The 2009-2010 NHL Season: General News & Discussion Thread
 

Any and all NHL talk is welcome here.

Today Is the Day, The new NHL season officially starts.

Lots of controversy since the Stanley Cup was taken by Pittsburgh last season (and they are favoured 5 -1 to repeat this season).

Phoenix remains a question mark, with Gretzky out of the picture, Balsillie also out of the picture, which means that for the time being, Hamilton continues to be the best hockey city without an NHL team. Sundin too is gone from hockey.

Which team is your team(s)? Who are your surprise teams for this year? Please discuss!

For myself: tonight's opening game between the Montreal Canadiens & the Toronto Maple Leafs is an immediate classic between two teams that will be battling for the final playoff spot come April. (by the way, the Leafs will prevail over the Habs in April - as they will tonight). Expect lively, active play in this game, and throughout the league tonight, as the players test the officiating.


Game On! :thumbsup:

I haven't followed hockey much since the 90s, really. But for some reason I'm garnering a new interest in doing so.

I'm starting to think that I'd like to see what the Monster can do for the post-Sundin Leafs.

I don't know how the NHL works, or how many games in total comprise a season, and I thought today was the start of the NHL equivalent of the "pre-season".

I guess I'll be following more intently this year, starting tonight.
I don't have a TV right now, so I'll be watching the games on the radio for now.

Let's Go, reigning NHL MVP!

---------- Post added at 07:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:08 PM ----------

The Star-Spangled Banner is playing right now, so I guess game time is imminent.

Sundin, I still hate the fucker, no I won't wave my no trade clause, but I'll see to it you get nada for me when I sign as a FA with the Canucks. Not to mention they gave up Wendel to get the bastard, fuckin Fletcher.....

My Wings are yet a favourite again....

You know...I was always indifferent about Sundin.

Well good to see that after one game Vesa is still the same Vesa, he's never been a starting goalie, never will be a starter, Burke would have been better off keeping Pogie, trading Vesa and going with the young goalies this year, the Habs had what, under 20 shots, and he let in 4 goals, terrible.

---------- Post added at 08:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:08 PM ----------

I've just never been a fan, most likely it has to do with the whole Wendel trade in 94 that pissed me off, but Mats just never impressed me much, he could score yes, but he just didn't have that drive, or leadership, not too sure what it was. Now they're talking about him going to the Hall, which I think is just silly, if he gets in the Hall, I'm going to start lobbying for Pokey Reddick next year.

Yeah, I was just looking at the stats. The Leafs practially outshot the Habs 2 to 1.

*shrug* Of course I'd take Wendel over Mats. I don't know anyone who wouldn't.

Cliff Fletcher

But he's dead to me. ;)

and I as well, Cliff who? haha

Cliff Trader

haha him and John Ferguson Jr. should get together and write a book, 'How to Ruin a Team in One Trade'.

Got to check out the Canucks game, hopefully they lose, I won't be able to bug Fly, but at least his Canucks would have lost too. Although my buddy is a Habs fan, so tomorrow should be interesting for me.

haha good one. Yes, I was a great fan of Wendel, and of Sittler, & Gilmour. They all showed that specific heart.

---------- Post added at 06:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:34 AM ----------

ya, big loss..... 5-3 for Calgary.

---------- Post added at 06:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:36 AM ----------

jet.... sometimes the best hockey is seen on radio!:thumbsup:

try: AM640 - Home of the Leafs



but to attend to your point on the season:

The 2009–10 NHL season will be the 92nd season of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association (NHA). It will run from October 1, 2009 with four games in Europe, until April 12, 2010, with the Stanley Cup playoffs to follow, all the way up to early June 2010. A mid-season break from February 15 to February 28 will occur to allow participation of NHL players in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Because of the Winter Olympics break there will be no NHL All-Star Game for 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_NHL_season


There are 82 games in a season, then the playoffs.


The currrent MVP (winner in the 2008 - 2009 season) is Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. He has won it twice in a row, and is therefor the 83rd & 84th winner. You really should catch a Capitals game to see him in action.

He put on a show last night against the Bruins, made the Boston defencemen look like they were standing still.

