The Official 2008-09 NHL Season Discussion Thread

Post by **CatchUp** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:10 am

Franck wrote:So Mats went for the money then?
I'm a little dissapointed that he did.

According to Mats, he went with the best fit. You can't really argue with what batdiddy has just laid down - the Canucks are a real threat. Especially, when Luongo gets healthy. People are going nuts here right now - I just saw a bunch of people cheering and high fiving at the grocery store when they announced over the store PA.

Post by **getzlaf15** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:15 am

They annouce Hockey Signings over the PA system...

That's cool, in our supermarkets, we just get, "Margaret to the cash desk, that's Margaret to the cash desk. Thank you."

Post by **batdad** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:15 am

Pfft...Anyone who says that is full of rubbish. There is not a person here who would not take $20 over $10...so Frank...don't give me that. It is hypocritical of you.

Tell me...same job, different city pays $50 more per day in city A than City B...cost of living the same (which it is not...more expensive in NYC for MAts)...which do you take?

Right...thought so...
Also, who says Mats thinks the Rags have a better chance? The media? The same guys who have been saying since July Mats would not sign in Vancouver? Yep..they sure know alot. Bunch of BS.

And the Canucks have been after him since day 1. Th Rangers...not so much. Maybe Mats wanted to be wanted/needed. Maybe...just maybe...Mats decided he wanted to make a team a contender, and NOT just go help out a contender (which by the way...the Rangers have not looked much like that for some time now.)

Love these guys who think they would take less money for principal. Bull. Especially if you only have a limited time to make that money...like as a hockey player.

Or...maybe the Rags could not make it work, and Mats had to go to his second choice. Big deal. Still the guy will play for this team, and even if not at his best will be a second line center for them...unlike well...do the Canucks have one without him?

Think before you write guys. Make sense, and stay true to what you would do, if you were lucky enough to be in a spot where you have a choice like Mats may, or may not have (Anyone ever think the Rangers never could and never did give him an offer???)

Post by **CatchUp** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:21 am

CatchUp wrote:
Franck wrote:So Mats went for the money then?
I'm a little dissapointed that he did.
According to Mats, he went with the best fit. You can't really argue with what batdiddy has just laid down - the Canucks are a real threat. Especially, when Luongo gets healthy. People are going nuts here right now - I just saw a bunch of people cheering and high fiving at the grocery store when they announced over the store PA.

Oh yeah - and the money.

What he said. ^^^

Post by **getzlaf15** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:27 am

I agree that the Canucks is the right move, i just don't see enough in the Rangers for them to win the Cup, which of course is what Sundin craves and more importantly deserves... And how were the Rags expecting to obtain Mats' $5 Million salary, they would never have been able to afford whatever it was without trading a making them on a par with the Canucks anyway.

I think money was the last thing on Mats' mind, maybe I'm wrong but Mats has made his money, he could go the whole year without being paid and he wouldn't be affected...

Also: $1 million in take-home salary, Whats that?

The Red Wings sure made a statement tonight, 6-0 thrashing of San Jose.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:06 am

batdad wrote:Pfft...Anyone who says that is full of rubbish. There is not a person here who would not take $20 over $10...so Frank...don't give me that. It is hypocritical of you.

Tell me...same job, different city pays $50 more per day in city A than City B...cost of living the same (which it is not...more expensive in NYC for MAts)...which do you take?

Right...thought so...
Also, who says Mats thinks the Rags have a better chance? The media? The same guys who have been saying since July Mats would not sign in Vancouver? Yep..they sure know alot. Bunch of BS.

And the Canucks have been after him since day 1. Th Rangers...not so much. Maybe Mats wanted to be wanted/needed. Maybe...just maybe...Mats decided he wanted to make a team a contender, and NOT just go help out a contender (which by the way...the Rangers have not looked much like that for some time now.)

Love these guys who think they would take less money for principal. Bull. Especially if you only have a limited time to make that money...like as a hockey player.

Or...maybe the Rags could not make it work, and Mats had to go to his second choice. Big deal. Still the guy will play for this team, and even if not at his best will be a second line center for them...unlike well...do the Canucks have one without him?

Think before you write guys. Make sense, and stay true to what you would do, if you were lucky enough to be in a spot where you have a choice like Mats may, or may not have (Anyone ever think the Rangers never could and never did give him an offer???)

That depends on the circumstances, if it is $10 for a punch in the face or $20 for a kick in the balls I'd take the $10.

I know I'd go for the city that I'd prefer living in, if I got offered jobs in Oslo and Stockholm where the Stockholm job pays more I'd still take the Olso job because I think Stockholm is a dump.

