NHL 2009 Suggestions and Ideas?

[Rexy]

I know NHL 20 doesn't arrive in stores until December, but we all like to dream about the 2009 lineups. Predictions/Suggestions/Ideas?

I did not make a third line, since I know one of the three lines will be a Canadian or maybe another Hybrid line.

This is what I do instead of sleep at 5am.

WAVE 1
Mike Richards - Flyers Center
Vincent LeCavalier 2 - Lightning Center
Johan Franzen - Red Wings Winger
Patrick Kane - Blackhawks Center
Brenden Morrow - Stars Center
Evgeni Nabokov 2 - Sharks Goalie

WAVE 2
Evgeni Malkin 2 - Penguins Center
Henrik Zetterberg 2 - Red Wings Center
Ryan Getzlaff - Ducks Center
Paul Stastny - Avalanche Center
Ilya Kovalchuck 2 - Thrashers Winger
Chris Osgood 2 - Red Wings Goalie

Left Out:
Marc-Andre Fleury - They went with a Penguin for three straight series, and I see a break. Fleury has played well for the final part of the season, but I see a Malkin 2 before Fleury as the next goalie. Plus, Nabokov and Osgood are more deserving of goalies before MAF.

Marty Turco - The main reason the Stars made it as far as they have. I'd give him the edge on MAF as well, as he has just stolen games for Dallas these playoffs, and the whole year.

Mats Sundin 3 - I know ONE Maple Leaf will make it into these waves, since they sell (haha Toskala). Mats has shown he still has it, and if he remains with the Leafs, he could very well get another figure.

Pavel Datsyuk 2 - He might take the place of Franzen, but a second Hank gets priority over Datsyuk.

Duncan Keith - Little know he was a +30 in this season on a mediocre club in the West. A solid follow up season could help for his name to appear in 2010.

Kimmo Timonen - After an All-Star season, his absence from the Flyers lineup versus Pittsburgh shows that he really is their most important person on the team. He plays powerplay and penalty kill, and finished with an even rating. However, the Flyers do not get many players made, and with Briere, and a more deserving Mike Richards, maybe word of a Hextall, Timmo must wait till at least 2010.

Jay Bouwmeester - Everyone wants a Florida figure, and he is easily the best figure to make with Ollie Jokinen likely leaving this summer. However, with news that Bouwmeester might be gone as well, Panther fans might need to wait another year.

[shandy_man]

I'd personally like to see Kopitar or Cammalleri sometime in next years lineups.

[camm]

Id like to see a Chara or a Marc Savard.

[Bulldozer36]

I would take Osgood out of Wave 2 and put in Turco. Osgood has been spectacular this postseason but only then. Turco has been a staple in Dallas for a long time and deserves his own 6" fig for a long time now.

[Wardo30]

I think there should be a better split between east and west teams...your two waves seem to be a little west coast strong. I also think that the same team should not be represented twice in the same lineup. Also lets throw Boston some love...We had the #3 assist man last year (would've been higher if not for injury) and a well known defenseman..

[Mats_44]

Haha, not a single player from a Canadian team. Good Luck with that pipe dream my man!! :p

In case you missed the update for the NHL 20 addition yesterday, here is a line taken right from the news story:

With hockey being the official religion of Canada (and Todd McFarlane being Canadian), it makes sense to gear our NHL lines to include the best and brightest stars from the six teams "up north."

GOOD LUCK with your idea though, I wish you well!! :D

[mapleleafsfan15]

Seems ok although I think players like Keith, Timonen, Bouwmeester, Frazen, and Morrow have a 0% chance of making it into a lineup.

Some figures I'd like to see, a new Spezza, Kariya, Nicklas Backstrom, Gonchar, Brad Richards, Toews.

As for the canadian appeal, I just can't think of any player from the 6 teams that would be made right now.

[richterfan]

Vincent LeCavalier 2 - Lightning Center
dosen't he want to leave tampa, i heard rumors of him going to the habs.

maybe we would see a LeCavalier 2 after all

[w00tiness]

Seems ok although I think players like Keith, Timonen, Bouwmeester, Frazen, and Morrow have a 0% chance of making it into a lineup.

Some figures I'd like to see, a new Spezza, Kariya, Nicklas Backstrom, Gonchar, Brad Richards, Toews.

As for the canadian appeal, I just can't think of any player from the 6 teams that would be made right now.

Shawn Horcoff? He just had a career season cut short due to injury. Let's avoid Calgary for now with them having two players in NHL 20 and one in 19. Yes, I may be a little biased on this.

[tbrock]

Seems ok although I think players like Keith, Timonen, Bouwmeester, Frazen, and Morrow have a 0% chance of making it into a lineup.


You're probably right, but a Morrow figure would be sweet.

[Thorondor 33]

Nabokov 2, Paul Stastny, Roy Legends, Gonchar, Giguere 2, Doan, Biron, some others I probably can't think of right now.

[camm]

how about an avery/brodeur two pack with Avery doing his chicken dance in front of Brodeur?

[Mats_44]

how about an avery/brodeur two pack with Avery doing his chicken dance in front of Brodeur?

