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Another Legend Lost - Lafleur Passes Away at 70
IBatch replied to HKSR's topic in General Hockey Discussion
Dionne "i would have scored 1000 goals if i was drafted first instead" and i wouldn't have doubted it much either. Guy was crazy good, even after he retired, skated circles around everyone (including Guy) and built like a little tank. Like Ronning but add 20lbs of muscles (and he was a pitbull in the corners).. Both were dynamic players, one blessed to play on the greatest team ever, another cursed to play in LA lol. Ovi to me is like a cross between Howe and Hull. Very different player. Malkin isn't in the same stratosphere. Edit; In the end Dionne scored 400 more points then Lafluer. Always the bridesmaid too.. second in Hart..got his Byngs, Pearson's and Art Ross trophies ... 3 consecutive years of 130, 135, 137 points ... get the era but even if your even out save percentages that's three over 120 today. Finally got out of Lafleurs shadow and Gretzky shows up lol. Dionne is probably the best player ever not to win a cup. He retired at 37 second only to Gordie Howe. Technically he only played one more season then Lafluer, but was much more durable...200 more games ... 400 more points. I do believe had he played in MTL he'd have had over 2000. I also believe if he played today, he'd simply kill it too. Edit: As for Guy. You'd be hard pressed to find a brighter star in any era as well. Was unreal. It's a really sad week with both him and Bossy passing away. These guys were my early hero's with Bobby Clarke. Only Orr outshone Guy in the 70's. I don't know anyone who didn't like Lafluer though. Just his manner. Him and Gretzky are probably the best ambassadors the games had since expansion. -
[Rumour] Bo Horvat Trade/Contract Talks
IBatch replied to HOFsedins's topic in Trades, Rumours, Signings
Pretty sure Benning is gone. -
[Proposal] Boeser is the odd man out - 8 year projection!
IBatch replied to HKSR's topic in Proposals and Armchair GM'ing
The ONLY young team i could find that had the next level of guys coming up carrying a lot of mail, was CHI first and second cup. And even that team had key core players like Hossa, goalies etc in the same age range you mentioned. LA a little too I suppose. Not CAR other then Staal, definitely not ANA that was probably the oldest core (since the cap - but CAR maybe too) to win a cup Getzlaf/Perry/Penner had their coming out party ... but it that team was loaded with 30 year old plus vets that carried the mail ... Most teams that win end up with a star or two that becomes part of the next core (Boston had Marchand and Seguin) like Getzlaf and Perry did, CAR Ward and Staal etc. St. Louis was a veteran team and still is. PIT last two cups of course ... first one i suppose you could say fit into the CHI theme too but we're all actually a little older ... WSH, Ovi and Backstrom well into their second core. It's not like the 2002 Detroit team, who's team average age was like 33-34 these days, but i seriously can't find a team that didn't have a Miller type on it that won a cup. As in an aging vet in his prime north of 30. We can keep Miller, Horvat and EP. The Sedin teams had holes in it too albiet not many - our depth scoring was an issue ... if Kesler went down. Ouch. Edit; On EP. He could be the on the cusp of greatness. All we need to see from him next is an entire 78-82 season producing at his current pace since January ... took a little time to get traction too...47 goals and maybe his first 100 point season is coming next year. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Contending? Not sure about that. One camp is smart enough to know better. The other camp either knows nothing about hockey or knows making the playoffs with a decent team anything can happen. I doubt we are contenders either way. So i'm with the know nothing just in case camp for now. Don't want to see my uncles die before getting a chance at another cup. Reality is ... each cycle between cups is going to take that much longer. 32 teams. People mad or upset about this - send your postcards and comments to Bettman. Edit: On average - if things were actually equal which they certainly are not (34.6%-53% taxes, less snow and or rain), each NHL team has 3 cups per century, and 3 final losses. One final appearance every 17 or so years. Yippee. And inbetween, a whole lot of pain. At least the talent level is starting to approach the 90's. -
Canucks trying to identify fan who threw hot dog towards Phil Kessel
IBatch replied to nuckin_futz's topic in Canucks Talk
Ok that was actually very very funny. -
Looking 8 years into Miller's new contract - with numbers (of course)!
