Hypothetical battle: Atlantic All-Stars versus the Southeast all-stars

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 3, 2009 1:21 PM EDT in News Comment 52 comments

Over at Japers Rink they compiled a list of the Top Forwards, Defenseman and Goalies in their division last week. Here we profiled the Atlantic Division. Which begs the question: if the two divisional all-star teams were to meet, who would prevail?

The Southeast might have more individual talent; with the likes of snipers like Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and solid skilled centers like Eric Staal and Nicklas Backstrom. The Atlantic has more depth defensively and certainly has more depth in goal – the #3 ranked goalie in the SE was Atlanta’s Kari Lehtonen, compared to New York’s Henrik Lundqvist in the Atlantic. But that depth doesn’t matter in a single game.

After the jump, some lines and a prediction:

Team Atlantic

Malkin-Crosby-Parise

Gagne-Richards-Gaborik

Elias-Carter-Tavares

Langenbrunner*-J. Staal-Okposo*

Gonchar/Pronger

Timonen/Streit

Martin/Orpik

Brodeur

(Fleury)

Team Southeast

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin

Kovalchuk-Lecavalier-St. Louis

Horton-E. Staal-Booth

Little*-Stamkos-Knuble*

Ballard/Green

Pitkanen/Kubina

Enstrom/Bogosian

Ward

(Vokoun)

**Players with asterik’s next to their names indicate they didn’t make the original posts,I added them just now to fill out the roster.**

There’s plenty of firepower in this game, as nine of the Top 18 scorers in the league last season are included. Lines were made with real game scenarios in mind to keep teammates together (like Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis) for best results.

Which team would win? Although the Southeast has a tremendous amount of skill up front, the Atlantic doesn’t slouch there either. I think the Atlantic defense could slow the SE down just a little bit more than the SE defense could. I’m calling a 5-4 final for the Atlantic, though it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to me if the result was the other way around.

If you were behind the bench how would you set up the lines -- the way I did or would you let Malkin play center and adjust a guy like Carter to the wing? The possibilities are almost endless with such skill.

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Would make a good NHL gimmick

I’d go for the Atlantic Division, much better Defense in my book, but in one game, well anything could happen. Just got a thought. Dump the AS game as it is and instead have Divisional AS face off. I know there are 6 divisions, but take the “Top 4” from the inter-divisional league standings the year before, pick 4 of the divisions and have a 2 game tournament, the 2 teams in the Finals would be back the following year along with the 2 divisions that didn’t participate the previous year. Repeat process. Give fans of a division bragging rights and would be more interesting in my book than the current format. Of course mid-season All-Star games rarely evoke over 40% effort, but it’s an idea….

by Dutch71 on Aug 3, 2009 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That would be interesting….Maybe they could give the division of whoever won the conference the previous year a bye and let the other 2 divisions have a play-in game. Such as…

First round
Southeast v. Northeast
Pacific v. Northwest

Second round
Atlantic v. SE/NE winner
Central v. PAC/NW winner

Championship
Winners

It’ll never happen of course, but it would be an amusing gimmick, I think.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 3, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is off topic but I heard a rumor you guys were getting Tanguay! Anything to it?

Live & Learn

by Cathye on Aug 3, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn’t put much to it. The Pens only have about $1.8 million in cap space an Tanguay still should command almost double that much.

If he really wants to take a big discount Pittsburgh would take him in a heartbeat, but I don’t see it happening.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 3, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d love to see that, but I’d be really surprised. Who knows maybe the Pens are dealing Pascual Dupuis and his $1.4M away, Godard for that matter as well. While it does help to win the Cup in getting guys to sign for less Tanguay coming for $1.8M or less would be like Kariya signing with the Avs for a $1M, of course that didn’t work out to well for Kariya or the Avs!

by Dutch71 on Aug 3, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alex Tanguay, 10 years at $1.8M average? Could happen…

"Oh, buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!" - Mike Lange

by gorgalor on Aug 4, 2009 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love how your top SE line is all Caps.

I honestly think though that the SE could dominate this game, because through my (admittedly biased) eyes I see three lines in the SE lineup that can dominate (Ovechkin’s, Lecavalier’s, and Staal’s) but only one in the ATL, but the ATL lines play more consistently (while E. Staal for example is very streaky). ATL 6 out of 10, but SE in a playoff series in 7.

by red army line on Aug 3, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Southeast has the skill to dominate, but if whether have Cam Ward May 2009 or Cam Ward May 2006 may decide the outcome.

