NHL Thread

[nlroma1o]

The Wings are starting to get back into form. If they beat Columbus at home tonight, they will be heading to the Pepsi Center to play the Avs on a 3 game W streak.

Oh yeah i almost forgot, Hank is playing incredible right now. He has 5 goals and 2 assists, which is setting pace for a much better season than last. Not only do his stats look better, but he is honestly playin better wayyyy better. So pumped for this season.

Lets Go Wings!!!

 

[GreenSox04]

The Wings are starting to get back into form. If they beat Columbus at home tonight, they will be heading to the Pepsi Center to play the Avs on a 3 game W streak.

Oh yeah i almost forgot, Hank is playing incredible right now. He has 5 goals and 2 assists, which is setting pace for a much better season than last. Not only do his stats look better, but he is honestly playin better wayyyy better. So pumped for this season.

Lets Go Wings!!!

That shift datsyuk had and what he did to chara the other night.. And then the pass he made..

Best player on earth. There I said it.

Come at me Crosbyins.

Datsyuk cray.

 

[aubeirish]

That shift datsyuk had and what he did to chara the other night.. And then the pass he made..

Best player on earth. There I said it.

Come at me Crosbyins.

Datsyuk cray.

Yes!

I have been saying this for so long. You can throw his size in there all you want, but trust me this guy is almost impossible to hit so it's all moot. Everything he does is so effortless and fluid, it's beautiful.

 

[ACamp1900]

Lol... Some crack smokin haters up in here...

 

[KPENN]

That shift datsyuk had and what he did to chara the other night.. And then the pass he made..

Best player on earth. There I said it.

Come at me Crosbyins.

Datsyuk cray.

Crosby's the best player in the world and it isn't even close.

 

[GreenSox04]

Crosby is all world, but I'm taking datsyuk.

 

[aubeirish]

I love Crosby. He's fantastic, but Datsyuk is in a league of it's own as far as creativity and stick handling skills. Also, he is by far the best defensive forward in the league. It takes a very acute eye and a great knowledge of the game to see all the little things he does. It is mind boggling.

 

[nlroma1o]

Did you guys see the Wings game last night? The hit on Kronwall last night was pretty bad. At first glance i wasnt sure if it was a penatly, or just a horrible decision by Kronner, But after watching it a few times its clear McLeod made a really bad decision. It looks a whole lot worse the second and third time you watch it. He went straight for his head. The d*ckhead is probably gonna get a few games for that hit. And i would imagine Nick is gonna be out for a while after that one.

 

[Wild Bill]

I love Crosby. He's fantastic, but Datsyuk is in a league of it's own as far as creativity and stick handling skills. Also, he is by far the best defensive forward in the league. It takes a very acute eye and a great knowledge of the game to see all the little things he does. It is mind boggling.

Toews just won the Selke and his second Cup. Datsyuk is great and you can make an argument he's the best defensive forward but I'll take Toews.

Kane is more creative and has better handles. Datsyuk does have a filthy backhand, though.

Crosby is the best player in the world.

 

[aubeirish]

Toews just won the Selke and his second Cup. Datsyuk is great and you can make an argument he's the best defensive forward but I'll take Toews.

I love Toews. Great leader. Will give anything to the team and has a sick shot. They have a different style of defending and both are highly effective.

Kane is more creative and has better handles. Datsyuk does have a filthy backhand, though.

I strongly disagree. Creativity is not just about scoring. The passing and the ability to position yourself have to be taken into account. You can't tell me Kane does this better. Besides, his hands are not better than Datsyuk's. They are on par. Both have the best in my opinion.

Crosby is the best player in the world.

I guess it is a matter of opinion. I can tell you this though, as a defenseman I would much rather defend against Crosby than Datsyuk. He is much more unpredictable.

Pavel Dazzle is the only player that really gets me excited when I watch hockey.

Don't forget that I am Canadian. I should have a strong bias towards Crosby, but I would be lying to myself to think that he is better than Datsyuk. I just don't think so.

