wjag Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Can anybody say with conviction they saw this from NJ?
fan2456 Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 I sure didn't, although I did think Flyers were not as dominent as Pittsburgh d and terrible goaltending made them look. It is interesting to see Devils relevant again with the league back to pre-lockout hockey. They won three cups by clutching, grabbing, interfering and trapping in that era. It doesn't bode well for the league if you liked the game in 2005-07
spndnchz Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Nice article about Kovalchuk. http://www.nhl.com/i...s.htm?id=631104 Ilya Kovalchuk - "For the first time in 9 years, I'm not going to the World Championship!"
spndnchz Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 The last 3 teams to eliminate the Flyers have all won the Stanley Cup. Interesting. Bakery in Philly now selling Bryzgalov's Turnovers.
darksabre Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Nice article about Kovalchuk. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=631104 I'm just gonna say it. Looks like you were right about Kovalchuk.
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 I'm just gonna say it. Looks like you were right about Kovalchuk. Hug it out
qwksndmonster Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Kovalchuk is really funny looking. And his name is fun to say. And he's good at hockey.
SwampD Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 I'm just gonna say it. Looks like you were right about Kovalchuk. We really are in Hockey Limbo (I would say Purgatory but that implies it will end. It's going to take a second coming of Gretzky). It boggles my mind that people argued and would argue to this day, that Ruff behind the bench is more important than a guy like Kovalchuk on the ice for the Sabres. With the Devils in the ECF and what looks like the Rags in as well, what was a great playoff season has certainly turned sour (only from a having to deal with the fans perspective, not from the hockey).
RazielSabre Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 We really are in Hockey Limbo (I would say Purgatory but that implies it will end. It's going to take a second coming of Gretzky). It boggles my mind that people argued and would argue to this day, that Ruff behind the bench is more important than a guy like Kovalchuk on the ice for the Sabres. With the Devils in the ECF and what looks like the Rags in as well, what was a great playoff season has certainly turned sour (only from a having to deal with the fans perspective, not from the hockey). What the hell did I miss, what half pissed idiot decided that was even a scenario worth discussing? The premise alone is all kinds of stupid. Sabres fans expected to win the cup and many are finding the fact that we didn't a little tough to swallow thats how I take it. Still, good to see Kovy having fun in the playoffs. Despite the absurd contract he deserves to be there. The last 3 teams to eliminate the Flyers have all won the Stanley Cup. Interesting. Bakery in Philly now selling Bryzgalov's Turnovers. Lmao, his line after the game was my favourite, 'it could have gone anywhere'. I have to say I was incredulous.
TrueBlueGED Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 The last 3 teams to eliminate the Flyers have all won the Stanley Cup. Interesting. Bakery in Philly now selling Bryzgalov's Turnovers. That's outstanding. No biggie though, it's not like he has 8 years left on his contract at $5.7 per....wait...he DOES? Whoops.
RazielSabre Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 That's outstanding. No biggie though, it's not like he has 8 years left on his contract at $5.7 per....wait...he DOES? Whoops. Oh come on, don't be cruel, his not DiPietro now is he.....
TrueBlueGED Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Oh come on, don't be cruel, his not DiPietro now is he..... At this point he's worse. DiPietro is only on the books 1 more year, but his cap hit is merely $4.5 million. Plus he's always hurt and gets stashed on LTIR, and depending on the contract, it might actually just be getting paid out by insurance. Bryz, however, they're totally stuck with.
RazielSabre Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 At this point he's worse. DiPietro is only on the books 1 more year, but his cap hit is merely $4.5 million. Plus he's always hurt and gets stashed on LTIR, and depending on the contract, it might actually just be getting paid out by insurance. Bryz, however, they're totally stuck with. Unless Hextall comes out of retirement Philly will never be happy with any goalie, Bryz had his moments and they should stick with him for another season imho. I understand about the contracts though but he has had his moments this year.
