No, hey Lucic, drop your gloves and defend yourself. If you didn't know you were in a fight there, then you deserve what you got.
- MJL

Lucic got schooled then acted like a little female dog about it. He started by hitting Prout in the back of the head with both hands, dropped his stick, engaged, then got laid out. Then, when the refs are tying them up, he tried to throw a sucker punch.

Boston is on their last legs as one of the elite teams in the east because as soon as Chara goes away, so do they.

We determined the best in the NHL by asking the experts to rank players and coaches on a scale of 0 to 10 based on how they predict the person will perform this season.

Martin Biron, TSN/RDS/NHL Network
Scott Burnside, ESPN.com
Mike Brophy, NHL.com
Craig Custance, ESPN The Magazine
Sarah Goldstein, ESPN.com
Paul Grant, ESPN.com
Tim Kavanagh, ESPN Insider
Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune
Pierre LeBrun, ESPN.com/TSN
Dave Lozo, Bleacher Report
Vince Masi, ESPN
Victoria Matiash, ESPN Fantasy
Sean McIndoe, Grantland
Barry Melrose, ESPN
Risto Pakarinen, Co-author "This is Russia: Life in the KHL"
Scott Powers, ESPN Chicago
Corey Pronman, ESPN Insider
Michael Russo, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Timo Seppa, Hockey Prospectus/ESPN Insider
Frank Seravalli, Philadelphia Daily News
Katie Strang, ESPN.com
Rob Vollman, ESPN Insider
Ryan Wagman, Hockey Prospectus/ESPN Insider
Aaron Ward, TSN
Mike Zeisberger, Toronto Sun

Figured you guys would have a field day with this

Mason isn't in the Top 25?
- wolfhounds

I've never felt Mason was top ten or elite but in this case I'd really like to know who the 25 best goalies are in the league if Mason isn't one.

We determined the best in the NHL by asking the experts to rank players and coaches on a scale of 0 to 10 based on how they predict the person will perform this season.

Martin Biron, TSN/RDS/NHL Network
Scott Burnside, ESPN.com
Mike Brophy, NHL.com
Craig Custance, ESPN The Magazine
Sarah Goldstein, ESPN.com
Paul Grant, ESPN.com
Tim Kavanagh, ESPN Insider
Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune
Pierre LeBrun, ESPN.com/TSN
Dave Lozo, Bleacher Report
Vince Masi, ESPN
Victoria Matiash, ESPN Fantasy
Sean McIndoe, Grantland
Barry Melrose, ESPN
Risto Pakarinen, Co-author "This is Russia: Life in the KHL"
Scott Powers, ESPN Chicago
Corey Pronman, ESPN Insider
Michael Russo, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Timo Seppa, Hockey Prospectus/ESPN Insider
Frank Seravalli, Philadelphia Daily News
Katie Strang, ESPN.com
Rob Vollman, ESPN Insider
Ryan Wagman, Hockey Prospectus/ESPN Insider
Aaron Ward, TSN
Mike Zeisberger, Toronto Sun

Figured you guys would have a field day with this
- TheGreat28

I didn't think ESPN even recognized hockey as a sport, let alone had so many 'experts' working for them.

Mason isn't in the Top 25?
- wolfhounds

No, and coming in at #5....

Sergei Bobrovsky

1. Crosby
2. Stamkos
3. Toews
4. Tavares
5. Getzlaf
6. Kane
7. Perry
8. Kopitar
9. Ovechkin
10. Malkin
11. Seguin
12. Benn
13. Bergeron
14. Giroux
15. Kessel
16. Parise
17. MacKinnon
18. Backstrom
19. Datsyuk
20. Pacioretty
- TheGreat28

Taveras and Benn aren't better then he is. And Giroux is as good as Kane, Ovechkin, Getzlaff, and Seguin is. Popularity contest.

I've never felt Mason was top ten or elite but in this case I'd really like to know who the 25 best goalies are in the league if Mason isn't one.
- SuperSchennBros

Right, so basically he's - at best - one of the worst 5 starting goalies in the league?

Did Crosby not play yesterday? Pens score 4 goals last night and he wasn't in on any of them.

Voracek still league leader in points.

Lucic got schooled then acted like a little female dog about it. He started by hitting Prout in the back of the head with both hands, dropped his stick, engaged, then got laid out. Then, when the refs are tying them up, he tried to throw a sucker punch.

Boston is on their last legs as one of the elite teams in the east because as soon as Chara goes away, so do they.
- wolfhounds

Agreed on all counts.

I've never felt Mason was top ten or elite but in this case I'd really like to know who the 25 best goalies are in the league if Mason isn't one.
- SuperSchennBros

1. Rask
2. Lundqvist
3. Price
4. Quick
5. Bobrovsky
6. Schneider
7. Bishop
8. Rinne
9. Luongo
10. Varlamov
11. Howard
12. Lehtonen
13. Andersen
14. Crawford
15. Miller
16. Fleury
17. Bernier
18. Halak
19. Kuemper
20. Niemi
21. Holtby
22. Smith
23. Hiller
24. Elliott
25. Anderson

I've never felt Mason was top ten or elite but in this case I'd really like to know who the 25 best goalies are in the league if Mason isn't one.
- SuperSchennBros

When looking at goalies, you have the elite. Rask, Lundqvist, Quick, Rinne. Then there is everybody else. And Mason is as good anyone else that isn't among the elite.

ftft

1. Rask or any scrub who happens to be playing against the flyers
2. Lundqvist
3. Price
4. Quick
5. Bobrovsky
6. Schneider
7. Bishop
8. Rinne
9. Luongo
10. Varlamov
11. Howard
12. Lehtonen
13. Andersen
14. Crawford
15. Miller
16. Fleury
17. Bernier
18. Halak
19. Kuemper
20. Niemi
21. Holtby
22. Smith
23. Hiller
24. Elliott
25. Anderson

Did Crosby not play yesterday? Pens score 4 goals last night and he wasn't in on any of them.

