What did they plan in the Original 6 era? 70 games?
- johndewar

Don't forget the early 90s when teams played that super weird 84 game schedule, as opposed to the much more normal 82 game schedule.

It's already been established Coburn's role is exactly the same.
- PLindbergh31

I disagree. He's been asked to be the anchor on whichever pair he's been on. That's a new role.

44 in some years, 48 in others, then 50, 60 and on up.
- Jsaquella

Exactly.

So, the whole "asterisk" thing is just silly.

No big deal, Gervais is a 6th/7th defenseman with a small hit who can be buried with no cap implications.

There's not a fanbase in the world that cares more about fringe guys that this one.
- Jsaquella

you think Lavy will remain as coach next year?

so wait... the flyers are getting jagr & jiri dopita?
- jak521

Needs more Branko Radivojevic.

I disagree. He's been asked to be the anchor on whichever pair he's been on. That's a new role.
- Jsaquella

STOP USING REASON AND LOGIC! HIS ROLE IS EXACTLY THE SAME!

you think Lavy will remain as coach next year?
- sarmen25

Nope. Especially not if they miss the playoffs. But if they squeak in, and get blown out, he's toast

Winning the Cup any year is mutually exclusive from every other year played in the NHL. It's not the same with statistics like goals or points.

Take Roger Maris for example. He hit 61 home runs to break Ruth's record. He got an asterisk because he had more games to accomplish the feat. That makes sense but when you're talking about the Cup, the previous years have nothing to do with the current season.

48 games, 82 games, it doesn't matter. You are not competing with anything outside of the current season that would warrant an asterisk. It doesn't make it any easier or harder to win a Cup just because you played less games. They haven't always played 82 games btw.
- NickTheKid87

Look, my comment was only to indicate this season is different, an aberration. That's it. As far as your baseball analogy, does that mean there are asterisks next to all the cups won when there were only 6 teams in the league?

Playing 48 games and entering the playoffs is quite different from playing 82 games and entering the playoffs.

As for winning the cup, I never said it was less difficult or less of an accomplishment. It isn't. And that wasn't my point.

What I said is there's an asterisk next to it, a notation indicating something out of the ordinary occurred that season. Period.

And the fact that everybody knows the Devils won during a shortened season is proof enough.

As for Maris, Ruth, Aaron, Bonds, McGuire, etc., why is it ok for some of them to have asterisks beside their accomplishments?

Lavi's going to put out the lineup he feels gives his team the best chance to win. Putting Briere "down under" fits that plan.

G'day.

/aussiepost
- Flyskippy

If that was so he would have done it games ago...this was done to send a message. Danny has stunk for well over a month now.

It's already been established Coburn's role is exactly the same.
- PLindbergh31

He's been playing with Grossmann for the most part. Who is an expereinced veteran defenseman, who is as good of a player as Coburn is. He's not being asked to carry a young inexperienced player. I asked you previously to expand on how he has taken on more responsibility.

I disagree. He's been asked to be the anchor on whichever pair he's been on. That's a new role.
- Jsaquella

I dont know if I agree with you 100% JSaq.. I think that the top 5 guys (Timonen,Schenn,Grossmann,Coburn, and Meszy) were all told they were going to be heavily relied on and need to step their games up.. Grossmann and Schenn have exceeded my expectations.. Timonen's struggles were kind of expected, but Coburns disastrous season wasnt... Thats what scares the hell out of me. He wasnt asked to be their #1. He was just going to be more relied on... and he has fallen to pieces.

I disagree. He's been asked to be the anchor on whichever pair he's been on. That's a new role.
- Jsaquella

I know. It's clear Coburn has been asked to do more. But people like to argue for the sake of arguing.

I don't think it's about what an asterisk that doesn't exist symbolizes. It's clearly only about what you think it symbolizes.
- MJL

That doesn't make a lot of sense.

So you believe the shortened seasons are in my head?

I dont know if I agree with you 100% JSaq.. I think that the top 5 guys (Timonen,Schenn,Grossmann,Coburn, and Meszy) were all told they were going to be heavily relied on and need to step their games up.. Grossmann and Schenn have exceeded my expectations.. Timonen's struggles were kind of expected, but Coburns disastrous season wasnt... Thats what scares the hell out of me. He wasnt asked to be their #1. He was just going to be more relied on... and he has fallen to pieces.
- jak521

Why would you expect Timonen to struggle? The GM just signed him to a 6 million dollar contract for next year. Should we expect more struggles?

