So Detroit and Philly are the only 2 teams currently in playoff position that have a negative goal differential. Seems weird that those 2 have trouble scoring goals. And the rumour is Datsyuk is headed back to Rushia for good at the end of the season. I wonder if he will officially retire or just hit the trails? Washington is +59 btw, that's pretty crazy. I think they are due for a major injury or 2 right?

So Detroit and Philly are the only 2 teams currently in playoff position that have a negative goal differential. Seems weird that those 2 have trouble scoring goals. And the rumour is Datsyuk is headed back to Rushia for good at the end of the season. I wonder if he will officially retire or just hit the trails? Washington is +59 btw, that's pretty crazy. I think they are due for a major injury or 2 right?
- Dcoms

I think they are due for a short playoffs!

Question is can they switch it on after playing inconsistent hockey for so long? Even then they were chasing games after their opposition scored first in a lot of games.

Lots of questions for the Caps this playoff series.......

I hate when teams turn to dirty behavior when theY are getting their a$$ES handed to them. I.e. Washington last week. Man up take your whooping and move the (frank) on. The isles are the new flyers when playing the pens.

Yall think rangers are losing intentionally to avoid us in the first round?

I hate when teams turn to dirty behavior when theY are getting their a$$ES handed to them. I.e. Washington last week. Man up take your whooping and move the (frank) on. The isles are the new flyers when playing the pens.

Yall think rangers are losing intentionally to avoid us in the first round?
- pensfan024

I kind of suggested that mostly in jest last night, but the truth is I think they are just sucking on their own merits.

Soooo...in Yahoo fantasy hockey Letang is listed as DTD.....anyone have any more info on this?

So Detroit and Philly are the only 2 teams currently in playoff position that have a negative goal differential. Seems weird that those 2 have trouble scoring goals. And the rumour is Datsyuk is headed back to Rushia for good at the end of the season. I wonder if he will officially retire or just hit the trails? Washington is +59 btw, that's pretty crazy. I think they are due for a major injury or 2 right?
- Dcoms

Datsyuk, the only so called "superstar" who has a highlight reel with only 5 pucks ending up in the back of the net. When hockey people mention Datsyuk after he retires all that should be said is he was a good 2 way player with some good dekes.

Soooo...in Yahoo fantasy hockey Letang is listed as DTD.....anyone have any more info on this?
- MattStrat

I' honestly be shocked if he plays today.... I said that immediately after yesterday's game.

Not because he's actually truly injured but he did take a beating yesterday and at this point I don't think seeding in that important. Home ice is nice but we've been rolling just as smooth on road ice as we have been at home.

Give him a night off of playing 30 minutes and let that wrist heal.... Time to get healthy and focus on April 13th!

Chris Bosh in the NBA got a DVT from knee surgery and has not played since. There is a football player too I can't remember who and I hate football, but it is devastating for anyone at any age to get. Takes months of bloodthinners and anticoagulants just to be out of danger.
- Dcoms

Oh, blood clots are one of the most serious things that can happen to a pro athlete. I am just not entertaining the idea that Stamkos could be done in a year or so, since the other two in comparison only had 1 more year at most regardless when they had the issues.

Tried to find info on the supposed Letang injury... almost nothing exists except a note of "scare of the reinjury, but stayed in the game".

Oh, and stumbled on this... which was a nice read, had some fancy stats and A vs B Ryan Wilson style comparison.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...ris-trophy-consideration/

Hagelin is loving life right now and from Sweden. There is no way he has very much family in the west. He is playing in a system that showcases his best abilities. He's a happy camper right now and playing for the team.
- Dcoms

Not saying there's any truth to Guile's rumor but Hagel in was living and playing in Anaheim before being traded to Pittsburgh so it's very possible that he didn't want to pull his kids from school mid year when he got traded, many players that get traded mid season choose not to uproot their families right away and it's quite possible that his wife/kids love the Anaheim area and don't want to come to Pittsburgh. I don't think the rumor is true at all but there is definitely a very realistic possibility that it could be.

I think they are due for a short playoffs!

Question is can they switch it on after playing inconsistent hockey for so long? Even then they were chasing games after their opposition scored first in a lot of games.

