian Fraser!!!

He's so good. Was he any good in the NHL?

**Mark in Oshawa** · 11th Apr 07, 03:49

Iain Fraser was the captain of the Oshawa Generals when they won the Memorial cup, and was a property of the Islanders in the NHL. I don't think he actually made it to the regular season and likely only played a bit in the AHL. You can look up past players in the hockey data base that is on the net, but it is a few years behind right now.

BTCC, If you think your Vipers can beat an NHL team, I think you are crazy. Understand that as "bad" as the Flyers look, they have about 6 young guys that would tear the British league apart, and their goalie, Martin Biron is light years ahead of the British league. Being bad in the NHL isn't really THAT bad. I have looked over rosters on many different levels of leagues looking for familiar names that I know from watching Major Junior and the NHL, and I can tell you that the British League has about 5 or 6 players I have even HEARD of. That means if they were drafted in the NHL, they were likely 5 or 6 rounds deep when they were picked, and they didn't stay in the NHL system. I can tell you that if you sifted through a hundred of those guys, you might find ONE that maybe got overlooked. As bad as the Flyers have been this year at times, they wouldn't lose to any team in the British league. The British league is close to where the ECHL is, which is to say, 2 levels below the NHL, and that is no shame believe me.....Heck, the Senior A Whitby Dunlops nearby me, an amateur team look like world beaters, but I know they have no one who made the show and would get killed playing an NHL team. They would likely be at a par with the British Hockey league. When a grad of that league makes the NHL, then I will look at saying the British league maybe has upgraded in levels of ability.

It isn't that I want to knock the league BTCC, on the contrary, I would love for some players from the UK to really make an impact, but I know that league just doesn't have the depth of talent to be taken too seriously. NHL players are just increments faster in their decision making and skating than some players in the AHL, but that increment would make all the difference. The ECHL and British League is filled with guys who couldn't stick around in the AHL.....so you do the math. It isn't a great difference, but it is enough to make any match up a blow out.

**jarrambide** · 11th Apr 07, 04:19

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

Being a Leaf's fan is hell, but they didn't deserve to make the playoffs with their play this season. When they lost that last game on the Island, they put their fate in Ted Nolan's hands, and he will be a contender for coach of the year. Anyone who can get Yashin and Satan to play meaningful hockey when their backs are to the wall must be a magician.

It sucks that the Leafs wont make the show, but at least the Raptors are in the playoffs in the NBA.

Plus, I am hoping to see my Oshawa Generals get to the OHL finals.....

You big CRY BABY, you think is bad beeing a Leaf´s fan?, I have a friend who lives in Phily, try beeing a Flyer´s fan (I love the logo I have to admit), that is hell my friend, the worst team in all the NHL.
A while ago (a while ago means, many, many, many years) he asked me why everty time I went to Phily I wanted to attend a few flyer´s games, I had to tell him the truth, I love the fact you can get great seats by arriving 20 or 30 minutes before game time.

**A.F.F.** · 12th Apr 07, 11:42

Way to go Ducks

One down, three to go.

**raikk** · 13th Apr 07, 23:24

Originally Posted by BTCC2

Sorry if this is a realy stupid question. But do what do you think the chances of the GB Elite Leagues best team (Coventry Blaze) beating the NHLs wekest team are.

I don't really know how much better NHL teams are because Ice Hockey in England recieves no media coverage at all( unless you're in Coventry, where it gets loads).

sorry not a chance... this GB Elite team may be good but thats only against teams in its own confrence/division.. you do not realize how good an NHL team is until you see one for your self.. I'm pretty sure that probally any CHL team could probally beat them too.. Unfortunetly GB really does not have very much of a hockey culture and that affects how the players play because they will not have much influence due to the lack of coverage of hockey in GBR..

It is like comparing Canadian footie players to GB/European foot ball players... There is no way that team Canada would beat even the worst of English league teams...

I hope:
Minny
Pitts
Nashville
Dallas
Buffalo
NJD
ATL
Det/CAL(don't care which one)

get past the first round..

