[QUOTE=Vonzipper;6294118]Crosby needs to just shut it down for the year... is it his job to sell tickets for Pittsburgh.../QUOTE]

Actually forget about Pittsburgh (as he can buy all the tickets to all the games)...

Its about the "selling" of the game South of the 45th Parallel.

You might like Hockey but most American could not give a Rat A$$ about the game.

See below: Everyone else acts like they feel the same way but its time to move on.
-If Sid can regain his previous level of play and Maulkin remains healthy, look for them to be in the hunt.
-The Preds are going to use the momentum from last year and go even higher in the standings. They may end up in the conference finals.
-The Caps will look strong but crash and burn in the playoffs.
-The Sabres will surprise a lot of folks and make a strong showing in the playoffs.
-The Wings, Habs, and Canucks will have their moments but won't be able to get traction.
-The Blackhawks will be strong and steady throughout the year.
-Any team without an almost perfect goalie will flounder (Brodeur will call it quits at the end of the year).
-The Bruins (yeah, I know, I'm biased) have almost the exact same team as last year. They aren't scrambling to find someone to fill Savard's slot and they have greater depth and skill on the power-play line ups. Chara, Thomas, Thorton, Horton, Bergeron, Lucic, Seidenberg, all look healthy and ready to go. They will be in the conference finals and probably play in the Stanley Cup finals.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1317860276.jpg

Legal Dept Disclaimer: All bets are off pending injuries

Also:
-Brenndan Shanahan will become the most talked about guy in the NHL. He will be either exalted or cursed throughout the year but he will be consistent. "Shanaban" will be a household word.
-The Wings will move to the east beginning in 2012-2013.
-No one will love Gary Bettman (except for 1990C4S).

Is that serious enough?

Better than Barry Melrose ;)

Let the season begin!!

So take him, and you will have a great regular season. But when the playoffs come he will fold, as he always has. Starting with the world junoirs, and ending with the NHL playoffs. He is good, but he never stepped up when it matters. Never.

Gary Bettman is a genius. Nineteen years running the NHL (yes, 19 I think). And a paltry salary of $7.5M last year.

That my friends, is pure genius.

No! Not Alex!
Urban Dictionary: ovechkin
Ovechkin 63 up, 96 down
v.- choke
adj.- overrated

Alex Ovechkin is the Capitals "captain" who led his team to a failed game 7 against the Penguins in 2009, Russia to elimination in the 2010 Olympics against Canada (and Sidney Crosby) and a game 7 loss in the first round against 8th seed Montreal in 2010. Three HUGE losses in less than a year? Sounds like choking to me.

v- Take small bites, you might Ovechkin.

v- I hope my team doesn't Ovechkin in the finals.

adj- Everybody thinks that car is so great, but it's Ovechkin.

Lots of Connaisseur...
 

Extract from the above link;

Alexander Ovechkin, of the Washington Capitals. The nastiest player in the NHL, he makes a habit out of making people look like idiots even in his first season . . .

Regardless of the hype, Ovechkin is much better than Krosby.

I agree since Krosby never made it past Pee Wee...

Sure this didn't come out because of the 72 super series? the whole Russian-Canadian thing?
I think there is a ton of guys that you can say that with, the one thing i will agree with you on is Crosby can get it done when it counts, I'm just not a fan of the after the whistle antics.

OOhhhh, you guys are nasty. :D

I'm taking two years off and looking for WINNIPEG in 2014 (my old hometown). Prediction based on... league reshuffling and faerie dust.

Feel free to quote me.

Crosby is definately the best current player in the game.

I would give Geno a nod for second.

Ovi, well how many cups does Ovi have?

Technically, as of today, Crosby is the best player on the IR list. IF he has the same skills when he comes back he will be one of the best current players. Let's hope he does for the sake of the sport.

Tons of guys? Name another player in the last 20 years with O.V.'s talent and a similarly abysmal post season/big game record. He succeeds when the going is easy. He fails when the going gets tough, not occasionally, but every single time.

But yes, the first part is true.

Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau.... want me to keep going?

Both are Olympic Gold Medalists. And they didn't ride the bench, they contributed. Both won a World Junior Championship.

So yes, keep going. And while they are both 'good', possibly 'great' players, neither one has OV's skill set. Neither one would be a first choice to start a new team, arguably, for some, OV would.

My company had the Cup a few weeks ago:


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318110789.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318110837.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318110967.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318111022.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318111049.jpg

That is awesome Monza. Here's a few humerous pics from the B's website:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318111716.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318111727.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318111741.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318111753.jpg

Then had the chance to see them raise the banner.

Pretty awesome display:



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318111532.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318111552.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318111576.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318111620.jpg

Anyone here subscribe to nhl center ice?

I watch all (or a good part of) over 100 games per year without center ice I don't need to feed my illness more than that.

I think that is the 'replica Cup', yes? The real Cup stays in The Hockey Hall of Fame I believe. (It has Peter Pocklington's father's name stamped into it, the X'ed out, whereas that 'error' is not on the replica Cup. IIRC.)

Still a cool thing to see in person....