The Official MERB 2011-2012 NHL Hockey Thread

[lgna69xxx]

Your Shilling could not be more obvious! Bwhahahahaahahahaha, Just kidding...... it is about hockey and the Leafs are a NHL team (despite JC not thinking so, lol....just kidding JC, even you have to realise that the Leafs are on the right track for once in years)

My thoughts exactly about what a series this could be if we meet the bruins in the playoffs.... for 50 minutes on wednesday, it was the best game i have seen all season and a playoff type atmosphere at the ACC. Long ways to go but indeed if the young Leafs can grow from not only the good, but more importantly the bad, then success will be coming in bunches.

Mister 69, it's hard to argue against anything you've just posted. You're absolutely correct!

If a man can raise this titanic of a team from the depths of an ocean, it's Brian Burke! He is indeed the type of GM to just raise this gargantuan from the bottom of the Atlantic. And in regards to tonight's game, you are again correct in stating that the Bruins will likely prevail. However, if the league's 2nd-youngest team can learn from these regular-season defeats against their #1 adversary, then maybe they'll use this valuable experience during the upcoming playoffs & prevail over these same Bruins. What a series this would be!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Your Shilling could not be more obvious! Bwhahahahaahahahaha, Just kidding...... it is about hockey and the Leafs are a NHL team (despite JC not thinking so, lol....just kidding JC, even you have to realise that the Leafs are on the right track for once in years)

My thoughts exactly about what a series this could be if we meet the bruins in the playoffs.... for 50 minutes on wednesday, it was the best game i have seen all season and a playoff type atmosphere at the ACC. Long ways to go but indeed if the young Leafs can grow from not only the good, but more importantly the bad, then success will be coming in bunches.

What can i say? I tell it like it is. The Leafs are a good team & it's a fact. Not a single member of the Mtl media denies this. Most of them only dream of having a GM such as Brian Burke, who also tells it like it is, never pulls any punches, and is always 100% accessible to the media, never going into exile like some GM's do.

The Leafs have a good foundation. They have depth. Age is on their side. They are coaches extremely well & they all have a good relationship with their GM. They have the greatest hockey fans on the planet & their organization is one of the world's wealtiest & management is as sound as it ever will be. The future looks great, and promising. This will be a good decade for Leafs fans, i promise it!

Boston also has a heck of a team. This is obvious. Heck, they won the Cup. Teams such as Toronto, Florida & Boston have a heck of a promising future ahead of them!

 

[lgna69xxx]

I am still not a believer in the Panthers, but we will see. I think they will decline as the season goes on.

Boston also has a heck of a team. This is obvious. Heck, they won the Cup. Teams such as Toronto, Florida & Boston have a heck of a promising future ahead of them!

 

[Special K]

Wow, another dismantling of the Leafs by the Bruins tonight. Just seem to have their number so far this year.

 

[lgna69xxx]

The Young Leafs will surely learn from these games against boston, and as long as that happens, then i am ok with them. They are getting closer tho, didnt play as well tonight as wednesday and the score was lower. Lets see how one of the youngest teams in the entire nhl react in the next few games. Not every team they have to play are the bruins ya know :lol:

PS, i still think these 2 teams meeting in the playoffs would make for a terrific series.

Wow, another dismantling of the Leafs by the Bruins tonight. Just seem to have their number so far this year.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Wow, another dismantling of the Leafs by the Bruins tonight. Just seem to have their number so far this year.

One man's dismantling is another man's ass-kicking. Boy, that was some ass-kicking.

 

[Doc Holliday]

The Bruins are indeed a formidable team. Very balanced, very well coached....very good & sound goaltending.

There is no embarrassment in losing to the Stanley Cup champions.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Last week, the Leafs were in "first" place, simply by virtue of having played more games and several Leafs fans were deluding themselves into thinking they actually had the best record in the conference. I, therefore, took it upon myself to create a new stat, the "Defacto Standings," adjusting the standings to reflect games played. In my Defacto Standings, the Leafs showed in sixth place.

In the week since, the schedule has, for the most part, equalized. And where are the Leafs: sixth place.

 

[daydreamer41]

Last week, the Leafs were in "first" place, simply by virtue of having played more games and several Leafs fans were deluding themselves into thinking they actually had the best record in the conference. I, therefore, took it upon myself to create a new stat, the "Defacto Standings," adjusting the standings to reflect games played. In my Defacto Standings, the Leafs showed in sixth place.

In the week since, the schedule has, for the most part, equalized. And where are the Leafs: sixth place.

Defacto Standings? There's only one person in the world who follows your Defacto Standings. The rest of the world follows the only deciding factor - which is points--- 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie regulation and then loss in overtime. It used to be 1 point for a tie, as overtime is rather recent.

But really, the season is only 1/3 of the way played. I watched the game last night from when the score was 1-1. The score was 2-1 until 3:06 into the 3rd period. The Bruins only took a lead after 13 minutes into the second period., more than half way into the game. So for the first half of the game, it was an even game.

