They got Kassian to take care of that stuff.
- Ottawa Fan

Based on the morning skate (him staying out late to work on stuff), he's not dressing tonight.

I think the order of caring about Matt Cooke retribution tonight goes something like this:
1. Ottawa Sun
2. Some Ottawa Fans
3. Eugene Melnyk
3. Eugene Melnyk's team of foresnic experts
4. Other team's fans
.
.
17. Rest of Ottawa Fans
.
.
.
27. Ottawa Senator players and coaches

edited

some of these arguments are getting dumb.......

1. the sens team will not focus on cooke. it's only one stupid newspaper and a few "overly passionate" fans who are focusing on this.

2. i'm sure neil or kassian will ask him to go, if he doesn't then fine, and if he does, then fine. either way, it'll be over after that.

3. saying karlsson is better than crosby right now is just silly. i love karlsson, but crosby is the best player in the game.....PERIOD

4. that being said, saying letang is better than karlsson is pretty silly too. karlsson is a better skater (assuming he doenst regress after injury), has a better shot, better pass, is more elusive, better PP qb, and has arguably teh best "stick skills" of any d-man in the league (as shown by the fact that he led the league in takeaways last year)............i'm not saying letang isn't good at any of that, just that karlsson is better. letang is definitely more physical though, won't take that away from him. also, lost in all this debate is the fact that karlsson is like 5 years younger, and is nowhere near his prime years yet.

5. anyone who says that karlsson doesn't play D, and is just anohter mike green is either a) dumb, and know nothing about hockey b) a sens hater c) never actually watched him play d) all of the above
- sensarmy_11

That's highly subjective (i.e. better skater) and Letang is only 3 years older.

I won't argue that Letang is better, but the difference in their all-around talent is much closer than Crosby compared to the rest of the league.

Based on the morning skate (him staying out late to work on stuff), he's not dressing tonight.

I think the order of caring about Matt Cooke retribution tonight goes something like this:
1. Ottawa Sun
2. Some Ottawa Fans
3. Other team's fans
4. Rest of Ottawa Fans
.
.
.
27. Ottawa Senator players and coaches
- rival22

Where does Eugene'a investigation fall on the list?

Based on the morning skate (him staying out late to work on stuff), he's not dressing tonight.

I think the order of caring about Matt Cooke retribution tonight goes something like this:
1. Ottawa Sun
2. Some Ottawa Fans
3. Other team's fans
4. Rest of Ottawa Fans
.
.
.
27. Ottawa Senator players and coaches
- rival22

agreed, although rest of ottawa fans are probably at like 24...

the only "retribution" i'd want to see would be a good clean hit, but i'd want to see that no matter what

I'd take the Sens if I had to choose. Rags and Isles are really playing some solid hockey. I'd MUCH rather face the "Peg".
However if the team was completely healthy, I'd say bring on anyone. The Penguins at full force would bring alot of everything. I feel this team wants the Cup back in a bad way.
- Sell My Monkey

I think Winnipeg is definitely the team that most would view as the easiest out, with the only hesitation being the strong home ice advantage that they have.

But Neil will fight if needed. Cooke not fighting will make the game a mess
- Ottawa Fan

and who's team does that hurt? The team in the playoffs or the team hoping to make the playoffs? If Ottawa is smart they let it go for now unless the score gets lopsided.

Next time you watch a game, any game.. watch how many times player x pins player y on the boards.

Each time you do, write down how many times player x lifts his skate blade that far off the ice when he pins player y.

I'm not saying Cooke did it on purpose. There's no way in hell someone could possibly put it there on purpose. Let's get past that, ok.

What I am saying is that the play was reckless. Players who have a history of trying to hurt other players should have to answer for their reckless actions.

A poop leopard can't lose it's poop spots.
- Charliebox

Its a BS argument IMO.... if Karlsson is as good as is being debated here, and I'm not arguing against the fact that he's an elite talent in the league, then you can't compare how you need to pin him to the boards with how you need to pin Beau Bennett.

It wasn't a reckless play it was a play by an outmatched opponent against a superior foe..... it was unfortunate... like Crosby's concussion was unfortunate... we can sit and debate as to whether Steckel meant to do it or not but the fact is he was lost and with him a good chance at a Stanley Cup in 2011.

I believe this is more because Ovechkin had sub-par seasons the last few years - he was certainly in the conversation when he was winning Hart's/Lindsey's, etc. He might be yet again if he sustains his current level.
- MadCap2008

Valid points, but I think it is fair to say that he is going to play second fiddle to guys like Toews and Crosby who have post season success and who were instrumental in getting their teams the cup. His recent play will get him in the convo, but if his team falters in early rounds again it will be the same old story.

That's highly subjective (i.e. better skater) and Letang is only 3 years older.
- ursomp71

subjective, maybe. i'm not an analyst, or a skating coach, but most broadcasts i've listened to (and they weren't all sens broadcasts, often times have to watch centre ice, and get whatever the local broadcast is ) and they all say karlsson is probably the best skating d-man in the league

how old is letang? isn't he gonna be a UFA, doesn't that mean he's 27................i didn't actually look, i was just making an assumption based on his pending contract status, you're probably right.

I think Winnipeg is definitely the team that most would view as the easiest out, with the only hesitation being the strong home ice advantage that they have.
- MadCap2008

The Penguins outright own Ondrej Pavelec... like completely.... His GAA against the Pens is horrendous.