And do you really think cost of living is a big issue for a rich hockey player with no kids? He could just do what the rookies do and live with a team mate if he doesn't want to pay for a place to live.

Lots of guys in the NHL have taken cut wages to play for a Stanley Cup contender before, Sundin wouldn't have been the first. To be fair I doubt I'd even think about the wages if I was a 38-year-old hockey player without a Stanley Cup-ring, I'd just sign for the first contender that wants me, no matter the wages.

As for which team is more of a contender, the Canucks play in the same conference as a Sharks team that is on fire and what could almost be called a dynasty in the Red Wings while the Rangers are second in a fairly open Eastern despite playing some pretty horrid hockey.
I don't know how you think across the pond but in Europe winning despite playing poorly is considered to be what separates the champions from the rest.

Post by **batdad** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:25 am

Det 6 SJ 0...not exactly on fire of late.
Not sure what you are looking at...check the Rangers again. They have been brutal lately. Vancouver? Scoring lights out, one of the best d-cores in the league AND the best goalie....

And yes, they do look at cost of living. First and foremost they are hockey players. However, 2nd and almost as important they are businessmen.

And Oh..BTW...not 2nd choice...was the only choice. Rangers never gave him an offer.

So a punch in the face is the Rangers and a kick in the balls is the Canucks? Well... not sure how that relates ...may be one of the WORST analogies I have ever seen. Especially since the Rangers never made an offer.

And if you have ever been to Vancouver or New York...they are both beautiful cities.

And MAts is taking a cut in pay..he won't take the $ for next season the CAnucks offered him at this time. And he gets to I EMPHASIZE this...MAKE the Canucks a contender...instead of playing RW or 2nd line center in NY on a naff team.

Sharks and Wings have both said they now realize Vancouver is going to be a major challenge for them. So.....YOU may not accept the Canucks as a possible major player this season, but it seems the NHL teams they would have to beat do.

The Hutch · Post by **The Hutch** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:45 am

batdad wrote: Sharks and Wings have both said they now realize Vancouver is going to be a major challenge for them. So.....YOU may not accept the Canucks as a possible major player this season, but it seems the NHL teams they would have to beat do.

Pretty sure the same thing was said when they acquired Luongo...

Sundin's going to play great, and anything less would be disappointing to me as a long time fan of his. He's Captain Clutch, which is a trait that the Canucks have needed. It will be interesting to see where they slot him into the lineup, who gets his line, etc.

But will this really be a move that gets Vancouver over the hump and into the realm of contendership? The Sedins still have a rotating door on the wing. Sundin would be making a lot of money for a second line centre, unless they did decide to throw him on the wing with the twins. Otherwise, they couldn't even have a 1a/1b scenario because who else on the roster would qualify to have those kinds of minutes?

I'm not saying anything is absolute about whether this won't do as much for the Canucks as the hype is suggesting, but I think it's a bit premature to plan the parade, nevermind start sending a warning message to the Western Conference powerhouses.

Post by **batdad** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:06 pm

Actually....when Luongo came what was said was: If this team gets back to where they were 2 years ago, the Canucks would be a contender.

And I have not said it is absolute either. I have said, that if they stay healthy and the guys keep going the way they are, the addition of Mats and then the addition of someone at the trade deadline which they have tons of $$ left for will make this team a top level contender on paper with San Jose and Detroit. Sharks have looked horrid the last week or so a couple times, and Detroit? They need a goalie desperately.

None of the contenders are 100% set in what their final roster will look like. But the Canucks got a big jump on filling their weaknesses.

Oh and as for 1st line, 2nd line...this is not EHM. Noone except media and fans pay attention to the line # you are on. Coaches juggle lines all the time. They use pairs of players, not lines any more. Everywhere. Daniel and Henrik will feel alot of pressure off of them...occasionally the top checkers will not be out against them. BTW--Have you looked at who is in the top 5 in scoring in the NHL for December so far? Yeah...thought not.

Hossa-Datsyuk
Zetterberg-Holmostrom

Marleau-Thornton

Sedin-Sedin
Sundin-Demitra

Hemsky-Horcoff

All have rotational 3rds.

The Hutch · Post by **The Hutch** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:39 am

I graciously consider myself served, for the most part

I've been pretty stat lazy this month, working in the retail side of things during this month is lethal. I don't suggest it for anyone who has tried it.

Anyways, I didn't mean to put words in your mouth. Just had too much hateorade from too many people out here telling me that it guarantees a Cup. Things have definetly gotten a lot more interesting.

batdad wrote:Actually....when Luongo came what was said was: If this team gets back to where they were 2 years ago, the Canucks would be a contender.

