2011-12 NHL regular season discussion
Gamingforce may be dying/dead/a zombie but that doesn't mean we can't have a hockey thread for the first time in forever.
The 2011-12 NHL season starts tomorrow, and it is a season of transition. The Winnipeg Jets are back, but they're still in the Eastern Conference, and the former Jets in Phoenix are possibly on the move too, meaning the NHL may have a much different look once the league decides on realignment. The league is also struggling to deal with the growing issue of concussions. Stiffer rules, but no outright ban on hits to the head. Which other major player(s) will have to be knocked out for months/years/their career before the league will make any serious changes? Still, the season starts on a high note for many teams wishing to make a long playoff run for the first time in years. For Boston fans, their time came this past June, and that's good news for fans in Los Angeles and St. Louis. Those two teams are figured to be at the very least dark horses and at most Cup contenders (the trade deadline brings good things to those who can wait for Zach Parise). For the Penguins, it's been three years since everything clicked for them but the last two seasons felt like missed opportunities. Last year was particularly bad; despite challenging for the two-seed down to the last day of the season, the Penguins bowed out in the first round of the playoffs. Injuries to Crosby, Malkin and others made a 106-point season a disappointment. Now it seems as though Crosby will be back within the first half, if not the first quarter of the season and Malkin has been playing with a fire unseen from him in a couple of years. As long as injuries do not plague the Penguins again, they should be good for the postseason once more. |
No change on concussions will be made unless it happens to another Crosby type player or Crosby gets knocked out again.
Once again NHL on dumb Versus station that hardly no one gets. Sabres under new determined ownership. Who knows what may happen. Can the Maple leafs finally make the playoffs? or will those Toronto fans have to come down to Buffalo to get the good hockey? At least they are not Florida though. |
Yay for NHL center ice. All games, bitches.
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I would be more excited about the reincarnation of the Jets if there was any hope in this world that i might be able to go to a game. Alas, tickets are far too expensive for a poor university student to afford, and the place is sold out for pretty much the entire season as far as i know. Upside - probably no blackouts.
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Other upside: They gon' suck.
Except Dustin. Because... Spoiler:
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Sabres owned Finland today. Oh wait I mean DA Ducks. On to Germany tomorrow!
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I've decided I have the best fantasy hockey name of the year: Straight Outta Conklin
Rivaled by my Fantasy Football team: Flacco Seagulls |
Well, that Jets opener was saddening.... well, better luck Thursday, right!? Looking forward to a great season! Go Canucks! :)
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I dunno if I'd use the word saddening. It was rape, and considering we got a C-grade team, it's not exactly surprising.
Just like they'll lose horribly on Thursday to Chicago. Maybe, MAYBE Phoenix. Maybe. I consider this a blessing, because when all the fair weather retards in this city bail out next season, it won't be expensive at all to get Vancouver tickets. |
Well I suppose if I want to have a typical Toronto Maple Leafs, they might as well start off good just to build my expectations up only to suck at end. Still they're on a two game winning streak, probably their biggest winning streak of the year.
You know us maple leaf fans, we'll take anything we can get. I hear Toronto is already planning a parade already. |
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Malkin's already injured. WHAT IS GOING ON :(
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Habs fans can't be too happy with losing Cammalleri for 2 weeks, either.
Nor am I, as I had him in my draft. |
I bought NHL Gamecentre Live last night.... totally rocks. And its great since I don't have cable or satellite. I really like the options available too. :) I guess I am going to be watching a LOT more hockey this year! :)
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Pretty cool renovation to the St.Pete Times Forum where the Bolts play. Not as awesome as Red Alert, but it's pretty cool to see in-person. |
Cool BucPride....
So, where are we at these days? Bruins on a 9 game winning streak, Jets actually winning 3 games in a row.... and the Maple Leafs and Oilers starting to struggle a bit. Comments? |
It's still early, but I read an article on Boston.com that said that if you want to make the playoffs you should be in the top eight by Thanksgiving. That being said, four points currently separate the 14th-seeded Hurricanes from the 8th-seeded Capitals in the East, while in the West the 14th-seeded Ducks are seven points behind the 8th-seeded Red Wings. A lot can still change.
It's hard to identify Hart candidates right now. Phil Kessel obviously deserves consideration, but he'd get his votes dragged down a little by his own teammate, Joffrey Lupul, as both are in the top five for goals and points. How about those Panthers, huh? Out of nowhere. The Capitals aren't running away with that division this year. Oh, and
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I am first in my fantasy league by some ways, and all because of Seguin (15th round pick), Jamie Benn (13th round pick), and Tomas Fleischmann (picked up off of waivers early in season). My high round picks of Getzlaf, Backes and Lucic have only been passable for me, but my young, late sleepers are tearing up the league. Defensively, too. Garrisson (picked up from free agency) and sheldon souray (my last pick of the draft) are carrying it.
Luckily my first two picks went to Rinne and Price, so I'm killing in goaltending. My point is, fucking start playing hockey, Getzlaf. |
Stories of the first quarter
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Anaheim will get better, probably squeak into the playoffs. No way that much talent stays that quiet that long.
Toronto will fall. Playoff team, yes, but not a serious contender. Not with defense that bad. One slump from the hot again cold again Kessel and they're in serious trouble. |
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If that man gets hit by a bus tomorrow it would not be early enough. |
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Bruce Boudreau gets fired by Washington, a team full of underachieving superstars he couldn't motivate, and is immediately hired by Anaheim, a team with even MORE underachieving superstars no one can motivate.
Trolled by hiring? |
Meanwhile Washington still sucks.
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