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

[Locke]

I'm not cheering for either team, I consider myself an interested neutral observer, thats part of what made last night so fun, overtime was awesome.

I have to say, I really respect the Bruins, I love their style of play. Calm but physical and composed. The Penguins looked panicky and desperate, look how many times they iced the puck and Malkin's delay of game penalty.

Rask looked like he was waiting to have his first beer after mowing the lawn.

The Bruins are definitely a great team to watch and hell, I wish I was a Bruins fan, they are so lucky to have such a great team. A team built for the playoffs.

I have no love for the Penguins, again, I wish I did, they're also a great team.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Robbob

He is noticeably a step (to be generous) slower or just thinking to much. In the third period after the Malkin rush where the puck was just barely knocked away by Chara would have been a goal by Iginla in years past. All he had to do was drive to the net. There are flashes but I think it has become quite apparent he is a shadow of what he knew him as.

I also can't see him coming back to Pittsburgh. He wants to play with Crosby and Malkin but I don't think he is a top six player on that team. This off season will be interesting to see what his value is.

Its both. Yesterday was interesting, there were times when you could practically see the wheels turning in his head, but by the time he'd made a decision the play was gone and he would half-ass bump someone in the boards.

It was a little painful to watch to be honest.

[bubbsy]

forgetting the iggy factor for a second, how can anyone NOT love everything about the boston bruins??

They literally have it all, and I hope the flames are taking a copycat approach on what a contending NHL roster should look like:
- High level skill -> Check.
- 2-way players on every line -> Check
- players that can take, as well as deliver Physical play on everyline -> Check
- Stifling/Rugged defence -> Check
- Mobile defence -> Check
- Difference making 4th line that you can throw out against anyone -> check
- great goaltending -> check

they're by far the most complete team in hockey today.

[red sky]

Yeah it is definitely painful and quite revealing how much of a step backward that Iggy has taken. He does try to lay the body but he is often the one who is knocked to the ice. There was a few shifts where he moved his feet and looked semi-dangerous but generally he is very much stationary, trying to make moves.

With that said, Crosby has looked terrible as well. Letang even worse.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

He isn't 2004 Iggy but he should still be able to be effective with just his strength, hockey sense, and shot.

Well there's a couple problems with that.

1. He hasn't had the strength to overpower players for years. He really hasn't played like a powerforward for years, he's a sniper
2. Hockey sense has never been a strength of his. When his instincts are on and he's confident he can get in a groove. But his sense for where to be, where to move the puck is average to below average these past few years. When he's not on a ton of plays are dying on his stick and he can be prone to turnovers.

Iginla was a great player. He's gotten significantly less impactful over the years even though he can put up points being handed top line minutes.

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

forgetting the iggy factor for a second, how can anyone NOT love everything about the boston bruins??

They literally have it all, and I hope the flames are taking a copycat approach on what a contending NHL roster should look like:
<snip>
they're by far the most complete team in hockey today.

LA is built much the same way, except a little less skill and little more rugged.

Either way, a clear recipe for success.

[sa226]

A couple years back Duhatchek wrote an article on the decline of Iginla and compared him to Messier. Which I think is quite accurate.

You can't compare him to Jagr. Jagr is a generational talent. He always had the size, reach and hands. Iginla has no reach and wasn't really a stickhandler. His game was strength and quickness to make space for himself and brute strength. But also, a big part of his success and struggles were in his head. He sometimes thinks to much, when he should be reacting.

Brent Sutter once said that Jarome is at his best when he is skating. My first reaction to that piece of insight was "Thanks Einstein." But it is so true. Just watch Iginla and count how many times he takes a couple strides and glides. Its frustrating to watch.

Once Messier lost that physical edge and the element of intimidation he became largely ineffective. Very similar to Iginla. To me the difference is that Messier was broken down. Iginla is still in phenomenal shape.

I think and hope Iginla takes a long look in the mirror this summer and maybe seeks out some help in reinventing himself. At 35 he isn't done. Hes been too healthy and hes too fit for that. Its silly to compare him to St. Louis, Datsyuk, Jagr etc etc. Better parallels are the likes of Messier and Shanahan. Especially Shanahan.

If I had to choose a place for Iggy to go this summer, it would be LA. That style of play suits him I think, and no one knows him better than Darryl Sutter.

[The Yen Man]

I know its the in thing right now to rag on Iggy, and I agree, he deserves some of it for playing poorly. But why isn't Crosby getting any criticism? He's not looked good either in the 3 games against Boston, and he's in his prime, and the captain of the team. Last time I checked, him and Malkin haven't factored in the scoresheets either. The whole Pens team has looked awful. Bylsma is getting outcoached.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

forgetting the iggy factor for a second, how can anyone NOT love everything about the boston bruins??

They literally have it all, and I hope the flames are taking a copycat approach on what a contending NHL roster should look like:
- High level skill -> Check.
- 2-way players on every line -> Check
- players that can take, as well as deliver Physical play on everyline -> Check
- Stifling/Rugged defence -> Check
- Mobile defence -> Check
- Difference making 4th line that you can throw out against anyone -> check
- great goaltending -> check

they're by far the most complete team in hockey today.

Jerks dude, you forgot a fistful of complete jerks

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Jerks dude, you forgot a fistful of complete jerks

Yeah. Smart, talented jerks.

