It's Monday, Monday, I Got the Bolts on Monday
by SkinnyFish on May 16, 2011 7:00 AM EDT
in From The Branches
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PrintWell the first two games of the conference finals are done and it's gone the way the crowd sees it in one, but not the other. In Round #3 of the PPPPPPP, 51% picked Tampa over Boston; but 53% picked San Jose over Vancouver. Pretty even match ups as the experts see them. If you wish to see how you're doing, here you go. Now on to the links.
Owen Sound Attack and Leafs Prospect Jesse Blacker Win OHL Championship
Now have a chance to win the Memorial Cup.
Draft Schmaft: The Leafs First Round Drafts of 1968-70
The Hockey Writers look at Sittler and Selwood
Forget Moving the Thrashers; Let's Have a Dispersal Draft
VLM wants to pick the bones of failing franchises.
Darcy Tuckers Sees Something Unsettling
This and more photogoodness at Vintage Leafs.
Mislav's Euro Prospects: Daniel Brodin
A look at the Leafs 2010 5th rounder.
Finland Runs Over Sweden in World Championships
Ikea stock expected to fall drastically in the morning.
Family of Derek Boogaard Donate Brain to Science
Well that was nice of them.
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA! Best news to come home to thisa wekeend was Mississaugua losing. A great end to a great weekend.
But it must have been really sad for the 15 Majors fans in attendance to see their team lose.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
yes, yes we were… it was fucking SAD
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on May 16, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Jesse Blacker’s been playing well, huh?
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
from what I’ve seen yeah, but i havent watched a lot.
I was away this weekend so first thing I checked when I got home was the score.
i heard the radio call of the game winner at loosepucks.com and it soudns like a home game for The attack.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Both teams go to the Memorial Cup anyway though.
by Leaf in Habland on May 16, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Nobody wants to back into the Memorial Cup like that.
Incidentally, how do they pick Memorial Cup hosts? Do they take into account whether the team is good enough to make it there in the first place? What happens if Mississauga had gotten knocked out in the first round? Would they still get to go anyway?
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on May 16, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, the host gets an automatic in.
Then choose based on Arena, Team strength, and (this is wher eit gets me as to why the GTA got it) fan support.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
there ar eother possibilities, but Mississaugua was up against Windsor & Kingston
i would have gone with Windsor. Brand new arena, 2 time mem. cup champs.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
true, but let’s be a bit realistic and adfmit that the money plays a good chuck into it and windsor would have sold out by now (economy regardless)
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
True… the 3 safe Ontario bids will always be London, Kitchener and (these days) Windsor. Ottawa used to be, but without Kilrea its tough to say they’ll always be up there.
with the new arena going up in Niagara I hope we get one sooner than later but every 3 years in the OHL and construction dates means 2017 is the closest date.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Niagra could be good if they keep it up in terms of performance. They’ll have the arena and the fans but its the consistantly high level of teams. They are close to being that but not quite yet (still too young)
well in 6 years it’ll be 2 generations of OHL players
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Yes and if they make a serious run at the Memorial cup in those 6 years I think they’ll get the 2017 bid. Although I think they’ll get a tough competition from Kitchener who will want to show off their nice new renovations. Yes they could go for the 2014 one but no way they give Kitchener 2 of 3… Another one due for another shot will be London.
I think Windsor gets 2014
It’s too bad they want shinyy reno’d arenas now, because a memorial cup in Sudbury would be insane.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
The fans there scare me :(
But in a good way
Also if Owen Sound didn’t have an arena the size of a thimble it’d be a great place as well (fan wise)
I was at the Niagara/Sudbury game over thanks giving this season since we were there for a wedding (great timing). there only 3 ice dog fans there (my wife me and my brother).
Everytime the Dogs scored we jumped up and cheered. everyone else was dead silent and staring.
If there was ever a reason to go to Sudbury, a friday night Wolves game is it.
(Marcus Foligno’s Ric flair “Wooooooo!” mid fight was awesome as well.)
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Sudbury are the Wolves…
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Greyhounds
are the Soo.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes they would still go.
They usually pick based on how good the arena etc are, and then how good the GM etc are. This is because they pick it 2 years in advance I think, so the players wont necessarily be the same, but if a team has a record of building consistantly good teams they will most likely have a good team. Not only that but you see a lot of Memorial cup hosts sacrifice the future to stock up for that years run.
That makes sense. I haven’t paid close attention but I’ve noticed in the past that very often the host ends up making at least hte conference finals so I thought that seemed like a bit of a coincidence. But considering how it works it does make sense for teams to go all-in when they’re hosting and make ridiculous trades.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on May 16, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I call dibs on Evander Kane
If I had a gun with two bullets, and I was in a room with Hitler, Bin Laden and Toby, I would shoot Toby twice.
Racist… You can’t claim black people as your own anymore!
Oh you mean for your hockey team… yah thats cool
That was amazing. I would never have expected that.
"Callgirl! She was a callgirl!"
"No Cyril, when they're dead, they're just hookers!"
24/02/11: I was there.
"If you've ever questioned whether or not @dboyce47 is a gamer, well, the answer is as plain as the nose that used to be on his face." - Sean Boulton
he’s not named after Evander Hollyfield for nothing.
by Nigel Cadbury on May 16, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW9Sp-WndwA
Here, let me take your helmet off for you. Punch, punch. Punch. KO.
ARMANDO SLAPNUTS
by theninjagreg on May 16, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
For some reason PPP#3 didn’t take my picks…
I wanted to go Tampa in 6 and San Jose in 7 :(
Too late I guess?
There may be $omething you can do $o your pick$ get put into thi$ round of the pool………
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
Excuse me while I hurl.
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worst image.
AULIE AULIE OXEN FREE!!!1
Follow me I'm Boring!
Devour my Revolution!
by blindfolded tank driver on May 16, 2011 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
It pokes out through his tshirts.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
How about hairy guys with moobs. NOW THATS AN IMAGE
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Are you some sort of lumberjack? Paul "Guns"yun?
AULIE AULIE OXEN FREE!!!1
Follow me I'm Boring!
Devour my Revolution!
by blindfolded tank driver on May 16, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions
A guy I went to high school with was the MVP of the NLL. We played lacrosse once in gym class, guy was ridiculous.
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
A guy I went to high school with was the MVP of the NLL
What’s his day job?
Pension Plan Puppets*
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HAHAHAHA Well played
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Just busting balls, indoor lacrosse is pretty fun to watch. I’d go if I lived in a city that had it.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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I wouldn’t go into NYC to watch and I’d be hard up to pay more than $20 but it’s pretty cool.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Rock have won like 6 titles in 10 years, something like that and I haven’t gone to a game. I don’t knwo why. I really should
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I think it's 6 in 14 IIRC, and the goalie (Bob Waston) who retired after this win has been around for all 6.
I’ve been to 2 games, it’s pretty fun. Still unsure on a couple of the rules and ref calls.
My favourite part was when the Washington player whipped the ball so hard in literally knocked the Rock goalie into the net. Kind of like Kessel’s shootout goal where Thomas backed into the net, but this one was just pure force of the shot. Equipment went flying.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes its 6 in 14 I believe… they had gone 6 yrs in between titles before yesterday.
Bob Watson is retiring but he went out winning the playoff MVP and the championship. Not a bad way to go.
by WizardofNaz on May 16, 2011 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Petter Granberg has been making some noise this year. 4th rounder, built like a brick shit house.
Some translated quotes from Anders Forsberg (Head coach for Skelleftea) regarding Petter Granberg:
“Petter Granberg is something out of the ordinary”
On Granbergs physique:
“His test results are way too good”, joked Forsberg. "For his age they are extremely good, he is on a level that you usually see at 26-27. "
“If he keeps developing he could become something that we haven’t seen before”
“What is interesting to see is if he can keep improving. If so things could get very interesting”
“The plan for him is to play for the first team next season, and to play every game. This year he’s been with us to mostly watch and learn "
“Now he is going to be one of 7 defenseman, that is a demand from me”
He is drafted by Toronto. Do you think he can reach the NHL?
