zero idea.

he is definitely a weird player mentally.

he used to be god awful at shootouts too.
- stayinthefnnet

He's got that Soviet work ethic, tho, right? Seen vids of his summer training sessions... pretty intense, exacting stuff. You'd think he'd be practicing the poop out of draws... god knows he has the hand/eye, size and quickness to win 'em.

Major homer glasses on both sides in play

I feel like Giroux is also prone to playing with a chip on his shoulder due to his slightly smaller size. I think we all know the look he gets when he's about to just go and win a game.

I've never liked Malkin, but I can't deny how good he is. Brought me so much joy seeing Coots play against him in '11-'12.
- kcm57

i try to be as objective as possible. i think malkin has the best skillset in the league. that being said, for as good as he is, i dont think he mentally allows himself to be as good as he can be.

and i agree with the chip on his shoulder about giroux. and that is a positive intangible that i consider to be a major feather in his cap. (whereas with malkin, it is 50/50 as to whether such mental drive will result in him elevating his game, or taking a bad penalty because he is frustrated)

but put it this way. i understand malkin allowed coots to get the better of him in that series. but how good of a player are you when all everyone remembers is you being neutered by the opposition, when you actually put up a ppg pace?

He's got that Soviet work ethic, tho, right? Seen vids of his summer training sessions... pretty intense, exacting stuff. You'd think he'd be practicing the poop out of draws... god knows he has the hand/eye, size and quickness to win 'em.
- Tomahawk

yeah. he is an enigma.

hes not the typical money chasing, lazy russian who only floats and disappears in playoff time.

he does care, and does work hard. but, mentally, he can most generously be described as inconsistent.

he has the size, speed, and wingspan to be a smothering defender. he is good for one miraculous backcheck a week which saves a goal. but then he could follow it up by really just shuffling around in his own end for a while.

even on offense, he is confusing. one of the best shots going. has shown he can put up 50 goals before. but more often, he is inclined to pass. then, many times when it would behoove him to involve his teammates, he attempts to weave through 3 defenders on his own, getting through two only to lose it to the third.

i love him, but he is just such a confusing player.

i try to be as objective as possible. i think malkin has the best skillset in the league. that being said, for as good as he is, i dont think he mentally allows himself to be as good as he can be.

and i agree with the chip on his shoulder about giroux. and that is a positive intangible that i consider to be a major feather in his cap. (whereas with malkin, it is 50/50 as to whether such mental drive will result in him elevating his game, or taking a bad penalty because he is frustrated)

but put it this way. i understand malkin allowed coots to get the better of him in that series. but how good of a player are you when all everyone remembers is you being neutered by the opposition, when you actually put up a ppg pace?
- stayinthefnnet

At the end of the day, they're both franchise centers that any team would be lucky to have. I don't think we'll ever convince each other with respect to one player over the other. They both shine in specific areas and could improve in others.

I'd take Kopitar over G. JT is really close. Johansen, too.

The rest... meh. Toews is overrated, IMO.
- Tomahawk

damn. i respect the hell out of johansen, but im surprised youre ready to hold him up to this level. this soon anyway.

Key to the game in my opinion, is to stay out of the penalty box., and if they do take penalties, kill them off. If they can get out of this game without giving up a PP goal or two, I think they can win it. They should have the advantage with the way the schedule sets up.
- MJL

The last time we faced the Bolts, I believe Emery was in net and Stamkos notched two goals. The first from far out where Giroux normally set up, a shot I still can't explain how it went in and the other I feel we gave to him. His second never should have happened.

At the end of the day, they're both franchise centers that any team would be lucky to have. I don't think we'll ever convince each other with respect to one player over the other. They both shine in specific areas and could improve in others.
- kcm57

if you told me you were starting a team, and got to pick one, and you went giroux. i dont think there is any definitive way to disagree. you said it best. theyre both top line guys, with edges over each other in some ways.

malkin, the more natural talent. giroux, that fire. especially as your captain, i would agree. giroux's intangibles make him better fit to lead a franchise.

Lucic got caught and then he


- wolfhounds

Yep. Perfect illustration of what kind of player he is. I wouldn't like him even if he played for the Flyers.

zero idea.

he is definitely a weird player mentally.

he used to be god awful at shootouts too.
- stayinthefnnet

I'LL TELL YOU WHY HE'S BAD AT IT! HE WAS BORN IN RUSSIA11!1!!