**raikk** · 14th Apr 07, 00:08

Originally Posted by jarrambide

You big CRY BABY, you think is bad beeing a Leaf´s fan?, I have a friend who lives in Phily, try beeing a Flyer´s fan (I love the logo I have to admit), that is hell my friend, the worst team in all the NHL.
A while ago (a while ago means, many, many, many years) he asked me why everty time I went to Phily I wanted to attend a few flyer´s games, I had to tell him the truth, I love the fact you can get great seats by arriving 20 or 30 minutes before game time.

Actually the leafs have put them selves in one of the worst spots.. at least the Flyers get a top 5 draft. The leafs are stuck with not getting a chance to compete in the Playoffs and a 13th round pick.. Don't get me wrong that 13th round pick will probally make the NHL and be talented but not superstar material.. On the contrary the leafs did have a very exciting season despite no making the playoffs.. their up tempo game really impressed me and made them to be one of the more exciting teams to watch in the NHL.. But still the season will be considered as many as a failure... the weight of 40 cupless years do not sit well with the organization and the fans..

**BTCC2** · 14th Apr 07, 11:09

Originally Posted by raikk

you do not realize how good an NHL team is until you see one for your self.

I am going to go to a Florida Panthers game when I'm there in 2009.

I fly to Slovenia at 6:00PM GMT for the World Championships tonight !!!!

**Mark in Oshawa** · 14th Apr 07, 20:45

I am not a baby, I am a Leaf's fan, which likely is worse. I however, unlike many in the Leaf's Nation know exactly how screwed up my team is after the last 2 years of JFJ Jr.'s reign as the general manager. We are being squeezed under the salary cap by bad management and useless overpaid players. Bryan McCabe and Pavel Kubina should have NEVER been signed and the Leaf's would have been far smarter to rebuild this year, and maybe yes, finish down where the Flyers are.

The Flyers may suck to some people, but in the last few months of the season, they started playing decent hockey once they got past the reality they wouldn't make the playoffs and traded Forsberg. What is more, when they picked up Martin Biron, they got a goalie that finally is of the level of being a number one goalie in the league.

No, I am not a cry baby Jose, I bemoan the fact the Leaf's are not going anywhere for a while, but I realize that to get good, sometimes you have to be REALLY bad sometimes, but the idiots running the Maple Leafs haven't figured this out yet. I will have to wait....for competant management to come along, but I do know it will come when the idiots running the Leafs finally realize the errors of their ways and hire a top flight manager and let him actually run it. Personally, I would take everyone who has anything to do with the hockey team above the coach and fire the lot of them. Including the ownership. One of the great reasons the Toronto has struggled is inept managers and owners...and the corporate managers that own the team right now care more about the profits the Leaf's nation generates rather than giving them a cup. Why I stay a fan, I guess I have no idea. I think just is too hard to change after all these years....but I will be cheering on the Flames and the Sabres.....now THAT will be a final!

**AndyRAC** · 14th Apr 07, 20:52

Anybody to win the Cup except the Devils, oh boy are they boring to watch, might be effective but not good for promoting the game.

**Mark in Oshawa** · 14th Apr 07, 22:24

PS, Jose, the Flyers still will always suck to me. Any town that would boo Santa Claus and would likely boo safe landings at the airport deserves to have sports teams that draw derision from the rest of the continent. Philly fans are just over the top for being obnoxious.....

If anyone remembers, this is the town where some stupid fool kept leaning over the glass hurling abuse on Tie Domi and pouring his beer (inadvertently) over Domi. The glass gives way, the idiot falls in to the penalty box WITH Domi (or rather on top of him), and then Domi figures after that he has to be under attack and beats the crap out of the idiot. Now I cannot STAND Tie Domi, but when this loser actually sued Domi, I actually felt for Domi...for an instant anyhow.....THAT guy is your typical Philly Fan....