Lots of questions for the Caps this playoff series.......
- Aussiepenguin

The caps remind me of the Bylsma era Penguins in some ways. Yes, they are leagues more physical and have much better top to bottom forward depth than we did, but I feel like the mentalities are the same. They seem complacent.

He probably meant cheap to bring in. Phil came at an extreme discount. Daley came for Scuderi. Schultz a third. Hags a one for one trade on a player that wasn't part of the present or future plans. That's four players that we acquired for nothing super major. The most consequential asset we gave up was a first, and right now it looks like that difference between that first and the second we got in return might, fingers crossed, not be too large.
- Victoro311

It definitely makes more sense when looking at it that way and I was by no means trying to discount the job GMJR has done because in my opinion it should be a 2 man race for GM of the year between him and Talon in Fla, I just don't think you can give GMJR all the credit, his moves have been amazing but without the emergence of Shero draft picks like Rust, Wilson, Kuhnackl, Sundqvist and Murray the moves may still not have been enough to get them over the hump.

I think they are due for a short playoffs!

Question is can they switch it on after playing inconsistent hockey for so long? Even then they were chasing games after their opposition scored first in a lot of games.

Lots of questions for the Caps this playoff series.......
- Aussiepenguin

I think people put too much stock into stretches where teams give up the 1st goal frequently, sure it makes games tougher to win and the overall win% isn't very good when giving up the 1st goal but when it's a recency bias type situation I don't think the effect is anywhere near the perception. Is anyone questioning the Pens chances of winning in the playoffs because they had a bunch of bad starts lately and have given up the 1st goal in something like 7 of the last 11 games?

Serious question guys: do I take Murray against philly, or niemi against the Ducks. The fate of my fantasy hockey team depends on this

It definitely makes more sense when looking at it that way and I was by no means trying to discount the job GMJR has done because in my opinion it should be a 2 man race for GM of the year between him and Talon in Fla, I just don't think you can give GMJR all the credit, his moves have been amazing but without the emergence of Shero draft picks like Rust, Wilson, Kuhnackl, Sundqvist and Murray the moves may still not have been enough to get them over the hump.
- jaydogg1974

I think MacClellan is more deserving than Talon. He built the best roster in the NHL this offseason and didn't have to give up major assets at the deadline to augment it. Talon has done a solid job no doubt and the Panthers are a super young team that has a bright future, but this year's Panthers team seems to rely more on good goaltending than it should and had to spend some significant assets at the deadline to bring in help. Luongo growing inconsistent in the second half of the season has really exposed the Panthers, I think. A good team that could make a stink in the playoffs if healthy, but by no means complete.

I 100% believe that the Old Man should win GM of the year. Something that's not talked about as much as the on the fly retool is that it was him that made the tough decision to sack Johnston, a man he definitely liked as a human being, maybe even a friend. He made that call before bringing in a more mobile defenseman that he admittedly knew Johnston wanted and needed to succeed. Really good job on Ruth's part to asses the situation and realize that Johnston wasn't going to take this team anywhere even if he got the right personnel in place. And then, of course, there's the Penguins retool. Honestly this process began last year, but what he's been able to do both this past summer and in the middle of the season use our limited cap space and assets to somehow aquire the right pieces... That's something no other GM has done in a long while in such a short amount of time.

I also believe without a shadow of a doubt that Sullivan should win the Jack Adams.

Serious question guys: do I take Murray against philly, or niemi against the Ducks. The fate of my fantasy hockey team depends on this
- drummer829

Well I don't know if Murray's playing or not yet today. If Letang plays today I'd go Murray. But that's just me because I don't trust Niemi as far as I can throw the guy and the Ducks are lethal. I think the Ducks, LA, Washington, and Pittsburgh are the four best teams in hockey right now in no particular order. Probably lump the Blues in there too.

Tried to find info on the supposed Letang injury... almost nothing exists except a note of "scare of the reinjury, but stayed in the game".

Oh, and stumbled on this... which was a nice read, had some fancy stats and A vs B Ryan Wilson style comparison.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...ris-trophy-consideration/
- Guile

Good Read

I think if you truly take into account the entirety of the game then, offense, defense, PP, PK, then Letang should be 1 or 1A to win the Norris.

