2011-2012 NHL playoff thread.

[Danzig]

no extension offered to semin it appears...becomes an UFA july 1.

[slotdirt]

Semin was going to probably become a UFA regardless.

I think you're missing the point. Chicago won a Cup two years ago. Detroit in '08 (and they have seriously revamped and will have some serious changes this offseason). Boston just won a Cup last year. The Caps have been a 90+ point team for five straight seasons now, including multiple division crowns, and have never gone past the conference semis. That's not success.

NFL teams are blown up every single season. It's called the salary cap. Take a look at any NFL team's roster and see how big the changes are between this season and four or five seasons ago.

[-BT-]

Originally Posted by Danzig

no extension offered to semin it appears...becomes an UFA july 1.

another great decision by the franchise....let a 6 million dollar player walk out the door and GET NOTHING FOR HIM!!!!!

kudos georgie boy!!!

-bt-

[slotdirt]

I'm starting to feel about Ovechkin the way I felt about Green back in the earlier Caps playoff flameouts: they should trade him while he still has value. Ovechkin is the man, and a blast to watch play, but he's virtually non-existent on the defensive end, and doesn't seem particularly interested in changing that.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'm starting to feel about Ovechkin the way I felt about Green back in the earlier Caps playoff flameouts: they should trade him while he still has value. Ovechkin is the man, and a blast to watch play, but he's virtually non-existent on the defensive end, and doesn't seem particularly interested in changing that.

Despite his successes against the Rangers over the years, watching him and Girardi match up has become my favorite thing in hockey. It is a great battle every game and I would hate to see him leave the area. Unless he came out to the Avs, I could deal with that.

[MaTH716]

Honestly, I'm not sure what it is about Ovie, but I don't find him as fearsome as he used to be. For a while I viewed him as the best player in the league by far. There have always been rumors surrounding him (HGH wise) and I'm not accusing him of anything, but he just doesn't seem to play at that same speed/level as he did in years past.

[slotdirt]

He was definitely a shell of his former self this year. Agreed though, at one time I put him above Crosby as the best player in the league. Now, I'm not sure either player even makes the top 10.

[pgiaco]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Honestly, I'm not sure what it is about Ovie, but I don't find him as fearsome as he used to be. For a while I viewed him as the best player in the league by far. There have always been rumors surrounding him (HGH wise) and I'm not accusing him of anything, but he just doesn't seem to play at that same speed/level as he did in years past.

I think the years of playing a lot of minutes, hitting everything that moved (legally or otherwise) and playing at 1000 mph every shift took its toll on him. He really was a shell of his former self all year. Plus it never struck me as if he took great care of himself.

[The Bid]

he's only had one bad year and it was only bad because he set the bar so high. Hunter system doesn't flatter ovechkin at all, I think he will have a big year next year.

[Danzig]

i think there are several reasons for ovie's change. one is putting the 'c' on his shirt-he hasn't been the same since. then he lost his #1 assist guy, backstrom, for a lot of this season. then there was the move towards more d by boudreau, with the shift in play completed by hunter. i think ovie showed a willingness and ability to change his style of play during the postseason, but i have no doubt at all that losing time on ice really ticked him off.