toby91_ca

Except that record wouldn't even get you in the top 10

The only way you'd consider whether the 25 games would need to be shorter because of a shorter regular season would be if last season was a short season. Since it wasn't, the 25 game rule applies and he only played 14. This year has nothing to do with it. Even if last year was a shortened season though, you would still use the 25 games as the limit, so it really doesn't matter.

He's not eligible....too old.

Okay, I'm guessing Brunner will have less than that and Parise probably more....well, you'd hope more. If he's only putting up those stats, huge overpayment for him. So you think Brunner would be a 30-35 goal scorer right away (assuming full season)? That's completely possible, from my perspective, I just see it as a pure unknown as he's never played in NA...how will his game translate. Why hasn't he played in NHL yet? All those types of questions.

I'd think 62 points would be closer to 2 or 3 seed, that's the equivalent of a 106 point full season.

Did you consider the season being 48 games when you suggested Parise would score less than 30 (any more than 25 or so would be equivalent to a career high, so less than 30 seems like a lock) and Brunner scoring close to 20?

I get that, but there is a lot on that list that goes beyond what reasonable people would even debate about. People will debate any list that is put together, the issue is the glaringly bad placements of some players that I would imagine almost everyone would argue against.

I didn't go throught the whole list, one by one, who has time for that? But, the list looks really strange. People can argue about whether they think Crosby is the best in the world all they want, that's fine, either way, he should be near the top of the list. Also, people can argue all they want about Datsyuk and where he should rank on the list, you'll get a range of where people think he should be, but who would have him at #79? I think a logical person woudl start looking at offensive production coming down, him getting older, etc., but that isn't enough to push him that far back. Look at a lot of the guys ahead of him. Beyond that, the list and the details are just weird. Some of the players they are using stats from 2 years ago, not last year (e.g. Kesler in at #7). How is Ovechkin at #2? If you want to be totally blinded by offsensive stats and push guys like Datsyuk way back (even though his offensive stats were still better than a lot of guys ahead of him), how can you not look at Ovechkin's stats and do the same thing. I get that he is still a great player, but #2? I'm sure there are tons of other head scratchers in there, but not enough time now to go through it in detail.

Seriously? You think all players should have no trade clauses?

I'd be willing to be that in Canada, the fee will be close to double that, perhaps less for 1st time subsriber.

For us in Canada, I'm not sure specifics, but there will be reduced cost due to shortened season. I suspect Bell/Rogers would simply take regular price * 48/82 tough. What annoys me though is that new potential customers always get treated better than long-time customers, as usual. I'm sure a new subscriber will be able to get it a lot cheaper than me....something just doesn't seem to make sense to me about that, although I know why they do it.

League doesn't control Centre Ice either, that's up to the cable companies.

top 1% probably isn't the best statement since they are really the top, approximately, 1/500th of a precent.

In 1994-95 (48 game season), the league leader had 32 goals.

It would be absolutely magical if you could produce some form of evidence to back up your claims. Crosby has scored 103pts in his last 63 games....which would prorate to 78pts over 48 games. His ppg pace over the past couple years has far exceeded anyone else, so if he doesn't (i.e. injury concerns, etc.), might be tough for someone else to get to 60pts (that would be at a 1.25ppg pace, which not many guys get to these days).

You're right, I read obstruction and assumed trap...probably shouldn't have. However, if you watched games in the high scoring 80s, you'd know that obstruction existed then as well and probably to a greater extent than the late 90s. The biggest difference was style of play (way more wide open, no traps) and smaller goalie pads + less technically sound goaltending. If you want to blame Bettman for trying to remove the skill from the game by making it harder to score (i.e. bigger goalie pads, etc.).....fine....but this is the first I've heard of anyone arguing Bettman was behind the increase in the size of pads and other equipment, I find that a little hard to believe.

I'm not sure how you can link Bettman to the trap....that came from coaching. I suppose you can blame him for not being proactive enough in trying to implement rules to remove it from the game....but that's a stretch.

The correct answer is "No." To go one step further, not only will no one score 50, no one will score 40 either. Edit: to put it into perspective, the most prolific goal scoring season in the past 15 years or so was when Ovechkin scored 65 goals in 2007-08. That would amount to 38 goals over a 48 game season and that assumes the player would play all 48 games. Also, overall scoring has come down quite a bit since then as well.

Oh, I know, my comment was more for the comedy

Forward group is better than last year I think. Defense definitely looks worse, but I'd rather that than the other way around. Defense is easier to improve systematically. I often see defensemen look great with one team and not so good with another. Same could be said for a forward group, but I tend to think you either have the talent at forward or you don't.

2004-05

Not sure, but my thoughts would be as follows: - realignment wouldn't have been part of the CBA, many other things might need joint agreement between players and owners, but not necessarily part of an overal CBA agreement. - realignment won't happen for this shortened season. If there will be realignment, the players and owners must agree on it and it would happen for the 2013-14 season at the earliest. The only reason the last realignment didn't go through is because the players weren't consulted. I believe they took a stand and didn't approve it to show the league that they won't be pushed around (just my thought).

I believe you, but the information you are getting isn't being interpreted correctly. Several different people are being asked to make preparations with the hope that a deal gets done. Fact of the matter is, no one knows exactly where they stand in negotiations on all the issues except those that are in the board room. Even the people in the room wouldn't be able to say if or when a deal will get done. The one piece of information I do have, which is a fact, is that the deal is not yet done.

What does it matter? He didn't say anything everyone else didn't already know or say.

I disagree. If the PA had started making proposals in January like the ones recently issued, I think we'd still be where we are, except the players would be much worse off. If the PA offers deals like that so early, the league would just have pushed for more. There's no way a deal gets done until both sides are up against the last deadline (i..e deal or no season). I think they will be be happy to meet in the middle on all oustanding issues, but no way either side will agree to that until they are out of time to do anything else.