Who Is The Toughest Team 2013

[gdameo]

Don't know where to post but had to post it somewhere...it made me laugh

@JohnLuTSNMtl: #Habs Markov's sense of humour 100% healthy. Asked about role in KHL: "I was one of the tough guys and had to get into some fights."

[Philly Fan 27]

Originally Posted by Jack Schitt

If Shelley's not in I would say Simmonds will be the best fighter most nights. Who in your opinion is better?

sestito is probably a better fighter than simmonds. or at least, he's bigger than simmonds and not nearly as good a hockey player so he will fight better fighters than simmonds most times. it would be awesome to have both shelley and sestito in with simmonds there to fight when needed, but i dont think that will happen at all this season.

as far as 3rd pairing dmen who can fight, where is jim vandermeer?

[Jack Schitt]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan 27

sestito is probably a better fighter than simmonds. or at least, he's bigger than simmonds and not nearly as good a hockey player so he will fight better fighters than simmonds most times. it would be awesome to have both shelley and sestito in with simmonds there to fight when needed, but i dont think that will happen at all this season.

as far as 3rd pairing dmen who can fight, where is jim vandermeer?

Sestito is certainly more dispensible than Simmonds.... and bigger, yes.... but a better fighter? That's debatable.


I do get your point though, This is just my training camp for YSTB.

[hockey doc]

Hate to break everyone's bubble but with a short season points are much more valuable which means teams will be putting their best players in the lineup more often and the role players will be sitting out until injuries force them into the game. Every team in the league has a good shot at making the playoffs over a half season, that leaves little time for goonery. I hope I'm wrong.

[lilburtis9363]

Originally Posted by blades29

What! No mention of the toughest team in the league?! The AVS!?!

All kidding aside, Islanders, Wild, Bruins and Rangers are all tough as **** this year.

If Bordeleau had a definite roster spot I'd definitely mention them. He's one of the top heavies in the A

Also, with the schedule with all the back to back games you can't expect the same lineup every night. Guys will be too fatigued too quickly, so hopefully this means a lot more of the tough guys get to play

[habsfan1122]

Originally Posted by Phila26Flyers

Not one mention of the Flyers with Hartnell, Simmonds, Rinaldo, Sestito, and Shelley some nights? We need more Flyers fans in this thread.

not trying to be a dickhead but i heard ian lapperrierre last night on a montreal radio show imply that a guy 'like' shelley would most likely be replace by a younger player but couldnt tell to many details

Originally Posted by hockeydoc

Hate to break everyone's bubble but with a short season points are much more valuable which means teams will be putting their best players in the lineup more often and the role players will be sitting out until injuries force them into the game. Every team in the league has a good shot at making the playoffs over a half season, that leaves little time for goonery. I hope I'm wrong.

thats what i told myself when they were cancelling games and were making the season shorter, its probably why guys like scott-shelley-orr-janssen-haley-etc wont see much ice time this year.

whats good is my favorite teams main fighters also are regular playrs (prust-moen... ) but anyway were not targetting the playoffs

[rondo]

Until a team can prove otherwise the bruins are still the toughest on paper and more importantly in the ice. Chara, Thornton , Lucic , Campbell , Macquaid play on a nightly basis. Sabers & islanders have upgraded and should make for some great games in the eastern conference.

[ThrowdownSJ408]

Simmonds was really fun last year. what a season.

Shelley......ahhh i love the guy but he may be done. id say this might be his last or 2nd to last. his fights will be very limited. Sestito will fight often, he knows thats what keeps him there. Rhinaldo will hit everyone insight and get some good scraps.

I hope Scott plays. Sabers need him in their game.

The West is kind of boring but Mclaren had a great fight vs the recker down in the A and might give him a chance. Sharks are going to be playing guys like Mashinter and Mclaren due to not signing anyone really.

Bruins are going to be nasty again. they play team toughness like rangers. both teams are stacked well. you dont have to be the best fighter but if you have a team with a bunch of willing fighters who fight more than 5 times a year its pretty solid.

Macdermid on the another hand would add a lot of toughness but i see him as an often scratch. like someone else said, hes been getting wrecked in the A.

Isles look nasty with the dual HW's. Carkner, still nasty seems like he doesnt want to fight as much anymore due to being able to hold an NHL spot I think.

[FurnaceFace]

Vancouver canucks I hear are intrested in jim vandermeer. The only guy on philly I dont expect to get too many games is jody shelley. But having said that he should get dressed depending on whos playing. I suspect alot of injuries the year early. Via groin pulls and what not.

[bruiser11]

Who knows? Huh?

[puck_me_gently]

Originally Posted by hockey doc

Hate to break everyone's bubble but with a short season points are much more valuable which means teams will be putting their best players in the lineup more often and the role players will be sitting out until injuries force them into the game. Every team in the league has a good shot at making the playoffs over a half season, that leaves little time for goonery. I hope I'm wrong.

The one hope is that games will be intense because they're all so important. Also teams will play the same opponents over and over, presumably frustration and hatred will build quickly.

Also, injuries are a sure bet with the ridiculously compressed schedule.

[Jack Schitt]

Originally Posted by rondo

Until a team can prove otherwise the bruins are still the toughest on paper and more importantly in the ice. Chara, Thornton , Lucic , Campbell , Macquaid play on a nightly basis. Sabers & islanders have upgraded and should make for some great games in the eastern conference.

Bingo. That's the key.... and in recent years they not only played, but haven't been shy about playing a physical intimidating style. It's not about who is on the roster if they're scratched or playing 45 seconds a game.

The Isles may give them a run for their money if Carkner gets back to old form and Boulton plays regularly....

Perhaps the Rangers with Rupp, Asham, Bickell and perhaps Haley if they all play would be a bitch to play against too.

Only if John Scott actually dresses, and finally lives up to his expectations by wrecking top HW's will the Sabres even be in the running IMO.

[cookie monster]

Originally Posted by Jack Schitt

Bingo. That's the key.... and in recent years they not only played, but haven't been shy about playing a physical intimidating style. It's not about who is on the roster if they're scratched or playing 45 seconds a game.

The Isles may give them a run for their money if Carkner gets back to old form and Boulton plays regularly....

Perhaps the Rangers with Rupp, Asham, Bickell and perhaps Haley if they all play would be a bitch to play against too.

Only if John Scott actually dresses, and finally lives up to his expectations by wrecking top HW's will the Sabres even be in the running IMO.

As far as John Scott goes, I think the Sabres signed him with the intent of playing him. I'm sure limited minutes, but I think he gets a shot.

They signed him pretty early in the free agent period and hearing him talk it looks like he expects to play.

[Jack Schitt]

Originally Posted by cookie monster

As far as John Scott goes, I think the Sabres signed him with the intent of playing him. I'm sure limited minutes, but I think he gets a shot.

They signed him pretty early in the free agent period and hearing him talk it looks like he expects to play.

I hope your assessment is right... believe me I do, however in my jaded, bitter opinion he was signed when the Lucic/Miller debacle was still fresh in the heads of the management, and the fans/entire NHL was abuzz about what ******* they were and how that changed the whole tone of their season. A LOT has happened since then. I expect that Lindy (not) Ruff and Duh' Arcy Regear will revert back to their old ways. Scott will play in a few B's games - but I don't see much more than that. I hope that I am wrong.

[Broons66]

I'm sure Scott will no doubt dress against the B's. How effective he'll be who knows. Didn't really provide much for the Rangers when they picked him up. I think Ott was the interesting pickup, definitely makes the Sabres more difficult to play against.