I think I have an Olympic hangover when it comes to the playoffs. I found the Olympic Hockey very exciting and the playoffs so far, particularly the Vancouver-LA series, haven't been particularly compelling to me. I just don't feel excited anymore (as much as I want to feel excited)
I always thought the same thing, until someone pointed out that the kicking rule is there because they don't want a bunch of guys in a goalmouth scrum kicking each other with skates on. I can definitely imagine a goalies getting their hands stopped on while trying to smother the puck. It's more of a safety thing than a competition thing.
That's why the rule should be changed to "skate on or off the ice." If you keep the skate blade on the ice, who cares if you make what looks like a kicking motion?
Possible Homer Alert:
I really think Travis Zajac should have been a Selke finalist. The Selke is largely a reputation award, and he hasn't built up the rep over the years that Kesler or Datsyuk has, nor from last year's playoffs like Staal.
But the Devils just won the Jennings with a terrible group of defensemen. Brodeur was a huge part, but it wasn't all him.
Wow, how about that whirling dervish Sidney Crosby controlling the puck down low? Seems he found something that worked and decided to milk it for all it's worth... reminds me of when I learned the toe drag.
What are your thoughts on this? He's done it a few times now. It was the assist of the year when he did it the first time, but the other times were frutless. Is he creating chances, or wasting energy?
Definitely creating chances. Nothing Crosby does is really wasting energy at all, because most of the time when he gets on a roll like that, the puck goes in more often than not.
Wow. Another first round exit for New Jersey (I don't think they're coming back from that one). I think they need to seriously consider starting the search for a goaltender to replace Brodeur. I think he's slowing down. Brodeur next season should play no more than 50-60 games. He just doesn't have it to play 70+ anymore, I don't think. TDMM can probably answer this best, are there any decent goalies in the farm? If not, this situation looks grim for NJ.
I wonder if Nicklas Backstrom from Minnesota is available? His best success was under Lemaire, so I wonder if that re-union is possible. New Jersey certainly has the assets to land him, especially after last season, and Harding looks like he might be ready to make the jump.
Wow. Another first round exit for New Jersey (I don't think they're coming back from that one). I think they need to seriously consider starting the search for a goaltender to replace Brodeur. I think he's slowing down. Brodeur next season should play no more than 50-60 games. He just doesn't have it to play 70+ anymore, I don't think. TDMM can probably answer this best, are there any decent goalies in the farm? If not, this situation looks grim for NJ.
I wonder if Nicklas Backstrom from Minnesota is available? His best success was under Lemaire, so I wonder if that re-union is possible. New Jersey certainly has the assets to land him, especially after last season, and Harding looks like he might be ready to make the jump.
I think Brodeur's mental exhaustion in the third period of Game 4 had more to do with the fact that the Flyers controlled play for 90% of games 3 and 4 (after controlling it for the majority of games 1 and 2).
Brodeur was great this year (except in February) and probably has another year or two left in him. That said, assuming the Devils continue playing the way they have in 2010, they'll bow out meekly in 5. Least pissed I've ever been to lose in the playoffs. It was coming.
If I'm Lou, I sit down with Brodeur after the season and ask him if he wants to be traded or if he wants to stay around for the rebuild.
If Lemaire is coach next year and the Devils don't do a major rebuild of their defensemen, I'm going to watch the team from a distance next year - still interested but not expecting anything.
rofl... and to think of what they gave up for 2 weeks of Kovalchuk in the playoffs
I wouldn't be laughing too hard, Vancouver fan. The way things are going in the West, Luongo will be joining Brodeur on the golf course a few days later.
They really didn't give up much for Kovalchuk. Oduya was a decent Top 4 dman, but theoretically replacable (the problem is that he wasn't replaced before the playoffs).
I wonder if Nicklas Backstrom from Minnesota is available? His best success was under Lemaire, so I wonder if that re-union is possible. New Jersey certainly has the assets to land him, especially after last season, and Harding looks like he might be ready to make the jump.
