NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

[Gertner]

Season starts tomorrow. Thought I'd start this bitch off with some award predictions.

Eastern Conference Champs: Buffalo Sabres
Western Conference Champs: Chicago Blackhawks
Stanley Cup: Buffalo Sabres
Hart: Steve Stamkos
Art Ross: Henrik Sedin
Norris: Shea Weber
Maurice Richard: Steve Stamkos
Calder: Adam Larsson
Vezina: Ryan Miller
Selke: Pavel Datsyuk
Lady Byng: Marty St. Louis
Jack Adams: Lindy Ruff
First Coach to get fired: Scott Arniel

[Hanso Amore]

Tim Connolly to the IR already

[Gertner]

That's odd, he never gets hurt.

[Champion of Europa]

My predictions:

Eastern Conference Champs: Penguins
Western Conference Champs: Sharks
Stanley Cup: Sharks
Hart: Malkin
Maurice Richard: Stamkos
Norris: Shea Weber
Calder: Brayden Schenn
Vezina: Pekka Rinne
Selke: Pavel Datsyuk
Jack Adams: Trotz

[weather vane]

Defending the Title starts tonight! WOOOO!

[Droford]

The capitals will have like, 110 points and lose in the first round like they always do.

Wish you could just skip through all the regular season and get it over with.

[Arashi Kage]

First Coach's Corner of the season coming up next!!!!!!!

HOCKEY NIGHT IN F'N CANADA!!!!! :y:

[Londoner]

WOOO Boston 1-0 up.

[Londoner]

2-1 philly right at the end of the 1st period

[Emperor Smeat]

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/7184/60655648.jpg

:D

People on ESPN's board for the game were complaining and trolling how long the ceremony lasted while forgetting it was due to the NHL wanting the whole ceremony shown nationally and not just on the local NESN channel.


Bruins still seem to have a problem with closing out periods but it is too early to see if its due to new season rust or a season-long problem.

[El Fangel]

Fuck.

[Corndad]

James Freakin Neal.

[El Fangel]

6 weeks Gertie, you pick the avatar.

[Champion of Europa]

Malkin's patience on that shootout goal was sick. Loved that. Fleury made some great saves, but also gave up that terrible goal.

Also, Optimus Reim. What up.

[Mr. JL]

Tim Connolly to the IR already

Surprising :shifty:

[Champion of Europa]

Voukun not starting tonight. Yeesh.

[Gertner]

OPTIMUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS REIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FA, throw an Optimus Reim avatar on there. It's a picture of Reimer's mask with Optimus Reim under it. Shouldn't be hard to find.

[Champion of Europa]

Buffalo played expectedly well against a seemingly sluggish Anaheim. Vanek is going to have a big year, I can feel it. He's got the right pieces around him.

Richards was great in his debut with the Kings.

[Hanso Amore]

Tyler Ennis - 20 Goal Scorer coming off a great rookie year - expected to score 25-30 this year

Ville Leino - coming off a 53 point season

Brad Boyes - Scored 40 goals several times

That is the Sabres 3rd line....FUCKING 3rd line should push 60 goals and 150 total points.

[weather vane]

Yeah Buffalo looks nasty...

[weather vane]

Voukun not starting tonight. Yeesh.

huh?

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Sens losing. Picking up where they left off then.

[Gertner]

They have some nice young players, but Anderson is gonna have to stand on his head this year.

[RP]

Let's go Hawks!

[RP]

Interested in seeing Saad tonight.

[Champion of Europa]

huh?

I meant today. Voukun was confirmed to not be starting in net.

[Champion of Europa]

Also, Predators FTW.

[Gertner]

No Carcillo for Chicago. That's disappointing.

[Gertner]

Nevermind. Forgot that he's suspended.

[Hanso Amore]

Luke Adam looking like a boss on the top line.

[Champion of Europa]

Predators 2-0! Boom.

Legwand, Wilson, and Smith played out of their minds when the Preds were lacking energy. I'm glad that line stepped up with Erat out, because without him the Preds need all the offense they can get.

[Emperor Smeat]

:D Bruins played much better today against the Lightning for the win while the experts weren't joking in saying Tampa was going to rest Roloson a lot this season with his 1st game off being today.

Seguin has been amazing so far with 3 assists in 2 games.

:eek: Leafs almost blew the game in the 3rd after leading 4-0 earlier against the Sens.

[Champion of Europa]

Every aspect of the Sharks game is fantastic right now, except for their penalty kill. It's like they go retarded for two minutes at a time.

[Londoner]

Love watching streams of hockey games and the fact they seem to be on every fucking day, can watch Boston/Anaheim and Kings(decided on following all of them, couldn't pick one but then i don't live in the US or canada) when i wish now, wish i could've done this last season. Going to be a fun season for me. :y:

[El Fangel]

Holy fucking Jeff Skinner.

[El Fangel]

OPTIMUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS REIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FA, throw an Optimus Reim avatar on there. It's a picture of Reimer's mask with Optimus Reim under it. Shouldn't be hard to find.

Missed this. Its up now, so 6 weeks from now.

[Hanso Amore]

I hate the leafs, but that would make a killer shirt. Fucking AWESOME.

[Gertner]

Phill the Thrill KESSSSSSSSSSEL!

[Londoner]

Did not expect Bruins to get beat by Colorado. At home.

[El Fangel]

Phill the Thrill KESSSSSSSSSSEL!

Congrats on having a shootout with the worst team in the league.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Did not expect Bruins to get beat by Colorado. At home.

Not in much of a position to laugh right now, but :lol:.

[Londoner]

Only the start of the season. :) Laugh while yer can.

[Emperor Smeat]

Yeah most experts and even NESN thinks the team won't really get focused until at least the 1st road trip similar to the past few years (not counting last year starting in Europe).

Rask looked good though and hopefully won't revert back to last year's suckage since he is currently the future goalie for the team.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Good match in Washington right now, every time the Bolts go ahead, the Caps equalise.

[Gertner]

Congrats on having a shootout with the worst team in the league.

They scored 5, Habs scored 0.

Everybody is jealous of the best.

[Londoner]

Everybody is jealous of the best.

As Mike has clearly shown in this thread. ;)

[parkmania]

So, because it's Cooke that was the wronged player, Sarich gets no suspension for a hit to the head - something that the NHL said it was going to police more?

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CP8NVlPBKMw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Shanny's on the Campbell plan apparently.

[Gertner]

Shanny is ruining the league.


woohoo 18,000 posts.

[El Fangel]

Nice try Cory, you almost got him.

[Gertner]

Cooke is amazing. I still wish Avery was on the Leafs.

[weather vane]

fuck Matt Cooke

[El Fangel]

There is nothing I would love more then to see Cooke take a Chara slapshot to the throat.

[Gertner]

Matt Cooke is tougher than the combined Montreal Canadians

[El Fangel]

*Canadiens.

[Gertner]

Irrelevant spelling for an irrelevant team. Call me when you're undefeated like my Leafs who are on pace to go 82-0.

[El Fangel]

Oh yes, 2-0 means a first place finish.

[parkmania]

4 games in, and Cooke has 3 goals and 2 penalty minutes (an interference minor). So far I'd call the effort to change his game a success. We'll see how he does over the full 82.

[Kapoutman]

I like how Fallen Angel falls so easily for Gertner's thrash talk.

[Champion of Europa]

Flyers 3-0.
Predators 2-0.

My teams are on it.

[SammyG]

Having over one team is retarded. Having said that, go Kings.

[Londoner]

It isn't if you can't decide who you like more. Makes games more interesting. Wouldn't do this for football though mind you. or any sport over here.

[Gertner]

Having more than 1 team goes against sports fan code.

[Hanso Amore]

You can have just one team per sport.

You can enjoy other teams, even like them ,but you cant refer to them as "your Team".

