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NHL Season 2018-19
- Thread starter MJ5150
- Start date
B's have 4 from Canada, who did you leave out?
Marchy? I understand why, but he's from Nova Scotia.
Bergy? Quebec is still part of Canada, n'est-ce pas?
DeBrusk? Alberta reminds me of Texas, not that there is anything wrong with that.
Heinen? - BC sort of considers itself a separate country - understandable.
Pretty amazing that there are just 4 Canadians and none from Ontario.
I bought this over thirty years ago, now that it may soon be relevant again I'm going to get a Keytar and a Flock of Seagulls haircut and pretend that it is 1985.
Man, the Bruins have had their number in the playoffs. If Toronto didn't play Boston, they might go somewhere
Nah
Leaf fans were throwing sweaters and hats on the ice just 2 years ago. Rough crowd
I woulda posted a pic of a Panthers 'crowd' but there aren't any.
I THINK (IIRC) that when the Bruins won the Cup in 2011, there was like one American on the finals roster and it was Tim Thomas. I think every position player was Canadian or European.
I could be wrong. But not by much.
Yeah, that's pretty close. I was rooting for them as well back then.
When it comes to playoff time, Canadians are still the toughest dudes out there.
Some of you might not know this, but the last time the Blues played for the cup, was in 1970 and Boston won in OT with Bobby Orr's famous goal.
Glenn Hall was in nets for St Louis and he was 39 years old.
You are correct! (I was curious so I looked it up), the only other American with decent playing time was Blake Wheeler, but he was traded mid-season for Rich Peverley of the Kingston, Ontario Peverleys. The contrast of now to the 2011 team is what made me look up the exact number of Canadians on this team because 3 seemed too few but if capnjim had said 5, I still would have thought it too few and would have been wrong.
That 2011 team had the most representation from different Provinces of Canada of any that I can recall with Lucic and Recchi from BC, Bergy from QC, Marchand from NS, McQuaid from PEI, Ference and Boychuk from Alberta, Seguin, Chris Kelly, Thornton, Horton and more from Ontario, Michael Ryder from Newfoundland and Labrador. They didn't have any from Manitoba and Saskatchewan which turn out a bunch a players nor from New Brunswick, Yukon or the Northwest Territories which don't have that many pros.
The B's seem to have had fewer Russian players than other teams. The only one I can remember is Samsonov in the late 1990's early 2000's. Khudobin was our backup goalie for a few years from Kazakhstan, but no other players from former Soviet Republics for the B's that I can recall.
It is interesting that hockey is probably second only to soccer in terms of the number of countries that turn out top-tier professionals and have high-quality professional leagues.
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Dmitri Kvartalnov is one name that sticks in my head. Too bad he didn't stay in the NHL very long. He certainly had the skills.
Totally agree with your assessment comparing hockey being second to soccer regarding international talent. It's amazing how many different countries the top soccer stars represent.
Soccer is a just a ball and a field - it can be played anywhere. With hockey, you need ice (preferably a rink), skates, sticks, pucks, etc. That is what is amazing to me - with all the equipment needed, so many countries play it at a high level. Basketball is close, but I think the gap between the NBA and the European hoop leagues is larger than the gap between the NHL and the KHL or the Swedish Elite league.
Agreed. In player talent and pay, the KHL is a semi-legitimate rival to the NHL and many of the european leagues are superior to the North American minor leagues, especially in terms of fan support.
I think that the language barrier discourages more NA players from playing in Europe and Russia but not so much the other way around since English is widely spoken as a second language around the world.
Well, in latest Pens news (that the vast majority of subscribers to this thread probably doesnt give a crap about...)
Penguins actively shopping popular winger Phil Kessel | TribLIVE.com
JR trying to make a deal with Minnesota, but will Phil waive his no-trade clause? He didnt exactly have a bad year - 27 goals (10 game winners) and 82 points. He certainly didnt do much post-season but the whole team (except for maybe Murray) is guilty of that charge. I would miss Phil, people love him because he seems like a "regular guy".
Penguins re-sign defenseman Chad Ruhwedel for 2 years | TribLIVE.com
I guess it will not be Chad being used for trade bait.
Penguins actively shopping popular winger Phil Kessel | TribLIVE.com
JR trying to make a deal with Minnesota, but will Phil waive his no-trade clause? He didnt exactly have a bad year - 27 goals (10 game winners) and 82 points. He certainly didnt do much post-season but the whole team (except for maybe Murray) is guilty of that charge. I would miss Phil, people love him because he seems like a "regular guy".
Penguins re-sign defenseman Chad Ruhwedel for 2 years | TribLIVE.com
I guess it will not be Chad being used for trade bait.
Kessell and JACK JOHNSON in exchange for Jason Zucker and Victor Rask. Yeah, that deal would make @MJ5150 a happy man.
I'm on the fence about this deal, as I also am about Kessel. As I'd alluded several times this past season, he is so frustrating to watch...always coughs up the puck anytime someone comes within 5 feet of him because he doesn't want to get hit. On the other hand, he is your typical power-play sniper and can certainly help out in shootouts.
Re: the Sens new coach...
On one hand, it's nice to see a new face in the Head Coaching ranks. Not another retread (Vigneault/Sutter/Desjardins/Hitchcock, etc).
On the other hand, a rookie head coach with barely a major league roster? Could be magic or could be disaster. I have a good feeling about this situation, though. Especially if they can squeeze another good season or two out of 38-yr-old Craig Anderson.
On one hand, it's nice to see a new face in the Head Coaching ranks. Not another retread (Vigneault/Sutter/Desjardins/Hitchcock, etc).
On the other hand, a rookie head coach with barely a major league roster? Could be magic or could be disaster. I have a good feeling about this situation, though. Especially if they can squeeze another good season or two out of 38-yr-old Craig Anderson.
Kessell and JACK JOHNSON in exchange for Jason Zucker and Victor Rask. Yeah, that deal would make @MJ5150 a happy man.
I'm on the fence about this deal, as I also am about Kessel. As I'd alluded several times this past season, he is so frustrating to watch...always coughs up the puck anytime someone comes within 5 feet of him because he doesn't want to get hit. On the other hand, he is your typical power-play sniper and can certainly help out in shootouts.
Rutherford backed himself into a corner where he's going to have to give up something of value to convince anyone to take Johnson. So much for that wiz of a GM the Pens have.
I don't disagree with your comments on Kessel, but it'll be a bummer to see him leave for the other reasons you stated.
I was hoping Rutherford would include himself in that trade.
-Mike
Sheesh, I just noticed the Final doesn't start until Monday...six days after the Blues finished off the Sharks, and 11 days rest for Boston after sweeping the Canes. I was expecting the series to start tonight(Friday) or Saturday. 
No hockey, no Premier League soccer, baseball is too early in the season to get into, and I don't give a rat's behind about basketball. For me, it's definitely a very dry sports drought.
No hockey, no Premier League soccer, baseball is too early in the season to get into, and I don't give a rat's behind about basketball. For me, it's definitely a very dry sports drought.
