I think I could write off Crosby if he wasn't constantly being foisted off on us as the poster child for the NHL - as the perfect player. There are a TON of players out there who every shift give it there all, don't make dirty plays, and aren't d-bags who occaisonally play like spoiled children - yet never get attention because they don't score.
Is Crosby exceedingly skilled? Yep.
Is he a player I could ever respect? Um hell no...
And I'd say the same if he was on the Flyers. I yell at G everytime he dives - I hate that poop.
Unfortunately the media has created a monster to promote the NHL and it disgusts me when he's held up as a role-model. I want to puke.
- FlyersGrace

lol you would have a crosby jersey if he was a flyer admit it!

I think we all new that Couturier was a decent 3rd line center going into this season, but the question was whether he would be that boarderline 4th line checking center that we saw last season... a kid. No-one knew he was going to develop this much after last season.

As far as Schenn, yes he was bounced around on Left Wing and Center with Briere, and that just adds to my point that there was no real indication whether he could handle full time 2nd line Center duties. Thus why when Lecavalier became available without costing anything, it was the perfect insurance policy.
- SchennBros

Still wouldn't have been worth it for me. We'll see though. Still time for Vinny to turn things around. I always liked Schenn at center, so I guess I'm a bit bias. I never wanted to see him moved to wing.

Todd Bertuzzi. No competition.
- bodiva88

Nah dude. I dont have a problem with Bertuzzi. I mean if your going to have a problem with him, almost have to have the same hate for McSorley.

Nah dude. I dont have a problem with Bertuzzi. I mean if your going to have a problem with him, almost have to have the same hate for McSorley.
- SchennBros

I think I hate Scott Stevens more than any player. Not just from the Lindros hit, but from all the others. His hit on Kariya was ridiculous. I wanted to punch him in the face when I was watching.

i will agree to a point. crosby is very skilled. and he has a lot of role model qualities. but he is by no means the only player who exhibits these qualities (as the NHL would have you believe). so i agree with you there. but thats not his fault that he is the hype machine fodder.
- stayinthefnnet

Sure it is. Instead of being Mr. Embassador during an interview he can be himself. I think he believes what Buttman and the media has drilled into his head that he is as important as the game itself. All he has to do is be real, and the media love fest will go away. He will just become another "star" player like Stamkos, or Ovechkin.

Todd Bertuzzi. No competition.
- bodiva88

Why?

I think I hate Scott Stevens more than any player. Not just from the Lindros hit, but from all the others. His hit on Kariya was ridiculous. I wanted to punch him in the face when I was watching.
- PhillySportsGuy

What bothers me more about Stevens is that the NHL tries to put on the "safety conscious" hat and say they're against head shots/blind side hits/etc. The same NHL has, in the not-distant-at-all, used those Stevens hits in "big hit" highlight reels before broadcasts, essentially celebrating them. Mixed signals much?

What bothers me more about Stevens is that the NHL tries to put on the "safety conscious" hat and say they're against head shots/blind side hits/etc. The same NHL has, in the not-distant-at-all, used those Stevens hits in "big hit" highlight reels before broadcasts, essentially celebrating them. Mixed signals much?
- BulliesPhan87

I know. Only player who, on a number of occasions, went out of his way to try and severely injure the opponent. He was Matt Cooke if that generation.

Sure it is. Instead of being Mr. Embassador during an interview he can be himself. I think he believes what Buttman and the media has drilled into his head that he is as important as the game itself. All he has to do is be real, and the media love fest will go away. He will just become another "star" player like Stamkos, or Ovechkin.
- SchennBros

I think the NHL can learn from the NBA in how to market players. Lebron is incredibly well known, but they market lots of other players too. They don't just show the same teams and poop games (like Buffalo every night). They show good games and different teams most of the time.

I think the NHL can learn from the NBA in how to market players. Lebron is incredibly well known, but they market lots of other players too. They don't just show the same teams and poop games (like Buffalo every night). They show good games and different teams most of the time.
- PhillySportsGuy

There's a real problem with your comparison, but I don't think I can explicitly say it without getting a lifetime ban.

