The Official 2008/2009 NHL Thread

[Neemo]

This is my Team for my fantasy league...whatcha think?

C   Eric Staal (Car - C)
C   Brad Richards (Dal - C)
LW   Paul Kariya (StL - LW)
LW   Andrew Brunette (Min - LW)   
RW   Ales Hemsky (Edm - RW)
RW   Teemu Selanne (Anh - RW)
D   Brian Campbell (Chi - D)
D   Alex Goligoski (Pit - D) 
D   Paul Martin (NJ - D)   
D   Kevin Bieksa (Van - D) 
G   Martin Brodeur (NJ - G)
G   Jose Theodore (Was - G)

BN   Peter Mueller (Pho - C) 
BN   Patrick O'Sullivan (LA - C)
BN   Petr Sykora (Pit - RW)
BN   Mathieu Garon (Edm - G)
IR   Sergei Zubov (Dal - D)

[Alan]

NHL 09 (EA Sports Version with Phanuef on the front) is always the best game, its not out until the end of octboer

nhl 09 has been out for a while now. awesome game 

[Malcolm]

NHL 09 (EA Sports Version with Phanuef on the front) is always the best game, its not out until the end of octboer

nhl 09 has been out for a while now. awesome game 

Not for PS2

[Alan]

ah get a ps3 off ebay 

[AxlsMainMan]

Sundin, NHL's Overrated Overlord

Mats Sundin is perhaps the most overrated player in the game today. Labeled a superstar, some will attest to his lofty point total. 1,321 points in 1,305 games. Yes. Very impressive. But the numbers are more a testiment to his durabilty and consistancy, rather than true greatness. He is the captain of one of hockey's most storied franchises, yet has never demenstrated any of the traits which go along with the title.

     Despite his career totals, his seasonly point output has been suspect. After an impressive 114 point season with the Nordiques, where he played alongside the likes of superstar Joe Sakic, Owen Nolan and Valeri Kamensky, he dipped to 85. Following a blockbuster trade, he went to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his 11 full seasons with The Blue & White, he has averaged a grand total of 78 points a season. 78? That's it? Yet he was given captaincy and  called a superstar? Superstars produce. They don't complain about their linemates. Especially when they played with the likes of Alexander Mogilny, Wendel Clark, Dmitri Khristich, Sergei Berezin, Steve Thomas & Bryan Berard. The true hallmark of greatness is making the players around you better. Dale Hawerchuk, Denis Savard, Jaromir Jagr, Steve Yzerman, Peter Stastny & Sidney Crosby. These gentleman would easily have racked up 100+ point seasons playing with this stellar cast. The glaring difference from a star and a superstar.

     Sundin's leadership also must be examined. While with Toronto, Team Sweden is the only place where this trait was demenstrated. Mats is the captain. Captains usually lead by example. However he seldom does on a consistant basis. Mats doesn't buzz up and down the ice, creating scoring chances galore while putting his head down & backchecking like a demon. Does he? Instead of gazing into oblivion while on the bench, Sidney Crosby & Adam Oates would frequently commune with their fellow linemates. Motioning with their hands where to go and what to do. That's the dedication necessary in order to become great. Talent without devotion and hard work is meaningless. His leadership was equally inept in the playoffs. Sundin never strapped the Maple Leafs on his back and excelled.

     Though clearing not a superstar, The Blue & White paid him a premium salary. Often in the seven million dollar price range. Yet, when the Maple Leafs asked him to waive his no-trade clause. He would not. Sundin couldn't see himself playing for another team at that time. His devotion to the team. Even though he could always just resign in the summer. After receiving a facsimile award for "leadership", Sundin announced his intent to explore his opportunities. Where's the devotion Mats? The devotion that cost the Maple Leafs young, blue chip prospects? Would the great Darryl Sittler pull such high jinx? Would Borje Salming?

     The Toronto Maple Leafs are a great franchise. They invested a King's Ransom into Mats Sundin. They and their loyal fans deserved a better return. The dividends that Crosby, Hawerchuk, Jagr, Savard & Dionne deliver(ed)on a consistant basis. Is Mats Sundin overrated? I leave the answer to you, the reader.

http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/212495

[Neemo]

thats a good article axlsmainman  i totally agree with it, i never understood the fascination with sundin ... or many of their players to be honest...kubina, andropov and ponakarovski come to mind for guys still there

[Alan]

oilers win there season opener, and did not deserve it at all 

[tim_m]

Rangers are off to a great start this season, best start since the 82-83 season. I hope they can keep this up. Their second line is looking deadly.

[Malcolm]

I dont even wanna comment on that article...It has some truth to it, but Sundin is still an amazing player...Lets see if Antropov can repeat the same numbers he had last year without Sundin there....He took 3rd and 4th liners (minus Mogilny and Clark) and made them 1st/2nd liners...Lets be honest though....There is no team that has 1 superstar anymore...They all have at least 2

Anyways Coyotes are my new 2nd fav team...Love these guys...Gretzky is a great coach...They have an amazing crop of talent, and there playing as a team...Did anyone see Reinprechts pass in the air to Doan to put him on a breakaway? it was amazing

[Loaded NightraiN]

^ has phoenix made the playoffs once since Gretzky has been coach?

They've always had talent but they never get anywhere... We'll see this year

[Thorned Rose]

Preds aren't doing so bad again.

Sucks that Radulov left.

I'm new to hockey so help me out a bit, who would you guys say there best player is on the Preds?

Also which divison is the toughest in the NHL

[Thorned Rose]

Anyone see Crosby get his 300th point?

Is he the fastest to that?

If not the fastest, I would say the youngest.

He just turned 21

[Malcolm]

^ has phoenix made the playoffs once since Gretzky has been coach?

They've always had talent but they never get anywhere... We'll see this year

No they havent...And they have never had the talent they have now and will have for a few years...

Doan
Jokinen
Carcillo
Mueller
Boedker
Turris
Hanzal
Winnik
Tikhonov
Lisin
Jovonaski
Bryzgalov

Great mixture of veterans and rookies

[Malcolm]

Preds aren't doing so bad again.

Sucks that Radulov left.

I'm new to hockey so help me out a bit, who would you guys say there best player is on the Preds?

Also which divison is the toughest in the NHL

Preds best players are:

Jason Arnott
Martin Erat
JP Dumont
David Legwand
Shea Weber
Ryan Suter

[Malcolm]

Anyone see Crosby get his 300th point?

Is he the fastest to that?

If not the fastest, I would say the youngest.

He just turned 21

I believe Ovechkin already has 300 points...Even though I like Crosby more...But I thin k if you go number of games played to 300 points it was Crosby

[AxlsMainMan]

                W L OTL PTS
 
Red Wings 4 1 1 9
Blackhawks 3 2 2 8
Blues 4 2 0 8
Blue Jackets 3 3 0 6
Predators 3 3 0 6

 

[Alan]

hawks played awesome vs oilers the other night, was a bad game to watch from my point of view 

[AxlsMainMan]

Yes, their new coach seems to be striking the right chord with the team

[Thorned Rose]

Is it me, or are the Pens going to be very tough to stop this year?

Gonchar and Whitney are out too lmao

Malkin for MVP thus far...

Crosby isn't bad either...

[Alan]

hawks were unlucky against the wings the other night.

oilers pk is shocking and after the first couple of games the pp isn't too great either. they need to fix that quick, because after a promising start they've lost there way a bit.