The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

[Taur3asi3]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

I'm still wondering why the Panthers waived Michael Grabner.

*VENTING*

Because Tallon apparently dislikes European players and the Panthers are the worst run team in the league and have been for years. The Panthers so very rarely draft anyone good and when they do they get bent over in a trade. Look at the Panthers draft history since they began as a franchise its absolutely horrific.

The trades they make with some very scarce exceptions are terrible I honestly can't remember the last trade they made where my initial thought wasn't "Wait they got what? Who? FML" Bouwmeester, Luongo, Ballard, Horton, Bure to the Rangers, every trade. Even the Viktor Kozlov trade sucked considering on the Panthers terrible team he was the 2nd best forward and the return 2 guys who never made it in the NHL. Even worse is the fact that DeBoer has no idea how to handle grown players, treat them like men, or deal with them as people.



Salak isn't the Panthers top goalie prospect that's supposed to be Markstrom but in typical Panthers fashion i fully expect Salak to turn into a Vezina candidate.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

Well, at least you got Olli Jokinen's best years.

But then you traded him for what turned out to be the unsuccessful Staal brother, one decent year of Nick Boynton, and a guy that blasted your goalie in the head in frustration.

And that, sadly, was probably the Panthers' best trade of the past ten years.

[Money99]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

I wish there were more words in the English language to express how much fun that Habs-Bruins game was last night.
That took me back. Lots of goals (NICE GOALS), hits, fights, goalie fights. That game had nearly everything.

It's too bad games like this one don't happen on a nightly basis.

[Money99]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

The thing is, though, Matt Cooke is the very definition of repeat offender. He was dirty as hell when he played here, and nothing has changed. Nothing short of a 20 or 40 game suspension is going to deter him in the slightest. There should be a "3 strikes" rule with guys who are continually doing this stuff (Avery, Pronger, Neil, Tootoo, etc.) - every 5-minute non-fighting major will be a 10-game suspension, every action that's worth a single game will be an automatic 30-game suspension, no questions asked.



The NHLPA are at least as much to blame as the league, though. They don't want long suspensions, because it'll cost them $$$.

They don't want soft shoulder/elbow pads, either, which is ridiculous. Steckel's hit on Crosby, accidental or not, wasn't brutal or illegal (other than perhaps interference), and that's exactly what's frightening about it. I find it hard to believe that Crosby would've received a concussion if Steckel was wearing 80s-style pads. People seem to be underestimating the long-term repercussions of Crosby's injury. He'll be out for at least 2 months, he'll be far more susceptible to concussions on lesser hits going forward, there's a good chance the best player since Gretzky and Lemieux won't live up to his potential, all because the players and league are dicking around on this.

As much as Crosby annoys some people, it's a crushing blow to the league (and to all fans of quality hockey) if his career takes a Lindros/LaFontaine path.

Excellent post!
The equipment debate is also one that the NHL and PA need to figure out.
There's no way we'd be seeing as many debilitating hits if they were wearing Shanahan's old gear. Just adding a layer of soft tissue over rock-hard materials isn't cutting it.

Regarding Cooke, did anyone read Ken Daneyko's thoughts?

He spoke about his day's playing against him and refers to Cooke (and Ulf Samuelsson) two of the dirtiest players he's played against.

What would he do to punish Cooke?

"I'm as crazy as this: The NHL [should declare] open season for one week on Matt Cooke. You won't get suspended. Then we'll see if he'll continue [his behavior] for the rest of the season or his career."

That's a crazy idea, and I'd prefer the NHL deal with curbing Cooke's dirty plays. But if the league can't do it, it'd be awesome if a 'Thunderdome' rule were put into place.
Tell the entire league, Cooke is fair game for 1 week of play. NOTHING will be suspendable.
You'll see a much different Cooke during that week I guarantee. And if he's reminded that everytime he does something stupid, he can expect another week of Thunderdome Hockey, he'll change in a hurry.
Right now, there's no incentive for him to play safe. Goons today refuse to fight smaller guys so he'll never have to answer the bell from someone like Derek Boogard or Jody Shelley.
And these suspensions are so weak and minuscule that they barely serve as a deterrent.

I guarantee Cooke engage in at least one more dangerous play before the playoffs start.

[Fiddy]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

I wish there were more words in the English language to express how much fun that Habs-Bruins game was last night.
That took me back. Lots of goals (NICE GOALS), hits, fights, goalie fights. That game had nearly everything.

It's too bad games like this one don't happen on a nightly basis.

This. That was awesome last night!!

Also, awesome post by Dr Jones. Equipment is the cause of a lot of these hits. Bc guys wouldn't be doing them if their equipment was soff.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

I wish there were more words in the English language to express how much fun that Habs-Bruins game was last night.
That took me back. Lots of goals (NICE GOALS), hits, fights, goalie fights. That game had nearly everything.

It's too bad games like this one don't happen on a nightly basis.

