Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Think yourself lucky, i'm always waiting till 1am for it
Plus the Islanders don't play till Friday! Saving the best for last I suppose.
NHL 2013-14 Discussion: Keep It SpICY!
- Thread starter stringertom
- Start date
Think yourself lucky, i'm always waiting till 1am for it
Plus the Islanders don't play till Friday! Saving the best for last I suppose.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
I know they want to go to Seattle but thats only one i heard of.
Just because you live on an island doesnt mean you have to cheer for the Islanders.
Yeah, that would be nice - potentially avid rivalry with the Canucks. And then another team somewhere on the west coast? Maybe down the road?
Oh, but what's so bad about being an Isles fan? Great young team, cool uniforms, impressive history, it's all there.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
They took a step back this off season with the loss of Streit. They where a fringe playoff team last year and with the loss of their best defensemen I dont see them going back.
And their recent history is not something I would call impressive. I like that he is sticking with his team and it was just a little fun.
I am watching Detroit right now and I wonder if they speak Swedish in their locker room.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Agreed, the defence last year wasn't good enough. Losing Streit has just made it even worse. The new 4 division format is going to make reaching the playoffs even harder aswell.
But yeah, it's coming up to 18 years i've been an Islanders fan. That's not going to be changing
Obviously, I'm not referring to their most recent history. In fact, you'll have to go back a long time for some real success (92-93 season). But this is still one of the most storied franchises of the NHL, especially outside the original six.
And wrt Fena: Does that mean you became a fan when they were wearing the fishsticks jerseys???
And wrt Fena: Does that mean you became a fan when they were wearing the fishsticks jerseys???
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Yeah their history is great, stringertom was around to see that and he has some great stories
My love of the Islanders came from NHL '94 when they still had the classic jerseys they used back in the day, and have gone back to these days. The fisherman ones with the wavy lines were awful, they came around 1996. If ever there was a time for me to get out of been an Islanders fan, that was probably it!
maverick66
Hall of Fame
Tavares is a great player but you cant win alone in the NHL.
On a positive note the Bruins start tonight so you guys can finally see good hockey
Bruins probably the beast in the east (sorry for that one).
Not sure what the Pens will be able to do all season long, especially when (not if...) Crosby and Malkin miss significant amounts of time.
My dark horse would be the Rangers. It will be interesting to see what AV can do with a team that has a very strong defense in front of a decent goalie, but somewhat less flashy offense than his old squad in Vancouver. And how ironic that Torts took over the Nucks at basically the same time!
Preseason didn't look good for the Rangers, though what does it mean, probably nothing after all.
Oh, and Tavares is by far not alone on the island! Islanders will be a nice TEAM no doubt.
Not sure what the Pens will be able to do all season long, especially when (not if...) Crosby and Malkin miss significant amounts of time.
My dark horse would be the Rangers. It will be interesting to see what AV can do with a team that has a very strong defense in front of a decent goalie, but somewhat less flashy offense than his old squad in Vancouver. And how ironic that Torts took over the Nucks at basically the same time!
Preseason didn't look good for the Rangers, though what does it mean, probably nothing after all.
Oh, and Tavares is by far not alone on the island! Islanders will be a nice TEAM no doubt.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
Ya i wonder when the Rangers will start diving and pulling the AV junk. Torts wont allow it in Vancouver at all so they will be much less hated with him in charge.
Tavares has Moulson and thats about it. There are some good players in there but they lack depth hard.
The Bruins are a favorite in the East but its hockey who the hell knows whats gonna happen.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
The forwards have some good depth imo. Tavares and Moulson are the best, as you mention. Okposo and Bailey looked like they made the step up in the playoffs last year though. Grabner and Nielsen are great players too. That's not a bad top 6. Our role players are also pretty good, Martin has led the league in hits for the last two years, we also have Clutterbuck to bring the physical side of thing aswell now. Nelson and Cizikas are turning into very good bottom line players, they do all the dirty jobs and never allow teams to settle.
The defence is still a few years away unfortunately, Hamonic and MacDonald are a nice pairing, Visnovsky is still a good player. The rest are hopelessly short of the level they need to be though. There's De Haan, Mayfield and Pulock to come through, the pieces are there. Just got to be patient with them and hope they come through sooner rather than later.
