Staal, Girardi, and McDonagh as a front 3 better than Keith, Seabrook, and Hjalmarsson?

Please, might be the most homerific statement yet

They are very good, but one crop has 2 cups together and can play in all situations

One crop hasnt won jack, they were talking that Girardi was a bust without Torts and didnt want to re-sign him at his cost, and Staal runs hot and cold

the Girardi, McDonagh, and Staal unit really struggles against fast teams, the seabs, keith, hammer unit have excelled against grinding teams and up tempo teams alike
- FourFeathers773

I had quite a nice laugh reading that one too. You can always find something to be amazed about when people start posting things on a message board on the Internet!

"i think seabrook is better than girardi. but i think staal is way better than hjarlmarsson. i think mcdonagh, girardi, and staal are all legitimate bonafide #1 defensemen. i think only keith and seabrook are on your team."

Classic. That almost reads like a nice signature line for postings.

Yea the Rangers have won the Stanley Cup.. or at least you would think so. In other news, they apparently have a better defense than the Hawks.
- golfbard

Watch out for those Eastern Conference teams, what a deep conference........ Oh wait I am thinking of the west.

I know I know.. but I'm surrounded by annoying Rangers fans who have been obsolete for 20 years. They go on one run and walk around like their doo doo don't stink.
- golfbard

Just read through their blog. Can't know much about the west and our team's players when they don't even know how to spell their names.

A new fan base to humiliate and shut up. If they think it will be like Pittsburgh or Montreal when they face us (or LA), they will be rudely awakened to crawl back into their lairs for another 20 years.

Looks like Justin Williams agrees with JJ.....


“A rivalry only exists when the other team wins,” Williams said, per LA Kings Insider. “We haven’t beat them yet. We have that set for us and we need to rise to the challenge.”

Williams pointed to Chicago’s fast defense as part of the reason for its success.

“If we’re just a little off every game, we’re not going to be good because they’ll expose that,” he said. “They’ll have guys swinging, guys stretching and if you give them time they will make you pay.”


Personally, I have a high level of respect for these Kings and will not think this series is over until the final phucking whistle of the fourth win or loss...
- mohel

QFT!

I had quite a nice laugh reading that one too. You can always find something to be amazed about when people start posting things on a message board on the Internet!

"i think seabrook is better than girardi. but i think staal is way better than hjarlmarsson. i think mcdonagh, girardi, and staal are all legitimate bonafide #1 defensemen. i think only keith and seabrook are on your team."

Classic. That almost reads like a nice signature line for postings.




- stp1978

Regarding Staal, he had a shot and looked to be on that path a couple years ago, but at this point, any team that employs him as a #1 will get burned pretty bad on D

I would put him in a class of Erik Johnson, Dion Phaneuf, John Carlson, and Kevin Bieksa

very good, but you dont really want them to be your top dman

God I am tired of the love train for the f-cking Rangers. I get it. St. Louis mom died so lets run with that...Lets run with Brad Richards and St. Louis being reunited and forming some sort of super duo. Christ. It's beyond old.

This is the same system that AV used in Vancouver. Get up, trap, and rely on your goalie. Only difference is that he has King Henrik vs the mental midget. Otherwise, the Hawks exposed, and beat this system how many times? Almost beat it with a far inferior lineup in 2011. I'm not worried about the Rangers should both teams meet.

The 2014 cup winner baring a massive injury to a MAJOR part of the team, will come out of the west.

Regarding Staal, he had a shot and looked to be on that path a couple years ago, but at this point, any team that employs him as a #1 will get burned pretty bad on D

I would put him in a class of Erik Johnson, Dion Phaneuf, John Carlson, and Kevin Bieksa

very good, but you dont really want them to be your top dman
- FourFeathers773

I would take any of the other 4 before Staal.

I don't think we'll see Shaw tomorrow. That is only 2-1/2 weeks after his apparent knee sprain. Saturday seems more likely. I'd be shocked if he didn't "travel" with the team.

The good news is that Regin, Versteeg, and even everyone's favorite whipping boy Bolig have played well enough the past 2 games to make the decision of who to sit a tough one for Q. That's a very good sign. We don't have to worry about sending out the puck management wizard Mr. Joakim Nordstrom.....

You could make a case for all 3 to stay in the lineup......but I think it will come down to what the outcome of Wednesday is. Especially, if that 4th line proves to be trustworthy enough to take a regular shift.

Oh....and while we are ripping off bits from Boers and Bernstein....

I would like to put:

"Joakim Nordstrom is great at puck management" into the pool. Probably as a #8 but he's a dangerous #8.

Bench Rozsival.....free Brookbank.

