# NHL: February 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 3, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020 "2011-02-03T14:23:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/142 "2011-02-19T22:23:09Z")
That extra year on Souray’s contract is a killer. If used properly he’s worth half his salary, but being stuck with it for another year is, I’d imagine, a major deterrent for most teams. I don’t know if Vancouver has the cap room. If my math is right (and it very often isn’t), picking him up now for their final 23 games even at half salary would be a cap hit of $757k, and they only have $414k in space… but I don’t know the status of all of their injured players. If they can put someone on LTIR then they could make the room. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/143 "2011-02-19T22:59:35Z")
Taylor Hall with his first hat trick today against the Thrashers. Pretty decent game for the only matinee today. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/144 "2011-02-20T01:34:48Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > [Carey Price’s Heritage Classic mask](http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_nhl_experts__88/ept_sports_nhl_experts-490665532-1298138517.jpg?ymWmZlED1HCFZdfK) is, in a word, creepy. OMG, it’s Lord Krang!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/145 "2011-02-20T06:56:30Z")
I’ll be surprised if Vancouver makes any trade moves. Despite the fact that 5 out of the original 6 D-men are currently down right now, we’re in pretty amazing shape. Consider that Sami Salo finally returned and is playing well after being gone all year. Additionally, our players from the Manitoba Moose have come and have been doing very well. Finally, all of our D-men will be back just in time for the playoffs. In fact, it is going to work out awesome since Edler will probably come back from his back surgery just as the playoffs start, and the cap won’t matter anymore. If that injury didn’t happen Vancouver would have had to get rid of some players to bring Sami back. Now, we can keep everybody! Really, the Canucks are doing awesome. They have shown amazing depth at D so far. They could easily play .500 hockey and still coast into a good position in the playoffs. I hope they don’t bring in anybody. Even if our rookie defensemen cost us a few games, we can afford it at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/146 "2011-02-20T15:50:22Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Holy crap, yes that is very creepy. I see what he was trying to do, looks like a nice idea, but…well, it isn’t so good. ☹ I think it is supposed to be Jacques Plante. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/147 "2011-02-20T16:42:38Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#): > > Really, the Canucks are doing awesome. They have shown amazing depth at D so far. They could easily play .500 hockey and still coast into a good position in the playoffs. I hope they don’t bring in anybody. Even if our rookie defensemen cost us a few games, we can afford it at this point. Hey now, Don’t concede to much, Go for the President’s trophy. Because I don’t want The Wings to go in as any kind of favorite, Things go bad quickly for some reason usually. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/148 "2011-02-22T02:40:27Z")
[Penguins Acquire James Neal and Matt Niskanen From Dallas In Exchange For Alex Goligoski](http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=553656&navid=DL%7CPIT%7Chome) I hope this isn’t a mistake. Goose has been a big asset to our team, and I’m going to miss him. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/149 "2011-02-22T03:25:15Z")
Personally I’m absolutely astounded that Dallas would trade Neal. I’m not sure if I see what’s in the deal for Dallas. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/150 "2011-02-22T04:43:07Z")
Dallas is in desperate need of defensemen. They can score, but have been blowing leads for the past 2 eyars due to poor defense, poor special teams, and inconsistent goaltending. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/151 "2011-02-22T14:22:35Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Dallas is in desperate need of defensemen. They can score, but have been blowing leads for the past 2 eyars due to poor defense, poor special teams, and inconsistent goaltending. Plus from everything I’ve been reading, Neal is a bit overrated. One of those guys that everyone keeps hoping will reach his potential but never does. The sheet on him seems to be: gifted but streaky scorer; turnstile on defense; takes dumb penalties. Perhaps the change in scenery/coach will help. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/152 "2011-02-24T21:29:50Z")
Couple more trades. Alex Kovalev is [now (and again) a Penguin](http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=355204) for [del] a bag of pucks[/del] a conditional seventh-round pick. And Montreal has [acquired](http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=355210) Nigel Dawes and Brent Sopel from Atlanta for prospect Ben Maxwell and a fourth-rounder. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/153 "2011-02-25T01:27:48Z")