TrueBlueGED Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Unless Hextall comes out of retirement Philly will never be happy with any goalie, Bryz had his moments and they should stick with him for another season imho. I understand about the contracts though but he has had his moments this year. I agree, I'd definitely give him another year. There's really no reason not to unless it's for cap purposes, but even then I can't imagine anybody taking on that contract without an equally terrible contract coming back in the deal. You do have to wonder if he'll ever be as good as he was in Phoenix though, especially seeing as how well Mike Smith has played there despite being mediocre for his entire career.
darksabre Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 We really are in Hockey Limbo (I would say Purgatory but that implies it will end. It's going to take a second coming of Gretzky). It boggles my mind that people argued and would argue to this day, that Ruff behind the bench is more important than a guy like Kovalchuk on the ice for the Sabres. With the Devils in the ECF and what looks like the Rags in as well, what was a great playoff season has certainly turned sour (only from a having to deal with the fans perspective, not from the hockey). I'm sure some argued that point, but it wouldn't have been me. I chose to remain silent on the Kovalchuk issue while others debated the merits and detractors of having him as a Sabre. I'm sure I ragged him at some points this season for some colossal mistakes he was making defensively, but I don't think I ever decided whether having him here would have been a bad thing. I know many were against him purely because of his history and his nationality. I don't think they were inherently wrong in their arguments, but it seems that his talent really has found a place on that New Jersey team. We could probably have fit him in here.
spndnchz Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Thing is Kovy is playing differently. A number of times last night I saw him forechecking or backchecking or at least staying in the d-zone until the puck got free. He's always been a great scorer but his d-game is much better. He's accepted the Devils' system.
TrueBlueGED Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 I wasn't on the board while the debate was raging, but among those I have talked to elsewhere, one of the main points of contention was the length of Kovalchuk's deal. I would personally love Kovalchuk on the team right now...but in another 11 years? Not so sure. I think Kovalchuk as your star player in his prime and Kovalchuk as your franchise cornerstone until he retires aren't necessarily equivalent ideas. As far as the Devils go, it's working out great right now and if they win a Cup there won't be any second-guessing, but if they can't afford Parise because of Kovy's contract, are they really better off long term?
SDS Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Thing is Kovy is playing differently. A number of times last night I saw him forechecking or backchecking or at least staying in the d-zone until the puck got free. He's always been a great scorer but his d-game is much better. He's accepted the Devils' system. And this was always the unknown. People wanted to put ALL their eggs in a guy's basket with all world talent and a debatable attitude. People want to run Stafford out of here for a similar combo. You can't control how a player decides the play in the future. If AK has decided to step up then good for him, he could have easily just mailed it in and took the money.
shrader Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 At this point he's worse. DiPietro is only on the books 1 more year, but his cap hit is merely $4.5 million. Plus he's always hurt and gets stashed on LTIR, and depending on the contract, it might actually just be getting paid out by insurance. Bryz, however, they're totally stuck with. DiPietro had a 15 year deal, so he's still on the books for 9 more years.
TrueBlueGED Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 DiPietro had a 15 year deal, so he's still on the books for 9 more years. Right, and Bryz is on the books for 8 more years. My point was DiPietro gets a season-ending injury on a seemingly annual basis, so the Isles at least get some cap relief with LTIR and possibly monetary relief through insurance on the contract.
spndnchz Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Right, and Bryz is on the books for 8 more years. My point was DiPietro gets a season-ending injury on a seemingly annual basis, so the Isles at least get some cap relief with LTIR and possibly monetary relief through insurance on the contract. The Isles haven't been close to the cap, might I say, never. They've always got 14-18 million in space.
Taro T Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Unless Hextall comes out of retirement Philly will never be happy with any goalie, Bryz had his moments and they should stick with him for another season imho. I understand about the contracts though but he has had his moments this year. With the contract he has, how can they NOT stick with him for at least a couple more years? So what's up with the water in the Delaware River that makes goalies and politicians idiots?
Fire Lindy Ruff NOW Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 bryzgalov will be better after this. hes still a big time goalie to me.
shrader Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 The Isles haven't been close to the cap, might I say, never. They've always got 14-18 million in space. Which means they're one of the teams fighting to stay above the floor. They're not going to do anything to remove his cap hit.
Sabre Dance Posted May 9, 2012 Report Posted May 9, 2012 Nice spear by Little Danny Briere at the bench. Gamesmanship and cheapshots at their finest on display when a team seems to know the end is near on their cup dreams for another year. I still love Brieres heart though. Man wants to win. I liked the Devils' player's response - he grabbed Briere's stick and took it with him to the bench.
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