TropicalFruitGirl26

You pretty much just posted what I was telling my husband yesterday in fact. Couldn't agree more.

That's fine n all that you directed @notfondajane to call the Penguins directly, and I am sure they would be more than happy to make a deal with him, but you should at LEAST have also warned him that Jim Rutherford may try pawning off (or throwing in) Jack Johnson's contract as a 'sweetner' on his purchase...……..

I usually don't rip on announcers and commentators (unless they are truly horrid like Paul Steigerwald formerly of the Pittsburgh Penguins or Jack Edwards currently of the Bruins), but I gotta admit, Wes Walz does grate on me. I can honestly say, I learn NOTHING listening to him. Greenlay as color guy was just plain goofy....but Walz is a bit more insidious: He SOUNDS like he might have some valuable insight....till you really tune into what he is saying...……... I almost want Greenlay back!

Yep...this is Penguins-Flyers. In these games, you basically throw all the stats right out the window. It'll come down to who is ready to play come game time, who wants it more, and who can sidestep the officials (as in penalties) when things get, as they often do, heated between the teams. One guy I don't see a problem showing up with a fire lit under him is Travis Konecny. If his "want it" can rub off on his teammates, then Sidney Crosby (another guy who shows up ready to go, especially after spending so much time on IR) are gonna have their hands full. Malkin has been great in Sid's absence, but he sometimes regresses to "passenger" status when Crosby is back in the lineup as opposed to when he is the main focus. If the Flyers see that to be the case, best let ol Malkin-Stein keep sleeping....although 3 pts in his last two games says he isn't quite slumbering yet. Which Brian Elliot shows up will also go a long way to determining the outcome of this game. 'Vezina' Elliot can play with anyone and can stop anyone....however, 'Screen Door' Elliot could make this a real long game for Flyer fans.

I think the All Star break came at just the right time for the Bruins. Overall, they've looked shaky that last week or two, but of particular note has been their goaltending. Rask and Halak have been outstanding almost all year, but now, with Rask out of action, Halak is being pressed into more duty (not a good thing), and taken out of what worked perfectly.... a timeshare in net with Rask. I think this is exposing Halak (as it did in St. Louis and Montreal when he was asked to play more games than was really good for him), and thus, this break gives time for Rask to possibly be back and ready to go while Halak and the Bruins re-charge themselves. At one time running away with the division....now they can clearly see the Lightning in the rearview as well as the surging Panthers who pushed themselves into a top 3 Atlantic spot. Get back healthy players, possibly cool down the two hot State of Florida teams..... yea, I'd say this break is very welcome for Boston.

Hmm...I wonder if it is because of location or device. I have a couple of those links working right now. Sorry I couldn't have been more helpful

So you're saying he might just retire, then return to the league as a Flyer, then retire again rather than retiring and become a successful front office executive?

Flyers take the lead on a (surprise, surprise) TK goal

Try this: http://livetv.sx/enx/eventinfo/893931_los_angeles_philadelphia/ There's about six links here....see which one works best for you

That Crosby is more of a playmaker while Ovechkin is more a trigger man is a very good point. Aside from missing lots of games in his career, Crosby also defers goals (like you said, doesn't shoot as much) to his linemates, while collecting assists.....the natural job of a center.

@WordsOfWisdom Entering today, Crosby's production numbers for his career... 454 G, 785 A over 963 GP. So, no, Crosby is still about two seasons away from 500, taking into account his injury history, maybe three.

Well, I DID say he makes good first impressions, then tails off...I never said anything about what season it happens in...2nd, 3rd, just that he does tend to tail off, so pointing out what season Hamilton is in Carolina is basically irrelevant. Maybe he tails off NEXT season (his 3rd with the Canes)....or maybe the guy we saw this season is the guy he really is....I am banking on the latter.

