It’s interesting that the spread is so thin for playoff entry.
For example - If Vancouver had just 4 more wins from the season, they would have as many wins as the best team in the league.
Yet there they are - 1 loss/2 points from out of the playoffs.
When you say the best team in the league Gar, it’s ok to name them… It’s Montreal (first team to 100 points).
@Young:
When you say the best team in the league Gar, it’s ok to name them… It’s Montreal (first team to 100 points).
Don’t want to jinx them, now do we? Probably better off not winning the president’s trophy anyway. Usually hurts more than helps.
Congrats to Carey Price for reaching the Montreal Canadiens franchise record for most wins in a single regular season by a goalie, he shares the honor with Jaque Plante, and Ken Dryden. Carey Price still has 4 games left to break the record.
@Young:
Congrats to Carey Price for reaching the Montreal Canadiens franchise record for most wins in a single regular season by a goalie, he shares the honor with Jaque Plante, and Ken Dryden. Carey Price still has 4 games left to break the record.
And (basically) winning the Hart. Well deserved.
@Young:
Congrats to Carey Price for reaching the Montreal Canadiens franchise record for most wins in a single regular season by a goalie, he shares the honor with Jaque Plante, and Ken Dryden. Carey Price still has 4 games left to break the record.
And (basically) winning the Hart. Well deserved.
Yep, and with Carey Price… the Canadian olympic mens ice hockey team looks pretty solid for a long time.
@Young:
Yep, and with Carey Price… the Canadian olympic mens ice hockey team looks pretty solid for a long time.
What remains to be seen is if the NHL and the Olympics will be solid for a really long time…
Either way, Olympics or World Cup, Canada is ridiculously stacked with the best hockey talent in the world.
@Young:
Yep, and with Carey Price… the Canadian olympic mens ice hockey team looks pretty solid for a long time.
What remains to be seen is if the NHL and the Olympics will be solid for a really long time…
Either way, Olympics or World Cup, Canada is ridiculously stacked with the best hockey talent in the world.
What do you think about the new World Cup format?
@Young:
What do you think about the new World Cup format?
You may have to refresh my memory. I have read a bit about proposals, but I didn’t know if anything had been finalized yet.
@Young:
What do you think about the new World Cup format?
You may have to refresh my memory. I have read a bit about proposals, but I didn’t know if anything had been finalized yet.
There will be the usual nations, Canada, USA, Russia, Sweden, Findland… but they will also have a young stars team made up of both Canadians and Americans under 23. Also, smaller nations like Germany, Latvia and Belarus will create one team amung them so we might see Kopitar playing with Nedved (lol). The only issue I see is if there is some political tention between nations and foes may have to be teammates!
@Young:
There will be the usual nations, Canada, USA, Russia, Sweden, Findland… but they will also have a young stars team made up of both Canadians and Americans under 23. Also, smaller nations like Germany, Latvia and Belarus will create one team amung them so we might see Kopitar playing with Nedved (lol). The only issue I see is if there is some political tention between nations and foes may have to be teammates!
The young stars team sounds interesting, but is it like a young stars tournament? As in the other countries have them too? I don’t really understand that part, especially since it combines USA and Canada. Unless it is just like an honorary thing and they don’t actually play.
As for combining the best of the smaller nations… I think that is great because it gets NHL stars (like Kopitar) involved when we otherwise wouldn’t be able to see them. But I agree that the politics of it all could be problematic. Not to mention how long the teams may actually be able to practice together before the tournament. Although, I thought they said that the World Cup would be in late summer or something so as not to interfere with the NHL season.
@Young:
Congrats to Carey Price for reaching the Montreal Canadiens franchise record for most wins in a single regular season by a goalie, he shares the honor with Jaque Plante, and Ken Dryden. Carey Price still has 4 games left to break the record.
Of course you realize those greats did not have the benefit of overtime/shootout wins, not to take anything away from Price. I’ll admit this Rangers team couldn’t hold a candle to the 94 one that last one the President’s Trophy but here we are. I’m still shocked since the team got off to a slow start. Of course all this means nothing if they can’t get another crack at the finals.
