NHL Hockey

I thought I'd create a generic thread for the few hockey fans out there.

The playoffs start in a few weeks. Any hockey fans out there? If so, who's your team and who do you like to win the cup this year?

Who will win the Hart? Malkin, Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Parise?

The Norris? Chara, Lidstrom, Green?

The Calder, Vezina, etc...?

 

I lost interest during the lockout year but I've gotten back into it the past couple of years.

You're right, scoring is down but they are doing too much to reverse that trend since the lockout between the rule changes and the way the games are called.

I'm not sure what you mean by grabbing jerseys and clutching are up. The referees are calling everything these days to give teams more power plays and scoring opportunities. 15-20 years ago, players could do a lot more with their hands and sticks to slow down opposing players without getting penalized.

 

You know I'm a long time Caps fan but Malkin is making a pretty strong case, especially now that the Penguins have reversed their course the last few weeks.

Personally, I'd still go with Ovechkin, Datsyuk or Parise over Malkin or Crosby or anybody else. The Penguins got things turned around after bringing in Kunitz and Guerin at the trade deadline. Kunitz has given them the scoring wing Crosby needed and Guerin adds much needed grit and experience.

The Caps were rumored to be the team getting Guerin but apparently their inability to move Nylander with his NMC prevented them from getting anything done.

Beyond the inconsistency on the blue line, the Caps really lack a guy that is willing to mix it up in front of the opposing goalie. That was what I was hoping the Caps would get at the deadline more than anything. There are too many holes right now on defense to get that turned around this season. Having said that, between Green and promising young talent like Alzner and Carlson, I think the Caps defense will improve a lot in the next couple of years. Varlamov or Neuvirth will replace Theodore after next season. Hopefully one of those two goalies becomes a stud.

 

Yup, goalies are bigger and more talented and, on top of that, their equipment takes up much more space.

I heard earlier in the season they were talking about changing the shape of the goal posts. Instead of round, they were talking about making them oval-shaped - possibly just the cross bar. I think a couple of teams practiced with a prototype and most didn't like it. I'm sure goalies hate the idea.

 

The Leafs have had a tough season but it was expected as they start to rebuild, right? Schenn is a good, young building block on the blue line.

I watched the Canucks-Leafs game where Sundin made his return to Toronto. It had to bite seeing him score the game winner in the SO.

 

Yup, lots of lazy, stick penalties. Semin and Ovechkin are both racking up more PIMs than they ever did before and the Caps, as a whole, are right near the top of the league in minor PIMs. Semin is a tremendous talent. He actually has far more stick-handling skills than Ovechkin. If Semin becomes consistent and the Caps are able to resign him, we will have a nice top line for years to come, along with Backstrom.

As far as the breakaways (which you are absolutely right about, not sure if you saw the Kings game a few weeks ago), part of that has to do with Boudreau's system. The Caps are sort of like the Suns of the NHL ever since he took over. Most of our forwards don't backcheck well and aren't really encouraged to do so most of the time.

It also has to do with the fact that his system requires more puck moving defensemen. We may have the best in the league in Green but after that, there isn't much. The return of Pothier will help if he proves he is playoff worthy over the next few weeks and Poti is very good when he is on his game.

The rest of the D ends up looking sketchy in our run 'n gun system since they aren't great at bringing the puck out and hitting our forwards with crisp passes. They also don't recover well since they are big and lack quickness.

Beyond that, our biggest weakness has been the penalty kill. If we were even league average in that area, the Caps would be fighting for first place overall.

 

I hear you and I've heard the criticisms of Sundin but I always liked his game. So many Swedes are talented but soft, quiet players. Sundin is a big-bodied, skilled forward who is willing to get dirty.

I think Tavares will be a very good pro. I like what I see. Not only does he have tremendous puckhandling skills and a clear cut ability to score goals, he also has a solid build for his age. I expect a much better first year out of him than what we've seen from Stamkos this year.

 

If the franchise is eventually forced to only keep one of them for cap reasons, who would you want them to keep (not who you think they will keep)?

 

Most diehard hockey fans tend to rip on the NBA. It's probably a jealousy thing since hockey doesn't get as much attention in America. I see that exact same elitist attitude in Caps forums. Of course, they've got the Wizards locally. I'm sure if the Wizards were doing well, they'd jump on the bandwagon.