I don't like to compare players from different era's but in the 80's there were more teams....The argument could be made the quality wasn't as good as with only 12 teams.

So I don't buy the water down idea...

Many of the stats that were kept in the Gretzky era were not kept during much of the time Orr played.
- Al

When you add 6 teams at once...the quality is highly questionable. When Gretz arrived, 4 teams were considered 'expansion'...but they were already established professional teams. BIG DIFFERENCE.

Orr, in his 2nd NHL season...walked into a league with 6 new teams created from scratch. If anything was 'watered down,' it was the league Orr entered.

And as far as i know...goals/assists/points were kept in EVERY ERA.

Listen, I will ask you to retract the statement that implies I am lying. Only reason CC is 5th is because Crawford starts with a C. Pleasetell me he is a better goalie than Henrik. Oh, there is this unknown foreigner whose name sounds like a Disney movie and may have his name on the Stanley cup...ah, but we forget those things called facts when it suits us. Do you actually know the meaning of stellar? Dryden, Smith, Hall, Roy, and I would say Hasek.
- sgt1480

Not going to retract anything that is an actual fact.....not forgetting what a fact is as I am just relaying what the facts are....I do know the meaning of stellar....do you know the meaning of comprehension skills?

Typical KNOBS zebras calling an IFFY penalty that favors the HOME team, with 3 minutes left in a tie game

Boudreau phucks up his bench and takes a too many men peno....gives away the bogus pp

Typical KNOBS zebras calling an IFFY penalty that favors the HOME team, with 3 minutes left in a tie game
- philco28

Phil, or anyone, you worried about Lumbus? Because I sure as heck am not

Listen, I will ask you to retract the statement that implies I am lying. Only reason CC is 5th is because Crawford starts with a C. Pleasetell me he is a better goalie than Henrik. Oh, there is this unknown foreigner whose name sounds like a Disney movie and may have his name on the Stanley cup...ah, but we forget those things called facts when it suits us. Do you actually know the meaning of stellar? Dryden, Smith, Hall, Roy, and I would say Hasek.
- sgt1480

Your argument was not...is Crawford better than Lundqvist or Niemi.....or Hasek....or Roy...or Hall...or Smith...or Dryden. I stated the goal tending has been better than good and closer to stellar and the stats back that up. We can have a discussion and speculate (not based on facts) what those stats would be if they faced more shots on goal. I simply made the comment the defense has bailed out the goal tending when needed and vice versa meaning there has been a nice synergy between the two most of the season.....now if you want to argue or discuss other matters please pick one and stay on task.....

Phil, or anyone, you worried about Lumbus? Because I sure as heck am not
- rollpards19

Columbus has played the Hawks tough all year and have arguably the hottest goal tender in the league....so yes I am nervous.

Boudreau phucks up his bench and takes a too many men peno....gives away the bogus pp
- philco28

another 3 point gm....yes jackets make me nervous; thoughts of Bobro standing on head are not pleasant; but they also have problems scoring

another 3 point gm....yes jackets make me nervous; thoughts of Bobro standing on head are not pleasant; but they also have problems scoring
- bogiedoc

You guys know they haven't beaten us once in two years right? But now they can beat us 4 times? Come on

Phil, or anyone, you worried about Lumbus? Because I sure as heck am not
- rollpards19

Rather play CBJ than DET....but Rollie..CBJ just beat ANA...RESPECT

Columbus has played the Hawks tough all year and have arguably the hottest goal tender in the league....so yes I am nervous.
- UnnamedSource

I am nervous about them, too. Even moe nervous about them than detroit even though you can never rule out the Red Wings. And now they just beat Anaheim in ot lucvkily they play most of their last games on the road

Columbus has played the Hawks tough all year and have arguably the hottest goal tender in the league....so yes I am nervous.
- UnnamedSource

THIS....Jacks are DANGEROUS...no time for arrogance folks.

You guys know they haven't beaten us once in two years right? But now they can beat us 4 times? Come on
- rollpards19

I guess you could say they are do; that was also alot of gmes with Steve Mason in net

jackets get the 2 in OT...now tied with wings

You guys know they haven't beaten us once in two years right? But now they can beat us 4 times? Come on
- rollpards19

A Crawford 'special' or two in a short series and we're possibly PHUCKED. That is my greatest worry...but would like to see Razor get the G1 nod in the playoff opener.

You guys know they haven't beaten us once in two years right? But now they can beat us 4 times? Come on
- rollpards19

When the play offs starts the past doesn't matter only the now does.....

