2008/09 NHL Thread

I do think the Lightning are bad, but apparently the Bruins must be pretty good.

For more than a month, I've kind of been like, 'Well, Thomas can't keep this going. Phil Kessel couldn't be this complete. Etc."

But maybe they are.

 

Lightning goaltender Mike Smith puts it bluntly:

 

And once again, Les Habitants prove themselves to be the classiest organization in the league: a $36 million PRACTICE facility.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081208.wspt_habspractice08/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home?cid=al_gam_mostview

"It was an overwhelming feeling," said captain Saku Koivu. "It's a lot bigger and it's even nicer than expected."

Veteran Winger Georges Laraque, who joined the Canadiens this season after playing for other teams with suburban practice rinks, went even further.

"You can't even compare any other team's practice facility to this," he said. "And I would even go so far as to say you can't compare this to any main rink of any other team.

"This is the best in the league."

So the Canadiens have a practice facility that's superior to a lot of teams home rinks?

 

The Wings went all out with their rings.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Headlines-What-the-Red-Wings-will-put-on-e?urn=nhl,127880

 

Sounds like those are some nice digs, JR.

One team that has a very good setup is Columbus. Nationwide Arena has two sheets of ice so the Jackets don't ever have to go anywhere else. If they're skating in the big arena, they walk one way from the room.

If there's UFC or Bon Jovi or Arena Football, they walk a different way out of the room and go to the practice rink in the same building.

 

Melrose slammed the Lightning in an interview with the FAN590.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Melrose-hopes-Tampa-doesn-t-win-a-game-for-the-?urn=nhl,127864#remaining-content

 

I'm sure when the renos at Lakeshore Lions are done, the Leafs facility will compare to that. They only tend to skimp on the on-ice product.

 

He hopes that Tampa Bay never wins another game? Nothing like ESPN analyst who is impartial. How can he ever comment on the Lightning?

 

They'll win a few, but I'm not sure they get to 20 this season. Lecavalier must be wondering why he signed that 11-year deal.

Vrbata has gone home to Europe, and Gratton is on waivers. There's no direction.

 

He won't have to. They won't appear in any highlight designated for analysis.

 

Drove by it the other day. Coming along just fine.

And there's 3 (4?) community rinks in it as well.

 

Do they have a speed bag for Laraque?

This will just make the Habs softer than they normally are.