[ryan93]

I just finished watching the Brian Leetch night a few minutes ago (i had to record it because i was at an Ozzy Ozbourne concert last night - amazing!).

Another terrific ceremony put on by the Rangers organization, they are second-to-none when it comes to such events IMO. The highlights from it for me including Darren Langdon & Tie Domi riding out on the 4-wheeler, towing the new Harley for Leetch, Brian making the announcement that the Rangers are going to retire Adam Graves' #9 next season (the look on Graves face was absolutely priceless, he was shocked/stunned), and then just seeing guys like Jeff Beukeboom on the Garden ice again...and obviously the raising of his #2. What a night!

[tigerthelion]

... the Canucks seriously need a forward on their roster who is capable of putting the puck in the net like a true top 6 NHL forward SHOULD.

The Habs are kind of interesting here ... there's still plenty of time left for the wheels to fall off, but at the break they're trailing only the Red Wings, Sens, Stars and Ducks on points, despite the fact that they haven't had a credible offensive star since Guy Lafleur.

To me the interesting thing is that they haven't done that using the usual defensive formula (Devils). Only four teams have outscored them, despite the fact that their top scorer, Kovalev, is nowhere near the scoring leaders.

So I asks ya, is having a star forward overrated?

I don't think it's overrated. The last time the Canadiens won the Cup, they had Damphousse, who had 39 goals and 97 points that season, Brian Bellows with 40 goals and 88 points, Kirk Muller with 36 goals, Stephan Lebeau with 31 goals and 80 points. I'd say Damphousse was considered a star forward at that time, and Bellows probably was as well. Muller was considered a top tier leader.

I see what you're saying about this year's team. They are doing well without really having a star player. However, I don't think they have a team good enough to win the Cup. With a Sundin added to Montreal, I might have to rethink that.

[colinjardine]

If the Habs acquired Sundin, I think I'd have to retire from watching hockey, even if it got them the cup. That would be blasphemous. The only other worse thing would be seeing him traded to the Sens.

[skippy the wonder dog]

... the Canucks seriously need a forward on their roster who is capable of putting the puck in the net like a true top 6 NHL forward SHOULD.

The Habs are kind of interesting here ... there's still plenty of time left for the wheels to fall off, but at the break they're trailing only the Red Wings, Sens, Stars and Ducks on points, despite the fact that they haven't had a credible offensive star since Guy Lafleur.

To me the interesting thing is that they haven't done that using the usual defensive formula (Devils). Only four teams have outscored them, despite the fact that their top scorer, Kovalev, is nowhere near the scoring leaders.

So I asks ya, is having a star forward overrated?

I don't think it's overrated. The last time the Canadiens won the Cup, they had Damphousse....

Damphousse was never in the Lafleur class. But rather than argue over that, look back to '86. There was no offensive star on that team. Mats Naslund was the best they had.

Alternatively, look at Tampa Bay. Lecavalier is the genuine article, but that ain't doing much for the team.

Now, I won't lie to ya. I'd rather have depth and a marquee player, anyday....

[tigerthelion]

... the Canucks seriously need a forward on their roster who is capable of putting the puck in the net like a true top 6 NHL forward SHOULD.

The Habs are kind of interesting here ... there's still plenty of time left for the wheels to fall off, but at the break they're trailing only the Red Wings, Sens, Stars and Ducks on points, despite the fact that they haven't had a credible offensive star since Guy Lafleur.

To me the interesting thing is that they haven't done that using the usual defensive formula (Devils). Only four teams have outscored them, despite the fact that their top scorer, Kovalev, is nowhere near the scoring leaders.

So I asks ya, is having a star forward overrated?

I don't think it's overrated. The last time the Canadiens won the Cup, they had Damphousse....

Damphousse was never in the Lafleur class. But rather than argue over that, look back to '86. There was no offensive star on that team. Mats Naslund was the best they had.

Alternatively, look at Tampa Bay. Lecavalier is the genuine article, but that ain't doing much for the team.

Now, I won't lie to ya. I'd rather have depth and a marquee player, anyday....

Lecavalier's team won the Stanley Cup just a couple of seasons ago. :thumb:

[tigerthelion]

Still, the Canucks seriously need a forward on their roster who is capable of putting the puck in the net like a true top 6 NHL forward SHOULD.

Sundin to the Canucks!!!!! :jump

Well that is a rumour out there floating around right now. Sundin for Kesler and a top prospect (Schneider or Bourdon), plus potentially a couple draft picks.................

This was from a Vancouver paper as well................take it with a grain of salt, but very intriguing if you ask me..........

If I was Fletcher, thats a pretty nice offer, particularly if Sundin ended up being just a rental player. But I hear that is part of the deal as well, Sundin must be willing to sign for at least another year with the Canucks

GOTTA LOVE THE RUMOURS!!

I'd be happy with that. Kesler is a decent player but he's overrated. Luongo in net pretty much takes Schneider out of the future plans and Bourdon isn't a sure fire, can't miss prospect by any means. The Canucks can't draft anyway, so it would be worth the risk of draft picks. If nothing else, Sundin would at least allow me to watch a Canucks game with the idea that I MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ENTERTAINED. I know I am not the biggest fan of Mats but he's a better forward than anyone on Vancouver right now. He'd instantly become the best player other than Luongo on the roster.

[tth_fan]

If the Habs acquired Sundin, I think I'd have to retire from watching hockey, even if it got them the cup. That would be blasphemous. The only other worse thing would be seeing him traded to the Sens.

