T1B

10 points in 2 games and he's vaulted 7 points clear of Jagr for the league lead. He's missed three of the Pens' games this year but projecting his numbers for 79 games...according to TSN, he's on pace for 144 points (45 goals and 99 assists). The highest point total recently was Lemieux's 161 in '95-96 (the first full season after the lockout) and Jagr went for 149 that same year as well. Granted, he's not going to go for 6 and 4 points in back-to-back games all year but he's well on his way to surpassing last year's 102 points. The last few games I've seen of the Pens, he's been skating with Ryan Malone and Mark Recchi on his wings. In last night's game, Crosby assisted on all three goals of Malone's hat trick...a guy who had just one goal going into the game. The Pens are sitting in 6th in the East right now...if they make the playoffs, I don't think it's out of line to say Crosby would be a lead pipe lock for the Hart Trophy. I wouldn't put him on top of the list of most exciting players to watch right now but I don't think it's crazy to say he's currently one of the five best players in the league right now at just 19 years old.

He's definitely an amazing player. I would agree with your assessment that he is probably in the top 5-10.

I saw highlights of him fake out the entire Islanders team....and the next hightlights were ATG faking out the entire Thrashers team.

Let's not even discuss giving the Hart to him....come on. Let's not pull another "suspension episode", Shoalzie old boy..The guy has had 3 diving penalties this year. If a Penguin wins hardware it might not even be Crosby that wins it.

If the season ended today...here's the Hart candidates. ATG, Selanne, Hossa, Briere, Iginla & Koivu. I don't see Crosby in that list. Everyone should remember that I'm probably correct in those choices. I'd give it to Koivu at this point in time.

Btw Did you see that hit on Forsberg? Go back on the IR, Pete.

I don't mean to slight Ovechkin...great game the other night with the hat trick and game-winner in OT. He's quietly made his way up near the top of the scoring list this year...now tied for third and 3 points behind second place. Crosby is 9 up but I imagine he's not going to run away and hide. That 6 point night gave him some cushion between he and Jagr. I think he, Ovechkin, and Jagr will battle for the Art Ross. To Alexander the Gr8's credit, he's doing a lot with much less than Crosby has in Pittsburgh. Washington is very thin up front when you get beyond Ovechkin. I don't think I'd put Semin quite on Malkin's level but he's been a good running mate for him.

Just to put this out there for you, RTP...from the Fearless Predictions thread:

Crosby vs. Ovechkin
Ovechkin: 55 goals / 50 assists--105 points
Crosby: 42 goals / 62 assists--104 points

Cheesy to just put him ahead of Crosby by only a point but I'm fairly sure the competition between them will be very close this year once again. Ovechkin is the better finisher while Crosby will roll up the assists to guys like Malkin, Recchi and Malone.

As for MVP...here are my top five candidates right now: Crosby, Hasek, Brodeur, Turco and Ovechkin. By the true definition of MVP...if you take these guys off their current teams, those teams would suffer. I've watched the Wings firsthand and if Hasek wasn't playing as well as he has been...they don't score enough to win just on offense alone. The Pens would be in better shape without Crosby than the Caps would be without Ovechkin...if either team makes the playoffs, then I'd say either guy would be the front-runner for MVP. I take out Jagr because he's got Straka, Shanahan and Nylander...Hossa has Kozlov and Kovalchuk...Spezza has Heatley...Selanne has Pronger, Niedermayer and Giguere...Iginla has Kiprusoff.

Shoalzie wrote:I take out Jagr because he's got Straka, Shanahan and Nylander

Jagr carries the Rangers, with out him they get prisonraped like American History X. We already saw it happen last season...

The Rat Pack wrote: Everyone should remember that I'm probably correct in those choices.

GFYJO

NjSooner wrote:

Shoalzie wrote:I take out Jagr because he's got Straka, Shanahan and Nylander

Jagr carries the Rangers, with out him they get prisonraped like American History X. We already saw it happen last season...

rack

Jagr hasn't carried a team on his back...what did the Pens do when Mario left and Jags was left behind to lead the way? The Caps weren't all that hot when he was there either and ultimately had to be traded. Jagr is a key member of the Rangers but there's no way he's the most valuable piece of that puzzle. I think Lundqvist is ultimately the most vital part of that if they want to do anything. With games like last night in Toronto...Jagr, Shanahan, Straka, whomever...won't make up for that. The Rangers have the offense to put up 4 or 5 goals in a game but the goalie is still the most important part when that offense has an off night. Jagr is still a special talent but just watching his act in last year's playoff series against Jersey tells you he's not always there for his team when they call upon him.

Shoalzie wrote:Jagr hasn't carried a team on his back...what did the Pens do when Mario left and Jags was left behind to lead the way? The Caps weren't all that hot when he was there either and ultimately had to be traded. Jagr is a key member of the Rangers but there's no way he's the most valuable piece of that puzzle. I think Lundqvist is ultimately the most vital part of that if they want to do anything. With games like last night in Toronto...Jagr, Shanahan, Straka, whomever...won't make up for that. The Rangers have the offense to put up 4 or 5 goals in a game but the goalie is still the most important part when that offense has an off night. Jagr is still a special talent but just watching his act in last year's playoff series against Jersey tells you he's not always there for his team when they call upon him.

Jagr had a injured/hurt shoulder at the end of the season and in the playoffs. Lundqvist was fucking on it last season, but he has been too inconsistent to be called their MVP this year... Tom Renney needs to get him out ASAfuckingP when he has a start after going out drinking with Sandis Ozolinsh the night before, like the Islanders loss last week and the Leafs shellacking the other night.

