Check out this unbelievable catch !!!

I wish the season started today!

Can't wait!!! Thanks for that video!!!

My predictions:
Spezza will have 100+ points
Heatley will have 50+ goals (again)
Fisher will have 30+ goals
Alfie will have 90+ points
Kuba will have 40+ points (PP QB)
Vermette will have 30+ goals & lead the league in shorties too
Neil will have 20+ goals & 225 penalty minutes
Gerbs will have 40+ wins

Neil will have 20+ goals? Jesus Christ. Pretty optimistic that list, yeah? Gerber will have 40+ wins? Sheesh. I really hope so, but I can't see how.

Neil was in the dog house for the majority of last season & is raring to go! His ice time dwindled as the season went on. Hartsburg likes sandpaper more than most coaches ergo Neil.

Gerbs had 30 wins last season on a team that couldn't play defense. With a vastly improved d crew, why not?

I know Neil was in the doghouse, but honestly prepare to be surprised if you think he's going to be anywhere but the fourth line. He can't and won't get 20+ goals from there. I could expect an absolute maximum of 15 assuming he sees some sporadic PP time this year. More likely I see him getting less than 10 goals.

As for Gerber, it MIGHT be possible, but not very likely I don't think. He'd have to play at least 65 games to get that amount of wins, and he would most likely be Vezina-bound if he did.

Neil's best season was as a result of being given time on the PP in front of the net. For the life of me I can't understand why they strayed from that. It was working well and our PP was actually scoring goals. I say I'm fine with having Neil on the 4th line, just give him time on the PP in front of the net and he should get you 10 to 15 goals this season.

Money Farmer wrote:Neil was in the dog house for the majority of last season & is raring to go! His ice time dwindled as the season went on. Hartsburg likes sandpaper more than most coaches ergo Neil.

Gerbs had 30 wins last season on a team that couldn't play defense. With a vastly improved d crew, why not?

you couldn't be more wrong about Hartsy. he hates players like Neil. The Hounds last year had a Chris Neil clone named Anthony Pelutso, and he saw next to no ice time.

Tukker wrote:
you couldn't be more wrong about Hartsy. he hates players like Neil. The Hounds last year had a Chris Neil clone named Anthony Pelutso, and he saw next to no ice time.

Wow, I have to say that I really, really like Neil and would hate to see him go... but if it's indeed the case that he's not going to play for us very much this year, then I'd rather just trade him now. Package him with one of our surplus D and a draft pick / prospect and you should be able to bring in a decent return.

Tukker wrote:

Money Farmer wrote:Neil was in the dog house for the majority of last season & is raring to go! His ice time dwindled as the season went on. Hartsburg likes sandpaper more than most coaches ergo Neil.

Gerbs had 30 wins last season on a team that couldn't play defense. With a vastly improved d crew, why not?

you couldn't be more wrong about Hartsy. he hates players like Neil. The Hounds last year had a Chris Neil clone named Anthony Pelutso, and he saw next to no ice time.

You don't say, huh? You know, I've had trouble finding anything on the internet of what type of coaching style Hartsburg uses. I'm assuming you watched the Hounds last year, maybe you could fill us in.

PKC wrote:

Tukker wrote:

Money Farmer wrote:Neil was in the dog house for the majority of last season & is raring to go! His ice time dwindled as the season went on. Hartsburg likes sandpaper more than most coaches ergo Neil.

Gerbs had 30 wins last season on a team that couldn't play defense. With a vastly improved d crew, why not?

you couldn't be more wrong about Hartsy. he hates players like Neil. The Hounds last year had a Chris Neil clone named Anthony Pelutso, and he saw next to no ice time.

You don't say, huh? You know, I've had trouble finding anything on the internet of what type of coaching style Hartsburg uses. I'm assuming you watched the Hounds last year, maybe you could fill us in.

he juggles lines constantly, cannot stand egos, and wants everyone to play a disciplined game. he also doesnt want players to fight, and overworks the #1 goalie.

Tukker wrote:
he juggles lines constantly, cannot stand egos, and wants everyone to play a disciplined game. he also doesnt want players to fight, and overworks the #1 goalie.

Judging from his time with the juniors (the only team I've ever seen him coach), I'd say that he's got a knack for implementing a strong defensive system, and an aggressive forechecking system, too.

While I realise that it's pretty hard to go wrong when you have the Canadian Juniors are your disposal, Hartsburg and Hunt (who we've hired to be an assistant coach) did an amazing job with those kids. I'm hoping to see him do the same kind of thing with the Sens.

rooneypoo wrote:

Tukker wrote:
he juggles lines constantly, cannot stand egos, and wants everyone to play a disciplined game. he also doesnt want players to fight, and overworks the #1 goalie.

Judging from his time with the juniors (the only team I've ever seen him coach), I'd say that he's got a knack for implementing a strong defensive system, and an aggressive forechecking system, too.

While I realise that it's pretty hard to go wrong when you have the Canadian Juniors are your disposal, Hartsburg and Hunt (who we've hired to be an assistant coach) did an amazing job with those kids. I'm hoping to see him do the same kind of thing with the Sens.

he coatched my hometown team, so ive seen alot of him. i wish we would have waited for Nolan

Tukker wrote:
he juggles lines constantly, cannot stand egos, and wants everyone to play a disciplined game. he also doesnt want players to fight, and overworks the #1 goalie.

Not that I doubt your analysis, but are you sure? He seems like exactly what Murray wasn't looking for. What's this about not wanting players to fight? I can understand not throwing down for the sake of just throwing down, but what about defending yourself and your teammates? And the line juggling. Isn't that what got us in a heap of Dung last year with Paddock?

PKC wrote:

Tukker wrote:
he juggles lines constantly, cannot stand egos, and wants everyone to play a disciplined game. he also doesnt want players to fight, and overworks the #1 goalie.

Not that I doubt your analysis, but are you sure? He seems like exactly what Murray wasn't looking for. What's this about not wanting players to fight? I can understand not throwing down for the sake of just throwing down, but what about defending yourself and your teammates? And the line juggling. Isn't that what got us in a heap of Dung last year with Paddock?

i watched him all last year with the soo, and thats what i saw

Tukker wrote:
i watched him all last year with the soo, and thats what i saw

Sounds pretty different from the Hartsburg we saw with the juniors, tho', no? He had that team playing an aggressive, hard-hitting style, and they played great team D and a superb PK.

rooneypoo wrote:

Tukker wrote:
i watched him all last year with the soo, and thats what i saw

Sounds pretty different from the Hartsburg we saw with the juniors, tho', no? He had that team playing an aggressive, hard-hitting style, and they played great team D and a superb PK.

no offense, but you saw 7 or so games, when he had an all-star team. i saw all the home+playoff games, and had a team similar to ours

Tukker wrote:
no offense, but you saw 7 or so games, when he had an all-star team. i saw all the home+playoff games, and had a team similar to ours

Actually, more like 15 or so -- he coached the juniors to two golds, I believe.

I get your point and I certainly concede that you've seen more of him than me, but even with the best players, someone is responsible for implementing the team's systems. That kind of stuff doesn't come about without instruction.

I just looked at their stats and they only had 3 guys in the top 60 for scoring, yikes.