There hasn't been a repeat of the Stanley Cup championship since the Detriot Red Wings have done it in 1996-1997 and 1997-1998, and previous Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991-1992 and 1992-1993. In the 1980s, the Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders put together a string of SC's. So let's see how good this Bruin team really is. For the past 14 years, there has been no dominate team in the NHL, or at least a team that has won back to back Stanley Cups.

 

[joelcairo]

And SPEAKING of the great Detroit Red Wings, holders of an amazing FOUR Stanley Cups in the past decade and a half:


Detroit currently has a record identical to the Bruins: 16-7-1. The only difference is that Detroit has more REGULATION TIME wins than the B's, meaning really more LEGITIMATE wins. Let's face it: not too long ago, before revamping of the rules, a game that was tied at the end of regulation was just that - a tie!

Jimmy Howard has more wins (15) than any other goalie.

The only teams with more points than Detroit are Pittsburgh (3 points more but 3 more games played) and Minnesota (!!!) (2 points more but 2 more games played).

Detroit is 8-2-0 in its last 10. Only Boston has a better record in its last 10 but then again Boston's only LOSS in that span was to...you guessed it: the mighty Detroit Red Wings!

Detroit is currently the hottest team in the NHL with a 7 game winning streak.

Detroit has a goal differential of plus 21 (versus for example the Leafs differential of minus 2).

If we compare the top D-men on Detroit, Boston and Toronto we see that they all have 18 points. 41 year old (!!!!!!!!) Nick Lidstrom has the most goals of these, however, with 6. He is plus 9. Needless to say he is also either the 2nd or 3rd greatest D-man in the history of the sport! Bobby Orr is # 1...and then it's debatable whether # 2 is Nick or Doug Harvey. Although that's a close call my vote goes to Lidstrom because the game is much faster than it was in Harvey's day. Also Lidstrom is in much better shape than Harvey, who was a fabulous all-around athlete but hit the bottle a little too hard and a little too often. Also the GREAT Nick Lidstrom is STILL competing at the highest level with no end in sight! Chara is plus 18 and Phaneuf is minus 2.

All in all Detroit's glory days are continuing! (And I didn't even bother writing about Pavel Datsyuk, the most skilled player in the league!)

 

[Doc Holliday]

Last week, the Leafs were in "first" place, simply by virtue of having played more games and several Leafs fans were deluding themselves into thinking they actually had the best record in the conference. I, therefore, took it upon myself to create a new stat, the "Defacto Standings," adjusting the standings to reflect games played. In my Defacto Standings, the Leafs showed in sixth place.

In the week since, the schedule has, for the most part, equalized. And where are the Leafs: sixth place.

Indeed. If you would have told any Leaf fan two months ago that the Leafs would be in 6th place come December, they would have been pleased. This is a very acceptable 'standings' position for the NHL's second-youngest team. Go Leafs Go!

 

[joelcairo]

Congrats to Kris Versteeg on his great season so far: 7th in scoring (12, 16, 28) and plus 13!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Defacto Standings? There's only one person in the world who follows your Defacto Standings. The rest of the world follows the only deciding factor - which is points--- 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie regulation and then loss in overtime. It used to be 1 point for a tie, as overtime is rather recent.

But really, the season is only 1/3 of the way played. I watched the game last night from when the score was 1-1. The score was 2-1 until 3:06 into the 3rd period. The Bruins only took a lead after 13 minutes into the second period., more than half way into the game. So for the first half of the game, it was an even game.

I agree with everything you said. But let him be. He will NEVER get it. A non-hockey fan for close to 70 years will never get the game of hockey, which is quite understandable.

I also agree that the past 2 games between the Leafs & Bruins have been a lot closer than the final score indicated. The game in Toronto a few days ago was either tied or had only a 1-goal differential for nearly the entire game, the game ending with an empty-net goal after Toronto had pulled their goalie.

Last night's game was closer than the final score indicated, but i will be the first one to admit that the Bruins were the stronger team last night. The Bruins are a very competitive, well-balanced, hard-working well-coached team with very good (and often opportunistic) goaltending. I'd take the likes of Zdeno Chara, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron & Milan Lucic on my team anytime.

 

[joelcairo]

Congrats to Tyler Seguin on his league leading plus 20.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Congrats to Kris Versteeg on his great season so far: 7th in scoring (12, 16, 28) and plus 13!

Yes indeed! I can't believe Philadelphia gave up on him so soon, considering what they gave Toronto to obtain him (of course, i could say the same thing of Boston & Tomas Kaberle). But all it does is prove that a player might simply need a different environment (with zero pressure) in order to thrive. I've always been a Kris Versteeg fan (even when he was with Chicago) and i'm happy for him. But what has always astonished hockey experts is why such a young player would already be on his 4th team so early in his career. Possible attitude problem?

 

[joelcairo]

And congrats to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: the kid knows how to play!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Congrats to Tyler Seguin on his league leading plus 20.

Yes indeed. Although young Seguin isn't the calibre of a Taylor Hall, he's blossomed into a valuable commodity for the Boston Bruins, the champions of the entire NHL. But to the team's credit, Seguin is fortunate to play on such a good team. He never would have achieved the same success he's had if he would have wound up with a team like Edmonton, for example. But hey, a 2nd-overall NHL draftee should be producing, right?

