kipwinger

Everybody is making it seem like the Bruins are some kind of unstoppable juggernaut like the 2002 Wings, and that nobody even stands a chance against what is undoubtedly the most awesomely built team in decades. They're a one seed. I get it. You don't get to be a one seed by being bad. But it's nothing new or scary. It's just hype. They've got weaknesses and strengths like everyone else. Speed, grit, and timely goaltending from Jimmy could give them fits. They're not immune to it.

I agree that there's no need to be up in arms about something that didn't happen. But I disagree that nobody knew how good Nyquist and Tatar would be. A year ago they were both top twenty scorers in the AHL, and Nyquist was top two or three. While that's not a guarantee of success in the NHL, it basically means they're among the 20 or so best players not currently playing in the NHL. It's not like those two were unproven in the way a Mantha, or Frk, or Athanasiou are. They basically had more value than almost anyone in the hockey world not playing in the NHL (and more than a lot of bottom six NHLers).

This sounds bogus to me. Holland would be a fool to offer that and Feaster would be a fool not to take it. Ultimately he took a much worse package in that deal. Don't get me wrong, Feaster is stupid, but even he doesn't turn down two grade A prospects for who worse prospects and a first. Especially considering Bouwmeester was moving one way or another so he couldn't exactly hold out for more. Not buying it.

I thought the exact same thing. And the Tigers were better, let's not kid ourselves. You can thank that loss on the masterful bullpin management of Jimbo.

Ladies and gentlemen, you heard it here first, two bold predictions for this series. The Datsyuk and Bergeron lines cancel one another out thus freeing up the eventual reconstituted Legwand, Franzen, and Nyquist line and the Goose gets loose. SECONDLY, and this is the big one...after taking some time to identify the mismatch and grow comfortable with it, Uncle Mike matches up the kid line against the Krejci, Iginla, Lucic line and the latter never get to another loose puck for the remainder of the series. Speed kills. Bonus Prediction: Wings in five. f*** you Boston.

Now that we're not in the same division I don't have the reluctance I once did. But I catch your drift.

Yeah, I got a pretty big chuckle out of that as well. Still love Backes though.

Agreed. I just wanted to pick "other" to be different. I'm like the goth kid of hockey forums. You don't understand me and you never will mom!

Pour mes ancêtres canadiens-français, et comme un géant "vas te faire encule" à la Maples Leafs de Toronto, je soutiens le bleu, blanc et rouge!

He's exactly the kind of coach that Washington needs in order to instill some work ethic, defense, and discipline into their underachieving asses. As such he will almost certainly not be hired and they will instead pursue some non-entity who fits their hairbrained notion that you can win a Cup on pure unadulterated goalscoring.

This is awesome. "When all else fails, why NOT support a historic franchise with excellent coaching, solid young player development, and consistently sane management"? Yes: Detroit. No: Philadelphia. Truer words were never spoken.

I chose "other" and I'm voting Danny Dekeyser. Logged hard minutes, against good competition, and played very well. All in his rookie year. If Smith's uneven play gets excused because he's a rookie, Dekeyser deserves HUGE kudos for being a rookie and playing extremely well. Just imagine what our defense looks like without him.

Awww, poor Bill Buckner. Great photoshop but I can't help feeling bad for Bill after watching ESPN's 30 for 30 on him and Steve Bartman.

If MacDonald is worth 5 million dollars as a stay at home defensive d-man then Ericsson is worth fifty millionty zillionty dollars for being the same thing only bigger, strong, and faster. Macdonald is a good player, don't get me wrong. But he's basically the Ryan Callahan of defensemen. A little engine that could.

Columbus plays a playoff style all year long. They're plucky, get timely scoring, good defense and great goaltending. If they skate hard and make Crosby work for his ice I think they could give the Pens trouble. I'm rooting for them, but in the end I don't think they beat the Pens...unless Fleury is horrible.

What, the Flyers overpayed for a hockey player? YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!!!!

I actually agree with your thoughts here. But a Stanley Cup playoff series against arguably the best team in the league isn't exactly the time to be hashing out chemistry issues. We already know that Nyquist can score with Franzen and Legwand. Leave him there and let him produce immediately. We're going to need it.

Not I said the fly. When Nyquist is on a line with Dats he doesn't seem to produce. Leave him with Legwand and Franzen and but Dats with Alfie and Abdelkader until Z gets back. Nothing about Dats and Nyquist playing together thus far has been a success, the only reason everybody likes it is because they're mesmerized by the thought of the two together...regardless of the cold hard reality.

What a save!

Let the media circus and public condemnation begin.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire for Shanny. He traded the second most scrutinized job in hockey for the first most scrutinized job in hockey. Geesh, we get it already, you're not afraid of the pressure!

He's not complacent, he does lots of things to improve the team. Your problem with him is that you don't agree with those things. In the past three years he signed Alfredsson, Weiss, Gustavsson, Tootoo, and Samuelsson, and traded for Quincey and Legwand. Conservatively speaking that an acquisition of three top six forwards (Legwand, Alfie, Weiss), two bottom six forwards, and a backup goalie who's currently playing better than our starter. He also locked up Datsyuk for the remainder of his career, and signed Jimmy, Smith, and most of our young guys to cap friendly contracts. That's a s*** ton. If you don't like it, fine, I'm not here to convince you. But don't mask your objection in this "he's complacent" language because it's demonstrably false.

Yeah because making the playoffs is horrible. I think that would fall under the "successfully help build your organization to the pinnacle of your industry" part. He was the head of scouting before he was the GM. Given how good our scouting was during his tenure (Fedorov, Lidstrom, Osgood, McCarty, Konstantinov, etc. etc. etc.) I'd say his work qualifies as "helping build the organization".

Successfully help build your organization to the very pinnacle of your industry and then keep it there for 22 years and you might.

You think people here like him because of what he has or has not done as a GM? Maybe. But my guess is people like him because he's Steve Yzerman and they're in love with the idea of "the Captain" coming back to Detroit. As such they'd likely be in favor of him coming back no matter whether he was any good at his job or not. Also Yzerman most definitely had something do to with a trade demand that was directly linked to his (Yzerman's) actions. I think you're being a little loose with your history if you think his hands were tied on the St. Louis trade, and I totally disagree that Lecavalier was a "franchise player". Maybe once, but not anymore. Good move on Yzerman's part for buying him out, but it's not like he was trading Gretzky in his prime or anything. Lecavalier is and was done.