Right there with ya...The more we see of B Schenn, the more likely he is going NO WHERE in a trade.
- JW98FlyerFan

Yyyyeah...that was a joke.

Good question, but the hits I see come from every line...the only way to avoid it is quick puck movement, which he is effective at...

Just a thought anyway, it they do make the playoffs the depth of foward lines will hurt them, Gagne solves some of that and does not cost the team anything in a trade, and is simple as waiving Gill if the D is intact at the start of the post season.
- JW98FlyerFan

I have felt the 4th line has needed an upgrade for a while. I just don't think Gagne is the answer. I don't think he wants to come back to the NHL to play on the 4th line. I thought the perfect 4th line was Lappy-Betts-Carcillo. Lappy and Betts were very good defensively. Carcillo added a little skill and toughness, while Lappy was able to rein Carcillo in a bit.

I hate Crosby but he is the best OFFENSIVE player in the league. Not the best IMO. I'll take Toews 80-90 pts and a Selke over Crosby. All around better player. Great face-off guy and leader too. Crosby isnt a Captain. Huge baby
- GOA88

So if you had Crosby, you would trade him 1-for-1 for Toews?
Not saying you're right or wrong, just clarifying.

Yes. The age old question since both Ovie and Crosby entered the league
- PhillySportsGuy

ah. forgive any bias on my part, but that ones become far too easy, despite OV's goal scoring coming back. honestly, the guy in this league who is just starting to get a tiny bit of the attention he deserves, and is the one nearest to crosby, who when you take into account the age difference (not huge, but it helps) and any potential health concerns, could be a logical choice over him would be tavares.

Carter became a big-time, clutch goal scorer in the playoffs that year. I think Richards was also a top-10 scorer in the entire playoffs. They definitely helped.
- jmatchett383

Helped... sure. I'm saying they win the cup without them though. Would it have been more diffficult? Sure. But they only lost like 2 games the whole damn playoffs and Quick had better numbers than Hasek for christ sake. Quick won that cup.

So if you had Crosby, you would trade him 1-for-1 for Toews?
Not saying you're right or wrong, just clarifying.
- jmatchett383

YESSIR

So if you had Crosby, you would trade him 1-for-1 for Toews?
Not saying you're right or wrong, just clarifying.
- jmatchett383

yeah i would need this clarified too. yes, toews is the better defensive player. no doubt. but to me, the gap between crosby and toews offensively is not as great as the gap between toews and crosby defensively. so while toews is definitely a better 2 way balanced player, crosby is still the better overall player.

I hate Crosby but he is the best OFFENSIVE player in the league. Not the best IMO. I'll take Toews 80-90 pts and a Selke over Crosby. All around better player. Great face-off guy and leader too. Crosby isnt a Captain. Huge baby
- GOA88

Come playoff time, I think you're right. Crosby doesn't like going to the dirty areas on defense. Thats ok in the regular season, but once the playoffs roll around it bites him.

There is no one even close to Crosby in the regular season.

YESSIR
- GOA88

id lean the other way, but toews is a damn fine choice. hes the third guy id pick right after crosby and tavares

yeah i would need this clarified too. yes, toews is the better defensive player. no doubt. but to me, the gap between crosby and toews offensively is not as great as the gap between toews and crosby defensively. so while toews is definitely a better 2 way balanced player, crosby is still the better overall player.
- stayinthefnnet

Crosby's defensive game is overrated IMO and he isnt much of a face-off guy.

Toews 2 cups.........

yeah i would need this clarified too. yes, toews is the better defensive player. no doubt. but to me, the gap between crosby and toews offensively is not as great as the gap between toews and crosby defensively. so while toews is definitely a better 2 way balanced player, crosby is still the better overall player.
- stayinthefnnet

+1

Come playoff time, I think you're right. Crosby doesn't like going to the dirty areas on defense. Thats ok in the regular season, but once the playoffs roll around it bites him.

There is no one even close to Crosby in the regular season.
- PhillySportsGuy

ill be the first to say crosby has not been what he needs to be the past few postseasons. this one will be a big one for his career, one way or the other.

Come playoff time, I think you're right. Crosby doesn't like going to the dirty areas on defense. Thats ok in the regular season, but once the playoffs roll around it bites him.

There is no one even close to Crosby in the regular season.
- PhillySportsGuy

Regular season, smegular season

Playoffs are where men show up

yeah i would need this clarified too. yes, toews is the better defensive player. no doubt. but to me, the gap between crosby and toews offensively is not as great as the gap between toews and crosby defensively. so while toews is definitely a better 2 way balanced player, crosby is still the better overall player.
- stayinthefnnet

This is how I feel.
The only players close to him (to me) are Weber, Stamkos, and Toews.

Regular season, smegular season

Playoffs are where men show up
- GOA88

I would still rather have Crosby

I think Crosby is more exciting. Ovechkin Hangs out in the same spot and waits to fire a cannon. He doesn't barrel around like he used to. He used to be good for at least 1 play per night where you'd say "There is no one else on earth that can do that." That's not the case anymore.
- PhillySportsGuy

Ovechkin has been putting the Caps on his back for long periods of time ever since the coaching change.

Crosby's defensive game is overrated IMO and he isnt much of a face-off guy.

Toews 2 cups.........
- GOA88

i wouldnt rate crosby's defensive game as up there with toews. hes slightly above average, but nothing great. ill disagree with the faceoff one though. he has improved immensely since he entered the league.

and yeah, i get the whole two cups thing, but for the variety of reasons that are constantly trotted out that is a leaky argument to make when comparing on a strictly one player to one player basis.

Crosby's defensive game is overrated IMO and he isnt much of a face-off guy.

Toews 2 cups.........
- GOA88

The way you're talking now, you make him seem more and more like Brad Richards.

This is how I feel.
The only players close to him (to me) are Weber, Stamkos, and Toews.
- jmatchett383

Healthy Datsyuk? Suter? Rosehill?

i wouldnt rate crosby's defensive game as up there with toews. hes slightly above average, but nothing great. ill disagree with the faceoff one though. he has improved immensely since he entered the league.

and yeah, i get the whole two cups thing, but for the variety of reasons that are constantly trotted out that is a leaky argument to make when comparing on a strictly one player to one player basis.
- stayinthefnnet

If not for MAF continually poopting the bed, they'd probably have at least 2. Hell, they had to rely on Tomas Vokoun all last year.

You could do worse than have three guys of above-average skill level willing to crash the net and work the boards, right?

Simmonds is driving that line... dude is playing out of his mind.
- Tomahawk

I luv Simmonds

Perfect Flyer to me

sorry BC4

Ovechkin has been putting the Caps on his back for long periods of time ever since the coaching change.
- youarewrong

Ovechkin is the best sniper in hockey. Unfortunately, that's all he really does at this point.

Regular season, smegular season

Playoffs are where men show up
- GOA88

so by that measure, you guys traded your manliest player on the team for steve downie? i kid, i kid....

i do see the merit in the playoffs, but it isnt as if hes been a total no show either.

Healthy Datsyuk? Suter? Rosehill?
- PhillySportsGuy

Datsyuk at 27, yes. Not now (too big of an age gap). Suter is awesome, yes, but we've had this discussion before.

Well, I figured Rosehill was a given. Sorry.

If not for MAF continually poopting the bed, they'd probably have at least 2. Hell, they had to rely on Tomas Vokoun all last year.
- jmatchett383

MAF was bad, but their defense was bad too. You need to have good team defense to win a cup. Pens haven't had that in the last few playoff appearances.