Rangerland Forum Information

[xcdudesquadloves...]

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/782126...eir-draft-picks

Great read from a Panthers fan.

[ak996]

Seems like Biron and Henrik's numbers have separated a little since the last time I looked. But yeah, MVP to me is synonymous with "dominated his position" and/or "almost singlehandedly dragged his team to whatever successes they've had," and neither is true in Lundqvist's case.

Looks like the Professional Hockey Writers disagree. Hank nominated for the Hart along with Malkin and Stamkos. Granted, he's not going to win, but as the only goalie nominated I guess they feel he either dominated his position or singlehandedly dragged the team to the success they had.

[jkman61494]

It's a stupid list.

Oden was on a rookie contract and it was due to injuries.

Want a bad one? How about Gilbert Arenas which shockingly is not on that list.

[the old mole]

But what is this based off of? They have the same problem the Islanders do, nobody wants to play there. Edmonton is consistently listed among the least desirable places in the entire NHL.

Inna November month is a minus turty-two. Is a eight months year snow.

[hoser]

Didn't see this posted elsewhere. Sounds from the Round 1

[Knight of Dight]

Oh, Bryzgalov.


This is quite old, but just shows that Bryz never was very good.

This post has been edited by Knight of Dight: May 11 2012, 10:25 PM

[Hockey101]

Wow. Marcel Hossa! What memories.

And CuJo! Always loved that goalie.

[ree]

Bye Dale Hunter.

[TeamStewie]

Smart move. Washington is going to have a hell of a time finding someone to coach that clusterfuck.

[Knight of Dight]

Smart move. Washington is going to have a hell of a time finding someone to coach that clusterfuck.

I think Ovechkin is a big part of the team's problems. To me, he seems like a selfish headstrong asshole, very similar to Kovalev. He has so much talent but likes to do his own thing, which is not what you want in a team sport.

[Tex]

Bye Dale Hunter.

fack'im.
The caps have had several playoffs runs to nowhere the past few years and they wanna blame the coach? It is all on ovi. Not a team guy.

oh. KoD said it, too.

[jkman61494]

I don't think there is blame. I just don't think he wants to be in the NHL grind. Seems he tried it all out and realized he's much happier in London, Ontario.

For the Caps though? They're so screwed in my eyes. What you're saying about Ovi is true but my goodness, you want to talk about an identity crisis?

Boudreau comes in and they're this high flying bunch that's fun to watch.
Boudreau senses he's on the hot seat and makes them go into a defensive system.

Guy gets fired and in come Hunter.

Hunter preaches even MORE defense and essentially trains guys like Ovechkin and Semin NOT to score at times, and uses Jay Beagle more than their $9 million sniper.

And now Hunter is gone. All of that in a matter of a season and a half.

This team desperately needs some type of veteran leadership. Some new coach preaching yet another new system would be a disaster. I doubt they do it though.

[Rocha]

Ovechkin may not have been as huge as he usually is, but in the playoffs he also led his team in goals, points and had nearly 25 more shots on goal than the next Capital! What did you want him to do? You guys just hate him and are letting that dictate your opinion. Backstrom, Semin, Green, Laich, Wideman, those guys had tough playoffs.

[Tex]

Ovechkin may not have been as huge as he usually is, but in the playoffs he also led his team in goals, points and had nearly 25 more shots on goal than the next Capital! What did you want him to do? You guys just hate him and are letting that dictate your opinion. Backstrom, Semin, Green, Laich, Wideman, those guys had tough playoffs.

naw, the numbers show he's doing what a sniper does, and that's fine (fortunately for the Rangers it was fine but not adequate ), perhaps they need more team-feely from the guy, but that goes against the Enigmatic Russian way, no? Are the caps a team or a buncha guys? Teams pull together when shit goes bad. The Rangers? Those guys are a team.

[Knight of Dight]

Ovechkin may not have been as huge as he usually is, but in the playoffs he also led his team in goals, points and had nearly 25 more shots on goal than the next Capital! What did you want him to do? You guys just hate him and are letting that dictate your opinion. Backstrom, Semin, Green, Laich, Wideman, those guys had tough playoffs.

I am not saying Ovi didn't perform because he did. I just think he is a shit-tastic Captain and like so many superstar Russians his attitude is killing his team. As a Captain, he shares the duty with his coach to motivate his team-mates to perform. Backstrom played a good series and generated numerous chances-- Henrik was the difference there. But you're right about the others. Semin had an awful series-- he had maybe two good chances the entire seven games. I think that alone was the difference maker in this series-- in the past two Caps' series Semin was one of the few Washington players who DID show against us.

