The Official MERB 2011-2012 NHL Hockey Thread

[lgna69xxx]

Agreed with most of this. One player is NEVER enuf to put a TEAM "over the top" in most cases, at least on a good team. On a very good to great team then yes, it is.

Also not sure the Leafs need a trade or not, if the "Brain" (aka Brian Burke) gets the right deal, then lets do it BB!, and if not then we stay put at the deadline. This Leafs team is very young and needs to learn from mistakes which will make them a threat in years to come, in other words you do NOT mortgage the future for short term gain, ala Leafs teams of the past.

As to the game tonight, it's the third loss in a row, and this time at home to a team with a poor record. Kessel is definitely not enough to put the Leafs over the top to be a real contender. The Leafs need some sort of trade, one to build defense one way or another, or they will be waiting until the draft and the risks of developing a solid player who can make a difference.

It really doesn't matter where the Habs will be, the object is to learn the lessons of where the weaknesses are to make the Leafs a top contender...and that is all that counts for Toronto.

Cheers,

Merlot

 

[gohabsgo]

p.s. By the way, i saw Scott Gomez earlier. I almost went up to him to congratulate him on his first goal, and at the same time, i would have kidded him that Obama is the greatest President ever (however, Scotty may be a Democrat also), but i figured it might jinx the Leafs if i did.

2 of the 3 Toronto alternate Captains - Komisarek and Armstrong, were healthy scratches and sat in the press box. Has that ever happened before- anywhere, two "A's" sitting out healthy? Only in Leaf land.

Forget about Gomez's salary, that's $7.5M of combined cap space sitting....and if you add Tim Connolly at $ 4.75M and Lombardi's $3.5M ( 6 goals in 37 games worst team plus/minus) that's a lot of total money - $15.75M doing little to nothing. "Tim Connolly went his 16th consecutive game without a goal and has just one in the last 26."

 

[Doc Holliday]

2 of the 3 Toronto alternate Captains - Komisarek and Armstrong, were healthy scratches and sat in the press box. Has that ever happened before- anywhere, two "A's" sitting out healthy? Only in Leaf land.

Forget about Gomez's salary, that's $7.5M of combined cap space sitting....and if you add Tim Connolly at $ 4.75M and Lombardi's $3.5M ( 6 goals in 37 games worst team plus/minus) that's a lot of total money - $15.75M doing little to nothing. "Tim Connolly went his 16th consecutive game without a goal and has just one in the last 26."

Hey! Welcome back, buddy! I'm so glad to have you back among the living, among the best hockey fans on the entire boards! :thumb:

I'm also extremely touched at your concern for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Considering that your favorite team will miss the playoffs & that a major rebuilding job will be required (which i doubt they will do), it's really a nice gesture on your part to take a break from your team & concentrate on someone else's team's problems.

Take care, and i'm looking forward to seeing your presence on a regular basis........again, welcome back!

 

[Doc Holliday]

As to the game tonight, it's the third loss in a row, and this time at home to a team with a poor record. Kessel is definitely not enough to put the Leafs over the top to be a real contender. The Leafs need some sort of trade, one to build defense one way or another, or they will be waiting until the draft and the risks of developing a solid player who can make a difference.

It really doesn't matter where the Habs will be, the object is to learn the lessons of where the weaknesses are to make the Leafs a top contender...and that is all that counts for Toronto.

I also agree with your what you posted. The Leafs need to make some type of trade in order to keep them in playoffs contention. Since teams often make trades with the same teams, and the fact Toronto & Boston made two major trades with one another over the past two seasons, i wonder if Burke & Chiarelli will find a way to make a trade once again to help one another's team. I heard that Boston might be looking for some depth at the defence position, something Toronto has an abundance of. However, i'm not sure which player(s) the Bruins would be willing to part with that would interest Toronto.

Could we see a pick or prospect heading back Toronto's way if they send them a defenceman? What about adding a forward for depth purposes? Would a player like Colby Armstrong or Tim Connelly interest Boston? How about Clarke MacArthur?

If Burke does make a trade, i expect it to happen with either Anaheim, Boston or possibly Minnesota. How about Montreal? I doubt it'll happen, but i do know for a fact that Brian Burke has a lot of respect for Pierre Gauthier. Maybe Andrei Kostitsyn to Toronto for a pick or someone from the Marlies' roster?

