The Official MERB 2010-2011 NHL Hockey Thread

[Doc Holliday]

Chris Nilan on OTR

I'm watching OTR (on TSN) with Chris Nilan & Rob Ray as guests.

Chris Nilan looks like a shell of his old self. He's skinny, has aged considerably, and a bit punch-drunk.

Sad what the ravages of alcohol can do to a person.

 

[G1GBallday]

I'm watching OTR (on TSN) with Chris Nilan & Rob Ray as guests.

Chris Nilan looks like a shell of his old self. He's skinny, has aged considerably, and a bit punch-drunk.

Sad what the ravages of alcohol can do to a person.

Thanks for the heads up Doc I'll check it out on TSN2 @ 10:30. The "Rocket" is probably my all time favorite Hab so it's sad to read that.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Carey Price out for the rest of the season with broken leg

MONTREAL - Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier called a press conference scheduled for noon where he will announce that the team will be without star goaltender Carey Price for the rest of the season. Price suffered a fractured fibula after falling outside a popular St-Laurent blvd. nightclub early Friday morning. It is not known at this time what caused Price to fall, other than a rumor that he slipped on the slippery sidewalk outside.

Price had spent the evening celebrating a teammate's birthday along with fan favorites Scott Gomez, Paul Mara and Andrei Kostitsyn. Witnesses stated seeing assistant coach Kirk Muller & former general manager Bob Gainey among the guests at the birthday celebration.

The loss of Price will be huge since the Canadiens are battling for a spot to be in this season's playoffs. The team is expected to recall goaltender Curtis Sanford from the Hamilton Bulldogs.

 

[G1GBallday]

Carey Price out for the rest of the season with broken leg

Because of this news and a combination of the numerous great arguments for being a Leaf fan made by Doc and Iggy over the years, I now announce my unconditional loyalty to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Next stop round one in Philly!

Go Leafs Go!

 

[JH Fan]

Well I knew it ! Doc is either on Kryptonite or Chocolate Chips !

So now.... Devils' will join Tiger woods ?
And Leafs have a 99.7% chance of doin' the same !

Ah well ! Habs are still in the race and we'll see !
Who knows ?

 

[lgna69xxx]

Even tho the Leafs will come up just a hair short of making the playoffs, i have never been more proud of the Leafs than with the current addition. What sets this team apart from the last 6 seasons is not only are they winning under much pressure, they are for once, YOUNG and not old veterans who accept losing. We are led by a Captain who hs turned his game back to what it was like in Calgary and we have a core group of youngsters all maturing and learning to win before our very eyes. This playoff run will go a LONG way towards their season next year and beyond.

Somehow, Burke needs to find a centre to play with Kessel and Lupul and we will have 2 strong scoring lines, a good 3rd scoring and checking line, with Bozak (the perfect 3rd line centre) Colby Armstrong and maybe Kadri to start unless he centres Kessel/Lupul if we dont find a big top centreman, and a strong 4th line full of grit as a shut down/energy line. Combine that with Reimer and either the Monster or Ben Scrivens as the backup and next year cant come soon enuff for Leafs fans. Thanks Burke for all you have done, pretty soon even the ones who still doubt you will be eating crow.

Doc, assuming we keep Kessel and Lupul together, since they compliment each other very well, and assuming we get a Centre this summer or Joe Colborne wins the job in camp, where is Kadri left to play? He needs to play a top 6 role, at least eventually. Would you stick him on the wing with the Bozak/Army line to start the season to form 3 serious scoring lines and give each line about the same minutes? Or let him centre Kessel/Lupul if Burke cant somehow get a true #1 centreman this summer and assuming Colborne wont be ready (which he prob needs more seasoning down with the Marlies) Anyways, these are good problems to have. my how things have changed for the good with this Orginization.

 

[JH Fan]

In the meantime the Bruins are going to their 3rd straight playoffs atop the division while riding a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 games.

Have a nice day.