For the coach to limit Ovi's ice-time in the first couple games, despite him being one of their few players who came to win, says to me that Ovi was being a douchebag and the coach tried to send a message to him. You can blast Hunter for it all you want, but I believe that Hunter outcoached Torts throughout much of this series.

This post has been edited by Knight of Dight: May 14 2012, 01:09 PM

[jkman61494]

I do think putting the "C" on Ovi was just stupid. Because he's not a leader. A great player? Yes. But the man who leads the team emotionally and mentally? No way.

And now they're stuck. Remove it and it's a slap in the face. Keep it on him though and you're stuck with poor leadership.
Now mind you, they still almost got to the ECF and would possibly be a favorite here. They still have a loaded roster that can compete for a Cup.

Good leadership could send them over the top. Right now, a guy like Chimera should be their captain.

[Rocha]

Ovechkin may not have been as huge as he usually is, but in the playoffs he also led his team in goals, points and had nearly 25 more shots on goal than the next Capital! What did you want him to do? You guys just hate him and are letting that dictate your opinion. Backstrom, Semin, Green, Laich, Wideman, those guys had tough playoffs.

naw, the numbers show he's doing what a sniper does, and that's fine (fortunately for the Rangers it was fine but not adequate ), perhaps they need more team-feely from the guy, but that goes against the Enigmatic Russian way, no? Are the caps a team or a buncha guys? Teams pull together when shit goes bad. The Rangers? Those guys are a team.

But it seems like he bought into Hunter's system. People say he did, anyway. Against the Rangers I think we'd all agree that some games he was an absolute force and other games he was rather invisible. His numbers weren't stellar, but he put up decent totals. His 5 goals would be second on the Rangers.

People hate Ovechkin and I understand that, but I don't understand people always pointing the finger at him for the Caps failures. As usual, he was one of their best players (along with Holtby and Chimera). Maybe the rest of the team is more the problem than Ovechkin.

[Knight of Dight]

Ovechkin may not have been as huge as he usually is, but in the playoffs he also led his team in goals, points and had nearly 25 more shots on goal than the next Capital! What did you want him to do? You guys just hate him and are letting that dictate your opinion. Backstrom, Semin, Green, Laich, Wideman, those guys had tough playoffs.

naw, the numbers show he's doing what a sniper does, and that's fine (fortunately for the Rangers it was fine but not adequate ), perhaps they need more team-feely from the guy, but that goes against the Enigmatic Russian way, no? Are the caps a team or a buncha guys? Teams pull together when shit goes bad. The Rangers? Those guys are a team.

But it seems like he bought into Hunter's system. People say he did, anyway. Against the Rangers I think we'd all agree that some games he was an absolute force and other games he was rather invisible. His numbers weren't stellar, but he put up decent totals. His 5 goals would be second on the Rangers.

People hate Ovechkin and I understand that, but I don't understand people always pointing the finger at him for the Caps failures. As usual, he was one of their best players (along with Holtby and Chimera). Maybe the rest of the team is more the problem than Ovechkin.

Caps fans have been pointing the finger at Green and Semin since the second season those guys were on the team. Green is as defensively inept as ever but he seems to have forgotten how to play offense now too. Semin has a lethal curl-and-drag, but he is a cherry-picker who is invisible most of the time.

People just blame Ovi because he is their biggest name and is thus the easiest target. People expect him to win games by himself.

[Hockey101]

I was surprised by Dale's resigning. He didn't do that good a job, but he got them in the playoffs and defeated the Bruins, and almost beat the Rangers. His style was as boring as staring at a blank page, but he still got some good results.

[toph]

The problem with Ovechkin is that he's paid like $9.5 million. He had 9 points in 14 playoff games. That's not good enough. Malkin had 8 points in 6 games. Crosby also had 8. Ovechkin has to be great or they'll likely fail the way the roster is constructed.

A Caps blogger posted this state earlier: Semin has 1 goal in the last 4 playoff series in which the Caps were eliminated. One goal in 25 games.

This post has been edited by toph: May 14 2012, 04:54 PM

[Hockey101]

The problem with Ovechkin is that he's paid like $9.5 million. He had 9 points in 14 playoff games. That's not good enough. Malkin had 8 points in 6 games. Crosby also had 8. Ovechkin has to be great or they'll likely fail the way the roster is constructed.

A Caps blogger posted this state earlier: Semin has 1 goal in the last 4 playoff series in which the Caps were eliminated. One goal in 25 games.