“He has the potential. He is so freaking strong, he could become a really good stay-at-home defenseman”
Leaf related ulcers, 36 years strong, and growing.
by Halifax Hockey Hooligan on May 16, 2011 9:20 AM EDT reply actions
built like a brick shit house
So he stinks?
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Just a little, lol
Leaf related ulcers, 36 years strong, and growing.
by Halifax Hockey Hooligan on May 16, 2011 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions
So how do people here feel about offering Ian White, say, a 2 year contract this summer to help shore up our defence for a little while as we wait to see how some of our defensive prospects develop? He’s healthy, puts up decent points, and is reasonably good in the defensive zone, plus I doubt he’ll command an especially high salary. Seems like it would be a good move to me. Much better than trying to lock up Erhoff for 4 years at $3.5 – $4 million or something.
Regardless of what cap hit, production or defense he would bring, I don’t think Burke would bring him back after he shipped him out.
I always liked the guy, but I feel like internally he might have been one of those guys that was on Burke’s shitlist. Wasn’t he one of the ones from that weird NYC helicopter story?
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
heilcopter story?
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
That a bunch of Leafs in the ‘09 season went out in NYC and partied it up, rented a helicopter, some type of rumour along those lines and apparently the Leafs brass didn’t take kindly to it.
After the Phaneuf Aulie and Giguere trades it came out, and it was suggested that the players involved were already shipped out. Hinting that Mayers, White, Stajan, Hagman or Blake or some combination of those were the involved parties.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Could you imagine those four partying together? Talk about an odd combination
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on May 16, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
There are 5 names there
and Toskala was part of it also… Toskala + Hagman doesn’t seem strange as they are both Finnish. I could see White and Stajan being the other two.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Mayers
and Blake are old and I never got the impression they fit in much with the rest of the team.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
either way I don't think
White is a good fit… they need a defensive D man, not an offensive producer. We’ve got Gardiner, Gunnarsson, Blacker, Lashoff, and Phaneuf already… if we’re moving Aulie down to the bottom pairing, then you need a guy who can shut other players down, not a guy to put up points.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
If the Leafs need a defensive dman, as you say, then White isn’t the player they should go for. He wasn’t exactly the best d-man in his own zone
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
That's why I said
I don’t think he’s a good fit.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Phaneuf, Gardiner, Blacker, Lashoff and Gunnarsson combined for 50 NHL points last season. I don’t think adding offensive d-men to a team that had almost no production from the blue line is a bad idea.
Whether or not Ian White is the right piece is another conversation but we’re clearly not “all set” on offense from our blue line.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
I guess it depends where you think our development is. I think the team is too good to be in full-on rebuild mode next year. We should be competing for one of the bottom few playoff seeds, but being careful not to add older players who will tie up cap space when our younger players improve and hopefully make the jump to the big league. If we want to be competing for a championship in a few years while all of our core players are in or near their prime, then we need to at least be battling for a playoff spot next year.
On the other hand, if you think the team is still in full-on rebuild mode, maybe you just let some younger guys stumble through the year and see who sticks around. But I’m not sure that’s the best approach at this point.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm
Gunnarsson’s production is right around where Jason Demers’ is for the Sharks, and he was the 2nd leading point producer on their team (White had more points but was added mid-season) with 24 points.
Gunnarsson posted 20 points in only 68 games, and 18 of those came from December to the end of the year after he was playing regularly in the last 53 games of the year. 18 points in 53 games (where he was playing bottom 6 minutes for roughly half of them) pro-rates to a 28 point season.
I think he can easily be that productive over a full year if given top 4 minutes… I honestly think he could put up more like 35-40 points in that role.
Phaneuf posted 30 points in 66 games last year, but considering he didn’t post any goals until after his return from his injury and the fact that 23 of his points came in the last 46 games of the year, I’d like to think he can be more productive than a 30 point D man. He could be at least a 45 point player if he maintains his level of production from the end of last year.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I feel like
you’re rehashing the Kulemin argument all over again… haven’t done it before = won’t do it in the future.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
also
throwing in Gardiner, Blacker, and Lashoff when the three of them played a total of 11 NHL games is ridiculous. I’m not just talking about next year, I’m talking longer term.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Which is why we need to add someone with offensive skill for a couple of years while we see how the younger guys develop.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Point producing d-men are hard to find. Counting on three guys with 11 NHL games last season is ridiculous, I agree.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Basically once Kaberle’s point-producing-ness went into decline the team started looking for a way out.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on May 16, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
But I'm not
counting on them… my top 4 were Phaneuf + Gunnarsson + Schenn + one of that group.
I put Gunnarsson and Phaneuf at around 80 or so points, and Schenn + his partner at around 40 or 50… That means you need a 20-25 point guy… not a 40+ point guy.
There’s a big difference. I don’t see the point in bringing in a top end puck mover if you’re hoping to develop one of your own. They’ll cost too much in free agency or via trade.
Just get a serviceable number 4 D man who costs you like $3.25 mill a year.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
also
I don’t see how “counting” on 20-25 points from our 3 best offensive D prospects currently in the system is ridiculous… but mentioning their point totals in the NHL last year was.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t count on anything from a prospect. At any rate, we still have a hole to fill for a couple of years while they develop. Blacker isn’t scoring 25 points next year.
ie. this is why I am in favour of trying to get White back on a 2 year deal.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I listed
3 guys… and I was talking about in the future… not next year…
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm saying
go ahead and add a fill in that puts up like 20ish points and plays 15-20 minutes a night… that’s fine…. but we don’t need to try and add Christian Ehrhoff.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm just afraid
Of being too confident in half year results. What if we get Autumn 2010 Phaneuf again next year and not winter 2011 Phaneuf.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
I would rather target an offensive d-man if we are targetting anything. We have no true puck mover in our ranks except maybe Phaneuf (but his offense stems more from his booming shot). We do have Blacker/Gardiner coming through the system though and what looks like an all minutes kinda guy in Gunnar.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
http://thestar.blogs.com/thespin/2010/04/farewell-to-the-regular-season.html
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I honestly would prefer a minute munching type like Beauchemin to play on the top pair with Phaneuf (put Aulie down to the third pair, give him 12-15min+PK time). Aulie’s underlying numbers are pretty bad; kid has potential but he’s not ready to shoulder
top competition.
What about Scott Hannan?
No to Hannan, I just don’t like him, Think he’s overrated.
I’m ok with the idea however.
by WizardofNaz on May 16, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Is there a Beauchemin 2.0 available this summer, though (Bieksa)? If so, sure, go ahead and sign him. But part of what we need to be better next year is more offense from our blueline. We’re not getting it from Aulie, Schenn, or Komisarek (or Finger, if he somehow makes the team next year), and I think Burke intends to add a puck-moving defenceman. Ian White seems like a good stopgap while we let our younger guys develop, and he probably won’t lock us in at a high cap hit and salary like a lot of other guys might.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Gunnarsson
def. has the potential to provide more offense. Based on his numbers (that I covered in my posting two days ago), he looks to have potential to be a 40ish point blue liner.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I'd suggest
Gunnarsson + Phaneuf = 80 – 90 points or so in a decent year for both.
Schenn + the other top 4 D man (if it’s Aulie long term, fine – or else possibly Blacker or Gardiner who knows) = 40-50 points.
That means your top four are putting up around 120-140 points… which should be lots.
