NHL Returns

[yellow]

Despite my thoughts that the NHL has expanded too far and diluted the talent pool too much, I'm really glad that they will be back in business and that I'm close enough to go see games.

And no more ties. Shootouts! Nice!

 

[Moxiemike]

Despite my thoughts that the NHL has expanded too far and diluted the talent pool too much, I'm really glad that they will be back in business and that I'm close enough to go see games.

And no more ties. Shootouts! Nice!

the new rules do look ingenious.

other than that, hopefully, we won't have to be punished by watching florida hook and grab with anaheim, and dallas snore their way to another 2-1 victory despite being outshot 9-7 against the thrashers. let's hope the new rules favor teams who know how to play hockey, i.e., the pens, oilers, leafs, senators, habs, et. al.

 

[yellow]

Yeah the trap and clutch and grab are evil things. It makes for boring hockey. But that's what had to happen when the talent pool is so diluted.

Personally, I want to the habs loose every game they ever play ever again. But I'm a Bruins fan, so that's to be expected.

 

[Peyote]

the new rules do look ingenious.

other than that, hopefully, we won't have to be punished by watching florida hook and grab with anaheim, and dallas snore their way to another 2-1 victory despite being outshot 9-7 against the thrashers. let's hope the new rules favor teams who know how to play hockey, i.e., the pens, oilers, leafs, senators, habs, et. al.

Hey man...Dallas has some talent, undeniably. That's why they make the playoffs ever year. That's also why Dallas had 3 players in the starting linup wof the 2004 All-Star game. They need some work, don't get me wrong, but if you look at their 2004 season and the progress they made toward the end, winning something like 14 straight home games, I don't think they deserve the "snore" moniker

 

[wrc fan]

Colorado's previous hockey contribution was the wonderfully inept Rockies, who now play in a swamp. But I digress...

Well, the Devils have been successful since leaving Colorado. Seems sorta the same as the Avalanche beeing successful since leaving Quebec. But I guess the difference is that they weren't immediately successful.

 

[yellow]

Ah.. the Rockies. Damn trapsters. I will "go out on a limb" and place much of their success (besides the trap) of the last 8ish years directly on the shoulders of Martin Brodeur. That kid (well, he's no kid anymore) is freaking awesome.. and has been for a long time.

 

[wrc fan]

Ah.. the Rockies. Damn trapsters. I will "go out on a limb" and place much of their success (besides the trap) of the last 8ish years directly on the shoulders of Martin Brodeur. That kid (well, he's no kid anymore) is freaking awesome.. and has been for a long time.

Brodeur has been really good, but I think alot of that also has to do with the strong defence that the Devils have (like Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer and Brian Rafalski). If you look at the number of shots on goal he gets per game versus for instance what Miikka Kiprusoff gets on the Flames, you'll understand why strong defense is so critical to good goaltending. (Not trying to detract from what Brodeur has done, just giving some credit to the strong defense in front of him).

 

[jdechko]

Yay! I'm so glad that we get to see hockey again this year. It will be nice when ESPN/2 has something else to show besides the world series of poker. Go Wings!

 

[yellow]

Brodeur has been really good, but I think alot of that also has to do with the strong defence that the Devils have (like Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer and Brian Rafalski)..

I can't. It's psychologically impossible for me.

 

[Moxiemike]

so the question begs to be asked again: does anyone play nhl 2k5 for ps2?

we should get a league going...

 

[~Shard~]

so the question begs to be asked again: does anyone play nhl 2k5 for ps2?

we should get a league going...

I hope that game has a "trade" feature, with the hundreds of free agents out there now! Otherwise what's the point, all the rosters will be different! No to mention all the rule changes...

 

[Moxiemike]

I hope that game has a "trade" feature, with the hundreds of free agents out there now! Otherwise what's the point, all the rosters will be different! No to mention all the rule changes...

i was thinking fantasy draft. and it's MUCH more high scoring than the real pre-2005 CBA NHL.

 

[rickvanr]

so the question begs to be asked again: does anyone play nhl 2k5 for ps2?

we should get a league going...

i got it about a month ago, and had a younger visitor this week and we played it alot... 2-3 games a day.. its a lot harder to play then nhl 2002.

 

[Inspector Lee]

I think they really should contract the league and realign. Detroit and Toronto play what, twice a year? They used to play 8 times and there would be those testy home-and-home Friday/Saturday battles where stuff would spill over and you'd turn on CBC and hear Bob Cole/Harry Neale saying "Kerry Fraser is gonna have his hands full tonight boy..."

And then there is the instigator rule... There has been far too much stickwork in recent years. The players are no longer able to police themselves and it has lead to some nastiness (see Bertuzzi). Granted, I was never a fan of the senseless scrums where nobody throws, the ice gets littered with sticks and gloves and play stops for ten minutes but... Man, each team used to have an enforcer. They would throw down (maybe) and you could actually see momentum changes, it was a part of the game. None of the finesse players got hurt, nobody took liberties with anyone else, etc.

Oh, how I long for the days where a left winger could take one stride over the blueline and beat the goalie top shelf without some clown draped all over him.

 

[~Shard~]

i was thinking fantasy draft. and it's MUCH more high scoring than the real pre-2005 CBA NHL.

Perfect! Good thinking...

 

[rickvanr]

Brodeur has been really good, but I think alot of that also has to do with the strong defence that the Devils have (like Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer and Brian Rafalski). If you look at the number of shots on goal he gets per game versus for instance what Miikka Kiprusoff gets on the Flames, you'll understand why strong defense is so critical to good goaltending. (Not trying to detract from what Brodeur has done, just giving some credit to the strong defense in front of him).

I agree that Brodeur has had a stellar defense infront of him with Stevens and Niedermayer. That being said he's the best goalie in the league right now. If you're building a team from goal you get Brodeur, you don't get Kirprusoff.

With the lockout, and the slew of free agents and teams looking to trade off high paid players I'm more excited for this season then any that I can remember with the exception of 93-94 when I was a Leafs fan.

If the B's do end up trading Thornton, here's hoping it some crazy multi-team deal that sees him goto the Leafs, the Leafs get rid of Sundin (then maybe I can be a fan again) and then the B's get someone decent (Jerome, Gagne, even Lindros) so I can still cheer for Boston. Optimistic, but hey.

 

[yellow]

Jeeze I hope they don't trade him.. AFAIAC, he's not panned out to be the superstar I had hoped for when he was drafted.

 

[rickvanr]

Jeeze I hope they don't trade him.. AFAIAC, he's not panned out to be the superstar I had hoped for when he was drafted.

I hope they don't either. He wasn't at first. He's almost there now though.

 

[MOFS]

GO WINGS! happy that we have our wings back. AND happy we snagged coach babcock... my only saving grace since the pistons lost in the finals.

I'm kinda a Red Wings fan meself - mainly cause they're the best team on NHL 2004! We don't get much Ice Hockey in the UK - I used to follow the Durham Wasps (classic team) before they got sold off to become the Newcastle Cobras. Still - hockey's still the best American sport by a country mile (ducks for cover...)