Opie

To me the best thing the B's could do with him is have him play with Savard and Bergereon, obviously not now but next year. Putting him with playmakers on the top line would, as you so succinctly put it, make Savard and Bergereon feel 8' tall and untouchable, because the second some one crossed the line with one of those two BAM!!!!!! Lucic puts them in their place, this kid got into a fight with the flyers precisely 0 seconds into a game. Opening puck drop, boom he is throwing down. But like you said he also has the hands of a finisher, he makes decent passes, finds open ice very well, has no fear, none whatsoever he will fight whomever is in front of him, he will bang in the corners with anyone, and he is only 19, that deserves repeating, he is 19!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey when you made that trade did they show a cut scene of me wetting my pants of the deal!!!! Because that would be what happened if the Wings ever found a way to get Lucic! The way the players talk about him, Savard has mad man love for this guy, can you blame him, he scored a really nice top shelf goal last game, was hitting, creating turnovers. The reason I bumped the man I love this kid thread!

Seriously all of this blame Dom s*** for one loss, come on folks, playoff hockey more than any time of the year is about the team, secondary scoring is important, not because of the regular season, ask AO and the caps, it is important because your primary scoring can be shut down, coaches will focus harder on that scoring option, ask AO and the caps. Also team defense becomes more important in the playoffs as well. Then when you consider that, it was the first playoff game in their barn this season, the crowd was probably really amped (missed the game, for good reasons wink, wink). If you really want to get nit picky and blame Dom, why not blame the forwards for not scoring more, or the D for not scoring more, or why not blame the forwards for not backchecking hard enough. OH I know why it is so easy to blame the netminder, because he is on an island, he is the last line of defense. I used to get so pissed at my teammates in soccer when I would give up a 2-1 goal and they would have the nerve to blame me while they stood at center field and didn't help out on the play. Sometimes a goalie gets hung out to dry, would you blame Ellis for the game winner in Game one? No Z got a great pass that he could shoot with out stopping the puck therefore Ellis had no shot at it, because he had no clue where Z or the puck were. Again I didn't see the game but the way people describe the "Weak" goals he gave up, it didn't seem like he had much of a shot. I will watch the highlights and maybe change my mind, but some pretty reputable posters, who usually are not biased, have told me enough not to blame one person!

I think the style of play he likes to see (exemplified in Cleary) is more suited for Playoff Hockey than a lot of coaches around the league, but because you style is suited to playoffs doesn't make you a great playoff coach. The thing that made Scotty so great (besides great talent, that sounded like a dig on him not meant to be) is that the other coach had no idea what he was going to do, line combos were changing not only all series but some times shift to shift. He would have his best offensive line play a defensive role ans shut down the top line, and then send the grind line out to try and score, he was so unpredictable. I think we are starting to see a little of that in Babs, it is hard not having the last change, but at home execpt for the 1st line he moved guys around a bit. Give him time and he will be a great coach. I don't think we will see a Dave Lewis situation where it is a couple of years and done. Babs has a fire on the bench that Lewis never had, in Det or Bos. I think Lewis was a great locker room, x and o's, type coach. Which was great when he was an assistant to Bowman, but as a head coach he struggled and was, IMHO, way too passive behind the bench. We've seen that babs has passion behind the bench, and emotion. It is hard to fire your guys up when you don't have much emotion yourself. OF course I was never in the Locker room with Lewis so this is all speculation.

Those are a lot of shoulds, and did you just try to use logic, seriously dude, these refs have a hard enough time with black and white rules, let along logic, holy s***. I am not sure the war room in Toronto has the capabilities to use logic. (Not making fun of you but the refs!)

Good to see you root for the team not a player!

The MON/BOS series is not much better guys, Montreal (Kovalev especially) are embellishing every little stick tap on the shin pads, any contact from a stick no matter how strong or weak of contact they are going down like a ton of bricks and getting the calls. After the 2nd period of game three Julien must have told the B's to do the same. This series has more diving in it than Greg Louganis' career! Yet I think if someone two handed a guy across the face they would not see it. I saw a Bruin(savard I beliece) get spun 360 from a hook, a legit hook and pull, with a ref with 15 feet of him, no call. Minutes later Kovalev barely gets tapped on the shin with the heel of a stick (Krejci's I believe), he spins, falls, arms flailing, the puck goes flying and 2 minutes for the B, that one was in OT of the 2nd game and led to the game winner, by Kovalev, captain diver himself!!!

