Around the NHL - The dog days of the season

[Honour Over Glory]

It’s funny, but his personality will.

His championships and gold medal, plus likely being 3rd in playoff and RS wins is nothing to sneeze at. Plus the fact he’s been to 5 SCF. 3 as a starter.

Crazy that he’s a HOF though. I really don’t think he deserves to be. But, his resume isn’t like an Osgood. Especially after last year’s run.

I think he's earned it. When his career is over, there's a good chance he'll finish close to 600 wins. That's still impressive. People diminished so much of what he did and then they tried to play off last year as some fluke as well. I'd be happy for the guy if/when he gets to the hall. People that think Sid and Geno propelled anyone to win didn't see when Fleury was bad, we were damn bad too.

 

[heysmilinstrange]

If people have diminished anything about Fleury's career, it's his legacy of choking on big stages, with 2 exceptions. But I agree that he will probably make the Hall of Fame.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

If people have diminished anything about Fleury's career, it's his legacy of choking on big stages, with 2 exceptions. But I agree that he will probably make the Hall of Fame.

He wasn't the only person that choked those years.

 

[heysmilinstrange]

He wasn't the only person that choked those years.

No, he just did it the most frequently, with the most intensity.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

No, he just did it the most frequently, with the most intensity.

Yeah but you also can't forget when he was good as well.

 

[EightyOne]

MAF is just frustrating. He'd make a game long series of amazing saves and focused tending, only to misplay it behind the net and lose.

He has decent enough wins totals, GAA and SV%, plus multiple Stanley Cup wins that he'll be a real strong candidate.

He'd be a shoe-in if he'd managed to ever get personal trophies, too.

But I think his longevity of playing at a high level will do it.

Modern goaltending is hard to rate. Well, harder to rate than the decades up to the mid90s I think. Skaters are so good that 4th liners have skill enough to score pretty goals. A talented goalie can only do so much anymore if the team in front can't help out. You plop Dryden out there today, we probably complain he sucks.

 

[ZeroPucksGiven]

Yeah but you also can't forget when he was good as well.

Like it or lump it, that's the nature of the goaltending position.

No one remembers that the defense got walked and you had to contend against 4 breakaways per game. They remember the flopping and putting goals in on yourself and from behind the net and unscreened shots going in.

This isn't bias because I follow the team, but I've never seen an NHL goalie melt down right before my eyes like that

 

[Shady Machine]

It’s funny, but his personality will.

His championships and gold medal, plus likely being 3rd in playoff and RS wins is nothing to sneeze at. Plus the fact he’s been to 5 SCF. 3 as a starter.

Crazy that he’s a HOF though. I really don’t think he deserves to be. But, his resume isn’t like an Osgood. Especially after last year’s run.

Agreed. I don't think he's achieved enough personal greatness to deserve it, but he's had plenty of team success and earning Cup finals with another team shows he wasn't just a product of Pittsburgh.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Fleury will likely be a guy who essentially gets in due to longevity. He's been really good for a very long time. I don't think I'd put him in, but I get it.

 

[td_ice]

MAF has 5 SO but a .908 sv percentage!?! That is weird.

That is weird.

He is up to .910 now.

Subban, his backup, .895. Which either he sucks, or shows how great MAF is playing. Or combo of the two.

 

[BHD]

The more he plays, the more I think he'll get in. If hockey writers (the ones with more sway) are making a case for Osgood, then I think they'll do the same for MAF.

Just to be clear... I would ecstatic if he got in. However, I would hesitate to vote for him if I was indifferent to the sweater he wore.

 

[BHD]

Haha. Watching the Caps try to skate their way through Nashville's 1-3-1 in the NZ.

5-3 Preds. The Caps look really uncomfortable making plays right now.

 

[BHD]

Down 5-3 with a few minutes left, Ovechkin and Wilson have reverted to headhunting.

Ovechkin punches Hartman in the face. 2:00 5-on-3 for the Preds, and that should be game.

 

[BHD]

And Orpik killing a 5-on-3 went about as well as you'd expect - with the other team scoring. 6-3 Preds.

 

[BHD]

Oh boy, Wilson is out there with the game out of reach.

 

[heysmilinstrange]

Oh boy, Wilson is out there with the game out of reach.

No way!

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Haha. Watching the Caps try to skate their way through Nashville's 1-3-1 in the NZ.

5-3 Preds. The Caps look really uncomfortable making plays right now.

I'm curious how well Reirden does in the playoffs. When you're pushed to plan against an opponent and it's a battle of wits, its when you really see how good a coach is.

 

[BHD]

I'm curious how well Reirden does in the playoffs. When you're pushed to plan against an opponent and it's a battle of wits, its when you really see how good a coach is.

Indeed. When he replaced Trotz, I was curious to see how much would be him bringing in new ideas to the table vs. him taking over from what Trotz put in place.

 

[Andy99]

Haha. Watching the Caps try to skate their way through Nashville's 1-3-1 in the NZ.

5-3 Preds. The Caps look really uncomfortable making plays right now.

This is what pissed me off about last year’s POs against the Caps...I always said we should use the trap against them and we could win the games, and we never did....I think it’s a good strategy to use against them...turn the tables on them

 

[BHD]

This is what pissed me off about last year’s POs against the Caps...I always said we should use the trap against them and we could win the games, and we never did....I think it’s a good strategy to use against 5em...turn the tables on them

They did during both Cup years, and it worked. However, they've become lackadaisical in that area over the years. What will be key, though, is limiting the TURNOVERS. How many of the Caps' goals were a direct result of poor puck management? The Preds didn't give them the opportunity to do anything with the puck after taking the lead this afternoon.

 

[ColePens]

The Sens are the f***ing worst. Absolutely awful.

 

[Turin]

Can the Isles just leave? You’re not winning the Cup, just go away.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Literally everyone keeps winning around us. Please stop.

 

[td_ice]

The Sens are the ****ing worst. Absolutely awful.

Avalanche fans have to be super excited.

 

[Gurglesons]

Avalanche fans have to be super excited.

I feel like Colorado and Buffalo are going to be the next dominant teams. Toronto needs to win in the next couple years and their D is going to take some major hits when they lose Hainsey, Gardnier, etc.