Yeah, it was a 1985 special. Good times.

There was a shot last night on the TSN broadcast (I think following Pacioretty's goal to make it 6-5) where it showed Habs and Bruins fans in the stands just smiling and shrugging at each other, as if to say, "Hey, you might be my mortal enemy, but damn, this is awesome!"

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

Also, awesome post by Dr Jones. Equipment is the cause of a lot of these hits. Bc guys wouldn't be doing them if their equipment was soff.

Can I add the rink glass sucks as well? Old-timers like Money and I remember the glass wobbling like a drunken sailor after a big hit into the boards. Looked awesome, nobody got hurt. Getzlaf hit Hamhuis last night (as a Canuck fan, I think it was a penalty but not suspendable) and Hamhuis' head bounced off the glass as if it were concrete and was knocked unconscious. Just brutal.

BTW, how many more D-men can the Canucks lose? I hear they're calling up Garth Butcher and Robert Nordmark next.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

BTW, how many more D-men can the Canucks lose? I hear they're calling up Garth Butcher and Robert Nordmark next.

LOL. As long as they don't bring back those hideous 'V' sweaters, I think this would be fine.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

LOL. As long as they don't bring back those hideous 'V' sweaters, I think this would be fine.

I liked them.

About the Fisher to Nashville deal, apparently the headline in one of the Tennessee newspapers is "Predators acquire Carrie Underwood's husband".

EDIT: Oh wait, just noticed it hasn't been posted here yet, lol.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=353271

The Ottawa Senators' rebuild is in full swing as Mike Fisher is on his way to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Nashville's first-round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft and a conditional pick in the 2012 Draft.

"We were seeking a top-six forward and Mike Fisher was the player we set our sights on," Predators general manager David Poile said in a statement. "He plays playoff-style hockey all season long. He plays on the power play, kills penalties, is strong on draws and can match up against any opposing line."

The conditions of the 2012 draft pick are as follows. The Senators will receive Nashville's third rounder if the Preds win one playoff round. That pick would then turn into a second-round pick in 2012 if the team wins two or more rounds.

Poile said he felt Fisher's proven ability in the post-season made the deal a no-brainer.
"Mike's playoff experience will be invaluable to our team and he immediately makes our team stronger and deeper," Poile said.

The 30-year-old Fisher has struggled this season with just 14 goals and 10 assists in 55 games but remains a strong two-way threat with great penalty-killing abilities.

Fisher has spent all 10 of his NHL seasons in the Nation's capital and helped lead the Sens to the Stanley Cup final in 2007.

Originally a second round pick, 44th overall by the Senators in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Fisher has 167 goals and 181 assists in 675 career games.

The Peterborough, Ontario native is married to country music superstar Carrie Underwood so the move to the 'Music City' should fit well with their lifestyle. The Los Angeles Kings were also in the running for the rugged-two way forward.

[Scottdau]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

Wow I guess she wears the pants in the family. I read a story that said she was losing too much weight there and getting really ill. And she said she wanted Mike to get traded to Nashville.

[SidVish]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

I like the Frolik deal. It gives the Hawks more options on offense where Skille could basically only play on the right side. Hossa and Kane play there which is why he didn't get much ice time. We'll see what he does with his opportunity in Florida. Tallon drafted him so he'll get a good shot to prove himself. Chicago just doesn't have any time to waste. I hope Frolik has a good debut tonight. Also Turco is between the pipes against his former club.

[Money99]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

I like the Frolik deal. It gives the Hawks more options on offense where Skille could basically only play on the right side. Hossa and Kane play there which is why he didn't get much ice time. We'll see what he does with his opportunity in Florida. Tallon drafted him so he'll get a good shot to prove himself. Chicago just doesn't have any time to waste. I hope Frolik has a good debut tonight. Also Turco is between the pipes against his former club.

Nice points. Skille wasn't going to crack the top 4 winger positions anytime soon.
I'm a fan of Frolik and think if he's in the right situation he could do some nice things. I think he's played all 3 forward positions before so that could help him become a top-6 guy in Chicago.

Maybe we see another Pouliot-Letendresse situation here? I'm sure both Florida and Chicago would love that.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

Speaking of Latendresse, it's looking like he'll be back in practice within a couple weeks and they're shooting for a March 1 return. That's gonna be a huge boost for the stretch run. He had 6 points in his 8 games before getting injured.

[SidVish]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

I hope so money. Chicago needs to start stacking some wins here down the stretch.

[SPTO]

Re: The Official 2010-11 Regular Season Talk Thread

Senators fans are weird and delusional calling Carrie Underwood Yoko Ono because Mike Fisher is now in Nashville. I think the real reason he's in Nashville is because um, well the Sens are in rebuild mode.

Oh well, I don't even think Fisher will do too much to help the Preds really. I mean he's a good functional player who can score some goals but he doesn't seem to be the type that can lead Nashville further along.