The Official 2008-09 NHL Season Discussion Thread

Post by **batdad** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:40 pm

As I said Thomas is good so far this seaosn. But last year in the 2nd half he was up and down big time if I recall correctly after getting off to a decent start as well. Of course, I don't pay attention as closely to the Bruins as you. But the reports are constantly saying Thomas was great one week, Thomas was brutal the next on TSN. Usually the guys there are pretty good about being able to read the numbers.

At the start of this season, when the ballot came out... I do not think anyone would say he deserved all star consideration with much of a straight face. Not in the same league as Carey Price, Martin Brodeur (noone in his league), Miller, Dipietro (health of course kills him), Lundquist, Cam Ward. That's six guys. This does not include even Mike Smith who has been the most outstanding goalie thus far this season in many people's minds. Nor does it have Vokoun, MA Fleury or Biron, who at the start of the season would be on anyone's depth chart ahead of Thomas.

Right now Thomas is hot. So if the ballot was out now, you put him on it. But it was not. And sooner rather than later, he won't be hot. Trust me. At best I would have Thomas as my 7th goalie on an eastern all star team if all guys are healthy. Probably 8th if you throw in Smith. Sorry...but why again is it a big deal that Thomas is not on the ballot? He is almost in the bottom half of starting eastern goalies on cred/history/ability going into this season.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:46 pm

Oh...and I forgot. Stempniak is no longer in St Louis. Off to Toronto for Steen and that other fat out of shape now ex-Laff Coliachovo. So...who wants to wager on Carlo starting to score goals like Wellwood in Vancouver?

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:48 pm

I guess it's going to come down to a matter of opinion. Like I said, I have yet to see him be "brutal" or "horrid" for a stretch. Usually, he was pulling games out of his rear to win games the team had no right winning. Maybe TSN considered him bad when he wasn't stealing games? I don't know.

BTW, Thomas did play in the ASG last year. It wouldn't have been such a stretch to see him get consideration again this year.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:49 pm

batdad wrote:Oh...and I forgot. Stempniak is no longer in St Louis. Off to Toronto for Steen and that other fat out of shape now ex-Laff Coliachovo. So...who wants to wager on Carlo starting to score goals like Wellwood in Vancouver?

Serious? Ugggh! I've got Stempniak on my fantasy team. There goes any production out of him!

Post by **batdad** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:52 pm

Serious

Stempniak-Stajan-Suckopov...what a line. Tons of points..when they play Tim Thomas.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:53 pm

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:12 pm

To get back to Weber, I suppose it is good (or bad if you want them to fail and move to Canada/Portland like I do) for the Nashville organisation to have him since they really don't have very much else going for them. Just a bunch of pretty uninteresting players in a city that doesn't care.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:16 pm

The Preds will move nowhere near Portland. Either one...Maine or Oregon. Maybe KC, Maybe Las Vegas, maybe southern ontario. But not Portland. Seattle is more likely than freaking Portland and their horrible horrible building. And Seattle has no hope.

No news On Luongo yet. MRI today, and maybe tomorrow will hear.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:37 pm

batdad wrote:The Preds will move nowhere near Portland. Either one...Maine or Oregon. Maybe KC, Maybe Las Vegas, maybe southern ontario. But not Portland. Seattle is more likely than freaking Portland and their horrible horrible building. And Seattle has no hope.

No news On Luongo yet. MRI today, and maybe tomorrow will hear.

Seattle lost their NBA team because of the city's refusal to build a modern arena so I doubt they would even be anywhere near the shortlist of potencial cities. The Oregon Portland has atleast been mentioned by the media as an outside canidate a few times and they do have some history of hockey unlike the other US cities that have been mentioned. They'd be good for the league from a logistical aspect, cut the travel distance in the Northwest division a bit.

KC is probably first on the shortlist with that newly built arena without any real users that they have, a team there might do well but they would face some stiff competition from the other sports. I can't say that I like the idea of moving a team to Vegas due to the nature of that city but I'm sure the NHL would love to be the first major league to get a franchise in that market.
It's a real shame that Buttman doesn't like Canada, moving a team there can't possibly fail unless the Canadian dollar starts dropping in value.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:46 pm

Re Seattle..that was my point. Portland has less of a chance than that. So that is how bad it is there. Plus they just got new ownership for the Junior team which has been horribly run for a few years now, and the situation in Portland for hockey has dropped from being decent to no fans. They have alot of work to do. Nor do they have the population to support a team. No way no how. It would be nice for the Western teams, but not going to happen. Sorry..just not. For a long long time.

