Around The NHL: Moar Playoffs!!!

[SnowblindNYR]

Maybe it's shows the true strength of Detroit in stead of the weakness of Chicago. Yes, they ended 8th but it was a shortened season in which even the Islanders made the play-offs. Shortened seasons are no point of reference when judging true quality.

Chicago-Detroit should have been the conference final, Rangers-Bruins would have been an awesome conference final on our side. Imagine that... 4 Original Six teams in the conference finals.

This HAS to be one of the weakest Detroit teams in 20 years. I mean, I don't know, last year Lidstrom was a shell of himself and they weren't great, so it's possible that these Wings are better, but still has to be one of the worst in recent memory.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

This HAS to be one of the weakest Detroit teams in 20 years. I mean, I don't know, last year Lidstrom was a shell of himself and they weren't great, so it's possible that these Wings are better, but still has to be one of the worst in recent memory.

I disagree. They have less elite players, but the team seems more cohesive and with young guys like Nyqvist coming through, they are rebuilding without missing the play-offs. Towards the end of the season, they were very solid

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Wow... Out of nowhere Detroit scores! 1-3.

Datsyuk with a precision shot and his 3rd goal of the play-offs

 

[Megustaelhockey]

Wow... Out of nowhere Detroit scores! 1-3.

Datsyuk with a precision shot and his 3rd goal of the play-offs

They just have a culture of winning there; even when they're not winning cups, they are at least in the mix. They make the "Dead Wing" era seem like a distant memory.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

These playoffs are showing us why elite 2 way guys are overrated. Toews is a great offensive player. A PPG player nowadays is elite. He's ultra elite defensively. Still when push comes to shove, the guys that are ultra elite offensively will always make a huge impact. Guys like Toews can get neutralized offensively and then he just becomes a good 3rd liner.

 

[Punxrocknyc19*]

i wish NYR had this type of emotion... it seems like NYR series are emotionless.

 

[silkyjohnson50]

These playoffs are showing us why elite 2 way guys are overrated. Toews is a great offensive player. A PPG player nowadays is elite. He's ultra elite defensively. Still when push comes to shove, the guys that are ultra elite offensively will always make a huge impact. Guys like Toews can get neutralized offensively and then he just becomes a good 3rd liner.

But if you look at the other bench it shows exactly how valuable they are.

 

[aufheben]

These playoffs are showing us why elite 2 way guys are overrated. Toews is a great offensive player. A PPG player nowadays is elite. He's ultra elite defensively. Still when push comes to shove, the guys that are ultra elite offensively will always make a huge impact. Guys like Toews can get neutralized offensively and then he just becomes a good 3rd liner.

Wouldn't that mean that "elite" 2 way play isn't overrated?

 

[Fitzy]

i wish NYR had this type of emotion... it seems like NYR series are emotionless.

I haven;t the slightest idea how you can tell.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Wouldn't that mean that "elite" 2 way play isn't overrated?

No, because an elite offensive player rarely gets shut down (the more impressive what we did to Ovechkin, but that was the first playoff series like that for him for his career). So an elite offensive player is almost always contributing. Toews becomes a decent 3rd liner.

 

[darko]

But if you look at the other bench it shows exactly how valuable they are.

Exactly. That #13 had an OK game I guess.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

But if you look at the other bench it shows exactly how valuable they are.

Toews is not on that level offensively.

 

[mike14]

Just finished watching the Hawks/Wings replay, damn but Detroit got some home-town officiating.

Also, I don't care how much of a 'tradition' it is, throwing sea-life on the ice is fracking stupid

 

[Kershaw]

Exactly. That #13 had an OK game I guess.

Patrice Bergeron took over game 7 vs. the Leafs.

 

[aufheben]

No, because an elite offensive player rarely gets shut down (the more impressive what we did to Ovechkin, but that was the first playoff series like that for him for his career). So an elite offensive player is almost always contributing. Toews becomes a decent 3rd liner.

But, isn't Toews lack of production a result of elite 2 way players like Zetterberg and Datsyuk? Whether or not you can consider Toews elite offensively doesn't change that.

 

[Kershaw]

Patrick Kane is a much better hockey player than Jonathan Toews.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

But, isn't Toews lack of production a result of elite 2 way players like Zetterberg and Datsyuk? Whether or not you can consider Toews elite offensively doesn't change that.

I'm not saying 2 way play is useless, more so that "2 way guys" usually are much easier to shut down that the more one dimension offensive superstars.

 

[5 4 Fighting]

Patrick Kane is a much better hockey player than Jonathan Toews.

I would argue Duncan Keith is the MVP of that team, followed closely by Patty Kane. I don't like him though, as a player he's awesome, but as a person, just an immature ******.

 

[Boruto]

back to actual hockey tomorr.w

 

[haohmaru]

Patrick Kane is a much better hockey player than Jonathan Toews.

There isn't a GM in the league that would take Kane over Toews if given a choice between one or the other to start a team with. Not one.

 

[jniklast]

No, because an elite offensive player rarely gets shut down (the more impressive what we did to Ovechkin, but that was the first playoff series like that for him for his career). So an elite offensive player is almost always contributing. Toews becomes a decent 3rd liner.

But who is an "elite" offensive player? Crosby and Malkin obviously won't be shutdown, but as you say even Ovechkin was. So who's left? Nash is pretty much shut downbso far, so it has to be someone above his level. Kovalchuk and Stamkos would probably fit, but they aren't even in the playoffs. And are they really that much more effective on average when the opposing d concentrates on them?

 

[Kershaw]

I would argue Duncan Keith is the MVP of that team, followed closely by Patty Kane. I don't like him though, as a player he's awesome, but as a person, just an immature ******.

Keith is a good player, but I don't think he's the MVP of the team. As a defense unit, they have some unreal chemistry with each other. Seabrook has been just as good as Keith in recent years. Kane is always their offensive dynamo and thoroughbred. Due to him running the offense on the team, he's their best player.

 

[Kershaw]

There isn't a GM in the league that would take Kane over Toews if given a choice between one or the other to start a team with. Not one.

I don't think all GMs would take Toews. A team like say New Jesey would prefer Kane due to their center depth. Same with the Pens, Kings, Flyers, etc.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Not to mention, it's not like Toews has been failing to generate chances throughout the playoffs. He is great at keeping and working the puck in the offensive zone.

I know Saad is riding shotgun with some great players but he looks to be a legit talent. Another good pick by Chicago.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'm not saying 2 way play is useless, more so that "2 way guys" usually are much easier to shut down that the more one dimension offensive superstars.

That's simply not true. 2-way elite players, even when they aren't scoring, have HUGE effects on each and every game. Shut down the offense of a player like Ovechkin, what does he do? Shut down Kovalchuk, what does he do? If Kane were not scoring, what would he provide?

Multi-dimensional players are always more valuable come playoff time.