Penguins have thier window. The won 1 and lost 1. Now with Corsby, Malkin, and Letang contracts they wont be able to ice a complete team. Soon there will be a time when the Penguins go from great team, to moderate team, to cant get out of those contracts team...

I would say about 3 years before those contracts REALLY start to kill the team.
- youarewrong

Actually, the thing I'd worry most about, if I were a Pens fan, would be Crosby's health.

The second thing I'd worry about is a Kovalchuk-esque "retirement" from Evgeni Malkin.

I understand it was a totally different era, but the racial stuff with him I have no tolerance for.
- PLindbergh31

Even beyond the racist stuff, which was the worst for me, too...he was just a bitter, hate filled man.

I loved in Field of Dreams when Liotta, as Shoeless Joe, says none of them liked Cobb when they were alive, so they wouldn't let him play now that they were all ghosts

Yup. Fuhr's regular season stats weren't great, but the guy came to play in big games. Money goalie. The perfect goalie for that team.
- PLindbergh31

Well, that and he always had plenty of blow

There are rumors that those Oilers teams partied like Motley Crue on tour

I think that is going a little too far. I know my hockey history. I've watched the black and white games. And no-one is argueing the importance of Orr or his accomplishments, but Gretzky is the best hockey player of all time. Sure he played on a great Edmonton team, but its not like he sucked when he was traded to LA.

If you ask anyone who the greatest player was, 9 out of 10 will tell you Gretzky...
- youarewrong

Depends how old the people you poll are.

One advantage with age is I watched more players live than most here. I've watched them both - Orr, practically his entire career, and Gretzky's entire career.

In an era of high scoring games, Gretzky was the best scorer.

Orr's play not only would translate in any era, but he played a complete game at both ends of the ice, At the highest level imaginable... and then some.

Of course Tavares was number 1 on the depth chart when he arrived in Long Island. He was on the Islanders for crying out loud. Any of our centers (Richards, Carter, or Briere) would have been number 1 on the Islanders when Tavares arrived. The only other decent center they had was the corpse of Doug Weight. Not really sure that's a valid point of comparison considering the teams, and particularly the Flyers depth at the center position when Giroux came up.

Not to take anything away from Tavares - he's great, and I think he's as good or bettter than Giroux. But to say that the fact that he came in and was immediately the number 1 center on a horrid Islanders team is a reason why Tavares is better is flawed logic imo.
- BringBack25

Someone was compairing Giroux's numbers at 22 to Tavares numbers at 22. All I was saying is Tavares had better numbers becuase he was a number 1 center and Giroux was 3rd line center. You misunderstood.

Penguins have thier window. The won 1 and lost 1. Now with Corsby, Malkin, and Letang contracts they wont be able to ice a complete team. Soon there will be a time when the Penguins go from great team, to moderate team, to cant get out of those contracts team...

I would say about 3 years before those contracts REALLY start to kill the team.
- youarewrong

They will be fine. Letang may not turn out to be a good contract. The others are fine. Cap will go up drastically again. They will be able to restock shortly esp if one of their drafted goalies pan out.

They will remain a force unless Crosby is forced to retire or plays like complete poop due to injury. The contracts, on their own, will not kill them.

You are wrong. You can era this, media attention that, but you are still wrong. You seem to think I am dismissing Orr and as a result you are trying to insult me. Maybe it is you who are mistaken.
- youarewrong

When you flat out say that Orr isn't on the same level as Gertzky and Lemieux, you are dismissing him and are incorrect about his stature in the sport.

Sorry. He almost got them to a final by himself.
- jmatchett383

Roenick, Zhamnov and Amonte carried through the first round. He did virtually nothing. He had the ONE big game against Toronto and in the deciding game didn't even sniff the net. They lost in 7 to Tampa Bay. His big moment was game 6 when he tied it late and set up Gagne in OT.

He had two more points than Zhamnov during his "amazing" playoff run.

He had one fewer point in that run than he did in his previous four playoff runs with the Flyers total. Would have been nice if the "Hero" showed up for more than a month in 5 years.

If I knew I could embellish and get my team PPs and a chance to win, I'd do it. As they say, don't hate the player, hate the game (league). If anything, it's the fault of the refs/league for letting him get away with it.
- jmatchett383

I think this quote is garbage. I've seen Crosby on a scoring chance on his own against Biron where Crosby fell all by himself. So his stupid body crushes into Boron and the puck entered the net. They went to Toronto and counted it. I still don't see how Biron was allowed to make a save on the play.

Didn't Moog win at least 2 of them? Actually I think Ranford won in 1990.
- jmatchett383

Moog won in 85 and 87 right? RIGGGGGHTTTTTTT?

Didn't Moog win at least 2 of them? Actually I think Ranford won in 1990.
- jmatchett383

I think Fuhr started the first 4 cups and then Ranford won in 90. I remember one time Fuhr was playing for Calgary at the very end of his career.. He was sent down to the AHL for conditioning after an injury...I live in Saint John where the farm team was at the time and got seats right behind him.. amazing.. I will never forget looking at the back plate of his mask and seeing the 5 painted on miny cups.. Guy had 5 cup rings and 4 as a starter.. amazing to me.