Toronto and Montreal would never pull off such a blockbuster trade...Leaf fans (who the hell would choose to be a Leaf fan?) would tear the ACC down brick by brick.
The Habs don't even like playing the Leafs in the preseason... I think Gainey has enough knowledge to not trade with them. Plus, Sundin would bolt at the end of the season, leaving Montreal down a few draft picks, and prospects.

[Lizard King]

This is one of the strangest things Ive ever seen in hockey..

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/01/24/peddie_fletcher_lipsynching/">http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/01/ ... psynching/</a><!-- m -->


Whats up with that? cratch:

Thats just too funny... :lol: :lol:

[ryan93]

Yeah Geno Reda was showing/talking about that on TSN the night of the press conference. Looked strange indeed.

[tigerthelion]

This is one of the strangest things Ive ever seen in hockey..

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/01/24/peddie_fletcher_lipsynching/">http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/01/ ... psynching/</a><!-- m -->


Whats up with that? cratch:

Thats just too funny... :lol: :lol:

What's up with that? Looks pretty clear to me. Fletcher is just another puppet for Peddy and MLSE.

[das_hips]

This is one of the strangest things Ive ever seen in hockey..

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/01/24/peddie_fletcher_lipsynching/">http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/01/ ... psynching/</a><!-- m -->


Whats up with that? cratch:

Thats just too funny... :lol: :lol:

That's just ridiculous. While it is completely understandable that Peddie and Fletcher may have gone over the subtext of the declaration together, what followed (with the lip-synch support, and erroneous stare) provided a number of media-enticing, and potentially disturbing contextual scenarios, which some have eluded to previously.

I hope for the sake of the "Leafs Nation", that Fletcheddi picks a GM well suited for the development of a team from the bottom up. It's a painful process, but what does Fletcheddi and MLSE have to lose monetarily? Nothing. This isn't venture financing, this is blue-chip re-capitalization. Just get it over with so I don't have to hear about 'speculation', 'late third-period break-downs', or 'trade rumours' on SportsCentre anymore. Watching a veteran team in despair has become annoying; Watching a youthful team with vigilance, and drive, while losing or winning, at least provides promise and entertainment.

As well, I'd like to start a bi-weekly "Alfie for MVP" bi-dialogue, and I expect Cferneyh to second the movement. While I know the 'Sens Army' isn't well represented on this site, and small market teams like Ottawa generally get the shaft, I'm prepared for the lack of response, commentary, or rebuttal, but hope that Alfie continues to play with the determination he has had all season. I see plenty of Iginila (a mid-season MVP candidate), but when was the last time that a Senator's HNIC broadcast left the confines of the Nation's' Capital (excluding, of course, the Ottawa-Detroit game, where Alfredsson had a couple)? I imagine the team is a bit of mystery to most of Western Canada, and the GTA.

As Pierre McGuire (can't stand the guy) said on the Ottawa Sports Radio 1200 yesterday, Ottawa fans have to start cheering "MVP" instead of "Alfie" for the guy to even have a chance on the ballot. I think baldy is right.

[ryan93]

Alfredsson just might be my MVP pick at this point as well, and it's not just because he's on top of the scoring race either, i've been saying that for weeks.

[ryan93]

Though as for him playing in a market like Ottawa...well you could say the same thing about Alexander Ovechkin in Washington...or Ilya Kovalchuk in Atlanta...or Vincent Lecavalier in Tampa Bay. Two seasons ago Joe Thornton one the MVP (i still believe Jagr should of won that year) playing in California...

[tth_fan]

Anybody else see Kathleen Edwards sing the National Anthem at the All-Star? I think she did a decent job, in English and French. Better than Nelly Furtado did a few years back at the NBA AllStar game...WAY better.

[tigerthelion]

This is one of the strangest things Ive ever seen in hockey..

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/01/24/peddie_fletcher_lipsynching/">http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/01/ ... psynching/</a><!-- m -->


Whats up with that? cratch:

Thats just too funny... :lol: :lol:

That's just ridiculous. While it is completely understandable that Peddie and Fletcher may have gone over the subtext of the declaration together, what followed (with the lip-synch support, and erroneous stare) provided a number of media-enticing, and potentially disturbing contextual scenarios, which some have eluded to previously.

I hope for the sake of the "Leafs Nation", that Fletcheddi picks a GM well suited for the development of a team from the bottom up. It's a painful process, but what does Fletcheddi and MLSE have to lose monetarily? Nothing. This isn't venture financing, this is blue-chip re-capitalization. Just get it over with so I don't have to hear about 'speculation', 'late third-period break-downs', or 'trade rumours' on SportsCentre anymore. Watching a veteran team in despair has become annoying; Watching a youthful team with vigilance, and drive, while losing or winning, at least provides promise and entertainment.

As well, I'd like to start a bi-weekly "Alfie for MVP" bi-dialogue, and I expect Cferneyh to second the movement. While I know the 'Sens Army' isn't well represented on this site, and small market teams like Ottawa generally get the shaft, I'm prepared for the lack of response, commentary, or rebuttal, but hope that Alfie continues to play with the determination he has had all season. I see plenty of Iginila (a mid-season MVP candidate), but when was the last time that a Senator's HNIC broadcast left the confines of the Nation's' Capital (excluding, of course, the Ottawa-Detroit game, where Alfredsson had a couple)? I imagine the team is a bit of mystery to most of Western Canada, and the GTA.

As Pierre McGuire (can't stand the guy) said on the Ottawa Sports Radio 1200 yesterday, Ottawa fans have to start cheering "MVP" instead of "Alfie" for the guy to even have a chance on the ballot. I think baldy is right.

Lecavalier, Ovechkin, and Iginla have all played better than Alfie this season. That 7 point game seems to have some people a little overjealous. :rambo: That's my take on it, anyway.