Not So Bright "Stars"

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Benched

this.

guy is snake bit, at 7mill/yr? ouch!


But OP I agree, amazing that the stars are struggling so much this year. I mean Crosby is usually a lock, so is Stamkos and Getzlaf. Been ugly years for them.

On the other hand, makes the rising stars (Johnny!) or guys like Benn/Seguin all the more impressive.

Totally. I should have mentioned that guys like Gaudreau, Kane, Seguin, Benn and Karlsson are the true elite NHL players right now.

[DionTheDman]

Strange that proven stars are all having problems starting this year, though. It's not like one year it's this guy, next year it's that guy... all these proven players are all struggling this year in particular.

[Samonadreau]

Getzlaf tops all disappointing seasons for stars, even more so than Crosby for sure. The guy has 1 empty net goal and we are almost half way through the season. He's racking up assists OK, but 1 goal? Really?!

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Getzlaf tops all disappointing seasons for stars, even more so than Crosby for sure. The guy has 1 empty net goal and we are almost half way through the season. He's racking up assists OK, but 1 goal? Really?!

Don't worry, next time the Flames are in Anaheim I'm sure he'll pot a hat trick

[Weitz]

I for one am happy to see new guys at the top of the league. Hall, Gaudreau, Seguin, Benn. It's refreshing.

[Bandwagon Surfer]

I put some of the blame on hockey's culture of playing through injuries. Instead of recovering properly players are doing permanent damage to their bodies. Combine this with all the damage star players take with the slashing and runs that go uncalled, and you have a recipe for short careers.

The margin of success is so small, even the stars cannot keep it up for very long. I think I saw some stats showing that forwards now peak from 24-26 and most are out of the league by 28-30. You either need to fix things to keep players healthy (change/enforce rules to limit injuries, and stop playing through them to heal everything properly regardless of the playoffs), or change your drafting/trading/development strategy to accept players having shorter more disposable careers.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon Surfer

The margin of success is so small, even the stars cannot keep it up for very long. I think I saw some stats showing that forwards now peak from 24-26 and most are out of the league by 28-30. You either need to fix things to keep players healthy (change/enforce rules to limit injuries, and stop playing through them to heal everything properly regardless of the playoffs), or change your drafting/trading/development strategy to accept players having shorter more disposable careers.

The 82 game season doesn't help. I know players are in great shape, but with parity in the league they no longer have those 20 or so games a season when they would kinda coast. And you can go right back to how many games these guys play in junior, and hockey camps, and power skating in the summer. Not surprising to see more players these days pretty much burnt out by 28.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I for one am happy to see new guys at the top of the league. Hall, Gaudreau, Seguin, Benn. It's refreshing.

I agree! I guess I felt like I was just being introduced to the new generation of NHL stars like Tavares and Stamkos only a couple of years ago.

Seguin, Gaudreau and Hall are the NEW new generation of NHL stars.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Getzlaf tops all disappointing seasons for stars, even more so than Crosby for sure. The guy has 1 empty net goal and we are almost half way through the season. He's racking up assists OK, but 1 goal? Really?!

The entire Ducks team is a total disaster this season.

Getzlaf, Kesler and Hagelin have combined for 8 goals this season and their collective cap hit is roughly 17 million dollars.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Seguin, Gaudreau and Hall are the NEW new generation of NHL stars.

Don't forget Tarasenko.

Huge talent.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

I agree! I guess I felt like I was just being introduced to the new generation of NHL stars like Tavares and Stamkos only a couple of years ago.

Seguin, Gaudreau and Hall are the NEW new generation of NHL stars.

I would throw Tarasenko right in that mix.

All that being said dont forget one of the OLD new generation stars is almost a point and a half a game this year and hands down the best player in the league right now.

[442scotty]

I agree with the burnout statements.... Once some of the guys got their big paycheques they could relax a bit and look what happened

[Vinny01]

I think with Crosby there are issues in Pitt that are turning that situation toxic really quick. This is a team that backed into the playoffs last year and even though they added Kessel the team is still having issues. I think Rutherford is gone this summer and they consider moving a Malkin or Letang.

Stamkos I think issues are contract and fit related. He seems to be a bit of an odd man out in Tampa and since losing MSL he is a bit off. As the year goes on it appears he is considering moving on and that is weighing on him and the team.

[Loudog]

Giordano....

He's playing much better now so kinda kidding but he didn't have the start we all hoped to see that's for sure.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Stamkos with 2 goals and an assist and Crosby with a goal and a helper tonight.

Maybe I spoke too soon!

[DeluxeMoustache]

Crosby is an odd one. The guy is generally good for 1.3 points per game and to play this deep in to the season at barely half that pace is very odd.

I have watched him many times in previous seasons and admittedly only once this season.

I get why he can play at the 1.3 level, and wonder, having not had time to watch, what is different now.

Hopefully nagging issues being resolved and/or coaching/ team contribution to the generally crappy year are in the past because the NHL is better with Crosby as a beast

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The 82 game season doesn't help. I know players are in great shape, but with parity in the league they no longer have those 20 or so games a season when they would kinda coast. And you can go right back to how many games these guys play in junior, and hockey camps, and power skating in the summer. Not surprising to see more players these days pretty much burnt out by 28.

Hockey is probably the most punishing game in pro-sports that takes its toll on most plyers, physically, always has been. I am friends with three ex-NHL players, they are all crooked now - bad knees, bad backs, broken noses, migranes... Still strong and working out to keep in shape, but constantly struggling with aches and having to undergo various medical procedures to maintain the effects of old injuries.

I suspect that the biggest reason most NHL stars loose their lustre by the age 28 these days is accummulating effect of injuries and crackdown on fighting. Teams needed Semenko's to protect their Gretzky's from ANY abuse. Nowadays, stars are abused and roughed-up on a regular basis. Iginla is a rare exception, being able to fight back and not take crap from anyone, as well as being extremely dilligent with his strength training routines.

[Street Pharmacist]

Football is far more punishing for non quarterbacks

[Caged Great]

Giordano's first 22 games = 6 points
Since then 12 GP 11 points.

[Max Cow Disease]

Adding a couple of washed-up, dishonourable Canucks like Bieksa and Kesler is enough to rot any NHL roster from the inside after a couple of seasons. It's like eating raw chicken.

As for Stamkos, it's clear that only Johnny Hockey has the capability to get his career back on track, and he seems to be aware of it.