Vegas--Could be a big big issue for the league in the long term. I think it is a mistake to go there. Gonna end up with soccer scandals if you do.

KC--Did not work before..will not work again.

Canada is the option. But it won't happen, especially now that the dollar has dropped off again. Buttman has another excuse not to do it.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:46 pm

Chicken soup? I don't get it?

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:33 pm

joehelmer wrote:
Franck wrote:Since I've posted this basically everywhere else I might aswell post it here
BRASS BONANZA!
So awesome!

Listened to it like 20 times so far tonight
Almost makes me wish they'd bring back the Whalers only for me to hear them enter to that song.
I listened a lot to it for about a year ago when someone posted it here on the forums.
And this should be in the CHICKEN SOUP/KITCHEN SINK thread, as it has nothing to do with 2008/2009.
But this thread has gone as off topic as it possibly could.

Posted it here because I didn't want to double post.

To try and get this back on track: Is anyone else going to watch any of the games tonight? Thinking about watching the Blues vs. Preds game myself. Unless I'll keep listening to Brass Bonanza all night that is.

selne · Post by **selne** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:52 pm

I really would like to watch the LAK-CGY match tonight, but it's just too late. Cammalleri is playing with the Flames against his former team and it made me think about why LA is still doesn't play up to their potential. I remember last season everyone agreed that this team has a lot of potential and the youth is underperforming and that with another year of experience this young team would mature and have the playoffs in sight this year. But again they seem to go nowhere this season.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:09 pm

selne wrote:I really would like to watch the LAK-CGY match tonight, but it's just too late. Cammalleri is playing with the Flames against his former team and it made me think about why LA is still doesn't play up to their potential. I remember last season everyone agreed that this team has a lot of potential and the youth is underperforming and that with another year of experience this young team would mature and have the playoffs in sight this year. But again they seem to go nowhere this season.

Their goaltending is dreadful. And they are actually doing better than last year.

Post by **getzlaf15** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:54 pm

And it looks like the Ersberg is now the starter's job, he's started the last 9. 10 in tonights game.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:10 am

That dirty bugger, Claude Lemieux, is attempting to make his way back into the NHL apparently.

Post by **batdad** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:20 am

Yep...Maybe Draper finally gets his revenge this year.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:36 am

batdad wrote:Yep...Maybe Draper finally gets his revenge this year.

Claude would just turtle up again tbfh.

Post by **getzlaf15** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:48 am

Stuffy St. Louis win in a shootout after taking just 17 shots the whole game. Nashville take 47 and lose it in a shootout.

There's no Justice. $:\$

Post by **batdad** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:52 am

Of course there is...Nashville still gets to go to the bar and listen to some great ol'fashioned country music. What do St Louis players get to do?

Besides, at least St Louis has a history of being a hockey town. Nashville, well they are just Nashville. All 47 Preds shots straight at Legace's chest. They get what they deserve.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:34 pm

batdad wrote:Of course there is...Nashville still gets to go to the bar and listen to some great ol'fashioned country music. What do St Louis players get to do?

Besides, at least St Louis has a history of being a hockey town. Nashville, well they are just Nashville. All 47 Preds shots straight at Legace's chest. They get what they deserve.

Go and eat St. Louis-style pizza? Or perhaps enjoy the beautiful midwestern women?

selne · Post by **selne** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:45 pm

Johan Franzén goal in the Wings-Habs match. Defensemen totally confused.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrfAvvq53ls

Post by **archibalduk** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 8:21 pm

Has anyone voted in the All-Star ballot? I, of course, voted Tim Thomas as my Eastern G. Surprisingly, he's fifth in the rankings - but a long way behind Price.

Post by **getzlaf15** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:03 pm

I'm totally shocked by the news from Toronto, they name Burke as their GM. SHOCKING!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3730783

Post by **archibalduk** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:30 pm

It's understandable why he's left the Ducks to move to the east. I don't know how the hell he managed to cope with commuting all that way on a regular basis.