I just found it - lol

"Against the Penguins he is 2-11-0 with a 4.35 GAA and .870 save percentage."

subjective, maybe. i'm not an analyst, or a skating coach, but most broadcasts i've listened to (and they weren't all sens broadcasts, often times have to watch centre ice, and get whatever the local broadcast is ) and they all say karlsson is probably the best skating d-man in the league

how old is letang? isn't he gonna be a UFA, doesn't that mean he's 27................i didn't actually look, i was just making an assumption based on his pending contract status, you're probably right.
- sensarmy_11

He'll be 26 in May, while Karlsson will be 23.

That's highly subjective (i.e. better skater) and Letang is only 3 years older.

I won't argue that Letang is better, but the difference in their all-around talent is much closer than Crosby compared to the rest of the league.
- ursomp71

He had a nice post so I didn't want to argue it but nobody skates better than Letang does. The best you can do is tie there.

subjective, maybe. i'm not an analyst, or a skating coach, but most broadcasts i've listened to (and they weren't all sens broadcasts, often times have to watch centre ice, and get whatever the local broadcast is ) and they all say karlsson is probably the best skating d-man in the league

how old is letang? isn't he gonna be a UFA, doesn't that mean he's 27................i didn't actually look, i was just making an assumption based on his pending contract status, you're probably right.
- sensarmy_11

This was the rule the owners tried to get into the new CBA, players wouldn't have it.

UFA depends on years played, Letang has played since he was pretty young and burned up all his ELC and RFW time. He's 25 now.

He had a nice post so I didn't want to argue it but nobody skates better than Letang does. The best you can do is tie there.
- lloyd095

I don't know about that.

He had a nice post so I didn't want to argue it but nobody skates better than Letang does. The best you can do is tie there.
- lloyd095

Either way, they're likely the two best-skating defensemen in the league.

Where does Eugene'a investigation fall on the list?
- Ottawa Fan

Oh yeah... forgot about him.

It's fixed now lol

Id like to see Big Mac and Kass go at it, but asking Cooke to fight him is just crazy.

Crosby has been in the league for 8 years. Three of those years, he's played under 55 games (two of those have been the past two seasons).

You can call me any name in the book that you want, but if the league had a dispersal draft, GMs would be worried about his health. I don't see how you can't grasp that.

A fully healthy Sid blows EVERY hockey player in the world out of the water. But it's rolling the dice.

Also, you can't compare concussion problems to a freak injury on one's Achilles. How many players have had their careers cut short because of a cut tendon?
Concussions on the other hand....

Sid is injury prone.. it sucks, but it's a fact. Karlsson has had one freak injury and didn't miss time with any significant injuries prior to that, at any level.
- Charliebox

And in those games, Sid has proved to be the best player in the league. His numbers prior to his jaw injury were staggering this year. Only idiot GMs would choose Karlsson over Crosby. Your posts continue to show you being a homer or an idiot. Again, your choice. No one is saying Karlsson isn't good or great. He is. That said, he ain't be these in the league.

I don't know about that.
- TommyDeVito

Well I do... He's as good as it gets at skating. Not even saying Karlson isn't better just saying Letang can skate like no other.

Either way, they're likely the two best-skating defensemen in the league.
- ursomp71

Agreed

subjective, maybe. i'm not an analyst, or a skating coach, but most broadcasts i've listened to (and they weren't all sens broadcasts, often times have to watch centre ice, and get whatever the local broadcast is ) and they all say karlsson is probably the best skating d-man in the league

how old is letang? isn't he gonna be a UFA, doesn't that mean he's 27................i didn't actually look, i was just making an assumption based on his pending contract status, you're probably right.
- sensarmy_11

and every analyst on TV said Matt Cooke wasn't reckless or intentional in that play with Karlsson, so what is your point?

He'll be 26 in May, while Karlsson will be 23.
- ursomp71

i thought he was older..........still, 3 years is a pretty big difference. with 3 more years of development and experience, karlsson could be RIDICULOUSLY dominant. when letang was 23, his career totals were less than what EK did last year, so if karlsson develops even at the same pace, there will be no question who the best d-man is.

as of right now, i agree that it's probably "debateable", but i think most people, who look at it objectively, will say karlsson is better.

and every analyst on TV said Matt Cooke wasn't reckless or intentional in that play with Karlsson, so what is your point?
- Oneonta Penguin

i also said it wasn't reckless or intentional.........what's that have to do with karlsson's skating?

The Penguins outright own Ondrej Pavelec... like completely.... His GAA against the Pens is horrendous.

I just found it - lol

"Against the Penguins he is 2-11-0 with a 4.35 GAA and .870 save percentage."


- rival22

I think the last time the Penguins played them the Jets looked like they gave up.

I'd rather not face Anderson or The "King" in round one. But in the end it is who it is. Plus if I actively root for a matchup it comes back and bites me in the ass.

Witness TB and Montreal. I wanted no part of Philly, I still think they were the only team that could have beaten the Pens...and they did.

I don't know about that.
- TommyDeVito

Watching everyone argue whether Karlsson is better at x/y/z than Letang is kind of like arguing about whether you would rather sleep with Mila Kunis or Kate Upton....you can't go wrong either way.