The Sabres are my team.

That said, I enjoy watching the ducks because Ryan Getzlaf is a God Among men.

[Gertner]

I enjoy watching the Capitals. that being said, I do not own any other teams merchandise in any sports besides my favourite teams.

[Londoner]

You can have just one team per sport.

You can enjoy other teams, even like them ,but you cant refer to them as "your Team".

The Sabres are my team.

That said, I enjoy watching the ducks because Ryan Getzlaf is a God Among men.

Yeah agreed.

[Battlekat]

Sidney Crosby cleared for contact. Should be an awesome season for us, especially when Orpik also gets back on the ice.

[Champion of Europa]

If it comes down to it, I prefer Nashville. Living in a state with no team makes things complicated.

[OssMan]

Please tell me Crosby is playing tonight

[LoDownM]

Probably not.

[SammyG]

Would lol if Crosby was knocked out again in his first game back

[OssMan]

Phil Kessel is American? Why didn't he play for the Olympic team? Or did he?

[LoDownM]

He did play on the Olympic team.

Kessel plays for the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_men%27s_national_ice_hockey_team) in:


2004 IIHF World U18 Championships (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_IIHF_World_U18_Championships) (All-Star Team)
2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_World_Junior_Ice_Hockey_Championships)
2005 IIHF World U18 Championships (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_IIHF_World_U18_Championships) (Best Forward, All-Star Team, Leading Scorer)
2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_World_Junior_Ice_Hockey_Championships) (Leading Scorer)
2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Men%27s_World_Ice_Hockey_Championships)
2007 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Men%27s_World_Ice_Hockey_Championships)
2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Men%27s_World_Ice_Hockey_Championships)
2010 Winter Olympics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_2010_Winter_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_tournament)

[Gertner]

I hope Crosby gets destroyed with a headshot.

[parkmania]

I hope Crosby gets destroyed with a headshot.

It's apparent you've taken one too many headshots.

Like him or not, he is the face of the NHL to the casual and non-fan. He does a GREAT job being that ambassador - he's never around any sort of trouble, always good with the media, doesn't come across as a douche, and isn't a bad looking man.

If he's not it, who is?

[Gertner]

I'm just being an ass, although this non stop attention and coddling of him is ridiculous. Roenick was dead on with his statements.

[El Fangel]

I'm just being an ass, although this non stop attention and coddling of him is ridiculous. Roenick was dead on with his statements.

I agree with Gertner and that doesn't happen often.

I live in Dartmouth, NS. 5 Mins from where he grew up and I struggle to remember reading ONE NHL article since January that did not mention him in some way.

I mean sure, report on him. Thats fine. Having him stuffed down our throats just makes me and likely a few others dislike him alot.

[El Fangel]

The following is a list of the media articles related to him since his injury. I claim no ownership of this whatsoever, it remains put together by Katie Baker.


January

January 1: With a few seconds remaining in the second period of the Winter Classic and the Capitals up 2-1, Washington's David Steckel collides with the back of Crosby's head in the Penguins' offensive zone. Crosby, who never saw it coming and wouldn't learn until after the game who had even hit him, goes down hard, gets up wobbly, and glides unsteadily to the bench for intermission with his head bent low (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUQziwabMKk). After the game he denies being hurt by the play (http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/02/winter-classic-post-game-reactions-to-washingtons-3-1-win-over-pittsburgh/) and says it's barely worth talking about, but says that Steckel "got my head, that's for sure."
January 3: With 4.5 million viewers, the Winter Classic is deemed the most-watched NHL regular-season game (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/sports/hockey/04classic.html) since 1975.
January 4: After viewing tape of the play, Crosby has harsher words about the hit (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_716481.html). "How tall is Steckel?" he asks. "I find it hard to believe that his shoulder hit me in the head … at 6-foot-5 … by accident." His teammates agree, calling it a "dirty" play. (The league declines to discipline Steckel, and Sports Illustrated's Stu Hackel writes that "fair or not, Sidney Crosby's unfortunate reputation as a whiner won't be fading (http://nhl-red-light.si.com/2011/01/04/crosbys-whine-is-hard-to-swallow/) anytime soon.") Crosby is named the NHL's First Star (http://fromthepoint.com/penguins/sidney-crosby-named-first-star-for-the-month-of-december) for the month of December. The final All-Star votes are tallied (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=548364): With 635,509 votes, Crosby leads all NHL players by a factor of more than 150,000 votes.
January 5: Crosby is driven into the boards from behind by the Tampa Bay Lightning's Victor Hedman on what appears to be a routine play (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3mrw2eWLOo). (Hedman will later shrug that he barely even remembers it (http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/content/tampa-bay-lightning-d-victor-hedman-crosby-injury-and-check-downies-eye).) Crosby finishes the game.
January 6: Crosby is scratched from the team's next game against the Montreal Canadiens with an "upper body injury." Coach Dan Bylsma confirms that Crosby has a "mild concussion," but says that the injury was suffered specifically against Tampa and he would not have played in the game if he had suffered a concussion on the Winter Classic hit. Sportsnet's John Shannon, however, writes that "sources confirm that Crosby was indeed concussed (http://twitter.com/#%21/JSportsnet/status/23228061184958466)" on the Steckel hit.
January 17: David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail writes that Crosby is considering skipping the All-Star Game to protest the league's lax treatment of head shots and dirty plays. "The word filtering out of the Pittsburgh Penguins is that Crosby is an angry young man, angry enough to pull his considerable star presence from one of the league's showcase events because he does not think the NHL is doing enough to protect its players," he writes (http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Report-Sidney-Crosby-considers-skipping-All-Sta?urn=nhl-308838).
January 18: Crosby refutes the story (http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=549734), calling it "not even close" to accurate.
January 24: The Penguins announce that Crosby will not be attending the All-Star Game (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/allstar2011/news/story?id=6053814) and will instead "continue to relax and recuperate in hopes of returning to our lineup soon." Crosby calls the time off "brutal." "People say mild concussion, but I don't think there really is such a thing," he adds (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_719648.html).
January 29: Crosby is cleared to begin off-ice workouts (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6071284).
February

February 8: Sources suggest that Crosby will not resume activity for at least a week, and that he may not return to action until March. Penguins GM Ray Shero says that "nothing has changed," (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_721841.html) but Sportsnet's Mike Brophy causes a stir on Twitter (http://twitter.com/#%21/sportsnetbroph/status/35074621564784640) when he writes: "Told Crosby tried light workout and immediately saw black dots and stars. Not even close to starting light workouts again." Pittsburgh officials call the story (http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/pro-sports/penguins-plus/107970-call-off-the-panic-part-ii) "all " and "NOT TRUE straight from Sidney."
[B]February 10: Crosby returns to Pittsburgh after a doctor-ordered vacation to an "undisclosed warm-weather location" and is ribbed by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Rossi about his skin tone, which Rossi describes as "not quite tanned but slightly warmer in tone." (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_722654.html) Crosby says that he didn't want to stay out in the sun too long and risk more headaches. Of his recovery, he reiterates that "there's no time frame." He cracks a smile when discussing the trendy rumors that he is secretly battling a tumor on his spine. "That would be a bad year," he says.
February 14: Following a chaotic, brawling Penguins-Islanders game in which 346 penalty minutes are assessed, Penguins team owner Mario Lemieux releases a withering statement (http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=552602). "We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players," he writes. "We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action. If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to rethink whether I want to be a part of it." Many commentators are quick to point out the hypocrisy in Mario's statement, given that one of his own guys, Matt Cooke, is known as one of the league's fiercest and dirtiest players.
February 16: Pittsburgh radio personality Mark Madden writes on his blog that people within the organization are split (http://www.1059thex.com/pages/supergenius.html/?article=8182736) on Sidney's eventual return. "Penguins hockey ops wants Crosby to play again if reasonable opportunity beckons. The business side of the operation is leaning toward concluding that bringing Crosby back this campaign would constitute risk beyond potential reward. Protect the long-term investment at the expense of the current season." Later that night, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski is checked from behind into the boards, crumples onto the ice, has to be revived with smelling salts — and then returns to the game to score the winning goal (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_723782.html).
February 24: ESPN Boston's James Murphy tweets out a radio report from the Globe and Mail's Stephen Brunt that he is hearing "whispers" that Crosby will not return (http://twitter.com/#%21/MurphysLaw74/statuses/40874447741263872) this season.
February 28: Pat LaFontaine, whose own brilliant career was significantly shortened by a series of debilitating concussions, speaks out about the league's concussion problem. "This thing is running us over and we're not stopping it," LaFontaine tells Sporting News. "Players are continually having to retire because of head injuries. You have to put a stop to it. God forbid if it's Sidney Crosby next. (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/feed/2011-02/crosbys-concussion/story/sidney-crosbys-concussion-could-be-the-one-that-changes-everything)"
March

