toby91_ca

No problem

The OHL (Ontario Hockey League) is a Junior league. Crosby came from the QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League), which is the equivalent to the OHL, along with the WHL (Western Hockey League), all combining to form the CHL. The champions from each league play in the Memorial Cup to crown the CHL champion. The AHL is a professional hockey league (farm system to the NHL). This is typically where players go after leaving Junior before making the jump to the NHL. Very few players actually jump right to the NHL at the age of 18 (Crosby was the only one last year to play the full season in the NHL). Staal is another one this year, not sure if there are others. Edit: I may not be completely accurate here, but the Junior leagues are only for players aged 20 and under. I think each team is allowed to have a certain number of 21 year olds (very few, one or two?) The actual World Junior Hockey Championships, played each year around Christmas, is only for players aged 19 and under.

It is pretty much going to be opinion based, but even if you ignore the fact that Gretzky has more assists than anyone else has points, forget about the fact that he played in a high scoring era, he still dominated his era like no other. I haven't tried to check, but I would be willing to bet you could eliminate all of his goals each year and he still would have won quite a few Art Ross trophies.

3 assists in 5 games is not bad for a $1 million player, it's terrible for a $7 million player. I think the issue most people has is that they are only willing to pay hiim so much. We want him if he is making "x" dollars, but if he wants "x" maybe we let him walk. That's the general thoughts I get from most. It's not that people think he sucks (though you'll get the odd person that says that with no logic).

And World Championships last year. Crosby lead the tournament in scoring and if I am not mistaken, Bergeron was #2.

LANGENBRUNNER

He really doesn't have much chemistry at all with Crosby. They very rarely play together and when they do, there really isn't much chemistry. The reason there isn't much chemistry is because they do not play or practice together, not because the combination simply wouldn't work. They are successful sometimes when they play together, but that is more a product of skill, not chemistry. I'm sure Crosby and Heatley or Hossa would work just fine. I think Crosby probably has the best chemistry with Bergeron.

Malkin is a great rookie, but he is not amongst the elite yet. He has no business being there before Heatley or Hossa. He's also a centerman anyway.

I don't remember anyone taking paycuts to bring in other guys. Some guys deferred salary, which is completely different and that would not help under the salary cap system anyway. Also, it's easy for you to say "why don't they just take a pay cut, $5 or $6 million is enough anyway" when you are not in that position. Personally, I would like to get paid what my market value is, not a cut below that. When I was younger, I had a salary in mind that I thought I would be comfortable with for the rest of my life and since I surpassed that amount, there is no way you could convince me to take a paycut down to that amount. You really do not understand until you are in that position. The NHLPA also wouldn't like someone accepting below what their market value is, within reason of course. There is always the "minor" home town discount (Lidstrom, etc.).

He wore #10 as a freshman and #13 each of the following 3 years. I'm pretty sure he never wore an A or C, but can't confirm 100%.

There you go, thanks for the reminder, that's the other person I heard it from recently. When I heard that, I thought to myself, that can't be true, so I went and checked, sure enough, it wasn't true.

Vinny is 3rd in even strength points: Briere - 56 St. Louis - 54 Lecavalier - 52 Crosby - 51 He is 2nd in short handed points: St. Louis - 9 Lecavalier - 8 Staal - 8 I think Staal is probably more valuable to the Pens right now, but it will be difficult to ignore the fact that Malkin has 73 points vs. Staal's 37. Stastny will probably be the guy to give him the most challenge. In terms of Staal not having a minus game all year....not true, he has 11, though I heard someone else make that claim not too long ago. He actually had 3 minus games in a row back in February.

Yes, but Bouwmeester is already further ahead and is almost 3 years younger than Kronwall.

Sounds like what a lot of people said about Chelios before he became a Wing. Imagine what you would have to say about Maltby had he played for Nashville, or Colorado let's say.

I would disagree on Vinny being an all around 2-way player. I think he tends to float a little. I think Crosby continues to improve his defensive game and is better than Vinny in that area. This is subjective of course. In the other area you bring up, which is not subjective, Crosby is better on faceoffs. I didn't try to suggest Vinny's points are because he plays with St. Louis, but I think he plays mostly with him, which would be different than what you say is "often not the case." My point about St. Louis was more about him being on the same team. If a guy on your team has almost the same stats as you, it will hurt your chances (rightly or wrongly) of being the MVP.

I'm at a loss on this one. I don't remember Zetterberg getting involved in a situation where he got hurt in a game (at least not noticeable) and then all of a sudden he wasn't going to be playing the next game. Now he could be gone for awhile. It is definately concerning.

That's easy to say since it didn't happen. If the situation was reversed, everyone would be discussing how Bootland tought Tootoo a lesson.

I think Vinny's chances are severly hampered due to his linemate, who basically has the equivalent stats. Malkin is definately still the front runner for the Calder, but Stastny may give him a good run down to the end.

How is is "way better" overall? Better goal scorer? for now yes, more physical? Yes....what else?

That's funny, I can't seem to find these appently abundant articles of his cries, can you help point them out with some links? Where is this most recent one about hooking and how he can get seriously hurt. FYI, you admit yourself that you hate him more than anyone else, that pretty much makes any opinions on who should be MVP extremely biased.

Last week's news when The Hockey News issue came out, the Wings site must be a little behind.

Nope. MSG in New York is 39 years old (but underwent a $200 million reno 15 years ago. Nassau in New York is 35 years old Rexall in Edmonton is 33 years old and I have heard talks of a reno or a new arena there. Joe Louis is 28 years old Continental in New Jersey is 26 years old, but new arena is under construction. I don't think there are older ones than that, but I simply skimmed the teams in the NHL and picked out the ones that I thought had older arenas.

Wait a minute though. If you are comparing his development to someone like Pronger (I know you are not making that direct comparison, but let's pretend), when Pronger was Kronwall's age, didn't he already have a Hart, Norris and 2 plus/minus awards under his belt? There should come a point in time where he is no longer a young guy that we just need to give him time to see how he develops. I am not saying that is now, I know he has barely played a full season in the NHL (actually hasn't yet). To be honest, at 26 years old now, the fact that this is his first full season in the NHL is a bit of a concern to me. I am definately not trying to knock him or write him off, but I am certainly not yet sold on him being a star in the future. He certainly is not worth his contract right now and obviously management is banking on the contract being a bargain in the long run, we'll have to wait and see how things go.

Correct. And even though LA won last night, last night was the night they were mathematically eliminated.

They have him locked up until 2010 for the bargain basement price of $5 million per year.