From what I've heard, management was not happy with his performance in big games. Ehrhoff was viewed as an important cog in the regular season's offensive attack, but Bieksa was retained for his ability to step it up in the playoffs.
Not sure of the contract negotiations they went through but didnt ehrhoff need surgery done in the offseason because of last years playoffs run? I'm pretty sire he had a bummed shoulder. Could take a toll on how you play.
Ovechkin has 60 fewer career points than either Sedin in 300 fewer games. All he needs is 10 points in his next 53 playoff games to match either Sedin's production. His worst season (not including this year which isn't finished) ties Daniel's second best offensive year and would be Henrik's third.
Ovechkin would be our best offensive player, would still be one of the top players in the game, and with the Sedins on the same team makes our offense untouchable.
How have Ovechkin's numbers been the last couple years? Steady decline. Not worth $9+m per year for a 1 way player. If we were talking Sidney Crosby or maybe Malkin, I could see it, but Ovechkin is a cancer IMO. He's not worth blowing up a salary structure for, he's not worth not having a competent defense for...he's a very good player but he's overpaid because of his previous scoring exploits. Give me Shea Weber any day of the week, less money and more overall impact.
omg. people were throwing a fit about how rick nash wouldn't be a good fit in the room or worth his cap hit (which is fine, i can understand the logic) but at least he's actually available. this alex ovechkin rosterbation in light of that is beyond ridiculous.
maybe we need another thread for fantasy rosterbation and what if scenarios that are beyond the realm of the possible.
omg. people were throwing a fit about how rick nash wouldn't be a good fit in the room or worth his cap hit (which is fine, i can understand the logic) but at least he's actually available. this alex ovechkin rosterbation in light of that is beyond ridiculous.
maybe we need another thread for fantasy rosterbation and what if scenarios that are beyond the realm of the possible.
if Bitz is out for an extended stretch do the Canucks need a player at the deadline
so bitz has missed canucks skate 2 days in a row with hip soreness, likely related to his many surgeries. if he's not a dependable asset down the stretch how does that change your perception of what the canucks need heading into the playoffs?
for me, he's a big portion of the size and physicality of the bottom 6 and if he can't go i think the canucks need to find someone who can replace his contributions for the playoff grind.
so bitz has missed canucks skate 2 days in a row with hip soreness, likely related to his many surgeries. if he's not a dependable asset down the stretch how does that change your perception of what the canucks need heading into the playoffs?
for me, he's a big portion of the size and physicality of the bottom 6 and if he can't go i think the canucks need to find someone who can replace his contributions for the playoff grind.
so bitz has missed canucks skate 2 days in a row with hip soreness, likely related to his many surgeries. if he's not a dependable asset down the stretch how does that change your perception of what the canucks need heading into the playoffs?
for me, he's a big portion of the size and physicality of the bottom 6 and if he can't go i think the canucks need to find someone who can replace his contributions for the playoff grind.
Hmm, will he be out long or is this just a couple of days for rest and maintenance?
I hope he's back soon, liked his physicality and the way the team played with him in the line up. He's surprisingly mobile for such a big guy, too.
so bitz has missed canucks skate 2 days in a row with hip soreness, likely related to his many surgeries. if he's not a dependable asset down the stretch how does that change your perception of what the canucks need heading into the playoffs?
for me, he's a big portion of the size and physicality of the bottom 6 and if he can't go i think the canucks need to find someone who can replace his contributions for the playoff grind.
I agree, although we still have Dale Weise who seemed to kick it up a bit last game. This is why I'd love to acquire someone like Ott though. Adds toughness and makes the loss of Bitz virtually unnoticeable.
Carolina: 1) Jason Williams almost takes out the eye of the Habs Captain/Heart & Soul of the team during the series - momentum changer
2) Faced a Sabres team that had a depleted blueline (Rory Fitzpatrick had significant icetime for them for peats sake)
3) Faced a team in the Finals that were playing way over their heads
4) So sure, if we get all the breaks going our way (ala 1982) you can replicate that success....