With apologies to Don Cherry (Ovechkin being Russion and all...) that kid is one of the most refreshing & entertaining players to watch. Plays like a Canadian kid.....

Let me know when hockey isn't a pussy sport anymore and I'll watch again.

What are you watching then? Rugby? Lacrosse?

nah I used to love hockey, but I got sick of the instigator rule and similar rules that tried to take out all the hitting. it was annoying and while I enjoy the skills and the game, I just can't get around some of the dumb rules that have been instated lately.

Obviously gucclivr, you need to see Dion Phaneuf in action, there are still hitters around the league not affraid to get a little dirty and they don't get that many penalty minutes.

And Jetee

please don't listen to anything thats has to do with the Toronto Maple Leafs, they have the most disillusional fans out there.

c'm here and say that Streak......

muha ha ha...

Leto.... have you set up your chair on the parade route already?

It's been there for 42 yrs..... just biding my time. Just like the Red Wings (er... Dead Wings) fans did. How's the Red Mile these days?

Couldn't agree more, it's the pussification of hockey, or if you watch TSN, the Pierre Mcguireification of the game. Also they can get rid of either the second referee, or they can drop video replay, with four officials on the ice there's no need for video review, if four of them can't see what's going on, they shouldn't be refs.

Agreed as well, Phaneuf is a machine, but the guts to chickenshit ratio has been progressively growing over the years, the rule changes have screwed a lot of players especially defencemen, just watch the next time a defenceman is covering a forward in front of the net, no contact at all, and if he touches said forward, well then that's 2 for interference.

What, should we call it the basketballification of hockey?

Red Mile? Just as dead as Torontos playoff hopes!

Well, coincidence? Leto offered a great summation of what is to follow and occur during this new NHL season, and what intrigued me to find out is that he outlined the fact there there will be 82 regular season games played for each and every NHL team.

Now, I don't know much about basketball either, but I'm quite sure I recall just last weekend in the early morning hours between 2am and 4, on sports talk radio, I heard a broadcaster state that there are also 82 regular season games for any NBA team.

Same number of games. I didn't know that. :oogle:

Hey, Leto, not to rub it in or nothing, but from what I'm hearing tonight on the radio, my team is kicking your team's teeth in and out and all around the ice.

It's Capitals - 6, Maple Leafs - 1 at this point in late period 2.

I think I need to get a TV asap or move back into the DC area to see these games live, because while the broadcasting commentary is keeping me up-to-date, it still isn't going to help me understand the flow of the game. Hockey has only three periods, right?

Lets not forget about players such as Ryan Getzlaf, Mike Richards, Jarome Iginla among other players who can thrown down the gloves, score and not take careless penalties.

Every year they say they're going to crack down and call more penalties, and they did that for one year after the lockout but since then its been "fair" hockey in my mind. Few games are actually won/lost by one bad call made. But lets crucify the game based on the league wanting to crack down.

After last night's drubbing against the Capitals? oh yes.....

---------- Post added at 08:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 AM ----------

don't worry about rubbing it in Jet, as a homer (i.e. somebody that has always supported the home town team, whether they are good or bad) I get it "rubbed in" where ever I display my support of the blue and white. So I'm used to it.

I am also used to the perpetual angst that my home town support creates as the Maple Leafs (even though they are one of the most successful and storied teams in the league) have managed to bumble their way to failure on such a consistant basis that my sweater has been retired since 2004. I refuse to wear it until they at least make the playoffs.

IT is often stated that if the length of a hockey game was shortened by 2 minutes, the Maple Leafs would actually win their games. They always seem to snatch failure out of the jaws of etc... (last night's game against the Caps notwithstanding).


Yes, Jet, get a TV, watching Ovechkin play is a delight. He's a machine alright.

Hockey has three 20 minute periods in regular time.

Fuckin Toskala, bench the pylon. While Wilson is at it bench Beauchemin and Komaserik as well they aren't doing shit, and they certainly aren't playing defence. They should have never sent Bozak, Hanson, and Khadri down to the minors and back to the OHL, stupid move. Toskala should have been traded in the off season and the goalies should have been Gustavson and Pogie, they are a rebuilding team, rebuild from the net out with some good young goalies, not useless Toskala. Shitty way to start a season.