March 2: Dan Bylsma tells reporters that Crosby is still feeling symptomatic (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6175020) and that while the team hopes he will return to "100 percent health sometime this spring," he "can't give you any kind of date on it."
March 8: Elsewhere in the league, a devastating hit by the Bruins' Zdeno Chara on Montreal's Max Pacioretty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jimZ1tSdPY0) breaks Pacioretty's neck.
March 11: FAN 590 radio personality Bob McCown claims that Sidney Crosby's family is urging him to retire. Both Crosby's father, Troy, and Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, deny this. "We're just trying to get him healthy again. However long that takes, that's how long it's going to take," says Troy, while Brisson adds that (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6210960) "he's progressing, but there is no timetable."
March 14: For the first time since January, Crosby gets back on the ice for a light skate, his first of three in three days. (The team releases exclusive video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE2Mb2URuM8) of his short workout" as if he were a hostage they needed to prove was still alive and well," as the Toronto Star's Brendan Kennedy will later write (http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/962123--sidney-crosby-i-feel-good).) He describes himself as symptom-free for several days, and gives a quick "no" (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6215269) when asked if he'd considered retiring. Meanwhile, the league announces a new concussion protocol (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/sports/hockey/15meetings.html?ref=fb) agreed upon at the annual GM meeting: Any player suspected of a possible concussion will be evaluated by a doctor not out on the bench, but rather in a private, quiet room.
March 21: Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke elbows the Rangers' Ryan McDonagh in the jaw. Don Cherry blasts him as a "little rat with a visor" (http://www.nesn.com/2011/03/don-cherry-calls-mario-lemieux-one-of-the-biggest-phonies-happy-matt-cooke-got-his-comeuppance.html) and calls owner Mario Lemieux "one of the biggest phonies I've ever seen." Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma has harsh words for his own player (http://www.pensburgh.com/2011/3/21/2062885/matt-cookes-hit-on-ryan-mcdonagh-dan-bylsmas-thoughts).
March 24: Cooke is suspended by the league for the remaining 10 games of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6244492). Cooke vows to change, and owner Ray Shero says that the team is committed to trying to help Cooke follow through on his intentions rather than cutting him loose.
March 25: Crosby dazzles in his sixth on-ice workout since March 14, knocking a water bottle off the top of the net with a backhand. "It's stronger than my forehand," teammate Maxime Talbot jokes with trainers before yelling at Crosby (http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/962123--sidney-crosby-i-feel-good): "C'mon champ, you're fine."
March 27: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that a return "doesn't appear to be far off" and that "those associated with the Penguins are expecting to hear 'Crosby is cleared' sometime soon (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_729432.html) from a team physician."
March 29: "According to a report released by the Pittsburgh Penguins organization Monday, star forward Sidney Crosby, who suffered a severe concussion last January, fatally succumbed to intracranial complications Monday at the age of 23 and is expected to make his first start in nearly three months tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers," writes the Onion (http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/report-sidney-crosby-dead-of-intracranial-bleeding,19835/) in a report that is just about as accurate as any of the rest in this timeline.
March 31: For the first time, Crosby skates with the rest of his team (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2011-03-31/sidney-crosbys-practice-with-team-a-milestone-in-recovery) in a no-contact morning skate. His teammates say they have no doubt he'll make a full return. "We're talking about Sid," says goalie Marc-Andre Fleury with a smile (http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=nc-cotsonika-threeperiods_how_good_can_sidney_crosby_be033111).
April

April 3: Sidney Crosby participates in his third practice in as many days with no symptoms (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2011-04-03/sidney-crosby-three-practices-in-three-days). The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ron Cook pens a bizarre column that begins (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11093/1136400-87.stm), "Heard all of the reasons Penguins star Sidney Crosby shouldn't play again this season. Not buying a single one."
April 8: ESPN.com's Johnette Howard, on the other hand, implores the Penguins not to let Crosby return this season (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=6304561). "The Penguins should fight everything the culture of hockey suggests," she writes, before quoting no less an expert than former Flyers star Keith Primeau, whose career was ultimately ended due to concussions and who still regularly suffers from symptoms. "I couldn't say it for myself at the time, but I can now, and I told Sidney's agent this — it's just not worth it," Primeau says.
April 10: The 2010-11 regular season ends. Despite missing 41 games — a full half-season — Crosby nevertheless leads the Penguins (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11101/1138496-61.stm) in power-play goals (10), total goals (32), and total points (66) for the year.
April 13: The Penguins prepare for Game 1 of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher tells the media (http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/content/tampa-bay-lightning-coach-guy-boucher-insists-sidney-crosby-will-play-does-he-mean-today) that his team is operating under the assumption that Crosby will be on the ice. "He'll play. That's how we're approaching this," he said. "He's a warrior. I saw the gleam in his eyes."
April 16: With the series tied at 1-1 and nothing but silence from Crosby and the team regarding his status, Toronto Sun columnist Rob Longley wonders (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2011/04/16/18019251.html): "Could the official silence from the club be a playoff ruse and Crosby be much closer than most believe?"
April 17: Hockey Night in Canada's Cassie Campbell tweets (http://twitter.com/#%21/CassieCampbell/status/59735783145340928), "No Crosby at pitts morning skate … at hotel SPECULATION is he was seeing doctors … wait and c … I still have hunch we'll c him back!"
April 19: Crosby is absent from practice for the third day in a row. Rob Rossi reports that (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_732829.html) "Crosby's confidants stressed that his absence … is not a sign that concussion symptoms, specifically headaches, have returned." The NHL announces that it has signed a blockbuster 10-year, $2 billion deal (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6389351) with NBC Sports. It is an enormous coup for the league, which only five years ago had to all but beg NBC to show their games for free. The Winter Classic is widely praised as contributing to hockey's turnaround.
April 22: With the Penguins up 3-1 in the series, Dan Bylsma tells the media that there is no timetable on Crosby's return, and the Penguins emphasize that "he is not getting ready for next fall's training camp and he is not being used as a decoy (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2011-04-22/sidney-crosbys-timetable-remains-the-same-theres-isnt-one). Nobody knows when the next step will come."
April 28: The Tampa Bay Lightning defeat a still-Crosby-less Pittsburgh team 1-0 in Game 7 to eliminate the Pens from the playoffs. (Tampa goaltender Dwayne Roloson, asked if he ever thought he'd win a Game 7 in a shutout, fires back (http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/article1166504.ece): "Do you ever go in there writing an article and figure you're going to win a Nobel Peace Prize?")
April 29: Crosby admits to NHL.com that his symptoms had returned (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=561485) as he attempted to get back in shape. "I started trying to ramp things up a bit … I had a setback, all the stuff [headaches] that goes along with it." He adds that he may never know if he was actually concussed in the Winter Classic or not, and says that he will accept nothing less than a complete return. "I can't play different. I only know one way to play. I'm not going to change my game or anything like that. I have to play the same way. The reason you make sure you're recovered is so you can do that. If not, you put yourself in a pretty bad situation." Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero downplays the return of Crosby's symptoms. "The great news is that he's got all kinds of time on his side right now," Shero said. "Dr. [Michael] Collins expects a full recovery. It's just a matter of time with this injury."
May