Agree about Boston looking like the best in the East, i'm interested in the Blues in the West though. They made some great moves this summer, i'm thinking they could be an outside bet for a strong run.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
I watched the Blues game a little last night and they are gonna be a very strong team. 4 really good lines, solid goaltending, and a defense that will be able to hold just about anyone. Add on top of that they are young and hungry and you got a good team. I still think they are missing that take over winger that will score in big moments but Boston has lacked that guy to and been to the cup a few times the last few years.
Boston looked very meh last night. They beat a bad Tampa team and got lucky thats who they played. I do really like the Lucic,Krejci, Iginla line. Iginla can still play some high level hockey.
So now that each team has played at least a few games, nice to see that some electrifying rookies are probably here to stay. Hertl in SJ, McKinnon in COL, Monahan in CAL, Barkov in FLA, Trouba in WPG, and so many others, I think it's something I've never seen in the years since I started following the NHL (1993/94).
- What do you guys make of the "Hertl incident", though, that's something I'd like to hear your opinions about.
Personally, I completely agree with the Hawks' Quenneville's assessment that this game, just like any sports, in fact, is part of the entertainment industry.
I just 100% cannot understand why so many fans and respected hockey greats again and again criticize players for trying trick shots or endulging in exuberant goal celebrations (Ovechkin stick warming gesture from a few years back, for instance). These actions are what make hockey a special and spectacular sport, and there's nothing wrong with them - in fact, I would love to see stuff like this more often! I somehow get the feeling that for some pundits, hockey appears to be a job where you put on your armour, grab your sword, and engage in a knightly duel with your opponent where you have to obey a multitude of unwritten codes, and the ultimate sin is "to embarass" the other guy.
Total bs if you ask me.
- What do you guys make of the "Hertl incident", though, that's something I'd like to hear your opinions about.
Personally, I completely agree with the Hawks' Quenneville's assessment that this game, just like any sports, in fact, is part of the entertainment industry.
I just 100% cannot understand why so many fans and respected hockey greats again and again criticize players for trying trick shots or endulging in exuberant goal celebrations (Ovechkin stick warming gesture from a few years back, for instance). These actions are what make hockey a special and spectacular sport, and there's nothing wrong with them - in fact, I would love to see stuff like this more often! I somehow get the feeling that for some pundits, hockey appears to be a job where you put on your armour, grab your sword, and engage in a knightly duel with your opponent where you have to obey a multitude of unwritten codes, and the ultimate sin is "to embarass" the other guy.
Total bs if you ask me.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
If you dont wish to be shown up by a between the legs play than play defense. Its that simple. Both Ranger defensemen watched Hertl go right through them. They should be embarrassed because of their lack of effort.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=435220
Also i know there is a few Islander people here. Garth Snow just overpaid for Vanek hard. Great player on a 1 year deal but to give up Molson and picks for it makes little sense. Back to Islander hockey for a little.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Neither Vanek or Moulson will sign with their new teams at the end of the year, Buffalo basically got a couple of great draft picks for nothing. Gutting.
We should of gone for Miller if anyone.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
He wouldn't be the first one to be wary of signing for the islanders, only to love it there in the end. Nabokov, Visnovsky etc.. So maybe there's hope.
Even so, we needed an upgrade on defence and between the pipes more than the forward line so i'm really struggling to get my head around it.
Who's the girl in the picture btw?
genie bouchard.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
This is what I couldnt figure out either. The Islanders score goals. They are actually pretty good at it. But they give up way to much. If Miller was available he makes sense but he has no trade clause and I would suspect the Islanders are on the list of no.
Molson will be traded at deadline for more picks if the Sabres have a brain. Since its Buffalo they wont and end up with just the picks.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Absolutely, in the playoffs we more than kept up with the Penguins in the scoring department, we just made it too easy for them at the back. Now Streit has gone it's even worse.
