NHL Offseason Thread

[stevedude530]

The NHLPA ratifies the Deal!

So do Owners!

Pittsburgh wins the lottery.

[kevin]

the blackhawks got a new gm or some shit. it was in the paper this morning but i didn't read it

[pat]

ugh. i basically love hockey and hate the nhl nowadays. i can't stand to hear about this anymore.

[Voodoo Monkey]

Stan Fischler is the biggest moron ever.

Not because of this statement, just in general.

[Jason]

Well there will definetly be hockey this October. And it looks like the owners are going to get the deal they wanted. I would have liked to avoided this lockout, but if it takes the players a year to see that the owners won't cave then so be it. We'll be getting our hockey back soon enough.

[Homer Jay]

The LA Times is reporting that a CBA between the players and the owners has been reached.

Here's the link

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nhl7jul07,0,742506.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Mike]

it's in the LA times, and not on ESPN/TSN or anywhere else that actually follows hockey. while it's close, it's not that close.

[pat]

yeah, i read that they're closing in but both sides are denying reports that a deal has been reached yet. (here (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=10&u=/ap/20050707/ap_on_sp_ho_ne/hkn_nhl_lockout))

either way, i'm liking what i'm seeing so far, and it's looking more and more like there will be a full season.

[Homer Jay]

I trust what I read in the LA Times more than anything that I see on ESPN

[Mike]

well okay, i only go to espn for baseball news anyways. tsn.ca is a very good source for hockey news.

i just don't trust the la times for hockey news because what the fuck does la care about hockey?

especially because they're the only ones to report it so far.

[Spartan]

maybe, but considering the LA times is one of the leading sources of sporting news in america...

[:bang:]

la kings had slightly higher attendance than the oilers last year

[Spartan]

sshh, he's still under the impression that all canadian franchises deserve their teams because they're canadian.

To my recollection, Los Angeles has been a good market for the NHL and has supported the kings.

[stevedude530]

Here's some things the NHL will announce once the new CBA is done:
-A new logo
-New Form Fitting Uniforms
-No red-lines
-Smaller Goalie Equipment
-Shootouts
-Castration of Players

[pat]

i honestly believe that shootouts don't belong in hockey at all, in any way. elimination of the red line is a big change for the better though.

[Voodoo Monkey]

The shootout will not be a permanent thing. They will bring it in to gain new fans, and then quietly drop it after a few years.

[Mike]

la kings had slightly higher attendance than the oilers last year
la has like, 20,000 seats compared to edmonton which has barely over 16,000.

try % capacity.

[Cole]

regardless, the fan attendance for the two teams is very similar. so, it appears that la does give a fuck about hockey.

[Jason]

I'm excited. Looks like we will finally have hockey back. This could be a exciting summer for hockey. Draft lottery to decide who gets Crosby, UFA signings and it looks like there will be a lot of players switching jerseys. I can't wait for the NHL to get back up and going.

And for the love of God please no shootouts. A game should not be decided by a shootout. I don't really like removing the red line, but I'm willing to give it a try for a season.

[Homer Jay]

It would be great if the Bruins win the lottery because it will put them in an even better position after all the players are cut.

[:bang:]

i like the redline...and even shootouts :-Xregardless, the fan attendance for the two teams is very similar. so, it appears that la does give a fuck about hockey.exactly

[Mike]

shootouts can suck my cock. i'd much rather see another 5 minutes of 3 on 3 instead of a shootout.

and just to make this clear...

LA's avg - 17,855
EDM's avg - 17,698 (even though they only have 16,000 seats)

LA's % - 98.6
EDM's % - 00.0

LA's metro area population - 17,545,623, with 3,957,875 in the actual city
EDM's metro area population - 937,845

just don't compare LA to edmonton in terms of hockey towns.

[:bang:]

you forgot the number of people that read the la times sports section vs. the number of people that read the bumfuck canada gazette

[Spartan]

and that was the original point, really.

la times is one of the leading sources of sporting news in the americas. period.

[Mike]

... canada gazette?

[:bang:]

i was making fun of the fact that everyone knows the name of the la times, and no one knows the name of the edmonton (aka bumfuck canada) paper (is it the journal?).

man, you're slow

[Larson Something]

http://dominic.h2h.de/log/archiv/SeanPennOscars2005.jpg
"In response to Mr. jass's question, yes, Edmonton's major newspaper is indeed called the Journal, and I can assure you that its journalists are as dedicated and capable as those who work for larger-market publications. Also, I don't believe that all of Edmonton's citizens enjoy bumfucking, contrary to what you seemed to imply earlier."

I like taking out the red line, and while shootouts don't thrill me as much as they're designed to, I can live with them as long as they stay out of the playoffs.

And as long as Crosby doesn't end up a Leaf, I'm happy.

[Jason]

It looks like it is finally over. Just about all the media sources are saying that the deal will be done by the end of today. All that's left is for the deal to be ratified which could take a day or two. Hockey's back!

[Cow Milk?]

Its official.Its back

[Mike]

a summary of everything that matters (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=130274)

[:bang:]

ok pens, time to kick the masterplan into gear

[kevin]

crosby should be a blackhawk... or else

[terriyaki]

if crosby goes to the rangers i'm going to cry

[Jason]

I just hope Crosby doesn't go to any of the big market teams like Colorado, Detroit, Philly, NY, NJ and Toronto. And of course I'd kill myself if Edmonton ended up with him. I'd like to see him go to a small market in the States where he can hopefully build the game and get some excitement in places that don't normally care for hockey. Draft lottery will be held on the 21st and supposedly won't be televised (why the hell not?) and then the draft will be in Ottawa on the 30th. Then on August 1st the fun begins with the free agents. Can't wait for the season.

[kevin]

I'd like to see him go to a small market in the States where he can hopefully build the game and get some excitement in places that don't normally care for hockey.

sounds like chicago to me, except for the small market part...it's a huge market, which is an even better thing. i don't know anyone here that watches or even cares for hockey. it's all about the bears and cubs, and to a lesser extent, the bulls and sox. building an exciting and young team around him could get everyone interested... and trust me, there's a lot of people here who wouldn't be interested otherwise

[Mike]

i think he needs to be in a small market that actually is good for hockey though. it'll do nothing for him to play in atlanta (although that'd be a dynamite line of crosby/heatley/kovalchuck), nashville, florida, etc.

minnesota or columbus would be a good place for him, or any canadian team that isnt toronto.

[kevin]

maybe, but they already have young talent like nash and gaborik who can put fans in the seats. teams like chciago and nasheville have no fan base because there are no players like that to watch.

regardless, i'm happy hockey is back. last year was supposed to be the year i watched more regularly, but obviously that didn't happen

[:bang:]

Draft lottery will be held on the 21st and supposedly won't be televised (why the hell not?)
maybe because they don't have a tv contract? just a guess

[Voodoo Monkey]

what's your excuse for Canada then?

(where even if they don't have a TV deal, networks would still pay lots just for that)

[Homer Jay]

I think as long as Crosby ends up in with a team in a market that one cares about hockey, two has good mangement (sorry Blackhawks and Rangers) and three isn't Detroit or Denver, the league will be better off. The best possible team would be Minnesota.

[:bang:]

what's your excuse for Canada then?

(where even if they don't have a TV deal, networks would still pay lots just for that)
that canada's gay

[terriyaki]

sunshine lolipops and rainbows..

babcock lands the head coach job in detroit. should be interesting to see what type of system detroit will play under him since he's known for being more of a conservative and defensive minded coach.

[pat]

i like this hiring. the red wings are going to have to depend more on younger players this season (with the salary cap in place, they really have no choice), and babcock showed in anaheim that he can get the job done with younger players. question remains whether or not yzerman is going to return. he kept saying last year that he was gonna hang it up if last season got wiped out, which it did. but now i've heard that he might play another year.

