2014 / 2015 Official NHL Thread

[wolfie7]

Sorry Wolfie but I can't buy this. Agree that Toews is great...but Yzerman was quite a bit greater.

So I'm trying to be objective. Stevie was the better player over the course of his career. Especially the early part where he was a much more prolific scorer than Toews, and much more skilled. The Wings were also known as the Dead Things, and the league's scoring overall was much higher then...

Toews is all-around elite, something Yzerman only became in the second half of his career, after Scotty's arrival in Detroit. And take away '97 and '98, after which Yzerman's actual contribution on offense started to wane, Stevie was more leader and checker extraordinaire. Just not the same level as Toews is rounding into now. And this was before the salary cap era, Detroit didn't count on Yzerman to be an offensive dynamo. We had the Russian Five, Shanny, a lot of other contributors. I would argue Federov was the gamechanger on those Wings teams. Not necessarily Yzerman. He's a beloved figure in Detroit sports, but sometimes the myth is a bit overblown. Lidstrom should be held in the same regard.

So let me clarify/correct - Toews is a better version of the 2nd half of Yzerman's career. In the end, Stevie will have better stats. But Taser is a pretty damn money player for today's NHL. As close to an Yzerman in the league today.

 

[wolfie7]

It's 'worst', not 'worse.' :lol:

And no, it is not the worst city in America. That honor would belong to Cleveland, or Pittsburgh, or Buffalo, or any number of other worthy candidates.

 

[joelcairo]

I'm not like our resident turncoat Cairo.
In Babs We Trust! :thumb:

1. That's MISTER Cairo to you!
2. "Turncoat" - huh? I've always said Babcock is a good coach, and I still say that. I also say - and said BEFORE he was gone - that I wanted him to go a) because of his disrespect to the franchise that MADE him, and b) because - DESPITE being a good coach he was past his expiry date in Detroit (ANY coach loses his effectiveness after being in the same place too long), and c) Blashill is a great coach who deserves his chance and who is more likely to take the young Wings to the next level.
3. Meanwhile, DESPITE still being a good coach, Babcock is now stuck with a pathetic team that has a half century of futility and utter failure as its sole tradition, and he's stuck with a bunch of gutless, overpaid, out of shape prima donnas who don't care about winning and don't know how to win. He's on a team with no GM and an inexperienced guy at the helm, and whoever the next GM is will be a lame duck as he'll just have to be a yes-man to Shanny, Babs, and probably the cleaning lady as well!
4. LOVE the "In Babs We Trust"...but whatever happened to your former logo of "In Burke We Trust"? And how did that work out? Oh yeah, four years of complete and utter failure followed by getting fired, and then followed by having the Leafs themselves realize that the team Burkie built was SO freakin' bad that they had to TRY to blow it up and start from scratch. Since then, their biggest moves have been firing Carlyle, firing Nonis, hiring Horachek, firing Horachek, firing just about everyone else in their coaching and scouting ranks, trading Clarkson for a guy who will never ever play again, getting rid of the only players on their team who showed any heart, KEEPING all the overpaid and underperforming prima donnas, and hiring Babs. The ONLY positive step was the last one...but Babs, despite being a good coach (still) CANNOT turn chicken SHIT into chicken salad.

 

[joelcairo]

So let me clarify/correct - Toews is a better version of the 2nd half of Yzerman's career. In the end, Stevie will have better stats. But Taser is a pretty damn money player for today's NHL. As close to an Yzerman in the league today.

Can't argue...but don't forget that by the 2nd half Stevie had no knees left...and he was STILL great! Young Mr. Toews has a pretty impressive career so far...but he's still YOUNG Mr. Toews.

 

[wolfie7]

Can't argue...but don't forget that by the 2nd half Stevie had no knees left...and he was STILL great!

And that's why we loved and will always love Stevie. A warrior.

 

[joelcairo]

No, the way Babs went from the greatest coach ever to now "glad to get rid of him, Blashill is better" blah blah blah :lol:

touché

In fencing, you say "touché" when you score. You didn't come CLOSE to scoring with this remarkably inaccurate post. I NEVER said Babs was the best coach ever. That would be Scotty Bowman, followed by Toe Blake, Dick Irvin, Al Arbour and several others. I have ALWAYS said that Babcock was a good coach - perhaps (?) the best or at least one of the best currently. But let's remember that he HAD good teams throughout his career and NOW he has a pile of steaming crap.

