Other NHL games

[Digitalgypsy66]

Mr. Hall may get to star in another video soon.

Yep, hearing today on that hit.

[columbia]

I thought you meant he was going to be Matt Damon's double in the next Bourne film.

[mikey287]

Cal Clutterbuck got nailed by Taylor Hall. Not looking good as the team had to help him off the ice.

Quick tangent on Taylor Hall...I looked up his numbers and his even strength scoring is at about .5ppg over the last few years. That's the Tyler Kennedy zone. I never watch him play, so in relation to the typical #1 overall pick, what are this guys strengths, aside from what shows up on the box score?

Right now, the Oilers blow. So that's a big part of it. They have small offensive forwards that don't have much room out there and they're all young and in a slump, so the natural instinct is to do what they did in juniors...do it themselves. As a result, they score once a game.

I hate to draw any comparisons between Taylor Hall and Tyler Kennedy, but if it wasn't for the huge level of difference in skill, they aren't really polar opposites in terms of style actually...let me turn into Pierre McGuire to explain it to you:

Taylor Hall out of the Windsor Spitfires organization is compete level personified. He has the skating, skill and determination to fly down the left wing, create plays on the rush and go to the front of the net and swing with the big trees. He's a driving force behind this Edmonton team and this young man is going to make a lot of people in Edmonton very happy very soon if he hasn't already. Edzo, you were Sidney Crosby's first coach in the National Hockey League, even though stylistically they aren't a great match, doesn't Taylor Hall's compete level and determination and constant drive to get better remind you a little bit of Sidney Crosby?

Edzo: (15 seconds of dead air) I...I don't...uhhh...I don't know, Pierre...am I coaching again? I'm confused.

/end scene

Hall has more work ethic than hockey smarts, but he's not a clown in that regard. Think Zach Parise basically.

[Gaucho]

Damn, I totall read that in Pierre's voice and can't stop laughing.

[shmenguin]

over the last few years since he "broke out" parise seems to me like a master of execution when he's in scoring positons. he simply gets it done whenever he has the chance. is this one of the disconnects between him and hall at the moment?

[llipgh2]

Damn, I totall read that in Pierre's voice and can't stop laughing.

As much as PeeAir annoys me, the man does know his hockey. I wish he just wasn't so freaking annoying while sharing his knowledge.

[mikey287]

over the last few years since he "broke out" parise seems to me like a master of execution when he's in scoring positons. he simply gets it done whenever he has the chance. is this one of the disconnects between him and hall at the moment?

Kind of. Zach is obviously one of the top players in the NHL, even though he's not being utilized like it this year. He's played on better teams (he had a HHOFer of a linemate in Ilya Kovalchuk for a bit, doesn't hurt). He's also been playing in the league for some time now, since 2005. Hall was 14 at the time.

You look at first two seasons of ES goal production: Zach 0.1656 EV goals/game; Hall: 0.2778 goals/game (*82) = 14 goals vs. 23. (further adjustment: combined goals per game averages in 05-06/06-07: 11.808; in 10-11/11-12: 10.784...a whole goal per game less is scored in the NHL during Hall's first two years vs. Zach's first two).

Let's say Hall got those 46 projected even strength goals in his first two years in the league (10-11, 11-12), here's where he would rank:
1. Steven Stamkos 76
2. Corey Perry 54
3. Bobby Ryan 54
4. Jarome Iginla 53
5. Alex Ovechkin 50
... (Malkin, Nash, St. Louis, Burrows)
10. Taylor Hall 46
t-10. Marian Gaborik 46
t-10. Phil Kessel 46
t-10. Ilya Kovalchuk 46

Now, of course, I didn't adjust anyone else for games missed (for instance, Crosby would be second with 70). But still, it's not that Hall isn't producing so much as he just plays on a young, streaky team with young, streaky linemates. He's doing a very good job in Edmonton.

[Rylan]

Damn, I totall read that in Pierre's voice and can't stop laughing.

As much as PeeAir annoys me, the man does know his hockey. I wish he just wasn't so freaking annoying while sharing his knowledge.