Sure and they could put Fatso and Turtle as the names on the backs of their jerseys!! :D

[Leafsfan1967]

The way they're playing together, we very well may see a Team Canada Nash/Heatley/Getzlaf 3-pack, or even TC single packs would be sweet again. Cam Ward for the goalie. ;)

[Havok0523]

I would take Osgood out of Wave 2 and put in Turco. Osgood has been spectacular this postseason but only then. Turco has been a staple in Dallas for a long time and deserves his own 6" fig for a long time now.


I believe Osgood has been a staple for Detroit since 1996 as well. Mcfarlane dropped the ball when they made osgood the first time and didn't make a detroit variant figure. They should have done what they eventually did with Fedorov and made anaheim and detroit versions.

I would be happy to see an osgood surprise figure in the white detroit uni - that's all we need i think.

[pellegrino6587]

how about an avery/brodeur two pack with Avery doing his chicken dance in front of Brodeur?

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[Mats_44]

I believe Osgood has been a staple for Detroit since 1996 as well. Mcfarlane dropped the ball when they made osgood the first time and didn't make a detroit variant figure. They should have done what they eventually did with Fedorov and made anaheim and detroit versions.

I would be happy to see an osgood surprise figure in the white detroit uni - that's all we need i think.

Any chance that maybe Osgood didn't agree to the idea of a Red Wings retro chase? If I recall correctly any time TMP wants to do a player in a retro uniform of a team he doesn't play on anymore they have to get permission from the player himself in case he doesn't want to be represented in that light.

Perhaps Osgood left Detroit on bad terms the first time around and felt slighted about always feeling like a second fiddle in Detroit so he didn't want to have anything to do with being associated with them?

[RoninJai]

I would rather see Tomas Holmstrom than Zetterberg 2. But thats just me. I probably wouldn't buy a Z2, the first one is just fine, and not that old. I might even say go w/ Homer over Franzen...Homer has been around longer, and Franzen would be a good candidate for a future series. If we could get a Osgood 2 in the second series, new sculpt NOT A REPAINT of his last one...then I'd say dump the Hank out of Wave 2. I don't think 2 Wings in a series would fly, especially w/ the lack of Canadian teams represented.

[Mats_44]

Holmstrom and Franzen wouldn't sell well on a North American platform. They are far from being household names with star status. I totally understand Wings fans wanting those 2 guys but it's just not realistic for TMP from a marketing and profitablity standpoint.

[Mirko Cro Cop]

i want to see a
kovalchuk2
diepetro
chara
kopitar
turco (emery repaint)
coyotoe figure

[richterfan]

chara will not fit in the new package. he would need to be in a box set

[RoninJai]

Holmstrom and Franzen wouldn't sell well on a North American platform. They are far from being household names with star status. I totally understand Wings fans wanting those 2 guys but it's just not realistic for TMP from a marketing and profitablity standpoint.

I know they're no Sam Ganger yet, but really, who is? They are, however, getting press in the States, particularly now during the playoffs. I think Wings would sell regardless, the same way Leafs do. I think we've had this discussion before.

[Mats_44]

chara will not fit in the new package. he would need to be in a box set

Actually isn't that the whole point of the new packaging? To accomodate more dynamic poses and sculpts and allow for fully assembled figures to fit in the packaging?? Mark told us the new packaging measures 12 inches in length.

[Mats_44]

And I think Wings would sell regardless, the same way Leafs do. At least in the States. I think we've had this discussion before.

Apparently not! Gordie Howe is the biggest Wings name there ever was and those Howe figures are collecting dust everywhere here in Canada......STILL!!

[RoninJai]

Thats cause they're in the wrong place. They should be down here in the States. No Howes or Bowers ANYWHERE.

[Elias_Devil]

Thats cause they're in the wrong place. They should be down here in the States. No Howes or Bowers ANYWHERE.

There's nothing here, except for our solid packed cases of Wayne.

[RoninJai]

Yeah, I think Wayne is pretty much played out...warming the pegs everywhere, while we see almost none of the other legends.

[Wrestling Fan]

Franzen and Getzlaf are the only two (from you waves) that I don't see being made in the next couple of years

[Sharkie]

I really hope we see the Blackhawks young stars over the next few years. And with the Pens crusing towards the cup, I'd say M-A Fleury with the yellow pads variant would be a good bet. Otherwise, I'd like to see (but I know I won't) some of these new faces: Morrow, Radulov, Kopitar, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Brad Boyes, Zubov, Chara, Stastny, Plekanec...and repaints: J. R. (Sharks-if he re-signs), Pronger (Ducks), Selanne (Ducks), Nolan (Flames), Federov (Caps), Shanny (Rangers). And still looking for Foote, Rolston, Drury, Elias, Tkachuk, Brind A More...and on and on. But alas, most of these guys don't play for Detriot or Toronto, and so we will never see em...

[Rexy]

Once again...there will be NO repaints because of the new jerseys.

[auxccoach]

DiPietro!!!

[rupy017]

Unless we get a player from the Hawks, they should just do away with the whole line.
We'd settle for repaints. Belfour OR Roenick!!! I know about the problems with getting the ok, but if TMP tells JR that there is demand, I'm sure he'd give the OK. He seems like a nice guy.

[Mats_44]

Once again...there will be NO repaints because of the new jerseys.

At this point in time I'd say that theory no longer holds water.......