 

[Merlot]

Canadiens Fans Proud to be CLASSLESS SCUMBAGS.



Zdeno Chara bleeds, Canadiens fans cheer, everyone lectures on ‘staying classy’

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...s-fans-cheer-everyone-lectures-150734879.html

Despite getting a recent run from other cities when it comes to postgame arson, Montreal Canadiens fans still epitomize all that's wrong with hockey fandom in the eyes of many. The self-entitlement. The language politics. The hasty running of players out of town. The hysterical reaction to issues significant and myopic.

The inappropriate booing of anthems and cheering of injuries.

It's no surprise, then, that hockey fans and media crowded the same soapbox on Wednesday night to lambaste some Habs fans for having l'audace to cheer when Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara was hit in the face by a Tomas Plekanec clearing attempt.

Here's how the situation played out in the Bruins' 4-3 shootout win over the Habs:

The "stay classy, Montreal" tweets and messages were fast and furious after the incident, which was expected. (As were a few Philadelphia-based "SEE, IT'S NOT JUST US!" laments.)

Cheering an injured player is a tactless, deplorable act … until you consider the context of Wednesday night's fan behavior. Until you realize that, as fans of a contact sport, we're cheering injuries every night.

Two interesting reactions to this Wednesday night from the Bruins, via James Murphy of ESPN Boston. First, Chara:

"I can't control what the fans are going to do but it's disappointing, I guess," said Chara, who took stitches on his chin to close the gash.

"It's nothing to do with sport and even what happened previously with our two teams but that's something I can't control and that's all I have to say," Chara added.

Then, his coach, Claude Julien, who used to manage the bench in Montreal:

"It's an opposing rink and he's been booed before so it doesn't really matter," Julien said. "I've seen worse here. I've seen them boo the American national anthem when I was here so sometimes it's disappointing but it's all about passion. Sometimes they care so much that maybe they don't think what the right thing is always to do but that's just the way it is."

The player says "it's nothing to do with sports." The coach — a spectator himself — says "it's all about passion."

In this instance, I agree with the coach.

Had I watched Zdeno Chara pummel my team into oblivion for years; had I watched his superhuman efforts in the postseason eliminate my team on the regular; had I seen him put one of my favorite young players on a stretcher last season and skate by without punishment from the NHL … I would have cheered his injury.

In the moment. Without consideration that a player might have lost an eye or been concussed. In that moment, in that rivalry game, with that player having been felled, my reaction would have been to cheer.

...

It's part of my fandom. If that makes me a classless, insulting scumbag, then I'll carry the membership card.

continued...

This ugly reaction might have been perfectly understandable in light of the bitterness over the Pacioretty episode. But the persistence of fan ugliness surrounding hockey in Montreal time after time and year after year is a bit pathological, beyond excuse that it's just..."fan passion".

nuts,

Merlot

 

[lgna69xxx]

Just watched the video and big deal, most probably did not even see he was bleeding, they were cheering cause the big man was down for once, usually where their players and most of the leagues players end up when facing him. As much as i dislike the habs and their fans, this one was blown out of proportion.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Just watched the video and big deal, most probably did not even see he was bleeding, they were cheering cause the big man was down for once, usually where their players and most of the leagues players end up when facing him. As much as i dislike the habs and their fans, this one was blown out of proportion.

You're absolutely correct. I also watched the video once again & came to the same conclusion(s) that you had. This minor incident was blown way out of proportion.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Philadelphia Flyers get their defenceman

Flyers have acquired defenceman Nicklas Grossman from Dallas in exchange for a 2012 2nd rd pick(from LA) & 2013 3rd rd pick(from MIN).

 

[Doc Holliday]

Hal Gill traded to Preds for Blake Geoffrion

The Montreal Canadiens acquired a familiar name in a trade that has defenceman Hal Gill going to the Nashville Predators on Friday.

As part of the deal, the club acquired forward Blake Geoffrion - son of former Canadien Danny Geoffrion, grandson of Habs great Bernie Geoffrion and great-grandson of Montreal legend Howie Morenz.

