NHL 10: Talking Goals with Patrick Kane

  • By BrianEk, GameSpot
  • Posted Jun 22, 2009 5:47 pm PT

Patrick Kane remembers his first goals--both in the NHL and in EA Sports' long-running hockey series--with startling clarity. His first time finding the back of the net in the NHL was a shootout goal against an all-time great goaltender (more on that below). As for his first videogame goal, Kane...

Patrick Kane remembers his first goals--both in the NHL and in EA Sports' long-running hockey series--with startling clarity. His first time finding the back of the net in the NHL was a shootout goal against an all-time great goaltender (more on that below). As for his first videogame goal, Kane remembers that one too.

"It was probably [either] NHL 97 or NHL 98. I was a big [former Colorado Avalanche center and NHL 2004 cover star] Joe Sakic fan back then. So, I pretty much got him the puck every time and I'd try to [score with him]. It took me a couple of games to score my first goal when I first started playing, but the first goal I ever scored I was shooting with Sakic pretty much every time and I remember I think he was playing with [Sakic's teammate] Claude Lemieux and the shot I took--Sakic shot it, it went off Lemieux's pant leg and dribbled in, and that's the first goal I ever scored in my career."

Of course, goals come pretty easily to Kane. The 20-year-old right winger with the Chicago Blackhawks has been impressive since his debut with the team back in 2007 (as the first overall pick in the NHL draft). This past season, he helped lead the Blackhawks to the playoffs and played in the 2009 NHL All-Star Game, his first of presumably many appearances in the game. During his hockey career, the Buffalo-native has locked up an impressive array of stats and acknowledgements, including the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best rookie in 2008. This year, you can add another accolade to that list: cover star of EA Sports' upcoming NHL 10. This morning, I had a chance to speak with Kane over the phone as he and John Tavares (the concensus favorite to be the first overall pick in this year's NHL Draft) were giving interviews to the press on behalf of NHL 10.

During our chat, Kane and I discussed videogames, his most memorable NHL moments so far, and scoring on Dominic Hasek.

--

GameSpot: You're in Toronto today doing press for the game. What's the day been like? Talk us through it.

Patrick Kane: My itinerary said I had to play Tavares today, so I actually showed up a little bit earlier and practiced a little bit. I played a lot [of NHL 09] throughout the first half of the year, but the second half of the year I wasn't playing too [many] games. So I wanted to get all the [rough spots worked] out. The game is unbelievable. The cover I think is awesome--you know it's obviously an honor to be on that.

But the game itself I feel is very realistic. You're playing along the boards, kicking the puck and things like that, which is very realistic to a real NHL game. You see the fans banging on the boards, the fans waving the towels in the playoff games. There are so many little things that are so cool. The fighting's a lot better. Last year, I think every pass was direct, tape-to-tape. [This year] If you can't make the pass tape-to-tape, you'll pass it into an area where the guy can get at it or go off the boards. There's a lot of good things that are a lot different that make the game more realistic.

GS: The new first-person fighting is better than last year, but I would imagine it's not exactly the same as being in a real fight, right?

PK: [Laughs] No, no, no, it's not. But it's definitely very realistic. When you're getting hit it's almost like the thing is like bouncing back and forth. It's pretty amazing to see and unbelievable how they did it. It's really cool. One of the funny things about the game this year is a [there is a] skill player is on the cover, but they made a lot of changes in the physical aspects of the game and made the game more physical. So, I thought that was pretty humorous.

GS: Playing on the boards is new this year for the game. How does it feel to you both in terms of gameplay and frequency in the game compared to the real thing?

PK: Playing [in the NHL], if you win the battles on the boards, usually you win the game. Playing the video game, I think you can see how realistic it is the way [players] bunch up against the boards. You can kick it to your teammate on either side. I mean, it doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen a lot where it gets boxed up there, and you've got to make a play to kind of get free, and usually you can get a scoring chance off it. So I think it's pretty cool how they put that into the game.

GS: Let me ask you about your gaming habits in particular. It sounds like you're a big hockey guy. Tell me about what you like to play, hockey or otherwise.

PK: Yeah, throughout my whole life I've probably been playing video games since nine or ten years old, and I've always got the EA Sports franchise hockey game. I seem to always get NBA Live and Madden as well. Tiger Woods sometimes. But as far as the other games, you know, I like to play the SOCOM game on the PSP, FIFA on the PSP--that's pretty cool on the plane. We get to PSP together and [my teammates] kind of connect up, and they're playing SOCOM trying to kill everyone. That's a fun game with the team. Throughout the playoffs we played Mario Kart on the Wii... That was fun and, well, I've pretty much been a sports franchise guy with EA Sports throughout my whole life. So, I think that makes it even more special that I'm on the cover this year.