Hossa All-Star = old sculpt with new Edge jersey

Linden Canucks Web Site Exclusive = old sculpt with new Edge jersey

Phaneuf NHL 20 repaint = old sculpt with new Edge jersey

Grosnor's 2008 Exclusive Iginla = old sculpt with new Edge jersey

Grosnor's 2008 Exclusive Sedin = old sculpt with new Edge jersey

Grosnor's 2008 Exclusive Luongo = old sculpt with new Edge jersey

Grosnor's 2008 Exclusive Koivu = old sculpt with new Edge jersey

Grosnor's 2008 Exclusive Alfredsson = old sculpt with new Edge jersey

Lots of "exceptions" being made for something that was supposed to be frowned upon and only done in "special circumstances".

[Mats_44]

Ok here are my guesses for 2009's most likely SportsPicks:

Carey Price - Montreal - we already know there is a Montreal player in NHL 21, who else would it be? - Markov? Koivu 2?

Nik Antropov - Toronto - who else from Toronto? Kaberle 2? Sundin 3 if he re-signs? but you know Toronto will get one

Mike Fisher - Ottawa new 5 year deal and fan favourite seems like a lock to me) If not him then Spezza 2 with a new pose?

Shawn Horcoff - Edmonton - has a 3 year deal and scored 50 points in 53 games, nobody else on Edmonton is worthy enough yet

Mikka Kiprusoff 2 - Calgary - I bet you we see another Kiprusoff or Luongo in a new pose. One or the other but not both

Roberto Luongo 2 - Vancouver - see Kiprusoff above

Paul Stastny - Colorado - if we don't see this figure finally done in 2009 then TMP will have successfully alienated it's most loyal customers completely.

Chris Osgood - Detroit - he has a new 3 year deal in place and there really is nobody else to do on Detroit unless we see Datsyuk 2 or Zetterberg 2 already.

Scott Gomez - NY Rangers - has a 7 year deal in place, he's not a flashy player but he's a consistant performer and finally playing in a big market. If not him we might see Avery or Drury.

Mike Richards - Philadelphia - now that he has a 12 year deal in place this seems like a no brainer and he's backed it up with a strong year and a great playoffs, this kid is for real and he's turning a lot of heads. Seems like a lock to me.

Vincent Lecavalier 2 - Tampa Bay - needs a new contract but is still signed through till end of 2009 season so it's a safe enough pick I think. This guy is a star in the league and a well known name in Canada. He really needs a second figure, the first one was brutal.

Ilya Kovalchuk 2 - Atlanta - Small market team or not this guy is a super star and a well known name who puts up huge numbers. Doing Lecavalier and Kovalchuk gives 2 small market teams some love while still keeping star status names in the series. It just makes sense to me. The first Kovalchuk figure did not do his playing style justice. Time for a new pose!

Marty Turco - Dallas - This guy is playing himself into a SportsPick this year and it's about time they did another Dallas player, isn't Dallas considered to be one of the bigger hockey markets in the NHL? If not him then Ribeiro (new 5 year deal and 80 points), Morrow (6 year deal and team captain) or Zubov (less likely as he has no long term deal in place but he is deserving). Whoever it is, there's gotta be a Dallas Star in 2009 finally, right??

Zedeno Chara - Boston - Boston is a fairly popular hockey market and Chara has a long enough contract and has made enough of a name for himself to finally get a SP.

Shane Doan - Phoenix - TMP is due to make another Phoenix biased player for sale in their Arizona Spawn store. Doan has Canadian appeal too so I think you might just see this happen.....

Jonathan Toews - Chicago - TMP always likes to throw in one young gun star in the budding and Toews has huge Canadian appeal so he might even work well in a Canada only series like Staal did for NHL 18.

Ryan Getzlaf - Anaheim - How much longer can TMP ignore Anaheim for? Getzlaf is a budding star with a new 5 year contract and he's putting up 80 point seasons now and he also has Canadian appeal. I could see it happening.

Oli Jokinen - Florida - he finally has a new 4 year contract in place and he's clearly a star is this finally the year that TMP shuts nemo up?? It's a long shot but you never know....

Rick Dipietro - NY Islanders - he has a huge long term contract and he's been talked about at nausieum here on these boards. Maybe TMP finally caves in and goes with this goalie.


Well there you have it, the 18 most likely candidates in my mind for 2009, keeping in mind things like contract lengths, big market teams, players with well known star names, players from big market teams, players from Canadian teams or players with at least Canadian appeal (Canadian born) were all taken into consideration because we all know that TMP has to work within these parameters. And heck, I was still able to slide in several "small market" teams into the mix. I don't see any reason why these 18 players could not work for the 3 hockey series of 6 players each for 2009.

There usually is 3 series per year with one of them being a Canadian focused series.

The only problem with my list is there are 6 goalies listed and usually TMP only does one goalie per series so really we are looking at 3 goalies only and maybe 4 if we are lucky if they do a straight repaint for one of them. So that's why I'm saying only one of Kiprusoff or Luongo will be done, Price, Osgood, and I think Turco gets repainted with the Emery sculpt. Sorry Dipietro and Brian, but you will get snubbed again, the Islanders are just too small market.