[Mike]

babcock is a defensive system coach - is that going to fly with the wings? (no pun intended)

not only will the defensive system be less successful, assuming rule changes and such will work, but the wings are a high scoring team. shouldn't they have a coach that applies to that style?

[:bang:]

how many players do they even have under contract? actually, if anyone has a list of who each team has under contract, that would be pretty sweet. sounds like most teams will have at least 20% turnover, some much much more

edit: this may help http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/3756644

[pat]

the wings are a high scoring team that play tight defense (even though they've always been one of the league leaders in goals scored, they've also been one of the league leaders in goals against). to tell you the truth, i don't think the change in style will make much of a difference, because the wings are also a tight defensive team. i could be wrong and this could backfire, but i seriously don't see why a defensive system wouldn't work.

and the red wings have most everyone under contract, but there are some big contracts that are going to have to be disposed of (joseph, hasek, maybe hatcher and whitney). a good link i found: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2106450&num=1

[Mike]

hasek was already disposed of, you know, when he signed with ottawa last summer.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature.asp?fid=7006

all the teams are there with the salaries.

and one other thing - the schedule will be more similar to MLB's interleague play. teams play their own division 8 games each, the rest of the conference 4 games each, and ONE division in the other conference for home-and-home games totalling the 82 games.

and apparently kevin lowe guarentees the oilers will sign a centerman and possibly a defenseman.

[pat]

hasek was already disposed of, you know, when he signed with ottawa last summer.
yeah, that just goes to show how little i've been paying attention to hockey when there wasn't any to be played.

and i like the new scheduling process. they should have done it like that all along.

[Jason]

I like the new scheldue too.

And what's with all this crap about making the nets bigger. I was reading the paper and I guess it is being considered and has a 50-50 chance. Just make the goalies equipment smaller and leave the nets alone.

Larry Robinson is back with the Devils as Burns will be battling cancer once again.

[Spooked out wigga]

The shoot-out was a big mistake and one of many dislikes that are coming. Bigger nets is a joke, eliminating red-line is okay, and hopefully Gilbert Brule will go to a canadian team.

[stevedude530]

Is it OK if I give my New Jersey Devils at least a spot in the Eastern Finals, since Lou Lameriello is basically in on the entire deal. Not to mention that he's a really intellegent guy. I just hope he doesn't see Scott Niedermayer the way he saw Billy Guerin or Bobby Holik. I will cry if Niedermayer becomes a Flyer.

I won't be AS mad if Sid Crosby is a Ranger though, because I know no matter what, the Rangers will still be as bad as they were in 03-04.

Rangers, Jackets, Pens, Sabres among those with the best shot at Croz.

The odds on the players ratifying the CBA in Vegas is 1:2.

[Mike]

the devils have to cut salary somewhere, neidermyer will be the first to go i'm sure.

[Spooked out wigga]

The big day is soon with the lottery draft. Hopefully the Pens wont get like Crosby they already stacked with youth. Hopefully will go to a team that needs help offensively and he could be on the first line. Luck of the draw and hopefully wont comeback and hurt a canadian team.

Team and Number of balls in Friday's NHL Draft lottery:

Three balls: Buffalo, Columbus, NY Rangers, Pittsburgh

Two balls: Anaheim, Atlanta, Calgary, Carolina, Chicago, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Nashville, Phoenix,

One Ball: Boston, Colorado, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, New Jersey, NY Islanders, Ottawa, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Jose, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington

[:bang:]

Hopefully the Pens wont get like Crosby they already stacked with youth.
die

[Voodoo Monkey]

Even though people will be saying the fix is in if he goes to a major-market team, I think that's what the NHL needs right now.

Voodoo's Pick: Rangers

[:bang:]

if he goes to a major-market team, I think that's what the NHL needs right now.
yeah, create interest in a team that makes money anyway. totally what the nhl needs

[Spooked out wigga]

So at 3pm got the news conference and then at 4pm the lottery draft. So excited right now also nervous. I really hope that Canadian teams wont get screwed especially oilers and flames.

[Larson Something]

He'll either be a Penguin or a Duck. We'll know in five minutes.

[terriyaki]

well it's down to anaheim and pittsburgh for the crosby sweepstakes

i'm just glad they rangers didn't land the 1st pick

canadian teams:

calgary: 26
edmonton: 25
toronto: 21
vancouver: 10
ottawa: 9
montreal: 5

well.. it turns out pittsburgh landed crosby

[Larson Something]

He's going to Pittsburgh.

[:bang:]

FUCKYEAHDUDEYEAHFUCK

[kevin]

eh, 7th is good, i guess. although i'd think a godawful team like the blackhawks would have a better chance

[Spooked out wigga]

They skull-fucked the oilers and flames wow.

[Voodoo Monkey]

It's a random draw, 'they' didn't do anything!

But Crosby's fucked, he better save up his Calder bonus so he can buy the Pens once Mario dies...

[:bang:]

mario only owns like 5% of the team or something. he sold a big chunk

[terriyaki]

crosby, malkin and fleury

things look promising in pittsburgh

wait.. i think i'm forgetting someone.. malone, i think?

[Jason]

Things definetly look good for the Pens. I don't mind seeing Crosby go there at all. Hopefully he can help that franchise. They have some solid young players now, but they really could use a number 1 defencemen too.

A number of interesting rule changes as well. Like when you ice the puck you can't do a line change. And shooting the puck in the stands while in the defensive zone is an automatic penalty. Kinda like those rules. Hate the shootout though especially only 3 shooters. Why not go with the traditional 5 shooters each.

Kinda like the new logo too. It's different and will take some getting used to, but it looks pretty good.

Anyways let's drop the puck. All 30 teams in action on October 5th. Can't wait!

[:bang:]

malone is the first pittsburgh native ever to make it to the nhl. brooks oprik was in the last young stars game or whatever they called it. there's a couple of other high potential defensmen around too. the team has been saying publically that they will sign some highend free agents to boost the team short term as well, but that's some money young talent there...

[terriyaki]

yeah if i'm not mistaken the pens signed recchi too

anyways.. can someone please reinstate bertuzzi already

geez

[:bang:]

yes, the recchin ball is back in pittsburgh. his wife is from there, they met during his first stint in town. kovolev and another russian he's supposed to be close with (forget who) are supposed to be the hott rumor

[stevedude530]

Yeah on MSG Mike Emrick was talking about a possible line of Mark Recchi, Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby, plus that young talent.

Add the fact that with new scheduling, he'll play in/against the big markets like the 3 Metro NYC teams and Philly 32 times this season, plus against Boston, Montreal, and Toronto 12 times. He'll do good. He'll play once in Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis etc. So the NHL can do plenty to market this kid.

Here's how the East-West Matchups will go this year.
Atlantic Divison will host Northwest Division teams, and visit Central Division teams.
Northeast will host Pacific, visit Northwest.
Southeast will host Central, visit Pacific
Central will host Atlantic, visit Southeast
Northwest will host Northeast, visit Atlantic
Pacific will host Southeast, visit Northeast

[Milhouse Van Houten]

seriously, fuck all these rule changes. bigger nets, smaller goalie equipment, no red line, shootouts...ridiculous.

wings are for sure losing: cujo (good riddence), hatcher, and whitney.

[Mike]

They skull-fucked the oilers and flames wow.
not really. i'd rather have the 25th pick than the 15th pick, because you get them close together.

and with the talent in this draft, its avg players from 10th to 50 or so, so may aswell have 25 and 35 instead of 15 and 45.

[Jason]

seriously, fuck all these rule changes. bigger nets, smaller goalie equipment, no red line, shootouts...ridiculous.

wings are for sure losing: cujo (good riddence), hatcher, and whitney.

They won't be installing bigger nets as far as I know.