Brodeur may be long in the tooth, but he’s still the NHL’s all-time winner and ought to have a solid game. Cam Ward can be as dominant, but can also be a little shaky, another reason to slightly favor the Atlantic, I think.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 3, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I give Fleury the edge over Brodeur. I think Marty is done. He gave up some really questionable goals against the ‘Canes last year in the first round. I don’t know how many solid games he has left in him. That wasn’t Marty Brodeur circa 1999 giving up soft goals in the waning seconds of Game 7 against the ‘Canes. That was a 37 year old that’s lost a step. Also, Fleury has taken his game to a whole new level over the last two years. My money is on the Flower.

As far as the Southeast forwards are concerned, I doubt they’d be a very dominate bunch given the team’s blueline support. The boys in the Atlantic would have a field day tossing pucks at Ward, and the Southeast’s defensive corps wouldn’t know two bits about shutting down the onslaught. AO would probably fall asleep cherry picking at center ice waiting for a defensive clear. He might even get bored enough and skate back and help out. But I’m sure by then Pronger would try to give him a cheap elbow to the head, stomp on his ankle, or something like that when AO tries to reenter the defensive zone.

"Oh, buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!" - Mike Lange

by gorgalor on Aug 4, 2009 4:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was about consistency. When SE players play inspired hockey, there may not be anyone better. But more often that not they’re not playing their best.

by red army line on Aug 4, 2009 7:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

in the interest of full disclosure, I am a caps fan.

I’d have to agree that the Atlantic would likely win the game, but I must also say that Henrik Lundqvist would be the starting goalie for the Atlantic if I were coach.

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Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.

by Sombrero Guy on Aug 4, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brodeur i admit will probably be known as the best goalie ever, but in a one game or 7 game series if theres any goalie i would take over brodeur it’d be ward. For whatever reason, maybe its out of respect to brodeurs cred, but ward lifts his game to full potential every meaningful time he plays him.

Canes fan here, so bias and all!

by TylerA7707 on Aug 4, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The SE gets beat badly on the Defensive side. Even OV can be neutralized with good team defense, just haven’t see teams in the SE play enough consistent defense to take this game. In any case, likely we’ll never find out but fun to speculate.

by Dutch71 on Aug 3, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just basing off the Caps 07-08 playoff run: had the #1 defense after the deadline

by red army line on Aug 4, 2009 7:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Huet plays in Chicago. He gets a lot of credit for that #1 defense.

by Sct112 on Aug 4, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ya forgot one of the all time best centers…..Rod Brind’amour……and the grit of Chad LaRose………what gives? We may have hit the “wall” in the playoffs, but please do not discount some of the best players in the league!

by lrcaniac on Aug 3, 2009 9:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Roddy is holding on way too long in his career, and has definitely lost a step. He doesn’t deserve to be on an all star list at this stage of his career. He was a minus-23 last year, worst on the ‘Canes, and a career low for him, too. Time to hang up the skates, and pass the torch. Also, Brind’amour isn’t anywhere near being ranked on the best all-time centers list. He has a .829 points per game average. Check out the top-50 points per game all time here. Brind’Amour has also only lifted the cup one time…

You gotta have the cups, or the points to be considered in the “all-time” category. Rod has neither. He’s been a great player, and fan fav. He’ll always be loved by the Canes faithful. However, a little perspective is needed when it comes to him, and greatness.

"Oh, buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!" - Mike Lange

by gorgalor on Aug 4, 2009 3:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And where’s Tuomo Ruutu??? Your SE lines are seriously Cap-heavy. Expand your horizons a bit. What team had the 2nd lowest GAA in the League after the ASG break THIS SEASON (not 07-08)? The Carolina Hurricanes – and young Tim Gleason was invited to the US Olympic Team camp. Seems like that’s some defense worth accounting for.

Ya got the goalie right – not that Wardo has much SE Div competition. His “streakiness” has more to do with the changing of the coaches in Raleigh from fall to spring. He will be huge and solid this year with the D and system that we’ve got now.

BTW- lrcaniac – the Hot Springs water was 143 F ….. ;-)

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

JP and DMG selected the top 10 Southeast skaters, they’re the ones to pick a bone with on that. I did select Bryan Little and Mike Knuble to round the roster out.

I guess you could argue for LaRose over Knuble. The SE had a lot of centers, and Brind’Amour had a down year so that’s why I didn’t include him, though maybe he would have gotten selected as a faceoff specialist.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

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by Hooks Orpik on Aug 4, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brind’Amour doesn’t deserve a place if this is supposed to be based on his last season. From the Canes, I’d choose Cullen and even Jokinen above him.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If this SE roster was entirely from the Japers Rink lists, I get it. That series was about pleasing the Caps-fans readers, not a serious unbiased list of strength in the entire division. Pure homer fluff. Never mind.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry their list didn’t include enough of your favorite team’s players to be appealing to you….(which sounds like the definition of a homer).

