2007-08 NHL Thread...

[Long_Long_Name]

Originally Posted by Kekkonen

We're getting enough goaltending to fill several teams and the defense while not great, doesn't look horrible, but for some reason it seems like all the upcoming FWs are grinders. Everybody's got at least adequate skating skills, good work ethic, and hands of stone.

Sounds like Québec and defensemen. You should have, what, about 3-4 times more defensemen than goaltenders, but there have been 15 Québec goaltenders in the NHL this year compared to 12 defensemen. That means more than 1 out of 3 NHL goaltenders is from Québec, but that proportion for defensemen is 1 out of 20.

Quality is also an issue. While the two best goaltenders in the NHL over the past 5 years have been from Québec, there is only Beauchemin that is a true star. Other notables are Boucher, Vlasic and Letang, but afte that you're stuck with Bouillon and Robidas.

[Operation Shutdown]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

Finally, if the NHL really wants to keep a team from each division in the playoff, here's my compromise: if the division champ is 5th in the standings, then let them 5th for the playoffs instead of putting them 3rd. If they're ranked 8th, then put them 8th instead of 3rd. But, if they're 10th, put them 8th instead of 3rd. Basically, rank them where they belong, and since you absolutely want them in the playoffs, at worst put them 8th, not 3rd. It's unfair to teams finishing 4th and 5th. Let's pretend Shutdown's rankings are the final ones. Don't you think New Jersey gets shafted, having to play the 2nd best team in the league, while Buffalo, who performed worse, gets to play the 10th team in the league? What if, on the final game of the season, a team is better off losing because they'd face Washington or Carolina instead of, say, Montréal? My problem with the current system is not only an undeserving team making the playoffs and having to play a poor opponent, it's also very unfair to the team finishing 5th, especially compared to the team finishing 6th.

Something similar happened just last year. Ottawa and Pittsburgh finished up tied for 3rd best in the conference (behind Buffalo and New Jersey). Ottawa would have played the Rangers and Pittsburgh would have played Atlanta under your system. Instead, Pittsburgh and Ottawa played against each other and the Rangers played Atlanta.

[Long_Long_Name]

Here are Maxime Talbot's comments on the A&L Commercial... I don't know if anybody here speaks French, but I'm way too tired to do an accurate translation right now, but I'll give it anyway:

Je vous raconte l’histoire derrière ce tournage. En fait, le propriétaire du concessionnaire automobile est l’un de mes amis. Il nous a demandé de participer à une publicité. Nous avons reçu le concept et j’ai alors décidé d’improviser quelque peu simplement pour rire et ils ont décidé de garder cette séquence au montage.

Cette publicité a tellement fait parler que Jay Leno, le populaire animateur américain, en a discuté à son émission. En fait, il a dit en riant que c’était la pire publicité automobile qu’il n’a jamais vue et ce sur des centaines de concepts…

Heureusement, j’ai toujours pensé qu’il ne fallait pas avoir peur du ridicule. Dire que près de 100 000 personnes ont regardé ce vidéo sur youtube.com!

Nous avons eu beaucoup de plaisir et c’était juste pour rire.

[ZiggyPop]

Bored at work... here is the translation, even if I have no idea what you are talking about :

Here is the story behind the shoot. Actually, the owner of the car retailer is a friend of mine. He asked us to participate in the ad. We received the concept and I decided to improvise a little just for fun and they went on and kept that take.

This ad was so talked about that even Leno discussed it on his show. He acutally laughed and said that out of a hundred concepts, that was the worse he had seen.

It's a good thing I always thought we should not be afraid of looking ridiculous sometimes. And to think 100 000 tuned in on youtube!

We had a lot of fun and did it just for fun.

--

I gotta see this I guess. Sorry for the so-so English.

[Long_Long_Name]

Originally Posted by ZiggyPop

Bored at work... here is the translation, even if I have no idea what you are talking about :

Here is the story behind the shoot. Actually, the owner of the car retailer is a friend of mine. He asked us to participate in the ad. We received the concept and I decided to improvise a little just for fun and they went on and kept that take.

This ad was so talked about that even Leno discussed it on his show. He acutally laughed and said that out of a hundred concepts, that was the worse he had seen.

It's a good thing I always thought we should not be afraid of looking ridiculous sometimes. And to think 100 000 tuned in on youtube!

We had a lot of fun and did it just for fun.

--

I gotta see this I guess. Sorry for the so-so English.

That's not bad at all. Here's the ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOrvdvczpEA

[ZiggyPop]

Well at least they are good hockey players...