May 5: ESPN's Howard Bryant writes about the tricky position that the NHL finds itself in (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=bryant/110505) with respect to violence and concussions. "A tension has always existed on the ice between hockey's rough and rugged lawlessness and the beauty of its athletes' skills. … The NHL has simply never quite been comfortable deciding what it wants to be, and has never quite concluded that the sport is strong enough, even among its core, to lose the constituency of fans who are drawn to its frontier justice."
May 12: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Sidney Crosby has not resumed working out since April because he hasn't yet been cleared by medical staff (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11132/1146117-100.stm).
May 17: Photos of Sidney Crosby posing with Jamie-Lynn Sigler in Cannes (http://www.sportressofblogitude.com/2011/05/17/sidney-crosby-and-some-penguins-teammates-were-at-the-cannes-film-festival/) along with teammates Paul Martin and Jordan Staal clear up exactly why he hasn't been cleared by team staff: He's been on vacation.
May 28: Crosby is expected to be evaluated by team concussion specialist (http://post-gazette.com/pg/11148/1149969-61.stm) Michael Collins.
June

June 2: Crosby is cleared to begin summer workouts. "I don't want to look too far ahead, or whatever," Penguins GM Ray Shero says (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11154/1151029-61-0.stm), "but there's no reason for me to expect him not to be [ready in time for training camp], put it that way."
June 3: Former NHL player and coach Mario Tremblay says on a Montreal network that the January concussions were not the first suffered by Crosby in his career, alleging that during his time in the Quebec junior hockey league Crosby was concussed twice in the span of two years (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/320697.html&ei=m2WDTs7GF8rRiALpmeyYDQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CFsQ7gEwBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmario%2Btremblay%2Bjune%2B3%2Bsidney%2Bcrosby%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DX5e%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1237%26bih%3D1169%26prmd%3Dimvnso).
June 4: Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, strikes back at Tremblay (http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/8902/weekend-wrap-relocation-talks-brad-richards-value-and-sidney-crosbys-health). "It is very disturbing and disappointing to me when someone from the media and especially an ex-player brings such baseless comments toward the medical status of [a] player," he says. "Unless a report comes from the medical staff and or an official voice for the player, it's of no merit whatsoever."
June 8: The NHL's board of governors proposes a broader interpretation of Rule 48, (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6642328) the no-blindside-hits-to-the-head rule that was created after Matt Cooke leveled the Bruins' Marc Savard with an elbow to the head, causing a concussion from which Savard has yet to recover. The new interpretation removes the word "blindside" but does not go so far as to ban head-area contact altogether.
June 9: Crosby's former coach in the Quebec league, Doris Labonte, insists that "there was nothing hidden and nothing to hide. There were no serious injuries that were not treated. (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2011-06-09/former-coach-sidney-crosby-was-healthy-in-juniors-penguins) Sidney was a darling in Rimouski."
June 21: For the sixth straight season, representing each of his years in the league, Crosby's jersey is the NHL's best-seller (http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/6/21/2235808/sidney-crosby-leads-nhl-in-jersey-sales). The board of governors approves the proposed Rule 48 rule change (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=566579), and also broadens the scope of Rule 41, which covers boarding penalties.
June 23: For leading the Penguins to the playoffs despite losing both Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for most of the season, Dan Bylsma is awarded the Jack Adams Award for the NHL Coach of the Year. Crosby does not attend the NHL Awards ceremony.
June 27: Bylsma says that Crosby has "been working out two times a day and progressing along his normal road of summer activity (http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=567426)."
July

July 15: Crosby resumes on-ice workouts. (Once again, video is released (http://www.pensburgh.com/2011/7/25/2292634/sidney-crosby-practicing-in-nova-scotia-the-best-part-of-this-video) as if to prove it.) Reports that he had experienced a return of concussion symptoms back in April are downplayed by his "confidants," according to Rob Rossi, who quotes them as believing that "those headaches were the result of a sinus infection (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_746831.html) and not a recurrence of concussion symptoms." Team GM Ray Shero sounds optimistic (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2011-07-15/penguins-gm-ray-shero-sidney-crosby-is-skating) during a player development camp. "Everything has gone well," he says. "There are no red flags."
August

August 7: Sidney Crosby turns 24 years old.
August 13: USA Today reports that (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2011-08-11-matthew-lombardi-injured-players_n.htm) "the word is that [Crosby] is training and planning as if he will be ready for the start of training camp. The NHL brings its stars to New York for media interviews every September, and Crosby is planning to be there."
August 14: Sirius NHL Home Ice producer Josh Rimer writes on Twitter (http://twitter.com/#%21/JoshRimerHockey/status/102763160280367104) that he is hearing from three sources that Crosby won't be ready to start the season. "I hope it's not true because the NHL needs its best players!" he adds.
August 15: Penguins GM Ray Shero responds to rumors that Crosby has had new setbacks (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2011-08-15/possibility-that-pittsburgh-penguins-sidney-crosby-misses-start-of-season-a-real) by saying that "there is no expectation from me that he won't be ready or he will be ready. … I don't have September 16 on my calendar for him … or whenever our opening date is."
August 18: Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Joe Starkey that "Sidney progressed a lot this summer. As Ray mentioned, he had occasional symptoms here and there." Starkey writes: "I don't mean to be alarmist, but how can one not be alarmed at events of the past week?"
August 22: Apparently based on rumors that Crosby had canceled scheduled ice time in Halifax, a report from Canadian TV channel CTV Atlantic says Crosby had to "shut down" his on-ice training (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2011-08-22/pittsburgh-penguins-captain-sidney-crosby-reportedly-has-rehab-setback-return-fo) due to a new "setback." Brisson denies this, saying only that (http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/6885998/agent-says-pittsburgh-penguins-star-sidney-crosby-not-suffered-setback) "Sidney hasn't been shut down by anyone, he's just adjusted his summer program to address the different needs for his recovery."
August 23: Toronto Star columnist Cathal Kelly calls for Crosby to retire immediately (http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1043394--kelly-why-sidney-crosby-should-retire-now): "His trophy case is full. He has a championship ring and an Olympic gold medal. He's been league MVP, leading scorer and the consensus best player in the game. He's only 24 and his hall-of-fame bonafides are beyond questioning. His material needs are settled for a dozen lifetimes." The Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos, another of the league's most exciting young talents, offers up his opinion of Crosby's potentially prolonged absence (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/08/23/sp-stamkos-crosby.html): "We need him. He's the face of the NHL. It would obviously take away from our game not having him in the lineup, so hopefully everything goes well."
August 24: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Dejan Kovacevic calls Crosby's ongoing silence "indefensible," (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_753024.html#ixzz1VyZ) alleging that he is keeping even his coach and GM in the dark about his recovery. Later that evening the Penguins post a statement on their website (http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=587347&navid=DL%7CPIT%7Chome) that Crosby did indeed experience new symptoms upon reaching 90 percent exertion in his training, and that he has visited leading concussion specialists in both Michigan and Georgia. "Their conclusion is that he will make a full recovery — it just takes time," the statement says.
August 25: The CBC's Elliotte Friedman brings up the promising example of the Boston Bruins' Patrice Bergeron (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/elliottefriedman/2011/08/bergeron-crosby-recovery.html), who was sidelined for nearly the entire 2007-08 season and for part of the next with a serious concussion but went on to recover, return, and play a huge role in the Bruins' Stanley Cup win. (He does not mention Bergeron's teammate Marc Savard, whose own brilliant career is widely assumed to be all but over due to the concussion he suffered at the elbow of Crosby's teammate Matt Cooke.)
August 27: "The silence of Sidney Crosby speaks volumes about his much-speculated-about condition," writes the Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons (http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/27/simmons-sids-silence-ominous).
August 29: "Right now Crosby is one of the best hockey players in the world," Alex Ovechkin says (http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Chatting-with-Alex-Ovechkin-about-Sidney-Crosby-?urn=nhl-wp11318). "If he leaves, it will be a huge loss for people and for the sport in general. I will be very upset."
September