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 4, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Kindly allow me re-state that sentence, rather than your putting words in my mouth:

I’m just sorry their list didn’t include enough of more-qualified players to be convincing to me.

It was very Cap-centric and if you read the entire comments section over at japers Rink there were lots of statistical pretzels or just wild opinions to justify their bias. Happens all the time in Washington – a way of life. The commenters on the top 10 forwards seemed almost obsessed with trashing Staal – that seemed to be the central theme. It was kind of silly.

Why didn’t you reach out to all the other SE Div SBNation bloggers for input if you were trying to assemble this team? Would have been an interesting off-season discussion – maybe even allowed voting and comments by the readers. Then I would have taken it more seriously drawing from the wealth of knowledge of a broader base of fans and writers.

This is what it is and that’s why I said “never mind”. Enjoy your August.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Give me your list though of who got shafted or the rankings deserve to be different? I’d be interested hearing it here.

I personally didn’t reach out to Lighthouse Hockey, Broad Street Hockey or In Lou We Trust (even though they’re great blogs) because it would take too long to reach generally the same conclusions.

And plus the NJ blog is gonna rank Brodeur #1, just like Rangers fans are inclined to rank Lundqvist higher and some Pens fans would argue Fleury #1. It’d be like swimming in circles.

But if you have more-qualified players that belong on the top 10, I’d be happy to hear your arguments here, instead of just hearing how commenters treated Staal.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 4, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My 2 cents - and I'm not a stats cruncher

I think just looking at the stats lines for Ruutu and Cullen, they belong ahead of Little or Knuble and Stamkos. Ray Whitney has got to be in this mix based on the year he had too – his 88 pts were a whopping 21 pts more than Lecavalier. (If this hypothetical game or series were to be played today, not in a few years). I know that in addition to producing consistently, these Hurricanes play with experience/smarts, physical intensity and unselfish team-effort that is second to none.

On the Defense, Burke has invited Tim Gleason and not Bogosian to the US Olympic Camp….Most Canes fans can see him with an A on his sweater in a few years. I’d take 26 and big, over 19 on my blueline any day.

None of these guys are flashy or headliners (Staal and Ward are as close as Raleigh comes to that – and they’re incredibly dull personalities compared to AO and Sidney), but they play hockey at a high skill-level and within the total-team approach that the Canes embrace. I believe most were 1st round picks, though I haven’t researched that today. I’m not going with the celebrity popularity contest of who has a bigger $ contract here.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you've successfully gotten under my skin: =D

A little more to add:

I forgot to add TB’s Ohlund on the D (thou I mentioned him earlier today). He’s got an Olympic gold medal on Team Sweden. Seems like a conspicuous miss on the Japers Rink list.

Staal should be higher than the 3rd line center – I could make a case for putting him 1st. He won the MVP in the ASG of 08 – that’s with the best of the entire NHL on the ice- he’s got some game (size, power, speed and great hands) and young Backstrom clearly benefits from playing with AO and Semin. He had less than half as many SOG than Staal – he’s really on the ice for the Caps to pivot AO. I believe there are more qualified and experienced players, like Staal, who could take that role to a new level if we’re trying to assemble the absolute best of the SE.

Or, if this is about keeping lines intact from the source team, then 2nd line: Staal with Whitney and Ruutu.

You mention LaRose- who I adore – possibly over Knuble, but he’s not up to the level of Ruutu or Whitney.

Cullen the 4th line center over Stamkos. LaRose and he are magic together. Then pick Horton or Booth on the other wing.

And over on the D, Ballard isn’t going to the Olympics for the US either. Swap him out with Ohlund. Japers Rink was debating whether Babchuk maybe should have been included. Eegad! He’s a mess! Do they choose their D-corps over there by how many point they score or how they play defense? From the outside it seems like perhaps they’re so enamored of Mike Greene they forgot what defenders are supposed to do. Chara got the Norris.

Normally I’m known for my happy fluff posts, like about my Hurricanes fishtank, so pardon me if my style isn’t tight enough. I just was really annoyed (tho not surprised) by the Japers Rink navel-gazing – and seeing that picked up here as valid was insult to injury.

And if you’re mean to me on this, I’ll get my buddies over at Canes Country come to my rescue!