So that you know, the only person who should tell me to stop posting in these threads is my boss, since I usually do this in front of him, and the fact I am working from home today, there is no reason for me to stop posting my opinion. And I wasn't complaining/whining some one said that the league should worry more about officials, this should have been covered by the original sportsmanship rule, but since they didn't call it I think the league released this "New" rule statement to cover up more bad officiating, which is already beginning to plaque this offseason. But that is my opinion, I admit I may be wrong, but it is still my opinion and until proven wrong it will be. But thanks dad!

The problem is the piss poor referees. If they enforced the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty the way the current rule book says, he would have got 2mins for unsportsmanlike conduct and then everyone would be talking about the asshat cost his team a 5-3.

You are arguing to argue now, I never said he hit Broduer, or that swinging near someone should be a penalty. I said it was dangerous to do that, which is why there is a high sticking penalty. But you keep searching people's post to find one thing you can argue with, I will chalk it up to the playoffs have you off of your game.

Hasn't that been the secret to beating Det for the past 10 years, they are soft Euros that don't want to be hit? I see nothing new or controversial here, other than the person who said it.

I don't care about the jumping around like an idiot that just makes him look like more of an asshat, but I think the swinging his stick at/around Marty's mask is just classless! 1. he can't see the puck he has no idea when or where Marty may move to. 2. it is dangerous to wave your stick around some ones head, intentionally to be annoying or trying to get a puck. That is why there is high sticking penalties. Just because Avery is doing the I am not touching you thing my 7 year old cousin stopped doing a year ago, doesn't mean he couldn't potentially hurt someone. I do agree it is classless and unsportsmanlike to dance around like that, but that is not my main issue with this. Let me ask you a question, What if he hits Broduer in the head and gives him a concussion, are you still ok with it? Or is it because no one got hurt that it is ok? Isn't he a hockey player?, so he should be doing what he can to make hockey plays at all times. Besides annoying Broduer what hockey play can he make from that position, can he tip a pass/shot intentionally? No he was being an asshat.

OsGod, Come on dude I know you are more intelligent than that, or someone hijacked your account. You are trying to compare what Avery did to a fan yelling you suck. 1. Avery's employer is the NHL (more specifically the Rags) and they can control how an employee or a member of than union/organization can behave, talk, even what they wear. 2. A fan is a paying customer, and while I don't think that gives them the liberty to be an asshat, it puts them out of the control of the NHL. The only thing the NHL can do is stop certain actions, they cannot stop someone from yelling. Plus you are comparing Avery standing 3 feet from Broduer swinging a stick at him and jumping around, to someone in the stands yelling at him. But Avery probably belongs in the stands, not due to skill mind you, that way he can act like a child all he wants. This man's mouth and actions make him out to be an 8 year old boy. There is no denying he is talented but is he worth the distraction to his own team. Apparently LA and DET thought NO!!

Hey man no harm no foul, sorry for coming back at you! Sometimes it is tough to separate the legit posts and the endless babble of player x needs more ice or needs to be a wing because I like him.

Because then all of their friends can say OMGFHflhfkjdhkjafdkjhadkjf so and so is such an internet bad ass!!!! I love the internet but the feeling of invincibility it gives people because you can type whatever you want and no one can hold you accountable because even if you account gets banned you just create a new one with yet another fake email address or whatever that site uses as criteria. No offense to who was talking about getting banned from the preds site. But the guise of internet tough guy gets to me, soft spot so to speak!

Not to argue or fight with you but there is a reason I typed the words I AM NOT SURE, Babs probably knows or someone who watched him work his way through the I and A HL may know, but I don't.

He was trying to and was successful at trying to get Broduer to take a penalty. He faked a swing at Marty's head multiple times, why wouldn't Marty flinch. I don't care how much experience you have, how much protection you have, if a guy swings his stick towards your head you are going to flinch, if a shot happens when Broduer thinks he is about to get hit in the head what then, do you think it is a legit goal and move still?

