I have thought Karlsson was the best player in hockey for several years now. In my fist tier I have Tavares, Stamkos, Karlsson, Kane and Doughty. I leave out the older guys who are now past peak and in decline (most notably Crosby).

Next year the overtime will be 3 on 3. This is when you will see these players ( and others like them dominate). Actually be a great tournament if those top players could pick two guys each plus a goalie and have at it.

So, when I say Karlsson is the best player I see him as so much more than as just a Dman. There would be better defensive players. Nobody would dispute this. But as the one guy you want on the ice in overtime, give me Karlsson every time. I think the Sens will win a Stanley Cup (not this year). And it will be because of Karlsson.
- spatso

Homer Much?

EK is like having a winger play D - let's not get carried away...hes terrible defensively...ever wonder why they had to go 20-1 and needed to get lucky with an AHL goalie to just make the playoffs?

Go Sens Go
- Garnie

poor leaf fans..............after years of watching that poop show in toronto, you clearly have no idea what or how hockey is supposed to look like.

that's okay, we'll take the opinions of hockey experts, GMs, coaches, statistics, etc, etc, etc that all say he's actually a good (not elite) defensive player.

thanks for coming out........i believe the golf channel is like 80something on rogers.

So if the Leafs haven't sniffed the Cup finals in 48 years.

And the Habs haven't sniffed a Cup final in 22 years.

Does that make the Habs the Half-Leafs?

So then, show the Half-Leafs no respeck, and make their Captain cry on Therrien's shoulder once again!

Not only did it work, the amazing thing is some Sens fans actually goobled it up.
- habfanforever

i said that EK is given permission to rush because he's able to turn around and get back...................and then i wondered why subban isn't given the same freedom? there has to be a reason. is your coach not good enough to realize the type of weapon he (supposedly) has, or are there holes in subban's game that don't allow him to get back and cover?
- sensarmy_11

Not all teams run with 1 d 1 c and 3 wingers

Habs 1st - Sens 8th

Hmmmm, you think they're using Subban improperly?

Not all teams run with 1 d 1 c and 3 wingers

Habs 1st - Sens 8th

Hmmmm, you think they're using Subban improperly?
- Garnie

you math do good

Well this thread sure got out of control quickly

Well here's what I think: one group of fans is going to be eating a lot of crow after the first game Wednesday. I don't think it's going to be a close one. I think one side is going to get properly schooled. The thing is, I'm not actually sure which side. Maybe the Sens, maybe not.

First off, I have to chuckle at all the (Habs) fans that are confidently proclaiming that the past 6-8 weeks mean NOTHING. Haha, yeah right. As noted, the Sens have been playing playoff hockey for the past 6-8 weeks. I think that's a huge advantage. Also, Hammond is as cool as a cucumber. Are they burnt out? Of course not.... their all 22 years old for God's sake!

The thing about the Sens for me is still consistency. There are two teams that could show up any given night... the team that was entirely unexceptional, but beat the Rangers and Flyers last week (who weren't trying very hard). Or the team that stormed back from 3-0 to beat the Pens. That team is potentially a Stanley Cup Champion. I'm just not sure when that team shows up? Is it only when they are facing absurd adversity? We'll see.

Frankly, my biggest concern is the quality and fairness of the (Montreal) reffing...
Anyway, may the best team win. This series is going to be awesome!

GSG
- sgoodwin

The refs favoring Montreal is one of the biggest fallacies in the NHL today. They are the 11th most penalized team this year and they rank 20th in PP opportunities. We can hardly call that favoritism so can we put that old and very used idea to rest?

Well this thread sure got out of control quickly

Well here's what I think: one group of fans is going to be eating a lot of crow after the first game Wednesday. I don't think it's going to be a close one. I think one side is going to get properly schooled. The thing is, I'm not actually sure which side. Maybe the Sens, maybe not.

First off, I have to chuckle at all the (Habs) fans that are confidently proclaiming that the past 6-8 weeks mean NOTHING. Haha, yeah right. As noted, the Sens have been playing playoff hockey for the past 6-8 weeks. I think that's a huge advantage. Also, Hammond is as cool as a cucumber. Are they burnt out? Of course not.... their all 22 years old for God's sake!

The thing about the Sens for me is still consistency. There are two teams that could show up any given night... the team that was entirely unexceptional, but beat the Rangers and Flyers last week (who weren't trying very hard). Or the team that stormed back from 3-0 to beat the Pens. That team is potentially a Stanley Cup Champion. I'm just not sure when that team shows up? Is it only when they are facing absurd adversity? We'll see.

Frankly, my biggest concern is the quality and fairness of the (Montreal) reffing...
Anyway, may the best team win. This series is going to be awesome!

GSG
- sgoodwin

The refs favoring Montreal is one of the biggest fallacies in the NHL today. They are the 11th most penalized team this year and they rank 20th in PP opportunities. We can hardly call that favoritism so can we put that old and very used idea to rest?

