Official NHL 2005-2006 Season Thread

[rvbfan]

Canucks eliminated.

[bayrider]

Thank God for Joe Thornton!

The Sharkies are playing awesome right now. It's going to be interesting to see who starts in goal for the playoffs although Toskala deserves it.

Sharks are playing great. Thornton has put a damper on Jagr's almost certain Hart victory

[mikebiacsi]

Personally i think Thornton should win the Hart trophy. He is the sole reason San Jose are doing so well, he has helped Cheechoo become a goal scoring machine (2nd overall as i write this), as well as some impressive stats himself this year (94 assists, 122 points). Although Jagr is an immensley talented player, is he the sole reason the Rangers are in the playoffs? What about Lundqvist's play earlier on in the year for example?

Well thats my opinion anyway.

On a side note, im glad to hear colorado have clinched a playoff spot, even if they did lose :pinch:

[bayrider]

I don't doubt Thornton wins the Hart. NYR success is also due in part of Henrik Lundqvist and an underrated defensive core. Thornton took the Sharks on his back from 11th ot 5th place overnight!!

It's going to be close

For you Canucks fans

[sn00pie]

Jagr deserves Hart Trophy, but after watching yesterdays Canucks vs. San Jose game, I realized how big of an asset Thornton is to the Sharks, without him the Sharks are nothing. Joe and Cheechoo have a ****load of chemistry.

Now hopefully the Leafs can somehow defy the odds and make it into the playoffs. Sundin's the sole reason they haven't been eliminated out of contention yet.

[LingeringSoul]

Oilers in woooooo!!! After the loss to St. Louis, I really thought they were screwed. Go Oilers!

[Steffan]

I hope the Rangers dump Weekes after the season is over. He sucks badly. They had a chance to wrap up the division and they lost.

[sn00pie]

Toronto is pwning Ottawa, I hope they make it to the playoffs. :(

Ray Emery let in some horrible goals, but it's all good as long as the Leafs are winning. :D

[bayrider]

I hope the Rangers dump Weekes after the season is over. He sucks badly. They had a chance to wrap up the division and they lost.

Weekes is fine, Philly just came out flying today. You can't really blame Weekes for any of those goals except for 1. Philly just dominated NYR and NYR couldnt do anything. Not a single persons fault. Weekes probably made it closer than it was.

When you only score 1 goal, its generally not the goalies fault. Your offence didnt produce.

Toronto is pwning Ottawa, I hope they make it to the playoffs. :(

Ray Emery let in some horrible goals, but it's all good as long as the Leafs are winning. :D

Ray Emery sucks. If Ottawa has to rely on Emery in the playoffs they won't go passed the 2nd round. He's not a #1 goalie. Toronto got eliminated from the playoffs today with Tampa Bay winning.

[bayrider]

Even though Montreal is close to being knocked out of a playoff spot, I thought this would be amusing for the rest of the hockey fans around Canada and the US

[Billthy]

haha nice

Oh and go Wings, Record for most road wins in a row and still going

[Hills420]

I'm still hoping my Thrashers can catch up to the Lightning.... :(

[Steffan]

yeah and doh. the devils won today. They still have a shot at the division title. If both Rangers and Flyers lose and they win on Tuesday, they get the title. Which means Rangers will have the 5th seed and the Flyers will have the 6th seed.

[bayrider]

yeah and doh. the devils won today. They still have a shot at the division title. If both Rangers and Flyers lose and they win on Tuesday, they get the title. Which means Rangers will have the 5th seed and the Flyers will have the 6th seed.

I'd rather play Philly than NJ so its not that bad :)

[Matrix XII]

I'm picking Detroit and Calgary from the West and Carolina and NJ from the East (Y)

[R-Flex]

As for MVP, three choices come to mind.

Jaromir Jagr, obviously, because his offensive prowess has carried his team, albeit with Lundqvist and many role players coming to effect. He will win, and I agree.

Joe Thornton has done amazing. But is his the most valauble of any player to his team? Jagr has likely meant more to the Rangers than Thornton to the Sharks.

Miikka Kiprusoff deserves it, as the most valuable among any player or goalie. He has carried the Flames, an offensively-handicapped team. However, goalies are always the most valauble to their teams, so I am in favour of appointing a forward or defencemen instead. Use the Vezina for the goalie, Hart for players.

Some might argue for Ottawa's players, but I would say that their players, while valuable, are not as much when compared to the previous three listed. Eric Staal deserves some consideration, but not the trophy yet. Alexander Ovechkin will draw some consideration, but won't win the trophy. While he played well, he doesn't deserve the trophy as of yet. Yet. I can't wait to see the new Lemieux/Gretzky competition of Crosby/Ovechkin.

Defencemen do deserve to be mentioned, but won't. Niklas Lidstrom should have won at least once in his career, but defence are rarely considered. Sergei Zubov, also, is hugely underrated, but not Hart-worthy. Maybe Norris.

[bayrider]

As for MVP, three choices come to mind.

Jaromir Jagr, obviously, because his offensive prowess has carried his team, albeit with Lundqvist and many role players coming to effect. He will win, and I agree.

Joe Thornton has done amazing. But is his the most valauble of any player to his team? Jagr has likely meant more to the Rangers than Thornton to the Sharks.

Are you kidding me? Without Thornton the Sharks are nothing. I may be wrong but I think before Thornton, the Sharks were in like 12th place!!! Now they have a lock on 5th. Cheechoo has emerged as the top goal scorer in the league because of Thornton. Not to mention Thornton surpassing Jagr in the points race. Without Thornton the Sharks are a nothing team, comparable to Pheonix.

Look at San Jose's record before the Thornton trade on Nov 30. They were 8-16. What makes you think that without Thornton they would have emerged to become the Cup contender they are now?

