Yeah I guess. But 87 and 71 didn't contribute much to the injury #'s. PLus, I always thought that was a bit overblown due to the fact 80 or so of those were for the backup goalie.

I just want one year where we go without no one being seriously injured. I've often wondered if there was something specific to Bylsma's system that caused the injury volume every frickin season. Or, perhaps, the team was, as HCMT would say, "soff".
- 87_71_11_29

Bylsma's system typically resulted an epidemic levels of depression....not only players, but fans too. While not physical, it's still debilitating.

I'm tired of all this advanced stats crap! When I was playing as a kid and in high school no one gave 2 poops about fenclose or corsi ratings. Nobody cares or wants to read about this garbage. Can a guy play or can't he??? Nobody cared about Lemieux, Gretzky, or Orr's advanced stats! People are trying to get too involved with sports that they make up dumb stats like WAR in baseball and fenclose in hockey. Just watch the game and enjoy what you're seeing.
- Dootrw2000

Maybe you should go back to playing Atari on your 24 inch TV then. Make sure to have a good set of rabbit ear antennas for that set before the season starts!

does anyone realize that the Hart trophy is not supposed to be about stats, fancy or not. it's not a competition of who is a better player, or who had a better season. It's which player was the most valuable to his team.

F Sutter
- nbartley9

Your my hero , you consistently despise him ! I don't hate him yet , but every time I see a comment like this from you I get a little bit closer.

does anyone realize that the Hart trophy is not supposed to be about stats, fancy or not. it's not a competition of who is a better player, or who had a better season. It's which player was the most valuable to his team.
- JackBurton37

you have opened our eyes, username JackBurton37

does anyone realize that the Hart trophy is not supposed to be about stats, fancy or not. it's not a competition of who is a better player, or who had a better season. It's which player was the most valuable to his team.
- JackBurton37

Does anyone realize that this series of blogs was about if the Hart Trophy used advanced stats instead of how it is normally judged? No? Just that guy?

Damn... we must all be really dumb... lets bow down to this utter douche, I mean genius.

It's Summer and our blogger is on vacation with his family, and still posting. You people criticizing anything need to realize it's an opinion and take a long walk. Maybe upstairs, out of Mom's basement.

I'd say once at most.


Side note, where if any is good to eat/drink in Cumberland? Pig place and uncle jacks has been done already.
- kgrpitt

Ottoviani's. Nothing else close. Amazing food and wine list. Going there tomorrow.

It's Summer and our blogger is on vacation with his family, and still posting. You people criticizing anything need to realize it's an opinion and take a long walk. Maybe upstairs, out of Mom's basement.
- Topshelf Mountain

I've learned that criticism in a way is a compliment. If someone truly did not give an iota, they would ignore the blog. My opinion from what I've learned in life.

BTW, are the Steelers as bad as they look? Anyone? WTF?

I've learned that criticism in a way is a compliment. If someone truly did not give an iota, they would ignore the blog. My opinion from what I've learned in life.

BTW, are the Steelers as bad as they look? Anyone? WTF?
- powerhouse

Offense will be fine. Defense could be another story... Too early to tell, but so far this preseason the D is showing the same problems as last year. No pass rush, can't stop the run and horrible secondary play. Looks like they'll need to score a lot points this year.

Your life sucks, you apparently peaked in high school, go away.
- Guile

Better than me... I peaked in day care

I've learned that criticism in a way is a compliment. If someone truly did not give an iota, they would ignore the blog. My opinion from what I've learned in life.

BTW, are the Steelers as bad as they look? Anyone? WTF?
- powerhouse

All I have to say is I am growing ever tired of NFL players acting like spoiled children. Bell and Blount latest incident, Ray Rice, Aaron Hernandez, Santonio Holmes, plus about 50 others should be unemployed. I know the NHL players arent perfect but they are a hell of lot better than these NFL players. I barely want to watch football anymore and THIS is one reason I get more and more into hockey.

I've learned that criticism in a way is a compliment. If someone truly did not give an iota, they would ignore the blog. My opinion from what I've learned in life.

BTW, are the Steelers as bad as they look? Anyone? WTF?
- powerhouse

Well that's a decent way of looking at it. Still annoying for us who give two cents.

As far as the Steelers, I stopped following them after they brought Ben back. Alleged or not, where there's smoke there's fire. Touchy subject so I'll tread carefully by ending this with he should be on a short rope in a tall tree.

All I have to say is I am growing ever tired of NFL players acting like spoiled children. Bell and Blount latest incident, Ray Rice, Aaron Hernandez, Santonio Holmes, plus about 50 others should be unemployed. I know the NHL players arent perfect but they are a hell of lot better than these NFL players. I barely want to watch football anymore and THIS is one reason I get more and more into hockey.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I've brought up the accountability aspect of hockey before, it's a direct correlation of how us in the hockey community behave in our daily lives. In football, it's become a singular game where being a loud mouth and acting out is rewarding.

All I have to say is I am growing ever tired of NFL players acting like spoiled children. Bell and Blount latest incident, Ray Rice, Aaron Hernandez, Santonio Holmes, plus about 50 others should be unemployed. I know the NHL players arent perfect but they are a hell of lot better than these NFL players. I barely want to watch football anymore and THIS is one reason I get more and more into hockey.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

The sad thing is that Bell and Blount were worse off in the eyes of the NFL knocking than a chic out and dragging her around by her ankle, then getting caught with weed.

