Hockey Talk
Thu, 2008-10-09 14:28
#1
Hockey Talk
Thu, 2008-10-09 14:28
#2
While hockey season has been on for a while now, the NHL is starting tonight.
I don't like the new Leafs' coach [url=http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=c53...
quote:
Luke Schenn, 18, signed his three-year entry level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The Saskatoon native is currently living in a hotel -- all by himself -- in the big city.Leafs head coach Ron Wilson was asked how he thought the kid would cope with the perils of urban life. "He's not going to be allowed to read a newspaper, or watch a TV," Wilson said. "I think he prefers watching Green Acres anyway, [b]because of where he's actually from[/b]. We'll make sure he gets plenty of DVDs of Green Acres and maybe The Beverly Hillbillies, and shows like that, and he'll be fine."
Ron Wilson sounds as if he's actually quite the dork.
Anyhoo, I best be gettin' on now. Gotta go whip up a mess o' hog jowls and grits for supper.
Thu, 2008-10-09 14:42
#3
Thank goodness Harold Ballard is no more. They went from having to hate Russians during the cold war to Sandinavian players during the colder war. Now the Leaf's org frontline soldiers just have disdain for people in general. Have you gotten rid of all your Maple Leaf products yet?
Thu, 2008-10-09 19:40
#4
Hmmm, Ron Wilson might be just another narrow-minded bigoted Ontarian, but he certainly has the Leaves skating and forechecking.
On the other hand, the Dead Things were probably still basking in the afterglow of winning the Cup, so weren't quite up to the challenge of facing the mighty and terrible Toronto Maple Leafs.
Thu, 2008-10-09 20:03
#5
quote:
Originally posted by al-Qa'bong:
[b]Hmmm, Ron Wilson might be just another narrow-minded bigoted Ontarian[/b]
Though he was born in Windsor (I think) he was actually raised in the U.S. He's coached the America team several times.
Thu, 2008-10-09 20:10
#6
I heard him say he went to the US after Junior to join the US National Team, since Canada didn't have the same type of hockey program. He grew up in Canada but moved to the states to find work while in his early 20s.
Thu, 2008-10-09 20:16
#7
Even though the wings got better, most teams do badly the year after winning the cup.
Toronto should be fun to follow this year, as we'll see a bunch of young guys develop, i.e. Nikolai Kulemin, Luke Schenn, Mikhail Grabovski, et cetera; some will succeed and some will fail.
********
Meanwhile, the habs will win the cup this year, and their farm team the hamilton bulldogs will win the calder cup.
Thu, 2008-10-09 20:16
#8
I can see that.
[ 09 October 2008: Message edited by: Fidel ]
Thu, 2008-10-09 21:22
#9
quote:
Toronto should be fun to follow this year, as we'll see a bunch of young guys develop, i.e. Nikolai Kulemin, Luke Schenn, Mikhail Grabovski, et cetera;
Heavy on the "et cetera." I didn't know who I was cheering for most of the time tonight, which is really strange.
I could still gripe about Alexei Pokahontowski, tonight. How could the Leafs have kept this hack throughout their rebuilding process? While he's big, he's also slow, takes needless penalties, and is usually a step behind every play.
quote:
I can see that.
[ 09 October 2008: Message edited by: Fidel ]
You deleted a reference to your grand-pere, a former Habs player and coach of the Rhode Island Reds. Who is this guy?
[ 09 October 2008: Message edited by: al-Qa'bong ]
Thu, 2008-10-09 21:28
#10
Grabovski has some wheels. I thought the Leafs were fun to watch the last two seasons. Lots of scoring prowess, just needed tighter D and goaltending.
Thu, 2008-10-09 21:32
#11
quote:
Originally posted by al-Qa'bong:
[b]You deleted a reference to your grand-pere, a former Habs player and coach of the Rhode Island Reds. Who is this guy?
[ 09 October 2008: Message edited by: al-Qa'bong ][/b]
Well I'm glad you asked. He was one of the two principals described in ]this news piece[/URL] And he wasn't from Wawa, Ontario. I can say for sure that he had a mean streak. His brother Louis was actually a better overall player, and bigger. But grand had something about him the big team needed at the time. And that was protection on the ice for Joliat, Morenz, and Vezina when visiting Bean Town.
[ 10 October 2008: Message edited by: Fidel ]
Thu, 2008-10-09 21:39
#12
Wow. You're descended from the only player to have ever been kicked out of the NHL, and a guy tough enough to take over the captaincy from the infamous Sprague Cleghorn.
I'd tip my hat if I were wearing one.
