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Just looking at the playoff scoring leaders on TSN and noticed Joe Thornton and his classic underachieving and thought I'd share a laugh with you guys. A certain stat jumped right out with it's double digits.// Regular Season first: (as this is where joe plays "hockey") 79 games 20 goals, 69 assists - 89 points +17 Now the Playoffs: 13 games 3 goals, 9 assists - 12 points -10 tied for 2nd worst in playoffs! and this is with 8 of those points coming in the last 6 games. joe thornton will never make it to the hall of fame, and this is why.

I like to get my Crosby hate on as much as the next guy, but please let's not turn this into another Crosby thread.

Absolutely. I certainly wouldn't put Joe Thornton in with the likes of Yzerman, Messier, Orr, Gretzky or Howe, but I hardly think that not being able to replicate the past performances of the greatest champions this sport has ever seen makes him a choker. It's not one or the other. Thornton has been pathetic in the past. The last two rounds he has not. Despite falling short of Gretzky-esque domination, it's pretty clear he's been at very least one of their best, if not IMO their best player. I just think this thread is totally unwarranted, his stats are misleading. BTW did anyone see the first Hawks goal in G2? See how easily Marleau was beaten on the breakaway attempt? He gave up on the play, went to the bench and they score. -1 for Joe, no impact on Marleau. Stats aren't everything! Marleau had no heart, his team paid.

He's been in my mind one of the more overrated players in the league. Assists are quite cute but he works for NOTHING. His goals, and I am extremely positive of this, have all been in front of the net on a garbage rebound. If garbage goals were a category which they sure aren't, he would be at the top of the list. He has sissy fits when his team is getting ran, ie. game 4 where Franzen beat the Sharks on his own. Going after a guy like Nick??? Classy. The stats do show a lot and so does the play. No argument would EVER show me that this guy isn't the most overrated player this league has.

lol that was nicely timed my friend, I was just going to respond to all three as well. Lets recap the scores Game 1, 4-3. Game 2, 4-3. Game 3, 4-3. Game 3, 4-3. Game 4, 7-1. Game 5, 2-1. First of all Im not arguing that 12 goals in the first three is good, but we got freaking rocked with BAD calls in the first two games. For the most part what Jimmy doesnt see Jimmy cant stop and the sharks did a good job in that area as well. He let in 3 goals in the remaining two giving the wings a chance to win. No need to talk Nabakov, he played well, just not why we lost. Mindfly did you just say that people on LGW compare Howard to Roy then say we should get Price?? OMG, I see people have there views but Price over Howard? You have to explain so we can talk about this I also LOVE that save I just watched it again, then again and came to the conclusion that maybe My opinion is bias because I ******* LOVE THIS GUY!! JIMMAYYY :!:

When I hear "Winter Classic", I think a "classic" hockey game. When I think of a "classic" hockey game, Pittsburgh and Washington do not come to mind. One of the Original 6 teams do, however. So maybe if Bettman doesn't want the game to be "classic" in any sense of the word, the name of the game should be changed to "Random Outdoor Hockey Game 2010" and then move on. Because there's nothing classic about the Penguins and the Capitals, the same as if it was the Thrashers and the Hurricanes. BTW, if they really want to call it the Winter "Classic", make the players skate without helmets, make the goalie play without a mask and force everyone to play with wooden sticks. Take it old-school. Retro uniforms, retro rules. THAT I'd watch.

So true...but you are from Ohio so no one will really read your post

Yep straight hetero man love for Howie

This

JOE THORNTON IS A ******* *****.. sorry.. I just watched that slash on Bolland, and I now I hope the Hawks literally murder the sharks... f*** em

I love how everyone said sharks would win it all. I said the hawks would win this series and everyone was saying how stupid I was.

San Jose won't win unless they get long 5 on 3s or a ton of PPs.

Yeah, he hit the goaltender, sell-job or not. Shoulder to shoulder. Whether it's the NHL, the KHL or air hockey, if it walks like a Duck, quacks like a Duck and hits goaltenders like a Duck, chances are very good it's an Anaheim Duck.

Well I'd rather Chicago beat SJ, and then the East win the Cup. If Chicago winning the Cup means SJ loses, I'm ok with that.

I'd prefer Chicago to win as opposed as the Sharks as well.

I really don't see Vokoun diving at all. Perry had some speed and got a pretty good piece of him, should of been a penalty.

lol at "flop around" "slight bump" Team Canada, is as usual, full of sore losers, but it was a good play because a good ol Canadian fooker made it. Had it been made by a Czech against Mason, you would call for his head. Vokoun did not expect any contact, Perry gave him a slash and a shoulder. Refs blew this one big time, this should have been a minor penalty. Fortunately, Canadians did not win anyways, and I hope they go back to Canada pretty soon thanks to Russia. a better video:

I think Ericsson get's a lot of unjust flack on LGWs and HF. His rookie full season had it's ups and downs, but I'd imagine there is 20 other teams that would kill to have him (and his upside) on their team. I think Ericsson will be great, and will eventually be known as another "Red Wings late draft steal".

My point is, those players elevated their game when needed to bring them championships and what made them champions - Someone can be +30 with 20 goals and 20 assists in rounds 1 and 2, but if you can't get past the conference finals and can't help your team win a cup... what good are you? He chokes on the biggest stage and that's where I think it is relevant... that is at least the point I'm getting at.

D) He had lost his confidence like Jokinen had in Tampa Bay and nothing went right. Flyers was a chance of fresh start for him. Lack of effort? You mean he didn't want to even try? Hmm... weird that he decided to come all the way through AHL then and not go to KHL to get some money and top6 ice time if he wasn't even gonna try. As I said: when you have lost your confidence even all the little things are going wrong on the ice. It may look like it's being lazy or not trying, but when you're scoring most of the little things go right as well. There are numerous players like Leino in the NHL who are not very useful and not playing well if they don't produce offensively (like his linemate Danny Briere for example). We have the luxury of having guys like Zetterberg and Datsyuk who are great defensively even when they don't produce offense. You can't expect anything like that from a 800k guy though.

OMFG. The whining. Does it take a genius to understand that the Winter Classic is marketed NOT TO YOU! You are already a fan. Bettman doesn't give a s*** about you. You're going to watch hockey anyway. You are already a fan. He isn't concerned with the feelings of Wings, Habs, Leafs, Rangers, etc...FANS. This is the biggest game for them to market to NEW FANS. Hence they're going to put the 2 players/teams that they think can generate the most buzz for NEW FANS! BETTMAN DOES NOT CARE IF "FANS OF HOCKEY" HATE THIS. YOU ARE ALREADY A FAN. THE WC AIN'T FOR YOU! Where is the rocket science in this? Pretty easy to understand if you ask me.

This is all there is to root for at this point.

Chicago to make the finals..........then lose. I'll get to go to a Chicago home game if they make SCF, and I'll love rooting against them.

MOST OVERRATED SAVE OF THE YEAR. The second chance was completely a result of failing to properly control the rebound on the first shot! Yes, the first save looked great, and the second save was a good reaction. But he never has to make that second save if not for his initial rebound failure. If he redirects it properly, the Wings might get to turn that back up ice and get a great scoring chance with Hanzal trapped in the corner like he was.