How come you're ignoring the term of the deals? A declining player on a 1 year deal isn't a bad thing. A declining player on a 5 year deal is a bad thing.
- PhillySportsGuy

Because my point is not about the specific deal itself. It's about the criticism being leveled towards the team from certain sources about anything and everything. And on every facet. And from both sides of the fence.

There's a real problem with your comparison, but I don't think I can explicitly say it without getting a lifetime ban.
- jmatchett383

Say it then edit the post out.

Hedging your bets is one thing... potentially roadblocking your own prospects is another. Like instead of being patient with Bob, they panicked after a bump in the road and brought in Bryz.
- Tomahawk

Take off your hindsight goggles for a moment. They had a 22 YO goalie that shocked the NHL with his speed. The fact there was little scouting on him helped. A lot of goalie come into the league and excell as players haven't exposed thier weaknesses yet. And a few seasons later they are marginal at best. A few that come to mind are Boucher, Varlamov, Halak, Holtby, Nuiverth... And along comes a Vesina finalist goalie that has been tops in the league for the last few years...

Sure looks like a smart move to me... They even kept the Bob.

Because my point is not about the specific deal itself. It's about the criticism being leveled towards the team from certain sources about anything and everything. And on every facet. And from both sides of the fence.
- MJL

You can't contradict yourself if you're comparing apples and oranges.

Nah dude. I dont have a problem with Bertuzzi. I mean if your going to have a problem with him, almost have to have the same hate for McSorley.
- SchennBros

he definitely crossed the line, but the result of the action was obviously not intended.

glad he's never been a flyer though

Take off your hindsight goggles for a moment. They had a 22 YO goalie that shocked the NHL with his speed. The fact there was little scouting on him helped. A lot of goalie come into the league and excell as players haven't exposed thier weaknesses yet. And a few seasons later they are marginal at best. A few that come to mind are Boucher, Varlamov, Halak, Holtby, Nuiverth... And along comes a Vesina finalist goalie that has been tops in the league for the last few years...

Sure looks like a smart move to me... They even kept the Bob.
- SchennBros

They didn't do their due diligence. They were too reactive. They could have gotten Bryz for less and they didn't do a good enough job of vetting him. Former teammates hated Bryz.

Say it then edit the post out.
- PhillySportsGuy

Basketball is already popular because it's popular in...the streets...by certain types of people...who may like the thug lifestyle.

So, basketball's already in the big spotlight, and they're able to branch out. Hockey is still considered a niche sport by some, so they do their best to give you the next Wayne Gretzky and try to get people to tune in to see him. Giving you 10 guys will not resonate as having one super player whose drum you keep pounding.

You can't contradict yourself if you're comparing apples and oranges.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's not apples and oranges. You don't agree that's fine. But my point is valid.

Basketball is already popular because it's popular in...the streets...by certain types of people...who may like the thug lifestyle.

So, basketball's already in the big spotlight, and they're able to branch out. Hockey is still considered a niche sport by some, so they do their best to give you the next Wayne Gretzky and try to get people to tune in to see him. Giving you 10 guys will not resonate as having one super player whose drum you keep pounding.
- jmatchett383

I still feel they can expand the sport better by promoting more players and showing better games.

It's not apples and oranges. You don't agree that's fine. But my point is valid.
- MJL

Alright. We'll agree to disagree.

Alright. We'll agree to disagree.
- PhillySportsGuy

When in Rome...

It's not apples and oranges. You don't agree that's fine. But my point is valid.
- MJL

I understood.

They didn't do their due diligence. They were too reactive. They could have gotten Bryz for less and they didn't do a good enough job of vetting him. Former teammates hated Bryz.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't mind bringing in a bit of insurance... but why Vinny on a 5-year deal? There were some decent C's who inked 1-year deals in UFA. That's why the insurance argument falls apart for me.

Alright. We'll agree to disagree.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't mind bringing in a bit of insurance... but why Vinny on a 5-year deal? There were some decent C's who inked 1-year deals in UFA. That's why the insurance argument falls apart for me.
- Tomahawk

I was ready to play Schenn at center and see what happened. At least we'd have an idea if he was cut out for center.