[shmenguin]

if pierre wasn't such a bandwagoner, i wouldn't mind him. he turns temporary momentum swings into absolute truths. he's pretty smart, so i can't imagine he REALLY gets so carried away. it's gotta just be TV schtick.

[Rylan]

I just remember at the draft when he called pretty much every draft pick. I was shocked.

[mikey287]

He just loves the game, that's normal Pierre. Sometimes I catch myself sounding a bit like him when I get into a good hockey conversation during a game...it happens when you get excited to talk about something...

[Rylan]

Pierre just gets too narrow focused some games and doesn't break from that focus. 2.5 hours of hearing emphasis on certain people or plays gets really really old. Otherwise, Pierre is generally one of my favorite analysts, but Wednesday night it was becoming unbearable.

[mikey287]

Pierre just gets too narrow focused some games and doesn't break from that focus. 2.5 hours of hearing emphasis on certain people or plays gets really really old. Otherwise, Pierre is generally one of my favorite analysts, but Wednesday night it was becoming unbearable.

That's not unfair, and you probably represent the opinion of a lot of big time hockey fans, the only thing I'll say is that he's got to sell the product a little bit. Sidney Crosby and Claude Giroux sell...talking about the tactical defensive work of Brandon Sutter does not, talking about Matt Niskanen's decision-making does not, debating the differences between Sean Couturier, Jordan Staal and Pete Mahovlich does not, talking about Kurtis Foster being a big, slow, soft pitching machine does not...

There's a lot things that "does not"...Pierre is wasted in that sense and would fit better on TSN, where you can go into a little more detail about the game and some of the below-the-line players...but he wanted to help grow the game in America, so he's trying to do that...so is Doc when he does the games...actively serves up softball questions that he already knows the answer to so Pierre can hit'em out of the park...he serves up for Edzo too, but he goes down looking far too often to be useful...

[Rylan]

That is a problem often times. I get that hockey is probably one of the most complicated sports to pick-up due to the speed and rules. But, sometimes it gets really frustrating hearing the same things over and over. I just wish there was more analysis aside from the basics. Hell, its even hard to find good reading online about hockey that isn't laced with severe bias.

[Gaucho]

That is a problem often times. I get that hockey is probably one of the most complicated sports to pick-up due to the speed and rules. But, sometimes it gets really frustrating hearing the same things over and over. I just wish there was more analysis aside from the basics. Hell, its even hard to find good reading online about hockey that isn't laced with severe bias.

Rylan, did you know that Michael Grabner is really fast?

[Letang Is The Truth]

Pierre is a Wikipedia of where hockey players come from

[mikey287]

That is a problem often times. I get that hockey is probably one of the most complicated sports to pick-up due to the speed and rules. But, sometimes it gets really frustrating hearing the same things over and over. I just wish there was more analysis aside from the basics. Hell, its even hard to find good reading online about hockey that isn't laced with severe bias.

Best bet is Andy Brickley (NESN - Boston) and Ray Ferraro (TSN), honorable mention to Drew Remenda (CSN - Bay Area [Sharks]) and Darryl Reaugh (FSN - Dallas). They'll go a little above the basics and break plays down a little better. But it's a foreign concept to most people watching hockey...I mean, look at how many people thought the Devils trapped their way to the Finals last year... Only hardcore fans really care about the game itself and want to learn more...the percentages just aren't in their favor unfortunately...

[SolidSnake]

CHICAGO IS THE GREATEST TEAM EVER

[columbia]

Clowe just showed what it means to stand up for a teammate.

[pens2005]

When they win 17 straight games, then we shall talk about greatest streaks of all-time...

[pens2005]

So do the Blackhawks play all 48 games at home or do they maybe hit the road for a few?

[SolidSnake]

I hate the Hawks so much, Kane, Carcillo, Emery are just enough for me to hate em.

[DudeMan2766]

Chicago Blackhawks, man

[pens2005]

Just kidding they've actually played way more roadies so far. Just seems like every time I see them on TV they are at home.

[brwi]

The only "offense" Nashville can generate these days is if their team doesn't shower for a couple of days.