[ 09 October 2008: Message edited by: al-Qa'bong ]
Thu, 2008-10-09 21:53
#13
That's why I've posted and deleted a few times. Not too proud of that fact for sure. I've seen his name on the travelling cup. I remember seeing it the first time in a black and white news photo in 93 showing Paul Dipietro hoisting the trophy in closeup. They called me up from all over town asking who he was, the photo was that clear. The deal between Hamilton and Habs was the first multi-player trade in the league. Dad said those times were different. A lot of what went on on the ice would be considered illegal today. Guys coming off the ice on stretchers was routine. Dad was a kid then and said the roar of Boston Gawden was deafening. Big rivalry then.
[ 09 October 2008: Message edited by: Fidel ]
Mon, 2008-10-13 14:47
#14
Billy Taylor & Don Galinger might have a quibble with that, if they were still around. BTW, I assume it's Billy C. we're talking about here.
quote:
Originally posted by al-Qa'bong:
[b]Wow. You're descended from the only player to have ever been kicked out of the NHL, and a guy tough enough to take over the captaincy from the infamous Sprague Cleghorn.I'd tip my hat if I were wearing one.
[ 09 October 2008: Message edited by: al-Qa'bong ][/b]
Tue, 2008-10-14 01:46
#15
Catchfire
Habs take five points out of six and are looking almost as good as that. We've improved in two positions (at least) in the off-season, but Carey Price might be damaged goods. We won't know until the playoffs.
Tue, 2008-10-14 08:22
#16
Carey Price lost 28 lbs of baby fat over the summer, which makes him faster and thus a better goalie. Thus far both in preseason and season he is evidently anything but damaged goods, and he benefited from 4 months of vacation (previously he had been playing nonstop for 2 years).
The Canadiens improved in 3 positions; Alex Tanguay over Michael Ryder, Robert Lang over Brian Smolinski, and the addition of George Laraque to the 4th line. These are massive improvements.
Additionally, as one of the youngest teams in the league, all of their young guys should be better, Sergei and Andrei Kostitsyn, Guillaume Latendresse (he lost 10lbs and practiced skating everyday), Josh Gorges... oh and Roman Hamrlik seems to have caught fire this year.
***
Habs will win the cup this year [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
Sat, 2008-11-01 19:10
#17
Could one of you Toronto babblers pick up some Stanley Cup Parade tickets for me?
Sat, 2008-11-01 19:19
#18
That was a hell of a comeback tonight against the Rangers!
Sat, 2008-11-29 13:51
#19
Catchfire
Could one of you Toronto babblers pick up some Stanley Cup Parade tickets for me?
Now that you've got Brian Burke as GM (and Ron Wilson!) it's only a matter of time, right? Right?
Sat, 2008-11-29 17:34
#20
I wonder if Carbonneau is going to get fired soon. It's been a real lack of effort on the part of the team, a serious 13 game slump, and no end in sight. He said in a press conference last night that he just doesn't know what's wrong.
Sun, 2008-11-30 00:13
#21
Could one of you Toronto babblers pick up some Stanley Cup Parade tickets for me?Now that you've got Brian Burke as GM (and Ron Wilson!) it's only a matter of time, right? Right?
At the start of the season I was fairly apathetic about the Leaves, but now they seem as if they finally have some direction .
I haven't felt this good about the team since the day before Wendel Clark was traded for Mats Sundin.
Mon, 2009-02-02 20:58
#22
For some reason, the Ottawa Senators think that by firing coach Craig Hartsburg they are going to cure their culture of choking loserness.
Speaking of losers, the Big Swede has certainly earned his ten million canucklebucks since joining the Vancouver squad.
Mon, 2009-02-02 23:23
#23
Poor Craig Hartsburg. I wonder if the Hounds will give him his old job back.
Mon, 2009-02-02 23:39
#24
Sven
Speaking of losers, the Big Swede has certainly earned his ten million canucklebucks since joining the Vancouver squad.
Mats must be laughing his arse off. $5 million per year and, so far, he's tallied a whopping [u]three[/u] points!! Given the amount of time he's been spending in the penalty box, you'd think they were paying him $50,000 per PIM.
No offense to you BC'ers, but it couldn't have happened to a nicer team. 
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[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]
Tue, 2009-02-03 00:26
#25
Sven
And, what's up with the talent-laden Pens??? Yeah, I know April is two months away, but they're in 10th place in the East at the moment. My Minnesota Wild haven't got shite for talent (other than Backstrom between the pipes) and they're tied for sixth in the West. What, oh what, could we ever do with Crosby and Malkin if they were on our team!!
