Official NHL/hockey thread

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Originally Posted by Garry Walker

In my house, watching mens figure skating is banned. There is something about men skating around they way they do, dressed like they are and crying about it afterwards that is just not quite right. Quite disturbing.

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Not all of them are like that. A few of them could be pretty macho and tough. Toughest figure skater on the planet in history was Elvis Stojko who won silver in Nagano. Skated on a torn groin. Managed to do a Quad with that torn groin. Holds a 5th degree black belt in karate, rides motocross and it is rumoured he tuned up ex NHL star Eric Lindros in a bar fight one summer.

The science of figure skating and the idea of being able to have that much physical discipline is interesting, but yes, like you I have little time for the "Queens". I only really watch the pairs, since the guys are bigger, strong (try deadlifting a 100 to 120lb woman over head and toss her around on skates)and the women are inevitably quite cute. I am also slightly biased since Barb Underhill, a former world championship winner in pairs went to high school with me.

The NHL season is restarted....is there anyone really giving a damn today? Canada is still basking in the glow of yet another dodged bullet!!! However,I did read in Today's Toronto Star (Monday March 1) that Ovechkin picked Canada to win in OT because he just thought Canada's never say die grit would make the difference. Maybe he was saying that because he was in Vancouver, or he wanted to repair his ego after the beating his Russians took.....who knows?

All Iknow is NHL hockey will bore me a little for a while....Olympic or best on best international tournments such as the World Cup or Canada Cup are the only true measuring stick.

Well Red Wings gave a damn :D

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Originally Posted by A.F.F.

Well Red Wings gave a damn :D

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The Wings always care, that is why they have been one of the best teams for the last 15 to 20 years.

Au revoir hangover. Tonight it gets serious :hot:

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Originally Posted by A.F.F.

Au revoir hangover. Tonight it gets serious :hot:

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You don't have to watch the Leafs the rest of the year....it is a hangover that wont end until playoffs. It doesn't help that the local Junior team is falling apart with lousy goalies and will miss the playoffs. AT one point the Oshawa Generals were in 4th in the conference. Now they are 9th in a ten team conference and have lost 3 in a row...

What do you guys think of Hagman's transfer to Flames? He has been a shadow comparing to his time in Leafs' :mark:

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Originally Posted by A.F.F.

What do you guys think of Hagman's transfer to Flames? He has been a shadow comparing to his time in Leafs' :mark:

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Hagman wasn't much WITH the Leafs, so his trade to Calgary means the Leaf's have Phaneuf, who has a great upside, vs the guys they gave up.....and I don't see them being stars. Hagman was a journeyman player with Toronto and I don't see that changing in Calgary.

Over 20 goals so far it's not way too bad, eh?

Anyways, I think his role is missing... again..

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Originally Posted by A.F.F.

Over 20 goals so far it's not way too bad, eh?

Anyways, I think his role is missing... again..

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hey...he isn't a bad player, don't get me wrong, but 20 goal scorers who score a lot in losing causes are different than guys who get 20 where 10 of them are either short handed or game winning goals. I was shocked when you posted he has 20, and that says a lot about the goals he has gotten. The 2nd goal in the 3rd where you are losing 6-1 doesn't mean as much, and I think like too many Leaf's, their stats don't tell the whole story. Then again, some guys cant get 20 anyhow....

Well... I hate to admit but you have a point there....

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Originally Posted by A.F.F.

Well... I hate to admit but you have a point there....

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I didn't want to "diss" the guy, but I had to go look at his stats to see he has that many goals. I have watched maybe bits and pieces of half the Leaf games this year, and I didn't have a strong impression of his play. Kessel I notice. Kaberle I always notice, and I always see the streaky play of a guy like John Mitchell. Now Tyler Bozak is getting ice time and he is making an impression. I cant remember Hagman....and that is a damning indictment I suppose.

The thing is about many players in Hagman's level, they can be very interchangable. They are good enough to be traded for, but not good enough that GM's have ulcers trading them away.