Good points. I too have noticed Hamilton makes an initial great first impression with a team, then seems to tail off. That said, I think things may be different with the Hurricanes. Why? Well, for one, he is 26 yrs old now. The seemingly traditional age where defensemen are considered "fully mature" at the NHL level. Also, he has been bounced around from team to team, and I gotta believe people have been in his ear about "look, you gotta be consistent to have a team want to keep you long term", while at the same time, "Ok, ok...but look, Team X, Y, Z, still want you on theirs" That's gotta be good for his confidence in knowing his skillset is wanted and that it is on HIM to make sure being traded again is not an option. His maturity now should help in that area. Finally, the Hurricanes just make playing the games fun! In Boston, it was all about "shut the other team down, shut the other team down"....granted, that IS a defenseman's job, but I think Hamilton is the type of guy who can play defense, but would also like to showcase himself, his linemates, and play at the other end often too. In Calgary, there were more offensive opportunities, but in essence, and when at their best, Calgary too is more of a defensive team. Hamilton was let loose more over there, but defensively, that team is still led by guys like Giordano, Brodie, and Hamonic, and those guys, in the big picture, are more about shutting forwards down and hitting. In Carolina, their defense truly IS a good offense! And I think the way they play is tailor made for a guy like Hamilton. Like you said, the tell will be next season and what he will look like. I wouldn't even use the leg as an excuse because by that point he would have had an entire off season and then a following training camp and exhibition season to get up to snuff physically. It will all be about what he has between the ears and whether or not he truly HAS matured to the point where he can finally be a mainstay with a team, help them to multiple playoff berths, maybe win a title, grab himself some personal hardware along the way, and have fun doing it the whole time.

Well...better make it 692nd on Ovie's career, as he just put in his 34th of the year, scores a hat trick against the Islanders today and has NOW tied Stevie Y himself for 9th all time on the NHL goal scoring list. And away he goes.....

Ovechkin puts in his 33rd of the season, 691st for his career, and now has sole possession of 10th all time on the NHL goals list.

Was just trying to come up with defensemen off the top of my head who showcase offensive ability, yet can still do other things really well in other areas. Not sure what is the deal with the ENTIRE Dallas team (that can be a discussion for another thread), but I get the feeling Klingberg and a few others on there are being held back by either systems being played or misuse in the lineups. Kling is definitely better than he has shown, still drives possession for his team....but the overall results still aren't there. Guys like him, Benn, Seguin, Radulov….they don't suddenly 'forget' how to play at a high level. Something is off with that team. Perhaps at this point in time, Klingberg is a bad example, but even so, I haven't heard him called a 'bust' by anyone, anywhere, whereas with Hamilton, I have heard and read that....albeit, he was proving them wrong this year.

Man, Hamilton really did take that old saying literally, eh? In all seriousness, this is a big blow for the Canes, though ironically, since the team still does play a complete team game, they should still be in the playoff mix and even be able to do some damage if they do get in. Obviously the team is better with a Norris trophy candidate on it than without him, but I can see the rest of the Caroline defense picking up the slack (Slavin and Pesce combined maybe can make up for Hamilton's production), and of course, the team rolls 4 legit lines and seems EVERYONE loves shooting the puck. For Hamilton personally, this is especially horrible. After years of expectations, moving from team to team, and even some people labeling him a "bust", he finally was putting together a season that showed why people were high on him to begin with. Hopefully, he can get back soon and then continue what he started either at season's end this year, or at the beginning of next year. I may not be a Hurricanes fan, but I am a fan of good talent, even if its from an opposing team, and Hamilton definitely started to show he has the chops to be mentioned right up there with the likes of a John Klingberg or even a Victor Hedman as far as offensively gifted defensemen who are pretty well rounded.