September 7: Surrounded by Penguins GM Ray Shero and two of his doctors, Michael Collins and Ted Carrick, Crosby holds a press conference at Pittsburgh's CONSOL Energy Center (http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=587901&cmpid=rss-News), his first media appearance since April. "The word 'concussed' literally translates from Latin to English to mean 'to shake violently,'" Collins says, comparing the brain to an egg yolk. Crosby admits that in the early months of his injury he couldn't drive or watch TV, and that when he tried to go to a team meeting a month in to watch video "it was stressing my system." He says that despite some headaches he feels better than he has since January, and while he has not considered retirement, he will not come back at anything less than 100 percent, a return he calls "likely." (<strike>Carrick</strike>Collins acknowledges that ascertaining this can be difficult: "Sid's 100 percent is different than anyone else's," he says. "That has been a challenge in this case, because he is the Ferrari of hockey players.") Crosby says that he would support an outright ban on all head shots in hockey: "Guys gotta be responsible with their sticks, why shouldn't they be responsible with the rest of their bodies when they're going to hit someone?" he says. Asked the magic question — when will Sid be back? — Collins responds with a now-familiar refrain: "I have no earthly idea," he says. "I'm not putting any timelines on it. Sid's not putting any timelines on it. The Penguins certainly aren't putting any timelines on it."
September 12: Crosby takes part in the Penguins' annual tradition of personally delivering season tickets (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/penguins/story/2011-09-12/sidney-crosby-delivers-tickets/50377262/1) to the homes of fans.
September 17: Wearing a white helmet to signify "no contact," Crosby takes to the ice (http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/6981321/sidney-crosby-skates-pittsburgh-penguins-begin-training-camp) on the first day of Penguins training camp and receives a standing ovation from fans. Following practice he says, "I think that's probably the longest I went at that pace," and that he feels good. Following a report from Rob Rossi (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_757172.html) that Crosby's medical team is "not on the same page" regarding his status and treatment, Crosby disputes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jezk8aNziI4) that there is a "division": "I don't know where that came from," (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2011-09-17/sidney-crosby-comeback-pittsburgh-penguins-training-camp-concussion) he says.
September 19: Crosby practices again, and Pittsburgh Tribune columnist Dejan Kovacevic tweets (https://twitter.com/#%21/Dejan_Kovacevic/status/115816438350102528), "Sidney Crosby isn't just skating right now. He's SKATING. Flying down ice on drills. Saw him just before, too, laughing, joking." Later, Kovacevic is moved to tweet again (https://twitter.com/#%21/Dejan_Kovacevic/status/115821004395261954). "This is worth a second tweet: Sidney Crosby is SKATING out there, all-out." In Boston, Patrice Bergeron tells a reporter about the advice he's given Sid via text message (http://www.necn.com/09/19/11/Bergeron-to-Crosby-Stay-positive/landing_sports.html?blockID=564861&feedID=3352). "Patience and staying positive is, it sounds kind of cliché, but that's exactly what it is."

[LoDownM]

:roll: Move then, you are an adult right, you can do that.

[El Fangel]

You realize how ridiculous that statement you just made sounds due to the reasons behind it/

[LoDownM]

You know ridiculous you sound? Of course the local news is going to do reports on the local boy who grew up to be a superstar in the most popular sport in your country.

[El Fangel]

So me being fed up of hearing about him not only online in the vast majority of articles relating to the NHL, but every single hockey article our local paper does, even when the article does not pertain to him is as ridiculous as you stating I should move because I don't like it.

Yeah, shut up.

[parkmania]

I had this discussion with someone else recently. It's not like Crosby went out every day LOOKING to tell people there was nothing new to report - as a popular player, he's approached by different media people every day. If he didn't answer the same question given to him by different people every day, he'd start being villified as "unfriendly to media" just like Barry Bonds.

[Gertner]

Nobody is blaming Sid. The Canadian media has Tiger Woods syndrome with him.

[SammyG]

Glad to get a point in NJ.

[Gertner]

lol Arron Smasham Asham


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KoBXfD2oHRg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Londoner]

Can't fucking wait for Kings V Flyers tonight.

[Gertner]

That's gonna be a solid game. The Leafs continue their quest to go 82-0 with a game at home with Calgary.

[SammyG]

Prolly gonna tie with Philly.

[Londoner]

Kings 1-1 Flyers atm, Flyers dominated the game so far but Kings coming back into it with the 2man advantage. Their defence looks shit though.

[Skippord]

know it's early, but I am encouraged by the Avs this year

much better defensively

[Emperor Smeat]

:D Bruins win in a tough game against the Hawks and managed to blank a team in a shootout.

Very sloppy on defense so far this season which was also an issue last year but Seguin has been amazing with the assists and main reason why they haven't been completely flat on offense.

[SammyG]

What a great Kings-Flyers game. Can't believe we got 2 points in a game that looked like a sure loss all game.

[Hanso Amore]

Luke Adam is an offensive force. He cant play a fucking lick of defense.

Hes going to win the Calder. Calling it now.

[Gertner]

Leafs win! The chase for 82-0 continues!

[El Fangel]

Luke Adam is an offensive force. He cant play a fucking lick of defense.

Hes going to win the Calder. Calling it now.

There is this Landeskog fella here who would like to have a word with you.

Some dude named Ryan as well, says he plays for the Oilers.

Should I send them in?

Oh wait, another Toya? Oh, Montoya. Yeah. Him as well.

[Gertner]

Adam Larsson is winning it.

I'm pretty sure Montoya isn't eligible.

[Hanso Amore]

Adam is playing on the top line for a potentials division winning team. Hes going to wow some peeps. BIG Body. Good Hands. Great offensive awareness. Hes weak defensively but that is something that will get overlooked in the calder vote.

Its hard for a defenseman to win the Calder. Myers happened into it on a somewhat "weak year". I dont see Larson being as good as Myers was his rookie year, which was great.

[Gertner]

It's very hard, but stranger things have happened like Barrett Jackman winning it. Larsson is playing a shit load of minutes, but I don't think he'll put up the stats like Myers, but then again, I don't view this Calder class as strong.

[Skippord]

OPTIMUS DAVID JONES!

[Gertner]

The chase for the perfect season continues for my Leafs!

[Kapoutman]

Kessel is raking in a shit load of points for my fantasy team. One of the few times I'm glad to see the Leafs do well.

And damn, the Habs are making it hard to be a fan these days.

[SammyG]

lol Jets over Pens.

[Gertner]

Wayne Gretzky's daughter is fucking hott

http://cdn.wl.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/218.jpg

http://cdn.wl.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/47.jpg

[Champion of Europa]

Kessel and Tavares are killing it for my fantasy team right now. I hope Kessel can stay consistent.

[RP]

Got the night off. Headed to the bar for Hawks vs Coyotes. Might get there early and catch another game.

[RP]

Kind of want to see caps v panthers. Florida Panthers have an exciting team this year.

