[PGT] Flames shutout the Avs. 4-0. Iggy held to 599

[Strange Brew]

Just a fantastic game all around. Very few of those this year.

[JD]

One of the things about the old All Star games was the lack of player movement in the 80's. It was actually fascinating to think about the "what ifs", like what if we could see Gretzky play with Hawerchuk, what if we could pair Al MacInnis with Paul Coffey?

Since the mid-90's when free agency really kicked in, we actually did see Brett Hull play with Gretzky on his club team, we did see Nieuwendyk play with Modano, Jari Kurri played for every superstar centreman back then, Jaromir Jagr has almost played for every team!

The intrigue is gone.

I may actually be intrigued to see if Johnny Gaudreau can make John Scott into a trigger man!

[midniteowl]

Can we talk about the game instead of what the all star game has evolved into?

[sureLoss]

@KristenOdlandCH: Hartley said Hudler had "lower body problems" at the start of the game. “It didn’t get better. We’ll treat him (Sunday) and see him Monday.”

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by JD

One of the things about the old All Star games was the lack of player movement in the 80's. It was actually fascinating to think about the "what ifs", like what if we could see Gretzky play with Hawerchuk, what if we could pair Al MacInnis with Paul Coffey?

Since the mid-90's when free agency really kicked in, we actually did see Brett Hull play with Gretzky on his club team, we did see Nieuwendyk play with Modano, Jari Kurri played for every superstar centreman back then, Jaromir Jagr has almost played for every team!

The intrigue is gone.

I may actually be intrigued to see if Johnny Gaudreau can make John Scott into a trigger man!

And every game wasn't on TV, so seeing your own team meant watching the news the next evening for highlights. Most of the time you only read about guys, so the All Star game was a chance to see them on a best on best type of game.

Now it's different. It is as much about the off ice festivities in the host city as it is the game itself. It's supposed to be silly.

Scott should go and have a blast. He is actually a great interview and will generate a lot of attention for the league.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

@KristenOdlandCH: Hartley said Hudler had "lower body problems" at the start of the game. “It didn’t get better. We’ll treat him (Sunday) and see him Monday.”

Could really explain why his foot-speed isn't as good this year too.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

Can we talk about the game instead of what the all star game has evolved into?

Yes.

The Colorado Avalanche are the physical embodiment of what the All-Star Game would look like if re-imagined as only one NHL team. And I'm not even kidding. That third period effort on their part was embarrassing.

I'm confused as to what Colorado's ultimate vision is for their team. They're a weird mix of vets and semi-young players. They're not really a playoff contender, but they're not really a rebuilding team either.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

I'm confused as to what Colorado's ultimate vision is for their team. They're a weird mix of vets and semi-young players. They're not really a playoff contender, but they're not really a rebuilding team either.

You could really say the same for the Flames.

[sureLoss]

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

Yes.

The Colorado Avalanche are the physical embodiment of what the All-Star Game would look like if re-imagined as only one NHL team. And I'm not even kidding. That third period effort on their part was embarrassing.

I'm confused as to what Colorado's ultimate vision is for their team. They're a weird mix of vets and semi-young players. They're not really a playoff contender, but they're not really a rebuilding team either.

I think they are in the trap alot of teams are in, get into 8th place and anything can happen. Winning the division in 2013 gave them false hope and they compounded it by signing old players like Iginla and Beauchemin in desperation.

They should have blown it up.

[TBone290]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Dougie-ing upside down
Lol at the reactions. Thankfully nothing bad happened

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

you can challenge that, Hrudey was an all-star 100 years ago when the Wales and Campbell Conference actually hated each other.

The fan is the paying consumer and they're voting however they want to. They are obviously not taking this game seriously anymore.

Freidman brought up that baseball has write in votes too, But nobody votes Kawasaki into the all-star game. Because that game still has value and tradition. At some point the NHL lost that.

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Hrudey is speaking as someone who played years ago, not now. His experience then has nothing to do with the players today. When Jagr is asking people not to vote for him you know it's not a huge deal. An honor? I guess in a way, but it's basically a joke now and the play on the ice reflects that.

I'm not going to belabor this much more, but, as I said in my last reply, I'm open to someone with more recent experience countering Hrudey.

And sure, it's not as big a deal for 43 year old Jagr, who's been there a dozen times, but are you really so sure it wouldn't have been an honour for Max Domi, who will likely be passed over because of Scott? That it was a joke to Johnny to play in the game last year?

Guys may not play all out, but it's going to take someone who's been there to convince me that being selected an All Star is laughed off as a joke.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

You could really say the same for the Flames.

You don't think the Flames are a rebuilding team? I think that's exactly what they are. Of course you need a few vets too, but when you look at the core guys they're building around, they're all pretty much in the same age group. The Avs are a bit more of a mish mash.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I think they are in the trap alot of teams are in, get into 8th place and anything can happen. Winning the division in 2013 gave them false hope and they compounded it by signing old players like Iginla and Beauchemin in desperation.

They should have blown it up.

This is my impression too.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

You don't think the Flames are a rebuilding team? I think that's exactly what they are. Of course you need a few vets too, but when you look at the core guys they're building around, they're all pretty much in the same age group. The Avs are a bit more of a mish mash.

This is essentially the heart of my previous comment. I think the Flames' longer-term identity is more clearly defined than the Avs' is.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

This is essentially the heart of my previous comment. I think the Flames' longer-term identity is more clearly defined than the Avs' is.

Yes, agreed. Iginla for another year after this season, Beauchemin for 2 more after this season. I understand the need for some vets, but not a fan of those contracts for that team. They do have some good young players to build around, though.

Speaking of good young players, did Duchene do anything tonight? Man he was quiet.

[JetsFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by HarryH93

Sharks just lost too! The boos in the SAP Center were loud, holy

Which is saying something because the seats were mostly empty by then.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Yes, agreed. Iginla for another year after this season, Beauchemin for 2 more after this season. I understand the need for some vets, but not a fan of those contracts for that team. They do have some good young players to build around, though.

Speaking of good young players, did Duchene do anything tonight? Man he was quiet.

Also--how much longer for Tanguay? His whole purpose tonight seemed to be to get Iggy the puck--more than usual, I mean.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

When you look at the core guys [Flames]'re building around, they're all pretty much in the same age group. The Avs are a bit more of a mish mash.

The Avs have a pretty young core group:

G Semyon Varlamov 27
D Erik Johnson 27
D Tyson Barrie 24
W Matt Duchene 24
W Gabriel Landeskog 23
C Nathan McKinnon 20

Key Prospects:
G Calvin Pickard 23
D Brandon Gormley 23
C/W? Mikhail Grigorenko 21
D Nikita Zadorov 20
D Chris Bigras 20
W Mikko Rantanen 19

[SebC]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I think they are in the trap alot of teams are in, get into 8th place and anything can happen. Winning the division in 2013 gave them false hope and they compounded it by signing old players like Iginla and Beauchemin in desperation.

They should have blown it up.

They picked Landeskog in overall in 2011. If they blew up their team in 2013 that would be the dreaded rebuilding the rebuild. Oilerish.