And I have not said it is absolute either. I have said, that if they stay healthy and the guys keep going the way they are, the addition of Mats and then the addition of someone at the trade deadline which they have tons of $$ left for will make this team a top level contender on paper with San Jose and Detroit. Sharks have looked horrid the last week or so a couple times, and Detroit? They need a goalie desperately.

None of the contenders are 100% set in what their final roster will look like. But the Canucks got a big jump on filling their weaknesses.

Oh and as for 1st line, 2nd line...this is not EHM. Noone except media and fans pay attention to the line # you are on. Coaches juggle lines all the time. They use pairs of players, not lines any more. Everywhere. Daniel and Henrik will feel alot of pressure off of them...occasionally the top checkers will not be out against them. BTW--Have you looked at who is in the top 5 in scoring in the NHL for December so far? Yeah...thought not.

Hossa-Datsyuk
Zetterberg-Holmostrom

Marleau-Thornton

Sedin-Sedin
Sundin-Demitra

Hemsky-Horcoff

All have rotational 3rds.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:43 am

darn, the economy in Michigan must be really bad now, watching the Wings play the Hawks right now and there's lots of empty seats in the Joe.

Looks like the Hawks win streak is over right now

The Hutch · Post by **The Hutch** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:57 am

I hope not, I didn't get to do my fantasy lines for today. Turns out all three goalies (Price, Khabibulin, Conklin) were all playing, but I would have dressed Conklin over the 'Bulin wall

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:47 pm

And Versteeg becomes the first person to score a goal at Wrigley Field! \o/

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:57 pm

Franck wrote:And Versteeg becomes the first person to score a goal at Wrigley Field! \o/

Unfortunately for Chi-town, he wasn't the last

***Edit*** 6-4 Detroit Win in the 2009 Winter Classic

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:18 pm

It started so well

That bad second period by the Hawks did it for Detroit I'd say, there was just no way that they would have been able to turn that around.

Post by **batdad** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:23 pm

The kids are learning. The last two games had alot of lessons for them. More to come, but they will have got alot out of losing the last 2 to the Dead Things.

Also, Patrick Kane looked pretty sore out there today. No real jump. Ben Eager and Marty Havlat were the two best HAwks on the ice. Who was that Eager guy?

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:26 pm

I suppose that injury Kane picked up in the last game against the Wings put him out of his game.

How many shifts did Chelios get btw? 2?

Post by **batdad** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:41 am

No KAne played...just really did not look himself skating out there. Really favored his right leg.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:57 am

Batdad, I said Kane was out of his game (as in not playing at his usual level) not out of the game.

gibson41 · Post by **gibson41** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:33 am

I watched the game at my friend's house, pretty good game, much better than last year's Winter Classic. A lot of goals, a lot of action. We both guessed Chicago as the winner, oh well

. The jerseys were lovely, especially coaches' jackets, really oldschool!

BTW, I might be a bit out of picture here, but anyone knows when will Sundin start playing?

Post by **batdad** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:43 pm

Franc---Aah, I see. I saw the out and read it as "out of game". Oops, wow I made a mistake. That is rare...

. Normally I guess in English for what you were trying to say it would be "Kane was off of his game because of the injury"..not out. But yeah, now I read it again and get it.

Sundin--SHould be around Jan 7 or so. Whenver the Nucks get back from this trip with Nash and Atl. I think they play the 7th and 8th and talk was one of those days, but maybe not til the next week.

Lakrisal · Post by **Lakrisal** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:00 pm

So what do you guys think about the LaBarbera trade?

Why would Canucks want him? Is Luongo's injury worse than expected? Is Sanford being traded? Will he resign with them as his contract expires after this season? ... ah the questions

Well I think Mats may have selected a team that has a better chance of reaching the finals, considering the fact that Rangers would have to trade away a couple of players just to fit his salary, + the defense is quite horrible in Rangers... sadly enough

I still dont see Nucks a contender without Luongo though, and LaBarbera? meh, dont like him at all even though he had a good first game

Post by **batdad** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:43 pm

SAnford has a groin injury. So that left Van with Schneider....and nothing. The Nucks knew about the injury in the morning before the agme vs PHilly, so worked on a deal and got it done.

Luongo is skating again, and is still week to week because they are being very careful. Some say after all star break, which is not that far away now.

The Hutch · Post by **The Hutch** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:57 pm

100th anniversary or not, the NHL needs to remedy the voting structure for the All-Star game. I don't know what their M.O. is, but to encourage a system that would allow MIKE F'N KOMISAREK to make the starting lineup is depressing.

I know, the All-Star game is bollocks and meaningless. But things like this are precisely why that is the case, and the game itself could be made more interesting and a viewable commodity if the process was re-structured.

Post by **batdad** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:20 am

Internet voting, vote as much as you want. All about the number of hits to the site.