It's interesting that Backstrom and Harding are only average by this metric, which is something that on an anecdotal basis makes sense. We've seen goalies leave Minnie in the past and never replicate the same numbers.

My wee little brain tried to understand what was happening here and it gave up.

Wow, that's amazing.

It would be really interesting to see a plot of Oiler shooters... I'd be willing to bet Gagner has a dispreportionate amount in the money areas.

Nabakov needs to drop in the rankings or his numbers are backwards. One of the Two.

@ Madman37:

Backwards - my mistake.

The difference shows why Luongo, should be a nominee instead of Backstrom.

@ Brian O'Neill:

Speaking as someone with no particular love for Luongo, I think he was easily better than Backstrom this year.

Is it possible this means Luongo could be up for the Hart? I've read that the league doesn't want many (any) double award nominees to ensure more players show up to the (hopefully) star-studded event in Vegas. I f Bobby Lu was also nominated for the Vezina, that would mean 1 less player attending the award show. Just a thought.

Do they have a total saves for the season stat anywhere? Roli would have to be near the top of that list... He got shelled all season!

Lofty wrote:

Do they have a total saves for the season stat anywhere? Roli would have to be near the top of that list… He got shelled all season!

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20092ALLGAGAll&sort=saves&viewName=wlt

@ Jonathan Willis: The Guys on team 1040 were talking about how if this was Luongo's first good season, he would've got the nom, but because he had an average season for his standards he was overlooked.

Brian O'Neill wrote:

@ Jonathan Willis: The Guys on team 1040 were talking about how if this was Luongo’s first good season, he would’ve got the nom, but because he had an average season for his standards he was overlooked.

There's a lot of truth to that, I think.

@ Jonathan Willis: I need you to help settle something on Gregor's post with your opinion (even though I'm not certain you'll agree with me)

Woohoo, I immediately feel better with Calgary out. This is a good day for Hockey!

The way I see things shaking down in CowTown:

Mike Keenan & Jim Playfair are on their way out. Brent Sutter comes in as the new head coach.

Brent will keep Rich Preston on board and he may look at adding a guy like Craig Hartsburg (previously worked together @ World Jrs), or perhaps Ryan McGill from Quad City (maybe even Willie Desjardins). Perhaps Jim Playfair heads to Red Deer to take over the Rebels.

This will be a big move for Darryl, to hire a new head coach that adds some stability to the franchise. It could potentially be his last hire, and who better to turn things over to than his brother. I don’t see Jersey standing in the way of this happening, however I’d be shocked if their wasn’t some type of compensation headed to the Devils.

Just checked Flames Nation to see what kind of reaction there would be after the bow out last night. To my surprise there were only 4 comments on the latest article there, which would have been their "GDB" article (I assume things work the same way there). How weak is that? Now I don't personally post comments during games but it's refreshing to know that I can go after the game to either bask in the glory after a win by reading the GDB comments or wallow in frustration. Either way I know the Oiler Nation has my back.

But 4 comments on the Flames GDB post?!?! No wonder your team packed it in Flames fans. Where's the love? Pathetic. Even more pathetic than your team in the playoffs.

Keenan and Sutter should rent a convertable, start a high speed chase, hold hands, and drive off a cliff together. Happy landings!!

@ Chaz: I don't think FlamesNation has caught on quite the same as OilersNation. It's fairly new and they've got other websites to check out.

@ Jonathan Willis: How has the Flames & Canucks sights been doing hit-wise?

Anyone care to do an expected vs actual save percentage analysis on Kipper last night? HA!

@ Chris: If there is any part of the Flames franchise that makes me happy it's knowing that Kipper is progressively getting worse and signed long term. I can always say, "at least we arent stuck with THAT guy in net for the next X years!"

@ Archaeologuy: @ Chris: Wasn't Kipper's fault last night. I don't know why anyone signs goalies to long term deals though. They should get big money for short term. Not sure I can think of a goalie that should be signed longer than 5 years.

@ Chaz: I posted there, you know just to be "nice".

Speaking of nice, Wanye where's our rubbing Flamers noses in it thread. I demand one.

It was obvious the 'lames where going nowhere when they choked their way out of the division though. Hopefully they don't make any changes, 4 more years...

@ Colin: Ya, injuries had nothing to do with that, eh?

@ RossCreek:

Have injuries accounted for the Flames getting out of the first round only ONCE in twenty years?

Wow. Year, after year, after year... Lot's and, lot's of injuries...

Maybe instead of evaluating the roster, the coaches, or the management: the Flames ownwership group should take a hard look at the trainers/medical staff.

Colin wrote:

Speaking of nice, Wanye where’s our rubbing Flamers noses in it thread. I demand one.

And please link the two sites.

@ RossCreek: It's true, injuries were a factor. Their top players all had "No Heart Syndromne".

@ Chris: But hey, when they do get out of the 1st round, a trip to the finals is a lock (lol). I wasn't talking about every year, just this year. So aside from '04, they haven't gotten out of the 1st round since the '89 Cup? YOWZA! ~But ya, I guess I'd rather be sittin outside the playoffs for the past 3 years than getting ousted in the 1st round~

@ RossCreek: Either way our teams hit the tee box at pretty much the same time. So is your team really that much better?

@ Chaz: Phaneuf shouldn't have been playing (and he may as well hadn't). Regher (their top shutdown guy) was out. Sarich played his heart out even though he shouldn't have been out there. Langkow wouldn't have played if it weren't playoffs. Bourque returned from injury, but wouldn't have played if it weren't playoffs.

Iginla? You have to question if there was something there (I don't know, but Jeez Iz!).

The point is, every year after a team is eliminated, you find out about injuries you didn't have a clue about.

