I like that Torts said this team is too easy to play against. Big big issue.
- VANTEL

I would challenge that any team that struggles to score is easy to play against.

Gillis made a comment a little while ago that he is not bringing in any more forwards at this time. I think the extra cap space will give him some options at the trade deadline.
- fiveandagame

Steve Holt! I mean Ott... Steve Ott!

Look at the top UFA signings in the past 10 years and New York, Philly, CA are the top destinations. There are basically a few things that attract top free agents. Winning (see Detroit), City (see NYR), Climate (see LA/Anaheim/TB/Florida), home town (some like home town, some hate it). Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Ottawa don't exactly fit into too many of those categories. I don't blame the players, if I could live anywhere in the world and make millions, I wouldn't pick any major city in Canada.

I watched the Oilers develop talent through the 90's and trade it off for prospects because they couldn't afford to.
- Al Hacker

You forgot 2 things. Money and stupid GMs who offer too much of it!

And yet, most of the top end chose NY, Philly, Detroit, Mini, Ana, etc...
- Al Hacker

Apart from 2 guys from the area, who were given $100M each, how many top end UFAs have chosen Minny in the past 15 years? Who are all these top end guys who have chosen Anaheim? Philly gets picked cause their GMs are brain dead and they give out ridiculous contracts. New York has typically been the same. Detroit hasn't really signed a tonne of top end UFAs since the salary cap was implemented, they've preferred to build from within.

Your theory is severely flawed.

I like that Torts said this team is too easy to play against. Big big issue.
- VANTEL

Part of the reason I don't see Schroeder as anything other than an injury replacement.

I would challenge that any team that struggles to score is easy to play against.
- AlexF

The year they won the cup the Kings scored the 2nd fewest goals in the NHL.

I like that Torts said this team is too easy to play against. Big big issue.
- VANTEL

Makes me happy too, finally someone in the organization realizes the big issue, I guess he came from outside the organization. You would have never heard AV say that.

Canucks now have 8 defenseman that are NHL quality and the starting 8 are pretty much set, will probably continue to go with the 8 D, 13 forward philosophy as usual. Forwards are up in the air, lots of talented rookies will try and make the team, Jensen, Shinkaruk, Gaunce, Horvat. Assuming no rookie cracks the line up, I see the team as follows:

Sedin Sedin Kassian
Burrows Kesler Hansen
Higgins Schroeder Santorelli
Sestito Richardson Weise
Ferriero (Booth IR)

Hamhuis Bieksa
Garrison Tanev
Edler Corrado
Alberts Weber

Luongo
Lack

Makes me happy too, finally someone in the organization realizes the big issue, I guess he came from outside the organization. You would have never heard AV say that.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Gillis said that too when he came over here, but then he looked at the roster and the Free Agents and said Hoyvey.

The year they won the cup the Kings scored the 2nd fewest goals in the NHL.
- KB3Point0

That edition of the Kings was a tale of two teams - the one before the TDL and the one after. As drab as that team was to watch at times, they certainly scored goals in the playoffs.

Gillis said that too when he came over here, but then he looked at the roster and the Free Agents and said Hoyvey.
- VANTEL

My overwhelming fear with Torts is that making your team "harder to play against" generally translates to making your team harder to watch.

My overwhelming fear with Torts is that making your team "harder to play against" generally translates to making your team harder to watch.
- AlexF

dont know about you but i'd watch a team if they were successful...sure it might not be high tempo fast paced offense all the time, but as long as they are winning...people will watch

That edition of the Kings was a tale of two teams - the one before the TDL and the one after. As drab as that team was to watch at times, they certainly scored goals in the playoffs.
- AlexF

http://www.hockey-referen...om/playoffs/NHL_2012.html flyers scored the 2nd most considering the amount of games they were in, but you're right, the kings did score in the top 5...i believe the top 3 actually...the number that sticks out though is the goals against...my god that team was amazing

I truly believe if penguins knew how to play better defense they would have won that year...they scored an average of 4.333 goals per game...but poop the bed when it came to playing defense and goal

My overwhelming fear with Torts is that making your team "harder to play against" generally translates to making your team harder to watch.
- AlexF

The Broadstreet Bullies were fun to watch

http://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2012.html flyers scored the 2nd most considering the amount of games they were in, but you're right, the kings did score in the top 5...i believe the top 3 actually...the number that sticks out though is the goals against...my god that team was amazing

I truly believe if penguins knew how to play better defense they would have won that year...they scored an average of 4.333 goals per game...but poop the bed when it came to playing defense and goal
- annoyance_101

It goes without saying that your D also needs to be in good order in the playoffs but I think ours is decent enough. It's the lack of scoring that's been killing us.

Ironically for the Pens, their D wasn't actually their downfall against Boston last season, it was that they couldn't score. Chicago clearly could.

That edition of the Kings was a tale of two teams - the one before the TDL and the one after. As drab as that team was to watch at times, they certainly scored goals in the playoffs.
- AlexF

They still struggled to score goals. 2.85/game in the playoffs and that includes .25 empty net goals per game. Significantly less goals than the 4 previous Cup winners. Very difficult team to play against despite goal scoring struggles. It was just impossible to score on them.

dont know about you but i'd watch a team if they were successful...sure it might not be high tempo fast paced offense all the time, but as long as they are winning...people will watch
- annoyance_101

We haven't been high tempo fast paced for over 2 years, well I've been high but none of those other words.
Edit: I like seahorses

We haven't been high tempo fast paced for over 2 years, well I've been high but none of those other words.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I'm working in Kelowna until next Tuesday, and then in Hope until the 30th—without herb the entire time. Had to fly here, so I couldn't bring any.

I'm on day 3 right now and I'm jonesing bad...

Doesn't help that the wife told me she picked up a half today...nearly threw the phone against the wall

We haven't been high tempo fast paced for over 2 years, well I've been high but none of those other words.
Edit: I like seahorses
- A_SteamingLombardi

Who did that?

[quote=A_SteamingLombardi]We haven't been high tempo fast paced for over 2 years, well I've been high but none of those other words.
Edit: I like seahorses
Who did that?
- A_SteamingLombardi

Hey bud how you been?

Hey bud how you been?
- Yeti1181

Oh no, the Oilers have a MOD

Oh no, the Oilers have a MOD
- A_SteamingLombardi

I wrote my self a country song it's called: Lord have mercy I feel a ban coming on.

I wrote my self a country song it's called: Lord have mercy I feel a bandaid coming off.
- Yeti1181

Fixed

Fixed
- A_SteamingLombardi

Sneaky sneaky

I wrote my self a country song it's called: Lord have mercy I feel a ban coming on.
- Yeti1181

I lost my woman, my hound dog, my truck, all I have is my banhammer and my whiskey and I'm singing the blue-hoo-hoos. I spend my days wandering this ol' message board, smackin' them trolls where the sun don't shine.

Lord have MERCY, I feel a ban coming on...

My best friend told me he cheated on his wife, so I grabbed my banhammer and smacked up his bike. I ended up outside of this dive of a bar, some drunk moron just upchucked on my shoes so I grabbed my banhammer and made him lick my boots.

Lord have MERCY, I feel a ban coming on..
LORD HAVE MERCY... I feel a ba-aaan-nnnn coming... OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!