**A.F.F.** · 15th Apr 07, 08:40

I'm DISAPPOINTED with Thrashers

**jarrambide** · 15th Apr 07, 15:48

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

PS, Jose, the Flyers still will always suck to me. Any town that would boo Santa Claus and would likely boo safe landings at the airport deserves to have sports teams that draw derision from the rest of the continent. Philly fans are just over the top for being obnoxious.....

If anyone remembers, this is the town where some stupid fool kept leaning over the glass hurling abuse on Tie Domi and pouring his beer (inadvertently) over Domi. The glass gives way, the idiot falls in to the penalty box WITH Domi (or rather on top of him), and then Domi figures after that he has to be under attack and beats the crap out of the idiot. Now I cannot STAND Tie Domi, but when this loser actually sued Domi, I actually felt for Domi...for an instant anyhow.....THAT guy is your typical Philly Fan....

See, try to be a fan of a team that sucks, they do suck, they will always suck, thats is my point, that is hard, real, real hard, at least you get to be a fan of a team which is not hated by the majority of NHL fans and have a healthy attemdance, I was no kidding about the fact that I go to Flyer´s games when I´m in Phily because you get good seats if you decide to go on the last minute, Flyer´s games are great when every other plan fails.

**schmenke** · 16th Apr 07, 14:46

Flames are down 2 - 0. They are playing like they have lead feet

No offense whatsoever

Wouldn't be surprised to see Detroit take them in 4

**A.F.F.** · 16th Apr 07, 15:17

yep, nice figures last night. Kiprusoff: 3-51 Hasek: 1-15

**raikk** · 17th Apr 07, 00:10

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

I am not a baby, I am a Leaf's fan, which likely is worse. I however, unlike many in the Leaf's Nation know exactly how screwed up my team is after the last 2 years of JFJ Jr.'s reign as the general manager. We are being squeezed under the salary cap by bad management and useless overpaid players. Bryan McCabe and Pavel Kubina should have NEVER been signed and the Leaf's would have been far smarter to rebuild this year, and maybe yes, finish down where the Flyers are.

The Flyers may suck to some people, but in the last few months of the season, they started playing decent hockey once they got past the reality they wouldn't make the playoffs and traded Forsberg. What is more, when they picked up Martin Biron, they got a goalie that finally is of the level of being a number one goalie in the league.

No, I am not a cry baby Jose, I bemoan the fact the Leaf's are not going anywhere for a while, but I realize that to get good, sometimes you have to be REALLY bad sometimes, but the idiots running the Maple Leafs haven't figured this out yet. I will have to wait....for competant management to come along, but I do know it will come when the idiots running the Leafs finally realize the errors of their ways and hire a top flight manager and let him actually run it. Personally, I would take everyone who has anything to do with the hockey team above the coach and fire the lot of them. Including the ownership. One of the great reasons the Toronto has struggled is inept managers and owners...and the corporate managers that own the team right now care more about the profits the Leaf's nation generates rather than giving them a cup. Why I stay a fan, I guess I have no idea. I think just is too hard to change after all these years....but I will be cheering on the Flames and the Sabres.....now THAT will be a final!

While I agree with you that JFJ has over paid many of his players he has some what rebuilt the leafs prospect pool again... Before JFJ was GM the leafs had 1 top prospect.. the former GM kept trading our future away for older guys and more experiance.. While McCabe and Kubina have gotten more then they deserve I do feel that they have made the leafs better defensively then last year.. JFJ's smartest signing was Paul Maurice his up tempo game will pay off in the future when the leafs have more finnish and goaltending... JFJ's worst trade was Raycroft for Rask..Biron got a traded for a 2nd round pick while we trade what is arguably one of our best goalies for an average streaky goaltender..I think we could of got more for Rask..

In a way though you knew that the Leafs could not have both Pogge and Rask and that eventually you would have to trade one of them.. unfortunetly we did not get as much as we would of liked to get for Rask but that happens... I give JFJ a C.. for building up our prospects ,signing Paul Maurice as coach but over paying players and the Rask-Raycroft deal..