General Off-Day Thread (complain about Nieto, etc. here)

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I was a huge Morozov truther for years so I'm mostly just being stupid.

I don't think AMoz would have helped much TBH. Though he was probably a bit better of player than he ever really got to show, here.

And yeah IIRC he elected to just stay in Russia. Ended up being a massive star, there.

What the Penguins REALLY needed that year post-lockout was at least another center or two of somewhat-passable quality. They started that season with Lasse Pirjeta as their 2C. In some ways Kraft would have been a smarter get than AMoz.

 

[SomeDude]

Mozo probably was playing the long game the whole time seeing as he’s now the president of the KHL. You don’t get that high up without playing the majority of your career in the motherland.

 

[SEALBound]

Yeah, things definitely turned out alright for Morozov, no doubt about that. He's just one of those "what could have beens" that I think about because he had mad skill and speed. Combine that with Sid, I think those two could have been magic together.

What the Penguins REALLY needed that year post-lockout was at least another center or two of somewhat-passable quality. They started that season with Lasse Pirjeta as their 2C. In some ways Kraft would have been a smarter get than AMoz.

You mean, someone like Mario Lemieux?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah, things definitely turned out alright for Morozov, no doubt about that. He's just one of those "what could have beens" that I think about because he had mad skill and speed. Combine that with Sid, I think those two could have been magic together.


You mean, someone like Mario Lemieux?

Well he was playing 1C, yes. At least to start the year until right around his retirement. Sid started off on the wing.

Past that their C depth was utterly atrocious. That would be fixed emphatically the next year, of course.

 

[Jacob]

Morozov kinda sucked, really. He had the mindset of a Kovalev or Jagr but not the skillset. He was more in that Berezin or Czerkawski category of guys that would be passable top-6 players on very, very bad teams.

In that 3 year stretch where Morozov was productive he was basically a PP specialist.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Morozov kinda sucked, really. He had the mindset of a Kovalev or Jagr but not the skillset. He was more in that Berezin or Czerkawski category of guys that would be passable top-6 players on very, very bad teams.

In that 3 year stretch where Morozov was productive he was basically a PP specialist.

Yeah honestly he was kind of a powerplay merchant. He had some decent chemistry with Mario actually but seemingly almost entirely within that context, only.

I wanted him to succeed but he's just kind of yet another example of a player who seemed to have it all but can't quite put it together. But can thrive in a league where you don't need to be QUITE as smart and can get by on sheer ability. I want to say he actually set all time scoring records, there. An interesting case on the vast difference between leagues even then when the KHL was SOMEWHAT legitimate.

 

[BusinessGoose]

Without drafting Crosby, we would have been lucky to have the same "success" the Flyers did over that time. Still get into playoffs pretty regularly, but have zero weapons to overcome the big guns in later rounds

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Yeah, things definitely turned out alright for Morozov, no doubt about that. He's just one of those "what could have beens" that I think about because he had mad skill and speed. Combine that with Sid, I think those two could have been magic together.

Uh I actually think Sid would have strangled Morozov on the bench and demanded he not be on his line.
Now Malkin would be the guy to make beautiful music with Morozov.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

You mean, someone like Mario Lemieux?

He only managed 26 games. And I'm assuming that's because he wanted to play with Crosby. No Crosby likely means no Lemieux post-lockout (even it was just a third of the season).

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

He only managed 26 games. And I'm assuming that's because he wanted to play with Crosby. No Crosby likely means no Lemieux post-lockout (even it was just a third of the season).

I love Lemieux... dude is the whole reason I even got into the sport in general.

But guy looked like he had done nothing but inhale baskets of loaded cheese fries chased with jugs of Bordeaux for the entirety of the lockout. And he was FAR from the only one among the older NHLer crowd IIRC.

 

[Pancakes]

I love Lemieux... dude is the whole reason I even got into the sport in general.

But guy looked like he had done nothing but inhale baskets of loaded cheese fries chased with jugs of Bordeaux for the entirety of the lockout. And he was FAR from the only one among the older NHLer crowd IIRC.

And in true Mario fashion he still managed to put up 22 points in 26 games because he's just that outrageously talented that even being old and barely able to skate he was still putting up points.

I used to joke with my dad after Mario retired that they could bring Mario out and he'd help the powerplay because he's just that good. It was mostly a joke but honestly that guy was so absurdly talented that it wouldn't surprise me if he could have still be an effective pp specialist into his late 40s lol.

 

[Khelandros]

I love Lemieux... dude is the whole reason I even got into the sport in general.

But guy looked like he had done nothing but inhale baskets of loaded cheese fries chased with jugs of Bordeaux for the entirety of the lockout. And he was FAR from the only one among the older NHLer crowd IIRC.

Yet still came back with 22 points in those 26 games. There are somethings you can teach, then there are the things Lemieux can do.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

And in true Mario fashion he still managed to put up 22 points in 26 games because he's just that outrageously talented that even being old and barely able to skate he was still putting up points.

I used to joke with my dad after Mario retired that they could bring Mario out and he'd help the powerplay because he's just that good. It was mostly a joke but honestly that guy was so absurdly talented that it wouldn't surprise me if he could have still be an effective pp specialist into his late 40s lol.

Yeah funny enough you say that because he was still pretty absurd on the powerplay that year IIRC. Dude was basically a statue at that point and skated like he had a neutron star in his Cooperalls but holy shit could he still make dishes that nobody could.

Funny enough I seem to recall a buncha people laying the team's struggles at Mario's feet because he wouldn't just "go away."

IT'S THE CIRRRRRRRCLE OF LIFE!

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yet still came back with 22 points in those 26 games. There are somethings you can teach, then there are the things Lemieux can do.

It wasn't really meant as a slight. But I don't think it's inaccurate, either. Mario had done so well re: his health during his last comeback so it was maybe a little disappointing but whatever. Mario can do basically whatever he wants as far as I'm concerned. Um... in regards to playing hockey I should say.

Hey at least he wasn't as egregious as Tkachuk during the lockout! That dude turned into a straight up blimp. Also was he the dolt who complained that he couldn't feed his dog while the lockout was going on?

 

[Jacob]

The biggest bummer was that year Mario was leading the league in scoring but then we had to sell off Kovy and a couple lesser guys and his stats kinda tanked. I think that’s when his hip started bugging him again too.

A nice finish to his career would’ve been one more Art Ross at 38. Then call it.

It wasn't really meant as a slight. But I don't think it's inaccurate, either. Mario had done so well re: his health during his last comeback so it was maybe a little disappointing but whatever. Mario can do basically whatever he wants as far as I'm concerned. Um... in regards to playing hockey I should say.

Hey at least he wasn't as egregious as Tkachuk during the lockout! That dude turned into a straight up blimp. Also was he the dolt who complained that he couldn't feed his dog while the lockout was going on?

Hahaha.. Modano said that. Players were getting a $500 per week stipend or something from the PA’s reserve fund and he said that wasn’t enough to feed his dog.