The Official MERB 2010-2011 NHL Hockey Thread

[lgna69xxx]

Great article on how the Calgary Flames of 2011, are in the same boat the Leafs of 2007 were in. (too long to post so click on the link)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/686576-calgary-flames-a-new-version-of-the-2007-maple-leafs

 

[lgna69xxx]

I said Burke was a great GM, even the good ones make mistakes, but great ones correct them. Lesson 2 for your day, shall we try for a third? :nod:

Ohhhhhh WHOA!!! So the "genius" made a mistake? He was "wrong" and had to reassess? Well sure and begorrah...glory be...and tura lura lura...he sounds real after all. Maybe the Bruins had more to work with. Maybe Burke just didn't assess the situation properly ...ooops ...as you just admitted above. So under your standarJulien is the genius and Burke not. The difference is the Bruins improved immediately, and the Leafs went from 21st to 29th back to 22nd, in other words...two years wasted regarding results so far. Failure to make the playoffs is nothing to crow about, especially when the Leafs have still finished worse than before Burke took over.


Cheer, Merlot

 

[Doc Holliday]

Three of top six picks in OHL draft are black

The changing face of Ontario hockey

 

[JH Fan]

I said Burke was a great GM, even the good ones make mistakes, but great ones correct them. Lesson 2 for your day, shall we try for a third? :nod:

Keep correcting them maybe you'll make it to the playoffs

 

[lgna69xxx]

He is and has, and there is no doubt after what transformed the last 40 games of the season that the Leafs will make the playoffs next season and possibly contend, depending on how Burke is able to fill the 3 holes that need to be filled, actually if he fills the main one, a Top Centre, that alone might be enough to contend. Gonna be an interesting summer to say the least.

Keep correcting them maybe you'll make it to the playoffs

 

[Doc Holliday]

World Hockey Chamionships

For those who have TSN or RDS, there's a great quarterfinal game currently going on between Canada & Russia. Russians are loaded with stars like Ovechkin & Kovalchuk. Canada is led by the likes of Rick Nash, John Tavares & Jeff Skinner. Jonathan Bernier is between the pipes & the coaching staff expects a big game from Dion Phaneuf & Luke Schenn.

It's currently 0-0 at the mid-point of the first period.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Canada leads 1-0

Jason Spezza scores the opening goal with just over 14 minutes left to play in the 2nd period! Beautiful breakaway goal. Go Canada Go!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Canada leads 1-0 after 2 periods

Canada managed to kill off a 4-minute high sticking penalty to Tavares & they still lead. It was an atrocious call on the high stick. Tavares' stick never got off the ice. The Russian player was actually high-sticked by his own player. The play occurred right in front of the Russian net. Did the referee right next to them call the penalty? Nope. It was called by the other referee who was standing way out at center ice. Unbelievable!

Great penalty-killing by the Canadians throughout the game. Bernier has been solid in nets. Strong game by the likes of Spezza, Nash & Tavares. Eberle & Skinner have also been good. Strong defensive play by Phaneuf, Ladd, Schenn & Pietrangelo. Can't wait for the 3rd period to begin!

(Iggy: what do you think it would take to lure Spezza to the Leafs? He'd look great centering Kessel.)

 

[lgna69xxx]

Probably way to much to even consider. He would look great with Kessel when he isnt hurt, which seems to be alot the last few seasons. I would much rather have Brad Richards or Paul Stastney. If the sens would take our 2 first rounders (from boston and philly) and our 2nd and 4th next year, in a better draft year, then YES,...........BUT, Ottawa would never do that, so i think we have a better chance to nab Stastney via trade or sign Richards and lose no picks...


BTW, what kind of offer to do see Burke proposing to Richards? I would think it will take HUGE $$$ to lure him away from either playing in NYC or LA next season, that providing the Stars cant resign him. I'd guess something like 7 years $56 mil.... or maybe a longer contract for a lesser cap hit in the neighborhood of 10 years 70 mil. I know your not a big fan to bring him to Toronto but i think he is exactly the type of player we need, 110%, and Kessel would look at scoring 30 goals each season as a given, and should push towards 40,45 possibly even 50 one day.

Anyways, we probably wont get him cause of the Tortarella factor or the fact LA could outbid both NY and us, but it would sure be a key piece of the puzzle solved.

(Iggy: what do you think it would take to lure Spezza to the Leafs? He'd look great centering Kessel.)

