I was living in Calgary when the OIlers were winning their Cups. I have been a Hawk fan all of my life but I sure cheered for Calgary whenever they played the Oilers during that period.
- HawkfaninBC

The Canucks just blew a 3 goal lead to the Sens.

I was living in Calgary when the OIlers were winning their Cups. I have been a Hawk fan all of my life but I sure cheered for Calgary whenever they played the Oilers during that period.
- HawkfaninBC

Bet you loved the steve smith own goal. Lol. I really miss smith

Really tough call. I also hope it never comes to that. I want all 4 of keith, seabrook, hammer, and crawford retiring as hawks. I really have come around on crawford. I think he really has kept the hawks in many games, especially in the playoffs. To me he has buried those 2 awful ot goals against phoenix.
- tomcat24

It is a tough call for sure. I hate the idea of moving him or Seabs.

Bet you loved the steve smith own goal. Lol. I really miss smith
- tomcat24

That truly was an awesome Flames moment

Bet you loved the steve smith own goal. Lol. I really miss smith
- tomcat24

I actually felt bad for him. It was pretty cool that he went on to have solid career after that.

The Canucks just blew a 3 goal lead to the Sens.
- Elbows15

Yes!! I watched the game , Ottawa deserved to win.

Everything about them is minor league , except the poor bastards who pay top dollar and fill up their barn every night. I had season tickets in Edmonton from 2007 to 2010 and by the last year I couldn't even sell them to my colleagues at work for below what I had paid for them. I ended up giving around 15 sets of tickets to a local radio sports talk show who in turn had contests and gave them away. I guess I was one of those poor bastards for 4 years. At least I went to all of the Hawk visits and they didn't lose over those years.
- HawkfaninBC

I have customers out there that used to live and die with the team and now it's just a 'we buy the tickets because we don't want to lose the team attitude'.

Sometimes I listen to the post game show on 630 CHED. Most of the callers aren't even nasty, just regular Joes who want a decent team to cheer for.

I actually felt bad for him. It was pretty cool that he went on to have solid career after that.
- Elbows15

And didn't they hand him the Cup first the following year? Cool move

I actually felt bad for him. It was pretty cool that he went on to have solid career after that.
- Elbows15

It was a very bad experience for him. I got to know Steve a little bit when he was an assistant coach in Edmonton, I was part of the Air Canada airports group that looked after all of the Oilers flights , he is a very nice guy.

That truly was an awesome Flames moment
- HawkfaninBC

Flames had some great teams then. Of course so did the hawks. Edmonton ruined all of that. Both our teams could have won some Cups. Well calgary could have won more Cups than the 1 then

It was a very bad experience for him. I got to know Steve a little bit when he was an assistant coach in Edmonton, I was part of the Air Canada airports group that looked after all of the Oilers flights , he is a very nice guy.
- HawkfaninBC

He lived in the Chicago area for quite awhile after his career was over. By all accounts I have heard, he was a nice guy.

I have customers out there that used to live and die with the team and now it's just a 'we buy the tickets because we don't want to lose the team attitude'.

Sometimes I listen to the post game show on 630 CHED. Most of the callers aren't even nasty, just regular Joes who want a decent team to cheer for.
- RickJ

Yes it is really quite sad what has happened to them, especially over the past 8 years. I think most fan bases would have revolted and most definitely not continued to sell out all of the games. I hope they can turn it around really soon.

It was a very bad experience for him. I got to know Steve a little bit when he was an assistant coach in Edmonton, I was part of the Air Canada airports group that looked after all of the Oilers flights , he is a very nice guy.
- HawkfaninBC

Was that his rookie year? That is a lot of pressure on a rookie to be a part of a dynasty expected to win the Cup. That wasn't the deciding game i don't think. They still could have gone to the next round

He lived in the Chicago area for quite awhile after his career was over. By all accounts I have heard, he was a nice guy.
- Elbows15

I really thought he would have become an asst. Coach here. At least he won the Cup here in the front office

I don't either. I just think there is a scenario out there where it could come down to Seabrook or Crawford. Could.

My gut tells me you keep the core of the defense intact and take your chances with the current guys or possibly a cheaper alternative like say, for example, Niemi or Anderson.
- John Jaeckel

Interesting scenario...you've got to go with Seabs. Craw has won you a Cup, but so has Nemo. After he's spent a few seasons with the Sharks maybe he'd like to take another shot back here. And now he's at a discount...it's a very interesting thought indeed.

