Well, hockey is back!

[docbungle]

I haven't had the time to go over all the new rule changes and whatnot, or even watch a full game for that matter, but it's back, and that's good enough for me.

[paddyjoe]

fuckin A baby....Sabres are undefeated..............

[Serpent]

and sundin is out because there is no mandatory visor rule.. (although i am not sure how much a visor would of helped, i would imagine it would of prevented the fracture of his orbital lobe)

[djtestudo]

Woo! Go Capitals!

Ehh...that's about the best I got until the playoffs (which I'll watch religiously; I LOVE the Stanley Cup).

[DDDDave]

Tampa Bay Lightning baby......

Went to opening night last night. A great celebration, raised the eastern conference banner and the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship banner. It was really neat.



Re: the new rules. Lots of new rules, you really have to keep them in mind when watching the game. There is very little leeway on hooking and grabbing. The blue lines being closer to the center creates more room in the scoring zone. There is extra room behind the net which promotes more action behind the net. It really makes for and end-to-end game. Not a lot of slogging through the center ice area. While the red lne is still there, it is not used in determining a two-line pass. A defenseman can now pass from near his own face off circle to a streaking winger beyond center ice. There are lots more breakaways. The rules were put in place to promote scoring and they will certainly do that. However, fans also like lots of hard hitting and checking and it doesn't seem like the rules promote this at all. The rules should favor teams like the Lightning who are young, fast and excellent skaters. It will put teams that play a trapping defensive style of play at a definite disadvantage. There was lot's of input from players and ownership when designing these rules and I think they are generally good but I guess time will tell.

Great to have hockey back !!!!

[thatoneguy]

I'm so psyched to have hockey back again, plus the Wings starting the season 2-0 isn't too shabby either (Even if it WAS against St. Louis).

I'm really hoping that they keep calling all the obstruction/hooking like they are now, the games have all been way higher-scoring than last season, and (from what I've read anyway) the game seems to be opening up and flowing a lot better.

Most people in the US may not care about hockey, but I'm just glad to have it back. Even if I DID move to Omaha and therefore can not watch hardly any games... ah well.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by Serpent

and sundin is out because there is no mandatory visor rule.. (although i am not sure how much a visor would of helped, i would imagine it would of prevented the fracture of his orbital lobe)

A mandatory visor rule? They may as well just move the NHL to Europe then, making it mandatory to wear a visor would be the dumbest thing the NHL could do. It alwys has been and always should be the players choice.

[highthief]

I was overjoyed to see the Leafs make history by being the first team to lose a regular season shootout!

Equally happy to see the Habs beat down the Bruins.

[Daoust]

Pumped about the new season. Very happy. Not happy that the Leafs have a terrible team and if all is just and fair, they should finish somewhere near the middle/bottom, but knowing them they'll do okay, get into the first or second round and get hammered by any team with actual talent.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a HUUUUUUUUUUUGE Leaf fan. I am just tired of them signing old guys, never investing in some youth, having a rebuilding year or four. I went though the late 80's and 90's with the Leafs. I could handle four years of basement dwelling if it meant a future legitimate run with some talented young players...

[florida0214]

Originally Posted by thatoneguy

I'm so psyched to have hockey back again, plus the Wings starting the season 2-0 isn't too shabby either (Even if it WAS against St. Louis).

You arent a band wagon fan are you? You sound like your from canada so maybe not. Oh well.
Hockey fraking rules. the new rules changes arent that signifigant as a whole. The scoring isnt up too much, but the penalty minutes are sky high. It seems like players who have never sat in the box before are raking up a lot of time in the box this year. The two Line pass rule is a grat idea. It forces the defending team to really floor check the offensive team to create turn overs. It seems like Giguere is still getting used to his smaller pads but I hope he comes around. He is one of my goalies on my fantasy team.
I am happy with the flow of the play, but question the effectiveness of the 4 minute 4 on 4 the shootout overtime rule. I mean the better team would win out if you just let them play hockey. the more in shape and comptetive team will win every time.
Sidney Crosby got a crash course in NHL, but made out very well considering he was playing against the best Goalie in the NHL. I have heard him called the next Gretzky, however he still has a lot to prove before I would start spreading that rumor.
Moving the blue lines back has really made room for some great plays and has also made it easier for the defensemen to keep the puck in the zone. It creates multiple rebound shots and thus creating more goals for even rookie wingers.
What it boils down to is hocky is Gods Game, even if you don't believe in God. The season has started and my Marriage has temporarily been put on hold. My favorite player Pavol Datsyuk, has began the season not as strong as I would have liked, but he is going to be a force to be rekoned with as teh season goes on. I can't wait to see him and federov face off. Have a happy hockey season everybody.