San Jose’s D posted 118 points from it’s top 4 this year (76 from top 2, including White who was added late)
LA’s top 4 D posted 113 points (82 from top 2)
Detroit’s top 4 D posted 157 points (100 from their top 2 – Lidstrom + Rafalski, heck their top 3 had 137 points)
Chicago’s top 4 D posted 130 points (93 from the top 2, and Campbell only played 65 games this year)
Vancouver’s top 4 D posted 128 points (83 from top 2)
So yeah being in the 120-140 point range should be lots.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I think 80-90 from Gunnar + Phaneuf may be possible in a very good season, but I would expect closer to 60-65.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I think 80 to 90 points for ANY two defensemen is a pipedream
Only 28 defensemen last season scored 40+ points last season. That’s it. The only one who played with Toronto was Kaberle.
Now if you want to say that Phaneuf gets 50 (Norrisesque season) and Gunnarsson 30, well then Gunnarsson would only have to be one of the top 46 defensemen in the league points wise.
It ain’t happening.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
I think a reasonably expectation is 70-75 points between them. I can see Gunnar cracking 30 and Phaneuf cracking 40-45 points.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
Phaneuf and Gunnarsson – Two of the top 45 point getting defensemen in the NHL? For reals.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
Gunnarsson has 35 points in 111 NHL games. My guess if he stays healthy the whole year and gets lots of PP time is that he might get around 30 next year. I would not expect more than 40 out of Phaneuf, based on his past couple of seasons. I think 65 points combined is a fair guess.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm
I thought Phaneuf had done better this year (I thought he was clsoer to 35 points in 66 games). I was basically hoping for him to repeat so high 30s is more likely. I rescind my comment on him. Gunnarson has played 0.32 hockey thus far on his career while most of it has been getting marginalized minutes. If he gets regular 2nd (or even 1st) pairing PP minutes, I see no reason why that can’t improve to 0.37 ppg which is 30 points.
So I will correct it to 65-70. 35-40 out of Phaneuf and 30-35 out of Gunnarson. Please note that both of those numbers are if neihter gets injured. That is an important distinction, because it is not necessarily that likely to happen.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
So if you use ppg
Which I would argue you can if you give the caveat that that production is based on tehm playing the whole season, than they would both be within the top 60 in defensive scoring
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
yes
for reals.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Pretty much. It’s not happening.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
pipe dream?
Boyle + Demers = 74 points.
Lidstrom + Rafalski = 100 points.
Doughty + Johnson = 82 points.
Visnovsky + Fowler = 108 points
Byfuglien + Enstrom = 104 points
Chara + Seidenberg = 76 points
Myers + Leopold = 72 points
Giordano + Babchuk = 70 points
Corvo + Pitkanen = 75 points
Keith + Seabrook = 93 points
Liles + Shattenkirk/Johnson = 82 points
Tyutin + Russell = 50 points (worst in the NHL?)
Robidas + Daley = 57 points (they added Goligoski who posted 46 points last year – with Robidas that’d be 76 points)
Whitney + Gilbert = 54 points (Whitney posted 27 points in 35 games…. then was down for the year)
Wideman + Kulikov = 59 (Bryan McCabe was traded after 48 games, and Wideman was traded to Washington after 61)…
Burns + Zidlicky = 70 points (Zidlicky only played 46 games)
Subban + Hamrlik = 72 points (Wisniewski joined halfway through the year and Markov went down after 7 games… Wisniewski posted 51 points in 75 games this year).
Weber + Suter = 87 points
Greene + Tallinder = 39 points (nm that’s the worst in the NHL… GOD that’s atrocious).
Hamonic + MacDonald = 53 points (it doesn’t help when Streit gets injured before the year starts, or Wisniewski gets dealt… none of their D played over 64 games… not a single man)
Girardi + Staal = 60 points
Karlsson + Gonchar = 72 points
Carle + Timonen = 77 points
Yandle + Aucoin = 81 points
Letang + Goligoski = 81 points (or Martin = 74 points)
Pieterangelo + Colaiacovo = 69 points
Clark + Hedman = 57 points (NHL Stanley Cup Finalists? As if)
Kaberle + Phaneuf = 68 points (Phaneuf played 66 games, Kaberle 58 games… not exactly full seasons).
Ehrhoff + Edler = 83 points
Carlsson + Green = 61 points (Green only played 49 games)
So let’s see… that’s a mean of 72.87 points per top pairing of D men. Given the fact that there were 10 teams with over 80 points from their D men, I don’t see a problem in shooting for that sort of total.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions
10 teams
over 80, 9 teams over 70… that leaves 11 teams with shitty production under 70 points.
If we don’t break the 70 point level from our top 2, we’re not a particularly elite team… at all.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions
and of the 11 teams
that didn’t break 70, I’d say Washington, Toronto, the Islanders, Edmonton, and Florida were screwed by trades or injury… so in all, I don’t think it’s weird to think 80-90 is a decent or reasonable target in a GOOD year from your top 2 D offensive D men.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Phaneuf and Gunnarsson’s 82 game projections for last season were 37 and 24 points respectively, for a total of 61 points. To hit 80, the low end of your prediction, they’d need to see an increase of 31%. To hit your high end target, they’d need to increase their scoring by 47%. I think that’s probably unrealistic at any point, and it’s certainly not reasonable to expect for the next year or two.
To put this in perspective, this kind of increase for Kessel and Macarthur (the Leafs top two offensive forwards last year, around the same age as Gunnar/Phaneuf) are going to combine for somewhere between 165 and 185 points (ie. an average of 80-90 per player). I don’t have time to look up the numbers right now, but I’m going to go ahead and guess that kind of improvement doesn’t happen too often past a player’s first or second season.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Also, at 5 on 5 last year, Luke Schenn had a better pace than Gunnarsson in terms of both goals (0.20 to 0.19 per 60 minutes) and primary assists (0.41 to 0.25), though Gunnarsson was better in terms of secondary assists (0.24 to 0.51). In fact, per 60 minutes played 5 on 5, Schenn had a better scoring pace than Phaneuf last year, and had a better pace for primary assists than any of the team’s defencemen other than Kaberle.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions
so you think
Luke Schenn is a future 30+ point D man? I don’t think he’ll ever post much beyond 35 points, but ok.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 17, 2011 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Also
why are we removing secondary assists? Phaneuf posted a 0.44 in secondary assists per 60 minutes, are those less valuable in his case?
Yanno who else had a lot more 2nd assists than 1st assists and goals last year? Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Zdeno Chara, Dan Boyle, Kris Letang, Alex Goligoski, John Carlson, Lubomir Visnovski, Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis…
I’m just gonna go ahead and say that I don’t know how relevant the A1 vs. A2 thing is to the point production discussion.
0.96 pts / 60 for Gunnarsson, 0.85 pts / 60 for Schenn at 5 v 5.
On the PP, Gunnarsson was 2.72 pts/60, Schenn was a nice 0.00, while Phaneuf was 2.69 pts/60.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 17, 2011 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions
The grammar in that post made sense before I re-ordered some of it.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I was pretty specific
in saying I’m not referring to next season as an expectation.
Pro-rating entire seasonal numbers for Gunnarsson doesn’t make sense as he didn’t play top 4 minutes for most of the year…. also he was only in his 2nd year in the NHL… so assuming he is staying at that level of production is a bit … curious? Particularly from a person who has to my knowledge regularly repeated that he thinks Gunnarsson will develop offensively.
I’ve repeatedly stated I think Gunnarsson tops out as a 35-40 point D man… you can disagree, but I don’t think I’m horribly off base with the assertion. If you have a list of comparable players that ended up as 20 point D men, then go with that and be happy.
As for Phaneuf being a 37 point D man over 82 games, that’s basically saying you think his last 2 years are where his true talent lies, and not the 49, 50, 60, and 47 point seasons prior to the past 2. Frankly he’s been more productive in those 4 years than the last 2, and I don’t think he’s likely to top out as a 37 point D man longer term.
