NHL Thread

[Thom Yorke]

And where did you hear Kunitz was a lock? That was my greatest fear going into this Olympics...

Couture, top line LW. Better in literally every single facet of the game. Having "chemistry with Crosby" is so ****ing overrated.

[Ninetales]

As much as I think Yandle is a good dman, I agree that Fowler is arguably better. Yandle gets sheltered a ton in Phoenix so I get leaving him off. Byfuglien is much better tho and I dont think hes a trainwreck in his own zone tbh he has like a .87 sv% behind him which is why is +/- is bad. I think hes a borderline top line dman and Orpik is a borderline top 6 so.. But again I agree with you that the US team is still very good, and there forwards are still great despite Ryan, but they couldve been even better and thats what baffles me.

And I just keep hearing that Kunitz will probably make the team so im just bracing for it. And yes it's dumb. He has something like 7 points in the last 2 years when hes not playing with Crosby. I could get massive amounts of points playing with Crosby ffs. I mean Kunitz isnt terrible but if we're leaving Hall or Benn home good lord thats dumb. But it's the same with the States. We can make these mind numbingly stupid mistakes and still win gold. But why make it harder on ourselves?

Oh and RIP USA world junior team. #Canadabesthockey

[Burning Down]

This is so bad, but I always giggle at Byfuglien's name. It should be Bufflin or something, without all those silent letters. I know a lot of hockey players past and present have pretty strange/hilarious names, but his is the best, I think.

[Ninetales]

How to actually pronounce his name:

[Burning Down]

Originally Posted by Ninetales

How to actually pronounce his name:

Ahahahahaha! Bellyfudge.

[anticipation]

Byf is garbage defensively and too slow, his size is also essentially worthless so Fowler is a better choice once you factor in Int'l ice size and his offensive skills that aren't shared by many his age in the league. I like Yandle better than Orpik as well, despite the fact that PHX has gotten better defensively in the past few years Yandle has always been a stingy bitch and one of the best dman in the superior West. Orpik isn't that physical but I don't think that's the plan for the US D-corps at this years games, the offense is filled with workhorse types so I guess they want to wear other teams down with checking and grinding and let Kane/Kessel/Pavelski shoot their hearts out.

Canada should win this thing but whoever gets Sweden will have the toughest out, Russia is also looking good this year but their goaltending is woeful.

[Burning Down]

So, thoughts about Joffrey Lupul cross-checking Patrick Eaves during yesterday's game? Should he be suspended and for how long (considering that Lupul has a history of suspensions for hits)?

Since Lupul was clearly reacting to being hit by someone else moments beforehand, is it just a case of Eaves being in the wrong spot at the wrong time?

Joffrey Lupul faces NHL hearing for cross-check - NHL on CBC Sports - Hockey news, opinion, scores, stats, standings

[Taxman]

Canada is pretty strong, as always, but does a bigger rink bother them? Russia is strong as always but does they have too big pressures? (Can I say so? Not sure, I'm not familiar with English sport terms). Swedes are good, maybe a little bit too good. I think that either Canada or Russia or Sweden win, but dunno. USA can surprise, though.
We Finns are quite weak this year, but it is always so. The best we can get is a bronze and it would be possible only if everything succeeded. Dunno.

[Burning Down]

Woah, that 7-1 loss for the Leafs, against the Rangers, was so embarrassing. Especially after the win at the Winter Classic. Thanks to Lupul for not making it a complete shutout.

Originally Posted by Taxman

Canada is pretty strong, as always, but does a bigger rink bother them? Russia is strong as always but does they have too big pressures? (Can I say so? Not sure, I'm not familiar with English sport terms). Swedes are good, maybe a little bit too good. I think that either Canada or Russia or Sweden win, but dunno. USA can surprise, though.
We Finns are quite weak this year, but it is always so. The best we can get is a bronze and it would be possible only if everything succeeded. Dunno.

For Canadian & American players, I don't think the big rink is too bothersome for veteran Olympians and players who have played in Europe. That goes for men and women hockey players. I think that Olympic rookies may find the bigger rink intimidating at first, but I don't imagine that it's hard to get used to, considering that both Canadian and both US teams have done quite well in the competition. I actually think the women's teams are far more used to the larger rinks since they seem to participate in more international competitions and many of them play in Europe since they can get farther in their careers over there.

Here, most rinks that we play on, or just skate on for fun, conform to NHL size regulation. I've never seen the Olympic sized rink in real life.

The USA teams have gotten as far as a silver medal in recent years (2002 and 2010 were silver medals for them). I would say that they are in medal contention, as well as Canada and Russia, but I would not count out Sweden or Finland either. I don't know if they are as strong, though.

[Paul Smeenus]

Jamaica for the gold