With Alex Ovechkin's 32 goal of the season against the NY Islanders this afternoon, he ties Mario Lemieux for 10th on the all time NHL goal scoring list. As you can see, Yzerman and Messier, just ahead at 9th and 8th, will be passed up this season, then all that is left will be 700 career goals, then Mike Gartner (708) and Phil Esposito (717) just beyond that. I think Ovie makes 700 THIS year....barring injury of course. Still plenty of games left in the season, he is still a beast on the ice, and see no reason why he can't, at the very minimum, get 10 more goals from now till season's end. Depending how hot he is at the time, he may even have an outside shot at Gartner this season as well, although I think realistically, he will catch both he and Esposito next season....maybe Marcel Dionne too. Love him or hate him, there is no denying Alex Ovechkin's ability on the ice. And he is more than just a goal scorer too. He is a physical force, a guy who can carry a team on his back, and definitely has indomitable spirit as evidenced by all those years of backlash and scrutiny because he "never won a Cup".....yet he persevered, did what he always does on the ice (even improved a bit in some areas, specifically in backchecking and overall defensive play), and is now a SC champion and at just 34, looking to add another Cup to his resume to go along with personal accolades like seeking 700 goals on his career. Where will Alex Ovechkin ultimately end up in the all time scoring list? Like I said, he easily gets to 8th this year.....may have to wait till next to tackle 7th and 6th. Marcel Dionne is definitely within reach at #5 at some point. Beyond Dionne? You have: Brett Hull #4 (741) Jaromir Jagr #3 (766) Gordie Howe #2 (801) and of course.... Wayne Gretzky #1 (894) If he stays healthy, does he REALLY have a shot at Gretzky's top spot? Heck, just getting to 800 is a herculean feat as only two players have ever done that....but almost 900 as Gretz did? Tall order, but unless Ovechkin falls off a cliff competitively, he has a real shot!

Spurgeon probably should have been in my "below expectations" category, but then again, we've all seen this song n dance before with players: play lights out in a contract year, first year on new contract, very ordinary to mediocre, so I a way, I guess his play was sorta expected? Definitely would like to see more out of him. As for Kunin, not sure what whether he is doing "ok", or I should be expecting more. Yes, Wild management has made a big deal about him, some fans certainly have. To me though, I always looked at him as a good young player who SHOULD be in more of a support role to start off, then slowly have the main responsibilities of offense handed off to him. Problem is, the Wild aren't a deep enough team for that to happen right now, and he is basically thrust into the forefront, sink or swim if you would, and the expectations for him, IMO, are a bit much. But its not like he is even playing "badly"....his season has gone "ok", actually. 10G, 22pts in 46 games? Doesn't turn the puck over as much as a typical 22 yr old playing at the NHL might, and seems to play a more balanced type game with the big club as opposed to being "just a trigger man" like he may have been in the minors or as a college player.....hey, I will take that from him! Then again, goals against do seem to happen quite a bit when he is on the ice (as evidenced by his poor +/-), and lots of shots against tend to be yielded when he is on as well, which probably accounts for his poor Corsi and Fenwick numbers...both at 45% or less! So maybe while his offense is ok, and his physical game is acceptable, perhaps he can do a better job at clogging shooting lanes, or become better at lifting sticks, or picking BETTER times to make big hits so he isn't out of position to do other things on the ice? See, that's where I am not sure what to make of him. Does a few things well, does others where you'd want to see more, lots more, but again, he is just 22 playing against the best in the world, with no real solid vet support system in place, and given that, I think he is doing alright, but fan expectations and his needed improvements in other areas make it seem like he is doing worse than he is.

Just a thought hodge podge on some random players... Soucy above expectations... Donato below.... Dumba WELL below.... Zucker below.... Foligno above... EEK right about "at"... Dubnyk below... Stalock "at"....

@IllaZilla I don't see why you would get "flamed" over putting Rask in a category where he actually is useful....because he HAS been useful! I am NO Victor Rask fan (and it has nothing to do with his cap hit, although that certainly is ugly), but now that he, or anybody else on the Wild, no longer think he is a top six forward and has seemingly embraced his bottom six role, he is doing down there what many deeper teams enjoy in their lineups: Have skilled guys in traditionally grinder roles.....and enjoying a bit of success at it. He still is no game changer in the bottom six (I nominate Foligno there, and I am sure won't get any arguments on that), and NO ONE in their right mind carries a 4M cap hit for a bottom sixer, but it is what it is, and given the situation, he isn't complaining about anything, just going out there and do what is asked of him to the best of his ability. And hey, if he raises his value enough to where some team shows interest at the trading deadline, and the Wild actually get a decent younger player for him, then he can be put in the "performed above and beyond" category, as I don't think Wild fans believed he had trade value before the season began.

Wild hang on....and the futility at the X for the Lightning continue. Good win for Minnesota against one of the league's best. I wanna see the Wild show this same effort against the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

Kucherov. Pulls TB within one. Second of the game for him. 3-2 Wild now.

Minnesota doing a good job of giving the Lightning no shooting lanes. I wanna see this from them next time they play St. Louis or Winnipeg...dammit...