The flames definetly got screwed. We traded our 2nd round pick for Kipper last year so we just have the 26th. Would have liked to have been in the middle 11-20. Sutter will probably do something though.

Anaheim sure looks good. 2nd overall and they get Tampa's 2nd round pick which is the 31st pick.

[Larson Something]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=131219
The buyouts begin.

[Curtis]

I am not happy with the NHL returning, I enjoyed having the NBA get more coverage. I have tryed to get into hockey but it is not a sport for me. It is to boring and there is not enough scoring. Hopefully the rule changes will make the sport more watchable.

[Homer Jay]

Typical Southern views, and some people wonder what’s hurting the NHL.

[Curtis]

southern views, if you mean like im a hick or something your waay off. I was trying to be objective and the sport is just not interesting, I belive they may widen the nets, I think that would help. People want to see points scored.

[Mike]

i don't really blame people from the south for disliking hockey. in the northern states and canada, it's shoved down your throat from age 3 or 4 when EVERYONE'S father gets them to start skating on the pond.

it takes a long time to enjoy a sport you only first experienced at an older age, instead of being brought up to like it.

on the other hand, i wish people to decided they don't like it would give it another chance now that the league should be more competitively balanced, at least within the next couple years, and offense should increase as well.

[Curtis]

I will try and watch a game or two, hopefully it will be improved.

[Milhouse Van Houten]

They won't be installing bigger nets as far as I know.

An article in the Detroit Freepress mentioned all the possible rule chanegs that were being discussed and that was one of the things mentioned. I really dont see it happening though.

I would really like to hear Don Cherrys views on all of proposed rule changes. I'm sure he is one pissed off Canadian.

[Spooked out wigga]

They are changing it to break down to make it a sissy sport. In the new rules they will try to crack down on fighting, hits, obstruction etc. If your going to do that might as well make a new sport. Most people dont care they just want hockey back but really this changes are going to make in a girly sport. Something you know Bettman would love to sell to the kids and families. As for the nets it in test procedure I hope it does not happen. Its either that or the pads get smaller or maybe both. Shootout adds the feel of a minor league hockey game so not professional. Might as well kicked us major fans in the balls and left.

[Mike]

they're not cracking down on fighting or hits, what the fuck are you talking about?

seriously, get a clue.

[Rekart]

Good to see it back. I've never been a big hockey fan, but am far from Curtis' apparent hate of hockey. With tikcet prices going down (I would assume and hope,) I'll probably get to more games. Hockey isn't that great on TV, but live, there's nothing better.

[Curtis]

WTF I never said I hated hockey, I said I disliked it and thought it was boring but I would give it one more chance. Now soccer on the other hand, I hate that.

[Milhouse Van Houten]

they're not cracking down on fighting or hits, what the fuck are you talking about?

seriously, get a clue.
can they really crack down much more than they already have? I mean with the Instigator rule and all...

what bullshit.

[Mike]

yeah, i think the instigator rule should be turfed, or there should be less use of it.

but as for the "less fighting and hitting", nothing in the proposed rule changes effects fighting and hitting. you know absolutely nothing about hockey if you think "crackdown on obstruction" relates to fighting and hitting.

a hit is using your body to seperate a guy from the puck, and cracking down on obstruction is reducing the crap that goes on away from the puck, like hooking a guy who is trying to catch up with the play or is a potential player to recieve a pass - stuff like that.

dumbass wigga.

[Spooked out wigga]

I guess your in an ignorent hick from the backwoods of Alberta you win.

[Mike]

can you defend your point or just call me a hick, despite living in a town of 40,000+ right beside a city of 800,000+

?

[Spartan]

nevermind

[Rekart]

can you defend your point or just call me a hick, despite living in a town of 40,000+ right beside a city of 800,000+


You've never been able to avoid calling me a hick, or something along those lines, when I live in a town of 35,000+ and an area of 2,000,000+.

Spooked Out Wigga was obviously just trying to make up for getting his ass told, though. Seems to happen a lot.

[Jason]

They are changing it to break down to make it a sissy sport. In the new rules they will try to crack down on fighting, hits, obstruction etc. If your going to do that might as well make a new sport. Most people dont care they just want hockey back but really this changes are going to make in a girly sport. Something you know Bettman would love to sell to the kids and families. As for the nets it in test procedure I hope it does not happen. Its either that or the pads get smaller or maybe both. Shootout adds the feel of a minor league hockey game so not professional. Might as well kicked us major fans in the balls and left.

Obstruction needed to be cracked down. It has hurt the sport more then anything. Just hopefully the referees call it for the entire season and players and coaches don't start bitching and complaining about it. And how are they cracking down on fighting and hitting? What rule are you talking about?

And people they have already announced all the rule changes. They will NOT be bringing in bigger nets. It was discussed, but nothing came of it.

[Mike]

You've never been able to avoid calling me a hick, or something along those lines, when I live in a town of 35,000+ and an area of 2,000,000+.

Spooked Out Wigga was obviously just trying to make up for getting his ass told, though. Seems to happen a lot.
nascar, though.

shootouts suck.

[:bang:]

hicks

[Larson Something]

Bigger nets aren't in yet, but if scoring doesn't go up at least two goals a game in the next 2-3 years, they're coming, like it or not.

Of course the instigator rule should go, but they can't do it now. The U.S. media's image of "hockey players policing themselves" is what Bertuzzi did to Steve Moore. That's not what it's about, but still, it wouldn't be good PR at the moment.

[Milhouse Van Houten]

Bigger nets aren't in yet, but if scoring doesn't go up at least two goals a game in the next 2-3 years, they're coming, like it or not.

Of course the instigator rule should go, but they can't do it now. The U.S. media's image of "hockey players policing themselves" is what Bertuzzi did to Steve Moore. That's not what it's about, but still, it wouldn't be good PR at the moment.
About the nets: Is that what you think will happen or did you actually read it someplace?

About the instegator rule: I know what your saying here, but it also needs to be said that Bertuzzi is a schmuck. He is the biggest goon in hockey.
..And this is coming from an avid Maple Leafs fan. (My number 2 team after the Wings)

[Mike]

pfft, he did ONE thing. although it was a huge thing that cost the career of another player, it is still one thing.

i wouldn't call him the biggest goon in hockey. goon means some guy that does that shit over and over again, imo.

[Larson Something]

About the nets: Is that what you think will happen or did you actually read it someplace?

Educated guess. I think they didn't want to alienate the purists by bringing them in right away, so they've made all these other changes to see what can be done short of that. But I believe that if there's no significant increase soon, they've made up their minds to go bigger.

They experimented with bigger nets at a camp a few weeks ago, where they tried out some other of the rule changes, and some of the people who were dead set against it softened, because to the naked eye, there's apparently not a jarring difference.

[Mike]

honestly, i don't think their concern is GOALS, but the fact that OFFENSE is hurting in the past.

i could live with the 1-0, 2-1 scores if the entire game consisted of more than dump in, goalie plays it out, pass, forced to dump it in because of a brick wall at blue line, goalie stops it, d-man pass, skates over center, pass, offside, repeat.

a 7-5 game can be a pretty unentertaining game, but if the action is end to end, odd man rushes, great plays offensively and defensively, great saves, etc. then 2-1 is fine by me.

[Jason]

pfft, he did ONE thing. although it was a huge thing that cost the career of another player, it is still one thing.

i wouldn't call him the biggest goon in hockey. goon means some guy that does that shit over and over again, imo.

Bertuzzi has done more than one thing. In junior he got a big suspension for doing something stupid. The guy has a temper and is one of the most undisciplined players in the league.

[Mike]

really? had no idea about the junior thing.

and i wouldnt say he has a temper, he just likes to crosscheck guys that are in his way, or punch them in the face if necessary.

i guess that makes him a goon.