Hagman, or Pikku-Hakki as we call him, is a duracell-bunny and really plays from his heart. He is a kind of guy who NEVER gives up. In recent years he has developed as a goalscorer too. In our Olympic team he was IMO among the best. Very good working morale which I guess has been noticed by the GM and coaches too.

But is he worth of a five million per year?? No he isn't :mark:

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Originally Posted by A.F.F.

Hagman, or Pikku-Hakki as we call him, is a duracell-bunny and really plays from his heart. He is a kind of guy who NEVER gives up. In recent years he has developed as a goalscorer too. In our Olympic team he was IMO among the best. Very good working morale which I guess has been noticed by the GM and coaches too.

But is he worth of a five million per year?? No he isn't :mark:

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Well those are great attributes for a player for sure. I wont knock anyone making 5 mil a year. If someone is dumb enough to pay you that much, all power to you. I don't recall him making that much with Toronto tho...

Watched the Habs/Leafs and Vancouver/Detroit late game last night.....I must say, parity seems to be the way the league wants it, and that is what I saw last night. Not sure if that is good for the sport, but it makes the NHL owners happy.

I am so tired however of their lack of common sense on the head shots and cheap shots. The hit on Brent Seabrooke Friday was a joke....as was the blindside of Marc Savard last week. I don't think the owners will be happy until someone is paralysized or killed...and even then, the Steve Moore incident didn't seem to faze them, nor the news of the Senior A player getting killed in a hockey fight last year....

What's the matter with you guys?!? 1st round of the Playoffs is almost done and no comments here???

Well, as a Flames fan, not much to be happy for, so now I am supporting the only team from the Canadian West left...the Canucks...but it's not easy.

Sorry Schmenke, but it is a lot easier to watch the Habs go down, which I expect to happen tonite.

I am anticipating a repeat of last year's matchup between the Pens and Caps. That was pretty exciting stuff.

I wondered myself, but I figured I would wait for someone else to start up the thread again. I lost most of my interest in hockey after Sid got that game winner at the Olympics. NHL hockey if I don't have my team in it just doesn't always hold me. The fact I see so much of the Junior stuff now as a volunteer doing the Jr. A Generals games means I am almost hockeyed out!!!

I did watch the Sens/Pen's a few times....and I am almost disappointed the Sen's didn't win. Almost...because Crosby is the best player in hockey today. Sorry to you Alex Ovechkin fans, Crosby is just at another level this year...

The Wings almost always suck on a sunday matinee game. However their following game they come out like the true pros they are. Look for big hits and fancy stick work with lots of good opppertunities.7-3 Wings

Sorry I havn't been here much its killing me reALLY.I think I'll be around a little bit more now and hope you guys don't hack me up too bad.

Anybody got any picks on thier favorites for the cup yet.Mine are Chitown and either Philly or of course Washington. I really was liking the Philly=Detroit{good memories of that one} thing but the Wings are weak in some key areas this year and I believe the series with them has Chicago having the edge.
See ya after tuesday

I am actually going to go out and say I think the best team in the East will still be the Pens. Philly lacks the goaltending, as does Washington. The Bruins would be dangerous if they had two really good fowards for they have Rask playing out of his mind and that is why they may have Buffalo going down.

No...I am taking the Pens still in the east...and I am thinking it will be either Chicago or Vancouver. That said, if San Jose ever gets their act together, they have the potential to win. They just have to learn to ramp it up...of course that has been their story the last 5 years...

Antti Niemi is doing the same for Blackhawks as Rask is doing for Bruins. However, Chigago is as a team better than Boston. If they lack anything that may be experience. but that's all. My teams are long gone already so I'm gonna just sit back and enjoy the fight :D

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Originally Posted by A.F.F.

Antti Niemi is doing the same for Blackhawks as Rask is doing for Bruins. However, Chigago is as a team better than Boston. If they lack anything that may be experience. but that's all. My teams are long gone already so I'm gonna just sit back and enjoy the fight :D

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Did you watch any of the hockey in real time while you were in Fla? I doubt it right??

Habs took care of Caps :eek:


Unbelievable !!!

