Unpopular opinions

[Overrated]

Hockey is very much a rich kid's sport. All the kids on the AAA team are using the same expensive stuff.

that could mean some of the kids with inferior equipment did not make the team precisely for that reason

 

[WarriorofTime]

that could mean some of the kids with inferior equipment did not make the team precisely for that reason

Yeah the poor kids were already weeded out at that point. They're probably playing soccer or basketball long before the AAA team holds tryouts.

 

[jigglysquishy]

If you're at all dialed in with your local AAA scene you'll notice 50% of neighbourhoods never send a kid and a small handful make up the majority of players year after year.

 

[VanIslander]

I cut grass, weeded gardens, hauled garbage and pallets, delivered flyers and was a delivery boy of ice and supplies for baseball tourneys to pay for my hockey.

Granted, i had no sports video games in 1980, no ESPN to view. We played to emulate those greats we watched on Saturday nights.

It was a different time.

 

[Sergei Bure]

Brodeur wasn't even a better goalie than Ed Belfour and the only reason he's not ranked below him is because he played for the Devils his whole career.

Agree 100%, the Devils defensive system made a very good goalie in Brodeur look like a GOAT contender...

 

[Michael Farkas]

Agree 100%, the Devils defensive system made a very goalie in Brodeur look like a GOAT contender...

The same one that made Roy look...
The same one that made Belfour look...
The same one...

Whoever ran the ad campaign where only Brodeur played behind a defensive system AND that he did it through multiple eras with several different coaches should have been in the TV series Mad Men haha

 

[Plural]

Saku Koivu is one of the best captains in the history of the NHL.

#1D is more important than #1C

Fighting should be banned in hockey.

 

[Michael Farkas]

#1D is more important than #1C

That's very popular, I believe.

 

[Plural]

That's very popular, I believe.

Hmm...possibly. Kind of always thought that #1C > #1D is the most popular opinion.

We can scratch that from the list.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Hmm...possibly. Kind of always thought that #1C > #1D is the most popular opinion.

We can scratch that from the list.

Well...either that or we can be unpopular together haha

 

[WarriorofTime]

Would probably have an elite #1 D over an elite #1C but a low-end #1C over a low-end #1D. Elite #1 D are great because of how much they can play in the postseason and hide riff-raff amongst your bottom 3 D.

I'll be interested to see what sort of contracts the elite D sign when they come up in the next couple years. Right now, the best Defensemen are on steals (RFA deals, flat cap when signed) and not separated far enough from the low end ones.

 

[quietbruinfan]

Eric Lindros is the most overrated star in history. A.I.N.E.C.

 

[DRW895]

Erik Karlsson isn`t reason of penguins troubles. Even his salary cap

 

[David Bruce Banner]

Eric Lindros is the most overrated star in history. A.I.N.E.C.

Sure, I agree.
But, I'd also say that, with him, we saw a legendary talent sidelined by injuries on a scale perhaps only matching Orr's.

 

[K Fleur]

I think Brodeur’s puck handling made the Devils “defensive system” way better than it had any business being.

 

[quietbruinfan]

Sure, I agree.
But, I'd also say that, with him, we saw a legendary talent sidelined by injuries on a scale perhaps only matching Orr's.

I thought he was somewhat overrated before the concussions. He skated with his head down, cycled constantly, and had an incredible snapshot. That's about it. His assist totals were surprisingly good given his one dimensional game.

 

[rmartin65]

That's about it. His assist totals were surprisingly good given his one dimensional game.

Be careful using those words ‘round these parts. Some folks don’t like ‘em.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Erik Karlsson isn`t reason of penguins troubles. Even his salary cap

I think the people that think this are a distinct minority. A lunatic fringe, even.

 

[MadLuke]

Hmm...possibly. Kind of always thought that #1C > #1D is the most popular opinion.

We can scratch that from the list.

https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/rankings/earnings-career/_/year/2024

This can be influenced by contract timing and the particular of the last 20 years talents crops, but in the 20 hockey player that made the most absolute dollar as of today.

9x Center (they count Lecavalier was winger there...)
5x D
2x RW
2x LW
2x Goaltender

 

[decma]

Ehlers is better than Connor.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Ehlers is better than Connor.

Kyle or McDavid?

 

[decma]

Kyle or McDavid?

Kyle.

 

[JackSlater]

I think Brodeur’s puck handling made the Devils “defensive system” way better than it had any business being.

It definitely helped, and I'll add, not sure whether this is unpopular or not, that I do not think that the generally popular goaltending statistics paint a very good picture of goaltenders. One failure is the failure to assess goaltenders who are effective puck movers.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Kyle.

Thanks - I was curious how unpopular you were aiming for.

 

[MeHateHe]

The nets need to be slightly enlarged. Four inches taller and six inches wider.