That's nice.

OPTIMIUS RRRRRRREIM!

As for accusations of hypocrisy towards the Pens, completely unwarranted, they have publicly spoken in support of the league's suspension of Matt Cooke, hell even Matt Cooke himself has publicly spoken in support of his suspension.

What does say Danny Heatley say about his 2 gamer

http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/17/11/S...90&feedID=2798



And what does GM Doug Wilson say


Translation: It was a hockey play, blah blah blah



http://www.prosportsdaily.com/articl...tt-476190.html


Let's not forget all the absolutely embarrassing comments that came out of Long Island after goon show.
http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/igloodreams/31195/



Then there was Zenon Konopka and his BS


http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/...360/story.html



So you have everyone (including me) absolutely speaking out against Cooke but yet look back at this situation, there was a lot of talk about how awesome it was that the Isles did this, that Mario Lemieux and the Pens are hypocrites and should shut up. Well now I ask you who is the hypocrite The Penguins who have spoken out against their own player as well as the rest of the league or the people who seem to think Matt Cooke is only bad guy in the league and anything done to the Pens is karma because of it.



Hell let's keep going look at Snow after Gilles got suspended for the second game in a row


http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2...doesnt-get-it/

Let's also not forget Chara's own BS about how the hit was somewhat Pacioretty's fault

It's GMs like these alongside Bettman, Campbell and co that are turning the NHL into a bush league.

Yes, after Cooke 10000th suspension RAY SHERO spoke out. Lemieux bitches about everything, yet keeps Cooke in the organization. The only people who don't think Lemieux is a hypocrite are Pens fans.

Into?

Friggen Grabovski is 2 goals away from 30. And to think, he was my least favourite player on the Leafs to start the year. I'm astounded at how much improvement he's made, even on face offs and I didn't think I'd ever see that from him.

This season is frustrating. What would have been had Reimer been called up earlier. Probably a shot at the Calder and the Leafs making the playoffs. The kid has been outstanding.

So Klepto you are saying that being skilled as a player means its OK to be a Whining Hypocrite as an owner. No one questioned Marios skill. We question his ability to complain about the Islanders debacle and then keep putting Matt Cooke (the Human Head Shot Machine) on the ice.

Lara,

I dont think the Gilles matter should be brushed off as BACK TO BACK GAMES

Repeat Offenders are repeat offenders. They nailed the Gilles Suspension and the COoke Suspension.

Heatley and CHara - they fucking blew it.

woooo avs!

TWO WINS IN A ROW!!!

Gilles needed more for his second one, like 15-20, he literally tried to injure someone in back to back games, that says something. Agreed on the rest

Wait until they face the Transformer on Thursday. OPTIMUS REIM!!!

Optimus Reim, Talent in Disguise!

Seriously though. Even as a Habs fan, I have to say it is nice to see the Leafs looking like an NHL team again.

They need a Sundin for Kessel and a power-forward on the LW (Burrows or someone of the sort) and they would have a great line.

Thing is, they still need a Sundin and Burrows.

Reimer is the real deal. I havent sen a Leaf goaltender play that well positionally in years. Not spectacular, but he's always in position.

His disguise is obviously the jersey.

Classy Organization the Bruins are

Mark Recchi accuses the Canadiens of embellishing Pacioretty's injury just to get Chara suspended.

His proof? Pacioetrry had the audacity to see a movie 6 days after the hit, so clearly they are dirty lying liars.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=359271

The Habs are bitches. It wouldn't surprise me.

Bitches be working all summer.

Bitches are still bitches. Like who's fanbase actually call the cops? Cmon.

For the record, I think that people who called the cops on that are retards.

But I still think he should have been suspended.

Yeah, fans who live in Montreal are crazy.

ONLY 9 and 10 game suspensions? Those are huge suspensions. That's like 20% of the season suspended. If the NHL started handing out suspensions like you're wanting, the NHLPA will have a shit. No one needs those 2 groups bitching at each other again.

I do agree that hits like Heatly's should punished more severely than the typical 2 game slap on the wrist. Larger fines is a place to start, hit these guys in the wallet.

Lumping in Chara with Cooke and Gillies is beyond ridiculous... an illegal hit yes, but that's a 2 minute minor anywhere else on the ice.

Cooke didn't get 14-17 games for "being Matt Cooke" he got what he got because of his past. Anyone else with that history gets the same suspension.

If it were my team I'd take 66 over 99 every time in every situation.