GS: Do you have an earliest gaming memory, maybe the first game you ever played?

PK: I think now that you mention that, it was probably [either] NHL 97 or NHL 98, and I was a big Joe Sakic fan back then. So, I pretty much got him the puck every time I'd try to [score with him]. It took me a couple of games to score my first goal when I first started playing, but the first goal I ever scored I was shooting with Sakic pretty much every time and I remember I think he was playing with Claude Lemieux and the shot I took—Sakic shot it, it went off Lemieux's pant leg and dribbled in, and that's the first goal I ever scored in my career.

GS: That's awesome.

PK: That's pretty funny. The guy I wanted to score it didn't score, but that's the way I scored the goal.

GS: I don't know if you remember those old NHL games, but they were so fast compared to today's game.

PK: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, very fast with the speed burst… The way you could kind of move around the goalie with just kind of skating by him real quick. But yeah, at my house in Chicago I have the PS3, and that's what I'm used to playing. So, when I come home I have the PS2 because I don't really live here too much, but sometimes you go back and play those games. I mean, their speed bursts are so fast it's ridiculous. So, it's not as realistic as the new ones, but I like the realistic ones better.

GS: Yeah, it's interesting that the kids playing games today are probably getting a more realistic brand of hockey, even though hockey video games have been around forever.

PK: Oh yeah, I remember back, my first game I think was, like I said, NHL 97 with [former NHL goalie John Vanbiesbrouck] was on the cover, so. And back then I remember being a little kid, I was saying, "Hey, I want the game with Forsberg on the cover. I want the game with Lindros on the cover. I want the game with Pronger on the cover." I mean, that's the way I was. I wanted the game with the best player on the cover and now, hopefully, kids are saying, you know, "I want the game with Pat Kane on the cover."

GS: That's not too bad! Let me ask you a bit about your career in general. I read that your first NHL goal was against [former Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings goalie] Dominik Hasek. What was it like scoring your first NHL goal and against a legend like the Dominator?

PK: Well, the funny thing about it is it was a shootout, so it actually didn't count as my first NHL goal.

GS: Oh, really?

PK: It was the first puck I put in the net in the NHL. [The goal] actually came down on the shootout. You know, the good story about this is: Hasek was kind of a boyhood hero growing up playing in Buffalo. That's where I was from. The team didn't have too many offensive superstars, so I pretty much watched the game to watch Dominik Hasek make amazing save after amazing save.

So, here I am in the second game of my NHL career at home against the Red Wings, kind of a rivalry team. We came back, we tied the game up 3-3, and we're going into a shootout now. So, who's the first guy they put out for the shootout? Myself. I'm going down against Dominik Hasek, made a move on it, beat to the back end, kind of lifted it up over his pad, and I was pretty pumped, had a couple of celebrations down the ice. That was a great feeling to put it in on a guy like that.

After the game, my dad was like, "Hey, you should get a picture with Dominik." So, after he was walking out, I said, "Hey, hey, Dom, can I get a picture with you?" You know at this time I'm 18 years old. I'm still a fan of Dominik Hasek. It's my second game in the NHL. I've only been in the NHL for two games. He's like, "Hey, are you that kid that just scored on me?" I said, "Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah." So, it ended up being the game-winning shootout goal. I got the picture with him. He's actually got a big smile on in the picture. It's pretty cool to see. And… my dad actually sold him a car. When he played in Buffalo, my dad owned a Jeep dealership, so they talked for a little bit, and it was just a great, great moment overall, things you never think would happen that do, you know.

GS: Was that your first big "I'm in the NHL" moment?

PK: Yeah, that was probably it [as well as] the first NHL game. So our first regular season game, that was pretty cool. I remember I was so amped on my shift I was kind of running around everywhere, and if I probably just played the regular way I should have played I would have had a goal. I remember I was skating so hard to the net that the puck kind of went by to where I was before, and if I was just kind of, skating at a regular pace like I normally would, I would have had a tap in on the empty net. So, you look back on moments like that and kind of wish you did things differently, but that was definitely a moment where it's like, "Hey, you know, I think this is going to work out pretty good for me."

GS: I know in your younger career you spent some time with [former NHL right wing] Pat Verbeek. What did you learn from him and how did he influence your game?

PK: The thing about Pat, he was a kind of smaller guy like myself. He played a little bit of the grittier game. But one of the things he really wanted to work on when I came to him was to work hard every shift. I mean, sometimes I would kind of save myself for shifts where I really wanted to score, [and] he said, "Hey, you got to work hard every shift and try to score every shift." And that's what I've really taken into my game, and I think it's helped me out.

GS: What's the biggest difference between the juniors and the NHL?