[docbungle]

Although it sucked to see Forsberg leave Colorado, I must admit, it's really cool seeing him play on another team. Strange but cool.

Wondering if the Avs are going to take advantage of these new rules that seemed to have been tailor-made for them.

[dylanmarsh]

Originally Posted by djtestudo

Woo! Go Capitals!

Ehh...that's about the best I got until the playoffs (which I'll watch religiously; I LOVE the Stanley Cup).

dj, you gotta love the new kid, Ovechkin. It will be interesting as to who has the better career, Crosby or him.

[Nikilidstrom]

Ive been having a hockey joygasm for 2 days now, watching as much as humanly possible in that time. Having the Wings go 2-0 to start the season is a beautiful thing. Now if I can just get my fantasy team goin, things'll be perfect. I'm gunnin for ya Dylan, crappy goaltending or not, I'm turnin this week around.

[highthief]

Habs 5, Leafs 4 - all is right with the world.

[florida0214]

I love that Hockey season is in full swing. i am however disappointed witht eh TV coverage the NHL is recieveing in south Florida. I can't wait till Baseball is over then maybe we'll get tosee some games. i have been watching a few online but nothing too exciting.
I am pissed and seeing rd with both the bure's right now. Those basteards.
I can't say that I am surprised at the amount of injuries in the NHL this year. I guess this is waht happens when you take an entire year off. these guys are obvioulsy out of shape and may not have been ready to start this season. It was rather short notice that we would even have a season this year. DOn't get me wrong I am very happy to have hockey back but these guys needed to maintain their health, if not better it. Anybody else feelt he same way?

[highthief]

Who was going on about Sydney Crosby not being the real deal? Kid's got 11 points in 8 games and leads all rookies in the points race.

[Fly]

Originally Posted by docbungle

Wondering if the Avs are going to take advantage of these new rules that seemed to have been tailor-made for them.

my Canucks kicked the Avs asses last night.........the new rules seem to be working for them.

fast paced hockey.......'bout fuckin' time too.

Originally Posted by paddyjoe

fuckin A baby....Sabres are undefeated..............

you're such a fuckin' dreamer joe..........

[paddyjoe]

Originally Posted by flyman

you're such a fuckin' dreamer joe..........

dollar and a dream, bitch.....




6-2 now. some nice hockey being played in the northeast division.

[Martian]

After being embarrased in Philly, the boys in blue rallied in a 5-4 nailbiter against Boston tonight, scoring the winning goal on the shootout. Eddie came up big with some 40 saves.

Fortunately for me the new schedule (while being completely fucked up in a lot of ways) keeps the Wings from playing the Leafs during the regular season. That keeps the hockey-related tension between me and the woman to a minimum.

[MikeSty]

GOOOOOO DEVILS.

Jesus H. Christ, the first game I get to sit down and watch they BLOW IT TO THE EFFIN THRASHERS.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by highthief

Who was going on about Sydney Crosby not being the real deal? Kid's got 11 points in 8 games and leads all rookies in the points race.

It's only 8 games, not a whole season, The verdict is still out. I will admit it is a good start but hardly enough to say he is the 'real deal'.

[Tamerlain]

i have been watching a few online but nothing too exciting.

Where can you watch games online? I recently moved to the West Coast from Toronto and there is no national TV coverage of Leafs games. They only games I can watch are on HNIC on Saturdays.

