Ongoing NHL thread - Part deux

[forty_three]

It's definitely more common with goalies. Hasek was a backup until he was something like 28. Tim Thomas was a backup and/or minor leaguer until he was 32 or 33.

Those are certainly unusual examples, but it definitely shows it's possible.

Goaltending is more about mental development than it is physical development. Everyone has different places they can get to mentally, and differing paths to get there so it's natural it would take some guys a while (and why ome guys come out of the gate like mad). It's not as easy as figuring out which muscle groups to work when to make you skate faster or shoot harder.

You could have a guy who is physically gifted and an amazing athlete, but if he still flinches when a slapshot is fired, he's going to be shit in goal.

 

[dash]

You could have a guy who is physically gifted and an amazing athlete, but if he still flinches when a slapshot is fired, he's going to be shit in goal.

Maybe that's why we have so many Finnish goalies having success in the NHL, those guys are so low-strung that nothing seems to phase them.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Maybe that's why we have so many Finnish goalies having success in the NHL, those guys are so low-strung that nothing seems to phase them.

Lindy Ruff likes this.

 

[dash]

Lindy Ruff likes this.

Not a big fan of Kari Let-em-in, but the Stars also have a former Cup winner in Antti Niemi - It will be interesting to see how the goalie battle shakes out in Dallas.

 

[dare2be]

You could have a guy who is physically gifted and an amazing athlete, but if he still flinches when a slapshot is fired, he's going to be shit in goal.

*cough*MAF*cough*

just kidding (mostly)

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Not a big fan of Kari Let-em-in, but the Stars also have a former Cup winner in Antti Niemi - It will be interesting to see how the goalie battle shakes out in Dallas.

Kari lost my faith long ago. Niemi I think deserves another chance. Lots of people wanted to blame him for SJ last year and I was not one of them.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

 

[dash]

Draft Pick ‏@nhldrafter 4m4 minutes ago

@cbcsports @CBCAlerts Bettman boldly announced #nhl doesn't need expansion $$$$ and in fact is contracting - Red Moon & Water on Mars blamed

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Nothin to see here. Poison goblin just needed to let us all know his stupid face still exists.

 

[Comeds]

I wonder what it would be like to play on frozen Mars water....

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I wonder what it would be like to play on frozen Mars water....

bet the paid attendance numbers at the Marsileum exceed Panthers and Coyotes games

 

[DragonfromTO]

It's definitely more common with goalies. Hasek was a backup until he was something like 28. Tim Thomas was a backup and/or minor leaguer until he was 32 or 33.

Those are certainly unusual examples, but it definitely shows it's possible.

Part of the reason it's more common for goalies to come from out of nowhere when they're older is because there's more "nowhere" for them to come from. If a centre isn't a #1 centre yet he can still play on the 3rd or 4th line instead and make contributions that fans will remember, but if a goalie isn't ready to be a #1 goalie (or if his coach just doesn't think he is) he's either going to be wearing a cap on the bench or playing in the AHL.

 

[forty_three]

bet the paid attendance numbers at the Marsileum exceed Panthers and Coyotes games

Well it is closer to Phoenix than Glendale is.

 

[dash]

They had better put the Mars franchise in the Western Conference because you know the Leafs will be too cheap to send Bowen and Ralph there for an away broadcast.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

They had better put the Mars franchise in the Western Conference because you know the Leafs will be too cheap to send Bowen and Ralph there for an away broadcast.

And there'd be no end to Red Wings fans bitching about the start times and travel burdens to get there.

 

[dare2be]

I can't see an NHL expansion team on Mars, but I could see the KHL moving their operations there for a more favorable Martian exchange rate. Plus many of the players would be used to the conditions similar to Siberia.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Spot picker picked the wrong spot

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

So I heard on the radio this morning that Lehner has not only been not-so-good during the preseason in Buffalo, but has also spent a lot of time talking to the media about how he "never got a chance" in Ottawa? He also apparently showed up fat.

I despise the Sens with everything I have, but I gotta hand it to Murray because that trade looks more like a stroke of genius every damn day. Even if Colin White never turns into anything it's just highway robbery.

Seems all Lehner needed was a game against the Leafs to cure what ails him.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

This is some nice stickwork by Drouin. If he's ready for the next step, Tampa is going to be one scary ass team to defend against.

 

[forty_three]

Caveat: It's pre-season.

Saad - 2 goals, 2 assists
Joey- 1 goal, 2 assists
Fo-LEEN-O - 1 goal, 1 Assist

I could get to like this.