NHL 2010/2011 season....

[Warped9]

It's only pre-season, but already I'm shaking my head.

I was one of the ones who couldn't believe the Habs traded Halak and kept Price. Granted Halak initially gave up 3 goals on 18 shots (in St. Louis), Price beat that by giving up 3 goals on 6 shots! Price is weak on his glove side like he has a hole in his glove or something. As for Halak we'll see, but he's usually strong after a weak start.

I'm also tired of the excuses for Price: he's young, he's learning, he needs to mature. Christ! He's been in the NHL for three years now! How long does it take to get with the program?

Last night the Habs played better after Price was pulled and Sanford was put in. Sanford did what was needed and prevented any further damage to allow his team a chance. And they played better in front of him, just like they did with Halak. I'm feeling that the team doesn't like playing with Price and they don't have any real confidence in him no matter what is said publicly.

The real difference was Rask for Boston. He was solid.

 

[Canadave]

I've got a vague cautious optimism about the Leafs this year.

With Guigere and Gustavson in net (and without the dead weight of Toskala), our GAA should almost certainly improve. Especially if we get more consistency out of our defence, notably guys like Komisarek, Phaneuf, and Schenn.

Up front there are definitely a lot of question marks, but we do have a decent group of young guys who will hopefully continue to mature through the season. I'm especially hoping that Bozak and Kessel's fantastic chemistry will pay off as the season progresses. Versteeg should hopefully add a bit of punch to the second line, as well.

Otherwise, Toronto's going to need some hardcore scoring by committee if they're going to improve at all this year.

 

[Garak]

I think Vancouver - at least on paper - has put together the best team in its history that's capable of winning a cup. We'll see how that translates on the ice, but the additions of Hamius, Ballard, Malhotra and Torres to an already impressive core (plus a refreshed Luongo) are making me pretty excited about their prospects this year. Not to mention Chicago is more bombed out and depleted than Afghanistan, which is great.

I'm also liking the job Yzerman has done so far in Tampa, I have to say, they're my dark horse this year.

Calgary looks awful, which makes me a happy panda. Jokinen and Tanguay, that is too funny.

 

[The Habs Fan]

It's only pre-season, but already I'm shaking my head.

I was one of the ones who couldn't believe the Habs traded Halak and kept Price. Granted Halak initially gave up 3 goals on 18 shots (in St. Louis), Price beat that by giving up 3 goals on 6 shots! Price is weak on his glove side like he has a hole in his glove or something. As for Halak we'll see, but he's usually strong after a weak start.

I'm also tired of the excuses for Price: he's young, he's learning, he needs to mature. Christ! He's been in the NHL for three years now! How long does it take to get with the program?

Last night the Habs played better after Price was pulled and Sanford was put in. Sanford did what was needed and prevented any further damage to allow his team a chance. And they played better in front of him, just like they did with Halak. I'm feeling that the team doesn't like playing with Price and they don't have any real confidence in him no matter what is said publicly.

The real difference was Rask for Boston. He was solid.

I agree that Price's performance does not bode well for this season. However, it's only one game and it was his first game of the year. I'll wait until I see him play a couple more preseason games before I get worried.

 

[Warped9]

^^ Everyone in the Montreal organization had to know of all the fuss during the summer. One way to surely reassure the crowd was to have Price come out (even in an exhibition game) and play well. Instead he folds in the first period. Now the crowd is going to be on him.

For the past two years his problem has been consistency. All goalies, even the very best, have soft goals and off days, but the distinction is to come back strong. If Price doesn't come back strong when he's in next then what else is there to say.

 

[Danny99]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkX4WmpHj0s[/yt]

It seems like a lot of critics are going with Teal'c for this season, but I still really doubt it. They'll be the new Sharks, always near the top in the regular season, but failing in the playoffs.

No matter what the naysayers say, I think Toronto improved. Last year, they had no secondary scoring. All teams had to do was shut down Kessel and it was game over. This team will be hard to play against, if all the additions live up to their reputations.

 

[Garak]

It'll be interesting to see how Niemi does without Keith, Seabrook, Campbell etc in front of him.


They should trade Joe Thornton and go from there.

 

[Canadave]

It seems like a lot of critics are going with Teal'c for this season, but I still really doubt it. They'll be the new Sharks, always near the top in the regular season, but failing in the playoffs.

No matter what the naysayers say, I think Toronto improved. Last year, they had no secondary scoring. All teams had to do was shut down Kessel and it was game over. This team will be hard to play against, if all the additions live up to their reputations.

I have the same sneaking suspicion about Vancouver. I want them to do well, but they have a terrible playoff history.

Toronto, though, is should be on the upswing of Burke's rebuilding. We have a solid defence, decent goaltending, and an offence that should mature as the season goes on. We also have a number of guys now with good playoff experience, like Versteeg, Gigeure, and Lebda. Yeah, the Cup is still very much a longshot, but I don't think the team will be anywhere near as atrocious as last year.

 

[Winterwind]

I also think the Leafs will be better this year. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they make the playoffs but they should be better. It's been hard being a Leafs fan for far too many years now.

