Who Is This Years X-Factor?

[TheChicagoFan]

:clap: :clap: :clap:

It took all my brain power to figure that one out. :flipa:

 

[southern_cross_116]

I'll go with the water boy - he's due for a career year. (Other).

Actually- I'd say Sharpie ...

 

[TheChicagoFan]

I'll go with the water boy - he's due for a career year. (Other).

Actually- I'd say Sharpie ...

That's a good one. His high number of goals was really helpful last year.

 

[HawkWriter]

To me an X-factor is someone that can go either way. Someone that is going to come out of the blue and make a big difference. I really don't consider Sharp, Bolland, Crawford, Hjalmarsson or other guys in that realm an X-factor, because we generally know what we are going to get from them and they most likely won't surprise us in any direction. Granted a guy like that could have a great year, but it wouldn't surprise anyone.

To me it is between Smith, Frolik, and Olesz. In the end, I think it is Olesz because most people have absolutely no idea what to expect out of him. Is Olesz going to live up to his contract and high draft status? His career high in points is 30, but from what I have seen of him (I honestly haven't seen that much) he does show flashes of why he was drafted 7th overall - but Eager also showed flashes at times of why he was drafted in the 1st round. Consistency is the key in this league. Also, where is Olesz going to play? Not only do we not know if he is going to play wing or center, but I have seen him projected to be on the 2nd line to the 3rd line. Also, will he be healthy to start the season? Looks like he is going to be in a suit to start but should be back in mid October. To me Olesz is an X-factor on this team because we just don't know what we are going to get out of him or how we are going to use him. If used properly, he could have a breakout year...

 

[TheChicagoFan]

To me an X-factor is someone that can go either way. Someone that is going to come out of the blue and make a big difference. I really don't consider Sharp, Bolland, Crawford, Hjalmarsson or other guys in that realm an X-factor, because we generally know what we are going to get from them and they most likely won't surprise us in any direction. Granted a guy like that could have a great year, but it wouldn't surprise anyone.

To me it is between Smith, Frolik, and Olesz. In the end, I think it is Olesz because most people have absolutely no idea what to expect out of him. Is Olesz going to live up to his contract and high draft status? His career high in points is 30, but from what I have seen of him (I honestly haven't seen that much) he does show flashes of why he was drafted 7th overall - but Eager also showed flashes at times of why he was drafted in the 1st round. Consistency is the key in this league. Also, where is Olesz going to play? Not only do we not know if he is going to play wing or center, but I have seen him projected to be on the 2nd line to the 3rd line. Also, will he be healthy to start the season? Looks like he is going to be in a suit to start but should be back in mid October. To me Olesz is an X-factor on this team because we just don't know what we are going to get out of him or how we are going to use him. If used properly, he could have a breakout year...

Yeah, my big ones are Smith and Frolik. I also think that Bickell is sort of an x-factor. If him and Frolik are both good this year and play with Bolland on the third line, that could make the third line amazing. If Frolik and Bickell don't play well, the third line won't be very good at all. They will make or break that line.

I'm hoping that Smith is on the second line especially to start the season because Sharp will be centering and Hossa will be on the right. He did well on that line in the playoffs and I think he has the talent and extreme hockey smarts to play there. He also is a hard worker. There's a lot to like about him.

 

[derosabomb]

all of the above

 

[RPrevidi]

Carcillo of course!! Our new enforcer! He's a prick but he's our prick now.

PS Although... If the PP rule gets changed that keeps players in the box the duration regardless of goals he could cost us some games...

 

[southern_cross_116]

To me an X-factor is someone that can go either way. Someone that is going to come out of the blue and make a big difference. I really don't consider Sharp, Bolland, Crawford, Hjalmarsson or other guys in that realm an X-factor, because we generally know what we are going to get from them and they most likely won't surprise us in any direction. Granted a guy like that could have a great year, but it wouldn't surprise anyone.

That's where we differ, then -as to me an X Factor is one of those heart/soul of the team guys -one where how that player goes- so goes the team. In one respect, I imagine that you are right in that you got a pretty good idea of what a guy is capable of -but, then again the same could be said of Al Secord in the 1983-84 season where he had scored 44 (or so) 2 years before, and 54 in 82-83 - only to have him brought down by some mystery abdominal strain -the team had an abismal 83-84- where I think they only won something like less than 10 road games -while the season prior they had been one of the best teams in the NHL.