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[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]
Tue, 2009-02-03 22:42
#26
Mats must be laughing his arse off. $5 million per year and, so far, he's tallied a whopping [u]three[/u] points!! Given the amount of time he's been spending in the penalty box, you'd think they were paying him $50,000 per PIM.
No offense to you BC'ers, but it couldn't have happened to a nicer team.
All the Canuckleheads need to round out their lineup is to trade for Daniel Alfredsson.
Wed, 2009-02-04 00:39
#27
Sven
All the Canuckleheads need to round out their lineup is to trade for Daniel Alfredsson.
As it is, without Luongo, they wouldn't have a chance at holding on to even the 11th place slot they now occupy in the West. The team is of middling quality with a healthy Bobby Lu in the net. Without him, they are abysmal, at best. The fact that they had a fight during team practice last week indicates that team cohesion is fragile, if not extinguished entirely.
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[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]
Wed, 2009-02-04 00:50
#28
Speaking of losers, the Big Swede has certainly earned his ten million canucklebucks since joining the Vancouver squad.
No offense to you BC'ers, but it couldn't have happened to a nicer team.
Can you imagine Les Canadiens with a similar to Vancouver's performance this year, being tolerated by Montreal fans.
I can't.
My hunch is that the Canuck coach will be toast shortly.
Wed, 2009-02-04 01:07
#29
Sven
My hunch is that the Canuck coach will be toast shortly.
Well, the Canooks managed to win tonight (but, surprise, surprise, that was on the road, not at home). So, AV is safe for another day.
I hope they can dig down deep and deliver a record 13 straight home loses (we did our part and gave them their ninth straight home loss on Saturday night).
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[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]
Wed, 2009-02-04 09:34
#30
Scott Piatkowski
I'm no fan of Bryan McCabe, but it sure was nice to see him score the winning goal in overtime against the Leafs last night.
Wed, 2009-02-04 23:01
#31
I listened to the web broadcast of that game and heard the Leaf fans boo every time Caber touched the puck. I didn't like that; it was as if Leaf supporters had read the chapter on "class" in the Habs fan manual.
Sure, he made a few boo-boos as a Leaf, but over all he was a decent player for the blue dudes. His game was hurt when the new rec hockey rules were introduced into the NHL, but that wasn't his fault.
Thu, 2009-02-05 00:54
#32
Bruins are on fire. I wonder how much I could get for a Bruins cap autographed by #91?
Thu, 2009-02-05 05:27
#33
Catchfire
I listened to the web broadcast of that game and heard the Leaf fans boo every time Caber touched the puck. I didn't like that; it was as if Leaf supporters had read the chapter on "class" in the Habs fan manual.
No kidding. I was watching the Habs-Leafs a few weeks back and every time Mikhail Grabovski touched the puck the fans would boo. Grabovski? Seriously? Why? He was a non-player who went between the AHL and the Habs for all three years or whatever he played for us. He left to find more playing time (and because the Habs didn't want him, what with 6 first-line defencemen) and now we boo him? Classless is right. I have a theory that it has something to do with the 'intelligent hockey fan' label that gets ascribed to cities that take the game seriously, and the fans (who aren't that intelligent, it has to be said) have to find new ways to live up to the label. Booing Grabovski and chanting 'ole ole ole', I have to say, isn't one of them. Acually, I think both the'ole!' chant and the booing are descendents from what Montreal supporters think football fans do in Europe, without realizing that 1) they don't boo every player who used to play for them and now plays for someone else, just the important ones like Cashley Cole and 2) most football supporters are morans.
If I were a betting man, I'd wager they don't do either in Detroit where they've actually won something in the past decade and a half.
Thu, 2009-02-05 08:26
#34
I have autographed pictures of Bobby Hull and Denis Savard in my office Fidel. I think theyt trump #91.
Thu, 2009-02-05 09:03
#35
I have autographed pictures of Bobby Hull and Denis Savard in my office Fidel. I think theyt trump #91.
Hang on to those ones for sure. I've got an Yvan Cournoyer and Guy Lafleur, too. No for sale.
Thu, 2009-02-05 09:37
#36
Man, I'd love to have one for the Flower and the Roadrunner. Someday I hope...
Thu, 2009-02-05 09:54
#37
They've showed up the odd time at ScotiaBank arena in Kanata for Sens-Habs games. The problem is getting near them for an autograph with two nephews in tow.
Sun, 2009-02-08 16:33
#38
The Habs looked purty lethargic against the Leafs last night; and how about tough guy Georges Laraque going up against the mighty and terrible Mickey Grabovski?
I was sure happy to see Luke Schenn score his first NHL goal in that game.