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can we do West Side Story when they get here?

by barnerburner on Aug 4, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only if I get to sing “I feel Pretty!”

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait – you’re coming here and arguing Hooks’ decision (which is perfectly fine, but at times has been a bit snarky) then threatening to bring over more people if he retaliates? Isn’t that a bit much?

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Aug 4, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just feeling like I’m in over my head…..

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nah, it’s all good. You’re obviously allowed to defend yourself or go after whatever Hooks and I write. That’s why we put it out there.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Aug 4, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also think you missed the humor of the statement. Thank you barnerburner..

My objection was to the methodology. You’re presenting your well- reasoned case for the Atlantic division, from the Pittsburgh perspective, without really giving the entire SE community a chance to participate in the process.

It’s all opinions, it’s all hypothetical. I don’t think I was being snarky any more than Hooks was (he and I have had a couple exchanges at Canes Country). I called the Japers Rink’s list fluff (not this). He said I didn’t like it because it didn’t have my favorite teams players on it – but I didn’t see much in the Japers Rink discussion that wasn’t fans enjoying the best they could of their own team. (see my respnse to Fehr and Balanced below) I had a similar dilemma with a discussion over at Canes Country fanpost tonight feeling like the criteria are very subjective and can’t really be argued.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My objection was to the methodology.

It’s a team hockey blog, and it’s in good fun. Plus, it’s the offseason. If this was TSN/ESPN/Yahoo! and Hooks and Frank were pulling down a fat paycheck to discuss anything and everything hockey, then maybe your argument has a sliver of justification to stand on. For the most part, we’re all passionate hockey fans that support our team, and care about it mostly from a Pens perspective and try to keep a lively banter going here (methodologies be damned). I’m not claiming ignorance is bliss, but if you require a dissertation on the best players in the SE division for you to be happy, you’re going to have to fork out the cash for a thorough analysis.

"Oh, buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!" - Mike Lange

by gorgalor on Aug 5, 2009 5:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds pretty biased to me. I’d like to hear the argument that displaces, in order, AO, Kovalchuk, Lecavalier (whom even had fewer points than), Backstrom. The three Caps (Semin) are there because they deserve to be, just like Kovy, Lecavalier, Staal, and St. Louis do.

by DrinkingPartner on Aug 4, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those were the players I was objecting too. it was the supporting lines that seemed a little weak.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those were not. the players I was objecting to. (My 5-yr old clicked “post” before I proofread)

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Come defend your position if you’re gonna call that community “Pure homer fluff.”

by Fehr and Balanced on Aug 4, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh boy. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything. With no other hockey news of late in Raleigh, I was a primed to get the fingers on the keyboard out of boredom and join in. Big mistake.

We discussed the Japers Rink series a few days ago amongst ourselves at Canes Country. No one felt it was worth the trouble. Just lead to a lot of name-calling. Why bother? (you can head over there and search “Japers Rink” in the comments in the last week, add “silly” if you want to narrow your options…..sorry) You guys are entitled to trash other teams players on your own website. As are we in Carolina and the rest of the blogging nation. That’s fun; that’s being a fan. No harm intended or taken.

I just didn’t like to see it picked up here at Pensburgh and treated like it was an unbiased and well-reasoned assemblage. I don’t think that was really the intention of the JR blog – I think it was more an opportunity for you all to project the season you expect the Caps will have against the rest of the division.

You might also check out a fanpost there that went up this evening at Canes Country naming someone’s top10 overall players in the SE. AO got top billing, but it brings up points you might like to see adding to the broader set of criteria and opinions.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We discussed the Japers Rink series a few days ago amongst ourselves at Canes Country. No one felt it was worth the trouble. Just lead to a lot of name-calling. Why bother?

There is no name calling at Japers’ Rink, feel free to voice your disagreement if you think someone over there is wrong. If you disagree with that claim, please provide an example.

I just didn’t like to see it picked up here at Pensburgh and treated like it was an unbiased and well-reasoned assemblage. I don’t think that was really the intention of the JR blog

Without pretending to speak for J.P. or DMG I’d say that the post (and blog in general) was exactly intended to be mostly-unbiased and well-reasoned. In the comments to that post J.P. and Hooks both spent a lot of time making the case that E. Staal is better than Nick Backstrom. Different people made the case for Lecavalier and Kovalchuk as well. It wasn’t a big happy Caps slurpfest, but you clearly didn’t read it so you wouldn’t know that.

I think it was more an opportunity for you all to project the season you expect the Caps will have against the rest of the division.