PK: The speed for sure. That's one thing. You know, you're playing against men now. And juniors, I was 18 years old, playing against 20-year-olds. But [in the NHL you have guys who] are 18, 19, 20 years old playing against guys that are up to Chelios, who is 47 years old. So, you're playing against men now, so it's a little bit tougher. It's a little bit more fatiguing, and you know the chances aren't there as much as it is in junior.

GS: Early in the 2008/09 NHL season the Blackhaws changed coaches [Chicago fired Denis Savard four games into the season and replaced him with Joel Quenneville]. Was that a shake-up for you guys, and how did it change the atmosphere of the locker room?

PK: Oh yeah, I think one of the things about it, it was four games into the season, so it's pretty unexpected. You know, there's a lot of hype coming in the season that we were going to be a better. We lost our first two games, I think. Maybe we won on the shootout the next one, and then we won our next game. But he actually got fired after a win. So, it did shake things up a bit, and it was tough for me. I mean, [Savard] was pretty close to me in my first year. He was more like a friend than a coach. But [it all] seemed to work out. I think Quenneville has done a great job here in Chicago, and he's really taken the team and city by storm and people enjoy him. I mean, he's a great coach. He got the job done this year.

GS: Quenneville is a different kind of coach, a different kind of personality, right?

PK: Oh, absolutely. Savard was more in the locker room, kind of more of a friend, like I said. Quenneville stays away from the locker room, kind of lets the boys be boys, and when he's in the locker room, it's all business.

GS: What are you looking to work on next year? What do you hope to improve about your game ?

PK: Yeah, throughout the summer I think you want to get stronger obviously, work on a lot of different things, whether it's skating or getting faster. That's another thing I want to do. Last summer I wanted to work on my shot. I want to work on my shot again and get a little more accurate so I can pick the corners a little bit better. It's a lot tougher in the NHL with big goalies, and big defensemen standing in your way. But just have a good summer overall, work hard, take care of my body, and come ready to play next year.

GS: Okay, final questions, I know that you played Tavares in NHL 10 just before this interview. Who won the game?

PK: It was kind of unfair, actually. He was up 2-1 with about 10 minutes left in the second period. I actually scored a goal with myself in the game, and I had a 5 on 3 power play, and they pulled me away for pictures, and we never really finished the game. But hopefully we can finish it when we go back.

GS: And it's always nice to score as yourself.

PK: Oh yeah, it was a great feeling.

GS: Thanks for your time.

64 Comments

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 9:57 am PT

    Oh, one more thing about Hossa that you may find interesting...He has scored 20 or more goals in 9 consecutive seasons, averaging 36 goals per season in that span, a feat that only 1 player (Brian Bellows) in franchise history has ever done with the Stars. Also, only 2 Dallas Stars have more career goals than him (Modano 543 and Bellows 342), and he's still only 30 years old. Yeah, I agree with you. Hossa doesn't bring anything to a team.

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 9:48 am PT

    As for the Dallas Stars, they certainly had some bad luck last season losing Zubov and Morrow for extended periods, and with them they may have been a playoff contender, but dominant like the Sharks were? Let's be realistic. Brendan Morrow is a gritty player and a great leader, I'll give you that.

    I love Mike Modano, but his best days are way behind him. Segei Zubov may not play at all this year, let alone with Dallas, because of his body breaking down and even if he plays, he is only a shadow of the player that used to log 30+ minutes a game. Marty Turco is a better goaltender than people like to give him credit for, I'll give you that one. Brad Richards hasn't been the same since his Conn Smythe performance in 04, and there is no Vinny Lecavalier to insulate him on this team so there is no reason to think he can be a 90 point player again with Dallas. As for Mike Ribeiro, until he shows me more than his 5 career goals in 42 games in the playoffs, I don't believe he has any heart whatsoever. Take it from a guy who watched him in Montreal and in Junior, he's always been a selfish, flashy player who disappears when the going gets tough.

    The Dallas Stars no doubt have some talented players, and probably underachieved last season, but to call them a potentially dominant team at this stage I think is a gross overstatement, especially in the tough Western Conference.

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 9:48 am PT

    What will we do without Kane? Well, considering the Hawks were 3-0 without one of Toews and Kane in the playoffs last year, I'm not too concerned. Chicago has the depth to overcome some injuries. Anyone who watched the Hawks in the playoffs and all of last season knows that the most important part of the team along with their strong, young defense corps is the quality of their role players. Guys like Andrew Ladd, Troy Brouwer and Ben Eager were instrumental in setting the physical tone in games and leading the Hawks to the Conference Final. Players like Dave Bolland, Dustin Byfuglien and Kris Versteeg scored timely goals and grew by leaps and bounds in good secondary scorers. Add that to young prospects like Jack Skille and Kyle Beach and free agent additions John Madden, Tomas Kopecky and Hossa the depth up front is just fine.