The Canadiens also sent a conditional fifth round pick in 2013 to Nashville in the deal and acquired forward Robert Slaney and a second round draft pick in 2012.

The Predators will get the fifth-round pick if Geoffrion plays at least 40 games with the Canadiens next season.

Gill, who has spent the last three seasons with Montreal, will be an unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year deal worth $2.25 million in the off-season.

Originally drafted in the eighth round by the Boston Bruins at the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Gill's size has made him a coveted stay-at-home presence throughout his 13-year career.

Gill, 36, has played with the Bruins, Maple Leafs, Penguins and Canadiens throughout his career, winning the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Flyers get Pavel Kubina

The Tampa Bay Lightning have traded defenseman Pavel Kubina to the Philadelphia Flyers for a pair of draft picks, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com on Saturday.

According to the source, the Flyers traded a conditional second round pick they had originally acquired from Florida in a trade for Kris Versteeg, and also a fourth-rounder in 2013 to land the veteran defenseman.

The Panthers hold the option on whether the second round pick can be used this year or in 2013.

Kubina is slated to be an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman announced on Thursday that the team was planning on trading the veteran defenseman and would hold him out of the lineup while attempting to make a deal.

Kubina, who has a limited no-trade clause, was asked to provide the team with a list of five teams he was willing to be traded to, Kubina's agent Peter Svoboda told ESPN.com on Thursday night.

The Lightning traded Dominic Moore to San Jose on Thursday. Yzerman told ESPN.com two weeks ago that he would determine his plan for the trade deadline based on where his team was in the standings in the next 7-10 days. As of Saturday morning, Tampa Bay was in 12th place in the East.

Kubina has 110 goals and 382 points in 953 games. The 34-year-old has 11 points and is plus-1 in 52 games this season.

The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 27.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Penguins re-sign Neal for another 6 years

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed star winger James Neal to a $30-million, six-year extension, the team announced Sunday.

Neal was slated for restricted free agency July 1. The new deal will pay him on average $5 million a season, a raise from the $2.875 million his current deal averages per year.

Neal is tied for third in the NHL with 30 goals in 58 games this season.

 

[lgna69xxx]

I love Cherry and I had ZERO problems with him ripping the Leafs last night. Reimer has let in soft goal after soft goal since his 2 shuouts in a row a few weeks back and he just does not seem confident at all. All in all the Leafs got a lesson last night from most likely the best team in the NHL right now and whats ironic is it was by a team that Burke/Nonis built for the most part. As long as they learn from beatdowns like this, a young team will be better because of it.

By the way I'm not a Don Cherry fan but I LOVED the way he ripped into the Leafs defence after their crushing loss to the Canucks last night!

 

[Octavian]

whats ironic is it was by a team that Burke/Nonis built for the most part.

You must really have a hard on for Burke. There are 3 players left from the Burke days, Canucks have been improving ever since he left. Can't say the same for his current team.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Hard on? no, but respect, yes. And I said Burke/Nonis were responsible for a big part of the current Canucks team..... meaning the Sedins, Luongo,Ryan Kesler, Kevin Bieksa, Alexander Burrows, Alex Edler, Mason Raymond, Jannik Hansen and Cory Schneider, even current coach Alain Vigneault was hired in the Burke/Nonis era in Vancity. Give ANY team that group and they will be competitive for years, well, maybe not in Mtl. :lol:

You must really have a hard on for Burke. There are 3 players left from the Burke days, Canucks have been improving ever since he left. Can't say the same for his current team.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I agree with Iggy on this one. The core of the Canucks roster was brought in by the Burke/Nonis regime. The players NOT brought in by Burke/Nonis are mostly spare parts. That's a fact.

It all starts with the Sedins. Burke was absolutely masterful in being able to position himself to draft them back in their draft year. The odds that he'd be able to draft the both of them together were practically nil. But Brian the Brain found a way to do it, and he succeeded.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Habs season has featured too many stinkers

by Mike Boone, Montreal Gazette

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Season+many+stinkers/6180897/story.html

 

[Octavian]

Brian "the brain" Burke was fired in 2004 by the Canucks. Luongo came to Vancouver in 2006.