Im saying people should listen to probably the best player of all time.

You don't have to agree with him, but at least hear him out.

When he was playing, it was clutch and grab that he "whinned" about, and now as an owner, it's head shots. Both those things make the game less entertaining. Mario was one of the most entertaining guys to watch...I think he knows a thing or two about what should and shouldn't be in the game...

I am assuming Cooke will be released/bought out at the end of the year...If he's not, then what you're saying will hold some merit. Until then, I'll continue to look at Mario as someone who knows best...knows a hell of a lot more than me or you...about whats best for the game.

Heatley: yes - he should have got more than a wrist slap.

Chara: no

Chara should have got 1-2 games max. That's hardly "fucking blew it." Any other spot on the ice, its a 2 minute minor. Whoever designed the glass structure is more at fault than Chara.

Anyone comparing Chara to Cooke or Gillies should start watching Baseball...or lawn bowling.

Recchi is anything but classless. Hasn't he won a Lady Byng or 2? I know he's been at least nominated. This is playoff style hockey in the regular season. You talk shit about your opponents, there wives, and there mothers. Add the fact its the Habs and Bruins, and this is just Recchi stirring the pot like the wise old man he is. Don't get your panties in a knot and act like the sky is falling every time someone says something you don't like.

On a side note...what is that kid Pacioretty doing watching movies 6 days after a concussion? You're suppose to be sensitive to light and what not. Habs are gearing up for a playoff drive. The last thing this kid should be doing is goofing around.

Schneider > Reimer

I love seeing Leafs fans get excited and filled with hope, because the rest of us know its inevitably going to turn out bad.

You have your moments, i'll give you that. Bending Cowgary over last year in the Phanuef/Aulie trade for example. Absolutely raped the Flames...but then you have trades like Kessel or signings like Finger or Komisarik...

Leafs and Panthers are the only 2 teams not to make the playoffs since the lockout...that's pretty pitiful company to keep.

Let's see how Schneider would have fared with Lebda, Komisarek and that offence in front of him. Reimer has been amazing.

Schneider has been equally amazing, and he's been developed properly.

You never know with goalies though...Byron Dafoe, Jim Carrey, Kevin Weekes all had early success and became duds.

Wow, you guys got a nice active thread for NHL.

Canucks fan here. I see KleptoKlown is as well :)

Scratch that comment about playoff style hockey....its a friggin route in Boston tonight. So much for "Win it for Max" he must be hated in the dressing room :lol:

Pretty easy team to cheer for right now...and probably the years to come.

Welcome to the forums.

:D Bruins 7-0 vs Canadiens.

More happy that the Bruins kept on attacking even after taking the early lead and didn't start blowing the lead or slacked off on the defense like the last meeting and previous couple of games.

The 3 on 5 short handed goal had to be the worst goal given away by Montreal tonight.

That's what happens when a heartless team tries to step it up.

Umm....hmmmm....errrrr.....I have nothing to say....

Hiller is looking...good...

6 saves on 9 shots.

Ducks could be a scary darkhorse team in the playoffs...if Hiller plays like he can.

Dan Ellis/Ray Emery = 1st round loss...no matter who plays in front of you. Ellis has been playing good since being traded from TB, but still, he's not going to win a 7 game series.

ouch....talk about a cold streak at close to the worst possible time.

Habs are a better team than this. This loss is either going to motivate them...or kill whatever is left of their spirit.

O......O.......O........ OPTIMUS RRRRRRRRRRREIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope it kills it cause even though the B's blew them out last night, I still don't want them to face the Habs in the first round of the playoffs.

Even though a lot of my all time favorite players were Bruins. I'd cheer for the Habs in that series. Been a long time since Canada has won a cup...bet some posters on here were not even born yet...Canucks are the best chance in a long time I think, but still, it looks like Montreal is going to be the only other Canadian team.

Was looking at old stats. This is the end of the 1992-93 season.

Player Team GP G A PTS
Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh 60 69 91 160
Pat LaFontaine Buffalo 84 53 95 148
Adam Oates Boston 84 45 97 142
Steve Yzerman Detroit 84 58 79 137
Teemu Selanne Winnipeg 84 76 56 132
Pierre Turgeon NY Islandrs 83 58 74 132
Alexa Mogilny Buffalo 77 76 51 127
Doug Gilmour Toronto 83 32 95 127
L Robitaille Los Angeles 84 63 62 125
M Recchi Philadelphia 84 53 70 123


Insane numbers. Recchi finishing 10th overall has like 18 points more than D Sedin. Sedin is going to get a few more points obviously, but no where near Lemieux's 160 points...in 60 games....Whatever happened to that hockey?