The better team won (and I'm not [that] mad), I like the Hawks.

@ topshelf: Oil Fan: "You only played 6 more games than us" Me: "Ya, but they played 6 more games than you. Including the raw emotions & beliefs that games 3 & 4 gave us, something I'm sure you wish you could have. I'd rather have those 6 games than not have em"

@ RossCreek: ah, 'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all...

BS. Flames suck.

@ RossCreek:

Oiler fans have taken a lot of flack from Flames fans for a number of years now... But the fact remains: it's not like the Flames organization has had a whole lot more success. Should be an interesting offseason for both teams. Cheers.

@ Archaeologuy: If the situation were reversed, you and I would be making the exact opposite statements.

@ RossCreek: Nope. The joy of watching the almighty Flames choke and lose was more joy than I ever coud've felt. ~I thought, with Jokinen, the Flames were cup contenders.~

Injuries are a part of hockey. You're kidding yourself if you think you're team is the only one with players playing injured.

@ RossCreek: Absolutely Correct. And I wouldnt expect any different.

@ Chris: I would expect, probably as most Flames fans will hope, that there will be changes made within that organization.

@ topshelf: How'd the Flames choke? The better team won. I never said injuries weren't a part of hockey. I know every team deals with them at some point in the season. Unfortunately for the Flames, their timing was bad. Imagine Seabrook & Keith were out. Thats the breaks. Its not like I'm on here bashing the Oil nonstop and praising the Flames. I'm a realist. You can continue being a "Jake Daniels - Calgary sucks" guy.

@ Archaeologuy: *Tips hat*

topshelf wrote:

~I thought, with Jokinen, the Flames were cup contenders.~

Yup. With Jokinen, without Regher & with a half wounded (and terible) Phaneuf. Right?

@ RossCreek: And I'm not on here bashing the Flames all the time either. To me, Flames fans seem arrogant and they believedthat their team is far superior to the Oilers and were going to get the finals without having to earn it. Maybe you aren't one of these arrogant fans. Sorry for painting you with the same brush. But as an Oilers fan I will ALWAYS take advantage of ANY situation where I can hate on the Flames. That's just the life of an Oilers fan. Oh yeah, Jake Daniels is a knob.

*believed that*

stoopid edit button

RossCreek wrote:

@ topshelf: How’d the Flames choke? The better team won. I never said injuries weren’t a part of hockey. I know every team deals with them at some point in the season. Unfortunately for the Flames, their timing was bad. Imagine Seabrook & Keith were out. Thats the breaks. Its not like I’m on here bashing the Oil nonstop and praising the Flames. I’m a realist. You can continue being a “Jake Daniels - Calgary sucks” guy.

We all know the loss of Seabrook would be debilitating for any team in the league ;)

@ topshelf: LOL. I actually like Jake. I know he does it with "fun" intentions, but it does get annoying (thats prob why he does it). I took only 1 Flame on my draft (in the last round just to have one), so I didn't exactly think they were headed for the promised land. But I hoped (one round at a time).

Anyways, I think Darryl is fairly safe. His teflon bullet-proof vest may be removed, but he's safe IMO. I've actually always liked Mike Keenan, but he's not gonna accomplish anything more in year 3 than he already has. I'm fairly confident Brent Sutter will be there, but I guess we'll see.

@ Ogden Brother: Give me a break buddy. Obviously you don't know anything other than Oilers. You've altready proved that. Like My Cousin Vinny said, "I'm finished with this guy"

topshelf wrote:

Oh yeah, Jake Daniels is a knob

This is totally off topic... But who out there hates it when Jake trots out his, there-are-thirty-teams-in-the-league-so-you-can-only-expect-to-win-the-cup-every- thirty-years-or-so theory...

Makes me crazy! It's not as though the Stanley Cup is awarded in turn, in a fair and equitable manner, to each organization who passively and patiently patiently waits long enough- like so many children lining up at kindergarden for a snack... You fight for it! Take it by force! Demand changes if the management, coaches, and players repeatedly fail to deliver! Sometimes Jake IS a knob.

@ Ogden Brother: The point was to compare Seabrook & Keith to Regher & Phaneuf. I know... over your head. Take the first 2 out, and put the latter 2 in (healthy) and there's a world of difference there.

@ RossCreek: I don't think Darryl should be safe at all. I think he made some questionable moves and basically he handcuffed his coaching staff which ultimately lead to their first round failure.

RossCreek wrote:

@ Ogden Brother: Give me a break buddy. Obviously you don’t know anything other than Oilers. You’ve altready proved that. Like My Cousin Vinny said, “I’m finished with this guy”

Wow, relax. It was a joke.

RossCreek wrote:

@ Ogden Brother: The point was to compare Seabrook & Keith to Regher & Phaneuf. I know… over your head. Take the first 2 out, and put the latter 2 in (healthy) and there’s a world of difference there.

Yes, I got the point. I was jokingly making a jab at your H on for Seabrook.

Chris wrote:

topshelf wrote: Oh yeah, Jake Daniels is a knob This is totally off topic… But who out there hates it when Jake trots out his, there-are-thirty-teams-in-the-league-so-you-can-only-expect-to-win-the-cup-every- thirty-years-or-so theory… Makes me crazy! It’s not as though the Stanley Cup is awarded in turn, in a fair and equitable manner, to each organization who passively and patiently patiently waits long enough- like so many children lining up at kindergarden for a snack… You fight for it! Take it by force! Demand changes if the management, coaches, and players repeatedly fail to deliver! Sometimes Jake IS a knob.

And the leafs have been waiting a LONG time!

Why is it that Lunogo's projected total was so low? Lower then Rollie, JDD, Budaj? List really has no meaning.