-Tamerlain

[silent_jay]

I'd like to know that as well, I live in Ottawa now and I don't even get the Leafs on HNIC, I get stuck with the damn Sens and I hate the Sens. At least if the Leafs are playing the Habs I get the game on RDS.

[Spartak]

Wings baby!

It sucks that we here don't get hockey games anymore, but thank god for 1270XYT Detroit broadcast via NHL.com for keeping me relatively sane.

[highthief]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

It's only 8 games, not a whole season, The verdict is still out. I will admit it is a good start but hardly enough to say he is the 'real deal'.

Kid'll do a point a game or so for the season. For any rookie not named Gretzky, that's good enough.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by highthief

Kid'll do a point a game or so for the season. For any rookie not named Gretzky, that's good enough.

A point a game, thats a big prediction to make, only time will tell, even if he does one season doesn't make him the real deal at all, longevity is the key in hockey.

[Xazy]

Originally Posted by Spartak

Wings baby!

It sucks that we here don't get hockey games anymore, but thank god for 1270XYT Detroit broadcast via NHL.com for keeping me relatively sane.

Got to agree, 9-1!!

[highthief]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

A point a game, thats a big prediction to make, only time will tell, even if he does one season doesn't make him the real deal at all, longevity is the key in hockey.

I don't think it is realistic to have to wait 15-20 years before proclaiming if someone is a good player or not.

Really, longevity means squat. Dale Hawerchuk - a million seasons and no cups. Ken Dryden, half as many, and a half dozen cups.

[Nikilidstrom]

Originally Posted by highthief

I don't think it is realistic to have to wait 15-20 years before proclaiming if someone is a good player or not.

Really, longevity means squat. Dale Hawerchuk - a million seasons and no cups. Ken Dryden, half as many, and a half dozen cups.

well, if the measure of how good a player is is based on cups won, then Crosby is horrible, and by the way his team is playing at the moment, he will remain horrible for at least this season.

But faulty logic aside, Crosby is doing well, but he also has a very talented line up to play with, and is getting more minutes then most rookies would normally recieve. And remember, Selanne went nuts his first year with 70+ goals, and then came down to Earth the next season with a more human 25, and has for at least the last couple of seasons been almost non-existent. So just because a player has a strong start to his career, does not make him a good player, much less the next "Great One".

And don't forget about Ovechkin. He is playing pretty much all by himself there in Washington, and continues to rack up points. He is, however, older and larger then Crosby, which does probably give him a slight advantage development-wise, but I think it will be interesting to see which one comes out on top this season.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by highthief

I don't think it is realistic to have to wait 15-20 years before proclaiming if someone is a good player or not.

Really, longevity means squat. Dale Hawerchuk - a million seasons and no cups. Ken Dryden, half as many, and a half dozen cups.

Longevity doesn't mean squat, longevity is the key to a great career. No one has a great career without longevity. I have no clue as to where you are going with the number of Cups people have won, but I sure do hope you aren't using that to judge who is a great player.

So just because a player has a strong start to his career, does not make him a good player, much less the next "Great One".

Thank you, someone finally gets what I'm saying about Crosby.

[Serpent]

Originally Posted by Tamerlain

Where can you watch games online? I recently moved to the West Coast from Toronto and there is no national TV coverage of Leafs games. They only games I can watch are on HNIC on Saturdays.

-Tamerlain

The best option is most likely the center ice package. (for the price of 2 tickets you get pretty much all the games televised the entire year)


Additionally on the visor issue, i wouldn't mind seeing all the players coming into the league having to wear visors. Older players can decide whether they want to wear them or not.

[silent_jay]

Looks like the Russian Rocket has called it quits. I was never his biggest fan but he was great player.

Former Vancouver Canucks speedster Pavel Bure has retired from a playing career that had been plagued by multiple knee injuries.

Bure made his NHL debut with the Canucks in 1991-1992 and was the league's rookie of the year.

In 1999, Bure was traded to the Florida Panthers along with Brad Ference, Bret Hedican and a third-rounder for Mike Brown, Dave Gagner, Ed Jovanovski, Kevin Weekes and a first-rounder in 1999.

