I think the Rangers, Caps and Flyers are playing up to their potential
- PhillySportsGuy

Rangers already have more wins than the Flyers and Hank has only recently started to look like Hank. We know from the past that the Caps have another gear they can reach.

I agree about the Flyers... I don't really see anybody on the team that is really performing below expectations.... Hartnell is Hartnell, Vinny is Vinny, Emery is Emery, Streit is Streit... no surprises there. The only real ace in the hole is the Schenn/Coots card... maybe they catch fire and don't look back and suddenly the lineup becomes fearsome. Aside from that, I'm not sure there's too much room for real improvement.

Also, Laughton won't play on the 3rd line wing (aka "Concussion Land") next year. Remember, we traded horrible Talbot for star Downie and should resign him based on a 10-game sample.
- jmatchett383

are you just being sarcastic or do you really miss talbot that much?

Also, Laughton won't play on the 3rd line wing (aka "Concussion Land") next year. Remember, we traded horrible Talbot for star Downie and should resign him based on a 10-game sample.
- jmatchett383

I would be ok with re-signing Downie at the right price. He fit well with Read and Couturier. I just think Laughton-Couturier-Read would be an elite shutdown line that could also chip in some points.

Rangers already have more wins than the Flyers and Hank has only recently started to look like Hank. We know from the past that the Caps have another gear they can reach.

I agree about the Flyers... I don't really see anybody on the team that is really performing below expectations.... Hartnell is Hartnell, Vinny is Vinny, Emery is Emery, Streit is Streit... no surprises there. The only real ace in the hole is the Schenn/Coots card... maybe they catch fire and don't look back and suddenly the lineup becomes fearsome. Aside from that, I'm not sure there's too much room for real improvement.
- Tomahawk

b schenn has played very well lately, if he just keeps up his current play I'd be pretty happy

couts has been up and down, normal/expected for his age

are you just being sarcastic or do you really miss talbot that much?
- Marc D

Just being sarcastic. Everyone was bashing Max and then he got traded for Downie. Downie went on that nice mini-tear with Coots and Read and all of a sudden he was the piece that was missing. Now that he's, well, playing like Talbot without a solid defensive game or physical attitude, he's horrible.

Rangers already have more wins than the Flyers and Hank has only recently started to look like Hank. We know from the past that the Caps have another gear they can reach.

I agree about the Flyers... I don't really see anybody on the team that is really performing below expectations.... Hartnell is Hartnell, Vinny is Vinny, Emery is Emery, Streit is Streit... no surprises there. The only real ace in the hole is the Schenn/Coots card... maybe they catch fire and don't look back and suddenly the lineup becomes fearsome. Aside from that, I'm not sure there's too much room for real improvement.
- Tomahawk

It's been a while since the Rangers and Caps went to that next level. I don't see that happening. They may get hot, but they'll cool off like the rest of the division (Pens excluded). There will be 2, maybe 3 spots available for several teams down the stretch in the Metro.

Just being sarcastic. Everyone was bashing Max and then he got traded for Downie. Downie went on that nice mini-tear with Coots and Read and all of a sudden he was the piece that was missing. Now that he's, well, playing like Talbot without a solid defensive game or physical attitude, he's horrible.
- jmatchett383

It took a while, but he seems to have become infected with the undisciplined play thats been running rampant on this team.

b schenn has played very well lately, if he just keeps up his current play I'd be pretty happy

couts has been up and down, normal/expected for his age
- Marc D

To me, Luke Schenn is a key question mark. If he plays like he did for the majority of last season, a lot of questions get answered. If not, well, then a lot of questions still get answered, but it's not a good answer.

It took a while, but he seems to have become infected with the undisciplined play thats been running rampant on this team.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's not even undisciplined. He looks lazy, lost, he's making horrible decisions with the puck, and has a non-existent defensive game. Hell, I could do that.

I can live with deficiencies as long as a guy is playing hard and playing smart. The problem is, he's not. He's playing like Zherdev without an offensive game...okay, not that bad, but you get the idea.

It took a while, but he seems to have become infected with the undisciplined play thats been running rampant on this team.
- PhillySportsGuy

Getting hurt probably had something to do with it.

And isn't it ironic how the PK somehow got better after that trade, when people were predicting a drastic drop off?

Getting hurt probably had something to do with it.