I haven't caught a game yet this year, but it looks like this seasons going to be another awesome one. I'm hoping Buffalo can at least inch their way back into the playoffs. I don't see Toronto making it by a long shot... true they did good in preseason, but unfortunately it's just that, preseason.

Plus I can't wait for the olympics either... that'll be insane to see how Canada does on home ice... maybe it can even rival Salt Lake City's winter olympics

Hey Jet, I hope you're keeping pace with your Caps.... The are executing a clinic every time they play, Semin & Ovechkin. what show. Ovechkin has had 5 goals in his first 3 games. Too bad New York (Rangers) spoiled the show last night with their 2 quick goals inthe 3rd period to win the game.

You should enjoy following them this season.

I live in Columbus Ohio and they don't broadcast many of my teams games here...LETS GO PENS! But I will be listening to the games on the internet radio.

I'm trying. Last year I watched their entire run in the playoffs on the radio and through ustream.tv ... I don't know what kind of deal the NHL struck with the Versus Network, but it really inhibits the exposure of big market teams playing in big-time matches to be featured on such an obscure satellite network.

My cable company gave me NHL Centre Ice free for October. I'm not willing to pay what they want for it, but will enjoy the free preview while it lasts.

The Leafs have not had a good start to the season. As per usual, their defence is a bit of a mess. It's early yet, though.

I still hate shoot-outs deciding games.

This is great news, I think it can really go through if the league is actually for it.

I would love to see where another FRANCHISE can take root in Canada, Winnipeg is too small, Quebec City might get help from Maritimers coming over for a weekend away but I don't think Canada can sustain a franchise for long. Although, a point should be made of failing teams in Florida, Phoenix, and Atlanta... plus, I think the team will always be the Nordiques if it was based out of Quebec City.

This just in:

Toskala still a pylon, Leafs defence still non existent.

fuck. 7 - 2 and Avery gets 2 goals. I can't wait for a new team in QC, they would most likely get cup before the Leafs.

Is it me or is Brian Burke not the answer Toronto was looking for?

Trade away a decent prospect in Pogge? Kessel for two #1s and a second rounder and he's not even playing? Granted I think they've improved on defence but offensively they need help. Toskala who? I wonder how much depth they have in goal? I honestly hate the Leafs but its horrible to see a team get destroyed like that. Must be nice to get a decent first rounder for Toronto but wait... will Boston get it? Not looking good for the next few seasons unless they shell out some major cash.

We've already been told: long, slow rebuild.

It's just you, Burke brought some talented players in, they just aren't living up to their potential (Komasarek, Beauchemin I'm looking in your direction)
Couldn't agree more, that was a dumb trade, should have got rid of Toskala and went with Pogie and that Swedish guy.
I'm still not too sure how I feel about this deal yet, have to wait and see how Kessel plays I guess.
Well, on paper they've improved on defence, but some of their new defencemen are trying to do too much and taking way, way, way too many stupid penalties.
I can handle a long, slow rebuild, but they should have kept Pogie, you don't rebuild a team with a shitty goalie who if it wasn't for expansion would be flipping burgers somewhere in Finland.

They should have kept Bozak, Hanson, and Khadri in the NHL, Wilson says he wants Khadri to be a better goal scorer in the OHL, so he gets more goals in the NHL, well the kid isn't going to learn anything there, you learn by playing against people who are better than you, not the same kids you lit up a year prior.

If they keep losing like this old Wilson may be looking to TSN for a broadcasting job that Torts gave up to go to the Rangers, that is if Ray Ferraro isn't there.

I heard that Darcy Tucker got cheered in Toronto tonight. Oh yes, the Leafs lost again, to Colorado. But how would we know? The game wasn't on TV. Unless you paid for fucken Leafs TV. Why anybody would pay for anything from MLSE these days is beyond me.

6 games without a win. Way to go guys.

I was glad to see Darcy back in TO, the Leafs fans gave him a good cheer, especially when he scored. They should have kept Darcy as well, he could have shown the drift they have there now how to play with some heart and some balls.

Oh yeah, big surprise Komasarek took another stupid penalty and of courde they scored on the PP, and a goal went in off his head, I think the Habs set up the Leafs and cloned Komasarek and kept the decent one for themselves because the one the Leafs has fuckin sucks balls.