Pittsburgh: Oveckin might be arguably the best player in the league but the Pens had TWO guys that were ALSO arguably the best player in the league.
Tampa Bay: Had the fortune of playing against an inept offense team in the Final (Flames rode on the back of Kipper). Their blueline then was also underrated.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LickTheEnvelope
Detroit....
Had some obscure Swedish defenseman name Lidstrom on the blueline plus they played a solid team defense (unlike a Gretzky Oilers firewagon style hockey).
Last edited by Barney Gumble: 02-21-2012 at 01:31 PM.
Carolina: 1) Jason Williams almost takes out the eye of the Habs Captain/Heart & Soul of the team during the series - momentum changer
2) Faced a Sabres team that had a depleted blueline (Rory Fitzpatrick had significant icetime for them for peats sake)
3) Faced a team in the Finals that were playing way over their heads
4) So sure, if we get all the breaks going our way (ala 1982) you can replicate that success....
Pittsburgh: Oveckin might be arguably the best player in the league but the Pens had TWO guys that were ALSO arguably the best player in the league.
Tampa Bay: Had the fortune of playing against an inept offense team in the Final (Flames rode on the back of Kipper). Their blueline then was also underrated.
Had some obscure Swedish defenseman name Lidstrom on the blueline plus they played a solid team defense (unlike a Gretzky Oilers firewagon style hockey).
1) Chicago let in as many goals as we did in the SCF...if was their offense that won it for them.
2) Carolina still had relatively no one on their defense.
3) So you agree Pittsburgh's offense won the Cup. You credit Crosby and Malkin, yet what would a team that features Ovechkin AND the Sedins accomplish?
4) Tampa had a great offense, but surely Calgary's superior defense would have won of your statement held true, no?
1) Chicago let in as many goals as we did in the SCF...if was their offense that won it for them.
They would have lost if they didn't have the best shutdown pairing in the league. That and if Philly didn't decide to use a backup goalie as a starter.
2) Carolina still had relatively no one on their defense.
They didn't need anyone. Again, they had alot of breaks go their way + a Conn Smythe winning goalie
3) So you agree Pittsburgh's offense won the Cup. You credit Crosby and Malkin, yet what would a team that features Ovechkin AND the Sedins accomplish?
Are the Sedins generational talent?
4) Tampa had a great offense, but surely Calgary's superior defense would have won of your statement held true, no?
You can't win if you have too much of one and nothing of the other. Flames blueline wasn't that great - they rode a hot goalie.
Look at how each cup winner finished in terms of overall playoff offense and defense:
2011: Boston was 5th in G/G and 1st in GA/G
2010: Chicago was 3rd in G/G and 5th in GA/G
2009: Pittsburgh was 2nd in G/G and 5th in GA/G
2008: Detroit was 1st in G/G and 1st in GA/G
2007: Anaheim was 4th in G/G and 3rd in GA/G
2006: Carolina was tied for 5th in G/G and 3rd in GA/G
2004: Tampa was 2nd in G/G and 2nd in GA/G
I count two teams with better offense than defense by this measure, and both teams did so with completely unsustainable methods (Malkin won the Conn Smythe in a year where he earned under $1m in NHL salary and the Blackhawks had Kane and Toews on ELCs, Keith and Seabrook earning under $5m combined, and four other forwards whose combined cap hit next year will be $18.5m.. and that's not including Bolland, Campbell, Versteeg, Hjalmarsson or Hossa).