[Larson Something]

honestly, i don't think their concern is GOALS, but the fact that OFFENSE is hurting in the past.

i could live with the 1-0, 2-1 scores if the entire game consisted of more than dump in, goalie plays it out, pass, forced to dump it in because of a brick wall at blue line, goalie stops it, d-man pass, skates over center, pass, offside, repeat.

a 7-5 game can be a pretty unentertaining game, but if the action is end to end, odd man rushes, great plays offensively and defensively, great saves, etc. then 2-1 is fine by me.

I'd also be satisfied with just more scoring chances, not more scoring necessarily. But the objective is clearly a significant increase in goals, or bigger nets would have never been considered at all. They think this is what they need to survive in the non-traditional markets and to have a chance to finally be on par with basketball, baseball and football in the U.S. They're always looking for a magic formula that may not exist.

[pat]

darren mccarty got waived by the red wings today, as well as ray whitney and derian hatcher.

i now present to you my favorite darren mccarty moments, in order.

http://www.theslot.com.br/2003/029/pix/mccarty1.jpg

all.

[Eart]

Who did he just kick the crap out of in that picture? It's hard to make out the number.

[pat]

claude lemieux

march 26, 1997

greatest game ever played

also notable for patrick roy and mike vernon squaring off at center ice. mccarty going after lemieux was pretty much redemption for a cheap hit he laid on kris draper in the playoffs the season before. the whole game was basically a brawl. oh yeah, mccarty scored the game winner in overtime.

[stevedude530]

Schedule's set, go to NHL.com or your home team's website.

Hell yeah, we here in Jersey get the first licks at Crosby at the Swamp on Opening Night. The NHL looks to have scheduled another piss pour excuse for a National TV schedule, this is what it'll probly look like:

January 14th
2:00 Dallas vs. Boston
2:00 Colorado vs. Philadelphia
2:00 Rangers vs. Detroit

January 21st
2:00 Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh
2:00 Detroit vs. Colorado

January 28th
2:00 Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia
2:00 Detroit vs. Dallas

February 4th
2:00 Rangers vs. Philadelphia
2:00 St. Louis vs. Dallas
2:00 Detroit vs. Colorado
2:00 Chicago vs. Nashville (Very Tentative)

Apr. 8
2:00 Rangers vs. Boston
2:00 St. Louis vs. Colorado

Apr. 15
2:00 Rangers vs. Philadelphia
2:00 Detroit vs. St. Louis
2:00 Minnesota vs. Dallas

God dammit, not even a fucking NY-NY or NY-NJ game. Only 1 Crosby appearence. I'm sorry but the NHL sucks at scheduling for National TV. I hereby apologize to ABC, at least on the scheduling front, their telecasts still sucked.

[Rekart]

At this point, I think it might be a bit premature to say they picked a terrible national TV schedule. You don't even know the real look of any of the teams or how good they are yet, and neither does the NHL. It's just a complete guess. Some rivalries may be nice, but it doesn't kill it not to have them. Besides, national TV is supposed to give exciting games. You can still watch your rivalries all you want on your local station.

[stevedude530]

No, my point is it's been like this using the same 4-5 teams ever since they left Fox. It's always Rangers, Flyers, Avs, Red Wings, Stars, and usually the Blues. No Kings? No Hawks? No Bruins? No Devils? No Lemieux/Crosby?

[pat]

because those are the teams that have more of a chance to draw in the casual viewer. no one outside of los angeles really cares much about the kings, and i don't think even chicago cares much about the blackhawks. and since the type of game the league wants to market is a back and forth game with lots of scoring chances, that eliminates the boring devils.

you do bring up a good point about the pens though; it would make a lot of sense to give them more than just one date.

[stevedude530]

I mean c'mon, at least mix it up a teeny bit. Have the Icelanders play the Flyers, or Boston play Detroit. Or Anaheim take on Dallas.

And the Devils point is valid, especially the way he bitched on ABC about interviews. Guys at ABC were fed up with him. Oh, and kudos for finally getting the actual NHL champion into a game. I remember all those times the Devils only got to play the Rangers when they won they're cups.

What sucks is NBC has only I think 2 playoff weekends, which is actually a smart move since ABC ended up with a lot of "bad regional" matchups, like Washington-Tampa. or a Canadian Team v. American Team.

Let's talk about the schedule, anyone particularly excited about anything?

[Mike]

... icelanders?

and being in canada, i will never have to be disappointed in hockey coverage on tv. not only can i see the oilers at least 50 times on sportsnet, tsn has a few games a week, and there will always be hockey night in canada.

and you can never get enough leafs vs. anyone else :(

[OldCootAbe]

Good to see hockey back, and the changes should improve the game I suppose, but I'm still mad about the lockout. Ah fuck it, whatever. Glad to see we open vs the Habs.

[Homer Jay]

But there are no games against the Blackhawks or Red Wings

[OldCootAbe]

Yeah true, but the focus should be more on the East though so I have to agree with the scheduling.

Goodenow is goodengone. I'm clever.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2118641


Now you go, Bettman. We'll call it even.

[Mike]

hahahahahahahhahahahahah

[Milhouse Van Houten]

So the freepress says that the wings are looking at osgood for their new starter. The article said they were looking at a few different people but that was the only name noted.

[pat]

i'd be just fine with legace as the starting goalie, i don't know if that's just me or not. he's proven to me that he's ready to take the job.

and i never really thought osgood was all that great either.

[stevedude530]

So, apparently ESPN is trying to get the TV deal back, while OLN is trying to get both NHL and NFL, plus NASCAR.

The Swamp will be filled to the brim on opening night, tons of media, and maybe just maybe, a cable TV network.

[Eart]

I can't believe Montreal drafted Carey Price!

[Milhouse Van Houten]

i'd be just fine with legace as the starting goalie, i don't know if that's just me or not. he's proven to me that he's ready to take the job.

and i never really thought osgood was all that great either.
agreed x2.

legace should have been our starter last season too, i said that from the start.

[stevedude530]

Montreal had to have made the worst pick in the 1st Round, unless they think Jose Theodore isn't going to thrive in the "New" NHL.

Anywho, UFA signing was postponed till today, at Noon I believe. Everybody list where you thing the following are going (Give Opinions on as many as you want):

1. Scott Niedermayer - Either back to Jersey, or to a Western Canadian Club
2. Peter Forsberg - Wherever Markus Naslund chooses to go
3. Nikolai Khabibulin - I'm hearing rumors of Chicago possibly
4. Mike Modano - I don't think he'll find any better than Dallas
5. Markus Naslund - Possibly New York, maybe back to Vancouver
6. Sergei Gonchar - I think he'll look for a while and return to Boston
7. Adam Foote - Not Sure
8. Steve Yzerman - Back to Detroit if the money is right
9. Curtis Joseph - Who Cares?
10. Roman Cechmanek - LA should resign him, otherwise maybe Ottawa as Hasek's backup
11. Martin Straka - Back to Pittsburgh?
12. Brian Rafalski - I've heard there has been a mutual split between him and NJ, so maybe the Islanders.
13. Adrian Aucoin - Carolina, or possibly back to a Metro Area team.
14. Mike Dunham - Rangers don't want him, maybe a Columbus type, or Atlanta.
15. Brian Leetch - Maple Leafs or the Islanders.

[Jason]

Niewendyk and Roberts to Florida
Isbister traded to Bruins for a 4th round draft pick.

That's it for now. Pretty slow today I'm expecting tomorrow to be a huge day with signings.

Also Niedermeyer will sign with the flames by the end of the week.

[Mike]

nice to see syvret drafted by the oilers. hopefully he can make something of himself sooner or later.

[Mike]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132173

foote a blue jacket.