  • whippet9

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 8:48 pm PT

    you guys are all sadly mistaken on who is taking the cup this year, with a healthy roster now as well as some well added defenseman and a above average goalie to back up turco, the stars will be a huge contender if not dominant like the sharks were last year only without the embarrasing playoff performance! with zubov, lehtinen, ott, morrow, modano, richards, ribeiro, eriksson, turco, new coach marc crawford, barch, sydor, and neal theres nobody who can stop that team! OUR TEAM...OUR TIME...BELEIVE! DALLAS STARS!!!!

  • whippet9

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 8:40 pm PT

    hawks blow if it wasnt for toews and kane that team would be the chicago that we have been seeing for the last 10 years, and the only thing hossa is gonna bring is to take up some cap room... and you lost your goalie that carried you guys all the way to the red wings, you guys were lucky to not run into alot of injuries to star players last year, eventually that luck will run out, and on top of that all players that have gotten the cover have ended up with below average stats than usual... wat would you guys do without Kane?

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 8:16 pm PT

    As for the Blackhawks off-season moves, allow me to correct you. They did not lose Huet, they lost Nikolai Khabibulin to the Edmonton Oilers. Yes, that may be a crushing blow, considering they are going into a season when they're supposed to be contenders with a starting goaltender (Huet) who has never won a playoff series. I guess in some ways this Hawks team is not too different from the Flyers of the 90's; potent offense, young talented defense corps and suspect goaltending. As for Hossa, I think he is a major upgrade over Havlat, who he is essentially replacing, because of his durability and better defensive awareness. He also has proven to be a very good teammate, something that has always been a question mark with Havlat.

    The moves I think make the team much better though are the unheralded signings of Tomas Kopecky and John Madden. In those two players they add invaluable Stanley Cup experience and two very good role players. In Kopecky's case, he may even have some offensive upside. He showed some flashes in Detroit this season and I think was a very good gamble.

    All in all, I think the Hawks did a nice job so far of preparing the team to contend this year, because I think we're about to run into cap problems of our own after this season if we can't move Brian Campbell. Our time has to be now.

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 8:16 pm PT

    Ok look, to clarify my opinion on Pronger, being a proud Canadian I love the way the guy plays, and if he was 3-5 years younger I wouldn't say a word about the deal. The fact is that his best seasons are behind him. Not that he's not a top 10 d-man still, but his Norris Trophy days are gone. All I was trying to say is that it may have been more beneficial to try and keep the cheaper, younger players and build from within.

    Another thing I'd like to clarify is that I am in no way trying to educate you on Flyers hockey. I was simply stating facts, not from wikipedia, but because I follow the NHL as a whole. I'm a hockey fan first and a Blackhawks fan second, so I try and learn as much as I can about every team.

  • brian2440

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 11:26 am PT

    ooo... and knock off the "thumbs up" "thumbs down" thing.... what are we 10?

  • brian2440

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 11:25 am PT

    The one and only thing you have said that isn't retarded or off wikipedia was how Paul Holmgren manages our salary cap, he is iffy with the kinda thing but he has not made 1 choice that i can look back on and think it was the wrong move to make. He is a genius when it comes to managing.

    QUESTION: your so obsessed with this goalie situation how you taking the loss of huet? i mean he had a little worse than normal season last year but he is still a nasty goalie... do you think the input of a player like Hossa and the loss of a Goalie like huet will be fortuitous in the long run? i mean 12 years aint a joke

  • brian2440

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 11:23 am PT

    FACT: this whole forum can tell you don't like the Pronger trade but we traded sbisa (again i said before this was the only part in the trade i'll miss but i guess you missed that part in between your psm rants) He was p[laying hurt and still was good and we could have kept him for pennies... but thats besides the point. For the same reason we got rid of Patrick Sharp, we don't need him at this time. We also traded lupul (who is average at best and ate up as much as dough as anyone on the team) SO for the last time... if your telling me getting rid of sbisa and lupul for a 6'6 D man that can lead the team your nuts. Not only did we get a better Dman but he has agreed to spend the rest of his career here which means we'll only get his best... not to mention the trade aloud us to free up cap room and make open spots on our front two lines (The whole reason we didn't bring up giroux earlier last season is becaus we wouldn't b able to giv him enough playing time with all the talent we had on the ice) Not being cocky in anyway our first 3 lines are stacked just like any teams should be but it is obvious giroux is better than lupul and with Vanny boy comin up through the system we r just going to need more room.. I just wished we throw him at the sharks or another fast west coast offense team, i feel like they woulda gav up alot for him but again, he is only an average player.