If he’s a 50 point D man… and I think he is capable of that… and if Gunnarsson is a 35 point D man then that’s 85 points.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 17, 2011 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
right
atlanta is SOOOOOOO elite because their top 2 D produced 104 points. SOO ELITE
elephant shell
never question our ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - yardly
no
but we could argue that Detroit, Chicago, and Anaheim are pretty elite.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 17, 2011 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Atlanta's problem
was the rest of their team… not enough productive forwards, and not enough Defense.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 17, 2011 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions
I am not saying
NEXT YEAR… I’m talking longer term… you guys are obsessed with thinking I’m saying next year right now.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I started the conversation about picking up a defenceman for next year, so it makes sense that’s what people are talking about.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions
that's fine.
but when I keep saying not next season, and people keep acting like I said next season, that is a bit silly.
I’m talking about not needing to sign an offensive puck moving D man long term because I don’t see the point. Just because we want it next year, unless you can get it short term, don’t bother.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 17, 2011 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Bieksa for the right price, sure.
I don’t even care so much about the dollars as the term. Two year deals only.
Hands off!
Here’s ours!
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
I don’t think Bieksa will be interested in less than 3. At that age, unless they are coming off a bad year players tend to sign for between 3-5 years (In recent years look at Beauchemin, Komi, Hamhuis, etc).
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
He’s not moving across the country for a two-year deal, unless it’s for a boatload of money, which would just screw us in a different way.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on May 16, 2011 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Just to be claer on something
the Attack were going to play in the Mem Cup whether or not they beat St. Mikes. St. Mikes is in automatically as host, so the other OHL finalist was going to the 4 team tournament either way.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Yes. But it’s still good to see the Majors not win the championship.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
But they still have a shot at the Memorial Cup…
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
nobody said they didn't
but the statement at the top of the page is ambiguous because it implies they got the chance to play for the Mem Cup as a RESULT of winning the OHL championship.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
the fact that we can even have this
discussion makes the amphiboly pretty obvious.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
it's a specific
logical fallacy stemming from ambiguous language.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I mis-read that as “amphibious language” which was way more interesting.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
That was just a reply
To elsedo’s comment about not winning the championship. Since they have a shot at the bigger one still
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
still. they’re losers.
glorious losers.
a sounds that will echo throughout their empty arena forever.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
if they win the Mem Cup
nobody will care about the OHL championship… just saying.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Yep
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
stop that.
why would you say such horrible things?
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
GO MAJORS GO!
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on May 16, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
ahhhh
gotcha… this use of “they” is misleading.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Not sure if he was the goalie of record, but the Owen Sound goalie (Stajcer) is the little brother of a buddy of mine, so good on him.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
CGY re-signs Curtis Glencross to a multi-year deal
Rumour is 4 years @ $2.5M with a full NMC.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
Just what Calgary needs
MORE people with NMC/NTCs
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
Don’t mind the price, but more no-movement clauses? That franchise just hates cap flexibility.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
A NMC isn’t terrible, just means he can’t be sent down to the minors. It’s only $2.5M so that’s not much.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
A NMC means you can’t be placed on waivers OR traded.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
No it doesn’t.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
No Movement Clause.
They can’t do shit except buy him out
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Should have done my research.
Always was under the impression they were given out seperately. (i.e. NTC + NMC)
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Can an NMC be given with conditions on trades (like NTC’s have)? So they can’t be waived, but they can be traded under x and y circumstances?
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
I'd imagine so.
Pretty sure the “can’t be waived” part is the real purpose of it, and the conditionality for trading could be more of a give and take .
I don’t have any examples on me but I’m sure there are a few ppl with it. Sometimes the timing of the NMCs/NTCs vary as well. (i.e. Kovalchuk, Jeff Carter)
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think you can be given a NTC until you’re eligible for UFA status, which is why Kessel has one at the end of his current contract, but not right now. Assuming Carter is the same.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
hmmmm
@ajcthrashers
Chris Vivlamore
I have confirmed that the Atlanta Spirit and True North are in negotiations about sale and relocation of #Thrashers. Story to come soon.
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
Funny thing is the only part i’m worried about in this whole thing is if Detroit is going to be bumped into the Eastern Conference if ATL goes West (and North).
That would be horrible for the Leafs, who would likely get them in our division if the whole thing was rejiggered.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Wonder if they’d just swap Nashville and Atlanta(Winnipeg). Put Winnipeg in the Central and Nashville in the SE? Nash is close to the rest of the SE teams and Winnipeg is kind of Central.
They’d probably get schooled in the Central though.
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
Nashville is in central time
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Round 1: NO HABS NO (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 16, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Since when has time zones determined divisions? At least in the West
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
But it makes more geographical sense. The time zone thing is bunk to me, the West plays in 4 time zones as is, no reason for the East to not play in 1.
My thinking is they send Nashville or Columbus because they can put either of them in the Southeast, while sending Detroit over screws things up and means other division rivalry teams (PHI/PIT, NYI/NYR, TOR/MTL) might get broken up.
If you brought Det over to the east it would have to be into the Northeast, and geographically the Bruins are the most likely candidate to be switched to the Atlantic. However there is no logical team to move from the Atlantic to the SE.
The best bet (imo) would be
Northwest- 4 Canadian west teams + minny
Pacific- 3 Cali teams + Col and Phx
Central- Chi, Det, CBJ, Dal and StL
and then Nash would replace Atl in the Southeast
That’s a ton of movement though.
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
Wonder if the NHL would consider uneven divisions, like MLB? If WPG gets in, and they send a Central team East, you think the Wild and/or Avs would be happy in a division with 4 Canadian teams? It would make sense to me to have the 4 Canadian teams in their own division, and move Colorado down to a 6 team Pacific.
I think they’d try to just do a 1 for 1 switch if the move does happen.
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
I think they move Winnipeg to the NW, Dallas to the Central, Colorado to the West, and Columbus to the SE.
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
I think “Detroit will move to the East if the conferences are realigned” is like “Israel has nuclear weapons” – no official will say it publically, but everyone knows it’s true.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I would be willing to bet anyone here money that it will be Detroit.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
But only one person, otherwise the odds could get crazy.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
no, because Detroit already draws massive tv crowds for games. They’ll have support no matter what. Columbus, on the other hand, has more natural rivalries with teams in the East and would benefit from the switch.
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
They’d have to move Pittsburgh to the SE, Boston to the Atlantic, and Detroit into the NE.
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
Pittsburgh to the SE
NBC would love that. 6 WASH-PIT games a year to fawn over?
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
I just realized that Jeremy Jacobs would probably have a hard on over the Bruins being so geographically close to the rest of the division. Bus trips for all!
by Arenacale on May 16, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I actually think Columbus moves to the Eastern Conference. They are really hurting and it doesn’t help having so many 10pm start times for road games. Natural rivalry with Pittsburgh.
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
It’ll be Detroit. They’ve been pushing for it since Toronto switched over.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
The illitch’s want to be in the East
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Maybe
they should pay to have the entire city airlifted and dropped on top of Erie Pennsylvania?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m 99% sure that Detroit already has an agreement in place with the NHL to get first dibs on a move East. I’ll see if I can dig up the source.
I’ve heard that a lot, but it has never seen it in writing. I’m sure Bettman can turn his back on anything at this point.
He’d totally lawyer-speak it to death
I cannot confirm nor deny any potential arrangements that could perceivably or explicitly be in place in regards to the movement of any of our member clubs and Detroit is no exception
Two weeks later Detroit moves to the East.
There were discussions retroactive to before the salary cap era in which we had an arrangement in place to move the Detroit Red Wings to the East should the opportunity present itself in an appropriate manner. Also, we’re set to announce that Sandra Oh has signed a 10 year agreement to host the NHL awards.
Natural rivalry with Pittsburgh.
Wut?
Columbus is barely being kept afloat and that’s because they get 6 games of Detroit and Chicago in Columbus a year. They simply can’t be removed from Detroit or Chicago and wish to remain in Columbus.
