Voracek is having his first true breakout year. Simmer has been known to be a stud for a while.
- rangerdanger94

Not really. Since the trades, Voracek has scored 184 points in 226 games, Simmonds 154 in 227. Voracek has been far and away a better ES player, especially in terms of possession numbers.

Not really. Since the trades, Voracek has scored 184 points in 226 games, Simmonds 154 in 227. Voracek has been far and away a better ES player, especially in terms of possession numbers.
- Jsaquella

yeah but simmer can fight; jake just gets hammered in the face (by hartnell of all people) and just drops to the ice vainly hoping for a roughing call

yeah but simmer can fight; jake just gets hammered in the face (by hartnell of all people) and just drops to the ice vainly hoping for a roughing call
- hogweed

I'm also one of those "homers" who think Voracek has been elite for the past couple of years, too. Even prior to this season, he's been better than Simmonds, and I love both of those guys

what did you think of my amended #1?
- hogweed

Amended for accuracy is the best way I can put it.

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.
- aflyerpower8

I don't think I agree with that. If there is a difference in offensive talent, it isn't that large. Giroux is a better passer then either of them are. Where the biggest significance is between the players, is how much better Kopitar and Toews are defensively over Giroux.

Not really. Since the trades, Voracek has scored 184 points in 226 games, Simmonds 154 in 227. Voracek has been far and away a better ES player, especially in terms of possession numbers.
- Jsaquella

Voracek plays with Giroux at ES. Switch that and have Simmonds play all that time with Giroux, and that point difference may change. Really two different kinds of players.
Voracek has taken it to another level this season, to this point.

Amended for accuracy is the best way I can put it.
- Giroux_Is_God

when you were making the calamine lotion did you ever dream you'd get to work it into a thread that soon?

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 is worse than the forwards list and I didn't think that was possible.

I'm also one of those "homers" who think Voracek has been elite for the past couple of years, too. Even prior to this season, he's been better than Simmonds, and I love both of those guys
- Jsaquella

i've always liked him but he's a different player this yer.....although i watched a replay of game 1 of the 2011 playoff series against the pens and he was a monster on that ot gwg

I'm also one of those "homers" who think Voracek has been elite for the past couple of years, too. Even prior to this season, he's been better than Simmonds, and I love both of those guys
- Jsaquella

Agreed. While I love Simmonds heart and what he does on the pp, Voracek is the clearly better all around player. He's the better playmaker, skater and he's much better at driving possession as well.

when you were making the calamine lotion did you ever dream you'd get to work it into a thread that soon?
- hogweed

I never thought I'd see the day

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

I don't know what Lucic thought he was doing. It was like he wanted to engage that kid, the kid complied, and Lucic changed his mind at a time in an altercation where you can't simply change your mind.

I never thought I'd see the day
- Giroux_Is_God

So, today's topics are...

The Maple Leafs are childish and it sucks to play in Toronto

ESPN, unlike me, makes crappy lists

Voracek is better than Simmonds

and, How to make Calamine lotion

Did I miss anything?

Sharks waive Burish

I don't think I agree with that. If there is a difference in offensive talent, it isn't that large. Giroux is a better passer then either of them are. Where the biggest significance is between the players, is how much better Kopitar and Toews are defensively over Giroux.
- MJL

I think it is easy to say that both are better defensively when they also have better defenses and some great checking wingers on their team. On the flip side, the points are not on Giroux's level despite playing on great teams.

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

Frank's not even the worse guy on here.

/It's Lozo

Sharks waive Burish
- Jsaquella

I'll take him over Umberger

Agreed. While I love Simmonds heart and what he does on the pp, Voracek is the clearly better all around player. He's the better playmaker, skater and he's much better at driving possession as well.
- BiggE

This is the first time in Giroux's career (since he hit his stride, of course) where he has significant competition in being called the best forward on the Flyers.

I'm really ok with that.

I was gonna say player in general, but you could make a huge case for Pronger.

Either way, Jake is simply the best player on the ice when he takes it. Having him and G out there is akin to running Mary Kate and Ashley out there in Pittsburgh. They're that good.

i've always liked him but he's a different player this yer.....although i watched a replay of game 1 of the 2011 playoff series against the pens and he was a monster on that ot gwg
- hogweed

He's taken it up a notch further this year, for sure. But he was dynamite last season, and a monster in the lockout shortened 2012-13 season.

Sharks waive Burish
- Jsaquella

Chris Pronger finds this amusing.

This is the first time in Giroux's career (since he hit his stride, of course) where he has significant competition in being called the best forward on the Flyers.

I'm really ok with that.

I was gonna say player in general, but you could make a huge case for Pronger.

Either way, Jake is simply the best player on the ice when he takes it. Having him and G out there is akin to running Mary Kate and Ashley out there in Pittsburgh. They're that good.
- Giroux_Is_God

Chris Pronger finds this amusing.
- johndewar

No doubt!

So, today's topics are...

The Maple Leafs are childish and it sucks to play in Toronto

ESPN, unlike me, makes crappy lists

Voracek is better than Simmonds

and, How to make Calamine lotion

Did I miss anything?
- BiggE

Yup, yup, yup, and yup.

I'm currently making a SOAP note on BPH. All of these are more exciting than this SOAP note.

Agreed. While I love Simmonds heart and what he does on the pp, Voracek is the clearly better all around player. He's the better playmaker, skater and he's much better at driving possession as well.
- BiggE

It's not a knock on Simmonds. He's been fantastic for the Flyers.

Chris Pronger finds this amusing.
- johndewar

I miss Prongs