Cheers,

Merlot

Now since there is a chance for the Habs to make it to the playoffs and there is a tiny little chance to beat the Bruins.... if they would would you consider that we could brag about it ? in the street that is... with some.... over zealous bonfires ?

You would have to admit that it would be some performance !
If it ever happen bien evidement !

 

[lgna69xxx]

Sure, and in Anaheim the foundation was already there, but without Burke and the key moves he made, the Ducks would of never won a cup, and in Toronto he took the foundation he inherited, and threw it out the door and built his own, minus a handful of players, from scratch. Try building a professional hockey team and see how far you get in a year or two. It is no different than having a expansion team. Most who do a complete rebuild like to say it takes a 5 yr plan, well, Burke has them almost there after 2, and the 3rd, he will have them in the playoffs for years to come and contending for a cup. And like Burke has said over and over, he could of brought in players short term to make the playoffs this season, only to get beat out in the first round, BUT more importantly, set the orginization back further like past years, by overpaying or giving up assets, but he would rather build a winning orginization for years to come, i for one, agree with his strategy.

Ever since the Kaberle, Beauchemin, and Versteeg trades, the team has a whole new identity and have one of the best records in all of the NHL, all while playing meaningful, pressure packed, and important games when it counts. Add to that youth and talent in the minors, along with tons of draft picks in the 2011 draft, and most importantly millions and millions of dollars of salary cap space after the seasons ends. The Leafs are without a doubt a playoff team next season as the team stands now, but with 1 or 2 Key players added via free agency or trades this summer, they are a top 5 team in the eastern conference next season, bank on it.

In Boston, Peter Chiarelli is in year five of his tenure as the bruins GM, he has not held a stanley cup yet, and he inherited a orginization that wasnt great, but was not in need of a complete rebuild from the front office to the minors and everything in between, unlike the Leafs. With that said, i think as does everyone in hockey with common sense that Chiarelli has done a good job, and has a shot at that elusive Cup this year. Burke and Chiarelli are good friends and they build their teams almost the same way.

Hmmm,

There are 30 teams in the NHL and 16 of them, over half, make it to the playoffs. In Anaheim, Burke helped lead the Ducks to a Stanley Cup in only his second year. In Toronto he has failed to lead the Leafs to the playoffs for two straight years though 53% of all teams go. It's not "doubt", it's reality...nothing to crow about. Maybe next year.

In the meantime the Bruins are going to their 3rd straight playoffs atop the division while riding a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 games.

Have a nice day.

Cheers,

Merlot

 

[lgna69xxx]

If the habs beat the bruins in the playoffs, the whole city would burn down! in that case, please dont beat the b's, I love our City!

Now since there is a chance for the Habs to make it to the playoffs and there is a tiny little chance to beat the Bruins.... if they would would you consider that we could brag about it ? in the street that is... with some.... over zealous bonfires ?

You would have to admit that it would be some performance !
If it ever happen bien evidement !

 

[Doc Holliday]

In Anaheim, Burke helped lead the Ducks to a Stanley Cup in only his second year. In Toronto he has failed to lead the Leafs to the playoffs for two straight years though 53% of all teams go. It's not "doubt", it's reality...nothing to crow about.

Big difference. Brian Burke inherited a much better team in Anaheim from previous GM Bryan Murray, who helped put the foundation in place in order for Burke to add the missing pieces (e.g. Chris Pronger) in order to build a Stanley Cup winning team.

When Burkie arrived in Toronto, he basically had to start from scratch. John Ferguson Jr. had pretty much destroyed the team's future with very bad trades & bad signings. The farm team was a joke. Fergie had traded away first-round picks like they were a dime-a-dozen in order to acquire average goaltenders. Cliff Fletcher didn't do much better in his 2nd run at the GM job (for one season) with a couple of bad trades & the signing of Jeff Finger to a ridiculous contract. However, he did trade for the great Mikail Grabovski without giving much in return to the habs.