Nashville is likely and in my opinion correct choice as it replaces a Southern team with a Southern team, only one that doesn’t suck.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
6 games against Detroit and Chicago vs games against Toronto, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, Rangers, and Caps? You’re talking about 7 teams that draw well on the road. They’re also the team farthest to the east in the western conference, and yes, Pittsburgh and eastern Ohio do have rivalries in other sports, like college football and the NFL.
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
And that game in Columbus against Pit this year had a ton of Penguins fans there.
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
I’m kind of confused by all this debate. I thought it was widely understood that Detroit would be switching conferences if the opportunity ever arises.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
It makes no sense. DET to NE, BOS to Atlantic, PIT to SE, right?
So you’ve got MTL pissed you moved their rival, BOS pissed they’ve lost all their rivals, PIT and PHI they’ve lost each other as rivals, all to make Ilitch happy? He must have naken pics of Bettman if he pulls this off. It makes no sense.
"[Phil Kessel]'s as streaky as a flipped coin" - Shift
by The '67 Sound on May 16, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
…ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, I have one final thing I want you to consider. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Chewbacca. Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk. But Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now think about it; that does not make sense!
by Nigel Cadbury on May 16, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Nerd in jury: Well, actually, George Lucas meant for the moon Endor to be populated by Wookies who would fight the Imperial Empire but he didn’t have sufficient funds to carry out this plan, so instead created the childlike Ewoks instead.
I’m talking about people living in Columbus who are hockey fans actually being fans of Chicago and Detroit.
I’m from Ohio and believe me, nobody there cares about the Blue Jackets over the Hawks or Wings.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
Columbus Blue jackets:
The American Senators.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
by elseldo on May 16, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Apt
"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on May 16, 2011 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Wyshynski is suggesting that the team should keep the Thrashers name, too. Which I don’t entirely disagree with.
they could move to Saskatoon and become the Threshers.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
by elseldo on May 16, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yeah, but how do you go against nostalgia of the Jets in Winnipeg? I wouldn’t be surprised to see that less people would buy tickets to the Winnipeg Thrashers just because they aren’t the Jets.
If that were to happen, it would be hilarious. Peggers clamouring for the NHL to come back, and if it did, bitch about it not being the Jets.
I can understand the nostalgia, but the Peggers here have to keep their word and support an NHL team whether it’s called Jets, Moose, or Thrashers.
Btw, I believe there’s actually a AAA hockey team called the Winnipeg Thrashers.
Doan - H. Sedin - Tony Salmelainen = First Line NHL 07 Ownage
by LurkinPegger on May 16, 2011 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions
this map may be helpful
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
by birky on May 16, 2011 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Oooo pretty. (and useful!)
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think moving Dallas to the Central and Colorado actually makes a lot of sense. I think Dallas-Nashville could develop a good rivalry and Denver certainly makes more sense in the pacific than in the northeast
Pension Plan Puppets
I hope YouTube comes down to film this.
So what WizardofNaz said
Nashville takes Atlanta’s place; Minnesota goes to the Central; and Winnipeg to the NW.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
Would make the most sense. But this is the NHL we’re talking about here
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
Toronto to the West! Colorado to the East!
Up is right, left is black!
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
poor Calgary sits in the box that is the NE and is taunted by the other 4.
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Art imitating life?
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
They have a no ‘intersecting red line’ clause.
"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on May 16, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Nashville
send colorado to the pacific, put winnipeg in the north west, dallas in the central, and nashville in the south east… ding.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Just looking at that map
Without much thought to timezones/rivalries/etc (someone may already have said this). It looks like they can:
Move the Avs down to the Pacific
Move Dallas to Central
Move Nashville/Columbus to the SE
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
I just said the exact same thing
and the rivalries thing is irrelevant.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Colorado
is closer to the pacific teams than Dallas, Dallas is at least in the Central time zone, and Nashville is closer to the SE than any of the Atlantic teams.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Nashville every time. CBJ would lose the Chi and Det games which are the only ones they come close to selling out (IIRC). And thats because its mostly Chi and Det fans in attendance
Sounds logical. So it will be Minnie moving to the East to follow typical NHL logic correct?
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
They’ll just add a team in Hawaii and put in the NE
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
Dallas
Is seriously in the middle of nowhere
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
Colorado is at least somewhat closer to the PAC teams. Even the Central teams are far from Dallas
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
This map makes me wonder why MTL-BOS-NYI-NJ-NYR isn’t one division and OTT-TOR-BUF-PIT-PHI isn’t another. Makes similar sense.
At least 94, since they played the Canucks in the conference finals
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
yes
Toronto-Detroit-Chicago-St. Louis-Minnesota was the old Norris division.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
it was even more awesome
when the playoffs were division based… the conference thing ruins rivalries honestly.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
yes, but I think they still played the max # of times a season. With the non- balanced scheduals these days, neither team would accept cutting their 6 games a year down to 4.
The teams
play 6 vs. Div rivals (24 games), 4 vs. the rest of the conf (10 teams = 40 games, and then they’ve got games against the other canadian teams… you could use those extra games on more Mtl-Cdn matchups. They could still play 6 times.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
and secondly
that is not true. I’m looking at the 1988-89 season, and Toronto only played MTL 3 times.
Jan 21st, Jan 14th, Oct 17th… that’s it.
That ain’t no 6 game series.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
hmm well I was born in 1989 so I wouldn’t remember that. I just remember games vs Montreal when I was young, but maybe I am combining multiple seasons worth of games into one to make it seem like more.
Yes well
I don’t think anyone particularly cared… and it was more interesting when Montreal vs. Toronto could only happen in the Stanley Cup finals anyway…
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
The Leafs played
Boston = 3 times
Quebec = 3 times
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
On the other hand
the Leafs played Chicago 8 times, Detroit 8 times, Minnesota 8 times, St. Louis 8 times… THAT is how you build rivalries.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I seriously think
the league should play 2 games vs. every non-divisional team (50 games home and away) and then play 6 against divisional opponents (30) and then another 2 to do as they wish with.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
No offense to leagues that want a strange number of games, just ditch those two and shorten the season by a week. 80 games, done.
Or add them up properly and find that you don’t have 2 games left over – 4 division rivals at 8 games apiece gives you the 32 games you seek.
by Spezzal Teams Playa on May 16, 2011 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions
add them up properly
by NOT counting the team itself? that’d be a good idea. ok so 4 × 8 = 32 + 2 × 25... yeah that works.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 17, 2011 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions
crazy uncle Lou doesn’t want that, and that’s who Gary listens to.
by Nigel Cadbury on May 16, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I think rivalries are built mostly out of either memorable playoff series or cultural factors unrelated to hockey. Regular season hockey doesn’t really factor into it, regardless of number of games played.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I disagree
if you saw the same guys 8 times a year… then had to play your own divsional rivals in 2 rounds just to get to the conference finals in the playoffs the regular season continued the battles of the playoffs…. I seriously don’t see how that can’t focus energy.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
think about it
minimum to make the conference finals that means you have to play 12 games vs. the same opponent… in 2 rounds you have to see the same two teams in at LEAST 24 games out of a minimum of 90 games… that’s more than a quarter of the season against just 2 teams… how does that not build up rivalries?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Toronto used to play Detroit and St. Louis the same number of times. I don’t think there’s a single Leaf fan anywhere who would consider St. Louis and Detroit rivals on the same level.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
in the 80's and early 90's?
are you kidding?
We played montreal 3 times a year… we saw Yzerman and the Wings or Hull and the Blues like 12… and you don’t think there were rivalries there?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I meant Leaf fans would say Detroit was a much bigger rival than St. Louis.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed
but that’s because St. Louis sucked… not because there was no hope of a rivalry. The series vs. Hull/Oates/Joseph that year when Dougie did the double behind the net move where he went left then right then left… .that kinda shit was awesome.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
The year
we made the conference finals with Gilmour and Andreychuk and Clark, we played Detroit and St. Louis to 7 games… those series were wars.