EDIT: Jagr hasn't carried a team? '05-'06 Rangers... Lundqvist was amazing but the Rangers NEEDED Jagr. He provides insane amounts of offense, and makes those around him better. Where were Straka and Nylander before him? Not even close to where they are now. Not to slight Lundqvist, but unfortunately Hammerin' Hank can't score goals.

No love for Havlat? Look at the Hawks record without him.

Joey Moss wrote:No love for Havlat? Look at the Hawks record without him.

He's been great but they were also without Khabibulin during that timeframe...he's been a key member of that team this year.

Speaking of KC, Mario talks to city officials...

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=190690&hubname=

That is a sweet building...some pro team should be playing there at some point. I wouldn't want to see another NHL team relocate but it might have to happen.

Add 30+ pounds to everyone in that picture and I might buy it.

Degenerate wrote:Add 30+ pounds to everyone in that picture and I might buy it.

HA! EXACTLY what I was going to post.

KC is offering the Pens to play there rent free...how can you pass that up?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=a ... &type=lgns

Shit!

Vegas waits again for a franchise. :(

e wrote:
i wonder if they'll change their name when they move here

BBQ Penguins?

KC Paul 3.0 wrote:

My grandmother keeps one of those on her coffee table. It holds these red striped and white candies that have been there so long it is one big candy lump.

e wrote:
i wonder if they'll change their name when they move here

Kansas City Chefs?

or

Kansas City Faggots

Kansas City Blades has a nice ring to it.

The Assassin wrote:Kansas City Blades has a nice ring to it.

The old IHL team? That would make sense...I don't think any of the teams that have relocated have kept the same name from the previous city. I'd imagine they won't keep the Penguins.

Shoalzie wrote:

The Assassin wrote:Kansas City Blades has a nice ring to it.

The old IHL team? That would make sense...I don't think any of the teams that have relocated have kept the same name from the previous city. I'd imagine they won't keep the Penguins.

Yup I remember when Vegas had the Thunder we'd go watch them and the Blades play. I miss the IHL those games were a blast!

Had Vegas gotten the Penguins I think the Las Vegas Aces would have been a perfect name.

That's got a pretty good ring to it. Any Vegas team needs to have a gambling/casino theme. Where would a team play in Vegas...the Thomas & Mack Center?

Shoalzie wrote:That's got a pretty good ring to it. Any Vegas team needs to have a gambling/casino theme. Where would a team play in Vegas...the Thomas & Mack Center?

Nah theyd have to build a new arena. the T&M isnt made for hockey. when the Thunder played there they had to fold up the south end section of seats just to fit the rink. Also they'd have to share it with the Rebels,the Gladiators and in December they be on a long road trip due to the rodeo. the Mack is good for a college venue but is barely passable as a major arena.

Monarchs, kids, The Kansas City Monarchs.

The Oliver Stone crowd in this town theorizes that Bettman and the Board of Governors will toss Pittsburgh a bone by awarding the city an expansion franchise once they regain their senses, get their collective shit together, and build a new arena. Like the Cleveland Browns, the Pens nickname, colors, and records will be placed in hiatus until the new team takes the ice in October 2011 - or about the time when Sidney and Crew watch their second straight Stanley Cup Championship Banner hoisted into the rafters of the Sprint Center....

Joey Moss wrote:

e wrote:
i wonder if they'll change their name when they move here

Kansas City Chefs?

or

Kansas City Faggots

I'll RACK the Blazing Saddles reset.

Bring back the Scouts .......

Not so fast KC!!!



Oklahoma City minor league hockey owners eye PensAssociated Press


OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma City business group says they're interested in landing a National Hockey League franchise and expect a formal invitation to be extended next week for the Pittsburgh Penguins to visit the city's Ford Center arena.



The Penguins and owner Mario Lemieux have been seeking a new arena in Pittsburgh and already have an offer to move to Kansas City.



"We've always had an interest in the NHL or anything that contributes to Oklahoma City or the Oklahoma environment," Bob Funk, the founder and CEO of Express Services Inc. and the owner of the Oklahoma City Blazers hockey team, told The Oklahoman. "I think the NHL has a good future."



Funk and Brad Lund, CEO of Funk's Express Sports, met with Oklahoma City leaders Thursday and tabled for the weekend a decision to invite the Penguins, the newspaper reported.



"It's Pittsburgh's team to lose, and Kansas City is well ahead of us," Lund acknowledged.



Funk said he would not go forward without consultation from Oklahoma City leaders, who have sought to bring a permanent NBA franchise to town. Oklahoma City currently hosts the NBA's Hornets, who are scheduled to return to New Orleans after this season.



"Like we've talked about before, the first team in certainly would have the advantage," Funk said. "That ended up being the NBA. If the NBA is not going to be here, then I would think there would be corporate support for hockey."



Funk also speculated that an NHL team could land in Tulsa, if an NBA team is in Oklahoma City. Tulsa is building a new downtown arena scheduled to open in 2008.



"I'll talk to Tulsa," Funk said. "That's always a possibility, too. We have very successful [Central Hockey League] operations in Tulsa. Our operations over there are doing very well and they have been for a long time."

KC Paul 3.0 wrote:The Ford Center is a big piece of shit and can't hold a candle to the Sprint Center and what AEG offered the Penguins....but Pittsburgh will probably find a way to keep them there.

Hell if you don't get the Pens make a run at the Supersonics.