I like the trade for Sopel and Dawes. Maxwell was being outpaced by other players in the system, so will benefit from going somewhere where he can play. I assume I’ll get to see Dawes play tomorrow for the 'Dogs (yay!). I liked Sopel with the Hawks last year. As for tonight’s Laffs-Habs game, I hope Dave Jackson enjoys his first assist and whatever financial payout he’s receiving from Toronto for completely giving this game away. His refereeing is a joke and an embarrassment for the league. It’s shameful, and part of why I hate the NHL. This is such a good sport, we don’t need jackass referees like Jackson, Lee and Auger ruining it, not to mention the bullshit from Bettman, Daly and Campbell. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/154 "2011-02-25T01:32:38Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > As for tonight’s Laffs-Habs game, I hope Dave Jackson enjoys his first assist and whatever financial payout he’s receiving from Toronto for completely giving this game away. His refereeing is a joke and an embarrassment for the league. It’s shameful, and part of why I hate the NHL. This is such a good sport, we don’t need jackass referees like Jackson, Lee and Auger ruining it, not to mention the bullshit from Bettman, Daly and Campbell. They’ve really got to go back to one referee. I grew up with the one referee, 21-team NHL, which means there could be no more than ten games in a given night. So they only needed ten referees (and a few more emergency/trainees, etc.) Now though, with up to fifteen games every night, with the two ref system, you need 30 refs, plus fill-ins. There aren’t 30 good referees out there. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/155 "2011-02-25T01:35:37Z")
I struggle to name one good one ☹ Seriously, are you watching this? Gionta lifts a stick, and gets a hooking penalty. That POS Komisarek roughs up Pleks, and nothing happens. Three guys tackle Pouliot, and _Moen_ gets a penalty? It’s bullshit. I also disagreed with starting Auld from the beginning; Price is a Leaf-killer. I actually think it’s winnable, _if the refs actually call penalties according to the rules of the game._ I’m not keeping my hopes up. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/156 "2011-02-25T01:48:05Z")
Huh. Did not see 3 consecutive Laffs penalties to start the 2nd. I guess the refs read the rule book during the break. 3-3. Awesome. Now we have a hockey game. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/157 "2011-02-25T02:59:01Z")
Someone woke up the Dallas Stars and told them they still have to win games to get into the playoffs. Kari Lehtonen has had several great stops and the Stars are winning 3-0 against the Dead Wings with 4 minutes to go. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/158 "2011-02-25T03:13:11Z")
Crap. Take away the 3 goal handicap given to the Laffs, though, and the Habs win this one in a walk. That was bullshit piled upon bullshit. The NHL should be ashamed. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/159 "2011-02-25T03:15:50Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > I struggle to name one good one ☹ > > Seriously, are you watching this? Gionta lifts a stick, and gets a hooking penalty. That POS Komisarek roughs up Pleks, and nothing happens. Three guys tackle Pouliot, and _Moen_ gets a penalty? It’s bullshit. > > I also disagreed with starting Auld from the beginning; Price is a Leaf-killer. I actually think it’s winnable, _if the refs actually call penalties according to the rules of the game._ I’m not keeping my hopes up. Wah, wah, wah. Those nasty old refs. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/160 "2011-02-25T03:31:13Z")
Rewatch the game, **Leaffan**. The missed icing call? Kostitsyn getting tripped? The slashing on Plekanec’s hands on a semi-breakaway? Komi mugging Pleks? Wisniewski for interference on a player that _had jumped into the air to hit him?_ The missed calls I’ve already mentioned? _TSN_ was even second-guessing some of those calls! The Habs PK sucked. There were serious defensive mistakes on a couple goals, and Auld played like shit. But there is no way you can convince me that that was fair, consistent or actually-based-on-the-rules refereeing. The refereeing in this league is a joke, and that was insanely blatant in this game. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020/161 "2011-02-25T03:40:09Z")
I’d love to have watched the game in the first place. But you see, I’m in the Ottawa region. This means that non-nationally broadcast Leafs games are not fucking allowed here. Anyway you stated: > [@](#): > > Huh. Did not see 3 consecutive Laffs penalties to start the 2nd. I guess the refs read the rule book during the break. Calls go both ways and in the end they even out. Sorry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-february-2011/570020.md?page=9)