All-Purpose Hockey Thread II

I agree App, it wasn't until the Bolts made the playoffs that attendence went through the roof. I remember going to a game against the Thrashers early in 2002 where it was maybe half-full. Now, they at least sell every ticket for most games, mostly because of the playoff runs the last three seasons.

 

One of my favorite people in the NHL retired today. Joe Nieuwendyk hung up the skates due to chronic back problems. He's had the problems for years and missed around half of the Panthers' games this season already.

 

Personally, I think the purchase of the Pens was a business decision and nothing more. I think he's going to flip them to the highest bidder: Quebec City or Winnipeg.

 

Personally, I think that six franchises in Canada is the most we'll ever see.

 

Sigh ... say it ain't so, Joe ...

 

Stanley Cup winner (repeatedly), Conn Smythe winner, Calder winner, King Clancy winner...a hell of a guy.

The league and the fans will miss you, Nieuwendyk.

 

I agree with Sea.

Mississauga has been for the most part a horrible franchise.

Sources tell me that at last night's game in Mississauga against Brampton there weren't probably 1,000 people there.

Hamilton will never get an NHL franchise. Not enough of a corporate base and parts of my original hometown look disturbingly like a third world country.

 

Pens' radio guys going nuts as Crosby apparently just undressed all four NYR penalty killers and beat Lundqvist.

 

And the blows to the head continue in Detroit, where Brett Lebda takes an elbow to the noggin from Dallas Drake, who left his skates for the hit.
Lebda returned in the second period, though.

 

Left his skates? Now that's impressive.

 

According to all-around jackass Brian Burke, hockey fans in western North America don't deserve to see him and Alexander Ovechkin play in their arenas. What a fucking tool Burke is. If there's a bigger asshole currently working in pro hockey, I have yet to hear of him.

 

Agreed. Won Stanley Cups with three different teams - Flames 1989, Stars 1999 and Devils 2003. Solid player, next stop, HOF.