For Miller you'd of thought anyone would be an upgrade on the Sabres at the moment
i'm sure he'd of been up for having a good go at getting into the playoffs with the islanders than sitting around for a few seasons whilst the Sabres rebuild. No doubt it would be a move that would help his chances for the Olympics too.Someone said the Sabres now have the highest number of first round draft picks over the next 3 years in history, not sure if that's true or not but it's not a bad position to be in.
Ahh yeah, for some reason it's hard to recognise WTA players when they aren't playing
Just talked to Lars Eller - he's a member at my tennis club and we were talking about his game. he said he's not that great at tennis but plays for fun once in a while. was thinking it could be cool to get him on the court with an ATP pro and seeing what would happen...definitely possibility there.
at madison square garden tonight for MTL vs. NYR. should be interesting - first game of the season for the rangers since MSG was under renovation. in the back, I spied a goal with a chrome crossbar, on which was inscribed all the names of the 1994 stanley cup-winning team. maybe it'll be brought out during the pre-game ceremony or something.
at madison square garden tonight for MTL vs. NYR. should be interesting - first game of the season for the rangers since MSG was under renovation. in the back, I spied a goal with a chrome crossbar, on which was inscribed all the names of the 1994 stanley cup-winning team. maybe it'll be brought out during the pre-game ceremony or something.
Think Eller could play on the junior tennis team?
Absolutely, in the playoffs we more than kept up with the Penguins in the scoring department, we just made it too easy for them at the back. Now Streit has gone it's even worse.
For Miller you'd of thought anyone would be an upgrade on the Sabres at the moment
I just feel bad for Moulson. At least he had a good time with the Isles as Johnny T's winger. Will probably be traded again at the deadline, as suggested above.
Skillwise, though, Vanek should be an upgrade. And maybe he will like playing will some exciting youngsters and resign (?). But will the Isles put him on T's wing? Go for a more balanced attack? They really could become an offensive powerhouse now.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
We pretty much already were an offensive powerhouse
but you're right, Vanek has put up similar numbers over the last 3 years and he's been in a far weaker offensive unit. Maybe it will work.Snow has said he made the trade because he didn't think the team was playing up to it's potential, that's hard to disagree with. Hopefully this will shake things up.
At the end of the day our problems at the back and with Nabokov are still there, that's always what will hold us back.
You'll have to let me know how it is, i'm going to the Rangers and Jets game on the 2nd of December. My first time in New York and the hotel is only a 10 minute walk from MSG. Would of loved to see the islanders, but not having long there it's a bit too far.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
For Miller you'd of thought anyone would be an upgrade on the Sabres at the moment
He is gone one or another by season end for Buffalo. He is a UFA and there is a very small chance he sticks around. So he isnt gonna be with them for the rebuild no matter how it works out. But a team like the Islanders is where he is gonna go because the other playoff teams are prettty set at goalie.
As long as that management group is in place they will continue to be a poor team.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
MSG holds very many fond personal memories for me from the 70's...saw quite a few concerts from close in (tenth row or closer cost me only double face value from a very reliable scalper) but the closest I got were Rangers game seats given to me by a Czech-native ex-amateur-international hockey player that worked at my camera company distributor's office with me. He had held tickets for years on a goal-line four rows up. Nothing better than being that close for an NHL game, even being a rabid Isles fan surrounded by a sea of blue and red!
the "potvin s*cks" chants are still very much alive, FYI
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Jealousy dies in a slow manner...scoreboard still says 4-1 Isles in Cups won since WW2!
I wouldn't have given up Vanek. He's all we've had so far, our program is a mess.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
They tried to negotiate with him. He told them he wasnt returning and that winning was more important. The big rumor is they offered to make him one of the highest if not the highest paid player in the league and he still said no.
I agree with you though that team is a mess. Young guys took steps back which is really not what they wanted to see. Not to mention the over paying of Ville Leino and Ehrhoff they put themselves in bad spots.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Hey, you got a first and second round pick for him
The Sabres weren't going to do anything good this season, suppose they've just got to gather as many picks as possible and hope the players they select perform.
The Penguins and Blackhawks did it that way, so it can work.
Meanwhile, the Leafs continue to amaze me - despite getting outshot every game, they manage to not only squeeze out wins, but in fact can do it convincingly as far as the scoresheet tells.