  • brian2440

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 11:23 am PT

    andru I've long stopped reading you remarks you stole off of Wikipedia but it's ok if you can't take friendly arguing. It's like your a little kid who refuses to believe their wrong... now this is the last time I'm gonna say it FACT (get it? it means it's true cause i got it off a website and can't spit my own information) I didn't say Ray Emery is our solution but i did say it's a step in a better direction than biron and Nitti.... I mean to say a new coach and 2 new goalies doesn't mean nothing is just being ignorant. Time to relax and talk hockey.. 1st stop trying to inform me about Flyers hockey when everything you say is already old news... Philly native i mean come on now please it's kinda sad and pathetic... I can name drop too but i don't caus i assume toy know your blackhawks.. so don't name drop me like you know flyer hockey

  • cmoney114

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 11:09 pm PT

    sounds like the game is gonna be a big hit

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 7:49 pm PT

    FACT: In that same span, they could have drafted a goaltender, which they tried with J.M. Pelletier and Maxime Ouellet, both of whom never made it. This illustrated poor amateur scouting and horrible drafting to fill team needs.

    FACT: Signing Ray Emery who has yet to prove a thing at the NHL level except that he has no respect for the game, his teammates or the fans, and career backup Brian Boucher has not solved a thing. How can you say those 2 guys and a new coach are the answer? Give me some, or even one fact or statistic that you can base that on. Maybe you have forgotten Emery's playoff meltdowns, or Brian Boucher's flash in the pan career as an NHL starter.

    FACT: The idea of an NHL conspiracy against the Flyers and the style they play is laughable at best. In 2007 The Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup while leading the NHL in hits, Penalty Minutes per game, Total penalties and fighting majors. Why? Because of good drafting, smart trades, good scouting and great penalty killing.

    NOW, all that being said, like I mentioned from the beginning, the Flyers under Paul Holmgren have grown by leaps and bounds and I think their core of Mike RIchards, Jeff Carter and Braydon Coburn is a fantastic trio to build around. That being said, until someone proves me wrong, they still have no goaltending and I do not remember a Stanley Cup being won with subpar goaltending, no matter who the defensemen are.

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 7:49 pm PT

    Well nailclipper, at least you brought some comic relief to the "discussion". In all seriousness though, I hate to say it but I like what the leafs have done. You guys are on your way to rebuilding that team the right way and they'll be very tough to play against in the upcoming season.

    As for you Brian, I find it comical that you keep saying that you've shot me down, when the only argument you've responded to is the goalie one, but ok, I'll humor you. Try these out.

    FACT: The Flyers are in serious long term cap trouble because of poor cap management, and trading for Chris Pronger AND resigning him not only depleted them of 3 potential core players that were cheap (Sbisa and 2 first round picks) but added 6 million+ to an already maxed out cap number.

    FACT: Biron and Niittymaki have given the Flyers very inconsistent, substandard goaltending, but the same problem has plagued the team since their last Final appearance in 96-97. Their starting goaltenders since then? Ron Hextall way past his prime, a 35 year old John Vanbiesbrouck, Roman Cechmanek, Robert Esche, Biron and Niittymaki. During that same span when they had all the other pieces to be a championship team, management felt it more important to spend money on the likes of Chris Gratton, Keith Jones, Jeremy Roenick, Michal Handzus and Tony Amonte. That's a great job addessing your needs.

  • nailclipper

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 9:34 am PT

    Hey guys quit chirping...everyone knows the leafs are taking the cup this year. LEAFSLEAFSLEAFSLEAFS!!!!

  • brian2440

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 4:00 pm PT

    and i didn't realize we were arguing, I thought this was a DISCUSSION board... the fact that your remarks keep getting shot down is a mere coincidence... so please stop trying to talk to me like you know more about Flyer's hockey than I do... I didn't walk up to you and spit out BS about the blackhawks like I knew more than a Chicago native.. so you can lighten up or I can keep burring you on a public forum... your choice

  • brian2440

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 3:53 pm PT

    hahahaha ok Andru... I can make stuff up to so it seems like I'm right but it wouldn't make me right. Your one and only argument where you don't come off as a complete idiot is the fact that i did misspell a word... other than that you sing the same old tune over and over... "you need a goalie" "I'm smart and your a little kid" seriously? leave you poor, no one cares, semantics out of this and look at the facts. I am obviously bias towards the flyers but that in no way means you are right... In fact I only keep responding to you because your reasons for your arguments are laughable, very amusing and i thank you for your comedic input... But now it's time for the big boys to play... so if you want to talk real hockey and not rant off facts that are from the 80s and are in no relation to today's hockey league then I'll be waiting

    btw your only argument that was even remotely close to logic and facts was that we need a goalie but you still fail to see that we have a new goalie coach with 2 new goalies... so there goes your one and only point that remotely made any sense.. so carry on with your Chicago style and keep blowing wind

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 11:18 am PT

    Oh, and a spelling and grammar class might be in order...Then again maybe you don't "relieze" how bad it is...

