NHL Thread / Playoffs

[Jowy]

<a href=http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/nhl-lockout-over-players-owners-reach-tentative-cba-102905515--nhl.html>WE HOCKEY NOW.</a>

How do you think this is going to play out? What happened with your team for the first half of the NHL season? With only forty-eight games, is there a chance the Toronto Maple Leafs will make it to the playo-hahahaha yeah that sentence will never come out.

Giving up Staal to Carolina totes kills our third line, PK unit, and morale above all! But he'll be happier as a whole down there, so good for him! Plus we need the money to keep Letang on payroll. Paul Martin is a useless sack of and at this point I'm sure the best we can get for a trade is a sack of pucks and some old stadium nachos.

Parise and Suter going to Minnesota still isn't enough to breathe any life into that team, especially with Parise getting entirely too much goddamn money for that contract. Maybe I'm a little mad because he opted for greed instead of glory by not signing with Pittsburgh, but we can't really say anything until we see how they play this year.

The Rangers are effing stacked as hell this year and are probably going to win the cup. Calling it now, NYR/VAN final.

edit: <a href=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1468068-nhl-power-rankings-where-each-team-stands-post-nhl-lockout>POWER RANKINGS</a> are the best thing ever.

[Faris]

<a href=http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/nhl-lockout-over-players-owners-reach-tentative-cba-102905515--nhl.html>WE HOCKEY NOW.</a>

How do you think this is going to play out? What happened with your team for the first half of the NHL season? With only forty-eight games, is there a chance the Toronto Maple Leafs will make it to the playo-hahahaha yeah that sentence will never come out.

Do you have any idea how many times I've heard that about the Leafs?

No idea how the year is going to play out especially since the #1 teams were both out early in the playoffs, which was absolutely hilarious. Hopefully Ottawa does well again.

I don't follow hockey religiously so I can't make any good input I do expect to see a lot less of Sidney Crosby's pouty face all over, thankfully. The NHL is going to have to do some damn good marketing and PR to get casual fans watching and in seats again. This long strike will undoubtedly hurt sales.

[Jowy]

Speaking as an American, the NHL really needs a stronger foothold in a market where football and baseball are the predominant sports. The Winter Classic was starting to really take off from a rating's standpoint with the exception of last year's debacle of a game. As a counterpoint though, there are just some markets in this country where people just don't care. Arizona, I am looking in your general direction. Portland and Seattle are two prime locations that would actually generate revenue and a following for having a team. Look at what happened when the Thrashers moved up to Winnipeg as an example. And even then, I'm sure Canada would welcome another team being relocated up there.

Ottawa's a blast to watch. That triple OT playoff game from 2010 was absolutely insane! Plus Gonchar is just, well, Gonchar. We still love him in Pittsburgh! All the Crosby hate is unjustified now that he's not an eighteen year old kid anymore, but I do have to say it is downright hilarious at some points. I saw a game where a Bruins fan had a "hit him with your purse, Sidney" sign pressed against the ice the entire game and couldn't stop laughing every time the camera panned over that way.

[Faris]

Any idea if they're going to have the all stars? I loooved watching that last year. The goalie from Montreal was a blast!

I don't really see a whole bunch of the southern states really being invested in hockey. It'll be really interesting to see what they do for marketing to grab their attention. Canada would love another team. I believe there's a whole thing about getting the Nordiques back in Quebec City.

No hate for Crosby! It's just that the footage I would see of the debates mostly had Crosby in the background all like ... ... Ottawa is probably really heartbroken over the fact that they'll only get half a season for what is supposed to be Alfredsson's last year playing.

[Jowy]

Carey Price is definitely the best Canadian goaltender in the league, that's a fact. With only a four month season, there won't be an all-star break. The all-star game itself isn't the most thrilling thing to watch, but the skills competition is a sight to behold. They're actually having fun, which is rare to see in professional sports! Nashville loves their hockey team, Dallas only seems to care after the Cowboys season ends. Tampa is the more popular of the Florida teams, although after the Panthers having a decent season maybe the stands won't be as empty!

[Old Manus]

edit: <a href=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1468068-nhl-power-rankings-where-each-team-stands-post-nhl-lockout>POWER RANKINGS</a> are the best thing ever.

Oh my God are power rankings actually a thing

I thought it was just an /sp/ joke

[Jowy]

We can thank ESPN and the NFL for the greatness that is POWER RANKINGS.

[Bunny]

yay nhl fans matter again

oh wait

[Raistlin]

I sometimes watch hockey, but don't follow it very much. I decided to check the power rankings anyway, and I don't think I've ever even heard of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

[Jowy]

Neither has most of Ohio, Wesley.

[escobert]

GO WHALERS!

[Del Murder]

Can't wait for the next season and a half of hockey before the next lockout.

[jenovajunkie]

Where do you think Luongo will end up?

[Jowy]

Where do you think Luongo will end up?

Toronto for a sack of pucks and a new zamboni or Sunny Florida for some of those neat plastic rats.

[Faris]

Any idea when the schedule will be made?