I'm happy for the Bruins. It wouldn't have been fair if the Leafs would have fleeced them on this deal also. I call it an even trade for both teams, even though many have called it a steal by the Leafs, who not only only wound up with one of the league's youngest top players, but also with the current Art Ross & Rocket Richard trophies leader for the most points & the most goals in the league. Here's hoping that Tyler Seguin continues to improve in order to show detractors that the Seguin/Kessel trade (which wasn't really a trade since the Bruins didn't know they'd wind up with Seguin when it was made) wasn't as one-sided as it appears.

 

[Doc Holliday]

And congrats to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: the kid knows how to play!

Yes indeed! He's my pick for the Calder. The Edmonton Oilers are quite an exciting team to watch & should be for years to come. However, this is usually the end-result when a team continues to be in the basement of the NHL year after year. This is how the Pittsburgh Penguins wound up building a dynasty. By continuously winding up at the bottom of the NHL standings. Same thing with the Detroit Red Wings in the late 70's & early part of the 80's. In order to wind up with the creme-de-la-creme of the annual NHL amateur draft, you have to suck terribly for a certain number of years.

However, some teams make mistakes & don't draft well. Take the time when the Habs picked Douglas Wickenheiser first overall instead of local boy Denis Savard. You also need luck. For example, the year the Penguins wound up drafting Mario Lemieux, they were tied with the NJ Devils going into the final game of the season. Ironic that both teams wound up playing one another during that final game, won by the Penguins in a game no teams wanted to win. The Devils wound up with the consolation prize, which turned out to be Kirk Muller. Nearly 20 years later, a draft lottery was added & even though they finished last, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks lost the lottery to the Penguins who wound up drafting Sidney Crosby, while Anaheim wound up with Bobby Ryan. And the rest is history....Sid wound up saving the franchise (just like Mario did 20 years earlier) and he's already won a Cup & an Olympic gold medal. Bobby Ryan? He's struggled & has already been rumoured to be on his way out of Anaheim.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Defacto Standings? There's only one person in the world who follows your Defacto Standings. The rest of the world follows the only deciding factor - which is points--- 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie regulation and then loss in overtime. It used to be 1 point for a tie, as overtime is rather recent.

Actually, the only standings that count are those at the end of the season. If my team has 30 points and has played 30 games, while your team has 28 points and has played 27 games, your team is actually in a better position heading toward April, something a few Leafs fans obviously don't understand as they were crowing about being in first place last week simply because their team had played more games than others "behind" them in the standings.

How these guys who claim to understand hockey aren't able to understand that is beyond me. (Actually, I think they do understand that, but prefer to delude themselves.)

 

[joelcairo]

However, some teams make mistakes & don't draft well. Take the time when the Habs picked Douglas Wickenheiser first overall instead of local boy Denis Savard. You also need luck.

Very very true! And here's the BEST example of 1) some teams making mistakes and 2) LUCK:

In the 1983 draft, # 1 was Brian Lawton (selected by Minnesota), # 2 was Sylvain Turgeon (Hartford), # 3 was Patty Lafontaine (Islanders), which paved the way for...drum roll please....Detroit to STEAL Steve Yzerman (!!!!!!!) as the 4th overall pick!

Now, if Minnie, Hartford, and the Isles had chosen a little more wisely, the Wings would have been deprived of one of the greatest players of all time, one of the top 3 leaders of all time (in company with Messier and Clarke), and one of the two CLASSIEST players in the history of the NHL (alongside Nick Lidstrom). Detroit, without this amazing stroke of luck (due to the poor choices of the three teams selecting above them) might not have gone on to become hockey's dominant team for the next quarter century.

Now, Lawton and Turgeon were adequate but certainly not great. Lafontaine had a Hall of Fame career but it ended too soon and he missed too many games (again largely due to bad luck injuries)...and as good as Lafontaine was he was no Stevie Y (then again who is?)!

By the way, on the leadership issue there will be debate about how to rank the three obvious choices above. Most people put Messier at # 1 but I'd put Stevie Y at 1, Clarke at 2 and Moose at 3. Why? Well, Messier WAS a great leader...but he was on a team with Gretzky, Coffey and Kurri among others so maybe his leadership wasn't as NECESSARY as Stevie's or Clarke's. In Vancouver the Moose was pretty much a washout. I do have to give jim full marks for the 94 Cup win in New York...but even there he had a solid surrounding cast (Leetch, Richter etc.) and veteran support. Clarke on the other hand had tremendous determination in leading the Flyers to their two Cups...and he was probably the most vicious diabetic superstar in history as Valeri Kharlamov's ankle would testify!

Stevie on the other hand led by example with amazing talent, total class and unbelievable courage. He played through pain and did whatever was required to win. He turned the former "dead things" into the greatest team on the planet and he made EVERYONE around him better. Plus he did all this without being a thug like Clarke or a bully like Messier. Hands down the greatest leader in hockey history: Stevie Y!