[kevin]

hawks apparently courting khabibulin, which would be nice. i'm not sure what's up with thibault, or if he's even worth keeping around

[Eart]

Where do you guys think these goalies will end up? Putt 'em in lists such as Who's Done?, Who's Backup?, Who's Starting?.

Byron Dafoe
Felix Potvin
Corey Schwab
Mike Dunham
Sean Burke
Jeff Hackett
Steve Shields
Stephen Valiquette
Dan Blackburn
Martin Prusek
Nikolai Khabibulin
Jamie Storr
Trevor Kidd
Steve Passmore
Arturs Irbe
Fred Brathwaite
Ron Tugnutt
Curtis Joseph
Tyler Moss
Roman Cechmanek
Brian Boucher
Chris Osgood
Johan Hedberg

[Jason]

Good signing by the Jackets. 4.5 a season is a little more then I would have given him though. I guess they have the cap space though so why not spend it.

[Mike]

schwab - was he even anywhere in the last nhl season? done.
storr - same thing.
moss - career ahl'er.

[El Sid]

starters:
Nikolai Khabibulin
Roman Cechmanek
Brian Boucher
Steve Shields

backups:
Curtis Joseph
Jamie Storr
Mike Dunham
Byron Dafoe
Jeff Hackett
Arturs Irbe

everyone else...done.

[Eart]

Oops, I didn't mean to put Jeff Hackett in there. He retired in 2003-04.

[Homer Jay]

Well it looks like Mike Modano will become a member of the Bruins most likely as the second-line center.

[Eart]

Bobby Holik just signed with the Atlanta Thrashers.

[Mike]

flyers sign derian hatcher and mike rathje, re-sign chris therian and jon sim. (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132177)

blackhawks sign adrian aucoin for 4 years/$16 million (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132178)

holik's signing isn't official yet according to the score, but usually its only "reportedly" because they don't have a source from the team just yet.

[Jason]

Demitra to the Kings
Aucoin to the Blackhawks
Allision is very close to signing with the Laffs
Bruins resign Murray and sign McEachern
Markov traded to Preds for 3rd round pick
Stevey Y back in Detroit

Crazy day. And it looks like it isn't done yet.

[stevedude530]

Anyone hear about Devil winger Patrik Elias getting Hep. A? Apparently, he'll miss at least a few weeks. It's a shame for the Devil offense, Lou might want to bring in a filler player like Sean McEachern who could then become a role player, unless of course Zach Parise lights the lamp.

New Jersey will succeed. There's a huge Welcome Back Billboard on the Turnpike, and about 7,000 people showed up the Devs' draft party, which is pretty good since they announced it the Wednesday before.

Welcome the fuck back everyone.

Oh, and Crosby's on Leno on Thursday. See how much lipstick he wears. Anyway, I think he's only the 3rd hockey player to show up on Leno, the other 2 I think were Shanahan when the Wings were winning the Cups, and Giguere when the Ducks were advancing to the finals. I think Leno likes hockey though.

[Mike]

mceachran was already signed.

[Eart]

I'm really hoping that Miroslav Satan goes to the New Jersey Devils.

It just markets itself! :D

[huh?]

I'm hoping it occurs just so it pisses off that one state assemblyman who says the team name is offensive, even though it has to do more with local folklore than satanism.

[Jason]

Flames sign Tony Amonte and Darren McCarty. Fuck takes us out of the Niedermeyer running though. As long as he doesn't go to the Oilers.

[kevin]

aucoin is a good pickup for the hawks. still looking for that big name guy, whoever it may be

[Mike]

flames made some good pickups. with gelinas gone, amonte was a solid veteran guy to take his place, although he's not one with stanley cup experience.

[pat]

haha, it's almost like yzerman is never gonna retire. had a feeling he would come back this year though; glad to have him back.

also, the islanders signed zhitnik for four years. yet another solid signing today.

[terriyaki]

Flames sign Tony Amonte and Darren McCarty. Fuck takes us out of the Niedermeyer running though. As long as he doesn't go to the Oilers.
i'd rather have amonte and mccarty.. niedermeyer's overrated.

so yeah.. any day now the canucks will make their move and/or moves.. just you wait!

[Mike]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132273

edmonton oilers acquire chris pronger in exchange for eric brewer, doug lynch, and jeff woywitka.

did not see this coming at all, and apparently he's close to signing a 5 year deal with the team.

oilers get norris candidate every year who rakes up pp and pk minutes, rugged, tall, and gets some points in return for an underachieving brewer on both ends, although he had been clutch in the past, along with lynch who will never be more than a 5th d-man and woywitka who underachieved and came in the comrie deal.

yeeeeeeeeah.

[terriyaki]

nice pick up for the oil.. especially for what they gave up

i'm mosdef looking forward to all of the oil/flames/nucks games now

[Mike]

laraque vs. mccarty 8 times a year will be fun as hell

[Jason]

I'm also hearing Naslund is signing back with the Nucks. Will probably be confirmed tomorrow. So now Vancouver and Edmonton are out of the Niedermeyer race. Maybe the flames can still get him.

[pat]

pronger trade was totally under the radar, DAMN fine pickup by the oilers. glad that the wings don't have to face him eight times per year now.

also: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132175

despite what might have been reported about modano going to boston, it looks like he's going to stay in dallas

wow, what a day

[:bang:]

apparently the pens are interested in kovalev, naslund, forsberg (the last two want to play together) and rafalski. apparently 28 teams want rafalski, though

[terriyaki]

i wish forsberg came to vancouver..

shit.. imagine forsberg and bertuzzi on the powerplay.. you could play the umbrella and have those two stand in front and just have three shooters do their thing from the outside.. how could you stop that?

better stop daydreaming now.. don't want to get my hopes up

[:bang:]

pens sign gonchar (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2123428). pretty badass

[stevedude530]

Iginla returns to the Flames, Nasland's a Canuck, which will almost ensure Forsberg being a Nukie.

Niedermayer may go to Anaheim, with his brother. Lou's tryed to get Robbie to Jersey at least twice and failed. That may be a huge draw for him.

Did I read wrong or did the Rangers give Marek Malik 7 million?

They also got Weekes and Straka, but they may have made a typo in the Bergen Record today.

Modano 90% sure he'll stay in Dallas.

Wow, all this stuff and still available: Niedermayer, Forsberg, Khabibulan, Mogilny, Palffy, Satan, Leetch, Kariya and Rafalski. Good to be talking hockey in August.

[Mike]

hahahahha marek malik would never make $7 million. i can't believe you just asked that.

$7 million over say, 3 years is what it probably was.

leetch has signed with boston, khabibulin sounds close to a blackhawk.

kariya seems to be a rumour around edmonton despite not being a center and being like 4 feet tall. hopefully its not true.

[:bang:]

niedemayer supposedly still may sign with the pens. wish we had him and gonchar 5 years ago

kovy signing with the habs is a blow, though. need some more forwards

[stevedude530]

Nieder's Agent says Pens aren't serious. Decision maybe today/tomorrow according to TSN. He supposedly only wants 6.5-7 Mill, and Devs are offering 3 years, 6.8 Mill.

TSN has been a revelation to me. They cover hockey like US covers baseball and football.

Sorry about the misread with Marek Malik.

Kariya might fit in NJ. But we already have the 3 foot tall Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta and Zach Parise. But we do need a scorer with Elias battling Hep A the 1st month of the year.

[Jason]

It looks like Nieds will be back in Jersey. The are the only team that can offer him that kind of money right now.

Iginla back with the flames for 3 years! Way to go Sutter. 7 million is a bit more then I thought he would get, but he is the best player in the game right now. The Northwest is going to be one competitive division this season.

[terriyaki]

the northwest has always been competitive as of late.. it's been that way for the past few years now..

everyone in our division always seems to be in the playoff race

[Eart]

It seems as if the New York Islanders have signed Miroslav Satan and traded Michael Peca to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Michael York.

