toby91_ca

Well, you can't really just look at points. All the teams don't share the same schedule, especially conference vs. conference. I think the general thought is that the West is better than the East, but I don't think it's as simple as most would try to make it seem. The final teams getting a playoff spot in the East will have pretty low point totals this year, but part of that has to do with a team like Washington really cleaning up. There is only so many points to go around in a conference, so if a few teams at the top take a lot of points, there's less for the bottom end.

I'm not so sure. While I haven't heard anyone reporting this outside of Carman, it wouldn't be the first time Crosby has done this. Also, I watched the game and based on the video I saw, I'm not sure how you can conclude it hit Guerin. Good chance it hit him, but you really couldn't tell. Also, it took them forever to announce the goal, presummably to go over the video to make sure they got it right. Seems kinda strange.

Well...these 10 plays are the ones that are on the bubble, the winner will be the 20th play included in the showdown, so theoretically, there are already 19 other plays that are considered better. I have a big problem with Nash's play and I'm sure there will be others (Datsyuk vs. Chicago). If a shootoutplay wins play o fthe year, I think I'd have a serious, serious problem with that.

Perhaps, but not from playing with him, Dino was gone to Tampa Bay before Homer entered the NHL.

So, I happened to simply check the scores of all the games tonight and the 5-1 lead Carolina had over Tampa Bay caught my eye, so I guickly checked the box score and saw that Carolina scored 2 goals in the last 30 seconds of the period, 3 goals in the final 2 minutes. The Lightning were within 1 goal, only down 2-1 with 2 minutes to go in the period and then, 1.5 minutes later they are down 5-1....brutal, brutal, brutal.

Actually, they have a fairly healthy amount of cap space....though the close to $8 million cap hit they'll have for Lecavalier over the next 10 years looks pretty ugly.

I think you could draw pretty significant differences between Belfour's rookie season and Howard's, not that it really matters though. Yes, but that's really the point. With defensemen generally taking longer to develop, they tend to miss out on the Calder because they are not in the NHL at a young age or are not developed enough. So, age seems to play a bit of a role. You see very, very few young defensemen enter the league and play at the level Myers has played, that will give him a big edge I believe. However, haven't considered this much, but I think Howard will get a bit of an edge due to timing. He and his team have been playing their best hockey at the end of the season....perhaps this is what the voters will remember.

They would be better, most likely.

There's no nominations, voters are free to vote for whoever they want, the 3 "finalists" promoted to the public ahead of the awards show are simply the players that rec'd the most votes, when the finalists get announced, the winner has already been decided. I doubt Lidstrom would get in the top 3 this year, but he may get there on reputation alone. Keith will win it and will be deserving. I think Green will be in the top 3, but I'm not sure I agree with that, though his offensive numbers are impressive.

You could say the same thing about defensemen.

Technically speaking, he's not too old obviously, he's within the limit. However, I do believe his age will hurt him in the eyes of the voters.

I've seen far more people suggest "player X" from the 80s could never handle playing in today's NHL. Interesting that you have taken an opposite point of view. I will be completely honest and say that I don't remember seeing Igor play before his days in teh NHL, I'm sure I have in various international tournaments, but I have no memory of him from those days. From an NHL career alone, clearly, Datsyuk has been the better player, but in their primes? I don't know. I suspect a lot of people here (most being from North America) may have a similar difficulty in assessing.

As others have mentioned, I always look at it from the perspetive of how someone is rated. I think you can be the best player in the world and still be overrated.

Some people use "M" for million (my preference), but others us "MM" "m" = milli "M" = mille and mille is Latin for thousand, so MM = thousand thousand, which = million.

Every time NBC or Versus shows a Pens game, there seems to be an outcry from this board, it's getting extremely stupid and ignorant of facts to be honest. Firstly, yet, Versus shows more Pens games than any other team, but why wouldn't they? The Pens just won the cup and they bring ratings. HOWEVER, it's not like they show that many more games than other teams, here is their schedule (just isolating on the top teams, not the entire league): PIT - 11 CHI - 10 DET - 9 WSH - 9 NYR - 9 BOS - 8 BUF - 8 PHI - 8 MIN - 8 I don't see a whole heck of a lot to complain about regarding that schedule. Some people need to get away from the blind hatred towards the Pens and get more facts. Regarding NBC, here's their schedule: DET - 4 CHI - 3 WSH - 3 PIT - 3 PHI - 3 BOS - 3 NYR - 1 Hmmmm, should we start discussing how NBC is obviously pro Wings and how it is stupid that they always need to show Wings games? Of course not.

I can't believe it's been over 12 frickin years since he played that shift with the Detroit Vipers. Everytime I hear of a Gordie birthday and his age, I think of the shift he played at the age of 69, almost 70. Can't believe it was that long ago. Actually, can't believe it's been 11 years since Gretzky retired. Where the hell is the time going?

Related note....was listening to the radio today and the rumour I was hearing is that the number Riensdorf is thinking about in terms of purchasing the Coyotes is $60 million (quite different than the $230 million or whatever it was that Basille offered). So, the NHL purhcases for $140 million, loses $20 million (this is what the NHL suggests they'll lose this year, which I seriously doubt, it's gotta be more than that). Anyway, assuming that's right, that's $160 million put in by the NHL and then sell for $60 million = $100 million loss....to be funded by the other 29 owners.....how can they be happy about that? Of course, these numbers may be way off, but either way, the other owners are paying out of their pockets here.

I'm hoping this is a joke, but I can't tell. If not, Hudler and his 10 goals and 25 points had no chance. Regarding Fedorov, I don't think he got screwed, I think he got a little unlucky as it could have gone either way. Can't really argue against Belfour's 43 wins though.

He'll be 33 in a few months

Yzerman's name came up over the weekend, I think it was on HNIC on Saturday, but I can't remember.

True with respect to the recent hit, he needs to keep his head up, but on the Richards hit, not a matter of keeping his head up.

I don't think so, in that case, you could have a guy with 0 goals, but 1 gwg, doesn't work. It counts towards the team's GF, that's it.

Not good. Wonder if is going to cause serious concerns for his career. Pretty scary, he's only 25. Haven't found any video yet. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=315474

All teams, well most, have to deal with injuries. We sit it as being really significant with the Wings because we watch them closer, but there are other teams in teh league that have been worse of from that perspective this year. With respect to star players being inconsistent, well, I don't think that is a real good reason for why someone should be considered for coach of the year, probably has the opposite effect. To answer the original question....NO, Babcock has no chance. He won't even be in the top 3 vote getters (there is no concept of being nominated, I believe the only award that has nominees is the masterton (30 nominees, 1 from each team).

Babs didn't pick between Crosby and Datsyuk, he picked between Crosby and the rest of the team Canada players, so I'm not sure what that shows other than Babs thinks Crosby is good, doesn't mean anything with regards to Datsyuk.