Three years later, he was traded to the New York Rangers.

Bure, 34, was dubbed the "Russian Rocket" for his dynamic speed and firepower, which made him one the NHL's most-feared snipers.

He won the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goal scorer two times, notching 58 goals in 2000 and 59 in 2001. He also scored 60 goals in back-to-back seasons (1993 and 1994).

He hasn't played since injuring his right knee in 2003. During his 12-year career, Bure underwent five knee surgeries and two reconstructions.

He will now take over as general manager of Russia's Olympic team.

Alexander Steblin, president of the Russian Hockey Federation, said Bure would lead the team at the 2006 Torino Winter Games in February. Bure's position is the same as Wayne Gretzky's with Team Canada.

Bure helped Russia capture a silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympic Games by scoring a record five goals in a 7-4 semifinal victory over Finland. He also helped his country win Olympic bronze four years later in Salt Lake City.

Bure says the Russian national team will sport a new look under his guard. He told Reuters the recent rash of internal squabbling and player boycotts is history.

Once a world hockey superpower with a record 23 world championships and eight Olympic gold medals, Russia has not won a world title since 1993.

[godzilla23]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

I'd like to know that as well, I live in Ottawa now and I don't even get the Leafs on HNIC, I get stuck with the damn Sens and I hate the Sens. At least if the Leafs are playing the Habs I get the game on RDS.

An infiltrator! Success!

Convert them all.

[thatoneguy]

Wings go to 12-1... wow... never saw that coming before the season. Keep it up!

[Jinn]

GO WINGS!! (I know, I'm from Colorado -- but I was born in Detroit)

12-1 booyah

[Quadraton]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

I'd like to know that as well, I live in Ottawa now and I don't even get the Leafs on HNIC, I get stuck with the damn Sens and I hate the Sens. At least if the Leafs are playing the Habs I get the game on RDS.

It's funny you say that, because I have a lot of friends who were pissed off in years past because CBC would only show Leafs games in the Ottawa region, even though an Ottawa game was simultaneously playing. Fortunately, RDS has all the Habs I need.

[Quadraton]

Originally Posted by JinnKai

GO WINGS!! (I know, I'm from Colorado -- but I was born in Detroit)

12-1 booyah

Not that I don't totally respect the Red Wings, or their organization, but these numbers really don't mean anything to me. I mean, look at the teams they have been playing so far. St. Louis, Columbus, Chicago, all in back to back games. Can this team possibly be in a softer division? Their only loss to date is against the Vancouver Canucks, and they barely scraped a win against the San Jose Sharks. So, until they prove the can start winning against some really good teams, I don't think they should be uncorking the champagne just yet.

[Nikilidstrom]

Well, for one, I can't see why anyone was worried about the Red Wings at all. The players they lost were disposable, especially with the new rules in place, and it allowed them to re-sign their future, namely Datsyuk and Zetterberg, as well as add to that future with Kronwall (who unfortunately got jipped out of this season). As far as goaltending is concerned, anyone who has watched Legace over the last 3 seasons knew that he was solid, and long overdue for a chance to be the starter. The core of their team is still there, and with Babcock actually motivating the vets to skate this year, they are as strong a team as any in the West.

On the other issue of their schedule, you can hardly blame the team for that. Not to mention, the key to a great regular season is taking advantage of those easy games on the schedule, which they obviously have. I've seen plenty of strong teams drop games to scrubs this year already, but the Red Wings have taken care of business and have been rewareded for it. So while we'll have to wait to see how they will perform against better competition, at least we know they can stay focused against lesser opponents, even in the new NHLs "rivalry" scheduling.

[heccubusiv]

If hockey strikes again, can they take the Pens away this time. They have so much talent and are awful, its a joke. I can see Arena from my window and it makes me mad at they spend that much money to suck. The game i went to 11 pentalties in by the second period and which broke they all time penquins record for pentatlies in a game

[snowy]

Cable company just moved OLN to the regular lineup...so happy...got to watch the Wings beat the Blackhawks yesterday...

Unfortunately the only Canucks game they'll be airing on OLN won't be until March. Suck.