The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Coming from a Flyers fan, glad to see Crosby back. The headline came out of nowhere, but I'm glad he's back where he belongs; on the ice, not in a dark room trying to fight the demons of a concussion.

Wishing for good health for him! If the Flyers dethrone the Penguins (well, we did... but they still have that ****ing Cup!), I want it to be our best versus their best, or close to it.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Regarding Ovechkin, I think it's more attitude and fitness (and perhaps nagging injury) rather than "everyone figuring him out". So Ovie's this one-dimensional player who eats the league alive for 5 seasons, then all of a sudden everybody knows how to stop him from season 6 onward? Doesn't make sense to me.

[RealmK]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Regarding Ovechkin, I think it's more attitude and fitness (and perhaps nagging injury) rather than "everyone figuring him out". So Ovie's this one-dimensional player who eats the league alive for 5 seasons, then all of a sudden everybody knows how to stop him from season 6 onward? Doesn't make sense to me.

But Crosby is the best player in the league, he scored 4 points vs the worst team in the league! Ovi's a nobody now, he haz been figured out! /sarcasm.

[letsgopens66]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

But Crosby is the best player in the league, he scored 4 points vs the worst team in the league! Ovi's a nobody now, he haz been figured out! /sarcasm.

He only has 15 points this season. Only had 85 last year. For someone with his potential and contract, he should be performing at a higher level.

I think it's because he feels the pressure of wearing the C. He's just not a leader. That's fine, but he needs to get back into the role where he feels the most comfortable. He was much more comfortable as the silly, high flying winger.

Part of it is Bruce, too. This is fairly similar to the Pens in 09. Therrien had the team playing too defensively. Luckily, Bylsma was able to change that.

Maybe the Caps should do the same thing, because it seems like not all the players believe in Bruce.

[RealmK]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

He only has 15 points this season. Only had 85 last year. For someone with his potential and contract, he should be performing at a higher level.

I think it's because he feels the pressure of wearing the C. He's just not a leader. That's fine, but he needs to get back into the role where he feels the most comfortable. He was much more comfortable as the silly, high flying winger.

Part of it is Bruce, too. This is fairly similar to the Pens in 09. Therrien had the team playing too defensively. Luckily, Bylsma was able to change that.

Maybe the Caps should do the same thing, because it seems like not all the players believe in Bruce.

I think alot of it is Bruce. And Ovi just not caring for whatever reason. I'd imagine it's more off the ice happenings when it comes to the caps and not talent level.

[Rancid Radio]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

My expert analysis of this game: Dwayne Roloson sucks.

At least Vinny scored a goal, always good to see him slap it in regardless of the score Really disappointed with the Lightning this season, I had such high hopes after last year but goal tending is just killing us. Hopefully they turn things around, the talent is definitely there.

Loved Sid's return too. I am not a Sid fan and I hate those damn Penguins, but it's always fun to watch a guy storm back into the game like that. 4 points in his first game back, how perfect is that?

[Money99]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

My expert analysis of this game: Dwayne Roloson sucks.

At least Vinny scored a goal, always good to see him slap it in regardless of the score Really disappointed with the Lightning this season, I had such high hopes after last year but goal tending is just killing us. Hopefully they turn things around, the talent is definitely there.

Loved Sid's return too. I am not a Sid fan and I hate those damn Penguins, but it's always fun to watch a guy storm back into the game like that. 4 points in his first game back, how perfect is that?

Ironically, Mike Smith is doing awesome in the desert.
I think Roloson's reached the end of his rope. I like him and loved how well he did last year. But he's nearly 43 now right? The end was closer than most thought.
It might be time for Stevie Y to find a replacement sooner than later.

[RealmK]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Ironically, Mike Smith is doing awesome in the desert.
I think Roloson's reached the end of his rope. I like him and loved how well he did last year. But he's nearly 43 now right? The end was closer than most thought.
It might be time for Stevie Y to find a replacement sooner than later.

Stevie bet on the wrong tender. Really that's the Lightning's obvious weakest link. And it's your arguably most important position. I think Tampa Bay has the guys to get it done with the exception of between the pipes.