 

[aubeirish]

Did you guys see the Wings game last night? The hit on Kronwall last night was pretty bad. At first glance i wasnt sure if it was a penatly, or just a horrible decision by Kronner, But after watching it a few times its clear McLeod made a really bad decision. It looks a whole lot worse the second and third time you watch it. He went straight for his head. The d*ckhead is probably gonna get a few games for that hit. And i would imagine Nick is gonna be out for a while after that one.

I thought that was a little bit of both. Kronwall put himself in a terrible position, and McLeod did have a split second to react better. I think he will be penalize and that's fine.
As far as preventing hits like this, you can't. The game is too fast and the difference between a nasty hit or not is a split second.

It is part of the game.

P.S.: I am not talking about the obvious cheap shots here, more about the borderline(could have gone either way) stuff.

 

[nlroma1o]

I thought that was a little bit of both. Kronwall put himself in a terrible position, and McLeod did have a split second to react better. I think he will be penalize and that's fine.
As far as preventing hits like this, you can't. The game is too fast and the difference between a nasty hit or not is a split second.

It is part of the game.

P.S.: I am not talking about the obvious cheap shots here, more about the borderline(could have gone either way) stuff.

I am completely accepting that this is part of the game. No argument there.

The more i watch it , the more i can tell that McLeod made a concious effort to change the path he was skating in, made a hard left straight into Kronwalls head. Its tough because yes, Kronwall did cut back and bc of that his body was lower, but McLeod was clearly headed right, and at the last momment went straight into his head. The players have to be more careful of that, and if they dont, i am fine with suspensions. If the role were reversed i would be accepting that a Red Wings player gets suspended for that hit. No doubt about it.

 

[aubeirish]

I am completely accepting that this is part of the game. No argument there.

The more i watch it , the more i can tell that McLeod made a concious effort to change the path he was skating in, made a hard left straight into Kronwalls head. Its tough because yes, Kronwall did cut back and bc of that his body was lower, but McLeod was clearly headed right, and at the last momment went straight into his head. The players have to be more careful of that, and if they dont, i am fine with suspensions. If the role were reversed i would be accepting that a Red Wings player gets suspended for that hit. No doubt about it.

I agree, I think he did know what he was doing(McLeod). Did he intend to hit the head, or did he think he would get Kronwall' shoulder? We won't know.
As long as the league is consistent in their suspensions, things should take care of itself.

 

[Wild Bill]

I strongly disagree. Creativity is not just about scoring. The passing and the ability to position yourself have to be taken into account. You can't tell me Kane does this better. Besides, his hands are not better than Datsyuk's. They are on par. Both have the best in my opinion.

Datsyuk's positioning is much better, I agree. He's always at the right place at the right time (or wrong place at wrong time - if you're a hawks fan). He's a crafty veteran and Kane is 24 years old. Maybe Kane will develop the same way...or maybe it's just an innate ability.

Kane's combination of vision, stick handling and skating is remarkable. I realize the link is just a highlight but you see it all on display. There was a stretch of games last year where he was doing something that would prompt me to hit rewind on the dvr b/c it was simply ridiculous.

Kane Spin-O-Rama Assist To Hossa (October 25, 2011) - YouTube

 

[Emcee77]

Crosby is the LeBron of hockey. He is just better athletically than other top forwards. His ability to get to the net no matter what happens ... sometimes, I just don't know what you're supposed to do as a defender.

Kane is a great player but his teammates have to get him the puck to get him into the game ... he's not a guy who tends to have a great impact on the game if his teammates aren't doing that for one reason or another. In that respect, Datsyuk's a better player, but, leaving that issue aside, is he more creative? Not sure I'd say that (but I'm biased as a Chicagoan)

 

[aubeirish]

Datsyuk's positioning is much better, I agree. He's always at the right place at the right time (or wrong place at wrong time - if you're a hawks fan). He's a crafty veteran and Kane is 24 years old. Maybe Kane will develop the same way...or maybe it's just an innate ability.