The basic and advanced stats comparison put out a pretty convincing argument for Letang... but we all know how NHL awards are distributed.

Good Read

I think if you truly take into account the entirety of the game then, offense, defense, PP, PK, then Letang should be 1 or 1A to win the Norris.

The basic and advanced stats comparison put out a pretty convincing argument for Letang... but we all know how NHL awards are distributed.
- Yonk1216

If Karlesson just had more points than Letang I'd say that Letang would have a realistic shot and should win. But Karlesson has put up historic numbers and that alone will win you the Norris, even if your concrete defensive game isn't quite there. If Letang somehow wins though, I think he legitimately deserve it despite all the people that will want to put an asterisk on it and say he stole it.

Well I don't know if Murray's playing or not yet today. If Letang plays today I'd go Murray. But that's just me because I don't trust Niemi as far as I can throw the guy and the Ducks are lethal. I think the Ducks, LA, Washington, and Pittsburgh are the four best teams in hockey right now in no particular order. Probably lump the Blues in there too.
- Victoro311

I had the same mindset as you. I have at least $300 riding on this lol. Tell myself every year I won't do fantasy sports because they piss me off

Not saying there's any truth to Guile's rumor but Hagel in was living and playing in Anaheim before being traded to Pittsburgh so it's very possible that he didn't want to pull his kids from school mid year when he got traded, many players that get traded mid season choose not to uproot their families right away and it's quite possible that his wife/kids love the Anaheim area and don't want to come to Pittsburgh. I don't think the rumor is true at all but there is definitely a very realistic possibility that it could be.
- jaydogg1974

Okay... READ MY FOLLOW UP POST AGAIN... My friend mixed up Hagelin and Hamonic while listening to the game cast on her radio.

Good Read

I think if you truly take into account the entirety of the game then, offense, defense, PP, PK, then Letang should be 1 or 1A to win the Norris.

The basic and advanced stats comparison put out a pretty convincing argument for Letang... but we all know how NHL awards are distributed.
- Yonk1216

What is working for him, is that hes #1 Dman in the NHL stretch, and the end of the year always seems to weigh more.

But Karlson is just too many points ahead. It'd be a crooked award to not give it to him by default.

What is working for him, is that hes #1 Dman in the NHL stretch, and the end of the year always seems to weigh more.

But Karlson is just too many points ahead. It'd be a crooked award to not give it to him by default.
- Guile

I've watched this game long enough to not try and argue.... you're 100% right but I think we both agree that even though you're right, it's basically become a crooked award based on the way it's awarded.

Letang is top 10 in almost every sortable statistic.... even strength, pp, pk, possession etc..... no one else can say that.

But yes Karlsson potentially going over a point a game is almost an unstoppable force but if Letang isn't a finalist then I give up.

Same could be said for Sid and the Hart.

What is working for him, is that hes #1 Dman in the NHL stretch, and the end of the year always seems to weigh more.

But Karlson is just too many points ahead. It'd be a crooked award to not give it to him by default.
- Guile

For a long time now Letang has been the most important player on this team. Dude is a stud. Unfortunately the Norris is decided on pts and players like Mike Green are considered good Dmen.

MAF, best G in Pens history, Letang Best Dman in Pens history. Pretty sweet to have them both at the same time.

I've watched this game long enough to not try and argue.... you're 100% right but I think we both agree that even though you're right, it's basically become a crooked award based on the way it's awarded.

Letang is top 10 in almost every sortable statistic.... even strength, pp, pk, possession etc..... no one else can say that.

But yes Karlsson potentially going over a point a game is almost an unstoppable force but if Letang isn't a finalist then I give up.

Same could be said for Sid and the Hart.
- Yonk1216

I have no issue with Karlson winning it... but if Letang doesnt hit the top 5, preferably top 3... I'll be pretty annoyed.

I have no issue with Karlson winning it... but if Letang doesnt hit the top 5, preferably top 3... I'll be pretty annoyed.
- Guile

He should certainly be top 3