God I am tired of the love train for the f-cking Rangers. I get it. St. Louis mom died so lets run with that...Lets run with Brad Richards and St. Louis being reunited and forming some sort of super duo. Christ. It's beyond old.

This is the same system that AV used in Vancouver. Get up, trap, and rely on your goalie. Only difference is that he has King Henrik vs the mental midget. Otherwise, the Hawks exposed, and beat this system how many times? Almost beat it with a far inferior lineup in 2011. I'm not worried about the Rangers should both teams meet.

The 2014 cup winner baring a massive injury to a MAJOR part of the team, will come out of the west.
- SteveRain

I'll admit I watch much more WC hockey than EC hockey and thus have a west coast bias, but from what I've seen from Montreal (pre-Price injury) and the Rangers is that the only way either of those teams was winning the Cup this year was on the back of their goaltender and that goaltender standing on his head for four games. It can happen and it might happen this year (because Henrik has looked awfully good for the last 6 games or so), but top-to-bottom, I'm taking LA or Chicago over NY or Montreal.

God I am tired of the love train for the f-cking Rangers. I get it. St. Louis mom died so lets run with that...Lets run with Brad Richards and St. Louis being reunited and forming some sort of super duo. Christ. It's beyond old.

This is the same system that AV used in Vancouver. Get up, trap, and rely on your goalie. Only difference is that he has King Henrik vs the mental midget. Otherwise, the Hawks exposed, and beat this system how many times? Almost beat it with a far inferior lineup in 2011. I'm not worried about the Rangers should both teams meet.

The 2014 cup winner baring a massive injury to a MAJOR part of the team, will come out of the west.
- SteveRain

Seriously, they can kiss my asss too. MsL dead mom does not make them play better. The Rangers will be dismantled by the Hawks or Kings. Its that simple. Hank cant steal 4 games. Price being out really hurts the Habs. I justhope the Habs can win 1 game in NY maybe sqeek a home gMe 5 win to make that series go at least 6

You could make a case for all 3 to stay in the lineup......but I think it will come down to what the outcome of Wednesday is. Especially, if that 4th line proves to be trustworthy enough to take a regular shift.
- SteveRain

Personally, I'd like to see Zus playing special teams and coming out for faceoffs only, with Regin, Versteeg, and Bollig continuing to get semi-regular shifts. Either move Smith back to the second line or have Shaw center it, but Kane and Zus doesn't really seem to work as a pairing.

Personally, I'd like to see Zus playing special teams and coming out for faceoffs only, with Regin, Versteeg, and Bollig continuing to get semi-regular shifts. Either move Smith back to the second line or have Shaw center it, but Kane and Zus doesn't really seem to work as a pairing.
- QStache

I agree...the only value Handzus has right now is his PK. That is it. He proves to be a very fringe 5 on 5 player and when he plays top 6 minutes he neutralizes Kane with his inability to keep up with Kane and cycle in the zone.

Seriously, they can kiss my asss too. MsL dead mom does not make them play better. The Rangers will be dismantled by the Hawks or Kings. Its that simple. Hank cant steal 4 games. Price being out really hurts the Habs. I justhope the Habs can win 1 game in NY maybe sqeek a home gMe 5 win to make that series go at least 6
- mrpaulish

Agreed. King Henrik is very good, and he could stand on his head. I think that series ends in 5. Montreal is done.

God I am tired of the love train for the f-cking Rangers. I get it. St. Louis mom died so lets run with that...Lets run with Brad Richards and St. Louis being reunited and forming some sort of super duo. Christ. It's beyond old.

This is the same system that AV used in Vancouver. Get up, trap, and rely on your goalie. Only difference is that he has King Henrik vs the mental midget. Otherwise, the Hawks exposed, and beat this system how many times? Almost beat it with a far inferior lineup in 2011. I'm not worried about the Rangers should both teams meet.

The 2014 cup winner baring a massive injury to a MAJOR part of the team, will come out of the west.
- SteveRain

Doesn't take many wins in NY to jump on the bandwagon, afterall their other options are the Knickerbockers, Jets, Mets, Giants and Nets.

The Rangers were booed out of MSG in Games 3 and 4 vs the Penguins and were done, toast - a team that looked identical to Nashville or Phoenix or Florida or NYI. And then Sidney Crosby went into a snit and decided he didn't want to try too hard and would rather get Bylsma and Shero fired so he could approve the next coach. Now the Rangers are 2 games from the SCF.

If I was Mario Lemieux I'd have Crosby, Fleury and James Neal in a barn somewhere being horsewhipped.