A lot is going to change though once the free agent market has ironed itself out so this really is a bad time to be debating who is going to be done as SportsPicks next year...........but at this point I think all these 18 players have a really good chance at getting selected and they all make sense for the most part.

[Mats_44]

This is how I would split them up:

NHL 21 in February 2009
Stastny
Price
Lecavalier
Getzlaf
Chara
Dipietro??

NHL 22 in May 2009 (Canadian only release)
Horcoff
Fisher
Kiprusoff or Luongo
Turco
Toews
Doan

NHL 23 in December 2009
Osgood
Gomez
Richards
Antropov
Kovalchuk
Jokinen

When you look at these after the fact they don't make enough sense for TMP Canadian team bias and there's just too many goalies in there for it to be realistic. Just not enough Canadian team players in there but I really have no idea what else they would do???

[Philly 5-0]

Was'nt chara getting a face sculpt back when the all star game was being played, I remmember something about that, think he will be getting a fig sometime soon.

[Mats_44]

Was'nt chara getting a face sculpt back when the all star game was being played, I remmember something about that, think he will be getting a fig sometime soon.

He wasn't getting a face sculpt, he was getting a digital face scan, and that doesn't mean anything because every player that was at the All Star game had their face scanned by TMP for possible future use so they have everyone on file.

Every single player that was at that All Star game is as likely a candidate as Chara is.

[Wardo30]

I'll take Chara or Savard please.....

[right between the eyes]

TMP puts the sweet back in 16.

To celebrate TMP'S 16th year in business they should have a Series of just Goaltenders, a go back to the pre-2006 packaging w/ nets.

DiPietro,Turco,Price,Nabokov,Garon and Cammy Ward...with 3 new poses eh!

[Wardo30]

good idea....

[Mats_44]

TMP puts the sweet back in 16.

To celebrate TMP'S 16th year in business they should have a Series of just Goaltenders, a go back to the pre-2006 packaging w/ nets.

DiPietro,Turco,Price,Nabokov,Garon and Cammy Ward...with 3 new poses eh!

Haha ya!

And don't forget the MSRP for this series, $19.99 at Wal Marts and $23.99 at Zellers and TRU!!

[Wardo30]

Haha ya!

And don't forget the MSRP for this series, $19.99 at Wal Marts and $23.99 at Zellers and TRU!!

and 29.99 at BC Sports..better hope there are no chase/varaitns because they'll be 39.99

[Mats_44]

and 29.99 at BC Sports..better hope there are no chase/varaitns because they'll be 39.99

Actually our local hobby store here in Ottawa already is charging $39.99 for chases!! LOL

[Wardo30]

Actually our local hobby store here in Ottawa already is charging $39.99 for chases!! LOL

oh my good gouge...i was sickened when I saw that BC was charging 29.99 for a Red Sox Nomar

[Mats_44]

oh my good gouge...i was sickened when I saw that BC was charging 29.99 for a Red Sox Nomar

LOL ya they are dummies. They all just sit there and collect dust.

[animal _x_ca]

I think a TURCO should be a given.

Maybe a Zubov, Rangers variant

[Havok0523]

I can't beleive we havn't got a new Kovalcuk yet. The first pose was lame for the type of player he is and since series 4 he has won the Richard Trophy.

Give us a new kovalchuk in a shooting pose.

I think they will wait to see if the leafs can sign someone in the offseason - and make a new figure of that player - cause right now, they have made pretty much all they can on the current team.

[RoninJai]

Has TMP "officially" put the kibosh on two goalies in a series? I thought they had, but I can't remember for sure.

[Mats_44]

Has TMP "officially" put the kibosh on two goalies in a series? I thought they had, but I can't remember for sure.

They've never made an official statement that they'd never do it again, but that in fact has been the norm since NHL 11. NHL 11 was the last series which featured 2 different goalies in 2 different poses. But they were both straight repaints (Kiprusoff and Khabibulin). NHL 10 was the last series to have 2 goalies both of which were original sculpts (Theodore and Aebisher).

Since then it's only been a maximum of one goalie per series but there were also a few series that did not have any goalies in them (mostly Legends series). But now with the new Hybrid Legends NHLPA Series 19 that is coming out we are getting 3 goalies in one series (Parent, Fuhr and Esposito), although 2 of those 3 are just straight repaints.

I'm really not sure if we'll ever see the day again where we get 2 brand new goalie sculpts in one single series........I think we'd just be satisfied enough if we could get 2 goalies per series, comprised of one new sculpt and one re-painted sculpt but of an entirely new player (ie use Emery sculpt for Turco).

[Rexy]

Ok here are my guesses for 2009's most likely SportsPicks:

Carey Price - Montreal - we already know there is a Montreal player in NHL 21, who else would it be? - Markov? Koivu 2?

Nik Antropov - Toronto - who else from Toronto? Kaberle 2? Sundin 3 if he re-signs? but you know Toronto will get one

Mike Fisher - Ottawa new 5 year deal and fan favourite seems like a lock to me) If not him then Spezza 2 with a new pose?