 

[tomalak301]

Another year, and a new look for the San Jose Sharks. I think the biggest question is what are they going to do on defense and who is the goalie that's going to be featured, Nitty or Niemi. Or is it going to be a goalie by committee like they had with Nabokov and Toskala one year.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkX4WmpHj0s[/yt]

It seems like a lot of critics are going with Teal'c for this season, but I still really doubt it. They'll be the new Sharks, always near the top in the regular season, but failing in the playoffs..

Great inside joke for the locals of Vancouver...

 

[Timby]

Not to mention Chicago is more bombed out and depleted than Afghanistan, which is great.

They lost some talent, sure, but "bombed out and depleted" is something of an overstatement. Let's look at the facts: Niemi to Turco is essentially a lateral move at worst. They've still got Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp and Kopecky, and their top-six defense is still incredibly strong (well, fuck you, Campbell). They've managed to keep all of that while still dealing with Huet's cap hit -- remember, they can't tell him to fuck off in the AHL until opening day of the season, so he's still counting against the team's cap.

Losing Versteeg and Byfuglien is going to hurt, but Buff will never be a top-line player, and Versteeg can be replaced in time. They're nowhere near being a Cup favorite this season, but they're a playoff lock.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

^^ Everyone in the Montreal organization had to know of all the fuss during the summer. One way to surely reassure the crowd was to have Price come out (even in an exhibition game) and play well. Instead he folds in the first period. Now the crowd is going to be on him.

Price doesn't seem to agree. Price tells Habs fans to "Chill out."

'Chill out' is not in their vocabulary. If he doesn't know that by now, he's on the wrong team.

 

[Warped9]

^^ Everyone in the Montreal organization had to know of all the fuss during the summer. One way to surely reassure the crowd was to have Price come out (even in an exhibition game) and play well. Instead he folds in the first period. Now the crowd is going to be on him.

Price doesn't seem to agree. Price tells Habs fans to "Chill out."

'Chill out' is not in their vocabulary. If he doesn't know that by now, he's on the wrong team.

Yep, I heard about that this morning. But realistically what is he supposed to say? He'll have to perform to silence the critics...if he can.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

^^ Everyone in the Montreal organization had to know of all the fuss during the summer. One way to surely reassure the crowd was to have Price come out (even in an exhibition game) and play well. Instead he folds in the first period. Now the crowd is going to be on him.

Price doesn't seem to agree. Price tells Habs fans to "Chill out."

'Chill out' is not in their vocabulary. If he doesn't know that by now, he's on the wrong team.

Yep, I heard about that this morning. But realistically what is he supposed to say? He'll have to perform to silence the critics...if he can.

These players are coached what to say to the press from their first day of Juniors. He should have delivered the same bland "I'll bounce back" spiel that every goaltender gives after a poor start. Sniping at the fans only makes matters worse, and gives his detractors more ammo.

 

[Danny99]

Another year, and a new look for the San Jose Sharks. I think the biggest question is what are they going to do on defense and who is the goalie that's going to be featured, Nitty or Niemi. Or is it going to be a goalie by committee like they had with Nabokov and Toskala one year.

I'm still waiting for Niemi to prove he's more than a one hit wonder. He and his contract could be an albatross in a year or two.

 

[Timby]

I'm still waiting for Niemi to prove he's more than a one hit wonder. He and his contract could be an albatross in a year or two.

I would think that highly unlikely, considering he only signed a one-year deal.

 

[Danny99]

I'm still waiting for Niemi to prove he's more than a one hit wonder. He and his contract could be an albatross in a year or two.

I would think that highly unlikely, considering he only signed a one-year deal.

The one time I don't check...thanks Timby.

My point still stands though: Niemi will be a step back for the Sharks. While Nabokov never won anything, he was a much stronger goalie fundamentally than we've seen from Niemi.

When Niemi goes from having Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Brian Campbell, and Niklas Hjalmarsson in front of him to Dan Boyle, Niclas Wallin and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, it means he's seeing a lot more shots and the wandering mistakes that plagued him in the playoffs will become exemplified.

 

[Timby]

Niemi's fundamentals are pretty solid, and he faced quite a few shots throughout the regular season and the playoffs -- averaged something like 26 shots per game in the regular season, and 30 in the postseason, and he still stopped 91 percent of them. His major -- and, make no mistake, it's major -- problem is that he's shown little to no ability to control rebounds. A decent goaltenders coach, though, can knock out that problem.

He's not an elite goalie, but he's a very, very good one. I'm interested to see what he does with the Sharks this season.

 

[TheRealStarbuck]

I was one of the ones who couldn't believe the Habs traded Halak and kept Price.

I'm a Montreal fan, but I wasn't shocked or disappointed that they traded Halak. He's a sometimes-better-than-average goaltender who had one good playoff run. That's hardly a good reason to give him a big raise.

Still, going with Price as our number one is madness, especially given the weak team in front of him. Barring meltdowns by other middle-of-the-table teams in the east, or the backup goalie taking over and doing well, I don't expect we'll make the playoffs this year.