Let's see if you're still in love with him in a few years...or will the romance turn sour like it did with all the other Leafs who were great(ha ha) ...UNTIL they became ex-Leafs. (Hello David Clarkson.)

 

[joelcairo]

And that's why we loved and will always love Stevie. A warrior.

:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

And not only a warrior...but also a hockey genius...as he is STILL proving with Tampa Bay.

 

[joelcairo]

The problem with the lack of suitors for Babcock is that many GMs have realized that he may not be as good as they thought, considering it's been ages since he's taken the Red Wings past the first round of the playoffs. If you compare both coaches' records over the past few seasons, Ken Hitchcock could be considered a much better coach than Babcock. GMs have also realized that any coach with a lineup of premium players would have won the gold medal at the Sochi Olympics. I'm confidant to say that had i been chosen to lead Team Canada at those Olympics. i would have won a gold medal. I also would have played P.K. Subban instead of having him rot in the press box. Chris Kunitz would have taken a seat.

I also don't get why some habs fans (and some in the anglo Mtl media) would prefer Mike Babcock over current coach Michel Therrien. I mean, do they honestly think that Babcock would have made much of a difference considering Therrien got them 110 points? They're dreaming!!

Babcock will likely make his choice by tomorrow according to three of my sources. I told them that it wouldn't surprise me if Babcock signed for considerably less than he expected to. If i'm correct, he won't be heading to either Buffalo or Toronto.

And let me state it here: I don't believe that at this current time Babcock is the right fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I won't be disappointed if the Leafs do hire Babcock, but i also won't be disappointed if he doesn't wind up there since they'll overpay for him and he may not be the right fit.

I enjoyed this post on May 19th. :thumb:

 

[joelcairo]

THIS JUST IN:

According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, the Toronto Maple Leafs will soon make an announcement to inform the world that they've just hired the great Mike Babcock.

Yeah, baby!! :thumb:

Note: It's also been confirmed by Darren Dreger of TSN and Elliott Friedman of HNIC. The deal will make him the highest-paid hockey coach in history!! It's rumoured to be 8 years for $50 million and the deal will be front-loaded for the first two years of the contract. More details to follow.

ONE PERSON HAS BEEN SAYING FOR OVER A YEAR THAT MIKE BABCOCK WOULD LEAVE DETROIT AND COME TO TORONTO. HIS NAME: DOC HOLLIDAY.

I also enjoyed this post from May 20th:thumb:

 

[Doc Holliday]

CAIRO is wrong and Wolfie is correct about the Why and Taser debate. CAIRO is delusional in his belief that Why was better than Taser. No way! I'm with Wolfie on that one and totally don't agree with CAIRO. Why was very good, but was often injured. Taser has been healthy for the most part and is a true leader. Sorry CAIRO, i hate to disagree with you buddy, but Taser is the better player.

 

[joelcairo]

With the best coach in hockey finally gone from that North American garbage dump a.k.a. Detroit, tough times are ahead for the Red Wings.

And...let's hear it for THREE enjoyable posts on THREE consecutive days.

I enjoyed this one on May 21st.

I REALLY enjoyed reading all three...one right after the other:thumb: Thank you Doctor.

 

[joelcairo]

CAIRO is wrong and Wolfie is correct about the Why and Taser debate. CAIRO is delusional in his belief that Why was better than Taser. No way! I'm with Wolfie on that one and totally don't agree with CAIRO. Why was very good, but was often injured. Taser has been healthy for the most part and is a true leader. Sorry CAIRO, i hate to disagree with you buddy, but Taser is the better player.

You got the "CAIRO" part right - congratulations! All you forgot was the "MISTER" that precedes it, but hey - you're making progress:thumb: and that's all we can ask for.

As for being "often injured" - golly gee, I guess that means Bobby Orr wasn't much of a player? (No, I won't bring up the sore subject of Joffrey Lupul - you don't have to worry.)

"Leader"? Well, apart from taking the Wings from your favorite term "Dead Things" to the WINGS that had the best record in all of hockey over the past two decades with 24 consecutive playoff appearances and 4 Cups, apart from being the youngest ever Captain in the NHL up to that time, apart from being the longest serving Captain in the history of pro sports, apart from playing through constant pain, apart from totally changing his game to benefit the team, apart from leading by example (read Bob Probert's autobiography to see how he and the other Wings felt about Stevie!), apart from being universally acknowledged as one of the greatest who ever put on skates, and apart from smoothly moving into a hugely successful managerial career LEADING Canada to consecutive golds, and LEADING T Bay into this year's finals (at the very least!), apart from ALL that...you can't say much about him being a "leader".

