NHL 08 cover player.

[Thryon]

This question is for all the Canucks (and other hockey fans from around the world) on this forum, I would like your opinion on Eric Staal announced as the cover athlete for NHL 08.

[Ivan Joidherpus]

he was??
really? I must've missed the announcement.

He had a better than average year, but how could they not go with either Crosby or Thornton?

[Thryon]

Agreed. I wonder of Crosby will grace NHL 2K8....
I think they should have gone with the Staal brothers. That would have been very cool.

[Ivan Joidherpus]

If Crosby's not on the cover for 2K8, then he will be for 2K9.
Its inevitable.

The Staal Brothers would be really cool, but give them a few more years so they can get all of them on there. Marc is in the NYR system, and the last one (i'm not sure of his name) hasn't even been drafted yet.

Thornton (this guy would be my choice EVERY YEAR!!!!) was just on 2K7, so we probably won't see him again any time soon.

What about Spezza? I don't like him at all, but he's a tremendous player.

[Thryon]

Jason Spezza is an awesome player. Lets not forget Ryan Smyth, Dion Phaneuf or even Jonathon Cheechoo. All quality players well deserving of being on the cover of either game.

[Ivan Joidherpus]

Sid The Kid take 3 awards (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=210855&hubname=)

Hart Trophy - MVP of the leaugue, selected by commitee
Art Ross - Scoring title for 06-07 season (youngest player EVER!)
Lester B Pearson - MVP as selected by peers (other players), and this one probably means the most of all of them.

All this, and the kid is still only 19?!???!!!??!!!
_o__o__o__o__o_

Well done Sidney.

[Thryon]

He is without a doubt the next Gretzky

Now we only need wait for the next Super Mario

(for you non hockey fans, this has nothing to do with a plumber in blue pants)

[Ivan Joidherpus]

I see more Mario/Richard in Crosby than I do Gretz.

Gretzky did things that we'll never see again.
No one will ever score 92 goals in one season.
No one will ever score 200+ pts in a season.
No one will ever get close to the number of 3/4/5 goal games that Gretz had.
Gretzky re-wrote what was possible on the ice.

The reason we'll never see another Gretz is actually BECAUSE of Gretzky.
He forced coaches to improvise and come up with new defensive schemes. He taught of the danger from behind the net. Watch some old games now and you'll see how far and away he was the best player at any given time, in any given game. Period. He was effortless, and yet cerebral at the same time. Tremendous talent, with common sense and media savvy (this may be the best example of Crosby being the next Gretz, the way they talk to the media and engauge the fans). A class act.

Today's players play a game that is centuries old, but was truly refined about 30 years ago. He re-wrote the records, and practically, re-worte the rules.

However, in terms of raw talent, and being a comlete hockey player, I would argue that Crosby is much more like Mario than any other player before or since. Both are big strong guys, who honed their skills in the QMJHL. Both are temperamental. Both can beat three guys to a loose puck, dance around them, and score with one hand.

Gretz = sublime gift, hands + brain of God on ice
Mario = raw talent, good size, soft hands
Rocket Richard = tough SOB with no fear

Crosby = a little bit of all three.

NOTE: This thread seems to be just you and me buddy. I guess that's our fault though, as I doubt too many from the UK/Holland/Euro have much of a care/idea of what we're talking about.

[nofear360]

Still interesting to read. I never knew Gretzy was such a legend :P.

[Thryon]

Mass, I do agree with most your statements, but disagree with the "both are big strong guys" line.

Gretzky was small (when compared to most NHL players). He stands only at 6ft (1.83m) and weighted only 84kg. Because of this, he did not have a hard shot, or bring a real physical presence to the game. His small size forced him to anticipate where the puck would be, and then to use his incredible puck handling skills to score goals. Gretzky could read the game like other player before, or after him.

Sidney Crosby is even smaller than Wayne, he is only 5'11" (1.8m), but posseses the same skills that made Wayne famous, he has an amazing ability to read a play, and be at the right place at the right time, then user his skillfull hands to outplay his opponents.

Mario Lemieux in contrast was 6'4" (1.94m) and about 107kg. He possesed an amazing wrist shot and had incredible speed. Many times he would just blast past the opponents defense, and simply overpower the goal tender with a rocket blast to the back of the net.

I have seen many of Sid "The Kid" goals, but none where he just overpowered the opponent, all his goals are about finesse.


nofear360. Read up Wayne Gretzky's profile on WIKIPEDIA. It is a great place to start. Both Wayne and Mario Lemieux are legends of the game. Sidney may become a legend one day, only time will tell.

[Ivan Joidherpus]

Big strong guys was in refrence to Lemieux and Crosby.
LOL, not string bean Gretz.


@ nofear, he's not a legend, he's THE LEGEND.

[Thryon]

Big strong guys was in refrence to Lemieux and Crosby.
LOL, not string bean Gretz.


@ nofear, he's not a legend, he's THE LEGEND.

but Crosby is smaller than string bean Gretz :?:?

ok...shorter, but a bit stockier, but still no Domi!

[nofear360]

I just read the profile on Wiki. Very interesting. It amazes me they haven't made a movie about him.

[360NORML]

NOTE: This thread seems to be just you and me buddy. I guess that's our fault though, as I doubt too many from the UK/Holland/Euro have much of a care/idea of what we're talking about.

Don't really have an opinion on the cover player for NHL08 besides agreeing that I thought it'd be Crosby too. Other than that I really wish a college hockey game would be released.

edit to add: Scott Niedermayer would have been a worthy choice for the cover too. Unless he is officially retiring.

[Ivan Joidherpus]

I didn't realize you were from Minnesota NORML.
I guess that explains the interest in both soccer and hockey (Minny is a hotbed for both, if memory serves).

I like the choice of Niedermayer tho.
I was reading an article the other day and it mentioned that S. Niedermayer is the only player ever to win (practically) every team trophy/award you can in hockey.

Memorial Cup
World Junior Gold
Olympic Gold
World Cup Gold
Stanley Cup
--------------------------
and individual awards too
Norris Trophy
Conn Smythe

The dude is good, but when you see what he's been able to win, you realize just how good he is. After all, you can't get lucky that many times, right? And he isn't even that old. I think he's only 34 or something.

[Thryon]

S. Niedermayer is awesome. So fun to watch play. He is one of those highly skilled players that do not get the recognition they so dearly deserve (well all those trophies do help a little).

[kidkit]

I cringed Thyron, Gretzky had a very hard slapshot. Size and shooting aren't too relevant, look at Martin St. Louis and Marc Andre Bergeron (5 foot nothings), Bergeron shot over 100mph in the team only skills competition while he was here in edmonton.

Staal deserves a cover as much as most of the people out there. As for Crosby, you have to wonder if he refused the honour, similar to how he didn't want to take the 'C' with pittsburgh mid-season. Maybe he didn't want the distraction?

Having both brothers on the cover as mentioned above would have been awesome, and Niedermayer (has he ever been on a cover?).

Anyways... Good luck in the draft :]

[Thryon]

If I have to admit not remembering Gretzky for a hard shot, a soft precise shot yes, but hard shots...no.

I agree that size is not the only factor in a hard shot, just look at Al McInnis. Same size as the Great One, but I would not jump in front of his slapshot unless I was behind a steel bunker.

Ah yes, the draft on Friday :)