Carman

BUT IF KOPECKY ISN'T ON THE TEAM WHO IN THE HELL IS GOING TO DEMONSTRATE AND INSPIRE TO ALL THE YOUNG BENDERS OUT THERE THAT CAN BARELY STAND ON THEIR SKATES? WHOOOOO?

I believe that's what people are impressed by, not so much the finish, but the move he pulled on hamirlik. Also the goal wasn't bad by itself, Price isn't swiss cheese.

To be fair to Greene he isn't AWFUL defensively, he is decent enough and the norris is a combination of offense and defense. I wouldn't be against him winning the norris IF he pulls considerabely ahead of all the other defensemen. By my definition I'd say he needs to get 15-20 points ahead of the other D to get any votes this season in my opinion. With that said I think it should go to Chara or Lidstrom depending on who finishes the season better.

As much as I enjoy funny/cool nicknames, as a hockey player short-sweet names are far easier to use. So I suppose that's why people use them.

Yeah, I'm defending Crosby, but it's quite evident Ovechkin is the better player that's no contest. I personally love Crosby's game, and have been following him since I first heard about him 5 years ago. If you think he is a boring player, then you a much different view of hockey then me, and that's fine

You are correct, the captain of a Stanley Cup finals team whose team just lost the first game is going to openly and convincing tell the media that they shouldn't even be the SFC and that he is a pansy...

Ugh, I honestly don't know why I said Franzen, I don't think Franzen has ever successfully punched anyone. My bad haha.

Almost every post in this thread that you made in this thread about Crosby is saying how much you don't like him. You said you hope he isn't going to be representing Canada with a "C". It's your opinion, and your entitled to it, but in my opinion you are being too hard on a great hockey player. It just seems that you are trying to insult everything about him, granted you didn't say anything negative about his game. I was wrong to assume that considering you hope he gets injured, you actually think he can play hockey well.

Fact is enforcers don't stop Laperriere hitting Lidstrom. Or Suter from hitting Hudler. Also enforcers tend to make games more scrapy therefore promoting frusteration, and unfortunately "cheap shots". I agree I don't like the idea of Hossa "enforcing", but it's his decision, I'm sure Lilja or a healthy Franzen can step up and do the job if the time comes. What enforcers do is get the crowd into the game, help momentum, and generate excitement which is a big help in itself.

His cap-hit is going to be pretty significant, although he would be a safer bet then Hedman. I just don't see him getting the ice time he probably deserves in Detroit. /shrug.

Well, it wasn't a cut and dry decision, but hell I just don't see how Tavares would realistically work with the Red Wings, whereas I would see Hedman fitting in considering current depth. Although the more I think about it, we don't have a definite top 6 forward prospect, so I see where you are coming from.

Enforcers don't "discourage" cheap shots, if anything they promote it. Ryan Suter is far from a "goon". Hossa has fought before, it is his decision. I'm sure if Lilja was out there it would have been him though(Also if I'd bet Franzen would fight if he wasn't coming off a hand injury). With that said I like fighting and would love a Chris Neil type player, but finding those players are hard. And I agree that in a perfect world I would wish Kopecky would go back to how he was over a year ago.

Tavares is a better player at the moment, but offensive talent is a lot easier to find then a young 6'5 defenseman that can play the game. Therefore I'd pick Hedman.

Trying to discredit a 20 year old who helped his team make the SCF, and put up over 222 points in his first two years of playing is ridiculous. I get it you are jealous of his hype. Fair enough. But Crosby is a great player, there is no way to deny that. Hate the media not the player. He has had media follow him since he was 14. The fact is Sidney Crosby became so overrated, that he is now underrated can't people understand that? /sigh.

First 4 years of their careers Playoffs Crosby GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2005-06 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 81 39 63 102 110 -- -- -- -- -- 2006-07 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 79 36 84 120 60 5 3 2 5 4 2007-08 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 53 24 48 72 39 20 6 21 27 12 2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 57 21 52 73 65 Hossa Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1998-99 Ottawa Senators NHL 60 15 15 30 37 4 0 2 2 4 1999-00 Ottawa Senators NHL 78 29 27 56 32 6 0 0 0 2 2000-01 Ottawa Senators NHL 81 32 43 75 44 2000-01 Ottawa Senators NHL 81 32 43 75 44 4 1 1 2 4 Highest point total for Hossa has been 100 in 06. Crosby has hit 100 twice both in his first two years. No offense to Hossa, but I'd take crosby.

Osgood's positioning has not been good this year, he is opening himself for a lot more "bad bounces" then he has in the past. His mechanics aren't as sharp. There is such a thing as "bad bounces", but not "consistent bad bounces".

Hate the media, not the player. Gretzky, Yzerman, Lemieux all complained to the refs. Part of hockey, especially when you are especially skilled and get a lot of attention on the ice. There aren't a lot of players out there that get as much attention on the ice then Crosby, and he is still racking up the points. Crosby is a excellent player. Granted he is overexposed by a lot, you shouldn't blame the kid for that, he has been followed around by the media since he was 14, I'm surprised he isn't cockier then he shows now.

Haha that's some pretty good stuff

Dallas Drake had many years of experience of being a 4th line energy player. He knew that was his last chance for the cup, and played with every ounce of hockey blood in him to achieve his goal. It's not my place to say Kopecky won't have the same desire, but given Drake's experience it's a safe bet he knew the chance he has much more then Kopecky would. Comparing the two really isn't a fair assessment at all. Kopecky has done nothing so far this year to prove that he is even half of the hockey player Drake was. I do hope he flips around and starts laying bodies all over the ice, but considering his knee, and his god awful skating ability that has been seen this season I would be surprised if he manages to do anything in the postseason besides maybe skating into the goalie or blocking a breakout pass with his useless 6'3 stature. With that said, we can't send him down, he is cheap, young, and is better then many other teams 4th liners, therefore I hope he can turn the script around and come closer to hitting his "potential" this postseason. At least then we might be able to get a little better trade value for him . Bleh, there is always that player that stands out negatively, with all that said, be grateful we just have Kopecky.

Damn how many highlights is this guy going to have? What a stud. Great goal.

I don't think Kopecky played terrible, but nothing "impressive" either; although he did his job for the most part tonight. Helm is fitting the criteria of a 3rd line center perfectly, good energy, good pressure in offense zone, good face-off %, improving his puck control/defensive play. Really impressed with his play lately. Leino had a quiet, but strong game, playing on a 4th line is probably a weird feeling for the guy, can't wait to see him part of the top 6 down the road.

Kopecky doesn't kill enough penalites.

That would be my guess, either way it's only going to help the team good see him back in the line-up. Also really happy to see Helm crack the line up, hopefully he can settle down and get into a groove /crosses fingers for keeping leino up over kopecky or malts.

Man the sky is the limit for that man. He is pure gold.

Manny Legace Boyd Devereaux Tomas Kopecky Todd Bertuzzi