[Mike]

http://www.tsn.ca/headlines/main_story.asp?id=132334

yep, peca to edmonton for york and a conditional pick. i don't like this trade as much as i do the pronger trade. i was a fan of york and liked the way he played, but lets be realistic about him. he cannot play 1st line minutes because he gets hurt way too often. then he plays hurt, hurts things worse, and cannot produce at all.

peca is definitly an upgrade, but i'd still like to see the oilers SIGN a centerman who can score. i'm going to assume whoever they sign will not be a $4 million guy but rather a $2.5-$3 million guy that york would have been had he resigned. peca fills the $4 million that the oilers were trying to sign others with.

so it's looking like 2nd line centerman instead of 1st line, but i can live with that. i'd rather have two guys that are 1.5 line centerman than a 1 and a 2 or below. but as it stands, they have to get another one no matter what. all they oilers have on the team right now is 3rd/4th and 10th.


edit: i'm wrong. peca is most definitly the 2nd line center. not first line, 2nd.

[terriyaki]

shit i'd love to have peca.. he's an awesome two way centerman

what the fuck how come the canucks aren't making any moves argh

[Mike]

you re-signed naslund. you should be happy that happened.

Forsberg to the Flyers
TSN has learned that the Philadelphia Flyers have signed Peter Forsberg to a 2-year deal worth $10.7 million.

off the top of TSN.ca.

[terriyaki]

well there go my hopes for forsberg

apparently the flyers inked him to a 2 year deal

and naslund resigning with us was a given already

[Jason]

And it's being reported that the flyers are trading Roenick to the Kings as they were over the cap with the Forsberg signing.

What the hell is Lowe thinking? Peca was good like 3 years ago and for 4 million dollars he's a waste of money. One of the dirtier players in the league. Hopefully the flames beat the shit out of him.

what the fuck how come the canucks aren't making any moves argh

I have read that they have signed Roman Hamrlik. Still no confirmation on TSN or sportsnet yet.

[stevedude530]

Niedermayer race is down to Jersey, Disneyland, and the Sharkies, all offering 5 years at more than 6.5 mill.

Rangers signed Martin Rucinsky, keeping with the whole "We're going young" thing.

Stephen Walkom is the new NHL Head of Zebras. Should be interesting to see how he handles the new obstruction rules.

Gonna get tix for Devs-Lightning on 10/26, got a free voucher for them at the NJ Draft Party.

By the way, if you ever meet Stan Fischler, he's a real asshole in person.

[stevedude530]

Stars re-sign Modano for 5 years, 17.5 Mill. I'd really like to rename this thread NHL 05-06 (Where the hell does he play now?)

[pat]

canadiens also signed mathieu dandenault. good signing; can play both defense and forward (though he spent most of his time on the blue line with detroit), plus he's got wheels as well. he'll help the habs.

[stevedude530]

Hawks sign Martin LaPointe.

Ducks sign Scott Niedermayer 4 years, 6.7 Mill a year.
His bro Robbie signs a 4 year, 2 Million a year deal.

Welp, we can at least hope for Rafalski.

[Homer Jay]

One name that I haven't heard very much is Eric Lindros. He could really be worth the risk for a team especially if it is a one year incentive laden contract.

[stevedude530]

Toronto probably. I thought he'd have retired now.

How bout Scott Stevens for the same type of deal. It's kinda weird that their in the same boat after their history together.

[stevedude530]

Devils re-sign Rafalski, as well as signing Vladimir Malakhov and Dan McGillis

[AllSussedOut]

One name that I haven't heard very much is Eric Lindros. He could really be worth the risk for a team especially if it is a one year incentive laden contract.

???

what lindros have you been watching, over the past five (largely concussed) years?

having nothing to do with that (believe it or not), i'm LOVING my Flyers right now. :D

[Mike]

actually, homer jay is totally right. if you give the guy $1 million with the potenial to earn $4 million, and he misses 15 games with a concussion and scores 40 pts, it was still worth it in most cases.

however, if he ends up injury free and scores you 80 pts, then the deal was completely worth it.

lindros i'm sure will go to toronto, however. i wouldn't mind seeing him with the oilers for the right price, but i believe a few years back they were going after him and there was something about lindros refusing to come here.

[AllSussedOut]

in theory, you're both right. in practice, though, you're off the mark.

my point was that it is incredibly unlikely that he is healthy enough to (a) give you even those limited results, or (b) warrant a roster spot/salary/what-have-you. combine those factors, and most would see that it is a completely moot point. no one will take the risk on him, regardless of his desire to play (if it still exists in the heartless bastard).

there's not enough room in the new nhl for this sort of risk, to say nothing of most teams' understandable wariness, given that he's the most concussable man on the ice whenever he's within 50 miles of a rink.

i won't say that teams are concerned about his health, per se... it's a business, after all, and if a dead guy could play most would throw him out there... but lindros was done years ago. even if he agrees to play for free, even if it's in beloved toronto, i just don't see him returning. ever.

he's gone. it's over, rock.

[terriyaki]

if he knew how to keep his head up when handling the puck through the neutral zone he'd be fine

but, unfortunately for him, that isn't the case

[AllSussedOut]

that was just the stevens hit... dude could get concussed by singing the anthem pre-game

anyway.

a question to all you puck goons. flyers obtaining forsberg, but having to give up roenick in order to do so. i'd imagine given all the factors-- age, injuries, etc.-- most fans would still take forsberg damned near 100 times out of 100, but is the difference that great? what do you think? how much will this benefit (or hurt) the flyers?

[:bang:]

its funny because i'd use the same argument against forsberg as you did against lindros. sure healthy you take pete, but will he stay healthy. maybe. however, the cap is meant to decrease the talent on teams like the flyers and spread it through out the league, so if they stay around as good talent wise (which is about right), that's a win

[AllSussedOut]

i'm thrilled... but not as thrilled as some of the fans that have been calling into WIP all day.

but i think that forsberg is still in better shape, even with his past two seasons, than roenick is. let me rephrase: i think he has more good hockey left in him than roenick does.

[:bang:]

yeah, i guess the argument is the flyers lost leclaire, zhamnov, roenick and amonte, and added hatcher, rathje and forsberg. someone else too, right? sure its younger, and its a better long term bet, but does it sound like instant cup? no

[Mike]

forsberg is younger than roenick = plus
forsberg and roenick both have history of injuries, but roenick has a concussion history and forsberg is mostly groin and knees = plus
forsberg is making not much more than roenick did, right? = plus

flyers made the right move, although the future considerations should be some decent talent in return, otherwise its not such a great trade.

jass: amonte hasn't been good over the last few years, neither has leclaire, and zhamnov was a deadline acquisition in 03/04. so really, i don't think it's possible that the flyers are not better off than they were before.

[:bang:]

still not an instant cup, which is the point. of course they are better, no one is arguing that

[stevedude530]

Plus, Roenick is an annoying prick who doesn't know when to shut up. Haven't heard that of Forsberg.

[stevedude530]

Kariya may go to the Oilers. Asshole Domi re-signs with the Leafs. Brendan Morrison remains a Nuck. Curtis Joseph may destroy the Crosby/Lemieux Dynasty by going to Pittsburgh.

[Eart]

What do you mean 'destroy' it? He's by far a better goaltender than Sebastien Caron and Marc-Andre Fleury, who's just a kid anyways.

[stevedude530]

Maybe if he splits time with Fleury, but I still wouldn't trust him full time anymore.

Chicago signs Khabibulin. 4 years, 27 mill I think.

