Official Hockey discussion thread

The Bruins and the Blues were solid clubs from the late '70s up to the Mid/late '90s respectively. Boston fell on it's face with Neely's retirement in 96 and the Blues missed the playoffs in either 98 or 99, but both clubs had the record for most consecutive post season appearances with 20 something.
 
I guess that depends on Gerber.  The Sens haven't changed that much from the team that went to the finals...they need some solid goaltending.  That's all.
 
LooseCannon said:
I guess that depends on Gerber.  The Sens haven't changed that much from the team that went to the finals...they need some solid goaltending.  That's all.
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The baby food company?  I didnt know they had such influence.  j/k

I do agree, the Sens will be solid this year.
 
Good ridence, fucking hated Emry, I NEVER bought the hype around him, I knew it was just that, a bunch of hot air. He got lucky for a season and then he fucked it up big time.

I am sorry to see Jagr go though. When I heard the rumors that the Pens were interested in him I thought it would be cool for him to play with Crosby and Malkin, but I don't know if Pittsburgh would have given him a warm welcome after he left under relatively cold circumstances.
 
I can't believe that Glen Sather did'nt sign either Jagr or Avery. They could have gotten away with losing either but not both. Signing Naslund does'nt really get me too excited. Tom Renney needs to find out what the hell to do with  Drury. He is too clutch to be regulated to the 3rd line again. Emory believed his own hype, that he was better than he was and he could balance his off ice antics with good goaltending. Guess he thought wrong.
 
Jagr wanted a 3 year deal; Sather wasn't sure if Jagr could live up to it.  Remember, under the current CBA, if a player over 35 retires the team is hit for the rest of that player's salary for the duration of the contract.  IE, if Jagr plays 1 year and retires, then the Rangers lose $11 million (what Jagr would have been given) for the next two years.  There's not many players over 35 you see with multiyear deals.  The only ones I can think of off the top of my head right now are Nick Lidström and Mike Modano.

They should have resigned Avery, I completely agree.  As much as I can't stand Avery, he can back it up with goals and assists.  And for Emery....Ray Emery has raw talent but he doesn't seem to want to hunker down and work with it.  He seems to think that having ability = payday.  It doesn't.  A technical goalie without the greatest raw talent can do quite well for himself in the NHL (think Gerber or Osgood).  If you can get the technical and the talent, you have someone like Roberto Luongo or Marty Brodeur.
 
Brodeur is over rated. People compare him to Patrick Roy. It's not even close. Roy is the only player to win three Conn Smythe Trophies. He backstopped two different clubs to the Stanley Cup, twice. All of those clubs played a traditional style game, meaning they played offense too. Broduer had the benefit of playing for one club for probably all of his career. The Devils only play a 1-2-2 style trapping game. He has had the benefit of having Stevens, Driver, Daneyko, Nedermeyer and Rafalski for most of his career.  Broduer is a great goaltender, but Roy was way better.
 
I'm sorry to say those are old and unfound arguments to discredit Brodeur. He has still won 30 or more games WITHOUT Stevens, Daneyko or Niedermayer. and to win one still needs to score goals and when the game is 1-0 or 2-1 the credit is Brodeur's. He's won three cups with the same club... few players can say that now-a-days...

Not to mention his international achievements, let's face it Brodeur is legit at every level.
 
NigelTufnel said:
Brodeur is over rated. People compare him to Patrick Roy. It's not even close. Roy is the only player to win three Conn Smythe Trophies. He backstopped two different clubs to the Stanley Cup, twice. All of those clubs played a traditional style game, meaning they played offense too. Broduer had the benefit of playing for one club for probably all of his career. The Devils only play a 1-2-2 style trapping game. He has had the benefit of having Stevens, Driver, Daneyko, Nedermeyer and Rafalski for most of his career.  Broduer is a great goaltender, but Roy was way better.
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You're not going to find anyone who loves St. Patrick more than I do.  I still love him and anticipate the day he makes his debut as a coach in the NHL.  And you're right in your analysis of the Devils - they have been successful because of running a trap-based defense.

Until this year.  In fact, this year, Lou Lamoreillo hired an offensive based coach, Brent Sutter, who wildly changed the Devils' game.  The Devils have a no-name defense.  Stevens, Niedermayer, and Rafalski are gone.  The best two defensemen are Paul Martin and Colin White (from the next town over, actually).  But Brodeur was still a Vezina winner...in fact, he's now got more Vezina Trophies than Patrick Roy did.  He only had two or three.

I agree that when it comes to clutch situations St. Patrick was a true god, and I doubt his record three Conn Smythes will be matched any time soon, especially with the way nobody seems able to repeat.  But Martin Brodeur deserves to be considered the top goalie of the modern era - and if not the best, then certainly #2.

Marty Brodeur's international achievements must be taken into account as well.  The man has an Olympic Gold Medal and is a World Cup of Hockey Champion.  Patrick Roy never seemed to care whether he won internationally as well.
 
I think Broduer is pretty awesome to watch, also.  But I figure I'll give Nigel some slack, he is a Rangers fan, and I don't think they can say anything nice about the Devils  ;)

But I understand, its like pulling teeth to say anything good about the 'Hawks.
 
Wasted155 said:
But I understand, its like pulling teeth to say anything good about the 'Hawks.
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I'm lucky, right now there's nothing good to say about the Leafs!
 
You are correct, the Leafs suck so badly.  I have read your 'top reasons the Leafs suck' lists.  Tho, they have gotten so bad lately, that you have wished them better, just so they aren't a joke to beat.
 
Oh, I totally know.  I want them to be a competitive franchise again. Right now it's like beating a retarded kid at a spelling bee.
 
I did'nt say Broduer was terrible, I said he was over rated. But that being said I am glad it got so many intelligent replies. As a Die Hard Ranger fan I should really flame Marty. But I can't because he is so good and I enjoy watching him play, especially when he is at his best. So when The Rangers beat the Devils, they beat them at their best.
 
Oh, absolutely.  The Rangers have one of the better young goalies right now too with Lundqvist.  When he's on, he's amazing!  He has the raw skills to be the next big thing, and I expect he'll get a Vezina or two eventually.  Though I think the person ready to take the "NHL's Best Goalie" crown right now is Nabokov.  He should have won the Vezina this year.
 
Nabokov has always been good though not  consistent, however not until this season has he exploded... it will be interesting to see what he does next. Another player that when he's on fire is unstoppable, but hasn't shown the consistency of other "greats." having two 30+ win seasons in a row then not even managing 20, another 30, then two sub-30 seasons (16 and 25) followed by a 46....
 
I am psyched that King Henrick is a Ranger. He takes away the low part of the net better than anyone I think I've ever seen play. I watch the 1994 DVD set and the style between Lunqvist and Mike Richter is so different. Lunqvist seems to be always down in the butterfly and in the crease. Richter was always on top of the crease and almost never left his feet.

But I also like the kid, Mark-Andre Fluery. He had his coming out party this past playoff.
Nabby is also on an "older team too." Plus the Sharks are also a notoriously under achieving team as well. Nabby's GAA and save percentage were minuscule this past season. I
 
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