IBatch replied to HKSR's topic in Canucks Talk
Most teams would consider Horvat - a "big fish". Look what Hayes and Hyman got. -
Another Legend Lost - Lafleur Passes Away at 70
IBatch replied to HKSR's topic in General Hockey Discussion
Two guys you'd be hard pressed to not have on an all-time team as well. Dionne might have been better had he played for MTL instead, but those two guys...you'd be hard pressed to find a better first and second overall ever between the two. -
Another Legend Lost - Lafleur Passes Away at 70
IBatch replied to HKSR's topic in General Hockey Discussion
EPs rookie year the Hockey News did a cover story about him. And compared him to Lafleur because he was self-taught, no skill coaches, just himself and all the ice time in the world wanting to be the best he could be. The Alien moniker would have worked for "Flower" too. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Yep. And the sad thing, in a cap world, especially a cap - plus taxed city like ours, we just won't see a team that gets it all. It's hard to find that anywhere in the NHL anymore anyways. Time the league accepts this - and brings the play-ins back. At least 20 or so of 32 teams will get to see something and have some hope. 5-10 years between cycles is just ridiculous. Last truly great teams i've seen were COL, Detroit and NJ. Going back to the early 2000's. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
I don't really care if it means we make the playoffs and do some damage. Making the team worse now just "in case" isn't a reliable method either. Sure would be nice to get these massive haul trade proposals and maybe we will. It's still a crapshoot. Maybe we get someone. Maybe we don't. Maybe we get a couple firsts like Gaunce. Hard to say. If the absolute worst thing is we have Miller for four years, and at the end of it he walks and we gain his 5.35 back in space i can live with that. Again maybe better then Kerfoot for one year, and a couple big maybes from TO. Lundqvist - please folks look into him a little deeper. Marino? Myers is better right now and our fans aren't happy about him. Schnieder yes good one. But they have to actually want to do that too. Also i get the flip side. 30 year old Miller at 8.5-9.5 5-6 .... maybe we can just be patient and ride this rodeo out. It's possible we trade Miller and screw ourselves too. As in take on a much worse "up and coming" player under contract. And miss on our picks. -
Another Legend Lost - Lafleur Passes Away at 70
IBatch replied to HKSR's topic in General Hockey Discussion
Dionne actually impressed me the most. Was skating circles around everyone really. But Lafluer was still doing his thing too. That's pretty cool if your were there too... old Cougar arena ... have to ask the wife but guessing around 97-98... -
Another Legend Lost - Lafleur Passes Away at 70
IBatch replied to HKSR's topic in General Hockey Discussion
So was Probert. A lot of athletes used to smoke right until the 2000's. Doesn't make them any less. Players Light. Plastered all over the place. The "athetes smoke". In 1985 a report came out that just living in Mexico City was like smoking two unfiltered packs a day. Masons. Miners. Landscapers. Carpenters. Drywallers. They all inhale crap all day long too. -
Another Legend Lost - Lafleur Passes Away at 70
IBatch replied to HKSR's topic in General Hockey Discussion
Had the honour to meet Lafluer in Victoria after an old timers game - a few years after he retired. Won't ever forget it. Put bottle rockets on his skates and did one fast lap ... no greys yet - widows peak ... for a moment it was like he was doing his things in the 70's again. Was a night i won't ever forget. People need to understand that these guys were amazing athletes. RIP Lafluer. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
There are a whole bunch in the early Quin era. Biestra would do a better job then me going over them. I freaking loved Butcher and at the time was so so freaking pissed we traded him. Edit: Quin actually wasn't a great drafter. Bure was a coupe - Burke did the legwork to see if he was eligible - found out he was, and still advised Quin against picking him "that's a small body gentleman, a really small body" (AKA Quin Hughes ... lol at least Burke has a ring in ANA with his big bodies) ... Linden was an easy pick at 2 ... Nedved at 3 as well... aside from that pretty meh ... Ohlund yes ... great pick) Stajonov ...7 was it? Antoski...well they liked their guys large back then. Naslund of course - back to master trader - We need some of that now. A second for Lumme would do it. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