I think this thread should be retitled to 'The 2009-2010 Toronto Maple Leaf Season: General News & Discussion Thread' :) .

A good start to the season so far with a few surprises early on. Who would have thought Colorado would start this strong? It's not going to last of course (unless Anderson can continue his phenomenal play through the whole season) but it's good to see they are not just rolling over playing dead like most expected.

My Blues started the season well against Detroit in Sweden but have since cooled a bit. I don't know if they are suffering from jet lag or what but they have looked flat their last 2 games. They have 5 days off before playing Phoenix on Thursday so hopefully they can get some rest or find some way to liven up their play. Watching the last 2 games was like watching the Wild play.

Haha. Well nobody stops other team's fans from contributing. The more the merrier, just jump in.

Actually there have been alot of surprises and alot of teams moving up. I think Chicago will break Detroits hold on the central division. Detroit looks really sluggish this season. I'm not happy with their play, but they'll pick it up to make it #4 seed against Calgary. Calgary is another surprise, not for good, I think for an improved defense, they've done sweet FA defensively and have lucked out ALOT to win 4. I hate Luongo BTW, considering he's my number 1 on my fantasy team. I'm surprised to see Heatley get such a nice start in San Jose, he's actually one of my favourite players despite what happened over the summer. Philly should be a powerhouse, Boston is moving down this season but will still challenge for top seed, the Central division will be the hardest division to win IMO, Leafs will be bottom in the NHL and Montreal is another surprise for not getting a good start, Gionta, Gomez, and Camileri, all good players but losing Markov will hurt them and Russia.

Here's how it'll go in the Conferences

WEST

1) San Jose
2) Chicago
3) Vancouver
4) Detroit
5) Calgary
6) Anaheim
7) Columbus
8) LA Kings

9) St Louis (1 point out)
10) Phoenix (1 point out)
11) Edmonton
12) Dallas
13) Nashville
14) Colorado
15) Minnesota


EAST

1) Pittsburgh
2) Boston
3) Washington
4) Rangers
5) Philly
6) Buffalo
7) Montreal (because its always Boston v. Montreal in the first round)
8) New Jersey

9) Ottawa (2 points out)
10) Carolina (5 points out)
11) Tampa Bay
12) Atlanta
13) Florida
14) Islanders
15) Toronto (worst in NHL)

Pittsburgh/Phildephia vs. San Jose/Chicago for the cup... too close to call for these teams.

I think Ovechkin will pass the 150 point mark this season with Malkin close on his tail at about 140. Ovechkin is too much of a competitor to let Malkin beat his point total this year.


And honestly, I think I'm more excited for the Olympics because; 1) its in Canada, 2) Russia/Sweden/USA/Canada look like strong teams and 3) I have a secret crush on the Olympics.

Leafs have "hit rock bottom."

This is the club's worst start in 92 years: 0-6-1. Ouch.

In a way, this is a bit nostalgic for me. When I first followed the Leafs--when I first attended a game--they were in about the same shape: the Doug Carpenter/Tom Watt years. Those were dark days...but we held a hope nonetheless, no matter how angry we got at those bozos.

I wonder what Peter Ing is up to these days....

I'll be back when all the teams have played at least 10 games this season.

Here's a quick overview of my team:

The Capitals may be high-scoring, but the story (the early one) of the playoffs last year, the rookie goaltender, Varlamov, while promising, has much to improve upon with his goal-scoring defense.

It seems as soon as he lets one shot into the net, he loses so much confidence that he allows them in bunches (most evident in Rd 2 when Pitt. shattered him). He's a great young talent, but with how he lets the first score affect him, I can see why he was not automatically named the starter.

At this point, I think that the Capitals may be one of the top 3 scoring teams in the NHL, but they also maybe allowing the league-leading scores against them.

Hm, I really like the interface of NHL.com. It becomes that much easier to gather my thoughts.

Oh christ I remember those days as well, they need to bring back Brophy at least he had some anger behind the bench and showed some emotion.

I had to look it up:
They could always bring back Allan Bester, he's at least better than Vesa.