Alexander Burrows came to the Canucks in 2005, after the "brain" departed.

Mason Raymond arrived in 2007. Schneider in 2007.

Maybe the Leafs should fire "the brain" and give the top job to Nonis. I think that being Canadian he is much more qualified for the job. Look at the mess that the 2 Americans are creating to Canada's team.

 

[lgna69xxx]

I think you need to learn how to read. Burke/Nonis have built the core of the Canucks as i have explained to you, should i post it in French for you? Lets say we take out just those responsible solely by Burke, how would the Canucks look WITHOUT the Sedins, Bieksa and Kesler? Those are 4 HUGE Pieces of the core, and safe to say the Canucks would be lucky to be a playoff team W/O those 4. Nonis has been the student under Burke for many years and when he did get his shot he did amazing things for VanC.

What mess is going on in the Mecca? A playoff spot this late in the season for the first time in years is a mess??? Wow, talk about a sore habs fan lol... It's ok "Octman" the habs will be back in 3-4 years for another first round exit. :wave:

Brian "the brain" Burke was fired in 2004 by the Canucks. Luongo came to Vancouver in 2006.

Alexander Burrows came to the Canucks in 2005, after the "brain" departed.

Mason Raymond arrived in 2007. Schneider in 2007.

Maybe the Leafs should fire "the brain" and give the top job to Nonis. I think that being Canadian he is much more qualified for the job. Look at the mess that the 2 Americans are creating to Canada's team.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Quincey, Downie move in three-team trade

The NHL-leading Detroit Red Wings strengthened their blue line and perhaps bought an insurance policy for the future when they landed Kyle Quincey as part of a three-team trade.

Officially, the Tampa Bay Lightning sent feisty forward Steve Downie, their fifth-leading scorer, to the Colorado Avalanche for Quincey and then traded Quincey to Detroit for a first-round pick and minor league defenseman Sebastien Piche.

Quincey, considered a solid, safe defender, probably will play in Detroit's third pairing, taking the spot usually occupied by Jakub Kindl or Mike Commodore. Quincey will be a restricted free agent, perhaps an important factor because the Red Wings could potentially lose Brad Stuart to free agency and Nicklas Lidstrom to retirement next summer.

The Red Wings are paying a first-round pick to acquire a player they gave up on waivers when they had a roster crunch a few years ago. Forced to choose between Quincey and Derek Meech, they chose Meech, who never blossomed into a regular.

"Kyle is a 26-year-old defenseman who plays 20-plus minutes a night," said Red Wings general manager Ken Holland. "We know him very well as we drafted him in 2003, helped him mature into an NHL player and watched his career develop over the past four seasons."

Downie, 24, is the third player that the Lightning have traded this month, joining Dominic Moore (San Jose) and Pavel Kubina (Philadelphia). He joins a Colorado team that has been scrapping to get into the Western playoff picture. The Lightning also picked up minor leaguer Brandon Segal from the Chicago Blackhawks for minor leaguer Matt Fornatoro.

"Our organization believes that Steve Downie will add grit and skill to our lineup offensively," Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman said. "He plays the game with an edge and we look forward to seeing the immediate and future impact he can bring to our team."

Colorado could afford to part with Quincey because they have a surplus of defensemen. Downie, who led Tampa Bay with 121 penalty minutes, is also a restricted free agent. He was fifth in Tampa Bay scoring with 12 goals and 28 points. He set a franchise record by scoring goals 11 seconds apart in a Feb. 12 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After their deals, the Lightning have two first-round picks and three to four second-rounders in the 2012 draft. The Flyers have the option of giving up a 2012 or 2013 second-round pick in the Kubina trade.

Piche will be sent to the ECHL's Florida Everblades.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/story/2012-02-21/downie-quincy-red-wings-trade/53196490/1

 

[Doc Holliday]

Blue Jackets make a trade with......

Phoenix. Underachieving & overpaid Antoine Vermette goes to the Coyotes for a 2nd rounder, conditional 5th rounder, and a minor league goalie who's out for the season. Former GM Doug Maclean told Primetime Sports (a.k.a. the Bob McCown Show) that it was a very good trade for Columbus just to get rid of this chronic underachiever who still has a few years left on a big contract.