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 11:16 am PT

    You know, there is a saying that says "If you're in an argument with an idiot for more than 5 minutes, there are 2 idiots in the conversation".

    I'm not sure if you're just too young to have an intelligent debate about hockey, or just an idiot. Either way, I'm gonna let someone else deal with your unhealthy obsession of defending anything the flyers do no matter what logic says. The funny thing is that I'm throwing out stats and numbers to back my statements while you are only throwing out opinions.

    Take care and good luck with Ray Emery next season.

  • brian2440

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 10:42 am PT

    and becaus ur not a flyers fan your obsessed with this "goalie thing" you fail to relieze that only 3 years ago we were in a rebuilding stage, we had Nitti who was gonna b our starter but messed up his hip so couldn't, and then biron who started to play half decent but he is destined to be a number 3... AND HERES THE BEST PART.... we have 2 new goalies and a new goalie coach... so whatever argument u had left with biron n Nitty... i apologize that you can't update your information and understand the bigger picture in hockey but not every1 can score higher than a 1000 on their sat's... better luck next time.. ps i look forward to seein the hawks in the playoffs next year... ur team aint to shabby to bad they got dumb fans

  • brian2440

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 10:37 am PT

    pronger signed a 7 year deal? are you retarded or can you not relieze that he is gonna retire a flyer? the only part of the trade i'm upset with is sbisa, he was playing for us hurt and still playing well but we don't need him right now.... thats the same way how u came across Patrick Sharp... unfortunately at that time we didn't need a player of his talents and he fell into your lap (much lik the now Hossa) 2nd Lupul is not good, for the simple fact he isn't a team player... he can score but so can everyone on our 1st 3 lines... we r stacked and don't need a kid that can only score if he carries the puck out of our zone into theirs and shots. Not to mention we need room on our 1st 2 lines for claude giroux (who is obviously better) even briere was on the 3rd line watching lupul suck it up... and as for our management being a problem your a fool? the only thing Holmgrum dones't know how to do is manage a salary cap which is exactly why we got rid of lupul who was getin paid to do nothing. Not to mention the trade existed to give us our best Dman since Mark Howe in the dang 80's (i think kimmo is an amazin Dman n gets less credit but still)

  • brian2440

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 10:28 am PT

    1st tank... ward is a great goalie... just lik eric stall took the team to win a cup... but becaus it isn't a major market area... lik pitt (seeing how they made a pu$$y named crosby the face of the NHL) they don't get credit... so he wont b recognized for how good he is until he retires prob..

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 9:38 pm PT

    As for your claim that the Flyers "gave" the Blackhawks good players like Patrick Sharp for nothing, well, that's just a reflection on the poor management and poor pro scouting I was referring to.

    For my comment on them overpaying for Pronger my logic is simple. Is Chris Pronger a top 5 defenseman? Arguably yes. Is he an impact player? Absolutely. But with the amount of young talent the Flyers have, if they don't win in the next couple of years Pronger has left, the trade is a colossal failure because you're giving up a potential top pair d-man in Sbisa, a proven top six forward in Lupul, and not one, but TWO first round picks. That's 4 players who are a minimal hit onthe cap, young and full of potential for a 34 year old defenseman.

    Now all that being said, I will say that I love the young nucleus the Flyers have with Carter, Richards, Parent and Coburn. I watched them all at the World Junior Tournament for years and they will be great players to build around.

  • Andru97

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 9:38 pm PT

    Ummm...ok so the only logic you keep giving me is that there is some great conspiracy keeping the Flyers down when in fact, until management woke up and started drafting and scouting better (i.e. Richards, Carter, Parent, etc.) the Flyers were in deep trouble and I'll explain why.

    1. Management refused to agknowledge their most pressing need, a goalie, which to your credit you admitted to.

    2. The Flyers keep trying to build a tough team the wrong way: by buying players. You say they develop their own. If that's the case, tell me why 11 of the Flyers' top 15 scorers last year were drafted by other teams?

    3. Don't give me the "The NHL doesn't like rough teams and is out to get them" excuse. The Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007 while leading the league in fighting majors, penalty minutes and hits. If they can be successful in the new NHL playing that style than so can anyone if they have the right personnel.