I'm not one to call for a coaches head because the players are playing like a steaming pile, but Wilson has to do something to get the Leafs motivated, call up young guys, bench Komasarek and Beauchemin they aren't doing shit anyways, bench Ponikarovsky he's a lazy player, never see the guy without the puck, and this fuckin Whallin, where the hell did they get that piece of shit from, he's useless. Khadri is 100 times better than him.

They're rebuilding so they bring in Wayne Primeau, he's old, you need youth to rebuild not age, all I can say is they better not trade Schenn away, he's the future of defence on that team, without him you have no good young up and coming defencemen on that team.

Should be an interesting couple of weeks that's for sure,

Ha-ha....Bester was the bestest!

Yeah...these guys have a week off, so I hope they take that time to reflect on such a shitty start to what doesn't have to be a shitty season.

And I won't be there to dry the tears... this is all bittersweet for any other hockey fan. Every year, I have to hear how awesome the Leafs are with not one whisper on how horrid they will be. I'm a big Pogge fan, met him a few times, stand up guy, he's my favourite up-and-comer to not make the NHL. So needless to say I've got a hate on for the Leafs.

I'm still puzzled by this trade as well. The only way I can see it is the Leafs will always take the foreign born player over the Canadian player. They should have off'd Toskala for a bag of pucks and some beer, or whatever they could get. They got nothing for Pogge anways, well they got a conditional 2011 draft pick, which is basically a bag of pucks and some beers.

I doubt I'll ever make sense of this deal, a rebuilding team trades a good young goalie with tons of potential, yet keeps an old goalie who is lucky to even be in the league, and definitely isn't a starter.

I think it'll be as said above... long, slow rebuild. And hope to hell that some of your lower than 1st rounders develop into sleeper players. But Leaf nation is loyal so their fan base will shrink a little but it'll never go away.

Manny Legace is still available if your desperate enough. Seriously though It's been a rough few years for the Leafs. I really can't give much of an opinion why as I honestly haven't followed them that closely. As much as I love hockey I will admit I pay way more attention to the Western Conference than the East. I tried following the Leaf's a couple of years ago after they aquired Jason Blake (He's a local boy. Watched him play at Moorhead High) but was never drawn to them as a whole and gave up watching.

The big problem as I see it now is even if Burke wanted to replace Wilson there's still the matter of the Olympics. Seeing as they both still have to work together during the Olympics any change now could have serious consequinses for Team USA in Vancouver.

I saw most of the Vancouver - Chicago game last night. Vancouver finally got a 3rd win against a rival Blackhawk team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Toews took a massive hit, and couldn't stand up afterwards, had to leave the game.

- Bullet: one of my fav Leaf players is Blake, he shows the heart (not always the skill, but definitely the heart) that local fans want in a Leaf. Hope he has as good a year as last season.

Anybody catch the Armstrong hit on Bergeron the other night in the Habs game?
Of course the TSN panel in all their wisdom thinks he shouldn't have been 'allowed' to play the rest of the game. What they don't seem to get is that you can be knocked dizzy without getting a concussion, especially if the player hitting you didn't give it an extra push to the head.

Also when do announcers who don't play the game, and in my opinion are utterly clueless about the game know better than the doctor examining the player, or hell the player wether or not he should return. There's a big difference between concussion and knocked dizzy and players know the difference, happened to me many times.

Looks like the leafs actually played 30 minutes in a game... wait... games are 60 minutes... oh well... half the game is an improvement.

Strike up the band and plan the parade, the Leafs finally played 60 minutes, stayed out of the box for the first time this year, and finally got the win. Good for Hagmund getting the hat trick as well, he always works hard.

:oogle:

Anyone see the hit Ott got a two game suspension for? I really can't figure out how the league figures out its suspensions anymore its getting ridiculous.

is he injured? poor kid is always getting hit or hurt.

Ott got suspended for the hit, which seemed like a clean hip check to me, good old school hit, Scott Stevens style. Yet Richards from the Flyers got nothing for his hit the other night, the NHL double sttandard.

I'm sure it's because Ott is a repeat offender and Colaiacovo was injured on the play. The hit was a bit low though still clean in my opinion but I guess it was enough for the league to make an example. It's still not right though as silent_jay mentioned it was nowhere near as bad as the Richards hit or even several others I've seen so far this season.