Kane's combination of vision, stick handling and skating is remarkable. I realize the link is just a highlight but you see it all on display. There was a stretch of games last year where he was doing something that would prompt me to hit rewind on the dvr b/c it was simply ridiculous.

Kane Spin-O-Rama Assist To Hossa (October 25, 2011) - YouTube

Kane is a great talent there is no doubt. I mean really great. I don't think anybody can argue that Kane and Datsyuk both have the best hands and offensive creativity. They are truly unique talents.

I guess the argument was more about who is the most complete player in the league.
I think Datsyuk doesn't get as much publicity as he should because you never see him on interviews. He is very shy and can't speak English very well.

 

[Emcee77]

Kane is far from a complete player. Virtuosic talent with the puck, no doubt, but if the question is who is the most complete player, he doesn't belong in the discussion. I'd tend to agree that Datsyuk is the most complete player, in the sense of well-rounded, does everything well, etc.

 

[aubeirish]

Crosby is the LeBron of hockey. He is just better athletically than other top forwards. His ability to get to the net no matter what happens ... sometimes, I just don't know what you're supposed to do as a defender.

Kane is a great player but his teammates have to get him the puck to get him into the game ... he's not a guy who tends to have a great impact on the game if his teammates aren't doing that for one reason or another. In that respect, Datsyuk's a better player, but is he otherwise more creative? Not sure I'd say that (but I'm biased as a Chicagoan)

Listen I have so much respect for what Crosby is doing and he is a national hero, but he is also over hyped. In my opinion, no other sport have a Lebron. He is just pure dominance. There are ways to shut Crosby down. Let's not forget that the Penguins have a hockey machine. He's not the only player on that ice. Malkin is just as important as Crosby is on that team. In fact, they are better without Crosby than without Malkin.
I don't think that Crosby is better athletically than Datsyuk. They have different builds. Crosby has phenomenal leg power where Datsyuk have off the chart flexibility. Both equally important in hockey. By the way, flexibility might be the most underrated thing for an athlete.

In basketball, there is no denying that Lebron is the best player. In hockey, I would suggest that it is a matter of opinion. The gap between the elites is much more closer.

 

[Emcee77]

In basketball, there is no denying that Lebron is the best player. In hockey, I would suggest that it is a matter of opinion. The gap between the elites is much more closer.

True, I agree with that. Let me clarify that I did not mean that Crosby is as dominant as LeBron, and I think a discussion of whether Crosby or Datsyuk is better is totally fair game. I just meant that when I watch them both (Crosby and LeBron) I feel like they dominate in a similar manner.

 

[Wild Bill]

Kane is far from a complete player. Virtuosic talent with the puck, no doubt, but if the question is who is the most complete player, he doesn't belong in the discussion. I'd tend to agree that Datsyuk is the most complete player, in the sense of well-rounded, does everything well, etc.

He's definitely not in the conversation with respect to being the most complete player. He's probably third or fourth on his own team in that regard (toews, hossa and maybe sharp are more complete). IMO, he has elite vision, handles and creativity. Arguably the best in the NHL in those three categories.

 

[STLDomer]

TJ ****ING OSHIE

LGB

 

[aubeirish]

True, I agree with that. Let me clarify that I did not mean that Crosby is as dominant as LeBron, and I think a discussion of whether Crosby or Datsyuk is better is totally fair game. I just meant that when I watch them both (Crosby and LeBron) I feel like they dominate in a similar manner.

I guess that is true in some fashion. They are both the poster child for their respective sport. They both are phenomenal athletes. Great role models (although Lebron might be a little more flamboyant than Syd). Both were viewed as the second coming...(Jordan, Gretzky)

This brings an opening for another debate. I personally think that Mario Lemieux was better than Gretzky. He would have actually broken those records if he didn't have to fight illness twice. I guess it wasn't meant to be. When you talk about god given talent, I think Lemieux. 6"6 with some of the sweetest hands you would ever see. The legends around these part are that he would dominate all the other kids(no matter the age) at the outside rink at 3 years old.

