*shrugs*

they're golfing right now
- b0s0o1

32 teams always are when all is said in done.


1 just has a cup with their name on it while doing it.

Ward is an Elite goalie, so is Fluery, wether they were getting paid for it or not makes the statement that Thomas is the only "elite" goalie to win the cup since the lockout false. Giguere had a 1.87 GAA in the playoffs and had a great year in Anaheim in 2007 and 2008. He was elite for 3 yrs after the lockout, GAA of 2.12, 2.26, and 2.64 with 10 shutouts and 115 wins.
- sbroads24

Ward and Fluery weren't elite at the time.

Ward was slitting time with Gerber in the playoffs that year.

Fluery's play was erratic up until that cup run.



Giguere can thank Pronger and Nieds for those numbers. Product of the system like you said about Halak and Elliott.


Edit: Cam ward in 05/06 14-8-2 3.68gga .882 sv% (they rode a hot goaltender to a cup win) if thats elite, then Miller truely is a god.

i thought all of that hugging with goodell was a bunch of crap...
- b0s0o1

How about the secret hand shake he had with one of the players?

Ward and Fluery weren't elite at the time.

Ward was slitting time with Gerber in the playoffs that year.

Fluery's play was erratic up until that cup run.



Giguere can thank Pronger and Nieds for those numbers. Product of the system like you said about Halak and Elliott.
- dadeadhead

Ok... so then you dont need a number 1 center either to win the cup with that logic...Getzlaf was not elite in 2006-2007 had less than 60 points. I hope your not considering Andy Mcdonald elite either.

Ok... so then you dont need a number 1 center either to win the cup with that logic...Getzlaf was not elite in 2006-2007 had less than 60 points. I hope your not considering Andy Mcdonald elite either.
- sbroads24

You really don't need a number one center to win the cup look at boston .

Ok... so then you dont need a number 1 center either to win the cup with that logic...Getzlaf was not elite in 2006-2007 had less than 60 points. I hope your not considering Andy Mcdonald elite either.
- sbroads24

Well Andy Mc's play was that of an elite center during his time there.



The 86 Canadiens, all 3 NJ teams , and Boston last year are the only team since the 1967 expansion to win the cup without an Elite center on the active roster.

Gretzky is better than Mario.
- Pairo11

Hmmmmm, I think that one can go in the pile over there, don't mind the smell, I swear it's not gasoline.

You really don't need a number one center to win the cup look at boston .
- gerbe75pts

Teams have won cups without a #1 center only 5 times since 1967.


There was 5 cup winners in a row that won without a top goaltender.


Edmonton won 5 cups with Fuhr/Moog/Ranford and they're numbers aren't all that great.

Guys lets see your picks


Rangers vs Capitals - Capitals in 6
Blues vs Kings - Kings in 5
Flyers vs NJ - NJ in 7
Coyotes vs Predators - Coyotes in 7

Guys lets see your picks


Rangers vs Capitals - Capitals in 6
Blues vs Kings - Kings in 5
Flyers vs NJ - NJ in 7
Coyotes vs Predators - Coyotes in 7
- gerbe75pts

I'm pretty sure the eastern conference playoffs couldn't have gone worse for a Penguins fan.

I'm pretty sure the eastern conference playoffs couldn't have gone worse for a Penguins fan.
- Gunner Staal

You guys would of went to the cup ..

I'm pretty sure the eastern conference playoffs couldn't have gone worse for a Penguins fan.
- Gunner Staal

sure they could have .Could be like a sabres fan knowing that we end up picking 12th when we could have had a top 5 pick

sure they could have .Could be like a sabres fan knowing that we end up picking 12th when we could have had a top 5 pick
- cabin

shhhhhhhhh

You guys would of went to the cup ..
- gerbe75pts

Their commitment to defense was something I thought they would turn on once the playoffs started, it just never happened. I looked Fleury GAA before and after the Martin collision and I think Fleury, like Miller, had some cob webs after being steamrolled.

Previous to that collision Fleury only let in more than 2 goals once in March. After the collision, including the playoffs, he gave up more than 2 goals 8 times in 11 games including two games with 5 goals against, once with 6 goals against and one with 7 goals against.

Well Andy Mc's play was that of an elite center during his time there.



The 86 Canadiens, all 3 NJ teams , and Boston last year are the only team since the 1967 expansion to win the cup without an Elite center on the active roster.
- dadeadhead

Andy Mc'd can thank Teemu Selanne for the elite season, I get your point, I just dont get the solution from a Sabres point of view, so should they trade Miller and play goalie roulette until someone gets hot in the playoffs?? Or stay with Miller and build a good Defense around him ..Ala Rangers, IMO they cant afford to go into next year without MIller playing good hockey, we need to get a consistent season from everyone so we can go into the playoffs in seeds 1-5.

You really don't need a number one center to win the cup look at boston .
- gerbe75pts

i agree. The NHL now is becoming a depth league, the biggest stars in the NHL are all out of it already, Sedin twins, Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos, Anaheim has arguably 3 of the top 20 forwards in the game and their out of it. Teams with incredible depth like Philly, or NYR on the backend, Nashville, and St.louis all still in. it's all about getting good goaltending and secondary scoring.

Here are my picks ..


Rangers vs Capitals - Capitals in 6
Blues vs Kings - Kings in 5
Flyers vs NJ - NJ in 7
Coyotes vs Predators - Coyotes in 7
- gerbe75pts

I'm going with the exact opposite of these.

shhhhhhhhh
- gerbe75pts

Pretty much how the whole season went .

I'm going with the exact opposite of these.
- LamontSanford

Really ?

Really ?
- gerbe75pts

I agree with Lamont

oh my

http://msn.foxsports.com/...anked-on-draft-day-042712

oh my

http://msn.foxsports.com/...anked-on-draft-day-042712
- homiedclown

Aw, that's sad. He went from being a multi-multi millionaire to just a millionaire. Poor guy.

I'm going with the exact opposite of these.
- LamontSanford

(stolen from yotes blog)

i agree. The NHL now is becoming a depth league, the biggest stars in the NHL are all out of it already, Sedin twins, Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos, Anaheim has arguably 3 of the top 20 forwards in the game and their out of it. Teams with incredible depth like Philly, or NYR on the backend, Nashville, and St.louis all still in. it's all about getting good goaltending and secondary scoring.
- sbroads24

the 3 best goalies this season (hank, rinne, and quick) are still plying
the hottest goalie is still playing, holtby
the best tandem of goalies (blues) are still playing
one of the best goalies ever is still playing, brodeur

brad richards is consistently a top 10 player
kopitar is one of the best 6 centers in the game
briere is one of the best post season players in game


but the preds, yotes, kings, blues, devils do play as a team for the most part

it's not a fluke that a hard working player like ward gets the series winner, based on how he grinds it out in the past playoffs. Not a sexy acquisition but one that pays off when it counts the most