I knew there was a reason I liked you


PS this is not the only reason :p

Let's not forget that's the year Lemieux got cancer. Hence why he only played 60 games, when he came back he was 12 points behind Lafontaine, and look how he finished fucking 12 points ahead. Fact is if Lenieux hadn't had the health problems he had, he'd be the all time scoring leader, and we'd be talking about wondering if anyone can ever surpass Lemieux's records. The man is the single most skilled NHL player in history

You want to talk about heart: that year Lemeiux underwent radiation therapy for his cancer, on the last day of his radiation treatment he got his lat treatment, hopped a plane to Philadelphia and scored a goal and recorded an assist. It was such an epic feat even the world's biggest assholes (Flyers fan) gave him a standing ovation after the game. That's right the same city that cheers when an opposing team's player gets hurt, throws batteries at players and has even booed Santa Clause fucking cheered their Cross-state arch rival's return to the ice.

Gretzky > Lemieux. You two are delusional.

Fuck Santa

Gretzky had the great career, Lemieux had the greater pure talent

In short, Gretzky was the better player any way you slice it.

Oh God, a Leafs fan called me delusional...where's that cyanide pill...

What exactly have the Canucks ever won? Just curious.

Head to head battle...Mario>Wayne

Yeah, thanks for dodging the question. And who the hell plays one on one hockey. That's just stupid. Gretzky has more goal, assists, points, awards and cups.

I love when fans use that tired old excuse.

The Leafs last won a cup before man even went to the moon. There were 6 teams in the NHL then. Its like the CFL now...pretty much everyone takes turns. It means nothing.

For the last 20 years its been a lot more enjoyable to be a Canucks fan then Leafs fan.

Im not saying 1-1 im saying you put those 2 head to head, say even the exact same all time teams, the only difference is at center...one is mario, one is wayne.

Mario's team wins.

Exactly. The Canucks have won nothing. Talk shit when they actually accomplish something other than choking against the Hawks like they do every year.

The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl twice (Means they've been to the finals twice), both post 67, so what have the Leafs won since 67, oh yeah fuck nothing.

Hence why I conceded greater career but stats aren't the be all end all to the discussion.

Greater career does not mean greater skill

Absolutely not.

The Habs are the only team to win anything since neon clothing and men with perms or mullets were in style.

Even then, thats 16-17 years ago.

Canucks are the best chance, and will be for the next few years.

A winning team before you were born doesn't entitle you to talk any shit either.

How am I talking shit anyway? Your team has been one of the worst teams over the last decade.

That's stating a fact, not shit talking.

Once my Pens are out (IE without Crosby out in the first in 5) Canucks have my total support. Got to root for my new practically home town team (gonna be living in Surrey in a week)

Total random note fuck am I lucky I've seen my team win the cup 3 times in my life.

I love Gertner talking shit, I really do AND as a fan of a team who has not made the playoffs in 4, soon to be 5, years. Of all teams he IS talking shit about its the team who is in 1st, with a guarenteed playoff birth, last years Hart and Ross trophy winners and likely this years as well. A 2nd (YEAH 2ND) line center whose only reason he doesnt have a Selke trophy is because of a guy named Datsyuk and was in Hart trophy discussions HIMSELF.

But yeah, talk shit about another team when yours features a waiverwire pickup, a Montreal Canadiens castoff (actually two if you didnt trade him to Anaheim) a "C" on a player to make him happy and who the entire Toronto fanbase assumed would be the equivilant of Bobby Orr.

You have a teams backup goalie making 6 million a year, a Free agent goalie signing whose heart is giving him trouble and a rookie goalie who is playing good left over from the Ferguson years.

If Toronto would have been the least bit competent, then perhaps they wouldnt have had to sign Gustavsson or Giguere and could have had Reimer play instead.

Their scouting staff has been utter shit, since well forever. This is the team that let, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky and Martin Brodeur slip through their fingertips.

Take into account the Canucks have been in the league since 1970 and you are saying what have they done? Well, it would be nice if Toronto had done something either.

And lastly, LASTLY and Im sure you will love this.

Sundin left to go to a cup contender, where did he leave and where did he go?

Considering other fans have lived and died without seeing there team win yeah...lucky as fuck for sure.

