Masterton: http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...r-2012-masterton-nominee/

Jagr or Max Pac?

I got to go Max, that was serious injury and now goals? Jagr has had a good comeback, I wouldn't call it amazing or completely unexpected.
- coffee junkie

To Jagr's credit, I think his work ethic personifies "dedication to hockey".

Yeah. But I bet there are those (Glen, I'm not listening, but I bet you're doing this) that are saying it's a sign he's unstable or unsuited to play in the playoffs.

- bodiva88

I think they'd find a reason to claim that he's unsuited, regardless. It's the biz.

If I were the Flyers I would offer him 2 years at 3 million. Short enough he can earn the big contract, and cheap enough the Flyers can afford to keep him...
- RooNosHockey

I would need to look at the teams cap structure and know the teams "plan" moving forward to make that call. .5 more for an extra year would usually be more appealing, IMHO. Kid has the skill, is competing in all zones, coming up with some timely plays, has the coaches trust, and is young with tons of potential.

I think you know what I meant.. If Voracek asks for more then 3.5 million, I HIGHLY doubt he would get it based on his production.
- RooNosHockey

Do yo really want to find that out? Abitration is based on comparables. Find players with similar stats and see what they make.

To Jagr's credit, I think his work ethic personifies "dedication to hockey".
- BulliesPhan87

Well played sir. Still Max but a good point. Jagr's leadership has been a real shinning point too.

Masterton: http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...r-2012-masterton-nominee/

Jagr or Max Pac?

I got to go Max, that was serious injury and now goals? Jagr has had a good comeback, I wouldn't call it amazing or completely unexpected.
- coffee junkie

Dedication to the game has as much to do with the Masterton as overcoming some sort of obstacle. Apart from the comeback itself, Jagr is being nominated based on his incredible work ethic that sees him skating late at night, wearing a weighted vest 30 mins after practice and the first player on the ice on March 14 with a three-game-in-four-night stretch coming up. That's how he's still an effective player at age 40.

Bryzgalov's "cold" demeanor with the media is all a big, calculated act. As Timonen said last night (and Bryzgalov himself said on 24/7) when asked for the umpteenth time about Bryzgalov's personality, Bryzgalov puts on one face for the media and another in the locker room among his teammates.

Right now, I guarantee you that Bryzgalov is having more fun playing the "I don't want to talk about me" game than he did during the months while the team PR guys were assigned to stand guard and limit his media availability time so that he didn't say the "wrong" things.

He's playing great, his teammates now have a world of confidence in him and the more he scowls and ducks as many interviews as possible, the more he's more or less left alone to stay in his zone.

Not a bad tradeoff when the results have been so dramatic on the ice.
- bmeltzer

i love him, have loved him, and nothing is making me happier than see him get into his groove and prove the naysayers wrong.

its great

its basically the same thing Pronger did, but Bryz keeps a straightface the whole time and never drops the act

i love it
- Crimsoninja

+1

Dedication to the game has as much to do with the Masterton as overcoming some sort of obstacle. Apart from the comeback itself, Jagr is being nominated based on his incredible work ethic that sees him skating late at night, wearing a weighted vest 30 mins after practice and the first player on the ice on March 14 with a three-game-in-four-night stretch coming up. That's how he's still an effective player at age 40.
- bmeltzer

Don't mean to take anything away from Jagr. I understand the dedication aspect. We will have to agree to disagree. Jagr's story is also great. Max could have died, is playing on a terrible team, and now has 30 goals. That is also dedication. Guy has a better story, IMHO.

Do yo really want to find that out? Abitration is based on comparables. Find players with similar stats and see what they make.
- MJL

Oh cool, so he might get like 900k, cause lets look at matt reads numbers.... lol

Oh cool, so he might get like 900k, cause lets look at matt reads numbers.... lol
- RooNosHockey

Not a comparable. Read is on an EL contract.

If I was Voracek and his agent. I would start with JVR. But honestly, I don't see it getting to Arbitration. I think they will sign an amicable deal for both sides, barring an unforseen trade.

Don't mean to take anything away from Jagr. I understand the dedication aspect. We will have to agree to disagree. Jagr's story is also great. Max could have died, is playing on a terrible team, and now has 30 goals. That is also dedication. Guy has a better story, IMHO.
- coffee junkie

I don't think Jagr will win the Masterton, but just saying that I think he's a worthy nominee. Pacioretty deserves to win it. Have a feeling, though, that Crosby might win it for battling back twice from the concussions to return.

Funny you should say that. I think the real issue here is just that:

Has Bryzgalov made some mechanical adjustments? (I haven't noticed any, except for simply being square to shooter and challenging the angles aggressively, but then again I never played goal a day in my life)

It's been said that Bryzgalov put in extra work after the All-Star break. Was there a particular area that he wanted to work on that has clicked in? Did he do a lot of video review?