I've mentioned this before but I thought the defense cost them against the Kings in the West Finals. Yes you can look at center depth as Dirk pointed out recently and you can also look at the lack of 4 actual lines...

but lacking another big physical dman to clear the front of the net was a killer and to lose Seabs on top of that...well...

Look at the injury history of both players you compare. Huge difference.

Once again. Look around the league. Aside from clear cut number 1 Dmen, how many top pairing guys do you see better than Seabrook?

That answer every question I have regarding who will be moved. Also. think about how the Bowman's think a team should be built. Hell, I wouldn't be the least bit shocked if somehow Sharp manages to survive whatever moves that need to be made this off season for cap reasons.
- Elbows15

Injuries don't always factor in. Heatley has almost no injury history (car accident excluded), but he turned to hot garbage really fast.

Anyway, I took your challenge and made a list of teams where Seabrook could conceivably not make the top pairing. Lots of opinions and variables here, particularly systems and coaching styles of the other teams. In a lot of cases I know I would personally rather have Seabrook, but I also likely subconsciously overrate him as a hometown fan.

Teams that could potentially not play Seabrook on a top pairing:
Arizona (assuming OEL and Yandle are a pair)
Boston
Calgary (would personally take him over Wideman, but I could see it either way)
Detroit
Florida
Los Angeles (with Voynov on top line and not in jail)
Minnesota
Montreal (would personally take him over Markov)
Nashville
Rangers
St. Louis

Certainly not the whole league, but more teams than you would think.

Injuries don't always factor in. Heatley has almost no injury history (car accident excluded), but he turned to hot garbage really fast.

Anyway, I took your challenge and made a list of teams where Seabrook could conceivably not make the top pairing. Lots of opinions and variables here, particularly systems and coaching styles of the other teams. In a lot of cases I know I would personally rather have Seabrook, but I also likely subconsciously overrate him as a hometown fan.

Teams that could potentially not play Seabrook on a top pairing:
Arizona (assuming OEL and Yandle are a pair)
Boston
Calgary (would personally take him over Wideman, but I could see it either way)
Detroit
Florida
Los Angeles (with Voynov on top line and not in jail)
Minnesota
Montreal (would personally take him over Markov)
Nashville
Rangers
St. Louis

Certainly not the whole league, but more teams than you would think.
- Sandus

Stopped reading right there. there was no reason to go any further.

Stopped reading right there. there was no reason to go any further.
- Elbows15

You didn't even have enough patience to get to Florida.

Stopped reading right there. there was no reason to go any further.
- Elbows15

Must be really hard getting down from your high horse atop your pedestal.

Must be really hard getting down from your high horse atop your pedestal.
- Sandus

FYI. Calgary's top pair in Giordano and Brodie.

FYI. Calgary's top pair in Giordano and Brodie.
- Elbows15

Then take Calgary off the list.

You didn't even have enough patience to get to Florida.
- RickJ

What can I say? Yandle is in no way, shape or form better than Seabrook. OEL isn't either. Yet. He most likely will be but he isn't there yet.

You didn't even have enough patience to get to Florida.
- RickJ

Yeah they stood out. Seabrook is the perfect top pair guy. He does it all. In fact our top 3 are amazing. I wouldn't trade any of them

Then take Calgary off the list.
- Sandus

OK. Then every team other than LA he would be a top pair guy with. And even that is close. Muzzin plays with Doughty when everyone is healthy or not suspended.
Maybe Nashville because both Weber and Seabrook are both RH.


Some of the teams you listed have guys with very high ceilings. Boston and Minny but as of right now, Seabrook is better thateither Hamilton and Brodin.

What can I say? Yandle is in no way, shape or form better than Seabrook. OEL isn't either. Yet. He most likely will be but he isn't there yet.
- Elbows15

I agree with you (though Tanner wouldn't). But I could also make an argument the other way if I had to. You asked for a devil's advocate list and I gave you all the teams who could conceivably play Seabrook on a second pairing.

In Arizona's case, you don't pair OEL with a shutdown defenseman because you don't have to. Yandle produces more points, and points are always considered a top pairing trait, even if I personally wouldn't value them that highly, so by default you either play Ekman-Larsson or Seabrook with him. Since OEL is almost as good as Seabrook defensively, and has history with Yandle already, you would see Seabrook as a #3.

You can't just say "Team A sucks" or "Players A and B suck worse than Seabrook" as justification for why he would be a top pairing defenseman because this isn't fantasy hockey. There are lots of other factors to consider.