Voracek still league leader in points.
- SuperSchennBros

Cindy is in a bit of a slump lately. Only 2 points in his last 5 games. Jake has definitely been more consistent that Crosby too. Crosby piled up 17 points in 5 games, but has 9 points in the other 13 games.

1. Rask
2. Lundqvist
3. Price
4. Quick
5. Bobrovsky
6. Schneider
7. Bishop
8. Rinne
9. Luongo
10. Varlamov
11. Howard
12. Lehtonen
13. Andersen
14. Crawford
15. Miller
16. Fleury
17. Bernier
18. Halak
19. Kuemper
20. Niemi
21. Holtby
22. Smith
23. Hiller
24. Elliott
25. Anderson
- TheGreat28

Quite a few promising but unproven goalies in there and Mason could easily be slipped in without looking out of place.

When looking at goalies, you have the elite. Rask, Lundqvist, Quick, Rinne. Then there is everybody else. And Mason is as good anyone else that isn't among the elite.
- MJL

Agreed 100%

Mase is in the 2nd tier of goalies, and those guys are still plenty good enough to steal you games and anchor the crease.

1. Rask
2. Lundqvist
3. Price
4. Quick
5. Bobrovsky
6. Schneider
7. Bishop
8. Rinne
9. Luongo
10. Varlamov
11. Howard
12. Lehtonen
13. Andersen
14. Crawford
15. Miller
16. Fleury
17. Bernier
18. Halak
19. Kuemper
20. Niemi
21. Holtby
22. Smith
23. Hiller
24. Elliott
25. Anderson
- TheGreat28

This list compares to a bunch of high school girls choosing who they think is the cutest soap opera star.

No offense intended towards the ladies.

When looking at goalies, you have the elite. Rask, Lundqvist, Quick, Rinne. Then there is everybody else. And Mason is as good anyone else that isn't among the elite.
- MJL

That's how I see it. And Give Mason Rinne's D and let's see what happens.

6. Schneider

- hogweed

Unbelievable

Taveras and Benn aren't better then he is. And Giroux is as good as Kane, Ovechkin, Getzlaff, and Seguin is. Popularity contest.
- MJL

I'm fine with people disagreeing but I believe Giroux to be better then Toews and Kopitar. Yes those two have the better balanced games but it's not as if Giroux isn't a two way player and his offense clearly surpasses their offense. I think what makes Toews and Kopitar better then Giroux is the teams they've played on and what they were able to accomplish before of the support. Put Giroux on these teams.

I'm fine with people disagreeing but I believe Giroux to be better then Toews and Kopitar. Yes those two have the better balanced games but it's not as if Giroux isn't a two way player and his offense clearly surpasses their offense. I think what makes Toews and Kopitar better then Giroux is the teams they've played on and what they were able to accomplish before of the support. Put Giroux on these teams.
- SuperSchennBros

Have to look at all that objectively. I think a player like Kopitar sacrifices points to play the style that LA plays. And Giroux's offensive output isn't that much greater to offset how good Toews and Kopitar are all around. I think playing on better teams is a part of it. But in my opinion, Kopitar and Toews are better players. Giroux is average at best defensively. Kopitar and Toews are not only very good offensively, they're among the best defensively.

Unbelievable


- Giroux_Is_God

I laughed at that also. That's a joke. He's a good goalie, but he's not at that level. He's not better then Mason is.

I laughed at that also. That's a joke. He's a good goalie, but he's not at that level. He's not better then Mason is.
- MJL

Honestly, I disagree with the good goalie part.

He's shown flashes, but just that. Flashes. He hasn't shown me anything to put him in the tier above mediocre at this juncture (albeit based on my relatively limited exposure to his play)

He could be good- still young. But ignoring the potential aspect of it, Schneider's an inconsistent goalie who puts up average at best numbers, and is still trying to get comfortable in a starting role. If Mase isn't a top 25 goalie, then Schneider shouldn't crack the top 30

When I look at Schneider I can't help but think Anders Lindback v2.0- a really strong backup goalie who thrived in that role behind an elite goalie. Finally, when he gets a full time gig, he poops the bed. I can EASILY see that happening with Schneider. I'm not saying it will, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

People blame the teams issues on Giroux. It's like they think if Toews traded places with Giroux, the Flyers would be a cup contender and the Blackhawks would fall apart
- PhillySportsGuy

Well, if they also threw in Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Keith and Seabrook......

Unbelievable


- Giroux_Is_God

what did you think of my amended #1?

Have to look at all that objectively. I think a player like Kopitar sacrifices points to play the style that LA plays. And Giroux's offensive output isn't that much greater to offset how good Toews and Kopitar are all around. I think playing on better teams is a part of it. But in my opinion, Kopitar and Toews are better players. Giroux is average at best defensively. Kopitar and Toews are not only very good offensively, they're among the best defensively.
- MJL

I think the level of offensive talent that Giroux has over Toews and Kopitar is significant. Toews, Kopitar, and Bergeron are all great players who work well on a team with depth, but none could shoulder the offense like Giroux can.