1st Round Playoff matchup I'd want: Buffalo

Who I wouldn't want to face: the "new, reenergized" NYR, really.

Best d-man: I'd give it to Ryan Suter over PK Subban (just because of age and deserves more based on past years...both are playing good hockey).

Hart: Crosby all the way.
Art Ross: Crosby over Stamkos.
- Orpik44

Might as well say you would like Florida too, same likelihood.

Might as well say you would like Florida too, same likelihood.
- Gunner Staal

I thought John gave us this option, didn't he? Out of those teams, I'd choose Buffalo. Anyway, I wouldn't mind playing the Islanders (even though they played us well in the begining of the season).

Really? I don't see that at all. With the Jets I see a mentally frail group of guys who, yes, have some grit, but aren't cohesive or focused enough to go far in the second season.
- Mr_Clean

Agreed. I was at the game the last time the Jets were in Pittsburgh. It was a complete mismatch and the Penguins pretty much ran them out of the building. The Jets could barely even possess the puck let alone apply any pressure. That said, that Winnipeg crowd would be a huge factor and fun to see.

1st Round Playoff matchup I'd want: Buffalo

Who I wouldn't want to face: the "new, reenergized" NYR, really.

Best d-man: I'd give it to Ryan Suter over PK Subban (just because of age..and deserves more based on past years...both are playing good hockey).

Hart: Crosby all the way.
Art Ross: Crosby over Stamkos.
- Orpik44

You are probably right about the Rangers, but I'm really not worried about them, I guess just based on our history of totally owning them in the playoffs. In any case, I think they will end up 7th. They don't play a single playoff team the rest of the way. We are either going to play the Islanders or Winnipeg.

Agreed. I was at the game the last time the Jets were in Pittsburgh. It was a complete mismatch and the Penguins pretty much ran them out of the building. The Jets could barely even possess the puck let alone apply any pressure. That said, that Winnipeg crowd would be a huge factor and fun to see.
- Emperor Filonius

This is one of the reasons I'd rather get Buffalo or the Islanders in the 1st round.

PK deserves it but whether or not he gets it is another story.

PK deserves it but whether or not he gets it is another story.
- whipper334

Whipper, how about Suter? Look at Minn season based on past years..

I'd rather see Letang out of this run...if he wins it, we'll have to give him an even higher raise

PK deserves it but whether or not he gets it is another story.
- whipper334

He won't get it if Darren Pang has a say..

Whipper, how about Suter? Look at Minn season based on past years..

I'd rather see Letang out of this run...if he wins it, we'll have to give him an even higher raise
- Orpik44

Yeah Suter probably will get it. PK Subban plays to cocky if you will and it rubs some people the wrong way.

Isles always give us fits, wouldn't want them in round 1, they would be the worst of the potential match ups IMO
- ryman1566

The Islanders do give us fits however in a 7 game series we'll take them to school

Yeah Suter probably will get it. PK Subban plays to cocky if you will and it rubs some people the wrong way.
- whipper334

True..

How was Ben Hanowski's debut yesterday? Do you have a comparable for his style of game?

True..

How was Ben Hanowski's debut yesterday? Do you have a comparable for his style of game?
- Orpik44

Not bad, not great. Scored a goal, could've had 2. I think like most he'll be a 3rd line centre at best.

The Islanders do give us fits however in a 7 game series we'll take them to school
- SayWhat...NoWay

As I mentioned before, I thought they played well against us in the begining of the season but we are a superior team right now. We'd beat then in 5 games at max.

Not bad, not great. Scored a goal, could've had 2. I think like most he'll be a 3rd line centre at best.
- whipper334

How about a comparable for him? Is he good on puck battles, strong on his skates? I saw he has a pretty good size. Not skinny at all.

I wanna see Agostino play now.

How about a comparable for him? Is he good on puck battles, strong on his skates? I saw he has a pretty good size. Not skinny at all.

I wanna see Agostino play now.
- Orpik44

Hard to do a comparable yet. He was clearly nervous as hell. Sometimes was caught skating in circles. Definitely not afraid to go into the corners. If he learns to use that size he could be a very servicable player.

Hard to do a comparable yet. He was clearly nervous as hell. Sometimes was caught skating in circles. Definitely not afraid to go into the corners. If he learns to use that size he could be a very servicable player.
- whipper334

Location: Bye Iggy!

Location: Now PLAY Iggy!

Howard re-signs for 6 years, $31.8M. ($5.3M per). I feel good about Fleury's deal.

If I were you I'd put out an Amber Alert for Carey Price's confidence.
Missing for a week with no sign of returning.


(watch the Habsbeens - fans relying on former greatness to justify their insolence - flock to defend their messiah)
- dawgzhouse

it happened earlier in the season ( vs Pitts and NYI )
He'll be fine.

he gave 3 bad goals in the last two games... each time 5-hole.

Location: Bye Iggy!

Location: Now PLAY Iggy!

Howard re-signs for 6 years, $31.8M. ($5.3M per). I feel good about Fleury's deal.
- Orpik44

No shi T! That's Kipper money.

1st Round Playoff matchup I'd want: Buffalo

Who I wouldn't want to face: the "new, reenergized" NYR, really.

Best d-man: I'd give it to Ryan Suter over PK Subban (just because of age..and deserves more based on past years...both are playing good hockey).

Hart: Crosby all the way.
Art Ross: Crosby over Stamkos.
- Orpik44

Hart was debated on here a while back, many pros and cons to Crosby. And if he wants to win the Art Ross, he better either come back and/or hope TB goes into a crazy scoring slump.

It's going to be interesting to see how the Norris shakes out this year. I'd probably rank it at:

Suter
Subban
Phaneuf

I'll take full bias on this. I would throw Phaneuf into the discussion, because he certainly has had to be the all-round defenceman for the Leafs this year. Playing huge hours, often with AHL partners, against the hardest toughest lines. Don't think he'd win being behind Suter and Subban in points, but feel like the performance at least should have him in the discussion.

It's going to be interesting to see how the Norris shakes out this year. I'd probably rank it at:

Suter
Subban
Phaneuf

I'll take full bias on this. I would throw Phaneuf into the discussion, because he certainly has had to be the all-round defenceman for the Leafs this year. Playing huge hours, often with AHL partners, against the hardest toughest lines. Don't think he'd win being behind Suter and Subban in points, but feel like the performance at least should have him in the discussion.
- FlareKnight

Is this a joke?

All of them play against the hardest toughest lines. Phaneuf?No way.

Hart was debated on here a while back, many pros and cons to Crosby. And if he wants to win the Art Ross, he better either come back and/or hope TB goes into a crazy scoring slump.
- jmatchett383

Hart has to be his. Art Ross remain to be seen but once he gets back, he'll score, as usual.

It's going to be interesting to see how the Norris shakes out this year. I'd probably rank it at:

Suter
Subban
Phaneuf

I'll take full bias on this. I would throw Phaneuf into the discussion, because he certainly has had to be the all-round defenceman for the Leafs this year. Playing huge hours, often with AHL partners, against the hardest toughest lines. Don't think he'd win being behind Suter and Subban in points, but feel like the performance at least should have him in the discussion.
- FlareKnight

Miesha "cupcake" lost.. she's just...

Is this a joke?

All of them play against the hardest toughest lines. Phaneuf?No way.
- Orpik44

Might want to do a little research. In defensemen who have played in at least 20 games this year Phaneuf leads the NHL in the quality of competition he faces.

http://www.behindthenet.c...9+30+32+33+34+45+46+63+67

That said, he is not in the Norris conversation this season, but he probably doesnt get enough credit for the job he does either.