After three years, my belief is that he's finally built the team HE wants. A very young team (2nd youngest team in the entire NHL) who will grow together for years to come in order to challenge for a Cup in the not too distant future. Phaneuf is playing great, Kessel scored his usual 30 goals once again, Grabovski has turned himself into an NHL star, and even Mike Komisarek has played very good hockey in his past 15 games. Luke Schenn is close to superstardom & the likes of Nazem Kadri & Nikolai Kulemin will be a fixture on the Leafs top forward lines for years to come.

Burkie has also rebuilt the farm team & the organization now has many top prospects & draft picks to either play with or develop. What Brian Burke has done has been amazing. I never expected him to actually turn the organization around the way he did. What a job!

 

[Special K]

I can't wait to hear next year's excuses from the Leaf's brigade!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Doc, assuming we keep Kessel and Lupul together, since they compliment each other very well, and assuming we get a Centre this summer or Joe Colborne wins the job in camp, where is Kadri left to play? He needs to play a top 6 role, at least eventually. Would you stick him on the wing with the Bozak/Army line to start the season to form 3 serious scoring lines and give each line about the same minutes? Or let him centre Kessel/Lupul if Burke cant somehow get a true #1 centreman this summer and assuming Colborne wont be ready (which he prob needs more seasoning down with the Marlies) Anyways, these are good problems to have. my how things have changed for the good with this Orginization.

I'd leave Kadri on the wing. He appears to be a much better player on the wing. It permits him to use & exploit his speed better. I don't see anything wrong in leaving Bozak on the Kessel line if they don't find a considerable upgrade at the center position. I don't think Colborne is ready yet, but who knows. So until Burke either trades for a bonafide 1st or 2nd line center or signs one via free agency, i'd stay with Bozak as the pivot between Kessel & Lupul.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I can't wait to hear next year's excuses from the Leaf's brigade!

No excuses. The Leafs simply ran out of time. They have been among the top 3 NHL teams since the all-star break & have played great hockey. They're a team on the right path & i'm happy the Bruins are helping them out by sending them a 1st & 2nd rounder for 33-year old Tomas Kaberle, who's best years are well behind him. I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the organization for drafting, developping & trading the great Phil Kessel to the Leafs. The Leafs have won the trade, and this thinking will continue for the years to come. Tyler Seguin will never reach is potential, and the guy they'll draft this year will be a stiff. Kessel, meanwhile, will continue being all-star for the next decade & will soon blossom into a bonafide 40-goal scorer. Thank you, Peter Chiarelli!!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Doc bro,

I am glad you two feel good about Burke. Normally I wouldn't find much reason to say anything about him or the Leafs, but the way two fans gush so frequently over a guy who has really accomplished nothing for the team yet like he's a genius or a god is a bit hard to take. The team ended up 29th last year to 22nd or so this year, still 6 levels out of the playoffs. In my book such a guy should be nervous about keeping his job, NOT being granted accolades.

Bro, it's all about the future & making the team competitive again. He's achieved this, against all odds. Toronto finally has a team to be proud of & the future looks great. No, they won't make the playoffs this season, but it's to be expected considering the team has been in a rebuilding process for the past 3 years & they're the 2nd youngest team in the NHL. No 46-year old players on this Leafs team!

I don't really give a f#*# if the Leafs made the playoffs this season. It would have been nice, sure. It would have also been nice that the nice people that own the Leafs could have made a few millions of $$ to put in their pockets. Oh well. They probably wouldn't have advanced past the first round, so who cares? Montreal will likely made the playoffs, get eliminated in the first-round, and have nothing to show for it. Next season, they'll still be paying Scotty Gomez (Scotty!) close to $8 million, and Mike Cammalleri will be getting just under $7 million. Half of their team will be free agents & Pierre Gauthier will be pulling his hair trying to figure out a way to sign half of them. Will Markov stay or go? What about Hal Gill & Wozniewski? How much is Kostitsyn worth? So many unanswered questions.