Shawn Horcoff - Edmonton - has a 3 year deal and scored 50 points in 53 games, nobody else on Edmonton is worthy enough yet

Mikka Kiprusoff 2 - Calgary - I bet you we see another Kiprusoff or Luongo in a new pose. One or the other but not both

Roberto Luongo 2 - Vancouver - see Kiprusoff above

Paul Stastny - Colorado - if we don't see this figure finally done in 2009 then TMP will have successfully alienated it's most loyal customers completely.

Chris Osgood - Detroit - he has a new 3 year deal in place and there really is nobody else to do on Detroit unless we see Datsyuk 2 or Zetterberg 2 already.

Scott Gomez - NY Rangers - has a 7 year deal in place, he's not a flashy player but he's a consistant performer and finally playing in a big market. If not him we might see Avery or Drury.

Mike Richards - Philadelphia - now that he has a 12 year deal in place this seems like a no brainer and he's backed it up with a strong year and a great playoffs, this kid is for real and he's turning a lot of heads. Seems like a lock to me.

Vincent Lecavalier 2 - Tampa Bay - needs a new contract but is still signed through till end of 2009 season so it's a safe enough pick I think. This guy is a star in the league and a well known name in Canada. He really needs a second figure, the first one was brutal.

Ilya Kovalchuk 2 - Atlanta - Small market team or not this guy is a super star and a well known name who puts up huge numbers. Doing Lecavalier and Kovalchuk gives 2 small market teams some love while still keeping star status names in the series. It just makes sense to me. The first Kovalchuk figure did not do his playing style justice. Time for a new pose!

Marty Turco - Dallas - This guy is playing himself into a SportsPick this year and it's about time they did another Dallas player, isn't Dallas considered to be one of the bigger hockey markets in the NHL? If not him then Ribeiro (new 5 year deal and 80 points), Morrow (6 year deal and team captain) or Zubov (less likely as he has no long term deal in place but he is deserving). Whoever it is, there's gotta be a Dallas Star in 2009 finally, right??

Zedeno Chara - Boston - Boston is a fairly popular hockey market and Chara has a long enough contract and has made enough of a name for himself to finally get a SP.

Shane Doan - Phoenix - TMP is due to make another Phoenix biased player for sale in their Arizona Spawn store. Doan has Canadian appeal too so I think you might just see this happen.....

Jonathan Toews - Chicago - TMP always likes to throw in one young gun star in the budding and Toews has huge Canadian appeal so he might even work well in a Canada only series like Staal did for NHL 18.

Ryan Getzlaf - Anaheim - How much longer can TMP ignore Anaheim for? Getzlaf is a budding star with a new 5 year contract and he's putting up 80 point seasons now and he also has Canadian appeal. I could see it happening.

Oli Jokinen - Florida - he finally has a new 4 year contract in place and he's clearly a star is this finally the year that TMP shuts nemo up?? It's a long shot but you never know....

Rick Dipietro - NY Islanders - he has a huge long term contract and he's been talked about at nausieum here on these boards. Maybe TMP finally caves in and goes with this goalie.


Well there you have it, the 18 most likely candidates in my mind for 2009, keeping in mind things like contract lengths, big market teams, players with well known star names, players from big market teams, players from Canadian teams or players with at least Canadian appeal (Canadian born) were all taken into consideration because we all know that TMP has to work within these parameters. And heck, I was still able to slide in several "small market" teams into the mix. I don't see any reason why these 18 players could not work for the 3 hockey series of 6 players each for 2009.

There usually is 3 series per year with one of them being a Canadian focused series.

The only problem with my list is there are 6 goalies listed and usually TMP only does one goalie per series so really we are looking at 3 goalies only and maybe 4 if we are lucky if they do a straight repaint for one of them. So that's why I'm saying only one of Kiprusoff or Luongo will be done, Price, Osgood, and I think Turco gets repainted with the Emery sculpt. Sorry Dipietro and Brian, but you will get snubbed again, the Islanders are just too small market.

A lot is going to change though once the free agent market has ironed itself out so this really is a bad time to be debating who is going to be done as SportsPicks next year...........but at this point I think all these 18 players have a really good chance at getting selected and they all make sense for the most part.

I agree with a lot of your picks however, I'd swap a one. Antropov with Sundin 3 if he ends up staying in Toronto, especially after that second half of the season. No offense to you since you're a Leaf fan, but there really is no one besides Sundin who really deserves one.

I also switched Toews with Kane, then had Kane move to 23 and Sundin to 22. I know there isn't a Canadian team represented in 23, but just looking at that lineup makes me so proud. I'd love it.


NHL 21 in February 2009
Stastny
Price
LeCavalier 2
Getzlaf
Chara
DiPietro 2

NHL 22 in May 2009 (Canadian only release)
Horcoff
Fisher
Kiprusoff 2
Turco
Sundin 3
Doan

NHL 23 in December 2009
Osgood
Gomez
Richards
Kane
Kovalchuk 2
Jokinen

[mapleleafsfan15]

I agree with a lot of your picks however, I'd swap a one. Antropov with Sundin 3 if he ends up staying in Toronto, especially after that second half of the season. No offense to you since you're a Leaf fan, but there really is no one besides Sundin who really deserves one.

I also switched Toews with Kane, then had Kane move to 23 and Sundin to 22. I know there isn't a Canadian team represented in 23, but just looking at that lineup makes me so proud. I'd love it.