Look at how each cup winner finished in terms of overall playoff offense and defense:
2011: Boston was 5th in G/G and 1st in GA/G
2010: Chicago was 3rd in G/G and 5th in GA/G
2009: Pittsburgh was 2nd in G/G and 5th in GA/G
2008: Detroit was 1st in G/G and 1st in GA/G
2007: Anaheim was 4th in G/G and 3rd in GA/G
2006: Carolina was tied for 5th in G/G and 3rd in GA/G
2004: Tampa was 2nd in G/G and 2nd in GA/G
I count two teams with better offense than defense by this measure, and both teams did so with completely unsustainable methods (Malkin won the Conn Smythe in a year where he earned under $1m in NHL salary and the Blackhawks had Kane and Toews on ELCs, Keith and Seabrook earning under $5m combined, and four other forwards whose combined cap hit next year will be $18.5m.. and that's not including Bolland, Campbell, Versteeg or Hossa).
Exactly. I should've clarified by saying that you can't overbalance on area of the game (offense or defense) while ignoring the other (offense or defense).
1) Chicago let in as many goals as we did in the SCF...if was their offense that won it for them.
2) Carolina still had relatively no one on their defense.
3) So you agree Pittsburgh's offense won the Cup. You credit Crosby and Malkin, yet what would a team that features Ovechkin AND the Sedins accomplish?
4) Tampa had a great offense, but surely Calgary's superior defense would have won of your statement held true, no?
Probably the same thing that all Washington Capital teams with Ovechkin have accomplished. Epic failure.
I'd much rather spend intelligently and give myself the best chance to win long term with a balanced attack than overspend on one overrated piece. I'll take $9+ million of Kesler and Booth than $9+ million of Ovechkin.
Probably the same thing that all Washington Capital teams with Ovechkin have accomplished. Epic failure.
They were more or less as successful in the post-season as the "West Coast Express" during their peak as the most lethal line in the NHL (eg., early playoff exit).
so bitz has missed canucks skate 2 days in a row with hip soreness, likely related to his many surgeries. if he's not a dependable asset down the stretch how does that change your perception of what the canucks need heading into the playoffs?
for me, he's a big portion of the size and physicality of the bottom 6 and if he can't go i think the canucks need to find someone who can replace his contributions for the playoff grind.
The Canucks can get by without Bitz, but if they have two players who they can't rely on to stay in the lineup (Higgins and Bitz) then I think they need to add someone.
Not that I wasn't in favour of adding someone already..
Exactly. I should've clarified by saying that you can't overbalance on area of the game (offense or defense) while ignoring the other (offense or defense).
We wouldn't be though. We'd have an offense that could rival the 80's Oilers, and one of the best goalies in the league, while having an adequate defense.
Probably the same thing that all Washington Capital teams with Ovechkin have accomplished. Epic failure.
I'd much rather spend intelligently and give myself the best chance to win long term with a balanced attack than overspend on one overrated piece. I'll take $9+ million of Kesler and Booth than $9+ million of Ovechkin.
Based on what? The Canucks could have one line that features a Selke winner with a generational talent and another line that features two art Ross/league MVP's. Or the Canucks could pair Ovechkin with Hodgson, the Sedins on another line, and Kesler on an elite checking line.
Washington doesn't have that kind of depth up front. Past Ovechkin and Backstrom they have a heartless Semin and a bunch of Higgins types.
If Ovechkin can't produce now when he basically gets to do whatever he wants, why would he suddenly start producing more on a team where he's supposed to play at both ends of the ice?
If Ovechkin can't produce now when he basically gets to do whatever he wants, why would he suddenly start producing more on a team where he's supposed to play at both ends of the ice?
I think he needs a change of scenery, and if we get him I would hope AV let's him just play his game.
Based on what? The Canucks could have one line that features a Selke winner with a generational talent and another line that features two art Ross/league MVP's. Or the Canucks could pair Ovechkin with Hodgson, the Sedins on another line, and Kesler on an elite checking line.
Washington doesn't have that kind of depth up front. Past Ovechkin and Backstrom they have a heartless Semin and a bunch of Higgins types.
I'm curious to see what your version of the Canucks would look like with Ovechkin on our team. By all accounts, having one 9 million, two 6 million and a 5 million dollar player on the team that are all forwards mean that the rest of the team looks pretty bare.
