The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

[carko32]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Bergeron and Seguin are both franchise C IMO. Does Zetterberg play much C these days?

Yeah, I was on fence with both of them. Even though Bergeron doesn't bring that much in offensive part, he is great player. Seguin has second great season, and as I really respect your opinion, I can't argue with you.

Well Zetterberg played C when Datsyuk was injured this season. But I think that Wings fans will be better to tell us, how much time he spends as C now, when Datsyuk in back. And Zetterberg was projected to be Swedish 1C last year, before Backstrom.

[rdnk]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

We were debating with my friends how many franchise centers are in the league atm.
This is my list and I'd like to know, if you can agree with it or you think that there should be smaller number.
Getzlaf(Anaheim), Kopitar(LA), Thornton(SJ), Sedin(Vancouver), Toews(Chicago), Datsyuk and Zetterberg(Detroit), Stamkos (Tampa), Tavares (NYI), Giroux (Philadelphia), Crosby and Malkin(Pittsburgh) and Backstrom(Washington) (12 players).
On the fence with Bergeron and Seguin(he hasn't been on this level long enough, but it seems that he can be that franchise player, but from guys on the fence he is the closest), and also with Johansen( too young) and with SJ players, because there are so many good C, that I just can't identify which of them is actually franchise C.

Eric Staal and Jason Spezza were ones at one point or another in their careers.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Yeah, I was on fence with both of them. Even though Bergeron doesn't bring that much in offensive part, he is great player. Seguin has second great season, and as I really respect your opinion, I can't argue with you.

Bergeron is a perfect example how advanced stats can verify "intangibles". The Bruins absolutely dominate possession and 5-on-5 scoring % when he's on the ice. If I wanted to defend a one-goal lead with 30 seconds to go, I'd take Bergeron over Toews, Kopitar, Datsyuk (at the moment, anyway). Plus 60 points every season. Elite C.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

I forgot what having a relatively comfortable lead in the 3rd period was like.

Annnnd, immediately after I post this it's 3-1, lol.

And 3-2. Of course.

[carko32]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

I forgot what having a relatively comfortable lead in the 3rd period was like.

Annnnd, immediately after I post this it's 3-1, lol.

And 3-2. Of course.

Great 3rd period, pretty intense. I just don't get it, Wild had everything under control and then they were stuck in their part of ice and Canucks almost tied the game. But it was great evening here in Europe, as we could watch a few games in normal time, not in the middle of the night.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Great 3rd period, pretty intense. I just don't get it, Wild had everything under control and then they were stuck in their part of ice and Canucks almost tied the game. But it was great evening here in Europe, as we could watch a few games in normal time, not in the middle of the night.

Just your typical Wild game. Can't make it easy.

[sharks]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

The Sharks didn't even act like they were trying to win that shootout.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Crosby, Ovechkin, and Jagr are the only current players who strike me as "generational talents". Malkin's a longshot, but possible. I don't think there's ever been a US-born player with generational talent, though if LaFontaine had stayed healthy his entire career, he might've had a shot. I'm supposed to believe that McDavid and Eichel are both this elite? Either the definition doesn't mean what it used to, or Buffalo and Edmonton aren't tanking hard enough.

I think Malkin is a generational talent.

We were debating with my friends how many franchise centers are in the league atm.
This is my list and I'd like to know, if you can agree with it or you think that there should be smaller number.
Getzlaf(Anaheim), Kopitar(LA), Thornton(SJ), Sedin(Vancouver), Toews(Chicago), Datsyuk and Zetterberg(Detroit), Stamkos (Tampa), Tavares (NYI), Giroux (Philadelphia), Crosby and Malkin(Pittsburgh) and Backstrom(Washington) (12 players).
On the fence with Bergeron and Seguin(he hasn't been on this level long enough, but it seems that he can be that franchise player, but from guys on the fence he is the closest), and also with Johansen( too young) and with SJ players, because there are so many good C, that I just can't identify which of them is actually franchise C.


Regarding Ovechkin, I think that he is generational player. He can change game like nobody can in the league(except Crosby).

This is my list of franchise centers in the NHL at the moment:

Stamkos
Tavares
Crosby
Malkin
Backstrom
Giroux
Johansen
Toews
Seguin
Getzlaf
Kopitar

I don't know what to do with Thornton, Sedin, Datsyuk, and E.Staal

In the future I see MacKinnon, Barkov, and Galchenyuk becoming franchise centers. Maybe RNH and Monahan too, I love Monahan.

The worst referee in the NHL got suspended for hanging out with Puck Daddy

http://deadspin.com/report-nhl-suspended-referee-for-meeting-in-a-bar-with-1683424835

[carko32]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

This is my list of franchise centers in the NHL at the moment:

Stamkos
Tavares
Crosby
Malkin
Backstrom
Giroux
Johansen
Toews
Seguin
Getzlaf
Kopitar

I don't know what to do with Thornton, Sedin, Datsyuk, and E.Staal

In the future I see MacKinnon, Barkov, and Galchenyuk becoming franchise centers. Maybe RNH and Monahan too, I love Monahan.

I really like your list. And I think Monahan is going to be franchise C, but RNH won't, I think that he was rushed into game and that didn't do him favors. But he seems smart enough, maybe he'll do better, when they all do better.

Sedin is problematic because he plays with his twin. I can understand that, but I think that he is really talented. Thornton definitely was franchise player and he might even be. I also don't know what to do with E.Staal - do we think that he can bounce back?

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

I think Malkin is a generational talent.

Certainly possible. C is an extremely stacked position when you're talking about top 5-10 in NHL history, though.

I don't know what to do with Thornton, Sedin, Datsyuk, and E.Staal

"Former franchise C who are still pretty good, but past their primes?"

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Sedin is problematic because he plays with his twin. I can understand that, but I think that he is really talented.

Henrik absolutely was worthy of "franchise player" at his peak. Getting a pair of 1st Team All-Stars in the Crosby-Malkin era is nothing to sniff at. People who've watched the Canucks game-in, game-out for years know that Henrik is the more talented of the twins. He played great (and actually shot a lot more) when Daniel missed 25 games during the 2010 season. I think Henrik would've excelled as a 1C on most teams.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Today in Doc Jones' morbid hockey trivia:

Going to Jets/Canucks tonight, 33 years to the day of attending my first NHL game, a 3-1 Vancouver win over Toronto. The first goal of that game was scored by Gary Lupul on Michel "Bunny" Larocque; both have now been deceased for years.

The ThrasherJets will be the 29th NHL team I've seen live (the Whalers and original Jets, plus all current teams except MIN, NSH, and CBJ; never saw the Nordiques, North Stars, or Thrashers). Did see the Canucks get wiped out by the Soviet Red Army shortly before Fedorov defected, though.

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

I stumbled upon some sweet tickets for Thursday's PHI/NYI tilt. Been a couple years since I've been to a game and these are the closest I've been to the action.

Pretty excited. Hopefully Giroux's words ring true and we can continue our winning streak. It would be a big win for us.

[daflyboys]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

It would be a big win for us.

Oh no. The whammy.

[SidVish]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Go home Blackhawks. You're drunk.