[Stephen Dame]

Admittedly, I don't follow the Golden Game as much as I used to, but I tagged along to the Hasek press conference yesterday and was pretty surprised at all the negative flak he took from the press... seems like there's a TON of pressure on this guy to come through.

I saw him play once in MLG back in his Buffalo days, he was damned impressive then. Does he still have it?

Help me out here Hockey nuts, will the Dominator be enough to bring the Cup back to the city where it was born?

[prz]

depends on that groin injury. He says he is fine, but we will see come the fall. Mike Ritcher by the end was unable to recover from his groin injury.

Muckler had really no other choice but to get Hasek. The only other goalie in my opinion who is a worthy number 1 out there is Kevin Weekes.

[mrlayance]

He will play 10 games and bitch out. Hasek is done...

[TLB]

No

[Stephen Dame]

depends on that groin injury. He says he is fine, but we will see come the fall. Mike Ritcher by the end was unable to recover from his groin injury.

Muckler had really no other choice but to get Hasek. The only other goalie in my opinion who is a worthy number 1 out there is Kevin Weekes.

What about Lalime? It seems to me they scape goated him... I think they'll regret shipping him.

[The Heron Outside]

It seems like a step in the right direction, but it also seems like it's against Ottawa's philosophy, building a strong, young team from the ground up. I'd have to agree with Lance, maybe not to such an extreme though. Assuming there is a full season of hockey (What with the grueling division the Sens are in) and then the playoffs, I'd doubt he can make it through a full year then bring his A game to the playoffs. Here's hoping they do though-I've been a Toronto fan for quite some time, and I'll go on record, the Leafs deserve to lose. Every playoffs, by winning one series, the Leafs brass feels that they just need that one missing piece of the puzzle, whatever 36 year old is hot at that moment. The Sens play good hockey, and I'm tired of seeing a city from Ontario other than Toronto get crapped on every spring.

[prz]

depends on that groin injury. He says he is fine, but we will see come the fall. Mike Ritcher by the end was unable to recover from his groin injury.

Muckler had really no other choice but to get Hasek. The only other goalie in my opinion who is a worthy number 1 out there is Kevin Weekes.

What about Lalime? It seems to me they scape goated him... I think they'll regret shipping him.

Ya they did but after giving up those soft first period goals in game 7, he was done.

[Stephen Dame]

It seems like a step in the right direction, but it also seems like it's against Ottawa's philosophy, building a strong, young team from the ground up. I'd have to agree with Lance, maybe not to such an extreme though. Assuming there is a full season of hockey (What with the grueling division the Sens are in) and then the playoffs, I'd doubt he can make it through a full year then bring his A game to the playoffs. Here's hoping they do though-I've been a Toronto fan for quite some time, and I'll go on record, the Leafs deserve to lose. Every playoffs, by winning one series, the Leafs brass feels that they just need that one missing piece of the puzzle, whatever 36 year old is hot at that moment. The Sens play good hockey, and I'm tired of seeing a city from Ontario other than Toronto get crapped on every spring.

Here, Here.

As for the "young philosophy" bit, our sports guys were telling me that part of the reason Hasek was brought in was to impart on the many young European players just what it's like, and how important it is, to go all the way in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

There was a lot of stuff in the media here about how European players just don't "desire" the Stanley Cup like their NA counterparts. They didn't grow up with it, so they don't get up for it, or strive for it as they would a championship for their country or the World Cup for instance.

I personally don't buy that argument, and I think millions of dollars is all the incentive anyone should need to give their all, but apparently part of the Hasek deal was to have him appeal and educate the young guys in the room towards going after Stanley.