Jagr has been detrimental to the Rangers thast true, but the Rangers also have had amazing goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist. NY also has a very underrated defensive squad: Malik, Ozolinsh, Roszival, Poti, Kasparaitus etc. Aside from Jagr, the Rangers have a lot of scoring power from Prucha, Sykora, Nylander, Rucinsky and Rucchin. Jagr is a big piece to the Rangers' puzzle, but no way do I see Jagr as important to the Rangers as Thornton to the Sharks.

I can't believe you even question Thorntons importance to the Sharks. Thornton took this team from nothing to a contender over night. And you're having doubts that Thornton is not valuable to his team...

[macro]

Are you kidding me? Without Thornton the Sharks are nothing. I may be wrong but I think before Thornton, the Sharks were in like 12th place!!! Now they have a lock on 5th. Cheechoo has emerged as the top goal scorer in the league because of Thornton. Not to mention Thornton surpassing Jagr in the points race. Without Thornton the Sharks are a nothing team, comparable to Pheonix.

Look at San Jose's record before the Thornton trade on Nov 30. They were 8-16. What makes you think that without Thornton they would have emerged to become the Cup contender they are now?

Jagr has been detrimental to the Rangers thast true, but the Rangers also have had amazing goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist. NY also has a very underrated defensive squad: Malik, Ozolinsh, Roszival, Poti, Kasparaitus etc. Aside from Jagr, the Rangers have a lot of scoring power from Prucha, Sykora, Nylander, Rucinsky and Rucchin. Jagr is a big piece to the Rangers' puzzle, but no way do I see Jagr as important to the Rangers as Thornton to the Sharks.

I can't believe you even question Thorntons importance to the Sharks. Thornton took this team from nothing to a contender over night. And you're having doubts that Thornton is not valuable to his team...

In San Jose it's more of the pair of Thornton and Cheechoo than Thornton by himself. Jagr has the play making AND the goal scoring this year, with the ability to dominate and single handedly change games, which is why he should get it in my opinion. If Thornton and Cheechoo could share it though, maybe they would get it combined over Jagr :p

Also I wouldn't say Jagr has been detrimental, I think you meant the opposite of that word

[bayrider]

In San Jose it's more of the pair of Thornton and Cheechoo than Thornton by himself. Jagr has the play making AND the goal scoring this year, with the ability to dominate and single handedly change games, which is why he should get it in my opinion. If Thornton and Cheechoo could share it though, maybe they would get it combined over Jagr :p

Also I wouldn't say Jagr has been detrimental, I think you meant the opposite of that word

Ya but without Thornton, would Cheechoo be the top goal scorer in the NHL? The Hart goes to the most valuable player to his team. Patrick Marleau never made Cheechoo the highest scorer in the NHL prior. Thornton came and completely changed that team, dug them up from the bottom ranks and put them in Cup contention. Don't forget, the Sharks play in the tougher Western division too, Detroit, Dallas, Calgary, Nashville, Edmonton. Not to dismiss the Eastern conf, but there, the talent is a little less difused between Ottawa and Carolina. Buffalo is good, but I think their numbers arent as strong as their team is, same with Philly and the Rangers. NJ only started to become a force in the latter months.

I'm not saying Jagr isn't valuable, but you have to see how underrated the NY Rangers are to see it from my point of view. With a fairly potent offense, a very underrated defensive lineup and a top 3 goalie in the NHL, the Rangers are still a good team even if Jagr only gets 30G and 40A.

Now if you cut Thornton's production (goals and assists), the Sharks wouldn't be anywhere near as good as the Rangers would if you cut Jagr's points.

and my bad, it should have been instrumental, not detrimental lol

[sn00pie]

It's almost a fact that without Joe Thornton the Sharks would not be playing the hockey they are playing now, more likely they would've been out of playoff contention a few months ago. He's the reason Cheechoo has been having a phenominal year(I think he won the goal scoring race didn't he?). But the media hasn't really said anything about his game this year and it's only now that were seeing how big of an asset he is to the Sharks. Jagr's been all over the media so we know about his year.

Jagr has really thrived in the new NHL rules and I really want him to win the Hart Trophy, but even I think Joe will win it.

Miikka Kiprusoff will win the Vezina this year, he's been the best goalie this year by far. He's the reason the Flames are in the playoffs, and luckily enough for the Flames. Iginla's lacked this year but Miikka took his game to the next level, he's like Hasek back when he was in his prime. ;)

I think Detroit will go deep into the playoffs they've got a talented team. I don't think the Rangers will get past the first or second round. Ottawa's always been horrible in the playoffs but this is the first year they won't be facing against the Leafs, so they might get lucky.

[acer321]

Thanks to washinton montreal made the playoffs wooottt

[bayrider]

But the media hasn't really said anything about his game this year and it's only now that were seeing how big of an asset he is to the Sharks. Jagr's been all over the media so we know about his year.

Because Jagr has 50+ goals, Thornton has 90something assists. Jagr hogs up more highlight reels and a lot more attention because he scores more goals.

And Montreal, the final canadian team, clinches a playoff spot!!!!

[gogo514]

lol @ maple laughs...

so happy habs are in!!

[AJerman]

So with Atlanta's loss, we have all 16 of our teams for the playoffs locked up. Only thing left is a few fights for position, one of which will be Carolina and Ottawa. I just spent $200 on tickets for tomorrow nights game (Buffalo at Carolina), and hope to be there as we clinch the Eastern Conference. Right now, as long as Ottawa doesn't win while Carolina loses, Carolina will win the East.

It's turned out to be an amazing year, and the fun has just begun with the playoffs starting Friday.

[Matrix XII]

Montreal has solid goaltending at least, but I think they are in tough against the Sens.

As for MVP of the league, I'd give it to Thornton, no one has meant more to their team than him.