Yeah, it seems that Carlo is a lightning rod for bad luck too. I saw the near hit that Richards attempted on Ovechkin last night. It was a carbon copy of the Booth hit:



And there's this hit on Petrovicky:



This one on Malkin isn't so obvious:



And on Crosby:

I feel bad for Carlo, the Leafs never gave the kid a fair shake, but I blame that on Quinn he had his favorites and Carlo wasn't one of them. Yet Jeff Finger and Mike Van Ryn are still there, that baffles me, both are horrible defencemen, if I was coaching kids Van Ryn and Finger would be examples of how not to play the point.

Richards will get his someday, people start to notice these things, the guys will just get his number and wait for the right time to take him out, at least that's what I would do, or did do, back in the day.

---------- Post added at 06:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:48 AM ----------

Like the Ruutu hit on Darcy, that was just brutal, and to only get 3 games, the NHL needs to get its suspensions under control, or at least make it less obvious they don't know what they're doing. Must be a thing with the Ruutu name that makes you a pansy, you have the idiot who plays for Ottawa and now you have this guy, and I believe it was Christian Ruutu who played back in the day and wore the garbage can Jofa helmet.

I wear a Jofa helmet... it's half decent, its for people who's head is too large and round for other helmets.


And it looks like the loser leafs are on a win streak!

2 games. yay. oh wait, there's another game tonight.

But is it the Gretzky Jofa
http://www.icollectsports.com/apprai...0323853759.JPG

Or the other style:
http://www.midwestskate.com/Hockey/i...ofa_Helmet.jpg

Definately not.... a little more protection I would like to think. Its like an updated version of that helmet, although the general shape is the same.

Ah yes the new Jofa's, I don't mind them at all, I thought you were talking about the back in the day Jofa's. Always wanted to wear a Gretzky Jofa, those were comfortable helmets, but minor hockey association had rules against them, so had to wear it in shinny instead.

I still remember wearing cooperalls when I was a kid playing hockey, it was so bad I ahd to have 2 pairs, green ones for winter hockey and black for my summer hockey team, oh the humanity.

Dammit, Pronger!

For those of you who were questioning the way the League hands out suspensions there is now a handy flow chart available..... :)

NHL Suspention Flow Chart

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/...e4645497_o.gif

Haha Damian Cox, I hate that bastard almost as much as I hate Pierre McGuire, I mean Pierre is there between the benches with no glass most time and these guys can't hit the fucker with a puck, I know I'd be trying, hell if I was team owner I'd give them a bonus if they did.

That chart is hilarious, I figured Coly just pulled numbers out of Betman's ass and went with it, they're both ruining hockey, like on HNIC tonight when Campbell said they have to take just a little bit of the physical play away, fuck that, they want a more gentle hockey, go run the NWHL and leave the mans game alone.
GMs will target helmets, head shots: Hotstove
Milbury is correct, now days the thing to do is turn your back to the player checking you, why because players are pussies and are afraid of getting hit, just watch an NHL game and count the amount of times players turn when they're about to get hit near the boards. Man the fuck up and take the hit, the closer you are to the boards the less it hurts, trust me.

Wow anybody catch the lack of fans attending the Bruins-Thrashers tonight? I'm pretty sure there were more people on the two teams combined benches than there were in the stands. That's the Bettman legacy, teams in markets where they don't belong, and they don't have the fans in the stands to prove it. You think a team in Winnipeg or Quebec City would have that few fans in the stands? In my opinion, doubtful.

Not NHL but still hockey related....

Caught this at a local USHL (Fargo Force) game last week. Perfect ad placement for behind the visitor bench :).

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/z.../IMAGE_272.jpg

That is the best ad placement ever.

That's a hell of a nice arena for a Jr. Hockey team as well, from the description I found of the USHL it's about the same as our Jr. A here, very nice.

Just opened last year and not a bad seat in the house.

They hosted the IHF World U18 Tournement last spring and just about everyone loved playing there even though the attendance was not the best. Of course we were in the middle of fighting record flooding at the time as well so that had a lot to do with the low turn out. I took my kids to see Slovakia v Norway and as we were walking along the concourse to our seats an arena official stopped us and asked if the kids wanted to ride the Zamboni between periods. Too my disappointment neither of them wanted to. I don't think I've ever been more ashamed of my kids than at that moment. I swear I raised them better than that. Must be their mother's influence.