Sun, 2009-02-08 22:04
#39
Habs have injuries and couldnt buy a break with hitting posts and missing open nets. Price was screened on at least a couple. Leafs had 41 shots on net though. Oh well. Young guns out to prove themselves against a legendary rival perhaps. Laracque made short work of enforcer Brad May early in the game, although it didnt inspire the team much. Six games away from hometown distractions should get something going for them.
Mon, 2009-02-09 00:37
#40
Sven
Laracque made short work of enforcer Brad May early in the game, although it didnt inspire the team much.
Man, I wish I would have seen that. Brad May is a worm. And Georges is the perfect guy to step on him.
I think the team to beat for the Cup this spring is going to San Jose.
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[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]
Mon, 2009-02-09 01:08
#41
The two number ones get it on on Tuesday at the Gawden
Mon, 2009-02-09 10:05
#42
Young guns out to prove themselves against a legendary rival perhaps.
Oh please. It isn't as if the Leafs were up against Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau and Rocket Richard out there.
Mon, 2009-02-09 13:52
#43
Sven
Young guns out to prove themselves against a legendary rival perhaps.Oh please. It isn't as if the Leafs were up against Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau and Rocket Richard out there.
Hey, don't forget Jacques Lemaire!!
_______________________________________
[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]
Mon, 2009-02-09 14:02
#44
Not to mention Doug Harvey, Frank Mahovlich*, Newsy Lalonde, Aurel Joliat, the Stratford Streak, George Vezina etc. Sometimes the ghosts dont show up for the game though. Maybe le ghosts got sidetracked at Chez Paree, or something
Mon, 2009-02-09 22:09
#45
Young guns out to prove themselves against a legendary rival perhaps.Oh please. It isn't as if the Leafs were up against Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau and Rocket Richard out there.
Hey, don't forget Jacques Lemaire!!
I'll never forget how he beat Tony Esposito from centre ice to win the Stanley Cup in 1971.
The only Hab I ever really liked was Pierre Mondou (OK, Pete Mahovlich was another). With the imposition of skilled Europeans to the NHL Mondou had to leave the game.
Come to think of it, I liked Bobby Rousseau, Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe as well. Steve Shutt was OK, although it always bugged me that as an ex- Marlborough he didn't end up with the Leafs.
On the late show last night they showed "The Girl Next Door," with Elisha Cuthbert. I didn't know who she was, so I googled her name today...and found out she is Dion Phaneuf's girlfriend and the object of Sean Avery's notorious coment.
A little later I heard on Leafs Lunch that Avery has cleared waivers and might be sent down to the Stars' AHL farm team.
Thu, 2009-02-12 05:23
#46
Catchfire
Boy the Habs are terrible. And my fear from last season that Price might be damaged goods is beginning to tell. 3 goals or more in 7 of 9. Ouch.
Thu, 2009-02-12 07:19
#47
Sven
A little later I heard on Leafs Lunch that Avery has cleared waivers and might be sent down to the Stars' AHL farm team.
Dallas doesn't have an AHL team. So, under some deal with the Rangers, Avery is playing on the AHL team that is affiliated with the Rangers. Avery left a lot of egg on Brett Hull's face.
_______________________________________
[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]
Thu, 2009-02-12 18:38
#48
Dallas doesn't have an AHL team.
The guys just said that Avery was going down to the Hartford Wailers; I assumed the team was a Dallas affiliate.
Gosh, that Brian Burke and Ron Wilson are quite the tag-team. They sure know how to massage their players' egos. Nick Antropov is certainly feeling the love.
Thu, 2009-02-12 19:18
#49
Boy the Habs are terrible. And my fear from last season that Price might be damaged goods is beginning to tell. 3 goals or more in 7 of 9. Ouch.
The Flames put five past Halak two nights before though. A couple of the goals Oilers scored on Price did look like easy saves. I dunno. The kid's good, he just needs some D. Christ, the Leafs were able to put 41 shots on net against the Habs. What's coming off besides the wheels? We're really missing Lang, Latendresse, and Tanguay.
Thu, 2009-02-12 23:02
#50
Andy Frost is asking, "What's with the Habs dirty play this year?" on Leafs Talk right now.
The Habs used to be a pretty classy outfit in the past.
Fri, 2009-02-13 14:21
#51
I dont think the Habs are any dirtier than the other teams. I dont think it stops dirty lumber play altogether, but I almost have to agree with Don Cherry here. If fighting is removed from the game, then chippy play would be the rule. Sure basketball was improved with rule tightening and paving the way for skilled players like Jordan, Pippen, Malone etc. But hockey is a faster sport and a lot more physical.
The game is so fast now that refs cant see all of the intentional whacks and dirty hits. The players do see it and have dealt with goonery by their own unwritten rules since turn of the last century.