Jason Lewis: Are We Ready to Take Kopitar for the Selke Seriously?

Sure - why not. Very good player!

Sorry but Backes deserves it through the first quarter of the year. Kopitar would be a finalist but the work Backes is doing is unreal and leaps and bounds above the pack.

Scary thing is that Backes usually starts out very slow, like he left his lunch pail at home. He's brought it pretty much every night of the year so far.

Backes is definitely my leading candidate right now.

Word is Carter is playing tonight.

homer pick is going to O'Reilly 22gms, 16pts, +3, 26tkas (5th in league). Not to shabby so far.

But Backes is the man to beat

Word is Carter is playing tonight.
- bluecoconuts

No word on whether that is confirmed or not. He took line rushes with Richards and King but he is in all likelihood a game time decisions knowing Sutter.

No word on whether that is confirmed or not. He took line rushes with Richards and King but he is in all likelihood a game time decisions knowing Sutter.
- Jason_Lewis

Suhweeeet. Either way he's close.

Sorry but Backes deserves it through the first quarter of the year. Kopitar would be a finalist but the work Backes is doing is unreal and leaps and bounds above the pack.

Scary thing is that Backes usually starts out very slow, like he left his lunch pail at home. He's brought it pretty much every night of the year so far.
- stljam

I'm srry but that's a huge homer statement

Could backes be a leading candidate? Sure. But he will never be leaps and bounds better than guys like datsyuk, toews, bergeron, etc. Let's not get carried away by what jersey he wears

Great blog as always.

One thing I noticed, maybe you wrote it as such on purpose, but in your prospect blog, the last sentence of the first paragraph for Bartosak you wrote "run support." Unless I'm missing something, I thought that was baseball.

Nitpicking, but just thought I'd point it out in case you or I am missing something.

But again, great blog as always.

Kopitar is a top 5 2-way C imo, but not worthy of the Selke. Still a little too soft imo and I don't think his intangibles make up for it. Close, but no cigar.

Great blog as always.

One thing I noticed, maybe you wrote it as such on purpose, but in your prospect blog, the last sentence of the first paragraph for Bartosak you wrote "run support." Unless I'm missing something, I thought that was baseball.

Nitpicking, but just thought I'd point it out in case you or I am missing something.

But again, great blog as always.

Kopitar is a top 5 2-way C imo, but not worthy of the Selke. Still a little too soft imo and I don't think his intangibles make up for it. Close, but no cigar.
- StayTunedMTC

Yea I always do try to make a baseball reference or two, not a mistake

I think I referred to a .900 save percentage as the hockey mendoza line at some point also.

Yea I always do try to make a baseball reference or two, not a mistake

I think I referred to a .900 save percentage as the hockey mendoza line at some point also.
- Jason_Lewis

All good bro

Great blog as always.

One thing I noticed, maybe you wrote it as such on purpose, but in your prospect blog, the last sentence of the first paragraph for Bartosak you wrote "run support." Unless I'm missing something, I thought that was baseball.

Nitpicking, but just thought I'd point it out in case you or I am missing something.

But again, great blog as always.

Kopitar is a top 5 2-way C imo, but not worthy of the Selke. Still a little too soft imo and I don't think his intangibles make up for it. Close, but no cigar.
- StayTunedMTC

Soft?! I strongly disagree. He doesn't hit to beat people's bodies but he is the hardest playing center, or player of any position, I've seen play this year. I haven't watched much of backes or Datsuyk but no body I've see has as complete a game as Kopi. Kopi never ceases to amaze me with his foresight, determination, ability to play all of the ice,his general hockey sense etc........all of that at the highest level of play.....every game, whether he scores or not. I am biased being an avid kings fan but there is no doubt in my mind that he is, by far, the best kings player. Hardly a soft player and his stats are a result of his hard work.

Sesito going after Doughty. Classy. Torts needs to chill out and get his lugnuts under control.

So sad to see the Nucks get a bounce.

Ref's are really messing this up. I wish Kesler wasnt such a joke. Theyre just gonna let the Nucks players do what they want with Scrivens.