Even beyond the racist stuff, which was the worst for me, too...he was just a bitter, hate filled man.

I loved in Field of Dreams when Liotta, as Shoeless Joe, says none of them liked Cobb when they were alive, so they wouldn't let him play now that they were all ghosts
- Jsaquella

Yup. A very violent guy too from what I read.

Well, that and he always had plenty of blow

There are rumors that those Oilers teams partied like Motley Crue on tour
- Jsaquella

I still love that picture of Messier with a stubby beer in his hand in the locker room talking to Gary Coleman..hahah

Yup. Fuhr's regular season stats weren't great, but the guy came to play in big games. Money goalie. The perfect goalie for that team.
- PLindbergh31

Like Billy Smith and Gerry Cheevers. Both were good goalies, but when the money was on the line...

Didn't Moog win at least 2 of them? Actually I think Ranford won in 1990.
- jmatchett383

When they won the 4 Cups in 6 years, Fuhr played the lion's share of playoff games. Moog did play in the playoffs, but not as the starter.

Ranford did win the Stanley Cup in 1990, as the primary goalie for the Oilers. By then, Gretzky was gone, as were Coffey and a couple of the other dynasty guys

Yup. A very violent guy too from what I read.
- PLindbergh31

Extremely so, if half of what I have read is true. He'd fight people all the time-fans, other players, umps...just a hot headed jackass that seemed to despise everyone and everything

Wasn't Primeau on the '95 Wings team that got beat by the Devils in the Finals?
- johndewar

They traded him than won the Cup.

Coincidence? I think not.

(edited 'cause I was mistaken/wrong)

When they won the 4 Cups in 6 years, Fuhr played the lion's share of playoff games. Moog did play in the playoffs, but not as the starter.

Ranford did win the Stanley Cup in 1990, as the primary goalie for the Oilers. By then, Gretzky was gone, as were Coffey and a couple of the other dynasty guys
- Jsaquella

With Ranford and Rosey Ruzicka no one was beating the Oilers in 1990..LOL

I still love that picture of Messier with a stubby beer in his hand in the locker room talking to Gary Coleman..hahah
- Hextall271

When they won the Cup, they took it on a tour of all the strip clubs in Edmonton. Those guys were nuts. Again, if half of the stories are true, Carter and Richie and the rest of the Legion of Poon were mild

No they traded him than won the Cup.

Coincidence? I think not.
- mayorofangrytown

Primeau was on the Finals team in 1995, but was traded the next year

When you flat out say that Orr isn't on the same level as Gertzky and Lemieux, you are dismissing him and are incorrect about his stature in the sport.
- Jsaquella

Forwards weren't putting up points the way Orr did......let alone defensemen.

What Orr did over his career was mind boggling.

Well, that and he always had plenty of blow

There are rumors that those Oilers teams partied like Motley Crue on tour
- Jsaquella

I saw a documentary on the Oilers from that era. They liked to have fun for sure. But with veterans like Glenn Anderson, and Kevin Lowe around they would reel in the young guys when need be.

Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Lowe, Anderson, Tikanien, Coffey, Fuhr. The Flyers who were depleted extending that 1987 Cup Final to a 7th game doesn't get enough credit. I have heard Gretzky say that was the toughest team he ever played against.

When you flat out say that Orr isn't on the same level as Gertzky and Lemieux, you are dismissing him and are incorrect about his stature in the sport.
- Jsaquella

We are just going to have to agree to disagree. Maybe there is a difference in how we define legend, maybe you have beef against Gretzky, or a boner for Orr. I dont know.

Penguins have thier window. The won 1 and lost 1. Now with Corsby, Malkin, and Letang contracts they wont be able to ice a complete team. Soon there will be a time when the Penguins go from great team, to moderate team, to cant get out of those contracts team...

I would say about 3 years before those contracts REALLY start to kill the team.
- youarewrong

i just dont logically see how that will be the case. granted, i dont know if they have it in them to be consistent postseason winners, which is what they should be, but thats not the point youre making here. you are suggesting that they would become a subpar team trapped in cap hell. ive heard others try to make this argument before, and i just dont see how.

the only way this team totally becomes bottom feeders is if they lose crosby to injury and say malkin bolts, but if that occurred, wouldnt they not be in cap hell anymore? the cap is by all accounts going to go up. and even with what it is at right now, they are able to field a pretty damn decent team. like i said, whether they execute to their ability is one thing, but a team led by crosby and malkin isnt all of a sudden going to be in the draft lottery

Actually, the thing I'd worry most about, if I were a Pens fan, would be Crosby's health.

The second thing I'd worry about is a Kovalchuk-esque "retirement" from Evgeni Malkin.
- johndewar

Malkin literally escaped Russia in secret to play in the NHL, I wouldn't worry about him running away from us to go back.