2013: The NHL season that almost wasn't

Agree with you on Kessel. He's replaced Kyle Wellwood as the team's Fatso and as good as he is, he won't carry the Leafs to the promised land .

Burke was impatient---even Nonis said as much

 

The top players on the Marlies the last couple of years are not necessarily guys who will have lasting impact on the Leafs in the future. They have got a lot out of vets like Ryan Hamilton, Mike Zigomanis and Keith Aucoin. Ben Scrivens has proven to be a very good AHL goalie, his ability to be a quality goalie in the NHL is unproven.

 

Schedule is officially out. NBC with regional coverage of Flyers-Penguins and Kings-Blackhawks on Saturday, and Sabres-Flyers on Sunday. NHL Network showing six games and NBC Sports Netork showing four games during first week

 

Leafs at Montreal to open the season on the 19th.

The Goose will be rockin'

 

Gotta love this little nugget: "I can stand here and say 'oh, they didn't like my personality,' but those all become pretexts and excuses later. If you win enough games you can be as obnoxious as you want to be," said Burke.

 

I have great respect for Burke's candor, his honesty and his work ethic. Ask a question, you get a straight answer. That was true many years ago when I dealt with him regularly in his capacity as assistant gm of the Canucks under Pat Quinn and it was true at his press conference Saturday. I think he wants to be proven right -- to his own detriment as it turns out. He was loyal to Ron Wilson for far too long, and his reluctance to make the Luongo trade because he wants to be proven right on Reimer probably cost him. Luongo may not have been a "pressure" goalie in Vancouver, but he's a solid regular season goaltender, capable of stealing games. He doesn't have to win a Cup in Toronto...he only has to provide them with solid goaltending, steal a game here or there and get them into the playoffs. Get them into the second round, he gets a statue. Plus, he becomes the go-to guy for the media, which he doesn't mind: he was captain, remember, for one season with the Canucks. Plus, he'll work with either Scrivens of Reimer every day, they'll observe his habits, and they'll become better -- as Schneider did. And maybe with the glare of the spotlight away from Kessel, he relaxes a bit and becomes a better, more consistent player.

 

Going to a Red Wings game next month. Taking a shot in the dark here - anyone know the promo code for the tickets on pre-sale?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

So the schedule sets up to where everyone plays one team in their division five times and one team four times ... then the other 10 teams in the conference three times. Caps drew three roadies in the Peg but at least two of those are on back-to-back nights to lighten the travel load.

 

Good news for Gomez and Redden, NHL and NHLPA agree to allow buyouts to begin this season, otherwise both would have been paid to stay at home. Redden I think can still get a deal somewhere, probably for around $1 mil. Likely a one-year pact. If theCanucks are willing to takea shot on Cam Barker after he couldn't stick on a paper thin Oilers blue-line then there should be a few teams interested in his services. Gomez, I'm not too sure. The Anchorage Aces may be his best hope.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=413602

 

I've been enlightened by the comments about Burke. Some of his interviews at drafts have been entertaining insofar as humor and the feeling you didn't know what the man was going to say next.

FWIW, fellas, I'm having a hard time getting fired up. Maybe it will change once the games start.

 

The NHL season is hours away from starting and, damnit, I can't wait.

Final notes before it gets going:

Pronger is still not healthy enough to play

Luongo is still a Canuck.

Canucks need somebody, anybody, to stay healthy to play on the second line

Redden is back in the NHL, signing a 1 yr deal for $800,000

The New Jersey Devils prove they learned nothing from the lockout in signing Travis Zajac to a Horcoff-like eight year $46 million.

Perry and Getzlaf remain without an extension and their future with the Ducks in doubt beyond this season.

The Leafs send top pick Morgan Reilly down to the WHL while Galchenyuk made the Habs final roster.

Alex Edler signed a six-year $30-million deal with the Canucks.

Lubo is still shafting the Islanders and has now been suspended.

And for those who need a refresher on what this all looks like, here you go:

 

Triple header on HNIC tomorrow

Sens vs Jets at 3:00

Leafs at Habs at 7:00

Ducks at Canucks at 10:00

Downside: Coach's Corner will be on both the 7:00 and 10:00 game

Please retire Don