[OssMan]

I'm watching it on a shitty internet stream. Can't get into it

And that's what I am burning on

[Mr. JL]

Leafs need to seriously get rid of Cody Franson and bring Mike Gardiner back up. Franson is absolute garbage. He lost possesion of the puck numerous times, has a weakling shot, constantly out of position/out worked and for the life of me I cannot understand why he is out there on most of the Leafs Power Plays.

[weather vane]

You mean Jake?

[Gertner]

Leafs need to seriously get rid of Cody Franson and bring Mike Gardiner back up. Franson is absolute garbage. He lost possesion of the puck numerous times, has a weakling shot, constantly out of position/out worked and for the life of me I cannot understand why he is out there on most of the Leafs Power Plays.

The Leafs should send Gardiner to the Marlies and play the hell out of him, call up Lashoff who better fits being a 7th defenseman.

[Mr. JL]

You mean Jake?

:yes:

[Mr. JL]

The Leafs should send Gardiner to the Marlies and play the hell out of him, call up Lashoff who better fits being a 7th defenseman.

I'm not too big on Lashoff, but at least he does not make glaring mistake after mistake on the ice. Either way Franson has to go.

[weather vane]

Bruins are so bad... At least they showed some fire tonight. They better come out and score some fucking goals next game.

[Gertner]

I'm not too big on Lashoff, but at least he does not make glaring mistake after mistake on the ice. Either way Franson has to go.

Lashoff would be a perfect 7th d man. Franson has played two games. Patience my friend. He was terrific with Nashville and the Leafs power play has sucked as a whole.

[Blitz]

Always love fans who shit on a guy a week and a half into the season.

[Hanso Amore]

Ryan Miller with a typical 40 save win.

[El Fangel]

Vokoun is a beast, jesus.

Also, I'm not sure if I'm a Habs fan or a Bulldogs fan with all the injuries.

[Gertner]

Gardiner in Franson out tonight. There ya go JL.

[RP]

Break up the Jets!

[Gertner]

Toronto's power play is embarassing.

[Gertner]

I say that just as Toronto scores two power play goals in 1 minute.

[Blitz]

Toronto's power play is embarassing.
lol

[Blitz]

Beauty comeback. Really digging this Leafs team.

[Gertner]

Not looking forward to tonight. Lol the Monster starting on the road vs Boston = me watching the game under the covers.

[RP]

Hawks Avs. Huge early season game. Av's look great.

[Gertner]

Avs coming back from a long road trip. I think the Hawks take it on the road.

[RP]

Patrick Kane playing like the man this year.

[Gertner]

I love the Hawks to come out of the West as long as their defense holds up.

[MVP]

Not looking forward to tonight's game against the Leafs. Haven't said that in a long time.

[Gertner]

Gustavsson is in net. I'm not sure what you're afraid of.

[El Fangel]

Yeah, I see Reimer coming in after he gets shelled for 3 goals on like 10 shots or something of the sort.

[Gertner]

Reimer needs a game off. They play 7 of their next 8 on the road. Very tough schedule: At Boston, at Montreal, at Philly and at Rangers for the next for and then home for Pittsburgh and back on the road for New Jersey.

[MVP]

Gustavsson is in net. I'm not sure what you're afraid of.

Didn't know that. Maybe the Bruins power play won't be THAT horrendous tonight.

[Hanso Amore]

Tonight we see if Florida is for real.

[Hanso Amore]

and by for real I mean Not the worst team in the conference.

[Gertner]

I really like what Florida is doing in building their franchise, more than the Isles and Edmonton. Markstrom in net with Gudbranson, Kulikov and Ellerbyy on d: all high draft picks.

[El Fangel]

Reimer needs a game off. They play 7 of their next 8 on the road. Very tough schedule: At Boston, at Montreal, at Philly and at Rangers for the next for and then home for Pittsburgh and back on the road for New Jersey.

Thats not an incredibly difficult travel schedule its all in the Northeast or Atlantic Division. Still, I agree about the night off though.

I really like what Florida is doing in building their franchise, more than the Isles and Edmonton. Markstrom in net with Gudbranson, Kulikov and Ellerbyy on d: all high draft picks.

Markstrom is the man, have him in almost all my fantasy leagues that allow juniors or a junior roster. Kid will be huge, ala Luongo or Vanbiesbrook.

[Gertner]

And now Florida is starting to fill in with young forwards with Howden and Huberdeau now that they've got a goaltender of the future and 3 young d men.

I wasn't stating that it was difficult because of travel, but difficult because they have games against 4 straight playoff teams from last year on the road. That's why last night was soooooo important.

[Londoner]

Enjoyed the 1st period of leafs/bruins. :)

[Gertner]

lol pretty much went like I figured it would.

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: Thank You Kessel chant once Seguin scored.

[weather vane]

Bout time we started scoring...

[Blitz]

At least we played a good second period.

[SammyG]

KINGS SHOW

[Gertner]

lol that went about as well as I expected it

[Gertner]

FA you get a chance at avatar redemption tonight. Whoever loses is gonna be stuck for a while because I'm pretty sure they don't play again in 2012.

[Gertner]

CROSBOVSKI!!!!!


lol the habs are awful

[Hanso Amore]

Sabres looking like shit tonight

Ennis might be hurt for a bit, nasty ankle twist. Might be broken.

[Gertner]

Gionta just about decapitated Reimer and still lost with the Monster sucking like usual lol

[Gertner]

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222680_10150561869180492_588110491_18581563_3512027_n.jpg

[Gertner]

http://i54.tinypic.com/99j3h5.jpg

lol!

[Mr. JL]

Yeah really digging Gardiner in over Franson.

I cannot believe how awful The Monster looked. Way too far over to the right side of the net on nearly all the goals he let in and he nearly blew the game for the Leafs with a flicked in puck.

Still own though thanks to Grabo's goal.

I just hope Reimer is not concussed.

[El Fangel]

Jon Quick, holy shit.

[Kapoutman]

Goddammit, Habs. What the fuck.

[Champion of Europa]

I'm really shocked by how Dallas is playing. I wrote them off before the season started. Lehtonen is playing out of his mind.

[MVP]

Jonathan Quick has 3 shutouts in a row. I don't think he'll be competing with Bernier for time between pipes any time soon.

[Gertner]

Lol @ Gertner.

So you're a Bruins fan now? So typical of Leaf fans and Flame fans to live vicariously through other teams that are at odds with one's rivals.

lol it was for last years playoffs. Just been lazy.

[Gertner]

Yeah really digging Gardiner in over Franson.

I cannot believe how awful The Monster looked. Way too far over to the right side of the net on nearly all the goals he let in and he nearly blew the game for the Leafs with a flicked in puck.

Still own though thanks to Grabo's goal.

I just hope Reimer is not concussed.

Reimer is just out for tonight. Schrivens called up to back up, wouldn't be surprised to see him tonight.

My only concern over Gardiner is that he played in the NCAA last year and their schedule ismuch shorter than Junior hockey. Rookie college players tend to wear down as the season goes.

[El Fangel]

NCAA > Juniors

[Gertner]

lol k, that is 100% untrue. Especially for goaltenders.

[El Fangel]

College hockey players are far better then juniors for the most part. They more often then not, are older, bigger, faster and stronger.

Stymies me why they aren't scouted that much at all.

[Gertner]

They tire out faster as young players due to juniors being better equiped for the long season. They aren't scouted much because the fast majority of solid players play for North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan or Wisconsin. You're hard pressed to find solid players outside of their conference. The Frozen Four is an amazing tournament, but the level of play is much better in the junior ranks. Plus, there's not alot of parity in the NCAA.

[Lara Emily]

NCAA > Juniors

I'm sorry what? Is that a serious remark?

[Lara Emily]

BTW when we are talking about prospects, older is generally not better.

