They were in the game for a long time, tho. Too many turnovers early.
- funmaster18

honestly, i really got the feeling that they werent. the momentum was crazy.

honestly, i really got the feeling that they werent. the momentum was crazy.
- stayinthefnnet

Seattle left the door open at 2-0, 5-0, 8-0, even at 15-0. They didn't run away with it until they were up 15-0, IMO. Denver just never got anything going.

Seattle left the door open at 2-0, 5-0, 8-0, even at 15-0. They didn't run away with it until they were up 15-0, IMO. Denver just never got anything going.
- funmaster18

yeah, in the beginning denver d came up and held them to a couple of field goals. but i dont know. the offense has literally just appeared off from the initial play

How that guy remains in public office is more mind boggling than this game
- funmaster18

Want my theory?

He makes people in that party look bad and will forever tarnish their image by letting him do what he does.

I hear outside of all that mess.. he's done well in office. But I don't understand how the political system in Canada works. Do they report to the queen of England or something?

would you take carle or niskanen? and secondly, would you be willing to give either 5ish over 5 years?
- stayinthefnnet

I would take Niskanen and I would take either for $5M over 5 years.

Raffl's development into being an effective top 9 forward with good two way ability certainly makes the potential trade of a more established and expensive forward easier to take to help bolster the defense.

I don't believe Raffl is a mirage.
- ravishingone

I agree. I think Raffl is the real deal also. Although you can never be positive.

yeah, in the beginning denver d came up and held them to a couple of field goals. but i dont know. the offense has literally just appeared off from the initial play
- stayinthefnnet

I knew Seattle would win. They were a rough matchup for the Broncos offense. Their offense is built all on timing. Seattle's pressing corners and inside pass rush throws off all timing. I thought it would be closer, but I wasn't surprised to see Seattle's defense dominate. They are the best defense since the Bucs of 2002. Maybe since the Ravens.

No team needs a third line winger like Clarkson making $5.25m a year for 7 years while scoring 8 points in 36 games. Dumb contracts like that make your team worse.
- Feanor

I'm pretty sure that Toronto felt he was more then a 3rd line Winger. A player is going to be judged over the life of the deal, not the first 36 games that the player has played in the contract. If Clarkson adjusts and finds his game, he'll make Toronto better, not worse.

I'm pretty sure that Toronto felt he was more then a 3rd line Winger. A player is going to be judged over the life of the deal, not the first 36 games that the player has played in the contract. If Clarkson adjusts and finds his game, he'll make Toronto better, not worse.
- MJL

I thought it was a little strange to get a high priced winger on a team that has Kessel, Lupul and JVR. They knew they needed to sign Phaneuf to a big deal, so the money would have been better spent getting a center like Vinny or Ribiero or someone like that.

You are basically claiming that over 55 games Grossmann has consistently got less help from the forwards at clearing the zone than other defensemen, and this explains why he ranks last among Flyers defensemen with a successful defensive zone exit percentage of 66.8 percent, and only 31.1 percent of Grossmann's zone exit attempts leave the defensive end successfully and also see the Flyers retain possession of the puck past the blue line. But you do not have any evidence, or even a plausible theory to back that claim up. Explaining that forwards can be involved in failed clearing attempts is not an argument.

I never said Grossmann was the only reason the Flyers struggle to get the puck out of their zone. I said he was the worst defensman in the top 7 at successfully clearing the zone. And he is. Because he's not good at passing the puck.
- Feanor

No, I'm not claiming that all all. I'm claiming that the author did a horrendous job with that article and his research and conclusions was flat out crap. He stopped well short of what should've been done. And failed to look at all the variables involved.
And I don't know how it can be claimed that Hockey is not a team game, and that a defenseman does not play on the ice in a vacuum all alone. And that defensive zone coverages and breakouts isn't a team game. So for the life of me I don't know how it can be stated that I don't have an argument.
The very fact that they somehow come up with a claim of Grossmann's zone exit attempts as if nobody else is involved, and nobody else is touching the puck when any defenseman is involved in a play in his own end, speaks on the validity of such claim. It refutes itself.
If the author truly wanted to write an informed article, he would've looked in depth as to why Grossmann's number in zone exits is low. And I'm sure that Grossmann's lack of puck moving skills is a contributing factor in that. The only lack of real evidence is in the article, and the biased conclusions he reached that obviously just fit his agenda.
And I guarantee that when Coaches assess a player, they don't blindly look at flawed percentages such as that. They look at actual game film and where the breakdowns occur, and focus on that.

Akeson doesn't have much speed. Briere had above average speed when he was younger. He could really move.
- PhillySportsGuy

And he was still quick around the net and with the puck before his final years here. He was very deceptive.

I would take Niskanen and I would take either for $5M over 5 years.
- PhillySportsGuy

back to hockey. yes! and nisky for 5? im sure hell get it. i wish the pens could retain him for a discount.

I think he would be an upgrade on Downie on the third line at the moment. He really seems to have lost his game since his injury around Christmas.
- Feanor

I don't think Akeson is the type of player you want on your 3rd line. I think he's either a top scoring line player or he doesn't make it at all. Unless he totally changes his game.

back to hockey. yes! and nisky for 5? im sure hell get it. i wish the pens could retain him for a discount.
- stayinthefnnet

I think he may get close to $6M. Same with Girardi.

Who does Niskanen play with?

I don't think Akeson is the type of player you want on your 3rd line. I think he's either a top scoring line player or he doesn't make it at all. Unless he totally changes his game.
- MJL

Yea. Im not sure I want to see Akeson on the ice when Couturier is trying to shutdown Malkin.

I'm pretty sure that Toronto felt he was more then a 3rd line Winger. A player is going to be judged over the life of the deal, not the first 36 games that the player has played in the contract. If Clarkson adjusts and finds his game, he'll make Toronto better, not worse.
- MJL

this is where i feel you and i disagree a bit, and where my frugality definitely shows. even if clarkson finds his game, it still seems to me to be an eh kind of exchange. yes, technically him being there may make the team better on paper, but when you think about how much he costs, and what a similar player could contribute at a cheaper rate , to me that can be considered a net loss in a way

Yea. Im not sure I want to see Akeson on the ice when Couturier is trying to shutdown Malkin.
- PhillySportsGuy

i do

I think he may get close to $6M. Same with Girardi.

Who does Niskanen play with?
- PhillySportsGuy

i could see that as well.

and maatta.

i do
- stayinthefnnet

Exactly.

Art Ross Akeson

i could see that as well.

and maatta.
- stayinthefnnet

Would the Pens trade Letang to the Flyers for Read and Laughton?

Would the Pens trade Letang to the Flyers for Read and Laughton?
- PhillySportsGuy

not if im shero they dont. and you know how much i love read

not if im shero they dont. and you know how much i love read
- stayinthefnnet

Read, Laughton and a first

I thought it was a little strange to get a high priced winger on a team that has Kessel, Lupul and JVR. They knew they needed to sign Phaneuf to a big deal, so the money would have been better spent getting a center like Vinny or Ribiero or someone like that.
- PhillySportsGuy

They needed a Power forward type who was physical and could score.

Read, Laughton and a first
- PhillySportsGuy

I wouldn't give up that for Letang IMO.

Read, Laughton and a first
- PhillySportsGuy

you know who is going to have to come with read to make it worthwhile, and im sure thats a deal breaker for you.