Around the NHL

[Nolan]

I definitely respect your opinion. OCPR is an imperfect stat, for sure, but one that I think has a good basis. You are correct in that I got the idea from PER, in trying to include stats that aren't just goals and points. It could probably be tweaked, but could probably be tweaked 1000 different ways and be imperfect each and every time.

Besides, what fun are rankings if we can't debate them?

Totally agree with you that it has a good basis, but it still needs some tweaking.

I think a good start would be removing minutes played and shifts per game and just taking players that play more than 15 or so minutes a game into account. One thing I noticed is that average players playing on bad teams seem to get rated higher based on the fact that they just play more.

[ohara]

Waiting for NIck Obergan at RGM to decide that his bold prediction of Jeff Skinner suffering a Sophmore slump was wrong. Predicted he would drop from 31 goals to 22. He has 6 goals in first 12 games.

Skinner is tied for 16th in scoring, and tied for 9th in goals. And somehow, Obergan has him ranked as the #90 Forward in the NHL. Guess his out is that Skinner scored his last 2 goals on Sept 1, and these rankings ended on 10/31? IDK, but does not seem a very good judge of talent.

That would be me, and that article was largely for fun. If you go through all 30 teams, there are probably 25 of them that are more likely to NOT happen than to happen.

Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification. Just trying to stand up for my kid. Seems a lot of writers thought he was too small, young and soft to make it at this level. They kept waiting all last season for him to fade. You're not the first I read who stated he would regress this season, so I was not so sure how serious you were or were not. Skinner may have a finess to his game that others dont due to his skating background, but his heart is all NHL.

[Nolan]

Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification. Just trying to stand up for my kid. Seems a lot of writers thought he was too small, young and soft to make it at this level. They kept waiting all last season for him to fade. You're not the first I read who stated he would regress this season, so I was not so sure how serious you were or were not. Skinner may have a finess to his game that others dont due to his skating background, but his heart is all NHL.

I felt that way about him last year. I was shocked when the Canes announced he was staying with the big club and I really didn't think he had a chance at being a top line player. But I guess I was wrong about that, the kids got some serious talent.

[WEFFPIM]

He's the Dustin Pedroia of the NHL.

[ohara]

As the year went on last season, you started to see teams take an approach to Skinner of trying to rough him up a bit to see how he handled it. He really just kind of brushed it off. Maybe being only 18 had him not so keen on getting into confrontations. This season, I have already seen him get into a couple minor brush ups and he has taken a few penalty minutes for some roughing. I have to think Staal, Ward, Jussi and some of the other veterans told him he is going to have to be a bit more physical early this season to try to stop the rough house tactics on him this season. You can see a different attitude from him already. Heck, he may turn into a Manny Pacquiao before much longer.

[Nolan]

Ya he's a tough little guy, he reminds me of Martin St. Louis. He's going to be a good player in this league for a long time.

[OldNo7]

Don't get me wrong, I love Skinner. I just wanted to pick one sophomore to have a slump year, and didn't have any other Canes I wanted to write about lol. Truthfully, I knew Grabner was the guy who wasn't going to repeat his sniping from last year.

[Celtics_Champs]

Seguin showing tons of progression in his second year. 12 games in and he's almost matching his numbers from all of last year.

[ohara]

Seguin showing tons of progression in his second year. 12 games in and he's almost matching his numbers from all of last year.

He has absolutely upped his game a notch. Very impressive.

[Nolan]

Seguin showing tons of progression in his second year. 12 games in and he's almost matching his numbers from all of last year.

I wonder if Brian Burke was having any second thoughts last night?

Seguin is going to be a star, there's really no questioning that. I know its probably a little early to be making the comparison but I see a lot of Joe Sakic in him.

[hsb]

Tampa Bay is turning it up.

They stole their last two games with Stamkos netting a hat trick to beat Chicago and Roloson robbing Weiss with a few seconds left in overtime yesterday.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je76L5np_ZE[/youtube]

[SNL365COM]

Congrats to NJ Devils Adam Hendrique for scoring 2 in his debut..... former Windsor Spitfire great.

[OldNo7]

Letestu to Columbus, has to help them right?

[WEFFPIM]

Letestu to Columbus, has to help them right?

Can anything help them?

[Crowned]

Letestu to Columbus, has to help them right?

How's his glove hand?

[Nolan]

Letestu to Columbus, has to help them right?

I guess, but he's not going to be enough.

I wonder if Nash is finally going to ask for a trade this year. He wasting his best years away in Columbus and I don't see that team getting any better in the near future.

[Crowned]

Letestu to Columbus, has to help them right?

I guess, but he's not going to be enough.

I wonder if Nash is finally going to ask for a trade this year. He wasting his best years away in Columbus and I don't see that team getting any better in the near future.

They're a few pieces away from having a decent team. They've got some nice players up front in Umberger, Vermette, Nash, Brassard, Carter and Johansen (going to be a stud). Their blueline needs some work, but there's some hope with Kris Russel, Wisniewski, Tyutin and John Moore (another future stud).

The goaltending is an absolute mess. If I'm the GM in Columbus, I'd be dangling Boone Jenner or something relatively valuable in hopes that it'd be enough for Jonathan Bernier or Corey Schnieder.

[OldNo7]

Yeah I feel bad for Nash. He chose to believe in the ownership and the gameplan, but hasn't been rewarded for his faith. Will the media jump on him for being selfish if he chooses to ask out? I think he deserves to get out, we don't need Iginla 2.0 to happen already.

[Mr Swagtastic]

The next 2 are going to be tough for us playing a surging Edmonton team who is always fun to watch now. I suspect a great game between the two of them then we have to play the Stars which should always be fun.

One thing I find shocking is how Philly has 57 goals scored as a team when they traded 2 of their best offensive weapons. Great to see Jagr making a productive comeback into the NHL.

I wonder if the Nash talks are serious some rumor sites/blogs/shows have him on his way out possibly by the All-Star break. I know one thing he ain't going to be cheap your talking about a legit 40 goal man who IMHO is still a top 3-5 power forward in the league. It would be a wet dream to see him in Detroit though just imagine him with Zetterberg and Dats on the 1st line.

[trwi7]

Florida Everblades FTW.

You may remember their Christmas uniforms from a couple years ago.



Well they've outdone themselves with their new Little Mermaid uniforms.