Against a team like ANA, SJS, or CAL his skill set will be needed. Against Nashville there is no need for him. I am not sure Mac can fight like he used to so Babs may need to bring in Downey. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS: Whatever decision BABS makes I will support, he is using guys when he needs to, he calls a time out at a great time and it turns out that he puts everyone's favorite whipping boy out after the TO and guess what his play leads to the momentum breaker. Babs knows what he is doing and to this point NONE OF US have the knowledge or credentials to question him. Those of you that are bashing Sammy for his play in the first two games of this series are just being blind biased haters. For some reason, whether it be him pissing in you cheerios, kicking your dog, hitting your g/f or wife doggy style making her call him Gordie Howe, whatever your reasons for not liking him you are letting it get in your way. Does he make the diving play to save the PP that Stuart made, no I don't think so. But show me which of his mistakes led directly or indirectly to a goal in this series or that cost the wings a goal or a game (oh wait that one is impossible). I am sure in this day and age of technology you should be able to find all of his glaring mistakes pretty easily. When posters type things like, "You haven't watched the games" or "use your eyes" or what other ever BS argument you use you are not backing up your post, you are trying to make a statement that some one can't reply to so that in your own little world you won the argument! Did Sammy put a can opener in Hasek's five hole for Tootoo, NO! Did he make the pass that was the Turnover, NO!! Show me what he did that is so horrible that he deserves to be sat so that a guy who can only play 5 minutes, or can only play against certain lines(that shouldn't get taken advantage of when the Preds have the last change), has very little chance of scoring a point and none in scoring a goal. (all of that is being a liability btw)! But you are right he should be in for a guy who is 5th among forward in points 7th for all skaters ranks in top 7 of almost all stats for the BEST TEAM in the league, for a guy who averages under 5 min of TOI for his career! You guys are just friggin' amazing!!

I voted yes because against a team like ANA, SJS, or CAL his skill set will be needed. Against Nashville there is no need for him. I am not sure Mac can fight like he used to so Babs may need to bring in Downey. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS: Whatever decision BABS makes I will support, he is using guys when he needs to, he calls a time out at a great time and it turns out that he puts everyone's favorite whipping boy out after the TO and guess what his play leads to the momentum breaker. Babs knows what he is doing and to this point NONE OF US have the knowledge or credentials to question him.

A few, a few, did you just type a few times!! I started taking shots after every time they were offsides, by the time the third period started I had switched to water, and I am not bragging here but I can handle my booze and put some back. That was just too much alcohol for me!!!

Melrose on Sportcenter just said this kid is the next Terry O'Reilly or Cam Neely, I hope he meant crowd favorite wise, because that would be like saying Abdelkader is the next Howe. Granted their maybe similarities between Terrible Terry or Cammer and Lucic, but shouldn't melrose at least wait until the kid turns 20 to make that assessment! Oh and the kid is playing great hockey right now, hitting, scoring, grinding he could very well be the next thing in Beantown, but not Terry or Cam! Yet!!!

Oddly enough I think Avery hitting Broduer was ok because of the situation, I think his goaltender interference call was BS and the make up call 10 seconds later depicted that. However I still think this act was BS. He is having a great series, yet this is what he gets noticed for. Had he just played hard, screen him (without fake swinging at Broduer's head) he probably would be talked about because of his Offensive production, but alas, Avery's ass does more of his thinking than his brain I think!

The hit just made Sportcenters Ultimate Highlight!! BTW I love working from home, the internet is beautiful!

BTW, melrose on sportscenter just said some one on the Devils should have punched him in the face! Great Barry but that is what Avery wants, then he can dive like the vid below and turn a 5-3 to back to back 5-3's. name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>&"> name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" />

Doc Emmerick needs to move on, did you see how bad he is shaking, he looks to not be doing so well health wise. But I have to say after watching the Sox/Yanks on ESPN last night anything has to be better than the threesome of Gammons, Miller, Morgan. Watching and listening to them is like watching some one die a very slow painful death. So they make any announcers look like gold!!