We played Detroit 15 times, and St. Louis 15 times in the same season. That’s 30 out of 105 games… or almost a 3rd of all games that year.
Bob Probert vs. Wendel Clark? There’s a reason that got so heated.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Could you imagine
how great things would be if we played Montreal + Boston 30 times in one year?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
they go on now
about how the playoffs is hard because you learn your opponents inside and out over a 7 game series… imagine that in a 30 game series.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Gilmour
put up 91 points in 58 games vs. the Campbell conference in 92-93… amazing shit man.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
If it’s in the regular season I don’t really care. I’d rather have the chance to see the Leafs play other teams so I get the chance to see more players.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
do you not have
cable TV? It’s not like we’re screwed by regionalized TV like we used to be.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
and I just increased
the number of games against non-divisional teams… 2 against every team in the NHL… no seasons where you don’t see a division.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
also
if you have to play your divisional opponents in the playoffs then the regular season matchups mean a hell of a lot more.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I haven’t had cable for years, but it’s also a time issue. I don’t have time to watch 100s of games a year. I watch Leafs games and the playoffs, generally.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
ok
so I’m saying you guarantee playoff matchups… and you get 2 games against every team in the NHL… what’s not to like?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
now
you can see your divisional rivals 6 times, and you might never run into them in the playoffs… take vancouver for instance… they’ve played chicago, nashville, and now San jose… NO team from their division if they win the Cup… rivalry? nah not really.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
the most
they’ll play any one team this year is Chicago in all likelihood (possibly San Jose) and that’s only 11 games. They’ve got something going, but it’s not as good as it could be.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Biggest rivalry in the NHL in the late 1990s? Detroit-Colorado. Never in the same division. Several memorable playoff series.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
You're talking
post divisional/conference alignment… I am saying that sucked the life out of real rivalries…
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
go back and look at
the Boston/Montreal rivalry before we switched to the conference mode… most MTL fans would argue it’s more important than the Toronto/Montreal rivalry… so would Bruins fans.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Have you ever lived in Montreal, surrounded by Habs fans? They hate the Leafs more than any other team by a huge margin.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Part of it is the Habs/Bruins have met in the playoffs WAY more times than they have the Leafs. I think the last time the Habs/Leafs played in the playoffs was 1967 (sorry for bringing it up). As cultural rivals it’s tops, but as a hockey rivalry Boston/Montreal is one of the all-time rivalries for sure
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on May 16, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
No need to be sorry: Leafs won that one!
by Leaf in Habland on May 16, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
In the ’78 semi-finals the Habs swept the Leafs.
Either you have an enviable memory, or a pitiable life, to know nothing of regret.
- Sten, of the Qunari
by GreatKingRat on May 16, 2011 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions
There’s a lot of Toronto/Montreal cultural baggage that people inject into hockey games. There just isn’t anything you can do on the ice to recreate that.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
right
but that’s more of a city rivalry than a hockey rivalry.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
No, it’s a hockey rivalry. People here don’t know much or care much about Toronto the city. Toronto the hockey team: they hate.
by Leaf in Habland on May 16, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
More
than Boston?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Habs fans will tell Boston fans they hate Toronto more and tell Toronto fans they hate Boston more, just to piss them off.
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Round 1: NO HABS NO (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 16, 2011 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Habs fans are like that person you know who is always having trouble with their boss, or getting mad at this person and that person, and complaining about how everyone’s a jerk. And you start to wonder, hey, maybe the problem isn’t them. What’s the common denominator here? Oh, right, it’s you!
by Leaf in Habland on May 16, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Well maybe I don’t feel the hate directed at Boston because I’m not from there/don’t cheer for the Bruins, but, yeah, beating the Leafs to them is more of a joy. I’d add a caveat to that: this season, post-Chara hit, Boston was public enemy number one. It’s close. I’d say it goes by whichever team angers them more. But, my point here was that it’s based on hockey, not on the city itself, really.
by Leaf in Habland on May 16, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
In my time in Quebec, I can’t remember having ever heard a Habs fan talk about the Bruins. But they talk about the Leafs all the time.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
you're
a Leafs fan… could this be part of the reason?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I imagine by your name you know more Montrealers living in Montreal. But from my experience with Montreal expatriots they have some serious Toronto hatred. Even the ones living in Toronto.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
Maybe it’s the ex-pat thing. Montrealers in Montreal definitely think their city is superior, but not just to Toronto. To every city. And, as far as cities go, it’s probably true. Montreal is a great city. Just a horrible hockey fanbase…
by Leaf in Habland on May 16, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Montreal is fucking cold. There is a reason half of their shopping is underground. But that argument is neither here nor there.
Its even true of exMOntrealers here in London. I think its the 2 big cities in Canada thing (though thats not really accurate anymore), the historical: upper vs lower canada, and francophone vs anglophone. There is just a lot of animosity.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
Just saying....
Canada is fucking cold.
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
Yeah, there is, but I think that’s incidental to the hockey hate, not a cause of it.
by Leaf in Habland on May 16, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Ottawa is colder than Montreal, but Montreal gets way more snow, in my experience.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I like Montreal
but I’m not sure I’d put it ahead of Toronto on most scales these days.
Vancouver is probably quickly approaching second city status in this country these days… if it isn’t there already.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
If they think Montreal is so great, then why live here? I ask this every time and it always shuts them up.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on May 16, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Biggest rivalries in the NHL right now? Probably Vancouver – Detroit (memorable playoff series) and Washington – Pittsburgh (two best players in the game).
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
and Vancouver-Chicago
is only because of the playoffs… if you had to play your own division in the playoffs every year you’d increase the odds of that happening.
It was only shit luck that saw Chicago end up in 8th this year.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm confused
on what you’re arguing against here… You see every team in the NHL which isn’t something that happens right now… you’d be MORE likely to see Toronto Montreal in the playoffs not LESS Likely… what are you arguing?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
That rivalries are generally forged based on playoffs regardless of regular season matchups. (And also cultural factors).
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions
And that I don’t think playing more often in the regular season would really increase those rivalries. Colorado-Detroit in the late 1990s was every bit as intense as Toronto-Detroit in the early 1990s, even though the number of regular season games played was different.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I think
that had a lot to do with injuries and the like… having someone’s face caved in by the boards does that to a team.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Except they have a rivalry with Chi-town. They can be built out of things not in the regular season. But I guess your argument is the rivalry would be stronger if they played more.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
you'd have
guaranteed playoff matchups AND regular season… it builds on itself.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Tor-Mtl
is a recent thing since the divisional alignment started after expansion.
Traditionally Toronto was in the Campbell, Montreal was in the PoW
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Toronto/Montreal has always been a huge rivalry regardless of conference alignment. Partly it’s because they were the two original Canadian teams, and also partly because it’s a proxy culture war between francophone Lower Canada and anglophone Upper Canada.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Boston/MTL
was bigger in the 80’s than Toronto/Mtl… largely because the Leafs were atrocious.
Montreal is more important to Leafs fans than Toronto is to Habs fans.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Until we meet in the playoffs. There’s a lot of history bubbling up and Leafs/Habs would easily surpass Bruins/Habs with a playoff series, for sure.
by Leaf in Habland on May 16, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I mean this as a serious question – have you ever spent a significant amount of time in Montreal with Habs fans? Toronto is by far their biggest rivalry.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
yes I have
and they tend to fixate on Toronto more than Boston, but I honestly think that’s because of the cities, not because of the hockey.
Montreal has played Boston more than any other team
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
What’ll happen to the divisions when PHX moves to Quebec City?
"[Phil Kessel]'s as streaky as a flipped coin" - Shift
by The '67 Sound on May 16, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I was just thinking the same thing. Would Nashville come back to the West to fill the gap after their vacation in the East?