[prz]

It seems like a step in the right direction, but it also seems like it's against Ottawa's philosophy, building a strong, young team from the ground up. I'd have to agree with Lance, maybe not to such an extreme though. Assuming there is a full season of hockey (What with the grueling division the Sens are in) and then the playoffs, I'd doubt he can make it through a full year then bring his A game to the playoffs. Here's hoping they do though-I've been a Toronto fan for quite some time, and I'll go on record, the Leafs deserve to lose. Every playoffs, by winning one series, the Leafs brass feels that they just need that one missing piece of the puzzle, whatever 36 year old is hot at that moment. The Sens play good hockey, and I'm tired of seeing a city from Ontario other than Toronto get crapped on every spring.

Here, Here.

As for the "young philosophy" bit, our sports gusy were telling me that part of the reason Hasek was brought in was to impart on the many young European players just what it's like, and how important it is, to go all the way in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

There was a lot of stuff in the media here about how European players just don't "desire" the Stanley Cup like their NA counterparts. They didn't grow up with it, so they don't get up for it, or strive for it as they would a championship for their country or the World Cup for instance.

I personally don't buy that argument, and I think millions of dollars is all the incentive anyone should need to give their all, but apparently part of the Hasek deal was to have him appeal and educate the young guys in the room towards going after Stanley.

Well, I think there are some Euros who do care. But the fact of the matter is, a European captain has never won the cup, and minus 2002 when Lidstrom won the con smyth (even though Yzerman should have, playing on one knee) no other Euro has won it. I think that speaks volumes.

[Hairbird]

They only thing that could bring the Sens the Cup, is the Leafs not making the playoffs. Don't count on it! :lol:

[farmerdan]

They only thing that could bring the Sens the Cup, is the Leafs not making the playoffs. Don't count on it! :lol:

i hear that!!!

but seriously, i dont think hasek has it anymore with his injury woes and all. how many games do you think he'll play this year??
we should start a pool!
i got 25 games!!!
even if he did manage to play 60+ games, will the 40 year old have enough for the playoffs (i know, i know, befour is no spring chicken either)

anyways, i've always though Prusek was good enough to be the #1, who knows, this year he might get the chance once dom gets hurts

prz you are right, weeks is probaly the only good unrestricted goalie, but there are a solid few who are restricted(or were a coulpe of days ago) ie: raycroft, biron, kiprusoff, thibault(i think he's good anyways, some dont) and nabokov,

[AdViSoR]

He's going to tweak his groin, and then you're fucked :twisted:
GO LEAFS GO!

[prz]

prz you are right, weeks is probaly the only good unrestricted goalie, but there are a solid few who are restricted(or were a coulpe of days ago) ie: raycroft, biron, kiprusoff, thibault(i think he's good anyways, some dont) and nabokov,

Oh ya, Those are defiently some good goalies. I was just referring to unrestricted free agents.

I also agree Thibault is solid. But he has question marks after missing almost all of last season.

[Stephen Dame]

To all you Leaf fans: I'm surprised you're even able to mock other teams, I mean c'mon: glass houses BIG TIME!

"38 long years: never kissed the cup."

It would seem to me that you Leaf fans have a lot of pent up angst and bitterness... I wonder why?

Over the past 12 years, The Sens, The Leafs, The Florida Panthers and even The Winnipeg Jets have the same record in the playoffs: No cups.

It doesn't matter if you take her to the dance, it's can you get her home? And right now, the answer is a resounding "NO." Take it down a bit Leaf fans, you haven't earned anything yet.

[direwolf74]

To all you Leaf fans: I'm surprised you're even able to mock other teams, I mean c'mon: glass houses BIG TIME!

"38 long years: never kissed the cup."

It would seem to me that you Leaf fans have a lot of pent up angst and bitterness... I wonder why?

Over the past 12 years, The Sens, The Leafs, The Florida Panthers and even The Winnipeg Jets have the same record in the playoffs: No cups.

It doesn't matter if you take her to the dance, it's can you get her home? And right now, the answer is a resounding "NO." Take it down a bit Leaf fans, you haven't earned anything yet.

Well said! I'd also like to add that my Flames have now made it to the finals 3 times in the past 20 years. The Leafs?? Zero. Zilch. Zip. 38 years and counting. Let's keep the streak alive!