Why would New Jersey spend 6 million on Backstrom and 5.2 million on Brodeur? It may make sense in 3 years when Brodeur retires (although at that point Lemaire will probably be gone too). The best situations for New Jersey is to find a competent backup to play 20 games. Brodeur's not as good as he used to be, but he's still better than pretty much every other option.
There are no great goalie prospects in New Jersey's system at the moment, but when Brodeur retires, they'll need to replace him with an established star starter who can handle the pressure of replacing a legend, not a young guy.
I wouldn't be laughing too hard, Vancouver fan. The way things are going in the West, Luongo will be joining Brodeur on the golf course a few days later.
It's not so much that they're potentially out, it's that they gave up assets. The Canucks gave up pretty much nothing (a 3rd rounder) at the deadline.
Why would New Jersey spend 6 million on Backstrom and 5.2 million on Brodeur? It may make sense in 3 years when Brodeur retires (although at that point Lemaire will probably be gone too). The best situations for New Jersey is to find a competent backup to play 20 games. Brodeur's not as good as he used to be, but he's still better than pretty much every other option.
There are no great goalie prospects in New Jersey's system at the moment, but when Brodeur retires, they'll need to replace him with an established star starter who can handle the pressure of replacing a legend, not a young guy.
I always assumed the plan was to sell the future until Brodeur retires. Then go into hardcore rebuild mode afterwards. Who knows though. If the Devils don't turn it around (and the way they've played this year, I'm pretty sure they won't), I want the roster blown up after this year.
I think Brodeur's mental exhaustion in the third period of Game 4 had more to do with the fact that the Flyers controlled play for 90% of games 3 and 4 (after controlling it for the majority of games 1 and 2).
Brodeur was great this year (except in February) and probably has another year or two left in him. That said, assuming the Devils continue playing the way they have in 2010, they'll bow out meekly in 5. Least pissed I've ever been to lose in the playoffs. It was coming.
If I'm Lou, I sit down with Brodeur after the season and ask him if he wants to be traded or if he wants to stay around for the rebuild.
If Lemaire is coach next year and the Devils don't do a major rebuild of their defensemen, I'm going to watch the team from a distance next year - still interested but not expecting anything.
The Devils, rebuilding? Never thought I'd see that.. the guard is certainly changing.
Do they have someone in the system to replace Brodeur at all?
It's not so much that they're potentially out, it's that they gave up assets. The Canucks gave up pretty much nothing (a 3rd rounder) at the deadline.
Oh, at the time I thought it was a huge mistake to go all out getting Kovalchuk, then doing absolutely nothing to fix the actual holes in the lineup (defense and center). Even a stiff like Eric Belanger who could win a faceoff once in awhile would have been worth it.
The Devils, rebuilding? Never thought I'd see that.. the guard is certainly changing.
Every team has to do it once in awhile. Unless you want to be St. Louis and make the playoffs 20 years in a row, only to lose early each year.
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Do they have someone in the system to replace Brodeur at all?
Nope. And it's honestly the least of the concerns. I'm much more concerned with wasting the last few years of Brodeur by having him play behind a Swiss cheese defense.
Why would New Jersey spend 6 million on Backstrom and 5.2 million on Brodeur? It may make sense in 3 years when Brodeur retires (although at that point Lemaire will probably be gone too). The best situations for New Jersey is to find a competent backup to play 20 games. Brodeur's not as good as he used to be, but he's still better than pretty much every other option.
There are no great goalie prospects in New Jersey's system at the moment, but when Brodeur retires, they'll need to replace him with an established star starter who can handle the pressure of replacing a legend, not a young guy.
Well, the way I see it, Brodeur + stuff can be swapped for Backstrom. Backstrom maybe isn't as good as Brodeur, but he's far younger, and of the guys potentially available, Backstrom probably fits the Devils' system the best. Brodeur plays out the last couple years of his career in Minnesota, maybe makes the playoffs a couple times and helps Harding take the starter's reigns. Win, win for either team, IMO.