To me, that's more interesting and relevant on the ice than whether he's "happy" right now.
- bmeltzer

His teammates don't seem to be deflecting any pucks on his net anymore!

Funny you should say that. I think the real issue here is just that:

Has Bryzgalov made some mechanical adjustments? (I haven't noticed any, except for simply being square to shooter and challenging the angles aggressively, but then again I never played goal a day in my life)

It's been said that Bryzgalov put in extra work after the All-Star break. Was there a particular area that he wanted to work on that has clicked in? Did he do a lot of video review?

To me, that's more interesting and relevant on the ice than whether he's "happy" right now.
- bmeltzer

100%

but figuring that out requires actual analysis and knowledge of the game

i love him, have loved him, and nothing is making me happier than see him get into his groove and prove the naysayers wrong.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

100%

but figuring that out requires actual analysis and knowledge of the game
- FlyerMike18

That's not "soap opera" worthy. And hacks like Marcus Hayes can't fake their way through it, like they can the personality issues. You actually have to know the game, and worse yet, actually go to the games, to write a true Hockey article.

His teammates don't seem to be deflecting any pucks on his net anymore!
- MrBuzzcut

He's had the benefit of several deflections (none last night but at least two in the SO of Florida and one in Toronto) were he'd have had no chance but the puck went just wide of the net. That's the way it goes when things are going well.

I don't think Jagr will win the Masterton, but just saying that I think he's a worthy nominee. Pacioretty deserves to win it. Have a feeling, though, that Crosby might win it for battling back twice from the concussions to return.
- bmeltzer

Booooooooooo!

He's had the benefit of several deflections (none last night but at least two in the SO of Florida and one in Toronto) were he'd have had no chance but the puck went just wide of the net. That's the way it goes when things are going well.
- bmeltzer

So how long before he catches Boucher's record?

Just 140 or so more minutes....

I don't think Jagr will win the Masterton, but just saying that I think he's a worthy nominee. Pacioretty deserves to win it. Have a feeling, though, that Crosby might win it for battling back twice from the concussions to return.
- bmeltzer

Obviously big question marks there (will he actually return for the rest of the season and POs, how much will he contribute, etc..). But if he has a good go at it, yeah, he certainly deserves to be considered. Especially with concussions being the hot topic of the year and he being the star of the league. I still choose Max at the end of the day unless Crosby has a fairy tale ending like scoring the winning goal in the SCF game. POs factor into the Masterton right?

I don't think Jagr will win the Masterton, but just saying that I think he's a worthy nominee. Pacioretty deserves to win it. Have a feeling, though, that Crosby might win it for battling back twice from the concussions to return.
- bmeltzer

Depends on the last chapter. I can't feel good about it until he goes without a recurrence.

By the way, is he their nominee? And why, when you'd think the discussions were happening before they knew he'd make it back this year. I'd think he'd be a better candidate next year if he plays the full season.

Obviously big question marks there (will he actually return for the rest of the season and POs, how much will he contribute, etc..). But if he has a good go at it, yeah, he certainly deserves to be considered. Especially with concussions being the hot topic of the year and he being the star of the league. I still choose Max at the end of the day unless Crosby has a fairy tale ending like scoring the winning goal in the SCF game. POs factor into the Masterton right?
- coffee junkie

No, all awards (except the Conn Smythe Trophy, of course) are chosen before the start of the playoffs. There are no actual "finalists" -- just the top three finishers in the voting.

Bryzgalov's "cold" demeanor with the media is all a big, calculated act. As Timonen said last night (and Bryzgalov himself said on 24/7) when asked for the umpteenth time about Bryzgalov's personality, Bryzgalov puts on one face for the media and another in the locker room among his teammates.

Right now, I guarantee you that Bryzgalov is having more fun playing the "I don't want to talk about me" game than he did during the months while the team PR guys were assigned to stand guard and limit his media availability time so that he didn't say the "wrong" things.

He's playing great, his teammates now have a world of confidence in him and the more he scowls and ducks as many interviews as possible, the more he's more or less left alone to stay in his zone.

Not a bad tradeoff when the results have been so dramatic on the ice.
- bmeltzer

Once again, though, the local media poop all over a guy to the point where he won't say anything to them, and then he's a bad guy for not continuing to feed them.

- wilsonecho91

Once again, though, the local media poop all over a guy to the point where he won't say anything to them, and then he's a bad guy for not continuing to feed them.
- Jsaquella

Imagine if Hitchcock were to suddenly stop spoonfeeding the media when he was here. Panotch would've squirted tears.