[Rancid Radio]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Ironically, Mike Smith is doing awesome in the desert.
I think Roloson's reached the end of his rope. I like him and loved how well he did last year. But he's nearly 43 now right? The end was closer than most thought.
It might be time for Stevie Y to find a replacement sooner than later.

Yeah, Steve's done such a great job of turning the Lightning back into a contender that I have a hard time saying anything bad about him but sticking with Roloson this year is looking like a bigger mistake each and every game. It's a bummer, because the season is pretty much a waste unless he magically finds his groove and starts playing far better than he is right now.

I think we'll still find a way to the playoffs, the offensive talent is too much for a lot of teams to deal with and it's not like Roloson is horrible. I just doubt we make any noise like last year.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Ironically, Mike Smith is doing awesome in the desert.
I think Roloson's reached the end of his rope. I like him and loved how well he did last year. But he's nearly 43 now right? The end was closer than most thought.
It might be time for Stevie Y to find a replacement sooner than later.

I remember thinking that Edmonton paid too high a price sending a first rounder to Minny in '05-'06 for a goaltender of his age—though that worked out fairly well. I can't believe Stevie Y felt like Roloson could be the guy this year at 42-43. Is he the last active player in the NHL born in the 60's?

I think TB will shore up their goaltending by the deadline. Wouldn't be surprised to see Nabokov or Bernier go there.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

I remember thinking that Edmonton paid too high a price sending a first rounder to Minny in '05-'06 for a goaltender of his age—though that worked out fairly well. I can't believe Stevie Y felt like Roloson could be the guy this year at 42-43. Is he the last active player in the NHL born in the 60's?

This is a little unfair (not singling you out). Classic second-guessing IMO. I don't recall a lot of posts blasting Yzerman for re-signing Roloson during the summer. The Bolts were up against the cap, and Roloson seemed like a cheap (1 yr/3M) stopgap without having to give up assets. Seemed reasonable given Roli's play last year. Sometimes reasonable moves don't work out. Would Lightning fans be happier if they'd sent a 1st-rounder to Washington for Varlamov?

I think TB will shore up their goaltending by the deadline. Wouldn't be surprised to see Nabokov or Bernier go there.

Interesting decision. Nabokov's just a Russian Roloson: not much risk, but another stopgap at best. At some point, I assume one of Bernier or Schneider will end up in Tampa and the other in Jersey.

[gopher_guy]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Oh, Sidney Crosby is back in the lineup? I must have missed that! :P

[RealmK]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Oh, Sidney Crosby is back in the lineup? I must have missed that! :P

Haha not sure how you could with 100000 stories on NHL.com about it this week. Yay Sid and the Pens beat up on a terrible Islanders team with a 5th string starting goalie, Stanley Cup for sure!

[Fiddy]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Haha not sure how you could with 100000 stories on NHL.com about it this week. Yay Sid and the Pens beat up on a terrible Islanders team with a 5th string starting goalie, Stanley Cup for sure!

well, i think the fact that they played great without Malkin, Staal, Crosby for the better part of the season last year. stayed at/near top of the east, blew a 3-1 lead vs Bolts, again, lose to a better team without 2 superstars.. shows that this team is very solid obviously.. now add Malkin back this year, a healthy Staal and knock on wood a healthy Crosby, yup, heck of a chance to dominate the league and compete for a Cup..

i would love to see the Pens play the Bruins in the playoffs and beat them in 5 or 6 games.. bc all your ranting will be hilarious..

heck, some of your early season posts with them struggling was funny as well.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

I'm shocked by how low the rating was for Crosby's return. It didn't even get 200K (this number doesn't include the Pittsburgh and New York Market).

Crosby's return was on every sports website and sports blog. It was covered as a major event (once the news was out he would return, CBC, TSN, Sportsnet, ESPN, USA Today, New York Times,etc.. all sent people to Pittsburgh to cover it). Heck they talked about it during Monday Night Football and Colin "I don't cover Hockey because it would kill my ratings" Cowherd even talked about his return and had Barnaby as a guest.