 

[Doc Holliday]

Final score: 2-1 Russia

Great game, tough loss for Canada. Key play: great shorthanded goal by Russia in the 3rd to tie the score. Kovalchuk got the game-winner a few minutes later.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Shoulda played the Reiminister of Defense!

Final score: 2-1 Russia

Great game, tough loss for Canada. Key play: great shorthanded goal by Russia in the 3rd to tie the score. Kovalchuk got the game-winner a few minutes later.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Probably way to much to even consider. He would look great with Kessel when he isnt hurt, which seems to be alot the last few seasons. I would much rather have Brad Richards or Paul Stastney.

I'd rather see Spezza or Stastny with the Leafs, considering Richards' past history with concussion problems. He wasn't the same player when he returned from his latest concussion at the end of this past season & barely contributed. I also can't see Ottawa trading Spezza to the Leafs since they're a division/conference rival....unless Burke makes them a great offer that no one else can match. Considering Spezza's big contract, not many teams could compete with the Leafs if they'd be serious about obtaining him.

I think Burke will have to offer Richards at least $7 or 8 million on a multi-year deal where Richards would likely want this contract to be his last before he retires.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Shoulda played the Reiminister of Defense!

I dunno if it would have made a difference. Bernie was very good & now i know why there's all kind of talk about him playing second fiddle to Quick in LA.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Doc,

I thought sure Richards was back to playing well after his concussion, especially the last 2 weeks of the season, so i checked some stats and His last 6 games of the year he had 8 points in 6 games, and overall since coming back from his concussion he played 16 games and had 14 points, all this without James Neal alongside him and on the powerplay, that itself is a huge loss, stat wise, but even so he showed no signs that the concussion slowed him down in any way.

I still think Burke should do everything and anything to get him, well, within a reasonable cap hit for a true #1 centre (7-8 million per) but i have a feeling he may be looking at getting 8.5-9 million from LA as he is really the only true superstar centre available, so his stock will rise. Id still love Paul Stastney feeding Kessel for the next 5 year but im thinking overall, leadership and talent wise, Richards would be a great fit on a young Leafs team. It isnt like he is old as he is just 30 and still should have a good 5-6 years of top production left in him.

Questions

I'd rather see Spezza or Stastny with the Leafs, considering Richards' past history with concussion problems. He wasn't the same player when he returned from his latest concussion at the end of this past season & barely contributed.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Di have a feeling he may be looking at getting 8.5-9 million from LA as he is really the only true superstar centre available, so his stock will rise.

My gut-feeling is that he'll wind up with the NY Rangers.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Habs sign Swiss defenceman

The Montreal Canadiens have signed Swiss defenceman Raphael Diaz to a one-year contract.

The 25-year-old free agent inked a two-way deal, which would pay different salaries in the NHL and the minor leagues.

“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Raphael Diaz, who we strongly believe has all the attributes to play in the NHL,” general manager Pierre Gauthier said Friday in a statement. “Raphael is a defenceman with excellent offensive and defensive skills, who constantly improved his play over the years.

“We look forward to seeing him at training camp.”

 

[lgna69xxx]

Derek Boogaard found dead

Only 28 years old, so sad.

RIP Derek



http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365644

 

[Doc Holliday]

Only 28 years old, so sad.

It was a shock to hear last night that the boogie man had passed away. I wonder when we'll hear what he died of? My money's on suicide.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Mathew Barnaby arrested & charged with domestic violence

Former NHL pest Matthew Barnaby has been arrested and charged with domestic violence, according to a Buffalo television station.

WIVB reported that police responded to a call Friday and found extensive damage to a residence and two unharmed females.

Barnaby was arrested and charged with second degree criminal contempt, harassment, second degree criminal trespass and second degree criminal mischief, the station reported.

Barnaby, 38, has also been charged with aggravated harassment via a cell phone, WIVB said.

The Ottawa native spent Friday night in jail and will be arraigned Saturday morning.

In 834 games with the Sabres, Penguins, Lightning, Rangers, Avalanche, Blackhawks and Stars from 1992-2007, Barnaby amassed 113 goals, 187 assists and 2,562 penalty minutes.

Since retiring from the NHL, Barnaby has worked in television with TSN in Canada and ESPN in the U.S.

Mathew Barnaby charged & jailed with domestic violence

 

[JH Fan]

Mathew Barnaby arrested & charged with domestic violence

I seriously think that you like posting guys' pics.

How about Michelle Beadle's instead ?