  • Tank1519

    Posted Jul 3, 2009 10:27 am PT

    Uh i don't know about everyone else but a .900 save percentage is really just strikingly average too me i mean Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes tops that and I don't think anyone finds him a great goalie

  • brian2440

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 4:40 pm PT

    Andru... Flyers just signed Brian Boucer today and he's a solid .900% save percentage goalie... so if I need to find any more holes in your argument just let me know, ok? bifffftttt

  • brian2440

    Posted Jun 30, 2009 1:16 pm PT

    hahaha ok dude where should I begin with this one... 1st of all saying im 12 does nothing for your arguement but prove your sensitive about how your comments are being raped with logic..

    2nd.. no $hit there is a lottery I was simply pointing out that you are lucky seeing how we, the flyers, were the worst team and deserved the pick to have Kane and your team would suck without him, (not to mention we practically gave you Patrick Sharp, so your welcome for given you our players to make you a better team) while we spend our stupid pick on a dumb a$$ kid that still plays in college... again agreeing with you so don't get your panties in a bunch....

  • brian2440

    Posted Jun 30, 2009 1:16 pm PT

    and finally i'll give you the goaltender issue because we havn't had a half decent one in ages.. but emery is a step towards somthing better than nitti who can't start cause of a hip and biron who was destined to be a backup... not to mention emery will beat the crap out of anyone.. he just fits for right now until we find som1 better... however if ur suggesting that gettin ride of lupul (who is a west coast player and too be honest is more hype than he is worth) and luca sbisa (a young D man who we have no use for anyway caus of D is stacked kimmo with parrent... cobrun with pronger.. and carle with alberts) for chris pronger are you kdding me?! I would tak that trade in a heartbeat... this is where you don't understand our style of hockey... the post lock out rules were made just to discourage the type of hockey we play because we are deadly and if you can't see that your retarded

  • brian2440

    Posted Jun 30, 2009 1:15 pm PT

    Flyers play hard hitting fast paced hockey, we dump the puck into the zone for the chance to drop the bomb on someone who dares go near it and who better to do this on D than chris pronger? he fits our style of play so nicley.. we have a hard hitting stay at home D man and a D man that can carry the puck into the zone and score on every line. i mean seriously to say 6-6, 220-pound Chris Pronger fits into the Flyers' mold is an understatement. A heavy hitter and intimidating presence, Pronger is one of the most feared players in the league and we are one of the most feared team's in the league. so once again... your team prays on luck to bring you out of the darkness while us Flyers continue to fight even if the NHL conspires to destroy us because they hate the way we play the game.. (they hate us for our style of hockey and for the simple fact that we hire from within the organization to keep our style of hockey safe)

    BIFT

    i ranted on and made my response 1000 characteristics to long so i'll send it in to messages :-)

  • Andru97

    Posted Jun 29, 2009 12:33 pm PT

    I think I know a little more than a potty mouthed, 12 year old Flyers fan. If you were a TRUE hockey fan, you would know that there is a lottery, weighted by how the teams finish, that determines the order of the teams who didn't make the playoffs in the draft. That is the reason Kane is not a Flyer. Chalk it up to bad luck. And, if the Flyers scouting staff had done their homework, maybe instead of drafting James "destined to be a bust" Van Riemsdyk, they would have taken Kyle "destined to be like Steve Yzerman" Turris.

    Now if you would like a reason why the Flyers haven't won anything recently, all you need to do is look at team management over the past 20 years and realize how incompetent they were in addressing what has always been the Flyers' most glaring need: a starting goaltender. Now, instead of going out and getting a proven netminder to play behind what is a very good young team like maybe Tomas Vokoun or Nikolai Khabibulin, they decide to grossly overpay for a 34 year old Chris Pronger. Answer me this: Can Chris Pronger play goal? I didn't think so. Good luck with Ray Emery.

    Look, you can criticize the Hawks and the league all you want, but the fact remains that if you were a smart hockey fan you would recognize your own team's mistakes before opening your mouth.

  • brian2440

    Posted Jun 29, 2009 10:05 am PT

    ps this was also the 1st year 2 american born players went 1 2 in the draft... good for us... know a little more bout hockey b4 u go and run your mouth

  • brian2440

    Posted Jun 29, 2009 10:04 am PT

    patrick kane is good but lets get something straight blackhawks fans.. flyers were the worst team in the NHL 3 years ago... second worst was blackhawks... but chicago still got the 1st round 1st pick and took patrick kane.. so he should be a flyer if the NHL didn't hate our style of hockey so much and tried their hardest not to give us anything... we r a rough organization that hires from the inside and the NHL hates the way we play hockey ( o but they blow Pitt... like when the penquins had been giving the 1st round 1st picks two years running.... jesus NHL lets just hand them Stanley's Cup) ... now if u want a real kid thats up and coming check out claude giroux. he's a true flyer and we stick with our own kind

  • Andru97

    Posted Jun 28, 2009 10:16 pm PT

    Why Kane, one of you asked. How about the fact that he's one of best yong players in the league...

