The Official 2016-17 NHL thread

[lgna69xxx]

Nope, and he will be a average D-man in the playoffs (if they make them) because Therrien will have overused the elder statesman just to get to the playoffs. Great career tho and possible hall of famer before all is said and done. Should at least have his number retired by Montreal one day.

This 37 year old is at the moment 3rd among NHL defenseman in scoring:

In the last 3 years, he has played at least 81 games each year. Will he have enough juice to win the Norris Trophy?

 

[Doc Holliday]

Patrick Laine scores game winner....in his own goal!! :lol:

[video=youtube_share;F7nEs6OgC5g]https://youtu.be/F7nEs6OgC5g[/video]

 

[EagerBeaver]

Laine is all about scoring goals, regardless of whose nets they go in.

I watched that play and it looked like he wanted to flip the puck away but I am not sure it's ever a good idea to shoot or pass a puck towards one's own net

 

[tiga]

Young players don't always do the right thing, it's a learning process...

 

[tiga]

So far this season I'm impressed with the number of Eastern teams that are doing well: Rangers, Philadelphia, Columbus, etc.
The western teams don't dominate as much anymore.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Power Rankings

Rangers have soared to #1 and surging Flyers #3 in latest power rankings:

Power Rankings: @ESPN App http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/pag...al-canadiens-new-york-rangers-jostle-top-spot

A Rangers-Flyers Eastern Conference final with the Rangers gooning the Flyers would warm the cockles of my heart.

 

[tiga]

You know in my heart I hope the Ch go all the way to Stanley.

But I do think the best team in the league is still the Pens.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I watched that play and it looked like he wanted to flip the puck away but I am not sure it's ever a good idea to shoot or pass a puck towards one's own net

Flip the puck?? I didn't see any 'flipping' of the puck. It was a heck of a one-timer!!! Heck, if you watch it again he's starting to celebrate the goal by raising his stick until he realizes he just scored into his own net! :lol:

 

[Doc Holliday]

You know in my heart I hope the Ch go all the way to Stanley.

But I do think the best team in the league is still the Pens.

I think at this point into the season, there are no clear 'best' teams in the league. The Rangers and Montreal have also been very strong early on. The California teams are also again very strong. I don't know on which team i'd put my money on right now.

 

[tiga]

I agree and when was the last time the team that won the President's Cup went on to lift the Stanley Cup?

 

[Doc Holliday]

This 37 year old is at the moment 3rd among NHL defenseman in scoring:

In the last 3 years, he has played at least 81 games each year. This is rather startling durability and production from a guy who was a 6th round draft pick but has managed to play 17 NHL seasons. Will he have enough juice to win the Norris Trophy?

He usually fades near the second half of the season due to overuse by his coach and completely disappears in the playoffs. Ooops! The habs didn't make the playoffs last season. :lol:

 

[Doc Holliday]

Nope, and he will be a average D-man in the playoffs (if they make them) because Therrien will have overused the elder statesman just to get to the playoffs. Great career tho and possible hall of famer before all is said and done. Should at least have his number retired by Montreal one day.

I totally agree with your statement and it clearly shows that you know your hockey. Let me add: "If the habs make the playoffs". They missed them last season.

By the way, the other night when i was watching Leafs/Bruins game (won 4-1 by the Leafs, by the way) they mentioned that the Leafs had 7 rookies in their starting lineup for most of the season. The Bruins had 9 rookies, but it was mostly due to a lot of injuries. I started to wonder how many rookies the habs had in their lineup and i came to ZERO. Is this possible that they don't have a single rookie in their lineup??? If so, it doesn't look too good for the future.

By the way, don't be surprised if Sergachev doesn't get traded this season. I expect a trade to happen soon. There were supposedly 20 different scouts at the recent habs/Colorado game.

 

[tiga]

Markov is not overused this season, he is no longer on the first pairing with Suban. He is playing less minutes and his match-ups are not as difficult. As for the future and what not, I try not to predict it, as a fan I can just hope.
At the begining of the season I would have predicted Dallas and Tampa Bay as the two conference leaders at this point.
But shit happens....

 

[tiga]

Boston and Toronto are not in the same situation as Montreal, for the Canadiens the future is NOW!

 

[tiga]

I would send you to this site for interresting stats

http://www.quanthockey.com

According to them the oldest roster in the NHL is San Jose, Boston is younger than the Habs, both just over.the league's average age. The Leafs are 2nd youngest.

 

[tiga]

The scouts could have been there for the Avs, who are so bad and because the Habs are injured. They are like vultures circling over the prey.
As for the young Russian he was probably in Ontario with his OHL team at the time.
If the team with Trevor Timmens has learned someting from the infamous Gomez Ryan McDonagh trade, is that young defensemen like Sergachev you don't just give away in desperation.

It is always better to trade from a position of strength.

 

[jalimon]

Boston and Toronto are not in the same situation as Montreal, for the Canadiens the future is NOW!

Correct. Price is in his prime. Important reason to get Weber here. Next 2-3 years is the cup or nothing. I have a good feeling for this year folks!

 

[tiga]

Yes Bergevin; keep the eye on the prize!

 

[EagerBeaver]

Flip the puck?? I didn't see any 'flipping' of the puck. It was a heck of a one-timer!!! Heck, if you watch it again he's starting to celebrate the goal by raising his stick until he realizes he just scored into his own net! :lol:

My interpretation of the video is that Laine was trying to flip the puck away from offensive players over the net, and he "skulled" the puck, meaning he mishit it high and got no lift on it and instead the puck missled in for the own goal. Even pro golfers sometimes skull their shots and hit the ball into a lake or pond, when they hoped to hit the green on the other side of the pond. It happens. But it would not have happened had he not aimed at the goal.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Boston and Toronto are not in the same situation as Montreal, for the Canadiens the future is NOW!

That's actually quite true. Carey Price isn't getting any younger and he may be difficult to re-sign in a year or two once he becomes UFA. I wouldn't be surprised if his contract demands start at $10 million/season. Pacioretty and Galchenyuk will also be expecting big pay raises. And Markov may be playing his last year....same thing with Pleky.