Exactly.

So, the whole "asterisk" thing is just silly.
- johndewar

i wonder what % of people actually pronounce that word correctly...just axin...

Look, my comment was only to indicate this season is different, an aberration. That's it. As far as your baseball analogy, does that mean there are asterisks next to all the cups won when there were only 6 teams in the league?

Playing 48 games and entering the playoffs is quite different from playing 82 games and entering the playoffs.

As for winning the cup, I never said it was less difficult or less of an accomplishment. It isn't. And that wasn't my point.

What I said is there's an asterisk next to it, a notation indicating something out of the ordinary occurred that season. Period.

And the fact that everybody knows the Devils won during a shortened season is proof enough.

As for Maris, Ruth, Aaron, Bonds, McGuire, etc., why is it ok for some of them to have asterisks beside their accomplishments?
- wolfhounds

The point is, every team is on an even playing field. And you still have to win 4 best-of-seven rounds. If the NHL decided to adopt an 84-game season, or a 76-game season, does every one of those need an asterisk as well?

As for baseball records (or hockey records) comparing only statistics, differences in the amount of games warrants mention because it's across different years. As for your specific examples of Bonds and McGuire, they were straight-up cheating.

That doesn't make a lot of sense.

So you believe the shortened seasons are in my head?
- wolfhounds

The shortened Season is a fact. The ficticious asterisk is not a fact.

44 in some years, 48 in others, then 50, 60 and on up.
- Jsaquella

The first Champions in the NHL were the Toronto Arenas in 1917-18. That year, 3 teams played 22 games each in the regular season (one played only 6).

Exactly.

So, the whole "asterisk" thing is just silly.
- johndewar

I disagree. Those were still full seasons, not some bastardized version of a season rushed into being with less than a full season of games and half-assed scheduling.

I know. It's clear Coburn has been asked to do more. But people like to argue for the sake of arguing.
- PLindbergh31

Coburn's most common partners, at 5 on 5, have been Grossmann, Gervais and Schenn.

He's spent more time with Grossmann, but it hasn't been an exclusive a pairing as his past pairings with Timonen or even Grossmann last year.

I agree with the sentiment that all of the top 5 have been asked to shoulder more of a load, in terms of leadership, etc.

That said, in ice time, he's played a very similar number of minutes.

I dont know if I agree with you 100% JSaq.. I think that the top 5 guys (Timonen,Schenn,Grossmann,Coburn, and Meszy) were all told they were going to be heavily relied on and need to step their games up.. Grossmann and Schenn have exceeded my expectations.. Timonen's struggles were kind of expected, but Coburns disastrous season wasnt... Thats what scares the hell out of me. He wasnt asked to be their #1. He was just going to be more relied on... and he has fallen to pieces.
- jak521

Could just be that he had a lousy season. It happens.

As for Maris, Ruth, Aaron, Bonds, McGuire, etc., why is it ok for some of them to have asterisks beside their accomplishments?
- wolfhounds

All baseball records should have asterisks - they don't even have uniform field dimensions in that league for crying out loud.

Look, my comment was only to indicate this season is different, an aberration. That's it. As far as your baseball analogy, does that mean there are asterisks next to all the cups won when there were only 6 teams in the league?

Playing 48 games and entering the playoffs is quite different from playing 82 games and entering the playoffs.

As for winning the cup, I never said it was less difficult or less of an accomplishment. It isn't. And that wasn't my point.

What I said is there's an asterisk next to it, a notation indicating something out of the ordinary occurred that season. Period.

And the fact that everybody knows the Devils won during a shortened season is proof enough.

As for Maris, Ruth, Aaron, Bonds, McGuire, etc., why is it ok for some of them to have asterisks beside their accomplishments?
- wolfhounds

Not judging as to whether it is ok or not.

I am saying that if you want to put an asterisk after the Cup winner because they only played 48 games, you'd have to throw won after every winner that played more than 22 because that's the amount of games played in the regular season by the first NHL champions.

The asterisk point is moot.

I disagree. Those were still full seasons, not some bastardized version of a season rushed into being with less than a full season of games and half-assed scheduling.
- Scoob

The word "full" being a relative term. "Full" season compared to what? Last year? Who cares? Last year is over.

Many "last years" ago, 50 something games was a "full" season.

This year, 48 games happens to be a "full" season.

so wait... the flyers are getting jagr & jiri dopita?
- jak521

and Antero Niittymäki