But that's terrible!

[Long_Long_Name]

Richard Zednik pulled a Clint Malarchuk today. That's not cool.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Scary **** right there. So glad he's going to be alright.

[MorseMoose]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Scary **** right there. So glad he's going to be alright.

""

[ZiggyPop]

Actually, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.

TG he's all right.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

The fans' reaction says it all!



After reading about the incident I think big props need to be given to both teams involved. It was the Buffalo trainer who rushed out first and the Panthers didn't waste time in getting the wife to fly up. The fans were also classy in that every single one of them stood up and gave an ovation.

After the game, a Panthers spokesman said the team made arrangements to have Zednik's wife Jessica fly to Buffalo on Sunday night. Also, assistant general manager Randy Sexton and assistant trainer Dave Zenobi are remaining in Buffalo to be with Zednik.

I still can't believe he was able to skate to the bench! He must have some serious survival instincts as I would have probably gone straight into shock. I understand the visor argument, but what could be bad about everyone wearing neck protection? Yes it is a rare event (Thank God!) but I don't believe anyone would play any different when they wear one. I think though they are also working on skate blades that don't cut. Either way, I really don't think the NHL should wait until someone dies out on the ice.

[Long_Long_Name]

They were allowed to fly his wife? The Habs wanted to fly every player's family for Christmas, at the team's expense, and the NHL denied them.

While we're on the topic of player protection, I always wondered why players would want to wear tiny visors. I mean, if you're going to wear something, why not full-face protection? A partial visor doesn't do the whole job - in Saku Koivu's case, it might've made matters worse than had he not worn a visor at all.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

They were allowed to fly his wife? The Habs wanted to fly every player's family for Christmas, at the team's expense, and the NHL denied them.

I guess there are special stipulations if someone is seriously injured.

While we're on the topic of player protection, I always wondered why players would want to wear tiny visors. I mean, if you're going to wear something, why not full-face protection? A partial visor doesn't do the whole job - in Saku Koivu's case, it might've made matters worse than had he not worn a visor at all.

Tell me about it! I remember when Heatley suffered a broken orbital bone, during the lockout I think it was, because he wore his visor closer to his forehead than his eyes

[ZiggyPop]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

They were allowed to fly his wife? The Habs wanted to fly every player's family for Christmas, at the team's expense, and the NHL denied them.

That was considered extra bonus for players, which is not allowed under current cap rules. A little stupid, but I guess it would have opened doors to bigger gifts and other rule benders.

On a semi-related note : Do you know Zednik's wife? I would fly her back in Montreal anytime. Heck, I would even take Zednik back on the Habs if that's what it takes.

[Erik W.]

The morning show my wife watches kept showing every slo-mo angle of the injury and the resulting blood spray possible. Not the sort of thing you want to be exposed to while eating your eggs.

I'm glad he's going to be OK.

I'm not sure what kind of neck protection they could wear that wouldn't take away their head mobility.

[Long_Long_Name]

And to think the Habs were supposed to be "clean" with the departure of the three Amigos...

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=229398&hubname=

The Tampa Tribune is reporting that Montreal Canadiens defensemen Ryan O'Byrne and forward Tom Kostopoulos were arrested outside of Tampa nightclub early Monday morning.

O'Byrne is accused of stealing a women's purse, while Kostopoulos is accused of resisting an officer.

[Erik W.]

Oh what the hell.

[ZiggyPop]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

And to think the Habs were supposed to be "clean" with the departure of the three Amigos...

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=229398&hubname=

Lets wait for the details but it doesn't seem to be the same business that involved our 3 amigos. I hope it's just a simple misunderstood... even if that expression is not in the vocabulary of the Montreal press.

[Long_Long_Name]

Originally Posted by ZiggyPop

Lets wait for the details but it doesn't seem to be the same business that involved our 3 amigos. I hope it's just a simple misunderstood... even if that expression is not in the vocabulary of the Montreal press.

I never got what was so bad about the three amigos other than partying too hard - and, in Ribeiro's case, getting caught with one of the organization member's daughter on her knees in front of him at a golf club.

I know a girl who babysat at the Ribeiros'. They tipped well, apparently. I also knew people who saw him almost daily at the video club, as he'd rent a lot of video games.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Wow, Belfour would fit right in with Montreal. As for neck protection, I don't remember any head mobility issues with the kind I wore as a kid. Besides, I'm sure technology has moved on enough to make them safer and more mobile anyway.