What scares me most, though, is Columbus being only 1 point behind the blues now. I really don't want to face the Blues in round 1. I'm hoping for dallas or maybe the wild falling to us. They are only 2 points up on Columbus and 1 point up on the Blues

A Crawford 'special' or two in a short series and we're possibly PHUCKED. That is my greatest worry...but would like to see Razor get the G1 nod in the playoff opener.
- philco28

I guess, but I don't feel its arrogance, I've watched this team this year, they can phucking play, I'm pretty confident we will win at the start of every game

What scares me most, though, is Columbus being only 1 point behind the blues now. I really don't want to face the Blues in round 1. I'm hoping for dallas or maybe the wild falling to us. They are only 2 points up on Columbus and 1 point up on the Blues
- tomcat24

Blues don't scare me.....they are big and physical but don't have any offense to keep up with the Hawks and their goaltending has been atrocious all season up until the last two weeks....plus Brian Elliot in goal in the play offs....bring it on....

Columbus is different...great team play....with some veterans like Johnson, Gaborik, and Dubinksy with something to prove...remind of PHX last year.....plus Bobrovosky is standing on his head...but this will be his first post season as the number 1 as well.

I fear a scrappy team like Columbus more than St Louis.

I guess, but I don't feel its arrogance, I've watched this team this year, they can phucking play, I'm pretty confident we will win at the start of every game
- rollpards19

Admire the Jacks this year...they come to PLAY. Understand we enjoy an edge over them...BUT most of the games were extremely close. Close games in the playoffs are the wild card.

some of you were bantering the Orr/Gretsky debate...

ok...i am no long term hockey historian; but when I look and see the points players produced in the 80-90's; you don't see that type of point production anymore. Why? The rule changes all favor goal scoring with no clutching, grabbing, holding, interference, etc.

Look at the Hawks single season point total leaders. Toews/Kane only Kane exceeded a pt/gme and he did once.

Savard had over 100 pts...what 5 or 6 times

What scares me most, though, is Columbus being only 1 point behind the blues now. I really don't want to face the Blues in round 1. I'm hoping for dallas or maybe the wild falling to us. They are only 2 points up on Columbus and 1 point up on the Blues
- tomcat24

Hawks might have something to say about that...they play the blues in the season finale; how about a scenario where a blues loss in regulation means they are out...what fun!!

Blues don't scare me.....they are big and physical but don't have any offense to keep up with the Hawks and their goaltending has been atrocious all season up until the last two weeks....plus Brian Elliot in goal in the play offs....bring it on....

Columbus is different...great team play....with some veterans like Johnson, Gaborik, and Dubinksy with something to prove...remind of PHX last year.....plus Bobrovosky is standing on his head...but this will be his first post season as the number 1 as well.

I fear a scrappy team like Columbus more than St Louis.
- UnnamedSource

I agree about columbus. They are somewhat similar and could shut down our forwards like phoenix did. I agree about bob. But all he has to be is solid like smith was. It waa the phoenix team game that beat the Hawks like Columbus. St Louis scares me because we won't get out of that series totally healthy. We should beat the blues but our team will be beat up and at a disadvantage in rd 2

some of you were bantering the Orr/Gretsky debate...

ok...i am no long term hockey historian; but when I look and see the points players produced in the 80-90's; you don't see that type of point production anymore. Why? The rule changes all favor goal scoring with no clutching, grabbing, holding, interference, etc.

Look at the Hawks single season point total leaders. Toews/Kane only Kane exceeded a pt/gme and he did once.

Savard had over 100 pts...what 5 or 6 times
- bogiedoc

Goalie pads are WAY bigger now, and overall there are more good tenders around the league (fins, swedes) when comparing eras it beneficial to look at average goals per game league wide and factor that into calculations.

some of you were bantering the Orr/Gretsky debate...

ok...i am no long term hockey historian; but when I look and see the points players produced in the 80-90's; you don't see that type of point production anymore. Why? The rule changes all favor goal scoring with no clutching, grabbing, holding, interference, etc.

Look at the Hawks single season point total leaders. Toews/Kane only Kane exceeded a pt/gme and he did once.

Savard had over 100 pts...what 5 or 6 times
- bogiedoc

And I think gretzky had over 200 points a few times. unbelievable

Hawks might have something to say about that...they play the blues in the season finale; how about a scenario where a blues loss in regulation means they are out...what fun!!
- bogiedoc

Nothing would make me happier. Even happier than making detroit miss the playoffs. I just can't see the blues falling out, though. I would like to see the blues and anaheim kill each other in round 1. And columbus clutch the hell out of Vancouver