But Ovechkin came up big when he was needed and scored key goals. Malkin may have had more points per game, but quite meaningless in the end.

[toph]

The problem with Ovechkin is that he's paid like $9.5 million. He had 9 points in 14 playoff games. That's not good enough. Malkin had 8 points in 6 games. Crosby also had 8. Ovechkin has to be great or they'll likely fail the way the roster is constructed.

A Caps blogger posted this state earlier: Semin has 1 goal in the last 4 playoff series in which the Caps were eliminated. One goal in 25 games.

But Ovechkin came up big when he was needed and scored key goals. Malkin may have had more points per game, but quite meaningless in the end.

He had one "game winning" goal (which is kind of a dumb stat, but whatever) and wasn't even top 10 in playoff scoring. He is the highest paid player in the league, that's why he's a disappointment. He had 65 points this year and he takes up 1/7th of their cap space. Unless they get massive value from the rest of their roster, it's hard to make it work.

I think he can get back to being a great player (at least I hope, the league is more fun with him being exciting and not a sad sack), but if he levels out as a 70-80 point player (or just a 30-40 goal scorer) that's defensively inept, that contract sucks. Two million more against the cap to score like Marian Gaborik.

This post has been edited by toph: May 14 2012, 05:11 PM

[Nilan 666]

Semin and Green did more to kill the Caps than anyone.

[jkman61494]

Well Semin is gone so they can go and find another whipping boy. If Green goes, there will be no one left to focus on their failures except #8.

[Hockey101]

Well Semin is gone so they can go and find another whipping boy. If Green goes, there will be no one left to focus on their failures except #8.

Oh yes there will be...



The GM.

[ak996]

Ovechkin may not have been as huge as he usually is, but in the playoffs he also led his team in goals, points and had nearly 25 more shots on goal than the next Capital! What did you want him to do? You guys just hate him and are letting that dictate your opinion. Backstrom, Semin, Green, Laich, Wideman, those guys had tough playoffs.

naw, the numbers show he's doing what a sniper does, and that's fine (fortunately for the Rangers it was fine but not adequate ), perhaps they need more team-feely from the guy, but that goes against the Enigmatic Russian way, no? Are the caps a team or a buncha guys? Teams pull together when shit goes bad. The Rangers? Those guys are a team.

I don't really get the "team-feely" comment. From everything I've observed he's a great team-guy. He's just as excited whenever a teammate scores or makes a great play as he would be if he had and by all accounts his teammates love him.

[ak996]

Ovechkin may not have been as huge as he usually is, but in the playoffs he also led his team in goals, points and had nearly 25 more shots on goal than the next Capital! What did you want him to do? You guys just hate him and are letting that dictate your opinion. Backstrom, Semin, Green, Laich, Wideman, those guys had tough playoffs.

I am not saying Ovi didn't perform because he did. I just think he is a shit-tastic Captain and like so many superstar Russians his attitude is killing his team. As a Captain, he shares the duty with his coach to motivate his team-mates to perform. Backstrom played a good series and generated numerous chances-- Henrik was the difference there. But you're right about the others. Semin had an awful series-- he had maybe two good chances the entire seven games. I think that alone was the difference maker in this series-- in the past two Caps' series Semin was one of the few Washington players who DID show against us.

For the coach to limit Ovi's ice-time in the first couple games, despite him being one of their few players who came to win, says to me that Ovi was being a douchebag and the coach tried to send a message to him. You can blast Hunter for it all you want, but I believe that Hunter outcoached Torts throughout much of this series.

Dude, this is retarded. What about his attitude is killing the team? You're speaking in the most vague generalities and I have a sneaking suspicious you're just latching on to the old and tired "enigmatic russian" crap which is as close to being a Cherry-like bigot as you can get. Explain what about his attitude killed the team? Slam him for being a bad captain if you want. There's tons of players you can say are bad captains. But by all accounts, he's a great team player.

How you make the conclusion that since he played reduced minutes it was a direct result of him being benched for "being a douchebag" is beyond me. Every single report, quote, etc. about his minutes and the playoffs was consistent in that Hunter, late in games when his team had the lead, would play his more defensively responsible players. That's not being benched because you're having a message sent to you or because you're a douche. It's a team strategy. Just the same way that when you're down by a goal late in a game you play your more offensively creative forwards.

I get that there's a lot of strong opinions about superstars like Crosby and Ovechkin, etc. but try to actually think rationally before spouting off and making broad generalizations that have no foundation to lean on.