And I don't get to watch games, but is Kessel a stud or what? Just looked up his ppg trajectory while with the Leafs: 0.79, 0.78, 1.00, 1.08, 1.38 (currently).
Looks like he's developed into a true elite winger. Doesn't hurt to have serious talent around him, of course.
And I don't get to watch games, but is Kessel a stud or what? Just looked up his ppg trajectory while with the Leafs: 0.79, 0.78, 1.00, 1.08, 1.38 (currently).
Looks like he's developed into a true elite winger. Doesn't hurt to have serious talent around him, of course.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
His numbers are more a reflection of the team improving. When he first got there they where in a bad spot but now they are a playoff team that will challenge anyone they draw.
My big shock of the year is how bad the Rangers and Flyers have been. For some reason I though the Flyers would bounce back after a down year and that just hasnt happened. Want them to be good as Bruins vs Flyers is always a great game but not when one of them is terrible.
The Rangers I think got a bad deal with the road start. New coach with a new style and they go on the road for a long time to start doesnt help. Plus add on Lundqist got hurt a little and its a recipe for disaster.
Kessel is just beginning to fully understand and use his inner truculent self
Rangers' season is probably screwed, they've dug a nice deep hole on the road they just won't get out of if they can't get consistent goal scoring. And I just don't get the Flyers' philosophy at all...
Rangers' season is probably screwed, they've dug a nice deep hole on the road they just won't get out of if they can't get consistent goal scoring. And I just don't get the Flyers' philosophy at all...
Hey ho, let's go - after the first quarter of the season, have your expectations be met? What surprises have there been for you?
Let's rejuvenate this thread on the greatest (team) sport out there
I'll give you some major thoughts of mine here, first on teams, then on individual players:
- I had thought the Red Wings would be better in the East. But maybe they're still adjusting, so it may be premature to discard this expectation.
- Rangers, after a dismal start to the season, showing signs of getting their act together. But how long does it take AV to teach them real offense? Or was this team just not built for scoring? Maybe the return of Nash will help them? But how nice would it be to have a healthy Gaborik now?
- Speaking of offense, the Flyers are turning their season around, can't rely on defense in doing so. I expect them to work their path through the standings irresistibly and step by step. On paper, maybe the deepest offense in the league.
- Islanders running hot and cold all the time (sounds familiar, unfortunately). I'm really hoping they can still be a serious playoff contender this season.
- Positive surprise: Avalanche, but then again, they have the players. Eh, and so do the Oilers (but not on defense)...
- Alex Steen outscoring all other NHL players after 20 games???
- So cool to see so many great junior players making their mark (Monahan, Hertl, MacKinnon, Toffoli, and Jones the front runners for me so far).
- Jaromir! Jagr!
- Predicted Stanley Cup finals: Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks; this time, Bruins win the Cup (...)
Edit: And still noone talking about the Coyotes...
Let's rejuvenate this thread on the greatest (team) sport out there
I'll give you some major thoughts of mine here, first on teams, then on individual players:
- I had thought the Red Wings would be better in the East. But maybe they're still adjusting, so it may be premature to discard this expectation.
- Rangers, after a dismal start to the season, showing signs of getting their act together. But how long does it take AV to teach them real offense? Or was this team just not built for scoring? Maybe the return of Nash will help them? But how nice would it be to have a healthy Gaborik now?
- Speaking of offense, the Flyers are turning their season around, can't rely on defense in doing so. I expect them to work their path through the standings irresistibly and step by step. On paper, maybe the deepest offense in the league.
- Islanders running hot and cold all the time (sounds familiar, unfortunately). I'm really hoping they can still be a serious playoff contender this season.
- Positive surprise: Avalanche, but then again, they have the players. Eh, and so do the Oilers (but not on defense)...
- Alex Steen outscoring all other NHL players after 20 games???
- So cool to see so many great junior players making their mark (Monahan, Hertl, MacKinnon, Toffoli, and Jones the front runners for me so far).
- Jaromir! Jagr!
- Predicted Stanley Cup finals: Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks; this time, Bruins win the Cup (...)
Edit: And still noone talking about the Coyotes...
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