    How about the fact that Chicago is an Original franchise and one of the biggest hockey markets in the US...

    Or perhaps a better reason is that Kane will be a front line player for Team USA at the 2010 Olympics at 22 years old...

    How about the fact that he actually LIKES video games...

    Why Patrick Kane indeed...

  • metalfreak10

    Posted Jun 28, 2009 5:32 pm PT

    I absolutly love hockey and everything about it. Can't wait for NHL 10 to come out and by the way i just noticed that all of the jersys in the past 3 years are red hahaha

  • hellsloth

    Posted Jun 27, 2009 5:21 am PT

    i like hockey but not playing it but this game realy caught my eye

  • ssn560

    Posted Jun 26, 2009 11:47 am PT

    LOL! It's quite typical a Sens fan is whining still after the Pens totally DESTROYED them in the first round in 08. It must suck for you guys the fact that Crosby now has a cup. Personally I don't mind the cover. Sure it doesn't make sense considering he wasn't even the best player, but at least it looks cool.

    PS- I've been a Pens fan since my entire life. I remember the first time we almost relocated and when we first landed Lemieux so don't try lumping me in that category. Besides, the franchise had been run by idiots. Halfwits. Morons. Pissing away money as if it were nothing. We're obviously different now. AND we'll be the best for another 20-25 years so get used to it.

    OH and it's also funny a Sens fan is mentioning this especially when your team almost went bankrupt and was about to move to the US. The laughing stock of the NHL.

  • sensfanVone

    Posted Jun 26, 2009 6:22 am PT

    Wish the penguins banwagoners would shut up, Crosby and Malkin aren't on it and don't need to be on it, drop it.
    Make sure to still come to see your team when they start losing again, don't let them almost go bankrupt like you did the first time.

  • madskillsnick

    Posted Jun 26, 2009 2:27 am PT

    I'd like to see a goalie on the front cover actaully they never really get enough credit like Khabibulin or Ward. And for anyone who doesn't think it should be malkin I dont no why not he won art ross and Conn Smythe trophies this year. Rmoss81 just ignor everyone who tell you that they are just jealous they didnt win.

  • gameguy0697

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 7:34 pm PT

    i sure hope that NHL 10 will be better than NHL 2K10

  • chingchow48

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 3:54 pm PT

    DONT LIKE THIS AT ALL..... I will probly be buying NHL's 2K version I am PISSED!

  • Krazycree

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 12:51 am PT

    Why kane

  • elite-asthmatic

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 5:41 pm PT

    Red jerseys three years in a row, ITS A CONSPIRACY!!!!!!!!

  • thegame2004

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 10:45 am PT

    Why are you guys saying that Crosby or Malkin should be on the cover just because they won the Cup, sure they are good players but, winning the cup dosn't mean that a player from that team is gonna make it on the cover of the game. Kane is a VERY great all around player and him and his line alone turned around the Hawks franchies, and landed them a playoff spot in 13 years. I suggest you guys should sit down and watch some of his highlights and then you will find out why they chose him to be the cover player.....even 2k sports didn't make either one of them there cover althlet, they picked Ovechkin. for similar reasons why EA picked Kane.

  • Shiggityleveler

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 9:47 am PT

    This is pretty random but I just noticed the last three years of the NHL covers have been guys with red jerseys...

  • Shiggityleveler

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 9:42 am PT

    Rmoss81 people always call me a Wings fan because they are good and for some reason its hard for the to believe I've been a Wings fan since I could walk pretty much which would have been around 96 before they won they're back to back cups. I hate people telling me I'm a fan only because they win...

  • Mr_Fujiv1

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 5:33 am PT

    this looks so good! 2010 i think will be a very good year for games.

  • 2kfan

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 4:52 am PT

    its so weird all the 2010 games from EA have those kinds of covers. Some of them look pretty cool though

  • Rmoss81

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 6:01 pm PT

    Penguin bandwagoners need to die. I hate when people quit when im the pens and send me messages that im a bandwagoner. Even though im from Pittsburgh and it says it in my freaking profile. ughh i hate noobs

  • ThronedFlame21

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 5:02 pm PT

    oh god snipeshot i didnt even think of that. i hate when people quit bc im the pens. if u look at the games ive played u will see that all 400 or so of them since the day the game came out were with the pens. i guess even more people will quit on me next year

  • NBcanuck

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 2:15 pm PT

    hahaha.. GS: "it sounds like your a big hockey guy" well no sh!t!?!! Atta boy patty.. Makin' Hawk fans proud

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