toby91_ca

Well, I don't mind an open ice hit from behind as much (if you have the puck), but when you are facing the boards, you better damn well make sure there are stop signs put on the backs of players. I know guys personally that are not able to walk because of hits from behind into the boards.

It is being investigated for possible suspension. Kovalchuk's comments: Is it just me, or is everyone else shaking their heads at the comments? When I watched the replay, it looked like Rozsival was facing the boards for quite a long while and Kovalchuk simply hit him from behind, jumped a bit no less. This isn't one of those turning at the last minute as Kovalchuk suggests.

No you don't.

Without evening thinking too hard, I can come up with Crosby and Ovechkin as guys that played mostly with linemates nowhere near their skill level. Did Kovalev ever play on a line with Jagr?

So, are you saying what happens in the last 30-40 games each year (i.e. after the allstar game) means nothing? Why wouldn't you consider a player's accomplishments since the last game?

I understand the:what have you done for me lately thought, but he was the runner up for the Norris and leading scorer amongst defensemen last year, we aren't talking about his entire career here. Look at it his way, if Crosby was injured before the season started and he didn't start playing until 30 games in are you going to say that when he is just starting playing, he isn't one of the best players? Again, I understand taking him out of the running for an award, but I'd want to watch Niedermayer in the allstar game because he's one of the best, I don't care that he missed most of the first half.

But the problem is that a lot of analysts and fans confuse best stickhandler with most talented. You would be surprised at the number of vast number of sickly talented stickhandlers that exist on this plant, but lack the overall talent required to play in the NHL. If you want to watch the best displays of stickhandling, you will probably see it from a young NHL player, not from a seasoned vet. Has anyone noticed that Datsyuk doesn't try stickhandling as much as he did in his early years? As you gain experience, you learn that pretty much everyone in the league is a good stickhandler, but sometimes, easier, less flashy plays are much more effective. While Kovalev may be the best stickhandler out there for the past while, he lacks other skills. Not saying he doesn't have other skills, I'm just trying to explain why he isn't the leading scorer every year.

I'm surprised there is so much emotion on who makes the allstar game and who doesn't, it really doesn't mean anything. In terms of Niedermayer making the team, I don't get too fussed about it. I can see the reason for complaining, but I will look at it from a slightly different angle. If we were talking about winning a major award, I think you factor in the fact that he wasn't around for much of the season, but when it comes to the allstar game, don't you want the best players there? He is one of the best defensemen in the league, so it's tough to argue.

Yes, that is true. Ferguson tried to fire him awhile back, likely thinking that would help him keep his job. I disagree with you though, no way do I think Maurice should have been the one to go first. Maurice will lose his job eventually when everything is cleaned up and new people are controlling things, but I don't think Maurice is the problem, so he'll stick around for a little bit. Ferguson is definately the guy that had to go first, though maybe it should have been at the same time as replacing the President, etc.

Firing Ferguson is a good move, but simply replacing the GM isn't what everyone has been waiting for, changes need to be a little bit above the GM position.

I can do that....well, obviously not as good, but I can get a one-handed backhander in the top shelf. While I believe he is one of, if not the best stickhandlers out there, I don't think the video really showed any of that. The rest of the stuff was pretty good, but the top corner shots from in close really are not that difficult. The shots from his knees, etc. way back at centre ice are pretty impressive though. I would like to know how much editing went into this though. He is not known as one of the better accuracy shooters so I would imagine there was a lot of takes.

What worries me about this is the nature of the injury. This is the type of thing that could follow him for his entire career. He can go for long stretches of time where it feels great and then all of a sudden (sometimes for now reason) you get a flare up and have to miss some games.

Meaning? I will admit having a bit of bias towards Crosby (whether actual or subconcious), but I like to think that I am not someone who puts him higher on a pedastal than he deserves. I try to stick to facts. It may appear otherwise, since I may defend him at times, but that's only because he gets so much undue heat (though, he seems to be getting less over time). I haven't wasted my time reading a lot of this thread, I skimmed the last page and noticed something about someone admitting they laughed when he got injured, which, to be honest, I simply don't get. My thoughts on the injury? Not good. It's not good that we are now a few days after the incident and there is still no clear prognosis. I have heard potentially 8 weeks. It doesn't appear to be something that will hurt him in the long run, but you never know. For the Pens, you have to hope they maintain a playoff spot and Sid comes back 100%, ready to go. Timing is pretty bad too, as I for one expected him to take over the scoring lead in that game and potentially not look back.

Not surprised by Iginla at all, he has been a captain for longer than Lids. Either would have been a good choice. I am surprised by Vinny, he isn't exactly known as a great leader and he isn't even the captain of his team.

I'm not sure they give up the players and picks you mention unless they negotiate an extension with Hossa at the same time.

I understand the concerns from a cap perspective, but that's where the concerns need to end. I wonder if everyone here really understands just how good he is. Just as a comparison, he has outscored both Datsyuk and Zetterberg every single year (goals and points). He is also durable, rarely misses a game, which, unfortunately, we haven't been able to say about Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Stats comparison: Datsyuk - 410gp, 125g, 383pts Hossa - 447gp, 213g, 462pts (during Datsyuk's time in the league) Zetterberg - 322gp, 136g, 298pts Hossa - 367gp, 182g, 396pts Oh and he's also younger than Datsyuk.

I didn't see what the issue was at all, when I had the volume off. After turning the volume up, I guess the issue is if the hit was late or not (after the whistle). I don't see the hit as being late at all, how could he stop the hit? It wasn't that long after the whistle. Shouldn't even have been a 2 minute penalty. I agree with you thoughts though, the only reason it is being discussed is because it's Downie. Hits just after the whistle happen ALL THE TIME, in almost every game I would bet. Rarely are they even called for a penatly.

I would love to be able to simply say 2 points for a win and 0 points for a loss, but I'm not sure if it is possible. If you go to a 10 minute OT, I think most games would be decided in that 10 minutes, but if you really don't want to end in a tie and you have to go to a shootout to decide, I really struggle with not giving a single point to a team that loses in a shootout.

No mention of Chara yet?

Wilf Paiement Bonus: 88

His mother was an extra on the set of ET......enough said. Oh damn, ET came out a few years after Datsyuk was born, they must have met earlier.

Well, Malkin has 23 goals and 52 points, compared to Savard's 11 goals and 47 points. Yes, Malkin has Crosby, but the two have only played together for the past 10 games or so. Beyond those two, there isn't much offense, even though a lot of people would have you think otherwise.

Well, I don't think the whole "goalie can't play the puck over the redline rule" really applies here anyway. This is the shootout. A shootout has nothing to do with the actual game of hockey, so why should the rules governing the game of hockey apply. The shootout has its own rules.

Poor Malkin, he gets robbed when the allstar reserves were named and now that Heatley is injured, he's robbed again as Savard was named as the replacement.

TSN is just reporting that they expect Cujo to make a decision this afternoon and it is likely either the Rangers or the Flames.