Comments for Autobot or Decepticon? at http://hockey.dobbersports.com , comment 1 to 10 out of 10 comments http://hockey.dobbersports.com Tue, 21 May 2013 04:05:04 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/laidlaw/3583-autobot-or-decepticon#comment-12976 Pengwin, thank you, now let the debate continue! I'm not sure how you can say there was no pressure on Bob. We're talking about the Flyers goaltending situation. Of course there was pressure on him. My point regarding Bob's numbers being similar to those of Boucher is definitely meant to show that he's not the best option, but I am still supremely confident in him because that is an excellent team and he's got a history of producing big numbers at the pro level. He was outstanding for the Flyers in the first half. The best goalie they've had in years. It wasn't until they pushed him beyond his comfort zone that things went south. What I'm saying is if they control his "pitch count", to use the baseball analogy, then he will continue to be successful. And again, I'll state that arguing that the teams in his division will be improved does not necessarily mean that he will have to face those teams if he's merely a 1A goalie and it also doesn't prevent the Flyers from still being a great team that beats up on the rest of the league. Now concerning whether or not these teams will even actually be improved. The Islanders and Devils both saw mid-season coaching changes last season. I don't know if you've read it but I made a post in the forums a couple of years ago regarding the impact of mid-season coaching changes in the NHL. In general, they are always positive. The change just seems to get more out of the team but as we've seen with the Senators and Cory Clouston, those changes don't always carry over to the next year so yeah, the Devils and Islanders have both played some inspired second half hockey and look to be improved but you can't say that with certainty because we've seen these new coaches flop with a full season. In the case of the Islanders I think that they are so young that the players are bound to play inconsistently. Remember when the Blue Jackets and Blues were among the next "up and coming" teams only to have regressed the last two seasons? They'll all get their eventually, but you can't tell me with any certainty that they'll improve for sure since historical examples prove against it. As far as the Devils are concerned I have serious doubts about them too. Does Marty still have it? Will Parise return? Will Lemaire return? What of their cap situation? What of their terrible defensemen? It's easy to say that Parise will be back and the Devils will surely improve but I see a hell of a lot of question marks on that team and I didn't even ask the question that everyone really wants answered. As far as the Rangers are concerned, I think you just assume that they'll spend their money wisely when history indicates otherwise. Glen Sather is still their GM is he not? Don't assume anything good will come of that team. The Penguins will improve, there's no doubt in my mind. Crosby returning healthy will do that but it doesn't make them better or deeper than the Flyers. Like I said in the previous post, Bob succeeded against the Penguins even with Crosby and Malkin in the lineup. I also think you assume that Malkin returns healthy and 100%. Right now we don't even know that he'll return in time to start the season. I wouldn't count on Malkin at 100% until 2012/13. You mention the Flyers defense being old but A) people have questioned Pronger for years but he still gets it done. B) I'll grant you Timonen because he's constantly battling one injury or another C) O'Donnell will be replaced, and they basically play a 5 man unit with O'Donnell playing as little as possible. You also don't factor in their three younger defensemen whose roles will be growing. If it's assumed all the players on the Islanders will improve then one must assume the Flyers' young players will in turn improve and they've got way more young talent. The other teams in the East you mentioned as possibly improving: Buffalo - How do they spend their money? Boston - Still needing a first line center. Carolina - Improving or regressing? Lot's of young players being counted on and a self-imposed cap that may keep them from returning quality players. Toronto - Still a first line center away from even being a playoff team. Then the teams with key injuries: Montreal - The biggest injury is Markov who may never be the same. Still sorely lacking size and fully reliant on Price. Washington - Honestly, who the hell knows where this team is headed but yeah they probably improve. The one team you don't mention is the one team I actually think does get better and that's Tampa Bay. Flyers have the deepest team in the league and that doesn't appear to be going anywhere. I absolutely hate where this debate has gone, being more about teams than the players themselves but alas, despite the improvements we may see from the East the Flyers still look like they'll be the best and any goalie tandem they have involving Bob will be a successful one. - steve laidlaw Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:01:42 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/laidlaw/3583-autobot-or-decepticon#comment-12975 steve - first, the article is FANTASTIC. I always feel bad when I realize all I did was pinpoint one point of disagreement without