NHL 21 in February 2009
Stastny
Price
LeCavalier 2
Getzlaf
Chara
DiPietro 2

NHL 22 in May 2009 (Canadian only release)
Horcoff
Fisher
Kiprusoff 2
Turco
Sundin 3
Doan

NHL 23 in December 2009
Osgood
Gomez
Richards
Kane
Kovalchuk 2
Jokinen

I'd swap Fisher for a Spezza 2. I don't think Fisher is a big enough name for a SP.

[nyrfan444]

WAVE 1
Mike Richards - Flyers Center
Vincent LeCavalier 2 - Lightning Center
Johan Franzen - Red Wings Winger
Patrick Kane - Blackhawks Center
Brenden Morrow - Stars Center
Evgeni Nabokov 2 - Sharks Goalie

WAVE 2
Evgeni Malkin 2 - Penguins Center
Henrik Zetterberg 2 - Red Wings Center
Ryan Getzlaff - Ducks Center
Paul Stastny - Avalanche Center
Ilya Kovalchuck 2 - Thrashers Winger
Chris Osgood 2 - Red Wings Goalie

I would buy my first 2 cases if the lineups looked like that. Maaaybe throw in Kopitar somewhere.

[EDBSIP]

WAVE 2
Ryan Getzlaff - Ducks Center

^ I like this pick ^ ;)

[glove-save]

Ok here are my guesses for 2009's most likely SportsPicks:

Carey Price - Montreal - we already know there is a Montreal player in NHL 21, who else would it be? - Markov? Koivu 2?

Nik Antropov - Toronto - who else from Toronto? Kaberle 2? Sundin 3 if he re-signs? but you know Toronto will get one

Mike Fisher - Ottawa new 5 year deal and fan favourite seems like a lock to me) If not him then Spezza 2 with a new pose?

Shawn Horcoff - Edmonton - has a 3 year deal and scored 50 points in 53 games, nobody else on Edmonton is worthy enough yet

Mikka Kiprusoff 2 - Calgary - I bet you we see another Kiprusoff or Luongo in a new pose. One or the other but not both

Roberto Luongo 2 - Vancouver - see Kiprusoff above

Paul Stastny - Colorado - if we don't see this figure finally done in 2009 then TMP will have successfully alienated it's most loyal customers completely.

Chris Osgood - Detroit - he has a new 3 year deal in place and there really is nobody else to do on Detroit unless we see Datsyuk 2 or Zetterberg 2 already.

Scott Gomez - NY Rangers - has a 7 year deal in place, he's not a flashy player but he's a consistant performer and finally playing in a big market. If not him we might see Avery or Drury.

Mike Richards - Philadelphia - now that he has a 12 year deal in place this seems like a no brainer and he's backed it up with a strong year and a great playoffs, this kid is for real and he's turning a lot of heads. Seems like a lock to me.

Vincent Lecavalier 2 - Tampa Bay - needs a new contract but is still signed through till end of 2009 season so it's a safe enough pick I think. This guy is a star in the league and a well known name in Canada. He really needs a second figure, the first one was brutal.

Ilya Kovalchuk 2 - Atlanta - Small market team or not this guy is a super star and a well known name who puts up huge numbers. Doing Lecavalier and Kovalchuk gives 2 small market teams some love while still keeping star status names in the series. It just makes sense to me. The first Kovalchuk figure did not do his playing style justice. Time for a new pose!

Marty Turco - Dallas - This guy is playing himself into a SportsPick this year and it's about time they did another Dallas player, isn't Dallas considered to be one of the bigger hockey markets in the NHL? If not him then Ribeiro (new 5 year deal and 80 points), Morrow (6 year deal and team captain) or Zubov (less likely as he has no long term deal in place but he is deserving). Whoever it is, there's gotta be a Dallas Star in 2009 finally, right??

Zedeno Chara - Boston - Boston is a fairly popular hockey market and Chara has a long enough contract and has made enough of a name for himself to finally get a SP.

Shane Doan - Phoenix - TMP is due to make another Phoenix biased player for sale in their Arizona Spawn store. Doan has Canadian appeal too so I think you might just see this happen.....

Jonathan Toews - Chicago - TMP always likes to throw in one young gun star in the budding and Toews has huge Canadian appeal so he might even work well in a Canada only series like Staal did for NHL 18.

Ryan Getzlaf - Anaheim - How much longer can TMP ignore Anaheim for? Getzlaf is a budding star with a new 5 year contract and he's putting up 80 point seasons now and he also has Canadian appeal. I could see it happening.

Oli Jokinen - Florida - he finally has a new 4 year contract in place and he's clearly a star is this finally the year that TMP shuts nemo up?? It's a long shot but you never know....

Rick Dipietro - NY Islanders - he has a huge long term contract and he's been talked about at nausieum here on these boards. Maybe TMP finally caves in and goes with this goalie.


Well there you have it, the 18 most likely candidates in my mind for 2009, keeping in mind things like contract lengths, big market teams, players with well known star names, players from big market teams, players from Canadian teams or players with at least Canadian appeal (Canadian born) were all taken into consideration because we all know that TMP has to work within these parameters. And heck, I was still able to slide in several "small market" teams into the mix. I don't see any reason why these 18 players could not work for the 3 hockey series of 6 players each for 2009.