/Don Cherry'd

damn. i respect the hell out of johansen, but im surprised youre ready to hold him up to this level. this soon anyway.
- stayinthefnnet

Johansen has the kind of potential to be another Tavares or Getzlaf. He's got the size and snarl to go with elite skills. He could be a top 2 or 3 center by his prime.

Johansen has the kind of potential to be another Tavares or Getzlaf. He's got the size and snarl to go with elite skills. He could be a top 2 or 3 center by his prime.
- Jsaquella

for sure. i just dont know if currently i would place him there yet.

Johansen has the kind of potential to be another Tavares or Getzlaf. He's got the size and snarl to go with elite skills. He could be a top 2 or 3 center by his prime.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, his developmental trajectory has been damned impressive.

Imagine if he actually had some more productive wingers.

I'LL TELL YOU WHY HE'S BAD AT IT! HE WAS BORN IN RUSSIA11!1!!

/Don Cherry'd
- johndewar

damn reds.

Yeah, his developmental trajectory has been damned impressive.

Imagine if he actually had some more productive wingers.
- Tomahawk

if you could trade giroux for him, one for one right now. would you?

for sure. i just dont know if currently i would place him there yet.
- stayinthefnnet

If you're rebuilding, and looking at a couple seasons away, he'd be my top choice. If you're closer, maybe I go another direction

if you could trade giroux for him, one for one right now. would you?
- stayinthefnnet

I would, but I'd do it with a very heavy heart and a heaping dose of trepidation.

I would, but I'd do it with a very heavy heart and a heaping dose of trepidation.
- Tomahawk

hey, kudos to you for having balls of brass in your conviction.

i really dont know if i would.

if you are dead set on waiting for these defensive prospects, then yeah maybe. because then the age gap between him and giroux could be huge.

allows for a much more simultaneous growth.

If you're rebuilding, and looking at a couple seasons away, he'd be my top choice. If you're closer, maybe I go another direction
- Jsaquella

makes sense.

That is clearly just your opinion.
- GOA88

Absolutely.

if you could trade giroux for him, one for one right now. would you?
- stayinthefnnet

Absolutely not.

hey, kudos to you for having balls of brass in your conviction.

i really dont know if i would.

if you are dead set on waiting for these defensive prospects, then yeah maybe. because then the age gap between him and giroux could be huge.

allows for a much more simultaneous growth.
- stayinthefnnet

I just feel like he has a bit more ceiling, even though he's already a ppg guy at such a young age. Like Thornton, took awhile to get going, but will be a veritable offensive juggernaut for years and years, but more like Sundin in terms of style.

I just feel like he has a bit more ceiling, even though he's already a ppg guy at such a young age. Like Thornton, took awhile to get going, but will be a veritable offensive juggernaut for years and years, but more like Sundin in terms of style.
- Tomahawk

i do agree that he is going to be a heck of a player. good for columbus though. they could use a franchise guy.

if murray works out on defense, they could really be set.

johannsen, murray, bob. theres your 1C, 1D, and good goalie.

then sprinkle in those heart and soul guys like jenner.

i think foligno leaves. like him as a complementary piece, but think he is going to cash in big time after this insane year.

Yep. Perfect illustration of what kind of player he is. I wouldn't like him even if he played for the Flyers.
- Scoob

Before Lucic won his Cup I would have welcomed him with open arms. He was a big, tough guy who backed down from nobody and was still able to put the puck in the net. He was easily the besr Power Forward in the game at this time but then something changed after that Championship victory.

Prior to Lucic's Cup win, Wayne Simmonds was a third line winger for LA without PP time. Wayne Simmonds has had better offensive production then Lucic the past three seasons, one of the best in the game along wall and top three in PP goals each season. Simmonds might not be built like Todd Fedork in terms of being a power forward but the entire league wishes they had him. Not to mention he's a clear cut leader for this team.


Wayne Simmonds is better.

Getzlaf, seguin, kopitar, toews are better.

Can argue krecji, sedin, Tavares, p Bergeron, Malkin, johannsen also
- Just5

Oh wait I get it..this is one of those posts where the past 5 years dont matter..
In that case give me Akergretzky over Giroux any day.

i do agree that he is going to be a heck of a player. good for columbus though. they could use a franchise guy.

if murray works out on defense, they could really be set.

johannsen, murray, bob. theres your 1C, 1D, and good goalie.

then sprinkle in those heart and soul guys like jenner.

i think foligno leaves. like him as a complementary piece, but think he is going to cash in big time after this insane year.
- stayinthefnnet

Yeah, won't be fun to play them for the next 2-3 years. Isles and Jackets leapfrogging the Flyers... meh.