Careful in Surrey, especially around Surrey Central skytrain station...police usually have a car just sitting there watching, but once you get out of that general hub/community center towards king george/...its sketchy.

I actually consider the Sundin signing to be a failure. Not Messier bad, but bad enough that 10 mill would have been better spent on 1 good player and some depth players.

Yeah, I remember the 93 playoffs but only just barely. I was 7 years old.

After Habs are put out, I normally will root for any Canadian team that is left sans Leafs.

The only team I would cheer for the Leafs over is the Rangers.

Pretty sad as I consider myself a proud Canadian. It's not the team that I want to lose...it's seeing the cocky fans suffer.

Oh. No doubt it was a failure but the fact the best player on the Leafs, the captain and the heart and soul...left to go to Vancouver.

What are Rangers fans cocky about? Gaborik?

The Leas traded away Jason Blake whose contract was a MAJOR headache for Giguere. Giguere replaced Toskala. Giggy's contract is up this year. I don't consider that a bad move at all.

NOBODY anticipated the rise of Reimer, considering he was in the ECHL not that long ago.

Phaneuf has been tremendous since the trade of Kaberle and being finally paired with a stay at home defenceman in Keith Aulie.

The Leafs sent a 2nd round pick for a player who has more goals than any player on the Habs.

Who is this "waiver wire pick up" you speak of? MacArthur was a free agent signing.

Honestly, unless your team wins the CUP, making the finals means nothing to me. I won't be satisfied until the Leafs win the cup. Finishing 2nd is worthless.

And Sundin left as a free agent. Players leave all the time. Too bad that shithead and the rest of the Muskoka 5 wouldn't waive their damn no trade clauses.

The Leafs are going to have I believe 26 million to spend this off -season. Reimer will probably get 1.4-1.8 million, three years. MacArthur and Schenn are both free agents and I hope Clarke comes back. The Leafs have 5 of their 6 defencemen set for next year and really just need a puck moving d man (Aulie, Gunnerson, Schenn, Phaneuf and ugh Komisarek). Hopefully they get a top 6 center so Bozak isn't playing out of position anymore. A third line of Armstrong-Bozak-either Crabb or free agent isn't bad.
Brown-Brent who has been a nice surprise and Orr is a good forechecking 4th line. They really just need a center. Kadri is not the answer and should never take another faceoff again. They are in a FAR better position than 2 years ago.

I'm still pissed about 94

The best part about Sundin is his refusal to waive his no trade clause....Leafs got bupkiss for him. I was hoping Kaberle did the same...oh well.

I consider Flyers fans worse than Rangers fans.

Thank God Burke was patient. He got a pretty good return. Hopefully Boston re-signs him or makes the finals as it kicks in the conditional 2nd rounder.

I don't even hate the Canucks. I picked them at the start of the year to meet the Bruins in the finals.

Brad Richards and Phil Kessel could be scary.

Reimer will get extended 1 or 2 years at less than 2 mill to see if he's the real deal or a 1 hit wonder. If he turns out to be what he's showing, he signs the big money contract 2 years from now. You're right about no one predicting the rise of Reimer...including other teams. This off season, teams will pay more attention to him, watch tapes, learn his move better. There will be a more complete book on him. How he responds is unknown, but that will be the difference between at least competing for a playoff spot...or a lottery pick.

MaCarthur is a RFA isnt he? Burke won't let him walk unless he gets a Dustin Penner type offer...which he wont.

I'm not going to say Kadri is a bust...but he's not the future.

Maybe a playoff team next year(NJ for sure will also step it up) but still a long way to go before the Leafs can be considered a contender.

I don't know how Burke does it...Maybe Chiarelli felt sorry for him, because he didn't need to give up what he did.

MacArthur I believe is an RFA, but then again MacArthur was last year and he ended up here.

I truly believe the Leafs would be better off dealing Kadri for an established player. I don't see how Kadri fits here

Let's say for arguement sake the Lefs bring back MacArthur. They'd be foolish to spilt his line up

So you have Kulemin-Grabovski-MacArthur

Then you have Lupul-Whoever the Leafs get-Kessel

Kadri is not suitable in a third line role. He's not strong enough in his own end, and I think Bozak would excel there. He's played very well on a pk unit with Armstrong

So the Leafs third line would be Armstrong-Bozak- with an open spot, unless they plan on putting Joey Crabb there who has played ok, but I could see that spot being taken by a bottom 6 winger with size.