[jkman61494]

I think both of you have presented points that are too far to the outside. Go meet and the middle you two.

I don't think he was a "douchebag", but at the same time, I think he was far from rosy with the whole situation with Hunter and the system they used.

Last night, NHL Radio did about 5 minutes of an Ovechkin interview with reporters, and one of the questions was essentially, "did you like they system Hunter used."

Ovi's answer. "It doesn't matter if I like it or not, I do what I'm told by the coach."

So, he's certainly not sounding like a pompous arrogant star saying I do things my way. But that kind of answer isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of his feelings of the defense first system employed.

Another question. "What are things you learned and can take away from Hunter's time here?"

"We know how to block a shot." Really? That's all you can say?

I think a tremendous weight would be lifted off of Ovi's shoulders if he had no letter on the upper corner of his jersey. But the only person that can strip him of the "C" is Ovi himself.

[ak996]

I think both of you have presented points that are too far to the outside. Go meet and the middle you two.

I don't think he was a "douchebag", but at the same time, I think he was far from rosy with the whole situation with Hunter and the system they used.

Last night, NHL Radio did about 5 minutes of an Ovechkin interview with reporters, and one of the questions was essentially, "did you like they system Hunter used."

Ovi's answer. "It doesn't matter if I like it or not, I do what I'm told by the coach."

So, he's certainly not sounding like a pompous arrogant star saying I do things my way. But that kind of answer isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of his feelings of the defense first system employed.

Another question. "What are things you learned and can take away from Hunter's time here?"

"We know how to block a shot." Really? That's all you can say?

I think a tremendous weight would be lifted off of Ovi's shoulders if he had no letter on the upper corner of his jersey. But the only person that can strip him of the "C" is Ovi himself.

But whether or not you agree with the coach's system, so long as you execute it and don't bitch and complain about it then what more do you want? The absence of enthusiasm is not by itself a negative thing.

And to the latter point, the evidence of him blocking shots is evidence of just how much he did buy into the system and was a team guy. When had you ever seen Ovi drop down to block a shot? He might get in the lane while standing, but I don't ever remember him dropping down to block one, and I think he did it a few times in the series.

Also, that's just one interview. Hunter's been there since December (or thereabout). I'm sure there have been other things that he's talked about that's different about the system that they've played.

It's not like I think he's the greatest and I'm some fanboi8 of his. I think his game's stagnated and he's become predictable and he hasn't improved in other facets of his offensive game. But this harping on him as a detriment to the team-room, etc at this point without anything to back it up and lumping his attitude and those of other russian players all together is very Don Cherry like and is, frankly, pathetic.

[jkman61494]

While I don't think just lumping every person into some stereotypical group is right, I will say that a lot of this current generation of Russian players are a bit....odd.

Are there Russian players that are model NHL citizens that bust their butt night in and night out? Absolutely. In fact I think we have one. Anisimov isn't going to be a 70 point scorer some hoped he would be, but he seems like he could be a younger, faster Ruslan Fedetenko.

But a lot of the higher profile ones have been aloof and it's not helped the stigma that they are "enigmas." Semin, Zherdev, Alexei Morozov, and Radulov's drunken curfew didn't exactly help now. Ovechkin too since Boudreau reigned in the offensive system has gone on stretches of disappearing, and looking like the best player in the league.

Now the one really cool thing about Russian players? Guess where Semin and Ovi are right now? They lost to the Rangers and immediately boarded a plane for the World Championships. Russian players routinely answer the call when it comes to playing for their flag.

This post has been edited by jkman61494: May 15 2012, 12:12 PM

[ak996]

While I don't think just lumping every person into some stereotypical group is right, I will say that a lot of this current generation of Russian players are a bit....odd.

Are there Russian players that are model NHL citizens that bust their butt night in and night out? Absolutely. In fact I think we have one. Anisimov isn't going to be a 70 point scorer some hoped he would be, but he seems like he could be a younger, faster Ruslan Fedetenko.

But a lot of the higher profile ones have been aloof and it's not helped the stigma that they are "enigmas." Semin, Zherdev, Alexei Morozov, and Radulov's drunken curfew didn't exactly help now. Ovechkin too since Boudreau reigned in the offensive system has gone on stretches of disappearing, and looking like the best player in the league.

Now the one really cool thing about Russian players? Guess where Semin and Ovi are right now? They lost to the Rangers and immediately boarded a plane for the World Championships. Russian players routinely answer the call when it comes to playing for their flag.