@Young:
Congrats to Carey Price for reaching the Montreal Canadiens franchise record for most wins in a single regular season by a goalie, he shares the honor with Jaque Plante, and Ken Dryden. Carey Price still has 4 games left to break the record.
Of course you realize those greats did not have the benefit of overtime/shootout wins, not to take anything away from Price. I’ll admit this Rangers team couldn’t hold a candle to the 94 one that last one the President’s Trophy but here we are. I’m still shocked since the team got off to a slow start. Of course all this means nothing if they can’t get another crack at the finals.
CAREY BREAKS HABS RECORD!!
…and of course those former greats didn’t have serious athletes firing 100 MPH one timers using composite sticks (lol).
@Young:
@Young:
Congrats to Carey Price for reaching the Montreal Canadiens franchise record for most wins in a single regular season by a goalie, he shares the honor with Jaque Plante, and Ken Dryden. Carey Price still has 4 games left to break the record.
Of course you realize those greats did not have the benefit of overtime/shootout wins, not to take anything away from Price. I’ll admit this Rangers team couldn’t hold a candle to the 94 one that last one the President’s Trophy but here we are. I’m still shocked since the team got off to a slow start. Of course all this means nothing if they can’t get another crack at the finals.
CAREY BREAKS HABS RECORD!!
…and of course those former greats didn’t have serious athletes firing 100 MPH one timers using composite sticks (lol).
There’s give and take in both cases. Price’s accomplishment is impressive in either case. He is still one of the top goaltenders in the world.
On another note… LAK out of the playoffs and Calgary in??? Who would have called that? And it is seriously looking like Boston will not make it either.
Serves them both right.
LHoffman is right, the last thing I’ll add is I think goaltender padding has increased commensurately with shot speed and stick technology the last few decades. Also was a different game back then. But no argument he’s one of the best in the world right now.
Besides, the Habs are like the Yankees, accomplishments need to be measured in Cups. Their immortal players are on such a high plane (just like the Yankees) it’s impossible to crack the upper echelon.
LHoffman is right, the last thing I’ll add is I think goaltender padding has increased commensurately with shot speed and stick technology the last few decades. Also was a different game back then. But no argument he’s one of the best in the world right now.
Besides, the Habs are like the Yankees, accomplishments need to be measured in Cups. Their immortal players are on such a high plane (just like the Yankees) it’s impossible to crack the upper echelon.
Agreed, however the way Montreal Canadien and New York Yankee players get measured must change with the times. Back in the day a dynasty was 4 Championships within 5 years, these days a dynasty is 2 championships within 3 years.
@Young:
Agreed, however the way Montreal Canadien and New York Yankee players get measured must change with the times. Back in the day a dynasty was 4 Championships within 5 years, these days a dynasty is 2 championships within 3 years.
I don’t know… I would argue the fact that the LA Kings qualify as a dynasty. Their success has been pretty rapid in the past 3-4 years. And even though they have won championships, they have never been truly dominant (something I take into account for a dynasty). Dynasty also has a connotation of length (greater than 2 championships out of 3). As you said, in today’s NHL it would be next to impossible for a team to win 4 Cups in 5 seasons, but a string of unbroken success, competitiveness at the top of the league and, of course, championships should all factor in.
Under the 2/3 rule, the Kings are a dynasty, yet they didn’t even make the playoffs the year after they won the Cup. In my book Chicago is much closer to a dynasty than LA, and I am sure if the Hawks win this year people will throw that title at them and hope it sticks. A three year sample size is just a little too short to call LA a dynasty in my opinion.
Dynasties may in fact be a thing of the past, at least if we are going to define them by consecutive or near-consecutive championships. The balance of the league is just so much better than it was when the Canadiens, Oilers or Islanders won multiples in a row. I really don’t think it can be done anymore.
Leafs have called up Colton Orr for their final game against the Habs, what a hack organization… totally unprofessional, and irrisponsible to insert a goon like that during the last game against a playoff bound team.
5 out of 7 Canadien teams this year. When’s the last time that happened?
5 out of 7 Canadien teams this year. When’s the last time that happened?
Yeah, I was thinking that too. Different from last year where there was only 1.
Didn’t want Ottawa (hottest team going in) , but what can you do… Hopefully head coaching experience can count for something.