 

[Emcee77]

I guess that is true in some fashion. They are both the poster child for their respective sport. They both are phenomenal athletes. Great role models (although Lebron might be a little more flamboyant than Syd). Both were viewed as the second coming...(Jordan, Gretzky)

Right, and you said it, about Crosby's leg power. He just blows by people ... kind of like LeBron (to the extent any cross-sport comparison is possible).

Although, there is an opening for another debate. I personally think that Mario Lemieux was better than Gretzky. He would have actually broken those records if he didn't have to fight illness twice. I guess it wasn't meant to be. When you talk about god given talent, I think Lemieux. 6"6 with some of the sweetest hands you would ever see. The legends around these part are that he would dominate all the other kids(no matter the age) at the outside rink at 3 years old.

That's a fascinating question. Gretzky's greatness is one of those things that is so obvious and yet hard to understand, when you compare him to a guy like Mario Lemieux, who not only had the skill but could physically dominate in a way that Gretzky could not. If you'll indulge me in another comparison, Lemieux is the Bo Jackson of hockey ... unbelievably gifted, but his health issues make you wonder what could have been more than anything else. (Not a perfect comparison either ... Lemieux won two Stanley Cups and had more healthy years, but maybe it's interesting to think about)

 

[aubeirish]

Lemieux had a fantastic career. 1723 points. 1.88 points per game. There is no doubt in my mind that his health is the only thing that prevented him from being proclaimed the greatest ever.
In the early 2000s, you could see that he was physically unable. He wasn't really skating anymore. Still he was making over 1 point a game. He was just that talented.

I like the Bo Jackson comparison. They both feel surreal.

Greatest Mario Moment for me. Size, hands, intellect == Pure talent.

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MObTsc69LvI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[ACamp1900]

agreed on the last post, which is good, because i was starting to think we would have to turn aub into the authorities for being bat sh!t cray cray...

 

[aubeirish]

agreed on the last post, which is good, because i was starting to think we would have to turn aub into the authorities for being bat sh!t cray cray...

Haha. I don't want to start a second cold war or be labeled as a IrishPat follower(the black list).

It's all good. He's from Texas. I don't think he reads this thread.

 

[GreenSox04]

before i say what i feel let me reiterate, crosby is all world.

his point production is always at the top when hes healthy.

and i suppose beware that i do hate crosby but i do believe i have an unbiased grasp

As discussed, Crosby=Lebron is the problem, i think.

when crosby entered the league, everyone was looking for the LBJ of each sport, hockey was given crosby which kind of just put this idea that sid is just head and shoulders above everyone else due to the fact that he was somewhat labeled as the LBJ of hockey. thats not to say he hasn't performed at an elite level.. see the points he's put up.. but i feel like it just became a cookie cutteresque fact/ answer to the question whose the best in the world.. to the generic fan its easy, crosby. but im not so sure i agree personally..

the LBJ label might also might explain why he gets away with some of the stuff he does.. (not to start that up...acamp)

as aub mentioned, the pens seem to hurt more without malkin then 87 and i think thats a bit telling.

what 87 can do on his backhand with the puck is nothing short of ridiculous, but in my honest opinion, datsyuk is the best player in the world.

id put him higher then crosby in value to his team

id put him above toews in all around game.. yes including defensively (Toews is my favorite player in the NHL)

id put his hands and creativity above kaner, for now. jury is still out on this one, kanes about to enter his prime and datty is at the backend (and STILL getting it done)

Datsyuk is the only complete, all around player who can play at an elite level on both sides of the ice, and still be able to make my jaw hit the floor in the same way patrick kane can.

one last note..his give away take away numbers year in and out... highly overlooked.. incredibly valuable.

IMO, ofcourse.

 

[TheSunIsRising]

At the start of the 3rd, it looked like the Sharks were well on their way to remaining the only team to not lose in regulation - were up 4-1. Two quick goals have Calgary within 1, approaching midway through the 3rd, though Calgary just took a bad penalty.

and, just like that SJ up by two again

 

[ACamp1900]

The Metro standings are sexy...

That is all

 

[KPENN]

Thomas Vanek traded to the Islanders, didn't see that one coming.