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
NE: MTL, QC, TOR, OTT, BUF
ATL: BOS, NYR, NYI, NJD, PHI
SE: PIT, WSH, TB, FLA, CAR
NW: 4 Cdn teams plus Minny
Central: unchanged
Pacific: drop Yotes, add Avs
"[Phil Kessel]'s as streaky as a flipped coin" - Shift
by The '67 Sound on May 16, 2011 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Right, but I’m thinking about it as if Atlanta has already gone to Winnipeg, NSH to the South East, and Minny to the Central.
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
Yeah I know, NSH makes sense if only ATL moves, but not if PHX moves too.
"[Phil Kessel]'s as streaky as a flipped coin" - Shift
by The '67 Sound on May 16, 2011 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
pitt in the SE
makes no sense to me… Philly is both more south and more east than Pittsburgh… it should move before Pitt.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Divisional Alignment
NW = Det, Chi, Clb, Minn, Edm, Cgy, Win, Van
SW = SJ, Ana, LA, Phx, Col, Dal, St. Louis
NE = Tor, Ott, Mtl, Bos, NYI, NYR, NJD, Buff
SE = Pitt, Phi, Wash, Nash, Car, TB, Fla
Play each divisional rival 5 times (that’s 35 games for the 8 team divisions, and 30 for the 7 team divisions), then 2 more against every other team in the NHL (44 games for the teams in 8 team divisions, 46 games for teams in 7 team divisions) Now we’re up to 79 games for the teams in 8 team divisions, 76 for the 7 team divisions. The remaining 3/6 games can be used on any other teams.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
How would the playoffs work? Top 3 teams in each division plus 2 wild cards?
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
Possibly
I’d just go with top 4 from each division straight up… or you could do top 5, with the divisional winners getting a bye in the first round. Playoff expansion wouldn’t kill things. Shorten the season by 2 or 3 games… make the first round a 5 game series.
Lowest ranked winner in the first round then has to play the divisional champ, while the next 2 best teams face off in a 7 game set, then div finals, conf finals, S. Cup finals.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
if your going to do 5 team you’d do something like 4 vs 5 then that winner plays 1 and 2vs3 still or you’d have odd # of teams all the time…
oh yeah
my logic was off… ty for catching that… you’re right.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
so
4 v 5 for the right to play 1 … in a mini 3 game set maybe?
then you have the top 4 remaining play… that makes more sense.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Yah I’d like that. Also I like the going to 2 divisions idea as well… I’ve wanted that for a while but couldn’t figure out the games but yours works well imo. Although I’d cut those extra random 3 games for the 8 team divisions and then for the 7 team divisions you randomly draw from the other 7 team division so you’d play 3 teams 3 times instead of 2. Have 79 games and then the extra 3 game series would replace those 3 games
Why would you need to change the playoffs? With more games against your division, it is probably that the division champs will always bee in the top eight and just continue top 8 West and East.
Also, you’ll have a minor riot on your hands if you propose moving to a first round 5 game series… I think it is up there with the debate on using the shoot out to decide playoff games.
The big thing about going back to these kind of divisions would be so you always play within your division to start the playoffs for rivalries sake. 1st 2 rounds would be divisional matchups and then youd go from there
exactly
and it would be against teams you played a bunch in the regular season… it would make things more like the good old days of crazy norris division rivalries for sure.
It’d also be more like college sports in terms of inter conference play and playoffs.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
it seriously
bothers me that the last time the Leafs were in the Conf Finals they had to play Carolina… what the shit was that?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I mean that could still happen
I would just rather see us have to beat Mtl, Boston, Buff, Ottawa than random other teams from the conference with no geographical logic.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
like
if we somehow randomly played Florida a bunch in the playoffs, do you honestly see a rivalry forming?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
edmonton and dallas built up one in the playoffs few years back when they met nearly every year.
by Nigel Cadbury on May 16, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
yes
and that heated “rivalry” lasted all of 10 seconds when they stopped meeting in the playoffs.
Having continuous meetings in the playoffs and playing a lot in the regular season is what continues that sort of thing.
Toronto and Ottawa and Montreal haven’t met in the playoffs in a hell of a long time, but we play each other 6 times a year. That matters.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
because
we’re talking about going from 6 divisions to 4? Which was a major change the last time? Why not change them again… it’s not like they’re set in stone… they’ve only been the way they are now for like 10-15 years.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I understand – but is the playoff system currently broken? While I think there is merit in a regular season shift – especially after that “you don’t play one division this season” debacle – I am a big fan of the current playoff system. We haven’t suffered for rivalries or excitement, especially in round one which I think is one of the best things in sport right now. Easily holds my attention for 2 weeks.
Which is why my second semester marks in university were always worse.
I think
it’s worked so far… that doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to.
If the Leafs make the playoffs we’ll be so happy we won’t care if we’re suddenly facing off against the Islanders or the Panthers… but realistically? I don’t want to have that happen down the road.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
exactly
if teams actually hated to play eachother, and played eachother 5 + 3 or more times every year… that’d lead to some serious bad blood.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
just think
if Toronto, Montreal, and Boston played in the playoffs for 3 or 4 years in a row in multiple rounds…
particularly in the 7 game series rounds, that’d be between 9 and 13 games against two huge rivals every year.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
My problem with that
Is that the teams in the 7 team division have an advantage over the teams in the 8 team division.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
I’d be fucking pissed if my team was in an 8 team division and had a 50% chance of making hte playoffs vs being in the 7 team division and having a 57% chance. Thats a big difference and fucking annoying.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
You have the same chance as every other team
baseball has been that way for decades… it’s not as annoying as you’d think.
I’d be more pissed if my team was consistently fighting for 4th or 5th in a 7/8 team division.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Can you explain why you have the same chance? It doesn’t sound right to me.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
I'm obfuscating
you don’t mathematically… I’m just saying every team at the start of the year has a shot at one of 4 spots in their division to make the playoffs, and they have the same 82 games to get enough points to get them there.
Unless you plan on making every team play every other team an equal number of times the whole thing will NEVER be entirely equal.
Since that isn’t going to happen, then the rest of the crap about fairness is all just hot air to be honest.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
the only way to make it TRULY
fair would be to have NO divisions, make every team play every other team twice, home and away… travel the exact same amounts, and then take the best 16 to the playoffs.
Anyone in favour of that?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions
“Since that isn’t going to happen, then the rest of the crap about fairness is all just hot air to be honest.”
This is a ridiculous argument that I see people make all the time and it drives me crazy. “If we can’t do something perfectly, why bother doing it at all!”
More fairness > less fairness. Simple.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not saying
it’s less fair… I’m saying whining about the difference of number of teams in your division when you don’t make the playoffs is pathetic. Build a good team, you’ll get in the playoffs. It’s not complicated.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions
and are you seriously
trying to argue that the current alignment is fair to teams in the West that would qualify in the East? Are you implying that the travel requirements are fair West vs. East?
Obviously not… there’s a lot of unfairnesses, and to get hung up on them is a bit over the top in my opinion.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Quality of teams in any given conference isn’t something you can plan for. Mathematical odds (4/8 vs 4/7) are.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions
it's still going to be unfair
the question is how much it really matters.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 17, 2011 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes… the AL had the 7-team divisions and the NL had the 6-team divisions when I was growing up. But back then, there were balanced schedules. And now the NL Central has 6 teams and the AL West has 4 teams. I wouldn’t say it’s a huge deal.. but people do bring it up from time to time (along with the now unbalanced schedules) when they discuss unfairness in baseball’s playoff system.
Personally, I would love a return to the dvisional system.
Fair enough
Well as a non-baseball fan I have never had to deal with that, and I would be pissed if it were to happen to the Leafs (them being in the 8 team division in that hypothetical situation)
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
seriously?
pissed seems extreme… if your team can’t make the playoffs you should be pissed at their inability to make the playoffs not the set up of the league.
Toronto has the same problem in MLB… people whine about the Yankees and Red Sox… tough shit, get over it… that’s life… etc.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
really?
on what basis? they’re playing their divisional opponents the same number of times… and finishing in the top 5 would require the same number of wins in all probability.