Seriously, they can kiss my asss too. MsL dead mom does not make them play better. The Rangers will be dismantled by the Hawks or Kings. Its that simple. Hank cant steal 4 games. Price being out really hurts the Habs. I justhope the Habs can win 1 game in NY maybe sqeek a home gMe 5 win to make that series go at least 6
- mrpaulish

It might be better to go in the other direction and hope the Rangers sweep. The Finals are probably not going to start until the weekend after this upcoming one, given that game four of the West won't happen until Monday night. Game six would be a week from this Friday. Might not be bad for whoever comes out of the West to face a Ranger team with a whole week to gather rust.

Regarding Staal, he had a shot and looked to be on that path a couple years ago, but at this point, any team that employs him as a #1 will get burned pretty bad on D

I would put him in a class of Erik Johnson, Dion Phaneuf, John Carlson, and Kevin Bieksa

very good, but you dont really want them to be your top dman
- FourFeathers773

I agree on Staal. Similarly w/ Carlson -- he may improve but he's not there yet. Certainly not a #1 right now. And certainly not "bona fide" for that matter either.

Doesn't take many wins in NY to jump on the bandwagon, afterall their other options are the Knickerbockers, Jets, Mets, Giants and Nets.

The Rangers were booed out of MSG in Games 3 and 4 vs the Penguins and were done, toast - a team that looked identical to Nashville or Phoenix or Florida or NYI. And then Sidney Crosby went into a snit and decided he didn't want to try too hard and would rather get Bylsma and Shero fired so he could approve the next coach. Now the Rangers are 2 games from the SCF.

If I was Mario Lemieux I'd have Crosby, Fleury and James Neal in a barn somewhere being horsewhipped.
- RickJ

That is exactly why when I read all this Canadian media coming to Crosby's defense I laugh it off. idiots. Defending him to the death. If I'm Malkin I'd come out publicly and berate Crosby, Neal, Kunitz, and the rest of those clowns. he can't carry them alone.

Anyone who would start a team with Crosby over Toews played underneath power lines as a kid, and ate paint chips. They should be put in a room with padded walls.

Great players are supposed to make those around them better...I can't say Crosby does that.

Bench Rozsival.....free Brookbank.
- SteveRain

I agree on Staal. Similarly w/ Carlson -- he may improve but he's not there yet. Certainly not a #1 right now. And certainly not "bona fide" for that matter either.
- stp1978

I think Staal is what he is. A second pairing d-man. Think he could have ascended higher but that bad eye injury derailed him a bit. Credit to him that he's come back from it but he's not improving that much more at 27 if at all.

Not really the worst of analogies. It explains how Stan is able to trade for "WHO?" and he ends up being a far more productive player here than they were elsewhere. Who, realistically, thought a Regin or Campoli could be workable players? Their skills fit the system (why am I having flashes of Greg from the Brady Bunch and "He fits the suit?") which makes them far more effective than they had been elsewhere.
- NewToHockey

Exactly, and kudos to MnGUMP for seeing it. This is why sometimes trades for guys like Campoli or Rundblad loo stupid, but they have some basic talent that fit the hawks' system and might allow them to flourish.

Case in point: Oduya. OK but "flawed" player elsewhere. A very, very good player in the Hawks' system, because his skills uniquely fit it.

I agree...the only value Handzus has right now is his PK. That is it. He proves to be a very fringe 5 on 5 player and when he plays top 6 minutes he neutralizes Kane with his inability to keep up with Kane and cycle in the zone.
- SteveRain

Handzus is also pretty effective in end-of-game protect-the-lead situations and also throws an occasional solid hit on the board. I have no desire to watch him play with Kane, but he has earned a spot in the line-up, imo.

Exactly, and kudos to MnGUMP for seeing it. This is why sometimes trades for guys like Campoli or Rundblad loo stupid, but they have some basic talent that fit the hawks' system and might allow them to flourish.

Case in point: Oduya. OK but "flawed" player elsewhere. A very, very good player in the Hawks' system, because his skills uniquely fit it.
- John Jaeckel

Way off topic, but who do you credit for finding these players for the system? Stan? Senior? The scouting department? Q? I'm just curious because, if it is Stan, then I think he deserves much more credit than he is given. Because as much flak as we all give him (and some of it is deservedly so), he does seem to have an eye for finding players who fit the Hawks' system pretty well.

Way off topic, but who do you credit for finding these players for the system? Stan? Senior? The scouting department? Q? I'm just curious because, if it is Stan, then I think he deserves much more credit than he is given. Because as much flak as we all give him (and some of it is deservedly so), he does seem to have an eye for finding players who fit the Hawks' system pretty well.
- QStache

McDonough