The 4th line is pretty much set with Brown-Brent and Orr

I don't see a spot for Kadri on this team.

What? Is 17 years really that long? I guess it has been a 'long' time by the standards they had set prior but when US teams outnumber Canadian ones like 4 to 1 they're bound to win more. And you have to take into account how great the Red Wings have been over the past 20 years so that basically negates the ability for the western Canadian teams' ability to win.

...

This whole Gretzky/Lemieux discussion is absurd. 99 is retired league wide for a reason; the Hockey Hall of Fame stopped waiving the waiting period (outside of humanitarian reasons) after Gretzky's retirement. Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player ever. The only other player who's even in the discussion is Bobby Orr and even then it's generally B's fans who throw his name out there.

Burke does have his magical moments...

Getting the draft pick that turned into H Sedin for Brian McCabe :lol:

Getting Pronger for Lupul and picks(not sure who those picks turned into though

Phanuef and Aulie for spare change and an over achieving White.

There's people who argue that Orr isn't even the best defenceman of all time. Those people are generally Wings fans who think Lidstrom is better. Lidstrom is in the discussion. Top 3 in my book behind Orr and Doug Harvey and slightly ahead of Dennis Potvin.

17 years is a long time for Canada, not just the Habs.

I do think Lindstrom is in the discussion for best defencemen ever, if only for how long he's played at such a high level. Then obviously you have all his success on both the team & individual level.

Orr's gotta be #1 though. Changed the way defencemen played and was the linchpin for one of the greatest teams hockey's ever seen. Not to mention he's scored the most famous goal in the history of the league.

Bourque?

I believe Edmonton traded one of those picks and selected Smid with the other.

I have Bourque behind Dennis Potvin.

Potvin could score and is one of the best open ice hitters in history.

The established standard of winning was rooted in the exclusivity right to players that existed before the draft and the carryover even after. With more teams in the USA the success was bound to diminish.

Watching Caps vs Sens tonight.

Looks like King and Hendricks are in for the Caps and Neil and Lessard are in for the Sens so his should be good for a couple scraps.

Gretzky did an interview today on TSN. One thing that he said that surprised me was stating that the instigator rule should be eliminated.

I 1000000000% agree with this. I know people would thing this would lead to more fights, but Matthew Barnaby stated that he was a little less brave when he ad to answer to Doug Brown and Bob Probert. Lol if a former shithead like Barnaby states this than it has some validity.

Anybody catch the Komisarek hit on Mark Olver? I feared that it would lead to a suspension and I was ready to just give on on this league. Glad he didn't.

Yeah I saw that interview. He is right. Try it for a year, then re-evaluate.

It'd eliminate fake tough guys like Cooke and company running around without a care in the world. I'm sure if Cooke had to answer to Boogs he wouldn't be running around. I'd re-instate the third man in rule as well to keep from it become a line brawl so it wouldn't get out of control. Plus, maybe my boy Belak would come out of retirement lol.

Gretzky NEVER got run and there was a reason: Semenko would kick their asses.

Going to be a waste to argue a "what if" and I'll probably be called a "Pens Fanboy" but, Gretzky also played 570ish more games then Lemieux did. Not trying to say Gretzky's records are just because he played more games or anything like that, but had Lemieux played 570 more games and kept playing at the level he had been in the 90s, 66 might be retired league wide too.



Off topic but talking about the hall of fame reminds me that I hate myself for not going to the Hall of Fame when I was in Toronto 5 years ago.

Ill agree with LDM.

I am not saying either one was better, however I will say that Lemeiux was the only one who could potentially have been AS good if not BETTER then Gretzky.

Gretzky was pretty crazy when it came to assists since his career assists alone were more than Lemeiux career goals and assists combined for the regular season.

Lemeiux does have one record Gretzky can't get anytime soon and that is Stanely Cup winner as both a player and in management (coach/GM/owner).

Lemeiux also was the first and only to score every type of goal in one game

Even, Short, PP, Penalty Shot and Empty Net.

James Neal with a great Shootout goal, just absolutely outwaited Brodeur, Pens win! Within 2 of the Flyers and I believe clinched a playoff birth

That was a fucking great game.

Bobby Louuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!

Wow, Canucks beat a 10 man Thrashers team tonight.

6 wearing Thrashers jerseys, 4 wearing black and white stripes.

I don't usually bitch about the ref, because things tend to even out throughout the game...bad call going both ways. Tonight was just horrible.

Habs need to get there shit together...pronto.