Wish I could have played Jr. in a rink that nice, we played in a rink where you took a lot of penalties because the box was the only place in the barn with heat lol, and the boards were so low tey only came up to your tailbone. Darn mothers and their influence on kids, I'm sure they'll get another chance to ride the zamboni, they're quite fun, used to drive one when I worked at the rink back home.

Leafs win in the shoot out. I have an idea though, rather than complain about the condition of the ice before the shoot out, just get rid of it all together.

so last night was a big night in the league, prior to American Thanksgiving I guess. OVechkin lays on a hard check and gets ejected! (Ovechkin drew a major for boarding and a game misconduct 3:38 into the third period when he ran Buffalo's Patrick Kaleta into the boards with his shoulder opposite the benches. tsn)


Washington still goes on to win (beating Buffalo is good for Toronto!)

Meanwhile Toronto wins over Tampa, getting 5 out of 6 points for their last 3 games. Not bad for a 'bad' team eh? Who thinks that Toskala will ever play for the Leafs again?


By the way, I was at a cocktail function at the Hockey Hall of Fame last night (Toronto). As I wandered around the place, spicy Caesar in hand, I took a couple of shots of the sweaters of my favourite players from the past:

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/u...Leto/HHOF2.jpg

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/u...Leto/HHOF1.jpg

Hey Letz, glad to see the Leafs O work their magic tonight on my immaculate Sabres.... although I must say I am jealous you got to go to the Hall of Fame.

Nice game eh? I just may just come out of the closet and proclaim my fan-ship to the Sabres. Miller is awesome. One of many hot goalies that the Leafs have peppered with shots in the last few games, with little success. Did you see how Miller gave his stick to the Toronto Star photog that got the puck in the face? Class act.

I tried to find a video of that, but instead found an interesting one (less of a class act) of Lindy Ruff getting a stick in the eye, compliments of Billy Smith circa 1980:



While on the topic of less than a class act, Ovechkin continues to dazzle and dismay. Looks like he will be ejected (5 games maybe?) for a Knee on knee in Carolina last night. Was he really injured? Or did he play it up realizing how badly obvious he was?






OH ya, and while we are on the topic, this really tops the entertainment from last night. Ballard wacks his own goalie:

His name isn't Georges Laraque Ovechkin will get 1 game if anything.

Compare the two, which one is worse?

Well, he arleady got kicked out of last night's game. I expect more than one additional game for Alex.

Not to mention it's his second game misconduct penalty in just the last week. The league has a real dilemma on it's hands with this one. My guess is an official 1 game suspension followed by an unofficial 4 - 5 game 'injury'.

Edit - Guess I should have checked before I posted. Looks like he got 2 games and is day to day with his knee.

Of course Laraque gets 5 Ovechkin gets 2, fuckin NHL and their double standards for suspensions, it's pathetic.

Let me guess Laraque got more games because of his reputation, I call bullshit on that excuse as well, his reputation is he's a fighter, and a good one at that, Ovechkin's reputation is he's a damn good player, but he's increasingly becoming a dirty prick who's going to get his someday and I won't feel bad about it in the least. Especially when he makes statements like this:
Regrets it happened? Watch the video his knee was sticking out, Gleason changed lanes yes, but jesus he had time to pull that knee in, but he didn't, pathetic NHL truly pathetic.

Edit: Boudreau making sstatements like this makes him look stupid:
Leaned with his shoulder? Was his fat covering his eyes. His leg never came out when Gleason changed lanes, his knee was out from the beginning, maybe Boudreau should watch a replay. Boudreau needs to be punched in the neck that fat bastard.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_spor...g6hSCDsltlBIXd
Tell me that is leaning with his shoulder.

It's been weird how many kneeings there have been so far this season, reminds me of when Rick Tocchet used to play haha





Add that video to the list of reasons why I love Ruff... and kudos for Buffalo keeping him around for I believe over a decade now. Here's to hoping him and Babcock will be a great tandem come the olympics.

