NHL '09/'10 Season Thread

STDiva

STDiva

rodfarva said:
I agree completely. I think Crosby is hands down the best hockey player in the world. I was one of the many people who believed Ovechkin was better because of his previously superior goal-scoring skills, which I look at as far more important than playmaking skills, but my opinion has changed in regard to the Crosby/Ovechkin debate for several reasons.

At first I believed, like many others, that Ovechkin was the superior defensive player, mainly due to his many bone-jarring hits, but after watching both players play numerous times over many years, it has become obvious to me that Crosby is a vastly superior defensive player. In the offensive end, Crosby is one of the most effective forecheckers in the league, and his stick lift is NHL 10-esque. When he's in the defensive end, which obviously isn't very often, he takes away scoring chances as well as any other forward in the game, including Ryan Kesler and Pavel Datsyuk. If he were sent out there to play that role, he would be a perennial candidate for the Frank J. Selke Award (awarded to the best defensive forward every year). However, he is far more valuable when sent on the ice to score (obviously).

Additionally, Ovechkin's reckless abandon is something he needs to work on in order to improve as a player, specifically defensively. A big hit can help the team, yes, but when you play with the type of reckless abandon that Ovechkin does, you're going to take bad penalties, which he does, and possibly get suspended, which he was this season. What Ovechkin should try to do instead is cut off passing angles and anticipate where the puck is going to be, which is a much more intelligent and effective defensive strategy than trying to line a guy up and cream him.

Ovechkin has a flashy style and is a major showboat. Crosby has been labelled as Crysby by many haters, but he hasn't whined about a single thing since his rookie season. He has gone about his business with exceptional class and professionalism. Even when Steve Downie tried to break is leg, he didn't complain about it one bit. The only times he showed any kind of overt celebration were when he won the Stanley Cup and when he scored the gold-medal-winning goal in the Olympics, and I think we can allow a person to act like an ecstatic maniac in those kinds of situations.

As I mentioned earlier, I believe goal-scoring to be much more valuable than playmaking. Some of you may have heard about this, it's been mentioned on hockey broadcasts a few times, but Crosby has played with a flat stick blade his entire career up until this season because it allowed him to use his backhand pass much more effectively, which is part of what made him such a great playmaker. This season, however, Crosby decided to start curving his stick blade so as to score more goals. As a result, a Maurice Richard Trophy. In his first season using a curved stick, he eclipsed the world in goal-scoring, that's pretty impressive.

That said, Ovechkin does have the superior raw skills, seeing as how he finished with the same amount of points and just one fewer goal than Crosby in nine fewer games played. I just think that Crosby is a better all-around player and a much more intelligent hockey player. I would also say that he's a better leader and has achieved a lot more than Ovechkin in his career so far.

But that is just my opinion. Anyone who feels like Ovechkin is the best player is well within the realm of reasonability to believe so.

P.S. I do believe that Stamkos is a sick player, but I would have to say that the race for the best player in the world is still a two-horse one. If hockey fans were asked who they thought the best player in the world is, I think pretty close to 100% of them would say either Crosby or Ovechkin. However, I think at this point, the race for the third best player in the world is done and over with, it's Stamkos.
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I think Stamkos needs a couple more seasons playing at the same level he did this season to be considered a top 3 player in the world. There is still guys like Malkin, H.Sedin, Nash, Heatley, Kovalchuk etc, that have consistently been at the top of the stat sheets. Stamkos top 10? Maaaaaybe. Top 3? Not yet.
 
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nearlyinvisible

STDiva said:
Crosby. He's the perfect player. He could lead the league in goals, assists or both. He carries his team on his shoulders when they need him and he's fucking clutch.
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Here's two scary facts about Crosby:

1. He's still very young and will continue to get better

2. He's never played with a good, let alone above average wing on his line (exception: Hossa for a couple of months in 2008). Mind you Ovechkin plays with Backstrom and Semin, both awesome players. If the Pens can ever get Crosby a solid wing, he will be unstoppable. I'm hoping Eric Tangredi will be that guy.
 
L

LukeEl

I am a failure to the Korean side of my family
nearlyinvisible said:
Here's two scary facts about Crosby:

1. He's still very young and will continue to get better

2. He's never played with a good, let alone above average wing on his line (exception: Hossa for a couple of months in 2008). Mind you Ovechkin plays with Backstrom and Semin, both awesome players. If the Pens can ever get Crosby a solid wing, he will be unstoppable. I'm hoping Eric Tangredi will be that guy.
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3. He is Gary Betteman's love child!
 
L

LukeEl

I am a failure to the Korean side of my family
PlasmaTwa2 said:
Anderson has been the story of these playoffs so far. He is the reason San Jose might not make it past the Avalanche. Goddamn is he stepping up.
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I like Pekka Rinne from Nashville, too bad he didn't get any team support last night. But Anderson going from Florida to Colorado was a good trade.
 
rodfarva

rodfarva

STDiva said:
Wasn't he a free agent?
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Yeah, he was signed this offseason by Colorado. He earned a shot at being the starter somewhere else after actually earning the starting job AWAY from Tomas Vokoun for part of last season with the Panthers. That is no small feat when you consider how good a goaltender Vokoun is.
 
gargaden

gargaden

If Ovechkin & the Caps win the Cup this year ,,,, where does the argument elevate to ????? Can't wait .... I think any sane Hockey fan would love to have Crosby ,,,Ovechkin ,,,,or Stamkos on their team ....:cool:

My pre-season prediction was Caps/Canucks in the finals ,,,,, but,,,,,,,,.........:dunno:
 
Wizard Sleeves

Wizard Sleeves

gargaden said:
If Ovechkin & the Caps win the Cup this year ,,,, where does the argument elevate to ????? Can't wait .... I think any sane Hockey fan would love to have Crosby ,,,Ovechkin ,,,,or Stamkos on their team ....:cool:
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1. It would just lead to more debate...
2. I'd rather have Sean Avery. :thumbsup:
 
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Bloodshot Scott

LA jersey's pretty dope huh?

Poor Canucks fans. They have this high-powered offence and a great goalie and they are down in the series to the Kings. Should have won game 2, but they didn't. Kings win game 4 and they are in trouble. :D
 
rodfarva

rodfarva

Bloodshot Scott said:
LA jersey's pretty dope huh?

Poor Canucks fans. They have this high-powered offence and a great goalie and they are down in the series to the Kings. Should have won game 2, but they didn't. Kings win game 4 and they are in trouble. :D
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The Canucks may look like a better team on paper, but their defence is highly questionable. The Kings DO have enough offensive firepower to keep up with the Canucks and their defence is much much better, I mean, their defence is awesome. Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson, Rob Scuderi, Matt Greene, Sean O'Donnell, with Peter Harrold/Randy Jones filling out that sixth spot, that is some major depth on defence. That's why the Kings are winning. The Canucks may have an edge on offence, and arguably in net (although I think Quick is out-performing Luongo right now), but on defence the Canucks are very weak and the Kings are one of the strongest. I already predicted a Kings victory, and the first three games of the series have done nothing to change my opinion.

P.S. Hopefully not though, I really want to see a Canucks/Sens Stanley Cup Final.
 
Wizard Sleeves

Wizard Sleeves

4 minutes into the 3rd of the Pens/Sens game. The Pens are clicking on all cylinders, currently leading the game 6-3. Pretty good game so far despite the 3 goal difference...We'll see how she plays out.
 
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