[Mike]

can you even trust fleury after his world junior meltdown? after that, he was shitty with the penguins, average in the qmjhl, and below average in the ahl.

see:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/ice_hockey/news/2002/02/20/sweden_belarus_ap/t1_salo_ap-01.jpg

[:bang:]

the pens have said all along that they were going to get a vet to play goal. i think fleury will be fine, he's only 20. canadians get so dramatic over international hockey

[terriyaki]

khabie signed with the hawks? aww shit. i was hoping we would snag him. i like cloutier and all.. but i really doubt his abilities down the stretch.

also.. brad may is now an avalanche.. what has the world come to

maybe he can play on a line with steve moore

[stevedude530]

Ovechkin signs 3 years with Caps.

[:bang:]

good for them, i guess. the locals were getting restless down here

[terriyaki]

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6462/capture85200513316pm0sg.jpg

taken from: http://www.mapleleafs.com/story.ml?title=News&ctype=News&n=4886&e=AdminGroup

heheheehehehehe

[Mike]

you know you're kind of fucked when number 5 and 6 defenseman are making over a million dollars.

and jass, it has nothing to do with canadians getting dramatic about international hockey. fleury was having a great rookie season on an awful team, then he went to the world juniors. then he made a bad play handling the puck that ended up being the winning goal.

then he came back to the pens, and all of the sudden was not very good anymore. so not only did the pens want to avoid paying him his bonuses for playing X number of games, but now it was reasonable to send him back to junior because he was playing shitty.

he had an average season in junior on a good team, in a league that he was unreal in the year before. the lockout season he played in the ahl on what was an average team. fleury had a shitty season there.

now maybe you can actually defend your point instead of making a joke about canadians.

[terriyaki]

kariya signs with the preds

didn't expect that

[:bang:]

you called one play a 'meltdown' (edit: and blamed it for everything that's followed). that's dramatic

[Mike]

well, i meant that his bad play contributed to canada's meltdown in that game. they had a 2 goal lead going into the third and ended up losing.

http://www.tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=132540&hubName=main

and it sounded like kariya was so close to signing with the oilers too. at 2 years, 2.25 per, i'm sure the reason he signed with nashville over edmonton was that he wanted a second year, because rumour had the oilers offering him 1 year at 2.3 mill.

although he might be the kind of guy that prefers playing in low-profile hockey town like anaheim and nashville instead of edmonton.


http://www.tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=132542&hubName=main

allison finally signed with the leafs for one year, no money info yet.

[kevin]

khabibulin, bitches

[pat]

Maybe if he splits time with Fleury, but I still wouldn't trust him full time anymore.
i would. he started off shaky in detroit, but was playing great in the playoffs in '04. i can't see how he would hurt any team by being the starter.

[Milhouse Van Houten]

I new the wings were looking at khabibulin and i got my hopes up. I was really hoping we would sign him :-/

[Eart]

Just curious, what are all of your favourite teams?

My is undoubtedly the legendary Bleu, Blanc, Rouge.

[Mike]

oilers

[stevedude530]

Devils, my dad took me to a Devils-Sabres game in 95-96 when I was 8 and I was hooked from that point on. I've been to about 15 since then, including Game 3/4 of 2000 Conference Semis against Toronto, I remember 'cuz I found I had the tix in the 2nd inning of my Little League game that night, I laid down a bunt single and got pinch run for (My coach was a Flyer fan, so he got pissed) and got there with 10 minutes left in the first, some asshole Toronto fans got thrown out, and the Devils won 5-2. Fun l'il anecdote. I'm going 10/26 to see them play the Lightning.

[kevin]

i'm a blackhawks fan by default

[Homer Jay]

Bruins, what else?

[terriyaki]

canucks fan by default

[stevedude530]

Penguins pick up Palffy. Rick Nash re-signs for 5 years in Nowheresville.

[FooR]

Habs, which seems like one of two teams that you can root for in East Canada (the other being the leafs).

[stevedude530]

Senators aren't Eastern Canada?

[pat]

the senators (the current team) also have about 1/1000 the tradition that the leafs and habs have. seems to me that no one outside of ottawa would really care about the sens for that reason alone.

and yeah, in case you haven't figured it out already, red wings fan here since about the late '80s when i learned what hockey was. basically a fan by default.

[Eart]

Growing up near Toronto was hard enough for me, and I'm glad I'm not a Leaf fan by default. :)

[Larson Something]

the senators (the current team) also have about 1/1000 the tradition that the leafs and habs have. seems to me that no one outside of ottawa would really care about the sens for that reason alone.

Except me. Granted, I was living there when they were awarded the franchise, and combined with my lifelong hatred of the Leafs, it was a perfect fit.

[:bang:]

http://www.duhockey.com/galleryimages/lemieuxCup.jpg

[gravymaster]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2128012

Gretzky to coach the Coyotes.

[pat]

this offseason keeps getting better.

[Eart]

http://www.espn.go.com/nhl/best/110701.html

Top 10 Best Goal Celebrations :D

[FooR]

Senators aren't Eastern Canada?
Yeah,my mistake. I meant Atlantic Canada, the closest canadian teams being Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. I guess the reason Ottawa doesn't have much of a fan base here is because the team isn't as old as Toronto's or Montreal's, and many of the fans of the teams here have been fans for a while. They grew up watching the habs or leafs, as I'm sure their parents did before them.

[terriyaki]

http://www.espn.go.com/nhl/best/110701.html

Top 10 Best Goal Celebrations :D
Oh, Tiger. :-$

[Jason]

No signings on Sunday. Most of the top free agents are already signed so these next couple of weeks could drag on. Less then 60 days till the season opener!

Also I'm a flames fan. Born in Calgary and have always been a flame fan even though I moved to Edmonton when I was young.

Am I the only one that thinks Gretzky will be a terrible coach?

[Homer Jay]

I think it's about 50/50

[Voodoo Monkey]

Walter Gretzky had a son
He grew up to be The Great One
He came from Brantford, Ontario
He liked Gordie Howe, you know

Americans don't understand
The national sport of the north land
The world's fastest game they're always dissing
But they don't know what they are missing

If they just watched Wayne Gretzky play
Then they'd watch hockey every day
Actually, I like the Hawks
But, boy oh boy, Wayne Gretzky rocks

When I lived in Edmonton
He made it a city of champions
With Jari and Semenko by his side
He filled a frigid city with pride

Then he moved on to LA
To help bring hockey to the USA
Everyone hated Peter and Janet
For trading the best player on the planet

They traded him and sure enough
He took the Kings to the Stanley Cup
Actually, I like the Hawks
But, boy oh boy, Wayne Gretzky rocks

He came from Brantford, Ontario
His rival's name is Mario
Actually, I like the Hawks
But, boy oh boy, Wayne Gretzky

Boy oh boy, Wayne Gretzky rocks
Boy oh boy, Wayne Gretzky rocks
Boy oh boy, Wayne Gretzky rocks
Boy oh boy, Wayne Gretzky rocks

/outdated, but still relevant

[terriyaki]

bertuzzi's back, nigggggggggggggggggas

http://www.nhl.com/news/2005/08/232342.html

[Voodoo Monkey]

Good. He's been gone long enough.

And I say that as both an Avalanche fan and a guy who has hit his fair share of golf balls into Bertuzzi's yard.

[pat]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-redwings-osgood&prov=ap&type=lgns

osgood back with the red wings.

looks like, for now anyway, he and legace are going to split time in net. at first, i was hoping that they'd just stick with legace, but having them compete for the #1 spot could bring out the best in both of them. if osgood can keep the choking to a minimum, i'll be excited.

[terriyaki]

lol they pretty much gave legace the #1 when they signed osgood. congrats to him. well deserved.

[AllSussedOut]

philly inquirer is reporting that, pending an MRI exam, lindros is, in fact, set to sign with toronto

if that is so, i'm here to take my lumps. i still feel it's a ridiculous signing, but i was pretty adamant last week, saying it would never happen.

so anyone who wants to laugh, hoot or point fingers... you're completely entitled.