And isn't it ironic how the PK somehow got better after that trade, when people were predicting a drastic drop off.
- Tomahawk

Wow, it's like last year when 5/6 of our starting defense went down and we called up a bunch of kids and played better defense. Therefore, the solution to fix our defense is to trade Kimmo, Schenn, Coburn, Grossmann, Streit, and Meszaros and play and bunch of AHLers and we'll have one of the defenses in the league.

A + B = C, therefore, A = C.

To me, Luke Schenn is a key question mark. If he plays like he did for the majority of last season, a lot of questions get answered. If not, well, then a lot of questions still get answered, but it's not a good answer.
- jmatchett383

That was put well.

It's not even undisciplined. He looks lazy, lost, he's making horrible decisions with the puck, and has a non-existent defensive game. Hell, I could do that.

I can live with deficiencies as long as a guy is playing hard and playing smart. The problem is, he's not. He's playing like Zherdev without an offensive game...okay, not that bad, but you get the idea.
- jmatchett383

He's taken some bad penalties too. The PK has been so good lately, so it went unnoticed, but he did take some late game penalties. I think most of them were offensive zone penalties as well.

It's not even undisciplined. He looks lazy, lost, he's making horrible decisions with the puck, and has a non-existent defensive game. Hell, I could do that.

I can live with deficiencies as long as a guy is playing hard and playing smart. The problem is, he's not. He's playing like Zherdev without an offensive game...okay, not that bad, but you get the idea.
- jmatchett383

Maybe he's hurt? All I got.

I mean, he's been losing one on one battles recently it seems.

And there have been a lot of adjectives thrown around about Steve Downie and I don't ever remember reading or seeing him be soft on the puck.

Maybe he's hurt? All I got.

I mean, he's been losing one on one battles recently it seems.

And there have been a lot of adjectives thrown around about Steve Downie and I don't ever remember reading or seeing him be soft on the puck.
- johndewar

Soooo...8 years, $56M, full NMC?

Getting hurt probably had something to do with it.

And isn't it ironic how the PK somehow got better after that trade, when people were predicting a drastic drop off?
- Tomahawk

Raffl played a big part as well. I can assure you the PK would have gotten worse if Rinaldo was a key member.

Raffl played a big part as well. I can assure you the PK would have gotten worse if Rinaldo was a key member.
- PhillySportsGuy

No no no. The PK got better as a direct result of Talbot leaving. There were no other circumstances or outside factors affecting things. You are WRONG sir.

Wow, it's like last year when 5/6 of our starting defense went down and we called up a bunch of kids and played better defense. Therefore, the solution to fix our defense is to trade Kimmo, Schenn, Coburn, Grossmann, Streit, and Meszaros and play and bunch of AHLers and we'll have one of the defenses in the league.

A + B = C, therefore, A = C.
- jmatchett383

transitive property

No no no. The PK got better as a direct result of Talbot leaving. There were no other circumstances or outside factors affecting things. You are WRONG sir.
- jmatchett383

In all seriousness, Raffl has been a godsend.

In all seriousness, Raffl has been a godsend.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yes he has. He's definitely surpassed my expectations. I figured him as a Pyorala/Nodl type, and he's been a very nice addition.

Wow, it's like last year when 5/6 of our starting defense went down and we called up a bunch of kids and played better defense. Therefore, the solution to fix our defense is to trade Kimmo, Schenn, Coburn, Grossmann, Streit, and Meszaros and play and bunch of AHLers and we'll have one of the defenses in the league.

A + B = C, therefore, A = C.
- jmatchett383

You're putting words in my mouth... I never argued causation. I just mentioned the irony.

Unlike those who argued strongly that Max Talbot was the driving force behind the PK being above-board... guess that wasn't the case after all.

You're putting words in my mouth... I never argued causation.

Unlike those who argued strongly that Max Talbot was the driving force behind the PK being above-board... guess that wasn't the case after all.
- Tomahawk

Why do I have the feeling you're making a not-so-carefully hidden snide remark about me?

Soooo...8 years, $56M, full NMC?
- jmatchett383

For me? (frank) yeah!

Oh, you mean Steve Downie.

Maybe not so much.

You're putting words in my mouth... I never argued causation. I just mentioned the irony.

Unlike those who argued strongly that Max Talbot was the driving force behind the PK being above-board... guess that wasn't the case after all.
- Tomahawk

Sabermetrics rank Couturier as, far and away, the best penalty killing forward in hockey.

To me, Luke Schenn is a key question mark. If he plays like he did for the majority of last season, a lot of questions get answered. If not, well, then a lot of questions still get answered, but it's not a good answer.
- jmatchett383

great point

he's shown some good flashes lately I think