Anyone catch the game tonight? What was up with Gustavsson? Does he actually have a heart condition? Hopefully he turns out alright, more goal-tending injuries are the last thing the Leafs need.

Bold added by me, christ just what we don't need Toskala back in nets, they should really trade him for a bag of pucks and a bundle of sticks.

I really thought that when Toskala pulled himself out of that game, that that would have been the last we saw of him. I say let MacDonald develop in goal. He's game, and we can't do worse than lose some more.

Exactly Leto, I'd rather lose with a young goalie, who wil lat least get better as time goes on, than lose with a pylon in nets like Toskala, as I said before, the guy isn't and never was a starting goalie, if it wasn't for expansion he'd be flipping burgers in Finland.

Reindeer burgers. mmmmmm........

Wow, what a horrible start against the Bruins tonight.

I just got reminded that Chara won the Norris last year, what the fuck were the people who pick the winners thinking? Other than being big the guy is a useless tit, he has the lateral movement of a Mack Truck, and skates like a pregnant cow, for his size he's weak on his skates, all around not a Norris winner in my opinion.

and a horrible finish. But Boston got routed the night before. The season is long and things tend to even out. But for things to even out for the Leafs, the season needs to be a couple of months longer this year! OH, yes, and better players would be nice.

So Montreal celebrated 100 years with an amazing pre-game show on Friday. Check out the hockey royalty in the warmup:



And this promo:

My Blackhawks just keep on rolling, I went to the game tuesday and saw an 11 round shootout, it was crazy!! They seem to be really coming together and now have signed Toews, Kane, and Duncan Keith to extensions....so they'll be around for a while.

I don't have a good enough knowledge to really compare them to the other great teams, but where do others think the hawks rank?

Looks like we got another suspension this weekend Carcillo gets four games for sucker punching Bradley, now as much as I liked the punch, it was pretty dumb, mind you I bet Bradley thinks twice before playing tough guy again, I mean christ how long does it take the kid to get his gloves off? I'm torn on this one I think four is a little much, especially when Ovechkin only get's two for throwing the knee which is just a dirty play.

Then we get Duncan Keith giving Matt Cooke a head shot, now will Keith get suspended? I'm going to say no, but if he doesn't it's just another bullshit call on the leagues 'disciplinarians', and I use the term very loosely when referringto Colin Campbell and his lot.

The Hawks are good, but they're going to have to deal someone to make room under the cap for all their new signings, they'll be around for a while, but how healthy they'll be and how well they play remains to be seen, that's the bad thing about long contracts, you could get a Rick DiPietro on your hands.

Well that was ugly. Just finished watching the St Louis - Edmonton game and I have to say that was probably the worst 3rd period in the history of hockey. I'm almost ashamed to call myself a Blues fan after that.

Holy fuckin Toskala, that pylon, Leafs have a solid first against the Oilers and that pylon let`s in a fluff goal in the last minute of the period.

In unrelated Spengler Cup new, Canada loses to Minsk and won`t be in the finals, they played a couple of good games, but their goaltending was weak compared to the rest of the players. I always enjoy the Spengler, get to see solme good Canadian hockey players you don`t always see, I used to paly against Shawn Heins when I was in Jr. B, good to see him playing for Canada again.

Wow, thought this thread had died :).

I missed the Winter Classic yesterday but from everything I've seen and heard so far it sounds as though it was another good one. Would have been interesting to see what would have happened had it rained like it was forcasted. Would they really have called the game after 2 periods?

The Olympic rosters for Canada and the US have been announced finally. No real surprises for Canada and has to be considered the favorites going into Vancouver. Not sure I agree with the US decision to focus on the youth. Only two players over the age of 34 amd an overall average age of 26. I guess if anything they will be fun to watch though I am a bit disappointed TJ Oshie didn't make the squad.

Lastly, the Blues fired Andy Murray this morning. Not sure if I agree with this. Rumors have been swirling for awhile that it was coming but I see it as a case of it's easier to fire a coach than to get rid of several players. Word has it the older vets loved him and backed him but the young guns stopped listning awhile back which is stupid if true. Did they learn nothing during their second half run last year? Play the system and you'll be sucessful. Sounds like some of the younger players started buying into their own hype and need to grow up.