Otoh in general on boards, - "X Factor" is really some silly cliched term anyways -- like Energy Drink, XTreme this that or the other, being In the Zone, or even (gasp) "politically correct/incorrect" - which basically means the person using it doesn't have the basic eloquence to explain a topic...

 

[CHAD0034]

I say Crawford...he has one good year under his belt...hopefully he can add another. This is is proving year.

 

[southern_cross_116]

Carcillo of course!! Our new enforcer! He's a prick but he's our prick now.

PS Although... If the PP rule gets changed that keeps players in the box the duration regardless of goals he could cost us some games...

While I haven't read how the NHL is talking about implementing the above rule, it sounds like some leagues that I have played in.

The specific guy peanlized is off the ice for the duration of the penalty, but if say the the team with the power play scores on a minor penalty - the powerplay is then over (you can put another guy on the ice -just not the guy who got the penalty). That would be for situations where you'd be down 1 guy -and I only went that far for explanation purposes.

In effect, if that rule were to be implemented, a guy like Carcillo wouldn't probably cost his team anymore games than before... as the powerplay still would only last for 2 minutes (assuming a minor), unless the other team scored - then it only lasted until the penaly killing team would give up a goal. It shouldn't be as if the league has decided to make 2 minute minors the same sort of powerplay as a major penalty where the powerplay team can score as often as they can during that (usually) 5 minute period.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Am I the only one that thinks that when a shorthanded goal is scored that the PP should be over?

 

[tbo41fan]

Am I the only one that thinks that when a shorthanded goal is scored that the PP should be over?

ive always thought that as well

 

[icehogfan08]

Am I the only one that thinks that when a shorthanded goal is scored that the PP should be over?

ive always thought that as well

I think that would be pretty sweet. The Hawks would be a deadly team with that

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Am I the only one that thinks that when a shorthanded goal is scored that the PP should be over?

I don't like that idea at all.

With that rule, we never would have had this dandy

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIiClfXCXR4]Blackhawks: 3 short-handed goals in one game. [11/25/2009] - YouTube[/ame]

:bowrofl:

 

[ClydeLee]

You can't beat the Hat-trick of Shortys

 

[southern_cross_116]

Am I the only one that thinks that when a shorthanded goal is scored that the PP should be over?

Not for it.... and to keep piling on, the shoot out should die, drop the OT, call a tie a tie again (none of those bullshit 3 point games), bring back the redline, as well as the two-line pass, and let's try keeping hockey as hockey - it pretty much stands its own merits.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Not for it.... and to keep piling on, the shoot out should die, drop the OT, call a tie a tie again (none of those bullshit 3 point games), bring back the redline, as well as the two-line pass, and let's try keeping hockey as hockey - it pretty much stands its own merits.

I like and I don't like my own idea for shorthanded goals. It's awesome if you can score a lot, but if you score one and then the other team gets a PP goal it's pointless.

I really like the idea of not having overtime. I hate that. OT should only be in the playoffs and no shootouts at all.

 

[HawkWriter]

Not for it.... and to keep piling on, the shoot out should die, drop the OT, call a tie a tie again (none of those bullshit 3 point games), bring back the redline, as well as the two-line pass, and let's try keeping hockey as hockey - it pretty much stands its own merits.

Not a fan of bringing back the redline/calling two-line pass again. That just constricts the game so much. Being able to stretch out the defense, especially on the PP, is an art and creates more room. If a guy is open and onsides, I think you should be able to hit him with a pass...even in your own zone.

As for the Ot/shootout/Tie, I have no issue with a tie but I think the NHL just won't do that. They want a winner everynight and they want the fans feeling like they have been treated to an actual game. I do think they should go to the 3 point system though. 3 points for a regulation win and 0 points for a regulation loss. 2 points for an ot/shootout win and 1 point for an ot/shootout win. Something like that would actually award you for winning in regulation, and also when you have a "3 point game" because of ot/shootout, atleast the total points awarded in the game wouldn't be more than a regulation win. Also, teams that win in regulation versus the shootout/skills competition, would be rewarded.

 

[tbo41fan]

I still say the trapezoid being removed should be the first change

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Two line passes can't come back. The home run pass is just way too much fun among other obvious reasons (game stoppages suck).

I'm all for more OT in favor of the shootout. 4 on 4 hockey is entertaining as hell. Cutting it off at just 5 minutes is ridiculous when there are so many close chances in those 5 minutes. Extending it 2 or even 5 more minutes would almost always result in a winner.