The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

For starters, how about not giving out fat long-term contracts to the likes of Wisniewski, Umberger, Tyutin, and Methot? Yuck.

Wisniewski is not that bad.

The others all suck. Especially Umberger, who is having an awful year.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

It only took until November 17th, but Blake Wheeler finally has his first goal of the season. Also, Evander Kane aka The Big Blue Machine, has two tonight. Could have been a hatty, but he hit the post in the 1st.

4-1 Jets.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Well, the Wild win a game 1-0 on 18 shots. Robbery of 2 points.

[RealmK]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Whatever.

Damn, we got a point tonight. That sucks.

Your guys actually deserved 2 outta that one. Boston was so sloppy all night long. Can't understand why they refuse to play well in front of Rask.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

It only took until November 17th, but Blake Wheeler finally has his first goal of the season. Also, Evander Kane aka The Big Blue Machine, has two tonight. Could have been a hatty, but he hit the post in the 1st.

4-1 Jets.

There's probably someone I'm not thinking of, but has there been one of those late bloomer NCAA free agent highly recruited prospects like Wheeler or Bozak in recent years that actually panned out? Or even one of those late bloomer Euros like a Brunnstrom or Gustavsson?

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Wisniewski is not that bad.

Wonky knee, suspect defensively, 5 suspensions in career, making Keith/Seabrook money. Me no likey.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

There's probably someone I'm not thinking of, but has there been one of those late bloomer NCAA free agent highly recruited prospects like Wheeler or Bozak in recent years that actually panned out?

Here's how old I am. CuJo and Oates are the first players I think of.

Marty St. Louis, of course, but that's not terribly recent, either. Rene Bourque, maybe? Penner?

Or even one of those late bloomer Euros like a Brunnstrom or Gustavsson?

Backstrom (Wild)? Hiller? Niemi? As far as non-goalies go... Leino? I'm stumped.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Tim Thomas? He probably doesn't count. He was drafted by, get this, the Nordiques.

Yeah, I follow college hockey and I can't even think of one. If Junior Lessard can't make the leap after 4 years, not many will. Generally if you're any good, it's 1 or 2 and done.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Blake Wheeler was drafted in the first round 5th overall by Phoenix. Dan Boyle didn't get drafted I believe. Yep, Boyle didn't get drafted.


Saw this stat, Avs have 4 regulation wins in past 51games

[Money99]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

In other Blackhawks news they waived Rotislav Olesz and have called Ben Smith back up, glad to have him back and look forward to seeing what he can do this season, he was huge for us against the Canucks in the playoffs last year.

What a bust. This guy was compared to Jagr. Tonnes of skill, but never showed it enough and then given a massive contract that he never earned.

I hope Ben Smith is 100% again. He was great in last years playoffs.

In Wings news, this just in; We Stink.

I don't know if it's because the players have stopped listening to Babcock. I don't think so.
And I don't know if the team is finally starting to live up to the 'too old' label.
Cleary stinks, Bert's been bad (he's injured right now), everyone is still waiting for Filpulla to break out (which he won't), Hudler sucks, and our D isn't exactly playing up to par either.

What worries me is that the only 3 young kids that are ready to take a bigger role are Helm, Abdelkaeder and Brandon Smith.
And Helm and Abby aren't going to be top 6 guys (for a while at least).

This team needs to shake things up. Time to ship Filp out of town and get a decent young prospect in there.

There's probably someone I'm not thinking of, but has there been one of those late bloomer NCAA free agent highly recruited prospects like Wheeler or Bozak in recent years that actually panned out?

Brian Rafalski. Retired I know, but the first one that popped in my head.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Brian Rafalski. Retired I know, but the first one that popped in my head.

He wasn't signed as a free agent right out of college though. He spent 3 or so years overseas.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Didn't the Rangers get an NCAA free agent d-man that has turned out alright? His name escapes me right now....

EDIT: Matt Gilroy (playing for Tampa now). He's not a top of the line defenceman, but he's not terrible as far as I know.

[RealmK]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

What a bust. This guy was compared to Jagr. Tonnes of skill, but never showed it enough and then given a massive contract that he never earned.

I hope Ben Smith is 100% again. He was great in last years playoffs.

In Wings news, this just in; We Stink.

I don't know if it's because the players have stopped listening to Babcock. I don't think so.
And I don't know if the team is finally starting to live up to the 'too old' label.
Cleary stinks, Bert's been bad (he's injured right now), everyone is still waiting for Filpulla to break out (which he won't), Hudler sucks, and our D isn't exactly playing up to par either.

What worries me is that the only 3 young kids that are ready to take a bigger role are Helm, Abdelkaeder and Brandon Smith.
And Helm and Abby aren't going to be top 6 guys (for a while at least).

This team needs to shake things up. Time to ship Filp out of town and get a decent young prospect in there.



Brian Rafalski. Retired I know, but the first one that popped in my head.

I say this to the ex all the time but she's one of those folks from Michigan that god forbid you say one thing in critique of the Wings or anyone from Mi. (that Lucic, Miller incident was interesting /eye roll) she flips out. I rag on her all the time that she makes Jack Edwards seem like the most non biased commentator ever in comparison.

[ASB37]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Didn't the Rangers get an NCAA free agent d-man that has turned out alright? His name escapes me right now....

EDIT: Matt Gilroy (playing for Tampa now). He's not a top of the line defenceman, but he's not terrible as far as I know.

Gilroy was definitely servicable for us. He had his flashes of greatness, but never put it together really consistently. Considering the great depth of young d-men we have in the system he was let go, but I was always a fan.

[l3ulvl]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Yeah the Wings have been tough to watch the last couple weeks, I had the Sharks game on the computer last night and barely made it through. Even Dats isn't putting up numbers. I'm not throwing in the towel yet though, lots of hockey left.