There usually is 3 series per year with one of them being a Canadian focused series.

The only problem with my list is there are 6 goalies listed and usually TMP only does one goalie per series so really we are looking at 3 goalies only and maybe 4 if we are lucky if they do a straight repaint for one of them. So that's why I'm saying only one of Kiprusoff or Luongo will be done, Price, Osgood, and I think Turco gets repainted with the Emery sculpt. Sorry Dipietro and Brian, but you will get snubbed again, the Islanders are just too small market.

A lot is going to change though once the free agent market has ironed itself out so this really is a bad time to be debating who is going to be done as SportsPicks next year...........but at this point I think all these 18 players have a really good chance at getting selected and they all make sense for the most part.



I like your list Mats, you put alot of thought into your list.

To break down the next 2 "Waves"

I would like to see figs of the following teams:
Ducks (Some good young talent, SP worthy)
Bruins (Lots of legends last fig non legend was Raycroft)
Blackhawks (Khabibulin in weak NHL 12 last non legends figure)
Kings (Have some good young talent)
Coyotes (Doan should be made in 6")

[Leafsfan1967]

Mats tweaked picks, grandpa style. :D

NHL 21 in February 2009
Stastny (Col)
Osgood (Det)
Lecavalier 2 (TB)
Kovalchuk 2 (Atl)
Kane (Chi)
Chara (Bos)


NHL 22 in May 2009 (Canadian only release)
Horcoff (Edm)
Heatley 2 (Ott)
MA Fleury (Pit)
Markov (Mon)
Brad Richards (Dal)
Leafs player TBD from 1st round pick in June draft

NHL 23 in December 2009
Price (Mtl)
Drury (NYR)
Malkin 2 (Pit)
Ovechkin 3 (Was)
Jokinen (Fla)
Luke Schenn (TBD)

[Rexy]

How Mike Richards isn't on that list is beyond me.

He'd make it before Stastny, Drury, Jokinen, Schenn, all of 22, and Chara.

[Elias_Devil]

How Mike Richards isn't on that list is beyond me.

He'd make it before Stastny, Drury, Jokinen, Schenn, all of 22, and Chara.

He doesn't make it before Stasny or Drury, The rest, I'll give you

[Leafsfan1967]

How Mike Richards isn't on that list is beyond me.

He'd make it before Stastny, Drury, Jokinen, Schenn, all of 22, and Chara.

First of all, those are not my picks, those are what I think TMP will pick. If you think they'll pick Mike Richards over a chance to re-do second, or 3rd figures of star players such as Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin etc.that will sell for them at retail, well then you obviously have no clue on the reality of the business. Luke Schenn will not be made, that was my way of filling in a D-man in that series, because I can't think of anyone else deserving that would sell. :rolleyes: Do you really think I want a Drury, Chara, Horcoff, Osgood, Markov, Brad Richards or Jokinen figure made? LOL!!!

[HattrickRoy]

You guys are good! I like all of the suggestions, especially Statsny and Turco.

Being a hardcore Avalanche fan, I would like to see a "Reunion" 3-pack featuring...

Sakic, Forsberg, and Foote

I know the reunion was very brief and we most likely will never see them play together again but I sure would like to see Foote finally get his figure.

Anyone out there want to donate a third jersey Roy to a good home? Just thought I would throw that out there :)

[Poochiesdead]

You guys are good! I like all of the suggestions, especially Statsny and Turco.

Being a hardcore Avalanche fan, I would like to see a "Reunion" 3-pack featuring...

Sakic, Forsberg, and Foote

I know the reunion was very brief and we most likely will never see them play together again but I sure would like to see Foote finally get his figure.

Anyone out there want to donate a third jersey Roy to a good home? Just thought I would throw that out there :)Welcome.

And not before I get mine. :D

[starscream's ghost]

if paul stastny isn't made in 2009, i might start getting a bit annoyed

[bjk311nh]

I think we will see a lot of alternate jersey repaints used to fill up the lines to 7 or 8 (I hope). I would imagine a white Blake, a white Souray and an alternate Toskala are used to fill some lines. I also think it could be possible to start seeing a lot more "exceptions", in particular a Habs Souray. Then again, maybe not him because there seem to be a few good choices for Montreal. I think there will be one, maybe two, southern team made. I would think it would be out of: Kopitar, Getzlaf, Kovy2, Lecavalier2, Morrow/Modano3/Zubov. No way will there be two southern teams in a series, but that is my opinion based on what I see them do. Jokinen is coming off a bad year where he admittedly didn't try as hard, I heard. I wouldn't think he gets made, but they did to Cheechoo late so who knows.

If those Grosnors are really happening, alternate colors of those could fill in as well. I also hope they do a winter classic figure at some point......I wonder what the hold up is.

[Poochiesdead]

Ok I tried to construct some series, but it's too damn hard without a ton of repeats. So I'm just gonna give some thoughts:

Who the heck do you make for the Leafs? We know they get one, possibly 2 in the 3 series, and yet I can't think of anyone that has the combination of talent and marketability besides Sundin...