- DoubleDown

yeah, not female doging at all.................
- sensarmy_11

Again, I don't care, its their loss.

i said that EK is given permission to rush because he's able to turn around and get back...................and then i wondered why subban isn't given the same freedom? there has to be a reason. is your coach not good enough to realize the type of weapon he (supposedly) has, or are there holes in subban's game that don't allow him to get back and cover?
- sensarmy_11

Honestly one could easily argue that Karlsson is a first line winger rather than a defenseman. Subban does not have that freedom because of the system the coach has installed.

poor leaf fans..............after years of watching that poop show in toronto, you clearly have no idea what or how hockey is supposed to look like.

that's okay, we'll take the opinions of hockey experts, GMs, coaches, statistics, etc, etc, etc that all say he's actually a good (not elite) defensive player.

thanks for coming out........i believe the golf channel is like 80something on rogers.
- sensarmy_11

Sure

Honestly one could easily argue that Karlsson is a first line winger rather than a defenseman. Subban does not have that freedom because of the system the coach has installed.
- habfanforever

only stupid people who know nothing about hockey argue that.

The refs favoring Montreal is one of the biggest fallacies in the NHL today. They are the 11th most penalized team this year and they rank 20th in PP opportunities. We can hardly call that favoritism so can we put that old and very used idea to rest?
- habfanforever

i disagree with most of what you've written, but i agree with this.

the 'blame the refs" excuse is weak, when ANYONE does it.

you math do good
- sensarmy_11

Pretty cocky for a team that barely squeaked in.

I'm cheering for them, but some fans are delusional...you seem to be driving that bus.

ALL ABOARD

I think this should be a really close series. Unfortunately I think there may be a few things working against the Senators continuing their amazing run.

Price - he could easily get into Ottawa's heads early. He is the best goalie in hockey and will be tough to overcome. If he gets on an early roll he could win this series for Montreal on his own.

Karlsson - he is playing hurt. He has been for about 6 or 7 games now. There is a reason he hasn't even taken a game day skate for two weeks. He did look like he was moving better in the Philly game Saturday. But make no mistake about it - he is not 100% right now. He has not been jumping up into the rush like he had been and guys are beating him wide. He either has a hip or groin injury.

Hoffman - he was their top scorer and on pace for 35 goals. Then he took a knee to the head in Winnipeg and has not been the same player since. He is playing very soft right now. He doesn't try to beat anybody wide anymore but just hits the breaks and does a little circle (go look at video of Alexandre Daigle - exactly the same thing from another fast but soft player). He also won't drive to the net or go into traffic. There is a very valid reason he has been moved to the 4th line. The coaches are seeing that he is not the same player since that hit.

The Senators will need to overcome at least two of these challenges if they are going to win the series.

only stupid people who know nothing about hockey argue that.
- sensarmy_11

Your ad hominem is weak. You give no argument as to why it couldn't happen. Did you know Markov was originally a centerman?

only stupid people who know nothing about hockey argue that.
- sensarmy_11

Karlsson is amazing. Karlsson/Subban could decide this series as much as Hammond/Price. cannot see either team winning without their stud dman outplaying the other.

Pretty cocky for a team that barely squeaked in.

I'm cheering for them, but some fans are delusional...you seem to be driving that bus.

ALL ABOARD
- Garnie

what have i said that was delusional..................other than that you do good math?

Pretty cocky for a team that barely squeaked in.

I'm cheering for them, but some fans are delusional...you seem to be driving that bus.

ALL ABOARD
- Garnie

Barely squeeked in!!!!

We kicked the front door down and we're here to rip this place apart. Ottawa means business, don't think we got lucky for 30 games. We're the real deal

Barely squeeked in!!!!

We kicked the front door down and we're here to rip this place apart. Ottawa means business, don't think we got lucky for 30 games. We're the real deal
- tuna99

So you coasted the last 5 or so games to get prepared?

GO SENS GO ( until I draft my playoff pool )

Your ad hominem is weak. You give no argument as to why it couldn't happen. Did you know Markov was originally a centerman?
- habfanforever

why what couldn't happen? and good on markov for switching positions.....has nothign to do with the fact that karlsson is good defensively, and BY FAR the best PMD in the league.

Karlsson is amazing. Karlsson/Subban could decide this series as much as Hammond/Price. cannot see either team winning without their stud dman outplaying the other.
- DoubleDown

it's possible........outside of the goalies, they are the most important players on their teams, no doubt.

The refs favoring Montreal is one of the biggest fallacies in the NHL today. They are the 11th most penalized team this year and they rank 20th in PP opportunities. We can hardly call that favoritism so can we put that old and very used idea to rest?
- habfanforever

It's hard to expect reasonsable comments from sens fans that only watch senator games. Every time they lose, it's not because they got out played, it's because somebody hit a random sens player .002 seconds too late and therefore they missed a power play oportunity.

4 months ago this thread was just about who e should pick in the top 10, even top 5. Impressive time to be following the Sens right now. All this poop throwing is hilarious. Let the men play the games. Ottawa matches up well against Montreal, but Montreal has Carey Price. As good has Hammond's run has been, Price is still the by far better tender. I think Ottawa has the tool to pull off an upset, just like 2 years ago. Sens in 6.