As for Boston, they better hope they'll face the habs in the playoffs, or else they risk getting knocked out in the first round. I have zero confidence in Tim Thomas & if the team has to depend on him to go further into the tournament, good luck!

 

[lgna69xxx]

Dont sell #81 short, with a Top Centreman, he will score over 50!

No excuses. The Leafs simply ran out of time. They have been among the top 3 NHL teams since the all-star break & have played great hockey. They're a team on the right path & i'm happy the Bruins are helping them out by sending them a 1st & 2nd rounder for 33-year old Tomas Kaberle, who's best years are well behind him. I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the organization for drafting, developping & trading the great Phil Kessel to the Leafs. The Leafs have won the trade, and this thinking will continue for the years to come. Tyler Seguin will never reach is potential, and the guy they'll draft this year will be a stiff. Kessel, meanwhile, will continue being all-star for the next decade & will soon blossom into a bonafide 40-goal scorer. Thank you, Peter Chiarelli!!

 

[lgna69xxx]

Awwww, whats the matter, are we bitter cause the '8 million dollar man, scotty gomez' cant even score 10 goals in a season anymore?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPIO4YtKrtY&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh+div-1r-3-HM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vfSk-6tIvo&NR=1&feature=fvwp

 

[Special K]

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the organization for drafting, developping & trading the great Phil Kessel to the Leafs. The Leafs have won the trade, and this thinking will continue for the years to come. Tyler Seguin will never reach is potential, and the guy they'll draft this year will be a stiff. Kessel, meanwhile, will continue being all-star for the next decade & will soon blossom into a bonafide 40-goal scorer. Thank you, Peter Chiarelli!!

I thought you were smarter than this Doc. Declaring a winner in a trade 1 season after it's made? Pardon my use of Iggys famous "Bwwwwwaaaahhhh!!!" C'mon Doc, you're better than that.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I thought you were smarter than this Doc. Declaring a winner in a trade 1 season after it's made? Pardon my use of Iggys famous "Bwwwwwaaaahhhh!!!" C'mon Doc, you're better than that.

Isn't this exactly what everybody (including yourself) was doing since the trade was made?

I OFFICIALLY DECLARE THE LEAFS THE WINNER OF THE PHIL KESSEL TRADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lgna69xxx]

K, i cant really take credit for that expression, and i wont say the Leafs won the trade yet, but it sure has shut up alot of people the way the Leafs have moved up the standings these last 30 games....no huge lottery pic this time for your team, and will Seguin be the next Crosby? doubt it.

Time will tell, but as i stood by the trade then , i still do now and believe in my GM and his staff 100%

I thought you were smarter than this Doc. Declaring a winner in a trade 1 season after it's made? Pardon my use of Iggys famous "Bwwwwwaaaahhhh!!!" C'mon Doc, you're better than that.

 

[Special K]

K, i cant really take credit for that expression, and i wont say the Leafs won the trade yet, but it sure has shut up alot of people the way the Leafs have moved up the standings these last 30 games....no huge lottery pic this time for your team, and will Seguin be the next Crosby? doubt it.

Time will tell, but as i stood by the trade then , i still do now and believe in my GM and his staff 100%

Of course you do Iggy because that's exactly what you always do, even when using a little common sense it would slap you right in the face, but you fail to see the obvious whenever it comes to your teams. Nothing new there.

I'll be the first to admit that the Bruins don't look like they'll go far in the playoffs this year (my prediction in possibly to the 2nd round.) In my opinion and that's only what it is is an opinion, Tim Thomas fucken sucks! I've despised him since he won his first Vezina and watching him day in and day out I believe he's severely overrated, as is the entire team. They are average, nothing more, nothing less. Average ain't going to bring them a Cup, that's for sure!

That's called seeing things unbiased / fairly for lack of a better word to come to mind. It's also something that you rarely, if ever display.

Lundquist for the Vezina!