Brad Marchand. What a player. He's chippy, hes chirpy and he backs it all up with goals on the scoresheet instead of his fists.

I loved it when he was chirping with someone then he skates a bit, scores a goal and goes right back to chirping.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

they're by far the most complete team in hockey today.

And somehow they nearly lost to a below average Leafs team. Should have lost actually.

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I know its the in thing right now to rag on Iggy, and I agree, he deserves some of it for playing poorly. But why isn't Crosby getting any criticism? He's not looked good either in the 3 games against Boston, and he's in his prime, and the captain of the team. Last time I checked, him and Malkin haven't factored in the scoresheets either. The whole Pens team has looked awful. Bylsma is getting outcoached.

Not sure what thread you are reading but plenty of posters are commenting on how awful the stars of the Pens are looking, Crosby, Malkin, Letang etc... Of course Iggy will receive the most attention regardless of if he is the only or biggest piece in all of this, a lot of the forums have a keen interest on him being that he played here for so many years.

I would be shocked if every second post wasn't talking about Iggy instead of Crosby when you consider it like that.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by troutman

And somehow they nearly lost to a below average Leafs team. Should have lost actually.

Look at when they won the cup, they were taken to game 7 in every single series. It just doesnt faze them.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Jerks dude, you forgot a fistful of complete jerks

We totally need jerks. I effing hate how soft and and how weak our current team is. Do you guys remember when Joey Mcdonald was getting runned over left and right and our dmen and forwards did crap all to send a message? that kind of stuff wants to make me puke.

So please Feaster, get a Clutterbuck, a Lucic, a Kesler, a Perry. I'm sick of all this nice honor crap. Butlersoft team begone!!!!!!

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Kaine

Not sure what thread you are reading but plenty of posters are commenting on how awful the stars of the Pens are looking, Crosby, Malkin, Letang etc... Of course Iggy will receive the most attention regardless of if he is the only or biggest piece in all of this, a lot of the forums have a keen interest on him being that he played here for so many years.

I would be shocked if every second post wasn't talking about Iggy instead of Crosby when you consider it like that.

I guess I should have clarified, it's just my limited perception watching the guys on CBC, or listening the Fan960 rather than this thread, as I admit I haven't read through all the pages in here. All I hear from the media guys is how Iggy isn't playing well, but not really a lot on Crosby. I mean, last night's game, other than the shift where Crosby lost his helmet, I didn't think he played well either.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by troutman

And somehow they nearly lost to a below average Leafs team. Should have lost actually.

they didn't lose though. They had the mental fortitude to erase that lead in the 3rd period and win the game in OT, something few teams would have risen to the occasion to. They are a strong game 7 type team, which is just another "check" as to what makes them amazing.

With regards to being "jerks", who are the jerks on the team? Marchand, most definitely, but the guy is also extremely talented yet able to get under a team's skin, especially come playoff time. Those types of guys are almost impossible to find. Who else is a jerk on the team?

i think the pens have on more than a few occasions in the past few years shown they are far bigger jerks, including hte face of the franchise. Some of his actions, especially during last year's playoffs, are laughable. Chara on the other hand, seems like the epitome of integrity and class. at least that's the way i look at him (right or wrong).

[CaptainYooh]

Say what you want about either team, but this Game 3 last night was one of the best playoff games I've seen in years. Five periods of hockey awesomeness. I wish all of them were like this.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Well there's a couple problems with that.

1. He hasn't had the strength to overpower players for years. He really hasn't played like a powerforward for years, he's a sniper
2. Hockey sense has never been a strength of his. When his instincts are on and he's confident he can get in a groove. But his sense for where to be, where to move the puck is average to below average these past few years. When he's not on a ton of plays are dying on his stick and he can be prone to turnovers.

Iginla was a great player. He's gotten significantly less impactful over the years even though he can put up points being handed top line minutes.

I thought Iginla made a mistake switching from the "power" model to the "slim" one. He can still reinvent himself one more time, hit the gym, put the 15 lbs back on, and play the "low post" game. Not saying he can go back to being a franchise player, but he can still be very effective coming off the boards and going to the net. Whether he wants to, though, is another issue - that would involve taking a lot of punishment, and I wouldn't blame him if he said "no" at age 36...

[IgiTang]

Every time I think about the position Pittsburgh is in and that Jarome will likely be missing out on the SCF, I keep thinking about that Pittsburgh pick. Then I start to think, wow, Iginla has truly declined, lost a step and is losing alot of battles. Did Feaster ever do a good job with that trade considering he didnt have many options and he had to do something that many GM's would have had problems handling, trading a franchise player.

Kudos to Feaster! I feel bad for my favorite Flame of all time. But Wow.. what a great deal for Flames fans who could have seen us get nothing this off-season.

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I guess I should have clarified, it's just my limited perception watching the guys on CBC, or listening the Fan960 rather than this thread, as I admit I haven't read through all the pages in here. All I hear from the media guys is how Iggy isn't playing well, but not really a lot on Crosby. I mean, last night's game, other than the shift where Crosby lost his helmet, I didn't think he played well either.

Ah, fair enough then. Although that could be explained when you consider that the "new" pieces to a team often receive more criticism than anyone else because the media perceives them as "new and exciting".

Justified or not I do agree that Iggy is taking a bit too much heat in the media when you consider how awful the rest of the team has been, especially the "two best players in the world".