It’s not a huge advantage at all if they play the same number of games.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe I am not wrapping my head around this properly, but wouldn’t a team in the 8 team division have a 50% chance to make it, and the team in the 7 team division have a 57% chance (assuming 4 teams make it)
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
Not necessarily. I may be just thinking of this wrong, but I am pretty sure it would be easier for the team in the 7 person division to make it in.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
I think you’re correct; it’s easier to make it if 4 in 7 get in vs 4 in 8. You only have to be better than three other teams vs. four. Now, maybe it’s not a HUGE difference… but every little bit counts…
So I could see the 4 divisions working with a multiple of 4 amount of teams…
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
no
because the whole point is the divisional playoffs.
You have exactly the same chance to finish in the top 4 in any division, because there’s 4 spots in every division… every team has equal access to 4 spots. You play the same number of games, etc. There’s always imbalance in the quality of the league if that’s your issue.
The East and West have that problem right now.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm. Still doesn’t seem right, because you have access to a higher amount of seats. If the West had 17 teams and the East had 13 and both still had 8 spots for the playoffs, wouldn’t teams in teh East have a better chance to make it?
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
yes
and you’re right… there’s a slightly better opportunity in the smaller divisions… but when the divisions are that large it’s really not that huge a distinction.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
they use
the same format in the AHL… but they have a crossover spot.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Just like if there were 4 teams in one division and 5 in another division, but four teams from each division moved on, then you’d def want to be in the team with 4… but when its bigger its not as big a deal because its your rank against division opponents that matters.
You dont play the rest of the league as much and when you do its at the same frequency as the other teams in your division
I would say a 7% advantage (assuming BCapp’s numbers above are accurate) is actually a pretty huge advantage in a league as competitive as the NHL.
For example, a 7% increase in goals scored by the Leafs this year would have given them approximately 15 extra goals, enough to move them from 21st in goal scoring to 13th. A 7% reduction in goals against would have been a 17 goal difference, enough to move them from 24th in goals allowed to 16th. etc.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions
it's a 7% increase
in the percentage of teams that make the playoffs. If it’s that frustrating then you do the crossover thing.
I don’t think it’s particularly galling.
If there were only 3 positions it would go from a 7 percent swing to a less than 5 percent swing… and so on… in the interest of fairness we could just reduce it to 4 playoff teams… thus reducing the percentage difference to 1.7%
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions
also
how is comparing goals against to the odds of making the playoffs remotely relevant?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
a 7% reduction
in goals against doesn’t translate to a 7% increase in your chances of winning something… at all… so that’s a completely irrelevant argument.
They just both involve 7%… which is nice… if the sun shined 7% more often I’m sure i’d get more sun burns… but so what?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
also
I’m glad you picked something like goals….. which are scored in amounts over 100 typically in a season.
Why not go with something like short handed goals… a 7% increase in short handed scoring would have netted the leafs 0.35 more goals on the season!
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
a 7% increase
in SV% would have increased james reimer’s save percentage from 0.921 to .985… that’s where we should focus our 7% attention obviously.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions
You know what would make your NE even better? Squeeze NJD out and put DET in. All Original Six in one division.
They did that to start expansion. Worked out well for Boston. 
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Round 1: NO HABS NO (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 16, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
The current division/conference structure is based largely on travel considerations. That’s the main reason Detroit wants out of the West. I have a hard time seeing the owners being willing to switch to a format that could see their travels budgets increase markedly.
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
C'mon SAN JOSE !
Your the only remaining team that I hate the LEAST of the 4 !
WIN and put Luongo on his Prima Donna BUTT and back on the Golf Course !
FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! www.naawayland.com Robert Wilson - I JUST GOT MARRIED May 07th 2011th !!!!
I finally got my leafs jersey! Was a gift for my bday yesterday. Grabovski’s home jersey. Looks great!
Now I just need to season to start and I can wear it every day.
You need the season to start to wear a jersey?
You’re terrible
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I been wearing it around my house all day! I planned to wear it during every game. I think it would look kinda funny to walk around outside wearing a jersey of a team whos not in the playoffs while the playoffs are still active.
Counterpoint: represent
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Round 1: NO HABS NO (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 16, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
The bold move is to wear it to a BOS/TBL playoff game.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
That would be pretty hilarious. Gotta sit right behind the Boston bench also so you’re on camera a lot.
You’d get chirped and hassled a LOT.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Luongos brother
Anybody else catch the interview with Luongo and his brother on HNIC last night? Couldn’t find a screencap but this pic is from his Facebook.
That’s a basement in Montreal-North for sure. lol
by Leaf in Habland on May 16, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
According to HF, the Leafs have a top 10 farm system
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/13067/hockeys_future_organizational_rankings_spring20111120/
Although I think their rankings are a bit odd this year (kind of expected with HF), it’s still very nice to see our farm system doing well.
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr
Here's a link for 21-30
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/13063/hockeys_future_organizational_rankings_spring20112130/
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr
Lulz @ CGY
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Sad state of affairs.
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
I was about to say… just wow. Maybe this explains the NMC they keep giving.
Don’t leave! You’re all we got!
You and I have different definitions of sad, because I’m laughing.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m actually a Flames fan, bro. Just love Burkie and love the hockey talk here.
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
…and I should add, that the Leafs are my second fav team, if that exists or counts for anything.
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
if that exists or counts for anything.
ONE TEAM
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
If I cheered for Washington, THEN I’d be pathetic!
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
Just the bandwagon-a-thon.
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
There are some Washington fans who either:
Have been fans for years (pre Ovi)
OR
Are young and just becoming fans during the new Ovi era, but will stay around.
The vast majority though are probably band wagoners.
I am drinking the Kule-aid!
Certified Kule lover!
Hey, buying a Semin jersey is an awesome move! Love his heart.
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
Do you really want Semin on your back in public?
by Draglikepull on May 16, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not your bro, guy.
IM NOT YOUR GUY, BRO
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
must suck to be
an Atlanta or calgary fan.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I think being an Atlanta fan would be worse, way worse
Hearing about the recent news today that Atlanta Spirit and TNSE are negotiating a possible move to Winnipeg doesn’t exactly bring joyous thoughts to Thrashers fans.
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr
IF, and I said IF, ATL moves to WPG, conventional wisdom is WPG to Northwest, MIN to Central and NSH to Southeast. But…
boom
The First Certified Grabbo Lover
That makes sense geographically…but I think moving Nashville would be a big mistake. They need to build rivalries there, and taking on a Thrashers/Lightning game doesn’t quite have the same panache as a Nashvillw/Detroit game.
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
Anything that keeps DET out of East is A-okay with me.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow, I am on crack. Ignore my previous post. Not sure how I read that so wrong.
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
Jesus, nevermind again. Coffee! Stat!
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
Maybe you should just lie down.
Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.
by nhlcheapshot on May 16, 2011 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Siesta time!
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
Food coma
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
follow up
@TSNBobMcKenzie
Bob McKenzie
…due to time issues, notion of WPG playing 1 season in Southeast not out of question. Realignment would come 1 yr later. Still lotsa ifs.
Sayyy whaa?
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
WINNIPEG VS. WASHINGTON RIVALRY!!1
WOO!
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr
because
of the scheduling… and travel arrangements? Road trips would be a nightmare… looking forward to those South East road trips that go through TB, then Winnipeg, then FLA the next night… way to go NHL!
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on May 16, 2011 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Nit to mention that a team is moving for financial reasons and will then be made to spend a fortune on charters across the continent to play. Is the escrow next year going to pay for a teleportation device to be built in Winnipeg?
No. Not even in the face of Armageddon. Never compromise.
by article1 on May 16, 2011 9:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yes, Nashvillw is a place.
"You said you didn't give a f#%k about hockey. And I never saw someone say that before..."
Check
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
Self Recs?
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on May 18, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
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