letting you know how must I enjoyed it!!! Triple exclamation mark!!! Great stuff. With Bob though, it really should be buyer-beware. He came into a no pressure, no expectations situation and put up numbers that are only similar to Boosh... and yet somehow this is a good thing?! Jimmy Howard also had a rookie season with no pressure, no expectations and put up good numbers & FEW shutouts. VERY SIMILAR SITUATION. You can't tell me the Islanders won't be MUCH improved next year. Each of Grabner, Nielsen, and Tavares are improving by leaps & bounds and Okposo/Streit were out for big chunks of the season. The Pens are still working on their chemistry - but if Neal gels with Crosby and Staal/Malkin click... they, too, will be much improved. New Jersey was without Parise for the entire season. And NYR, well eventually they'll spend their cap money on players that produce consistently. Key injuries in WAS & MON this year and lots of young improving players around the East (BUF, BOS, CAR, TOR). There are very few teams in the East that I see getting weaker. Philadelphia has an aging defense... with 3 regulars over 35yrs old. Overall - I think it is confusing when you say "his numbers are nearly identical to that of teammate Brian Boucher" AND "Boucher is your classic decepticon". If A=B, and B=C, then A=C. PS. The Autobot vs. Decepticon issue is one of the most clever ideas this year!!! I still give this article an A+++ (even if there is one note I enjoy disagreeing on) - Pengwin7 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:11:16 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/laidlaw/3583-autobot-or-decepticon#comment-12971 @Pengwin - I have to respectfully disagree. Your thought makes sense in theory but in practice Bob only beat up on the Penguins and Islanders this season and a lot of that came when Crosby and Malkin were in the lineup. The Islanders look better now but we will see what happens when a new season begins. As far as the Rangers and Devils go, he only started one game against each of them so it's impossible to say he benefitted from their weakness. Here are Bob's numbers against each of his Atlantic rivals: PIT - 3-1-1, 2.16GAA, .926SV% NYI - 5-0-0, 1.57GAA, .952SV% NYR - 1-0-0, 2.58GAA, .897SV% NJD - 1-0-0, 3.00GAA, .885SV% So the wins and losses were definitely abundant but overall I'd say he really only picked on the Islanders who let's face it can easily end up as miserable as they were in the first half again next season. And in general, I believe it's poor practice to say that just because the division will be improved doesn't mean his production won't be great. As I said in the article, don't expect him to be a workhorse next season so he probably won't play all those divisional games, just as he didn't this season. - steve laidlaw Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:14:51 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/laidlaw/3583-autobot-or-decepticon#comment-12969 @praba - Thank you! @Shoeless - I hope so too! @Austin - Schneider didn't really qualify for what I was looking for in this article, although he did receive consideration. Yes he's had some great numbers but he's been a clear backup all year and will be next season unless Luongo gets hurt. He's got legit talent though so if you can keep him long term he's one to hold on to. @Brian - You are correct sir. Misread on my part. - steve laidlaw Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:51:54 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/laidlaw/3583-autobot-or-decepticon#comment-12967 Small correction, but didn't Montoya play college hockey for Michigan? - Brian Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:10:14 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/laidlaw/3583-autobot-or-decepticon#comment-12966 Next year's Atlantic rivals: Pittsburgh = better. New Jersey = better. NY Islanders = better. NY Rangers = better. This was the worst year I've ever seen from Eastern Conference teams as an overall offensive talent level goes. Lots of injuries. Scoring will be up in the East next year and PHI will find their level of competition will be a lot higher. Pronger ain't getting any younger either. - Pengwin7 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:13:16 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/laidlaw/3583-autobot-or-decepticon#comment-12965 the real question is...which goalie's girlfriend is a megan fox? - praba Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:26:47 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/laidlaw/3583-autobot-or-decepticon#comment-12964 Is Schneider an Autobot or Deceptecon? I am surprised you missed him as he has much better stats then any of them! I call Autobot as he has been a star goalie at each level he has played. - Austin Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:17:21 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/laidlaw/3583-autobot-or-decepticon#comment-12962 Refreshing analysis, MD. I can honestly say that I am taking something away from this article that I am going to try and apply in one of my leagues where I struggle in goal. Hope it works. - Shoeless Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:26:23 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/laidlaw/3583-autobot-or-decepticon#comment-12961 love the transformers comparisons! well done! - praba Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:24:43 +0100