Auts.... rough night for Niemi :(

But Rask still in the zone :up:

Rask is the man....stupid Leafs traded him away and kept the wrong guy....but that was BB...Before Burkie...

Wings down 2-0 and Vancover totally made Chitown look sick. Could things turn around, I for one hope so for Chicago's sake. As I said before The wings will probally bow out this bround and hopefuylly leave the west coast showdown.San Jose vs Vancover. Which is not at all what I thought would happen.
In the East Them darn Pens good really good,Darn it, I hate them.Not just cause they beat my wings last year but because they have that attitude like thier too hot for every one else.The Boston-Philly series is worth watching. I think whoever comes out of there will represent the East.Some may remember my MOM's[RIP] from the boston area and I'd usually pull for them But I think Philly has the edge this year.

Intra Penn battle
get it
Inpenetrable

Swoop...look for Chicago to come back on Vancouver. I think they are hungrier. AS for the Wings...I think they will make it interesting. I don't see San Jose as serious. If they win this one..ok...Then I see them making the finals.

AS for the East..well.......Boston over Philly I have no problem seeing. Savard looks great coming back. They also have a great goalie. Pittsburgh better beat the Habs. You don't like them but a)they are the defending champs for a reason, b) Sidney Crosby is a humble guy but determined...so I don't see where you see them as hot dogs and c) Hab's fans make anyone connected with the Pittsburgh Penguins look gracious. Nothing is worse than some of the Montreal fans I know. Schmenke is FROM Montreal and has some class. The Hab's fans who live around here are just a bunch of bandwagon jumping morons...lol

AS for finals.....well I wont get on that yet. I don't see any clear superior team in this final 8

OK OK But Sid the Kid Humble Not.In my opinion of him even with all his talents he is a great player but-Hes dirty and,a crybaby and with all his talent he doesn't need to play that way.
The Pens as a team are truely a dominating Champions and contenders; but I just don't like them. I think it has something to do with the Mario drama series that lasted for years, He tried to save that franschise and NOONE would help[management not players] him,Then he just stayed there too long.

Still The Boston-Philly series. Thats good stuff.


Detroit in my opinion[its how we feel here in det].Don't deserve to advance. I know the all reasons-no off time between series, no injuries, home ice,real games are the best practice,thier shopping a few players around[ie Bertuzzi]. But thier play as far as were concerned is way below subpar and we don't like it, and in Det sports if we don't ;like it we tell them about it.Thats why we go to lions football games.Were tough and we work hard we deserve better from what we've paid for.

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Originally Posted by swoop

OK OK But Sid the Kid Humble Not.In my opinion of him even with all his talents he is a great player but-Hes dirty and,a crybaby and with all his talent he doesn't need to play that way.
The Pens as a team are truely a dominating Champions and contenders; but I just don't like them. I think it has something to do with the Mario drama series that lasted for years, He tried to save that franschise and NOONE would help[management not players] him,Then he just stayed there too long.

Still The Boston-Philly series. Thats good stuff.


Detroit in my opinion[its how we feel here in det].Don't deserve to advance. I know the all reasons-no off time between series, no injuries, home ice,real games are the best practice,thier shopping a few players around[ie Bertuzzi]. But thier play as far as were concerned is way below subpar and we don't like it, and in Det sports if we don't ;like it we tell them about it.Thats why we go to lions football games.Were tough and we work hard we deserve better from what we've paid for.

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You deserve better than what you pay for? You keep going to Lions games and they should be paying YOU!!!

As for Sid, you are not talking about the Crosby that I have seen. He is a very quiet guy actually. You are talking like a Detroit fan who was caught up in the BS about the "not shaking hands" BS that went down last year...

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Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

You deserve better than what you pay for? You keep going to Lions games and they should be paying YOU!!!

As for Sid, You are talking like a Detroit fan who was caught up in the BS about the "not shaking hands" BS that went down last year...