[El Fangel]

They tire out faster as young players due to juniors being better equiped for the long season. They aren't scouted much because the fast majority of solid players play for North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan or Wisconsin. You're hard pressed to find solid players outside of their conference. The Frozen Four is an amazing tournament, but the level of play is much better in the junior ranks. Plus, there's not alot of parity in the NCAA.

The majority of AUS Hockey here in Canada is rarely if ever scouted. There are alot of good players that never have a scout watch them because it is assumed only the best players are in juniors and no where else. College hockey is a good option for alot of players because with juniors its either do or die, either you make it or you have nothing to fall back on. With a college education, if you don't make it, then you at least have something to fall back on.

Im not saying the overwhelming majority of college players are better then juniors, but alot of them in my opinion would slot in better then juniors as most college players have been playing against men their whole college career.

Their bodies are also more developed and you as a smart hockey fan know that a fair few good hockey players came through college to the NHL.

I'm sorry what? Is that a serious remark?

No, I just made it to because I don't believe it.

BTW when we are talking about prospects, older is generally not better.

Yes, you are correct there. However, if I was an NHL GM and I had to pick between

OHL Player - 18 years old, 6'0, 180 pounds and having played 64 games last season

or

NCAA - 22 years old, 6'0, 200 pounds and having played 32 games.

I would take the NCAA player unless its well known the OHL player is in a league his own, the reasons is, he is older, more mature, likely has played longer, body, muscles and likely game play is more developed and NCAA players are generally bigger as well as they are past the end of their growth period and are as big as they are going to get. An 18-20 year old is still growing a bit.

Thats just my opinion though taken from what I have seen.

[Hanso Amore]

Sabres tend to draft ALOT of college players.

Drew Stafford
Nathan Gerbe
Thomas Vanek
Ryan Miller

OF their recent picks in the draft they have drafted about 1/3 of their picks from college.

From the current team. Seems to work pretty well.

Not as much talent as Juniors though.

I will agree the talent level in the Juniors exceeds the college ranks, but I dont agree either is suiperior to development than the other. Really just happens that the most talented players dont end up on college, much like the NBA used to be.

I dont agree at all that Younger is better. You really would take someone based on age and games played over talent and skill?

[Lara Emily]

College players take longer to develop. Yes you are better off drafting on average an 18 year old then a 22 year old.

I didn't bring up the age thing, FA did, he said it was a boon that they were older, I said not really when you talk about prospects because generally it is better to get them in to your system younger then older.

Unless you are a superstar or a very talented player or on a very very bad team you don't go straight from College or juniors to the NHL, so if they aren't getting in to your system until 22 they are 2 years minimum behind most junior players in professional development, not to mention Juniors is in itself a form of professional hockey, it helps these kids prepare for what is to come.

BTW CHL has education funds and scholarships set up so a lot of these kids are also going to school.

Plus on top there are way more team options in Junior then there is in College.

Look they are both solid ways to break in the NHL but at best they are equal (and that's a very best), there's just no way of claiming NCAA is superior overall to the CHL

[Lara Emily]

And for the record this might be the first thing Gertner and I have ever agreed on.

[Gertner]

The majority of AUS Hockey here in Canada is rarely if ever scouted. There are alot of good players that never have a scout watch them because it is assumed only the best players are in juniors and no where else. College hockey is a good option for alot of players because with juniors its either do or die, either you make it or you have nothing to fall back on. With a college education, if you don't make it, then you at least have something to fall back on.

Im not saying the overwhelming majority of college players are better then juniors, but alot of them in my opinion would slot in better then juniors as most college players have been playing against men their whole college career.

Their bodies are also more developed and you as a smart hockey fan know that a fair few good hockey players came through college to the NHL.



No, I just made it to because I don't believe it.



Yes, you are correct there. However, if I was an NHL GM and I had to pick between

OHL Player - 18 years old, 6'0, 180 pounds and having played 64 games last season

or

NCAA - 22 years old, 6'0, 200 pounds and having played 32 games.

I would take the NCAA player unless its well known the OHL player is in a league his own, the reasons is, he is older, more mature, likely has played longer, body, muscles and likely game play is more developed and NCAA players are generally bigger as well as they are past the end of their growth period and are as big as they are going to get. An 18-20 year old is still growing a bit.

Thats just my opinion though taken from what I have seen.

The competition is NCAA isn't nearly as good as the CHL, especially outside of the WCHA and even there it's very top heavy. NCAA produces no goaltenders whatsoever, and the CHL is generally the rougher and tougher league. The NCAA is behind the CHL and Europe in terms of development.

Plus, more and more U.S born players are opting for the CHL.

[Champion of Europa]

Jagr finally putting some pucks in the fucking net. Boooom.

[MVP]

A lot of Division I college hockey players spend a couple of years playing Juniors before going to NCAA. It's not uncommon to find Freshmen who are 20-21 years old playing college hockey.

[Gertner]

That's very true.

[RP]

Vanek again o

[RP]

HOSSSSSSSSA!

[Wake Up Call]

Canadiens fire Assistant Coach Perry Pearn. Seems very odd to fire an assistant coach, however, I guess the message is sent.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

<table style="width: 640px; height: 132px;" summary="Division Standings. Each row represents a team in the Northeast Division. A clickable column header will resort the table results in the most meaningful manner for that column (e.g., by Wins or Last 10 Record). Each column represents a statistical value: wins, total points, home record, etc." class="data standings Division" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody><thead><tr><th colspan="1" rowspan="1" scope="col">
</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1" abbr="DIV" scope="col">Northeast</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1" class="" abbr="Games Played" scope="col"> GP (http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20112012&sort=gamesPlayed&type=DIV)</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1" class="" abbr="Wins" scope="col"> W (http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20112012&sort=wins&type=DIV)</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1" class="" abbr="Losses" scope="col"> L (http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20112012&sort=losses&type=DIV)</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1" class="" abbr="Overtime Losses" scope="col"> OT (http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20112012&sort=otLosses&type=DIV)</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1" class="active" abbr="Points" scope="col"> P (http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20112012&sort=points&type=DIV)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"> *******</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">8</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">5</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">2</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">1</td><td colspan="1" class="active" rowspan="1">11</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"> Buffalo</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">8</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">5</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">3</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">0</td><td colspan="1" class="active" rowspan="1">10</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">3</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"> Ottawa</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">9</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">4</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">5</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">0</td><td colspan="1" class="active" rowspan="1">8</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"> Boston</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">8</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">3</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">5</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">0</td><td colspan="1" class="active" rowspan="1">6</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">5</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="text-align:left;"> Montréal</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">9</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">2</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">5</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">2</td><td colspan="1" class="active" rowspan="1">6</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td><td colspan="1" class="" rowspan="1">
</td></tr></tbody></table>

Hi Londoner. :)

[Londoner]

yeah, so? do you know how long the season is?

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Let me have my moment. This'll be the high point of the Sens' season. :mad:

[Gertner]

I'll be shocked if the Leafs lose another game this year.

[Londoner]

Just had another look and seen Ottawa have played one game more, some high moment.:p

[Corndad]

James Neal is a BEAST.

[Droford]

The Caps will probably go undefeated and still get swept in the first round.

Found it funny the Caps are sending emails out on how to buy Playoff tickets already.

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/9472/capsplayoffs.jpg

[Wake Up Call]

8-7 The Peg in the third over Philly, Ive never seen anything like this

[LoDownM]

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[Emperor Smeat]

:-\ Bruins ended up loosing though.

Might even end up last in the East depending on the Winnipeg game.

Still stink on scoring chances and even had almost a week off to prepare or fix the problem.

[LoDownM]

It's still early, wouldn't get totally bummed yet.

[Emperor Smeat]

Yeah way too early and had a feeling just like Chicago the first 10 games or month would be a let-down due to winning the cup but didn't expect it to be this much of a drop in terms of scoring.

