2013-2014 NHL Thread

[Rupe]

when I really think about it, when the pens came back on them after being down 0-2 in that series in '09, the caps started to erode slowly, they may never have recovered from that, I mean fuck, the rangers have knocked them out two years in a row, time to fuckin' retool i'd say!

I don't know that it had anything to do with the pens, but something is awfully wrong with that organization. And although +/- isn't all telling, when the disparity exists between Ovi's league leading 48 goals and horrendous -36, it's telling you something. None of the other top 15 goal scorers in the league have a negative +/-...and the next worst in the top 30 is a -11.

You can say somebody is paid to score goals all you want...they still need to show some effort elsewhere on the ice. It's not an excuse to ignore the fundamentals of the game.

[atomic charvel guy]

it tells me ovi is tanking but it tells me that their defense sucks even more.

[Mudlark]

It must be nerve wracking to be on the Cap's bench late in the 3rd, ahead by a goal, and know the opposition is going to try everything they can to take advantage of Ovi's questionable defensive effort. The Capital's defense isn't sensational, but their penalty killing is 19th, which suggests it's far from the worst in the league. To be fair, the Cap's power play is first in the league.

[atomic charvel guy]

look at the win dropoff for the caps. in 2010- 54 wins, 2011- 48, 2012-43. 2013-34, and they have 34 this year, with a handful to go.

[atomic charvel guy]

you can't tell me that's all on Ovechkin or his plus minus rating, if at all.

[atomic charvel guy]

let's get to the bottom of this people, here's ova's stats, I wanna know what's up down there in Washington. http://www.hockey-reference.com/play...ovechal01.html

[atomic charvel guy]

his assists have diminished a lot, his plus minus is in serious disarray but I am not gonna hang him out in the wind solely on that one. let's not forget last year was a shortened season by a ton. he has as many assists this year as last year! fuck. is there anyone for him to pass too that's left? Semin is gone, who else is missing. mike green? where has he been? they got rid of Perrault he's on the ducks right? he's turning into a good player. my point is I guess, he's scored over 800 points and he is only at a plus 46 lifetime. Crosby has over 100 this year and is at 16 I think. I don't see whats great about that at all. its a weird stat I tell you

[Shawn Lutz]

I dunno, as a player I always took pride in stats and recorded everything. I played on defense some crappy teams (.500) but still was always a + player...even when I played D I had +'s. I moved to wing/center in Midgets and once I learned the position and lighting lamps the +/- swelled up along with goal, assist and point totals. I just don't know how a professional can look at a -36 and not want to do anything about it. Sure +/- doesn't always paint an accurate picture but when you look at a guy who is leading the league in goals, doesn't back check, doesn't seem to want to play any hockey in his own zone, floats high out in semi-cherry picking mode and forgets D zone coverages entirely. I stand by my point that crappy - minus is primarily a result of a player who doesn't give a shit about the team and the defensive side of the puck

[Rupe]

I dunno, as a player I always took pride in stats and recorded everything. I played on defense some crappy teams (.500) but still was always a + player...even when I played D I had +'s. I moved to wing/center in Midgets and once I learned the position and lighting lamps the +/- swelled up along with goal, assist and point totals. I just don't know how a professional can look at a -36 and not want to do anything about it. Sure +/- doesn't always paint an accurate picture but when you look at a guy who is leading the league in goals, doesn't back check, doesn't seem to want to play any hockey in his own zone, floats high out in semi-cherry picking mode and forgets D zone coverages entirely. I stand by my point that crappy - minus is primarily a result of a player who doesn't give a shit about the team and the defensive side of the puck

[goodwood]

you can't tell me that's all on Ovechkin or his plus minus rating, if at all.

I think he is worn out and after working so hard to see that they aren't going to make the playoffs, I just think he is disappointed and frustrated. After the Olympics the Caps started sinking and Ovi didn't keep up the same wild pace that he had going early on...he was on pace to do 60+ goals. What they need there is a coach AND a general manager.

As for +/-, it is more of a novelty stat to me. Green had one of the highest +/- ratings ever recorded a few years back but he has never been considered really solid defensively.

I would think that Alexander Mogilny and Pat Lafontaine would have had great +/- back in the day with Hasek in the net and both of them finishing with 127 and 148 pts respectively and all of the goalies (including Hasek) having GAA in the mid 3 range but not so. +7 and +11 respectively. Hawerchuk was also on that team had 96 pts and -17.

+/- is just an oddball. One would think that stats driven players would look at it and have it motivate them though.

[Shawn Lutz]

I think he is worn out and after working so hard to see that they aren't going to make the playoffs, I just think he is disappointed and frustrated. After the Olympics the Caps started sinking and Ovi didn't keep up the same wild pace that he had going early on...he was on pace to do 60+ goals. What they need there is a coach AND a general manager.

As for +/-, it is more of a novelty stat to me. Green had one of the highest +/- ratings ever recorded a few years back but he has never been considered really solid defensively.

I would think that Alexander Mogilny and Pat Lafontaine would have had great +/- back in the day with Hasek in the net and both of them finishing with 127 and 148 pts respectively and all of the goalies (including Hasek) having GAA in the mid 3 range but not so. +7 and +11 respectively. Hawerchuk was also on that team had 96 pts and -17.

+/- is just an oddball. One would think that stats driven players would look at it and have it motivate them though.

or he got to see how much better Pavel Datsuyk's complete game on one knee OV may be realizing he really is no longer GR8 lol. Even in his own country his stock is falling It really is sad, the dude could be a great player if he cared. Remember when Sid and OV came up? I though OV was better when than Sid on the d side of the puck than he is today. Crosby took the knock for not being as solid defensively and made efforts to improve his overall game and not be as big of a defensive liability....the kid learned what he needed to d and did. No OV in Wash may have been given free run to do or not do whatever he wanted I don't know but I do know he doesn't give a shit about defensive play...he's 1/2 a player in my mind and I'd love to coach him because I'd put $10 million buttering popcorn if he didnt want to play the other 1/2 of the game. It pains me to say this as I hate the Pens and Sid but Sid is a super star Ovechkin is far in his shadows today. Maybe its all about the compete level...OV doesn't seem to have it or motivated by it if he does have it.

[atomic charvel guy]

he's the only reason that team will maybe make it into the playoffs , and was the only reason last year. can't do it all by himself. his plus minus is a joke, but so is the defense.

[atomic charvel guy]

his plus minus can't possibly translate into 20 less wins can it? maybe it can I don't know, but if it does then that means he's the whole team, and then he's not at fault as nobody can do it all by themselves. or can they? again, I do not know.

[Mudlark]

Your loyalty is admirable. The NHL hasn't had many as fun to watch as Ovechkin and he'll surely be placed among the legends for that reason alone. Hopefully his goal scoring doesn't waiver prematurely...

[atomic charvel guy]

Your loyalty is admirable. The NHL hasn't had many as fun to watch as Ovechkin and he'll surely be placed among the legends for that reason alone. Hopefully his goal scoring doesn't waiver prematurely...

i'm a ranger fan, and ovi has been the reason for much disappointment but he is a fun as all fuck to watch. I am in agreement with you muddy!