Sesito going after Doughty. Classy. Torts needs to chill out and get his lugnuts under control.
- poisondhearts37

Umm, Nolan took a run at Henrik. Canucks under AV would have rolled over in this one and the Kings would have run them out of their own building. Torts is exactly the man this team needs behind the bench. Refs I think are noticing it and giving the Canucks a little more respect and even favouring them a bit more this year because they've played harder instead of diving and flopping.

The Sedins are constantly getting played physically against the Kings, I'd actually like to see more of that against Doughty and Kopitar instead of just retaliating to the likes of Nolan/Carcillo.



Side note: I agree with Jason, Kopitar is a much better-two way player than given credit for, but playing out West and in LA, I think it hurts his exposure in the East. But if the Kings continue to make playoff runs, he'll get noticed more and more for being such a great all-around player.

Umm, Nolan took a run at Henrik. Canucks under AV would have rolled over in this one and the Kings would have run them out of their own building. Torts is exactly the man this team needs behind the bench. Refs I think are noticing it and giving the Canucks a little more respect and even favouring them a bit more this year because they've played harder instead of diving and flopping.

The Sedins are constantly getting played physically against the Kings, I'd actually like to see more of that against Doughty and Kopitar instead of just retaliating to the likes of Nolan/Carcillo.



Side note: I agree with Jason, Kopitar is a much better-two way player than given credit for, but playing out West and in LA, I think it hurts his exposure in the East. But if the Kings continue to make playoff runs, he'll get noticed more and more for being such a great all-around player.
- Nucker101

Nolan didnt take a run. He made a clean hit. God forbid though I guess.

Umm, Nolan took a run at Henrik. Canucks under AV would have rolled over in this one and the Kings would have run them out of their own building. Torts is exactly the man this team needs behind the bench. Refs I think are noticing it and giving the Canucks a little more respect and even favouring them a bit more this year because they've played harder instead of diving and flopping.

The Sedins are constantly getting played physically against the Kings, I'd actually like to see more of that against Doughty and Kopitar instead of just retaliating to the likes of Nolan/Carcillo.



Side note: I agree with Jason, Kopitar is a much better-two way player than given credit for, but playing out West and in LA, I think it hurts his exposure in the East. But if the Kings continue to make playoff runs, he'll get noticed more and more for being such a great all-around player.
- Nucker101

I think its more of, they dont wanna hear them whine like theyre always doing. And have been doing all night. Everytime something happens Bieksa and Kesler are always yapping and whining about something. If you whine enough you get your way. Its how the Nucks beat Nashville a couple years ago.

Nolan didnt take a run. He made a clean hit. God forbid though I guess.
- poisondhearts37

Didn't say it was dirty, just said that he went looking for that big hit and potentially injure him. Canucks can't win with opposing fans, if they don't respond and roll over, we're pussies, but if we actually fight back we're dirty.


If Kassian or Sestito tried to lay out Kopitar would the Kings not try to send a message? Would you not want them to? Be honest.

I think its more of, they dont wanna hear them whine like theyre always doing. And have been doing all night. Everytime something happens Bieksa and Kesler are always yapping and whining about something. If you whine enough you get your way. Its how the Nucks beat Nashville a couple years ago.
- poisondhearts37

Come on now, think about what you just typed. These guys are professionals, they hear whining and complaining on every call, you think they they're really thinking " (frank) it, I'm tired of hearing it, I'll just give them all the calls tonight". And Doughty, Brown, Williams, Richards whine plenty(I remember a game last year, I think I saw them talk to the refs 10+ times after the whistle). Talk about hypocritical.

How many Canucks games under Torts have you watched? The Canucks used to lead the league in diving and whining under AV, that's no longer the case. They're far from a "clean" team, but really every team plays dirty so there's no such thing.

Sesito going after Doughty. Classy. Torts needs to chill out and get his lugnuts under control.
- poisondhearts37

- AlexF

Dat mug.

Dat mug.
- Nucker101

It's a face only a...well it's a face anyway.

Props to the Kings, Scrivens made some big saves and they took adavntage of the Canucks mistakes. I still like that the Canucks at least fought back physically in the 2nd.


Kings are definitely still a SCF favourite.