Thomas and Rask have been great so far and the defense is still solid just the sloppy play from last year and the lack of scoring is hurting right now.

[weather vane]

They are playing terrible. Nothing good to talk about except Seguin and maybe Corvo...

[Gertner]

Not every team can be as great as the Leafs Spilchuk.

[weather vane]

I guess so... they are playing pretty good those fucks. Can't last.

This season can't go like this haha

[Gertner]

lol things will even out

[Hanso Amore]

Thomas Vanek is a fucking boss. Hes going to have such a big year.

[El Fangel]

Michalek.

[MVP]

People are calling into Boston sports radio today saying that Seguin should be off the first line. What?

[El Fangel]

I have $207 coming to me if Colorado can make a comeback in the 3rd.

[Gertner]

muahahaha first in the NHL

[OssMan]

Luuuuuuuuu

[LoDownM]

muahahaha first in the NHL

Second. Pens have one more point.

[Gertner]

First in my heart.

[weather vane]

fuck I hate hockey rn

[El Fangel]

The Habs and Bruins doing bad and Toronto on a decent run. It will pull a complete 180 eventually, but listening to the Leafs homers is unbearable.

[El Fangel]

*Cue Gertner right about now*

[Gertner]

It's so cute watching fans of irrelevant teams like the Bruins and Habs bicker back and forth.

[Blitz]

The Habs and Bruins doing bad and Toronto on a decent run. It will pull a complete 180 eventually, but listening to the Leafs homers is unbearable.
Approximately as unbearable as people complaining about the Leafs, I don't doubt.

[Gertner]

I love how a Habs fan is calling us Leaf fans unbearable. FA are you going to call 911 if the Leafs beat the Habs for the third straight time?

[El Fangel]

Which came first, the homer or the troll?

[El Fangel]

I love how a Habs fan is calling us Leaf fans unbearable. FA are you going to call 911 if the Leafs beat the Habs for the third straight time?

Just make it into the playoffs this year and then you can talk shit.

[Gertner]

Lol what exactly has your team full of midget pussies accomplished?

[El Fangel]

Making the playoffs the last 6 years whereas the Leafs haven't

Oh and beating the defending champs and the president cup wins in consecutive series.

[LoDownM]

Come on FA, beating the Capitals in the playoffs isn't really an accomplishment :p

[El Fangel]

Alright, I just wanted to throw it in there because it sounds good. Ill admit that.

[Gertner]

Exactly. Accomplished zero.

[El Fangel]

We will see how the season plays out.

[Gertner]

Leafs are gonna finish 78-3-1

[El Fangel]

Just want to draw your attention to the Winnipeg game, Kane just bailed out his team hardcore.

[RP]

Patrick Kane has been brilliant at center this year.

[BollywoodSingh]

Exactly. Accomplished zero.

Are you saying that the Stanley Cup is the only accomplishment worth mentioning? I'd say the Habs' 2010 playoff run was quite an accomplishment.

[Emperor Smeat]

Bruins played a much better game today with a 5-3 win over Ottawa who got surprisingly good recently.

:lol: Thorton starting a fight once Ottawa scored a goal as part of his recent tradition of providing a spark.

[weather vane]

They looked OK. I hope they can build on this win.

[Gertner]

Are you saying that the Stanley Cup is the only accomplishment worth mentioning? I'd say the Habs' 2010 playoff run was quite an accomplishment.

Yes. If you're above average the Stanley Cup is the only thing worth settling for. When the Leafs break the Wings record for most wins in a season this year I'll be expecting the Stanley Cup and nothing less.

[Gertner]

Bruins played a much better game today with a 5-3 win over Ottawa who got surprisingly good recently.

:lol: Thorton starting a fight once Ottawa scored a goal as part of his recent tradition of providing a spark.

But fighting has no place in the NHL. Didn't you get the memo?

[Gertner]

Joffery Lupul bitches!

[Blitz]

2nd in the league.

[Gertner]

lol you know who's been a pleasant surprise this year? Mike Komisarek.

[Blitz]

You know who else has been a pleasant surprise this year? The entire fucking team.

[Hanso Amore]

Fucking Sabres are so fucking inconsistent.


Miller Got booed out of the arena and people are already calling for a switch to Jhonas Enroth.

Going to be a long season.

[Arashi Kage]

I grew up as a huge Leafs hater, and still was up until Lemieux retired for the 2nd time (then I adopted my all Canadian teams 1st, Pens 2nd philosophy), but it's good to say, "about time Leafs!! Keep this up!".

The Leafs are bound to hit a losing streak at some point, but I hope that this is a reality. It's about time!!

Great shutout by the Jets tonight, but WTF happened to the Canucks?? Out shot like crazy, Schneider with 40 saves in a blow out loss.

Still way too early in the season. Look at the Red Wings down in 13th, a couple games can easily change that.

Hoping that the Habs turn things around for the better, and that the Leafs, Oilers, and Sens can keep it up.

[RP]

Patrick Kane at center is such a game changer. He's fantastic.

[Gertner]

lol Ben Schrivens what the hell. Leafs keep winning.

[Londoner]

Saw the Anaheim game last night(and abit of the leafs), fucking wish i stayed up for San Jose/Pittsburgh to like i was gonna....:mad:

First hockey i've watched for a couple of weeks though so happy about that.

[Gertner]

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/297493_10150441777287025_613797024_10534771_392085174_n.jpg


mmmmm drink it down.

[Hanso Amore]

Kaleta gonna Headbutt cha

[Londoner]

Can't believe Toronto are top. Well i can based on the performances, but i mean after the last season they had. Got to love hockey!

[Gertner]

Scrivens starting tonight vs Boston

[Gertner]

What a game between Dallas and Colorado last night!

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: Maple Leafs (13 goals given up vs Bruins in 2 games)
:D hat-trick for Seguin

I get that in both games they didn't start their main goalie but in both games they decide to "quit" once the Bruins are up 2-0 or 3-0.

Today the Bruins 3 times were able to score goals within seconds of each other.

[El Fangel]

Hey Gertner, where are you tonight?

[Gertner]

Watching your Habs lose to the Rangers.

The Leafs game went about as well as I expected it lol

[Wake Up Call]

Coyotes are strangling the Oilers. Giving them no room at all. Kids better get used to it.

[Wake Up Call]

NUUUGGGEEEE!!!!

[El Fangel]

Watching your Habs lose to the Rangers.

The Leafs game went about as well as I expected it lol

At least they scored.

Nice to see Kessel score 1 1/2 goals tonight for Boston.

[Corndad]

Heck of a game between Kings and Pens tonight.

[Hanso Amore]

Shit

Miller gets pulled. Enroth finishes the game.

He gets the next 2 starts.

So it begins.

[El Fangel]

Hey, I don't see the problem of having two great goalies.

[weather vane]

THANK YOU KESSEL

[LoDownM]

Back at number 1 in the league :cool:

[Hanso Amore]

Hey, I don't see the problem of having two great goalies.

Same.

But the loser fans around here are now constantly booing miller and chanting Enroth

[El Fangel]

Well that is just stupid. Be happy you have two good goalies unlike that team a few miles north.

[Blitz]

Fallen Angel posts in this thread from November 1-November 5, with Leafs doing good: 0
Fallen Angel posts in this thread in the 12 hours or so after the Leafs get blown out once: 4

Actually not sure which team Fangel roots for, because he spends more time talking about the Leafs than any other team.

[El Fangel]

Posts made from Nov 1st - Nov 5th Concerning the Leafs: 0
Posts made after a blowout loss concerning the Leafs: 2

If you are going to call me out, at least get the numbers right. Yes, I trashed the Leafs but don't count posts that weren't trashing them as trashing them.