EF: (1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (4) Boston Bruins. (Bruins SWEEP Pittsburgh 4-0!!).

[Rudee]

Originally Posted by Azhouse

He just seems to have lost a step and some physicality to his play.

"a" step? "some" physicality? lol

[Esoteric]

I was really hoping that MAF would start tonight. I wanted to see if the Bruins could score 10 in one game.

[Tinordi]

I'm beginning to think that the Iginla and friends era with the Flames has had significant negative effects on Iginla's game. He got comfortable and his game suffered.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

I was really hoping that MAF would start tonight. I wanted to see if the Bruins could score 10 in one game.

7leury?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

I'm beginning to think that the Iginla and friends era with the Flames has had significant negative effects on Iginla's game. He got comfortable and his game suffered.

You're just starting to think this?

[Flash Walken]

Under reported aspect of the series so far: How well Andrew Ference has smothered Iginla.

Who would have ever thought in a competitive game between the two Ference would be the one playing at a higher level.

Ference will probably get a big pay day this summer, maybe even to the Oil (Doubt it).

[Kswiss]

Originally Posted by sun

Because he didn't want Feaster to waste his time negotiating with 29 teams (plus one mystery one apparently)? I mean, this is pretty straight forward common sense stuff here isn't it?

"Jay, you have approached me for a trade, and since I've played here my entire career, this is a huge decision I have to think about. I've earned this right to think it over because of that there NTC Darryl gave me. Here's a list of four teams. I will definitely waive my NTC to go to one of these teams, but I'll have to talk things over with that sleazeball meehan as the deadline approaches. Start negotiating and I'll let you know who I pick. Cheers."

Best part of this villainizing the character of the classiest player in the league is that it likely never would have happened without that dumbass Ward prematurely shooting his wad on live television.

Iginla knew he wanted to go to Pittsburgh since day one, should have just said that in the beginning. (even though he would have hancuffed us to a trade with Pittsburgh) but at least he wont be pulling everyone along....

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

If he still wants to be paid top dollar (>$4 mil) Iginla won't have as many choices in where he goes as a UFA as he did when the Flames shopped him. I doubt there will be more than four teams in the running, and I doubt any of them are contenders. Boston wasn't good enough? Well, how do you like your choice of Ottawa, Edmonton, Toronto, or Dallas? Funny how things turn out sometimes.

maybe reunited with Jokinen in Winnipeg.

[Locke]

You have to go with Vokoun, its a no-brainer.

Fleury had an opportunity at redemption when he came in in relief and he blew it. Between his awful play in the Islanders series as well as his tragically comic play in the Philly series last year, you just cant count on the guy and it seems pretty clear that he has mentally checked-out.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

maybe reunited with Jokinen in Winnipeg.

Actually, Winnipeg makes alot of sense.

[Stay Golden]

It will be a rough ride for Iggy tonight. I guess we will all find out how much or little he does carry the puck as the boos will keep track of that.
Too much emphasis on Iggy by the media, he is hardly close to the main reasons Boston has stomped on the Pens thus far.
I would be pointing the finger at Crosby, Malkin, PP, Dupuis, Letang, Neal, and the goal tending before Iginla should be blamed.

Boston has proven the Pens are prone to give up turnovers in neutral ice and coming across the blue line.

[CliffFletcher]

Iginla is to be blamed only in the sense that adding a front-line player and two prominent secondary players to a team that has excellent chemistry can blow up in your face. Fans always go on about this team won the trade deadline because they added X, Y, and Z. We remember the deadline guys who push teams over the top. We forget the guys who have little impact, or moves that negatively affect the chemistry.

I thought it was a mistake for the Pens to make moves of that magnitude when they were already an elite team with strong chemistry. Too risky.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Actually, Winnipeg makes alot of sense.

Not if he wants to win it doesn't. They might somehow be worse of than the situation in Calgary, so he'd be crazy to go there.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Iginla is to be blamed only in the sense that adding a front-line player and two prominent secondary players to a team that has excellent chemistry can blow up in your face. Fans always go on about this team won the trade deadline because they added X, Y, and Z. We remember the deadline guys who push teams over the top. We forget the guys who have little impact, or moves that negatively affect the chemistry.

I thought it was a mistake for the Pens to make moves of that magnitude when they were already an elite team with strong chemistry. Too risky.

And unnecessary. They were already rolling and without Crosby. Getting Crosby back was your 'playoff addition to put you over the top.'

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Locke

And unnecessary. They were already rolling and without Crosby. Getting Crosby back was your 'playoff addition to put you over the top.'

A agree to a point that you can tinker too much but I think too many of you are looking too deep when the answers have been apparent for a few years now. Being on fire to end the regular season has no real correlation to winning in the playoffs or the Capitals would still be in the thick of things. Playoffs is a completely different season. This Penguins team has won more playoff series with Morrow and Iginla (2) than they did the last three years combined (1) without them. Remember Morrow and Iginla weren't part of last year's first round debacle. IMO this falls on the coach and key players like Crosby, Malking, and Letang simply getting outplayed by Chara, Bergeron, and Krejci, etc.

[Voodooman]

No choice but to go with Vokoun in game 3. Any chance at redemption for MAF dies with his whiff on the Marchand goal (on the first shot he faced) with 20 seconds left in the 1st, just after Pitt makes it 3-1. He makes that save, maybe the Pens come out in the 2nd with some momentum, and who knows what happens. But that goal put the nail in the coffin of that game, likely the series, and absoutely on his time in Pittsburgh.

I'd bet anything that the buyout paperwork is done and will be filed about 30 seconds after the window opens. He's got 2 more years at $5.75 left, and the cap hit is less than $2 million for 4 years.

The Pens have no other option. They can't afford to keep someone around who absolutely no one has any faith in. Maybe a fresh start helps him turn it around, but he's done in Pittsburgh.

Who they go after, I don't know. Luongo could be the guy, but the term will likely scare them off. Maybe Mike Smith off the UFA market, or offer sheet Rask or Bernier from the RFA list?

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

I was really hoping that MAF would start tonight. I wanted to see if the Bruins could score 10 in one game.

Butlersoft's NHL record would fall if MAF played an entire 60 minutes.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

maybe reunited with Jokinen in Winnipeg.

Jokinen's head would explode trying to tell Kane and Iginla apart....

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Actually, Winnipeg makes alot of sense.

I think (fear) he ends up in Edmonton - home town, a team that's probably on the rise (despite KLown)

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

I think (fear) he ends up in Edmonton - home town, a team that's probably on the rise (despite KLown)

I wouldn't mind one bit if his contract is $6mil+ /year.