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I don't want to start a war here-but:
No acually I thought that was kinda funny. I'm refering to when he comes out of the players box and he heads straight for the ref to complain about something.Like they don't do thier job right or something.They may not see everything but they see more than he thinks they do.I've seen him away from the game and hes quite presentible and kind but his shananigans[diving & cheap shots] on the ice are well below his performance level and that ticks me just a little.As I said before the team as a whole are trrue champions and look really good,I just don't want them to win back to back without a rematch with us. My real dislike is with managment not any particular player. I just pick on Sid because hes the captain. Just like I think Nick [for us] needs some ajusatments in his leadership ability.Hes lackadazical this year.

As far as the lions paying us; they gave us a little something when they FIRED Matt Millan.

What does Chicago have to do to beat Luongo?
There hitting playing deep in the corners and out shooting the canucks but can't find the back of the net.
Anyone catch that bost-philly game. Sounded like a tough loss for philly on the radio.

MARK YOU WERE RIGHT.
Chicago 4 vancover 2
awesome 3rd period for Chicago. or at least the last 3 minutes.

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Originally Posted by swoop

MARK YOU WERE RIGHT.
Chicago 4 vancover 2
awesome 3rd period for Chicago. or at least the last 3 minutes.

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Frame that first sentence...lol. I think that series is going 7 actually. Based on what I saw tonight, the Hawks have a better team balance outside the net, but the Nuck's have "Luuuuuu"....

AS for the Bruins...well I think they will lay a beat down on the Flyers. The Flyers looked good beating the Devils because they self destructed, not that the Flyers are great, and the Bruins have found confidence in themselves and they have one of the most underrated coaches in the game in Claude Julien...

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Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

Frame that first sentence...



I got the perfect place to hang it too.I gor a plaque of an octopus strangling 8 penguins from last years finals. :eek: It'll look good with that. LOL








and the Bruins have found confidence in themselves and they have one of the most underrated coaches in the game in Claude Julien...

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A silent giant killer he is.Hes been here before just not at this level.

Wish your penguins luck tonight as they try and move into the next round. I think I'll rethink my pick and hope for a rematch.It could be interesting with the lack of performence from Malkin.

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Originally Posted by swoop

What does Chicago have to do to beat Luongo?

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One word. Niemi ;)

Who else can I pick on. I called out Malkin and he sacores the game winner.
Congrats to the pens up 2-1 now.
Those poor wings down 3-0. Sure feels like this one is over.Reguardless the good work from Howard.One man doesn't make a team though.

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Originally Posted by swoop

A silent giant killer he is.Hes been here before just not at this level.

Wish your penguins luck tonight as they try and move into the next round. I think I'll rethink my pick and hope for a rematch.It could be interesting with the lack of performence from Malkin.

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They aint my Pens...I just like Crosby. That said, I hate Montreal....or rather, their fans who are not FROM Montreal.

So I enjoyed tonight's shutout by Fleury.

AS for the Wings, they were life and death to beat Phoenix. San Jose when on is a better team, and it appears they are starting to adapt to playoff hockey. They will likely handle a tough but maybe beat up team from the Van/Chicago side.

No..I am going to stick with the Bruins. I would like to see the Canuckleheads make the final too...because it has been too long since a Canadian BASED team has won the Cup. Consider the trophy was originally suppose to be for the best team from the "Dominion of Canada", there is something NOT right by the current drought.

Well, if SJ keeps it up, then we may need a new dictionary entry to replace this one....

http://www.hockeyworldblog.com/wp-co...8/kronwall.jpg

San Jose-Vancover=west coast finals
Chicago-Boston=east coast finals
vancover-chicago or San Jose- Boston=coast to coast finals

Which one will get the teles approval for a Cup match up?

I think you meant to say Pittsburgh there instead of Chicago, swoop.

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Originally Posted by swoop

San Jose-Vancover=west coast finals
Chicago-Boston=east coast finals
vancover-chicago or San Jose- Boston=coast to coast finals

Which one will get the teles approval for a Cup match up?

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TV don't care...NBC has no ambition of large ratings....unless the Rangers are in the playoffs, they would like Crosby I am sure, but I don't think he moves the needle. It doesn't matter anyhow..the best team wins in a 7 game series. The NHL and TV don't fix things...the players decide it...and if they are stupid enough to take dumb penalties at the wrong time, I don't hold it against the ref...