BTW the NFL sucks, great sport, but is a gangsta league.

Interesting little tidbit from Dejan Kovacevic's site...

And here’s a much bigger rewind, though I heard this tale only recently: Teemu Selanne very nearly was a Penguin. In fact, he would have been one with the 1988 NHL Entry Draft had it not been for obstinate GM Tony Esposito, who had an open, unwavering disdain for Europeans and insisted on taking the safe Canadian kid, a decent, two-way winger named Darrin Shannon.

Pittsburgh’s scouts at the time pounded the table, passionately, emphatically to take Selanne with the No. 4 overall pick that year. They’d been to Finland, and they loved everything about Selanne. Alas, they and nine other teams passed and allowed him to fall to Winnipeg.

But wow, stop and think of Mario Lemieux adding Selanne to his wing during his prime. Bearing in mind the Jets added Selanne in 1993, it would have come right on the heels of the Penguins’ first two Cups and … ah, I’d better stop.

Interesting little tidbit from Dejan Kovacevic's site...

And here’s a much bigger rewind, though I heard this tale only recently: Teemu Selanne very nearly was a Penguin. In fact, he would have been one with the 1988 NHL Entry Draft had it not been for obstinate GM Tony Esposito, who had an open, unwavering disdain for Europeans and insisted on taking the safe Canadian kid, a decent, two-way winger named Darrin Shannon.

Pittsburgh’s scouts at the time pounded the table, passionately, emphatically to take Selanne with the No. 4 overall pick that year. They’d been to Finland, and they loved everything about Selanne. Alas, they and nine other teams passed and allowed him to fall to Winnipeg.

But wow, stop and think of Mario Lemieux adding Selanne to his wing during his prime. Bearing in mind the Jets added Selanne in 1993, it would have come right on the heels of the Penguins’ first two Cups and … ah, I’d better stop.

- madmike71

They could have also had Jeremy Roenick that year. Imagine Roenick on a line following up Lemieux.

But playing time machine with drafts is asinine. I mean, the Oilers could have drafted Recchi or Mogilny instead of Francois Leroux in the first round in 1988, but they didn't. Then again, any team could have - they went in the 4th and fifth rounds, respectively.

They could have also had Jeremy Roenick that year. Imagine Roenick on a line following up Lemieux.

But playing time machine with drafts is asinine. I mean, the Oilers could have drafted Recchi or Mogilny instead of Francois Leroux in the first round in 1988, but they didn't. Then again, any team could have - they went in the 4th and fifth rounds, respectively.
- hardnosed

Agree Draft fantasy is dumb unless its realistic..like two top 5 picks or picks right after one another..//like if we drafted Toews over staal....or ended up with Ovie instead of Geno.

Agree Draft fantasy is dumb unless its realistic..like two top 5 picks or picks right after one another..//like if we drafted Toews over staal....or ended up with Ovie instead of Geno.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

If we had drafted Toews over Staal I don't think that Malkin would be in a Penguins jersey at this point.

If we had drafted Toews over Staal I don't think that Malkin would be in a Penguins jersey at this point.
- Ben37

Well if we were forced to trade Malkin or toews ...I'dbet wed get a better return than staal :-)

If we had drafted Toews over Staal I don't think that Malkin would be in a Penguins jersey at this point.
- Ben37

This to me is a great "what if". You cant really blame Shero for taking Staal though. He ended up being a key contributor to two Cup runs. Pens already had their 2 offensive centers drafted.

But, its interesting debate. Who would have gotten shipped out? Toews or Malkin?

Another interesting one...if Hossa had signed that mega deal offered to him, would we now have Sid, Hossa, and Staal with Malkin having been traded?

If Hossa would have signed for $7+ as reported, no way Pens could have kept 87, 71, and Hossa under the cap.

This to me is a great "what if". You cant really blame Shero for taking Staal though. He ended up being a key contributor to two Cup runs. Pens already had their 2 offensive centers drafted.

But, its interesting debate. Who would have gotten shipped out? Toews or Malkin?

Another interesting one...if Hossa had signed that mega deal offered to him, would we now have Sid, Hossa, and Staal with Malkin having been traded?

If Hossa would have signed for $7+ as reported, no way Pens could have kept 87, 71, and Hossa under the cap.
- 87_71_11_29

Or staal would have been traded much earlier

Setoguchi to Calgary for $750K

Setoguchi to Calgary for $750K
- HopintheCordoba

I'm glad we didn't. The Pens lineup seems to be set, if/when injuries set in I'd like to see what the kids can do.

This to me is a great "what if". You cant really blame Shero for taking Staal though. He ended up being a key contributor to two Cup runs. Pens already had their 2 offensive centers drafted.

But, its interesting debate. Who would have gotten shipped out? Toews or Malkin?

Another interesting one...if Hossa had signed that mega deal offered to him, would we now have Sid, Hossa, and Staal with Malkin having been traded?

If Hossa would have signed for $7+ as reported, no way Pens could have kept 87, 71, and Hossa under the cap.
- 87_71_11_29

I'm not a huge Malkin fan. I would think the past 5 yrs would have been much different had the Pens kept Hossa, mega trade Makin, and kept Staal.