[Larson Something]

The Leafs and their fans have been infatuated with Lindros for years, so I figured even if no one else wanted to take a chance on him, they would.

It'll be interesting to see what they give him. Columbus apparently offered 1 yr./1.5 mil. There was talk that they could give him some extra bonuses that would be exempt from the cap under some "long-term injury" clause, but it turns out he played too many games last season to qualify.

[Milhouse Van Houten]

if osgood can keep the choking to a minimum, i'll be excited.
my thoughts in a nutshell.

[stevedude530]

Mogilny's a Devil again.

[Mike]

a sum up of the latest activity...

anson carter about to be a canuck (http://www.tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=133726&hubName=main)
lecalvier gets 4 years/$6.8 million from lightning (http://www.tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=133678&hubName=main) (overpaid, imo. should stop comparisons to iginla.)
curtis joseph to the coyotes in an incentive contract (http://www.tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=133703&hubName=main)
panthers sign josef sumpel (http://www.tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=133795&hubName=main)
oilers to retire paul coffey's number on the night that gretz returns to edmonton as a coach (http://www.tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=133771&hubName=main)

and finally - team canada unveiled their new jerseys today. (http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/news_story.asp?id=133807)

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050817/canada_76522.jpg

what the fuck are they thinking? it's the beginning of those new tighter, lighter jerseys and all that crap. this is from nike though, as they have the deal with hockey canada, unlike reebok who has one with the nhl. i expected better from nike, and hopefully reebok doesnt get this ugly.

THEY ARE FUCKING UGLY.

no way in hell are these better than the previous jerseys. if i was on the ice, i'd rather be slower and heavier and sweat soaked in a poorly made jersey that looks good, compared to these awful awful awful uniforms.

i'm willing to bet right now that these don't even get worn due to ugliness.

[stevedude530]

The NHL officially moves OLN. Game 1 will be Rangers-Flyers October 5th. Announcers unknown, but this means the NHL Network and NHL on Demand will make it's way to America.

[Voodoo Monkey]

Which likely means an NHL Network overhaul, which is much needed.

[pat]

i didn't even realize i had oln until just now. i guess i don't pay close attention when i watch a total of about 7 different channels.

glad the states were able to get a national tv deal though. still, fsn is where it's at 8-)

[terriyaki]

i think the socks are worse than the jerseys..

[Jason]

i think the socks are worse than the jerseys..

Agreed. I don't mind the jersey, but what the hell is up with the socks. Those are just ugly.

Hamrlik signs with the flames and we now have the best defence in the league.

Lecavalier is so overpaid. The lightning are screwing themselves. They won't be able to keep Richards next year and they may have trouble signing St.Louis too. Haha.

[vinceq]

The Leafs and their fans have been infatuated with Lindros for years

Did the leafs and their fans actually really want "the next one"? I always thought the only reason Quinn tried to trade for him is because he said he would only go to either the Rangers (which got the trade) and the Leafs.

Okay, now the Leafs have signed him, but they had to do something other than just resign Domi. They lost Roberts and the other guy (not gonna spell his name but it starts with the letter N). Mogilny either wasn't gonna come back or they didn't want him back. Ron Francis is probably gonna hang 'em up. Leetch should be he went to the Bruins. Don't get me wrong, he was their best D in the playoffs, but that was a year and a half ago. And with the new CBA and history of signing vets and (virtually) ignoring the draft, their pretty much handcuffed by the salary cap.

They'll make a run but they won't be able to compete with the Flyers, Sens & Devils.

[Mike]

does anybody think the devils are going to be that good this year? their defensive system might not work anymore if the NHL really does become more offensive, and they lost one of their key offensive weapons as well as best defensive d-man in scott niedermyer.

brodeur is the best goalie in the league, but who knows if elias is going to be back in time after he got hep A (or b, c, d, whichever).

they signed mogilny who is injury prone and isn't much of a guy to lead an offense. he's always had someone with him like bure in vancouver or sundin in toronto.

and scott stevens... he's not signed, he's unrestricted, but his concussion took him out for most of the 2nd half of 03/04. he didn't play anywhere last year and he's 40 or close to it. hanging them up or what?

new jersey will make the playoffs, but they won't do anything after that.

[terriyaki]

i remember hearing larry robinson planning to try out a 1 - 3 - 1 system to try to clog up a centerline-less neutral zone.. think i heard it on off the record or something.

it'll be interesting to see just how effective that will be.

and yeah.. i don't see jersey making a big impact in the east.. unless they upgrade their team i don't see them seeding higher than 6th/7th

[Jason]

So who's in for Fantasy hockey? Yahoo finally has it up and started. Can we get 12 hockey fans who will be active? I'm sure me or Mike can be commish.

And after seeing the new jerseys on the hilights on TSN they are really ugly. What is Hockey Canada doing. Just ugly.

[Mike]

i'll start a thread

[vinceq]

does anybody think the devils are going to be that good this year?

Never count out the Devils, they play by a system that you can install pretty much any player as long as they've got a goalie who can be good when he needs to be. Which they do.

They'll have a slow start because of a brief crackdown on obstruction and such but by the midseason break, they'll be in a playoff spot.

They'll be good, not great, but they'll put up a good competition against any team in the playoffs. If they lose a series, it will take all 7 games to beat 'em.

[stevedude530]

Bill Guerin left, we were fine. Bobby Holik's never been the same since he left. Muller. Verbeek.

Stevens has an open invitation to return to NJ if he chooses to. How interesting is it that now his career may be over due to an injury he's caused to many (CoughLindrosCough)

Devils will be a 4-6 seed, and a tough out in the playoffs, like it was said before, it'll take at least 6 to get rid of them.

Oh, and Zach Parise, bitches.

I'm all for Fantasy hockey, I left my AIM on the page. Haven't played in a league in a few seasons, but I'm totally in.

[stevedude530]

Mogilny works very well with Gomez. He scored 43 the last time he had Scotty at his side.

Oh, and OLN has an EXCLUSIVE broadast on Mondays, meaning if your teams' not on OLN on the Monday night, your team won't be on tv that night. Tuesday's will be different, OLN will do a doubleheader, and it'll be blacked out if your team is on and you can see them on local TV.

[Mike]

gotta love being in canada

[stevedude530]

Hey Mike did i do somethin to piss you off or were u just really busy when I IMed you?

[Mike]

um, i was away. hence the away message you must have gotten.

[stevedude530]

oh, but when you weren't away, I IMed you and got no response.

[Mike]

still away. let it go.

[stevedude530]

my bad

Anywho, here's the Vegas odds for each team winning the Cup:

Flyers - 5:1
Red Wings - 8:1
Senators - 10:1
Devils, Maple Leafs, Canucks - 12:1
Avalanche, Sharks - 14:1
Penguins, Lightning, Bruins - 15:1
Blues, Stars, Canadiens, Flames - 20:1
Kings, Thrashers, Oilers - 25:1
Wild, Predators - 30:1
Islanders, Mighty Ducks, Panthers - 40:1
Rangers, Blue Jackets - 60:1
Coyotes - 70:1
Sabres - 75:1
Hurricanes, Capitals - 100:1

[Eart]

The Coyotes deserve to have way better odds than 70:1.

They have a great team so far.

[El Sid]

im sorry...but why do the devils and wings have such good odds? sorry to say...but they will finish just BARELY over .500 this year.

[Mike]

i think the reason for certain odds is based off of how they did last season. even if their teams have changed a lot - for better or worse - it's still taking into account how they finished in 03/04, and not including playoffs either.

like the flames 20:1, i would have given them better odds than that. the leafs have only gotten worse and have a 70 year old goalie with a terrible back, but they finished well in 03/04 and for some reason get better odds.

[Homer Jay]

I think the Bruins are better than 15:1.