That's fine. Miller was the only guy who started the season with much fire in his belly. I don't know but suspect that internal leadership competition pushed Horvat down the stretch. EP wasn't good the first half. Neither was Brock. Only guys that showed up from game one are QHs, OEL, Myers, Miller and Garland. I have serious doubts both EP and Horvat are ready to do this on their own. But at least they've seen what it takes. Miller traded all depends on the return of course. His age also of course is a concern. I'd be totally fine with a return that makes sense - but if you go and look what other teams were thinking they'd offer for him? TO for example - Kerfoot and their two best prospects. A 15th overall and a second rounder from a couple years ago (both forwards). Neither in the top 100 prospects. Lundqvist isn't either. Rathbone - a guy we think is maybe a depth guys - is 60 lol. What we think and what we could get are very very different. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Funny how that works isn't it? Bure got traded WITH a Hedican. Wow. Ouch. Best player we've ever traded and we did - in his prime. Had his best seasons in the dead puck era...i'd argue that was an even trade. Hedican went on to win a cup and play what was it again? Without looking over 1000 games. Jovo of course was good great for 2-3 years. Bure was better though. Just because Miller is a great chip - doesn't mean he's the next Linden chip. The roster player coming back will constantly be compared to whatever Miller is managing and the futures could be duds. It happens, often. Roy. MTL lost that deal. What the team really needs right now is some master Quin surgery. A second for a Lumme. A Butcher (Myers?) for a Ronning, Momesso and a Courtnall. And a Gelinas picked up on waivers. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Kessel was a core player. Routinely in the top ten or very close to it in his prime. Where Miller is now with only one appearance. Sharp is a decent comp, but i'm not even convinced that is his true comp. Likely between Hoffman and Sharp. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Problem is our team isn't in a tank spot anymore. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Oh. So your upset that he hasn't had a four point game recently. Gotcha. I'm upset that Horvat got injured too. We aren't dead yet. But i'm sure the West is sighing in relief that our odds are now very slim. I'd direct your upset at how the point system works. We are a better team then both LA and Dallas but they get in with loser points. Edit: As an aside both the NHLPA and NHL should be pushing for a play-in round. It's absolutely ridiculous because the league is now so bloated, that teams need to wait 6-10 years. Ridiculous. The 2000's were awful. At least the talent level is finally starting to catch up. Detroit now at six. Buffalo? 10 is it? CAR waited 9 years. EDM 2 playoffs in 20 years or so lol. The mushy middle might give you a shot or two. Think the wild cards need to both be decided with one other team. That would add four teams to it. 20 out of 32. Used to be 16 or 21 then 16 of 24....for a couple decades. With parity it makes a lot of sense. And man the seats would remain filled down the stretch plus some playoff income ... win for the players, win for the teams, win for the media, win for the league and the fans especially. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
What could happen is the team gives him a deal - i'm going to say 4-5 years at close to what he's already making. If Brock wants his 7.5 then they front load it. Problem solved. Garland - i love that guy. Not worried about him one bit. He's got a huge chip on his shoulder. Was a good Benning signing. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Why be upset? The better Miller plays the higher his stock rises. He's pushed Horvat as well. The entire team really. And being a very good leader. Good grief. Naslund was a stale crumb on the floor when he was interviewed. Like to see some passion. He's got it in spades. Also is stoked he finally got a chance to play on the top six. I'm not so worried about Miller. He either signs with us again, and helps our team another 4-5 years, or he gets traded and that loot bag hopefully helps EP/QHs/Podz when they are up. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
This year ... Miller is the main reason we had a chance down the stretch. IF we made the playoffs, deserves Hart votes - the same way Hall did with NJ a couple years ago. His stats when he gets a point and doesn't are pretty staggering. EP woke up a little too late ... Brock as well. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Lol. Don't be so upset that Miller put this team on his back and forced them to play better. He's just as much a reason for our success in the second half as Bruce is. Still has an outside chance at 100 points too. When's the last time any Canuck scored 90 points? He's exactly the type of player i like to see on our team. -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
It happens often enough. Hamilton. AP. Tavares ... -
[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild | Apr. 21, 2022
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in Canucks Talk
Yes for sure. Garland with Brocks PP time could be the smarter player to keep. In the end i doubt it will be much more then a million a year to keep Brock on a similar deal that Garland has. Too late too little. I think he gets his 7.5 QO for one year OR mediation. Also think the team is going to wait awhile longer before making any big decisions. One at most during the draft or off season.