The stigma though is perpetuated by the media. For every Radulov missed curfew, there's a TJ Oshie or a Pat Kane missed practice. But it's not sexy to go after those players.

I think Ovechkin's production decrease can't be used in the argument of Russian aloofness, but rather in the argument of Ovechkin's player growth. But it should really just stop there.

For every Semin, you could argue there's a Marleau; a player who goes invisible for stretches. But you don't hear it being a Canaidan player problem.

I think you and I are mainly in agreement on this, but, going back to KOD's post, it's lazy to just make those broad generalizations without anything supporting it, especially when you're characterizing an entire race of people.

[Charlie]

I forget who called Ovechkin stagnant and predictable, but I think that is spot on.

Every single time he carried the puck into the zone, he cut towards the center to get a wrister off. Now, sometimes he succeeded because he is so unbelievably talented, but the defensemen knew what he was going to do every time and limited him pretty well.

He just doesn't seem to have much variation in his game.

[Tex]

Every single time he carried the puck into the zone, he cut towards the center to get a wrister off. Now, sometimes he succeeded because he is so unbelievably talented, but the defensemen knew what he was going to do every time and limited him pretty well.

He just doesn't seem to have much variation in his game.

rather like Jagr in the right circle all the time

[Rocha]

Dany Heatley, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Sean Avery, Brad Marchand, Roberto Luongo, Phil Kessel, Jeff Carter...

You can make a huge list of North American players who have attitude or work ethic problems, off-ice issues or who have disappeared under big contracts. Nationality has nothing to do with it unless you want to see it that way.

[Charlie]

Dany Heatley, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Sean Avery, Brad Marchand, Roberto Luongo, Phil Kessel, Jeff Carter...

You can make a huge list of North American players who have attitude or work ethic problems, off-ice issues or who have disappeared under big contracts. Nationality has nothing to do with it unless you want to see it that way.

And look at Kovalchuk, a Russian who has elevated his game after getting a big contract.

[Hockey101]

Dany Heatley, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Sean Avery, Brad Marchand, Roberto Luongo, Phil Kessel, Jeff Carter...

You can make a huge list of North American players who have attitude or work ethic problems, off-ice issues or who have disappeared under big contracts. Nationality has nothing to do with it unless you want to see it that way.

... Marchand? Luongo?

[Nilan 666]

Dany Heatley, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Sean Avery, Brad Marchand, Roberto Luongo, Phil Kessel, Jeff Carter...

You can make a huge list of North American players who have attitude or work ethic problems, off-ice issues or who have disappeared under big contracts. Nationality has nothing to do with it unless you want to see it that way.

Forgot Brandon Dubinskov.

[jkman61494]

2-0 Kings. Yeeeeesh. I hoped the 'Yotes could make it a series.

Hopefully L.A. turns into Vancouver of last year and loses their mojo in the Finals.

[Greatone]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nhl/story/_/id/7...-2012-13-season

[Tex]

Hopefully L.A. turns into Vancouver of last year and loses their mojo in the Finals.

I'm thinkin' you're taking this statement back, in light of the EC rep this season...

fuck the devils.

[Knight of Dight]

Thomas is taking the next season off

[Mike B.]

Moved all the Finals-related posts to the other thread.

[LordPerth]

Vokoun to Pittsburgh

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=397591

[Eric]

I guess Johnson's out of a job.

[Knight of Dight]

I guess Johnson's out of a job.

Meh, he sucked anyway. The crowning achievement of his career was breaking DP's jaw.

[Nilan 666]

Is that really an achievement?

[Knight of Dight]

Is that really an achievement?

That was my point.

[Rhino]

Is that really an achievement?

I know some Islanders fans who would say getting DP off the ice was a great service to their franchise.

[jburns]

Sad face.

Statement from #SJSharks forward Dominic Moore: “There have been a lot of questions and concerns raised since it was revealed that I had to miss several games of the Sharks/Blues playoff series due to a family matter and I wanted to update extended family, friends, and former teammates on our situation.

Towards the end of the 2011-12 season, my wife, Katie, began feeling ill. We visited with local doctors, who suggested running a variety of tests to ascertain the cause of the issue. Ultimately, Katie was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer and it was recommended that she undergo surgery, which took place in California in April.

While it was disappointing to not be able to compete with my Sharks teammates in the playoffs, my wife’s condition and care come first and I want to thank the Sharks organization, my teammates and their families for the love and support that has been shown to Katie and I during this difficult time.

We continue to pursue the best treatment and care for Katie.”

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/hn7ho8

[xcdudesquadloves...]