As far as new players, I think Statsny and Mike Richards are locks. I think we'll see one of Kane or Toews (not both) and possibly Backstrom. Getzlaf should be made but as we've seen the Ducks can't get any love even when they were the defending cup champs. I also think Fleury will get made after the Pens run to the cup and his stellar play. And I think we'll see either Gomez or Drury as they're big names and they now play on the Rangers.

As far as repeats, I hope Kovalchuk and Spezza get a new pose. I think Spezza is a lock for the canadian series and who knows with Kovalchuk playing for the Thrashers. Lecavalier obviously deserves one that actually bears his likeness. I think with the displaced chase idea we'll get a red jersey Zetterberg, and I have a feeling we'll get a new Brodeur if for nothing else his star power.

[Leafsfan1967]

I'll bet we'll see a Caps Huet repaint before we'll see the majority of goalies listed in this thread. Mark that down. ;)

[starscream's ghost]

huet is a fa, so it could be a repaint with some other team. but i agree that we'll see huet again

[cflames89]

huet is a fa, so it could be a repaint with some other team. but i agree that we'll see huet again

With Kolzig leaving the Caps, I think there is a pretty good chance Huet stays, but that is just me.

[Peter Hoffman]

NHL 22 in May 2009 (Canadian only release)
Horcoff (Edm)
Heatley 2 (Ott)
MA Fleury (Pit)
Markov (Mon)
Brad Richards (Dal)
Leafs player TBD from 1st round pick in June draft



The Leafs draft pick won't even be playing the NHL.

[Leafsfan1967]

The Leafs draft pick won't even be playing the NHL.


Wow you can see into the future? Pretty impressive. :eek: Anyone of the top 10 projected draft picks this year could step right into the NHL. The Leafs draft 7th, so it is not impossible that their #1 pick could make the team this fall, especially if it's someone that can help the team immediately. Your statement is far too premature. If they were able to somehow miraculously trade up to the #1 pick overall, do you honestly think Steve Stamkos will be playing for the Marlies come this fall? Or Doughty, or Schenn, or Beach, or Bogosian, or Pietrangelo, or Hodgson??? Any of these kids could make the team, especially if they clean house. ;)

[Rexy]

Stamkos will be in Tampa. Is name is already over tons of billboards all over the city.

www.seenstamkos.com

[Leafsfan1967]

Stamkos will be in Tampa. Is name is already over tons of billboards all over the city.

www.seenstamkos.com (http://www.seenstamkos.com)

If I was the GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning he sure would be coming to Tampa. What does being on a billboard have to do with the NHL Entry Draft? Did The TB Lightning take out an add on the billboards? :confused: Can they afford to keep all those stars on the team? They already had to move Brad Richards. In a couple years Stamkos is gonna require major bucks, will Vinny be there still, or St. Louis, or Boyle? Wishful thinking, but I was hoping they would be willing top swap picks for say Vesa Toskala, unless of course Mike Smith is your guy. :D

[Mats_44]

Who the heck do you make for the Leafs? We know they get one, possibly 2 in the 3 series, and yet I can't think of anyone that has the combination of talent and marketability besides Sundin...

Marketability is not necessary for Leafs SportsPicks. As long as it's a player that Leafs fans don't hate that's all that really matters.

[Rexy]

If I was the GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning he sure would be coming to Tampa. What does being on a billboard have to do with the NHL Entry Draft? Did The TB Lightning take out an add on the billboards? :confused: Can they afford to keep all those stars on the team? They already had to move Brad Richards. In a couple years Stamkos is gonna require major bucks, will Vinny be there still, or St. Louis, or Boyle? Wishful thinking, but I was hoping they would be willing top swap picks for say Vesa Toskala, unless of course Mike Smith is your guy. :D

They have a lot of work to do. However, this SEEN STAMKOS? Campaign is a great idea to get the name out to a community which isn't really a hockey town. LeCavalier won't be in Tampa forever.

Marketing at it's best.

[Leafsfan1967]

They have a lot of work to do. However, this SEEN STAMKOS? Campaign is a great idea to get the name out to a community which isn't really a hockey town. LeCavalier won't be in Tampa forever.

Marketing at it's best.


That's why they should trade his rights to a city who already knows who he is, before he's drafted. :D They wouldn't need to spend advertising dollars here on Stamkos. He'd sells himself here. ;)

[Rexy]

That's why they should trade his rights to a city who already knows who he is, before he's drafted. :D They wouldn't need to spend advertising dollars here on Stamkos. He'd sells himself here. ;)

Yeah well, for our league to survive, I'd rather him try to save a city that needs it rather then rot in Toronto. ;)

On a serious note, the same case could have been made about Crosby. He got drafted to a dying franchise that was about to relocate. That dying franchise is now in the Stanley Cup Finals.

[Leafsfan1967]

Yeah well, for our league to survive, I'd rather him try to save a city that needs it rather then rot in Toronto. ;)

On a serious note, the same case could have been made about Crosby. He got drafted to a dying franchise that was about to relocate. That dying franchise is now in the Stanley Cup Finals.


You can pretty much say goodbye to Vinny if Stamkos is brought in. A year max, and he's gone, if not sooner. He will be the new franchise player, and well I doubt Vinny will take a back seat to stay there. They also need to get a freakin good goalie. He has been so under appreciated there, who can blame him if he wants to go?