And why shouldn’t we be optimistic? We’ve won the division two years running and quite possibly got better. Especially on the topic of elite forwards I think Caps fans have a reason to be optimistic.

You might also check out a fanpost there that went up this evening at Canes Country naming someone’s top10 overall players in the SE.

That’s great that you guys are discussing the topic, but you should make your voices heard at Japers’ Rink if you disagree with our conclusions. Calling us silly and stewing in your own self-affirming group think does nothing.

AO got top billing, but it brings up points you might like to see adding to the broader set of criteria and opinions.

Glad to see that even ‘Canes fans can recognize that the two time reigning best player in the league is also the best player in the SE. As for the rest of my opinion on that post, I’ll make it known in the appropriate forum.

by Fehr and Balanced on Aug 4, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

gee, I leave for a few days and THIS happens………it was the last line I was asking about……most I agree with, but would think ya would look at the whole season not the playoffs…….just remember us ’Caniacs do come out of our “little group” and just remember…….2 years running mean squat when the season starts……and tell Ovie he needs to play D this year instead of cherry picking……they will learn and shut it off….and not just the ’Canes…..

by lrcaniac on Aug 6, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That series was about pleasing the Caps-fans readers, not a serious unbiased list of strength in the entire division. Pure homer fluff.

Worth noting: Alexander Semin, who was second in the southeast and sixth in the NHL in points per game last season and who is a very good penalty killer to boot was ranked sixth.

by David M. Getz on Aug 6, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Line Combos

I would move Gagne or Carter up to Malkin and Sid’s line. They need a pure shooter, and although Parise is talented, I think Gagne and especially Carter are stronger shooters and Carter is certainly better defensively.

by Dew God on Aug 3, 2009 9:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Malkin at center

I really think Malkin needs his own line. Pull Gaborik up to Crosby’s line, give Elias and Tavares to Malkin, and reunite the orange and black hooligans on their own line.

If I were as obsessed with match ups as Mike Babcock I’d try to keep the Malkin and J. Staal lines against their big boys Lecavalier and E. Staal, let the Philly line duke it out with the Caps because that would be a whole world of fun, and then let Crosby loose against Stamkos.

However, I would be a little concerned about Crosby’s line and the combined size/grit of Parise, Gaborik, and Gaborik’s sore groin.

I must say I didn’t realize how much talent the SE has at forward.

by barnerburner on Aug 3, 2009 10:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That’s where the talent ends, unfortunately. Green on D, Ward at G, and no one else.

by red army line on Aug 4, 2009 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No one else?

Gleason? Pitkanen? and now even Aaron Ward and Ohlund are now in the SE…?

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by hockeymomof2 on Aug 4, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crosby with Gaborik and Parise would be scary. I wouldn’t worry about their lack of size, since at least two of them play really hard and are willing to go to the high traffic areas and play much bigger than they are.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 4, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which two play really hard in high traffic areas?

Out of Parise, Gaborik, and Gaborik’s sore groin? (just kidding… couldn’t resist)

I have no concerns about the effort and toughness of Crosby and Parise, I just admittedly don’t know much about Gaborik beyond the usual refrain that he’s a top ten talent or whatever in the whole league on those select occasions that he’s healthy enough to play.

by barnerburner on Aug 4, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tavares? The kid hasn’t played a single game. I move Hartnell over to right wing, and let him and his curly locks cause havoc. Or, what about Giroux??? As much as I hate the Flyers, they do have great forward depth. Even picking J. Staal over a healthy Briere seems fishy in my book…

"Oh, buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!" - Mike Lange

by gorgalor on Aug 4, 2009 4:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Giroux would have been a good choice for the roster….So too would Travis Zajac, who I feel remiss to leave off the roster.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 4, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Someone should take these hypothetical lines, pop them into NHL’10 and SIM 10 games.

I think the O-lines are comparable, but the Atlantic would dominate on the back end.

I’d be surprised if the SE won 3 of 10 games (even though I know the EA Sports SIM is probably not an exact science).

Managing Editor - HockeyOutsiders.com

by HockeyOutsiders on Aug 4, 2009 10:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think EA Sports predicted a Boston/ San Jose final for this year when they simmed the playoffs using the NHL 09 engine.

(But then again so did a lot of talking heads and “experts”)

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 4, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Considering that San Jose and Boston were the top teams in each Conference starting the playoffs, I wouldn’t call it a bad prediction. It just took a round or two for that logic to fall apart, though…

"Oh, buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!" - Mike Lange

by gorgalor on Aug 5, 2009 5:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs