James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Ovechkin Deserves Better + Trouba + Kessel One of the single greatest blogs in the entire history of the world.

I 100% agree that Ovi deservs better. even though as a pens fan I dislike him as a hockey fan he is amazing. he might not have a kessel,letang and malkin but he does have backström,kuznetsov, carlsson and holtby

I 100% agree that Ovi deservs better. even though as a pens fan I dislike him as a hockey fan he is amazing. he might not have a kessel,letang and malkin but he does have backström,kuznetsov, carlsson and holtby
- martox

They were a great team last year, got kind of unlucky in the Playoffs, they should have a shot this year..........but I just don't think they're quite as good as they could be.

if ovi was mired on weak teams- fine. Kinda like blaming Taylor hall for the oilers woes.
An organizational deficiency. Not his


But ovi has been on stacked Russian team and stacked caps teams.

I certainly think it's at least possible that it may be something he's lacking. And just cause you can't quantify it doesn't mean it's a fantasy

And the idea of super player carrying his team on his back and making it happen is not BS. It happens




As far as the Simmons article, had a quick google but couldn't find it. Someone link it. I need a laugh this morning.
East coast homer - western small market hating- idiot

For a guy that hates the spotlight, I don't get the tweet.

He was on a team with Malkin last night.

I really wanted to see North America advance, but stupid tiebreaker rules.

For another gimmick tourney, I'd love to see a World Summit Series. Team Canada vs. Team Rest of the World. Best of seven.

He was on a team with Malkin last night.
- Thorny87

Good point.

+ Tanner will tell us that Weber sucks, but he was playing vs Ovechkin last night. And Ovie did nothing.

Good point.

+ Tanner will tell us that Weber sucks, but he was playing vs Ovechkin last night. And Ovie did nothing.
- deadpoulet

What kind of comparison or argument is that?

No one ever said "Weber Sucks." But I guess to certain people, saying that he isn't a top ten NHL dman anymore is the same thing.

And I don't recall Russia ever having a great team in the last ten or so years. OK teams, sure. But not great ones. As good as their forwards have been, Canada can take any of 25 qualified defenseman, while Russia doesn't even have a single one who would make team Canada.

MINUS: Matt Murray's injury. The one thing about these tournaments is that they inevitably ruin the season for some teams and players. Now, Murray's only out for three or four weeks, but it still sucks.

Pens should be fine with Fleury (and their team in general), but it sucks for those (like me) who have him on their fantasy team.

I really wanted to see North America advance, but stupid tiebreaker rules.

For another gimmick tourney, I'd love to see a World Summit Series. Team Canada vs. Team Rest of the World. Best of seven.
- Lars.

I agree, that would be cool.

Or even better: Don't have Olympics or the World Cup.

What kind of comparison or argument is that?

No one ever said "Weber Sucks." But I guess to certain people, saying that he isn't a top ten NHL dman anymore is the same thing.

And I don't recall Russia ever having a great team in the last ten or so years. OK teams, sure. But not great ones. As good as their forwards have been, Canada can take any of 25 qualified defenseman, while Russia doesn't even have a single one who would make team Canada.
- James_Tanner

Agree with you on russia's defense. But he had some pretty good teams with the Caps. +, he was not doing anything last night with everything on the line while Crosby was flying out there. And it's not like it's the first time it happens. Ovie is a great player, it's just that Crosby is above everybody else in the league as of now.

As much as I like Subban, I don't remember anybody saying he was better than Weber before the trade. It was all about how he can't play defense or take too much chances with the puck. It's annoying.

They were a great team last year, got kind of unlucky in the Playoffs, they should have a shot this year..........but I just don't think they're quite as good as they could be.
- James_Tanner

"Unlucky" how? Getting beat by a better team is not unlucky.

"Unlucky" how? Getting beat by a better team is not unlucky.
- madmike71

Meh, pretty close in terms of talent.

I really wanted to see North America advance, but stupid tiebreaker rules.

For another gimmick tourney, I'd love to see a World Summit Series. Team Canada vs. Team Rest of the World. Best of seven.
- Lars.

Going too far I think

Canada gets schooled in this scenario

Those top 3-4 Swedish defenders, a few Russian/Swedish/yank forwards , kopitar,
Yank goalies etc ... Pretty crazy team

Meh, pretty close in terms of talent.
- Garnie

I'd say on pure talent and depth- caps for sure

Winning a cup takes a ton of luck, getting hot at the right time etc.
Matt Murray !??


Play that series again a few more times and the caps could absolutely win

Not trying to take anything away from the pens cup. Just sayin

I'd say on pure talent and depth- caps for sure

Winning a cup takes a ton of luck, getting hot at the right time etc.
Matt Murray !??


Play that series again a few more times and the caps could absolutely win

Not trying to take anything away from the pens cup. Just sayin
- HB77

Pitts peaked at a great time, fans were dismantling them around Xmas.

Great team once they found the right linemates

Yeah he's just on a team with a Holtby Backstrom Carlson Oshie and Williams. Poor guy. How's he ever gonna win

"What Connor McDavid will discover over time: Full speed is wonderful, especially when you have his speed. But slowing down occasionally can be effective too. He’s dangerous now. When he learns to stop and go, and shoot just a touch better, as he grows stronger, he’s going to be unstoppable"
Steve Simmons


I think thats the quote tanner was talking about. Probably the only thing I agree with tanner about-simmons is a dumbass

I agree, that would be cool.

Or even better: Don't have Olympics or the World Cup.
- James_Tanner

You could probably pick up Matthews in the later rounds of your hockey pool, he should be good for around 40 points this year.

Ovechkin and the Russians ran up against a machine in Canada, I don't feel sorry for him.

"What Connor McDavid will discover over time: Full speed is wonderful, especially when you have his speed. But slowing down occasionally can be effective too. He’s dangerous now. When he learns to stop and go, and shoot just a touch better, as he grows stronger, he’s going to be unstoppable"
Steve Simmons


I think thats the quote tanner was talking about. Probably the only thing I agree with tanner about-simmons is a dumbass
- Johnotron

Semi agree that his shot isn't all world, but the rest is nonsense.

It's easy to identify the speed factor. Cause it's always electric when he wheels.
But he's already incredibly adept while stationary and the small things he does to make plays in tight areas and to create space. Simmons is an idiot. Still probably pissed that the oilers got him so he's looking for flaws. The stuff he said after the 2015 draft about small market Edmonton was transparent and deplorable. Super Douche

It's a problem when east coast writers try to pontificate in depth about guys they see a handful of times a year. Same goes vice versa.

I'll be shouting mcdavid > Matthews forever. But I'll have only seen Matthews 5-10 times max per while watching Connor 50+ games annually depending on how much studying I choose to slack off on

You could probably pick up Matthews in the later rounds of your hockey pool, he should be good for around 40 points this year.

Ovechkin and the Russians ran up against a machine in Canada, I don't feel sorry for him.
- LeftCoaster

Had to pick him first overall, it was a keeper league with tons of Leafs fans and the best 52 players already protected.

Semi agree that his shot isn't all world, but the rest is nonsense.

It's easy to identify the speed factor. Cause it's always electric when he wheels.
But he's already incredibly adept while stationary and the small things he does to make plays in tight areas and to create space. Simmons is an idiot. Still probably pissed that the oilers got him so he's looking for flaws. The stuff he said after the 2015 draft about small market Edmonton was transparent and deplorable. Super Douche

It's a problem when east coast writers try to pontificate in depth about guys they see a handful of times a year. Same goes vice versa.

I'll be shouting mcdavid > Matthews forever. But I'll have only seen Matthews 5-10 times max per while watching Connor 50+ games annually depending on how much studying I choose to slack off on
- HB77

Agreed. Matthews might very well be the second best player in the NHL for the next decade, but he's no McDavid.

James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Ovechkin Deserves Better + Trouba + Kessel
One of the single greatest blogs in the entire history of the world.
- James_Tanner

Disagree about ovi. He doesn't do anything other than shoot from top of circle in PP . Crosby made unreal play by pursuing puck and causing turnovers. Did sets up players on his team. Ovi is one dementional and doesn't make his teammates better. Not a winner. Unreal individual player but that's it