 

[Doc Holliday]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[wolfie7]

CAIRO is wrong and Wolfie is correct about the Why and Taser debate. CAIRO is delusional in his belief that Why was better than Taser. No way! I'm with Wolfie on that one and totally don't agree with CAIRO. Why was very good, but was often injured. Taser has been healthy for the most part and is a true leader. Sorry CAIRO, i hate to disagree with you buddy, but Taser is the better player.

:lol: Actually if you read through, Mister Cairo and I are in full agreement, once my clarification is added. Mister Y's career taken in its entirety will be greater than Taser's. Doesn't take away from what Toews has done this far. And who knows what will happen in the 2nd half of Toews' career?

Stevie Y's 2nd half, he was a very good player, just can't compare to when he was younger and 100% healthy. If not for Gretzky and Super Mario playing at the same time, Yzerman would've been remembered as even better. If you watch some of his plays from early on, truly remarkable speed and stick handling skills. I would daresay much better than Stamkos and any other current righties.

 

[voyageur11]

I'm not like our resident turncoat Cairo. I've actually praised Mr. Babcock in 95% of my posts about him over the past year. I've always said he was a great coach and that Detroit (worse city in North America) was extremely lucky to have him.

Indeed, i did say a couple of weeks ago that he may not be a perfect fit for the Leafs and that Todd McLellan MAY be a better fit at the current time. However, Babcock won me over during his interviews after being hired by the greatest hockey franchise in the planet.

In Babs We Trust! :thumb:

incredible speaking about turncoat it

 

[voyageur11]

An insider hinted to me last night that he heard the Devils will name former Leaf Phil Housley as their new coach.

lets try john hynes

 

[Doc Holliday]

lets try john hynes

The pornstar? Isn't he dead?

 

[Doc Holliday]

I was told by very reliable sources that Bruins upper management have decided to replace all of coach Claude Julien's coaching staff and will hire their own guys.

Most observers including former Bruins great Phil Esposito are in Claude Julien's corner in the way he's being treated by Cam Neely and ownership.

What is obvious to everyone close to the Bruins is that the owner will not allow Neely to fire Julien because he still has a few years left on his reasonable contract. So they figure they'll do everything to humiliate him in order to force him to resign.

Esposito noted on his radio show a few days ago that one of the candidates (Kevin Stevens) interviewed for the GM job a few weeks ago that during his interview, he was asked what he'd do with coach Claude Julien should he get the GM job. Stevens reportedly told them that he respects Claude Julien and would keep him as his coach. He was supposedly told by those interviewing him "that's not what we want to hear." He felt all chances of getting the job went away after answering this question.

Esposito noted its shameful what they're doing to Julien. They're keeping him in limbo while other teams are filling out coaching vacancies. But he did point out that Claude Julien would be hired in a second by any organization should he become available. At least for the time being until a coaching vacancy comes about. But of course, knowing the Bruins, they'd probably ask an arm-and-a-leg for Julien's rights should a team chose to hire him. Trust me, it would be considerably more than a third-round pick. Just to keeps teams away from him.

Esposito also noted that "good organizations don't do this type of stuff. It's shameful."

Most observers expect Julien to start the season with the Bruins and will likely be fired if they falter out of the blocks. He's basically a lame-duck coach, even though he has a few years left to go on his current contract.

 

[gohabsgo]

Fraud alert

I was told by very reliable sources that Bruins upper management have decided to replace all of coach Claude Julien's coaching staff and will hire their own guys.

Old news - that's been rumoured for the last 3 days ... once again you're ripping content that is already in the public domain

http://www.csnne.com/boston-bruins/source-changes-juliens-coaching-staff-being-discussed

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/...-likely-to-remain-but-his-staff-might-change/

My sources tell me all of Julien's assistant coaches (Jarvis, Houda, Sacco, and Essensa) will be back behind the Bruins bench next season.

 

[Doc Holliday]

My sources tell me all of Julien's assistant coaches (Jarvis, Houda, Sacco, and Essensa) will be back behind the Bruins bench next season.

We will see. My sources differ and they aren't often wrong.